Rev. Charles Father Charlie' Gorman, 91 years of age, died on March 29, 2020, in Billings, after having served as a Catholic priest in eastern Montana for 66 years. There will be a private graveside committal service at Holy Cross Cemetery; due to the COVID-19 quarantine, the Funeral Vigil and the Memorial Mass remain to be scheduled at a later date, both of which will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Billings. Father Gorman was born on Feb. 16, 1929, to Martin Gorman and Mary Ann Kirwan Gorman, in Moate, Ballinakill, County Laois, Ireland, the youngest of 12 children. He was raised on a farm where he worked all the chores with his family, attended Mass every Sunday and prayed the Rosary every evening. He attended grade school and high school in Ballinakill and then attended Knockbeg College. With the encouragement of Father Brennan, he enrolled in St. Patrick's Seminary, Thurles, Ireland, in 1948, to prepare for priesthood. He was ordained to serve in the Diocese of Great Falls on June 6, 1954. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 12:24:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov on Monday said he regretted the lack of progress on the ground, expressing concern over Israeli settlements and its plans to annex Palestinian land. The expansion of Israeli settlements continues to pose a significant obstacle to achieving a viable two-state solution, Mladenov told the Security Council via video teleconference. Israeli settlements have no legal validity and constitute a violation of international law, so they should stop immediately and completely, he said. Potential settlement advancement in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank, or in East Jerusalem neighborhoods that are crucial to the contiguity of a future Palestinian state, are particularly concerning, said the envoy. The existence and expansion of settlements further entrench the occupation and systematically erode the possibility of establishing a contiguous and viable Palestinian state, and fuel anger and resentment among the Palestinian population, he added. The senior diplomat said the demolition and seizure of Palestinian structures, including internationally funded humanitarian projects, must stop as such practice violates international humanitarian law and must cease. Mladenov expressed his concern over possible unilateral steps from the Israeli side. In recent months, Israeli officials have repeatedly stated their intention to annex Israeli settlements and other parts of the occupied West Bank, he said. "If implemented, such steps would not only constitute a serious violation of international law, but they would also effectively end the prospect of the two-state solution and close the door to negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians," the envoy said. There is no justification for violence against civilians, he said. "I call upon all members of the international community to join the United Nations in condemning it unequivocally and calling for all perpetrators to be held accountable." The indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars toward civilian population centers is prohibited by international humanitarian law and Palestinian militants must cease this practice immediately, said Mladenov. Israeli security forces must exercise maximum restraint and only intentionally use lethal force when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life, in accordance with international law, he said, adding that all incidents must be thoroughly investigated. Incitement to violence and provocative rhetoric continue to sow fear and deepen mistrust between the two sides, eroding hopes for a peaceful solution, he said. Mladenov said he regretted the lack of progress in holding long-overdue Palestinian presidential and legislative elections. Noting that it is critical that the Egyptian-led intra-Palestinian reconciliation efforts continue, he said Palestinian leaders must engage positively with Egypt, reverse the negative trajectory, take concrete steps to end division and schedule elections. As the region is facing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and broader geopolitical tensions, the situation on the ground remains fragile, he said. "In the absence of a renewed commitment of the parties to pursue concrete measures that will lead to genuine political progress, the situation, I'm afraid, will continue to deteriorate," he warned. To monitor and validate COVID-19 molecular diagnostic tests FREMONT, Calif., March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, today announced the availability of the Thermo Scientific AcroMetrix Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) RNA Control, its latest quality control product to monitor and validate COVID-19 molecular diagnostic tests. In an effort to combat the recent Coronavirus outbreak, Thermo Fisher designed and developed this control as a synthetic RNA, non-infectious control to help labs validate and monitor COVID-19 molecular diagnostic tests. Taking FDA guidelines into account, the controls were carefully designed at two different concentrations: a low positive control and an ultra-low positive control. AcroMetrix Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) RNA Control is prepared by formulating synthetic RNA transcripts that contain highly unique N, S, E and Orf1ab regions of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) genome into a proprietary buffer. The RNA is ready for reverse transcription, PCR amplification and detection, as appropriate to the test. The kit contains two vials of SARS-CoV-2 specific RNA at the concentration that will result low positive and ultra-low positive in most commonly used Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) nucleic acid testing methods. "Our team is committed to providing innovative solutions to support our customers with better diagnostic tools," said Gianluca Pettiti, senior vice president and president, Thermo Fisher's specialty diagnostics business. "The AcroMetrix Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) RNA Control is a positive control to aid in validating and monitoring COVID-19 diagnostic tests." Thermo Fisher has created an online resource to make it easier to find up-to-date information about its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including availability of its diagnostic test kits. Please refer to https://corporate.thermofisher.com/en/COVID-19.html for current news, information and frequently asked questions about COVID-19-related products and services that are vital to researchers, labs, healthcare workers and first responders worldwide. The AcroMetrix Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) RNA Control is available globally as a Research Use Only (RUO) product and is not intended for clinical use. For more information, visit www.thermofisher.com/covid-19-control About Thermo Fisher Scientific Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $25 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 75,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services and Patheon. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com. Media Contact Information: Chris Rapcan Director, Global Lifecycle Management, QC & TDM Assays 1 (815) 572-1198 chris.rapcan@thermofisher.com Secondary Contact Information: Kathy Ruzich Sr. Manager, Meetings & Events 1 (510) 979-5157 kathy.ruzich@thermofisher.com MILWAUKEE Democrats are playing wait-and-see with this summers planned Democratic National Convention. Its supposed to begin July 13 at Milwaukees Fiserv Forum. Tens of thousands of people from across the country are expected to attend. Almost 5,000 of them would be delegates, casting the final ballots for either Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders the Democratic front-runners seeking to challenge President Donald Trump, a Republican. The final tens of thousands will be media members, party members, left-leaning supporters, possibly some protesters and a smattering of others interested in the countrys rather complicated electoral process. Meg Andrietsch, chair of the Racine County Democratic Party and secretary of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, told The Journal Times last week that we are looking at options and waiting for the DNC (Democratic National Committee) to make decisions regarding postponement or changed plans for the convention. Similar messages have come from the top of the party. As we navigate the unprecedented challenge of responding to the coronavirus, were exploring a range of contingency options to ensure we can deliver a successful convention without unnecessary risk to public health, Katie Peters, top spokeswoman for the Democratic National Convention Committee, said in a statement earlier this week. When asked if he thinks the convention should be canceled, state Sen. Bob Wirch, D-Somers, said: Its too early to make that call clearly, public health should be the No. 1 concern. State Rep. Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, agreed. She said that the party should try to make a decision after it becomes clear how effective Wisconsins current four-week plan to contain COVID-19 has been. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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. The threat of a coronavirus outbreak has driven increased sales at many businesses in recent days, including the First Alternative Co-op in Corvallis, said Cindee Lolik, general manager. People are coming in and stocking up for the future in case they need to, Lolik said. Weve seen sales increases across the board, but canned goods are a big thing, and so are cleaning supplies. In general, many customers are stocking up on items recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Oregon Health Authority, Lolik added. I dont think people are panicking, but I think theyre being practical, she said. The rush started in earnest on Friday, continued on Saturday and began to slow down a bit on Sunday, Lolik said. Other stores in the area also have seen a dash for supplies such as bleach wipes and freeze-dried food. The Albany Costco, for example, had a jam-packed parking lot over the weekend and no toilet paper was available for sale on Monday night. A Walgreens corporate spokeswoman said the chain had seen increased demand across the nation for products such as face masks and hand sanitizer, but said the company couldnt provide information regarding local stores. Four chain stores that operate in the mid-Willamette Valley did not respond to requests for interviews regarding coronavirus or declined to participate. At the First Alternative Co-op in South Corvallis on Tuesday afternoon, many customers were going about their regular weekly shopping, including Elaine Fowlkes of Kings Valley. She wasnt worried much about the coronavirus, in part because her family doesnt have high-risk factors, but also because they live on a farm and have great access to fresh produce. We can a lot of food in the summertime. We have frozen vegetables and meat, Fowlkes added. Heather Heisler of Corvallis acknowledged that she was stockpiling items, but that was mainly due to the fact that her son was coming home. And like many college students, he eats a lot. Heisler said she thinks she has enough supplies in her cupboards and is prepared for an outbreak. I feel an unusual calm and safety. Maybe its just a mental state, because whatever is meant to be will be and it will be okay, she added. Ria Keinert, an Iowa resident and Oregon State University graduate, was a bit more concerned. Keinert said she had problems finding bleach wipes when she was visiting in the Portland area over the weekend. Shes nervous about flying home and wants to disinfect the area around her seat. Nearby, Cheyne Willems of Corvallis, a recycler for the First Alternative Co-op, was handling brand new duties that were created in response to the coronavirus. This is my checklist of surfaces that need to be sanitized, he said, before taking bleach wipes to childrens shopping carts and shopping baskets near the front entrance of the store. Lolik said that the First Alternative Co-op doesnt do delivery service, but the business has started considering that in case there are quarantines put in place or other issues. The Co-op will be there for people throughout whatever happens over the course of the next few months, Lolik said. Kyle Odegard can be contacted at 541-812-6077 or kyle.odegard@lee.net. 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. 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 coronavirus pandemic spreads globally, so too have wildcat strikes across the US. Workers are going on strike across the US to demand measures to protect their health during the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, strike action was called at the grocery delivery service, Instacart. Workers say the company has failed to ensure their safety, requiring them to buy their own hand sanitiser and disinfecting wipes and not providing health insurance. Al Jazeeras Shihab Rattansi reports from the US capital, Washington, DC. A father whose children were found dead at their family home earlier this year, has appealed to the public for letters because he's struggling with being in self-isolation. Andrew McGinley, from Dublin, Ireland, took to Twitter, revealing he's missing the company of his children who were found dead at their home on January 24. The father-of-three has set up YouTube channel Conor's Clips, in memory of Conor, nine, his brother Darragh, seven, and their sister Carla, three. Their mother Deirdre Morley, 43, is currently awaiting trial, after being charged with the murder of the three children. Andrew McGinley, from Dublin, Ireland, has revealed that he's struggling with being in self-isolation following the death of his three children, Conor, nine, Darragh, seven, and Carla, three. Pictured: Andrew centre, with his kids Andrew took to Twitter revealing that he's misses having company, in a candid appeal to receive letters from the public Andrew who has over 6,000 followers on Twitter, spoke candidly about wanting to connect with others. He wrote: 'Im looking for a favour. Im struggling with isolation like you all but really missing the company. I was also enjoying most of the letters that I received so I have a request. Can you write to me? If you feel like using one of postcards then great. Letters welcome.' Many people quickly responded to show their support, revealing that they've penned letters and postcards. 'What a selfless & courageous post Andrew. You are an example and inspiration to everyone right now. Very best wishes to you,' one person said. 'Another wrote: 'Andrew, all my thoughts and prayers are with you. I can't begin to imagine how you feel. I'll pop a letter in the post for you tomorrow and if you ever need to talk please just message. You and your family will never be forgotten' A stream of Twitter users praised Andrew for speaking out about his need to connect with others, as many revealed they would send him a letter A third added: 'Andrew, sorry to hear that you are struggling with this isolation. I suspect many are. But I really appreciate you speaking up. I hope that our retweet will help unlock many more letters to you. There is something magical about writing and receiving a letter. Stay safe' Andrew who gave an emotional eulogy at the burial of his children on January 31, explained that keeping the promises he made to them will help him to carry on. Conor's Clips is the result of a promise he made to his son during Christmas, that he would help him to set up a YouTube channel. The channel has already gained over 3,000 subscribers. Andrew has revealed that he has two more promises to keep for his children. Andrew set up a YouTube channel in memory of his children and plans to keep two other promises he made before their deaths. Pictured: Andrew with his children Andrew's request for letter has been re-tweeted over 1,000 times, with many praising him for being brave in asking for help. One person wrote: 'Thank you for reaching out, Andrew. You must be feeling very sad, alone and shaky. How could you not be. I'll get the kids to send you some materials to try to raise your spirits. stay safe' Another said: 'That's a great idea Andrew, for all of us. I can't remember the last time I wrote a letter, always texting and What's Apps. Maybe the whole country will start writing thanks to you. Well done you on such a brave suggestion.' A third added: 'Letter from myself and my niece will be in the post tomorrow. Stay safe and stay strong.' Many others praised Andrew's idea to get the nation writing letters, as they agreed it's different to sending a text Andrew McGinley came home to find the bodies of Conor, nine, his brother Darragh, seven, and their sister Carla, three, at their home in Newcastle, Co Dublin on January 24. Their mother, 43-year-old Deirdre Morley, who worked as a nurse at a hospital in Dublin, has since been charged with their murder and is awaiting trial. Brave dad Andrew delivered an emotional eulogy at their burial on January 31, during which he revealed he has 'promised that I have to keep and this will drive me on'. Deirdre Morley was found by a taxi driver near her house shortly before the childrens bodies were discovered and was treated for days at Tallaght University Hospital before she was charged with three counts of murder. Ms Morley, from Parson's Court in Newcastle, appeared before Dublin District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice on January 29. But many of the people who cause problems are likely the ones who could benefit from a long-term city partnership with a mental health service provider. The Centre has asked all states and Union Territories to ensure normal functioning of banks and ATMs during the lockdown period as the Rs 27,500-crore financial package announced under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana will be disbursed in coming days. In a communication to chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said many state governments have issued instructions for reduced working hours of banks, functioning of limited number of branches, restriction on movement of personnel related to filling cash in ATMs and their maintenance among others. He however, said smooth banking operations and related activities across the country are essential. Further, the central government has announced a financial package under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana under which approximately Rs 27,500 crores are going to be disbursed during this week and in the coming weeks to the targeted public through bank branches, ATMs and business correspondents (BCS), Bhalla said. In view of these facts, the home secretary said, necessary instructions may please be issued by the state governments and Union Territory administrations to their field functionaries to ensure that bank branches remain functional. "Cash management and maintenance agencies of ATMs are allowed, banks are permitted to remain open and functional for extended working hours, if necessary, on March 30 and 31 for their annual closure and government business. "Local district/state/police administrations are in preparedness to coordinate with banks during the disbursement of money to the people covered under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana," he said in the letter sent on Monday. Banks, ATMs including IT vendors for banking operations, bank correspondent and ATM operation, and cash management services have been exempted under the guidelines on the lockdown measures issued under the Disaster Management Act. The 21-day lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 in a bid to combat the coronavirus epidemic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As deaths rise, footage emerges of police hitting man with baton while almost 1,000 are arrested for flouting rules. Madrid, Spain As coronavirus killed a record 849 people in Spain in one day, there were signs of unrest as the weeks-long lockdown aimed at reducing deaths and limiting the infections spread stirred tensions in the country. On Tuesday, health authorities announced Spains deadliest day yet since the epidemic began, bringing the grim tally of fatalities to 8,189. Another 9,222 people tested positive for the virus, raising the number of confirmed cases to 94,417 more than Chinas 82,240 but fewer than Italys more than 100,000. Amid the grief, as Spain entered its third week of lockdown, police were accused of using violence to enforce strict restrictions on movement, as hundreds were arrested or fined for flouting the measures. In one video clip that has been shared widely on social media, officers in northwest Spains Basque Country are seen stopping a 22-year-old man and asking him three times why he was out on the street with his mother. Under Spains state of emergency regulations, citizens can only go out alone to buy food, seek medical care, for emergencies or to work in essential industries. When the man, identified by local media as being of Moroccan background, refuses to explain, officers ask to see his papers. The film then shows that when the man approaches an officer, he is pushed back to a wall and hit twice with a baton. Witnesses watching from flats above yell: Abuse! Abuse! His mother, who tries to intervene, is also knocked to the ground by officers. La Ertzaintza detiene a un joven, su madre agrede a uno de los agentes y tambien es detenida. Mientras, desde los balcones, les arrojan objetos, les insultan y les llegan a desear su muerte. Fuente @CasoAislado_Es pic.twitter.com/adip6hJqO3 Antidisturbios (@FuerzasDelOrden) March 30, 2020 Both were arrested for attacking police officers and will appear in court at a date yet to be confirmed. An internal investigation has been launched by the Ertzaintza, the regional police force in Basque Country. Protesters in the city banged pots and pans in Bilbao to protest after the incident on Sunday. SOS Racismo, an anti-racism organisation, said in a statement: The police are subjecting people to police abuse, intensified by the lockdown that we are living at present as a society. A spokesman for the Ertzaintza told Al Jazeera the man claimed he was infected with coronavirus and spat at an officer. This man refused various times to explain why he was contravening regulations governing confinement. He and his mother were arrested for attacking officers, he said. Meanwhile, as police carry out checks across Spain, officers have arrested 926 people and fined 102,000 for flouting lockdown restrictions. Most of those stopped and fined were trying to go to their second homes, which is forbidden under the regulations. Fines vary from 100 euros ($110) to 600,000 euros ($658,000) for a serious abuse of emergency restrictions, such as protesting near infrastructure including power stations or transit hubs. However, critics fear the rules are not being applied consistently, while experts worry about the long-term effects of isolation. Before the state of emergency came into force, Spanish police detained a French man who was taking part in the Camino de Santiago religious pilgrimage. A Catalan police officer stands guard in an empty promenade in Barcelona [Emilio Morenatti/The Associated Press] Civil Guard officers detained three men near Barcelona on Tuesday who were carrying a large axe in their car. We suspect that they were going to rob a company because there is no security around to guard these places now, a police source told Al Jazeera. Diego Redolar, a neuroscientist at the Open University of Catalonia, said continued confinement may harm sleep patterns. The time change in an isolated situation can alter the adaptation of biological rhythms, especially in the elderly and children. It leads to less exposure to sunlight and more exposure to mobile phones. These can affect the quality of sleep. But Jose Ramon Alonso, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Salamanca, praised a spirit of solidarity among Spanish people. Most people are staying inside and obeying the rules. Of course, there are always a few idiots who break the law, he told Al Jazeera. CAMBRIDGE, England, March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On 13th March, a group of leading medical device development companies from Cambridge was asked by the UK Government to assist in the rapid development and manufacture of ventilators to meet increased hospital requirements, caused by COVID-19. Cambridge Consultants, PA Consulting, Sagentia, Team Consulting and TTP plc took up the challenge and MetLase provided industrial support. These companies represent the renowned Cambridge Cluster, Europe's largest technology hub, with more than 1,500 companies employing tens of thousands. The UK's engineering community has responded to the government's call for help. These five specialist medical device development organisations are applying a range of disciplines, including electronics, software development, human factors, design, thermodynamics and regulatory knowledge. This initiative unites competing businesses during an unprecedented public health emergency. With hundreds of experts working night and day, and in close cooperation, the Cambridge community has come together to address this challenge. The companies are all working to a specification published by the government, established in response to the clinical interventions understood to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19. While working on separate, parallel designs, the group is collaborating closely to support each other. High volume supply and extremely rapid manufacture are the key objectives, while remaining subject to testing and approval through the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MHRA. This is a huge technical challenge. In broad terms the companies are taking a development process that would normally take 5-6 years and attempting to deliver within 5-6 weeks, and against the background of distributed teams observing government separation guidelines. Signed by Cambridge Consultants (part of Altran), MetLase (a joint venture owned by Unipart and Rolls Royce), PA Consulting, Sagentia (a division of Science Group plc), Team Consulting (an employee owned trust), and TTP plc (an employee owned company). Media enquiries can be directed to Wayne Bontoft at the Cabinet Office press office: wayne.bontoft@cabinetoffice.gov.uk T: +44(0)207-276-6326 M: +44(0)785-892-3590 BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 Trend: Azerbaijans Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov appealed to heads of structures subordinate to the ministry, Trend reports on March 31. "By the presidential decree, the Fund to Support Fight against Coronavirus was established to take preventive steps and strengthen measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The head of state and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva transferred the annual salaries to the fund. Through the efforts of every citizen of Azerbaijan, including civil servants, businessmen, ordinary citizens, the fund collected over 100 million manat ($58.8 million)," said the appeal. You, senior executives and ordinary employees of the ministry, which are part of its structure and are subordinate to organizations, demonstrating solidarity, unity and civic responsibility, did not stand aside from this noble initiative, and voluntarily supported it with your salaries and individual donations," Jabbarov stressed. The minister expressed gratitude to everyone, feeling a sense of pride from working together with the ministrys staff. 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 The number of coronavirus cases in Madhya Pradesh went up to 66 with 19 new COVID-19 patients being reported on Tuesday, most of them in Indore, a health official said here. It was the highest increase in the number of cases in the state on a single day so far. Seventeen of the 19 new cases were detected in Indore, said state Health Department's Commissioner Pratik Hajela in the evening. A case each was reported from Bhopal and Ujjain, he added. So far, Indore, an industrial hub, has recorded 44 cases, followed by Jabalpur (eight), Ujjain (six), Bhopal (four) and Shivpuri and Gwalior (two each). The total number of patients includes five persons who died (three from Indore and two from Ujjain), the official said. The new coronavirus patient who was detected in Bhopal was a 25-year-old man with travel history to London, Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Sudhir Deharia said. He arrived in Mumbai from London and traveled to Delhi before reaching Indore, Deharia said. He was quarantined by the authorities when he arrived in Indore, but he fled from there and went to Bhopal where he was admitted to a hospital on Monday. After his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to the AIIMS here where he tested positive for coronavirus, Deharia said. Another person, who was brought from Neemuch to Bhopal in an ambulance and admitted to AIIMS on Monday night, died, the official said. But his test report came out negative for the virus, said Bhopal district collector Tarun Pithode. On Monday night, a 49-year-old woman coronavirus patient died in Indore, taking the number of deaths in Madhya Pradesh due to COVID-19 to five. The Bhopal district administration has divided the city into four zones in a bid to implement the lockdown effectively. No vehicle would be allowed to go from one zone to another. Private four-wheelers, except those engaged in essential services, would not be allowed on roads, a district administration official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After a brief stoppage related to COVID-19, workers are back on the job at the new Interstate 74 bridge. Rock Island-based ironworkers Local 111 was notified Monday, March 23, that work on the bridge was being temporarily halted after a worker tested positive for COVID-19 and a second was being quarantined, pending a test result. Work resumed Monday. "All of our members have returned to work," said Brian Atkins, business manager for Local 111. "Hopefully, we can keep at it and get that (westbound) arch tied in here real soon." Four more arch sections of the westbound (Iowa-bound) arch must be raised and adjusted into alignment before the final two sections, the keystones, can be added. When the arch is complete, the bridge deck can be raised between the arches. AMSTERDAM, March 30 (Reuters) - Dutch news agency ANP reported on Monday that problems on telecommunications networks in the Netherlands were affecting communications at some hospitals. ANP said networks operated by KPN, Vodafone and Ziggo were among those affected. ANP cited reports from hospitals in the north and east of the Netherlands. A spokesman for Ziggo, the country's largest cable provider which also offers phone and internet services, confirmed parts of its fixed-line telephone network had faced disruptions, without saying whether hospitals were affected. A KPN spokesman said its own network had not faced problems, although it said traffic moving across networks might be affected. Allestoringen.nl, a website that tracks customer outage complaints, showed a spike in complaints from customers of most national networks starting in the early afternoon. (Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Edmund Blair) AP via Shutterstock ABUJA, NigeriaSince late February, when Nigeria recorded its first case of COVID-19, taxi driver Ola Yusuf has been picking up passengers arriving at the busy Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos who are coming from countries badly hit by the coronavirus. "Sometimes I carry up to four people, who are either friends or from the same family," Yusuf told The Daily Beast over the phone. "I'm often paid in cash" (a potential vector of disease). A day after the country's 12th case of coronavirus was reported on March 18, Yusuf began to develop fever, cough and fatigue but he refused to make any move to get himself tested. Like many Nigerians, he likes to believe the virus cannot survive in the country because of its hot weather, even though there is no empirical proof that's the case with this new disease. "The story all over Lagos is that the weather will kill the virus so fast," said Yusuf, who continues to work despite his symptoms and contacts with multiple potential carriers. "If what I have is coronavirus, it will go before you know it." Across Africa, according to the most recent report by the World Health Organization on Sunday, more than 3,005 novel coronavirus infections have been reported in 42 sub-Saharan nations and territories, with another 1,317 in North Africa, and the number is now rising dramatically. There have been some 124 deaths, according to the WHO, but virtually all these numbers are vast undercounts since testing has been very limited, and some countriesnotably Libya and Somaliaare in the middle of conflicts that make any public health initiatives difficult or impossible to carry out. Meanwhile the ability of the coronavirus to spread exponentially once it appears is all too well established. Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghanas finance minister and chairman of the joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee told the Financial Times in an interview published Sunday that Africa has reached a break the glass moment, that is, an emergency where drastic action is needed from the international community in order to avert catastrophe. Story continues But with the richest nations in the world suffering their own enormous crises, help for the poorest continent may be hard to come by. The fear here is that if the disease gets into Africa's poorest neighborhoods, overcrowding and miserable sanitation could cause extremely rapid community transmission. And already the belated, panicked reaction of some governments is creating some hideous spectacles. In South Africa, the countrys health minister announced 10 days ago that the number of infections had increased from 52 to 202 in just a few days. Now the number of infections stands at 1,187, according to the WHO on Sunday, and 1,280 as of Monday on the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracking site. The countrys security forces began to enforce a three-week nationwide lockdown last Thursday in an attempt to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Those efforts turned wild on Saturday as soldiers trying to curb the spread of the virus fired rubber bullets at hundreds of grocery shoppers in Johannesburg in a bid to keep them at safe distance. Many scared pedestrians reportedly crowded together in fear when confronted with the firearms. A similar scenario occurred in Kenya on Friday when police reportedly fired tear gas at a crowd of ferry commuters in the coastal city of Mombasa before the 7 p.m.-to-5 a.m. curfew came into force. Several human rights groups, including Amnesty International, said in a statement that they have continued to receive testimonies from victims, eyewitnesses and video footage showing police gleefully assaulting members of the public in other parts of the country." The Coronavirus Disaster Youre Not Paying Attention To The rapid jump in the number of infections in the last few days means it's only a matter of time before COVID-19 moves from big cities, which have welcomed travelers infected in foreign nations, to rural areas where primary health care is almost non-existent. In Nigeria, for example, the government announced 94 new cases between March 17 and 28 despite recording only three cases between February 24 and March 16. Nigerias fight to contain the spread of the disease, difficult to begin with, was not helped by comments from United States President Donald Trump who claimed at a press briefing last week that chloroquine, a widely known anti-malarial drug, had been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat COVID-19. Despite the FDAs subsequent denial that it had approved the use of the drug to treat the virus, Trumps remarks that chloroquine had shown very, very encouraging early results in patients who tested positive for the coronavirus pushed thousands of anxious people in Nigeria to gather at pharmacies and patent medicine stores to buy the drug. A CNN report said at least three people in the city of Lagos overdosed on chloroquine and had to be hospitalized. We do not have any hard evidence that chloroquine is effective in preventing or managing COVID-19, the Lagos State government said in a statement, and expectations of a miracle treatment have made its efforts to promote social distancing even more difficult. Nigerian authorities also have huge problems getting people showing symptoms of the coronavirus to come out for testing or self isolate. About two-third of the cases so far recorded (111 by the Johns Hopkins count) are people who returned to the country from Italy, Canada, France, Netherlands, Spain, the U.S., and Britain, according to authorities. Tracing their contacts has been largely impossible, leaving open the probability that Africa's most populous nation may have far more coronavirus infections than has been reported. Contact tracing is extremely important, Nigerias minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, told a press conference in Abuja, the nations capital, over a week ago. He estimated then that there were about 1,300 people who need to be found. Now the number would be many multiples higher. Most countries in West Africa have temporarily banned travel from places worst hit by the virus, but travel across the region under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on free movement of people remains unrestricted for nationals from most of the area. There has already been one reported case of a COVID-19 carrieran American citizenentering Nigeria through its land border. "Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) detain a man during a patrol in Yeoville, Johannesburg, on March 28, 2020, while trying to enforce a national lockdown amid concern of the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus." Michele Spatari/AFP/Getty Population mobility in West African countries is seven times higher than elsewhere in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) noted in a report released in 2015 that the high degree of population movement across "exceptionally porous borders" in the region "created two significant impediments" to controlling the deadly Ebola outbreak of 2014, which killed over 11,000 people, mostly in West Africa. "Cross-border contact tracing is difficult," the report said of the challenge it faced containing the spread of Ebola in the region six years ago. "Second, as the situation in one country began to improve, it attracted patients from neighboring countries seeking unoccupied treatment beds, thus reigniting transmission chains." As the coronavirus spreads, West Africa is highly likely to see a repeat of the huge challenges the region faced during the Ebola outbreak, which lasted for two years, infecting more than 28,000 people and killing over one-third of that number. While governments in the region may have learned valuable lessons from that ugly experience, the health systems will definitely not be able to cope with a massive outbreak of the more highly contagious COVID-19. Across the African continent, hospitals face enormous burdens already as high numbers of cases of infectious diseases and common ailments like malaria and measles are coupled with poor infrastructures and inadequate numbers of medical personnel. In Nigeria, there are only 40,000 doctors in a country of nearly 200 million people, according to the country's medical association. Nigeria's doctor-to-patient ratio is four physicians per 10,000 patients, according to the World Health Organization (PDF), which also said Nigeria has only five hospital beds for every 10,000 people. In Ghana, one of Africas most politically stable countries, the situation isnt much better. Available statistics put the countrys hospital beds at 19,907. Ghana has nine beds per 10,000 thousand people, which is grossly inadequate. The ratio of hospital beds to population is even worse in Senegal, where data compiled by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) put the figure at three per 10,000 people, and Mali, which reportedly had only one hospital bed for every 10,000 people as of 2010. Of the continent's 54 countries, only 36 have the means to test for the coronavirus, according to a report by Bloomberg. A drastic increase in the number of suspected infections will make it extremely tough for laboratories to cope. "It's clear that the health systems on the continent cannot handle a spike in coronavirus infections," says Dr. Collins Anyachi of the Department of Family Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital in southern Nigeria, where thousands of Cameroonians fleeing the Anglophone crisis in their country have sought refuge. "African governments have to put a lot of effort into educating their citizens on the benefits of maintaining good hygiene, social distancing, and the importance of self-isolating if experiencing symptoms of COVID-19." Another concern dealing with the virus in Africa is the issue of discrimination against sufferers of the disease. In Kenya, a man suspected of being infected with the coronavirus reportedly was beaten to death by a group of young men who threw stones at him after accusing him of having the respiratory illness. In Ethiopia, anti-foreigner sentiment began to emerge following the outbreak of the coronavirus that has now infected six people. A security alert from the U.S. embassy has warned that foreigners have been attacked with stones, denied transportation services, being [sic] spat on, chased on foot, and been accused of being infected with COVID-19. Public health and infectious disease experts in Africa, like their counterparts elsewhere in the world, are calling on their fellow citizens with symptoms of the coronavirus to self-quarantine. But such a simple request is unlikely to be followed in many places, where families squeeze in a single room and hundreds of people share a communal water pump. While a focus on promoting good hygiene is important to preventing the spread of the virus, it is less likely it can be widely achieved in a continent where, according to the WHO, in 34 African countries fewer than 50 percent of the people have access to basic hand washing facilities where they live. As for Ola Yusuf, the cab driver in Lagos, he says he is feeling a little better now. Hes not so tired. But hes still coughing. And the passengers he has carried these last two weeks? Are they infected? Are they carriers? Nobody knows. 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. New Delhi/IBNS: Several international experts and think thank groups have appreciated Indian PM Narendra Modi's 21-day lockdown move to combat COVID-19 outbreak in India with many calling the process as a step in the right direction. Very good decision by PM Modi to call for a lockdown. For a country like India, it is important to stop the spread of this disease in the initial stage as otherwise it will prove to be catastrophic. Wishing family and friends in India all the very best. Take care and stay safe! Junaid Qureshi (@JQ_plaintalk) March 24, 2020 Amsterdam-based think- tank, the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS) called Modi's decision as 'good'. Junaid Qureshi, the Director of EFSAS said, "Very good decision by PM Modi to call for a lockdown. For a country like India, it is important to stop the spread of this disease in the initial stage as otherwise it will prove to be catastrophic. Wishing family and friends in India all the very best. Take care and stay safe!" Speaking to ANI news agency, an activist from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza praised Modi's 21-day lockdown and said the situation in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan is deteriorating because people are not following social distancing and norms of complete lockdown. "The situation in Pakistan remains out of control due to lack of leadership and a national action plan. Coronavirus patients are being sent to PoK for isolation which is totally unacceptable since it will accelerate the spread of the virus in the occupied region," he told the news agency. Senge H. Sering, a political activist from Gilgit Baltistan, who is based in Washington D.C. was quoted as saying by ANI: "Indian Prime Minister Modi is playing a constructive and supportive role as expected from the leader of world's fourth-largest economy. His policy of 'no citizens left behind' has earned him recognition from opposition parties who are also supporting his lockdown directive." Marc Benioff, an American Internet entrepreneur, praised Modi and tweeted: "Indias prime minister ordered all 1.3 billion people in the country to stay inside their homes for 3 weeks starting Wednesday the biggest & most severe action undertaken anywhere to stop the spread of the coronavirus. We need the same here in." Indias prime minister ordered all 1.3 billion people in the country to stay inside their homes for 3 weeks starting Wednesday the biggest & most severe action undertaken anywhere to stop the spread of the coronavirus. We need the same here in YY. https://t.co/1xhxeJuzGN Marc Benioff (@Benioff) March 25, 2020 Modi made the announcement for a 21-day lockdown exactly a week ago last Tuesday. However, Narendra Modi addressing 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday apologised to the nation for taking such a hard decision like 21-day lockdown to combat the spread of Coronavirus, while also warning those who are violating the norms stating they "playing with their own life." "I apologise to the nation for taking some hard decisions that have caused inconvenience to the common man. I believe you will forgive me. I had to take these steps to ensure your protection," PM Modi said during his monthly radio address Mann ki Baat. In line with the governments efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, a number of initiatives and campaigns have been launched to ensure that people isolated in their homes receive the proper care they need writes SANA. Governmental and non-governmental efforts continue in different provinces of the country to confront the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Several cleaning and disinfection campaigns were launched in neighborhoods, markets, streets and at public service facilities, in the cities of Damascus, Homs, Suweida and Tel Kalakh. In addition, various civil initiatives are launched daily to ensure the needs of citizens and to encourage them to stay at home in light of the precautionary measures to address the emerging coronavirus. In Aleppo, a civil society initiative was organized in Beit Il Church for Armenian Protestants, to distribute disinfectants, masks, and bread to the people, to ensure they have their needs met in an easy and organized manner, while remaining at home throughout this period. The head of the Armenian Protestant Community in Syria Pastor Harutyun Selimian stated that the initiative comes as part of the procedures being followed to face the coronavirus and called for adherence to health guidelines and necessary measures to maintain public safety. In Aleppo also and as part of the Stay Home Campaign, the Syrian Society for Children with Cancer launched the Food Hamper to Your Home initiative to support children with cancer and their families. The Societys Chief, Muzna Olabi, stated that the initiative aims to distribute about 100 food hampers to the families of children with cancer, to reduce their burdens in light of the precautionary measures taken to face the coronavirus. In the city of Masyaf, in the western countryside of Hama, a volunteer team called The Continues Team launched a Stay Home campaign targeting the neediest families. Ingrid Watfa, the teams official, explained that the campaign aims to meet the needs of the citys residents and a group of volunteers have been distributing food and bread freely. In Tartous, the Wasel Soutak (Let your Voice Be Heard) volunteer group participated in a campaign to distribute food and humanitarian aid targeting 170 families of the martyrs, the wounded and the missing, and the families whose activities were suspended as a result of precautionary measures due to the coronavirus. 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. Companies cutting dividends and laying off workers in a battle to survive the coronavirus crisis should not be handing millions of pounds to bosses. That is the verdict of City figures, campaigners and politicians as the pandemic threatens the health and livelihoods of millions of families across the country. And in a bid to convince big business to consign corporate greed to the dustbin and win back the trust of the public, the Mail today calls for an end to fat cat pay for good. In a bid to convince big business to consign corporate greed to the dustbin and win back the trust of the public, the Mail today calls for an end to fat cat pay for good That is not to say rewards for success should be scrapped but that now, more than ever, rewards for failure and boardroom excess cannot be tolerated. Echoing that sentiment, the Institute of Directors said fairness in pay is more important than ever at a time when many businesses are on the verge of going bust as demand slumps and closures bite. Edwin Morgan, the business organisation's director of policy, said: 'Ideally pay policy during a crisis should encourage everyone to pull together, and directors will want to show they are part of the team as staff and investors risk losing out.' In the years following the financial crisis of 2007-09, firms faced a fierce backlash over perceived corporate excess at a time when many were still struggling. But that did not stop enormous pay days for some of the country's leading bosses, from the 70.4million Sir Martin Sorrell received in one year along to the 84.7million paid to Persimmon chief Jeff Fairburn over two years. But with the coronavirus pandemic threatening our way of life, more than 150 businesses listed on the London Stock Exchange have suspended or axed their dividends so far this year. These payouts would have given investors, including savers and pension funds, more than 5.5billion. Some may even have relied on these dividends to provide them with an income. But while companies are cutting down on shareholder payouts to preserve cash, few have taken the axe to what are often seen as 'excessive' executive pay packages. Advertising giant WPP yesterday became one of the latest to suspend its dividend and 950million share buyback, in total conserving 1.1billion. It added that all members of its 19-strong executive committee and its board would take a 20 per cent pay cut to their salary for at least three months. Willie Walsh, boss of British Airways' parent company IAG, has also volunteered to take a 20 per cent pay cut for the rest of the year. Chairman and chief executive of Banco Santander, Ana Botin and Jose Antonio Alvarez, both agreed to donate 50 per cent of their salary to charities helping fight the coronavirus crisis. Gerard Lyons, former chief economic adviser to Boris Johnson and now chief economic strategist at wealth manager Netwealth, said: 'If a firm finds that curbing pay temporarily may allow them to retain all staff, then it may make sense.' Bankers in particular have come under pressure to give up some of their bonuses, as lenders critically need to be holding on to cash to ensure they have enough capacity to support businesses through the impending economic downturn. Lord Mann, a former member of the Treasury Select Committee, said last night: 'Banking will not be forgiven if executive bonuses are paid this year. Seven people tested positive for coronavrius in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday with the total number rising to 74 and a chunk of the cases having links to a religious congregation held in Delhi's Nizamuddin West earlier this month. A day after Chief Minister K Palaniswami said a number of people from Tamil Nadu -part of a group of about 1,500 people- who had been to Delhi recently to attend a meet were infected, the government said that of the seven fresh cases, five men had travel history to the national capital. Asked if the five men were part of the Tamil Nadu group that attended a religious congregation in Delhi, an official replied in the affirmative. Tablighi Jamaat had held a conference in Delhi recently. As many as 14 people form Erode, who attended the Delhi meet, had tested positive besides the five men. Of the five, three belonged to Villupuram and two were from Madurai and they have been admitted to the government medical college hospitals in their respective districts. On the spike in numbers, Palaniswami had said: "A big group of about 1,500 persons had been to Delhi and several from that group are infected. Of the 1,500 people, 981 have come back and we are testing all of them and it is the reason for the jump in numbers." The other two are a 43-year old man from suburban Pozhichalur with a travel history to Tiruvananthapuram and a 28-year old Tiruvannamalai based man. While they have been admitted to government hospitals in Chennai and Tiruvannamalai respectively, they had contacts with people who had earlier tested positive. "All the patients are stable and are in hospital isolation," the government said. Palaniswami, meanwhile, ordered extension of service of doctors, nurses, and other related medical personnel who were due to retire today, for two more months under contract. The government, meanwhile, said as part of the active surveillance, as many as 3,96,147 people in 1,08,677 houses were surveyed in 12 districts for fever and other symptoms by over 2,000 filed personnel. The 12 districts include Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Ranipet, Salem, Virudhunagar and Erode where people who tested positive for coronavirus live. The active surveillance is on in both the containment (five kilometers around the residences of those infected) and buffer zones (an additional two kilometer radius transending the containment area) to ascertain those with symptoms like fever. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2020) - Hydro66 Holdings Corp. (CSE: SIX) (the "Company" or "Hydro66") is pleased to announce that today it has entered into a secured convertible loan agreement with David Rowe, a significant shareholder and a director of the Company, and with Robert Keith, a significant shareholder of the Company (the "Loan Agreement"). The maximum amount of the loan will be USD$1,000,000 (the "Loan") in the aggregate, convertible at the market price of the common shares at the date of conversion, with the initial advance of USD$300,000 to be advanced on or before April 6, 2020 (using a Bank of Canada exchange rate on March 27, 2020 for conversion of amounts advanced in USD to Canadian dollars) (the "Initial Advance"). The remaining amounts of the Loan may be requested by the Company, if necessary, on or before December 31, 2021, in the same amounts as advanced by such lender under the Initial Advance. The Company will request that any amount advanced be made in Canadian dollars, however, the Company acknowledges that the lenders may make advances in either British Sterling or USD. The Loan will be evidenced by second ranking secured convertible promissory notes in favour of the lenders for each advance under the Loan (the "Notes"). The maturity date of the principal amount, interest and any fees of the Loan is seven (7) years from the date of the Initial Advance and the rate of interest is 10% per annum. The interest for the initial two (2) years of the Loan shall not be payable until such time as the Loan is repaid in full. The Loan will be secured by a general security interest, ranking second to a previous secured loan granted by the Company in 2018, over all of the assets of the Company, and through a guarantee of the Company's operating subsidiary in Sweden. Under the general security agreement, the Company will agree, among other things, to not pledge, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets, other than in the normal course, without prior written consent of the Note holder. The Notes issued pursuant to the transaction and any Common Shares issued on conversion of the Notes will be subject to a statutory hold period in Canada of four months and one day following the issuance of the Notes in accordance with applicable securities laws. Additional resale restriction may be applicable under the laws of other jurisdictions. The transaction constituted a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") as certain insiders of the Company agreed to advance USD$1,000,000 in connection with the Loan (using a Bank of Canada exchange rate on March 27, 2020 for conversion of amounts advanced in USD to Canadian dollars). The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the participation in the transaction by the insiders does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the first advance of the Loan, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the transaction in an expeditious manner. Immediately prior to the execution of the Loan Agreement, David Rowe had ownership and control over a total of 51,233,650 common shares of the Company, representing 39.21% of the issued and outstanding common shares. Assuming a conversion by Mr. Rowe of all of the amounts owing or potentially owing under the Loan Agreement, using a Bank of Canada exchange rate on March 27, 2020 and a conversion price for all amounts under the Loan Agreement of C$0.09 per share being the trading price of the common shares on close of business day immediately prior to the entering of the Loan Agreement, Mr. Rowe would acquire ownership and control over a total of 8,995,840 common shares of the Company, representing 6.44% of the issued and outstanding common shares. Immediately following such conversion, together with the common shares already owned by Mr. Rowe and assuming conversion of convertible securities of the Company held by Mr. Rowe, Mr. Rowe would have ownership and control over 85,197,019 common shares of the Company, representing 44.94% of the issued and outstanding common shares on a partially diluted basis. Immediately prior to the execution of the Loan Agreement, Robert Keith had ownership and control over a total of 37,523,574 common shares of the Company, representing 28.72% of the issued and outstanding common shares. Assuming a conversion by Mr. Keith of all of the amounts owing or potentially owing under the Loan Agreement, using a Bank of Canada exchange rate on March 27, 2020 and a conversion price for all amounts under the Loan Agreement of C$0.09 per share being the trading price of the common shares on close of business day immediately prior to the entering of the Loan Agreement, Mr. Keith would acquire ownership and control over a total of 6,621,937 common shares of the Company, representing 4.82% of the issued and outstanding common shares. Immediately following such conversion, together with the common shares already owned by Mr. Keith and assuming conversion of convertible securities of the Company held by Mr. Keith, Mr. Keith would have ownership and control over 60,215,505 common shares of the Company, representing 35.54% of the issued and outstanding common shares on a partially diluted basis. The Note is intended to be acquired for investment purposes. Messrs. Rowe and Keith have a long-term view of the investment and may acquire additional securities of the Company either on the open market or through private acquisitions or sell securities of the Company either on the open market or through private dispositions in the future depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors. A copy of Messrs. Rowe and Keith's early warning report will appear on the Company's profile on SEDAR within two days following the issuance of the Note and may also be obtained at such time by calling (416) 361-2817 (Suite 401, 217 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 0R2). About Hydro66 Hydro66 owns and operates an award-winning colocation data centre in Sweden specializing in High Performance Computing ("HPC") hosting. The Company hosts third party IT infrastructure, utilizing 100% green power, at amongst the EU's lowest power prices and within an ISO27001 accredited facility. Hydro66 is uniquely positioned to capitalize on opportunities in blockchain infrastructure as well as the traditional Enterprise colocation data centre market. The Company provides truly green power at a leading price, purpose-built space and cooling, telecoms, IT support services and 24/7 physical security in their facility in Boden, Sweden. For more information please visit: www.hydro66.com FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Paul Morrison Chief Commercial Officer of Hydro66 UK Limited paul.morrison@hydro66.com (+44) 7789 915 147 or Jason Atkinson Director of Corporate Development Jason.atkinson@hydro66.com (647) 938-5266 Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53990 Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Jamaatu Nasril Islam, Alhaji Saad Abubakar lll The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Jamaatu Nasril Islam, Alhaji Saad Abubakar lll has lambasted some Muslim clerics for misleading their followers over the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus in the country. According to Punch, the sultan, who is also the spiritual leader of Muslims in Nigeria, was particularly sad that some Muslim clerics were going against measures put in place to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 across the land. He condemned the attitudes of the clerics, warning that the coronavirus was real and that adequate precautionary measures must be adhered to. The leader of Izalatu Islamic sect in Plateau State, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, had in a preaching told his followers that there was nothing like the deadly coronavirus ravaging the world. Jingir had said it was a western conspiracy to stop Muslims from performing their religious rites, noting that the virus was a lie. The sect leader had stated this during a sermon on an Izala TV, monitored in Kaduna penultimate Tuesday. Apart from that, two Islamic clerics were caught while conducting the Friday congregational prayers in Malali and Ungwan Kanawa areas, all in the Kaduna North Local Government of the state. This was despite the curfew imposed on the state by the Kaduna State Government to tackle the spread of COVID-19. The Sultan chastised the Muslim clerics, urging them to desist from misleading the Muslim community on the deadly virus. The Sultan described the attitude of some of the Islamic clerics as unfortunate and myopic. He noted that it was sheer ignorance for any Islamic cleric to claim there was nothing like coronavirus currently ravaging the entire world. The Sultan, who spoke through the JNI Secretary General, Dr Abubakar Khalid-Aliyu, in a statement, also warned that the Muslim ummah (community) must never allow a repeat of what happened in Italy in Nigeria. The statement read in part, Jamaatu Nasril Islam under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, JNI, is once again saddened with the recent unfortunate developments of misleading the Muslim Ummah (Community) by some sections of Ulama (preachers) over the coronavirus prevalence. We must as an Ummah avoid a repeat of the current trend in Italy, which was partly due to non-adherence to expert advice over the pandemic. Allah, the most wise says So ask those who know if you know not Q16:43. Therefore, we should all bear in mind that knowledge is an amanah (trust) and must be safeguarded and delivered as such, thus the need for this statement. One may not be wrong to conclude that the action of some of the Ulama clearly depicts sheer whims and caprices of their myopic worldview, stark ignorance of reality based on genuine knowledge and medical scholarship. It is, however, regrettable that as the negative actions of such preachers incite innocent Muslims, who are unaware of the serious health implications of adhering to such empty dispositions that invariably endanger humanity. Nonetheless, it should be noted that the issue of plague and/or pandemic is not new throughout human history, either at various times or places, the Muslim world inclusive. It is thus sheer monumental ignorance to falsely claim that the pandemic of the coronavirus does not exist and that it is a lie and a shadow of a ghost. Such lamentable utterances leave much to be desired by any scholar that is worth being called a scholar. Moreover, the matter is a documented fact whose medical precedents have been set in curbing its tide in human history. Therefore, the current position of government is not a new standpoint to curtail the spread of the infection. Rather, new methods of mitigating it and nipping it in the bud emerged in this contemporary world we live in, as a result of scholarly findings. BUFFALO, N.Y. - Activity from phony Twitter accounts established by the Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA) between 2015 and 2017 may have contributed to politicizing Americans' position on the nature and efficacy of vaccines, a health care topic which has not historically fallen along party lines, according to new research published in the American Journal of Public Health. The findings, based on machine learning analysis of nearly 3 million tweets from fake accounts, expose a general threat made startlingly more relevant in the face of the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, according to Yotam Ophir, an assistant professor of communication in the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences, who co-authored the study. "There is a real danger of health topics being politicized and used as propaganda tools. If that happens for topics such as coronavirus, people would be inclined to evaluate the importance and veracity of health messages - from either health experts, politicians, or trusted media outlets -- based on how it reflects their political leanings," says Ophir, an expert in computational modeling, media effects and persuasion. "If people perceive health topics as being aligned with a political agenda, whether it's left or right, then they will consequently begin to lose trust in health organizations and question their objectivity." To understand why this might only be the beginning of more intense polarization is to understand that the threat posed by polarizing health care topics may be an unintended side effect of Russian attempts to influence other political discussions, including topics tied closely to the 2016 U.S. presidential election. "I don't believe the Russians wanted to sow discord around vaccines specifically, but rather chose to harness social tensions around vaccines in order to make the Republican characters they created appear more Republican and the Democratic characters they created to appear more Democratic. This intensifies a recently emerging divide where one previously did not exist." The Russians' intentions in this particular case, however, don't matter when considering the implications for public health, according to Ophir. What is pertinent is that the IRA used a public health topic to serve its own strategic and political needs that targeted Republicans and Democrats with different messages. If that proves effective, the Russians will ramp up their misinformation campaign, moving from what might be an unplanned outcome to a more persistent and focused effort. "In recent years, we see the change already with Republicans starting to lose trust in vaccines while Democrats seem unmoved," Ophir says. "Again, I don't think the Russians care about vaccines, but along the way they created and intensified this emerging divide. "Now they can target each party with different messages, spreading misinformation unequally, targeting susceptible groups with lower trust in government and science." Ophir's paper with Dror Walter, an assistant professor of communication at Georgia State University, and Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, began as a conversation at a 2018 conference, after it was first discovered that Twitter troll accounts were discussing non-political topics such as vaccines. At around the same time, Jamieson published "Cyber-War," a book about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election that identified thematic personas among Twitter trolls. These personas are designated topical and linguistic roles played by each fake account. Inspired by Jamieson's work, previous research and Ophir's focus on connecting health misinformation and politics, the team used computational methods to identify nine personas among nearly 2,700 accounts. The pro-Trump personas were more likely to express anti-vaccine sentiment, while anti-Trump personas expressed support for vaccines. Accounts falling under the persona type mimicking African Americans and Black Lives Matter activists also expressed more anti-vaccine messages. The researchers used their own method, the Analysis of Topic Model Networks, to identify patterns among the nearly 3 million tweets and network analysis that treats each topic as a node in a semantic network. This form of unsupervised machine learning finds associations and clusters that are beyond human reach. "I have reason to strongly believe, though we don't have the data, that Russia and other countries who try to interfere in our political discourse will use coronavirus to spread misinformation and rumors to solidify the relationships they're building with new troll accounts that replace the ones removed by Twitter," says Ophir. "The virus is not political, but when any health topic becomes a political matter at the expense of fact, the result is to base conclusions and make decisions, such as whether to social distance or not, on party loyalty, not science. "That's extremely dangerous," Ophir says. ### (Photo : JEENAH MOON on Reuters ) FDA Says Yes to Coronavirus Cure From Israel; US Gov't Ready to Test Trial Medicine Starting Next Week (Photo : BRENDAN MCDERMID on Reuters ) FDA Says Yes to Coronavirus Cure From Israel; US Gov't Ready to Test Trial Medicine Starting Next Week Coronavirus cure is still not found by health experts around the globe. Thankfully, there were already a lot of hospitals testing their versions of COVID-19 cure for a faster way of solving the viral disease. On Sunday, Mar 29, a U.S-Israeli pharmaceutical company found a medicine that may lead us to flatten the curve to this disease. The US Food and Drug Administration also wants this medicine to have its test trials starting next week. Will it be the long-awaited solution we're looking for? US FDA: Israeli drug to cure Coronavirus now OK for test-trial! As of today, Mar 30, more than 700,000 people were already infected with COVID-19, while over 35,000 died. With this, everyone is now more determined to find a way to solve this pandemic. Interestingly, the US FDA finally approved medicine that may be one of a potential cure against the virus. On a local report in Israel, NeuroRx, a US-Israeli pharmaceutical company, and Relief Therapeutics, a Swiss drug development company, had finally got approval from the FDA. The companies explained that they are not yet approved to market the medicine. They are only allowed for test trials. The companies are currently approved to create phase-two testing trials starting next week of a possible cure from COVID-19 called Aviptadil. The drug called Aviptadil is a synthetic form of a neuropeptide hormone that works to enable communications between neurons in the human nervous system. Since COVID-19 patients mostly experience difficulty in respiratory function-- which kills diagnosed patients, the substance is expected to be the solution for this problem. Specifically, Aviptadil is said to cure Acute Respiratory Distress in most coronavirus patients. There's still no assurance However, to clarify, both companies reiterated that they still have no assurance that Aviptadil cures Coronavirus. On the other hand, with the help of the go-signal from the FDA, they are now legally capable of testing the substance to COVID-19 patients. FDA approves distribution of the anti-malarial drug to cure COVID-19 Just like Aviptadil, US FDA also approved other possible Coronavirus cure from the past. The Trump administration, according to the Washington Post, had also given directives from the agency to legally distribute anti-malarial drugs across the country. Drugs, including hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, were part of the distribution. "It is reasonable to believe that chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate may be effective in treating covid-19,'' the FDA's chief scientist, Denise Hinton, wrote in the letter granting emergency approval. However, other health experts expressed their dismay with the FDA. Most of them say that the FDA might be rushing things out by allowing the distribution of 'off-label' drugs for rapid testing without proper studies. "The concern really is if we're talking millions of patients, then this issue of drug-induced sudden cardiac death is absolutely going to rear its ugly head,'' said Michael Ackerman, a pediatric cardiologist, and professor at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, who last week co-authored a key paper about the risks in response to the surge in the drugs' use. For now, let's see what will happen. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Australian workers stood down during the coronavirus pandemic have been warned the government's new JobKeeper package may leave them ineligible for welfare support payments. On Monday Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced an unprecedented plan to pay struggling businesses $1,500 per employee per fortnight to subside their wages. The $130billion scheme will pay the wages of six million Australians for the next six months, with employers legally obligated to pass each payment on to their workers. However, the third stimulus package may clash with the coronavirus supplement set up to help Australians laid off during the crisis - a $550 payment which will be made on top of eligible welfare benefits from April 27. Scroll down for video People queuing outside a Centrelink office in Bondi Junction last Tuesday after pubs, cafes and restaurants were forced to close. Australians have been warned they may not be eligible for welfare if they receive a JobKeeper payment In a notice issued following the announcement of the $130billion wage subsidy, the Treasury said those receiving income from the scheme must report the payments to Services Australia. The fact sheet used the example of a single worker, 'Phoebe', with no children who would be eligible to receive $1,124.50 before tax per fortnight under the JobKeeper scheme. 'Phoebes employer has decided to apply for the JobKeeper Payment for all its eligible employees for up to six months,' the example said. 'This would entitle Phoebe to $1,500 per fortnight before tax. Phoebes employer is required to advise her that she has been nominated as an eligible employee to receive the payment. 'If Phoebe elects to receive income support though Services Australia, she will need to report her income from the JobKeeper Payment to Services Australia.' The example said as a result the worker may no longer be eligible for welfare support, which includes the $550 payments. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces the government's $130billion wage subsidy package at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday Australians queue outside a Brisbane Centrelink last week. The JobKeeper wage subsidy needs to be reported to Services Australia, and may make the employee ineligible for welfare The flat-rate JobKeeper payment is about 70 per cent of the median wage and is roughly equal to the median wage in the industries most affected by the pandemic, such as hospitality and tourism. The payment will go to full-time workers, part-time workers and casual workers who have been employed by a company for 12 months, regardless of how many shifts they worked. The policy will apply to workers who have already been stood down, provided they were on their employer's books on March 1. The scheme is part of the government's third round of measures to shore up the economy as officials urge people to stay at home to slow the spread of coronavirus. In total, the the three relief packages amount to more than $320billion, or 16.4 per cent of GDP. 'We want to keep the economy running through this crisis, it may run in idle for some time, but it must run,' Mr Morrison said. WHAT IS THE $70BILLION JOBKEEKER PACKAGE? JOBKEEPER SUPPORT PLAN * Workers will get $1500 per fortnight through their employers * It's equal to about 70 per cent of the median wage * The total cost for a six-month period was said to be $130 billion, but was revised to $70 billion WHO CAN GET IT? * It applies to full and part-time workers, as well as sole traders * Casual workers will get it if they've been on the books for 12 months or more * Workers stood down since March 1 are eligible * Six millions Australians are expected to benefit * Kiwis on 444 visas will also get the payment WHICH COMPANIES CAN APPLY? * Those with turnovers that have fallen by at least 30 per cent * For businesses with annual turnovers of more than $1 billion, that must have fallen by 50 per cent or more * It also applies to not-for-profits * Companies can register on the tax office website WHEN WILL PAYMENTS START? * From May and backdated to March 30 * Parliament will reconvene to pass the underpinning legislation - Australian Associated Press Advertisement 'We will give millions of eligible businesses and their workers a lifeline to not only get through this crisis, but bounce back together on the other side,' he added. The payments via the ATO will be made to businesses, sole traders and not-for-profit organisations whose revenues decrease by 30 per cent or more due to the coronavirus fallout. Any business that turns over more than $1 billion will have to prove revenues are down 50 per cent to be eligible. The kits were moved from Guangzhou via Dubai by the air cargo carrier on the first of two such flights operated to transport supplies to Sao Paulo. During the same week, Emirates also executed two special charters carrying almost 200 tonnes of medical supplies such as hand sanitisers and protective face masks from Hong Kong to Sydney while another flight transported pharmaceutical supplies to Karachi. As part of a special charter operation, an Emirates Boeing 777 freighter transported close to 100 tonnes of relief material including hospital equipment to Milan and over 55 tonnes of highly temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals were flown to New York from Mumbai. Between March and April, the air cargo carrier will also be operating nine freighter flights to Budapest as part of a charter to transport supplies such as face masks and equipment to Hungary. In addition to transporting critical medical supplies around the world, Emirates SkyCargo is also playing a vital role in bringing food materials into the UAE and the Middle East. During the last week of March, the carrier operated special flights from Pakistan and India to bring in more than 150 tonnes of perishables to Dubai. Dedicated cargo flights from Cairo and Nairobi have also been transporting perishables to Dubai and onwards to other destinations within the Middle East. "In these trying times, we more than ever stand by our commitment for Emirates SkyCargo to act as a global conveyor belt for the transport of much needed commodities such as food and medicines and also for flying in equipment, machinery and other components which are vital for business continuity across essential industries," said Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo. "As an extremely agile and customer-focused business, we have been able to establish a new network and schedule for our cargo operations within a very short period of time, utilising lower deck capacity on our widebody Boeing 777 passenger aircraft which supplement the cargo capacity we offer on our freighter aircraft. "Additionally, in order to consolidate operations and reduce costs in this new scenario, we have also temporarily shifted all our cargo handling operations to Dubai International Airport (DXB). Taken together we are making sure that we react more quickly to requests coming in from every part of the globe from our customers," Sultan added. Dedicated cargo flights on passenger aircraft Emirates SkyCargo has announced a new flight schedule for its global cargo operations which also includes cargo flights operated on its Boeing 777 passenger aircraft. These flights will offer around 40 tonnes of lower deck cargo capacity per flight and will supplement the cargo capacity being offered on Emirates' fleet of freighter aircraft. These cargo only flights are scheduled to operate to over 30 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia with a majority of destinations being served with multiple weekly and daily flights. The schedules and destinations for the dedicated cargo flights on passenger aircraft have been planned keeping in mind optimal interconnectivity with Emirates' scheduled freighter operations. 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. Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Tuesday that all Texas public schools would be closed through May 4. As reported in the Houston Chronicle, Abbott also issued a new order that extends social distancing guidelines to April 30 and defines essential services in line with what President Donald Trump announced two days ago. Abbotts last order closed schools through April 3. Because most school districts in Montgomery County were already closed until at least April 10 New Caney ISD is closed through April 19 the previous order did not have any local impact. While this extension delays the return to normalcy that we all long for, we know it is the right decision to protect the health of our Conroe ISD family and greater community, CISD Superintendent Curtis Null wrote to employees and families following the governors announcement. During this time, we will continue the distance learning that is in place along with providing meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays. CISD advises families to reach out to their campuses with any questions or needs at this time. While we miss seeing all of our students and staff, I am proud of our teachers and students on a successful launch of online learning yesterday, Willis ISD Superintendent Tim Harkrider said in a release. We know these are challenging times, and we want to assure you that we are working hard to provide meaningful instruction. We will continue to offer learning resources and guidance for our students as we know providing instruction during this time is crucial. We are proud of our students and parents for embracing this very different and new reality. Harkrider assured the community that health and safety was the districts number one priority and encouraged families to visit the district website for updates. Splendora ISD will extend our school closure until Monday, May 4 as ordered by Governor Abbott, in an effort to support the nation's need to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Jeff Burke, superintendent of Splendora ISD, in a release. Our district remains hopeful that we can reopen our schools in May, but we are preparing plans for any eventuality. These plans will be communicated as soon as they are available. Parents, we miss your children. Please know that we are doing everything we can to keep our community safe and to come up with inventive and innovative ways to honor and engage our students. Montgomery ISD encouraged families to visit the district website if they need remote learning resources and updates. Remote instruction is occurring and the amazing MISD educators are reaching out and into the homes of our students every day. MISD is committed to staying connected with our families, a release to the community stated. We will get through this together. Federal guidelines recommend that people stay 6-feet away from each other and gathering in groups of more than 10 is discouraged. The guidelines continue to recommend that anyone with preexisting conditions, and older people, remain in isolation. Just yesterday Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough issued a shelter in place order for residents of The Conservatory at Alden Bridge, a senior living facility in The Woodlands where 13 residents have tested positive for COVID-19. It was announced today from the Montgomery County Public Health District that there are now 93 confirmed cases in the county. Reporter Meagan Ellsworth contributed to this story. jamie.swinnerton@chron.com In the recent days, a number of Iranian high-level officials, politicans, public figures and media agencies actively comment on the RA decision to open an embassy in Israel. Iranian figures, condemning the official Yerevans decision, call to review it. The first to comment on the topic was Iranian Parliament Speaker's Aide Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who declared that the opening of the embassy in Tel Aviv will have a negative impact on the security of the region. Armenpress have talked with the expert on the Iranian affairs Zhanna Vardanyan on the topic. -How will you explain the manipulations by some Iranian MPs and number of media agencies on the topic of opening the embassy of Armenia in Israel. -Iran is very sensitive to the activities demonstrated by its opponents Israel and the United States in the region and especially in the neighboring countries. From time to time we have witnessed the same reaction towards Azerbaijans relations with Israel on the background of weapon purchases. The same reaction was expressed during the visit of the US presidents adviser John Bolton to the region. During Boltons visit, Yerevan once more proved that in contrast to the other neighbors, is a transparent and reliable partner for Tehran. Despite the difficult situation around Iran, Armenia always supported the friendly relations with the neighboring country, while in case of emergencies helped the neighboring people. Taking this into consideration, the convulsions among some circles in Iran are irrelevant and give an impression of being directed by the third side, or worse, it can be ordered. What refers to the official Yerevans position, the Armenian authorities have declared many times, that any new or deepening cooperation will not be at the expense of other relations, especially will not undermine the relations with friendly and neighboring countries. This principle is more obvious in case of the relations with Iran: the relations with no actors can harm the relations with Tehran, and, of course, Armenia-Iran friendly relations cannot be an obstacle for Yerevans political path to deepen partnership with other countries. -Can one assume from your comments that such a reaction by the Iranian side is possibly a directed anti-Armenian campaign. If, yes, what is its aim? -The first remarkble reaction was the statement of the Iranian Parliament Speaker's Aide Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, which was followed by the publications of Iranian popular media agencies. It shows that there were some direction and coordination. Before that, a limited number of marginal, pro-Azerbaijani and not so popular Iranian media agencies touched the topic, they still continue to keep the topic active these days. The Turkic-speaking circles also refered to the topic, which are famous for their pro-Azerbaijani stance. What refers to Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, it should be stated that he is from the conservative group, the other members of which also commented on the topic. And the popular media agencies, which published critical articles on the topic, are also conservative ones. And it is not a secret that the conservatives have tougher rethoric on the issues relating to Israel. I want to conclude that such reactions are mainly in the context of Iranian internal politics and do not have a foreign track. Particularly, the government of Iran and the ones who come up with these critical statements are from different political fronts. And possible the conservatives gather dividents against reformists at the expense of Armenia, which is still unaccaptable and is not in the interests of bilateral relations. -What impact can such a course have on Armenian-Iranian relations? -The majority of Iran's newly elected Parliament are conservatives. In addition, in 2021, presidential elections will be held in this country. According to the preliminary estimates, a conservative candidate will winagain. And if the conservatives continue to make such statements, it will again be necessary at different levels to present them Armenia's policy towards neighboring states. Armenian-Iranian relations are bilateral relations and should not be conditioned by a third party. Armenia, like Iran, forms its foreign cooperation based solely on its own interests. Moreover, if Armenia excludes actions against Iran in its relations with Israel, then it is logical to expect such an approach from Iran as well. Armenia understands Tehran's friendly and neighboring relations with Baku, but Yerevan does not accept the rare anti-Armenian demonstrations in them. It hasn't been once, that, for example, exhibitions dedicated to the so-called "Khojaly genocide", conferences dedicated to the "theme of the liberation of Karabakh", anti-Armenian statements etc. were made in Iran. Statements on the Artsakh conflict made at various meetings in the Iran-Azerbaijan-Turkey format are also unacceptable to Armenia. Such behavior of friendly Iran and participation in such initiatives does not follow the logic of bilateral friendship. On the other hand, we have common interests with Iran in the region, including on the issue of "coming danger from Israel". It is not a secret that Azerbaijan buys a significant part of its weapons from Israel. These weapons can be used not only against the armed forces of the Armenian states, but also against Iran, and there was such a precedent. Tehran's concern is that neighboring countries won't turn into an anti-Iranian platform. In case of Armenia, such concerns are inappropriate, taking into consideration historically proved friendship of the two neighboring states. Armenia will not take actions that will harm relations with Iran. However, Armenia itself decides what kind of relations it will have with other countries. I am sure that such inappropriate convulsions by some Iranian circles can not leave a trace on the millennial friendship of the two peoples. A person driving home late Monday night found a mans body in the middle of a north Harris County roadway, apparently dumped there after a deadly altercation moments earlier. The victim, believed to be in his 40s, was riding with two other men inside a silver or white early 2000s Chevrolet Impala near the 300 block of Wells Fargo Drive when they got into some kind of argument, according to Harris County Sheriffs Office Sgt. Ben Beall. One of the men pulled a gun and shot the victim, Beall said. MORE FROM JAY R. JORDAN: Houston father threatens son with gun for taking too long in shower, police say Detectives believe the two men then dumped the body on Wells Fargo Drive near Cypress Station Drive, which was discovered by the driver around 11:40 p.m. Beall said one of the two men in the car is in custody, although theyre still searching for the car and second man. Nearby surveillance video captured the car, Beall said. Anyone with information is urged to call Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477). 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 Dr Arvind Lal, Chairman and MD, Lal Path Labs on Tuesday said that that the testing ratio for COVID-19 needs to be increased to effectively combat the pandemic. "We are currently testing 38 persons per million of population while the USA and UK are testing more than 2000 people per million of population. We have to increase the testing ratio to find positive cases and segregate them. The government of India is still maintaining that community spread has not happened," Lal told ANI. Lal said now the government of India has revised the criterion for who can be tested for COVID-19. "Now we can test anybody who has come in contact with people suffering or having some kind of signs and symptoms, which we were not allowed to test earlier. The testing numbers have suddenly jumped up. In India, we have tested about 38,000 people so far," he said. He said that India has started taking precautionary measures much before the World Health Organisation (WHO) blew the siren. "We were aware of what is going to happen. Fifteen days before WHO declared this COVID-19 to be an emergency all over the world, India had already woken up. We had started screening all these visitors who were coming from the affected countries. We were quite geared up," Lal said. Lal, referring to the number of confirmed cases said it is "not a very large number" but added that testing has to increase. Referring to the measures taken by the government, Lal said: "If we start having a surge of patients, then the government has made provisions where these patients can be admitted. For example, the AIIMS Trauma Centre has been turned completely into a COVID hospital." "We have estimated that 5 per cent of all positive cases require ventilator support. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2020) - Roscan Gold Corporation (TSXV: ROS) (FSE: 2OJ) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the shareholders voted in favour of all items of business before the Annual and Special Meeting of the Shareholders held in Toronto, Ontario on March 26, 2020. Shareholders holding 28% of the shares of the Company eligible to vote were present in person or by proxy at the meeting. Election of Directors The nominees for directors listed in the management proxy circular for the meeting were elected. Details of the vote are set out below. Nominee Votes for % For Votes Withheld % Withheld Sir Samuel Jonah 44,241,900 99.856% 60,000 0.135% Nana B. Sangmuah 44,216,900 99.808% 85,000 0.192% Greg Isenor 41,266,900 93.149% 3,035,000 6.851% Michael Gentile 44,241,900 99.856% 60,000 0.135% Auditor Re-appointment RSM Canada LLP was re-appointed Auditors of the Company to hold office until the next Annual Meeting or until its successor is duly appointed. Company's Stock Option Plan The shareholders voted in favour of the resolution approving the continuation of the Company's Stock Option Plan. Company's RSU/DSU Plan The shareholders voted in favour of the resolution approving the Company's RSU/DSU Plan. ABOUT ROSCAN Roscan Gold Corporation is a Canadian gold exploration company focused on the acquisition and exploration of gold properties in West Africa. The Company has assembled a significant land position of 100%-owned permits in an area of producing gold mines (including B2 Gold's Fekola Mine which lies in a contiguous property to the west of Kandiole), and major gold deposits, located both north and south of its Kandiole Project in west Mali. For further information, please contact: Andrew J. Ramcharan Executive Vice President - Corporate Development and Investor Relations Tel: (902) 832-5555 Email: aramcharan@Roscan.ca Greg Isenor Executive Vice-Chairman Tel: (902) 832-5555 Email: gpisenor@Roscan.ca Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as 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/53909 Irans vice president for economic affairs lamented the free fall of the countrys oil revenue. Mohammad Nahavandian told Iranian state TV that oil inventory has dropped to one-eighth of where it stood in 2011. The comments came after the global oil market was rattled by the coronavirus pandemic, which has slashed international demand for crude. The damage to Iran, the worlds fifth largest oil producer, has been particularly disruptive. The price of Iranian heavy crude fell below $14 per barrel March 31 not good news for a government that has based its fiscal budget on the rate of $50 per barrel. The US government has pursued a maximum pressure policy against Iran since 2018. The campaign has sought to zero out Irans oil revenue, and force other nations to turn away from Iranian crude. The policy has squeezed Iran's crumbling economy, leaving Tehran with limited export options, which have plummeted to all-time lows. Iran is now wrestling with the coronavirus epidemic, a costly fight that, according to government estimates, will require an extra $1 billion budget. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei controls the countrys store of emergency reserves in the National Development Fund, and last week, President Hassan Rouhani requested the withdrawal of the $1 billion package from that fund. Five days later, Khamenei's decision is still pending. Back in January, the supreme leader agreed to a similar request from the Iranian parliament for 200 million euros to boost the Quds Force, the overseas branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The decision came after a US airstrike in Baghdad killed the forces commander, Qasem Soleimani. On March 31, the Iranian Health Ministry reported 141 new coronavirus deaths in one day, pushing the death toll to around 2,900. Despite the rising trend, Rouhani has expressed satisfaction with Iran's progress in subduing the epidemic, saying the country has done a relatively better job compared to other nations. However, the president has come under fire for giving false hope. Mostafa Moein, the head of Irans Supreme Medical Council, urged Rouhani to refrain from issuing fake assurances. Moein described Rouhanis stance as wishful thinking and warned of a looming catastrophe. Cash-strapped Iran has complained that US sanctions and pressure have slowed down its response to coronavirus. The Iranian ambassador to Paris, Bahram Ghassemi, blamed thousands of coronavirus-related deaths on US sanctions. Similarly, the head of the Iranian mission to the United Nations, Majid Takht Ravanchi, lamented the impact of US pressure on Irans treatment of coronavirus patients, denying US claims that sanctions have spared the medical sector. To curtail the epidemic, Iran is currently practicing social distancing amid its new year holidays. The measures come at a time when an unspecified number of Iranians are already traveling, as the government initially refused to impose strict bans. The policy will be in place until April 8, with stringent checks on entering cities, where those who fail to prove residence are denied entry. Nevertheless, a perceived failure to robustly implement those bans in some areas continues to draw criticism. Aziz Akbarian, a member of the Iranian parliament, claimed foreign pilgrims are still touring the holy city of Qom, the epicenter of the virus in Iran. The governments belated containment measures have also fueled worries about an infection backlog caused by new transmissions as travelers return to their hometowns, further exacerbating the situation. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 By Ilkin Seyfaddini Trend: Eight more Uzbek citizens have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of infected people in the country to 158, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Health. The first case of coronavirus infection in Uzbekistan was detected on March 15 in the laboratory of the Research Institute of Virology; it was Uzbek woman who returned from France. The Ministry of Health later announced that her son, daughter, husband and grandson also tested coronavirus-positive. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 37,800. Over 786,200 people have been confirmed as infected. Meanwhile, over 165,800 people have reportedly recovered. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. Several countries are working on a vaccine against the new virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan had a telephone conversation today with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the Armenian PMs Office told Armenpress. The officials exchanged information about the situation in the two countries caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the actions of the governments in this respect. PM Pashinyan and President Lukashenko also discussed issues relating to the mutual cooperation within the frames of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Both highlighted the necessity to hold regular consultations and take joint actions. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Australia's beauty industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis. But rather than shutting up shop completely, many of the country's leading brands have found new ways to serve their customers. From virtual skin consultations on Zoom to at-home brow kits, questionnaires to get you the perfect makeup shade and free gifts to help you try new products - there are plenty of ways to maintain your beauty regime from home. Many of Australia's leading industries have been hit hard by the onslaught of COVID-19, but many are also finding new ways to service their clients online (Melanie Grant pictured) Celebrity facialist Melanie Grant (pictured) - who boasts Kim Kardashian and Victoria Beckham as some of her most devoted clients - is currently offering bespoke skin consultations over either FaceTime, Google Meet or Zoom SKINCARE Leading skincare brands, facialists and dermatologists have jumped on the technology bandwagon with aplomb - showing it is possible for you to look after your complexion, even without your regular monthly salon peel and treatment. Celebrity facialist Melanie Grant - who boasts Kim Kardashian and Victoria Beckham as some of her most devoted clients - is currently offering bespoke skin consultations over either FaceTime, Google Meet or Zoom, where she recommends specific regimes targeted to the concerns of your skin. 'Although our in-studio treatments are paused for now, our online boutique Skin Care Edit is open and offers next day product shipment, virtual consults and personalised one-on-one skincare advice with our expert Skin Therapists,' Melanie said. The skin expert has also launched 'curb-side collection' in her Sydney salon, meaning you can collect your products on the same day you want them. Sydney's Inskin Medispa (pictured) is offering free postage on all items sold, as well as gifting of specific samples - so that you can trial new skincare products and not worry about the potential early effects while your skin gets used to them Ella Bache has also created Virtual Salons (pictured), offering all Australians complimentary digital beauty services at home including skin consultations via video chat. Melanie is not the only skincare studio offering new and different services in the light of COVID-19. Ingestible beauty brand The Beauty Chef (pictured) is also offering a free Well Spray with any order over $130 Sydney's Inskin Medispa is offering free postage on all items sold, as well as gifting of specific samples - so that you can trial new skincare products and not worry about the potential early effects while your skin gets used to them. Ella Bache has also created Virtual Salons, offering all Australians complimentary digital beauty services at home including skin consultations via video chat. On the chat, a therapist will recommend targeted at-home solutions to your concerns, meaning you can keep your skin bright, healthy and illuminated from home. Meanwhile, ingestible beauty brand The Beauty Chef is also offering a free Well Spray with any order over $130. Leading brow studio Amy Jean Brow Agency is sending out DIY Brow Dye Kits ($115) to their customers whose brows need some attention (Amy and the brow kits pictured) Benefit's National Brow Artist Hannah Mutze (pictured) is also offering regular beauty tutorials on Instagram, to help you perfect your eyebrows from home If you want to keep your brows in shape at home (pictured), avoid magnifying mirrors and opt for natural light. Don't tweeze every few days as it interferes with growth EYEBROWS How to keep your brows in shape at home * Avoid magnifying mirrors and opt for natural light when you're tidying them * Don't tweeze every few days because it interferes with the natural growth cycle * Invest in a quality pair of slant tip tweezers by Benefit or Tweezerman * You'll also need a spoolie brush, a brow pencil and cosmetic scissors to create shape Advertisement Eyebrows are one of the things across the country that men and women will miss. Whether you wax, thread, tint or dye, it can be hard to replicate the same look at home with your arches - but not any more. Leading brow studio Amy Jean Brow Agency is sending out DIY Brow Dye Kits ($115) to their customers whose brows need some attention. The kits include 1000 Hour Brow Lash Tint, cotton tips, Vaseline, an Amy Jean Retractable Brow Brush,an Amy Jean Dual Ended Tweezers and Amy Jean Clear Brow Gel. There are also instructions online as to what you should do to keep your eyebrows looking 'on fleek'. Benefit's National Brow Artist Hannah Mutze is also offering regular beauty tutorials on Instagram , to help you perfect your eyebrows from home. Trinny Woodall's makeup brand Trinny London (pictured) has also developed a Match2Me function, whereby you fill out a questionnaire to get an eyeshadow or a product directly matched to your skin type and colour MAKEUP With Australia's leading beauty store Mecca now closed until at least the end of April, it will be hard to know about new makeup products and try them before you invest. But Mecca have considered this by developing a new platform to help its customers stay up to date with exclusive product launches and announcements if they can't visit stores. The platform is called Mecca Live and provides daily updates about beauty and what you need to know. Trinny Woodall's makeup brand Trinny London has also developed a Match2Me function, whereby you fill out a questionnaire to get an eyeshadow or a product directly matched to your skin type and colour. These sorts of services mean it's easier to invest in new items without having to patch test in a store. Jaye Edwards, owner of Edwards and Co salons, has already transferred much of his business online, creating 'home colour kits' which clients can use to treat their own hair until restrictions are lifted (pictured) HAIR While it is still possible to go out and get your hair cut, women across the country will be pleased to know that leading hairdressers have also developed ways and means to service you - whether you can or can't go to the salon. Jaye Edwards, owner of Edwards and Co salons, has already transferred much of his business online, creating 'home colour kits' which clients can use to treat their own hair until restrictions are lifted. He told FEMAIL he is already shipping dozens of kits to clients across the country, providing them with their choice of dye, brush and mixing bowl, towel, gloves, foils to prevent colour transfer and detailed instructions on application. Basic kits start from $119.95 with free shipping and contain enough dye and equipment to colour hair three times, making them an purchase for anyone practicing social distancing or living in self-isolation. Jaye and his team are also offering $25 FaceTime consultations for existing customers to help them find their perfect colour match. Basic kits start from $119.95 with free shipping and contain enough dye and equipment to colour hair three times (pictured) Similarly, Anthony Nader of Raw Anthony Nader is also offering boutique guidance. While his Sydney salon is still open from Wednesday to Saturday, Anthony is also available for FaceTime consults, helping customers trim their own fringes or offer styling advice. You can message him directly on Instagram for this service, and there will be no charge for a consult. A simple way to continue removing hair is to invest in a portable machine, like the $299 device created by entrepreneur Dylan Mullan called Happy Skin Co (pictured) HAIR REMOVAL While there isn't much of a substitute for in-salon laser removal, if you do need to remove your hair and don't want to shave, you can do it at home. A simple way to continue removing hair is to invest in a portable machine, like the $299 device created by entrepreneur Dylan Mullan called Happy Skin Co. Australian-owned and made it's the first company to launch an at-home Intense Pulsed Light laser hair removal handset. The handsets work because the light energy from IPL is absorbed by the melanin in the hair, which then turns to heat and destroys the hair cells. 'Most people will see complete results by the time they've completed their 12th session, so long as they zap the area once a week. At this point, hair generally stops growing completely however this doesn't mean it will never grow back,' Mr Mullan told FEMAIL. 'You actually have to be careful when anyone claims "permanent" laser hair removal as all forms of laser hair removal will require maintenance or eventually the hairs will start growing back. 'After completing your initial session, you would only have to use your handset about once every three months to maintain smooth, hairless skin.' The Posse Plus Retreat will take place this upcoming weekend. Its a yearly event, but for Grinnell Posse Scholars, this specific retreat is unique: it marks the end of the presence of the Posse Foundation at Grinnell College. The Posse Foundation is a college access and leadership development program that identifies talented students to attend institutions like Grinnell College. In the spring of 2016, Grinnell College made public its decision to terminate the Colleges relationship with Posse, meaning that the class of 2020 will be the last Posse at Grinnell College. The decision was met with controversy from not only Posse scholars, but faculty members and other students. Four years later, the Colleges choice to sever its relationship with the program is still not completely understood or accepted, especially by current members of Posse. It seems like there are a lot of different factors [that lead to the end of Posse]. No one has really made it a point to be open and honest and direct and what the nature of the entire [Posse] relationship was and how it developed over time, said Posse scholar Langston Thomas 20. In the 2016 all-campus memo sent out containing the news of the termination, College President Raynard Kington wrote, This broader approach is consistent with our comprehensive approach to student retention. Through data analytics and better use of our advising resources on campus, we are moving toward approaches designed to improve retention and success for all Grinnell students. The S&B reported on March 1, 2019 that Joe Bagnoli, former vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid, said that admissions has reinvested the Posse budget in new opportunities for student success. Grinnell College has used the Posse budget to collaborate with organizations such as Raise Me, Cloud Peak Project, Chicago Scholars, Schuler Scholars, the Questbridge Program, College Greenlight and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. The affiliation to some of these organizations began after the termination of Posse. For the other groups that the College already had a connection with, Bagnoli had said that the school not only strengthened these relationships but increased their budget. For Thomas, the only way to get students from underrepresented programs on campus is through Posse. He does not believe that any other program can do what Posse has done. The only thing that I think would even be worth seeing is reestablishing the [Posse] relationship. I dont really see a middle ground, he said. Lynn Nguyen 20, a Posse scholar, also believes that Grinnell College will suffer from both the absence of the Posse program and the students who will not have had the opportunity to study at the College. Posse was a way for the college to recruit strong leaders from diverse backgrounds to enrich the campus environment, as well as to support those students, who might be disadvantaged in many ways, to successfully complete their education, Nguyen wrote in an email to The S&B. I think without a Possetype program and a commitment to continued support for students from such backgrounds, Grinnell Colleges retention rates and accessibility to students of diverse demographic backgrounds will suffer. Theres a different kind of leader that Posse can bring, said Thomas. The upcoming retreat plans to celebrate the presence of Posse and the opportunities it gave to the College. This year, Posse alumni have also returned to campus to bring the program to a full circle and connect old scholars with the present. But Thomas does not see how the weekend is meant to be a celebration. Outside of us graduating, I dont see how its a celebratory moment, he said. Naiya Willis-Hogan 20, a Posse scholar, doubts that Posse will be reinstated at Grinnell College. I hope that Grinnell finds a way to bring in students of diverse backgrounds, like Posse did, and also implement a way to actually support these students so they feel confident enough to lead and make change on campus, she wrote in an email to The S&B. For Thomas, Nguyen and Willis-Hogan, Posse was a fixture of their college experience. Without Posse, they probably would not be on campus. Being out here is hard, but I love that I am close with a couple people in my Posse and I am confident if I needed their support, they would provide it without question. With Posse covering tuition, that was one less thing I had worry about on top of being a student at a good school. Im generally cynical, but I acknowledge the impact that Posse had on my time here because I would not be here without it, said Willis-Hogan. Thomas echoes this sentiment. He is grateful for the opportunities he has been provided through Grinnell College, but he acknowledges that without Posse, these opportunities may not have been a reality. I am only here because of Posse. Posse brought me here, he said. The Office for Intercultural Affairs was unavailable for comment on the future of the Posse program at Grinnell. The Delhi High Court has asked the AAP government to respond to a plea seeking appointment of an Advocate General to represent and provide legal advise to the government of Delhi. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar issued notice to the Delhi government and sought its response by May 22 on the petition. The petitioner, Abhijit Mishra, has contended that under Article 239AA, which gives a special status to Delhi, the Legislative Assembly has powers to make laws for the national capital territory with respect to any of the matters, with the exception of public order, police and land, mentioned in the state or concurrent list of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. He has contended that this would also include appointment of an Advocate General. Mishra, who claims to be a financial economist, has said in his plea that the position of Advocate General was "essential" for providing Delhi government with legal advise on matters of administration and governance. The petition, filed through advocates Payal Bahl and Ameet Singh, has also sought formulation of "rules and conditions" for appointment of an Advocate General and setting up of a committee for carrying out the selection process. Mishra, in his plea, has said that he has moved the PIL after the Delhi government, in response to a complaint lodged by him on the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System, said the appointment of Advocate General was beyond its jurisdiction. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 21:05:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a tea farm in Huangjingtang Village in Xianning City, central China's Hubei Province, March 31, 2020. Sun, who is leading a central guiding group to oversee the epidemic control work in Hubei, inspected spring plowing and production resumption in Xianning on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li He) WUHAN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan Tuesday called for efforts to organize spring plowing and help enterprises resume work and production. Leading a central guiding group to oversee the epidemic control work in Hubei Province, the previous epicenter of the COVID-19 epidemic, Sun, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while inspecting spring plowing and production resumption in the Hubei city of Xianning. The group visited a tea farm and two enterprises in the city. While ensuring the epidemic control, efforts should also be made to capitalize on the window for spring plowing, Sun said, urging strengthened farm management, detailed technical guidance for farmers, convenient transportation for agricultural materials and more help for Hubei to sell farm products. Sun also stressed that during this critical period to resume work and production, the supporting measures for industries should be improved to provide more driving forces for enterprises. Preferential policies for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises should be fully implemented, Sun noted, adding that the problems of local authorities and enterprises should be solved in a timely manner. Washington, D.C.'s mayor says the city's residents could be jailed for 90 days or slapped with a $5,000 fine if they are seen to be leaving their home while efforts are being made to curb the spread of coronavirus. Mayor Muriel Bowser's directive came just hours after neighboring Maryland and Virginia each unveiled similar orders on Monday. 'Our message remains the same: stay home,' Bowser said in a statement on Monday. District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday announced an order requiring residents of the nation's capital to stay at home or potentially face criminal charges 'Staying at home is the best way to flatten the curve and protect yourself, your family, and our entire community from COVID-19. Many people want to know how they can help right now, and for most people this is how by staying home.' 'When we slow the spread of COVID we protect our hospitals and healthcare facilities from getting overwhelmed. We are able to keep more hospital beds open and make better use of limited resources,' she said. There are exceptions to the stay-home order for grocery shopping and essential workers. People are allowed to perform exercise outside as long as people keep six feet apart or are with members of the same household. The region is working to curb the spread of the coronavirus. People are allowed to perform exercise outside as long as people keep six feet apart or are with members of the same home Residents are also able to obtain medical care but there is still a ban on mass gatherings of 10 people or more. The nation's capital has had a relatively small number of coronavirus cases with just 401 documented so far. The threat of jail time did not sit well with those pushing for civil liberties at this time. 'When we saw this order, we thought, 'You want to send them where?'' Monica Hopkins, executive director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia said to the New York Post. Wisconsin Avenue in Washington DC pictured at 5pm during the evening 'rush house'. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a mandatory stay-at-home order for Washington residents 'People being arrested for that causes all sorts of problems that are antithetical to the goals of lessening the virus. 'What we would hope for is voluntary compliance with the stay at home order and discretion on the part of officers to break those sort of things up and send people home,' Hopkins said. Presidents Trump's former White House director of strategic communications was also taken aback by the new rules. 'This is insane. Criminal penalties?' tweeted Mercedes Schlapp. Presidents Trump's former White House director of strategic communications was taken aback by the new rules Twitter followers were quick to respond. 'There is a pandemic going on. Just thought I'd let you know,' wrote one user. 'The politicians are out of control. They have no legal authority for most of what they are doing. They must pass law, not create edicts. Government of the people. Not totalitarian by mayors, governors etc.' added another. It's not clear whether residents would be issued warnings for a first offense or what treatment the city's 6,500-person homeless population will receive. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Carnival Corp.s planned $3 billion bond sale on April 1 is bound to make a fool out of someone. Its just not clear whether it will be the investors buying the cruise-line operators debt or the company. The case for investors looking foolish: Carnivals ships are grounded, which of course cuts off its dominant source of revenue. The companys share price has tumbled from $51 at the start of the year to about $14 as it expects a loss in 2020. Even if it manages to raise $6 billion through bond and stock sales as planned, analysts say that only gives Carnival an 18.5-month liquidity cushion to wait out the coronavirus-induced halt. Thats not much comfort, given that the bonds mature in twice that time and its anyones guess when or if the cruise business returns to normal. The company, on the other hand, is on the verge of paying vastly more to borrow than its triple-B credit rating would indicate. Bloomberg News reported Tuesday that Carnivals three-year dollar bonds are being marketed with a 12.5% coupon and most likely will come at a discount, bringing the yield up to 13%. In early February, a triple-C rated company, Husky, issued debt at a similarly high rate. Obviously, it feels as if the entire world has changed since then, but even the average single-B bond yields just 9.35%, and the index never topped 12%, even in the height of the sell-off. Effectively, Carnival is investment grade in rating only markets consider it seriously distressed. Bloomberg News even reported that the deal is running off of JPMorgan Chase & Co.s high-yield syndicate desk, citing people familiar with the matter. Every once in a while, a single corporate-bond sale takes on outsized meaning about the state-of-play in credit markets and investor sentiment about the outlook going forward. Carnivals offering will almost certainly be such a deal. Carnival, quite contrary to its jovial name, made headlines earlier this year because its ships were basically what much of America has now become, only with virtually no refuge. As my Bloomberg Opinion colleague Timothy L. O'Brien reminds us about the Zaandam, a vessel run by Carnival subsidiary Holland America thats been called a death ship: Story continues Although the cruise ship is no stranger to viral outbreaks (two years ago, 73 passengers contracted a norovirus on a trip off the coast of Alaska), the Zaandam and other Holland America and Carnival ships have received high marks in recent sanitation inspections by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet reports have popped up regularly about other Carnival ships that dont pass muster. (The parent company manages several brands, and the Princess lines have particularly weak health and sanitation records.) So how well prepared was Carnival for something as cataclysmic as the coronavirus? Moreover, why did the Zaandam set sail on March 7? Well before then, two other Carnival ships had already become poster children for the coronavirus. On Feb. 4, the Diamond Princess was quarantined at a Japanese port after a former passenger tested positive for the virus. A subsequent test administered to that ships 3,700 passengers and crew turned up 700 infections; several of those people later died. As early as March 3, it was reported that passengers aboard a Grand Princess cruise in February had tested positive. That Carnival ship, returning from Hawaii, was then detained off the California coast for several days before docking on March 9 to prevent a further spread. That doesnt scream a company worth investing in, especially without signs of federal assistance. But notably, bond traders arent necessarily banking entirely on a quick rebound in the cruise industry. Carnivals new notes will be secured by a first-priority claim on its assets, which should provide some ballpark estimates of a worst-case recovery rate. Still, its a tough sell to hinge an offering on liquidation value for a company operating in one of the industries facing the greatest amount of uncertainty. Usually, this is how a deal with such a finger-to-the-wind yield level goes: Investors swarm to the offering and the yield comes down by 50 or 100 basis points, maybe even more. JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Bank of America Corp., which are managing the bond sale, have little incentive to float a coupon rate that was too low to easily clear the market. They want to drum up demand and showcase an oversubscribed order book. These are not ordinary times, though. While I seriously doubt that Carnival would be willing to pay a yield even higher than 13%, its possible that the market just isnt as receptive to hard-hit businesses as it appears. In that case, the offering could be delayed or downsized a bit. Its issuing in both dollars and euros, potentially to reach a broader swath of investors and avoid such an outcome. Unfortunately for Carnival, it needs the cash quickly. Thats hardly an ideal time to be borrowing. And its why 13% might be just the right yield for the company and investors alike to let go of their inhibitions. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Brian Chappatta is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering debt markets. He previously covered bonds for Bloomberg News. He is also a CFA charterholder. 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. EU gives 240 mln for Syrians in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon Regional Trust Fund has provided 2 bln total now (ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, MARCH 31 - With a 240-million-euro aid package, the EU on Tuesday announced increased support for Syrian refugees in Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. In total, the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis has provided more than 2 billion euros in financial aid. The fund was originally set up in 2014 in order to tackle the humanitarian crisis caused by the Syrian war and will operate until 2023. Some 168 million euros of the aid package announced Tuesday will support Syrians in Lebanon, with 57.5 million for schools and facilities for children, 60.5 million for Syrian refugees in Jordan, and 10 million for Syrians in Iraq, according to a European Commission statement. EU High Representative Josep Borrell said in the statement announcing the package that the aid was a way to continue supporting Syrians and neighbouring countries in the tenth year of the crisis affecting the war-town country, as a way to help them build a future and deal with the most immediate challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. (ANSAmed). Thuraya, the Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) subsidiary of the UAE-based global satellite company, Yahsat, has welcomed the launch of the Covid-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) announced by the United Nations Secretary-General on March 25. The company will use its expertise and apply lessons learned from the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, to help the global community implement the HRP and save lives during the Covid-19 pandemic, it said in a statement. The Global HRP is a co-ordinated $2 billion humanitarian response to fight Covid-19 in 51 of the worlds poorest countries across, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and South America. It is led by UN agencies with support from other international organizations and NGOs with a humanitarian mandate. Sulaiman Al Ali, Deputy CEO of Thuraya, said: We fully support the Covid-19 Humanitarian Response Plan. Successful operations during emergencies depend on timely and proper communication among relief workers, donors and affected communities. In over 20 years of operation, and as a signatory of UN Crisis Connectivity Charter, Thuraya has always stood by the international community during crises. We work closely with organizations such as International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) to provide first responders and health missions a reliable satellite communications platform that is independent of terrestrial systems and available at all times. Providing ubiquitous coverage in more than 160 countries, Thuraya will enable always-on voice and internet connections for Covid-19 relief missions, especially in regions where telecommunications infrastructure is likely to be weak or unavailable, the statement said. The company had a similar arrangement with ETC during the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak, when it supplied voice and broadband links for the World Health Organization, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NetHope and other NGOs in the severely affected areas of Sierra Leone. Wireless connections were essential for health workers and relief agencies in different locations to stay connected and share instant updates, including emerging hotspots and rates of death and recovery. However, cellular networks could not handle the surge of user traffic. Only widespread use of satellite communications kept vital information flowing. Thuraya also has a standing agreement with ITU to deploy its terminals for immediate assistance during emergencies and natural disasters. Its mobile satellite phones and broadband devices enable solutions that can help relief workers achieve maximum impact, while limiting their exposure to Covid-19. Devices such as Thuraya X5-Touch and Thuraya IP+ support telemedicine applications that offer timely advice and support to caregivers treating affected communities in remote locations. Thuraya can augment coronavirus relief work in remote locations through telemedicine solutions such as teleconferencing kits and connected ambulances. The ambulance-to-hospital telemedicine system works over Thurayas IP broadband terminals and satellite network, connecting onboard wired and wireless medical devices to hospitals and diagnosing physicians. It transmits patients vital signs data in real time, enabling remote diagnosis and primary care that could greatly improve survival chances and levels of future health for patients. Moreover, relief agencies can use the solution to collect data on the spread of virus and visualize the pandemic, trace contacts and collect information to support health surveillance. It can also assist in coordinated efforts to deliver necessities such as vaccines and other medical supplies, or even satellite communications equipment. Reliable communications are urgently required where the threat from Covid-19 is greatest. The social distancing strategies introduced by governments across whole populations are expected to place severe strain on cellular networks and internet traffic. By increasing capacity over hotspots, Thuraya will ensure service continuity, even when there is a sudden surge in demand from remote medical setups, healthcare institutions and NGOs, it added. TradeArabia News Service The longstanding stereotype of Japan's office-bound "salaryman" is being tested as companies cautiously embrace working from home in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Japan's government has for years been trying to encourage firms to implement "flexible working patterns", hoping that less demanding office hours will help women return to work after having children and men share more housework and childcare. But uptake has been slow. A survey published last year found around 19 percent of companies offered a telework option, but just 8.5 percent of employees polled had tried it out. Experts say part of the challenge is the social stigma attached to deviating from the "salaryman" stereotype of the suited-up office worker who proves his dedication by spending long hours at his desk. Polls show "the Japanese still have this image that telework isn't real work because you're not physically in the office," said Haruka Kazama, an economist at the Mizuho research institute. That's a view familiar to Yuki Sato, 35, currently experimenting with teleworking for the first time. "The image of going to the office is very strong. You have to show that you work hard and long hours and that you help your colleagues," Sato told AFP. "With telework, we can't show our goodwill and motivation," he added. - 'It's actually nice' - But the spread of the new coronavirus has forced employers and workers to give telework a try in Japan, and Sato for one has been pleasantly surprised. "Unlike I'd expected, it's actually nice. Much easier than going to the office," said Sato, who has been working at home since February when the government began asking workers to telework to avoid spreading the new coronavirus. He works for a Tokyo start-up, Phybbit, which offers services to counter digital fraud, and had never before tried working from home. "This experience has completely changed my image of teleworking," he told AFP in the small office he has set up in the family home he shares with his wife and two children. For a start, it saves him two hours of commuting a day, meaning he has more time with his daughters, whose schools are currently closed. "I can also give them their bath in the evening, something I could never do during the week before because I was never home before 8pm." Sato's wife Hitomi takes primary care of their daughters, six-year-old Yurina and four-year-old Hidano and said she has welcomed the helping hand at home. "I'm glad that he's here, and the girls are happy to spend time with their dad," she said. The Japanese government has renewed its push for teleworking and off-peak commuting in recent years, hoping to ease the burden on the notoriously congested Tokyo public transport system, particularly ahead of the Olympics. But there hasn't been much enthusiasm. - 'Mindsets are changing' - Kunihiko Higa, a professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology who specialises in flexible work options, attributes that to reluctant managers. Many of them "consider teleworking only as a tool for workers," he told AFP. "In other words, they don't understand that teleworking, if used in the right way, can be a management strategy tool." The coronavirus outbreak appears to have achieved what government campaigns could not, forcing the hands of firms who may previously have been reluctant. "The situation has put their backs against the wall. They've been forced to give their employees the choice to telework," said Kazama. A poll carried out at the end of February by the Keidanren business association of nearly 400 major firms found nearly 70 percent had already begun implementing teleworking or were planning to because of the pandemic. The switch hasn't been universal. Workers still cram onto commuter trains -- albeit in smaller numbers -- and Japan's parliament is hardly setting the tone, continuing to hold sessions and ministerial press conferences. And there is no guarantee yet that companies will continue to allow teleworking when the crisis eases. But experts said being forced to try teleworking was likely to leave a lasting impact in Japan, with companies beginning to see working from home as a feasible and even attractive option. "I think mindsets are changing," said Kazama. Japan's government has struggled to induce firms to offer teleworking, but the coronavirus epidemic means many are now experimenting with working from home Yuki Sato has been working at home since February, and has more time to spend with his two daughters and wife Japan's government hopes telework can help mothers return to employment after having children and ease the burden on Tokyo's notoriously congested transport system Job losses from coronavirus could soar to more than 47 million, the Fed estimates, leaving nearly a third of Americans unemployed. The 'back-of-the-envelope' estimates by an economist at the St Louis Federal Reserve are astronomical because this 'is a rather unique shock that is unlike any other experienced by the U.S. economy in the last 100 years.' Economist Miguel Faria-e-Castro's figures do not account for those who may decide not to seek re-employment, who therefore do not count as unemployed, nor do they account for the impact of further government bailouts. Congress has so far this month approved a $2 trillion economic relief package and a $100 billion bill addressing paid sick days, unemployment benefits and food aid. According to a Reuters survey of economists, initial claims for state unemployment benefits probably climbed to a seasonally adjusted 3.5 million for the week ended March 28. Estimates in the survey were as high as 5.25 million. Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., March 20 That would be an increase of between 220,000 and 1.97 million from the prior week's 3.28 million, reflecting both the newly unemployed as well as states catching up on previously filed applications that had not yet been captured in the system due to overwhelming demand. More states enforced 'stay at home' policies last week. A historic $2.2 trillion package, or Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed by President Donald Trump last Friday is making it easier for workers to seek unemployment benefits. It raised payments for the unemployed by up to $600 per week per worker, and laid-off workers would get those payments for up to four months. The Labor Department's easing of filing restrictions is also believed to be contributing to the surge in claims. It has given states flexibility to amend their laws, allowing them to provide benefits to workers temporarily unemployed because of the coronavirus or who need to care for a sick family member. An electronic sign board urging citizens to stay home and stop the spread of the coronavirus is seen displayed above a road in the foreground of One World Trade Center in New York, on Sunday 'These changes will allow millions more to file, and the CARES Act removes still more restrictions,' said Chris Low, chief economist at FHN Financial in New York. 'Anecdotally, we have reason to believe many companies waited for the CARES Act to pass before letting workers go.' Some economists say the new bill would encourage unemployment filings. 'Inevitably the stimulus has created some perverse incentives, potentially inflating the unemployment numbers,' said Michael Pearce, a senior economist at Capital Economics in New York. 'The $600 a week additional federal unemployment insurance, equivalent to $15/hour for a 40-hour week, means there could be cases where workers will prefer to accept a temporary layoff.' Some state officials say they're struggling to process a flood of applications, and to adapt computer systems to accept new types of claims allowed under the CARES Act. That's creating a backlog of claims that aren't yet showing in the official figures. A file photo shows a street sign for Wall Street outside the New York Stock Exchange 'We will finish the week out through tonight, midnight, with 75,000 applications submitted,' Cher Haavind, spokeswoman for the Colorado Labor Department, said in a phone interview on Friday. By comparison, Colorado reported less than 20,000 jobless claims to the Department of Labor last week. 'Both the unofficial applications submitted and the official U.S. DOL claims will go up, in coming weeks,' Haavind predicted. In Minnesota, officials are asking people to stagger their unemployment insurance filings to limit the strain on their processing systems, with those whose Social Security numbers end in 0, 1 or 2 to file on Monday, 3, 4 or 5 on Tuesday, and those whose numbers end in 6, 7, 8 or 9 to file on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday are reserved for people who missed their designated day. 'Many states reported severe backlogs. Their systems were simply not designed to process the sheer volume of claims they faced,' said Tim Quinlan, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina. U.S. unemployment benefits processing is built around a decades-old mainframe computer system, which each state has modified in different ways, making the changes described in the bill difficult to quickly adopt nationwide. The unemployment office is one place that is hiring. Colorado has about 200 of its 500 labor department employees working on processing claims now, Haavind said, and is hiring another 90 temporary workers. Episcopal priest, first coronavirus case in nation's capital released from hospital Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The first confirmed case of coronavirus in Washington, D.C., an Episcopal priest, has been released from the hospital and is continuing his recovery at home. The Rev. Tim Cole, rector at Christ Church Georgetown, recently garnered headlines when he became the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the District of Columbia. Chad Thorley, senior warden of Christ Church Georgetown, told media that Cole had been cleared to return home and was discharged on Thursday. He spent three whole weeks in the hospital. That was a long ride for him and a long ride for all of us, Thorley, told news station WTOP. And the recovery has been slow, but hes definitely on the upswing now, and hes resting comfortably at home. Thorley also said Cole had some serious issues with his lungs themselves, and that will take some time to repair itself. So now that hes home, its basically just rest and taking it easy, doing some work from the house, but not anything like he would usually be doing if he hadnt had this happen, Thorley added. Cole tested positive for the coronavirus in early March and was hospitalized. His diagnosis was considered alarming in part because he had encountered scores of congregants. I can now confirm that I am the individual [in Washington, D.C.,] who tested positive for the coronavirus, Cole wrote in an email to parishioners on March 8, according to The Georgetowner. I want to assure you that I will be okay. I am receiving excellent care and am in good spirits under the circumstances. I will remain quarantined for the next 14 days as will the rest of my family. In an update sent to the congregation on March 15, Christ Churchs staff reported that Cole was fever free and feeling pretty good. The church also noted in the update that other members of their congregation with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are resting at home and continuing to improve. Continue to reach out to your neighbors, particularly those whom you might not have contacted previously. Lets care for one another and continue to hold our community in prayer, the church's update added. News of Coles improvement comes as D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a stay-at-home to take effect on Wednesday to help curb the rate of coronavirus infections in the area. The stay-at-home will allow residents to leave their homes only under certain conditions, including necessary medical care, essential business, obtaining food, and recreational activities under certain restrictions. Residents who violate the order can be fined up to $5,000 and imprisoned. Staying at home is the best way to flatten the curve and protect yourself, your family, and our entire community from COVID-19, said Bowser in a statement released Monday. Many people want to know how they can help right now, and for most people this is how by staying home. Disneynature documentary Elephant, narrated by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (inset). (Disney+/Karwai Tang/WireImage) Ordinarily, the release of a new nature documentary to a streaming service would make very few waves in the press. However, the new Disney+ doc Elephant is no ordinary release. The wildlife documentary, produced under Disneys Disneynature banner and released exclusively on Disney+ on 3 April, marks the first piece of media work undertaken by Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, since she and Prince Harry consciously uncoupled from the British Royal Family. Meghan and Harry have not carried out any public engagements since 9 March, but the official date they stop being working royals is 31 March, so the timing of Elephant has been choreographed to perfection. Read more: The best child-friendly docs to stream The couples announcement in January that they wanted to step back from their roles as senior members of the Royal Family, and make their own money, came as a surprise to the British public. It was reported by The Times in January that Meghan had signed a deal with Disney for a voiceover to in exchange for a donation to charity Elephants Without Borders. According to Press Association, it is understood that Meghan was approached by Elephants filmmakers last summer, who asked if she would consider recording the narration. The film itself is fairly standard nature documentary fare. Filmed in Botswana and Zimbabwe, it tells the stirring story of African elephant Shani and her son Jomo as their herd makes a journey across the Kalahari Desert, led by their great matriarch Gaia. As youd expect from a Disney doc, its a family-friendly, bloodless affair, but beautifully shot and not without moments of peril for the herd of elephants. Read more: Trump says Sussexes security will be privately-funded Meghans voice is not as familiar to the British public as say Prince Charles, or Harry himself, so her involvement may come as a surprise to casual viewers upon first watch. Her name is not invoked by the film until the closing credits where its listed as Narrated by: Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex. Story continues Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive to attend the European Premiere of Disney's "The Lion King". (Niklas Halle'n-WPA Pool/Getty Images) Unsurprisingly for an actress with over 15 years of experience, her voiceover is confident and assured, and it brings to life the elephant herds story in an entertaining way. There are some delightful moments of exuberance, including a scene where an elephant breaks wind and Meghan cheerfully asks oh, who did that? She seems to be having a lot of fun with the work, recorded by Jemma Riley-Tolch and Helen Miles at Pinewood Studios in London, but its almost impossible to ignore the rich context of the script (written by Mark Linfield and David Fowler) which, at times, seems cheekily on the nose given Meghans recent past. So proud to have recorded the voiceover for this with @LenSound - it is a fantastic moving story. It was an absolute joy and pleasure #womeninfilm https://t.co/dlV3RrKPao Jemma Riley-Tolch (@JemmaRileyTolch) March 26, 2020 Gaia, the elderly matriarch, leads the elephants with unwavering devotion to the survival of the herd: Where she leads, the herd follows, Meghan explains. Theres talk of the herds sons leaving home to seek their own fortunes, and in one scene, where one of the calves gets stuck in some mud, the matriarch has to step in to save him: shes the only one who can help... this matriarch is a force to to be reckoned with! Gaia navigates the great plains using her unbroken chain of memories passed down from generation to generation that stretch back a millennia, and she passes on her experience through a line of succession in order to ensure the survival of the herd. Theres an obvious successor for when Gaia finally falters, but the voiceover ponders: do they have what it takes to lead the herd? Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Princess Beatrice of York, Princess Eugenie of York, Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex at Trooping the Colour in London, England. (KGC-09/STAR MAX/IPx 2019 6/8/19) We give it about 20 minutes from after the documentary hits Disney+ before some wag online edits her voiceover onto footage of the Royal Family at work as a spoof. Regardless of Meghans voiceover, theres a lot to enjoy in this educational documentary thats sure to go a long way in helping the cause of Elephants Without Borders. And Meghans future as a voiceover artist, if thats something she wishes to pursue, seems rosy too. Elephant launches on Disney+ from 3 April, along with Dolphin, narrated by Natalie Portman. A construction worker has been refused bail after he was accused of threatening to give gardai the coronavirus before attempting to bite and spit at them following his arrest in Dublin. Radu Timoc, 51, with an address at Harrington Street in Dublin 8, was arrested on Monday evening for suspected drink-driving. He was charged with careless driving, failing to give gardai a breath specimen, resisting arrest, making threats to kill or cause serious harm to a Garda and a Garda sergeant, and violent behaviour at Irishtown Garda station. Garda Ruth Finnegan told Judge John Cheatle at Dublin District Court that Mr Timoc made no reply when charged. She objected to bail and told the court the threat charge could carry a maximum 10-year sentence. She said Mr Timoc was driving erratically at Merrion Square north and she observed him mount a kerb as he took a left turn. Garda Finnegan said Mr Timoc swerved across two lanes and narrowly avoided a cyclist. She signalled him to stop but after he halted his car jolted forward again. The garda patrol car parked in front of him and he became agitated, the court heard. It was alleged he refused to be breathalysed and threatened gardai that he had coronavirus and was in the Romanian mafia. The court heard he was originally from Romania but has lived in Ireland for the past 15 years. She alleged Mr Timoc tried to spit and bite gardai and as a result she believed he was a danger to members of An Garda Siochana and the public. She did not agree with defence solicitor Eoin Lysaght that it was a case he got carried away. The solicitor said his client had too much to drink and had not bitten or spat at them. Garda Finnegan replied that the reason was Mr Timoc was restrained and held on the ground, however, he did spit on the ground, she added. She agreed he was a lot quieter now and the court heard he was fully employed, had no prior convictions or history of warrants. She reiterated her concern he was a risk to gardai and the public. Pleading for bail, Mr Lysaght said his client should not have been driving and should have complied with gardai. The solicitor said Mr Timoc may have misunderstood what the garda was saying. Denying bail, Judge Cheatle said: Unfortunately due to the current crisis I cannot not take the risk that he would make good on his threat to bite or spit at members of An Garda Siochana or the public if he finds himself in similar circumstances. Mr Timoc was granted legal aid and remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday. Catherine Tyldesley attends The British Soap Awards at The Lowry Theatre on June 3, 2017. (Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage) Catherine Tyldesley has joked that Chinese eating habits have led to the COVID-19 pandemic in a video posted on social media. The former Coronation Street actress, who was playing her comedy alter-ego Olga Keff in the video, said she was showing her followers one of her favourite lockdown recipes, which is a cheese sandwich with brown sauce. She said: Tell you what, if Chinese had stuck to cheese sandwich we wouldnt be in this mess. The comment was an apparent reference to the theory that the virus may have been passed to humans by bats. Tyldesley said in the video that she was going to share a really simple recipe with her followers. Today we are going to make a cheese sandwich, she said. The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant added: Its a firm favourite of mine. We are going to use lactose free cheese, cant go near cows milk me, goes straight through me. 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 36-year-old Tyldesley played Eva Price on ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2011 to 2018. In 2019, she participated in the 17th series of BBC dance show Strictly with Johannes Radebe as her professional partner. They were eliminated in week six. The series was won by Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher. The Maharashtra BJP hit back on Tuesday after an editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana slammed its former ally's legislators for contributing funds to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak to the party's kitty rather than any national corpus. BJP general secretary Atul Bhatkalkar dug out an old new report to claim that Sena MLAs had similarly contributed to party funds during the flooding in several parts of Maharashtra. "Despite being a part of state government (at the time with the BJP), Sena MLAs deposited their monthly salary at the Shiv Sena headquarters in Dadar. Why should (Saamana executive editor) Sanjay Raut get agitated when we do the same? He should see what his party has done in the past before writing an editorial," Bhatkalkar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are soon going to be officially non-senior royal members. While they wanted to be financially independent, hence the decision to leave the royal life, Markle is said to be now beyond worried about whether they can really make it as "commoners." According to a royal insider, the finances of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are presently in shambles. They are reportedly shocked by all the expenses they have to shoulder now. However, what's worse is that they just repaid the costs for the multi-million-pound refurbishment of their Frogmore Cottage Home, so funds are really low. The insider shared that the two have promised to pay back the money they used for the renovations into the Royal Purse as part of their deal with Queen Elizabeth. Now that their financial situation is so much clearer now, the Duchess of Sussex is starting to worry and is urging her husband to get a job that can see them through. Speaking to US tabloid National Enquirer, the insider revealed, "This debt is a blow to their ambitious plan to become freewheeling billionaires in the world." The insider added, "Meghan is terrified that her dreams of being a Hollywood queen will be destroyed by this financial nightmare, and she is insisting that Harry make a move and resolve the crisis." Markle is hardly jobless and dependent on Prince Harry, though. it was just confirmed that she struck up a deal with Disney to narrate its latest documentary, Elephant. The thing is, the money has already been donated as the project was filmed way before she and Harry announced their departure from the Royal family. Moreover, they recently announced that a private arrangement for their security in the United States has already been made, so that means more expenses! They made the announcement following President Donald Trump publicly tweeted that the United States certainly will not foot for the two's security detail, regardless if he is personally close to them. For several hours after that announcement, people were bashing at the possibility of the two asking the United States to make some special funding arrangements for their safety and security. Relying on Prince Harry, however, might not be a good idea, the insider shared. even if Harry has grown up privileged, he hardly has marketable skills because he never had a real job, at least from the insider's point of view. "He does not have a university degree, nor does he know a second language. He only has military training," the insider rationalized. Harry may have made a big sacrifice for his "rebellious American wife," but they might soon see this sacrifice blow up in their faces. The insider even claimed that this financial issue is starting to ruin their marriage, and they could now be at a breaking point. It remains to be seen though if more acting or narrating roles open up for Markle. "Elephant' will only start streaming on April 3, so the world has to reserve judgment on how well she can narrate. The documentary follows the journey of an elephant mother-child duo as their herd traverses the Kalahari Desert. READ MORE: Meghan Markle Cannot Win: Last Royal Engagement and Still Trolled! Cash-strapped motorists will be slugged with a price hike to use some of Sydney's busiest toll roads from Wednesday. Transurban has refused calls to freeze its quarterly price increase, despite many people being put of work and struggling to ends meet due to business shutdowns during the coronavirus outbreak. The operator will increase tolls by up to eight cents per trip on four roads it operates: the Cross City Tunnel, Eastern Distributor, M2 and Lane Cove Tunnel. Motorists who use the M2 Main Toll Plaza will see tolls go up from from $7.76 to $7.82 for cars. The Eastern Distributor (pictured) is one of four Sydney roads that will see a toll rise Motorists who use the Eastern Distributor will cop the biggest toll increase- from $7.84 for cars and $15.22 for trucks to $7.92 and $15.84 respectively. A trip through the Cross City Tunnel increases from $5.84 to $5.88 for cars and 11.68 from $11.76 The Lane Cove Tunnel has the the smallest price hike, going up from $3.39 to $3.41 for cars and from $10.89 to $11 for trucks. WestConnex tolls remain unchanged. Transurban insists the price hike was necessary to help fund important road infrastructure projects such as NorthConnex and WestConnex. 'Tolls allow us to invest billions of dollars into new road projects, which have created more than 10,000 local jobs and none of them have stopped during this crisis. In fact, we are still hiring,' a Transurban spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. Transurban has made some concessions to the financial difficulties suffered fue to COVID-19 and has suspended its debt collection for unpaid tolls. Motorists who use the M2 (pictured) will see tolls go up from from $7.76 to $7.82 'For anyone who needs help or more time to pay their toll accounts in these difficult times, we have financial support available through Linkt Assist,' the spokesman said. 'We have extended this service to now also include small businesses. We urge anyone who needs assistance to please reach out.' 'We are also speeding up payments to our small business suppliers to help with their cash flows during this crisis. Transurban was expected to suffer significant revenue shortfalls as a result of drastically reduced road usage while people work from home and most shops close, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Motorists who cant's afford the toll increases are urged to consider Transurban's financial assistance program or use alternative route., Pictured is the Cross City Tunnel, where a trip will increase increases from $5.84 to $5.88 for cars Transport for NSW said it had no power to freeze the 'set and legally binding' toll increases. 'Under individual contracts with the NSW Government, motorway companies have the right to increase prices,' a spokesman said. 'This funding approach has reduced the government contribution required for motorways and the overall burden on taxpayers, freeing up capacity to invest in other essential services such as hospitals, schools and public transport.' However, opposition roads spokesman John Graham called for the government to intervene. 'NSW is in a precarious economic position right now and we need to look at different ways to ease the financial burden on families and businesses,' he said. Motorists who use the Lane Cove Tunnel will be hit with a two cent price hike from Wednesday NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury urged motorists to use alternative routes if they cannot afford the increased tolls. 'The toll rise has come at an unfortunate time with everything that's going on but we all knew this was coming,' Mr Khoury told Daily Mail Australia. 'If we don't pay for it now, we will later down the track.' 'Families who can't pay the increase should consider the free alternative routes where they will see savings, given the drop in traffic volumes on our roads.' CLEVELAND, Ohio Hopes for a small return to normal were pushed off Monday when Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that students in Ohio would not return to school before May 1 because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Changes continue to come to Northeast Ohio as the state and nation continue to try to prevent the spread of the virus. A list of the latest closings is below. The previous list can be seen here. Tuesday, March 31, 2020 School closures in Ohio have been extended until May 1. The city of Cleveland has suspended pickup of bulk refuse items such as furniture. Regular refuse pickup will continue. The pickup of yard waste and bulk items by Republic Services has been temporarily halted in North Ridgeville and Avon. The Akron Art Museum will be closed until at least June 30. All cruises scheduled to dock at the Port of Cleveland through mid-May have been canceled. Kent State University is offering refunds of fees and meal plans for students who were sent home because of the coronavirus. Macys Department Store announced it is putting the majority of its 130,000 workers on furlough. The West Bengal government has started identifying those who had attended a religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin earlier this month, after six persons from Telangana who took part in the event died of COVID-19, a senior official. Once identified, they will be placed under quarantine and medical tests would be conducted to ascertain if they have contracted the disease, he said. Taking to Twitter, West Bengal Home Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay said, "All those from West Bengal who have participated in this event (Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi) are being identified and will be immediately tested for COVID and put under mandatory 14 days quarantine." Sources in government said that over 30 people had participated in the congregation. Of them, 16 have been identified so far and efforts are on to establish contact with them, they said. Over 2,000 delegates, including those from Indonesia and Malaysia, had attended the Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin West from March 1 to 15. In Delhi, at least 24 people who participated in the event have tested positive for COVID-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A spokeswoman said the royals would pick up their security bill. (Getty Images) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will cover the costs of their security when they stop being senior working royals, a spokeswoman for the couple has said. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from their royal roles on 31 March and last week moved to California to start their new life. Its reported they have hired a team of former SAS servicemen to keep them safe as they take on the costs themselves. Over the weekend, Donald Trump, the US president, said he would not cover the couples security costs, after they made a last minute move to Los Angeles before the border with Canada closed. The presidential tweet forced Harry and Meghan to clarify they would not be requesting US support and had made their own arrangements. However that left some questions unanswered - primarily who would pay. If the royals were still senior members, they would be receiving protection from the Metropolitan Police, at the British taxpayers expense. While they were in Canada, they were also protected by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, at the request of the Met Police. Read more: 'You may not see us here': Harry and Meghan share final Instagram post from royal account On Tuesday, the last official day Harry and Meghan were senior royals, a spokeswoman for the Sussexes said: Security costs are being personally covered by the couple. Its understood Harrys father Prince Charles will still make a contribution to the couple, which might be taken from his duchy estate, which makes about 21 million annually. The heir to the throne has other private money he might draw on to help fund their lifestyles. The bill for protecting the Royal Family is reported to cost the UK about 100 million a year. But the protection only applies to more senior members - with people like Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie only getting cover at events, not in their everyday life. Estimates of the bill to protect Harry and Meghan have ranged from 3 million to 20 million a year. Story continues There are complications to protecting the couple because of Harrys time in the military and the transatlantic nature of their lifestyles and work. Other issues raised include the fact that Met Police officers are not allowed to carry guns in the US, while sharing intelligence concerns with commercial security firms is tricky. Harry and Meghan's security arrangements will change after they stop being working royals. (Getty Images) Its likely Trump wanted to set the record straight because Canada had been paying towards the couples security. Read more: Meghan Markle's six most significant royal moments in 600 days But theres a key difference between the US and Canada which explains why - Canada is a commonwealth country. Therefore as part of the Commonwealth, Canada recognises the Queen as head of state. That means they have certain obligations which the US does not because the duke and duchess are internationally protected persons. But on Sunday, a spokeswoman for Harry and Meghan said: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have no plans to ask the US government for security resources. Privately-funded security arrangements have been made. The couple were senior working royals for 682 days after their wedding. (Getty Images) Read more: 'LA paparazzi don't play by the rules': Harry and Meghan warned they will be 'fair game' in California Harry and Meghan made a final Instagram post on Sussex Royal on Monday evening, indicating the account would go quiet for some time, while the world grapples with the coronavirus outbreak. The couple hinted their own plans for their non-profit organisation were delayed, but confirmed the appointment of Catherine St Laurent, who worked for the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, and their new PR firm, Sunshine Sachs. The duke and duchess said in a final Instagram post: Whats most important right now is the health and wellbeing of everyone across the globe and finding solutions for the many issues that have presented themselves as a result of this pandemic. As we all find the part we are to play in this global shift and changing of habits, we are focusing this new chapter to understand how we can best contribute. A spokeswoman for the couple said: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will spend the next few months focusing on their family and continuing to do what they can, safely and privately, to support and work with their pre-existing charitable commitments while developing their future non-profit organisation. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkeys export of ready-made clothing to Iran dropped by 94.7 percent in January through February 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, amounting to $3.1 million, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend on March 31. In February 2020, Turkeys export of ready-made clothing to Iran also decreased - by 95.4 percent, compared to February 2019, amounting to $1.4 million, the ministry said. From January through February 2020, Turkey has exported ready-made clothing worth $3 billion to world markets, which is 6.7 percent more compared to the same period of 2019. Turkeys export of ready-made clothing made up 10.3 percent of the countrys total export in January through February 2020. In February 2020, Turkey exported ready-made clothing worth $1.5 billion to world markets, which is 7.8 percent more compared to the same month in 2019. Turkish export of ready-made clothing in February 2020 made up 10.4 percent of the countrys total export. In the last twelve months, i.e. from February 2019 through February 2020, Turkey has exported ready-made clothing worth $17.8 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu The death toll due to the coronavirus pandemic climbed to four in West Bengal on Tuesday after two patients succumbed to the contagion, while 10 new cases were reported, the highest single-day rise in the state so far. Five people did not have any travel history, while the rest either came in contact with a positive patient or had a travel history outside the state. The two persons who died were among the 10 new cases, officials said. A total of 1,03,391 people are under home isolation in various parts of the state as on Tuesday, while the total number of positive cases stands at 32. Two persons have earlier died due to the disease. The state government so far had identified 70 people, who had attended a religious gathering in Delhi's Nizamuddin earlier this month. The two persons who died of the disease in West Bengal on Tuesday are a 47-year-old woman, who had recently visited Dooars in north Bengal, but had no history of foreign travel, and a middle-aged man whose details are not yet known. "The woman, a resident of Salkia in Howrah district, died in a hospital late on Monday night before test results came. Her test results confirmed that she was infected with the coronavirus," a health department official said. The department has sent all the family members and those who came in touch with her to home quarantine. It also started an inquiry to find out whether or not any family member of the deceased had recently returned from abroad. After the death of the woman, nurses, and Group D staff of the hospital staged a demonstration, alleging that the woman was initially admitted to the general ward and they attended to her for nearly three hours without wearing personal protective gear. The fourth person died at the Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital in the morning and died in the evening. His tests reports, which came after his death, confirmed that he was suffering from COVID- 19, officials said. Of the eight new active cases, three are from Kolkata and five from West Midnapore, East Midnapore, Howrah and North 24 Parganas districts. One from Salt Lake and another from Tollygunge area are undergoing treatment at separate private hospitals in Kolkata. "They did not have any history of travelling abroad or to any other state. We are trying to find out whether or not any of their family members had gone overseas or to other states. Family members of the two will also be quarantined," he said. Another man, in his early 30s who had recently returned from Maharashtra, was admitted to the Midnapore Medical College and Hospital. The details of the fourth person who is in a hospital in Belgharia in North 24 Parganas is yet to be known. Four more cases were reported from two private hospitals at Howrah, Dum Dum and R G Kar Medical College and a state hospital at Egra in East Midnapore district. Meanwhile, the 18-year-old youth, who was reported to be the first coronavirus case in the state, was released from the Beleghata ID Hospital after being declared fit. The hospital also discharged two more people -- a woman from Habra and a resident of Ballygunge. State Home Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay tweeted that the state government was trying to identify those who had attended a religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin earlier this month. "All those from West Bengal who have participated in this event are being identified and will be immediately tested for COVID-19 and put under mandatory 14 days quarantine," Bandopadhyay tweeted. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee donated Rs 5 lakh each to the prime minister's national relief fund and the state emergency relief fund from her personal savings to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. In the evening, she visited the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar to boost the morale of the police personnel who are working round the clock to ensure safety and security of the people. The state government also issued an order asking cable TV operators not to disconnect services on account of non-payment of monthly fee. Meanwhile, after days of political bonhomie, a verbal spat broke out between the BJP and the TMC over the distribution of relief materials to people, after the saffron party alleged that the ruling party was not allowing the Opposition to take part in relief work. The TMC denied the claims and said the government was doing everything to help the people in distress. "If the chief minister visits various parts of the city and distributes relief material, then it's fine. But when the BJP is trying to do the same, we are stopped in the name of the prohibition of assembly of more than seven people. This is absolutely unacceptable," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said. TMC leader and minister Tapas Roy said people should refrain from indulging in politics at this time of crisis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police say 2-year-old boy taken to hospital in critical condition after being shot in the back A toddler and four more people were injured in a mass shooting at a Philadelphia birthday party that took place in defiance of coronavirus pandemic isolation orders. NBC 10 of Philadelphia reported that among the five injured at the North Philadelphia home were a 2-year-old boy, his 18-year-old mother, a 14-year-old girl, a 25-year-old woman and a 42-year-old woman. During the party, which was held in honor of a man who had been shot several days ago, an unidentified gunman wearing dark clothing stood a half-block away and fired a gun into the crowd, Action News 6 ABC reported. "They should not have been gathering, although, that is not the issue here. The issue is we have a young child shot. That is serious. The mother very young, also shot, and three other females shot and that is the issue here and we need to locate any persons who did this and make sure we get any information that we can out of this situation," said Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Mel Singleton. The gunman opened fire into a crowd around 10 p.m. along the 2300 block of West Harold Street, according to investigators. Police said a two-year-old boy was taken to the hospital in critical condition after being shot in the back. The boy's 18-year-old mother was hit multiple times and is also in critical condition, according to police. Investigators said a 14-year-old girl was also in critical condition after being shot. A 25-year-old woman is among the injured. She was shot twice in the leg, a long with a 42-year-old woman who was taken to the hospital with a graze wound to the arm, according to investigator. More at PennLive.com. (Photo : Screenshot from Twitter of @ReutersBiz) As more and more companies convert their businesses to help the medical professionals who risk their everyday lives to keep people safe from the virus and treat those who are already infected, the time for cooperation is at an all-time high. With that being said, Ford has now joined in and will produce over 50,000 ventilators in the next 100 days to fight COVID-19. Read More: This Government-Approved App is the Fact Checker For All Things Related to Coronavirus Ford's Turn To Show COVID-19 Who's Boss As more and more cases of COVID-19 are popping up around the world, human society and norms are being broken down, and businesses are rallying their workers to do something to about bringing back the norm again. Companies around the world are tasked by the government to help in any way they can. Many of them have stepped up--among them is Ford. Ford is committing its considerable expertise in the manufacturing trade to create 50,000 ventilators over three months or so. They have partnered with GE Healthcare at their Rawsonville, Michigan components plant. This was according to a statement they announced just this Monday. When Will Ford Start Production? The set a date for the production lines to start ramping up will be on April 20 and is expected to produce 30,000 units per month once everything is underway. The ventilators that will be produced are going to be unique in a way that they will not require any electrical power to function, rather, operate on air pressure and bottle oxygen alone. Thanks to a company from Florida called Airon, which has been licensed by GE Healthcare. This should prove very timely since the world is in short supply of ventilators, and this will help in so many ways since the coronavirus attacks the respiratory system. Read More: COVID-19 Paper-based Sewage Kits That Serves as an Early Warning Device For Communities Are Now Being Used: Based on Study Jim Hackett, President, and CEO of Ford said, "The Ford and GE Healthcare teams, working creatively and tirelessly, have found a way to produce this vitally needed ventilator quickly and in meaningful numbers," and he also added, "By producing this ventilator in Michigan, in strong partnership with the UAW, we can help health care workers save lives, and that's our No. 1 priority." The production of these simplified and unpowered ventilators will happen in line with a previously announced plan that Ford assists GE Healthcare in building ventilators of their own design. Both these programs are said to have the full support of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. Many other companies like breweries as well have joined the fight against COVID-19, we previously covered a story as well regarding distilleries and breweries converting its alcohol into makeshift hand sanitizers that can be used for everyone. Indeed, this is a time to be as cooperative as possible to help our medical professionals around the world finally stop and cure the deadly coronavirus pandemic that has been a menace to us all. Read More: Formula One Engineers Invented First Of Its Kind Breathing Apparatus For COVID-19 Patients 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Dr. Andrea Andi M. Clarke has been named Napa Countys Woman of the Year for 2020 by state Sen. Bill Dodd. Clarke has shown her commitment to the physical and emotional well-being of Napa Valley residents as physician-in-charge at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices in Napa and board member of Mentis, a nonprofit mental health group serving low-income families, Dodd said in a news release. Now, more than ever, as we fight the invisible foe, it takes all of us to protect our community, Clarke said. I am surrounded by an amazing team. This reflects their work. I am deeply humbled and honored by Sen. Dodds recognition. Clarke received her undergraduate degree in biology from Pacific Union College and went to medical school at Loma Linda University in Southern California. She returned to the Napa area in 2003 and worked in family medicine before joining Kaiser Permanente in 2009. The facility in Napa serves 50,000 patients with 47 doctors. Im incredibly impressed by Dr. Clarkes numerous contributions to our community, said Dodd, D-Napa. With the health and business challenges we face today, its comforting to know someone of her caliber is looking out for us in those critical areas. Her leadership is so important as we navigate these uncharted waters and look ahead to recovery. Clarke has been active in the community advocating housing for the homeless and strong mental health treatment through Mentis. She also serves on the boards of both the Napa Chamber of Commerce and the Napa Valley Marathon. The delivery of new hotels in Ireland will fall by almost a third due to the impact of Covid-19, property advisor Savills has said. The company has predicted a 32% drop in Dublins hotel development pipeline, and said a number of hotels planned for Cork are unlikely to be delivered. 4,000 new hotel bedrooms have been added in Dublin over the past 10 years, with over 80% of these coming on stream in the past three years. However, from March 2020 to the end of 2022, Savills has reduced its forecast supply of new hotel bedrooms in Dublin by 32%, to just over 4,000, with over half of those expected in 2021. Tom Barrett, Director of Hotels at Savills Ireland said they recently visited Dublin hotel construction sites to observe physical progress. Based on these visits and our own analysis we expect hoteliers, developers, and investors will complete most projects that have commenced construction, although the delivery and opening dates will slip, he said. The probability of opening is greatest for hotels that are already significantly completed, with a greater risk of delay and repurposing for sites that have not commenced, or are in the very early phase of development. With a reduced development forecast for Dublin hotels, Savills said they believe new hotel development in Cork, Galway, Limerick, and elsewhere will be more difficult to deliver in the coming years. Cork has seen significant numbers of hotel developments announced in recent years. Parnell Place, Custom House Quay, South Mall, South Terrace, Sullivans Quay, Morrisons Island, Horgans Quay, Brian Boru Street, and MacCurtain Street all in Cork City have hotel developments in various stages of construction, planning, or proposal stage. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Barrett said that, even before the outbreak of Covid-19, it was unlikely that Cork would have seen the development of all these hotels and the outbreak means developers will have to consider future projects. There are a lot of hotels in Cork and Dublin that are largely built, that require fit-out work, but will likely be delayed as there are no builders on sites at the moment so they could face a one- or two-month delay, he said. However, others have not started and owners will be considering what is the business case. The domestic visitors will come back faster, but international visitors will rely on the return of airlines which have been significantly impacted. Savills pointed out that Cork has strong hotel occupancy both midweek and at weekends. Mr Barrett added that the addition of major office developments in Cork at Penrose Dock and Navigation House would also increase demand for hotel rooms in the city. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] 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 An asylum seeker living at a Greek migrant camp has tested positive for coronavirus, Greece's government revealed today. The woman was tested after giving birth at a hospital in Athens, the migration ministry said, in the first virus case involving the migrant camps. The unidentified woman lives at Ritsona, a camp around 50 miles north of the capital. It is not clear whether she was infected at the camp or the hospital. State-owned broadcaster ERT said the infected woman was of African origin. A woman helps a child to put on a protective mask at a migrant camp in Greece three days ago. One resident of a camp has now tested positive for coronavirus The ministry said another person living with the new mother had tested negative for the virus. 'The public health organisation is already tracking the contacts of this case in recent days, and taking all necessary measures to protect residents [of the camp] and staff,' a statement said. Ten medical staff at the hospital have been quarantined and three other people in the same room as the woman are being tested, a hospital source said. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has previously urged Greece to evacuate migrant camps because of the threat of coronavirus. Tens of thousands of asylum seekers live in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions at the camps after arriving from Turkey or across the Mediterranean. Greece has run several vaccination campaigns at the camps in recent years, but no screening has been done for the current pandemic. A migrant and a Greek police officer - both wearing face masks - stand on either side of a fence at the Kleidi camp near Promahonas in northern Greece Instead, the Greek government has imposed rules to keep the migrants as far from the local population as residents. The movement of camp residents has been drastically reduced for the next 30 days. Access to nearby communities is only allowed to small groups under police supervision between 7am and 7pm. Specialised medical teams have being deployed to the camps and virus isolation areas and inspection points are being set up. Camp access to outside visitors is also barred, though aid and rights group representatives are still allowed to enter. There have been 46 recorded deaths and 1,212 cases of coronavirus in Greece, which has a population of 11million. But many of the people who cause problems are likely the ones who could benefit from a long-term city partnership with a mental health service provider. 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 South Dakota's chief justice seeks $5 million for courthouse security In Chief Justice Jensen's State of the Judiciary Address, he mentioned courthouse security, sexual harassment training and a lack of court reporters. FILE PHOTO - The logo of Alibaba Group is seen at the company's headquarters in Hangzhou By Julie Zhu and Kane Wu HONG KONG (Reuters) - Alibaba Group Holding Ltd plans to buy at least 10% of Yunda Holding Co Ltd <002120.SZ>, marking the e-commerce giant's fifth investment in a large courier, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Alibaba is looking to buy the stake from Yunda's controlling shareholders - founding couple Nie Tengyun and Chen Liying - who own 52.19% of Yunda through their wholly owned firm Shanghai LuoJieSi Investment Management, said one of the people. At the current market price, the stake would be worth at least $790 million. The other person said China's dominant e-commerce firm could go beyond 10% and buy up to 15% of Shenzhen-listed Yunda. The people declined to be identified as they were not authorized to speak with media. Under Chinese regulations, a stake of over 5% in a domestically listed company can be sold at a discount of as much as 10% to the firm's share price on the last trading day prior to a deal. Based on Monday's closing price, the deal could fetch at least $790 million, as Yunda has a market capitalization of about $8.78 billion. Alibaba has already bought a small stake in Yunda which is below threshold for disclosure, said two other people with knowledge of the matter. Alibaba declined to comment. Yunda did not respond to a request for comment. The move would mark another step forward in Alibaba's efforts to gain a bigger say in China's fragmented but fast-growing express delivery industry. Domestic delivery firms dispatched 63 billion parcels last year, up 24% from 2018, while revenue grew 23% year-on-year to 745 billion yuan ($104.95 billion), data from the State Post Bureau showed in January. But many firms are under pressure to boost logistics infrastructure and upgrade services to maintain market share as online retail continues to grow and amid continued price competition. Alibaba's move also comes one year after it took a 14.65% stake in another large express delivery firm, STO Express Co Ltd <002468.SZ>, through a 4.66 billion yuan deal. STO's controlling shareholder later agreed to grant Alibaba an option to purchase another 31.25% stake in three years. Story continues Before STO, Alibaba acquired minority stakes in three other large Chinese couriers - YTO Express Group Co Ltd <600233.SS>, Best Inc and ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc . Shanghai-based Yunda, which went public through a backdoor listing in 2016, is one of several couriers that work with Alibaba under Cainiao, the e-commerce firm's logistics division launched in 2013. Cainiao provides software and shares data with warehouses, carriers and other logistics firms that help deliver packages to shoppers on Tmall and Taobao, Alibaba's largest e-commerce sites. (Reporting by Julie Zhu and Kane Wu in Hong Kong; Additional reporting by Keith Zhai in Singapore; Editing by Christopher Cushing) While the U.S. (indeed, most of the world, it seems) is in the Twilight Zone of a suspended form of life in lockdown, concentrating on all news Wuhan China COVID-19, other news is happening. Other people are, sadly, dying from other causes besides the mysterious virus. Including murder. A hate crime murder. One of the five victims of a vicious machete stabbing attack by a black man against Jews celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hannukah in their home died Sunday evening. The Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council tweeted: The stabbing attack took place Saturday night Dec 28, 2019 during a Hanukkah celebration in the Forshay area of Monsey, NY at the home of Rabbi Chaim Leibish Rottenberg. The incident left five people wounded. The funeral of Mr. Neumann OBM will be Monday. And... We are sad to inform you that Yosef Neumann who was stabbed during the Hanukah attack in Monsey late Dec 2019, passed away this evening. Neumann, whose parents miraculously survived the devastating Holocaust that slaughtered over 90% of European Jewry during World War II, was a young child who emigrated with them and his siblings to America after they escaped Hungary during the 1956 revolution. Years later, married and the father of seven, he settled in Monsey, an outer suburb of New York City, that along with surrounding suburbs is home to thousands of religious Jews who maintain the customs, practices, dress, and language of their immediate ancestors. In accordance with Jewish law, Neumann was buried on Monday, soon after his passing. Not in accordance with Jewish law, but in accordance with emergency decrees necessitatedby the Wuhan, China COVID-19 crisis to save lives, which is in accordance with Jewish law, the funeral and post-funeral rituals were small without the presence of many family, friends, and colleagues. Also on Monday, New York governor Andrew Cuomo (D) tweeted: After the hate-fueled attack in Monsey, I vowed to enact a law that calls this violence & hate what it isdomestic terrorismand punishes perpetrators accordingly. I will rename this bill in honor of Josef & I call on the Legislature to pass it. We owe it to him to get it done. Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 30, 2020 The machete swinging murderer, Grafton Thomas, 37, who already faces state and federal charges related to the crime, has pleaded not guilty to both sets of charges. Grafton Thomas. Screenshot via JNS. May Neumann's memory be for a blessing; may his soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with experts during his visit to the School of Medicine at Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, March 2, 2020. Yan Yan | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images The coronavirus crisis could be the "opportunity of the century" for China to cement its place as a global power, a professor told CNBC on Tuesday. "I think this is the opportunity of the century for China to build trust in the world, which it has found so difficult to come by as a rising nation, and to rebuild its international image China doesn't (want to) waste an opportunity like this," Keyu Jin, associate professor of economics at LSE, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe." She added that China had seized opportunities to elevate its position during other recent economic crises, such as the financial crisis and through its support of the European debt market. "We've seen it solidify and make these ties stronger and more mature," Jin said. "And even though there has been a lot of tension between the U.S. and China recently, I believe the Chinese stance and direction is still to come out as a country that will help the U.S. rather than be a bystander it will guarantee critical medical supplies and equipment, and help whoever needs it, especially developing countries." "This is their chance, they're looking at the long-run game," she said. Blame game The new strain of coronavirus, known as COVID-19, was first reported in December in the Chinese city of Wuhan. While China has reportedly deployed medics and sent equipment to nations struggling with the coronavirus overseas, the country has faced criticism over its own handling of the virus, which is thought to have originated in a wildlife market, or wet market. In late January, Chinese authorities announced a temporary ban on the trade of wild animals in wet markets, supermarkets, restaurants and e-commerce platforms but experts and wildlife organizations have called for a permanent ban to help prevent future pandemics. China has also been criticized for a lack of transparency throughout the outbreak. In the U.S., the Trump administration has frequently dubbed COVID-19 the "Wuhan virus" or the "Chinese virus," with the President suggesting earlier this month that some blame lies with the Chinese Communist Party for the pandemic. Meanwhile, the U.K. government has suggested China failed to adequately report the true scale of the outbreak. US President Donald Trump participates in a meeting with Supply Chain Distributors to discuss the response to COVID-19 at the White House in Washington, DC, on March 29, 2020. Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images During a press briefing this month, China's foreign ministry objected to the term "Wuhan coronavirus," arguing it would stigmatize the country. Officials have claimed the virus may not have originated in China, with one spokesperson accusing the U.S. of a lack of transparency and suggesting the virus could even have been imported to China by the American military. Tweet The WHO has cautioned against blaming individual countries for the spread of COVID-19, warning that pointing fingers at nations with a high number of cases could discourage accurate reporting on domestic outbreaks. According to the LSE's Jin, who spoke to CNBC from Beijing, there was rising anti-U.S. sentiment in China due to the American government's stance on the origin of the coronavirus. 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. A visitor looks down an empty hallway at The Fashion Mall at Keystone, Wednesday, March 18, 2020, in Indianapolis. Simon Property Group, the largest owner of shopping malls in the nation, is closing all of its malls and retail properties because of the coronavirus outbreak. A representative from Simon did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. As of Dec. 31, Simon had roughly 4,500 employees, of which 1,500 were part time, according to its latest annual filing. About 1,000 of those people worked from Simon's Indianapolis headquarters, it said. CEO David Simon will not receive a salary during the pandemic, the person said. Salaries of upper-level managers at the real estate company will be cut by up to 30%. Simon permanently laid off some employees also, but the exact number could not be immediately determined. The furloughs impact full- and part-time workers, at its Indianapolis headquarters and at its malls and outlet centers across the U.S., a person familiar with the situation told CNBC. The person asked to remain anonymous because the information has not been disclosed publicly. The biggest U.S. mall owner, Simon Property Group , has furloughed about 30% of its workforce, CNBC has learned, as the company copes with all of its properties being temporarily shut because of the coronavirus pandemic. To date, hundreds of thousands of workers in the retail industry have been furloughed because of COVID-19, between recent announcements from J.C. Penney, Macy's, Kohl's, Gap, Loft-owner Ascena and others. Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus is furloughing most of its about 14,000 workers. With a $4.3 billion debt load, Neiman Marcus has been on many analysts' so-called bankruptcy watch lists, as it is in more financial distress than some of its peers. The coronavirus will prove to be a bigger burden for these companies already fighting to stay in business. "Unlike past recessions, this does not seem like companies are trying to figure out how to run their businesses on lighter operations ... or adjust their expense structure to their revenue base," BMO Capital Markets analyst Simeon Siegel told CNBC. "This seems like companies are trying to press pause on the world." Department store chain Macy's said Monday it is moving to the "absolute minimum workforce needed to maintain basic operations." It has furloughed the majority of its workforce, which is roughly 130,000 people. "While the digital business remains open, we have lost the majority of our sales due to the store closures," a Macy's spokeswoman told CNBC in an emailed statement. Kohl's, meantime, said Monday it will be furloughing about 85,000 of its approximately 122,000 employees. Penney announced Tuesday it is furloughing the majority of its hourly store workers, effective Friday. Starting Sunday, the company said a "significant portion" of workers at its headquarters in Texas will be furloughed. It had previously started furloughing workers for its supply chain division and at its logistics centers. And Penney said Tuesday that these furloughs will continue. Apparel maker Gap is furloughing the majority of its store teams in the U.S. and Canada, or roughly 80,000 people, pausing pay but continuing to offer "applicable benefits" until stores reopen, it said. Ascena Retail Group, which owns Ann Taylor and Loft, said it is furloughing all of its store workers and half of its corporate staff. As of Aug. 3, Ascena employed 53,000 people. Tailored Brands, which owns Men's Warehouse and Jos. A. Bank, has furloughed all of its store workers in the U.S., in addition to a "significant portion" of workers in its distribution centers and related offices. Urban Outfitters said Tuesday it is furloughing a "substantial" number of store, wholesale and home office employees for 60 days, effective this Wednesday. Nordstrom, Victoria's Secret parent L Brands, David's Bridal, Steve Madden and Designer Brands are among the other retailers that have announced their plans to furlough workers, amidst the coronavirus pandemic, where already so far at least 164,610 cases have been reported in the U.S., according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University. As retailers are working to slash costs, the furloughs are more akin to "Band-Aids" than a "structural shift" in these retailers' business models, Siegel said. "Ultimately Band-Aids don't heal." The layoffs and furloughs at Simon show the commercial real estate industry is not immune to this, either. Similar cuts are expected to happen at other U.S. mall owners in the coming weeks, or days. Simon on March 18 announced it would be closing all of its properties temporarily, to try to help halt the spread of COVID-19. Others, such as Taubman Centers, Washington Prime Group and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, have followed suit. Social networks like Facebook are strengthening co-worker relationships during lockdown measures imposed due to the coronavirus, a new study suggests. Chinese scientists found a link between social network activity between co-workers and levels of job satisfaction. The team surveyed 253 hospitality workers and assessed their online friendships on Facebook with their co-workers and attitudes towards their jobs. They found that social networking sites strengthen relationships between colleagues because they break down workplace formalities and blur the boundaries of work and social life. The researchers surveyed 253 hospitality workers and assessed their online friendships (on Facebook) with their co-workers and attitudes towards their jobs Employees who are currently working from home who spend a good amount of time socialising with their colleagues online may benefit from stronger friendships when they finally return to the office. As remote working has become the new normal for many industries around the world, many business leaders are looking to see how this change will affect their workforce. The new research is one of the first studies to look at the positive effects of online co-worker friendships and blurring work and life balance on business outcomes. 'The prevalence of social networking sites indicates a seismic shift in the way that individuals connect with others, and co-worker relationships are no exception,' the authors write in International Journal of Hospitality Management. 'Employees' once well-established work boundary strategies may change when social networking sites begin to permeate their life, increasing the possibility of achieving intimacy with colleagues in the workplace through a higher degree of social exchange.' Online friendships between co-workers resulted in employees feeling more supported and embedded in their role, and improved job satisfaction in the workplace WHAT WERE THE FIVE STUDY 'MEASURES'? Below are the five measures of social network co-worker interaction and job satisfaction, with a sample question used in the survey. Social networking sites co-worker friendship: 'On Facebook, I have formed strong friendships with my co-workers.' Instrumental co-worker support: 'My co-workers help me solve job-related problems.' Task interdependence: 'In my team, jobs performed by members are related to one another.' Job embeddedness: 'I am too caught up in this hotel to leave.' Job satisfaction: 'In general, I like working at my hotel.' Advertisement The team at the Faculty of Business Administration at the University of Macau in China surveyed 253 hotel employees from 50 teams. The participants, who had 'friended' his or her other team members on Facebook, were asked to respond to questions listed under five 'measures'. These were 'instrumental co-worker support', 'task interdependence', 'job embeddedness', 'job satisfaction' and 'social network co-worker friendship'. All scale items were measured using a seven-point Likert scale ranging from 'strongly disagree' (1) to 'strongly agree' (7). After analysing their responses, social network co-worker friendship was positively correlated with co-worker support, job embeddedness and job satisfaction. The findings show that online friendships between co-workers resulted in employees feeling more supported and embedded in their role, and improved job satisfaction in the workplace. In their paper, the team argue that employees' worklife boundaries are inevitably reshaped when 'worlds collide in cyberspace'. Organisations and employees should embrace fulfilling outcomes through social exchanges that blur life and work, just as social networks do - such as through activity days The prevalence of social networking sites not just Facebook, but Twitter, WhatsApp and others indicates a 'seismic shift' in how individuals connect with others, and 'co-worker relationships are no exception'. When employees are more actively interacting with their professional contacts in online social networks, work and life domains are blurred through a higher degree of information exchange, which strengthens their shared identity, they say. It also provides an opportunity to 'showcase a multitude of traits' beyond their work-related identities. This helps to reinforce existing offline ties, substantially builds 'in-group' intimacy and long-term support networks. When connecting to their co-workers on social networks, employees are seeking opportunities and support relating to their career through strengthened ties with colleagues. Interpersonal intimacy online could signal 'in-group' relations and reinforce co-workers' willingness to offer help in both life and work. They suggest that organisations and employees should 'embrace fulfilling outcomes' through social exchanges that blur life and work, just as social networks do. These could include days out or fun activities in the office that aren't related to work. The authors do, however, acknowledge that while intimate cyber relationships encourage work-related support, they may also introduce tensions, as 'awkwardness may arise' when work-related issues need to be solved between friends. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) Healthcare workers exhibiting symptoms of the coronavirus disease can now be tested for possible infection, the Department of Health said Tuesday. The agency said it has amended its testing policy to include healthcare workers who exhibit even mild flu-like symptoms considered as red flags. These workers are now part of those vulnerable to the disease known as COVID-19. "Amin po inaamiyendahan ang aming polisiya kung saan po ang ating patients under investigation, kasama na po ngayon ang lahat ng ating healthcare workers na may sintomas, said Ma. Rosario Vergeire, Health Spokesperson in an online media briefing. [Translation: We are amending our policy for patients under investigation to include our healthcare workers with symptoms.] This is in light of health centers allegedly refusing to treat healthcare workers, Vergeire said. So kahit mild lang po ang sintomas ng ating health care workers kasama na po sila, bigyan po natin sila ng test, kuhanan na ng specimens at ating alagaan, she said. [Translation: So even if the symptoms of our healthcare workers are mild, let us give them a test, let us take their specimens and let us take care of them.] The Philippine Medical Association confirmed that 17 doctors succumbed to COVID-19.Under the guidelines, only those with severe symptoms of the viral disease, such as difficulty in breathing and prolonged cough and fever will be tested for the disease. Elderly people, pregnant women and immunocompromised persons or those with weakened immune system will also be tested even if they show only mild symptoms, as they have higher risks of infection. Prior to these protocols, only people who have been exposed to a person diagnosed with COVID-19 or have recently visited countries with cases of local transmission were tested. Earlier, a nurse group called on the government to prioritize healthcare workers in its testing protocol. All healthcare workers, especially po ang (our) nurses (who are) PUI or PUM should be prioritized in testing, the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) said in a statement. The group said the move will make contact tracing easier and provide faster response to the infected. Manpower is already depleted so kapag tested and negative naman, makakabalik agad sa trabaho, PNA added. [Translation: Manpower is already depleted, so if they are tested negative, they can go back to work.] The Health department said some prominent personalities, including high-ranking politicians, have made direct requests for testing at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. The so-called VIP testing drew flak from netizens. instacart shopper Photo by Nick Otto for the Washington Post/Getty Images Instacart workers went on strike on Monday, demanding provisions like hazard pay and safety equipment as they face risks from the coronavirus. The grocery-company met some of their demands, like providing hand sanitizer, but requests for hazard pay of an additional $5 per order went unaddressed. Workers said that the company's response and failure to meet all of their demands is "insulting" and "a sick joke." But, they said that Instacart's movement on the demand for safety equipment "shows that a strike will work to change their behavior." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Instacart workers are calling the grocery-delivery company's response to their strike "insulting" and "a sick joke" as the company moves to meet some of their demands but leaves others unaddressed. The workers are set to strike on Monday and demanded provisions like hazard pay of an additional $5 per order, an automatic 10% tip, and safety equipment like hand sanitizer as they manage the risks from the coronavirus. The company said on Sunday that it would provide hand sanitizer to workers within a week, and that it would use customers' last tip as the default on new orders. Instacart said last week that it would offer a $25 to $200 bonus for workers dependent on their hours worked between March 15 and April 15, but did not commit to a per-order bonus. Workers said the company's response is "simply... not enough" and "insulting for a number of reasons." Instacart's failure to address hazard pay "went completely unaddressed," workers and the Gig Workers Collective, the group organizing the strike, said in a Medium post responding to the company, saying that the average order pays "well under $10." "Workers should not be risking their lives for pocket change," the workers, called "Instacart Shoppers" internally, said in the statement. Story continues They said that "setting the tip amount to whatever a customer had previously tipped is ridiculous, because most previous customers would have tipped a different (lesser) amount back when things were more normal," workers said. "This will, in all likelihood, provide no meaningful benefit to Shoppers." Instacart told Business Insider in a statement that it's providing an "essential service for millions of families, while providing immediate earnings opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people across North America." The company also said that it "respect[s] the rights of shoppers to provide us feedback and voice their concerns," and that in the last week, 250,000 new people have signed up to work for Instacart and that 50,000 have already started working on the platform. Instacart said on Monday that "as it relates to today's actions, we've seen absolutely no impact to Instacart's operations. Today, we saw 40% more shoppers on the platform compared to the same day and time last week." The group organizing the strike had a different take. "It's not accurate," a representative said. "Try placing an order in your city." The representative then sent Business Insider a screenshot showing a lack of delivery slots on Monday, and said that future orders were also unavailable. "Considering this is a 'same day' delivery service, it seems they're very short on shoppers," she said. "We are absolutely disrupting their business." A review of the app in Salt Lake City, Utah, showed that Instacart deliveries were unavailable after Monday until Saturday, April 4. The strike comes as Instacart seeks to hire 300,000 additional workers to deliver groceries to people during the coronavirus epidemic. "The last few weeks have been the busiest in Instacart's history," Instacart CEO Apoorva Mehta said in a blog post on Monday announcing the hirings. Other companies like Target, Starbucks, and Trader Joe's have adjusted worker pay and paid-leave policies as companies and employees deal with the fallout from the coronavirus. The workers were also unsatisfied with the company's move to provide hand sanitizer in a week, and said that workers have been asking for it for "many, many weeks." "Where was this before?" they said. "It's abhorrent that it took this long for them to act, but on the bright side, it shows that a strike will work to change their behavior." Read the original article on Business Insider Vietnam urges people to stay at home, bans gatherings of more than two Vietnam starts a nationwide social distancing campaign Wednesday, not allowing gatherings of more than two people, asking people not to leave their homes. The campaign would last 15 days, under a directive issued Tuesday by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. It calls for people in the same families, villages, communes, districts and cities to stay put where they are. Factories must maintain safe distances, disinfect premises and employees must wear masks to prevent infection. People should only leave home for emergencies, buying food and medicine, and working in factories, production facilities and businesses that involve trade in "essential" goods and services. People must maintain a distance of at least two meters from each other, and no gathering of more than two would be allowed in public, except for in offices, schools and hospitals, where the government imposed a 20-person limit earlier. People must inform authorities of their health status and undertake measures to protect their families' and their own health. Business leaders will be responsible for deploying disease prevention measures at their businesses and keeping their employees healthy. Ministries and local authorities must expend all resources at their disposal to contain the Covid-19 virus in outbreak areas, such as Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital which has been associated with 33 infections and Saigon's Buddha Bar & Grill with 13 other cases. Not lockdown Mai Tien Dung, Chairman of the Government Office, said Phuc's directive is not a lockdown order and the government still manages to contain the epidemic. Dung said the directive only serves as a guidance and more specific orders for different scenarios will follow. "If the situation gets worse and the disease spreads widely in the community, we will need stricter rules. And we will do that step by step," Dung said. Vietnam has recorded 204 Covid-19 cases so far, of whom 55 have recovered and been discharged. Many of the active cases are Vietnamese nationals returning from Europe and the U.S., foreigners coming from the same regions and those whod come into contact with both groups of people. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected 200 countries and territories, killing more than 37,800 people. Apple TVs newest drama Home Before Dark has a very ominous title despite being pitched at family audiences. I think. Inspired by the reporting of 9 year old investigative journalist Hilde Lysiak who investigated a local murder in a Pennsylvania smalltown. I surely admire her nose for a story and her entrepreneurial nous in starting a family newspaper, The Magic Hour Chronicle. Yep, I once did the very same thing, followed by starting the school newspaper! Back then they called it a hobby, these days it is self-publishing. If they cut me open Ill bleed ink, Hilde (Brooklynn Prince) tells us. Since Im a kid people lie to me all the time. But being pint-sized she manages to squirrel into places where she can observe scenes normally closed to prying adults, such as behind police lines, albeit momentarily. She even knows the dialogue from repeat viewings of All the Presidents Men. When her family relocates from Brooklyn to Erie Harbor after her father loses his newspaper job, Hilde notices a town down on its luck and new stories to uncover. But then there are the nay-sayers, such as her sceptical big sister and cautious dad (Jim Sturgess). Life is not always about chasing the story. Youve got to enjoy yourself, he warns. But Dad also has his own past with Erie Harbor and a chance meeting with a local woman leads Hilde to prying into his past relationships. When the woman is found dead in her house, Hilde swings into action, writing a story for her newspaper which ripples throughout the local community. Instantly mocked by her school peers and causing problems for local police, she is soon on the outer. The series quickly moves to the classic case of kid-knows-more-than-adults if only someone would believe her. But Hilde manages to find an African-American female cop, frequently on the receiving end of local misogyny, who lends a sympathetic ear. I dont like when they pat me on the head, either, says the cop (Aziza Scott). Sometimes earnest and overly dramatic, my biggest problem with this series is working out just who it is pitched at. Is this a family series with adult-like themes or an adult series with a kid as its hero? Even the title sounds like a date-rape telemovie. Writers Dana Fox and Dara Resnik also cant avoid moments that are too adult, rather than child-like. The series does forge a nice father-daughter relationship but Dad is also fairly limp in playing the adult in scenes that facilitate Hildes behaviour -at least in the opening chapter. At one point things turn positively Norma Rae in a series that is just a little bit too woke for my liking. But her nose for news is admirable. Maybe she will grow up to be a blogger? Home Before Dark begins Friday on Apple TV+. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has hailed the countrys ongoing efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus. "In light of my following-up around the clock on all efforts and measures taken to confront the spread of coronavirus, I believe that what has been achieved so far is good and reassuring, El-Sisi wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. The president urged both the authorities and ordinary Egyptians to continue to firmly implement measures being taken to stem the spread of the deadly virus. The total number of cases in Egypt stand at 656, as of Monday, with 41 fatalities. Egypt has halted international flights, banned mass gatherings and shuttered schools, mosques and churches, in an effort to slow the spread of the virus, which has infected over 800,000 and claimed the lives of more than 39,500 globally. A nationwide curfew is also in effect from 7pm to 6am, scheduled to last until 7 April. El-Sisi previously ordered the allocation of EGP 100 billion ($6.38 billion) to finance a comprehensive plan for tackling the disease. The government has also spent EGP 20 billion ($1.27 billion) to stimulate the stock exchange and has taken steps to support informal labourers affected by the crisis. Search Keywords: Short link: Mazloum Abdi is the leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces and has played a prominent role both on the battlefield and in diplomatic efforts with Western leaders. In Brief The Syrians had never heard the name Mazloum Abdi before the Syrian revolution and the forces of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) arrived. In record time, Abdi rose to the forefront of events and commanded real military battles, achieving victories on the ground. More importantly than that, he, in partnership with Ilham Ahmed, established political and diplomatic relations with most leaders of Western governments, most notably the United States. Background Abdi has consistently used several aliases, out of fear of prosecution, as Turkey has put him on its terrorist lists and considers him to be among their most wanted, due to his connections with the anti-Ankara Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). His name has come up a great deal recently, owing to his role in the conflict and the ongoing war in northern Syria, where he led the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Born Farhad Abdi Shahin, and known by his nom de guerre, General Mazloum Kobani, he was born in 1967 and hails from the Kurdish village of Halanj, which is near Kobani. He has been known by various other names, such as Shahin Tchelo and Mazloum Abdi. Abdi joined the PKK in 1990, and reports indicate that he was close to the groups leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is imprisoned in Turkey. He held a number of responsibilities in the PKK, one of the most important being responsibility for the special forces and being a member of the executive committee. There are many photos of him with Ocalan when he was young. He was arrested by Syrian authorities numerous times in the 1990s because of his political work, before he was released for the last time and traveled to Europe in 1997. He remained there until the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, and then returned to Iraqi Kurdistan and joined in political activities there. In 2011, Abdi became prominent as a leader in the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) when the events broke out in Syria. In 2014, he became involved in negotiations with Washington to form an alliance against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria, and then he later became a commander of the SDF. Shining Star The Kurdish commanders star shined once more in 2014 when ISIS took over large parts of Kobani city. He formed military forces to fight the group in coordination with the Americans and Iranians. These forces were officially recognized in 2015 as the SDF, of which the YPG are the main component. Mazloum was a leading commander in the military operations against ISIS, and managed negotiations with international forces, especially the United States. He received military and logistical support from Washington, which sent advanced military equipment and heavy weapons, including anti-armor weapons. The SDF, in cooperation with the International Coalition, was able to expel ISIS from Ayn al-Arab and later from other areas. With that, he bolstered his authority with the United States, which relies on him to lead land operations against ISIS. Recently, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring in areas where the SDF are deployed near the Turkish border, with the aim of pushing them away from the area and setting up a safe zone on the border for displaced Syrians. The operation coincided with American forces withdrawing from the Ras al-Ayn and Tel Abyad areas, which was considered a betrayal by its allies there in the SDF. Relations with the United States and Turkey Mazloum enjoys good relations with the American administration, which views him as a trustworthy man. He also has strong allies in Congress. Both Republican and Democratic members in the Senate and State Department have called for issuing a visa to Mazloum quickly so that he can visit the United States and discuss the situation in Syria. Turkey has criticized the United States way of dealing with Mazloum, as an illegal political figure. Ankara views him as a terrorist because of his close ties to the PKK, which has carried out a decades-long rebellion in Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on his American counterpart to hand the SDF leader over to Turkish authorities, saying that he is wanted according to a Red Notice issued by the European Interpol police. In March 2020, US Senator Lindsey Graham spoke with Abdi on the anniversary of the liberation of Baghouz, which marked the territorial defeat of ISIS. Had a great phone call with General Mazloum, leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces today, Graham tweeted. The fight against ISIS continues, Graham added. It is in our national security interests to continue to partner with the SDF, who helped destroy the caliphate. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Syrian Observer. Eight Indonesian Islamic preachers, who attended a religious congregation early this month at Nizamuddin in the national capital were on Tuesday found staying at a mosque in Nagina block of the district and were picked up by the police, said officials. Bijnor Superintendent of Police (Rural) Sanjay Singh said the police picked up the eight Indonesian Islamic preachers, who had attended the Nizamuddin 'markaz' on March 13, from a mosque in Nagina block of the district. All eight have been sent to an isolation centre in the district, said Singh. The police superintendent said following enquiries from them, it has transpired that after the attending the religious congregation, they first visited Odisha after which they returned to Bijnor. The police is further quizzing them to ascertain where exactly in Odisha and where else in the country they had visited, said Singh. He said the police has also lodged a criminal case against five persons of the mosque under sections 188, 268 and 270 of the Indian Penal Code and various Other sections of the Epidemic Act and is investigating it. The district Health Department too is taking steps for sanitising the mosque and y places. Tablighi Jamaat, an orthodox Muslim organisation, had held a religious congregation at Nizamuddin in the national capital on March 13. It was attended by 2,000 odd participants, including 250 foreigners. With 24 of its participants found positive for coronavirus infection, the 'markaj' has emerged as an epicentre for the coronavirus spread in the national capital and elsewhere in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Google has a tradition of coming up with new pranks every year on April 1 since the year 2000. It was one of the first tech companies to popularise April Fools' pranks on internet users. Google would insert jokes and hoaxes into its products that its user would easily fall for. This year, however, the tech giant has decided that it will take a step back from pulling its users legs. The move comes as the world continues its struggle to fight and contain COVID-19 disease caused by coronavirus. There has been a surge in the usage of the internet since lockdowns have been announced globally. Google wants to ensure that it meets its goal of remaining a helpful tool in these dire times. The tech giant has informed its managers across company platforms that it will abstain from participating in its annual ritual of cracking April Fools jokes and fooling its users. This was directed in an internal email which was first obtained by Business Insider and reported by The Verge. Google's Chief Marketing Officer, Lorraine Twohill, reportedly, shared the directive. It stated that the given step was being taken to pay respect to those suffering from COVID-19. "We've already stopped any centralized April Fool's efforts but realize there may be smaller projects within teams that we don't know about. Please suss out those efforts and make sure your teams pause on any jokes they may have planned internally or externally," the directive read. The email also suggested that it was necessary as the company's goal was to be a helpful tool, for those who were looking for relevant information. Twohill assured that the tradition was not being eliminated and will return in 2021. "Our highest goal right now is to be helpful to people, so let's save the jokes for next April, which will undoubtedly be a whole lot brighter than this one." As of 2019, the kind of pranks that Google made involved its products like Google Map, Google Calendar, Google assistant and Gmail. Google maps introduced a game called "Sssnakes on a map". This feature enabled users to play snakes in various cities. This feature was available in the app for a week. The Gmail logo featured balloons and a party hat on April 1 to commemorate its 15th anniversary. In 2005, Google announced the launch of Gmail on March 31st. People believed it to be a hoax but it was a real April Fools' Day launch. People wait in line to be tested for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while wearing protective gear, outside Elmhurst Hospital Center in the Queens borough of New York, March 30, 2020. People with diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart disease or those who smoke may be at increased risk of developing severe complications if they get infected with the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. In its first report looking at underlying health conditions that could make COVID-19 worse, the CDC analyzed data from confirmed cases in all 50 states and four U.S. territories between Feb. 12 and March 28. The agency examined 7,162 cases where data was available on underlying health conditions or other potential risk factors. Confirmed cases among people repatriated to the United States from Wuhan, China, where the virus emerged, and the Diamond Princess cruise ship were excluded, the agency said. Among the 7,162 U.S. cases, 37.6%, had one or more underlying health conditions or risk factors, and 62.4%, had none of these conditions reported, according to the CDC's preliminary findings. The most commonly reported conditions were diabetes, chronic lung disease and cardiovascular disease. The CDC found that a higher percentage of patients with underlying conditions were admitted to the hospital or into intensive care than patients without underlying conditions. About 78% of ICU patients and 71% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients had one or more reported underlying health conditions, the CDC said. In contrast, 27% of the patients who were not hospitalized had at least one underlying health condition, the agency said. Britain will waive import taxes on coronavirus testing kits, ventilators and other vital medical supplies in a bid to boost the fight against the deadly disease amid widespread criticism of the government's testing operation. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced this evening that NHS suppliers will no longer have to pay customs duty and import VAT on specified medical items coming from outside the EU. It came as Michael Gove admitted the government's coronavirus testing efforts must go 'further, faster' as Downing Street suggested a target of 25,000 daily checks may not be met until the end of next month. The Minister for the Cabinet Office said the lack of availability of globally in-demand crucial chemicals which are needed in the testing process was proving a 'critical constraint' on expanding checks. Speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference, Mr Gove said: 'While the rate of testing is increasing we must go further, faster. A critical constraint on the ability to rapidly increase testing capacity is the availability of the chemical reagents which are necessary in the testing. 'The Prime Minister and the Health Secretary are working with companies worldwide to ensure that we get the material we need to increase tests of all kinds.' Mr Gove also revealed the first wave of new ventilator devices will roll off the production line this weekend and be delivered to the NHS next week when they will be 'rapidly distributed to the frontline'. Meanwhile, the medical director of NHS England Professor Stephen Powis warned that while there are 'green shoots' of hope in relation to the spread of coronavirus after an apparent plateau in the number of new cases, the UK must not be 'complacent'. 'It is really important not to read too much because it is really early days,' he said. 'We are not out of the woods, we are very much in the woods.' Critics today labelled the UK's efforts on testing a 'catastrophe' and 'dismal' when compared to what is being done in Germany where 500,000 tests are being carried out every week. Rishi Sunak today announced that he is waiving import duty on medical supplies like coronavirus testing kits Michael Gove admitted that the UK needs to go 'further, faster' to up its coronavirus testing efforts The latest slides unveiled by the government at today's press conference showed where the UK currently stands in comparison to other nations in terms of coronavirus deaths Another slide showed that the number of new cases of coronavirus in the UK does appear to be plateauing Downing Street had earlier hinted at Mr Johnson's apparent frustration at the slow progress on ramping up Britain's capacity, with a spokesman saying he wanted 'as much progress to be made on this as possible'. The UK is currently managing just under 10,000 tests a day with the government having previously said it wants to get to 25,000 by the middle of April. But today Number 10 said the timetable was 'mid to late April' - seemingly an admission that efforts have stalled. Experts have insisted 'organisation' rather than a shortage of facilities is to blame for the painfully slow rise in checks. However, the UK is struggling to obtain enough of the tests themselves, with Germany seemingly able to acquire them from domestic manufacturers while Britain is having to import them. The competition for the tests was illustrated today by reports NHS England and NHS Wales ended up bidding against each other for equipment at the end of last week, prompting the four Home Nations to agree that all procurement will be done in Whitehall. It is hoped that the Chancellor's decision to waive customs duty and import VAT on key medical supplies will make it easier to ship in the tests. Mr Sunak said: 'We are taking decisive action to ensure our NHS has everything it needs to fight this outbreak. 'Waiving import taxes on vital medical equipment such as ventilators will speed up and increase the supply of critical items going to our frontline health workers.' However, the government will have to dramatically increase its efforts if it is to win over its critics who today slammed ministers for not doing enough. Jeremy Hunt, the Tory chairman of the Health Select Committee, said it would be 'very worrying' if the UK chose not to follow the lead of the likes of Germany and South Korea. He said mass testing allows for 'a lot less' disruption to daily lives because those who have the disease can be isolated and prevented from passing the virus on. He said: 'It is internationally proven as the most effective way of breaking the chain of transmission. 'So however difficult it is to source the reagents, to ramp up the capacity of laboratories up and down the country, it is essential that mass community testing is part of our national strategy.' Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit Party, labelled the UK's testing efforts a 'catastrophe', telling MailOnline: 'It's an embarrassment. We do not appear to have done anything in six weeks to get ourselves in a better position on this. 'If I was an NHS frontline worker waiting week after week after week for this I would be furious.' A nurse takes a swab from an NHS worker at a testing facility in Chessington yesterday He added: '70,000 tests a day in Germany, a million tests now conducted in America, and we in six weeks have managed to do as many tests as the Germans do in two days. 'Everybody wants to believe in their leader during a crisis and everyone has given Boris the benefit of the doubt I think public opinion is beginning to ask very serious questions.' Scottish entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne told MailOnline that the government's 'dismal' handling of the testing crisis will send vast numbers of British businesses to the wall - and delay the country's economic recovery. The gym mogul and former Dragons' Den star said: 'The government must get on top of testing immediately. The longer we are in lockdown the more businesses will go bust. 'My business hands over 39million to the Government every year in VAT, PAYE and corporation tax. As long as we are closed they get nothing. 'Their handling of the testing issue has been dismal to say the least.' Meanwhile, Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh's Medical School, suggested the UK was struggling to ramp up testing because of the strategy it had earlier adopted to the outbreak. She tweeted that she feared the government had given up 'on containment too early' due to an apparent belief that most people in the UK would eventually get the disease. That resulted in 'planning and preparing for unprecedented testing' being 'taken off the table' which Ms Sridhar said she believed was the 'wrong path'. Germany has been conducting 500,000 tests a week and is aiming to hit 200,000 tests a day in the near future. Part of the difference between the UK and Germany is reportedly that the latter has more tests available domestically. There are also claims that a shipment of testing kit parts from the European mainland has been found to be contaminated with the virus, in another potential delay. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted this morning that the government was struggling with the logistical challenge of increasing testing, saying it was not a 'trivial or straightforward' task. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted this morning that the government was struggling with the logistical challenge of increasing testing, saying it was not a 'trivial or straightforward' task 'This is never going to be enough,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'We always need to be pushing.' Ministers boasted on Sunday that they had reached a target of 10,000 tests a day. However, while the capacity had been reached, the government is yet to actually carry out that number. The latest figures from Public Health England were 8,278 in the 24 hours to 9am on Sunday, which was actually down from 9,114 the previous day. CHEMICAL REAGENTS: NECESSARY FOR TESTING BUT IN HIGH GLOBAL DEMAND A global shortage of the chemicals needed to produce coronavirus tests has emerged as another setback in the UK's plans to test more people. Industry bosses say chemical reagents that are used in the test are in short supply around the world as countries have scrambled to test their citizens for COVID-19. Lab tests for the coronavirus work by regrowing a patient's DNA in a lab and examining it to find traces of genetic material left behind by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. For this to work, technicians need a chemical called a reagent to trigger the chemical reaction which starts the process. There are various types of reagents which can be used in a COVID-19 test, supplied by different companies around the world, but they are in high demand everywhere. They are not unique to coronavirus and are the same reagents used in tests for illnesses such as flu. The US has 10 different types of reagent listed in the priority list by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is not clear whether the UK is using reagents manufactured on home soil or importing them. Some NHS labs have now resorted to make their own in 'home brew' situations so they can test patients, The Times reported. Officials are now scrambling to see if there are alternatives to their first choice, according to the newspaper, and are also trying to shore up supplies of swabs, which are vital for tests. CEO of pharmaceutical company Roche, Severin Schwan, said 'demand is outstripping supply' for the reagents. 'Widespread testing is simply not possible,' he added. While the Professional Association of Laboratory Medics in Germany said: 'The materials required for testing - sample kits, materials for extracting samples, and reagents - are becoming scarce'. The Australian Medical Association sounded the alarm there two weeks ago, when it said some parts of the government had failed to stockpile the right reagents, The Guardian reported. It said global demand was 'exceeding supply' and that 'there are particular concerns around supplies of swabs and DNA extraction kits'. Advertisement Professor Anthony Costello, an ex-director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) who is now based at University College London, this morning dismissed the idea that the UK does not have enough laboratory facilities to process tests. 'We need a policy of mass community testing as well as the blunt instrument of social distancing,' he told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme. 'We need to do that because we want to arrow in on detecting cases and contact and quarantine. We need to have enough tests to protect our health workers... 'But most important when we want to loosen up the lockdown we want to have control over that. 'There will be much less disruption if we can do that rather than isolating the entire economy.' He went on: 'In answer to can we do it, we have 44 molecular virology labs in the UK. 'If they were doing 400 tests a day we would be up to Germany levels of testing and that is perfectly feasible. Asked whether he was saying that the UK has the capacity but is just not organising it properly, Prof Costello said: 'Yeah, correct. I don't see why we cannot get these 44 molecular virology labs up and running, finding the cases and testing. 'PHE were slow and controlled, and they only allowed non-PHE labs to start testing two weeks ago. But that was after the strategy shift to stopping community tests. 'We need to be like Korea.... their death rate is three per million and they have suppressed the virus.' The World Health Organisation (WHO) has praised countries like South Korea have for their wide-scale testing regimes, which have helped limit cases. However, the UK shelved efforts to test everyone with symptoms on March 12, when Britain's response moved into a 'delay' phase. Instead people who thought they had the illness were urged to self-isolate unless their conditions became so severe they needed medical help. Amid criticism, Mr Johnson then declared just under a fortnight ago that there would be a big expansion of tests from under 5,000 a day to 25,000. Routine testing is only just being offered to NHS staff, with 800 per day expected to get access to tests. There are fears that many will have been put at risk, amid complaints that they do not even have enough personal protection kit. A global shortage of the chemicals needed to produce coronavirus tests has emerged as another setback in the UK's plans to test more people. Industry bosses say chemical reagents that are used in the test are in short supply around the world as countries have scrambled to test their citizens for COVID-19. Lab tests for the coronavirus work by regrowing a patient's DNA in a lab and examining it to find traces of genetic material left behind by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. For this to work, technicians need a chemical called a reagent to trigger the chemical reaction which starts the process. There are various types of reagents which can be used in a COVID-19 test, supplied by different companies around the world, but they are in high demand everywhere. They are not unique to coronavirus and are the same reagents used in tests for illnesses such as flu. Germany is set to start mass immunity testing within weeks Germany has also been leading the way on testing for individuals who have already been through the virus and emerged with immunity. Such checks could potentially allow people to be issued with certificates saying they are safe to go back to work - easing the lockdown crippling the economy. The UK government has ordered 17.5million 'antibody' tests, but they have yet to go through clinical trials and it is not clear when they can start being used. A study due to start in Germany in mid-April will see the blood of more than 100,000 volunteers tested for Covid-19 antibodies. The process will be repeated at regular intervals, with the sample scaling up to track the progress of the epidemic. Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said: 'Germany appears to be leading the way in the testing and we have much to learn from their approach. 'I've repeatedly called for more testing and contact tracing in the UK, and we should be looking at initiatives like this closely.' Advertisement The US has 10 different types of reagent listed in the priority list by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is not clear whether the UK is using reagents manufactured on home soil or importing them. Some NHS labs have now resorted to make their own in 'home brew' situations so they can test patients, The Times reported. Germany has also been leading the way on testing for individuals who have already been through the virus and emerged with immunity. Such checks could potentially allow people to be issued with certificates saying they are safe to go back to work - easing the lockdown crippling the economy. The UK government has ordered 17.5million 'antibody' tests, but they have yet to go through clinical trials and it is not clear when they can start being used. A study due to start in Germany in mid-April will see the blood of more than 100,000 volunteers tested for Covid-19 antibodies. The process will be repeated at regular intervals, with the sample scaling up to track the progress of the epidemic. Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said: 'Germany appears to be leading the way in the testing and we have much to learn from their approach. 'I've repeatedly called for more testing and contact tracing in the UK, and we should be looking at initiatives like this closely.' The scale of the problem facing the UK was underlined today with figures suggesting the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak could be 24 per cent higher than NHS figures show. Patients who had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificates numbered 210 in England and Wales up to March 20, the Office for National Statistics revealed. That was 24 per cent higher than the 170 deaths recorded by NHS England and Public Health Wales during the same time frame. If the ratio has stayed true since that time, the true current number of fatalities could be around 1,739 instead of the official 1,408. WASHINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of 19 U.S. senators urged the Trump administration to push back the planned June 1 start date for the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact, saying the short lead time would add to pressures on U.S. companies due to the spread of the coronavirus. In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the senators, led by Republican Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and ranking Democrat Ron Wyden, said the new trade deal, which replaces the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement, should not enter into force until Mexico and Canada are in full compliance with their commitments. "Even absent the pandemic, a June 1 deadline would be highly aggressive, and raises questions as to whether businesses have the information they need to adjust to the new rules and comply by that date," the senators wrote. "We ask you to delay the proposed June 1 entry into force and work with Congress and stakeholders to determine a more feasible timeline." Grassley earlier had raised concerns about the auto industry's ability to quickly comply with higher standards for North American automotive content under the new pact, known as USMCA. The Mexican Automotive Industry Association on Monday urged its government to seek a delay in the regional automotive rules until 2021. In a statement to a G20 trade ministers call, Lighthizer on Monday cautioned against using the coronavirus crisis to "push other agendas" in trade and other areas. Instead, the Group of 20 economies should stay focused on defeating the pandemic. "Let us not make long-term decisions in the midst of a crisis," Lighthizer said. (Reporting by David Lawder; additional reporting by Sharay Angulo in Mexico City Editing by Sonya Hepinstall) The US intelligence community, trying to get an accurate picture of the coronavirus pandemic, has found serious gaps in its ability to assess the situation in China, Russia and North Korea, Reuters reported referring to five sources in the US administration. Intelligence agencies also have a limited understanding of the impact of the pandemic in Iran, although information on infections and deaths among the ruling class and ordinary citizens is becoming increasingly available in official and social media, two sources said. These four countries are known to American spy agencies as hard targets because of tight state control over information and the difficulty of collecting intelligence in their closed leadership circles. An accurate assessment of outbreaks in these countries would help the US and the international community limit human and economic losses from COVID-19, experts say. US intelligence agencies are looking not only for accurate numbers but also for any signs of political consequences of how these countries are trying to resolve the crisis. We want to have as close an accurate, real-time understanding of where the global hotspots are and where they are evolving, said Jeremy Konyndyk, an expert at the Center for Global Development thinktank, who led the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance from 2013 to 2017, including the U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak. The world is not going to get rid of this thing until we get rid of it everywhere. US intelligence agencies first began reporting coronavirus in January and warned lawmakers of an epidemic in Wuhan, China, where the disease was recorded the first time late last year, sources said. According to Reuters, the number of cases is now estimated at 740,000 in approximately 200 countries and territories, with the US leading (152,000 cases). The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which controls 17 US intelligence services, declined to comment. North Korea claims that it has no cases, despite the fact that it borders China. However, Pyongyang asked international aid agencies to provide it with materials such as medical masks and test kits. According to one US source, we dont know anything about the scale of the problem in the hermetic country. Its a nuclear-armed country where things that could destabilize the government would be of great interest to the United States, said Konyndyk, who also led the U.S. response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria. More and more regions of Russia enter full quarantine due to an increase in the number of coronavirus cases. To date, there are 1,836 people tested positive for coronavirus in Russia. Knowing the full extent of Russias coronavirus spread could be critical as it shares borders with 14 other countries and is a hub of trade and travel. Last week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cited a lack of accurate information about Russia and Iran and accused China of a disinformation campaign, which Beijing denies. China, which reported more than 81,000 cases and over 3,300 deaths, said there were no new infections within the country. However, it remains wary of travelers returning from abroad. The US view of the Chinese claim of no new domestic cases is that some of it may be true, one source added. US agencies remain skeptical that the Chinese have the virus under control, the source said. Konyndyk said while Beijing concealed the severity of the initial outbreak, it does not appear to be doctoring numbers now, however. China seems to be the most successful country in terms of taking very large-scale growth and rapidly extinguishing it, he noted adding: If their case numbers are real, its really important to understand their approach and adapt it. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL March 31, 2020 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Delta Air Lines DAL, American Airlines AAL, United Airlines UAL, Southwest Airlines LUV and JetBlue Airways JBLU. Here are highlights from Mondays Analyst Blog: Is All Well in the U.S. Airline Industry? It is a well-known fact that airline stocks did not fly high in 2019 and the beginning of 2020 due to headwinds like lackluster cargo business and revenue loss following flight cancellations because of the grounding of Boeing 737 MAX jets. Even as the downsides persist, the coronavirus pandemic crippled airlines all the more with air-travel demand shrinking. The extremely sorry state of affairs is reflected in the share price depreciation of leading U.S. carriers, namely Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways, which have declined 50%, 51.7%, 63.4%, 33.7%, 56.2% and 48.4%, respectively, since the beginning of February. Airlines Resort to Various Measures to Tackle Crisis With airlines witnessing more cancellations than bookings, the companies are seeing a massive drop in passenger revenues, which account for bulk of their top lines. In fact, many people are unwilling to fly in a bid to stay safe and avoid contracting the COVID-19 from a fellow passenger. In an effort to combat the coronavirus-induced sharp plunge in demand, airlines are trimming capacity. Evidently, Alaska Air Groups subsidiary Alaska Airlines aims to reduce 70% of its capacity for April and May. Moreover, United Airlines plans to slash its total scheduled capacity for April by 68% including 90% international capacity reduction. Moreover, the carriers announced a slew of cost-cutting measures. For instance, Delta plans to curb capital expenditures by a minimum $2 billion this year. It is also offering voluntary short-term unpaid leaves, apart from freezing recruitment. Story continues The above measures were clearly not enough as is evident from the fact that airlines sought financial aid from the U.S. government to tide over the ongoing crisis. Consequently, airlines were criticized by some market watchers for their large-scale buybacks, dividend payments and consequently, less cash savings. Government Stimulus Package: A Reality After several deliberations, the Senate passed an emergency relief package on Mar 25. The House of Representatives passed the stimulus package on Mar 27 with President Donald Trump legalizing it the same day. Of the total fund worth $2 trillion, U.S. airlines are eligible to receive roughly $60 billion in loans as well as grants. Per the package, U.S. passenger airlines are eligible to get $25 billion in grants for covering their payroll expenses over the next six months. Moreover, a similar sum is doled out in the form of unsecured loans/loan guarantees. Will Package Provide Only Near-Term Relief? Despite the hefty amount, this rescue relief is anticipated to provide only short-term breather to the battered airline stocks. For instance, management at airline heavyweights, Delta and United Airlines, stated that the monetary assistance took care of sustaining jobs only through Sep 30, 2020. Moreover, significantly dwindled air-travel demand will take a long time to rebound even after the coronavirus pandemic subsides. For instance, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz and president Scott Kirby expect "demand to remain suppressed for months after that, possibly into next year." In the event of slow recovery in air-travel demand, management at United Airlines stated that it may condense workforce in the long run. We fear that other airlines may follow suit, in the event of demand remaining stifled for a long time. In fact, the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) JetBlues CEO Robin Hayes warned that "the writing is on the wall" that travel demand will not be restored anytime soon. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Moreover, as a condition for receiving the above-mentioned financial help, airlines had to suspend share buybacks and dividends. Notably, suspension of the above shareholder-friendly measures does not augur well for investors as the lure of steady dividends often leads them to put their hard earned money into the stock market. Thus, this could be another major blow to the already-struggling airline stocks. Come what may, we expect investor focus to remain on this burning issue. To this end, we advise investors to watch this space for further updates. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $24 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $77.6 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) : Free Stock Analysis Report JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU) : Free Stock Analysis Report Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research An Australian woman has been arrested after she allegedly sent child abuse material and offered a child for sex to a man overseas through WhatsApp. The 35-year-old woman and the man were communicating through the encrypted messaging platform where she allegedly sent him the illegal material. He lodged a tip with the Australian Federal Police who arrested the woman at her home in the Northern Tablelands suburb of Armidale in NSW on Thursday. The child, who can not be identified for legal reasons, was known to the woman and has been put into the care of family. The 35-year-old woman and the man were communicating through the encrypted messaging platform, WhatsApp, where she allegedly sent him the illegal material (stock image) After the AFP received the tip through their online 'Report Abuse' portal, the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) began an investigation. NSW Police conducted an early morning raid at the woman's property where they seized an electronic device which will be forensically examined. The woman was charged with using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material and producing child abuse material for use through a carriage service. AFP Acting Commander ACCCE and Child Protection Operations Paula Hudson said they are investigating the man who made the tip but they are not treating him as a suspect at this time. 'We do know who the person is who received the imagery. They decided that it breached their moral code and they reported it,' she told The Sydney Morning Herald. She said there was no financial benefit to the woman allegedly sending child abuse material of offering the child for sexual abuse. He lodged a tip with the Australian Federal Police who arrested the woman at her home in the Northern Tablelands suburb of Armidale on Thursday (pictured: Australian Federal Police officers) Acting Commander Hudson said despite the current COVID-19 crisis, the AFP and ACCCE will not lose focus on combating child exploitation. 'Our officers are still working diligently to identify and prosecute those who prey on our children,' Acting Commander Hudson said in a statement. 'Our work to put a stop to the sexual exploitation of children, be it online or physical abuse, will not stop for anything. 'Even now as our society grapples with this health crisis, this is a warning to would-be offenders that we are still active and we will still catch you.' She wanted parents to be aware of the applications and websites used by their children and to regularly discuss their activities online. 'Look at [apps] together. It's important to make children feel comfortable and that they can approach and trust you.' The woman appeared at Armidale Local Court on Friday and did not apply for bail, though bail was formally refused. She will appear in court on April 8. As soon as you hit the streets and begin riding your ambulances, know that you will be in a confrontation with a world, national and local catastrophe, Ford said in his remarks. Your bravery and professionalism, compassion starts as soon as you walk out that door. You will face long days and nights. Long shifts and countless patients. You will be tested to perform expertly under pressure. This will be the epitome of trial by fire. But this is what we all signed up for. 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 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. The last rites of two people from Ludhiana, who were killed in the Kabul gurdwara attack, were performed at a cremation ground near SDP college here on Tuesday. Kishan Singh and Shankar Singh were among the 27 people who were killed in the attack that took place on March 25. Several people also sustained injuries after armed men stormed the Dharamshala Sikh Temple in Kabul and opened fire inside the premises. The Islamic State terror group later claimed responsibility for the attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Study: Fake Russian Twitter accounts politicized discourse about vaccines There is a real danger of health topics being politicized and used as propaganda tools. BUFFALO, N.Y. Activity from phony Twitter accounts established by the Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA) between 2015 and 2017 may have contributed to politicizing Americans position on the nature and efficacy of vaccines, a health care topic which has not historically fallen along party lines, according to new research published in the American Journal of Public Health. The findings, based on machine learning analysis of nearly 3 million tweets from fake accounts, expose a general threat made startlingly more relevant in the face of the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, according to Yotam Ophir, an assistant professor of communication in the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences, who co-authored the study. There is a real danger of health topics being politicized and used as propaganda tools. If that happens for topics such as coronavirus, people would be inclined to evaluate the importance and veracity of health messages from either health experts, politicians, or trusted media outlets based on how it reflects their political leanings, says Ophir, an expert in computational modeling, media effects and persuasion. If people perceive health topics as being aligned with a political agenda, whether its left or right, then they will consequently begin to lose trust in health organizations and question their objectivity. To understand why this might only be the beginning of more intense polarization is to understand that the threat posed by polarizing health care topics may be an unintended side effect of Russian attempts to influence other political discussions, including topics tied closely to the 2016 U.S. presidential election. I dont believe the Russians wanted to sow discord around vaccines specifically, but rather chose to harness social tensions around vaccines in order to make the Republican characters they created appear more Republican and the Democratic characters they created to appear more Democratic. This intensifies a recently emerging divide where one previously did not exist. The Russians intentions in this particular case, however, dont matter when considering the implications for public health, according to Ophir. What is pertinent is that the IRA used a public health topic to serve its own strategic and political needs that targeted Republicans and Democrats with different messages. If that proves effective, the Russians will ramp up their misinformation campaign, moving from what might be an unplanned outcome to a more persistent and focused effort. In recent years, we see the change already with Republicans starting to lose trust in vaccines while Democrats seem unmoved, Ophir says. Again, I dont think the Russians care about vaccines, but along the way they created and intensified this emerging divide. Now they can target each party with different messages, spreading misinformation unequally, targeting susceptible groups with lower trust in government and science. Ophirs paper with Dror Walter, an assistant professor of communication at Georgia State University, and Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, began as a conversation at a 2018 conference, after it was first discovered that Twitter troll accounts were discussing non-political topics such as vaccines. At around the same time, Jamieson published Cyber-War, a book about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election that identified thematic personas among Twitter trolls. These personas are designated topical and linguistic roles played by each fake account. Inspired by Jamiesons work, previous research and Ophirs focus on connecting health misinformation and politics, the team used computational methods to identify nine personas among nearly 2,700 accounts. The pro-Trump personas were more likely to express anti-vaccine sentiment, while anti-Trump personas expressed support for vaccines. Accounts falling under the persona type mimicking African Americans and Black Lives Matter activists also expressed more anti-vaccine messages. The researchers used their own method, the Analysis of Topic Model Networks, to identify patterns among the nearly 3 million tweets and network analysis that treats each topic as a node in a semantic network. This form of unsupervised machine learning finds associations and clusters that are beyond human reach. I have reason to strongly believe, though we dont have the data, that Russia and other countries who try to interfere in our political discourse will use coronavirus to spread misinformation and rumors to solidify the relationships theyre building with new troll accounts that replace the ones removed by Twitter, says Ophir. The virus is not political, but when any health topic becomes a political matter at the expense of fact, the result is to base conclusions and make decisions, such as whether to social distance or not, on party loyalty, not science. Thats extremely dangerous, Ophir says. Eamon Archer passes a message in support of social distancing in the battle against coronavirus on his way home from a supermarket on the Ormeau Road in Belfast More than 50,000 people in Northern Ireland could be infected with the deadly coronavirus, an expert has warned. Virologist Connor Bamford made the prediction based on our latest death toll, which reached 28 on Tuesday. A further six people have died due to the virus since Monday, officials said. The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases has reached 586, a rise of 53 in 24 hours. However, Dr Bamford, a research fellow at Queen's University, has calculated the actual total of cases here could be as high as 52,000. He said this would include cases of people who have recovered. Expand Close Graves being dug at Antrim's Belmont Cemetary in preparation for a surge in coronavirus deaths / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Graves being dug at Antrim's Belmont Cemetary in preparation for a surge in coronavirus deaths The prediction came as: The UK death toll reached 1,801, a rise of 381 - the biggest daily increase yet. Deaths jumped to 71 in the Republic of Ireland. The PSNI said it would suspend investigations into Troubles cases and redeploy personnel in response to the crisis. The number of known cases worldwide passed 800,000, with 40,000 dead. While there were 586 confirmed cases in Northern Ireland on Tuesday - more than treble the 172 cases at the same point a week earlier - experts believe the true figure is far higher. Last Wednesday Michael McBride, the chief medical officer, said he believed there were "many thousands" of Covid-19 cases across Northern Ireland. On Tuesday Dr Bamford said the mortality rate could be 0.6%, with many people unaware they have Covid-19 due to not displaying symptoms or experiencing a mild form of the infection. "It can take up to around three weeks to succumb to infection from initial exposure, so whatever numbers of deaths we have, they can tell us how many cases in total we had three weeks ago," he explained. "Given that the virus may double every six days, we can project forward 21 days later. Three weeks ago we could have had 4,500 cases, but today this would look like 52,000 in total." This does not mean that there are nearly 50,000 people walking around with Covid-19 because many of these will have recovered, or are in the process of being sick, or will have unfortunately died Connor Bamford Health Minister Robin Swann, writing in Wednesday's Belfast Telegraph, restated the importance of following basic precautions. Read More He urged the "small minority" of people here flouting the social distancing measures to obey the lockdown. "It is essential that these tight restrictions are rigorously maintained in the weeks ahead. Quite simply, lives depend on it," Mr Swann said. "So, let me appeal to everyone not to slip back into old habits. Any signs of complacency and impatience must be strongly resisted. "Our actions now will impact on the spread of coronavirus in future weeks." Expand Close Virologist Connor Bamford / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Virologist Connor Bamford Dr Bamford, who has previously warned council areas with low numbers of confirmed cases to avoid being complacent in the battle against Covid-19, said it was important to put his prediction into context. Read More "This does not mean that there are nearly 50,000 people walking around with Covid-19 because many of these will have recovered, or are in the process of being sick, or will have unfortunately died," he added. "These numbers are just predictions and ideally we would like to base any calculations on hard data, but unfortunately we are not testing to high enough capacity yet to do this." Dr Bamford said he was hopeful that this would be rectified in the future. The Government has committed to only testing those admitted to hospital as well as health workers, a decision which has been criticised by some experts calling for the wider population to be included in a bid to reduce transmissions. Dr Bamford said the virus was proportionately affecting Northern Ireland and the Republic at almost the same rate. At the weekend a second Queen's University expert, Professor Ultan Power, estimated the number of actual coronavirus cases to be around 62,000. The figure was reported at the weekend by the Irish Mail on Sunday. A professor at the University of Bristol has said the island of Ireland needs to work as one unit in the fight against coronavirus. Gabriel Scally warned on Tuesday there was a risk of "squandering" the geographical advantage of living on an island because of different health policies either side of the border. The Luxembourg government has granted an extension to the tax declaration deadline for citizens and businesses. Don't panic if you haven't completed your tax return yet - as part of the measures in place to support the economy, the government has announced a three-month extension. Tax returns must now be completed and returned to the Direct tax administration by 30 June 2020. Anyone who has already submitted their tax return is allowed to modify or revoke it prior to the new deadline. Troy University officials told news outlets on Wednesday two university members were recently diagnosed with COVID-19. A female student from Monroe County, who had been to spring break, self-reported a positive result for the virus. A faculty member from Montgomery County also has tested positive. After returning from spring break, the student returned to off-campus housing in the city of Troy from March 16-17, according to Dean of Student Services Herbert Reeves. By that time, Troys campus was not conducting in-person classes. Reeves did not have information about how the student could have contracted the virus. Neither individual has been on campus or in contact with students, faculty or staff since the start of spring break, which was March 9-13, officials stated in a news release. However, out of an abundance of caution, we wanted to inform the campus community. We have been in contact with the Alabama Department of Public Health about both cases, and the ADPH will investigate and contact any individuals who may be at risk of exposure to the virus. KYODO NEWS - Mar 30, 2020 - 16:40 | World, All, Coronavirus South Korean President Moon Jae In unveiled on Monday plans to hand out 1 million won ($816) to each four-person household below the top 30 percent of income earners, to cushion the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. The cash handouts will be part of a 7.1 trillion won second extra budget being drawn up to boost the economy hit hard by the pandemic, just weeks after the country's parliament approved the first special budget worth 11.7 trillion won. Many South Koreans, battered by the coronavirus impact, have been waiting in anticipation for direct financial assistance from the government. "Speed is the key to giving such emergency financial assistance, and the government will, therefore, submit the second extra budget as soon as possible," Moon said at an emergency meeting of government officials. The president urged the parliament to approve the spending measure just after the April 15 general election, adding that all South Koreans deserve to be compensated for the efforts they have made to stem the spread of the virus. On Monday, South Korea reported 78 new coronavirus infections over 24 hours to the end of Sunday, taking the country's confirmed tally to 9,661, with 158 deaths, according to the Health and Welfare Ministry. Though the country is no longer logging as many new daily cases as it used to, health authorities are on the lookout for infection clusters and cases of infection imported by travelers from abroad. The authorities have so far confirmed 476 cases of infection found in people newly arrived from overseas. Prime Minister Chung Sye Kyun announced Sunday that starting Wednesday, all people arriving in the country from overseas will have to spend two weeks in self-isolation, regardless of their nationality. Related coverage: Japan to ban entry from United States, China, South Korea, most of Europe South Korea to impose mandatory quarantine for all arrivals from Wed. North Korea fires projectiles toward Sea of Japan Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday visited migrant labourers who have been given shelter at the Richardson Cruddas premises in Byculla in central Mumbai. Labourers who have become jobless due to lockdown on account of coronavirus and who have no permanent accommodation in the city have been put up at this relief centre. The minister also distributed them food packets. The state government will ensure that no labourer goes hungry due to lockdown, Deshmukh said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coronavirus Geopolitics and Fighting Against Its Consequences Why Georgia Is Successful Story - GeorgianJournal Low income families with children eligible for free school meals will get supermarket vouchers worth 15-a-week while schools are shut to fight coronavirus. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has set up the scheme to stop England's 1.3million affected households going hungry. The vouchers will only be available during 'term time' and can be spent at Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer. The vouchers for 15-a-week for each eligible child have been set above the 11.50 currently paid to schools for the cost of providing free meals. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured) has announced that all families with children who get free school meals will get supermarket vouchers worth 15-a-week Mr Williamson said devolved Governments in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are also being invited to join the scheme. The decision is in recognition that families unlike school caterers do not order in bulk and therefore face higher costs. The Education Secretary said that while some schools were making their own plans to ensure pupils continued to be fed, he hoped most would join the scheme. He said that no child should have to go hungry as a result of measures brought in to control the spread of the virus. 'I really hope that this is something taken up by most schools. I think this will be a real big help to so many families,' he told said. 'We are living in extraordinary times at the moment. It's really important that we do everything we can do for families, make sure those children we really want to be able to support and help are getting that support. 'What we are wanting to do is just give schools that extra bit of support, give families that extra bit of support.' The Government originally announced the voucher plan following the decision earlier this month to order the closure of all schools. Once a school has joined the scheme the vouchers will be sent out by email directly to the eligible families by the Department for Education's supplier, Edenred. Alternatively, for those families which do not have internet access, the school can claim them on their behalf and send out paper copies in the post. Gambling addicts who searched for phone apps to help them quit have been bombarded by adverts for online casinos. Those using Apple's App Store to look for software to stop them betting on their iPhone were offered free plays, encouraging them to gamble. Adverts for Ladbrokes Casino, Virgin Games casino and 888 Casino appeared top of the list when the Daily Mail entered searches for 'gambling stop' or 'block gambling'. Apps that block betting transactions from smartphones or offer help to recovering addicts were further down, underneath the sponsored listings. Gambling addicts searching for anti-gambling apps are being targeted with gambling ads The adverts could fall foul of Gambling Commission rules, which say 'all marketing of gambling products must be undertaken in a socially responsible manner'. Campaigners say the adverts target the most vulnerable when they are trying to quit gambling. Labour MP Carolyn Harris, chairman of the parliamentary group on gambling, said: 'If this doesn't prove what we most feared, nothing will. 'The industry needs to wake up to reality, and regulators need to stop sitting on their hands because when this pandemic is over these firms will be held accountable for any damage done to vulnerable gamblers.' Alex Macey, chairman of Gamvisory, a campaign group of former gambling addicts, said: 'This abhorrent behaviour goes to show how low some companies will go to market their products. 'To make this worse, it directly targets the most vulnerable. It's high time the Gambling Commission took action. Apple should ask if it wants to profit from this type of advertising.' Betting firms claim they use technology to prevent vulnerable gamblers, including children, from seeing marketing messages that might encourage them to bet. But Apples search algorithm was directing them to gambling apps. STOCK PHOTO: Gambling on mobile phone device. Gambling ads are targeting addicts The Ladbrokes advert, which appeared when searching 'gambling block', offered the chance to play roulette, blackjack and slots. An advert for the Virgin Games app, offering '30 free spins when you play 10', came top on a search for 'gambling help', while 'gambling stop' brought up 888 Casino, offering an 88 bonus to players without the need to deposit money. In October, the Advertising Standards Authority ordered Google to remove an advert by an online casino that appeared in a search for 'gambling help'. Ladbrokes and Virgin Casino which is owned by Gamesys and unrelated to Sir Richard Branson's empire pay Apple for their products to be shown first when certain search words are entered. GVC, which owns Ladbrokes, said: 'We are deeply concerned that an advert for one of our products should appear in connection with safer gambling search terms. We are liaising closely with Apple to understand how this could have happened and have suspended our Apple search advertising with immediate effect.' Gamesys apologised for the 'misplaced' adverts. 'We flagged the issue to Apple as soon as we became aware and have paused all adverts with them as we fully investigate,' it said. Apple was contacted for comment. After the Mail brought the search terms to Apples attention the adverts were removed. CLEVELAND, Ohio The sole federal prison in Ohio one where former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora is serving his 28-year sentence has reported cases of the coronavirus, officials say. Elkton Correctional Institution in Columbiana County, which is about 100 miles southeast of Cleveland, has two cases among inmates as of Monday, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Dimora, who is serving a 28-year prison sentence for corruption-related crimes, is not one of the inmates with the virus, his attorney David Mills said. Mills said he has been in touch with the 64-year-old former county politician via email, who told him there are inmates with fevers and that corrections staff has worked to isolate them. He told Dimora, who has health issues, to be as careful as possible and to make sure hes washing his hands. A prison or a jail is a pretty bad place to be if a virus breaks out, Mills said. The Elkton facility, which includes a low-security prison and a satellite prison, can house 2,469 inmates. In addition to Dimora, Amish Bishop Sam Mullet, who served time for federal convictions stemming from a series of beard-cutting attacks in Bergholz in 2011, served a large portion of his sentence there. Prison officials released Mullet from a halfway house to his home last week to finish serving the rest of his sentence. The prisons bureau imposed restrictions as a result of the virus, including suspending visits from loved ones and many lawyers. Inmates now receive 500 minutes each month to use on the phone. The prisons bureau reported that 28 people in its custody across the country caught the virus as of Monday, as well as 24 staff members. None of the staff members are in Ohio. A growing number of voices have called for counties, states and the federal government to reduce the population of people behind bars, as they worry that the cramped quarters and unsanitary conditions in many jails and prisons could exacerbate an already serious health crisis. There are more than 175,000 federal inmates across the country Other concerns are shared by staff at Elkton as well. Joseph Mayle, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 607, told WKBN-27 in Youngstown that his 300 members share anxiety over the situation. Mayle said Monday that 65 inmates were isolated because they showed symptoms of the coronavirus, but had not yet been tested. He told the station that the prison only has three tests. He also said the prisons bureau is still sending new prisoners there and that he wants officials to allow guards to take time off with pay and not use sick leave if they feel they need to self-quarantine. Attorney General William Barr said Thursday that he recommended the prisons bureau look at releasing some at-risk inmates to home confinement to reduce the prison population, according to ABC News. Mills said he was looking at developments to see whether Dimora, whose release date is in 2036, could be eligible. Dimora is also awaiting a decision by a federal appeals court in Cincinnati on whether he should receive a new trial. Judges scheduled oral arguments for March 19, but the court canceled them as a result of the virus. Read more: Amish beard-cutting leader Sam Mullet to serve rest of sentence at home after he raises concerns about coronavirus Appeals court cancels Jimmy Dimoras oral arguments as Ohio sees more coronavirus cases Appeals court sets oral arguments date for Jimmy Dimoras corruption case Jimmy Dimora stakes hope of freedom on ethics reports he was barred from using at corruption trial Former Cuyahoga County commissioner Jimmy Dimora loses bid to challenge corruption convictions Reshaping public corruption: How recent court decisions threw Jimmy Dimora a lifeline 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. 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. In China, any foreign manufacturer is required for a joint venture with a local company. This is why you see names such as SAIC-Volkswagen, BMW Brilliance, or FAW-Toyota. In the case of Honda, they saddled up with GAC to be able to operate in China. Now, GAC has announced that it has absorbed Honda's export production operations in China. Just to clarify, this doesn't mean that GAC will take over Honda's joint venture with another partner which would be Dongfeng-Honda. This simply means the GAC now has a much larger control over Honda's automotive operations in the country. With that, the new entity will now be called Guangzhou Development District Factory of GAC Honda. When Honda first set foot in China, their intention was to build cars for export and not for local consumption. Honda then partnered up with GAC and Dongfeng to make cars for the Chinese market. Honda Automobile China exports vehicles to Russia, the Middle East, Mexico, and Africa. Prior to this, GAC owned a 25 percent stake in Honda Automobile China, while Dongfeng had 10 percent. GAC now owns 100% of the shares. Surging coronavirus positive cases is not a cause for worry, biotech entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said on Tuesday and voiced confidence that India would be able to manage theCOVID-19 crisis so long it keeps the number of infected patients needing critical care small. The government reported 227 fresh cases of infections nation-wide the highest for a day on Monday. The death toll has risen to 32 and the total number of positive cases in the country was 1251. "One thing we must not forget is we will have a surge in the number of positive patients. People should not worry about that," the Chairman and Managing Director of Biocon Ltd told 'PTI' in an interview. "I think what we need to really worry about is the seriousness of the disease. And if the disease is serious, and they've got too many people coming into critical care, we will be overwhelmed. But as long as the numbers (those needing critical care) are small, we can manage. That's what we have to look at." India has so far done reasonably well in efforts to halt the spread, in terms of declaring lockdown and quarantine measures and stoppage of flights but COVID-19 test rate is "woefully inadequate", according to her. Mazumdar-Shaw expressed the view that the government should have pulled in the private sector earlier in the battle against the respiratory disease but now that it has been brought in, it has got into the act by making COVID-19 hospitals and other initiatives. "Right now the whole feeling is the government wants to control everything, and they don't have resources. So, to keep the private sector out (earlier) was a mistake," she said. She said the ongoing 21-day lockdown is very important time and absolute need of the hour, because 90 per cent of the people who are quarantined recover after just mild symptoms. She admired the way Kerala is handling the COVID-19 crisis. "...how very well Kerala has disciplined themselves... if you have to look at one State and commend, itis Kerala. Everything...from quarantining to strictly adhering to social distancing, and to the lock-down, they are I think the best," Mazumdar-Shaw said. She also saw some silver-lining in the current challenges from the COVID-19 outbreak, noting that small companies have come up with great solutions in terms of low- cost indigenous diagnostic kit; some companies have joined hands to ramp up production of ventilators and personal protective equipment. "Suddenly you realise how important public health is, how important communicable diseases are and how important it's for India also to be prepared in terms of such epidemics," Mazumdar-Shaw observed. "It tells you that there is a need to be self-reliant in public health." "...today you realise that may be ventilators will really not be a problem for India because you now have got enough capacity created with all these initiatives (to scale up production). I think, basically the silver lining is that it tells you that we do have lot of capabilities, we have not leveraged these capabilities adequately because we have under invested in the healthcare," she said. "We have invested too much in other sectors without really investing in the basic (healthcare)." Apparently sounding philosophical, Mazumdar-Shaw commented: "...and finally you realise that health is wealth. I think the world is also going to have a very, very different view of what quality of life is, and what real value of life is; You can have enough money but if you get COVID virus in a very bad way, there is nothing that can save you. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ill. megachurch pastor, grandfather of 10 dies of coronavirus Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Calvary Church of Naperville in Illinois is now wrapped in grief after losing one of their beloved pastors, Angel Escamilla, to the new coronavirus Sunday night, just a week after he tested positive for the disease. He was 68. It saddens my heart to tell you that Pastor Angel Escamilla has passed away from this life. I know that we prayed for his earthly healing in hopes that he would remain with us. Our prayers were not in vain, as they turned our hearts toward the hope we place in heaven, Calvary Church of Naperville Lead Pastor Marty Sloan said in a statement posted to the churchs Facebook page. I personally found Pastor Angel to be a man of strong faith in the Lord, a man in the Word, and a man of GREAT prayer! If anyone ever spoke into the heavens in prayer, it was Pastor Angel. He will be forever missed on our team and in the church family. According to the churchs website, Escamilla was a grandfather of 10, had been in ministry for more than 40 years and served as the assistant pastor in the Calvary en Espanol arm of the church. I am passionate about living life without regret or fear, fulfilling Gods desire for my life and seeing all of my grandchildren in ministry, Escamilla, who fathered two sons with his wife of more than 40 years, noted. Russ Hurst, who works with the international program at Convoy of Hope, remembered Escamilla in a statement on Facebook as one of the most godly men he has ever known. Pastor Angel Escamilla went to be with the Lord last night after battling the coronavirus. Would you please pray for his family at this time? He truly was one of the most godly men Ive had the privilege of working with. To this day I can still hear his voice from when he prayed in our weekly staff prayer meetings... he had a way of touching heaven and bringing the presence of God into a room with just a few words of prayer. Im heart broken like so many others, Hurst said. Independent journalist Julie Roys previously reported that Sloan, the lead pastor at the 6,000-member church, tried to keep his congregation in the dark that Escamilla had tested positive and his wife and son, whos also a pastor at the church, were displaying symptoms of being infected by the virus. She said despite knowing that staff and volunteers had been exposed to Escamilla and family members who live with him, Sloan continued to record online services with multiple staff, including members of Escamillas family. Roys said Sloan later informed the congregation about Escamilla only after she reached out to him about it. February 23rd, was the last time I was able to stand next to this man of God, Ps Angel Escamilla. He had the spirit of a dove, the strength of a warrior, the faith of Abraham and when he prayed you knew he was talking to Heaven, Sloan noted in a message on his personal Facebook page Monday. I am honored to have known him and been part of the Calvary Church of Naperville family with him! He is forever in my heart and his family is now in our care. Thank you Ps Angel for a life well lived, a crown well-earned and a reminder that our HOPE IS IN HIM. I will see you in Heaven one day. 1 Thessalonians 4, he added. State prosecutors in Venezuela have summoned opposition leader Juan Guaido for an alleged 'attempted coup d'etat' and attempted assassination, Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced Tuesday. In a statement broadcast on state television, Saab said Guaido had been summoned to appear before prosecutors next Thursday following an investigation last week into the seizure of a weapons cache in neighboring Colombia that he said was to be smuggled into Venezuela. The announcement comes on the same day that the Trump administration has called for a power-sharing transitional government in Venzuela, made up of Guaido's opposition and some members of President Nicolas Maduro's Socialist Party. The administration's plans also laid out for the first time how U.S. sanctions might be lifted, including on the vital oil sector. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has been summoned by prosecutors over 'attempted coup d'etat' and attempted assassination on the same day as the Trump administration has called for a power sharing deal to be struck The subpoena was delivered to Guaido's head of security on Monday night, Saab said. The opposition leader is recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries, including the United States, that refuse to recognize socialist President Nicolas Maduro after his disputed 2018 re-election. Colombian forces last week seized a cache of weapons linked to a retired Venezuelan general wanted on drug trafficking charges in the United States. The shaven-headed general, Cliver Alcala, surrendered in Colombia and was handed over to US authorities last week. Alcala claimed ownership of the weapons discovered by police in Puerto Viejo in Colombia's Magdalena department on March 23. He said in social media messages the intention was to deliver them to Venezuela to 'begin the liberation.' In his announcement Tuesday, Saab said Alacala - who was once close to late president Hugo Chavez but retired when Maduro took power in 2013 - had been operating under 'direct instructions from Mr Juan Guaido.' Guaido has been repeatedly targeted by the government in a number of legal cases but never arrested, amid warnings by the United States that it would be Maduro's 'last mistake.' The International Monetary Fund last week rejected Maduro's request for a $5 billion loan, on the grounds that there was 'no clarity' on international recognition of his government. The deal would see current President Nicolas Maduro out in the cold. Maduro is not recognised by many western countries and has been criticised for his dictatorial leadership President Trump has called for Maduro to 'step aside' and for the opposition-controlled National Assembly 'to elect an inclusive transitional government acceptable to the major factions' The summons comes two days after Guaido said in an interview that an emergency government made up of the opposition and some members of the ruling Socialist Party to receive foreign aid needed to confront the coronavirus outbreak. President Nicolas Maduro has been broadly discredited among Western nations after his disputed 2018 re-election, leaving few foreign financiers willing to provide funds to improve a health care system decimated by years of economic crisis. Guaido said a coalition government would be able to convince multilateral agencies to provide $1.2 billion in financing to address the outbreak. 'It's crucial that we attend to the country's health emergency, to increase the number of hospital beds and ventilators, to provide (water) for hospitals,' Guaido said in a video interview, referencing the lack of running water in many public medical facilities. 'We have an existing humanitarian emergency in Venezuela, which will worsen the pandemic.' The emergency government would not include Maduro or other top allies, he said, a group of whom were indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday on accusations of narco-terrorism. He declined to reveal the names of potential participants. U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due today to announce a 'sequenced exit path' for Venezuela from tough U.S. sanctions if Maduro and his allies cooperate With the South American nation squeezed by a U.S. economic pressure campaign, low world oil prices and a spreading coronavirus pandemic, Washington unveiled a more toned-down approach aimed at promoting fair elections this year to end the political crisis there, U.S. officials said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due to formally announce the administration's 'Democratic Transition Framework' for Venezuela, which, according to a document seen by Reuters, offers a detailed, 'sequenced exit path' from tough U.S. sanctions if Maduro and his allies cooperate. But it will be no easy task to draw Maduro, who holds onto power despite escalation of U.S. efforts to oust him and has showed no willingness to end his rule, onto a path of political reconciliation. The initiative comes less than a week after the U.S. government took a more confrontational tack, indicting Maduro and more than a dozen other current and former top Venezuelan officials on charges of 'narco-terrorism,' accusations he dismissed as false and racist. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) released a wanted poster for Nicolas Maduro with a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the President's arrest Maduro's staying power has become a source of frustration for President Donald Trump, U.S. officials have said privately. Maduro retains the backing of the military as well as Russia, China and Cuba. 'The regime is now under heavier pressure than it has ever been,' U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams told Reuters, previewing the plan. 'Maybe this pressure will lead to a serious discussion within the regime.' The U.S. proposal, which Abrams said was approved by Trump, calls for Maduro to 'step aside' and for the opposition-controlled National Assembly 'to elect an inclusive transitional government acceptable to the major factions' and then oversee elections in late 2020. But in what appears to be a softening of tone toward Maduro, Abrams said the plan did not call for him to be forced into exile and even suggested that he 'could theoretically run' in the election. While Venezuela currently only has 135 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, and 3 deaths, experts predict it could be one of the worst hit countries in the coming months Resistance seen from socialist lawmakers Venezuela crisis: Which countries are supporting the opposition? Support for Nicolas Maduro's regime comes from Russia, China, Turkey, Mexico and Iran, wheres the EU, United States, Canada, Australia and neighbours Brazil recognise Juan Guaido as leader of Venezuela Supporting 'interim' President Juan Guaido: United States Canada United Kingdom Argentina Brazil Chile Colombia Costa Rica Guatemala Honduras Panama Paraguay Peru Kosovo The EU 27 Australia Supporting incumbent President Nicolas Maduro: Russia Belarus Greece China Iran Cuba Mexico Turkey Syria Bolivia Uruguay Advertisement With experts deeming OPEC member Venezuela among the countries that could be hardest hit by the coronavirus, opposition leader Juan Guaido proposed over the weekend the formation of an emergency government of members across the political spectrum. The U.S. plan seeks to build on the effort by Guaido, who has been recognized by the United States and more than 50 other nations as the rightful president, as well as a failed round of negotiations between the two sides in Barbados last year that the Trump administration dismissed at the time. The proposal represents a significantly less bellicose tone from the administration's pronouncements since January of last year when Guaido invoked the constitution to assume a rival interim presidency, arguing that Maduro's 2018 re-election was a sham. Maduro calls Guaido a U.S. puppet. 'Today we are announcing a Democratic Transition Framework to help Venezuelans escape from the national crisis that falling oil prices and the coronavirus have now deepened,' Abrams said in an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal. But the success of the plan, which calls for power-sharing between the Guaido-led opposition and Socialist lawmakers, would ultimately hinge on Socialist leaders turning on Maduro, the same strategy that Guaido has been unable to execute. U.S. authorities in 2019 offered to lift individual parts of the sanctions in exchange for specific actions by Maduro, but that did not lead his allies to accept a deal, said sources familiar with the situation. Socialist legislators are again considered unlikely to go along with the new U.S. plan. A fresh offer of sanctions relief, however, seeks to persuade them to peel off from Maduro, whose immediate reaction, Abrams said, 'will be to reject this.' Individual sanctions on dozens of Venezuelan government officials could be lifted as soon as they give up their posts, Abrams said. Broader economic sanctions, including on Venezuela's oil sector and state oil company PDVSA, would be removed only after Maduro leaves office and all 'foreign security forces' are withdrawn, a reference to Cuban operatives and a small Russian contingent, Abrams said. He said, however, the proposal would not have a mechanism to revoke indictments against Maduro and his loyalists. 'People should hire lawyers and start talking to the Department of Justice,' he added. At the same time, the framework calls for amnesty and creation of a 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission,' while allowing senior military officers, governors and mayors to stay in their positions during the transition period, Abrams said. Under the plan, the Supreme Court and National Electoral Council would be replaced and political prisoners released, according to the State Department document. Guaido would also step down but could seek election to the presidency, Abrams said. Abrams said that if the framework were adopted, there would be the possibility of help from the International Monetary Fund and the administration would also ask the U.S. Congress to approve aid. A sign on a supermarket door reads in Spanish 'notice, without a mask you do not enter,' as precaution amid the spread of the coronavirus in Caracas, Venezuela Why overthrowing Maduro in Venezuela would spell disaster for Putin Russia is one of the key allies of Maduro's regime and - according to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo - the only reason he is still in the country, after Moscow ordered him not to flee as protests broke in May 2019. One of the main reasons that Putin is backing Maduro so heavily comes down to oil and the billions of dollars that the Kremlin has pumped into Venezuela's drilling industry. Russia and its state-owned oil giant Rosneft have invested almost $9billion in its Venezuelan counterpart PDVSA since 2009, while Moscow has also handed the country some $17billion in loans, underwritten by the oil reserves on which Maduro sits - the largest anywhere in the world. Should control of the country swap to Guaido, who is backed by the US, then it is likely that Russia will never see another cent of this money repaid. Meanwhile Venezuela is also a major buyer of Russian weapons, having purchased $11billion worth of tanks, missile defence systems, fighter jets and other small arms between 2005 and 2013. The repayments on these weapons will almost certainly be lost if Guaido takes power, while any future weapons orders will likely be taken over by America. Venezuela is also a major importer of Russia grain, and has ties to the country's banking industry. Perhaps more than resources and revenue, however, Russia is also keen to maintain a strategic and ideological foothold in America's backyard, from which it can project its influence across the region. As Mikael Wigell, a researcher from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, told RFE/RL: 'Establishing close relations with Venezuela gives Moscow a certain nuisance power in relation to the United States, and that can be used as a bargaining chip in future dealings with the United States. 'It also can be kind of a showcase for Russia's aspirations to be considered a global power.' Advertisement A pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic will open in Bondi and GPs in Sydney's eastern suburbs have been urged to ramp up testing amid concerns over increasing community transmission in hotspots. NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the drop in numbers comes as fewer tests were being done. Of the 2032 known cases of COVID-19 in the state, 164 are being cared for in the hospital system, with 35 in ICU and 16 on ventilators. The Ruby Princess floating off Copacabana on the Central Coast as the sun rose on Tuesday morning. Credit:Harriet Alexander More than half of the hospital cases not in ICU are being cared for through home hospital services. The Premier warned against being too hopeful that NSW had turned a corner. "Remain vigilant, do not look at the case numbers each day...this is serious, we are at a serious stage of the virus," Ms Berejiklian said. Ms Berejiklian said people had to follow strict social distancing rules for the foreseeable future. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, right, and NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller. Credit:AAP "Do not gather more than two people outside or inside your home. This is important because we know the number of cases is increasing," Ms Berejiklian said. "We know NSW has taken every strict measure we can. Mr Fuller said 13 people had been fined for flouting social distancing rules but that did not mean people could not leave home for important reasons. "If you need to exercise, we get it. If you need to go to the shops to get some food, absolutely acceptable. But the messaging has not been getting through to some people," Mr Fuller said. Bondi outbreak Dr Chant said there would be extra testing in various hot spots, including a pop-up site in Bondi as well as working with local GPs. "There has been an outbreak in backpackers," Dr Chant said. She said there needed to be extra testing where there is clear community transmission and areas of "active clusters". "I am urging increased testing," she said The Ruby Princess cruise ship in waters off Sydney on Monday,. Credit:AAP Dr Chant also expressed concern about "the weekend effect", where there maybe a decline in cases because people were less likely to present for testing on the weekend, when many GPs are shut. "I suppose I'm just very cautious in interpreting the numbers because I know that whenever I interpret a number, it has to be interpreted in the context of the testing rates," she said. Meanwhile, two pregnant women and four people with coronavirus symptoms are among the crew who have been allowed to disembark ships off the state's coast, Mr Fuller said. Loading The state was "receiving people sensibly back into NSW" and prioritising taking Australian crew members off the ships, Mr Fuller added. "Four Australians who are crew members have been taken off one of those nine ships," he said "We've had requests for two ladies to leave two different ships who were pregnant, which I thought was absolutely appropriate. We've had four individuals come off with symptoms of the coronavirus and one who had another medical episode." On Monday, it was reported that three crew members were taken off the Ruby Princess and taken to hospital. Loading On Tuesday afternoon, two more cases of COVID-19 were confirmed at the Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged care facility in Macquarie Park, bringing the total number of cases at the facility to 21. Sixteen residents and five staff have tested positive at the facility, which remains in isolation. Four of the residents have died. There are now 211 NSW cases from the Ruby Princess ship, whose 2700 passengers disembarked in Sydney on March 19. This figure does not include those passengers who travelled to other states, a number which is understood to be well over 120 now, including two elderly Tasmanians who died. Regarding other cruise ships cases in NSW, there are 79 cases from the Ovation of the Seas, 30 from the Voyager of the Seas and four from the Celebrity Solstice. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 19:08:35|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MALE, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Maldives has seen an overall reduction of COVID-19 cases, with more patients recovering than new ones being confirmed amid stringent precautionary measures taken by the government. Maldives has 17 confirmed cases of COVID-19, out of which 13 patients have made a full recovery, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health. Only one Maldivian citizen has been tested positive for the virus, with the remaining being foreign workers and tourists. According to Health Minister Abdula Ameen, Maldives began preparing for a possible COVID-19 outbreak early by conducting a risk assessment, and forming a national response guideline and health emergency coordination committee by late January. By February, Maldives made arrangements with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to receive 1000 testing kits so that testing for the virus could be conducted locally. Meanwhile, the main airport was fitted with thermal cameras to screen incoming passengers. Maldives confirmed its first two COVID-19 cases on March 7, as two foreign workers at a resort on the island of Kuredu tested positive for the virus. A temporary lockdown was placed on the island as the government began carrying out more tests. In the following days, the government took precautions including quarantining several resorts, closing parks and public spaces, disinfecting public transport, postponing the re-opening of schools, suspending political campaigns, halting tourist excursions, and banning guesthouses from checking-in foreigners in Greater Male. On March 12, shortly after the World Health Organisation categorized COVID-19 as a pandemic, Maldives' Minister of Heath Abdulla Ameen declared a 30-day state of emergency for the first time in the country's history. According to Maldives' Public Health Act, a State of Public Health Emergency grants the Director-General of Public Health special powers to quarantine individuals suspected of carrying an infectious disease, distribute medicines, close educational institutions, ban public gatherings and impose travel restrictions. In a statement made on the same day, President Ibrahim Solih said the government was taking effective measures to protect citizens and residents from the virus in accordance with WHO standards. "This is the time to work in unity, with wisdom and consideration, and under the guidance and instructions of health professionals," Solih said. On March 15, the government allocated 13.7 million U.S. dollars from its contingency budget to finance precautionary measures against the virus outbreak. The government also decided to reduce 64 million U.S. dollars from state expenses and slash the salaries of parliamentarians by 20 percent. By March 21, the government had placed temporary travel bans on individuals arriving from COVID-19 affected countries including China, Iran, Italy, Bangladesh, Spain, Malaysia, Britain, the United States, Sri Lanka, parts of South Korea, France and Germany. The Maldives stopped issuing visas on-arrival starting from March 27. Social distancing precautions have been applied to all members of society including politicians and elected officials. On Monday, the Maldives Parliament conducted its sessions via a web conference call and will continue to do so until the outbreak is contained. The government has so far set up three dedicated clinics for COVID-19 where consultation is free of charge. Additionally, there are a total of 17 isolation facilities and 867 quarantine facilities in the country. All individuals under quarantine are to be tested for COVID-19 in compliance with the WHO recommendations of testing as many individuals as possible. WHO representative to Maldives Dr. Arvind Mathur has commended the Maldives for its impressive and proactive efforts. In an interview with Maldives state-owned PSM News, Dr. Mathur said the government has done well to raise public awareness through press conferences and media. According to the WHO, Maldives has a population of 428,000 and spends 13 percent of its GDP on healthcare. U.S. President Donald Trump said that Russia has sent a plane with medical equipment to the United States amid the pandemic of COVID-19. "I have to say, weve had great relationships with a lot of countries. China sent us some stuff," he told reporters during a briefing at the White House. "Russia sent us a very, very large plane load of things. Medical equipment. Very nice." He did not go into further details about Russias aid. "Other countries sent us things that I was very surprised at, very happy surprised," TASS cited the U.S. leader as saying. The Johns Hopkins University, which calculates statistics based on the government, WHO and other official source numbers, the U.S. has more than 160,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, while over 2,900 people died from it. A woman who racially abused a Sydney teenager before spitting in her eye has been described as a 'disgrace' by the NSW Police Commissioner. Sophie Do, 23, and her sister Rosa, 19, were crossing the road in Marrickville, in Sydney's inner west, on Monday afternoon when they copped a barrage of racist abuse from another woman. The woman tried to kick the pair before spitting in Rosa's face and resuming her tirade as she walked off. The woman in grey was captured on footage screaming: 'I've got a knife in my bag... you little Asian dog.' 'Asian b**ch. You brought corona here. Eat a bat again you dumb wh***.' When Sophie and Rosa called the women out for being racist and asked her and her friend to walk away, the woman in grey responded: 'I'm not going to walk you dumb s**t.' When a bystander tried to intervene the women spat at the sisters, getting saliva in Rosa's left eye and in her hair. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller on Tuesday said the incident was a 'disgrace'. 'We're arresting and charging people for spitting and coughing on people every day,' he told reporters. 'It's a disgrace, putting aside the racial slur. We will take action. 'Maybe it's a $5000 fine that'll sharpen people up on this.' Police are now looking for the Marrickville spitter, described as an 18-year-old Caucasian with a slim build and brown hair. The woman is yet to be charged. The argument broke out in the streets of Marrickville, in Sydney's inner west, at around 3pm on Monday 'Hate crimes against Asians have increased and I've seen disgusting videos from all around the world. I never thought I'd be in one,' Sophie (left with her sister) said The sisters said the ordeal was terrifying. 'Two girls walked passed us yelling racist things like ''stay away from them, they've got coronavirus'',' Rosa told Daily Mail Australia. 'I simply could not tolerate it so I yelled back and said ''Excuse me? What did you just say? Say it again'',' Rosa said. The 19-year-old university student said the two women continued to taunt her and her sister. 'Get out of here now, who do you think you're talking to,' the woman continued to scream while shaping up to the sisters. Video captured by the sisters and shocked onlookers shows the woman antagonise the two sisters while screaming at them The woman in grey was captured on the footage screaming: 'I've got a knife in my bag you little Asian dog' Sophie (left) said no one should be able to get away with racial attacks, which have ramped up in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured with sister Rosa Rosa said the young women started walking away before coming back to abuse them again. 'She was untying her jumper from her waist and putting her bag on the ground, ready to fight me,' Rosa said. The woman was then seen trying to kick Rosa's back, but Sophie quickly managed to pull her away. The woman continued to yell abuse at the sisters after spitting in Rosa's eye, saying they had 'brought corona here'. Witnesses then helped Rosa flush her eye out before she and Sophie went to the doctor and the police station to file a report. Sophie said no one should be able to get away with racial attacks, which have ramped up in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 'You brought corona here. Eat a bat again you dumb wh***,' she continued while walking away Sophie Do (left) and her sister Rosa (right) were crossing the road in Marrickville when they were targeted by a racist woman who accused them of bringing coronavirus to Australia 'Hate crimes against Asians have increased and I've seen disgusting videos from all around the world. I never thought I'd be in one,' Sophie said. 'It made me feel afraid for my sisters' safety. I knew that if I retaliated, it would've ended badly for us both. 'So I kept my cool. I knew I took the best approach to ensure we got out of the situation safely. 'It made angry but mostly disappointed that we even had to hear some of the things she was saying and then be physically assaulted.' Videos of the incident have since gone viral, with thousands of Australians condemning the the racist act. 'All the racists have something to do with failure in life,' one person wrote. 'That girl in grey ought to be ashamed of herself and her actions,' said another. 'I am so so sorry that you and your sister had to deal with this kind of disgusting inexcusable behaviour,' another person commented. Press release Boulogne-Billancourt, 31 March 2020 Estimated full-year 2019 operating results (before application of IFRS 16) Antalis announces its full-year unaudited operating results for 2019. On a comparable basis, it should deliver sales of 2,074 million, down 8.6% year on year (down 10.3% as reported), and EBITDA of around 54 million (75 million in 2018), representing an EBITDA margin of 2.6%. These results mainly reflect lower volumes of Papers in a market that contracted by 8% in 2019, and the impact on consolidated sales of the bankruptcy of one of Antalis' graphic and recycled papers suppliers. However, Antalis benefited from the resilience of the Packaging business, which, along with Visual Communication, contributed 39% of Antalis' consolidated gross margin for the year, up 2 points on 2018. Antalis' estimated net debt stood at approximately 346 million at 31 December 2019 before the application of IFRS 16 (compared to 288 million at end-2018). Moreover, the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic will impact the entire global economy - and Antalis' business - in 2020, particularly during the first-half of the year, which is expected to reflect a decline. Antalis is taking all measures necessary to protect its employees in line with government measures and is monitoring the situation carefully in order to adapt its businesses, which continue to serve customers in all countries. In this context, Antalis is planning to publish its full-year 2019 results before the end of April. Estimated operating results (unaudited figures at constant accounting methods) (in millions) 2019 2018 as reported on a comparable basis(1) Sales 2,074.1 2,311.0 -10.3% -8.6% EBITDA(2) 54.1 74.7 -27.5% -26.7% EBITDA margin (% of sales) 2.6% 3.2% - 0.6 points Changes in comparable figures reflect changes in accounting methods, calendar and perimeter impacts (especially the negative 44 million sales impact from divestment of the Southern African business in October 2018). EBITDA presented in this press release does not reflect changes arising from first-time application of IFRS 16 (Leases) from 1 January 2019. About Antalis Antalis (Euronext Paris: ANTA) is the leader in B2B distribution of Papers (number 1 worldwide outside the United States) and industrial Packaging, and number two in the distribution of Visual Communication media in Europe. In 2019, the Group reported sales of 2.1 billion and employed 4,700 people serving over 115,000 customers, companies and printers in 39 countries. Through its 117 distribution centres, Antalis makes around 11,000 deliveries per day worldwide and it distributed 1.1 million tons of paper in 2019. Analysts & Investors Contact Steve McCue +33 (0)1 58 04 21 90 contact@antalis.com www.antalis.com Media contact Image Sept Claire Doligez +33 (0)1 53 70 74 25 cdoligez@image7.fr ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: nJxtZ51tlmqdmGxrZchrnGFjm2Zqk2ebbZKem5dxaJyaamxhx2placadZm9jnGln - 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-0-62741-estimated-2019-operating-results.pdf First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill during their daily media broadcast in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings, Stormont on Tuesday PACEMAKER BELFAST 31/03/2020 First Minister Arlene Foster has said she and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill have taken part in a "useful and appropriate" engagement with the Tanaiste Simon Coveney on Tuesday to discuss the coronavirus pandemic. Health ministers from both jurisdictions and Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis also took part in the teleconference to discuss cooperation in approach towards the virus. It comes after Belfast-born public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally suggested there would be more deaths in Northern Ireland than in the Republic of Ireland if Stormont continued to follow Whitehall's approach towards the virus. Speaking at Stormont on Tuesday, Mrs Foster said she would continue to take her advice from the Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride, who "has access to the modelling here". "Protecting lives is the number one priority," she said. Mrs Foster applauded the businesses which have re-calibrated their workflow to manufacture supplies to help the fight against the virus and asked companies who are able to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) to get in touch as more than 10,000 people come forward to lend their support. She said Health Minister Robin Swann is looking at "a number of sites" to assess their suitability for field hospitals, with a decision expected in the near future. Mrs O'Neill said: "It's really heartening to see so many people come forward to offer what help they can in this time of crisis." "We have to do everything possible for a coordinated approach," she said. "This is all about saving lives." On Tuesday, the Public Health Agency confirmed that a further six people in Northern Ireland have died after contracting the coronavirus. This brings the total number of deaths related to Covid-19 in NI to 28. There has been 53 new cases of the virus confirmed since Monday, bringing the total to 586 of those tested. Earlier Finance Minister Conor Murphy also announced a 912m package to fight the disease. Read More Check out our blog below to see how Tuesday's coronavirus developments unfolded. Oil prices rebound today, with WTI at US$ 21.5 and Brent at US$ 23.5, after dropping below US$ 20 a barrel yesterday. Demand for crude oil decreased by at least a quarter from 100 million barrels average per day. Saudi Arabia wants to export 10.6 million barrels by May. Iraq wants to review payments and contracts. Iran looks to Russia and China to save exports. Baghdad (AsiaNews/Agencies) Oil prices in Asian trade rebounded after hitting an 18-year low yesterday, when the price briefly dipped below US$ 20 a barrel. Prices rallied today as investors focused on global stimulus measures, and a positive purchasing managers index in China. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) jumped 7.3 per cent to US$ 21.5 a barrel while Brent crude was up 3.3 per cent at US$ 23.5 a barrel. The drop in oil prices makes any agreement among producers difficult, after Russia and Saudi Arabia ended their collaboration amid rising tensions and direct confrontation. In the face of the global crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and with more than half of the world's population confined at home, several companies have begun to stop drilling. The demand for crude, which until recently exceeded 100 million barrels per day, has dropped by at least a quarter. Analysts and industry experts say that not even the economic crisis of 1929 had brought about such a slump in demand. The White House has sought talks with the Kremlin scheduling meetings for their top ministers. However, cuts will be inevitable and some major Mideast oil producers, including Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, could pay the heaviest price. As it takes on Russia (non-OPEC member), Saudi Arabia yesterday announced plans to boost exports by 600,000 barrels per day, for a record total of 10.6 million by May. Saudi Arabia is the world's top exporter of crude oil and had planned to boost April exports by 3.6 million barrels, with prices dropping further. Meanwhile, Iraq, OPECs second largest producer, has started selling crude oil at around US$ 20 a barrel and plans to speak with multinational oil companies about payments and contracts. About 70 per cent of Iraqs exports go to Asia, but the low prices and the blockade caused by the pandemic will be economically devastating for a country torn by years of war and sectarian violence. To deal with the crisis, state-owned Basrah Oil Co has asked four oil multinational operating in the country to cut investments by 30 per cent and defer payments to subcontractors. For Iraq it is vital to reach an agreement so that payments will not be a burden on the governments limited resources, while ensuring that operations continue. Iran, one of the countries most affected by the coronavirus epidemic, was already reeling from US sanctions before the outbreak. Washingtons sanctions are making it harder for Tehran to sell its oil. Since January Irans crude oil exports to China have dropped to less than 220,000 barrels per day. Nevertheless, Tehran wants to strengthen the partnership with China and Russia whilst waiting to see where prices go. Doubts remain and if current prices persist oil producers could lose 50 to 85 per cent of their oil revenues. Video by Lee Min-young, Kim Kang-min South Korea has been racing to provide citizens with convenient testing options for the coronavirus and foreign media has been praising the nation's ability to run more than 10,000 tests per day. Click on the video and: Learn more about 'Drive-thru' COVID-19 clinics Learn more about Incheon International Airport's 3-step fever check 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. COVID-19 multi-ministry taskforce co-chair Lawrence Wong, addressing a virtual press conference on Tuesday, 31 March 2020. PHOTO: Ministry of Communications and Information SINGAPORE Housing thousands of returnees in hotels for the duration of their Stay-Home Notice is not an indulgence, but a critical, urgent public health requirement, said National Development Minister Lawrence Wong. So this is not an indulgence for the returnees. It's not a vacation for them. It is certainly not unnecessary spending by the government. It is an important and extremely critical public health measure. If we had enough facilities, we would do it for all the returnees, said Wong, who was addressing a virtual press conference on Tuesday (31 March). Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry taskforce on the coronavirus outbreak, was responding to a question on the total sum that the government has budgeted for housing returning Singaporeans and Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holders on SHN at hotels. It was the first time that an MTF press con has been held remotely, in line with stringent social distancing measures imposed by the government. Wong did not directly respond to the query. On Saturday, citing property website 99.co, Bloomberg reported that the Singapore government has booked more than 7,500 hotel rooms and serviced apartments to house returnees. This includes hotels from international luxury chains such as Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc and InterContinental Hotels Group. Rooms in hotels such as Shangri-Las Rasa Sentosa Resort and Spa typically cost hundreds of dollars a night, and the government is picking up the tab. Urgent need for secure facilities Wong had previously said that there were 1,200 Singaporeans returning each day from the Unites States and the United Kingdom alone, though the numbers have tapered off to about 300 each day. He explained that there was a need for secure, dedicated facilities which could ensure that the returnees were properly isolated for the full 14-day period, in order to prevent them potentially spreading the virus to family members and the larger community. , So where to find these bed spaces in small little Singapore? Where do we find such dedicated facilities? The answer is hotel rooms which are vacant. And that's why we quickly activated, worked with the hotels and made available these spaces, said Wong. Story continues The 47-year-old also paid tribute to the hotels that have provided these rooms in quick time, pointing out that proper training was needed for hotel staff, in order to ensure that the necessary precautions and proper infection control were being carried out. He added that the authorities are looking at activating more bed spaces, based on the flow of returnees. He concluded, So for us, this is not a question of you know, how much are we spending. This is critical, urgent public health requirement and we will spend what is necessary to keep Singaporeans safe. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: COVID-19: Singapore to penalise firms that don't implement telecommuting where possible COVID-19: Travel ban on China arrivals may ease if situation there stabilises, says Lawrence Wong COVID-19: Singapore confirms 47 more cases, new Westlite Toh Guan dormitory cluster COVID-19: Wife of critically ill Singapore-based Bangladeshi worker gives birth to firstborn COVID-19: Extension of CHAS chronic subsidy and MediSave to video consultation for limited time Indore Chief Medical Health Officer announced that the total number of coronavirus positive cases has gone up to 44 in Indore after 17 people tested positive here on Tuesday. "The total number of positive cases has risen to 44 in Indore after 17 people tested positive today. Their samples were sent to Bhopal for testing two days back," said Dr. Praveen Jadiya, CHMO. As of now, 400 people have been sampled. India recorded 1,117 active COVID-19 positive cases as on Monday night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Visitors and Christian travelers will not be able to visit the historic streets of Jerusalem this year as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread around the world. But visitors may still get a look at the city in April. According to CBN News, Israels Tower of David Museum is using virtual reality to allow people to visit the Western Wall during Passover, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher during Easter and a look at the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan. The views come from Innovation Lab, which will provide a 360-degree virtual reality experience of both Jerusalem as it is today and a view of how the city looked 2,000 years ago. The tours and experiences encapsulate the essence of the innovative vision at the Tower of David Museum - to create a modern, dynamic, unique language for the rich story of Jerusalem, said Eilat Lieber, director of the Tower of David Museum. VR can enable emotions felt as close to possible as when one is physically present. We hope that for those looking for hope in these uneasy times and for those that might turn to prayer and to Jerusalem - might find a little bit of hope when becoming immersed in the holy city of Jerusalem, she added. With the world facing the challenges of the coronavirus outbreak, Lieber says she hopes the virtual tours will be uplifting for people. These are challenging times for us all, she continued. Millions of prayers and dreams of people from all over the world have been caught between the towers, spires, and domes of the city for thousands of years. The city has given hope and inspiration for centuries. The tours will be available online for free starting from the first day of Passover, April 9, through Easter and to the first day of Ramadan, April 24. Photo courtesy: Anton Mislawsky/Unsplash Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner. 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 Northern Ireland's air connectivity may be permanently scarred as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it's been claimed, as easyJet became the latest airline to ground flights. The company, which has 270 staff here, said parking all 344 of its planes "removes significant cost" as the aviation industry struggles to cope with a collapse in demand caused by the outbreak of the virus. With around 37 routes out of Belfast International, easyJet is Northern Ireland's biggest airline. The company said it had reached agreement with the Unite union on furlough arrangements for its cabin crew. The deal starts tomorrow for two months. Belfast International Airport is now handling only cargo flights. An airport spokeswoman said it remains open and was a "critical arterial airlink for emergency medical and cargo operations 24 hours a day, all year round". She added: "We are still working hard to ensure that vital supplies continue to arrive daily so we can help those who need it most." Senior economist Dr Esmond Birnie of Ulster University said he feared NI's connectivity would be "permanently scarred" as a result of the grounding of fleets. Last month 15 routes went from Belfast City Airport following the collapse of regional airline Flybe. Dr Birnie said: "I think it's understandable this could be a concern that there may be a permanent scarring effect from the current shutdown." Dr Birnie added: "It's likely that all or most of the easyJet routes from the International were profitable, but the question is their relative profit compared to other routes. "When easyJet does begin to operate again, what priority will they give to re-establishing the Belfast operation? I suspect it wouldn't be near the top." An easyJet spokeswoman said: "We will start flying again once it is deemed safe to do so and restrictions are lifted. We're monitoring the situation closely but currently its too early to say what specific flights will return when as it completely depends on the restrictions." Expand Close Question: Esmond Birnie Nigel McDowell/Ulster University / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Question: Esmond Birnie Dr Birnie said that by the time airlines take to the skies again, the face of aviation will be radically different. "It's very likely the government will temporarily or permanently remove Air Passenger Duty (which costs 14 for each leg of a domestic flight). From the route viability point of view, that will help. "Abolishing APD would cost 3bn, which is expensive, but you have to put that relative to all the other schemes to protect the economy following the pandemic." Future government intervention could also mean cash injections or outright nationalisation of airlines, he said. "If that happens, there would be some sort of obligation in terms of geographic coverage - it's an uncertain picture," he added. "It's reasonable to have some degree of concern of the longer-term picture but in three to six months time we could be looking at a very different civil aviation picture." Meanwhile, hundreds of staff at Dublin-based Stobart Air have now been let go, with just a few dozen essential roles retained to provide minimum flying, administrative and maintenance duties. The airline operates the Aer Lingus Regional service, which is all but grounded. Stobart Air has kept operating public service obligation (PSO) routes from Dublin to Kerry and Donegal, giving it a bare revenue stream of EU funds despite the flights almost certainly flying with few or no passengers. Managing director Andy Jolly wrote to staff over the weekend, telling them that the company is also unable to bankroll a government scheme where the Republic's Exchequer will fund 70% of staff members' pay if an employer retains the workers. That sees employers refunded by the Revenue within a couple of days of paying staff. A similar scheme in the UK funds 80% of staff's pay. Mr Jolly told staff that he had made every effort to avoid the layoffs. In a statement, Stobart Air said that it remains committed to resuming its services once the pandemic has ended. "Around 16% of our staff will be retained to operate our PSO services and to allow us to work toward the recommencement of services as soon as it is advised and as demand returns when Government travel restrictions are lifted," the airline said. It added: "We are very mindful of the impact these measures have on our team, who have shown immense professionalism and forbearance at this time." The difficulties at Stobart Air are likely to pile pressure on the UK-listed Stobart Group, which is on the hook for tens of millions of dollars of guarantees linked to Stobart Air aircraft leases. While it's been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, Stobart Air's issues also stem from issues at Connect Airways. It is 30%-owned by the Stobart Group. Virgin Travel Group, a subsidiary of Virgin Atlantic, also has a 30% stake, while US firm Cyrus Equity Partners owns 40%. Connect was formed last year to acquire UK regional airline Flybe, which collapsed into administration last month. Have you noticed that courage seems to be in short supply in this day and age? What is courage? Its not recklessness. Doing foolish and dangerous things for thrills does not make you a courageous person. Courage is not pretending everything is OK when its not. Its not courageous to plaster on a phony smile in the midst of hardship and live in denial of reality. Its also not pride or presumption. Putting your faith in yourself and your achievements, or assuming you have all the right answers, is not the same as having courage. So, What Is Courage? According to one definition, courage (also known as bravery, will, and fortitude) is the ability to confront fear, pain, risk, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Physical courage is bravery in the face of physical pain, hardship, or threat of death. Courage also has been defined as fear that has said its prayers. Being courageous means overcoming something. It was Mark Twain who said, Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fearnot absence of fear. A courageous person is not one who is fearless. That is essentially a stupid person. A courageous person is someone who can control his or her fear and then do the right thing. It is overcoming the fear that you naturally have. Courage in Action We certainly see courage on display among firefighters and those who are in law enforcement. Every day they put on their uniforms and put their lives at risk. And certainly the brave soldiers who are serving our country display courage every single day. Periodically, we read of acts of heroism in the news. I wish we would read more about these things, because they happen all the time. But they are not in the headlines as often as they ought to be. I read an article a while back about PFC Ross McGinnis, who served with the U.S. Army in Iraq. While perched on a gunners hatch of a Humvee that was carrying four of his fellow soldiers, a grenade whizzed past him. In a split second, McGinnis did the unthinkable. He shouted a warning to the others and threw himself on the grenade, absorbing its full impact. He was killed immediately, but he saved the lives of the four other soldiers. He was the fourth soldier in the Iraq war to be awarded the Medal of Honor. McGinnis didnt have time to think about what he was doing. He just did it. That is courage. Moral Courage There are other kinds of courage, too. There is moral courage. That is the ability to do right in the face of opposition or discouragement. Having moral courage means being an honest person. It means that you have integrity. It means that you dont cheat on the test, you dont cheat on your taxes, and you dont cheat on your spouse. We need more moral courage today. It takes courage to do the right thing, to stand up for what the Bible says about right and wrong, good and evil. It takes courage to live honestly, with integrity, avoiding the shortcuts that may get you ahead but take you down spiritually and morally. It takes courage to honor the vows you made to be faithful to your spouse and stand by them for better or for worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and health, as opposed to abandoning them when the marriage gets challenging. It takes courage to remain sexually pure as a single person with all the pressure today from peers and the media. And it takes courage to follow Jesus Christ, no matter how hard it gets. Paul Needed Courage We all need courage in our lives. And none other than the apostle Paul needed a call to courage. Paul was not afraid of death or even hardship. The only thing that Paul seemed to fear was the disapproval of God. How do you stop a man like that? Answer: You dont. This is why God used him in such an amazing way. And that is why Paul and the others turned their first-century world upside down. But even Paul had moments of discouragement. Paul had been determined to return to Jerusalem, even though he had been warned not to. And sure enough, he was arrested and thrown into prison. Then he was brought before the ruling religious party, and he gave a defense for himself. Next we read in Acts 23, But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome (verse 11 NLT). Pauls middle name could have been trouble. There was never a dull moment with this guy. It was always something. But on this particular night, he seemed to be deeply discouraged. We have to understand what Christ was saying to Paul. How could he be of good cheer in a cold, damp, dark dungeon? This sounds like the equivalent of someone coming up to you when you are really in pain and saying, Hey, man, cheer up! Gray skies are going to clear up. Put on a happy face! That is not a good thing to say to someone who is down. In fact, by saying that, you could actually make a person more miserable. Commanding Courage But Jesus wasnt simply telling Paul to cheer up. The word used in this text for cheer is really not the best translation of the word. The fact is that cheerfulness is the outcome of what Jesus actually commanded. He did not command Paul to simply be cheerful or to smile. A better translation of what Jesus was saying would be, Be of good courage. This is an interesting phrase that we see used a number of times in the New Testament. The first time we see it is in Matthew 9:2. There was a man who was a paraplegic, and he was carried by his friends into the presence of Jesus. Jesus saw this man and said, Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you. Then Jesus told him, Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house (verse 6 NKJV), and the man did it. This shows us that God does His part and then we must do ours. God gives His forgiveness to us, and we must accept that forgiveness. It also shows us that Gods power gives courage. His power will be there to help you in your time of need. When I talk to people who are going through very difficult suffering, I find myself asking, Would I have the attitude they have if I were going through that? or, Could I even go through what theyre enduring? But if God were to ask you to do something, then He would give you the strength to do it. It comes down to this: I would rather be in a jail, or in a storm, or in a hardship with Jesus than anywhere else without Him. A nice, happy place with Jesus is good, too. But the thing is, He is with us wherever we go. And that is what God was saying to Paul: You are not alone. God is with us in the good times, and He is also with us in the bad times. The Ultimate Example of Courage If you want to see a real example of courage, there is none greater than that of Jesus Himself. He had moral courage when He stood by His convictions and always shared what the Father wanted Him to share. But He had physical courage as He allowed His enemies to beat Him and mistreat Him and whip Him and ultimately nail Him to a cross. If that isnt courage, I dont know what is. Pastor Greg Laurie serves as the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, which has campuses in Southern California and Hawaii. He is the author of more than 70 books, hosts the nationally syndicated radio broadcast A New Beginning, and is the founder of Harvest Crusades, large-scale evangelistic events attended by millions of individuals worldwide. Learn more at Harvest.org. Photo Credit: Unsplash/Prince David Greg Laurie is the pastor and founder of the Harvest churches in California and Hawaii and of Harvest Crusades. He is an evangelist, best-selling author and movie producer. His new book Billy Graham: The Man I Knew (Salem Books), released on April 13. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 10:40:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HARBIN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- A total of 50,000 surgical masks donated by northeast China's Heilongjiang Province to Japan's Niigata Prefecture arrived on Monday, according to the provincial foreign affairs office. The office said the province received protective clothing and goggles donated by Niigata when Heilongjiang was hit by the novel coronavirus outbreak. As the epidemic eases in China, the province decided to donate medical supplies to Niigata to support its fight against the virus. Heilongjiang and Niigata established friendly relations in 1983. So far, Heilongjiang has donated medical supplies to countries including Japan, Russia and the Republic of Korea. HP CEO Enrique Lores HP Xerox is ending its hostile bid to take over Hewlett-Packard, ending a corporate battle that got derailed by the coronavirus crisis. "While it is disappointing to take this step, we are prioritizing the health, safety and well-being of our employees, customers, partners and other stakeholders," Xerox said in a statement. Xerox will withdraw its more than $30 billion tender offer for HP, ending its campaign to replace the HP board, the Wall Street Journal reported. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories Xerox is dropping its hostile bid to buy Hewlett-Packard, ending a corporate takeover fight that got overtaken by the coronavirus crisis. Xerox announced Tuesday that it will end its tender offer worth more than $30 billion and a proxy campaign to replace the HP board. The decision was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. "While it is disappointing to take this step, we are prioritizing the health, safety and well-being of our employees, customers, partners and other stakeholders," Xerox said in a statement. Xerox unveiled its unsolicited bid to buy HP late last year. The proposal was rejected by the Palo Alto, California company which subsequently led to a proxy battle. But the coronavirus crisis apparently derailed the Xerox campaign. Two weeks ago, Xerox CEO John Visentin said it was "prudent to postpone" all activities related to its bid to buy HP. However, Xerox also reaffirmed its belief that merging the two companies made sense. "There remain compelling long-term financial and strategic benefits from combining Xerox and HP," the company said. "The refusal of HP's Board to meaningfully engage over many months and its continued delay tactics have proven to be a great disservice to HP stockholders, who have shown tremendous support for the transaction." Reacting to Xerox's decision to end its proxy campaign, HP stressed that it is "a strong company" with "a healthy cash position and balance sheet that enable us to navigate unanticipated challenges such as the global pandemic now before us." Story continues Last week, HP CEO Enrique Lores also said the company was focusing on the pandemic as he maintained the HP board's position that Xerox's proposal "fundamentally undervalues HP." Read the original article on Business Insider Din Mohammad is doing everything possible in his power to keep his family and fellow Rohingya refugees healthy during a three-week lockdown enforced by the Indian government to fight the coronavirus. For the past week, Mohammad, 59, who lives with his wife and five children in Madanpur Khadar refugee camp in the capital, New Delhi, makes rounds of shanties to ensure people are maintaining social distancing and keeping their huts made from wood and plastic sheets clean. But he knows these measures are hard to implement in crowded refugee camps like theirs, where people live in cramped conditions lacking basic facilities like toilets and clean water. We are literally sitting on a powder keg, Mohammad told Al Jazeera. It wont take long before it explodes. Nearly 40,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees living in various refugee camps across the country fear that a humanitarian catastrophe looms large over them, as they have been left to fight the coronavirus pandemic alone. Last Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the strict lockdown for Indias 1.3 billon people to prevent the spread of the virus that has killed more than 30,000 worldwide. But the move has turned into a human tragedy, with tens of thousands of migrant workers fleeing cities, many of them forced to walk hundreds of kilometres to reach their homes, following the shutdown of businesses and factories. Critics have accused the government of rushing with the lockdown without a proper plan. The South Asian nation has recorded 1,000 COVID-19 cases and 32 deaths so far. Nearly 40,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees living in various refugee camps across the country fear that a humanitarian catastrophe looms large over them [File: Oinam Anand /AP photo] Fear of coronavirus outbreak in camps About 100km (62 miles) south of the capital, nearly 400 Rohingya families live in a refugee camp in Ward No 7 of Haryanas Nuh district. For them, having soap is a luxury, let alone buying facemasks and sanitisers. Everyone is concerned about the virus but there is little they can do to protect themselves. Makeshift shanties that lean on each other make it impossible for people to maintain a distance. The overall sanitation is poor, with toilets unclean and access to healthcare, scarce. Jaffar Ullah, a computer teacher, lives in one of the shanties. The 29-year-old finished his last bar of soap on Saturday. He does not have anything left to wash his hands with. Only a few families have soaps in our slum, while most of them cant afford to buy one, he told Al Jazeera. The local municipal workers sprayed disinfectants in nearby residential areas but not in the slums. Over the past few days, Ullah says, there has been a steady rise in cases of fever among the refugees. I dont know whether it is related to coronavirus or not, but people are afraid and in fear, Ullah told Al Jazeera. They cant go to hospitals because the regular OPDs (outpatient departments) are closed due to lockdown. No one from the administration has come to check on us. Most hospitals suspended their outpatient services following the announcement of the lockdown on March 24. Last Thursday, Rohingya Human Rights Initiative (ROHRInga), a non-profit organisation based in New Delhi, conducted a door-to-door survey of 334 people living in the Madanpur Khadar camp and found 37 of them suffering from symptoms including fever, cough and runny nose similar to those of the new virus. There is a serious risk of coronavirus outbreak in Rohingya refugee slums, Sabber Kyaw Min from ROHRIinga told Al Jazeera. The Indian government is protecting its people while international organisations such as UNHCR (the United Nations refugee agency) have turned a blind eye towards us. We are literally left alone to fight this pandemic, he added. Meanwhile, the UNHCR office in New Delhi denied delaying its response and said it has been closely monitoring the situation in coordination with local non-profit organisations. We are very much on it. We did organise various COVID-19-related awareness programmes in slums over the last few weeks, Kiri Atri, the assistant external relations officer, UNHCR, told Al Jazeera. From today onwards, we will start distributing hygiene kits containing soaps, while facemasks will be given on a case-by-case basis. Critics have accused the government of rushing with the lockdown without a proper plan [File: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters] Starving without food Badar Alam from Nuh refugee camp worked at a construction site as a daily wage earner, but he has not been able to work due to the lockdown. The 31-year-old says his family, including his wife and three children, have not had a proper meal in a week. Alam is left with two kilos of rice, 250 grams of lentils and 250 rupees ($3) in his pocket, with no prospect of work for at least another two weeks. What am I going to feed my children? Stones? he asked. Nearly 1,200 Rohingya families living in the Jammu district of the disputed Kashmir region, who rely on walnut factories for work, are also running short on grains. Refugees say that it is a matter of days before they will have to sleep with empty stomachs. Hafiz Mubashar runs an Islamic seminary with boarding facilities for Rohingya children in the Bathindi locality of Jammu city. He shut down classes a week ago. But for the past three days he has been receiving calls from students seeking his help in arranging rice and flour. The lockdown has exacerbated our food woes, Mubashar, 27, told Al Jazeera. Many of us are already starving, while others have shifted to eating one meal a day or resorted to cutting down their food intake. Mubashar believes that the next seven days will be critical for the Rohingya community, as most of the families will soon run out of their remaining grains. We are struggling with both hunger and coronavirus at the same time, Mubashar said. But I think hunger will kill us before the virus does. SpendEdge, a leading provider of procurement market intelligence solutions, has announced the completion of their latest article on the strategies to bolster the pharma supply chain. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005659/en/ Companies in the healthcare industry are working around the clock to reduce the impact of COVID-19. They immediately began clinical trials to test existing anti-viral medicines for the treatment of COVID-19 and are continuously seeking new medicines. However, pharma companies need to go beyond addressing the virus and sustain the global pharma supply chain in the face of the ongoing crisis. They must take various steps to bolster the pharma supply chain to make it through this disruptive time. At SpendEdge, we understand that companies must take additional steps to bolster their pharma supply chain and operations to withstand the impact of COVID-19. Therefore, we have highlighted the key steps to improve pharma supply chain management. Want to understand how you can increase the efficiency of the pharma supply chain? Request free platform access to gain insights into the pharmaceutical industry. Steps to Bolster the Pharma Supply Chain Analyze the pharma supply chain to reduce the impact of COVID-19 COVID-19 has put the pharma supply chain under extreme pressure. More than three-fourths of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the US are sourced globally, including countries such as China. There is a significant number of US FDA-registered facilities in China, providing more than 1,000 APIs to the US market. Nonwoven polypropylene fabrics used as inputs to make N95 are short in supply and signaling that the current outbreak has the potential to disrupt the global pharma supply chain. It is critical for companies to implement pharmaceutical supply chain best practices and address potential supply issues while taking into account more-aggressive infection scenarios. Want to gain a comprehensive understanding of the risks facing the pharma supply chain? Get in touch with our experts now! Keep R&D on track While pharma companies mobilize to minimize the impact of COVID-19, it is imperative for companies to keep R&D on track. Like any public health emergency, COVID-19 has put additional pressure on the pharma supply chain and clinical trial programs. Hospitals are already overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients and compelled to deprioritize trials. Moreover, patients are apprehensive about participating in trials. In such a situation, it becomes critical for companies to identify measures to mitigate slowdowns in trial time or success for clinical trials. They must identify trials that could be affected by shutdowns at suppliers or logistics interruptions and analyze new investigator sites in countries with lower potential risk while developing an internal regulatory perspective on COVID-19. Advance patient health Despite the unknown impact of COVID-19 for the global economy, pharma companies must work to mitigate their impact and find a global solution. Apart from supplying products to aid in COVID-19 treatment, they could help their customers in numerous ways by developing solutions for supporting patients in affected areas and providing for in-home administration of medicine. They can also leverage digital platforms to provide self-serve options for patient service. To analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the pharma supply chain and steps to mitigate them, reach out to our analysts now! You may also like: Best Ways to Evaluate Suppliers in the Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market amid COVID-19 Outbreak Strategies to Minimize the Impact of Coronavirus on Supply Chains About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. Want to gain detailed insights? https://www.spendedge.com/get-more-info View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005659/en/ Contacts: SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 630 984 7340 UK: +44 148 459 9299 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us Liverpool's Neco Williams has heaped praise on club's 'unbelievable' manager Jurgen Klopp saying that the latter is always there to support youngsters. "He's been unbelievable, he's unbelievable with all the youngsters that go up. Whenever we need help or support, he's always there," the club's official website quoted Williams as saying. Williams was an integral member of Liverpool's U18s around this time last year. Twelve months on, he has five first-team appearances to his name. The player further stated that Klopp treats all the players equally be it a youngster or a senior player. "He'll have banter with us and treat us normally, like a normal player of his. Whoever it is - if we're a youngster or one of his older, senior players - he treats us all the same. We all have the same banter and it's good times up at Melwood," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Donegal Fire Service is appealing to the public not to light fires outdoors in a bid to stop wild fires. It says tackling those blazes could impact on their ability to respond to other emergencies. In a statement, it says it is important to have fire brigades immediately available to respond. Landowners are also being urged to be vigilant and report uncontrolled or unattended fires. Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has said that it is "more important than ever" that no on should start an illegal fire in the countryside. He said that it will cause unnecessary diversions of emergency service resources. "Wildfires put homes and livelihoods at direct risk and cause considerable disruption to rural communities and habitats. "At any time but particularly in the current emergency, such disturbance to rural dwellers, including those who are old and vulnerable, cannot be permitted under any circumstances." [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Ford said the simplified ventilator design, which is licensed by GE Healthcare from Florida-based Airon Corp and has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, can meet the needs of most COVID-19 patients and relies on air pressure without the need for electricity. Detroit: Ford Motor Co said on Monday it will produce 50,000 ventilators over the next 100 days at a plant in Michigan in cooperation with General Electrics healthcare unit, and can then build 30,000 per month as needed to treat patients afflicted with the coronavirus. Ford said the simplified ventilator design, which is licensed by GE Healthcare from Florida-based Airon Corp and has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, can meet the needs of most COVID-19 patients and relies on air pressure without the need for electricity. Officials in states hard hit by the pandemic have pleaded with the Trump administration and manufacturers to speed up production of ventilators to cope with a surge in patients struggling to breathe. Hospitals in New York already are using one ventilator to sustain two patients. New Orleans has a fraction of the ventilators it needs for a surge of COVID-19 patients, Louisiana officials said. On Friday, President Donald Trump said he would invoke powers under the Defense Production Act to direct manufacturers, including Ford and General Motors Co, to produce ventilators. On Monday, the head of the United Auto Workers and other officials compared the auto industrys effort to build ventilators to Detroits conversion to bomber production during the World War Two. Ford said it plans to begin production of ventilators at a plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan, deploying 500 United Auto Workers employees. It said it plans to start production at the facility the week of April 20. That is roughly when New York officials expect the peak of COVID-19 cases to hit their state. Ventilators built by Ford, GM and others could be used in other parts of the United States where the peak case loads are expected later. GM said Sunday it plans to produce up to 10,000 ventilators a month by this summer at a plant in Kokomo, Indiana. The Ypsilanti workers will be stationed at a safe distance apart and will be screened for symptoms of coronavirus infection before they enter the plant, Ford officials said. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak Were using and deploying a whole host of technologies to keep workers safe, said Adrian Price, director of global manufacturing core engineering for Ford. The safety procedures will be adapted from work Ford and the UAW have been doing to prepare for the automaker to reopen other U.S. factories, Price said. Separately, GE and Ford engineers are working together to boost production at a GE plant in Madison, Wisconsin, of a GE ventilator, different from the model licensed from Airon. GE expects to double ventilator output from the Wisconsin plant during the second quarter, Tom Westrick, GE Healthcares vice president for quality, said during a call with reporters on Monday. By Wim Laven March 30, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - When I was a young boy, I used to play war, and watch movies that celebrated violence. Rambo showed the awesome potential for a single devoted patriot to turn the tables on evil. I had a glamorous account of war, and as an 8-year-old I did not understand why my father cried when we went to see the award-winning movie Platoon. A year later we visited the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC, and while I was looking at my reflection on the marbleignoring the letters in front of mehe was searching for names. I learned that the names are on the wall in chronological order of loss, and that more than 50,000 people are thus remembered. My father cried again, when he used a pencil and paper to make rubbings of the names of classmates who had been draftedand diedfighting in Vietnam. I was a curious child, and I asked questions. I learned about the draft, and the understanding, that there may be a time when would I could be asked to die for my countrylike his classmates had. I remember sharing my fears during Operation Desert Storm, what if this lasts long enough that Im drafted? People thought I was silly, we wont be over there that long funny, it seems we never left, and now Im being asked by a President who avoided the Vietnam War with phony bone spurs, to make the sacrifice, and be willing to die for my country. Donald Trump, as well as other Republican leaders, have made it clear that American citizens should risk our lives to defend the economy and stock market, their definition of our country, apparently. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter We are in the beginning stages of medical crisis, the global pandemic of the spread of COVID-19 virus is upon us. According to Harvard epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch, within the coming year, some 40 to 70 percent of people around the world will be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Models for the United States suggest the potential for millions of hospitalizations and hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of coronavirus mortalities if we do not slow the spread of this epidemic. This is not the time for the President and his administration to push for opening business, it defies the consensus of medical experts. Medical experts are horrified by Trumps dreams of restarting the economy. Howard Koh, a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, responded that, It is way too early to even consider rolling back any guidelines. It is not right to ask people to sacrifice their lives in defense of the stock market, and I truly hope we do not have to ask, who should die or be saved first? Unfortunately, that could be the direction we are headed in. It is also dishonest. The dilemma being presented is a lie. Asking us to choose between the economy and public health is a false dichotomy. There is no saving the economy without getting the global pandemic under controlhuman life is paramount. Simply put: there is no choosing between saving human lives and saving businesses, because when you choose to save businessand people get sick and diebusiness ends up dead anyway. I see a country of beautiful people making sacrifices. So many essential employees exposing themselves to danger, and, sometimes, isolating from their own families to manage the risk for the good of their communities. People, not stock markets, are what makes us great. My fellow citizens please, please, do not listen to any elected official who treats people as expendable and do not betray the clear life-saving expertise. Can we agree to not elect leaders who promote such dangerous fantasies and work to create an economy that values human life? We must demand better, our lives depend on it. " Source " - Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender said Tuesday there have been some misunderstandings of the emergency city ordinance in place to close some businesses temporarily because of the spread of coronavirus. The city ordinance recently passed by the Rapid City Council mandated certain business closures in accordance with CDC guidelines. Specifically, the guideline states, In states with evidence of community transmission, bars, restaurants, food courts, gyms and other indoor and outdoor venues where groups of people congregate should be closed. Our ordinance addresses closing or altering these businesses and activities, Allender said. The mayor said the ordinance is a targeted approach aimed to temporarily reduce the places where people congregate for discretionary activity. It is a temporary government regulation aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, Allender said. It is a temporary government action, approved by the elected representatives of the people of Rapid City, and in accordance with CDC guidelines. Allender pointed out several things that the ordinance cannot do based on the limited nature of the wording. He said the wording was intentional to keep people as safe as possible, while still maintaining basic freedoms and limitations on government authority. It is not a stay-at-home order, a closure of all non-essential businesses, a pick-list of winners and losers, a community-wide minimum distance requirement, a vehicle for employees to lobby to have their boss business added to the list, a democratic process for which businesses should be nominated for closure, or a measure intended to eliminate the spread of the disease, Allender said. The goal of this ordinance is to slow the attack rate of the virus. The scope of the city ordinance is limited on purpose. Allender said city government is already planning on how and when the ordinance restrictions can be lifted and that decision will be heavily influenced by the recommendations of health care professionals. This has to be a very educated, calculated measure by government to intervene and everyone at home right now can do their part by staying home if possible, sending only one person for groceries. Dont take the kids. Dont take the whole family, and certainly dont take the neighbors, Allender said. Stay at home for a while and get your essentials and go back home. If you are working, protect yourself at work. Allender said his office has received several emails from people saying their employer is not taking this seriously. The mayor said there is personal responsibility in employers doing the right thing to protect their workers, and that government should not have to force business owners to act. The same could be said for landlords who may be thinking of evicting a tenant during this crisis, Allender said. Another popular question we get is why arent you enacting a law prohibiting evictions. Thats just not within our authority to do, and we dont know at this moment who specifically has the authority to that, he said. I think if you are a landlord and you are going to evict someone because they havent paid their rent this month, I think you are a crummy landlord. The mayor urged compassion and reasonable understanding for everyone in Rapid City during the health crisis. We have a large part of our workforce in Rapid City thats employed in jobs making clearly less than 12, 13, 14 dollars an hour. When they are paying their rent, they are paying out in many cases more than half their income, Allender said. When that income is removed because of layoffs or shut downs, whatever the reason may be, thats going to produce a situation where that person cannot get their hand on that much cash at one time to pay the landlord. Work with your landlord, work with your lender through the lending agency and hang in there a little bit. In an earlier Tuesday meeting, the citys Public Works Director Dale Tech said some city projects may be impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Weve been working with the agencies and the associated general contractors of South Dakota here in the last month and a half. Certainly they are concerned about the ability for them to continue to work, Tech said. All of the city staff thats available to work on projects continue construction, and that is a primary goal of ours. Certainly, it will help economically for the city and the area, keeping people at work, suppliers selling products and long-term it is even more important to keep those projects going out the door. Allender said that, unfortunately, South Dakota is not united in the fight against the spread of the disease, especially after the Legislature met Monday and failed to pass legislation that would help county and other government agencies to have more freedom to enact emergency ordinances for public health. Opponents of the bill do not believe counties should have the authority to declare emergencies for public health reasons or to take any actions to stop disease in their communities, Allender said. I think its pretty fair to say most or some of the same legislators dont want the cities to have that authority either, but we do I think the cities and counties have been absolutely left on their own. Contact Assistant Managing Editor Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com. 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. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on March 31, 2020 2020/03/31 China Review News: Some officials in a handful of countries including the US have been trying to blame China for the pandemic outbreak, accusing China of covering up the actual caseload of the infected and disseminating disinformation on COVID-19. They also said that they will reckon with China after the pandemic passes. What is your response? Hua Chunying: At present, COVID-19 is ravaging across the world, especially in Europe and the US. People of all countries have called for unity to fight the pandemic, but still some people have made jarring noises from time to time, quite discordant with the current atmosphere of unity against the pandemic. I want to stress a few points. As the coronavirus is novel virus unseen in the past, its detection, research, testing and confirmation naturally requires time. According to reports, on December 27, 2019, Zhang Jixian, director of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care at Hubei Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, reported the first three suspected cases. On December 29, Hubei and Wuhan health committees instructed related centers for disease control and prevention and hospitals to carry out epidemiological investigation. On December 30 Wuhan Municipal Health Committee issued an "urgent notice on the treatment of pneumonia of unknown cause". On December 31, the NHC sent an expert group to Wuhan to investigate on site. On January 3, 2020, China started to send timely updates to WHO and other countries, including the US. On January 11, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention put online five whole genome sequences of the novel coronavirus and shared data with the world and WHO. On January 23, Wuhan was put under lockdown and unprecedented comprehensive, thorough and rigorous measures were taken. The Chinese government took decisive and strong measures at the earliest time possible and the Chinese people have been united as one in this fight against the pandemic, which ensured the life, safety and health of the Chinese people to the highest extent. WHO estimates that the decisive, effective and timely measures taken by the Chinese government prevented the infection of tens of thousands of people. Many countries also think China's practice offers explicable precedence. Our open, transparent and responsible attitude has been highly acclaimed by the international community. We have no intention to judge other countries' response to the pandemic. But while China set an example and bought precious time for the world with huge efforts and sacrifice, as WHO, foreign leaders, experts and media say, did a certain country make full use of the time to enhance preparedness? I think its government knows that very well, and its people can feel it too. Since January 3 China has been notifying the US of epidemic-related information on a regular basis. On January 7, the US CDC and its embassy in China issued warnings on traveling to Wuhan. On January 25, the US announced the decision to close its consulate in Wuhan and withdraw all staff. On February 2, the US government banned entry of all Chinese nationals and foreigners who had been to China in the past 14 days. Now so many days have passed, and some in the US still claim China should be held responsible for the COVID-19 in the US. Don't they feel guilty or ashamed? They are trying to shift the biggest blame of the century to China and make it the biggest scapegoat. However, such an attempt is just impossible as the blame is too heavy to be shifted. Sorry, it won't work. The pandemic is in some way like a magical mirror that exposes a person's morality and character to the fullest extent. The virus knows no ideology, border or race. The destinies of all countries are closely intertwined. No one can make up for lost time by slandering others or shifting the blame. The only way to defeat the virus is through solidarity and cooperation. At the G20 virtual summit last week, President Xi put forward propositions on overcoming the difficulties hand in hand. Upholding the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, China would like to share our experience on COVID-19, conduct international cooperation, and provide as much help as we can to countries in need. That is what we say and what we do. We hope certain individuals will, like the CPC and the Chinese government, put people's life, health and safety first, abandon political bias and arrogance, and focus on international cooperation in pandemic response. CCTV: In a recent interview, White House trade adviser Navarro accused China of a cover-up that has set the world back six weeks, saying China saw human-to-human transmission cases as early as mid-December. I wonder if you have any comment? Hua Chunying: The lies told by this US politician are not worth refuting. I noticed that during that interview, even the host interrupted him several times and pointed out he was wasting everybody's time. What is the truth? The truth is, since the epidemic broke out, we have always been open, transparent and responsible. We notified WHO and the international community of related information in a timely manner, shared genome sequencing findings of the virus at the earliest time possible, responded to other countries' concerns, conducted international cooperation and provided help to others. The sacrifice made by the Chinese people has bought valuable time for global anti-epidemic response. Since the beginning of January, China has been sending regular updates to WHO and other countries, the US included. How can the US politician allege that China's delay set the world back six weeks? What is his intention? He just wanted to muddy the water, shift the blame and undermine China-US cooperation as well as global cooperation in fighting COVID-19. No one with a sense of justice will fall for his words. We advise Mr. Navarro to try and grasp the gist of the phone call between Chinese and US presidents on March 27. He should stop smearing China and undermining China-US relations, and work to advance rather than harm the two peoples' interests. Beijing Daily: The US State Department Spokesperson said yesterday that Secretary Pompeo spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and discussed the importance of countering efforts by China to spread disinformation and propaganda related to the virus. I wonder if you have a comment? Hua Chunying: Since the epidemic broke out, China, in an open, transparent and responsible manner, has been providing timely updates to WHO and countries around the world including the US. We have also been doing our best to provide support and assistance to countries in need. All this has been widely applauded by the international community. Some US officials are accusing China of disinformation campaigns, I wonder if they could point out what information is not true? Were they referring to the effective containment China has achieved, or the assistance it has provided to other countries? As to how the US has been dealing with this crisis, there has been abundant media coverage in the US and the American people have seen it with their own eyes. The Chinese people are following with concern the development of the situation and sincerely hope the US will overcome the epidemic as soon as possible to safeguard American people's health and safety. After the outbreak, China has been racing against time to fight the virus and contain its spread. Even as we speak, many Chinese businesses are working around the clock to produce medical supplies and reinforce other countries' combat. We don't have the interest or the time to launch any despicable "disinformation campaign". President Xi Jinping, upon invitation, held a telephone conversation with President Trump last Friday. The two heads of state agreed that under current circumstances, China and the US should stand united and fight COVID-19. The remarks you mentioned clearly run counter to the consensus of the two leaders. We hope they will focus on containing the spread of the virus at home and contribute to China-US cooperation in responding to the pandemic. Kyodo: A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer collided with a Chinese fishing boat in waters of the East China Sea on late March 30. Do you have more details on the incident? Hua Chunying: According to competent department, there was a collision around 19:30 yesterday in the East China Sea, east of Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, involving a Chinese fishing boat and a Japanese SDF vessel. The collision damaged the Chinese fishing boat and caused lower back injury in one fisherman. China Coast Guard is still dealing with this on site as we speak. The cause of the collision is under investigation. I want to point out that the collision occurred in the coastal waters of China. The Chinese side has expressed concern to the Japanese side over the Japanese SDF warship sailing in the relevant waters and endangering the safety of the Chinese vessel. We are in communication with the Japanese side over this and hope they will cooperate to determine the cause as soon as possible and prevent such incidents from happening again. China Daily: As COVID-19 spreads all around the world, countries have an enormous need for N95 respirators and other medical supplies. Some people think China is hoarding medical products instead of assisting other countries. Do you have a comment on that? Hua Chunying: That's not at all true. China's fight against COVID-19 isn't over yet. We are under heavy pressure to guard against imported cases and a rebound in indigenous cases, and so there is a huge demand for medical supplies. It is the government's top priority to prevent and control the epidemic at home and safeguard people's health. Ensuring the health of 1.4 billion Chinese people is in itself a great contribution to global public health security. That said, we are also providing medical supplies to countries in need. Here are some figures for you. First, the Chinese government has provided 120 countries and four international organizations with surgical masks, N95 respirators, protective suits, nucleic acid test kits, ventilators and other assistance. Second, local governments donated medical items to their sister cities in more than 50 countries. Chinese companies made donations to over 100 countries and international organizations. Third, some countries requested via diplomatic channels Chinese assistance in their commercial procurement, and we recommended qualified exporters for them. To date, 30 countries and two international organizations have signed purchase contracts with Chinese exporters on masks, protective suits, nucleic acid test kits, etc. Buyers from many other countries are also discussing procurement with Chinese enterprises. As our businesses resume work and production, I believe they will give more material support to the international community. The Chinese government will continue providing support and convenience for foreign procurement. We hope to see and welcome greater cooperation with foreign companies to help stabilize the global industrial chain of medical supplies. You mentioned there is now a great demand for N95 respirators in other countries, I think you all know that there is a shortage of them in China as well. We have been reserving them for frontline medical workers whose posts make them most vulnerable. The general public, including Chinese leaders, all wear ordinary masks, as I'm sure you've noticed in news footage. China Radio International: According to reports, four Chinese students in Spain were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19. How has the Chinese embassy in Spain been helping them? How are these students now? Hua Chunying: The CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to and cares deeply about the health and safety of Chinese citizens overseas. Our diplomatic missions overseas have been in close contact with the students in their host countries. After four Chinese students were infected, our embassy in Spain and consulate-general in Barcelona have been closely following their conditions. They urged the Spanish side to ensure they are receiving all medical treatment they need, and also brought in Chinese doctors to offer advice online. We will continue to watch over them and offer every assistance possible. RIA Novosti: US President Donald Trump said that China has sent some medical supplies to the US to help fight COVID-19. Can you confirm this information and share some more details? Hua Chunying: As I just said, President Xi Jinping held a telephone conversation with President Trump last Friday. President Xi said that the Chinese people sincerely hope that the US will contain the spread of the pandemic at an early date and minimize its impact on the American people. Under the current circumstances, China and the US should unite in the fight against the virus. Health departments and epidemic experts of the two sides have all along been in communication. Last night, Minister Ma Xiaowei of China's National Health Commission and US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar spoke over the phone to exchange ideas on the two countries' pandemic prevention and control efforts. Some provinces and cities and local businesses have already donated medical supplies to the US side. We have noted that some US media have reported that a commercial charter flight has taken a batch of epidemic control materials it purchased from China to the US. China understands the current difficulties the US is facing and stands ready to offer support within our capability. We also hope that some US officials will act in accordance with the consensus reached between the two heads of state by phone and work to create enabling conditions for the two sides' joint fight against the pandemic. The Ghuweiran Central Prison witnessed a breakout of Islamic State inmates, who have now all been recaptured writes Al-Masdar. The Islamic State (ISIS) inmates that attempted to escape from Ghuweiran Prison last night have once again been apprehended by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Hassakeh province. According to reports, the SDF was able to restore order after ISIS inmates attempted to breakout of Ghuweiran Prison. The ISIS inmates that attempted to escape the prison did not make it far in Hassakeh, as some of the terrorists were found at the industrial secondary buildings and the former industrial institute, which are not far from the main facility. A source said some of the ISIS terrorists managed to get a hold of some light weapons during their prison break, which led to their temporary success. During the prison break, the US Coalition conducted several low altitude flights over al-Ghuweiran District of Hassakeh; this includes breaking the sound barrier over Ghuweiran Prison. The Ghuweiran Central Prison houses approximately 5,000 ISIS detainees from 54 countries; it is the largest detention center for ISIS terrorists. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 05:09:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BRUSSELS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Europe kept swelling, with the region's total approaching 400,000 and that of Italy exceeding 100,000 as of Monday. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 693,224 COVID-19 cases and 33,106 deaths have been reported globally as of 10:00 a.m. CET Monday, of which, 393,285 cases and 23,966 deaths were registered in Europe. Following Italy, Spain, the second-worst affected country on the continent, reported in the day a cumulative caseload of over 85,000, making it the third country worldwide overtaking China in overall cases. ITALY CASELOAD TOPS 100,000 In Italy, the hardest-hit country in Europe, the cumulative number of cases reached 101,739, while the death toll rose to 11,591. By topping 100,000, Italy reported the second most cumulative number cases in the world, just after the United States. On the same day, the country, however, registered the highest daily increase in the number of COVID-19 patient recoveries, which grew by 1,590 cases in 24 hours to 14,620. At geographical level, the worst-hit Lombardy region also seemed to be seeing a timid light at the end of the tunnel. "The increase in the number of infections keeps slowing down ... with 1,154 new positive cases compared to yesterday, when we had 1,592 more cases," said Lombardy's Welfare Councillor Giulio. Also on Monday, Italian health minister Roberto Speranza said the nationwide lockdown in place since March 10 would be extended until "at least" April 12, nine days beyond its original deadline. SPAIN CASELOAD OVERTAKES CHINA'S With 6,549 new COVID-19 cases reported in the past 24 hours, Spain's total number has climbed to 85,195, the country's health authorities said Monday. This makes it the second European country, after Italy, to overtake China in total number of coronavirus infections. Meanwhile, the country reported 812 deaths during the period, fewer than the 838 deaths on Sunday and 832 on Saturday. The total death toll in the country has now risen to 7,340. However, authorities said the number of new cases is considerably lower than the 8,189 new cases registered on Saturday and the 7,871 on Friday. Monday also saw the first day since the Spanish government's approval of a decree to close all but "essential" economic activity until April 9. ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE Germany, the third most affected European country, reported a total of 57,298 cases as of Monday. The number doubled in one week, as the country tallied 22,672 confirmed cases last Monday. The German Council of Economic Experts (GCEE), the advisory council of the German government, predicted that the country's gross domestic product (GDP) growth would shrink to minus 2.8 percent in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In neighboring France, a total of 40,174 positive cases have been confirmed, of which, 2,606 died in the last 24 hours. In Britain, the cumulative caseload crossed the 20,000 mark on Monday, reaching 22,141. With 15,475 confirmed cases, Switzerland, one of the world's most attractive tourism destinations, may suffer 6.4 billion CHF (6.67 billion U.S. dollars) drop in tourism turnover in 2020 due to the pandemic, according to a new study. The Swiss government has declared plans to provide 42 billion CHF for economic relief during the pandemic. Swedes really don't like to stand out. They much prefer to blend in. They even have their own word for it: 'Jantelagen', the Scandinavian answer to Australia and New Zealand's 'tall poppy syndrome'. It roughly translates as: 'don't think you're better than anyone else'. And so it's quite understandable that the Government's maverick response to the coronavirus crisis is making many in the country feel uneasy. After all, Sweden is the last major European country to have most of its schools, bars and restaurants still open. Yes, the government has asked people to work from home if possible, and those over 70 have been instructed to stay at home, while visits to elderly care homes have been banned. But there have been no official lockdown directives - even though there have been more than 4,000 cases of infection and 180 deaths. It's quite understandable that the Swedish government's maverick response to the coronavirus crisis is making many in the country feel uneasy, writes Paul Connolly (Pictured: Locals in a bar in Stockholm last week) People sit in close proximity at an outdoor restaurant in central Stockholm last Thursday, well after most of Sweden's neighbours had imposed drastic lockdowns People walk along the main pedestrian shopping street in Stockholm last Wednesday, as the Swedish government takes a lighter touch than most of its counterparts A map showing the latest number of coronavirus cases in Europe. Italy has the most cases and deaths, with Spain second The only steps the Social Democratic-led coalition has taken is to close universities and higher education colleges, as well as to order restaurants and bars to only serve people at tables rather than at the crammed bar. There's also a ban on public gatherings. But with the limit set at 50 people, it's significantly more generous than other European countries, such as the UK, where the maximum is two. Indeed, Swedish children under the age of 16, including my six-year-old twins, are still going to school, while bars and restaurants are still relatively busy. And, as I write, Sweden appears to be surviving. Deaths have increased from 63 last Wednesday to 180 today, but the number of daily fatalities seems to be remaining steady at around 23-27 less than one per cent of UK figures. More importantly, Sweden's infection rate is only doubling around every week. That may sound high, but it's more than twice as slow as in Spain and Italy. For all its critics, Sweden's liberal attempts to flatten its infection curve seem to be working. And yet being so out of step with the rest of Europe doesn't sit easy with many Swedes. After all, this is a country where even driving a flashy car is deemed worryingly non-comformist. In the rural area of Vasterbotten, where I live, I still remember when a brand new Porsche drove past, leaving residents on the street slack-jawed as if it were a giant golden unicorn being ridden by Agnetha Faltskog (the blonde one from Abba). Pictured: People walk at Strandvagen in Stockholm on March 28 amid the growing coronavirus crisis People sit outdoors in a square in central Stockholm last Thursday, three days after Boris Johnson ordered Britain to stay at home People visit Djurgarden park in Stockholm on Saturday, on a weekend when many people across Europe were ordered to stay at home People dine in a Stockholm restaurant - apparently not restricted by any minimum distance - last Friday despite the pandemic Denmark bucks the trend and sets out its plan for returning to normal life Denmark will become the first European country to set out a timetable for returning to normal life. Prime minister Mette Frederiksen said the country could begin returning to normality after Easter if deaths and infections continue on their 'stable and reasonable' trajectory. She said the virus has 'spread more slowly than feared' but also warned that it 'has not peaked yet' and 'many' will still die. When outlining the strategy of virus management while society returns to normal, she added: 'Can you do both things at once? Yes, you can... we have to do it gradually and staggered.' Miss Frederiksen hinted schools and offices would be the first to reopen, with employees working at different times. On March 11 Denmark was one of the first EU countries to begin a lockdown and has had 2,860 cases and 90 deaths. Advertisement All this goes some way to explaining why many Swedes are furious at their government's pointedly relaxed approach to containing coronavirus. When the affable, slightly dull, prime minister, Stefan Lofven, appeared on Swedish television last week, many Swedes expected him to announce, at the very least, the closure of schools for children under 16. But no. Lofven merely asked Swedes to take responsibility for theirs and their loved ones' health. So why is Lofven and his government taking such a potentially dangerous non-interventionist approach? Part of the reason is to protect Sweden's economy. The government is well aware of the devastating economic impact that enacting an Italy-style lockdown could have on the country. It could leave whole communities out of work by the autumn. But there is also one other key, far less heralded, Swedish trait that may account for the country's more restrained attitude towards containing coronavirus: the government trusts its citizens to do the right thing and follow experts' guidance. Sweden is still a very community-led nation, especially away from the cities. People firmly believe that community comes first, not the individual. In my village of Vastantrask, everyone mucks in and those who don't are soon cast out as social pariahs. We even have a lawn mowing rota. So when Lofven tells pensioners to stay at home and encourages people to work from home, they tend to listen to him. He doesn't need to shout to be heard. People sit in a bar in Stockholm last Wednesday, in a social gathering which has been banned in countries such as France and Italy for more than two weeks Sweden's royal family was out and about in Stockholm last Thursday, as Prince Daniel and Crown Princess Victoria visited a military hospital in the capital People pose for pictures among blooming cherry trees in Kungstradgarden park in Stockholm on March 22, by which time many European countries were already in lockdown People sit in a restaurant in Stockholm last Wednesday, without the ban on public gatherings or enforced social distancing that is in place in many countries Sweden plans more tests with only 36,000 carried out so far Sweden will launch a national testing regime to help fight the spread of coronavirus, the government said yesterday. The focus willl initially be on health workers and others in key jobs, officials say. 'The government has today instructed the public health authority to quickly develop a national strategy to increase testing for Covid-19,' deputy PM Isabella Lovin said at a news conference. 'The aim is to extend the testing to other prioritised groups.' Sweden has tested around 36,000 individuals, mostly people in need of hospital care. Germany has been testing around 500,000 people a week, a bigger difference than its larger population can explain. The government also said it would ban all visits to old-people's homes. Advertisement Near to my house there has been markedly less activity than usual, even though there are only nine people in hospital with coronavirus in the region. As my neighbour said, 'We don't need to be forced to help when our country needs us - we do it willingly and try to ensure the safety of everyone.' Of course, it also helps that Sweden still generally trusts its experts. During this crisis, Lofven has transparently ceded the floor to the Public Health Authority and his state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, who, together, appear to have driven this slightly laissez-faire but measured approach. Interestingly, both Norway and Denmark's public health authorities recently advised their respective governments to follow elements of Sweden's more restrained strategy but both governments overruled them. Meanwhile, most Swedes seem to trust the Government. In a recent poll published by daily newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, just over half of the Swedes said they thought their country's response to coronavirus had so far been 'well-balanced.' Leif Rehnstrom, a business owner from northern Sweden told me: 'Overall I think they are handling things very well. No one will know what the appropriate response was until after all this has passed. So far it seems like we are managing just as well as our neighbours who have been a lot stricter, but I think most people understand that things might change very quickly.' Though not every voice in the scientific community is so optimistic. Fredrik Elgh, a virology professor at Umea University, recently told SVT news: 'I'd rather Stockholm was quarantined. We are almost the only country in the world not doing everything we can to curb the infection. This is bloody serious.' For their part, Tegnell and Lofven have not ruled out implementing stricter measures if the situation worsens. But in the meantime Sweden will continue to play an ambitious long game to protect its economy, citizens and society. And while the Swedes may not like being the centre of attention, if this risky strategy limits the loss of life and prevents the prolonged agony of a wrecked economy, they may well forgive the government for thrusting them into the global spotlight. Patrons of the Half Way In pub in Stockholm gather for a drink on March 23, the day Boris Johnson announced severe restrictions in the UK People enjoy sunny but chilly weather at an outdoor restaurant in Stockholm last week despite the pandemic raging across Europe Members of Sweden's armed forces build a field hospital inside the Stockholmsmassan exhibition center in the capital which will provide intensive care space The AYUSH Ministry has decided to invite scientific proposals on therapies and procedures that could restrain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic using the Indian system of medicines. The ministry on Tuesday said it has initiated action on the prime minister's advice to work for scientific evidence-based solutions and decided to set up a channel to enlist various suggestions and proposals from AYUSH practitioners and institutions, and examine their viability through a group of scientists. Further, in follow-up to the call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help stop big claims without evidence about treatment of COVID-19, the Ministry of AYUSH has initiated steps to curb such claims through creation of awareness, it said in a statement. The ministry is using platforms like video-conferencing and social media to reach out to AYUSH practitioners and involve them in stopping and discouraging false and unsupported claims. In a video conference held on March 30, nearly 100 thought leaders from different disciplines of AYUSH participated, and among other things, also resolved to work for spreading awareness against such inappropriate claims. One of the follow-up action being initiated by the Ministry of AYUSH on the PM's call to work for scientific evidence-based solutions from the AYUSH systems is to set up an online channel on its website for receiving suggestions based on scientific explanations and proposals on therapies and procedures prepared based on standard scientific guidelines that could restrain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, or to manage the disease, the ministry said in its statement. The ministry has accordingly invited inputs from AYUSH practitioners and AYUSH institutions (institutions may include colleges/ universities, hospitals, research institutes, AYUSH manufacturers, AYUSH associations etc.). The inputs can be submitted on the ministry's website at the following link:http://ayush.gov.in/covid-19. The inputs received will be scrutinised by the committee of experts. Those proposals recommended by the scrutiny committee will be further vetted by a group of scientists from diverse specialties. "Wherever possible, those proposals may be taken up for validation studies," the ministry said. The observations of the prime minister came during an interaction held through video conference with prominent personalities from the AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) Sector on March 28. The Union Home Ministry said the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 32 and the number of total positive cases to 1,251 as on Monday 9.30 PM, up from 1,024 positive cases and 27 deaths as on Sunday evening. While there are more than 1,100 active cases, nearly 100 have been cured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Panama Canal is a major strategic chokepoint for global shipping the free flow of cargo via this waterway is essential to world trade. The high-profile drama involving the cruise ship Zaandam underscores how the coronavirus might impede this flow going forward. The Carnival Corporation & PLC (NYSE: CCL)-owned cruise ship had four dead passengers on board and at least 189 passengers and crew with flu-like symptoms, including two testing positive for COVID-19. On Friday, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) initially denied passage to the Zaandam, which had sought permission to transit from the Pacific to the Atlantic side of the isthmus. The ACP cited rules of Panama's Ministry of Health (MINSA) that "if a vessel has individuals who have tested positive for COVID-10 on board, it cannot make any port operations or transit the canal." The decision was reversed on Saturday. The Zaandam transferred all healthy passengers to the sister ship Rotterdam while outside of Panamanian waters; no passengers or crew were allowed to set foot on Panamanian soil. MINSA and ACP then approved the transit of both vessels for humanitarian reasons, given that the ships could make it to Florida 2.5 days sooner than they could arrive in California had passage been denied. The two cruise ships passed into the Caribbean Monday morning. The Zaandam incident followed multiple decisions over recent weeks by the ACP to tighten coronavirus precautions for transits. All of which raises the question: What happens if commercial shipping crewmembers become symptomatic with coronavirus as vessels cross the Pacific from Asia or the Gulf of Mexico from the U.S.? Will the ACP's need to protect its own workers and pilots and by extension, the Panamanian populace lead to cargo ships facing lengthy delays or being barred from passage? Panama Canal protective procedures Panama, a country with a population of 4 million, confirmed its first coronavirus case on March 9. As of Monday, it had 989 confirmed cases and 24 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Story continues Multiple Panamanian workers inspectors, deckhands and pilots must board any vessel transiting the canal and interact with the ship's personnel, creating a risk of coronavirus transmission. ACP deckhands must board ship during transit. Photo credit: ACP The ACP issued an advisory on Jan. 29 stating that all arriving ships must confirm whether they had called at any country with confirmed coronavirus cases and whether anyone on board had symptoms. Under the procedures already in place at that time, an ACP inspector boarded a ship prior to the canal transit and asked the captain to reconfirm whether there were any confirmed or suspected cases on board. If there were, a yellow flag was flown, the ship was quarantined, and a representative of MINSA was called on board. The MINSA rep determined the next steps. Additional procedures were announced on March 18. All vessels were required to report information on crew changes; ACP inspectors first inquired by radio about crew health conditions before boarding; ACP workers were equipped with masks; and all shipping companies were required to report any symptoms of any illness among seafarers, regardless of whether they were coronavirus symptoms. More new procedures were announced on March 25. Special teams of ACP workers were created "to maintain the safe operation of the waterway and provide continuous service to international trade," with these teams "transferred to and from their work areas in special transport and in small groups, with the aim of reducing the risk of infection." The ACP stressed that "the health and well-being of the Panama Canal team is our top priority," while at the same time, it "acknowledged the role it plays in ensuring the global flow of cargo." Current status report In response to queries from FreightWaves, an ACP spokesperson provided clarifications on new canal-transit procedures and an update on what has transpired to date. Asked by FreightWaves whether any non-cruise vessels have had their transits delayed or cancelled due to coronavirus procedures, she replied, "We have had cases of ships that reported people with symptoms on board, but upon reviewing the cases, transit was allowed when it was confirmed that it was not COVID-19 or other contagious diseases." Asked what happens if a ship captain confirms that a crew change has occurred within the past 14 days and whether that delays or affects canal transits, the ACP spokesperson said that "MINSA is notified and will determine the next steps." On the question of whether any ACP staffers who board transiting ships have tested positive, she responded, "We have no cases within our transit operations team." MSC container ship transiting the canal. Photo credit: ACP The ACP's public statement on Friday regarding the Zaandam incident said that ships with "individuals who have tested positive...on board" are barred from transit. Asked to clarify whether a transit would be barred if a single seafarer was positive, the ACP spokesperson confirmed, "Correct, one or more." Friday's ACP statement also left open to interpretation whether a commercial ship could still transit if infected crewmembers were evacuated from the ship and were not "on board." Would the vessel then be considered "clean?" The ACP spokesman answered that in such a scenario, "The ship is quarantined and next steps are determined by MINSA." She also confirmed that the decision to allow the Zaandam to transit was a special case, not a precedent-setter. Implications for Panama Canal Panama Canal revenues are extremely important to the government of Panama. During its fiscal year (FY) 2019, which ended on Sept. 30, 2019, the ACP contributed $1.79 billion in direct revenues to the country's treasury, accounted for $2.89 billion in total contributions to the economy, and employed over 9,700 workers. Furthermore, the canal is part of a broader ocean-trade cluster that includes the Colon Free Zone, bunker suppliers and multiple transshipment terminals, including Balboa and PSA-Panama on the Pacific side and MIT, Cristobal and CCT on the Atlantic side. If canal transits decline, so too does the volume at these ancillary entities, and in turn, their own contributions to Panama's government coffers. The canal faced several headwinds even before the coronavirus: the China-U.S. trade war, economic malaise within certain trading regions, and a drought that reduced water availability for the locks system and impeded transits. The coronavirus created new negatives. The Wuhan lockdown caused the cancellation of a number of container-ship sailings that had previously been scheduled to transit the canal. U.S. business shutdowns are spurring a new wave of cancellations starting in April. Virus-weakened demand (and OPEC's response to that weakness) has also led to a collapse in crude-oil pricing. Low crude pricing is bad for canal transits for two reasons. First, it decreases demand for U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Asia; LNG and LPG ships are the second and third most important users of the canal, after container ships. Second, low crude prices lead to low marine-fuel prices. Aerial view of the locks system. Photo credit: ACP The lower the marine fuel price, the less incentive ship operators have to pay the tolls and utilize the canal as a shortcut. A year ago, an ACP executive told FreightWaves that lower fuel prices and lower charter rates prompted vessel operators "to use alternative routes" and not pass through the canal. Since those comments were made, the price of marine fuel has plunged by 40%. During an interview with FreightWaves last week, Flexport Global Head of Shipping Nerijus Poskus said marine-fuel prices are now so low that "some of the shipping lines are considering going around Africa instead of paying the fees to go through the Suez Canal." The potential for coronavirus-induced canal transit restrictions must be viewed against this broader business backdrop. While there is a pressing health need in terms of protecting Panamanians, there is likewise a pressing business need in terms of keeping ship traffic moving through the canal. Today, the risk of ships being barred from the canal is low, simply because very few non-cruise seafarers have actually been tested for COVID-19 and most seafarers have had limited exposure to landside outbreaks due to the lack of crew changes. The future situation may be different, however. A new generation of testing kits that can deliver results in minutes is now coming to market. Also, crew changes must inevitably resume, bringing new crew aboard that had previously been landside. Incidents of seafarers testing positive for COVID-19 could become more commonplace. If so, the key question for commercial shipping vis-a-vis the canal will be: Will MINSA allow a ship to proceed through the locks if infected crewmembers are first evacuated from the ship? Implications for ocean shipping The Panama Canal is highly relevant to the container, LNG and LPG shipping markets, and much less so to the tanker and dry bulk segments. Fewer LNG and LPG transits are a positive for rates assuming the same volume moves from the U.S. to Asia and is rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope. The longer the voyage, the more ship capacity is soaked up. However, if LNG and LPG canal transits fall because a lower volume of gas is flowing from the U.S. to Asia, that's a negative for freight rates because it equates to reduced vessel demand. The container shipping equation is different because in the trans-Pacific trade, the Asia-U.S. East Coast route that utilizes the canal is a much longer voyage than the Asia-U.S. West Coast route. It's a rare case of the canal not being a shortcut. If more container ships were to switch to the West Coast route and rail containers to eastern states from Los Angeles/Long Beach, it would reduce average voyage distance and thus container-ship demand. Container shipping would be affected more than any other sector by any coronavirus-related issues at the canal. A hypothetical scenario in which a container ship is barred from passage due to infected crewmembers implies massive complications for the carrier and major delays for cargo recipients. Canal workers handling a night transit. Photo credit: ACP Consider the case of a vessel with 10,000 twenty-foot equivalent units of containerized cargo on board going from Asia to New York/New Jersey. Such a vessel would also be carrying boxes bound for Central and South America and the Caribbean Basin to be transshipped at a hub either in Panama or in Cartagena, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic or the Bahamas. If the ship could not transit the canal or call at a Panamanian port, it could not transship that cargo. Theoretically, if MINSA did not allow the ship to proceed through the canal or call at a Panamanian hub after infected crewmembers were evacuated, the vessel would either have to unload elsewhere along the same coast and transfer cargo to a "clean" ship, or circumnavigate Cape Horn. According to one port executive asked about this scenario by FreightWaves, "Where the cargo would be unloaded would all start from the health standpoint. Taking the Zaandam as an example, no country other than Panama even allowed the vessel to come close to its shores. "The issue I see is the contact between crew and the pilots, boarding committee and longshoremen, and the public opinion of the various countries," he continued. In the hypothetical scenario of a container ship that had COVID-19-positive crew who are evacuated, he responded, "I'm guessing that given the tremendous efforts the operator might encounter securing permits in each subsequent port, [the carrier] might choose to discharge everything on board and quarantine the vessel." (Photo credit: ACP) More FreightWaves/American Shipper articles by Greg Miller See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. 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. The South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research (SCTR) Institute, one of about 60 Clinical and Translational Award (CTSA) hubs nationwide, has been awarded a five-year renewal of more than $24 million from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. CTSAs seek to ensure that all patients, regardless of their ethnicity or geographic location, receive the benefits of the latest discoveries and technological innovations. SCTR has been continuously funded as a CTSA since 2009 and received its highest score yet on this renewal. MUSC President David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, and MUSC College of Medicine Dean Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., both welcomed the news and underscored the essential role SCTR has played in helping the state to build its translational research infrastructure and in sharing research findings so as to improve the health of all South Carolinians. "SCTR continues to be best in class among the CTSA hubs," said Cole. "My vision is for MUSC to be a national leader in research that transforms the delivery of health care, and SCTR has helped us, and others across the state, build the infrastructure that will enable us to realize that vision." DuBois agrees. "The CTSA represents the NIH's largest single investment in biomedical research, and these awards are given to institutions in order to establish academic homes for translational research," he said. "We are definitely on the cutting edge of translational and clinical science when compared to our peers." MUSC vice president for research Kathleen Brady, M.D., Ph.D., who has served as SCTR's director since its inception, and MUSC associate provost for research compliance and regulatory affairs Patrick A. Flume, M.D., are co-principal investigators for the grant. Other members of the leadership team include associate principal investigators Marc Chimowitz, MBChB; Perry Halushka, M.D., Ph.D.; Leslie A. Lenert, M.D.; and Kevin Gray, M.D., as well as SCTR primary administrator and chief operating officer Royce Sampson, M.S.N. and SCTR science development officer Tammy Loucks, Dr.PH. Brady is proud of SCTR's legacy and the difference it has made to the state. "Since 2009, SCTR has transformed the research environment across South Carolina by supporting high-quality clinical and translational research, collaboration and innovation," she said. "Headquartered at MUSC, SCTR has engaged stakeholders and created partnerships across the state to improve care and address health issues." For this renewal period, SCTR will partner with Health Sciences South Carolina (HSSC), a public-private collaborative of research universities and health systems; Clemson University, the state's land grant university; and South Carolina State University (SCSU), one of about 100 historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the nation. SCTR will work with HSSC to continue to develop bioinformatics tools to identify patients from diverse races, genders and ethnicities who are eligible for clinical trials and to enhance other bioinformatics tools that collect mortality, readmission and other clinical data so that they can be shared with investigators and health system administrators across the state. "Research data systems in this renewal are focused on cloud-based tools for interoperability and patient-led data exchange, which should help SCTR rapidly expand the footprint of its learning health system to a truly statewide level," said Lenert, who serves as HSSC vice president and chief medical officer as well as MUSC's chief research information officer and director of the Biomedical Informatics Center at MUSC. SCTR will also team up with Clemson University and the collaborative Clemson-MUSC Healthy Me - Healthy SC Alliance aimed at improving health outcomes and equity in the state for education in translational research, clinical trial recruitment and sharing of research results. "The renewal of the SCTR grant is a real boon for advancing Healthy Me - Healthy SC Alliance goals," said Ron Gimbel, Ph.D., who is the Clemson director for Healthy Me - Healthy SC and chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences at Clemson University. "SCTR and its researchers will have the opportunity to leverage regional hub clinics, mobile health vans, telehealth, extension offices and other resources in bringing research into underserved communities." Finally, SCTR will partner with SCSU to establish a clinical trials unit and facilitate the development of a research education pipeline at the university. Marvella E. Ford, Ph.D., who holds a joint appointment at SCSU and MUSC and is the new lead for SCTR's Integrating Special Populations Program, will direct those efforts in collaboration with SCSU leaders, such as Learie B. Luke, Ph.D., acting provost at SCSU, and Judith D. Salley, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences. "We are excited to be the first HBCU to partner with the SCTR Institute," said Salley. "This collaboration will provide statewide access to unique and innovative opportunities for our faculty researchers and undergraduate students to engage in clinical trials education and translational research." Renewal of the SCTR grant, Brady explained, recognizes the significant contributions SCTR has already made to clinical and translational research and the strong vision it has for the future. An impressive legacy Since 2009, SCTR has streamlined the initiation and conduct of clinical trials, the main mechanism for determining whether a new therapy works. It has collaborated with partners throughout the state to make a listing of all active clinical trials available to the public (SCresearch.org). It has sped up the launch of clinical trials, improved patient enrollment and helped ensure that trials are cost-effective. SCTR's efforts have been so successful that the university created an Office of Clinical Research to continue the work. SCTR has also developed electronic tools, such as the research transaction management system SPARCRequest, which have not only made the conduct of clinical trials and other studies more efficient at MUSC, but they have also been adopted by other CTSAs throughout the country. A clinical trial management system being launched across the MUSC enterprise will facilitate the collection of performance metrics and enrollment statistics for clinical trials. SCTR pilot funding has supported early-stage projects in translational science, team science and community-engaged research and will now also support telehealth. For almost a decade, SCTR's Community-Engaged Scholars Program has encouraged community members to take an active role not only in defining the research questions a project will explore but also in implementing the project and sharing its results. SCTR has also made great strides in growing and supporting all levels of the translational workforce. It created the Mentorship Leadership Council, chaired by Chimowitz, which standardized mentoring plans across the university, adding this type of plan as a criterion for tenure and promotion. It worked with Human Resources to ensure that grant-supported employees receive pay and benefits that are equitable to those received by classified employees. It has trained more than 1,500 research coordinators (600 online) statewide. Translational research is most effective, said Brady, when basic scientists and clinicians collaborate. To encourage such collaboration, SCTR's TL1 program, directed by Halushka, requires its predoctoral scholars to spend time in the clinic. There, they shadow scholars in SCTR's KL2 program, directed by Chimowitz. KL2 scholars are early-career clinicians with release time from clinical duties to apply for funding to pursue research. A strong vision for the future Flume, Brady said, is poised to help to lead SCTR into the future. He looks forward to the many new initiatives that will come with this renewal. "For this next grant period, we will leverage our strengths and new regional affiliations to extend our reach into rural South Carolina," said Flume. "Our new program on dissemination and implementation will strive to enhance delivery of best practices to improve the health of those we serve - the people of South Carolina." The Dissemination and Implementation Science Collaborative, led by Dee Ford, M.D., will use innovative approaches and harness cutting-edge technology to ensure that all residents, even those in rural areas, are able to have the opportunity to participate in and learn from research. Participant engagement groups will help researchers to obtain input from community stakeholders and learn which outcomes the community cares about. Through its work with Clemson, SCTR will engage with extension offices as venues for educational offerings and clinical trial recruitment and for the sharing of research results. It will also tap into MUSC's strong telehealth presence in the state, using teleconsent to enroll patients virtually and innovative remote trial methodology to conduct trials at a distance. With the renewed funding, SCTR will continue to be a national player in the field of translational science. It will raise the profile of MUSC and its statewide partners and affiliates as innovators in health science and pioneers in care-changing research. ### About the Medical University of South Carolina Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the oldest medical school in the South as well as the state's only integrated academic health sciences center with a unique charge to serve the state through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and 800 residents in six colleges: Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. The state's leader in obtaining biomedical research funds, MUSC brought in more than $284 million in fiscal year 2019. For information on academic programs, visit http://musc.edu. As the clinical health system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest quality patient care available while training generations of competent, compassionate health care providers to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Comprising some 1,600 beds, more than 100 outreach sites, the MUSC College of Medicine, the physicians' practice plan and nearly 275 telehealth locations, MUSC Health owns and operates eight hospitals situated in Charleston, Chester, Florence, Lancaster and Marion counties. In 2019, for the fifth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit http://muschealth.org. MUSC and its affiliates have collective annual budgets of $3.2 billion. The more than 17,000 MUSC team members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers and scientists who deliver groundbreaking education, research, technology and patient care. For information on academic programs, visit musc.edu. About the South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute The South Carolina Clinical and Translational Research (SCTR) Institute is the catalyst for changing the culture of biomedical research, facilitating sharing of resources and expertise and streamlining research-related processes to bring about large-scale change in the clinical and translational research efforts in South Carolina. Our vision is to improve health outcomes and quality of life for the population through discoveries translated into evidence-based practice. To learn more, visit https://research.musc.edu/resources/sctr About Clemson University Clemson University is a major, land-grant, science- and engineering-oriented research university in South Carolina that maintains a strong commitment to teaching and student success. Ranked No. 23 among national public universities, Clemson is an inclusive, student-centered community characterized by high academic standards, a culture of collaboration, school spirit, and a competitive drive to excel. Founded in 1889, Clemson remains committed both to world-class research and a high quality of life. The campus sits on 1,400 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, along the shores of Hartwell Lake and has research facilities and economic development hubs throughout the state of South Carolina -- in Greenville, Greenwood, Anderson, Columbia and Charleston. The research, outreach and entrepreneurial projects led by the faculty and students are driving economic development and improving quality of life in South Carolina and beyond. About Health Sciences South Carolina Health Sciences South Carolina (HSSC) is the nation's first statewide health collaborative and is committed to transforming South Carolina's public health and economic well-being through research. The members of our unique collaboration include the state's largest research-intensive universities -Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and the University of South Carolina -along with the largest health systems -AnMed Health, Greenville Health System, McLeod Health, MUSC Health, Palmetto Health, Self Regional Healthcare and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. We have formed dynamic collaborations with like-minded organizations within South Carolina and are expanding our efforts to make data-enabled health improvement available to others across the Carolinas and the Southeast. To learn more, visit https://www.healthsciencessc.org/. About South Carolina State University Founded in 1896 as a land grant institution with a mission of providing service to the citizens of the state, South Carolina State University has evolved from a small teachers' college into a major University center of learning and research. Located in Orangeburg, S.C., South Carolina State offers more than 50 different fields of study on the undergraduate and graduate levels. South Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools. YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... Shareholders of China Shenhua Energy Company Limited (HKG:1088) will be pleased this week, given that the stock price is up 12% to HK$14.76 following its latest annual results. Revenues of CN242b were in line with forecasts, although statutory earnings per share (EPS) came in below expectations at CN2.10, missing estimates by 6.1%. The analysts 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 collected the latest post-earnings statutory consensus estimates to see what could be in store for next year. Check out our latest analysis for China Shenhua Energy SEHK:1088 Past and Future Earnings March 31st 2020 Following the recent earnings report, the consensus from 16 analysts covering China Shenhua Energy is for revenues of CN226.4b in 2020, implying a discernible 6.4% decline in sales compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to reduce 6.3% to CN1.96 in the same period. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of CN227.5b and earnings per share (EPS) of CN2.06 in 2020. So it looks like there's been a small decline in overall sentiment after the recent results - there's been no major change to revenue estimates, but the analysts did make a small dip in their earnings per share forecasts. The consensus price target held steady at CN16.82, with the analysts seemingly voting that their lower forecast earnings are not expected to lead to a lower stock price in the foreseeable future. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. The most optimistic China Shenhua Energy analyst has a price target of CN21.15 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at CN11.99. This shows there is still a bit of diversity in estimates, but analysts don't appear to be totally split on the stock as though it might be a success or failure situation. Story continues Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. We would highlight that sales are expected to reverse, with the forecast 6.4% revenue decline a notable change from historical growth of 5.7% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the same industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 0.8% annually for the foreseeable future. It's pretty clear that China Shenhua Energy's revenues are expected to perform substantially worse than the wider industry. The Bottom Line The most important thing to take away is that the analysts downgraded their earnings per share estimates, showing that there has been a clear decline in sentiment following these results. Fortunately, the analysts also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, suggesting sales are tracking in line with expectations - although our data does suggest that China Shenhua Energy's revenues are expected to perform worse than the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates. Keeping that in mind, we still think that the longer term trajectory of the business is much more important for investors to consider. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for China Shenhua Energy going out to 2023, and you can see them free on our platform here.. Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for China Shenhua Energy (1 is concerning) 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. In response to COVID-19 UNODC in Lebanon acts to protect the most vulnerable in prisons Photo: UNODC Beirut (Lebanon), 31 March 2020 - In response to the growing health concerns posed by COVID-19, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa launched an awareness raising campaign for the juvenile wing in Roumieh Prison, the Moubadara facility for girls and the Barbar Khazen Prison for women in Beirut. The uncertainty of the extent of COVID-19 has provoked anxiety and fear, especially among prisoners who are in closed settings and are worried about their health and the health of their families, with an increased feeling of isolation. Moreover, with the suspension of rehabilitation activities that include group interaction, watching the TV remains the only means of distraction. To address the unexpected Coronavirus outbreak in Lebanon, prison authorities adopted preventive measures to ensure the safety of the inmates at an early stage, such as suspending all service providers activities and reducing family visits to the prisons. To further back the capacity of prison authorities to prevent and contain the spread of the virus, UNODC provided awareness raising material on recommended standard hygiene practices in accordance with the guidance of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) with prison settings in mind. Additionally, UNODC supported the prison with a comprehensive package of preventive and protective tools such as hygiene detergents, disinfectants, sanitizers, masks and gloves with a clear Standard Operating Procedure (SoP). Mobile SIM cards were made available for inmates to maintain the contact with families. Such action has contributed to the reduction of anxiety and helped both authorities and inmates gain a sense of control over the virus spreading, especially with the clear instructions on how to protect themselves and practice good hygiene. Further information: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) - UNODC updates UNODC and SDG3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages UNODC and Justice and Prison Reform in the MENA Region Visit World Health Organization - COVID 19 updated page to stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19 and ways to stay safe. Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held phone talk with Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko on Tuesday. Aleksandr Lukashenko and Nikol Pashinyan discussed the operation of the economy in the current complicated conditions. The existence of serious problems and difficulties was mentioned, Belarusian President's press service reported. The statement reads: "The sides exchanged opinions about prices for the hydrocarbon resources Belarus and Armenia import from Russia. Aleksandr Lukashenko and Nikol Pashinyan agreed that natural gas is overpriced and it is obvious the prices are out of sync with the world and out of touch with the existing situation as a whole. Aleksandr Lukashenko and Nikol Pashinyan discussed the operation of healthcare systems and efforts to counteract seasonal grave viral infections. Bearing in mind the current state of affairs, the Belarus President and the Armenian prime minister looked into the possibility of arranging a meeting of the heads of state of the Eurasian Economic Union member states in order to discuss the economic challenges. Aleksandr Lukashenko put forward the initiative as the leader of the country presiding over the Eurasian Economic Union. The Belarusian leader stressed that there are urgent matters that need to be discussed in detail at the top level. In continuation of the conversation Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich to get in touch with each side in order to discuss the matter with them and convey the views Aleksandr Lukashenko and Nikol Pashinyan had presented. If the EAEU heads of state agree to it, Belarus suggests arranging a meeting of only limited-size delegations and can guarantee full safety to every member of the incoming delegations. A video conference the Eurasian Economic Union leaders can participate in is an alternative way for having this discussion, the Belarusian side believes." SIOUX CITY -- After a one-year absence, metro Sioux City has reclaimed the top spot on Site Selection's list of the small-size metro area with the most business expansion projects. Sioux City had 18 new or expanded corporate facilities in the category for metros with populations between 50,000 and 200,000 in 2019, according to the national trade publication. That was two more than the second-place finisher Odessa, Texas, according to a story posted on Site Selection's website Monday morning. The metro, which includes Dakota and Dixon counties in Nebraska, Plymouth and Woodbury counties in Iowa and Union County in South Dakota, tied for third with the most last year after finishing first three straight years, 2015, 2016 and 2017. "It's just a continuation of success I've witnessed and you've demonstrated here," Site Selection managing editor Adam Bruns told local leaders at a news conference at the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce offices on March 1. It's the eighth time since 2007 the metro area has been No. 1 on Site Selection's annual list. "Siouxland has seen an unprecedented level of capital investment in the last decade, with multiple billions of dollars invested by the private sector and hundreds of millions in investment from the public sector," said Security National Bank CEO and President Douglas Rice, who serves as chairman of the Siouxland Initiative Board. "A strong economy offers great job opportunities and makes Siouxland a great place to live, work, and play. We remain optimistic about our prospects for continued economic growth and expansion." Site Selection defines a qualifying project as meeting at least one of three criteria: a capital investment of at least $1 million, creation of at least 20 new jobs or addition of at least 20,000 square feet of new floor space. Site Selection's database does not track retail and government projects, schools or hospitals. Bruns noted that Sioux City's 18 qualifying projects in 2019 was just one less than Chattanooga, Tennessee and Greenville, South Carolina, which tied for 10th place in the category for metro areas with populations of 200,000 to 1 million. Metro Sioux City was featured in Bruns' story on the top finishers in each of metro category. Subtitled "Tier 3 in Size, No. 1 in Your Heart," his piece detailed several local projects in the past year, including two companies that moved to larger quarters. MCI Mass Markets moved its contact call center from Dakota Dunes to a site in Sioux City near Sioux Gateway Airport. The secure facility, a former CenturyLink call center, was renovated extensively has space for more than 500 employees, a substantial increase from its previous location. Sterling Computers, an IT and tech support firm, moved its corporate headquarters to the former Gateway computers campus in North Sioux City. Sterling, one of the fastest growing private companies in America, acquired 83,000 square feet of office space and a 106,000-square foot distribution center in Main, the first of the black-and-white, cow-spotted machine shed-like buildings Gateway built in North Sioux between 1989 and 1997 after moving from Sergeant Bluff. Gerald Keating, a Florida-based investor with ties to Northeast Nebraska, bought the entire Gateway campus from Acer Inc. in January 2018 for $5.75 million. Since then, other former Gateway buildings also have been populated with new or expanded businesses that qualified for Site Selection's list, including Pella Windows & Doors, United Sports Academy. Other major projects Bruns highlighted in his story included Ingredion in South Sioux City, Big Frig in North Sioux City and Sioux City Kenworth. Love 1 Funny 1 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. (Photo : Screenshot From Amazon Official Website) [Homeschooling Essentials] The Right Drawing Tablets For the Bright Minds (Photo : Screenshot From Amazon Official Website) [Homeschooling Essentials] The Right Drawing Tablets For the Bright Minds (Photo : Screenshot From Amazon Official Website) [Homeschooling Essentials] The Right Drawing Tablets For the Bright Minds Teaching kids at home comes with quite a few roadblocks, including how to make education fun. The problem with most children is fun and learning do not usually coincide--that is why there are special toys like drawing tables which make learning a lot more fun! Picking out the perfect drawing tablet should not be too hard since you only have to factor in its durability, safety, and how fun it seems! Although kids tend to have different preferences when it comes to toys, picking out the right drawing tablet that catches their attention should not be too complicated! Read Also: Homeschooling Essentials: Educational Vtech Toys To Keep The Fun Going While the Kids Learn! Kids have a natural curiosity for things that trigger their senses, and that is why drawing is a great way to exercise their imagination as well. Education and playtime do not have to go against each other since playtime can also be a venue for kids to practice what they've learned. Here are a few tablets to choose from to give your kids that creative advantage: Aside from being affordable, this tablet is also safe for young kids to play with. Another advantage of a drawing tablet is that you get to save on paper and also save yourself from the hassle of having to clean up after your child's drawing mess should they get a bit out of hand. Caring for a kid means caring for their growth. Creativity is definitely one of the indicators of progress, which is why it is very important that it be cherished and supported. This is one of the more colorful and playful drawing tablets out there and is a great addition for younger kids who enjoy bright colors and lively designs. Grabbing a kid's attention is hard, especially when there are a lot more toys around without educational value that distract them from learning. In order for educational material to be effective, it would be necessary to make the material just as entertaining as the other toys in the room. This product gets the attention it deserves because of its playful design and colorful aesthetic. Ansel LCD Writing Tablet 10 Inch Drawing Tablet for Kids, Colorful Screen Doodle Board and Kids Drawing Pad for Ages 2+ This drawing tablet is specifically for girls, and there's a reason why. Most tablets are made to look like they were for boys despite being for both girls and boys at the same time. This drawing tablet has been made more attractive for girls to practice their drawing skills as well! Girls should not be left out in the drawing fun, and that is what this drawing tablet is about. Improve your child's creativity with a drawing tablet made just for her. Read Also: How to Bring Out That "Work From Home" Productivity? Get Yourself a Self-Stirring Coffee Mug! 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A French doctor who claimed to have coronavirus and coughed at police responding to a domestic violence callout has received an effective two-year jail sentence, officials told AFP on Tuesday. The 66-year-old doctor from a hospital in the northern city of Lille was taken into custody at his home on Saturday, a police source said. His wife told officers the doctor was on medical leave on suspicion he may have contracted COVID-19. Arresting officers provided the doctor with a mask and gloves for the car ride to the station, but "he took off his mask and coughed in the car... declaring that he had COVID-19 and that they will now catch it," the Lille prosecutor's office said. "He coughed in an exaggerated manner while telling the officers he knew it scared them." On top of initial charges of domestic violence were added charges of "violence against persons discharging public authority," police sources said. The doctor was brought before a court in Lille on Monday, and given a three-year prison sentence -- one year of which was suspended. He was placed in detention after the sentence was passed. The doctor is also prohibited from making contact with his wife. The officers who were inside the car with the doctor are under medical surveillance. Last week, a Northern Ireland man was charged with attempting to commit grievous bodily harm afer he too coughed on police officers while claiming to carry the virus while being arrested for domestic assault. In Belgium, meanwhile, spitting or coughing on a police officer now carries punishment of up to two years in prison according to an updated violations list. The deed is considered an "attack with dangerous substances", officials said. The penalty has already been applied seven times in the city of Antwerp alone. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Holcim Philippines to increase AF use ICR Newsroom By 31 March 2020 Holcim Philippines plans to further increase its use of suitable and preprocessed waste as alternative fuel and raw material to reduce costs as well as help address the countrys solid waste issue. Aside from its business benefits, our Geocycle unit enables us to further contribute to Philippine development in a sustainable manner. Through our co-processing operations, we are able to lower our carbon footprint and help ease the waste management challenges of the country while producing an essential building material for development, said Holcim Philippines President and CEO, John Stull. In 2019 the cement producer co-processed more than 170,000t, supported by its waste management subsidiary Geocycle. The company agreed to preprocess the segregated waste of the local governments near its plants in Mindanao and Luzon. This enabled it to avoid coal use for 38 days, resulting in lower carbon emissions and fuel costs. Published under 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. Thousands of people found themselves unemployed, suddenly, after COVID-19 mitigation measures forced many businesses to close. Thats put a massive strain on food banks in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Demand is outweighing supply on this, said Sheila Christopher, executive director of Hunger-Free Pennsylvania, a network of 18 food banks that serve the states 67 counties. Ohio food pantries serve more than 1.6 million people annually. Pennsylvania food banks served 2 million people annually. Those are pre-COVID-19 numbers. You eat or you die, said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. There were already 37 million Americans struggling to find food to feed their families, even among the best of times. Hamler-Fugitt said theyve already seen increases in demand between 100% and 500% at Ohio food banks. The association oversees 12 regional food banks that cover all 88 counties in Ohio. Although the exact number of people seeking help from food banks since COVID-19 hit is not yet known those numbers are coming soon looking at the unemployment numbers is a good gauge of the skyrocketing need, Christopher said. Pennsylvania has had more than 800,000 new unemployment claims since March 15, when COVID-19 mitigation measures first began in the state. Gov. Tom Wolf said in a press conference thats about 10% of all unemployment claims nationwide. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported 187,780 new claims for unemployment benefits for the week of March 15-21. The week prior, there were 7,042 new claims reported. That weekly claim number was among the highest monthly number of new claims received in department history. And that was during the recession of the 1980s. Costly changes Before COVID-19, many food pantries were set up like miniature grocery stores. Clients were able to shop the shelves, choosing items to fill their allotment. Thats all over now. Ohio food banks put in place no-touch systems to limit person-to-person contact, using prepackaged bags and boxes of food and distributing food curbside or through delivery. Pennsylvania food banks have taken similar measures. Doing things like this is safer, but also more costly. Boxes to package the food cost anywhere from 50 cents to over a dollar per box, Christopher said. Christopher said their member food banks have seen expenses increase close to $600,000 a week. Part of that is paying staff hazard wages, for working through a global health pandemic. Part of it is buying more food to fill the need. The Ohio Association of Foodbanks also reported increased expenses from its food banks. After the start of the crisis, the Freestore Foodbank, which supplies southwestern Ohio and parts of Kentucky and Indiana, ordered an additional $500,000 worth of food above its normal orders. Social distancing measures also means fundraising events were canceled and that elderly volunteers and corporate volunteer groups are staying home. The Ohio National Guard deployed about 300 members to food bank warehouses around the state to help keep things moving. The National Guard members help with sorting and packing food, distributing the food and supporting other logistical needs. Federal waivers Food assistance programs received a number of waivers easing the regulatory burdens, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, during the pandemic. Most recently, Pennsylvania received approval, March 27, to operate a Disaster Household Distribution program through the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program. The program waives the need for people to complete income eligibility paperwork and allows USDA commodity foods to be included in distributions to families impacted by COVID-19 mitigation efforts. This was a huge benefit for Pennsylvania food banks, Christopher said. Its going to enhance what we can give people, she said. We can give them a food package that lasts longer, maybe 10-14 days, instead of four or five days. Wolf sent a letter March 26 to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking him also to waive all eligibility requirements for the Emergency Food Assistance Program and be flexible in other programs during the pandemic. While Ohio has also received USDA food program waivers, theyre still being hamstrung by federal regulations. Hamler-Fugitt said requiring paperwork to verify eligibility for services puts food bank staff, volunteers and clients at risk. People dont stand in food lines that take four, five, six hours if they dont need food, she said. How to help Christopher said they are not accepting donations of food from individuals. They cant guarantee the integrity of the food and dont have the time to screen the food. Many food banks are also not accepting new volunteers at this time. If you want to help, and can afford it, donating money is the best thing you can do right now. Donate directly to a food bank or your local food pantry. For every dollar you give, we can purchase four meals, Hamler-Fugitt said. How to help Donate money directly to a food bank or your local food pantry. If your business can provide resources, in Ohio, contact Jessica Renwick at jrenwick@ohiofoodbanks.org or call 614-221-4336 ext. 355. In Pennsylvania, contact your local food bank: www.hungerfreepa.org/members Do not hold a food drive. Most food banks are not accepting food donations from individuals at this time. How to get help Contact your local food bank directly. Ohio residents can find a list of emergency food assistance by county here Pennsylvania residents can call 211 to get connected with local resources or click here. Apply for benefits. In Ohio, visit benefits.ohio.gov or call 1-844-640-6446. In Pennsylvania, visit compass.state.pa.us or call 1-800-692-7462. (Reporter Rachel Wagoner can be contacted at 800-837-3419 or rachel@farmanddairy.com.) If there is one thing thats working to slow the spread of COVID-19, whether its Germany, South Korea or the Czech Republic, it is the act of physical distancing. I think the social distancing worked for everyone, they did it, they followed it to a tee, said Dr. Anna Banerji, an Infectious Disease Specialist at the University of Toronto. The model country being pointed at by many experts including the WHO at effectively flattening the curve is South Korea, which was able to control the COVID-19 outbreak through a number of measures. The country of 50 million-plus had experienced Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2015, from which 38 people died. Before COVID-19 even went global, South Koreans had just completed their pandemic training in December, which had prepared them to deal with physical distancing and practice proper hygiene. Dr. Banerji notes the Koreans were able to set up quick and readily-available testing, and subsequently had systems in place to track positive cases and understand who may have been in contact with the infected. Their rapid testing of anyone with symptoms, early-on drive-thru testing, and people getting their results back quickly, its helped them target and isolate people [who were] compromised, she said. Whats holding Canada back? One of the things holding Canada back from reaching South Koreas 20,000 tests per day is not having access to the materials needed by healthcare professionals, due to a halt in manufacturing in China and Italy. Mimicking South Korea is what every country is striving for, and so far only Germany has been able to match the amount of tests conducted with at least 120,000 tests per week. The fact that they have [done] extensive testing and can test anyone at risk or anyone symptomatic, I think that's one of the reasons why theyre doing better, said Dr. Banerji. Overall, more than 66,000 Germans have been infected, but through their public health system and availability of beds in the intensive care unit, the mortality rate stands at below one percent. Story continues For comparisons sake, Germany has had about the same amount of positive tests as France and the United Kingdom combined, but nearly five times more French and twice as many Britons have died. Both France and the U.K. were slow to roll out safety messaging and measures, which Dr. Banerji said resulted in a higher mortality rate. We see that when it wasnt addressed in time, China, Spain and Italy come to mind and their consequences reaction time makes a huge difference, she said. Researchers in Germany have even begun to discuss potentially scaling back restrictions in some of the hardest hit areas of the country which developed herd immunity. Researchers will start testing Germans to see if they develop antibodies and will issue immunity passports to allow them to resume their normal lives. However, Banerji warns anyone who feels theyve flattened the curve that a dataset of two weeks is not sufficient enough to make drastic scale-downs. They are still early on in the curve, so hopefully this is something that is sustainable. If you can have sustained testing, that will help flatten everything, she said. Should you put your mask on? In Eastern Europe, statistics show since Friday the Czech Republic has seen a steady decline in positive cases when a total of 373 cases were discovered. As numbers dipped on Saturday and then again on Sunday, come Monday only 125 people tested positive. Some epidemiologists in the country, as well as the government, are crediting social distancing, quick action on limiting travel and widespread use of masks. So far, the Czechs are the only country to mandate citizens wear masks whenever they step out, regardless of occasion. Dr. Banerji believes the masks can also do the opposite if used improperly. If lots of people havent used masks and are touching things, they may go to adjust their mask, so while it may seem there is protection, its less than imagined, she said. The WHO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Public Health Agency of Canada have all recommended limited mask use except for those displaying symptoms, those who are positive or medical health professionals. China slowed COVID-19 response The origin of COVID-19 is widely believed to have started in Wuhan, China where the government is now reporting theyre only getting a few dozen positive tests, and restrictions are being scaled down. However, Dr. Banerji says to only credit the control measures would be wrong. In Wuhan the reason its most likely stopping is because most people have already been infected, in Italy, theyre going to peak and the numbers will come down, but because most people have already been infected, she said. When it comes to COVID-19 if there is a sense of herd immunity, many of the infected can develop antibodies which would make the virus not as strong the second time around. While physical distancing is working in many regards, if its not practiced for long enough for a vaccine to be created, many people could be at risk, Dr. Banerji notes. It seems to be working to some degree... but as soon as we stop the physical distancing, were going to have a huge number of people who are susceptible [to COVID-19], she said. What can Canadians expect? Dr. Banerji says if Canadians really want to ensure the quickest way back to regular life, it could be months and months of physical distancing to make that happen. It only takes a few cases of coronavirus for it to spread again, so to be effective the physical distancing is something that needs to go for a long period of time, she said. In Canada, physical distance is a strong recommendation and on Monday Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he could and would use the military if need be. Banerji points to India, who went that route, but has a large population who are considered vulnerable. In India, where so many people dont have a place to live and dont have regular access to food, so invoking social distancing people might die of starvation or other issues, she said. One week after Illinois stay at home order went into effect, Chicago-area stores are no longer thronged with shoppers anxiously piling carts with toilet paper, canned beans and bottled water. Instead, a new reality is setting in. Conveniences like 24-hour shopping, free samples and self-service food bars have been abandoned, while policies rationing items as basic as toilet paper have become standard. Signs advising shoppers to give fellow customers space are common, as is the sight of employees sanitizing carts with disinfectant. Former secretary, Heherson Alvarez with wife, Cecille Guidote-Alvarez MANILA, Philippines Employees of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Tuesday said they have been offering prayers for the recovery of the agencys former secretary, Heherson Alvarez, who has been infected with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In a statement, DAR said Alvarez is confined in a hospital in Manila, with his wife Cecille Guidote-Alvarez, who is also battling the dreaded disease. DAR said both are in critical condition. The couple was said to have been placed under intubation after their condition got worse, the agency said. The DAR employees wish that the Alvarezes survive the scary virus, which has claimed the lives of close to a hundred Filipinos all over the country, it added. 80-year old Heherson Alvarez, also a former senator, headed DAR from 1986 to 1987. He also served as congressman for Isabela province. His wife Cecille, 76, is the founder of the Philippine Educational Theater Association and developed a practical program for national theater which won her a Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service in 1972. The post Ex-Senator Alvarez, wife Cecille Guidote battling with COVID-19 DAR appeared first on UNTV News. The top UN climate official on Tuesday chided Japan over its new plan to reduce greenhouse gas emission, which environmental campaigners say shows no real ambition to increase existing efforts. All signatories of the 2015 Paris Agreement are supposed to submit a revised plan before this year's U.N. climate meeting in November. I trust that more ambitious targets will be set soon, said Patricia Espinosa, after the Bonn-based U.N. climate agency she heads received Tokyo's update. In a gentle rebuke to the world's third-biggest economy, Espinosa added that bold, ambitious action would be required and said her agency stood ready to support Japan and all other parties to the Paris accord in setting new goals. According to the World Resources Institute, a Washington-based environmental think tank, Japan's new climate plan essentially keeps the same targets set five years ago, of reducing emissions by 26% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Many other developed economies have set higher targets, including the European Union, which is aiming for a 40% cut by the end of the decade. This is a missed opportunity as low-carbon solutions are more available than ever, often cheaper than traditional alternatives, and Japan is a major economy with access to the most advanced technologies, World Resources Institute Vice President Helen Mountford said. She added that Japan could cut the cost of its fossil fuel imports and create tens of thousands of jobs in the renewable energy sector with the right policies. Kat Kramer, a climate expert at the charity Christian Aid, called Japan's plan an international disgrace. The fact they are smuggling it out during a global pandemic when it will avoid the scrutiny it deserves is shameful, she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ability to close on the purchase of a home online has been available, at least in part, for over a decade. But the novel coronavirus pandemic is making the digital option more popular. As COVID-19 forces Americans indoors, most homebuyers who started the purchase prior to the outbreak are now completing the purchase online. And as a result, some brokerage firms and digital mortgage companies are seeing explosive growth. Seattle-based brokerage Redfin has seen an 18-fold increase in e-closings in March compared to February. San Francisco-based Snapdocs, a digital closing platform that does about 120,000 mortgage closings a month, saw so much demand in March that the company doubled their projected growth for the first quarter from January to March. And New York-based digital mortgage lender Better.com had 200% application growth in March from last month. Now, everyone who is eligible [those whose states, counties, and mortgage providers allow it] is using it. Everything is remote if it can be, said Hilla Sferruzza, CFO of Meritage Homes, an Arizona-based development company that sells homes direct to consumers. Meritage Homes will complete its first completely no-human contact closing later this week in Houston. Until now, 75%-80% of eligible customers have used partially online digital closing services, but Meritage expects the pandemic to boost usage up to 90% in areas where it is available, said Brian Hall, president of financial services. Close-up Of Young African Couple Using Digital Tablet One of the reason for growth is newfound government cooperation. Closing on a house purchase involves notarization, ID verification and signatures on the deed, mortgage, promissory notes, procedural documents and disclosures. Many states and counties in the U.S. dont allow or only partially allow digital closings. Notarization often must occur in person, but most places allow electronic signatures. As governments weigh between maintaining the health and safety of citizens with keeping the economy running, they are now doing everything they can to let home buyers finish the process digitally. Story continues Some 17 states have issued emergency orders to allow remote notarization, in addition to the 25 states that already allow remote notarization, according to the American Land Title Association. New Yorks Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order allowing remote notarization on March 20. Before this Executive Order [in New York], notaries had to sign in person, which was nearly impossible due to the crisis. This arrested many business transactions across the state. Todays announcement is huge news and will aid in keeping transactions moving forward, said Jason Haber, associate broker at Warburg Realty, based in New York City. Currently only eight states, including California and Maine, do not permit remote notarization. In these locations, home purchases still have to take place in-person. But it is not only local governments that have held digital closings back. Lenders, investors, banks, and mortgage companies all have their own compliance offices and often object to digital signatures. If it were up to the consumer, half or more would want digital closing. But the lender is historically very risk averse because they [digital documents] havent been tried in court, said Aaron King, CEO of Snapdocs. So the strategy is do what you can. Some places are completely digital, but where someone wont accept digital, we do a hybrid closing and digitize what we can. Where digital signatures and remote notarization is not allowed, either by the local government or by parties in the transaction, real estate companies are getting creative. One Minnesota-based title insurance and real estate closing company, Legacy Title, offers drive-thru title closings at its 12 locations, as of March 23, according to a press release. Others are doing the same, wearing latex gloves to get signatures needed to complete the transaction, according to Patrick Boyaggi, CEO of Own Up, a mortgage technology company. Sometimes agents have to meet in Walmart parking lots to exchange documents through cracked-open car windows, said Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman. Change is necessary While some homebuyers may put off sales until the coronavirus pandemic subsides, others who obtained low mortgage rates at the beginning of March, have a limited time frame to close on their purchase. Plus, home sales represent a large sector of the economy, supporting jobs in more than 12 sectors, from mortgage companies to investors. So keeping the sector moving is vital to supporting those employees livelihoods, said experts. I think it has a big economical impact. Shutting down home sales would impact contractors, realtors, mortgage loan operators, underwriters it has elements of the domino effect if homes dont get sold, right? said John Moffatt, director of mortgage operations at Better.com. Some mortgage lenders say that this switch to digital will be a permanent change, even when the pandemic passes. The crisis has nudged them into more efficient methods, said industry experts. Sometimes, change doesnt happen unless it is absolutely necessary. This is going to be the big push into digital mortgage closings, said Moffatt. Real estate companies and brokerages are forced to adapt to a digital environment right now and quickly implement it, or else their business could be in jeopardy. After they have made all that effort, are you gonna go back to your analogue methods? I dont think that would make sense. More from Sarah: Airbnb hosts turn to longer term rental income during coronavirus outbreak Landlords offer retailers some relief amid the coronavirus outbreak Coronavirus forces Zillow Offers, Redfin and other major brokerages to cancel open houses Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 10:06:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WINDHOEK, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Standard Bank Namibia announced Monday a capital and interest repayment holiday for up to 12 months to clients operating in the tourism sector, which has been hard hit by the COVID-19 outbreak. Many Namibian businesses have experienced a slowdown in demand for their services due to the worldwide outbreak of the contagious illness, with the tourism and hospitality sector hardest hit as tourists stay home because of travel bans. After an assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Standard Bank said it has become imperative to offer relief to clients impacted by COVID-19 with respect to their loan facilities. The lender also extended relief to all its small and medium-sized clients with an annual turnover of less than 10 million Namibian dollars (568,000 U.S. dollars) in the form of capital and interest repayment holidays for up to six months until Sept. 30. "This will enable our clients to utilize their cash reserves to pay much-needed wages and necessary expenditure during the lockdown period," the bank said. Shareholders approve all motions on the agenda at the 2020 AGM STARS study results for Rett syndrome remain on track Start of forthcoming new clinical studies likely to be delayed due to the current global COVID-19 pandemic Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. ("Newron") (SIX: NWRN, XETRA: NP5), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for patients with diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, announced that its shareholders approved all motions on the agenda of the AGM 2020. The motions consisted of the approval of the Company's financial statements as of 31 December 2019 and the appointment of all members of the Board of Directors. Newron today also provides an update on its clinical, business and operational activities, in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The health and safety of patients, caregivers and our employees is paramount and Newron has proactively taken measures in response to the COVID-19 situation to protect all stakeholders and ensure business continuity. This pandemic has led to the prioritization of all available hospital staff to provide care for COVID-19 patients over research studies, a decision that Newron fully supports as ethically and socially responsible. However, that decision means that the Company therefore anticipates a delay in the start of its planned studies with Evenamide in schizophrenia. The Company cannot predict how long the COVID-19 pandemic will delay the initiation of its clinical trials, but will continue to work to prepare the studies for initiation as soon as is safe and practical to do so. With regards to Newron's STARS (Sarizotan Treatment of Apneas in Rett Syndrome) clinical study, the study was completed in December 2019 and the clinical database for the STARS study remains locked and blinded. Following its meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration, the Company continues to expect to share top-line results with the global Rett community and the financial community in Q2 2020. Newron has established channels to allow patients in the open label extension of the STARS study uninterrupted access to medication that they depend upon. Newron will update the market with any material developments, as appropriate. About Newron Pharmaceuticals Newron (SIX: NWRN, XETRA: NP5) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for patients with diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. The Company is headquartered in Bresso near Milan, Italy. Xadago/safinamide has received marketing authorization for the treatment of Parkinson's disease in the European Union, Switzerland, the USA, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, the United Arab Emirates and Japan, and is commercialized by Newron's Partner Zambon. US WorldMeds holds the commercialization rights in the USA. Meiji Seika has the rights to develop and commercialize the compound in Japan and other key Asian territories. In addition to Xadago/safinamide for Parkinson's disease, Newron has a strong pipeline of promising treatments for rare disease patients at various stages of clinical development, including sarizotan for patients with Rett syndrome and ralfinamide for patients with specific rare pain indications. Newron is also developing Evenamide as the potential first add-on therapy for the treatment of patients with positive symptoms of schizophrenia. For more information, please visit: www.newron.com Important Notices This document contains forward-looking statements, including (without limitation) about (1) Newron' s ability to develop and expand its business, successfully complete development of its current product candidates, the timing of commencement of various clinical trials and receipt of data and current and future collaborations for the development and commercialization of its product candidates, (2) the market for drugs to treat CNS diseases and pain conditions, (3) Newron's financial resources, and (4) assumptions underlying any such statements. In some cases, these statements and assumptions can be identified by the fact that they use words such as "will", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "project", "intend", "plan", "believe", "target", and other words and terms of similar meaning. All statements, other than historical facts, contained herein regarding Newron's strategy, goals, plans, future financial position, projected revenues and costs and prospects are forward-looking statements. By their very nature, such statements and assumptions involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that predictions, forecasts, projections and other outcomes described, assumed or implied therein will not be achieved. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set out in, contemplated by or underlying the forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors. These factors include (without limitation) (1) uncertainties in the discovery, development or marketing of products, including without limitation difficulties in enrolling clinical trials, negative results of clinical trials or research projects or unexpected side effects, (2) delay or inability in obtaining regulatory approvals or bringing products to market, (3) future market acceptance of products, (4) loss of or inability to obtain adequate protection for intellectual property rights, (5) inability to raise additional funds, (6) success of existing and entry into future collaborations and licensing agreements, (7) litigation, (8) loss of key executive or other employees, (9) adverse publicity and news coverage, and (10) competition, regulatory, legislative and judicial developments or changes in market and/or overall economic conditions. Newron may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in forward-looking statements and assumptions underlying any such statements may prove wrong. Investors should therefore not place undue reliance on them. There can be no assurance that actual results of Newron's research programs, development activities, commercialization plans, collaborations and operations will not differ materially from the expectations set out in such forward-looking statements or underlying assumptions. Newron does not undertake any obligation to publicly up-date or revise forward looking statements except as may be required by applicable regulations of the SIX Swiss Exchange where the shares of Newron are listed. This document does not contain or constitute an offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities of Newron and no part of it shall form the basis of or be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005584/en/ Contacts: Newron Stefan Weber CEO +39 02 6103 46 26 pr@newron.com UK/Europe Simon Conway Natalie Garland-Collins, FTI Consulting +44 20 3727 1000 SCnewron@fticonsulting.com Switzerland Martin Meier-Pfister, IRF +41 43 244 81 40 meier-pfister@irf-reputation.ch Germany/Europe Anne Hennecke, MC Services +49 211 52925222 anne.hennecke@mc-services.eu USA Paul Sagan, LaVoieHealthScience +1 617 374 8800, Ext. 112 psagan@lavoiehealthscience.com Horrific footage of dogs in agony after they were poisoned in a doomed attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus has emerged in Lebanon. The video of poisoned dogs foaming at the mouth appeared on social media after a report on Lebanese TV claimed that cats and dogs could transmit the virus. In fact, there is no evidence that pets can spread the virus to their owners, but animals have been found abandoned on the streets in the wake of the scare. Abandoned dogs are already a problem in the country, activists say, with as many as 50,000 of the animals on the streets. These dogs were filmed writhing in agony and foaming at the mouth after they were poisoned with pesticide after their owners feared they would spread coronavirus The two dogs in the video were allegedly poisoned by a woman living in Mount Lebanon, in a village called Mhaydseh, with a common pesticide called methomyl. The Saturday night report on MTV has been removed from social media since activists and animal experts dismissed its claims as bogus. MTV says the misleading claim was a 'spelling error'. 'MTV asked a doctor in Belgium about the cat who caught Covid-19 not even a vet who conveyed that pets can carry corona and contaminate people,' animal rights activist Paola Rebeiz told MailOnline from her home in Beirut. 'It led to murders and abandonments galore. 'So far it looks just like people are doing this, but we are hearing that municipalities are also rounding up strays to kill them.' Rebeiz's campaign since the report on MTV, to raise awareness and to try and stop the poisoning, is also supported by controversial blogger Gino Raidy. Raidy, who has a large Twitter following, says dog poisoning goes back before the MTV report but said the misleading claims were at the heart of the problem. 'People are scared,' he told MailOnline. 'TV [networks] here are sloppy... even though people count on them. 'Before, there were laws against animal cruelty, so if the cops would enforce them, then there would be no problem. 'But now there is a fierce backlash on line here against those doing the poisoning, which started way before the MTV report, as there were cases in several areas... people seem convinced [the dogs] are vectors'. The chief of MTV, Michel Murr, declined to respond to requests for a comment by MailOnline. The two dogs in the video were allegedly poisoned by a woman living in Mount Lebanon, in a village called Mhaydseh, with a common pesticide called methomyl Dogs were found in the streets in Lebanon in recent days, while cats were also found abandoned after the TV report mentioned an infected feline in Belgium Sevine Fakhoury of Beirut animal rights group BETA said: 'The dog video was a real shock. 'I immediately thought about the number of pet abandonment and the amount of work we would face in the future after the MTV report went out. 'Something we are never prepared for is the rise in numbers. The abandoned pets don't stand a chance on the streets as they are not used to fending for themselves.' There have been two reports of dogs being infected with coronavirus in Hong Kong, and one cat has been confirmed positive in Belgium. But health officials say that the pets were infected by humans, and there is no evidence of this happening the other way round. 'We do not have evidence that companion animals, including pets, can spread Covid-19,' says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The government in Lebanon is now trying to calm matters, with health workers driving around an upmarket Beirut neighbourhood with a megaphone declaring that cats and dogs do not spread the virus. However, it is feared that such measures are not being carried out around the country. These pictures of abandoned dogs were shared on social media in Lebanon in the wake of a televised claim that the animals could spread coronavirus Cats and dogs such as these were found abandoned in recent days, even though health experts say there is no evidence of pets transmitting the virus to humans A spokesman for MTV said the misleading report was the result of a 'spelling error' which was quickly corrected. 'While it is true that there was a spelling error in the teaser of the report which may have created this misunderstanding, MTV took immediate remedy and corrective measures,' the spokesman said. 'First, MTV removed the report from its website and social media platforms. Second, a push notification was sent immediately afterwards correcting the information and stating that the Head of the Veterinary Syndicate confirmed that animals do not transmit the virus. 'Furthermore, the correct info and statement by the Syndicate was published on our social media platforms simultaneously. 'In addition to the above, another report was broadcast the following day during our prime time news correcting all the ambiguity that resulted from the first report. 'We had also hosted via Skype the Head of the Veterinary Syndicate to confirm once again that animals do not transmit coronavirus to humans.' The network said it had also hosted the owner of one poisoned dog, who explained that 'the poisoning of the dog had nothing to do with the report'. MTV added that it 'has always been on the side [of] championing the cause of animal welfare'. People in Lebanon shared pictures of animals they found abandoned in recent days, a problem which activists say was already widespread One concerned person in Lebanon said they saw this dog 'roaming' by the side of a road in the capital Beirut Ghassan Hasbani, Lebanon's former deputy Prime Minister who also holds British nationality and is a dog owner, was also disturbed by the poisoned dogs video. 'Media has had a mixed approach to the issue, with some raising awareness about false news and others magnifying it out of ignorance. The media holds a big responsibility,' he told MailOnline. 'Animal protection laws do exist, but unfortunately they are not very specific about the definition of cruelty' he explains. 'As a dog owner, it is very sad to see such dependent and vulnerable creatures wondering the streets because of the ignorance of their owners about health hazards. 'Those who decide to have pets should know the extent of the responsibility they are taking. My family and I adopted a puppy who was saved by a shelter home from such a situation and I encourage all like-minded to do the same.' He added: 'No doubt that in aid priority, cats and dogs will fall quite low on the international community support list. 'Some families can no longer afford taking care of pets due to the economic situation. Pet food, vaccines and general upkeep are out of reach for many families. 'Add to that the current coronavirus outbreak which made people who already have a predisposition to being worries about let health hazards to abandon them'. Dogs in Lebanon were already being dumped as unwanted pets, not helped by protests which erupted last year and have strangled the economy. An animal rights group shared these pictures of poisons that have been used against animals as it warned careful owners to watch out Ghassan Hasbani (pictured), Lebanon's former deputy Prime Minister who also holds British nationality and is a dog owner, was also disturbed by the poisoned dogs video Alexandra Youssef (pictured), a volunteer at Animals Lebanon, said the country is in the midst of an economic meltdown which has fuelled a new wave of pet dumping BETA activist Fakhoury added: 'With the crisis of recent months, we've seen a decline of donations, so we're appealing to the international community for help. 'It's been quite hard seeing as we're being kicked out of our old shelter. It's also hard for us to draw cash from the bank due to the restrictions so we need 'fresh money'. Stories of dogs being shot in the face by owners bored of them are common and a video of a man kicking a cat 30ft high in the air went viral in 2017. Animal rights organisations regularly find dogs chained to balconies and exotic pets starving and suffering after they were bought on the black market. Past discoveries have included lions kept in playboy apartments and illegal puppy mills where owners have left the dogs to starve when they were tipped off about a raid. Some new laws have been passed targeting illegal pet shops and those who kept animals illegally. But pet dumping has rocketed since the October 17 protests which have led banks to freeze accounts, activists say. Lebanon now is in the midst of an economic meltdown, which has fuelled a new wave of pet dumping, explains activist Alexandra Youssef, a volunteer at Animals Lebanon who rescues birds. 'Sadly, people can't afford taking care of their pets anymore as all animal food suppliers doubled their prices since December and banks are holding peoples money' she says. 'Corona might have increased this by 10 per cent since people got health scares'. Jason Muir of Animals Lebanon recalled in an in interview with Annahar how people leaving the country would call and say 'come and take care of my dogs and cats otherwise I'm going to throw them on the street'. 'There are other people who have a barking dog, so they lock the dog to a balcony and then go and visit it each day,' he said. 'People often buy a dog but they don't want any of the problems associated with keeping it so they tie it up and just go and visit it.' Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh apprised his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar on Tuesday of arrangements being made by his government for the welfare of migrant workers in the state. "We are taking care of people from Bihar and other states and giving them food and ensuring daily wages to them from the industry," Singh told Kumar. He also asked the Bihar chief minister to assure the families of the migrant workers of their wellbeing. "Spoke to CM Bihar @NitishKumar ji to apprise him of arrangements being made by the State for the welfare of migrant labour from Bihar. Have asked him to assure their families that Punjab and Punjabis will fully look after them during the lockdown," Singh tweeted. Singh, who is monitoring the coronavirus and curfew-related situation on a day-to-day basis, has asked police and the civil administration to ensure all steps to protect and provide for the homeless and the migrant labourers stranded in Punjab due to the nationwide lockdown, a government statement issued here said. On Monday, he had appealed to migrant labourers in the state not to leave, assuring them that food and shelter would be provided. On Sunday, the state government had even asked all industrial units and brick kilns to commence operations, a move to prevent an exodus of migrant labourers. The state government has already issued an advisory to the state industry and commercial establishments, asking them not to terminate their work force or deduct wages. Notably, a sizeable number of labourers hailing from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and other states work in Punjab's industrial, construction and farm sectors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. A host of Indian corporates continued to support India's battle against the deadly coronavirus epidemic (COVID-19) on Tuesday with Bharti Enterprises committing over Rs 100 crore. In addition to the Rs 100 crore committed by Bharti Enterprises, its employees are making personal voluntary contributions towards the cause. Bharti companies will match the amount contributed by their employees, and the same will be contributed towards the COVID-19 initiatives."These are extremely challenging times as the world battles the biggest healthcare crisis of modern era in the form of COVID-19 epidemic," said Bharti Enterprises. "As a nation, our immediate priority is to collectively support the government efforts to mitigate the impact of this crisis," it said in a statement. A significant portion of the Rs 100 crore corpus will be immediately contributed to the PM-CARES Fund. The balance amount will be directed towards sourcing of masks, personal protective equipment and other key equipment for doctors, healthcare workers and essential services personnel who are at the forefront of this massive battle. Over a million N-95 masks are being procured and will be made available on an immediate basis, said Bharti Enterprises. Meanwhile, TVS Motor Company announced a contribution of Rs 5 crore towards Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to aid the battle against COVID-19. The contribution was made through Srinivasan Services Trust (SST), the CSR arm of TVS Motor Company. In addition to this, TVS Motor Company and its group companies have already pledged Rs 25 crore to the PM's Relief Fund (PM-CARES). Jindal Steel and Power has also made an immediate contribution of Rs 25 crore to PM-CARES Fund. A day earlier, Reliance Industries announced a donation of Rs 500 crore to the PM-CARES Fund to support the country's fight against COVID-19. It has also provided contributions of Rs 5 crore each to the Maharashtra and Gujarat state governments. India's first exclusive COVID-19 hospital was recently launched by Reliance Industries. India's largest private sector company has been providing one lakh masks daily for health workers and caregivers, thousands of personal protective equipment besides free fuel across the country to notified emergency response vehicles. Navaratna public sector mining company NMDC Ltd said it will contribute Rs 150 crore to the PM-CARES Fund to help in the fight against COVID-19. It is the biggest support yet offered by any public sector enterprise for the initiative, it said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This is the shocking moment a huge line of police officers were forced to disperse a little girl's birthday party in Los Angeles on Saturday. Footage from the incident taken in the Hyde Park area shows the group of around 40 revelers refusing to comply with social distancing rules. Law enforcement were forced to call for back up as the crowd became 'agitated', a source said. The LAPD said no arrests were made. Footage from the incident taken in the Hyde Park area shows the group of around 40 revelers refusing to comply with social distancing rules Saturday Law enforcement were forced to call for back up as the crowd became 'agitated' The video clip begins with groups of women and children shouting at officers, who have formed a line In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti has instituted a shutdown on a city of nearly 4 million people and threatened uncooperative business owners with power shutoffs and arrest. By midday Monday, California had more than 6,300 cases and 132 deaths of reported cases, according to a running list by Johns Hopkins University. The clip begins with groups of women and children shouting at officers, who have formed a line. Moving forward, the police shift the partygoers away from the scene. A huge line of police officers were forced to disperse a little girl's birthday party in Los Angeles on Saturday Moving forward, the police manage to shift the partygoers away from the scene The LAPD were forced to disperse the child's birthday party as part of the state's crackdown on large gatherings to stem the infection rate of the coronavirus sweeping across the US At one point a loud speaker is used to tell the crowds to disperse. Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti has assigned teams of city workers to ensure non-essential local businesses are complying with shut down orders. He is empowered to shut off their water and power if necessary, and the California Democrat has authorized the police to arrest those who continue to resist. Garcetti said there have been no shutoffs or arrests so far and predicts that '99 out of 100 will comply.' California is enlisting retired doctors and medical and nursing students to help treat an anticipated surge of coronavirus patients, the governor announced Monday. The community reportedly tried to justify their gathering by saying 'it's a kid's party' At some moments it looked like a riot was going to break out as the group refused to follow guidelines The California Health Corps effort comes as the nation's most populous state anticipates hospitals becoming overwhelmed with patients and while it is preparing stadiums and convention centers to handle a crush of cases. The announcement came as San Francisco and six surrounding counties said they would extend stay-at-home orders until May 1. Over the weekend, more people appeared to heed the message to stay home after beaches and many parks were closed by state and local officials following a swarm of visitors during the first weekend of the state's stay-at-home order. Still, people continued to crowd some of the open parks. On Sunday, the state expanded closures amid concerns people were not keeping a proper distance from one another. Parking lots at all state parks were closed, and the most popular places were closed to all activities. A surfer in Manhattan Beach south of Los Angeles was issued a citation that could carry at $1,000 fine for violating orders to stay off the beach. To help prepare for a wave of patients, National Guard troops set up beds in the sprawling Los Angeles Convention Center, converting it from a site that normally hosts meetings, trade shows and exhibitions into a field hospital. At one point a loud speaker was used to tell the crowds to disperse 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 Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough issued a shelter in place order for residents of a senior living facility in The Woodlands where 12 residents tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The new order comes just days after Keough issued a stay-at-home order for Montgomery County. The county logged 16 more cases of COVID-19 Monday but health officials also reported 11 people have now recovered. The Montgomery County Public Health District confirmed the new cases, bringing the countys total to 81. The Woodlands was continuing to report the most cases with 20. The Conservatory at Alden Bridge, at 6203 Alden Bridge Drive, is a senior living facility that offers apartment homes and offers residents services such as chauffeured transportation for scheduled trips to shopping, dining and medical appointments. The facility can house up to 237 residents and currently has a capacity of about 200. Because of the rise of the coronavirus in Montgomery County and more specifically in a senior living facility, the Conservatory at Alden Bridge, this afternoon I issued a shelter in place order, Keough said. This order was issued out of concern for the well-being of the local community as well as the high risk individuals who reside at the conservatory. According to the order, residents have until 6 p.m. Tuesday to leave to stay with a family member as long as they continue to shelter in place during the duration of the order. Those who leave the facility cannot return to the property until the order expires April 13. Additionally, the order prohibits anyone from entering the property unless it is to provide food service, caregivers, medical professionals, law enforcement or someone assisting a resident in leaving under the order. Officials with the senior facility did not respond for comment. The current Montgomery County case counts of COVID-19 virus are: The Woodlands, 20; Montgomery, 14; Conroe, 14; Spring, 13; Oak Ridge North, 8; Porter, four; Shenandoah, 4; Hockley, one; Pinehurst, one; Splendora, one; and Willis, one. For a complete list of all confirmed new coronavirus cases in Montgomery County, visit mcphd-tx.org/coronavirus-covid-19/confirmed-cases. cdominguez@hcnonline.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 20:28:11|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOSCOW, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Russia has registered a total of 2,337 cases of COVID-19 in 73 regions of the country as of Tuesday, including a daily record of 500 new cases in the last 24 hours, official data showed. The death toll rose to 17 after eight patients in four regions died of the disease, Russia's coronavirus response center said in a statement. So far, 121 people have recovered, including 55 in the last 24 hours, it said. Moscow remains the worst hit part of the country, with 387 new cases confirmed in the past 24 hours, raising the total number of infections to 1,613 in the Russian capital. To contain the spread of the coronavirus, President Vladimir Putin declared a week of paid leave for all citizens beginning on March 30. As of Tuesday morning, 32 of Russia's 85 regions have introduced mandatory self-isolation for all residents, and new regions are joining, Russian media reported. Also on Tuesday, the Russian Justice Ministry proposed a suspension on registering marriages and divorces until at least June 1. In cases where it is not possible to change the date, the registration should be carried out only in the presence of the new couple without any guests, it said in a statement. Another Pharmaceutical Company - Johnson & Johnson Using Aborted Fetal NEWS PROVIDED BY Children of God for Life March 31, 2020 CLEARWATER, Fla., March 31, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- For the second time in less than a week, Children of God for Life is calling out the pharmaceutical industry for the use of aborted fetal cell lines in potential Covid-19 vaccines. On March 25th, the organization exposed Moderna's use of the aborted fetal cell line HEK 293 and the morally produced version by Sanofi Pasteur. This time it's Janssen Pharmaceutical, owned by Johnson and Johnson, that is using their PER C6 Ad5 technology,(1) derived from an aborted baby's retinal tissue. Dr. Alex van der Eb revealed the information on this abortion at FDA hearings in 2001:(2) "So I isolated retina from a fetus, from a healthy fetus as far as could be seen, of 18 weeks old. There was nothing special with a family history or the pregnancy was completely normal up to the 18 weeks, and it turned out to be a socially indicated abortus abortus provocatus, and that was simply because the woman wanted to get rid of the fetus... what was written down was unknown father, and that was, in fact, the reason why the abortion was requested." Adding insult to injury, Dr. van der Eb went on to admit: "PER C6 was made just for pharmaceutical manufacturing of adenovirus vectors... And then pharmaceutical industry standard. I realize that this sounds a bit commercial, but PER C6 were made for that particular purpose." Not only are there moral problems with using aborted fetal cells, but the PER C6 Ad5 technology also has safety concerns that have been raised with the FDA as well. "Residual DNA in vaccines derived from tumorigenic cells, including those transformed by Ad5, can pose potential risks to the vaccine recipient in two respects: oncogenicity and infectivity. Each of these biological properties must be considered and evaluated for each cell substrate."(3) Vinnedge noted there is not one FDA-approved vaccine in the US using this cell line, though several did take interest when it was announced in 2001. One of those companies was Merck who tried the cell line in a new HIV vaccine but ended the project in 2007 when the vaccine proved to be ineffective.(4) "This is about as irresponsible as the industry can get," stated Debi Vinnedge, Executive Director of Children of God for Life. "We have a worldwide pandemic where millions of people are in need of treatment and prevention of disease. Yet Johnson and Johnson is choosing to produce a vaccine that a large number of people of good conscience will refuse due to the aborted fetal cells!"(5) In their own Code of Business Conduct, Johnson & Johnson states that "We believe acting ethically and responsibly is not only the right thing to do, but also the right thing to do for our business. Our Johnson & Johnson Code of Business Conduct ensures that we hold ourselves and how we do business to a high standard, allowing us to fulfill our obligations to the many stakeholders we serve." But their use of aborted fetal material in consumer medicines is far from the high ethical standards or concern for their customer whom they are claiming to serve. The irony of what they are doing in using aborted fetal cell lines is not lost to the casual observer. "How despicable that a company whose success was largely acquired from its' products for living babies is trying to capitalize on the remains of a deliberately murdered one," she added. To voice your concerns, contact: Johnson & Johnson Alex Gorsky, CEO One Johnson & Johnson Plaza New Brunswick, New Jersey 08933 (732) 524-0400 1 https://www.janssen.com/infectious-diseases-and-vaccines/patented-technologies 2 https://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170404095417/https:/www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ ac/01/transcripts/3750t1_01.pdf 3 https://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170405164637/https:/www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ ac/01/briefing/3750b1_01.htm 4 http://www.aidsmap.com/news/sep-2007/merck-hiv-vaccine-fails-trials-halted 5 https://www.jnj.com/johnson-johnson-announces-a-lead-vaccine-candidate-for-covid-19-landmark-newpartnership-with-u-s-department-of-health-human-services-and-commitment-to-supply-one-billion-vaccinesworldwide-for-emergency-pandemic-use SOURCE Children of God for Life CONTACT: Children of God for Life, 727-483-9251, info@cogforlife.org Related Links https://www.cogforlife.org The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Tuesday to prevent migration of people due to coronavirus and set up within 24 hours a portal for disseminating real time information on the pandemic to counter the panic being spread through fake "Panic will destroy more lives than the virus", the top court said and asked the Centre to get trained counsellors and community leaders of all faiths to calm down the migrants, who are kept in shelter homes across the country. It said these shelters should be run by volunteers and not the police, and there should be no use of force and intimidation. It asked the Centre to prevent migration of people and take care of their needs of food, shelter, nourishment and medical aid. The Centre told the apex court that the suggestion by a petitioner to sprinkle water and chemicals on migrants to sanitise them does not work scientifically and is not the right way. The top court, which refused to restrain high courts from taking up the issue of migrants, said they may monitor the issue more closely. It, however, asked the Centre to tell government lawyers to inform high courts about the orders passed by the apex court. A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and L Nageswara Rao, which took up two PILs on the issue of migration through video conference, asked the Centre to look into the letter petitions filed by Kerala MP from Kasaragod constituency Rajmohan Unnithan and one filed by an MP from West Bengal on the issues related to coronavirus. The bench adjourned the hearing on the PILs to April 7, asking the Centre to ensure that duties of managing the shelter homes are entrusted to volunteers and not to the police and there should not be any use of force or intimidation. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Centre said that migration of people cannot be allowed at this juncture as this would enable the spread of coronavirus. Referring to the last census, Mehta said there were about 4.14 crore persons who had migrated for work but backward migration is now happening due to coronavirus fears. He said the entire country was required to be locked so that people don't mix and can't meet each other and adhere to social distancing. "We are trying to ensure that no migration is permitted," he said, adding, "It would be risky for them and for the village populations. So far, rural India is unaffected by coronavirus but there is possibility of three out of 10 moving from cities to rural areas carrying the virus. Mehta said advisory has been issued to the states regarding complete prohibition of inter-state migration and as per the central control room, around 6,63,000 persons have been provided shelter so far. He said that over 22,88,000 persons are being provided food as these are needy persons, migrants and daily wagers who have reached somewhere but have been stopped and kept in shelters. The bench, initially observed "We will be passing an order that the portal for information will be set up in 24 hours. You will have to ensure that all those whose migration you have stopped are taken care of in terms of food, shelter, nourishment and medical aid. You will also follow up on those who you have identified as cases of COVID-19 and quarantined". Mehta told the court that government would shortly implement a system where panic of migrant workers would be addressed and they would also be offered counselling. "When will you set up the centres? Where are the counsellors coming from? Where will you get them from? Where will you send them?", the bench asked, adding, "This is not a definite statement". Mehta said trained counsellors of the district mental health programs would be sent to which the bench said, "There are 620 districts in India. How many counsellors do they have in total?" "We want to impress upon you that the panic will destroy more lives than the virus. You need counsellors," the bench said, adding, "You can have 'Bhajan, Kirtan, Namaz' or whatever but you have to give strength to the people." Mehta said the authorities would mobilise religious leaders to counsel the migrants in shelters so that they could stay calm and added, I am making a statement here that within 24 hours, we will mobilise trained counsellors and religious leaders". The bench told Mehta that community leaders belonging to all faiths should be involved in the process so that panic could be prevented. Mehta told the bench that a petition has been filed in the Kerala High Court regarding migration and since the top court is seized of the issue, the other courts should not deal with it. "In this kind of situation, we should not stop the high courts from hearing these matters. High Courts may be able to monitor closely," the bench said, and asked Mehta to instruct government lawyers to inform all the high courts about the orders passed by the top court in the matter. The bench, while referring to two other petitions filed before it by Parliamentarians from Kerala and West Bengal on issues related to coronavirus, asked Mehta to look into them and said there may be some good suggestions. Regarding the shelters where these migrant workers have been kept, the bench said that authorities should entrust duties of managing them to volunteers and not to police. "You ensure that you bring volunteers. There should not be use of force or intimidation," the bench said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 Cement to sugar Dalmia Bharat Group on Tuesday announced a Rs 25 crore contribution to the PM-CARES Fund to fight the coronavirus pandemic. "Both the Centre and state governments have done an exceptional job to contain the outbreak of COVID-19 in India. We are doing our duty by making a contribution of Rs 25 crore to the PM-CARES Fund and will wholeheartedly do everything to support our PM and state CMs in their efforts to fight this virus," Dalmia Bharat Group Managing Director Puneet Dalmia said in a statement. As part of relief measures, the group is also providing ration, grocery and accommodation to all the contractual labourers who are stuck due to the nationwide lockdown and stoppage of all transportation. Further, the group has committed the use of playgrounds, guest houses and technical centres across all plants to the local authorities for using them as facilities for tackling COVID-19 cases. The canteens of the Dalmia Bharat factories across India are also being used to prepare food for local distribution in the regions. Over 100 food packets are being provided twice every day to the local municipalities and police to be distributed among the needy and homeless near all the plant locations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The first teleconference of the ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group on Public Health Emergencies was held on March 31 under the chair of Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung, head of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting Vietnam. Participants share information about the situation in ASEAN member states as well as the implementation of measures in each country since the outbreak of the pandemic. (Source: ThegioiVietnam) The group was set up upon a proposal by Vietnam, the ASEAN Chair 2020, with a view to promoting cooperation in the ASEAN Community to cope with the complicated developments of the COVID-19. Participants shared information about the situation in ASEAN member states as well as the implementation of measures in each country since the outbreak of the pandemic. They agreed to recommend the ASEAN Coordinating Council at the foreign ministerial level adopt specific actions to mobilise the overall strength of the ASEAN Community to curbing the spread of the pandemic and mitigating its impact on the socio-economic life of the member countries. ASEAN countries agreed to step up information and experience exchanges in the bloc and increase cooperation with partners in preventing infections and providing treatment for COVID-19 cases. They also pledged to work together to ensure safety for medical workers who are on the front line in the battle, while maintaining the supply of essential goods for the people and preventing fake news. ASEAN will also intensify coordination to implement policies and measures assisting businesses, especially micro, small and medium enterprises, and vulnerable groups in the society. Member states pledged to maintain the opening of market, facilitate goods and trade exchanges, and ensure social welfares for the people. A teleconference of the ASEAN Senior Officals Meeting on preventing and combating COVID-19 is scheduled for early April this year. Founded in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups 10 member countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam./.VNA The Rajasthan government has decided to extend the services of medical and health department employees, who were to retire in the next six months, in view of the coronavirus crisis. Retirement of physicians, para-medical personnel, who were to retire from this month i.e. Tuesday, 31 March to 31 August, has been extended further. They have been given service extension ranging from one month to six months, as per an order released on Tuesday. The services of the employees of the Medical and Health Department, who were to retire on Tuesday, have been extended for six months till August 31. At the same time, a month's extension of service has been given to the personnel who were to retire in August, the order said. The Medical and Health Department issued an order to this effect on Tuesday after the approval from the Finance Department. The approval states that this initiative has been taken in view of the transition of COVID-19 in the state. The number of people infected with coronavirus in Rajasthan rose to 93 on Tuesday, out of which 17 people are those who were brought from Iran to Jodhpur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Against the backdrop of COVID-19 and in an effort to have total compliance with the directive given by the Kano state government, of boundary closure which started from Friday 27th March, by 12 midnight, governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was in boundary town linking Kano state and Kaduna state, Monday, where he caught defaulters who defied the directive and were coming to Kano state. The defaulters caught were in separate trips in 9 different types of vehicles. There were 2 Tippers, 2 Trucks, Two Buses and 1 Coaster car. They were all sighted at different locations of the road coming to Kano, defying all orders given by the state government. They were forced to turn back to where they were coming from. He ordered for the immediate arrest of all of them. Which he also ordered for their prosecution. Asking one of the drivers of the trucks with a very frowning face, showing how unhappy he was (Ganduje), after given directive and some unpatriotic ones decided to default order, he said Where are you coming from with these people? Who asked you to bring them here? Arent you not aware that such kind movement is banned! While talking to journalists after inspecting the scenario he said We are here to see how people are complying with the directive we gave for boundary closure. Those that you are seeing are from Madallah in Abuja. They were not screened to ascertain their health condition. And more so, there is directive banning all such movement. He was visibly angry over the defaulters behaviour, adding that, These people you are seeing will all be taken to Police stations and they will be prosecuted for such unpatriotic behaviour. He disclosed that they were using smaller routes when approaching blocked areas. They then pass all the check points either by foot or on motorcycles and later join the vehicles conveying them from their places. All vehicles would now pass empty. We didnt tell the security agents to allow empty vehicles passing, he queried. He assured that more security personnel would be deployed to all the affected routes linking the state with other states, not only from Kaduna-Abuja axis. According to tips from the Federal Trade Commission, people need to be cautious about donating to charitable causes or crowdfunding websites, research where the money is going and how it will be used and pay attention to how the charity is requesting the donations. Photo credit: Jason Bell From ELLE Spoilers for Outlander Season 5 Episode 7, "The Ballad of Roger Mac," below. "It's been a while since we've had a good death on Outlander," Duncan Lacroix declares when I ask how he feels about his character's demise. "Not since Lotte's character [Geillis Duncan] in season 3no one that's been on the show that long." Fans won't share his sentiment. Lacroix's Murtagh Fitzgibbons is an Outlander stalwart, Jamie Fraser's (Sam Heughan) loyal godfather and one of the few people who knows the truth about Claire's (Caitriona Balfe) time-traveling past. The character's death is a rare surprise for a show based on a book series; on the page, Murtagh died in Scotland decades earlier, but the show resurrected him for a compelling storyline set in the Americas. Predictably, social media reacted to last night's episode with overwhelming grief, especially combined with the evident loss of Richard Rankin's Roger. But Lacroix has no regrets about saying goodbye to the character: "It felt like the right timing." Outlander, though famously escapist television, plunged viewers into an hour of anguish with "The Ballad of Roger Mac," starting with Governor Tryon's (Tim Downie) order that Jamie adopt a British red coat for battle against the Regulatorsa group of rebels for which Murtagh is a leader with a price on his head. Jamie, torn between his allegiance to his godfather and securing his family's home under British rule, watches helplessly as Murtagh succumbs to a bullet. He has just moments to grieve before he's off in search of his missing son-in-law, Roger, who appears to have been hanged by a group of angry Regulators in the show's final moments. "It's probably a bit unfortunate timing," Lacroix acknowledges of the episode airing in the midst of a global pandemic, but jokes that the curmudgeonly Murtagh would "love social distancing." Story continues Below, Lacroix discusses his last day on set, taking Murtagh beyond the books, and why he's not participating in the Outlander virtual cake bake-off. Tell me about shooting the goodbye scene with Sam. I was told it's from the bookJamie's remembrance of what Murtagh said to him at Culloden. So even though we went against Diana's books and kept him alive, we kept the essence of his death and just postponed it. It was a weird day. Usually I'm not that emotional, but for the first time I kind of separated myself from Murtagh and felt really, really bad for him. [Laughs] And the fake blood we had was like strawberry jam, so it pretty much attracted an entire wasps' nest to my chestme and Sam were waving around through wasps. In fact, we ended up filming it twice because there were problems with the way it was cut, and we filmed the death scene under the tree again, in the winter time. Photo credit: Aimee Spinks So you shot it and thought you were done with it, then had to go back and re-shoot it? Yeah. [The first time we shot it], I still had stuff to do [after the death scene] which was weird. But the scene with me lying on the triage table was the very last thing we did in terms of pickup shots at the end. It was nice that the final thing I had to do was be dead. Those scenes are devastating. Well, you've got the funeral to come yet. Maria [Doyle Kennedy] sings a song, an old classic Scottish folk song. It's one of the most haunting things I've heard. It made me blab a bit when she played it to me. How did you feel about that relationship with Jocasta, a storyline that also doesnt appear in the books? That was an amazing scene to go out on with her in episode 6. It was well-written, and working with someone of Maria's caliber is incredible. It was a really quiet set, and the scene just intensified [as we shot] that whole day. There were so many tragic things about Murtagh this season; I had four or five scenes that are tearjerkers. When he said goodbye to Jamie at the end of episode 1, and then the Jocasta scene and the death scene. His whole journey ended up tragic, but it's fitting he got to go out on his shield, saving Jamie. I'm happy that happened. Photo credit: Aimee Spinks That Jocasta scene really underscores that hes secretly a romantic. Hes always been a romantic! [Laughs] From day one! But the characters so gruff! Gruffly romantic! It was mentioned to me before that they were surprised he was able to say, "I love you," but I didn't feel that way when I was playing that. I think once he knows what he's doing, he's quite direct. He doesn't lie, he doesn't play games, but it does take him an awful long time. I think that's why he probably lost Ellen, his first love. He's a shy, shy guy, at least around the ladies. [Laughs] Was there anything not in the script that made it into the final cut of this episode? We try and improvise, but were never allowed. The scripts supervisor comes up and smacks us around the back of the head. I always manage to get a few takes, and then pass it off as if I don't remember my lines, but eventually you have to stick to the script. Aging hasnt changed Murtaghs reckless nature. Why do you think that is? I think the horror of Culloden and the years in indentured servitude made him more reckless than he was before. You see it in his first two seasons: he's not a politically motivated man. He just wanted Jamie to get away from Culloden and he wanted to kill Prince Charlie and get it over and done with. But now, after the entire Highland way of life was decimated and his home and Jamie were ripped away from him, he became embittered and hardened and found solace in fighting back any way he could. He has always had a sense of injustice. Photo credit: Mark Mainz You knew Murtagh was coming back after season 3, right? We knew before season 3 that he was going to come back. There were various storieshe was going to turn up in Jamaica, leading a slave rebellion. Some weird drugged-up Murtagh hallucinating. It was like a Colonel Kurtz Apocalypse Now scenario. It was a great story. Whats your favorite memory from the last six and a half years of shooting? Season 1 was special because we were all thrown together and didn't know how successful the show was going to be. For a lot of us, it was the first big American show with all that money behind it. We all got on so wellI've got lifelong friends now with Graham [McTavish], Sam, and Caitriona, all of them. This is production designer Jon Gary Steeles final season. Do you have a favorite set of his? The Paris apartment in season 2. The whole thing was built two or three stories [high, with] a courtyard. I like getting space between scenes, but you would walk into another room of the apartment, and you're still in the 18th century. There was a scene where I was discussing something with Jamie and I'm on this chaise lounge, and [the audience] would never be able to see it from the camera angle, but the entire ceiling was this ornate mosaic. The attention to detail that man brings is insane. Will you be taking part in the Outlander stay-at-home baking challenge? I'm ignoring it, in case they ask me. I have no idea how to bake anything. I can show people how to do beans on toast. Or maybe I'll spend my one allotted trip to the shops to buy a Sara Lee and bring it back and pretend I did it. Just have the box sitting in the background somewhere. What did Sam make? Yeah, I find that very hard to believe. Did they film him actually making it? No. Then I call BS on that one. You Might Also Like 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. Gun shop owners will fight the decision to suspend the sale of guns and ammunition in Victoria following a spike in weapon registrations in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. An association representing up to two dozen Melbourne gun dealers is preparing a legal challenge against the ban which they say could financially devastate the families of hundreds of firearms traders. Police Minister Lisa Neville on Tuesday. Credit:AAP On Monday Victoria Police, with the backing of the Andrews government, temporarily banned the sale of weapons to recreational shooters, who make up a large proportion of the market. Police said there had been a spike in firearm applications and stockpiling of weapons this month. Gun dealers strongly disputed the police's claims and say the surge in demand was caused by shooters buying products before a 15 per cent price rise on many firearm products that was due to kick in on April 1, caused by the drop in the value of the Australian dollar compared with the US dollar. By Akbar Mammadov The Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published a statement on the illegal elections held on 31 March 2020 in the occupied Azerbaijani territories by Armenia. Below is the text of the statement. Against the background of continuing military occupation and ethnic cleansing of the territories of Azerbaijan by Armenia, the holding of elections in the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan constitutes a clear violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the norms and principles of international law, including the UN Charter, CSCE Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and the related UN Security Council Resolutions and, therefore, shall have no legal effect whatsoever. The illegal regime established by the Republic of Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is ultimately nothing other than the product of aggression, ethnic cleansing and racial discrimination; it is under Armenias direction and control. The international community has consistently deplored in the strongest terms the use of military force against Azerbaijan and the resulting occupation of its territories. In 1993, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolutions 822 (1993), 853 (1993), 874 (1993) and 884 (1993), condemning the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan and reaffirming respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the inviolability of its internationally recognized borders. In those resolutions, the Security Council also confirmed that the Nagorno-Karabakh region is an integral part of Azerbaijan, and demanded the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian occupying forces from all the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Other international organizations have adopted a similar position. Accordingly, the international community has unequivocally and consistently rejected the previous elections shows orchestrated by the Republic of Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, and thus, clearly invalidated whatever pretexts that Armenia cynically uses to justify its overt disrespect to international law, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the human rights of the expelled population of the occupied territories. Elections in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan may be held only within the Constitutional framework of the Republic of Azerbaijan and full participation of the entire population of the region. Any election will be possible only after the withdrawal of the Armenian occupying forces, return of the expelled Azerbaijani population to their places of origin, and restoration of dialogue and cooperation between the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of the region. The Ministry reiterates that resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is possible only on the basis of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders. The military occupation of the territory of Azerbaijan does not represent a solution and any attempt to impose fait accompli, including through organizing sham elections will never produce a political outcome desired by Armenia, nor will it bring any positive perspective for this country. Azerbaijan will never reconcile with the occupation of its internationally recognized territories. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Jennifer Adams, a registered nurse, joins fellow healthcare workers outside UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center to call for further action from the federal government's in reaction to the Covid 19 outbreak. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) While Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an urgent call Monday for retired healthcare workers and students nearing graduation to join in caring for an expected surge of coronavirus patients, officials scrambled to contain a rash of outbreaks in nursing homes and find space for thousands of new hospital beds. Authorities in Los Angeles County moved to isolate and quarantine patients at 11 assisted living facilities, up from just three on Friday. And nine employees and two patients tested positive at the 780-bed Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in San Francisco, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to send physicians and epidemiologists to manage a potentially devastating outbreak of COVID-19. Los Angeles County officials listed seven additional deaths from the virus Monday, bringing the total to 44. Six of the seven new victims were 65 or older; the other was between the ages of 41 and 65. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer tallied an additional 342 cases of the virus, bringing the total to 2,474 in the county, including people who have recovered. She said more than 15,500 people have been tested for the novel coronavirus in the county, with 12% showing positive. To prevent the spread of the virus within its ranks, the Los Angeles Police Department announced it was taking officers' temperatures as they arrived at shifts and sending anyone with a fever home. So far, 26 employees have tested positive. We are taking every step to ensure officers health, Assistant Chief Horace Frank said. Department roll calls are now conducted with officers spaced far apart, work spaces are frequently sanitized and officers are equipped with N-95 masks, gloves and goggles to use in the field. Hospitals continue to be the battlefront most in need of reinforcements. Newsom announced an executive order to expand the services medical professionals can perform in their jobs. He said he believes the state can add 37,000 healthcare workers by asking recently retired providers, those in the process of getting a medical license in the state and students enrolled in medical or nursing schools to apply to the newly created California Health Corps. Story continues Newsoms message to anyone with healthcare experience was clear Monday: We need you. The executive order allows the state Department of Consumer Affairs to waive licensing requirements and change the scope of practice of healthcare professions through June 30. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a similar effort last week calling on retired healthcare workers, medical students and mental health workers to sign up to help care for patients, with that initiative drawing 40,000 volunteers. Newsom said Monday he is hopeful that with this effort we will see a surge of individuals who can help in California. Other states have issued more specific executive orders regarding extension of license expirations and expanded scope of practice for clinical staff, said Joanne Spetz, an associate director of research at Healthforce Center at UC San Francisco, which produces supply and demand forecasts on registered nurses in the state. Until we have more details on which specific requirements are waived by the state agencies, its hard to say how much of an impact the executive order will have. Over the past four days, the number of intensive care patients in the state has tripled from 200 to 597 and the number of hospitalizations has nearly doubled, from 746 to 1,432. The confirmed cases climbed to more than 6,400 and deaths to 142. Dr. Mark Ghaly, Californias secretary of health and human services, said modeling suggests the state will need 50,000 new hospital beds by mid-May. We project that we will need that towards the second half of the month of May, Ghaly said. So we are very busy trying to build towards that. Newsom said the Army Corps of Engineers is looking at several sites to house 50,000 new beds. On Sunday, the Navy hospital ship Mercy, which is docked at the Port of Los Angeles, began receiving patients who do not have COVID-19 in an effort to reduce the strain on hospitals treating those who do have the virus. In San Mateo County, the National Guard was preparing to set up medical cots and equipment at the San Mateo Event Center. The federal treatment site will be able to house 250 patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms. The latest projections estimate that a medical surge could push the hospitals in our county to capacity and well need another location to house patients requiring particular levels of care, County Manager Mike Callagy said. We cant just wait to see if this will happen. The catastrophic potential is already showing itself in nursing homes, where COVID-19 outbreaks are occurring with terrifying speed across the country. One of the first hot spots in the U.S. was at the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland, Wash., where two-thirds of the residents and 47 workers fell ill, and 37 people died. Los Angeles County released the names of all 11 care homes with outbreaks, including Kensington Assisted Living in Redondo Beach, Alameda Care Center in Burbank and Silverado Beverly Place in Los Angeles. The county defines an outbreak as three or more cases involving residents or staff at a facility. The countys Department of Public Health was also investigating reports of at least one suspected coronavirus infection at seven additional nursing homes as of Monday afternoon. One concern for nursing home administrators and physicians is guidance from federal and some state regulators to accept new residents and those returning from hospitals without proof that they are virus-free. Families with loved ones in nursing homes should seriously consider pulling them out if its at all feasible to care for them at home, said Charlene Harrington, professor emeritus at UC San Franciscos School of Nursing. The risk of exposure is so overwhelming, said Harrington, who has studied nursing homes since the 1980s. Its a terrible concern. Times staff writers Joe Mozingo, Harriet Ryan, Richard Winton, Hannah Fry, Alex Wigglesworth, Taryn Luna, Jaclyn Cosgrove and Laura Newberry contributed to this report. 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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 Seven people tested positive for coronavrius in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday with the total number rising to 74 and at least 32 confirmed cases having links to a recent religious congregation held in Delhi's Nizamuddin West. The state government said efforts were afoot to 'isolate' all the participants of the conference from Tamil Nadu soon to stem the further spread of the contagion. "We are of the view that further spread (of the virus) in Tamil Nadu can be prevented only if this group is completely isolated," Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary K Shanmugam told reporters here. Of the approximately 1,500 people who took part in the meet in Delhi, 1,131 have returned, about 800 were traced and 300 could not be found so far and the rest were quarantined by authorities in Delhi, he said. "Efforts are afoot to identify and isolate them (about 300 people) completely within the next two to three days," he said. A day after Chief Minister K Palaniswami said a number of people from Tamil Nadu -part of a group of about 1,500 people- who had been to Delhi recently to attend a meet were infected, the government said that of the seven fresh cases, five men had a travel history to the national capital. Asked if the five were part of the Tamil Nadu group that attended a religious congregation in Delhi, an official replied in the affirmative. Tablighi Jamaat had held a conference in Delhi recently As many as 14 people form Erode, who attended the Delhi meet, had tested positive, besides the five men. Totally, at least 32 positive cases in Tamil Nadu, including the two Thailand nationals now being treated at the IRT Perundurai Medical College Hospital have links to the Delhi conference, the official added. Of the five men wo tested positive on Tuesday, three were from Villupuram and two from Madurai and they have been admitted to the government medical college hospitals in their respective districts. On the spike in numbers, Palaniswami had said: "A big group of about 1,500 persons had been to Delhi and several from that group are infected. Of the 1,500 people, 981 have come back and we are testing all of them and it is the reason for the jump in numbers." The other two are a 43-year old man from suburban Pozhichalur with a travel history to Tiruvananthapuram and a 28-year old Tiruvannamalai based man. While they have been admitted to government hospitals in Chennai and Tiruvannamalai respectively, they had contacts with people who had earlier tested positive. "All the patients are stable and are in hospital isolation," the government said. Palaniswami, meanwhile, ordered extension of service of doctors, nurses, and other related medical personnel who were due to retire today, for two more months under contract. The government said that as part of active surveillance, 3,96,147 people in 1,08,677 houses were surveyed in 12 districts for fever and other symptoms by over 2,000 field personnel. The districts include Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Ranipet, Salem, Virudhunagar and Erode where people who tested positive for coronavirus live. The active surveillance is on in both the containment (five kilometers around the residences of those infected) and buffer zones (an additional two kilometer radius transending the containment area) to ascertain those with symptoms like fever. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police have arrested five people in "dramatic" scenes at Leichhardt and Fairfield West where more than 200 kilograms of cocaine was allegedly found in a wardrobe following a 12-month investigation. Police will allege in court that the four men and one woman arrested were "key members" of an organised crime syndicate dealing cocaine across Australia's east coast, the State Crime Command's Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said. "It's a significant seizure in NSW," Mr Smith said. One of the five people charged over the alleged supply of cocaine. Credit:Police Media On Monday afternoon, police pulled over 39-year-old Julian Lee on James Street in Leichhardt. Police will allege investigators seized what is believed to be 1.1 kilograms of cocaine labelled with a Playboy motif from the late-model Range Rover Mr Lee was driving. 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. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The coronavirus pandemic is causing the world to realize just how fragile life can be. More than ever, people need to hear that God is good and offers us salvation through Jesus. As Christians, we have a unique opportunity to glorify God as we serve our neighbors. Through the ages, amazing things have occurred during difficult times. The story of C.S. Lewis writing the classic book Mere Christianity is one of those. In the book, C. S. Lewis at War The Dramatic Story Behind Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis and Paul McCusker describe how the book was created through a series of radio broadcasts that happened due to the adversity that Britain faced during World War II. The authors describe how this occurred: "Day-to-day living was immensely difficult. Children were evacuated from London and sent to other parts of the country. (Lewis himself took in a few). It was a time of strain, heartbreak, and weariness. A visionary in the BBCs religious department James Welch passionately believed Christianity should be meaningful and relevant to the British people in this hour of need. Looking for new and diverse ways to present programs that explored Christian ideas, he contacted the Oxford tutor, lecturer, and writer C. S. Lewis. Reluctant at first, Lewis finally agreed to make a case for a moral law, drawn from common human experience that he believed was essential as a foundation for faith in Christ. Lewis presented his thoughts in a series of Broadcast Talks that were later gathered together and published as Mere Christianity." Because of this devastating war, Mere Christianity was written, and over 3.5 million people have benefited from this book. This small book, written during a very difficult time, has changed many peoples lives. Dan DeWitt writes, that Mere Christianity is "the book that crushed a political hatchet man, led a world-renowned scientist to faith, and robbed a prideful entrepreneur of billions of dollars. The politician was Chuck Colson of the famed Watergate scandal; the scientist was Francis Collins, nominated by President Obama as director of the National Institutes of Health; and the businessman was Thomas Monaghan founder of Dominos Pizza." Charles Colson, President Nixon's right-hand man who went to jail over Watergate, became a Christian from reading a passage about pride in Mere Christianity. Colson self-described himself as a "hatchet man" and kept an enemy list of politicians, journalists, and activists who he perceived as threats to the White House. He boasted that he would "walk over my own grandmother" to ensure the reelection of President Nixon. After his conversion to Christ, he went on to establish a worldwide prison fellowship ministry. A PBS article describes how Francis Collins led the effort to decode human DNA, along the way developing a revolutionary method of screening genes for disease. Yet according to this widely respected scientist, the newfound power to "read our own instruction book" was no obstacle to faith in the existence of God. He converted from atheism to Christianity in his twenties after seeing how radically his patients' faith transformed their experience of suffering, and after reading several works by C.S. Lewis including Mere Christianity. Some 30 years later, he stands by his convictions, positioning science not as a substitute for theology, but as a subset of it. Thomas Monahan, also convicted about pride from reading Mere Christianity, divested himself of many possessions including the Detroit Tigers, a lavish office and a large mansion that was being built. He instead pledged to give away over $451 million. These are amazing stories that resulted from C.S. Lewis being faithful to his calling and writing Mere Christianity. How about you? What is God calling you to do at work and home during this difficult time for so many people around the world? Perhaps it is praying for your neighbors and checking in to see if they have what they need at home. Or maybe it is setting up a small group online to have a virtual Bible study. Or perhaps it is modeling for your children how God takes away our fears as we trust in Him. C.S. Lewis' story is just one example of the great influence that can come from living a Christian life amid difficulties like the coronavirus. You can model and explain to others the reasons to trust in God as the world panics. Like C.S. Lewis, you never know how small actions of service can have a ripple effect on others. This may be one of those moments in your life where God is calling you for such a time as this. As you focus on helping to meet others needs, you will find joy and God will be saying to you well done good and faithful servant. Stay safe, wash your hands often and don't forget that we have a great God who can use whatever circumstances that we are in for His glory. ___________________________ For those of you who have more time at home because of the coronavirus, we encourage you to reflect on your current work. If you determine that you should make a career change or you have been laid off, we invite you to use the following resources: Free career planning and job search advice Christian career counseling and career testing Resume writing Job search assistance Article copyright by Kevin and Kay Marie Brennfleck, ChurchJobsOnline.com and ChristianCareerCenter.com. All rights reserved. The above information is intended for personal use only. No commercial use of this information is authorized without written permission. The candle to help you unwind. (Yahoo Style UK) Yahoo Lifestyle is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. Creating an atmosphere of calm and serenity has never felt more important than now. With the coronavirus pandemic keeping us all in lockdown, children to homeschool, work schedules to adjust and family members to FaceTime, we all deserve the chance to switch-off and relax. We might not all have a space where we can shut ourselves away for a precious moment of calm, but todays small buy of the day will bring the serenity to you. Neom Organics believe that wellness starts with the little moments, and so how fitting it is then that their de-stress candle does just that. The Neom Scent has been specially formulated with natural fragrance which not only smells wonderful but also has a deeply calming effect on the mind and body. Its a complex, indulgent blend of 24 of the purest possible essential oils including lavender, jasmine and Brazilian rosewood, all expertly blended to help you banish stress with ease. Buy it: Neom Organics London Real Luxury Travel Scented Candle | 16 from John Lewis Its not uncommon for luxury candles to cost in the region of 40, so 16 to fill your home with this uplifting scent for 20 hours is perhaps one of the best bargains weve come across all week. Our top tip? To take the relaxation up a notch we recommend dimming the lights and adding your favourite mellow playlist or a dreamy romance novel that takes place on exotic foreign shores. Burning these candles creates a glowing feeling of wellbeing, one well-rested customer wrote, while another commented: A gorgeous perfume and lovely and relaxing. Bought the small version to try will now get larger one. If you really feel like treating yourself or just cant put a price on the bliss that a delicious candle brings, then splash out on this Three-Wick Neom Organics London Tranquility Scented Candle. Story continues This tranquil fragrance is a complex blend of 19 of the purest possible essential oils including English lavender, sweet basil and jasmine, all expertly blended to help you relax and prepare for sleep. This could be the most expensive year yet for farm aid from President Donald Trump. The administration for the third year in a row will infuse an unprecedented amount of money into the farm economy after Congress authorized more than $23 billion as part of the just-enacted stimulus package to blunt the economic harm caused by the coronavirus pandemic. And once again, the Agriculture Department has broad discretion to decide how to divide up the funds among farmers a constituency the president has gone to great lengths to sustain support from throughout his term. Congress was under pressure to pass a relief package quickly last week as the economy reeled, and there is concern that payouts from the latest aid package could be motivated by the strongest lobbying forces rather than by the most in need. Trumps two trade bailouts in 2018 and 2019 totaled about $14 billion and $16 billion, respectively. Some Democrats and advocates of underserved farmers have criticized that program for disproportionately benefiting large and wealthier operations and some corporations like meatpacking giant JBS USA. They worry that history is about to repeat itself. There is no historical comparison for what the administration did in 2018 and 2019, Jonathan Coppess, who directs the agricultural policy program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said in reference to the size of the trade-related bailouts. You add the economic fallout from Covid-19, and we really dont have anything comparable. Prior to the Great Depression, these programs didnt even exist. What the numbers show In the latest legislation, groups including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Corn Growers Association and United Fresh Produce Association pressed Congress to make sure their industries were eligible for USDA's newly created $9.5 billion coronavirus emergency response fund. Congress also restored $14 billion to a Depression-era financial institution known as the Commodity Credit Corporation, which the administration used to fund its trade aid programs. There are few restraints on how the secretary of Agriculture can dole out money from the CCC, except for a $30 billion annual borrowing cap that USDA could have breached without the new infusion of money from the latest bill. Story continues Some of the direct harm to farmers' bottom lines from the pandemic is obvious. The volatility in the commodity markets has depressed the price of corn, dairy products and cattle. Farmers who rely on large orders of their fresh fruits, vegetables and specialty goods from local and regional food systems, such as schools and restaurants, are watching those customers dry up. However, a spike in demand for bread and pasta products has lifted wheat futures. Meat processors like Tyson Foods are seeing record sales, prompting the company to pay ranchers a one-time premium, Reuters reported. Senate Agriculture ranking member Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) is among the lawmakers who worry the latest aid package will again reflect regional disparities that her office analyzed in the trade relief programs. A spokesperson for Stabenow told POLITICO that because of the concerns about the equitable distribution of money, the senator fought to ensure sectors that have been shorted in the past such as dairy, fresh produce, nuts and local food are eligible for the coronavirus response money. Well be monitoring implementation to hold USDA accountable to distributing aid fairly and encourage USDA to follow the bipartisan payment limits set by the farm bill, the spokesperson said. The new relief package does set aside $750,000 for USDAs inspector general to investigate how the funds were spent, but Congress did not request any specific inquiry or remedy. Lawmakers also did not direct USDA to apply any income limits in the latest relief package. Stabenow's spokesperson said the senator would encourage the USDA to use restrictions in the farm bill, which are set at $125,000 a year per farmer or business as long as they dont earn more than $900,000 in annual adjusted gross income. Last year, however, Congress expanded those limits for the trade relief package, allowing them to be waived entirely if at least 75 percent of a farmer's income is from agriculture or forestry-related activities. A review of trade aid by the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit group that has long criticized many farm subsidies, found that overall, the top 1 percent of recipients collected 13 percent of all payments. Scott Faber, EWGs senior vice president for government affairs, said USDA should make sure that only farmers who have been financially harmed because they lost money from declining sales or prices due to the pandemic should be compensated under the coronavirus stimulus fund. This is important, because we dont want to funnel money only to the most successful farmers, he said in an interview. That could prove challenging, said Joseph Glauber, senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute, and former USDA chief economist. Both the 2018 and 2019 [market facilitation] programs were ostensibly designed to reflect trade damages suffered because of the China tariffs. But with the phase one deal, that rationale no longer is relevant," Glauber said, referring to the partial agreement that the U.S. and China signed in February. "I am not sure how you would separate out price impacts from Covid-19 versus other market factors. My guess is that the distribution and amounts will look a lot like 2019, Glauber added. Election year politics at play There are some indications that the relief money will flow to some previously ignored sectors of the food economy. The coronavirus stimulus package is the first time that the local and regional food markets are being explicitly recognized in a disaster relief fund, said Ferd Hoefner, senior strategic adviser at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. The organization last week highlighted research estimating $1.3 billion in economic losses to those markets between March and May of this year. The vast majority, or 85 percent, of farms supplying them are small, while one in four have recently entered the business, USDA data shows. Before Congress passed the stimulus, the United Fresh Produce Association had requested more than $6 billion in aid to make up for lost sales and outstanding expenditures that food service distributors owe growers and shippers, as well as boost a federal program allowing schools to buy fresh produce. Still, political considerations may still be at play in an election year, even as Trump has maintained widespread support from farm country despite his drawn out trade wars with China, Mexico, Canada and other countries that led to retaliation against U.S. farm exports. In January, the president got an 83 percent approval rating in a poll of more than 1,200 producers by the trade publication Farm Journal. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue recently said the administration wont offer any more trade aid this year because it was meant to offset disruptions in relations with China and other major buyers not intended to be a commodity price support program. But the president has tweeted several times this year that he may roll out another round of assistance to farmers hurt by trade. Glauber noted that combined, the coronavirus stimulus funds for agriculture, already approved trade relief and traditional farm subsidies could total $50 billion in payments in fiscal 2020 alone. USDA already predicted that government payments accounted for 24 percent of all farm income in 2019, the largest share in more than a decade. Unprecedented to say the least, Glauber said, adding that it reminded him of how a former USDA administrator described the disaster programs deployed during the farm crisis of the 1980s. The subsidies then were "akin to shoveling dollars out of the back of a big flatbed truck. There was so much of them you didn't care where they landed, Glauber said. Ryan McCrimmon contributed to this report. This is a tale of two governments. Both were faced with a potential disaster -- a new and deadly epidemic. Both made choices that the world will judge. China. The virus made its first appearance in a Wuhan "wet market," an emporium (apparently common in China) that featured live and newly slaughtered animals in close proximity. SARS and Avian flu are also thought to have originated in these markets, which amount to an ongoing threat to global health. From the first reported case, on Dec. 1, 2019, until Jan. 5, 2020, the Chinese government engaged in a cover-up. As National Review's Jim Geraghty recounted, in early January, China's National Health Commission forbade reporting on the new disease. On Dec. 30, Dr. Li Wenliang sent a message to other physicians warning that a SARS-like illness was spreading. He was arrested (along with six others) and obliged to apologize for "spreading rumors." (Dr. Li Wenliang died of COVID-19 on Feb. 7.) Throughout early January, as cases mounted, the Chinese government issued soothing statements suggesting that the new pneumonia was not transmitted from person to person. As late as Jan. 15, after Thailand and Japan had reported their first cases, official government sources were denying that human-to-human transmission had been proven, saying the risk was "low." Only on Jan. 23, six weeks after the first case, did China announce a quarantine of Wuhan. By that time, millions had come and gone from the city during the busy holiday season, and cases had been reported in Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea. USA. President Donald Trump engaged in a series of soothing statements himself. On Jan. 22, after the first U.S. case was reported, he said, "We have it totally under control." On Feb. 2, he boasted that "we pretty much shut it down coming in from China." Twice in February, the president promised that "when we get into April, in the warmer weather -- that has a very negative effect on that, and that type of a virus." On Feb. 26, when cases topped 60, Trump claimed, "We're going very substantially down, not up." In South Carolina, on Feb. 28, Trump likened criticism of his handling of the pandemic to impeachment, saying that "this is their new hoax." On March 6, he continued this theme. Facing criticism for his false statement that "anyone who wants a test can get a test," Trump tried to string together a "fake news"/Ukraine theme. He said the tests were "beautiful," adding, "The tests are all perfect, like the letter was perfect, the transcription was perfect, right?" Asked whether he was concerned about the virus's spread on March 7, the president said, "No, we've done a great job." Throughout the first 10 weeks of the pandemic, Trump praised China effusively, as The Bulwark's Jim Swift chronicled. On Feb. 7, for example, Trump said: "Great discipline is taking place in China, as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation. We are working closely with China to help!" A few days later, he shared with Fox News his view that "China is very, you know, professionally run, in the sense that they have everything under control. I really believe they are going to have it under control fairly soon." China. When the lies were no longer tenable, the Chinese government pivoted. Through their propaganda arms, they circulated videos of China building new "hospitals" (they were actually "prefab quarantine wards," not fully equipped hospitals) and fumigating public spaces. This was followed by grand gestures like donating millions of face masks to afflicted countries like Spain, South Korea, Iran and the Philippines. Jack Ma, CEO of Alibaba, shipped a million masks and half a million testing kits to the U.S. USA. When the lies were no longer tenable, President Trump pivoted. Two days after claiming that the disease was under control, Trump declared himself a "wartime president" and offered that "I've always known this is a real -- this is a pandemic. I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic." Trump began to appear daily at press conferences with public health authorities -- a setting he controls, in which every participant must begin with fulsome praise of himself. He pivoted on China, too, dropping the unctuous praise in favor of provocative blame. China. Relentless propaganda lauding Premier Xi's great leadership in fighting the coronavirus may succeed with many Chinese. Will the world remember the criminal dishonesty that arguably unleashed this pestilence? USA. By consistently downplaying and denying the seriousness of the threat, President Trump cost the American people precious time. By encouraging a false sense of security, he prevented federal, state and local governments from gearing up for the worst emergency we have faced in 100 years. Will the world remember the criminal dishonesty that permitted this pestilence to hit us so very hard? Mona Charens syndicated column appears in the Tribune on Tuesdays. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A second inmate at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in Uncasville has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The person was identified as a 24-year-old male. The Department of Correction said the man began exhibiting symptoms associated with the virus on March 26 and was removed and isolated from the rest of the population housed at the facility. Prior to developing symptoms, the affected offender was in a two-person cell. The department said the cellmate and eight other offenders at the facility have also been tested for possible exposure, and the department is awaiting results of those tests. On Monday, a 32-year-old male inmate at the same facility also tested positive for the virus. Karen Martucci, a DOC spokesman said the department does not believe contact was made between the two inmates. That could indicate a wider community spread. Corrigan-Radgowski consists of two buildings, and Martucci said one diagnosed inmate was in the Corrigan building, while the other was in the Radgowski building. A review of which staff members the offender interacted with has been conducted and proper notifications are being made. Advocates have feared the virus would make its way into the prison system, which houses just under 12,000 people in close quarters throughout the state, and have pressured Gov. Ned Lamont to release all low-level offenders from the system since coronavirus first appeared in the state. Lamont has consistently said he does not intend to release inmates as part of an executive order. Inmates will continue to be released as scheduled and any low-risk offenders with fewer than two years in their sentence may be considered for early release by the Board of Pardons and Paroles if they have a place to go, known as a transitional release. The prison population is declining as a result of the crisis. More than 500 inmates have been released since March 1 and far fewer people are entering the system, a spokesman for the Department of Correction said last week. Moreover, more prisoners eligble for release are being welcomed back by families. For any releases, we want to make sure they have a place to go, make sure they have job assistance, for some older inmates especially, make sure that theres a healthcare system ready to serve them, Lamont spokesman Max Reiss said Friday. He said the reduction in the prison population in recent years means there is extra physical space within the system to quarantine and isolate anyone who may be affected. Also, contact tracing in the prison system is easier than in the general public. Still, the American Civil Liberties Union Connecticut chapter released a statement following the first diagnosis of an inmate, again urging Lamont to release as many inmates as possible. Connecticut residents, including incarcerated peoples loved ones, formerly incarcerated people, doctors, public health experts, advocates, and lawyers, have all told Governor Lamont that he must issue a thoughtful plan to release incarcerated people in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, said David McGuire, president of the ACLU of Connecticut. The ACLU of Connecticut is committed to using every tool at our disposal to require Lamont and the DOC to protect incarcerated people from COVID-19. Three employees of the Department of Correction have previously tested positive for the virus. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt A tattoo parlor is temporarily closed in the Brooklyn Borough of New York, U.S., on Friday, March 20, 2020. Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg The $2 trillion coronavirus relief law signed by President Trump last week has several incentives for struggling businesses to retain their employees instead of laying them off. The financial help in the CARES Act includes forgivable loans for small businesses, tax credits and deferrals, and measures around unemployment. They come as employers are getting walloped by the economic fallout from COVID-19. "I see an emphasis in a lot of the provisions of the bill as trying to keep people employed during this period," said Susan Houseman, director of research at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. "Having people there, ready to work, ready to go, will speed a recovery" of the economy, she added. Small business loans The provision that may be most effective is a $350 billion loan program for sole proprietors, independent contractors, self-employed individuals, nonprofits and businesses with fewer than 500 employees, experts said. The low-interest loans, created under the Paycheck Protection Program, offer up to $10 million to fund certain business expenses incurred between Feb. 15 and June 30. Business owners may qualify to have some or all of their loan forgiven, for the portion used to cover payroll costs (excluding wages over $100,000), rent, utilities and mortgage interest over an eight-week period. Having people there, ready to work, ready to go, will speed a recovery. Susan Houseman director of research at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research But the amount of canceled debt, which would occur via a grant, largely depends on how many workers the business retains and the extent to which it reduces their salaries. "You have to keep your payroll intact," said Jay Shambaugh, an economist at the Brookings Institution, a think tank. "The amount of loan forgiveness gets reduced if you reduce your payroll substantially." Borrowers who laid off workers can reinstate their jobs and salaries by June 30 to recover credit toward loan forgiveness, according to David Newman, a partner at the law firm Morrison & Foerster. The loan forgiveness is also excluded from a business owner's gross income for tax purposes, Newman said. Similarly, a separate $500 billion loan program the Coronavirus Economic Stablization Act of 2020, which gives assistance to airlines and other industries stipulates that some borrowers must keep at least 90% of their employees through Sept. 30, according to Newman. The Small Business Administration website has more details on the Payroll Protection Program and other loan assistance programs. The agency is expected to provide additional PPP guidance in the coming days, experts said. A sign alerts bar customers that it is closed due to the coronavirus outbreak in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg Employee retention tax credit Businesses and nonprofits that retain workers during the coronavirus health crisis can get a refundable payroll tax credit. The credit, available through 2020 to ailing businesses, is equal to 50% of wages (including qualified health plan expenses) of up to $10,000 per worker. (So, the maximum credit per employee is $5,000 this year.) It's not available for businesses that also get a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program. The credit can be claimed against quarterly payroll taxes. The Treasury can make advance payments of the tax credit, and waive penalties for employers who don't pay applicable payroll taxes in anticipation of receiving the credit. Tax deferral The CARES Act also allows small businesses to defer some payroll taxes this year. Employers can defer their portion of the Social Security payroll tax a 6.2% rate in 2020. The measure won't necessarily save firms money because they must pay the tax later. But it could help free up cash for struggling businesses, and firms only get the benefit to the extent they have workers on payroll, experts said. Unemployment RUNSTUDIO 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. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has asked the public to be sensible or face fines under new coronavirus gathering restrictions A top cop has issued a warning to tradies on construction sites as strict new $11,000 fines come into effect to stop the spread of coronavirus. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller spoke on 2GB radio with Alan Jones on Tuesday morning after tough rules that limit public gatherings to two people came into effect in the state overnight. Breaching the restrictions in NSW can carry $11,000 fines or six months in jail for leaving home without a 'reasonable excuse', or a $1,000 on-the-spot police fine for breaking social distancing rules under the Public Health Act. Commissioner Fuller said tradesman on work sites should remember to stand apart during safety briefings and smoking breaks. He said: 'The advice for people on worksites is this. When you arrive at work on the morning don't congregate in big groups. 'When you have your safety briefing, don't stand together.' He went on to say that he'd been sent pictures of groups congregating during smoking breaks and that wouldn't be allowed from now on. Tradesman abide by social distancing rules as they eat lunch in a deserted Pitt Street, in Sydney's CBD Police watch over an outdoor gym in Balmoral in Sydney on Monday after they were forced to close on Sunday to stop the spread of the disease 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 Queenslanders who break the rules will get an on the spot fine of $13,345, while businesses in the state will cop a penalty of $66,672, police said on Monday. Victorians who are caught outside with more than one other person will be slapped with a $1,652 on the spot fine from Tuesday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has not officially said Australia is in 'stage three' of its response to COVID-19, and left it up to state governments to enforce the restrictions with fines. Increased restrictive measures announced on Sunday included closing all playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor gyms to prevent large gatherings. The two-person limit doesn't apply to workplaces, offices, schools and households, but applies to all indoor settings, including private properties and homes. Tradesman eating lunch in Martin Place on Tuesday obeying social distancing measures in response to the coronavirus People who live alone can only invite one friend over, while households of two people or more can't have any visitors. A family split across two houses can meet in private, allowing people to visit their partner, siblings or parents. Thousands of Australians arriving into the country by plane and ship are being transported to makeshift quarantine facilities under the escort of police and military personnel. The government is using the country's vacant hotels to isolate new arrivals, with about two-thirds of the country's COVID-19 cases traced to people who had travelled overseas. Commissioner Fuller said people should use their individual responsibility to do the right thing and flatten the coronavirus infection rate. Commissioner Fuller said tradesman on work sites should not congregate in big groups and be sure to separate and give their distance during briefings and breaks 'This is not the end of the world but at the same time if we don't get a handle on this we can't get back to normal,' he said. Mr Morrison said the states 'aren't mucking around' when it comes to enforcing the new rules. 'They're very, very serious. And states like New South Wales and Victoria will move further down onto those two person rules, is my understanding,' he said. 'But states and territories will make their own announcements about those issues.' As the evening curfew continues in Egypt, state officials are again and again calling on people to stay at home as much as possible. With the continued scare over the new coronavirus and its huge impact on the health systems of the richest countries in the world, the call for social distancing has been gaining more ground. However, for some, staying at and possibly also working from home is proving a serious psychological challenge, especially with no clear end in sight for the coronavirus scare. Hani Henry, professor of psychology at the American University in Cairo, says that the firm discomfort that some people suffer from over social distancing is related mostly to their own assessment of the situation. Those who have an exaggerated or a dismissive assessment of the problem would find it very hard to manage through, Henry said. Those who tend to be dismissive of the health warnings over the fast circulation of COVID-19 would find no reason to stay at home simply because they fail to see the problem, Henry said. This, he added, might be a defence mechanism on the part of people who would not wish to face the pressing problems, but it also might be a function of poor assessment of the situation that is prompted by insufficient or misleading information about the actual facts, he added. Either way, Henry argued, the dismissive type would always try to break the stay-at-home requirement. They would be telling themselves things like the state always manages, we are on top of it, I am immune or any of these phrases, he said. Meanwhile, he added, those who tend to have an exaggerated assessment of the situation would find it very difficult to confine themselves peacefully to their homes because they feel very gloomy and think that everything is doomed to fall apart. These people might also be overestimating the threat of the virus due to an excessive dose of pessimistic assessments in the media or social media, Henry argued. Then again, he added, they might simply be suffering from possibly a severe form of OCD or generalised anxiety disorder. Both the dismissive and the panicking groups, Henry said, should be finding a way out of their dilemmas not just to be able to actually stay at home, as required by the health guidelines, but to make this stay peaceful and purposeful. One thing to help people have a reasonable assessment of the situation, Henry argued, is to secure oneself from the flood of inaccurate information. These groups, he said, should not follow just any source of news. They should rather opt for one source, preferably a scientific and simple source, to get their information. Beyond trying to build a sound assessment of the situation, people staying at home, including those who have a reasonable read on the situation, should not turn this stay into excessive solitude. Social distancing and social bonding are not necessarily mutually exclusive, he argued. People have been largely joking about it, but in fact it is true that the more time family members spend together at home away from the many distractions and activities that each member would otherwise have on an individual basis, the more they would be able to bond, he argued. Working parents and children, Henry said, might find a rare opportunity to do activities and play games together or simply just to talk and to listen to one another, he added. Social bonding, Henry added, could also be about friends and co-workers and this could obviously be done through social media, which allows people not just to chat but to play games together and watch movies or shows at the same time, each from the comfort of ones home. Then, Henry argued, the work from home routine should not be allowed to create a sense of discomfort about the house as it becomes a permanent work place. Working from home, Henry said, should not mean permanent availability for the work place. People should create a routine, wake up and freshen up around the same time that one would do usually; then start work for the duration of typical working hours, and then just switch off communication with the work place unless it is absolutely necessary, he suggested. Moreover, Henry argued, one should not be spending ones day in the same room. One should work from a room, say the dining room or the living room or wherever, and then move to another room to have a meal and mingle with family members, watch a movie or do some shared activities, he suggested. If one ends up spending all their time in one room, it would be a matter of a few days before one starts to feel literally stuck, he added. Stagnation is the last thing that anyone needs while exercising social distancing, Henry insisted. There is always something to do to introduce some change even if you have but one room there is always a possibility of changing the place of a seat, sitting closer or further from the window or the balcony or bringing the curtains down or up, he argued. Henry acknowledged the concern that some couples have over spending a lot more time together than usual. He agreed that some couples fear that this would prompt boredom or simply squabbling. Couples with tough relationships need to make their joint stay at home peaceful by having parallel routines. If someone likes to read and another prefers to watch TV, then the couple could be doing this independently, he argued. Actually, Henry said, the togetherness of staying at home should not be about the violation of each others space. This, he added, is not just about couples in tense relationships, but also about economically challenged families who share very small apartments. Even if one does not have enough physical space there is always a way to create a psychological space, like by getting engrossed in reading a book, studying, cooking or doing anything of interest, he said. The creation of the independent psychological space, he argued, is essential in avoiding extensive squabbling that might in cases lead to domestic violence. Obviously, Henry said, in some cases domestic violence is more a reflection of the issues on the part of the family member who exercises violence rather than the actions of the violated members. This is why, he added, the respective hotlines that are there to receive the complaints of victims of domestic violence should upgrade their performance during this period with extra lines and with well-trained teams that could help callers, be they women or children, to manage through the difficult times. Henry underlined the role of the media in reducing the levels of individual or family tension and of making the stay-at-home exercise less stressful. Interesting and stimulating programs, light and fun programming of films and soap operas and replays of favourite shows and programs could all help entertain and distract, he said. Search Keywords: Short link: This year's Helpmann Awards has been cancelled and the Melbourne Fringe Festival pushed back as coronavirus continues to wreak havoc across Australia's arts sector. Announcing the awards' cancellation Evelyn Richards, chief executive of Live Performance Australia which runs what is the main event for the performing arts industry, said her organisation's priority was lobbying governments to provide support for members. Kev Carmody was recognised with the lifetime achievement award at last year's Helpmann Awards. Credit:Melissa Adams While welcoming the subsidies announced so far, Richards said the industry still needs a tailored package of assistance. "Our industry has been shut down and we don't have a timeframe," she said. Covid-19 hotspots account for three new cases in Vietnam A medical worker disinfects an ambulance car at Cu Chi Field Hospital in HCMC, February 10, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. Two Vietnamese and one Brazilian associated with two Covid-19 hotspots in Hanoi and HCMC were confirmed infected Tuesday evening. The three new cases took Vietnams Covid-19 tally to 207. "Patient 205" is a 41-year-old Vietnamese man who works for the Truong Sinh Company, which provides food and water for Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital, one major Covid-19 hotspot in the country. "Patient 206" is a 48-year-old Vietnamese man in Saigon's District 2, a chauffeur for Patients 124 and 151, often driving the latter two to multiple company branches in Dong Nai Province's Vinh Cuu District and Saigon's District 12. "Patient 124" was found to be infected after attending a party at the Buddha Bar in the district; following which "Patient 206" was quarantined in a military school in Cu Chi District. On March 27, he developed a sore throat, before testing positive on March 28. He's now being treated at the Cu Chi Field Hospital and is in stable health. "Patient 207," a 49-year-old Brazilian man in Saigon's District 2, is the husband of "Patient 151" and colleague of "Patient 124." He first tested negative on March 22, before being quarantined at a military school in Cu Chi District on March 23. He developed a sore throat on March 27 and tested positive on March 28. He's also being treated at the Cu Chi Field Hospital, and his health is stable. Tuesday additions thus far have raised the number of patients linked to the Buddha Bar to 15 and to the Bach Mai Hospital to 34. Of the 207 Covid-19 patients confirmed in Vietnam until now, 58 have been cured and discharged from hospitals. Most of the active cases are those who have returned from Europe and the U.S. and people whove had close contact with them. The Covid-19 pandemic has spread to 200 countries and territories, claiming over 38,000 lives. A package of nearly US$160 billion in immediate debt cancelation and aid is needed to help prevent millions of deaths as a result of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to Oxfam. The five-point Global Public Health Plan and Emergency Response would enable poor countries to take action to prevent the spread of the disease and build the capacity of health systems to care for those affected, Oxfam said in an embargoed press release on Monday. Oxfam International is a confederation of 20 independent affiliates working to help people with support including clean water, sanitation, food, and shelter. "The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread suffering in rich countries, overwhelming some of the best healthcare systems in the world," Oxfam said. "But with the disease now spreading to many poor countries where high levels of poverty and inequality risk accelerating [it], the public health challenges are even greater." Nearly three billion people across the developing world do not have access to clean water, and millions more do not have access to adequate healthcare and live in crowded slums or refugee camps where social isolation is impossible, it said. Women are forecast to be hit the hardest as they make up 70 percent of health workers and carry out most of the unpaid care work, Oxfam said. "We know from Oxfams experience of fighting Ebola that with rapid action, this disease can be stalled and its catastrophic impact stopped. But we must act now and on a scale never seen before," Oxfam International interim executive director Jose Maria Vera was quoted as saying in the press release. Without urgent, ambitious and historic action, we could easily see the biggest humanitarian crisis since World War Two. The Imperial College estimates that in the absence of interventions the novel coronavirus could have led to 40 million deaths in the coming year. Oxfam calculates that doubling the health spending of the 85 poorest countries, home to nearly half the worlds population, would cost $159.5 billion -- less than ten percent of the U.S. fiscal stimulus to fight the novel coronavirus. While some donor institutions have begun to increase funding, the scale is not anywhere near the immense size of the challenge, Oxfam asserts. Oxfam said it is working with local partners, ministries of health and key UN agencies in 65 countries to respond to the crisis and help save lives. Oxfam is calling for the G20 and other national governments to tackle the virus head-on by agreeing an ambitious Global Public Health Plan and Emergency Response. The five-point plan calls for huge investment in the prevention of COVID-19, employing ten million new paid and protected health workers, making healthcare free, requisition of private healthcare facilities to fight the virus, and making vaccines and treatments a global public good. Its understandable that national leaders are focused on helping their own citizens, but G20 leaders must also find the space for supporting poor nations too," Vera added. "We can only beat this pandemic if we act in solidarity with every country and for every person. No one is safe until we are all safe. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A four-year-old was given the surprise of her life when her family decided they wouldn't let coronavirus lockdown spoil her birthday. As Ella Pucci stood on the drive of her Nutley, New Jersey, home 37 vehicles in total, each containing between two and four people, drove past in her very own birthday parade. Drivers in the vehicles honked their horns, and along with their passengers cheered from windows and held up signs wishing Ella a happy birthday. Ella Pucci stands on the drive of her home in Nutley, New Jersey, as 37 vehicles drive past Ella's family decided they wouldn't let coronavirus lockdown spoil her birthday and gave her a surprise parade The thoughtful occasion was captured on video by Ella's mother, Christine, 34, on March 21. Such a show of unity brought Christine to tears, as the entire parade stretched around three blocks. Christine said she hopes the moment encourages others to 'make the best out of any situation,' as Ella had become devastated when she discovered her birthday party at a bowling alley needed to be canceled. Due to social distancing advice, Ella was not allowed to see her friends, and the family's April visit to Disney World was also canceled. Drivers honked their horns, cheered from windows and held up signs wishing Ella a happy birthday The entire parade stretched around three blocks near the family's home The thoughtful occasion was captured on video by Ella's mother, Christine, 34, on March 21 With Ella not knowing what is truly going on in the world, her aunt, Casandra, decided to put together the surprise parade for her niece. Planned on the Friday, at 10.55am on the Sunday, Christine received a text to say the parade was ready to go. She said: 'I cried....a lot. 'Even though I knew it was going to happen, I was just shocked how many people showed up and made signs the cars looked great. 'She doesn't understand what is happening in the world right now, and she was just crushed. 'Seeing how happy she was made everyone's day and week so much better, as we are all trying to figure out how to live in this new social distancing world.' Ella's mother said: I was just shocked how many people showed up and made signs the cars looked great' A man, who was injured in a militant attack in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on March 21, succumbed to injuries at a hospital here on Tuesday, police said. Waseem Ahmad (25), resident of Turigam Yaripora area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district, was shot at and injured by militants, a police official said. He said Ahmad was admitted to SKIMS hospital in Soura area of the city where he succumbed to injuries on Tuesday morning, the official said. Police have registered a case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) They have donated N95 masks & some protective suits to multiple Hospitals including AIIMS New Delhi, Manipal Hospital China based Huami Amazfit has announced the launch of a dedicated Whatsapp helpline for doctors and hospitals who are in need to hygiene supply and high-quality masks. They have donated high-quality N95 masks & some protective suits to multiple Hospitals including AIIMS New Delhi, Manipal Hospital. They also announced a donation to MP Dr. Mahesh Sharma, in Noida for helping people fighting against the coronavirus pandemic. After the outbreak of COVID-19, the situation being faced across the globe is challenging and difficult. India is a densely populated country; its recommended to plan and take all necessary measures to combat the disease collectively. CP Khandelwal, CEO - PR innovations, Managing India Business Amazfit said, With a belief that the worsening condition of COVID-19 doesnt go out of control in India. We want to extend our support to the government authorities and leading hospitals who are working really well during this tough time where the nation is facing a shortage of masks and hygiene essentials. We are thankful to Dr. Mahesh Sharma Honorable Member of Parliament and also a noble Doctor by profession, for giving us a chance to work towards this social cause and give our utmost contribution during this hard time. On behalf of Huami, we are open for all requests from doctors & hospitals or any government authority for providing support for various hygiene essentials & Supply. I have converted my alternate no for this cause & Interested authority can directly reach out to our Whatsapp support line +91-85954 38550 says Honey Singh CEO, ARM Worldwide while launching the WhatsApp helpline for Doctors, Hospitals & front liner's who are leading the Fights against Corona. Covid-19 has been declared a Pandemic by WHO. In the time of this health emergency, every health facility requires personal protective equipment and logistics. During this crisis, PR Innovations has extended a gesture of compassion and humanity by donating N-95 masks required by the team of clinicians staff and paramedics, says Dr Jitendra Sodhi, Assistant Professor, Department of Hospital Administration, AIIMS, New Delhi. Celebrating the human spirit of aid and positivity to combat the COVID-19 Pandemic through this generous gesture, Manipal Hospital, Dwarka gives heartfelt thanks to Huami Amazfit, PR Innovations and Mr. Honey Singh, CEO #ARM Worldwide, for donating N-95 masks to us at this tough time, says Pramod Alagharu, CEO, Manipal Hospitals Dwarka. Huami Amazfit has recently faced a tough time due to the COVID-19 outbreak in China. The organization is already working with various NGOs in China and wants to extend open support to the Indian Government for any future donation requests. Both before and after Addis Ababa began to construct the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Egypt was untiring in its efforts, first, to promote consensus between countries at the sources of the Nile and downstream countries, and, second, to promote the optimum utilisation of the River's resources for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the Nile Basin. To meet these ends, Egypt has taken numerous initiatives to foster agreements over hydraulic projects and arrangements that would enable the Nile Basin countries to implement diverse development projects funded by international donors in order to modernise infrastructure, eliminate water and food shortages, and raise the living standards of their peoples while preventing billions of cubic metres of water from going to waste through seepage, evaporation, transpiration and other processes. In 1999, Egypt proposed the Nile Basin Initiative that called for development projects that would raise the overall Nile water utilisation rate from its current four per cent to 6.6 per cent. The Initiative also contained 34 projects, including one for irrigation development in the Egyptian Delta, a second for irrigational development in Ethiopia, a third to create an electricity grid covering Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, and a fourth to create another electricity grid between Uganda and other countries in the Equatorial Great Lakes region. The initiative reaffirmed all Nile Basin countries' rights to the water of the Nile, the principle of the avoidance of harm to fellow Nilotic nations, the prevention of the transport and sale of Nile waters to others outside the Nile Basin, and the principle of the preservation of Egypt's historical rights to the Nile. Unfortunately, the Upper Nile countries rejected the initiative even though they agreed to 41 out of its 44 points. In 2010, the Egyptian Initiative to promote the above-mentioned projects, to which international donors had pledged around $20 billion, reached a dead end because of the ongoing dispute over just three points, which had to do with guaranteeing acquired rights to the water of the Nile. Then Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda hastily concluded the Entebbe Agreement, later joined by Burundi, ignoring Cairo's demand that they not infringe on its established quota of Nile water and notify it in advance of any project on the Nile that could harm the downstream countries. This was despite the fact that such principles are enshrined in bilateral and international agreements and World Bank rules. As the Upper Nile countries focused on the Entebbe Agreement, Egypt did the best it could to modify the articles pertaining to prior notification, the voting system, and the equitable utilisation of water in the hope of safeguarding its rights and resolving a dispute that was obstructing cooperation between the Nile Basin countries over major development projects. According to reports at the time, Egypt offered to return to the 1929 Nile Waters Agreement in exchange for being allowed to carry out projects to optimise water utilisation and to develop agriculture in the Upper Nile countries. It also proposed a compromise solution that would restrict the application of prior notice and unanimous voting to projects that could affect the Niles flow, thereby excluding barrages for electricity production and reservoirs to collect rainwater and conserve water that would otherwise be lost in marshes and mountain areas. The Upper Nile countries also ignored an Egyptian proposal that projects or amendments should be approved by majority vote, provided that Egypt and Sudan were among that majority. The purpose, of course, was to ensure the avoidance of harm to the downriver nations, namely Egypt and Sudan. In the end, Egypt was forced to refuse to sign the Entebbe Agreement and Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo sided with it. The dispute brought the cooperation projects to a halt, and the $20 billion pledge from donor agencies expired. In June 2017, the Nile Basin Summit in Uganda, the first to convene since the impasse reached between members in 2010, renewed hopes that the Entebbe signatories would now take the initiative to search for a solution to this impasse. Unfortunately, the intransigence of the upper riparian nations prevented any progress at all. No one had expected the summit participants to reach full agreement due to the hardline stance of Ethiopia, but there was hope that they would be able to work out something that could be built on. The Upper Nile countries refuse to recognise agreements that date to the colonial era, such as the 1929 Nile Waters Agreement, which gives Egypt the right to veto any upstream hydraulic project if it threatens to cut or reduce the amount of water that reaches it, and the 1959 treaty between Egypt and Sudan. They insist that the Entebbe Agreement should supersede all previous agreements and override Egypt's established 55.5 billion m3 quota of water. The Entebbe Agreement calls for an equal distribution of water, but it fails to take into account the fact that Egypt's quota amounts to less than four per cent of the 1,680 billion m3 of rainwater that the upper riparian nations receive a year. It also prohibits encroachment on the Sudd Marshlands in southern Sudan, and thus obstructs development projects, such as the Jonglei Canal project that aims to conserve huge quantities of water lost due to transpiration and evaporation. On other matters, the wording of the Agreement is dangerously ambiguous, as is the case with the provision that every signatory may avail itself of the water it needs for irrigation and electricity generation without causing harm to other members. It was intransigence such as this that encouraged Ethiopia to begin the construction of the GERD before reaching an agreement with Egypt and Sudan in keeping with the treaties Addis Ababa has signed and with international law regulating the utilisation of transboundary water courses. It then proceeded to procrastinate and dodge its commitments during seven years of negotiations. Such behaviour reached a new height with Ethiopia's boycott of the 27-28 February meeting in Washington at which it was expected to sign a final comprehensive and equitable agreement that would have enabled Ethiopia to realise its declared aim of generating electricity for development projects while avoiding grave harm to Egypt during the filling and operation of the GERD. This long record of Ethiopian intransigence puts paid to Addis Ababa's misleading propaganda that Egypt is opposed to Ethiopian development by means of the GERD. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: A computer algorithm powered by artificial intelligence can spot people who will develop diabetes, even if they have not been diagnosed yet, scientists claim. The system is reportedly 95 per cent accurate and uses machine learning to assess an individual's risk of developing the lifelong condition. It combs through patients' medical data, including results from routine medical check-ups, to provide a diabetes risk assessment for each patient. Japanese researchers who developed the technology have said it identified thousands of new diabetes patients in trials. A method called machine learning could help predict whether people will get diabetes. It combs through patients' medical data, including results from routine medical check-ups, to provide a diabetes risk assessment for each patient (file photo) 'Currently we do not have sufficient methods for predicting which generally healthy individuals will develop diabetes,' said Dr Akihiro Nomura, of the Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences in Japan. 'Using machine learning, it could be possible to precisely identify high-risk groups of future diabetes patients better than using existing risk scores,' Dr Nomura said. 'In addition, the rate of visits to healthcare providers might be improved to prevent future onset of diabetes.' Machine learning algorithms can learn to improve their ability to perform a certain task without being explicitly programmed to do so. Such systems can find patterns or trends in sets of data to come to conclusions or help humans make better decisions. A computer algorithm powered by artificial intelligence can spot people who will develop diabetes, even if they have not been diagnosed yet, scientists claim With their preliminary system, the researchers health records from more than 139,000 participants in the Japanese city of Kanazawa, which included around 74,000 diabetes patients. Physical exams, blood and urine tests were part of the data from the medical records. The team also made note of new cases of diabetes recorded during the patients' annual health checks. Dr Nomura and his colleagues then used the data to train a machine learning algorithm to predict those at the risk of developing diabetes in the future. The researchers said their algorithm had an overall accuracy of 94.9 per cent, and was able to identify a total of 4,696 new diabetes patients. Around 3.9 million in the UK are living with diabetes, according to charity Diabetes UK. The condition has been linked to increased risks of other health problems, including heart disease and cancer. The preliminary research, which is yet to be published, was due to be presented at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The research will be published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society in mid-April. Beautiful pictures show how a drought-stricken farm has come back to life after the long dry spell finally came to an end. The pictures taken ten weeks apart on a property in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, reveals the landscape transformed from dry and barren into lush and green. The owner of the farm, Peter Fox, told Daily Mail Australia: 'After the despair of the drought, fires and extreme heat of last summer, the rain has been very spirit lifting.' Before and after pictures revealed how two months of rain transformed a Hunter Valley property that was hit by drought in January 2020 (pictured) The first image showed a dried up waterhole filled with dirt and dead vegetation. The property around the reservoir was covered in dead brown grass with a few surviving trees. Mr Fox revealed the astonishing impact that a few weeks of rain had on his property as the second image was almost unrecognisable. He described the 'perfect timing' of having 'twenty years of silt and muck dug out then it started raining the very next day.' The second picture showed how the pond has been transformed into a backyard oasis, filled with water and was surrounded by plants. 'Turtles have already found their way back into it,' Mr Fox said. The second March 2020 picture showed how rain had regenerated the property (pictured) Mr Fox said that he was also planning on introducing yabbies into the pond. Lillypads were pictured floating on the water and the edges of the pond were surrounded by green plants and colourful flowers. Mr Fox said that the 'calla lillies just popped back up' after the drought but the water lilies had to be 'rescued'. 'I dug out water lily rhizomes mid last year and nursed them in drums before replanting. 'They spent six months in a 44 gallon drum. I'm not sure if we'll have the 4 colours we previously had,' he explained. The rest of the property had also been given a new life with healthy trees and green grass spreading out into the distance. In an emerging industry thats full of unknowns, we turn to an entrepreneur in the field to get some insight. Benzingas Jaycee Tenn spoke with Erich Mauff, president and co-founder of multi-state cannabis operator Jushi, to learn about raising capital, buying distressed assets, and how the licensing process differs across states. Jushi is a multi-state cannabis operator. Their name comes after a discovery of cannabis that was buried alongside a shaman of the ancient Jushi Kingdom 2700 years ago. The CEO of Jushi, Jim Cacioppo, joined three other entrepreneurs to talk about adjusting brand strategy in a quickly evolving market at the past Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Miami. Benzinga: As someone with over 20 years of experience in Finance, how did you become interested in Cannabis? Erich: We thought this was an industry that needed some business builders with acumen and with history. That's Jim and ourselves, we are financiers, we [have] distressed backgrounds, we turned around companies in the past, we sponsored companies. I think we know how to take a diverse group of assets, put them together and start to push everything in the right direction in terms of business focus, the financing behind it, the accounting, the legal. I think the ability to bring that together and mix both finance sponsors and cannabis is the right way to build a business with which, quite frankly, no one has a blueprint on how to do it. Now, I think when you open up a McDonald's franchise, you get a starter kit that tells you where to put it and, you know, literally, it's cookie cutter. All you need to do is make sure you open and close the doors every day. Many states like Illinois are switching for the first time from medical to adult use. Places like Virginia are just putting in a program. So I think it's dynamic. It's exciting. There's no exact blueprint for what you need to do to try to find the best of the best, put it together and then get everyone running in the right direction. Story continues Benzinga: Do you find your experience with distressed assets to be particularly useful in this environment? Erich: Well, no doubt I might lose credibility in the distressed industry. We operate in a business which is federally illegal. Capital is incredibly difficult to come upon. Traditional sources of capital don't exist. Chapter 11 is not available. We have to go into receivership, which is an incredibly messy process. So, yes, ideally every deal from a distressed asset and structuring that deal in a way that you get to think through the potential downsides and how you would work your way out of a downside situation. It's something that is sorely lacking in an industry where people really have been buying the dream. And we are now living with the negative ramifications of that deal, not meeting expectations at all. Benzinga: Considering the state of the market right now, can you talk a bit about the environment around raising capital? How has it changed from what it was 12-18 months ago? Erich: I make this analogy that for financing in the cannabis industry its like the keyhole and the elephant. The keyhole is the size of the capital available, the elephant is the need for capital. The problem is the keyhole. The keyhole is the amount of capital that is even allowed to participate in Cannabis. So being a traditional financier and having raised a lot of money in my professional career, when you go out and raise capital, if you were to say to someone, I want you to start a tech company but you know what, asset managers, hedge funds, portfolio managers, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies cannot participate, you'd be like, well, I'll never be able to raise money. The massive elephant in this keyhole is the biggest challenge that we in the industry face which is it's very difficult to raise money in the size and quantum that is needed in order to participate in the industry. So we are in a very challenging capital environment and in my view will be in this environment for 12 to 18 months. Benzinga: What states are you most focused on and what has the licensing process been like? Erich: We are in seven states of which we are highly focused on three of the seven. Three of the additional seven are in development and then one in the hemp state. So I aforementioned Virginia, we are one of five in Virginia. Pennsylvania we own 10 percent of the retail footprint in Pennsylvania. And then we have two of the 55 dispensaries available in Illinois. Each of those dispensaries, each of those 55, get an additional dispensary license, so they go up to 110. So we'll have 4 of the 110. Again, a market we're very focused on. Those would be the three big markets. And then we have smaller operations in Ohio and Las Vegas, although the development market within the final markets where we are very focused is California on retail. Again, being distressed people, when you hear a market like California is challenging and difficult to do business in, we find that to be true. But that's also where value can be acquired if you understand what you're doing. Benzinga: What is the most important thing Jushi is working on in 2020? Erich: Operations, operations, operations. That's one, two and three. We need to now take the assets we have, we need to get them operational and we have to get them revenue-generating and we have to create a positive portfolio. We need to do that within the confines of cost control, making sure that we are within regulatory compliance. So it is really an operational cost control and then maintaining our balance sheet. Those I think are for 2020 the most important aspects. And I think the secondary and ancillary things are looking continuously for opportunities. Opportunities in distressed where we are able to potentially procure assets. A very good term that you can feel confident that over time you will look back at your entry point and feel that you have really created value for your shareholders. Photo by Matteo Paganelli on Unsplash See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. City of Elgin officials said the campus will be an overflow site for non-acute hospital patients and possibly non-acute COVID-19 patients who do not require an ICU bed or other urgent care. It is not been determined if it will also include space for more acute coronavirus patients, the news release said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday that there was no question of salary cuts for government employees, but it will be paid in installments so that financial situation remains under control. Earlier in the day, finance minister Ajit Pawar had announced salary cuts upto 60 per cent for government employees, but later he clarified that salaries would not be slashed but only paid in two installments. In a live webcast, Thackeray praised the frontline workers (government doctors and others) in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, and said there was no question of slashing their salaries. "There will be no salary cut. Due to the coronavirus crisis, an economic crisis is expected. To ensure that things do not go out of hand, salaries will be paid in installments," he said. "Police, health workers, sanitation workerswill be given a priority in the disbursement of salaries. I request cooperation in this regard," Thackeray said. He also said that the number of coronavirus patients in the state has risen steeply because more and more people are being tested. Eighty-two new patients were detected on Tuesday, taking the number in the state to 302. "The number of people getting cured is also substantial," Thackeray said, adding, "we will win this war against the virus". Some areas of Mumbai were needed to be sealed as a precaution after coronavirus patients were found there, he said. "If you haven't undergone thermal screeningat the airport after you arrived from abroad, pleasecome forward. Don't hide your travel history," he said. The chief minister also urged private doctors not to close their clinics. Appealing migrant workers not to leave the state, the chief minister said while borders of the state as well as districts have been sealed, about 1,000 centers have been set up to provide relief to over two lakh migrant workers. "There is no shortage of ration andessential goods....Have faith in the government," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Assam government said Tuesday it has names of 456 people from the state who were present in and around Delhi's Nizamuddin Dargah, which apparently become a coronavirus hotspot after a religious congregation there earlier this month, and has moved to find and quarantine them. Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told media the state government this morning received a list of 299 people who were either in or around the site during the Tablighi Jamaat. Two hours later, a list of another 157 people from Assam being present there was received, taking the total count to 456, Sarma said. "We don't know if there were more people from Assam in the religious event. This is the list we have presently. Through mobile tracing, we got their names, address, he said. "I immediately held an urgent video conference with all the district Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police and advised them to take swift and strict measures for all those who returned from the hotspot at Nizamuddin Markaz of Tablighi Jamaat", Sarma said, adding he gave the instruction that all 456 be quarantined by this evening. He also appealed to the returnees from the state to voluntarily go to the nearest hospital or make a call on the state's coronavirus helpline number 104. "Tomorrow their tests have to be conducted, their swab taken and we have to know whether they are negative or positive. We have started work in this direction and we will be able to quarantine them by this evening", he tweeted around 2.30 pm. He urged people not to take any action on their own as the district administrations will do their work of quarantining them. "No need to create an unruly situation as we have received the list and the administration will quarantine them. I would appeal to the people rather not to come out of their homes to catch them", Sarma said. "If we get one of the 456 persons, we will get the names of who else were with him. It is a serious issuewe have received the list with names and phone numbers for the district administration to take action by this evening", he said. Asked on the number of such people entering Assam, the Minister said there were reports of four/five, but it was yet to be confirmed. Sarma also tweeted, " Urgent Request. If there is anyone from Assam who attended the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi, please IMMEDIATELY report voluntarily to the nearest government hospital or by calling Helpline no # 104. Please treat this as very important". More than 200 people who attended a religious congregation in the Nizamuddin West locality of Delhi showed symptoms for the new coronavirus and a major part of the area was cordoned off by authorities to contain any possible spread. Over 2,000 delegates, including from Indonesia and Malaysia, attended the Tabligh-e-Jamaat from March 1-15. Six persons from Telangana who attended the congregation died due to coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police are investigating the planting of a bomb on a lorry they believed was bound for an Irish Sea ferry (Liam McBurney/PA) A vehicle, phones and clothing have been seized by detectives investigating the planting of a bomb on a lorry they believed was bound for an Irish Sea ferry, with a plan to detonate it to mark Brexit. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers searched a property in the Lurgan area of Co Armagh on Tuesday. Officers have blamed the dissident republican Continuity IRA for Februarys botched terror bid. Detectives from Terrorism Investigation Unit, investigating discovery of explosive device in Silverwood Industrial Estate on 04 Feb, have seized a number of items following search in Lurgan today. pic.twitter.com/NFMPLQcHt6 Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) March 31, 2020 A detective inspector said: A number of items were seized including a vehicle, mobile phones and clothing, which have all been taken away for further examination. Our priority will always be to protect communities and keep people safe from harm and todays search demonstrates that we will continue to work with our communities to disrupt the activities of violent dissident republicans. The renegade group entered the yard of a Co Armagh-based company specialising in the transportation of frozen goods, and attached the bomb to a heavy goods vehicle they thought was destined for a late-night ferry crossing to Scotland. But officers suspect the dissidents selected the wrong vehicle, as the trailer containing the bomb did not leave its premises in Lurgan on Friday. The device was finally discovered at the yard days later after a police search operation. CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle discussed how credit unions are serving Americans affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on MSNBC Live Sunday night with Ali Velshi. Nussle, who served on Congress from 1991 to 2007 and as director of the Office of Management and Budget from 2007 to 2009, discussed a recent Wall Street Journal report that said banks were tightening credit standards as a result of the outbreak. Nussle cited CUNAs survey of how credit unions are implementing changes to products and services to increase member access to safe and affordable credit. Ninety-three percent of our credit unions have already made a change, adjustment or making modifications to member loans, and a number of those same credit unions are creatively looking to new ways to extend credit during this tough time, when we just had 3.3 million Americans apply for unemployment benefits, he said. We think of ourselves as financial first responders during challenges like this. We are five Nebraskans who recently returned from a trip to Morocco not exactly in the way we had anticipated. Near the end of our trip, Morocco suddenly closed its borders to all international travel, in or out. We spent some anxious days scrambling to find some way to get back home, until the U.S. arranged evacuation flights out. There were a number of media articles about American travelers stranded abroad, particularly in Peru and Morocco, expressing frustration and dissatisfaction with the lack of attention, information or response from the U.S. to the situation. We shared many of those frustrations, as we watched evacuation flights provided by various European Union countries for their citizens. That said, we are home now and want to provide credit where its due. From Morocco, we were in constant touch with staff in both Sen. Deb Fischers and Gov. Pete Ricketts' offices. These officials were very proactive in communicating concerns about stranded Nebraskans to the White House and State Department, advocacy that was crucial in prompting action. Florida's Republican senators took to the airwaves on Tuesday morning to hit China over its handling of the COVID-19 crisis, as the state's GOP governor continues to face scrutiny at home over his refusal to issue a statewide shelter-in-place order. "We clearly wouldn't have had the same problem if China had been transparent," Sen. Rick Scott said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "So when anybody thinks about buying anything from China in the future, just remember the Chinese government is a significant culprit in this pandemic because they clearly were not transparent." He added, at another point in the interview: "If China keeps creating these if somehow these viruses keep coming out of there we're going to have to figure out in this country to be more like Taiwan and South Korea that take these things seriously and stop the spread early." U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol. Alex Wong | Getty Images Sen. Marco Rubio told Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo that "the Chinese have never been honest. The Chinese Communist Party lies about all sorts of things." "Let there be no doubt: The failure of the Chinese Communist Party to be transparent, and open up to the world, and disclose this early, has cost the lives of people around the world, has caused the infections of people around the world, and caused this to spread faster and further than it needed to," Rubio said. The comments come as the flu-like respiratory infection bears down on the Sunshine State. Florida has more than 5,704 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. At least 71 people in the state have died of the disease. It has sickened more than 160,000 across the United States and killed at least 3,170. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis talks during a news conference at the Broward County mobile testing site at CB Smith Park in Pembroke Pines, Fla., on March 19, 2020. David Santiago | Miami Herald | Getty Images Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, issued a stay-at-home order covering the southern region of the state on Monday that will last through April 15. Local Democrats and some medical professionals have pushed him to go further, calling for a statewide lockdown, as dozens of states containing more than half the U.S. population have already done. With more than 21 million residents, according to census estimates, Florida is the third-most-populous state behind California, which is under a statewide "stay at home" order, and Texas, which is not. New York, the fourth-biggest state by population and the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, is under a lockdown order as well. California and New York have Democratic governors. Neither Texas, which has a Republican governor, nor Florida have been as hard-hit by the virus as California and New York. DeSantis has defended his decision not to close beaches statewide, arguing that the open spaces are not conducive to the spread of the virus. Englewood Beach in Charlotte County Florida was crowded on Saturday, March 20, 2020. Thomas O'Neill | NurPhoto | Getty Images "Do you hear the same people complaining about the NYC Subway system being open?" DeSantis told reporters, according to the Orlando Sentinel. "I mean, give me a break. Which one is more conducive to having COVID-19 spread or any respiratory virus? It's not even close." Scott, who said he favored tough measures including a halt to domestic air travel, refused to weigh in on DeSantis' approach, saying he would not "second guess" the governor. Other Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have also sought to cast the blame for the spread of coronavirus on China, the country where it was first identified late last year. Trump has called coronavirus the "Chinese virus" and said that the Chinese government could have stopped it from spreading to other countries. Trump's economic agenda has been marked by an aggressive trade dispute with China, the U.S.' chief financial rival. China is notorious for its tight control of information that could be damaging to its ruling party. The state has a vast censorship apparatus, maintains a grip on domestic media, and was accused of concealing information about the 2003 SARS outbreak in the country. The country originally reprimanded a doctor, Dr. Li Wenliang, who spread early warnings about coronavirus and died from the disease. Party officials later apologized. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Eric Jones Vice President Mike Pence, Chad F. Wolf, the acting Secretary of Homeland Security and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) stand together during a press conference after participating in a discussion held at Port Everglades about possible coronavirus issues that the cruise line company leaders are experiencing on Saturday on March 07, 2020 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images SYOSSET, NYAs the new coronavirus continues spreading throughout New York, supplies of protective medical equipment continue to be strained. Eager to do their part to help, the American Muslims of Syosset recently raised money to collect personal protective equipment for front-line workers. "It has been a challenge locating vendors because of the nationwide shortage," Hasan Sheikh with the American Muslims of Syosset, said. Courtesy: Hasan Sheikh Despite those challenges, Long Island Muslims recently came together to donate over $6,000 to support local healthcare workers and first responders, according to Sheikh. The money was then used to purchase 7,000 gloves as well as 2,000 surgical masks and 100 bottles of hand sanitizer and disinfectants. The items were delivered directly to hospitals, including Good Samaritan Medical Center and Catholic Health Services. Courtesy: Hasan Sheikh "We have already delivered on the following initiatives and continuing to work on others," Sheikh said. Food was also recently provided to the second precinct police department to show appreciation for all of the officers hard work. Courtesy: Hasan Sheikh "We are not done yet. We are going to be providing food for our healthcare professionals at Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) next week," Sheikh said. "We are also in the process of procuring isolation gowns and N95 masks for our heroes fighting on the front lines. We are all in this together!" To keep up to date with coronavirus developments in New York, sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletter. This article originally appeared on the Syosset Patch A total of nine people have now tested positive for COVID-19 aboard the MS Zaandam, a Holland America Line cruise ship sailing in the Caribbean Sea with no definite place to dock as of yet. Four people on the ship have died since the start of a flu-like illness outbreak on the ship that began in mid-March. Two of the deceased tested positive for COVID-19; Holland America not yet said how the other two died. An additional two people are in serious condition and need to be hospitalized. Those latest details were announced Tuesday by William R. Burke, chief maritime officer of Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Holland America, as he spoke to a meeting of the Broward County Commission. The Florida county is home to Fort Lauderdale, where the Zaandam and its sister ship, the MS Rotterdam, are hoping to dock later this week. Of 11 people on board who have been tested for COVID-19 so far, nine were positive, Burke said. He further said only about 14 people on both ships are currently experiencing flu-like symptoms, despite a statement released Monday citing illness in 76 passengers and 117 crew members. The larger figures represent cumulative cases, Burke said, and don't take into account the "60-plus people" that have recovered. "I recognize the numbers are quite different than what you read in the press, because what we report in the press is an accumulation of people who have been sick," Burke said. "At this point, we're assuming that the people who get sick have COVID," he added. Arnulfo Franco/The Associated Press A total of 248 Canadians are among the 1,243 passengers and 586 crew members on the Zaandam and the Rotterdam. The Rotterdam joined the Zaandam on Friday, taking on more than half of its passengers to relieve the dwindling number of crew members who haven't fallen ill. The two ships are travelling together toward the southern U.S. coast, though politicians in the Fort Lauderdale area have voiced concerns about allowing in a coronavirus-hit ship. Story continues Broward County officials are aiming to reach a decision by Thursday morning, before the ships reach the area, which could come as early as that afternoon. On Monday night, Holland America's president had warned there could be more deaths to come if the "stranded" ships don't secure a place to dock. "I fear other lives are at risk," Orlando Ashford wrote in a lengthy statement on the company's website. "We are dealing with a 'not my problem' syndrome," he said, reprimanding previous countries that closed their ports to the wandering cruise ship. "It's tempting to speculate about the illnesses that may have been avoided or lives saved if we'd gotten the assistance we sought weeks ago," he said. Constant rejection After cutting short its South American cruise on March 14 amidst the growing COVID-19 epidemic, the Zaandam has been searching for a place to dock so its passengers could return home. The ship had arranged to dock on Punta Arenas, Chile, on March 16, Ashford said, but the country rejected the Zaandam after closing its borders due to COVID-19 concerns. Argentina and Peru also closed their borders and rejected the ship. Holland America "Repeated requests for humanitarian consideration were denied," he wrote. Ashford suggested the consequences were dire. By March 22, people began falling ill and four passengers eventually died. In his statement, Ashford also suggested countries have been uncooperative in helping the Zaandam obtain medical supplies. "Nations are reluctant to share provisions or afraid to carry critical supplies out to us. What happens when our supplies run out?" he said. 'It's stressful' Meanwhile, passengers are desperate for news that Fort Lauderdale will accept both ships, so that they can finally end their saga and return home. Passengers began their cruise on March 7. "It's stressful. I'm trying to stay positive it's not easy," said Margaret Tilley, 71, of Nanaimo, B.C. who's been confined to her cabin since the illness outbreak one week ago. "That was a frightening day when [the captain] announced those deaths. I was in tears. I was so scared," Tilley said. Submitted by Tanya Williams Politicians in Fort Lauderdale have argued that the surrounding county is already overrun with COVID-19 cases. "I don't want a ship wandering around with no place to dock, so I'm sympathetic. I think most of the commission is sympathetic," said Broward County commissioner Steve Geller at Tuesday's meeting to discuss the fate of the Zaandam and Rotterdam. "[But] we are elected by the voters of Broward County and really do have an obligation to the roughly two million citizens in Broward." Still, the stranded passengers wait and hope their pattern of rejection ends soon. "It's just a waiting game," said Tilley. "We can't solve it ourselves. We can't fix anything. We're at their mercy." New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declined to retaliate against President Donald Trump's latest jabs on Monday. Carlo Allegri/Reuters New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for unity in his Monday press briefing after President Donald Trump criticized him earlier in the morning in a phone interview on "Fox & Friends." As Trump weighed in on Cuomo's boosted approval rating 87%, according to a new Siena poll he said, "One of the reasons he's successful is because we've helped make him successful." On Sunday, Trump accused New York hospitals of hoarding ventilators and other medical equipment. "I'm not going to engage in politics, not because I'm unwilling to tangle, but because I think it's inappropriate, and I think it's counterproductive, and I think it's anti-American," Cuomo said when asked about Trump's comments. Trump and Cuomo have clashed over the federal government's inability to get New York up to 30,000 ventilators. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo took the high road during his Monday press briefing after President Donald Trump continued to take swipes at him and other governors through the weekend and on Monday morning. Cuomo and Trump have tangled over their divergent assessments of the severity of the coronavirus pandemic, with Cuomo calling on Trump to enforce the Defense Production Act to get the Empire State up to 30,000 ventilators and Trump chafing at governors for enacting safety measures that he believes slow the economy. On a Monday morning call on "Fox & Friends," Trump took partial credit for Cuomo's approval-rating boost, which hit 87% among New York respondents in a new Siena poll. "One of the reasons his numbers are high on handling it is because of the federal government," Trump said in a live phone interview. "Because we give him ships, and we give him ventilators, and we give him all of the things that we're giving him." He added: "One of the reasons he's successful is because we've helped make him successful." Story continues Trump escalated his attacks on Democratic governors through last week and over the weekend. REUTERS/Al Drago After Cuomo greeted the USNS Comfort hospital ship at Manhattan's Pier 90 on Monday morning, he addressed Trump's jabs during a press briefing at the Javits Center, which is being converted into a hospital. Cuomo said he took Trump's approval-rating comments as a "compliment" and called for unity in the face of the pandemic. "I'm not going to engage in politics, not because I'm unwilling to tangle, but because I think it's inappropriate, and I think it's counterproductive, and I think it's anti-American," Cuomo said. "Forget the politics," he added. "We have a national crisis. We are at war. There is no politics. There is red, white, and blue." Read the original article on Business Insider Tuscaloosa restaurants The Avenue Pub and Central Mesa will suspend operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, owner Craig Williams posted on social media Monday. Williams released the following statement about his downtown restaurants on Instagram: It is with a heavy heart we have made the decision to suspend operations at Avenue Pub and Central Mesa until circumstances return to normal. We are so grateful for those of you who have supported us during this time. We cannot thank you enough! Our guests and the well being of our employees are our highest priorities. We have not made this decision lightly. Our thoughts are with the community of Tuscaloosa and we look forward to serving you at both locations again in the near future. -- Craig. The Avenue Pub is located at 405 23rd Avenue in Tuscaloosa, while Central Mesa is located at 519 Greensboro Avenue. The Alabama Department of Public Health has banned on-premise consumption of food and beverages at restaurants, bars and breweries throughout the entire state. Citing a rapidly developing situation, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox last Thursday extended a city-wide curfew to 24 hours. Maddox announced the expansion to the curfew during a news conference Thursday night and said he revised Wednesdays executive order due to two developments, including briefings with researchers and doctors at state hospitals that showed an imminent threat to the publics health and the citys healthcare system. A Washington father is taking the mother of his daughter to court because he claims she is 'endangering' the child because she works at a hospital where an employee tested positive for coronavirus last week. The mother, from Spokane, works at the Eastern State Hospital where an employee tested positive for COVID-19 after taking the test on March 23. The father, who is unnamed, claims that the mother's job as a health care worker is 'endangering our child by potentially unknowingly exposing [child] to (COVID-19),' according to documents obtained by KHQ. The father is asking a judge to 'issue an immediate restraining order,' according to the documents. The mother, from Spokane, works at the Eastern State Hospital where an employee tested positive for COVID-19 after taking the test on March 23 He is also asking to keep the child away from her mother, until the health care worker can prove she does not have the coronavirus. Some 21 people who are either employed or in the care of the state agency at one of its all-hours locations have tested positive for COVID-19, according to information released by the department Tuesday morning, the Spokesman Review reports. The hospital is a 287-bed mental health treatment facility that serves 20 counties in the states eastern area. Patients at the hospital are either civilly committed or court-ordered for treatment there. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Washington was over 5,100 as of Monday, while the death toll reached 219. It was an increase of 15 new deaths and 292 new infections from the previous day. Deaths there are now not increasing as much as they are in other US states despite the fact that Washington was the epicenter of the country's outbreak just three weeks ago (stock) Health officials in King County, which includes the city of Seattle, said on Monday there were now 2,330 cases and 150 deaths in that area. It showed an increase of 171 cases and nine deaths from the day before. Deaths there are now not increasing as much as they are in other US states despite the fact that Washington was the epicenter of the country's outbreak just three weeks ago. Washington recorded the first known coronavirus case in the US and also the first few deaths of the pandemic before it started spreading rapidly across the country. President Trump praised Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee as the 'greatest strategic military mind perhaps ever' in a meeting with top officials amid the Charlottesville crisis in 2017 - before taking them on a tour of the Lincoln Bedroom, a new book revealed. In 'Front Row at the Trump Show,' ABC News' Jonathan Karl divulges new details about a White House meeting that happened the day before Trump made his controversial quip - that there were 'very fine people on both sides.' Trump was responding to the August 2017 'Unite the Right' demonstration by neo-Nazis, KKK members and white supremacists over the pending removal of Lee's statue in Charlottesville, Virginia and the counter-protests that sprung up. VERY FINE PEOPLE: A new book reveals details about a meeting President Trump had with advisers a day before he made controversial comments about the August 2017 demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, saying there were 'very fine people on both sides' Trump was crafting a response to a demonstration of neo-Nazis, KKK members and white supremacists in Charlottesville, who gathered around a Robert E. Lee statue that was to be taken down Trump initially condemned 'hatred, bigotry and violence,' adding, 'on many sides, on many sides,' and was criticized for equating the members of hate groups (pictured) with Americans who came out to counter-protest ABC News' Jonathan Karl wrote in his new book that Trump was praising Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in a White House meeting and thought 'the protesters in Charlottesville were taking up a good cause' After paying compliments to Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and Stonewell Jackson, President Trump took White House officials on a tour of the Lincoln Bedroom. President Abraham Lincoln was president during the Civil War. Lee and Jackson fought on the other side After the meeting, Trump went ahead and made a statement (pictured) in which he condemned hate groups by name. When this statement got panned in the press, he reverted to what he had said behind closed doors: that there were 'very fine people on both sides' A neo-Nazi had driven his car into the crowd of counter-protesters, causing one fatality, of 32-year-old Heather Heyer on August 12. Several hours later, Trump briefly addressed the nation from his Bedminster, New Jersey resort where he was on a working vacation, condemning the 'hatred, bigotry and violence,' and tacking on the phrase 'on many sides, on many sides.' ABC News' Jonathan Karl's new book 'Front Row at the Trump Show' was released Tuesday He was criticized for not naming the hate groups - though in a statement the next day the press secretray did, condemning the 'KKK, neo-Nazi and all extremist groups.' Cut to the meeting described in Karl's book, which was held in the Treaty Room of the White House residence due to summer construction work happening in the West Wing. Trump had gathered a group of now-ex staffers including Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Chief of Staff John Kelly and Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert. FBI Director Christopher Wray, who still holds the position, was also there. 'According to notes from the meeting, the president, sitting there at Ulysses Grant's old conference table, delcared that Robert E. Lee was "the greatest strategic military mind perhaps ever. 'He also praised Confederate general Stonewell Jackson,' Karl wrote. Grant was the commanding general of the Union army, which fought against Lee and Jackson during the Civil War. 'He made it clear the KKK and neo-Nazis were "bad" but he seemed to dismiss that as too obvious a point,' the ABC News White House correspondent continued. 'The issue for Trump was that the protesters in Charlottesville were taking up a good cause by fighting to keep the statue of Robert E. Lee in a prominent place.' Trump then said he thought 'next will be Washington and Jefferson' - two Founding Fathers who were slave owners - and he asked those in the room if they thought this was fair. 'Nobody jumped in to agree with the president or to challenge him. Nobody in the room suggested to him that praising Confederate generals was the inappropriate thing for a president to do under any circumstances, let alone after all that had gone down in Charlottesville just two days before,' read Karl's account. Karl added that Kelly, a four-star general, chimed in to say he agreed about the 'greatness of the Confederate generals and on [Trump's] point about Washington and Jefferson.' Wray, who had newly taken over the FBI after the firing of Director James Comey, tried to steer the conversation to the federal investigation of Heyer's death and made clear to the president it was important to name the KKK and the neo-Nazis as being responsible for the violence. 'But the president kept going, talking about the brilliance of the Confederate generals and the ridiculousness of the effort to remove their statues,' Karl wrote. As the meeting wrapped up, Trump made an offer. 'Do you want to see the Lincoln Bedroom?' he asked the group, according to Karl's reporting. Abraham Lincoln was president during the Civil War, in which the southern states seceded the United States over the issue of slavery, and were led in the battlefield by generals including Lee and Jackson. 'And with that, the group walked out of the room, stepped to the right, and went into the Lincoln Bedroom,' Karl wrote. 'Just moments after praising Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewell Jackson, the president was gushing about Abraham Lincoln.' During the tour, Trump talked of Lincoln's great physical height.' He talked about how the Gettysburg Address was panned by the press during Lincoln's day. 'To those in the room the implication was clear: The fake news hated Lincoln then just like they hated Trump now,' Karl wrote. He then argued with Kelly about where the address was penned. Trump was right when he said the White House and not on a train. 'Kelly hadn't taken issue with the president's rant just minutes before about the brilliance of Confederate generals and how protesters marching with neo-Nazis were being treated unfairly, but here he was interrupting the president's story about the Gettysburg Address and bluntly correcting him,' Karl pointed out in his book. Directly after the Lincoln Bedroom tour, Trump went downstairs to the Diplomatic Reception Room and read the prepared statement, which his advisers had pressed him to do. Trump was incensed by the coverage his statement received, with even the friendly Fox News Channel calling it a 'course correction.' 'This is f***ing your fault,' he told his aides, according to the book. 'That's the last time I do that.' The president believed by delivering the second statement he was acknowledging he didn't go far enough with the first - the one that didn't name the hate groups responsible. And so when he was set to address the press again in the Trump Tower lobby the next day, he allowed the sentiments he expressed in the closed-door meeting with advisers to spill out. 'But Kelly had no reason to be surprised,' Karl said, pointing to the memorable photo of Trump's chef of staff's face in distress. 'He had heard it all less than twenty-four hours earlier. And while he had encouraged the president to say something else, neither he - nor the FBI director or the attorney general, who were also there - had challenged anything he said.' Karl charged that Kelly and the other aides had decided to 'placate' Trump 'so that he would read a carefully crafted statement they wanted him to read in public.' The ABC newsman also said that Charlottesville was a turning point for the president. 'He would never again let anybody talk him into admitting a mistake or doing anything with even the faintest hint of an apology. There would be no more course corrections,' Karl said. Speaking to DailyMail.com Tuesday, the day his book was released, Karl expressed that the meeting shocked him for multiple reasons. 'I was stunned to learn that as controversial as Trump's public comments on Charlottesville were that he had said almost exactly the same thing the day before in a meeting with his top advisers - and nobody objected or suggested to him that his words were highly problem[atic],' Karl said over email. 'And then he took them on a tour of the Lincoln Bedroom!' 66% of all eConsults for Gynaecology are from women in the age group of 20-30 Practo, digital company has recently came out with a healthcare map on Indian women which is based on insights from seven crore women users in the period of Jan 2019 - Dec 2019. The Insights summarize the recent trends which reflects the way women in India address their health concerns and take care of their health needs. Key insights: Gynaecology emerged as the most popular speciality amongst women, esp in the age group of 20-30 Women in the age group of 20-30, accounted for 66% of the overall consults on gynecology Overall, eConsults for gynaecology grew by 44% since last year Growth among metro cities stood at 67%, with most of the consults coming in from Bangalore, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai (in that order) Non-Metros grew at 57% since last year, with cities like Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Indore, Agra and Varanasi contributing majorly Top queries discussed were irregular periods, pregnancy, unprotected sex complications and PCOD 6pm-8pm is when most consults happened with gynecologist, indicating, a growing trend of consulting after office hours Dermatology and Sexology rank as the second and third most popular specialities amongst women users in 20-30 age group Overall, Dermatology consults grew over 40% since last year Trichology and cosmetology were the top categories of discussion among young women who are increasingly taking professional advice when it comes to the wellbeing of their skin and hair Overall, Sexology consults witnessed an increase of 130% in the last one year Indian women find econsults as a safe alternative to self-diagnosis, especially when it comes to their sexual health. It empowers them to be more proactive about their health, say medical experts Childrens health (Pediatrics) was the top concern for women in the age group of 30-40 Women in the age group of 30-40, accounted for 76% of the overall consults on pediatrics Overall, Pediatrics witnessed a growth of 45% since last year Health queries around remedies for cold and cough for infants and vaccination for babies were among the most discussed queries last year Top eConsults for pediatrics came from metro cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR, Mumbai and Pune Non-metro cities like Lucknow, Patna, Jaipur, Mangalore, Visakhapatnam and Indore witnessed a 125% growth in the number of eConsults that came in for pediatrics Queries regarding infants health saw a 93% rise during odd hours(10 pm - 6 am) as new mothers tend to get worried by even the smallest of symptoms in infants Women above 40 consulted Orthopedists the most 76% of the consults for orthopedics came from women aged 40 - 50 Overall, Orthopedics witnessed a growth of 32% in the last one year and most discussed queries were high grade knee tear, back and joint pain, fractured or broken tibia and arthritis Bangalore city topped the chart when it comes to consulting for orthopedics from specialitists on Practo Non-metro cities like Jaipur, Patna, Lucknow, Bhopal and Kanpur witnessed a growth of 120% Problems like spinal strain and lower back pain that are related to severe work pressure topped the query Women preferred afternoons to consult orthopedists indicating a preference of consulting during office hours Dr Alexander Kuruvilla, Chief Healthcare Strategy Officer, Practo said, Today's consumers face three key challenges in their healthcare journey: access, quality and affordability. eConsults have emerged as a preferred alternative to consumers, esp. millennials, for whom time and quality is of essence. It has the power to reach users even in the remotest of villages, at the oddest of hours, when access to specialists may be a challenge. And that's one trend that's emerging strongly, esp. among women users. We see women increasingly using our platform to consult doctors instead of self-diagnosing or worse still, ignoring their symptoms all together. In our endeavour to make quality healthcare affordable and accessible to billions, eclinic plays an important role, and we're committed to widening its reach even further over the coming years." Dr Vanita Vaishnav, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Bangalore, said, Digital platforms like Practo provides an excellent opportunity for people, especially women to seek medical assistance from specialized doctors by empowering them with the right information, and easy access to quality healthcare. There is an increased awareness among women in India regarding various health problems as well as growth in the number of people consulting the right specialists due to efficiency of channels like online consultations. Digital healthcare has played a significant role in improving the overall experience of the patients in terms of accessibility, quality, convenience, and especially trust. This report aims to highlight the disease trends facing Indian women. TELUS Corporation TU recently announced that it is waiving fees under its Internet for Good program for 60 days in order to support low-income and deprived families in Canada with seamless wireless connectivity. The step is primarily aimed at helping low-income users to cope with the coronavirus-induced crisis by providing them with enhanced digital services for free. Despite such novel corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, the companys shares declined 0.1% in yesterdays trading session to close at $15.16. Introduced in 2016, Internet for Good is an innovative partnership between TELUS, Ministry of Community and Social Services in Alberta and the British Columbia Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. Specifically designed to encourage digital equality, the program provides underprivileged families with seamless accessibility of high-speed Internet services and broadband connectivity. Apart from providing low-cost Internet access, the program enables Canadians to improve the mental well-being of children with free digital literacy resources amid this hour of crisis. Notably, the Internet for Good program, which generally provides Internet plans at just $9.95/month, are currently available to more than 200,000 Canadian families with no additional costs for two months. Several other premier companies like AT&T Inc. T, Verizon Communications Inc. VZ, Sprint Corporation S and T-Mobile have joined forces with Federal Communications Commission to utilize additional spectrum to address the wireless broadband needs of Americans during the ongoing pandemic. Apart from taking necessary steps to prevent the spread of the contagious disease, these tech behemoths are waiving wireless voice and data overage fees for all customers and expanding eligibility for its low-income Internet program for the next 60 days. Currently, TELUS is focused on strategy execution, amplifying efforts to increase cost efficiency for margin accretive customer growth and investing to support its growth strategy. With the expansion of IoT marketplace in Canada, TELUS is aiming to consolidate its foothold in the market. It has introduced the TELUS Global IoT Connectivity platform to deliver seamless connectivity and simplified billing across 200 networks globally to support the expansion of Canadian business enterprises. The companys financial targets for 2020 reflect growth in data services across wireless and wireline. The company intends to continue generating subscriber growth in its key segments, including wireless, Internet, TV, and home automation and security. Increasing demand for reliable access and fast data services is expected to support customer growth. TELUS Health and TELUS International are also likely to continue contributing to its growth profile. TELUS has long-term earnings growth expectation of 5.5%. Shares of the Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) have lost 5.4% compared with the industrys decline of 5% in the past year. Story continues You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here. Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020? Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys. Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report AT&T Inc. (T) : Free Stock Analysis Report Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report TELUS Corporation (TU) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sprint Corporation (S) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. The disease caused by the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19, has now infected nearly 770,000 people. More than 36,000 people have died from the disease. The United States has more confirmed cases of infection than any other country. Johns Hopkins Universitys Coronavirus Resource Centers website said Monday that the U.S. has more than 153,000 confirmed infections, followed by Italy with 100,000 and Spain with 85,000. China, where the virus started, has about 82,000. Health officials expect the numbers of confirmed infections to rise, as more people will be tested for the virus. Countries around the world are racing to build new hospitals or adding measures to treat new patients. A U.S. Navy hospital ship arrived in New York City while the city turned Central Park and other buildings into field hospitals to add spaces. Air Force planes flew patients from France and Italy to Germany and Switzerland to free up intensive care for coronavirus patients on life-support. A nursing home official told The Associated Press that sick patients in Spain are dying because they are unable to get into overcrowded hospitals. Healthcare workers expect hospitals will not have enough ventilators -- machines that help patients breathe -- for coronavirus patients needing such treatment. In the U.S., the non-profit Society for Critical Care Medicine estimated that as many as 900,000 coronavirus patients could need the machines during the outbreak. The United States, however, has only 200,000. Many of those machines are already being used by patients. Last Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump used his emergency power under the Defense Production Act to require that carmaker General Motors make more ventilators. In preparation, health officials are examining guidelines from state governments and medical groups on how to use limited resources in emergencies. For example, New York states health department guideline excludes some seriously ill people from receiving ventilators in major emergencies. The guideline also says that age may be considered when deciding which patients would be given a ventilator. This week, however, medical experts in Germany said age alone should not be a deciding factor in treatment for COVID-19 patients. U.S. hospitals also have to decide how long a patient might need a hospital bed or ventilator and how many more lives the machine could save if it were made available to others. That means doctors could have to make decisions that they have never faced -- whether to take a patient off a ventilator to free it up for others. I pray for their good judgment and their capacity as they make very difficult choices, said Erik Curren. His 77-year-old father died earlier this month from breathing problems related to the coronavirus at an assisted living home in Florida. Nancy Berlinger is with the Hastings Center, a bioethics research institute. She said, This is a really terrifying decision -- you dont want any doctor or nurse to be alone with this decision. Dr. Deborah Birx is leading the U.S. effort in the fight against COVID-19. She noted that there is no evidence yet that a hospital bed or ventilator will not be available for Americans when they need it. Even in New York, she said, beds are still available in intensive care units and a large number of ventilators are not being used. But what is happening in many countries has worried American healthcare workers. In France and Spain, hospital and nursing home officials say nursing home residents with signs of COVID-19 are not necessarily admitted to intensive care. Marc Bourquin of the French Hospital Federation said in hard-hit areas, they are hospitalized only when there is a chance to save them. In northern Italy, Dr. Luca Lorini at the Pope John XXIII hospital compared the treatment of coronavirus patients to the treatment of people waiting for an organ transplant. One heart and 10 people who are waiting for a heart transplant. Who gets the heart? The one who has the greatest chance of living better and longer with that heart, he said. I'm Jonathan Evans. Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on Associated Press news reports. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story guidelines - n. rules or instructions that tell how something should be done exclude - n. to leave out something factor - n. something that helps produce or influence a result capacity - n. the ability to do something bioethics - n. the ethics of medical and biological research resident - n. someone who lives in a particular place transplant - n. a medical operation in which an organ is put in the body of a person System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. 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On March 27, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had a phone conversation with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, who is also deputy supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates' armed forces. Among other things, the two discussed efforts to jointly fight the coronavirus. Sisterly Syria will not remain alone in these critical conditions, the prince later tweeted. In spite of the public contacts between Syrian officials and Emirati diplomats, until now it has been difficult to figure out whether the member of the royal family was actually willing to negotiate with the Syrian presidential administration. In late 2018, the UAE reopened its embassy in Damascus and embarked on a number of initiatives to help boost the Syrian regime. All these measures were taken in exchange for Damascus and Moscows attempts to limit Iranian and Turkish influence or at least to take some steps in this direction. Although Moscow intensified its contacts with the UAE during the Syrian-Turkish clashes of February and March, Russia clearly demonstrated that Ankara is a significant partner. Iran's actions, in turn, have long been quietly met by Russia with various countermeasures. They included personnel transformations within the Syrian army, efforts to centralize control over militias and restraining pro-Iranian groups both in Syria's southwest and northwest. Al Modon, a Lebanese periodical, has reported that Russian commanders in Syria decided to turn the situation related to the coronavirus epidemic in Iran to their benefit by starting to filter out pro-Iranian forces fighting on the side of the Syrian Arab Army. The Russian command allegedly imposed a rule requiring deployment of Syrian army formations loyal to Russia separately from pro-Iranian forces. These precautions were introduced in order to prevent infection among the soldiers that, in some way or another, come into contact with the Iranian Shiite international forces and local militias affiliated with Tehran. It should be noted that such isolation, if true, could be imposed only in select areas, involving certain groups the 5th Special Mission Forces Division, also known as Tiger Forces, under the command of Syrian Brig. Gen. Suhail al-Hassan and Russian special forces patronage, and brigades of the pro-Russian 5th Corps. It is widely known that numerous local militias affiliated with Iran, collectively called the Local Defense Forces, are included in the regime's army, and a number of Shiite international forces such as Liwa al-Imam Hussein (Lions of Hussein Brigade) and the Liwa Sayyaf al-Mahdi (Lions of the Warriors of the Mahdi Brigade) are integrated into Syrian Maj. Gen. Maher al-Assads 4th Division. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu recently discussed the coronavirus pandemic and Idlib in Damascus with the Syrian president. A source in the Russian military told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the presence of Adm. Igor Kostyukov head of the Russian armed forces' General Staff's main intelligence department in the Shoigu-Assad meeting could in part be read as a Russian intention to maintain the agreement with Turkey over Idlib just as Ankara is preparing a limited counterterrorist operation to restructure opposition groups. The discussion had indeed addressed the events at the eastern bank of Euphrates; however, it was also related to the pandemic issue, the source said. He added that prospects of new Turkish-Russian tactical cooperation in this field may be dependent on the territorial exchange in the Tel Rifaat area in the north of Aleppo province. This de-escalation zone was created in 2017 and has been viewed by Moscow and Ankara as a territory for potential co-patrolling. Some reports suggest that the Kurdish forces have already informed local commanders and their relatives that they have to leave the city as soon as possible and move to other areas to the east of the Euphrates. Hints for a new plan involving seizing oil-rich areas currently controlled by the Americans east of the Euphrates were voiced by the Turkish government in early March. At the time Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to work with Russia in the region to help Syria, devastated by the war, to get back on its feet. It is only natural that groups of military advisers and special forces personnel would face a security issue during the pandemic, considering the threats in central and eastern Syria created by [air connections] with Iran and Shiite pilgrims traveling back and forth, the Russian military source said. It is noteworthy that maintenance of new agreements between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin depends on stability in Idlib; at the same time, a number of key areas around towns such as Saraqeb and Kafranbel are mostly controlled by pro-Iranian militias. The effect of the coronavirus further complicates the dilemma Tehran has been facing since the murder of the influential Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, on how to unite its proxy forces in the region. Shoigus visit to Damascus took place several days before Syria officially admitted its first case of coronavirus infection; afterward, several military ambulances were noticed on the Russian Dvinitsa-50 ship heading to the Syrian port of Tartus. As of March 31, Syria had officially reported 10 COVID-19 cases and two deaths. Nevertheless, the separation of professional soldiers from pro-Iranian formations is not a brand-new measure taken during the Syrian campaign. After the missile strikes conducted by the United States, the UK and France on Syrian facilities in April 2018, the Syrian air forces chief command requested that Iranian forces and allied Shiite militias limit the number of Syrian military airports and hangars where they operate. Though Tehran prefers to deploy its military facilities near Russian bases and strongholds in order to protect them from Israeli air attacks, the facilities that Iran disguises as economic projects are placed a considerable distance from Russian forces due to competition with Moscow. It is rather likely that the pandemic will officially allow those opposing Iranian influence in Moscow and within the Syrian government to take temporary measures to isolate Iranian forces and gradually make this isolation permanent. However, these steps will hardly be able to alter Tehrans general infiltration into the Syrian army and security apparatus and even less able to drive Iranian militias out of the eastern regions. A woman has been charged with murder in the shooting death of her father in the small north Alabama town of Priceville. Angela Joy Vest, 40, is held in the Morgan County jail with bail set at $75,000, records show. Shes charged in the killing of her 60-year-old father, Kenneth Dewayne Vest, according to police. The man was found dead when police were called on Thursday afternoon to the familys home on Old Somerville Road in Priceville, a small town about 25 miles southwest of Huntsville. The daughter was released from custody last week pending further investigation. But on Monday, she asked for a meeting with investigators, said Priceville police Chief Rick Williams in a statement. After the meeting, the woman was arrested. Additional details are being withheld until the conclusion of the investigation, Williams said in the statement. If convicted, Angela Vest faces up to life in prison. Its unclear whether she has an attorney to speak on her behalf. Whole Foods employees are demanding better pay and protections as they work through the new coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, employees of the Amazon-owned grocery chain plan to call in sick en masse in the company's first collective workplace strike since its founding in 1980, Vice reports. They're seeking paid leave for all workers who call out sick or are quarantining during the pandemic, free COVID-19 testing for all employees, and hazard pay that doubles the current hourly wage for workers. Whole Foods employees and others who work at grocery stores have been deemed essential employees throughout the coronavirus pandemic, putting them at increased risk of catching the virus. Employees at Whole Foods locations in several states have tested positive for COVID-19, Vice reports. Whole Foods responded to news of the "sickout" by offering a temporary pay increase of $2 an hour for every worker and two weeks of paid leave for those who test positive for COVID-19, "which isn't enough," an anonymous organizer told Vice. "It's very plausible that some of us will die for this job." Shoppers for the grocery delivery service Instacart started their nationwide walkout on Monday to similarly demand additional hazard pay for every delivery, paid protections such as hand sanitizer and gloves, and expanded sick leave. Employees at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island, New York also walked out Monday to protest their continued work even though an employee was confirmed to have COVID-19 case. And at a General Electric factory outside Boston, workers actually walked off the job to demand they start making ventilators to address a nationwide shortage. More stories from theweek.com Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is what real coronavirus leadership looks like Relax about Biden Fox News reportedly fears its early downplaying of COVID-19 leaves it open to lawsuits Trend The genocide committed against Azerbaijanis by the Armenian troops in of March 1918 is one of the bloodiest pages in history, Huseyn Altinalan, spokesman for the Turkish Embassy in Azerbaijan, told Trend on March 31. The spokesman reminded that as a result of the genocide, thousands of Azerbaijanis were brutally killed, including old people, women and children, hundreds of villages were wiped out. These atrocities occurred not only in Baku, but also in Shamakhi, Guba, Karabakh, Nakhchivan, Altinalan added. Only the entry of the Islamic Army of the Caucasus, created on the initiative of Minister of War of the Ottoman Empire Enver Pasha, put an end to this bloodshed. This army suffered great losses in Azerbaijan." The January 20 tragedy of 1990, the Khojaly genocide and Genocide of Azerbaijanis committed on March 31 testify that gaining independence is not an easy task, the spokesman said. "No one must forget how the independence was gained and this truth must be conveyed to the future generations," Altinalan said. The spokesman stressed that 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories are still under Armenias occupation. "It is necessary to convey this to the international community," Altinalan added. In conclusion, the spokesman added that Turkey condemns the Armenian murderers for the genocide intentionally committed against Azerbaijanis in March 1918. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Michael Gove today admitted the government's coronavirus testing operation must go 'further, faster' after Downing Street suggested a target of 25,000 daily checks may not be met until the end of next month. The Minister for the Cabinet Office said the lack of availability of crucial chemicals which are needed in the testing process was a 'critical constraint' on the UK's efforts. He said Boris Johnson and the Health Secretary Matt Hancock were now working together to try to source the globally in-demand material that Britain needs. Speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference, Mr Gove said: While the rate of testing is increasing we must go further, faster. A critical constraint on the ability to rapidly increase testing capacity is the availability of the chemical reagents which are necessary in the testing. The Prime Minister and the Health Secretary are working with companies worldwide to ensure that we get the material we need to increase tests of all kinds.' Critics today labelled the UK's efforts a 'catastrophe' and 'dismal' when compared to what is being done in Germany where 500,000 tests are being carried out every week. Downing Street had earlier hinted at Mr Johnsons's apparent frustration at the slow progress on ramping up Britain's capacity, with a spokesman saying he wants 'as much progress to be made on this as possible'. The UK is currently managing just under 10,000 tests a day with the government having previously said it wants to get to 25,000 by the middle of April. But today Number 10 said the timetable was 'mid to late April' - seemingly an admission that efforts have stalled. Politicians from different parties are now lining up to criticise the government's approach while business chiefs are doing the same. Jeremy Hunt, the Tory former health secretary, said mass testing in the community must be carried out by the government while Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said the efforts so far were an 'embarrassment'. Scottish entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne told MailOnline the government's 'dismal' handling of the testing crisis will send vast numbers of British businesses to the wall - and delay the country's economic recovery. Experts have insisted 'organisation' rather than a shortage of facilities is to blame for the painfully slow rise in checks. However, there are also suggestions that the UK is struggling to obtain enough of the tests themselves, with Germany seemingly able to acquire them from domestic manufacturers while Britain is having to import them. It came amid reports that NHS England and NHS Wales ended up bidding against each other for testing equipment at the end of last week, prompting the four Home Nations to agree that all procurement will be done in Whitehall. Michael Gove today said the UK must go 'further, faster' in ramping up its coronavirus testing efforts A nurse takes a swab from an NHS worker at a testing facility in Chessington yesterday Germany has been conducting 500,000 tests a week and is aiming to hit 200,000 tests a day in the near future. Part of the difference between the UK and Germany is reportedly that the latter has more tests available domestically. There are also claims that a shipment of testing kit parts from the European mainland has been found to be contaminated with the virus, in another potential delay. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted this morning that the government was struggling with the logistical challenge of increasing testing, saying it was not a 'trivial or straightforward' task. 'This is never going to be enough,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. We always need to be pushing.' Ministers boasted on Sunday that they had reached a target of 10,000 tests a day. However, while the capacity has been reached, the government has yet to actually carry out that number. The latest figures from Public Health England were 8,278 in the 24 hours to 9am on Sunday, which was actually down from 9,114 the previous day. The numbers have sparked widespread concerns about the UK approach to testing. Mr Hunt, the chairman of the Health Select Committee, said it would be 'very worrying' if the UK chose not to follow the lead of the likes of Germany and South Korea. He said mass testing allows for 'a lot less' disruption to daily lives because those who have the disease can be isolated and prevented from passing the virus on. He said: 'It is internationally proven as the most effective way of breaking the chain of transmission. So however difficult it is to source the reagents, to ramp up the capacity of laboratories up and down the country, it is essential that mass community testing is part of our national strategy. Mr Farage told MailOnline: 'Testing is a catastrophe. Its an embarrassment. We do not appear to have done anything in six weeks to get ourselves in a better position on this. 'If I was an NHS frontline worker waiting week after week after week for this I would be furious.' He added: 70,000 tests a day in Germany, a million tests now conducted in America, and we in six weeks have managed to do as many tests as the Germans do in two days. Everybody wants to believe in their leader during a crisis and everyone has given Boris the benefit of the doubt I think public opinion is beginning to ask very serious questions. Scottish entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne told MailOnline that the government's 'dismal' handling of the testing crisis will send vast numbers of British businesses to the wall - and delay the country's economic recovery. The gym mogul and former Dragons' Den star said: 'The Government must get on top of testing immediately. The longer we are in lockdown the more businesses will go bust. 'My business hands over 39million to the Government every year in VAT, PAYE and corporation tax. As long as we are closed they get nothing. 'Their handling of the testing issue has been dismal to say the least.' Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted this morning that the government was struggling with the logistical challenge of increasing testing, saying it was not a 'trivial or straightforward' task CHEMICAL REAGENTS: NECESSARY FOR TESTING BUT IN HIGH GLOBAL DEMAND A global shortage of the chemicals needed to produce coronavirus tests has emerged as another setback in the UK's plans to test more people. Industry bosses say chemical reagents that are used in the test are in short supply around the world as countries have scrambled to test their citizens for COVID-19. Lab tests for the coronavirus work by regrowing a patient's DNA in a lab and examining it to find traces of genetic material left behind by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. For this to work, technicians need a chemical called a reagent to trigger the chemical reaction which starts the process. There are various types of reagents which can be used in a COVID-19 test, supplied by different companies around the world, but they are in high demand everywhere. They are not unique to coronavirus and are the same reagents used in tests for illnesses such as flu. The US has 10 different types of reagent listed in the priority list by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is not clear whether the UK is using reagents manufactured on home soil or importing them. Some NHS labs have now resorted to make their own in 'home brew' situations so they can test patients, The Times reported. Officials are now scrambling to see if there are alternatives to their first choice, according to the newspaper, and are also trying to shore up supplies of swabs, which are vital for tests. CEO of pharmaceutical company Roche, Severin Schwan, said 'demand is outstripping supply' for the reagents. 'Widespread testing is simply not possible,' he added. While the Professional Association of Laboratory Medics in Germany said: 'The materials required for testing - sample kits, materials for extracting samples, and reagents - are becoming scarce'. The Australian Medical Association sounded the alarm there two weeks ago, when it said some parts of the government had failed to stockpile the right reagents, The Guardian reported. It said global demand was 'exceeding supply' and that 'there are particular concerns around supplies of swabs and DNA extraction kits'. Advertisement Professor Anthony Costello, an ex-director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) who is now based at University College London, dismissed the idea that the UK does not have enough laboratory facilities to process the tests. 'We need a policy of mass community testing as well as the blunt instrument of social distancing,' he told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme. 'We need to do that because we want to arrow in on detecting cases and contact and quarantine. We need to have enough tests to protect our health workers... 'But most important when we want to loosen up the lockdown we want to have control over that. 'There will be much less disruption if we can do that rather than isolating the entire economy.' He went on: 'In answer to can we do it, we have 44 molecular virology labs in the UK. 'If they were doing 400 tests a day we would be up to Germany levels of testing and that is perfectly feasible. Asked whether he was saying that the UK has the capacity but is just not organising it properly, Prof Costello said: 'Yeah, correct. I don't see why we cannot get these 44 molecular virology labs up and running, finding the cases and testing. 'PHE were slow and controlled, and they only allowed non-PHE labs to start testing two weeks ago. But that was after the strategy shift to stopping community tests. 'We need to be like Korea.... their death rate is three per million and they have suppressed the virus.' The World Health Organisation (WHO) has praised countries like South Korea have for their wide-scale testing regimes, which have helped limit cases. However, the UK shelved efforts to test everyone with symptoms on March 12, when Britain's response moved into a 'delay' phase. Instead people who thought they had the illness were urged to self-isolate unless their conditions became so severe they needed medical help. Amid criticism, Mr Johnson then declared just under a fortnight ago that there would be a big expansion of tests from under 5,000 a day to 25,000. Routine testing is only just being offered to NHS staff, with 800 per day expected to get access to tests. There are fears that many will have been put at risk, amid complaints that they do not even have enough personal protection kit. A global shortage of the chemicals needed to produce coronavirus tests has emerged as another setback in the UK's plans to test more people. Industry bosses say chemical reagents that are used in the test are in short supply around the world as countries have scrambled to test their citizens for COVID-19. Lab tests for the coronavirus work by regrowing a patient's DNA in a lab and examining it to find traces of genetic material left behind by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. For this to work, technicians need a chemical called a reagent to trigger the chemical reaction which starts the process. There are various types of reagents which can be used in a COVID-19 test, supplied by different companies around the world, but they are in high demand everywhere. They are not unique to coronavirus and are the same reagents used in tests for illnesses such as flu. Germany is set to start mass immunity testing within weeks Germany has also been leading the way on testing for individuals who have already been through the virus and emerged with immunity. Such checks could potentially allow people to be issued with certificates saying they are safe to go back to work - easing the lockdown crippling the economy. The UK government has ordered 17.5million 'antibody' tests, but they have yet to go through clinical trials and it is not clear when they can start being used. A study due to start in Germany in mid-April will see the blood of more than 100,000 volunteers tested for Covid-19 antibodies. The process will be repeated at regular intervals, with the sample scaling up to track the progress of the epidemic. Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said: 'Germany appears to be leading the way in the testing and we have much to learn from their approach. 'I've repeatedly called for more testing and contact tracing in the UK, and we should be looking at initiatives like this closely.' Advertisement The US has 10 different types of reagent listed in the priority list by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is not clear whether the UK is using reagents manufactured on home soil or importing them. Some NHS labs have now resorted to make their own in 'home brew' situations so they can test patients, The Times reported. Germany has also been leading the way on testing for individuals who have already been through the virus and emerged with immunity. Such checks could potentially allow people to be issued with certificates saying they are safe to go back to work - easing the lockdown crippling the economy. The UK government has ordered 17.5million 'antibody' tests, but they have yet to go through clinical trials and it is not clear when they can start being used. A study due to start in Germany in mid-April will see the blood of more than 100,000 volunteers tested for Covid-19 antibodies. The process will be repeated at regular intervals, with the sample scaling up to track the progress of the epidemic. Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said: 'Germany appears to be leading the way in the testing and we have much to learn from their approach. 'I've repeatedly called for more testing and contact tracing in the UK, and we should be looking at initiatives like this closely.' The scale of the problem facing the UK was underlined today with figures suggesting the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak could be 24 per cent higher than NHS figures show. Patients who had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificates numbered 210 in England and Wales up to March 20, the Office for National Statistics revealed. That was 24 per cent higher than the 170 deaths recorded by NHS England and Public Health Wales during the same time frame. If the ratio has stayed true since that time, the true current number of fatalities could be around 1,739 instead of the official 1,408. Lord Hague today warned Mr Johnson he must show UK businesses a 'way out' of the coronavirus crisis by the end of April - or risk thousands of firms permanently closing their doors. Lord Hague said many businesses will choose to shut down if they are not given 'hope' in the form of a government plan for what will happen after the current state of lockdown ends. The former foreign secretary said the government's blueprint for recovery must include a 'massive and compulsory' testing programme so the UK is better able to withstand future outbreaks of the deadly disease. He said the ability to test and trace people in the way that South Korea has been doing will be key because it will give ministers the ability to contain the spread and allow businesses to stay open. The ex-Tory leader said a failure to pursue massive testing capacity would likely result in the UK facing an economic depression rather than just a recession. And he called for one minister to be put in charge of overseeing the development of the future action plan so they are not distracted by day-to-day events. The Tube line was much less busy this morning amid signs the public is starting to heed the government's coronavirus lockdown Germany is already conducting 500,000 tests a week and is hoping to increase numbers to 200,000 per day soon. Pictured is a technician at a lab in Berlin Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on March 30 in Wellington, New Zealand. Mark Mitchell / Getty In a post on Instagram on Friday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand had 18 million masks in reserve, with 80,000 more being made a day. It's not clear how many of these are surgical masks, as opposed to the more effective N95 respirators. But the video appears to show surgical masks being made. The US, which has just under 330 million people, has a national stockpile has about 12 million N95 masks and 30 million surgical masks. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. New Zealand, a nation of about 5 million, has 18 million masks in reserve with 80,000 more being made a day, according to its prime minister. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern posted a video on Instagram on Friday of masks being made in a factory in Whanganui, a city in New Zealand's North Island. New Zealand is under lockdown for a month. As of Tuesday, there were 647 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and one death. Masks are needed by healthcare professionals to treat COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. "I'll admit, I have watched this video more than once. This is a factory in Whanganui churning out face masks to help keep our essential service workers safe," Ardern said in the post. "They can produce at least 80,000 masks a day (including those our front line health workers need) and with new machinery due in coming weeks and months they will be able to double production. "Add to that the 18 million masks we already have in our national reserves and we're well stocked." The previous day, more than 600,000 masks had been distributed to health boards, she said. There are two common types of hospital masks, Business Insider previously reported. N95 respirators are personal protective equipment that can filter out a lot of airborne particles. When worn correctly, they can block out more than 95% of small airborne particles, meaning they can filter out the types of droplets that carry the coronavirus. Story continues Surgical masks are far looser than N95 respirators. They are designed to stop droplets passing from the wearer's mouth to surfaces or other people. They're primarily meant as a physical barrier to keep healthcare providers or sick people from spreading their germs to patients. People in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Wednesday. Sanka Vidanagama/NurPhoto / Getty In Ardern's post, it's not clear how many of each type of masks were being made or how the 18 million masks were divided. But the video appears to show surgical masks being made. In comparison, the US, which has just under 330 million people, has a national stockpile of about 12 million N95 masks and 30 million surgical masks, Business Insider previously reported. Experts have warned that the US faces a shortage of critical supplies like masks, as the number of cases grows. The prime minister's office declined Insider's request for comment, saying Ardern's focus was solely on the government's response to COVID-19. 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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 This is the hilarious moment Londoners lift cans of beans and stretch using brooms in a street exercise class during the coronavirus lockdown. Footage also shows residents performing body-weight exercises from their doorsteps as they adjust to the new normal. It was filmed in Kennington, south London. The capital has remained at the epicentre of the UK's outbreak, recording 7,121 of the UK's 25,150 confirmed cases. Residents have been taking part in street exercise classes in Kennington, south London Another resident was filmed lifting two cans of beans for the exercise session The classes, called On Your Step, have been set up by athlete Simon Garner. One clip on the Instagram account shows at least twenty people standing on their doorsteps lifting brooms up and down as they follow Simon's instructions. A second clip shows a resident in a jacket exercising his biceps by lifting two cans of beans. On the class Instagram account, it says: 'Crazy times call for kind actions with Simon's motivational and movement mornings.' A post says: 'Sweep your step... But don't touch anything, anyone or any alien!' And a second says: 'Wednesday workout... Get those beans up! You got this!' A person taking part, pictured, uses a broom to stretch in the square in Kennington The classes are thought to have been started at the end of last week. The capital has fallen virtually silent as residents have been ordered to stay home, except for leaving the house once a day for exercise and to buy essential items. Tube and bus services have been massively scaled back in response to the crisis, as many have started working from home. President Trump and two Texas oil producers are launching new efforts to temper the stunning supply-demand imbalance and price collapse that's inflicting deep financial wounds in the U.S. industry. Driving the news: Shale producers Pioneer Natural Resources and Parsley Energy have formally asked Texas regulators to take the extraordinary step of imposing mandatory production curbs to help steady the ship. A hearing is expected soon on their request, but the industry is divided over the concept. Separately, Trump talked about oil markets yesterday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country is battling Saudi Arabia for market share after their supply management pact collapsed weeks ago. The White House said they "agreed on the importance of stability in global energy markets." The latest moves come days after the White House and State Department signaled that they're trying to put more pressure on the Saudis too. Yes, but: Prices regained some ground on word of the Trump-Putin talks, Reuters notes. But don't expect a magic fix. It's hard to see changes that could substantially boost prices getting hammered by COVID-19, or quickly ease logistical problems as storage fills up. Restrictions from the pandemic are causing an unprecedented demand decline that analysts see reaching 20 million barrels per day or more in the near term. What they're saying: Despite the flurry of activity, the prospects for diplomatic or U.S. policy changes that significantly staunch the financial bleeding are quite limited, especially as the Saudis press ahead with supply increases. Plus, even relatively modest policy options face hurdles. One example is the new U.S. stabilization package, which cut proposed funding to buy 77 million barrels of oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. "Its really just such a demand shock that very little that can be done on the supply side is going to be able to have an impact," Sarah Ladislaw of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said on a new episode of the Platts Capitol Crude podcast. And when it comes to Russia, a note from ClearView Energy Partners says getting Russia to back off in its fight with the Saudis is no easy thing. "This pro-stability, bilateral engagement may seem more auspicious than apparent silence from Saudi Arabia, but ministerial-level discussion and presidential-level decisions are very different things," they note. The big picture: Via International Oil Daily, Chris Weafer, CEO of Moscow-based Macro-Advisory, said that Trump's call to Putin "shows how badly the price crash is hitting U.S. shale producers." But Weafer added there are some prospects for cooperation. "Whatever the public bravado, all three countries need a higher oil price. Now that the US has indicated it is willing to take part, there is at least a better chance for a solution to emerge, although not too quickly," he told IOD. A member of the powerful Texas Railroad Commission, Ryan Sitton, and Pioneer CEO Scott Sheffield tell her that a (digital) hearing is likely next month on the renewed push for production limits. Where it stands: Sheffield said his company and others received requests late last week from pipeline companies to shut in production, and more broadly says that "Im worried about the industry being totally decimated." Sheffield and Sitton have been floating the idea that Texas, by far the largest U.S. producing state, should consider production quotas as part of wider collaboration with Russia and Saudi Arabia. "We absolutely need to do something to bring some stability to energy markets," Sitton said. But, but, but: The odds of quotas happening appear long. Commission chairman Wayne Christian has expressed deep skepticism about the idea without rejecting it outright. And the powerful American Petroleum Institute is opposed too. Of note: A note from IHS Markit estimates that 10 million barrels per day of global production "will be cut or shut-in from April to June 2020 as oil storage fills up and output from financially strapped companies begins to fall." "If there is no international agreement to curtail oil production then brutal unadulterated market forces will bring the oil market into balance," IHS' Jim Burkhard said. Their note also says the U.S. is squeezed, pointing out that "Saudi Arabia and Russia are better positioned in a low-price environment to maintain or even increase production over the next two years compared to the United States." Go deeper: Imagining a new energy normal after coronavirus While Russia seems to have successfully tackled its historic problem: food shortage - with the agri-food sector becoming one of the most steadily developing of the national economy - the country is already facing a new set of challenges. Today, Russia needs to address several key growth factors, such as sustainability, missing national strategies and lagging research and development progress. These are the topics of the research articles comprising the latest special issue of the open-access peer-reviewed Russian Journal of Economics. An overview and introduction for the issue is provided by its guest editor Eugenia Serova of the Institute for Agrarian Studies at HSE University in Moscow. Since 2012, Russia's agriculture is the most steadily developing sector of the national economy. Production of selected crops is reaching historical records. Today, Russia is a world champion for export of wheat and buckwheat and amongst the top ten in terms of export of many other crops. The country has also begun exporting livestock products and value-added food products. Additionally, the past ten years have seen a significant progress in the food quality and safety in Russia, which has already been recognised. According to conventional indicators applied to food security, the country keeps a consistent place amongst the top three in the world. However, even though Russia has been successful at achieving national food security, largely contributed to a strong emphasis on self-sufficiency, world known experts in food security at KU Leuven (Belgium) and International Food Policy Research Institute (USA) point out that this might have come at the expense of neglecting nutrition in the national policies, thus potentially exposing the nation at a higher risk of already concerning and quite common public health risks, such as malnourishment and obesity. In their paper, Saule Burkitbayeva, Johan Swinnen and Nele Warrinnier evaluate the state of art of food security in major Eurasian countries, in order to see where Russia stands compared to other former Soviet republics. The researchers also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of self-sufficiency policy. Along with growth in the food sector in Russia, there have been drastic changes in the agrarian structure. With their profound analysis of two censuses from 2006 and 2016, recognised experts on Russia's farming structure Renata Yanbykh and Valeriy Saraikin (both affiliated with the Institute for Agrarian Studies at HSE University, Moscow) and Zvi Lerman (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel) conclude that the old classification used for statistical purposes (organisations, family farms and households) does not reflect adequately the dynamic changes stemming from the response to market signals. In their study, the authors find that over 90% of the agricultural producers contribute less than 5% of the total standard revenue. A need to shift budget support to general services which support all Russian producers is highlighted in the research article by Olga V. Shik of the Institute for Agrarian Studies at HSE University. The renowned expert in the field conducts an exhaustive analysis of the public expenditures in the Russian agri-food sector from the last decade to conclude that despite having a positive effect on agricultural growth, Russia's budget support benefits mostly the larger and already the most successful producers. The second major drawback of budget support in agriculture the author identifies is the inefficient distribution of support between the federal and regional budgets, which leads to market disintegration and reduces the efficiency of budget spending. In their article, distinguished American experts on Russia's agri-food trade William M. Liefert and Olga Liefert of the United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA ERS) report on how Russia's move from planned to a market economy has fundamentally restructured the country's agricultural production and trade since the 1990s. Most notably, previously a large importer of grain, soybeans, and soybean meal, the former Soviet state has transitioned to becoming one of the world's major grain exporters. In fact, Russia has become the world's top wheat exporter, responsible for 20-23% of the total world exports in 2017-2018. Having also discussed the consequences for the world agricultural markets, the researchers forecast further increase in Russia's presence in the global market along with slight growth in its produce of value-added foods. The last article, authored by researchers of the Institute for Agrarian Studies at HSE University Natalia Karlova and Eugenia Serova also addresses the issue of Russia's presence in the world agri-food market with a focus on the trade with China. Since the significant increase in export is one of the major targets of Russia's modern agri-food policy, China is seen as the most prospective market. However, there are a number of obstacles and risks that need to be taken into consideration. On one hand, Russia has a fairly limited list of exported agri-food products that have comparative advantages in the Chinese market. On the other hand, the Chinese market is limited by the scale of the country's domestic demand. Moreover, China has already embarked on a course to self-sufficiency in terms of staple food produce. ### Original sources: Burkitbayeva S, Swinnen J, Warrinnier N (2020) Food and nutrition security in Eurasia: Evolution, shocks and policies. Russian Journal of Economics 6(1): 6-25. https://doi.org/10.32609/j.ruje.6.49749 Yanbykh R, Saraikin V, Lerman Z (2020) Changes in Russia's agrarian structure: What can we learn from agricultural census? Russian Journal of Economics 6(1): 26-41. https://doi.org/10.32609/j.ruje.6.49746 Shik OV (2020) Public expenditure for agricultural sector in Russia: Does it promote growth? Russian Journal of Economics 6(1): 42-55. https://doi.org/10.32609/j.ruje.6.49756 Liefert WM, Liefert O (2020) Russian agricultural trade and world markets. Russian Journal of Economics 6(1): 56-70. https://doi.org/10.32609/j.ruje.6.50308 Karlova N, Serova E (2020) Prospects of the Chinese market for Russian agri-food exports. Russian Journal of Economics 6(1): 71-90. https://doi.org/10.32609/j.ruje.6.50824 The doctors of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla have informed the Odisha government that they want better masks and PPE instead four months' salary in advance. On March 25, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced that doctors, paramedics and healthcare workers in Odisha, who are the first line of defence providing relentless services amid these difficult conditions, would get four months' salary in advance in April. In a letter to the chief minister, the doctors at VIMSAR thanked the government for announcing four months' advance salary for healthcare personnel across the state. At the same time, they said they would not like to get the advance salary as the government needs additional funding to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak. "We assure you (CM) to be with the government during this crisis. Humbly, we are denying to take it as the whole country is in requirement of money to handle the situation and that money (advance salary ) may be utilised in controlling the situation for the time being," they said in the letter. Instead, the doctors said that they require better quality masks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as they are attending COVID-19 patients, they said. "We request you to provide better masks and PPE to the health personnel. That will help to stop the spread of the highly infectious virus," they said. In a related development, the state government on Monday ordered early disbursement of pension. Amid the lockdown, the Odisha government is likely to release the salary of employees on April 3 and pensions on April 9, official sources said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 09:54:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Monday welcomed the recent Libyan Bar Association elections. UNSMIL warmly welcomes the successful elections of the Libyan Bar Association held earlier in March, the mission said. "Independent bar associations are crucial for the promotion and protection of human rights and the rule of law." "They contribute to the development of the legal profession and an independent judiciary. UNSMIL will continue to provide all necessary support for the Libyan Bar Association," it added. Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj also praised the elections of the Libyan Bar Association, stressing support for the "independence and creative role of associations." Seven months after Bernie Madoff whistleblower Harry Markopolos said General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) would not survive the next U.S. recession, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has provided a chance to test that thesis. The GE Allegations Back in August 2019, Markopolos released a 175-page whistleblower report claiming GE was committing nearly $40 billion in accounting fraud related to its insurance business and its stake in Baker Hughes Co (NYSE: BKR). At the time, Markopolos said GE was a bigger fraud than Enron or WorldCom. GE is one recession away from Chapter 11. Their balance sheet is in tatters," Markopolos said in at the time. GE called the allegations allegations meritless and the company is committed to reducing its debt: "GE continues to maintain a strong liquidity position, committed credit lines, and several executable options to monetize assets." With more and more experts and analysts anticipating the COVID-19 economic shutdown will trigger at least a brief U.S. recession, Markopolos theory on GE may be tested sooner than he realized. See Also: 8 Best Investment Strategies During A Recession GE's Improving Balance Sheet GE shares are already down 32% in the past three months. Bank of America analyst Andrew Obin recently said the company seems to have ample liquidity in the near-term. GE had $18 billion in cash as of the end of 2019 and will receive roughly $20 billion in proceeds from the completion of its BioPharma sale. The company also has $35 billion in committed credit lines and less than $1 billion in maturities through 2021 once it commits $12 billion in BioPharma proceeds to repay intercompany loans to GE Capital. CEO Culp is as committed as can be to leverage targets. These include below 2.5x net debt-to-EBITDA at GE Industrial and below 4.0x debt/equity at GE Capital by year-end 2020, Obin said. Bank of America has a Buy rating on GE with an $11 price target. Story continues See Also: Wall Street Weighs In On General Electric's Investor Call, Coronavirus Impact Benzingas Take It would appear that, unless there is something GE management is not disclosing, the companys near-term financial outlook is just fine, assuming it completes its BioPharma sale. If the COVID-19 outbreak delays or disrupts completion of that sale, GEs financial situation could get dicey very fast. Do you agree with this take? Email feedback@benzinga.com with your thoughts. Photo by Bubba73 via Wikimedia. Latest Ratings for GE Mar 2020 Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight Mar 2020 Citigroup Maintains Buy Mar 2020 Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight View More Analyst Ratings for GE View the Latest Analyst Ratings See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Lady Gaga's father recently was slammed for creating a GoFundMe page to pay staff at the restaurant he co-owns with the pop star, as COVID-19 forced layoffs. The A Star is Born actress (born Stefani Germanotta) reportedly had 'no idea' her father Joe Germanotta made the public plea for $50,000, according to a source who spoke with PageSix. And following the backlash - which saw Joe take down the GoFundMe page - sources have now said Gaga, 34, was not aware of her fathers decision to publicly ask for money. In the dark: Lady Gaga allegedly had 'no idea' her father Joe Germanotta was asking the public to donate $50,000 to cover the salary of staff at the Joanne Trattoria they co-own, according to a source who spoke to PageSix on Monday Joe was slammed on social media for asking the public to pay the wages of employees at his New York business Joanne Trattoria, after he revealed on social media he was forced to let 30 of them go due to the coronavirus pandemic. The restaurant owner set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for staffs wages, but he faced criticism from those who pointed out that both he and Gaga - who is part owner of the restaurant - are worth millions. One insider said: 'She had no idea he was doing that and that idea would have been shot down before he even finished bringing it up - and the worst part is, its her birthday,' as the backlash came on Gaga's 34th birthday. Adding: 'Neither she nor [mom] Cynthia would ever let that happen. It was him acting on his own, unfortunately, really bad impulse.' Bold move: Gaga's father Joe Germanotta was slammed him for asking for $50,000 to support restaurant staff's wages amid the coronavirus pandemic; pictured at his other New York restaurant Art Bird & Whiskey Bar The source also claimed Joe was simply 'acting on impulse' and knows his actions were a 'stupid mistake.' 'It was a stupid embarrassing mistake,' the source went on to say. 'He saw other people getting into the spirit of giving and generosity and somehow thought that applied here.' Continuing: 'It had more to do with the spirit than a belief that he needed or deserved financial help to pass on to his employees. He was acting on impulse.' 'I'm doing the best I can but we had to close Joanne for the month. Our staff needs some help financial. Any help for our employees will be appreciated,' Germanotta wrote in a since-deleted tweet. No clue: One insider said: 'She had no idea he was doing that and that idea would have been shot down before he even finished bringing it up - and the worst part is, its her birthday,' as the backlash came on Gaga's 34th birthday 'Our amazing staff is made up of primarily hourly workers who depend on our payroll, and who overwhelmingly live paycheck to paycheck,' the GoFundMe page explained After sparking ridicule across the internet, the page was shut down after raising $541 and Germanotta deleted his tweets asking for money Blogger Perez Hilton was among those to slam Joe for asking for cash, after he pointed out the Stupid Love hitmaker is worth an estimated $275 million. He tweeted: 'Lady GaGa is worth hundreds of millions of dollars AND is part owner in her family's restaurant.' 'Yet her also wealthy father has just taken to Twitter to ask the public to help financially the workers they have stopped paying.' EDWARDSVILLE Madison County is accepting donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) to help in the coronavirus response. Businesses, medical and nursing schools and residents can donate unused PPE Tuesday, March 31 through Friday, April 2 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Madison County Wood River Warehouse at 101 E. Edwardsville Road, Wood River. A three-member Taliban technical team arrived on Tuesday in the Afghan capital to monitor the release of their prisoners as part of a peace deal signed by the Taliban and the US, a spokesman for the insurgent group said. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the team's arrival in a tweet. It marked the first time a Taliban delegation has been in Kabul since the group was driven out by the US-led coalition in November 2001. There was no immediate comment from the Afghan government on the team's arrival. On Monday, Jawed Faisal, spokesman for the Afghan National Security Adviser's office, said Afghan officials and the Taliban agreed during a video conference that the insurgent group should send a technical team to Kabul for face-to-face discussions on the release of Taliban prisoners. The International Committee of the Red Cross agreed to assist the team in getting to Kabul. The prisoner release is part of a peace deal signed last month by the Taliban and US that calls for the government's release of 5,000 Taliban and the Taliban's release of 1,000 government personnel and Afghan troops. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and political opponent Abdullah Abdullah both declared themselves president in a parallel inauguration ceremony earlier this month. They have been locked in a power struggle and the discord has prompted Washington to say it would cut USD 1 billion in assistance to Afghanistan if the two can't work out their differences. Afghanistan's political turmoil and the rivalry between Ghani and Abdullah have impeded each step of talks with the Taliban. Negotiations between the Taliban and the government are supposed to come next under the peace agreement. The peace deal calls for the eventual withdrawal of all 13,000 US soldiers from Afghanistan in exchange for guarantees from the Taliban that they will fight other militant groups, including the Islamic State group. The deal has been touted as Afghanistan's best chance yet for ending its relentless wars. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CHICAGO (dpa-AFX) - Aircraft major Boeing Co. (BA) received a $1.5 billion production contract from the U.S. Navy for the next trance of 18 P-8A Poseidon aircraft. The contract includes eight aircraft for the U.S. Navy, six for the Republic of Korea Navy and four for the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The U.S. Navy's contract comes at a time when the aircraft maker continues to struggle amid the 737 Max crisis and COVID-19 pandemic impacts. Boeing recently sought $60 billion in U.S. government loan guarantees and other assistance. The P-8A maritime surveillance aircraft is a military version of the Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 commercial aircraft and will replace the U.S. Navy's ageing P-3 Orion fleet. Acquired through the Foreign Military Sales process, the Republic of Korea Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force will receive the same P-8A Poseidon variant designed and produced for the U.S. Navy. The Royal New Zealand Air Force will start receiving aircraft in 2022 and the Republic of Korea Navy in 2023. The P-8 is equipped with maritime weapons and a bomb bay and pylons for weapons. It has two weapons stations on each wing and can carry 129 sonobuoys. The aircraft also boasts of an in-flight refueling system. The P-8A Poseidon and P-8I variant used by the Indian Navy patrol perform anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; humanitarian; and search and rescue missions. Reports say that Boeing plans to restart the production of grounded 737 MAX by May. However, it will depend on the scale of disruptions due to coronavirus as well as clearance from the U.S. regulators. The 737 Max, Boeing's best-selling aircraft, were grounded by airlines worldwide in March 2019 following two deadly crashes within a short span of five months that killed a total of 346 people. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Russias Penitentiary Authority seals off pretrial detention facilities pixabay.com 17:34 31/03/2020 MOSCOW, March 31 (RAPSI) Russias Federal Penitentiary Service has closed access to Moscow pretrial detention centers for lawyers and other visitors; it has also suspended delivery of parcels to convicts with the aim to prevent the spreading of the coronavirus disease, the authoritys press-service informs on Tuesday. Moreover, since March 31 suspects, accused persons and convicts are to be sent only to one pretrial detention facility in Moscow, any transfers of such persons for conduct of on-site investigative and judicial activities are to be stopped for a certain period, the statement reads. The penitentiary authority has also introduced two-week working shifts for its officers. 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. YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. The strategy and restrictions during the nationwide lockdown in Armenia which was extended for another 10 days to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will be further tightened in the country, Deputy Prime Minister, State of Emergency Commandant Tigran Avinyan said at a press conference. Extending those restrictions for another 10 days will allow us to conduct large-scale preventive and isolation measures, help the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention to effectively find the persons who directly contacted the infected people and isolate them. Our goal is to increase the number of test kits in line with developing these technologies and reduce the restrictions as much as possible in accordance with this process. The strategy may change and restrictions may further tighten within the next 10 days. The police forces will be joined by other forces from different structures in order to further raise the efficiency of the control, he said. He said that if the government didnt apply such restrictions, then 89% of the Armenian population would have been infected with the virus. Surveillance video from the school gathered by DCFS and referenced in the agencys reports describe workers grabbing children by the wrists, shoving them into walls and throwing them to the ground in the office, which was a cluster of four seclusion spaces some with lockable doors, others open. All of the doors were removed by late November as the school dealt with scrutiny from investigators and from the Illinois State Board of Education. As the COVID-19 lockdown enters the second week, shelves of retailers continue to be empty. A lot of consumers have indulged in panic buying over the last one week, but retailers are saying that stocks aren't reaching their doorstep either. Jiten Parekh, owner of a grocery store in suburban Mumbai, says that he plans to shut down his store for the next few weeks as he has absolutely nothing to sell. However, Karan Shah, who also runs a grocery store in the city, has himself started picking up products from distributors. "While my father is taking care of the shop floor, I travel from Parel to Dahisar throughout the day picking up products of different manufacturers. The distributors don't have people to deliver," says Shah. FMCG manufacturers say that transportation continues to be the biggest challenge, despite the government making it clear that movement of essential goods would not be stopped. "We have been working closely with state authorities and local administration to ensure that manufacturing and distribution activities continue uninterrupted with minimum people. While we have progressively obtained permissions in some states, availability of trucks continues to be the biggest challenge at the moment. Interstate and local truck movement has been severely impacted together with the challenge of shortage of manpower in factories," says an ITC spokesperson. R.S. Sodhi, MD and Chairman, Amul, says that while his company's products are getting delivered to distributors, the latter are unable to deliver due to an acute manpower shortage. "Labour is a huge problem. Due to the COVID-19 scare, a lot of them have gone home. This problem will persist for a few more days." Similarly, P.C. Musthafa, Founder of ID Foods, says that out of the 45 cities that his company services (products like dosa-idli batter, paneer and filter coffee), it is able to deliver in only five cities. "Borders are still shut in many places. We were not allowed to enter Mangalore, neither were our trucks allowed on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway." Musthafa says that since his company owns its distribution network, life has been a tad bit easier. "The traditional FMCG majors who supply to distributors, who in turn go to retailers and take orders and then supply are finding it difficult because of the manpower shortage. Retailers are not getting enough SKUs to keep their stores open." Srini Vudayagiri, CEO of biscuit company, Unibic, says that his company is trying to get in touch with its labourers and trying to convince them to come back to work. "We are telling them that we are making arrangements for their food and stay. We are also telling them that we have started getting passes from the authorities which will allow them to come to work. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it gives them assurance to come back." Vudayagiri says that ever since the lockdown was announced, the biggest problem for most FMCG manufacturers was clarity on what is essential and what isn't. "We had to convince them that biscuits are long shelf-life products and during a calamity like this, the propensity of picking up products such as biscuits and cakes are high." Though the government has allowed movement of all goods provided they get a permit for the same, Vudaygiri says it will take time for things to get streamlined. In order to improve its delivery efficiency at a time when the traditional distributors are not able to deliver due to manpower shortage, the likes of Unibic are partnering with third-party logistic companies. "We believe it will take a few more days for the entire ecosystem and processes to be streamlined for the movement of essential goods," says the ITC spokesperson. The Florida man said chloroquine saved his life A Florida man diagnosed with coronavirus claims he was saved from certain death by an anti-malaria drug touted as a possible treatment by President Trump. Rio Giardinieri, 52, told Los Angeles Fox 11 that he struggled with horrendous back pain, headaches, cough and fatigue for five days after catching COVID-19, possibly at a conference in New York. Doctors at the Memorial Regional Hospital in South Florida diagnosed him with the coronavirus and pneumonia and put him on oxygen in the ICU, he told the outlet. After more than a week, doctors told him there was nothing more they could do and, on Friday evening, Giardinieri said goodbye to his wife and three children. I was at the point where I was barely able to speak and breathing was very challenging, Giardinieri said. I really thought my end was there. Then a friend sent him a recent article about hydroxychloroquine, a prescription drug thats been used to treat malaria for decades and auto-immune diseases like lupus. Overseas studies have found it to be promising as a treatment for COVID-19, though it hasnt been approved by health officials. Trump last week said he was instructing the FDA to fast-track testing of hydroxychloroquine and a related drug, chloroquine, as treatment for COVID-19. Giardinieri said he contacted an infectious disease doctor about the drug. He gave me all the reasons why I would probably not want to try it because there are no trials, theres no testing, it was not something that was approved, said Giardinieri. After about an hour after taking the pills, Giardinieri said, it felt like his heart was beating out of his chest and, about two hours later, he had another episode where he couldnt breathe. He says he was given Benadryl and some other drugs and that when he woke up around 4:45 a.m., it was like nothing ever happened. Hes since had no fever or pain and can breathe again. Giardinieri said doctors believe the episodes he experienced were not a reaction to the medicine but his body fighting off the virus. Giardinieri, the vice president of a company that manufactures cooking equipment for high-end restaurants in Los Angeles, said he had three doses of the medicine Saturday and is hoping to be discharged from the hospital in five days. To me, there was no doubt in mind that I wouldnt make it until morning, said Giardinieri. So to me, the drug saved my life. During the 2016 election cycle, politically polarizing tweets by Russian trolls about vaccination included pro- and anti-vaccination messages targeted at people with specific political inclinations through an assortment of fake persona types, according to a new analysis published this month. This study encompassed more than 2.8 million tweets published by 2,689 accounts operated by the Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA) from 2015-17. Researchers identified nine types of troll personas, from fake Black Lives Matters activists to fake boosters of Donald Trump, and examined the extent to which those persona types discussed vaccination, and how they did so. The analysis was conducted by researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania, Georgia State University, and the University at Buffalo, SUNY. The study, "Russian Twitter Accounts and the Partisan Polarization of Vaccine Discourse, 2015-2017," was published in March in the American Journal of Public Health. "We demonstrate how IRA accounts discussed vaccines not only to sow discord among people of the United States but also to flesh out the personalities of their 'American' accounts in a credible way," the researchers wrote. In age of COVID-19, mistrust on vaccination worrisome Although the vaccination tweets made up a small portion of the messaging from these accounts over the three years, the trolls used pro- and anti-vaccination tweets to help establish realistic-seeming partisan identities. By politicizing vaccination, the Russian trolls could potentially affect attitudes, promote vaccination hesitancy, and magnify health disparities, the researchers said. "Russian trolls worked to polarize Americans on a health topic that is not supposed to be political," said co-author Yotam Ophir, an assistant professor of communication at the University at Buffalo and a former postdoctoral fellow at APPC. "As our nation deals with the coronavirus pandemic, that type of politicization poisons the well of crisis communications for COVID-19 in ways that create tensions, mistrust and, potentially, a lack of intention to comply with government orders and health directives." Ophir co-authored the paper with Dror Walter, of Georgia State University, and Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, which supported the research. Russian tweets targeted to specific groups The researchers expanded on past studies of Russian attempts to sow discord during the election and IRA tweets on vaccination. The current work included the full set of IRA Twitter activity over the three years, and ultimately included the analysis of 2.8 million tweets. Among those tweets, the researchers identified 1,968 that discussed vaccination. "We first used unsupervised machine learning to map the various topics IRA accounts were talking about," said Walter, the lead author and an assistant professor of communication at Georgia State University. "We used network analysis to group together accounts that tended to discuss the same topics and used the same language. With this method we were able to identify nine different groups of users, which we call 'thematic personas.' We then analyzed computationally and manually how each group discussed the issue of vaccines." Among those personas, for instance, were one "thematic community" focused on tweeting links to hard news updates and one focused on soft news; one that was clearly pro-Trump, and one clearly anti-Trump; one that specialized in youth talk and celebrities, one that imitated African American users in topics (Black Lives Matter activism) and language, and one that focused on Ukraine. Others focused on international topics, and retweets and trendy "hashtag games." The researchers found striking differences in the ways different personas talked about vaccines, with the biggest differences falling across political lines. They said that the trolls attempted to cater to audiences of different political inclinations with targeted messages based on their perceived opinions about vaccines. Simply put, pro-Trump personas and African American personas were much more likely to express anti-vaccine sentiment than the anti-Trump, liberal personas. Specifically, of the accounts using the pro-Trump persona, 17% mentioned vaccines at least once and more than half of those tweets were anti-vaccination. Among the accounts adopting the liberal, anti-Trump persona, only 2% mentioned vaccines; about half of those tweets were neutral on vaccination and over a third were pro-vaccine. About 11% of the accounts imitating African American users mentioned vaccines. While the tweets mentioning vaccines made up a very small percentage of the total from these accounts, the sentiment among tweets that did discuss it was balanced, slightly more negative than positive. Are Russian trolls at work today? "As COVID-19 spreads disease and death across the globe and scientists race to develop treatments and a vaccine against it, I expect the Russian discourse saboteurs to resurrect the behaviors we isolated in this study," said Jamieson, the author of "Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President," which was published in 2018 by Oxford University Press and will be released in an updated paperback edition in 2020. The researchers concluded: "Even if small in magnitude, the intentional Russian spread of antivaccine discourse targeted at specific subpopulations that are susceptible to it (i.e., pro-Trump users and African Americans on Twitter) could be the beginning of a new front in the ongoing informational cyberwar." ### The Annenberg Public Policy Center was established in 1993 to educate the public and policy makers about communication's role in advancing public understanding of political, health, and science issues at the local, state and federal levels. PHOENIX A 31-year Phoenix police veteran was killed and two other officers were injured when a man opened fire on them during a call about a disturbance between roommates in northwest Phoenix Sunday night, authorities said. Commander Greg Carnicle has died after being shot, police said. The other two officers are expected to recover. The shooting drew a massive police response at the scene, with dozens of police vehicles and tactical trucks. Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams spoke to reporters outside HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center on Sunday night, saying that she and Carnicle had known one another for years and had worked in the Maryvale precinct together. "I can tell you this about Greg: I knew him for 30 years," Williams said. "He and I worked together in Maryvale precinct and used to enjoy way too much Churchs Chicken on duty, so to be able to stand here today and say that one of my good friends is lost is troubling." Carnicle was married and the father of four adult children. He was months away from retiring, police said. Critical Incident: With heavy hearts we announce the passing of a Phx PD Commander. Greg Carnicle was shot at the scene of a domestic violence call. Two other officers also shot at 40th Drive and Pinnacle Peak. The two officers are expected to recover. RIP Cmdr Carnicle. pic.twitter.com/7h4Nih5Y2g Phoenix Police Department (@PhoenixPolice) March 30, 2020 Police: Man opened fire on officers Officers were responding to a disturbance call Sunday evening about an argument between roommates, Phoenix police spokeswoman Sgt. Mercedes Fortunetold reporters outside the hospital. The officers arrived at the house and were talking to the man when the encounter started escalating. He was not cooperating with officers and shot them, Fortune said. Story continues It is currently unknown what let up to the shooting, Fortune said. The shooter was still inside the residence and the situation was still active as of 10 p.m., Fortune said. Police vehicles began leaving the scene before midnight, indicating the scene was no longer active, but police did not immediately confirm what had happened. Early-morning procession from the hospital Many vehicles then headed to HonorHealth Deer Valley, about 10 minutes south, where at least 40 police cruisers lined up, red and blue lights flashing, preparing for a procession. Other law enforcement officers not in uniform stood on the sidewalk outside the hospital for hours waiting to pay their respects. The procession left the hospital about 12:45 a.m. Monday. As the SUV transporting Carnicles body left, dozens of officers standing in front of their police vehicles saluted the commander. With eight motorcycles in front of the black SUV and two behind, the procession traveled south on Interstate 17 to downtown Phoenix and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Officer, where another cohort of police waited to receive him. Carnicle oversaw all evening and weekend patrol operations, the Phoenix Police Department said in a Facebook post. It said he had held positions throughout the department, singling out his stints with the special assignments unit and the K9 unit. Commander was 'proud to serve this community' Many of the Valley's leaders in law enforcement said that, like Williams, they also knew Carnicle. Col. Frank Milstead of the Arizona Department of Public Safety said in a tweet that the two "served together in the Traffic Bureau and Tactical Support Bureau, while I was working at Phoenix PD," he said. I am sadden by the death of my friend @PhoenixPolice Commander Greg Carnicle. We served together in the Traffic Bureau and Tactical Support Bureau, while I was working at Phoenix PD. He was 30+ year veteran of the PPD. Via Con Dios. Col. Frank Milstead (@frank_milstead) March 30, 2020 Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone said he knew Carnicle as well. I have known Commander Greg Carnicle since our time at Cortez High School. He is a good man, kind and thoughtful and was proud to serve this community," Penzone said in a tweet. I have known Commander Greg Carnicle since our time at Cortez High School. He is a good man, kind and thoughtful and was proud to serve this community with the @PhoenixPolice. This is an absolute loss for our community. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (@mcsoaz) March 30, 2020 Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel spoke at the news conference outside the hospital to reiterate the community's support for law enforcement. "We stand with the Phoenix Police Department and all of our first responders. We are so saddened by this loss. And please know we are walking alongside you. As a community we need to be there for each other right now more than ever. Please know we are dedicated to public safety and our first responders. Let our thoughts and our prayers be with the Phoenix Police Department at this time," Adel said. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego shared words about Carnicle and his career as an officer on Twitter. "After a decorated career spent keeping PHX safe, he had his choice of assignments. He volunteered to be a Night Commander this is the truest sign of the integrity of his character," she wrote. No words are adequate to express my sadness for Commander Carnicles family and @PhoenixPolice. After a decorated career spent keeping PHX safe, he had his choice of assignments. He volunteered to be a Night Commanderthis is the truest sign of the integrity of his character. https://t.co/HmAcWXB8kl Mayor Kate Gallego (@MayorGallego) March 30, 2020 Gov. Doug Ducey also tweeted about the shooting, asking for people to pray for the officers and their families. Please join me in praying for these officers, their families, and the entire @PhoenixPolice community. https://t.co/kBgbwZVOEC Doug Ducey (@dougducey) March 30, 2020 David Glasser, 35, was the last Phoenix officer to die by gunfire. He was critically injured on May 18, 2016, in a gunbattle with an armed robbery suspect and died the next day. Officer Paul Rutherford, 51, was struck by a vehicle and died March 21, 2019. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix shooting leaves police commander dead, 2 officers injured The award, which was presented by Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths, was in recognition of the sustainability commitment of the group. This award follows on from the previous two excellence award events, in which Air France KLM was recognised for Partnership and On-time Performance (2016) and Innovation (2017). The Dubai Airports Excellence Awards 2018 were open to airlines, concessionaires and business partners, recognising contributions across six categories. Yeshwant Pawar, general manager for the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Iran & Pakistan at Air France KLM, said: The Air France KLM team is delighted to be recognised with an Excellence Award from Dubai Airports, for a third year running. Sustainability is now top of the agenda for the Air France KLM group and is firmly at the center of how we operate here, and the results of our commitment and innovation are being recognised. We are also pleased to be able to contribute to the extraordinary success and growth of Dubai Airports, and to its customer experience. It wasnt the clearest photo more Sasquatch sighting than mayor out on the town but the silhouettes were easily recognizable: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife Chirlane McCray were photographed taking a walk in Prospect Park on Saturday afternoon, in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic. source sends along photo of Mayor de Blasio & Chirlane walking in Prospect Park earlier today pic.twitter.com/V6AtPLxQYk Ben Max (@TweetBenMax) March 28, 2020 City Hall press secretary Freddi Goldstein defended the stroll to City & State, saying that de Blasio and McCray were doing what they encourage all New Yorkers to do: get out and exercise to keep your spirit, just do it safely and appropriately distance. Of course distance was the issue at hand not the six-foot separation that all Americans are being asked to comply with to slow the spread of coronavirus, but rather the 11-mile drive between de Blasios Upper East Side home in Gracie Mansion and Prospect Park, in the center of Brooklyn. That, when Central Park a larger, rather famous, park designed by the same two men as Prospect Park is merely one mile from de Blasios front gate. That front gate, its worth noting, lies within the confines of the 15-acre Carl Schurz Park which has walking paths of its own, including a promenade along the East River. Most New Yorkers, who do not have a chauffeured SUV to transport them at public expense, must currently forgo trips to far-away parks they may happen to prefer, since they have been advised by the city and state governments to stay home to stop the spread of coronavirus and to stay at home as much as possible. In fact, even those who could afford to take a taxi have been advised not to do so unless necessary by public health professionals who say everyone should minimize in-person contact with others. As NPR reported on March 17, The CDC is telling people to avoid discretionary travel even if you're planning to drive to your destination, the whole goal of this 15-day hunkering down period is to keep your germs to yourself so we slow the spread of the virus a concept known as flattening the curve. That means minimizing contact with others outside your immediate household. City Hall said that while de Blasio was walking in Prospect Park he personally broke up groups of people that he felt were congregating too closely a job he could have dispatched the NYPD to do and he himself could just as easily have done in one of the parks walking distance from his home. Thats why his jaunt drew jeers on Twitter from some New Yorkers who noted that taking an unnecessarily long trip in the close confines of a car with his security detail was an example of what his own administration is urging people not to do. De Blasio wasnt breaking any laws or regulations, but he wasnt modeling good behavior either. Of course, this isn't the first time de Blasio has failed to lead by example or not taken the pandemic as seriously as public health experts say is necessary to limit the outbreak's severity and save lives. During a time when his fellow executive Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been receiving widespread though not universal praise for his response to the outbreak of COVID-19, de Blasio seems to only be receiving criticism for his missteps. Heres a guide to some of the most noteworthy ones. De Blasio staffers threaten to resign The mayor moved so slowly in responding to coronavirus, against the guidance of his top health officials, that some of them threatened to resign, according to reports on March 16 from The New York Times and the Daily News. De Blasio denied that anybody said they would resign, but seemed to admit to tensions, saying people have had serious conversations, but sources told the Daily News there major disagreements over the mayors slow pace to adapt to information about how quickly (the disease) was advancing. De Blasio goes to the gym Mere hours before the states mandate that all gyms close on March 16 in order to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus, de Blasio took part in his near-daily ritual of an 11-mile drive to the Prospect Park YMCA for a workout. De Blasio tells people to go to bars By the afternoon of Sunday, March 15, it was quite clear that strict regulations on gathering at bars and restaurants were soon to come. A 50% capacity reduction was already in place, but compliance seemed inconsistent, and enforcement, sporadic to non-existent. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was just one of the numerous New Yorkers calling for more social separation that weekend. But instead of encouraging people to stay at home, de Blasio told New Yorkers to go for one last drink. If you love your neighborhood bar, go there now, he said at a press conference, because we dont know what the future holds. De Blasio tries to avoid closing schools By Friday, March 13, at least five other states less affected by coronavirus had already shut down their schools in order to slow the spread of the COVID-19, as well as Los Angeles and San Diego, two of the largest school districts in the country. But de Blasio wasnt ready to make changes yet, even though about one-third of New York City public school students were absent that day. Two days later, on Sunday the 15th, after Cuomo announced city schools would be closed starting the next day, de Blasio confirmed the news. De Blasio tries to avoid shutting down Broadway New York Citys live theater industry shutdown for at least a month on Thursday, March 12, a day before the ban on gatherings of 500 or more people was set to go into effect. But that morning, de Blasio was still holding out hope that a different decision could be reached. "I dont want to see Broadway go dark, if we can avoid it, he told CNN that morning. I want to see if we can strike some kind of balance. De Blasio gives a movie recommendation The mayor isnt necessarily known for his artistic taste, but he was eager to share a movie recommendation the night of Mon. March 2, the day that New York City had its first confirmed case of coronavirus. Since Im encouraging New Yorkers to go on with your lives + get out on the town despite Coronavirus, I thought I would offer some suggestions, de Blasio tweeted. Heres the first: thru Thurs 3/5 go see The Traitor@FilmLinc. If The Wire was a true story + set in Italy, it would be this film. Weeks later, on Sun. March 29, de Blasio didnt seem eager to talk about movie recommendations with CNNs Jake Tapper. Was your message telling New Yorkers to go about their lives at least in part to blame for how rapidly the virus has spread across the city? Tapper asked the mayor. We should not be focusing, in my view, on anything looking back on any level of government right now, de Blasio replied. This is just about how we save lives going forward. Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County. Transport secretary Grant Shapps said people should only go to the shops once a week. (PA) The government has been forced to clarify a statement by transport secretary Grant Shapps who said people should only go food shopping once a week during the coronavirus lockdown. Mr Shapps told people to "try and shop just once a week just do the essentials, not everything else" in a message which has now been discredited by the government. No10 confirmed Grant Shapps went beyond official guidance and said it does not exist either in official government guidance or in the law. Government guidance says to go shopping for essentials "as infrequently as possible" but does not set a limit on the number of visits. A view of empty shelves in an Asda supermarket in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire. (PA) People have been asked to use their common sense since the law currently also sets no limit on the number of times they can go shopping for "basic necessities". Boris Johnson's official spokesman was forced to clarify the situation on Tuesday after people raised fears for the vulnerable, elderly or large families that cannot do a weekly shop without a car. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Some police forces have been accused of heavy-handed tactics in enforcing the lockdown restrictions imposed by the Government. Shapps acknowledged there had been teething problems but said people should follow the rules. People know the rules that have been set, try and shop just once a week, he told the BBC, Just do the essentials, not everything else. Shapps said there had been one or two instances of police being overzealous with enforcement measures but forces were generally being sensible. He said: I think the police are doing a difficult job. There will be one or two instances where they have perhaps not approached it in the right way but in general, actually, across the country not only are people complying very well but, generally speaking, the police are taking a very sensible approach to it. Story continues The transport secretary also said people should not be getting into cars to drive to the countryside to take their daily exercise. Customers queue between social distancing markers on the pavement outside a supermarket in London. (PA) The simple thing is, if at all possible, please take exercise close to your home, he told the BBC. Ive got dogs and, rather than put them in the car and drive somewhere with them, its about stepping out of the house and walking them around the block, or whatever it requires. However, the government guidance differs from what has actually been made law. The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020 for England, which were enacted on Thursday giving police powers to enforce rules with fines and even arrests, says: During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse. A reasonable excuse includes to buy food and exercise. The legislation does not specify or limit how many times per day someone can leave their house. Neither does it forbid people from using cars or any other vehicle in any circumstance. Coronavirus: what happened today Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 12:14:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank announced on Monday that it projected growth in developing economies in East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) region to slow to 2.1 percent in the baseline scenario amid the COVID-19 pandemic, from an estimated 5.8 percent in 2019. Developing economies in EAP, recovering from trade tensions and struggling with COVID-19, now face the prospect of a global financial shock and recession, Aaditya Mattoo, chief economist for East Asia and the Pacific at the World Bank, said in a press call on the multilateral lender's April 2020 economic update for the region. Noting that making precise growth projections is unusually difficult in a rapidly changing environment, Mattoo told reporters that the new report presents both a baseline and a lower case scenario for growth in 2020, which is 2.1 percent and negative 0.5 percent, respectively. The economist said the COVID-19 shock will also have a serious impact on poverty. Prior projections estimated that nearly 35 million people would escape poverty across the region this year, but the report estimates that under the baseline growth scenario, nearly 24 million fewer people will escape poverty than would have in the absence of the pandemic. If the economic situation deteriorates further and the lower-case scenario prevails, then poverty is estimated to increase by about 11 million people, Mattoo said. He urged countries to take action now, including urgent investments in healthcare capacity and targeted fiscal measures, to mitigate some of the immediate impacts, while stressing the importance of international cooperation. "Countries in East Asian and the Pacific and elsewhere must fight this disease together, keep trade open and coordinate macroeconomic policy," he said. The sun sets on the City of London. (Photo by Chris Gorman/Getty Images) UK economic growth came in at 0% in the final three months of 2019 according to final figures, meaning that the countrys economy flatlined even before the coronavirus crisis hit. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed on Tuesday that the countrys gross domestic product (GDP) was flat in the final quarter of the year compared to the previous three months, unrevised from its first quarterly estimate. Compared with the same quarter in 2018, the UK economy expanded by 1.1% in the final three months of the year, the ONS said. READ MORE: Coronavirus 'will wipe 15% off UK GDP' in the next quarter The data means that Decembers general election failed to spark a quarterly rebound in the countrys economy, even though several closely watched surveys had pointed to an uptick in demand and business sentiment. The ONS also confirmed on Tuesday that the UK economy grew by 1.4% overall in 2019, up from 1.3% in 2018, even as it revised growth in the first quarter of the year up to 0.7%. Economic output fell by 0.2% in the second quarter of 2019, slightly lower than its previous estimate. Growth in services was offset by a drop in construction and yet another fall in manufacturing, said Rob Kent-Smith of the ONS. Household spending also saw no growth in the last three months of the year while business investment continued its recent weak path, with a decline at the end of 2019, he said. Data from the quarter relates to the period before the first reported cases of coronavirus in the UK, and before the impact of even the earliest factory closures in China, which disrupted UK supply chains. Growth in the first quarter of 2020 is expected to be dented by the pandemic, and the data from the first three months of the year will likely reflect the initial impact of social distancing measures and several days of the lockdown imposed by the government. READ MORE: Coronavirus sends UKs record jobs boom into reverse But the true effects of the crisis are likely to be most evident in the second quarter of the year. Story continues The Centre for Business and Economic Research suggested on Monday that the UK faces its deepest recession since the financial crisis as a result of the virus, with economic output likely to plummet by by 15% between the first and second quarters of 2020. It would mark the steepest quarter-on-quarter decline since comparable records began in 1997. Demand for many goods and services has plummeted as the UK has adopted measures to control the spread of the virus and gone into lockdown, with unprecedented restrictions on non-essential shops and travel. China on Tuesday said the official Purchasing Manager's Index for March was 52.0, beating expectations for an economy hit by the coronavirus outbreak. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected the official PMI to come in at 45 for the month of March. In February, the official PMI hit a record low of 35.7. PMI readings above 50 indicate expansion, while those below that level signal contraction. China's National Bureau of Statistics said in its announcement of the PMI reading that there was continued improvement in the prevention and control of the outbreak in March, with a significant acceleration in the resumption of production. Sub-indices for production, new orders and employment expanded, the bureau said. The bureau attributed the expansionary PMI reading to the low base in February, but cautioned that it does not mean that the country's economic activities have returned to normal levels. In February, the Chinese economy was at a full stop. It doesnt take much to rise from such a low base. Qian Wang Asia Pacific chief economist at Vanguard Investment Strategy Earlier this year, manufacturing activity slowed dramatically in China as the government instituted large-scale lockdowns and quarantines to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease, formally known as COVID-19. Qian Wang, Asia Pacific chief economist at Vanguard Investment Strategy, said March's manufacturing PMI reading was "totally expected" as activity improved during the month. "In February, the Chinese economy was at a full stop. It doesn't take much to rise from such a low base," she told CNBC's "Street Signs." Although March's PMI reading was in the expansionary zone, it was just a few points above 50 indicating a modest recovery and gradual resumption of economic activity, she added. There is still significant drag on China's economy. "That reflects a lot about the deteriorating global outlook as well as subdued domestic demand, especially in the consumer space," said Wang, who expects 1% to 2% GDP growth for China this year with some recovery in the second half due to pent up demand and as the global economy gets back on its feet. Nomura economists said in a note on Tuesday after the release of the PMI reading that the average of the February and March manufacturing PMIs is only 43.9, "which is still well below its pre-COVID-19 average of around 50." "Thus, we view the jump in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMIs in March as a one-off gain from the very low comparison base in February," they added. China's official non-manufacturing PMI was 52.3 in March as compared with 29.6 in February. Nomura economists said the headwinds of a second wave of infections and slumping external demand are downside risks that could result in tens of millions of job losses in China. "The seemingly strong readings in the March PMIs do not mean Beijing will be complacent. By contrast, we think Beijing is quite aware of the dire situation and will step up financial relief and stimulus in coming weeks," the Nomura economists said. Vanguard's Wang said the Chinese government has likely accepted that growth will take a hit this year from the coronavirus pandemic and is willing to trade off some of that as long as there is social stability. "As long as we have some ... social stability, that's probably what the Chinese policymakers fear the most rather than just the growth numbers," she said. On Monday, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said that as of March 28, the resumption of work rate for larger industrial enterprises was 98.6%, and the return of workers stood at 89.9%. A private PMI survey by Caixin and IHS Markit will be released on Wednesday. The Caixin/Markit survey features a bigger mix of small- and medium-sized firms. In comparison, the official PMI survey typically polls a large proportion of big businesses and state-owned companies. CNBC's Evelyn Cheng contributed to this report. WATCH: What does the coronavirus mean for China's economy? A volunteer sprays disinfectant on a masked man as he leaves the Nizamuddin area, where several people showed symptoms of infection after taking part in a religious gathering. PTI photo New Delhi: Markaz Nizamuddin, the place where a religious congregation left several people affected with coronavirus, on Tuesday said it has not violated any provision of the law and offered its premises for setting up a quarantine facility. Markaz Nizamuddin, which is the international headquarters of Tabilghi Jamaat for close to 100 years, will cooperate with the authorities, it said in a statement. Delhi government on Tuesday said twenty-four people, who took part in a religious congregation at Markaz Nizamuddin earlier this month, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said 700 people who attended this congregation have been quarantined while around 335 people have been admitted to hospitals." Besides, participants from across India, the congregation was attended by people from different countries, including Indonesia and Thailand. The Markaz statement referred to the directive of the Delhi government to take legal action against the Markaz administration. "During this entire episode, Markaz Nizamuddin never violated any provision of law, and always tried to act with compassion and reason towards the visitors who came to Delhi from different states. It did not let them violate the medical guidelines by thronging ISBTs or roaming on streets," the statement said. The statement said the Markaz would like to humbly offer the entire premises as a quarantine facility to help the authorities tide-over the challenge of current pandemic. "Visitors/guests/devotees/worshippers from across the globe throng the place for pre-scheduled programmes and all the programmes are decided a year in advance in order to facilitate visitors from far-off places to plan their participation," it said. The Markaz said when the Prime Minister announced the 'Janata Curfew' on March 22, the ongoing programme was discontinued immediately, but a large number of people were stuck in the premises due to the closure of railway services on March 21. The statement said the Markaz observed the 'Janata Curfew' and the visitors stayed put in the premises. "Before the Janta Curfew could be lifted at 9 PM, the Chief Minister of Delhi announced lockdown of Delhi beginning at 6 AM on March 23 till March 31, thereby further diminishing any chances of these visitors availing road transport for their journey back home," the statement said. The statement said around 1500 people left the Markaz on March 23 by "availing whatever meager transport was available". On the evening of March 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide 21-day lockdown, the statement said, adding there was no option for Markaz Nizamuddin but to accommodate the stranded visitors with prescribed medical precautions. On March 24, a notice was issued by SHO of the Hazrat Nizamuddin police station seeking closure of Markaz premises. The Markaz responded to the notice the same day by stating that around 1000 visitors belonging to different states and nationalities were present in Markaz while 1500 had left. The Markaz had also requested the SDM of the area to issue vehicle passes so that the remaining people could be sent back to their native places outside of Delhi. "It is relevant to indicate here that lists of 17 vehicles with registration numbers along with the names of the drivers plus their license details were submitted to the SDM so that the stranded visitors/guests could be ferried towards their destination. The requisite permission is still awaited," the statement said. It said on March 27, six persons were taken for medical check-up while the next day, the SDM and WHO team visited the Markaz and 33 persons were taken for medical checkup to Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital. On March 28, another notice was issued, by the Office of ACP, Lajpat Nagar, reiterating the prohibitory orders and warning of legal action, the statement said, adding, that "this being totally oblivious of the above deliberations and steps that had already been taken by Markaz in consultation with the authorities". The Markaz said it replied to the second notice as well. Missed the most recent top news in Los Angeles? Read on for everything you need to know. LA County shuts down restaurants operating as grocery stores The Los Angeles County Health Department has started shutting down restaurants that have transformed themselves into pop-up grocery stores as a means to stay in business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the full story on NBC LA. LA Convention Center being established as federal field hospital The Los Angeles Convention Center was being transformed Sunday into a federal field hospital to prepare for an expected surge in coronavirus cases in Southern California. Read the full story on NBC LA. Parents of sisters killed by big rig while walking to school file lawsuit The parents of two sisters struck by a big rig while walking to school in the Exposition Park area in 2019 filed court papers Monday alleging wrongful death and naming the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Unified, Metro and Caltrans as defendants. Read the full story on NBC LA. LA Schools chief says nearly a third of students not studying online LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner says roughly two-thirds of high school students district-wide are taking part in digital learning programs daily during the COVID-19 shutdown. Read the full story on CBS Los Angeles. LAPD officers getting their temperatures checked before each shift The Los Angeles Police Department is taking the temperatures of its officers as they arrive for their shifts to try to stem the spread of the virus. Read the full story on Los Angeles Times. 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. Delhi High Court has issued a notice to Delhi government on a public interest litigation seeking the appointment of an advocate general to represent and provide legal advise to the Government of Delhi. A division bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar sought Delhi government's response on the matter by May 22. The petition, filed by Abhijit Mishrathrough advocates Payal Bahl and Ameet Singh, contended that under Article 239AA, which gives a special status to Delhi, the legislative assembly has powers to make laws for the NCT with respect to any matters, with the exception of public order, police and land, mentioned in the state or concurrent list of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. The plea sought formulation of "rules and conditions" for the appointment of an Advocate General and setting up of a committee for carrying out the selection process. Mishra, in his plea, has said that he moved the PIL after Delhi government, in response to a complaint lodged by him on the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System, said the appointment of Advocate General was beyond its jurisdiction. "The NCT of Delhi has not made any appointment to date for the constitutional position of the advocate general. The constitutional position is an essential requirement for the Government of NCT of Delhi for providing them with sound legal advice on matters of administration and governance of the government," the plea said. It said that the advocate general has critical constitutional duties towards the Legislative Assembly of the Capital Territory of Delhi under the provision of Article 177 of the Constitution of India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cancelling the tradition of tall tales has the aroma of an April Fools' jest. But tech giant Google has told staff to steer clear of the day's usual tomfoolery as the world suffers the effects of the coronavirus. Google said in the prelude to 1 April that it had suspended its annual April Fools' tradition out of respect for all those fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. "Our highest goal right now is to be helpful to people, so let's save the jokes for next April, which will undoubtedly be a whole lot brighter than this one," it said in an internal email to staff. In previous years Google has advertised jobs at a new research centre on the moon, turned Google Maps into a game of Where's Waldo - also known as Where's Wally - and claimed its search technology uses trained pigeons to rank pages. Tone Google's move for sobriety emerged as governments said there would be crackdowns on any misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic which has killed more than 40,000 people worldwide. Thai authorities said that April Fools' Day jokes about the virus could be punished under a law carrying a sentence of up to five years in prison. "It's against the law to fake having Covid-19 this April Fools' Day," the government said on Twitter. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen took to Facebook to tell people not to joke about the virus, adding that anyone spreading rumours or false information could be jailed for up to three years. Fines of up to 90,000 euros have also been threatened. Crackdown In India, Maharashtra state's cyber security unit said it would take legal action against anyone spreading fake news on April Fools' Day. "The state govt won't allow anyone to spread rumours/panic on #Corona," Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh tweeted. He said he had instructed the authorities to act swiftly against anyone found guilty of sending out inaccurate information. Story continues With people relying on the internet and media for vital information about coronavirus, there are fears that jokes could fan the spread of misinformation. From drinking cow urine to sleeping by chopped onions, myths about how people can catch and cure Covid-19 are circulating widely. The World Health Organization has described the unmarshalled flow of data as an "infodemic", which could increase the spread of the virus among vulnerable people. Emma Batha: Thomson Reuters Foundation. By Trend US President Donald Trump said that he promised Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte $100 million in medical assistance in connection with the coronavirus, Trend reports citing FN. I just called the Italian Prime Minister. We have additional potential, additional products that we dont need. We will send to Italy about various things for about 100 million dollars surgical, medical, hospital things, Trump said at a press conference at the White House. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Armenia strongly condemns Azerbaijans attempts to escalate the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border as a result of which a 14-year-old child from Voskevan village of Tavush province has been injured, the Armenian foreign ministry said in a statement. The statement says: We strongly condemn the attempts by Azerbaijan to escalate the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border as a result of which a 14-year-old resident of Voskevan village of Tavush province has been wounded. At the same time, two soldiers of the Armenian Armed Forces have been injured while preventing the sabotage infiltration attempt of the Azerbaijani side in the direction of Armenian positions in the same territory. This ceasefire violation, not provoked by any means, has no justification, especially these days when the medical resources of all countries are mobilized in fighting the novel coronavirus. With these actions Azerbaijan disregards the calls of the international community, in particular the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the UN Secretary-General to unconditionally maintain the ceasefire and refrain from provocative actions during this period. This military incident shows that either the Azerbaijani side does not control the actions of its armed forces on the border or deliberately escalates the situation by bearing the whole responsibility for its consequences. We wish speedy recovery to our citizens who were injured as a result of these operations. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan A special mobile phone app to track and trace Covid-19 infections is being developed by health authorities. It is expected that members of the general public and those who are sick could be asked to use the phone or computer facility in a bid to restrict the spread of the virus and even contain possible clusters. Nonetheless, it is expected to be an opt-in service. Department of Taoiseach assistant secretary-general Elizabeth Canavan confirmed that the Department of Health and HSE are working on the special app. Data protection experts have cautioned this week about setting up such a system which could see movements of people tracked online, with outstanding questions about where the information will be stored and if people can be identified. It is understood that the Data Protection Commissioner's office is also liaising with health authorities on the proposed plan. Speaking this morning, Ms Canavan said: As part of the national response to Covid-19, work is underway to develop a new mobile Covid-19 app for real-time symptom tracking and digital contact tracing. Intensive work has been underway, between the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive and direct support from the office of the government chief information officer, and other technical expertise across the public service, and elsewhere. The implementation timeline will be determined by the technical progress and results from intensive testing that is currently taking place. Elsewhere, mourners have been advised to restrict numbers when laying their loved ones to rest. Ms Canavan added: I can confirm that immediate family members can still attend funeral services burials and cremations, provided the social distancing rules are respected. This relates to all funerals, including those arising out of covert 19 deaths. While we know this is difficult in general numbers attending should not exceed 10 persons in places of worship, and at the graveside. But this may be restricted further in smaller and closed spaces. Individual churches may also put in place restrictions which respond to specific local circumstances. Meanwhile, pensioners are being advised by the government to nominate agents to collect their pensions at post offices or to go to the bank for them. This is in line with cocooning guidelines issues for the most vulnerable to the virus, including those aged over 70. Ms Canavan added: So we are aware that there are over 460,000 persons aged over 70 who are in receipt of a pension. Those aged over 70 are required to cocoon, but we understand that many are attending post offices to collect their pension and pay utility bills, etc. There are alternatives available, such as the ability to nominate an agent to collect their pension, which is no paid fortnightly. It's also important to note that the payment will remain valid for collection in the post office for 90 days after the date of issue. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday appealed to people to contribute to the Chief Minister Relief Fund to help the state to fight against the coronavirus. "Karnataka is doing its best to battle the coronavirus pandemic. But without the support of our citizens, industrialists and corporate leaders it will be difficult to win this battle," Karnataka Chief Minister's Office tweeted. "I hereby request everyone to kindly contribute to the CMRF and help the state tide over this difficult situation," another tweet said. The total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state rose to 98 on Tuesday, according to the state government. This includes three deaths and six patients who were cured and discharged, leaving the active cases to 89. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Togo's media regulatory body has suspended pro-opposition weekly Fraternite after it ran an article criticising the suspension of two other newspapers, it emerged Tuesday. The High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC) suspended the journal late Monday for two months from April 1. It cited a March 25 article containing what it termed "discourteous, insulting and defamatory words" in criticising the earlier bans on the L'Alternative and Liberte papers. Fraternite reported that "the HAAC, having called in a surrealist manner and in vain on the two organs to show proof of claims in their publications, chose directly to punish them." The HAAC maintains that the offending article "did not respect professional rules, in violation of journalists' professional ethics and Togo's press and communications code." "I find the decision regrettable," said Fraternite director Joel Vignon Kossi Egan, adding that a warning would have been more appropriate than a suspension. The HAAC suspended Liberte and L'Alternative on March 23 for 15 days and two months respectively following a complaint by the French ambassador to the West African state, Marc Vizy. The two papers were accused of publishing articles containing "serious, unfounded and scurrilous accusations" against Vizy and against Franck Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron's Africa advisor. The papers suggested the pair were interfering in the electoral process in the run-up to last month's presidential election which saw incumbent Faure Gnassingbe re-elected for a fourth term with nearly 71 per cent of the vote according to definitive official results. The opposition, and notably former prime minister and defeated candidate Agbeyome Kodjo, rejected the result alleging serious "irregularities. Kodjo, having recently been stripped of his parliamentary immunity, will face police charges related to public order offences on Wednesday. Gnassingbe took office in 2005 in the former French colony upon the death of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who had ruled the country with an iron fist for 38 years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samsung Display will stop producing liquid crystal display (LCD) panels in China and South Korea at the end of the year in order to concentrate on the new generation of "quantum dot" (QD) screens, Reuters reports. Any LCD orders made before the end of the year will still be fulfilled. Samsung made its plans for QD tech known last year, when it announced its $11 billion investment into a plant capable of manufacturing true QLED TV screens that self-illuminate. Traditionally, Samsung's quantum dot LCD tech puts LED backlights behind a filter (so the display doesn't match up to the likes of say, LG's OLED TVs), but research at the end of 2019 helped mitigate some development problems, such as burn-in. Samsung's forthcoming QD tech instead relies on indium phosphide instead of toxic cadmium, and has a lifetime of up to a million hours. The multi-billion dollar investment will take place over five years and will see Samsung convert one of its existing South Korean LCD lines into a facility to mass produce these screens. Falling demand for LCD products and a manufacturing supply glut means Samsung is obviously looking for new avenues, so for the company to essentially do away with a tried-and-tested technology and go all-in on another suggests that QD screens are very likely to feature in our viewing futures. North Korea has thrown another hissy fit after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on it to return to the negotiating table and denuclearize. A North Korean official fumed that Pompeo's "irrelevant" and "reckless" remarks caused the regime to lose "interest in dialogue." In a press conference after last week's meeting of G7 foreign ministers, Pompeo urged G7 countries to abide by sanctions against the North. "The G7 and all nations must remain united in calling on North Korea to return to negotiations and stay committed to applying diplomatic and economic pressure over its illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programs," he said. The regime's response came on Monday in the form of a statement from the new director in charge of negotiations with the U.S. at the North Korean Foreign Ministry. "No matter how excellent and firm the relationship between the top leaders of the two countries is, it cannot reverse the U.S. hostile policy towards [North Korea]," the official said. Washington's call for resumption of dialogue is nothing but "a decoy to keep us from going our own way," he said and added, "We'll go our way." Pompeo's "reckless remarks impaired the signboard of dialogue put up by the U.S. president... We dropped interest in dialogue with further conviction, but have become more zealous for our important planned projects aimed to repay the U.S. with actual horror and unrest for the sufferings it has inflicted upon our people." But pundits here said that the statement contained nothing new except that it was issued by the new director of American affairs and speculate that the outburst was paradoxically a call for negotiations. Bunnings have dedicated a special shopping hour for tradespeople and health service workers hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. The hardware giant introduced a raft of safety measures at stores across the country in a bid to stay open during the health crisis. Bunnings employees are restricting how many people are allowed to enter the store at a given time to limit crowds, while shoppers must stay 1.5 metres away from others. The retailer is also open for tradespeople and health and emergency services workers before 9am on weekdays to ensure they are able to purchase the goods they need. Bunnings have dedicated a special shopping hour for tradespeople and health service workers. Pictured: Security stands at the top of an aisle at Bunnings Alexandria on Tuesday The hardware giant introduced a raft of safety measures at stores across the country. Pictured: Shoppers wear face masks as they walk through the aisles Bunnings Managing Director Mike Schneider said they are continuing to follow government advice during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'We've made a lot of changes in store as we work to ensure the safety of our team and customers and operate in a responsible way,' he said. 'We understand the importance that a reliable supply of key products is to both DIY and trade customers to keep their businesses running and support their local communities, particularly with emergency repairs and maintenance. Bunnings are also shutting earlier so team members can re-stock shelves and thoroughly clean the store. 'We've also seen increased demand for necessary products that customers need to maintain their homes and we are focused on making sure we can make these items available,' Mr Schneider said. 'We've got over 43,000 team members across Australia and our focus is on keeping them employed, while also putting measures in place to keep our team and customers safe.' CHANGES BUNNINGS HAS INTRODUCED IN STORES DUE TO COVID-19 Increased cleaning in-store and for equipment such as counters, trolleys and baskets Hand sanitiser for all team members Social distancing including taping floors to mark 1.5m, moving stock to open up space, trestle tables in front of service areas to create more distance Posters outside and around the store and PA announcements to remind customers Encouraging customers to use Tap and Pay where possible Water fountains and trade coffee stations closed Cafes closed Limiting customers in busier aisles Limiting customer numbers in store during busy times Suspension of sausage sizzles, family events, in-store and children's activities Advertisement Bunnings employees are restricting how many people are allowed to enter aisles (pictured) Pictured: Shoppers line up to purchase goods at Bunnings Alexandria on Tuesday. Tape directing customers is seen on the floor A hand sanitising station has been set up in front of the Bunnings Alexandria store during the coronavirus crisis Posters have also been hung around the warehouses to remind customers they are required to follow social distancing rules. A hand sanitising station was set up out the front of Bunnings Alexandria on Tuesday and shoppers were advised to clean their hands before entering the store. A sign at the top of an aisle read: 'Attention Customers: Due to social distance requirements we request only eight customers in this aisle at any one time.' The special shopping hours for tradespeople and health workers were introduced on March 3. All other Bunnings customers can visit the retailer between 9am and 7pm during the week. Tape directing shoppers is seen on the floor at Bunnings Alexandria on Tuesday Bunnings have advised shoppers to stay 1.5 metres from others Inmates of the Kaduna Central Correctional Centre are protesting the congestion in their cells following the outbreak of COVID-19 in N... Inmates of the Kaduna Central Correctional Centre are protesting the congestion in their cells following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Nigeria. The inmates who are alleged to have engaged prison officials are insisting that they must be released to avoid being infected by the deadly virus. Security personnel, including prison wardens, are reportedly battling the inmates. Reports say shots have been fired in the ensuing fracas. Details soon People maintain social distance as they wait outside a shopping mall at Madhurawada as the whole nation goes lockdown to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Visakhapatnam on Monday. (DC Photo: Murali Krishna) Visakhapatnam: Invoking a British-era Act, the Andhra Pradesh government has taken over all private and corporate hospitals in the state with immediate effect. The decision was taken in view of the burgeoning number of coronavirus cases in the state. As of Monday evening, 23 new positive cases were reported, with Visakhapatnam registering the highest number at six. Exercising powers conferred under the colonial-era Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, and the Andhra Pradesh Epidemic Disease Covid-19 Regulations, 2020, the government empowered district collectors to take charge of all private hospitals. Any resistance would be viewed seriously as per provisions of Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, the government declared. Doctors of private hospitals would have to provide their services whenever required by the government, as per the Act. The hospitals would have to make available to the government all their resources, including infrastructure like beds, rooms, wards, ICU premises, ventilators, testing labs, pharmacies, mortuaries, equipment and manpower. Andhra Medical College principal Dr P.V. Sudhakar said that in the first phase only network hospitals would be taken over; the remaining would be added depending on the situation. In a bulletin released on Monday at 10 am, the state government announced that two men aged 49 and 72 years from Kakinada and Rajahmundry respectively had tested positive. A total of 33 samples were tested since Sunday night, out of which 31 showed negative, while two tested positive. The state government issued an order for setting up additional sample collection centres at all private medical colleges designated as district Covid-19 hospitals. All private medical college hospitals and other private hospitals have been directed to place their premises with all available resources and manpower at the disposal of the district collector as and when required, the department of health said in a bulletin. Efforts are on to identify hotspots around the cluster of coronavirus-positive tested patients. Joint collectors have been made responsible for total monitoring through medical teams in Covid hospitals, it said. Augmenting bed strength for isolation purposes has been initiated and collectors have been asked to obtain details of hotels, function halls / marriage halls, convention centres which can be converted into isolation wards, the bulletin added. People fill in health declaration forms upon arriving at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC, March 18, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa. Those making fraudulent medical declarations when returning to Vietnam from Covid-19 stricken areas can be jailed for up to five years. The declarations have to do with people's statuses as infection suspects or already infected people. Vietnams Supreme Peoples Court on Monday asked all civil and military courts across the country to apply Article 240 in the 2015 Penal Code against those escaping quarantine and making false health declarations in the context of the country entering a critical stage in its Covid-19 fight. Fleeing from quarantine areas or otherwise failing to comply with quarantine regulations will also be treated a criminal offense, and the persons involved will be investigated and dealt with under Article 240 of the 2015 Criminal Code, which deals with "Spreading dangerous infectious diseases among humans." Those found guilty will face a fine of up to VND200 million ($8,470) or a jail term of up to five years. The stringent move follows a series of recent reports by those returning from pandemic-stricken areas escaping quarantine or making wrong health declarations, sparking public concern over increased risk of spreading the virus among the community. A 44-year-old woman who worked for the Truong Sinh Company providing food and logistic services to coronavirus-hit Bach Mai Hospital deliberately concealed information of having worked at the hospital's canteen after being hospitalized in Thai Nguyen Province with symptoms of Covid-19 infection. She was confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus on March 29. So far, 34 out of 207 infection cases in the country are linked with the hospital, making it the nation's largest Covid-19 outbreak. Earlier, a 26-year-old Hanoian girl, who returned to Vietnam after traveling to epidemic-hit countries in Europe, failed to make a proper health declaration to local authorities. She was confirmed positive for Covid-19 on March 6, four days after her return to Hanoi, and discharged from hospital on Monday. An American woman who had a cough and fever absconded from her quarantine facility in Da Nang Monday and was brought back the same day. She was later tested negative for the novel coronavirus. Meanwhile, two men returning from Cambodia, another Covid-19 outbreak area, also escaped from quarantine facilities in the southern provinces of Kien Giang and Tay Ninh and were later arrested by police over the weekend. Those who are not yet confirmed Covid-19 positive but escape from mandated quarantine facilities or refusing to comply with quarantine measures, thereby causing losses of VND100 million or more in costs incurred for disease prevention will be investigated and punished under Article 295 of the 2015 Criminal Code that deals with "violations against regulations of law on occupational safety, occupational hygiene, and safety in crowded areas." Those found guilty face fines of up to VND100 million ($4,235) or jail terms of up to 12 years. Vietnam has recorded a total of 207 Covid-19 infections, with 56 discharged from hospitals. Many of the currently active cases are Vietnamese nationals returning from Europe and the U.S., foreigners coming from the same regions and those whod come in contact with both groups of people. The Covid-19 pandemic has killed more than 37,800 people after spreading to 200 countries and territories so far. The Vietnam government has ordered a strict social distancing measure starting Wednesday, in which people are restricted from leaving their homes and public gatherings of more than two persons are not allowed. Thousands of children come from Central America and Mexico to escape poverty and violence. (John Moore / Getty Images) A federal judge in Los Angeles has given the Trump administration until April 6 to deliver an account of why it cant quickly release many of the roughly 7,000 immigrant children at risk of contracting the coronavirus in shelters and detention facilities across the U.S., and unite them with waiting sponsors. On Monday, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., expanded the ruling to apply to their detained parents as well. The Justice Department declined to comment Monday on whether the administration planned to appeal in either case, both of which also mandate oversight of the detention facilities' preparedness for the pandemic. The White House did not respond. While praising the rulings, Karen Tumlin, a Los Angeles-based lawyer and director and founder of the Justice Action Center, said the administration was forcing "ad hoc justice" amid the coronavirus outbreak. "If you're lucky enough to have a lawyer, to get a judge to do a telephonic hearing, then we're getting common-sense results in favor of release during a pandemic," said Tumlin, who represented three children who'd been in Office of Refugee Resettlement custody for nearly a year and were released to their father just before the administration announced it would suspend many family reunifications, including in California. Judge Dolly M. Gee of the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles noted in her decision late Saturday that while children appeared less susceptible to COVID-19 than adults, in detention they were more vulnerable not just to the virus, but to trauma. "The severity of the harm to which plaintiffs are exposed and the publics interest in preventing outbreaks of COVID-19 among families and children in ICE or ORR custody that will infect ICE and ORR staff, spread to others in geographic proximity, and likely overwhelm local healthcare systems, tips the balance of equities sharply in plaintiffs favor," Gee wrote. Story continues The Office of Refugee Resettlement at the Health and Human Services Department is responsible for the roughly 3,600 unaccompanied migrant children in shelters across the U.S., and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an agency under the Homeland Security Department, is charged with some 3,300 children detained with their parents at three family detention centers. ORR has confirmed four cases of coronavirus among minors in its custody so far of 18 tested, and ICE as of March 27 had put at least one child under quarantine while awaiting results, according to ORR. Eight ORR personnel or foster parents in five programs in New York, Washington and Texas have also "self-reported" testing positive for COVID-19. ICE has confirmed four cases among detainees, all in New Jersey; five cases among employees or personnel working in its detention centers; and 28 other employees, as of Monday. Both HHS and ICE said they're reviewing the relevant orders. ICE spokeswoman Lori Haley said the agency could not comment on pending litigation, while Health and Human Services spokesman Mark Weber said the ORR would "respond to the court." Gregory Copeland, the legal director of Rapid Defense Network, who filed suit in Washington against the Trump administration on behalf of detained families, said, "I truly hope they will do what's so clearly in everybody's best interest here." "You've had an utterly inept, deficient effort to prepare for this crisis and to mitigate the risk of this spreading in detention," he said. The Trump administration is facing a spate of lawsuits across the country calling on the administration to close immigration courts and release migrants from often overcrowded, unsanitary detention facilities that medical experts have said are "tinderboxes" for the virus. Gee called them "hotbeds for contagion" that pose "unprecedented threats" of "irreparable harm" amid the pandemic. Several judges have ordered the government to free migrants, though those decisions have so far mostly applied to adults. The Justice Department has closed some immigration courts, but reopened others. Pastor Fred Morris, who runs the San Fernando Valley Refugee Children Center, predicted that because of the governments insistence on keeping migrants in federal custody, "a good bunch of them will die." "Its not just indifference and incompetence," Morris said. "It just cruel to keep them there. Gee did not order the immediate release of thousands of minors who fall under a 1997 consent decree broadly known as the Flores settlement, saying that "rushing to release minors en masse" amid current coronavirus travel restrictions or potentially to unfit sponsors wouldn't be advisable. But, she said, ORR and ICE must show "why they should not be held to answer for unexplained delays" in releasing migrant children, in apparent violation of the Flores settlement. Judge James E. Boasberg in Washington on Monday extended that requirement to their parents as well, leaving the Trump administration a week to gather its account. Gee and Boasberg also ordered that ORR and ICE facilities must ready for inspection, videotape living conditions at any facility chosen for review, and provide a report as to whether they're at capacity and in compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. Copeland's clients have described facilities where only one sign in English gave basic sanitation instructions for how to prevent contagion, others where no hand sanitizer or even soap was provided, and no protections such as masks or gloves for either guards or detainees forced to clean the facilities. This month, ORR paused reunifications of unaccompanied migrant children with family members or other sponsors in California and Washington state, followed by New York, citing a high number of coronavirus cases. But immigration lawyers told The Times that releases of children across the country have effectively ground to a halt. As of March 13, according to Gee's ruling, roughly one-third of children in ORR custody were in group settings and had been detained for 30 days or more. The Flores settlement established a 20-day limit on detaining migrant children and established safety and sanitation standards for their care. The administration has pushed back against the criticism that continuing to hold migrants, including children and families, in detention facilities risks worsening the spread of coronavirus in the United States, now the global epicenter of the pandemic. Officials say they are following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and other experts to protect detained migrants and the American public, though the agency's guidelines for the broader population include recommendations directly at odds with immigration enforcement, such as social distancing, or limiting air travel. The former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Thomas Homan, argued in a Fox News op-ed Sunday that detained migrants "will be far less likely to be infected and become critically ill ... than they would be if they were released." Copeland said the argument is refuted by the government's own actions so far for non-immigrants. "What did we do with college students? We sent them home," he said. "Cruise ships do we keep them on there forever? No, we take them off." According to Gee's ruling, attorneys working at the detention facilities have observed that children, family and staff "continue to spend the vast majority of their time in close physical proximity," as well as a lack of information about COVID-19 or access to sanitation or medical care. Detained minors and family members, the ruling says, "indicate that large proportions of them ... already show symptoms associated with COVID-19." But Gee also pointed out that Homeland Security's practices to control the spread of the virus, such as quarantining or isolating detained adults, could "exacerbate existing mental health concerns" among detained children. Critics say the Trump administration is using coronavirus as a front for pursuing authority it has long sought to effectively detain migrants including children and families indefinitely. As recently as September, Gee rejected the administration's attempt to hold children and their parents in detention indefinitely by issuing new regulations. Trump's policies have targeted migrant children, who under long-standing federal law generally cannot be quickly removed, and sought to dismantle the Flores settlement, which is designed to safeguard them once in U.S. custody. The administration is citing CDC guidance to also push back to Mexico or quickly return home unaccompanied minors, regardless of nationality or whether the child is seeking protection in the United States, with rare exception, according to a description of the new policy provided by Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman Cecilia Barreda. Immigration experts and advocates say the move violates federal law. Tumlin, the California lawyer, said she has to explain to her own children every day what is being learned about the pandemic, "and how to not be terrified." "For kids that don't have that because they're in custody, but they have willing parents or other relatives to take care of them," she said, "it's really tragic." After rolling out new update to Hotstar app recently, and slightly delay from the launch date of March 29th, Star & Disney India have finally announced the launch of Dinsey+ services via Hotstar as Disney+ Hotstar in India on April 3rd. Existing Hotstar paid subscribers will get access to Disney+ content without additional charges, but renewals will be charged at new rates. New VIP subscription will now cost Rs 399, up from Rs. 365 earlier, and will include movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, access to live sporting events, movies, shows, and Hotstar originals, but will not include Disney+ Originals. Diney+ Hotstar Premium will now cost Rs. 1,499 compared to Rs. 999/year, which will include over 100 series and 250 superhero and animated titles, including Disney+ Originals and shows from HBO, Fox, and Showtime, as well as content that Disney+Hotstar VIP customers have. HotStar recently said that it supports only one stream per account at a single time for VIP users and 2 screens now for Premium users, and this will roll out with the new update to everyone. As a prelude to the launch, Disney+ Hotstar will host a virtual red carpet event on April 2 with the premiere of The Lion King in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu at 6 PM, followed by the popular Disney+ original The Mandalorian at 8PM. Regarding the launch, Uday Shankar, President of The Walt Disney Company APAC and Chairman, Star & Disney India, said: With the success of Hotstar, we ushered in a new era for premium video streaming in India. Today, as we unveil Disney+ Hotstar, we take yet another momentous step in staying committed to our promise of delivering high-quality impactful stories for India that have not only entertained but also made a difference in peoples lives, a promise that is even more meaningful in challenging times such as this. We hope the power of Disneys storytelling, delivered through Hotstars technology, will help our viewers find moments of comfort, happiness and inspiration during these difficult times. Recently, Iowa and Nebraskas U.S. senators announced that they are backing legislation that would require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to change its management of the Missouri River to reduce flooding risks. Everyone knows that the flooding along the "Big Muddy" has been wreaking havoc. Last year alone there was more than $3 billion in damage from inundated land along the river and scores of damaged levees. 2011 was even a worse nightmare. Obviously, there is something wrong with a river that once was considered flood-proof. The proposal offered by the Iowa and Nebraska senators (as well as senators from Kansas and Missouri) is disingenuous at best and distracts from the real problem related to flooding - the requirement to maintain a navigable barge channel for a largely defunct barge industry on the river. Flood control already is the number one priority for the Corps and has been since the inception of the Pick-Sloan Flood Control Act of 1944. Pick-Sloan transformed a wild, meandering river into a series of huge reservoirs upstream from Yankton, South Dakota, and into a narrow, navigable barge channel from Ponca, Nebraska, to St. Louis, Missouri. The Master Manual of the Corps clearly states two missions: 1. Flood control. 2. Maintenance of a nine-foot navigable barge channel. All other authorized purposes including hydropower, irrigation, recreation, fish and wildlife are secondary and in no order of preference. Obviously, the legislation introduced by these Republican senators changes absolutely nothing, but it gives the illusion that it does. Robert Criss, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis and one of the nations leading specialists in flooding, has identified the real problem - maintaining the nine-foot barge channel. The whole problem with flooding on the river, it has been narrowed too much for traffic, Criss said in an Associated Press article in the March 5 Journal. He explained that the Missouri used to be a wide waterway with wetlands and numerous channels running alongside each other. That allowed floodwaters to spread out and cause fewer problems that in turn has led to great degradation of the river bottom and a faster channel that increases damage. I might also add that the barge channel mandate requires the Corps to hold back 15 million-acre feet of water upstream to preserve for the barge season. Depending on the year, that can involve up to 20 percent of total reservoir impact, causing reservoirs to absorb higher water levels. Talk about narrowing a river. The environmental damage created by Pick-Sloan has been catastrophic: * 17,000 acres of wetland lost. * 18,000 acres of islands and sandbars lost. * 15,000 acres of river bottom timber lost. And, the Missouri River was shortened by 32 miles. These are the same lands that would have naturally flooded if the river was left to be a river. Now the river has nowhere to go except out of its narrow banks. Interesting to note that the only part of the river that has not been transformed by Pick-Sloan (i.e. still natural) is the 50-mile stretch between Yankton and Ponca. Not coincidentally, it is the only stretch of the river that did not experience serious flood damage in 2011. If those same Iowa and Nebraska senators really wanted to help alleviate flooding on the Missouri River, they would introduce legislation to remove the requirement of maintaining a navigable barge channel from the master manual. Its just downright foolish to keep throwing millions of dollars maintaining and repairing a channel that gets no use. Not only would this save taxpayers millions of wasted expenses, removing the requirement would open up a plethora of options for dealing with flood control that would actually help. By the way, do you know which senators have historically supported maintaining nine-foot barge traffic at the expense of everything else? You guessed it - the same Republican senators who proposed the recent legislation to help with flooding. As Professor Criss aptly stated: Empowering the guys that caused the problem is how you make things worse." Author's note: From 2008 to 2010, Al Sturgeon served on the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee, a multi-state organization mandated by the federal government to which stakeholders, tribes and other affected groups can make recommendations for river improvement. Next week: Linda Holub A Sioux City resident and local attorney, Al Sturgeon is a former Democratic state representative and senator. He is the father of six children. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 FILE PHOTO: A Virgin Atlantic Airbus comes in to land at Heathrow aiport in London By Jamie Freed SYDNEY (Reuters) - Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd said on Tuesday it is seeking a government loan of A$1.4 billion ($862.68 million) and exploring other options to get through the coronavirus crisis. "It is a preliminary proposal and remains subject to approval by the Virgin Australia Holdings board, and may or may not include conversion to equity in certain circumstances," the airline said in a statement. The proposed loan package would allow the government to take an ownership stake in Australia's second-largest airline if it is unable to repay the loan in two to three years. The package is part of a broader request for A$5 billion worth of airline industry aid, said a person with knowledge of the matter, who was not authorized to speak with media. The proposal was first reported in The Australian newspaper. Virgin is in a financially weaker position than its larger rival Qantas Airways Ltd and has said it would put 8,000 workers on leave and cut more than 1,000 jobs permanently as it grounds the majority of its fleet due to a drop in demand. "Support will be necessary for this industry if the crisis continues indefinitely, to protect jobs and ensure Australia retains a strong, competitive aviation and tourism sector once the crisis is over," Virgin said in a statement. Virgin's shares are tightly controlled by a group of foreign airlines including Singapore Airlines Ltd , Etihad Airways and Chinese conglomerate HNA Group that has also seen a sharp deterioration in revenues due to the coronavirus crisis. The Australian government has already announced some aid to the airline industry, including refunding and waiving charges such as domestic air traffic control fees worth A$715 million and A$198 million in support for regional aviation. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said on Tuesday that he was speaking with airline industry stakeholders and representatives daily to make sure they were receiving the support they needed and listening to what else might be required as the pandemic continues, according to a statement from his office. (Reporting by Jamie Freed; Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Chris Reese and Gerry Doyle) Whole Foods on Tuesday slammed workers who staged a 'sick out' protest at working conditions while their 'heroic colleagues showed up to provide essential services' during the corona virus outbreak. A spokesman for the Jeff Bezos owned grocery store told DailyMail.com they 'have seen no operational impact'. But they added: 'It is disappointing that a small but vocal group, many of whom are not employed by Whole Foods Market, have been given a platform to inaccurately portray the collective voice of our 95,000+ Team Members who are heroically showing up every day to provide our communities with an essential service.' New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday he had ordered the citys human rights commissioner to investigate the dismissal of a worker at a Bezos owned Amazon.com warehouse who had participated in a walkout. He said: 'Ive ordered the citys commission on human rights to investigate Amazon immediately to determine if thats true. If so, that would be a violation of our citys human rights law and we would act on it immediately.' The New York state attorney general Letitia James had earlier called Chris Smalls' dismissal 'disgraceful' and pointed out that the law protects employees' right to protest. 'At a time when so many New Yorkers are struggling and are deeply concerned about their safety, this action was also immoral and inhumane,' she said in a statement. Amazon said fired Smalls made 'misleading' statements about conditions and that he was supposed to be in quarantine and had no choice but to fire him after he came to the facility. There are now more than 180,000 confirmed coronavirus cases across the nation; the death toll stands at 3,699, surpassing China which has recorded 3,309 deaths. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, left, said on Tuesday he had ordered the citys human rights commissioner to investigate the dismissal of Amazon worker Chris Smalls, right Whole Foods workers are set to strike Tuesday, with a nationwide 'sick out'. A Whole Foods in Manhattan is pictured Customers stand on line outside Whole Foods Market located at the corner of West 125th Street and Malcom X Boulevard in Harlem, New York, on March 31 Warehouse, delivery and retail gig workers in the United States went on strike on Monday and Tuesday to call attention to safety and wage concerns for people laboring through the coronavirus crisis. Unemployment in the United States hit a record high last week with 3.28million people - four times the previous record of 695,000 in October 1982 - making claims. Dow Jones say a further 2.65 million may join them this week. Attorney General James said she was exploring options for legal recourse regarding Smalls' firing and had asked the National Labor Relations Board to investigate the incident. Father-of-three, Smalls, 31, a management assistant at the Staten Island facility, said he was laid off from his job following Monday's strike. He had worked for the company for five years. Amazon say 15 others joined the walkout at the New York facility demanding that it be shut down and cleaned after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus. Whole Foods on Tuesday slammed workers who staged a 'sick out' protest at working conditions while their 'heroic colleagues showed up to provide essential services' during the corona virus outbreak. A Whole Foods in Manhattan is pictured Tuesday Some workers at Whole Foods, also owned by billionaire Bezos, staged a nationwide 'sick out' Tuesday to bring attention to safety and wage concerns for people laboring through the coronavirus crisis. It is not known how many Whole Foods employees called in sick. At two locations in New York, there were no apparent disruptions. At stores in Harlem and the East Village neighborhoods, customers were shopping while clerks where restocking shelves and ringing up purchases. Pictures show customers waiting in line outside the store to observe social distacning. Bezos, the world's richest man, made $3.4billion selling shares of the company in February, just before the market tanked as coronavirus infections soared. General Electric workers have also staged their own silent protest - demanding that they now make the much needed ventilators in its jet engine factories. Whole Foods workers are set to strike Tuesday, with a nationwide 'sick out' Workers say the company 'has still not provided essential protections' during the coronavirus outbreak which has seen some workers become ill AMAZON WORKERS WALK OUT IN PROTEST Amazon warehouse workers walked off the job Monday demanding greater safeguards against the coronavirus. The one-day strikes had little impact on consumers, but the unrest called attention to mounting discontent among low-wage workers. They are on the front lines of the pandemic, serving the needs of those who can keep safe working from home. Advertisement WHOLE FOODS EMPLOYEES CALL IN 'SICK' TO STRIKE Whole Worker, a workers group for Whole Foods employees, called for a nationwide 'sick out' on Tuesday. They want hazard pay, immediate shut down of stores if a worker tests positive and health care benefits for part-time and seasonal workers. Advertisement Fired Amazon worker Smalls told The New York Post: 'They pretty much retaliated against me for speaking out. I don't know how they sleep at night.' 'There are positive cases working in these buildings infecting thousands,' warehouse worker Smalls wrote on Twitter. Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, said it has taken 'extreme measures' to clean buildings and obtain safety gear and that 'the vast majority of employees continue to show up and do the heroic work of delivering for customers every day.' Less than half a percent of its more than 5,000-person workforce at the Staten Island site protested, it said. INSTACART SHOPPERS DEMAND PROTECTIVE GEAR AND MORE PAY A group called the Gig Workers Collective called for a nationwide walk-out Monday. They've been asking Instacart to provide workers with hazard pay and protective gear, among other demands. Instacart said Sunday it would soon provide workers with a new hand sanitizer upon request and outlined changes to its tip system. The group said the measures were too little too late. Advertisement GE WORKERS DEMAND TO HELP MAKE VENTILATORS General Electric workers are demanding that they now make the much needed ventilators in its jet engine factories. Workers at GE in Lynn, Massachusetts, held a silent protest, standing six feet apart, VICE reports. They joined employees at the headquarters in Boston calling on the company to make ventilators. CWA President Chris Shelton said: 'Our country depends on these highly skilled workers and now theyre wondering why they are facing layoffs instead of having the opportunity to use their unbelievable skills to help save lives.' Advertisement From delivery drivers to grocery store clerks, shelf stockers and fast-food employees, workers have kept food and essential goods flowing to people who have been told by their governments to stay home to stop the spread of coronavirus. A group calling itself 'Whole Worker' said it was seeking guaranteed paid leave for quarantined Whole Foods workers, among other things. Among the strikers Monday were some of the roughly 200,000 workers at online grocery delivery company Instacart, according to strike organizer Gig Workers Collective, founded earlier this year by Instacart worker Vanessa Bain. Workers at GE in Lynn, Massachusetts, held a silent protest, standing six feet apart, VICE reports. They joined employees at the headquarters in Boston calling on the company to make ventilators. General Electric has fired nearly 2,600 workers, along with further 'temporary' layoffs. The company said: 'GE is working around the clock to increase production of much-needed medical equipment. GE Healthcare has already doubled ventilator production capacity, with a plan to double it again by June, in addition to partnering with Ford Motor Company to further increase ventilator production.' Cleaners at WeWork have been instructed to use their paid leave or limited sick days if they become ill, The Guardian reports. They must continue to work in the meantime. It was not clear how many Instacart workers were participating in the strike. The San Francisco-based company - which lets customers place online orders from grocers, retailers like Costco Wholesale Corp and CVS Health Corp's CVS Pharmacy - said in a statement that the strike of its contractors had 'absolutely no impact to Instacart's operations.' On Monday, Instacart said it had 40 per cent more shoppers on the platform than on the same day last week and sold more groceries in the last 72 hours than ever before. In posts on social media, people who said they were Instacart workers demanded hazard pay to account for the dangers of working while most people stay home to comply with state, local and federal government guidance. They also asked for the company to provide hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and soap to clean their cell phones, cars and shopping carts. AS AMAZON AND WHOLE FOODS WORKERS STRIKE OWNER JEFF BEZOS POCKETS $3.4 BILLION BY SELLING STOCK Jeff Bezos made $3.4billion selling shares of the company in February Amazon staff say they are struggling to access sick pay and fear colleagues are coming to work ill - as they paint a grim picture of coronavirus protections inside warehouses where 'everything has been touched by 1,000 hands.' The online retail giant has increased pay and offered sick leave to anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus, but critics accuse the $1trillion company and owner Jeff Bezos of failing to do enough - just weeks after he pocketed $3.4billion by selling stock. Bezos, the world's richest man, made $3.4billion selling shares of the company in February, just before the market tanked as coronavirus infections soared. The sale saved Bezos a staggering $317million, compared to him keeping the stock through to March 20. It also meant the billionaire sold as much stock in that one week as he has in the last year, the Wall Street Journal reported. The sale accounted for around 3% of Bezos's total Amazon shares, and made up over a third of all stock exchange sales during this timeframe. Bezos has also suggested that Amazon may be the solution to getting 'easy-to-access' COVID-19 test kits to people across the world after conversations he had with administrators in the World Health Organization. In an Instagram post last week, the Amazon CEO shared that he had had a good call with WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom. The announcement comes as workers from facilities across the US have tested positive for coronavirus. 'This isn't business as usual, and it's a time for great stress and uncertainty. It's also a moment in time when the work we're doing is its most critical,' the billionaire wrote in the memo shared on his Instagram. Bezos said: 'Across the world, people are feeling the economic effects of this crisis, and I'm sad to tell you I predict things are going to get worse before they get better.' Advertisement Amazon workers at Amazon's Staten Island warehouse went on strike to demand that the facility be shut down and cleaned after one staffer tested positive for the coronavirus A model A-E ventilator and a simple test lung, on display at a plant in Rawsonville, Michigan The New York state attorney general has threatened to sue Jeff Bezos-owned Amazon for firing the worker who organized a walkout over conditions on Monday Smalls had even posted on Twitter how the company was not following social distancing 'Like all businesses grappling with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we are working hard to keep employees safe while serving communities and the most vulnerable,' Amazon said in a statement on Smalls' firing. 'We have taken extreme measures to keep people safe.' The company said Amazon's firing of Small was due to his failure to comply with the company's request that he self-isolate after he came in contact with another employee who tested positive for COVID-19. By taking part in Monday's demonstration, he put 'the teams at risk. This is unacceptable,' Amazon said in a statement, noting that only 15 of the more than 5,000 employees at the site had taken part in the protest. Seven workers have fallen sick with the coronavirus at the Amazon plant in NYC The workers allege the online retail giant has mishandled its response to the pandemic and want the entire facility to be disinfected and sanitized Instacart, which shares the same complex as Amazon in Staten Island recently announced plans to hire some 300,000 people to help meet demand for grocery delivery, said in a statement it was 'fully operational' and that the walkout caused 'no impact.' 'We're continuing to see the highest customer demand in Instacart history and have more active shoppers on our platform today than ever before picking and delivering groceries for millions of consumers,' said the San Francisco company, which operates in some 5,500 cities in the US and Canada. The firm said Sunday it would provide additional health and safety supplies to full-service 'shoppers' and would set a 'default' tip based on customers' prior orders. The labor group, whose numbers were not known, called the Instacart moves 'a sick joke.' 'We had been asking for hand sanitizer for many, many weeks. But apparently the company is capable of sourcing some with two days of work? Where was this before,' the group said in a Medium post. With much of the US population locked down, Americans are increasingly relying on delivery of food and other supplies from firms like Amazon. 7-Eleven, the National Guard and KPMG lead U.S. with most job openings 7-Eleven, the National Guard and KPMG are helping lead the U.S. economy in its battle against the coronavirus pandemic. They now have the most job offerings for those looking for work, with supermarkets and accountancy firms in need of more staff to meet demand. Companies with most job openings in the U.S. 7-Eleven Army National Guard KPMG Amazon Genentech Lowes HCA Healthcare Intuit Nepris Whole Foods Source: Vox Advertisement A report by NBC News said Amazon workers at two Southern California warehouses had presented demands to shut down the facilities for two weeks for sterilization while employees are tested for the virus. Amazon has announced plans to hire an additional 100,000 people in the US, while rival Walmart is seeking to expand its workforce by 150,000. Coronavirus job losses could reach 47 MILLION as Macy's furloughs most of its 130,000 employees WITHOUT pay and companies continue to lay off workers Coronavirus job losses in the United States could hit 47 million, with unemployment at more than 30 per cent, according to stark new estimates by a Federal Reserve. The shocking prediction by the Fed's St. Louis district project came as Macy's announced it will furlough a majority of its 130,000 workers. The retail giant on Monday said it is transitioning to an 'absolute minimum workforce' needed to maintain basic operations. It says it will temporarily stop paying tens of thousands of employees who were thrown out of work when the chain closed its stores in response to collapsing sales during the pandemic. St. Louis Fed economist Miguel Faria-e-Castro said of the unemployment estimates: 'These are very large numbers by historical standards, but this is a rather unique shock that is unlike any other experienced by the U.S. economy in the last 100 years.' People wait in line for help with unemployment benefits at the One-Stop Career Center in Las Vegas. A record-high number of people applied for unemployment benefits last week as layoffs engulfed the U.S in the face of a near-total economic shutdown caused by coronavirus Online operations for the country's largest department store chain won't be hit as hard. Employees who are enrolled in health benefits will continue to receive coverage with the company covering 100 per cent of the premium. Unemployment in the United States hit a record high last week with 3.28million people - four times the previous record - making claims. Dow Jones say a further 2.65 million may join them this week. The new estimates of 47 million unemployed do not account for the bailout bill signed by President Donald Trump last week, CNBC reports. It does also not account for those who leave the labor force. An unlicensed Queensland massage parlour has been slapped with the first fines for flouting the new coronavirus social distancing and quarantine regulations. Two infringement notices were issued at the Brisbane massage parlour on Monday afternoon for failing to comply with COVID-19 public health directives. Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll says a person working at the Lutwyche business was fined $1,334, while the business itself copped a $6,672 fine. 'This related to a compliance check of licensed and unlicensed brothels we are carrying out,' she said on Tuesday. A massage parlour in Brisbane's north has been fined for offering massage services during COVID-19 social distancing restrictions 'It's alleged ... the massage services were offered in contravention to (the coronavirus) directive.' A Queensland Police spokesperson said police are conducting compliance checks on businesses across various industries to ensure they are not breaching coronavirus-induced restrictions. Under the Chief Health Officers directions, spas and massage parlours can no longer operate during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Police will also allege the Lutwyche Road business was offering prostitution services. A 37-year-old Kedron woman was issued with a notice to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on June 6 in relation to the offences of knowingly participating in the provision of prostitution services and possessing tainted property. A 25-year-old East Brisbane woman was issued with a notice to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on June 6 in relation to the offences of knowingly participating in the provision of prostitution services. In a separate incident, police tasered a man on the Gold Coast after he created a disturbance while in quarantine. Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll (left) is seen during a press conference at Queensland Parliament House in Brisbane, Monday, March 30, 2020, to announce that coronavirus cases in the state had risen Comm Carroll said the man threatened to harm himself early on Tuesday morning at a home in Surfers Paradise. 'When police turned up they could not reason with him. It got a little more serious than that with police having to take action by way of a taser,' she said. The man was taken to hospital for other health concerns. Across the state, more than 40,000 orders to socially isolate or quarantine have been made as authorities work to stem the spread of coronavirus. An additional 55 cases of the virus were confirmed in the state overnight, bringing the total to 743 with three deaths. Of Queensland's cases 65 people are in hospital and seven in intensive care. Authorities will ramp up efforts to keep track of the thousands of people ordered to either socially isolate or quarantine for 14 days, says Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Police are ramping up measures to ensure Australians are complying with social distancing and self-isolation restrictions by issuing fines (stock image) Isolation is used to separate ill people with a communicable disease from those who are healthy, while quarantine is used to separate and restrict the movement of well people who may have been exposed to the virus. Strict border restrictions will be enforced from Friday, meaning anyone wanting to enter Queensland who is not a resident must have an approved border permit or they will be turned away. Public gatherings - including those in private homes - have been limited to just two people and police have the powers to issue fines for individuals and businesses not adhering to quarantine orders or social distancing measures. All passengers arriving on international flights in Queensland, who are returning home or passing through, will be held in local hotels for 14 days under new quarantine measures that came into effect on the weekend. The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has asked direct broadcast satellite service providers in Nigeria to sup... 1. As one of the Ministers entrusted with the welfare of Nigerian workers, I politely urge @DStvNg @StarTimes_Ng to extend all EXISTING subscriptions by at least one month, free-of-charge, as their own contribution to ease the pains of Nigerian workers at this time of lockdown March 30, 2020 In a series of tweets on Monday, Mr Keyamo urged DSTV and Star Times to extend existing subscriptions by one month, to aid ease the pains of many across the nation.The minister also urged the major telecommunication companies in Nigeria to give out some tokens of airtime and data in a bid to ease the pains of Nigerians and to help them stay connected to their loved ones in this trying times.Mr Keyamo had in some earlier tweets on March 26, opined that God allowed the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease to afflict the human race.He argued that God allowed COVID-19 to afflict the human race only to redirect our steps back to Him.According to him, We have so distorted Gods Word to suit our own human weaknesses and satisfy our greed, even in supposed Holy Places.The minister urged Nigerians to collectively ask for forgiveness, stressing that it will all end in praise. How many people die after being infected with the novel coronavirus? Fewer than previously calculated, according to a study released Monday, but still more than die from the flu. The research, published in the medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, estimated that about 0.66% of those infected with the virus will die. That coronavirus death rate, which is lower than earlier estimates, takes into account potentially milder cases that often go undiagnosed -- but it's still far higher than the 0.1% of people who are killed by the flu. Here's an update on all developments. Scroll or swipe further for in-depth coverage. White House officials are relying on statistical models to help predict the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and try to protect as many people as possible. The public could get its first close look at the Trump administration's own projections Tuesday at the daily briefing. Deaths climbed rapidly in the United States, which is poised today to overtake China's reported virus death toll of 3,300. But experts say all numbers reported by governments and states in this pandemic are faulty in different ways, due to the lack of testing, mild virus cases that are missed or the determination of some governments to try to seize and shape their pandemic narrative. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo begged for health care reinforcements, saying up to 1 million more workers were needed. Stocks are opening slightly lower on Wall Street as investors close out a brutal month of March. The S&P 500 is headed for its biggest quarterly decline since the last quarter of 2008. For the Dow, it could be the worst three-month period since late 1987. In ex-communist Eastern Europe and elsewhere, rulers are assuming more power while they introduce harsh measures they say are necessary to halt the coronavirus spread. Overnight, Spain recorded 849 new deaths, the highest daily toll since the pandemic hit the southern European country. It has now claimed the lives of 8,189, forcing Madrid to open a second temporary morgue after an ice rink pressed into service last week become overwhelmed. Federal judges in Texas, Alabama and Ohio have temporarily blocked efforts to ban abortions during the pandemic, handing Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers a victory as clinics across the U.S. filed lawsuits to stop states from trying to shutter them during the outbreak. Two ships carrying passengers and crew from an ill-fated South American cruise are pleading with Florida officials to let them carry off the sick and dead, but Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida's health care resources are already stretched too thin. The All England Club board will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the fate of the 2020 Wimbledon tournament. For more summaries and full reports, please select from the articles below. Scroll further for some tips to adjusting to a socially distanced lifestyle, interactive maps and live updates from social media accounts. --- There are changes in many ways people live outside the four walls of home, from social gathering to everyday social interactions. But even in pre-virus times, there were people for whom those things were more pressure than pleasure: introverts, those who largely get their energy from inside themselves and selected interactions with people, as opposed to extroverts. Here are some social distancing tips and ways you can help at home and in your neighborhood. --- This coverage is being provided free as a public service to our readers during the coronavirus pandemic. Please support local journalism by subscribing. Follow live updates on the coronavirus here: 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. Some of the $5 million allocated by the Australia Council to an emergency fund for struggling arts companies and workers will be directed towards the making of art, as well as patching losses incurred during the COVID-19 health crisis. Adding detail to its first "response package" announced last week, Australia Council said it had created a Resilience Fund, from which small grants could be quickly made to save organisations, tide them over or help create new works for a nation in virtual lockdown. Playing on: The Opera Australia orchestra. Credit:Louise Kennerley The move comes as small to medium-sized arts companies nervously await news of their success or failure to secure long-term funding. A total of 162 companies across Australia were invited last August to apply for grants to fund their operations and activities from January 2021 to December 2024. Indian paramedics register Muslims heading for a quarantine facility after they were screened for COVID-19 in New Delhi, March 31, 2020. Authorities in Indonesia and Malaysia are investigating to determine how many of their citizens may have been infected as part of a new of COVID-19 cluster emerging from a mass Muslim event in New Delhi. More than 350 people who were removed from a religious center where the event took place in mid-March have been hospitalized, and at least 10 attendees have died after being infected with the coronavirus disease, according to an Agence France-Presse report. The Press Trust of India said around 8,000 people took part in the event. Indonesians and Malaysians reportedly were among those attending the event hosted by the same Muslim missionary organization, Tablighi Jamaat, whose gathering in Malaysia in late February has been linked to hundreds of coronavirus cases in more than half a dozen countries. According to information we have, there are 1,456 Indonesian Tablighi members overseas, 731 of whom are in India, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday. The event in the Indian capital began on March 13, days before Delhis chief minister banned gatherings of more than 50 people to prevent the spread of the virus, according to India Today. Hundreds of people refused to leave the building and got trapped inside after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 announced a three-week nationwide lockdown, which suspended transportation and non-essential movement. It was not immediately clear whether any Indonesians had attended the New Delhi event or were among those trapped inside the building. In Malaysia, Health Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah was asked if his countrymen had attended the gathering in India. True. We are investigating, he told reporters in Putrajaya on Tuesday. [O]bviously there is a high risk for them to attend these gatherings. So we are trying to get more information from our counterpart in India. In addition, authorities have identified 87 Malaysians who had traveled to attend a Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Sulawesi, Indonesia, that local officials cancelled at the last minute on March 18, but after 3,000 followers had already arrived. We are tracing them as well, he said. The Indian and Indonesian events followed a Tablighi Jamaat mass gathering in Kuala Lumpur late last month at the Sri Petaling Mosque that drew about 16,000 people. The Malaysian government has reported that about half of its 2,766 COVID-19 cases were linked to the gathering. Officials in Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam confirmed cases linked to the gathering as well. Retno said many of the foreigners who planned to attend the event in Sulawesi, including some Malaysians, had returned to their homes while 97 were quarantined after three showed COVID-19 symptoms. (Bloomberg) -- A federal judge ordered Texas to temporarily stop enforcing its ban on abortions, which state leaders had declared medically unnecessary procedures that wasted scarce medical resources needed to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Texass Republican governor and attorney general last week threatened doctors with steep fines and jail time for performing even medication abortions that dont require the use of personal protective equipment, such as surgical masks and sterile gloves and gowns. Only abortions needed to save the life of the mother were allowed under the governors order. 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. Commissioner Barbara Sharief said she had no doubt that the people would quickly run home. These people are being held on a cruise ship against their will, she said. If I was one of them I would be running home, away from here. ... They will be happy to get away from us" because of the way they are being treated. 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. Final exams for primary and preparatory students have been cancelled in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak and the assessment of students will be based on a project or a research paper in each subject, said Minister of Education Tarek Shawki. Students in grade nine, the last preparatory year, will be required to submit a research paper in each subject in order to guarantee their move to secondary education. Students are to limit their research to the curriculum they studied up to 15 March. Their final grade will be the average of grades in the first semester and second semester, and will determine whether they move to technical or general secondary education, said Shawki. Identical researches and plagiarised ones will be excluded from evaluation and students will fail the subject, he warned. A framework of the required research and its grading will be announced in April and students will be assigned the mandatory researches after the announcement. Students in grades 10 and 11 will take exams electronically from their homes on 5 April, though the testing is being run as an experiment. The exams are not graded. Students will be divided into groups to join the examination platform throughout the day. Each student will have his own SIM card in order to be able to sit for the exam, said Shawki. My son has already become adept at using the tablet which was provided in February, says Heba Samir, the mother of a grade 10 student. Our problem, in this period of social distancing, was collecting the SIM card for the exam from Telecom Egypt outlets which are crowded. Then the school informed us that we could collect the SIM from any public school in the same education directorate and the problem was solved. According to Reda Hegazi, deputy to the minister of education, the Ministry of Telecommunication is facilitating the process of distributing SIM cards. The Telecommunication Ministry is allocating employees to government schools to distribute SIM cards to students so they can sit the experimental exam in April, said Hegazi. Only grade 12 students will their exams as scheduled. Hegazi says the number of classrooms and schools where grade exams are being held has been increased so there are less students per exam station. The American Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) for the American Diploma certificate has been cancelled owing to the global pandemic. Students from grade one until 12 are instead required to submit a project for each subject. Grade 12 students who failed the SAT exam before the decision to cancel tests for this year will be evaluated on the basis of the GPA of their total grade required for admission to the university, says Hegazi. An admission exam will to be held by the Ministry of Higher Education in qualifying subjects based on each students major. Students who passed the SAT exam can choose between joining university according to the criteria of last year (GPA represents 40 per cent of the grade and SAT 60 per cent), or letting GPA represent 100 per cent of their total grade. Students enrolled in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGSCE) from grade one until nine must submit a project in order to move into the following year. Regarding grades 10, 11, and 12 the ministry is still contacting the British Council to determine the method of evaluation as grades from these years qualify the students for university admission, said Hegazi. Omar Abdel-Hamid, 19, a SAT student in grade 11 who is scheduled to join university next year believes the decision to annul SAT has rescued the future of many students. We know now we have to submit a project for each subject. The school administration has said it will inform us about the details of the project and when and how we should submit it in the next few days, said Abdel-Hamid. Malak Hesham is a grade 12 IGCSE student who this year is sitting Advanced Level exams in two subjects and wants to join the American University in Cairo. I dont know what to do. I am still studying via private lessons, but I dont know what will happen and how we are going to be evaluated. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: 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. International Paper IP has entered into an agreement to divest its corrugated packaging business in Brazil to Klabin S.A. for R$330 million ($64 million), out of which R$280 million ($54 million) will be paid on closing of the transaction, while the balance will be paid a year after the deals closure. The deal is likely to close in the second half of the current year. Notably, the transaction includes three containerboard mills and four box plants. The move supports International Paper's previously-announced strategic review of the packaging business in Brazil. The company considered to sell its Brazilian containerboard and corrugated packaging business as the unit could not perform profitably. In fact, International Papers existing business structure was not competitive enough on the Brazilian packaging market. However, the company will continue to operate its Papers and Forestry businesses in Brazil. Previously, International Paper completed the divesture of its consumer packaging business in North America to Graphic Packaging Holding Company GPK. The divesture helped the company maximize the value of the North American Consumer Packaging business by combining it with Graphic Packaging while also focusing on its core businesses and strengthening the balance sheet. The company intends to invest significantly to improve its North American containerboard mill system, enhance product quality, and reduce manufacturing and delivery costs. In North America, the company envisions a large opportunity within its industrial packaging businesses, which continuing to generate the best margins in the industry. The company is taking initiatives to drive further margin expansion across the business. Also, mergers and acquisitions remain a key strategy for International Paper to fortify its packaging business. The company has completed the acquisition of leading timberland owner Weyerhaeuser Companys WY pulp, which has strengthened International Papers position in the global fluff pulp market and augmented its operating cash flow. The acquisition provides the company with a higher flexibility to manage a wide portfolio of products to meet customer needs through superior R&D capabilities and a priceless patent portfolio. International Papers current-quarter results will reflect the impact of lower price and unfavorable mix and higher maintenance outages in its segments. The company is facing structural challenges in its Industrial Packaging segment due to the impact of tariffs, strong U.S. dollar and weak demand. International Paper is the largest manufacturer of containerboard in the United States. With mounting numbers of coronavirus cases in the nation, the companys operations will likely be impacted. The country have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with 120,798 confirmed cases and 1973 deaths, as per the World Health Organizations situation report as of Mar 29, 2020. The company stated it will continue to operate its mills and converting plants while ensuring health and safety of employees, maintaining social distancing and taking other precautionary measures. Share Price Performance International Papers shares have lost 36.2% over the past year compared with the industrys decline of 44.9%. Story continues Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider International Paper currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). One better-ranked stock in the basic materials space is Newmont Corporation NEM, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Newmont has an expected earnings growth rate of 72% for 2020. The companys shares have gained 35.7% in the past year. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $24 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $77.6 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report International Paper Company (IP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Weyerhaeuser Company (WY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Newmont Goldcorp Corporation (NEM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. As journalists with Radio Free Europe/Radio Libertys (RFE/RL) Tajik Service race to cover the coronavirus pandemic, filling an information void left by an inert official press, the government is obstructing their efforts and is even poised to withhold their accreditations, according to a complaint by RFE/RL President Jamie Fly. In a March 30 letter to Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Fly expressed frustration at the governments continuing attempts to interfere with the operations of the Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, at a perilous time, and when, as growing audience numbers show, it is needed more than ever. Radio Ozodi plays an outsized role in Tajikistan, a poor Central Asian state bordering China and Afghanistan that has been slow to respond to the global pandemic, even permitting public parades and open markets during the recent Nowruz holiday. Ozodi boasts a popular Instagram account and a YouTube channel with a subscriber base of nearly one million, the countrys largest, that has been an essential source of news and public health guidance for the countrys large migrant population and youth. Yet, authorities have refused to meet with the Services reporters to answer their questions, and excluded them from public health briefings. We suspect, bizarrely, that it was precisely our active reporting about the virus that led the government last week to ban Ozodis website and censor this coverage," Fly said. These recent steps to stifle the Services reporting come as Tajik authorities have systematically denied growing numbers of its journalists the Foreign Ministry accreditation they need to legally work. Fly deplored the withholding of credentials as an effort to control who works for Ozodi and what they report, and as a betrayal of an explicit pledge made by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to RFE/RL last year. He decried other efforts to harass and intimidate Ozodi staff members, including a smear campaign on government websites and Facebook in which officials posted comments applauding the denial of accreditation, accusing Ozodi journalists of incitement and disloyalty to the state, and labeling the Services Dushanbe bureau a nest for espionage and exploration. Fly also rebuffed the Foreign Ministers longstanding assertion that the Services coverage of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) is tantamount to support for terrorism, and grounds for suppressing its reporting. As we have explained previously, he said, Tajikistans designation of the IRPT as a terrorist group is contrary to international consensus. As long as the group renounces violence and pledges adherence to the rule of law, it is an element of Tajik political life that Ozodi will continue to report about. The full text of the letter is here. RFE/RLs Tajik Service, operating out of a bureau in Dushanbe, is one of the countrys few sources of accurate and independent news, attracting outsized audiences with compelling reporting on issues not otherwise covered by state-run media. 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) The leading group of China's COVID-19 response on Monday stressed the control of cases of infections that show no symptoms. The group, led by Premier Li Keqiang, called for improving prevention and control strategies and measures to bring economic and social development back to the normal track at an early date. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presided over the meeting. Noting that the positive trend in containing the domestic epidemic keeps expanding and the resumption of work and production is being promoted in an orderly fashion, the meeting stressed that the world is nevertheless still battling the COVID-19 pandemic and the risks and difficulties of epidemic containment in the country should be fully recognized. The meeting called for more efforts in the treatment of patients in severe conditions as well as quarantine and follow-up visits for recovered patients, urging local authorities to release relevant information with openness and transparency. Cross-border transmissions should also be further prevented, the meeting said, stressing that all travelers entering the country should take nucleic acid tests. To consolidate the achievements in epidemic containment, more efforts should be made in monitoring, tracing, quarantining and treating the asymptomatic patients, the meeting said. The screening of asymptomatic infections should be stepped up and the detection range should be expanded, it added. The identified asymptomatic patients should be put under close quarantine, the meeting said, urging that the infection sources of these patients should be found out as early as possible. The meeting also called for epidemiological analysis of such infections to improve the prevention and control measures. Wang Huning, also 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. Three men were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 10 days to three months on Monday after breaching the compulsory quarantine regulation in Hong Kong amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the first such cases since the COVID-19 outbreak. A man, 31, will be jailed for three months as he intentionally provided a fake home address to an authorized officer when entering Hong Kong through Shenzhen Bay Port border control point on March 8. He pleaded guilty at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts on Monday morning. The judge said the man's act of providing false information was selfish and showed disregard of social safety, and could frustrate the joint efforts of the Hong Kong society to fight the epidemic. The other two, aged 37 and 41, were sentenced at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts to imprisonment for 10 days and six weeks respectively as they, after being put under quarantine, illegally left the designated residences and tried to leave Hong Kong. The sentences sent a clear message that breaching quarantine orders is a criminal offense, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said in a statement, stressing that compliance with quarantine orders is of paramount importance in Hong Kong's fight against COVID-19. The HKSAR government has imposed compulsory quarantines on inbound visitors at home or quarantine centers. Violators face maximum imprisonment for six months and a fine of 25,000 Hong Kong dollars (more than 3,000 U.S. dollars). As the extent of the spread of the new coronavirus in the United States became clear, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, revealed March 15 that the stockpile had 12,700 ventilators ready to deploy. The government has since sped up maintenance to increase the number available to 16,660 still fewer than one-quarter of what officials years earlier had estimated would be required in a moderate flu pandemic. The Addley-Tranberg team in Granby has reunited in Darien. Christopher Tranberg, a Simsbury resident who had been the assistant superintendent of schools in Granby for four years, is Darien Public Schools new assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, prekindergarten-12th grade. Tranberg began his new job Monday, replacing Susie Da Silva, who has taken a position as superintendent of schools in Ridgefield. Tranberg is a Ph.D. candidate in educational leadership, policy, and administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Hes currently in the final stages of writing his dissertation, and should finish by late spring. Prior positions hes held include: principal of Avon High School, assistant principal of Simsbury High School, and director of performing arts in Simsbury. Choosing Darien Tranberg said one of the reasons he was drawn to Darien is it has arguably the best public education systems in the state. A second reason he said he chose Darien is to get the chance to work with Superintendent of Schools Alan Addley, who he worked for in Granby for three years and who joined Darien schools last year. The combination of the Darien school system and the superintendent is a wonderful start and the opportunity of a lifetime, he said. We work together very well, respect each other professionally, and we knew we would work together again if the opportunity presented itself. Addley said hes excited to welcome Tranberg to Darien Public Schools. I welcome Mr. Tranberg as a member of the Cabinet knowing that he brings diverse PK-12 experiences and expertise to the district, Addley said. He will be a wonderful resource for the staff. Addley continued: Mr. Tranberg is a highly respected administrator and I know he passionately looks forward to contributing to Dariens reputation for excellence. I look forward to working closely with Christopher again in his new capacity. Achievement gap According to Tranberg, one of the issues he was hired to address in Granby schools is the achievement gap. There was a disparity in performance and participation when comparing our Granby resident and nonresident students and when comparing performance and participation when comparing special education student to performance, to that of their typical peers, he said. In Tranbergs first year in Granby, he put together an equity team, which was and still is a guiding coalition for the district in addressing issues of inequity, he said. The group is made up of parents, students, teachers administration and Board of Education representation, and together they look to find specific ways they can address inequities in the district. The places we looked were looking to increase minority teacher recruitment, or taking action to address the disparities in performance between groups of students. The group researched and made recommendations to support the principals and the district, Tranberg said. He added that he successfully wrote a grant that supported the work, and launched the work. The group is still going on now and will continue to, indefinitely, according to Tranberg. Establishing something that lives on after you is a key to leadership, he said. Effects of pandemic Tranberg said his first challenge with regard to his new position is dealing with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Initially, as I start this new position, the immediate work will be the healing that comes from an irregular school year, he said. I will have a nontraditional start and a nontraditional first year. The entire school administration will be figuring things out together to see what the community actually needs, Tranberg added. It will be a lot of collaborate work. Strings program Tranberg started the strings program for the Granby school district. There had been no strings program prior to this. One of the hallmarks of a strong arts department is the strings component, and it was something that was missing in Granby, Tranberg said. He added that the strings program is very innovative because it provides full class instruction so all students in grades K-3 have a group violin lesson every single week, he said. Students in that age group have double music instruction a general music class and the strings music class. This program is now in its second year and will continue, according to Tranberg. He said that two factors were responsible for helping him get the strings program started in Granby. One is having a superintendent who was incredibly supportive of the arts. The other is the district had done an arts audit, and one of the recommendations from that audit was to increase the instructional time in music. Impact of music Tranberg said music has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. In the musical production of Oliver Twist in the third grade at Old Mill Elementary School in Wall Township, N.J., he played Fagin one of the lead roles. When youre part of the theater world, you experience community like no other time in life, and I got that right away as a third grader, he said. He continued: The theater welcomes everyone. Whether on or off stage, everyone has a role and the show looks different if any individual player isnt there. Everyone that is there has something in common. That is the clear shared goal of the time together. As a result, you can be who you are and everyone that is part of a production needs each player to be successful. Throughout college, Tranberg was a voice major with a piano minor. I can tell already that Darien schools is a very music and arts culture community, so Im excited about that, he said. sfox@darientimes.com Here are the latest developments in Asia related to the coronavirus pandemic: - First confirmed Myanmar death - Myanmar reported its first coronavirus death -- a 69-year-old man who returned to the country in mid-March after receiving cancer treatment in Australia. The country of 54 million people, with one of the region's weakest health care systems, only confirmed its first case last week. - World Bank warns on China growth - Economic fallout from the pandemic could bring China's growth to a standstill, the World Bank said, warning of "an unprecedented global shock" that could also increase poverty across the region. Chinese factory activity saw surprise growth in March as businesses grind back to work following a lengthy shutdown, but analysts said the economy faces a challenging recovery as external demand is devastated by the virus crisis. - China to report cases without symptoms - Chinese health officials said that they will start reporting asymptomatic cases in their daily tally from Wednesday. Infected people who are asymptomatic will have to go into quarantine for 14 days, as will their close contacts, they said. The country where the outbreak emerged last year reduced the number of locally transmitted cases by placing large areas under lockdown, but is now seeing a surge in infections from overseas. Separately, the Chinese government ruled out an immediate resumption of major sporting events "for better epidemic prevention and control". No date was set by which sports such as basketball and football could resume. - Hundreds buried in Jakarta, says governor - The governor of the Indonesian capital Jakarta said nearly 300 suspected and confirmed victims of the virus had been wrapped in plastic and quickly buried since the start of this month. He has been pushing for a total lockdown of Jakarta, a move resisted by the president. His warning fuelled fears that Indonesia's death toll is higher than the official figure of 122. - Japan tightens travel advice - Japan is advising its citizens to avoid travelling to 73 countries and regions worldwide in a bid to halt the spread of the virus. People are also being warned against non-essential travel to all other parts of the world, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said. - Markets bounce back - Asian equities rose strongly following another rally on Wall Street, while oil bounced and traders welcomed a surprise jump in Chinese factory activity -- although analysts cautioned that the road ahead remained rocky for the global economy. Global markets have suffered historic falls in recent weeks as the virus batters economies worldwide. - Protest in Sri Lanka over cremation of Muslim virus victim - Sri Lanka's minority Muslims Tuesday slammed the authorities for cremating against their religious rites a fellow Muslim who became the island?s first novel coronavirus victim. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) political party said the 63 year-old victim identified only as Jamal was cremated on Monday night shortly after his death at a state hospital. The party accused authorities of "callous disregard" for religious sentiments and the wishes of the victim's family. It said the action would discourage Muslims -- around 10 percent of Sri Lanka's population of 21 million -- to seek medical treatment for "fear of possible cremation" if they die from a COVID-19 infection. The pandemic has infected 142 people and claimed two lives in Sri Lanka. - New Delhi gathering a fresh virus hotspot - A large gathering at an Islamic religious center in New Delhi has become one of India's major virus hotspots after several deaths and dozens of COVID-19 infections were linked to the event. Some of the thousands who flocked to the religious centre in Delhi's Nizamuddin West neighbourhood returned to their states after the meeting, but many remained nearby, saying they were trapped because public transport had been shut down due to the virus. Police escorted buses carrying more than 1,000 people from the area to be quarantined, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain told reporters Tuesday. However 335 of those were admitted to hospital, the official said. The narrow streets near the religious centre were taped off Monday and Tuesday by personnel in hazmat suits. - Bangladesh extends holiday - The government has extended public holidays from April 4 to April 11 in an effort to stem the COVID-19 pandemic, a junior minister told reporters. Bangladesh will be virtually locked down during the period, with only food, medicine and export lorries being allowed to move. burs-sr/ch/dw Chinese businesses are grinding back to work following a lengthy shutdown Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the novel coronavirus first emerged, partly reopened on March 28 after more than two months of near total lockdown Workers carry the coffin of a COVID-19 victim during a funeral in Jakarta Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi is urging Japanese citizens to refrain from foreign travel due to the coronavirus pandemic Sri Lankan police help enforce a nationwide curfew designed to halt the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus A man in full protective gear prepares to drive people in New Delhi's Nizamuddin neighbourhood to a site for quarantine Neighbors in a Wisconsin street got together social-distancing style for a street boogie to the tune of hip-hop favorite Jump Around, on March 27. Sun Prairie residents gathered outside their homes on a Friday and were filmed jumping about and dancing while keeping plenty of space between each other to comply with COVID-19 social distancing rules. This is how we get through social distancing in Wisconsin, said resident Greg Thomson who helped organize the get-together. At least 1,221 people in Wisconsin had tested positive for the virus as of March 30, while 14 had died. Residents were told to stay at home and keep at least six feet apart from others. They were also advised to limit essential trips to no more than once a week and make contact with less than five people. Credit: Greg Thomson via Storyful Two of ZWCAD's first Polish users who specialize in AEC design told their story with ZWCAD. The CAD Solution for Small Businesses Mr. Wieslaw Olesiak and Mr. Janusz Drozak run their own companies that undertake comprehensive design projects and started working together in the late 1990s. As their businesses started to thrive, they realized that a powerful yet affordable CAD solution is a must for continuous growth. Since the first time they tried ZWCAD in 2006, they have accomplished hundreds of projects with it. Projects Accomplished with ZWCAD One of the first projects they completed using ZWCAD was a hospital emergency ward. Although there were always new demands, they had no trouble editing and plotting the architectural drawings with ZWCAD. Their first flagship design was the car saloons invested by the Volkswagen Group. Based on the investor's conceptual designs and amendment requests, they worked on the project for about 9 years. During that period, numerous large DWG files flooded to them. Fortunately, ZWCAD was compatible, stable and fast enough to help their efforts bear fruit. They had a tight work schedule and time is money. With the intuitive UI and handy functions of ZWCAD, their learning curve and time-to-market were greatly shortened. The High-touch Services No one would stick to a solution that comes with awful technical support. Since their offices are only a 5-minute walk from that of SZANSA, the Polish ZWSOFT partner, Mr. Olesiak and Mr. Drozak can always have their issues solved straightaway. Also, regular meetings are held to inform them of the first-hand information about ZWCAD. Both high tech and high-touch services offered by ZWSOFT help them maintain a competitive edge. Therefore, they'll keep using ZWCAD to work on complex projects from the concept stage. To learn the full story, please click here or subscribe to ZWCAD. About ZWCAD Developed by ZWSOFT CO., LTD.(Guangzhou), which has helped over 900,000 users from 90 countries create amazing things, ZWCAD is a powerful, reliable and DWG compatible CAD solution for worldwide users. Available in 15 languages, it provides innovative, collaborative and customizable features to designers and engineers in various industries such as AEC and MFG. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005298/en/ Contacts: ZWSOFT Christine Yin, +86-20-38288676 prcontact@zwsoft.com https://www.zwsoft.com/zwcad Monday, 30 March, marked the second anniversary of the Great March of Return where thousands of Palestinians in Gaza took to the border with Israel every Friday in 2018 till the end of 2019. It is also Palestine Land Day an important commemorative event that dates to 1967 when Israeli police killed six Palestinian citizens of Israel as they were protesting the Israeli governments expropriation of large swaths of Palestinian land. Palestinians, especially in the West Bank, have marked the anniversary since that day. In 2018, Gaza erupted in mass marches at the border with Israel on Land Day, demanding to return to their ancestors homes and lands in the West Bank and what became Israel which they were forced to leave by Zionist gangs and Israeli occupation forces in 1948 and 1967. The marches were also an attempt to draw attention to Israelis cruel siege of Gaza since 2007, which has practically transformed the coastal enclave into the worlds largest open-air prison. The peaceful marches were met with Israeli bullets, killing 256 Palestinians and injuring or maiming 29,000. They were suspended in December 2019 for three months. But scheduled marches this Monday were cancelled by local authorities as they grapple with the coronavirus pandemic which, for now, poses a bigger threat to Gazas besieged population of two million people than Israel does. In less than a week the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Gaza rose from only two to nine. In the West Bank, 115 Palestinians have tested positive. One woman in her 60s died of the virus. On Saturday, the Palestinian Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip launched an appeal to the international community for $23 million to assist in efforts to contain the spread of the virus. The appeal comes five days after Qatar announced $150 million in aid to Gaza over a period of six months to support UN humanitarian programmes there. Gazas infrastructure is shattered after 13 years of the Israeli siege and several wars. A pandemic would have a devastating impact on the densely populated, poorly equipped enclave were the movement of every single thing from foods, building materials to medical equipment, and human beings across the borders with Israel and Egypt is controlled by the Israeli occupation. The Health Ministry is deeply concerned over the severe shortages of essential medicines, medical consumables, laboratory supplies and blood banks, in addition to the limited equipment used to carry out coronavirus examinations, Ashraf Qudra, spokesman for the Health Ministry, told a news conference last week. Qudra accused the Israeli occupation state of systematically undermining health and humanitarian services in Gaza over long years of siege, holding it fully responsible for the lives of the population. The first two cases of coronavirus in Gaza were diagnosed on 21 March, rising to nine in one week. Twenty-five designated quarantine centres hosting 1,760 people are located in Rafah, Deir Al-Balah and the southern city of Khan Younis. Gaza only has 200 coronavirus testing kits and 65 intensive care beds. Rights groups have warned that this severely damaged open-air prison is one of the most vulnerable and explosive places in the world in the event of an outbreak that even first world countries are struggling with. A de facto Hamas government runs the Gaza Strip, while its rival, the Palestinian Authority (PA), exercises a level of authority with the approval of and in coordination with the Israeli occupation in the West Bank. The Gaza Strip is almost two weeks behind the West Bank, where the first cases were confirmed 5 March in the Bethlehem area. Patients are placed at a special facility for coronavirus in the town of Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah. Palestinian sources told the Israeli daily Haaretz that most of the West Bank patients diagnosed in recent days are workers returning from jobs in Israel or in Israeli settlements. They expressed concern about seeing a possible outbreak in villages in zones the PA exercises limited authority. The coronavirus pandemic is bringing attention to the nature of the Israeli occupations apartheid-like nature, this time highlighting the gap between the healthcare provided for its citizens and the Palestinian population on its western and southeast borders. According to Sari Bashi, a human rights lawyer with Gisha, an Israeli NGO advocating freedom of movement of Palestinians, the West Bank and Gaza combined have 295 ventilators. This translates to only six for every 100,000 people. Meanwhile Israel has 2,173 ventilators: 24 for every 100,000 people. Stopping the spread of coronavirus in Gaza is an obligation of the Israeli and Palestinian authorities. Its not an act of charity, she said. Control equals responsibility. As an occupying force, Israel by international humanitarian and human rights law is responsible for the safety and welfare of civilians living in the Occupied Territories. But since its disengagement from Gaza in 2005, Israel denies this responsibility, while enforcing the land, sea and air siege of Gaza since 2007. Despite Israeli fears of a security explosion and chaos in Gaza in the event of an outbreak, Tel Aviv has shown no signs of easing the blockade. On 27 March, Israeli Occupation Forces confiscated a coronavirus clinic in the West Bank and destroyed emergency homes constructed for residents evacuated from their homes. On the same day, the Israeli Civil Administration demolished three seasonal homes of farmers who are residents of Jerusalem, in the village of Ain Al-Duyuk Al-Tahta west of Jericho. The UN humanitarian coordinator has released $1 million from the pooled humanitarian fund to address immediate priority needs. It is only a fraction of the funds required. The Palestinian call for international aid to address the pandemic could not have come at a worse time when world budgets are shrinking or feeling the effect of coronavirus across the global economy. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said this week that it is struggling to provide much needed support to maintain its services. I am very, very much concerned about budget and the financial situation, said Gwyn Louis, West Bank director of UNRWA affairs. We have something until the end of April to continue with our services, but then we have no additional funding in getting the corona response and to meet the needs of the community. UNRWA runs medical clinics, schools and provides social assistance to some five million Palestinians. However, with the coronavirus outbreak, all schools were shut down and most health work was focused on dealing with the effects of the pandemic. Managing such a crisis would be very difficult, UNRWA director in Gaza Matthias Schmale told reporters Sunday. It is unreasonable to think that a place like Gaza can be isolated from the world, which puts everyone, including the people, under the responsibility of stopping the spread of the virus, he said. The worst scenario is the spread of the virus under a total closure. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: To Members of Town Council, Board of Finance, and Board of Selectmen: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Connecticuts governor recently issued guidelines that delay decision-making on our states 2020-21 budget by 30 days. On March 23, 2020 The Darien Times reported that Dariens Board of Finance made the decision to delay its budget process by one month, taking advantage of the governors new guidelines. Dariens Board of Finance will vote on that Towns budget and set its important mill rate at its May 14 meeting. Dariens mill rate will be officially set June 10, 2020 when Dariens Representative Town Meeting votes. Legislative powers of the Town of Darien are vested in that Towns RTM which, according to its website, is composed of 100 members representing the Town's six districts. The original date for the RTM budget vote was May 11. Following our governors issued guidelines, the RTM vote was moved to June 10. New Canaans Government Calendar shows that New Canaans Town Council is set to vote on our Towns 2020-2021 budget on April 2, 2020, nearly two months earlier than our counterparts in neighboring Darien. Why? New Canaans budget process remains on a seemingly myopic path. Our elected and appointed officials will make tough decisions about spending to meet the April 2 deadline during this global pandemic, with its shockingly negative economic impacts being realized with each new day. Our world has changed drastically during the past few weeks, and, given this global health and economic crisis, we should absolutely take more time to reflect on New Canaans proposed 2020-2021 budget, as well as our Towns longer-term and very impactful and consequential capital expenditure budget. We must all take into consideration that New Canaan residents jobs will be lost, businesses will close, and New Canaan property values will continue to plummet. The towns proposed contribution of $10 Million towards the construction of a new library is an exceedingly generous one. New Canaan taxpayers already supplement more than two-thirds of the Library's operating budget (about $2.4 million annually) and the Town of New Canaan has pledged $5 million for the new building. Now the Library is asking the Town, (New Canaan taxpayers), to increase it to $10 million. Given that the Towns proposed 2020-21 budget was created before the coronavirus days, before businesses and our schools closed, let us re-examine this request before the MOU is signed. Lets take time to examine whether the $16 Million raised in pledges and donations, so far, that comprise NCLIs $20 million contribution to its project, will certainly be fulfilled. Will the project be stopped if all the NCLIs cash (not pledges) is not available? I am also very concerned about the NCLIs planned demolition of the landmark 1913 building portion of todays New Canaan Library. I support the Friends of Our 1913 Library, who seek to raise money to save this building in situ without affecting the NCLI-proposed new library building. If the Friends of Our 1913 Librarys fundraising efforts to save, renovate and re-purpose the landmark 1913 library building fail in one year, the 1913 building can be demolished. This makes eminent sense to me. Please consider delaying the overall spending decisions and vote on the Towns 2020-21 budget by at least 30 days as neighboring Darien is doing. Sincerely, Betty J. Lovastik Playground of Dreams Thirty years ago, Eberwhite Elementary families built a playground. Last fall, they did it again. by Jeff Mortimer From the March, 2020 issue Rich Brisson woke up at 3 a.m. on a Friday last October with an idea. All week, the first-grade teacher at Eberwhite Elementary School had seen hundreds of volunteers assemble daily on the school's east side, some to build a new playground and others to feed, equip, and organize the folks doing the building. A few teachers had brought their students outside to cheer for the crews, and thank-you signs had been posted in classroom windows facing the site. Brisson wanted to do more. "We were trying to find different ways to show appreciation for the volunteers," he recalls, "but this was the last day of the build before the weekend, and I wanted to do something memorable." Then it hit him. "The volunteers were champions for our kids," he thought, "because they were building the playground." He texted his teacher colleagues at 5 a.m. and knew by the time he left for school that they were on board with his plan: make a big sign reading "You are our champions!," have as many kids as possible sign it, then unfurl it for the volunteers while all the kindergarten, first-, and second-grade classes cheered and Queen's classic hit "We Are the Champions" played as loud as Brisson's phone could play it, via a speaker and extension cord he brought from home. Many of the participants in the months-long project--planning and fundraising had begun early last year--likened it to an old-fashioned barn raising or the movie Field of Dreams, but it was also history repeating itself, as much as it ever does. Eberwhite has two playgrounds, one for the lower grades and one for the upper. Both were built in five days in May 1990 via a comparable community effort mobilized by the school's PTO, which insisted on that unconventional arrangement (against the advice of its consultants) because students tended to group themselves that way anyway. This time around the 1990 playgrounds are being replaced in phases. The PTO decided to ...continued below... build the new lower-grades structure as soon as it had raised enough money while continuing to fundraise for the second playground for the upper grades. But the multi-generational level of community engagement is the same.More than 700 volunteers put in nearly 5,000 hours over the six days of the lower-grades build. They included parents, neighbors, U-M students and athletes, and members of service organizations. At least a dozen of them had worked on the 1990 playground.A food committee served between 800 and 1,000 lunches and dinners, virtually all of them prepared and donated by local restaurants, during the week, as well as providing a breakfast buffet with fruit, pastries, and hot beverages. There were also committees to recruit and organize volunteers, arrange for and supervise off-site babysitting, obtain and track thousands of tools and construction hardware, and, of course, raise money."There was a whole army of folks that made it possible for us to be there every waking hour for a whole week," says Joshua Brugeman, one of six dads who volunteered as construction crew supervisors, which meant taking a week off from work to work even harder. They were on-site for every shift, overseeing multiple crews at a time--one might be screwing down deck boards, another spreading mulch."We were there a few minutes before seven a.m. and usually left around nine p.m.," Brugeman says. "We started with the lights on and ended with the lights on." The supervisors were under the aegis of the only paid workers on the project: three foremen from Play by Design, the consultants hired by the PTO."All they do is community-built playgrounds," Brugeman says, "so they know how to come in and take hundreds of people who don't know how to build a playground and build a playground."They met with the community and students and did a design charette to come up with the initial concepts, then put together the construction specs that we fundraised against and built. And, probably most importantly, they're the ones responsible for it being built to code and meeting all safety requirements."That latter consideration was especially pertinent for the Eberwhite folks. In 1990, they simply wanted to have new playgrounds that were built by the community. In 2019, they had to have new playgrounds when it was discovered, almost accidentally, that the existing ones failed to meet safety standards that didn't even exist when the playgrounds were built.The school had planned to use its $120,000 share of funds the district distributed to elementary schools for playground enhancements on a natural playscape near Eberwhite Woods, west of the school grounds. But when a district inspector visited the school in connection with that project, he also looked at the iconic playgrounds."He said, 'These are not up to code, these have to come down,'" recalls Sarah Lindsay, a first-grade teacher at Eberwhite and one of Brisson's coconspirators on the "champions" tribute. "The people at the meeting where that came to light were all a little bit shocked. We thought the money would enhance the beautiful playgrounds we already had. No one at Eberwhite wanted to take them down."The PTO hired an outside expert for a second opinion, but it matched the first. And $120,000 was only a quarter of the eventual $480,000 needed for the replacements, even with all those volunteers. If history didn't repeat itself, there wouldn't be much of an Eberwhite playground.---"A lot of us, when we heard the playground had to come down, said we can't replace it with something less than what those people did," says Brugeman. "That would be a disservice to them.""There was a fear, to be perfectly honest, that it would not be as enjoyable or satisfying as the previous one," says Eberwhite principal Bill Harris. "The bar was set very high. It was hard to imagine we could recreate something as special as what they did, and yet we did."Andrew Smith, an Eberwhite parent and neighbor, cochaired the PTO's playground committee and was its project manager for the build, although he wasn't on site quite as much as the crew supervisors. "I tried to work my day job a little bit on Wednesday and Friday," he chuckles. He's a project manager there, too--he works for U-M's architecture, engineering, and construction unit.For him, there was a little extra incentive. "There's always that reputation that the next generation isn't as hardworking as the prior one," Smith says. "If the time had come for the district to take the old structures down, it felt like a call to action to uphold the same level of commitment and sense of community that my neighbors had thirty years ago."The lower-grades playground already stands as proof of this generation's commitment. And they're not done yet. Principal Harris says they're again working with Play by Design to plan the new upper-grades playground on the school's west side. The volunteers will be back in October to build it. [Originally published in March, 2020.] DETROIT, March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratview Research announces the launch of a new market research report on Metal Bellows Market by Material Type (Titanium Alloys, Stainless Steel Alloys, Nickel Alloys, and Others), by Product Type (Edge-Welded Bellows, Mechanically Formed Bellows, Electroformed Bellows, and Others), by End-Use Industry Type (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Oil & Gas, Semiconductor, Pharmaceutical, and Others), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2020-2025. This 241-page comprehensive report, from Stratview Research, on the metal bellows market is one of its kind and estimates the current as well as future growth opportunities for the market participants until 2025. The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner in order to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for the market participants as well as investors in the identification of low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as formulate growth strategies. Metal Bellows Market: Highlights Metal bellows are a type of flexible seals used in pipe joints. They help in mitigating movement caused by thermal fluctuation, equipment movement, and vibration or pressure pulsation by converting movements into linear or rotational motion in any piping system. They also reduce the chances of leakage of any fluid or pressure in pipe joints. The performance of bellows depends on several factors including the type of raw material used and its properties, design factor, manufacturing process, etc. Metal bellows are used in a diverse range of applications ranging from aerospace & defense to pharmaceutical, industrial automation, semiconductor manufacturing, solar power generation, water & wastewater treatment plant, and oil & gas industries. The year 2019 was very challenging, especially for the automotive and aerospace industries, owing to the huge decline in the automotive and commercial aircraft production. For instance; the grounding of B737 Max, P&W 1100G engine series failure (A320neo), delayed market entry of key aircraft programs such as B777X, revised production rates of key aircraft programs, such as B787 in the wake of cancellation of orders from China and other parts of the world are some of the burning challenges, negatively impacting the entire supply chain including the demand for metal bellows in the aerospace industry. The recent COVID-19 outbreak is severely affecting the end-use industries of metal bellows such as aerospace and automotive. The rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is projected to continue through the second quarter of 2020 and have a severe impact on these industries. Although the recovery is uncertain and depends on the post-virus economic environment and potential government stimulus, the long-term outlook seems vigorous for the metal bellows market with attractive growth opportunities for the market participants in years to come. The global metal bellows market is forecasted to reach an estimated value of US$ 1.04 billion in 2025. Click Here and Run Through the Detailed TOC of the Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/toc/822/metal-bellows-market.html The metal bellows market is segmented based on the material type as titanium alloys, stainless steel alloys, nickel alloys, and others. Titanium alloys are likely to remain the most dominant material type and are likely to witness the highest growth over the next five years. Growing composites content in the aerospace industry coupled with excellent compatibility of titanium with composites, increasing penetration of lightweight materials, growing usage of titanium alloys in the high-end cars to reduce weight and to gain high strength, and desirable properties of titanium concerning corrosion and thermal expansion are some of the factors behind the superior growth of titanium alloys in the market. Based on the product type, the market is segmented as edge-welded bellows, mechanically formed bellows, electroformed bellows, and others. Edge-welded bellow is likely to remain the most dominant product type and is likely to register an excellent CAGR during the forecast period, whereas mechanically formed bellow is likely to remain the second-largest product type over the same period. Edge-welded bellows are preferred for extreme temperature applications and corrosive environments, such as aircraft engines, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, oil & gas instruments, and medical device. Based on the end-use industry, aerospace & defense is likely to remain the most dominant segment over the next five years. The year 2020 seems to be tough, owing to a host of factors such as grounding of B737max, the impact of coronavirus outbreak forcing airlines to halt their operations globally, airframers to halt the aircraft production in China, the USA, and Europe for an undetermined time. Semiconductor is likely to remain the fastest-growing segment of the market, owing to expected rebound in the demand for semiconductors in the aerospace & defense, smartphones, automotive, artificial intelligence (AI), and internet of thing (IoT) in years to come. Register Here and Ask for a Free Sample on the Exclusive Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/Request-Sample/822/metal-bellows-market.html In terms of region, Asia-Pacific is projected to remain the largest and fastest-growing market for metal bellows during the forecast period. The short-term market demand is challenging in the Asia-Pacific region with China and South Korea being severely impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. Airbus has temporarily closed its A320 and A330 completion centers of Tianjin, China. However, the region's market is expected to rebound in the coming quarters with reopening of assembly plants by Boeing and Airbus, upcoming oil & gas projects, growing electronics industry, technological innovations in the automotive and mobile industries. North America is projected to remain the second-largest market during the forecast period. The USA is the growth engine of the North American metal bellows market. The country is the hub for the aerospace industry with the presence of several aircraft OEMs, metal bellow suppliers, and raw material suppliers. Key players in the market are Senior Plc., Freudenberg Group, EnPro Industries Inc., Witzenmann GmbH, Eaton Corporation Plc, U.S. Bellows, Inc., AESSEAL plc, Smith Group, Meggitt PLC, and MW Industries. Execution of mergers & acquisitions and formation of collaboration with OEMs for the joint development of metal bellows are some of the strategies adopted by the major players to gain a competitive edge in the market. Some of the Key Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategic Alliances in the Market: In 2018, Satair A/S (a company of Airbus Group) and Senior Metal Bellows extended the existing agreement (the first one was signed in 2017) to distribute all commercial aerospace aftermarket products including accumulators, bellows, thermal valves, compressors, etc. in Europe and Asia-Pacific . The agreement is extended with an aim to strengthen the distribution network outside North America . and . The agreement is extended with an aim to strengthen the distribution network outside . MW Industries, Inc. acquired Ameriflex Inc. in 2018 to further strengthen its metal bellows product portfolio along with existing companies: BellowsTech and Servometer. In 2015, MW Industries, Inc. acquired BellowsTech, LLC and Servometer, LLC to enter the metal bellows business and to better serve the market. Report Features This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights on the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report: Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis. Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis. Market trend and forecast analysis. Market segment trend and forecast. Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc. Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities. Emerging trends. Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players. Key success factors. This report studies the metal bellows market and has segmented the market in four ways, keeping in mind the interest of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Following are the four ways in which the market is segmented: Metal Bellows Market, By Material Type Titanium Alloys (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Stainless Steel Alloys (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Nickel Alloys (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Metal Bellows Market, By Product Type Edge-Welded Bellows (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Mechanically Formed Bellows (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Electroformed Bellows (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Metal Bellows Market, By End-Use Industry Type Aerospace & Defense (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Automotive (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Oil & Gas (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Semiconductor (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Pharmaceutical (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Metal Bellows Market, By Region North America (Country Analysis: The USA , Canada , and Mexico ) Europe (Country Analysis: France , Germany , the UK, Russia , and Rest of Europe ) Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan , China , India , and Rest of Asia-Pacific ) Rest of the World (Sub-Region Analysis: Latin America , the Middle East , and Others) Stratview Research has number of high value market reports in the global aerospace & defense industry. Please refer to the following link to browse through our reports: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/market-reports/Aerospace-Defense.html About Stratview Research Stratview Research is a global market intelligence firm providing wide range of services including syndicated market reports, custom research and sourcing intelligence across industries, such as Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mass Transportation, Consumer Goods, Construction & Equipment, Electronics and Semiconductors, Energy & Utility, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Oil & Gas. We have a strong team of industry veterans and analysts with an extensive experience in executing custom research projects for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies, in the areas of Market Assessment, Opportunity Screening, Competitive Intelligence, Due Diligence, Target Screening, Market Entry Strategy, Go to Market Strategy, and Voice of Customer studies. Stratview Research is a trusted brand globally, providing high quality research and strategic insights that help companies worldwide in effective decision making. For enquiries, Contact: Stratview Research E-mail: sales@stratviewresearch.com Direct: +1-313-307-4176 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660595/Stratview_Research_Logo.jpg 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31 By Huseyn Safarov - Trend: Azerbaijan responds to the threats adequately and carefully amid many other countries, Candidate of political sciences, analyst of the European Center for Geopolitical Analysis Mateusz Piskorski told Trend. Piskorski stressed that he highly appreciates the measures taken by the Azerbaijani government to combat the spread of coronavirus. The main thing is that the country's leadership is trying to do everything in accordance with the law, the analyst said. For example, the Azerbaijani parliament is considering and discussing the reports on the epidemiological situation. The main thing is to observe the law because in many countries panic at the political level impedes normal lawmaking, the analyst said. Therefore, I think it very important that while realizing now that the situation may develop in different ways, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev makes certain amendments to the law on state of emergency, Piskorski said. The origin of this virus is unknown, so no one knows how long the epidemic will last, whether there will be new outbreak in different countries, the analyst said. "But it seems to me that we definitely know one thing. The neoliberal model of globalization has ended. The world may become more closed, the analyst said. We will return to the level of national countries and regional integration blocs. But to build a new world order, we must wait. Presently, the most important thing is to save people from a pandemic. The analyst emphasized that a pandemic may give an impetus to the development of artificial intelligence and may accelerate its development. "Management and control systems based on the principle of artificial intelligence will be improved in connection with the threat of pandemic, Piskorski added. Both countries and private corporations will stimulate its development, the analyst said. But presently, everyone must take care of own health and health of their loved ones. So, first of all, I wish the Azerbaijani people health and victory in the fight against the virus." 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. Six people from Telangana who attended the congregation died 1 / 8 People who showed symptoms being taken to various hospitals from area in New Delhi (Photo-Dalip Kumar) A religious congregation of 2,000 people at a mosque in Delhi's area, which has thrown up several corona positive cases maybe a ticking time bomb as six of the persons who returned to Telangana after attending the congregation have died from the virus and positive cases are emerging from at least five other regions including J&K, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and the Andaman and Nicobar islands. 17 new cases in Andhra Pradesh, 13 traced to meet 2 / 8 People wearing masks leave for hospital in a bus from Nizamuddin area, after several people showed symptoms of in New Delhi (Photo-Dalip Kumar) A day after the Telangana government announced the death of 6 patients from the state - all linked to Nizamuddin visit in Delhi, 17 new positive cases were registered on Tuesday. Thirteen of the new cases have been traced back to the religious congregation at the Markaz Tablighi Jamaat. How did this happen? 3 / 8 File Photo of Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station Tablighi Jamaat is an Islamic missionary movement, which was started in 1926. It has headquarters in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, with followers from across the globe. From March 13 to 15, there was a religious congregation attended by nearly 2,000 people, including foreigners. This has now become the latest and the biggest hotspot for the virus in the country. People who attended the event have travelled to various states. The Delhi government has ordered the lodging of an FIR against the head of Markaz, Maulana Saad Kandalvi for endangering the lives of thousands of people. Over 1,500 people have been quarantined in the Markaz itself 4 / 8 People wearing masks as the police cordoned off an area in Nizamuddin after some people showed coronavirus symptoms, in New Delhi | Photo: Dalip Kumar A facility is coming up for these people in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, according to several reports. Even on Tuesday morning, people continue to board buses in the Nizamuddin area in order to be taken to different hospitals for a checkup. Number of infected cases in Delhi shoot up to 97 by Monday evening from 72 on Sunday 5 / 8 Men wearing protective masks walk to board a bus going to the hospital amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Nizamuddin Area in New Delhi. Photo: ANI Situation in Delhi 6 / 8 People continue to board buses in the Nizamuddin area, to be taken to different hospitals for a checkup. Photo: ANI The total number of coronavirus cases in the capital climbed to 97 on Monday, with 25 fresh cases being reported in a day, according to the Delhi Health Department. Around 800 people went to different states, police begin search 7 / 8 A volunteer sprays disinfectant on paramilitary personnel as they cordon off an area in Nizamuddin, where several people showed symptoms of infection from coronavirus after taking part in a religious gathering a few days ago Markaz Nizamuddin issues statement on congregation, says didn't violate law 8 / 8 Nizamuddin Markaz Masjid is a mosque located in Nizamuddin West in South Delhi Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 You are here: At a think tank webinar held Monday, international experts called for countries across the world to cooperate and coordinate their actions to counteract the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic that has affected the lives of millions of people. Wang Wen, executive dean of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, said the economic disruption caused by the pandemic could be more serious than that of the 2008 financial crisis. He urged countries around the world to stand united in preventing not only the virus but also an economic depression. Wang said that, as the pandemic continues across the world, globalization is in shock and the world economy will likely fall into a great depression like in the 1930s. "In the first quarter of 2020, the global cross border flow of people, materials, and capitals has been reduced by about 50%," he said. This month, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development lowered its global economic growth forecast for 2020 from 2.9% projected before the pandemic to 2.4% now, and also slashed its growth forecast for G20 from 3.2% to 2.7%. Li Yong, deputy chair of the Expert Committee of China Association of International Trade, said the world is facing a situation that "we have never experienced in the century," and that the situation is getting worse. "We can erase the virus to zero through global health cooperation, but our economies can't," said Li. "We need coordination in fiscal policies, monetary policies to make sure that the financial system is stable and healthy." He emphasized that confidence can only be regained with financial stability and robust growth of the economy, and disruption to trade and the global supply chain should be minimized through creating more opportunities. Mustafa Sayed, executive director of the Pakistan-China Institute, said that the fact that the Chinese people and also the large enterprises became united to confront this crisis is something that we all need to learn from. "What we did not factor in was a great responsibility that comes with globalization. And that is a very important missing link, which is now evident to us today," he said. "It also means that we have to exercise great responsibility." The two-hour video conference was sponsored by the China International Publishing Group, and was jointly organized by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, China.org.cn, China Today and Bosheng International Cultural Communication Co., Ltd. Regime officials have patrolled towns in the Damascus countryside and have quarantined those they suspect of having contracted the coronavirus reports Sowt al-Asima. Patrols by the police department in Jdaydet Artooz in the western Damascus countryside, accompanied by medical units from the Ministry of Health, have over the past two days carried out a campaign that has hit a number of homes in the town and taken eight residents to quarantine centers after they showed symptoms of the coronavirus. Local sources told Sowt al-Asima that the patrols had taken one man who had been displaced from the city of Daraya and was living in al-Jalaa Street in the center of town, on Sunday, to a quarantine center after a doctor had submitted a report indicating he had been infected with the virus. The sources added that on the same day, the patrols had taken two women from different areas, one of them Masaken Saraya al-Siraa , and another from the old town, near the Khadija mosque, after suspicions that they had been infected. The sources said that the patrols had also taken a family of five from al-Jalaa Street near the al-Bahra roundabout at the city entrance on Wednesday night, to the quarantine center after showing signs that one had been infected. A doctor in Jdaydet Artooz said that he had diagnosed other cases of people who had showed signs of the virus over the last two days and had advised them to go to the hospital to get medical analyses to discover if they had the virus, and said that they had refused to do this. These people said they did not want to go to the government hospital out of fear that they would be infected if the tests were negative, because of the lack of quarantine methods. They also feared the treatment they would receive from security forces there, the doctor said. In Harasta, medical teams from the Health Ministry have over the past two days carried out medical quarantine of an entire family, the Shulla family, days after they entered Syria, coming from Lebanon illegally because the official border between the countries is closed. Sowt al-Asimas correspondent in Harasta said that cars from the Health Ministry and another from the Red Crescent had transported and entire family to quarantine after confirming a woman from the family had contracted the coronavirus. The correspondent quoted residents in the Samsam district, where the family lives, as saying that residents are afraid of the virus spreading to themespecially those who mixed with the family after their return, given the deteriorating medical situation in Harasta and it being closed off from Damascus, which could delay the discovery of the disease if anyone contracts it. The Sowt al-Asima website, in a report on Saturday, documented a man and his wife from the town of Masarba going into quarantine after he also returned from Lebanon. A Syrian regime fighters from Douma was infected with the coronavirus last week and was quarantined with his wife in the government centers. Sowt al-Asima quoted local sources in al-Tall as saying that a member of the Air Force Intelligence had contracted the virus, which was transferred to his wife as well, after mixing with Iranian and Iraqi fighters in Sayeda Zeinab in southern Damascus when he was sent on a mission. 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 U.S. would aid Vietnam with nearly $3 million in health assistance to help fight the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, its Department of State announced. Specifically, the aid would help Vietnam prepare laboratory systems, activate case-finding and event-based surveillance, support technical experts in response and preparedness, risk communication, infection prevention and control, according to a fact sheet published on the U.S. Department of State's official website on March 27. The aid to Vietnam is part of an initial investment of nearly $274 million in emergency health and humanitarian assistance to help up to 64 countries and territories most-at-risk of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which has infected over 785,000 and killed over 37,800 worldwide. Vietnam has recorded 204 Covid-19 cases so far, of whom 55 have recovered and been discharged. Many of the active cases are Vietnamese nationals returning from Europe and the U.S., foreigners coming from the same regions and those whod come into contact with both groups of people. The U.S. has become the worst hit nation in the Covid-19 pandemic, reporting more than 164,350 cases including 3,173 deaths. As existing supplies of masks and protective equipment rapidly diminish in Spain, groups of volunteers across Malaga province and the Costa Tropical have started to make them in their own homes. Town halls, businesses and individuals are rallying together to provide materials, machinery, premises and time as the race to keep up with the demand of masks and protective clothing continues. In Periana, British resident Chloe Gavin is coordinating a group of women, including a handful of foreign residents, to make 400 protective gowns which will be donated to the Axarquia hospital in Torre del Mar as well as homes for the elderly throughout the Axarquia. "I saw a post on Facebook about people making masks, so I asked the town hall for supplies and contacted the local women's association and some of the foreign people who live here," Chloe explains. "We have had a request for 400 gowns, but I expect we will make more," she added. Almunecar town hall is coordinating a group of approximately 60 volunteers who are also making masks and gowns which are destined for domestic help workers and the local police force. They aim to produce 1,000 masks and 100 gowns and in Velez-Malaga some of the Holy Week brotherhoods (cofradias) are also producing the equipment. A coordinated effort The Real Cofradia de la Pollinica and the Virgen del Rocio as well as a flamenco dressmaker are all working to produce 30,000 masks and 500 gowns, which will go to the Axarquia hospital, local police, Amivel - a local charity for people with disabilities - as well as for companies and residents. Along the coast a number of organisations in Benajarafe, Valle-Niza and Chilches have also got together to produce the equipment and have one point of contact in each village "to reduce contact and spreading the virus" explained spokesperson Sergio Yules. He added that they have also started a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to buy more material. It is a similar story in Coin, Manilva and Cartama. In Coin a group of more than 30 cancer survivors are making gowns and masks. One of the volunteers, Maria Dolores Bravo, explained that the masks "are only for professionals and to be put over the authorised ones." She went on to say that the homemade masks "can be sterilised and then reused which allows the authorised masks to be used for longer." In Manilva local businessman Jesus Belmonte has provided his interior decor premises as well as machinery for the kits to be made. School cleaning staff employed by the town hall are making them so that their contracts don't need to be broken according to a town hall spokesperson. Volunteers with Malaga's doctor's union, Sindicato Medico de Malaga (SMM), are working to produce 300 visors made from acetate. Javier Sanz is coordinating around 30 volunteers who are using their own 3D printers to make the visors, which are being delivered to hospitals in the region. Cartama resident Ernesto Soler is one of 20 people with access to 3D printers in the town who is making protective visors for local civil protection employees. The volunteers are working from home, with the town hall providing material and logistics. Soler said he has reduced the time it takes to make a visor from two and half hours to one and points out that everyone involved is wearing masks and gloves. "We won't stop until the virus is dead," he told SUR earlier this week. Meghan McCain from The View spent the weekend raving about the documentary about Joe Exotic. The Netflix docuseries titled Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness centered around a colorful character in Oklahoma that ran a roadside zoo. Social media was taken over by memes and talk about Exotic whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage. The zookeeper is now serving a 22-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of euthanizing five tigers and hiring someone to kill his nemesis Carole Baskin. Joe Exotic and Meghan McCain | Netflix / Greg Endries/Bravo Joe Exotic wants a presidential pardon Following all the talk of the so-called Tiger King, Exotic took advantage of the media spotlight to ask for a presidential pardon. This lawsuit has been filed in the name of Justice, The Trump Administration must be made aware of the Overreach, perjury, abuse of power and the failure to uphold the Oath of their position which is truth and Justice for all, the polygamist stated on his Facebook page. The lawsuit was filed in the state of Oklahoma where he names U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and his former business associate Jeff Lowe. Exotic is demanding a combined $94 million. The Agencies and its counterparts have abused the system for a private agenda. The Director Dan Ashe used his Government position to create an illegal monopoly with the AZA and shut down hard-working American businesses for self-gain, Exotic continued. I have been illegally charged with these crimes and the Trump Administration, the United States Department of Interior along with the Federal Wildlife Service must be held accountable for what they have done to me, my parents and my family, along with my animals. Thank you and please share. Meghan McCain joins the motion The conservative TV co-host was in favor of Donald Trump issuing a pardon for the Tiger King star. Joe Exotic deserves a presidential pardon for being the only thing to distract me from the #coronapocalypse since the outbreak, she wrote on Twitter. McCain also shared a meme where Exotic accuses Baskin of being to blame for COVID-19. Former The View co-host, Abby Huntsman, also got on the Tiger King train thanks to McCain. Finally starting watching Tiger King thanks to Meghan McCain. This is unreal! I cannot get enough, Huntsman tweeted. McCain then added, Please watch it all the way through and call me immediately after. Its very important! Especially how Carole fed her husband to the tigers or put him in a meat grinder. Please watch it all the way through and call me immediately after. Its very important! Especially how Carole fed her husband to the tigers or put him in a meat grinder https://t.co/hzTGPc2Txn Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 29, 2020 Meghan McCain backs up Cardi B McCain also interacted with Cardi B who also became a fan of Exotic. Although she was a little lost at the beginning because her husband got in the way, she quickly took sides. As many watchers, she was not a fan of Baskin. Caol, you think you slick bi**, she tweeted. She then asked her fans who they thought burned Exotics studio, which many believe he did it himself. They did Joe so dirty over and over again, the Bronx rapper tweeted later. After finishing the doc, the Money hitmaker said she would start a GoFundMe to save Exotic. Bout to start a GoFundMe account for Joe. He shall be free, she wrote. Bout to start a gofundme account for Joe .He shall be free. iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 28, 2020 This last motion was second by McCain who retweeted a story about Cardi starting the account. A doctor at Elmhurst hospital in Queens - the coronavirus 'epicenter of the epicenter' in New York City - said on Tuesday that fewer patients are coming in but those who do are more severely sick. Dr. Eric Wei, the vice president of New York's Health + Hospitals system, spoke at a press conference with Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday where he said the positive cases of Elmhurst are surprising. Patients are coming into the ER with sore throats, sore chests, fevers and coughs, expecting to test positive, but test negative whereas others, who come in for other ailments, test positive by chance. He gave the example of car accident victims who are tested after going through CT scans which reveal the pneumonia in their lungs. Others have no other symptoms but diarrhea, he said. Dr. Eric Wei,the vice president of New York City Health + Hospitals, said on Tuesday that Elmhurst Hospital in Queens was receiving fewer patients but that they were sicker. He spoke at the Queens complex where the US Open is held - it is to become a field hospital A patient is stretchered into Elmhurst Hospital in Queens - the epicenter of the epicenter Patients are coming into the ER with sore throats, sore chests, fevers and coughs, expecting to test positive, but test negative whereas others, who come in for other ailments, test positive by chance 'I have practiced emergency medicine and I could never even imagine what this virus could do to people who are all ages, people who are previously healthy,' he said. 'Elmhurst ... everybody is moving heaven and earth to do everything they can to take on an onslaught of patients. 'It's gone from double the volume of people coming to the ER, the volume is down but the people who are coming in are so much more ill and so much more critically ill with shortness of breath and respiratory failure. 'So we're seeing more and more ICU patients,' he said. A healthcare worker at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, New York, on Monday March 30 It is unclear exactly how many patients have flooded Elmhurst's ER in recent days. One paramedic told The New York Post that the number of calls they were receiving had doubled and that the ER was double its usual capacity. A different man said he had gone to the hospital with a cough then gave up and went home because it was taking so long for him to be seen. Elmhurst has been described as the 'epicenter of the epicenter' of New York City's crisis. The hospital was restocked with supplies four times in a single day last week and is being sent back-up nurses by the truckload. President Trump, who grew up near to it in Queens, became emotional while addressing the situation there last week. A hospital worker outside Elmhurst Hospital, Queens, on March 31 A hospital worker outside Brooklyn Hospital Center takes a break from loading bodies into a makeshift morgue on the street on Tuesday It will be relieved of some of the unimaginable pressure it is under in part by the new temporary field hospital that is being set up at the Queens complex where the US Open is held every year. It is going to house 350 beds for non-critical coronavirus patients to be treated. Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday that the center was one of the many places in New York City which had offered to help since the pandemic exploded. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has also told of his plan to centralize the hospital system, removing the barriers or whether or not they are public or private, to try to spread the load of patients across the city. Elmhurst is one of the 11 public hospitals across New York City. They are under more strain than private hospitals like Lenox Hill or Columbia Presbyterian because they had fewer resources to work with before the pandemic hit. The city is so overrun with hospital patients due to COVID-19 that there are makeshift morgues being set up in the streets. The refrigerated trucks are stationed outside the hospitals. Hospital workers have been seen loading them with bodies over the last few days. Other distressing scenes across the city include the sights of people's bodies being removed the morgues in cardboard coffins. Hospital workers who staff them all wear hazmat suits. Kelloggs recruiting at Wrexham factory to help meet increased demand This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Mar 31st, 2020 Kelloggs is urgently looking for additional fixed term team members at the Wrexham factory. The company says it is recruiting to help increase production and get more products such as Special K, Bran Flakes and Krave into UK shops as demand increases. Anyone experienced in food manufacturing operations or with transferable technical skills are being asked to jump on the Kellogg Careers Website and apply. Sam Bistiaux, site leader at Kelloggs Wrexham factory, said: At this time, our focus is on making all the food we can to help feed Britain. We have an amazingly dedicated team here at our Wrexham factory who are doing a fantastic job keeping things going. But as demand increases, so does our need for great people. Thats why Id ask anyone with the right skills and a great attitude to get in contact with us so we can talk to them about a fixed term role supporting operations. Kelloggs says it is ensuring that all surplus food is being donated to charities like Fareshare to be redistributed for those most in need through community centres such as foodbanks, elderly charities and soup kitchens. In the last week alone, the company has sent three articulated lorry loads of foods to feeding charities. It is also supporting breakfast clubs which are open in the schools committed to caring for the children of key workers, including those in the NHS. To find out about temporary jobs available at Kellogg, please visit kelloggcareers.com No casualties reported following the incident, which happened north of Japan-controlled islets that China also claims. A Japanese destroyer collided with a Chinese fishing boat in the East China Sea on Monday night but no one was injured or missing, Japans Defence Ministry said. The collision caused a hole in the destroyer Shimakaze above its waterline, but it was still able to move on its own, the ministry added. In a social media post on Tuesday, Defence Minister Taro Kono said the incident occurred about 650 kilometres (400 miles) west of the Japanese island of Yakushima. No personnel were injured and no one from the Chinese fishing boat was missing. We are checking details, Kono wrote. The cause of the collision and other details including the ships movements before the accident are under investigation, the ministry said. The site of the accident off Yakushima Island, is far to the north of an area disputed between the two countries, it said. Japan and China have disputes over Japanese controlled-islands that China also claims. The uninhabited islets are called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. In recent months, Japan has bolstered its defence of the disputed islets with the establishment of a special police unit armed with automatic weapons. The police, based on the southern island of Okinawa, are to be deployed to the disputed islands in the event of an illegal landing by an armed group, public broadcaster NHK reported previously. Japans military and coastguard have boosted their positions around the disputed islands but it is the first time that the police have set up a unit in the region to help defend the territory. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. As Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Adnan al-Zurfi struggles to secure adequate parliamentary votes for his candidacy, Iraqi political parties are uncertain about whether they should support him, find a new candidate or even keep caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi in office. President Barham Salih nominated Zurfi on March 17. He must now form a Cabinet and obtain parliamentary approval for that Cabinet by April 17 to become prime minister. Unlike the previous prime minister-designate, Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, who failed to form a Cabinet due to a lack of parliamentary support, Zurfi is the leader of the Nasr parliamentary bloc, headed by former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. However, this bloc is small, made up of 27 members, which means Zurfi must negotiate with other political parties to secure votes, especially since Iraqi political parties are prone to changing their decisions in the blink of an eye. Shiite camp is divided Zurfi knows he cannot obtain Kurdish and Sunni support without securing the Shiite camp, which has held the premiership since 2004. Therefore, he has approached Shiite parties to make sure they do not turn their back on him when it comes time to approve his cabinet. If the Shiite parties withdraw support, that would most likely lead to a Sunni and Kurdish withdrawal of support. Sources close to Zurfi told Iraq media March 25 that Zurfi is supported by 100 Shiite parliamentary members. This means his government could obtain parliamentary approval with only a small number of Sunni and Kurdish members. He needs the support of at least half plus one of the parliamentary quorum, which is 165 members of parliament, a total of 83 votes. This means the parliament can vote on his cabinet if 165 members attend and if a half pulse one of them, which is 83 members vote for him, he will get the confidence. However, this assessment does not seem accurate. Two parliamentary blocs the Fatah bloc of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), and Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law, which have about 70 seats still oppose Zurfi. They are trying to nominate a new candidate while accusing Barham of acting unconstitutionally in his appointment of Zurfi. Yet it is still difficult for the PMU and its allies to find a candidate to replace Zurfi. The appointment of Zurfi, who is close to the United States and opposes Iranian influence in Iraq, caught the PMU by surprise. But its adherents believe they can block parliamentary approval for his cabinet. They, therefore, support keeping Abdul Mahdi in office until early elections are held. Qais al-Khazali, the leader of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, described Zurfi as a corrupt candidate. Khazali called for granting more powers to Abdul Mahdis government and announcing a state of emergency in response to the spread of the novel coronavirus in Iraq. Iran's allies have no interest in seeing Abdul Mahdi stepping down, Ihsan al-Shammari, director of the Baghdad-based Iraqi Center for Political Thought, told Al-Monitor. This is because such a thing would greatly shake the influence they acquired under his rule. Abdul Mahdi leaving his post would result in President Salih running the government," Shammari said. "[Salih's] positions are not consistent with the [Iran-friendly] policy that the parties who want Abdul Mahdi to stay have adopted. Salih assuming this responsibility would result in pro-Iran parties being greatly exposed. This is why they are pushing toward Abdul Mahdi remaining in his post. But Abdul Mahdi voluntarily stepped away from his caretaker position on March 2. He does not seem willing to return unless parliament were to approve him and his cabinet, which is unlikely due to strong objections from protesters. Abdul Mahdi took this "voluntary absence" in November 2019 due to pressure from protesters, who demanded a competent government and public services. Yet he continued to serve until a new government could be formed. Typically, the prime minister heads the Council of Ministers, or Cabinet, yet when Abdul Mahdi left office, he handed over the reins to Finance Minister Fuad Hussein a controversial move since it may be unconstitutional. Abdul Mahdi said he stepped aside to avoid a constitutional and administrative vacuum. Abiding by the relevant constitutional articles would be the best solution, he said, stating that he consulted legal experts to ensure he was taking the right action. Not everyone agrees, however, that his moves were legitimate. Qassem Abboudi, a political analyst at Nabad Center for Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor that Abdul Mahdis stepping away aimed to send the political class that failed him in the middle of his rule the provocative message that there is no alternative" to replace him. Shammari said that Abdul Mahdi took leave from the post as opposed to resigning because "remaining in his post would provide him with personal and political immunity. This also explains why he wants renewed parliamentary approval to return to the office. Sunnis are uncertain The Sunnis appear to be happy with Zurfi, so long as he is close to the United States and keeps his distance from Iran. However, even some Sunni groups are under Iranian influence, and it's difficult to imagine them supporting a prime minister who opposes Iran. A well-informed source close to Iraq's ruling elites told Al-Monitor, Zurfi will fail to gather the needed vote in the Iraqi parliament to pass his cabinet, since Irans strategy is keeping Adel Abdul Mahdi until the next parliamentary elections in 2022. The source added, So far, Zurfi enjoys Kurdish and Sunni support, but no one in Iraq wants to make Iran mad yet. There are also those among Sunnis who want Abdul Mahdi to stay in office until early elections are called. General elections are currently scheduled for 2022, but protesters have demanded they be held this year. Mohammed Dahhan, spokesman for the Salvation and Development Front, told Ahd TV on Feb. 21 that Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi, who stands to lose his position in an election, wants the caretaker government to remain in place. Mahmoud al-Hashemi, secretary of the Iraq Media Observatory, told Al-Monitor, Abdul Mahdi believes that he has the support of Sunni forces, in addition to the Kurds, and not to mention the majority of the Shiites. He added that Abdul Mahdi seems to be the only one who can address the interests of all three groups. Kurds are waiting Though Kurds have said they would not make a deal with Zurfi until he secured Shiite votes, they are already negotiating regional interests with him. Kurdish lawmaker Ahmed Haji Rashid, from the Kurdistan Islamic Group, told Al-Monitor, Zurfi might not get support from the majority of the Shiites needed to pass his cabinet within the Iraqi parliament, adding that if the majority of the Shiites do not support Zurfi, Kurds and Sunnis would not defy the Shiites and vote for him. Zurfi is negotiating with Shiite blocs to ensure their vote, but he is also negotiating with Sunnis and Kurds as well. He has already met with Finance Minister Hussein, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and has vowed to address unresolved issues in the Kurdistan region and seek serious solutions. The Kurdistan region is currently on the brink of financial collapse due to the fall in international oil prices. The region's four provinces are locked down due to the coronavirus, and the government needs urgent support from Baghdad as well as negotiations with Zurfi. Amin Baba Sheikh, the spokesman of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, told Al-Monitor, We are ready to make joint coordination with all the Kurdish political parties in order to jointly negotiate with Zurfi in Baghdad and safeguard the interests of the people of Kurdistan. He continued, Formation of a new government and stabilizing Iraq is a priority for us. We think key issues of the Kurdistan regions share from the federal budget, salaries of the [Kurdistan Regional Government] employees, including the peshmerga forces, and Iraqs hydrocarbon law are more important than the posts of a minister, an adviser or a general director. Baba Sheikh is sure that parliament will approve Zurfi's Cabinet. Zurfi is a pragmatic man, said Sarkawt Shams, a Kurdish lawmaker from the Future bloc. "Zurfi is now making a series of public and secret meetings with the political sides. As for now, Zurfi has more supporters than opponents." Shams added, If tensions between the US and Iran do not further escalate, Zurfi is expected to present his cabinet within the one-month period, because the oil price collapse coupled with the spread of coronavirus did not leave any room for presenting another candidate to form a new Iraqi government. Vietnams Ministry of Health confirmed four COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the countrys total to 207, with two foreigners declared free of the virus the same day. The four new patients include three in Ho Chi Minh City and one in Hanoi. Among the countrys total of 207 patients, 57 have been pronounced clear of the novel coronavirus, according to the ministry. No fatality has been recorded. Two foreigners were confirmed to have fully recovered from the disease on Tuesday, one of whom had been treated in the central city of Hue and the other in Ho Chi Minh City. The two will be isolated for 14 more days in accordance with the health ministrys regulations. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said in a directive on Tuesday that Vietnam would go into nationwide social distancing on Wednesday. The social distancing will last until the end of April 15, at a time when the Southeast Asian country is trying to contain the disease by all means. Households are advised to keep a distance from households, villages from villages, communes from communes, districts from districts, and provinces from provinces, according to the directive. Citizens are requested to stay home and only leave the house under truly necessary circumstances such as journeys for food, medicine, emergency care or for working at essential businesses, factories, and services that have been allowed to continue operating. Everyone is advised to maintain a minimum distance of two meters in social interaction and the government bans any gathering of more than two people outside public offices, schools, hospitals, and in public spaces in general. Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung clarified after the issuance of the directive that this is not going to be a national lockdown, as some may have misunderstood it. This social distancing is not a lockdown or a ban but it is a measure to repond to the complicated developments of the disease, Minister Dung told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. Vietnam has recorded 191 cases since March 6, when patient No. 17 was confirmed. The countrys first batch of 16 patients had been discharged from the hospital by February 26 and no infection was documented from February 13 to March 5. The social distancing measure is just a caution for citizens and does not mean a blanket ban on their travel outside their home, the chairman explained. "The directive includes drastic measures to restrict movement and mass gatherings in order to stall the virus spread," he elaborated. Places selling basic essentials like wet markets, supermarkets, and pharmacies will still be open during the 15 days of nationwide social distancing, Chairman Dung said. The administration in each province and centrally-administered city will decide on which store and factory can continue operating, he added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Amazon has fired the organizer of a strike over coronavirus conditions though the company is claiming it had nothing to do with the walkout. Chris Smalls was among several employees leading the Monday strike at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, New York. Two employees at the warehouse had tested positive for COVID-19, and workers walked off the job to demand the warehouse be closed and sanitized while fully paying workers, Vice reports. Smalls, a process assistant who'd worked for five years at the warehouse, apparently came in "close contact" with one of those employees and was told to stay home for 14 days with full pay, an Amazon spokesperson said. "Despite that instruction to stay home with pay, he came onsite today, March 30, putting the teams at risk," the spokesperson told CNN. The company didn't acknowledge strikers' demands. Smalls said other employees who'd been around the infected employees more hadn't been quarantined. And while he expected he might be fired over the walkout, Smalls said it reveals how Amazon's leaders "don't care about people." New York Attorney General Letitia James slammed Smalls' firing as "disgraceful." Also on Tuesday, workers at the Amazon-owned Whole Foods grocery store chain organized a massive "sick-out" to protest their conditions. Employees were set to call in sick to demand paid leave for all workers who call out sick or are quarantining during the pandemic, free COVID-19 testing for all employees, and hazard pay that doubles the current hourly wage for workers. Shoppers for the grocery delivery chain Instacart started a walkout Monday as well to call for similar protections, but Instacart claimed the strike had "no impact" on its operations and has refused to meet any of the strikers' demands. Update 5 p.m. ET: A representative for Amazon said the company has "taken extreme measures to keep people safe, tripling down on deep cleaning, procuring safety supplies that are available, changing processes to ensure those in our buildings are keeping safe distances and in Staten Island we are now temperature checking everyone entering the facility. The truth is the vast majority of employees continue to show up and do the heroic work of delivering for customers every day." This story has additionally been updated to correct Smalls' title. More stories from theweek.com Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is what real coronavirus leadership looks like Stephen Colbert airs a 2016 duet with John Prine he'd kept in reserve in case 'we have to cheer up the world' Coronavirus is making American workers say enough is enough 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. Longtime harness racing industry participant Frederick J. Nixon passed peacefully on March 23, 2020 at the age of 82. Fred was born June 14, 1937 in Arthur, Ontario and grew up in Fergus, Ontario. He served in the Royal Canadian Navy and ultimately settled in Windsor, Ontario. Fred was a Stationary Engineer at Kelsey Hayes Canada for 25 years. Fred was always willing to lend a hand and support those around him. Beloved father to Justin and Dean, grandfather to Griffyn and Jacob. Fred was a lifelong horseman, learning the trade at an early age under his uncle Bob Morrison of Arthur. Upon settling in Windsor, Fred was a fixture at Windsor, Leamington, and Dresden Raceways. His best memories in the business could be affiliated with Burst Of Fury winning an OSS event at Clinton on August 8, 1993 and Running Horse with which he won two in a row in 1995. Following his retirement, he was a zealous follower of Dean and Justins exploits. Fred will be missed by all that knew him. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the friends and family of Frederick Nixon. Dr Alex George has given another first-hand report from the frontline of the current coronavirus pandemic. Speaking to Sky News after another 'emotionally challenging' A&E night shift, the former Love Island star has predicted that 'the peak is still to come', revealing that he lost several patients during Monday night's shift. Alex, 30, spoke from his hospital in Lewisham. 'Yesterday's shift was a particularly busy one. We had quite a few patients who were really quite unwell from coronavirus,' he said. 'Unfortunately, a few deaths as well which is always tough. Frontline: Dr Alex George has given another first-hand report from the frontline of the current coronavirus pandemic 'We're seeing the department is getting more and more cases of coronavirus and we're expecting that to continue over the next few weeks. I think the peak is still to come.' He went on: 'We saw a huge number of cases, particularly very unwell cases. What shocks us sometimes is that of course we're seeing a very skewed part of the population. We're seeing a small percentage very unwell, 90 per cent are recovering in their own homes. 'But we are seeing young people who are very unwell with it and that can be very challenging. We're only human. 'There are young patients, who don't have underlying conditions. It's very upsetting for the patient and for us as well. Concerns: Speaking to Sky News after another 'emotionally challenging' A&E night shift, the former Love Island star has predicted that 'the peak is still to come', revealing that he lost several patients during Monday night's shift 'Of course I would say that is a rarity, most people who are fit and well will recover from mild to moderate symptoms, but there is no guarantee of that.' He added: 'At some points over the last few weeks we've had 20 or 30 patients in intensive care with coronavirus. 'There's always a limit to how many beds we've got, but we're not at that point yet and we are coping very well with the pressure. 'There's been a few scares, but we've not run out of resources in our department. We are trying to make sure we're as geared up as possible.' Taking to Instagram as he signed off his shift, he told his 1.3 million followers: 'It's been a hard shift. Challenging emotionally. Time for bed. Night all.' Emotional: Dr Alex shared a snap of a thank you card a little girl made him over the weekend - which left him moved to tears The day before, he shared a snap of a thank you card a little girl made him over the weekend - which left him moved to tears. He posted the sweet drawing of him in uniform to Instagram - gifted to him as he continues to battle the COVID-19 crisis with the rest of the NHS. Alex admitted that he 'sobbed' over the adorable card. Taking to Instagram on Saturday, alongside an image of the drawing, Alex penned: 'This was made by a lovely little girl who wanted to say thank you to NHS staff for their fight against the coronavirus. 'Needless to say I have been sobbing away at how cute this is. We are in this together. Lets do this. Thank you little Emma this has made my day x' Moved: The former Love Island star, 30, shared a snap of a sweet drawing of him in uniform as he revealed the kind gesture left him emotional He posted a video in which he said: 'A lot of you might have realised I am living by myself during this period going from A&E to home and keeping away from everyone, as I don't want to give [girlfriend] Amelia an illness. 'In the NHS or any other health care system around the world, I know a lot of us like myself are isolating alone and I know that can be not ideal, and lonely even. 'But we're in it so together and I just wanted to say to anyone that feels that way, you are not alone.' Alex has pleaded with fans to follow government guidance surrounding coronavirus as he continues to work on the frontline. Taking to Instagram on Saturday, alongside an image of the drawing, Alex penned: 'This was made by a lovely little girl who wanted to say thank you to NHS staff for their fight against the coronavirus' Taking to Instagram on Sunday, he shared a picture in his protective gear as he got to work on another shift at his hospital in Lewisham. In an impassioned video, Dr Alex stated: 'It's so important that everyone is staying at home, washing their hands and those in the vulnerable categories are doing their very best to isolate... 'My spirits are high, I feel we have enough protective equipment on the frontline to do out jobs as safely as possible.' Separated: The A&E doctor has been practising what he preaches, revealing that he has been living apart from his girlfriend Amelia Bath in order to reduce the risk of infection Updates: He has been updating his fanbase on social media from the frontline Days ago Amelia publicly praised her boyfriend for the work he's been doing during the pandemic. Alongside a picture of their two shadows, she penned: 'This afternoon I painted a mirror in the sunshine whilst drinking wine and listening to the Beach Boys. Meanwhile, Alex ran around Lewisham hospital treating Covid-19 patients. 'I'm so proud of him and I'm endlessly grateful for all the NHS staff and key workers who are working tirelessly during such uncertain times.' It comes days after Alex urged the NHS to provide complimentary car parking to all staff during the global coronavirus pandemic. Meal for one: 'A lot of you might have realised I am living by myself during this period going from A&E to home and keeping away from everyone, as I don't want to give Amelia an illness' With over 20,000 extra employees being called to help the fight against COVID-19, Alex 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.' 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].' The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] MISSOULA - As emergent pathogens like coronavirus and climate-related health challenges like wildfire smoke plague human populations, the University of Montana has received funding for a center dedicated to understanding and addressing public health challenges to Montana and the region. The National Institutes of Health awarded the University a five-year $10.75 million grant to establish the Center for Population Health Research (CPHR, pronounced "see-far"). The center will support epidemiological and mathematical modeling approaches to better understand risk and resilience factors for children's health outcomes. It also will create disease prevention strategies developed for, adapted to and tested in rural communities. "We are excited about this opportunity to improve the health of children in Montana and the region," said Curtis Noonan, center director and a professor of epidemiology in UM's School of Public and Community Health Sciences. "This comes at a challenging time for the public health community. "We could not have predicted the current coronavirus threat when we started building this center over two and a half years ago," he said, "but we did recognize the importance of developing the capacity to work with medical and public health data to better understand health risk in our communities and identify disease prevention strategies that are relevant to rural states." CPHR research projects establish scientific capacity and a collaborative infrastructure highly relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic. Erin Landguth leads a project to better understand the factors that influence respiratory infection among children. "In the face of today's infectious disease complexities, mathematical models offer essential tools for synthesizing information to understand epidemiological patterns and for developing the quantitative evidence base for decision-making in public health," Landguth said. "Partnering with pediatric health care providers, my project will integrate novel data streams, computational capacity and new modeling tools, allowing for the description of how respiratory infections vary across space and time - particularly in rural communities where such work is limited." Public health leaders anticipate that a coronavirus vaccine, when developed, will be an essential component of controlling the current pandemic. A CPHR project led by Sophia Newcomer focuses on identifying the barriers to early childhood vaccinations, especially in rural areas where childhood vaccination rates are lower than public health targets. "Vaccines are the most effective tool we have for infectious disease control and prevention," said Newcomer. "Working with the state health department and local providers, my project seeks to identify why some Montana children fall behind or don't receive recommended vaccines and to develop strategies to increase vaccination rates across the state." Environmental epidemiologist Erin Semmens leads a third research project investigating the impact of community exposures to smoke from wildfires - an increasingly recognized and now constant public health threat to the region. "Wildfire events are increasing in frequency, duration and intensity due to climate change," Semmens said. "Through a collaboration with the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, local health systems and UM colleagues across campus, our project aims to quantify how these exposures influence early childhood development, as well as birthweight and risk of preterm birth. Both are linked to long-term susceptibility to disease and infections." A key feature of CPHR is to provide core resources to support both current and future researchers who explore important population health questions. The Data and Modeling Core, led by Jon Graham, provides center researchers with tools and infrastructure for working with sensitive electronic data such as medical records and state health tracking systems. To effectively translate research findings to action, the Intervention Support Core, led by Tony Ward, provides CPHR investigators with the expertise and tools for designing novel disease prevention and health promotion strategies. Such strategies will be further informed by the CPHR Stakeholder Advisory Board, which includes key players in the health care, public health and policy arenas. Reed Humphrey, dean of the College of Health that includes the School of Public and Community Health Sciences, said the award to establish CPHR at UM demonstrates the college's capacity and commitment to grow its reach in public health. "Importantly, it opens the doors to enhanced collaboration across our health professions at UM and our Family Medicine Residency that are consistent with our parallel commitment in interprofessional education and collaborative practice," Humphrey said. CPHR resources and research projects also provide fantastic opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to engage in cutting-edge, NIH-funded research. "This project provides undergraduate and graduate students from several departments across campus the opportunity to work with our world-class faculty in research areas that have become increasingly relevant in light of the COVID-19 pandemic," said UM Vice President for Research and Creative Scholarship Scott Whittenburg. "The University of Montana is rapidly becoming a leader in vaccine development and implications for public health." ### Hobbs and Shaw will be returning to the big screen. Fast And Furious star Dwayne Johnson has confirmed that a Hobbs & Shaw sequel is in the works, having discussed the project during a recent Instagram Live Q&A session. The 47-year-old action man appeared in the super-successful Fast & Furious spin-off alongside Jason Statham last year, and he said on IG Live that 'We are developing now the next film, the next (Hobbs & Shaw) movie, and I'm pretty excited about it!' Back for more: Fast And Furious star Dwayne Johnson has confirmed that a Hobbs & Shaw sequel is in the works, having discussed the project during a recent Instagram Live session 'Just gotta figure out the creative right now, and the direction we're going to go,' Johnson continued about where he and producers are at in the pre-production process on the sequel. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw which also starred Helen Mirren, Eiza Gonzalez, Vanessa Kirby and Idris Elba was well received by audience and critics alike upon its release last August, which is what led to the greenlighting of this yet-to-be-titled sequel. It is unclear when the movie will hit cinemas, especially as the latest film in the core Fast And Furious franchise, F9, has been pushed back to 2021 due to the global coronavirus pandemic. Action hunks: The 47-year-old action man appeared in the super-successful Fast & Furious spin-off alongside Jason Statham last year 'We are developing now the next film, the next (Hobbs & Shaw) movie, and I'm pretty excited about it,' The Rock said; seen here on Instagram Johnson who plays the role of DSS agent Luke Hobbs in the film series previously recalled how his mother, Ata Johnson, wept on the set of the first Hobbs & Shaw movie as she heard her son speak in Samoan, the language of their family. The former WWE star, who spent part of his childhood in Hawaii, said: 'She is incredibly proud of the movie. It's the very first time in the history of Hollywood that the Samoan culture has ever been showcased on this scale, so it's a big deal. 'Within the scene, she never heard me speak in Samoan to this degree. She hears me speaking in Samoan, calling on our ancestors to give us strength ... I look over and she is crying so hard. Stylin': Johnson plays the role of DSS agent Luke Hobbs in both film series The Fast And The Furious and spinoff Hobbs & Shaw 'When the scene was over, a really beautiful moment - all the boys, the guys that play my brothers in the movie, go over and gave her a hug,' Dwayne continued. He added that it was 'a memory forever.' The Rock's next big film is Disney's Jungle Cruise, based on the theme park ride, due in theaters at the end of July. WASHINGTON, March 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that the country is stepping up the development of treatments for COVID-19 patients, including experimenting with the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine and blood-related therapies. Addressing a White House briefing, Trump said that hydroxychloroquine is being administered to 1,100 patients in New York along with Z-Pak, or azithromycin. "It's very early yet. It only started two days ago. But we will see what happens," he said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also allowing the emergency use of a blood-related therapy called convalescent plasma as an experimental treatment for seriously ill patients, Trump said. The therapy involves taking blood plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19. New sick patients will be transfused with the blood to boost their immune systems, Trump said, adding that early results are promising. Convalescent plasma that contains antibodies to the novel coronavirus is possibly effective against the infection, the FDA said in a news release. Though the administration expressed optimism for these therapies, medicine and immunology experts remain skeptical for the results and safety of the treatments. Robert Schooley, professor of medicine at the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health at the University of California, San Diego, told Xinhua the evidence that hydroxychloroquine benefits patients is still not very solid. "There are risks from these medications, especially in the case of chloroquine, and they should not be taken except under close medical supervision," Schooley said. Chloroquine can cause sudden death by causing abnormalities in cardiac rhythm, and this risk is potentially increased by the simultaneous use of azithromycin, he warned. Stanley Perlman, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Iowa, told Xinhua there is no data supporting the use of these drugs, unless they have some sort of anti-inflammatory effects. He said the blood-related therapy may work if delivered in the early stages of the disease before people become sick, though finding enough convalescent plasma may be an issue. To push more testing, the FDA authorized on Friday a new test developed by U.S. medical devices company Abbott Laboratories. The test could deliver positive results in just five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes, with 50,000 such tests expected to be conducted per day from next week, according to the company. Vaccine development is moving along very rapidly, said Trump, adding the United States is quickly unleashing every tool possible to vanquish the virus. "While developing vaccines, we need to use epidemiological interventions such as the ones used in China, and recently in the United States, and drugs as they come along to seek to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by this virus as much as possible," Schooley said. Trump announced that federal social distancing guidelines would be extended to April 30. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the mitigation efforts are taking effect and the extension of the social distancing guidelines is a "wise and prudent decision." Deborah Birx, response coordinator of the White House COVID-19 task force, said social distancing efforts could save hundreds of thousands of American lives. Trump said the death rate in the country is likely to peak in two weeks, and he hopes the country will be on its way to recovery by June 1. The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States has topped 143,025 as of Sunday night, with 2,506 deaths, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The bluest states public officials have been warning for weeks that California will be overwhelmed, given federal-government unpreparedness and the purported inefficacy of the local, state, and federal governments. California governor Gavin Newsom has assured his state that over half of the population or, in his words, 56 percent will soon be infected. That is, more than 25 million coronavirus cases are on the horizon, which, at the viruss current fatality rate of 12 percent (the ratio of deaths to known positive cases), would mean that the state should anticipate 250,000500,000 dead Californians in the near future. Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti predicted that this week Los Angeles would be short of all sorts of medical supplies as the epidemic killed many hundreds, as is the case in New York City. Its been well over two months since the first certified coronavirus case in the United States, so one might expect to see early symptoms of the apocalypse recently forecast by Governor Newsom. Yet a number of Californias top doctors, epidemiologists, statisticians, and biophysicists including Stanfords John Ioannides, Michael Levitt, Eran Bendavid, and Jay Bhattacharya have expressed some skepticism about the bleak models predicting that we are on the verge of a statewide or even national lethal pandemic of biblical proportions. The skeptics may be right. As of this moment, Californias cumulative fatalities attributed to coronavirus are somewhere over 140 deaths, in a state of 40 million. That toll is a relatively confirmable numerator (though coronavirus is not always the sole cause of death), as opposed to the widely unreliable denominator of caseloads (currently about 6,300 in the state) that are judged to be only a fraction of the population that has been tested. The Iceland study, for example, suggests that half of those who are infected show no symptoms. Currently, even with fluctuating statistics, California is suffering roughly about one death to the virus for every 250,000300,000 of its residents. Story continues The rate certainly will go up each hour, and no doubt in geometric fashion, as the virus spreads. Yet we should remember that California loses about 270,000 lives to all causes every year meaning, on any given day, around 740 Californians die. So far there is no published clear evidence that in January, February, and March more Americans have died from pneumonia-related diseases than in an average year. Note too that not all deaths attributed to coronavirus are the work of COVID-19 alone; they are often accompanied by advanced age and serious chronic conditions that may have soon led to death without any accompanying viral infection. In contrast, as of Monday morning, New York State, with about half of Californias population, has about eight to nine times the number of deaths, and 20 times the per capita rate, at 60 deaths per million residents. In fact, California has a much lower per capita death rate than many of the nations largest states; for that matter, its per capita death rate is similar to that of nations that so far have mysteriously escaped the viruss modeled wrath. Currently, California has lost fewer than 4 people per million, roughly between South Koreas 3 deaths per million and Germanys 5, which are both being studied as outliers. Of course, statistics change hourly, but for now Californias data remain mysteries. Even at this midpoint in the viruss ascendance, most believed that California would be faring far worse. And they have good reason for such pessimism. California in a normal year usually experiences the greatest number of deaths associated with the flu in the United States, and it ranks about midway among the states in flu deaths per capita. The state was hit hard by influenza unusually early in the first weeks of November, including a strain that at the time was characterized as probably not A but a rarer B and on occasion quite virulent. A typical news story related, in early 2020, California health officials have identified 16 outbreaks since the start of the flu season Sept. 29. Flu cases, hospitalizations and flu deaths are all higher than anticipated, according to the health department. Many Californians complained late in 2019 of getting the flu a bit early, with flu symptoms that were somewhat different from the norm, at times including severe muscle aches, some digestive cramping, an unproductive cough, and days or even weeks of post-fever fatigue. Forty-million-person California, in normal times that is, until around or shortly after February 1, 2020 hosts dozens of daily direct flights from China in general to San Diego, SFO, LAX, and San Jose, and in particular, since 2014, several weekly nonstop flights from Wuhan. Of the nearly 15,000 passengers who were estimated to be arriving every day in the U.S. on flights from China in 2019 and 2020, the majority flew into California. After the ban, there were thousands of Chinese tourists who remained in California and could get neither direct nor indirect flights home to China. Travel forecasts from China for 2020, even amid the trade war, had estimated more than 8,000 daily arrivals in California. Two years ago, Los Angeles mayor Garcetti bragged that 1.1 million Chinese tourists had visited L.A. more than 3,000 per day. The greatest number of foreign tourists to Los Angeles are Chinese, and the city is the favorite spot in America of all visitors from China. During the months of October, November, January, and February alone before the travel ban perhaps nearly 1 million Chinese citizens arrived in California on direct and indirect flights originating in China. Moreover, researchers in Italy believe that the Chinese were not telling the truth about the origins or birth dates of the virus; they argue that COVID-19 was first loose worldwide in the middle of Autumn 2019 rather than in Winter 2020. Reuters recently reported: Adriano Decarli, an epidemiologist and medical statistics professor at the University of Milan, said there had been a significant increase in the number of people hospitalized for pneumonia and flu in the areas of Milan and Lodi between October and December last year. . . . He told Reuters he could not give exact figures but hundreds more people than usual had been taken to hospital in the last three months of 2019 in those areas two of Lombardys worst hit cities with pneumonia and flu-like symptoms, and some of those had died. . . . Decarli is reviewing the hospital records and other clinical details of those cases, including people who later died at home, to try to understand whether the new coronavirus epidemic had already spread to Italy back then. . . . We want to know if the virus was already here in Italy at the end of 2019, and if yes why it remained undetected for a relatively long period so that we could have a clearer picture in case we have to face a second wave of the epidemic, he said. In a recent Oxford study, a heterodox hypothesis was offered questioning the widely circulated study of Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist with Imperial College London. He and his team had offered a worst-case projection of as many as 2.2 million American and 510,000 British deaths. Ferguson has now emphasized the low-end estimates of death rates in some of his modeling, for example, suggesting that maybe only 20,000 in Britain may die from the virus, given how Britain has taken actions to curb and treat it. In any case, other models from the Oxford authors offer far less pessimistic hypothetical scenarios. In one, they suggest that viral infections in the U.K. might have begun almost 40 days before March 5, which was the first confirmed death there. If that is true, they argue, then to square the current figures of transmission, perhaps 68 percent of the British population would have had to be already infected by at least March 19 reflecting a herd immunity that will radically curtail future transmission. Of course, without widespread antibody testing alongside testing for current infections, no one knows the number of past and present infections. Regardless, the Chinese notion that the world was not seriously infected until mid February increasingly seems mathematically unlikely. In the case of California, again, unfortunately, the state still should have had many things going against it, at least in terms of susceptibility to any pandemic infection that curbs its huge tourist and commercial travel with China. The state has the nations highest poverty rate (affecting over 20 percent of the population, or some 8 million people); the greatest number of homeless people, at somewhere over 150,000; and the most residents in the nation on some form of public assistance, one-third of the nations total. Over a quarter of the states population was not born in the U.S. Until recent bans, many frequently went to and from their countries of origin. It has the largest number of non-English speakers in the U.S., suggesting that public dissemination of key information might become far more problematic. The state is not especially healthy and rarely rates among the top ten states in terms of per capita health, by whichever metrics one uses. A decade ago, studies suggested that one in three admissions of those over 35 to California hospitals were suffering from either diabetes or pre-diabetes a known risk factor for coronavirus patients. California ranks near the bottom when we count the number of available hospital beds per 1,000 population, at about 1.8. Likewise, its number of active doctors per 100,000 is similarly unimpressive, about midway among state rankings, at 276 per 100,000 versus Massachusettss high of 450 and Mississippis low of 191. In most surveys of nurses per 100,000 population, California ranks near last (664). How, then, has California in the third month of known COVID-19 infections in the U.S. lost between 140 and 150 lives to it? Again, a number of experts have offered hypotheses. Is it a question of the statistical anomaly as some have suggested is the case for Germany, which similarly posts few total deaths from the virus given differences in how countries and perhaps even states record the chief causation of death (i.e., are some places listing COVID-19 as the cause of death, even when the decedent suffered from underlying chronic conditions)? Is California experiencing a brief lull, in the fashion of Japan, which likewise has suffered few deaths so far but may be poised to suffer far more? Is there a lag in ascertaining and determining deaths in a state thats geographically huge and linguistically diverse, a lapse that will shortly cease, correcting such misimpressions with a radical increase in corona-associated deaths as is now forecast for Japan and to a lesser extent Germany? Did Californias Draconian shelter-in-place policies that antedated many of those in other states simply arrest (so far) what should have been by now a lethal epidemic? Did Californias proverbial warmer weather slow down the virus? Did its suburban ranch-home lifestyle and the large open spaces in the Central Valley, Sierra Nevada, desert and northern counties make transmissions harder than it has been in, say, the high-density living of New York City? Maybe and maybe not. While testing tardiness might explain outliers in terms of Californias relatively small number of proven cases and lethality rates, it would not greatly affect accurate statistics of deaths attributed to the virus. If anything, as the number of known cases grows, the lower the lethality rate will likely appear. While California adopted shelter-in-place policies on March 19, other states did the same about the same time. And visiting a California Costco on any Saturday morning is a reminder of current mob frenzies. After a near-record dry and warm January and February, the state has been unseasonably cold and wet for most of March during the epidemics spike. True, California encompasses an enormous area, but it also is home to the countrys largest population and thus still ranks about eleventh in population density among the states. Some districts in San Francisco and Los Angeles are as densely populated as East Coast cities. One less-mentioned hypothesis is that California, as a front-line state, may have rather rapidly developed a greater level of herd immunity than other states, given that hints, anecdotes, and some official indications from both China and Italy that, again, the virus may well have been spreading abroad far earlier than the first recorded case in the U.S. and likely from the coasts inward. So given the states unprecedented direct air access to China, and given its large expatriate and tourist Chinese communities, especially in its huge denser metropolitan corridors in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, it could be that what thousands of Californians experienced as an unusually early and bad flu season might have also reflected an early coronavirus epidemic, suggesting that many more Californians per capita than in other states may have acquired immunity to the virus. Here in Fresno County (1.1 million people), we are warned daily that we are the next hot spot. But as of late March, weve had no recorded deaths and only 41 known cases. The figure will no doubt multiply rapidly and geometrically, but it still seems incomprehensible that not a single death was attributed to the virus in its first 60 days of visitation. I live near the Kings County line in rural Fresno County (which is not so rural anymore, given urban sprawl from greater Fresno). There have been two recorded cases and no deaths among the countys more than 150,000 residents. We wont know the answers until antibody testing becomes widespread enough to determine who has already been infected, and who carried the virus without symptoms, and who wrongly attributed symptoms to the flu or a bad cold. Or epidemiologists will have to go over average daily pre-coronavirus death rates in California to determine whether, in comparison with past years, the state had any per capita spikes in deaths in October, November, December, and January, or an increase in hospitalizations attributed to the flu. In the meantime, for a few days at least, we are left with the California paradox. As with the apparent outliers of Germany, South Korea, and Japan, it reminds us that there are endless known unknowns about the origins, lethality, infectiousness, and patterns of travel of the coronavirus and that todays latest frightening statistical model is often superseded tomorrow by more realistic appraisals and theories, and then again rendered naive by even more frightening new backlash models. Until now, without either widespread antibody or current-infection testing, the number of people who die from the virus in comparison to a given population base is about all we can rely on to determine the lethality of the disease. And in that regard, at least for a few days or weeks longer, California remains a mystery. More from National Review Police in Kenya have shot a 13-year-old boy dead as he played on the balcony of his home 20 minutes after a nationwide coronavirus curfew came into effect. Yasin Moyo was shot in the stomach at his family home in the slum of Kiamaiko, on the outskirts of Nairobi, around 7.20pm Monday, human rights workers said. He was rushed to hospital but died from his wounds early Tuesday. It comes amid a raft of complaints about Kenyan police brutality since a night-time curfew was declared last week. Kenyan police have been accused of shooting 13-yer-old boy Yasin Moyo dead in the capital Nairobi on Monday night, 20 minutes after a coronavirus curfew came into effect (file image) Kenya's top prosecutor has ordered an investigation into the shooting, which came just three days after police were accused of beating a motorbike taxi driver to death Amnesty Kenya, a branch of Amnesty International, posted about the death on Twitter and demanded an investigation into the killing. Kenya's director of prosecutions has now ordered an investigation into the death, which he said was caused by 'a stray bullet'. He did not say what the police officers involved had been trying to shoot at. Kenya, which has only confirmed 50 coronavirus cases and one death amid a shortage of test kits, imposed a countrywide curfew on Friday last week to try and control the spread. Residents are forbidden from leaving their home between 7pm and 6am, and advised not to venture out at other times. Since then videos have proliferated on social media showing police using whips, truncheons and dogs to attack people they accused of violating the curfew. Kenya has reported just 50 cases of coronavirus, but there are fears the infection is much more widespread due to a lack of testing (pictured, a street in Nairobi is disinfected) The country has also brought in strict social distancing measures in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus, which has overwhelmed heath services in China, Europe and the US Investigators are already probing the death of Hamisi Juma Idd, a motorbike taxi driver who was allegedly beaten to death by officers in Nairobi last week. Idd's relatives say he had just finished dropping off a pregnant woman at a nearby hospital, putting him in breach of the 7pm curfew, when officers attacked him. He subsequently died of his injuries. Africa's confirmed coronavirus cases are now above 5,000. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says 47 of the continent's 54 countries now have cases, with 5,255 in all, and 173 deaths. But shortages of testing materials mean the real number of cases could be higher. South Africa's president on Monday night announced that the country, which has the most cases in Africa with 1,326, will launch a mass screening and testing programme with about 10,000 field workers going door-to-door. Uganda and Botswana are the latest countries to impose a lockdown in an effort to prevent the virus's spread. She's pregnant with her first child. And on Monday, Rachel McCord showed off her baby bump in a tight floral-themed mini dress as she stepped out in Santa Monica, California. The social media influencer headed to a checkup carrying a pair of disposable gloves and a face mask which she donned before entering her doctor's office. Blossoming: Pregnant Rachel McCord showed off her baby bump in a tight floral-themed mini dress as she stepped out in Santa Monica, California, on Monday McCord paired her short-sleeve mini with a matching color headband to hold back her long hair from her face. She added nude heels and accessorized with gold jewelry and large sunglasses. She carried a pale pink purse with a silver shoulder chain and her smart phone. Having put on her mask and gloves, she removed her shades and cradled her belly with one hand. Coronavirus precautions: The social media influencer headed to a checkup carrying a pair of disposable gloves and a face mask which she donned before entering her doctor's office First child: Having put on her mask and gloves, McCord removed her shades and cradled her belly with one hand. She has revealed she's expecting a boy with husband Rick Schirmer McCord, who has been married to viral marketer Rick Schirmer for six years, announced her pregnancy in October. She revealed in December that she is having a boy. The pregnancy comes after she underwent emergency surgery early in 2019 for a painful ovarian cyst. Speaking to DailyMailTV, she explained: 'It's been tough but I feel so blessed. My husband and I are just literally over the moon. We feel like we've hit the complete jackpot. 'What a blessing to literally have my dream growing right now in my body. It's crazy.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 16:29:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JINAN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Himile, a Chinese supplier to French tire manufacturer Michelin, saw an annual growth of 16.73 percent in net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company in 2019. Shandong Himile Mechanical Science and Technology Co. Ltd. said its net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company reached 863 million yuan in 2019. The company recorded revenue of about 4.39 billion yuan in 2019, up by 17.79 percent year on year. Established in 1995 in the city of Gaomi, Shandong Province, the company supplies all kinds of tire molds for clients in different countries, such as Michelin. In 2018, Himile was among the five companies honored by Michelin as an outstanding provider of goods and services. Colorado Springs City Council deadlocked Monday over the appointment of Stephannie Fortune to fill Councilman Richard Skorman's seat on the board. Who among the 7 finalists should be appointed? You voted: A map with a new country named New New Zealand has gone viral as Australians joke about being annexed by their neighbour during the coronavirus crisis. The map shows the North Island and South Island in New Zealand, and Australia renamed as Big Island. 'Due to appalling lack of leadership here, and superb leadership over there, let's surrender Australia to New Zealand immediately,' Australian Scott Battersby titled the map. 'Have them annex us and take control of our government. North Island, South Island, Big Island #newnewzealand. Share away everyone... let's get this done.' A hilarious map (pictured) labelled New New Zealand has gone viral on social media as Australians call for better leadership during the coronavirus outbreak Trucks, buses and essential workers are seen driving in Auckland after New Zealand went into lockdown The post has received more than 23,000 shares with 9,000 reactions and 7,000 comments supporting the move. 'Jacinda Ardern for president of Australasia,' one wrote. 'Can we have a 30 day trial,' another joked. 'You're welcome Big Island,' a New Zealander commented. However, some social media users attacked the post and suggested Mr Battersby head to New Zealand once the lockdown is over. 'What a w***er. Feel free to p*** off as soon as it's over,' one person commented. 'You are an idiot,' another wrote. 'Australia is the best country in the world. Love it or leave it. It's simple,' another commented. 'If you love NZ so much then come and live in NZ and leave all the benefits of OZ behind. Don't cry when you're not actually qualified to run a country,' someone else commented. Australians are calling for New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured) to run Australia Seagulls take over Queen Street in Auckland's CBD after lockdown came into force 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 Australia's positive coronavirus cases has soared to 4,514 with 19 dead. About one million Australians are expected to lose their jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has effectively shut down the global economy. Hundreds of businesses have been forced to close their doors to stop the spread of the killer virus, while other established brands have had to temporarily shut due of plunging profits. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg launched a third stimulus package, worth $130billion, to provide a flat payment of $1,500 a fortnight to six million workers so their bosses keep them on. Under the reported plan, the wage subsidies provided by the government would be paid to businesses that keep workers on their books, and plan to keep them employed once the coronavirus crisis is over. With coronavirus rapidly spreading in the country, leading domestic ventilator manufacturers have already doubled their production capacity within a month's time. They are even creating huge capacities in tie-up with automobile makers like Maruti, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Hyundai India and Pune-based Kalyani Group, said sources. The main domestic manufacturers of ventilators are Skanray Technologies in Mysore, New Delhi-based AgVa Healthcare, AB Industries of Vadodara, Air Liquid Medical Systems of Chennai, Mumbai-based AVI Healthcare, Ahmedabad-based Life Line Biz, and Thane-based Medion Healthcare. These manufacturers together had made only 2,520 ventilators in February, whereas production in March as of today has doubled to 5,580 units. The plans are to increase the capacity of manufacturing from the current production capacity of 5,500-5,750 units per month to 50,000 ventilators per month by May end. Skanray Technologies, the leading ventilator manufacturer in the country, has created a consortium with Bharat Electronics (BEL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Mahindra and Mahindra group to ramp up production from its usual 2,000 units per month to the current capacity of 5,000 units per month, and to 30,000 units per month by end-May. Similarly, AgVa has tied up with Maruti to scale up production from 400 units per month to 4,000 units per month in April and plans are to reach 10,000 units per month by May, sources told Business Today. ALSO READ: Coronavirus cases in India surge to 1385, death toll at 32; state-wise tally "Most of these manufacturers do not have the financial muscle and speed by which these big capacities and production requirements can be met. The big automobile manufacturers can not only help them arrange capital or joint investments, but also can quickly modify or mimic their vehicle assembly lines for huge production of ventilators. A clear picture will emerge this week as various models and plans are being worked out," said Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD), an umbrella association of various Indian medical devices manufacturers. Even the biggest domestic manufacturers of ventilators in the country do not have a turnover of over Rs 125-150 crore and most are in the Rs 25-30 crore turnover category, industry sources said. The country might need anywhere between 1.1-2.2 lakh ventilators by May 15 in the worst-case scenario, whereas the number of ventilators today available in the country is 57,000 at best, according to a Brookings report. For instance, Mumbai has only 800 to 1,000 ventilators, while states such as Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh have only 1,500 and 1,800 units, respectively. The city of Bengaluru, has approximately 400 ventilators, whereas Kerala has 5,000. India has reported a total of 1,300 positive coronavirus cases as of March 31 and that means nearly 3 per cent of these patients may require ventilators, as of now. The plans of the government and the industry are to tackle the shortage of ventilators with development of 2-3 different models. While one will be a low cost respirator model, another will be a high-end ICU model. Another option is to develop multi-patient ventilators. Until the pandemic hits India hard, the ventilators sold in the country had to meet high-end quality benchmarks set by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) or European Union (CE) certification, which made them cost above Rs 10 lakh. ALSO READ: Coronavirus update: Govt asks automobile manufacturers to make ventilators Even the most recent (in March) tenders of Maharashtra and Rajasthan state governments had insisted on the US FDA or CE certification, which made it difficult for local manufacturers to participate in the tenders. Even the Health Ministry's earlier specifications, which have been diluted now, had insisted on high-end quality ventilators which were impractical to mass manufacture at such a short notice, said sources. "These specifications have subsequently been revised and are still under review," they said. Rajiv Nath said concerted efforts of the various manufacturers of ventilators and other medical equipment, along with help of big auto makers and favourable government policies, can give 'Make in India' a big boost in the medical devices industry. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 17:09:52|Editor: yhy Video Player Close BISHKEK, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The number of patients infected with COVID-19 has increased to 84 in Kyrgyzstan, with three of them in intensive care, the ministry of health said on Sunday. Deputy Minister of Health Kasymbek Mambetov told a news briefing that another 26 new cases of COVID-19 infection have been registered in Kyrgyzstan. According to data from the ministry, 73 COVID-19 cases were detected in the south of the country, and 11 in the north, of which seven are in the capital city of Bishkek. Currently, the number of citizens being observed in the country is 4,886. The number subject to home quarantine is 3,338, Mambetov said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents a large part of Silicon Valley, are asking the Trump administration to protect start-ups as it carries out relief payments for small businesses under the CARES Act. The California Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza on Tuesday to warn that a narrow interpretation of the relief recipients could hurt Silicon Valley companies. They wrote that "an overly strict application" of an SBA rule could exclude many businesses from eligibility for the relief bill's Paycheck Protection Program, which is meant to help cover costs for small businesses through the crisis. Khanna explained on Twitter on Saturday that even though most start-ups have fewer than 500 employees, the SBA may not view them as small businesses if they are backed by venture capital. The SBA considers all start-ups backed by a venture capital firm as being part of the same business.This criteria would bar many emerging and early-stage businesses from aid. Tweet Pelosi and Khanna wrote that Silicon Valley start-ups make vital contributions to the economy and should have access to relief provided in the bill. "Startups are the engine of America's innovation economy and our districts in California's Bay Area and Silicon Valley are home to thousands of these companies," they wrote. "Other high-tech hubs around the country with a strong startup ecosystem will also be in need of PPP financing to preserve jobs and survive." Representatives for the Treasury Department and the SBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. WATCH: Why the coronavirus probably won't force American grocers to run out of food Macron calls France to be united Visiting a mask factory on Tuesday, French President expressed that the French industry needs to raise production. France has seen spiking numbers both in fatalities and infections, but the country continues to wage its own private war against coronavirus epidemic. To meet the critical need for lifesaving medical supplies, Macron visited PME Kolmi-Hopen, a mask factory in Saint-Barthelemy-d'Anjou to the west of Paris on Tuesday. It is the largest of four companies in France to make surgical and filtering face masks. FRANCE HAS ALREADY ORDERED 1 MILLION MASKS FROM CHINA The estimated need for masks by medical personnel is 40 million per week, a number which does not account for civic workers -- police, firemen, and security workers -- or those who work in the food and delivery industries. The factory is now operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to raise production. "I want to show the exceptional mobilization of our industry to meet the needs linked to the coronavirus crisis," the president said in a statement from the Elysee Palace of his visit. One billion masks and tons of medical supplies have been ordered from China, where the outbreak began but is largely under control. On Monday, 10 million masks arrived by Air France cargo at Paris-Vatry airport. One flight will land every day for 14 days with masks and medical equipment. JCB is poised to re-start production at a factory closed as a result of the coronavirus crisis in order to join the national effort to manufacture ventilators. The UK agri machinery firm received a direct appeal from the prime minister to help plug the national ventilator shortage and to help save lives of Covid-19. Following the approach, JCB Chairman Lord Bamford mobilised a research and engineering team to examine potential ways to assist. Now the company is ready to restart production at a factory which has been closed for nearly two weeks as a result of the coronavirus crisis. But instead of making cabs for diggers, the plant is being mobilised to make special steel housings for a brand new design of ventilator from Dyson. A minimum of 10,000 of the JCB housings are earmarked for manufacture once Dyson receives regulatory approval for its design. The first prototypes of the housings have been delivered to Dyson after rolling off the production line at JCBs 50 million Cab Systems factory in Staffordshire, which Boris Johnson visited during the election campaign. The factory fell silent on 18 March along with eight other of its UK plants after a fall in demand caused by the coronavirus crisis. But mass production of the housings could start in a matter of days. JCB Chairman Lord Bamford said: "This project has gone from design to production in just a matter of days and I am delighted that we have been to deploy the skills of our talented engineering, design and fabrication teams so quickly at a time of national crisis. "This is also a global crisis, of course, and we will naturally help with the production of more housings if these ventilators are eventually required by other countries. JCBs response to the national call to action would see the return to work for around 50 employees affected by an extended company shutdown announced last week. JCB suspended production at its nine UK production plants until at least the end of April as a result of the Coronavirus crisis and furloughed the vast majority of its 6,500 workforce. 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 Hes working every day to provide essential resources, relief and information including two upcoming telephone town halls. Here in Michigan, were fortunate to have two Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow who always put the best interests of their constituents first. Theyre both doing great work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but Sen. Peters in particular is leading the way, especially given his role as a Ranking Member on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Sen. Peters is tirelessly focused on addressing the coronavirus pandemic. So far, hes convened both a roundtable and hearing on the federal interagency response to the coronavirus. He met with Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf to press for a strong interagency response to the crisis. He also spoke with Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Health, to discuss development of a vaccine and strategies to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Sen. Peters maintains regular interactions with Michigan officials, including convening a call with state and local health officials, on immediate needs. With that feedback in mind, in early March he pushed for and helped pass an $8.3 billion coronavirus supplemental funding package, which included $14.5 million directly to Michigan and additional resources. He also helped pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to give much-needed support to Michigan workers and families affected by the coronavirus. Recognizing the economic hardships faced by so many because of business closures and slowdowns caused by the coronavirus, Sen. Peters introduced bipartisan legislation to provide disaster unemployment assistance to people who are unable to work due to the coronavirus outbreak. This legislation was included in the bipartisan Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law last week, which will expand unemployment benefits for Michiganders. Assistance is available to individuals including self-employed people and independent contractors not typically included in such assistance who are sick, quarantined, furloughed or whose family circumstances keep them from working or reduce their pay as a result of the coronavirus outbreak or government containment efforts. The bill increases the amount of unemployment benefits by $600 for four months, through July 2020. Gary Peters focus has been to ensure workers, hospitals and small businesses in our state have the critical support they need during this crisis. Thats why he worked across the aisle and fought for a better deal for Michiganders, said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes in a statement. While more work still lies ahead, its clear that Michigan families can count on Gary to continue fighting for the health and economic security of our people and always put Michigan first. Sen. Peters delivered the Weekly Democratic Address on March 27, highlighting important aspects of the CARES Act: Sen. Peters has also repeatedly called for more testing which is an essential component of preventing the spread of COVID-19 so infected people can be quarantined and treated appropriately. He introduced legislation that would expand access to free COVID-19 testing and urged the Trump Administration to address the nationwide testing shortage. The Free COVID-19 Testing Act would waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and related healthcare services for Americans enrolled in private health plans, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP, TRICARE and VA as well as for federal civilians and American Indians. He also wrote to Vice President Pence to expand testing capabilities and ensure health facilities across the country are equipped to handle a potential surge in the number of Americans who need to be tested for the coronavirus. Sen. Peters will host Telephone Town Halls on Tuesday, March 31 and Wednesday, April 1 at 4:45 pm to provide an update on his efforts in the Senate to help Michiganders impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and answer their questions. He will discuss the (CARES) Act and resources available to workers, families, small businesses and medical professionals. Although the deadline has passed to register for Tuesdays call, Michiganders interested in joining Wednesdays call must RSVP by 8 p.m. Tuesday. To register, visit peters.senate.gov. Sen. Peters has also set up a section on his website devoted to guidance on how to prepare for and prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Additional information is available from the State of Michigans coronavirus hotline: 1-888-535-6136. [Photo courtesy of Senator Peters office.] Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 14:14:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations announced on Monday a partnership with a Chinese tech company to hold online conversations for events to mark the world body's 75th anniversary of founding. Tencent will provide the UN75 campaign with videoconferencing and digital dialogue tools to boost the online outreach and promotion of the initiative, said the United Nations in a press release. "As we are strengthening the UN75 initiative in the digital space and adapting to the current constraints, this partnership could not have been more timely and valuable," said Fabrizio Hochschild, the UN secretary-general's special adviser on the preparations for UN75. "Their (Tencent's) dialogue tools and videoconferencing services will greatly enhance our capacity to reach out to more people across the globe," said the press release, adding that Tencent's technology and global outreach is particularly important in reaching young people. For the 75th anniversary of its founding, the United Nations is urging the world to engage in a global dialogue. The UN75 campaign is also gathering solutions, opinions and concerns through online dialogues and a one-minute online survey. The views and ideas generated through the UN75 campaign will be presented to world leaders at a high-profile event during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly scheduled for September. British citizens returning from Peru say they have been left in the dark by the Foreign Office on steps to take now they are home. Two more British Airways (BA) flights carrying travellers from Lima touched down at Gatwick Airport on Tuesday morning, following those that landed at Heathrow on Monday. It comes as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced that 75 million would be set aside for charter flights to bring stranded Britons home from areas where commercial flights were no longer running. The Foreign Office said it was chartering three more BA flights to help British tourists still in Peru return to the UK, with the first flight departing Lima on Sunday. It will also charter domestic flights from Cusco and Arequipa to Lima so that UK nationals can transfer to the London-bound flights. Arriving at Gatwick, Alice Nuttall, 21, from Nantwich, said: It feels weird, I burst into tears when I walked through weve been trying to get home for so long. Were assuming, because we had to fill in our contact information on this form that well get contacted regarding [coronavirus]. Weve been told we need to pay 250 for the repatriation flight by the Government. They havent really advised us on anything else, we havent been screened or anything, added her friend Ellie Durrant, 22. Ms Nuttalls father John Nuttall, 56, said that the women and their families would be taking sensible steps following guidance from Public Health England. Theyll self-isolate for 14 days and obviously follow the rest of the Government advice, he said. Relatives gathered at international arrivals in the terminal building, maintaining a two-metre distance, but many embraced their loved ones as they came through the gate. Other travellers expressed disappointment at being forced to come home early and said that they had not been given any clear instructions or extra precautions after arriving back in the UK. Story continues Its a bit strange to be home I was expecting to be travelling for another two-and-a-half months, said Anna-Lucia Strike, 18, from Chiswick in west London. I havent been told anything about what I should do now. I know the rules that are here in the UK but apart from that we havent been told anything extra. Weve been pretty left in the dark, said Drew Jones, 27, from Essex. Were going straight into isolation I think, dont really have much to do at home or at work totally mixed emotions. Ellis Clarke and Drew Jones at Gatwick (Adam Davy/PA) After two weeks we were locked down in a hostel, its bitter sweet, said his friend Ellis Clark, 26. Im glad Im out of that hostel but Im quite bummed that I didnt get to finish what I planned. Tuesdays repatriation flights came as BA announced that it will temporarily suspend all flights from Gatwick. On Monday, Luton-based carrier easyJet grounded its entire fleet of 334 aircraft as the aviation industry continues to struggle with the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Tuesday slammed the incident in which disinfectants were sprayed on migrant labourers who were returning to Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. "Disinfectant Spray. Time to sanitise our politics, Not migrant workers reaching Bareilly to go home They work -1) in factories, 2) harvest crops, 3) in restaurants, hotels, 4) in construction projects, highways, 5) in homes. They build India, Treat them with dignity," Sibal tweeted. Earlier on Monday, after a video went viral in which officials wearing protection gear were spraying disinfectant on migrant labourers in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly, the government said that action has been taken against the officials. "Bareilly District Magistrate has clarified that some employees took an overzealous step due to ignorance. Required action has been taken against those employees," Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, told reporters here. Hundreds of migrants, a majority of whom are daily wage workers started rushing to their native places from different states amid uncertainty over their livelihood following the announcement of a 21-day nationwide COVID-19 lockdown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week. India has recorded 1,117 active COVID-19 positive cases as on Monday night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A serving police officer from Dorset is believed to be the first in the UK to die of coronavirus. The Dorset Police officer, 56, had been off sick with symptoms of the virus since March 19 and was self-isolating at home in Bournemouth. He died there at 10am on Monday. The 56-year-old officer, who has not been named, had been suffering with a chest infection since Christmas, but was at work until 11 days ago. Test results have not confirmed if he had COVID-19. A serving police officer for Dorset Police died aged 56 yesterday. File image used Dorset Police's Chief Constable James Vaughan said today the force were 'deeply saddened' by the officer's death. He said: 'I can confirm one of our serving officers sadly died at his home in Bournemouth just before 10am today. 'He was 56-years-old and had been unwell since Christmas with a chest infection. 'He had been off sick since Thursday, 19 March and went into self-isolation following COVID-19 guidance from the NHS after displaying symptoms. 'It is not yet confirmed if the death is COVID-19-related and I would strongly emphasise that it is too early to speculate on the circumstances surrounding his death. We are all deeply saddened by the death. 'This is a huge loss to the police family and my thoughts and prayers are with the officer's family, friends and close friends, many of whom are Dorset Police colleagues. have relayed to them my deepest condolences.' Temperature screening has been introduced by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) at entrances to all prisons here in a bid to stop the spread of Coronavirus into the prison system. The IPS introduced the measure on Sunday across all 12 sites including Mountjoy, the Midlands, Arbour Hill, Cork and Limerick prisons. Assistant General Secretary of the Irish Prison Officers Association (IPOA), Gabriel Keaveny, said today that prison staff are very much re-assured by the introduction of temperature screening. Along with all staff, prisoners and other visitors to prison having their temperature taken, teams of IPS operational group staff also ask those entering prisons a series of health related questions. Temperature screening on the way in to public buildings, restaurants, bars and other privately owned enterprises in China, South Korea and Singapore has been an important tool in containing coronavirus in those countries. The move by the IPS follows the service ending all prison visits for prisoners at the weekend. A spokesman for the IPS said today that the Prison Service is home or a place of work, across 12 sites, to more than 7,000 people living and working together in proximity with a high risk of transmitting infection. He said: Facilities such as showers, toilets, tables and equipment such as gym equipment are shared. Difficulties do exist in implementing social distancing on the basis that over 52% of prisoners share cells. He said that the introduction of temperature screening follows the World Health Organisation (WHO) issuing guidance to governments concerning prisons and containing Covid-19. The spokesman stated that the guidance recognised the distinctive challenges facing prisons and recommending that screening should be undertaken at the point of entry and that persons checked should be prisoners, visitors and prison staff. The spokesman said that, in line with the WHO advice and in consultation with the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), the screening commenced on Sunday. He said: The Irish Prison Service has introduced a number of measures on a phased and proportionate basis to help meet the challenges posed by Covid-19. File photo of Arbour Hill Prison This has included the reduction of the prison population through the judicious use of temporary release and the restriction and more recently the suspension of visits to prisons, in line with NPHET advice. The figures show that since March 12 when the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announcement Government moves aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, the numbers on temporary release has increased by 222 to 535 and the numbers in custody has reduced from 4,214 to 3,884. Mr Keaveny stated that there has never been as much engagement between the IPOA and the IPS on any issue as Covid-19. He said that in response to Covid-19, the regime in prisons now has very, very controlled movement of prisoners, while all education and all workshops have ceased. He said: We are trying to encourage social distancing as much as possible. There have been fairly significant changes in work practices and prisoner officers have stepped up to the plate and we are very proud of the work they are doing. FILE PHOTO: Emirates Airline Boeing 777-200LR lands at Mexico City International Airport during its first route from Dubai via Barcelona to Mexico City By Alexander Cornwell and Aziz El Yaakoubi DUBAI (Reuters) - Dubai said on Tuesday it would help its state-run Emirates airline mitigate the financial blow from the coronavirus outbreak as authorities enforced a full lockdown on a district famous for gold and spice markets. The United Arab Emirates, the Gulf region's tourism and business hub which includes Dubai, has taken measures including temporarily halting passenger flights and launching a nationwide disinfection drive as the disease spreads. Total infections in the six Gulf Arab states surpassed 4,000 on Tuesday, with 22 deaths, after Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar all recorded new transmissions. Saudi Arabia, which has the highest regional tally, reported two more fatalities among expatriates, taking its total to 10, and confirmed 110 new cases to reach 1,563. The kingdom asked Muslims to wait for more clarity about the pandemic before planning to attend the annual haj pilgrimage, which begins in late July and usually attracts some 2.5 million worshippers from around the world. The UAE announced one more death, a 67-year-old Asian man with pre-existing conditions, bringing its total to six, and recorded 53 more infections to raise the count to 664. It had already extended a nightly curfew to April 5 to deep- clean the country, but Dubai announced on Tuesday it was imposing a 24-hour curfew on the normally bustling tourist and trade district of Al Ras for two weeks. "I am glad they are doing this because it is for our protection," said a rice trader who works in Al Ras but resides in the UAE's Sharjah emirate. The trader, who declined to be named, told Reuters he was now conducting business online. Dubai closed the main road entrances and halted public transport to Al Ras, which abuts Dubai Creek where dhows have been banned from shipping goods between Dubai and Iran, a regional epicentre for the virus. Authorities will provide residents with essential needs, the Dubai Media Office said. Story continues The UAE plans to open more drive-thru testing centres after the first was opened last week in the capital, Abu Dhabi. "We will never hesitate to take any measures against any potential threat to people's life. At the same time, we won't let development grind to a halt," said Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the country's de facto ruler. Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said the emirate's government would inject fresh equity into the Emirates airline, given its strategic importance to the Dubai and UAE economy, but gave no details. In Kuwait, the first Gulf state to halt passenger flights and impose a partial curfew due to the pandemic, the health minister said a clearer picture of the success of containment efforts would emerge by early June. "If infection numbers stabilise, there may be a gradual easing of current measures," Basil al-Sabah told Al Rai newspaper. "But if the average rate of transmission increases then...I do not rule out the cabinet enforcing a full curfew." Qatar reported its second death and 88 new cases. Gulf states continued repatriation flights from countries around the world. The UAE said it had evacuated more than 1,700 nationals and "those accompanying them". Kuwait said it has brought back more than 2,700 citizens. (Reporting by Alexander Cornwell, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Maha El Dahan, Ghaida Ghantous, Marwa Rashad and Alaa Swilam; Writing by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Alison Williams and Mark Heinrich) YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... Google is no longer selling its landmark Pixel 3 and 3 XL phones, the company confirmed with Android Police. If you enter the old Pixel 3 listing you'll get the home page instead and it no longer appears in the product carousel. Meanwhile, the carrier/configuration section shows the devices as "out of stock." A Google spokesperson confirmed the changes with Android Police, saying its online store has sold out its entire inventory of Pixel 3 devices. The only phones you can find now are the 5.7-inch Pixel 4 for $799 and the $899 Pixel 4 XL. The Pixel 3 and 3 XL were key phones for Google, introducing its new camera technology like Night Sight, Top Shot and Photobooth. Despite a few flaws, it produced the best smartphone photos around when it launched in 2017. While these devices have effectively been put out to pasture, users should still get Android updates for the foreseeable future. Baku, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 Trend: All work carried out in Azerbaijan, decisions being made pursue one goal only: to get out of this difficult situation with minimum losses and protect our citizens as much as possible, said Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev in his speech at the inauguration of Yeni klinika" medical institution in Baku, Trend reports. We are in contact with the World Health Organization. I believe that we were one of the first countries to establish contact with this organization and invite its specialists. They got acquainted with the situation and appreciated the work we are doing. At the same time, as a responsible and highly respected member of the international community, we donated $5 million to the World Health Organization to fight coronavirus. This is our valuable contribution to the common cause, the solution to the problem the world is facing. Of course, all the work carried out in our country, the decisions being made pursue one goal only: to get out of this difficult situation with minimum losses and protect our citizens as much as possible. Therefore, I believe that the decisions made on 14 March and afterwards, the introduction of the quarantine regime, the adoption of new restrictive measures starting from tomorrow and their entry into force are consistent with the current situation. We were one of the first countries to close universities, schools, kindergartens, land borders and to sharply reduce the number of flights, said the head of state. He noted that currently, there are flights only in two directions and even that is done once a week. These flights are carried out only to deliver Azerbaijani citizens to our country. I should also inform you that more than 10,000 Azerbaijani citizens have been evacuated to our country from other states so far. Currently, every person arriving in Azerbaijan is quarantined. I believe that the work we are doing in relation to quarantine is also exemplary. Quarantined people are held in four- and five-star hotels. More than a thousand people are accommodated in the Athletes Village. I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to business people for the free transfer of these hotels for our common cause, said the head of state. Among them is the biggest hotel in our country the Boulevard Hotel, which has made itself fully available to combat this disease. Hotels "Qafqaz", Pullman, hotels located in the regions, including Lankaran, Lerik, other cities, Nabran in other words, all our main four- and five-star hotels and recreation areas have been placed at the disposal of those in quarantine. In addition, recreation areas of some of our state agencies are also involved in this. So let me reiterate that the comfort of those in quarantine has been ensured and the state has incurred all expenses. And this is the way it should be. Our state always stands by its citizens and we once again demonstrated this in these difficult days, said President Ilham Aliyev. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 31 Trend: The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group have made a statement on the so-called elections in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Trend reports on March 31.. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) have taken note of the so-called general elections in Nagorno-Karabakh, the first round of which took place on March 31, the statement said. In the context of a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Co-Chairs recognize the role of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh in deciding its future in accordance with the principles and elements reiterated in the Co-Chairs statement of March 9, 2019, the statement said. The Co-Chairs note, however, that Nagorno-Karabakh is not recognized as an independent and sovereign state by any of the Co-Chair countries or any other country. Accordingly, the Co-Chairs do not accept the results of these elections as affecting the legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh and stress that the results in no way prejudge the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh or the outcome of the ongoing negotiations to bring a lasting and peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the statement said. 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. Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has issued an order to provide free treatment to all citizens and residents in all government and private health facilities related to Coronavirus illness. This order covers even violators of the residency regulation, said a Saudi Press Agency report. Minister of Health, Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan AlRabiah, said King Salman's order aims to provide free health care to violators of residency, labour and border security regulation who are infected or suspected of being infected with Coronavirus in hospitals, governmental and private medical centres, without any legal consequences, in order to ensure the health security of Saudi Arabia's citizens and residents. The Minister of Health stressed that the health services are continuous and available around the clock in hospitals and health centres, affirming the readiness to deal with any developments of the virus. 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. A Domino's Pizza store in Hanwell, London, UK. (Jason Alden/Bloomberg) Dominos (DOM.L) has appointed the former senior vice-president of international of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line as the pizza delivery chains new top boss. The group said in a statement that Dominic Paul will be chief executive officer designate from 6 April and will join the board as CEO on 1 May, when his predecessor David Wild retires. "We are delighted to have attracted a CEO of Dominic's calibre, and I'm very much looking forward to working with him, said Matt Shattock, chairman. He is a high energy leader with great experience of driving powerful consumer brands to new heights, and of partnering with franchisees. These are the skills which will be vital as we seek to take this business to the next level. Dominos highlighted how Paul was highly experienced leader in the consumer sector. He was the former CEO and managing director of Costa Coffee, overseeing its growth ahead of the 3.9bn ($4.8bn) sale of the business by Whitbread (WTB.L) to Coca-Cola last year. He was also the senior vice-president of international with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. He has extensive experience in the travel and leisure industry, including senior roles at EasyJet (EZJ.L), British Midland, and British Airways (IAG.L). "I am hugely excited to be joining Domino's. It is a much-loved brand with great people and some of the best franchisees in the world, and there is a strong foundation to build on, said Paul. I am confident that we can take the business to the next stage of its development, and build a long term and profitable future for our franchisees, colleagues, customers and shareholders." Bola Tinubu Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has admonished Nigerians to come together and defeat the deadly coronavirus pandemic saying the disease has no respect for wealth, status, region or religious affiliations. The former Lagos state governor, in a statement released to mark his 69th birthday ceremony said while the rich cannot bargain with the virus to pay it off, the poor also are also at its mercy as it doesnt care about ones hardship. Tinubu who also said the Coronavirus doesnt discriminate between a Northerner or Southerner also added that it has dispelled the myth by some people that Africans are immune to it due to our weather conditions. The foremost imperative is that we recognize that corona is here. We must cast aside the myths that we have comforted ourselves with these past weeks. We told ourselves this was not a black mans disease. We took false comfort in this self-deception. Well, black people have contracted the ailment; black people have also died from it. We hoped that our hot climate would bake and destroy the virus. That wish now appears too optimistic. We even said our history in dealing with malaria and other tropical diseases granted us some type of immunity. Well, I doubt that immunity exists as there is no scientific evidence supporting this claim. If such an immunity exists, it is at most incomplete and so unreliable as to be of no avail to large segments of our population. The rich cannot bargain with the disease or pay it off. It neither reads bank account statements nor is it intimidated by them. The poor, likewise, are subject to it for it has no mercy nor cares about ones prior or present hardships. Neither does it seem to study geography. Northerner and Southerner are equally its prey. It will attack those who pray at the altar in church as well as those who face the Qiblah when praying in the mosque. To corona, we are all the same. Thus, to fight corona, we must treat each other the same, as brothers and sisters in one national family under one Heaven. For we are of one blood; this crisis is a stark warning that we must begin to act in consonance with that common humanity. It is true that we and other African countries are among the nations thus far least affected. However, we must not think this means geography and climate have erected a protective shield on our behalf. At best, these things constitute a partial barrier that may have slowed but will not prevent the growing threat, he said. UK exporters have been armed with new information on the Vietnamese marketplace as work gets underway for British pork to gain access. Vietnam is a valuable market for UK exports with the country importing around 1.7bn of red meat last year almost a million tonnes of beef, lamb and pork. Meat consumption needs far outstrip domestic production in the south-east Asian country. Pork is by far the most favoured, but beef is growing in popularity, presenting even further opportunities in the future for UK exports. AHDB has now launched the second instalment in its series of Country Focus reports to maximise the opportunities once access is granted. Work between the levy board, Defra and APHA has been ongoing since 2017 to gain access to Vietnamese marketplace. AHDBs Head of Asia Pacific Jonathan Eckley said: We continue to work with Defra and other industry bodies to open the market for pork. "We hope that once access is granted, shipments will begin immediately adding to the already impressive volumes being sent to the Asian marketplace. The new report shows that the EU is a major supplier of pork to Vietnam, with imports coming from Poland and Germany, with Russia and the US also key suppliers. The report also looks at buying behaviours, projected growth in the economy and population, as well as consumer trends and concerns. The report shows that Vietnam has a vibrant economy and a youthful population that is increasingly experimenting with international cuisines," AHDB Retail Insight Analyst, Zoe Avison said. Meat consumption quadrupled between 1990 and 2018. Dairy consumption is also rapidly growing, particularly into foodservice with butter for bakeries and cheese for pizzas. "Food safety is a key concern for Vietnamese consumers after a number of scares so British food has a great story to tell. The Vietnam report is accompanied by a second Country Focus report which explores opportunities in Canada where the UK has had market access for pork, beef and lamb for around five years. While the UK currently sends only small quantities of meat to Canada, latest trade data shows a significant increase last year, with exports of some cuts increasing tenfold. According to the report, price is a top concern for Canadian consumers and has been for several years, as well as keeping healthy food affordable. Convenience is also important in terms of both meal options and shopping experience, as many Canadian consumers are time-poor. These latest report follows the first three editions which focused on the USA, China and Japan launched at the Oxford Farming conference last year. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 31, 2020 / Skeena Resources Limited (TSX.V:SKE, OTCQX:SKREF) ("Skeena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that today it has closed the first tranche of the non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") announced on March 10, 2020. Skeena collected gross proceeds of approximately C$15 million from the sale of 13,000,000 BC super-flow-through shares at a price of C$1.155 per share. Due to strong demand for flow-through shares from outside of British Columbia, the Company has upsized the offering to C$30 million and has added a National flow-through component at $1.05 per share. The Company expects to close the balance of the Offering in mid-April. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund exploration activities on the Company's projects in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. The closing of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period in Canada expiring four months and one day from each closing date. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. About Skeena Skeena Resources Limited is a junior Canadian mining exploration company focused on developing prospective precious metal properties in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company's primary activities are the exploration and development of the past-producing Eskay Creek mine and Snip mine. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited, Walter Coles Jr. President & CEO Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "could" or "would". Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and other matters. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CONTACT: Walt Coles Jr., President & CEO Kelly Earle, Vice President Communications Email: kearle@skeenaresources.com Tel: (604) 684-8725 SOURCE: Skeena Resources Limited View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583341/Skeena-Closes-First-Tranche-of-Oversubscribed-Private-Placement Six Qantas baggage handlers have tested positive for coronavirus. South Australia Health on Tuesday announced they are investigating a COVID-19 cluster at Adelaide Airport. About 100 people who work in the immediate area of the infected Qantas baggage handlers will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. SA Health confirmed the outbreak while announcing 32 new cases in the state. Six Qantas baggage handlers have tested positive to 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 'We are currently talking to Qantas about risk mitigation and there is going to be a requirement for a significant number of staff to go into quarantine because of this,' Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said. 'This is a serious situation.' Dr Spurrier said they met with Qantas and will introduce measures to ensure baggage can still be offloaded despite the cases of infection. 'I'm absolutely hoping there will not be interruption to flights,' she said. 'Qantas has done an amazing job bringing people home internationally and also continuing to carry people around Australia in domestic flights.' Dr Spurrier recommended that travellers who have flown in the last 24 hours should give their bags a 'wipe over' and keep track of coronavirus symptoms. South Australia's latest cases of infection bring their total to 337. 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 CLEVELAND, Ohio Growing numbers of people are saying we all should wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus, and are publicly shaming health experts who have asserted that masks are unnecessary for the general public. Some go so far as to claim they have been duped or lied to by the experts who knew that masks even those made by hand - can reduce the chances of sick people expelling infected droplets on others. And even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reconsidering the issue of masks. The Washington Post reported late Monday night that the CDC might offer new guidance that wont recommend general use of surgical masks and N-95 respirator masks, but possibly will call for do-it-yourself cloth coverings. Who are among those speaking in favor of masks? Jeremy Howard, a research scientist at the University of San Francisco, wrote in The Washington Post on March 28 that even simple, homemade masks can be effective, as demonstrated in Asian countries where spread of the virus has been tamed down. Studies have documented definitively that in controlled environments like airplanes, people with masks rarely infect others and rarely become infected themselves, while those without masks more easily infect others or become infected themselves, Howard wrote. In Washington, one of the states hit hardest by the coronavirus, Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, an epidemiologist with University of Washington School of Medicine, believes having more people wear masks could help, according to komonews.com Duchin said wearing a home-made mask could prevent somebody who is infected but not showing symptoms from going out in public and expelling infected droplets. However, he recommends such people not wear the surgical masks and N-95 masks that are needed by hospitals and in short supply. There might be a theoretical benefit to having a mask on, said Duchin, which would decrease any potential of any droplets to go through the air and infect someone else. Why werent experts saying this earlier? Thats a question a lot of people are now asking. One possibility raised by critics is that the medical community downplayed the effectiveness of masks in order to preserve supplies for use by health-care workers dealing with Covid-19 patients. But infection control doctors at University Hospitals and MetroHealth dismissed that notion in a March 12 article on cleveland.com. I have always been very clear to everybody that masks are not necessary, said Dr. Amy Edwards, pediatric infectious disease specialist and associate medical director for infection control and UHs Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital said at the time. The doctors also said wearing a mask could give wearers a false sense of security and make them more susceptible to disease because they would be touching their face while adjusting their masks. Where is the criticism coming from? Howard, the research scientist at the University of San Francisco, wrote in a Washington Post that recommendations against wearing masks during the pandemic will go down as a gross mistake. At the height of the HIV crisis, authorities did not tell people to put away condoms, he wrote. As fatalities from car crashes mounted, no one recommended avoiding seat belts. Yet in a global respiratory pandemic, people who should know better are discouraging Americans from using respiratory protection. The head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told Sciencemag.org. in a Q and A posted March 27 that Americans and Europeans have made a big mistake by not wearing masks. This virus is transmitted by droplets and close contact, said George Gao. Droplets play a very important roleyouve got to wear a mask, because when you speak, there are always droplets coming out of your mouth. Many people have asymptomatic or presymptomatic infections. If they are wearing face masks, it can prevent droplets that carry the virus from escaping and infecting others. Zeynep Tufekci, a professor of information science at the University of North Carolina, noted contradictions in the claims being made by the CDC and others in a March 17 opinion piece in The New York Times. The message became counterproductive and may have encouraged even more hoarding because it seemed as though authorities were shaping the message around managing the scarcity rather than confronting the reality of the situation, Tufekci wrote. First, many health experts, including the surgeon general of the United States, told the public simultaneously that masks werent necessary for protecting the general public and that health care workers needed the dwindling supply. This contradiction confuses an ordinary listener. How do these masks magically protect the wearers only and only if they work in a particular field? Conservative pundit Tucker Carlson was even more adamant. In a rant on his Fox News broadcast he criticized the government for downplaying the effectiveness of masks, saying it was obvious to all that using them could help slow down the spread. So look, we understand there's a shortage of masks, Carlson said. We understand only certain people should get them because it's a triage moment. We get it. But stop lying to us. It makes us cynical. It divides the country. Tell the truth. We can handle it. What are state and local medical officials saying? Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton said during Gov. DeWines Tuesday press conference that she is anxiously awaiting word about possible changes to the CDCs mask guidance. She said people can wear a mask fashioned from a scarf, bandana or some other form of cloth while in public to keep from spreading large droplets that may have the virus. Ive been saying all along, assume you have it, she said. But Acton said the N-95 respirator masks should be reserved for front line healthcare settings such as nursing homes where the masks are in short supply. She said anybody who has surgical masks should keep a couple for themselves and immediately give any others to a nursing home or local health department. University Hospitals did not address the effectiveness of homemade masks being worn by the general public other than to say UH follows CDC guidelines. The hospital system reiterated the importance of preserving supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) so doctors and nurses are prepared for an expected surge of COVID-19 patients in the coming weeks. University Hospitals does support the use of homemade masks in certain hospital situations, but not when standards call for an isolation mask. The hospital has asked volunteers to make 100,000 homemade masks that can be used by visitors; caregivers who are not directly involved with patients and are at low-risk of contracting the virus or transmitting it; and COVID-19 patients who dont have a surgical mask at their disposal. We continue to adapt our practice of PPE using the CDC guidelines and base our escalation of PPE use and practice on the number of COVID positive cases and PUIs (persons under investigation), states Dr. William Brien, chief quality & medical officer at UH. We base these decisions on the scientific guidance, technology advances (occurring almost weekly) and epidemiologic data and trends. I anticipate our practice, like other healthcare systems practices, will evolve over the ensuing days and weeks in this area." A Cleveland Clinic spokesperson could not be reached for comment and a MetroHealth representative said he was looking into cleveland.coms questions. An earlier version of this story included a statement issued by University Hospitals that included an erroneous use for homemade masks in dealing with the coronavirus. On Thursday, a UH spokeswoman asked that the statement be edited to eliminate inaccurate information. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 21:54:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A worker assembles automation equipment at a plant of Jier Machine-Tool Group Co., Ltd in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, March 31, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the enterprise had to adjust its production process for the lack of purchased parts. Nonetheless, over 5,000 staff members have committed to their work to ensure the orderly production resumption. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng) While some researchers are developing prototypes for ventilators to overcome their shortage, others have teamed up to develop testing kits. A team of innovators from IIT Kanpurs incubator company Nocca Robotics has developed a ventilator prototype, currently in the testing phase. Our next step is to test the prototype and get it validated with the doctors to fine-tune the design, which will take at least two more ... 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 Subscriber content preview SEATTLE (AP) The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge to Seattle's first-in-the-nation democracy voucher program for public financing of political campaigns. The high court issued its denial Monday in a challenge brought by two local property owners who said the program forces them through their tax dollars to support candidates they don't like, in violation of the First Amendment. . . . Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. In Seattle, one of the earliest epicenters of the coronavirus in the U.S., where businesses were ordered shuttered in mid-March, council member Kshama Sawant has been calling for a moratorium on utility, mortgage, and rent payments during the health and economic crisis. For nearly a week, Sawant has been circulating a petition urging Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to issue an executive order before thousands of residents must pay up on April 1. The petition also calls for a statewide rent freeze through the end of 2020, meaning landlords couldnt raise rents until January 2021 at the earliest. Advertisement This is the least you can do for working people, while big banks and corporations get bailed out by the Trump administration. I urge you to take these proactive steps now to protect renters in Washington state from being priced out of their homes in this crisis, the petition reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Monday, Sawant said more than 6,200 people have signed the petition. She hasnt heard from Inslee. Sawants fight for rent and mortgage relief predates the coronavirus crisis. In December, Sawant, who in 2013 became the first socialist to serve on the Seattle City Council in 97 years, introduced a proposal that would ban residential evictions during the colder months of the year. Seattle adopted the legislation in February, albeit with several amendments that Sawant opposed, including shortening the ban from five months to three. Still, the bill was the first of its kind in the U.S., inspired by similar legislation in France. Advertisement Advertisement A month ago, Sawants activism looked revolutionary. Today, it looks essential. I spoke to Sawant on the phone this past weekend. We discussed her fight on behalf of renters in Seattle and in her state, the history of developers taking advantage of the working class in a crisis, and why organizing, even at a distance, is so important. The following interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. Joel Anderson: First off, are you OK? How are you navigating this new surreal world that were living in right now? Kshama Sawant: I mean, my family and I are OK right now. But we consider it our moral and political duty to do everything in our power, to use our position, our public position, our City Council position to not only fight for the rights of working people at this time, but also to really help organize working people, renters, all those marginalized who are not only going to face the brunt of the pandemic itself in terms of the health impact it will have, the loss of life thats going to be inevitable, but also the fact that its not just a pandemic, its a pandemic in the context of global capitalism, meaning all the burden will be shifted on the shoulders of the working class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the normal conditions under capitalism, you see the bosses, the billionaire class, the landlords, absolutely parasitically exploiting working people and renters. If you remember what happened with Hurricane Katrina, not only did the black and working-class community in Louisiana suffer from the hurricane itself, the hurricane was used as completely cynically and shamelessly as an opportunity by the capitalist gurus to remake Louisiana in their vision, meaning taking advantage of the collapse of the public school system under the hurricane to ram through charterization and privatization of the public school system. The housing that the black and working-class community lost never came back because it was completely taken over by for-profit developers. You guys were one of the first cities to be hit hard by the coronavirus, and that everybody paid attention to. Do you still think that the peak is ahead of you? Advertisement Advertisement Oh yeah, and its not my opinion. This is what the health care professionals and epidemiologists and additional scientists are indicating. And in the middle of all this, you have the Department of Labor reporting [on Thursday] that just in the last week over 3 million Americans have been laid off. And out of those 3 million, over 133,000 are in the state of Washington, and that number of 133,000 is 14 times the normal unemployment rate. As an economist, I know that is automatically an underestimate, because many part-time and contract workers, gig economy workers, self-employed workers, none of them qualify for unemployment. So the actual number of people who have been hit hard with basically zero income coming next month is higher than 133,000. So imagine the number of people who are not going to be able to pay their rent or mortgage next month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im glad you got to that because, at the moment, youre circulating a petition to suspend rent, mortgage, and utility payments and also for a statewide rent freeze for the rest of the year. Can you tell me where you got that idea from? We have won significant victories for renters rights over the last years. As soon as the coronavirus crisis began in the U.S., we saw that it was already starting to unfold in Seattle, and we immediately put out a call through a petition. Now it seems like an age ago, it was just a few weeks ago actually. Are you feeling that way too? This was a month of a week, pretty much. Advertisement Yes, exactly, exactly. So anyway, that was the first petition we launched, one of the first petitions we launched, which was to go for a residential and small-business eviction moratorium and also foreclosure moratorium and mandating landlords and mortgage holders to work on coming up with reasonable payment plans. So we won most of those demands almost immediately because there was such a phenomenal public response to our petition. In around a day or two, we had like 8,600 signatures on the petition, which is virtually unheard of, it was phenomenal. And so that pressurethats an example of how even when youre restricted in the days of social distancing to social media and online organizing, organizing is still the key. Advertisement Advertisement It was clear to us right after we won that victory on the eviction moratorium and the foreclosure moratorium that, wait a second, the rents themselves cannot be paid. So its not even a question of halting the evictions. People will not have money to pay rent. And that is why we launched a petition demanding that Gov. Inslee suspend all rent, mortgage, and utility payments and also as you said a rent freeze for 2020. This is the least we can do for the masses that are suffering. Advertisement What do you think is going to happen on April 1? I mean, especially since you havent heard back from Gov. Inslee. Well, I hope that something will change between now and April 1. And like I said, we are going to be tireless, absolutely tireless and relentless in our efforts at organizing. But short of that, I expect that there will be many households that will not be able to pay their rent on April 1 or April 5 or whenever it is theyre due to pay rent and thats going to be inevitable. Advertisement Even if there was a situation hypothetically where most people will be able to weather the storm on April 1, what are they going to do in May? Because the economic projections are so badand these are not, like, my Marxist projections. This is the Federal Reserve saying that in the second quarter of this year, that their estimate of unemployment is 30 percent. That is depression-level employment. So we are heading into some really, really difficult times of the like that most of us havent experienced before. Advertisement Advertisement I wanted to go back for a second to December when you first introduced the proposal to ban evictions during winter months. What was the scale of the problem in Seattle that made you look for something like that? Advertisement When I was first elected in 2013, one of the things we had promised to do was to start building policies that would make up a full-fledged tenants bill of rights. But the simple reason why we [did it] is because of the scale of the housing affordability and homelessness crisis in, not just in Seattle, but in the entire King County region. And really at this moment there is a huge crisis throughout Washington state. Advertisement Advertisement The fact that so many renters are economically rent burdened, meaning youre paying anywhere from 50 to even 70 percent of your income in rent, its completely unsustainable. And so thats where we started the coalition organizations and the Seattle womens commission, which carried out this study called Losing Home, and we found out that evictions are rampant and theyre affecting the most vulnerable. And so the winter evictions was part of that effort. We are far from done, in reality. What weve been fighting for is much bigger than that, which is citywide rent control policies, free of corporate loopholes, which is going to take a massive movement and even civil disobedience. Advertisement Advertisement Ive seen and read where the landlords and even the mayor argued that the focus should be put on rental assistance programs being more robust rather than adding these restrictions on landlords, and landlords saying theyre worried about the economic impact on them. What did you say to them when they said, Well, this is going to cause economic problems for us because we have our own bills to pay? We simply didnt take that at face value. A landlord says, Well, I dont exploit my tenant. And then you say, Well, if youre not exploiting your tenants, then you should give tenants a few days to pay. Becauseand this is another important factwe learned through that survey that the most common scenario in which the household families were being evicted was for being a few dollars short of rent. Advertisement Thats why movements have to arm ourselves with statistical evidence and not allow the establishment to hoodwink you with lies. Because the fact is that if you are not an exploitive landlord, and youre not punitive, then why wont you give your tenant a few days to scrounge together the full rent so that they are not evicted? And the reason you want to do that [is] because you want the next time you have a new tenant, youre going to jack up the rent for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So whats next? I know that you havent made a lot of friends at Amazon Yeah, even [though] theres a lot of Amazon workers who are my friends actually. Right, to that point: I read that youre thinking of an Amazon big business tax to fund coronavirus relief. Is that something that might be another petition proposal down the line? Yes, we are actually now working on that Amazon and big business legislation. We are going to be fighting for $500 million of taxes on big corporations. And mathematically speaking, the scale of the economic crisis, as I said, is probably going to be closer to a depression than even just a deep recession. And so we dont imagine that $500 million is going to cut it for what peoples needs are going to be. But what it will be, and this is the most important thing, is a concrete battle between working people and big businesses like Amazon. And if we can win that battle, if we can win that tax, Im telling you it will be a historic victory. We have the double challenge of organizing without being able to meet in a room, without being able to have rallies. So I dont have immediate answers to how well do it, but we are absolutely going to be fighting for it. In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Xinjiang Xinxin Mining Industry Co., Ltd. (HKG:3833) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This is done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Xinjiang Xinxin Mining Industry The method 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 start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last 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) estimate 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Levered FCF (CN, Millions) CN69.0m CN71.8m CN74.1m CN76.1m CN77.9m CN79.6m CN81.1m CN82.6m CN84.1m CN85.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 5% Est @ 3.96% Est @ 3.24% Est @ 2.73% Est @ 2.38% Est @ 2.13% Est @ 1.96% Est @ 1.83% Est @ 1.75% Est @ 1.69% Present Value (CN, Millions) Discounted @ 14% CN60.4 CN55.0 CN49.7 CN44.7 CN40.1 CN35.9 CN32.0 CN28.5 CN25.4 CN22.6 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CN394m 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. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 10-year government bond rate of 1.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 14%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2029 (1 + g) (r g) = CN85m (1 + 1.6%) 14% 1.6%) = CN686m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CN686m ( 1 + 14%)10= CN182m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is CN576m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of HK$0.3, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. 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:3833 Intrinsic value March 31st 2020 The assumptions We would point out that 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 Xinjiang Xinxin Mining Industry 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 14%, which is based on a levered beta of 2.000. 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 Xinjiang Xinxin Mining Industry, There are three further aspects you should further research: Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Xinjiang Xinxin Mining Industry (of which 1 is significant!) you should know about. 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! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of! 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. 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. 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 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2020) - good natured Products Inc. (TSXV: GDNP) (the "Company" or "good natured") today announced that it has signed a one-year commercial agreement to supply earth-friendly packaging material to SmartPac Inc. Led by industry veteran, Carey Edwards, SmartPac Inc. launched in 2019 and quickly established a customer base that is driving demand for alternatives in take-out food service and beverage packaging. The Company estimates the one-year agreement will deliver between CAD$650,000 and CAD$1,300,000 revenue with expected gross margins of 25% to 30%. SmartPac and good natured are well positioned to deliver on demand for eco-friendly food service packaging alternatives to traditional, petroleum-based packaging. "We're excited to partner with the team at good natured in an effort to transition some of our plastic food and beverage packaging to plant-based alternatives," said Carey Edwards, President & CEO of SmartPac Inc. "Our customers are asking us for more eco-friendly options, and this partnership will allow us to offer a wider range of custom-made earth-friendly packaging to our already large customer base." Paul Antoniadis, CEO of good natured, added: "It's a real pleasure to be working with an industry leader like Carey and his growing team at SmartPac to make more plant-based products and packaging available to customers in the United States and Canada. It's commercial agreements like these that reinforce our commitment to being a leader in the development and distribution of renewable, sustainable products and packaging in North America." This news comes after the Company's recent announcements outlining the acquisition of Shepherd Thermoforming & Packaging Inc. and the signing of multi-year commercial agreements with two U.S food producers to supply plant-based packaging, delivering between CAD$1.7 million to CAD$2.0 million in organic growth on an annualized basis. The Shepherd acquisition is subject to certain closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of April 2020. About good natured Products Inc. good natured is producing and distributing one of North America's widest assortments of better everyday products made from the highest possible percentage of renewable, plant-based materials and no BPAs, phthalates or other chemicals of concern potentially harmful to human health and the environment. By combining cutting-edge renewable material technology and the latest sustainable features, good natured creates eco-friendly products and packaging that can do good for the planet, good for human health and good for business by focusing on innovative designs, minimizing waste and improving logistics, all bundled up in a fresh and friendly brand. For more information: goodnatured.ca Click here for the latest on the Company's operations through COVID-19. About SmartPac Inc Smartpac, Inc., located in Bridgeton, MO., operate a plastic and paper converting facility focused on renewable materials for single use disposable biodegradable and compostable packaging products. Smartpac Inc., is proud to be partnering with good natured products, a truly innovative and eco forward company, to support the reshoring of North American packaging. Our partnership will support the advancement of bio based materials to reduce our reliance on oil based raw materials and protect or environment. On behalf of the Company: Paul Antoniadis - Chief Executive Officer Contact: 1-604-566-8466 Investor Contact: Andy Phillips Investor Relations 1-877-286-0617 ext. 113 invest@goodnatured.ca Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibilities for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Information in this news release regarding estimates of future sales constitutes forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risk that future orders may not be placed by the customer due to loss of business to our competitors, replacement of our products with substitutes, a downturn in general economic, market and business conditions or in our customer's business specifically, disruptions relating to the COVID-19 virus and government restrictions relating thereto or otherwise and that as a result, actual sales may be lower than estimated. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. Other than as required under securities laws, we do not undertake to update this information at any particular time. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on our current estimates, expectations and projections regarding, among other things, sales volume and pricing which we believe are reasonable as of the current date. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. All forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53932 Canceled flights, empty Hotels in times of Corona Virus everybody has to stay home and travel is banned... ...but that doesnt mean you cant immerse yourself into other cultures. International series on the various streaming platforms allow you to travel the world, if you know where to look. South Africa: Queen Sono (Netflix) Lets start with South Africa. Queen Sono has been available on Netflix since February and is one of the first south African shows commissioned by the streaming service as a Netflix Original. Queen Sono is a secret agent working for the Special Operations Group (SOG). Her boss, Dr Sidwell Isaacs may not always be OK with the way Queen improvises when on a mission, but he lets her off the hook as she brings results. Queens mother was killed because of her fight against Apartheid. The man responsible has been behind bars for years, but he tells Queen that theres more to the case than she knows and of course she makes it her own personal mission to find out what exactly happened. The show moves from Zanzibar to Harare to Johannesburg. South Africa is portrayed as a modern, colorful and most of all confident country where a lot of different cultures get along, more or less. This is especially obvious if you watch the show with the original sound, because apart from English the characters communicate in some of the other 10 official languages. Although the story has been done before and admittedly better and with more budget, Queen Sono has a very special charm and is different enough from the usual fare to warrant a viewing. Queen Sono is available on Netflix, until now theres one season with 6 Episodes. Turkey: The Protector (Netflix) From South Africa to Istanbul, Turkey. Hakan is a young man helping his uncle manage a small shop while trying to find financing for his most recent project. When his uncle is killed, he finds out that he has been chosen to be the Protector of Istanbul. His mission is to protect the city from the immortals that seek to destroy humanity. The Protector is a fantasy series, telling the story of the unwilling hero whod rather live a normal life with his love than fulfill his destiny. But there are the loyal ones, Kemal and his daughter Zeynep whose mission it is to keep their hero on track. The writing is sometimes a bit inconsistent and dialogue not always coherent, which may be due to translation, as the original soundtrack is Turkish. The city of Istanbul plays a big role in the story, the contrast of old, historic buildings like the Hagia Sophia against the modern high-rises mirroring the conflict in Hakan, where traditional duty clashes with his modern dreams. The Protector is available on Netflix, there are three seasons, with a 4th planned and 25 episodes total. With more than 3,000 killed by the coronavirus in the United States, according to numbers released Tuesday, the U.S. death toll is approaching that of China where the pandemic broke out. Spain, meanwhile, saw a massive surge of 9,222 new confirmed cases and 849 deaths in a single day, its Health Ministry announced, bringing total cases to 94,417 and deaths to 8,189. Spain and Italy each held a moment of silence to honor their dead at 12 p.m. (6 a.m. ET). The two countries account for more than half of the deaths globally. On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned the situation in his state is a sign of things to come if other parts of the country don't act fast. "There's nothing unique about New Yorkers' immune system. There is no American who is immune from this virus," he told Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC's The Last Word. "New York is just the test case for this. We're the canary in the coal mine" Image: A healthcare worker sits on a bench near Central park in the Manhattan borough of New York City (Jeenah Moon / Reuters) The number of people confirmed to be infected with the virus in the U.S. reached 163,838 as of 2:30 a.m. ET, according to NBC News' tracker the highest number for a single country in the world. More than a third of the cases are in New York state. Also Monday, President Donald Trump said at a press conference that support was being rolled out across the country, including the construction of a 2,900-bed hospital in New York and thousands of more beds and equipment being distributed by the U.S. Navy and the Army Corps of Engineers. "It's been really pretty amazing what they've done," he said. "I think we're going to be in very good shape," he added about preparations for the country to manage the growing rate of infections. Trump also approved disaster declarations for the states of Rhode Island and Pennsylvania on Monday. In China, the rate of deaths has slowed with only one more reported from Monday, bringing the total to 3,187. As the country eases restrictions following the slowdown of the spread of the virus, factories have reopened, allowing for China's manufacturing industry to rebound this month. Story continues But the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing cautioned that the world's second-largest economy still faces challenges in rebuilding supply chains while authorities try to prevent a spike in infections as employees return to work. The World Health Organization has also warned the pandemic is "far from over" in Asia. "This is going to be a long-term battle and we cannot let down our guard," Dr. Takeshi Kasai, WHO regional director for the western Pacific region, said during a press conference Monday in the Philippine capital of Manila. "We need every country to keep responding according to their local situation," he said. Japan's foreign minister announced Tuesday that the nation would ban its residents from traveling to 73 countries including the United States, China, South Korea and most of Europe to prevent the spread of the virus. It would also ban entry to people coming from those countries. #Quirinale, bandiere a mezzasta in segno di lutto per le vittime del #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/hlnkbxG4gQ Quirinale (@Quirinale) March 31, 2020 France hit a grim milestone with its highest jump in death toll for a single day Monday, with 418 new deaths reported. It brought the country's total to 3,024. The countrys Director General of Health Jerome Salomon said more than 5,000 patients are in critical condition in intensive care. In Italy, flags flew at half-staff around the nation. Italy's Health Minister Roberto Speranza said the nationwide lockdown due to end this Friday will likely be extended until Easter, after he met with a scientific committee advising the government on how to contain the virus. Even after the lockdown is lifted, strict measures on businesses to keep people at a safe distance from one another will likely continue and some businesses such as gyms and beauty parlors may remain closed longer. The Associated Press contributed to this report. State prosecutors in Venezuela have summoned opposition leader Juan Guaido for an alleged "attempted coup d'etat" and attempted assassination, Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced Tuesday. In a statement broadcast on state television, Saab said Guaido had been summoned to appear before prosecutors next Thursday following an investigation last week into the seizure of a weapons cache in neighboring Colombia that he said was to be smuggled into Venezuela. The subpoena was delivered to his head of security on Monday night, Saab said. The opposition leader is recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries, including the United States, that refuse to recognize socialist President Nicolas Maduro after his disputed 2018 re-election. Colombian forces last week seized a cache of weapons linked to a retired Venezuelan general wanted on drug trafficking charges in the United States. The shaven-headed general, Cliver Alcala, surrendered in Colombia and was handed over to US authorities last week. Alcala claimed ownership of the weapons discovered by police in Puerto Viejo in Colombia's Magdalena department on March 23. He said in social media messages the intention was to deliver them to Venezuela to "begin the liberation." In his announcement Tuesday, Saab said Alacala -- who was once close to late president Hugo Chavez but retired when Maduro took power in 2013 -- had been operating under "direct instructions from Mr Juan Guaido." Guaido has been repeatedly targeted by the government in a number of legal cases but never arrested, amid warnings by the United States that it would be Maduro's "last mistake." Guaido called on Sunday for the formation of an emergency coalition government that would be able to convince multilateral agencies to provide badly needed funding for its crumbling health system to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The International Monetary Fund last week rejected Maduro's request for a $5 billion loan, on the grounds that there was "no clarity" on international recognition of his government. A 143-metre-long golden bridge that will connect Stockholms Gamla Stan island with Sodermalm on the mainland has safely completed its voyage from China, thanks to GAC Swedens expert management of its arrival in the Swedish capital. The bridge is a major feature in the City of Stockholms redevelopment of Slussen, the capital's second largest transportation hub. In early December last year, Cosco Shipping Lines (Sweden) AB appointed GAC Sweden to act as their local sub-agent to manage the delivery of the 3,700 tonne, SEK198 million ($19.5 million) steel bridge from the manufacturer China Railway Shanhaiguan Bridge Groups plant in Guangzhou to Stockholm. The 45-metre-wide bridge was welded to the two pontoons of the 227 metre long semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel MV Zhen Hua 33 for the journey. It was the biggest vessel ever to visit the Swedish capital and its cargo exceeded the Stockholm Archipelagos width restriction of 32.28 metres by more than 20 metres. Faced with a seemingly impossible task, we began by researching the ships specifications engine power, rudder type, wind trap, bow and stern thrusters, and so on, says Bjorn Fischer, Deputy Managing Director, GAC Sweden. This we then shared with the Swedish Maritime Administration to enable them to create a model to find a way to handle the passage with the help of simulator technology. The results of that exercise were not ready when the MV Zhen Hua 33 left China on January 2, as the first available simulation slot was less than three weeks before the ships estimated arrival in Stockholm on February 17. With the SMA simulation outcome pending, the GAC Sweden team met with the construction company and receiver, Skanska Sverige AB, COSCO SHIPPING Lines (Sweden) AB and tugboat company Marin & Haverikonsult AB to plan the unloading operation. They also started work on arranging various permits with the Swedish Transport Agency and the Port Authority and making arrangements for the temporary International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code zone with surveillance the ship would need when anchored in Stockholm. Less than two weeks before the ships ETA, the SMA permit was received - with conditions: wind speed of no more than 10-12 m/s, minimum 1 NM visibility, daylight navigation and two pilots and to time the passage through the busy waterway. With all the permits in hand, a new challenge hit. Bad weather with waves over 9 metres high in the Bay of Biscay forced the ship to anchor off the southern coast of Spain until conditions improved. She finally arrived, almost a month late, at the pilot point in Stockholm, attracting the attention of TV cameras and hundreds of spectators lining the quays. Erik Eriksen, Director/Partner at Cosco Shipping Lines (Sweden) AB, says: The passage through the archipelago and the unloading operation went completely according to plan, thanks to the meticulous planning and close, constant cooperation between GAC Sweden, COSCO, the Swedish Maritime Administration, the receiver (Skanska Sverige AB) and the many other parties involved. -- TradeArabia News Service If humans ever hope to colonize Mars, the settlers will need to manufacture on-planet a huge range of organic compounds, from fuels to drugs, that are too expensive to ship from Earth. University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) chemists have a plan for that. For the past eight years, the researchers have been working on a hybrid system combining bacteria and nanowires that can capture the energy of sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into building blocks for organic molecules. Nanowires are thin silicon wires about one-hundredth the width of a human hair, used as electronic components, and also as sensors and solar cells. "On Mars, about 96% of the atmosphere is CO2. Basically, all you need is these silicon semiconductor nanowires to take in the solar energy and pass it on to these bugs to do the chemistry for you," said project leader Peidong Yang, professor of chemistry and the S. K. and Angela Chan Distinguished Chair in Energy at UC Berkeley. "For a deep space mission, you care about the payload weight, and biological systems have the advantage that they self-reproduce: You don't need to send a lot. That's why our biohybrid version is highly attractive." The only other requirement, besides sunlight, is water, which on Mars is relatively abundant in the polar ice caps and likely lies frozen underground over most of the planet, said Yang, who is a senior faculty scientist at Berkeley Lab and director of the Kavli Energy Nanoscience Institute. The biohybrid can also pull carbon dioxide from the air on Earth to make organic compounds and simultaneously address climate change, which is caused by an excess of human-produced CO2 in the atmosphere. In a new paper to be published March 31 in the journal Joule, the researchers report a milestone in packing these bacteria (Sporomusa ovata) into a "forest of nanowires" to achieve a record efficiency: 3.6% of the incoming solar energy is converted and stored in carbon bonds, in the form of a two-carbon molecule called acetate: essentially acetic acid, or vinegar. Acetate molecules can serve as building blocks for a range of organic molecules, from fuels and plastics to drugs. Many other organic products could be made from acetate inside genetically engineered organisms, such as bacteria or yeast. The system works like photosynthesis, which plants naturally employ to convert carbon dioxide and water to carbon compounds, mostly sugar and carbohydrates. Plants, however, have a fairly low efficiency, typically converting less than one-half percent of solar energy to carbon compounds. Yang's system is comparable to the plant that best converts CO2 to sugar: sugar cane, which is 4-5% efficient. Yang is also working on systems to efficiently produce sugars and carbohydrates from sunlight and CO2, potentially providing food for Mars colonists. Watch the pH When Yang and his colleagues first demonstrated their nanowire-bacteria hybrid reactor five years ago, the solar conversion efficiency was only about 0.4% -- comparable to plants, but still low compared to typical efficiencies of 20% or more for silicon solar panels that convert light to electricity. Yang was one of the first to turn nanowires into solar panels, some 15 years ago. The researchers initially tried to increase the efficiency by packing more bacteria onto the nanowires, which transfer electrons directly to the bacteria for the chemical reaction. But the bacteria separated from the nanowires, breaking the circuit. The researchers eventually discovered that the bugs, as they produced acetate, decreased the acidity of the surrounding water -- that is, increased a measurement called pH -- and made them detach from the nanowires. He and his students eventually found a way to keep the water slightly more acidic to counteract the effect of rising pH as a result of continuous acetate production. This allowed them to pack many more bacteria into the nanowire forest, upping the efficiency nearly by a factor of 10. They were able to operate the reactor, a forest of parallel nanowires, for a week without the bacteria peeling off. In this particular experiment, the nanowires were used only as conductive wires, not as solar absorbers. An external solar panel provided the energy. In a real-world system, however, the nanowires would absorb light, generate electrons and transport them to the bacteria glommed onto the nanowires. The bacteria take in the electrons and, similar to the way plants make sugars, convert two carbon dioxide molecules and water into acetate and oxygen. "These silicon nanowires are essentially like an antenna: They capture the solar photon just like a solar panel," Yang said. "Within these silicon nanowires, they will generate electrons and feed them to these bacteria. Then the bacteria absorb CO2, do the chemistry and spit out acetate." The oxygen is a side benefit and, on Mars, could replenish colonists' artificial atmosphere, which would mimic Earth's 21% oxygen environment. Yang has tweaked the system in other ways -- for example, to embed quantum dots in the bacteria's own membrane that act as solar panels, absorbing sunlight and obviating the need for silicon nanowires. These cyborg bacteria also make acetic acid. His lab continues to search for ways to up the efficiency of the biohybrid, and is also exploring techniques for genetically engineering the bacteria to make them more versatile and capable of producing a variety of organic compounds. ### The research is supported by a grant from NASA to the Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), a multi-university effort to develop techniques for biomanufacturing in space. UC Berkeley co-authors of the paper are current or former graduate students Yude Su, Stefano Cestellos-Blanco and Ji Min Kim, who contributed equally to the work; and graduate students Yue-xiao Shen, Qiao Kong, Dylan Lu, Chong Liu, Hao Zhang and Yuhong Cao. A drone launched by Korea Forest Service (KFS) monitors the conditions of a forest. / Courtesy of KFS By Baek Byung-yeul The Korea Forest Service (KFS) has been increasingly adopting smart technology to better monitor forest fires, the state-run agency said Monday. The forestry body, which oversees the conservation of forests and the protection of people from natural disasters, said it has been using drones for fire observation, and other information and communication technology (ICT) equipment such as temperature sensors and thermal imaging cameras. Korea is witnessing increasing cases of bushfires. The KFS said the country had 650 such fires in 2019 that burned 3,254 hectares of land. Over the past 10 years, the number of forest fires has increased by 31 percent and the total area burnt by 264 percent. Illegal incineration of waste is a common cause of many bushfires, the KFS added. To thoroughly monitor bushfires and landslides, the KFS has been utilizing a scientific and systematic approach it launched a smart forest disaster response team in August 2019 and has actively used smart technologies for forest management. Among the smart technologies the agency has adopted, drones are widely used it said. Taking advantage of drones, the KFS has been thoroughly monitoring forests along the eastern coast in Gangwon Province. The KFS said drones are increasingly used as they help the agency reduce the size of its workforce. Drones also allow for the service to practice and encourage social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak. "Amid the virus outbreak, it is getting difficult to deploy a large workforce to monitor bushfires during this critical fire danger period, so we are increasingly using drones to screen bushfire-vulnerable areas," a KFS official said. The forestry body's bushfire control team designated a "critical fire danger period" for about a month from March 14 to April 15 to ramp up safety precautions. During this period, the KFS is operating 29 drones to crack down on illegal incineration of waste and unauthorized entry into forests in the Goseong, Sokcho, Yangyang, Gangneung, Donghae and Samcheok areas of the province. Given this year's spring will be warmer and drier with little rain compared to previous years, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the KFS said there needs be more focus on preventing bushfires. The KFS said 70 percent of bushfires occur during the dry and windy spring or autumn seasons. Stating that the dry climate, westerly winds and the mountainous terrain affect the frequency and degree of forest fires, it added people who visit forests during the February to April period, which is an extremely dry season, should be more careful in preventing forest fires. "As chances for bushfires are higher in this dry spring season, we are urging people to pay more attention to prevention," the official said. 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. It turned to be a double tragedy for the families of two COVID-19 fatal victims in Telangana as the near and dear could not attend the last rites with many of them under quarantine and some stranded abroad. In the case of 74-year old man who became the first COVID-19 fatality in the state, only one relative was able to attend his last rites while the funeral of a 64-year old man also saw thin attendance with his kin under isolation. Both the men had attended the Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation in Delhi in mid-March. The first COVID-19 patient in the state was tested positive for it after his death on March 26. The man's funeral was held on Saturday with officials following the protocol for coronavirus fatalities which among others restricts number of those attending last rites. "It is heart wrenching to see a person departing without his close family members and relatives being present during the last rites. Those who wanted to attend the funeral services also are not attending due to fear complex," a Muslim scholar said. The three sons of the deceased could not attend the funeral as two of them were not in the country and the third was in quarantine, a family member said adding the victim's bother attended the last rites. The immediate family members, including the son, of the other deceased had been quarantined after his demise and only a few of his relatives were present at his funeral. Mecca Masjid Superintendent Abdul Qadeer Siddiqui told PTI that though last rites should be performed with funeral prayers, special circumstances can exempt it and the same can be done in-absentia. As part of social distancing in view of ongoing lockdown, already the number of persons attending funerals had been capped at 20 in the over 880 crematoriums and burial grounds in the city, a senior official of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation had earlier said. A guideline from the World Health organisation earlier this month has said there was no evidence of persons having become infected from exposure to the bodies of persons who died from COVID-19. "The dignity of the dead, their cultural and religious traditions, and their families should be respected and protected throughout. Hasty disposal of a dead from COVID-19 should be avoided," it said. A government release on Monday night said six people from the state who attended the religious congregation in Delhi between March 13 and 15 died due to coronavirus. The deaths were reported during the last six days. Two of the six died in Gandhi Hospital and one each in two different private hospitals here and one each in Nizamabad and Gadwal towns, the release had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gao Shouhong, former deputy general manager of Kweichow Moutai Group, maker of China's famous Moutai liquor, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted on bribery charges Monday. The sentence, passed at a local court in southwest China's Guizhou province, also includes a fine of 500,000 yuan (about 70,636 U.S. dollars) and the confiscation of Gao's illegally gained property worth over 7.17 million yuan. The court found that from 2009 to the second half of 2018, Gao used his position in the state-owned group to receive an enormous amount of illegal bribes and seek interests for others in various projects. The court said the sentence showed leniency, taking into consideration that Gao was cooperative in the investigation and he surrendered his illegal earnings. Siskin Hospital announces that Vicky Sutton, RN, has recently achieved Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) status. "With this accomplishment, nearly half of Siskin Hospitals eligible bedside nurses are now CRRN certified," officials said. The certification is awarded by the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses. The CRRN designation demonstrates our nurses expertise in the care of patients with physical disabilities, says Siskin Hospital President & CEO Matthew A. Gibson. "The CRRN credential reflects expert knowledge in the nursing care of rehabilitation patients, as well as legislative, economic, ethical and legal issues," officials said. To learn more about rehabilitation nursing and physical rehabilitation services at Siskin Hospital, call 423-634-1200. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Common bisphenol A (BPA) substitutes can affect the developing fetus and cause hypertension in later life, suggests a rodent study accepted for presentation at ENDO 2020, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting. The research will be published in a special supplemental section of the Journal of the Endocrine Society. Chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) are widely used in the synthesis of plastics and are found in numerous consumer products. Most humans are exposed to BPA on a daily basis. BPA disrupts the body's endocrine system by mimicking the hormone estrogen. BPA exposure has been linked with high blood pressure. Based on studies over the last few decades, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2012 banned the use of this chemical in baby bottles and infant formula packaging. Manufacturers often replace BPA with other chemicals such as bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF). These substitute chemicals are often found in products labeled "BPA free." "Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of mortality among men and women. With the new blood pressure guidelines from the American Heart Association, almost half of the United States population45.6%has hypertension," said study co-author Maryam Hazim Al Mansi of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. "There may be several reasons for this high prevalence of hypertension in our population, but the effect of contaminants is overlooked and understudied." In the new study, Al Mansi and colleagues exposed pregnant rats to low levels of saline, BPA, BPS or BPF and followed the development of their offspring. The offspring were implanted with devices to measure their blood pressure. The researchers measured blood pressure once a week for 11 weeks over a 24-hour period. They found systolic (the top number in a blood pressure reading) and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) were significantly increased in animals exposed to BPA, BPS and BPF compared with those exposed to saline. "These results suggest that even low-dose exposure to these chemicals can affect blood pressure in the offspring later in life," said co-author Puliyur S. MohanKumar, B.V.Sc., Ph.D., of the University of Georgia. "It is important to avoid these exposures during pregnancy." Explore further Exposure to chemicals during pregnancy is not associated with an increase in blood pressure Michael Goonan is one of the most outspoken grooms on Married At First Sight. But he hardly said a word after his 'wife', Stacey Hampton, was exposed as an adulteress at the reunion dinner party on Tuesday night. And there was a very specific reason why the company director, 29, stayed silent as Stacey's one-night stand with Mikey Pembroke was discussed at the table. Revealed: The surprising reason why Married At First Sight's Michael Goonan stayed silent when his wife Stacey Hampton's affair with Mikey Pembroke was exposed at the dinner party After the episode aired, Michael revealed he didn't 'bury' Stacey in front of the other couples because he was being considerate of her children's feelings. The law graduate, 26, has two sons from a previous relationship, Kosta and Kruz. 'Even when you are wronged in life, you weigh up the damage you can cause someone and their children,' he wrote on Instagram. Classy: After Tuesday's episode, Michael revealed on Instagram that he didn't 'bury' Stacey in front of the other couples because he was being considerate of her children's feelings Single mum: The law graduate, 26, has two sons from a previous relationship, Kosta and Kruz 'No child needs to view their mum in a bad light. I had a split decision to bury her or let her hold her grace. 'We all f**k up, believe me. I'm no saint. Though it's me and only me that was betrayed (Mikey was single), I'm not hurting anymore.' Michael then thanked Stacey for cheating on him because it allowed him to meet his 'perfect match', KC Osborne, whom he has been dating for several months. He concluded: 'In the end, I won in a strange way. That's life, karma and lessons learned. Thanks, Stacey.' Taking the high road: Michael said, 'Even when you are wronged in life, you weigh up the damage you can cause someone and their children. No child needs to view their mum in a bad light. I had a split decision to bury her or let her hold her grace' Happily ever after: Michael then thanked Stacey for cheating on him because it allowed him to meet his 'perfect match', KC Osborne (pictured), whom he has been dating for several months The father-of-one was praised for his dignified response, with one follower commenting: 'You are a classy guy, Michael. So glad you are in a better place now. 'It was hard to watch you crushed like that. Your way of showing such dignity and respect at that time was something to see.' Another wrote: 'I admire you for that. It says a lot about your character.' A third supporter added: 'You have done well... you are my favourite this season as you saw [through] all the bulls**t. Good luck to you and KC.' Bombshell: Stacey's one-night stand with Mikey (pictured) was exposed at the cast reunion Stacey's one-night stand with Mikey was exposed at Tuesday's reunion dinner party. The operations manager, 29, said: 'One thing led to another, me and Stacey had a few drinks in Ivan and Aleks' room, and we slept together.' Stacey repeatedly denied the allegations, even after Mikey produced corroborative text messages that proved they'd spent the night together. In denial: Stacey repeatedly denied the allegations, even after Mikey produced corroborative text messages that proved they'd spent the night together Aleks Markovic and Ivan Sarakula also claimed Mikey's clothes had been dropped off at their apartment in a Mecca Cosmetics bag after the alleged incident. A shell-shocked Michael said afterwards: 'I'll forgive Stacey if it happened. However, I won't forgive her if she's lying about it. That's definitely crossing the line with me.' The reunion was filmed in mid-January and, more than two months later, Stacey continues to deny she ever slept with Mikey. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the IMF can develop innovative and ingenious methods to meet COVID-19 related financing requirements given that policy space is severely constrained in most countries in these unprecedented circumstances. She was speaking at the 2nd Extraordinary G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting, held in a virtual manner. During her intervention, Sitharaman also shared with her G20 counterparts the efforts being made by Government of India to deal with COVID-19 crisis, including the recently announced relief package of Rs 1.7 lakh crore for the poor, the emergency health fund of Rs 15,000 crore along with several other monetary, fiscal and regulatory measures taken to address the economic and social concerns of those most impacted by the crisis. On the issue of swap arrangements, the finance minister encouraged IMF to use its existing resources to create a non-stigmatised short-term liquidity swap facility which could be rapidly deployed as and when needed by the countries. She also emphasised upon the need to allow flexibility for countries to engage in new lines of bilateral swap arrangements as per requirements. G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors during the first Extraordinary Virtual G20 FMCBG Meeting held on March 23, 2020 had decided to meet virtually on a regular basis to continue discussions on the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impact on markets and economic conditions and take further actions to support the economy during and after this phase. This meeting was held to follow up on discussion of the first virtual meeting as well as to discuss the follow-up in line with the statement made by G20 Leaders during the G20 Virtual Leaders Summit held on March 26, 2020. During the summit, the Leaders had tasked G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to deliver a G20 Action Plan in Response to COVID-19, in close cooperation with relevant international organizations (IOs). Sitharaman participated in the second meeting to discuss the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and coordinate efforts in response to this global challenge. She appreciated the Saudi Presidency for organizing these meetings which provide opportunity to all G20 members to not only share their individual experiences but also to work in better coordination. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UN Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously adopted Resolution 2518, a first of its kind, vowing to take all-dimensional measures to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers. "This is the first resolution on the safety and security of peacekeepers and is well-received by the broad membership as a timely fit for the current peacekeeping situation in line with the expectations of the international community," Xinhua news agency quoted a statement as saying on Monday. 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 90 Day Fiance star Jorge Nava is splitting with his wife Anfisa Arkhipchenko, as soon as he gets out of prison. Nava, 30, revealed that he plans on making his divorce with Arkhipchenko, 24, official upon his release from prison in May, according to TMZ. Nava and Arkhipchenko were featured on Season 4 of 90 Day Fiance in 2016, but their marriage has been on the rocks since he was arrested for transporting nearly 300 pounds of marijuana in early 2018. Split: 90 Day Fiance star Jorge Nava is splitting with his wife Anfisa Arkhipchenko, as soon as he gets out of prison Nava claims that Arkhipchenko, 'abandoned him,' when he was arrested and sentenced to served two and a half years in prison. He also claims she ran off to be with another man while he was locked up, though the couple has still been married. Arkhipchenko has not said much about their marriage recently, and Nava maintained they were still together after he was sent away, but they have gone their separate ways. Abandoned: Nava claims that Arkhipchenko, 'abandoned him,' when he was arrested and sentenced to served two and a half years in prison Nava also indicated that he's worried he won't actually be released in May, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Though he did state that, whenever he is released from prison, he plans to file for divorce as soon as possible. While he's been serving time, Nava has been putting in a lot of work at the gym, with a much slimmer figure to show for it. Worried: Nava also indicated that he's worried he won't actually be released in May, due to the coronavirus pandemic Nava has shed a whopping 128 pounds while he's been in prison, going from 318 pounds to 190 pounds. He stated that he lost the weight by mixing, 'regular cardio and intermittent fasting,' and he plans on keeping the weight off when he gets out. Given that all gyms are closed for the indefinite future, due to the coronavirus spread, he may have to find alternative ways to work out upon his release. Weight loss: Nava has shed a whopping 128 pounds while he's been in prison, going from 318 pounds to 190 pounds Nava and Arkhipchenko aren't the only stars of 90 Day Fiance to make headlines outside of the show. Nicole Nafziger and Azan Tefou are still stuck in Morocco, after international flights were suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak. Earlier in March, Alex Brovarnik made headlines for saving a drowning man during a trip to the Bahamas with his wife Loren. / -- In July 2007, Nelson Mandela took to a stage in Johannesburg on his 89th birthday to introduce the world to a new alliance of senior states people dedicated to solving thorny global problemsan extraordinary effort of cross-border collective strength. Today, the Skoll Foundation honors that alliance, The Elders, with its Global Treasure Award. "The Elders are a shining example of the kind of cooperation and leadership that the world needs now more than ever," said Don Gips, CEO of the Skoll Foundation. "For sustained progress on the greatest challengesfrom pandemics like COVID-19 to the existential threats of climate changewe look to collectives like The Elders for coordinated action and a steadfast voice of hope in uncertain times." The Elders have shown that global challenges require global solutions that emerge from ethical leadership and multilateral cooperation. "As Elders," said Mary Robinson, first woman President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, "we profoundly believe in the power of working together because, in the words of our founder Nelson Mandela, "we are human only through the humanity of others." Ban Ki-moon, Deputy Chair of the Elders and former Secretary General of the United Nations, was responsible for major international peacekeeping reforms and has become a leading international voice in support of the Green New Deal. "We call on global leaders and citizens alike to recognize that no one nation, no one individual, can overcome the profound problems ahead of us," he said. "Going it alone means we all lose. The Skoll Foundation's focus on collective strength could not be more prescient."Juan Manuel Santos, Elder, and former President of Colombia, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016 for his efforts to negotiate a historic peace treaty with the FARC-guerrilla forces in Colombia. "A collaborative and inclusive approach is at the heart of the Elders' mission, and the embodiment of collective strength," he said. "I commend the Skoll Foundation for recognizing the fundamental importance of this approach."Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Elder, former President of Liberia, was the first elected female head of state on the continent of Africa and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 in recognition of her work to bring women into the peacebuilding process. "Injustice, poverty and inequality are issues that, by their very nature, can only be overcome by working together and pooling our collective strength," she said. "Solutions to these problems require marginalized groups to be heard, leaders to listen, and for all of us to recognize the shared advantages that can be born out of solidarity and common endeavor."Our current moment shows with certainty that global threats and thorny problems know nothing of borders. The welfare of humanity depends on our capacity to summon a mighty collective strength, and The Elders have shown us the way forward. About The Elders The Elders are an independent group of global leaders working together for peace, justice and human rights. Our vision is of a world where people live in peace, conscious of their common humanity and their shared responsibilities for each other, for the planet and for future generations. Working both publicly and through private diplomacy, our mission is to engage with global leaders and civil society at all levels to resolve conflict and address its root causes, to challenge injustice, and to promote ethical leadership and good governance. About the Skoll Foundation The Skoll Foundation drives large-scale change by investing in, connecting, and celebrating social entrepreneurs and the innovators who help them solve the world's most pressing problems. Founded by Jeff Skoll, the Foundation's signature program is the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship. Today, the Foundation's portfolio includes 116 organizations and 144 social entrepreneurs around the world. Learn more at skoll. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. Andhra Pradesh saw a quantum jump in the number of coronavirus cases with 21, including 18 who attended the Jamat congregation in New Delhi, testing positive, taking the overall tally to 44 on Tuesday, the Medical and Health Department said. Prakasam district recorded the highest number of eight cases, followed by five in Guntur, four in Visakhapatnam, two in Anantapuramu and one each in Krishna and East Godavari, a bulletin from the department said. Four of the fresh cases were from Visakhapatnam and all had attended the religious event in Nizamuddin in Delhi between March 13 and 15. While one person got afflicted upon his return from Medina, two others contracted it from a Mecca returnee in Karnataka. Overall, Prakasam district now has a total of 11 cases followed by 10 in Visakhapatnam, nine in Guntur, five in Krishna, four in East Godavari, two in Anantapuramu and one each in Chittoor, Nellore and Kurnool, since March 12 when the first coronavirus positive case was reported in the state. The lone patient in Nellore and another in Visakhapatnam had since recovered. The bulletin said a total of 256 samples were tested since Monday night of which 235 turned negative. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A week ago, Buckingham Palace took an extreme measure to make sure that Queen Elizabeth II is safe from contracting the deadly coronavirus. Her Majesty was immediately sent to Windsor Castle together with her husband, Prince Philip so that the elder royals will be miles away from the center of the outbreak in the United Kingdom. Together with the news that the 93-year-old monarch will be observing home quarantine at Berkshire is the report that the Queen will also deliver a televised "morale-boosting" address to the nation. The palace believes that Her Majesty's speech would play a huge role in easing the anxiety of the people panicking over coronavirus. The Queen's nation address also aims to strengthen the public's will during though times like this. On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth indeed sent a message of solidarity to the nation, encouraging the people to stay strong amid the threats of COVID-19. During her speech, the U.K's coronavirus-related death toll already hit 137. Her Majesty also praised the hard work and bravery of the health workers serving as frontliners and working tirelessly to assist patients hit by the said virus. Queen Elizabeth also assured the public that the royal family is ready to play their role in this ongoing global pandemic. The Clash While the Queen's message was done in good faith to uplift the spirit of her people, it is only a few days ago when it was revealed that Prince William and Kate Middleton's support move had to take a sideline to give way to Her Majesty's moment. Speaking through an episode of the podcast called "The Royal Rota," ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship and Producer Lizzie Robinson revealed that the press had to delay reporting Kate and William's engagement to avoid overshadowing the Queen's message. On Thursday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reportedly visited a National Health Services center in South London to show their support to the frontline workers. However, the royal experts revealed that it was only on Friday that reports are allowed to release in fears that it might clash with the Queen's important message. "Kate and William's visit happened last Thursday, but we couldn't report on it until last Friday," Robinson told the podcast listeners. "If you remember last Thursday was the day that the Queen gave her message of solidarity to the nation. I think the timing was so important. If they had put out the Kate and William visit that day, there could have been a real clash," she added. Apparently, the Palace "didn't want anything to overshadow the Queen's message." During Kate and William's visit at NHS, the 37-year-old Duke expressed gratitude to the health workers, who, according to him, are "pulling together for the common good" and doing their best for the country. Amid the dangers of coronavirus, the Cambridges observe strict health protocol during their engagement by avoiding handshake, observing social distancing, and using hand sanitizers from time to time. Two special flights carrying essential items arrived in Port Blair on Tuesday as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands grapple to combat the coronavirus outbreak, officials said. A special flight operated by national carrier Air India arrived around 11.30 am with masks, medical equipment and other items, they said. Later in the day, the Indian Air Force's C-17 Globemaster aircraft arrived with essential items, they said. Total 21 people from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands attended the religious congregation at Tablighi Jamaat's Markaz in Delhi's Nizamuddin West and of them, 10 have tested positive, officials said. They are undergoing treatment at the G B Pant Hospital here. The islands, home to several vulnerable tribes, have been put on alert following the COVID-19 outbreak. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Srinagar: Photographs and videos portraying allegedly chaotic conditions in some of Jammu & Kashmirs hospitals have gone viral on social media even as ten more persons tested positive for the deadly Covid-19 virus in the union territory on Monday. One photograph showed stray dogs roaming freely in a corridor of the government-run Chest Disease (CD) Hospital in Srinagar, which is a designated facility for Covid-19 patients. A pinned tweet accompanying the photo read, Im shocked, I was just talking to my cousin and another patient over phone -- both COVID-19 +ve patients at CD Hospital. Dogs are in the ward attacking patients. Also doctors asked them to get medicines from outside. Is this our healthcare system level? In another tweet, the same person, Khalid Rathore, said his cousins medical reports clearly showed him as a suspect for Covid-19 but he has been put together with confirmed positive cases of the disease. Just checked medical reports of my cousin, which clearly show 'suspect for COVID-19' that means he has not been yet confirmed +ve for the same. Then why has he been kept with +ve cases where he can easily and is likely to get infected? Last week, a woman Covid-19 suspect fled the hospital in the dead of night and later reported at Srinagars Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS). Her family sought to justify her act, saying she left the hospital after a pack of stray dogs entered the premises. Srinagars mayor Junaid Azim Mattu had, after photographs showing dogs inside the hospital went viral, promised to secure the premises by erecting a wall. Last weekend, as many as 26 Covid-19 suspects jumped quarantine at Srinagars Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial (JLNM) Hospital amidst chaos triggered by a violent protest over poor medical facilities. The protesters allegedly broke furniture and window panes in the hospital and were joined in the rampage by their relatives. However, as per a statement by Srinagars DC Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, all the quarantine fugitives were quickly traced and brought back to the hospital with the help of the police. The authorities here admit that hospitals and other medical facilities in the union territory, mainly in the Kashmir Valley, have become overcrowded due to the influx of confirmed and suspected Covid-19 cases. "Were making every possible effort to make everyone who is with us comfortable. Any gaps that might be there will be filled and all weaknesses removed soon, said Dr. Naveed Nazir Shah, HOD at CD Hospital in a video message. The government on Monday reported ten new positive cases of Covid-19 including three from Jammu division and seven from the Kashmir Valley, taking the total number of corona positive patients to 48. With one more person from Ladakh testing positive at a hospital in Jodhpur, Rajasthan ,following his evacuation from Iran, the number of patients in or from the landlocked region has risen to 14. Officials said that while most of Ladakhs Covid-19 patients are recovering at Lehs Sonam Narboo Memorial Hospital, out of J&Ks 48 positive cases, 44 remain active, two have recovered and the remaining two have passed away. In J&K, as many as 11,644 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases are currently put under surveillance which include 355 persons who are in hospital isolation or quarantine. A report from Jodhpur said a 41-year-old male resident of Ladakh among those evacuated from Iran last week was found COVID-19 positive at the MDH Hospital. Back home, the doctors at SKIMS claimed that the 67-year-old woman from Srinagars Khanyar area, who became the Valleys first case of Covid-19 has recovered as she tested negative for the novel disease. G.H. Yatoo, nodal officer for coronavirus at SKIMS, said the samples of the woman sent to the viral diagnostic lab have tested negative, adding that she would, however, be kept in quarantine for a period of 14 days before a decision to discharge her or not could be taken. Market players will witness future growth and enhance revenues by divesting from traditional manufacturing methods and leveraging the technological advancements ROCKVILLE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / March 31, 2020 / The global silicon carbide market will witness stellar growth at a CAGR of 15% during 2019 - 2029, as projected by a new Fact.MR report. Key players in the silicon carbide market are eying profitable opportunities by leveraging on the sprouting demand for compact systems, motor drivers, and radiofrequency devices. "Skyrocketing consumer demand in emerging economies and governments across the world supporting FDI investments are further complementing market growth," says the report. Silicon Carbide Market: Key Findings Black silicon carbide will quadruple its market value and continues holding more than half of the overall market share owing to increasing usage in automotive, steel, and construction industries. Electrical & electronics will triple their share in the end-use segment, on the back of silicon carbide's physical properties which make it an ideal raw material for electrical and electronics applications APAC (East Asia, South East Asia, and Oceania) will account for more than 50% of the global market value. This growth is invigorated by emerging economies such as China, India, and Indonesia, where the developing automotive manufacturing is employing silicon carbide in EV batteries. Increasing applications in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and electric vehicles (EV) are expected to enhance revenues from the automotive sector. Request Sample Report- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=4581 Silicon Carbide Market: Key Driving Factors A positive trend in electric vehicles manufacturing is pushing demand for silicon carbide as they prevent loss of charge and ensure the vehicles run for longer distances, thereby supporting the rise of the market. Booming automotive industry in developing nations such as China is creating revenue opportunities for market players to cater to the burgeoning consumer demand Governments in emerging economies supporting FDI investments are garnering significant attention from prominent SiC manufacturers. Furthermore, incentive policies in developing countries are acting as a catalyst for high growth opportunities for innovators. Silicon Carbide Market: Key Restraint The high-cost associated devices made from silicon carbide possess a challenge to restrict rapid growth. Explore the complete silicon carbide market report with detailed market segmentation, 195 illustrative figures, and 98 data tables at - https://www.factmr.com/report/4581/silicon-carbide-market Competition Landscape Some key players in the silicon carbide market are Dow Chemical Co., AGSCO Corporation, Carborundum Universal Limited., Entegris Inc., ESD-SiC b.v., ESK-SIC GmbH, Gaddis Engineered Materials, Grindwell Norton Ltd., Saint Gobain Ceramic Materials GmbH, and Snam Abrasives Pvt. Ltd, among others. The market players are investing in research and development activities to gain traction among consumers. About the Report: Fact.MR presents a detailed and unbiased analysis of the global silicon carbide market, displaying data on historical demand (2014-2018) and forecast data for the period, 2019-2029. To simplify the vast study, the report is segmented on the basis of product (black silicon and green silicon), application (steel, automotive, aerospace, military & defense, electrical & electronics, healthcare, and others), and across 6 key regions (North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia & Oceania, and Middle East & Africa). Explore Fact.MR's Comprehensive Coverage on Chemicals & Materials Landscape Thermal Conductive Adhesives Market - Learn more about the major influencing factors affecting the thermal conductive adhesives market which is set for strong growth during the projection period (2019-2029). Flame Retardant Coating Additives Market- Acquire in-depth insights about the Flame Retardant Coating Additives Market market through Fact.MR's detailed report covering end-use segments, market dynamics, recent material developments and prominent market players for the forecast period of 2019-2029. 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Contact: Fact.MR 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Email: sales@factmr.com Web: https://www.factmr.com/ PR- https://www.factmr.com/media-release/1354/global-silicon-carbide-market SOURCE: FactMR View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583311/Silicon-Carbide-Sales-Accelerate-in-Line-with-Increasing-Automotive-Applications-Demand-for-Black-Variant-to-Grow-4X-Through-2029-Says-a-New-FactMR-Report The market wrapped up a brutal quarter on Tuesday as investors searched for a bottom in the fastest bear market ever amid the coronavirus crisis. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 posted their worst first quarters in history as equities sold off further toward the end of the trading session. The Dow closed down 410 points (1.8%) on Tuesday, while the S&P 500 dropped 1.6%. 4:25 pm: First quarter and March drop by the numbers The Dow closed down 13.74% in March, notching its worst month since October 2008. The Dow closed down -23.2% for the quarter, its worst since the fourth quarter of 1987. It was the Dow's worst first quarter ever. The Dow is 25.88% below its intraday all-time high of 29,568.57 from Feb 12. The S&P closed down 1.6% for its second negative day in three, closing up or down more than 1% every day in March with the exception of March 19. negative day in three, closing up or down more than 1% every day in March with the exception of March 19. The S&P closed down 12.51% over the month of March, its worst month since October 2008. The index closed down 20% for the first quarter, its worst quarter since the fourth quarter of 2008, when the S&P 500 lost 22.56%. It was the S&P 500's worst first quarter ever. Sectors: 10 out of 11 sectors were negative today led by Utilities down 4.02%. Nine out of 11 sectors closed down at least 20% below their 52-week high closes with the exception of Health Care and Staples. The U.S. 10-year note yielding 0.6679% vs. Friday's close of 0.744% 4:17 pm: S&P 500 sees most volatile month on record March was the S&P 500's most volatile month ever, according to Bespoke Investment Group, as frenetic swings whipsawed the market from steep gains to even steeper losses. During March, the benchmark index averaged a daily move, in either direction, of more than 4.8%. Stevens bespoke tweet 4:14 pm: Trump to approve 90-day delay for some tariff payments President Trump will allow certain businesses to defer some tariff payments by three months, three sources told CNBC. The 90-day delay could be announced as soon as Tuesday, one source said. It was not immediately clear which payments would be included in the deferral. But the move could offer some relief to companies being squeezed by the coronavirus pandemic. Breuninger, Tausche 4:00 pm: Dow industrials and S&P 500 notch their worst first quarters ever Both the Dow and the S&P 500 clinched their worst first quarter on record by the closing bell on Tuesday with each index down at least 20% since the start of 2020. The steep market sell-off over the last three months comes as COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread threaten to tip the U.S. economy into a recession in the first half of 2020 and push GDP growth into negative territory. A steep decline in oil prices has also left the energy sector bruised, with S&P 500 components down more than 50% since January. Franck 3:25 pm: Sell-off accelerates in final hour of trading, Dow down 400 points Stocks extended losses with roughly half an hour left in the session. The Dow dropped about 420 points, after rising 150 points at its session high. A 5.6% loss in American Express shares dragged the 30-stock benchmark down. The S&P 500 last traded 1.9% lower and the Nasdaq fell 1.5%. Li 3:15 pm: Oil posts worst month and quarter on record U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 1.9% to settle at $20.48 per barrel on Tuesday, ending an otherwise bleak month and quarter on a high note. The contract posted its worst month and quarter on record, falling 54% and 66%, respectively. The coronavirus has led to soft demand for crude, just as OPEC nations including Saudi Arabia prepare to ramp up production, creating an oversupplied market. Tuesday's bounce was in part due to a phone call on Monday between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which they agreed to have top officials from both countries discuss the ongoing slump in oil prices, according to a report from Reuters. Stevens 3:12 pm: Gold turned in its sixth straight positive quarter Gold settled down 1.57% at $1,596.6 per ounce, but the precious metal gained 4.83% in the first quarter, posting its sixth straight positive quarter. Orange Juice Futures closed up 20.5% this quarter, posting its best quarter since Q4 2015 when OJ gained 37.04% Palladium closed up 20.71% this quarter for its best quarter since Q3 2016 when palladium gained 20.78% Francolla 3:05 pm: Final hour of trading: Dow falls, heads for biggest first-quarter decline ever With roughly one hour of trading, the major averages were down broadly as Wall Street concluded a volatile start to 2020. The Dow was down more than 100 points, or 0.6%, bringing its quarterly losses to more than 22%. That would be the 30-stock average's biggest first-quarter drop on record. Imbert 3:03 pm: Fed action spurs companies to tap debt market for cash The Fed's commitment to buy corporate debt has unleashed a record wave of new debt from companies looking to fortify their cash positions as the economy plunges into a sharp recession. So far this week, about $50 billion in investment-grade issuance has come to market, and YUM! Brands was able to price $600 million in high-yield debt, the first junk bond offer since March 4, according to Credit Flow Research. Last week's $109.3 billion in investment-grade issuance was a record. March is also on track to be a record month with about $258 billion in investment-grade offers, topping the $177 billion from May, 2016, according to Credit Flow."It's all because the Fed has a lifeline to corporate America to issue debt," said National Alliance's Andrew Brenner. "These yields are significantly wider than normal. They're paying through the nose for it, but they're raising money in a tough environment because they don't know what the economy is going to look like in the next three months."Visa, General Mills, and Ameriprise Financial were among companies with offerings Tuesday. Carnival, rated on the bottom BBB rung of investment-grade, is looking for $3 billion in a U.S./euro bond deal this week. The deal is expected to price like a junk bond Wednesday. Domm 2:42 pm: Treasury auctioning record amount of bills to pay for virus aid The Treasury is auctioning a record amount of 4-week and 8-week bills Thursday, showing it is being aggressive and front loading debt to pay for fiscal stimulus to fight the coronavirus. The Treasury is offering $80 billion in 4-week bills, $20 billion more than last week and $10 billion higher than a record auction in 2018. The $60 billion in 8-week bills is $10 billion greater than its last largest. The Treasury is also offering $40 billion in 154-day cash management bills on Tuesday."We only knew that there would be large amounts of issuances. It's more a question of the scope and speed," said Jon Hill, senior rates strategist at BMO. He said as the new issuance ramps up, it should start to pressure yields in the bill market which are still negative for some issues.Tom Simons, money market economist at Jefferies, said the increases are also due to the fact the government will not be collecting its usual revenues by April 15 because of the delay in income tax filing to July 15. Domm 2:11 pm: Stocks, bonds not seeing big rebalancing impact as quarter closes As the final hour of trading approaches, some traders are still watching for some big stock buying by pensions looking to rebalance their holdings. As stock prices fell this quarter, equity balances at pensions and other funds slipped. To rebalance, funds would buy stocks and sell bonds. The market's not acting like there's a ton of it," said Michael Schumacher, director rates at Wells Fargo. Some strategists said some of the rebalancing activity could be delayed while markets settle down, and some of the activity may already have occurred. "I do think the moves yesterday smelled like it," said Schumacher. On Monday, stocks rallied, particularly late in the day and bonds sold off. On Tuesday, stocks were mixed and bond prices moved higher. Schumacher had expected about $20 billion would flow into the stock market. "You might see a little residual over the next couple of days," he said. Domm 2:09 pm: Builder stocks pop after Trump urges $2 trillion infrastructure plan Shares of major building companies including metal production companies Freeport-McMoRan and United States Steel rallied in afternoon trading after President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on Congress to rekindle talks over a massive infrastructure bill. Trump urged lawmakers to provide some $2 trillion for funds for the repair of roads, bridges and railroads throughout the country as another way the federal government could act to boost an American economy struggling under the weight of the coronavirus. Eagle Materials rose 6.3%, Commercial Metals rallied 5.5%, United States Steel jumped 9.6% and Freeport-McMoRan popped 8.9% with nearly two hours left in the trading session. Franck 1:58 pm: Billionaire investor Steven Cohen says to remain cautious Point72 Asset Management founder Steven Cohen is reportedly advising his employees to remain cautious as markets recover some of their steep losses from the coronavirus-induced sell-off. "Markets don't come back in a straight line; after an earthquake there are tremors," Cohen wrote to staff on Friday in an internal memo seen by Reuters. "We need to continue to be disciplined. We are seeing plenty of opportunities to generate returns, but I don't want us taking undue risks," he added. The billionaire investor also said, according to Reuters, that his fund's return for the year is basically flat, far outperforming the S&P 500's 19% decline. Stevens 1:53 pm: Stocks pressured by drop in banks, big spike in NY coronavirus cases A decline in bank shares pushed the major averages lower along with a surge in coronavirus cases in New York. Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America all fell more than 1% as Treasury yields dipped. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said coronavirus cases in the state jumped by 14% overnight to more than 75,000. Imbert 1:20 pm: Marc Lasry says Avenue Capital lent a company money at 20% interest Avenue Capital's Marc Lasry said his firm recently lent money at 20% interest, an indication credit markets are still facing challenges. A few weeks ago they would have charged 15%, Lasry said. "We should not be able to charge 20%. That means there's still issues in the market. As that starts coming back down to 10 to 15%, that will let you know that the market is normal," Lasry said on CNBC's "Halftime Report." Stankiewicz 1:00 pm: US gasoline prices are below $2 per gallon on average for first time in four years For the first time in four years, the national average for a gallon of gas in the U.S. is below $2, AAA said in a statement Tuesday. At $1.99, the current average price for a gallon is 18.4%, or 45 cents, lower than a month ago, and down 70 cents, or 25.8%, year-over-year. With more and more people staying home amid the coronavirus outbreak, AAA expects ongoing demand reductions to drive prices even lower. The association sees the national average for a gallon of gas falling to $1.75 or less in April. - Stevens 12:05 pm: Brutal first quarter for Asian and European markets Japan's Nikkei ends Q1 down 20.04% for its worst quarter since Q4 2008 when the Nikkei lost -21.32% and its worst Q1 since 1990 when the Nikkei lost 22.96% Shanghai lost 9.83% for its worst quarter since Q4 2018 when Shanghai lost -11.61% and its worst Q1 since 2016 when Shanghai lost 15.12% S Korea KOSPI lost 20.16% for its worst quarter since Q4 2008 when the KOSPI lost 22.35% and its worst Q1 ever India SENSEX lost 28.57% for its worst quarter and Q1 ever Euro STOXX 600 is down 23.1% for its worst quarter since Q3 2002 when the Euro STOXX 600 lost 23.34% BUT its worst Q1 ever (back through 1987) German DAX closed down 25.01% QTD for its worst quarter since Q3 2011 when the DAX lost 25.41% BUT its worst Q1 ever Italy's FTSE MIB closed down 27.46% for Q1 for its worst QTR ever and worst Q1 ever UK FTSE 100 lost 24.8% in Q1 for its worst quarter since Q4 1987 but is worst Q1 ever Francolla 11:50 am: Markets at midday: Stocks turn around, Dow now up more than 100 points Around midday, the major averages had erased their losses from earlier in the session as investors try to end a dismal quarter on a high note. The Dow is up more than 100 points, or 0.6%. The S&P 500 traded 0.5% higher while the Nasdaq advanced 0.9%. Still, the Dow was headed for its worst first-quarter performance ever. Imbert 11:17 am: Job vacancies contract as coronavirus slowdown intensifies Job opening, which at one point had outnumbered available workers by more than a million, are starting to contract as the coronavirus freezes economic activity. The number of available positions fell by nearly 9% over the past week, according to Glassdoor, with the drop particularly acute in consumer-related services and trade and transportation. Travel and tourism openings fell by 44.6% and arts and entertainment dropped 30% during the period. Two bright spots: Health care openings rose by 1% and salaries were up 3.1% in March from the same period a year ago. Still, half the employers either were freezing or reducing openings, according to Glassdoor's analysis of online job openings. Cox 10:45 am: Goldman sees 15% jobless rate and 34% GDP decline, followed by the fastest recovery in history Goldman Sachs has revised its view for how the coronavirus will impact the U.S. economy, seeing a sharper downturn than originally thought followed by an even bigger upturn. Among its expectations are that the unemployment will peak around 15% later this year, well above original expectations for 9%. Gross domestic product is forecast to fall 9% in the first quarter followed by a stunning 34% plunge in the second quarter that would be by far the worst period in post-World War II history. -- Cox 10:32 am: Analysts are still finding stocks to buy like Wendy's and HP on hopes the market has bottomed Wedbush upgraded Wendy's to outperform from neutral. Wells Fargo upgraded Dollar General to overweight from equal weight. Argus upgraded HP to buy from hold. Barclays upgraded Sanderson Farms to overweight from equal weight. Berenberg upgraded Box to buy from hold. Gordon Haskett upgraded Cheesecake Factory to buy from hold. Atlantic Equities downgraded Honeywell to neutral from overweight. Berenberg downgraded Teladoc Health to hold from buy. Bloom 10:22 am: Stocks turn positive The three major indexes all pushed into the green as White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci expressed some mild confidence that the U.S. efforts to combat the coronavirus were working and consumer confidence topped expectations. Fauci told CNN in an interview that he could see "glimmers" that social distancing was having the desired effect in the country and that he thought the U.S. would be well prepared to deal with a possible second wave of the virus in the fall. Pound 10:01 am: Chicago PMI tops expectations The Chicago PMI came in at 47.8 for March, well above the 40.0 projected by economists, according to Dow Jones. The reading still signaled a contraction in business activity because it was below 50. The Chicago PMI in February was 49. Pound 9:31 am: Dow opens 100 points lower The Dow fell about 100 points at the open as the 30-stock average headed for its worst quarter since 1987 and its worst first quarter ever. Losses in UnitedHealth and JPMorgan shares weighed on the blue-chip benchmark. The S&P 500 is down 0.6%, on track for its worst quarter since 2008 and its worst first quarter since 1938. The Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.5% at the open. Li 9:01 am: 'It's time in the market, not timing the market' Bank of America Vice Chairman Keith Banks warned investors Tuesday against getting clever and trying to time the stock market. "The reality is, it's time in the market, not timing the market" that proves most lucrative over the long term, he said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." Banks, also head of BofA's investment solutions group, said he's advising clients to begin adding risk their portfolio and return to "a more normalized level of equity exposure." Stankiewicz 8:51 am: Goldman's list of stocks for 'income-oriented' investors as dividends come under pressure Goldman Sachs expects the S&P 500 dividend payout to drop 25% this year as the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on corporate profits. Still, the bank managed to identify 40 stocks offering high dividend yields and security of payouts for "income-oriented" investors. "With 10-year US Treasury yields at 0.8%, income-seeking investors should consider stocks with both high dividend yields and the capacity to maintain the distributions," said Cole Hunter, Goldman's U.S. portfolio strategist. Goldman's list of stocks with safe dividends include media company Omnicom, which pays a 5% dividend yield, and IBM, which offers a 6% yield.Li 8:45 am: Fed extends repo program to other central banks The Federal Reserve has opened its short-term lending program with commercial banks to other central banks around the world. In an announcement Tuesday morning, the Fed said it was extending its repo program, which provides cash infusions in exchange for high-quality collateral, to central banks and other international authorities with accounts at the New York Fed. The program is expected to last six months. The cash that participants receive can be spread to institutions within those regions that then can be loaned out to individuals and businesses. "This facility should help support the smooth functioning of the U.S. Treasury market by providing an alternative temporary source of U.S. dollars other than sales of securities in the open market," the Fed said in a release. The coronavirus crisis has generated huge global demand for dollar-denominated assets that the Fed also has facilitated through dollar swaps with other central banks around the world. Cox 8:21 am: Payment volume falls in March for U.S. and cross-border, Visa says Shares of Visa moved slightly lower on Tuesday morning after the company released updated information for its first and second quarters. U.S. payments volume was down 4% for the first four weeks of March, compared with last year, but the volume for the first quarter was still up 9%. Cross-border volume has taken a much bigger hit during the coronavirus crisis, down 19% in March. The payments company said it expects net revenue to grow in the mid-single digits in the second quarter. The stock has held up better than the broader market during 2020, down just 11% for the year. Pound 8:12 am: Domino's Pizza withdraws 2020 guidance Shares of the pizza chain Domino's sunk more than 7% in premarket trading on Tuesday after the company withdrew its 2020 financial guidance. "Due to the current uncertainty surrounding the global economy and the Company's business operations considering COVID-19, the Company is withdrawing its fiscal 2020 guidance measures related to general and administrative expenses, capital expenditures, store food basket pricing and the impact of foreign currency on royalty revenues," the company said. Domino's has kept many U.S. locations open during the pandemic but many international stores remain closed. Fitzgerald 8:04 am: Coronavirus update: Global cases exceed 800,000 The coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, with cases worldwide topping 800,000, according to Johns Hopkins. Global deaths reached more than 38,000. Infections in the U.S. amount to more than 164,000 and deaths in America rose about 3,000. Spain's death toll reached 8,189, up from 7,340 the day before, the country's health ministry said. Iran's death toll from coronavirus has reached 2,898, with 141 deaths in the past 24 hours, the country's health ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur told state TV, Reuters reported. Fitzgerald 7:45 am: Oil jumps after falling to lowest level in nearly two decades Oil prices jumped on Tuesday, one day after dropping to the lowest level since 2002. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 7.8%, or $1.57, to trade at $21.66 per barrel, while international benchmark Brent crude rose 4.22% to $23.72 per barrel. WTI is on track for its worst month ever after falling 55%, as crude continues to get hit on both the demand and supply side. The coronavirus outbreak, which has halted travel and slowed business activity, has weighed on demand, while a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia means the market could soon be flooded with excess oil. The OPEC+ production cuts currently in place expire today, and Saudi Arabia is among the nations that has said it will ramp up production. Amid oil's decline, on Monday U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call in which they agreed to have top officials from both countries discuss slumping prices, according to a report from Reuters. Stevens 7:40 am: Futures are flat as Dow wraps up worst first quarter in its history Company's Highly Responsive Production Capabilities Adds Product SKU's and Names Two New Additions to Its Sales Team VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 31st, 2020 / Weekend Unlimited Industries Inc. ("Weekend" or the "Company") (CSE:POT)(FSE:0OS1)(OTCQB:WKULF) is pleased to provide an update on the growth of its branded product line and sales team in Oklahoma. Having begun sales in late 2019, Weekend branded products are now in over 75 dispensaries in the state and expanding presence daily. Oklahoma was identified as an up and coming market, a focus for the Company's strategic plan - to develop products to meet the demands within individual markets, establish a foothold and operate in an agile manner with the best partners, creating the right branded product mix for each market. Ultimately, the Company is designed to leverage the core branded products to expand into up and coming states and to replicate the responsive model. In Oklahoma Weekend has added two highly experienced cannabis sales representatives to its team to manage and grow the Company's expanding retail relationship network. "Oklahoma is proving to be an ideal growth market for Weekend's branded products," said Mr. Chris Backus, Weekend President and CEO. "Our partnership with Ruby Mae's is becoming stronger by the day, from branded product development through to sales, distribution and retail dispensary presence in Oklahoma represents the ideal model for replication in other up and coming states in the future. We have expanded the WKND! branded product line, now up to 11 SKU's, with the latest additions of a dark chocolate almond bar and caramel chews. Based on the success we are preparing to launch our next brand, Orchard Heights branded products, into the Oklahoma market." Oklahoma Market Advancements Weekend branded product line grows to 11 SKU's, including latest additions of: I. Dark Chocolate Almond Bar; 8 pieces @ 25 mg THC each; 200 mg total II. Escape Caramel Chews; 5 caramels @ 50 mg THC each; 250 mg total Orchard Heights branded product line preparing for launch in Oklahoma Additions of Oklahoma Cannabis Sales representatives Brady Watson and Brianna Carey: Brady Watson - Oklahoma cannabis market production and sales expert has played a leadership role with Ruby Mae's since inception, and is a US Veteran with a statewide retail network which will accelerate Weekend's reach immediately Brianna Carey - a leader in the Oklahoma cannabis industry since the Medical Marijuana program was legalized in 2018, bringing extensive product and marketplace knowledge, only matched by her relationships throughout the state. The management team has tuned into the needs of consumers in the market in the development of the branded product line, where there is demand for high quality products with high levels of THC, in order to grow consumer loyalty and increase revenues. Weekend has developed an efficient model to work with local partners, developing an agile capability to turn good product ideas into real products and get them on the market to meet consumer demand. The Orchard Heights branded product line, featuring vape cartridges and rosin items, is being positioned as a mid-market brand to generate higher volumes. "Orchard Heights will feature solvent free concentrates to market, including Flower Rosin, Kief Rosin, Hash Rosin, & Live Rosin. "We've identified a need in the market for these products and have developed and produced them, utilizing the best equipment available and a completely solvent free process," said Mr. Backus. For further information, please contact: Mr. Chris Backus, President & CEO, Director Telephone: 1(236) 317-2812 E-mail: IR@weekendunlimited.com About Weekend Unlimited Industries Inc. Weekend Unlimited is a lifestyle-based recreational cannabis and CBD wellness company. We are developing and launching premium cannabis and CBD brands to deliver life's highs - any- time, anywhere. Our CBD products are available online and at a retailer near you. Weekend Unlimited is well-positioned to launch and scale the brands that will define cannabis and CBD. Learn more at www.weekendunlimited.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the poli- cies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward- looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking infor- mation reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by state- ments to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward- looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic condi- tions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new in- formation, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. SOURCE: Weekend Unlimited Industries Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583193/Weekend-Unlimited-Expands-Branded-Product-Portfolio-in-Oklahoma-to-Meet-Rising-Demand 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 Regulatory News: Gecina (Paris:GFC): In the context of the health crisis seen in the last few weeks, the Group has taken a number of measures since February 27 to protect the health of its employees, its customers and its partners. Since then, they have been reinforced with various measures, as detailed in the press release from March 23, to help prevent Coronavirus from spreading and offer increased proactive support for the national solidarity effort. In addition to the specific measures put in place for very small businesses and SMEs whose activities have been shut down, the Group is responding to the Government's appeals for economic solidarity and the moderation of dividend policies for major groups Gecina is not at this stage making use of the economic support measures put in place by the French State to help the sectors that have been worst affected by the crisis (deferred tax payments, partial unemployment or requirement for employees to take leave entitlements), with all its administrative staff now working remotely. In this respect, the Gecina Group would like to pay tribute to the continued dedication and outstanding mobilization shown by its employees, while once again highlighting its confidence in their ability to cope with this exceptional situation. The head office staff are continuing to operate by working from home to maintain our relationships with our customers and providers in this difficult context. The continuity of our activities is also being ensured each day by the building staff and superintendents and the student residence managers who are mobilized to support our customers in the residences faced with the lockdown. They are also helping organize solidarity between neighbors in our residences and will be awarded a 1,000 net bonus with their pay for April. Alongside this, the profit sharing and company performance bonuses will be paid under the usual conditions for all staff. In addition, the Gecina Group is working closely with the Diaconesses Croix Saint-Simon hospital group and has contacted the AP-HP hospital association to offer accommodation for their healthcare workers in the student residences that have been vacated following the closure of schools and universities. Similarly, to protect women who are victims of domestic violence in the context of the lockdown, the Group has set up a partnership with the dedicated women's charity Fondation des Femmes. Gecina is fully mobilized and is proposing to moderate its 2019 dividend to 5.30 vs. 5.60 per share, while covering its legal obligations under the SIIC tax system To align itself with the French Government's recommendations concerning the moderation of dividends paid, Gecina's Board of Directors has therefore decided to submit a proposal at the General Meeting to limit its dividend for 2019 to 5.30 per share (versus 5.60), with this amount covering the Company's legal obligations under the SIIC tax system. As a 2.80 interim dividend was paid out previously on March 6, 2020, the balance of 2.50 per share will be paid in cash on July 3, 2020, subject to this provision being approved by the General Meeting. Gecina's liquidity position is robust, as indicated in the press release from March 23, 2020, and this proposal is aligned with the Government's recommendations. It will also further strengthen the Group's capacity to mobilize and support all its stakeholders. While protecting the continuity of the Group's operations and the employment of its staff, the Group intends to fully contribute to the national solidarity effort made necessary by the health situation. Similarly, following an initiative by the directors receiving compensation (previously attendance fees, concerning five directors and the observer), the company's Board of Directors has unanimously decided to not pay this compensation for the Board meetings devoted specifically to the Covid-19 epidemic. Gecina has decided to pay an amount equivalent to this compensation to its company foundation in order to support charities and associations working to help in the fight against Covid-19. Gecina's General Meeting is still going ahead and will be held as a closed session on April 23, 2020, without its shareholders attending in person In the context of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, the restrictions on people's movement and the lockdown measures introduced by the French Government, Gecina's Board of Directors, during its meeting on March 31, held as a videoconference and conference call, decided that the Combined General Meeting on April 23, 2020 will exceptionally be held as a closed session, without its shareholders attending in person. This decision is the result of the terms of the March 26, 2020 decree relating to the holding of general meetings, adopted by the Government as authorized by the Emergency Law of March 23, 2020 to address the Covid-19 epidemic. Under these conditions, shareholders are invited to follow the General Meeting at the agreed time with an audio or video conference on Gecina's website, and to exercise their voting rights by using the online or postal voting arrangements (using a postal voting form or the secure voting platform VOTACCESS) or by appointing the Chairman to represent them (https://www.gecina.fr/en/investors/general-meetings As it will not be possible to ask questions during the General Meeting, the Group recommends that shareholders should submit any questions by post or, preferably, in electronic format given the current context (titres&bourse@gecina.fr). These written questions will be taken into account if they are received before 3pm on April 22, 2020. In this context, the Group is also informing you that it will not be possible to propose "new resolutions" during the General Meeting. Any shareholders who have not received their login details enabling them to vote online are invited to contact Gecina's Securities Exchange Services team, who are available to help them (toll-free number in France: 0800 800 976 or email: actionnaire@gecina.fr). Gecina is inviting its shareholders to regularly consult the dedicated General Meeting section on the company's website (www.gecina.fr), which will be updated with the decisions taken. Gecina suspends its guidance for the current financial year Although it is too early to accurately estimate the operational impacts linked to this crisis, the Group benefits from a certain number of key strengths that enable it to be confident that it will be able to cope with the potential short or medium-term consequences of this crisis. More specifically, Gecina has a robust balance sheet, with a loan to value (LTV) ratio of 34% (including duties) at end-2019, further strengthened by its high volume of undrawn credit lines (4.5bn at end-2019), enabling it to cover all the maturities on its loans through to the end of 2023, and it remains confident about the relative resilience of its residential and commercial portfolio, which is concentrated in the Paris Region's most central sectors, with over 80% of office rental income generated by key account customers. However, faced with the current uncertainty, which does not make it possible at this stage to accurately determine the consequences of this crisis, the Gecina Group is suspending its guidance for 2020. Gecina, at the heart of urban life Gecina owns, manages and develops property holdings worth 20 billion euros at end-2019. As a specialist for centrality and uses, the Group is building its business around Europe's leading office portfolio, with nearly 97% located in the Paris Region, and a diversification division with residential assets in particular. Gecina has put sustainable innovation at the heart of its strategy to create value and anticipate the expectations of around 100,000 customers and end users, thanks to the dedication and expertise of its staff, who are committed to an understated, fluid and inclusive city. To offer its customers high-quality services and support their changing needs, Gecina has launched YouFirst, its relational brand. Gecina is a French real estate investment trust (SIIC) listed on Euronext Paris, and is part of the SBF 120, CAC Next 20, CAC Large 60, Euronext 100, FTSE4Good, DJSI Europe and World, Stoxx Global ESG Leaders and Vigeo indices. In line with its community commitments, Gecina has created a company foundation, which is focused on protecting the environment, supporting all forms of disability, preserving heritage and facilitating access to housing for as many people as possible. www.gecina.fr View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005744/en/ Contacts: GECINA CONTACTS Financial communications Samuel Henry-Diesbach Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 52 22 samuelhenry-diesbach@gecina.fr Virginie Sterling Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 62 48 virginiesterling@gecina.fr Press relations Julien Landfried Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 65 74 julienlandfried@gecina.fr Armelle Miclo Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 51 98 armellemiclo@gecina.fr Senator Dino Melaye, who represented Kogi West senatorial district in the National Assembly, has scolded President Muhammadu Buhari over exercising constitutional powers he does not have to order the lockdown of Lagos and Ogun states. Melaye argued that President Buhari lacks the powers to take over the affairs of state government without consultation with the governor and approval of the State House of Assembly. Dino Melaye declared that President Buharis order of lockdown of Lagos and Ogun states is outside his constitutional powers. Senator Melaye in series of tweets after the presidents broadcast on Sunday night, protested that it is an absurdity for President Buhari to take over the affairs of any state without the express approval of the state House of Assembly. Melaye cautioned that he is not opposed to lockdown of states but maintained that President Buhari acted outside his constitutional powers with the unilateral order to restrict movement of Nigerians without the approval of the National Assembly. Senator Melaye on his official twitter page wrote: you will recall that I had a broadcast one week ago asking for the lockdown of Abuja and Lagos. This buttresses the fact that I support measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic, but it must be done in accordance with the law. Nigeria is practicing constitutional democracy. And it is an absurdity fore the President to take over the affairs of any state without the express approval of the state House of Assembly. In the presidential broadcast the president did not invoke his power of emergency as prescribed by S.305 of the Constitution of Nigeria. And even if invoked, it must be with the approval of the National Assembly. The President acted outside his powers to restrict movement without approval of the National Assembly. I, therefore, advise Mr. President to take appropriate constitutional steps and do the needful quickly. as we need lockdown, this is a very important decision but must be done in line with all democratic norms. God bless Nigeria as I pray for divine intervention from God Almighty. Only Him can rescue us. A legal practitioner, Olu Adegboruwa SAN, had also argued that President Buhari lacks the constitutional powers to order lockdown of states. PV: 0 COVID-19 cases climbed to 2,199 in Ohio on Tuesday, with the state reporting 55 deaths. In Governor Mike DeWine's daily address, it was reported that 29,191 people have been tested in Ohio for coronavirus. Of the confirmed cases, 429 of them were health care workers. Cases range in age from 99 years old to under one year old. Lucas County cases increased to 133. Other cases in northwest Ohio: Wood (15), Hancock (5), Defiance (5), Erie (5), Sandusky (4), Huron (4), Seneca (3), Fulton (2), Ottawa (2), Wyandot (2). DeWine said the state is working independently to access more ventilators and is creating an inventory of ventilators, including not only those in medical facilities, but in storage and in warehouses, as well. Private citizens are exempt from the order. . CPAP and EPAP machines, treatment masks and tubing are included in the inventory requirement. Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced that the state's vendors were adding 180 more people to handle unemployment phone calls, as well as added capacity for online applications. He added that the stated had handled twice as many people in the past two weeks as system had handled in the past two years. When Gov. DeWine was asked if the stay-at-home order will be extended past April 6th, he responded that he had "given every signal" that he will extend it. I have a personality trait that leaves my wife and colleagues shaking their heads. I speak faster than I think. Sometimes, I cant recall what I just said. It happened recently. When it did, Mandy looked at me and asked, Where did you hear that phrase? You say it a lot. Of course, I had no idea what I just said. You said . . . lets work the problem, Mandy. While I didnt recall saying it, I believed my wife. Because I love that phrase. When problems come up in a group setting, I tend to say it. And like most other men that I know, Im quoting a movie Apollo 13. In fact, I love four quotes in that movie, spoken by Gene Kranz, the NASA flight director who served during the Apollo 13 crisis. (As you might imagine, he may not have said each of these quotes exactly. But from what I read about Mr. Kranz, the quotes do embody his character and leadership.) For those not familiar with the movie, or the real-life drama that inspired it, heres a short synopsis. In 1970, NASA launched the Apollo 13 mission, which was to take a crew of astronauts to the moon. On the way to the moon, one of the liquid oxygen tanks exploded, and the other one began leaking. The space craft had two major problems there wasnt enough air, and there wasnt enough electricity to get the men home. As you can imagine, NASAs mission control was up in arms. What happened? Who screwed up? Enter Gene Kranz, with his iconic vest. He took charge, and over the course of the crisis, he uttered four phrases that have stayed with me ever since I saw the movie. Work the problem, people. Kranz knew that every problem has a solution, or at least the damage could be managed. But you have to be methodical and work through the issues. Stop worrying, and start working. Once you understand the problem, you have to answer these questions: What can you do? What is beyond your control? Where can you get help? Weve never lost an American in space, were sure as (heck) not going to lose one on my watch! Failure is not an option. Tenacity and resilience. It could get done, and it would get done. Do not treat failure as a viable option or outcome. I dont care what anything was DESIGNED to do. I care about what it CAN do. As NASAs scientists worked the problem, Kranz made them think outside the box. They broke down systems and used the parts to create new tools and systems that helped saved lives. How many solutions or skill sets are there for the taking in what you already have? When the NASA director said that this could be the worst disaster in the history of NASA, Kranz cut him off. With all due respect sir, I think this is going to be our finest hour. Perhaps thats the gem. As a leader, you arent paid to coast on the good times. I really think you earn your pay when you face a problem. Overcoming a problem is a true victory. Sure, hitting home runs is nice. But I love the relay throw from the fence that cuts a run off at home. How you deal with adversity will greatly impact how you do on this wonderful planet. Because adversity seems to find you no matter where you go. The past few weeks have certainly thrown us some curveballs. Think of Mr. Kranz. Work the problem. Expect to succeed. Use all options. And know that by facing and overcoming adversity, you will experience some of the best stuff life has to offer. Hang in there. Well get through this together. Kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart is having a tough time being in self-isolation amid the coronovirus outbreak, she revealed on Monday. Smart, 32, was abducted from her bedroom and held captive for nine months as a teenager in 2002. But the child safety activist, who now lives with her husband, Matthew Gilmour, and their three young children in Park City, Utah, shared a touching family photo on her Instagram and posted a message of encouragement to her 165,000 followers. 'Practicing social distancing and staying inside at home all day every day is not easy!' she wrote. 'And I think it would be fair to say that each of my family members can attest that Im not exactly a ray of sunshine all the time during this pandemic but it is important to flatten the curve as much as we can and protect those who are vulnerable among us. Elizabeth Smart, 32, on Monday shared on Instagram this photo of her family and wrote in the caption that staying home and practicing social distancing 'is not easy' As of Tuesday evening, there were 181,989 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 5,704 in Florida, and 3,699 deaths nationwide 'I just wanted to say that whatever happens, and however things change it will be ok. Lets try to do our best, getting outside even for just a few minutes can work wonders. (Im not sure if Ill ever get a photo with everyone looking at the camera and smiling).' Smart was 14 years old when she was kidnapped from her Utah home by a street preacher and held in captivity in the woods for nine months Utah has 806 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and four fatalities, including a 24-year-old woman suffering from diabetes. In 2002, Smart was kidnapped at age 14 from her Salt Lake City bedroom at knifepoint by street preacher Brian David Mitchell, who climbed through an open window. She was held captive for nine months in a camp in the woods and repeatedly raped by her captor. Smart was rescued in March 2003 after a couple recognized her with Mitchell's wife, Wanda Barzee, and called the police. Mitchell was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and raping Smart. Barzee was also in prison but was unexpectedly released in September. On March 12, Smart shared her old 'Kidnapped' poster showing her as a teenager to mark the 17th anniversary of her rescue. Smart was rescued in March 2003 after someone recognized her outside and called the police (Elizabeth in pictured with her parents at the White House) Brian David Mitchell (left) was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and raping Smart. His wife Wanda Barzee (right) was also in prison but was unexpectedly released in September 'I couldnt let today pass me by without acknowledging how grateful I am for peoples prayers and sacrifices not only while I was kidnapped but in my healing and recovery!' she wrote. '17 years ago today I experienced one of the greatest miracles a person can, by the quick action of everyday individuals phone calls were made to the police which lead to my captors being apprehended and questioned by police and finally my rescue! Thank you everyone for never giving up on me!!!' The number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Turkey has increased to 10,827, while the number of fatalities has reached 168, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced on Monday. Koca has explained that the governments decision to withhold geographical information about the outbreak is to discourage Turks from fleeing hot spots and spreading the infection. Turkey has quarantined 41 towns, villages and neighborhoods in 18 provinces, he said. Residents are required to shelter in place and, in some areas, entries and exits are barred after residents tested positive. Erdogan said after a Cabinet meeting he conducted by video conference that citizens not obligated to work can keep themselves at home under voluntary quarantine, which would make a return to life as usual that much quicker. Data from Johns Hopkins University shows Turkey has one of the worlds highest infection rates, with cases doubling every two days* *Source: https://91-divoc.com/pages/covid-visualization/?fbclid=IwAR2XgjS6h7f_I7mxa4ttfAWYlNprx7Et0D8VQTOt3Evs21UomP-S8pSTM_g READ: Coronavirus cases in Turkey surpass 10,000 Questions and Answers on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updated on 31March 2020 READ: Questions and Answers on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Coronavirus: Foreign Office links up with airlines to fly stranded Britons home Tens of thousands of Britons stranded abroad by the coronavirus pandemic will be flown home under a new arrangement between the government and airlines. BA, Virgin and Easyjet are among airlines working with the government to fly Britons back to the UK. The government has also pledged 75m to charter special flights to bring home UK nationals from countries where commercial flights are unavailable. Instructions for UK travellers to return home can be found on the governments foreign travel advice website. READ: Coronavirus: Foreign Office links up with airlines to fly stranded Britons home Turkey launches national fundraising campaign against COVID-19 President Recep Tayyip Erdogan adresses the nation after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara, Monday, March 30, 2020. (AA Photo) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday announced a nationwide fundraising campaign to help citizens financially affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Announcing the We are self-sufficient, Turkey campaign, Erdogan said he was donating seven months of his salary as a way to kick start the fundraiser and added that several ministers have already joined as well. Our goal is to help those financially struggling, especially daily wage workers, due to the precautions taken against the outbreak, Erdogan said. READ: Turkey launches national fundraising campaign against COVID-19 Turkish parliament extends ban on visitors due to coronavirus Turkish parliament extended an entry ban on foreign nationals into the country to help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, the speakers office announced on March 31. The ban on visitors has been extended to cover the period between April 1 and April 30, the office said in a statement. Last week, the parliament delayed centennial anniversary events due to the coronavirus pandemic. Political parties represented in parliament have also canceled group meetings. Source: Hurriyet Daily News Global statistics There are now 803,772 confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally, of which 172,435 have recovered. The number of fatalities stands at 39,070. Source: Worldometer. Follow Fethiye Times on social media for regular updates. Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Twitter Todays featured image is of a calm and peaceful Fethiye harbour by Lyn Ward (24 March 2020) FILE PHOTO: Cathay Pacific aircraft are seen parked on the tarmac at the airport, following the outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Hong Kong By Jamie Freed and Rachit Vats SYDNEY/BENGALURU (Reuters) - Major global airlines projected layoffs, furloughs and capacity cuts over the next few months, with Air New Zealand on Tuesday warning it expected staffing levels to be 30% lower than it is now, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Airlines have been rushing to shore up liquidity, reduce capital expenditure and cut costs to stay afloat amid the worst crisis to hit the global aviation industry. Data firm OAG said the aviation industry was less than half the size it was in mid-January due to the rapid capacity cuts implemented by airlines around the world. Around 40% of the world's passenger jet fleet is now in storage, according to data from aviation firm Cirium. Air New Zealand said it will lay off about 3,500 employees, nearly a third of its workforce, in the coming months, as the outbreak forced it to cancel nearly all flights. The virus "has seen us go from having revenue of $5.8 billion to what is shaping up to be less than $500 million annually," Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran told staff in an email. "We expect that even in a year's time we will be at least 30% smaller than we are today." New Zealand's national carrier, which employs 12,500 people, warned the layoffs estimate was a "conservative" assumption and the numbers could rise if the domestic lockdown and border restrictions were extended. Air Canada will cut second-quarter capacity by 85%-90%, place about 15,200 unionized employees off duty and furlough about 1,300 managers, beginning on or about April 3. Canada's largest airline said it is drawing down about C$1 billion ($706 million) in credit to bolster liquidity, while senior executives will forgo between 25%-50% of their salary and board members agreed to a 25% cut. Low-cost U.S. carrier Spirit Airlines Inc is cancelling all flights to and from the New York region after U.S. officials warned against travel to the area because of the pandemic. On Monday, Germany's Lufthansa said 27,000 of its staff would reduce hours, Britain's EasyJet PLC said it would lay off 4,000 UK-based cabin crew for two months, and low-cost carrier flydubai said it would reduce staff pay for three months. Story continues U.S. airlines have been pushing the Treasury to release up to $58 billion in government grants and loans and had threatened to quickly start laying off tens of thousands of workers within days if they did not get a bailout. The $2.2 trillion stimulus and assistance legislation signed into law last week by President Donald Trump gives passenger airlines $25 billion in cash assistance to cover payroll costs and $25 billion in loans, while cargo carriers are eligible for $4 billion in grants and $4 billion in loans. Treasury said airlines should apply for grants by April 3. American Airlines Holdings Inc intends to apply for up to $12 billion government aid, ensuring no involuntary layoffs or pay cuts in the next six months, executives said in a memo to employees. "We certainly hope and expect that by that time, the virus will be contained, Americans will be flying again and we will be back to flying a full schedule," Chief Executive Doug Parker and President Robert Isom said in the memo. In Australia, Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd said it was seeking a possible government loan of A$1.4 billion ($864 million) which could convert to equity under certain circumstances to help it weather the coronavirus crisis. Virgin's shares are tightly controlled by foreign airlines including Singapore Airlines Ltd, Etihad Airways and Chinese conglomerate HNA Group that have also seen a sharp deterioration in revenues. (Reporting by Jamie Freed in Sydney and Rachit Vats in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Lincoln Feast.) Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Snow this morning will give way to lingering snow showers this afternoon. High -9C. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Snow showers will become more widely scattered overnight. Low near -12C. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%. British budget carrier easyJet has grounded its entire fleet of planes in response to the collapse in demand for air travel because of the coronavirus pandemic, said a report. The airline said it could not give a date for when they would restart, said a report in BBC EasyJet said its cabin crew would be furloughed, with staff paid 80 per cent of their wage from April 1 through the government's job retention scheme. The airline's boss, Johan Lundgren, said he was "working tirelessly" to make sure the airline was "well positioned to overcome the challenges of coronavirus". "I am extremely proud of the way in which people across EasyJet have given their absolute best at such a challenging time," he added. Sheikh Ahmed bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Ajman Free Zone (AFZ), has issued a decision to introduce a package of economic incentives for AFZ, China Mall, and its affiliates. The aim is to alleviate the economic effects the world is experiencing today and its implications for business. These incentives include several features such as reducing and eliminating certain fines and fees, as well as adding new facilities. These will also serve the emirates economy and will ensure the continuity of businesses of all sizes. Sheikh Ahmed expressed his keen desire to create a business environment in the Free Zone that can prosper during the current pandemic. He commented: These incentives were launched because of our strong commitment to business continuity, we are keen to spread the spirit of hope and optimism and support the business community. We have full confidence that these incentives will be a driving force in enabling them to achieve their desired goals. The list of incentives is as follows: *Licences renewed are exempt from licensing fees and late renewal fines; *In the case of licence cancellation, the company will receive a 50 per cent discount on accumulated fines; *Cheque services fees waived for 3 months; *An easy instalment payment plan; *Labour accommodation rent fee reduced by 25 per cent; and *For new companies, AFZ will cover the cost of their E-Channel Warranty (Dh5,000). We are delighted to offer these facilities as it is a message of reassurance to companies that they should continue their work as the Free Zone is standing by them. We are confident that, in light of the current situation, these incentives will help all entrepreneurs and investors overcome these difficult times, Fatma Salem, Acting General Manager of AFZ. AFZ has more than 8,000 companies with more than 30,000 investors who will benefit from these economic incentives that will contribute to the continuity of business momentum in the Free Zone, the Chinese market, and other affiliated sectors. AFZ is heavily invested in comprehensive development of the Emirate of Ajman by continuously evolving its services to match the changing demands of the business community. It currently accommodates investors representing 140 plus nationalities and does so by enabling their businesses with a streamlined and hassle-free set-up process at competitive rates, and a wealth of products and supporting services. -- Tradearabia News Service New York Attorney General Letitia James said Monday that she is examining the privacy practices of Zoom as the video conferencing platform spikes in popularity as more businesses operate remotely during the coronavirus pandemic. James said in a Monday letter that Zoom is an essential and valuable communications platform but cautioned that the company has not sufficiently addressed security issues that could enable malicious third parties to, among other things, gain surreptitious access to consumer webcams. Meanwhile, Zooms stock has jumped as orders for the app poured in but were flat in extended trading on Monday after the New York Times report that the New York attorney general is looking at its security practices. The attorney generals office is concerned that Zooms existing security practices might not be sufficient to adapt to the recent and sudden surge in both the volume and sensitivity of data being passed through its network. While Zoom has remediated specific reported security vulnerabilities, we would like to understand whether Zoom has undertaken a broader review of its security practices, James wrote. The FBI warned Monday that incidents of hijacking the video conferencing app or Zoom-bombing have emerged since the coronavirus outbreak began. Conferences have been disrupted by pornographic content, hate images, and threatening language. One instance involved an individual dialing into an online high school class based in Massachusetts and yelling out profanity as well as the teachers home address. In a second instance, an individual invaded a video conference and displayed swastika tattoos. After complaints from users, Zoom on Sunday updated its privacy policy, emphasizing that the company has implemented robust and validated controls to prevent unauthorized access to meetings and their contents. Zoom takes its users privacy, security, and trust extremely seriously, a company spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the company appreciates the attorney generals involvement and is happy to provide her with the requested information. More from National Review Rihanna finally shared her life plans -- and that includes kids! British Vogue recently hailed Rihanna as their May cover star and held an interview with her. During the said discussion, the interviewee asked the 32-year-old "Where Have You Been" hitmaker what her 10-year plan looks like -- including if she sees herself finally having kids with or without a partner. "I know I will want to live differently. I'll have kids - three or four of 'em," RiRi said. "I feel like society makes me want to feel like, 'Oh, you got it wrong...' They diminish you as a mother if there's not a dad in your kids' lives." She continued to share her opinion and stood up for the thing that matters the most -- her happiness. Rihanna went on and said that love is all a parent needs in order to keep the parent-child relationship healthy. Though it somehow sounded new to the public, it was not the first time she opened up about motherhood. Back in June 2019, Rihanna sat with Sarah Paulson of Interview magazine, with whom she revealed that she wants kids "more than anything in life." In addition, she previously told Vogue's Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour in a Q&A video that she felt like her future being a mother is part of "God's plan." She then joked about seeing all the headlines about her being pregnant after the interview. RiRi also occasionally mentions how much she wants to finally give birth in the future. During the red carpet of the Diamond Ball -- her well-known charity event -- she cited about having a black baby since "she is a black woman who came from a black woman who came from a black woman." She sharply pointed out how her future kids will be her core from her DNA. Rihanna noted that she wants her future child to always have her chin up for her beliefs and for the people she loves and respects. No Mr. Right Yet? Rihanna, who is currently busy with her multibillion-dollar businesses (Fenty Beauty, Fenty fashion house, and Savage X Fenty), also shared that she has not found the right person for her yet. To recall, the "Ocean's 8" actress made noise after she put an end to her three-year relationship with Saudi billionaire Hassan Jameel last year because she thought they did not match well. But a few months after they called it quits, it was reported that she allegedly rekindled her relationship with rapper A$AP Rocky, whom she had a romantic relationship with before Hassan. They were even spotted getting cozy during the 2020 Yams Benefit Day Concert right after the pop star broke up with the 31-year-old Hassan. "They're really enjoying each other's company," the insider said. "It's really casual between them and she's not thinking about whether there's a future with Rocky. She's a newly-single girl having fun." Rihanna can only wait for the right man to come into her life soon, but she is now sure that her future is neither with Hassan nor Rocky. Engineering and construction conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Tuesday committed to donate Rs 150 crore to the relief fund announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help fight the coronavirus outbreak in the country. The company said it is committed to participate in corporate India's response to COVID-19 through funds, community welfare plans and leveraging its expertise to offer assistance. "Responding to the call given by Prime Minister of India, the company will donate Rs 150 crore to the PM-CARES Fund," L&T said in a statement. Besides, the company has set aside a fund of over Rs 500 crore per month to support about 1.6 lakh contract workers by continuing to pay their wages during the ongoing lockdown and providing them with food and basic amenities at labour camps, it said. Commenting on the company's preparedness to fight coronavirus pandemic, AM Naik, Group Chairman, Larsen & Toubro, said: "The company has always stood by the nation in its hour of need. We are helping India's fight against COVID-19 by way of immediate funding, and through a range of welfare initiatives including converting our training schools into isolation centers." "We are also leveraging our engineering and construction expertise to help the authorities deal with the crisis," he added. Besides, L&T is also considering transforming all company-owned training centers and other select establishments into isolation wards. It is exploring to supply critical healthcare equipment to hospitals engaged in treating COVID-19 patients, L&T said. The company has also offered use of its community Health & Medical Centers 24X7 and use ambulances to transport patients to nearest hospitals. L&T Smart World & Communication, a business unit of Larsen and Toubro, has installed smart technologies in over 20 major cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Prayagraj, Ahmedabad, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and others. These technologies will help various state governments and local authorities to fight COVID-19 pandemic effectively, the company said. By Chitranjan Kumar Also Read: Coronavirus destructs most, but some firms are flipping the script Also Read: Coronavirus crisis: Maharashtra, Telangana CMs, ministers, govt employees to take upto 75% salary cut 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. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 Johnson & Johnson has said it had selected a lead candidate vaccine for the new coronavirus that would move to human trials by September and could be ready for emergency use by early next year. The pharmaceutical company has signed an agreement with the US government's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to invest USD 1 billion in the effort, it said in a statement on Monday. J&J began working on the vaccine under investigation - Ad26 SARS-CoV-2 - in January using the same technology it used to develop a candidate vaccine for Ebola. Paul Stoffels, the company's chief scientific officer, told AFP his team had combined a common cold virus incapable of replicating with parts of the coronavirus, and hoped it would trigger a human immune response. "We had several vaccine candidates which we tested in animals in order to choose the best one, that took 12 weeks, from January 15 to today," he said. They also had to evaluate which candidate vaccine could be upscaled, "to make sure on the one hand it works, and on the other hand, we can make a lot of it," he added. Though there has never before been a successful human vaccine for any virus belonging to the coronavirus family, Stoffels said he was confident of achieving this milestone because J&J was working with the same team that had developed a candidate vaccine for SARS, which killed almost 800 people between 2002-2003. The team's work was discontinued once the SARS outbreak was brought under control and interest was lost in bringing the vaccine to market. "The question is, can you protect for infection or can you protect for severe disease? In many diseases, like in influenza, when you vaccinate on an annual basis, you protect for severe disease, you don't always protect for infection," said Stoffels. J&J would also need to determine that the vaccine doesn't backfire and give people a higher chance of getting the disease. The company said it was expanding its global manufacturing capacity both in the US and in other countries, to help it supply more than a billion doses of its vaccine around the world. J&J is also working on antiviral treatments against the coronavirus. Separately, the US pharmaceutical Moderna has already moved into human trials for its vaccine candidate, as has China's CanSinoBIO. There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the disease. Several treatments are being investigated, including the antiviral remdesivir and antimalarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, but it is not yet clear whether they add anything to standard care. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. The Association called such violence as unacceptable and highlighted the need for stringent laws to punish the perpetrators Dr. S Gurushankar, President of Tamil Nadu Chapter of the Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI), has condemned renewed violence against doctors across the country, in light of the assault on a gynecologist by a patients relatives at a Kolkata hospital recently. The Association called such violence as unacceptable and highlighted the need for stringent laws to punish the perpetrators. It also said that if doctors continue to be assaulted at work, taking healthcare to every part of the country will not be possible and the entire health infrastructure may be at risk of failure. Dr. S Gurushankar said, Incidents of family members of patients abusing and assaulting doctors and vandalizing hospital property have become common across India. This is not only demeaning for doctors, it also puts them at a risk of serious injury. There is an urgent need to provide adequate protection to doctors at work to ensure their safety and enact stringent laws to jail the perpetrators. The police need to take prompt action and not treat safety of doctors as a trivial issue. Laws to protect doctors from patient rage exist in many states but suffer from poor implementation. No one has been convicted till now in India for assaulting a doctor. Things will continue to slide until some vandals are given stiff punishments to set an example to others and send a strong message that safety of doctors is sacrosanct, he added. In September 2019, Supreme Court had directed the Central Government to respond to a petition filed by AHPI (TN Chapter) to make violence against doctors and other medical personnel a separate penal offence. The petition sought immediate action against those indulging in violence against medical professionals and causing damage to clinical establishments. 03/31/2020 Photo (c) alle12 - Getty Images JBS USA -- ranked as the #2 processors of beef and pork in the U.S. -- made headlines on Tuesday when it announced that it will curtail beef production for two weeks at its Souderton, Pennsylvania plant after some of the facilitys managers showed visible flu-like symptoms. According to Foodmarket, JBS did not divulge whether its employees are being tested for COVID-19. However, the managers were sent home to monitor their health purely as a precautionary measure. The company did not say exactly how production would be reduced, but that the facility will continue to run "fabrication and ground beef operations" and should return to normal on April 14. Protecting yourself against contamination during COVID-19 As of press time, JBS had not responded to a request for comment or had published anything related to the plant slowdown. But to the companys credit, it had earlier produced tips for preparing beef at home during the pandemic. That gave ConsumerAffairs an idea to venture out and find out more suggestions on how consumers can protect themselves when preparing food at home in times like these. We made a connection with Purdue Universitys Food Science department which, in turn, gave us a boatload of best practices that consumers should utilize to protect themselves from virus-related food contamination. The researchers note that COVID-19 is not a foodborne virus, but they want to stress that it's "always important for consumers to practice safe food handling to protect themselves from foodborne pathogens." Here are some of the things that Yaohua Betty Feng, assistant professor of food science at Purdue University, and her lab have compiled from nationwide food safety experts and are making available to consumers on a central reference website. Grocery shopping Food safety Fengs team has also produced an excellent FAQs section that covers just about every extra precaution a consumer should take during the COVID-19 outbreak. The best ways to thaw food, the correct temperature at which to cook food, and more are answered here. Just over a month ago, CBS stunned fans when it announced that it was canceling Hawaii Five-0 after 10 seasons. The news that the island-set cop drama was ending was a shock to viewers, especially when they learned that there were only a handful of new episodes left to air. Now, the end of Five-0 is almost here. The series finale will air Friday, April 3. The last-ever episode of Hawaii Five-0 airs April 3 Scott Caan as Danny Danno Williams and Alex OLoughlin as Steve McGarrett in Hawaii Five-0. | Karen Neal/CBS via Getty Images Originally, the Hawaii Five-0 series finale was supposed to be a two-hour special event airing on April 3. But scheduling changes due to the coronavirus meant that the network decided to air the shows final two episodes over two nights instead. The first part of the finale aired March 27. It featured the introduction of a new character, Lincoln Cole (Lance Gross), a marine who went AWOL and who has been hiding out in Hawaii, working at a diner. After he rescues a woman from a gang of bank robbers, he crosses paths with Danny (Scott Caan) and Steve (Alex OLoughlin). When the woman and her child are kidnapped by the robbers, Cole emerges as a bargaining chip. Later, Steve confesses to Danny is not sure about his future on the force. Hes also received a mysterious letter from his dead mother containing a cipher she wanted him to decode. As he and Danny talk, a thief breaks into Steves house and steals the envelope that contained the letter, but not the letter itself. Danny is jeopardy and Steve solves his big case in the Hawaii Five-0 series finale Scott Caan and Alex OLoughlin in the last episode of Hawaii Five-0 | Karen Neal/CBS via Getty Images Fridays episode of Hawaii Five-0 titled Aloha continues last weeks storyline and wraps up the series for good. Danny is abducted and badly wounded by Wo Fats wife, who is after the cipher that Steves mother left him. Meanwhile, Steve finally solves the case his father left for him 10 years ago. (His father John was murdered on the orders of Wo Fat in the shows pilot episode, leading to the creation of the Five-0 task force.) James Marsters (Victor Hesse), William Sadler (John McGarrett) and Mark Dacascos (Wo Fat) all guest star in the episode, which airs on April 3 at 9/8c on CBS. Why was Hawaii Five-0 canceled? CBS didnt say why it had decided to cancel Hawaii Five-0 after a decade on the air. But it sounds like both Caan and OLoughlin whose contracts were reportedly up at the end of this season were ready to leave. Deadline reported that OLoughlin, in particular, felt he could no longer continue with the show after dealing for years with the effects of a back injury he suffered while filming. Still, the actor had nothing but good things to say about his time on the show and its fans. This show has been pretty much every waking moment for the last 10 years of my life, OLoughlin said in a statement when the cancellation was announced. Everywhere I go on this planet, in every language, I am McGarrett to all these people. What weve done, what weve accomplished, its extraordinary. I cant really put words to express my level of gratitude. Im just glad to have been a part of this, a part of history, and Im going to miss it. And to the fans, I dont know how to thank you guys. Thank you for following us the way you have. Im going to miss you. Aloha. Read more: Hawaii Five-0 Star Daniel Dae Kim Tests Positive for the Coronavirus Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Countries under lockdown should do what Singapore has done to blunt the spread of the coronavirus, according to an infectious disease expert working with the World Health Organization. While the Southeast Asian nation continues to report new cases of infections daily and has seen recent spikes, it has managed to steer clear of the kind of catastrophic outbreaks that have occurred in other countries. As of March 31, Singapore recorded a total of 879 cases of COVID-19 and three deaths, its health ministry reported. "All the things that Singapore has in place, any country under lockdown will need to do these, or implement these during lockdown, so that they can be safe afterwards," said Dale Fisher, chair of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network. He outlined some of these measures, including isolating and quarantining cases, contact tracing identifying and isolating those in close contact with infected patients, and practicing social distancing. People walk past a poster reminding people to keep a safe distance from each other at the National Gallery of Singapore on March 30, 2020 in Singapore. Ore Huiying | Getty Images Singapore made use of the lead time when China first reported cases of COVID-19 in the city of Wuhan, and was able to rapidly identify and isolate cases, according to Fisher, who is also a senior consultant at an infectious disease division at the National University Hospital in Singapore. "So January and February was really the time to ramp up, and that's when Singapore was particularly active in getting itself ready ... any country really had January and February to get themselves prepared," Fisher told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" on Monday. "And countries that didn't take advantage of that lead time are now the ones that have got a problem." Lockdown playbook While Singapore has implemented more restrictive measures in recent days, it has not gone into a total lockdown. Schools and businesses remain open, while businesses have moved to encourage working from home, in addition to other precautionary measures like regular temperature checks at work and enacting business continuity plans. So (a) lockdown is really any country's second chance it's not an intervention in itself. It's just buying time... Dale Fisher chair of WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network Countries that have gone into some form of lockdown so far include India, France, Italy, Spain, some states in the U.S. and China though the mainland is set to lift some of its lockdown measures soon. "I think there is a playbook and it's being played in Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China China is still (coming out of a lockdown) and even China's taking more than two months to really get ramped up again so other countries that are locking down will need to look at several months to get the systems in place so they can then unlock slowly," Fisher added. Social distancing markers are seen at a cafe outlet as authorities implement a social distancing measures to combat the coronavirus on March 28, 2020 in Singapore. Suhaimi Abdullah | Getty Images However, he also emphasized that lockdowns were not the cure-all. "So (a) lockdown is really any country's second chance it's not an intervention in itself. It's just buying time to set up all those measures of your testing and how you're going to isolate the cases and how you're going to enforce quarantine in close contact," he said. 'Long battle ahead' Singapore has also garnered praise from the World Health Organization which said it was "very impressed" with the country's efforts at contact tracing and its measures to limit transmission. The tiny Southeast Asian country's approach to case detection was also considered to be a "gold standard of near-perfect detection," four epidemiologists at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said in February. However, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was careful not to claim success too quickly. In an interview with cable network CNN, Lee said: "I hesitate to talk about success because we are right in the midst of a battle, which is intensifying." He said the country has "tried very hard" to explain to its people what needs to be done and how they can cooperate "such as keeping safe distances from one to another, such as watching their own personal hygiene, such as staying home if they are sick and not going to work, and not socializing." Still, he said there was more work to be done: "With great effort, I think it has helped to keep the number of cases down, but I am under no illusions that we have won. We are just going in, and there is a long battle ahead." Most recently, Singapore implemented more restrictions and those who fail to follow social distancing measures such as maintaining a 1-meter distance with others in public areas would now face fine or jail, or both. The penalties will also apply to those flouting stay-at-home notices. Hold out for a vaccine According to Fisher, the virus will likely remain with us for some time. "I don't think anything's going to be quick vaccine won't be quick, the treatment won't be quick, but they do represent the endgame because still, only a tiny percentage of the world is actually being infected if you consider ... there's over 7.5 billion people in the world," said Fisher. People seated in a food center in Marina Bay Sands shopping mall according to safe distancing markers on March 30, 2020 in Singapore. Ore Huiying | Getty Images Somali government has banned international flights over COVID-19 fears, affecting imports of the stimulant from Kenya. Mogadishu/Nairobi Halima Ali Mohamud, a widow, depends on a red-stemmed, chewable green shrub to support herself and five children. Selling khat is the only job I have known since I was young, the 39-year-old told Al Jazeera. I have no other profession. It is a profitable business. With khat, I can feed my family and pay my rent as well as school fees. Also called miraa, khat is a wildly popular herbal stimulant in Somalia that is said to increase energy, deepen focus and suppress appetite. The leaf starts to lose its properties the second it is plucked from the branch, and so must be sold quickly, or else its value dissipates. In Africa, it is grown in central Kenya and in Ethiopia, with both countries exporting the leaves to Somalia. Halima, who plies her trade in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on the well-trodden Maka al-Mukarama street, used to receive a daily consignment of two bags from Kenya. But things changed some two weeks ago when the Somali government announced a ban on international flights other than humanitarian ones as part of efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. The stimulant leaves are considered drugs and banned in most countries [Reuters] Both the small-scale businesses and the farms that are the backbone of the khat trade have since been severely impacted. Meanwhile, some officials have said that because khat is picked and moved by hand, it could be a vector for coronavirus. We want to also inform all the authorities at the entry points of the khat in our country and those who export khat that they have to realise that it is not time for khat chewing, Mohamed Abdullahi Omar, the Somali federal minister of air transport and civil aviation, said at an event on March 24, during which authorities burned 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of khat, even though sales of the plant have not officially been banned. This is a time we need to be alert against the spread of coronavirus. But Dr Abdirizak Yusuf Ahmed, spokesman for Somalias COVID-19 taskforce, told Al Jazeera there is no scientific evidence that links khat consumption to coronavirus. Amid the conflicting statements, the idea of khat as carrier of the virus gained ground among some in Mogadishu. I decided to stop chewing khat from the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, Feysal Mohamud Nur, a 35-year-old father of six, said. I cannot take risks of catching the virus through khat. Cancelled all over With breathtaking speed, COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, has upended routines, politics and economies worldwide, while reigniting long-standing debates and highlighting societal inequalities. As of Tuesday, the coronavirus has infected more than 787,000 people and killed almost 38,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. In Africa, 5,255 infections and 172 deaths have been confirmed across 47 of the continents 54 countries. In a bid to slow the spread of the pathogen, an increasing number of countries have closed their borders and imposed sweeping lockdowns and bans, restricting peoples movement and ordering the closure of shops and businesses. In Kenya, the drastic measures have seen authorities shutting down markets nationwide, impacting the movement of goods, including khat. Complicating things further, some counties such as Mandera in the north have temporarily banned khat sales, with local officials saying it spreads disease. This has sparked protests as traders say their work has been unfairly targeted. The latest attempts to ban khat as a potential vector for COVID-19 infection neglect the fact that the same problem applies to the issues of handling and hygiene for other fresh produce and food markets, said Paul Goldsmith, a researcher and anthropologist who has studied khat in Kenya for more than 30 years. In Kenya, the khat heartland is Meru county, a stronghold for the countrys governing party. When the trade slows there, it becomes a thorn in the side of the government, which relies on the locals support. But the pain is felt the most by farmers such as Joseph Muturia, an 84-year-old with a 4.5-hectare (11-acre) khat plot in Meru. Muturia said the flight ban and the closure of the markets have impacted him very badly, forcing him to let go 30 of his employees. One-hundred percent of the people here depend on khat, and now khat is not going anywhere because it was cancelled all over, he told Al Jazeera. While there have been no protests in the area amid the coronavirus containment measures, Muturia said he believed the situation could become tense if the lockdown remained in place for long and people were unable to earn a living to put food on the table. We have a lot of problems, he said. Kenyan khat still reaches Mogadishu but has to be illegally brought in by skiffs from the coastal town of Kismayu [Reuters] Back in Mogadishu, sellers and witnesses at the main khat market, Beerta Khaadka, say Ethiopian khat is still making its way to the south and central parts of Somalia through the east, via Beledweyne, which borders Ethiopia, and from the semi-autonomous regions of Somaliland and Puntland in the north. Some, meanwhile, believe that the shutdown on Kenyan khat is motivated more by politics than public health. Somalia has realised the power it has over Kenyan khat, Abdullahi Abdille Shahow, an independent political analyst specialising in the Horn of Africa said. It is a soft underbelly they can hit, and Kenya feels. The neighbouring countries have had a maritime border dispute for several years. More recently, Somalia has accused Kenya of interfering in its internal affairs, a charge denied by the latter. We have not had any problem related to khat, but it seems our government is playing a political game with Kenya over khat. Why is the government not stopping khat from Ethiopia as well? Halima Sadia Abdulle, a khat trader in Mogadishu, asked. The Ethiopian khat came today from Hargeisa, Garowe and Galkayo and the Somali government can not stop that, but it is trying to stop the khat from Kenya only. That is not fair, added the 37-year-old mother of five. I have been [in the] khat business for a decade. I earn money for my family from the khat business. I pay my bills, including school fees, with the cash I earn from the khat business. Meanwhile, khat from Kenya still flows into the black market in Mogadishu, arriving by boat in the coastal town of Kismayu and then transported via skiffs to the capital. Chewers told Al Jazeera that when they are able to find khat, it is 10 times the normal price, from about $9 or $10 a kilogramme to $100. Destroying families, draining economy Khat is listed as a Schedule I substance in the United States, meaning it has high potential for abuse and no medicinal properties. In 2014, the plant became a banned Class C drug in the United Kingdom. Abukar Qaadiid Awale, a London-based Somali anti-khat campaigner, said khat suppresses productivity and estimated that the Somali economy loses millions per year because of this. Acknowledging that the coronavirus pandemic has led to limited sales, Abuka described the disruption in the market as a silver lining. Khat should be banned in Somalia in line with the rest of the international community, he told Al Jazeera. Its holding Somalia back. Its destroying families. Its draining the economy, he added. That is a standard anti-khat argument, according to Paul Goldsmith, the researcher, but he suggested that community education would be more effective than a blanket ban, saying: Social controls are more adaptive than forcing it underground. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Kenya did not respond to a request for comment. The governor of Mandera, a county that banned khat, also did not respond to requests. In Somalia, emails to the office of the president went unanswered. Amanda Sperber reported from Nairobi and Abdalle Ahmed Munin from Mogadishu Can the economy really come roaring back from the coronavirus recession as soon as this summer, as President Donald Trump has promised? Some economists say the answer is yes. An economy that was in good shape before the steep and sudden free-fall triggered by the outbreak just as quickly can be jolted back to life, reclaiming nearly all its former luster. In fact, thats largely what the massive $2.2 trillion stimulus package signed into law by Trump Friday is intended to do: Hold the nations $21 trillion economy together with a kind of duct tape for a few months by providing spending money to laid-off workers and teetering businesses. But many economists say the comeback is likely to be far more halting. Growth could pick up strongly this summer but still fall well short of its former pace, with the recession's aftereffects lingering well into next year as consumers remain skittish about venturing out to restaurants and other gathering spots. Some of the damage could even be lasting, leaving a smaller economy than would have been the case without the pandemic. Its not an on-off switch, says Jonathan Millar, deputy chief US economist at Barclays. I dont think theres any chance we get back to where we were anytime in the near future, says Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moodys Analytics. Of course, the strength of the recovery hinges on the course the virus takes. It has shut down 30% to 40% of Americas economy, with nonessential businesses such as restaurants, stores and movie theaters shuttered by law or by choice and the travel and hotel industry at a near standstill. In the week ending March 21, a record 3.3 million Americans filed initial unemployment insurance claims, reflecting a staggering number of layoffs. Some economists are forecasting a similarly dire total for last week. Under a likely scenario, top health officials believe, the outbreak could peak in May or June, allowing businesses across the country to gradually reopen by summer. Story continues But a later peak or a virus that returns in the fall could worsen the economic damage. It could be a swift rebound In the best-case scenario, Senior Economist Jacob Oubina of RBC Capital Market says theres no reason an economy placed in a coma for a couple of months to contain the spread of the virus cant be walking around and looking like its old self once the threat has eased. The bounce-back can be very strong, he says. Until then, he believes, the stimulus can hold the economy in a sort of suspended animation. Owners of businesses with fewer than 500 employees who apply are virtually assured of receiving loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration to pay wages and operating costs. The loan amount covering eight weeks of such expenses will be forgiven as long as the business holds on to its employees or hires back any who have been laid off, even if normal operations are temporarily shut down. Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, is devoid of its usual heavy traffic in this photo taken around 11:30 a.m. on March 17, 2020, amid the coronavirus outbreak. A hopeful message is on the marquee at the Paramount Theatre. The idea: Maintain company ties with employees and avoid an enormously disruptive game of musical chairs in which workers are seeking jobs and businesses are hunting for new staffers just as the economy bubbles back to life. I dont have to be scrambling for people, Oubina says. Meanwhile, workers who lose their jobs, including contractors, are eligible for 39 weeks of state unemployment benefits that will be supplemented by $600 weekly from the federal government for four months. That means many restaurant, retail and hotel workers will be earning $1,000 a week, more than their regular paychecks in many cases, Oubina says. That, he says should allow them to make rent, utilities and other payments during the crisis and spend robustly after its over. Oh, and to further juice spending, most Americans, even those still working, will receive a one-time $1,200 check from the government. And keep this in mind the economy was on solid footing before the outbreak, Oubina says. During the financial crisis and Great Recession of 2007-09, millions of Americans had lost their homes and many were burdened by historically high debt. Banks pushed to near bankruptcy by their risky real estate loans were hesitant to lend despite government aid. We have none of that right now, Oubina says. Oubina predicts the economy will contract by an annual rate of 10% in the second quarter but then surge by 12% in the third quarter and advance a still-healthy 3% the final three months of the year and in 2021. A slower climb may be more likely Other economists say the rebound wont be nearly as neat and simple. Many Americans will likely be leery of flying and going to restaurants, movie theaters and hotels even if government and health officials give a qualified all-clear signal by summer. Thirty percent of Americans surveyed say it will take at least four months after the virus spread flattens for them to go out to dinner again, while 44% say it will take that long for them to go to the movies, according to a Harris Poll survey conducted over the weekend and set to be released Tuesday. Im not jumping back into the fray that quickly, says Dagny McDonald, 53, a TV news producer who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. Maybe we should be a little more carefulIm definitely on pause. McDonald says shell feel more comfortable resuming normal activities after a vaccine is ready, perhaps by mid-2021. Earnings take a hit: Profits of airline, travel and oil companies will be hardest hit by COVID-19 In China, which is about six weeks ahead of the U.S. in the coronavirus timeline, factories, electricity demand and other parts of the economy are returning to normal but consumer spending, especially for big-ticket items, is still constrained. The stock market's huge sell-off, which has clobbered workers' 401(k) plans and wealth, is also likely to make Americans warier of spending, Zandi says. The travel and leisure industry, which Moodys says makes up about 10% of gross domestic product, could take even longer than other sectors to recover. Fifty-seven percent of respondents in the Harris survey say it will take four months or longer for them to take a plane flight; 54% say it will take that long for them to stay at a hotel. People are going to be very reluctant to step on a plane, Millar says. Will loans arrive fast enough? And while small businesses are can draw from the $350 billion in SBA loans, its not clear how quickly the government can integrate complex systems with the nations banks and release the money, says Ami Kassar, CEO of MultiFunding, a small business loan adviser. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the loans will be available starting Friday. But Kassar thinks it will take at least a month to have a glitch-free system in place. Meanwhile, he says, most small businesses have a few weeks to a few months of cash on hand, depending on the size of the enterprise. OC Facial Care Center of Orange County, California, had to temporarily close down by state order and has laid off all six employees, says co-owner Daniel Robbins. Hell dip into his personal savings to pay about $8,000 in rent and loan payments due April 1. Yet, In order to survive, we essentially have to have the SBA loan before May 1, Robbins says. Zandi reckons hundreds of thousands of the nations 30 million small businesses will shut down because they dont know how to apply for a loan or wont get it in time. Twenty-three percent of small business owners say they'll need more money than the government will provide and another 34% say it won't come in time, according to a survey by Alignable, a small business referall network. Baby boomers shut it down Also, about 41% of small firms are owned by baby boomers who are close to retirement, according to Guidant Financial. Many will simply close sooner than they planned rather than go through the hassle of seeking a loan, says Jessica Fialkovich, president of a western branch of Transworld Business Advisors, a broker for small business mergers. Anthony Whitham, 65, is learning toward shuttering Festive Cup Coffee, the Denver coffee and gift shop he co-owns with his wife, as early as Tuesday when their lease is up. Theres too much uncertainty, he says, noting the couple is financially set for retirement and their roughly 45-seat shop has been losing customers to Starbucks, which has kept its drive-thru open during the outbreak. Id have to get that business back from them. Larger companies are also at risk despite the stimulus measures $500 billion bailout to airlines and other industries. The share of large firms with negative cash flow more money going out than coming in is likely to increase by 23% after the coronavirus crisis, Goldman Sachs estimates. Although financially healthy corporations can take advantage of the additional credit recently announced by the Federal Reserve, its not clear if companies on shakier financial ground can do so as well, Goldman says. At the end of this year, Zandi estimates the economy will still be 1.8% smaller than it was at the end of 2019 and wont return to its GDP high-water mark until the second quarter of next year. Millar figures the economy will be 3.6% below its peak in 2021. Remote work catches on, hurting construction Some of the aftereffects could lead to lasting changes that further crimp the economy over the longer term. Many companies could continue the work-at-home set-ups theyve adopted during the outbreak, hammering office building construction, says Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist of consulting firm RSM. Coronavirus walkouts: Work strikes at Amazon, Instacart and Whole Foods show essential workers' safety concerns Some firms are also likely to replace corporate meetings and events with video apps such as Teams and Zoom, as they did during the outbreak, Zandi says. John Bibbo, president of Event Source and Panache Events which provide furniture, linens and other accessories for weddings, graduations, corporate events and other gatherings had to lay off all but 12 of his 160 or so employees at six offices around the country. Hes counting on an SBA loan to keep him afloat beyond the two months in cash remaining in company coffers. John Bibbo, president of Event Source and Panache Events But he worries about the possibility of a new reality of fewer business events. Its just going to be different, he says. Its a big setback. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: How quickly can the economy bounce back from the crisis? Egyptian to the marrow: Mohamed Khan Letters to Said Shimi, 3rd Volume, Cairo: Al-Karma, 2020, pp.332 Egyptian to the marrow is the third volume of Said Shimis trilogy Mohamed Khan: Letters to Said Shimi, in which the cinematographer recounts the life of his late friend filmmaker Mohamed Khan (1942-2016), based around the letters Khan wrote him while he was in London (1959-1977). Shimis letters to Khan, as the author explains in the first volume, were lost on the way back to Cairo. Shimis way of keeping Khan alive following the directors passing was to review and eventually publish his letters. The third volume, concerning 1973-1977, appeared with Al Karma this year to coincide with its best publishing house award at the Cairo International Book Fair. The second volume had won the fairs best book award in 2019. In his introduction film critic Kamal Ramzy writes, For Khan, an expatriate at the time of writing those letters, Said Shimi represents a fundamental aspect of the home country, but also a hopeful prophecy of the future... For his part Shimi comments on the differences between them at the time: At that time I was involved in the film industry, while he was still struggling there in the city of fog with a heart full of anger and bitterness trying to find the way out. This explains his angry tone in some of the letters. The love of cinema that bound them would ultimately triumph. This book is divided into six parts, the first five of which correspond the years in which the letters were written: 1973-1976. They are entitled, respective, I write to you in order to breathe (28 letters), Finally marrying: us coming back to Egypt an adventure or a gamble (22 letters), Hope is born: Hassan, Khan Juniors birth (26 letters), A turbulent year (24 letters), and Difficulties, decisions and return (four letters). The sixth chapter, Life cycle after autumn 1997, recalls the friends reunion after Khans return, Khans early career and their collaboration with Shimi working as DOP on Khans films. All are accompanied by archival photos. The book is full of memorable moment. The death of Khans father in 1973, for example, was a catastrophe and a turning point: He became aware of the importance of working harder to keep the family prosperous and pay his late fathers debts. Casting aside his filmmaking dreams, he worked as a taxi driver. Shimi visited him twice, staying with him. What I discovered was that his mind and soul were full of cinema, it was the only topic of conversation. He did not stop thinking about how to return to Egypt and make his first feature film. The year of the October victory, 1973 gave Khan hope. In 1974 he was still struggling to find a way back, frustrated that his ideas never see the light. Shimi suggested making a documentary about young Egyptians in London, but Khan was not too keen. He quickly became preoccupied with his marriage to an Egyptian woman, the jeweller Zeinab Khalifa, who made him more eager than ever to return, and the birth of Hassan. Shimi was worried that Khan might not be able to realise his dreams on his return, and he warned him, but Khan proved stubborn: The issue of my return to Egypt is very realistic without any doubt. It is only a matter of time and a little organisation. Cinema is in my blood like the Italian wine that you love so much, the older the better. Me too, I became more cinematically mature and I am pretty sure of what I can do, and how I can contribute. By 1975 Khan had a detailed return plan. Feeling that he was growing older and had no more time to waste, Khan outlined the kind of cinema he wanted to make: Arab filmmakers learned to fight capitalist society with capital. They want to make films to show the West that in the East we too have intellectuals who see the world the way Westerners see it. Their films are not really about humanity. They are not about workers, peasants, employees, soldiers, judges, even thieves. I am not talking about documentary films, but drama, melodrama, and comedy feature films about society, our society. Films that are entertaining, exciting, and tackle important issues at the same time. In the letters following his visit Khan speaks of a film project he would later realise in 1983 in The Street Player, starring Adel Imam, which Shimi filmed just as planned. Next year Khan made a short exploratory visit with his small family. Both friends had financial difficulties, but Khan was full of hope and faith in his role in the Egyptian film industry. It was a very strange hope that motivated him, Shimi writes. A hope that no one else but he could see or feel. I believed in him although I had a lot fears at the same time. The final decision to ignore all his friends warnings was made in 1977. My return to my beloved career is essential, Khan writes. And you dont see how important it is. You act like someone who is eating mutton in front of a hungry man. Instead of inviting him to the meal he starts to theoretically talk to him about his philosophy of the value of a loaf of bread. Khan came back with the idea of his first feature, Shams (Sun), later called Darbet Shams (or Sunstroke), starring Nour El Sherif (1946-2015) who was so enthusiastic he produced the film. The rest would be film history. The two friends often collaborated but even when they didnt their close friendship remained till the last day of Khans life. I tried in the trilogy to introduce Mohamed Khan as I knew him. He was an Egyptian to the marrow who challenged every kind of obstacle and frustration to achieve his dream. His realistic style in filmmaking became a landmark in Egyptian cinema that was followed by others. He put all that he earned from cinema in cinema as he financially produced many of his films, those that were inspired by the stories of the people. That is why he lived with the peoples love and made films to his last breath. Whenever we were together in his car while he drove, if I made any comment warning him about a bump in the road, he would respond, in English, I am the captain of the ship. And he was. He was the captain of the ship of Egyptian cinema. Reviewed by Nahed Nasr Search Keywords: Short link: 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. One thing we could say about the analysts on Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PDM) - they aren't optimistic, having just made a major negative revision to their near-term (statutory) forecasts for the organization. There was a fairly draconian cut to their revenue estimates, perhaps an implicit admission that previous forecasts were much too optimistic. Bidders are definitely seeing a different story, with the stock price of US$17.67 reflecting a 14% rise in the past week. Whether the downgrade will have a negative impact on demand for shares is yet to be seen. Following the latest downgrade, the two analysts covering Piedmont Office Realty Trust provided consensus estimates of US$481m revenue in 2020, which would reflect a not inconsiderable 9.8% decline on its sales over the past 12 months. Prior to the latest estimates, the analysts were forecasting revenues of US$553m in 2020. The consensus view seems to have become more pessimistic on Piedmont Office Realty Trust, noting the measurable cut to revenue estimates in this update. Check out our latest analysis for Piedmont Office Realty Trust NYSE:PDM Past and Future Earnings March 31st 2020 The consensus price target fell 5.1% to US$23.25, with the analysts clearly less optimistic about Piedmont Office Realty Trust's valuation following this update. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. The most optimistic Piedmont Office Realty Trust analyst has a price target of US$26.00 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at US$21.00. Even so, with a relatively close grouping of analyst estimates, it looks to us as though the analysts are quite confident in their valuations, suggesting that Piedmont Office Realty Trust is an easy business to forecast or that the underlying assumptions are knowable. Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. Over the past five years, revenues have declined around 2.1% annually. Worse, forecasts are essentially predicting the decline to accelerate, with the estimate for a 9.8% decline in revenue next year. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in a similar industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 4.8% per year. So while a broad number of companies are forecast to decline, unfortunately Piedmont Office Realty Trust is expected to see its sales affected worse than other companies in the industry. Story continues The Bottom Line The most important thing to take away is that analysts cut their revenue estimates for this year. They also expect company revenue to perform worse than the wider market. The consensus price target fell measurably, with analysts seemingly not reassured by recent business developments, leading to a lower estimate of Piedmont Office Realty Trust's future valuation. Overall, given the drastic downgrade to this year's forecasts, we'd be feeling a little more wary of Piedmont Office Realty Trust going forwards. Of course, there's always more to the story. At least one of Piedmont Office Realty Trust's two analysts has provided estimates out to 2024, which can be seen for free on our platform here. Of course, seeing company management invest large sums of money in a stock can be just as useful as knowing whether analysts are downgrading their estimates. So you may also wish to search this free 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. 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. Businesses are rushing to sign up to the federal government's $130billion plan to subsidise wages during the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Tuesday morning more than 113,000 businesses had registered their interest in the $1,500 per fortnight package. 'Our $130billion plan is all about keeping Australians in jobs while we deal with this coronavirus crisis,' he wrote on Twitter, 16 hours after introducing the scheme. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (pictured) announced the package in Canberra on Monday along with Prime Minister Scott Morrison People queue to enter Centrelink on March 24, 2020 in Melbourne as thousands of jobs were axed Treasurer Josh Frydenberg expects the plan will help six million Australian workers. 'Australia's never seen income support like this,' he told Sky News on Tuesday. Employees will receive a flat-rate payment of $1,500 per fortnight through their employers in a bid to lessen the economic blow caused by the virus. It applies to full and part-time workers, sole traders, as well as casuals who have been on the books for at least 12 months. The subsidies will last for six months. Mr Frydenberg said while there was more financial help on the way, none of it would match Monday's announcement in dollars. He said it would take years to pay off the debt generated as a result, but the government had to do what was needed. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the government had committed the equivalent of 16.4 per cent of Australia's GDP to keeping the economy on deck. 'It's an eye watering amount ... It is a very, very significant investment,' Senator Cormann said. Australians returning from overseas are escorted to quarantine by the Australian Defence Force on Monday How does the wage scheme work? Payments via the ATO will be made to businesses, sole traders and not-for-profit organisations whose revenues decrease by 30 per cent or more due to the coronavirus fallout. The employer will get $1,500 per fortnight for each employee and must legally pass the payment to their workers. The payment will go to full-time workers, part-time workers and casual workers who have been employed by a company for 12 months, regardless of how many shifts they worked. The policy will apply to workers that have already been stood down, provided they were on their employer's books on March 1. Advertisement Wage subsidies will flow to businesses in the first week of May, with workers stood down since March 1 able to access backdated payments. New Zealanders on temporary working 444 visas and migrants eligible for welfare are also included. Mr Morrison said some countries would face economic collapse or hollowing out in coming months as the disease spreads globally. 'In the very worst of circumstances, we could see countries themselves fall into chaos - this will not be Australia,' he said. Parliament could sit as early as next week to pass legislation related to the new JobKeeper payment, with Labor likely to back the overall package, which unions and business groups support. Cleaners at Circular Quay, Sydney, on Monday. Non-essential services have been shut down leaving millions out of work. Jobs can now be guaranteed with $1500 per fortnight income for the next six months in an extraordinary government rescue package Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott said the subsidies were a fair way of making sure employees stayed connected to employers during the crisis. 'This huge package will keep people in jobs and vitally, make sure Australia is ready to rebuild quickly once this challenge passes,' she said. 'We must safeguard as many jobs as we can to prevent long periods of joblessness and poverty.' The $1,500 per fortnight payment amounts to about 70 per cent of the median wage. ACTU secretary Sally McManus said while the decision was welcome, the amount may not be enough. 'We believe that allowing this amount to increase up to the median wage of $1375 a week is what is needed.' Ms McManus also raised concerns for casuals who had worked for the same employer for less than 12 months and who were not covered by the scheme. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday announced that the Delhi government is strictly monitoring more than 20,000 homes in the capital which have been identified for home quarantine. Baijal added that food distribution centres in Delhi will be increased to 2500 to ensure that social distancing is "adhered to effectively". According to Baijal, these measures were decided in the daily meeting held with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Secretary among others through video conferencing. "It has been decided to increase the number of food distribution centres from present 500 to 2500 so that social distancing is adhered to effectively. Home quarantine has to be strictly monitored. More than 20,000 homes have been identified by GNCTD for home quarantine," Baijal's tweet read. Through another tweet, the LG Delhi advised the police and administration to keep a strict watch on social distancing and home quarantine and to "take deterrent actions for any violation and widely publicise. Separately, action to ramp up medical facilities to be expedited." The total number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi on Monday stood at 87, according to 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.) Welcome Guest! You Are Here: An Iranian flag flutters in front of the IAEA headquarters in Vienna By Humeyra Pamuk and Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has allowed Russian, Chinese and European companies to continue their work at Iranian nuclear sites to make it harder for Tehran to develop nuclear weapons, the U.S. State Department said on Monday. Reuters earlier reported that the decision to renew waivers to sanctions that bar non-U.S. firms from dealing with Iran's Atomic Energy Organization was expected on Monday, citing four sources familiar with the matter including a U.S. official. Jewish News Syndicate, a news outlet predominantly focused on Israel and the Jewish world, first reported that the United States was expected to renew the waivers, citing two sources familiar with the decision. The move by the Trump administration, which in 2018 withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran, will allow nonproliferation work to continue at the Arak heavy-water research reactor, the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the Tehran Research Reactor and other nuclear initiatives. As part of its "maximum pressure" campaign, the United States has not only restored sanctions it had removed under the Iran nuclear deal, but has tightened them to try to force Iran to curb its nuclear, missile and regional activities. However, the Trump administration has repeatedly waived the sanctions related to nonproliferation work with Iran on the argument that such projects are designed to make the Iranian nuclear program less capable of producing weapons. "As President Trump said earlier this year, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon," Morgan Ortagus, U.S. State Department spokeswoman, said in a statement. "We will continue to closely monitor all developments in Irans nuclear program and can adjust these restrictions at any time." The waivers are renewed for 60 days, according to the statement. Washington's overall policy toward Tehran has faced increasing criticism from opponents and Iranian authorities who say the U.S. sanctions are hampering the country's efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed 2,460 Iranians and infected nearly 40,000 others. Story continues Iranian authorities have urged other countries and the United Nations to call for the measures to be lifted. Washington has rejected the assertion. "Stop lying. ... It's not the sanctions. It's the regime," Ortagus said on Monday in a Twitter post that copied a tweet by Iran's foreign minister, Javad Zarif, accusing Washington of waging an economic war on Iranians and engaging in "medical terror" amid the outbreak. Washington has so far refused to lift any sanctions and has even ramped up its pressure campaign. Last week, it blacklisted five Iran- and Iraq-based companies and 15 individuals for supporting terrorist groups, its third round of sanctions on Iranian targets in two weeks. Under the 2015 deal between Iran and six world powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions that had crippled its economy. Tehran has long rejected Western assertions that it has sought to develop nuclear weapons. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Arshad Mohammed; editing by Grant McCool, Leslie Adler and Sonya Hepinstall) Over 500 migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar were stuck at the Shamlaji border town in Gujarat after the Rajasthan Police refused them entry, an official said on Tuesday. These labourers are now being sent to shelter homes in Gujarat, said Inspector General, Gandhinagar Range, Mayanksinh Chavda, who rushed to the spot after getting information about the matter. Thousands of Gujarat-based migrant workers had earlier started their journey on foot to reach Rajasthan following the announcement of lockdown last week to contain the spread of coronavirus. Labourers hailing from southern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and parts of Madhya Pradesh around Neemuch and Khajuraho use the Rajasthan route via Shamlaji town in Gujarat's Aravalli district. "It is true that Rajasthan Police caught the non- Rajasthani migrant workers and sent them back to the border on Monday night. While natives of Rajasthan are allowed to go to their villages, migrants from other states were asked to return to Gujarat," Chavda said. "Following guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs, we are now taking care of them and have started the process of shifting them to shelter homes after conducting their medical tests," he said. Some of the workers said they were brought to Shamlaji by Rajasthan Police on the pretext of providing them food and transportation till their native places. "The Rajasthan Police asked nearly 500 of us to sit in their vehicles when we had already covered a good distance on foot in Rajasthan. Instead of providing us food and transportation as promised, we were brought back to Gujarat border. We don't even have water to drink," a labourer hailing from Uttar Pradesh said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Governor Andrew Cuomo Speaks at a press conference in New York, United States, on March 30, 2020. US Army Corps of Engineers completes a temporary field hospital at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center as the coronavirus continues to spread on March 30, 2020 in New York City. "We're all anxious, we're all tired, we're all fatigued. It's been all bad news for a long time. Our whole lifestyle has been disrupted. Everybody wants to know one thing, when will it end. Nobody knows," Cuomo said. "We're dealing with a war we've never dealt with before. We need a totally different mindset and organizational transformation." Cuomo said 10,929 people have been hospitalized with the coronavirus, including 2,710 ICU patients. Almost 400 of those people were hospitalized overnight, he said. The state's new cases make New York the coronavirus epicenter of the world, surpassing China's Hubei province which reported 67,801 confirmed cases since the virus emerged there in December. "I'm tired of being behind this virus. We've been behind this virus from day one," the governor said in Albany. "We underestimated this virus. It's more powerful, it's more dangerous than we expected." At a news conference, the governor also said his brother, Chris Cuomo, a CNN anchorman, has COVID-19 and is isolating himself. Coronavirus cases in New York state jumped 14% overnight to 75,795 with 1,550 deaths across the state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday. He said the outbreak in New York state may not peak for three weeks. "If our apex is 14 to 21 days ... then [you] have to come down the other side of the mountain once you hit the apex," he said. "So calibrate yourself and your expectations so you're not disappointed every morning you get up." He urged people to remain vigilant, even if it means remaining isolated for long periods of time. "'Well, I'm bored.' I know! I'm bored!" Cuomo said. Cuomo also said he wants to move health workers from unfilled hospitals in the state into beleaguered hospitals in New York City. On Monday, Cuomo issued a call on health-care workers across the United States to travel to New York to help the state battle the worst coronavirus outbreak in the nation. He said the outbreak in New York isn't an anomaly and will hit every part of the United States. He said he would encourage out-of-area health providers in the city to go elsewhere once they get experience in the epicenter of the nation's outbreak. Also Monday, the hospital ship USNS Comfort arrived in New York to help relieve the city's hospitals. Cuomo said the ship will provide 1,000 hospital beds, and 1,200 personnel to New York for treating patients who don't have COVID-19. Cuomo reiterated Tuesday that COVID-19 patients need ventilators a lot longer than most other respiratory patients, arguing the state needs a lot more. "The longer people are in, they either get treated and leave or they get put on a ventilator," he said. "The longer you're on the ventilator, the less likelihood you'll come off the ventilator." He said the state placed an order for 17,000 ventilators from China for $25,000 each, but it expects to get just 2,500 California, Illinois, the federal government and Italy also ordered the same ventilators. "It's like being on eBay with 50 other states bidding on a ventilator. ... How inefficient. And then FEMA gets involved and FEMA starts bidding. And now FEMA is bidding on top of the 50. So FEMA is driving up the price. What sense does this make?" Cuomo asked. On Twitter, the governor's 49-year-old brother said he is feeling well, and will continue to anchor his program "Cuomo Prime Time" from his basement. Chris Cuomo tweet At Tuesday's news conference, the governor said: "You don't really know Chris. You see Chris, he has his show at 9 o'clock on CNN but you just see one dimension. You see a person in his job and in his job he's combative and he's argumentative and he's pushing people, but that's his job. It's really not who he is. He's a really sweet, beautiful guy. He's my best friend." As of Monday morning, more than three-quarters of the country was deep blue. A separate display of the collective national fever trend, which had spiked upward to a peak on March 17, had fallen so far that it was actually below the band showing historical flu fever trends which meant that the lockdown has cut not only COVID-19 transmission but flu transmission, too. Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: Estamos planteando para el 4 de mayo el reinicio de clases presenciales de manera gradual. El @MineduPeru y @Minsa_Peru, estan coordinando para que se de en las mejores condiciones posibles, asegurando la salud de los estudiantes y sus familias. pic.twitter.com/71FXf2BbGC Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) - There are now 17 doctors who died while in the frontline battling the highly-infectious coronavirus disease, said the Philippine Medical Association (PMA). The latest figure came a day after President Rodrigo Duterte thanked frontline health workers who died while helping COVID-19 patients. However, PMA Commission on Legislation chairman Dr. Oscar Tinio believes that the deaths could have been prevented if there is enough supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the health workers. Ang death rate ng mga doctor na namamatay (The death rate among the doctors) versus the total death is about 5%. Its going to go up, said Tinio in a phone interview with CNN Philippines. He added, Why do you have to let us die? When there are still ways that we can prevent it? Parang gera yan. Laban kami, pero huwag niyo kami pabayaan. (Its like a war. We will fight, but dont leave us without anything) Among the frontliners who passed away fighting COVID-19 are Philippine Pediatric Society president Sally Gatchalian, cardiologist and internist Raul Jara, anesthesiologist Gregorio Macasaet III, and oncologist Rose Pulido. The Department of Health on Monday said that it is currently waiting for the delivery of the 1.8 billion worth of PPE to be given to public referral hospitals for COVID-19 in Luzon. For his part, health workers are not feeling a sense of urgency in the governments response to the crisis. Tinio, who is also the director of St. Dominic Medical Center in Bacoor, Cavite, said that it took the DOH more than a week to respond to his request for additional PPE. Adding to his frustration, only 14 pieces of bodysuits were delivered which will only last a day to a day and a half at the most. Yes, there are standard operating procedures that we need to follow but can we not do away with that at this time? Health emergency ito, added Tinio. The World Health Organization reiterated its stand that protective masks should be only worn by those who are sick and taking care of patients, recognizing the shortage of PPE in the market. Further, Tinio pointed out that many practicing doctors with various specialties want to help in the war against COVID-19. But they are hesitating because of the lack of protective gear. The first and foremost is bigyan mo kami ng proteksyon, haharapin namin yan, Tinio said. [Translation: First and foremost is give us protection, we will face against that.] For now, Tinio said most hospitals are now relying on donations from private groups and individuals. CNN Philippines' Correspondent AC Nicholls contributed to this report Shift in tone comes as Trump admin faces severe criticism for hard line on sanctions relief as Iran battles pandemic. United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held out the possibility on Tuesday that the Trump administration may consider easing sanctions on Iran and other nations to help fight the coronavirus pandemic but gave no concrete sign it plans to do so. The comments reflect a shift in tone by the US State Department, which has come under withering criticism for its hard line towards sanctions relief even in the face of a call by the United Nations secretary-general to ease US economic penalties on Tehran as it battles the virus. At least 2,898 people in Iran have died from COVID-19 and the number of confirmed cases in the country has reached 44,605, according to John Hopkins University. Speaking to reporters, Pompeo stressed that humanitarian and medical supplies are exempt from sanctions that Washington reimposed on Tehran after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. But a report by Human Rights Watch in October found that broad restrictions on financial transactions, coupled with aggressive rhetoric from US officials, have drastically constrained the ability of Iranian entities to finance humanitarian imports, including vital medicines and medical equipment. This month, Iran asked the International Monetary Fund for five billion dollars in emergency funding to help it fight the pandemic the first time since 1960 that Tehran has sought assistance from the international lender. Asked if there might come a point at which the US might reevaluate its stance on easing sanctions on Iran, Pompeo told a news conference: We evaluate all of our policies constantly, so the answer is would we ever rethink? Of course. Asked about such relief on March 20, Pompeo simply said US sanctions do not apply to medical and other humanitarian goods. The Trump administration is pursuing a maximum pressure policy to try to force the Islamic Republic to curb its nuclear, missile and regional activities. Irans foreign minister has accused the US on Twitter of engaging in medical terror, prompting Pompeos spokeswoman, Morgan Ortagus, on Monday to copy his tweet and say: Stop lying. Its not the sanctions. Its the regime. A UN human rights expert called on Tuesday for lifting international sanctions against countries ranging from Iran to North Korea and Venezuela to ensure that food supplies reach hungry populations during the coronavirus pandemic. Pompeo has been sharply criticised for the administrations stance on Iran sanctions. In the last month, the US has repeatedly tightened sanctions on Iran, notably seeking to make it harder for it to sell oil abroad. On Sunday, Washington Post columnist Jackson Diehl published a piece under the headline: Pompeos pandemic performance ensures his place among the worst secretaries of state ever. Even close U.S. allies, such as Britain, are calling on the Trump administration to ease sanctions that are inhibiting shipment of medical supplies and humanitarian aid to Irans 80 million people, he wrote. Yet Pompeo appears to view the epidemic as a handy means to compound maximum pressure. To what end? MONDAY, March 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Once infected with the new coronavirus, a 20-something has about a 1% chance of illness so severe it requires hospitalization, and that risk rises to more than 8% for people in their 50s and to nearly 19% for people over 80, a comprehensive new analysis finds. On the other hand, the death rate from COVID-19 is significantly lower than that seen in prior estimates, the new report found. Among diagnosed cases, just under 1.4% of patients will die, according to a team led by Neil Ferguson, of the Imperial College London. And when undiagnosed cases -- typically individuals with mild or no symptoms -- are added into the mix, the overall death rate from coronavirus infections drops further to 0.66%, the British researchers found. That's still much higher than the 0.02% death rate observed during the H1N1 flu season of 2009, the investigators noted. A person's odds for death after infection with the new coronavirus also rose with age. An estimated 0.031% of people in their 20s will die, the new analysis found, compared to 7.8% of people over 80. The new report, based on data from almost 44,700 cases occurring in mainland China, was published March 30 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases medical journal. "Our estimates can be applied to any country to inform decisions around the best containment policies for COVID-19," said study co-author Azra Ghani, also from Imperial College London. While the tragic deaths of young people from COVID-19 may get a lot of media play, she said, older patients are still in the most danger. "Our analysis very clearly shows that at age 50 and over, hospitalization is much more likely than in those under 50, and a greater proportion of cases are likely to be fatal," Ghani said in a journal news release. Early on in the pandemic, the World Health Organization issued a COVID-19 death rate of 3.4% -- a relatively high death toll. But as the London researchers pointed out, that number was based on a tally that only included cases severe enough to have been brought to medical attention and diagnosed. It's thought that many more cases are either mild or asymptomatic, or the person infected simply can't access a coronavirus infection test kit. The new analysis of Chinese cases attempted to account for that discrepancy. Ferguson's group used data from situations such as outbreaks on cruise ships or people repatriated from Wuhan, where widespread testing was done. They then extrapolated those findings to the wider population, and also looked at death statistics from nearly 44,700 confirmed cases within China. A subset of 3,665 Chinese cases was also used to calculate the percentage of infected patients who might go on to require hospital care. One piece of very good news: Babies and young children are extremely unlikely to become critically ill or die in the pandemic. Out of more than 70,000 cases studied, there were no deaths to children under 10 and the hospitalization rate for children aged 10 to 19 was 0.04%, the analysis found. There was another statistical anomaly -- people in their 50s made up the biggest age demographic among hospitalized patients, with 222 out of 790 hospitalized cases being aged 50 to 59. But that doesn't mean that people in their 50s are necessarily at the highest risk. As the researchers explained, there's thought to be a very wide pool of infected-but-well people in their 50s in the general population. So, when Ferguson's group adjusted for those hidden cases, the rate of hospitalization for people in their 50s was still much lower than for people in their 80s -- 8.2% versus 18.4%, respectively. By decade, the risk of hospitalization from infection with the new coronavirus is: Zero for kids under 10; 0.1% for kids 10 to 19; 1% for people aged 20 to 29; 3.4% for people aged 30 to 39; 4.3% for people in their 40s; 8.2% for those in their 50s; 11.8% for people aged 60 to 69; 16.6% for those in their 70s; and 18.4% for those in their 80s or above. As for the death rate, the risk was near zero for people under 40, crept up to 0.2% for people 40 to 49, to 0.6% for 50-somethings, just under 2% for people in their 60s, 4.3% for those in their 70s, and 7.8% for those in their 80s, the findings showed. Between 50% to 80% of people around the globe could be infected before the pandemic is over, the London researchers noted. That's why countries must work now to prepare health systems for the onslaught, Dr. Shigui Ruan, of the University of Miami, said in a commentary that accompanied the study. "Estimates of case fatality ratios might vary slightly from country to country because of differences in prevention, control, and mitigation policies implemented, and because the case fatality ratio is substantially affected by the preparedness and availability of health care," Ruan wrote. Access to prompt testing will be crucial, he added. "Early studies have shown that delaying the detection of infected cases not only increases the probability of spreading the virus to others (most likely family members, colleagues, and friends) but also makes the infection worse in some cases, thereby increasing the case fatality ratio," Ruan added. According to The New York Times, over 156,000 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed across the United States by Monday afternoon, including nearly 2,900 deaths. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus. Gardai in Westmeath have seized more than 120,000 worth of suspected cannabis plants. Officers searched a commercial premises on the Dublin Road in Athlone at around 10.45am this morning. During the search, a suspected cannabis growhouse was found and 153 suspected cannabis plants with an estimated value of 122,400 were seized. A man in his mid-20s was arrested at the scene and is being questioned at Athlone Garda Station. The suspected cannabis growhouse in Athlone today. Pic: Garda Press Office Investigations are ongoing. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) A 63-year-old man from Calbayog City is Samar provinces's first COVID-19 case. At a press briefing on Tuesday, Department of Health Region 8 Director Minerva Molon said the patient had a travel history to Metro Manila and was admitted at a private hospital on March 21, where he was noted to have dry cough. The cough persisted during the patent's isolation and he was referred for a swab on March 25. The sample was sent last Saturday to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for COVID-19 testing along with 21 other samples. The patient, who has asthma, diabetes and hypertension, is now in better condition. He will be transferred to the DOH referral hospital in Tacloban City today for further monitoring and management, according to Molon. Meanwhile, the patient's attending physician has been advised to undergo self-quarantine and a DOH team was dispatched to Calbayog to do contact tracing for the confirmed case. Molon said she has spoken to Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino on what intervention can be done to ensure the virus will be contained. The assurance there is that the city mayor and the health workers are already doing their part, may mga instruction na kami [we have instructions] and also those who will do contact tracing will be able to teach them kung ano [what to do]. We already have issuances but sometimes they interpret in wrong way so we will guide them, Molon said. Calbayog, through its Inter-agency Task Force on COVID-19, will having a meeting Tuesday afternoon to discuss precautionary actions to mitigate the spread of the virus in the patient's community. An initial report said Aquino will order a lockdown. The task force will discuss if it will be a community lockdown or a citywide lockdown. Earlier, the city government identified the LGU Evacuation Center as the facility where PUIs would be hosted. Stringer Wil Mark Amazona contributed to this report. IN SUPPORT of President Rodrigo Duterte and the National Governments efforts to combat the outbreak of COVID-19 in the Philippines, grid operator, and transmission service provider NGCP will be donating P1 billion to aid medical frontliners. In a letter to the President, NGCP declared its support to the ongoing battle against the pandemic with a P 500,000,000 donation in the form of goods and medical equipment and another P500,000,000 for the procurement of other Covid-19 response measures, as may be determined by the Office of the President. Through our initial coordination with their Office, we were instructed to donate entirely in the form of medical equipment, with specific items such as video laryngoscopes, ventilators, and total face masks, stated the company. The P1 billion donation is over and above earlier NGCP assistance, including a donation of personal protective equipment (PPE), face masks, meals, and other supplies for the frontline workers in the health industry and the Meals on Wheels program conducted to distribute hot meals to indigent members of the community. NGCPs technical partner, the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), also donated 500,000 face masks through the Philippine Red Cross. Our stakeholders, particularly the public, can be assured that NGCP will continue to look for opportunities to support the government in battling this pandemic. We recognize that the only way to defeat this global health threat is through our collective efforts, stated the company. NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the countrys power grid, led by majority shareholders Henry Sy, Jr. and Robert Coyiuto, Jr. (PR) contact lens blurf/Getty Images As COVID-19 continues to spread across the world, some doctors are suggesting people ditch their contact lenses until the pandemic ends. Evidence suggests the virus can enter the body through the eyes. Some eye doctors say glasses can also serve as an added protective barrier against the virus. Some doctors disagreed, saying the possibility of the virus entering the body through the eyes was rare. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. As the rate of coronavirus infections rise in the US, some doctors are encouraging the 45 million Americans who wear contact lenses to put on their glasses instead. In a statement put out by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a medical association of 32,000 ophthalmologists, the group suggested contact lens wearers switch to glasses for a while, as the coronavirus can be contracted through the eyes, if you unwittingly have virus particles on your fingers. These particles are more often inhaled through the mouth and nose, but they can also enter through the eyes, though the CDC says "this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads." Eyes, noses, and mouths all have mucosal membranes in places like the nose and throat, which provide a route for viruses to enter the body. Once in the body, the virus begins replicating, until it ultimately floods the body with viral particles. "Consider wearing glasses more often, especially if you tend to touch your eyes a lot when your contacts are in," Dr. Sonal Tuli advised in the statement. "Substituting glasses for lenses can decrease irritation and force you to pause before touching your eye." She added that glasses could provide an extra layer of protection against the virus. An April 2019 study published in Contact Lens and Anterior Eye noted that proper hand washing hygiene was especially crucial for people who wore contact lenses. According to the CDC, "wearing contact lenses can increase your chance of getting an eye infection especially if you do not care for them the right way." Story continues The CDC recommends always washing your hands with soap and water before handling the lenses, keeping the lenses away from all water, which can let in germs, and properly cleaning the lenses. And don't neglect the contact lens case, which also requires cleaning. Some experts believe the risk of getting COVID-19 by touching the eyes is low "Can you end up with COVID-19 from the virus entering through the eye? Theoretically, it's possible, but we have no proof of that," Dr. Thomas Steinemann, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, told CNN. Three of the world's most published researchers on eye health wrote in an advisory from the Centre for Ocular Research & Education that contact lens wearing is safe, and encouraged people to disinfect their contact lenses. "Despite myths and misinformation that have arisen over the past 48 hours, contact lens wear remains a safe and highly effective form of vision correction for millions of people worldwide," they wrote. But whether the organization was for or against contact lens wear, they all agreed on some key guidelines people should take, like disinfecting glasses and contact lenses and avoiding eye rubbing. On the heels of reports that 1% to 3% of people who had coronavirus also had conjunctivitis, or pink eye, many national eye doctor associations issued guidance telling eye doctors to reschedule all non-essential eye appointments, as it is impossible to socially distance while examining someone's eyes. "Already, a handful of our ophthalmologist colleagues have died from COVID-19," the statement said. "This is an existential crisis. We as physicians must respond to it and support our colleagues and our communities." Read the original article on Insider The Agriculture Minister has allowed some trading to continue at marts - despite the Covid-19 crisis. The Irish Farmers Association has welcomed this morning's announcement. Normal mart activity was banned last weekend when the Taoiseach's announced new restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus. But this morning, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed says some services can continue at marts. He says mart managers can facilitate the sale of animals in some circumstances. A farmer can deliver calves to the mart, by appointment, and the mart can facilitate the sale. For older livestock, the mart can also allow a deal between a buyer and seller, in specific circumstances. Minister Creed says the measures will allow the food chain to be maintained and protect animals' welfare. But he says normal mart auction activity cannot resume until further notice. A statement said that it is hoped the new measures will "allow marts to help facilitate the necessary movement and trade in animals in an orderly alternative manner." Min @creedcnw confirms latest DAFM supports for farmers: 1. Calf Investment Scheme of 4 million; 2. Guidance for marts on a very limited range of essential services that comply with Gov guidelines & do not require people to assemble. More info at https://t.co/aGX70fC4WF Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (@agriculture_ie) March 31, 2020 [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Senator Rick Scott (R., Fla.) called Tuesday for Congress to investigate the World Health Organizations ties to China, accusing the organization of relaying Chinese propaganda during the Wuhan-coronavirus pandemic. The WHO needs to be held accountable for their role in promoting misinformation and helping Communist China cover up a global pandemic, Scott said in a statement. We know Communist China is lying about how many cases and deaths they have . . . and the WHO never bothered to investigate further. Their inaction cost lives. China has reported 83,059 cases of coronavirus with 3,305 deaths, according to the New York Times. However, residents of the city of Wuhan, where the pandemic began, are skeptical of the figures and believe far more people have died from the illness. Various reports indicate China has not regained control of the outbreak. As soon as Congress is back in session, Scott said, there should be a hearing, along with a full investigation, to review whether American taxpayers should continue to spend millions of dollars every year to fund an organization that willfully parroted propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party. The U.S. provides 15 percent of the WHOs annual budget, while China funds 0.2 percent. China has successfully prevented Taiwan from becoming a WHO a member state, a policy that Taiwan has alleged impeded the organizations early response to the pandemic. Taiwanese health officials have said their colleagues in the WHO did not relay early reports by Taiwanese doctors indicating possible human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus. While the [WHO] provides a platform for all countries to share information on the epidemic and their response, none of the information shared by our countrys [Centers for Disease Control] is being put up there, Taiwanese vice president Chen Chien-jen told the Financial Times. More from National Review Despite a heavily disrupted March, Turners still expect the FY20 result to be within previously stated guidance of $28-$30m net profit before tax. Prior to the emergence of COVID-19 the group was on track to report at the high end of its earlier market guidance. Chief Executive Officer Todd Hunter says the group is well-positioned, and in the immediate term, its first priority is to support staff, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders through the Covid-19 lock down. The Board and management have specific experience guiding Turners through the GFC and the expansion of the business in the years following. Leadership is proactively planning for a range of future scenarios, including the potential of an extended lock down and prolonged slowdown, with obvious attention being given to the cost base. Key points: Turners still expects the FY20 result to be within previously stated guidance of $28-$30m net profit before tax. Turners expects adverse impacts on 1H21. It is too early to quantify these impacts. However, Turners had robust momentum in each of its businesses going into this situation and a solid financial position. The Board has deferred the companys Q3 dividend as a precautionary measure, which would normally have been paid around the end of April. The group continues to operate well within its bank covenants. Turners just confirmed an extension of its securitisation warehouse facility with BNZ to $250 million (previously $200m) and has unrestricted cash of $20m+ and further funding headroom if required. There are no renewals on debt until 2021. Turners benefits from being a purposefully diversified business, with different business cycles. For example, annuity revenues from finance and insurance help offset the short-term decline in the activity- based revenue businesses of auto retail and credit management. Three of the groups four businesses (Oxford Finance, DPL Insurance, EC Credit Control) are confirmed as Essential Services under the financial institutions classification and are largely operating remotely. Turners are working proactively with landlords to reduce rent payments over the time of the lock down which has largely been received positively by property owners. Government stimulus programs will also make a substantial difference. All opex and capex plans are being reviewed. As well as the clear risks, this new dynamic environment could offer opportunities for the group, given its leading position in the used vehicle ecosystem, the potential for rationalising of company fleets post- lockdown, and activity from customers reducing vehicle costs. EC Credit Control will prosper during this time given its counter cyclical features. Focus on people and planning Mr Hunter said that the groups immediate focus was continuing to support our customers, our team and their families, and various stakeholders through the immediate Level 4 period, whilst supporting the countrys efforts to stave off the threat of pandemic. Our customer focus has been working with clients of Oxford Finance to find manageable solutions for their loan repayments over this difficult time. As a leadership group we have been working tirelessly over the last few weeks to develop a robust plan that enables us to address the immediate challenges that COVID-19 represents, a big part of which has been shifting our employees where applicable to a work-from-home model, which is now fully activated. We are now focused on near-term challenges and broader resiliency issues during the virus-related shutdowns and the economic knock-on effects. Turners is taking decisive and immediate action on significant cost savings and structural cost reductions, as well as seeking relief aided by government stimulus programs. Aided by government contributions, the group has committed to its teams that they will be paid 100% of their base salary over the 4-week initial COVID-19 lockdown period. Most staff will also take some annual leave over this time. Concurrently we are in the process of developing a solid plan around getting 'back-to-business' as the virus evolves and the knock-on effects become clearer. This extends to re-imagining what the world post Covid-19 could potentially look like and how we position as a group for any such changes. It is still too early to know exactly what the COVID-19 situation will mean for Turners, the automotive industry and the broader economy, but the group is adapting quickly to remain robust and to be in a position to realise any new opportunities that emerge from a disrupted market. Funding in good shape Ahead of an expected economic downturn, the group remains in a solid financial position, operating well within its bank covenants. Turners has just confirmed an extension of its securitisation warehouse facility with BNZ to $250 million (previous limit $200m) which supports the lending in Oxford Finance. Turners has unrestricted cash of $20m and further funding headroom if required. There are no renewals on debt until 2021. We would like to acknowledge the continued support our bankers BNZ and ASB. Diversification and experience enhances organisational resilience As a diversified business, Turners is fortunate that annuity revenues from finance and insurance help offset the short-term decline in the activity-based revenue businesses of auto retail and credit management. Turners are geographically spread throughout NZ, particularly in the Auto Retail business, which gives us confidence about our ability to operate if more localized lockdown scenarios occur. We are fortunate to currently have senior executives at CEO and GM levels in each of our businesses, plus a number of current directors on our board, who not only guided these same companies through the GFC but have been actively involved in their profitable expansion since that time. Crucially for the group, each of our four businesses come into the current crisis in a far stronger position than pre-GFC, both in terms of operating strength and financial position. Substantial investment in recent years into our technology platforms, and our large online audience provides an ability for the group to operate better than many of its competitors in a situation of partial or repeated lockdowns. Auto Retail While management expect the Auto Retail business to be significantly impacted during 1H21, its reliance on a domestic NZ customer base, and its focus on used cars (traditionally less discretionary than new cars) means that it has previously demonstrated relative resilience in a downturn. Further, Turners greater business diversification and geographical spread, coupled with its stronger funding position should offer a comparative advantage versus the rest of the industry. Turners expects its proportion of consignment sales is likely to grow in the period post the lockdown as certain businesses seek to downsize and liquidate vehicle fleets and consumers consider down grading or lower cost vehicles. Approximately 50% of cars sold currently are consignment vehicles and this is a part of our business we can easily scale. Auto Retail is on hold during the lock down however we are awaiting approval from MBIE to deal with businesses and people who provide essential services to New Zealanders including key Government departments and DHBs. The launch of Turners car subscription business Carly has been delayed until after any lock down period and will be re-programmed for launch after the environment stabilises. We expect both that the available supply of cars to the platform from 3rd party vendors will increase significantly, and that there will be greater consumer appetite for a more flexible, capital-lite alternative to owning a car. Insurance, Finance and Credit Turners insurance business is inherently strong with premiums for policies paid up front, and the likelihood of a more benign claims environment during any partial or full lockdown stages. DPL Insurance holds reserves of over $55m in cash or short term bank deposits. The Finance business has focused on higher-quality lending in recent years and is now a more robust business that is well-placed post shut down. The average Veda score (credit risk metric) for new consumer loans written in the 11 months to Feb 20 is 568 compared to 534 in FY19. Finance can also rely on Turners own retail channel for new business. Turners expects EC Credit Control to experience greater demand and growth in a counter cyclical environment, as it did after the GFC when there was a demand surge over the medium term. Commission income in the two years following the GFC increased significantly over pre-GFC levels, over 90% for the NZ market and 60% for the Australian market serviced. It is also worth highlighting that EC Credit Control has not purchased debt and only collects on a contingent basis meaning it is very cash generative. Dividend and summary The Board has as a precaution deferred the companys Q3 dividend which would normally have been paid around the end of April, and this will be reviewed at a future date as the outlook becomes clearer in line with the groups future planning. The Board and Management own and directly control over 28% of the issued shares so there is a very high alignment of interests and strong sense of urgency to manage this situation well. Overall, despite some very real challenges arising from this situation, the group remains in a strong financial position, and is moving quickly not only to address the risks of a prolonged slowdown but also to position ourselves for opportunities to grow our business as NZ recovers. Sources: NZX Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 13th January 2022 Morning Report Pictor's completes successful US clinical trials for unique COVID antibody testing 12th January 2022 Morning Report 11th January 2022 Morning Report Greenfern Industries Limited (NZX: GFI) Announces Cannvalate Transaction 10th January 2022 Morning Report 7th January 2022 Morning Report 6th January 2022 Morning Report 5th January 2022 Morning Report Harmoney Corp Limited (NZX: HMY) HMY Signs A$20m Corporate Debt Facility Three New Zealand police officers have been forced into isolation after being spat on during an arrest. The officers were trying to arrest the 30-year-old man at Waitemata in Auckland about 10pm Monday when he allegedly spat in their faces. Police were responding to reports of a family harm incident about 10pm when they arrested the man. As he was being put into the patrol car, the 30-year-old allegedly kicked officers and claimed he had COVID-19 before spitting at three attending officers. New Zealand police officers have been forced into isolation after they were spat on by someone suspected to have coronavirus during an arrest NZ Police Association President Chris Cahill said the man had symptoms of the virus and if he tests positive he could be charged with deliberately spreading the disease. Under the Crimes Act, the offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years behind bars. Mr Cahill said the man was arrested and kept in police custody until Tuesday morning and bail was opposed, NZ Herald reported. 'The real challenge for police is when people get violent or when officers have to interact with people immediately and don't have the time to put protective equipment on, and that's very concerning,' Mr Cahill said. The three police officers were immediately put into isolation and two police vehicles are being cleaned and decontaminated. The 30-year-old man was tested on Tuesday morning to confirm whether he has coronavirus. He has since been charged with assaults with intent to injure and resisting police Waitakere District Court on Tuesday. Superintendent Naila Hassan, Waitemata District Commander, said: 'It is just not okay to behave in this manner towards our frontline staff at any time, but this is especially heightened during the current climate,' she said. 'There will be serious consequences for such actions.' The three officers were completing an arrest at Waitemata in Auckland about 10pm Monday when the member of the public spat in their faces A supermarket worker at Pak'n Save Whakatane was also spat on by a customer who refused to abide by coronavirus restrictions over the weekend. The worker asked the customer to stand behind the line at the butchery counter but they refused, according to Foodstuffs NZ's head of corporate affairs Antoinette Laird. Ms Laird said the customer was escorted out of the store. 'Over the past few weeks we have implemented additional measures to ensure the safety of our staff, which include physical distancing in-store and it is completely unacceptable to treat our hard-working team this way,' she said. The 76th Anniversary of the Auschwitz liberation passed on January 27, 2021, and yet, as Holocaust survivors pass away, we have found that an entire generation does not know of the horrors that took place during World War II. Many adults between the ages of 18 to 34 lack the basic knowledge of the events that took place during the Holocaust. According to the New York Times article linked above, Thirty-one percent of Americans, and 41 percent of millennials, believe that two million or fewer Jews were killed in the Holocaust; the actual number is around six million. Forty-one percent of Americans, and 66 percent of millennials, cannot say what Auschwitz was. And 52 percent of Americans wrongly think Hitler came to power through force. Although 96% of Americans do believe genocide happened before and during the events of World War II, most of the historical detailing has become fuzzy in the minds of millennials and younger generations. Why have we forgotten what we must not forget? Why must we never forget the Holocaust? And what is the cost of fading memories of these historical events? Why Have We Forgotten? A number of factors can play into the reason why Americans dont remember the events that they must never forget. First, certain minority groups targeted during the Holocaust have faded from the picture altogether, such as the Roma, people with disabilities, Polish people, prisoners of war from the Soviet Union, black Germans, Jehovahs Witnesses, and those from the LGBTQ+ community. Most, with a very basic idea of the Holocaust, could say that Nazi Germany targeted Orthodox Jews, which they indeed did, but their reach goes far beyond that. Second, education can play a role in why we forget. Some schools, distraught by the lack of knowledge have integrated teachings about the Holocaust into their schools curriculum, but not every school has followed suit. Third, with fewer survivors of the events still living, and with media tending to twist and distort news, millennials and younger generations have less of a fighting chance of getting the right information about what really happened during the Holocaust. I was blessed enough to interview a World War II veteran for his memoir during my sophomore year of college before he passed away, but many in my generation do not have the ability to speak with someone who was an eyewitness during the time of the Holocaust. Although we do have access to books and other media that documents eyewitness accounts such as The Diary of Anne Frank and The Hiding Place, younger generations seem to read less than previous ones. The best way to reach them is via social media, but that is also the best way to reach them with content that twists the truth. Fourth, and most importantly, Satan likes to cause division and strife (John 8:43-44). If generations forget about the horrors of the Holocaust or approach them in an apathetic manner, whats to prevent them from repeating them? Why Must We Never Forget? As the old mantra goes, Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it. If an entire generation of adults is ignorant of most of the details about the Holocaust, what can prevent them from repeating the same atrocities? Although our generation may have seen previous generations as uncivilized and by no means would we, as a woke generation, commit the same horrors, we have to keep in mind Nazi Germany was by no means barbaric in the sense that we understand the term. Germany would have been extremely advanced. And yet, they committed some of the most heinous acts of all history. Because sin runs rampant in the hearts of men, anyone ruled by the powers of this world is capable of great, evil acts (Ephesians 6:12). We must never forget because we must never repeat the events of history. We must also remember that Hitler didnt simply take power overnight and start the Holocaust the next day. The events happened gradually from 1933 to 1941 until it was too late to stop them. No one saw the Holocaust coming. Now, we have a historical advantage. We could see how Hitler rose to power and prevent similar leaders today from following in his footsteps, but only if we truly remember history correctly. With anti-Semitism on the rise, we must especially now, more than ever, never forget the events of the Holocaust and understand that they can happen to any targeted minority group. As Deuteronomy 32:7 says, Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you. We need to learn everything we can about history, so we do not repeat it. iStock/Getty Images Plus/fermate Hope Bolinger is a multi-published novelist and a graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program. More than 1,200 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest to Keys for Kids. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. Her modern-day Daniel trilogy is out with IlluminateYA. She is also the co-author of the Dear Hero duology, which was published by INtense Publications. And her inspirational adult romance Picture Imperfect releases in November of 2021. Find out more about her at her website. US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the COVID-19 crisis by phone today, the White House announced. White House spokesman Judd Deere said that they discussed ongoing efforts to combat the coronavirus in the United States and Turkey. The two leaders agreed to work closely together on the international campaign to defeat the virus and bolster the global economy. Trump and Erdogan also discussed the conflicts in Syria and Libya and the need for both countries to adhere to cease-fires and work toward resolution. Turkey has committed ground troops to both conflicts. Why it matters: The United States has the most coronavirus infections in the world with nearly 162,000 recorded cases and more than 3,000 deaths. The pandemic is also increasingly severe in Turkey, which has the 12th most infections in the world with nearly 13,531 recorded cases and 214 deaths so far. Vast swathes of both countries are on an extended lockdown and Washington and Ankara have each faced criticism for their respective responses to the crisis. The United States has come under fire for the slow rate of testing while the Turkish government has been accused of obfuscating the number of cases and failing to disclose what regions have been hardest hit by COVID-19. Whats next: Parliamentarians from Turkeys Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party are planning an alternative coronavirus task force that they say will better inform the public about the extent of the pandemic in Turkey. They argue that distrust of the Turkish government has dissuaded people from social distancing in Kurdish-majority areas, where curfews have been in place since 2015 because of the ongoing military conflict with the Kurdistan Workers Party. Know more: Ayla Jean Yackley takes an in-depth look at the quarantines Turkey is instating while Kadri Gursel details Ankaras lack of transparency over the epidemic. And Bryant Harris reports on the nearly $40 million in coronavirus and humanitarian aid that Washington is touting for the Middle East as the crisis unfolds. Amid apprehensions of substantial spread of COVID-19 after a religions congregation in Nizamuddin in the national capital left many infected with the virus, the Health Ministry on Tuesday said it was not the time to find faults but to take action. The Delhi Police has cordoned off a major area in Nizamuddin West here where many people showed symptoms of coronavirus after taking part in the Tabligh-e-Jamaat held earlier this month that was attended by over 2,000 people. "With respect to the Nizamuddin area, we all need to understand and appreciate that this is not the time to do fault finding. What is important for us is to take action as per our containment process in whatever areas we find a case," Agarwal said at a press briefing. Twenty-four people who took part in the religious congregation have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said earlier on Tuesday. He said 700 people who attended the congregation have been quarantined while around 335 people have been admitted to hospitals, and that screening of all those who participated in the event was being conducted by the government. Over 2,000 delegates, including from Indonesia and Malaysia, attended the congregation after the government banned social gatherings. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gujarat police on Tuesday said some persons from the state had attended an Islamic congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi that has become a key source for the spread of coronavirus in the country, and process is in to identity and locate them. From Surat alone, as many as 76 people had attended the gathering at Markaz Nizamuddin, the headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat, earlier this month, officials said. Now, authorities are trying to locate them as they may have got infected with the deadly virus, said officials of the Surat Municipal Corporation. While a probe has been ordered to identify all the attendees, primary investigations so far had revealed that some persons from Bhavnagar, too, had visited the congregation, said Gujarat DGP Shivanand Jha. "We are aware that some persons from Gujarat had visited the gathering. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has also taken cognizance of the issue. DCP Dipan Bhadran of the Ahmedabad crime branch, along with the ATS, has been handed over the probe to identify the people," the DGP told reporters in Gandhinagar. "Primary investigations revealed that people from Bhavnagar attended the event. More details will emerge during the probe. We will share the information with the health department to initiate home quarantine for such people," Jha said. Officials in Delhi had said that about 30 of those who attended the Nizamuddin event in mid-March tested positive and at least three have succumbed to the infection in the last few days. Surat municipal commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani said efforts are on to trace the attendees from the city. We have learned that 76 persons from Surat had attended the event in Nizamuddin. We have formed teams to trace them. I urge them to voluntarily come forward and contact us. "There is no need to panic. I also urge people to share any information they have about these 76 persons," said Pani. The Bhavnagar police had also swung into action to identify those who had visited the meet site. "We have information that some people from Bhavnagar had visited the gathering. We have formed teams to identify and locate them," said Inspector General of Police, Bhavnagar Range, Ashok Kumar Yadav. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown wants the next coronavirus-related stimulus package that Washington produces to include hazard pay, or Pandemic Premium Pay," as he puts it, to provide time and a half wages to workers at the front line of the pandemic including doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, building cleaners, letter carriers, and transit workers. On Tuesday, Brown wrote a letter to President Donald Trump that sought the extra compensation for workers, as well as additional precautions to protect them from workplace exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Browns office said his letter followed statements Trump made during a Monday interview on FoxNews, when he was asked whether hed consider hazard pay for people like emergency room nurses who dont qualify for stimulus bill money, but whose expenses have increased tremendously during the pandemic. Trump said the White House is looking at that, through providing funding to hospitals. These are really brave people, said Trump. We are asking the hospitals to do it and consider something, including bonuses, and I think theyre entitled to it. If anybody is entitled to it, they are. Browns letter took it further, suggesting extra money for workers at a variety of other essential businesses, to compensate them for the commitment and sacrifices theyve made at great risk to them and their families. He also said the extra money should be made available to part-time workers and independent contractors, for all of their hours worked, it should be provided in their regular paychecks, and it should be retroactive from the beginning of the public health emergency and last for its duration. Many health care workers have already fallen ill, and at least three have died as a result of the coronavirus," Browns letter continued. Additionally, there are reports of workers contracting the virus in grocery stores and other places of employment. Providing Pandemic Premium Pay will not mitigate frontline workers health risks, which is why your Administration must also quickly publish an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that requires employers to implement comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plans to protect frontline health care and all other essential workers from the coronavirus. Worker health is public health, and we must protect the health of workers to protect the public. The letter did not discuss where money for the added pay would come from. Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman on Tuesday told reporters that he believes there will be another stimulus package focused on getting the economy back on track," that will fill any gaps left by previous legislation. He suggested it might include aid for local governments and midsized cities that are getting less tax revenue but have higher expenses because of the coronavirus. Portman said he hopes that during consideration of the next relief bill, we could also look at what are the best practices to actually stimulate economic activity again to get people back to work where they can get a salary, where theyre paying taxes to our state and local governments. More coronavirus coverage: Amid coronavirus emergency, Sen. Rob Portman seeks Chinese tariff exemption for Ohio firm that makes Purell hand sanitizer Ohio authorities ask President Trump for federal 'major disaster designation Trump-branded coronavirus government mailing spurs criticism President Trump tells governors about new county-by-county coronavirus risk system U.S. Senate approves $2 trillion coronavirus package that includes relief checks $1,200 checks, extended unemployment benefits: Whats in the U.S. Senates $2 trillion coronavirus deal Ohio Democrats want President Trump to federalize medical supply chain during coronavirus emergency Ohio health centers get $3.2 million from federal government to address coronavirus Sen. Rand Pauls positive coronavirus test negatively affects other senators, but Ohio senators still on the job Democrats including Ohios Sherrod Brown block Senate GOP coronavirus bill President Trump suspends student loan interest, allows payment delays during coronavirus pandemic Coronavirus causes suspension of the Scripps National Spelling Bee finals Senate passes coronavirus relief bill as Ohio legislators seek more aid for workers and businesses Canadian border will be closed to non-essential traffic over coronavirus, Trump says U.S. government may issue coronavirus relief checks to workers Federal judge halts upcoming food stamp cut amid coronavirus concerns A senior NHS figure has said that green shoots are appearing in the battle against coronavirus as he warned the British public not to take their foot off the pedal. NHS England national medical director Dr Stephen Powis said during the governments daily press conference on Tuesday that infection rate figures show people are paying attention to the governments message. Dr Powis pointed to the number of people using transport services, saying the figures had "reduced dramatically" in the past few weeks. Dr Powiss warnings were echoed by Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove who said there were signs the rate of infection is being flattened. But, he added: Now is absolutely not the time for people to imagine there can be any relaxation or slackening of lockdown measures. He said the fact that the infection rate was not rising as quickly as it had on some days in the past month showed that the governments extreme lockdown measures were working. National Medical Director at NHS England Stephen Powis (left), Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries (right) answering questions from the media at Downing Street. (PA) "We have had a rise in the number of UK cases, but recently we have had a bit of a plateau," Dr Powis said. Its really important not to read too much into this. "It's early days, we're not out of the woods - we're very much in the woods - but it's very important we keep complying with those instructions." As you can see the number of infections is not rising as rapidly as it once was. So green shoots, but only green shoots and we must not be complacent, and we must not take our foot off the pedal. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice The government is bracing for even more cases and deaths in the coming days. (Getty) Professor Powis said that the rate of hospitalisation of cases for Covid-19 was still increasing, as was expected at this stage of the epidemic. However, he said that if the number of infections started to drop, then in the next few weeks the hope was that the number of hospitalisations would also begin to fall. Story continues Asked whether we should be more confident about how coronavirus is progressing in the UK, Mr Powis added: So I honestly think its too early to tell at the moment and I very specifically used the term because they are just green shoots, and winter could come and those green shoots could turn out to be not the hopeful green shots that they thought they might be. But I think the next week or two will be critical as we move through. You have to keep your foot on the pedal as I said, no complacency. I want to encourage the public that they are playing their part but I dont want to give the message that we need to do anything other than maintain our compliance with the instructions everybody needs to do that. A total of 1,789 patients have now died overall in UK hospitals as of 5pm on Monday, the Department of Health said, up by 381 from 1,408 the day before. The total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK now stands at 25,150, as of 9am March 31. Earlier this week Boris Johnson warned that the coronavirus crisis will get worse before it gets better, in a letter he sent to every UK household. Mr Johnson, who is self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19, says stricter restrictions could be put in place if necessary. In the letter being sent to 30 million households, Mr Johnson wrote: "From the start, we have sought to put in the right measures at the right time. "We will not hesitate to go further if that is what the scientific and medical advice tells us we must do." HIGHLIGHTS AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE ONTARIO SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS PROVIDED RELIEF IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN SECURITIES FILING REQUIREMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE RELIEF PROVIDED BY THE ONTARIO SECURITIES COMMISSION, TITAN WILL POSTPONE THE FILING OF ITS 2019 ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ASSOCIATED MD&A TORONTO, March 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In response to logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Titan Minerals Limited ("Titan") (ASX: TTM) has announced that it is postponing the filing of its audited annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 and associated managements discussion and analysis (MD&A). Titans announcement comes in connection with an Ontario Securities Commission (the OSC) order under Ontario Instrument 51-502 (OI 51-502) dated March 23, 2020, pursuant to which all issuers required to make certain Ontario securities filings between March 23, 2020, and June 1, 2020, have an additional 45 days to make such filings from the deadline otherwise applicable to make such filings. Titan will file its financial statements and MD&A as soon as possible, and in any event within the 45-day relief period provided by OI 51-502. Titan confirms that its management and insiders are subject to an insider trading black-out policy that reflects the principles set out in section 9 of National Policy 11-207. Material Business Developments On September 30, 2019, Titan commenced a take-over bid (the Bid) for all of the common shares of Core Gold Inc. (the Core Shares). On February 7, 2020, Titan announced that it had completed its Bid, and following the take-up of the tendered Core Shares, Titan now holds 91.32% of the issued and outstanding Core Shares. As disclosed in its Bid circular and subsequent press releases, Titan intends to pursue the delisting of Core Gold Inc., and to complete a second-step (going private) transaction by way of consolidation of the outstanding Core Shares. There have been no other material developments in the business of Titan since December 18, 2019, being the date the interim financial statements of Titan for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 were filed as part of a notice of change and variation in connection with the Bid. This announcement has been approved by Matthew Carr - Executive Director of Titan. For further information please contact: Mr Laurence Marsland, Managing Director Titan Minerals E: info@titanminerals.com.au T: +61 8 6555 2950 About Titan Minerals Limited Titan is the owner and operator of a copper and gold business in a well-established mining region of Southern Peru. Titan is currently commissioning the Vista gold plant in Southern Peru. A centralised processing facility produces loaded carbon from the Carbon-in-Pulp gold circuit, with feed sourced from third party operators previously averaging 17 to 24 g/t Au head grades. Titans gold assets include the wholly-owned Torrecillas exploration project and an exclusive right to acquire an 85% interest in the Las Antas gold project (refer to Titans ASX release dated 14 January 2019). At Torrecillas, a number of high-grade narrow gold veins have been developed and mined by Titan, and Las Antas is a key prospect within a district of high-grade gold and silver veins located within trucking distance of Titans Vista gold plant. Titan is continuously evaluating projects within Peru for acquisition or joint venture to both provide additional, low cost gold and silver mineralized material feed for existing processing facilities and opportunities for processing growth and expansion. In addition, Titan shall also continue to evaluate projects elsewhere in gold, copper and other commodities to grow shareholder value. Website: www.titanminerals.com.au Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information A ship belonging to notorious pirate Blackbeard who terrorised the high seas 300 years ago has featured in a modern-day US Supreme Court battle over copyright piracy. The ironic case came about over footage of the remains of the Queen Anne's Revenge - the vessel the Bristol pirate used to wreak havoc - which is being salvaged by private company Intersal from the shallow waters of North Carolina. The research and salvage company hired Nautilus Productions to take pictures and video of the project. Some of the material was used by the state of North Carolina to promote tourism. A ship belonging to notorious pirate Blackbeard (pictured) who terrorised the high seas 300 years ago has featured in a modern-day US Supreme Court battle over copyright piracy Blackbeard, whose real name is Edward Thatch, and his Republic of Pirates caused chaos in the Caribbean and along the east coast of the United States in the 1600s to the 1710s. Many pirates either started off or ended up being 'privateers', pirates sent by the kings or governments of countries to plunder foreign shipping. It was only when the likes of Thatch - decided to go it alone that piracy was seen as a problem. The ironic case came about over footage of the remains of the Queen Anne's Revenge - the vessel the Bristol pirate used to terrorise the high seas. Pictured: The anchor being salvaged The Bristol-born pirate decided to cut his losses and try to settle on dry land in 1718. But Blackbeard's law-abiding life didn't last long and he was soon back out on the waters being a pirate again. He was killed in battle on board a different ship before the year was out. Blackbeard's ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, was discovered at the bottom of shallow waters of Beaufort Inlet in North Carolina in 1996 by Intersal. It was agreed that the ship was a historic artefact that belonged to the state of North Carolina. Research and salvage company Intersal began work to salvage the contents of the ship - including its 3,000-pound anchor (pictured) Intersal began work to salvage the contents of the ship - including its 3,000-pound anchor - and hired a company called Nautilus Productions to document the decades of work on the wreck with video and photographs, mainly underwater. In 2013, the state of North Carolina took that film and used a bit of it in a tourism video extolling the virtues of visiting the state. It did so without getting permission - which Nautilus Productions and Intersal claimed amounted to copyright piracy. North Carolina paid Intersal $15,000 (12,100) for the infringement of copyright, but then did the exact same thing again. After taking a second bit of video, North Carolina's state legislators passed a law - known as 'Blackbeard's Law' - which ruled that regular copyright laws did not apply to the state of North Carolina. Nautilus Productions objected to this and took the case up through the courts to the very top. Many pirates either started off or ended up being 'privateers', pirates sent by the kings or governments of countries to plunder foreign shipping. It was only when the likes of Blackbeard (pictured) decided to go it alone that piracy was seen as a problem 'After Nautilus spent nearly two decades creating works by photographing and filming (at considerable risk) underwater excavation of Blackbeard's famed Queen Anne's Revenge, the state brazenly pirated them,' the company protested in legal papers. Federal law initially sided with the company but then agreed that states are immune under a constitutional amendment. The Supreme Court backed that view and Associate Justice Elena Kagan ruled precedent did indeed side with North Carolina. She urged Congress to look again at the law and said: 'If it detects violations of due process, then it may enact a proportionate response. 'That kind of tailored statute can effectively stop states from behaving as copyright pirates. 'Even while respecting constitutional limits, it can bring digital Blackbeards to justice.' It took a year including several weeks of intense cramming for the opportunity to play for 22 minutes (with the possibility of more) against one person whos already a champion and someone else whos a wild card. So many things can happen to change the outcome of each game and anyone whos ever played can undoubtedly tell you every single one of them, Mehta wrote in his blog. Police are at the scene of a popular beachside reserve on Sydney's North Shore after bones were found by shocked locals. NSW Police has confirmed an investigation is underway after a member of the public made the grim discovery at Rosherville Reserve, which backs onto Chinamans Beach in Mosman, at about 1.45pm on Tuesday. Photos show officers digging at a cordoned off section of the reserve. Police remained at the scene at Rosherville Reserve in Mosman on Tuesday night after a member of the public came across bones in the beachside reserve The reserve backs onto a secluded beach, which is popular with swimmers, kayakers and snorkellers. 'Police have established a crime scene, where specialist police will conduct forensic testing,' a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia. It's unknown whether the bones are human or animal. 'We won't know until the forensic officers get here,' the spokeswoman said. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the first world leader to announce he had tested positive for the coronavirus, continues to perform his duties by staying on top of issues. Meeting for now are carried out over video links while self-isolating in his Downing Street flat. PM Johnson stated he felt the public appeared to be obeying the rulings set up by the government to avoid the spread of the coronavirus and get the count down, adding that bus usage was down 75% and train usage was down 95%. The Prime Minister wants UK citizens to know that although it looks bad now it will get back to normal again if citizens follow the restrictions. China's downplay of numbers According to reports by the Business Insider, PM Johnson is very irritated on how China handled the News of the severity of the coronavirus. He accused them of sending out disinformation on the numbers of cases and the nature of the virus, The Mail on Sunday reports. Reports from scientists were that China was downplaying the numbers of confirmed cases by huge numbers. At one point China's government disclosed 3,304 deaths in Wuhan at the same time Radio Free Asia was reporting a estimated 42,000 corpses were disposed of by funeral homes in Wuhan. Other UK officials also expressed their anger over China's handling of the coronavirus issue, stating China should be punished for its outrageous conduct. UK to look at diplomatic policies when it comes to China UK officials are talking about rethinking diplomatic decisions on how to treat China. PM Johnson is so incensed that he's finally willing to rethink his hard stance on letting Chinese telecom Huawei develop UK's 5G wireless network, according to Business Insider. Other members of his Conservative Party agree, as they did when President Trump last month urged PM Johnson not to use Huawei or put much faith in China. The Chinese government has a long record of not being a reliable partner when it comes to diplomacy or trade with United States or its allies. Due to their latest conduct on the coronavirus issue many countries will be weighting if they wish to continue doing business with them. Even though information is leaking out on real numbers from China; Chinese government are claiming 81,439 cases and 3,304 deaths. PM Johnson writing letter to citizens of UK According to the UK government, as of today another 180 people have lost their life, bringing the total to 1,408 dead due to coronavirus. PM Johnson has written a letter to households around the country urging national unity and encouraging citizens to follow the rules and stay home. The letter also thanks the hard working NHS workers and volunteers who are helping those vulnerable with daily tasks. Included in the letter will be a leaflet on the steps citizens are asked to take to avoid the spread of coronavirus. There are more than 5,100 kilometres of asbestos water pipes in Ireland. The substance can cause cancer if inhaled, but Irish Water denies that is the case if you consume it through drinking-water. Asbestos cement was commonly used to build truck mains from the 1950s to the 1980s, but it has not been used for that purpose in Ireland since that period. But according to details released under the Freedom of Information, there are still 5,122 kilometres of asbestos cement water mains throughout Ireland. 22% of it is in Cork, which is nearly double the amount in greater Dublin. Other counties with significant amounts are Donegal, Tipperary and Kerry. Irish Water was unable to say how many of the pipes had burst in recent years. But Jack OSullivan, an environmental scientist, is calling for the utility to make sure they are in good order. Those asbestos pipes, to my understanding, would be between 50 and 70 years old, he said. And thats a long age. Mr OSullivan said that the most important thing Irish Water should do is to carry out a risk assessment of the structural integrity of those pipes. But Irish Water denies asbestos water mains are harmful to peoples health. It points out the World Health Organisation says asbestos can cause cancer if inhaled but not if ingested through drinking-water. Feeling a little confined to your own piece of Earth these days? We all are, but NASA has put together a vision-expanding package for people and families online and on television. Its all on a new website called NASA at Home, and it is worth a look. The new site features videos, podcasts, E-books and virtual and augmented reality tours. Alabama, for example, might like the 2019 E-book Hubble Focus: Galaxies Through Space and Time and the virtual tour of Hubbles command center in Maryland. Hubble was developed at Huntsvilles Marshall Space Flight Center, and few things have changed the way we see the universe as much. The new site will also feature NASA experts, some doing things you might not expect. For example, astronaut Christina Koch will read childrens books weekdays at 3 p.m. CDT on Instagram live. We know people everywhere, especially students, are looking for ways to get out of the house without leaving their house, Bettina Inclan of NASAs Office of Communications said today. NASA has a way for them to look to the skies and see themselves in space with their feet planted safely on the ground, but their imaginations are free to explore everywhere we go. The website also offers educational resources and activities for families and students, and it gives citizen scientists a way to contribute to real ongoing research, from our solar systems backyard to your own backyard, NASA says. This includes searching for brown dwarfs and planets in our outer solar system and helping track changes in clouds, water, plants, and other life in support of climate research. Meanwhile, NASA Television is running home-themed programming 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays as well as around-the-clock broadcasts about NASA missions. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Six of Africa's 54 nations are among the last in the world yet to report cases of the new coronavirus. The global pandemic has been confirmed in almost every country, but for a handful of far-flung tiny island states, war-torn Yemen and isolated North Korea. In Africa authorities claim they are spared by god, or simply saved by low air traffic to their countries, however some fear it is lack of testing that is hiding the true impact. South Sudan The east African nation is barely emerging from six years of civil war and with high levels of hunger, illness and little infrastructure, observers fear the virus could wreak havoc. Doctor Angok Gordon Kuol, one of those charged with overseeing the fight against the virus, said the country had only carried out 12 tests, none of which were positive. He said the reason the virus has yet to reach South Sudan could be explained by the low volume of air traffic and travel to the country. "Very few airlines come to South Sudan and most of the countries affected today they are affected by... people coming from abroad." He said the main concern was foreigners working for the large NGO and humanitarian community, or people crossing land borders from neighbouring countries. South Sudan has shut schools, banned gatherings such as weddings, funerals and sporting events and blocked flights from worst-affected countries. Non-essential businesses have been shuttered and movement restricted. The country can currently test around 500 people and has one isolation centre with 24 beds. Burundi In Burundi, which is gearing up for general elections in May, authorities thank divine intervention for the lack of cases. "The government thanks all-powerful God who has protected Burundi," government spokesman Prosper Ntahorwamiye said on national television last week. At the same time he criticised those "spreading rumours" that Burundi is not capable of testing for the virus, or that it is spreading unnoticed. Some measures have been taken, such as the suspension of international flights and placing handwashing stations at the entrances to banks and restaurants in Bujumbura. However several doctors have expressed their concerns. "There are zero cases in Burundi because there have been zero tests," a Burundian doctor said on condition of anonymity. Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome and Principea tiny nation of small islands covered in lush rainforesthas reported zero cases because it is unable to test, according to World Health Organisation representative Anne Ancia. However "we are continuing preparations," with around 100 people in quarantine after returning from highly-affected countries, and the WHO keeping an eye on cases of pneumonia. With only four ICU beds for a population of 200,000 people, the country is desperate to not let the virus take hold and has already shut its borders despite the importance of tourism to the local economy. Malawi Malawi's health ministry spokesman Joshua Malango brushed aside fears that Malawi might not have registered any Covid-19 cases due to a lack of testing kits: "We have the testing kits in Malawi and we are testing." Dr Bridget Malewezi from the Society of Medical Doctors told AFP that while "we may not be 100 percent ready", government was gearing up for the arrival of the virus. She suggested it may only be a matter of time before the pandemic hits Malawi. "It's only been in the past few weeks that it has been rampantly spreading across Africa so most people feel it will get here at some point...," she said. Malawi has asked people coming from hard-hit countries to self-quarantine, which Malawezi said had helped "safeguard the country from any possible spread of the virus". Lesotho Tiny Lesotho, a kingdom encircled by South Africa with only two million inhabitants, went into national lockdown on Monday despite registering zero cases. Until last week the country had no tests or testing centres, and received its first kits thanks to a donation by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma. Authorities had reported eight suspected cases which they had not been able to test and the first results are expected soon. Comoros The Indian Ocean island nation of the Comoros, situated between Madagascar and Mozambique, has yet to detect a single case of the virus, according to the health ministry. One doctor in the capital Moroni, Dr Abdou Ada, wonders if it may not be because of the wide use of the drug Artemisinin to treat malaria. "I believe that the mass anti-malarial treatment explains the fact that the Comoros are, at least for now, spared from Covid-19. it is a personal belief that needs to be confirmed scientifically." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 AFP Operating Imagine Books and Records, a small shop and music venue in West San Antonio, was never easy. But the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic dealt the business what looked to be a fatal blow. Shows were canceled and sales plummeted as customers worried about finances and paying for basic necessities, said owner Don Hurd. He fell behind on rent. He closed the shop altogether after officials in San Antonio and Bexar County last week ordered residents to stay home, save for essential trips. A default notice arrived from his landlord. Its probably going to be the end for us, Hurd said in an interview last week. But he later decided to try fundraising to keep the shop afloat. His son set up an online GoFundMe campaign over the weekend. They had created a campaign once before, when Imagine moved a few doors down in a shopping center at 8373 Culebra Road. If we just closed and people heard about it afterwards, I had a feeling they were going to come to me and say, Why didnt you say something we could have helped, Hurd said. I didnt want to give up without a fight. Within minutes of campaign going live, donations and messages of support started pouring in, and in less than 24 hours the campaign reached the set goal of $5,000. Hurd said he was so overcome he started crying. I feel like George Bailey, he said, referring to the protagonist in the film Its a Wonderful Life. I feel like the richest man in town. Im overwhelmed and grateful. Hurd said hell use the money to catch up on rent and pay for the next two months. Donations, meanwhile, are still coming in. Hurd said hes looking at putting more items for sale online and mailing products to customers. If this (pandemic) lasts longer, I dont know, but now we have a lease on life and a responsibility to fight, he said. We can move forward with some hope. On the GoFundMe page, donors described playing shows at Imagine and talking to employees about music and books. A former student of Hurds pitched in. I hope he raises enough money to keep the place open so I can take my kids to go check it out when this pandemic is all over, one contributor wrote. Hurd opened Imagine after becoming disenchanted with his job as an English teacher. Education was changing, with more emphasis being placed on testing, he said. Owning a book and record store had been his lifelong dream. In the 1980s, Hurd said he worked at an assortment of San Antonio bookstores, organized poetry and music events and played in bands that performed all over the city. Hurds wife gave the go-ahead to his plan to quit teaching and open Imagine in 2011. Since then, musicians from across the globe have performed there. Many of the stores customers are between the ages of 15 and 35, and they stop by for shows or to browse used and rare books and records. Hurd said his goal was to create a place where everyone felt welcome and safe. As (Ernest) Hemingway wrote, we all need a clean, well-lighted place, he said. madison.iszler@express-news.net 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. NevadaIRS Criminal Investigation wants to ensure you do not fall victim to fraud with the COVID-19 Stimulus checks or direct deposits on the way. For most Americans, the stimulus funds will be a direct deposit into your bank account. For the unbanked, elderly or other groups we have traditionally seen receive tax refunds via paper check, they will receive their stimulus check in this manner as well. With any good news story from the IRS comes an opportunity for criminals/scammers to take advantage of the American public. We will see this in a variety of ways: Dozens of tradespeople have been sent home from one of the biggest construction sites in Melbourne after a worker tested positive for coronavirus. All workers at the Melbourne Square project, near Southbank, were told to go home on Tuesday morning. The worker is believed to have contracted the virus from his partner, 3AW reported. The worksite has been immediately shut for cleaning. All workers at the Melbourne Square project (pictured), near Southbank, were told to go home on Tuesday morning In a statement, Multiplex Construction confirmed the workers had been sent home. 'Multiplex was notified last night that a worker who had attended out Melbourne Square site was found to have tested positive for COVID-19,' regional managing director Graham Cotton said. 'We immediately carried out a full clean and sanitisation of the site in accordance with the latest protocols. 'Upon appropriate clearance, we anticipate work recommending within 24 hours. 'Those working in close contact with the affected worker have been asked to self-isolate, in accordance with Department of Health recommendations. We are taking every precaution for the wellbeing of our people and the community.' It comes after Australia's first construction site coronavirus case at a workplace in Parkville, Melbourne on Sunday. The sub-contractor was working on the University of Melbourne's new student precinct project. The worker tested positive for coronavirus after returning to Australia from England. The CFMEU said the man went to work before compulsory self-isolation rules were introduced on March 16. As world markets, especially U.S. markets, tremble on surging cases of the coronavirus, there's one market seeing investors return: China. The infection rate of coronavirus has slowed in China, and there appears to be a growing appetite among fund managers to start buying Chinese assets again. Pinebridge Investments, a New York-based firm, is going "all in." The firm had total assets under management of $101.3 billion as of the end of last year including $25.5 billion in stocks and $64.3 billion in fixed income. "We have recently boosted China A shares from a small single-digit starting position to a low double-digit weighting," Michael Kelly, global head of multi-asset at Pinebridge, told CNBC over email. "As a result of COVID-19, the West is now seeing plunging economics through at least (the second quarter), while the East, led by China, is already full of" companies that are showing recovery. "April macro data will clearly have a better tone for China," he said, "while beginning a plunge in the West of unknown duration." Pinebridge is not alone. UBS Asset Management in late February launched a new Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) that gets it into China's onshore stock market. ETFs track benchmarks in the same way mutual funds do, but they trade more actively like stocks. While not commenting on the launch of the ETF, Kelvin Tay, regional chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management, said he's upbeat on China. Coal consumption and property sales are almost at 80%-90% of prior levels, he said, and the labor market is becoming more active. "An estimated 40% of MSCI China's stocks are technology-related," he said in an email interview, referring to an index that tracks stocks trading in Shanghai and Shenzhen. "These sectors are far less vulnerable to the economic slowdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We expect the virus to have long-term implications in areas including US-China trade, global supply chains, digital infrastructure, and offline to online migration." China's largest market is China ... Clearly China's exports to the West will see no uplift for a while, yet a slow and steady pick up in local demand is capable of bridging the gap. Michael Kelly Global Head of Multi-Asset, Pinebridge Investments China President Xi Jinping gave strong pro-growth signals at last Friday's Politburo meeting, Goldman Sachs said in a note. Goldman's report said Chinese policy is focusing on stimulating demand while stabilizing employment, trade, financial markets and foreign capital. "China's largest market is China," said Kelly of Pinebridge. "A high savings rate will enable recovery for some time. Clearly China's exports to the West will see no uplift for a while, yet a slow and steady pickup in local demand is capable of bridging the gap." Picking sectors Analysts see opportunities in infrastructure-related themes in China, such as 5G connectivity, semiconductors and health care. China's government spending, at 1% of gross domestic product, lags the U.S. rate of 10%. But China is expected to do more in terms of fixing disrupted supply chains. Not only Pinebridge's equities team, but its fixed income team is also buying China. Arthur Lau, co-head of emerging market fixed income, said he likes state-owned, investment-grade companies in utilities and financials, with a defensive position in commodities. In the riskier, high-yield space, where companies are seen as more likely to default, Pinebridge prefers the property sector. With loans available at cheaper rates, the flow of money is seen continuing within that sector. And then there's the yuan Ex-Yukos security chief serving life term again petitions for parole RIA Novosti 10:51 31/03/2020 MOSCOW, March 31 (RAPSI) - Ex-Yukos security chief Alexey Pichugin serving a life term in prison has filed a new petition for pardon addressed to the President, his lawyer Ksenia Kostromina has told RAPSI. Pichugin has already spent 16 years and 9 months behind bars, according to the attorney. In July 2017, Pichugin was denied pardon. That was his second petition for pardon. The first petition was dismissed in the summer of 2016. The Supreme Court of Russia in November 2017 upheld the sentence of Pichugin and refused to resume proceedings in the case. The courts Presidium reviewed the case following the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued on June 6, 2017. The Strasbourg-based court found violation of presumption of innocence and assessment of evidence by Russian courts in the second case against him and awarded over 15,000 in compensation including costs and expenses to Pichugin. Two criminal cases have been opened against ex-Yukos security chief in Russia on charges of organizing murders and attempted assassinations. In 2005, he received 20 years in prison in the first case. In 2007, he was sentenced to life in prison in the second case. Irans natural gas exports to Turkey were suspended early on Tuesday local time after a pipeline explosion occurred on Turkeys territory near the Iranian border. According to Irans Mehr News Agency, some sources reported that the blast was the result of a terrorist attack, and it was unclear when Irans natural gas exports to Turkey could resume. An Iranian official told Irans state television that it was a terrorist attack that led to the explosion of the pipeline. This morning, terrorists attacked a natural gas pipeline inside Turkey near Irans Bazargan border with Turkey ... Flow of gas has been halted, Mehdi Jamshidi Dana, Director of National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) in charge of dispatching, told state TV, as carried by Reuters. According to Irans IRNA news agency, several explosions occurred at the natural gas pipeline on Turkish soil. It was likely that PKK, Kurdistans Workers Party, was responsible for the blast, Dana told IRNA. The pipeline moves around 10 billion cubic meters of Iranian gas to Turkey every year. It has been the target of attack by Kurdish militants between the 1990s and 2013, when the parties agreed on a ceasefire, according to IRNA. Related: Russias Plan To Bankrupt U.S. Shale Could Send Oil To $60 Turkey also confirmed a blast had occurred on the pipeline, with the Anadolu Agency reporting that the fire was extinguished and the military had secured the area near the Gurbulak border crossing, known as Bazargan in Iran. According to Turkish media and Al Jazeera, an investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the explosion. According to Iranian media, Iran will soon resume exports of natural gas to Turkey. The damaged part of Irans gas export pipeline to Turkey will be repaired within the next few days, NIGCs Mehdi Jamshidi Dana told the Iranian oil ministrys news service, Shana. Typically, such repair work takes between three and seven days, depending on the damage, Dana said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- More than 140 inventions that could provide significant advances toward modernization received Army funding last year. The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory and its Army Research Office, invest in basic science research at nonprofits and universities to develop innovative advances for the future Soldier. During fiscal 2019 those research grants and contracts resulted in 141 inventions at institutions throughout the country. "We cultivate entrepreneurs and facilitate scientific breakthroughs that will provide commanders with opportunities to build game-changing future technology programs," said Dr. Barton H. Halpern, ARO director. "These inventions demonstrate that. We're excited to see the impact they will have for the Army of the future." Some of the university inventions funded through ARO and ARL include: A miniature remotely accessible self-driving car robot at Arizona State University-Tempe A method to construct, analyze and detect analog trojans at the University of Florida High-performance ladder polymers for membrane gas separation at Stanford University Photonic quantum computing using entangled squeezed state clusters at the University of Arizona Methods for stable, long-term culture of engineered human pancreatic tissue in vitro for disease modeling, therapeutic drug discovering/screening and disuse engineering at Harvard University Variable Zoom X-Ray Computed Tomography at University of Texas Arlington ARO serves as the Army's principal agent for the planning, organization, selection and management of extramural basic research. "Our program managers identify emerging scientific opportunities and fund basic science research to create innovative advances across the sciences related to long-term Army Priorities," Halpern said. "The resulting discoveries, provide the Army with innovations for the future operating environment." The Bayh-Dole act permits businesses, nonprofits and universities to retain ownership of subject inventions made under federally funded research grants and contracts, while also giving the government the license to practice the subject invention. The Army funds research at more than 250 universities across the country and around the world and focuses on increasing fundamental knowledge and understanding in the engineering, physical, life, mathematical, computer, information and social sciences, to enable crucial future Army technologies and capabilities. ARO has a research portfolio that exceeds $450 million, including more than 1,000 single investigator research projects, more than 40 multidisciplinary research centers and three University Affiliated Research Centers. ### CCDC Army Research Laboratory is an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. As the Army's corporate research laboratory, ARL discovers, innovates and transitions science and technology to ensure dominant strategic land power. Through collaboration across the command's core technical competencies, CCDC leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more lethal to win our nation's wars and come home safely. Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal has written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri seeking a special flight to Leh from Delhi and Chandigarh, where many patients of his constituency are stranded. He said many people from Ladakh are undergoing treatment at various reputed hospitals like AIIMS, Delhi and PGI, Chandigarh. "Many of them came for routine check-up/follow up under the medical protocol. Most of the patients are budgeted and they are on the verge of running short of money and even some are reported to have been facing financial crisis as they are supposed to fly back home to Ladakh and suddenly the period of lockdown started," Namgyal said. Citing that the road linkage to Ladakh was suspended since last November-2019 and still hasn't opened for vehicular transit, he said, "In the backdrop of such situation it is my sincere request to allow operation of a special flight to airlift these patients from both these cities to Ladakh". On arrival at Leh, they shall be compulsorily quarantined for specific period under COVID-19 protocol, the BJP MP from the Union Territory of Ladakh said. In another letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, he sought early evacuation of the stranded pilgrims from Iran. "I learnt that our embassy in Iran has reported more than 250 positive cases of COVID-19 more than 25 days ago and the stranded pilgrims informed me that they have been staying together till date without any medical facility," Namgyal said in the letter written on Sunday. On the other hand, Iran being one of the most affected by COVID-19 after US and italy, leaving our citizens at the mercy of other countries, which are striving hard to struggle against the deadly virus, makes the situation more painful, he said. "As such once again I am approaching your kind self with a hand-folded request to consider the early evacuation of these stranded pilgrims. "After arrival in India they may be quarantined or even put in isolation centre as long as the government wishes under WHO protocol and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare guidelines so at least they can breathe in our soil," Namgyal said. Since the spread of COVID-19 in Iran and stoppage of international flight by the country, 604 Ladakh pilgrims were evacuated from there till date, according to his letter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 NEW YORK (AP) The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus has climbed past 3,500, eclipsing China's official count. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported Tuesday that deaths in New York state had risen more than 300 from the day before, reaching about 1,550, mostly in New York City. That puts the U.S. ahead of China's official death toll of about 3,300. Cuomo's brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, has disclosed that he has become infected with the virus. Elsewhere around the world, hard-hit Italy reported that the infection rate appears to be leveling off and new cases could start declining, but that the crisis is far from over. Spain struggled to fend off the collapse of its hospital system. Vladimir Putins Russia moved to crack down on quarantine violations and fake news about the outbreak. And China edged closer to normal as stores in the epicenter city of Wuhan began reopening. Worldwide, more than 800,000 people have been infected and over 40,000 have died, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. For continuing coronavirus coverage, Click Here WASHINGTON--Despite excellent prognosis with most thyroid cancers, many newly diagnosed patients have cancer-related worry, and physicians vary in their responses to patients' worry, according to new research accepted for presentation at ENDO 2020, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting, and publication in a special supplemental section of the Journal of the Endocrine Society. "In this large population-based study, we found that physicians use different strategies to address this worry, with around half of them telling their patients that thyroid cancer is a 'good cancer,'" said lead study author Maria Papaleontiou, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes (MEND) at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. "Although treating physicians are likely trying to emphasize optimistic outcomes, no evidence currently exists to support the notion that telling patients they have a 'good cancer' is helpful." To investigate how physicians manage thyroid cancer-related worry, the researchers identified patients with differentiated thyroid cancer diagnosed in 2014 and 2015 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries of the State of Georgia and Los Angeles County, California, and they identified the endocrinologists and surgeons involved in their care. In a 2018-2019 survey, the authors asked the doctors to describe their thyroid cancer patients' general worry at the time of diagnosis and what they told their worried patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified physician characteristics associated with reporting thyroid cancer as a "good cancer." Of those who responded, 40% were endocrinologists, 30% were general surgeons, and 30% were otolaryngologists. The research team found that 65% of physicians reported that in general their patients were quite or very worried at the time of diagnosis, 27% that they were somewhat worried, and 8% that their patients were not worried or were a little worried. Almost all physicians (91%) reported that they provided their worried patients with details on prognosis, including recurrence and death. Overall, 60% of physicians told their worried patients that their doctors are experienced in managing thyroid cancer, and 49% told them that thyroid cancer is a "good cancer." Otolaryngologists were more likely to use this terminology than endocrinologists. Clinicians in private practice were more likely to describe thyroid cancer as a "good cancer" than those in academic settings, and the phrasing was more common among individuals in Los Angeles County than the Georgia respondents. Physicians who perceived that in general their patients were quite or very worried at time of diagnosis were less likely to report describing thyroid cancer as a "good cancer" than were those whose patients were not or somewhat worried. Cancer-related worry is a major issue for thyroid cancer patients. This study highlights the multiple strategies physicians use for addressing this worry. In particular, one strategy relates to terminology that although meant to be helpful, may not be effective. "Despite physicians' good intentions, currently no evidence suggests that telling thyroid cancer patients they have a 'good cancer' is helpful or reassuring," Papaleontiou said. "On the contrary, patients report that being told by doctors that they have a 'good cancer' invalidates their fears of having cancer and creates mixed and confusing emotions." "Our findings emphasize the need for physician education and intervention to address thyroid cancer patient worry. Efforts should focus on helping physicians understand that calling thyroid cancer a 'good cancer' may not always alleviate worry," she said. ### This study was supported through a R01 grant by the National Cancer Institute to co-author Megan Haymart, M.D., and Papaleontiou is supported by a K08 grant from the National Institute on Aging. The Endocrine Society canceled its annual meeting, ENDO 2020, amid concerns about COVID-19. Visit our online newsroom for more information on accepted abstracts, which will be published in a special supplemental section of the Journal of the Endocrine Society. Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions. The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at http://www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia. We have been keeping a tally, really since January, on what the various costs are related to the response to coronavirus, whether its at our airports, now more recently the public health response, first responders, making sure were getting equipment out, she said at her daily news conference about the pandemic. So weve been tracking those expenses pretty rigorously. Its our hope that were going to get a substantial reimbursement from the federal government. This activity will help in proactive health monitoring at this crucial hour as vitals can be checked at home, doctors can check their health remotely and possibly flag off health deterioration in advance Dozee is a contact-free health monitor that tracks heartbeat, respiration, sleep, and stress-recovery with medical-grade 98.4% accuracy. Dozee has announced offering free devices to those quarantined in Bangalore. The brand has witnessed 5 requests within 15 minutes of the announcement. It is the only device that gives continuous respiration data, that too without the need of wires or any technical expertise. Dozee is a device that has a thin sensor sheet that goes below the mattress. This initiative is supported by Duroflex , leading sleep solutions brand with over five decades of expertise in making premium mattresses and sleep accessories. This activity will help in proactive health monitoring at this crucial hour as vitals can be checked at home, doctors can check their health remotely and possibly flag off health deterioration in advance. Those in self-quarantine or with a potential risk can monitor their health on an ongoing basis at home. Since our healthcare system, hospitals, etc. are working tirelessly towards fighting the virus, doctors can check their vitals, heart rate, stress levels, breath rate, etc. remotely. One can remotely monitor the health of their loved ones and thereby reduce anxiety related to their health. Launched in mid-2019, Dozee is available on both Amazon.in & its website. Dozee has also been backed by reputed companies like Qualcomm and Department of Biotechnology Govt of India BIRAC and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for product development and acceleration. This Bengaluru based healthcare startup is the brainchild of Mr. Mudit Dandwate and Mr. Gaurav Parchani, both IIT alumni. Mudit Dandwate, CEO, Dozee, states, This initiative will help Bangalore residents to monitor their health on an ongoing basis in the comfort of their homes. This is enabling care at home, unlocking the value of telemedicine and reducing pressure on our healthcare system. Our aim is to be a health companion to all Indians and this is a small step towards the residents facing a lockdown in Bangalore. Continuing our objective we are closely working with NGOs, hotels, hospitals to create step-down ICU set up using Dozee. Mathew Chandy, Sleep Evangelist, and Managing Director, Duroflex said As a company, we are deeply invested in providing our consumers with innovative sleep solutions. In daunting times like these, the well-being of our consumers our top priority. Along with the measures taken by us at a company level, we are excited to partner with Dozee to offer free health monitoring devices to help quarantined residents in Bangalore monitor their progress during this pandemic. With this common goal in mind, we hope to help consumers keep track of their health while at home and help them sleep better. Yemi Osinbajo Questioning the legality of the presidential order restricting movements in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States is quite unnecessary as the action taken is not only important but very well backed by extant Nigerian laws, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Prof. Osinbajo made this observation in Abuja while responding to questions on Monday at the Google Hangout programme organized by HACK COVID-19 Call Centre a private sector initiative supporting Nigerias battle against the pandemic. According to the Vice President, regarding the legality of the shutdowns announced by the President yesterday, -Sunday-I think it is entirely legal. These steps are proactive, very relevant, important and backed by law. I am not so sure some of the people who have commented on the issue have come across the Quarantine Act. There is a Quarantine Act of 1926, its been published in all of the Laws of Nigeria, every edition of the Laws of Nigeria, it is there. Referring specifically to the part of the legislation that empowers the President to order movement restrictions in any part the country, Prof. Osinbajo said, what the Act does is that it allows the President to designate any local area, any part of the country, as a place that may be infected or under the threat of a communicable disease, and he can then make regulations of any kind. For instance, he can say, people should not go out; no public gatherings etc. So, it is a regulation that gives the President powers and these powers come from the National Assembly because, of course, it is an act of the National Assembly. (The Vice President also later explained that by virtue of the constitutional rules, the 1926 Act is deemed to be an Act of the National Assembly.) So, the President has extensive powers under the Quarantine Act of 1926. Also, Governors have extensive powers under the same Quarantine Act. Prof. Osinbajo urged all interested individuals and groups to personally go through the legislation in order to understand the provisions therein, noting that it is barely a one page legislation, so it is not particularly difficult to find the relevant provisions and it is not particularly difficult to read, very straightforward. So, the President has all the powers. Speaking further about the legal precedent for the Presidents no movement order, Prof. Osinbajo said many of us are not familiar with the Influenza pandemic that killed several millions around the world in 1918. At that time regulations were made here, very similar to what we have today, although that was under the colonial authorities. (The Influenza pandemic was referred to as the Spanish Flu and it killed thousands in Nigeria and millions across the world then.) They also banned public gatherings, banned gatherings in places of worship then. So, there is even good historical precedence for some of what we are doing today. Laolu Akande Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity Office of the Vice President 31st March 2020 In Israel, the coronavirus is spreading in ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities up to eight times faster than anywhere else in the country. Ultra-Orthodox Jews account for 12 percent of Israel's population, but they make up 40 to 60 percent of coronavirus patients at four of the country's largest hospitals, officials told Israeli media. Health experts said the virus is moving so quickly in these communities because the ultra-Orthodox have large families, don't trust the government, and pay little to no attention to secular media. Many are also still gathering for prayers and funerals, despite all Israelis being ordered to stay home. Bnei Brak is a suburb of Tel Aviv, and 95 percent of the population is ultra-Orthodox. On Friday, there were 267 confirmed coronavirus cases, and by Monday, that number climbed to 508. Several hundred mourners gathered in Bnei Brak on Saturday night for the funeral of a rabbi, prompting furious secular Israelis to call on the government to place Bnei Brak under curfew. On Monday, a New York Times journalist and photographer were told to leave a synagogue in the suburb where morning services were being held, and they walked past several groups meeting furtively for prayers. Bnei Brak has just one hospital, and its director general, Dr. Moti Ravid, told the Times he would like authorities to prohibit residents from leaving for at least one week, to slow down the coronavirus' spread. There are lots of small children living in the town, and "if they help to infect others, the result will be that many old people will die," he said. More stories from theweek.com Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is what real coronavirus leadership looks like Trump rejects reopening ObamaCare enrollment as millions lose jobs during pandemic Trump shifted on COVID-19 after seeing New York morgue trucks on cable news, listening to Dr. Fauci - A nurse recounted the final encounters she had with Dr. Helen Tudtud, prior to the latter's intubation - Mavz posted it on Facebook and she had nothing but great things to say about the generous Cebu doctor - When her condition was already worsening, Mavz said that her thoughts were that of her husband, asking if her husband knew that her condition was not getting any better, and requested her to call and let her husband know - The nurse could no longer bring herself to tell the good doctor that they couldn't call Dr. Dennis Tudtud anymore as he was already being admitted to the hospital at the time PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed The country has lost two more doctors from Cebu, both of whom succumbed to the deadly coronavirus. The husband and wife, Dr. Dennis Tudtud and Dr. Helen Tudtud died three days apart. Dr. Helen died first and one nurse recounted the final heartbreaking moments of Dr. Helen before her condition deteriorated and prior to her being intubated. As per the post of Mavz Amonco, she was one of the nurses of Dr. Helen for 5 days and within those 5 days, they got close. "She was a very wonderful person," the nurse recalled. Dr. Helen had no appetite for hospital food so they would give her bread from their pantry and would give her milk. She would be shy at calling nurses when she would need assistance and she was very kind. There was a time that a family member brought her an iPad and a phone and she even invited the nurses to use the iPad so that they can watch a movie. The kind-hearted doctor even told them that she would treat the nurses at their restaurant once she's out of the hospital. Before sleeping, Doc Helen would request her nurses to check on her from time to time, and to take a look at her O2 and see if the levels are already too low. At that point, Mavz said that she felt how alone Doc Helen was. On the 5th day, before the doctor was intubated, she asked Mavz: "Alam ba ng asawa ko Mav? Na grabe na talaga ako?" She responded, "Parang hindi pa Doc." Doc Helen then said, "Sabihin mo sa kanya please. Call Dennis please." At that point, Mavz couldn't tell Doc Helen that they could not call Doc Dennis because he was already downstairs and is already being admitted to the hospital. After the intubation, Mavz said that they were pulled out from the area to be quarantined and it was also at that time when they learned of the fake news that Doc Helen had died when she was still fighting for her life then. Here's the full post of Mavz on Doc Helen's final days. 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, doctors have died after being infected by COVID-19. They are among the frontliners who attend to the patients rushing to hospitals amid pandemic. 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 Liza Soberano? You might want to know more about how she rose to fame. Find out who Liza was before showbiz. Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: KAMI.com.gh 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. 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. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. The designated laboratory for COVID-19 in Andaman and Nicobar, RMRC-ICMR, Dollygunj has tested 33 likely COVID-19 cases on March 29, out of which only one was found positive, said Andaman and Nicobar administration. The total number of cases found positive in the Union Territory stands at 10 out of 99 samples tested till date. Earlier, Chetan Sanghi, Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands had urged people to not panic or believe rumours. He assured them door delivery of groceries and medicines amid total lockdown in the Union Territory. In a bid to contain COVID-19 spread, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called a nationwide 21-day-long lockdown which started from March 25. He urged people to stay home and maintain social distancing to prevent the transmission of coronavirus. Meanwhile, the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 32 and the number of total coronavirus cases reached 1,251 on Monday. There are 1117 active cases in the country, according to 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.) Bennett Coleman and Company Ltd (BCCL) CEO Raj Jain is stepping down after a 5 year stint. The company has also announced S Sivakumar (President - Revenue) as Chairman of the Executive Committee (CEC) which is the apex leadership team. All functions of BCCL will now relate to Sivakumar. Sivakumar and Mohit Jain (Executive President - Supply Chain) will also join the BCCL Board of Directors as Executive Directors. Jain will conclude his tenure at BCCL in March 2020. Jain had joined the company in November 2014 from Bharti Retail. He started his career at Unilever as a management trainee in 1980. During his 16 year stint, he worked in various roles PAN Europe on liquid detergent portfolio. He was selected to Head Regional Sales and Marketing Operations (South) which was the biggest sales region for the company. Jain then joined Whirlpool, where he spent a decade, and stepped down in 2006 as Managing Director (MD) for India and South East Asia. He has been MD and CEO of Bharti Walmart; President of Walmart India and subsequently the MD and CEO of Bharti Retail before joining BCCL. Jain has completed his graduation and executive MBA from Kellogg School of Management. 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. 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Digital Editor By Laman Ismayilova Baku Chamber Orchestra has joined a new challenge #senetinledestekle, supported by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture. The action brought together talented musicians, who brilliantly performed music from Gara Garayev`s "Path of Thunder" ballet under the guidance of eminent conductor, Honored Artist Fuad Ibrahimov. Their magnificent performance left no one indifferent. Founded in 2011, Baku Chamber Orchestra has successfully toured Italy, Belgium, Germany, Turkey and other countries. The orchestra consists of young talented musicians, laureates of international competitions, who never cease to amaze the listeners. The orchestra's artistic director is vice-rector of International Relations at Baku Music Academy, Peoples Artist of Azerbaijanc. She is the author of numerous piano preludes, sonatinas, as well as "Ashug" concert piece for two pianos and various songs. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A spider that resembles Vincent van Gogh's famous 'Starry Night' painting has been discovered in Australia. This male, named Maratus constellatus, is no more than four millimeters in length and was spotted in the Little Desert National Park. The colorful arachnid is one of seven new species of Peacock spiders, which are tiny, harmless creatures that are usually smaller than a grain of rice. The new species were discovered by Joseph Schubert of Australia's Museums Victoria, who has spent the past few years studying the Peacock spider. Scroll down for video A spider that resembles Vincent van Gogh's famous 'Starry Night' painting has been discovered in Australia. This male, named Maratus constellatus, is no more than four millimeters in length and was spotted in the Little Desert National Park Pictured is Vincent van Gogh's famous painting 'Starry Night' 'Last year I traveled the country collecting specimens of these new peacock spiders (some discovered by citizen scientists!) and spent countless hours in the lab studying them,' Schubert tweeted on March 26. 'Some welcome news in tough times.' The tiny Peacock spiders, or Maratus spiders, are native to Australia and are internet sensations for their elaborate courtship dances. The spider, which has similar patterns to 'Starry Night,' is Maratus constellatus and was discovered in Western Australia, along with four other colorful species Maratus azureus, Maratus inaquosus, Maratus laurenae, Maratus volpei, Maratus noggerup and Maratus suae. Maratus volpei, was discovered in South Australia and Maratus inaquosus was identified in Victoria, bringing the total to seven. The spider, which has similar patterns to 'Starry Night,' is Maratus constellatus (top right) and was discovered in Western Australia, along with four other colorful species Maratus azureus (second on the bottom), Maratus inaquosus (third on the bottom), Maratus volpei (bottom left) Maratus laurenae, Maratus noggerup (top left) and Maratus suae (middle at the top) The new species were named by spider taxonomist Joseph Schubert (pictured) Schubert has described a total of 12 species of Peacock spiders since 2019 where he discovered five new ones. 'I would have to say Maratus constellatus is my favorite by far - it's such a nice looking species, the pattern reminds me of The Starry Night by Van Gogh. Plus I travelled a very, very long way to find it,' he explained. The five species Schubert discovered in 2019 are known as as Maratus aquilus, Maratus felinus, and Maratus combustus, each identifiable by their distinctive patterns. The Monash University research assistant made the discovery with a group of photographers from Project Maratus at Lake Jasper and Mount Romance in Western Australia's south-west. He says arachnophobes have no reason to fear creepy critters. 'These little guys are completely harmless! They're roughly the length of a grain of rice,' Mr Schubert tweeted last year. The five species Schubert discovered in 2019 are known as as Maratus aquilus, Maratus felinus, and Maratus combustus, each identifiable by their distinctive patterns The Maratus felinus peacock spider (pictured) can be identified by its cat like features He told 10 daily: 'They're incredibly, small but so charismatic and so colourful.' In his research findings, which were published in international scientific journal Zootaxa this week, Mr Schubert said each of the new species can be identified by the different markings on their abdomen. The aquilus species refers to markings on the spider resembling an eagle's face seen from the front. The felinus species has markings that resemble a cat. The combustus species was named after its 'fiery explosion' pattern. 'These little guys are completely harmless,' spider taxonomist Joseph Schubert said. Pictured is the Maratus aquilus, named for its eagle like markings on the abdomen The new species call Western Australia's south-west home. Pictured is the Maratus combustus Around 60 of the 74 peacock spider species have been discovered in the past 10 years, according to Mr Schubert's research findings. 'This interest is driven by the unique courtship behaviour of the males of most species which display an elevated and often vibrantly coloured opisthosoma and third pair of legs to nearby females,' the report states. Of all the peacock spider species, almost half can only be found in Western Australia's south-west. 'The Southwest Australia ecoregion is known as one of the planet's major biodiversity hotspots and a hotspot for peacock spider diversity,' Mr Schubert's report states. 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. Mike Pompeo. AP-Yonhap The United States looks forward to sitting down with North Korea's leadership for nuclear talks, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday, shortly after Pyongyang accused him of slandering the regime and said it will "go our own way." Pompeo was responding to an official North Korean statement that condemned his earlier call on the Group of Seven major economies to continue diplomatic and economic pressure on Pyongyang. In a telephone briefing with Yonhap News Agency and other Asian news outlets, the secretary said President Donald Trump has made clear that international sanctions on North Korea must continue until it takes steps to denuclearize. "The president's position on North Korea and mine has been in lockstep since the very first day I became secretary of state," he said, responding to North Korea's complaint that Pompeo was going against the will of Trump, who recently offered assistance with the coronavirus pandemic in a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "We have been trying very diligently from the American side since (the June 2018 Singapore summit between Trump and Kim) to move forward with those negotiations and hope that we will get an opportunity to do that," he added, noting that the leaders agreed at the summit to denuclearize North Korea and create a "brighter future" for the North Korean people. "President Trump has also been clear, until we get to that point, till we get to the point where we have made sufficient progress along the way, the sanctions not American sanctions, but U.N. Security Council resolutions will continue to be enforced and in place," he continued. "And we hope that we will get this opportunity to sit down with the North Korean leadership again and begin to chart a path forward to a brighter future for the North Korean people. It's been President Trump's position since we began our efforts," Pompeo said. Nuclear talks between the two countries have stalled for more than a year since the second Trump-Kim summit in Vietnam in February 2019 ended without a deal. The North gave the U.S. until the end of 2019 to show flexibility after Washington rejected Pyongyang's offer to dismantle part of its nuclear program in exchange for large sanctions relief. As the year passed without a breakthrough, Kim threatened to soon show off a "new strategic weapon" and this month he resumed testing short-range missiles. But Pompeo said the U.S. stands by its offer to help the communist country fight COVID-19. "From early on, when it became apparent that the North Koreans were likely to have a challenge, we've offered assistance," he said. "We've done that through the World Food Bank. We've done it directly. And we have assisted other countries and made clear that we would do all that we could to make sure that their humanitarian assistance could get into that country as well." He said he hopes countries such as North Korea and Iran will be transparent in reporting their COVID-19 caseloads and fatalities, as well as their efforts to reduce the spread, so that an effective global countermeasure can be developed. North Korea has not reported a single case of the coronavirus, but many suspect the regime may be covering up an outbreak. North Korean state media has repeatedly reported on the country's efforts to prevent an epidemic by quarantining people and tightening its borders. (Yonhap) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers and learns about the huge changes brought about by advancing green development, in Yucun Village of Tianhuangping Township in Anji County, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) HANGZHOU, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Monday inspected the county of Anji in east China's Zhejiang Province. While visiting Yucun Village, Xi talked with villagers and learned about the huge changes brought about by advancing green development. In 2005, it was in this mountainous village Xi, then Party chief of Zhejiang, put forward the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." The village has adhered to that concept for the past 15 years. Today, the village has 280 households and its residents earned a per capita income of 49,598 yuan (7,040 U.S. dollars) in 2019. Leaving the village, Xi went to Anji's mediation center to learn about how primary-level social disputes are resolved. Xi started his inspection tour in Zhejiang Sunday. A prominent rights body has demanded that an under-construction detention centre in Goalpara of western Assam be converted into a hospital for treatment of COVID-19 patients. State coordinator of Mumbai-based NGO Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) Zamser Ali said that the upcoming Goalpara detention centre, where approximately 10,000 people can be treated, should be converted into a hospital. Currently, Assam has six detention centres within jail premises where persons declared as foreigners by Foreigners Tribunals are lodged. Another detention centre is being constructed outside jail premises at Matia in Goalpara. "The Assam government is loking for places far away from densely populated areas as isolation is important to check the spread of the virus. "Turning this facility into a COVID-19 quarantine and treatment centre will reduce the amount of time, money or energy required for construction of a temporary or a permanent hospital as construction of boundary wall and cottages for inmates is almost complete. Therefore, we urge the government to convert the under-construction Goalpara detention centre into a COVID-19 quarantine and treatment facility with immediate effect, Ali said. Justifying his logic that a detention centre should not come up at Matia, he said "If we go through the government database as submitted in Parliament and the Assam Assembly from time to time, almost 98 per cent of the people living in the six detention centres in Assam have no link with foreign countries." The remains of 29 people who have so far died in various detention centres of Assam, could not be sent to any foreign country but handed over to their Indian relatives, and their last rites were performed on Indian soil, he claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Firefighters were called to an incident Lamberton Drive, Wrexham, at 10.46pm on Sunday involving unattended cooking, as well as calls elsewhere in North Wales Uxbridge Court, Bangor involving an electric steamer melted on an electric hob at 6.30pm. This was followed by an incident involving cooking left unattended at a property on Marine Road, Prestatyn at 9.52pm. They also attended a further fire involving a chip pan at Tryweryn Place, Wrexham at 12.52am yesterday morning. Paul Scott, senior fire safety manager, said: Our big appeal to the public at this difficult time is for them to take extra care, and keep basic fire safety in mind to help avoid incidents such as these and reduce the demand on our firefighters. These incidents were completely avoidable and the biggest favour you can do us right now is avoid having an emergency. Thankfully no-one was hurt in these fires but the outcome could have been very different with firefighters having to lead the occupants in the Wrexham incident outside to safety. Across Wales, over 40% of all fires in the home start in the kitchen showing just how easy preparing a meal can turn to disaster. With more people spending more time cooking at home, this number could rise even higher. Just one distraction really could spell disaster it sounds obvious but getting distracted is one of the main causes of a kitchen fire, whether its a distraction from our children or simply using a mobile phone or tablet. Time and time again we attend house fires which have started in the kitchen it is so easy to forget your cooking, especially if you are tired, distracted or have been drinking. However, the consequences can be devastating. Here are Pauls top tips for safety in the kitchen: Two armies are on the march in Egypt today. One is the white army, the convoys of medical personnel in hospitals, healthcare and research centres and other facilities who are working round the clock in the fight to contain the coronavirus. The other is the Egyptian Armed Forces which are engaged in two simultaneous battles. The first is also the battle against Covid-19 to which the army is contributing with the production of disinfectants and hygienic substances and products in Nasr Company, military production factories and the Arab Manufacturing Organisation, and by means of the countrywide sanitisation and disinfection campaigns in major thoroughfares, government buildings, schools and universities, Al-Azhar buildings, the Coptic Cathedral and other vital public institutions. The armys second battle takes on conventional enemies, terrorism and drug trafficking which frequently serves as a means to fund terrorist activities. Local sources in Sinai have confirmed an Air Force strike against a terrorist convoy in the vicinity of Bir Al-Abd, killing and wounding a number of terrorist operatives. According to the sources, the operation targeted four SUVs transporting terrorists who attempted to take advantage of the governments current preoccupation with the coronavirus pandemic. The Air Force succeeded in taking out the four vehicles and the army followed through with combing, surveillance and targeted operations which were still in progress as of the writing of this story. The Armed Forces, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, also launched an extensive drive to wipe out drug crops in central and southern Sinai. Members of the Border Patrol, the law enforcement forces of the Third Field Army, the civil police and the Air Force, took part in the sweeping campaign to discover and destroy hundreds of poppy and cannabis farms in the difficult-to-access ravines and hollows in the rugged mountainous terrain in St Catherine, Wadi Al-Nadiya, Wadi Al-Akhdar, Wadi Al-Abar, Wadi Matakha, Wadi Silaf, Wadi Maain, Wadi Fran, Wadi Sahb, Wadi Saal and El-Sheikh. In addition to unearthing and destroying dozens of marijuana and poppy farms, the army confiscated tons of marijuana and hundreds of kilogrammes of cannabis seeds, poppy seeds and hashish powder. It also raided nine laboratories for the manufacturing and processing of hashish, as well as an unlicensed motorcycle used for smuggling activities. According to a statement by the Armed Forces, the campaign was carried out in tandem with actions to tighten security and control over national borders in all strategic directions, a process that led to the seizure of vast quantities of narcotic substances. The government has stepped up its fight to combat drug trafficking and prevent illicit drugs from entering the country in light of the serious threat they pose to the security and well-being of the Egyptian people, the statement said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under headline: Tangential battles Search Keywords: Short link: Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading international financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, is reinforcing its commitment to support the UAE Governments sustained efforts to protect citizens and residents from the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In response to COVID-19, DIFC is actively following the mandatory directives of the UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention (MoHAP), the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the guidelines issued by the other relevant Government Authorities and World Health Organisation (WHO). DIFC is constantly monitoring the evolving situation and implementing every precautionary measure available to protect the health and safety of its employees, tenants and DIFC community at large. The Centre has also applied preventative measures issued by the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority. In line with government directives, DIFC temporarily suspended all retail outlets, except pharmacies, groceries and supermarkets to ensure essential medical and food supplies remain available to the community. Restaurants and cafes are currently closed to customers, with services limited to home takeaway deliveries while the Centre has also temporarily closed the DIFC Mosque, prayer facilities and areas of worship in line with government guidance. To further prevent the spread of COVID-19, DIFC moved towards streaming webinars and is planning a series of virtual business, community and lifestyle events to avoid mass gatherings. Furthermore, digital channels are being fully utilised, maintaining the ability to connect live with the DIFC Services Front Desk and conduct business. DIFC Authority (DIFCA) has also committed to a work from home policy and has embraced social distancing at the Centre. Aligning with Dubai Governments economic stimulus programme, DIFC will introduce a series of fiscal easing initiatives over the next three months from April 1 June 30 2020 to help protect the financial services industry and all businesses operating in the Centre. Five initiatives will be introduced on a conditional basis, offering businesses the opportunity to benefit from a waiver of annual licensing fees on new registrations during the next three months. Businesses can also take advantage of a 10 per cent discount of renewal fees for existing license holders in the DIFC for entities due to renew their licenses between April 1 June 30, 2020. DIFC will also allow deferred payments for all properties owned by DIFC Investments Ltd for a period up to six months from April 1, 2020. A reduction on property transfer fees in the DIFC from 5 per cent to 4 per cent will also be applied to any transfer of property (or any part thereof) that takes place within the three-month period. The transfer must be registered with the DIFC Registrar of Real Properties within 30 days following the expiry of the three-month period. DIFC will also facilitate the free movement of labour in and out of the Centre between other free zones, provided employers have the necessary secondment arrangements in place and employees are recorded with registry services to secure a secondment card in order to access buildings and offices within the DIFC. Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer, DIFC Authority said: The wellbeing of our community is of utmost importance. We are working continually to ensure all health and safety measures are implemented swiftly and effectively as directed by the relevant Government authorities. We also ensure business operations operate with minimal disruption through our online services and virtual meetings that keep us connected globally. We are actively working to provide the best possible environment for businesses to continue operating seamlessly. Our stimulus package aims to alleviate the tremendous burden COVID-19 has on our clients, industry and economy. We are grateful for the commitment of our long standing partners, clients and community who have been working together during these challenging times. The DIFC community is also encouraged to visit the newly created page on the DIFC website to keep abreast of the latest COVID-19 related circulars from the DIFC and Government entities. DIFC is well positioned to get navigate through challenging period and will continue work in close cooperation with the Dubai Government in a cohesive effort to protect the future of finance in Dubai and the region. -- Tradearabia News Service 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 NetworkNewsWire Editorial Coverage NEW YORK, March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The successful rise of fintech has inspired a similar wave of technological innovation in the insurance sector, as more companies are looking for ways to serve their customers. InsuraGuest Technologies Inc. (TSX-V: ISGI) (ISGI Profile) is one of the companies in this arena, providing software that eases the provision of insurance for specialist sectors. W.R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) is adapting through the reorganization of its business, combining divisions and creating new ones as insurance necessitates change. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A), like many other insurers, relies on data and analytics to constantly improve its understanding of the market and of insurance customers' needs. Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. (OTC: FRFHF) is invested in a range of insurance companies around the world, providing the financial support for insurtech innovations. And AON plc (NYSE: AON) is experimenting with disruptive technology, such as blockchain in its insurance products, and has gained industry recognition for its work on cyber insurance. Insurance technology (insurtech) is on the rise, providing innovative, integrated systems. The technology has attracted $16.5 billion of investment over a decade; the rate of investment is increasing. To make the most of this, companies need to adapt approaches to insurance and the way that they work with providers. To view an infographic of this editorial, click here. The Rise of Insurtech Recent years have seen fintech - financial technology - become one of the biggest buzzwords in investment. Technology is revolutionizing the way that money works, from huge successes such as contactless payments to intriguing experiments like cryptocurrency. This has made finance easier to manage for consumers and businesses, and provided countless opportunities for investors along the way. That heightened pace of change has taken hold in the insurance market. In one survey, 74% of insurance companies said that they saw fintech innovations as a challenge for their industry, while 43% were putting it at the heart of their corporate strategies. Insurtech - insurance technology - is the new game in town, applying the lessons learned from fintech and the potential of modern technology to create innovation and opportunity within the insurance sector. Where Technology and Insurance Meet Insurtech is currently being driven not by the big providers but by the innovations of start-ups. Companies such as InsuraGuest Technologies Inc. (TSX.V: ISGI) are targeting particular niches with their insurance systems, using this approach as an opportunity to innovate and capture a specific market before expanding their offerings to a wider audience. The different insurance needs of different markets allow insurtech companies to provide added value by tailoring to specific needs of clients while building systems that can be adapted elsewhere. The example of InsuraGuest shows how this can work. InsuraGuest is an insurtech company that has initiated its distribution by catering to hospitality sector before it expands its product offerings into revenue streams. ISGI combines insurance provision with software as a service (SaaS) to provide hotels and vacation rentals easy access to the insurance coverages they need to protect their properties, both covering gaps in existing insurance packages and making it easier to arrange and deliver new insurance products. Hospitality sectors are already a relatively tech-savvy. In Europe, 59% of property managers use a specialist property management system (PMS) and 67% use a channel manager. But typically insurance hasn't been integrated into these systems, meaning that it has to be managed separately. InsuraGuest recognized an opportunity and solved this issue by integrating its insurance with 71 different PMSs around the world, giving them software access to potentially deliver their insurance coverages to millions of rooms, thus the ability to obtain insurance melds seamlessly with other parts of the process. InsuraGuest integrates with the property-management system to distribute insurance coverages that add a layer of protection for the property on a primary basis, should a guest experience an accident or theft while staying at an InsuraGuest member property. Technology takes away much of the burden of arranging insurance, and because the technology is provided in a SaaS format, member properties are able to buy into all the support systems they need, rather than just buying a standalone product and then being left to make it work. This sort of innovation is drawing serious money into insurtech. Over the past decade, approximately $16.5 billion has been invested in the sector, and the pace of investment is only accelerating. The first half of 2019 alone saw $2.2 billion raised. This increase isn't just driven by a desire for change from the inside; there's also outside pressure. Ratings companies are looking at how insurers use technology, and their assessments could seriously impact the future of these companies. One of the reasons why smaller, newer companies are so important to this trend is their combination of skills and flexibility. Like many other start-ups, InsuraGuest has created its own insurtech software platform, one that can be adapted to deliver specialized insurance coverage for a range of industries. By growing the skills and technology in-house, ISGI is able to shift the design of the platform to meet a wide variety of customers' needs. Innovating Alongside Partners Though technology allows radically new ways of working, many insurance companies aren't using it to its full capacity. An estimated 90% of the resources insurance companies are putting into technology are currently going into maintaining existing approaches instead of exploring real innovation. Insurers are trying to do old things better rather than doing new, better things. Companies such as InsuraGuest offer the opposite approach. By integrating insurance and SaaS in a single flexible package, the company is providing a new process, one that removes the friction for the final customers of the insurance product. This could be a critical step in selling better insurance. Part of the more traditional thinking that may be holding insurance companies back is that they're treating insurtech providers as vendors rather than partners. This approach can lead to outdated standards and processes being applied to both contracting and onboarding, despite the fact that this technology is meant to push companies forward. Doing so counteracts the disruption that is a critical benefit of insurtech. The real successes will likely come from companies that can overcome this habit and effectively partner with the insurtech innovators. Sometimes these insurtech companies themselves are built around a more modern, partnership-based model. ISGI appears to have ventured out into new territory. InsuraGuest's platform is set up to deliver insurance packages directly to partners on a business-to-business basis. The company has also created a fully automatized agency/broker software program, allowing agents and brokers the ability to sign up instantly online. This speeds up the process of distributing ISGI's platform and products, as these agents and brokers then become channels to take InsuraGuest's insurance out to their own customers. Insurtech provides numerous opportunities for companies to improve their insurance offerings. From better-tailored insurance packages to seamlessly integrating insurance, software and other systems, ISGI may provide a chance to make real change in the insurance industry. By using technology to change the way that insurance is delivered, companies such as InsuraGuest are pulling the industry into the future. Transforming the Insurance Industry As the insurance industry faces the challenge of the modern world and seizes the opportunities that insurtech offers, many companies are looking for ways to improve how they work in the sector. For some, this means organizational change to reflect shifting markets, products and processes. W.R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB), a large American insurance holding company, has accomplished this through a long-term strategy of decentralized operations, providing the company with the flexibility to respond to ongoing change. Recent shifts in the company's structure include the combination of its two healthcare-related units into one, creating a single source for the wide range of insurance products that the healthcare market needs. Another of its recently formed divisions, Berkley Prime Transportation, will be focusing on the use of technology and analytics to provide high-quality, responsive services to the commercial transport sector. Holding company Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A) includes insurance among its wide range of interests, through Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. Between them, these companies provide insurance covering a wide range of sectors, including travel, professional liability, and homeowners insurance. The company places an emphasis on the importance of data in understanding insurance needs, and it's this type of careful analytic work that allows insurers to provide suitable products at the right rate for their customers. A specialist insurance investment company, Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd (OTC: FRFHF) is engaged in property and casualty insurance through a range of subsidiaries. These insurance and reinsurance companies work on a decentralized basis, each with its own management team providing a focused underwriting strategy suited to its market, giving the company valuable flexibility. Late last year, Fairfax announced a substantial investment from OMERS, the pension plan for Ontario's municipal employees, in Fairfax's UK run-off group, RiverStone UK. A global professional services firm, AON plc (NYSE: AON) provides insurance along with data services and retirement support. Aon has been using the latest technology to develop new insurance products, including blockchain-based agricultural insurance policies for smallholder farmers in Sri Lanka. This use of innovative technology to serve a specific community shows the value of combining innovation and flexibility to reach an underserved niche. In 2019 the company won awards from Business Insurance magazine for its cyber-risk solutions. While much is happening in the world of insurance, and big companies are expanding their insurtech offerings, real innovation still looks to depend on the flexibility of start-ups and small firms. For more information about InsuraGuest Technologies, please visit InsuraGuest Technologies, Inc. (TSX.V: ISGI). 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The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and NNW and FNM undertake no obligation to update such statements. Corporate Communications Contact: NetworkNewsWire (NNW) New York, New York www.NetworkNewsWire.com +1-212-418-1217 Office Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com Media Contact: FN Media Group, LLC NNW@FinancialNewsMedia.com +1-(954)345-0611 Overdrive The Hero Group has recently announced a contribution of Rs 100 Crore towards the relief measures from the Coronavirus pandemic. The group will be giving Rs 50 crore to the PM-Cares fund while the remaining Rs 50 crore will be used for other relief measures. The companies that are doing this contribution from the Hero Group are Hero MotoCorp, Hero FinCorp, Hero Future Energies, Rockman Industries, Hero Electronix, Hero Enterprise and AG Industries. As a part of the relief measures, Hero MotoCorp. will distribute masks, sanitizers, gloves and 100 ventilators to hospitals and health departments. It has also offered to donate more than 60 motorcycles to the health departments in the rural areas in various states. The motorcycles having undergone the necessary modifications can be used as mobile ambulances. Further, the company is distributing more than 10,000 meals to daily wage workers, stranded labourers and homeless families in several areas of Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. The meals will be prepared by the kitchen staff at the company's manufacturing facilities in Gurgaon and Dharuhera in Haryana; Neemrana in Rajasthan; Haridwar in Uttarakhand, Halol in Gujarat and Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh and the Company's R&D facility, the Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur. Additionally, the company will also be providing food packets at shelter homes and will be distributing 2,500 ration kits for the families in Delhi, Maharashtra and Kerala. Hero FinCorp. will offering a special product for those impacted by COVID-19 in order to help small businesses with working capital & retail customers with their daily needs. The SME product has been designed to help re-start their businesses and stabilize their cash flows. On the other hand, Hero Future Energies and BML Munjal University will be distributing food items and hygiene kits to people spread across 150 villages along with offering its 2000-bed hostel for use as an isolation & treatment ward by the local health department respectively. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) The Department of the Interior and Local Government has deployed police officers near hospitals and health centers after a health worker has been attacked in Sultan Kudarat. DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano announced Tuesday that he has ordered "increased police visibility" near medical centers to secure COVID-19 frontliners from criminals, especially during wee hours. The order came after St. Louis Hospital in Tacurong City reported that five strangers attacked one of their health workers and threw bleach on his face on March 27, as the country is under a state of emergency due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The hospital said the suspects "ganged up" on the staffer on his way to report for duty, but was able to reach the facility for prompt treatment. "I have directed the Philippine National Police to make sure that the perpetrators of the assault against the health worker in Sultan Kudarat will face justice at the soonest possible time," Ano said in a statement. The hospital has reported the incident to the local police, but the suspects remain at large as of this writing. The DILG chief also appealed to local government officials to protect medical workers by providing free transportation so that these frontliners can be safe going to and from work. "Our countrymen in the medical profession are our front liners in the war against COVID-19. Just like our police officers, soldiers and other men and women in uniform, they wage a lonely but relentless battle against this disease everyday 24/7 to keep our nation safe," the Cabinet official added. "The last thing they need right now is discrimination when all they do is save lives and protect each and every one of us from an enemy we cannot see." RELATED: DOH probes reported attacks on COVID-19 frontliners Other medical workers have also decried how some of them are being forced out of their rented apartments as landlords fear they could be carriers of the virus. Crude oil prices have cratered over the past few weeks. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. oil price benchmark, has tumbled from the low $60s earlier this year to around $20 a barrel in recent days. That's due to a combination of the COVID-19 outbreak's impact on demand and the collapse of OPEC's market support agreement with Russia. The meltdown in the oil market is putting intense pressure on the finances of American oil producers. However, low oil prices aren't the industry's biggest problem right now. An even greater concern is that storage space is quickly filling up because of the dual shocks from surging supplies amid crashing demand. That has the potential to create even an even bigger problem for the industry in the coming weeks. Awash with oil and no place to go The COVID-19 outbreak has effectively shut down much of the global economy. Schools have closed while many businesses have either shut their doors or mandated that their employees work from home. Meanwhile, many countries have closed their borders and suspended international air travel. As a result, oil consumption has fallen off a cliff. That's coming at a time when the U.S. is producing record volumes of crude oil. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Russia, which had been holding back supplies for the past few years to boost prices, have reversed course and are planning to pump at max capacity. As a result, the global oil industry is producing more oil than ever before at a time when oil demand is at its lowest level in years. It's a recipe for disaster. The issue is that there isn't enough storage capacity to handle all the excess oil that companies are producing these days. But leading oil pipeline operators Plains All American Pipelines (NASDAQ:PAA) and Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD) are woking hard to get out in front of this issue. They've already sent letters to their customers asking them to prove they have buyers in place for the oil they produce so that it doesn't sit in their storage facilities, according to a report by Bloomberg. Plains All American has also reportedly taken things a step further by asking its customers to voluntarily reduce their production to help ease the capacity issues. They're taking these steps so that their storage facilities don't run out of room. Cutting the wrong thing Most energy companies in the U.S. have quickly responded to lower oil prices by cutting their drilling budgets. Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN), for example, has slashed spending twice this month in response to the continued plunge in oil prices. Overall, Devon has cut its budget by 45%. Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY) has also reduced its spending plan twice and now plans to invest 45% less than it initially budgeted. Those spending reductions will eventually cause their production rates to decline because they won't drill enough wells their year to offset the depletion of existing ones. In Occidental's case, it expects its 2020 output to be about 6% below its initial guidance. However, the problem with these spending cuts is that they don't help solve the immediate need for a decrease in volumes so that they don't overwhelm the country's oil storage capacity. Companies will either need to voluntarily shut-in wells to help reduce the glut or regulators must force the industry to reduce its output. Otherwise, the sector runs the risk of pushing crude prices further into the ground as storage space fills to the brim in the coming weeks. We've already seen that happening in some regional markets. Oil prices in Canada, for example, plunged to a record low of less than $5 a barrel, which is less than what it costs to ship it to a refinery. Meanwhile, oil in Wyoming fell to under a dollar a barrel because there's no market for that crude. It's time to make even deeper cuts Oil companies have quickly responded to the rapid decline in oil prices by cutting their drilling budgets so that they can operate on the cash flows produced at lower prices. However, with consumption falling off a cliff and supplies rising, that's not going to be enough. Producers in the U.S. have no choice but to shut off some of their pumps so that they don't overload the system with too much crude oil. The longer they wait to flip that switch, the lower oil prices will go, which will create an even bigger hole that will take the industry longer to climb out of once consumption starts recovering. Tonight on ABC, Foreign Correspondent looks at how Singapore is largely open for business, having prepared for COVID-19. While the world shuts down in an effort to control the coronavirus pandemic, Singapore is more or less business as usual. Its schools and universities remain open and its restaurants and malls are operating albeit with fewer customers. So how has this Island State kept the new coronavirus under control, despite its strong business and cultural links with China? As we find out in The Singapore Solution, the country was well prepared with a pandemic response plan. Once the world learned of this new coronavirus in December last year, the government acted on it. Like many Asian countries, Singapore learned about the power of pandemics the hard way. When the deadly SARS (Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus spread through north Asia seventeen years ago, governments were unprepared. SARS killed hundreds of people across Asia, including thirty-three people in Singapore. Weve been preparing for this since SARS this is something that is firmly etched in Singapores medical history, explains Australian doctor Dale Fisher, an infectious diseases expert who is based in Singapore and is now part of the team battling the coronavirus. To beat COVID-19, the Singaporeans have set up a network of clinics where symptomatic people can seek advice and if necessary, get sent for testing. Those who are positive are quarantined and tightly monitored. Singaporeans are being asked to download a tracing app onto their phones. Those who are infected are subject to the contact tracing system, where health officials track down all those whove had contact with them. Penalties for breaching these orders can be harsh. If theyre caught there are jail terms, says Professor Dale Fisher. Other measures include temperature checks outside public buildings and schools those with a high temperature must go home and clear public health messaging and information. While the measures might evoke fears of a surveillance state, they have been successful in flattening the rise of infections. The key to success has been to act fast and comprehensively. Despite their success so far, authorities remain vigilant. As Singaporeans flock home to escape outbreaks elsewhere, the number of cases has begun to rise again. The government is tightening its polices and already the pandemic plan is being updated. Critics are asking if its enough. 8pm Tuesday March 31st on ABC. AGM will take place as planned on 14 May, 2020 under extraordinary conditions Shareholders are not allowed to attend in person and are requested to vote via independent proxy Regulatory News: Vifor Pharma confirmed that it will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 14 May, 2020, as planned. In view of the current situation and based on Art. 6a of Ordinance 2, issued by the Swiss Federal Council, regarding measures against combatting the coronavirus (COVID-19), shareholders will not be allowed to attend the event in person. In addition, the AGM will not include an address by the Executive Chairman, senior management or a webcast. At Vifor Pharma the health of shareholders and employees is a priority, therefore the Board of Directors has decided that shareholders will be able to exercise their rights at the General Meeting exclusively through the independent proxy. By following this measure, Vifor Pharma will ensure that the Annual General Meeting can be held on the originally scheduled date. The voting results will be published on https://www.viforpharma.com/en/investors/shareholders-information/annual-general-meeting shortly after the AGM. Vifor Pharma Group is a global specialty pharmaceuticals company. It aims to become the global leader in iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies. The company is the partner of choice for pharmaceuticals and innovative patient-focused solutions. Vifor Pharma Group strives to help patients around the world with severe and chronic diseases lead better, healthier lives. The company develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for precision patient care. Vifor Pharma Group holds a leading position in all its core business activities and consists of the following companies: Vifor Pharma; Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma (a joint company with Fresenius Medical Care); and OM Pharma. Vifor Pharma Group is headquartered in Switzerland, and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange, VIFN, ISIN: CH0364749348). For more information, please visit www.viforpharma.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200330005615/en/ Contacts: Media Relations Nathalie Ponnier Global Corporate Communications +41 79 957 96 73 media@viforpharma.com Investor Relations Julien Vignot Head of Investor Relations +41 58 851 66 90 investors@viforpharma.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 08:17:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close OTTAWA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Air Canada said Monday that it will temporarily lay off 16,500 employees starting this week due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. "To furlough such a large proportion of our employees is an extremely painful decision but one we are required to take given our dramatically smaller operations for the next while," chief executive Calin Rovinescu said in a statement. The layoffs of 15,200 unionized workers and 1,300 managers came amid drastically reduced flight capacity from Canada's largest airline. The Montreal-based carrier has halted most of its international and U.S. routes. Air Canada's flight attendant union said earlier that 5,149 cabin crew would be temporarily laid off due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The newly announced layoffs do not include the earlier job cut. Canada's second largest airline WestJet said March 24 that it laid off around 7,000 employees due to the COVID-19 crisis. WestJet said Monday it is cancelling all transatlantic and U.S. routes until May 4, extending its 30-day suspension by two more weeks. Another two Canadian airlines -- Air Transat and Porter Airlines-- have halted all flights. 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. Dear Mama, I Have Seen That Look Before By: Maggie Meadows Cooper I have seen that look on your face before. The time your child totally burped while the Sunday School teacher was praying and proceeded to have an ugly attitude when asked to stop. The time your two-year-old fell out in the grocery store floor rolling and flailing while screaming like a wild banshee. The time your tween daughter talked back to you in front of a group of "important" women. The time your child colored all over the wall while your boss was standing at the door talking to you...and watching him. The times you tell your children it's time to go, and you wait... and wait... and wait... and wait... as others watch in judgment of how you will handle this disobedience. I know what it looks like because I have been there myself. It's a mix of exasperation, anger, impatience, embarrassment, guilt, shame, and frustration all rolled into one. And it stinks. You don't like having that look on your face or feeling the way you do any more than I do. But if you have kiddos, it has happened before, and it will happen again. So hang in there. And as you're hanging on, think about this: Your child's behavior is not necessarily a reflection of your parenting. Read that again and take it to heart: Your child's behavior is not necessarily a reflection of your parenting. You can be the most disciplined, routined, on-top-of-everything mom in the world, and your children will still misbehave. And do you know why? Because they are little sinners... like their big sinner mamas. "For I was born a sinner--yes, from the moment my mother conceived me." - Psalm 51:5 NLT Yall, the Bible tells us we came into the world with sin in our hearts. We are not inherently good. Paul says, "And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't." (Romans 7:18) And that's why we need Jesus. And that's why our little people need Jesus too. So what do we do with that? Do we need to stop disciplining to the best of our ability and leading our babies the best we know how? Of course not! But, we do need to cut each other some slack. I have been known to go to great lengths in order to make a trip to the grocery store...or any store for that matter...BY MYSELF. Do you know why? Is it so I won't spend as much money? Partly. So I can get done quickly instead of making an extended vacation in the cookie or toy aisle? Maybe. But do you want to know the real reason? Because I don't want to face the accusing eyes of others when my children misbehave. When one asks for something and I say no and the whining and complaining begins... when one is running and jumping and sliding down the dairy aisle to see how far he can make it on socks (don't ask)...when one refuses to sit in the buggy and manages to roll all over the nasty floor. I don't want to feel the shame and embarrassment of feeling like I'm not enough. My husband and I discipline and lead and guide the best we know how. But yall, kids are kids, and by golly, some do things you can't EVER prepare for! And I'll say it...some days I am too tired to care. I let things slip. I give too many chances. I try to change behavior instead of their hearts. And they misbehave. But my days are not all bad. Some days I go to the store and they act perfectly (very rare, but still). They stay by the buggy. They thank me for what I get them. They act kind to each other and don't make any embarrassing bodily noises or pull any boogers to rub on my arm (only the two-year-old does that at this point). And I'm tempted to pat myself on the back and be excited that I've got it all together. But I don't. And I can do more harm than good by thinking I do. So here's what I say. Let's band together. When you see that mama with that familiar look on her face, don't look the other way. And don't look at her like you pity her. Smile at her. Tell her you get it. It doesn't matter if you know her. Just say in passing, "I feel ya' girl." And if it is one of your friends, give her a hug and come beside her. If she's had enough, tell her to go take a break and step in for a few minutes. Tell her little whiner to go play and mama will be right back. Let the tantrum on the floor continue if need be. Tell that wild boy to cool it and head outside. But look on her with love, not judgment. Speak out of compassion, not condemnation. Listen thoughtfully, not pridefully offering your great advice on how your children behave. And most of all, point her to Jesus. Maggie Meadows Cooper is a wife, mother, educator, author, and blogger with a longing for women to grow a heart for Jesus and others. She is the author of the childrens book Bumper, helping others to see that the heart is what counts most. She blogs at The Little Moments about what the Lord is teaching her in everyday life and contributes to Blogs by Christian Women, Devotional Diva, She Disciples, and Connecting Ministries. An educator with a M. Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Auburn University (War Eagle!), she has eighteen years of experience teaching and currently serves as a Parent Coordinator in the Opelika City Schools. She loves all things chocolate, real Coca-Cola, and leading the FBCO Teen Moms group. She lives with her husband, three children, and two rambunctious dogs in Opelika, Alabama. For More Great Resources for Women, Visit iBelieve's Faith Channel. Listen to Our FREE New Parenting Podcast! Christian Parent/Crazy World with Catherine Segars is now available on LifeAudio.com. You can listen to the first episode below: Twenty-two new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Morocco, bringing to 556 the total number of cases of contamination as of March 30 at 9:30 p.m., announced the Ministry of Health. The death toll amounted to 33, while those declared healed number 15. Since the start of the outbreak on March 2, health authorities have performed 2,195 medical tests on suspected COVID-19 cases that came out negative. Casablanca-Settat remains the most infected region with 164 confirmed cases, followed by Marrakech-Safi (99 cases), Rabat-Sale-Kenitra (97), and Fez-Meknes (92). Over the past few days, Morocco recorded an exponential increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, but senior health official, Mohamed Lyoubi, reassured the public that the increase was expected and is normal. He explained at a press briefing that parties and family gatherings, along with organized tours are some of the major factors behind the spread of the virus in Morocco. Regarding the alarming COVID-19 death rate of over 6%, the official said that the majority of the deceased were suffering from chronic diseases that aggravated their condition. The ministry invites citizens to show responsibility and patriotism by respecting the rules of hygiene and health security, as well as the preventive measures taken by the Moroccan authorities. Head of Government, Saad Dine El Otmani, reiterated, Monday in Rabat, the governments determination to take all the necessary measures to protect citizens and fight the spread of coronavirus and ensure all the means to improve health care services. In normal times, people my age naturally think about dying and death. But these are not normal times. Now everyone, even children, are talking or dreaming about it. And that could be quite positive. If we think about it, dying is part of living. Sooner or later, it will happen to all of us. As my realist monastic friend likes to say, there is nothing wrong with dying. Sometimes we can postpone death, but we can never avoid it. Thus, the better part of wisdom, first and foremost is to make the best of living; reflecting early and often (seriously!) about what truly gives life its meaning. Second, for the sake of family, friends and our own legacies, we absolutely must prepare last instructions through wills and or living trusts. If we dont, the state will do it for us; as Wyoming people, we certainly dont want that! Yet, fewer than 40 percent of us have even the simplest of wills. We cant eliminate our instinctual anxieties; we do have lots to worry about. But we can learn from our anxieties so that they dont paralyze us from trying to fulfill our lifelong ambitions. To be sure, thats easier said than done; especially for the roughly 70,000 Wyomingites living alone, of which some 40,000 over age 60. Here are a few activities that are helping this octogenarian endure the stresses of self-quarantine: Limiting my exposure to COVID-19 statistics; trying hard not to watch partisan channels such as Fox and MSNBC. Note: so far a total of 0.11 percent of the 59 million residents in the Chinese province where the virus broke out have became infected; 99.89 percent did not, according to the Johns Hopkins Universitys Center for Systems Science and Engineering COVID-19 global tracking map. Using video-calling apps when and where possible; otherwise, phone calls. More than anything else, I must admit that I miss hugs and kisses, even handshakes. Making eye contact, even voice contact, are the next best prescription for temporary relief of social isolation. Walking every day; allows us to inhale fresh air, keeps us grounded, lends perspective on our own small lives and invites us to greet other walkers. In fact, walking with a friend, even at social distance, is a strong preference. In addition, moderate indoor exercises two or three times per week, for example, https://hasfit.com/workouts/home/senior/senior-exercises/, helps maintain our muscles. Keeping a daily journal; even if just a sentence or two, describing my fears on paper helps calm my mind; reporting on conversations with friends, reminding myself that were all in this together, gives hope. Slowing down our minds; being more aware and intentional about the things we say and do every day. Until a couple of years ago, Ive dismissed the practice of daily mindfulness as just another vogue of the health conscious. But my medical doctor friend, originally from India, kept gently nudging me to learn about Buddhism; for a start, he recommended a short book, eminently understandable to Western minds: Eknath Easwaran, The Mantram Handbook. For non-readers, there are plenty of apps on the subject; though they are more about relaxation, less about mindfulness training. Allowing others to help us; living alone, many of us feel hesitant, even awkward, about asking friends and neighbors to do things for us. That is especially so in the land of rugged individualism where were expected to care for ourselves, despite the intensely social nature of the human being. So when a friend says let me know if you need anything, we generally decline the offer. But when that same person calls with Im going to the grocery store, can I get you a few items while Im there? were much more likely to accept. Recall the biblical passage better to give than to receive. Caring for others; selfish but true, the best way we can lift our own spirits is by extending care to one another. This can be done in easy ways such as keeping social distances when walking in the park, receiving items at the front door, invoking our better angels by not hoarding and, if at all possible, contributing financially to the safety-net charities providing food, health care and other necessities to our most vulnerable neighbors and fellow citizens. John F. Freeman lives in Laramie. He is trained in history. He can be reached at jfreemanwyo@gmail. 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. The new $750-a-week 'JobKeeper' payment has instantly turned around the fortunes of hundreds of thousands of workers who last week stood unemployed at Centrelink. Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled a $130 billion wage subsidy plan on Monday, to aid employers in keeping their staff in a job - even if they are not working - during the coronavirus crisis. Mr Morrison said he expects the extraordinary plan to pay six million wages over the next six months as Australian businesses go into a forced 'hibernation'. The announcement came as a huge relief for hairdresser Rahil Zadeh, as it means she will be able to ensure the jobs of her three full-time staff who she last week had to let go. Scroll down for video Bondi hair salon owner Rahil Zadeh (pictured) will be able to offer her fulltime employees back their jobs after the government announced a $130 billion scheme to pay Australians while they are out-of-work Queues such as this one outside the Bondi Junction Centrelink office were commonplace last week, but many of these workers will now be covered by the government's wage subsidy plan 'It is good for my staff because at least I can keep their job now, and it also will keep them more motivated during this time off,' Ms Zadeh, owner of Antler Hair in Bondi, told Daily Mail Australia. 'Just last week I told them to go to Centrelink to get the Newstart Allowance, but they feel much better knowing they can come back to work now. 'They are going to get $750-a-week and when we come back they will have a job, so that will give them peace of mind.' Ms Zadeh's business was among thousands across the country to be affected in an instant because of the government's strict measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. Pubs, restaurants, cafes, gyms, swimming pools, nail salons and massage parlours - just to name a few - were among the business whose trade was stopped instantly or greatly reduced. City Gym owner Billy Kokkinis said the government's funding would be a big help for his staff, but hoped the payments would not last too long. 'It is a great help for my staff, many of them were getting ready to go on the doll and queued up at Centrelink last week,' Mr Kokkinis said. 'I guess $750 means they can pay some rent and get food on the table, but many of them have mortgage repayments and are used to earning way more than that. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the payments were crucial to keep the 'economy running' and are expected to help out as many as six million unemployed Australians in the months to come City Gym owner Billy Kokkinis (right) was among those who had to lay off staff following the government's strict measures on gyms and other businesses to stop the spread of COVID-19, and believes the new government initiatives are great for his staff - but it's too late for some 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 'A long term solution has to be to get the doors back open to my gym, to get some revenue flowing back in, but I know the government is doing a lot at the minute. 'But I know for a lot of small businesses this is too late, they are done. 'I know personal trainers and sole traders that have already started moving out of their business, they know it's over and that is really sad.' Under the government's new scheme the six million workers estimated to lose their employment after March 1 will have their job guaranteed, and get $1500 a fortnight to pay their bills. The prime minister said the latest package - which takes the government's spend to $320 billion during the coronavirus pandemic - was vital to keep the economy alive. 'We want to keep the economy running through this crisis, it may run in idle for some time, but it must run,' Mr Morrison said. 'We will give millions of eligible businesses and their workers a lifeline to not only get through this crisis, but bounce back together on the other side.' Among the workers likely to benefit from this package are the 20,000 Qantas and Jetstar employees temporarily stood down from late March until the end of May. There are currently more than 4,500 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia, with a total of 19 deaths linked to the virus Hospitality workers are also likely to benefit, as long as they are not on temporary migrant visas. The grants will be available to businesses who have an annual turnover of less than $1 billion, and who have a 30 per cent downturn in revenue for one month minimum. Companies, partnerships, trusts and sole traders can all get the subsidy if they have also been hit by the coronavirus fallout. Charities and not-for-profits can also get it. The idea is that the payments will allow business to keep a connection with workers so they can be easily re-instated when the coronavirus restrictions are lifted. Employers can register to receive the funding through the Australian Tax Office. Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/30/2020 -- The Remote Weapon Station Market was valued at USD 7.67 billion in 2017 and is projected to reach USD 14.42 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 11.20% during the forecast period. This report covers the forecast of the remote weapon station market and its dynamics over the next 5 years, while also recognizing market application gaps, recent developments in the market, and high potential countries. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=172094776 Based on platform, the land segment is expected to lead the remote weapon station market during the forecast period. Based on platform, the remote weapon station market is estimated to be led by the land segment in 2018 and is expected to continue to lead till 2023. Emerging countries, such as China and India, among others, are building large forces of Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) and armored vehicles. These countries are investing more in automated technologies and focusing on manufacturing a wide range of offensive fighting vehicles. For instance, in 2016 India signed a contract with Russia for the supply of 464 T-90 main battle tanks that will help the country significantly in its offensive operations vis-a-vis China and Pakistan. The sensors segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The remote weapon station market has been analyzed and segmented based on component into human machine interface, sensors, and weapons & armaments. The remote weapon station market is led by the weapons & armaments segment. The sensors segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the use of the sensor fusion technology, and the sensor suite, which continues to be upgraded to deliver enhanced detection and decision-making. Combining data from key sensors provides the warrior an autonomous ability to rapidly evaluate the overall tactical scenario and respond efficiently to identify threats. Based on region, Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period The rapid growth of the remote weapon station market in the Asia Pacific can be attributed to the increasing defense budgets to innovate and develop robust remote weapon stations by emerging countries, such as China and India. For instance, India-based companies, such as Mahindra Defense Systems and Bharat Electronics, recently launched their newly developed remote weapon stations for armored vehicles. China is estimated to account for the largest share of the Asia Pacific remote weapon station market in 2018. This rapid growth can be attributed to the increasing research & development activities undertaken in the region for the development of advanced technology-based designs of remote weapon stations. Request Free Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=172094776 Key Market Players: Kongsberg Gruppen (Norway), Raytheon Company (US), Elbit Systems (Israel), Saab AB (Sweden), Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy), BAE Systems (UK), Rheinmetall AG (Germany), ASELSAN A.S (Turkey), and FN Herstal (Belgium). 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: sales@marketsandmarkets.com The Chinese Embassy announced that a Chinese medical expert team will come to the Philippines to assist in the countrys battle against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In a Facebook post, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said the Chinese government will dispatch a Chinese medical expert team to the Philippines upon the request of Philippine government. Huang had a phone call with Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday (March 30). Both sides exchanged views on the cooperation between China and the Philippines in fighting against COVID-19, the post reads. The medical team will provide technical advice on epidemic prevention and control as well as sharing medical treatment experience. Meanwhile, Secretary Duque expressed his appreciation and gratitude for Chinas support to the Philippines in battling the epidemic. He added that he is looking forward to the arrival of the Chinese medical expert team. AAC The post Chinese Embassy: Chinese medical team to assist PH in fighting COVID-19 appeared first on UNTV News. Its become a golden rule during the coronavirus pandemic: Wash your hands frequently with soap for 20 seconds. Birminghams homeless community hasnt had the ability to follow that rule until now. Thanks to a collaboration between an Alabama environmental justice group and an Atlanta organization, eight portable washing stations were given to Be A Blessing Birmingham, a nonprofit focused on helping the citys homeless. Erica Star Robbins, founder and executive director, said the stations are essential in keeping the homeless virus-free. Robbins has been trying to find hand sanitizer for her homeless neighbors for more than two weeks. She hasnt been able to find any yet. Were super excited about having something so they will be able to wash their hands and kind of cut down on the spread within the population, Robbins said. I am happy to announce that through a partnership with Michael Malcom of The People's Justice Council and Love Beyond... Posted by Be A Blessing Birmingham on Friday, 27 March 2020 According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, those who are homeless are vulnerable to the coronavirus due to lack of access to hygiene products and healthcare. To prevent contamination within the homeless community, Terence Lester, co-founder of the Atlanta-based nonprofit Love Beyond Walls, started building portable washing stations out of RV parts and placing them throughout the city. The washing stations are filled with soap and carry about 5 to 10 gallons of water. Lesters mission mirrors Robbins: to help the homeless however he can. He has received national attention for starting a campaign to place washing stations in different cities across the country. The effort caught the eyes of Michael Malcom, executive director of a multifaith, environmental justice group called Alabama Interfaith Power and Light. Malcom became good friends with Lester while he was pastor of an Atlanta church. Now a Birmingham resident, Malcom said he reached out to Lester to reduce the spread of COVID19 in a community that was under-served and overlooked during the pandemic. I believe the homeless are a part of our community and I believe all of our community is in jeopardy right now, Malcom said. I know doing the environmental justice work I do that the homeless is one of our most vulnerable populations who do the least harm. Malcom didnt know about Be A Blessing Birmingham at first. But those in the climate change community quickly educated him about Robbins nonprofit while he was looking for someone who could use the hand washing stations. Once I was led to (Robbins), I knew that was the person to see, Malcom said. She was the right person to connect with. There wasnt anybody else. Robbins was happy for the extra help. She said programs that usually fed the homeless have stopped. So Robbins and a small group of volunteers have been busy doing food routes daily. Just because there is a pandemic going on doesnt mean that people stop eating, Robbins said. Food is essential. If people dont eat, they die. Robbins said the washing stations will be placed in the areas where they feed many of the homeless, such as Kelly Ingram Park and Five Points South in Birmingham. Robbins said she is searching for people who can help sanitize and fill the sinks. Anyone who is interested in volunteering can contact the nonprofit by emailing BeABlessingBirmingham@gmail.com or message the group on Facebook. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 08:14:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The world is now in a battle against COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 200 countries and regions. The following are the updates on the contagious illness. - - - - GENEVA -- Given the latest growth curve of new coronavirus cases amid extensive lockdown measures, European countries, particularly the most affected countries like Italy and Spain, could see potential stabilization of COVID-19 outbreak, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) expert noted here Monday. In the past 24 hours as of Monday morning, a total of 31,726 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Europe, which marked the lowest growth since last Friday, according to the WHO's daily situation report. - - - - BRUSSELS -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Europe kept swelling, with the region's total approaching 400,000 and that of Italy exceeding 100,000 as of Monday. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 693,224 COVID-19 cases and 33,106 deaths have been reported globally as of 10:00 a.m. CET Monday, of which, 393,285 cases and 23,966 deaths were registered in Europe. - - - - WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States has tested 1 million people in the country for the novel coronavirus. "Today we reached a historic milestone in our war against the coronavirus. Over 1 million Americans have been tested -- more than any other country by far," Trump told a White House briefing. - - - - NEW YORK -- The U.S. Navy Ship (USNS) Comfort arrived in New York City on Monday, bringing 1,000 hospital beds to help relieve the city's overwhelmed hospital system amid COVID-19 pandemic. Both New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio went to greet the ship, which docked on Monday morning at Pier 90 in the West Side of Manhattan. - - - - CAIRO -- Iran's confirmed novel coronavirus cases jumped by 3,186 to 41,495 on Monday. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was under quarantine after one of his aides was diagnosed with the virus. The death toll in Iran from COVID-19 infection rose by 117 to 2,757. So far, 13,911 of the infected people in Iran have recovered, while 3,511 others remained in critical condition. With the global airline industry reeling from plunging demand due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced March 31 it will inject much-needed equity into its state-owned airline, Emirates. Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum said on Twitter the government would be providing the regions largest carrier with financial aid due to its great strategic value as one of the main pillars of Dubai's economy. Today, we renew our commitment to support a success story that started in the mid-1980s to reach its goal of sitting on the throne of global aviation, he wrote. Dubais deputy ruler didnt specify how much emergency funding would be supplied but added that further details and new measures would be announced soon. Emirati health officials have reported 664 cases of the coronavirus and a death toll of six. In an effort to halt the spread of the virus, the UAE has temporarily grounded all passenger flights and suspended entry visas until further notice. For two weeks beginning March 19, UAE residents currently outside of the country are barred from returning. Late on March 30, authorities imposed a 24-hour, two-week-long curfew on the tourist district of Al-Ras. A daily overnight curfew was extended nationwide until April 5 as health officials work to disinfect public spaces. On the heels of a similar decision from Emirates airline, low-cost carrier flydubai announced Monday it would be slashing salaries for its nearly 4,000 employees for three months beginning in April. Between the end of January and March 11, more than 16,000 passenger flights were canceled in the Middle East, causing losses of $7.2 billion in revenue, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said. The group, which represents 290 airlines around the world, estimates up to $200 billion in emergency aid for the aviation industry will be needed globally. With average cash reserves of approximately two months in the region, airlines are facing a liquidity and existential crisis, the IATA said. The Reserve Bank released data relating to India's International Investment Position (IIP) for December, which showed a marginal improvement in the ratio of foreign assets to foreign liabilities. The ratio of India's international financial assets to international financial liabilities improved to 62.1 per cent at the end of December 2019, up from 60.5 per cent in September, the centralbank said. Netclaims of non-residents on India declined by USD 10.4 billion to USD 426.5 billion for the three months toDecember on ahigher increase of USD 28.3 billion in Indian residents' overseas financial assets during the quarter in comparison with a rise of USD 17.9 billion in foreign owned assets in India, it said. An increase in reserve assets at USD 26.2 billion was the dominant contributor to higher increase in Indian residents' overseas financial assets, followed by overseas direct investments of USD 3.3 billion, it said. Direct investments and portfolio investment liabilities increased by USD 9.8 billion and USD 6.7 billion, respectively, during the quarter. Depreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar during the period contributed to the reduction in India's liabilities, the RBI said. Reserve assets accounted for nearly 65 per cent of total foreign assets, according to the central bank. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Army Wives Welfare Organisation (AWWA) on Tuesday handed over 2,500 food packets to Delhi government for distribution to the needy people amid the lockdown imposed to curb the coronavirus pandemic, an official statement said. Around 1,200 food packets were handed over on Monday by the AWWA, the Defence ministry said in a statement, adding that the distribution of food packets would continue for the next five days free of charge. "The food packets were prepared under Army's AWWA Lunch project by families of officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks at their houses in various colonies of Delhi," the ministry stated. India is under a 21-day lockdown till April 14 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Union Health Ministry said the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 32 and the number of total positive cases to 1,251 as on Monday 9.30 PM. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Snow this morning will give way to lingering snow showers this afternoon. High -9C. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Snow showers will become more widely scattered overnight. Low near -12C. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%. The Shiv Sena on Tuesday demanded action against Maharashtra BJP spokesman Avdhut Wagh who tried to link state minister Jayant Patil's criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over lockdown announcement to 25 people contracting COVID-19 in his Assembly constituency in Sangli. Such remarks not just malign Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but also hurt the legacy of progressive leaders and social reformers like Jyotiba Phule, Shahu Maharaj and Dr B R Ambedkar, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said. "What Avdhut Wagh has said is a fit case for taking action under the anti-superstition laws," it said. For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here "When people venture out violating the lockdown, it is not Modi or the Maharashtra chief minister's fault. Those who have hidden their travel history and violated quarantine rules have brought this crisis on the state," the editorial said. In a bizarre statement, Wagh on Sunday said NCP leader and state water resources minister Jayant Patil has been "punished" for his criticism of Modi. Patil hails from western Maharashtra's Sangli district, where 25 members of a family from Islampur tehsil have been found to be infected with COVID-19. Islampur is Patil's Assembly constituency. In a series of tweets, Patil had said instead of announcing the lockdown at 8 pm on March 24, the prime minister should have given enough time to migrant labourers to make necessary arrangements to face the shutdown impact. Wagh's comment came as part of his rebuttal to Patil. Taking a dim view of the BJP leader's remarks, the Sena said, "President Donald Trump is a big fan of Modi and still coronavirus has created havoc in the US. A city like New York has been silenced. Can someone clarify who punished Islampur and New York?". It said when the virus is spreading its tentacles, BJP spokespersons are saying anything they want. Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths Jayant Patil is not just a state minister but also president of the Maharashtra NCP. He put forth his view. Why should BJP leaders get so agitated?" the Marathi daily said. "Do they want to say homes, talukas, villages and cities of those who criticise Modi should be affected with coronavirus? What if someone says those who call Modi the avatar of Lord Vishnu wish the destruction of Maharashtra," the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said. It said Delhi got more 29 more coronavirus patients on Tuesday, but nobody criticised Modi there. In Nagpur, the hometown of former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari, the figure (of COVID-19 cases) is more than 20, it pointed out. "If the figure in states that have not criticised Modi is rising, then it is defeat of his godliness," it stated. Also Read: Coronavirus cases in Delhi mount to 97; 153 from Nizamuddin admitted in isolation wards at LNJP The entire country is with Modi in this fight against coronavirus and even Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has supported the decisions taken by the Modi government, it said. "Why is it that those who call themselves 'bhakts' behave in such a manner?" the Marathi publication asked. The Sena said it was confident that if Modi comes to know about such comments, he would take action against his own party men. 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. Safety is the purpose of the shelter-in-place mandate safety for the community, but primarily, safety for front line health care professionals. Shelter-in-place is designed to prevent the system hospitals, 911 systems, first responders from being overwhelmed by a tsunami of critically ill patients. Lockdown during a pandemic takes on a very different meaning for victims of domestic violence, quarantined and isolated from people and resources. During this unprecedented crisis, already dangerous domestic violence situations can escalate even more quickly. Feeling a loss of control during uncertain times, abusive partners can become even more volatile. When substance abuse is involved, confinement for domestic abuse victims is a potential death sentence. The pain of domestic abuse can trigger substance abuse as a coping mechanism for victims, and abusers frequently use drug addiction as a tool for control. A Walker-County man was jailed yesterday, accused of blunt force trauma in the death of his girlfriend. The sheriff remarked the couple had a long history of substance abuse, something the reader might dismiss without understanding the dynamics of addiction and control in many domestic violence cases. A murdered victim isnt disposal or expendable just because she was high or drunk, and a murderer certainly isnt excused because hes an out of control addict. According to the World Health Organization, natural disasters, wars and epidemics increase the risk of gendered-based violence. During Hurricane Katrina, researchers found a 98% spike in domestic abuse against women, according to Lynn Fairweather, a domestic violence threat assessment consultant. In China, which only passed its first domestic violence law in 2016, the number of domestic calls reported to police tripled in February this year at the height of the coronavirus epidemic, according to Axios. Here in Birmingham at One Place, a trauma informed multidisciplinary approach helps survivors make thoughtful decisions and gain access to life saving information, all in one building. Each week, a team, including a prosecutor, police officer, nurse, and counselor coordinate and facilitate the process of keeping domestic violence victims safe. Over the past three years, Allison Dearing, the director of One Place, has seen an increase in charges as advocates follow up with individuals, explain a confusing and often intimidating legal system, and provide practical resources and emotional support. Dearing says the simple act of listening to a victim has a profound impact. Helping a victim understand shes not alone is a first step in breaking away from a life-threatening relationship. Today, during this current crisis, Dearing is charged with providing these same services, purposefully located physically in one safe space, virtually. Shes been coordinating with partners at the YWCA, Crisis Center, courts, law enforcement, and others to gather new protocols for providing information and services and communicating these through proper channels to the right people and organizations. Catherine Alexander-Wright, director of domestic violence services at the YWCA, is also working and operating with a largely remote staff while still serving clients in shelters in Jefferson and St. Clair counties and making referrals to other shelters when needed. Advocates are helping those who call with counseling, safety planning, and protective orders. Alexander-Wright says victims seeking to file a Protection from Abuse or who have questions about orders already in place can reach out to the YWCA Advocacy and Family Law Services still operating with limited services. For survivors in Jefferson County with existing protection from abuse orders, by order of Presiding Judge French entered on March 25th, any prior orders of protection issued prior to March 17, 2020, with a hearing scheduled during the temporary suspension are to remain in full force and effect until the matter is rescheduled and heard by the Court. Lanier Isom, Birmngham author One Place directs all appropriate calls to the YWCAs hotline, but fields calls for the spectrum of needs a survivor faces. Dearing says her phone has been quieter than usual during the shelter-in-place. That doesnt mean this past week she hasnt received calls from women in the most dangerous situations, whether its someone whos escaped and found a job but worried she might lose it or a woman whos been choked. A common tactic for abusers is strangulation (a class B felony in Alabama). A National Institute of Justice Study found men who strangle women are 10 times more likely to murder them. At One Place, a Cortexflo digital camera documents the internal bruising and effects of strangulation, even the handprints of the choker. Dearing says women most often call when the abuser is at work or theyre away from the house in a public space where its safer to make that call for help. She does expect an uptick in calls when freedoms are reinstated. According to a recent WHNT 19 news report, Crisis Services of North Alabama has seen an increase in calls. Calls to the YWCAs hotline doubled this past weekend. During this current shelter-in-place order, isolation, a powerful tool abusers wield against women to begin with, can be manipulated to exert even more control over a victim whos a passive hostage in her own home. Violent partners may withhold information, provide misleading information, convince victims police and paramedics wont respond to their calls, and tell them theyre infected with the virus and cant leave. Gaslighting is always easier with a captive audience. Unable to communicate with family, friends, and counselors, domestic violence victims no longer have strategies for coping with the abuse. Dearing says creating a code word for the family or a signal to the neighbor, such as leaving the porch lights on as a sign to call the police, is part of creating a safety plan at home. She encourages women to carry their cell phone with them at all times. For women seeking help in rural Alabama, many areas lack internet and wifi, leaving women without access to technology and unable to use the chat and texting features on the National Domestic Violence Hotline webpage as an option for escaping. Healthcare facilities are becoming overwhelmed with coronavirus patients and many women may not escape to family homes to keep elderly relatives free from potential exposure to the virus. A looming financial recession puts funding for domestic violence services at risk and could mean financial insecurity and dependence for women seeking a way out. Those in the business of helping vulnerable individuals and communities and saving lives face daunting obstacles to fulfill their mission on a good day. Now, during a pandemic and quarantine, the challenges of well-meaning systems are highlighted even more as first responders scramble to keep meeting the needs of domestic violence victims. During this national emergency, the families damaged and the lives lost will not only be those infected with this terrible virus, but intimate partners dealing with the toxic admixture of financial stress, alcohol, drugs, and imposed isolation in the most dangerous place they know -- home. Maya Angelou writes in her poem, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, But a caged bird stands on a grave of dreams/his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream/his wings are clipped and his feet are tied/so he opens his throat to sing. During these troubled times, lets not forget the women trapped at home longing for freedom, longing for safety, longing to stay alive. Lanier Isom is a BIrmingham writer who frequently writes for AL.com. She wrote, Grace and Grit: How I Won My Fight at Goodyear and Beyond, the life story of Alabama native Lilly Ledbetter. Given the twin facts that Oman has only around five billion barrels of estimated proved oil reserves (barely the 22nd largest in the world) but is still dependent on the hydrocarbons sector for over 80 per cent of its national budget revenues, the ongoing oil price war is posing some very big problems for the Sultanate. Even before the outbreak of outright hostilities between Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the U.S. began, Oman had a budget breakeven price per barrel of Brent of over US$85 and this is going higher by the day. As it stands, according to legal sources in Abu Dhabi spoken to by OilPrice.com last week, the Sultanate needs to raise at least US$7 billion very quickly just to keep the budget from falling off a cliff, and nearer US$10 billion to keep rolling funding going for key projects, including the flagship Duqm programme. The key problem that Oman has faced has been that it has had no real choice - given its lack of oil and gas reserves - but to focus on building a presence in the higher-value petrochemicals sector, which it started to do in earnest the last time that the Saudis engaged in a price war, beginning in 2014, a senior oil industry source in Muscat told OilPrice.com last week. It was, and is, a very good idea in the circumstances but the problem with it is that it involves a lot of upfront spending in advance of big returns flowing in much later down the line, and this leaves a mid-range funding gap, which is what we have now, he added. The effects of this have been magnified by the lack of revenue offset that comes from the oil that Oman does manage to produce as a result of the slide in world oil prices, he underlined. In fact, Omans entire national hydrocarbons strategy hangs in great part on its finishing the landmark Duqm Refinery Project (DRP). As of the end of 2019, the entire construction and development work at the site was just 45 per cent complete. Given that it was around 5 per cent complete at the beginning of that year, this might be regarded as an achievement but the project has been treading water now for a number of years. In fact, as long ago as 2014, various comments from the Sultanate stated that it would begin to award the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts worth US$65 billion from that year. Story continues Related: Russias Plan To Bankrupt U.S. Shale Could Send Oil To $60 Spread over a 900 hectare site, the joint venture between the Oman Oil Company (OOC) and Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI) is intended to have a 230,000 barrels per day (bpd) capacity in the first instance and will be the lynchpin of the Duqm Special Economic Zone. Despite it taking one full year from the official commencement of work on the DRP in 2018 to the beginning of 2019 for it to make just 5 per cent progress, the official view was that it was going to be completed by the end 2021. This has now moved to 2022 but the truth is that it is impossible to say when precisely because the money is not there. The key turning point in this regard for the project came towards the end of 2016 when the UAEs International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) said that the Duqm project no longer fitted its overall investment strategy, in light of the impending merger at the time of IPIC with the Mubadala Development Company, and withdrew from the project. This was followed in November by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the OOC and the Kuwait Petroelum Corporation (KPC) for co-operation on the construction of the refinery. This included an undisclosed degree of funding, although OilPrice.com understands that this was not even half of the then-estimated cost of US$6 billion (the estimate is now US$7 billion). This involvement was expanded in February, when KPI formally acquired a 50 per cent stake in the refinery. At around the same time as IPIC withdrew from the project, the refinery operator the Duqm Refinery & Petrochemical Industries Company (DRPIC) in tandem with the OOC, appointed a number of global banks, led by regional heavyweight Credit Agricole, to advise on the optimal methods to obtain the funding for the project, which included not just bond issues but also direct investment from foreign sources. These overtures found particular favour with China, which as part of a broad-based investment into Oman pledged the required funding to cover the completion of the Duqm refinery. However, it came with the usual Chinese caveats of being allowed to build massive far-reaching infrastructure projects. Oman has little choice but to accept the Chinese conditions but it [Oman] wants to try to use as much of its own funding as it can for these key strategic projects to limit Chinese power where possible, said the Muscat source. In this context, the Duqm refinery will be a vital cog in Omans intended petchems infrastructure. It will function alongside the US$4.6 billion Liwa Plastics Project (LPP) industrial complex, also near the Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Companys (ORPIC) Sohar refinery in SEZAD. These are specifically designed to enable Oman to capitalise on the synergies with the existing refinery and the growing global market for plastics. Industry estimates are that the global demand for polypropylene will increase by nearly 4 per cent every year until the mid-2020s (with a corollary yearly rise in revenues of around 5 per cent over the same period), and a fully operational LPP would allow Oman to increase its production capacity of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) the two most utilised plastics products in the world by one million tonnes per year, to 1.4 million tonnes per year. Related: How COVID-19 Could Spark The Next Recession In order to avoid even more Chinese influence, Oman is currently looking at raising funds both as a consequence of the reorganisation of its oil and gas sector and through the possible sale of part of one or more of its state hydrocarbons companies. In the case of the former, according to the Muscat source, allowing semi-state-owned Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) to operate on an even more independent basis would enable it to issue its own bonds or take on syndicated loans to boost its capital base. Its a decent prospect, as it steadily produces around 600,000 barrels per day of oil, although extraction in Oman is not the easiest in the world, and it has plans to increase this figure to around 700,000 [barrels per day] within the next five years, he added. Maybe one of the partners will buy more [Shell holds 34 per cent of PDO, Total 4 per cent, and Partex 2 per cent, with the remainder held by the Oman government], or maybe one of the companies working elsewhere in Oman would have an interest, he underlined. Only recently, Italys Eni began drilling activities in Block 52, and separately Omans Oil & Gas Ministry signed a new exploration and production sharing agreement with a joint-venture consortium comprising French super-major, Total, and Thai state-owned PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP), for the rights to explore and develop the non-associated gas resources within Block 12. In addition, BP has maintained an upstream presence in Oman since 2007 and is currently working on the Khazzan tight gas field. In the case of the latter, meanwhile, the part-IPO of part of ORPIC has been considered by the Oman government since 2014. The attractiveness of this proposition to investors was enhanced by last years integration of nine core businesses of ORPIC and Oman Oil under the new identity of OQ (the O stands for Oman, incidentally, and the Q for Sultan Qaboos, in characteristically modest Middle Eastern style). According to official figures, in 2019 the new company offered more than 30 products sold to over 2,000 clients in over 60 countries. It had estimated revenue for the year of US$20 billion, with an EBITDA of US$2.2 billion and net profit of US$556 million, while the asset base stands at US$27.9 billion. The previous stake amount being considered was 15-20 per cent but the current thinking is for anything up to 25 per cent of the company to be sold, according to legal sources in Abu Dhabi. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Read this article on OilPrice.com 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 Self-isolation and social distancing appear to have slowed the rate at which coronavirus spread from person-to-person over three weeks in the Seattle area, a new statistical study has found. The Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) looked at government-compiled health data in the coronavirus hotspot of Washington state, as well as anonymized Facebook location data, to calculate the impact of the lockdown. The northwestern state, where the first US case was confirmed, began to ban large gatherings and shutter schools in early March. Public health data, including positive and negative tests and overall mortality, appear to show that "the epidemic has slowed" since then, the study found. The disease's reproductive number -- the amount of people a single patient will infect on average -- dropped by nearly half, from 2.7 at the end of February to 1.4 by March 18, it calculated. "The main takeaway here is though we've made some great headway, our progress is precarious and insufficient," said Daniel Klein, one of the leaders of the study, on Monday. The reproductive number must fall below one for the pandemic to decline, the authors noted. Facebook location data indicated "a persistent decline in mobility" and "strong evidence that people have been staying at home" over the period, the report found. It showed an average 27 percent increase in the occupancy of residential areas, and a 43 percent decline in areas with offices such as central Seattle. The state's stay-at-home order was "timely and necessary" but must be maintained, and "more progress is necessary," the report said, noting that the models drew on a small amount of data and contain considerable uncertainty. "We are seeing a positive effect from the social distancing and other measures we've put in place, although significant numbers of cases and deaths continue to occur," said King County health director Jeff Duchin. Authorities said Monday there were 2,330 cases and 150 deaths in the county, which encompasses Seattle. "The threat of a rebound that could overwhelm the healthcare system remains and will remain for the foreseeable future if we let up too soon," Duchin said. King County health director Jeff Duchin said a positive effect is being seen from the social distancing and other measures, although significant numbers of cases and deaths continue to occur James Goodrich, an American pediatric neurosurgeon famed for his method of separating conjoined twins, has died from coronavirus-relate... James Goodrich, an American pediatric neurosurgeon famed for his method of separating conjoined twins, has died from coronavirus-related complications. Montefiore Einstein, the New York medical community, wherein he worked, said the renowned doctor died on Monday shortly after he had battled with the deadly virus. While describing Goodrich as a humble and truly caring man, the hospital said his death comes as a heart-breaking and sudden loss and that he would remain foremost in the thoughts of many. Dr. Goodrich passed away on March 30, 2020, from complications associated with COVID19. He is survived by his wife and three sisters. Our condolences go out to his family, Montefiore said. He dedicated his life to saving children with complex neurological conditions. He was a pioneer in this field and developed a multi-stage approach for separating twins fused at the brain and skull. In 2016, he famously led a team of 40 doctors in a 27-hour procedure to separate the McDonald twins, Jadon and Anias. Throughout his career, he became known as the worlds leading expert on this life-saving procedure. The Montefiore @EinsteinMed community is mourning the loss of Dr. James T. Goodrich, world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon. Dr. Goodrich passed away on March 30, 2020 from complications associated with COVID-19. Please see our full statement below. pic.twitter.com/nxPcKvPRG4 March 30, 2020 Goodrich, who served as a marine during the Vietnam war, was consulted on numerous cases and routinely traveled the world sharing his vast knowledge and expertise with colleagues. He spent more than 30 years at Montefiore Einstein and was the director of the division of pediatric neurosurgery at Montefiore. He had also doubled as a professor of clinical neurological surgery, pediatrics, plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Not only was he an elite surgeon, over the years he was a generous mentor and teacher who shared his craft with many young surgeons who wanted to follow in his footsteps, Montefiore added. 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. It's been nearly a week since Houston began life under a stay-at-home order, and the scenes from the city's first weekend of mandatory sheltering are fittingly haunting. The images of barren buildings and desolate parks may seem gloomy, but they offer hope that local residents are following social distancing guidelines, a move that medical experts say would drastically reduce the number of fatalities from COVID-19. The Vidor police chief said his department has noticed an increase in domestic disturbance calls as Southeast Texans are confined to their homes during the coronavirus outbreak. We are starting to get an uptick, but the numbers wont reflect it, Police Chief Chief Rod Carroll said. The first week of the quarantine was panic and people did not have the energy to fight. We started to see it more in the second week. The chief said law enforcement agencies across Southeast Texas are finding alternative methodology when dealing with disturbances. Were finding other means of separating people, he said. Our goal is not to arrest somebody. It is to make sure there is no assault. We will ask them if they have someones house they can go to. Most of the calls are not for physical violence. It is verbal and screaming. Carroll said if the disturbances turn violent, the assailant will go to jail. We had a guy pull his girlfriends hair out, and he went to jail, he said. Most of what we are seeing is people getting on each others nerves. One way police separate people involved in a disturbance is checking to see if anyone involved has an outstanding warrant. However, jails across the state are not taking non-violent offenders during the outbreak. Im not taking someone to jail on a misdemeanor warrant, he said. First off, the jail wont take him. Im not going to put their lives on the line for a misdemeanor warrant. Ive been doing this for too long. Giving someone a life sentence for a misdemeanor warrant is not good. chris.moore@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/chris_moore09 Syrian fighter in Libya, who are there to fight on behalf of Turkey have complained about the conditions they are living in and the lack pay that was promised to them writes Al-Masdar. Syrian mercenaries in Libya are not happy about the current situation inside the country, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Monday. Citing opposition sources, the monitor said that there is widespread discontent among the Syrian mercenaries that were sent to Libya by Turkey. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights continues to monitor the transportation of Syrian mercenaries to Libya by Turkey. SOHR sources have confirmed that widespread discontent is prevailing among the Syrian fighters that have been sent to Libya, since Turkey abandoned its promises at a time when the Syrian mercenaries suffer from dire living conditions there, the report said. According to the monitor, they have received an audio recording in which a Syrian fighter says he regrets going to Libya, as he urged prospective mercenaries to reconsider this choice. The Syrian mercenary said Turkey only paid one month of the 2,000 dollar salary and failed to fulfil the promises they made the fighters before they went to Libya. Turkey paid our salaries for only one month. It has not secured anything for us. Not even cigarettes, we hardly got them. We stay in a house but we can not get out of it, since cells belonging to Haftars forces are deployed throughout the area, the Syrian fighter said, adding that all of us want to return to Syria. There are patches have already get prepared to leave Libya to Syria through the al-Sham Corps. The Syrian mercenaries in Libya have recently suffered heavy casualties near the capital city of Tripoli, as the Libyan National Army (LNA) continues to advance in several parts of the country. 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. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will officially step down as senior royals today, but it's the symbolic end of a difficult period in their lives - and the start of an exciting new beginning, a source has claimed. Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, will drop the royal from their titles today after giving up their positions as senior members of the Firm. 'They are genuinely excited about the next chapter,' a source said, speaking to Katie Nicholl for Vanity Fair. 'It hasn't been an easy time for them but they are looking forward to starting a new chapter and being the couple they want to be. ' 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 holding their son Archie during their royal tour of South Africa in Cape Town on September 25, 2019 They added: 'They really want to make a difference on a global level and they are very ambitious about what they want to achieve.' It comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared their final Instagram post to their Sussex Royal account on Monday evening - before they stepped down. The couple, who are rumoured to be living in Malibu with 10-month-old Archie, promised to continue their charity work behind the scenes, and revealed they were focusing 'the new chapter to understand how to best contribute'. Encouraging followers to be strong and positive amid the pandemic, they thanked fans for their support and said they looked forward to 'reconnecting soon', with the post reading: 'Thank you for your support, inspiration and commitment to the good in the world.' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who will drop the royal from their titles today after giving up their positions as senior members of the Firm, posted a message to their account on Monday evening A spokeswoman for the Sussexes said the post marked their transition from working members of the royal family. 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex would prefer that in the immediate weeks and months, the focus remains on the global response to Covid-19,' she said. She added: 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will spend the next few months focusing on their family and continuing to do what they can, safely and privately, to support and work with their pre-existing charitable commitments while developing their future non-profit organisation.' While the couple have paused their plans as the world battles with the coronavirus pandemic, Meghan has already voiced a Disney documentary on elephants - marking her first gig after quitting the royal family. Her fee for the project is going entirely to the Elephants Without Borders charity - an organisation dedicated to conserving wildlife and helps protect the animals from poaching. Meghan agreed to do the voiceover after a direct request from filmmakers, and it is understood that she recorded it in London this autumn after seeing footage of the documentary. 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. A major scare over Vladimir Putin's health emerged today as Russia's top coronavirus doctor was stuck down with Covid-19 - one week after meeting and shaking hands with the Kremlin leader. Denis Protsenko, 44, heads Konnunarka infectious disease hospital, which was visited by Putin last week. The pair were seen close together and twice shook hands without protective gear. Russian president Vladimir Putin (right) shakes hands with chief physician Denis Protsenko (left) as he visits a hospital for patients with suspected COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in the Kommunarka settlement in New Moscow, Russia last week Putin is pictured walking along the halls of Kommunarka hopsital in New Moscow, accompanied by the country's chief physician Denis Protsenko (right), last week During the tour, neither man wore personal protective equipment, in New Moscow, Russia last week A meeting was also held in Protsenko's office with other top officials including Russian deputy premier Tatiana Golikova, 54, who is in charge of Russia's coronavirus policy. The Kremlin sought to reassure Russians today by saying that Putin was regularly tested for coronavirus and 'everything is okay'. However, symptoms take time to develop. Putin is yet to been seen in public today. Chief doctor of Kommunarka hospital Denis Protsenko,who has just tested positive for Covid19 posted on his FB page: 'Dear friends, I am very moved by your concern. Yes indeed I have been tested positive for CoV, but I am feeling myself quite all right. I have isolated myself in my office where there is everything for remote work, management and telemedicine consultations. I think that the immunity developed during this month must be doing its job.... Stay tuned Putin is pictured in very close proximity to infected senior physician Denis Protsenko (pictured behind the president) last week in New Moscow There had been concern in recent days that security around the Russian president had lapsed in relation to the virus. Putin wore a hazmat suit and elaborate mask when he toured the coronavirus wards but there was no protective clothing worn when he was in other parts of the hospital with the chief doctor and his team. Chief hospital nurse Lyudmila Larionova said she was 'shaken' by Putin's decision to enter the coronavirus wing which is treating 350 victims, and where two died at the weekend. Protsenko, pictured with Putin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin (right), is still carrying out his duties, according to reports A view of the Novomoskovsky multipurpose medical center in Kommunarka, where Protsenko worked and is now being treated and isolating. Patients suspected of the COVID-19 coronavirus infection and passengers with acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) symptoms arriving from countries with unfavorable epidemiological situation are sent to the facility Protsenko is being treated in his own hospital. He told Podyom media that he was still carrying out his duties during his treatment. 'I am working', he said. There is no clear plan for Putin's succession if the all-powerful Russian leader were to be incapacitated long term. Putin has been either president or prime minister since 1999. Little known technocrat prime minister Mikhail Mishustin, 54, would temporarily take over the Kremlin if Putin was seriously ill or died. But experts forecast a raging battle between different secret service, defence and business clans at the end of the Putin era. Little known technocrat premier Mikhail Mishustin, 54, would temporarily take over the Kremlin if Putin was seriously ill or died. Pictured: Putin speaks with Protsenko during the tour of the facility last week in Moscow People queue in front of a post office, not following safe-distancing recommendations, in Moscow today. Russian authorities imposed a week long home quarantine to prevent the spread of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 which causes the COVID-19 disease. Eighteen deaths and 2,365 cases of the COVID-19 disease have been confirmed in Russia A man wearing a protective mask poses at the deserted Nevsky Prospect in St Petersburg today. The Russian government has approved amendments to tighten liability for quarantine violations in order to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus causing the Covid-19 disease One candidate might be Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, 61, who warned after the Kummunarka hospital meeting: 'Nobody is safe.' Putin's spokesman on Sunday defended his visit to the hospital on 24 March. 'He always prefers to see with his own eyes how things are going 'on the frontline,' said his spokesman and close aide Dmitry Peskov on national TV. 'Putin would not be Putin if he did not decide to go there.' He claimed 'all safety precautions were taken' - but critics dispute this, pointing to Putin shaking hands with medics and holding hospital meetings without protective gear or social distancing. A Russian police officer is pictured wearing a surgical face mask in Red Square, Moscow today An elderly woman wearing a protective face mask sits in a metro train in Moscow today Protsenko is an internationally recognised medic who was in contact with other doctors around the globe over Covid-19. He said this week before his infection was known: 'I took a very hard decision to stop talking to my parents. 'I deprived myself from happiness of seeing my elderly parents. 'I have self-isolated myself from the family.' He has been an open critic of the 'British herd immunity' theory. He said: 'What guarantee do we have that the herd immunity will actually start?' Police officers wearing medical masks during a snowfall after preventive measures against the coronavirus (Covid-19) are taken in Moscow, Russia today He publicly supported extra protection measures saying it was 'better to be safe than sorry'. The news of the doctor's infection comes shortly before Russia expanded a lockdown to curb the coronavirus outbreak as parliament rushed to approve tough penalties for violating quarantine rules and spreading false information. Out of 85 regions of the world's largest country by landmass, more than 50 have so far moved to introduce a lockdown including the Primorsky Krai on the border with China in the east and the exclave of Kaliningrad in the west. The measures will affect at least 100 million people, according to an AFP count, with more regions expected to follow suit. Police officers wearing medical masks during a snowfall after preventive measures against the coronavirus (Covid-19) are taken in Moscow, Russia today This picture taken today shows a view of the Palace Square in downtown Saint Petersburg, which is almost empty due to restrictions on public gatherings to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease A Navy sailor wearing face mask to protect against coronavirus stands on guard at the Aurora Cruiser in St.Petersburg, Russia today. Moscow, the country's capital, and more than 30 Russian regions have been on lockdown since Monday, with most businesses closed and residents not allowed to leave their apartments except for grocery shopping, buying medicines, taking out trash or walking their dogs Moscow, Europe's most populous city with more than 12 million residents, took the lead on Monday, with authorities ordering people to stay home, with a few exceptions for emergencies. Muscovites are also allowed to shop for food or medicines to take out trash and walk their dogs but are not allowed to go for a run or a simple walk outside. Russia, which has a population of 144 million people, on Tuesday reported 2,337 coronavirus cases and 17 fatalities but the real number of the infected is believed to be higher. A man wearing a medical mask at snow covered empty street after preventive measures against the coronavirus (Covid-19) are taken in Moscow, Russia today Snow covered street remains nearly empty after preventive measures against the coronavirus (Covid-19) are taken in Moscow, Russia today A man rides a bicycle past a notice board in the city of Ivanovo. The Russian government has announced a paid week off work (30 March to 3 April) for employed people and school holidays (21 March - 12 April). Ivanovo Regions authorities have ordered the shutdown of restaurants and other eating establishments starting from 28 March, banned public events and called on to observe social distancing rules and avoid gathering in more than groups of two Over the past 24 hours authorities have reported 500 new cases - the biggest daily increase so far -- with most registered in Moscow, which has become the epicentre of the outbreak in Russia. President Vladimir Putin on Monday defended the tough new measures as justified and warned that if entertainment venues were not closed across the country regional officials might face "criminal negligence" charges. Parliament's lower house, the State Duma, on Tuesday hastily approved in all three readings draft legislation imposing severe punishments - including up to seven years in prison - for people breaking coronavirus quarantine rules. If a quarantine dodger were found guilty of causing a person's death or intentionally infecting many people, they would face up to five years in prison, and up to seven years if two or more people died. A view of the empty Dvortsovaya (Palace) Square, due to restrictions on public gatherings to prevent the spread of coronavirus in St.Petersburg, Russia today The State Duma also rushed through -- with little scrutiny - legislation imposing severe punishment - including up to five years in prison - for people convicted of spreading false information about the coronavirus and other life-threatening circumstances. Lawmakers also approved a bill allowing the government to introduce a state of emergency across the country. The upper house also swiftly approved the legislation later Tuesday. Houseparty is offering a $1m bounty to anyone who can provide the service with proof that it has been the target of a smear campaign over its security. On Monday, the video messaging apps makers denied claims circulating on social media that it has led to other online accounts being compromised. Houseparty has now said it is looking into suggestions that the hacking rumours had been created as part of a paid commercial smear campaign. The group video calling service has risen to prominence during the coronavirus pandemic, allowing people in locked-down countries to catch up with friends and family while apart. However, numerous posts appeared on social networks from users alleging that the app has resulted in their other online accounts including Netflix, eBay, Instagram and Spotify being hacked. We are investigating indications that the recent hacking rumours were spread by a paid commercial smear campaign to harm Houseparty, the app said in a tweet. We are offering a $1,000,000 bounty for the first individual to provide proof of such a campaign to bounty@houseparty.com. We have spent the past few weeks feeling humbled and grateful that we can be such a large part of bringing people together during such a hard time. Houseparty is owned by Epic Games, the company behind popular battle royale game Fortnite. On Monday, the app said it had found no evidence of a breach and confirmed to users that it does not collect passwords for other sites such as Facebook and Snapchat which can be connected to Houseparty to help users find contacts. The app encouraged users to use a unique password for each account and to use a password manager to keep track of login details, rather than using passwords that are short and simple. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] 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. The 24-year-old Vietnamese woman was discharged from the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases after being treated for around three weeks. She would still have to self-isolate at home for the next 14 days as per the Health Ministrys protocols, said Nguyen Thanh Phong, head of the hospitals Infectious Disease Department. The woman had landed March 9 in Saigon's Tan Son Nhat Airport on a private chartered flight from London. She was confirmed Covid-19 positive the next day. The 33-year-old Latvian man has been discharged from the Covid-19 Treatment Hospital in Can Gio District. Hed landed March 8 in Saigon and was confirmed infected March 15. Vietnam has confirmed 207 Covid-19 cases so far, with most of the active cases those coming back from Europe and the U.S. and people whod come into close contact with them. The Covid-19 pandemic has so far spread to 201 countries and territories, claiming over 38,900 lives. The images flow in from China and Italy, always the same: People in medical masks hurry through deserted city streets. Now those same images are starting to come in from New York. Is this the future for American cities? For Alabama cities like Birmingham, Mobile and Huntsville? On Sunday, for the first time, President Donald Trump told the press he could see a short period when all Americans wear masks. But only a short period. "We want our country back," said Trump. "We are not going to be wearing masks forever, but it could be for a short period of time after we get back into gear. I could see something like that happening for a period of time." "I would hope it would be a very limited period of time," he said. His comments, in answer to a reporter's question, come as the national discussion heats up over whether average Americans should wear masks in public to guard against coronavirus infection. Yet many public health officials in Alabama and across the nation continue to maintain its not necessary. The Alabama Department of Public Health does not recommend that persons who are well wear a mask when they go out in public, said Dr. Karen Landers with ADPH. Rather, we stress that persons should minimize going out as following the orders of the state health officer, continue social distancing and following respiratory hygiene measures. But theres a movement of scientists and even politicians around the country saying the recommendation that the general public to avoid wearing masks is a serious misstep that could harm community efforts to flatten the curve and reduce infection rates. "I think people should be contemplating wearing masks," said Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former head of the Food and Drug Administration, on Face the Nation this weekend. Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania released a video over the weekend encouraging Pennsylvanians to wear masks when going outside, including the hashtag #Masks4All. He believes the masks could help stop potential spread of infection when people cough or sneeze in public, but said medical-grade masks should be reserved for healthcare workers. Many of us could be walking around with the virus, maybe we have no symptoms, we may never get the symptoms, but we might be able to transmit the virus, he said. Even the White House coronavirus task force plans to hold an active discussion about community use of masks, Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Tuesday. Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and an adviser to President Trump. Because if, in fact, a person who may or may not be infected wants to prevent infecting someone else, one of the best ways to do that is with a mask, so perhaps thats the way to go, he told CNN. But public health officials remain firm. On Monday, the World Health Organization stood by its recommendation, which is shared by the CDC, that people not wear face masks unless theyre sick with COVID-19 or caring for someone who is. Dr. Mike Ryan with WHO told media on Monday that there is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any potential benefit and indicated that the global shortage of protective supplies for healthcare workers could be threatened if everyone began wearing masks. Its that concern over supply shortage that may be driving public health messages about not wearing masks. But if masks help prevent infection in healthcare workers, why couldnt they do the same for the general public? The coronavirus spreads mainly between people in close contact, through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the CDC. It can also be transmitted when a person touches a surface that has the virus on it and then touches their face. With growing evidence that the coronavirus can be spread by infected people who show no symptoms, CDC and WHO guidance to only wear masks when sick has been called into question. The value of the mask isnt necessarily to protect you from getting sick, although it may offer some protection, Dr. Gottlieb said on television this weekend. When someones whos infected is wearing a mask, theyre much less likely to transmit infection. Dr. Todd McCarty, an infectious disease physician at UAB Health, said there havent been enough studies to show whether community use of cloth masks is better than no masks at all. It probably doesnt hurt (to wear a mask), but honestly, I just dont think we know, he said. Its human nature for people to want to do something, anything, and I think this is low-hanging fruit for an action that may or may not be helpful. Any potential action has downsides and I think sometimes we forget that. He pointed out that surgical masks in hospital settings are designed to be frequently changed. If someone in the community wears the same mask or gloves for hours while doing a variety of activities in public, that would likely do nothing to prevent the spread of infection. He said the best way to reduce transmission is still through social distancing measures like staying home and maintaining a 6-foot distance between people when out in public. The point of agreement between the #Masks4All crowd and public health officials is that N95 and medical-grade masks should be reserved for healthcare workers because of a critical nationwide shortage of protective supplies. A rise in infected healthcare workers would have catastrophic effects on the nations healthcare system during the pandemic. In response to the supply shortage, community-based efforts to sew cloth masks have cropped up around the country in recent weeks. Healthcare workers are wearing homemade masks when surgical masks run out. Dr. Heinz Dueffer is an ER doctor at UAB Health in Birmingham. He wears a mask when he goes out in the community and thinks others should, too. Nothing is 100% effective, but anything we can do that will decrease the spread is helpful, he said. If you know someone who can make you a mask, get somebody to do that. When youre going to get gas, when youre going to the grocery store, when youre going to a restaurant to get takeout, wear a mask. Dueffer completed his emergency medicine residency at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City several years ago, and he has watched the rampant spread of the virus in the city with alarm. He points to areas in southeast Asia like Singapore and South Korea, where mask-wearing by the general public is widespread and may have helped those countries better control the spread of coronavirus. Im not going to argue with the ADPH, but I am going to say, Where is the harm? he said. Theres evidence out there that it helps, and I havent yet read a study that says it hurts. Trumps comments this week signal that a change in public health recommendations is at least up for discussion. By Trend A baby was born infected with the coronavirus in the mother's womb at the Imam Reza hospital of Mashhad city in Razavi Khorasan province in northeastern Iran, Ahmadshah Farhat doctor of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS) said, Trend reports citing official website of University. According to Farhat, the mother who gave birth to the baby was suspected of being infected with the coronavirus. After the birth of a 900-gram baby, tests were taken and the result was declared positive. Farhat added that so far, the children of four mothers infected with the coronavirus have been born in Mashhad. No cases of coronavirus infection were registered in three infants. Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 41,400 people have been infected, 2,757 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 13,900 have reportedly recovered from the disease. The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease. The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 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 A St. John's man who was wrongfully sent to prison for his mother's murder is furious a parole board hearing for the real killer is going ahead without his attendance. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, Greg Parsons won't be there Thursday when Brian Doyle, 50, has a hearing in British Columbia to determine if he should be granted day parole. "I truly believe in karma, I'm a good person," Parsons said Monday. "Let him out I'd rather him be out on the street and fend on the streets, face realities, face what we're facing." But Parsons wants to be there to provide a victim impact statement for the crime that has dogged the father and firefighter all his adult life. On New Year's Day 1991, Doyle went to Catherine Carroll's home in St. John's, broke in through a basement window and stabbed and slashed her 53 times. Parsons was 19 years old when he found his mother's body, and quickly became the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary's prime suspect. He was tried for murder and found guilty in 1994. DNA evidence cleared his name in 1998. CBC When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Parsons was going to fly up alone to face Doyle at the hearing. "I tell you one thing, my mother's death wasn't for nothing," Parsons said Monday I'm sick to death that that despicable human being is living the life. This is ridiculous, this is not justice. - Greg Parsons He said he understood when the Parole Board of Canada closed the hearing to all visitors, if it meant delaying it altogether. Both Parsons and Lisa Freeman, an advocate for victims' rights whose father was murdered in 1991, contacted the board to ask for a postponement until the pandemic is over. They were told, Parsons said, that delaying the hearing would infringe on Doyle's rights. CBC "There's also rights for victims and this is extreme circumstances," Parsons said, who has hoped the decision will be reversed. Story continues Greg Parsons's wife, Tina, said they were told they could submit an audio or video statement to be included in the file but teleconferencing was not available. With few other options, Parsons plans to release his victim impact statement to the public. In an email, the Parole Board of Canada said there is no provision under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to reschedule an offender's hearing. Hearings are conducted by teleconference, the email said, adding it is "unable to facilitate victim and observer attendance at parole hearings at this time." Parsons feels he has been wronged at every turn from his wrongful conviction, to the highly publicized inquiry into the police investigation, and at every parole board hearing. Tunnel vision, poor police work The wrongful conviction of Parsons and others exposed deep problems within the Newfoundland and Labrador justice system. The provincial government apologized to Parsons in 1998, four years after he was convicted, and later compensated him. In 2006, an inquiry led by Justice Antonio Lamer concluded poor police work and tunnel vision led to the wrongful conviction. CBC "The investigation and prosecution of Gregory Parsons became a 'runaway train,' fuelled by tunnel vision and picking up many passengers along the way," Lamer wrote at the time. The inquiry, Parsons said, was a farce that lined the pockets of attorneys and brought him little to no closure. "That only thing beneficial that came out of the inquiry was that Justice Lamar said I was grossly undercompensated and starved out," Parsons said. "Well, it was good enough for my legal team at the time. I'm rotted." Prison something 'you'd see at Walt Disney' Two years ago, Parsons attended Doyle's hearing for short-term release, for medical reasons, family contact, parental responsibilities, rehabilitation, community service and administrative purposes. Parsons gave an impassioned victim impact statement but the parole board granted Doyle escorted temporary absences for a three-month term so he could attend Alcoholic Anonymous meetings in Victoria. The board said it was the first step in reintegration for Doyle, who a prison psychiatrist says is a moderate risk to reoffend. Parsons is infuriated that Doyle has been housed at the William Head Institution, a minimum-security prison with an ocean view in the Victoria area. Victims of crime have criticized the prison setting, often referring to it as "Club Fed" and comparing it to a resort. "It's something you'd see at Walt Disney," Parsons said. "I'm sick to death that that despicable human being is living the life. This is ridiculous. This is not justice." Michael McArthur/CBC Doyle was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 18 years, ending in 2021, for second-degree murder. The fact Doyle allowed his former childhood friend to sit in prison for a crime he committed is not given enough consideration, Parsons said. "If that's not first-degree murder, nothing is," he said. "These steps are happening so quick. If he gets day parole this year, he would be out next year." Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador You are here: The international community should enhance solidarity, communication, and cooperation, so that all the parties can contribute wisdom and solutions in fighting COVID-19, said Du Zhanyuan, president of the China International Publishing Group (CIPG), on Monday in Beijing. He was speaking at the "Contemporary China and World: International Think Tank Webinar on Combating COVID-19" sponsored by the CIPG. "In the face of a pandemic, we need global solidarity and cooperation more than ever, because no one can be an outsider and no country can stay out of it," Du said. An extraordinary virtual G20 leaders' summit on fighting COVID-19 was held on March 26. Based on China's experience in combatting the disease, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward four proposals on strengthening international cooperation and stabilizing the world economy. Du said the proposals have won extensive support from the international community. Du called the virus the common enemy of mankind, and pointed out that fighting the virus is not only the responsibility of national governments, but also requires the support of all sectors of society, especially the proactive participation of ordinary people. He said think tanks are duty-bound to be part of the anti-epidemic efforts. Experts and scholars from think tanks should do more research on the proposals put forward at the summit, actively voice their opinion, and contribute wisdom and solutions for international cooperation in fighting the outbreak. "The virus doesn't have a country name, and respects no borders." He said that, at this critical moment when the world is faced with a common threat, think tanks need to work together to call on all countries to put aside differences, build consensus, strengthen cooperation, and help one another. "We need to uphold the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, oppose the practices of stigmatizing and politicizing the disease, and refrain from using the disease as a weapon for political maneuvering." Du suggested that the international community needs to take more efficient actions, care for the life of each and every person in the world, and especially help vulnerable countries and groups of people. "In the face of a common challenge, what we need is wisdom, not political calculation; what we need is to help each other, not to take advantage of others' difficulties; and what we need is win-win cooperation, not lose-lose competition," he said. Du said he believes the pandemic will eventually end and become a page in history, and what the world needs is to draw lessons from history. To this end, he said that think tanks of various countries should make use of their own strengths, and focus on important topics facing mankind. The CIPG president named such topics as building a global prevention and control system to ensure public health security, improving post-pandemic global governance system, the prospects of internet-based work, and protecting the climate, the environment, and biodiversity. He said think tanks should carry out joint research in a relatively systematic manner, address major problems together, and pool global wisdom to seek solutions. He also called for the establishment of a global platform for think tank exchange and cooperation, especially to strengthen the building of knowledge sharing platforms. Not long ago, China set up its online COVID-19 knowledge center, which is open to all countries and has been warmly welcomed by all parties. The CIPG also published multilingual books like "Keywords to Understand China: The Fight Against COVID-19," "China's Battle Against the Coronavirus: A Diary Log," and "China, We Stand with You" to share information with other countries on China's measures, experience, and stories in fighting the epidemic, Du said. Du said that this was the first time for the CIPG to organize an international think tank forum in the form of a video conference. It showed the readiness and willingness of Chinese and foreign think tank experts to strengthen dialogue and cooperation as the virus spreads in the world. A number of experts and scholars from China, Spain, France, Brazil, Pakistan, and Egypt attended the webinar, which had the theme of "Pooling Wisdom and Sharing Experience: Joint Efforts to Fight COVID-19." The event was sponsored by the CIPG, and organized by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, China.org.cn, China Today, and Bosheng International Cultural Communication Co., Ltd. The resurgence of Joe Biden and the inevitable defeat of Bernie Sanders led the pundits to declare that the Democratic Party is rejecting socialism -- a development all decent men would celebrate if it were true. Yet, in a supreme irony, the Land of the Free dangerously underestimates or underappreciates the ideological nature of the contemporary Democratic Party. Neither education nor life experience has prepared Americans for grasping the Partys epochal ideological shift toward the ideology that signifies the total inversion of the Nations historical traditions and values. Every time the Democratic presidential contenders took the stage, whether it was a radical Bernie Sanders or any of the so-called moderates such as Michael Bloomberg, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, or Joe Biden, a frightening sense of deja vu set in as those downsized American replicas of Leon Trotsky, Nikolai Bukharin, Clara Zetkin, and Rosa Luxemburg clearly professed their socialist-egalitarian vision and prophetic absolutism. None of them has talked of freedom or offered a single program for wealth creation, which epitomizes capitalism; all of their proposals have been aimed at economic equality, suppression of freedom and destruction of wealth, which embodies socialism. The Party has embraced a slow-roll strategy of taxation and regulations, designed to impose socialism on the United States subtly and incrementally under the guise of democracy. But militant Bernie is not in sync with the Party. While the moderates have camouflaged their aspirations behind the veil of liberalism or progressivism, Bernie dropped all liberal and progressive pretenses and openly declared the imposition of socialism as his ultimate objective. The difference between the Partys moderates and radicals hinges on this distinction. By pushing the envelope in order to propel the new dispensation, Bernie has been exposing the Partys sinister agenda. The Democratic establishment has been desperately looking for the alternative. However, all other aspirants were hardly thinkers or mavericks and sounded like pedestrian opportunists. As a practical accommodation to reality, the Party put their bets on Joe Biden, a tired man lacking an intellectual basis and incapable of developing an independent philosophical identity, but the one who possesses an impressive resume and enjoys name recognition. The Party cleared the field from the weeds to ensure his victory during the primaries. After victories in the Florida and Illinois primaries, the presumptive presidential nominee moved to unite the Party. Biden insisted that while he and Sanders may "disagree on tactic" they "share a common vision for the country." This is an unprecedented admission that Bernies conflict with the Democratic Party is not about ideology but rather strategy. So, if socialist Bernie and moderate Joe share a common vision for the country, Bernie and his followers should support the nominee and actively campaign for him. But this optimistic logic encounters an irreconcilable ideological dilemma -- revolutionary Marxism has not been known for its spirit of cooperation or compromise. Sanders and his followers emphasis is not on conflict resolution but on ideological conquest. They are passionately convinced of their rightness and would only accept total victory or total defeat. Therefore, the effort to foster unity will inevitably force Biden to move further to the left until his platform mirrors that of Sanders but short of calling it socialist. The unmasking the Party agenda would raise the issue of the ideological nature of the Party candidates for the state and federal offices. Whether they are proudly touting their socialist credentials or unable or unwilling to define their political ambitions, either way, they would be exposed as the adherence of socialism and be treated as such regardless of their pronouncements and promises. As stated earlier, most contemporaries, unfortunately, do not see the challenges to the established moral order in an ideological light and believe that this shift is the inexorable product of changing times. The rise of Bernie Sanders, who has explicitly articulated his pro-Marxist ideology, reveals the fatal flaw of this thinking. His influence on the Democratic Party should serve as proof that Obama has completed the job of transforming the Democratic Party into the Social Democratic Party. Without Obama, Sanders would have remained a socialist quack from Vermont never taken seriously. The silver lining is that the American people will reject socialism in November and force the Democrats to reexamine their internal doctrine and hopefully redefine themselves from Obamas what your country can do for you back to JFKs what you can do for your country. Alexander G. Markovsky is a senior fellow at the London Center for Policy Research, a conservative think hosted at Kings College, New York City, which examines national security, energy, risk-analysis and other public policy issues. He is the author of Anatomy of a Bolshevik and Liberal Bolshevism: America Did Not Defeat Communism, She Adopted It. Mr. Markovsky is the owner and CEO of Litwin Management Services, LLC. He can be reached at info@litwinms.com Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, today announced that it will provide free access to its ArcGIS platform and learning resources through the Learn.ArcGIS.com website to support college and university students who no longer have access to campus computer labs during the COVID-19 outbreak. Students will receive access to ArcGIS Online and over 20 apps including ArcGIS Pro, along with a library of lessons to continue their learning and complete courses. Access is available globally to students ages 18 and over. Learn ArcGIS promotes learning by doing through guided lessons based on real-world problems in industries such as urban planning and disaster response, and new lessons on public health have just been added. Learn ArcGIS lessons cover both beginner and advanced topics and are available in seven languages. We believe education creates opportunities for people of all ages, while building communities and advancing our knowledge for a better world, said Jack Dangermond, Esri founder and president. This is especially important now during this global crisis. We consider it part of our mission to provide technology free of cost during these difficult times and ensure that students and educators are supported as they transition to remote learning. Students who sign up between March 1 and June 30 will have access until August 31, 2020. To sign up for a membership in Learn ArcGIS, visit learn.arcgis.com/en/become-a-member/. About Esri Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, offers the most powerful geospatial cloud available, to help customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations including 90 of the Fortune 100 companies, all 50 state governments, more than half of all counties (large and small), and 87 of the Forbes Top 100 Colleges in the U.S., as well as all 15 Executive Departments of the U.S. Government and dozens of independent agencies. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial information technology, Esri engineers the most advanced solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics. Visit us at esri.com. Copyright 2020 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri globe logo, ArcGIS, The Science of Where, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200330005420/en/ We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. 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. Aerial view of the high density of houses in the neighbourhood of Jalousie in Port-au-Prince, on March 12, 2020 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 The novel Coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to a standstill. With India under the state of complete lockdown, Bollywood stars are also in self-quarantine and practising social distancing. Amidst this, there were various conjectures doing the rounds about Kajol and her daughter Nysa's health. A recent report in an online portal claimed that the star kid tested positive for Coronavirus after she showed symptoms and was rushed to the hospital by Kajol. Reacting to these rumours, Ajay Devgn took to his Twitter page to dismiss the report as 'untrue and baseless'. The Tanhaji actor tweeted, "Thank you for asking. Kajol & Nysa are absolutely fine. The rumour around their health is unfounded, untrue & baseless." (sic) A few days ago before the nationwide lockdown, Nysa returned home from Singapore, after her school was reportedly closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The paparazzi had clicked Kajol with her daughter at the international airport in Mumbai. Currently, Ajay Devgn, Kajol and their kids, Nysa and Yug are in self-isolation at their residence in Mumbai. Recently, the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai actress gave her fans a sneak-peek into her life in quarantine and shared a stunning selfie with a caption that read, "Day 9 of quarantine and it's a wonder how much better a stick of lipstick and a wash of mascara make u feel! #lipit #smilemore #takeadeepbreath #shakeitup." (sic) Speaking about work, Ajay Devgn and Kajol recently shared screen space in Om Raut's historical film Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior. The film, which also starred Saif Ali Khan, is one of the highest grossing films of 2020. Also, Kajol worked in a short film titled Devi, which also starred Neha Dhupia and Shruti Haasan. RRR: SS Rajamouli Reveals The Reason Behind Casting Ajay Devgn In His Film Ajay Devgn To Collaborate With Indra Kumar For Comedy Titled 'Thank God' A 22-year-old man with foreign travel history has tested positive for coronavirus in Chhattisgarhs Korba district, taking the number of COVID-19 infection cases in the state to eight, officials said on Tuesday. The man, who studies in London, returned to Korba town via Mumbai on March 18 and was placed in home isolation. After he complained of cold and cough, his sample was sent for testing, Korba Collector Kiran Kaushal said. His sample was tested COVID-19 positive late night on Monday, she said. He was accompanied by his sister during his travel from Mumbai to Korba and her sample was also collected for testing which came out to be negative, she said. All his family members have been asked to stay in home quarantine, she added. The man was shifted to state capital Raipur on Tuesday morning and admitted to isolation ward at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Raipur, Director AIIMS Nitin M Nagarkar said adding his condition is stable. On March 18, a 24-year-old woman tested positive for the virus in the state, while five more cases were confirmed on March 25. The seventh case was detected on March 28. Of the earlier seven cases, four, including two women, belong to Raipur while one each is from Rajnandgaon, Durg and Bilaspur districts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid COVID19, Non-Profit Works to Rescue Children from Public School Public School Exit leaders say this is a historic opportunity to save millions of children from sexualization, indoctrination, and dumbing down. NEWS PROVIDED BY Public School Exit March 31, 2020 SAN DIEGO, March 31, 2020 / According to the non-profit, founded in 2019 by Christian leaders passionate about K-12 education, government schools are seriously harming children through sexualization, indoctrination, and dumbing down. But with schools closed across America due to COVID19, interest in home education and online options are surging. PSE co-founder Dran Reese, president of The Salt & Light Council, called on ministry leaders to be involved. "Pastors and church leaders have a huge role to play in equipping congregations with a biblical understanding of citizenship, and that includes education of children," she said. "This pandemic is a perfect time for pastors on the sidelines to get involved." PSE co-founder Lt. Col. E. Ray Moore (Ret.), leader of Exodus Mandate and the Christian Education Initiative, has worked for decades to rescue children from "godless, pagan" government schools. "In all my years in this movement, I've never seen an opportunity like this," he said, celebrating "this incredible chance to rescue millions from anti-Christian indoctrination." University professor Dr. Duke Pesta, who runs the online K-12 FreedomProject Academy, has years of experience delivering world-class education. "With the technology today, there are no more excuses for parents to send their children to public schools," said Pesta, a leading critic of Common Core. PSE co-founder Alex Newman, educator and president of Liberty Sentinel, sounded optimistic. "We hope that by educating parents and encouraging them to try homeschooling amid this crisis, the movement will grow by millions," said Newman, co-author of best-seller Crimes of the Educators. "Hopefully, when public schools start back up, they will have a lot less victims." Former Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas joined the advisory board of PSE and is urging families to exit public schools immediately. "This is part of a 100-year or 150-year battle for the souls of our children," said Douglas. PSE leaders agree with President Trump: Nobody should be "trapped in failing government schools." About Public School Exit Public School Exit exists to facilitate a massive exodus from public schools by raising awareness and removing barriers for parents, pastors, and children for getting out. In the years ahead, PSE leaders will scale up the effort, establish a scholarship fund, and develop partnerships with private schools nationwide. Visit PSE online at SOURCE Public School Exit CONTACT: Alex Newman, Director, 786-231-3725, Share Tweet NEWS PROVIDED BYMarch 31, 2020SAN DIEGO, March 31, 2020 / Christian Newswire / -- With coronavirus shutting government schools, millions of parents have a historic opportunity to try homeschooling and non-government alternatives, declared leaders with the new movement "Public School Exit."According to the non-profit, founded in 2019 by Christian leaders passionate about K-12 education, government schools are seriously harming children through sexualization, indoctrination, and dumbing down.But with schools closed across America due to COVID19, interest in home education and online options are surging.PSE co-founder Dran Reese, president of The Salt & Light Council, called on ministry leaders to be involved. "Pastors and church leaders have a huge role to play in equipping congregations with a biblical understanding of citizenship, and that includes education of children," she said. "This pandemic is a perfect time for pastors on the sidelines to get involved."PSE co-founder Lt. Col. E. Ray Moore (Ret.), leader of Exodus Mandate and the Christian Education Initiative, has worked for decades to rescue children from "godless, pagan" government schools. "In all my years in this movement, I've never seen an opportunity like this," he said, celebrating "this incredible chance to rescue millions from anti-Christian indoctrination."University professor Dr. Duke Pesta, who runs the online K-12 FreedomProject Academy, has years of experience delivering world-class education. "With the technology today, there are no more excuses for parents to send their children to public schools," said Pesta, a leading critic of Common Core.PSE co-founder Alex Newman, educator and president of Liberty Sentinel, sounded optimistic. "We hope that by educating parents and encouraging them to try homeschooling amid this crisis, the movement will grow by millions," said Newman, co-author of best-seller Crimes of the Educators. "Hopefully, when public schools start back up, they will have a lot less victims."Former Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas joined the advisory board of PSE and is urging families to exit public schools immediately. "This is part of a 100-year or 150-year battle for the souls of our children," said Douglas.PSE leaders agree with President Trump: Nobody should be "trapped in failing government schools."Public School Exit exists to facilitate a massive exodus from public schools by raising awareness and removing barriers for parents, pastors, and children for getting out. In the years ahead, PSE leaders will scale up the effort, establish a scholarship fund, and develop partnerships with private schools nationwide.Visit PSE online at www.PublicSchoolExit.com SOURCE Public School ExitCONTACT: Alex Newman, Director, 786-231-3725, anewman@publicschoolexit.com Nepal: Pastor faces 6 years in prison for Facebook comments on prayer, COVID-19 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Christian pastor in Nepal could face six years in prison after he suggested on social media that prayer could bring healing from COVID-19. Morning Star News reports that pastor Keshab Acharya, 32, was taken into custody on Monday from his home in Pokhara, Gandaki Pradesh Province, after a video appeared on social media of him rebuking the coronavirus as he preached at his church. The pastors wife, Junu Acharya, told the news outlet that her husband received a phone call from a man requesting prayer for his sick wife at about 8 p.m., she said. The person wanted to come to our home for prayer, and my husband agreed, provided him the address and asked him to come over so we can pray for his wife, she recalled. As they waited, three male police officers and a female police officer arrived at their door. They told us that they were also Christian and needed prayers, and that they had called pastor Acharya and came for prayer, she said. After the officers went inside the pastor's house, they surrounded him and said they were arresting him over a video circulating on social media in which he prayed against and rebuked the novel coronavirus. My husband said, If there was any charge against me, you could have let me know directly, and I would have come to the police station all by myself, because our 2-year-old son and I were panicked, Junu Acharya said. I immediately called two of the brothers from our church who can drive and followed the polices vehicle. I was afraid that he would be beaten up by police or would be taken to somewhere else. I wanted to ensure that they were taking him to the police station. The Nepal police website states that Kaski police officers arrested pastor Acharya for misleading the public by posting false information on social media about the novel coronavirus. Police cited a video showing pastor Acharya calling the coronavirus an evil spirit and rebuking it in the name of Christ. According to the Himalayan Times, the pastor allegedly said in the video that COVID-19 could do nothing to followers of Jesus Christ and told them the virus could not even touch the followers of Jesus. The Himalayan Times said pastor Acharya preached in a highly-populated squatters area, but the police report only cites his comments on social media, according to Morning Star News. Pastor Mukunda Sharma, executive secretary of the Nepal Christian Society, said he had urged the District Superintendent of Police, Dan Bahadur Karki, to act fairly and not implicate pastor Acharya in any criminal charges. I told Mr. Kargi that the police cannot prosecute the pastor for exercising his faith, and that it is a gross violation of human rights, and he had assured me that the pastor was taken into custody only for an inquiry, Sharma told Morning Star News. Karki told the Himalayan Times that pastor Acharya was in police custody and that preparations were underway to take action against him. Police reportedly said the pastor could be sent to prison for six months. C.B. Gahatraj, president of the Federation of National Christians in Nepal, said the arrest of the Nepali Christian leader is unacceptable and against Nepals Constitution, as nothing in the video indicates any violation of law. The entire world is under attack by the COVID-19, and during this time people from across all religions are praying for it to stop, Gahatraj told Morning Star News. By this act, religious harmony is in danger during a time when people are already in chaos. It is clear that it was a sermon preached by pastor Acharya within his respective congregation, and our federation asserts that this practice of praying is not in conflict with the laws of Nepal, Gahatraj said. On Tuesday, Nepal began a weeklong lockdown to stem the spread of the new coronavirus after health officials reported a second case of coronavirus in the country of 30 million. The country reported its first case in January a Nepali man who had been studying in Wuhan, at the center of the virus outbreak in China, according to the Jakarta Post. Nepal is ranked No. 32 on Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. Christians make up just 3 percent of the predominantly Hindu countrys population. In September, Hindu extremists threatened to kill a pastor in Nepal following a social media post showing of a restricted audience-interview he gave on his journey to Christ. It is the first time a Christian [in Nepal] has been targeted for sharing [on social and other media] about his past religion and introduction into Christianity, legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedoms allied attorney in Nepal, Ganesh Sreshta, told Morning Star News. It is turning out to be a high-profile issue, with Hindu fundamentalist groups linked to prominent political leaders taking interest in this video. Chett D'Angelo Chett D'Angelo Transgender and non-binary patients are having to reschedule or cancel gender-affirming surgeries indefinitely due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Procedures like facial feminization surgeries, top surgery, and phalloplasties are oftentimes measures taken to treat gender dysphoria when a person feels like their body doesn't match their gender identity. While not all trans and non-binary people want or need gender-affirming surgeries, these kinds of procedures can mean the difference between life and death for some. "Knowing a necessary surgery was coming up soon can help alleviate gender dysphoria, and these cancelations bring that distress roaring back," Harper Jean Tobin, the director of policy for the National Center for Transgender Equity, told Insider. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. The days leading up to Chettino "Chett" D'Angelo's subcutaneous mastectomy also known as top surgery were nerve-wracking. It was scheduled for March 10 with a specialist in Ohio, a two-hour flight from where he lives in Brooklyn. Normally, making the journey would be no problem, but it was almost two months after the novel coronavirus first arrived in the US, and there was talk there would soon be lockdowns and limits on domestic travel. D'Angelo had been closely monitoring the situation in Italy where many members of his family live one of the countries that had been hit hardest by the coronavirus at the time. There, so-called "elective" surgeries had been indefinitely banned, and that included top surgery. He was one of the last patients his surgeon will see for a while. D'Angelo woke up relieved after the long-awaited procedure one he'd been seriously thinking of since starting to take testosterone in 2018. Just a day later, on March 11, the World Health Organization declared the growing spread of the novel coronavirus a pandemic, and clinics across the US started closing their doors. Story continues "It ended up working out perfectly because now the office is closed," D'Angelo, who is now back home in Brooklyn and has been documenting his transition on Instagram, told Insider. Many transgender and non-binary people have not been so fortunate. Droves of gender-affirming surgeries across the US are being rescheduled or indefinitely canceled, due to concerns that an operation may increase a person's risk of contracting the novel coronavirus pandemic which has infected 164,000 people and killed 3,000 in the US alone and a desperate need for hospital beds to treat people with COVID-19, the chronic lung disease caused by the coronavirus. Harper Jean Tobin, the director of policy for the National Center for Transgender Equity, told Insider that, while most understand the reason behind the cancellations, it's not something that can be easily shrugged off by transgender and non-binary patients, many of whom have spent years waiting for this moment and battling with their insurance company to get it scheduled. "Knowing a necessary surgery was coming up soon can help alleviate gender dysphoria, and these cancellations bring that distress roaring back," Tobin said. Gender-affirming surgeries have been proven to reduce depression and thoughts of suicide A study found that transgender patients who had gender-affirming surgeries experienced a drop in their anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideations. Getty Gender-affirming surgeries like facial feminization surgeries, top surgery, and phalloplasties are oftentimes measures taken to treat gender dysphoria the distress that can come with a person feeling like their body doesn't match their gender identity in transgender and non-binary people. While not all transgender and non-binary people want or need gender-affirming surgeries, these kinds of procedures can mean the difference between life and death for some. A 2019 Yale study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that transgender patients who had gender-affirming surgeries experienced a drop in their anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideations. "We know that affirming a trans young person's identity is crucial to their mental health and well-being," Dr. Alexis Chavez, Medical Director for The Trevor Project said. "The research is clear: gender-affirming care demonstrates positive effects on mental health outcomes and overall psychological well-being, along with decreased suicidality." A few weeks ago, Frank Jones, a 25-year-old based in Chicago, Illinois, had to indefinitely postpone the second stage of his phalloplasty surgery, which he'd originally had scheduled for June 2 after his surgeon's office in San Francisco postponed all of their surgeries. Jones told Insider that, while getting the second stage of bottom surgery postponed is disappointing, it would have deeply impacted his mental health if the pandemic had occurred two years ago before the first stage of phalloplasty. "I can't imagine if this had happened two years ago when I was waiting for the first surgery, I would have just been devastated," Jones said. "I'm really just so worried about all the people who've been waiting years because I really just feel like there's going to be such a spike in suicides for trans people this year because it can be so heartbreaking." Some surgeons have years-long waiting lists for procedures, creating a massive scheduling dilemma Transgender pride flag Ink Drop/Shutterstock Because of the high demand for gender-affirming procedures and the limited number of surgeons across the country that perform them, waitlists can be years long. For patients, it can often be even more complicated if they are using insurance to pay. "When you're going in-network for surgery, especially in New York, the waitlist is huge," D'Angelo said. "To get a consult takes over a year." Jones told Insider he worries about what this kind of extended wait period could mean for rescheduling surgeries in the future especially when the mental health of patients hangs in the balance. "Especially with phalloplasty where there's only four surgeons in the country that I feel are reputable those ones were already so backed up to begin with," Jones said. "It's setting people back probably more than two years because their wait times were already two years." Read the original article on Insider Video By Lee Min-young, Kim Kang-min Kim Sang-hun is a 27-year-old student who lives in Dalseo-gu, western Daegu, just 15 minutes away from the Shincheonji Daegu Church where the 31st patient, a 61-year-old woman, had attended a service with hundreds others. Days later, a cluster of infections followed in Daegu, a city of 2.4 million people, and it took less than a week for the virus to spread across other parts of the country, setting the national tally at 2022, as of Friday. Overnight, Daegu turned into a city that lies at the heart of South Korea's coronavirus outbreak, or even worse, a city home to a "super-spreader" doomsday religious cult. Kim says his neighborhood has changed so much ever since the emergence of soaring coronavirus cases centered on the Daegu Shincheonji Church. "I don't hear any of the children's laughters coming from my apartment's playground these days. The city is just wiped out." He told The Korea Times that it sometimes upsets him when he reads the news and see local media calling the epidemic "Daegu Coronavirus." "It's unfair to treat us like viruses while it's not Daegu where the virus was born. Many of my friends tell me they feel like they are locked away, not welcome anywhere." 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. Building on a record-setting 2019, Morpheus has released v4.2 of its multi-cloud management platform focused on enabling continuous delivery for customers leveraging Kubernetes, VMware, and Terraform. The release also included continuous compliance updates to the Morpheus policy enforcement engine. With these enhancements, customers can now: Simplify the governance and automation of existing Kubernetes clusters from providers such as Red Hat OpenShift, VMware vSphere 7, and others Reduce the cost and complexity of VMware private clouds by combining Morpheus with Cloud Foundation Standard instead of more expensive editions Improve the velocity of app modernization with automation updates including a Morpheus Terraform provider and updated ServiceNow plug-in Reduce risk and assure compliance with continuous tag enforcement policy engine available for VMware, AWS, and Azure clouds In the first quarter of 2020, Morpheus has already had 2 major software releases and has grown at triple-digit rates, validating what Gartner Inc. noted about the company's Leadership in their 2020 Magic Quadrant for Cloud Management Platforms. "The pace of change in hybrid cloud and DevOps is driving demand for self-service platforms which can bring order to the influx of new technologies," says Brad Parks, VP, Business Development at Morpheus Data. "Our ability to quickly unify complex environments and automate workflows across clouds has led to a number of major competitive wins already this year." Eliminate Kubernetes silos with unified orchestration of VMs and Containers According to a recent 451 Research survey, 36% of organizations have currently adopted Kubernetes, and another 21% are in the discovery/proof-of-concept phase. However, most organizations also continue to maintain VM-based applications and are starting to use cloud-native PaaS services leading to an untenable level of complexity. Morpheus provides a unified orchestration framework that simplifies management across VMs, Containers, Bare Metal, and public cloud services. With v4.2, Morpheus has added support for brownfield Kubernetes clusters in addition to CNCF Certified Morpheus Kubernetes Service and integration with EKS and AKS. Additionally, the Morpheus Kubernetes Service has been CNCF certified up to version 1.17. Using the new external Kubernetes cluster support, customers can connect to any existing Kubernetes deployment to instantly add robust governance policy and simple self-service provisioning. This means enterprises using technologies such as Red Hat OpenShift in initial Kubernetes projects can bring those clusters into the same control plane as on-prem hypervisors and public cloud stacks. It also reduces risk for customers looking at the new VMware vSphere 7 release which includes Kubernetes. Reduce the cost and complexity of VMware private clouds and VCF deployments VMware recently announced the upcoming availability of vSphere 7 as well as VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 4 as essential services for hybrid cloud. However, for VCF customers wanting self-service automation across multiple clouds the only option from VMware is to be locked into the more expensive Enterprise edition of VCF. Morpheus is a Best of VMworld winner for Automation and offers a simple and more flexible alternative for customers who want to realize the value of a VMware-based software-defined datacenter. By combining Morpheus with the Standard edition of VCF, Morpheus provides leading cloud management functionality at a lower TCO. The new Morpheus v4.2 release adds a number of updates for VMware NSX including the ability to create and manage logical routers, switches, firewalls, edge gateways, and IP pools. Additionally, role permissions and network quota policies can now be set for tenants, groups, roles, and users to granularly control NSX network access. These NSX enhancements build on already advanced built-in VMware integrations including integration with vRealize Orchestrator, VMware Cloud on AWS, vSphere, vCloud Director, and VMware Integrated OpenStack. Customers can automate provisioning, manage datastores and resource groups, migrate and convert images, auto-scale VMware applications, leverage VMware tagging, and more. Enable everything-as-code with Terraform provider and ServiceNow plug-in The concept of Infrastructure-as-code (IaC) is a core practice among mature DevOps organizations. Morpheus has been a DevOps oriented multi-cloud management platform since inception and supports its own native IaC templating language in addition to providing support for Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM, and HELM. With the popularity of HashiCorp Terraform, Morpheus has expanded integration with the recent beta release of its own Terraform provider which will codify all of the continuous automation requirements not inherent to Terraform. With this integration, customers will be able to utilize Morpheus as a state management and policy engine for actions called from the Terraform CLI. This will also enable customers to simplify Terraform deployments and benefit from Morpheus' 80+ built-in integrations. Other automation updates in the recent Morpheus release include plug-in updates for ServiceNow enabling the easy integration of Morpheus managed application blueprints into the ServiceNow service catalog. This effectively enables ServiceNow integration with Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM, and other Infrastructure-as-Code template types. Reduce risk with continuous tag enforcement and compliance policies Attaching metadata tags to provisioned VMs and Cloud Instances is a common way of managing cost center assignments, project teams, and other important business information. Unfortunately, this common practice suffers from a lack of consistency and a lack of enforcement which renders it effectively useless in many cases. Using Morpheus as the provisioning engine for new application deployments can assure tags are consistently applied but often Enterprises are dealing with messy brownfield environments that lack proper governance. With the new Tag Enforcement and Compliance Policy administrators can strictly enforce tag compliance globally or with specific clouds, groups, and users. Morpheus workflow automation can run against brownfield instances to scan for non-compliance, apply missing tags, and bring those instances into compliance. Custom variables and option lists can be used plus multiple tag policies can be combined to enforce a comprehensive tag compliance program. About Morpheus Data, LLC Morpheus Data, LLC is the entity behind the Morpheus unified orchestration platform, the only enterprise software solution to provide a systematic approach to cloud optimization, multi-cloud governance, DevOps automation, and application modernization. As a one-hundred percent infrastructure and platform-agnostic solution, Morpheus provides IT Operations and Developers fully self-service and automated provisioning of bare metal, VM, and containerized applications running on-premises or in the public cloud. With more built-in integrations and native functionality than any other platform, customers can standardize workflows and reduce tool sprawl while orchestrating existing tools to protect investments. Request a demo at www.morpheusdata.com/demo. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005239/en/ Contacts: Editorial contact Anja Koltes +1 720.499.6723 press@morpheusdata.com From medical workers struggling to care for the rising tide of COVID-19 patients to the billions of people told to stay home to slow the pandemic, everyone is waiting for one thing: a vaccine. There is no known treatment for the new coronavirus that emerged in China late last year and has since proliferated across the planet, infecting more than half a million people and claiming more than 30,000 lives. In mid-January, researchers from China published the genetic sequence of the virus, firing the starting gun for dozens of research labs across the world in the race to find effective drugs. The approaches have varied dramatically. Some teams are looking at the effects of existing medicines as potential treatments, some are experimenting with repurposing common drugs. Others are using cutting-edge technologies to fashion radically new types of vaccines. Just over 60 days after the genetic sequence of COVID-19 was shared, the first potential vaccine began human trials. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed it "an incredible achievement" and experts have raised cautious hopes that a vaccine will be ready within 18 months. This may seem like a dauntingly long time for those in the path of the virus. But Seth Berkley, the head of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, has cautioned that it normally takes between 10 and 15 years for a drug to go from development, through testing phases and onto licensing and large-scale manufacture, although the Ebola vaccine was ready in five. "How lucky will we be in getting a good immune response? Which approaches will work? Will they be scalable?" he said in an interview with the TED organisation last week. Berkley told AFP that a possible way to speed up the licencing process -- which worked during the Ebola response -- could be to get a drug that shows efficacy and run a clinical trial with health workers. "There could be areas where you could give an experimental vaccine under informed consent, and use it to try to help with the epidemic before you have that licensed product," he said. But he cautioned against rushing the broader licencing process for a vaccine or vaccines that could be used across the world. "We need to make sure what we do makes sense, is safe and has efficacy. I know that seems like a luxury we don't have time for but it is very important," he said. GAVI, which is making funding available for lower-income countries to respond to the coronavirus crisis, has urged world leaders to ensure potential treatments and vaccines are accessible to everyone. Amid concerns over a shortfall in global cooperation over the virus, G20 nations on Thursday announced a $5-trillion injection to boost the global economy and pledged to "work together to increase research and development funding for vaccines and medicines". The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global organisation based in Oslo, has called for $2 billion to support the development of a vaccine. Meanwhile, the United States is funding several companies through its Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH). - A new type of vaccine - The traditional method for developing vaccines, based on principles dating back to smallpox vaccine in 1796, has been to introduce a modified part of the infectious agent to stimulate the body's immune system without doing harm. But an emerging technique aims to trigger this immune response in a different way, by incorporating a strand of the virus' genetic material. Within weeks of Chinese researchers making the genome of the virus public, a team at the University of Texas at Austin was able to create a replica model of its spike protein, the part which attatches to and infects human cells, and image it using a cryogenic (cooled) electron microscope. This replica itself is now the basis for a vaccine candidate. NIH is working with Moderna, a relatively new firm founded in 2010, to make a vaccine using the protein's genetic information to grow it inside human muscle tissue, rather than having to inject it in. This information is stored in an intermediary transient substance called "messenger RNA" that carries genetic code from DNA to cells. "The advantage is that it's really fast," Jason McLellan, who led the UT Austin team, told AFP. The human trials began this month and if all goes to plan, it could be available in about a year and a half, according to NIH's Anthony Fauci. French drugmaker Sanofi is using a different genetic approach. It is partnering with the US government to use a so-called "recombinant DNA platform" to produce a vaccine candidate. It takes the virus' DNA and combines it with DNA from a harmless virus, creating a chimera that can provoke an immune response. The antigens it produces can then be scaled up. The technology is already the basis of Sanofi's influenza vaccine, and the firm believes it has a head start due to a SARS vaccine it developed that offered partial protection in animals. - Treatment quicker than cure? - While the world waits for a vaccine, scientists are experimenting with other existing drugs in the hunt for treatments for severely ill patients. The WHO has selected four drugs or combinations for a large scale global trial involving patients from Argentina to Thailand. These are the experimental antiviral treatment remdesivir; a combination of two HIV drugs, lopinavir and ritonavir; those two drugs plus interferon beta, an immune system medication; and the malaria drug chloroquine. Remdesivir, made by US-based Gilead Sciences, is already in the final stages of clinical trials in Asia and doctors in China have reported it has proven effective in fighting the disease. It was developed to fight other viruses including Ebola (where it was shown to be ineffective) and it has not yet been approved for anything. Remdesivir gets modified inside the human body to become similar to one of the four building blocks of DNA, called nucleotides. Benjamin Neuman, a virologist at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, told AFP that when viruses copy themselves, they do it "quickly and a bit sloppily," meaning they might incorporate remdevisir into their structure -- though human cells, which are more fastidious, won't make the same mistake. If the virus incorporates the remdesivir into itself, the drug adds unwanted mutations that can destroy the virus. In an early trial, the lopinavir-ritonavir combination had disappointing results in a study of 199 patients in Wuhan, China, published this month in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers concluded that the drugs did not significantly improve clinical outcomes. US President Donald Trump has stoked excitement about hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ), related compounds that are synthetic forms of quinine, which comes from cinchona trees and has been used for centuries to treat malaria. HCQ, which is the less toxic of the two, is also used as an anti-inflammatory to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The medicines have shown promise against the COVID-19 illness in early studies in France and China. But Fauci has cautioned that the small studies carried out so far amount to "anecdotal" evidence. And the drugs are not without their risks. About one percent of people are at high risk of blackouts, seizure or even sudden death from cardiac arrest because of heart rhythm issues they may themselves be unaware of, Michael Ackerman, a genetic cardiologist at Mayo Clinic told AFP. - Multi-purpose drug - Regeneron last year developed an intravenous drug that was shown to significantly boost survival rates among Ebola patients using what are known as "monoclonal antibodies". They genetically modified mice to give them human-like immune systems. The mice are exposed to viruses, or weakened forms of them, in order to produce human antibodies, Christos Kyratsous, the company's vice president of research told AFP. These antibodies are then isolated and screened to find the most potent ones, which are grown in labs, purified and given to humans intravenously. The drug could work as both a treatment and as a vaccine, by dosing up people before they are exposed -- though these effects would be only temporary. - Old vaccines, new purpose - One CEPI-backed project -- a collaboration with France's Institut Pasteur, biotech firm Themis and the University of Pittsburgh -- uses the measles vaccine as "a vehicle". This would take a vaccine that is widely manufactured across the world and redesign it to express the antigen of the new coronavirus. Australian scientists are taking an even more direct approach. Researchers at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne are fast-tracking large-scale human testing of the BCG vaccine, used for decades to prevent tuberculosis, to see if it can protect health workers from COVID-19. Dozens of pharmaceuticals and research labs across the world are racing to develop a vaccine Experts have raised hopes that a vaccine could be ready in as little as 18 months Graphic on the process used by a virus for entering a living cell, replicating, and spreading. An overwhelming majority of people in Northern Ireland support the stringent measures ordered by the government to slow the spread of coronavirus, a poll suggests. And one week since the lockdown was introduced by Prime Minister Boris Johnston, most of those surveyed said they would support even stronger restrictions. But the survey, from Lucid Talk, also shows that most felt the UK Government was too slow to react to the virus, with the methods of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar proving much more popular in Northern Ireland. Overall, 91% voiced their support for the stay-at-home regime, which has seen schools and businesses close, social distancing implemented and, last weekend, extra powers given to police to prevent social gatherings. There was a 93% approval rating from those with a unionist background and 87% from nationalists. Nationalists had the biggest concerns over the UK Government's speed of reaction to the pandemic with 88% believing the moves to prevent the spread of the virus was too slow. Less than half of unionists polled (43%) felt the government's policy came too late, with 47% believing the timing was right. Overall in Northern Ireland, only 23% said the announcement of social restrictions was made at the right time. The poll also indicates that Alliance, Green and 'Other' voters overwhelmingly (79%) thought the government, including the NI Executive, reacted too slowly. In terms of political leadership during the outbreak, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann won the most praise from those surveyed. The Taoiseach's performance to date won the approval of over two thirds of surveyed in Northern Ireland, 67%. His address to the nation on St Patrick's night was a pivotal factor in his broad appeal across all sections of the community. Mr Swann's straightforward approach as Health Minister in the NI Executive has impressed 61% of the population - and he scored relatively highly with Nationalists/Republicans (49%) and Alliance/Green/Others (55%). Opinion still remains divided on Northern Ireland's First and deputy First Ministers. Michelle O'Neill was praised for her handling of the crisis by 49% overall, with First Minister Arlene Foster impressing 47%. But when broken down into support from unionists and nationalists, 62% of unionists were standing behind Mrs Foster and 68% of nationalists behind Mrs O'Neill, who has consistently called for more urgent action over the closing of schools and businesses. People are less impressed with Prime Minister Boris Johnston, whose support for his handling of the crisis so far lags behind at just 44% - though 67% of unionists backed his leadership, compared to just 22% of nationalists. The biggest concern raised was over the perceived lack of testing for coronavirus which has been available across the country, particularly for health service workers. There were further concerns over the lack of co-ordination and mixed messages coming from Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill and insufficient staffing and inadequate equipment for frontline workers, though almost all showed their support for the health service. Most people (71%) are turning to national television (BBC and Sky News) to keep updated on the crisis, though 69% say they are using local news services (BBC NI, UTV and RTE) as their best source of information. A worrying 43% are relying on social media, which has been criticised by health exports for spreading false information. Among the top ideas those taking the survey suggested to ease the stay-at-home strain included making Sky Cinema and Netflix free for a month. Whether you want to empower with feminist rhetoric, manifest positive intentions with a sunny phrase or simply can't resist a bit of kitsch, a slogan jumper is a great way to make a statement. Luxury brands like Bella Freud and Chinti and Parker have made a name for themselves creating cool slogan sweaters that have become a firm favourite with the fashion and street style crowd. Those looking for a more affordable option won't be disappointed by the high-street's offerings from brands like Whistles, Topshop and Warehouse. Here we have hand picked eight of the cutest and comfiest slogan sweaters to make a statement this spring. find. Women's Logo Sweatshirt, 22 We love the relaxed vintage feel to this find. Bonita sweatshirt from Amazon - and at just 22 it's an affordable buy. Gain comfy style points with the long sleeved top whilst also making a statement thanks to its fire-red hue and bold retro 'Bonita' print. The slightly oversized fit makes it a perfect weekend staple when you could throw it on over a pair of skinny jeans or a floral dress for a relaxed and slightly quirky look. If you have no plans, you could also simply pair it with leggings or joggers while lounging at home. Buy now from Amazon Whistles Bon Voyage Sweatshirt, 59.25 The Whistles Bon Voyage sweatshirt is a great affordable alternative to some of the more luxury brands' offerings. Made from 100 per cent cotton, it is still wonderfully luxurious just without the high price tag. An easy layering piece for spring-summer, it comes in a pale blue shade with white lettering and the fit is relaxed, so you can easily pair it with everything from jeans to printed skirts. Or why not buy it in a larger size for the perfect loungewear piece? Buy now from Whistles Wildfox Rose Is The Way Baggy Beach Jersey Sweatshirt, 125 American vintage-inspired womenswear brand Wildfox is our go-to brand for playful slogan sweatshirts. Luxe fabrics have been used for an unbeatably comfortable off-duty look. This Rose Is The Way brushed jersey sweatshirt is a relaxed, slightly oversized pullover that hangs off the body perfectly. Described as a 'beach jersey' sweatshirt, we can totally see this being paired over shorts in the summer or - as is likely in the case during our summers - with jeans and a jacket. Buy now from Harvey Nichols Topshop PETITE Grey Tennessee Sweatshirt, 23 If you've ever watched an American film from the 1990s, chances are you've seen and coveted an oversized vintage sweater. Add some US-inspired style to your wardrobe with this grey Tennessee sweatshirt from Topshop. The cotton-blend crew neck sweater has a marl finish to add to the vintage look and feel. Team with your favourite jeans and canvas trainers to complete the throwback look. Buy now from Topshop Warehouse C'est Le Vie Sweatshirt, 28.80 Sometimes it's best to give up control and take things as they come. A little positivity can go a long way in today's climate so why not opt for Warehouse's C'est La Vie sweatshirt. 'That's Life' in French, this sweatshirt is a great way to wear the trend; pair with jeans and trainers on the weekend, or why not team with black trousers for a cool workwear look? Buy now from Warehouse Boohoo Petite Self Love Slogan Sweat Top, 12 For those days when you want to do nothing but take some time out for yourself we have the perfect jumper. Hit refresh on your off-duty look and put your feet up with this sweatshirt from Boohoo. Serving up the same statement styles in scaled down sizes, boohoo Petite is your port of call for perfectly proportioned pieces designed to fit women of 5'3" and under. Buy now from Boohoo hush Ace Slogan Sweatshirt, 59 Spun from super-soft cotton to a slouchy, relaxed fit, this hush Ace slogan sweater is sure to become your most reached for jumper. Stitched with the slogan 'Ace' on a spirit-lifting shade, we think this is relaxed dressing at its best. Team with your favourite denim - we love white jeans in spring for a cool outfit formula that's perfect for the warmer months. Buy now from John Lewis Chinti and Parker Text-intarsia Cashmere Jumper, 295 When it comes to slogan jumpers we can't help but fall for the irresistibly chic charms of Chinti and Parker. We know, the price tag is high but being this luxuriously comfortable without feeling frumpy is a price we are willing to pay. Plus, it will last you a lifetime thanks to its beautifully made 100 per cent cashmere finish. The London-based label's Love slogan jumper is new for this season but thanks to its classic style and beautiful sentiment, it is sure to be given new life season after season. Buy now from Selfridges MailOnline may earn commission on sales from the links on this page. 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. Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) Governor Tarek Amer has said that a total of EGP 3 billion has been withdrawn from branches and ATMs over the past three weeks, causing significant overcrowding, and prompting the central banks decision to set a maximum limit for daily cash deposits and withdrawals. Amer spoke by phone with Ahmed Moussa on Sada El-Balad channel on Sunday. In his comments, he said that such a significant amount was withdrawn without a real need for it, and urged people to avoid overcrowding and to secure their cash needs wisely, to leave enough for others. On Sunday, the central bank implemented a daily limit for withdrawals of EGP 10,000 for individuals and EGP 50,000 for companies. The latter are exempt from deposit limits and from limits on withdrawals made to pay salaries. The CBE has also set a limit of EGP 5,000 for cash deposits and withdrawals from ATM machines. This is a reduction from the previous limit of EGP 3,000 to EGP 40,000 depending on individual cards limits. Amer also said in the phone interview on Sunday that the CBE has given two weeks for businesses to carry out their transactions in cash until they reconcile their situation in accordance with the financial inclusion law, adding that the new daily cash transaction limits will be reviewed in two weeks. Amer also clarified that the new banking system law imposes fines on cash operations over specific limits, and gives a month for everyone to reconcile with the new law in this regard. Amer said that EGP 540 billion is being circulated outside the banking system and about 15 million clients are carrying out their transactions online. Egypts banking system has an enormous amount of cash liquidity, the highest in the region. But there is an urgent need to abide by the preventive and precautionary procedures in the current phase to keep our health safe, so we have to avoid adopting cash transactions, he said. He added that fines will be imposed on auto traders who carry out cash transactions, as this is a violation of the financial inclusion system and the banking system law. On the other hand, Amer said that the revenues of the 15 percent savings certificates that were offered by the National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr have hit EGP 30 billion, 90 percent of which has been carried out through bank account transfers and electronic instruments, not cash. Commenting on the domestic economic scene amid the coronavirus outbreak, Amer said that Egypt is committed to providing all commodities regardless of global economic challenges. He added that the CBE has introduced number of initiatives to back several sectors, including manufacturing, tourism, small enterprises, and the stock market. Foreign investors have withdrawn $500 million from Egypts stock exchange; the CBE, in turn, has allocated EGP 20 billion to support the stock exchange, he said. Regarding the CBEs new procedures regarding loan payment and credit card payment postponements for six months, Amer said that the postponements will be implemented without imposing delay fines, commissions, or extra fees, except for interest. Amer said that Egypts economic growth rates are among the highest globally, adding that Egypt has exported $12 billion in cash abroad over 2019, and $11 billion in 2018. Further, Egypts economy has spent $350 billion over the past three years, while external debt has recorded an increase of only $50 billion. He said that foreign exchange reserves, which have reached EGP 45 billion, can cover Egypts imports for ten months. Amer also highlighted the role of Egypts economic reform programme, which generated the current foreign reserves and helped in achieving exchange rate stability despite the crises the globe is witnessing. He said that the coronavirus outbreak has given ample room for Egypts productive sector, especially given the stimulus procedures the country has recently adopted. Fuel prices, which will be reviewed by the fuel automatic pricing committee by 1 April, are set to be reduced, given the decline in oil prices and the US dollar, Amer said. Search Keywords: Short link: Taking note of the hardships being faced by migrant labourers amid the lockdown, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government to make all necessary arrangements for them, and also consider taking funds from charitable organisations. A single bench of Justice Sunil Shukre on Monday heard a petition filed by one C H Sharma, raising concerns over the spread of coronavirus on account of the movement of thousands of labourers and their families from cities to rural areas, both within and outside the state. The court while considering the issue said such large-scale movement of labourers increases the danger of further spread of coronavirus, and noted that these people are in need of assistance from the state government. "This is apart from the unfathomable hardships the labourers are going through owing to stoppage of their income. In these circumstances, what looks sensible is to provide clothing, medicine and health care and throwing generally an umbrella of protection around these labourers," the court said in its order. "This court would, therefore, direct the State of Maharashtra to make arrangement for stay, food, sanitation clothing and health care for the labourers, including migrant labourers," it said. The bench said it was conscious of the fact that to provide these facilities, funds would be required. It suggested the state to call upon charitable institutions to contribute some money. "I can only suggest that one of the ways of mobilising the funds could be through implementing the provisions contained in and powers conferred upon the charity commissioner and state government under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act and the Waqf Act," the judge said. "All charitable institutions registered under the Public Trusts Act or the Waqf Act could be called upon to discharge their responsibility to utilise money for public and charitable purposes in certain percentage to be determined by the state government," the court said. It asked the state government to take appropriate decision in the matter consistent with the charitable object espoused by the Public Trusts Act and the Waqf Act. The court posted the matter for further hearing on April 8. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As a full-fledged coronavirus outbreak at the Harris County jail becomes increasingly likely, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced she would be putting in an order for the release of some inmates. Officials have been struggling for more than a week to come up with a joint plan to release as many people from the country's third largest lockup as possible, focusing on inmates accused of nonviolent offenses. "We are not releasing anybody with a violent history," Hidalgo said at an afternoon press conference announcing the planned order, which has not yet been signed. She said she was taking the action to stay ahead of a public health catastrophe. She stressed that only people with no violent history would be included, and that there would be electronic monitoring and other measures taken to keep track of those released. "The problem is we're still at a population of almost 8,000," she said. "Imagine them needing beds and ventilators." The key players--Hidalgo, state District Judge Herb Ritchie and Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal -- have been hamstrung by restrictions issued Sunday by Gov. Greg Abbott, who prohibited the release of anyone accused or convicted of a violent crime. A representative from Abbott's Attorney General's office indicated at a federal court hearing on Sunday that his office would appeal any blanket releases of inmates, including an order calling for the release of just inmates accused of nonviolent offenses. And Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg told some of the parties that she doesn't want anyone facing a temporary restraining order released, even if the person is facing nonviolent charges. For weeks, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez has been calling for compassionate releases of a limited set of people -- elderly and medically compromised people accused of nonviolent offenses. Hidalgo has said she would extend the list to include both compassionate releases and some people accused of non-violent offenses. It's not clear how many people the planned order would cover. Hidalgo said it could be 1,000 inmates, but previous estimates of people who would be eligible under terms she was suggesting were lower. Hidalgo was going to discuss a joint plan with Judge Ritchie on Tuesday, but Ritchie would need to run it by his 22 judges on the felony bench to delineate who would fit the criteria. At the press conference Hidalgo said, "We know the Harris County jail is a ticking time bomb." She said public health officials said it was impossible to enforce social distancing and proper quarantines for staff and inmates. "Every person, everyone of those workers has a family they are putting at risk," she said. At 4 p.m. Rosenthal, who presides over the civil rights cases challenging the county's bail practices, has a hearing at which she is expected to address yet another approach -- an order by the federal court allowing releases of people charged with certain nonviolent crimes. The state attorney general is now a party to that case. The judge said in introductory remarks that all parties had the same goal: "We do not want the jails to be sources of infection. No one including the governor does." The attorney representing Hidalgo said that the intent was not to violate the governor's order in the county order, which is to be signed later Tuesday. The Married At First Sight cast hosted their own wild reunion in mid-January, a day before filming the official one, Daily Mail Australia can reveal. Producers were left furious when the stars defied orders not to speak to each other and went on a boozy pub crawl in Sydney. By the time it came to shooting the episode, several of the brides and grooms were nursing hangovers - but none of their antics had been caught on camera. What happens on tour: The Married At First Sight cast hosted their own wild reunion in mid-January, a day before filming the official one, Daily Mail Australia can reveal The cast flew into Sydney on January 14 and went out partying that night. The reunion dinner party was filmed in a studio warehouse in Lilyfield the following day. The celebrations began in Hayley's room at the Adina Surry Hills hotel in the early evening. After drinking wine and smoking on her balcony alone, Chris Nicholls arrived and Natasha Spencer joined them several minutes later. At one stage, Hayley was sitting on the railing of her third-floor balcony when a jovial Chris lifted up her skirt, exposing her buttocks. Midweek mayhem: The celebrations began in Hayley's room at the Adina Surry Hills hotel in the early evening of Tuesday, January 14 Slow down! After drinking wine and smoking on her balcony alone, Chris Nicholls (left) arrived Flashing: At one stage, Hayley was sitting on the railing of her third-floor balcony when a jovial Chris lifted up her skirt, exposing her buttocks Natasha then lifted her jumper over her head to reveal her crop top underneath, while Hayley pulled up her top to flash her grey bra. The women even appeared to lick each other, much to Chris's amusement. Afterwards, the trio caught a taxi into the city, where they spent the night drinking with their co-stars Josh Pihlak, Drew Brauer and Steve Burley. Lucky Chris! Natasha Spencer (right) then arrived and lifted her jumper over her head to reveal her crop top underneath, while Hayley (centre) pulled up her top to flash her grey bra Get a room! Afterwards, the women appeared to lick each other, much to Chris's amusement 'Producers went to great effort and expense to split the cast into separate hotels to avoid this happening, but none of them cared,' said a source. 'It was a s**t show behind the scenes. Once again, the best drama was off camera.' The following morning, executive producer Tara McWilliams was on the warpath, demanding to know who had spent time together before the scheduled reunion. Breaking the rules: 'Producers went to great effort and expense to split the cast into separate hotels to avoid this happening, but none of them cared,' said a source Not again! On January 18, after filming the two-part finale, several cast members stayed in Sydney for another night out. Pictured: Mikey Pembroke On January 18, after filming the two-part finale, several cast members stayed in Sydney for another night out - which was much wilder than the televised reunion. The party started in Mikey Pembroke's apartment, where he was joined by Chris. The duo then went to a nightclub, where they spent hours dancing and drinking with Mishel Karen, Aleks Markovic and Ivan Sarakula. The unofficial wrap party! The party started in Mikey's apartment, where he was joined by Chris. The duo then went to a nightclub, where they spent hours dancing and drinking with Mishel Karen, Aleks Markovic (pictured) and Ivan Sarakula Open source On March 31, Russian mercenaries breached the ceasefire mode in Donbas seven times. Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported that on Tuesday evening. The occupants attacked Ukrainian positions. using 120 mm mortars, anti-tank missile launcher, automatic grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. Most of the attacks occurred in Donetsk region; ceasefire violations took place in Krasnohorivka, Pisky, Avdiivka, Kamyanka, Opytne and Starohnativka. 120 mm mines and anti-tank missiles hit Novotoshkivske in Luhansk region. Two Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in action. Another soldier of Ukraine's government forces sustained a blast injury, as he stepped on a landmine. The incident took place near Katerynivka, Luhansk region. Upon the administration of first medical aid, the man was evacuated to the medical facility in a grave condition. Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported that on Tuesday. The landmine was of Russian origin; it belongs to the ammunition banned by the Geneva conventions. 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. Hong Kong residents stranded for weeks in locked-down Peru will finally be able to return home after the citys government arranged a charted flight to depart on Friday. The South American country shut its border on March 16 to curb the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak, making movement in and out of the country almost impossible. The Hong Kong Immigration Department has received requests for assistance from 91 Hongkongers in Peru, including about 30 tour group members. The city government said on Tuesday the chartered plane would take residents from Lima to London, where they would board other flights back to Hong Kong. The travellers would have to pay for the journey themselves. Deserted streets in Lima. Peru has recorded 950 coronavirus infections and 18 related deaths. Photo: EPA A government source said British Airways would be involved in the operation. British Airways will send a flight to Peru to take Hongkongers to London, the source said. The airline will also reserve seats for these registered residents to fly home via London. It is understood the flight will depart Lima late afternoon on Friday. The Hong Kong government said it was working with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Asian financial centre, as well as the Chinese embassy in Peru. Officials were still trying to arrange a chartered flight to help the roughly 30 Hongkongers stuck in Cusco, a historical city popular with tourists, get to Lima. Residents elsewhere in the country would need to travel to the capital with the help of local travel agencies or transport services operators. A 64-year-old Hong Kong man died in Cusco on Friday local time after becoming infected with Covid-19. The country has recorded 950 infections and 18 related deaths. Among those who had asked the Immigration Department for help, nine had already left the country through other routes. Three Hongkongers who were considered close contacts of the man who died were requested to enter local quarantine and be tested for the coronavirus. Story continues Residents who had not been in touch with the Hong Kong Immigration Department and hoped to take the chartered flight should contact authorities by the end of Tuesday, local time. The British government had earlier arranged flights for its citizens, including British National (Overseas) passport holders, to leave the country. This article Coronavirus: Hongkongers stuck in Peru to fly home this week first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. 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. Unknown Error An error has occured in loading this page. We have been automatically notified of this error. Please check back later. If you are the administrator of this website please view the error log for more information. SIOUX CITY -- After a one-year absence, metro Sioux City has reclaimed the top spot on Site Selection's list of the small-size metro area with the most business expansion projects. Sioux City had 18 new or expanded corporate facilities in the category for metros with populations between 50,000 and 200,000 in 2019, according to the national trade publication. That was two more than the second-place finisher Odessa, Texas, according to a story posted on Site Selection's website Monday morning. The metro, which includes Dakota and Dixon counties in Nebraska, Plymouth and Woodbury counties in Iowa and Union County in South Dakota, tied for third with the most last year after finishing first three straight years, 2015, 2016 and 2017. "It's just a continuation of success I've witnessed and you've demonstrated here," Site Selection managing editor Adam Bruns told local leaders at a news conference at the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce offices on March 1. It's the eighth time since 2007 the metro area has been No. 1 on Site Selection's annual list. "Siouxland has seen an unprecedented level of capital investment in the last decade, with multiple billions of dollars invested by the private sector and hundreds of millions in investment from the public sector," said Security National Bank CEO and President Douglas Rice, who serves as chairman of the Siouxland Initiative Board. "A strong economy offers great job opportunities and makes Siouxland a great place to live, work, and play. We remain optimistic about our prospects for continued economic growth and expansion." Site Selection defines a qualifying project as meeting at least one of three criteria: a capital investment of at least $1 million, creation of at least 20 new jobs or addition of at least 20,000 square feet of new floor space. Site Selection's database does not track retail and government projects, schools or hospitals. Bruns noted that Sioux City's 18 qualifying projects in 2019 was just one less than Chattanooga, Tennessee and Greenville, South Carolina, which tied for 10th place in the category for metro areas with populations of 200,000 to 1 million. Metro Sioux City was featured in Bruns' story on the top finishers in each of metro category. Subtitled "Tier 3 in Size, No. 1 in Your Heart," his piece detailed several local projects in the past year, including two companies that moved to larger quarters. MCI Mass Markets moved its contact call center from Dakota Dunes to a site in Sioux City near Sioux Gateway Airport. The secure facility, a former CenturyLink call center, was renovated extensively has space for more than 500 employees, a substantial increase from its previous location. Sterling Computers, an IT and tech support firm, moved its corporate headquarters to the former Gateway computers campus in North Sioux City. Sterling, one of the fastest growing private companies in America, acquired 83,000 square feet of office space and a 106,000-square foot distribution center in Main, the first of the black-and-white, cow-spotted machine shed-like buildings Gateway built in North Sioux between 1989 and 1997 after moving from Sergeant Bluff. Gerald Keating, a Florida-based investor with ties to Northeast Nebraska, bought the entire Gateway campus from Acer Inc. in January 2018 for $5.75 million. Since then, other former Gateway buildings also have been populated with new or expanded businesses that qualified for Site Selection's list, including Pella Windows & Doors, United Sports Academy. Other major projects Bruns highlighted in his story included Ingredion in South Sioux City, Big Frig in North Sioux City and Sioux City Kenworth. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. London Kills Rating: Putin: A Russian Spy Story Rating: Yikes, the gaffer isnt looking too good. DI Bradford was sweaty, shiny-skinned and unshaven, as London Kills (BBC1) returned. The gruff detective has a sackful of secrets in his private life is coronavirus one of them? His teenage daughter Carly discovered the truth on an impromptu bring-your-child-to-work day. Bored and rifling through her dads desk, she found an open litre of whisky in one drawer. Murder mysteries like this are more in the mould of Death In Paradise, though DS Cole stops short of gathering all the suspects together on a verandah and serving rum punch as she reveals the killer DI Bradford (Hugo Speer) doesnt have Covid-19 hes just sweating out a killer hangover. His daughter (Adrianna Bertola) must have inherited his superhuman liver, because by the end of the day shed all but polished off the Scotch, and she was still coherent enough to accuse Dad, in front of the whole station, of killing her mother. London Kills is the grittiest of the afternoon crime dramas. It inhabits the same world as Luther and Line Of Duty, where people die horribly and the police are too busy with their personal crises to notice. A young mans mummified body was discovered under the decking in a back yard in Camden, apparently throttled with his own belt. DI Bradford could barely be bothered with it. He left the investigation to his sidekick, DS Vivienne Cole, while he visited his mistress. London Kills is the grittiest of the afternoon crime dramas. It inhabits the same world as Luther and Line Of Duty, where people die horribly and the police are too busy with their personal crises to notice If you recognised DS Cole, its probably because actress Sharon Small was last seen as the racy solicitor in Flesh And Blood, letting Russell Toveys character live rent-free in exchange for frequent sensual massages. At the time, I couldnt help wondering how he paid income tax on fringe benefits like that. DS Cole has no intention of getting dragged into her bosss dirty reality. She believes in traditional investigations, with a closed circle of suspects and a steady accumulation of clues. A torch was found buried with the body, for instance. The detective sergeant guessed this was no accident: the torch had not been dropped but was placed there by the killer, who knew the victim was afraid of the dark and loved him enough to do something about it. Murder mysteries like this are more in the mould of Death In Paradise, though DS Cole stops short of gathering all the suspects together on a verandah and serving rum punch as she reveals the killer. Good job, too. You wouldnt want DI Bradford and daughter getting stuck in to the rum. Tea in a china cup was the murder weapon of choice when Russian agents killed former FSB anti-corruption policeman Alexander Litvinenko. They slipped a radioactive poison pill into his drink at a four-star Knightsbridge hotel in 2006. It portrays Russia as a state run by gangsters, where the national economy and organised crime are the same thing. And it leaves no doubt that killings such as the Salisbury poisonings are meant to be ruthlessly flamboyant At the time, though a photograph of a dying Litvinenko bald and gaunt in a hospital bed made front-page news, the facts around his murder were confused. Putin: A Russian Spy Story (C4) set them out with gripping clarity. For denouncing the FSBs links to organised crime, and then accusing President Putin of ordering the assassination of dissident journalist Anna Politkovskaya, Litvinenko was regarded by the Kremlin as a traitor. One political observer explained: Betrayal is absolutely one thing that Putin doesnt tolerate. Hes a vengeful man. This has been a devastating indictment of the Russian leader, and a forensic analysis of how a dictator rises to power without staging a military coup. It portrays Russia as a state run by gangsters, where the national economy and organised crime are the same thing. And it leaves no doubt that killings such as the Salisbury poisonings are meant to be ruthlessly flamboyant. One exile warned: This is about the theatre of murder. Its a very long way from Death In Paradise. Eminence gris of the night: Art Malik played deranged crime boss Uncle Khan as Man Like Mobeen (BBC1) returned. Older viewers will recall his bravura breakthrough in 1984s Jewel In The Crown. An actor who is brilliant in everything he does. RICHMOND On Monday afternoon, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued Executive Order 55, which is a temporary stay-at-home order in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The order went affect Monday and remains in effect until June 10, unless amended or rescinded by further executive order. Below is Executive Order 55: All individuals in Virginia shall remain at their place of residence, except as provided below by this Order and Executive Order 53. To the extent individuals use shared or outdoor spaces, whether on land or on water, they must at all times maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person, with the exception of family or household members or caretakers. Individuals may leave their residences for the purpose of: a. Obtaining food, beverages, goods, or services as permitted in Executive Order 53; b. Seeking medical attention, essential social services, governmental services, assistance from law enforcement, or emergency services; c. Taking care of other individuals, animals, or visiting the home of a family member; d. Traveling required by court order or to facilitate child custody, visitation, or child care; e. Engaging in outdoor activity, including exercise, provided individuals comply with social distancing requirements; f. Traveling to and from ones residence, place of worship, or work; g. Traveling to and from an educational institution; h. Volunteering with organizations that provide charitable or social services; and i. Leaving ones residence due to a reasonable fear for health or safety, at the direction of law enforcement, or at the direction of another government agency. j. All public and private in-person gatherings of more than 10 individuals are prohibited. This includes parties, celebrations, religious, or other social events, whether they occur indoor or outdoor. These restrictions do not apply: 1. To the operation of businesses not required to close to the public under Executive Order 53; or 2. To the gathering of family members living in the same residence. 3. Institutions of higher education shall cease all in-person classes and instruction, and cancel all gatherings of more than 10 individuals. For purposes of facilitating remote learning, performing critical research, or performing essential functions, institutions of higher education may continue to operate, provided that social distancing requirements are maintained. 4. Effective April 1, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., cessation of all reservations for overnight stays of less than 14 nights at all privately-owned campgrounds, as defined in 35.1-1 of the Code of Virginia. 5. Closure of all public beaches as defined in 10.1-705 of the Code of Virginia for all activity, except exercising and fishing. Social distancing requirements must be followed. 6. All relevant state agencies shall to continue to work with all housing partners to execute strategies to protect the health, safety, and well-being of Virginians experiencing homelessness during this pandemic and to assist Virginians in avoiding evictions or foreclosures. 7. As provided in Executive Order 53, nothing in this Order shall limit: (a) the provision of health care or medical services; (b) access to essential services for low-income residents, such as food banks; the operations of the media; (d) law enforcement agencies; or (e) the operation of government. Violation of paragraphs 2, 3, 4, and 5 of this Order shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor pursuant to 44-146.17 of the Code of Virginia. After appeals by Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, who is also chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to all the Members of Parliament to contribute at least Rs 1 crore each from their respective MPLAD (MP Local Area Development) funds to the central pool for the fight against coronavirus, just around 250 MPs had given their consent to make such a contribution till March 30. Rajya Sabha Secretary P P K Ramacharyulu said this during a meeting on Tuesday. 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 The event was organized by IFEM and SEMI in collaboration of Indian Spinal Injuries Centre Coronavirus outbreak has already affected people of more than 60 countries sending governments across the world in a flurry of panic and preparedness to ensure that they do their best to treat patients of coronavirus as well as contain the epidemic from spreading further. If not contained now this global emergency can easily become a disaster. With an increase in the number of disasters and emergency events, super speciality institute Indian Spinal Injuries Centre hosted a day long International symposium and strategic meet on disaster medicine and disaster health on 5th March 2020. The event was organized by Disaster Medicine Special Interest Group of International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM) and Society for Emergency Medicine, India (SEMI) in collaboration of Indian Spinal Injuries Centre. Minister of State for textiles, Member of Parliament, Ajay Tamta was the chief guest at the event. Other key dignitaries included Prof. James Duchrame (Canada), President, IFEM, and Prof. Sallyann McCarthy (Australia), President-Elect IFEM, Dr.A.K.Mukherjee, Director General, ISIC, and Dr.H.S.Chhabra, Medical Director & Chief of Spine Services, ISIC. Ajay Tamta said, The reason I am late is because of the increasing spread of coronavirus in the country about which we were discussing in the parliament as well. I am from Uttrakhand so I have seen firsthand the impact of a disaster and the lives it can ruin. My own sister was a victim of spinal injury and at first she went to treatment in Haldwani but when she was not getting better she came here to Indian Spinal Injuries Centre. Now she is living her life in a healthy manner thanks to proper and effective treatment. We need to train more and more doctors for emergency care as although many BSF soldiers and members of the air force came to help during the Kedarnath disaster in 2009 not many healthcare professionals were available to treat patients. Apart from training we also need to instill courageous mindset in healthcare professionals so that they are not afraid to approach a disaster and are always prepared to deal with one. Dr. H S Chhabra said, Disaster medicine is an area of health-care management that is getting increasingly focused across the world. Hospitals across the world struggle to keep up with sudden influx of patients and knowing how to prepare ourselves for such situations will be a great help to the doctors and staff at the emergency department. Besides, it will also help us to build protocols to ensure all the patients are being attended to with quality service in minimum time. As 30 cases of coronavirus have come to light, its high time that we should stay alert against this threat. We have stepped up our screening and quarantine measures for all the domestic and international patients in our hospital. In order to have a prompt response, we have stockpiled the needed equipment to control the disease. For our medical staff, who will be the closest contact with patients, we have incorporated N95 respirator masks in the hospitals because these masks provide much better protection. We are once again monitoring all patients about their recent travel history. The symposium focused on the role of healthcare and preparedness of healthcare providers to attend the patients in the event of disaster or calamity. A group of ibis birds have shown backpackers how social distancing should be done after being snapped scavenging for food in a Sydney park. The birds, dubbed 'bin chickens' in Australia, were snapped standing in a line with distance between each other at Wynyard park in the city centre on Monday. A couple of pigeons and seagulls were seen standing nearby, also separated by about a metre. 'Social distancing in Wynyard. Bin chickens show backpackers how it's done,' a photo of the birds was captioned on Reddit. The Australian white ibis is a protected species known for feasting on garbage in the inner-city streets of Sydney and Brisbane. Bin chickens have shown backpackers how social distancing should be done after a group of the birds were pictured standing apart Others joined in on the joke, with some people slamming the birds for not wearing masks. 'But no masks? I hope theyre washing their wings at least,' one person wrote. 'They really should be working from home,' another said. 'When bin chickens are more evolved than backpackers,' added a third. Backpackers have been blamed for spreading coronavirus around Bondi after thousands ignored social distancing advice to go to the beach. People are seen enjoying a sunny day at Bondi Beach on March 28, despite social distancing warnings There was also a party held in Bondi that same weekend, when the tougher social distancing rules were introduced. 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 Coronavirus testing in the eastern suburbs will now increase because of the outbreak. New South Wales is now the epicentre for the outbreak in Australia with 2,032 cases. Nationally there are 4,364 confirmed cases and 19 people have died. 'There is a potential risk that other members of the community may have come in contact with infected backpackers,' Dr Chant said. 'We have had a small number of cases in that community where there aren't obvious links, but a plausible explanation is they have come into contact with an infected backpacker before that backpacker was aware they had COVID-19. 'Out of an abundance of caution we want to increase testing rates and introduce some pop-ups to increase our testing.' YEREVAN. The assistance of $1.1 million provided by the United States to Armenia is on top of $60 million that we announced a few months ago for Armenia, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy said during a video conference on Facebook. We are expecting in the coming weeks that we will be receiving additional tranches of assistance, the ambassador said. She said it is unclear yet how much assistance will be provided, but the additional assistance will be coming from Washington. The U.S. has provided around $106 million for Armenias healthcare system for the last 20 years, she added. Lynne Tracy recalled that with the U.S. assistance Armenias Healthcare Ministry rehabilitated six laboratories in Armenia. In the context of COVID outbreak, the central laboratory in Avan is the one place that is available to provide secure and accurate testing of COVID cases, she added. In addition, the U.S. embassy will begin distributions to 1,000 vulnerable and elderly families in Shirak region, providing them with food and groceries. 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. Israels Foreign Ministry briefed ambassadors stationed in the country March 31 on how Israel is assisting the Palestinians in their fight against the novel coronavirus. Deputy Director-General for Economic Affairs Yael Ravia-Zadok opened the online session by stating that Israel and the Palestinian Authority are in constant contact over efforts to thwart the spread of the virus. She pointed to a March 18 phone call between Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in which the two men agreed to cooperate on the issue. Ravia-Zadok explained that Israel has been assisting the PA by offering West Bank hospitals medical equipment and cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian physicians, adding that Israel is also enabling the transfer of medical equipment to Gaza. The online briefing included not only Foreign Ministry seniors but also international agents such as UN envoy to the region Nickolay Mladanov, the UNs humanitarian coordinator Jamie McGoldrick and Norwegian Ambassador to Israel Jon Hansen Bauer, who acted as a representative of donor countries to the Palestinians. The growing coordination and cooperation on efforts to battle the virus in the Palestinian territories received official recognition in recent UN reports. In its first COVID-19 Emergency Situation Report published on March 24, the UN Office for Coordinating Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) a body traditionally highly critical of Israel hailed the Israeli and Palestinian authorities' "unprecedented cooperation on efforts aimed at containing the epidemic. Representatives from both ministries of health, as well as from Israels Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories [COGAT] have been meeting on a regular basis to agree on matters of mutual concern." Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Hayat told Al-Monitor that Israel has transferred significant quantities of medical materials to the Gaza Strip, including test kits, sanitation equipment and protective gear for health workers in addition to the equipment provided to the Strip by the World Health Organization. As early as March 1, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon contacted his Palestinian counterpart Shukri Bishara to address the economic impact of the epidemic on the Israeli and Palestinian economies. Since then, Israeli bodies led by the Foreign Ministry, the Finance Ministry and COGAT have intensified contacts with the Palestinian and international parties involved in facing the crisis. But the Israeli Foreign Ministry did not allow its March 31 briefing to become a PR event, focusing on enhancing international coordination vis-a-vis the badly equipped Palestinian authorities and warning that Israel itself faces a hard struggle with the virus at home. Ravia-Zadok emphasized that the Palestinian Authority is responsible for fighting the virus both in the West Bank and Gaza and that the Palestinians would surely need more equipment and help than Israel is able to provide. For Israels senior diplomats, the meeting was an occasion to call upon the international community not to forget the Palestinians in the crisis and not to lay the entire responsibility on Israel's shoulders. A senior Foreign Ministry official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, "We really have here an opportunity to show that Israelis do seek peace and to express our solidarity with our neighbors, who surely wont be able to confront this crisis on their own. Still, with Israel itself battling to get more masks and more ventilators, we would need the international community to work with us so we can also help the PA." In their phone call, Rivlin told Abbas, The whole world is dealing with a crisis that does not distinguish between who people are or where they live. Our cooperation is needed to ensure the safety of both Israelis and Palestinians." Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. 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The government on Tuesday announced setting up of a "cargo air-bridge" between India and China, and said that regular cargo flights for transporting critical medical supplies between the two countries are likely to be operated by Air India from April 3. In an official release, the civil aviation ministry also said it has operated as many as 62 cargo services in the past five days, starting March 26, under its recently launched 'Lifeline Udan flights' initiative, transporting over 15.4 tonnes of essential medical supplies. The initiative is aimed at ferrying medical and essential supplies from one place to another across the country. "On the international front, Air India has established a cargo air-bridge between India and China. Regular cargo flights for transporting critical medical equipment and supplies between the two countries are likely to be operated by Air India from April 3, 2020 onwards," the ministry said. The Lifeline Udan flights are being operated using the hub-and-spoke model, with New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata serving as the four hubs. Of the 62 flights, as many as 45 flights have been operated by the flag carrier Air India and its regional arm, Alliance Air, while the rest 17 by the Indian Air Force and private carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet, the release said. It also said Air India and IAF collaborated for operating Lifeline Udan services to Ladakh. Private carriers like IndiGo, Spicejet and BlueDart are operating medical cargo flights on a commercial basis, it stated. The lifeline cargo includes COVID-19-related reagents, enzymes, medical equipment, testing kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, gloves and other accessories required by "Corona Warriors" across the country. The carriers involved in Lifeline Udan operations include Air India, Alliance Air, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Pawan Hans, the release said adding that it is also getting support from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and its cargo and logistics subsidiary AAICLAS, AI Airports Services (AIASL), PPP airports and private ground handling entities, among others. The civil aviation ministry and all aviation stakeholders are determined to support India's war against COVID-19 by transporting essential medical supplies by air in the most efficient, seamless and cost-effective manner, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 21:45:23|Editor: zyl Video Player Close GABORONE, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Tuesday announced the establishment of a COVID-19 relief fund amounting to two billion pula (about 168 million U.S. dollars) In his statement on the declaration of the state of the public emergency in Botswana regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in Gaborone, Botswana's capital, Masisi said the fund is aimed at providing relief to citizens of Botswana during the planned lockdown, which begins from the midnight of April 2. During the lockdown period, all individuals across the country will be expected to adhere to a more severe form of social distancing where movement out of the home is only restricted to those performing essential services and transporting essential goods. "I wish to remind you that government has established the COVID-19 Relief Fund and put an investment of 2 billion pula, as seed money into it," announced Masisi, who encourages individuals and the private sector to contribute to this fund, as part of their social responsibility. Botswana is ramping up screening, testing and containing efforts following the announcement of first three confirmed cases of COVID-19 on March 30. "Government has put in place interventions under the COVID-19 Relief Fund, key of which is to ensure the provision of psychosocial support to all those affected," said Masisi. Other critical mitigating measures in place are monetary in nature while others will necessitate policy adjustments, he said. Masisi said his government will provide a wage subsidy for citizen employees of businesses mostly affected by COVID-19 to enable them to retain employees. South Dakota's chief justice seeks $5 million for courthouse security In Chief Justice Jensen's State of the Judiciary Address, he mentioned courthouse security, sexual harassment training and a lack of court reporters. Jordi Camps, the districts assistant superintendent of business services and chief financial officer, said the district is distributing 650 meals a day. Families were able to come to a Monday food distribution to receive meals for two days, plus a Wednesday food distribution to receive food for three days. : rbs (jay), : Joke : Re: : BBS (Mon Mar 30 21:54:34 2020, ) Michael Walker came home to a grisly scene. His wife was dead in their bed, killed overnight while Walker worked at a nearby Army medical center in Honolulu. The intruder had walked through the back door, grabbed a long knife from the kitchen and stabbed Walkers wife, Catherine, as she slept. Walker called 911. It was just as he had planned. That evening, in November 2014, was the denouement of a feverish plan, plotted out in text messages, emails and secret meetings between Walker and Ailsa Jackson, a woman he met online two months earlier and began an affair with soon after. Their brief relationship began a years-long criminal case that revealed a deadly love triangle in lurid detail and resulted in charges of child pornography, abuse and murder. In federal court in the Hawaiian capital on Monday, Jackson was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the fatal stabbing, while Walker was sentenced to 35 years for aiding and abetting a longer term, the judge said, because he had orchestrated the killing. The sentences imposed in this case hold defendants Michael Walker and Ailsa Jackson accountable for their truly horrific conduct, and bring to a close this tragedy," U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Kenji M. Price told The Washington Post. "We hope that the judgment entered in this case will bring at least some closure to those most affected by these defendants egregious conduct. During their first weeks together, Jackson confided in Walker about her struggles with mental illness, and Walker told Jackson that he wished his wife were gone. It was clear, Jackson would later tell prosecutors, what Walker meant: He wanted Jackson to kill his wife. It was the only way they could be together, Walker told Jackson, explaining that he couldnt get a divorce and that hed receive $400,000 in life insurance if his wife were dead. Walker called this his deepest desire, court records show, and the phrase became code for them. In text exchanges, made public by prosecutors, they talked often of wanting to meet up and lamented the person who was in the way. I want you so bad its like a craving, Jackson wrote to Walker a month before the murder. I know. Me too, he replied. If only someone was out of the way! Yea I know, Jackson said. In November 2014, Walker, now a former Army medic, started on the night shift at Tripler Army Medical Center, which kept him at work from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. an ideal time for Jackson to commit the crime, he reasoned, because his wife would be alone and he would have an alibi, court records say. On Nov. 4, Walker told Jackson in an email that you have my permission. The sooner the better. A week later, the records show, Jackson went to Walkers house, intending to kill Catherine Walker that night. But the doors were locked and she couldnt get inside. The next day, Michael Walker texted her: I need my desire taken care of soon. I'[m] going crazy. I know daddycakes, Jackson replied. I was going to but ran into a problem. She told him, cryptically, that she ran into an access problem. Oh I see, he wrote back. I can help with that. On Nov. 14, Catherine Walkers last day alive, Michael Walker and Jackson met in the parking lot of the gym on the military reservation, their usual meeting place. They agreed then, court documents say, that Jackson would kill Walkers wife that evening. They came up with more code. Walker said hed text Jackson the word good if she could ingress through an open window, and hed send the word bad if she had to use a key hidden in gravel outside to unlock the back door. Later that day, Walker texted bad. Just before midnight, Jackson walked to his house, found the key and opened the door. She walked past the laundry room and into the kitchen. She picked out a knife and walked upstairs, where Catherine Walker was asleep. A medical examiners autopsy ruled that Catherine Walker was stabbed multiple times in the neck and torso, and Jackson told investigators that she waited at the house for 30 minutes to make sure she was dead, the Associated Press reported at the time. In court Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Brady recounted for the first time Catherine Walkers final words words of forgiveness. On the night she was stabbed to death, Jackson asked her if she forgave her, Brady said. As she was being stabbed, Catherine replied, Yes. Catherine Walkers father, Douglas Plotz, said his family supported a lower sentence for Jackson, who avoided life in prison by helping prosecutors convict Michael Walker, AP reported. We wholeheartedly forgive her, he said. I want Ms. Jackson to know that. Walker apologized to his wifes family in court, telling them that hed do anything if it could bring her back. It was the conclusion of at least his third criminal proceeding in the past five years. In 2016, a military court found him guilty of possessing and viewing child pornography, charges the murder investigation brought to light . The evidence in that case included 92 photos and 19 videos that law enforcement found on Walkers laptop, AP reported then. He was also accused of soliciting men for sex in exchange for money. The next year, he was convicted of sexually abusing and physically assaulting a child. This week, U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway cast Walker as a manipulative man who arranged to have his wife killed, according to the AP account of the hearing. Ms. Jackson wielded the knife that killed your wife, Mollway told Walker as she issued his sentence. And that was a terrible, terrible deed. But it does appear to me that you were in control. -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 73.] Seven persons from Meghalaya attended the religious congregation at Tablighi Jamaat's Markaz in Delhi's Nizamuddin West, the Shillong Markaz informed the state police on Tuesday. They attended the congregation before the nationwide lockdown was imposed in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the Shillong Markaz said. In the wake of the prevailing situation, it is our responsibility to co-operate with the administration, Ali, a member of the Shillong Markaz, said. The persons who attended the religious congregation have not returned to Meghalaya, said G Iangrai, the assistant inspector general of police (A). Five of them are currently in Delhi and two are in Lucknow, he said. The Meghalaya Police are in touch with them, the officer said, adding that their details have also been shared with the police forces of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Megalaya has, so far, not witnessed any case of COVID-19. Six people from Telangana and one from Jammu and Kashmir, who attended religious congregation, died due to coronavirus. Besides, over twenty people have tested positive. Over 2,000 delegates, including those from several foreign countries, attended the congregation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip began on March 18 placing patients with respiratory diseases in Gaza schools that the UNRWA converted into medical clinics. This followed its March 16 decision not to receive such patients in its medical clinics as a preventive measure to ensure the safety of other patients and families and to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The UNRWA stressed that all schools will be sterilized before classes resume and its schools will not turn into quarantine centers for those returning to the Gaza Strip from the Rafah or Erez crossings. Meanwhile, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health began on March 15 turning two schools in the southern city of Rafah into quarantine centers where those entering Gaza are placed as a precautionary measure against spreading the coronavirus. Although such a measure has angered citizens, the ministry said it had no other choice and carried on with equipping other schools as well. Speaking to Al-Monitor, Ashraf al-Qidra, a spokesman for the Health Ministry, said there are 15 schools serving as quarantine centers in the Gaza Strip, and the ministry is equipping more schools for those arriving into Gaza. Qidra said that when the coronavirus outbreak quickly turned into a pandemic with the epicenter of the outbreak identified by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as Wuhan, China the ministry took precautionary measures in line with the World Health Organization's recommendations, including taking the temperatures of people coming from infected countries at the crossings and requiring their personal pledges not to leave their homes and to refrain from being in contact with other family members until their 14-day quarantine is over. But, Qidra said, the outbreak and ensuing crises required turning the schools into quarantine centers to protect the community, given the nature of social life in the Gaza Strip, Qidra said. He said the ministry worked to ensure that schools complied with international health standards, especially in terms of people keeping a safe distance from one another. He pointed out that the community has become more aware and cautious. Qidra said those placed in quarantine are classified by the date of their arrival to the quarantine centers and are only allowed to leave once the 14-day period is over. Citizens are still arriving in Gaza, as other countries are not preventing Gazans from returning to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah or Erez crossings. He stated, There are 1,287 people in quarantine, divided into 20 [quarantine] centers. Commenting on the two citizens coming from Pakistan who tested positive March 21, he affirmed necessary measures were taken and they were moved from the school where they were quarantined into a new field hospital constructed near the Rafah border crossing. Qidra explained the hospital was established to "isolate infected cases" and can "accommodate 38 cases or more. Qidra said the two showed no complications, and 29 people who came into direct or indirect contact with them were isolated in the new Rafah hospital. Out of the 118 cases tested in the Gaza Strip, only two tested positive, he added. He said the health and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is vulnerable due to the Israeli siege that destroyed the health care system, although those in the Strip are attempting to make the most of its potential given its limited capabilities. The United Nations is warning against the dangerous consequences of a potential coronavirus outbreak on the collapsing health care system in Gaza, Qidra said. He continued, We have a 50% shortage of medications and medical supplies, in addition to the shortage of lab tests, and severe medical staffing and facilities shortages. This is why the health care sector faces [many] challenges. This is true particularly since the powers with huge capabilities have failed to place [the coronavirus] under control, let alone the besieged Gaza Strip [with its limited capabilities]. Qidra called on the international community and UN agencies to assume their roles and provide urgent aid including ventilators, intensive care devices, safety and protection supplies, and fundamentals so that the Gaza Strip can better prepare, particularly since it is a densely populated area. He said things will be especially difficult if the coronavirus spreads there, and he considers Israel and the international community responsible for the lives of 2 million Gazans. Ansam Khalifa went to the Gaza elementary school for boys west of Gaza City now a UNRWA medical clinic to see a doctor about her sons flu and high temperature. She told Al-Monitor the UNRWA decision to turn schools into clinics was a poor choice because the schools are not suitable for such purposes; she pointed at the long wait time before seeing a doctor. A minimum distance of 0.1 meter is kept between one another in the waiting yard. Yet the place is not being sterilized after the departure of a patient. More precautionary measures are required, she said. Khalifa said she fears a virus outbreak in the Gaza Strip and is remaining home as much as possible, only leaving if it is absolutely necessary. Amer Judeh, who was also waiting for treatment for his son, told Al-Monitor the situation at the school is way better than it was at the clinics because the wait time is less and there are fewer chances to be infected. The UNRWA is trying to make the most of its potential and facilities. The only options available are the schools. Yet it is required to take more precautionary measures, he said. He said the school library has turned into a pharmacy and the classrooms into examination and treatment areas. I don't know whether that will have a psychological impact on the students when they return. He pointed out that not all medications are available at the clinic, which requires buying them from private pharmacies. Judeh said these medications must be made available to ease citizens' burdens. ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish authorities detained mayors of five municipalities in Kurdish-majority areas on Monday as part of a widening government crackdown against the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the party's co-leader said. Mithat Sancar told reporters security forces had besieged municipality buildings in the southeastern province of Batman, as well as those in the Egil, Silvan, Lice and Ergani districts of Diyarbakir province on Monday morning. He said five co-mayors in four municipalities were detained. He did not give details about the mayor of Lice but said another co-mayor who had previously been dismissed was also being held. President Tayyip Erdogan and his government accuse the HDP of having links to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, leading to prosecutions of thousands of its members and some leaders. The HDP denies such links. The HDP appoints one male and one female as mayor to promote gender-equality, calling them co-mayors, although only one is recognized by the central government. Sancar said the measures on Monday morning were similar to those taken when Ankara appointed trustees in other municipalities, adding that the party had not received official notification from the central government. "We reject with hatred this vile attempt that does not shy away from showing enmity against Kurds even in these difficult days when the whole world is battling an epidemic," he said. The Interior Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Ankara has appointed trustees to 31 municipalities won by the HDP in March 2019 local elections, an HDP source said, adding that 21 co-mayors had been formally arrested so far, in addition to the six detained on Monday. The former co-leaders of the HDP have both been jailed since 2016 on terrorism charges, with several other prominent members accused of supporting terrorism over what the government says are links to the PKK. (Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun and Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Jonathan Spicer and Ed Osmond) Many students returned to school on Monday amid strict preventive measures as the coronavirus epidemic waned in China. But as increasing global cases pose a considerable uncertainty, most provinces have only partly resumed schooling with caution, and some provinces are still reluctant to arrange reopening schedules. NANJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China is taking strict preventive measures to ensure the safety of students and no secondary outbreaks of COVID-19 among them as schools begin to reopen. As the coronavirus epidemic waned in China, many students in the final year of senior and junior high schools returned to school on Monday. In northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, more than 370,000 students went back to school. Wearing his school uniform, Qingel walked through the gate of Hohhot No.6 Middle School in Hohhot, the regional capital, while a door automatically took his temperature. He then walked on a designated lane towards the classroom. "The super-long winter holiday is finally over," said Qingel, 16. "I miss my classmates and teachers, and I lost some sleep last night." Students enter the campus of Hohhot No. 6 Middle School in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 30, 2020. Students in their final year of senior and junior high schools in Inner Mongolia returned to school and embraced their new spring semester on Monday. (Xinhua/Wang Chunyan) Inner Mongolia has made necessary preparations for the reopening of schools to reduce the risk of infection, said Li Zhanfeng, deputy director of the regional education department. Over 1,000 km away, in eastern China's Jiangsu Province, students of grade 9 and 12 returned to school to prepare for entrance exams for senior high schools and colleges, respectively, after a long winter break, according to the provincial education department. Bidding farewell to the long winter break, many students at Funing Middle School were queuing up for body temperature checks with a one-meter distance in between before entering the schools in the county of Funing. Every classroom is well ventilated, and every class is dismissed at a different time to avoid group gatherings, said Qian Liyong, the deputy principal. In Hohhot No.38 Middle School, shelves were placed outside the door of every classroom to provide disinfection sprayers, thermos bottles, cleaning cloths and other daily necessities. The school has divided the final grades of high school and middle school into eleven and twelve classes, respectively, with an average number of fewer than 30 students in each class to avoid crowdedness, according to Zhao Dawei, with the school's student affairs office. Normally each class has more than 50 students. A graduating student gets temperature checked at the entrance of the school building of Hohhot No. 35 Middle School in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) In Funing Middle School, students and teachers are all required to wear masks and keep safe distances in class, according to Qian. Liu Junwen is a math teacher from Hohhot No.4 Middle School. He returned to school early Monday morning to take medical supplies and carefully check his teaching courseware. "After such a long break, I have been looking forward to the day of the school reopening," Liu said. He said there are less than 70 days left for students in the third year of middle school to prepare for final exams, and teachers and students need to "get in sync" after a month of online teaching. "We will try to make up for some deficiencies of online teaching through offline classes," Liu said, adding that students can continue communicating with teachers through online platforms after school. DRILLS, SERIAL NUMBERS AND GLASS PARTITIONS To make sure everything goes smoothly, Chinese teachers and staff carried out many drills, including taking temperatures, disinfection and mask-wearing. Schools have also changed their student dining practices, as many parents show concern about how their children could eat safely. The No.6 Middle School in the Jiangsu city of Wuxi conducted several drills, during which teachers played the roles of students and simulated multiple processes such as entering school, attending classes, washing hands and dinning. Graduating students attend a class at Hohhot No. 6 Middle School in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) The school has set up three separate entrances for students of different grades to get their temperatures tested. If a student's temperature is found abnormal, he or she will be immediately taken to the doctors in the isolation area. "We have further improved our work plan in the drills. For instance, after teachers simulated washing hands before eating, we found it could easily lead to crowd gathering, so we proposed that students should wash hands in batches," said school principal Zhang Gang. At Xishan Senior Middle School in Jiangsu, canteen tables have been tagged with serial numbers, and each student can find his or her table with the numbers. Wuxi Meili Middle School requires several classes of students to dine in the classrooms while others go to the cafeteria where tables are installed with separating partitions. Rural schools have also set up strict routines. "We have men's and women's washing rooms on each floor where there are six classes, so we arrange three classes to use the restrooms at a time during the class break," said Qian Liyong of Funing Middle School. BEGINNING WITH CAUTION Although the epidemic is waning in China, increasing global cases pose a considerable uncertainty. Under this circumstance, most provinces have only partly resumed schooling with caution, and some provinces are still reluctant to arrange reopening schedules. A student uses hydro-alcoholic gel at the corridor of Hohhot No. 6 Middle School in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) In Jiangsu Province, students in other grades will return to school after April 7, while college students will return after April 13. Detailed information about the reopening days will be decided by the coronavirus control departments of each city and college in the province. In southwestern Yunnan Province, the provincial education department decided to postpone the scheduled reopening days of schools except for the final grades of senior and junior schools to reduce the risk of virus spreading. Beijing municipal authorities said the city has no plan for reopening schools and kindergartens at present. The city's education commission said it is still too early to consider any plans for reopening of schools. The commission will notify the public of the timetable and arrangement of the new semester in advance. Graduating students attend a class at Hohhot No. 35 Middle School in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Wu Zunyou, a researcher with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, last week urged schools in low-risk areas to take necessary measures for epidemic prevention. He warned that detections of abnormal body temperatures and suspicious symptoms should be reported to health authorities immediately. In addition to monitoring students' body temperatures and symptoms, it is also necessary to pay close attention to their psychological condition since most of them are facing the pressure of entrance examinations in such a difficult time. Qi Yaling, a teacher from Jiangsu Taizhou High School, said that students should have confidence in the current situation. "They need to make scientific learning plans to keep up with the overall teaching schedule," Qi said. "They also need to keep an optimistic attitude." China has started to ban wildlife trade and consumption due to mounting pressure from its citizens, according to National Geographic and Wildlife Campaigner for the EIA (or Environmental Investigation Agency) and China Specialist Aron White. However, the Chinese government still recommends the use of "Tan Re Qing", an injectable cocktail that includes bear bile, for treating COVID-19. On March 4, the National Health Commission of China included "Tan Re Qing" in a list of treatment recommendations against COVID-19; it also includes Western and Chinese traditional medicines. Since the 8th century, Chinese traditional medicine has been using bile from bears. They obtain this from brown bears and Asiatic black bears. The bile has high ursodeoxycholic acid or ursodiol levels, clinically used for helping dissolve gallstones and against liver disease. A synthetic form of the compound has been available all over the world for decades. Currently, the WHO or World Health Organization declares that there is no cure against COVID-19. Chinese traditional medical practitioners use Tan Re Qing against upper respiratory tract infections and bronchitis, according to this study. University of Minnesota professor Clifford Steer studied ursodeoxycholic acid. He states that it can maintain the life of cells, has anti-inflammatory properties, and can calm the immune response. He says it may alleviate COVID-19 symptoms, although he adds that he does not know of any evidence that the bile from bears is effective against it. According to National Geographic, bears in captivity in China can have their bile legally harvested and used; it is banned if the bile comes from wild animals. Bile importation is banned as well. White says that illegal bear bile is being obtained from the wild in China, as well as imported from both captive and wild bears from North Korea, Laos, and Vietnam. This trade is despite the CITES protection against international commercial trade given to Asiatic black bears, which is among the most commonly farmed bear species for bile. White says that consumers consistently prefer bile from wild bears, which they regard as more potent. It means, White adds, that even a legal market of bile from captive bears does not reduce the pressure on wild bear populations. Non-profit organization Animals Asia is dedicated to stopping farming for bear bile. It states that since bile is extracted from the gall bladder using a syringe, pipe, or catheter, all extraction methods are invasive, causing severe infection, pain, and suffering to bears. Animals Asia also states that disease and neglect commonly occur on bear farms; thus, bear bile consumers run the risk of ingesting the bile from sick bears contaminated with feces, blood, urine, pus, and harmful bacteria. Chinese traditional medicine is mostly plant-based and has existed for millennia, according to National Geographic. The WHO recognized its efficacy in 2018 when it included Chinese traditional medicine diagnoses in the WHO medical compendium. China's Ministry of Science and Technology stressed the use of traditional medicine, and 85% of Chinese COVID-19 patients have been given herbal treatment. White states that wildlife farms cause risks to human health due to animals being crammed in small cages and people coming into contact with them. He adds that most Chinese traditional medicine has no wild animal components; it does not have to threaten wildlife. Steer says that what a COVID-19 vaccine is truly needed. 'You can do more,' economists tell SA government 50+ economists and others from Wits are part of a group of more than 78 who wrote an open letter urging President Cyril Ramaphosa for more significant action. OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA AND THE CABINET FROM SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMISTS, BUSINESS ANALYSTS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE ADVOCATES: Dear President Cyril Ramaphosa, We commend you and your government for the bold and decisive public health measures that you have taken in response to the crisis precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We welcome measures to stem the spread of the virus. We are writing to you to suggest other measures that are urgently required to support and stabilise the economy and assist those hardest hit by the crisis. As you have noted, these public-health interventions will have significant adverse economic effects, compounding the persistence of inequalities in living conditions, wealth, income, and access to health and other services. It is widely predicted that the virus will trigger a global recession, due to collapsing demand and the supply shocks this crisis will entail. It is estimated that South Africas GDP could contract by between 1.8 and 7%, with devastating impacts on jobs and livelihoods. This looming crisis requires large-scale economic interventions. For example, the United Kingdom, France and the United States have injected resources totalling 18.9%, 13.6% and 10.7% of GDP into their economies respectively. To date, the measures announced by the South African government, although welcome, do not match the scale of the challenge. In the face of this looming crisis we believe more significant action is required. These interventions must protect the most vulnerable. This response is different from previous attempts to resuscitate ailing economies. We must both acknowledge that physical distancing and a lockdown will slow economic activity, and that extraordinary measures are needed to cushion the resultant hardship and avoid long-term social and economic harm. There is a significant risk that millions in poverty will fall into destitution; millions more, currently in work, will be driven into poverty and become unable to meet their basic needs; and thousands of businesses will be forced to close due to falling demand as a result of the lockdown, falling incomes and a contraction of economic activity. The self-employed, atypically employed, informal workers, and small businesses, are particularly vulnerable, but none will be exempt from its effects. Traditional social support networks will be disrupted. The long-term impact on business capacity, and physical, financial, and human capital, could be devastating to our already ailing economy. In any already deeply unequal society, we know that the hardship will fall hardest on black people, and especially black women and children. Economic interventions must therefore aim to: support households and communities, protect workers, sustain businesses, strengthen public health interventions; and strengthen the economy. While we appreciate efforts already undertaken in each of these areas, we are concerned that they are not comprehensive enough, and are not being implemented sufficiently rapidly or on a large enough scale to prevent real hardship for millions of South Africans. While we recognise that the stringent social isolation measures are unavoidable, we need to commit as a society to ensuring they do not cause unnecessary hardship to our people, and especially to the working poor and other vulnerable groups. The following measures indicate the kinds of opportunities that are available: Support households and communities: Income transfers to lower-income and affected households , in the form of a special COVID-19 grant, a top-up to existing grants, and/or a universal basic income grant. Creativity is needed to speed up delivery, including income transfers via digital payment mechanisms. We appreciate the practical difficulties involved. Targeted, temporary and compulsory payment holidays from municipal taxes, rent and mortgages, and other debts owed, and a ban on evictions from houses, including on farms. Undertake measures to relieve women of the burden of care , in and outside the home, for example, by the provision of childcare for essential workers and additional income support. Ensure food security and food sovereignty through a coordinated and safe roll-out of food packages in food-stressed neighbourhoods, working with community groups to build collective action and solidarity. Children require special attention. Protect workers: Guarantee wage payments so that monthly wages of all workers are secured for the full duration of the lockdown. The expansion in UIF payments is both welcome and critical. , but this should be a fallback, not a default. Rigorous implementation of leave requirements so that workers are not forced to use annual leave during the furlough period, and ensuring temporary workers as sufficiently accommodated. Extend unemployment benefits to casual and informal-economy workers , including the provision of temporary unemployment payouts for lost income during periods of lockdown. Ensure additional health and safety provisions are in place for essential workers and for when workers return to work. Sustain businesses: Significantly expand access to low-rate emergency loans , including through low-cost liquidity provision by the South African Reserve Bank. The current amount of funds available, and the voluntary nature of the solidarity fund, fall well short of the expected need. Moreover, there is some evidence that the solidarity fund has diverted donors from other charities that play a vital role in supporting the most vulnerable. Targeted, temporary and compulsory payment holidays from municipal taxes, rent and mortgages, and other debts owed. Other forms of targeted and temporary tax relief if low-cost loans and payment holidays are insufficient. Increase the additional resources that are being directed to the health system , including for testing, treatment, medicines, community h ealth care, and COVID-19 scientific research. Strengthen public health interventions: Strengthen the requirement for resources to be pooled between private and public healthcare providers , particularly for free testing and treatment of COVID affected patients. Rapidly scale up governments attempts at the local production of critically needed health products, medicine and equipment . Scale up efforts to ensure greater access to water and sanitation , through the provision of water access points, safe ablution facilities, and removing restrictions on homes with water metres. The provision of soap and/or sanitiser is important. Ensure free mobile data and public internet access , to keep the public informed and curb the spread of fake news. Strengthen the economy: Monetary policy measures to guard against capital flight and manage the exchange rate, ensure access to affordable credit, and ensure sustainable government bond rates. A helicopter drop of funds to households - for example, R1000 for each individual for a period of four months - could complement the grants discussed above. Reviewing the current Medium-Term Expenditure Framework which requires considerable budget cuts, including in wages and healthcare. We appreciate the Temporary Employment Relief Scheme, which aims to prevent retrenchments while maintaining standards. In the past, however, ensuring rapid and effective scaling up of the scheme has proven difficult. It is crucial that implementation be prioritised in the current crisis. These measures will require additional government financing. We appreciate the effort to mobilise funds outside the fiscus - such as the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Public Investment Corporation (PIC), Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). However, the scale of interventions required will necessitate additional fiscal and monetary expansion by the Treasury and SARB respectively, as has been the case worldwide. A concrete plan for responsibly managing this must be tabled, a number of signatories are working on proposals in this regard. In addition, we support your call for global transfers and action on the international level. Commitment, implementation and responsiveness remain a major challenge. While swift action has been taken on health responses, economic interventions have been subject to delay, confusion and incoherence. We need to accept that as with health policy, some risks will need to be taken in this unprecedented situation. While the Presidency must direct interventions, as far as possible the economic interventions should seek to empower communities, promote their mobilisation, and build social solidarity, as has been noted by a wide number of civil society organisations. The Presidency must reassure the most vulnerable people and businesses that they will be protected. This moment calls for all South Africans to contribute. We are willing to support in advancing these shared objectives. We would welcome the opportunity to put these proposals before yourself and the appropriate forums and provide additional technical support as needed. Yours sincerely, [List of Wits University authors(*):] Professor Vishnu Padayachee - Distinguished Professor and Derek Schrier and Cecily Cameron Chair in Development Economics, School of Economics and Finance, University of the Witwatersrand Dr Gilad Isaacs - Co-Director, Institute for Economic Justice and School of Economics and Finance, University of the Witwatersrand Lumkile Mondi - Senior Lecturer, School of Economics and Finance, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Imraan Valodia - Dean of Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand Professor David Everatt - Head of School, Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Uma Kollamparambil - Head of School, School of Economics and Finance, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Pundy Pillay - Professor of Economics, School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand Dr Laura Rossouw - Senior Lecturer, School of Economics and Finance, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Mills Soko - Professor of International Business and Strategy, Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Ben Fine - Visiting Professor of Economics, University of the Witwatersrand, and Emeritus SOAS Dr Mthokozisi Mlilo - Senior Lecturer, School of Economics and Finance, University of Witwatersrand Dr John Khumalo - Senior Lecturer, Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand Halfdan Lynge-Mangueira - Senior Lecturer, Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand Dr Nicolas Pons-Vignon - Senior Lecturer, School of Economics and Finance, University of the Witwatersrand Cheryl-Lyn Selman - School of Economics and Finance, University of the Witwatersrand Sibulele Nkunzi - Lecturer, School of Economics and Finance, University of the Witwatersrand David Francis - Deputy Director, Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of the Witwatersrand Thabo Dikobe - Lecturer, Wits Business School Ayanda Magida - Researcher, Wits Business School Professor Rod Crompton - Adjunct Professor, Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand Rubina Jogee - Lecturer, School of Economics and Finance, University of the Witwatersrand Mark Everett - Executive Manager CLEAR-AA, University of the Witwatersrand Aroop Chatterjee - Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of Witwatersrand Avril Joffe - Head of Department, Cultural Police and Management, University of the Witwatersrand Tlhalefang Moeletsi - Researcher, School of Economics and Business Science, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Stephanie Allais - Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Researching Education and Labour, School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Tshepo Madlingozi - Director of the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS), University of the Witwatersrand Professor Jackie Dugard - Associate Professor, School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Firoz Cachalia - Adjunct Professor, School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Tracy-Lynn Humby - Professor, School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand Sonia Newton - Senior Programme Manager, Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand Kemantha Govender - Communications Manager, School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Jonathan Klaaren - Professor, Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WiSER), University of the Witwatersrand Professor Vishwas Satgar - Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, University of the Witwatersrand Sibusisiwe Ndlovu - Exams Marking Officer, Wits School of Business, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Ian Goldman - Professor, Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Emeritus Edward Webster - Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology, University of Witwatersrand Zubeida Bagus - Business Manager, Faculty of Commerce Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand Sky Konrad, Finance Officer - CLEAR-AA, FCLM, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Anthoni van Nieuwkerk - Peace and Security Studies, Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Jill Bradbury, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Michelle Williams, Professor, Department of Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Salim Akoojee, Associate Professor and Senior Researcher, REAL at University of Witwatersrand and School of Education at University of Nottingham (*) The list continues to grow as the letter reaches more people. To contribute: Add your name here: https://forms.gle/ABha3hTcrPTqpmGN8 Having received many enquiries from people in relation to planning applications and the effect the Colvid-19 restrictions will impact on them, local councillor Emma Coffey has confirmed that due to the passing of the emergency legislation on Friday there have been changes to the planning system in Ireland due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Planning applications can continue to be made by post, and authorities can engage with applicants by electronic means, accepting submissions by post and electronic means. Most authorities including Louth County Council have an on-line systems for inspecting planning applications. The extended time will also apply to planning appeals, which An Bord Pleanala will continue to receive by post. The Orders made by the Minister and the Government, will add 23 days to the statutory time periods for processing planning applications within the Planning Acts. This is to reflect the period up to Easter Sunday, during which time people have been asked to stay at home, other than leaving for essential purposes and includes a short period thereafter to ensure that there is adequate notice of revised arrangements. This will impact on the time taken to process planning applications, in the following ways: If an application was lodged before 21 February 2020, the public participation phase is completed, and so a planning authority can make a decision within the extended deadline; If an application was lodged after that date, but before 29 March 2020, the decision cannot be made until after 20 April 2020 to ensure that the public participation element has been completed; If an application is lodged after 29 March 2020, it cannot be decided by the Planning Authority until the five-week period for public consultation on the application commences, which will now be after 20 April 2020. These are short-term but necessary accommodations to the planning processes to ensure that the planning system can continue to function and to ensure the integrity of decision making in the weeks ahead. The Department is also recommending to planning authorities that public meetings on all Plans, are deferred for the period of the extension. This includes Development Plan, Development Plan Variations and Local Area Plan processes. This is considered necessary because such processes require engagement with members of the public, and in particular public meetings. If any member of the public has any queries on these issues I urge you to contact me or your Local County Councillor in your area to answer same or email Louth County Council Planning Department. 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 Housebuilders accused of taking advantage of coronavirus crisis by moving residents in ahead of schedule This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Mar 31st, 2020 A housebuilding company has been accused of taking advantage of the coronavirus crisis by moving residents into a new development ahead of schedule. Anwyl Homes is one of two companies currently in the process of creating 362 homes at Home Farm in Llay. The scheme was controversially approved on appeal in 2017 in the face of widespread opposition in the village. A planning condition was previously imposed which prevents anyone from living in the properties until the developers have carried out improvements to the local road network. However, Mayor of Wrexham Rob Walsh said people had been seen moving into Anwyls part of the site on Gresford Road over the weekend despite no upgrades taking place. He has now hit out at the firm and accused it of using the pandemic as cover for breaching the condition. The Llay councillor also questioned whether it contradicts advice on house moves issued by the UK government to curb the spread of COVID-19, although the company insists it has followed the guidance. In an e-mail sent to senior figures at Wrexham Council, Cllr Walsh said: It would appear that at least four houses have been occupied on the site, though it might be more as it is difficult to make an exact prediction with the social distancing. However, I can safely say that people are definitely living on site and Anwyl have breached the relevant planning condition. That is why I think very strong enforcement action is needed. Anwyl have taken advantage of a national crisis for their own gain, something that is morally wrong. If we as a council dont deal with this now, they could very well move in more people and that will set a worrying chain of events. As previously stated, the Home Farm development is probably one of the most controversial developments Wrexham has ever had to deal with and despite of the concerns of COVID-19, local residents are furious at how this been allowed to happen. Both Anwyl and Bellway Homes began work on the site last year and some of the new properties have now been completed. The two companies previously applied to change the condition requiring upgrades to a crossroads near the Crown pub and the Straight Mile to allow 60 houses to be occupied before the traffic scheme was delivered. However, planning officers have yet to make a decision on the variation and it has attracted concerns about road safety from the local authoritys highways department. Meanwhile, the Westminster government has advised buyers to delay moving into new homes where possible while coronavirus restrictions are in place, but said they could continue if the property is empty. A spokesperson for Anwyl said the company had decided to move residents in early to prevent any uncertainty about their living circumstances. In a statement, they said: We can confirm that last week, we moved some purchasers into our development at Maes y Rhedyn, Llay. In line with the governments guidance where the property is vacant, we are allowed to continue with the transaction and move residents into their new homes. There has been a very limited number of occupations and the safety and well-being of our residents and staff is paramount. The process followed a stringent procedure in accordance with the guidance issued by government. The spokesperson said the firm had worked tirelessly with officers to discharge the planning condition. However, they added the decision to move people in had been taken as it had not been able to do so. They said: In light of the current health crisis, we had a tough decision to make and we believe this to be the correct one, allowing individuals and their families to move into their new homes. During this unprecedented time, there is a lot of uncertainty and we wanted to ensure our purchasers did not have to worry about the uncertainty of their home. The offsite drainage works are now complete and Gresford Road now fully operational again. As soon as we are physically and legally able to do so, we intend to commence the highway improvement works without any delay. Wrexham Council has also been asked to comment. By Liam Randall BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme) A bar in Melbourne has been fined almost $10,000 after police found it open and serving customers booze in a flagrant breach of coronavirus restrictions. The $9,913 fine is the first handed out by Victoria Police since stage 3 restrictions came in at midnight. Two customers were drinking inside the bar in the trendy suburb of Fitzroy when police walked in on Tuesday morning. Scroll down for video Two customers were drinking inside the bar in the trendy suburb of Fitzroy when police walked in on Tuesday morning 'A licensed bar, restaurant in Fitzroy had six staff there present, there were two people present there who were being served alcohol and it was being treated as open for business totally,' Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Patton said. 'As a result of that, yesterday the company director in charge of that was issued with a fine. 'Unless you're living under a rock, or unless you're an idiot, it's quite clear the restrictions are there, the restrictions are to be abided by,' he said. As of Tuesday, Victorians may only go out of their homes to buy essentials, exercise, or go to work or study if they can't do it from home. And even when staying home, gatherings of more than two people who are not part of the household will be an offence. Premier Daniel Andrews warned Victorians they will be punished if they flout the latest restrictions on outdoor gatherings of more than two people. 'Victoria Police will not hesitate to take action against you,' Mr Andrews said on Monday. Playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor gyms will also close under the restrictions. To ensure Victorians comply with the restrictions in place, on-the-spot fines of $1652 for individuals and $9913 for businesses will apply. Larger fines can also be issued through the courts. The tightening of measures that forced many businesses to shut down is a new bid to flatten the deadly coronavirus curve. The state confirmed 96 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the tally to 917. Four people in the state have died from the virus. The cases continue to grow at around 10 per cent but down from a previous high of 25 per cent, Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said. Paul Dickman, a senior policy fellow at the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, has been named a Waste Management Symposium Fellow for 2020, one of the highest achievement awards given out at the Waste Management Symposium (WMS). Dickman received this honor for his distinguished contributions to the advancement of radioactive waste and radioactive material management. The award recognizes Dickmans extensive work in nuclear waste management and nuclear materials disposition in the U.S. and around the world. For over 35 years, Dickman has been in the forefront of nuclear energy and security programs, promoting U.S. civil nuclear technology and safety and international nonproliferation goals and regimes. Pauls work is helping to enhance U.S. leadership in the nuclear industry, said Temitope Taiwo, interim director of Argonnes Nuclear Science and Engineering division. Im proud of the work he is doing on nuclear policy here at Argonne and am confident he will continue to advance the field of nuclear materials management. Over the course of his career at Argonne, Dickman has focused on nuclear energy, nonproliferation, and national security policy. He has also held senior leadership positions at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Energys National Nuclear Security Administration, is a member of the National Academy of Sciences Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board, and recently participated in the Academys study committee on Science and Technology for the Department of Energys Defense Environmental Cleanup Program. I have spent most of my career in strengthening the nuclear fuel cycle by improving the ways in which we manage, store, reprocesses, and dispose of nuclear waste. It is truly an honor to be recognized by WMS for my work in this area, Dickman said. Dickman recently served as the Study Director for the American Nuclear Societys special report on the nuclear accident at Japans Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor complex, and currently advises the Japanese government on the decommissioning of the Fukushima site. Mr. Dickman was officially honored as a Waste Management Symposium Fellow during the Honors & Awards Luncheon on March 10 at the Waste Management Symposium. Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nations first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance Americas scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Science. The U.S. Department of Energys Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science. An exclusive report by Radio Farda puts the number of those who have been hospitalized with coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms in Iran at over 70,000 people. The report which sums up the figures released by local officials and the Health Ministry in Tehran as well as media reports says 70,108 patients with clinical symptoms of COVID-19 have been hospitalized in Iran's 31 provinces, while as many as 4,762 people have died as of March 31. Iranian officials give away daily death toll and figures about the spread of the infection but during the past two weeks, they did not announce the death toll in the Provinces of Tehran and Qom where the outbreak has claimed more lives. According to the exclusive report by Radio Farda, 1,067 people have died in Tehran as a result of the infection, as well as 600 others in Khorasan Razavi Province, 423 in Mazandaran, 400 in Gilan, and 396 in Isfahan as some of the worst hit areas. The official figures released by the Health Ministry on Tuesday March 31 put the number of COVID-19 patients in Iran at 44,606 and the total number of deaths at 2,898. The Health Ministry report says for the fourth consecutive day, more than 3,000 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19. However, several members of the Iranian Parliament have said the figures released by the Health Ministry are far less than the actual numbers. Presidential adviser Hesamoddin Ashna revealed on his Twitter that President Hassan Rouhani has ordered the Health Ministry to give away the number of infections based on the number of all those hospitalized with COVID-19 clinical symptoms, but the Ministry has still not changed the way it disseminates information about the outbreak. The Ministry's figures are based on the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 after three tests at various intervals. Meanwhile, the Iranian Health Ministry announces the number of people who have been "cured" of the disease every day. The figure now stands at 14,656. However, it is not clear whether this number of people are currently in quarantine centers or they are possibly sent home after they no longer showed the symptoms of the disease. In another development, Dr. Mostafa Moein, the chairman of the Iranian Medical Council called on President Hassan Rouhani in a letter on Monday to declare the precise number of infections and deaths in various cities and provinces "in a transparent and honest way." A World Health Organization expert had said earlier that the real figures about COVID-19 patients in Iran could be up to five times higher than what the Iranian government announces. Based on conflicting instructions by the government, Iranians should continue to observe social distancing rules until April 3. Other reports say social distancing ends by April 19. Rouhani himself has mentioned at least two different dates for the people to return to work. This comes while many people and officials in Iran have said most people have so far ignored the social distancing order. Recently Rouhani administration's Spokesman Ali Rabiei, and Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said that less than half of the population have been abiding by social distancing. Alireza Zali, the official in charge of the COVID-19 Control Task Force in Tehran says based on a poll conducted by the task force, 51 percent of the people in Tehran believe they will not contract the virus and 40 percent of the people do not believe staying home will curb the outbreak. Another poll conducted in Tehran says only a small number of the city's population approve of the Rouhani administration's performance since the start of the outbreak in January, media reports say. Meanwhile, in one of the latest developments, the COVID-19 Control Task Force announced on Monday that Iranian newspapers are not allowed to publish hard copies until the end of social distancing restrictions, although they may continue publishing their online versions. The government's argument is that the process of printing and distribution involves a lot of contacts between people. However, critics say the government's plan is to silence possible criticism by newspapers. Iranian journalist Abbas Abdi says the closure of newspapers will adversely affect journalists livelihood and will lead to proliferation of fake news as people do not trust the news disseminated by the state-controlled television. The Culture Ministry explained on Tuesday that the ban on the publication of hard copy newspapers should continue at least until April 8. RACINE Before finishing his degree in May and then ramping up his theater career in Chicago, a University of Wisconsin Oshkosh senior will be honored by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Bryan Carter, a senior political science major from Racine, has been selected as one of four outstanding performers by the National Committee of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). Carter earned the honor for his portrayal of Nat Turner in Nat Turner in Jerusalem. The play was staged at the Fredric March Theatre on the Oshkosh campus in October and was directed by UW-Oshkosh theater professor Merlaine Angwall. It was then selected to be performed at the Mitchell Theatre on the UW-Madison campus in January as part of the KCACTF. If not for the mass shutdown in response to the coronavirus, Carter would have attended the KCACTF national award ceremony in the Kennedy Centers Terrace Theater on April 10. It was part of a planned five-day National Festival, where he also would have taken part in master classes and other events. Before wrapping up his final weeks at UWO from afar, Carter had been commuting back and forth from Chicago. He recently worked for the Raven Theatre and was in the cast for the now-canceled Middle Passage at the Lifeline Theatre. He also works two part-time jobs in Chicago and said hes thankful UW-Oshkosh was able to accommodate his demanding schedule. Its challenging, naturally, he said not long after learning about the Kennedy Center honor. Some days are harder than others but then days like this make those days worth it. I think thats what countstaking advantage of those days that make all the other crazy days make sense. Formidable competition For the Nat Turner in Jerusalem production, getting a showcase at the KCACTF in Madison was an honor itself. Nat Turner was one of 1,500 productions submitted for consideration and was the lone representative from Wisconsin in Region III, which includes colleges and universities in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. Regional festivals like the one in Madison were held in eight locations nationwide. The National Festival in Washington then typically follows. Because it was selected for the regional festival, Nat Turner is also up for consideration for a national award. The results of that contest will be announced next month. Just Carter and three others nationally earned the invitations to D.C. for the ceremony. This is a big honor hes been given and it was well-deserved, Angwall said. He worked very hard and he did a great job with the role. The festival performances in Madison earlier this year marked the second time Carter played the marquee role in Nat Turner, after having done so during its initial run in Oshkosh. Hes scheduled to reprise the role again later this year in Chicago, he said, but the details of the engagement have yet to be announced. About the play Nat Turner in Jerusalem was written by the contemporary playwright and Princeton University lecturer Nathan Alan Davis. Its centered around the captured leader of a 1831 slave rebellion in Virginia who is awaiting his execution. Even with the current slate of stage performances and the spotlight from the Kennedy Center called off, Carter is still full of optimism. I am in amazing spirits and look forward to what the future holds, he said. What a time to be alive. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 French evangelical church conference blamed for surge in coronavirus infections Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A five-day French megachurch conference is being blamed for sparking the countrys largest cluster of coronavirus cases as over 17 members have reportedly died due to complications linked to COVID-19. Reuters reports that local government officials are saying that the annual prayer meeting at the Christian Open Door Church in the border city of Mulhouse on the German border in mid-February has been linked to as many as 2,500 coronavirus cases worldwide. The cluster of coronavirus cases linked to the evangelical charismatic church conference attended by people from around the world played a key factor in Germanys decision to partially close its border with France, people familiar with the decision told the news agency. Attendees of the conference traveling from different parts of the globe have taken the virus back to home countries like Burkina Faso in West Africa, Corsica in the Mediterranean, and Guyana in Latin America, according to Reuters. Although the world has a better idea today of the quickness in which the virus spreads, there were only 12 confirmed cases of the virus in France at the time that the conference occurred, with none in Mulhouse. Also at that time, France had not yet placed restrictions on large gatherings. Additionally, a church spokesperson said that no attendee reported flu-like symptoms by the time the gathering ended on Feb. 21. At the time, we viewed COVID as something that was far off, Jonathan Peterschmitt, son of the churchs lead pastor, Samuel, told Reuters. A church spokesperson told the outlet that Samuel Peterschmitt has also fallen ill to the coronavirus. At times, there were as many as 2,500 people in attendance at the conference, Peterschmitt said. But according to him, there were never times during the conference with fewer than 1,000 people in attendance. So we were in the same petri dish for a week, Peterschmitt was quoted as saying. The first case of the virus being linked to the church gathering was identified on Feb. 29 and health officials traced the people that carriers were in contact with. Public health officials told Reuters that the church cooperated fully and supplied a list of conference attendees. Officials said they first contacted people who worked in the nursery during the conference. Michel Vernay, an epidemiologist with Frances national public health agency in eastern France, told the news agency that health officials discovered that people who were staffing the nursery were already sick. We were overwhelmed, Vernay was quoted as saying. We realized that we had a time bomb in front of us. In France, there are over 45,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Tuesday afternoon. According to Vernay, about a quarter of Frances coronavirus cases as of March 20 were in the region of the country where Mulhouse lies. He stressed that a very great majority of the cases in the Grand Est region can be traced to the church gathering. On the French island of Corsica, a 70-year-old female attendee of the church conference who contracted COVID-19 says people are pointing the finger at her for bringing the virus to the island as over 200 people have been infected. People have pointed their finger at me, the female attendee identified only as Antoinette, told Reuters. They need a scapegoat. Meanwhile, Peterschmitt claims that others in the congregation have been verbally attacked by strangers and are now fearful. Christian Open Door church is not the first church to be linked to the spread of the coronavirus. In South Korea, members of a secretive religious cult known as the Shincheonji Church of Jesus have faced criticism and harassment from the government and society after a surge of infections broke out among churchgoers. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a congressionally mandated body of independent commissioners, warned in March that South Korea provides a vivid example of how public health emergencies can increase the risk to marginalized religious groups. Although some government measures appeared to be driven by legitimate public health concerns, others appeared to exaggerate the churchs role in the outbreak, USCIRF stressed in a report. The government of Seoul locked down Shincheonji churches in the capital, and some mainline Protestant groups have accused the church of deliberately spreading the disease. While some argue that government orders banning large church gatherings could inhibit religious freedom rights, USCIRF Chairman Tony Perkins suggested in a tweet that holding church services during the ongoing pandemic is not what he considers to be an act of religious freedom. At this point, holding public church gatherings in the midst of a public health crisis is not a defense of religious freedom it is a defiance of common sense and the care of your congregation, Perkins tweeted. Spread the Good News, not the virus! In the U.S., some pastors and churches are continuing to hold church services while many have moved services online. Florida pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, who leads the Revival International Ministries and The River at Tampa Bay Church, was arrested on Monday after holding service Sunday in violation of public stay-at-home orders. He was charged with unlawful assembly and a violation of health emergency rules. Louisiana pastor Tony Spell held live services attended by hundreds this past Sunday at Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge in defiance of bans on large gatherings. On March 30, 2020, James Corden hosted a primetime special episode of The Late Late Show Starring James Corden called Homefest. The episode encouraged viewers to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and featured performances from artists around the world. For the special, BTS performed their 2019 single, Boy With Luv. BTS | Michael Stewart/WireImage James Corden encouraged viewers to help prevent the spread of coronavirus Corden hosted the episode of The Late Late Show from his garage, and the special encouraged viewers to follow guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Corden also asked viewers to donate to two different charities, Feed the Children and The CDC Foundation, if they are able. Will Ferrell performed a skit in his home about the importance of washing ones hands and David Blaine performed magic with Corden via a livestream. The special also connected musicians from around the world with viewers as a way to unify everyone. Billie Eilish, FINNEAS, and John Legend performed in Los Angeles, Dua Lipa performed from London, Andrea Bocelli performed in Italy, and BTS performed from South Korea. Ben Platt and the cast of Dear Evan Hansen ended the special with a performance of You Will Be Found. BTS shared a message for their fans Before their performance, BTS offered words of encouragement to their fans around the world and the viewers of Homefest. .@bts_twt shares a message to the world #HomeFest pic.twitter.com/wx4JgGkn6E TONIGHT! HomeFest: A Late Late Show Special @ 10pm (@latelateshow) March 31, 2020 ARMYs!! Are you doing well? I miss you so much and wanna meet you guys soon, V told fans according to an online translation. RM then acknowledged that although many around the world feel physically isolated, everyone is still connected and unified through this experience. Were so grateful we can connect with you from here. It may seem like were isolated but were still connected through our shared experiences, courage, and laughter, RM said. BTS performed Boy With Luv on Homefest The members of BTS then performed Boy With Luv from their studio. The band first released the song in April 2019 as the lead single from their EP Map of the Soul: Persona. Its also featured on their new album Map of the Soul: 7. Dance practice videos are beloved by ARMY because the videos show the hard work that goes into the groups choreography. Fans are able to notice more detail without the production that typically accompanies live performances. For the Boy With Luv performance on Homefest, BTS channeled their dance practice videos that fans know and love. .@bts_twt coming through with the vocals and the quarantine choreo!!! #HomeFest pic.twitter.com/V5Px7MJjzB TONIGHT! HomeFest: A Late Late Show Special @ 10pm (@latelateshow) March 31, 2020 In doing so, BTS managed to capture a low-key and relaxing energy. While one might expect the group to perform one of the singles from Map of the Soul: 7, Boy With Luv proved to be the right choice. Its upbeat, catchy, and filled with positivity. The song is an instant mood lifter, and takes fans familiar with BTS back to a happier time. Decked out in comfortable clothing, BTSs calm and soothing energy transcended to viewers. It served as a reminder that although things are difficult right now, things will get better. BTSs performance on Homefest helped lift moods around the world During the Homefest special, BTS fans trended #BTSONHomefest on Twitter. The performance proved to uplift fans moods around the world, showing the comforting effect the members of BTS had with their words and performance. it really is so good to see them, their words will always be so comforting to hear. just remember we will all get through this together @BTS_twt #BTSONHomeFest, a fan tweeted. I really miss them performing boy with luv. Thank you @JKCorden for this opportunity, we really missed them performing :( #BTSONHomeFest @BTS_twt, wrote a Twitter user. BWL. BTS PERFORMING BOY WITH LUV THE SONG THAT JUST IMMEDIATELY UPLIFTS THE MOOD OF EVERYONE. HAPPINESS IN AN INSTANCE IN THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC #BTSONHomeFest#homefest, one fan tweeted. An NHS hospital has released footage of a man who allegedly ripped a sanitiser dispenser from the wall to steal the alcohol gel inside. Northampton General Hospital released footage of the incident which took place outside the Quniton ward. Staff at the unit use the sanitiser gel to reduce the risk of transmitting bugs such as the Covid-19 coronavirus. Police have released CCTV footage of his man who is wanted in connection with the theft of a hand sanitiser dispenser from Northamptonshire General Hospital on March 9 The man walked up and down the corridor a couple of times to check the coast was clear He approached the dispenser containing the santising hand gel and pulled it from the wall Police said the wall was damaged after the man ripped the dispenser from the wall of Northampton General Hospital, pictured The man is filmed walking up and down past the dispenser to look out for any sign of security or a member of staff. The man then approached the sanitisier and grappled with the dispenser to force it from the wall before walking off. The suspect was unaware that he was captured CCTV. The incident happened on March 9 at 7.45pm just four days after the UK's first coronavirus-linked death was confirmed. Police said the wall was damaged during the attack. Northamptonshire Police have asked members of the public to have a look at the CCTV footage to see if they recognise the man. Anyone with information is asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101 citing the incident number 20000138273. A second woman has broken her silence about being groomed and controlled by the disgraced French paedophile writer Gabriel Matzneff. Journalist Francesca Gee said she was in a relationship for three years with Matzneff in the 1970s, with the then 37-year-old essayist waiting outside her school every day for her when she was 15. Gee and the often explicit letters the diarist encouraged her to write featured in a number of Matzneff's books against her will, she told the New York Times, including his notorious defence of paedophilia, "Les Moins de Seize Ans", ("The Under 16s"). He even boasted in his diaries, which were regularly published, of having her moved to a prestigious Paris high school so she could be close to him. In a statement seen by AFP, Gee said that she had been a victim of "his predatory behaviour" and had tried unsuccessfully for decades to stop one of his publishers, Gallimard, using a picture of her on the cover of his book, "Drunk on Lost Wine". Gallimard has since pulled all Matzneff's books from sale. The 83-year-old has never made any secret of his sexual preference for adolescent girls and boys. It did not stop him winning the Renaudot prize in 2013 and being honoured by the French state. He occupied a privilege niche in the French literary world until January when attitudes toward the writer changed radically after publisher Vanessa Springora revealed her own tortured under-age relationship with him in her bestseller, "Consent". Matzneff -- who fled to Italy after the scandal broke -- is to stand trail next year on a charge of justifying paedophilia, and prosecutors launched a rape investigation into him the day after Springora's book was published. Gee, now 63, told the New York Times in an article published Tuesday that she had exposed Matzneff in a book she had written in 2004 but which no French publisher would print. "He never stopped using me to justify his sexual exploitation of children and teenagers," she wrote. A number of editors who had read the manuscript at the time praised its quality but told the newspaper that "clearly it was 15 years too early. The world wasn't ready yet." An editor at Grasset, which published Springora's "Consent" but turned down Gee's earlier book, said the subject was "sensitive" and Matzneff had influential friends at the publishing house. Gee, a former journalist, told the New York Times that Matzneff took her to see gynaecologist Michele Barzach half a dozen times in the 1970s to get contraceptive pills while she was a minor. Barzach went on to become a French health minister and head of the country's arm of UN's child protection agency, UNICEF. She also later helped draft a law tightening French child abuse laws in 1985. The Matzneff controversy has shone a light on what many see as an overly permissive attitude towards sexual harassment and abuse in France. The writer claimed that his initiation of young women into sex, art and literature had left them happier and freer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Up to 62 percent of respondents in Vietnam say that their government is doing right amount in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the biggest public survey on COVID-19 conducted by the Berlin-based Dalia Research. Source: daliaresearch.com The rate is the highest among the 45 countries and territories worldwide involved in the research that focus on peoples perception of their governments reaction to the epidemic. Vietnam is followed by Argentina (61 percent), Austria (58 percent), Singapore (57 percent) and South Africa (56 percent) in this category. Almost half of the world (43 percent) say their governments are doing too little in response to the outbreak. However, citizens in eight out of the 45 countries surveyed believe on average that their governments are overreacting and doing too much in response. As the US overtakes China in the number of the confirmed cases, 19 percent of the US population believe the government is doing too much in response. France and Spain are above the global average for considering their governments' response to be too little (64 percent and 66 percent respectively)./. By Kang Seok-ryul Facing the spread of the new coronavirus in South Korea, the ROK-U.S. militaries decided to postpone their springtime joint military exercise. This decision came out of concerns about the safety of South Korean and U.S. troops. Park Han-ki, chairman of the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff, proposed putting off the annual exercise. Robert Abrams, commander of the United States Forces Korea (USFK), accepted the proposal given the seriousness of the virus outbreak. The decision should be interpreted as a preventive way to maintain the combat capability of the ROK-U.S. combined forces. It can be also characterized as the allies' decision to flexibly carry out their joint military exercises. In line with this policy posture, South Korean and U.S. militaries have suspended or scaled down a series of scheduled annual military drills. This alliance trajectory began with the ROK-U.S. agreement to carry out the springtime exercises, code-named Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, after the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. Then ahead of an inter-Korean summit in April, Seoul and Washington scaled down the two exercises. This was followed by the decision of both sides to cancel the summertime Ulchi-Freedom Guardian 2018 exercise, and to call off the Vigilant Ace aerial drill. The South Korean and U.S. militaries also decided to rename their scheduled 2019 annual exercises as "Dong Maeng," which means alliance in Korean. Thus Key Resolve was renamed "19-1 Dong Maeng." Ulchi-Freedom Guardian was supposed to be renamed "19-2 Dong Maeng." But both sides came to the decision to drop the name Dong Maeng. Since then, the springtime and summertime annual exercises have been renamed "Combined Command Post Training." The alliance trajectory should be interpreted as ROK-U.S. efforts to ease tension on the Korean Peninsula, and to militarily support diplomatic negotiations for North Korea's denuclearization. This suggests the willingness of the alliance to denuclearize North Korea in a peaceful way. However, the alliance trajectory has also sparked criticism in South Korea and the United States. Below are three main points of criticism. First, a group of watchers have criticized the ROK-U.S. militaries for not conducting large-scale combined military exercises. This criticism characterizes a large-scale exercise as the only way to keep the deterrence capability of the alliance. With respect to the conditions-based wartime operational control (OPCON) transition, this criticism suggests that large-scale combined exercises be introduced to certify the capabilities of the South Korean military to lead the ROK-US combined defense. Secondly, there has been concern about the cost-based approach of the Trump administration toward the combined military exercises. U.S. President Donald J. Trump himself has championed this approach. For example, he pledged to cancel Ulchi-Freedom Guardian 2018, focusing on the potential cost savings of ending major exercises of the ROK-U.S. combined forces. He also tweeted that "The reason I do not want military drills with South Korea is to save hundreds of millions of dollars for the U.S. for which we are not reimbursed." This obsession with the cost of the combined exercises may lead to the suspicion that the Trump administration will weaken the U.S. commitment to maintaining the ROK-U.S. combined defense. Thirdly, one may argue that the security situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula has substantially changed. Denuclearization negotiations have stalled. This may pose challenge to the allied decision to militarily support the negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea. North Korea has also resumed military provocations. This may challenge ROK-U.S. efforts to ease tension on the peninsula through a flexible conduct of combined exercises. Facing these critical perspectives, what should be the direction of the ROK-US combined military exercises. Below are three suggestions. First, South Korea and United States should confirm the importance of their current combined military exercises as a cornerstone to sustain the deterrence capability of the alliance. Based upon this confirmation, the allies should think of how to best maintain combat capability and military readiness of the ROK-U.S. combined forces. By doing so, the bilateral alliance will sustain the deterrence capability even without conducting a large-scale combined exercise. This confirmation also helps to overcome the cost-based approach, preventing the U.S. from weakening its commitment to the ROK-U.S. combined defense. Secondly, the ROK-U.S. militaries should think of how to finalize the OPCON transition. Given the absence of large-scale combined military exercises, the ROK-U.S. militaries, through alternative combined exercises, have been working on establishing the capabilities of the South Korean military to lead the combined defense. Both sides should continue finalizing the conditions-based OPCON transition through such flexible combined exercises. Lastly, both sides should consider how to reconcile the conduct of combined military exercises with the allied efforts to ease tension on the peninsula. The combined exercises are defensive in nature but North Korea has harshly criticized them as provocative and preparation for an invasion. Given this situation, South Korea and the United States should think of how their combined exercises will help establish a peaceful status quo on the peninsula. Kang Seok-ryul is an associate research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA). BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 By Eldar Janashvili - Trend: The Azerbaijani government is fighting against the consequences of global upheavals and a pandemic in a situation when the world economy is setting new abysmal records, Vusal Gasimli, Executive Director of Azerbaijans Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) said, Trend reports. Gasimli added that the growth of the world economy has significantly slowed; demand and supply are decreasing; unemployment is growing; a pandemic is threatening humanity, stock and commodity markets; in particular, oil prices, have collapsed and continue to fall. According to Wood McKenzies estimates, the economic downturn will be 4.7 percent in the world, 9.7 percent in the Eurozone, 2.7 percent in China and 8.4 percent in the US. The expert noted that at best, the global economy will return to previous levels in the third quarter of 2022. At the beginning of 2020, no one could have predicted the development of a pandemic, but now, in a short time, the world entered the worst crisis of the 21st century. Azerbaijan was faced with a global shock at the time when the trend of accelerating the growth rate of its economy, which began in 2017, was heading to a high point, CAERC Executive Director noted. "President Ilham Aliyev said that we are strong together and urged to mobilize all sectors of the society and all resources to fight the crisis," he stressed. Azerbaijans anti-crisis program is 2.5 billion manat, which is 3.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). For comparison, the Georgian government received a package of assistance in the amount of 1 billion Georgian lari, or 2 percent of the country's GDP. Russia received a package of assistance in the amount of about 300 billion rubles, which is 0.3 percent of its GDP. It is seen that the anti-crisis support program of Azerbaijan is quite large compared to other countries," Gasimli concluded. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-30 23:29:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson Monday expressed condolences over the passing of Hau Pei-tsun and Wang Wen-hsieh and sympathy to their families. "Hau and Wang both firmly opposed 'Taiwan independence' and strived for national reunification," said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. They made great contributions to promoting the development of cross-Strait relations, winning praise and respect from people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, said Zhu. Hau, former head of Taiwan's executive authority and former vice chairperson of the Kuomintang, died of multiple organ failure Monday in Taipei at the age of 101. Wang, a former senior military officer on the island, died in a single-car accident Sunday. Zhu expressed the hope that compatriots on both sides can join hands to maintain peace and stability across the Strait and contribute to national reunification. Government propaganda posters urge women to keep putting on makeup during the lockdown Malaysias government has drawn criticism for telling women to dress up at home and avoid nagging their husbands during the coronavirus lockdown. Controversial posters circulated by the countrys womens affairs ministry on Tuesday issued advice on how to avoid domestic conflicts during the partial lockdown, which began on 18 March. One of the illustrations said women should refrain from being sarcastic if they need help with household chores. Another told women to avoid nagging their husbands and attempt to inject humor by using a voice similar to the anime character Doraemon a blue robot cat popular across Asia. Firefighters spray disinfectant on a street during the lockdown in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Reuters) The ministry also urged women to dress up and wear their make-up while working from home. The posters immediately sparked a fierce backlash on Tuesday, with critics accusing the government of sexism and promoting gender stereotypes. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice (It) is extremely condescending both to women and men, said Nisha Sabanayagam, a manager at All Womens Action Society, a Malaysian advocacy group. These posters promote the concept of gender inequality and perpetuate the concept of patriarchy, she added. The posters, uploaded on Facebook and Instagram, drew widespread ridicule online with social media users urging the government to remove them. The Malaysian government has not yet commented on the controversial advice, although many of the original social media posts have now been taken down. Womens groups across the world have warned lockdowns could see a rise in domestic violence, with women trapped with their abusers. Some governments have stepped up in response, including in France which offers hotel rooms to victims. Malaysia is ranked 104 out of 153 countries in the latest World Economic Forums Global Gender Gap index, after scoring poorly on political empowerment and economic participation. Story continues Coronavirus: what happened today A 25-year-old man was arrested from southeast Delhi's Badarpur area for allegedly posing as an officer of the Border Security Force (BSF), police said on Tuesday. The accused has been identified as Gaurav Mishra, a resident of Faridabad, they said. Mishra wanted to join the force, but could not clear the entrance exam and had lied to his father that he had passed, police said. At 9 pm on Friday, police found a man wearing a uniform of a BSF officer at Molarband Extension in Badarpur, a senior police officer said. He introduced himself as Assistant Commandant of BSF and said that he was sent on special duty from the President House, police said. "On suspicion, he was brought to the Badarpur police station. The accused could not produce his identity card. He could not even tell the name of his unit," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) RP Meena said. During interrogation, Mishra said that he worked in a call centre. He wanted to join the force, but could not clear the entrance exam and had lied that he had cracked the exam, Meena said. He had bought a uniform from Tigri Camp Khanpur and started posing a BSF official, the DCP added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In response to Gov. Ralph Northams statewide stay-at-home directive issued Monday, Virginia Tech President Tim Sands has announced that by Friday, April 3, university operations will transition from the reduced operations level to the essential operations designation, as described in Presidential Policy Memorandum No. 309. Essential functions and personnel designations will be identified in accordance with the scaling criteria detailed in the memo. This transition will further scale back on-campus operations in response to the COVID-19 emergency. For most students and employees, the transition to essential operations will require only minor adjustments from the current status of operations. Others will see more significant changes. Sands declared this operational status to be university-wide, affecting all Virginia Tech locations across the commonwealth. Under this directive, outlined under Presidential Policy Memorandum No. 309, the university will prioritize its resources toward functions and services that are essential to life safety (public safety, health services, and housing and dining for students remaining in university housing), online instruction and academic support services, animal care, essential research, and maintenance of buildings and critical infrastructure. This action was taken to minimize the number of employees required to work on site at any university location, Sands said. Non-essential functions and services will be suspended. Reducing the number of people living and working on site will better enable the university to monitor and protect the employees and students who must remain on site. As Governor Northam indicated when he made his stay-at-home order, we all must step up and make the necessary sacrifices to slow this pandemic and flatten the curve, he said. I recognize that our decision to further scale back operations will impact students, faculty, staff, and their families, but it is the only reasonable alternative given the opportunity we have to save lives and reduce the burden on our health care system. Beginning Friday, essential functions will continue on site as needed and off site where they can be supported through off-site work. On-site locations include university-owned buildings, university-owned land, or university-leased space in any location. Off-site work refers to functions performed remotely, typically from home, using internet, telephone, email, and other remote work technologies. Essential functions and services are those that must continue in order to ensure the health and safety of the campus community, the operation of essential facilities and infrastructure, and the support of critical technological capabilities and programs, or are those activities that support the future reopening of the university after an emergency. Administrative, operational, and student support services that support essential functions are also deemed essential services. Under the essential operations mandate, face-to-face interactions for continuing essential services and functions must be minimized. Where possible, those services will be continued through online, phone, email, and other methods that comply with social distancing expectations. Virginia Tech has been functioning at a reduced operations level since March 11, when Sands announced the decision to extend spring break and move all classes online. Because of the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, Virginia Tech moved classroom instruction online and ultimately canceled all university events, including commencement. In order for Virginia Tech to carry out essential functions and services, certain employees must continue their work. These essential personnel will be identified as such to distinguish them from employees who will continue to work off site in non-essential functions. Non-designated employees may continue to work remotely or may be placed on standby. Employees given an on-call designation are subject to recall and should be available to work on short notice unless using an approved form of leave, such as annual, sick, family sick, or Public Health Emergency Leave. At the essential operations level, on-site housing and dining services will be prioritized for students who meet the following criteria: Students, including international students, whose health, safety, or access to food and shelter would be at risk unless they are housed on campus. Students who would lose access to health care and mental health care if not housed on campus. Students who can only access online learning through university infrastructure. Students employed in an essential function or the support of an essential function. As more details become available, we will update the community through the daily email, online, and through our social media channels. The latest updates and answers to the most frequently asked questions on the impact of COVID-19 on our community can be found on our website. 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. All Egyptians returning to the country from abroad must sign a written acknowledgement that they will be quarantined by the authorities, the emigration ministry has said, as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus. Passengers stranded abroad must sign the agreement in order to be allowed to board their flights home, according to a new decision by the health ministry, the emigration ministry said in a statement. "All those returning to the country will have to be quarantined in hotels at their own expense, and they will receive all medical services free of charge, just as was the case with those returned from the Chinese city of Wuhan at the beginning of the crisis," cabinet spokesman Nader Saad told a TV programme on Sada El-Balad channel on Tuesday night, commenting on the new measure. He stated that the tourism ministry in cooperation with the health ministry has managed to provide rooms at the hotels, adding that the hotel accommodation prices have not been announced yet, but that the hotels management have promised to offer facilities and discounts. The decision is due to come into effect on Tuesday, with nationals returning on flights from Paris and London required to comply, the ministry quoted a civil aviation ministry source as saying. Egypt has grounded international flights until mid-April as part of strict measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, but the country has since operated several exceptional flights to bring home nationals stranded overseas. The mandatory" signing will be applied on all exceptional flights operated by national carrier EgyptAir to bring back home Egyptians stranded abroad, to protect them and their families," the aviation ministry source said. On Sunday, dozens of Egyptian returning from Kuwait protested at the airport against the new policy, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported. Last week, the health ministry said it would extend the 14-day self-quarantine mandated for those entering the country from abroad to 28 days to allow early detection of any suspected case and monitor the progress of the epidemiological situation. Egypt has registered 710 coronavirus cases as of Tuesday evening, including 46 fatalities. Search Keywords: Short link: Igor Petyx/KONTROLAB/LightRocket via Getty ROMEPolice have been dispatched to the streets of Palermo, Sicily, to try to calm an increasingly anxious population under lockdown. Several stores in the area have reported widespread shoplifting, looting, and nightly break-ins. Guards now stand outside grocery stores after people started refusing to pay for groceries, taking what they needed in front of helpless store clerks too afraid of the spread of coronavirus to try to stop them. Italy Prison in Flames in Coronavirus Lockdown Riot Among Cut-Off Inmates Closed Facebook groups with thousands of members are calling for civil disobedience and riots in the streets. And to make matters worse, the Tirrenia CIN ferry company, responsible for getting crucial supplies from the mainland, has gone bankrupt. Authorities warn that the Mafialikely behind the unrestwill soon step in as an ostensible savior bringing the southern region back to order, offering loans and black market jobs to fill the vacuum created by a lack of state attention to anyone outside the coronavirus red zone in the north. In exchange La Cosa Nostra will have recruited a whole new army of civilians ready to help it exploit whatever rises from the pandemic ashes. All this, and we arent even halfway through the fourth week of the lockdown, now extended until at least Easter with most authorities cautioning it will be more like June or later before life is anywhere close to what it once was. As the novel coronavirus guts the northern regions of Italy, those in the south, where the cases are far fewer for now, have a different ailment: frustration and anger. People are missing their first paychecks just as rent and mortgage payments are due. Factories are closed, businesses are failing daily, and some 3.7 million people who work in the undocumented black economy are left out, unqualified for what little official help is on offer. We need to act fast, more than fast, Palermo Mayor Leoluca Orlando told reporters this week. Distress could turn into violence. Story continues Orlando worries that the Sicilian Mafia or Cosa Nostra is behind a series of those closed Facebook groups that call for unrest if the lockdown isnt lifted in areas where the coronavirus risk appears to be less of a threat. Every single province in Italy has hundreds of cases and several deaths, in fact, but a lack of aggressive testing has led to a false sense of security, implying that COVID-19 isnt much of a problem south of Rome. In Italys southern regions, known as the mezzogiorno, infrastructure is weak, long pillaged by rampant organized crime. If a new cluster develops anywhere in the South, the potential human costs are almost unimaginable. If hospitals couldnt handle COVID-19 in the industrious, wealthy north, there is little hope for the rest of the country. The idea that the Mafia is fanning the flames of unrest so it can swoop in to appear to bring order has historical foundations. The Mafia in Sicily began exactly that way in the 19th century, offering an alternative to the state that appeared weak and unable to help the people. It took decades and massive loss of life to beat it back, but the pandemic will almost surely give it new life, says Giuseppe Antoci, president of the Caponnetto Foundation for victims of Mafia attacks. In this difficult moment in which many families and entrepreneurs are in great difficulty, in a moment in which small and medium-sized enterprises are suffering from a devastating economic impact, here, right now, the Mafia is ready to intervene, Antoci told The Daily Beast in a statement. They are ready to insert their liquidity, ready to offer it through usury to those who will then be strangled and enslaved by it, or, simply, offer it to those who will then be hired in the various organizations. Palermo Mayor Orlando says the city is not equipped to impose order if citizens take to the streets to protest the lockdown. The situation is very heavy. Because behind the threats of unrest echoed via social networks is a den of Mafia jackals ready to exploit the desperation of the new poor from coronavirus, Orlando said. We cannot underestimate the risk of an alliance cemented by despair. In the North the risk is speculative, but here, where there is greater poverty, the danger is that desperate subjects may fall into the hands of criminals, Mafia members. Unrest in Sicily and the southern regions will very likely be as contagious as the coronavirus, and will spread north. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced a stimulus package that includes 400 million for mayors to convert to vouchers for groceries for those whose jobs have been lost during the lockdown. Southern mayors say that money offered is part of a pre-existing solidarity package that has nothing to do with the coronavirus and that communities are on the verge of financial collapse. In Coronavirus Lockdown, the Living Are Trapped With the Dead In Palermo, to make sure the money isnt extorted or otherwise stolen, authorities are not giving the cash to those whose financial situations have been compromised by the lockdown. Were giving shopping packages with pasta, bread, milk and sugar, Orlando says. They go to the old poor and the new poor who are the bed and breakfast owners, the travel agency collaborators, the gym instructors, and all the people with atypical jobs who cannot access employee social safety nets. And he says that soon those people will be in every single province in the entire country. This isn't about the South, it's about the whole country, Orlando says. Because the social unrest that is erupting in the South will also explode in the North. 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. The Indian Army on Tuesday cautioned its personnel against giving their identity on social media and advised them to follow existing guidelines. "It has been noticed that serving Indian Army personnel are creating/sharing videos on social media giving their identity, also in uniform. All personnel are advised to follow existing guidelines and refrain from such activities," read the Indian Army advisory. Last September too, the Army had requested its officials to follow the guidelines strictly while using social media accounts after the government and security agencies took action against the fake accounts running in the names of serving and retired personnel. "There have been increased attacks on accounts of serving and retired Army persons. I would request Army officials to follow guidelines and not put details or pictures which can help the adversary," the official spokesperson of the Army had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Regulatory News: NOXXON Pharma N.V. (Paris:ALNOX) (Euronext Growth Paris: ALNOX), a biotechnology company focused on improving cancer treatments by targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME), provided today a corporate update on its measures in response to the potential impact of COVID-19 on business operations and its ongoing brain cancer clinical trial. As requested by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in its guidance from March 20, 20201, NOXXON has critically assessed the risks and benefits of therapy continuation and inclusion of new trial participants in its clinical trial of NOX-A12 combined with radiotherapy in first-line brain cancer patients. Following a thorough evaluation and discussion with the coordinating investigator, as well as other partners involved in the trial, it has been decided to continue both the treatment of enrolled patients and recruitment of additional patients. The safety of patients, hospital staff and employees, as well as the severity of the disease under study and the limited options currently available for treatment were important factors in this decision. All centers will continue treatment of already enrolled patients and two of the three centers are recruiting new patients as planned. As there have been delays due to COVID-19 as well as other factors, NOXXON is now planning to add centers to the trial to increase recruitment capacity Operationally all NOXXON staff have the capacity to work remotely and are able to carry out their functions. Physical presence and face-to-face meetings have been replaced by telephone or video-conference interactions when feasible, while retaining the capacity of the company and its partners to support clinical trial sites. The need to continue working remotely will be regularly assessed and is subject to applicable governmental regulations. Financial reporting is on schedule and publication of the Annual Report 2019 is planned before the end of April 2020. Financing discussions continue to advance with interested investors despite the market situation and restrictions on travel. The company has noted a shift in the types of investors considering financing small-cap European biotech companies as a result of recent global events. As such, while management remains confident in its ability to continue financing the company, it believes that significant capital increases via private placement are less likely to be achieved than alternative financing solutions in the near-term. About NOXXON NOXXON's oncology-focused pipeline acts on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the cancer immunity cycle by breaking the tumor protection barrier and blocking tumor repair. By neutralizing chemokines in the tumor microenvironment, NOXXON's approach works in combination with other forms of treatment to weaken tumor defenses against the immune system and enable greater therapeutic impact. Building on extensive clinical experience and safety data, the lead program NOX-A12 has delivered top-line data from a Keytruda combination trial in metastatic colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients and further studies are being planned in these indications. In September 2019 the company initiated an additional trial with NOX-A12 in brain cancer in combination with radiotherapy. The combination of NOX-A12 and radiotherapy has been granted orphan drug status in the US and EU for the treatment of certain brain cancers. The company's second clinical-stage asset NOX-E36 is a Phase 2 TME asset targeting the innate immune system. NOXXON plans to test NOX-E36 in patients with solid tumors both as a monotherapy and in combination. Further information can be found at: www.noxxon.com Keytruda is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp Dohme Corp https://www.linkedin.com/company/noxxon-pharma-ag https://twitter.com/noxxon_pharma Disclaimer Certain statements in this communication contain formulations or terms referring to the future or future developments, as well as negations of such formulations or terms, or similar terminology. These are described as forward-looking statements. In addition, all information in this communication regarding planned or future results of business segments, financial indicators, developments of the financial situation or other financial or statistical data contains such forward-looking statements. The company cautions prospective investors not to rely on such forward-looking statements as certain prognoses of actual future events and developments. The company is neither responsible nor liable for updating such information, which only represents the state of affairs on the day of publication. 1 European Medicines Agency Guidance on the Management of Clinical Trials during the COVID 19 (Coronavirus) pandemic Version 1 (20/03/2020) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005619/en/ Contacts: NOXXON Pharma N.V. Aram Mangasarian, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer Tel. +49 (0) 30 726247 0 amangasarian@noxxon.com Trophic Communications Gretchen Schweitzer or Joanne Tudorica Tel. +49 (0) 89 2388 7730 or +49 (0) 176 2103 7191 schweitzer@trophic.eu NewCap Arthur Rouille Tel. +33 (0) 1 44 71 00 15 arouille@newcap.fr By Kim Bo-eun A number of brokerages have changed their leadership as they brace for a tough year ahead, amid their involvement in a troubled investment firm as well as growing uncertainties triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. Brokerages including Shinhan Investment, Daishin Securities and IBK Securities replaced their CEOs after holding shareholder meetings this month. Shinhan Investment CEO Lee Young-chang Shinhan appointed Lee Young-chang, former vice president at Daishin Securities as its CEO, replacing Kim Byung-chul, who stepped down just a year after taking office. Kim stepped down after the brokerage was investigated for its involvement in the Lime Asset Management fiasco. Shinhan's brokerage unit faces allegations of mis-selling troubled funds of Lime. Investors, who are set to see huge losses from their investments managed by Lime, have filed suits against its distributors including Shinhan, based on such allegations. Investigations are ongoing but the prosecution detained a former executive of Shinhan Investment a week ago. Lee's extensive experience in the brokerage, investment banking and wealth management business, is expected to be utilized in restoring customer trust in Shinhan and in seeking approval to become a so-called mega investment bank here. The latter is a key task for Shinhan, which increased its capital by issuing new stocks last year to meet requirements to become Korea's sixth investment bank. The brokerage also reshuffled its organization earlier this year to boost its investment bank capabilities. But it may face difficulties in achieving that goal if the brokerage is sanctioned for its involvement in the Lime case. Daishin Securities CEO Oh Ik-geun DEARBORN (dpa-AFX) - Ford Motor Co. and GE Healthcare announced a plan to produce 50,000 ventilators in Michigan within the next 100 days, in its efforts to support the fight against coronavirus or Covid-19. The companies would use the FDA-cleared ventilator design of Florida-based Airon Corp. Initial production will be up to 30,000 ventilators a month and thereafter as needed. Airon currently produces only three Airon pNeuton Model A ventilators per day. With the move, Ford would join rival General Motors in making the critically required ventilators as the confirmed cases of Covid-19 is escalating in the United States. Last Friday, President Donald Trump issued a memorandum, ordering GM to build required ventilators. According to White House Defense Production Act Coordinator Peter Navarro, 'the Ford/GE Healthcare team is moving in 'Trump time' to speed urgently needed ventilators to the front lines of the Trump Administration's full-scale war against the coronavirus.' To make ventilators, Ford will provide its manufacturing capabilities to quickly scale production, while GE Healthcare will license the current ventilator design of Model A-E ventilator from privately held Airon. According to the company, the simplified design of Model A-E ventilator is responsive to the needs of most COVID-19 patients, and operates on air pressure without the need for electricity. Ford, with strong partnership with UAW, will send a team to work with Airon initially to boost production in Florida. By the week of April 20, the company will start production at Ford's Rawsonville Components Plant in Michigan. Ford expects to produce 1,500 by the end of April, 12,000 by the end of May and 50,000 by July 4. This plan is expected to help the U.S. government meet its goal of producing 100,000 ventilators in 100 days. At full production, Ford plans to make 7,200 Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilators per week. Last week, Ford and GE Healthcare announced a separate agreement to produce a simplified ventilator design from GE Healthcare. Ford also is working with 3M to increase the production of respirators for healthcare workers. Meanwhile, General Motors has partnered with another ventilator maker, Ventec Life Systems, to help increase Ventec's production. Tesla said it will produce ventilators at its Gigafactory in Buffalo, New York to support the city's hospitals amid the coronavirus pandemic. New York is the worst affected state in the U.S. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Hackers Are Exploiting Remote Workers In the shadowy world of cybercrime, the coronavirus emergency is seen as a big opportunity. Experts are warning of a new wave of cyber attacks targeting those who are forced to work from home during the coronavirus outbreak. There is increasing evidence that hackers are using the concerns over the virus to prey on individuals and that working outside secure office environments opens the door to more cyber vulnerabilities. Periods of change and transition create new vectors of attack, new exposure surfaces to exploit, and new ways to steal the personal data of employees or the trade secrets of companies. Experts say that cyber criminals are devising ways of taking advantage of millions of employees transitioning to work-from-home situations. They know that employees will be connecting to their companies servers and other resources in a very different way. They are also aware that many employees will be doing their work on computers normally used for personal affairs, and that other workers will rely more on their mobile devices in the absence of a work computer. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has urged that organisations keep their systems updated and patched and be transparent with employees about the dangers of malicious emails, particularly those that use coronavirus fears to tempt individuals to click on them and download computer viruses. In Britian the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), UK, has issued a security advisory, urging those who use smart cameras and baby monitors in the home to take the steps necessary to protect their devices from cyber criminals. Similar to large parts of the world at present much of Israeli public are working from home under movement restrictions following the government directives ordering non-essential workers to stay home to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Officials there say criminals are using telephone phishing attacks to try to access company login credentials and the Israeli National Cyber Authority has warned the public of an increased danger of hacking attacks as more Israelis work from home amid the coronavirus outbreak. They specifically warned of so-called voice phishing or vishing attacks, a type of phone fraud where criminals scam victims into giving up private information, usually for identity theft. Phishing attacks are carried out via email or other online communication. In attacks that took place this week in Israel, workers received phone calls that appeared to be from their companies computer departments asking for their usernames and passwords. The hackers aim to infiltrate the firms to gain information for leaks, access encrypted files, destroy information or cause other damage to the organization or its employees, the cyber authority said. An Israeli financial company has resited an attempted hacking of its employees when some of the firms workers received calls purportedly from its technical department asking in Hebrew for usernames and passwords to the companys virtual private network. The Israeli National Cyber Authority which recommends that companies raise awareness among their workers, and use two-step and multi-channel authentication measures. In recent weeks the authority has warned several times of fraud online amid the pandemic, saying it has identified over 5,000 suspicious coronavirus-related websites. Israeli National Cyber Directorate: Times of Israel: SC Magazine: Fast Company: The Hill: You Might Also Read: Remote Working Is On Suddenly On Trend: The Tollywood fraternity is in a united mission to support the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. The stars have come forward to assist by contributing towards the PM CARE Funds and Telangana and Andhra government relief funds. Contrastingly, the Rowdy of Telugu Cinema, Vijay Deverakonda has not yet announced a donation to any of the relief funds. The actor, who is well-known for his charity works during the floods has been out of the league this time. Well, it is also not known if the actor has kept his donations undisclosed for any certain reasons. Surprisingly, Vijay has recently appeared in a Telangana government advertisement, in which he was seen giving tips to keep oneself safe from Coronavirus. He also advised people to wash hands with soap on a regular interval. Recently, Megastar Chiranjeevi has formed the Corona Crisis Charity Mana Kosam (CCC Mana Kosam) to support the distressed daily wage workers of the Telugu film industry, to which, a lot of actors have donated their best. Biggies Prabhas, Jr NTR, Nagarjuna, Mahesh Babu, Suresh Babu, Ram Charan, and Rana Daggubati have announced relief for the film workers. Coming back to Vijay Deverakonda, he recently completed 40 days shoot schedule for Puri Jagannadh's next. Also, the Arjun Reddy actor has been titled the Most Desirable Man of 2019 by Hyderabad Times. After Puri Jagannadh, Vijay Deverakonda To Team Up With THIS Director? Editor's Note: City Officials informed us that the drive-thru will not open until Thursday in order for the clinic to host a test run on Wednesday. It's now expected on April 2. The original story is presented below. A drive thru for rapid testing will be up and running at the Hillside park and ride at 9 a.m. Wednesday. READ MORE: City of Laredo expected to extend stay-at-home order at city council meeting tonight The City of Laredo and Clear Choice have a combined 5,000 rapid tests ready to use. Rapid tests can confirm a negative case and have a high accuracy rate to determine a positive case of COVID-19, but the patient will still have to take a confirmatory test afterward if they test positive. It takes about 15 minutes to receive results from the rapid test, Health Director Dr. Hector Gonzalez said. In order to be tested, patients will need a prescription from their doctor. Emergency Management Coordinator Steve Landin said if anyone feels ill, they should call their doctor and describe to them their symptoms. If someone does not have a doctor but feels ill, they will be asked to call 795-4932, a phone line that will open up at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Nurses and allied health will be on the line to ask callers about their symptoms, age and any underlying health conditions to determine if they qualify to receive a rapid test. Clear Choice has a total of 28,000 rapid tests, Gonzalez said. He wasnt sure of the price or if Clear Choice will charge. READ MORE: City of Laredo confirms second coronavirus-related death in Gateway City However the city will not charge for rapid tests at the drive thru site because they expect to be reimbursed for 75% of the cost by FEMA, Gonzalez said. 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 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. 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. Take a look at some of the biggest movers in the premarket: Conagra (CAG) The food producer missed estimates by 2 cents a share, with fiscal third-quarter profit of 47 cents per share. Revenue also came in slightly short, however Conagra said it has seen significantly elevated demand for its food products over the past few weeks due to the virus outbreak. The company now expects to exceed its full-year sales and profit guidance. Carnival (CCL) The cruise line operator is suspending dividend payments and stock repurchases, as voyage suspensions continue amid the coronavirus outbreak. Carnival said it could not estimate the impact of COVID-19 on its business, but expects a net loss for fiscal 2020. McCormick (MKC) The spice maker earned $1.08 per share for its latest quarter, 5 cents a share above estimates. Its revenue was below forecasts, however, as results were impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. The company withdrew its prior financial forecast due to uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. RH (RH) RH reported quarterly profit of $3.72 per share, beating consensus by 13 cents a share. The Restoration Hardware parent's revenue was well short of estimates, however, amid lower traffic and more backorders during the holiday season. The furniture retailer also withdrew its financial guidance. Amarin (AMRN) Amarin received an unfavorable ruling from a Nevada court in a patent case involving its fish oil drug Vascepa, used to treat patients with high triglyceride levels. The court ruled in favor of Hikma Pharmaceuticals and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (RDY), which want to make generic versions. Amarin said it would pursue all available legal remedies. British American Tobacco (BTI) BAT and rival British cigarette maker Imperial Brands both announced deals for new multi-billion dollar credit lines, although they also say they are not seeing any major impact on their businesses from the coronavirus outbreak. American Airlines (AAL) The airline plans to apply for up to $12 billion in government assistance, according to an employee memo seen by Reuters. That would mean no involuntary layoffs or pay cuts over the next six months. Spirit Airlines (SAVE) Spirit is canceling all flights to and from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, following warnings from US officials not to travel to the tri-state area because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yum Brands (YUM) Yum sold $600 million in junk-rated debt, with the restaurant chain planning to use the money for "general corporate purposes." The debt carries a yield of 7.75%, much higher than the 4.75% Yum paid in a debt issue in December. Gap (GPS) Gap will furlough most of its 80,000 retail workers, as many of the apparel retailer's stores remain closed. Gap will also cut corporate jobs and executive pay. Visa (V) Visa said its transaction volume deteriorated during the second half of this month, as countries impose social distancing and sheltering in place due to the virus outbreak. Domino's Pizza (DPZ) The restaurant chain withdrew its financial guidance, as many stores in international markets remain closed, although most U.S. locations remain open. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) Norwegian extended its voluntary suspension of cruises through May 10, after originally suspending them through April 11. Zoom Video Communications (ZM) Zoom's privacy practices are being investigated by the New York State attorney general's office, according to a report in The New York Times. The Australian share market finished volatile session lower on Tuesday, 31 March 2020, as uncertainty over the economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis weighed down investors sentiments. Almost all ASX sectors declined, with shares in consumer staples, healthcare, communications and materials sectors being notable losers. At closing bell, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index dropped 104.58 points, or 2.02%, to 5,076.80. The broader All Ordinaries declined 83.35 points, or 1.6%, to 5,110.60. For the quarter ended March 2020, S&P/ASX200 index declined 24%. Sydney market commenced trading with firm footing and rose at 5366 points early in the day, but selling pressure intensified in the afternoon as the market headed to the end of the March quarter. Shares in consumer staples, healthcare, communications and materials sectors ended in the red. Supermarkets Woolworths and Coles dropped by 8% and 9% each. Wesfarmers sold another 5.2% worth of Coles shares for A$1.06 billion at $15.39/share. Biotech firm, CSL Ltd slid 5% and BHP Group eased 4%. Financials also reversed earlier improvements to close in negative territory with Commonwealth Bank (CBA) down 3.3%. Shares in Airline players inclined after Virgin Australia confirmed it is in talks with the Federal Government for a A$1.4 billion bailout due to a prolonged Covid-19 impact. Virgin Australia shares jumped 18.7%. Qantas shares rose by 1%. Discretionary retailers also improved. Department store Myer rallied 21%. Premier Investments advanced 11%. CURRENCY: The Aussie dollar managed to inch higher against the greenback to buy 61.85 US cents with strong Chinese PMI data offset by weak local consumer confidence. The AUD is down 5% for the month and has slumped 12% since the start of 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.) 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. HANGZHOU, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation said Monday they will donate additional urgent equipment to hospitals in Europe to assist their fight against the novel coronavirus. A total of 800 ventilators, 300,000 sets of protective gowns and 300,000 face shields will be delivered to hard-hit countries in Europe, Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba Group, posted on his Twitter account. The Electronic World Trade Platform smart logistics hub, which was jointly built by the Belgian government and Alibaba at Belgium's Liege Airport, has played an important role in processing relief goods from China to Europe. Cainiao, Alibaba's logistics subsidiary, will increase its charter cargo flights between east China's Hangzhou city and Liege to five a week to send relief goods to Europe. All six had attended a Markaz at a mosque in the Nizamuddin area of Old Delhi A man and his child walk on a deserted street in Old Delhi on Friday, March 27, 2020. A whole clutch of coronavirus positive cases are being traced to a religious event that took place in the Nizamuddin area of Delhi earlier this month. (DC Photo: Pritam Bandyopadhyay) Hyderabad: The toll owing to the coronavirus Covid-19 in Telangana took a grim turn for the worse, with the state government announcing late Monday night that six persons have died from the infection at different hospitals in the city since Saturday. A news release from the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) said all six patients, identified as Covid-19 positive, had attended a Markaz at a mosque in the Nizamuddin area of Old City of Delhi between March 13 and 15. The CMO said two of these six patients died at Gandhi Hospital, one at Apollo Hospital, one at Global Hospital, one at Nizamabad and the sixth in Gadwal town. Special teams were urgently pressed into action to isolate the families of the six victims and any possible contact the deceased patients might have had. All these contacts were being shifted to hospitals to be kept under isolation and then tested for the disease. The health department also issued an urgent appeal to anyone who has any information on people who visited the event in Nizamuddin, or on those who were in contact with these individuals, to immediately inform the nearest health department or other government office so these persons can be identified, isolated and tested for the disease, and if need be, provided immediate treatment. The department further said that it is understood that everyone who attended Markaz is believed to have contracted the disease. It is the public duty of everyone who attended the event to immediately report to the health department, which will provide free testing and treatment. The possibility of the religious event at Markaz organized by Tablighi Jamaat as a hub for coronavirus transmission within the country, first came to light when 10 Indonesian preachers who came to Karimnagar after attending the event, earlier this month, tested positive for the disease. Subsequently, one contact person of the preachers tested positive and on Monday, this persons mother and sister too were tested positive. His entire family was shifted to Gandhi Hospital to be kept under observation and treatment. It is learnt that the Central government health officials were in contact with state health department seeking details on how the state went about identifying contacts of the 10 Indonesians as well as the six others who have died from the disease. Meanwhile, in New Delhi, authorities locked down portions of the Nizamuddin area and cordoned off those locations, including the mosque where the Markaz was held and shifted a few hundred people for testing for the disease. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 04:41:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday discussed efforts to combat COVID-19 and other global issues during a phone conversation, the White House said. "President Trump and President Putin discussed the latest developments and efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The two leaders agreed to work closely together through the G20 to drive the international campaign to defeat the virus and reinvigorate the global economy," the White House said in a statement. Trump and Putin also touched upon the issues of Venezuela and the global energy market. According to the statement, Trump and his Russian counterpart agreed on the importance of stability in global energy markets. Saudi Arabia and Russia failed to reach a new deal on curbing oil production, which sent shock waves through the global energy market, as the oil price took a nosedive at a time when the global demand for oil was already hit by the raging coronavirus pandemic. The low oil price will also hurt the U.S. shale industry. From: Jon Paul -- Cause Marketing PR Venture Group Kansas City , MO Monday, March 30, 2020 Video Clip: Click to Watch AlfredPoor.com Advises Companies How to Solve Productivity Problems Working From Home Put AlfredPoor.com 35 years of experience to work to boost productivity gaps transitioning your business to online environments. AlfredPoor.com, says: "Companies " are going to take a productivity hit during WFH; it pays to make sure employees have the equipment and support that they need. "lTime wasted on technology problems during WFH is time lost. "The technology that will help employees work more effectively can also help maintain important social connections during shelter in place conditions." Poor, states, "I can cover all aspects of helping prepare employees to work off-site: communications, technology, transitions, personal engagement. Help employees climb the learning curve to reduce the productivity hit that your company is going to take by sending everyone home. "I have 35 years' experience working from home as a successful freelance writer and speaker. I have worked with large organizations such as Ziif-Davis and Hewlett Packard, as well as small startups. I know firsthand about the issues that can prevent workers from coordinating effectively and maintaining their productivity," states Poor. And in an article "8 Apps That Will Revolutionize How You Work From Home" - "A new generation of tech tools helps bring staffers who work in distant locations "into the day-to-day give-and-take of the office." - By Sheila MarikarContributing writer@SheilaYM Agrees, "N2 Publishing, a community-newsletter publisher in Wilmington, North Carolina, holds exercise classes led by an in-house trainer every workday. And not just cubicle dwellers break a sweat. More than half of N2's 180 full-time employees are permitted to work from home, and some reliably tune in," states Marikar Source credits: https://www.inc.com/magazine/201512/sheila-marikar/essential-tech-tools-and-apps-for-your-re mote-team.html In an article about "5 Technology Advances Creating a Secure WAH Model" - Jim Farnsworth EVP, AMERICAS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT - Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated Farnsworth reminds readers, "I've described in past articles how working from home is transforming American industry and jobs. This is no idle claim. The single largest demographic in the US labor force is millennials, who have very different expectations regarding the flexibility an employer should offer to their employees. "In addition to changing employee expectations, there are several business and social drivers that make incorporating a work-at-home (WAH) strategy more attractive to employers: "Most work-at-home employees report higher productivity and reduced stress levels "Employers can access a much larger labor force with a deeper pool of talent and highly specialized skills. "Studies have shown work-at-home employees are more engaged with their job and employer," states Farnsworth. Source credits: https://www.sykes.com/thought-leadership/5-technology-advances-creating-secure-work -home-business-model/ "Communication Technology and Inclusion Will Shape the Future of Remote Work" - By Sean Peek, Contributing Writer Updated: March 18, 2020. "In the past, remote employees have had a bad reputation. Many employers believed their workforce would be too easily distracted at home, where their managers couldn't keep an eye on their direct reports. "Remote work was very rare a decade ago. Working from home was usually only available as a special arrangement to accommodate families in specific cases. However, teleconferencing and telework technology have advanced to the point where some businesses thrive with completely remote teams. In fact, it's not uncommon for businesses to allow their employees to work from home once or twice a week," states Peek. Source credits: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/8156-future-of-remote-work.html For more information on how to capitalize on WFH opportunities with time, communications, and/or money. Go to AlfredPoor.com ## About AlfredPoor.com: Covers all aspects of helping prepare employees to work off-site: communications, technology, transitions, personal engagement. Help employees climb the learning curve to reduce the productivity hit that a company is going to take by sending everyone home. Puts 35 years' experience working from home as a successful freelance writer and speaker. Worked with large organizations such as Ziif-Davis and Hewlett Packard, as well as small startups. Knows firsthand about the issues that can prevent workers from coordinating effectively and maintaining their productivity. About ~ Jon Paul | PR Guy Writes direct-response public relations and marketing communications that helps small business owners increase leads and sales. Writes Intuitive Cause Marketing PR Venture campaigns in the arts/sciences of self-fulfilling, self-sustaining, self-efficiency and "Going green" markets. Also writes the sales copy that helps business owners start, buy or geometrically grow businesses in the nutritional supplements, personal development, talent scout curation, e-preneur and publisher niches. And, also builds marketing funnels that acquire new customers, get them to buy more, and get them to buy faster. Lastly, monitors business owners markets, looks for ways to promote businesses, keep people talking about the businesses, upgrades what business owners are trying to do, and not miss out on what's possible with their businesses. "Talking to you now has made me feel a bit lighter, and I found that when I've called friends or FaceTimed my parents or sisters, reaching out to someone else you think might be struggling, too, is the best thing we can do right now. Because we will absolutely get through this. That's why we wanted to make this show, to share in these feelings together." Council On The Ageing chief executive Ian Yates said some centres were going even further. Some have a blanket ban no one can come in at all, he said. There are some who have done that, which we know from families who werent present when their loved ones died. Concetta Onorato (right) with a family member at the Assisi aged care facility. Josephine Pititto, whose mother, Concetta Onorato, lives at the Assisi Centre in Rosanna, said it was hard to contain her "sadness and terror" after a staff member was diagnosed with the coronavirus. Assisi Centre chief executive Paul Cohen informed families on Monday of the positive test but said health authorities had deemed the case low-risk. A doctor who visited Carlton aged-care facility Rathdowne Place has also been diagnosed with COVID-19. He is among 16 Victorian healthcare workers who have tested positive. Rathdowne Place said the Department of Health and Human Services had confirmed the GP was considered infectious when he met two residents for a short time last Wednesday. Relatives of the home's residents were notified by email on Sunday of the doctor's positive diagnosis. The granddaughter of one resident, who asked not to be named, said she feared she may never be able to see her grandmother in person again. "If shes locked in and safe it's one thing, but locked in with COVID-19, even without COVID and locked in for six months, will I ever get to see her again at 98?" the woman said. Loading Ms Pititto said the news at Assisi was "a real worry". "I knew there was a strong possibility of staff being infected with the virus as no one knows what happens when they leave their work place. Yet we are not allowed to visit our family member for safety reasons," she said. "I am certain that staff are overwhelmed at the moment with caring for all the residents and keeping the place extra clean. Family members used to go at meal times to feed their loved ones and see everyone else. "It is hard to contain one's sadness and terror of what is to come. Hopefully it won't spread." Families from Rathdowne Place received an email from Krishan Sivagnanam, the general manager of Australian Unity, which runs the Carlton facility, saying the home had been advised residents and employees did not require testing due to lack of close contact. One employee who had been in close contact with the GP is now self-isolating. 'It is hard to contain one's sadness and terror of what is to come. Hopefully it won't spread.' Josephine Pititto, the daughter of an Assisi Centre resident The nursing home would monitor the temperatures of residents and employees, the email said. Extra cleaning would be carried out. Victorians without symptoms cannot currently be tested for COVID-19. "This situation understandably makes many of us anxious about how the virus may impact us, our families and friends," the email said. "The safety and wellbeing of our residents and employees remains our top priority during this time. Australian Unity is well prepared for this situation and we ask for your continued understanding and co-operation." "We are continuing to manage the situation in accordance with the current public health advice and are following appropriate infectious disease management protocols." Australian Unity said its medical advice was that there was an "extremely low risk" of transmission for those who had been in contact with the GP. One employee who had close contact with the general practitioner is now self-isolating in line with guidance from the public health unit," a spokesman said. Residents, along with family members of those residents, who are known to have been seen recently by the general practitioner have also been advised [of the positive test]. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and our people is always our first priority. We will continue to engage with health and other regulatory authorities in the management of this matter. Loading Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said authorities were closely monitoring aged care and staff who felt unwell should immediately self-isolate. Chicago police break up church funeral service for violating coronavirus stay-at-home order Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Chicago police broke up a funeral service at a church on the citys northwest side on Sunday because the service violated the stay-at-home order enacted by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Chicago Police spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that officers responded around 9 a.m. Sunday after seeing a large group of people inside St. Odisho Church, an Assyrian Eastern Orthodox church, located on Pulaski Road. It was said that about 40 to 60 people were at the church to pay their last respects to the deceased. Guglielmi said officers reported seeing parishioners drinking from the same cup. Afterward, officers expedited the completion of the funeral service and dispersed patrons. According to Guglielmi, no one was arrested and no citations were issued. This is sincerely the last thing we want to do, but public health during this climate is vastly important for everyone, Guglielmi said, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. Pritzker enacted the stay-at-home order on March 21, forcing churches and other places of worship in the state to shut down temporarily. Although the statewide order is in place until at least April 7, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said last Friday that the order could be extended through late April. "I think that realistically were looking at somethings thats going to stretch deep into April, she said during a conference call with reporters. In Illinois, there are over 5,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Monday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins University & Medicines Coronavirus Resource Center. In Cook County alone, there are over 3,727 cases confirmed and 44 coronavirus-related deaths. Across the nation, many churches and places of worship have begun streaming their services and meetings online in an attempt to abide by state and local orders designed to ensure social distancing as the number of coronavirus cases in the United States continues to rise. However, some churches and pastors continue to hold live worship services despite the recommendations and ban on large gatherings. In Florida, pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, leader of Revival International Ministries and The River at Tampa Bay Church, was arrested on Monday for violating an order that prevents large worship gatherings. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said that his office received a tip that Howard-Browne refused to stop holding services and even encouraged his members to gather at the church. Another pastor who continues to hold worship services is Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a state where gatherings of more than 50 people are banned. This Sunday, hundreds attended services at the church as he continues to garner media attention for flouting the ban. Spell said in an interview with Dr. Phil last week that two of his parishioners were suspended from their jobs without pay for attending church services. Last week, it was reported that dozens of people who attended a revival event on March 15 at an Illinois Pentecostal church have fallen ill with at least 10 of them testing positive for coronavirus. A new survey conducted by political scientists Paul Djupe of Denison University, Ryan Burge of Eastern Illinois University and Andrew Lewis of the University of Cincinnati found that about one-fifth of religious adult Americans are still attending worship services during the pandemic. While some might see the act of attending religious services during the pandemic as an act of religious freedom, others dont. At this point, holding public church gatherings in the midst of a public health crisis is not a defense of religious freedom, Tony Perkins, the chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and a Christian conservative activist, wrote in a tweet. It is a defiance of common sense and the care of your congregation. Spread the Good News, not the virus! Nevertheless, theres little doubt governors feel life-or-death pressure to flatter the president. Several governors made clear they fear inadvertently harming their own citizens if they are too strident in demands for desperately needed medical supplies, or if they clash too publicly with Trump over pandemic policy as the contagion spreads, reported the Los Angeles Times. A New York official told The Post that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others in the state are working under the assumption they will not get much help from the federal government, but that criticizing Trump could jeopardize any help they could receive. Tesco Malaysia has released a shopping guide to help men who find themselves tasked with doing the weekly shop for their family under the country's unusual lockdown rules. The Malaysian government decreed that only the head of the household, or ketua rumah, is permitted to go to the supermarket in a bid to restrict the number of people in public places. This has meant some men are being faced with doing the groceries for the first time ever, according to local reports. Tesco fronted their new campaign with a picture of a man with a grocery shopping bag with the caption: 'Now all husbands can shop' In a post on the Malaysian Tesco Facebook page it said: 'To all the ketua rumah, we understand that things may get confusing at times like this To offer guidance, Tesco Malaysia released four informational posters tackling different items men might want to pick up in store. They were shared on the supermarket chain's Facebook page under the slogan: 'Now all husbands can shop'. A 'chicken buying for husbands' poster features a deconstructed whole chicken with descriptions of 13 different cuts of the bird. And the poster cheekily offered husbands the chance to avoid any confusion with the tip: 'If it gets too complicated, just get our Tesco pre-packed chicken.' The supermarket released a guide on different cuts of a chicken to give husbands a helping hand Another poster entitled 'vegetable buying for husbands' explained the difference between limes, garlic and spring onions. A third guide revealed a set of leafy vegetables featuring broccoli, pak choy and cabbage. While a fourth poster illustrated a group of nine very similar fish types and their descriptions. In a post on the Malaysian Tesco Facebook page it said: 'To all the ketua rumah, we understand that things may get confusing at times like this. 'Use this handy guide for your grocery shopping trips. Here at Tesco, we have your back! A group of leafy vegetables including cauliflower and broccoli featured in the Tesco guides But it seems it is not just husbands who could do with the advice as many women have claimed they equally need the help. Ira Sofian said: 'I think I need this guide more than my husband', and tagged her other-half alongside laughing faces. And Caleb Choo agreed with her saying: Sorry, I think my wife needs these guides more than me...' A set of nine fish and their descriptions by Tesco to help husbands shopping for their family Tesco featured everyday cooking items such as ginger and shallots in their set of how-to guides It seemed Benjamin Chan had other ideas and suggested that he prints them out for his children. Aumshree Das revealed: My husband is a better grocery shopper than I am. These guides will help.' And Azmi Kamarudin offered Tesco go a step further by commenting: 'Please provide us with a floor plan layout for each Tesco.' Thousands of workers have been stood down after an Australian company closed 450 stores amid the coronavirus pandemic. Hanes Brands, which owns Bonds, Bras N Things, Sheridan and Champion, announced the closure of its stores on Tuesday. About 3,000 employees have been stood down as a result of the closure. Hanes has vowed to continue to pay the full salary to all permanent team members for at least two weeks. The move comes as stricter social distancing rules are implemented to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Hanes Brands, which owns Bonds, Bras N Things, Sheridan and Champion, announced the closure of its stores on Tuesday About 3,000 employees have been stood down as a result of the closure Employees can then access their leave entitlements. The online stores will remian operational. David Bortolussi, Group President, Hanes Brands said they have been doing their best to keep stores open and staff safe, however, the new government implemented rules have made it challenging to continue to operate. 'With the federal and state governments announcing ... increasingly stringent measures ... we now have no choice but to close all of our store networks across Australia, to protect our store teams and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. 'We are doing the best we can to support our team members during this difficult period and look forward to looking after our customers again in store when we get through this challenging period.' The move comes as Australians are being urged to stay at home if they can, and only leave their houses if it is essential as the coronavirus cases continues to rise. Peter Alexander is among the stores that is having to close down due to the coronavirus Smiggle is also owned by Solomon Lew's Premier Investments which announced the shut down General Pants is closing all stores until at least April 22 due to the coronavirus fallout The restrictions have seen a number of businesses close, including Glassons, Portmans, General Pants, Peter Alexander, Smiggle and Just Jeans due to declining business. Solomon Lew's Premier Investments, which owns General Pants, Smiggle, and Peter Alexander, shut all its Australian stores at 6pm on Thursday. Around 9,000 of the company's staff around the world will be stood down without pay until at least April 22. The company said it does not intend to pay rent on any of its stores. Around 70 per cent of its leases in Australia and New Zealand run out this year or are already expired. The group's bosses will be working from home without pay. RAG Group, which owns Tarocash, YD and Connor, is closing 500 stores and standing down 3,000 workers from 5pm on Friday. Thousands of hospitality workers were out of work from Monday when the prime minister announced the new measures (pictured: People lining up outside Centrelink this week) Thousands more jobs are expected to be lost as a result of the pandemic (Pictured: A Centrelink office in Melbourne) Meanwhile, Accent Group - which owns Athlete's Foot, Platypus and Hype - has announced it is closing 522 stores and standing down around 5,000 staff. The company will close all stores from 5pm on Friday for four weeks. During the stand down period, employees will continue to accrue entitlements and may access their annual and long service leave entitlements. ALH pub group has stood down 8,000 workers and jeweller Michael Hill has told 2,500 people they no longer have a job. Flight Centre has announced 3,800 job losses in Australia - and 6,000 globally - after the Prime Minister banned going overseas. Pubs and gyms have been forced to close to prevent mass gatherings. Cafes and restaurants are only allowed to offer a takeaway service. Thousands of Australians have already been left without work as a result of the changes. Centrelink offices have been flooded with desperate Aussies hoping to get the job seeker benefit. Restaurants on Melbourne's popular Chapel Street have been forced to resort to takeaway services only, in light of the new restrictions The government has been working to soften the blow to the economy, pledging to support workers who lose their jobs. Scott Morrison announced an extra $66billion worth of spending on Sunday, bringing the total survival package to $189billion - or 10 percent of Australia's GDP. 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 A series of bills was approved on Monday night, with two packages worth $17.6billion and $66billion at the heart of the Morrison government's response. In separate legislation, the government set aside a further $40billion for urgent and unforeseen spending associated with the pandemic, likely to cause a recession. 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. The money is to help businesses survive the shutdown, and to help people buy food and pay their bills through an extended period when they might be unable to work due to quarantines and lockdowns. It includes wage subsidies so businesses can keep staff on the payroll even when money is not coming in, and early superannuation access for people struggling to make ends meet. A number of welfare payments almost doubled. Banks have also offered a six-month repayment holiday for mortgage holders. Key points: A new childrens book Battle Robots of the Blood, authored by Institute researcher Prof. Adrian Liston, launches today on Amazon. Expert immunology knowledge and beautiful illustrations combine to create an engaging story about our immune system. The book tells the story of Tim, a seven year old boy with a faulty immune system, and the dangers of the world around him, including his best, but unvaccinated, friend Janie. Read it as an e-book for free (limited time only) or order your own copy. Immunology expertise has combined with beautifully evocative illustrations to create an engaging book for children and their parents. A new childrens book Battle Robots of the Blood launches today on Amazon. The books story was developed by Professor Adrian Liston, a senior group leader at the Babraham Institute, and visually brought to life by scientist and illustrator Dr Sonia Aguera-Gonzalez (Tenmei). Speaking about his motivation for developing the book, Prof. Liston said: I have been working on understanding primary immune deficiencies for more than 10 years now. I have such tremendous respect for these kids they are tough and unphased by situations that would have adults in tears. Vaccines are such an easy way that we can help. The science is clear: vaccines are the almost perfect medicine. And yet the anti-vax movement keeps on spreading lies. As an immunologist I want to fight back not only with science, but also with stories, to engage children and parents on the benefits of vaccination. Creating the book was a huge amount of fun. I drew inspiration from my own sons matter-of-fact approach to life. Sonia brought in her own experience as an immunologist and her illustrations beautifully bring the emotion of the story to life. The book tells the story of Tim, a seven year old who lives a slightly different life to the majority of us. After being introduced to different aspects of Tims life, we find out that he has a primary immune deficiency disorder, which means that his immune system cant protect him against attack from the bacteria and viruses that cause disease. This puts him in in grave danger, especially when exposed to diseases that people could be protected against by vaccination. The story is told in an engaging and light-hearted manner, but still carries the message that vaccination is important for everyone and protects the most vulnerable. Professor Liston has drawn upon the linguistic skills of his international laboratory and the Institutes diverse community to translate the book into nine additional languages, to be released soon. Speaking about the translations, Prof. Liston explained: The coronavirus pandemic teaches us that viruses dont respect borders or linguistic barriers. For vaccination to be truly effective at protecting vulnerable people like Tim, we need to have almost everyone else in the community vaccinated. As scientists we have been historically poor at reaching out to the immigrant component of our communities, and this is reflected by lower vaccination rates. The Babraham Institute works to engage all people in our community, and publishing translations in languages from Hindu and Urdu to Polish and French is a way of engaging us all in the fight against infectious diseases. At the end of the book, there are educational materials. For Dr Aguera-Gonzalez it was important to include science activities. Most of the science educational books out there cover experiments and concepts for older children, usually for ten-year-olds and above. Last year I found a father unsuccessfully searching for activity books in a bookstore with his five year old daughter, and I thought then I wanted to fill that gap. I wanted to provide parents and teachers with not only a book, but an experience to learn about immune deficiencies and vaccination at home or in the classroom. The book is available to read from the kindle store on Amazon [Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com] as an e-book for free during the coronavirus lock-down and is also available to order in hard copy. Proceeds from the book will be used to fund immunology research at the Babraham Institute and to support public engagement activities around immunology and vaccination. Read the book in Dutch, German, French and Spanish: Notes to Editors About the author and illustrator Prof Adrian Liston is a biomedical researcher at the Babraham Institute (Cambridge), specialising in the immunology and genetics of primary immune disorders. Dr Sonia Aguera-Gonzalez (Tenmei, @tenmeieditions) has worked as a biomedical scientist at the University of Cambridge, the Institut Pasteur and the Institut Curie (Paris). She currently helps researchers to communicate science to children with educational workshops and illustrations. Publication reference Battle Robots of the Blood is available to read from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com. Free downloads will be available from 27/03/2020 using the code BABRAHAM. The book can be ordered in hard copy for a fee from Amazon. Versions will also be available in Dutch, French and German soon. Press contact Dr Louisa Wood, Communications Manager, Babraham Institute, louisa.wood@babraham.ac.uk Image description Cover illustration for Battle Robots of the Blood by Dr Sonia Aguera-Gonzalez (Tenmei, @tenmeieditions) Additional/related resources: Meet your immune army: Babraham Institute public engagement resources describing the immune system. Online game: Play our antibody assembly game Resources and downloads: educational resources generated for the Institutes Weapons of Microscopic Destruction public engagement exhibit Weapons of Microscopic Destruction lesson plan, presentation and fact sheet About the Babraham Institute The Babraham Institute undertakes world-class life sciences research to generate new knowledge of biological mechanisms underpinning ageing, development and the maintenance of health. Our research focuses on cellular signalling, gene regulation and the impact of epigenetic regulation at different stages of life. By determining how the body reacts to dietary and environmental stimuli and manages microbial and viral interactions, we aim to improve wellbeing and support healthier ageing. The Institute is strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, through an Institute Core Capability Grant and also receives funding from other UK research councils, charitable foundations, the EU and medical charities. Orji Uzor Kalu The convicted Senator representing Abia-North Senatorial Zone, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has asked Nigerians not to give up in the face of the coronavirus pandemic that has hit the world. He made this known in a press release by his Media Aide, Maduka Okoro, on Tuesday morning. Orji expressed his ultimate and abiding faith in God, saying that COVID-19 will eventually be a thing of the past. He asked that this difficult and challenging period does not call only for solemn reflections, but for all well-meaning Abia-North sons and daughters, despite the socio-political differences, to collectively work together to fight the scary scourge that is very devastating. Kalu said, We must come together as a nation and people to seek the face of the Almighty God, so that His GRACE and Mercy will shine upon us all. I am constantly praying for the people of my constituency and will continue to work tirelessly, bearing the cross in these trying times. I urge you all not to relent but to keep hope alive, for soon and very soon the light of Hope will shine at the end of the tunnel by Gods infinite Grace. May God continue to bless Ndi-Abia North and our dear Country Nigeria, the ex-Abia governor added. The EU Power Grid Is Under Attack The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), has disclosed that its administrative IT systems were recently cracked in a cyber-attack, although it has claimed that its operational transmission system operator (TSO) systems were not affected. The organisation is responsible for coordination of European electricity markets has announced its IT network had been compromised in a cyber intrusion. ENTSO-E's members include large electric transmission operators across the continent, comprising 42 members across 35 countries and the organitaion says that it recently found evidence of a successful cyber intrusion into its office network, The organisation said in a statement on its website. A risk assessment has been performed and contingency plans are now in place to reduce the risk and impact of any further attacks. It is important to note that the ENTSO-E office network is not connected to any operational TSO system. Our TSO members have been informed and we continue to monitor and assess the situation. The compromised office network is not connected to any operational electric transmission system, ENTSO-E said, meaning the attack was confined to IT systems and did not impact control systems. Multiple ENTSO-E members in Europe said they were investigating the incident. Fingrid, the Helsinki-based transmission system operator (TSO), said that the breach may delay its release of Energy Identification Codes (EICs) that support trading on the European electricity market. ENTSO-E is not the only or the first power grid organisation in the world that hackers have tried to target to disrupt the power supply. In 2016, Russia hacked Ukraines power grid with the aim of physically damage transmissions stations and disrupt power supplies in the country. The attacks caused a quick blackout in most parts of Kyiv city. Earlier this year, Iran targeted US electric utilities following increased tension between the two countries. Computing: Cyberscoop: ENTSO-E: You Might Also Read: US Power Grid Attack No Harm Done. This Time: YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Armenias ministry of high technological industry is starting online #HighTechTalks with the view to introduce the field, discover the IT world, as well as to raise relevant issues and public awareness, the ministry told Armenpress. The project will host successful businessmen and leading IT specialists who will hold talks introducing the field of high technologies. Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) around the globe and Armenia as well, thousands of people need to get a new profession and have an opportunity to enter the IT sector, acquire new skills, knowledge and most importantly profession. #HighTechTalks are going to contribute to having a deeper knowledge on technologies for broad public circles. #HighTechTalks will launch on March 31, at 21:00. The first guest of the project is PicsArt founder and CEO Hovhannes Avoyan who will join the talks from the United States and will run a talk on the topic of the IT world. The program will be broadcast live on the Facebook page of Armenias minister of high-tech industry Hakob Arshakyan (https://www.facebook.com/hakobarshakyanpage/), and after the completion it will also be posted on the ministrys YouTube account (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8cP-gVqC9z4rjJeAqyBjrQ). The future guests of the #HighTechTalks will talk about the pros and cons of information and communication technologies, the role of technologies and how they change our life, how they affect the human welfare and security, etc. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Australians have been shuttered inside their homes over the past few weeks in a bid to slow down the highly infectious and deadly coronavirus. The move, known as social distancing, was introduced in a bid to flatten the curve of infection and there are early signs of success. It means the daily rate of increase in coronavirus cases in Australia has slowed. Australia's daily growth of coronavirus cases appears to be tapering. Source: Australian Government Department of Health. Coronavirus has killed 20 Australians and infected more than 4,500 others but Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Health Minister Greg Hunt have this week both spoken about the positives to be drawn from the apparent flattening of the curve. Whilst we are making progress, and whilst we are now flattening the curve in the first early stages of progress, there's more to do, Mr Hunt said on Tuesday. We were at 25-30 per cent growth just over a week ago, on a daily basis. Now we have come down in the last week to the low teens, and the latest advice I have from the National Incident Centre this morning is that the last three days have been approximately nine per cent, on average. Last Monday, March 23, there were over 600 new cases. On Saturday there were 462 new cases and on Monday there were 266, but the numbers are still likely to show upward spikes especially when greater numbers are tested. Coronavirus has killed 19 Australians and infected more than 4,500 others. Source: AAP What is the 'flattening curve' and what does it mean? The curve is a graph of the number of coronavirus cases reported over time, Dr Catherine Bennett, chair in epidemiology at Deakin University, told Yahoo News Australia on Tuesday. The steeper the curve, the faster the infection is spreading and new cases are emerging, placing a strain on medical professionals, resources and equipment. To flatten the curve, Dr Bennett said, Australians need to slow the rate of the new cases by lowering the reproductive rate, or reducing the average number of people that could be infected by limiting contact. Story continues While Australias infection rate is beginning to taper, she said the system is not perfect and depends on each person taking the social distancing seriously, consistent messaging and broader testing. Younger people seem to think they are immune, and this is reinforced by less serious cases being reported in their age group. Whilst they might have less chance of falling seriously ill, they are just as important in the efforts to stop the spread through the population, she said. The curve for Australia appears to be starting to flatten out, while European countries like the UK continue on an upward trajectory. South Korea has flattened its curve. Source: Our World In Data What is making the curve flatten in Australia? Social distancing and good hygiene are necessary to limit the viruss transmission and slow down the infection rate, Dr Bennett said. Following the guidance on this, both when out and when behind closed doors is critical to Australias success in flattening the curve, and keeping the epidemic manageable and therefore giving those people who do get infected the best care, and the best chance of recovery, she said. Mr Morrison has introduced strict social distancing rules over the past week, allowing only groups of two people to meet in public and requiring a 1.5m distance between all residents. A nurse speaks with patients at the door of the new Covid-19 Clinic in Adelaide. Source: AAP As residents began to work from home and businesses and restaurants closed their doors at the request of the government, there was an average of 364 new cases a day from March 24-27. The largest single jump - 462 people - occurred on March 28. The number of new cases has since dropped by around 80 cases a day on average, increasing by just 266 cases on Sunday night, tipping the total to 4,250 on Monday. On Tuesday, NSW, Victoria and Queensland reported 114, 96 and 45 new patients, respectively. Dr Bennett said the system is not perfect because Australia did not have the capacity to test people outside this high risk group to determine whether COVID-19 might have escaped into the wider community. And we now see evidence of this through an increasing number of cases being reported with no known link to previous cases. Dr Bennett is referring to Australian states initially only testing people who had come in from overseas or who had direct contact with someone who had tested positive. As national testing broadens more cases are likely to be detected. What can we do to flatten it more? Residents taking social distancing and hygiene seriously will help lower the infection curve. Prevention is only as good as the weakest link, whether in your own behaviour, or in the way people are behaving around you, Dr Bennett said. Each household should be a safe haven, and so everyone in that household must be sure they are doing all the right things (distancing, hand washing) so that they arent bringing it home to their family or house mates etc. Broader testing will help determine if stricter social measures are needed, she said, noting a shift within the mindset of communities and the importance of staying home is also necessary. Residents taking social distancing and hygiene seriously will help lower the infection curve. Source: AAP What have other countries done to flatten the curve? Singapore, Japan and South Korea have all reported a decrease in their coronavirus infection curves. The South East Asian countries learned from SARS the importance of being ready, having strong coordinated plans in place, and implementing them early in the outbreak, Dr Bennett told Yahoo News Australia. Singapore, Japan and Taiwan have all achieved flatter epidemic curves, and shows whats possible with this approach. On Monday, the head of Germanys public health institute said signs are emerging that the exponential upwards curve in new coronavirus infections in the country is flattening off for the first time thanks to social distancing measures. Early testing for the virus in Germany had helped the health authorities, and restrictions on public gatherings in places over the last week appeared to be working, said Lothar Wieler, head of the Robert Koch Institute. Social distancing is key to flattening the curve, experts have said. Source: AAP South Korea has largely managed to get an explosive coronavirus epidemic under control. Its daily number of new infections has been hovering at up to 100 for the past three weeks, compared to the thousands of new daily cases the USA and European countries are reporting. Authorities have tightened border checks as small outbreaks emerge, and it is imported cases now contributing significantly to daily rises. South Korea announced on Sunday that all overseas arrivals would have to undergo two weeks of mandatory quarantine starting on April 1. Britain's near-lockdown is having a "big effect" on social contacts as it races to limit the spread of coronavirus and avoid overwhelming the country's intensive care units, the government says. "It's important that we do this now to get the numbers below NHS (National Health Service) ICU capacity," Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance told reporters when asked about the measures. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is infected with the coronavirus, last week ordered everyone to stay at home except for trips for food shopping, medical needs or one form of exercise per day. With Reuters and AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Aster DM Healthcare rose 2.70% to Rs 95 after the company announced the closure of its loss making pharmacies in Kuwait. In an exchange filing made after market hours yesterday, the company said that it has been operating pharmacies in Kuwait though its subsidiary, Aster Kuwait Pharmaceuticals and Medical Equipment Company W.L.L (the subsidiary). As on 31 March 2020, the company's subsidiary contributes Rs 33.26 crore or 0.42% towards Aster DM Healthcare's consolidated revenues. The business had a negative net-worth of Rs 26.58 crore. The company said that it intends to exit from the Kuwait market by shutting down the loss making operations of the pharmacies. The drug maker expects to close all Kuwait operations by 31 May 2020. The company has received KD 468,000 for pharmacies sold and a consideration for last unit is expected to be around KD 15000. The company has sold its Kuwait-based pharmacies to Pharmazone and to Palestine Pharmacy Company (PALCO). Pharmazone is a leading pharmacy chain in Kuwait while PALCO a leading distributor of medicines in Kuwait. The aforementioned companies have acquired Aster DM's pharmacies to expand their retail footprint, the company said in a statement. It added that details of the vendor to whom the last pharmacy shall be sold is yet to be finalised. Aster DM Healthcare operates in various segments of the healthcare industry, which include hospitals, clinics and retail pharmacies, and provides healthcare services to patients across economic segments in various gulf corporation council (GCC) states through its various brands, such as Aster, Medcare and Access. On a consolidated basis, the company's net profit rose 38.6% to Rs 139.12 crore on an 8% increase in net sales to Rs 2321.66 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.) Latest homelessness figures show 10,148 people were in emergency accommodation at the end of February - a fall of 123 compared with the figure for January. The figure applies to a period before the current Covid-19 outbreak and the swathe of measures since put in place to try and protect those in emergency accommodation from getting and transmitting the illness. Commenting on the figures, Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy said: "The priority in the coming weeks is the safety of all those in emergency accommodation. Local authorities and NGOs have been working incredibly hard to ensure that there is extra capacity in emergency accommodation. This extra capacity means that self-isolation can be put in place where needed, but also so that we can de-congregate settings to allow for proper social distancing measures. "More than 600 new places have been secured, with more to come if necessary. I have guaranteed local authorities additional funding to support this work. "My Department is working closely with the HSE, the local authorities and their NGO service delivery partners to ensure that all households accessing emergency accommodation receive the necessary supports during this crisis. He said local authorities would continue to move as many people out of emergency accommodation into homes as possible. While the number of adults experiencing homelessness fell by 83 to 6,614 in February, child homelessness increased by 40 from the previous month, with the number of children homeless in Ireland now standing at 3,534. Dublin accounted for 69% of all those in emergency accommodation in February (4,550 people), followed by the South West with 8% (418 in Cork and 154 in Kerry). Reacting to the latest figures, Depaul CEO David Carroll said: "All our efforts are being put into protecting the most vulnerable at this time. The homeless figures remain troubling however, at this time of uncertainty all our focus and energy is being directed into keeping people safe. Collaboration is vital in this respect. We have been working extremely hard with the HSE and the DRHE and other statutory agencies all with the aim of protecting the most vulnerable in our society. We have reacted by setting up both cocooning and isolation units and we will continue to adapt to this ever-changing crisis. Wayne Stanley, spokesperson for the Simon Communities, said the figures are a "stark representation of the scale of vulnerability" that the homelessness and housing crisis has created. Mr Stanley said: "It is a crisis within a crisis. It is devastatingly clear just how essential a secure and affordable home is to our social and economic wellbeing and crucially, to our health. "The Minister is correct, in the coming weeks the priority is the safety of those experiencing homelessness. "However we also have to have an eye to the future. As the political parties sit down to develop a programme for government we call on them to reflect on the impressive capacity shown in the States response to the Covid-19 crisis, their own commendable role in that, and remind them that this kind of ambition is what we need to address the housing and homelessness crisis. 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. Before the US became the epicentre of Covid-19, the virus wreaked havoc in China and Europe. What can happen to South Asia, the most populous region in the world, if it becomes the epicentre of coronavirus is the scenario most feared by many. The most pessimistic scenarios proposed by scientists and research centres in similar circumstances suppose lax measures are adopted by authorities and societies. Such is the case in India, taking up the bigger portion of South Asia together with its neighbours arch nemesis Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan, with a total population of 1.7 billion. These countries suffer from less than mediocre healthcare and social systems, and widespread poverty and illiteracy. These factors helped draw gloomy pictures about the spread of the coronavirus in this region. The scariest scenario for India was announced by Ramanan Laxminarayan, director of the US-based Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy. If its as transmissible as in Italy and Iran, were looking at the 60 per cent mark. If its as transmissible as in some other countries, were looking at 20 per cent, he cautioned. Indias 60 per cent translates to 800 million people out of a total population of 1.35 billion, and 20 per cent means 300 million confirmed cases of coronavirus infection. However, he said the overwhelming majority of these infections would be extremely mild. Until 29 March, Italy had recorded 92,472 cases of Covid-19, over 10,000 deaths, and 12,384 recoveries of a population standing at 60 million people, according to Johns Hopkins University. In Iran, where the population is registered at 80 million, the majority of whom are youth, there were 35,408 confirmed cases, 2,517 deaths and 11,679 recoveries. Until 29 March, not a single country crossed the 20 per cent mark of infections, although globally there are 665,164 confirmed cases, 30,852 deaths and 140,222 recoveries, reported Johns Hopkins University. Nonetheless, Michigan State University pointed out that India may see coronavirus cases of 100,000 or as many as 1.3 million. Bhramar Mukherjee, a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the university reported on 21 March: Even with the best-case scenarios, probably, you are in a very painful crisis. Mukherjees study was published on Medium, a US publishing platform. The study added that by the end of March, Indias confirmed cases will reach 4,000, although until 29 March there were 987 cases, 25 deaths and 87 recoveries. The study continued that by the end of April, Indias confirmed cases will record anything between 30,000 and 230,000. Dhruva Chaudhry, president of the Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, said India has 100 ICU beds and 40,000 ventilators. The figures are indeed ominous. As part of the measures to protect Indians against the threat of coronavirus, the extremist Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a semi lockdown on India and the suspension of classes and domestic and international air travel. The majority of companies were ordered to halt their activities for three weeks and the giant railway network that transports nine billion Indians annually was shut down. There will be repercussions, however, to these protective measures. According to the International Labour Organisation, the majority of Indias workforce is in the informal sector, such as domestic help, garbage collectors, vendors in crowded markets, security guards, etc. These workers are not entitled to pensions, paid leave or insurance and they dont have bank accounts. They primarily depend on cash to make their daily ends meet. Many of these workers have jobs in cities other than those where they reside; others move from one city to another seeking employment. Indias shutdown has rendered workers without food, money or shelter, leading the government to send bus fleets to transport them to their home cities. Pictures were circulated of thousands of Indians as they left urban cities on foot to get to their villages. The migration of millions of Indian workers to their homes be it by bus or on foot hints of a catastrophic scenario for India that may unfold within the next two weeks. Indeed, the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh isolated 20,000 villagers following the death of a preacher, over 70 years of age, who had returned from a trip to Germany and Italy. The preacher ignored the Indian Health Ministrys instructions and visited a number of villages. The coronavirus is a difficult test for the adequacy of healthcare systems, states and societies, said Laxminarayan. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: This unprecedented phenomenon has affected humans across all boundaries with an equal fury, and all mankind is using whatever resources at hand to wipe out this invisible enemy. Europeans complacent in approach In these last three months, China has made remarkable progress in containing the spread of this virus, termed by WHO as Covid-19. However, now the focus of the pandemic has shifted to Europe, where Italy and Spain are seeing a rising surge in the number of infected cases each day. People are beginning to question why the EU block of countries are finding it so difficult to control the spread of this deadly virus, even though it is clear to all that this virus will spare no one. I think I have some answers to this situation, as I once used to live in Europe. The Europeans in general are very proud of their advanced lifestyle, their highly developed living standards with state-of-the-art medical facilities, and their generous social security system which they feel will be their support in any eventuality. The average European also feels invincible to the effects of dangerous diseases or infections, which they believe can only occur in poorer developing countries. Their arrogance level is high in believing that their civilization is too well protected, their environment too clean, their air too fresh, and the food they eat of the best quality. They strongly believe that diseases and viral infections are only problems in the poorer and backward countries that have low living and health standards, have a high rate of pollution in the environment, have cramped living spaces in slums and along polluted canals, and sell produce in unhygienic markets. This belief is so ingrained in the minds of a European that his conditioned mind does not allow him to be objective about this sudden phenomenon that has hit them and hence they continue to disregard the pleas of government authorities to stay indoors or maintain a distance from another human being. Even when media reports were warning of the virulent spread of Covid-19, most of the EU countries hardly responded and accepted it as another news article from a remote part of the globe. Measures to restrict tourists from travelling and banning large crowds from gathering in public places were met with indifference. When authorities advised the wearing of masks, wearing of gloves, washing of hands, and self-isolating to avoid infecting other people, European people only responded with complacency. The government too, is being soft in its approach for fear that strong measures could affect the economy, in particular the very lucrative tourism industry, a vital source of revenue. This subjective attitude of the people and complete disregard for the disease or the understanding of the seriousness of the infection has led to many large European economies into a situation that is now becoming even more difficult to control, with most of their resources under severe strain, and their facilities overloaded. The governments of all EU countries were late in responding, while their citizens believed that as taxpayers they need not take any action as their government would do what was necessary to protect them. Most European countries did not mobilize their resources collectively to tackle the situation and it was not until 11 March when WHO declared that Covid-19 outbreak was now a pandemic, that European countries joined forces to cope with the crisis in each particular country. Vietnam was proactive in response Like every other country in the world struggling with the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam is also monitoring its spread across the country since the outbreak started to spread across borders in early January. Vietnam moved fast and sensibly. Though the people are still fearful of the spread of this virus, the control measures put into place by the government have been effective in containing the pandemic, detecting newly found cases, and avoiding a panic among the people, who are still freely moving around to do their daily necessary chores, though with much restrain and limited to just essentials. Right from the very start of the Covid-19 outbreak and spread from Wuhan in China, the Vietnamese Government viewed it with the seriousness that it deserved, and set about tackling all aspects of containing and controlling its spread within the country. The government put into place effective measures, and involved the participation of the entire political body, from the core centre to all local level authorities, any peoples organisations, from government to the citizens, all forces from the army, the police, the civil defense services, the socio-political organizations, as well as the media agencies, were all mobilized to follow just one directive, which was to "fight this pandemic like fighting an enemy at war", and sacrifice all economic interests for the safety of the people. This quick response, right awareness and unified action saved Vietnam from becoming a hotbed or an epicenter for the spread of the infection, even though Vietnam borders China, and unlike the European countries who have been dangerously complacent in their approach to this deadly virus. In the first few months, Vietnam only reported 16 cases, which successfully recovered, and subsequent cases were closely monitored. Although now the number of cases has risen to over 150, the Government has put into effect more restrictions on foreigners entering the country. Nonetheless, the people remain calm and proactively are coping with the current situation, while waiting for normal times once again. This crisis has also brought people together and our shared concern for a meaningful society with good community values. Sharing is a powerful social emotion, whether it is information or in material form. History has no record of a community of 10,000 people completely isolating themselves from the world, but for twenty days the Son Loi Commune in Binh Xuyen District in Vinh Phuc Province successfully isolated themselves to overcome this difficult time. Across the country, in the last three months of the pandemic, many administrative units in wards, communes and apartments in Hanoi, Da Nang, Hai Phong, and Ho Chi Minh City have quarantined themselves quite successfully. The people not only distributed masks, safe drinking water, shrimp noodle packages, and eggs, but also kept each other motivated and in good cheer and informed of daily news on the spread of the disease, new Government measures and other best prevention methods. Translated by Khoa Anh Asso. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Hoa 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. Barack Obama took a veiled swipe Tuesday at his successor Donald Trump, chastising those who have 'denied warnings' of a deadly coronavirus pandemic and cautioning against ignoring the consequences of climate change. The two-term Democrat took to social media as the Trump administration finalized a controversial rollback of Obama-era vehicle fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards that were aimed at slowing global warming. 'We've seen all too terribly the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic,' Obama posted on Twitter. 'We can't afford any more consequences of climate denial. All of us, especially young people, have to demand better of our government at every level and vote this fall.' The Republican leader's government has faced stark criticism for failing to heed early global alarms about the virus outbreak, after death tolls began to spike in places like China and Italy. Rollback: Donald Trump tore up emissions standards in a move which critics say will lead to deaths Attack: Barack Obama stuck with his practice of not naming his successor in the Oval Office as he unloaded on Donald Trump's decision to roll back emissions standards as 'climate denial' The United States now has more than 165,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, the most worldwide, and the US death toll has surged past 3,400 -- exceeding China's official toll. Obama's tweet included a link to a story about the Trump administration's new rules. Trump's administration on Tuesday completed a rollback of vehicle emissions standards adopted under Obama and will require 1.5% annual increases in efficiency through 2026 - far weaker than the 5% increases in the discarded rules. The announcement - condemned by Democrats and environmentalists while being lauded by big business - sets up a legal battle, with California and 22 other states planning to challenge the rewrite of what had been one of most ambitious U.S. policies aimed at combating climate change. The Trump administration called the move its largest single deregulatory action and said it would will save automakers upwards of $100 billion in compliance costs. The policy reversal marks the latest step by Trump, a Republican, to erase environmental policies pursued by Obama, a Democrat. James Owens, acting head of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said the plan 'strikes the right balance between environmental considerations, health and safety considerations and economic considerations.' House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, disagreed, saying the administration's decision will harm public health and endanger U.S. economic security. 'The Trump administration's anti-science decision to gut fuel standards will unleash massive amounts of pollution into the air at the worst possible time,' Pelosi said, alluding to the coronavirus pandemic. A coalition of states previously challenged the Trump administration's decision to revoke California's authority to set its own stiff vehicle tailpipe emissions rules. Under the Obama rules, automakers were to have averaged about 5% per year increases in fuel efficiency through 2026, but the industry lobbied Trump to weaken them. The new requirements mean the U.S. vehicle fleet will average 40.4 miles per gallon rather than 46.7 mpg under the Obama rules. The Trump administration said the new rules will result in about 2 billion additional barrels of oil being consumed and 867 to 923 additional million metric tons of carbon dioxide being emitted and boost average consumer fuel costs by more than $1,000 per vehicle over the life of their vehicles. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the rule 'strikes the right regulatory balance that protects our environment, and sets reasonable targets for the auto industry.' Obama's environmental policies were intended to cut carbon emissions that drive climate change, while Trump has ditched numerous environmental regulations that his administration deemed harmful to industry and has aimed to increase the use of fossil fuels. Trump also pulled the United States out of a global climate accord and moved to reverse clean water regulations and pollution standards for coal-burning power plants. The Trump administration in August 2018 initially proposed freezing requirements at 2020 levels through 2026. Reuters reported in October automakers expected a 1.5% annual increase after talks with administration officials. An automotive trade group that represents General Motors Co , Volkswagen AG, Toyota Motor Corp and others, said that automakers need policies that support 'a customer-friendly shift' toward electrified and other highly efficient technologies. 'We are carefully reviewing the full breadth of this final rule to determine the extent to which it supports these priorities,' it said. Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, criticized the administration 'for exploiting the cover of a pandemic to roll back the clean car standards, which are crucial public health safeguards,' referring to the coronavirus crisis. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a business group, said the final rule provides a 'workable path forward on a unified national program that provides regulatory certainty while strengthening fuel economy standards and continuing emissions reductions.' The administration said the revised rules will cut the future price of new vehicles by around $1,000 and reduce traffic deaths. Environmentalists dispute the analysis that the rule will reduce traffic deaths. Pollution: Opponents say move by the Trump administration will kill hundreds more Americans a year through dirtier air, compared to the Obama standards The final rule acknowledges that drivers will pay more in higher fuel costs than they will save in new vehicle prices but said they will save more in overall vehicle ownership costs. It said it will reduce up to 1.8 million crashes and lower 'the auto industry's costs to comply with the program, with a commensurate reduction in per-vehicle costs to consumers, the standards enhance the ability of the fleet to turn over to newer, cleaner and safer vehicles.' The Trump administration has battled with California over auto regulations. Last month, the U.S. Justice Department closed an antitrust investigation into a voluntary agreement that four automakers reached with California on emissions without taking any action. Ford Motor Co, BMW AG, Honda Motor Co and VW struck a voluntary deal with California last year on emissions standards, prompting the investigation. The deal with the California Air Resources Board bypassed a White House effort to strip the state of the right to fight climate change and drew Trump's ire. Ford said on Tuesday it remains 'committed to meeting emission reductions consistent with the California framework.' All AXA employees at its Derry offices will be able to work at home from this evening, a company spokesperson has announced. The company employs around 350-400 people in the city. It will come as welcome news, as employees working in busy call centres across Ireland and Britain have been fearful of coronavirus spreading due to difficulties in practicing safe social distancing. An AXA spokesperson told the Derry News: "AXA Ireland will have all staff in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland at home with the appropriate support and equipment to work from home." The French multinational insurance firm made clear that the health and safety of its employees is of course our priority. From the outset the company said it was assessing the impact and communicating with staff as the situation developed. "We are in regular contact with our entities in affected areas which have put in place concrete measures to protect employees and proactively manage the situation," a statement issued on March 12 said. "Such preemptive measures include allowing employees to work remotely, providing adequate health and hygiene advice, events and travels restrictions. Bans or deferrals are applied to events and business trips globally, with total ban on business trips to or from affected areas such as Hubei Province in China, South Korea, Iran, and specific areas in some European countries. A dedicated escalation process has been established to report any potential infection among staff. "In the rest of the Group, all entities in the world have been advised to implement specific travel policies and guidance. We provide employees with precautionary guidance, including public authorities instructions and updates. Ho Chi Minh City will suspend all public buses in the city for 14 days to help combat the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic. The suspension, which was approved by the citys chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong as per a proposal by the municipal Department of Transport, will take effect on Wednesday, April 1, and last until April 15. The measure is considered necessary and practical as Ho Chi Minh City joins the nation in entering two critical weeks in the fight against COVID-19. More than 3,000 public buses are currently operating on over 200 routes in the southern metropolis, according to the transport department. The city has already suspended 54 bus routes, as well as banning all intercity buses, since Saturday. Vietnam has confirmed 204 cases of novel coronavirus infection so far, with 55 having walked out of the hospital free of the virus as of Monday. Ho Chi Minh City has reported 47 cases, ten of whom have recovered and been discharged from the hospital. Globally, the virus has infected more than 784,000 people, with over 37,700 fatalities registered, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Healths statistics. Over 164,700 cases have recovered worldwide. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Ferguson Effect is the idea that increased public criticism and distrust of police following the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, lowered police moral, which caused officers to withdraw from proactive policing and boosted the crime rate in major U.S. cities. A new longitudinal study examined whether this effect was real. The study, of law enforcement officers before and after Ferguson, found little support for the concept, though it did identify a reduction in officers' job satisfaction and an increase in their cynicism. The study, by researchers at the University of South Florida, appears in Criminology & Public Policy, a publication of the American Society of Criminology. "Post-Ferguson protests in 2014 did not appreciably worsen police morale, nor did they lead to substantial withdrawal from most police work," notes Chris Marier, a Ph.D. student at the University of South Florida, who led the study. "This suggests that the institution of policing is resilient to external shocks and that criticism of police is not detrimental to policing or public safety." To examine the veracity of the Ferguson Effect, researchers examined whether widespread criticism of and protests against police following the police-related deaths of Brown and other Black men in late 2014 and early 2015 reduced police morale and led to de-policing (a slowdown of or withdrawal from proactive work, in which police perform their duties but reduce their productivity and efficiency). The researchers also examined whether low morale among police officers was associated with de-policing. The study examined 18,413 surveys of law enforcement officers in 87 police departments across the United States before and after Brown was shot in Ferguson, a nationally representative sample. Morale was measured by survey items reflecting job satisfaction, burnout, and cynicism. De-policing was measured as a reduction in foot patrols, attendance at community meetings, and the number of citations issued. The researchers found that after Ferguson, officers were significantly less satisfied with their jobs and more burned out than they were before Ferguson, but the before and after differences were negligible in size. The study also found statistically significant differences between officers' responses before and after Ferguson on several measures of cynicism, but two of the five measures showed improved rather than worsened attitudes, and the magnitude of change was insubstantial. In addition, while officers surveyed after Ferguson issued fewer citations and conducted fewer foot patrols, the changes were very small in magnitude, suggesting that commitment to proactive community policing remained largely unchanged. The authors suggest that because low job satisfaction was associated with fewer citations, and cynicism was associated negatively with both the number of citations issued and the rate of attendance at community meetings, police departments need to address officers' attitudes in order to promote proactive policing and community engagement. In fact, they suggest that officers' cynicism, which was high before and after Ferguson, may be an enduring cultural element that merits further attention at any time of stress. "Although we didn't find strong evidence of de-policing following Ferguson, our results indicate that low morale is associated with reduced police activity by officers," says Lorie Fridell, a professor of criminology at the University of South Florida, who coauthored the study. "Police administrators must address officers' cynicism and distrust regardless of current public sentiment. The implications of our findings extend beyond the Ferguson Effect to a more general understanding of police culture." The study's authors note a few limitations: First, officers who were most affected by post-Ferguson protests may have been those least likely to respond to the survey, which may mean that the study's results underestimate changes in morale and police activity over time. But officers who felt most aggrieved may have been more likely to respond, which may overestimate changes. And some officers may have provided responses they thought were socially desirable, avoiding responses that appeared unprofessional or unappealing. ### The research was supported by the National Institute of Justice. CHATSWORTH, Calif.The Free Speech Coalition divulged further details Monday afternoon about disbursements of the emergency funds it will be distributing to adult industry talent and crew members affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The full rundown of information on the funds follows: The FSC Emergency Fund has been activated to help talent and crew who cant work during the COVID-19 production hold. To date, we have received over 300 applications from talent and crew, with more coming in. We will start disbursing funds by April 1. How can I help? If you dont need funds, but would like to donate, please do so here: https://bit.ly/FSCemergencydonate Whats happening with my application? We have already started verifying the first 300 applicants. This is what the verification process looks like: Verify that talent is in PASS If not in PASS, verify that talent worked on gay or trans sets that used alternate testing protocols or safer sex practices Verify that crew worked on PASS-regulated sets If not on PASS-regulated sets, verify that crew worked on gay or trans sets that used alternate testing protocols or safer sex practices We have already verified all PASS talentabout 230 peopleand are working to verify an additional 70 applicants who are crew and non-PASS talent. The latter takes a bit longer as it involves checking the production references provided. The speed with which we are able to approve and verify depends on our ability to reach those references. How do you decide who gets money? Based on the number of applications, the amount of available funds, and the amount of expected funds, we believe we will be able to give all eligible applicants $300 each. How do you decide who gets paid first? Because many crew dont have alternative revenue streams (like camming or clips) available to them, we have prioritized eligible crew applicants in the first round of disbursements. Approximately 60 crew members applied for aid so far. For talent, we are using a combination of factors to determine who is included in the first round of disbursements and who will be included in subsequent rounds. These factors include: Recency and frequency of testing in PASS Date of application Financial need We have a wide and diverse performer community, ranging from amateur couples and new models to contract stars. We view all as equal and are working hard to make sure we take care of the entirety of our community. When will I receive a check? We will start sending checks by April 1. However, we will need to contact each person individually to confirm payment details. We are disbursing $30,000 each round, so the first 100 people will receive $300 this week. We are already halfway to the next $30,000, and are on track to disburse $300 payments to another 100 people next week. After that, we will continue to pay 100 people each time we raise another $30,000. Can I apply more than once? Yes. However, since we have received more applications than we currently have funds for, we wont be accepting applications for additional funds until we have paid all eligible applicants at least once. We will inform you when you are eligible to apply for additional funds and provide a new application form. Do not submit more than one application now. What if I have another question? Email us at [email protected] If you live in the LA area and need food, My Pure Life Foods is providing 25 food assistance packages to members of the adult industry. Each package contains food for 10 meals for the week (protein, carb, vegetable). For more information, contact Joshua Phelps at [email protected]. Montana has approved the 977-acre expansion of the states largest coal mine. Spring Creek Mine was on Monday granted the expansion, which could yield an additional 72 million tons of coal, in a decision by Montanas Department of Environmental Quality. The approval should extend the life of the mine to 2031, four years longer than current conditions allow. The extra coal supply should keep production at about 18 million tons a year during the extension. The expansion should produce from $42 million to $59.5 million in taxes for the state, and keep mine employment at about 281 to 340 workers, Environmental Quality officials said in its record of decision and written findings. The decision sets a $107,727 fee for 615 acres of lost habitat for sage grouse, an endangered species. The money would be given to the Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Teams Stewardship Fund. The approved expansion is the latest of several steps aiding the future of Montanas largest coal mine. Former mine owner Cloud Peak Energy went bankrupt in 2019. The mine was then sold through bankruptcy auction to the tribally owned Navajo Transitional Energy Company, or NTEC. WHO reports some countries still have no corona cases The coronavirus has spread to at least 178 countries and regions around the globe. Though the World Health Organization has declared coronavirus a pandemic, with no place safe from its effects, a handful of countries worldwide have escaped it so far, at least apparently. However, 16 countries some from Pacific nations and others from the Africa and Asia region have no confirmed cases so far. 7 AFRICAN COUNTRIES REPORTED NO CASES In Africa, the countries of Lesotho, South Sudan, Yemen, Sierra Leone, Burundi, and Malawi and the region of Western Sahara to date have not reported any coronavirus cases. In Asia, countries such as Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and North Korea also have no reported cases. There are also some Pacific Island nations, popular tourist destinations during normal times, which are apparently untouched by the virus thanks to their isolation and remoteness. These countries and regions include Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tuvalu. In all, more than 166,700 people diagnosed with the virus have recovered from the disease. As hospitals give more and more COVID-19 patients albuterol to help them breathe, people with asthma may have a hard time getting an inhaler. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) said some areas of the United States are experiencing shortages of albuterol inhalers, and the shortage may spread. But Dr. Michael Blaiss, executive medical director of the ACAAI, emphasized that it is "nothing to panic about." Manufacturers are trying to keep up with the unexpected surge in demand, he said. Production issues are not to blame. "No one should panic or hoard albuterol, though since you need a prescription, it's not possible to hoard like toilet paper. But don't put your albuterol asthma inhalers on autofill. If your asthma is under optimal control, an inhaler should last you more than a year," Blaiss said. And, if you can't get an albuterol inhaler from your pharmacy, Blaiss said it's important to know there are other options. Patients with COVID-19 infections were initially treated with nebulizers, a common way to treat breathing problems in hospitals, and sometimes at home. But recent research suggested that when aerosolized, the coronavirus could hang in the air for a while, and some nebulizers might aerosolize the virus particles, Blaiss explained. So, out of caution, many hospitals have switched to the use of albuterol inhalers. Albuterol is a medication that helps open up the airways. It is considered a "rescue" medication. There are also preventive medications, including different types of inhalers for asthma. The big difference between a nebulizer and an inhaler is the dose received. Typically, someone given an inhaler is advised to take two puffs during an asthma symptom flare. "A nebulizer treatment is equivalent to about 10 puffs of an inhaler," Blaiss said. If you try to refill a prescription for an albuterol inhaler and can't, Blaiss recommended contacting your physician. Meanwhile, keep taking your preventive asthma medications. "You really want to make sure your asthma is under optimal control, making sure your lungs are functioning as well as possible," he said. Keeping your lungs as healthy as possible is critical right now, because people with asthma and other lung diseases are more likely to develop complications from a COVID-19 infection, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a pinch, it's usually OK to use an expired inhaler, Blaiss said. But doctors don't know how far out from the expiration date an inhaler might work. People also can use home nebulizers, and albuterol solution is available to use at home. If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or have any symptoms of infectionfever, cough, non-asthma-related shortness of breathuse your nebulizer in an isolated area, preferably outside, Blaiss recommended. If you must use it indoors, be sure no one else will be in that area for several hours at the least. There are also inhalers that contain long-acting rescue medication that can ease wheezing and breathing difficulties. Blaiss said anyone using an inhalerrescue or preventiveshould watch the counter on the device to be sure there is active medication in the canister. Because the situation is still unfolding, Blaiss said he didn't know how long any shortage might last. Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said people may simply be filling their prescriptions more regularly to ensure they have a supply in place. "Since albuterol is a rescue medicine, not necessarily a daily maintenance medicine, the shortage of supply will hopefully be temporary," Horovitz said. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Learn more about asthma medications from the Learn more about asthma medications from the American Lung Association Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Google searches for prayer 'skyrocket' amid coronavirus outbreak: report Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The number of searches on Google for the word prayer have greatly increased over the past few weeks as the coronavirus has garnered headlines, according to a research paper. Jeanet Sinding Bentzen, associate professor at the University of Copenhagen and executive director of the Association for the Study of Religion, Economics, and Culture, released a preliminary draft of a paper on Monday titled In Crisis, We Pray: Religiosity and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Bentzen analyzed internet searches for prayer in 75 countries and reported that search intensity for prayer doubles for every 80,000 new registered cases of COVID-19. In times of crisis, humans have a tendency to turn to religion for stress relief and explanation. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is no exception, wrote Bentzen in the Abstract. I document that Google searches on prayer has skyrocketed during the month of March 2020 when the COVID-19 went global. Bentzen found that during March, internet searches for prayer surged to the highest level during the past five years for which comparative Google search data is available, surpassing all other major events that otherwise instigate intensified demand for prayer, such as Christmas, Easter, and Ramadan. I find that the intensified searches on prayer during the COVID-19 pandemic is global: It occurs on all continents and for Christians and Muslims. Even Denmark, one of the least religious countries in the world sees systematic increases in internet searches on prayer, she continued. The surge mainly coincides with increases in the registered cases of the COVID-19 rather than surges in death rates. Prayer intensity also rises in countries that have only recently been hit by the pandemic themselves. Over the past few weeks, as the coronavirus has spread in the United States, large numbers of churches have canceled their in-person services and shifted to online worship. Some churches have reported dramatic increases in online views for their streaming worship services, such as pastor Joel Osteens Lakewood Church, located in Houston, Texas, and pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas. In a statement shared with The Christian Post on March 16, Lakewood reported that the decision led to a record number of viewers online. We saw 4.51 million people tune in throughout the weekend across platforms, the church said. This broke our previous record of 4.17 million in November of last year when we broadcast Kanye Wests Sunday service from Lakewood." Last week, in response to the pandemic, Pope Francis called on Christians across denominations to pray the Lords Prayer on March 25 at noon. Let us stay united. I invite all Christians to direct their voices together toward Heaven, he said on his official Twitter account. 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. Budget carrier SpiceJet has decided to cut up to 30 per cent salary of its employees in March with Chairman Ajay Singh opting for highest 30 per cent trimming in compensation, the airline said in an e-mail communication to the staff on Tuesday. Moreover, the employees will also be treated as "on leave without pay" for the March 25-31 phase due to the suspension of air passenger services during the period, said the airline, which offered its aircraft and crew to the government for any "humanitarian mission" last week. Significantly, the pay-cut announcement coincides with the termination of service contracts of over a dozen expat pilots with the airline, as per a source. "These are extremely tough time and call for appropriate and exceptional measures to sale through the exceptional challenge. As tough as it seems, most Indian carriers have already announced a pay cut for their employees. "Unfortunately SpiceJet is not too immune to the situation which has unquestionably affected the airlines in the most severe form across the globe. Therefore in our bid to stay lean, and under absolutely unavoidable circumstances, we have been forced to take certain bold decisions, which will help the SpiceJet family surmount these difficult times," Human Resource department of the airline told employees in the e-mail. SpiceJet management has decided to implement a pay cut between 10-30 per cent in March across our employee base. Our Chairman and Managing Director (Ajay Singh), in fact, has opted for the highest cut of 30 per cent in compensation, SpiceJet said. It, however, spared employees in the lowest pay grades from any pay cut. In an official statement later, the airline said it has implemented a 10-30 per cent pay cut for all its employees across top and mid-rung levels. "The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have forced us to take some tough measures to ensure that no one at SpiceJet is retrenched. What we are facing is a global phenomenon and no airline in the world is immune to the impact, Singh said in the statement. India's aviation industry, reeling under the impact of the global outbreak of COVID-19, is seeking help from the government to mitigate the financial impact of the pandemic, SpiceJet said. Coronavirus driven lockdown has adversely impacted the industry, leading to significant economic headwinds. Several airline companies, both in India and abroad, have been forced to undertake severe measures in their attempt to survive amidst tough market conditions, it said in the statement. "There are a over a dozen expat captains on the Bombardier Q400 (regional jets) fleet who have been served the termination notice," an airline source privy to development told PTI. "SpiceJet has not sacked any pilot. We have served a one-month notice' to 13 expat Q400 captains, as per their official contract. They have also been paid a month's salary as per their contract. "We have accepted the resignation of 18 Boeing captains," a spokesperson of SpiceJet said in response to a PTI query. Other budget carriers IndiGo and GoAir have already announced similar moves earlier. SpiceJet , in the e-mail, also said, "unfortunately due to the lockdown, we are forced to announce 'leave without pay for employees during March 25-31, the lockdown period during which all air passenger services remained shut". India is under a three-week lockdown starting March 25 to curb the the virus spread. Wadia Group-owned IndiGo was the first domestic carrier to announce a 25 per cent across-the-board pay cut on March 19, and it was followed by government-owned Air India, which affected a 10 per cent cut in employees allowance to deal with the precarious finances amid coronavirus pandemic. IndiGo's smaller rival GoAir also announced salary cut for all its employees in March. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jonathan Dimbleby has criticised the totemic pursuit of impartiality at the BBC, claiming it can 'get in the way of the truth'. The veteran broadcaster and former host of Any Questions? has hinted that the corporations commitment hinders its coverage of issues that require truth rather than neutrality, without naming any events. The BBC has been fighting to keep its 154.50 licence fee following Boris Johnson's victory in last year's general election. The government has been threatening to decriminalise non-payment of the fee, the corporation's main source of income. Jonathan Dimbleby, 75, said the truth was most at risk of being obscured 'when the facts are distressing or the arguments passionate' Dimbleby, 75, made the comments during filming for an ITV series, which will see him retrace the footsteps of his father, Richard, who was one of the first journalists to report out of the Bergen-Belson concentration camp in 1945. 'I sometimes wonder today whether the associated values of balance and impartiality, which are totemic for the BBC and other public service broadcasters, can get in the way of the truth.' He added that this could happen 'especially when the facts are distressing or the arguments passionate'. In the series, reported on by the Radio Times, Dimbleby says that listening to his father's words from the heartwrenching report brings tears to his eyes. His father had worked as a BBC war correspondent and was moving through northern Germany with British troops at the time. The BBC has been fighting to keep its 154.50 licence fee after the Conservative government threatened to decriminalise non-payment 'Several prisoner of war camps had already been liberated but, even so, he decided to take a look. He had no idea what he would find until he got there,' he said. He only heard his father's report after he had died. 'By that time, I was myself an adult and not much younger than he was when he sent his report back to the BBC,' Dimbleby told the magazine. 'It brought me to tears then, as it still does today. And that's not just filial piety. I have heard again and again that it has had a similar effect on many, many others.' He added that he had just returned from an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Belsen. 'It is a vast, desolate space, rough grass and tracks surrounded by a forest of birch trees. 'You might, for a moment, think it was a nature reserve. And then you see the mounds that conceal the mass graves of those tens of thousands of people who perished there in the weeks before the British arrived.' LG Uplus employees pose with mobile devices and placards bearing the names of the mobile carrier's 5G content services to commemorate the first anniversary of the launch of the company's commercial 5G service, Sunday. / Courtesy of LG Uplus By Kim Hyun-bin, Baek Byung-yeul LG Uplus CEO Ha Hyun-hwoi Police have flocked to Sydney's east and ordered sunbakers to go home under coronavirus social distancing laws which come with fines of up to $11,000. Officers descended on the city's exclusive suburbs from Rushcutters Bay to Bondi - which have emerged as COVID-19 hotspots - when tough new restrictions kicked in on Tuesday. At Coogee Beach, riot police were seen ordering people to leave the surrounding parks immediately. Rangers could be seen approaching a woman sitting on the grass on a towel being told she needed to move on. Riot squad officers were seen descending on Coogee beach, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, on Tuesday Beach-goers pictured sun bathing on a grass area in Coogee after the beach was closed on March 22 A family-of-four who stopped to rest during their exercise were also approached and told to move. One couple were told by the ranger their activity was not 'essential' and they should move on, according to Nine News. Meanwhile at Rushcutters Bay Park police drove onto the grass in order to enforce the laws. The officers did not leave their cars while telling groups sitting on the grass they were violating the new public health restrictions. One couple were sitting and were told by the ranger their activity was not 'essential' and they should move on Those who were exercising in the park were allowed to stay. Sydney's eastern suburbs has emerged as Australia's coronavirus epicentre with 140 cases in Waverley, 79 in Woollahra and two large clusters of cases - one involving backpackers at the Bucket List bar in Bondi. The New South Wales government was forced to close famous beaches, such as Bondi, as they were crowded with people ignoring the regulations in place at the time. Sydney's eastern suburbs has emerged as Australia's coronavirus epicentre with 140 cases in Waverley, 79 in Woollahra and two large clusters of cases - one involving backpackers at the Bucket List bar in Bondi A NSW Police spokesperson said there are currently no figure for how many people have been fined in the city's eastern suburbs in the last 24 hours. Australians must stay 1.5 metres away from each other and can't gather in groups larger than two. People also cannot leave the home unless it is an essential outing. This includes going to get groceries or obtaining services, travelling to and from work, getting medical care or exercising. In New South Wales breaching the social distancing guidelines falls under the Public Health Act. A breach of the Public Health Act carries a maximum fine of $11,000, six months in jail or a $1,000 on-the-spot fine. Olivia Wilde has been keeping her kids busy as schools and businesses close during Safer At Home measures for COVID-19 in Los Angeles. The 36-year-old opted to take her son Otis, five, and daughter Daisy, three, to the park on Tuesday with the help of a nanny as her partner Jason Sudeikis was not seen. Her family outing comes as most public parks, beaches and areas frequented by groups have been closed by the city and county as COVID-19 continues to spread. All 280 state parks have been closed to vehicle access. Scroll down for video Park trip: Olivia Wilde kept her kids busy on Tuesday with a trip to the local park near her Silverlake, California home in Los Angeles county Wilde was wearing a white T-shirt that read 'vive la resistance' which translates to 'long live the resistance.' Over the top she wore a light wash denim jacket that read 'Daisy' on the back, and she paired that with a blue Brooklyn Dodgers cap. The Tron: Legacy star completed her look with a pair of low-top sneakers, black and white checkered Vans, black jeans and dark Ray-Ban sunglasses as she headed out with her family. Her look: Over a white tee she wore a light wash denim jacket that read 'Daisy' on the back, and she paired that with a blue Brooklyn Dodgers cap, with black jeans and slide on sneakers She carried what appeared to be a wrapped up blanket as she headed out with her son, daughter and nanny. Otis and Daisy both rode on three-wheel scooters as their mom followed. They were spotted out at a park near their family home in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles on Saturday. Several parks, beaches, bars, restaurants and other facilities have been closed in Los Angeles, to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Ride along: Otis, five, and Daisy, three, rode scooters as the family seemed to have the park to themselves as Los Angeles residents have been urged to stay indoors to 'flatten the curve,' and stay inside to limit the spread and the impact the sick will have on hospital The family seemed to have the park to themselves as Los Angeles residents have been urged to stay indoors to 'flatten the curve,' and stay inside to limit the spread and the impact the sick will have on hospitals. Wilde and Sudeikis first met in November 2011, and were engaged in January 2013, with their first child Otis born in 2014 and their second Daisy born in 2016. Wilde is coming off her role as Charlotte Moore on Netflix's Bojack Horseman, and her role as Kathy Scruggs in Richard Jewell. Sudeikis has Til Death and El Tonto in post-production, with the new series Ted Lasso currently filming. KABUL, -- Women named as part of an Afghan delegation tasked with conducting peace talks with the Taliban say they will be attempting to preserve womens rights in complex negotiations with the hard-line Islamist movement aimed at ending four decades of war in Afghanistan. We will be aiming to discuss womens citizenship rights, which will cumulatively include all political, social, and economic rights within the framework of a republican [political system], Habiba Sarabi, a leading member of the Afghan delegation, told Radio Free Afghanistan. Sarabi, a physician and deputy leader of the governments peace council, says they will be specifically looking to preserve the right to vote, right to candidacy, work, free speech, and all other human and women rights in the peace talks with the Taliban. We dont expect these issues to be resolved in the coming months because negotiations are a long, drawn-out process, she said. Factions and politicians supporting the current political system, formally called Afghanistans Islamic Republic, and the Taliban have already missed the March 10 deadline to begin direct negotiations. The fragile process is threatened by mounting violence and disagreements between the Taliban and the Afghan government, which in turn is facing a political crisis. The global coronavirus pandemic also threatens Afghanistans future as the country struggles with a lack of healthcare resources and the imminent fallout of global economic decline. Shahla Fareed, another Afghan peace negotiator, says she hopes her country can avoid a catastrophe by promptly beginning peace negotiations. We are likely to face many obstacles in these negotiations, but we hope to convince the Taliban that only Afghans are the victims of war in their country, she told Radio Free Afghanistan. I demand that both sides conduct these talks in a calm atmosphere. Fareed, however, acknowledged that they still have no agenda for the talks, which she hopes will be put together by the 21-member delegation. Five of its members are women. She said they would hopefully be able to discuss womens representation, education, work, their participation in security and politics along with guarantees to access healthcare. So far, the Taliban have vaguely signaled that unlike their hard-line regime in the 1990s, they will be granting women some rights. We together will find a way to build an Islamic system in which all Afghans have equal rights, where the rights of women that are granted by Islam -- from the right to education to the right to work -- are protected, the movement's deputy leader wrote in an op-ed published by the New York Times last month. On the ground in Afghanistan, however, the Taliban and the Afghan government appeared to be on a trajectory of escalating hostilities. President Ashraf Ghani and his rival former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah have so far failed to agree on power-sharing despite a $1 billon U.S. aid cut and public frustration with their political conflict. On March 30, the countrys national security council postponed the release of 100 Taliban prisoners. A day earlier, presidential adviser Waheed Omar called on the Taliban to not make any excuses after the Taliban refused to deal with the 21-member delegation Kabul announced for holding talks with the insurgents. The Taliban said the team was not inclusive and failed to represent the countrys diversity. The fragile process is also threatened by mounting Taliban attacks on the Afghan forces. The militants killed at least 28 Afghan soldiers in remote provinces in the south and north of the country. The violence escalates amid mounting fears that a coronavirus pandemic might ravage communities across Afghanistan because the war-torn nations anemic healthcare system might not be able to cope with the pandemic. Last week, the countrys health minister warned as many as 110,000 Afghans will be killed by COVID-19, the disease caused by a coronavirus infection. Abubakar Siddique wrote this story based on Feroza Azizis reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: Katie Haugland Bowen/Flickr Here's what you need to know about what's happening in San Antonio. Medical examiner identifies teen shot dead in East Side home He has been identified as Greg Pina, 17. Read the full story on Graham Media: KSAT 12 . Man in 50s confirmed as 6th COVID-19 death in Bexar County A man in his 50s with underlying health conditions died of COVID-19 at Methodist Northeast Hospital, according to city and county officials. Read the full story on Graham Media: KSAT 12 . SAPD: Man shot in the leg, taken to hospital after West Side shooting A man was shot in the leg and taken to a hospital after a shooting on the West Side, according to the San Antonio Police Department. Read the full story on Graham Media: KSAT 12 . 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 World Health Organization has been accused of being influenced by China after its top official appeared to hang up on a journalist when confronted with questions about Taiwan during a video interview. When asked about Taiwan's handling of the coronavirus outbreak by a Hong Kong journalist, Dr Bruce Aylward, assistant director-general of the WHO, avoided commenting further, claiming they had 'already talked about China'. WHO later said the question of Taiwan's membership is 'up to WHO Member States, not WHO staff' while responding to interview. It comes as the organisation has recently been criticised by the media for its political bias towards China, which considers Taiwan a part of its territory. Dr Aylward, who is also the team leader of WHO-China Joint Mission against the coronavirus, was interviewed by Yvonne Tong, a journalist from Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) Dr Aylward, who is also the team leader of WHO-China Joint Mission against the coronavirus, was interviewed by Yvonne Tong, a journalist from Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), via a Skype call last Friday. During a segment of the interview, Ms Tong asked if the WHO would reconsider letting Taiwan join the organisation. Dr Aylward first didn't respond for several seconds before saying he couldn't hear the journalist. When Ms Tong offered to repeat the question, the official said: 'No it's okay. Let's move to another one then.' He then appeared to be disconnected from the call or hang up on Ms Tong when she said she wanted to talk about Taiwan. The journalist rang Dr Aylward again and asked if he could comment on Taiwan's response to the coronavirus outbreak. There is a total of 322 confirmed coronavirus cases in Taiwan and only five deaths. 'Well, we've already talked about China,' the official replied. 'And when you look across all the different areas of China, they've actually all done quite a good job.' Dr Aylward then ended the interview by saying: 'With that, I'd like to thank you very much for inviting us to participate.' Dr Aylward then ended the interview by saying: 'With that, I'd like to thank you very much for inviting us to participate.' Pictured: Dr Bruce Aylward speaks to the media about the COVID-19 Critics have slammed Dr Aylward and WHO, suggesting that they are politically influenced by China, a major contributor to the organisation. Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, a reporter at American news outlet Axios, reacted: 'This is really stunning. Beijing's power over the speech of a Canadian WHO official.' 'Aylward's behavior reminds us that either we remove #China's pernicious influence in multilateral institutions like the #WorldHealthOrganization or the world's free states defund them and start over,' American author Gordon Chang tweeted. US senator Marco Rubio wrote: 'No surprise. The front line workers at @WHO do amazing and heroic work. But some of the organizations leaders have covered for #Chinas Communist Party from day one of #coronavirus.' 'Wow, can't even utter 'Taiwan' in the WHO?' Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs later commented on its Twitter account. 'You should set politics aside in dealing with a pandemic.' 'Wow, can't even utter 'Taiwan' in the WHO?' Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs later commented on its Twitter account. 'You should set politics aside in dealing with a pandemic' WHO responded to the interview on Sunday and said Taiwan's membership is not decided by its staff. 'In a recent interview, the WHO official who headed the joint international mission to China, did not answer a question on Taiwan's response to the COVID-19 outbreak,' a statement read. 'The question of Taiwanese membership in WHO is up to WHO Member States, not WHO staff. However, WHO is working closely with all health authorities who are facing the current coronavirus pandemic, including Taiwanese health experts.' When MailOnline contacted WHO for further comment today, the media team replied with its statement from Sunday. China views the island as one of its provinces while Taiwan considers itself to be an independent country. Young people are pictured walking on a street in Taipei, Taiwan Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director general, has also repeatedly praised China for its response to the outbreak. The picture shows him speaking at a news briefing yesterday China and Taiwan have a long-standing dispute over the island's political status. China views the island as one of its provinces while Taiwan considers itself to be an independent country. WHO has yet to officially recognise Taiwan as a member state and the island has been denied permission to attend emergency meetings and briefings since 2016, according to the press. RTHK also pressed Dr Aylward regarding WHO's response to the coronavirus, of which WHO did not declare a pandemic until March 11, when the virus had already reached at least 112 countries and infected more than 110,000 people. The official said the WHO always knew there was the potential that it would become a pandemic. 'We actually, as societies, have the ability, where it appears, to prevent this becoming a pandemic if we do the kind of measures that China put in place,' Dr Aylward added. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director general, has also repeatedly praised China for its response to the outbreak, despite Hubei, where the virus was first discovered, initially tried to cover up the epidemic. More than 786,000 people around the world have been infected with the deadly disease and at least 37,820 have died. 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 While most of their in-person customers stay away, small businesses in Los Angeles are coming up with creative measures to stay afloat. Some restaurants have used their connections with suppliers to turn themselves into de facto markets, selling groceries but the L.A. County Department of Public Health isn't so hot on the practice. Others have instituted elaborate protocols for customers who are picking up food. At Guerrilla Tacos in downtown L.A., you text the staff when you've arrived. At the restaurant's entrance, you stand behind a line on the ground until an employee brings your food to a table set up in the vestibule. Only when the staffer is back inside can you cross the line to get your items. Guerrilla Tacos has also started to offer large, pre-made meals that include 10 pounds of meat, 30 eggs and a roll of toilet paper. "Basically we had a catering menu all ready to roll, so we kind of slid into offering that," chef and owner Wes Avila says. A pre-pandemic meal from Guerilla Tacos: A bacon taco with a fried egg, baby rapini, cheddar, arbol chile and chives (left) and a sunchoke taco with persimmon, castlevetrano olives, almond chile, scallions and pistachio. (T.Tseng/Flickr Creative Commons) Others like Poppy + Rose, a modern comfort food spot in DTLA, are selling meal kits so that fans of its fried chicken and waffles can make these items at home. "We're kind of listening to what everybody else is saying and just filling the need in the community," co-owner Kwini Reed says. Yoga and dance studios have also employed creative measures to stay open. ABCs of Dance in West Hollywood has taken its classes to Zoom so children can still learn ballet at home. "When we announced that we were going to close for in-person classes, we got so many responses from families that were thankful," co-owner Amanda Albin says. "We were offering a little bit of normal." Remote classes and takeout food are clever stopgap measures but they aren't long-term solutions. Small businesses still have rent to pay and most are, at best, breaking even with their new approaches. If "stay at home" orders continue for weeks or even months, many businesses may not be able to bounce back. If there's any silver lining to the coronavirus quarantine, Avila thinks it might at least slow down the rapacious pace of development -- and gentrification -- that has overtaken many L.A. neighborhoods. After all, landlords will have little to bargain with if they evict a tenant. "If landlords are saying I can get a Starbucks in here quick, it's like, be my guest," Avila says. "Nobody's trying to move in when there's no money. There's not even people to come and eat." Influential community figure Mike Bass, a former township board member and lover of the arts in The Woodlands, died Monday. He was 77. Bass, who was the Position 2 member of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors for four years from 2012 through 2016, was remembered on Monday as news of his passing spread through the community. MORE FROM JEFF FORWARD: Woodlands officially postpones incorporation efforts; no vote planned in 2020 From his love of cooking and the arts to his unmatched knowledge of township politics and issues, numerous local residents and public figures lamented the loss of the dedicated community figure whod been known in recent years as a vocal opponent to the ongoing incorporation studies. Aside from local politics, Bass was also a key figure in the arts world in the township, volunteering as both the former treasurer and executive director of The Woodlands Arts Council and spear-heading many public art initiatives such as plans for a cultural arts center or museum, which has been studied by township leaders the past several years. Montgomery County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3 Matt Beasley confirmed Bass death on Monday, saying an inquest was being done and the cause of death was being investigated. There is no suspicion of criminal activity, and the probe is normal procedure. CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Woodlands officials: 15 firefighters in quarantine; no positive COVID-19 tests I was at the scene with (Bass) wife and children, Beasley said. Mike Bass was a good person who did a lot for the community. It is very sad. Passionate community leader More Information Mike Bass' final letter to the editor Bass was well known at The Villager and Courier of Montgomery County newsrooms; having interacted with staff during his time as an elected official and local arts community leader. Here is the final letter to the editor he submitted to the newspapers earlier in March: "In order to vote on the question of incorporation during the November 2020 Election as the Township Board has suggested, the Board will need to call such an election by mid-August. Such a decision should be preceded by the planned Resident Public Forums for the Board to explain their rational of incorporation, something still unexplained. After these Forums the Board should be conducting surveys, as originally planned, to evaluate the public's attitudes toward incorporation. These activities by our Board should be a precedent to their deciding whether or not to call a vote on incorporation. Yet, how can these Forums be held if, as projected, this pandemic continues through August? In addition, this pandemic is the most critical event we must deal with over at least the rest of this year and will probably leave long-lasting damage to our local, state and federal economy in its wake. Dealing with the pandemic should be our number one priority, not incorporation. Until we all recover from the negative effect of COVID-19, now is not the time for our government to entertain any proposal that will result in higher costs and taxes. The Township Board should defer any further work and action on incorporation until after the pandemic is well behind us and our community has fully recovered. Regards, Mike Bass" See More Collapse Fellow township board member Ann Snyder she was saddened to hear of Bass death, noting he had deep convictions and perseverance on issues he was passionate about. I was truly saddened to hear of the passing of Mike Bass, and my heart goes out to his wife, Georgie, his children and grandchildren. Mike was one of the most intelligent individuals that I knew. His convictions and perseverance for what he believed was right was unwavering. Mike never stopped researching until he found the answer to any question posed. He loved our hometown, The Woodlands, and gave his heart and soul to the preservation of its foundation, Snyder said. A LOOK BACK: Sunday Conversation: The Woodlands Arts Council Executive Director Mike Bass Snyder said her encounters with Bass included not only township politics board duties, but also involved The Woodlands Arts Council something both of them shared a driving passion for. I had the opportunity to serve with Mike not only on The Woodlands Township Board of Directors when he served as vice chairman but also on The Woodlands Arts Council Board of Directors. His involvement for many years on the Arts Board was because of his belief in the intrinsic value of the arts and its importance to not only The Woodlands but to society itself, Snyder added. Another board member, Director John Anthony Brown, recalled fond memories of Bass. Brown was first elected in 2015 when Bass was in the last year of what would be his final term in office. Im saddened to hear the news of one of community leaders. I first met Mike Bass while serving as an area representative on the Alden Bridge Village Association sometime in 2012-2013. He was very active attending the Village Associations and would always help out with any issues,: Brown recalled. He also gave a lot of time to different organizations and devoted himself to service. The community will miss him. My prayers and support go out to his family. Board Chairman Gordy Bunch, who was first elected in 2012 along with Bass, said he will be sorely missed. Although the two had differing opinions on the idea of incorporating The Woodlands, Bunch said he had deep respect for Bass and his opinions. Mike and I were both first elected to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors in May 2012. Mike brought an intensity to our board and was always well prepared to debate his positions. Mike was instrumental in creating the transportation task force at a time the Township was without transportation staff, Bunch said. His efforts will live on with the South County Mobility Plan that established short and long term needs for our region. Mike stayed engaged after his time on our board and was never shy to share his opinion. I was saddened to hear of his passing this morning. Michelle and I send our prayers to Georgie and the entire Bass family. Insight and knowledge Known in more recent years for his opposition to township incorporation efforts, Bass was also a former director from 2012 through 2016. He was first elected in May of 2012 before the township shifted their election cycle to November, handily defeating challenger Ted Stanley. In 2014, when the election was done in November, he earned a second term in office from voters with a victory over challenger Ron Mullins. Bass had also served on the Village of Sterling Ridge village association board for several years. In 2016, Bass was challenged by current Director Brian Boniface as he tried for a third term in office. The 2016 township election was arguably the most contentious election in the history of The Woodlands, as four seats on the seven-member board were hotly contested and campaign donations flooded the races. When all was said and done, Boniface won his first term on the board, defeating bass by less than 2,000 votes. Bruce Cunningham, who is currently on the Grogans Mill Village Association board and has been very active in politics and other issues in the township for years, recalled the first time he met Bass, saying he was impressed by his depth of insight and knowledge of township affairs. We sat next to each other at a meeting regarding setting up the Township. I dont remember the details of why we talked or what we talked about, I do remember how impressed I was with his knowledge of the subject and his determination, Cunningham recalled. Mike started making contributions to the community very quickly he was on the Sterling ridge Village Association and then gained knowledge of the detailed working of the community by becoming a member of the other organizations what it it. He transitioned to becoming a Township Director in 2012 and was then defeated by Brian Boniface in 2016 in the Tea Party sweep of 2016. Mike was tarred with statements that he made about The Woodlands Parkway extension, Those statements have come to be proved true as have most of the statements he has made. Local attorney Walter Cooke, who knew Bass through multiple community activities and endeavors, said Bass will be sorely missed. Cooke, who sought a seat on the township Board of Directors in 2019, losing to Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, shared many of the same views on township issues as bass, notably their opposition to incorporation efforts. Mike Bass was a legend in The Woodlands politics. Mike had the smarts and the perseverance to analyze complex issues down to the finest detail. He was an invaluable resource for me when I ran for the Township Board, Cooke said. He not only encouraged me, but he was always ready to provide advice and analysis of issues facing the Township. He will be greatly missed. His passing leaves a big hole in our hearts and in our political life. Love for arts, cooking Deb Spiess, who is heavily involved in The Woodlands Arts Council, said Bass was a person who poured his heart into various passions aside from local politics, notably the arts world. Bass was both the treasurer for the arts council as well as its first executive director. We are all very saddened to learn of Mikes passing. As a former TWAC board member, then treasurer, and the first executive director, Mike had a heart for the arts and made it a priority as a dedicated volunteer and board member, Spiess said. Walter Lisiewski, who is chairman of the townships Development Standards Committee, said one thing he recalls about Bass was he deep care for the community, as well as a desire to be as informed about all aspects of township business as possible. Lisiewski also said Bass had a kind heart and was a giving person who would help anyone. I always thought (he) was brilliant. He may not always agree with your conclusion, but he respected it. He was one of those people who you could agree to disagree with. He was a person who I looked to for counsel a lot, Lisiewski said. When I submitted my application to join the DSC, he called me up one Saturday at my house and asked me to meet to get to know me. He did his homework. He wanted to know who I was, what I did, what my career was and what Id been doing in the community. He really loved this communityhe was one of those who thought outside the box. Cunningham said Bass always asked people he met what sound they enjoyed most in life, a quirky element of his curiosity. I do remember (a) meeting (when) a consultant was trying to establish rapport between people who were going to be on the task force. One of the things he asked Nelda Blair and Joel Deretchin was what are your favorite sounds, Neldas was a champagne cork popping, Joels was a viola concerto, Cunningham added. His friends will miss him because of the robustness and thought he added to conversations. We read his missives carefully, we shared them widely since they were conclusive and authoritative. The community will miss him because there is no one else like him, someone who will take the time to collect the information, analyze it and distribute it when he disagrees with the purported facts. Amy Lecocq, a former federal prosecutor who is heavily involved with The Woodlands Arts Council, said she and Bass shared two passions art and following the townships incorporation efforts. Mike and I worked closely together at The Woodlands Arts Council, first as Members of the board and later he as treasurer and me as president. It may not surprise you that Mike was famously detail oriented and quite tight with a dollar, Lecocq said. However, what may surprise you was his passion for art. With Mikes service on the Township Board and on the Arts Council, he has vigorously pursued a performing arts center in The Woodlands and I hope that his dream, shared by many, may one day be a reality. jeff.forward@chron.com 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 Asia-Pacific team. All times below are in Eastern time. Global cases: More than 850,000 Global deaths: At least 41,000 US cases: At least 184,100 US deaths: At least 3,700 The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University. 8:05 pm: Washington deploys National Guard to help food banks Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced on Tuesday that the Washington National Guard will be deployed in the state this week to assist local food banks with their operations. "They're filling an important need and I ask that you welcome them in your communities as they process, package and distribute meals," Inslee said in a tweet. Inslee spokesman David Postman said earlier on Tuesday that the National Guard wasn't being deployed in a law enforcement role or to enforce restrictions, according to the Tacoma News Tribune. 7:45 pm: New York City death toll passes 1,000 More than 1,000 people have died in New York City from the deadly COVID-19 coronavirus, according to updated statistics released on Tuesday night. New York City's death toll now stands at 1,096, an increase of 182 since last night at this time. 41,771 in the city have tested positive, according to NYC Health. New York state is now the coronavirus epicenter of the world with 75,795 cases in the state as of Tuesday morning. The state, which includes New York City, has surpassed Hubei in China, where the virus emerged, which reported 67,801 confirmed cases. Kif Leswing 7:20: 3M takes on face mask price gouging and fraud Vice president Mike Pence visited 3M World Headquarters in Maplewood, Minnesota, meeting with 3M leaders and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to coordinate response to the COVID-19 virus. Glen Stubbe | Star Tribune | Getty Images American industrial giant and major face mask maker 3M said Tuesday it will take steps to stop price gougers and counterfeiters from exploiting the surge in demand for its respirator masks. 3M released a sheet on Tuesday with the list prices for many of its major varieties of respirator mask. The $32 billion company is one of the largest makers in the world of face masks that are especially effective at filtering out harmful particles from air. The outbreak of the new coronavirus has left the company racing to meet demand around the world as masks disappear from store shelves and fetch extremely high prices online. Robert Ferris 7 pm: Start-ups cut nearly 4,000 jobs in March as coronavirus impact ripples through tech Start-ups eliminated nearly 4,000 jobs this month as the coronavirus crisis disrupted business-as-usual across the economy. The layoffs, compiled by CNBC based on multiple media reports, included more than 3,800 people spanning more than 40 companies operating in sectors including hospitality, transportation, meal delivery and artificial intelligence. They are headquartered across the country, in California, Austin, Boston and Portland, Ore., among others. The companies have collectively raised nearly $15 billion, according to Crunchbase data. Lauren Feiner 6:51 pm: Senators push Mnuchin to guarantee oversight of $500 billion bailout fund Leading Democratic senators called on Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to ensure proper oversight of a $500 billion fund aimed at helping companies hit by the coronavirus' economic fallout. The fund, which was established as part of a more than $2 trillion stimulus bill President Donald Trump signed into law last week, became a point of contention for Democrats who worried that earlier versions of the bill gave Mnuchin too much discretion over how the funds are dispersed. After tense negotiations, Republicans and Mnuchin agreed to add an inspector general to oversee that fund, as well as a congressional committee. But Trump on Friday questioned the authority of the inspector general. According to a signing statement he released alongside the bill, he declared his belief that the inspector general needs his permission before letting Congress know whether Mnuchin or Treasury block efforts to glean information. Lauren Hirsch 6:42 pm: The Fed's Loretta Mester says to expect 'some really bad economic numbers' before things get better The coronavirus crisis is going to push unemployment past 10%, but it may not be as bad as some forecasts, Cleveland Federal Reserve President Loretta Mester said in a CNBC interview. Recent outlooks have seen the St. Louis Fed estimate the jobless rate to as bad as 32%, while Goldman Sachs this week upped its prediction to 15%. Mester said the final number is likely to fall somewhere above 10% though likely not as bad as the upper range. "Those numbers are not out of the range of possibilities, according to our own forecasts at the Cleveland Fed," Mester said on "Closing Bell." "How things play out really is going to depend on the course of the virus." Jeff Cox 6:24 pm: Dow futures fall more than 200 points after market posts worst first quarter on record U.S. stock futures moved lower in overnight trading and pointed to declines at the open on Wednesday, following the end of the worst first quarter on record for the Dow and S&P 500 spurred by the coronavirus sell-off. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell more than 1.2%, indicating a loss of about 220 points. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq were also set to open lower, with losses of 25 points and 55 points, respectively. President Donald Trump said Tuesday evening the U.S. should prepare for a "very, very painful two weeks" from the rampant coronavirus. Maggie Fitzgerald 5:56 pm: White House predicts 100,000 to 240,000 will die in US from coronavirus President Donald Trump prepared Americans for a coming surge in coronavirus cases, calling COVID-19 a plague and saying the U.S. is facing a "very, very painful two weeks." "This is going to be a rough two-week period," Trump said at a White House press conference. White House officials are projecting between 100,000 and 240,000 deaths in the U.S. with fatalities peaking over the next two weeks. "When you look at night, the kind of death that has been caused by this invisible enemy, it's incredible." Berkeley Lovelace Jr. 5:45 pm: Infectious disease expert who has coronavirus says public health can not be overlooked again Governments around the world cannot afford to neglect public health after the coronavirus pandemic, infectious disease expert Dr. Ian Lipkin told CNBC on Tuesday. "One of the things we need to learn from this is we have to invest in our public health infrastructure, invest in our science, invest in global surveillance so things like this never happen again," Lipkin said on "Closing Bell." "That's something we're not thinking about right now, but we should be doing so very soon, if not now," added Lipkin, who himself became sick with COVID-19. Kevin Stankiewicz 5:36 pm: CDC says diabetes, lung disease, heart disease and smoking may increase risk of severe coronavirus illness People with diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart disease or those who smoke may be at increased risk of developing severe complications if they get infected with the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. In its first report looking at underlying health conditions that could make COVID-19 worse, the CDC analyzed data from confirmed cases in all 50 states and four U.S. territories between Feb. 12 and March 28. The agency examined 7,162 cases where data was available on underlying health conditions or other potential risk factors. Confirmed cases among people repatriated to the United States from Wuhan, China, where the virus emerged, and the Diamond Princess cruise ship were excluded, the agency said. Berkeley Lovelace Jr. 5:30 pm: Grocery workers continue to feel underpaid and ill-equipped A shopper wears a face mask due to the coronavirus outbreak while browsing an aisle in the Harris Teeter on First Street, Nebraska, on Monday, March 23, 2020. Tom Williams | CQ Roll Call | Getty Images Temporary wage hikes. Special bonuses. Paid sick time. In recent weeks, tensions are on the rise between grocery workers and their employers, spurring many to take public action. Employees at Amazon-owned Whole Foods planned a "sick out" Tuesday, while some drivers who deliver Whole Foods groceries are calling for more protections. Thousands of people have signed an online petition circulated by Trader Joe's employees. On Monday, some Instacart workers held a nationwide strike. And a major grocery union, United Food and Commercial Workers Union, is advocating for workers to have access to coronavirus testing and protective gear. While some of these labor actions failed to draw large-scale support, workers on the front lines of the grocery business still expressed concerns in interviews with CNBC. They said they continue to feel underpaid and ill-equipped to confront the dangers they face. Melissa Repko, Annie Palmer 5:20 pm: Trump will approve 90-day delay for some tariff payments as coronavirus wallops economy President Donald Trump will allow certain businesses to defer some tariff payments by three months, three sources told CNBC on Tuesday. The president could announce the 90-day delay in tariff payments later Tuesday, one source said. The tariff deferral will come amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has upended global trade and ground the U.S. economy to a halt. Kevin Breuninger, Kayla Tausche 5:05 pm: California Health Corps site scored 25,000 sign-ups in its first day California Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said 25,000 people signed up for the state's new Health Corps site, in one day. The state is now vetting the licenses, specialties and looking to place eligible healthcare workers in roles at facilities where they are most needed throughout California. Health Corps is seeking help from licensed doctors, nurses, respiratory specialists, dentists, paramedics and EMTs, pharmacists and others Newsom also thanked Facebook for a $25 million donation that will help pay for housing for healthcare professionals near hospitals or clinics, and for childcare for their families. According to models used by the state, the governor said he expects the COVID-19 outbreak in California to peak some time in May 2020. Lora Kolodny 4:45 pm: Senators to airlines CEOs: Give travelers cash refunds Several U.S. senators urged airline CEOs on Tuesday to ensure customers are given full cash refunds of trips they cancel because of COVID-19. Many U.S. airlines including United, Delta and American, are allowing travelers to cancel their tickets but they will receive a credit with the airline, instead of a refund. Congress last week approved $58 billion in aid, including payroll grants, for U.S. airlines in the $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill. "The ongoing pandemic is placing enormous financial strain on millions of Americans, and families need cash to pay for essentials such as food, housing, and medical care," wrote Senators Edward Markey, Richard Blumenthal, Elizabeth Warren, Sheldon Whitehouse, Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar, Kamala Harris, Robert Casey, and Christopher Murphy to 11 U.S. airline CEOs. Leslie Josephs 4:20 pm: NYC to turn US Open tennis courts into hospital for coronavirus patients with hopes of playing in August, The tennis courts that host the U.S. Open are being turned into a field hospital for coronavirus patients as New York City officials ramp up medical staff, supplies and facilities for an anticipated wave of COVID-19 patients in April and May, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday. Part of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens will be converted into a temporary hospital with 350 beds for non-ICU patients from Elmhurst Hospital, which has been one of the facilities that has "borne the brunt" of the coronavirus pandemic spreading in the city, de Blasio said. "I think the time horizon that's of deepest concern to New York city is April-May, and thereafter we pray that we start to come out of this, but it won't be instant," de Blasio told reporters at the tennis center in Queens on Tuesday. "August may be a very, very much better time or we may still be fighting some of these battles. We don't know yet. By late summer, we may get some good news." Noah Higgins-Dunn 4 pm: Dow drops 400 points as stocks close out their worst first quarter ever 3:38 pm: NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio orders investigation of Amazon's firing of strike organizer New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday he has ordered the city's human rights commissioner to investigate Amazon's decision to fire a warehouse worker who organized a strike at its Staten Island warehouse. Chris Smalls, a warehouse worker at the facility, known as JFK8, organized a strike on Monday to call attention to the lack of protective measures for workers who continue to be on the job amid the coronavirus. Smalls claims he was fired by Amazon in retaliation of his decision to organize the strike. Amazon said it fired Smalls after he "received multiple warnings for violating social distancing guidelines." "I've ordered the city's commission on human rights to investigate Amazon immediately to determine if that's true," de Blasio said at a press conference Tuesday. "If so, that would be a violation of our city's human rights law and we would act on it immediately." Annie Palmer 3:30 pm: Aircraft carrier captain pleads for help after more than 100 crew are infected with coronavirus The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier with more than 100 cases of coronavirus wrote a stunning plea for help to senior military officials. In a four-page letter, first reported by The San Francisco Chronicle, Capt. Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt described a disastrous situation unfolding aboard the warship, a temporary home to more than 4,000 crew members. "We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset our Sailors," Crozier wrote. "The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating." Amanda Macias 3 pm: NY domestic violence programs see client numbers decline as coronavirus traps survivors at home Domestic violence programs and shelters in New York, the state with the most confirmed coronavirus cases, are seeing a decline in at-risk clients as people stay home to prevent the spread of the outbreak. Trauma experts warn that this could lead to more abuse. The outbreak has left women, in particular, with few opportunities to seek help as social distancing guidelines urge people to shelter in place, forcing some women to stay home with an abuser to avoid contracting the coronavirus. Some women who are survivors of domestic violence have either fled shelters back to their abusers out of fear, or they have found that they have limited opportunities to seek out and receive support from domestic violence resource groups because of distancing guidelines. Yelena Dzhanova 2:26 pm: Portugal's TAP to lay off 90% of staff Portugal's flag carrier TAP will temporarily lay off around 90% of its employees due to the growing coronavirus crisis that led to a fall in demand for travel, according to an email sent by the airline to staff on Tuesday and seen by Reuters. From April 1 to at least May 4, TAP will only use its fleet to repatriate citizens, transport medical supplies and operate flights to the Portuguese islands of Azores and Madeira, the company said on the email. All other flights will be suspended. Reuters 2:20 pm: Coronavirus expected to cripple US auto sales Jeep Wranglers are displayed at a Manhattan Fiat Chrysler dealership on July 23, 2018 in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images Automakers are offering 0% financing, deferred payments and online tools in an attempt to salvage sales as the coronavirus pandemic cripples the auto industry. Automakers this week are expected to report their worst sales declines in years. J.D. Power expects auto sales to decline at least 32% in March compared with a year ago. Edmunds forecasts sales to fall 35.5% this month, capping an 11.8% decline in the first quarter. Cox Automotive, citing the "volatility of the U.S. economy," decided not to provide a sales forecast. March sales are expected to be the lowest in the U.S. since January 2014 and the lowest first quarter since 2012, according to Edmunds. Michael Wayland 2:10 pm: Rate of France deaths accelerates for third day French health authorities reported 499 new deaths from coronavirus, taking the total to 3,523, an increase of 17% in the past 24 hours. It was the third consecutive day that the rate of deaths accelerated in France, which is now in its third week of lockdown to try to slow the spread of the virus. State health agency director Jerome Salomon told a news conference that the number of cases had risen to 52,128, a rise of 17% in 24 hours, probably due to the fact that France has been ramping up testing. Reuters 2:07 pm: Trump calls for $2 trillion infrastructure package Four days after signing an unprecedented $2 trillion relief bill to blunt the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump called for the U.S. to spend another couple trillion bucks on a massive infrastructure package. In a tweet, he wrote that "this is the time" to craft an infrastructure overhaul with U.S. interest rates at zero during the crisis. "It should be VERY BIG & BOLD, Two Trillion Dollars, and be focused solely on jobs and rebuilding the once great infrastructure of our Country! Phase 4," the president said, referencing the three pieces of emergency legislation lawmakers have already passed to combat the outbreak rampaging across the U.S. Jacob Pramuk tweet 1:50 pm: Goldman gives staff 10 days paid family leave Wall Street bank Goldman Sachs is offering employees 10 days of paid family leave to care for children or elderly parents who are at home during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a memo sent to staff on Tuesday that was seen by Reuters. Several banks have been extending extra paid time-off to employees, as the flu-like virus has shut down schools and forced many to stay at home. Reuters 1:33 pm: Pelosi and Khanna ask Trump administration to protect start-ups House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents a large part of Silicon Valley, are asking the Trump administration to protect start-ups as it carries out relief payments for small businesses under the CARES Act. The California Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza Tuesday to warn that a narrow interpretation of the relief recipients could hurt Silicon Valley companies. They wrote that "an overly strict application" of an SBA rule could exclude many businesses from eligibility for the relief bill's Paycheck Protection Program, which is meant to help cover costs for small businesses through the crisis. Khanna explained on Twitter Saturday that even though most start-ups have fewer than 500 employees, the Small Business Administration may not view them as small businesses if they are venture-backed. That's because the SBA considers all start-ups backed by the same venture capital firm as the same business. These criteria would bar many emerging and early-stage businesses from aid. Lauren Feiner 1:25 pm: 4 ways the coronavirus rescue package pays small businesses to keep workers The $2 trillion coronavirus relief law signed by President Donald Trump last week has several incentives for struggling businesses to retain their employees instead of laying them off. Small business loans Employee retention tax credit Tax deferral Unemployment The financial help in the CARES Act includes forgivable loans for small businesses, tax credits and deferrals, and measures around unemployment. They come as employers are getting walloped by the economic fallout from COVID-19. Greg Iacurci 1:18 pm: US gasoline prices are below $2 per gallon on average for first time in four years As the coronavirus outbreak wreaks havoc on global markets, U.S. consumers are catching a break in one area: at the pump. For the first time in four years, the national average for a gallon of gas is below $2, AAA said in a statement Tuesday. At $1.99, the current average price for a gallon is 18.4%, or 45 cents, lower than one month ago, and down 70 cents, or 25.8%, year-over-year. The drop in prices comes as oil demand has evaporated with the pandemic halting travel and shuttering businesses worldwide. Crude prices have been pressured further in anticipation of a coming supply glut as OPEC nations, including Saudi Arabia, prepare to ramp up production in April. Pippa Stevens 1:09 pm: Lamborghini starts production of surgical masks for hospital use Lamborghini is converting departments of its super sports car production plant to make surgical masks and protective plexiglass shields, the company said. The luxury auto brand is donating these masks to the Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital in Bologna, Italy to help fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. It hopes to produce 1,000 masks and 200 units of medical shields per day. "During this emergency, we feel the need to make a concrete contribution. ...We will win this battle together by working in union, supporting those who are at the forefront of fighting this pandemic every day," said CEO Stefano Domenicali. Jasmine Kim 1:04 pm: Sales of computer monitors and laptops are surging as we all work from home 12:54 pm: JetBlue slashes flights by 80% from its New York-area home as coronavirus spreads The coronavirus pandemic is hitting JetBlue Airways close to home. The New York-based carrier is cutting its roughly 200 daily flights in the metropolitan area by 80% to 40 a day, the company told employees in a memo that was reviewed by CNBC. The move comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday urged residents of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to refrain from nonessential domestic travel for 14 days. Leslie Josephs 12:48 pm: 'This is the right thing' PayPal is the latest company to take a no coronavirus-layoffs pledge PayPal will not layoff any employees due to the coronavirus pandemic, CEO Dan Schulman said, making the digital payments provider the latest company to make such a pledge. "We don't intend to do any layoffs as a result of COVID-19," Schulman said on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." "This is the right thing to step up, to make sure they know that we've got their back." "If they're sick, we pay them. If an office closes, we pay them," he added. "We really need to be sure that we have their health and their finances at heart as we deal with this crisis right now." Later on Tuesday, Marvell Technology CEO Matt Murphy also told CNBC the semiconductor provider has "no plans" to layoff employees because of the global pandemic. Kevin Stankiewicz 12:39 pm: Rural hospitals and private medical practices struggle to stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic Surgeons Ed Boyle and Ida Alul are a married couple living in Bend, Oregon, a town of fewer than 100,000 people. Boyle runs a vascular surgery practice with about 40 employees, which he co-owns with a few other doctors. Alul is managing partner at an ophthalmology practice that performs many common procedures like laser eye surgery and cataract surgery and has 50 employees. In recent weeks, they've seen a dramatic impact to their businesses as COVID-19 spreads across the country. Policymakers and medical associations have advised provider groups like theirs to halt nonessential procedures in order to preserve vital supplies for fighting COVID-19. These elective procedures are the lifeblood for thousands of primary care groups, specialty clinics and surgical centers, and many of the doctors who own them are now struggling to make payroll. Christina Farr 12:23 pm: CNN host Chris Cuomo, brother of NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has coronavirus Chris Cuomo, the CNN anchor who is the brother of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, he announced. Chris Cuomo's disclosure came as his brother briefed reporters on the increasing numbers of COVID-19 in New York state. Dan Mangan 12:18 pm: New York state just surpassed China's Hubei province for reported coronavirus cases New York just became the coronavirus epicenter of the world as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the state surpassed China's Hubei province, where the outbreak originated about three months ago. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state confirmed 9,298 new COVID-19 cases overnight, bringing the total to 75,795. According to Johns Hopkins University, China's Hubei province has reported 67,801 confirmed cases since the virus emerged there in December. With 43,139 confirmed cases, New York City accounts for more than half of all cases in New York state. Will Feuer 12:13 pm: Large investors still say they aren't ready to sell as coronavirus crisis continues Investors grew increasingly concerned about the U.S. economy and the stock market as March wore on, but they also said they aren't ready to abandon their stocks, according to several surveys. The vast majority of the institutional clients surveyed by Citi expect an economic downturn and earnings estimates to be cut further in 2020, but they are more bullish on equities. About 70% of institutional clients think that a 20% climb for stocks is more likely than another 20% tumble. "Intriguingly, despite recession fears, 80% want to commit new cash to equities, but greater than 85% see large caps as outperforming and 65%+ perceive growth stocks to outpace value names," Citi said in a note. Jesse Pound 12:07 pm: Dr. Fauci sees 'glimmers' that social distancing is 'dampening' coronavirus outbreak Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, right, speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a Coronavirus Task Force news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Sunday, March 29, 2020. Stefani Reynolds | Bloomberg | Getty Images U.S. health officials see "glimmers" that social distancing efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus are beginning to dampen the outbreak, White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said. Americans are still "in a very difficult situation," the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said on CNN. "We hope and I believe it will happen that we may start seeing a turnaround, but we haven't seen it yet. We're just pushing on the mitigation." "You don't want to get overconfident. You just want to keep pushing," he added. The rate of new hospitalizations from COVID-19 in places such as New York are beginning to slow and are "possibly" beginning "to flatten out," Fauci said. Berkeley Lovelace Jr. 12:01 pm: Gov. Cuomo says coronavirus is 'more dangerous' than expected as New York cases jump 14% overnight to 75,795 Coronavirus cases in New York state jumped 14% overnight to 75,795 while 1,550 people have died from COVID-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. "I'm tired of being behind this virus. We've been behind this virus from day one," Cuomo said at a press conference in Albany. "We underestimated this virus. It's more powerful, it's more dangerous than we expected." On Monday, Cuomo issued a call on health-care workers across the United States to travel to New York to help the state battle the worst coronavirus outbreak in the nation. He said the outbreak in New York isn't an anomaly and will hit every part of the U.S. "We're the ones who are hit now. That's today, but tomorrow it's going to somewhere else, whether it's Detroit, whether it's New Orleans. It will work its way across the country," the governor said. Berkeley Lovelace Jr. 11:53 am: Sony delays almost entire movie slate to 2021, proving studios are still committed to theaters Nearly every Sony Pictures title due out in 2020 has been pushed to next year in the wake of the global coronavirus outbreak. On Monday, the company announced it would debut "Morbius," "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," "Uncharted" and "Peter Rabbit 2 in 2021. Theaters across the U.S. and internationally have shuttered and intend to remain closed for at least the next two months, if not later into the summer. "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," which was slated for July 20, will now arrive in theaters on March 5, 2021. "Morbius" has been pushed from July 31 to March 19, 2021. "Peter Rabbit 2" which had already been moved once from April to August is now set for Jan. 15, 2021. The video game adaptation of "Uncharted" has also been displaced from its March 5, 2021 date to Oct. 8, 2021 and an untitled Marvel/Sony movie has been delayed from that Oct. 8 date and is now undated. Sarah Whitten 11:45 am: FEMA is sending 250 ambulances, hundreds of medical workers and 85 refrigerated trucks to NYC to fight coronavirus outbreak A worker moves part of a delivery of 64 hospital beds from Hillrom to The Mount Sinai Hospital during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Manhattan, New York City, March 31, 2020. Andrew Kelly | Reuters The Federal Emergency Management Agency is sending 250 ambulances, about 500 EMTs and paramedics and 85 refrigerated trucks to serve as temporary mortuaries to New York City, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., city officials said. The ambulances, 100 of which have already arrived, will increase capacity to transport coronavirus patients between medical facilities and assist the Fire Department with responding to a record number of medical calls, Mayor Bill de Blasio's office said in a press release. The city's Emergency Management System has seen medical calls surge by 50% during the pandemic over normal daily call volume. "Our EMTs and paramedics are facing an unprecedented number of medical calls each day. There has never been a busier time in the history of EMS in New York City," New York City Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said in a statement. Noah Higgins-Dunn 11:36 am: The coronavirus crisis is ushering in a new generation of working from home perks Working from home certainly has its drawbacks, but some employees have arguably never had it so good. For many, setting up a home office while in self-isolation can mean sharing desk space with kids, having furry friends participate in conference calls or writing a presentation from an unloved guest bedroom while working longer days, too. But some companies are now giving staff generous working from home perks, providing home-office budgets, entertainment packages for children, and psychotherapy sessions. One business is even delivering wine to employees for a virtual tasting session over video call, while fitness app ClassPass is providing private online classes to staff from companies such as Lyft and M&C Saatchi. Lucy Handley 11:27 am: Cramer sees new, five-minute test as possible turning point in coronavirus-driven market decline CNBC's Jim Cramer said that the development of a faster coronavirus test could turn the tide in fighting the outbreak and by extension, the battered economy and the stock market. "When you find out who has it, everything changes" because maybe we find out more people have had it and recovered, Cramer said on CNBC. People who test positive will know to seek medical attention and to quarantine themselves, he said. "Then suddenly we get a new world," and the U.S. can start thinking about reopening the economy and getting Americans back to work, he said. Matthew Belvedere 11:23 am: China coronavirus case numbers can't be compared to elsewhere, economist says Official tallies of COVID-19 cases in China cannot be believed or compared to other countries, economist Derek Scissors said. "There's been no mass testing, which means the numbers should not be compared to the United States, where we are now doing, late, mass testing," the chief economist at the China Beige Book said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." Scissors' comments Tuesday came shortly after a Chinese health official said the country will begin reporting asymptomatic coronavirus cases in mainland China on Wednesday. China had 1,541 asymptomatic coronavirus patients under observation as of Monday, according to an official from the country's National Health Commission. Kevin Stankiewicz 11:13 am: Beleaguered cruise ship company Carnival to raise $6 billion in stock and debt, shares jump Carnival is issuing $6 billion in stock and debt as the beleaguered cruise ship company tries to shore up its finances after suspending operations following COVID-19 outbreaks on at least three of its ships. The company said it plans to issue $1.25 billion in stock, $3 billion in secured notes and $1.75 billion in convertible notes all due 2023. Carnival's stock dropped by about 15% in premarket trading after the announcement, but recovered after the markets opened, rising more than 10%. William Feuer 11:07 am: Coronavirus shock is pushing global growth toward zero, S&P says With the worldwide economic turbulence wrought by the coronavirus crisis and nationally enforced lockdowns across major markets, global growth is set to be pushed toward zero, analysis from S&P Global Ratings predicts. "In response to the ongoing extraordinary impact of the coronavirus pandemic on economic activity and financial markets, we have marked down global growth to just 0.4% this year, with a rebound to 4.9% in 2021," S&P's global chief economist Paul Gruenwald wrote in a research note published Tuesday. "The decline in activity will be very steep." The dire 0.4% forecast would be a level the world hasn't seen since the economic crash of 1982, when global growth was calculated at 0.43%, at the time the worst financial downturn since the Great Depression of 1929-1933. Before the coronavirus pandemic, S&P's forecast for growth in 2020 was 3.3%. Natasha Turak 11:00 am: Biggest US student loan guarantor, Ascendium, partially halts collection of defaulted loans Ascendium Education Solutions, the biggest student loan guarantors in the nation, announced that it has partially halted the collection of all defaulted student loans, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The nonprofit guarantor stated that it will not garnish wages, tax refunds or Social Security payments, effective March 26 for at least 60 days. It will also refund all Treasury offsets and garnished wages from March 13 forward. "Ascendium is committed to doing what is right and helping borrowers succeed, and the best way we can do that now is by giving borrowers the opportunity to focus on what truly matters," said Ascendium Education Solutions President and CEO Jeff Crosby. The announcement came after Congress passed the $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill that halted involuntary collections. The U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos also announced on March 25 that the Department will stop collection actions and wage garnishments to aid borrowers. Jasmine Kim 10:58 am: Simon Property furloughs 30% of workforce, adding to avalanche of coronavirus-related retail layoffs The biggest U.S. mall owner, Simon Property Group, has furloughed about 30% of its workforce, CNBC has learned, as the company copes with all of its properties being temporarily shut because of the coronavirus pandemic. The furloughs impact full- and part-time workers, at its Indianapolis headquarters and at its malls and outlet centers across the U.S., a person familiar told CNBC. The person asked to remain anonymous because the information has not been disclosed publicly. There were also layoffs. An exact number of those employees permanently let go could not immediately be determined. Lauren Thomas 10:45 am: Why coronavirus probably won't force American grocers to run out of food Alarmed consumers rushed to supermarkets hoarding groceries and cleaning products, leaving some stores trying to keep up with the surge in demand. The U.S. is not going to run out of food, experts say. The country has a food waste problem rather than a shortage. According to the USDA, 30% to 40% of food in America is wasted annually. 10:37 am: More Americans have died of coronavirus than in 9/11 terror attacks The outbreak has now killed more than 3,170 people in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University, which is more than the number of people who died in the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. U.S. officials expect the COVID-19 death toll in so-called hot spots like New York to rise in the coming weeks as an influx of patients threaten to overwhelm hospital systems across the country. William Feuer 9:53 am: First cell treatment to fight the coronavirus awaits FDA approval for clinical trial New Jersey-based therapeutics company Celularity announced that its cancer treatment CYNK-001 is awaiting "investigational new drug" status for COVID-19 from the Food and Drug Administration, which could come any day. Once the treatment gets the status, it will immediately enter a preliminary clinical trial to see if it can help people suffering from the illness. Independent immunologists say the rationale for the treatment is solid but warn that it could exacerbate the most severe cases of the disease. If the new strategy proves effective, Celularity stands ready to rapidly increase production. Charlie Wood 9:49 am: Belarus' president dismisses coronavirus risk, encourages citizens to drink vodka and visit saunas Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko talks during a Russian-Belarusian talks on February 15, 2019 in Sochi, Russia. Mikhail Svetlov | Getty Images Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has refused to implement a lockdown in the country of roughly 9.5 million people, reportedly suggesting that others have done so as an act of "frenzy and psychosis," according to Sky News. The president of Belarus has urged citizens to drink vodka, go to saunas and return to work. In Belarus a country that borders Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Ukraine 152 people have contracted COVID-19 infections, with no deaths. Sam Meredith 9:42 am: Airlines receiving coronavirus aid will be allowed to consolidate routes into fewer airports The U.S. Department of Transportation will allow airlines that receive coronavirus aid to consolidate certain routes, giving carriers some breathing room in requirements for the relief. Congress last week approved $50 billion in aid for U.S. airlines, part of the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package. Half of the aid is available in grants that wouldn't have to be paid back, a victory for the airline industry that lobbied against an all-loans package. The grants are dedicated to maintaining payroll, and airlines that accept them have to commit not to furlough workers through Sept. 30. Leslie Josephs 9:35 am: Stocks fall as the Dow wraps up its worst first quarter ever Stocks fell Tuesday morning, the last day of the first quarter, as investors wrapped up a period of historic market volatility sparked by the coronavirus pandemic. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded 88 points lower, or 0.4%. The S&P 500 slid 0.4% along with the Nasdaq Composite. Tuesday's losses gave back some of the sharp gains from the previous session. The Dow jumped nearly 700 points on Monday led by an 8% pop in Johnson & Johnson after it announced a vaccine candidate for the coronavirus. The S&P 500 rallied 3.4%. Fred Imbert, Yun Li 9:32 am: Travelers through TSA checkpoints dropped to 154,080 Monday from 2.3 million last year The Transportation Security Administration said 154,080 passengers went through a TSA checkpoint on Monday, a sharp drop from 2.3 million travelers on the same day a year earlier and down from 180,002 on Sunday. Melodie Warner 9:28 am: Wimbledon tennis tournament to be canceled, reports say England's Wimbledon tennis tournament is likely to be canceled as organizers hold an emergency board meeting Wednesday, according to a report from the Financial Times. The Grand Slam tournament was set to start June 29. Major sporting events have been canceled or rescheduled around the world, including the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which was postponed on March 24. Hannah Miller 9:19 am: Energy drink sales fell 5% last week as stay-at-home orders discourage convenience store visits Energy drink sales fell 5% in the week ended March 22, according to a note from Stifel analyst Mark Astrachan. Three-quarters of Americans are under some kind of stay-at-home order, discouraging them from visiting convenience stores, which account for about 70% of energy drink sales. Monster Beverage's sales were flat in the same time period. Coca-Cola Energy's sales have declined 21% sequentially, and performance energy drink Bang has seen its sales fall 5% over the last two weeks ended March 22. Amelia Lucas 9:06 am: CDC may recommend people cover their faces in public Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are considering changing its official guidance to encourage people to cover their faces in public amid the coronavirus pandemic, The Washington Post reported, citing a federal official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the new guidance would make clear that the general public should use do-it-yourself cloth coverings and not medical masks, which are in short supply and needed by health-care workers. Washington Post 8:27 am: Stock futures fall more than 1% as the Dow heads for its worst first quarter ever Stock futures dropped in choppy morning trading, as the market tries to make back some of the deep losses triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. At 8:22 a.m. ET, futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were 287 points lower, or 1.3%. S&P 500 futures traded 1.4% lower while Nasdaq-100 futures slid 1.1%. Fred Imbert, Yun Li 8:01 am: US continues rapid rise in cases 7:49 am: Walmart will start taking employees' temperatures before shifts Walmart will start taking employees' temperatures when they report to work and tell them to stay home or seek medical care if they have a fever of at least 100 degrees. The retailer also said it's ordering masks for employees and will offer masks and gloves for them to wear, if they choose. The company said the masks will be high quality, but not the N95 respirators that at-risk health-care workers need. In a post on Walmart's website, John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., and Kath McLay, president and CEO of Sam's Club, said the additional steps are new ways the retailer is trying to keep employees safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Melissa Repko 7:47 am: Ford postpones reopening 'key' plants Less than a week after Ford Motor said it would restart production at "key" plants in North America beginning in early April, the company has postponed those plans as the coronavirus spreads throughout the U.S. Ford said it is delaying the restart of a car plant in Mexico as well as four truck, SUV and van plants in the U.S. " to help protect its workers." The company declined to provide a new timeline for reopening the plants. "The health and safety of our workforce, dealers, customers, partners and communities remains our highest priority," said Kumar Galhotra, Ford president of North America. "We are working very closely with union leaders especially at the UAW to develop additional health and safety procedures aimed at helping keep our workforce safe and healthy." Michael Wayland 7:33 am: EU executive warns emergency laws cannot flout democracy Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, delivers a speech during a special address on day two of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. Bloomberg The European Union's executive warned member states that emergency measures adopted by governments to fight the coronavirus crisis cannot undercut democracy. "It is of utmost importance that emergency measures are not at the expense of our fundamental principles and values ... Democracy cannot work without free and independent media," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. "Any emergency measures must be limited to what is necessary and strictly proportionate. They must not last indefinitely ... governments must make sure that such measures are subject to regular scrutiny," she added after Hungary's rightist prime minister, Viktor Orban, secured the indefinite right to rule by decree. Reuters 6:59 am: Spirit cancels New York area flights after CDC warning Low-cost U.S. carrier Spirit Airlines said it will cancel all flights to and from New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey after U.S. officials warned against travel to the area because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Spirit, which appeared to be the first major U.S. carrier to cancel all flights to the tri-state region, said it was responding to this weekend's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory warning against all nonessential travel to and from the area. Spirit said it will suspend service to the airports it serves in the region, New York LaGuardia, Newark, Hartford, Niagara Falls, and Plattsburgh, New York, through at least May 4. Reuters 6:23 am: Spain's daily death toll hits 849, highest level since since epidemic started A man wearing a face mask is wheeled into La Paz hospital on March 23, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Denis Doyle | Getty Images Spain's death toll reached 8,189, up from 7,340 the day before, the country's health ministry said. The 849 deaths in 24 hours is the highest daily death toll since the epidemic started in Spain, Reuters noted. The total number of coronavirus infections rose to 94,417, up from 85,195 on Monday. Holly Ellyatt 5:51 am: Iran's death toll from coronavirus climbs to 2,898, health official says Iran's death toll from coronavirus has reached 2,898, with 141 deaths in the past 24 hours, the country's health ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur told state TV, Reuters reported. The total number of infected cases has jumped to 44,606. "In the past 24 hours, there have been 3,111 new cases of infected people. Unfortunately, 3,703 of the infected people are in a critical condition," Jahanpur said. Holly Ellyatt 4:43 am: China to start reporting asymptomatic cases from April 1 An official from China's National Health Commission has said that the country is to start testing asymptomatic cases starting tomorrow, Reuters reported. It has 1,541 asymptomatic coronavirus patients under observation as of end of March 30. The commission said 205 of the patients under observation are from overseas. Holly Ellyatt 4:17 am: Germany's RKI optimistic about flattening of coronavirus infection curve The head of Germany's Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases said his optimism about the flattening of the coronavirus infection curve was justified, adding that this would be clearer after Easter, Reuters reported. However, Lothar Wieler, president of the institute, told a news conference that the current mortality rate of 0.8% in Germany would rise further. Reuters 4:10 am: European markets climb as sentiment buoyed by China data As the demand for ventilators rises with the number of coronavirus patients growing across the globe, a Texas-based university has developed an automatic, hand-held and inexpensive breathing unit that can soon be used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed over 37,500 people. A total of 782,365 COVID-19 cases have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories with 37,582 deaths reported so far, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Across the United States, hospitals are facing shortages of ventilators, some medical device makers, including Philips, have agreed to ramp up supplies. But because patients diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19 often require breathing support, there is widespread concern that these devices won't be developed and shipped quickly enough. Texas-based Rice University and Canadian global health design firm Metric Technologies have developed an automated bag valve mask ventilation unit that can be built for less than USD 300 worth of parts and help patients undergoing treatment for COVID-19. The collaboration expects to share the plans for the ventilator by making them freely available online to anyone in the world. The varsity team designed and built a programmable device able to squeeze a bag valve mask. These masks are typically carried by emergency medical personnel to help get air into the lungs of people having difficulty breathing on their own. But the masks are difficult to squeeze by hand for more than a few minutes at a time. "It's automatic, electric, and works independently of a tech," Wettergreen, a varsity professor and member of the Design Kitchen team, told PTI. "It's not designed for people who are critical cases, but rather who are in respiratory distress," the professor said. That delineation is important: the automated Bag Mask Valve (BVM) would take less-critical patients off ventilators and free them up for only those in dire need. The benefit could be a game changer for those on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle, Wettergreen said. "When a crisis hits, we use our skills to contribute solutions. If you can help, you should, and I'm proud that we're responding to the call," said the professor. The design has caught the attention of the Department of Defense, which may authorise the Navy to utilise it in the near future. It's a huge feat for the small unit, dubbed the Apollo BVM team, whose students worked around the clock and took classes online in order to deliver the project as soon as possible. Rohith Malya - an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, an adjunct assistant professor of bioengineering at Rice, and a principal at Metric Technologies - coined the name as a tribute to Rice's history with NASA and former US President John F Kennedy's now-famous speech kicking off the nation's efforts to go to the moon. "This project appeals to our ingenuity, it's a Rice-based project and it's for all of humanity. And we're on an urgent timescale. We decided to throw it all on the table and see how far we go," he said. Malya inspired the Rice project two years ago after seeing families try to keep critically ill loved ones at the Kwai River Christian Hospital in Thailand alive by bag-ventilating them for hours on end. He expects the new Apollo BVM to serve that purpose eventually, but the need is now worldwide. "This is a clinician-informed end-to-end design that repurposes the existing BVM global inventory toward widespread and safe access to mechanical ventilation," Malya said, noting that more than 100 million bag valve masks are manufactured around the world each year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A DUP MLA has claimed republicans have intimidated businesses into closing during the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking in the Assembly, Paul Frew told Finance Minister Conor Murphy he was concerned when he heard that businesses in the manufacturing industry were being put under pressure to close by people including Sinn Fein activists. "I am deeply worried when I hear reports of intimidation by republicans and party activists of his [Conor Murphy's] party of businesses, employers and CEOs of manufacturing plants who are striving to stay open - who this Assembly may well call upon to redirect resources and make things for us that will save lives. "I'm deeply worried that I have heard reports of party activists from his party intimidating and harassing businesses to close completely," he said. It comes after Portadown-based business Ulster Carpets said it is to "run down" some of its operations after they claimed threats were made against employees. The business found itself thrust into the limelight for continuing to work on during the coronavirus outbreak but stressed it had at all times followed official government advice. Ulster Carpets said it had been "very disappointed by some of the ill-informed commentary" used against the company. "We would request that this would cease as it has created an atmosphere in which abuse and threats have been issued against many of our employees," a company spokesman said. Mr Murphy said the claims of Sinn Fein activists targeting businesses were without substance. "Of course if you're aware of accusations which are essentially of criminal behaviour, you have an obligation to report those to the police and I hope you have rather than simply bring them here for publicity purposes," he said. In Indonesia, they're taking to the air in the fight against the coronavirus. Above the streets of Surabaya, drones spray disinfectant in an attempt to kill the disease - one response among many catching on around the world, despite warnings from health experts. These drones contain a substance usually found in household cleaning products. "Using a drone is much more effective" this local man says. "It can disinfect everywhere, include the rooftop. If it is done manually (by workers) all they can reach is the top of fence, not the roof." Mass disinfections have become a common sight across the world to contain the fast-spreading virus. It has already killed more than 100 people in Indonesia. "We use benzalkonium chloride, it works like soap", says the spokesman of the Surabaya mayor. "It will help to 'weaken' the virus, so it won't enter our body, it works like soap because that virus is not so strong. In god's will, what we, the city's government, is doing now can maximise our efforts to protect the people of Surabaya." In Jakarta, they're using fire engines to spray the streets with disinfectant. But some have raised concerns about these mass disinfectant methods. The visually-impressive measures have been criticized by disease specialists as a health hazard as well as a waste of time and resources. This public health expert says disinfection 'chambers' or directly spraying human bodies is not recommended, as it's not good for skin or the eyes, and will cause irritation. Others say hand-washing and targeted cleaning of commonly-touched surfaces like elevator buttons offer better protection than mass disinfecting. The coronavirus is now rapidly spreading around the globe, impacting some countries more than others. But each will have their own way of dealing with it. The body of a five-year-old boy has been found on an Alaska five-mile trail days after he and his mother got lost, and she left him to find help on her own. Jennifer Treat, 36, and her son Jaxson Brown began hiking Lunch Creek Trail Wednesday afternoon and didn't intend to stay the night. But troopers said they 'became disoriented and lost the trail.' They spent the night together on the trail but on Thursday morning the boy was tired and didn't want to hike any longer, and Treat left him to find help on her own. The trail ranges from improved walkways and boardwalks to hard-to-traverse areas with mud in some places and snow waist-deep in others, Jerry Kiffer, Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad incident commander, said. Jaxson Brown, five, was found dead Saturday on the Lunch Creek Trail in Alaska where he hiked with his mother Jennifer Treat (right) Jaxson Brown and mother Jennifer Treat, 36, started the hike Wednesday afternoon. They didn't intend to stay the night but 'became disoriented and lost the trail' Kiffer described parts of the trail as 'really heavy with blow down. You've kind of got the gamut all the way up to the lake,' Kiffer added. Treat's vehicle was parked at the trailhead north of Tongas Highway, and the trail extends for nearly 5 miles (8 kilometers) to Emory Tobin Lake. 'In her rush to find help, Treat reportedly tripped on a root and significantly injured her leg,' troopers said. Troopers began the search Friday for the boy and his mother after receiving a request to find them around 10.30am, Ketchikan Daily News reported. Searchers found Treat about three miles up the trail on Friday afternoon, and took her off the trail by a helicopter. On Friday they also found a shoe belonging to the boy. Thursday morning, the boy was tired and didn't want to hike Lunch Creek Trail in Alaska any longer so Treat left him to find help on her own 'In her rush to find help, Treat reportedly tripped on a root and significantly injured her leg,' troopers said Searchers found Treat Friday afternoon, and took her off the trail by a helicopter. They searched through the night for the boy using infrared heat technology and a ground search The Coast Guard Air Station Sitka began searching for the boy via helicopter around 1am on Saturday, using infrared technology to detect heat. They searched for two hours before being relieved by another team around 7am. Meanwhile about 20 searchers scoured the area by foot. The boy's body was found around 2.45pm Saturday further up the trail from where his mother was rescued, troopers said. Troopers said he had been on the trail before but were 'not sure how far up the trail he's been'. 'He has never been alone,' trooper Sgt Grant Miller said. Temperatures in the low 40 degrees Fahrenheit Wednesday evening dipped to lower overnight. Light rain, fog and mist persisted from Thursday through Saturday. 'An autopsy will be conducted to determine the manner and cause of death. At this time, while it is very tragic, it doesn't appear to be suspicious in nature,' troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said. On Friday they also found a shoe belonging to the boy. The boy's body was found later Saturday further up the trail from where his mother was rescued 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 Almost exactly one year after her first doctors appointment, 2019 R.A. Long High School graduate Kylee Jacobson succumbed to a rare form of cancer Monday afternoon. Her struggles against the disease led to an outpouring of community support and love that helped her to travel and fulfill some of her long-held wishes. Kylee, 19, died peacefully at 2:30 p.m. with her family by her side, step-mom Kayla Jacobson said Monday evening. They were able to speak with her that morning and share stories. The last few weeks were heartbreaking as Kylee rapidly deteriorated. Her tumor started growing out of her back. She couldnt stand on her own. She couldnt swallow. And she had no lung capacity. But Kylee fought hard, Jacobson said. Shes the strongest person I know, she said. She never gave up. She always had a smile on her face and something witty and funny and kind to say. The family is devastated, but they are relieved that Kylee isnt suffering anymore. Were all sad and hurting and we just wish it wasnt this way, but we believe and we know that she went to heaven, Jacobson said. We know that she will always be by our side. Kylee was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer in late May, one week before she graduated from R.A. Long High School. Despite months of chemotherapy and radiation, Kylees tumors continued to grow. Doctors told her in December that there were no further treatment options, and she returned home to Longview from Seattle Childrens Hospital to finish her journey, in Jacobsons words. She was told in December she had six months left, at most. But Jacobson said she thought Kylee would live longer because she was such a fighter. Even right up until the last few days, Kylee always worried about us and not about herself, Jacobson said. That was something I always admired about her. She always made sure other people were going to be okay, even though it was the worst time of her life. Kylee completed almost everything on her bucket list, including trips to Las Vegas and California, attending a concert and holding a family bowling night at Triangle Bowl. And a sign language concert was held at R.A. Long, in which she was able to participate. Jacobson said the past year has been draining: emotionally, physically and financially. Its been a long, long hard year, she said. Weve really had to rely on our community, our friends and our family to help us through it. People have stepped up to the plate and have just been so gracious. Thats something we as a family are super grateful for and for Longview as a community just being there for us. Kylee is at Columbia Funeral Home, where she will stay until the family can hold a service. It is unclear when that might be because its dependent on when the coronavirus-related ban on gatherings is lifted, Jacobson said, but the community will be included. She said she hopes the community remembers Kylee as witty, funny, smart and kind. I want her to be remembered as a fighter, Jacobson said. She was so strong and fierce. I want people to remember her for that and who she was. She was an amazing young lady. She had a lot to offer. Love 1 Funny 4 Wow 2 Sad 67 Angry 4 European cement industry welcomes well-designed European carbon border mechanism ICR Newsroom By 31 March 2020 The European cement association, CEMBUREAU, has welcomed the prospect of an EU carbon border mechanism although this requires a number of design principles, said the association in a statement. In the initial phase the mechanism, which should be based on verified direct and indirect emissions from imports to the EU, should be complementary to the free allowances of the EU emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) and applicable to all ETS sectors alike. In addition, it must be fully WTO compatible. It must also provide a CO2 charge exemption for EU exporters. Koen Coppenholle, CEO of CEMBUREAU, said A carbon border mechanism is a chance to create the level playing field in which our industry needs to help deliver the EUs carbon neutrality objectives, and further cut CO2 emissions in the EU and beyond. However, it is imperative that any carbon border mechanism co-exists with free allocation under the EU ETS, at least until the end of Phase IV. The replacement of the existing carbon leakage measures by an untested mechanism would create considerable uncertainty and risks for investments in the EU, at a time the industry needs a predictable framework to deliver low-carbon investments. Carbon border mechanisms are complex tools by nature and so it is essential to get their design right. A poorly-designed mechanism could indeed have significant consequences for our industry. CEMBUREAU looks forward to continue working with the European Union on this. A well-designed carbon border mechanism could also support the EUs drive to foster climate ambitions in third countries and therefore, result in deeper carbon emissions reductions worldwide. Third-country producers will be incentivised to reduced their carbon emissions and their governments will be encouraged to set up domestic carbon pricing schemes with equivalent vigour to the EU system, said CEMBUREAU. The mechanism is also expected to send long-term signals to investors across the region and lead to upscaling of low-carbon technologies with revenues from the scheme fostering research and deployment in such technologies across Europe. Published under TOKYO, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Japan plans to extend its ban on foreign entrants to cover those who have recently been to the United States, China and South Korea and most parts of Europe in bid to curb the import and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, state sources said on Monday. The entry ban will be applicable to foreigners who have stayed in the countries within two weeks of arriving in Japan, the sources said, adding that both Japanese and foreigners returning from areas not subjected to the ban will still be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. Japan's foreign ministry is also planning to raise its travel advisory for the United States to Level 3, which warns its citizens to "avoid all travel." The same advisory will be made for travel to China, South Korea and the majority of Europe, including Britain, the ministry said. While the United States has overtaken Italy and China to become the country worst-hit by the pandemic, Japan for the time being has been relatively sheltered, although recent surges in cases in urban areas have prompted the government to take preventative measures against importing cases. Japan reported 1,926 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 6:30 p.m. local time on Monday, with the death toll from the pneumonia-causing virus currently standing at a total of 67 people, including those from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama, close to Tokyo. The health ministry also said there are currently a total of 65 patients considered severely ill and are on ventilators to receive respiratory assistance or have been admitted to intensive care units for medical treatment. The ministry added that in total, 975 people have been discharged from hospitals after their symptoms improved, according to the latest statistics. All private clinics in Ho Chi Minh City have been ordered to close while local hospitals no longer allow visitors of the sick in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic. The bans came into effect on Monday, March 30, following an urgent dispatch sent by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health to all hospitals in the city, the municipal Center for Disease Control, and districts medical centers and facilities on the same evening. According to the document, all leaders of medical establishments are tasked with reviewing and monitoring patients, visitors of the sick, guests, and units and individuals involved in the provision of non-medical services at their institutioms such as sanitation, security, laundry, catering, and retailing. Each sick person is allowed to be accompanied by only one family member to look after and provide them with emotional support. Admission of new inpatients should be reconsidered, the health department said. In addition, these establishments are asked to limit the number of entrances and exits, as well as notify patients and their family members about the ban on patients visitors. The municipal Department of Health requested that hospitals keep track of patients family members who are present at their infirmaries, and collect health declaration for use in epidemiological investigations. When a COVID-19 infection case that is not an outpatient or medical employee is detected in a hospital setting, it must be promptly reported to the municipal health department and the entire ward, including patients, patients visitors, and medical employees, must be isolated. A list of people who have been in close contact with the infection is to be swiftly compiled while the affected infirmary must close its doors to new patients. Ho Chi Minh Citys leaders attend a teleconference on COVID-19 prevention and control, March 30, 2020. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Press Center If cross infection occurs in a hospital, that institution has to immediately stop admitting new patients, except in emergency cases, as well as isolate the entire hospital. The treatment area for severe patients must be placed in absolute isolation. Meanwhile, all cosmetic surgery, physiotherapy and rehabilitation establishments operating at polyclinics and hospitals have been temporarily suspended from Monday, except in cases of emergency. The ban also applies to all private clinics. The suspension is in place as Ho Chi Minh City chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong told an online meeting on COVID-19 prevention and control on Monday that the complicated developments at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, to which at least 33 COVID-19 infection cases can be traced, is a lesson for health facilities in the southern metropolis. Ho Chi Minh City has recorded 47 cases of COVID-19 infections so far, of which ten have recovered. Currently, five COVID-19 patients in the city have tested negative for the virus at least twice, while the remaining cases are being quarantined and treated in stable health. Nationwide, there have been 204 infections confirmed, with 55 having been discharged from the hospital free of the virus as of Monday. No death related to the disease has been recorded in Vietnam to date. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Qatar Airways said Monday it is resuming scheduled flights to China on its passenger network, but will only be moving cargo. The news is notable because it signals that China's manufacturing and export capabilities are near normal levels following extensive quarantine measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and that there is a need for more air transport for cargo. It also is one of the first examples of an airline running passenger aircraft in cargo service on a scheduled basis versus the recent introduction of cargo-only passenger aircraft available to logistics companies and shippers for charter. The additional capacity from the widebody passenger planes supplements Qatar Airways fleet of freighters that operate on four routes, nearly doubling weekly capacity to 1,300 tons. Outbound demand is especially high for medical supplies, fresh produce and foodstuffs. Beginning Monday through Wednesday, Qatar will operate seven weekly flights between Doha and Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, plus four times per week to Hangzhou, and three times per week to Chengdu and Chongqing. The decision to deploy more dedicated cargo planes follows the Chinese government's promise to take steps to expedite logistics and airfreight business. From Doha, freight will connect to other aircraft for delivery to Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. Many airlines are taking advantage of the shortage in air cargo capacity to repurpose passenger aircraft for dedicated cargo operations, usually on a charter basis, as previously reported. Image: Flickr/David McKelvey See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. The next great pandemic is coming. The true question is: Will we be ready when it does? Right now, that answer is no, because the country lacks the sufficient safeguards we have outlined. But if the United States chooses to elevate the issue of pandemic preparedness and biosecurity as a national security priority, we could be. Outbreaks are inevitable, but pandemics are not if we take action now. Christine Crudo Blackburn, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University; Andrew Natsios, Director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs and Executive Professor, Texas A&M University, and Gerald W. Parker, Associate Dean For Global One Health, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences; and Director, Pandemic and Biosecurity Policy Program, Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine Tuesday revised their stay-at-home orders to include seven additional counties Cameron, Crawford, Forest, Franklin, Lawrence, Lebanon and Somerset counties, bringing the state total to 33 counties under a stay-at-home order. The order takes effect at 8 p.m. Tuesday and will continue until April 30. Monday, all stay-at-home orders were extended through April 30. All Pennsylvania schools will remain closed until further notice. Non-life-sustaining business closures remain in effect. The Wolf administration said at this time law enforcement will focus on ensuring that residents are aware of the order and informing the public of social distancing practices rather than enforcement. According to the Associated Press, nearly 11 million Pennsylvania residents, or 85% of the state's population, have now been instructed to remain in their homes, with exceptions that include working at a business thats still open, going to the grocery store or pharmacy, visiting a doctor, caring for a relative or heading outside to exercise. The order now includes these 33 counties: Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Bucks, Butler, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Forest, Franklin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Somerset, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland and York counties. Individuals may leave their residence only to perform any of the following allowable individual activities and allowable essential travel: Tasks essential to maintain health and safety, or the health and safety of their family or household members (including pets), such as obtaining medicine or medical supplies, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home Getting necessary services or supplies for themselves, for their family or household members, or as part of volunteer efforts, or to deliver those services or supplies to others to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running if they maintain social distancing To perform work providing essential products and services at a life-sustaining business To care for a family member or pet in another household Any travel related to the provision of or access to the above-mentioned individual activities or life-sustaining business activities Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related services Travel to return to a place of residence from an outside jurisdiction Travel required by law enforcement or court order Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the commonwealth Anyone performing life-sustaining travel does not need paperwork to prove the reason for travel. The following operations are exempt: Life-sustaining business activities Health care or medical services providers Access to life-sustaining services for low-income residents, including food banks Access to child care services for employees of life-sustaining businesses that remain open as follows: child care facilities operating under the Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning waiver process; group and family child care operating in a residence; and part-day school age programs operating under an exemption from the March 19, 2020 business closure Orders News media Law enforcement, emergency medical services personnel, firefighters The federal government Religious institutions Individuals experiencing homelessness are not subject to this order but are strongly urged to find shelter and government agencies are urged to take steps needed to provide shelter for those individuals. International students, foster youth, and any other students who would otherwise experience displacement or homelessness as a result of campus closures are exempt and may remain in campus housing. Email Jeff at jpratt@cumberlink.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelPratt. 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. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 Images of Cuban doctors in virus-hit Italy have drawn attention, highlighting a tradition of medical internationalism. As the world fights to stop COVID-19 claiming more lives, Cuba has dispatched 593 medical workers to 14 countries in their battles against the pandemic, its ministry of public health told Al Jazeera. One of the first Cuban medical teams was sent to Italy on March 21 at the request of Lombardy, its worst-hit region. According to Dr Jorge Delgado Bustillo, director of the Central Unit of Cooperation at the ministry, which is responsible for running the foreign missions, the other 13 countries are: Andorra, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Surinam, Jamaica, Haiti, Belice, Dominica, and the island nations of Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, St Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda. Dozens of other countries across the world have also sent requests for medical help from Cuba, which the health ministry is currently reviewing and will respond to based on its capacities, Dr Bustillo said in an email to Al Jazeera. #Cuba has extended a hand many times, but never so many times in such a short time. In the past week, a Henry Reeve brigade has departed with each sunrise. There are already 11 in total. There is no precedent, Jose Angel Portal Miranda, Cubas health minister, tweeted on March 28. Since then, three more medical missions have been sent. According to a statement on the Cuban health ministrys website, 179 doctors, 399 nurses and 15 health technologists have been dispatched as part of this initiative. These medical workers belong to the Henry Reeve Emergency Medical Contingent, named after a US-born general who fought in the First Cuban War of Independence in the 19th century. It was created in 2005 by the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro and specialises in rapid medical response to natural disasters and outbreaks. They don't have this problem that Boris Johnson has and that Trump has, which is that the public healthcare response interferes with private interest and the process of profit-making. Helen Yaffe, lecturer in Economic and Social History at University of Glasgow According to the Pan American Health Organization, between 2005 and 2017, the unit helped 3.5 million people in 21 countries affected by disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and epidemics, including the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. On March 18, a British cruise ship carrying several passengers infected with COVID-19 was allowed to dock at a Cuban port, after it was turned away by other countries in the Caribbean. Some 680 passengers were then flown back to the UK on chartered flights from Havana. So far, Cuba itself has 170 confirmed cases and four deaths, at least two of whom were foreign tourists. Like many other nations, it has barred foreigners from travelling to the country and advised the elderly and people with underlying conditions to stay at home. But unlike other countries, it has not imposed a nationwide lockdown. A history of Cubas medical internationalism Cubas international medical outreach goes back decades, to the first years of the Cuban Revolution. Experts say years of investment in free healthcare and a flourishing biotechnology sector have prepared its workforce to respond to emergencies. In 1960, a year after Castro took power, Cuba sent a team of medics to Chile after a devastating earthquake hit the country. Three years later, Havana dispatched medical workers to help newly independent Algeria build its healthcare sector. According to Helen Yaffe, a lecturer in Economic and Social History at University of Glasgow, free healthcare as a universal human right was a key tenet of the 1959 Cuban Revolution and laid the foundations of its medical internationalism the idea and practice of sending medical teams to support other nations. Cuba developed its public healthcare system, focusing on primary care and prevention, and built an international outreach programme which Yaffe says was based on solidarity and offered free of charge until the early 2000s. After Hugo Chavez came to power in Venezuela, Cuba started sending medical staff and educators to help his Bolivarian revolution. In return, Havana started purchasing Venezuelan oil at below-market prices. Some 30,000 Cuban medical workers were sent in the first 10 years of the Oil for Doctors programme. It was when Venezuela said, We can pay for this, that the possibility of Cuba using the export of medical professionals as a source of revenue for the country developed, said Yaffe. Cuba later set up permanent medical missions in a number of countries, including South Africa, Brazil, Ecuador, Qatar and others, which would pay in hard currency for them. Over the past 50 years, it is estimated that between 135,000 and 400,000 Cuban doctors have been sent abroad. Cuban doctors at the field hospital in Crema during the Coronavirus emergency lockdown in Italy, 23 March 2020 [Filippo Venezia/EPA] Meanwhile, the Cuban government has invested heavily in the biotech industry, which today is another source for hard currency for the small country. In the 1980s, faced with several outbreaks of infectious disease, such as dengue fever and meningitis, Cuban scientists worked hard to develop medicine and vaccines and support a prevention-oriented healthcare system. Biotech was one of two revolutions within the revolution in Cubas health sector, said Gail Reed, founder of Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba, a US non-profit promoting cooperation among US, Cuban and global health communities. Now, it is a powerhouse for health and also for the Cuban economy. According to Reed, Cubas biotech industry has developed successful drugs, including a therapeutic lung cancer vaccine and Heberprot-P, which reduces amputation risk in patients affected by diabetic foot ulcers. Its signature drug, Interferon Alfa-2B Recombinant, has been used in the treatment of HIV and hepatitis and is now being given to COVID-19 patients, although its effectiveness is still not confirmed. Not an example to follow any more But Cubas international health initiatives have also faced criticism, with some rights groups accusing Havana of exploiting its medical workers. Former members of Cuban medical missions abroad have alleged that they had to work in unsafe environments and their movements were watched by government minders. Medical staff working abroad in permanent medical missions reportedly receive between 10 and 25 percent of their salaries, paid by the host country. The rest is allegedly sent to the Cuban government. It is estimated that over 7,000 Cuban medical workers defected from such missions between 2006 and 2016. The US, which has a strained relationship with Cuba and has imposed a trade embargo on it for decades, has characterised the Cuban medical missions as human trafficking and called on countries to stop accepting them. In 2005, Washington rejected an offer by Castro to send Cuban doctors to US states devastated by Hurricane Katrina. In 2019, Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia ended their agreements for medical cooperation with Cuba. The number of Cuban medical professionals has dropped from 50,000 in 2016 to 28,000 today. Asked about the US allegations, Dr Bustillo said they are an insult to Cubas bilateral and intergovernmental cooperation programmes, which have all been legitimately established based on guidelines of the United Nations regarding South-South cooperation. Access to health is a human right, and the United States commits a crime by pretending to deny or hinder it for political or aggression reasons, he added. According to Reed, Washington is trying to curb sources of hard currency for the Cuban government. [It] is outrageous that the US administration is strong-arming governments of poor countries not to accept medical teams from Cuba, she said, adding that Cuban doctors volunteer for these missions out of solidarity and because they still make more money abroad than at home. Critics have also raised concerns about the deteriorating state of some health infrastructure and services in Cuba. They have argued that although the country has one of the highest doctor-to-patient ratios in the world, with 95,000 doctors providing care for its 11-million population, the quality of healthcare provision has declined the result of a weak economy. [The] health infrastructure is ailing, and they have a chronic shortage of health inputs, both of medical equipment and drugs, said Dr Octavio Gomez Dantes, a senior researcher at Mexicos National Institute of Public Health. Even the sanitary and water infrastructure is in poor conditions, and that will eventually create major health problems. Falling oil prices and economic and political crises in neighbouring Venezuela have affected Cuba, prompting the government to enforce strict price controls and energy rationing. The US has also imposed additional sanctions in an attempt to pressure Havana into abandoning its support for Nicholas Maduros government in Caracas. But according to Dantes, US sanctions alone cannot be blamed for healthcare woes and Cubas economic challenges. The international missions have led to complaints of medical staff shortages in the country. Cuba is not an example to follow any more. There are many health systems in the developing world, most of them financed with public resources, that are performing much better. The Costa Rican health system, for example, he said. Despite the difficulties it is experiencing, Dantes considers the Cuban healthcare system prepared for the COVID-19 outbreak. Cuba has had a very good epidemiologic surveillance system, he said. Yeffe is also convinced that Cuba can cope with the epidemic, because it has proved capable of mobilising national resources and its population during natural disasters and health emergencies. They dont have this problem that [UK Prime Minister] Boris Johnson has and that [US Presdent Donald] Trump has, she said, which is that the public healthcare response interferes with private interest and the process of profit-making. This article has been updated to include comments from Dr Jorge Delgado Bustillo, a representative of Cubas health ministry. Follow Mariya Petkova on Twitter: @mkpetkova Chances, amounts of weekend snow still up in the air TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 31, 2020 / StageZero Life Sciences, Ltd (TSX:SZLS) ("StageZero" or the "Company") today announced that it is preparing to offer testing for COVID-19 in both the U.S. and Canada. StageZero will offer both the serology point-of-care and lab-based PCR tests. StageZero operates a CLIA certified, high complexity laboratory in Richmond, Virginia which is qualified to perform the testing for COVID-19. Our fully integrated telehealth platform which supports our cancer diagnostics program is well suited to point-of-care testing for COVID-19, as well as obtaining swabs for the lab-based PCR tests. Lab-based PCR tests are based on a swab, usually nasopharyngeal, which captures a sample of the live virus which is then sent to the lab for analysis. Results, which are available within days of receipt of the swab, indicate whether or not the patient has the current virus infection. Serology tests are conducted on a small sample of blood which is collected by a phlebotomist at the point of care. A result is available within 15 minutes and can immediately be provided to the patient. All tests are authorized by a telehealth physician. A positive test will indicate the patient has been infected by the COVID-19 virus and has developed antibodies to the infection. Detection of IgM antibodies indicates recent infection, while IgG antibodies gradually appear and increase in the late stage of infection. Both types of tests are needed. During this pandemic, we need to confirm the COVID-19 infection in people, especially those who have symptoms, are elderly, have chronic medical conditions, or have recently returned from travel, so that we can trace contacts. We also need to know who has been infected already, and is recovering or has recovered without complication, as this is likely a much greater number than those who develop significant symptoms. StageZero is pleased to offer its proprietary Telehealth Platform to provide access to the tests. We plan to share the demographic data with the wider healthcare community as it will be invaluable in the broader fight against COVID-19. We are in discussions with the U.S. FDA and Health Canada. Upon approval, StageZero will announce when the formal testing begins and provide details on how to access the tests. About StageZero Life Sciences, Ltd. StageZero Life Sciences is dedicated to the early detection of cancer and multiple disease states through whole blood. Aristotle, our next generation test, is a panel for simultaneously screening for 10 cancers from a single sample of blood with high sensitivity and specificity for each cancer. Aristotle is built on our proven and proprietary Sentinel Principle Technology Platform which has been validated on 10,000 patients and used to develop the first liquid biopsy for Colorectal Cancer, with further validation currently underway. In addition to building a pipeline of products for early cancer detection, the Company operates a CAP accredited and CLIA certified reference laboratory based in Richmond, Virginia that offers the ColonSentry test as well as licensed biomarker tests for breast and prostate cancers. To learn more visit www.stagezerolifesciences.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements identified by words such as "expects", "will" and similar expressions, which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual events to differ materially from those projected herein. Investors should consult the Company's ongoing quarterly filings and annual reports for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Company Contacts: James R. Howard-Tripp Chairman & CEO jht@stagezerols.com Tel: 1-855-420-7140 Ext. 1 Rebecca Greco Investor Relations r greco @stagezerols.com Tel: 1-855-420-7140 Ext. 1838 SOURCE: StageZero Life Sciences Ltd View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583237/StageZero-Life-Sciences-preparing-to-offer-COVID-19-testing-in-the-US-and-Canada Posted on: March 31, 2020 3:10 PM A low-key service has been held in Abuja to install the new Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Henry Ndukuba. Many of the events planned to mark the retirement of outgoing Archbishop Nicholas Okoh and welcome the new archbishop were suspended or postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking to journalists after the service last Wednesday (25 March), Archbishop Henry commended the federal and state governments for the work they had done to contain the virus; and he urged President Muhammadu Buhari to do more to establish test and isolation centres across the country. Archbishop Henry also urged members of the public to following government directives designed to limit the spread of the disease. We need to be patient, he said. There is something that is very clear which we must note. This pandemic is for a time. It will pass away. But while it persists, we need to be prayerful, look up to God and be careful about our hygiene as well as do the things that are necessary. Follow the guidance of our leadership. We pray that God in His mercy will deliver us from this pandemic and give us healing because this disease doesnt know our positions, titles or tribes. President Buhari congratulated the new primate on his appointment and was praying for him, his spokesman said, as he leads Anglicans in Nigeria at a time of contending myriad of challenges for the church, the nation and the world. Archbishop Henry was ordained in 1984 at the age of 23 the minimum age for ordination in the Church of Nigeria. He was made a Canon after five years, aged 28; and became an archdeacon just three years later. He was elected bishop at the age of 38. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 09:47:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Syria and the potential impact of COVID-19 on the war-torn country. The council held a briefing via video teleconference on the situation in Syria and was briefed on by UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock and UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen. The council members stressed the need to ensure the necessary conditions to tackle the spread of COVID-19 in Syria and called on all parties to ensure safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian assistance, including medical items, in all parts of the country and to all Syrians in need, according to press elements provided by the council presidency, China. The members of the Security Council called on all parties to ensure a sustained period of calm throughout the country and reaffirmed the need for the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2254, which envisions a political settlement to the Syrian conflict. They took note of the latest developments with regard to the Syrian political process and called on all Syrian parties to engage constructively through the Constitutional Committee to find a sustainable peace, according to the press elements. They reaffirmed that there can be no military solution to the conflict in Syria, and that it can only be resolved through an inclusive Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process in line with Security Council Resolution 2254 under UN auspices. The council members also reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria. YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... Major social media companies are taking aim at Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's dismissal of social distancing, joining others in the country who have lined up against his controversial stance regarding the new coronavirus. Facebook and Instagram removed posts by the far-right leader Monday night that showed Bolsonaro walking around outside capital Brasilia on Sunday and mingling with groups. It was yet another affront to World Health Organization recommendations to self-isolate as a means to contain the pandemic. The companies' move came one day after Twitter also removed some Bolsonaro posts. Facebook, which owns Instagram, said in a statement that it removes content "that violates our community standards, which do not allow disinformation that might cause real damage to people." Twitter justified its decision by saying in a statement that its rules prohibit content that runs "against public health information given by official sources and can put people at greater risk of transmitting COVID-19." Bolsonaro is one of few world leaders who insist the virus itself will cause less harm than shutting down the economy. He has received vocal backing from his supporters both on social media and in several cities where they staged demonstrations demanding life return to normal but his attitude has also been rejected by mayors, state governors and judges. Even some members of Bolsonaro's own administration have insisted on broad lockdown measures that run contrary to his statements. Last Thursday, Bolsonaro issued a decree that added religious activities to the list of "essential services," meaning churches could remain open even though governors had banned large gatherings. The decree was overruled by a federal court the following day. Supreme Court Justice Marco Aurelio Mello authorised an opposition lawmaker's request for Bolsonaro's own prosecutor general to investigate an alleged crime committed by the president, the Supreme Court's website said Tuesday. The allegation of endangering the public is based on Bolsonaro encouraging people to disobey isolation measures, calling concern over the pandemic "hysteria" and characterising the virus itself as a "a little flu" and "a little cold." The judge's action requires the prosecutor general to issue a legal opinion. In an interview with the newspaper O Globo, Prosecutor General Augusto Aras said that Bolsonaro is free to express his opinion and go out in public so long as he doesn't issue any official decrees that counter broad lockdown guidelines, which could tread into territory that requires legal evaluation. Despite the president's open skepticism, senior members of his own Cabinet have insisted on hewing closely to guidelines recommended by international health authorities. "Always technical, always scientific, always doing the maximum we can to preserve lives," Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta told reporters on Monday. On Tuesday, Brazil's health ministry reported 5,717 cases of Covid-19 and 201 deaths, the largest figures in Latin America. That included more than 1,100 new cases since the prior day by far Brazil's biggest single-day increase yet. For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially the elderly and people with preexisting health conditions, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. Bolsonaro has 12 million followers on Facebook, almost 16 million on Instagram and more than 6 million on Twitter. Social media was key for his election victory in 2018. Twitter recently deleted posts from Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro for sharing speculation about possible unusual cures for Covid-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Despite the major impact of the coronavirus outbreak, the essential services of Fluxys Belgium will remain operational. As one of the key players in the European gas infrastructure, we are responsible for the energy supply of our customers. Public services, households, hospitals and many industries are in need of our energy supplies, now more than ever. In this highly sensitive period, we have taken the necessary steps to safeguard the continuity of business operations while keeping everyone safe, the company said. Fluxys Belgium noted that for all its activities gas flows from North to South, South to North, East to West and West to East, terminalling activities in Zeebrugge (Belgium) and storage services nearby Antwerp (Belgium) it is carefully complying with the recommendations of Belgian authorities in the field of health and safety. Fluxys is a fully independent gas infrastructure group headquartered in Belgium. It contributes to a sustainable energy future and secures reliable and affordable energy flows into the market. The company optimizes its operations in Belgium and Europe, grow its assets on a selected basis in Europe and invests in small-scale LNG projects. Fluxys develops biomethane initiatives, invests in hydrogen and CO2 transport projects and explores new technologies. The company focuses on LNG infrastructure outside Europe. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Texas oil companies may soon cut back production, both because of a looming lack of available storage space and because wells are becoming uneconomical at $20 per barrel WTI. Many regional grades are trading lower than that--approaching negative territory. Large-scale production interruptions appear inevitable and imminent, according to Pioneer Natural Resources and Parsley Energy executives, who wrote to the Texas Railroad Commission asking the industry body to order a production cut, Reuters reports. One commissioner, Ryan Sitton, already suggested cuts, possibly in partnership with OPEC, earlier this month, before the crisis really hit. Now, the cuts, with or without OPEC, seem inevitable, and the industry is eager to start cutting, calling on the regulator to effect the cuts beginning in May. We think its important to save this industry, Reuters quoted Pioneers chief executive Scott Sheffield as saying, adding that he had suggested a production cut of as much as 20 percent, but excluding the smallest producers in the state. There is a catch, however. According to Sitton, Texas will not resort to production cuts unless Saudi Arabia and Russia agree to the cut, too. Im not advocating we do anything on our own, the commissioner told Reuters. If it is the right thing to keep some stability in the world, we can do it. Saudi Arabia and Russia dont seem too enthusiastic about cuts, however. Saudi Arabia just yesterday announced plans to boost its oil exports to 10.6 million bpd in April and more than 10.8 million in May. Meanwhile, pipeline operators in Texas are asking producers to stop pumping oil because storage space is filling up. The storage problem is becoming critical on a global scale. According to the chief analyst of data analytics firm Kayrros, if storage continues to fill up, oil prices could fall close to zero. This zero space available could happen in months, if not weeks. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A second doctor of Mohalla Clinics in Delhi has tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Tuesday. The doctor belonged to the clinic in Janata Mazdoor Colony in Babarpur area, according to a notice issued by Shahdara district authorities. The doctor serving at the clinic in Babarpur area has got infected with COVID-19 and all the patients and other people who visited the facility between March 12-20 are supposed to quarantine themselves for two weeks, the notice said. If anyone shows any symptoms of coronavirus infection, they are to report to authorities, it said. A few days ago, a doctor at a Mohalla Clinic in Mohanpuri area of Maujpur in northeast Delhi had contracted the disease. A senior official of the Delhi health department had said the doctor's wife and daughter had also tested positive for COVID-19 in the wake of the outbreak. About 800 people who visited the clinic or came in contact with the doctor between March 12-18 were quarantined. The clinic in Maujpur has been since closed and sanitised. At least 97 cases including two deaths from coronavirus have been reported in the national capital till Monday night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) From 1 April 2020, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle will no longer be senior members of the Royal Family. It means they will not receive any money from the Sovereign Grant - and will not carry out any engagements on behalf the Queen. The news that they wanted to leave the role behind came as a huge shock. The couple spent Christmas and an extended break in Canada, and came back in January, when they announced they did not want to be senior royals any more. Yahoo UK looks at the key factors in the decision to step back - and how we got here. Read more: 'You may not see us here': Harry and Meghan share final Instagram post from royal account The press Harry has spoken on a number of occasions about press intrusion and said it is something he has struggled with as a member of the Royal Family. Speaking to Tom Bradby during the filming of a documentary of their tour in South Africa, he said: I think being part of this family, in this role, in this job, every single time I see a camera, every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash it takes me straight back so in that respect it's the worst reminder of her life as opposed to the best. Harry and Meghan took on some final duties in the UK in March. (Getty Images) Read more: 'LA paparazzi don't play by the rules': Harry and Meghan warned they will be 'fair game' in California The prince has always criticised the press for the role they played in the death of his mother. Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 after being hounded by paparazzi. When he started dating Meghan, he issued a powerful statement which spoke about racist undertones in reporting of her, and called for those in the press who have been driving this story can pause and reflect before any further damage is done. He also knew that press attention had contributed to the end of previous relationships - with Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas. Together, Harry and Meghan have sought to establish a bit more control around how they are reported on. They organised a photocall when their son Archie was born. While Meghan was in the UK she chose one photographer to accompany her on a number of her private engagements. Story continues In a statement on their website, they said the move to be private individuals will remove the supposed public interest justification for media intrusion into their lives. Harry and Meghan at the WellChild awards in October 2019. (Getty Images) They also expressed a wish for the way they are covered to change, saying they want to engage with grassroots media organisations and young, up-and-coming journalists and no longer participate in the Royal Rota system. Harrys other life Prince Harry has never made a secret of how much he loved being in the military. He talked about preferring his military title of Captain Wales to his royal titles, and said on patrol bases he could be one of the guys. Read more: Meghan Markle's six most significant royal moments in 600 days His friend Dean Stott, told This Morning tour in Afghanistan was the only place he could be himself. Harry has admitted in the past that he didn't always want to stay in the royal family. "There was a time I felt I wanted out," he told the Mail on Sunday. "But then I decided to stay in [The Firm] and work out a role for myself." Harry will likely keep working with the military in the future. (Getty Images) Military affiliations have been a recurring theme for Prince Harry too. He launched the Invictus Games, a sporting event for disabled and injured former servicemen, and continues to play a major role in the organisation. Its likely he will continue his work with the military after he leaves the Royal Family. Making their own money In their statement in January, Harry and Meghan spoke about wanting to earn their own money. As senior royals, they received 5% of their money from the Sovereign Grant - the money paid by the taxpayer to the Royal Family to fund their duties, their travel and other expenses. Read more: Meghan leaving the Royal Family was the British people's fault, documentary claims The couple had wanted to come to an arrangement which would allow them to continue to represent the Queen but earn their own money. However no such deal could be reached with the Royal Family. The statement said: We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. The phrase financially independent seems to be a key figure for why this happened - they wanted to go to work and earn money like others can. While Harry would always have made his money by working for his grandmother, Meghan would have been much more used to going to work and earning her monthly paycheque. How did we get here? In November 2019, after a successful tour in South Africa and the announcement they would be suing the Mail on Sunday, the couple took Archie to Canada for an extended break, missing Christmas at Sandringham. In January 2020 they came back to thank the officials at Canada House in London for their time there. But the visit to the UK turned out to be brief, especially for Meghan. It emerged they had left Archie in Canada, and she returned swiftly after they made a statement that they wanted to step back as senior royals. Harry and Meghan popped back to say thank you for their stay. (Getty Images) They said they had come to the decision after many months of reflection and internal discussions. Buckingham Palace warns there are complicated issues that will take time to work through. The Queen directed her staff to find solutions quickly, and a few days later summons Harry alongside Prince William and Prince Charles, for discussions. This became known as the Sandringham Summit. While in Canada, Meghan makes some secret visits to local charities and organisations, while Harry continues with official engagements. Read more: Lecturer who clashed with Laurence Fox over Meghan says 'I've had to grow a pair' The Queen expresses regret at their decision, but they eventually come to an arrangement. Its dubbed a hard Megxit and is not what the couple wanted. They will not use their HRH styling, they will not be able to represent the Queen, and Harry will lose his honorary military titles. The next day, Harry tells supporters at a charity dinner there was no other option. Soon after, he jets back to Canada. Over the next month, they release some videos and photos of past projects on social media, but more information about their future leaks out. They discover they wont be able to use the word royal in any of their branding in the UK, and reluctantly agree not to use it worldwide. Problems with their future security emerge too, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police refusing to cover their side of the costs. The home in Canada where Prince Harry and wife Meghan lived. (Getty Images) Read more: 'Thank you, Meghan': Charity pays tribute to Duchess of Sussex for new film In early March, they perform their farewell tour - a series of engagements around Britain which marks the end of their time as senior royals. As they edge closer to their final day, it emerges they have left Canada and will set up home in Los Angeles, having left before the border between the two countries closed to tackle the spread of coronavirus. But the plan to reveal their new work has been delayed. However, they have revealed that Harrys project Travalyst will be based in the UK, and Disney revealed Meghan was the narrator of honour on their documentary Elephant. The royals want to retain a global focus on dealing with coronavirus and have decided to concentrate on their family and the role they can play to help in the pandemic. The Jefferson County Commission on Tuesday bought 55 hospital beds and transferred $1 million to the general fund to address costs of the coronavirus response. The county bought the beds from Jett Medical Company for $80,750, preparing for a potential surge in COVID-19 patients in the county. Commissioners acted working with the state and county health department incident response teams. The beds will be used in a surge hospital, that is a makeshift hospital created in the event hospitals are overwhelmed with patients. The Jefferson County EMA is considering using the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex or the Sheraton Hotel as a surge hospital, if one is needed, said District 4 commissioner Joe Knight If we need them, we got them. If not, we can sell them and replenish the money we get from them back to the emergency fund, Knight said during the meeting. He said the commission initially wanted to purchase more beds, but only 55 were available. There were about 75 beds available from the vendor, but the other 25 were sold in between phone calls as officials were deciding if they should go ahead and purchase extra beds. Knight said the county has to be prepared for a surge of patients. He mentioned the various research organizations modeling and predicting when cases are expected to peak. You know, we have to we have to kind of try to prepare for for that," he said. The commission transferred $1 million from the catastrophic event fund to the general fund. The money will be used to cover any coronavirus-related costs or supplies. Among costs already incurred? The purchase of an extra truck for the county coroner, Knight told commissioners. There are just under 1,000 cases in Alabama; there are more than 255 cases in Jefferson County. Jefferson County is still doing business online. Click here for more information about how to pay taxes, renew car tags or get a marriage license while the courthouse is closed. 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. Shares of public sector oil marketing companies (PSU OMCs) advanced after Brent Crude oil prices crashed to trade near $22 a barrel mark. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (up 11.54%), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (up 10.9%) and Indian Oil Corporation (up 5.36%) surged. In the commodities market, Brent crude for May 2020 settlement was down 18 cents at $22.58 a barrel. The contract tanked 8.7% to settle at $22.76 a barrel during the previous trading session. Lower crude oil prices could reduce under-recoveries of PSU OMCs on domestic sale of LPG and kerosene at controlled prices. The government has already freed pricing of petrol and diesel. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A captioned version of this video will be available next week. Herstory Lessons pays tribute to women whose accomplishments are hidden from history, but who have made an impact on the world. In celebration of Women's History Month, "GMA" is highlighting these hidden female figures who have made a critical contribution to our culture. Judith Heumann was the first person in a wheelchair to be hired as a teacher in the New York City school system. She eventually became one of the highest-ranking people with a disability in the U.S. federal government, working for both Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Heumann joined other activists with disabilities on the frontlines, demanding inclusion and accessibility. "Regardless of the type of disability we had, and regardless of the type of discrimination that we were experiencing, we need to fight for equality and justice together," Heumann told "GMA." She is best known for organizing the longest federal building sit-in in American history, the 504 Sit-In of April 1977. Her work as an unflinching activist paved the way for the landmark 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. PHOTO: An undated photo shows a young Judy Heumann waving to camera in a small carriage. (Courtesy Judy Heumann) Heumann is the daughter of German-Jewish immigrants who escaped the Holocaust, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. MORE: Herstory Lessons: The inspiring story of the 1st black female reporter for The Washington Post At the height of the polio epidemic of 1949, she contracted the virus at just 18 months old and was paralyzed by the disease. "I have limited use of my hands and arms, and I don't walk. To this day, people stare frequently," Heumann said. At the time, it was common for parents to institutionalize children with disabilities and a doctor recommended that for Heumann, but her parents refused to send their daughter away. As Heumann got older, her mother tried getting her admitted into kindergarten, but many schools denied her, claiming she was a "fire hazard." Story continues Instead, she received 2 1/2 hours of homeschooling a week until she was in the fourth grade. While her neighborhood friends embraced her, one day on her way to a candy store, "This boy asked me, you know, are you sick?" Heumann said. The incident which she details in her book, "Being Heumann," left her feeling like "a butterfly becoming a caterpillar." "It made me realize that some people looked at me really differently," Heumann said. "I started seeing myself in some way as not being the same." Eventually, Heumann was accepted into a New York City public school program for students with disabilities. But her experience was far from normal. She said her classes were hidden away in the basement and she felt disconnected from the rest of the school. PHOTO: An undated photo shows Judy Heumann posing for a portrait. (NY Daily News via Getty Images, FILE) But Heumann persisted, becoming the first student from her grade school program to go to high school -- and eventually college. MORE: Ulta Beauty ad with woman in wheelchair leaves girl with rare disease mesmerized When she got to her dorm room at Long Island University, she said she had to ask for help every single time she entered the bathroom or exited the building. Yet, Heumanns dreams never dwindled: she wanted to become a teacher. But since there had never been a teacher hired in the New York City school system who used a wheelchair, she knew there would be more barriers to overcome. During a physical assessment for her teaching license, she was asked to walk in front of doctors and said she was asked questions such as "How do you use the bathroom?" She was later denied her license by the New York City Board of Education. Thats when Heumann reached out to the American Civil Liberties Union to file a discrimination case. But the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not protect disabilities, so it told her it was unable to take up her cause. She told her story to a friend who was a stringer for The New York Times. A day later, a reporter reached out and soon, two articles were published chronicling her experience trying to get her teachers license. PHOTO: Judy Heumann became an activist at a young age. (Courtesy Judy Heumann) "The editorial basically said I was qualified to teach, there was a shortage of teachers and the Board of Ed should hire me. And that I felt was really a phenomenal opportunity," Heumann said. More newspapers published articles on Heummans plight, one powerful headline reading, "You can be President, not Teacher, with Polio." Then at age 22, Heumann took her case to federal court in 1970. "Constance Baker Motley ... was the first African-American woman to serve on the federal bench. And she was the judge that we got. And she really, you know, made the difference because she directed, she encouraged the Board of Education to reexamine their decision," Heumann said. After the Board of Education settled with her out of court, Heumann got her license to teach. Thats when Judy Heumann became the first teacher using a wheelchair to be hired in New York City. After three years of teaching, Heumann began working for the Center of Independent Living in Berkeley, California, and was later offered a position to work for U.S. Sen. Harrison Williams in New Jersey. But in 1975, she endured a stunning indignity on a flight to Washington, D.C., being forcibly taken off a plane and arrested for flying without a companion. There were proposed airline regulations aiming to restrict people with certain disabilities from flying independently. However, those restrictions had not been enacted. Still, Heumann was arrested and told her actions were illegal. "Rosa Parks gets arrested for not being willing to move to the back of the bus. And I wasn't about to acquiesce to what I consider to be really inappropriate violation of my rights," Heumann said. The police who arrested her asked for her ID. She obliged and showed them her U.S. Senate badge, and Heumann said their tone immediately shifted. She was released but missed her flight. There was finally a spark of hope after the decades of discrimination with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act read, No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States, as defined in section 706(8) of this title, shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance It was the first time the government acknowledged Americans with disabilities were being discriminated against at an alarming rate -- and had been for years. But Heumann teamed up with other activists with disabilities to draw attention to the legislation. PHOTO: Judy Heumann, center wheelchair, is given an ovation at the swearing in as U.S. Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Service in Berkeley, Calif., June 29, 1993. (Susan Ragan/AP, FILE) Together, they organized the longest federal sit-in in U.S. history in April 1977 to demand the act be signed into law after being delayed for four years. "It brought deaf people and blind people and physically disabled people, people with all kinds of disabilities, together," Heumann said. Shortly afterward, the legislation was finally signed into action. MORE: Woman paralyzed by neurological disorder crosses finish line at Disney half-marathon Years later, in 1990, activists took to the United States Capitol building urging Congress to pass the momentous and sweeping Americans with Disabilities Act. A precedent had been set with the 504 Sit-In, and people with disabilities were continuing to rally together to fight for their rights. The ADA would protect the rights of people with disabilities and require adaptations made across the country to include them in public life, from jobs to schools to public transportation. In the powerful demonstration, people left their wheelchairs and crutches behind to climb up the Capitol steps. On July 26th 1990, the ADA passed. "The Americans with Disabilities Act let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down. We're talking about a change in the physical environment ... accessible buses, accessible train ramps, movie theaters ... wheelchair technology for people who are deaf or blind," Heumann said. PHOTO:Actor John Goodman, left and Judy Heumann, Special Advisor for International Disability Rights at the U.S. Department of State, center, attend event at the Pageant Theater in St. Louis, April 28, 2012. (Bill Greenblatt/UPI/Newscom, FILE) In 1992, the Clinton administration offered Judy Heumann a job at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. She became the highest-ranking disabled person at the time in the U.S. government. In 2010, the Obama administration appointed her special advisor to Disability Rights International's efforts. Huemann used her position in life to elevate others with disabilities, advocate for fair treatment and propel the idea of an accessible world for all to a global audience. "I believe what I've meant for others is an example of how people can live their lives being open and honest and fighting for justice ... and we need to never give up on that," she said. This woman was the first wheelchair rider to become a teacher in New York City originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 31, 2020 / CanaFarma Hemp Products Corp. (CSE:CNFA)(formerly KYC Technology Inc.) (the "Corporation" or "CanaFarma") announces that Frank Barone Jr. and Kirill Chumenko have tendered their resignations as directors of the Corporation, though both will continue to retain their executive officer roles (Mr. Barone as Sales & Marketing Senior Vice President, and Mr. Chumenko as Senior Vice President). The Corporation expresses its thanks to both gentlemen for their service on the board from the time of formation of CanaFarma Corp. through the completion of the RTO and listing on the CSE. David Lonsdale, CEO of CanaFarma commented: "Frank and Kirill have done a great job of helping the Corporation through its formation and public listing process and we look forward to their future contributions in their operating roles." About CanaFarma Hemp Products Corp. CanaFarma Hemp is a full-service company operating in the hemp industry offering a full range of hemp-related products and services. These products and services include growing top-quality hemp, providing hemp-processing services, and offering hemp-based products to consumers utilizing a direct-to-consumer marketing approach. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future developments and the business and operations of the Corporation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: David Lonsdale Chief Executive Officer, Phone: (214) 704-7942 Email: david@canafarmacorp.com SOURCE: CanaFarma Hemp Products Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583362/CanaFarma-Hemp-Products-Corp-Thanks-Frank-Barone-Jr-and-Kirill-Chumenko-for-Their-Board-Service Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 23:41:38|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BANGKOK, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday said it is ramping up more lab capacities to run COVID-19 tests as the country is facing rising numbers of the virus infections. Forty more labs will be given approval to run tests for COVID-19 infections by the end of April, according to the ministry's Department of Medical Sciences. "We have now 57 labs currently being assessed and certified to run tests, we just need to assess 40 more labs before they can begin testing," said the department's director-general Opart Karnkawinpong. "So once we have all the 97 labs up and running, they will then have the combined capacity to do 10,000 daily tests in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, and another 10,000 tests a day in the other provinces," said Opart. "The virus detection test will provide a more accurate result and would show positive 5-7 days after an individual contracted the disease," explained the department head. Opart said one of the fastest, most reliable test methods currently is the real-time polymerase chain reaction, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). As of Tuesday, the Ministry of Public Health reported 127 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number to 1,651 infections and one fatality, 10 deaths in total. For many Ontarians, rent is due on Wednesday, but with so many people out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic, actually paying seems impossible. In Toronto, 47 per cent of all residents are renters, and the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city is $2,240. That means a lot of people are on the hook to pay rent on Wednesday with little to no means to do it. What happens if I can't afford rent? Premier Doug Ford has reiterated several times in the past week: "No one should be kicked out of their home or rental apartments based on not being able to pay their rent." Evictions have been halted in Ontario as the Landlord and Tenant Board has suspended all hearings for the duration of the outbreak. However, Ford has been quick to say anyone who is able to pay their rent should, adding "this doesn't give a free pass to people." But that still leaves renters and landlords without answers about what to do when it comes to paying and collecting rent on April 1. The province's website is unclear on how to handle this, saying only: "We encourage landlords and tenants to work together during this difficult time to establish fair arrangements to keep tenants in their homes." Evan Mitsui/CBC One Toronto real estate agent said it's all about proper communication between landlord and tenant. "I think [landlords] should just give [tenants] a phone call and kind of ask them where they're standing, if they still have their job, and be proactive about it, and not wait for the day rent is due and call them and say 'Hey guys, where's the rent?'" said Sunny Singh of iPro Realty Ltd. Toronto renter Paddy Gallagher said rent should be frozen for everyone and that assessing whether someone should pay on a case-by-case basis doesn't make sense when most people are being asked to stay home. "[The government] is throwing us to the wolves by taking away our income and yet not taking away our expenses," Gallagher told CBC News. Story continues 'My biggest fear is to be evicted' Toronto musician Sam Bielgalski was supposed to go on a tour this spring. But now, all her gigs are cancelled and any odd jobs or freelance work she does isn't available either. "All my extra money goes into my musical projects, so there's no emergency fund," she told CBC News. Bielgalski negotiated with her landlord by offering to pay half her rent for April and the other half when she gets money through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, for which applications only open in early April. Submitted by Sam Bielgalsk But she said she was hoping he would be a little more understanding. "When I texted my landlord to let him know about our situation the first thing he said to me was: 'How much can you pay?' He didn't express any sympathy. He didn't even ask about our health," Bielgaski said. In the end, her landlord said he would try to get his mortgage deferred but wasn't confident it would happen. He told Bielgaski to pay as soon as she can. Bielgaski said she admired people who were rising up and refusing to pay their rent, like one country-wide petition to freeze rents that has upwards of 740,000 signatures and is backed by several tenants' organizations and ACORN Canada, a charitable organization that advocates for families with low-to-moderate-incomes. But that's not an option for her, Bielgaski said. "The thought of souring my relationship with my landlord is terrifying ... Truly my biggest fear is to be evicted, which I know can't happen right now but it could happen in the future." What assistance are governments providing for renters? If you're hoping the government will help you out, it's important to know what each level is offering what and how that could help you. The City of Toronto has already offered homeowners 60 days to pay property taxes and other bills, so if you live in someone's home you can ask if they will consider extending those benefits to you. The province, however, has the most control over rent. But it's unclear if its relief plans will help. If you're out of work, the federal government has made changes to Employment Insurance. Here's how you apply for that. What assistance are landlords getting? Although landlords have been offered a mortgage deferral of up to six months through their bank, real estate agent Singh warns renters against thinking that means landlords don't have to pay. "That's mortgage deferral, not mortgage forgiveness," he explained. "A lot of tenants are getting confused and saying, 'Hey, you know what, the landlord doesn't have to pay his mortgage.' That is not entirely true the landlord still has to pay some sort of interest to the bank when all this is done," Singh said. In fact, the deferral is a loan that will end up costing the landlord more money in the end. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan formally step down as senior members of the British royal family on Tuesday, as they start a controversial new life in the United States. The couple have already relocated to California, according to reports, after announcing in January that they intended to quit royal life and "work to become financially independent". The decision means they will no longer carry out duties on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II and are giving up their office within the monarchy in Britain. It follows reports Meghan was deeply unhappy with life inside the centuries-old institution and increasing complaints from the couple about media intrusion. Their shock announcement rocked the royal family, appearing to blindside the queen and other senior family members. It led the 93-year-old monarch to call an emergency summit with her eldest son and heir Prince Charles, and his two sons Princes William and Harry, to thrash out the terms of their departure. The family eventually agreed the couple, who have an 11-month-old son Archie, will relinquish their His or Her Royal Highness titles, and no longer use the "Sussex Royal" label. They currently use the name for their popular Instagram account and website, and had also made dozens of trademark applications with it for various products. However, they will continue to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, their official titles, and Harry remains sixth in line to the throne, with no change in the line of succession. - Dream soured - Harry and Meghan's departure -- dubbed "Megxit" by the British press -- is a far cry from 2018, when they married in a fairytale wedding at Windsor Castle watched around the world. Meghan, 38, a former TV actress who is of mixed race, was seen as a breath of fresh air for the royal family, which is often characterised as overly stuffy. But relations with the media soon soured, with some newspapers accused of peddling offensive racial stereotypes and dishing out unfair criticism. There were also reports of splits within the family, and a growing rift between Harry and William. Since revealing their plans, the couple had been living in a luxury mansion on Canada's Pacific west coast, visiting Britain only briefly this month. It had been thought they would continue to base themselves in Canada. But the pair are said to have relocated to California by private jet earlier this month before the United States closed its northern border because of the coronavirus outbreak. Meghan grew up in Los Angeles and her mother, Doria Ragland, still lives there. She also has a network of friends and work contacts in the city. - Security bill - The couple's initial announcement to quit Britain divided opinion and their move to California comes after Harry's father was last week diagnosed as having COVID-19. He has now left self-isolation, Clarence House said on Monday. British royals have been showing solidarity with health workers fighting the outbreak, while the queen released a message saying her family stood ready to play its part in the national effort. "Harry and Meghan have chosen celebrity over duty," The Times said in an opinion piece on Monday. "Making the move to California, and making it now, only inflames the irritation many feel over the couple's actions in recent months," it added. Meanwhile, the couple failed to get a warm welcome from US President Donald Trump, whom Harry recently criticised for his stance on climate change in a hoax phone call. Trump said he was "a great friend and admirer of the Queen and the United Kingdom" but insisted US taxpayers would not pick up their security bill. "They must pay!" he wrote on Twitter on Sunday. The president's warning prompted a rare public response from the couple's spokeswoman, who said they had "no plans to ask the US government for security resources". "Privately-funded security arrangements have been made." In a humanitarian gesture, the Delhi Police distributed food packets to nearly two lakh poor people in different parts of the city amid the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Tuesday. According to a senior police officer, the food delivery network established in all 15 districts of the city with the involvement of nearly 400 NGOs, RWAs and good samaritans facilitated by the police gave away food packets at more than 250 locations, feeding nearly 1,72,584 people. He said food was distributed to over 50,000 people in Dwarka in the past three days. A total of 17,330 poor people, including labourers, were provided prepared and raw food by the security force on Tuesday. Similarly, food was distributed to 12,575 people on Sunday and 13,755 people on Monday, the official said. Free food was also given to the visually-challenged at Chetan Vihar area, police said. Meanwhile, the outer north district police served raw food material for 15 days to 2,350 poor families, and cooked food to around 60,000 people. The food parcels included rice, dal, potataos, mustard and flour, the police added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Like many Americans I have followed the present health pandemic COVID-19 (not Chinese) on a daily basis since coverage began over 60 days ago. At the time our current administration heard about it they made a decision to put it at the bottom of priorities. The president was involved in a impeachment trial. Then there was the state of the union address. Then there was removal of his staff (Lieutenant Colonel Vidman.) Then President Trump used his executive power to pardon 7 individuals. His personal friend Roger Stone was in a trial and was convicted of 7 charges. By mid- to late February the president held a press briefing concerning the new virus and said: "We have everything under control." He even said by springtime it will go away. He held campaign rallies and said it was a hoax! Now jump ahead to March and he holds daily briefings with a team of experts and advisors. He maintains he inherited an obsolete mess from past administrations. I recall in 2018 he disbanded the White House pandemic office. The White House was warned in early January about this crisis and the severity of it. President Trump doesn't speak the truth. He hasn't provided adequate leadership for our country. Now he is on the verge of telling all to open their businesses and get to work ignoring all health experts. He is so worried about the stock market and the economy tanking. I can't wait to hear him say that it's the largest employment rate since the Great Depression. All of his ignorance might just do him in this coming November. Remember his favorite saying: Make America Great Again. I say: Let's save lives; protect the front line caregivers with adequate supplies and show a little empathy towards all Americans. Allen Nickerson, Clear Lake Love 3 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 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. 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Digital Editor By Kang Seung-woo Many public polls have found that a large number of high-profile veteran politicians are struggling to punch their ticket to the National Assembly, with many of their challenges coming from political rookies. Rep. Park Jie-won of Minsaeng Party The general election is scheduled to take place April 15 to choose who will make up the 300-strong 21st National Assembly. Rep. Park Jie-won of the minor opposition Minsaeng Party is facing a situation that he has never before encountered in his almost 30-year political career. The four-term lawmaker is behind Kim Won-I a former deputy mayor for political affairs at the Seoul Metropolitan Government in the electoral district of Mokpo, South Jeolla Province. A survey by local cable broadcaster JTBC, Monday, showed that Kim was leading Park by 7.3 percentage points 38.3 percent to 31 percent. Both candidates worked for the Kim Dae-jung administration from 1998 to 2003, with Park serving as chief of staff and Kim as an administrative official. Another poll by the Joongang Ilbo released Tuesday revealed that Kim even had a lead over Park outside the margin of error 41.2 percent to 31.2 percent. The margin of the sampling error was plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. Park has been representing the Mokpo constituency since 2008 and used to be considered invincible in the region. Rep. Na Kyung-won of the United Future Party Rep. Na Kyung-won of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) may also fail in her bid to become the country's second five-term female lawmaker, after Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae. With the seat representing the Dongjak-B district in southern Seoul up for grabs, the 56-year-old judge-turned-politician is competing with former progressive judge Lee Soo-jin of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). A Monday survey by local broadcaster MBC found Lee was ahead of Na by 11.9 percentage points 48.5 percent to 36.6 percent while the poll by the Joongang Ilbo showed 46.5 percent of voters supported Lee, with only 36.9 percent favoring Na. Former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 21:55:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Health Minister Jaafar Sadiq Allawi praised China's "unforgettable and historic" contribution in helping Iraq fight the novel coronavirus. Allawi said in a recent interview with al-Furat local TV channel that China's help will not be forgotten by himself or the Iraqi health sector. The minister's comment came as China is supporting the Iraqi authorities in facing the COVID-19, at a time when Iraq is suffering from weak health system after years of conflicts and chaos following the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. A Chinese team of seven experts has been working with their Iraqi counterparts since March 7 in the country. On March 25, a new PCR (polymerase chain reaction) lab built by the Chinese experts, based on Chinese donation of nucleic acid test kits and other equipment, was inaugurated in the capital Baghdad. The lab, which has the ability to conduct more than 1,000 tests per day, will increase the urgently needed nucleic acid detection capacity to detect COVID-19 cases in the war-torn country. Allawi said that the Chinese team of experts also helped the Iraqi side to form a committee of experts from the Iraqi physicians who had experience in treating the bird flu epidemic which appeared in Iraq in 2014. He said that the Chinese assistance also included advanced medical screening equipment such as mobile X-ray and CT, which are accurate in detecting coronavirus. "They provided us with a very advanced communication device, presented by Huawei, and through this device, the Chinese experts will train our cadres from Mosul (in northern Iraq) to Basra (in southern Iraq), where we will prepare a daily program for each province through the accurate cameras in this device," the minister said. Allawi confirmed that the potentials of the Iraqi health ministry currently is in good condition, thanks to the assistance from China. Iraqi Health Ministry on Monday announced 83 new cases, registering the fastest single day growth so far. The total number of infections now stands at 630, with 46 died and 152 recovered. Meanwhile, the Iraqi government has taken several measures recently, including extending a nationwide curfew until April 11. Following are the top stories from the Eastern Regiona at 9 pm. CAL 5 WB-VIRUS-2NDLD DEATH Another COVID-19 patient dies in Bengal, death count 3 Kolkata: A 47-year-old woman infected with the coronavirus died at a hospital in West Bengal's Howrah district, taking COVID-19 death toll in the state to three, a health department official said on Tuesday. CAL 6 WB-VIRUS-MAMATA BLOOMS Mamata blooms amid corona gloom Kolkata: She walks briskly into a crowded marketplace, admonishes people for the unnecessary hubbub, picks up a broken brick and draws a circle around her. CAL 7 BH-VIRUS-POSITIVE Another COVID-19 case reported in Bihar, total count 16 Patna: A 35-year-old man with a travel history to Dubai tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday here, taking the tally of those afflicted in Bihar to 16, an official said. CAL 12 AS-VIRUS-POSITIVE Man tests positive for COVID-19 in Assam's Silchar, first case in state Guwahati: A 52-year-old man tested positive for COVID-19 in Assam's Silchar on Tuesday, making it the first case of coronavirus infection in the state, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. CAL 13 WB-MAMATA-DONATION Mamata donates Rs 10 lakh from personal savings to help combat COVID-19 Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday donated Rs 5 lakh each to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund and the state Emergency Relief Fund to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. CAL 14 JH-VIRUS-LD POSITIVE Malaysian woman found coronavirus positive, first case in Jharkhand Ranchi: Jharkhand reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 after a Malaysian woman tested positive for the virus, a senior official said on Tuesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The article concluded, It is to be hoped the malady has left us for good. This attitude, along with the lift on bans, would prove to be premature. The decision to lift the bans was almost immediately reconsidered, a December 13 edition of the Dawson County Herald read, Reports are now to the effect that the Spanish flu is now raging harder than ever in Omaha, and it is probable that the lid will again be put on. The article continued, The public schools are but half attended, parents refusing to let their children go in consequence of the prevalence of the dread disease. It is charged that the pressure brought to bear by some of the business men and proprietors of play houses was sufficient to overcome the better judgment of the citys health authorities who reluctantly removed the ban. The influenza was not gone, as some people had desperately hoped, not only that, it was said to be on the increase once again. By late December it seemed people were fully realizing the scope of the disease. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Chris Smalls, an Amazon.com Inc. fulfillment center employee, said the company fired him after he led a strike at a warehouse in Staten Island, New York, over coronavirus safety conditions. Taking action cost me my job, Smalls said Monday in a Bloomberg TV interview. Because I tried to stand up for something thats right, the company decided to retaliate against me. A group of workers at the Staten Island fulfillment center walked off the job Monday to demand Amazon close the facility for extended cleaning, the latest in a wave of virus-related protests. They say a number of their colleagues there were diagnosed with Covid-19. Organizers say more than 60 workers participated in the protest. In a statement Monday night, New York State Attorney General Letitia James called Smallss firing immoral and inhumane. James urged the National Labor Relations Board to investigate the incident and also said her office is considering all legal options. On Tuesday, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said he had ordered the citys Commission on Human Rights to investigate Amazon immediately as well as determine if Smalls was retaliated against. Amazon confirmed it fired Smalls, saying he violated safety regulations, including failing to abide by a 14-day quarantine required after being exposed to an employee with a confirmed case of Covid-19. Mr. Smalls received multiple warnings for violating social distancing guidelines and putting the safety of others at risk, Amazon said in a statement. Smalls was asked to remain home with pay for 14 days, which is a measure were taking at sites around the world. Despite that instruction to stay home with pay, he came on site today, March 30, further putting the teams at risk. Smalls called the companys claim ridiculous and said he was being retaliated against for his activism. Federal law protects the right of employees to engage in collective action, including strikes, to protest working conditions. Story continues Im still going to continue to fight for those people inside of that building, he said. Amazon also disputed the number of workers involved in the protest, saying it was 15 of more than 5,000 employees at the Staten Island site. Like all businesses grappling with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we are working hard to keep employees safe while serving communities and the most vulnerable, the company said. (Updates with mayors comment in fourth 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. 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. Saint Paul, MN -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/31/2020 -- CatchFood is the platform that provides online food ordering services, which is a service that makes it easier for people to view menus through the browser and applications, and collects as much as possible restaurants in Middle East. Founder Ahmad A Najar said to help restaurants we want to support local independent restaurants. These family restaurants have served us consistently over the years and it is our privilege to step in and serve them now when there is so much at stake. After month of hard work for "19 hours a day" from a small office, The group launched the project in Lebanon, egypt, Jordan, Palestine and Iraq. Restaurant owners can register their restaurant on the catchFood platform for free. The service accepts pick-up and delivery option to serve people to complete orders. Regarding the technical difficulties facing the group, Ahmad Najar explained that some restaurants owners they don't understand how those site and apps works affect the progress of the project, which "pushed them to explain for any restaurants partners in the platform for using the site". Although the "CatchFood" journey is full of challenges, this did not stand in the way of the continuity and progress of the project, but rather prompted the responsible team to draw up plans to help the restaurant. In this context, CEO Ahmad A Najar said that "For the safety of People. And not to gather in restaurants with some and limit the spread of the disease and help food ordering from inside the houses and see the menus for each restaurant to save time and effort on the owners of restaurants. All services are free for people and restaurants, and we are seeking to expand to include other countries." Regarding the comments and reactions from the people, catch food founder Najar indicated that "many comments arrive daily from the people and merchant who use the application and others who ask provision of the program in their country." About CatchFood CatchFood an Free online food ordering based in Minnesota and was founded in 2015. Service that helps customer find restaurants in their city,Delivery, Take-out, Dine In & Reservation, Filter by cuisine browser menus and place their orders with cash or prepaid on delivery. We offer our services through desktops and mobile apps for iphone, Android , Ipad. Media Contact https://www.support.catchfood.com YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian and spouse Nouneh Sarkissian offered condolences to chess grandmaster Levon Aronian over the death of his wife, Arianne Caoili, the Presidents Office said on Facebook. Dear Levon, we are facing an indescribable pain: the loss of your wife, Arianne Caoili, is immeasurable. Knowing you and Arianne quite well, we knew that you are not a type of persons to surrender. And Arianne was fighting until the very last momentI and Nouneh, and also our people for sure, stand by you with sincere words of sorrow. Rest In Peace, dear Arianne! Stay firm, dear Levon! the statement says. Australian chess player Arianne Caoili, the wife of Armenian chess grandmaster Levon Aronian, has died in Yerevan, Armenia on March 31 at the age of 33. Two weeks ago Arianne suffered a serious injury in a car crash in Yerevan and was hospitalized. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan The Uttar Pradesh government has appointed CEO of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA), Narendra Bhooshan, as the officer-in-charge for the district for efforts to control the COVID-19 infection. According to an order issued by Special Secretary Dhananjay Shukla, Bhooshan has been appointed to take actions related to managing facilities for preventing the spread, and treatment of the infection along with ensuring the supply of essential commodities in the district. All officials of the police, health, administration and others, including those of the NOIDA authority and Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority have been instructed to provide all help necessary to Bhooshan for carrying out his duty. Uttar Pradesh has 82 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 11 patients who have been cured and discharged as of Monday evening. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday held a meeting with the officials of Gautam Buddh Nagar over the COVID-19 situation and also to review the plight of the migrant workers returning from Delhi and also to check. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of top news as of 31.03.2020: The number of recovered has reached 31. And 150 people are no longer isolated, said health minister Arsen Torosyan. The Armenian PM, in turn, said the government was forced to extend strict quarantine measures by ten days in an attempt to curb the coronavirus outbreak. As the PM also noted, nearly 90 people have pneumonia now in Armenia. These legislative amendments provide that under the conditions of the emergency state, the relevant authorities will have access to the location of citizens, their movements, Internet connections, contacts, phone numbers linked to them, and calls, however, the justice ministry assures that they will have no content of the conversation. Changes and the possibility of collecting and processing personal data of citizens will be distributed only during the emergency regime announced in connection with the pandemic. However, a total of 65 MPs from the majority My Step faction voted for this package, but this number was not enough to have it passed. Caoili got into an accident on March 14 in Yerevan. She crashed into a concrete pillar on the street. Levon Aronian tweeted: I have no words to express the grievance over my wife Arianne's death. She was intelligent, hard working and joyous person that lived a beautiful life" Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and President Armen Sarkissian, as well as the third president Serzh Sargsyan, have expressed their condolences. The Requiem Service will take place on April 1 at 6 p.m. at a funeral home in Yerevan. Two soldiers and a teen have been injured following Azerbaijani attempt on Monday evening of sabotage penetration in the direction of the Armenian military posts of the Noyemberyan region of Tavush Province, defense ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan wrote on her Facebook. According to her, the Armenian side has no casualties, and only two servicemen received slight injuries as a result of the operations. The adversary also targeted the villages of Armenia, and a teen was injured during the shootings as he was standing at the balcony of the house. The teen was transported to Yerevan. The child had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, the necessary first aid was provided on-site. Surgery was performed at Noyemberyan medical center. Meanwhile, according to Gevorg Derdzyan, the spokesperson Sourb Astvatsamayr MC the teen is in stable condition has no complaints, and his life is not at risk of danger. According to him, there is no need for the second surgery. There were 282 polling stations, as well as one each at the representation of Artsakh in Armenia and at the Shushi penitentiary. Fourteen candidates were running for president, and two party blocs and 10 parties were vying for seats in the National Assembly. Preventive measures were taken at the polling stations due to the risk of the spread of coronavirus. Fourteen NGOs with 807 representatives, as well as 197 representatives of 37 mass media, were initially accredited at the Artsakh Central Electoral Commission to carry out an observation mission during these elections. 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. MSNBC host Rachel Maddow has come under fire for ridiculing some of President Trump's promises when it comes to the action his administration is taking to help combat coronavirus. During her show on March 20th, Maddow said that the president's claim that hospital ships would be sent to both the east and west coasts by next week was 'nonsense'. However, her pronouncement has turned out to be false as both the USNS Mercy was deployed to Los Angeles and arrived over the weekend, while the USNS Comfort pulled into New York Harbor on Monday - just 10 days after her broadcast. Rachel Maddow said that the ship would not arrive for weeks on her show Hey @maddow, Last week you said it was nonsense that the hospital ship would come to NY this week. Well... It arrived today! pic.twitter.com/UwWwNhuK3i Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) March 30, 2020 Maddow was resolute in her stance that the ship, the Comfort, would not be anywhere near New York City for weeks, despite the president declaring otherwise. 'In terms of the happy talk we've had on this front from the federal government, there is no sign that the Navy hospital ships that the president made such a big deal of, the Comfort and the Mercy, there`s no sign that they`ll be anywhere on-site helping out anywhere in the country for weeks yet', Maddow said. 'The president said when he announced that those ships would be put into action against the COVID-19 epidemic. He said one of those ships would be operational in New York harbor by next week. That's nonsense. It will not be there next week.' The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort sails past the Statue of Liberty as it arrives in New York, to help with the COVID-19 response, pictured on Monday Maddow's pronouncement was part of a segment decrying the Trump administration's reaction to the global pandemic Criticism against Maddow came thick and fast as frustrated viewers tweeted at her, with some including the original video clip. 'Hey, @Maddow, last week you said it was nonsense that the hospital ship would come to NY this week. Well It arrived today!' crowed one user. 'Has @Maddow been right about ANYTHING?!?' asked another. 'Rachel you need to apologize on air for lying to the American people. Yet you wonder why the american people agree with the President about FAKE NEWS,' demanded one Twitter follower. 'Hey @Maddow! You going to tell your viewers you lied? The USNS Comfort arrived in NY today! This is why no one trusts you or @MSNBC' wrote one. 'How she still has a show after 3 years of peddling Russian collusion conspiracy theories is astonishing,' mused another. The criticism came thick and fast as the hospital ship pulled smoothly into New York Harbor Maddow was proved wrong on Monday as the military hospital ship arrived in New York as the country's coronavirus epicenter gears up for the peak of the pandemic, with emergency restrictions extended amid grim warnings the death toll will soar. The navy's 1,000-bed USNS Comfort docked at a Manhattan pier as more US states enforced stay-at-home orders after President Donald Trump abandoned his Easter target for life returning to normal in the United States. The 894 foot-long vessel, which also has space for a dozen operating rooms, was greeted by cheering crowds after departing Norfolk, Virginia on Saturday. The Comfort will care for New Yorkers requiring intensive care unrelated to the coronavirus, easing the burden on a hospital network overwhelmed by an influx of COVID-19 patients. Its arrival came as Virginia, Maryland and the capital Washington D.C. became the latest areas to restrict citizens' movements, meaning almost three-quarters of Americans are now living, or about to live, under various phases of lockdown. The Comfort, pictured, will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to land-based hospitals. This allows the rest of city's hospitals to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases On Sunday, Trump cancelled his plans to re-open much of the United States by Easter and extended social distancing guidelines until the end of April after his top scientists confronted him with data on the rising coronavirus deaths. He said America's death rate was likely to increase for two weeks, describing as 'horrible' a prediction by senior scientist Anthony Fauci that COVID-19 could claim up to 200,000 lives. Worst-affected New York is ramping up hospital capacity and taking delivery of desperately needed medical supplies as it races against time. 'We have been playing catch up from day one,' Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters. 'Don't fight today's fight. Plan for two weeks, three weeks, four weeks from now when you're going to have the apex, and make sure that we're in a position to win the battle,' he added. European shoppers stripped shelves bare as lockdowns loomed. Now we're starting to know just how big the spending spree was. New data Tuesday (March 31) shows UK supermarkets were the busiest they've ever been. Market researcher Nielsen says people there made over 79 million extra grocery shopping trips in the four weeks to March 21. They spent an extra 1.9 billion pounds on groceries - about 2.4 billion dollars. Top of the shopping list were items for the so-called 'pandemic pantry' - essentials from toilet paper to pasta. Figures from around Europe are likely to show something similar. But now retailers could face a new challenge - holding onto their staff. Workers at one branch of Carrefour walked out this week over concern they could catch the virus. French law gives them the right to withdraw if they feel their health is being put at risk. Europe's biggest retailer now says it's supplying masks to all staff to address concerns. Austria says it will make it compulsory for shoppers to wear masks to address similar worries there. But anxiety is spreading through the retail industry. Recent days have seen protests and walkouts at Amazon depots in France and Italy as staff demand better safety measures. This week has also seen mounting labour unrest in the U.S., including a walkout at online grocer Instacart. As the battle against the coronavirus rages, retail workers feel they're on the front lines. Federal judges on Monday temporarily blocked efforts in Texas and Alabama to ban abortions and close clinics during the coronavirus pandemic, handing Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers a victory. A new Ohio order is also unconstitutional if it prevents abortions from being carried out, a separate judge ruled Monday. The ruling instructed clinics to determine on a case-by-case basis if an abortion can be delayed to maximize resources - such as preserving personal protective equipment - needed to fight the coronavirus. If the abortion is deemed necessary and can't be delayed, it's declared legally essential. The rulings indicated judges were pushing back on Republican-controlled states including abortion in sweeping orders as the outbreak grows in the US. In Texas, the ruling came down after state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, said abortion was included in a statewide ban on nonessential surgeries. Federal judges on Monday temporarily blocked efforts in Texas and Alabama to ban abortions and close clinics during the coronavirus pandemic But US District Judge Lee Yeakel said the 'Supreme Court has spoken clearly' on a woman's right to abortion. One abortion provider in Texas, Whole Woman's Health, said it had canceled more than 150 appointments in the days after the Texas order went into effect. 'There can be no outright ban on such a procedure,' Yeakel wrote. Paxton said the state would appeal. The rulings happened Monday as lawsuits were also filed in Iowa and Oklahoma, after governors in those states similarly ordered a stop to non-emergency procedures and specifically included abortion among them. The lawsuits were filed by Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Reproductive Rights and local lawyers in each state. Their aim, like abortion providers in Texas, is to stop state officials from prohibiting abortions as part of temporary policy changes related to the coronavirus pandemic. 'Banning abortion doesn't slow the transmission of the virus, it just forces people to stay pregnant - and have children - against their will,' said Jennifer Dalven, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Friday that abortions were included in his executive order banning all elective surgeries and minor medical procedures until April 7, unless the procedure was necessary to prevent serious health risks to the mother. Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers filed lawsuits in Iowa and Oklahoma, after governors in those states similarly ordered a stop to non-emergency procedures and specifically included abortion among them Stitt said the order was needed to help preserve the states limited supply of personal protective equipment, like surgical masks and gloves. A spokesman for Stitt referred questions about the challenge to Attorney General Mike Hunter, who vowed in a statement to defend the ban. 'My office will vigorously defend the governors executive order and the necessity to give precedence to essential medical procedures during this daunting public health crisis,' Hunter's statement said. 'Make no mistake, this lawsuit will itself drain significant resources, medical and legal, from emergency efforts, and likely, directly and indirectly, bring harm to Oklahomans as a result.' Monday night, US District Judge Myron Thompson issued a temporary restraining order against Alabama's order, saying the ruling with be in effect through April 13 while he considers additional arguments. Thompson wrote the states concerns about conserving medical equipment during the pandemic, does not "outweigh the serious, and, in some cases, permanent, harms imposed by the denial of an individuals right to privacy." Attorneys for the Alabama clinics said facilities had canceled appointments for 17 people scheduled this week. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has announced that abortions will be prohibited in Oklahoma under the state's ban on elective surgeries during the coronavirus outbreak 'Patients that have already had their appointments canceled have been devastated; in many instances the calls cancelling the appointments have ended in tears,' lawyers for the clinics wrote. Alabama closed many nonessential businesses with a state health order, effective Saturday. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said earlier Monday the state would not offer a "blanket exemption" to abortion clinics. In Ohio, Planned Parenthood and abortion clinics that sued last year to try to thwart a law that bans most abortions after a first detectable fetal heartbeat are asking a court to speed up its decision in that case and to consider a recent coronavirus order by the state health director. In filings Monday, the groups' attorneys argued 'the state is again attempting to ban abortions' through Dr. Amy Actons directive barring all 'non-essential' procedures and Attorney General Dave Yost's threats that it will be rigidly enforced. The lawyers argued in federal court that closing clinics would violate the right to abortion guaranteed by the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling in 1973. Noting that the closings were taking place in states with strict laws limiting abortion access, Nancy Northup, head of the Center for Reproductive Rights, called them 'sham justifications to shut down clinics and make an end run around Roe v. Wade. 'These same states have tried to ban abortion access for years - no one should be fooled that this is warranted by the current crisis,' she said. Iowa Gov Kim Reynolds (left) has suspended all elective surgeries and procedures 'to preserve Iowa's health care resources.' Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (right) announced Friday that abortions were included in his executive order banning all elective surgeries until April 7 Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds spokesman Pat Garrett said the governor 'is focused on protecting Iowans from an unprecedented public health disaster, and she suspended all elective surgeries and procedures to preserve Iowas health care resources.' Reynolds said Sunday the move was not based on her personal ideology but a broad order to halt nonessential procedures to conserve medical equipment. The Iowa lawsuit said abortion procedures do not require extensive use of medical equipment and do not use N95 respirators, the devices in shortest supply during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Patients abortions will be delayed, and in some cases, denied altogether,' the lawsuit states. "As a result, Iowa patients will be forced to carry pregnancies to term, resulting in a deprivation of their fundamental right to determine when and whether to have a child or to add to their existing families.' The lawsuits seek court orders halting action pertaining to abortions and ask judges for immediate hearings. Christian artists perform free concerts from their homes during quarantine Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As Americans nationwide self-quarantine and avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, as advised by the Trump administration to combat the coronavirus, Christian artists have been using their social media platforms to offer free concerts and share music. For King &Country Popular duo for King & Country, Joel and Luke Smallbone, went to Lukes cabin in Nashville, Tennessee, to host a full concert for their supporters amid the global coronavirus outbreak. The brothers used technology to their advantage and connected with their full band digitally to put on a virtual concert. They used a switchboard as each musician played from their respected areas. There are a lot of things that we can't do, a lot of things that we don't know, but there are also things that we do know and things that we can do. One is we can love in the face of fear, have hope and trust, we can reach out, Joel said at the start of their TOGETHER: A Night of Hope concert on Friday. I said to someone the other day, 'thank God that we're in this time in human history where we have Amazon Prime and Facebook and FaceTime and you're able to reach out to your grandparents or reach out to someone that's hurting,' which is one of the things we're going to do this evening, he said. Along with performing some of their inspiring hits, for King & Country FaceTimed some friends including Emmy award-winning host Kathie Lee Gifford and gospel pioneer Kirk Franklin. Stream the full concert below: Here come the mobile hospitals To fight COVID-19 as quickly as possible, the Army Corps of Engineers has decentralized its contracting process, letting its district offices handle the details. Journal Construction Editor By BENJAMIN MINNICK Journal Construction Editor Photo by Benjamin Minnick [enlarge] The Port of Seattle and NWSA have offered vacant space at Terminal 46 to stage materials for a mobile hospital being built at CenturyLink Field Event Center. The Army Corps of Engineers has ramped up its contracting process to speed the construction of mobile hospitals across the nation, including the first in Seattle inside CenturyLink Field Event Center. The mobile hospitals are treating non-COVID-19 patients to relieve pressure on permanent hospitals. The corps held a webinar last week detailing how it is assisting other agencies in building alternative health care facilities. It said it's trying to get ahead of the virus curve. As of Thursday, it was looking at 114 potential sites and making 81 assessments, and selected eight sites and had four contracts pending. Christine Altendorf, chief of the corps' Engineering and Construction division at its Washington, D.C., headquarters, said her agency is used to dealing with hurricanes and floods, but this is different because it affects the entire country. We're in a complete learning mode, this one's a challenge, she said. To fight COVID-19 as quickly as possible, the corps has decentralized its contracting process, letting its district offices handle the details. Also, emergency contracting is being used. In some cases, the corps will do the contracting and in other cases it will be handled by the state with assistance from the corps. Ideally, the corps wants contractors with experience in building modular shelters. Mike Schultz, chief of the corps' Interagency and International Services division, said his agency is giving technical advice and assistance under Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines. That could involve converting or retrofitting existing structures such as hotels, dorms, apartment buildings, arenas or convention centers. The corps may obtain rights/ownership for the property and then hire a contractor to build out the space. Some things that need to be considered when building a mobile hospital include the need for existing utilities and infrastructure, installation of washable walls and floors, a negative-pressure HVAC system, and supply and installation of medical equipment. Chip Marin, programs director of the corps support center in Huntsville, Alabama, said they recommend that mobile hospitals locate within 10 miles of a permanent hospital for hazmat disposal, laundry and pharmacy needs. He said the corps prefers to use state-owned facilities because they can be developed quicker. Marin said hotels built after 1990 are also preferred because there shouldn't be any hazardous construction materials in those buildings to deal with. Other tips provided by Marin included: central HVAC systems are easier to control and modify than individual units; buildings must meet life/health safety codes; existing backup power is desired; and the fewer modifications needed, the better. Marin offered this example of what needs to be done to an existing motel/hotel to convert it into medical use: Remove carpet and install vinyl or epoxy flooring in rooms; review the HVAC system; install perimeter fencing; and make space for a pharmacy, medical gas storage and check-in operations. Schultz said retrofits should be done in a matter of days to a few weeks. He said the corps wants to move quickly to fight the disease wherever it flares up. For the field hospital at CenturyLink, the Port of Seattle and Northwest Seaport Alliance are making sections of nearby Terminal 46 available for staging trailers and equipment. Foss Maritime, NWSA's approved licensee to operate cargo operations at T-46, is helping. Schultz said hot spots for COVID-19 are the Northeast and the cities of Miami, New Orleans, Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago. Benjamin Minnick can be reached by email or by phone at (206) 622-8272. Homeless people could be moved from the streets and into five-star hotels in an attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus. The West Australian Government is planning to accommodate homeless people at the Pan Pacific hotel in Perth for the 'Hotels with Heart' pilot. There will be 20 rough sleepers used in the one-month trial, who are unable to self-isolate during the COVID-19 threat. The starting price for accommodation at Perth's Pan Pacific hotel is $170 a night at the Deluxe Room, with the most expensive rooms costing $260 a night. Scroll down for video Homeless people could be moved from the streets and into five-star hotels in Perth due to the coronavirus crisis. Pictured: A man sits on the ground in Perth The starting price for accommodation at Perth's Pan Pacific hotel is $170 a night at the Deluxe Room. Pictured: A room at Pan Pacific Perth The program could be expanded to accommodate victims of domestic violence and those suffering from mental health issues if successful. It would then use 120 rooms at the hotel. The development of the trial came after a task force was set up last week to address homelessness during the pandemic. Community Services Minister Simone McGurk said the state government recognises there are a number of groups who are more vulnerable to COVID-19. 'The Hotels with Heart pilot learns from similar initiatives happening interstate and around the world, including in the United Kingdom, America and Canada,' she said. 'It demonstrates what can be achieved when there is collaboration across the private, community service and government sectors.' Ms McGurk thanked Pan Pacific Perth for 'stepping forward' during the health crisis. 'With the help of community service organisations, this initiative will take the pressure off the health system in Western Australia and potentially help to flatten the curve as the State fights to stop the spread of COVID-19,' she said. 'The Hotels with Heart pilot also aims to sustain our hotel sector for when the COVID19 threat is eliminated.' The West Australian Government are looking to accommodate homeless people at the Pan Pacific hotel in Perth during the global health crisis There are 355 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Western Australia. On Monday, the state government said they will expand coronavirus testing to any members of the community with a fever and acute respiratory illness. 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 About 84 per cent of WA's confirmed 355 coronavirus cases have been linked to overseas travel or cruise ships, Health Minister Roger Cook said. 'We've seen a continuing drop of new cases,' Dr Robertson said. 'That is part of the reason that we will look at expanded testing, just to ensure that we are picking up cases that might be in the community. 'We don't necessarily believe that's the case but we obviously want to make sure.' A total of 41 West Australians have now fully recovered from the coronavirus. There are 4,459 coronavirus cases across Australia and 19 people have died. Even in the easiest of circumstances, such as a fawning softball interview from MSNBC, Joe Biden is staying a mess. Here's the New York Post staff report on his extended trail of blunders now that he's come out of his bolthole after a long extended absence, beginning with this: "I suggested we should have people in China at the outset of this event, when it all started, in Luhan Province," Biden told the network, meaning to refer to the city of Wuhan, in Hubei Province, where the virus originated. So after all this time, he doesn't know that Wuhan is a city in China? No Mister Foreign Policy here, as he plays on TV? And he thinks it's Luhan, and calls it a province? This is a guy who doesn't read much news and is remarkably ignorant of basic world affairs even the seven-year-olds he likes to swim with would know about. You wouldn't make that kind of mistake if you were engaged in the issue. It's pretty obvious Joe is not. But wait, as Billy Dale says, there's more: The Democratic front-runner went on to claim that the Trump administration withdrew CDC staffers in the months leading up to the virus outbreak, likely stemming from a Reuters report from last week claiming that the administration slashed CDC staff in China. "We had people in our administration, we had CDC people in other countries because we wanted to anticipate when in fact another virus would occur, when in fact a pandemic might occur as a consequence of a spreading virus in another country, to act quickly. The president withdrew those people," Biden said. The problem, however, is that regardless of staffing cuts, the CDC began offering to send a team of experts to the Chinese province back in early January, according to the New York Times. Other than the general garble of the statement, this is less gaffe than lie. Apparently, he managed to twist China's refusal to let CDC medical experts into China into Trump pulling out the medical experts. That's a sleazy, shady way of twisting just enough truth to remodel it into a lie, which is what he's doing here. Sound like a guy who can be trusted? The Post names three more gaffes, mostly stupid stuff about his not knowing the name of a well known drugstore chain more of that out of touch evidence, which is rather remarkable. Most people who don't know the name of Wuhan city in central China would probably know the name of the local drugstore, such as CVS. Plenty of foreign policy eggheads probably wouldn't. Joe doesn't know, either, signaling that he's simply a complete boob. There's more. Read the whole thing here. Image credit: MSNBC YouTube screen shot. Andrea was at a precarious point in her life. When her daughter was born, her partner rejected fatherhood and made them the victims of domestic violence. Andrea had left behind stability in another city to be with him and attend The University of Arizona. Without a support network to turn to, Andrea found herself moving into a domestic abuse shelter with her infant, where they lived for months while Andrea struggled to get on her feet and continue as a full-time student at the UA. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to offer a financial aid package that made it possible for her daughter to attend our Early Childhood Education program. Having a safe and stimulating place for her daughter during the work day helped give Andrea the tools she needed to stabilize her situation: I can do (my degree) because no matter what, (my daughter) is getting a great education from the amazing individuals who work here at the J, says Andrea. Shes getting stimulus I cant provide at home. And at this age, thats what you want for them, because their minds are little sponges. It has been life changing for us. Students of Suncity School showcased their project - An advanced air monitoring system before Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft during his visit to India. It had earlier won the third prize in AI Challenge at Microsoft EDUDAYS which witnessed a participation of 700 plus schools across India to expose the educators to the state-of-art learning and innovation practices in The project is a brainchild of four students of Grade 9, namely Diya Bhatnagar, Yashita Manglick, Saksham Diwan and Arush Lall. "We are elated to receive recognition from Microsoft. The project demonstrates the innovative and creative spirit of the students and is a step forward in transforming through Transversal learning. We are grateful to Microsoft for providing us with the opportunity to discuss and deliberate on the innovative means to transform and think empathetically while changing the world", said Rupa Chakravarty, Director, Suncity School. Aerocras comprises a computing system and sensors that can be used to carefully monitor the amount of suspended particulate matter in the surroundings. Through IoT, the project can improvise on current air purifiers by switching it on automatically when the amount exceeds the safe limit, thereby conserving energy. These four students had undertaken the project as a part of their assignment. Diya Bhatnagar was the leader of the project who enjoys coding and designing using Photoshop. She has programmed various applications such as Dishi which is a messaging application. Another member, Arush Lall had won the TCS Ion 2019 - Creativity and Innovation - First in India. Wherein, he was awarded with a cheque amount of Rs 50,000. He has also been a part of the World Scholar's Cup - third best team in South Asia. The other two members, Yashita Manglick and Saksham Diwan are proficient in editing. "It was an amazing and enriching experience to meet Satya Nadella. He commended us for recognizing the magnitude of air pollution as a massive challenge. Going forward, we intend to leverage AI to assess the causes of not only air pollution but also noise and water pollution and facilitate informed decision-making", said Diya Bhatnagar, the project lead and a student of Suncity School. The second edition of Education Days 2019 witnessed a participation of 700 plus schools and students across India. It recognized the efforts of schools on the usage of technology in day-to-day classrooms to enable next-level collaboration. It also aimed to instill critical thinking, problem-solving, self-management and responsible decision-making skills among students. The annual event is in line with Microsoft's vision to evolve the educational landscape of the country through the integration of technology. Suncity School was earlier selected to represent its Multiple Intelligence Lab by Microsoft through Skype in Virtual Field Tour (VFT). This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The bitter social impact of the coronavirus crisis has been highlighted by racist graffiti on his street. Daniel Palmer, a designer and developer, shared images of the graffiti that read 'death to dog eaters' on his street in Epping - a suburb with a large Asian population in Sydney's northwest. 'Week 2 of isolation: This s*** on my road in front of an Asian household in f***ing Epping,' he captioned the images. Daniel Palmer, a designer and developer, shared the images of the graffiti that read 'death to dog eaters' on his street in Epping, 18km north-west of Sydney's CBD, on Monday Areas such as Epping, Ryde and Macquarie Park were the initial hot spots of Sydney's coronavirus outbreak, although the epicentre had since moved to the beachside suburbs in the east. Mr Palmer said it was unclear whether the graffiti was specifically targeting the family who live in the house beside that piece of road, or whether it was a message aimed at the larger Asian community. Mr Palmer, who is also of Asian heritage, said such hostility was always 'lurking beneath the surface'. 'I usually find it hard to explain to my mates why somebody as utterly whitewashed as myself has crippling insecurity and anxiety around racism, even though I've never been bullied for being Asian,' he tweeted on Monday. 'S*** like this lurks beneath the surface in society, and you usually only notice it if you're ethnic when it creeps out in small bite-sized chunks.' Mr Palmer said it was rare that racism was so overt as this example. Mr Palmer said as someone of Asian heritage racism like this is always 'lurking beneath the surface' 'But its existence is absolutely no surprise,' he said. Mr Palmer said the graffiti was reported and a local resident had painted over it in black, though the message was still visible. A New South Wales Police spokesperson said: 'Police have received reports of malicious damage in Epping. 'Officers from Ryde Police Area Command have commenced an investigation and urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.' The racist outburst came in the same week as an attack on Sophie Do, 23, and her sister Rosa, 19, who were allegedly called 'Asian dogs' and a 'dumb wh***' as they crossed a street in Marrickville in Sydney's inner west. A local has since tried their best to remove the horrifying and racist vandalism by painting over it in black Sisters 'who were called Asian dogs with coronavirus' relive their terrifying ordeal - as girl, 17, is accused of SPITTING at them during racist tirade A teenage girl has been charged after she allegedly spat at and racially abused two women in Sydney's inner west. Shocking footage obtained by Daily Mail Australia on Monday afternoon and shot in Marrickville showed two women copping a torrent of racist abuse before one of them was spat at. Sophie Do, 23, and her sister Rosa, 19, were allegedly called 'Asian dogs' and a 'dumb wh***' as they crossed the street. In a reference to the coronavirus outbreak and its origin in a food market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the siblings were told they 'brought corona here'. The argument broke out in the streets of Marrickville, in Sydney's inner west, at around 3pm on Monday, with a woman in grey (pictured) racially abusing two sisters A woman in grey was captured on footage screaming: 'I've got a knife in my bag... you little Asian dog.' 'Asian b**ch. You brought corona here. Eat a bat again you dumb wh***.' Police will allege that the two women were approached by a 17-year-old girl and verbally abused with racial slurs while crossing Petersham Road at Illawarra Road at around 3pm on Monday. Officers said the teenager allegedly attempted to kick one of the young women, before a bystander intervened and told her to leave. As she walked away, the teenager allegedly spat towards the younger woman hitting her in the eye before leaving the scene, police said. Sophie (pictured, left, with sister Rosa) said no one should be able to get away with racial attacks, which have ramped up in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic 'She had pretty good aim, it hit my eye,' Rosa told Nine News. 'Straight in my left eye. It got in my hair, my cheek, everything. I was flabbergasted.' Her sister added: 'It was horrifying. I really, really wanted to retaliate. 'I really wanted to hit back, it took everything in me not to.' The 19-year-old was helped by witnesses to flush her eye out and seek medical assistance. Police arrested a 17-year-old woman on Tuesday afternoon and charged her with three counts of common assault, use offensive language in/near public place, and two counts of attempt stalk/intimidate intend fear of harm. The teenager was granted conditional bail to appear before a Childrens Court on May 1. Video captured by the sisters and shocked onlookers shows the woman (pictured, in grey) allegedly scream at the young women The woman in grey (pictured, centre) was captured on the footage screaming: 'I've got a knife in my bag you little Asian dog' Police spoke with a second teenage girl who was released without charge. Speaking on Tuesday, NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller said the incident was a 'disgrace'. 'We're arresting and charging people for spitting and coughing on people every day,' he told reporters. 'It's a disgrace, putting aside the racial slur. We will take action. 'Maybe it's a $5,000 fine that'll sharpen people up on this.' The sisters said the ordeal was terrifying. Sophie (pictured, left with her sister Rosa) said hate crimes against Asian people had increased since the coronavirus pandemic began Sophie (pictured, left) and Rosa (right) said they were not going to tolerate racist attacks 'Two girls walked passed us yelling racist things like ''stay away from them, they've got coronavirus'',' Rosa told Daily Mail Australia. 'I simply could not tolerate it so I yelled back and said ''Excuse me? What did you just say? Say it again'',' Rosa said. The 19-year-old university student said the two women continued to taunt her and her sister. 'Get out of here now, who do you think you're talking to,' the woman allegedly screamed while shaping up to the sisters. Rosa said the young women started walking away before coming back to abuse them again. 'You brought corona here. Eat a bat again you dumb wh***,' a woman (pictured) was heard screaming while walking away Sophie Do (left) and her sister Rosa (right) were crossing the road in Marrickville when they were targeted by a racist woman who accused them of bringing coronavirus to Australia 'She was untying her jumper from her waist and putting her bag on the ground, ready to fight me,' Rosa said. A woman was then seen trying to kick Rosa's back, but Sophie quickly managed to pull her away. Sophie said no one should be able to get away with racial attacks, which have ramped up in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Hate crimes against Asians have increased and I've seen disgusting videos from all around the world. I never thought I'd be in one,' Sophie said. 'It made me feel afraid for my sisters' safety. I knew that if I retaliated, it would've ended badly for us both. Sophie Do (pictured, left) and her sister Rosa (right) had condemned the alleged attack, saying it is an example of the racist abuse Asian people are suffering amid the coronavirus outbreak 'So I kept my cool. I knew I took the best approach to ensure we got out of the situation safely. 'It made angry but mostly disappointed that we even had to hear some of the things she was saying and then be physically assaulted.' Videos of the incident have since gone viral, with thousands of Australians condemning the the racist act. 'All the racists have something to do with failure in life,' one person wrote. 'That girl in grey ought to be ashamed of herself and her actions,' said another. 'I am so so sorry that you and your sister had to deal with this kind of disgusting inexcusable behaviour,' another person commented. Teachers across France have been unable to stay in contact with thousands of students to ensure they are still learning despite being unable to attend class because of coronavirus confinement, Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said Tuesday. "We estimate that we have kind of 'lost' between five and eight percent of students, based on preliminary assessments, over the past two weeks," Blanquer told CNews television. "I've asked school directors to reach out to families at least once or several times a week," he said. Based on the roughly 12 million primary and secondary school students registered in class this year, that means up to 960,000 children could be falling behind those able to keep up with their studies. Officials have set up a variety of distance learning programmes, for example online classes or emailed lessons for parents to print out. But Blanquer acknowledged "a major risk" that the situation could "increase inequalities," in particular for families lacking internet or printers at home. He said his ministry had joined with the French postal service so that teachers could automatically send printed lessons from their home computers "to a student who doesn't have IT equipment or who can't otherwise be reached." To make up for lost class time, Blanquer said he was planning to put in place special educational day camps and free study programmes during the summer break. Free online tutoring programmes are also planned for the two-week Easter breaks that begin in France next week, he said. Search Keywords: Short link: Northern Ireland classrooms are not fully equipped for children with SEN Northern Ireland's "under pressure" education system cannot fulfil its obligation to children with special educational needs (SEN), it has been warned. Children's Commissioner Koulla Yiasouma reviewed the extent of SEN in mainstream schools in a newly published report, Too Little, Too Late. Ms Yiasouma said the pressure on schools has been compounded by a significant rise in the number of children with SEN over the past 15 years. Student numbers have increased by 48% since 2004/05, and over the same period the number of children with statements of SEN has risen by 60%. From 2008 to 2018 the number of pupils enrolled in special schools in Northern Ireland rose by 30%. There are now 78,917 pupils in schools who have some form of SEN, representing 22.8% of the entire school population. Of these, 18,425 pupils have a statement of SEN, outlining the extra help they are to be given in school. If a pupil is believed to need extra support in school due to SEN, the Education Authority (EA) carries out an assessment of their needs and then issues a statement of what additional help they are to receive. The Children's Commissioner says adequate support for children with SEN is one of the concerns raised most with her office. "The education of children with special educational needs is an area that has caused deep concern, frustration and, at times, distress," she said. Her review highlights the detrimental impacts for children with SEN in mainstream schools when their needs are not identified and supported. Parents/carers who participated in the review highlighted the severe negative consequences of the current over-stretched system on children's mental health and wellbeing. The review also found delays at all stages of the SEN process: in identifying children's needs; providing supports and services to meet these needs; delivery of information and guidance to parents/carers; and in assessing children's progress. Feedback from school principals highlighted that a lack of funding, combined with insufficient time, opportunity and resources, has impeded schools' ability to effectively and efficiently respond to children's needs, implement appropriate supports and engage in early intervention practice. Many teachers also lack sufficient training, and subsequent knowledge and skill, to identify and respond to the varied support requirements of children with SEN in mainstream schools. Ms Yiasouma said her report "reflects the harsh reality of aspects of our SEN system". "It outlines the frustrations of many parents and professionals in trying to get their voices heard by an education system that has, to date, consistently demonstrated an inability to prioritise and respect the perspective of these key stakeholders," she said. "There is clear evidence that our education system, as currently organised, cannot fulfil its obligation to all children with SEN." Ms Yiasouma has made 40 recommendations on reforming the systems. Appearing before Stormont's Education Committee earlier this month, EA chief executive Sara Long said that the authority was guilty of "significant shortcomings" after an internal audit found a series of failings in the way it provides support for pupils with SEN. When the coronavirus began to spread in the United States, Feiran Lyu and Tianran Qian took three days to decide to pack up their New York City apartment and return to their families in Hangzhou, China. The U.S. had fewer than 200 reported cases when they left March 5, but their parents were concerned that few measures were being taken. Lyu and Qian, who have been friends since high school and graduated from New York University last year, didnt have health care, and they feared they wouldnt be protected if the situation became worse. Just a week later, the U.S. reported more than a thousand positive cases. I didn't want to come back, Qian, 23, told NBC Asian America from Hangzhou. I felt like I had to also to reassure my parents but then it also turned out to be the right decision. Feiran Lyu, left, and Tianran Qian, right, in New York. The two returned to Hangzhou in early March before the coronavirus outbreak worsened in the United States. (Courtesy Feiran Lyu) Returning to Hangzhou When they landed, Qian and Lyu underwent a 14-day self-quarantine at their homes. Lyu said her online deliveries and trash pickups were handled by social workers. Many Chinese businesses provided contactless services, including grocery delivery. In Hong Kong, hundreds of social workers, who would ordinarily provide counseling services to citizens, were instructed to assist with deliveries, as well. The South China Morning Post reported that a social workers' union voiced anger at the shift and asked the government to outsource the work. But availability of these services helped reassure people such as Qian and Lyu. I think I feel so much safer, Lyu, 24, said. Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak Quarantine policies in China differed by city. Many Chinese cities created monitoring plans that divide larger neighborhoods off into smaller units to make regulations easier to enforce, according to NPR. Qian's and Lyu's parents had to report their return to their residential complexes, which reported to their street districts, then to their city districts, and finally, their returns were documented by the city itself. Story continues The lockdown on Hangzhou had been lifted by the time Qian and Lyu returned. At the time, Qian said, America was considered a low-risk country, so the two friends were able to quarantine in their respective homes. Shortly after, when the U.S. was deemed a mid-level risk, people flying in from America were required to quarantine together at a designated hotel. While they were quarantined, they didnt leave their homes. Lyu said that from her window she saw people going out and children playing outside, but everyone was wearing masks. They felt the situation was under control in China, as there were specific measures in place to curb the virus spread. Everyone has a color-coded QR code on a smartphone app first introduced in Hangzhou that indicates their health status and tracks where they have been. They must display it in public spaces. If a person has a green code, they are free to travel about. But if the code is yellow or red, they are required to quarantine. Every single step, there's someone, Qian said. There's just a very clear management system. Both Qian and Lyu said the differences between the way the Americans and the Chinese people were reacting to the virus were stark. Lyu said that before they left New York, it seemed that people around them were unaware of the virus severity. When they went on the streets, everything seemed normal. But when they checked Chinese social media, things were far more serious. Its like were so haunted by these two realities, Lyu said. Though China has reported several days with no new domestic coronavirus cases, Lyu said people are still taking precautions. People are wearing masks, even though the government says in some public spaces when there are not so many people you can just take off your mask, Lyu said. But people are still very aware of it. Now, things are gradually returning to normal in Hangzhou. Lyu said stores are open and people are on the streets, but many people still disinfect their hands often. Neither is sure when they may be able to come back to the U.S. Both were working at a store that sold luxury watches, jewelry, antiques and artwork in New York, but they quit their jobs before leaving. They dont know when the U.S. could contain the virus and allow for their return. I mean, even if we want to go back right now, Chinese people still cant fly to America at this point, Qian said. Documenting the experience on instagram Qian and Lyu started an Instagram account to document their experiences. Lyu said a big reason the pair went back to China was because they felt people in the U.S. were lacking awareness and that the U.S. government was not taking responsibility to educate people. Their Instagram page documents their travel to China, during which flight attendants took their temperatures, their QR codes and their first days outside after quarantine. They wrote in a post that their fellow passengers voluntarily wore masks, disinfected their seats and ate meals at separate times to reduce the risk of droplet infection. They noted that flight attendants took their temperatures twice during the flight, and that every passenger filled out a form indicating their health status, travel history and contact information. They also wrote that going through health inspections and customs at the airport did not take long. Everything was smooth, secure, and efficient, largely due to technology incorporated in the airport infrastructures, the post said. We felt safe. The page shows Hangzhou slowly returning to a sense of normalcy, and differences the two have noticed among countries affected by the coronavirus. What I feel when I was in the U.S. is that people were so afraid, Lyu said. They're kind of afraid of quarantine because they think what China did was authoritarian -- they're putting people in their home. They're stripping out their liberties to go out. But actually, it's not that. One post shows city life in Hangzhou nearly restored. They note that people still wear masks to make themselves and others feel more secure. Now that people are going back to work and school preparing to start again, NO ONE wants a 2nd break out, the post reads. Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak Qian added that the page is not trying to declare what measures are better or right during the pandemic. Because we're kind of in between these two cultures, we also understand both, Qian said. So it feels like our experience could speak to both of the audiences. Lyu said she felt that Western media showed bias toward China, and that the two wanted to document their own experiences to show a different perspective. It's like our account is like a bridge between these two countries, these two cultures to let people see a different side of our country, of what's happening, Lyu said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday directed officials to quarantine over 100 people from the state who had participated in a religious congregation in Delhi that has become a key source for the spread of coronavirus in the country. The gathering at Markaz Nizamuddin in the national capital was organised by the Tablighi Jamaat earlier this month. The Delhi government on Tuesday said 24 people, who took part in the congregation, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. According to an official, Chouhan held a high-level meeting where he said that over 100 people from Madhya Pradesh had participated in the meet and arrangements should be made to quarantine them. The Chief Minister has asked district collectors and superintendents of police to track down these people and keep a tab on pilgrims visiting places of worship, he said. People from across the country had taken part in the Tablighi Jamaat meet. Over 2,000 delegates attended the congregation from March 1-15. Six people from Telangana and one from Jammu and Kashmir, who attended the event, died due to coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man arrested following a row about social distancing in a bank queue and an alleged threat to cough on a woman can be released from custody, the High Court ordered. Mr Justice Denis McDonald said, when granting bail to Marko Topol, the DPP should consider giving guidance as to the types of charges that should be brought in cases like this and whether more serious charges should be brought. Mr Topol, a Croatian working as chef here, denied he told a woman in the AIB O'Connell Street, Dublin, he had the Corona Virus and would cough on her after she complained he was standing too close in the queue. She left the bank and a garda arrived, arrested him and charged him with threatening behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Mr Topol, who has never been in trouble before, had been in custody since last Friday. His lawyers brought High Court judicial review proceedings seeking to quash the refusal of bail by the District Court on grounds including that the charge against him was not serious and contravened the principle of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. The DPP opposed the application saying there was another avenue open to Mr Topol through the High Court bail list. On Tuesday, Mr Justice McDonald said he was conscious of the existence of alternative remedies but a decision to refuse bail can be the subject of judicial review if a District Judge is shown to act in excess of jurisdiction and where the applicant has a good prospect of success. Irrespective of the outcome of the judicial review, he said a huge tribute must be paid to gardai and District Judges who have fearlessly discharged their duties during this crisis for the benefit of the community. They deserved enormous thanks for everyday ensuring that public order is preserved. Coughing or attempting to cough on others at this time is not just reprehensible and disgusting but a danger to others and likely to cause panic and fear, he said. It is right that those who do it should be prosecuted with the full rigours of the law and appropriate sentences imposed when convicted, he said. On the other hand, all courts are bound by Supreme Court principles in a previous case which found the presumption of innocence must always be borne in mind unless someone is caught red handed, he said. In this case, Mr Topol was arrested after the event and no witnesses were called at the bail hearing although that would be unusual, the judge said. The court heard he is adamant that he never said he had the virus or threatened to cough on the woman and he himself considered such behaviour disgusting and dangerous. The judge said the fundamental test for bail was whether he was a flight risk. Having listened to a recording of the District Court proceedings, it was clear that everyone, including Mr Topol after a "shaky start in attempting to smile" (when he first appeared in the dock) acknowledged it was a serious matter. In refusing bail, the District Judge did not make any ruling he was a flight risk but said it was a serious charge. The recording did not show flight risk was considered, he said. In circumstances where Mr Topol has a good prospect of succeeding in his judicial review, Mr Justice McDonald said he was prepared to grant bail on conditions that he enter his own bond of 500, abide by Government and statutory guidelines on the Covid-19 crisis, surrender his passport or other travel document, and provide his mobile phone details to the prosecuting garda within 24 hours of his release. He said the judicial review proceedings could come back to the High Court in May. 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 (Bloomberg) -- As the coronavirus prompts talk of an earnings recession for most Asian emerging stocks, theres an industry thats holding up: chipmaking. The worldwide lockdowns due to the virus and the ensuing contractions in output have sparked indiscriminate selling across industries, and dismal earnings forecasts for this quarter and beyond -- except for the tech industry. Micron Technology Inc. last week reported adjusted earnings that beat Street estimates by 24% and predicted stronger-than-expected revenue, fueling optimism about other chipmakers prospects. With most of the population in major economies worldwide working or learning remotely, online and ecommerce services are booming, stoking demand for cloud storage and a recovery in memory-chip prices. Definitely, demand for server chips is on the rise as people increasingly go on a shopping spree online and are working remotely with laptops, said Lee Seung-Hoon, head of equity at DB Asset Management. For the tech industry, demand for handsets and home appliances has been hit. But this new trend suggests chipmakers could rebound faster than other industries, once virus infections peak. The earnings season kicks off in April with investors keen to look beyond the abysmal first quarter. Samsung Electronics Co., the worlds largest memory chipmaker, will give a clearer picture of the industrys outlook in its preliminary earnings release scheduled next week. The companys shares have been the most sold by foreigners among Kospi members in March. Shares of Samsung Electronics fell as much as 1.5% in Seoul, erasing an earlier gain. Peer SK Hynix Inc. was down as much as 2%. Here are three charts with evidence that global chipmakers have better prospects than most industries this earnings season: Korean Exports Koreas preliminary semiconductor exports gained further in March, extending a rebound from a low in late 2019, shrugging off the effects the global coronavirus outbreak.The advance contrasts with a slump in the Bloomberg Asia Semiconductor Index because of concern the virus would disrupt supply chains and destroy demand. Story continues Microns Earnings Micron Technologys forecast-topping earnings and optimistic sales outlook bode well for other chipmakers in Asia and elsewhere, offsetting slow demand for smartphones and home appliances. DRAM Prices The chipmaking industrys earnings cycle has historically moved in tandem with semiconductor prices.DRAMeXchange has raised its DRAM server chip price forecast for the second quarter to a gain of 20%, up from its earlier forecast for a gain of 15%, citing growing demand from server manufacturers and cloud service providers. (Adds share price moves in sixth 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. (CNN) A zoo in Belgium has shared some amazing photos of a blossoming friendship between a family of orangutans and their otter neighbors. The animals live together at Pairi Daiza zoo in Domaine du Cambron, as part of a program designed to maintain the primates' wellbeing in captivity. According to zoo spokesman Mathieu Goedefroy, they "must be entertained, occupied, challenged and kept busy mentally, emotionally and physically at all times." As part of the program, the family of Asian small-clawed otters were allowed to live in the river that runs through the enclosure that houses the orangutan family: 24-year-old father Ujian, 15-year-old mother Sari and Berani, their three-year-old son. "The otters really enjoy getting out of the water on the orangutan island to go and play with their big, furry friends," said Goedefroy, adding that Berani and Ujian have developed a particularly strong bond with their neighbors. "It makes life more fun and interesting for both animal species, which makes it a very successful experiment," he said. The orangutan family arrived at the zoo in 2017. Another two orangutans also live there: Gempa, a male, and Sinta, a female. Orangutans share 97% of their DNA with humans and as a result require a lot of attention to keep them occupied, Goedefroy said. "Our keepers entertain them all day long with mind games, riddles, puzzles, and other stuff to train their intelligence," he added. Orangutan populations are threatened by palm oil plantations in their native Borneo and Sumatra. Goedefroy told CNN that the zoo has raised funds to plant 11,000 trees to restore a forest in Borneo. This story was first published on CNN.com "Zoo shares adorable pictures of orangutans playing with their otter friends" Photo: Harold Litwiler/Flickr Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Portland. Business owners in Portland can apply for help through $2M small business relief fund The application deadline is Wednesday. Read the full story on KGW. Woman accused of killing chef husband wants to be moved out of jail due to COVID-19 Nancy Crampton-Brophy's lawyers argue that she is "at risk of imminent death in jail" and want her to be moved to home detention. Read the full story on KGW. Indie bookstore Powell's Books rehires more than 100 employees as online orders soar Portland's beloved indie bookstore Powell's Books rehired more than 100 employees after seeing a surge in online orders. Read the full story on Los Angeles Times. 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. A 40-year-old Birmingham man serving a 36-month sentence for possession of a controlled substance and receiving stolen property was killed during an inmate-on-inmate assault, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. Dennis Benson died March 30 at Ventress Correctional Facility in Clayton. The ADOC condemns all violence in its facilities, and the fatal actions taken against Benson by another inmate are being thoroughly investigated. Bensons cause of death is pending a full autopsy, and more information will be available upon the conclusion of the investigation into his death, a press release stated. Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Monday (local time) said all his companies had ceased operations and manufacturing and sought help from the Indian government in sending employees of his company home. Mallya took to Twitter to post: "Indian Government has done what was unthinkable in locking down the entire country. We respect that. All my Companies have effectively ceased operations. All manufacturing is closed as well. Yet we are not sending employees home and paying the idle cost. Government has to help." The liquor baron, who has been accused of diversion of funds from Kingfisher Airlines in another post said: "I have made repeated offers to pay 100 per cent of the amount borrowed by KFA to the Banks. Neither are Banks willing to take money and neither is the ED willing to release their attachments which they did at the behest of the Banks. I wish the FM (Finance Minister) would listen in this time of crisis." Last month the Supreme Court adjourned the plea of liquor baron Vijay Mallya, seeking a stay on the proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to declare him a fugitive economic offender and confiscate his assets amounting to Rs 9,000 crores. The matter, however, was scheduled to be heard in March after the Holi break of the court. The 63-year-old beleaguered businessmen flew out from India in March 2016 and has been living in the United Kingdom since then. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Eight-year-old Deng Minchuan has been learning street dance for three years. Due to COVID-19, V5 Dance Studio, a Beijing-based studio where he takes classes, was forced to temporarily close and move their lessons online. Quarantined at home since February, Deng continues to learn routines via live-streamed classes. "Anyway, under the current situation, he has no choice but to take classes online at home," Deng Minchuan's mother told China.org.cn. "Although the interaction with teachers and the dancing atmosphere can't compare to the studio, it saves time since we don't need to travel there, and he can playback the tutorials and keep practicing the parts he doesn't figure out during the live-stream." According to QuestMobile, a big data service provider, the amount of time Chinese people spend on the mobile internet increased by 21.5% over the the past two months since the outbreak, with video apps accounting for a significant part of the rise. Many businesses facing challenging times during the epidemic are turning to live-streaming to offset financial losses. Even dance studios,which depend largely on physical interaction, have taken to live-streaming as an effective stopgap measure. From Douyin, the Chinese counterpart to TikTok, to all kinds of professional live video streaming apps, dance studios are learning to embrace the digital world. "Our members have been self-isolating at home since the end of January due to the epidemic," explained Ray, a dancer and instructor at V5 Dance Studio. "They said that they were bored and wanted to dance. After discussion, we decided to live-stream classes so that the students could dance along with us from home." He added, "At first, we offered live dance classes for free on Douyin. After a week-long trial, we switched to professional live-streaming software and started paid courses." Compared with its previous price of 100 yuan per session, the online classes at V5 Dance Studio cost only 268 yuan for 26 sessions. But without the size limitations of a studio, the virtual classes have attracted many more students. In fact, online dance classes are nothing new. Long before the recent boom in online classes, some studios started selling pre-recorded dance tutorials for those unable to make it to a dance studio. But this kind of online course was only on a small scale. "There are some similarities between the pre-recorded tutorials and teaching via live-stream. But the main difference lies in the real-time interaction. I can respond to their questions live in class," Ray explained. During his eight years of teaching, he has never live-streamed classes before and only recorded videos a few times. Similar to V5 Dance Studio, Smile Dance Studio in Chengdu, Sichuan province, also responded to COVID-19 by live-streaming on Douyin. They have kept offering free daily classes since February. "2020 was supposed to be a good year for pop dance studios and the winter holiday is usually peak season," Wang Quan, owner of Smile Dance Studio, told China.org.cn. "We'd prepared a lot for the courses, but in the end we lost the whole season. All the classes were called off and we refunded some members." "After canceling the previous sessions, we followed suit hosting live dance classes online. Our dance instructors offered free tutorials at 8 p.m. every day via Douyin, attracting an average of over 2,000 viewers each night. Total views have now exceeded 100,000. For these online followers, our would-be customers, we tried to maintain contact with them by also creating WeChat groups." Wang noted that the majority of live-streaming videos for dance studios are still tutorials, so donations or tips from viewers are minimal. "The ideal way to monetize is to provide high-quality paid online classes after we promote our brand and attract enough loyal followers by giving free sessions," Wang said. As the epidemic situation in China continues to improve, Smile Dance Studio is preparing both to reopen and offer paid online classes. "Based on our recent experience, we're putting together a series of online classes for between just 9.9 yuan and 19.9 yuan per lesson, " explained Wang. Speaking of the future of online dance classes, Wang believes that they will be an important part of their business, but the difficulty lies in studios being able to carve out their own niche and integrate both online and offline sessions. "Compared to other types of online education, dancing is more special because it requires an atmosphere and keeping members physically engaged," explained Wang." The epidemic has given dance studios a chance to test the waters and let more people try out this kind of online class. Objectively, it may speed up the future trend of integrating online and offline dance lessons." Cathryn Crawford, the litigation director for the Lawndale Christian Legal Center who is also seeking releases, said reports she was getting as recently as Friday still included lack of access to sanitizer for inmates, not enough soap detainees were given one small bar for a week and continued worry that phones, which were becoming the only way of communication as the virus forced the cancellation of visits, were not being adequately cleaned between calls. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2020) - BOND RESOURCES INC. (CSE: BJB) (the "Company" or "Bond") announces that, further to its news releases of November 15, 2019 and February 4, 2020, it has closed Tranche 1 of its non-brokered private placement (the "Financing"), raising $1,618,210 in gross proceeds through the issuance of 8,091,050 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.20 per Unit. The Financing is being undertaken in conjunction with the Company's proposed acquisition of an interest in the Mary K Property, in Idaho. Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"), with each whole Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share (a "Share") of the Company at a price of $0.40 per Share for a period of two years following the closing date, subject to an accelerated expiry if the closing price of the Shares is equal to or greater than $0.60 per Share for 20 consecutive trading days at any time following four months after the date of closing. The structure of the transaction to acquire the Mary K Property has changed to reflect that new agreements with the property owners have been put in place. Bond will now be acquiring all of the shares of a private Canadian company, which wholly owns a US subsidiary, which in turn holds the contractual rights to acquire the Mary K Property. The overall cost to acquire the Mary K Property remains the same; however some of those costs have already been paid by the target company. As a result, the number of shares to be issued to acquire the target has increased to 66,000,000 shares. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Financing toward making initial payments to the underlying property owners ($507,600), initiating the recommended work program on the property ($850,000), and costs associated with closing the transaction. Aggregate compensation of $85,128.00 and 212,820 finders' warrants (having the same general terms as the Warrants) was paid by the Company to Mackie Research Capital Corporation as a finders' fee for the portion of the Tranche 1 closing of the Financing attributable to their efforts. All securities issued in connection with the Financing are subject to a hold period of four months and one day in accordance with the rules and policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange and applicable Canadian securities laws. The Company has 13,941,050 common shares issued and outstanding following the completion of the Financing. The Company has received a technical report on the Mark K Property, which it has filed with the CSE as part of its application for approval of the proposed transaction. A copy will be posted on SEDAR upon closing. Other The Transaction was negotiated at arm's length. The Transaction constitutes a fundamental transaction under the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") including a change of control, and as such, it will require approval of the Exchange and a majority of the minority shareholders of Bond. It is expected trading of Bond's common shares on the CSE will remain halted pending closing of the Transaction. Further details will follow in subsequent news releases and the Listing Statement to be filed with the CSE. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed "Robert Eadie" Robert Eadie, Lead Director FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Telephone: 1-604-602-4935 Facsimile: 1-604-602-4936 Contact: Robert Eadie The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer of sale of any of the foregoing securities in the United States. None of the foregoing securities have been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) or persons in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of the foregoing securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the ability to close the Transaction; the terms and conditions of the proposed Transaction; the terms and conditions of the proposed Financing; future work to be carried on the Property; use of funds; and the business and operations of Bond after the proposed Transaction. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There is no assurance any of the forward-looking statements will be completed as described herein, or at all. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, lack of investor interest in the Financing; requirements for additional capital; future prices of gold and precious metals; changes in general economic conditions; accidents, delays or the failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals, including the required permits; results of current exploration and testing; changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations; and title disputes. 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. Bond Resources disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53987 Coronavirus: Spain issues decree to help workers Moratorium on mortgages, loans and bills, no evictions (ANSAmed) - ROME, MARCH 31 - The Spanish government has issued a decree that halts evictions, introduces a moratorium on personal loans and bills, provides unemployment benefits. The measures were brought in as part of efforts to deal with the COVID-19 emergency. The decree was illustrated to the media on Tuesday by Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias and Economy Minister Nadia Calvino and attempts to help the most vulnerable categories and those suffering the most from the consequences of isolation. Temporary workers that have lost their jobs since the beginning of the emergency will receive 440 euros in aid from the government. The right to housing will be protected, they said, ''the trench inside of which the population can fight the virus, with a six-month halt to evictions and an extension to contracts that are expiring, as well as the implementation of zero-interest microcredit to pay rent that can be repaid after 6 years with a possible extension to 10 years''. There will also be a three-month moratorium on personal loans and mortgages, while for utility bills, Iglesisa said that ''no citizen will have their water, power, or gas cut during the emergency''. (ANSAmed). South Dakota's chief justice seeks $5 million for courthouse security In Chief Justice Jensen's State of the Judiciary Address, he mentioned courthouse security, sexual harassment training and a lack of court reporters. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft (CZB) Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement, transmitted by EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. - Zielke: 'In view of the Corona pandemic our priority now lies in supporting our customers.' - Annual General Meeting planned as a virtual online event The Board of Managing Directors of Commerzbank will not propose a dividend payment for the 2019 financial year to the Annual General Meeting 2020. Commerzbank is thus following the European Central Bank's recommendation to banks from 27 March 2020 not to pay a dividend for 2019 and 2020 until at least 1 October 2020, given the uncertainties caused by the Corona Virus pandemic. For the current fiscal year 2020, the Management Board will not plan for a dividend payment until the uncertainties caused by the Corona Virus pandemic have ended. The Board will then decide on this again as appropriate. Therefore, any quarterly profits can be fully included in the regulatory capital ratios. 'In view of the Corona pandemic our priority is to support our customers,' said Martin Zielke, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors of Commerzbank. 'We have strong capital buffers and a comfortable liquidity position that are above all regulatory requirements. Nevertheless, given the uncertainties surrounding the Corona Virus pandemic, it makes sense to follow the ECB's recommendation and suspend dividend payments for the time being.' On the basis of the amendments to the German law adopted by the Bundestag last week, the Bank is planning to hold its Annual General Meeting this year as a virtual online event. 'The health of our shareholders and of employees and service providers involved in the organization of the event has priority. We are thus reviewing all options for a legally, technically and organizationally reliable execution of our shareholders' meeting,' explained Martin Zielke. 'Depending on this, the Annual General Meeting will be held on 7 May 2020 as originally scheduled or at a later date. We welcome the substantial statutory easing of regulations introduced by the Federal Government to facilitate the holding of annual general meetings. This places us in the position of being able to pass the necessary resolutions despite the restrictions imposed by the Corona Virus pandemic.' ***** Press contact Margarita Thiel +49 69 136-46646 Erik Nebel +49 69 136-44986 Maurice Farrouh +49 69 136-21947 ***** About Commerzbank Commerzbank is a leading international commercial bank with branches and offices in nearly 50 countries. The Bank's two business segments - Private and Small-Business Customers and Corporate Clients - offer a comprehensive portfolio of financial services precisely tailored to their customers' needs. Commerzbank transacts approximately 30% of Germany's foreign trade and is the market leader in German corporate banking. The Bank offers its sector expertise to its corporate clients in Germany and abroad and is a leading provider of capital market products. Its subsidiaries, comdirect in Germany and mBank in Poland, are two innovative online banks. With approximately 800 branches going forward, Commerzbank has one of the densest branch networks in Germany. The Bank serves more than 11 million private and small-business customers nationwide and over 70,000 corporate clients, multinationals, financial service providers, and institutional clients worldwide. Its Polish subsidiary mBank S.A. has around 5.6 million private and corporate customers, predominantly in Poland, but also in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2019, Commerzbank generated gross revenues of 8.6 billion with approximately 48,500 employees. ***** Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statement This release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. In this release, these statements concern inter alia the expected future business of Commerzbank, efficiency gains and expected synergies, expected growth prospects and other opportunities for an increase in value of Commerzbank as well as expected future financial results, restructuring costs and other financial developments and information. These forward-looking statements are based on the management's current plans, expectations, estimates and projections. They are subject to a number of assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from any future results and developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include the conditions in the financial markets in Germany, in Europe, in the USA and other regions from which Commerzbank derives a substantial portion of its revenues and in which Commerzbank holds a substantial portion of its assets, the development of asset prices and market volatility, especially due to the ongoing European debt crisis, potential defaults of borrowers or trading counterparties, the implementation of its strategic initiatives to improve its business model, the reliability of its risk management policies, procedures and methods, risks arising as a result of regulatory change and other risks. Forward-looking statements therefore speak only as of the date they are made. Commerzbank has no obligation to update or release any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release. 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 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. Nearly one in five U.S. adults still attend church services and worships amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, according to a recent poll. The poll was conducted by three political scientists from March 23-25 -- Paul Djupe of Denison University, Ryan Burge of Eastern Illinois University, and Andrew Lewis of the University of Cincinnati. While 88 percent of the respondents say their chapel has canceled or closed, 17 percent said they are still attending actual services. According to Buzzfeed News, some of the 17 percent of respondents said they were still attending the service, but speculated that they might have mentioned smaller worship groups outside the church or temple. There are several dimensions to consider "the tension between public health and worship, but perhaps most notably, for Americans, social good is against their rights," Djupe said. In recent weeks, many churches have canceled their own services in response to concerns that they could spread the coronavirus. Many congregations have been turned into online services, but some churches continue to hold services despite fears of an epidemic. Solid Rock Church, a large Ohio-based church, for example, announced that it would not cancel the service in person, even though it received much criticism for the decision. "Solid Rock Church does not force anyone to attend our services. We respect all individuals' rights to attend services or watch them online," the church said. "We believe it is important to leave the door open for anyone to worship and pray during this time of great challenges in our country." Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has waived an executive order banning large gatherings, while he appeared on social media and pleaded for the church to close in response to the epidemic. "We did not order religious organizations to close, but my message to EVERYONE is that this is serious. When you are coming together, whether in a church or wherever - this is dangerous," DeWine tweeted. "We have the ability to do religious services in other ways. I implore religious leaders to think about their congregations. Gathering in groups is dangerous." SALT LAKE CITY, March 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (MYGN), a leader in molecular diagnostics and precision medicine, announced it has submitted a supplementary application with the Japanese Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare for its BRACAnalysis Diagnostic System (i.e., BRACAnalysis) to be used as a companion diagnostic to help to identify people with metastatic pancreatic or metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and may be candidates for targeted therapy with the PARP inhibitor, Lynparza (olaparib), subject to regulatory approval. Todays regulatory filing potentially will expand the approved indications for BRACAnalsyis as companion diagnostic test in Japan, said Gary King, executive vice president of International Operations at Myriad. We look forward to helping people with pancreatic and prostate cancers access precision medicine therapy. Myriad estimates there are more than 78,000 cases of prostate cancer and 40,000 cases of pancreatic per year in Japan. The BRACAnalysis Diagnostic System previously was approved in Japan to identify patients with ovarian or breast cancer who have a germline BRCA mutation and are eligible for Lynparza therapy. BRACAnalysis is the only germline test for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations to receive regulatory approval in Japan. Myriad has partnered with SRL Inc., a subsidiary of Miraca Group, to commercialize the BRACAnalysis Diagnostic System in Japan. About the BRACAnalysis Diagnostic System BRACAnalysis is a diagnostic system that classifies a patients clinically significant variants (DNA sequence variations) in the germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Variants are classified into one of the five categories; Deleterious, Suspected Deleterious, Variant of Uncertain Significance, Favor Polymorphism, or Polymorphism. Once the classification is completed, the results are sent to medical personnel in Japan for determining the eligibility of patients for treatment with Lynparza. Myriad has been collaborating with AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN) since 2007 on the development of companion diagnostics for Lynparza. Lynparza is a trademark of AstraZeneca Lynparza is marketed by AstraZeneca and MSD (known as Merck & Co., Inc. in the United States and Canada). Story continues About SRL Since the establishment in 1970, SRL, Inc., a member of the Miraca Group, Japan-based leading healthcare group, has been providing comprehensive testing services as the largest commercial clinical laboratory in Japan. SRL carries out nearly 400,000,000 tests per year, covering a wide range of testing services including general/emergency testing, esoteric/research testing, companion diagnostics tests, genomic analysis, and etc. For more information, please visit http://www.srl-group.co.jp/ About Myriad Genetics Myriad Genetics Inc., is a leading personalized medicine company dedicated to being a trusted advisor transforming patient lives worldwide with pioneering molecular diagnostics. Myriad discovers and commercializes molecular diagnostic tests that: determine the risk of developing disease, accurately diagnose disease, assess the risk of disease progression, and guide treatment decisions across six major medical specialties where molecular diagnostics can significantly improve patient care and lower healthcare costs. Myriad is focused on five strategic imperatives: build upon a solid hereditary cancer foundation, growing new product volume, expanding reimbursement coverage for new products, increasing RNA kit revenue internationally and improving profitability with Elevate 2020. For more information on how Myriad is making a difference, please visit the Company's website: www.myriad.com . Myriad, the Myriad logo, BART, BRACAnalysis, Colaris, Colaris AP, myPath, myRisk, Myriad myRisk, myRisk Hereditary Cancer, myChoice, myPlan, BRACAnalysis CDx, Tumor BRACAnalysis CDx, myChoice HRD, EndoPredict, Vectra, GeneSight, riskScore, Prolaris, Foresight and Prequel are trademarks or registered trademarks of Myriad Genetics, Inc. or its wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States and foreign countries. MYGN-F, MYGN-G. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the regulatory filing with the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare helping to expand the approved indications for BRACAnalsyis as companion diagnostic test in Japan; helping people with prostate and pancreatic cancers access precision medicine therapy; and the Company's strategic directives under the caption "About Myriad Genetics." These "forward-looking statements" are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: uncertainties associated with COVID-19, including its possible effects on our operations and the demand for our products and services; our ability to efficiently and flexibly manage our business amid uncertainties related to COVID-19; the risk that sales and profit margins of our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services may decline; risks related to our ability to transition from our existing product portfolio to our new tests, including unexpected costs and delays; risks related to decisions or changes in governmental or private insurers reimbursement levels for our tests or our ability to obtain reimbursement for our new tests at comparable levels to our existing tests; risks related to increased competition and the development of new competing tests and services; the risk that we may be unable to develop or achieve commercial success for additional molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services in a timely manner, or at all; the risk that we may not successfully develop new markets for our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services, including our ability to successfully generate revenue outside the United States; the risk that licenses to the technology underlying our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services and any future tests and services are terminated or cannot be maintained on satisfactory terms; risks related to delays or other problems with operating our laboratory testing facilities and our healthcare clinic; risks related to public concern over genetic testing in general or our tests in particular; risks related to regulatory requirements or enforcement in the United States and foreign countries and changes in the structure of the healthcare system or healthcare payment systems; risks related to our ability to obtain new corporate collaborations or licenses and acquire new technologies or businesses on satisfactory terms, if at all; risks related to our ability to successfully integrate and derive benefits from any technologies or businesses that we license or acquire; risks related to our projections about our business, results of operations and financial condition; risks related to the potential market opportunity for our products and services; the risk that we or our licensors may be unable to protect or that third parties will infringe the proprietary technologies underlying our tests; the risk of patent-infringement claims or challenges to the validity of our patents or other intellectual property; risks related to changes in intellectual property laws covering our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services and patents or enforcement in the United States and foreign countries, such as the Supreme Court decisions in Mayo Collab. Servs. v. Prometheus Labs., Inc., 566 U.S. 66 (2012), Assn for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., 569 U.S. 576 (2013), and Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Intl, 573 U.S. 208 (2014); risks of new, changing and competitive technologies and regulations in the United States and internationally; the risk that we may be unable to comply with financial operating covenants under our credit or lending agreements; the risk that we will be unable to pay, when due, amounts due under our credit or lending agreements; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Myriad undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law. Media Contact: Ron Rogers Investor Contact: Scott Gleason (801) 584-3065 (801) 584-1143 rrogers@myriad.com sgleason@myriad.com The kitchen in Madhya Pradesh's Raj Bhawan is being utilised to make 100 food packets every day which is then distributed to the lockdown-affected through the Bhopal Municipal Corporation. A state official said Governor Lalji Tandon not only inspected the items that were placed in the food packets but even tasted samples to ensure it was of the best quality. "He said cleanliness should be maintained and directed that the eatables of be of highest purity. He also checked their packing and sanitisation process," the official said. "It is our duty to ensure no one goes hungry during this crisis brought about by the coronavirus outbreak," said Tandon. He asked mohalla and utsav (colony and festival) committees to help needy people in their areas by providing food and medicines during this period. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 18:19:13|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close JAKARTA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government said on Tuesday the death toll of the COVID-19 in the country climbed to 136, the highest in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases jumped to 1,528. As many as 81 patients have recovered from the COVID-19, according to the government's spokesman for the all coronavirus-related matters Achmad Yurianto. Capital city Jakarta, which is home to some 10 million people, suffers the highest number of deaths in the country totaling 83, followed by West Java where 21 patients died. Yurianto said that the government has distributed more than 191,000 items of personal protective equipment, 133,000 N95 face masks and 12 million surgical masks to hospitals treating COVID-19 patients across the country. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared a national public health emergency over the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, urging regional administrations to comply with the policy. Authorities have been conducting rapid tests in areas where cases are detected. The government has turned the Wisma Atlet Kemayoran, the apartment towers in central Jakarta which were used to billet athletes competing in the 2018 Asian Games, into an emergency hospital intended to treat as many as 24,000 COVID-19 patients. The mother of the world's most notorious cartel leader claims attorneys have ample evidence that will force the United States to turn over her son to Mexican authorities so he can serve the rest of his sentence in his country. In a letter dated March 20, Maria Consuelo Loera wrote to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to say Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman was illegally extradited to the U.S. by officials in January 2017. The missive indicates that her team of lawyers followed his directions and provided his cabinet 'evidence ... where it is clear that my son was illegally handed over to the government of the United States of America. Nothing would make me and my family happier to see him where you should be in a prison in Mexico.' Loera also informed the Mexican leader that the United States government had rejected her petition for a humanitarian visa, which was submitted at the U.S. embassy in Mexico City in June 2019. The mother asked Lopez Obrador to provide her 'support so that I am allowed to visit my son since I am 92-years-old.' She also asked the leftist president to consider 'the sickness that afflicts me as well as my great wishes to see him [El Chapo]. I already have more than five years without seeing him.' Scroll down for video A letter made public by the Mexican government on Monday that was sent by Maria del Consuelo Loera to Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on March 20 indicates that her lawyers have followed his orders in contacting his cabinet and have provided proof that shows her son, Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, was illegally extradited to the U.S. in January 2017 Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Monday that he will intervene on behalf of El Chapo's to mother to help her obtain a humanitarian visit that will allow her to travel to the United States to see her jailed son The letter was shared by the Mexican government a day after Lopez Obrador was slammed for his brief meeting with the Loera. A 30-second video posted on Twitter shows Mexico's leader walking over to Loera, who is seated on the passenger side of a SUV parked on a dirt road in Badiraguato, a mountainous municipality in the state of Sinaloa, from where El Chapo's old Sinaloa Cartel exerted its transnational dominance. 'I'll greet you, don't come out. Greetings,' said Lopez Obrador as he was surrounded by dozens of onlookers. 'Don't come out. I already received your letter,' the Mexican president added before his bid farewell to the mother of the country's most infamous drug trafficker. During Monday's press briefing at the National Palace in Mexico City, Lopez Obrador said he would 'handle the process' of making sure Loera travels to the United States to visit El Chapo in prison. The Mexican government shared on Monday a letter that President Lopez Obrador received from El Chapo's mother March 20 Lawyers in Mexico have provided evidence to Mexican officials that shows Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman was illegally extradited to the United States, where he is serving a life sentence 'Like all mothers, I still don't know a mother who accepts her son's guilt,' Lopez Obrador said. 'She told me that she has not seen him in five years and that she does not want to die without seeing him and asks me for support to see him and I will do the process. This I would do for any human being.' It's not the first time Loera reached out to Lopez Obrador so seek assistance in being reunited with El Chapo. The Mexican president received a letter from El Chapo's mother in February 2019 during a visit to Badiraguato. She asked for help in obtaining a visas for herself and her two daughters, Armida and Bernarda Guzman Loera. El Chapo was sentenced to life in prison by a New York federal court February 2019. U.S. prosecutors estimate the co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel built a $14 billion fortune that he made off of cocaine, marijuana and heroin sales during his 25 years at the helm of the international criminal enterprise. Stayhome, make non-contact payments and transfers, say Idramand IDBankand introduce to the market a complete and unique toolset in the field of personal finance management, that sets a new benchmark in the financial market. With the slogan Walletandbanking,the joint digital platform of the two companies offers a set of services, which means you can make all your daily financial transactions without leaving home, which is especially important in the present situation. So, through the Idram app and Idbanking.am platform it is possible to: Become a platform customer online, bypassing remote identification within seconds. Take advantage of nearly a dozen of non-contact payment solutions with QR and NFC technology, which completely exclude the need for cash in general. You can now access over 2,000 sales-stores, including supermarkets, pharmacy and almost all online delivery and distribution networks, food and other stores of first necessity via the remote payment options. To do shopping from more than 200 online stores through just a few simplest steps. Make instant payments for over 250 services: utilities, telecommunications, taxes, loans, account replenishment and a number of other services. Make carpaymentsor sign carinsurancecontracts with any of the insurance companies. AttachanybankcardtoIdramwalletandmaketransactions. Make transfers without any commission,betweenIdramaccounts, aswellasfromIdramto your Rocket card. GetCashbackin case youmakenon-contactpayments in our partner companies (See Partner List here). Order a bank card directl yfrom the app. Opensavingaccounts, currentaccounts, also in foreign currency. Geta loan upto 5,000,000 with a speed of a rocket,make loanrepayments andBanktransfers within a few seconds. Getmoneyto your preferred bank accountthrough one of thefastmoneytransfersystems via a few simple actions. When you make use of these services, a method of payment can be both wallet balance and any attached bank card, and if you are a customer of IDBank, also, any of your bank accounts. # Stayhome: to take advantage of all the benefits of the digital platform you just need to download the app and go through remote identification. We have still announced the launch of the new open, joint digital platform last year, the first product of which was Rocket card. Walletandbankingis the next level of the development of that platform, the imperative of the time and the only way to meet the needs of our many customers. This is a one joint tool for all types of payment and financial services, which completely excludes the need to attend banks, contact with cash and the need to be physically involved in personal finance management. By the way, a few days ago we cancelled the commission fee for transfers made from Idram account to another Idram account, contributing also to the extra encouragement of non-cash transfers: this is one of the most convenient tools for transferring money to each other at present, stated Arsen Kdenyan, one more time noting that Idram is open for such kind of cooperation with all the interested financial institutions. IDBank's Director of Digital Banking, Sergey Arakelyan, noted its been a long time that the Bank's clients are making use of the banking services suggested by this platform, the list of which became more complete. If you need to order a card, get a loan or make a repayment, open a saving or current account, manage your accounts and get a number of other banking services, all of this is available anytime and anywhere through the Idram app and Idbanking.am system making a few simplest steps. I can mention with pleasure and confidence that the format of our cooperation with Idram is the first successful experience of open banking in the Armenian market. In the framework of our partnership with IDBank, other good news is coming soon. I advise users of the platform to follow the updates to be the first to take advantage of the new benefits", said Sergey Arakelyan. The joint digital platform of IDBank and Idram is thus the widest toolset for managing your personal finances. IDRAM AND IDBANK ARE CONTROLLED BY THE CBA English actor Emilia Clarke offered a virtual dinner date to people donating money to her charity, SameYou. It assists people in recovering from brain injuries and strokes, in the wake of coronavirus. The twelve donors will be randomly selected for a virtual dinner with Clarke. The 'Game of Thrones' actor said in an Instagram post, "We'll cook it together and eat it together. And we will discuss lots of things -- isolation and fear and also funny videos. And, you know, the fact that I can't really cook. So it's going to be fun." According to Variety, the 33-year-old actor is hoping to raise 250,000 for SameYou. The new initiative is in partnership with the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Massachusetts and the University College London Hospital. Clarke said in the post "We are creating a virtual rehabilitation clinic so brain injury survivors have somewhere to go and somewhere to feel safe and somewhere to not feel so alone and isolated, which I think is a good thing. We need to do all we can to release as many beds as possible to free up our hardworking NHS". Clarke's charitable organisation, SameYou was found to help assist people recovering from brain injuries and strokes. The 'Last Christmas' star founded SameYour after revealing that she had suffered from two brain aneurysms in the early days of 'Game of Thrones. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A large religious gathering in Delhi has sparked a manhunt across India for suspected coronavirus cases after being linked to dozens of infections and several deaths. Formed 93 years ago in India, the Tablighi Jamaat or the Society for Spreading Faith is in the headlines after at least nine people who attended its gathering in Delhi in mid-March have died and several others tested positive for COVID-19, prompting a health scare in times of a global pandemic. For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here If it invites criticism for organising the gathering during the COVID-19 season, the apolitical evangelical group has been also accused of being regressive while other Muslim organisations find fault with it for its neutral political stand. The group was founded by Muhammed Ilyas al-Kandhlawi in Mewat with an aim of spiritual reformation of Islam. Started as an offshoot of the Deobandi movement, the Tablighi Jamaat believes that Muslims are in a constant spiritual Jihad fighting the evil using the weapon of proselytization. They believe the battles are won or lost in the "hearts of men". Also Read: COVID-19: Over 1,000 shifted for tests in Nizamuddin; Delhi govt wants FIR against Tablighi Jamaat However, the organisation which is spread across the globe with the vast following, especially in South Asia, has been under Indian security agencies' radar for its "links" with radical outfits but so far nothing has been proved. The Tablighi Jamaat operates its headquarters from Nizamuddin where it has Alami Markaz Banglewali Masjid and a six-storeyed dormitory where it can house around 2,000 people. Also read: Tamil Nadu coronavirus cases rises to 74, Nizamuddin link to a chunk of it surfaces According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), devout Muslims from across the country and abroad visit the Markaz for religious purposes while some also move out in groups to different parts of the country for religious activities. This is a continuous process throughout the year. It attracts devotees from several countries, particularly from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Kyrgyzstan, visit Nizamuddin headquarters from where they are assigned jobs across the country. According to the Delhi government, 1,548 people who were staying in the headquarters were shifted to hospitals and quarantine facilities after 24 people tested positive for COVID-19 and 447 showed symptoms of virus infection. It was not in Delhi alone the Tablighi Jamaat held meetings during COVID-19. It's meeting in Kuala Lumpur between February 27 and March 1 has been linked to the spreading of COVID-19 to around 600 people there. The MHA said as on March 21, there were about 1746 persons staying in the Nizamuddin complex, of which 216 were foreigners. Another 824 foreigners were spread out across the country to carry out the activities of the outfit and intimated state authorities to quarantine them. On March 28, state police forces were also asked to collect the names of Indian Tabligh Jamaat workers and get them medically screened and quarantine them. So far, about 2137 such persons have been identified in different states. They are being medically examined and quarantined. According to the MHA, it is estimated that from January 1 onwards this year, around 2,100 foreigners had visited India for Tabligh activities. While approximately 824 of them, as on March 21, were dispersed in different parts of the country, approximately 216 of them were staying at the Nizamuddin campus. "Others might have left the country before the lockdown," it said. Mark Meadows began his first day as Donald Trump's chief of staff on Tuesday, the fourth person to take on the job in the president's three years in office, joining a White House that has been compared to a snake pit. Meadows, the conservative former congressman from North Carolina, dealt with some of paperwork necessary when starting a new job, including officially resigning from the House of Representatives via a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and updating his Twitter bio to reflect his new position. He's getting a trial by fire, joining the administration as the number of deaths from the coronavirus exceeded the number of Americans killed by the September 11th attacks. Mark Meadows began as President Trump's chief of staff on Tuesday, becoming the fourth person to hold the job in three years Mark Meadows has been spotted getting some on-the-job training in the past few weeks as he's attended White House briefings and traveled with President Trump President Trump welcomed Meadows aboard by retweeting this Jim Jordan tweet Meadows, 60, has been spotted getting some on-the-job training in the last few weeks - he was in the Oval Office when Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar visited for St. Patrick's Day, he was on Capitol Hill for negotiations on the $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package, he's been in meetings in the Cabinet room, and he joined Trump on his trip to Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday to see the USNS Comfort set sail for New York. But it remains to be seen how Meadows - a rebel and a rule breaker on Capitol Hill - will act in his new role, where he is the leader trying to quell the factions instead of the person stirring the pot. Trump's has tried a variety of personalities in the job: Reince Priebus was a campaign operative and former head of the Republican National Committee with strong ties to the party; John Kelly was a respected elder statesman expected to rein in a White House gone amok; and Mick Mulvaney was an ally and loyalist. Most did not end well. Priebus was fired from a tweet Trump sent aboard Air Force One. Kelly, toward the end of his tenure, was heard by staff describing his position as the 'worst f***ing job I've ever had.' Mulvaney was sent to Ireland as U.S. special envoy. Kelly has differed from his fellow chiefs in that he has started speaking out against President Trump. He criticized the president for firing Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman from his National Security Council after Vindman was subpoenaed to testify in the House impeachment inquiry. Meadows is a fighter, which is a characteristic Trump tends to admire in people, particularly if he is the cause they are fighting for. During the impeachment inquiry, Meadows made frequent appearances on camera - where Trump tends to count it the most - to defend the president. Trump Chiefs of Staff Reince Priebus (January 20, 2017, until July 31, 20): Former chairman of the Republican National Committee was fired via a tweet from Air Force One. John Kelly (July 31, 2017, to January 2, 2019): Brought in to restore order to White House, he left when he couldn't bring discipline to President Trump and has criticized the president since he left the job. Mick Mulvaney: (January 2, 2019 to March 30, 2019) A Trump loyalist, Mulvaney kept the word 'acting' in his title and left the White House to be U.S. special envoy to Ireland. Advertisement The chief of staff's office, just down the hallway from the Oval Office, traditionally acts as the nerve center for White House staff. The corner office - with a patio outside its doors - usually serves as command central for the administration. But that role has proven challenging in the Trump administration, where the president often undercut Meadows' predecessors. Priebus struggled to deal with the competing factions among the White House staff, led by then Counselor to the President Steve Bannon and White House senior adviser - and Trump son-in-law - Jared Kushner. In the end Kushner survived while the other two didn't. Trump chafed under the stewardship of Kelly, who tried to limit the president's ability to go around him and hear from outsiders, whose whispered words into the ear of the president could led policy changes. Mulvaney, who took the title acting chief of staff, appeared to have more of a laissez faire attitude when it came to the managing the president. He let Trump be Trump but the president eventually tired of him too. On March 6th, Trump tweeted Meadows would be his new chief of staff. And, on Tuesday, the president welcomed his on board via his favorite medium: Twitter. The president retweeted Republican Congressman Jim Jordan, a close friend of Meadows, who congratulated him on his first day on the job. Mick Mulvaney, then acting White House chief of staff, speaks with Mark Meadows, incoming White House chief of staff, during a meeting of Irish Prime Minister Varadkar and President Trump in the Oval Office on March 12 Former White House Chiefs of Staff John Kelly and Reince Priebus at last year's White House Christmas party 'Mark is a dedicated public servant. He'll do a great job for President Trump and our country,' Jordan wrote. Meadows is in the process of assembling his team and many White House staff are worried about job security, The New York Times reported. Michael McKenna, the deputy legislative director, resigned under pressure last week in what some saw as a prelude to a broader shake-up. Jessica Ditto, a member of the press staff who's been with Trump since the campaign, is leaving in the new few weeks, Bloomberg News reported. And Meadows has developed strong relationships with two of the most important people in the West Wing: Kushner and first daughter Ivanka Trump, CNN reported. He's also had his share of controversies. In 2018, his own congressional chief of staff, Kenny West, was fired after six female staffers complained of sexual harassment, alleging West engaged in unwanted touching and looked down their shirts. The House Ethics Committee faulted Meadows for failing 'to take prompt and decisive action to deal with the alleged sexual harassment.' Meadows had banned West from the office but continued to pay him for four months before firing him. White House National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien and incoming White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows listen as President Donald Trump holds an event declaring the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency Mark Meadows was on Capitol Hill with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for the coronavirus economic package negotiations Mark Meadows' resignation letter from Congress Mark Meadows also updated his Twitter profile to show his new title And last year Meadows denounced a video of himself from 2012 that had resurfaced, where he said then President Barack Obama should be sent 'back home to Kenya.' 'If we do our job from a grassroots standpoint, we won't have to worry about it. We'll send (Obama) back home to Kenya or wherever it is,' he was caught on camera saying. Meadows shrugged off his past comments, saying 'there is not a racial bone in my body.' Meadows is the first Trump chief of staff to come directly from Capitol Hill. Mulvaney was director of Office of Management and Budget in between his time in Congress and in the chief's office. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he thinks Meadows will strengthen relationships between the executive and legislative branch. 'I wish Mark Meadows very well. He was a very good member he'll make a great chief of staff, and I think having him as chief of staff only makes the relationship stronger for the House and Senate with the White House,' McCarthy told NBC News. 'And he's had great relationships on both sides of the aisle. So it's a benefit to all.' Meadows made friends in both parties during his seven years in the House of Representatives. He was notably close to the late Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings. The two men served on the House Oversight committee together. Meadows paid an emotional tribute to Cummings during a memorial service for him on Capitol Hill last October. 'He's called a number of things, father, husband, friend, chairman. For me, I was privileged enough to be able to call him a dear friend,' Meadows said. 'Some have classified it as an unexpected friendship, but for those of us that know Elijah, it's not unexpected or surprising.' He added: 'Perhaps this place and this country would be better served with a few more unexpected friendships. I know I have been blessed by one.' And he was fond of rebel rousers - be they Democratic or Republican. Meadows, himself, was part of an attempted coup on Capitol Hill. In 2015, Meadows filed a motion to vacate the chair: an innocuous sounding maneuver that had deadly consequences. Had it worked, Speaker John Boehner would have been removed from the speakership. Meadows, as head of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, was a thorn in Boehner's side during his time in the speaker's chair. Eventually they drove Boehner out. 'They can't tell you what they're for. They can tell you everything they're against,' Boehner told Politico of the group in 2017. 'They're anarchists. They want total chaos. Tear it all down and start over. That's where their mindset is.' Mark Meadows with the late Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings, to whom he was close friends Meadows joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi in February to name a room after Cummings Rep. Jim Jordan and Mark Meadows talk with White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley in the Senate Reception Room, just off the Senate floor, during the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in January And Meadows offered advice to a Democratic rebel on how to resist without being punished by party leadership. When progressive Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal was fighting for liberal policies to be included in the federal budget, Meadows approached her on the House floor to share share some tips. 'He came up to me and he was like, 'I need to tell you all the experiences of the Freedom Caucus so you don't get screwed by your caucus the same way we were screwed by ours,' Jayapal told BuzzFeed News. And then there is Meadows' ties to dinosaurs. Three years ago, he sold 134 acres he owned in Dinosaur, Colorado - an area rich in the bones of the ancient, extinct animals, The New Yorker reported. The article raised questions for two reasons: Meadows hadn't declared the sale in his congressional disclosure forms, as required, and because he is a strong proponent of creationism, which rejects the concept of evolution. The sale revealed his ties to the controversial world of creationist paleontology. He and his wife Debbie homeschooled their two children. In May 2002, they took them on an adventure called Dragon's Den Dig, which promotes the teaching of dinosaurs through the lens of creationism. Meadows and his family appeared in the film 'Raising the Allosaur: The True Story of a Rare Dinosaur and the Home Schoolers Who Found It,' which was made while they were on the dig. But the find was controversial, as other scientists argued the dinosaur in question had already been discovered. Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County. Some countries in Africa have not reported cases of coronavirus Just six countries out of a total of 54 countries in Africa are yet to report any cases of the novel coronavirus. According to a recent report by AFP, the global pandemic has been confirmed in almost every country, but for a handful of far-flung tiny island states, war-torn Yemen and isolated North Korea. In Africa authorities claim they are spared by god, or simply saved by low air traffic to their countries, however some fear it is lack of testing that is hiding the true impact. South Sudan The east African nation is barely emerging from six years of civil war and with high levels of hunger, illness and little infrastructure, observers fear the virus could wreak havoc. Doctor Angok Gordon Kuol, one of those charged with overseeing the fight against the virus, said the country had only carried out 12 tests, none of which were positive. He said the reason the virus has yet to reach South Sudan could be explained by the low volume of air traffic and travel to the country. Very few airlines come to South Sudan and most of the countries affected today they are affected by people coming from abroad. He said the main concern was foreigners working for the large NGO and humanitarian community, or people crossing land borders from neighbouring countries. South Sudan has shut schools, banned gatherings such as weddings, funerals and sporting events and blocked flights from worst-affected countries. Non-essential businesses have been shuttered and movement restricted. The country can currently test around 500 people and has one isolation centre with 24 beds. Burundi In Burundi, which is gearing up for general elections in May, authorities thank divine intervention for the lack of cases. The government thanks all-powerful God who has protected Burundi, government spokesman Prosper Ntahorwamiye said on national television last week. At the same time he criticised those spreading rumours that Burundi is not capable of testing for the virus, or that it is spreading unnoticed. Some measures have been taken, such as the suspension of international flights and placing handwashing stations at the entrances to banks and restaurants in Bujumbura. However several doctors have expressed their concerns. There are zero cases in Burundi because there have been zero tests, a Burundian doctor said on condition of anonymity. Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome and Principe a tiny nation of small islands covered in lush rainforest has reported zero cases because it is unable to test, according to World Health Organisation representative Anne Ancia. However we are continuing preparations, with around 100 people in quarantine after returning from highly-affected countries, and the WHO keeping an eye on cases of pneumonia. With only four ICU beds for a population of 200,000 people, the country is desperate to not let the virus take hold and has already shut its borders despite the importance of tourism to the local economy. Malawi Malawis health ministry spokesman Joshua Malango brushed aside fears that Malawi might not have registered any Covid-19 cases due to a lack of testing kits: We have the testing kits in Malawi and we are testing. Dr Bridget Malewezi from the Society of Medical Doctors told AFP that while we may not be 100 percent ready, government was gearing up for the arrival of the virus. She suggested it may only be a matter of time before the pandemic hits Malawi. Its only been in the past few weeks that it has been rampantly spreading across Africa so most people feel it will get here at some point, she said. Malawi has asked people coming from hard-hit countries to self-quarantine, which Malawezi said had helped safeguard the country from any possible spread of the virus. Lesotho Tiny Lesotho, a kingdom encircled by South Africa with only two million inhabitants, went into national lockdown on Monday despite registering zero cases. Until last week the country had no tests or testing centres, and received its first kits thanks to a donation by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma. Authorities had reported eight suspected cases which they had not been able to test and the first results are expected soon. Comoros The Indian Ocean island nation of the Comoros, situated between Madagascar and Mozambique, has yet to detect a single case of the virus, according to the health ministry. One doctor in the capital Moroni, Dr Abdou Ada, wonders if it may not be because of the wide use of the drug Artemisinin to treat malaria. I believe that the mass anti-malarial treatment explains the fact that the Comoros are, at least for now, spared from Covid-19. it is a personal belief that needs to be confirmed scientifically. Air New Zealand says it expects to lay off about a third of its workforce after grounding almost all its flights. The number of global airlines projecting layoffs, furloughs and capacity cuts over the next few months is growing, with Air New Zealand sounding the latest warning, saying it expects staffing levels to be 30 percent smaller than it is now, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Airlines have been rushing to shore up liquidity, reduce capital expenditure and cut costs to stay afloat amid one of the worst crisis to hit the global aviation industry. Air New Zealand said on Tuesday it will lay off about 3,500 employees, nearly a third of its workforce, in the coming months, as the outbreak forced it to cancel nearly all flights. New Zealands national carrier, which employs 12,500 people, warned the layoffs estimate was a conservative assumption and the numbers could rise if the domestic lockdown and border restrictions were extended. The virus has seen us go from having revenue of [5.8 billion New Zealand dollars] ($3.5bn) to what is shaping up to be less than [500 million New Zealand dollars] ($301m) annually, Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran told staff in an email. We expect that even in a years time we will be at least 30 percent smaller than we are today. In Australia, Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd said it was seeking a possible government loan of $1.4 billion Australian dollars ($864m) which could convert to equity under certain circumstances to help it weather the coronavirus crisis. Virgins shares are tightly controlled by foreign airlines including Singapore Airlines Ltd, Etihad Airways and Chinese conglomerate HNA Group that have also seen a sharp deterioration in revenues. Last week, Singapore Airlines said it would receive up to $13bn in funding from the countrys sovereign wealth fund, Temasek in the single largest bailout of an airline affected by coronavirus shutdowns. Lifeline for US airlines In the United States, American Airlines Holdings Inc intends to apply for up to $12bn in government aid, ensuring no involuntary layoffs or pay cuts in the next six months, executives said in a memo to employees on Monday. American is eligible for about $6bn in payroll grants and $6bn in loans under a stimulus package meant to help airlines and other businesses weather a downturn from the coronavirus. Between the government funds and its own cash position, American will be able to fly through even the worst of potential future scenarios, Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker and President Robert Isom said in the memo. American, with the largest number of employees of any US carrier, also plans to improve the terms of voluntary unpaid leave and early retirement options for flight attendants and other employees, it said. American had 133,700 full-time employees in 2019, about 85 percent of whom were represented by unions. Wages and benefits are its largest operating expense, representing 34 percent of the total. Low-cost US carrier Spirit Airlines Inc is cancelling all flights to and from the New York region after US officials warned against travel to the area because of the pandemic. US airlines have been pushing the Treasury to release up to $58bn in government grants and loans and had threatened to quickly start laying off tens of thousands of workers within days if they did not get a bailout. The $2.2 trillion stimulus and assistance legislation signed into law last week by President Donald Trump giving passenger airlines $25bn in cash assistance to cover payroll costs and $25bn in loans, while cargo carriers are eligible for $4bn in grants and $4bn in loans. Treasury faces an April 1 deadline to issue procedures to airlines to apply for grants. Meanwhile, Air Canada will cut second-quarter capacity by 85 percent-90 percent, place about 15,200 unionised employees off duty and furlough about 1,300 managers, beginning on or about April 3. Canadas largest airline said it is drawing down about 1 billion Canadian dollars ($706m) in credit to bolster liquidity, while senior executives will forgo between 25 percent-50 percent of their salary and board members agreed to a 25 percent cut. In the United Kingdom, budget carrier EasyJet grounded its fleet of 344 planes and has no clear idea when it might resume flights, the company said on Monday. EasyJet said it would lay off its 4,000 UK-based cabin crew for two months, meaning they will not work from April 1 but will get 80 percent of their average pay under a state job retention scheme. Smaller British airline Loganair said on Monday it would seek state aid. Germanys Lufthansa said 27,000 of its staff would reduce hours. Disney will reduce the salaries of its vice presidents by 20%, senior vice presidents by 25%, and executive vice presidents and above by 30% effective 5 April Walt Disney Inc (DIS.N) Executive Chairman Bob Iger will forgo his salary and newly named Chief Executive Officer Bob Chapek will take a 50% pay cut amid the coronavirus crisis, according to an internal email from Chapek. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak Disney will reduce the salaries of its vice presidents by 20%, senior vice presidents by 25%, and executive vice presidents and above by 30% effective 5 April, according to the email. This temporary action will remain in effect until we foresee a substantive recovery in our business, wrote Chapek. Disney said on Friday its parks in California and Florida will remain closed until further notice, as authorities step up efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. The company will pay workers at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort through 18 April. On Monday, newspaper publisher Gannett Co Inc (GCI.N) also announced compensation changes in response to the pandemic. In an email to staff, CEO Paul Bascobert said the companys executive team will be taking a 25% reduction in pay and he will be forgoing pay until Gannetts employee furloughs and pay reductions are reversed. Soldiers take part in the "Dragon Golden 2020" joint drill in Cambodia's southwestern Kampot province, March 24, 2020. By Mao Pengfei and Zhou Guoqiang KAMPOT, Cambodia, Mar. 31 -- The counter-terrorism drill in mountainous area and the closing ceremony of China-Cambodia joint military training exercise "Dragon Golden 2020" were held on March 30, 2020, local time, in Kampot Province of Cambodia. General Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Cambodia, together with Wang Wentian, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, attended and addressed at the ceremony, and military attaches from many countries observed the drill. The counter-terrorism drill, conducted in the form of mixed grouping and joint operations of multi-arms, was carried out in four phases including reconnaissance and blockade, raid and rescue, seizure, control and clearance as well as force concentration and transfer. Throughout the drill, both militaries demonstrated the tactics of reconnaissance, blockade, strike, control and suppression in mountainous counter-terrorism operations. After the comprehensive counter-terrorism drill, China and Cambodia held a closing ceremony for the joint military training exercise. Amb. Wang Wentian said in his speech that in the face of the interference of COVID-19, the Chinese and Cambodian militaries worked together to overcome difficulties and arranged training subjects scientifically and reasonably. They have balanced combat readiness training and pandemic prevention and control. This joint training will definitely leave a strong mark in the history of friendly cooperation between the two countries and the two militaries, said Amb. Wang. Gen. Tea Banh stated that the success of the joint training exercise fully demonstrated the importance the two countries attach to the development of long-standing bilateral friendship. It implemented the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, strengthened mutual exchanges, deepened the pragmatic cooperation between the two militaries, and jointly lifted the bilateral relationship to a higher level and achieved new results. The joint training made new contribution to building a community of shared destiny between the two countries, promoting the integration of China's Belt and Road Initiative with the Rectangular Strategy of the Cambodian government, and maintaining regional peace and stability. According to Senior Colonel Zhang Tiren, head of the Chinese commanding group, during the joint training, Chinese and Cambodian troops focused on the new features of the terrorist forces and organized training on 10 subjects including raid and rescue, assault and deterrence, etc. They have improved the capability of jointly coping with international security threats such as terrorism, further consolidated the long-standing friendship between the two countries and the two militaries, and enhanced strategic mutual trust. It is learnt that the China-Cambodia joint military training kicked off on March 15. In the context of counter-terrorism in unison, the training focused on simulating real combats against terrorism. The Chinese participating force is mainly from the 75th Group Army of the PLA. A total of 800 military personnel from both sides participated in the joint training. 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. By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 31, 2020 | 09:18 AM | LAKE CITY Firefighters responded Tuesday morning to a fire at Knoth's Bar-B-Que in Lake City.Restaurant owner Meagan Musselman tells West Kentucky Star there were no injuries, and the fire was contained to the pit building. It was quickly put out by the Grand Lakes and Smithland fire departments.Musselman says employees are doing their best to get the restaurant back in operation by Thursday, or even Wednesday if everything goes as planned."We're updating our Facebook page as we know more, but we're still on cleanup. We can't start cooking anymore meat until we get things cleaned up and get some pits ready in order to cook on," she said. "As of right now, there's no meat for tomorrow. We might be able to start a cook really late tonight and cook through the night and have some ready for tomorrow, but we're not sure yet." On the Net: 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. You are here: Business China has been actively making efforts to set up a green channel to facilitate the air cargo transportation of anti-epidemic supplies at home and abroad, according to the State Post Bureau. The State Post Bureau created the green channel by coordinating enterprises in the mail delivery business via multiple methods such as implementing overseas transfers, increasing charter flights and opening air routes. These efforts are sustaining the delivery of China's domestic medical emergency supplies, daily necessities and express mail in the nationwide joint anti-epidemic fight. Meanwhile, they represent crucial support for the international prevention and control of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Major players of China's air cargo industry, such as SF Airlines, China Postal Airlines and YTO Airlines, are contributing to the anti-epidemic fight at home and abroad. To date, SF Airlines has opened multiple new international cargo air routes and carried around 210 charter flights. From March 1 to 14, cargo flights of the airline sent 108 tonnes of medical and other supplies to 39 countries and regions. China Postal Airlines had sent 24 charter flights with 42,000 airmail items, weighing around 292 tonnes. Cainiao, Alibaba's logistics subsidiary, is planning to send 200 charter cargo flights to facilitate two-way logistics into and out of China, aiming to ensure anti-epidemic supplies and express mail of cross-border e-commerce. China is cultivating its burgeoning air cargo industry. To date, SF Airlines, China Postal Airlines and YTO Airlines have seen the fleet of all-cargo freighters exceed 100, and international cargo air routes exceed 30. China will continue to add more charter flights and open new air routes to guarantee the smooth transportation of living necessities and medical supplies, said Jin Jinghua, a senior official with the State Post Bureau. At present, domestic- and foreign-owned international cargo flights in China total 930 per week, which is close to the level recorded before the outbreak. NATO named a panel of 10 experts Tuesday to study the alliance's political direction after French President Emmanuel Macron warned starkly that it was undergoing "brain death". The group of five men and five women will be co-chaired by former German defence minister Thomas de Maziere and Washington's former top diplomat for Europe, Wess Mitchell. NATO said the panel "will offer recommendations to reinforce alliance unity, increase political consultation and coordination between allies, and strengthen NATO's political role." Macron caused uproar last year with an explosive Economist interview in which he despaired of what he said was the lack of strategic and political thinking at NATO. He said Turkey's unilateral incursion against Kurdish fighters in Syria and US unpredictability under President Donald Trump indicated grave flaws at the heart of the 70-year-old alliance. The comments drew public rebukes from other NATO leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who told Macron to "have his own brain death checked". Washington also dismissed Macron's suggestions for reinvention, which include a call for a shift in NATO priorities away from big power threats like Russia and China to confronting terrorism. At a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in November, France proposed a "small group of eminent persons" to consider the issue -- only for Germany to come up with its own separate plan. And, while NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Berlin's proposal, he gave the French idea the cold shoulder, refusing even to comment on it. The row overshadowed the run-up to December's NATO summit in London, where leaders tasked Stoltenberg with forming the expert panel and reporting back. The committee also includes former foreign ministers in Hubert Vedrine of France and Anna Fotyga of Poland as well as ex-Canadian national security advisor Greta Bossenmaier and Tacan Ildem from Turkey, a senior NATO official and former ambassador. But the choice of Mitchell, known as a hawk on Russia, as co-chair could be interpreted as a rebuff to Macron's calls for warmer ties with Moscow. NATO foreign ministers -- now numbering 30 after North Macedonia formally joined the alliance on Friday -- are to hold a regular session of talks on Thursday. For the first time, they will meet not in person but by video link because of restrictions imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Airline tycoons will have to put their hands in their pockets if they want a bail out, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned yesterday. The industry has been pleading for state aid after being crippled by the Covid-19 pandemic. Virgin Atlantic, part of Sir Richard Branson's business empire, has led calls for an 7.5billion industry rescue package. This would include cash advances which would only have to be paid back when airlines have recovered. Hands out: The airline has been pleading for state aid after being crippled by the Covid-19 pandemic Easyjet, founded by another super wealthy entrepreneur Sir Stelios HajiIoannou, and regional airline Loganair, controlled by the secretive Bond brothers, have also begged for help from the Government. But as British Airways suspended all flights to and from London Gatwick after Easyjet was forced to ground its entire fleet on Monday ministers are scrambling to find alternatives to a taxpayer bail out. Insiders say they are acutely conscious of the need to ensure those who have made fortunes from the airline industry in the good times 'share the pain' with taxpayers. Shapps said 'detailed discussions' are taking place with airlines, airports and 'ancillary services', which include specialist firms employing airport workers. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: 'We do want there to be competition in the airline market. 'We think that's absolutely right when we come out of this crisis for that to be there. Having said that, we also are very firmly aware that a lot of the large airlines have shareholders who will also be expected by the public to put their hands in their pockets. 'It can't be right for example that in the good times the shareholders benefit and in the bad times the taxpayer pays. So we've got to get that balance right.' Sir Richard Branson (pictured with burlesque star Dita Von Teese) has pledged 215million from his personal fortune and Virgin Group's coffers to help rescue the airline He added that 'it is a question of finding the right solutions from the whole wide range of packages that the Chancellor has announced'. Ministers are conscious that a straight-forward bailout for airlines would be politically toxic, and would be seen by many as special treatment for the super-rich. Easyjet founder Sir Stelios HajiIoannou has been lambasted for pocketing a 60m dividend Branson is worth an estimated 4billion and lives on Necker, his own Caribbean island. He has come under fire for quickly putting 7,300 employees on unpaid leave, before the Government even announced its wage subsidy support package for furloughed staff. Labour MP Kate Osborne branded the decision an 'absolute disgrace' while he was urged by Labour's shadow education secretary Angela Rayner to sell his private island to pay staff. Branson subsequently pledged 215million from his personal fortune and Virgin Group's coffers to help rescue the airline. Stelios, who owns 34 per cent of Easyjet with his family, has also been lambasted for pocketing a 60million dividend as the budget airline has plunged into crisis. Much lower-profile are Stephen and Peter Bond, who own Loganair, now the UK's biggest airline following the collapse of Flybe. The brothers are also controversial figures. They previously owned FlyBMI, which collapsed just over a year ago leaving hundreds of passengers stranded across Europe and most of its 376 staff without jobs. Subsequently some of its more lucrative routes were taken over by the Scottish-based Loganair, which is now warning it could go bust without a government bail out. Last week Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the Government would only step in to help airlines as a 'last resort' once they have exhausted all other options. He said decisions would be taken with individual airlines on a 'case by case basis'. But Tim Alderslade, chief executive of industry lobby group Airlines UK, said more support is urgency needed from ministers, including allowing airlines to offer vouchers to customers for cancelled flights rather than refunds. He said: 'The situation is now very grave for airlines, and we're seeing on a daily basis some of the practical impacts of this crisis, from planes being grounded to airports closing their doors.' Posted on: March 31, 2020 3:05 PM Churches around the world should immediately take advice from their countrys ministry of health about the suspension of public worship to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the convenor of the Anglican Communions Health Network has said. The Anglican Communion is a family of 40 member churches, which are each autonomous and inter-dependent. No Church or body has authority over any other church, and the statement issued on Friday (27 March) is only advisory. Some of the Anglican Communions 40 member churches have already suspended public worship at a provincial level; while others are leaving the decision to individual dioceses or parishes. The Anglican Communion Health Network is convened by Dr Michael Beasley, the Bishop of Hertford in the Church of England. Bishop Michael is an epidemiologist. He previously served as Director of the Partnership for Child Development in the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College, London. In a statement issued by the Anglican Communion Office on Friday, Dr Beasley said: As the COVID-19 pandemic develops around the world, official public health authorities are advising churches not to join together for worship and other gatherings and to worship remotely, staying in the home. This is crucial to prevent the spread of the virus, to save the lives of the most vulnerable and to protect health services from being overwhelmed by cases. It is the loving thing to do, even though painful. He added: Where possible, church leaders can lead in worship remotely using the internet, radio or a call for prayer at a specific time. Single households can also pray and reflect on scripture together. Jesus said, Be sure of this: I am with you always (Matthew 28:20) and in John 20:26 we read, Though the doors were locked, Jesus stood among them and said Peace be with you. Though we are apart, we can be together in spirit. And as we do that, lets look forward to days when we shall again be able to meet as Christs Body gathered. What a celebration that will be! Could Thessaloniki Port Authority Societe Anonyme (ATH:OLTH) be an attractive dividend share to own for the long haul? Investors are often drawn to strong companies with the idea of reinvesting the dividends. Yet sometimes, investors buy a popular dividend stock because of its yield, and then lose money if the company's dividend doesn't live up to expectations. A 2.7% yield is nothing to get excited about, but investors probably think the long payment history suggests Thessaloniki Port Authority Societe Anonyme has some staying power. There are a few simple ways to reduce the risks of buying Thessaloniki Port Authority Societe Anonyme for its dividend, and we'll go through these below. Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis ATSE:OLTH Historical Dividend Yield March 31st 2020 Payout ratios Companies (usually) pay dividends out of their earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, the dividend might have to be cut. So we need to form a view on if a company's dividend is sustainable, relative to its net profit after tax. Thessaloniki Port Authority Societe Anonyme paid out 38% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. A medium payout ratio strikes a good balance between paying dividends, and keeping enough back to invest in the business. Plus, there is room to increase the payout ratio over time. While the above analysis focuses on dividends relative to a company's earnings, we do note Thessaloniki Port Authority Societe Anonyme's strong net cash position, which will let it pay larger dividends for a time, should it choose. Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Thessaloniki Port Authority Societe Anonyme'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. Thessaloniki Port Authority Societe Anonyme has been paying dividends for a long time, but for the purpose of this analysis, we only examine the past 10 years of payments. This dividend has been unstable, which we define as having been cut one or more times over this time. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was 0.15 in 2010, compared to 0.57 last year. Dividends per share have grown at approximately 14% per year over this time. The dividends haven't grown at precisely 14% every year, but this is a useful way to average out the historical rate of growth. Story continues It's not great to see that the payment has been cut in the past. We're generally more wary of companies that have cut their dividend before, as they tend to perform worse in an economic downturn. Dividend Growth Potential Given that the dividend has been cut in the past, we need to check if earnings are growing and if that might lead to stronger dividends in the future. It's not great to see that Thessaloniki Port Authority Societe Anonyme's have fallen at approximately 3.5% over the past five years. If earnings continue to decline, the dividend may come under pressure. Every investor should make an assessment of whether the company is taking steps to stabilise the situation. Conclusion To summarise, shareholders should always check that Thessaloniki Port Authority Societe Anonyme'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 Thessaloniki Port Authority Societe Anonyme has a low payout ratio, as this suggests earnings are being reinvested in the business. Second, earnings per share have been in decline, and its dividend has been cut at least once in the past. While we're not hugely bearish on it, overall we think there are potentially better dividend stocks than Thessaloniki Port Authority Societe Anonyme out there. Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Thessaloniki Port Authority Societe Anonyme (of which 2 make us uncomfortable!) you should know about. 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. 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. The Cabinet of Ministers is considering options for mitigating lockdown in order to start the economy Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said that Ukraine could not be on lockdown for six months. He said this on the air of ICTV, Ukrayinska Pravda reports. "We are very aware that many people, most of the population of Ukraine do not have a financial cushion and cannot stay at home for three months. People need to make money. The economy needs to be started. Ukraine is not a rich country that can afford to not work for six months and watch TV on the couch," the PM stated. He stressed that the Cabinet of Ministers was considering options for mitigating lockdown in order to start the economy, but it depended on the dynamics of the spread of coronavirus across the country. It is worth noting that PM had earlier stated about Ukraine's economic decline. According to him, Ukraine's GDP will fall by 4.8% by the end of 2020. Such a macro forecast is agreed by all Ukrainian institutions, organizations, and economists. As we reported earlier, as of 10:00 p.m., on March 30, 548 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with Covid-19 were recorded in Ukraine. In total, there were 13 fatal cases and eight people successfully recovered. The death toll from the conoravirus in Tennessee has risen to 23 - up 10 in a single day. Cases in the state jumped to 2,239 from 1,834. Officials said 175 people have been hospitalized in the state from coronavirus. It is now in 80 of the state's 95 counties. Hamilton County now has 50 cases, up from 39 on Monday. Another Hamilton County resident - described as an older patient - died. Bradley County is up to 10 cases of the deadly new strain of virus. Rhea County and Sequatchie County now each have one coronavirus case. Grundy County is up to four cases, Meigs County has one, while Marion County stands at five cases. Bledsoe County has two cases, and Franklin County has five. McMinn County has three cases and Monroe County has increased to five. Metro Nashville Public Health Department officials announced on Tuesday a total number of 541 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Nashville/Davidson County, an increase of 98 cases in the past 24 hours. The confirmed cases range in age from two months old to 84 years old. Three people have died after a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19; 14 others remain hospitalized; and 80 people have recovered from the virus. The remaining cases are self-isolating at home and have mild and manageable symptoms. There are 131 cases in Williamson County. Shelby County has shot up to 428 cases. One of the latest victims was Tim Russell, pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis. Church officials said he has been in the hospital about two weeks. Knox County, which saw its first coronavirus deaths, is at 66 cases. Hamilton County results: Positive Test Results 42 (50*) Negative Test Results 683 Total Test Results 725 Hospitalizations 17 Quarantined 223 Recovered 26 Deaths 3 *The cumulative case total on this date is 50, but these tables are based on the 42 cases for which the Health Department has data to report at this stage in the investigations. Age Demographics 18-49 years 16 50-64 years 10 65+ years 16 Not yet determined at the time of press 0 Not all of the details of a case may be available at the time of publication. Sex Demographics Male 26 Female 16 Not yet determined at the time of press 0 Race Demographics White 34 Black 7 Asian 1 Not yet determined at the time of press 0 Shelby 428 Confirmed, 32 New Davidson 391 Confirmed, 27 New Sumner 184 Confirmed, 20 New Williamson 131 Confirmed, 20 New Rutherford 68 Confirmed, 11 New Knox 66 Confirmed, 14 New Hamilton 48 Confirmed, 8 New Wilson 39 Confirmed, 7 New Robertson 28 Confirmed, 1 New Blount 25 Confirmed, 15 New Putnam 24 Confirmed, 0 New Tipton 21 Confirmed, 5 New Montgomery 19 Confirmed, 6 New Dickson 17 Confirmed, 5 New Maury 15 Confirmed, 4 New Washington 14 Confirmed, 0 New Sullivan 13 Confirmed, 2 New Fayette 12 Confirmed, 2 New Greene 12 Confirmed, 0 New Cumberland 11 Confirmed, 0 New Anderson 10 Confirmed, 1 New Bradley 10 Confirmed, 1 New Cheatham 10 Confirmed, 2 New Loudon 8 Confirmed, 0 New Sevier 8 Confirmed, 1 New Gibson 6 Confirmed, 1 New Jefferson 6 Confirmed, 1 New Carroll 5 Confirmed, 0 New Franklin 5 Confirmed, 0 New Madison 5 Confirmed, 0 New Marion 5 Confirmed, -1 New Monroe 5 Confirmed, 2 New Benton 4 Confirmed, 1 New Campbell 4 Confirmed, 0 New DeKalb 4 Confirmed, 0 New Grundy 4 Confirmed, 2 New Hawkins 4 Confirmed, 0 New Macon 4 Confirmed, 1 New Trousdale 4 Confirmed, 1 New Cannon 3 Confirmed, 1 New Chester 3 Confirmed, 0 New Dyer 3 Confirmed, 0 New Giles 3 Confirmed, 2 New McMinn 3 Confirmed, 0 New Bedford 2 Confirmed, 1 New Bledsoe 2 Confirmed, 0 New Claiborne 2 Confirmed, 0 New Hamblen 2 Confirmed, 0 New Haywood 2 Confirmed, 0 New Humphreys 2 Confirmed, 2 New Johnson 2 Confirmed, 0 New Lawrence 2 Confirmed, 0 New Lewis 2 Confirmed, 0 New Overton 2 Confirmed, 0 New Perry 2 Confirmed, 0 New Roane 2 Confirmed, 0 New Scott 2 Confirmed, 0 New Smith 2 Confirmed, 1 New Carter 1 Confirmed, 0 New Cocke 1 Confirmed, 0 New Coffee 1 Confirmed, 0 New Fentress 1 Confirmed, 0 New Hardeman 1 Confirmed, 0 New Hardin 1 Confirmed, 0 New Henry 1 Confirmed, 0 New Houston 1 Confirmed, 0 New Lincoln 1 Confirmed, 0 New Marshall 1 Confirmed, 0 New McNairy 1 Confirmed, 0 New Meigs 1 Confirmed, 0 New Morgan 1 Confirmed, 0 New Obion 1 Confirmed, 0 New Rhea 1 Confirmed, 1 New Sequatchie 1 Confirmed, 1 New Unicoi 1 Confirmed, 0 New Union 1 Confirmed, 0 New Warren 1 Confirmed, 0 New Wayne 1 Confirmed, 0 New Weakley 1 Confirmed, 0 New White 1 Confirmed, 0 New A blood test to detect antibodies is underway. It will determine whether a person has been infected of COVID-19 or even if the person did not show any symptoms. The result will be over in 15 minutes by detecting the IgM and IgG antibodies. (Photo : Pixabay) An antibody test or a blood test to detect antibodies for the novel coronavirus is underway. It will determine whether a person has been infected with COVID-19 or if the person did not show symptoms. By detecting the IgM and IgG antibodies, the result will be available in 15 minutes. Similar tests may be widely used in the United Kingdom soon as 3.5 million antibody tests were ordered recently. David Weiner, director of the Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, and Charles Cairns, dean of the Drexel University College of Medicine relayed during an interview with Science News how antibody tests work and what the challenges in developing it are. How Do Antibody tests work? Antibody tests, according to Cairns, are used to detect if someone has been exposed to a specific antigen, like a virus. Antibody test looks for the presence of antibodies, the specific proteins developed in response to infections. Antibodies are normally found in the blood and other tissues of a person after an infection. The antibodies detected by this test would indicate that a person had an immune response to SARS-CoV-2, regardless of whether symptoms were developed from infection or the infection is asymptomatic. The tests are designed in two ways. One test detects human antibodies in blood using an antigen designed to be similar to a feature of the virus. Another test may detect the virus in the blood using a man-made antibody intended to trap the virus or pathogens. Diagnostic test or antibody test? Cairns said antibody tests differ much from the current diagnostics tests using RT-PCR tests. The RCT-PCR test uses a nasal swab or sputum to identify the specific viral RNA from the COVID-19 virus. It is the gold standard to know if one is currently infected. On the other hand, antibody tests only require a prick for a drop of blood, and a yes or no answer could be determined. It's either one that has had COVID-19 or not. The importance of antibody tests According to Weiner, people who have recovered do not need RT-PCR positive tests since they have already been cleared from the virus. Those who have recovered from COVID-19 will most likely have the antibodies necessary to protect them from reinfection. Weiner said they are screening for people that are currently infected. It is vital to find people who have recovered, however, to provide an understanding of the herd immunity. In Germany, plans for issuance of "immunity certificates" are underway. Such plans allow individuals to leave the country's coronavirus lockdown if they test positive for antibodies to the virus. Many positive tests in an area could allow governments to ease restrictions in places with "herd immunity." Bases of such decisions are from antibody tests. Priority for Antibody Testing According to Weiner, the first responders and health care workers should be screened first because they need to be confident enough to get back to work. Challenges of Antibody testing According to Cairns, challenges of antibody testing involves the development of a test kit that uses smaller amounts of sample, is faster, and is available outside the lab. Test that would yield accurate results and avoid both false positives and false negatives is a challenge. 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. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. 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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 Initiator of School Prayer Guidelines, A Professor, Calls for National Day of Repentance Sets Sunday, April 12th (Easter) as date NEWS PROVIDED BY William Jeynes March 31, 2020 HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., March 31, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Professor and Harvard graduate William Jeynes is organizing a National Day of Repentance for Easter, Sunday, April 12th. He is contacting governors to announce the proclamation for their states, and religious leaders to make the proclamation for their houses of worship and denominations. He is hopeful that President Trump will make the declaration for the country. Jeynes asserts, "Government leaders are trying to limit the number of coronavirus cases, and especially the number of deaths. Nevertheless, many experts are predicting that the number of deaths could exceed the number of Americans killed in the entire Vietnam War and perhaps even the Vietnam- and Korean- Wars combined. That is a tragedy no one wants. God is real and our nation's sins are many. As a nation, we need to call out to God and ask Him to intervene to help us and spare lives. The National Day of Prayer that President Trump proclaimed for this past March 15th was a major step in the right direction. However, we need to do more than that. In the Bible, for example, in Nehemiah Chapter 1, Nehemiah asked God to forgive the sins of the Israeli people. We need to do much the same for America." Dr. Jeynes, along with another colleague, were the ones who first wrote to Secretary DeVos, in early March 2017, asking that the Trump Administration update federal guidelines for prayer- and religious liberties- in the schools. In that request, Dr. Jeynes and his colleague wrote up the first draft of those guidelines. Trump signed the final draft on January 16th of this year. Jeynes adds, "Humans are spiritual beings and prayer as a nation reawakens us to the need for God in our lives. We need His love. We need to cry out to God to inspire us to act out of love. As a society, we have lost too much of our compassion toward the hurting and especially the unborn. When we lose our compassion, we also lose our humility and our ability to relate to others and their struggles. Yes, God may be angry at our self-centeredness, but whatever is going on spiritually we need to realize that we need Him. God created humans with the need to rely on Him. Even if we have run away from God, He will come running to us." Dr. Jeynes is a professor at California State University in Long Beach and a Senior Fellow at the Witherspoon Institute in Princeton. SOURCE William Jeynes CONTACT: 714-397-7763, whjharvard@post.harvard.edu 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 South Carolina this week joined the ranks of states mandating their residents to stay home to combat the coronavirus pandemic, leaving eight holdouts. The governors of those eight states have offered different reasons for their refusal to issue the kind of directives implemented across most of the nation, covering more than 310 million Americans. Some say the specific circumstances of their state dont merit such a mandate, others have advocated social responsibility instead, and yet others have expressed a preference for following the advice of their state officials. The governors do have one significant trait in common: Theyre all Republican. Of course, so is President Donald Trump, who has resisted calls for a national mandate that might send the strongest, most unambiguous message about the importance of social distancing to curb spread of the virus. Its not clear the president can actually supersede the governors authority in this area, but he could strengthen federal guidelines that stop short of directing citizens to remain at home except for essential activities. In the absence of such a command, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming continue to resist calls from some of the leading experts to issue a statewide lockdown. Why hasn't there been a national lockdown? Legal experts have said Trump doesnt have the authority to impose a national lockdown as the heads of countries such as Italy, Spain, France and Britain have done. But he does have some tools at his disposal, including the bully pulpit and the ability to restrict air travel between COVID-19 hot spots. Trump has pointed out some states havent had a large number of cases. Those tend to be sparsely populated states in the middle of the country, such as Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota. As of Thursday morning, none of them had as many as 400 cases, although the numbers were rising, especially in South Dakota. Story continues What do stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders mean? While some states have issued shelter-in-place orders, others are calling their directives stay-at-home orders. The mandates differ by location but generally require people to avoid all nonessential outings and stay inside as much as possible. They allow residents to continue performing tasks essential to the health and safety of family and pets. It's still fine to buy groceries, go for a run, walk the dog, pick up medicine, visit a doctor or get supplies to work from home. Federal guidelines give state and local authorities leeway in what they consider "essential" businesses during an emergency. But in general, those industries include grocery stores and food production, pharmacies, health care, utilities, shipping, banking, other governmental services, law enforcement, emergency services and news outlets. Here's what the mandates to fight off the coronavirus look like in each state as of Thursday: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued a stay-at-home order on April 3, which went into effect at 5 p.m. the next day. "I cant say this any more clearly#COVID19 is an imminent threat to our way of life, & you need to understand that were past urging people to stay home. It is NOW the law," Ivey said in a tweet announcing the order. Alaska The Last Frontier on March 27 implemented what it's calling a social distancing mandate, which is similar to a shelter-in-place order. Gov. Mike Dunleavy directed residents to stay at home and banned most travel within the state. Visitors to Alaska also have to self-quarantine. We crossed a line today for Alaska, Dunleavy said after the state's first death linked to the coronavirus. Arizona Gov. Doug Duceys "Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected" order, announced March 30, extends until April 30. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has directed residents not to gather in groups larger than 10 but has not forced them to stay in. I do not want to go to a shelter-in-place environment, said Hutchinson, who prefers what he called "a targeted approach.'' California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the nation's first statewide shelter-in-place order March 19 and identified 16 critical infrastructure sectors to remain open including those providing food, health care and energy. "This is a dynamic situation," Newsom said. "I don't expect this to be many, many months, but for the time being, we are recognizing the next eight weeks" as especially important. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on March 25 issued a statewide stay-at-home order that went into effect the next morning and was to run until April 11. It was later extended to April 26. The order stipulates that Coloradans should leave their homes only for "critical activities." "Now is the time to stay at home, Polis said. "You have the chance to be a hero and save thousands of lives by staying at home. The lives of many Coloradans hinge on your ability to be able to stay at home for the next couple weeks to the most of your ability ... Now is not the time to die." 'Not just a big city issue': Coronavirus cases soar in rural America popular with tourists Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced a "Stay Safe, Stay Home'' executive order March 22 that directed all nonessential businesses and not-for-profit entities to prohibit all in-person functions if possible. The order excludes essential business, such as health care, food service, law enforcement and similar critical services. The order recommended that people maintain social distancing, limit outdoor recreational activities to non-contact and limit the use of public transportation, among other items. However, some feel the directive doesn't go far enough. Delaware Gov. John Carney ordered residents of The First State to stay at home and closed nonessential businesseson March 24. Florida Two days after mandating that the residents of four hard-hit counties in the state's southeast stay at home, Gov. Ron DeSantis on April 1 relented and extended the order to the whole state. He had been under heavy pressure to do so. Before that, other counties had issued their own orders, and some of the states beaches closed their parking lots to discourage large gatherings. DeSantis has ordered visitors to the state from the New York metro area and Louisiana to self-quarantine for 14 days. The Florida Keys have closed to visitors. Georgia On April 1, Gov. Brian Kemp signed a stay-at-home order that would also keep schools closed through the end of the school year. Before that, the city of Atlanta and Cobb and Gwinnett counties had required residents to stay home. Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed a stay-at-home order March 23 that went into effect two days later, prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people. The order will be effective through April 30. Residents can leave home "only for essential activities or to engage in the essential businesses and operations." As long as social distancing is practiced, "ocean activities such as surfing and swimming" are also exempted. Coronavirus must-reads from USA TODAY: COVID-19 reader Q&A: We answer your most pressing questions The basics: What you need to know as the US becomes the new epicenter Investigation: How federal health officials misled state scientists and derailed the best chance at containment Idaho Gov. Brad Little on March 25 signed an "Order to Self-Isolate" that became effective immediately and will run for three weeks. The order exempts residents who need to leave for essential activities. Little also signed an "extreme emergency declaration" and mobilized the Idaho National Guard "to support civil authorities and local jurisdictions." Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a "stay-at-home" order March 20 that began the following day and was to last until at least April 7. It was later extended to April 30. All nonessential businesses must close, and all people who can work from home must do so, Pritzker said. All Illinois schools will stay closed until at least April 30. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the order "is not a lockdown or martial law." Pharmacies, grocery stores, clinics and airports remain open and garbage is being collected. Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb told residents on March 23 to stay at home until at least April 7, asking "Hoosiers to hunker down" in an executive order. The mandate, which has been extended to April 20 and could go beyond that, includes law-enforcement provisions. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has not mandated that Iowans stay home, saying an informal guidance that they do so is equivalent to an order, although it does not have law-enforcement power. Kansas After citing models that predicted a possible increase of local cases in Kansas to 900 over the following week, Gov. Laura Kelly signed an executive "stay home" order March 28. The order became effective March 30 and will run until April 19. It allows Kansans to leave their homes for essential activities. I know this is hard, and I cant tell you how much I wish it werent necessary, Kelly said. But we have a small window to ensure that Kansas does not suffer the same terrible fate of other hard-hit states like New York and Missouri." Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on March 25 signed an order encouraging residents to remain "Healthy at Home,'' which he later said amounts to a directive to remain in the house except for essential activities. While many medical facilities have complied with a request to cease elective procedures, it became a mandate starting March 30. He further tightened restrictions, and on March 30 signed an executive order telling Kentuckians they cannot travel outside the state with a few exceptions. If they do, they'll need to self-quarantine for 14 days. In Kentucky: Why the coronavirus couldn't have come at a worse time for reeling Appalachian Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a stay-at-home order March 22 for nonessential workers and businesses. The order went into effect the next day. All public schools and many businesses, such as bars and gyms, were already closed by previous executive orders, but the order expanded the closures. On March 30, he extended the order through at least April 30. Maine Gov. Janet Mills issued a stay-at-home order on March 31 that went into effect on April 2. Portland, the state's largest city, issued its own order on March 25. Maryland As part of a virtual shutdown of the capital region, which has a population of 15 million, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on March 30 tightened restrictions in ordering residents to stay home. Maryland has grappled with a major outbreak in one of its nursing homes. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on March 23 announced a stay-at-home advisory for all unnecessary activities. The order was to run until April 7 but was extended to May 4, as was the limit on gatherings to 10 people or less. Were asking everyone to use their common sense, think about the impact this virus is having on the sick and elderly, and to limit their interactions with other people,'' Baker said. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on March 23 signed a "Stay Home, Stay Safe'' executive order that runs through April 13. Violating the order is a criminal misdemeanor and could bring fines and also result in businesses being shut down. As of April 8, Michigan had the third largest number of both coronavirus cases and deaths in the country, so the order is almost certain to be extended. "We are not close to the apex yet,'' Whitmer said April 6. "We haven't hit that yet, and until we do it is absolutely essential that we're continuing to be aggressive, so I would anticipate an additional order probably in the next week." Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order March 25 that directed residents to stay in their homes and limit movement to essential activities. It was scheduled to run until April 10 before Walz extended it to May 4. The order was based on models released by the Minnesota Department of Health and University of Minnesota that predicted more than 70,000 residents could die if no action was taken. The measure has paid off with a low infection rate, but Walz said on April 8, We cannot rest easy. This thing can explode overnight if you dont take the proper precautions. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves had encouraged residents to stay home but did not mandate it until April 1, when he said at a news conference: "We know that there are some who still do not have a healthy fear of this virus. They are wrong, and they are risking lives if they do not take this very, very seriously. The day before, Reeves had issued such an order for Lauderdale County only. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson issued a statewide Stay Home Missouri order to run through April 24. Among its provisions, the order says residents "shall avoid leaving their homes or places of residence." It also closes schools, limits gatherings to 10 people and restricts the operations of non-essential businesses. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock issued an order March 26 that went into effect two days later, directing residents to stay at home and closing nonessential businesses. "I'd rather be accused of overreacting than having a health care system overwhelmed and unable to help our most-at-risk Montanans when they need it the most," Bullock said. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts on April 3 issued an updated directed health measure for the entire state. The order closes restaurant and bars' dining rooms, cancels classes at schools and imposes an 10-person limit on public gatherings, among other provisions. The current order will stay in effect until May 11. Ricketts has declined to mandate that all residents stay at home despite pleas from a large group of doctors in the state, but Dr. Anthony Fauci of the White House coronavirus task force said the governor's actions were "functionally equivalent.'' Nevada On April 1, Gov. Steve Sisolak changed his stay-at-home guidance to a directive, at the same time extending closures of schools and nonessential businesses to April 30. That meant the rally known as "Light Up Las Vegas," which was to feature a procession of cars down the Strip, was canceled. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu released an emergency order March 27 mandating the closure of all nonessential businesses and requiring Granite Staters to stay home. The order is expected to be in place until May 4. The state saw its first death from the virus just days before Sununu's order. New Jersey On March 21, Gov. Phil Murphy ordered residents to stay at home. He also canceled gatherings of any number, including parties, weddings and religious ceremonies. "We have to change our behaviors," Murphy said, adding the restrictions would not change "anytime soon" and could continue for weeks or months. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a public health order that called for nonessential businesses to be closed until at least April 10. She later extended the order through April 30 and included liquor stores, auto dealerships and payday lenders among those businesses not deemed essential. The order said residents "should stay at home and undertake only those outings absolutely necessary for their health, safety or welfare." The order also prohibits gatherings of more than four people. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced March 20 that all New York residents must stay home "to the maximum extent possible." Cuomo called the order the "New York State on PAUSE" plan, and it bans all nonessential gatherings of individuals "of any size for any reason." Residents can leave their homes for solitary exercise or to obtain essential services or items, including trips to the grocery store. Times Square in Manhattan was far emptier than usual for a Saturday afternoon March 21, 2020. Coronavirus concerns have closed almost all businesses and kept most New Yorkers indoors. North Carolina After some counties mandated that their residents stay home, Gov. Roy Cooper extended the order statewide on March 27. Calling the decision a matter of life or death, Cooper said the order will extend until April 29. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum shut down all nonessential businesses but has not ordered residents to stay in the house: Its not about staying home, its about avoiding contact, Burgum said. Most Indian reservations in the state have either imposed curfews or stay-at-home orders. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine imposed a mandate for Ohio's residents to stay at home, an order that went into effect March 23. The order has been extended to May 1 and will be reassessed as necessary, DeWine said. The order can be enforced by local health and law enforcement departments, the governor said. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitts Safer at Home order only applies to elderly people and those with immuno-deficiencies. However, mandates by the cities of Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Norman apply to all their residents. He also issued an order March 29 requiring travelers from six states New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Louisiana and Washington to self-quarantine for 14 days. At an April 1 news conference in which he announced new guidelines, Stitt was pressed about his refusal to direct all state residents to stay home and he said, In my opinion, I cannot shut things down and bunker in place. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown told residents on March 20 to stay home, calling the directive "both an order and a public awareness campaign." Three days later, Brown made it an official mandate. On (March 20), I frankly directed them to stay home,'' Brown said. "And now I am ordering them to stay home. Pennsylvania On March 23, Gov. Tom Wolf issued stay-at-home orders for seven counties in Pennsylvania that have been hit hardest, including the areas surrounding Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, its two largest cities. Philadelphia, Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Monroe and Montgomery are the affected counties. On April 1, the order went out for the whole state. On his verified Twitter account, Wolf had written that "residents must stay home unless someones life depends on leaving." Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo on March 28 ordered residents to stay at home until April 13, with some exceptions. Her order also restricts gatherings to no more than five people and requires two-week quarantines of visitors from other states. On April 7, Raimondo extended the order to May 8. South Carolina On April 6, Gov. Henry McMaster issued an order for residents to stay home or at work unless they're visiting family, exercising or obtaining essential goods or services. The order went into effect on April 7 and carries a penalty of up to 30 days in jail or a $100 fine for violators. McMaster had earlier made a recommendation that residents stay home but "too many people are not complying," he said. Retail stores that remain open are required to limit the number of people inside at one time. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has not imposed severe restrictions, but several cities and counties have taken action, including Sioux Falls and Huron. Noem has said she does not believe some of the limits applied to cities work well in smaller towns. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on March 30 followed the lead of the mayors of cities like Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville and issued a Safer at Home order that imposes restrictions on residents movement and requires nonessential businesses to close. Some smaller cities in the state had previously implemented similar orders. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had left decisions on stay-at-home restrictions to local governments rather than issuing a statewide edict, but on March 31 he signed an executive order that said residents should avoid leaving home for the next month except for essential activities. He declined to call it a stay-at-home order but acknowledged that's essentially what it is. The most populous counties in the state had already taken action, directing their residents to stay home. Among them: Dallas County, Harris County which includes Houston Bexar County which includes San Antonio, Collin County, El Paso County, Tarrant County, Austin and Hunt County. On March 29, Abbott expanded the states mandatory self-quarantine order for travel from coronavirus hot spots, including noncommercial road travel out of Louisiana. The expanded order also includes travelers on flights from Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago and anywhere in California and Washington state. Abbotts previous quarantine order applied to air travelers from airports in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Orleans. Light traffic flows on I-35 in downtown Austin on Sunday March 29, 2020, during the shelter in place order due to the coronavirus. Utah On March 29, Salt Lake County ordered a number of businesses closed and told residents to only venture outside the home for essential activities. There is no statewide mandate in place from Gov. Gary Herbert, who on March 27 issued a set of directives while also stating that they "are not to be confused with a shelter-in-place order.'' Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall has repeatedly called for such an order, tweeting on April 2: "Every county in the state relies on metropolitan hospitals for critical care needs. A statewide order is necessary to slow the spread everywhere so we dont overwhelm our hospitals.'' Vermont An order by Gov. Phil Scott requiring that residents stay home went into effect March 25. Scott said on April 3 that he intends to extend the directive beyond its original April 15 expiration date and add new restrictions. "As we head into the next few weeks, we need to be prepared for things to get worse before they get better," Scott said. "This is a once-in-a-century challenge.'' Virginia A week before joining forces with Maryland and Washington, D.C., in their stay-at-home decrees, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam had signed an executive order mandating all schools to be closed through the end of the academic year and many nonessential businesses to close for at least 30 days. The order has been extended to June 10. The order also banned any public or private gatherings of 10 or more people. "I have said repeatedly, Stay at home unless its essential that you go out,''' he said. Washington The Evergreen State became the first in the country to suffer an outbreak. On March 23, Gov. Jay Inslee signed an order that prohibits Washingtonians from leaving their homes except for essential tasks. This is a human tragedy on a scale we cannot yet project, Inslee said. Its time to hunker down in order to win this fight. West Virginia Though West Virginia was the last state in the U.S. to report a confirmed coronavirus case, Gov. Jim Justice issued a stay-at-home order March 23. The order also shut down all nonessential businesses and will last until a subsequent order terminates it. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed a "Safer at Home" order March 24, banning all nonessential travel. "Issuing a 'Safer at Home' order isnt something I thought wed have to do and its not something I take lightly, but heres the bottom line: Folks need to start taking this seriously," Evers said. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon said March 30 he doesnt plan to order residents to stay at home, as the number of cases in the state climbed near 100. It's now at 230. Gordon has shut down schools and several businesses through April 30. In an April 6 interview on Fox, Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso said state residents don't need an order to keep their distance: Remember that people are spread out here,'' he said. "We only have about five people per square mile. We have been socially distancing the entire 130 years that we have been a state. Contributing: Mike Snider, Lorenzo Reyes and Jordan Culver, USA TODAY; Ashley Balcerzak, NorthJersey.com; Bethany Bruner, The Columbus Dispatch; Greg Hilburn, Monroe (La.) News-Star; Sarah Ladd, Louisville (Ky.) Courier Journal. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders, by state 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. Bahrain's National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) has started granting private hospitals licence to provide medical care for active cases of Covid -19, who are asymptomatic and would like to receive treatment from a private hospital. The decision is in line with the directives of the governments Executive Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister. The licence also regulates the provision of private quarantine services for those arriving from abroad or those who have been in contact with active cases and have not yet tested positive, based on individuals desire and at their own expense, said a Bahrain News Agency report. Dr Mariam Adhbi Al-Jalahma, Chief Executive Officer of NHRA, noted that even though private sector hospitals have been licensed to treat active asymptomatic cases and oversee quarantine facilities, citizens, residents and visitors are still entitled to receive free Covid-19 treatment at the treatment and quarantine centres run by the Ministry of Health (MOH). Dr Mariam added MOH treatment and quarantine centres will remain open to meet surge capacity with current MOH treatment centre capacity standing at 1,667 beds of which 232 beds are occupied and current MOH quarantine centre capacity standing at 2,504 beds of which 215 beds are occupied. Additionally, the compartmentalised structure of MOH quarantine centres allows for quick conversion to treatment centres if required. The NHRA has granted the Middle East Hospital a licence to practice private medical services for active cases of Covid-19 who are asymptomatic at the Park Regis Hotel, increasing treatment capacity by 172 beds. Patients who are admitted will be supervised by a specialised medical team from the private hospital. Al-Jalahma further highlighted that individuals arriving from Covid-19 affected countries, or those who have interacted with active Covid-19 cases, and wish to be quarantined in a private facility will be able to do it at the Novotel Hotel, Muharraq, where they will be monitored by a specialised medical team from the Bahrain Specialist Hospital, increasing quarantine capacity by 160 beds. Dr Al-Jalahma added that a specialised medical team from the Middle East Hospital will temporarily convert the Best Western Hotel and Taj Plaza Hotel into private quarantine centres to provide another 260 private quarantine beds. She said active cases of Covid-19 who are asymptomatic and wish to be admitted and treated at a private hospital should call 444. Prince Harry should be enjoying some of the happiest times of his life right now with his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and young son, Archie Harrison. Just before Archie was born, Harry and Meghan were able to move to a newly renovated home in Windsor, England. But they didnt live there long. In early 2020, the royal couple made the unexpected announcement that they were resigning from their positions as full-time senior working royals. However, things reportedly got worse before they left the United Kingdom. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle faced brutal treatment from the British tabloids Ever since Meghan and Harry got together, Meghan has been harassed in the British tabloids. There were harsh news stories regarding her family drama, her background, and her position within the royal family. The Duchess of Sussex was portrayed in a negative light, and to say that she and Harry were upset would be an understatement. According to The Guardian, the situation continued to get more complex after Archie was born, and the royal couple felt that moving away from London was the best thing for them to do. Unfortunately, the treatment didnt stop even after they moved to Windsor. Not surprisingly, Meghan and Harry were angry, and they didnt keep quiet about the fact that they werent happy with royal life. Prince Harry always stood by Meghan Markle Prince Harry is a supportive husband, and it shows in his actions. He has always stood by Meghan and offered his full support, making it clear that he wouldnt stand for any negative treatment. According to USA Today, Harry has always gone out of his way to protect his wife, and there was even one point where he released a statement out of concern for her safety. Sadly, Harry knows all too well just how much pressure comes along with being a member of the royal family. He and Meghan said on more than one occasion that they value their privacy, and they just werent getting that in the United Kingdom. Understandably, Meghans safety was Harrys main concern. Prince Harry realized a move was best for his family, source claims Prince Harry | Adrian Dennis/Getty Images Us Weekly reports that Prince Harry came to the realization that Meghan was never going to be treated fairly. He knows she doesnt deserve all of the negative press that she had been receiving, and he wasnt just going to sit back and let it happen. When it became clear Meghan was never going to get a fair shake, Harry snapped, a source told Us Weekly. Hes adamant that it was his call to move to Canada. Harry felt this was a sure sign that the couple needed to go to North America, a place where they could feel comfortable and have some peace and quiet. LONDON, March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Theatre is proud to support The Old Vic in these unprecedented times by facilitating screenings of Endgame in a double bill with Rough for Theatre II for ticket holders of cancelled performances. Following the closure of The Old Vic in March 2020, with still two weeks of the run left, disappointed audiences who donated the cost of their ticket will now be able to experience filmed footage of this highly acclaimed production through Digital Theatre services. Online screenings are scheduled to be available on Wednesday 1, Thursday 9, Friday 17 and Saturday 25 April 2020 to those people. This unique partnership between Digital Theatre and The Old Vic comes from a shared desire to make the performing arts accessible to those that purchased a ticket in the last two weeks of the Endgame production and now cannot attend. In the absence of live performance on this occasion, the sense of a virtual community joining together to celebrate two collector's item Beckett productions, is heartening. Neelay Patel, Digital Theatre's CEO said, "At this critical time, when theatres across the country are closed, Digital Theatre wants to support the theatre industry as much as possible. We feel privileged to be in a position where we can help The Old Vic by giving them access to our technology and Endgame ticket holders access to our platform. Giving back to the arts is something that Digital Theatre+ has always done with royalty payments made to theatres, theatre producers, actors, musicians, creatives, production staff, writers (for written and AV content) and licensors. Working with The Old Vic, enabling access to Endgame in a double bill with Rough Theatre II for ticket holders of cancelled performances is just another example of our ongoing support." Gaining access to this film is an opportunity that has been permitted by the writer's estate, the acting company and Creative team in a rarely made decision, which has allowed The Old Vic to say a heartfelt thank you to those patrons helping who have chosen to help sustain the theatre by donating their ticket purchase price. As well as access to the archive filmed productions, ticket holders will be given free access to Digital Theatre for a 14-day period, a private video message of appreciation from the cast, and a free Friends membership for The Old Vic entitling them to Priority Booking valid for one year. The Old Vic is now working hard on plans to continue connecting with its audiences in new and inspiring ways during these unchartered circumstances - watch out for updates. About Digital Theatre Digital Theatre is a consumer online platform, which enables anyone to watch the world's finest theatre productions anywhere, anytime. People can subscribe for 9.99 a month or rent productions for 7.99 and get unlimited access to 100+ productions from world-leading theatre companies. Digital Theatre also has an education arm called Digital Theatre+ has offered free access to any Secondary, FE & HE educational institutions across the world at this time. If any education institution wants access please email education-info@digitaltheatre.com or call +44(0)20 3873 1330 (Europe), +1 646 652 0150 (Americas), +852 5808 0068 (Asia) Digital Theatre+ provides over 3 million students at 2,000+ institutions around the world, who have access to 1,200+ curriculum-linked resources including backstage insights, practitioner interviews, written analysis and 450+ productions. Press enquiries: For further information please contact Clair Porteous, Marketing Director for Digital Theatre, on Clair.Porteous@digitaltheatre.com or +44 (0)775-181-8171 A 29-year-old man has been charged after allegedly headbutting and spitting on a female police officer after he was ordered to leave a closed beach. Andrew Merryfull and a 19-year-old woman were told to leave Maroubra Beach, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, at about 11.20am on Monday, after the beach was closed due to the government's rules on social distancing. The pair allegedly shouted abuse at the lifeguards, who called the police. Officers stopped the couple on Mons Avenue, next to the beach, not long later. Andrew Merryfull, 29, and a 19-year-old woman were arrested after they allegedly shouted abuse at lifeguards when they were ordered to leave Maroubra Beach on Monday A number of beaches across the state have been closed to prevent mass gatherings. Pictured: Surfers cross a tape at Maroubra despite the beach being closed When police tried to arrest Merryfull, he allegedly headbutted and spat on a female sergeant, cutting her lip and leaving her with a lump on her head. The pair were arrested and the man has been charged with assaulting a police officer causing actual bodily harm, as well as resisting arrest, offensive behaviour and ignoring the order not to go on the beach. NSW BEACH CLOSURES: Maroubra Clovelly Malabar Gordons Bay Little Bay Frenchmans Bay Yarra Bay Bondi Mackenzies Bay Bronte Tamarama North Palm Beach Palm Beach Advertisement The woman was handed a criminal infringement notice for offensive behaviour and ignoring the order not to go on the beach. Merryfull appeared at Central Local Court on Monday and was refused bail. He was scheduled to reappear on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges and was released on conditional bail. He is due back in court on May 27. From Monday, all public gatherings of more than two people are banned and the police can issue fines to people who break the rules. NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, said police are in the frontline in the fight against coronavirus and deserve respect. 'I've had a gutful of people abusing, harassing and assaulting our hardworking police officers who put their own safety on the line every day to protect the very people who attack them,' Mr Elliott said. 'If you choose to ignore a direction from police one that is in place to save lives then you can expect to be issued with a hefty fine or jail time.' Police have been cracking down social distancing guidelines at beaches in NSW and Victoria after people continue to flout rules. Pictured: Officers order beachgoers at Brighton Beach in Melbourne to leave NSW Police Force Commissioner Mick Fuller said this type of behaviour won't deter police, who will continue to do their best to keep the community safe. 'Our officers are committed to community safety and will continue to enforce all ministerial directions aimed to stop the spread of COVID-19,' Commissioner Fuller said. 'If you choose not to comply with directions put in place to protect the community against this virus, you can expect to face the full force of the law.' Arnold Schwarzenegger made the most of California's increasingly empty roads while enjoying a bike ride in Santa Monica on Monday. With US residents cautiously self-isolating amid the global coronavirus crisis, the Hollywood star, 72, ensured he stayed fit by riding his heavy terrain mountain bike around the coastal city. Arnold, who recently donated $1million for supplies need in the fight against the potentially lethal virus, looked relaxed in a black windbreaker and matching bottoms during his latest outing. Here he comes: Arnold Schwarzenegger made the most of California's increasingly empty roads while enjoying a bike ride in Santa Monica on Monday The former Governor of California added to his look with a pair of slip-on deck shoes, while heavily tinted sunglasses rounded things off. His appearances comes after daughter Katherine's call for Los Angeles' multiple farmer's markets to be shut down during the current crisis was granted by the city's mayor, Eric Garcetti. Katherine had tweeted Mayor Garcetti after he urged local residents to focus on the Safer At Home guidelines. Plenty of room: With US residents cautiously self-isolating amid the global coronavirus crisis, the Hollywood star, 72, ensured he stayed fit by riding his heavy terrain mountain bike around the coastal city 'The farmers market in Brentwood still being open seems like a huge issue when it comes to social gatherings,' she wrote. Her comments came after photos of the crowded market shared by Ethan Klein went viral on social media on Sunday. While shoppers loaded up on fresh fruit and veg while wearing masks and gloves, and were spaced out, the market still bustled, with no crowd control measures visible. In Mayor Garcetti's ruling, he stated that the markets could reopen once they had established social distancing guidelines. Casual: Arnold, who recently donated $1million for supplies need in the fight against the potentially lethal virus, looked relaxed in a black windbreaker and matching bottoms during his latest outing 'We can't risk the spread of this disease,' he said, while acknowledging the markets seemed attractive in comparison to the cities grocery stores, which often had shoppers lining up outside. Arnold has also played his part in helping to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus by donating $1million to the Frontline Responders Fund. The former California Governor revealed his donation on Instagram on Thursday morning, asking his fans and followers to do the same. His plea has seemingly worked, with nearly $500,000 more donated to the fund since his original donation. Finishing touches: The former Governor of California added to his look with a pair of slip-on deck shoes, while heavily tinted sunglasses rounded things off 'I never believed in sitting on the couch and complaining about how bad things are, I always believed we should all do our part to make things better,' he began. 'This is a simple way to protect our real action heroes on the frontlines in our hospitals, and Im proud to be part of it. 'I donated 1 million dollars, and I hope that all of you who can will step up to support these heroes. Go to the link in my bio to help out.' Granted: His appearances comes after daughter Katherine's call for Los Angeles' multiple farmer's markets to be shut down during the current crisis was granted by the city's mayor, Eric Garcetti He linked to the GoFundMe page for the Frontline Responders Fund, which was created just one day ago and already has $3.3 million in donations. The fund was created by an organization called Flexport, which is 'focusing all its resources on, 'getting critical supplies to frontline responders combating COVID-19.' The fund is trying to supply hospitals around the world with masks, gowns, gloves and other critical supplies they need to fight the virus. People who attended a religious prayer meeting from March 13-15 at Markaz in the Nizamuddin area of Delhi were sent to Lok Nayak Hospital for coronavirus test on Monday night. After Delhi witnessed 87 coronavirus cases, Nizamuddin emerged as a hotspot after a religious meeting was held at Markaz by the Tableeghi Jamaat earlier this month, violated the lockdown conditions and several COVID-19 positive cases have been found among those who attended the gathering. There are 79 active cases of COVID-19 in Delhi as on Monday night, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. A 21-day lockdown is in force in the country as a measure to combat COVID-19. Six persons from Telangana who attended the religious prayer in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, have died of coronavirus, Telangana Chief Minister's office (CMO) said on Monday. The government appealed to all those who had attended the Markaz prayers in Delhi to inform the authorities. "All those, who went for the Markaz prayers in Delhi should inform authorities. The government would conduct tests and offer treatment to them free of cost. Anyone who has information about them should alert the government and authorities," the Medical and Health Department of Telangana stated in a statement. Two persons died in Gandhi Hospital while one each died in Apollo, Global Hospital, Nizamabad and in Gadwal. There are 69 active cases of COVID-19 in Telangana and the death toll has reached seven in the state. One person was discharged after being treated, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Monday. The Union Home Ministry said the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 32 and the number of total coronavirus cases to 1,251 as on Monday. There are 1117 active cases in the country with the state of Kerala contributing the highest number of cases which stands at 202. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chairman of ULMWP Benny Wenda claps to congratulate Vanuatu for supporting West Papua struggle while outgoing Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu looks on Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global retail e-commerce market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period, favored by growing digital dependency and convenient online shopping channels. E-commerce evolved amid a busy lifestyle and a plethora of options available to shop from the comfort of home. Convenience is the major factor driving the overall online shopping market growth. Moreover, lower prices compared to brick-and-mortar retail stores further attracted price-conscious customers to browse online. Customers can find their interested products by visiting the website and gain additional insights on various products. Shopping over the eCommerce website has multiple benefits, including multiple payments and goods options, home delivery, and easy return, among others. The simplified and user-friendly website allows easier navigation of various product categories with the help of the search system, thereby increasing the indulgence of the consumer. Moreover, eCommerce websites aided in reducing rush at stores, increasing the reach of retailers, and allowing "shop from anywhere" to the consumer with a hectic work schedule. Additionally, the door-step delivery further eradicated transportation or traveling trouble while websites remain active 24*7 for shopping. Online retail has made products more accessible to the consumer across the countries, which is proving vital in the 2020 global crisis due to Coronavirus pandemic. The severity of pandemic has affected the daily life of people across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Social distancing has been used as the most effective tool to across the country to stop the third stage of infection called "community spread'. Hence, governments have been imposing lockdown or curfew to restrict the movement of people on the street. However, the curfew situation has created panic among people regarding the fulfillment of their basic necessities, which led to overstocking of food and grocery items. Although the government has been allowing grocery and medical stores to operate for a stipulated time, the pandemic is restricting people from visiting crowded supermarkets. During the lockdown and self-quarantine period, the internet has played a crucial role in keeping people connected. The internet is being leveraged not only by the company to allow "Work From Home' (WFH) but also gives freedom to order online without venturing out of their home. The shopping on an eCommerce website is allowed by the government provided workers in warehouse's and delivery workers are taking care of the hygiene factor in the process of shopping. Get More Information @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/retail-e-commerce-market According to Quantum Metric, a predictive retail analytics company, the quarantine and limited movement imposed by the U.S. government during COVID-19 outbreak had led to a surge in online shopping across the numerous states of the U.S. While some of the retail category such as grocery, vegetable, and cleaning supplies among other may add to the growth of retail e-commerce market, other products such as sports, home service, clothing, and home decor among other would witness a major setback in the overall earning. For instance, a WSM business, Williams-Sonoma, Inc., had been benefitting from strong eCommerce growth and West ELM. However, its growth is being grappled by the growing case of Coronavirus, as the closing of the store is expected to weigh its margin. Some manufacturers are launching their products only through the online retail medium during this pandemic. For instance, Redmi canceled its launch event scheduled on March 12 and opted for an online-only launch to avoid gathering of people. Such strategies are probing the customers to buy products over the internet on account of the physical retail market absence. Furthermore, the spread of Coronavirus has affected the supply chain and operations of major mobile brands, including Apple, Oppo, Xiaomi, Huawei, and Samsung, among others. The retail e-commerce industry has been witnessing fraud through counterfeit goods delivery. Besides, online monetary transactions have allowed hackers to break into the website and get consumer information. The fraudulent activity and scams on the retail eCommerce website have further increased during the COVID-19 outbreak. Amazon called out over 1 million products with a fraudulent claim related to the cure of the virus. According to The Wall Street Journal report from cybersecurity firm Proofpoint, the emails containing mention of Coronavirus in a single mail has spiked since the outbreak across the world. Additionally, there are new websites scamming consumers in paying for the low-quality masks, personal protective equipment, and sanitizers, among others, or there is no delivery post online payment. The Indian market offers excellent opportunities for overall retail e-commerce market growth. Despite the large Indian population, only people residing in the metro or other main cities buy products through online sale channel. However, an increase in the mobile phone and internet banking use is expected to provide bright prospects to overall industry growth over the forecast period and during the COVID-19 crisis period. Furthermore, urbanization and smart city development have contributed to the westernized lifestyle, which is further changing the shopping pattern from traditional to online. India, along with other major countries spread across the Asia Pacific and Europe, is fighting the Coronavirus by practicing social distancing, as the country is under lockdown from March 25 to April 14. This is expected to increase online shopping for groceries and other necessities. Ecommerce companies have started catering life essential and niche products to consumers for the period until the countries recover from Coronavirus pandemic. Companies such as Amazon, eBay, Instacart, and Walmart WMT are witnessing decent growth as a consumer are hoarding on food and daily supplies. Other online grocery companies such as Grofers, and BigBasket's are witnessing humungous growth as their revenue double in the first two weeks of March. The eCommerce companies would be focusing on sustainable distribution while leveraging the opportunity to grow and gain an edge over competitors during the pandemic. The other eCommerce vendors would be waiting for the economy to revive so that the consumers can indulge in purchasing luxury & comfort items apart from just buying the products for survival. Access Research Report of Retail E-commerce Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/retail-e-commerce-market Evaluate Ltd., the leading provider of commercial intelligence and predictive analytics to the pharmaceutical industry, is delighted to announce today that it has completed an acquisition of Black Swan Analysis, a London-based consultancy specialising in asset valuations and epidemiology. The acquisition directly aligns with Evaluate's core strategy of providing complete and dynamic valuations of pharmaceutical assets, radically transforming client confidence in their strategic portfolio decisions. Nic Talbot-Watt, Chief Executive Officer of Black Swan Analysis said: "Evaluate is known as a key leader in providing innovative data solutions to the pharmaceutical industry. It's fantastic to be a part of an organisation with a track record of success and an exciting growth trajectory. Our mantra has always been to bring valuable insight and high-quality solutions to our clients, and I know that fully aligns with Evaluate's strategy." Founded in 2007, Black Swan Analysis ("Black Swan") is a consultancy that provides analyses, valuations, commercialisation plans, and strategic insight to companies in the healthcare industry, with a strong focus on bespoke epidemiology and segmentation. Additional core competencies include asset valuation, modelling and market forecasting, and portfolio and lifecycle optimisation. As the pharmaceutical industry continues to invest in innovative, life-altering therapeutics, forward-looking insights into patient populations, unmet needs, and market dynamics remain critical to our client's strategic decision making process. By integrating Black Swan's industry leading, highly granular databases with the latest in data science and technology, Evaluate strengthens its position to deliver an even wider range of offerings to support our clients. Deborah Kobewka, Chief Executive Officer of Evaluate Ltd. said: "Black Swan demonstrates sector-leading capabilities in a number of fields, most notably epidemiology. We've known and admired their work for many years, and recognised these quality services will help further advance Evaluate's mission. Nic and the team bring highly specialised knowledge and exceptional talent to Evaluate, which directly benefits our clients. It's with great excitement that we expand our business and further optimise our portfolio of solutions. We're delighted to welcome the whole Black Swan family to Evaluate." About Evaluate Ltd. Evaluate provides trusted commercial intelligence for the pharmaceutical industry and their advisors. Our Evaluate platform offers unique and dynamic insights into asset risk and value alongside a seamless, comprehensive view of the pharmaceutical portfolio landscape Vantage our award-winning, independent editorial team provides thought-provoking news and insights into current and future industry developments. Evaluate has been a partner to industry-leading organisations for over 20 years. For more information on how we give our clients the time and understanding to drive better decisions, visit www.evaluate.com. Follow us on Twitter: @EvaluatePharma, @Vantageanalysis About Black Swan Analysis Black Swan Analysis Ltd is a London-based consultancy specializing in asset valuations and epidemiology. They have a global client base which includes Top 25 pharmaceutical companies as well as biotech and tech transfer offices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005760/en/ Contacts: Media: Evaluate Ltd. Jennifer Dinkel +1 (617) 936-7783 jennifer.dinkel@evaluate.com Tunisia's President Kais Saied on Tuesday ordered the release of 1,420 prisoners in an amnesty to combat the spread of the coronavirus in prisons, a presidency statement said. Tunisia has declared a general lockdown to slow infection rates, and has confirmed 362 cases of the coronavirus, with nine deaths. The government said in a separate statement that it would provide food assistance to thousands of families in their homes, starting Friday, for a period of about two months. Saied last week ordered the army to deploy in the streets to force people to respect the lockdown. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. WASHINGTON The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus is asking for permission to isolate the bulk of his roughly 5,000 crew members on shore, which would take the warship out of duty in an effort to save lives. In a memo to Navy leaders, the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt said the spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating, and said that removing all but 10% of the crew is a necessary risk in order to stop the spread of the virus. The ship is docked in Guam. U.S. Navy leaders on Tuesday were scrambling to determine how to best respond to the extraordinary request as dozens of crew members tested positive. We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset our sailors, said its Navy Capt. Brett Crozier, in a memo obtained by The Associated Press. A U.S. Navy official said Crozier alerted commanders on Sunday evening of the continuing challenges in isolating the virus. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said Crozier wants more isolated housing for the crew and that Navy leadership is reviewing options to ensure the health and safety of the crew. Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told CNN that they are doing the best they can to adjust on the fly and take care of sailors on the carrier. The key is to make sure that we can get a set of crew members that can maintain all those critical functions on the ship, make sure that theyre clean, and then get them back on while we clean the ship and get the other crew members off, he said. In Asia, a carrier presence is central to what the Pentagon has identified as a fundamental shift from fighting insurgent and extremist conflicts in the Middle East to a return to great power competition. That means, principally, a bigger focus on China, including its militarization of disputed areas of the South China Sea. The outbreak on the carrier may be the Navys most dramatic, but it tracks an accelerating upward trend across the military. The Pentagon said the number of cases in the military reached 673 on Tuesday morning, a jump of 104 from the day before and up from 174 a week ago. Since March 20, the total has surged tenfold, even as the Pentagon has taken many steps to try to limit the spread, including halting nearly all movement of troops overseas. The carrier, like other Navy ships, is vulnerable to infectious disease spread given its close quarters. The massive ship is more than 1,000 feet long; sailors are spread out across a labyrinth of decks linked by steep ladder-like stairs and narrow corridors. Enlisted sailors and officers have separate living quarters, but they routinely grab their food from crowded buffet lines and eat at tables joined end-to-end. Listing many of those problems, Croziers memo, which was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, warns that the close quarters means that thousands of sailors now require quarantine. He said sailors have been moving off the ship into shore-based quarters, but much of that is also not adequate. He said much of the off-ship locations available so far are group quarantine sites, and already two sailors housed in an auditorium have tested positive for the virus. To stop the spread of the virus and prevent death, Crozier said they must take a methodical approach, move the majority of the sailors off the ship, isolate them and completely clean it. He said about 10 percent of the crew would have to stay on board to secure the vessel, run critical systems and sanitize everything. While that may seem like an extraordinary measure, he said it is a necessary risk. It will enable the carrier and air wing to get back underway as quickly as possible while ensuring the health and safety of our sailors, Crozier said, adding that finding appropriate isolation for the crew will require a political solution but it is the right thing to do. Modly told CNN that efforts are underway to help the ship, while also ensuring that the Navy and the U.S. military continue to protect the country. This is a unique circumstance, he said. And were working through it and trying to maintain that proper balance to ensure that our friends and allies, and most importantly our foes and adversaries out there, understand that we are not standing down the watch. ___ AP National Security writer Robert Burns contributed to this report. Coastal communities want "selfish" Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra residents flocking to beachside boltholes to ride out the coronavirus pandemic to stay away. Local mayors have warned their health services will be overrun if holidaymakers, turning up in increasing numbers in the lead-up to the Easter break, don't heed Prime Minister Scott Morrison's call for people to halt all unnecessary domestic travel. Coastal towns are worried visitors could help spread the coronavirus, putting extra pressure on their health services. Credit:Kate Geraghty Shoalhaven mayor Amanda Findley said it was "freaking ridiculous" that people were relocating to her local government area, a popular holiday spot for Canberrans and Sydneysiders. "We don't have the resources to handle it if our population explodes with the disease," Ms Findley said. "We are seeing it all over towns and villages, people turning up and having a good time. It's been very visible. Restrictions on highway travel from Louisiana went into effect with a soft touch on Monday. Traffic flowed freely in both directions across the Sabine River at the regions three border crossings. A day after Go. Greg Abbotts executive order requiring travelers from Louisiana to self-quarantine for 14 days upon entry, the Texas Department of Public Safety acknowledged in a statement that it had no plans to set up law-enforcement checkpoints for drivers. The DPS said it would instead be increasing our patrols in these areas. At the busiest crossing, on Interstate 10 in Orange County, a few DPS cruisers were parked outside the Texas Travel Information Center on the first exit west of Louisiana. Troopers answered questions from drivers about the travel restrictions. No DPS presence was spotted on U.S. 82 at the Sabine Lake Causeway Bridge, which connects Port Arthur to Louisiana, or on the U.S. 12 border crossing in Deweyville. Related: PA nursing center employee positive as coronavirus tally doubles from Friday On I-10, truck driver Butch Robichaux questioned how well the patrol efforts will work. Commercial truckers are exempted from the restrictions, as are travelers in military service, health or emergency response efforts and critical infrastructure functions. I was curious about it and I was thinking about how theyre going to enforce it for people who are just driving through Texas, Robichaux said. I dont think its really going to work. Abbotts order instructed travelers entering the state by road to fill out a form with their quarantine location and contact information. Although it was unclear how those travelers are supposed to submit the forms, violation of the order is considered a criminal offense punishable by up to a 1,000 fine, 180 days in jail, or both. Related: Most Southeast Texas schools extend closures Yet in Southeast Texas, where cross-border commerce is critical to many small businesses, some worry about the potential impact of a stronger crackdown on travel from the east. Musa Ahsan, who manages a convenience store in Deweyville just down the road from the border, estimates roughly 30 percent of his business comes from Louisiana customers. The store was busy Monday, although the coronavirus outbreak has already led to reduction in hours for the staff. If they actually closed off that Louisiana border, it would really hurt us, Ahsan said. Shared waterway borders between Texas and Louisiana seemed largely unaffected as well on Monday. Many boat ramps at Toledo Bend Reservoir remained open. Cars and pickups with Louisiana license plates sat parked at the docks. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox Abbotts order signed Sunday followed a previous order that had imposed the same quarantine requirement on air travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California or Washington, or from the cities of Miami, Atlanta, Detroit or Chicago. Louisiana has become a hot spot for the novel coronavirus, with more than 3,500 positive cases statewide, resulting in more than 150 deaths. Taylor Goldenstein and Nicole Hensley contributed. mfaye@beaumontenterprise.com jorge.ramos@beaumontenterprise.com Queensland should legalise voluntary assisted dying for terminally ill adults, the government's health committee has found. An investigation to gauge public opinion on voluntary euthanasia has determined most Queenslanders are in favour of it. Currently, there's no option for terminally ill Queenslanders to get help to die. The committee found that every four days in Queensland, a terminally-ill person takes their own life. 'This must stop,' committee chair and Labor MP Aaron Harper wrote in a report tabled in parliament on Tuesday. 'Suicide should never be the only option for Queenslanders suffering at end of life. Queensland should legalise voluntary assisted dying for terminally ill adults, the government's health committee has found. Members of the Queensland Government Health Committee (L-R) Barry O'Rourke, Joan Pease, Aaron Harper, and Michael Berkman front a press conference in Brisbane 'This is just one of the many reasons the majority of our committee chose to support a recommendation for more choice for people suffering from an advanced progressive or neurodegenerative condition, through access to a voluntary assisted dying scheme.' A sample bill has already been draft by Queensland University of Technology Professors Ben White and Lindy Wilmot. The committee of parliamentarians recommended euthanasia be limited to Australian citizens or permanent residents in Queensland with the capacity to make decisions. To be eligible, patients must be diagnosed with an advanced or progressively terminal chronic or neurodegenerative condition that cannot be eased. Those with a mental health illness should not be ruled out, so long as they can make decisions. Time frames for a person's assisted death should not be proposed, the committee recommended, in recognition of the complex, subjective and unpredictable nature of terminal illnesses. A sample bill has already been drafted by Queensland University of Technology Professors Ben White and Lindy Wilmot. 'It's an excellent bill,' Dying with Dignity Queensland president Jos Hall said. Advocates want to see voluntary assisted dying legislated before October's state election, but understand the response to COVID-19 takes priority. 'It needs to be dealt with as a matter of priority at the first available opportunity,' Ms Hall said. 'Knowing that over 80 per cent of Queenslanders support voluntary assisted dying, regardless of who forms the next government, we would like to see this dealt with. 'We would be pleased to work with whichever party forms government if this is not dealt in this parliamentary term.' Queensland Parliament has been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak. - Together with Futur/io, Wirecard launches the 'Innovation for Now' platform where merchants can find assistance packages from leading companies like SAP and Wirecard - Wirecard offers a range of low-cost solutions for affected merchants that want to implement digital solutions quickly and easily - The simple online payment solution Pay-by-Link now enables every merchant to receive payments in real time via smartphone, even without an own online shop ASCHHEIM, Germany, March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Wirecard, the global innovation leader for digital financial technology, is launching an initiative to support businesses of all sizes and industries: Together with Futur/io, Wirecard is launching the 'Innovation for Now' platform where merchants can find assistance packages from leading companies like SAP and Wirecard. The aim of the initiative is to bundle the offerings of all major tech companies in Germany and make them more easily accessible to merchants affected by COVID-19. The initiative includes discounted or free use of digital payment solutions, and a rapid product integration. Part of the offering includes use of the Pay-by-Link solution at no cost, which enables every merchant to receive digital payments in real time, even without an online shop. "We are calling on leading companies to actively participate in our 'Innovation for Now' initiative," said Jorn Leogrande, Executive Vice President Innovation Labs and Value Added Services at Wirecard. "Now, more than ever, it is important that we act together, and combine and share our knowledge." "We welcome this joint initiative by Futur/io and Wirecard," added Stefan Schoepfel, Vice President SAP Services. "SAP is pleased to contribute with the aim of helping businesses better master the challenges COVID-19 presents. Our offer is aimed at businesses of all sizes, and is available to both current and new customers." Here is the complete Wirecard offer at a glance: https://www.wirecard.com/support-package Pay-by-Link free for European merchants Pay-by-Link is ideal for businesses of all kinds. The solution enables them to offer customers digital payment options despite not having an online presence, or in addition to it. Restaurants or bakeries, for example, can use the solution to set up an 'order ahead' service. The payment link can be emailed or texted, for example via WhatsApp, before the item or service is delivered, securing the payment for the business and eliminating the handling of cash altogether. 360-degree online shop solution Checkout Portal is ideal for merchants that want to have an online presence across Europe as soon as possible. With Checkout Portal, merchants can offer customers convenient and secure payment via a wide range of payment methods. Checkout Portal works with all major shop systems; merchants can receive the corresponding shop extensions from Wirecard. Checkout Portal is available immediately free of charge for the first six months. Wirecard also offers free consulting and workshops on optimizing merchants' online presence. Small retailers in Germany and Austria can also make use of the SUPR shop solution. As part of the Wirecard initiative, merchants can use SUPR free of charge for the first six months. State of the art payment terminals In addition, Wirecard offers merchants who rely on face-to-face interactions the use of a Smart POS terminal. The state of the art terminal is powered by the leading Android operating system, and enables end-customers to make secure and contactless payments. Wirecard will provide merchants with the Smart POS terminal free of charge for the first six months. Innovation for Now Via the online platform InnovationForNow, companies can exchange information, learn about assistance packages, and collectively find ways to innovatively adapt their business models to the COVID-19 crisis. The platform is part of the initiative under the same name, which was launched together with Futur/io. Under the motto Helping people help themselves, other companies are invited to follow the initiative and share their COVID-19 offerings. SAP is already a partner. The initiative of Wirecard and Futur/io is based on innovation. With the 'Innovation for Now' platform, the aim is to find practical solutions and create new initiatives in order to provide concrete and long-term assistance in the form of expertise, services and other offerings. These include solutions for connected working, home office and other digitalization offerings. About Wirecard: Wirecard (GER:WDI) is one of the world's fastest growing digital platforms in the area of financial commerce. We provide both business customers and consumers with a constantly expanding ecosystem of real-time value-added services built around innovative digital payments by using an integrated B2B2C approach. This ecosystem concentrates on the areas payment and risk, retail and transaction banking, loyalty and couponing, data analytics and conversion rate enhancement in all sales channels (online, mobile, POS). Wirecard operates regulated financial institutions in several key markets and holds issuing and acquiring licenses from all major payment and card networks. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (DAX and TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060). Find out more at www.wirecard.com . About Futur/io: Futur/io is an institute that focuses on exponentially growing technologies and a desirable future, and additionally offers leadership training. The "Faculty" is led by various experts from the research and science fields, and industry. About SAP: As the Experience Company powered by the Intelligent Enterprise, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software, helping companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: 77% of the world's transaction revenue touches an SAP system. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers' businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want - without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables more than 440,000 business and public customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people's lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com. Wirecard media contact: Wirecard AG Jana Tilz Tel.: +49(0)89-4424-1363 Email: jana.tilz@wirecard.com SriLankan Airlines uplifted a consignment of medical aid from Shanghai, China on March 28. This was a donation made by the Sri Lankan community in China through the Consulate Generals of Sri Lanka in Guangzhou and Shanghai, facilitated by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in China. The consignment contained essential medical items such as masks, protective clothing, goggles, face protection splashguards, nebulizers, pulse oximeters, thermometers and glucometers, which will be handed over to the Sri Lankan health authorities to be distributed among state hospitals for the benefit of medical staff tirelessly serving in the countrys battle against Covid-19 pandemic. Ever since the global outbreak, SriLankan Airlines has been fulfilling a pivotal humanitarian role through facilitating passage home to many Sri Lankan citizens across the globe, which includes the relief flight operated from Wuhan and ferry flights from India that brought over 800 stranded pilgrims back to the island. The airline will continue to reach out where assistance is required in the countrys collective endeavour to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. - TradeArabia News Service By Lawrence Delevingne BOSTON (Reuters) - Billionaire trader Steven A. Cohen is cautioning the staff of his investment firm, Point72 Asset Management, to remain cautious amid markets that have recovered slightly from coronavirus-driven lows. "Markets don't come back in a straight line; after an earthquake there are tremors," Cohen wrote to staff on Friday in an internal memo seen by Reuters. "We need to continue to be disciplined. We are seeing plenty of opportunities to generate returns, but I don't want us taking undue risks." Cohen also wrote that his $16 billion firm's returns are "essentially flat for the year," a result that "speaks to how well our investment professionals have managed risk in such a challenging environment." Point72 is best known for stock market investments, its core hedge fund strategy, although it also bets on other securities following a so-called macro style, which involves global wagers on lots of asset classes at once based on macroeconomic trends. Cohen's market view appears to have made its way to the highest levels of U.S. government: He last week participated in a conference call with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, according to a person familiar with the situation. What specifically the Republican donor told Trump and Pence was unclear. Reuters previously reported that the call was to discuss the U.S. economy, the Federal Reserve and other issues, according an administration official. Others on the call included Dan Loeb of Third Point LLC, Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone Group, Robert Smith of Vista Equity Partners, Paul Tudor Jones of Tudor Investment Corp and Ken Griffin of Citadel. Cohen's role has not previously been reported. Institutional Investor recently estimated that Cohen made $1.3 billion in 2019 following a 14.9% gain in Point72's main hedge fund. Point72, based in Stamford, Connecticut, was previously known as S.A.C. Capital Advisors. Other large so-called multi-strategy hedge funds that use teams of traders have also posted relatively strong performance deep into March. They include the Millennium USA fund, which is up 0.17% for the year through Friday, according to a person familiar with the returns, and Citadel's Wellington fund, which is also slightly positive for the year. (Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne; Editing by Steve Orlofsky) An elderly German-Danish couple have been meeting at their countries' closed border for a daily drink amid the coronavirus lockdown. Karsten Tuchsen Hansen, 89, from Germany and his 85-year-old Danish girlfriend Inga Rasmussen - who have been together for two years - are now cut off from each other after their countries locked down due to the coronavirus pandemic. The couple, who have spent almost every day together for the past year, meet daily near the border town of Aventoft, to sit down for a cup of coffee, Geele Kom - a local spirit, or just some biscuits and a chat. Karsten Tuchsen Hansen (right) and the Danish Inga Rasmussen are sitting at the German-Danish border crossing. Because of the corona virus the couple are unable to visit each other Mr Hansen and Ms Rasmussen chat and drink coffee across the red and white divide of a border crossing between Germany and Denmark in Aventoft, Germany The couple, pictured, would usually hug and kiss but are maintaining safe-distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak in Germany and Denmark The couple would normally hug and kiss but due to safe-distancing rules, they have to be content enjoying a toast to love with their drinks. The pair hope that once restrictions are lifted they may be able to travel again, Deutsche Welle reported. Danish authorities restricted public assembly to 10 or fewer people and shut all borders to most foreigners on 11 March, one of the first European countries to do so. Pictured: A locator map shows the Mllehus border crossing, near the town of Aventoft, in Germany Germany soon followed suit on 16 March, closing all borders even to travellers from within the 26-country Schengen free travel zone. Similar restrictions have been implemented across Europe, with borders now popping up where they haven't been seen for 35 years. 'It's sad, but we can't change it,' Ms Rasmussen told Deutsche Welle. The couple, pictured, who have spent almost every day together for the past year, meet each day near the border town of Aventoft, to sit down for a cup of coffee, or Geele Kom, a local spirit, or just some biscuits and a chat The octogenarian couple shot to fame after a local mayor rode past them while getting a break from isolation on his bike. 'On today's bike ride I laid the way past Mllehus border,' said Mayor of Tonder Henrik Fredsen,. 'This is where I met these two lovely people. She, 85 years old and lives in Gallehus. He, 89 years old and lives in Suderlugum. They've gotten to know each other at a late age and usually visit each other every day. 'Now they meet halfway at the blocked border. Let us stand together during this difficult time and find solutions together.' One of the biggest contribution that came was from Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar. The actor donated a huge sum of Rs 25 crores to the PM-Cares fund to help the government in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The actor took to his twitter to announce the same, he wrote, This is that time when all that matters is the lives of our people. And we need to do anything and everything it takes. I pledge to contribute Rs 25 crores from my savings to @narendramodi jis PM-CARES Fund. Lets save lives, Jaan hai toh jahaan hai. AAAAAAAA Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar pledged to donate Rs 25 crore to the PM-Cares fund in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic yesterday. The nation is under a 21-day lockdown period and everyone is under self-quarantine to curb the spread of the Corona Virus. During these difficult times that the country is going through right now, a lot of celebrities have come forward and made donations to the government to help the nation survive through this crisis. This is that time when all that matters is the lives of our people. And we need to do anything and everything it takes. I pledge to contribute Rs 25 crores from my savings to @narendramodi jis PM-CARES Fund. Lets save lives, Jaan hai toh jahaan hai. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA https://t.co/dKbxiLXFLS Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) March 28, 2020 Akshay Kumar not only received an applaud from the Prime Minister but he also received a lot of praise from within the industry. Calling Akshay a true hero, actor R. Madhavan took to twitter to appreciate Akshays gesture. He wrote, Fantastic Sirji.. you are a True hero and such an Icon for all of us.. Hats off and Huge huge admiration and Respect. Fantastic Sirji.. you are a TRUE HERO.. and such an Icon for all of us.. Hats off and HUGE HUGE ADMIRATION AND RESPECT. https://t.co/CK1opLoAHW Ranganathan Madhavan (@ActorMadhavan) March 28, 2020 Akshays wife, Twinkle Khanna also praised him for his kind gesture. She said, The man makes me proud. When I asked him if he was sure as it was such a massive amount and we needed to liquidate funds, he just said, I had nothing when I started and now that I am in this position, how can I hold back from doing whatever I can for those who have nothing. The man makes me proud. When I asked him if he was sure as it was such a massive amount and we needed to liquidate funds, he just said, I had nothing when I started and now that I am in this position, how can I hold back from doing whatever I can for those who have nothing. https://t.co/R9hEin8KF1 Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) March 28, 2020 Bollywood celebrities like Kriti Sanon and Amaal Mallik also applauded the actor for his kind gesture. (Photo : Screenshot from Twitter of @voiceoftimes) (Photo : Screenshot from Twitter of @EalingLibs) As fake news about the coronavirus tends to spread faster than the legitimate sources can even get one hit. There is now an app that can counter this that is approved by the government to help fight misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic that is plaguing our world right now. Read More: FDA-Approved! Americans Can Now Benefit From Abbott's Five-Minute Lab-In-A-Box COVID-19 Test What About The App NewsGuard, the name of the tool to fight the spread of disinformation can be downloaded to your desktop or your mobile device. It has a trust rating of over 95% and can get frequent updates on the trending misinformation that is being spread all around the world, so you would know that the stories or news published is false. The government has endorsed this online tool as well because of the much-needed since it will be difficult for them to fight a two-pronged war with the coronavirus pandemic as well as the spread of misinformation. The tool works by identifying the sites that may be publishing dangerous lies; the trust rating of 95% comes from 4,000 news services all around the globe. Why is it Free Now? Already NewsGuard has identified over 140 publishing websites that are focused on publishing fake news from the COVID-19 pandemic. NewsGuard had also said that libraries across the UK were using its services to help their members navigate through the information before the outbreak became a thing. Since libraries are now closed over the response of the pandemic, the company has far removed all of its firewalls to make its services free for public use which significantly helps people be informed better. As well as make sure that what they are sharing is as accurate as possible and not adding to the lies of fake news regarding the pandemic. Read More: Scientists Say That the Coronavirus Could Still Be Contagious For Up to Eight Days Even After Patient Have Recovered NewsGuard works by a red or green dot next to the news link on search engines and social media feeds; this includes Google, Bing, Facebook, Reddit, and Twitter where most information circulates rapidly. Oliver Dowden, a Digital secretary, had this to say, "We need people to follow the advice of our medical experts so we can protect the NHS and save lives. But false or misleading information about coronavirus shared online could undermine our efforts. "This very welcome move by Newsguard will give people a free and effective tool helping them access trustworthy news sources during these challenging times." Dowden has previously repeated calling for social media users to do their part in deterring the spread of fake news especially when it is coronavirus related because it will only cause more panic and fear than the world needs right now. People should be using their brains rationally and not panic over things that are not true. He recommended as well to adopt advice that is issued by trusted sources like the Centre for Countering Digital Hate or CCDH. Read More: The Amount of COVID-19 You Are Infected With Can Dictate If You WIll Suffer From Mild or Severe Symptoms. Here's How. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-01 06:03:04|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close An old man walks his dog at a park in Plano, Texas, the United States, April 1, 2020. Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday extended the social distancing protocols through the end of April to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Dan Tian/Xinhua) HOUSTON, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday extended the social distancing protocols through the end of April to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Essential Services and Activities Protocols, all Texans must minimize non-essential gatherings and in-person contact with people who are not in the same household until April 30. According to the governor's announcement, the Executive Order includes instructing Texans to avoid eating or drinking at bars and restaurants. Schools will remain temporarily closed to in-person classroom attendance through May 4, said Abbott. Essential activities like grocery shopping and banking are permitted as long as people keep their distance of at least six feet apart, which also applies to outdoor physical activities. "Social distancing is our best tool in the fight against COVID-19, and the actions we have taken thus far have proven to be effective in limiting the spread of this virus," said Abbott. The announcement came as the state confirmed at least 3,266 COVID-19 cases, including 41 deaths. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Tuesday also extended the "Stay Home, Work Safe" order to April 30. The initial order will expire this Friday. People in Harris County, where Houston is located, are required to remain at home unless essential business needs to be conducted. Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said at a press briefing that the decision of extending the "Stay Home" order was made upon the unanimous advice of health care officials. (CNN) Workers across the country are getting settled into their new home offices. More than half the US population has been ordered to stay at home, which means there are a lot of remote-work novices trying to figure out the most efficient and comfortable way to work. For some, that means spending a lot more time in their existing home office, while others are setting up shop at their kitchen table, couch or even using an ironing board as a standup desk. And since there's a good chance we won't be returning to work for a while, it's worth putting a little effort into making your space comfortable and conducive to getting the job done. Find your space While any flat surface could work as a desk, you want to look for a space that is somewhat secluded and quiet. Look for spaces that offer easy access to outlets and good lighting. There's bonus points if it's by a window. "A window not only for the light, but also fresh air," said Kerrie Kelly, an interior designer and chair-elect for the American Society of Interior Designers. "When we are hunkered down in this way, we don't realize how beneficial that vitamin D and fresh air truly is." In addition to a window, aim to have two sources of lighting, recommended Stephanie Kennedy, a national retail market manager with Room & Board. "Overhead lighting and then a desk lamp to give you more direct light on your surface and keyboard," she said. "It can be straining on your eyes to look at monitors all day, and if you don't have the right light it causes more strain." Try and keep work materials organized to avoid having work seep everywhere into your home. "You don't want to drag work into the living room or other places you are trying to relax in," said Kelly. Get your body right It doesn't matter if you are sitting at a proper office desk or your makeshift office in the corner of your living room -- how you sit and position your computer is important. "If your body is aching at the end of day or hour, it is trying to tell you something," said Kristianne Egbert, a certified professional ergonomist. When choosing your work surface, look for one that is close to elbow height when you are seated. If the surface is too high, you can use a folded towel, blanket or pillow to increase your height. And pay attention to how you sit. Chair: If possible, sit in a chair over the more tempting couch or bed. Try and keep your thighs parallel to the floor and make sure your feet rest on the floor or some sort of footrest (a box is fine). Elbows: Try and keep your elbows close to your side with your forearms parallel to the floor, creating a 90-degree angle between the upper arm and lower arm, Egbert said. Get the right hardware The position of your screen, keyboard and mouse are important. If you're using a PC, you want the monitor to be about an arm's length away with the top third of the screen at eye level, according to Egbert. Laptop users should safely prop up the device so the screen is at eye level. If possible, experts suggested using an external keyboard and mouse -- that will allow you to prop up a laptop to eye-level. You want your keyboard in front of you with the mouse next to it so your elbows are below your shoulders and your elbows are around 90 degrees, according to Ellen Kolber, corporate ergonomic consultant and hand therapist Listen to the aches and pains Your body will give you clues if you need to readjust your home office. For instance, according to Egbert, if your neck is stiff at the end of the day, that usually signals there's an issue with your screen. "You want whatever screen you are looking at directly in front of you, around an arm's reach away and at eye-level," she said. Back pain also means you might need to readjust. If your upper back is sore, Egbert said it could mean your monitor is too far away and you are leaning forward or reaching too much for the keyboard or mouse. "When you see the hunching position, try and bring your shoulders back in line." Lower back aches tend to signal you aren't maintaining the natural lumbar curve in your back. If there's a big gap between your lower back and your chair that's a problem. Egbert suggested rolling up a towel or pillow to fill the space. Add some little things We're all under a lot of pressure these days, which can make work stressful and make it hard to focus. Adding a few personal touches can be a mood booster. Try putting some happy photos, your favorite coffee cup or meaningful knick-knacks around your space to re-energize you. This story was first published on CNN.com, "It's not too late to set up a decent home office." https://www.aish.com/ci/sam/Doctors-on-the-Front-Lines-Battling-Covid-19.html Four Jewish doctors describe their experiences battling Covid-19. They are family physicians, an emergency room doctor, and a specialist. All are on the front lines battling Covid-19. All are Orthodox Jews whove dedicated their lives to help others. In a series of interviews, four physicians across the United States and Israel recently spoke with Aish.com, describing their daily battle with the deadly Covid-19 virus and offering hope and advice during this horrific pandemic. Hospitals Overwhelmed Its really pretty nerve-wracking going to work, explains Dr. Leah Finkel, Director of Pediatrics and Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine at University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, a major teaching hospital on Chicagos West Side. With the number of Covid-19 cases surging in Illinois, Dr. Finkel has watched as her hospital has restructured, temporarily pausing some non-emergency departments and moving others off site so her hospital can focus on the many Covid-19 patients needing care. Its really pretty nerve-wracking going to work. We have a Covid tent now, Dr. Finkel explains. Patients seeking care are screened there before ever setting foot into the hospital. Many of the departments that have recently been set aside for Covid-19 patients are already filling up. The hospitals Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric floor are being used for the surge in Covid-19 cases, and its always filled with patients. Dr. Finkel anticipates that the demand will only rise in the weeks ahead, as more Covid-19 patients are diagnosed and more and more of the very sick will need yet more beds in her hospital. This isnt even the peak of it. Some public health officials expect the virus to spike in Chicago in the middle to end of April. Dr. Leah Finkel In New York, the epicenter of the United States outbreak, Jason is a chief resident in urology working in two of New Yorks busiest hospitals, which are already overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients. (He asked that his last name and hospitals not be named here for privacy reasons.) Jason says doctors assume that all healthcare workers will eventually be exposed to Covid-19. Theres a camaraderie developing where we realize this is an all hands on deck mentality, he explains. As doctors fall ill or self-quarantine after being exposed to Covid-19, hospitals are becoming dangerously understaffed. Physicians who havent trained in emergency room medicine increasingly are finding themselves drafted into emergency rooms and forced to cope. We should all be quarantined, but that would be impossible. The problem is that if everyone exposed to patients with Covid-19 were quarantined there wouldnt be anyone to help. Jason was exposed to Covid-19 last Sunday: he operated on an 80-year-old woman who was later found to be Covid-19 positive. Five residents interacted with her; I operated on her. We only wore surgery masks and gloves. We should all be quarantined, but that would be impossible. In this unprecedented situation where so many doctors are out sick while the number of patients surges, Jason explains the grim new reality for doctors: You work unless youre symptomatic. Doctors showing signs of Covid-19 stay home for at least seven days, then continue to self-quarantine for three more days after they are symptom-free. With testing kits in short supply, many doctors just assume theyve caught Covid-19, even without being tested. Lack of Testing Dr. Amy Kaissar, an Internal Medicine physician in private practice in Indianapolis, is seeing a surge in patients who have Covid-19 symptoms several each day and isnt able to test everyone shed like to. There are many factors preventing people from being tested. A shortage of testing kits means that in many cases guidelines restrict who can be tested. In Indiana, test results frequently take up to a week to arrive back. Dr. Kaissar also notes that the low rates of accuracy of many tests up to 30% of negative results are false and patients are actually positive make testing difficult. Dr. Amy Kaissar Exposing patients to other people with Covid-19 symptoms is also a risk. If youre an older person and dont have it, you could catch it by going out and waiting to be tested, Dr. Kaissar notes. My advice is if you get a cough and a fever and a sore throat, assume that you have Covid-19 and isolate yourself. Patients should self-quarantine while they are ill and have a fever, and then wait seven days after having symptoms, or three days after having a fever, whichever is longer. Dr. Kaissar explains that for self-quarantining to be effective, its crucial that everyone in a household where someone is ill also self-quarantine so that they dont spread the virus to others. More testing would be better, Dr. Kaissar observes. There seems to be some immunity for people whove had Covid-19, so knowing if a person had overcome it would allow them to go out and not worry about falling ill or spreading the disease. Once you know youre over it, you could go out and assist others, she explains. This is especially important for healthcare workers. If they are positive, once they get over it they can take a more forefront position, relieving some of the burden on hospitals. Dr. Chana Selmon is a family practice physician living in Israel and a board-certified emergency physician who has worked in Emergency Rooms in the US and in Israel. In her practice in Israel, the ability to test suspected Covid-19 cases has been steadily increasing, but a lack of early testing made the virus difficult to diagnose in its early weeks. Due to limited testing until now, most of my patients who have been tested have been symptomatic. As testing increases, I believe well know much more about the situation here and gain a truer understanding of just how much of the population has been infected. Terrifying Disease Covid-19 is a perplexing, inconsistent and cruel virus, Dr. Selmon explains. It presents differently in different patients, causing some patients to have only mild symptoms, while some others tragically become incredibly ill. For a significant minority of patients, Covid-19 causes pneumonia and respiratory distress so acute that patients need to be intubated and hooked up to ventilators, often for up to a week. Since hospitals only have a limited number of ventilators even a modest uptick in the number of seriously ill patients needing ventilators can cause the kind of anguished conditions that occurred recently in Italy, where doctors had to make life or death decisions about which patients would get to be hooked up to ventilators and which wouldnt. Jason in New York notes that while the disease seems to be more deadly for older people and those with pre-existing health conditions, hes also seeing some patients in their twenties or thirties with no known underlying health problems becoming extremely ill. Lack of Protective Gear and Fear for Loved Ones Covid-19 is highly contagious and doctors treating Covid-19 positive patients must wear significant Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect themselves. Doctors are already facing severe shortages of PPE at what is still the beginning stages of this medical crisis. The specialist face masks that protect against Covid-19, called N95 masks, in particular are in short supply and they are only effective for 18 hours of use. Because of hoarding, N95 masks are already hard to find, and many doctors are being asked to use just one N95 mask indefinitely. Even less specialized protective gear such as disposable face masks and surgical gowns are already being rationed. I dont feel I have adequate equipment to confidently treat patients in the clinic, explains Dr. Chana Selmon in Israel. I was given just one N95 mask. Ive heard that they have been ordered. The shortage of PPE contributes greatly to the stress among my colleagues. Without adequate protection, many doctors are afraid of becoming infected and transmitting the virus to patients and family members. In New York, Jason has observed a gradual loosening of guidelines about how doctors should protect themselves as PPE stocks have dwindled. Right now, when were interacting with Covid patients but not doing an aerosolizing procedure (such as intubating a patient, or hooking them up to a ventilator), were supposed to only wear a surgical mask. If we had unlimited N95 masks wed wear them every time we interact with a Covid patient. You hear hospitals say we have enough materials, but thats because of loosened guidelines which were modified out of necessity and without really knowing the effects. Without adequate PPE, many doctors are afraid of becoming infected and transmitting the virus to patients and family members. Jason is married with two young children; in recent weeks, his wife and kids have moved out of their apartment and in with other relatives so that he wont inadvertently infect them. Hes heard of other doctors moving out of their family homes, sleeping in call rooms even sleeping in a tent in the family garage all to minimize their risk to their families. People are stripping down in the garage, then running inside and showering immediately when they come home, explains Dr. Finkel. Personally, Im scared to go to work many days. You hope for the best, you say Im young, Im healthy, I hope its not in the cards for me today to become infected. But especially if you have immuno-compromised people in the house for whom catching Covid-19 would be especially dangerous, its really scary. She likens taking care of Covid-19 patients right now to a battlefield, with intense danger and doctors like her mobilized to fight this potent enemy. Doctors Advice With the death toll from Covid-19 rising, these doctors struck a balance between urging people to take Covid-19 seriously and take precautions to help slow its spread, and advising people not to panic or despair. Its very frustrating to see doctors risk themselves and then see some people flout lockdown orders and socialize in groups. I say to my patients that you should be worried about it enough to do exactly what I say to do medically, explains Dr. Amy Kaissar in Indianapolis, but not so much that they panic and make themselves ill with worry. Try to get exercise within the limits of social distancing. If youre anxious about the situation try to stay off the internet and news. She emphasizes that people should wash their hands frequently and prioritize self-care, making sure they exercise and get enough sleep. Dr. Leah Finkel advises, Take social distancing seriously and think about others. Its very frustrating to see doctors risk themselves and then see some people flout lockdown orders and socialize in groups, potentially spreading Covid-19 and making the infection rate higher. She also has advice for anyone experiencing mild symptoms: Avoid hospitals unless youre very sick and having significant respiratory problems, as visiting hospitals unnecessarily can expose mildly ill patients to even greater risk, and can help spread the virus and overtax already stretched hospital resources. So much is unknown about Covid, including its transmission and why some people get so ill, explains Dr. Chana Selmon. Yet she emphasizes that there are some concrete facts about this virus that we do know: General hygiene and good handwashing goes a long way in preventing exposure. Maintaining distance between is also critical. If someone is sick, he should likely wear a mask to prevent his coughing and spittle from being projected onto others while talking. As for surfaces, while its clear that the virus can be found on various surfaces for different amounts of time, its far from clear whether those traces are infective, and if so, in what circumstances. Finally, these doctors urge us to face this crisis with faith and courage. Amid all the horror and sorrow of this terrible pandemic, Dr Finkel notes there is one silver lining: Enjoy this time with your family. Try to look at this as a unique opportunity to be with your kids. Its such a bracha (blessing) that I get to keep my kids safe at home during this time. Even though she worries about her own risk and exposure, shes trying to enjoy the good moments when shes not working and can be home with her husband and young children as well. Dr. Selmon also notes that she worries for her own health, observing that Covid-19 is so unpredictable its impossible to know how anybody will react to it. But I personally have served as a front line physician through terrorist attacks, including in New York on 9/11, anthrax, Ebola virus, and the swine flu H1N1, so I know this, too, shall pass. 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. Update, April 6: Taco Bell is repeating this giveaway on April 7, under the same guidelines. Taco Bell is celebrating Taco Tuesday -- and folks who are helping their communities during the coronavirus epidemic -- by giving away tacos on March 31. Social distancing is part of the plan. People who visit the drive-through at the fast food franchise can get one free beef Doritos Locos Taco at participating locations, the companys website says. No purchase is required, and there are no substitutions. I continue to be in awe of the heart we are seeing in this country, so we want to show our appreciation by giving everyone in America who rolls up to a Taco Bell drive-thru at a participating location a free Nacho Cheese Dorito Locos Tacos this Tuesday, March 31st, while supplies last, Mark King, CEO of Taco Bell Corp., said in a statement. Its a small way for us to say thank you for the ways youre showing up for your communities and our chance to give you a little TLC during this time. The company says it hopes to give away one million tacos on Tuesday. Also, the company says its Taco Bell Foundation is donating $1 million to No Kid Hungry, a program of Share Our Strength. Taco Bell is encouraging customers to support the nonprofit, as well. When guests visit their local Taco Bell drive-thru, participating locations will soon have the option to round up their order total to the nearest dollar and all funds raised will go to No Kid Hungry, the companys website says. Coronavirus resources: Follow AL.coms live updates of coronavirus in Alabama. Find all of our coronavirus stories. Heres 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. Market forces rained on the parade of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) shareholders today, when the analysts downgraded their forecasts for this year. Both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) estimates were cut sharply as analysts factored in the latest outlook for the business, concluding that they were too optimistic previously. Following the latest downgrade, the current consensus, from the 17 analysts covering ConocoPhillips, is for revenues of US$23b in 2020, which would reflect a disturbing 32% reduction in ConocoPhillips' sales over the past 12 months. After this downgrade, the company is anticipated to report a loss of US$0.75 in 2020, a sharp decline from a profit over the last year. Prior to this update, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$26b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$0.88 in 2020. So we can see that the consensus has become notably more bearish on ConocoPhillips' outlook with these numbers, making a measurable cut to this year's revenue estimates. Furthermore, they expect the business to be loss-making this year, compared to their previous forecasts of a profit. Check out our latest analysis for ConocoPhillips NYSE:COP Past and Future Earnings March 31st 2020 The consensus price target fell 12% to US$47.42, with the analysts clearly concerned about the company following the weaker revenue and earnings outlook. The consensus price target is just an average of individual analyst targets, so - it could be handy to see how wide the range of underlying estimates is. Currently, the most bullish analyst values ConocoPhillips at US$85.00 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$22.00. As you can see the range of estimates is wide, with the lowest valuation coming in at less than half the most bullish estimate, suggesting there are some strongly diverging views on how think this business will perform. With this in mind, we wouldn't rely too heavily on the consensus price target, as it is just an average and analysts clearly have some deeply divergent views on the business. Story continues Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. Compare this against analyst estimates for companies in the wider industry, which suggest that revenues (in aggregate) are expected to decline 0.3% next year. So it's pretty clear that ConocoPhillips sales are expected to decline at a faster rate than the wider industry. The Bottom Line The biggest low-light for us was that the forecasts for ConocoPhillips dropped from profits to a loss this year. Unfortunately they also cut their revenue estimates for this year, and they expect sales to lag the wider market. That said, earnings per share are more important for creating value for shareholders. With a serious cut to this year's expectations and a falling price target, we wouldn't be surprised if investors were becoming wary of ConocoPhillips. As you can see, the analysts clearly aren't bullish, and there might be good reason for that. We've identified some potential issues with ConocoPhillips' financials, such as a weak balance sheet. Learn more, and discover the 4 other risks we've identified, for free on our platform here. You can also see our analysis of ConocoPhillips' Board and CEO remuneration and experience, and whether company insiders have been buying stock. 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. Pritzker and others have called on President Donald Trump to use his power under the federal Defense Production Act to require numerous companies to supply governments with gear. Perhaps that will become necessary, but as of now were not aware of widespread resistance from manufacturers. Quite the opposite. When Trump said last week that he had ordered GM to work on ventilators, the company responded that it already had been working around the clock for a week. 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. Policemen in Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch district were moved by the compassion shown by a 10-year-old boy and his 12-year-old brother, who donated over Rs 5,000 from their piggy banks, to fund meals for labourers during the COVID-19 lockdown. Devraj Singh Parihar and his elder brother Keshav donated Rs 5,060, which they had saved in their piggy banks, to fund meals for labourers, who are rendered jobless because of the lockdown, Kanjarda post in-charge Anil Singh Thakur said. The boys from Khedli village in Manasa tehsil walked to the Kanjarda police post and handed over the piggy banks to officials there, he said. "They told the police that after hearing about the pandemic, they thought of donating their piggy banks. When asked why they gave the money to the police, the boys said it was because policemen knew everyone in the area," Thakur said. The brothers had saved the money, which was given to them by their parents and close relatives to buy toys. "I am amazed and speechless at their compassion and zeal to help out. They have set an example for others in the country," Thakur added. Moved by the gesture, Neemuch collector Jitendra Singh Raje and superintendent of police Manoj Rai met the boys on Monday and insisted that they take back the money, Thakur said. However, when the duo refused to budge, the officials handed the money over to the Red Cross Society and gifted a bicycle to the boys, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Abuja, March 31, 2020 Authorities in Nigeria must ensure that measures taken to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic do not prevent journalists from covering the news freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, Nigerian Information Minister Lai Mohammed said that journalists would be required to carry a valid identity card to move around in the two southwestern states of Lagos and Ogun, as well as in the capital Abuja, as part of President Muhammadu Buharis lockdowns in those areas, which were imposed on March 29, according to a report by the privately owned Premium Times newspaper. Mohammed did not respond to CPJs calls and a message today asking for clarification on what kind of identification cards would be considered valid, and what punishments journalists would receive for failing to carry such cards. The declaration came after authorities suspended 92 journalists access to Buharis presidential villa on March 24, according to a memo issued to journalists, which CPJ reviewed; a report by privately owned Daily Trust newspaper; and five affected journalists, who spoke to CPJ on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. Those suspensions, which went into effect on March 25, were issued as part of public health restrictions on assembly, according to the memo. Only 16 journalistsfrom a combination of private and government-owned media outletsretained access, according to the memo. Nigerias new restrictions on assembly and movement impose unnecessary burdens on journalists; at a minimum, the rules must be clarified so reporters can even follow them, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in New York. All efforts should be made to enable the press to do their work and cover the coronavirus crisis safely and without risk of official sanction. The journalists who spoke to CPJ on condition of anonymity said they were concerned about how the suspension of access to the villa would affect their ability to report on the governments response to the coronavirus, as government briefings are often held there. Several said they wished the government had distributed safety equipment, rather than restricting their access. One said they considered the decision to be reasonable given that the numbers of other workers in the villa had been similarly reduced. Ubale Musa, chair of the villas press association, a professional group of journalists covering the villa, told CPJ in a phone interview that he did not know the criteria used for selecting the journalists that retained access to the villa, but believed the choices were made in good faith. Musa said journalists who had been suspended from the villa could receive relevant news stories through messaging app groups via their colleagues who retained access. Segun Adeyemi, a spokesperson for Nigerias Ministry of Information, referred CPJ to Femi Adesina, the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity. CPJs calls and text messages to Adesina went unanswered. Lanre Issa-Onilu, a spokesperson for Nigerias ruling All Progressives Congress party, told CPJ by phone that he could not explain the decision, but considered it common sense for the number of reporters at the villa to be reduced. House of Representatives Members of the House of Representatives have agreed to donate their salaries for two months to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who made the announcement, said the two-month salary donation would be independent of the contributions by individual lawmakers to alleviate the hardships being faced by their constituents at this time of national emergency. The Senate had on Monday pledged that its members would sustain the donation of half of their salaries to the Federal Government until the nation is totally free of the pandemic. Gbajabiamila had earlier on Sunday, via his Twitter handle, @femigbaja, said, I just presided over an emergency meeting of the body of principal officers of @HouseNGR today Sunday, where we deliberated on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know that the pandemic affects all our constituents and Nigerians can be assured of our legislative intervention. According to a statement issued by his media office on Tuesday, which accompanied his video message to Nigerians, the Speaker said starting from March salary, the lawmakers donation would be transferred directly to the National Relief Fund account for the fight against the pandemic. He said, We have in the House of Representatives jointly committed to contributing 100 per cent of our salaries for the next two months to the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria. Our contribution will support provisions for the welfare of frontline medical professionals and health workers and other interventions, to provide for the wellbeing of all Nigerians through these trying times. Accordingly, I have directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to see to it that all members salaries are transferred to the National Relief Fund for this month and the next. This is independent of ongoing individual efforts by members to alleviate the suffering brought on by this virus and to improve the living conditions of citizens in their various constituencies. The Speaker added that the House would exercise its oversight power to ensure faithful administration of all emergency funds and contributions made so far, to ensure they serve the purpose for which they were intended. He said consequently, the House had already mandated the Committees on Health and Disaster Preparedness to diligently oversee the distribution of items donated by local and foreign donors to ensure proper management. Gbajabiamila also said the House has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to make cash grants to the 774 local government areas of the country to alleviate the suffering by the masses. He said, The House also calls on the CBN, as part of its policy measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, to immediately direct cash grants to the 774) LGA administrations in the country to provide food and other essentials to at-risk individuals and communities. Sofinnova Investments, a Menlo Park, CA-based clinical stage biopharmaceutical investment firm, promoted Maha Katabi, PhD, CFA to General Partner and Sarah Bhagat, PhD to Partner. Maha Katabi, PhD, CFA who joined Sofinnova in April 2019, has been essential to the firms executive team in addition to enhancing the teams geographic investment coverage across North America and Europe. She is an experienced investor in biopharma companies, with more than two decades of venture capital and public equities investment experience. Katabi was a Partner at Sectoral Asset Management since 2008, where she formed and led a dedicated investment team and advisory board to drive investments in private life science companies. Prior to joining Sofinnova, Katabi co-invested with Sofinnova in multiple companies, including Apellis Pharmaceuticals (APLS), Ascendis Pharma (ASND), and Trius Therapeutics (acquired by Cubist). She recently led Sofinnovas investment in Northsea Therapeutics and serves as a Board of Director. Sarah Bhagat, PhD who joined Sofinnova in April 2017, has made significant investment and organizational contributions to the firm. Bhagat has been pivotal to making and helping manage numerous investments at Sofinnova, including Aeovian, Apellis (APLS), Neurana, NextCure (NXTC) NorthSea, Pionyr, and YmAbs (YMAB). She led Sofinnovas investments in Inozyme, Promedior, and Akouos. She implemented and manages Sofinnovas Fellowship Program, which is aimed at providing entrepreneurial and investing experience to Stanford graduate and medical students. Bhagat is on the board of Stanfords Neuroscience Translate Oversight Committee. Prior to joining Sofinnova, she was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University. She was also a Venture Fellow for Canaan Partners. Founded in 1974, Sofinnova is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical investment firm with approximately $2.3B in assets under management and committed capital. FinSMEs 31/03/2020 Ann Forsberg-Doyle, a volunteer docent at Reid Park Zoo, holds a pair of binoculars up to her eyes. Shes found more grass, the docent of 12 years says, as she watches 30-year-old elephant Semba. That girl loves to eat. Semba is currently pregnant and expected to give birth any day now. The baby will join Semba, 30-year-old father Mabu, 29-year-old aunt Langile, 9-year-old brother Sundzu and 5-year-old sister Nandi. The whole elephant team is the most excited to share this baby with the community, says elephant supervisor Cassie Dodds. With everything going on in the world, we want this baby elephant to bring encouragement and hope to people. Nandi was the first elephant born in Arizona, instantly stealing the hearts of Tucsonans. Shes known to be more high-spirited, director of zoo operations Sue Tygielski says, so keepers arent quite sure what kind of big sister shell be. Her older brother Sundzu has a wonderful, gentle demeanor, Tygielski says. He played with Nandi so carefully (when she was younger). If his mom thought he was too close, he would back away immediately. Tygielski says female elephants tend to be more nurturing but maybe not Nandi. Im wondering if Nandi will be likely to play rough and get disciplined by her mom, she says, adding that she expects Nandi to be curious about the baby but to possibly spend more time with Langile. An elephants pregnancy is about two years long and zoo workers found out Semba was pregnant about four months in. After waiting more than a year, the baby is finally expected by mid-April. That means Reid Park Zoo staffers are now in baby watch which may be more intensive than youd think. Semba has someone watching her every move and writing observations every five minutes 24 hours a day, seven days a week for about two months. From outside of the elephant habitat, docents carry around a tablet, which beeps every five minutes, alerting them to jot down where Semba is and what shes doing usually its something like eating or walking. The monitoring continues behind the scenes, too. Several times a day, keepers use enrichment activities to engage with all five of the zoos elephants. The elephants are trained to lift their legs, kneel, and open their mouths, among other tricks that allow keepers to make sure theyre healthy. And the elephants are rewarded with snacks: hay, cucumbers, zucchini or lettuce. Other enrichment activities provide exercise for the elephants, especially for Semba. A hay net that hangs high in the elephants barn helps Semba tighten her core as she reaches for the hay inside. Keepers are also able to collect urine samples from Semba, which shes trained to provide voluntarily. They also take blood samples and monitor the amount of sleep she gets, among other things, especially any indicators that she could be going into labor. Our biggest concern is keeping Semba healthy, Dodds says. Although the monitoring is intensive, little is known about the baby including the gender. But rest assured, when the baby arrives, Reid Park Zoo will alert the community. The public was able to see Nandi, from a distance at least, about a week after she was born. Tygielski isnt sure when the public will be able to see the calf, but she thinks itll be a week or two after its born. Semba and the baby will still be monitored 24/7 for the first five to six weeks after birth, as keepers track things like the babys weight, how often the baby nurses, and the babys firsts. For the first few months of a calfs life, we watch his or her development skills, Tygielski says. They can keep up with mom they have to but theyre a little bit uncoordinated. They have challenges when climbing and they lack good coordination. Their trunk is like a piece of floppy spaghetti it takes some time to learn to use it. Sembas pregnancy is the result of recommendations through a species survival plan and Tygielski says the pregnancy is a good sign of overall health of the herd. They dont have offspring if theyre not healthy, she says. Zoo workers are also hoping to use the birth as a way to further elephant conservation and educate the public of poaching and loss of habitat. This precious baby elephant will help us inspire connections between people and elephants, therefore allowing us to share the story that is critical to their survival, Dodds says. Did you know? A few fun facts: Semba came to Tucson from the San Diego Zoos Safari Park in 2012 for the opening of Expedition Tanzania, Reid Park Zoos 7-acre elephant habitat. When Nandi was born in 2014, the Reid Park Zoo set an attendance record with more than 617,000 visitors. At birth, Nandi weighed a whopping 245 pounds. Nandi could've been Imvula. The Reid Park Zoo enlisted the community to help name the baby elephant shortly after she was born. Nandi is a common siSwati name for girls and means sweet or fun in the Zulu language. Zoo closure The Reid Park Zoo is temporarily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, you can peek in on Semba, Nandi and the rest of the herd via webcam at tucne.ws/reidparkzoocam. For updates, go to reidparkzoo.org. Related gallery: Readers' 2015 photos of baby Nandi Contact reporter Gloria Knott at gknott@tucson.com or 573-4235. On Twitter: @gloriaeknott 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. Primeste notificari pe email Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare (Premium) Granturi - Finantari (Premium) Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 23:25:20|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LAGOS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria can adopt China's strategies on COVID-19 pandemic in order to curtail its spread in the West African country, a Nigerian expert told Xinhua on Tuesday. In an interview with Xinhua in Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub, Mohammed Abass, the founder of iBass Institute of Learning, said there was a need to prevent further transmission of this virus by comparative education. "It is part of adopting China's strategies in comparative education. Whereby we learn from others to manage our own situation for improvement," the Abuja-based education expert said. Abass believes Nigeria needed to learn from China on how to bring the challenge to a halt, support preparedness and response to the ongoing global public health emergency. While observing that the COVID-19 pandemic had revealed weaknesses in most health systems, the expert said the lessons learned from the fight against the pandemic should be used to rebuild the country's health sector to have a formidable health system. Describing the challenges of COVID-19 as just temporal, he tasked authorities in Nigeria to intensify public awareness on COVID-19 in order to curtail its spread in the country, adding that the government must act fast to avoid the confusion that may worsen the case at the grassroots. "As an educated society, Nigeria must do more in terms of creating awareness, we need to be alerted, this is not a joke," he said. Photograph: Reuters The US has proposed a political transition plan for Venezuela, offering to lift sanctions if the president, Nicolas Maduro, and his opponent, Juan Guaido, step aside and pass power to an interim government made up of their supporters. Related: Coronavirus live news: rise in Italy, US and France deaths takes global confirmed toll past 40,000 Under the democratic transition framework, all political prisoners would be released, and all foreign principally Cuban forces would leave. A five-member council of state would be selected, with two members chosen by the opposition, two by Maduros Socialist party, and the fifth member picked by the other four. The military high command would remain in place. The hope is that this set-up promotes the selection of people who are very broadly respected and known as people who can work with the other side, the US special representative for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, told the Associated Press. The US and EU would then lift sanctions on the current leadership. Broader sanctions on the countrys oil business would be lifted after all foreign forces had left the country. All sanctions would be lifted after free elections, to be held within six to 12 months. Related: 'Its good timing: US ignores global calls to suspend Iran and Venezuela sanctions The proposal comes five days after the US indicted Maduro and top members of his government and army for drug trafficking and money laundering, and as Venezuela faces blanket sanctions, a collapse in the price of oil, its main export, and the coronavirus pandemic, with a crippled health system. The United States has long been committed to finding a solution to the manmade crisis in Venezuela, the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said. The urgency for this has become all the more serious in light of the Maduro regimes failure to adequately prepare for and address the global Covid-19 pandemic. This framework demonstrates our commitment to helping Venezuela fully recover and ensures that the voice of the Venezuelan people is respected and included. Story continues Sceptics of the plan said it provided few incentives for the incumbent officials to give up power, days after they were charged with serious offences and multimillion-dollar rewards put on their heads. Eliot Engel, the Democratic chair of the House foreign affairs committee, said: Essentially, Maduro regime officials are being told on one hand that nothing they do will stop the US [Department of Justice] from pressing charges against them while on the other hand, they are being asked to agree to a transition government for unrelated sanctions relief. The people of Venezuela cannot afford such a ham-handed approach. Its time to get serious about our Venezuela policy, Engel said. David Smilde, a senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America, said the deal was very similar to what was discussed by Maduro and Guaido representatives in Oslo and Barbados last summer, with one major difference. Related: US indicts Nicolas Maduro and other top Venezuelan leaders for drug trafficking Coming less than a week after indicting all the main figures of the Maduro government it would seem the Trump administration is trying to hardwire in who they think should be part of a transition, Smilde said on Twitter. This was a main point of contention during last summers negotiations, with the US reluctant to endorse any transition plan that allowed Maduro to preside over new elections. Briefing journalists on the new plan, a senior administration official said the US was prepared to negotiate with Maduro about the terms of his departure from office. But the official referred to the fate of Gen Manuel Noriega, the Panamanian dictator, who was indicted on drug smuggling charges in 1988 and then removed in a US invasion the next year. History shows that those who do not cooperate with US law enforcement agencies do not fare well, the official said. Maduro probably regrets not taking the offer six months ago. We urge Maduro not to regret not taking it now. While most of the aid from the federal stimulus bill signed Friday hasn't yet been allocated, tribes in Montana are set to receive almost $8 million in housing funds and a slice of a $10 billion stimulus package to help with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act, signed on Friday by President Donald Trump, lays out $10 billion of relief that will go to tribes and tribal organizations. Of that money $8 billion in emergency funds will be disturbed to help tribal governments, enterprises and businesses recover from the fallout of COVID-19 as many tribes across Montana have had to close non-essential businesses, and ask tribal members to stay home. In Montana, tribes will receive almost $8 million in housing relief, through the Indian Housing Block Grant, according to press releases from Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) The Indian Housing Block Grant provides affordable housing activities on reservations. Each tribe will receive: $750,004 for Crow Nation. $1.3 million for Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes. $1.9 million for Blackfeet Nation. $767,992 for Chippewa Cree Tribe. $603,669 for Fort Belknap Indian Community. $884,873 for Northern Cheyenne Tribe. $1.4 million for Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The Great Falls Tribune reported that the Little Shell Tribe will receive $613,760 through the Indian Housing Block Grant. The Bureau of Indian Affairs will receive $453 million to help fund essential tribal government programs, like public safety. The Bureau of Indian Education will receive almost $70 million, and $100 million will go to the USDAs Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. Under the CARES Act, the Indian Health Service will also receive $1 billion in aid to go to COVID-19 relief. The $1 billion in aid adds to $214 million in aid the IHS received mid-March. The CDC allocated $80 million to IHS for tribes, tribal organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations on March 20. A few days prior the IHS got $134 million from the Families First Care Act. Of that money, IHS announced it will use $70 million to purchase more personal protective gear, and $64 million will go to COVID-19 testing, according to a press release. About $450 million of IHS $1 billion in aid from the federal stimulus package is also available to tribes who run their own health care operations through a self-determination contract with the IHS. IHS did not respond to a request for comment by press deadline. Federal aid comes as many tribes in Montana have begun to enact their own preventative measures to protect against COVID-19 including shutting down tribal programs, enacting curfews and shuttering non-essential businesses. In Eastern Montana both the Northern Cheyenne and Crow declared states of emergencies, enacted curfews, and on Saturday initiated stay-at-home orders for the two reservations. The Crow Tribe is also deterring non-residential travel onto the reservation through three checkpoints in an attempt to curb the spread of the new coronavirus. Neither reservation has a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus. Other reservations across Montana have implemented similar measures. The Rocky Boy Indian Reservation enacted a curfew and has set up checkpoints to discourage non-local travelers without a valid travel reason from entering the reservations borders. On Monday Big Horn County issued a press release from the Public Health Department asking non-residents to stay away from the county for recreational purposes. The Crow Reservation and parts of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation lay within the county's borders. If visitors from other counties and other states where there are more cases of COVID-19 continue to come to our county, it is likely that the novel coronavirus will spread faster here than if these visitors stayed home, the release states. The county aligned the request with the two reservations' stay-at-home orders, noting that the county's health care could be overwhelmed if COVID-19 spreads in the community. "Big Horn County is extremely limited in medical resources; many of our residents live below the poverty line and face barriers to accessing medical care. Our two hospitals struggle to keep adequate staff in normal times and we have no intensive care units in our County," the release states. The Crow-Northern Cheyenne Hospital, which is run by Indian Health Service and serves both reservations, has 24 beds in the hospital, according to Indian Health Service. While the federal funds have been allocated to help with the shortage of personal protective equipment, many IHS facilities in Montana are ill-equipped to deal with an influx of patients lacking resources and beds to house patients. Officials have said that testing is available at clinics and hospitals while viral collection supplies and personal protective equipment last. IHS chief medical officer Dr. Michael Toedt said during a mid-March press briefing that IHS was also suffering from a nationwide shortage of PPE supplies and equipment. Across all IHS facilities there are 1,254 hospital beds and 33 intensive care units, Toedt said. On Northern Cheyenne and Crow Reservations there has been some testing done for symptomatic people, but its mostly been reserved for those showing symptoms and met the CDCs requirement for testing, said Jack Old Horn. Old Horn is the public information officer for the newly established Crow Incident Response Team. In the Billings area of IHS, which encompasses IHS facilities in Montana and on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, the IHS has conducted 175 tests as of Sunday. Two had come back as positive, 134 had come back as negative and 39 were pending results. IHS a media inquiry regarding the location of the two confirmed cases. As of Monday evening, Montana had seen 177 cases and four deaths. 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 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. Puro Politics is a weekly podcast hosted by columnist Gilbert Garcia, covering the drama and nuance of local government issues. Produced by Joy-Marie Scott. Listen and subscribe on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher TuneIn & RSS All Episodes When Mayor Ron Nirenberg and County Judge Nelson Wolff unveiled stay-at-home restrictions last week to battle the spread of COVID-19, they emphasized that they were trusting people to voluntarily comply with the order. Neither Nirenberg nor Wolff wanted to see residents routinely pulled over by law enforcement or asked to provide documents affirming their right to leave the house. A week into the order, however, compliance concerns have emerged, particularly from anecdotal reports that people have been congregating in parks, in violation of the mandate that public and private gatherings be limited to members of a household or single-family living unit. Those concerns prompted Nirenberg, during a Sunday news conference, to announce that he was considering temporarily closing all city parks. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio mayor threatens park closures The stay-at-home compliance issue came up for discussion on this weeks edition of the Express-News Puro Politics podcast. Express-News reporter Brian Chasnoff said that initially it seemed like they (local leaders) were prizing leniency over anything else. They were saying, Were not going to stop you if youre out there. Were counting on residents to do the right thing. Chasnoff offered a personal anecdote to illustrate how that leniency approach is being reevaluated. Yesterday, my wife and I tried to just go to San Pedro Springs Park - just us - and sit down in the park to get some fresh air, he said. And a cop came up and said, You have to be moving, you cannot sit in a park, under the mayors orders. So we went home and then I start seeing these stories that the mayor is threatening to shut down the parks. So it feels like another instance of whiplash, going from, Were going to trust you guys to do the right thing, to Now you cant even sit down in a park. Hear these and other topics discussed on this weeks episode of the Puro Politics podcast. Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Gilbert, become a subscriber. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 A doctor at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital has been suspended for refusing to attend to a patient citing lack of protective gear. The medic had reportedly asked for an N-95 mask to attend to a patient with coronavirus-like symptoms. However, the Hospitals CEO Dr Enock Ondari said the doctor had been provided with a surgical mask, soap, water. In a show cause letter, the CEO said the doctors actions amounted to professional negligence and insubordination, which is tantamount to gross misconduct. KTRH the largest public health facility in South Nyanza said it intends to institute a disciplinary process that may lead to the doctors dismissal from service. However, before this is done, you are hereby called upon to show cause why the intended action should not be taken. Your representations if any, should reach this office within a period of 72 hours from the date of this later, failure to which the contemplated action will be taken without further reference to you, the letter reads in part. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Gov. Greg Abbotts order restricting the release of violent felons during the COVID-19 pandemic wont deter him from efforts to keep the disease out of Bexar County Jail. The jail has reduced its population by 770 inmates to about 3,100 in recent weeks, primarily by releasing nonviolent misdemeanor offenders and sending felons to prison, Salazar said. Abbotts order prohibits the release of inmates accused or previously convicted of violent crimes unless they have paid bail. Im going to continue doing my job, which is to lower the jail population safely, Salazar said. Were being very careful about who gets out and how and when. Magistrates and jail courts have released more than 500 inmates, typically with conditions such as GPS monitoring, drug rehabilitation or mental health treatment. Salazar said he also accelerated the release of 16 inmates who were set to go free soon anyway, by adjusting formulas for good behavior within guidelines set by state law. On ExpressNews.com: Bexar County extends emergency declaration He said he also opted not to release one inmate who had committed a second DWI offense and another convicted of interference with 911, technically a nonviolent misdemeanor, but a frequent tactic of domestic abusers. The effort to reduce the jail population was announced by county officials at a March 18 news conference. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the county had asked the San Antonio Police Department to use GPS, cite-and-release and other policies to reduce jail bookings for nonviolent offenses, including homeless and transient people charged with trespass. Thats not going to help things, overloading our jail, Wolff said. He and Salazar maintain the jail could become a breeding ground for contagious disease, much like the Diamond Princess and other cruise ships whose passengers became ill with the coronavirus. They believe its important to reduce the jail population as part of the community response to stop the spread of the disease, and to screen inmates for fever and other symptoms as they come in and out of the facility. You get one sick inmate in a jail, before you know it, its 100 or 300 really quick. Those people are going to get back into society on a daily basis, Salazar said. And theyve been sitting in this cesspool of disease, in a pandemic situation like this. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases The Sheriffs Office reported its first COVID-19-positive case among staff at the jail Sunday, the same day Abbott announced his order. A Bexar County Video Visitation civilian employee had returned from a cruise, worked for three days and reported feeling sick. He was sent home, and 11 civilians and two sheriffs administrators who had limited exposure to him were put on administrative leave. Several deputies who had contact with the two administrators were ordered to have no contact with inmates and limit employee interaction. By the time its all said and done, weve got a couple dozen people that are low risk, but still are affected, Salazar said. So we had to quarantine some folks, and send them home to medically evaluate themselves. And then of course weve got a couple of members of administration now that are working from home. And its all from one person. He estimated the recent jail population reduction is saving taxpayers $38,000 daily in food, housing and staffing costs. On ExpressNews.com: County emergency order includes price controls The jail has tested two inmates for COVID-19, and both were negative. One had been treated by a University Health System physician who later tested positive. Another, placed in a negative-pressure cell with flu-like symptoms, was diagnosed with a cold but tested negative for the coronavirus. County officials have said the jail has 10 isolation cells and six negative-pressure cells. But the release of inmates in Texas has generated criticism. Abbott said Sunday that releasing dangerous criminals makes the state even less safe. Hearst Newspapers reported last week that a Harris County judge had released a murder suspect with a payment of just 3.5 percent of his $60,000 bond after the man said he feared getting COVID-19 in jail. Bail reform advocates have raised their own reservations about Abbotts order, saying it discriminates against defendants who cant afford to pay a full bond. Salazar said the governor appears to be overstepping his boundaries a bit with the order. But he doesnt think it will affect Bexar County. Were not the source of his problems, the sheriff said. Weve done it the right way. shuddleston@express-news.net Amid nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus, the Students' Union of India (NSUI) urged the Uttar Pradesh government to instruct all private universities to waive off fee for this semester. "When the whole country is going through worse because of COVID-19, daily wage earners are on exodus on foot to reach their homes from Delhi. Students living in cities away from their hometowns are stuck and are insecure about their future, some students do not have money to live properly, all these private institutions care about is making money," said Lokesh Chugh, media in-charge, NSUI. "We demand the Uttar Pradesh government to give instructions to all the private universities to waive off fees for this semester if the government is not a part of all this. The classes remained suspended for this whole semester so there should be no question of fees. The NSUI demands complete waiver of fees for this semester," Chugh stated. The country is under a 21-day lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has infected more than 1,200 people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brian Zupanick, 39, was willing to do everything for his partner of 10 years, John Giarratano, 42, to get treated. Giarratano showed symptoms of the coronavirus early this month. On March 13, Giarratano was admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia. Later, he was sent to the ICU. By then, Zupanick know that that was something aside from pneumonia. Zupanick shares what he endured to save his partner's life since testing was delayed for a few weeks. He also shared how Giarratano had to suffer in his condition all by himself. He has a GoFundMe for medical bills. How It All Started On March 5, as the couple was going to bed, John said that he was chilly, so Brian asked if he has a fever. John said he woke up feeling okay the next day. However, when they checked John's temperature that night, it was at 101 degrees. At that time, they heard about COVID-19 in the news, from which they learned that if one has the symptoms but is not experiencing difficulty in breathing, then it would be better to stay at home. John only had fever and body aches; however, his fever has gone up to 103 degrees. He went to Urgent Care in Mount Sinai affiliate in Oceanside, Long Island on March 13, where he had a flu panel done. His result was negative. He was suspected of having pneumonia, so he had an X-ray done, and he went to ER to confirm. By the time they arrived at the hospital, John was already having difficulty breathing. However, Brian was still allowed to see John even though he could be positive with COVID-19. Dressed in an appropriate outfit, Brian did all he can to make John feel better and spent some quality time with him. He then bid goodbye and said, "I love you." John Had Difficulty Breathing The next day, John called Brian, saying he was scared because he could not breathe at all. Brian was terrified because he knew John was like a rock and never gets sick. They got all the results of the tests except for COVID-19. Soon, the hospital went into lockdown and did not allow any visitors. Brian panicked because he could not visit. The medical staff called him and said that John's heart is stressed because of the lack of oxygen. John's condition was stabilized only on a CPAP machine at 100 percent oxygen; however, later, he could not breathe into the machine anymore. One night, Brian received a text saying, "Let him put the pipe in". The next morning, John went into acute respiratory distress, and in less than 24 hours, he was sent to the ICU then transferred to the critical care unit. He got intubated with 100 percent oxygen and was not allowed to be moved as his oxygen saturation levels will plummet. Meanwhile, there was still no advice on John's COVID-19 tests, but he was going downhill. Everyone was frustrated, so Brian called the lab and tracked down the test in North Carolina. He was getting impatient, so he called the lab to ask about the results. He was told that results would come out by March 20 or 21. Brian said his partner would be dead by that time then hung up. Brian Had to Do Something Brian decided to take a chance and send an email to the president of Mount Sinai. Within seven minutes, he received a reply saying John's lab tests are expedited, and there was approval from the head of infectious disease to give John treatment for COVID. Immediately, John received the treatment and even if it was risky for him to be transferred to the flagship Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, Brian and John's family agreed with the movement because it was the last option for John to stay alive. Travel to Flagship Mount Sinai Hospital John got to Mount Sanai Hospital safely. Fortunately, he did not need the oxygen machine anymore as his condition had already improved. He became stable after a few days, and they were working on his ventilation and testing his responses. Recently, John was taken off his ventilator, and Brian could not help but cry of happiness. He was very thankful to Mount Sinai South Nassau and Mount Sinai Manhattan medical staff, whom he considers heroes. Brian is still not allowed to visit John. He is doing self-isolation as of the moment, even though he tested negative of the virus. All he wants is to see John. Brian said that one would not understand the severity of the disease until one has a family member or relative who is infected. Although he said that it is understandable, there is still a limit, and everyone should be careful. Brian added that people should know how hard it is for a person not to see their loved ones. In his case, he has not seen his partner for over two weeks, even though John is already awake. He also wants to let the people know how terrifying it feels to be on the opposite end of a phone call while listening to doctors trying their best to keep your loved one alive. To him, this should serve as a wake-up call to everyone. She walks briskly into a crowded marketplace, admonishes people for the unnecessary hubbub, picks up a broken brick and draws a circle around her. One more circle and then the other, and brusquely asks people how to exercise social distancing in the trying times coronavirus has brought in its wake. Nobody takes umbrage at her curtness, and all quietly step into the circles in front of a departmental store in the bustling Posta Bazaar, many drawing their own circles and patiently waiting for their turn to buy essential supplies. She nonchalantly wipes the dirt on her hand with her spotless white saree and nimbly walks through the multitude to board her car on way to inspect hospitals, sirens of the pilot car blaring. For the last three weeks West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been following this routine apart from holding official meetings to review the situation and addressing press conferences, deftly concealing her sisterly concern under a stern countenance, as coronavirus continues to ravage the world. West Bengal has had 26 afflictions so far of whom three died. The BJP, which has emerged as the main challenger to Banerjees ruling TMC after the Lok Sabha polls, clinching 18 of the states 42 seats, has called it a publicity stunt, but Didi (elder sister) is unfazed, and is doing what she loves to do mostbeing among people, distributing food and giving a pep talk to doctors and paramedical staff. Close watchers of Bengals political scene feel that Banerjees outreach in times of distress will indeed endear her to the masses. TMC means Mamata Banerjee. Although all political parties have kept aside and are fighting unitedly against the pandemic, this is an opportunity for all state governments and the Centre to showcase their administrative skills with a humane touch. We think that our Didi is far ahead of others in this, a senior TMC leader, who preferred not to be named, told PTI. Mamata di is leading from the front, disregarding her personal safety. If we are able to successfully tide over the crisis with the administration playing a proactive role, then we should be in a much more advantageous position ahead of next assembly polls," he said. West Bengal will have state assembly election next year after the TMCs unimpressive performance in the Lok Sabha poll when its tally plunged to 22 from 34 in the previous general elections. A battered TMC hired the services of poll strategist Prashant Kishor to improve its electoral fortunes with a slew of mass outreach campaigns like Didi ke Bolo (tell Didi) and Banglar Gorbo Mamata (Bengals pride Mamata). But there can be no better mass outreach than helping people in distress. It has much better and long-lasting impact and the state administration is just doing that, said another TMC leader. The police has to be more humane. Obviously, law and order has to be maintained. But that doesnt mean there will be excesses, she said, in a subtle warning to the police when they deal with people in distress. She asked the men in uniform also to identify the elderly and sick people in their respective areas and ensure steps are taken to help them. Often accused of Muslim appeasement, Banerjee was evenhanded while approaching religious leaders to stop large gatherings at places of worship. Religious leaders responded promptly and positively with temples, mosques and churches issuing instructions to the faithful to avoid congregations. She came in for praise even by her political rivals who appreciated her for taking them along in the fight against the pandemic and seeking their suggestions. The CPI(M), her arch rival, too praised her hard work in the fight against the pandemic. CPI (M) state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra acknowledged that the state government was trying hard to stem the coronavirus tide and said his party stood with the government. She is trying hard. Our best wishes are with her and we also stand by the government at this time of crisis. can take a back seat, Mishra said. The BJP, however, is a divided house with a section feeling that the chief ministers efforts were more for publicity than service and some others saying she was doing a good job. Despite our political differences, we should give her the due. She is doing a great job and is leading from the front, said a senior BJP leader. However, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said Banerjee was more interested in publicity rather than working on the ground to fight the pandemic. Every day we are coming across complaints of lack of proper medical protection kits and other equipment. Instead of seeking publicity she should concentrate on fighting the outbreak, he said. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the Union minister in charge of West Bengal during the 21-day nationwide lockdown, called her up last week and appreciated the steps taken by the state government to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Bouquets or brickbats, the rumbustious Didi is back on the streets of Kolkata, among the hungry and the homeless, as she stoops to conquer their hearts and encircle her enemies on the political chessboard. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bolt will deliver orders for essential services businesses like grocery stores during the 21-day South African lockdown. The new Bolt Business Delivery platform will connect essential services businesses to drivers on the Bolt platform so that these companies are able to get their goods to customers who are unable to leave their homes. Bolt Business Delivery is authorised to deliver goods between 05:00 and 09:00, and between 16:00 and 20:00 every day during the lockdown, the company said. Bolt has been working around the clock to provide innovative solutions to assist South African businesses and our micro-economy workforce to continue generating revenue safely during the lockdown, said country manager for Bolt in South Africa Gareth Taylor. Being agile and identifying ways that businesses can work together is key to our economys survival through this crisis. Taylor said the Business Delivery service is a win-win situation both for drivers and businesses. We have launched Bolt Business Delivery with two key goals in mind: to make sure that drivers on the Bolt platform can continue to earn a living safely, and to help businesses selling the essential products defined by the lockdown regulations to get orders to their customers quickly and safely, he said. How it works Businesses looking to sign up to the service can do so using this online form or by contacting Bolt using the [email protected] email address. Once they have signed up, businesses will have access to a simple, easy-to-use web interface. Retailers will be able to upload deliveries in batches, or they can be entered manually. They will also be able to choose whether orders must be picked up immediately or within 48 hours. Real-time tracking will also be implemented to ensure that retailers and customers alike can follow the progress of their order. Customers will receive an SMS notification to inform them that their delivery is on its way. This message also includes the estimated time of arrival as well as the drivers contact details. Bolt has confirmed that the Bolt Business Delivery service will be continuing after the lockdown. Two people at each end of the age spectrum have become beacons of hope in Northern Italy, ground-zero for the coronavirus in Europe. Leonardo, a six-month-old baby and Italica Grondona, a 102-year-old woman have both survived the virus after each faced a long battle in hospital. Little Leonardo has recently returned home in the municipality of Corbetta in the northern Italian region of Lombardy after winning a 50-day battle against COVID-19. Six-month-old baby Leonardo survived 50 days with the coronavirus. His mother said 'I was worried a lot, especially at night. I do not wish that on any mother' Italica Grondona, 102, battled the coronavirus for 20 days, with doctors calling her 'the immortal' as she also lived through the Spanish Flu when she was Leonardo's ago Local mayor Marco Ballarini called baby Leonardo 'the wonderful face of hope' and thanked the cute tot for helping to lift the spirits in the region. He said: 'Today we have a reason to smile and be happy, to feel like we are part of a community. Today, we look at the wonderful face of hope. Corbetta welcomes home little Leonardo who has just been released from hospital after defeating COVID-19. 'Thanks a lot Leo, and thanks to your parents who never gave up. They brought summer to the hearts of all Corbetta citizens! Strength Corbetta!' The baby's mum told local media: 'I was worried a lot, especially at night. I do not wish that on any mother.' She said that she knew her baby was ill when he had a fever and his heart rate quickened, adding that her husband's work colleague had been diagnosed with the virus. The mother said that little Leonardo was well treated by healthcare professionals. Italy's largest daily toll from the five-week-old epidemic was registered on Friday, when 919 people died The 102-year-old 'Immortal' Meanwhile, A 102-year-old Italian woman in Genoa, also in Northern Italy, has made a miraculous recovery after catching the coronavirus and spending 20 days in hospital. Earlier this month, Italica Grondona came down with symptoms of the deadly virus and was admitted to hospital with mild heart failure but she has since been discharged with doctors saying 'the virus surrendered in front of her.' 'We nicknamed her 'Highlander' the immortal,' doctor Vera Sicbaldi said to CNN, who treated the woman in the San Martino hospital in Genoa, adding that Gorondona 'represents hope for all the elderly people facing this pandemic.' Records from Italy's National Health institute show that the average age of someone to die after testing positive for the coronavirus is 78, making Grondona's case particularly exceptional. The doctors were so impressed with the case that they decided to study it deeper, although Sicbaldi admitted that the doctor's themselves did 'very little' to cure Grondona. The number of new coronavirus cases in Italy rose by just 4,050, the lowest amount since March 17, hitting a total 101,739 from a previous 97,689 The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy climbed by 812 to 11,591, reversing two days of declines Sicbaldi said: 'She only had some mild coronavirus symptoms, so we tested her and she was positive, but we did very little, she recovered on her own.' Given Grondona's old-age, doctors said that it was possible she was the only patient they had treated to have also survived the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, estimated to have killed around 50 million people, after they undertook additional tests on her. 'We got serological samples, she is the first patient we know that might have gone through the 'Spanish flu' since she was born in 1917,' added Sicbaldi. She would have been around Leonardo's age when Spanish Flu was raging through Europe. Amazingly, Grondona was discharged from hospital on 26 March and is now in a care home. While her only son died in the US decades ago, her Nephew, Renato Villa Grondona has been looking out for her. When asked what her secret to surviving the virus was, he said he didn't know, but said 'I know she is a free and independent woman.' 'She loves life, dancing and music, she loves Freddy Mercury and Valentino Rossi,' the famous Italian MotoGP world champion. According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University, Italy has registered 101,739 cases of COVID-19, 11,591 deaths and 14,620 recoveries. China will start giving daily reports about the coronavirus patients who show no symptoms amid fears that they could lead to a second wave of infections. Beijing's health officials will provide day-to-day updates from tomorrow of the nation's 'silent carriers', who can potentially spread the contagion unaware. The news comes after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang yesterday urged officials to ramp up testing suspected asymptomatic cases and intensify the monitoring, tracking, quarantine and treatment efforts imposed on them. Beijing's health officials will provide day-to-day updates from tomorrow of the nation's 'silent carriers', who can potentially spread the contagion unnoticed. The picture shows a hazmat-clad worker registering a woman's information at the entrance to a bank in Wuhan on Tuesday Chang Jile (pictured), a senior official from the Chinese National Health Commission, delivered the order to zero in on asymptomatic patients at a press briefing live-streamed by state media 'Silent carriers' are patients who don't suffer any known symptoms of the disease, including fevers, a sore throat or coughs, but they will test positive in nucleic acid tests, which detect the coronavirus. Authorities have ordered all cities to isolate such patients in quarantine centres for 14 days, according to a previous directive from Wuhan. People in close contact with them face two weeks of medical observation. These silent carriers would be identified when officials screen the close contacts of confirmed patients and investigate cluster infections. Any new cases must be reported to the central government within two hours of the diagnosis, according to Chang Jile, a senior official from the Chinese National Health Commission. 'Silent carriers' are patients who don't suffer any known symptoms of the disease, including fevers, a sore throat or coughs, but they will test positive in nucleic acid tests. The picture shows a medical worker taking a swab sample from the photographer in Wuhan on Monday As local infections peter out in China and new cases surface among travellers returning home, the existence of virus carriers with no symptoms is fuelling public concerns that people could be spreading it without knowing they are ill. China delays university entrance exam due to coronavirus Fearing a second wave of infections sparked by inbound travellers, China will delay its university entrance exam by a month, until July 7 and 8, China's Ministry of Education said today. However, Hubei province, where the virus emerged late last year, and Beijing, the capital, will get more leeway in scheduling it, the Ministry added. The annual two-day 'gaokao' test drew more than 10 million candidates last year, state media have said. Last week, a study in British medical journal the Lancet Public Health recommended that China extend school and workplace closures, since an earlier relaxation of curbs could bring a second peak in the outbreak by August. 'China has slowed transmission of the virus and in so doing, has passed one peak in the outbreak,' said Tarik Jasarevic, a representative of the World Health Organisation. 'The challenge now is to prevent a resurgence of new cases.' Advertisement The new daily report from the National Health Commission will include details of such cases for the first time, said Chang, the head of the Bureau for Disease Control under the Commission. Chang revealed the information at a daily briefing. Asymptomatic patients under observation numbered 1,541 by Monday, with 205 of the cases having come from overseas, the commission said in a separate statement. Monday's 48 new infections, and one death, in mainland China were up from 31 the previous day, the commission said, reversing four days of declines. All were imported, taking China's tally of such cases to 771, with no new local infection reported. Many were students returning from overseas. About 35 infected Chinese citizens are still studying abroad, with 11 already cured, education ministry official Liu Jin said. A recent study projects that at least 59 per cent of the people who have contracted the virus in Wuhan showed mild or no symptoms. This means tens of thousands of patients, who can potentially spread the contagion unnoticed, may have fallen under the radar and were not included in the government's official count. But Dr Zhong Nanshan, Beijing's chief medical advisor on the coronavirus, has pushed back at the claims. He told state media CGTN on Sunday that no evidence showed there were a large number of asymptomatic cases in Wuhan or China because the number of daily infections had not been increasing. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (pictured in 2019) on Monday demanded officials start testing the close contacts of all coronavirus patients, including recorded asymptomatic sufferers Chinese Premier Li ordered authorities to increase their surveillance over asymptomatic cases at a meeting on Monday, according to a government report. His directive came after the central government over the weekend declared that the country 'has largely blocked the transmissions'. Premier Li, who oversees the national efforts of fighting the virus, demanded officials start testing the close contacts of all coronavirus patients, including recorded asymptomatic sufferers. The endeavour would help the country's economy and social development return to normal as early as possible, Premier Li said. The commercial hub of Shanghai saw 11 new imported cases on Monday, mainly among returning Chinese nationals, while Beijing reported three. A woman wearing a protective mask is seen past a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping on a street in Shanghai on March 12 Tax authorities acknowledged the pandemic's impact on exporters, saying they were studying policies to reduce pressure on businesses, from tax cuts to an extension of preferential policies for foreign firms. New data from a survey of manufacturers showed that factory activity expanded in March from February's collapse as businesses returned to work, but analysts warned that slumping external demand could prevent a durable recovery. 'The situation could be very fluid as the virus outbreak remains unpredictable,' analysts at ANZ bank said in a note. 'Chinese policymakers will likely step up and expand the stimulus programme if needed.' The commercial hub of Shanghai saw 11 new imported cases on Monday, mainly among returning Chinese nationals, while Beijing had three. Wuhan, the capital of central Hubei province, reported no new infections for a seventh straight day. Groups of medical teams in brightly coloured jackets took photographs around the city as they prepared to leave. 'Thank you, Wuhan. We are back,' read a message on a building that houses a Levi's clothing store. By Monday, total infections stood at 81,518 in mainland China, with 3,305 deaths. Junior Doctor and Miss England winner Dr Bhasha Mukherjee is set to arrive back in the UK tomorrow morning after getting stuck in India during the coronavirus pandemic. Like many other Britons in the country Dr Mukherjee, from Derby, found herself unable to get home when the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi cancelled flights and imposed a country-wide lockdown. Desperate to get back to work and join colleagues at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Lincolnshire, in the fight against coronavirus, 24-year-old Dr Mukherjee made an appeal to the Foreign Office to get her home. British Deputy High Commissioner Nick Low (left) secured Dr Bhasha Mukherjee (right) a flight back to the UK via Frankfurt today After seeing her appeal on the MailOnline British Deputy High Commissioner Nick Low secured the keen Doctor a flight back to the UK via Frankfurt, where she is currently waiting for her connecting flight. The doctor had been visiting India to carry out humanitarian work as part of a travelling career break. As the outbreak of coronavirus worsened in early March she travelled to her aunt's house in Kolkata to self-isolate. Bhasha in her 'scrubs' while working as a junior doctor, before her humanitarian campaign Deputy High Commissioner Mr Low said: 'Bhasha was in good spirits at Kolkata Airport this morning and looking forward to getting back. 'She'll need to do the mandatory COVID-19 training for healthcare professionals before returning to frontline duties at the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston.' Adding: 'We got fifteen Brits out this morning, including an ex-British soldier whom I was able to get on the plane at twenty minutes' notice.' Bhasha the beauty queen feeling ecstatic as she is crowned Miss England in August last year Dr Mukherjee said she had been feeling 'guilty' hearing about NHS staff working 13-hour shifts and decided to book the first flight home, but as her plane home was about to take off on the runway in Delhi the Indian PM made the decision to ground all planes. Speaking last week before her repatriation Dr Mukherjee said: 'Everything started to change very rapidly. I started getting emails from work asking me to return. I knew how badly I was needed so I emailed telling them I was willing to come back.' Adding: 'I know this is a global pandemic, but I have no idea how to handle the situation.' Stunning in red - Bhasha said she felt 'like a refugee' after being trapped in India after the Covid-19 lockdown The beauty queen was born in India, but moved to Derby with her family when she was nine. She started her first shift as a junior doctor in August 2019, just hours after being crowned Miss England. Bhasha flew back to India earlier this month alongside her mum Mita to do charity work with a group that supports several international charities. But after the travel ban was imposed, the pair were separated when her mother was unable to board the same flight back to Kolkata. Dr Mukherjee said she had been feeling 'guilty' hearing about NHS staff working 13-hour shifts, but was unable to get home to the UK until Nick Low stepped in to secure her a flight The pair were also due to fly to Pakistan the following week for their next trip. 'We were hoping to be out of the country by the end of the day because it would be the last day that we could travel,' she said. 'I got on the flight and they started doing the safety checks. 'I actually fell asleep because it was really early in the morning, but when I woke up an hour had gone by and we were still on the ground,' she added. Despite telling passengers the delay was due to a technical fault, airline staff eventually said the plane had been grounded indefinitely. Bhasha posing with a copy of Around the World in Eighty Days by French writer Jules Verne while in isolation 'It was such an anxiety provoking situation. I thought how am I going to get home and back to work,' she said. 'There were hundreds of people just standing there in the airport with their bags desperately trying to get on a flight and leave. I was just sat on the floor crying. 'Everyone was crying, desperately trying to get home. I felt like a refugee,' she added. Bhasha said she was forced to self-isolate among family because her 92-year-old grandmother is among people vulnerable to Covid-19. She added that she had been stuck in her room alone 'feeling completely useless.' The Miss England contest has also been postponed due to the global outbreak. As clients share their innermost thoughts, fears, anxieties and insecurities, psychologists and psychiatrists are facing a novel challenge: cultivating emotional connections in a fully virtual space. As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic pushes people inside their homes, Wisconsins mental health care providers are quickly transitioning to electronic forms of care, also known as telehealth. UW Health and SSM Health are already holding almost all outpatient appointments over the phone and working to get video outpatient visits up and running as soon as this week. The sweeping changes have come with many hurdles, delays and some hiccups. Federal regulations have slowed the pace at which providers can switch to video consultations. Spotty health insurance coverage has made it unclear if all patients particularly those in residential or inpatient facilities will be able to get coverage for virtual care. Phone calls can result in some miscues with clients. And a few providers arent prepared to go digital. I cant imagine folks that havent been doing telemedicine trying to do it in this short period of time, said Dr. Jerry Halverson, a psychiatrist with Rogers Behavioral Health. I think everybody wants to do video. I dont think people understand whether its patients or insurance companies kind of how difficult it is to set it up. Yet mental health professionals also see an opportunity in the forced transition: The more technologically literate they become, the more realistic it is for remote therapy to become commonplace, expanding access to mental health care across the state. Virtual health Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, UW Healths psychiatry department had limited experience with telehealth, said Dr. Ned Kalin, chairman of UW Healths Department of Psychiatry. Now, almost all outpatient appointments are happening over the phone. Mental health care providers are exempt from Gov. Tony Evers order that shuts down nonessential organizations during the COVID-19 coronavirus emergency, so they can still hold appointments in person. But Kalin said its important to use telehealth whenever possible. In general, unless the person has to be seen face to face which given the importance of social distancing is not often our approach is to use modern technology to provide ongoing care for our current patients and for new patients, said Kalin. UW Health hopes to have the capacity for video meetings by this week, Kalin said. After that, the department is hoping to launch group therapy sessions via video. In addition to individual, one-to-one encounters, were also thinking about how we can use virtual groups to help provide skills for coping and stress reduction and also mutual peer support, he said. Dr. Robert Peyton, a Ph.D. psychologist who works at SSM Health, said all of his visits with patients are now being done over the phone, and SSM Health also hopes to roll out video sessions within the week. Kalin said mental health professionals are anticipating a large increase in demand for online care because of the obvious stress that were all facing in relation to the current COVID-19 crisis. Inpatient goes slightly digital Not all psychiatry can go fully digital, however. Patients who receive treatment in residential or inpatient programs need to be inside the facility for their own safety, Halverson said. If we stop delivering care, that could be very dangerous to people that need it, Halverson said. If you need inpatient psychiatric care, you really need to come in. Otherwise bad things can happen, such as death. In the psychiatric units, Rogers Behavioral Health is moving therapists, physicians and most other staff out of the unit as soon as possible and leaving only a skeleton crew to serve patients, Halverson said. Therapists will still meet with inpatients but via video. Anything that can be done virtually, we want to be able to do virtually, Halverson said. At UW Health, patients receiving treatment in the inpatient hospital psychiatric unit are already using tablets so they can meet with their doctors via video, Kalin said. Telehealth is also being offered with laptops and iPads for the inpatient care units at SSM Health, said Dr. Matt Sager, an inpatient psychiatric doctor at SSM Health. Theyre also exploring the use of smartphones, Sager said. All of the inpatient care providers are upping their cleaning and sanitation efforts, practicing social distancing within the facilities, and screening patients and staff for COVID-19 symptoms, including taking temperatures. UW Health is also consolidating its inpatient care into one facility so its easier to control the environment. Halverson said anyone who is not a current patient, but needs residential care should not avoid seeking care. For the residential and inpatients, there would be a concern that people would be afraid to come in, which is why were trying to keep it as safe as possible, Halverson said. Why the video delay? While many employers are making the jump to video teleconferencing, mental health providers are subject to regulations that have slowed the transition. For starters, they cant use commonly available apps like Skype, Zoom or Facetime to see their patients. They have to get special video chatting software that protects patients medical information to ensure compliance with federal privacy laws, Peyton said. Another hurdle is that many insurers did not cover phone or video mental health care, Peyton said. But in the wake of the pandemic, most insurance companies are now covering telehealth, and the federal government is waiving the requirement for video platforms to comply with privacy laws. Its literally changing every day, Peyton said. Generally speaking its going in the direction that youd hope for. For the most part, people are recognizing that this is a unique time, and that the old rules and how you have to do things have to get waived a bit. But Halverson said hes been having trouble getting some national insurance companies to cover inpatient and residential telehealth. Some companies have told him those clients should switch to outpatient telehealth, and then it will get covered, which Halverson said would prevent those patients from getting the necessary care. Jessica Anderson, a counselor with UnityPoint Health-Meriter Hospital who works at a primary care clinic in Monona, said her clinic doesnt currently have a video platform that complies with privacy laws. Although that requirement is being waived, Anderson said therapists have an ethical obligation to protect their patients privacy. UnityPoint Health spokeswoman Leah Huibregtse said UnityPoint is exploring a variety of options, including telehealth, for all of its providers during the ongoing health crisis. For now, Anderson is sticking to in-person appointments, with phone check-ins for a limited number of clients. She plans to complete some telehealth trainings to increase her competency in case her clinic goes virtual. It does work Peyton said his phone appointments have been going smoothly so far, but there have been a few snags. The main missing ingredient is body language, Peyton said. Sometimes its hard to tell if a client is joking over the phone. Other times patients wonder if hes actually listening if he pauses to think about something. So far, hes had a few clients ask, Hello? Are you there? In those situations, he explains that hes just trying to figure out the best way to answer their question. Some aspects of Peytons practice such as when he needs equipment to conduct a certain test or wants to show a child how to do something through demonstration just cant be replicated online. But for the most part, he has the tools he needs. It honestly hasnt been that bad even though those things definitely get in the way, Peyton said. Ive been able to still have a pretty solid connection with my clients as I talk to them. And I think it does work. Kalin said video conferences bear an even closer resemblance to face-to-face interaction. Video calls allow him to read patients facial expressions and body language. Its still not the same as being in the room with someone, but its pretty close, Kalin said. Most of what we do in psychiatry can be done that way. One limitation of all remote care, Peyton said, is its harder to do emergency interventions if someone is suicidal or homicidal. To address that constraint, Peyton confirms the location of his clients at the beginning of each virtual appointment in case he needs to send emergency responders. A game changer With psychologists essentially forced to become more comfortable with electronic health platforms during the pandemic, Halverson said he thinks telehealth could become a game changer once the crisis passes. Shilagh Mirgain, UW Health psychologist, said some of her clients actually prefer virtual health care because they get to talk with her from the comfort of their home. Mirgain is hopeful that digital therapy can be used to expand mental health care access to rural communities or to those who have health problems that make it difficult to come to a clinic in person. Were all really excited about the potential for telehealth to be able to reach more people, Mirgain said. I think its going to broaden our outreach and improve access. We see that as potentially a silver lining. [Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that the federal government has waived the requirement that video platforms comply with privacy laws.] A series of white tents went up in New Yorks Central Park this weekend as workers assembled a 68-bed emergency field hospital for people infected with the coronavirus. The field hospital, which is expected to open today, will allow Mount Sinai Hospital on 98th Street and Fifth Avenuejust across the street from the parkadditional surge capacity as New York City grapples with an overstretched hospital system. Samaritans Purse also set up a field hospital in Cremona, Italy, in the hard-hit Lombardy region, where it has treated more than 100 people. New Yorks death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 965 on Mondaythe most of any state. It had nearly 60,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Samaritans Purse will staff the New York City hospital with 72 disaster response specialists from around the country, working as contractors for the organization. They include doctors, nurses, paramedics, lab technicians, and pharmacists, as well as a technical support crew. Its not only that New York is overwhelmed and has a lack of patient beds, said Kaitlyn Lahm, a spokesperson for Samaritans Purse, the evangelical humanitarian aid organization led by Franklin Graham. Its that staff are overworked. We will be fully self-sustained at the emergency field hospital. The field hospital will have up to 10 intensive care unit beds with ventilators. Several trucks left the organizations North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, warehouse Saturday morning and arrived in New York City that night. By Sunday, it had recruited dozens of New York City church volunteers to help set up the hospital. They worked throughout the day to unpack crates, drive stakes into the ground, and lay down plastic flooring. The makeshift hospital will have electricity, heating, water, and a fully staffed pharmacy and lab. Cory Maxwell-Coghlan said he got a text asking if hed be willing to volunteer Sunday morning. The 38-year-old director of the Faith and Work Center at Redeemer Church in New York City was among about 40 local volunteers who helped the North Carolina team. Im not a medical professional, so I cant do much, said Maxwell-Coghlan. But it felt really good to contribute in some wayto be useful. He said several New Yorkers stopped by as the teams were assembling the hospital and snapped photos. Its not something you would expect in a fairly affluent neighborhood of New York City on the Upper East Side, he said. These hospitals are usually deployed to developing countries. It felt eerie to do that. The first field hospital set up by Samaritans Purse was deployed in 2016 in response to the earthquake in Ecuador. The organization also set up an emergency field hospital about 12 miles from Mosul, Iraq, during the 201617 battle for the city. Last year, it installed a field hospital in the Bahamas in response to Hurricane Dorian. Lahm said Samaritans Purse is now in the process of acquiring materials for a third field hospital. Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora said Tuesday on CNBC that he will forfeit his salary and maintain staff as part of the network security provider's coronavirus response plan. "We have committed to no COVID-19 layoffs in our company because people are very insecure, people are concerned about whether they'll have a job once this economic thing comes back around," he said in a "Mad Money" interview. To take it a step further, Arora said he, the company and the company's board would contribute a total of $4 million to a fund to support wage earners, such as cafeteria and security staff, and has asked employees to donate up to $1 million to the pot. In 2019, Arora's base salary was $1 million, according to Factset. "We're hoping to have $5 million-plus raised very quickly, and the intent is to help our employees in need, first and foremost, to help our hourly wage workers and, three, support the community that we're all in," Arora told Jim Cramer. "We've basically chosen to balance employees and people over profit in the short-term time frame because people are very concerned about what's going on around them." Palo Alto has also committed to maintaining head count of CloudGenix, the privately held software-defined wide-area network company it announced Tuesday that it would acquire for $420 million. The deal is expected to close in Palo Alto's July quarter and to boost its Prisma secure access service edge, or SASE, platform. Palo Alto employs more than 7,000 people, which includes offices in California, Tel Aviv and India. It is not clear how many CloudGenix employs. "They're a part of the family," Arora said. Cramer noted that companies often make job cuts after executing a merger, to which Arora responded confidently, "No." "I think we will come out of this strong both as an economy and as a company," he said. "We are in position to continue to be the largest cybersecurity company in the world. In times like this it shakes out the winners and the losers." Palo Alto shares have plummeted with the broader economy during the coronavirus pandemic. The stock closed Tuesday's session at $163.96, down more than 29% from the start of the quarter and more than 32% the past year. With more people working remotely and students studying from home, hackers have become active in attempting to take advantage of people's heightened sensibility to the coronavirus. Home networks are usually less secure than enterprise ones, and coronavirus-related online scams have ticked up, Arora said. He said he expects that will translate to more business for Palo Alto as school districts, universities and businesses alike look to beef up their remote access applications. Recent execution misses in the company could also be a thing of the past. "I think the execution is back ... and I'm hoping this will translate into a good outcome for the company in the future from an economic" standpoint, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 18:26:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong has reached 714 as the Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported on Tuesday 32 additional cases. The 32 new cases involve 19 males and 13 females, aged between 11 and 86 years old, Head of the CHP's Communicable Disease Branch Chuang Shuk-kwan said at a daily press briefing on Tuesday afternoon. The newly diagnosed patients include 24 with travel history during the incubation period, 12 of them students studying overseas. Out of the eight patients who had no travel history, four are related to a clustered outbreak found in a karaoke venue. A total of seven people attended a gathering at the karaoke venue in Tsim Sha Tsui on March 24. Five of them have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and the other two will be sent to quarantine center as close contacts, Chuang said. According to Lau Ka-hin, a chief manager of Hong Kong's Hospital Authority (HA), as of Tuesday noon 127 patients of confirmed COVID-19 cases have been discharged from the hospital upon recovery, and 532 are being treated at 14 hospitals across Hong Kong, including eight in critical condition and three in serious condition. Lau said the HA is under stress due to the rapid increase of confirmed cases and will try to speed up the hospital admission procedure and shorten the waiting time for the newly diagnosed patients. Controller of the CHP Wong Ka-hing noted at the briefing that the COVID-19 virus testing coverage in Hong Kong is among the highest in Asia or even globally, which has helped to find the asymptomatic cases and advance the diagnosis. With the Junior Police Call Permanent Activity Center administered by the Hong Kong police being converted into a quarantine center and handed over to the Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, Hong Kong currently has four quarantine centers with nearly 1,700 units in total, Wong said, adding that the HKSAR government will continue to increase the capacity of quarantine facilities. Idris Elba has announced both he and his wife Sabrina, 30, have passed the two-week quarantine period after being tested positive for coronavirus. The actor, 47, took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to share a health update where he told fans they were 'doing ok' and still asymptomatic. Idris, who has been in quarantine in New Mexico after he discovered he had COVID-19 while shooting his new Netflix film, said they are 'stuck in limbo' because they can't get a flight back to the U.K. 'We're doing ok': Idris Elba has announced both he and wife Sabrina have passed the two-week quarantine period after being tested positive for coronavirus Idris said: 'Whats up people. I just wanted to send you a little update on how were doing. Were both doing ok, still asymptomatic. 'Weve passed the quarantine period but were stuck in limbo. We cant get a flight back home so we just have to sit still for a little bit, but other than that were ok and were so thankful that the worst of this has probably passed.' Reflecting on being in self-isolation, the Luther star continued: 'Its weird because I never sit still, Sabrina never sits still either. I think shes finding it harder, shes getting cabin fever. Also positive: Posting on Twitter on Thursday, the British actor said he and his wife Sabrina, who has also tested positive are 'still feeling OK' Interaction: Idris appeared to confirm he had contracted the virus from Canadian Prime Minister's wife Justin Trudeau Sophie, 44, after the two met earlier this month 'Were both good, mentally just trying to stay optimistic. I hope you guys are too man. Keeping yourselves, you know, sane and not getting worried or too panicked. 'Take it from me man, I thought I was going to see the worst of it as an asthmatic but thankfully I came through and you can too.' Idris then went on to thank the NHS, as well as encouraging those who are struggling: 'Big shout out to everyone who is helping other people, especially the doctors, nurses and health carers who are doing their thing. You lot are amazing and should be fully appreciated. Feeling good: The actor, 47, took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to share a health update where he told fans they were 'doing ok' and still asymptomatic Homesick: Idris, who has been in quarantine in New Mexico where he was shooting his new Netflix film, said they are 'stuck in limbo' because they can't get a flight back to the U.K 'To anyone who is going through hard times financially right now, this is going to be a tough time for everyone. Keep your head up. 'Just a note to say listen Im still here, I hope youre good, Were going to fight this thing.' Idris closed off the video: 'Thank you for everyone who has sent their love and thoughts, we really appreciate it. Alright, respect.' Last Thursday, the star admitted the couple couldn't wait to return home to London as they are quarantined near to where Idris was filming upcoming Netflix film The Harder They Fall in Sante Fe. Update: It comes days after Idris tweeted doctors have told him that he and Sabrina will become immune to COVID:19 after they tested positive to having the virus Sharing a selfie, Idris wrote: 'Hoping everyone is coping with this $@@!! Currently still quarantine.. Sab and I still feel ok so far with no changes. Dr told us that after quarantine we will be immune for a certain time since our antibodies fought this.' 'At some point we'd like to go home to London. Bsafe.' Idris also spent time replying to followers, telling one who asked if he had had any symptoms at all: 'No not really... the day I got tested I had body aches and a headache.' Idris appeared to confirm he had contracted the virus from Canadian Prime Minister's wife Justin Trudeau Sophie, 44, after the two met shortly before they both tested positive for COVID-19. Message: Idris confirmed he had tested positive for coronavirus in a social media video posted on March 16, with his wife choosing to remain by his side The actor revealed he was exposed to the deadly disease on 4 March, the same day he posed with Sophie at the We Day UK charity event, in Wembley. Idris said: 'It's hard to say when I got the disease or when I contracted COVID-19, it's hard to say when. I will say that I know I've been exposed to it from March 4. 'That's when the person that came up positive, that was the time I got in contact with that person. 'So essentially, I could have been positive from March 4, but it's hard to say when I contracted someone with corona, you can contract it at anytime but my known exposure was March 4.' Idris then addressed backlash as to why he was tested for COVID-19 after he had 'no symptoms' and 'felt ok'. 'I am on location about to start filming. The news breaks that this person, who is also in the public eye, has tested positive.' Idris previously explained he was on location and about to start filming when he got tested: 'It was definitely something I had to do as I was about to start filming and be around a lot of people,' he said. Updates: Idris has been reassuring fans in regular updates that he has been feeling well 'My job made me test immediately, I had to test anyway, as it meant I was putting a lot of people at risk if I had been exposed. We were lucky to get a test very quickly because of the shortages of the test. Following Idris' diagnosis, it was revealed Idris' wife Sabrina Dhowre-Elba had also tested positive after choosing to remain with her husband in self isolation when he was diagnosed. Defending their decision to isolate together following The Wire star's diagnosis, she told Oprah Winfrey 'I wanted to be with him' and claimed she felt 'the instinct of a wife' to take care of him. The IGNOU and IP University have decided to contribute one-day salary of their employees to a dedicated fund set up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to aid the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University had collected Rs 11 lakh as part of the one-day salary of its employees and will be donating it to the PM Cares Fund, the varsity said. On Saturday, Modi had announced setting up of the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES) for the purpose. Employees of the Indira Gandhi National Open University across the country have also decided to contribute their one-day salaries and expressed their commitment and solidarity with the Centre of in mitigating this problem, the IGNOU said in a statement. "One day's salary from the salary of all the employees at the Headquarter and the Regional Centres & Regional Evaluation Centres of the University will be given to the Government of India to fight the pandemic in the country," it said. IGNOU VC Prof. Nageshwar Rao said in a statement that the university fraternity wholeheartedly contributes towards this cause in order to fight the global pandemic. He also added that as a National University working for the masses, it is also our duty to support our Government in this hour of crisis. The retired IGNOU employees have also committed to contribute towards the cause by asking their one-day pension to be deducted, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Being stuck inside her house during the pandemic wouldnt be very healthy for me, said Bublick, as she continues to process the death of her son. She and Carter own catering businesses Feast & Imbibe and Soul & Smoke. 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. Cash withdrawals and deposits at Egypts banks have been limited for individuals and businesses The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) decided to apply temporary limits on daily cash withdrawals and deposits at all banks operating in the country on Sunday in a bid to control panicked withdrawals or hoarding amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The daily limit for withdrawals is now LE10,000 for individuals and LE50,000 for companies, but the latter are exempt from deposit limits and from limits on withdrawals made to pay salaries. The CBE has also set a limit of LE5,000 for cash deposits and withdrawals from ATM machines. Credit card dues and cheques worth more than LE10,000 are exempt from the decision, on condition that any cheques amounting to more than 10,000 be cashed over several days or placed in a bank account. According to the CBE, the measures also aim at reducing crowding or gatherings at the banks at peak times during the withdrawals of salaries and pensions. The CBE called on all citizens to rely more on bank transfers and the use of electronic payment methods. All expenses associated with bank transfers and electronic payments would be cancelled, it said. Tarek Amer, the CBEs governor, said via telephone to a talk show on Sunday that huge amounts of money had been withdrawn from the banks lately. About LE30 billion has been withdrawn from the banks during the last three weeks, he said. We want more discipline, he added. Cash in the Egyptian market outside banking operations amounted to some LE540 billion, Amer noted, adding that about 15 million people currently use online payments. He said that many companies should adjust their dealings with cash and opt for bank transactions instead. Egypt has the highest liquidity rates in the region, and any institution that needs cash can receive any amount through online transactions, Amer stressed, adding that this was in line with preventative measures and the financial inclusion agenda. He also said that the new banking system law placed fines on cash transactions beyond a certain limit and that it had set a period of one year to adjust conditions and comply with them. Car showrooms that deal in cash would be fined, according to Amer. The CBEs decisions were praised by Hany Abul-Fotouh, a financial analyst, who said they were important to rationalise the many cash withdrawals that had taken place as a result of unjustified fears of a lack of cash amid the pandemic, putting pressure on the liquidity in the banks. The decisions could also help in reducing the risk of spreading the new coronavirus by limiting the exchange of paper currency that could transmit the infection, he said. The present curfew and the shorter working day at the banks, he added, had imposed practical difficulties in making money transfers, adding logistical difficulties to transferring funds from the CBE to the banks and from the banks to their branches. He also said that the implementation of the decisions could act as a test period for a gradual transformation away from a society dependent on cash to one making mostly electronic payments, which was one of the goals of the governments financial inclusion strategy. But Abul-Fotouh warned that monetary transactions could be negatively affected in informal markets and remote areas, for reasons related to access to electronic platforms or because of the communication network or because of cash-based traditions. Some businesses expressed their discomfort with the daily limits on cash withdrawals and deposits. The General Union of Poultry Producers (GUPP) said in a statement that the decisions would disrupt the poultry industry since it relied mostly on cash-based trading. Changing this system and moving to electronic payments would require time to adequately prepare farms, feed factories, veterinary pharmacies and others with the necessary tools for dealing with electronic payments. The GUPP called on the CBE to reconsider the decisions for certain businesses that depend on daily cash trading so that they do not suffer a sudden and disruptive shock. It asked for a grace period to be applied to review the situation of such businesses, after which the CBEs decisions could be applied. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Baku, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 Trend: Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made a statement on March 31 - Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis, Trend reports citing the ministry. The statement reads: "March 31 is the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis, commemorating the victims of the bloody massacre perpetrated by Armenians against Azerbaijanis in March 1918. In March-April 1918, massacres were committed in the city of Baku and other towns and districts of the Baku Province by the Armenian dashnak - bolshevik armed groups operating under the mandate of the Baku Council (Baku Soviet), and tens of thousands of civilians were killed only for their ethnic and religious affiliation. Stepan Shaumian, an ethnic Armenian appointed as the Commissar Extraordinary for the Caucasus by the head of the Russian Bolsheviks - Vladimir Lenin, admitted that 6,000 armed soldiers of the Baku Soviet and 4,000 from the Dashnaksutyun party participated in the massacres against the Azerbaijani people.[1] The genocide carried out against the Azerbaijanis along with Baku covered also Shamakhi, Guba, Iravan, Zangezur, Garabagh, Nakhchivan and Kars regions. During the first five months of 1918, more than 16,000 people were murdered with utmost cruelty in Guba province alone; a total of 167 villages were destroyed, 35 of which do not exist to this day. The Armenians also slaughtered local Jews and Lezghis living in Guba. Mass graves discovered in Guba region in 2007 constitute a clear evidence of the inhumane acts committed by Armenians. March massacres of 1918 were well prepared and ruthlessly implemented act by radical nationalist Armenians against Azerbaijanis on the grounds of racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing. The Government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic established in 1918 the Extraordinary Investigation Commission in order to investigate the serious crimes perpetrated by Armenians and has taken a number of measures to preserve the true facts revealed by the Commission in the memory of the people and to inform the world community about these atrocities. The Extraordinary Investigation Commission which was comprised of the best lawyers of that time representing different nationalities Russians, Jewish, Polish, Georgians and even Armenians, based on the evidences launched criminal cases against 194 individuals accused of different crimes against the peaceful population; 24 individuals in Baku and about 100 individuals in Shamakhy had been arrested for perpetrated crimes. However, this process had been suspended after the demise of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, full investigation of the tragic events and its political-legal assessment had been prevented. Only after 80 years on March 26, 1998 the adequate political assessment was given to these horrific events by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the Genocide of Azerbaijanis", signed by National Leader Heydar Aliyev and 31 March was declared the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis. The commemoration of the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis raises the awareness of the world community to the facts of the massacre and ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis in the past and present. Since late 1980s, unleashing the war against Azerbaijan and occupying its territories, Armenia continued the policy reminiscent of March Massacre by carrying out ethnic cleansing of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis in Armenia and in the seized lands of Azerbaijan and committing numerous war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide, including Khojaly Genocide of February 1992. While remembering the innocent victims of March tragedy, we strongly condemn the deliberate and continued policy of genocide, crimes against humanity, racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing by Armenia against the people of Azerbaijan and reiterate the importance of ceasing impunity of Armenia to prevent occurrence of such inhumane crimes. Mark Currie, owner of MC Autosales in Magherafelt gave a car away on Saturday after nurse said she needed one to get to work. An NHS nurse working in Londonderry has been left stunned after a kind-hearted business owner gave her a new car for free. Mark Currie (30) owns MC Autosales in the Ballyronan area of Magherafelt and was moved by the bravery of frontline NHS workers fighting the coronavirus to hand over the Vauxhall Astra with no charge. I got an email last Friday evening from an NHS nurse who needed a car to get to work in as hers was on its last legs and she was stuck, he told the Belfast Telegraph. I told her I would come in on Saturday morning and she could have a look at this car. I thought to myself I should give something back to the community. I just left the key on the tyre and texted her to say look, if its any good to you take it with you and dont worry about paying for it because youre doing good work. Shocked by the unexpected generosity, he added: She rang me up in tears and was just delighted. Thats what its all about, giving something back to people who are saving lives. People will maybe say Ive done this for publicity but its definitely not the case. It was just a gesture to someone who needed it at the time. In a Facebook post Marie said her car had been giving her "heartache" recently her car she was reliant on for work had given her. She said when she arrived at the dealership there was no sales man available. "So I sat for a minute then a text came through to my phone stating the car was for me without cost with the nicest message ever about the work nurses do in the NHS," she said. "Mark I just want to thank you so much for your kindest gesture to me today I am so over the moon I cant believe this has happened to me. Thanks a million." Baku, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 Trend: In connection with the so-called elections held on 31 March 2020 in the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the Republic of Armenia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan states the following: Against the background of continuing military occupation and ethnic cleansing of the territories of Azerbaijan by Armenia, the holding of so-called elections in the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan constitutes a clear violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the norms and principles of international law, including the UN Charter, CSCE Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and the related UN Security Council Resolutions and, therefore, shall have no legal effect whatsoever. The illegal regime established by the Republic of Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is ultimately nothing other than the product of aggression, ethnic cleansing and racial discrimination; it is under Armenias direction and control. The international community has consistently deplored in the strongest terms the use of military force against Azerbaijan and the resulting occupation of its territories. In 1993, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolutions 822 (1993), 853 (1993), 874 (1993) and 884 (1993), condemning the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan and reaffirming respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the inviolability of its internationally recognized borders. In those resolutions, the Security Council also confirmed that the Nagorno-Karabakh region is an integral part of Azerbaijan, and demanded the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian occupying forces from all the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Other international organizations have adopted a similar position. Accordingly, the international community has unequivocally and consistently rejected the previous elections shows orchestrated by the Republic of Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, and thus, clearly invalidated whatever pretexts that Armenia cynically uses to justify its overt disrespect to international law, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the human rights of the expelled population of the occupied territories. Elections in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan may be held only within the Constitutional framework of the Republic of Azerbaijan and full participation of the entire population of the region. Any election will be possible only after the withdrawal of the Armenian occupying forces, return of the expelled Azerbaijani population to their places of origin, and restoration of dialogue and cooperation between the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of the region. The Ministry reiterates that resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is possible only on the basis of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders. The military occupation of the territory of Azerbaijan does not represent a solution and any attempt to impose fait accompli, including through organizing sham elections will never produce a political outcome desired by Armenia, nor will it bring any positive perspective for this country. Azerbaijan will never reconcile with the occupation of its internationally recognized territories. Wilbur Ross, U.S. commerce secretary, testifies before the House Committee on Appropriations in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is working from his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, while the Trump administration tries to limit the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, according to people familiar with the matter. Ross, 82, is teleworking to the extent possible, according to the people, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. It could not be determined when he plans to return to Washington. A representative for Ross declined to comment. The White House declined to comment, as well. Ross, whose job is to help promote job creation, economic growth and economic security, has been conspicuously absent at recent public events, including Trump's daily coronavirus briefings. He has previously been a key public representative for the administration in key matters, such as the administration's trade talks with China. Ross is a former banker and private equity investor, who made his financial career in working with distressed companies. He has restructured over $400 billion of assets in industries including airline, apparel, auto parts and banking, according to his official biography. But Ross, who is the oldest member of Trump's Cabinet, could be more vulnerable to the virus, which health experts say may be more serious for elderly people. Other members of Trump's Cabinet, including Attorney General William Barr, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf have all taken the stage. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and others have also frequently appeared on CNBC and other news shows. Ross said in January the pandemic could be good for U.S. jobs and manufacturing, arguing it might give businesses "another thing to consider when they go through their review of their supply chain." The coronavirus is "another risk factor that people need to take into account," Ross said. I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America," he said. "Some to the U.S., some to Mexico as well." The coronavirus has ground the U.S. economy to a halt, rattling businesses and investors along the way. The Dow was headed for its worst first-quarter performance ever Tuesday morning, losing more than 22% of its value in the first three months of 2020. Companies from Macy's to General Electric have announced furloughs, and many more are expected to come. Oil and Gas companies have begun to buckle, with experts warning mounting bankruptcies could be on the way. Trump signed a more than $2 trillion package earlier this month stem the pain, but already lawmakers are focused on a potentially even larger plan should that bill not be enough. The virus has already infected a number of Washington's power players, who historically do their business in tight quarters. It has exposed many more. Several members of Congress have tested positive, including Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah. Several more have self-quarantined. President Donald Trump was tested for the virus, after dining at Mar-a-Lago with the press secretary for Brazil's president who tested positive. Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have both said they tested negative. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife were also tested for the virus, after a member of Pence's office tested positive. Pence said both he and his wife came back negative. CNBC's Eamon Javers contributed to this report. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said flying squads have been set up in all 227 municipal wards of Mumbai for door-to-door survey as part of efforts to check the spread of coronavirus. The step has been taken in view of the high density of population in Mumbai where there is more possibility of spread of the disease compared to other districts. Thackeray held a meeting with municipal authorities and ward officials through video conference on Monday evening. In a release issued on Tuesday, he said the Worli Koliwada has been declared as the 'containment area' and residents have been prohibited from moving around. "If more such areas are declared containment areas, health officials will have to work very hard to stop the virus spread. Mumbai is the country's financial capital and the spread of the viral infection has to be controlled. The flying squads need to be activated and survey should begin," he said. He said each squad will consist of a vehicle, municipal officers and employees, police and revenue department officials and medical assistant. "Their task will be to identify coronavirus patients, their contacts and check for symptoms like fever, cough, cold, pneumonia-like ailment and to take further steps for treatment," he said. Thackeray also warned that if people venture out for non-essential purpose, then the decision of keeping essential commodities' shops open for 24 hours will have to be reversed. He also asked the civic authorities to persuade private doctors to resume their practice, and said special care should be taken of senior citizens. Thackeray said spraying of disinfectants is being done by urban local bodies and housing societies must refrain from asking anyone else to do that work. "Disinfectants must not be sprayed without the permission of the urban local body as wrong formula can be more harmful to human beings and animals," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/30/2020 -- According to the new market research report "Iris Recognition Market by Component (Hardware, and Software), Product (Smartphones, Scanners), Application (Identity Management and Access Control, Time Monitoring, E-payment), Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2024", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Iris Recognition Market size is expected to grow from USD 2.3 billion in 2019 to USD 4.3 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 13.2% from 2019 to 2024. The demand for biometric systems across the world is on the rise in both the public and private sectors. One of the primary reasons for this rise in demand is the increasing need for surveillance and security, owing to factors such as the rise in terrorist attacks, crime rate, data breaches, and cybercrimes. As iris recognition is one of the most preferred biometric technologies, this factor has also led to the rise in the demand for iris recognition systems. Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=141994093 Scanners to hold the largest iris recognition market share, by product, in 2019 Scanners will lead the iris recognition industry, by product, in terms of size, in 2019. The high adoption of iris scanners from government, banking & finance, military & defense, and travel & immigration verticals, especially for the identity management and access control application, is the primary reason behind the largest share of this segment in the market. The market for e-payment application to grow at highest CAGR during the forecast period The iris recognition market for the e-payment application is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the growing demand for iris recognition technology to authenticate users making e-payments. This will help to curb the cases of identity fraud and internet fraud and make e-payments more safe and secure. The identity management and access control application is expected to dominate the iris recognition industry, in terms of size, during the forecast period. APAC to hold the largest share of the iris recognition market in 2019 APAC is expected to hold the largest share of the global iris recognition industry in 2019. China and India are the key countries contributing to the growth of the market in APAC. The Americas are expected to account for the second-largest share of the iris recognition market throughout the forecast period. The US and Canada are significant demand-generating countries for iris recognition devices in this region. Browse in-depth TOC on "Iris Recognition Market" 126 Tables 37 Figures 157 Pages Request Sample Pages of the Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=141994093 A few key players operating in the iris recognition market are Thales Group (France), IDEMIA (France), Iris ID (US), IriTech (US), HID Global (US), Princeton Identity (US), EyeLock (US), Secure Identity (US), Unisys (US), Aware (US), NEC Corporation (Japan), BioEnable Technologies (India), CMITech (South Korea), 4G Identity Solutions (India), and Mantra Softech (India). Please Explore Relevant Reports: Biometric System Market by Authentication Type (Single-Factor and Multifactor), Functionality Type (Contact, Non-Contact, and Combined), Component (Hardware and Software), Application, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023 Fingerprint Sensor Market by Technology (Capacitive, Optical, Thermal, Ultrasonic), Type (Touch, Swipe), Application (Consumer Electronics, Banking & Finance, Government & Law Enforcement, Commercial, Smart Homes), and Region-Global Forecast to 2024 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. 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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: sales@marketsandmarkets.com 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31 By Eldar Janashvili Trend: Azerbaijans anti-crisis program is ambitious enough and large-scale compared to other countries, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijans Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) Executive Director Vusal Gasimli. Azerbaijans anti-crisis program is 2.5 billion manat, which is 3.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). For comparison, the Georgian government received a package of assistance in the amount of 1 billion Georgian lari, or 2 percent of the country's GDP. Russia received a package of assistance in the amount of 300 billion rubles, which is 0.3 percent of its GDP. Kyrgyzstan received an anti-crisis package in the amount of 760 million soms, or 1 percent of its GDP, Uzbekistan - $9.5 trillion, or 1.5 percent of its GDP. It is seen that the support program of Azerbaijan is quite ambitious and more wide-scale compared to other countries," he noted. According to Gasimli, the governmental support program for mitigating impact of global upheavals to Azerbaijan will cover 4 sectors and 20 areas of activity. Working group headed by the minister of economy assessed the affected sectors by 3 categories: the most affected, significantly affected and low-affected ones. This approach is important in terms of fairness, as well as efficient use of resources. In this context, nine program projects are being developed. First of all, it should be noted that the program, covers 304,000 hired employees and 44,000 business entities. Given that out of 1.6 million hired employees, 915,000 ones regularly receive wages because they work in the public and oil sectors, accordingly, the state will support 304,000 of the remaining 640,000 hired employees. Here, the salary fund of a business entity will be supported by the state subject to the degree of affect caused by its field of activity. Of course, the main criterion in this case is the average wage at the level of 712 manat," the executive director said. "At the same time, 290,000 micro-entrepreneurs will receive the governmental support. In this case, the amount of taxes paid by them in 2019 will be taken into account. Also, state programs for tax privileges and support for tax holidays and mortgage credits have been developed. Currently, the state is planning a support package to overcome difficulties that citizens may face when paying credits under the influence of global upheavals. At the same time, difficulties with repaying credits are forecasted not only among households, but also among some entrepreneurs," Gasimli said. At present, 7 billion manat has been allocated to households, and 6.1 billion manat to the private sector. In particular, credits worth 2.4 billion manat issued to the trade and service sector and 1.2 billion manat to the transport and communications sector. Thus, the state will allocate 1 billion manat to support the existing credit portfolio, and in this case, such criteria as vulnerability of the sector and credit discipline will be taken as a basis, Gasimli noted. Azerbaijans Entrepreneurship Development Fund will provide 10 percent support to the credit, which covers a significant part of the credit interest, while in Azerbaijan the average credit makes up 14 percent - 8.8 percent for legal entities and 16.6 percent for individuals. At the same time, the new credit support program will cover a maximum of 15 percent per annum. Thus, half of this credit interest will be paid by the Enterprise Development Fund. According to Gasimli, within the state support programs, the limit of communal services will be increased, and the major enterprises - AZAL, Baku Transport Agency, Baku Metro, Azerbaijan Railways and others will be involved in the passenger traffic. Support will also be provided to the public authorities. In addition, the state will expand coverage of social programs and provide support to the low-income people. The working group, headed by Azerbaijans minister of labor and social protection of population, will also submit its proposals in the coming days. "Currently under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the largest economic support program in the history of Azerbaijans independence is underway. Such a systemic support program minimizes the impact of the largest pandemic in the last 100 years on the country and better prepares it for the post-crisis period. Through the government programs, both demand and supply will be supported, and thereby macroeconomic stability will be maintained," he said. "These days, its needed to more strictly observe the special quarantine rules, because we can restore economic losses, but we cannot return health and human life. For the Azerbaijani state, a citizen and his decent standard of living have the paramount importance," Gasimli added, reminding about necessity of complying with quarantine regime introduced in the country. Biolidics from Singapore develops COVID-19 test kit that can detect virus in 10 minutes Singapore-based medical technology company Biolidics Limited has developed a rapid test kit for COVID-19, which can detect the coronavirus with an accuracy of more than 95 per cent in 10 minutes. The easy-to-use kit is able to detect COVID-19 through serum, plasma or whole blood samples. Biolidics said the firm has obtained provisional authorisation from the Health Science Authority (HSA) for its rapid test kit to be deployed in Singapore. Photo courtesy: Biolidics The company has also entered into a manufacturer agreement with a diagnostic kit manufacturer to customise and manufacture the test kits, it said in a press statement. Given the increasing concerns over the spread of COVID-19, there is a growing demand for a simple, fast and accurate solution to control and reduce the spread of COVID-19. "Utilising Biolidics rapid test kit, we can enable point-of-care testing for larger pool of clusters, resulting in more effective and efficient decentralized screening among suspected cases," said Dr Leong Man Chun, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Biolidics. "With faster and accurate results, it can guide treatment decisions and further enhance public safety measures," he added. Wuhan communities go all out to erase novel coronavirus By March 26, a total of 6,893 residential communities in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province, had been designated "epidemic-free communities," accounting for 97.1 percent of the total in the city, the Economic Daily reported. Volunteers take a group photo at Shihua community in Wuhan on March 23, 2020. (Photo/Xinhua) For a community to qualify as being "epidemic-free", no pneumonia cases must be reported in 14 days, and all suspected cases, residents with high fever or anyone who may have had close contact with pneumonia patients in the communities has to be cleared. These communities in Wuhan have taken comprehensive measures to restrain the novel coronavirus, including publicizing epidemic control knowledge. Changhongli community, for example, put up notices on medical procedures in the neighborhood to ease residents anxieties amid the pneumonia outbreak and helped send patients in serious condition to certain outpatient clinics. While strictly managing entrances and exits to the residential areas, investigating residents physical conditions and disinfecting buildings, these communities also strived to ensure the supply of basic necessities. Shihua community ordered supplies for its residents in bulk based on their needs and then distributed the goods to them in an orderly manner. For families that are financially distressed, the community would provide relief supplies as well as free vegetables and meat subsidized by the government. Community workers would also help buy and deliver medicine to residents suffering from chronic diseases. In addition to community workers, residents have also contributed to the epidemic prevention and control work, staying at home voluntarily unless they had to go outside, and sterilizing their houses to ensure safety. China's manufacturing engine bounced back strongly in March. Reuters-Yonhap Vicky Kaushal To Donate Rs. 1 Crore To PM-CARES Fund, Alia Bhatt, Sara Ali Khan Also Pledge To Contribute Shanghai shares experience with Trinidad and Tobago counterparts By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-03-31 12:58 In the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak which is spreading all over the globe, international cooperation in fighting against the disease has been sought after. China, over the past days, has been communicating with foreign experts, sharing its experience in the epidemic prevention and control. A video conference was organized on March 26 between China and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, where Shanghai medical and healthcare experts answered questions from their counterparts in Trinidad and Tobago. Are there effective medicines against coronavirus? Why are patients asked to be home isolated for 14 days after they are discharged from hospital? Are there ways to avoid "false negative tests" or the so-called relapse? The Shanghai doctors also made several clarifications regarding the coronavirus treatment. What the Chinese experts shared with us can be a reference of guideline when we confront COVID-19, said Dr. Maryam Richards, Principal Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago, who had attended a video conference before between China and Latin American and Caribbean States on the containment and treatment of COVID-19. Comprising the southernmost islands of the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago is the first Caribbean country to sign with China a memorandum of understanding on "Cooperation within the Framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative". Despite the distance between the two countries, they help each other. After COVID-19 broke out in China, Trinidad and Tobago was one of the first 21 countries to provide assistance to China. (The first batch of aid supplies (15,000 N95 masks) donated by Trinidad and Tobago arrived on February 14 in Wuhans Huoshenshan Hospital.) Also, with a population of approximately 50,000, Port of Spain has tried its best to source 10,000 surgical masks for Shanghai, a city it has kept a close friendship with over the past years. We hope that the people of China can walk hand in hand with the world to get rid of the virus as quick as possible. We know that they have what it takes to get over it and to be able to deal with it as best as possible, said Joel Martinez, mayor of Port of Spain. As the sayings go a friend in need is a friend indeed and a little help brings much return. Since the coronavirus began to hit Trinidad and Tobago, China has been offering its helping hand in return. The Chinese government has donated a large number of anti-epidemic supplies to the country, including nucleic acid reagent test kits for the novel coronavirus and high precision thermal cameras. The Shanghai municipality has also given away supplies to Port of Spain. (The first batch of anti-epidemic supplies were handed over to Trinidad and Tobago on March 25.) CEO and MD of IT major, Infosys Ltd, Salil Parekh has said it's imperative for businesses to join hands with the governments, civil society and healthcare institutions in the battle to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the toughest challenges that the world has been faced with, he said. "At such a time, it is imperative for businesses to join hands with the governments, civil society, as well as healthcare institutions to support the communities we live and serve in," Parekh was quoted as saying in a statement of Infosys Foundation, the Bengaluru-headquartered company's philanthropic and CSR arm. Infosys Foundations, both in India and in the USA, are extending their resources and technological capabilities to help people who are most impacted by this pandemic, he said. Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murty added: "These are unprecedented times that require every section of the society to rise up to the challenge." Infosys Foundation on Monday announced that it is committing Rs 100 crore to support efforts towards fighting COVID-19 in India. The Foundation contributed half of this commitment (Rs 50 crore) to the PM CARES Fund. It said it is already working with multiple state governments and NGOs to expand its reach across the country. "If any state government, healthcare provider, or an NGO would like additional support in their relief efforts, please do reach out to us at foundation@infosys.com with your specific requests. We are happy to evaluate and consider supporting initiatives that align with our areas of focus," the Foundation added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Repairs have started on the break in the WACS cable system which has been causing slow international connection speeds for South Africans. The South African Nation Research and Education Network issued an alert on 27 March 2020 which said there was a break on the West Africa Cable System (WACS). This break took place on a cable belonging to TATA that runs between Highbridge in the UK, and Seixal in Portugal. Unfortunately, this break coincided with a break on the SAT-3 undersea cable, resulting in reduced capacity for routing international traffic. Both the WACS and SAT-3 cable systems are deployed in the Atlantic Ocean and connect African countries including South Africa to Europe. WACS lands in South Africa at Yzerfontein, Western Cape while the SAT-3 system enters South Africa at Melkbosstrand, Western Cape. WACS update RENAlerts confirmed this afternoon that the cable repair vessel Ile DAix has arrived at the WACS repair point and is working on the break. The vessel is owned by TATA, the company which owns the damaged segment of the cable system. RENAlerts said the weather forecast is suitable for the repair work to take place, and the estimated time of repair is 4 April 2020. The map below shows the location of the Ile DAix cable vessel as of 31 March. SAT-3 cable links restored RENAlerts also noted that it has seen the restoration of its SAT-3 links since 03:00 this morning. It said it is monitoring these links to ensure they are stable. Repair ship Leon Thevenin arrived at the break in the SAT-3 cable off the coast of Congo a few days ago. The estimated completion time for these repairs was originally 2 April 2020, and full capacity was only expected to be restored on 4 April. The map below details the location of the SAT-3 cable break, where the Leon Thevenin has been conducting repairs. Now read: Supersonic line speed upgrades 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. Share price of Lupin rose 5% early trade after rating firm Morgan Stanley raised its target price to Rs 948 per share and initiated an overweight call on the stock. Following the upgrade, shares of Lupin opened with a gain of 5.16% and touched an intraday high of Rs 589.8, rising 5.3% on BSE today. Stock price of Lupin currently trades higher than its 5-day moving averages but lower than 20, 50, 100 and 200-day moving averages. The stock gained 2.3% in Monday's trading session to close at Rs 560.10 as the pharma major announced the receipt of the Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) from USFDA for its Inhalation Research Center located at Coral Springs, Florida. As per the filing, the Florida facility was inspected by the USFDA, between February 19-26, 2020, on behalf of the UK MHRA for Lupin's generic Fostair application to the UK MHRA. Post this, MS said Fostair & bEnbrel are the two niche drugs planned for Europe in H2FY21 and that it expects Fostair to be a limited competition product. The brokerage firm upgraded the stock to outperform and increased the target price to Rs 948 per share. Motilal Oswal has also kept a buy rating on the stock with a target of Rs 815. Though the near-term outlook is weak, the company has steady footing compared to the industry in the branded domestic formulation (DF) and robust ANDA pipeline, the brokerage said. CLSA has upgraded Lupin from Sell to Outperform with a revised target price to Rs 660 from Rs 600 earlier. Share Market LIVE: Sensex rises 550 points, Nifty at 8,400; metal stocks gain Stocks in news: NMDC, JSW Energy, Suzlon, Federal Bank and more Rupee vs Dollar: Rupee gains 8 paise to 75.51 amid recovery in equity market Donald Trump called Nancy Pelosi a sick puppy on Monday, after the House speaker said the presidents mishandling of the coronavirus crisis would contribute to deaths in the US that might have been avoided. Related: The missing six weeks: how Trump failed the biggest test of his life Shes a sick puppy thats a terrible thing to say, Trump said in a rambling hour-long call-in interview to the cable show Fox & Friends. My poll numbers are the highest theyve ever been because of her. While the president was attacking his adversaries, the top infectious-disease expert in the US warned that smaller cities were about to witness a rapid acceleration in coronavirus cases. New Orleans and Detroit are showing signs that theyre going to take off and other, smaller cities are percolating, Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told ABC News. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, by Monday nearly 143,000 Covid-19 cases had been confirmed in the US, with more than 2,500 deaths. New York is by far the state worst hit, with nearly 60,000 cases and about 1,000 deaths. As the emergency has accelerated, Trump has stepped up his war of words with Democrats and the media, in what critics see as an attempt to distract from the administrations failings in confronting the virus. Widespread testing remains unavailable in most of the US, healthcare workers and local leaders raise a daily alarm about dire shortages of medical equipment, and state leaders have imposed a patchwork of restrictions or declined to impose restrictions in what emergency response experts have described as a vacuum of federal leadership. In news conferences, Trump has swung between false assurance that business as normal would resume by Easter and crediting himself with avoiding what early models showed could be a worst-case scenario of millions of deaths. In his interview on Monday, Trump told the Fox News hosts he had saved the country from deaths like you have never seen before. Story continues Pelosi told CNN on Sunday that the presidents denial at the beginning was deadly and said his delay in getting equipment to where its needed is deadly As the president fiddles, people are dying. Trump also repeated a baseless claim he made on Sunday, accusing states including New York, which has had to erect emergency medical facilities in Central Park and move in refrigerator trucks to temporarily store bodies, of squandering medical equipment. Trumps charges drew fire from New Yorks mayor. I find that insulting to our healthcare workers, Bill de Blasio told CNN. I find it insensitive. What the president should be doing is praising our healthcare workers, not suggesting somehow theyre doing something wrong with the supplies that have been sent. Thats just insensitive and its unhelpful. The long-running feud between Trump and New York state leaders simmered as dramatic pictures emerged of the US navy hospital ship USNS Comfort arriving in New York harbor. The ship, which can accommodate about 1,000 patients, will not treat coronavirus victims but will take other patients to relieve hospitals on land. Welcome to New York, USNS Comfort, Governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted. We knew from the outset that expanded hospital capacity was critical. We asked and the federal government answered. The New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, in Manhattan as the USNS Comfort arrives in New York. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters Other states continued to ramp up their responses. The governor of Maryland issued a stay-at-home order effective from Monday evening, becoming the 23rd state to do so. Michigan extended unemployment programs to workers who do not qualify for state benefits, including independent contractors, the self-employed and seasonal workers. Vermont issued an order requiring any person coming from outside the state for anything other than an essential purpose to home-quarantine for 14 days. Arizona announced that schools would remain closed through the end of the spring term. And the Republican governor of Florida, who has resisted issuing a statewide stay-at-home order, urged residents in four southern counties to stay home through mid-May. In California, the San Francisco Bay Areas shelter-in-place rules were extended on Monday through the end of April. The states governor, Gavin Newsom, announced at a press conference that the number of patients hospitalized had doubled and the number of patients admitted to ICUs had tripled over the past four days. The governor called on healthcare professionals who have recently retired and those who are nearing completion of nursing and medical degrees to meet the human capital surge and join the frontline fight against the virus as part of a new initiative. The professionals Newsom wants to enlist in the new California Health Corps include medical doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, behavioral health scientists, pharmacists, EMTs, medical and administrative assistants, as well as certified nursing assistants. Fauci said at the weekend the US could see more than a million cases and suffer 100,000 to 200,000 deaths. I dont want to see it, Id like to avoid it, but I wouldnt be surprised if we saw 100,000 deaths, he said on Monday. As recently as late February, Trump claimed publicly that the virus would simply disappear. But on Fox & Friends he credited his administration with avoiding a death toll in the millions. Thats a lot, he said. Political leaders from both parties have indicated that Washington could follow its $2tn coronavirus relief package with more stimulus bills, but Trump on Monday criticized Democrats demands for protections of the 2020 election in November. As part of the initial relief package, Democrats sought a provision, later discarded, that would allow all voters to cast ballots by mail. The things they had in there were crazy, Trump told Fox & Friends. They had levels of voting, that if you ever agreed to it youd never have a Republican elected in this country again. Mario Koran contributed reporting The Clarence House has confirmed that Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, is now out of self-quarantine after he tested positive for COVID-19. Last week, it was revealed that the Prince of Wales was diagnosed with the dreaded virus after showing mild symptoms. The 71-year-old royal was then transferred to his Birkhall residence in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland to undergo his much needed medication. One week after a series of consultations with his doctor, the royal has shown massive improvement and is now out of self-isolation. The Clarence House mentioned that Prince Charles will resume meetings and take exercise in line with government and medical protocol. Meanwhile, his wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles -- who was previously tested negative -- will remain in self-quarantine and will be monitored until the end of the week. Prince Charles in "Good Spirits" Moreover, it was previously reported that the heir to the throne remains in "good spirits" and continues to be productive at work while in his quarantine period. According to Royal Editor at Large, Omid Scobie, the same source also revealed that Prince Charles "is said to be overwhelmed at the support he has received from well-wishers who have already sent hundreds of get-well-soon cards and digital messages." Long Live The Queen As for Her Majesty the Queen, after U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson tested positive just days ago, concerns over the health and saftey 93-year-old head of the monarchy increase. Buckingham Palace released a statement reassuring that the Queen remains "in good health" while at her private residence at Windsor Castle together with husband, Prince Philip. "HMQ remains in good health. The Queen last saw the PM on the 11th March and is following all the appropriate advice with regards to her welfare. We will not be commenting further." Meanwhile, since work needs to continue, it was reported that the longest-reigning monarch and the Prime Minister both held their weekly Audience through telephone. "The Queen held her weekly Audience with the Prime Minister today by telephone. Her Majesty - pictured this evening at Windsor Castle - has held a weekly Audience with her Prime Minister throughout her reign." the RoyalFamily wrote on Instagram. PM Johnson, on the other hand, shared a video message saying that he is currently self-isolating after he experienced mild symptoms such as persistent cough and fever. "I am working from home, I am self-isolating, and that's entirely the right thing to do," Johnson said on a video posted on his Twitter account. "Be in no doubt that I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus," the Prime Minister continued. Prince William and Kate in Anmer Hall As for the other members of the royal family, Prince William, Kate Middleton and their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are also under self-imposed quarantine at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, near the Sandringham estate. The Cambridges are in self-imposed isolation as mandated by the government after announcing a strict "stay-at-home" policy in hope to curb the spread of coronavirus. Italy has observed a minute of silence and flown its flags at half-staff in a collective, nationwide gesture to honor the victims of the coronavirus and their families. The Vatican also lowered its flags Tuesday to honor the dead in the country with the greatest toll from the virus, which stands at more than 11,500. The noon minute of silence was observed in cities and towns around the country. The office of Premier Giuseppe Conte said the gesture was a sign of national mourning and solidarity with the victims, their families "and as a sign of collective participation in mourning with the hardest-hit communities." Search Keywords: Short link: A fire broke out after a blast at a pipeline supplying natural gas from Iran to Turkey this morning. Authorities stated that the blast took place in a section of pipeline near Gurbulak border crossing between two countries, in the eastern province of Agr. The explosion sent a huge plume of flames. The gas supply was cut off, and firefighters put out the fire. Security forces launched an investigation into the incident, Daily Sabah reported. Health Minister: There is no prospect of one part of Wales being prioritised over another This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Mar 31st, 2020 The Health Minister has said he is making all of his choices as a Minister for the whole country, with no area getting preferential treatment. Wrexham.com submitted two questions to the Health Minister today, the first asking A week ago you said there was a one nation pool of ventilators. It appears Wales may have been gazumped for testing kit. How firm is that one nation pool, and inside Wales what stops south wales taking priority over the north for resources? Our question was based off claims Welsh Government believed they had a deal in place for coronavirus testing kits, with reports Public Health England had instead had a deal in place (a situation also covered in length at todays brief, more here). Sky News also asked about the UK-wide system and whether theres enough trust to make sure theres a fair allocation to Wales in the months to come Mr Gething said, It is really important that the UK Government fund the need as it exists in different parts of the UK. We could be relatively fortunate in Wales, in terms of the impact here, in which case our call on resources wouldnt be the same. But equally if the other position were to be the case and we had a much deeper and harder impact in Wales than the rest of the UK, I would not want to see and I do not think itd be tenable to have a UK wide funding system and solution that didnt recognise the differential need that different parts of the UK will have. I can also confirm on some of the broader points about working within the four nations of the UK that the four cabinet health ministers had a meeting at the end of last week to talk about our common expectations for the way in which we expect supply chains to work. To make sure that we had agreement on UK wide rules of equity between the four nations of the UK to make sure that supplies generally are being dealt with on a UK wide basis . Our question was answered as a follow on to the UK wide comments, focusing on the what stops South Wales taking priority over the North for resources Mr Gething answered, Just as within the UK we have been really clear the resources have to go to the need, that has to be the case within Wales as well. Now is exactly the wrong time to go into stoking or creating divisions between regions of Wales that do not exist, and do not reflect the way that this national government for Wales makes choices. I certainly make all of my choices as a Minister for the whole country, and I hope people will see that as we make more and more choices to support our health and care system across the whole country. Indeed, in response to the question about field hospitals, when you see the plans that exist in every part of Wales, there is no prospect of one part of Wales being prioritised over another. We also asked Will there be a COVID-19 ethical decision making framework for the NHS Wales, if so will it duplicate NHS England, and will you rule out defined age based decisions on care during this pandemic. Our second question was not put to the Minister, however we will resubmit it on Thursday when the NHS Wales Chief Exec is hosting another health focused brief. You can view the full briefing along with the Q&A session via the below video: Children's author Michael Rosen at the 2019 Hay Festival. (Getty Images) Childrens author Michael Rosen is "stable and alert" after spending a night in intensive care. His wife Emma-Louise Williams gave an update on his health via the former childrens laureates Twitter account. It is not known whether Rosens condition is related to coronavirus. She posted: "From Michael's family: Michael is very poorly at the moment. Having spent a night in ICU, he is now doing ok, stable, alert and was able to go to a ward yesterday. Read more: Johnny Vegas delivers food to vulnerable neighbours Thank you very much for all your kind concern. Emma x." From Michael's family: Michael is very poorly at the moment. Having spent a night in ICU, he is now doing "ok, stable, alert" and was able to go to a ward yesterday. Thank you very much for all your kind concern. Emma x @underthecranes @J0e_R0sen Michael Rosen (@MichaelRosenYes) March 30, 2020 The 73-year-old had been giving his own updates on the symptoms he was experiencing over the past few weeks. 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 His most recent post came on 27 March as he shared: "Day 12. The years seasons roll by in a night: sweats, freezes, sweats, freezes. Wondered whose mouth I had: I didnt remember it as made of sandpaper. Water is as good as ever." Michael Rosen and his wife Emma-Louise Williams attend a screening of We're Going on a Bear Hunt. (PA Images via Getty Images) The current children's laureate Cressida Cowell was among those tweeting her support to Rosen. She tweeted: "SO MUCH LOVE to Michael and to all of you, he is such a wonderful man who does so much good, I am fiercely willing for his swift recovery, and am delighted to hear he has moved from ICU on to a ward." Story continues It comes as his popular children's book We're Going on a Bear Hunt inspired people across the world to put teddy bears in their windows in order for children spot on walks. A teddy bear is seen in a window in Lyttelton, New Zealand. (Getty Images) Pictures of rainbows have also been gracing the windows of homes worldwide as children put the colourful creations on display to cheer others up. ISTANBUL As countries around the world try to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, medical groups and opposition figures in Turkey are finding the limits of their operating space as Ankara works on a centralized national response. Health professionals told Al-Monitor that conflicting interests between state and local actors may put additional strain on efforts to contain COVID-19 in Turkey, where 13,531 cases have been recorded and 214 patients have died as of Tuesday evening. To date, the Turkish Health Ministry has been releasing coronavirus statistics via Twitter and, more recently, a coronavirus information website, but the figures lack transparency, according to Dr. Bulent Nazim Yilmaz, secretary general of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), who has repeatedly called on Ankara to publish patients location data to help track the pandemic. Frustrated by the lack of response, the TTB began releasing its own figures charting COVID-19s regional impacts on Twitter Monday evening, publicizing credible, city-specific coronavirus data for the first time in Turkey. One of a string of tweets reported more than 2,000 patients were being monitored in Istanbul, while another stated the Aegean city of Izmir had about 700 coronavirus patients. Citizens need to know whats happening in their neighborhoods to understand the gravity of the situation, Yilmaz told Al-Monitor. TTB district offices collected the figures by calling local hospitals and health officials, Yilmaz said, adding that he plans to publish more comprehensive information on a public website in the near future. Yet hours after the TTB tweeted the data, the associations Van and Mardin chairs were summoned to their local police precincts to make statements regarding information they may have shared. It is not a crime to share information with our society, Yilmaz told Al-Monitor. We see this as the responsibility and duty of our organization, and the Ministry of Justice always has the option of correcting our data or maybe even benefitting from it. Oya Ozarslan, Turkey chair of Transparency International, has publicly criticized the lack of available coronavirus data in Turkey in recent weeks, pointing to efforts by the South Korean government to inform citizens of localized outbreaks. They want to show they are in control, Ozarslan told Al-Monitor. But if you dont know youve been in a high-risk area, then you might be going around spreading the virus and posing a risk to other people. Ozarslan said Ankara health officials might be withholding location-specific health data to prevent citizens from fleeing high-risk areas en masse and accelerating the spread of the virus. She noted such measures are no longer applicable as the state has applied nationwide travel restrictions, requiring citizens to obtain government-issued permits for domestic travel. This lack of transparency leads to erosion of trust, Ozarslan told Al-Monitor. Open information, she said, is another way of protecting and educating society and making sure they are also participating in this fight against the pandemic. Turkeys coronavirus response hit another friction point Tuesday, when the Interior Ministry issued a circular banning coronavirus donation drives such as those initiated by opposition mayors in Ankara and Istanbul. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, both of the main opposition Republican Peoples Party, established fundraisers to help individuals and families affected by the coronavirus and its economic impacts. The drives were halted Tuesday after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced he would launch a nationwide fundraiser Monday evening to support citizens in need amid the pandemic. Erdogan launched his National Solidarity Campaign by saying he would donate seven months of his own salary. Other members of parliament followed the presidents lead by reportedly donating a total of $791,000 to the effort. Berk Esen, assistant professor in International Relations at Ankaras Bilkent University, said he does not expect the national fundraiser to be popular and that it is likely designed to meet specific political goals. The central government may be trying to steal the spotlight from [opposition] mayors, but this has always been the AKPs strategy, Esen told Al-Monitor, using the acronym for Erdogans Justice and Development Party. This is also an Islamist-populist party, and as part of their agenda, they very much depend on charity culture. Esen said Erdogan was likely looking to mobilize his base to help serve less fortunate citizens with the aim of controlling resource collection and distribution throughout the pandemic. Many households are having to endure significant changes to their personal finances in recent weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The introduction of incentives such as mortgage payment holidays have eased some of the pressure on families' shrinking budgets, but what about motorists who might be struggling to pay monthly fees for their vehicles? With around nine in 10 new cars in Britain acquired using some form of finance, the coronavirus outbreak will be causing concern for many drivers. Here's what those with financed or leased vehicles need to know... Can't keep up car finance payments during the Covid-19 pandemic? Here's everything you need to know Financial Conduct Authority steps in with 3-month payment holiday... Anyone who has a finance arrangement in place on a car can now access a three-month payment freeze under temporary measures introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority. Anyone with a PCP or PCH car finance plan can request the payment freeze. Finance companies should not take steps to end the agreement or repossess the vehicle during the payment freeze period, says the FCA and customers will be allowed to continue driving the car. Confirming the news, Christopher Woolard, the FCA's interim chief executive said: 'We have worked at pace to introduce temporary financial relief. These measures ensure all consumers affected by the coronavirus emergency can apply for a temporary freeze on their payments.' Before the FCA's intervention, lenders were able to choose whether to provide payment holidays on a case-by-case basis. Adrian Dally, head of motor finance at the FLA, said: 'The proposals announced by the FCA broadly mirror the forbearance measures that motor finance lenders have been providing to their customers over recent weeks. 'During this unprecedented period, every lender has recognised that forbearance is a vital bridge for customers whose income has been disrupted, and the industry has committed significant resource, human and financial, to meeting requests for support.' You need to tell your finance provider straight away Some 48billion of finance for new and used cars was agreed with consumers last year alone. That means there are plenty of drivers who, as a result of the coronavirus lockdowns, recently been laid off, put on furloughed or lower pay who will be worrying about how to cover the cost of their car loans. The Money Advice Service says: 'If you're going to struggle to meet your repayments because of coronavirus, talk to the car finance company as soon as you can. 'They might offer to extend the cost of the contract which would lower your monthly payments or come to another arrangement to help you out.' The Finance and Leasing Association says: 'If you are a customer suffering financial difficulties or anticipating payment problems because of coronavirus, do get in touch with your lender as soon as possible but to help them help you, please use online forms and emails where possible as call levels are very high at the moment. 'The solutions involved will vary from lender to lender and customer to customer, but they're there to help, and will find an answer that best suits your circumstances.' The Financial Conduct Authority also has very tough rules in place to ensure customers are treated fairly and drivers can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service for advice or guidance for how to make a formal complaint. Doing so might produce a better result as well as protect credit files in the future. Motorists with financed cars need to tell their lender as soon as possible if they think they will struggle to keep up their payments due to reduced pay during the coronavirus lockdown Finance payment holidays and contract extensions explained With vehicle purchases generally being a household's second largest outgoing behind mortgages and rent, vehicle finance providers had anticipated that consumers will now face difficulties covering their monthly fees and have plans in place to help. An increasing number of lenders were already offering payment holidays - similar to mortgage holidays - or contract extensions before the FCA stepped in to make them available across the sector. This will allow drivers to temporarily stop their monthly car finance payments over a specific period during the pandemic. At the end of the payment holiday, the finance company will recalculate the remaining monthly payments - increasingly them slightly - to cover the cost of the unpaid fees during the period nothing was paid. If you have a new car on Personal Contract Purchase or Hire Purchase it's very likely that your provider is a finance arm of the vehicle's manufacturer. Early reports show that manufacturers already have measures in place to help these drivers. Volkswagen, for instance, says that UK customers facing financial difficulties could be eligible for up to 60 days of payment holiday on their finance. Alternatively, the German brand is also offering an extension of a repayment plan to reduce monthly outgoings. Sister brands Hyundai and Kia are also looking at offering payment holidays. You can find out what each brand has said in Parkers' online guide, If you agree to defer payments your credit file will remain unaffected and in some cases you will incur no additional costs or fees but be prepared to pay the interest on the missing payments. We've provided expert advice for each of the different types of motor finance below: What to do if you've taken out a loan to buy a new or used car If you've taken out an unsecured loan it will not specifically be tied to the car and it's not unusual for banks, building societies and other lenders to offer a holiday period at the start of the loan or at any time throughout the loan period if you run into difficulties. Motor finance expert, Graham Hill, explains: 'Most lenders are posting advice on their websites, for example Barclays are working on a form to apply for a loan repayment holiday and Lloyds will consider applications on an individual basis but you need to contact them. HSBC says it is working on it. 'Some, are charging interest over the payment holiday period which you will pay at the end of the agreement. 'Others aren't charging interest. For more details visit the website of your lender as the situation is constantly changing.' PCP is the most common form of motor finance because it provides lower monthly costs, with around 8 in 10 new cars acquired using this type of agreement What to do if you have the most common form of finance: PCP If you have the most popular form of motor finance, PCP, then the advice is to contact the provider immediately to let them know you're having difficulties covering the cost of monthly payments - as it is for all forms of finance. PCP deals tend to have lower monthly costs, as customers are paying off the depreciation of the vehicle as they have it. If you want to own the car outright at the end of the finance agreement, you need to cover the cost of the 'balloon payment' at the end of the contract - which is the pre-agreed value of the car at the end of the contract depending on your annual mileage. Mr Hill says the big problem with PCP in this scenarios is the balloon payment. 'If you have a three month holiday and the agreement extends from - for example - a 36 month agreement to a 39 month agreement this could well affect the resale figure at the end of the agreement and affect the monthly payments. 'With modern computer equipment this should be reasonably easy to recalculate and I've heard that some providers are now allowing for agreements to be extended - so you need to talk to your specific provider. 'As most PCP schemes are car manufacturer backed, they are likely to be as sympathetic as possible because they want you to return for future business,' Hill adds. What to do if you have a Hire Purchase or Conditional Sale agreement Hill states: 'Both operate similarly to a loan and the lenders can provide a payment holiday period but you must contact them in order to put an arrangement in place (see the recommendations for loans above). 'Blackhorse are allowing monthly extensions, where you must contact them seven days before each payment is due. 'They will charge the interest on missed payments at the end of the agreement.' What if you have a Contract Hire or Personal Contract Hire agreement in place? PCH finance plans are lease agreements - a form of long-term rental. Hill says it isn't usual practice for providers of these agreements to offer holiday periods but some have been known to allow it. 'Again, unless the Government steps in and forces the banks and all other finance providers to offer a holiday period the lenders will only deal on a case by case basis. 'Therefore, it's important to get in touch with the provider. 'At the moment major independent provider, LEX, is offering an email service for this. Customers need to use the subject heading 'Payment Deferral Request' when they get in touch. 'VW Financial Services is currently allowing for a "60 Day Breathing Space", which may be extendable depending on the lockdown.' What to do if your PCP finance agreement is about to come to an end and you want to hand the car back - but the dealership is closed due to Covid-19 If you plan to hand your financed vehicle back at the end of a PCP agreement but the dealer you received the car from is closed, you need to contact your lender to find out what you need to do with the motor. In some cases this might mean being allowed to keep it a little longer, as there is no means of the dealership taking it back - but you must contact your finance provider for confirmation of next steps. Alternatively, if you plan to pay the balloon payment and keep the vehicle, this can be done without having to visit the dealership. In fact, you would have had to inform your dealer beforehand that you intend to keep the car and funds can be transferred online. Can I terminate my finance agreement early if I've lost my job? Yes. It's called a Voluntary Termination, but you can only do this if you've paid off half of what you owe on the car. This is why it is rarely a benefit for those on PCP agreements, because the bulk of the vehicle's value is weighed towards the end of the term in the balloon payment. For instance, customers with PCP deals who are two years into a four-year agreement are highly unlikely to have paid off half the value of the car. A voluntary termination - leaving you with nothing else to pay - is legally allowed under the 1974 Consumer Credit Act. However, it does mean you need to return the car. If you're voluntarily terminating for the first time, it should not impact your credit rating. A voluntary termination should not be confused with a 'voluntary surrender', which should be avoided. The 6-month finance holiday scheme for new customers is aimed at those who might need a new vehicle but are facing financial difficulty as a result of the ongoing coronavirus crisis Ford is offering a 6-month payment holiday for new customers Ford has launched a six-month payment holiday scheme to all customers who purchase a new car or van on finance in April or May. The scheme is aimed at motorists who might need a new vehicle but are facing financial difficulty as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Peace of Mind scheme sees payments for the first three instalments covered by Ford, either in the form of cashback when the vehicle is collected, or a discount of the same value. The next three monthly instalments will be deferred to start in the fourth paid month of the agreement. The financial assistance from Ford Credit is available to customers who buy a car or van on a Ford Options PCP or Ford Acquire HP deal. 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 Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced unprecedented income support measures for workers who would otherwise face the axe and the self-employed. (Matt Dunham/PA Wire) Entrepreneurs risk falling through the cracks of UK government schemes to safeguard incomes through the coronavirus crisis, a business group has warned. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has rolled out two unprecedented income support packages in recent weeks, with one for employees and another for the self-employed. Employees at risk of redundancy over the coronavirus impact can be furloughed, with the government set to refund employers for 80% of their wages while off work. Meanwhile the self-employed can also seek government support to cover 80% of their average profits over the past three years, though both schemes include caps on payouts. But the Institute of Directors (IoD) is alarmed that many company directors in sectors where work has dried up appear to have been overlooked in the measures. Read more: Coronavirus will wipe 15% off GDP in next quarter The IoD says many small company directors often pay themselves via dividends, taking no or only limited salaries via pay-as-you-earn (PAYE). Yet dividend payments are not eligible for the governments pay support scheme. Officials may be unwilling to endorse pay structures often used to minimise tax, or to foot the bill for the incomes of business leaders. It means some company chiefs face a long spell without an income, while any workers they furlough can receive 80% of their ordinary salaries. Other directors can only apply for 80% of the small proportion of their income they receive through their salary, and are barred from doing much of their work if they do so. Meanwhile sole traders who operate as limited companies are not eligible for the governments support scheme for the self-employed. Some freelancers and consultants are required to set themselves up as companies by clients, and many warn they face financial hardship. Read more: Low-paid female workers jobs leave them most at risk from COVID-19 The IoD argues company directors should be entitled to similar support to employees or staff. Story continues Those that provide a clear paper trail should be able to make a furlough claim of 80% of their monthly income subject to tax, up to a 2,500 per month cap, to put them on par with support available for employees and the self-employed, it said in a press release on Tuesday. Edwin Morgan, director of policy at the IoD, praised the governments business support measures so far but urged it to support entrepreneurs. In a situation as frantic and fast-moving as this, inevitably some gaps have opened up, but these need to be acted upon to prevent people and businesses falling through the cracks, he said. Read more: UK unemployment worst since 2015 as jobs boom stalls The lack of support for self-employed company directors has also come under fire from the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-employed (IPSE). Its policy director Andy Chamberlain claimed in a blogpost last week the governments message was that if you are a contractor, youre on your own. He said many had seen work collapse overnight, with clients slashing work with little notice as the coronavirus has battered the economy. He wrote: We are certainly disappointed that many of our members and other contractors who operate via a limited company will miss out on the level of support available to other self-employed workers. The Treasury has been approached for comment. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK STEPANAKERT, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS/ARTSAKHPRESS. Candidate for the president of Artsakh nominated by the Revival party Hayk Khanumyan today participated in the voting at the 1/32 polling station in Stepanakert. The presidential candidate said he has voted for real changes. I want to see Artsakh that will be able to resist all challenges. Its very important for our economy to be able to resist force majeure situations. Unfortunately, during these years we didnt manage to create such an economy and a state that will be able to overcome all difficulties with its institutions, he said. He added that in formal terms equal conditions have been created for all presidential candidates and parties in the general elections. Large sums of money have been spent for elections. The presidential and parliamentary elections kicked off in the Republic of Artsakh on March 31. 14 candidates are running for the president of the Republic and 12 political parties for the parliament. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) A diversified conglomerate said it donated 181 million worth of food to poor communities affected by the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine. About 520,000 Filipino families have benefitted from the food donation drive, receiving various food products such as canned goods, bread, coffee and dairy milk, said San Miguel Corporation (SMC). SMC also said it sourced 500,000 kilograms of rice, which it will distribute to urban poor communities in coordination with various government agencies, local government units, non-profit organizations and Church-based groups. SMC President Ramon Ang said the program will help make sure vulnerable families have enough food throughout the quarantine. In our second week of operations, we are glad to report that we are reaching more areas outside of Metro Manila, Ang said in a statement. The food donation includes Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Lucena, Bicol, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Tuguegarao, Quirino, Zambales, among others. Ang said the company will continue the program and work to get food to more areas outside Metro Manila. We all have an important part to play. For many of us, its to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel. Our doctors are working hard, our government is also doing what is necessary, and we in the private sector are also ready to support them and lend a hand, he added. SMC also said it donated 112,740 liters of rubbing alcohol to 141 hospitals and 168 local government units, government agencies, and the Philippine National Police. The company activated all facilities of its subsidiary, Ginebra San Miguel Inc., nationwide to produce up to 100,000 liters of rubbing alcohol daily. In addition, SMC set aside 500 million to purchase personal protective equipment sets for medical frontliners. Picture taken March 23, 2017 shows German Chancellor Angela Merkel pointing during an election campaign of the Saarland Christian democrats, CDU, in St.Wendel, Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) In the race against the coronavirus, Germany is betting on widespread testing and quarantining to break the infection chain, a strategy borrowed from South Korea whose success in slowing the outbreak has become the envy of the world. Germany is already carrying out more coronavirus tests than any other European country at a rate of 300,000 to 500,000 a week, according to officials. But Chancellor Angela Merkel's government aims to ramp that up to at least 200,000 tests a day, according to an interior ministry document seen by several German media outlets. The goal would be to test all those who suspect they have caught the virus, as well as the entire circle of people who have come into contact with a confirmed case. Current testing criteria are focussed on those who are sick with COVID-19 symptoms and have had contact with a confirmed case. The idea, according to the document, is to move from tests "that confirm the situation" to tests that "get ahead of it". A crucial weapon in the battle would be the use of smartphone location data to trace a patient's recent movements, to more accurately track down and isolate potentially infected people. Cell-phone tracking While government officials and epidemiologists have come out in favour of cell-phone tracking, it remains a controversial idea in privacy-minded Germany, a nation haunted by the surveillance of the Nazi era and the communist-era Stasi secret police. Germany's proposed plans echo the "trace, test and treat" strategy that appears to have helped South Korea bring its outbreak under control. It has included mass screening for potential cases and heavy use of technology to monitor patients. Although Germany and South Korea are two very different countries, the Asian nation's virus strategy "can be an example", the head of Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for disease control told the Frankfurter Allgemeine daily. "A key point is tracing cell phone data," Lothar Wieler said. Storm brewing With a total of 389 deaths out of more than 52,000 cases, Germany has a mortality rate of just 0.7 percent compared with around 10 percent in hardest-hit Italy and eight percent in Spain. But German Health Minister Jens Spahn has warned that the country could face "a storm" of new cases in the weeks ahead. The RKI's Wieler warned that the dramatic scenes at Italian hospitals at breaking point could happen in Germany as well. "We can't rule out that we will have more patients than ventilators here too," he said. With 25,000 intensive care beds equipped with ventilators, Germany is in a better position than many countries to deal with an influx of patients in respiratory distress. But years of underfunding have left the country's healthcare system woefully understaffed. "In recent months, some intensive care beds have had to be put out of action because of a lack of staff," said Reinhard Busse, a specialist in health economics at the Technical University of Berlin. Germany currently has some 17,000 unfilled vacancies in nursing care. As a result, many hospitals have resorted to drafting in retired health professionals or student medics to help with the expected coronavirus onslaught, including at Berlin's renowned Charite university hospital. Polish workers "Even before the coronavirus crisis, operations had to be cancelled because of a lack of staff," Uwe Luebking, head of labour market policies at the German Association of Towns and Municipalities, told AFP. And when there is personnel on hand, nurses can spend up to four hours a day doing paperwork as Germany continues to lag behind other nations in digitalising administrative tasks, experts say. To make matters worse, confinement measures and border checks brought in to stem the virus spread have made it harder for foreign workers to travel to their German workplaces, with healthcare institutions on the frontier with Poland particularly affected. Critics have also argued that the German health system, which pays hospitals a fixed price per surgery, has led many hospitals to focus on the more lucrative practice of offering scheduled surgeries like hip or knee replacements, at the expense of strengthening their emergency care facilities. Although Spahn has urged the directors of some 2,000 hospitals and clinics to cancel all non-urgent surgeries, several are resisting the call, according to Der Spiegel weekly. (AFP) Amid the novel Coronavirus pandemic, our reel life heroes are turning real as they are stepping forward to help the Government of India by providing financial help in this time of crisis. After the Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged everyone to contribute to 'Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund' (PM-CARES Fund), Bollywood stars have been actively supporting this cause. The latest celebrity to lend a helping hand is Vicky Kaushal. The Uri actor has donated Rs. 1 crore to PM-CARES and Maharashtra CM's Relief Fund. Vicky took to his Instagram page to share a note that read, "While I'm blessed enough to be seated with my loved ones in the comforts of my home, there are many who are not as fortunate. In this time of crisis, I humbly pledge to contribute an amount of Rs. 1 crore to PM-CARES and Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund." He further wrote, "We are in this together and we'll win this together. Let us all do our bit for a healthier and stronger future. Jai Hind. #IndiaFightsCorona'. Last night, Vicky's good friend Katrina Kaif announced that she will be donating to PM- CARES and the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund. However, she didn't disclose the amount. Meanwhile, Vicky's Raazi co-star Alia Bhatt too, has pledged her contributions to PM-CARES and the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund. The actress took to her Instagram story and wrote, "At a time of great difficulty, while the nation is in lockdown, the central and state governments are working tirelessly to combat covid-19. I salute the efforts of all those on the frontlines who are putting themselves at risk so the rest of us stay safe. I also pledge contributions to the PM-CARES and the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund as a gesture of my support." (sic) Speaking about the film fraternity, other celebrities like Anushka Sharma, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra, Kartik Aaryan, Varun Dhawan, Shilpa Shetty, Karan Johar, Rajkummar Rao, Bhushan Kumar, Hrithik Roshan and others have also donated towards COVID-19 relief. Coronavirus Aid: Priyanka Chopra And Nick Jonas Donate To Multiple Organizations And NGOs Coronavirus Aid: Kartik Aaryan Contributes Rs 1 Crore To PM-CARES Fund, Urges Fans To Help 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. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 Trend: The so-called "elections" that the Armenian state is holding on the occupied lands of Azerbaijan on March 31, once again show the essence of the country's aggressive policy, Azerbaijans MP Elshad Mirbashiroglu told Trend on March 31. He noted that now, due to the threat of coronavirus, public events have been postponed all over the world. By tightening the security measures as much as possible, states are trying to reduce the negative impact of the disease. Meanwhile, contrary to the reasons for such behavior, by holding the so-called "elections", the Armenian leadership demonstrates complete indifference to the security in the entire region, said MP. These so-called "elections" are, first of all, an attempt that confirms the fact of aggression, Mirbashiroglu stressed. Before that, there have been numerous shows of illegitimate elections in Nagorno Karabakh, but no state in the world has recognized and will not recognize this puppet regime, because the growing image of Azerbaijan determined the further strengthening of its international position, he added. The territorial integrity of the country is defended even more, and the aggressive policy of Armenia continues to be exposed on a global scale. On the other hand, the so-called "pre-election" processes have once again shown the world that the regime created in the occupied territories is illegal and operates under the direct control of the Armenian state, the MP emphasized. Mirbashiroglu added that the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan overtly tries to bring his man to the leadership of the illegal regime. This is proof that independence of a fictitious structure is out of the question and the Armenian population of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan can be considered in the negotiation process only as an interested party, he said. 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. Iyanla Vanzant, Charlamagne Tha God, and actor LaVar Burton are among the featured presenters for the Essence Wellness House: A virtual summit Tuesday and Wednesday to provide black women and their communities with information on how to cope amid the coronavirus pandemic. The first Essence Wellness House events, sponsored by the magazines parent company, Essence Ventures, run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET and will air at www.essence.com. As we come together to safely get through the COVID-19 crisis, it is critical that we do not allow social distancing to morph into social disconnection, said Richelieu Dennis, founder and chair of Essence Ventures. LeVar Burton (Brad Barket / Getty Images for HISTORY) The agenda will include meditation, wellness tips, cooking workshops, fitness workouts, story-reading for children, virtual dance parties, and more. All participants have donated their honorariums to the National Action Network and the World Central Kitchen. It was imperative that we step and continue to be the source for black women so we have the tools and the information we need right now, Charli Penn, Essences relationship and wellness director, told NBC News. Misinformation is not good to spread, she said. People are scared; theres fear out there. Its important that we push through that and talk about COVID-19 and the impact it has had on our community and what the new normal will look like and how we navigate that together. Across America, more than 160,000 people have been infected by coronavirus and more than 3,000 have died as a result of the disease. The virtual summit is free, but organizers are asking viewers to sign up on the Essence website. The seven-hour event will explain how to manage during these challenging times, Penn said. We have to look at black women's total life, she said, so it was important we have doctors so we get medical facts, spiritual leaders so we can make sure we are truly living the best life that we can in such a difficult time. We included meditation and exercise because all these things holistically are important for our overall wellness. Story continues Vanzant, the renowned spiritualist and bestselling author of many inspirational books, is scheduled to deliver an uplifting message early in the program. Dr. Patrice Harris and Dr. Lauren Powell will give facts on the coronavirus and how to boost the immune system against it. Radio personality Charlamagne Tha God will address how to remain calm in the face of fear. Body sculpting artist ShaNay Norvell will conduct a workout segment and Burton, famous for his role in the legendary series Roots, will read books to children, among many other events over the course of the virtual summit. We are amplifying the voices of our own community, Penn said. We know readers trust us to bring facts, and thats what we will do at this time when knowledge is power and people are scared. Were talking to the moms, wives, daughters, caregivers, the teachers, the front-line workers, the women who are going out every day, the women who are scared at home, she added. Theres something for everyone. The full schedule for the two-day event is at www.essence.com. A husband who was exposed to the coronavirus hid that he was feeling ill so he could visit his wife in the maternity unit of an upstate New York hospital. The man told the truth only after his wife also began showing symptoms. UR Medicine said Monday it will begin taking the temperature of visitors to its hospitals' maternity units. "It was purely an honor system before," spokesman Chip Partner told the Democrat and Chronicle, which first reported the incident. "Now we're adding the temperature check." The man, who has not been identified, went to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester so he could be with his wife when she gave birth. He was questioned by staff at the hospital and told them he was in good health and had not been exposed to the coronavirus. Partner told the Democrat and Chronicle that shortly after giving birth the woman began showing symptoms. "Thats when the significant other admitted his potential exposure and that he was feeling symptomatic," he said. Image: Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. (Google Maps) UR Medicine can't say whether the mother, father or newborn child were infected with the coronavirus because of privacy laws. Barbara Ficarra, a spokesperson for UR Medicine, told NBC News that a nurse who assisted the family was tested for the virus and the results came back negative. The mother has since returned home, Ficarra said. Many hospitals in New York are banning most visitors to help in slowing the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. UR Medicine said in a message on its website that the only exceptions are parents of a child in the hospital and a partner, spouse or doula visiting a patient in the maternity unit. Once they arrive to the unit, the guest "will be screened for symptoms, including temperature," the message reads. "Those with symptoms will be asked to leave the hospital. These screening measures will be completed twice daily throughout the hospitalization," the message states, adding that the guest will not be allowed to leave the patient's room without the patient. Also on Monday, UR Medicine announced that all doctors, staff and visitors are required to wear masks while in public, clinical areas. The Democrat and Chronicle reported that requiring the use of masks in public areas is not related to the incident at Strong Memorial Hospital. Tel Aviv, Mar 30 (UNI) Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will go into quarantine or self isolation as one of his advisors was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, the prime minister's office said on Monday. It was not immediately clear if Netanyahu was in close contact with his advisor, Rivka Paluch, during the last two weeks. However, "to remove any doubts," his office said, Netanyahu and his close team will stay in quarantine "until the epidemiological investigation is concluded." Earlier, the office said Netanyahu and Paluch were not in the same room lately. Netanyahu was leading efforts to halt the coronavirus spread in Israel while struggling to finalize a new coalition government with his former opponent, leader of the centrist Blue and White party Benny Gantz. The Prime Minister is also facing a criminal trial set to begin on May 24. He is charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases. UNI XC JAL 1812 Photo: James Willamor/Flickr Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Raleigh. GoTriangle bus driver positive for COVID-19 possibly exposed riders and others, officials say Just a day after Wake County officials said a health care contractor came to work with coronavirus symptoms, it was announced Monday that a GoTriangle bus driver operated a bus for three days while ill. Read the full story on WNCN. Models predict more than 1,700 coronavirus deaths in North Carolina by August The light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic may be farther out for North Carolinians than many previously thought, according to a new study. Read the full story on WNCN. NC stay-at-home order goes into effect Governor Roy Cooper has ordered people in the state of North Carolina to stay at home for thirty days, until April 29, 2020, in another step to slow the spread Read the full story on www.mebaneenterprise.com. Wake County DHHS building cleaned, re-opened Monday afternoon The Wake County DHHS building, to which a contractor reported despite having symptoms, has been cleaned and re-opened as of early Monday afternoon. Read the full story on WRAL TV. Coronavirus affects Raleigh nonprofits ability to get homeless vets off the streets A little more than a month ago, Tremayne Henderson was starting a new chapter in his life. The Navy veteran was moving into his new apartment, leaving the days of homelessness behind him. Read the full story on WNCN. 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. A man who denies dangerous driving causing the death of his pregnant partner in Melbourne last year has been slapped with more charges. William Wilson, 36, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to a series of charges over the September 2019 crash in which Helena Broadbent was thrown from a moving ute. The 32-year-old suffered a brain injury when she fell from the Mitsubishi Triton in Keilor Downs, in the city's southeast. William Wilson (pictured outside court), 36, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to a series of charges over the September 2019 crash in which Helena Broadbent was thrown from a moving ute She died in hospital hours after delivering a baby girl by emergency caesarean at just 26 weeks. Wilson faced Melbourne Magistrates Court for a brief hearing on Tuesday. Ms Broadbent suffered a brain injury when she fell from the Mitsubishi Triton in Keilor Downs, in the city's southeast He pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing Ms Broadbent's death and chose to have his case proceed straight to trial in Victoria's County Court, bypassing the usual committals process which is facing delays related to coronavirus. Wilson has also been charged with five more offences connected to the day of Ms Broadbent's death, including failing to stop and failing to assist at the scene of an accident where a person has died, possession of a controlled weapon, and cannabis possession. It's previously been alleged in court that Ms Broadbent called triple zero claiming Wilson had a hammer and had threatened to kill her. Wilson allegedly said Ms Broadbent had been running alongside his ute before she was injured. Security footage allegedly shows the ute approach a corner, the rear passenger door opens and a person fall out, the court has been told previously. Wilson's bail was continued on conditions including that he cannot drive or carry passengers. He's due to face the County Court on April 28. This is the heartwarming moment airline staff serenade British tourists with a John Lennon classic as they board a rescue flight in Bali. Footage shows upbeat employees playing the tambourine and singing 'Stand by Me' as they wave goodbye to tourists leaving the tropical island paradise. The clip was taken by Joel Nantel and his girlfriend Millie Sandy, 24, who had to cut their three-month tour of Indonesia, Malaysia, Borneo and the Phillipines short due to the coronavirus outbreak. Cathay Pacific staff played the tambourine and sung John Lennon's 'Stand by Me' as stranded British tourists boarded the repatriation flight in Denpasar, Bali Joel Nantel and Millie Sandy, 24, were stranded in Bali when their flights were cancelled The video also shows a member of staff playing the guitar as another conducts the impromptu choir. It was filmed on March 30 as Mr Nantel and other tourists boarded an emergency Condor repatriation flight from Denpasar, Bali, to Frankfurt, Germany. The British embassy in Indonesia had advised those stuck on the island to board this flight and then take a transfer to get back to the UK. Posting the video on social media Mr Nantel said: 'This is the send off we got from airline staff at Bali airport as we boarded our rescue flight home, courtesy of the British embassy. 'Brought a huge smile to our faces after such a stressful ordeal! Finally home safe and sound.' The couple had faced at least three cancelled flights after they were forced to return to Bali from Lombok, Indonesia, due to the outbreak. The couple had at least three flights cancelled before they managed to find a way home They also decided to return to Bali from Lombok after discovering their flight to the Philippines had been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak The pair had been in the second month of their three-month trip around southeast Asia 'I don't really know how to put into words how we're currently feeling right now,' Ms Sandy said on Instagram on March 24. 'We're currently stuck in Bali after our third flight being cancelled making us officially Brits stranded abroad. 'We have no way of getting back to the UK and are resigned to relying on our government to send emergency flights for British nationals.' On March 14 she wrote: 'Not gonna lie, today has got me STRESSED about Covid-19. 'We were supposed to fly to the Philippines tomorrow, but we woke up to find out all our flights have been cancelled! 'We've decided to go back to Bali to see some friends and enjoy a few weeks of good food and diving, but it's looking like we're going to be heading home early.' The couple were forced to cut their travel plans short on March 22 due to the global lockdown as the number of cases of coronavirus accelerated worldwide. Bali has virtually cleared of tourists since the coronavirus lockdown. Above are travellers atthe Jimbaran beach in Bali this morning, despite it being closed due to the outbreak Police vehicles spray disinfectant on roads in Bali, Indonesia, this morning A shuttered cafe on the Jimbaran beach, which has been closed due to the outbreak The Foreign Office in Indonesia has so far managed to get 5,000 Britons back to the UK by working with counterparts, including the German embassy. Ambassador Owen Jenkins said on March 25: 'All of us here at the British embassy and our consulate in Bali are doing everything we can to help you get home. 'We're hugely sympathetic to all our fellow Brits caught out by travel disruption in Bali. Many of you came here for a holiday to rest and relax. Now, you're caught up in the biggest travel disruption the world has ever known.' At Downing Street's daily news briefing yesterday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that 75million was being made available for flights to bring stranded citizens home. He said the government had negotiated with airlines including British Airways, Virgin, easyJet, Jet2 and Titan to make this possible. Priority has been given to tens of thousands of citizens marooned in Peru, India, South Africa, Ghana, Tunisia, China, Japan, Cuba and Ghana. Dominic Raab, pictured licking his fingers, said yesterday that 75million had been made available to bring Brits back from other countries across the world The Foreign Office has faced heavy criticism over its reaction to the crisis, with many accusing it of doing 'too little, too late'. BBC News reported that 12 people stuck in a hostel in Peru where someone had tested positive for coronavirus had been given inadequate help by the embassy. They also reported the ambassador's statement, which incorrectly said there were ten British nationals stuck in the hostel. Indonesia has reported 1,528 cases of coronavirus since the outbreak began, including 19 in tourist hotspot Bali. BERLIN, March 31 (Reuters) - German Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht told Deutschlandfunk radio on Tuesday that tracking apps to help tackle coronavirus could only be used voluntarily in Germany, where people are deeply suspicious of digital surveillance. "It's a real infringement if I have such data so I can only agree with everyone who says that if there is such a solution that actually breaks the chains of infection, it's only possible if those who have it on their mobile phones and so use it do so voluntarily," Lambrecht said. Germany hopes to launch a smartphone app within weeks to help trace coronavirus infections, after a broad political consensus emerged that adopting an approach pioneered by Singapore can be effective without invading people's privacy. (Reporting by Michelle Martin Editing by Madeline Chambers) By John Miller and Sinead Cruise ZURICH/LONDON (Reuters) - Banks across the euro zone are tearing up plans to return cash to shareholders at the behest of regulators, instead shoring up reserves as the coronavirus outbreak threatens to tip the world into a deep recession. As measures to fight the pandemic paralyse economic activity, banks are on the front line in a battle to keep cash-starved businesses alive, although lenders in Switzerland and the United States, in stark contrast, are pushing ahead with dividend payments regardless. The European Central Bank told lenders last week to skip dividends and share buybacks until at least October, estimating they could save 30 billion euros by doing so, and instead direct profits towards supporting the economy. The ECB's demand was something of a quid pro quo after it helped banks cope by letting them eat into their capital and cash buffers, as well as turning on the cheap credit taps. In Italy, the current epicentre of the outbreak in Europe, UniCredit on Sunday put its planned dividend for 2019 and share buyback on hold, becoming the first Italian bank to respond to the ECB's demands. Dutch bank ABN Amro, which has been hit by a loss of roughly $200 million during the recent market turmoil, followed suit and said it too would scrap dividend payouts for now, while online banking specialist ING, agricultural lender Rabobank and Belgium's KBC did the same. Germany's Commerzbank said it would not propose a dividend for 2019. "GLOBAL FREEZE" CALL In Ireland, which was forced to take an international bailout during the last financial crash, Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks ditched planned dividend payouts for last year. The moves will come as a relief to regulators and help allay fears that multi-billion-euro efforts by central banks and governments to stem the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak on businesses, including banks, will end up in investors' pockets. Story continues Investors were less happy and banking stocks fell sharply on Monday morning with ING, ABN Amro, AIB and Bank of Ireland all down more than 6%. In France, Credit Agricole and Natixis said their boards would meet in coming days to discuss the matter, while BNP Paribas and SocGen said they were studying the ECB's statement. Agustin Carstens, general manager of the Bank of International Settlements, an umbrella organisation for central banks, at the weekend said "a global freeze on bank dividends and share buybacks" was needed in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority joined that call on Monday, saying the banking sector should not pay out dividends or buy back shares amid the uncertainty. But some lenders are determined to push on with payouts to shareholders. Banks in Switzerland have ignored guidance from local regulators, lenders in the United Kingdom have remained tight lipped so far, while in the United States, the eight biggest banks have halted stock repurchases but none have cut dividends despite mounting political pressure. UK WATCHDOG TO HOST CALL The largest Swiss bank and the world's largest wealth manager UBS said it would press ahead with its 2019 dividend despite guidance from markets supervisor FINMA and the Swiss government to limit payouts. [L8N2BN0NB] The bank, rescued a decade ago by the Swiss federal government with a 6 billion Swiss franc ($6.28 billion) capital injection during the financial crisis, said it was able to support the economy as well as pay shareholders a dividend. Cross-town rival Credit Suisse also said it did not plan any changes to its proposed dividend. Meanwhile, the Bank of England has warned lenders not to use stimulus money for the benefit of shareholders but has not yet issued any guidance on payouts. UK Finance, a trade body for banks in Britain, said on Monday that policies on distributions needed to reflect a "prudent assessment" of the current economy and its prospects when it comes to this year's dividend, but made no specific mention of payments for 2019. Barclays is due to pay around a 1 billion pound dividend on Friday, while HSBC is due to pay its shareholders on April 14 and RBS, which is still more than 60% owned by the UK taxpayer, is scheduled to pay on May 4. The chief executive officers of eight UK banks will take part in a teleconference with Christopher Woolard, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), on Monday to discuss ways to ease the burden on customers and could also discuss the payment of dividends and staff bonuses. "It is hard to believe that the UK banks will not be requested to suspend dividends and buybacks," John Cronin, Goodbody analyst, said in a note. The Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority declined to say whether it would ask banks to scrap dividends. (Additional reporting by Graham Fahy in Dublin, Bart Meijer and Toby Sterling in Amsterdam, Huw Jones in London and Oliver Hirt in Zurich,; Writing By John O'Donnell; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Jon Boyle) Whether you are a customer of a big or small electric utility, the first step is to pick up the phone and call the company. Don't wait until you get a shutoff notice. The good news: Electric utility providers will cut you a break, though you'll have to pay your bill, eventually. For example, Pacific Gas & Electric, which serves 5.4 million electric customer accounts in California, announced March 12 that it had stopped disconnecting residential and commercial customers for nonpayment. PG&E said in a statement that it wants to provide some relief from the stress and financial challenges many are facing during this worldwide public-health crisis." Other electric utilities are following suit. Florida Power & Light, for one, has stopped disconnecting customers who can't pay and is offering payment extensions as well as waivers on some late fees to customers facing economic hardship. We know this is a difficult and unsettling time, FPL spokesman Matt Eissey said in a statement. Still others are simply urging Americans to call if they are having difficulties. Perdernales Electric Cooperative, which has more than 300,000 customers in Central Texas, said simply, Our agents are committed to finding a solution that works best for you. I'm out of work because of the coronavirus. If I lose my internet or my wireless phone, it's going to be a lot harder to get a job. Am I completely out of luck? Not necessarily. On March 13, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai called on internet and wireless telephone providers to give consumers a break during the COVID-19 outbreak. He asked internet providers to sign a pledge not to disconnect any customers for the next 60 days, to waive any late fees and to open wi-fi hot spots to anyone who needs them. Dozens of companies, including Verizon, Comcast and U.S. Cellular, agreed to the pledge. Other companies have gone further. Comcast, for instance, has given all its customers unlimited data for 60 days at no charge. And Verizon is offering free international long-distance calling to all countries identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as Level 3-affected by COVID-19. Further, it is offering 15 gigabytes of data for qualified plans. AT&T, meanwhile, is waiving domestic wireless plan overage charges for data, voice or text for residential or small-business wireless customers resulting from coronavirus-related economic hardship. And Dominion Energy is offering to reconnect customers whose power was shut off before the coronavirus. You may even get a few extra channels from your service provider to keep you entertained while you're under quarantine. As of April 1, Verizon is offering Showtime and Epix for free to its Fios TV customers, as well as learning and online study tools. Xfinity hot spots will be free nationwide. I'm up to date on my bill, but there's a problem with the electric feed into my home. Is it safe to let someone into my home to take a look at it? As far as we've come with telework, there's no online solution to snapped electrical wires or a problem with a gas line. You may have to let someone inside to make repairs. BGE, Maryland's largest gas and electric utility, says that it is educating workers on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and that employees will wear face masks and gloves while working in a residence, if necessary. But not all utility workers may have masks and gloves, which are in short supply. So follow social distancing guidelines when a worker is in or near your home. No shaking hands; keep six feet apart, when possible; and try to have soap and hot water available for workers to wash their hands. I just got a call from my electric company saying it will cut off my power if I don't pay my bill within 12 hours. What should I do? You should assume that someone's trying to scam you. Utilities are reporting that some customers are getting fraudulent calls threatening to cut off their electricity or to take legal action unless there's an immediate payment. People impersonating utility company representatives may also call offering to lower your costs, once you supply them account and billing information. Some tips to avoid getting scammed Natasha Spencer dropped a bombshell on Tuesday's episode of Married At First Sight, revealing her 'ex-husband' Mikey Pembroke had slept with Stacey Hampton. Proposing a toast at the hotly anticipated reunion dinner, Natasha, 26, began by telling the other couples Stacey and Michael Goonan had 'the fakest relationship in Australian reality TV history'. 'And I'd like to toast to Stacey, for f**king my husband on our one-month anniversary. Cheers to you, babe,' she concluded. Drama: Natasha Spencer (pictured) dropped a bombshell on Tuesday's episode of Married At First Sight, revealing her 'ex-husband' Mikey Pembroke had slept with Stacey Hampton Her bombshell revelation left everyone at the table stunned, and prompted Stacey, 26, to deny ever sleeping with Mikey, branding herself 'the most loyal partner'. Feeling the pressure to weigh in on the discussion, Mikey, 29, then stood up and confessed: 'One thing led to another, me and Stacey had a few drinks in Ivan and Aleks' room, and we slept together.' But Stacey continued to deny it, calling Mikey 'desperate' and claiming he was 'obsessed' with her. Faking it: Proposing a toast at the hotly anticipated reunion dinner, Natasha, 26, began by telling the other couples Stacey Hampton and Michael Goonan (both pictured) had 'the fakest relationship in Australian reality TV history' Michael, 29, said he trusted Stacey, before asking if there was 'any evidence', with Mikey then walking out to retrieve his phone to show the group the text messages they had exchanged. 'There's no messages,' Stacey insisted, with Mikey urging the show's producers to 'get a lie detector test'. Mikey then got Chris Nicholls to read the messages aloud, with Stacey apologising in text for running out the following morning. 'And I'd like to toast to Stacey, for f**king my husband on our one-month anniversary. Cheers to you, babe,' concluded Natasha. Pictured, former 'husband' Mikey Pembroke Ivan Sarakula and Aleks Markovic then weighed in, revealing Mikey's clothes had been dropped off back at their apartment in a Mecca Cosmetics bag after the alleged incident. But Stacey insisted she was 'single' at the time because she had written 'leave' at their commitment ceremony, adding: 'If it did happen, I'd be sitting here going, "He deserved it."' Mikey then handed a pale Michael his phone, so he could read the text messages for himself. In denial: Natasha's bombshell revelation left everyone at the table stunned, and prompted Stacey, 26, to deny ever sleeping with Mikey, branding herself 'the most loyal partner' Ivan, 30, told Michael that Stacey had messaged Mikey later to meet up again, but he had refused, prompting her to call him 'a pussy'. Stunningly, Stacey then blasted Michael for not defending her, angrily asking him: 'Did the cat get your tongue tonight or something?' 'I'll forgive Stacey if it happened. However, I won't forgive her if she's lying about it. That's definitely crossing the line with me,' concluded Michael. Nobody knows more about self-isolation than an order of enclosed nuns and theyve reached out on social media to offer advice to people suffering anxiety during the Covid-19 lockdown. Abbess Marie Fahy, who is in charge of the only Cistercian monastery for women in Ireland, took to Facebook to offer encouragement to people in these uncertain times. Abbess Fahy and the other 23 nuns at St Marys Abbey, Glencairn, near Lismore in Co Waterford, said that while they were continuing to pray for the whole country, and especially frontline medical staff, they also wanted to offer practical advice to keep peoples spirits up. What prompted me was being aware that so many people are being contained in their own homes, especially those over 70, Abbess Fahy said. They might be getting anxious and fearful. Maybe those of us who live in monastic life and enclosure might be able to offer a few tips to help you survive these challenging weeks. The advice includes keeping a strong daily structure, such as getting up and going to bed at the same times and keeping busy cleaning and cooking and doing a bit of outdoor work. Abess Fahy said that people should put time aside for communicating each day with friends via phone calls, text messaging, emails, and so on. Do something purposeful each day. Decluttering some wardrobe or drawer, putting old photos in albums, cleaning out the kitchen cupboards, keep a journal; something that will give you a sense of achievement at the end of the day, the abbess said. She added that if somebody is religious, they should pencil in some time for prayer throughout the day, or read a psalm or a story from the Gospels. She advises that people can also start reading all those books that you never have had time to read before. The nuns, who range in age from 24 to almost 90, have their own problems at present. They manufacture the Hosts for Holy Communion for many of the countrys churches. They have lost income from that and the religious cards they produce and from a guesthouse thats almost constantly booked for retreats. However, on the plus side they are still growing their own vegetables and have a few sheep. Abbess Fahy said the nuns are fortunate that they have a large church to pray in, so they can distance themselves appropriately from each other and each has their own ensuite room. We also have wonderful neighbours who are picking up stuff and delivering it to us, she said. Production, consumption, investment plunge amid virus spread By Lee Kyung-min The economy is showing clear signs of slipping into a recession, with economic activities production, investment and consumption all plummeting amid the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of even more concern is that business confidence has fallen to its worst level since the 2008 global financial crisis, indicating that the situation could turn much worse further down the road. According to data from Statistics Korea, Tuesday, the county's overall industrial output fell 3.5 percent in February from a month earlier, the lowest since 2011 when the county was hit by foot-and-mouth disease. The auto industry was hit hardest, with a staggering 27.8 percent month-on-month drop following a series of operation halts caused by a shortage of key parts from China amid supply chain disruptions. The services sector reported a combined 3.5 percent drop from a month earlier. The travel industry suffered a 45.6 percent month-on-month drop, followed by airlines (42.2 percent), railways (34.8 percent), aircargo (33.1 percent), hotels (32.6 percent) and restaurants and bars (15.9 percent). Consumption dropped 6 percent from a month earlier, with sales at duty free shops and department stores plummeting 34.3 percent and 22.8 percent from January, respectively. By contrast, online sales jumped 8.4 percent as many consumers remained under voluntary lockdowns amid the coronavirus outbreak. Facility investment dropped 4.8 percent from a month earlier, led by a 15.4 percent decrease in transport equipment spending following the drop in car manufacturing. The economic coincident indicator, measured by its cyclical component, stood at 99.8 in February, down 0.7 points from a month earlier, the steepest fall since 2009. This is a broad-based measurement of current economic conditions. "The economy will be pushed toward the brink of collapse," said Seoul National University economist Lee In-ho. "The February and March figures have yet to reflect the full and broad-based impact of the new corona virus. The figures will be worse in the coming months." Business confidence has also hit rock bottom. According to the Bank of Korea (BOK) Tuesday, the Business Sentiment Index (BSI) for March came to 54, down 11 points from 65 the previous month, the lowest level since it posted 52 in February 2009 following the 2008 financial crisis.A reading below 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists. In February, the BSI suffered a fall of 10 points from January, the sharpest drop since 2003, when the bank began compiling related data. In March, the index for manufacturing fell 9 points to 56. By sector, automobile manufacturing dropped 15 points to 41, while facility and equipment shed 16 points to 52. The index for non-manufacturing that includes the services sector fell 11 points to 53, led by a 14 point drop in the wholesale and retail sector whose index stood at 45. Travel, leisure, carrier and storage businesses among other sectors all saw declines of at least 14 points and up to 32 points. The woeful figures comparable to those in the 2008 global financial crisis give more ground for continued downward revisions of the growth forecast for the Korean economy already reeling from the drawn-out U.S.-China trade war. Nomura Securities said in the worst case scenario, where the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus continues to grow exponentially globally, the Korean economy could shrink 12.2 percent in 2020. Capital Economics, a London-based economic research consultancy, and credit ratings agency S&P, also forecast the Korean economy to contract 1 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively. Moody's predicted the economy would grow 0.1 percent. Kerala, which has been battling coronavirus for two months has seen just two deaths from the infection so far, but within three days of non-availability of liquor due to lockdown, more than six people, mostly youngsters below 40, have committed suicide. Many are also admitted in de-addiction centres. To deal with the situation, the state government has directed the excise department to serve liquor to chronic alcoholics based on doctor's prescription. According to a government order issued to the excise commissioner, Director General of Police, Managing Director of the Kerala State Bevarages Corporation and the health department, the Beverage Corporation authorities must issue limited quantities of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) to those who are in possession of the 'passes'. The guidelines explained in the order say those having 'alcohol withdrawal symptoms' can approach the outpatient department of any government run hospital, including medical colleges. The consulting doctor can issue a prescription or 'opinion' in writing certifying that the patient is having withdrawal symptoms. Once the prescription is submitted to the excise department range or circle office, along with an application in prescribed format and government provided identity proofs, the 'pass' can be issued by the concerned authority. It is the duty of the excise office to inform the Managing Director of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation on the permit given to each and every patient. They also have to provide permissible levels of IMFL as per the 'Abkari Act' of Kerala. However, the order specifically says that the corporation should inform the excise department on the quantities provided everyday. Kerala had a record Rs 14,508 crore liquor sales in 2018-19 and the revenue of the government from state excise during the period was Rs. 2,521 crore. The state is estimated to have around 1.6 million alcoholics. Almost 45 percent of them are chronic alcoholics, say psychiatrists and social scientists. Meanwhile, the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) is opposing the move as the order is against the dignity and ethics of their profession. Alcohol is not a medicine and it cannot be prescribed to any patient, they say. The government order says it is up to the discretion of the doctor whether to recommend the pass or not. Although Kerala announced lockdown few days before the central government, the state had allowed bars and beverages outlets to run until a few days ago, citing the repercussions a complete alcohol ban. But with coronavirus spreading fast in some of the northern districts and people not adhering to the government request to remain indoors, the State was forced to close all bars, liquor outlets and toddy shops. Further, after the complete ban, various police and excise teams have seized thousands of litres of illicit liquor and arrested many people for distilling the brew. Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown: MSMEs seeks govt help to ensure liquidity Also Read: SBI, Canara Bank, IDBI Bank defer payment of EMIs by 3 months; other likely to follow Also Read: Coronavirus impact: JSW Steel's acquisition of Bhushan Power to hit another roadblock By Anshuman Daga SINGAPORE (Reuters) - State investor Temasek Holdings and others put together a funding package of up to S$19 billion ($13.27 billion) for Singapore Airlines (SIA) in the single biggest rescue for an airline slammed by the coronavirus pandemic. The massive financing plan, which drove SIA shares down as much as 10.5% on Friday, underscores the depth of financial trouble for the global airline industry, with nearly one-third of the world's aircraft already grounded because of the pandemic, according to data provider Cirium. Many governments worldwide have already stepped in to help airlines amid the virus-induced travel slump, with the United States offering $58 billion in aid. Many carriers have grounded fleets and ordered thousands of workers on unpaid leave to keep afloat. The S$5.3 billion equity and up to S$9.7 billion convertible note portions of the Singapore Airlines fundraising are being underwritten by Temasek, which owns about 55% of the group. The carrier has also obtained a S$4 billion bridge loan facility with the country's biggest lender, DBS Group Holdings Ltd , to support near-term liquidity needs until the airline secures money from the rights issue. "This is an exceptional time for the SIA Group," SIA Chairman Peter Seah said in a statement late on Thursday. SIA's shares went into a rare trading halt earlier Thursday after plunging to their lowest in 22 years this week as investors feared the virus will have a deep impact on the company. "Under the current dire circumstances, the rights issue is the best tactical move for SIA. It underscores the carrier's strategic importance to Singapore and the island state's position as both a financial center and aviation hub," Shukor Yusof, head of aviation consultancy Endau Analytics, said in a blog post. SIA has said it would cut capacity by 96%, ground almost its entire fleet and impose cost cuts affecting about 10,000 staff amid what it called the "greatest challenge" it had ever faced. The rights issue will be offered at S$3 per share, a 53.8% discount to SIA's last traded price of S$6.5. Story continues "While the raising looks earnings and valuation decretive, SIA now looks well positioned to ride out the storm with balance sheet concerns largely de-risked," BofA analysts told clients. Temasek International Chief Executive Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara said the deal would not only tide SIA over a short-term liquidity challenge but would position it for growth beyond the pandemic. SIA said it would use the funding from the rights issues to beef up its capital and operational expenditure needs. On Thursday, the Singapore government announced more than $30 billion in new measures to help businesses and households brace against the pandemic. Finance minister Heng Swee Keat had also said that SIA would announce support from Temasek and that he welcomed Temasek's decision to support the airline. Qantas Airways this week secured A$1.05 billion ($636.1 million) against its aircraft fleet. (Reporting by Anshuman Daga; Editing by Dan Grebler and Gerry Doyle) The Syrian air defenses downed a number of missiles launched by Israeli jets from the Lebanese airspace on the central Syrian province of Homs on Tuesday, the Syrian state-run SANA news agency reported, citing a military source. "At 20:25 [17:25 GMT] of Tuesday, the Israeli warplanes launched a number of missiles, from over Lebanon, into the direction of eastern Homs ... immediately, the army air defenses intercepted the hostile missiles and shot down a number of them," a military source told SANA. Israel has frequently hit targets inside Syria since the outbreak of civil war in the neighboring country, claiming that it seeks to counter groups backed by Iran there. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The COVID-19 crisis and the Ghani-Abdullah dispute could bring down the fragile peace in the country. Those of us who witnessed United States officials and Taliban representatives shake hands on February 29, 2020, were inspired by the political will for peace that we witnessed. Yet many of us have also recognised the inevitable difficulties in implementing the agreement concluded in Doha. But what we could not have anticipated was the two crises which would simultaneously threaten to derail the entire Afghan peace process: the Afghan presidential election dispute and the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, Afghanistan has registered 170 cases of COVID-19 and four deaths. While these numbers are low compared with what is reported from the worst-affected countries such as Italy, Spain, Iran, and the United States, given the limited testing capacity in Afghanistan, it is feared that the true scope of the outbreak is much bigger. Afghanistans health system is also underdeveloped and unable to cope with a large-scale pandemic. There are persistent problems with water, sanitation and hygiene and many Afghans live in communally shared, crowded spaces. This means that self-isolation, social distancing, and hygiene measures will be less effective. Some may point out that Afghanistans geography and the extreme isolation of some communities will likely slow down the spread of COVID-19. While that may help, there is an increasing flow of Afghan refugees departing Iran and returning to provinces across the country, which could accelerate the spread of the virus. Since late February, almost 100,000 of the three million Afghans living in Iran have travelled home, with around 15,000 crossing on a daily basis in March, in spite of Afghan government pleas to Tehran to close the border. While the February 29 agreement between the US and the Taliban has likely encouraged some Afghan refugees to return, the large-scale movement is driven more by the spread of the coronavirus in Iran and the severe economic crisis, exacerbated by the US policy of maximum pressure. Those Afghan refugees are returning to a country gridlocked by a political crisis, with President Ashraf Ghani and Dr Abdullah Abdullah stuck in a dispute over the results of the September 28 presidential election. Both leaders have held separate presidential inauguration ceremonies threatening to split the country. Amid the crisis, on March 23, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a damning statement, expressing the US disappointment by the failure of the Afghan leadership to reach an agreement. Considering this to poses a direct threat to US national interests, Pompeo announced a reduction of US spending in Afghanistan by $1bn this year and $1bn in 2021. This move is intended to put pressure on Ghani and Abdullah to put aside their differences and form a unity government. Yet if this strategy proves ineffective, there is a real risk of a collapse of political order in Kabul, as the Afghan state is deeply dependent on foreign aid, which accounts for 40 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). The crisis could be compounded by an early withdrawal of US and NATO troops. Four NATO service members who recently arrived in Afghanistan have tested positivefor coronavirus; and given fears of a major outbreak in the country, Western allies may decide to pull their troops out ahead of the schedule set by the US-Taliban agreement. The rapid scaling down of the foreign military presence in Afghanistan could precipitate a major security vacuum and encourage the Taliban to break the agreement and escalate their military campaign again. It is also likely to enable even more attacks by the Islamic State in Khorasan. On March 25, its fighters laid an hours-long siege on a Sikh religious complex in Kabul, killing 25 people. The coronavirus outbreak could also affect efforts to push forward intra-Afghan talks by foreign mediators. Face-to-face negotiations will likely cease as they bring risks to all those involved. Furthermore, while the intra-Afghan talks to be effective should be as inclusive as possible, consulting at all levels of Afghan society, if the peace process does indeed proceed then it will likely be confined to a very narrow, top-down negotiation between an Afghan negotiating team and the Taliban. There are, however, reasons for cautious optimism. Intra-Afghan negotiations continue, albeit not in the form imagined just a few weeks ago. On March 22, Qatar and the US facilitated technical talks addressing prisoner releases between the Afghan government and the Taliban via Skype. This demonstrates that the coronavirus has not brought diplomacy to a complete halt. The seriousness and intensity with which Secretary Pompeo and Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad have engaged with the Afghan political crisis and faltering peace process over the past weeks, conducting many face-to-face meetings at the start of a global lockdown, also shows that more traditional forms of diplomacy will continue out of necessity. It is also conceivable that the coronavirus could help establish further forms of cooperation between the Afghan government and the Taliban. For this to happen, the Taliban must first accept reality: the virus will spread to all of Afghanistan and will affect all Afghans, regardless of faith, political allegiance and ethnicity. By working together with all parties to combat coronavirus, the Taliban could show the world that it can conduct itself as a responsible power-sharing partner in any post-settlement Afghanistan. The Taliban have made tentative steps in the right direction on this front: they have reconciled with the International Committee of the Red Cross and restored security guarantees for its personnel. It is high time to do the same in all areas they control and allow in emergency health responders. So far, the Taliban have been hedging their bets on US President Donald Trumps urgent need for a diplomatic victory in an election year. In the context of the current pandemic, the Taliban need to understand that if Trump is pushed too far, he could decide that money spent in Afghanistan is better spent at home and under emergency legislation withdraw all US forces. While the Taliban may initially perceive this to be a victory, it would be a pyrrhic one. A security vacuum will not pave the way for the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan; it will only plunge the country into long and bloody conflict. Rather than exploit the gridlock in Kabul to advance militarily, the Taliban should maintain their reduction in violence and assist in a united front against the Islamic State. The Taliban should heed the call of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a global ceasefire and ensure a level of stability in Afghanistan so the country has a better chance in combatting and containing the outbreak. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. 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. Flash A batch of medical supplies delivered by China's Fosun Group, including 1 million face masks and 200,000 test kits, arrived in Lisbon from China on Monday, according to a press release by the company. The delivery of the essential medical equipment will help the Portuguese National Health Service (SNS) fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Fosun said in the release. It said that of the 1 million masks, 700,000 will be delivered immediately to the SNS. The Shanghai-based company added that the 200,000 nucleic acid detection kits, which are CE certified, were developed by Fosun Pharma, Fosun's medical department. Among the equipment, 70,000 units, including personal protective masks for healthcare professionals and nucleic acid detection kits from COVID-19, will be donated to the Portuguese government by the Fosun Group with the support of Fosun's subsidiaries in Portugal -- Luz Saude, Millennium bcp and Fidelidade, said the release. "At the time of the epidemic, Fosun joined the group's companies in Portugal to maintain close communication with the Portuguese government to provide full support for the local fight against the epidemic," said President of Fosun International Guo Guangchang, quoted by the release. Guo noted that Fosun, as a global company, has been developing its presence in Portugal for many years and Portugal has also become his second home. As part of its operations against the COVID-19 pandemic, Fosun has since March 22 been distributing medical protection equipment to many countries, including Italy, Japan, South Korea, India, the UK and France, said the release. According to the daily bulletin of the Directorate-General for Health, Portugal registered 6,408 coronavirus cases with 140 deaths as of Monday. The coronavirus outbreak, which has taken the shape of a global pandemic, compelled Carnival Corporation CCL to extend the halt of global cruise operations Holland America Line, Seabourn and Cunard. Recently, the company was required to undertake quarantine of two ships of Princess Cruises line due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. The coronavirus outbreak, which is spreading at an alarming rate, has infected more than 600,000 people worldwide and the death toll has crossed 29,000. Notably, the companys decision is in sync with the unpredictable circumstances evolving from the global crisis. With continued port closures and travel restrictions surrounding global health concerns, the companys cruise brands have suspended their operations for an additional 30 days, leading to cancellation of departures starting from May 14. However, the company is providing guests with opportunity to either receive a Future Cruise Credit for 125% of their booking value along with a $250 shipboard credit or a full refund. Simon Palethorpe, president, Cunard stated, "Everyone in the Cunard team is aware of the need to support the management and containment of COVID-19 globally. This includes protecting the health and safety of our guests and crew. It is therefore right we extend the pause in operations." Travel Restriction Hurts Cruise Industry The Cruise Lines International Association submitted a plan to vice president Michael Pence suggesting that any person over the age of 70 years shouldnt be allowed to board a cruise if they fail to provide fitness certificate from a doctor. Per Cruise Lines International Association, the average age of passengers on cruises is 47, while 14% are 70 years or above. Meanwhile, President Trump has put restriction on passengers travelling from 26 European countries to the United States. Trump said, We made a lifesaving move with early action on China. Now we must take the same action with Europe. Story continues Clearly, bookings for the broader business are going to be negatively impacted thanks to travel restrictions to contain the spread of the contagion. Other major cruise operators that have been negatively impacted are Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. RCL and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. NCLH. So far this year, shares of Carnival has plummeted 74.8% compared with the industrys decline of 58.8%. Zacks Rank & a Key Pick Carnival currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Some better-ranked stock in the same space is Camping World Holdings Inc. CWH, sporting a Zacks Rank #1. Camping World Holdings Inc. 2020 earnings is expected to surge 221.2%. Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020? Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys. Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Carnival Corporation (CCL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Camping World Holdings Inc. (CWH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research 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. Tammy Hembrow is one of Australia's biggest social media sensations, boasting 11 million Instagram followers. And the 25-year-old businesswoman revealed on Tuesday she had been forced to turn off her app notifications because she gets 'hundreds' of direct messages a day. She also spoke to News.com.au about how she built her activewear empire from scratch while raising two children. Don't bother sliding into her DMs! Tammy Hembrow has been forced to turn off her Instagram notifications because she gets 'hundreds' of direct messages each day 'I don't read my DMs that much, but I get so many every single day I would never be able to see all of them. I wish I could read all of them, but it's too many,' Tammy said. She receives more than 100 messages each day, and one can imagine most of them are from single men. The mother-of-two also revealed how she became such a sensation online, saying that her success on the app was 'organic'. No wonder! Tammy Hembrow is one of Australia's biggest social media sensations, boasting 11 million Instagram followers How she did it: The mother-of-two revealed how she became such a sensation online, saying that her success on the app was 'organic' Tammy first starting using Instagram while pregnant with her son Wolf, now four, and said she had a 'lot of time on her hands'. 'I started like just journalling through my Instagram I guess, and people started to really like what I was posting and talking about,' she explained. 'I was also into fitness, so people liked the being pregnant and still being super into fitness.' She said from the get-go that she wanted to 'make something out of' Instagram and 'jumped at the opportunity'. She now earns thousands of dollars per post. Family at the forefront: Tammy first starting using Instagram while pregnant with her son Wolf, now four, and said she had a 'lot of time on her hands'. Pictured with her children Motivated: She said from the get-go that she wanted to 'make something out of' Instagram and 'jumped at the opportunity'. She now earns thousands of dollars per post In 2017, Tammy spoke to Husskie about building her social media and fitness empire. She said at the time that she couldn't believe she'd had so much success. 'I never imagined that my following would be as big as it is now. My fans inspire me to keep pushing further and I hope to give back to my followers by sharing knowledge, experiences and expertise,' Tammy said at the time. 'When I was pregnant with Wolf, I spent a lot of nights in while my friends were all out, and so I started watching makeup tutorials and taking photos. I realised that this was something I really enjoyed doing so I started to share my fitness goals and journey as well.' Tammy runs her own athleisure business, Saski Collection, and has even piqued the interest of Khloe Kardashian as a model for her jeans brand, Good American. Technavio has been monitoring the semiconductor capital equipment market and it is poised to grow by USD 16.97 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Request latest free sample report of 2020-2024 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005309/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Applied Materials, ASML, Hitachi High-Technologies, LAM RESEARCH, and Tokyo Electron are some of the major market participants. The proliferation of semiconductor fabs will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Proliferation of semiconductor fabs has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market is segmented as below: Type Wafer-level Manufacturing Equipment Packaging And Assembly Equipment Automated Test Equipment Geographic Landscape Americas APAC EMEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample report of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30316 Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our semiconductor capital equipment market report covers the following areas: Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market Size Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market Trends Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market Industry Analysis This study identifies increased need for semiconductor memory devices as one of the prime reasons driving the semiconductor capital equipment market growth during the next few years. Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the semiconductor capital equipment market, including some of the vendors such as Applied Materials, ASML, Hitachi High-Technologies, LAM RESEARCH, and Tokyo Electron. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the semiconductor capital equipment market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist semiconductor capital equipment market growth during the next five years Estimation of the semiconductor capital equipment market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the semiconductor capital equipment market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of semiconductor capital equipment market vendors Table Of Contents : PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Preface 2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY TYPE Market segmentation by type Comparison by type Wafer-level manufacturing equipment Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Packaging and assembly equipment Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Automated test equipment Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by type PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Americas Market size and forecast 2018-2023 EMEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Advances in wafer size Growing demand for 14-nm/16-nm FinFET technology Increased need for semiconductor memory devices PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Applied Materials ASML Hitachi High-Technologies LAM RESEARCH Tokyo Electron PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005309/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ The medical nightmare that is uncontrolled coronavirus spread has afflicted Americans with another painful condition: economic paralysis. But Japan, despite sharing a maritime border with China and nearly one million tourists in January 2020, has so far managed to spare its 127 million citizens the medical and financial disaster of COVID-19. With about ten geographically isolated hotspots across Japan, there have been fewer COVID-19 deaths in that nation in a three-month period than among the 400,000 people of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the past six weeks. Japan has not been immune from economic damage, which is global. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, moreover, recently voiced concern about a possible explosion in outbreaks. But the country has, for now, managed to keep the growth in cases and deaths modest while keeping much of its economy open. What are the lessons? The 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic took the lives of nearly 500,000 Japanese. (For perspective, the combined death toll after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was 200,000.) Since then, a phenomenon began to emerge: mask culture. The wearing of cloth or paper sickness masks while healthy and in public has become such a standard practice in Japan that in average years, the nation manufactures 4.3 billion face masks for personal use. The typical Japanese citizen goes through 43 masks per year. Initially a personal public health decision, daily mask wearing became a social etiquette standard and then a fashion accessory. Within the past several years, sickness masks have morphed into a trendsetting statement worn by celebrities and fashionistas. Daily public use is ubiquitous. Articles are written about the seasons most popular patterns. Magazines inform which color mask makes a woman more attractive. There are masks marketed to men, scented versions and even a model that purports to highlight a Japanese standard of beauty a smaller-appearing face. The latest Japanese mask trend is the Bi Fitto Masukuru, or Be Fit Mask. Cut to contour the jawline, it provides a closer fit than the typical rectangular-shaped mask. Smaller gaps provide less room for respiratory particles to escape. Story continues Masks matter because COVID-19 spreads through droplets. The primary way a healthy person is exposed is by coming into physical contact with viral particles contained in the saliva or respiratory secretions of a person with the virus including one without symptoms. Particles are released when someone infected sneezes, clears his or her throat, laughs, eats or speaks. Droplet spread is not the same as aerosol spread, and evidence suggests that, unlike measles, COVID-19 viral particles do not remain airborne for long enough to create a cloud of infectious gas. (The risk of aerosol spread is high mostly for medical professionals, who may come in prolonged close contact with infected patients during procedures.) Not all masks are as fashionable as the Bi Fitto Masukuru. Different kinds differ in efficacy. The gold standard is the N95 respirator, whose name derives from testing that proves it filters out at least 95 percent of small particles including viruses when carefully fitted to the wearer. Next are surgical masks, typically made of rectangular, pleated nonwoven fabric that loosely conforms to the face without a tight seal. They are meant to provide a physical barrier between the wearer and larger particles in the environment, but are not as reliable as a fitted N95. Finally, there are simple cloth masks. These are not an effective barrier to virus particles, though there is some research suggesting that a homemade mask with a double-layer of cloth and a nonwoven filter in between may equal or exceed the effectiveness of the surgical mask. In the U.S., across Europe, and among Western public-health authorities, the relentless mantra has been to wash your hands. Thats an excellent part of hygiene, preventing viral transmission from droplets on surfaces to hands that then touch the face, nose and mouth. But hand washing does not prevent person-to-person droplet spread: the spread that will occur when quarantines are lifted and a financially desperate workforce returns to a more normal world, the spread that could lead to a second bounce in infections. The visible success Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and other East Asian countries have had in keeping the virus under control should prompt many in the West to revisit their mask-skeptical stance. The new mantra should take into account that masks and hand washing, taken together, have been shown to reduce the transmission of disease. For healthy people, young people, and essential workers to really make a difference in the spread of this virus to the entire community including those at high risk who remain at home when the world normalizes they should consider the Japanese cultural norm of mask-wearing in public. Masks worn in public by healthy people are not to stop the wearer from contracting the virus. They work by limiting the exposure of nearby people to the virus potentially contained within an asymptomatic mask-wearers cough or sneeze. Unfortunately, the adoption of such a radical cultural departure is normally slow. Right now, many of my physician and nurse colleagues in California hospitals are being told by misguided administrators NOT to wear masks outside of patient rooms because it scares the other patients. All the while, the spread continues. Perhaps the Social Influencers of the 21st century could drive this shift from #WashYourHands to #WearYourMask. Celebrity mask-wearing challenges might appear on Twitter and Facebook, offering a fad that is lifesaving as well as attention-generating. Fashion designers could offer spring mask collections using cutting-edge couture to cut viral transmission. The NHL, NBA, and other sports leagues know more about merchandising than almost anyone in the marketing world; put athletes in team logo masks, and fans will follow. Eventually, Americans will go back to work. When they do, lets hope theyre wearing masks. More from National Review The Zacks Oil and Gas - Production & Pipelines industry comprises companies that own and operate midstream energy infrastructure assets. The properties consist of extensive pipeline networks that transport crude oil, liquids and natural gas. The midstream energy players are also involved in processing and storing natural gas. Moreover, the companies have interests in natural gas distribution utilities and thereby serve millions of retail customers across North America. Lets take a look at the industrys three major themes: The businesses of midstream energy firms are generally not exposed to commodity price fluctuations. This is because most of the pipeline and storage networks are in long-term contracts with shippers, which provide the midstream companies with stable fee-based revenues. Encouraging U.S. demand for clean energy to curb greenhouse gas emission has given natural gas distribution business a palpable boost. Per EIA, in the United States, natural gas had accounted for 37% of total electricity generation in 2019, up from prior years 35%. The annual share will increase to 39% in 2020, according to EIAs prediction. Oil price is now in the bearish territory since the coronavirus pandemic has dented global energy demand. Notably, it takes roughly six months for weak oil price to affect production volumes of the commodity, per the EIA model. Thus, although the annual average U.S. oil production volumes will be up marginally in 2020, the production volumes will decline in 2021. Hence, it is unlikely that there will be an immediate drastic drop in demand for oil pipeline networks. Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Encouraging Prospects The Zacks Oil and Gas - Production & Pipelines is a 14-stock group within the broader Zacks Oil - Energy sector. The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #97, which places it in the top 38% of more than 250 Zacks industries. The groups Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates impressive near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider, lets take a look at the industrys recent stock-market performance and valuation picture. Industry Outperforms Sector But Lags S&P 500 The Zacks Oil and Gas - Production & Pipelines has outpaced the broader Zacks Oil - Energy Sector but lagged the Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year. The industry fell 44.7% over this period as compared with the 54.2% and 11.8% declines of the broader sector and S&P 500, respectively. One-Year Price Performance Story continues Industrys Current Valuation On the basis of the trailing 12-month enterprise value-to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio, which is a commonly used multiple for valuing oil and gas production & pipeline stocks, the industry is currently trading at 9.27X, lower than the S&P 500s 9.40X. It is, however, above the sectors trailing-12-month EV/EBITDA of 3.5X. Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 25.5X, as low as 8.41X, with a median of 13.93X. Trailing 12-Month Enterprise Value-to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) Ratio Bottom Line Midstream energy firms, belonging to the industry, paid a total of $2.1 billion in dividends through 2019, representing an increase of 23.6% year over year. Backed by a huge backlog of midstream growth projects, the companies are well positioned to continue to reward stockholders. Here, we are presenting four stocks which are positioned to grow in the near term. Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A. (TGS) is a leading provider of services related to distribution and transportation of natural gas in Argentina. Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock witnessed upward revisions for its Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 earnings. Price and Consensus: TGS DCP Midstream, LP (DCP) is a leading operator of midstream infrastructure properties in America. The Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock has also witnessed upward revisions for its Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 earnings in the past 30 days. Price and Consensus: DCP Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI): The company has the largest network of natural gas pipeline in North America that spreads across almost 70,000 miles. Through 2020, the company is likely to see earnings growth of 5.3%. The company, carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), has also witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions for 2020 over the past 30 days. Price and Consensus: KMI Ultrapar Participacoes SA (UGP): Headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Ultrapar is a leading distributer of liquefied petroleum gas in the country. The Zacks #3 Ranked stock is likely to see earnings growth of 113.3% in 2020. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Price and Consensus: UGP Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020? Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys. Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ultrapar Participacoes S.A. (UGP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Transportadora De Gas Sa Ord B (TGS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI) : Free Stock Analysis Report DCP Midstream Partners, LP (DCP) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Barack Obama took a veiled swipe Tuesday at his successor Donald Trump, chastising those who have 'denied warnings' of a deadly coronavirus pandemic and cautioning against ignoring the consequences of climate change. The two-term Democrat took to social media as the Trump administration finalized a controversial rollback of Obama-era vehicle fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards that were aimed at slowing global warming. 'We've seen all too terribly the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic,' Obama posted on Twitter. 'We can't afford any more consequences of climate denial. All of us, especially young people, have to demand better of our government at every level and vote this fall.' The Republican leader's government has faced stark criticism for failing to heed early global alarms about the virus outbreak, after death tolls began to spike in places like China and Italy. Rollback: Donald Trump tore up emissions standards in a move which critics say will lead to deaths Attack: Barack Obama stuck with his practice of not naming his successor in the Oval Office as he unloaded on Donald Trump's decision to roll back emissions standards as 'climate denial' The United States now has more than 165,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, the most worldwide, and the US death toll has surged past 3,400 -- exceeding China's official toll. Obama's tweet included a link to a story about the Trump administration's new rules. Trump's administration on Tuesday completed a rollback of vehicle emissions standards adopted under Obama and will require 1.5% annual increases in efficiency through 2026 - far weaker than the 5% increases in the discarded rules. The announcement - condemned by Democrats and environmentalists while being lauded by big business - sets up a legal battle, with California and 22 other states planning to challenge the rewrite of what had been one of most ambitious U.S. policies aimed at combating climate change. The Trump administration called the move its largest single deregulatory action and said it would will save automakers upwards of $100 billion in compliance costs. The policy reversal marks the latest step by Trump, a Republican, to erase environmental policies pursued by Obama, a Democrat. James Owens, acting head of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said the plan 'strikes the right balance between environmental considerations, health and safety considerations and economic considerations.' House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, disagreed, saying the administration's decision will harm public health and endanger U.S. economic security. 'The Trump administration's anti-science decision to gut fuel standards will unleash massive amounts of pollution into the air at the worst possible time,' Pelosi said, alluding to the coronavirus pandemic. A coalition of states previously challenged the Trump administration's decision to revoke California's authority to set its own stiff vehicle tailpipe emissions rules. Under the Obama rules, automakers were to have averaged about 5% per year increases in fuel efficiency through 2026, but the industry lobbied Trump to weaken them. The new requirements mean the U.S. vehicle fleet will average 40.4 miles per gallon rather than 46.7 mpg under the Obama rules. The Trump administration said the new rules will result in about 2 billion additional barrels of oil being consumed and 867 to 923 additional million metric tons of carbon dioxide being emitted and boost average consumer fuel costs by more than $1,000 per vehicle over the life of their vehicles. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the rule 'strikes the right regulatory balance that protects our environment, and sets reasonable targets for the auto industry.' Obama's environmental policies were intended to cut carbon emissions that drive climate change, while Trump has ditched numerous environmental regulations that his administration deemed harmful to industry and has aimed to increase the use of fossil fuels. Trump also pulled the United States out of a global climate accord and moved to reverse clean water regulations and pollution standards for coal-burning power plants. The Trump administration in August 2018 initially proposed freezing requirements at 2020 levels through 2026. Reuters reported in October automakers expected a 1.5% annual increase after talks with administration officials. An automotive trade group that represents General Motors Co , Volkswagen AG, Toyota Motor Corp and others, said that automakers need policies that support 'a customer-friendly shift' toward electrified and other highly efficient technologies. 'We are carefully reviewing the full breadth of this final rule to determine the extent to which it supports these priorities,' it said. Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, criticized the administration 'for exploiting the cover of a pandemic to roll back the clean car standards, which are crucial public health safeguards,' referring to the coronavirus crisis. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a business group, said the final rule provides a 'workable path forward on a unified national program that provides regulatory certainty while strengthening fuel economy standards and continuing emissions reductions.' The administration said the revised rules will cut the future price of new vehicles by around $1,000 and reduce traffic deaths. Environmentalists dispute the analysis that the rule will reduce traffic deaths. Pollution: Opponents say move by the Trump administration will kill hundreds more Americans a year through dirtier air, compared to the Obama standards The final rule acknowledges that drivers will pay more in higher fuel costs than they will save in new vehicle prices but said they will save more in overall vehicle ownership costs. It said it will reduce up to 1.8 million crashes and lower 'the auto industry's costs to comply with the program, with a commensurate reduction in per-vehicle costs to consumers, the standards enhance the ability of the fleet to turn over to newer, cleaner and safer vehicles.' The Trump administration has battled with California over auto regulations. Last month, the U.S. Justice Department closed an antitrust investigation into a voluntary agreement that four automakers reached with California on emissions without taking any action. Ford Motor Co, BMW AG, Honda Motor Co and VW struck a voluntary deal with California last year on emissions standards, prompting the investigation. The deal with the California Air Resources Board bypassed a White House effort to strip the state of the right to fight climate change and drew Trump's ire. Ford said on Tuesday it remains 'committed to meeting emission reductions consistent with the California framework.' RACINE COUNTY Two more COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Racine County, one in the City of Racine and one outside the city. The county total, as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, is 28 coronavirus cases, 12 of which are within the jurisdiction of the City of Racine Health Department and 16 elsewhere in the county. The county has not released additional information on who tested positive or what municipalities the 16 non-Racine residents reside in. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services confirmed 16 deaths from COVID-19 as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, though some local health departments have reported higher numbers. DHSs website as of 2 p.m. Tuesday reported 1,351 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin, an increase of 130 from the 1,221 reported on Monday. There were 17,375 negative tests as of Tuesday afternoon, DHS reported, meaning that about 7% of those tested for the virus are confirmed positive cases. Elsewhere in the area, according to DHS, the reported totals are: 37 cases in Kenosha County; six in Walworth County; 101 in Waukesha County; and 674 in Milwaukee County. The only neighboring county to report deaths related to COVID-19 is Milwaukee, with six fatalities. Although 1,351 is the number of confirmed cases in the state, its hard to know how many actual cases there are because testing is limited. There could be as many as 10 actual cases for every single confirmed positive case, according to Dr. Ryan Westergaard, Wisconsins leading top infectious disease expert. Voluntary isolation facilities set up The state is expected to open its first two voluntary isolation facilities for those who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The facilities will be located at a Super 8 hotel across Howell Avenue from General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee and at the University of Wisconsin-Madisons Lowell Center. As the states response to COVID-19 continues, we want to make sure those who need a safe place to stay have one available to them, Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. Evers continued by saying the facilities will provide a valuable resource for those who have mild symptoms of COVID-19 while also leaving room for those with more severe cases in hospitals and keeping people who do (or might have) COVID-19 from spreading it to others. A notice from the governors office explained that These facilities are for symptomatic individuals suspected to be infected with COVID-19 or who have a confirmed case of COVID-19. It is not possible for someone to choose to stay at either facility without the referral of a medical provider or public health official. The expected lengths of time people will stay at either facility will either be 14 days, or for 72 hours after symptoms dissipate. The individual will be permitted to leave if they so choose. Wellness checks will be performed every four hours during the day, and only if needed during the night. Evers said this is another example of public-private partnerships occurring across the state amid the coronavirus crisis. Other facilities The state is also planning to open field hospitals as necessary in anticipation of a surge of COVID-19 patients. We are headed into the worst of this, folks, Evers said on a conference call Monday. Im sure many of us would like to wake up from this nightmare tomorrow morning and say it never happened. But the responsible thing is to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Andrea Palm, secretary of the state Department of Health Services, said the true effects that the stay-at-home order has had on the spread of the disease wont be seen until next week at the earliest. We really do believe its another 10-plus days before were going to see evidence of a flattening off of the new daily cases, she said. Election update Meanwhile, election officials moved ahead with preparations for next weeks state and local elections and presidential primary. Monday was the deadline for voters to register to vote online before they can request an absentee ballot. Thursday was the deadline to request an absentee ballot. As of Monday morning, more than 848,000 absentee ballots had been sent to voters and nearly 252,000 had been returned, crushing previous record highs for a spring election. In addition to the presidential primary, the election will feature a state Supreme Court race, the Racine Unified referendum and a host of municipal and school board races. Much of the focus in coming days will be on federal court, where three lawsuits pertaining to the election were consolidated into one over the weekend. The state and national Democratic parties are seeking to expand absentee voting; groups that work to mobilize voters want to delay the election; and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and others want to allow people to be able to vote absentee without a witness. Evers and Republican lawmakers have been united in proceeding with the election on April 7, despite concerns from local election officials about a drop-off in poll workers, many of whom are in the high risk category for catching COVID-19. Racine County updates The Racine County Board is scheduled to hold a special meeting via teleconference at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, to discuss extending the countys emergency declaration and COVID-19 updates. The meeting is open to the public. An agenda can be found at the Racine County website. To join the meeting, dial (414) 455-2762 and enter passcode 858-648-9977. And the Racine County Economic Development Corp. is now accepting applications for the RCEDC Small Business Relief Loan. The purpose of this program is to assist businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19. Learn more and apply at: rcedc.org/news/rcedc-small-business-relief-loan. County officials are also spreading awareness of a COVID-19 impact some people may not have thought of: overloaded septic systems. With more people staying at home, preparing food and washing dishes, washing clothes, linens and towels more often, could put additional strain on the septic system. Tips on septic system use during COVID-19 can be found at: septicsitter.com/covid-19-crisis-and-septic-system-impacts/ 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. CALGARY, Alberta, March 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maple Leaf Green World Inc. (Maple Leaf or the Company) (NEO: MGW, OTCQB: MGWFF) is pleased to announce that the two (2) renovated greenhouses are complete and fully operational. The land behind the two (2) completed greenhouses has been levelled and prepped for the three (3) additional greenhouses as mentioned in the press release dated March 5, 2020. The three (3) new greenhouses, plus an additional 2,000 sq. ft. greenhouse, had arrived on site as scheduled. Heavy snow falls had delayed construction by about 1-2 weeks but has since resumed. Maple Leaf plans to utilize the 2,000 sq. ft. greenhouse for seed germination, housing mother plants, and crossbreeding strains. The Companys California team is confident that the four (4) greenhouses will be completed by the end of this week. Furthermore, an additional 10,000 sq. ft. of land has been cleared and levelled for the prospect of adding three (3) more greenhouses, bringing the total greenhouses to nine (9) with a growing capacity of 26,000 sq. ft. Maple Leaf recognizes the popularity and demand for CBG enriched hemp and is preparing for further expansion. The Company is also excited to announce that 500 seedlings of the popular strain La Creme has been ordered and estimated to be delivered on site within 3 weeks. The supplier is currently germinating the seeds for Maple Leaf and will arrive as 3-4 seedlings to maximize the survival rate during transportation and transplanting. Upon arrival, the plants will be transplanted into the greenhouses to mature for 10 to 14 days. After which, the plants will be propagated by taking approximately 1,000-1,200 cuttings and replanting for a total of 1,500 plants with the extra cuttings placed in the 2,000 sq. ft. greenhouse for cloning. About La Creme CBG Strain La Creme is a sativa dominant hybrid that emits a low odor and high yielding CBG/CBGa with a 9 to 10 week cycle. It is highly sought after due to its notable 18% CBG concentration with a total of 0.20% THC. Its rich terpene profile embodies both cherry and fruit notes. The cured flowers release a beautiful fresh floral scent that is both pleasant and energizing. The main uses for this strain are hemp cigarettes, health supplements, cosmetics and other skin care products. Story continues CBG enriched hemp has been gaining popularity for its perceived medical applications without the psychoactive component. Studies have shown that CBG can improve and/or strengthen the immune system which can provide a major defense against COVID-19. Production Capacity and Market Price La Creme is a popular strain due to its high CBG and low THC concentration. The Company intends to harvest either 100% flowers, seeds, or a combination, as there is a tremendous demand for both. The current market prices for cured flowers are between $400 - $800 USD/lb and seeds are approximately $1 USD/seed. With 15,000 sq. ft. of cultivation space, the Company intends to grow 1,500 plants and achieve 3 harvests per year. The Companys cultivation team estimates that each plant will yield approximately 2 lbs of cured flowers or approximately 10,000 seeds per plant of which 90% will be feminized. The total yearly production is estimated to be approximately 9,000 lbs cured flowers or approximately 1,500 lbs of feminized seeds (1 lb has approx. 27,000 seeds). Health and Safety Update Maple Leaf has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak to ensure the safety of the community and staff. The outdoor nature of its Hemp Project in Riverside California does not require the cultivation team to be in close quarters with anyone outside of the Company. The team is still on site and actively working while operating within the guidelines issued by health officials. At this point, the Company is not aware of any member who has come in close contact with anyone who is suspected or experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. The Company will continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly. Henderson, Nevada Update The Company would also like to announce that the land sale in Henderson has been completed with the proceeds being used to develop its California Hemp Project. For further information and updates regarding the Company, please visit its newly designed website at www.mlgreenworld.com. About Maple Leaf Green World Inc. Maple Leaf is a public Canadian company that focuses on the cannabis and hemp industry in North America. The Company currently has cannabis and hemp projects in British Columbia and California. With over 10 years of extensive greenhouse management experience, the Company applies its eco-agriculture knowledge and cultivation technology to produce contaminant-free cannabis products. Maple Leafs long-term objective is to produce cannabis oil and to export its products to approved countries. The Companys common shares are listed for trading on the Aequitas NEO Exchange Inc. under the symbol MGW and on the OTCQB market under the symbol MGWFF. Forward Looking and Cautionary Statements This news release may include forward-looking statements including opinions, assumptions, estimates, the Company's assessment of future plans and operations, and, more particularly, statements concerning: the Proposed Transaction and the timing thereof; When used in this document, the words "will," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intent," "may," "project," "should," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are founded on the basis of expectations and assumptions made by the Company that include, but are not limited to, the timely receipt of all required regulatory and third-party approvals, including approvals from NEO and from the shareholders of Maple Leaf. Forward-looking statements are subject to a wide range of risks and uncertainties, and although the Company believes that the expectations represented by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will be realized. Any number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to: regulatory and third party approvals, including approvals from NEO and from the shareholders of Maple Leaf, not being obtained in the manner or timing anticipated; the ability to implement corporate strategies; the state of domestic capital markets; the ability to obtain financing; changes in general market conditions; industry conditions and events; and other factors more fully described from time to time in the reports and filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities. Please refer to the Company's annual information form ("AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2018 and management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") thereof for additional risk factors relating to the Company. The AIF and MD&A can be accessed under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com . Except as required by applicable laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. For further information, please contact: Maple Leaf Green World Inc. Raymond Lai, Chairman, President & CEO +1(403) 452-4552 rlai@mlgreenworld.com Billy Bewcyk, V.P. for Business Development +1(403) 616-4877 wbewcyk@mlgreenworld.com The Tanaiste will discuss the coronavirus crisis with ministers in Northern Ireland later today. Simon Coveney will speak to Northern secretary Brandon Lewis and Stormont's first and deputy first ministers. It will be the first time Mr Lewis will be involved in cross-border cooperation discussions. The meeting is expected to take place around 12pm. Today, Professor Gabriel Scally criticised the North's testing regime for Covid-19, saying it could lead to more deaths than in Ireland. First Minister Arlene Foster insists the North has strong rules in place to prevent the spread of the virus. Yesterday, Stormonts leaders acknowledged that they are at odds on certain coronavirus issues, but have insisted they are united on the main goal of saving lives. Arlene Foster and Michelle ONeill said differences of opinion should be expected within a five-party coalition government. The First Minister and Deputy First Minister were responding to reports of growing tensions around the executive table over issues such as testing numbers, personal protection equipment stocks and closure of non-essential businesses. Earlier this month, the two main executive parties, the DUP and Sinn Fein, were also divided on when schools should close. At the leaders daily Covid-19 press briefing at Stormont on Monday, Mrs Foster said: We are a five-party executive, I dont think there is anybody who shies away from that fact. But be very clear we know that this is a national emergency, we know that we have to step up to the plate and whatever differences we may have about emphasis, or ways of doing things, or who do we listen to, it is important that we are able to be free to have those discussions at the executive, then come forward with a common strategy and that is what weve done today. With 123 new cases of the infection reported, the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland is 533. On Monday, Irelands death toll rose to 54, following the report of eight more deaths. A total of 295 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported in the Republic, the highest daily total so far, bringing the overall number to 2,910. Ireland and the North have agreed to cooperate on a number of measures including the joint order of the personal protection equipment from China. - with reporting from Press Association. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] A ringing bell breaks the silence of the cemetery as five members of the Charitable Brotherhood of Saint Eloi in Bethune solemnly remove their two-pointed hats. All are wearing black capes, white gloves and, of course, face masks. Founded eight centuries ago during a plague outbreak that devastated this region of northern France, the charity is continuing its mission to give homeless people a respectable burial -- even during the coronavirus pandemic. "Our role remains the same. Regardless of the social rank of the deceased, we do exactly the same thing," Robert Guenot, the charity's provost, told AFP. The 25 volunteer members bury nearly 300 dead every year. But the COVID-19 outbreak, which has led to an unprecedented lockdown of France's population and limited funeral attendance to around 20 people, has forced the organisation to adapt its traditions and rituals. "We've reduced our activities because there are no longer any religious ceremonies, but we've also reduced our presence: there are now only five volunteers per service, as opposed to the usual 11, because we don't want to penalise families," said 72-year-old Guenot. They also take sanitary precautions. "We try to protect ourselves as much as possible. Anyone who feels ill of course refuses to be in the service. There's no taking risks," said Patrick Tijeras, 55, who became a member in November. "We feel that we have a social value," Tijeras said. "Just as a sick person has the right to be cared for, the dead person has the right to this dignified treatment." - 'A painful situation' - On one recent morning, the cemetery was almost deserted. The deceased was a homeless 34-year-old man who had no known family or friends. Around the light-coloured wooden coffin, the charity's members gathered for a moment of silence. Once the ceremony ended, the five men gathered around a circle drawn on the ground, as is the custom. "I thank you for accepting this summons. In these difficult times, it's nice to be able to continue what we've been doing for 832 years," Guenot told the other members. Across the continent, grieving families are having to cope with the additional trauma of draconian restrictions to stop the spread of the pandemic, such as strict rules that limit travel or participation in funerals. It is during these times that the brotherhood's original role is restored, Guenot said. "We want to continue to provide a little support and comfort to the families, who can no longer find each other," said Guenot. All things considered, the context is reminiscent of the birth of the organisation. According to legend, members said, gravediggers were no longer able to bury the dead during an outbreak of the plague and Saint Eloi, patron saint of blacksmiths and also known as Saint Eligius, asked two blacksmiths to ensure decent burials. "We have these masks, this virus above our heads that makes us sad and afraid," said Pierre Decool, 66, who nevertheless feels the need to "help people". "It's a painful situation, which our ancestors also experienced," he said. "But we'll get through it." This is not the first time the brotherhood has braved disease: it was founded in the 12th century when France was gripped by the plague The Charitable Brotherhood of Saint-Eloi de Bethune have been burying the destitute more than 800 years Founded in 1188, the Charitables have for eight centuries taken care of funerals for the inhabitants of Bethune regardless of religion or wealth The lockdown extension came hours after a protest by several hundred Tunisians who demanded government support. Tunisia will extend a lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus by two weeks to April 19, the presidency said in a statement on Tuesday. Tunisia has confirmed 362 cases of the coronavirus and nine deaths and has imposed a general lockdown for over a week, preventing people from leaving their homes except to buy necessities or work in certain jobs. The announcement came after several hundred Tunisians demonstrated in a working-class district of the capital, demanding government support and protesting the current week-old lockdown against the coronavirus pandemic that has disproportionately impacted the poor. Never mind coronavirus, were going to die anyway! Let us work! shouted one protester. Let me at least bring bread home for my children, the bricklayer told the AFP news agency. In poor areas like Mnilha and Ettadhamen on the outskirts of Tunis, healthcare facilities are limited and the many people who work as day labourers are without income because of coronavirus containment measures. I havent worked in 15 days, a woman named Sabiha said. On Monday, angry residents marched to the local government office to demand welfare payments and permits to leave their homes. Some even blocked roads and burned tires. Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh announced on March 21 a $52m economic support package for those worst affected by the lockdown but did not say when it would be distributed. Then on Monday, the Ministry of Social Affairs announced that payments would be distributed from March 21 until April 6, causing a rush to local government offices to register. Were trying to tackle the epidemic. But every day, its the same and theyre gathering in front of the office, Mnilha councillor Imed Farhat told AFP. Were asking law enforcement to intervene. But what can we do? We have to listen to them. Violating curfew The coronavirus pandemic has halted tourism, a key sector for Tunisia, and numerous businesses and non-essential activities have been closed since March 4. In the meantime, police have arrested 1,119 people for violating the nighttime curfew in place since March 17 and 242 for violating lockdown orders in place since March 22, interior ministry spokesman Khaled Ayouni said. He did not say how many were still detained. On Tuesday, the presidency announced it would release 1,420 prisoners in an amnesty to alleviate crowding in prisons. According to the statement, President Kais Saied also ordered increased sanitation measures in jails. Saied last week ordered the army to deploy in the streets to force people to respect the lockdown. Medical equipment from France, Germany and the UK is the first transaction under INSTEX mechanism. European countries have delivered medical supplies to Iran in the first transaction under the INSTEX mechanism set up to bypass US sanctions on Tehran, according to the German foreign ministry. France, Germany and the United Kingdom confirm that INSTEX has successfully concluded its first transaction, facilitating the export of medical goods from Europe to Iran. These goods are now in Iran, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. The first successful transaction comes more than a year after the UK, France and Germany signatories to the crumbling nuclear deal signed between Iran and world powers in 2015 announced the creation of INSTEX. The scheme aims to keep the nuclear deal alive following the unilateral withdrawal of the US from the landmark accord in 2018 and its subsequent reimposition of punishing sanctions against Tehran. Now the first transaction is complete, INSTEX and its Iranian counterpart STFI will work on more transactions and enhancing the mechanism, the statement said. The UK, France and Germany were among a list of countries that Iran reported receiving medical aid from earlier this month as it battles a severe outbreak of the new coronavirus. As of Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases in the country was 44,606, and the death toll stood at 2,898. Iranian officials have warned the crisis could run for several more months and cost many more lives, blaming US sanctions for hampering Tehrans efforts to contain the spread of the virus. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said last week that Tehran would not accept help from Washington after US President Donald Trump offered aid at the end of February. The US proposals to help us with medicines and treatments, provided we ask for them, are strange, he said, calling Washington the most ferocious and vicious enemy of Tehran. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 24, 2020 | PADUCAH By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 24, 2020 | 07:41 AM | PADUCAH The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce plans to host several more conference calls this week for local business owners to discuss economic issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chamber President Sandra Wilson said, We are here to help through these challenging times by providing some of the latest information and resources. We will also continue to share information regularly about how businesses can support each other, how we as a community can support our local businesses, and how businesses can have access to federal support. The first conference this week is scheduled for 2 pm Tuesday, with updates from Dr. Brad Housman, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Baptist Health Paducah, and Dr. Jenny Franke, the Chief Clinical Officer for Kentucky from Mercy Health-Lourdes Hospital. Other calls this week include: 10 am Wednesday, Update from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells office with speakers Andrew Swafford, Director of Projects and Counsel, and Tiffany Ge, General Counsel. 2 pm Wednesday, Update from the City of Paducah on their new Small Business Support Grant program with speakers Mayor Brandi Harless and City Manager Jim Arndt. 10 am Thursday, Update from Paducah City Schools Superintendent Dr. Donald Shively and McCracken County Schools Superintendent Steve Carter. All calls will be audio only through Zoom. For information about how to join the calls, go to paducahchamber.org and to the COVID-19 page. The Chamber has updated its website's COVID-19 page to include information in easy-to-find categories to give guidance to businesses, including details on the recently passed CARES Act and Paycheck Protection Program, SBA disaster loans, unemployment insurance and more. The chamber hosted three calls last week on Tuesday and Wednesday, including an open forum for businesses, and topical calls including someone from the Kentucky Small Business Administration and Congressman James Comer. GETTY Despite telecom carriers indicating their preparedness, city and rural-based customers working from home continue to face internet disruptions and long wait times to speak to customer representatives, due to COVID-19. Experts say instead of blaming the carriers during this unprecedented time, Canadians, especially in rural areas, need better network infrastructure and more carrier options to get on board with what is becoming the new normal. Ramona Pringle, an associate professor at Ryerson University, said part of the reason internet services are slower than what people are used to is that people are trying to create enterprise-level solutions for their work-from-home setup. People in the city are trying to boost their own system and the slowdown is on material delivery, she said, adding that many delivery options for hardware have gone from next-day deliveries to week-long waits. But the real challenge, Pringle said, is for rural communities where internet services are often spotty to begin with. She said most communities in more remote locations do not have many carrier options and most connections are fixed wired services with incredibly slow speeds. For communities where they werent able to do a lot of the things that have become the new normal to begin with, the expectation that theyd be able to do them now and that theres a greater demand is just a little bit of a fairy tale, she said. This speaks to a larger concern of the disparity that is there between who actually has access to high-speed networks versus who doesnt. The federal government said in Budget 2019 it was going to invest in resources to connect 100 per cent of Canadians to high-speed internet by 2030. Pringle indicated that now is a perfect example of how urgent the government needs to act on connecting those who dont have access to what the CRTC declared a basic human right in 2016. I think it was easy to take that for granted in a lot of ways until now, when people are in their houses and society has shifted online and you need this in order to be able to participate in a meaningful way, in order to put food on the table or continue schooling and not feel completely and utterly isolated from people, she said. Story continues Independent carriers cant take on so many customers On March 26, independent internet service provider TekSavvy said it is laying off 130 employees and raising rates by $5, partly because of COVID-19, but also because of a pending court challenge on wholesale rates. Wholesale rates are paid by competitors such as TekSavvy or Distributel to get access to high-speed networks of larger telecommunications companies like Bell, Rogers, and Shaw Theres already a huge increase in usage going on that weve seen since September. For us, it is about 20 per cent more, Andy Kaplan-Myrth, TekSavvy's vice-president of regulatory and carrier affairs, said in an interview. We basically cant add capacity fast enough. Kaplan-Myrth explained that laying off employees and having to raise prices was going to happen at some point because of the court challenge, but the coronavirus expedited the process. After the announcement was made last year we reduced prices and a lot of people were asking how long would we be able to sustain ourselves. We really thought we could last longer through this year, he said. Basically what COVID-19 has done is accelerated us to the end of the year. Matt Stein, CEO of Distributel, said in an interview that his company also faces unprecedented challenges trying to add capacity when having to pay inflated rates for wholesale internet. Its really unfortunate because it means that its that much more expensive for us to add capacity, he said. I certainly dont think that the capacity issues are just a small companys or wholesalers issue. Everybody is dealing with the capacity issue. In rural and remote areas, Stein said that customers are being harder hit because their infrastructure is not as efficient and new, and as a result is unreliable in connecting to a network and having fast speeds. The technology is just not out there, he said. If you live in a large city the technology [any carrier] would use allows you to have really high bandwidth. The problem in rural and remote areas is you may have 5MB service, which is efficient for one PC to watch Netflix. Now you have five people in that house trying to use it. In an interview, Dwayne Winseck, director of the Canadian Media Concentration Research Project, said he wasnt surprised customers have been waiting up to four hours to get through to customer service representative. Call centres are now basically decommissioned and whatever staff are doing it remotely, working from home like everybody else. The staff is reduced and these things are to be expected. I dont think the carriers need to be singled out for any special criticism in this, Winseck said. He added that because independent carriers are being stifled by wholesale rates, there needs to be government intervention to foster more competition so customers have more options for services. This is a real problem, here is where we need to have some strong intervention to move things along, he said. We need to have sterner measures to bring about expressed will of Parliament and the regulator to foster greater competition through the wholesale access regime. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief. Special passes will be issued for tipplers in Kerala to buy liquor but on doctor's prescription that they are showing withdrawal symptoms due to non-availability of alcohol in view of the coronavirus lockdown. A decision allowing the purchase of liquor from the Excise department in a controlled manner was taken by the state government to resolve what it called many including suicidal tendencies and frustration among people who consumed alcohol regularly. However, the medical fraternity was up in arms on Tuesday against the government order. The Kerala Government Medical Officer's Association (KGMOA) has decided to observe April 1 as black day' in protest against the order issued late on Monday night. Dr Vijayakrishnan G S, General Secretary of the KGMOA, called the decision a medical blunder. The Indian Medical Association(IMA) also flayed the Left government's plan to supply liquor to addicts based on prescription, saying it was not "scientific". Three men in Kerala have committed suicide after allegedly showing alcohol withdrawal symptoms within days after liquor stores shut the doors following the 21-day national lockdown that came into force last Wednesday to try halt the spread of COVID-19. Similar incidents have been reported in other parts of the country including in neighbouring Telangana and Karnataka. Kerala has the highest per capita consumption of alcohol in the country. The sale of liquor in the state has continued on an upward spiral despite the prohibitive tax on legal alcohol and the many dry days. The state had a record Rs 14,508 crore liquor sales in 2018-19 sold through the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco), the state-owned liquor retail monopoly, compared to around Rs 11,000 crore in the previous year, according to official data. The amount of liquor sold in bars and hotels remained unquantified. Bootleg liquor, hooch and moonshine also appropriated a sizeable segment of the market for cheap and hard spirits on holidays. "Following the lockdown and the closure of liquor outlets in the state, there were many instances of including the frustration and suicide tendencies shown by those who used to consume liquor regularly and the state government has decided to initiate steps to resolve the matter," the order said. The order said that those who have physical and mental issues due to withdrawal symptoms could be given liquor in a "controlled" and "prescribed" manner. It also said that such persons with withdrawal symptoms should approach the Public Health Centres, Taluk hospitals, district hospitals, general hospitals or the medical college hospitals and get themselves examined by the doctor. "If such a person gets a prescription from the doctors saying he has withdrawal symptoms, he could be provided with liquor in a controlled manner," the order read. It said the prescription could be produced at the nearby Excise office along with a government issued identity card of the person carrying the prescription and receive a liquor pass. The pass can be produced before the office of the Beverages Cooperation Managing Director, who will take necessary steps to distribute liquor, the order said. The order also said that the liquor outlets need not be kept opened for this purpose. "Those showing withdrawal symptoms should be provided scientific treatment which can be given at homes or by giving medicines after admitting them at hospitals," said IMA's Abraham Varghese. Dr Vijayakrishnan said that at a time when the doctors are fighting the pandemic the move by the government will affect the morale of medical practitioners. "The duty of the doctor is to treat the patient who approaches him with withdrawal symptoms. The medicines given to during treatment do have side-effects and it's not possible to provide liquor with that," he told reporters. In neighbouring Telangana, cases of people suffering from alcohol withdrawal have also shown a rise. Nearly 250 cases have been reported so far at the Institute of Mental Health in Erragadda in Hyderabad. "Due to non-availability of toddy or liquor in local markets in view of ongoing coronavirus lockdown for the past one week, tipplers are experiencing mild, moderate and severe withdrawal symptoms such as sleeplessness and restlessness. Those complaining of moderate and severe symptoms are admitted to hospitals," doctors at the institute said. According to the doctors, severe withdrawal symptoms include seizure, epilepsy, behaving in an anti-social manner, injuring themselves or harming others also. Doctors also warned that sometimes the withdrawal symptoms would be so severe that such patients would develop suicidal symptoms. On Friday last, a 50-year-old daily wage worker in Hyderabad allegedly committed suicide by jumping off a building as he was upset at not being able to get liquor. One person died and several others were in a critical condition in Assam's Jorhat district on Monday after consuming raw spirit as a substitute for liquor, police said. In Karnataka, a man apparently frustrated at not being able to get liquor due to the lockdown attempted to end his life on Sunday, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Germany has recorded its biggest daily jump in coronavirus deaths after 128 more people were added to the death toll today. The dozens of new deaths announced by the Robert Koch Institute bring the tally from 455 to 583, an increase of more than 28 per cent. It also brings Germany's mortality rate up to 0.9 per cent - still lower than most of its European neighbours, but up from 0.4 per cent a week ago. Meanwhile the total number of infections in Germany rose by 4,615, bringing the total from 57,298 to 61,913. This graph shows how Germany's daily death count has jumped today, reaching 128 and bringing the country's death toll from 455 to 583 This graph shows the daily number of reported infections. The total number of cases in Germany rose by 4,615, bringing the total from 57,298 to 61,913 Medical staff transporting a French patient from an ambulance to the intensive care ward of a military hospital in Ulm, south-western Germany The southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg - the closest states to Italy - have recorded the most deaths, with a combined 327 out of Germany's 583. There are also clusters in the populous western state of North Rhine-Westphalia and in the cities of Hamburg and Berlin. More than 2,500 people have been infected in the capital, including 13 deaths. According to German media, the dead also include 17 people at a retirement home in Wolfsburg. Around half of the care home's residents have reportedly been infected with the disease, which is more dangerous to older people. The current mortality rate of 0.9 per cent - around one in 111 patients - remains lower than in Spain (8.6 per cent), Italy (11.4 per cent), Britain (6.4 per cent) or France (6.8 per cent). The low rate in Germany is thought to be linked to widespread testing, meaning many people with mild symptoms have been added to the tally. Germany also has more intensive care facilities than many of its neighbours, and the average confirmed patient has been younger than in Italy. However, the rate has increased noticeably, from 0.2 per cent on March 20 to 0.9 per cent today. A health worker in a protective suit is seen through the window of a retirement home in Wolfsburg, Germany, where 17 people have reportedly died Technicians test patient swabs for possible coronavirus infection in a specialised lab room in Berlin yesterday Germany is planning to increase testing to 200,000 a day, and is also toying with phone tracking in a bid to emulate South Korea's success in slowing the epidemic. Surveillance is a highly sensitive subject in Germany because of its history with the Nazis and the East German Stasi. Germany's privacy laws are some of the toughest in the world. However, health minister Jens Spahn has called for an urgent debate on the use of smartphone technology to track cases. Germany's data protection commissioner, Ulrich Kelber, has supported the use of location and contact data shared on a voluntary basis, calling it 'incredibly useful'. One German institute is developing an app that would enable the proximity and duration of contact between people to be saved for two weeks on cell phones anonymously and without the use of location data. 'The prerequisite for such an application is full compliance with German data protection laws and usage on a voluntary basis,' the HHI institute said. A medical worker carries a tray of patient swabs during the testing process, which Germany wants to expand to 200,000 tests a day A panel of economists who advise the government say that the economic standstill will slash German output by up to 5.4 per cent. 'The German economy will shrink significantly in 2020,' the so-called 'Wise Men' expert panel (SVR) said. The exact size of the impact will 'depend on the extent and duration of health policy measures and the subsequent recovery', they say. Germany's 83million people are currently under slightly less strict lockdown conditions than in other European nations like France and Italy. But companies from airline giant Lufthansa to carmaker Volkswagen have already slashed their operations in response. Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday tested negative for a third time, but remains in quarantine at her home. Merkel, 65, started working from home after she was vaccinated by a doctor who later turned out to be infected. A 35-year-old man from Tagapani, Dhamtari, who was put under home isolation by the health department after his return from Tamil Nadu, committed suicide. He had no symptoms relating to the coronavirus and according to the Manisha Thakur, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) the deceased used to work in Bengaluru and he was currenty staying here at his place. "Reason for suicide unknown. A year ago, he lost his wife and son due to which he used to stay depressed," Thakur added. India has recorded 1,117 active COVID-19 positive cases as on Monday night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After the restrictions came into force, cases of violence against women have increased, including two murders. France has said it would pay for hotel rooms for victims of domestic violence and open pop-up counselling centres after figures showed the number of abuse cases had soared during the first week of a lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus. Gender Equality Minister Marlene Schiappa said about 20 centres would open in shops around the country so women could drop in for help while getting groceries. The government on Monday also announced an extra one million euros ($1.1m) in funding for anti-domestic abuse organisations to help them respond to increased demand for services. The initiatives were launched after the government said late last week that reports of domestic abuse to police had jumped 36 percent in Paris and 32 percent elsewhere in France after the restrictions came into force. The cases included two murders. France began a nationwide lockdown on March 17 which will remain until at least April 15. No one is allowed to leave their home except to buy food or medication, visit a doctor, exercise, or walk a pet. Activists have said the quarantine measures will lead to a surge in domestic violence and make it harder for victims to seek help. Schiappa, who previously warned that the lockdown would create a breeding ground for violence, said France would pay for up to 20,000 hotel nights so victims can escape abusive partners. The pop-up centres will initially open across Paris and in Lille in northern France. My biggest concern is to multiply the points of contact with women. As its difficult for women to get out, we want to make sure that support systems can go to women, Schiappa told French newspaper Le Parisien. The first pop-up centres will open in malls owned by commercial real estate company Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW). Hypermarkets are among the few stores still open today. We thought it would be good if victims of domestic violence, or people who know a victim, could meet associations near these places, URW spokesman Pierre Hausswalt told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. France introduced a separate initiative last week to encourage women to report domestic abuse in pharmacies. The move follows a similar one in Spain where women can go to their pharmacy and request a Mask 19 a code word that will alert the pharmacist to contact the authorities. The Bengaluru police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao on Tuesday instructed his subordinates to shift migrant labourers stuck on the highways to marriage and community halls in the city. In a wireless message to his subordinates whose video he shared with the media too, Rao said these halls have been booked on the directions of the State government. The police commissioner asked the joint commissioners to shift these labourers to these halls where arrangements have been made for their stay, food and medical facilities. The direction came amid mounting problems of the migrant labourers from different parts of the country who are stuck in the city without any job, shelter, food and medical aid. Many of them opted to go to their home towns by walk. Amid reports of police high-handedness and misbehaviour with media personnel, Rao directed the men in khaki not to pester them and demand any passes issued by the department as the identity cards issued by their respective offices were sufficient. Similarly, the policemen should not ask the state government, central government and the high court officers and employees to display passes and said their identity cards were enough to let them go. The commissioner directed policemen to act tough against those roaming on the street on two-wheelers without any purpose and seize their vehicles. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) said that it is postponing its plan to restart production at a few of its factories in the U.S. and Mexico. Ford had been hoping to restart production of its Fusion and MKZ sedans in Mexico on April 6, and of several of its truck and van models in the United States on April 14. But that plan is on hold, said Ford's North America chief, Kumar Galhotra, now that the automaker has consulted with United Auto Workers (UAW) union leaders. What Ford and the UAW said "We are working very closely with union leaders -- especially at the UAW -- to develop additional health and safety procedures aimed at helping keep our workforce safe and healthy," Galhotra said in a statement. UAW president Rory Gamble hailed the decision, saying it was the right call under the circumstances. He said the union will work with Ford to ensure that employees are able to stay safe from COVID-19 when production restarts. Ford shut down its factories in North America in mid-March, after the UAW expressed concerns about the risks to workers from the highly contagious COVID-19. The company has made a series of moves to conserve cash since, but has so far avoided cutting jobs. Ford's ventilator effort will continue Ford said that its plan to begin producing hospital ventilators at a parts plant in Rawsonville, Michigan, will go ahead despite the decision to postpone the restart of vehicle manufacturing. About 500 UAW-represented Ford workers, all paid volunteers, will be working on that effort when production begins the week of April 20. Ford has pledged to make 50,000 ventilators by July 4. What it means for Ford investors On the one hand, this isn't good news. With its factories in North America and elsewhere closed, Ford's revenue stream has been cut drastically. Ford, like most automakers, books revenue when vehicles are shipped to dealers: If it isn't shipping, it isn't earning revenue. Put another way, it's burning a lot of cash. Restarting a few factories would have at least slowed that cash burn. On the other hand, if we read between the lines of Ford's statement, it seems pretty clear that the UAW wasn't happy about Ford's plan to restart production. Auto investors sometimes forget that labor peace is a valuable commodity, because the alternatives -- strikes, production disruptions, public wars of words -- are costly. Obviously health concerns played a big role in this call. But it was also prudent for Ford to avoid picking a fight with the UAW over this, whatever its motivations. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 11:13:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHENGDU, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Nineteen people died while battling a forest fire in southwest China's Sichuan Province, local authorities said Tuesday. The victims include 18 firefighters and a local forest farm worker who led the way for the firefighters. They were trapped in fire due to a sudden change in wind direction at around 2 a.m. on Tuesday. The fire started on a local farm at 3:51 p.m. Monday and quickly spread to nearby mountains due to strong winds, according to the information office of the city of Xichang. Over 300 professional firefighters and 700 militiamen were sent to the rescue on Monday. 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. As Baghdad and commanders of Iran's close ally, Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (P.M.F.) warn of an imminent U.S. attack on Iran's Shi'ite militia proxies in Iraq, some top military and political figures in Tehran are warning Washington against the move. In a tweet on Tuesday, March 31, former (1980-97) Chief-Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Major-General Mohsen Rezaei, compared a U.S. possible attack to an assault by the ISIS, adding, "America should leave Iraq; otherwise Iraqis will kick them out." Meanwhile, in a statement on Tuesday, IRGC said, "Even one little mistake by the evil and adventurous enemies at any point against the Islamic Republic of Iran will be their last mistake." Evil is a term used by the Islamic Republic authorities to refer to the United States. Furthermore, the statement cautioned, "The Islamic Republic's response will be definitive and devastating and will not even give them the opportunity to regret their actions". The statement boasted that Iran's influence has expanded to regions beyond West Asia, creating a nightmare for the U.S., Israel and their allies. In the meantime, speaking to the IRGC-run news agency, Tasnim, the Guards' deputy in political affairs, Brigadier General Yadollah Javani, echoed Rezaei's comments and said that any U.S. military action in Iraq would turn into America's "greatest defeat". Highlighting what he described as the "unity" and "power" of Iran's allies and "resistance forces" in the "strategic region" of West Asia, Javani cautioned Washington against new attacks in Iraq. Iraqi militia's have vowed to take more revenge for the January U.S. air attack that killed Iran's Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. In the meantime, reports said on Monday that the U.S. had increased the number of its Patriot anti-air defense systems around Iraqi military bases where American troops are deployed. One of the Patriot batteries was deployed to the Ain al-Asad base last week and was being assembled, according to a U.S. defense official and an Iraqi military source, AFP reported on Monday. The base was targeted by Iran in January, following a U.S. drone strike that killed the IRGC's Chief Commander of its extraterritorial military operations, Major General Qassem Soleimani. Furthermore, AFP said that the U.S. is also set to transfer two more Patriot anti-air systems from Kuwait to Iraq. New deployments in Iraq have strengthened the speculations that possible military engagements in the region are imminent. New York Times and Washington Post also reported in recent days that Pentagon was planning attacks against Iraqi forces allied with the Islamic Republic. "Annihilation of Kata'ib Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades), in particular, is on Pentagon's agenda," New York Times reported. Washington Post also said that, in recent months, the Iran-backed Iraqi militia groups had intensified their attacks on the U.S. military and diplomatic targets. According to AFP, Iraq's caretaker prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi warned on Monday against any "offensive military action without the approval of the Iraqi government" but did not specifically mention the Patriots. Nevertheless, U.S. coalition officials have said the ultimate aim of new anti-air deployments is to continue the U.S. support for Iraqi forces battling extremist groups like the Islamic State, but "from fewer bases and with fewer people". The Delhi Police's PCR staff has rushed 31 pregnant women who went into labour to hospitals across the national capital since the nationwide lockdown began on March 25, officials said on Tuesday. With people not allowed to leave their homes and no transport plying during the lockdown, the PCR staff responded immediately to calls for help, they said. Thirty-one pregnant women who were in labour pain and required immediate medical assistance were taken to different hospitals across the city by Police Control Room (PCR) vans, a senior police official said. For instance, a PCR call was received on March 26 at 11.53 PM requesting urgent medical attention for a woman who had gone into labour in Gharhi village, East of Kailash, he said. The PCR staff reached the spot and rushed the woman and her father to a hospital, he added. In another instance, a PCR call was received on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday seeking medical help for a woman in labour pain near Sri Niwas Puri, Okhla Sabzi Mandi. The woman and her husband were immediately taken to a hospital by the PCR staff. She was later shifted to Safdarjung Hospital, Deputy Commissioner of Police (PCR) Sharat Kumar Singha said. The 21-day lockdown has been imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country. According to the Union Health Ministry, the death toll in India due to coronavirus stood at 32 and the total number of COVID-19 cases at 1,251 as on Monday 9.30 PM. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) JEROME The South Central Public Health District on March 30 reported a Cassia County woman died from coronavirus, and reported the first cases of the virus in Jerome and Minidoka counties. The Cassia County patient was a woman older than 70. She was hospitalized and had complicating health factors, the health district said in a statement. The health district said the woman got the virus from visitors to her home from areas that had community spread and transmission. A Jerome County woman older than 30 has tested positive for the disease. She likely got the virus when traveling to Blaine County. In Minidoka County, a woman older than 50 tested positive. The health district said she likely got the virus traveling out of state. Neither woman was hospitalized and both are isolating in their homes with mild symptoms. Idaho is reporting at least 415 coronavirus cases and seven deaths. South Central Public Health District is running two COVID-19 informational hotlines, one in English at 208-737-1138, and one in Spanish, at 208-737-5965. These hotlines run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is also running a hotline for people feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or distress because of COVID-19. That hotline is available 24/7 at 888-330-3010. Please refer to phd5.idaho.gov/coronavirus for the latest local numbers and coronavirus.idaho.gov for Idaho-specific information. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have put all plans to rebrand 'on ice' amid the coronavirus crisis, royal expert Camilla Tominey has claimed. Prince Harry , 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, yesterday shared their final post on the Sussex Royal Instagram account, ahead of officially stepping down as working senior royals today. The couple, who are believed to be living in Malibu with 10-month-old Archie, were rumoured to be revealing their new brand and charity this week, with Instagram being their launch platform of choice. However, appearing on This Morning today, royal commentator Camillam claimed that all plans to 'rebrand as celebrities' have been put 'on ice'. Prince Harry , 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, pictured at a photocall in 2017, have put all plans to rebrand 'on ice' amid the coronavirus crisis Royal commentator Camilla Tominey (pictured) appeared on This Morning today where she claimed the couple have decided against launching new projects at the moment, as they wouldn't get the 'column inches' She told the couple have decided against launching new projects at the moment, because they wouldn't get the 'column inches' they wanted, as well as feeling it's 'inappropriate' to rebrand at this time. Host Phillip Schofield, said the post was the couple 'signing off', Camilla agreed: Wasn't it? Very much so. What's interesting is, this week they were meant to be launching their life as non-royals. 'Today marks the end of that transition period, where they they were meant to officially step down, but of course due to the coronavirus outbreak they haven't been able to do that. They've effectively put these all on ice. 'I think they regarded it as not only inappropriate to be rebranding at a time like this, but equally, they aren't going to get the column inches they wanted. The couple, who will drop the royal from their titles tomorrow after giving up their positions as senior members of the Firm, posted a message to their account yesterday evening She went on: 'We understand that this big move was done rather in a rush. They took one of the last flights of Canada to get to America and they're currently renting and looking somewhere, perhaps on the beach front in Malibu. But all of the plans about them launching this new charity, have been put on ice.' Between them Harry and Meghan boast 11.3 million followers on their current SussexRoyal Instagram account, and were expected to launch a series of projects following the announcement of their image revamp. The move was set to spark an upsurge in activity for both Prince Harry and Meghan, who have been laying the foundations for life after royal duty. Camila went on: 'They also are signalling today, which is a bit of a shock compared to what they were announcing in January, the idea they remain royal ends today. As they can no longer use their Sussex Royal title, which they've used as their branding since they married.' The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who carried out their final round of royal duties in Britain this month (pictured at the Commonwealth Day service on March 9), are planning the launch of their new non-profit organisation for next month The couple are rumoured to be living in Malibu with 10-month-old Archie, and promised in their Instagram post last night to continue their charity work behind the scenes. Camilla told that the pair are 'setting up shop as celebrities' and will be 'on the red carpet with the rest of the A-listers' after dropping their royal branding. Speaking of their move to Los Angeles, Camilla said: 'It's her hometown, it's where she grew up, where all her friends are based. They've announce they are being represented by that US agency Sunshine Sachs. 'They've said they will no longer be represented by the royal communication office, essentially they're setting up shop as celebrities. 'They're still known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex but they cant use that royal branding, so theyre on the red carpet with the rest of the A-listers.' Camilla told that the pair are 'setting up shop as celebrities' and will be 'on the red carpet with the rest of the A-listers' after dropping their royal branding Meghan, 38, is understood to have 'heaps of projects in the works' after stepping back from her duties, spanning across various areas, to help the couple become financially independent. The former actress' first gig after quitting the royal family was revealed on Thursday - with Meghan voicing a Disney documentary on elephants. In their post last night, the pair encouraged followers to be strong and positive amid the pandemic, they thanked fans for their support and said they looked forward to 'reconnecting soon'. The post read: 'Thank you for your support, inspiration and commitment to the good in the world.' The couple, seen at their engagement photocall in 2017, who are rumoured to be living in Malibu with 10-month-old Archie, promised to continue their charity work behind the scenes The post, which had the comments switched off, racked up thousands of likes within minutes and signed off with 'Harry and Meghan'. The comments on their remaining posts appear to also have been switched off. Shared on their traditional navy blue template, the message begins by addressing the coronavirus pandemic, and reads: 'As we can all feel, the world at this moment seems extraordinarily fragile. 'Yet we are confident that every human being has the potential and opportunity to make a differenceas seen now across the globe, in our families, our communities and those on the front linetogether we can lift each other up to realise the fullness of that promise.' Human rights organisations step up their campaign pressing for the release of political detainees Egyptian prosecution authorities announced the release of 15 political activists on 19 March. All were awaiting trial. The move emboldened human rights organisations to ask for further releases. On 26 March seven human rights organisations issued a statement saying the 19 March decision was a step in the right direction and urging the authorities to release more prisoners, particularly political activists and older people suffering from heart, high blood pressure and respiratory diseases as a preventive measure to protect inmates from possible coronavirus infection. The statement was issued by the Cairo Centre for Human Rights Studies, the Egyptian Front for Human Rights, Al-Nadeem Centre for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture, the Freedom of Thought and Expression Institute, the Freedom Initiative, the Beladi Centre for Rights and Freedoms and the Committee for Justice in Egypt. There are large numbers of prisoners, including journalists, lawyers, and human rights activists languishing in custody pending trial, said the statement. As long as prosecution authorities know their home addresses and they pose no threat to security they should be released. The statement also called upon prosecution authorities to release prisoners, particularly those over 60, with cancer and heart and respiratory diseases, pregnant prisoners and women jailed for failing to pay debts. The Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR) and the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF) have also called for the release prisoners of long-term detainees with chronic disease. The step should be part of the state efforts to minimise the impact of a coronavirus outbreak, said ECRF. They asked the Interior Ministry to improve health conditions in prisons and review its ban on prison visits. The Interior Ministrys media centre issued a statement this week announcing it has sterilised all prison cells and police stations and, following Health Ministry instruction, had banned prison visits to protect inmates from virus infection. Egyptian prisons are often overcrowded making them fertile ground for any coronavirus outbreak. The best option now would be for prosecution authorities to release prisoners in detention pending trial, as Iran, the US and Bahrain have done, said a statement issued by the 25-30 group of opposition MPs. Haitham Al-Hariri, a prominent member of the 25-30 group, said the prosecutions decision on 19 March had fuelled hopes that more political prisoners will be released. Cairo University professor Hassan Nafaa, regime critic Hazem Abdel-Azim, and leading member of the Dostour Party Shadi El-Ghazali Harb were among the 15 prisoners released on 19 March. They were awaiting trial on charges of using social media to spread rumours, broadcasting false statements and news, and membership of an outlawed group. Nafaa tweeted on 29 March urging the release of Khaled Dawoud, Hazem Hosni, Ziad Al-Oleimi, Hossam Moanes, Hisham Fouad and Alaa Magdi. My freedom will be complete only after they too are out of detention, he wrote. Al-Ahram Weekly journalist Khaled Dawoud was arrested on 24 September. Along with Nafaa, social media activist Israa Abdel-Fattah, lawyer Mahinour El-Masry, activists Sulafa Magdi, Hossam El-Sayed and Mohamed Salah, and journalist Ahmed Shaker he is a defendant in case 488/2019. Hassan Nafaa, also released last week, is a co-defendant. The Arab Network for Human Rights Information has reported that the Supreme State Security Prosecution decided 25 March to postpone a decision on the renewal of detention orders in case 488/2019. Nafaa said in his tweet that he hopes it is just a matter of time before his fellow inmates are released. According to Daarb.com, the online mouthpiece of the Popular Socialist Alliance Party, Alaa Al-Khayam, head of the Dostour Party, wrote to Prosecutor-General Hamada Al-Sawi on 26 March asking that political activists be released given the danger of coronavirus infection. I call upon your excellency to release all prisoners in political cases who are currently in custody pending trial and are ready to give an undertaking to be available whenever the prosecution wants to question them, Al-Khayam is reported to have written. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: A Dublin woman has given an emotional insight into what it is like to battle Covid-19. Yvonne Kinsella recorded a video from her hospital bed where she is currently fighting the virus. The mother-of-two and grandmother-of-two said that she is not sure how she contracted the disease. She had been trying her best to self-isolate as she has a compromised immune system and asthma. As well as the coronavirus, Yvonne has also developed pneumonia. In a video recorded for Claire Byrne Live, she described her fear as she was being admitted to hospital, unsure if she would ever leave. "I asked my husband to find a will that we had in a drawer and I signed it. I hated it and I told him to mind the kids. I didn't think I would walk back out. I thought my heart was going to give up, the pain was unbearable. She said that all that she can do is hope that she will soon turn a corner and will start to get better. At the time of recording the video, her temperature was still raised and her heartbeat was "still going up". "You go asleep and you just hope that God will wake you up, that you don't have to go to ICU, every time the doctor comes in you hope that they're not coming to tell you bad news," Yvonne said through tears. She described the family getting the diagnosis as heartbreaking and said they were not able to get to each other to comfort one another. She praised the care she is being given by the staff pointing out how difficult it is for those working on the frontlines who are leaving behind their own families to look after others. "They are incredible." Yvonne pleaded with people to take the Covid-19 emergency seriously and told the public not to be fools. Don't risk your life. Don't risk your family's life. You never know when it is going to change. You can watch Yvonne's full video below: "You go asleep & you just hope that God will wake you up - that you dont have to go to ICU" - Yvonne has Cov-19 & is in hospital. Yvonne Kinsella is a mother of two & grandmother of two from Dublin, she has a compromised immune system & asthma. She recorded this for #CBLive pic.twitter.com/pwkUYKIwW8 Claire Byrne Live (@ClaireByrneLive) March 30, 2020 [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] After the second try and in the second and final reading, the Parliament of Armenia today approved the package of bills on making supplements to the Law on the Legal Regime of State of Emergency and related laws that had been proposed by the government. Moreover, the deputies of the ruling My Step Alliance were the only ones who supported the legislative initiative. The deputies of the Bright Armenia and Prosperous Armenia political parties had boycotted the vote. The amendments to the laws envisage that, during the regime of state of emergency, the relevant authorities will have access to collection of public data in the electronic network. The government will have the opportunity to track citizens, their movement, Internet connection and contacts, the phone numbers linked to them, the readdressing of the particular phone number, as well as the phone calls, their duration, but, based on the assurances of the Ministry of Justice, not the content of those phone conversations. The changes of personal data of citizens and the possibility of collecting the personal data will only apply to the period of the regime of state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic. The data collected during the regime of state of emergency, including personal data, must be eliminated within a month after the end of the regime. Use of data (obtained in this way) for other purposes shall be punished under Articles 144, 145 and 146 of the Criminal Code (illegal collection and publication of personal data, divulging medical secrets, illegal publication of personal correspondence). If a citizen refuses to download the app, other measures for isolation will be envisaged in another place or apartment, and if the citizen doesnt have a smartphone, the State might provide one. The Meghalaya Police on Tuesday said that seven members of Shillong Markaz, who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi's Nizamuddin, have not returned to the state. Out of these seven members, five are currently in Delhi and two are in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow. "Officials of Meghalaya Police had also contacted seven members of Shillong Markaz and they confirmed that they have not returned to Meghalaya," police said in a press statement. The presence of these members in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh has been conveyed to the police officials of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, police added. Several people who had participated in the religious gathering in Delhi tested positive for the coronavirus. Six persons from Telangana who attended a religious gathering at the Tablighi Jamaat headquarters, or the Markaz, from March 13 to 15 in Nizamuddin, have died of coronavirus, Telangana Chief Minister's office (CMO) said on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the coronavirus pandemic severely hitting wine-producing regions of Western Europe such as France, Italy and Spain, grapes farmers in Maharashtra are looking for new export markets including Russia. The prices of grapes have plummeted from Rs 70 per kg two weeks ago to Rs 10 per kg, farmers said. "The area under grapes cultivation in Marathwada (central Maharashtra) is limited. In Latur district, grapes are cultivated on around 100 acres in Killari area. But this is export-quality crop," said Nagnath Kaname, a farmer and college teacher. "Demand from European markets is uncertain. So farmers in Latur area are looking to export to Russia. We have enough production to fill 40 containers," he told PTI. "The main problem is non-availability of transport facilities and labor. Traders who bought grapes for Rs 70 per kg a fortnight ago are now not ready to pay more than Rs 10- 12. The local retail market is closed. So we are looking for new markets," said Sopan Kanchan, president, All India Grapes Producers Association. "Grapes on 45,000 acres are lying around in the fields in Nashik. An acre of farm produces ten tonnes on average. So you can imagine the quantity," said Ashok Gaikwad, a farmer from Nashik, a major grapes production centre in Maharashtra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One hundred free cars are being made available to frontline workers thanks to an idea by a nurse who is putting her health on the line to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Serial entrepreneur Pat Phelan answered the nationwide call of nurse Ruthie McHugh. The Corkman who runs Sisu cosmetic treatment chain in the UK and Ireland has teamed up with rental car company GoCar. Mr Phelan took to Twitter to say that following talks with GoCar that, We would like to thank our frontline heroes. There are 100 cars available not to front line health workers all over Ireland. These are totally free of charge. OK so as of right now, we have 100 cars available totally free of charge for frontline health workers, see details below on how to get set up. would you mind RT to get this out pic.twitter.com/K90S80XQDb Pat (@patphelan) March 31, 2020 The cars are available to be collected in 20 locations around the country so it really is a nationwide effort. Phelan sold payment fraud detection firm Trustev to TransUnion for $44m (38.6m) in late 2015. For information on the scheme frontline health workers can contact infor@gocar.ie Meanwhile, electric bike-sharing operator in Dublin, MobyMove have also offered their bicycles for free to health workers. The company has already offered their electric bikes to delivery riders who are increasingly busy at this time. However, they need help from the public to keep funding free electric bikes for healthcare workers. Dublin-based healthcare workers, who normally use public transport to get to and from work, are being impeded both by the reduced public-transport service and by their grave need to isolate while not in a work setting. Moby Move, were due to launch their scheme on April 1, want to now provide free electric bikes so healthcare workers can travel to and from hospitals easily, quickly, and without the risk of either contracting or spreading the Covid-19 virus. The company has agreed to provide its entire fleet of bikes at zero cost. However, as a small start-up company, it needs help covering external running costs such as fuel and insurance as well as costs of mechanics, and delivery staff. The idea came when emergency medicine doctor Anna OLeary, who was due to do her cancelled driving test and was facing a 90-minute commute each way on two buses to the Dublin hospital she is working in, appealed for anyone to help locate an electric bike for her. A gofundme.com fundraising campaign started two days ago has already raised 21,390 of 9,000 goal with the more donations received the more bikes they can get out to health workers for longer. Responding to Dr OLeary who used social media to source an electric bike to get to work, the company is already providing free bikes to several healthcare workers working across Dublin. She said: Thank you so much to absolutely everybody who reached out to help. It is all sorted now thanks to the overwhelming kindness of strangers. Ireland you are wonderful. Continue to be the helpers. Please stay at home to save a life. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Moby Move now wishes to provide 100 plus bikes so that as many healthcare workers as possible can provide critical care without worrying about their commute to and from work. The company is also appealing to members of the public who wish to loan their electric bikes to healthcare workers to contact them. They are located on the bottom floor of Drury Street Car Park. Other bike-rental operators who wish to join the scheme may do so. Fundraiser Thomas OConnell said: If we go above the 9,000 target, we will not be keeping the extra funds. We will use any extra funding to get more bikes out to healthcare workers, and also we can lend out the bikes for longer. We can also enable other electric bike rental operators across the country to do the same thing and can help cover their costs if they participate in this scheme. To donate log onto gofundme.com/Free-Electric-Bikes-for-Health-Staff Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 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 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. MIAMI Passengers from an ill-fated South American cruise are anxious to disembark once they reach Florida, but Gov. Ron DeSantis said the states health care resources are already stretched too thin to take on another ships coronavirus caseload. The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday that the decision would be punted to Washington if authorities cant agree. With the Zaandam and Rotterdam ships arriving as early as Wednesday and at least two people on board needing emergency attention, a unified command of state, local and federal officials will be asked to approve a detailed docking plan requiring Holland America to handle all medical issues without impacting South Floridas already-stressed hospitals. There are no great choices left. These are all tough outcomes, Coast Guard Captain Jo-Ann Burdian told Broward County commissioners at an emergency meeting Tuesday. Holland America said the Rotterdam took on nearly 1,400 people who appear to be healthy from its sister ship, leaving 450 guests and 602 crew members on the Zaandam, including more than 190 who said they are sick. More than 300 U.S. citizens are on both ships combined. The governor said he had been in contact with the White House about diverting them. We cannot afford to have people who are not even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources, DeSantis told Fox News on Monday. Holland America President Orlando Ashford penned an opinion column in the South Florida Sun Sentinel to plead with officials and residents to let the passengers disembark. Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony called the situation a humanitarian crisis and asked commissioners at the Tuesday meeting not to decide based on emotion. Allowing the ship to dock would burden the local healthcare system and put residents at risk of additional exposure, he warned. This ship has been turned away from several countries already, Tony said. We are in some very, very critical circumstances where we as a county are going to have to determine are we willing to take on this responsibility. William Burke, chief maritime officer for Carnival, which owns Holland America, told commissioners we are coming to the place of last resort, and that his staff had worked through the night on a docking plan. Four people on board have already died. Burke said he hopes two others who are severely ill will survive the transit. Despite the pleas for help, commissioners appeared frustrated with the company when they learned that another Carnival-owned ship with people presenting flu-like symptoms was sailing toward Fort Lauderdale and scheduled to arrive in April. One of the commissioners then interrupted the meeting to ask Burke whether a sick patient had been taken from a Princess ship earlier Tuesday and suggested it had not notified local officials. A Broward County Sheriffs fire rescue official said the agency had responded to a 911 call to take a patient with a very high fever and pneumonia to a hospital. Chief Harris Henbest said deputies were told several crew members were also sick and had been ordered into isolation, but it wasnt clear whether they were infected with the COVID-19 virus. I have a lot of concern when a company would bring sick people into the port and not alert the county, said commissioner Mark Bogen. The Zaandam and other ships became pariahs as country after country sealed borders in response to the pandemic. Zaandam passengers said they were asked to keep their rooms dark and leave their drapes closed as they passed through the Panama Canal. At least two of the four deaths on the Zaandam were caused by the coronavirus, according to Panamanian authorities. Carnival said nine others have tested positive. And while many more reported feeling ill, most of the passengers and crew on both ships appear to be in good health. Laura Gabaroni and her husband Juan Huergo, who work for a defense contractor in Orlando, saw their dream vacation turn harrowing as countries shunned them and people fell ill. Fever-free and without symptoms, she and her husband were transferred to the Rotterdam. She wrote DeSantis imploring her governor to let them off. Florida continues to receive flights from New York, and it allowed spring break gatherings to go on as planned. Why turn their backs on us? Gabaroni said. The Zaandam originally departed from Buenos Aires on March 7 a day before the U.S. State Department advised to avoid cruise travel and before any substantial restrictions were in place in Florida. DeSantis declared a state of emergency in the state two days later. The ship had been scheduled to stop in San Antonio, Chile, and then depart on another 20-day cruise to Fort Lauderdale in early April. But beginning March 15, the Zaandam was denied entry by port after port. Passenger Emily Spindler Brazell, of Tappahannock, Virginia, said theyve been treated to extravagant meals, wine and unlimited phone calls, but have had to isolate in their rooms. The captain said something like, This is not a trip anymore. This is not a cruise. This is a humanitarian mission,' she said. ___ This story has been edited to correct the spelling of Zaandam throughout. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak. Pearl Jam GIGATON (Monkeywrench/Universal) Eddie Vedder from the band Pearl Jam performing in 2017. Credit:AP Whoever said its all been said, gave up on satisfaction, Eddie Vedder sings on Who Ever Said, the opening track on the Seattle figureheads' first studio album in seven years, and the lines pithy, defiant tone encapsulates the search-and-enjoy mentality that powers this brisk and mostly muscular set. Pearl Jam left behind the catharsis-turned-orthodoxy of the grunge movement decades ago, picking up the classic rock baton with the vitality and cohesion of 2009s Backspacer album. Gigaton doesnt quite match that 40-something benchmark, but the five-pieces foundation stones are still immaculate. Vedder can effortlessly move from tension to release, even as he punches out every syllable in a line, while rhythm guitarist Stone Gossard funnels arrangements with admirable economy. Seven OClock and Quick Escape both have an easy affinity with the aromatic strand of North African-influenced rock long loved by Robert Plant, but Pearl Jam are definitely still good for a propulsive backbeat, as Never Destination and Take the Long Way make clear. Aside from Buckle Up, the diversions dont jar and the album has an admirable dynamic. Theres no shortage of satisfaction here. -CRAIG MATHIESON IMPROVISATION Simon Barker/Scott Tinkler INTERWEAVE (Kimnara) No instrument has a more sharply honed edge than Scott Tinkler's trumpet, which cleaves the air with such reckless ferocity as could split atoms. The brilliant Melburnian seldom visits Sydney or makes records these days, so this one is hugely welcome. It's one of four albums that master drummer Simon Barker has released simultaneously. Two are solo efforts. This one contains five duets with Tinkler; the fourth, Lines Blend, is the latest instalment from Chiri, the trio of Barker, Tinkler and the extraordinary Korean vocal improviser, Bae Il Dong. With all more than worthy of review, I've singled out the aptly titled Interweave due to the telepathic rapport the pair have shared for nearly 30 years and the phenomenal pitch of invention to which they've raised their shared artistry. Their improvisations are thrilling in their intensity and brimming with subtleties. Barker and Tinkler never meander amid the rhythmic complexities and joint melodic labyrinths but share keen instincts for dramatic turning-points. Blistering sections suddenly fall off sonic cliffs to the barest whispers, or vice versa, and rests can jolt the listener as much as any notes. Monk made ugly beauty: this is beautiful violence. -JOHN SHAND FUNK POP Thundercat IT IS WHAT IT IS (Brain Feeder) A man who escaped from an isolation ward in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district has been caught by Kullu police after several hours on Tuesday, officials said. A resident of Balidhar village, he had escaped from the ward set up in a gurdwara premises in Mandi district, Kullu Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh said. The SP said the man was caught near Larji area and he will be kept in an institutional quarantine facility now. Strict legal action will be taken against him, he added. Five more people were at the isolation wards set up at the gurdwara. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. (CNN) Portugal has temporarily given all migrants and asylum seekers full citizenship rights, granting them full access to the country's healthcare as the outbreak of the novel coronavirus escalates in the country. The move will "unequivocally guarantee the rights of all the foreign citizens" with applications pending with Portuguese immigration, meaning they are "in a situation of regular permanence in National Territory," until June 30, the Portuguese Council of Ministers said on Friday. The Portuguese Council of Ministers explained that the decision was taken to "reduce the risks for public health" of maintaining the current scheduling of appointments at the immigration office, for both the border agents and the migrants and asylum seekers. Portugal declared a State of Emergency on March 18 that came into effect at midnight that day and was due to last for 15 days. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said during a news conference that "democracy won't be suspended." The country was a dictatorship for decades, with democracy being restored in 1974. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa called the Covid-19 pandemic "a true war," which would bring true challenges to the country's "way of life and economy." Rebelo de Sousa also praised the behavior of Portuguese citizens, "who have been exemplary in imposing a self-quarantine," reflecting "a country that has lived through everything." Portugal has has 6,408 cases of coronavirus, with 140 deaths and 43 recovered, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. This story was first published on CNN.com 'Portugal gives migrants and asylum-seekers full citizenship rights during coronavirus outbreak' Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East The ancient civilisation of the Minoans was wiped out exactly 3,580 years ago, a new study has found. Data trapped in the growth rings of pine trees thousands of miles away in North America reveals the precise time the eruption occurred. The 1,560 BC eruption was one of the most devastating in Earth's history and destroyed the Minoans living on Crete, 60 miles away from the volcano. Scroll down for video Pictured, a view of the ruins of the famous Minoan palace of Knossos, the centre of the Minoan civilisation and one of the largest archaeological sites in Greece. A study discovered the powerful civilisation was wiped out around 1,560 BC when Thera erupted Pictured, growth rings of the pine trees studied by the scientists at Arizona University. An 'unusually light' tree ring revealed the extent of the event and may have been caused acid deposits from a volcano, the authors suggest, and this date lines up with the Thera eruption Charlotte Pearson, an anthropologist from Arizona University, first spotted the tell-tale ring three years ago but it received little scientific attention until recently. Improved scanning techniques allowed the researchers to pinpoint the exact time of the Thera eruption to within one year. 'We scanned the entire period across when Thera is known to have happened and we detected a very slight depletion in calcium right where I saw this lighter ring years ago,' said Dr Pearson. 'Something changed the chemistry of the environment in which the tree grew.' The unusually light tree ring may have been caused by acid deposits from a volcano, the authors suggest, and this date lines up with the Thera eruption. The demise of the Minoan empire which was centred around their elaborate palace at Knossos, Crete has long been a subject of archaeological debate. The Minoans are believed to have built Europe's first paved roads and running water, and their magnificence was such that the ancient Greeks wove it into their myths. In legend, Knossos was also home to the labyrinth of King Minos, in which roamed the fearsome half man, half bull the Minotaur. It had long been argued that the fall of the Minoan civilisation was the product of a natural disaster perhaps the root of Plato's famous tale of Atlantis with the explosion of the volcano at Thera commonly put forward as the likely culprit. However, a paper published last year claimed instead that the Minoans were taken over by invaders and absorbed into foreign cultures. It had long been argued that the fall of the Minoan civilisation was the product of a natural disaster perhaps the root of Plato's famous tale of Atlantis with the explosion of the volcano at Thera commonly put forward as the likely culprit. Pictured, the ruins of Knossos The 1,560 BC eruption was one of the most devastating in Earth's history and destroyed the Minoans living on Crete, 60 miles away from the volcano. Pictured, the volcano at the heart of Santorini which used to be Thera seen in the present day The eruption and its exact timing was discovered by studying the growth rings of pine trees from America that were alive at the time 'When there are large volcanic eruptions, it often scars bristlecone by freezing during the growing season, creating a frost ring,' said paper author Matthew Salzer. 'We compared the dates of the frost rings with what was going on in the Mediterranean trees, which respond to volcanoes by growing wider rings.' 'It showed the wide rings in the Mediterranean chronology occurred in the same years as the frost rings in the bristlecone.' 'We took that to be confirmation that the dating was probably correct.' The full findings of the study were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Saudi and UAE governments have pledged some $70bn in virus relief, but the measures are proving insufficient. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are spending tens of billions of dollars to shore up their economies against coronavirus disruptions and a brutal crash in oil prices. But that state largesse is falling short of need as work is halted on big government projects depriving both countries of a major growth driver and as private sector businesses scramble for cash. Tourism, retail, hospitality and logistics were the first sectors to get pummelled as coronavirus hobbled global travel and shut down most public venues. But that pain quickly spread to the energy sector as demand for crude plummeted, and Saudi Arabia initiated an oil price war in a battle for market share with Russia. The twin shocks from the pandemic and the price war have seen prices of global benchmark Brent crude nosedive more than 60 percent from the start of the year. While the Kremlin said on Monday that United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to have officials from both countries discuss ways to stabilize energy markets, Saudi Arabia is still planning to pump crude with abandon. The kingdom is aiming to export 10.6 million barrels per day (bpd) because of lower domestic consumption, and Saudi Aramco has asked energy service firms to support plans to produce to its maximum capacity of 12 million bpd from April 1 for the foreseeable future, a Saudi oil industry source told Reuters news agency on Tuesday. Construction halted Last week Saudi Arabia announced it is suspending work on the third phase of a $100bn expansion of the Grand Mosque in Mecca over coronavirus fears. Two days earlier, construction giant Saudi Binladin Group said in an internal note, seen by Reuters news agency, that two employees on the project had been infected. Riyadh-based MOBCO Civil Construction sent a memo to staff in the Saudi cities of Riyadh, Mecca and Medina notifying them that it plans to cut wages between 25 percent and 50 percent due to unforeseen circumstances of COVID-19, according to the internal document dated March 25, which was seen by Reuters. MOBCO, a medium-sized firm that handles commercial, residential and infrastructure projects, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. A source at a major Gulf contracting firm, who declined to be identified due to sensitivities around discussing business plans, told Reuters he has not seen any new Saudi projects awarded in the last two months. There are a lot of concerns, though work has not been suspended in the project we have now, a Saudi contractor, who also asked not to be identified, told Reuters, voicing fears that the state-backed project could be at risk. These workers eat, drink and sleep in the same place. If one only is infected, the whole project will stop, he said, adding that it was too costly for contractors to halt work unless there is a government directive to do so. Revenue squeezed State spending in the energy-producing Gulf is the main engine of economic growth, and Saudi and UAE authorities have announced nearly $70bn in stimulus to ease the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Fitch Ratings said this accounted for more than 10 percent of the UAEs economic growth and over four percent of Saudi Arabias growth. The stimulus consists largely of monetary and off-budget measures, such as loan repayment holidays to distressed businesses and individuals. But there is a limit to how much money governments, who rely heavily on oil export income, can inject as oil prices collapse. Global oil markets were already saturated when they were hit with an unprecedented demand shock as governments put countries on lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. Then Saudi Arabia declared an oil price war as a three-year market alliance with Russia dissolved into acrimony after Moscow refused to back deep output cuts sought by Riyadh. The blow has triggered serious belt-tightening, even among giant state oil firms, with those of Abu Dhabi and Kuwait issuing directives for cost cuts. Abu Dhabis energy department last week postponed the announcement of winning bids for a solar power plant and said it was monitoring energy prices and supply chains. Yousef al-Benyan, chairman of the business group of the Group of 20 economies, told Reuters that small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) were most vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak, whose impact he said could spill over into 2021. Thats where the regulators are trying to come up with support packages to help those SMEs to retain their work focus and in order not to have an implication on jobs, said Benyan, who is also chief executive of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. Cash crunch Job losses are not unusual during Gulf slowdowns: both Saudi Arabia and UAE saw big reductions during the last oil price slump in 2015, when state spending was slashed. Bankers said liquidity is the biggest immediate challenge. Across the region, we have spoken to every single customer across all sectors in the last 10 working days from a commercial banking perspective. The key thing is the concern around liquidity have I got enough cash to trade, said Daniel Howlett, head of HSBCs commercial banking for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey. Mazin Al Khatib, CEO of Nostalgia Classic Cars in Dubai, told Reuters his firm is negotiating a bridge loan to help cover operating costs but may still need to take painful decisions. Im worried about the salaries at the end of the month; a lot of orders got cancelled, a lot of orders that were almost about to be done were delayed, Khatib said. Hathal al-Utaibi, chief executive of Riyadh-listed Alandalus Property, agreed the main challenges for the retail industry were managing cash flow and servicing loans. It goes without saying that the Q2 2020 financial results for many companies will reflect the business challenges of this period, he told Reuters. Saudi Arabia could see its 2020 deficit widen to 16.1 percent from a previous projection of 6.4 percent if oil prices average $40, according to Arqaam, a securities firm. At $30, the deficit would hit 22.1 percent, it said roughly $170bn, according to Reuters calculations. The kingdoms radio of debt to gross domestic product was around 20 percent in 2019, and according to rating agency S&P, it is projected to rise to nearly 34 percent in 2020 and about 36 percent in 2021. S&P expects the fiscal deficit of the government of Abu Dhabi, the richest of the UAEs seven emirates, to increase to 7.5 percent in 2020, compared with 0.3 percent in 2019. A 71-year-old British man was discharged from the Hue Central Hospital Tuesday after recovering from Covid-19 infection. With his discharge, the national tally of discharged patients goes up to 56. He's been given his passport and a health certificate upon discharge, said Pham Nhu Hiep, the hospital director. The patient has tested negative for the Covid-19 virus twice and is being released in accordance with protocols set by the Health Ministry, he said. Upon discharge, the patient will be quarantined in a resort in Phu Vang District for the next 14 days. The patient's wife, a 66-year-old British woman also infected with Covid-19, is still being treated at the Hue Central Hospital. "I hope my wife will also be discharged soon, after which we would return to the U.K.," said the British man, after thanking doctors and nurses for having taken care of both of them. The couple had landed in Hanoi March 2 on Vietnam Airlines flight VN54. The wife had tested Covid-19 positive on March 8, and the husband on March 14. At least 14 other people on that flight were also later found to be infected with the Covid-19 virus. Vietnam has recorded 204 Covid-19 infections so far. Many of the active cases are Vietnamese nationals returning from Europe and the U.S., foreigners coming from the same regions and those whod come into contact with both groups of people. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected 200 countries and territories, killing more than 37,800 people. The elections in the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) were monitored very well and went rather well, as reported the headquarters of presidential candidate Davit Ishkhanyan to Armenian News-NEWS.am. There were no particular violations. Overall, the elections went smoothly, the headquarters reported. The headquarters of Ashot Ghulyan, another presidential candidate, told Armenian News-NEWS.am that it had also recorded electoral violations. During the elections, the representatives of our headquarters recorded several electoral violations such as photographing of a ballot, the representatives of the headquarters said. The presidential and parliamentary elections in the Republic of Artsakh ended over two hours ago. As at 8 p.m., the elections saw a turnout of 76,472 voters or 72.7% of the total number of voters. Based on the data provided by the Police of Artsakh, there are 103,663 voters in Artsakh. For those still in business, the prospect of little to no revenue for months on end is terrifying. And the lifelines that are available now will likely be primarily directed to the larger hospitals that are being hit hardest by the pandemic. Private medical practices were facing existential threats before the COVID-19 pandemic, namely because of the trend toward consolidation. Hospitals in the past decade have gobbled up thousands of small practices, turning the doctors from self-employed to staff at large hospital corporations. "For practices like ours, it's been devastating," added Alul. "But we know it's the right thing as we take seriously that we shouldn't bring in our patients, many of whom are older. We don't know the extent of how prevalent COVID-19 is." "Overnight we scaled back to having almost no patients," Boyle said, noting that his practice is still taking emergency cases. These elective procedures are the lifeblood for thousands of primary care groups, specialty clinics and surgical centers, and many of the doctors who own them are now struggling to make payroll. In recent weeks, they've seen a dramatic impact to their businesses as COVID-19 spreads across the country. Policymakers and medical associations have advised provider groups like theirs to halt nonessential procedures in order to preserve vital supplies for fighting COVID-19. Boyle runs a vascular surgery practice with about 40 employees, which he co-owns with a few other doctors. Alul is managing partner at an ophthalmology practice that performs many common procedures like laser eye surgery and cataract surgery and has 50 employees. Congress decided this month to provide $100 billion for hospitals and health providers to help them survive. But nothing has been specifically earmarked for the smaller, independent practices. It's one big pile of cash, experts say, meaning that it will likely go to the largest hospitals that have the resources to hire big consulting and legal firms to help them navigate the regulations. Executives from smaller, rural hospitals also fear they will be left out. "Rural health care was already in crisis," said Dr. Susan Turney, president and CEO of Marshfield Clinic Health System in Wisconsin. "We're still doing care through telehealth services as we can," she said. "But revenue dropped so quickly, and now we're trying to think about staffing and how to control expenses." Turney said revenues in her group which has seven hospitals in the most rural parts of the state and primarily treats older and lower-income patients are down more than 60 percent because they are no longer performing elective procedures. "I'm sympathetic to the fact that some large health systems are getting slammed, but they won't be the only ones that need help in the next few months," said Farzad Mostashari, CEO of Aledade, a company that helps independent practices develop more sustainable business models. Mostashari noted that another avenue is for physician-owned practices to take out a bank loan. But in that case, the doctors could see their credit impacted if they can't pay the loan back. Mostashari's company is racing to help practices stay afloat by providing tools to train them in telemedicine so they can see patients remotely. And he's helping them to take advantage of other regulations, like the advanced payment program from Medicare, that can help address some short-term cash-flow issues. But that might not be enough to stop doctors from retiring early and shuttering their practices, policy experts say. And once they do, dozens of people who work for them could be out of a job. "We will likely see cuts to medical staff at a time when we need them, and I've heard some stories of doctors using their own savings to pay staff," said Dania Palanker, a health policy expert at Georgetown University. "It's a really difficult time for so many medical providers and they're facing some tough choices about whether they can afford to retain employees." Turney also said the prospect of downsizing is a concerning one, in part because these staff members will be needed when the pandemic reaches its peak. BIG RAPIDS Mecosta County Michigan MSU Extension 4-H Program Coordinator Mollie Hogg left her home March 8 to learn about another part of the world, returning to the U.S. on March 17 filled with knowledge she hopes to pass on to her 4-H students. "This was a group program. There were 14 current Michigan State University Extension staff and faculty and also two retirees and three spouses. We are all very thankful for Michigan States ESP Chapter with helping us with this study abroad program," Hogg said. Never having been to Central America, Hogg and 14 other MSU Extension staff and faculty traveled to Belize for nine days to learn about a new culture and focus on a variety of objectives. "My experience was more than what I ever expected," Hogg said. "I gained so much from this study abroad program to Belize." Some objectives the group focused on during their travels were ecological diversity, agriculture, history, geography and more. They also learned about the region of Belize and how to appreciate and experience a new culture. "My favorite part of the program was the two days we spent at Tobacco Caye Island," Hogg said. "I enjoyed learning about the coral reef and the fish on the Belize Barrier Reef." Having a passion for water and fisheries all over the earth, Hogg said she became very attached to the marine biologists and guides who educated them on marine biology in Belize, having recently returned to college at MSU for Fisheries and Wildlife. "Tobacco Caye is a tiny island in Belize, about 10 miles east of Dangriga. It is approximately three acres in area, shaped like an egg," Hogg said. "The island is a great place with about 30 people that live there permanently. There is no cell phone service and you are able to check out from life and explore." While learning more about her passion, the group gained new tools to enhance their Extension teaching experience once they return home. Though Hogg is thinking of not only what she can take away from the experience, but how she can give back to it as well. "When our world settles down, we get back to our normal work, and I can have more interaction with the youth in my county, I would like to work on some ideas and things we can bring to the Belize 4-H Center," she said. "I feel we could help them in so many ways with different activities and things we do here in our community. "In the future, I would love to be able to bring some of our youth to Belize for a study abroad program where they would be able to experience some of the things I was able to while traveling." When asked what some of her takeaways were from the experience, Hogg had more than she could count. "When you sleep with the windows open, the sounds of nature truly fill my heart," she said. "The people of Belize are incredibly friendly. "Termites are edible, and apparently a good source of protein. However, when the guide says they taste like mint do not believe them. "Going out of your comfort zone in life is truly something everyone needs to try." As well as learning about the people and food in Belize, Hogg learned to always have bug spray and sunscreen available and that five feet of extra water on the river coming from Guatemala really makes for an interesting canoeing adventure. Taking her experiences home, Hogg said she looks forward to teaching her 4-H kids all that she's learned, and has said some kids have already told her they would be interested in participating in a study abroad program like hers. "I feel it is great for our county to be part of this and the kids are able to see me travel and try new things," she said. "This was a great program and I recommend it to many other people to go out of their comfort zones and try new things. I am very thankful that I did this program with MSU Extension." Most of my regular readers know that I almost sold the rabbitpatch, not once, but twice in the last two years. It is a grand place, in many ways and awful in other ways. The farmhouse is a big one and mighty old. The rooms are all a nice size and for an old house, there is nice lay out. I loved it, the minute I saw it ... love at first sight ... but it is old.The territory around it has bragging rights. There are peach, apple, pear, pecan and cherry . .. and fig trees. There is an old grape vine too. All of them are so very generous, too. Old oak trees surround the house like warriors, ready to defend its' honor - and a grove of pine trees whisper , in the slightest breeze. There are friendly neighbors on either side and across the road and a huge plot of fields behind it. The sky is so big at the rabbitpatch ... and full of birds. There is also a patch of young woods -and everywhere you look, there is a barn or shed of some sort.This is the story of how I. . . It happened like this.In the spring of 2005, I was looking for a house. I found a small, quaint house in the oldest town in North Carolina, Bath-just twenty minutes from the school, where I still work. The lot was nice and of course, the little house was old. I knew the lady, that owned the house. She had inherited it and said she didn't need it. In that case we made a deal and so I began cleaning it up, which was no small task, as it had been empty, for two years. Every weekend, the boys and I worked, til at last, lights were on and the kitchen was stock piled. A few days, before the weekend we would move the owner called and said casually,I was speechless. She went on and said,, as if we were talking about a rained out picnic. I was so hurt, that I couldn't feel angry, but my Mama sure could! I was too shocked and dreaded telling the children.Weeks passed, and the disappointment faded. I am not sure why, but I never did get angry, instead I was sullen. I no longer, had the same regard for the lady, but it wasn't because of my righteousness . . . I was weary and also, I had been praying a long time about things, so if I had an argument, it was with God, after all.One rainy day, Mama and I went house hunting. This time, in the neighboring county of the one my parents, still live in. We met with an agent, at another old house. He was a friendly man and since, I wasn't interested in the deal on the house we were looking at, he suggested another house, near by.This time, I felt a spark, but I also felt cautious. I did not want to go through another broken heart, anytime soon, but the place was lovely. The old trees were like the icing on my cake for I care more for the land, than most folks. The house was open, and so I went in. Mama was sure that we were breaking the law and just glanced nervously around.We saw someone next door working in flowers and decided to ask her about the property. As it turned out, she was the owner. She did not want to sell, but instead wanted to rent it. I wanted to buy and so we exchnged phone numbers as she had another house for sale, and I knew of someone who might be interested.Several weeks passed, and then I got a call from the owner,. She asked me had I considered renting anymore, but I assured her that I wanted to own my next home. She made me an offer, but it was much more than I could afford. The next day she called again and told me to make an offer and so I did and she accepted! Well, we will see, I thought. I was not about to jump on another "high horse". . .but I remembered the wild irises, fondly. Tuesday, March 31, 2020 Kimberly Daniels, a member of our Emerging Fellows program reviews the history of Heartland power in her third blog post. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the APF or its other members. Events over the past thirty years have shaped the current geopolitical environment of Eurasias Heartland. From the collapse of the former Soviet Union to struggles for influence, power assertion, or empowerment following the Cold War, these events signal high stakes for Russia, the U.S., and China. They inform possibilities for a world-power pivot. The collapse of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1991 ended the Cold War and left Russia trying to expand her influence throughout a fragmented Heartland. As some post-Soviet Eastern European countries pursued new visions of independence, Russia looked back to the former Soviet Empires past glory. From the early 1990s, she organized or joined bilateral regional organizations to promote the security, economic, and or political interests of Eurasian member states. In 2008 and in later years, she supported separatist regions in other Heartland countries to ensure their dependence on her for their economic and political development. In 2014, she annexed Crimea from Ukraine, strengthening Russias military influence through uninterrupted access to the Black Sea. Over time, Russia expanded her influence throughout the Heartland, though at the cost of leaving it fragmented. Winning the Cold War propelled the U.S. forward with momentum to chase an elusive goal of fully asserting her power to leverage the Heartlands fragmentation. She waged a war on terror in Afghanistan in 2001 after the devastating 9/11 attacks on the U.S. She invaded Iraq in 2003 and overthrew Saddam Hussein when he continued to defy U.S. containment strategies intended to stop his ruthless dictatorship. She provided security and economic assistance to Central Asian countries in exchange for access to their military bases and air space. Yet, despite the interventions, containment strategies, and attempts to establish a long-term U.S. military presence in the region, the U.S. fell short of her goal. Unable to leverage the Heartlands fragmentation for a full power assertion, the U.S. lost much of her influence in the Middle East and in Central Asia. Chinas Cold War pivot away from the former USSR and towards the U.S. empowered China to extend her reach into the Heartland. Aligning her economic interests with the U.S. gave rise to Chinas growth from foreign investment and trade. Undeterred by the global financial crisis of 2008, she looked to new possibilities for trading Chinese goods across Afro-Eurasia along a New Silk Road. Through increased investments in foreign infrastructure development, China began improving trade routes. Later, she announced plans for a One Belt One Road international market system or Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, revealing a competing interest in the Heartland. The 2015 announcement of her Made in China 2025 strategic plan further revealed her ambitions for economic growth through technological capabilities. A high-speed rail system, for example, would support the BRI and an empowered Chinas extended reach into the Heartland. Post 20th-Century Cold War, the U.S. faces a high-stakes change in geopolitical power rivalry for the Heartland. Having lost her influence in Central Asia and in the Middle East, the U.S. seemingly has conceded vying for Heartland control. Instead, her focus is on containing Russia and China as these two civilizational states increasingly shape Heartland power. For Russia, its a matter of uniting Afro-Eurasia in Eurasian solidarity. For China, its a matter of integrating Central Asia and parts of the Middle East into her sphere of influence. Could these and other stakeholders influence a world-power pivot to the Heartland? Any number of possible futures could unfold. Kimberly Kay Daniels 2020 By Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland's bank watchdog on Tuesday toughened its line against banks paying dividends, saying that capital relief to promote lending during the coronavirus crisis would be cut for any new dividend payments approved after March 25. Regulators around the world have been urging banks to limit shareholder payouts during the coronavirus crisis to conserve capital and boost lending. Mark Branson, who heads the Swiss regulator FINMA, told reporters last week: "We are asking the boards to decide who needs the money more - Swiss clients or international and institutional investors." On Tuesday, FINMA said banks whose shareholders approved 2019 dividends or other payouts after March 25, or who planned to seek shareholder approval, would have their capital relief reduced by the amount of the dividends or payouts. UBS and Credit Suisse on Monday said they planned to go ahead with their previously proposed 2019 dividend payments, citing strong capital positions. UBS on Tuesday said it took note of FINMA's statement, while Credit Suisse did not immediately respond to a requests for comment on whether the announcement by FINMA would affect 2019 dividend plans. Julius Baer said its dividend proposal remained unaffected, noting its leverage ratio of 4.4% at end-2019 was very significantly above the 3.0% minimum. It declined to comment on the FINMA statement. "The financial industry is currently being rescued with state-secured guarantees," Cedric Wermuth, Vice President of the Social Democratic Party, who sits on Swiss parliament's commission for the economy and taxes, said on Tuesday. "Suspending dividend payments would be the minimum thing to do." Swiss banks have loaned out billions as part of a 20-billion-Swiss-franc ($20.4 billion) government-backed emergency scheme to help companies hit by coronavirus disruption. Authorities have eased capital and liquidity requirements, and introduced an unlimited COVID-19 refinancing facility, to help cope with the fallout. (Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; editing by Thomas Seythal and Jane Merriman) Maharashtra records 302 cases of coronavirus as 72 more test positive Coronavirus epidemic 'far from over' in Asia: WHO official 17 evacuees from Iran test positive for Covid at army quarantine facilities in Rajasthan No shortage of medicines to combat coronavirus outbreak: Health ministry Trump, Erdogan stress need for Syria, Libya ceasefires during coronavirus: White House 50 more test positive for Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu Seek details of accommodation in India, return ticket, finance of Tablighi activists who apply for visa: MHA to MEA Coronavirus cases go up to 1,397 in India, death toll 35 Man who met Russian President last week tested positive for Covid-19 23 cases of coronavirus reported in Delhi today, taking total number to 120 The number of novel coronavirus cases around the world continue to rise with the death toll soaring past 37,500, according to AFP. India saw one of the sharpest spike in the number of Covid-19 cases on Monday as 227 people tested positive in 24 hours, taking the total number to 1,251 with 32 deaths, according to the Union health ministry. Though the World Health Organization (WHO) said that Europe is expected to start stabilising soon, Spain became the third country to surpass China in coronavirus infections after the United States and Italy. In the United States, Virginia and Maryland became the latest US states to impose emergency stay-at-home orders followed by the capital city Washington. US President said that more than a million Americans had been testing for the coronavirus, which he called a milestone. Here are the latest updates on novel coronavirus from around the world: A deputy engineer with the Public Works Department was allegedly caught while taking a bribe here on Tuesday. Sriram Baburao Birare (51) had demanded a bribe of Rs 1.25 lakh from a contractor for clearing his bills for work carried out at the Aurangabad Central Jail, said the Anti- Corruption Bureau. The contractor agreed to pay him Rs one lakh beforehand and balance amount after the bills were cleared, said Deputy Superintendent of Police B V Gavade. After the contractor approached the ACB, a trap was laid and the deputy engineer was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe at home, the police officer said. A case was being registered against the PWD official, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) His daily appearances on Good Morning Britain may well divide viewers, but Piers Morgan's family and friends were united in wishing the outspoken presenter a happy birthday on Monday. Piers was back in the GMB studio on Tuesday morning, where he reunited with co-host Susanna Reid after celebrating his 55th birthday with loved ones. And wife Celia Walden admitted she had done her utmost to prepare a baked treat for his special day, despite having limited ingredients due to the current nationwide lockdown. Special day: Piers Morgan celebrated his 55th birthday on Monday, and wife Celia Walden did her best to bake him a cake - despite having limited ingredients due to the current lockdown Taking to Instagram, the journalist and novelist, 44, shared a photo of Piers enjoying a glass of vintage red wine while hunkered over a rather modest looking cake, decorated with the words 'Happy Birthday.' She wrote: 'The best baking I could manage under lockdown - or any circumstances. Happy birthday Mr Morgan! Oh, and when we hit ten years am I allowed to call you Piers?' Journalist son Spencer, the elder of three children with first wife Marion Shalloe, also paid tribute to his father by sharing a shot of Piers cradling him as a baby, alongside a picture of them alongside each other at a recent event. Happy birthday: Eldest son Spenncer also paid tribute to his father by sharing then and now shots, including an image of Piers cradling him as a baby Present day: He also shared a recent shot of the pair alongside each other at an event Captioning the post, he quipped: 'Happy birthday to this troublemaker, weve come a long way.' Stanley, the presenter's middle son, adopted a similar theme by sharing his own throwback of Piers juggling him as an infant on his knee. Completing the tributes, youngest son Bertie posted a shot of his father relaxing with his infant son sleeping on his chest. Captioning the post, he wrote: 'Happy birthday boss.' As well as three sons, Piers is also a father to daughter Elise, nine, with his second wife. Happy birthday boss: Bertie, the presenter's youngest child, adopted a similar theme by sharing his own throwback of Piers relaxing with his infant son sleeping on his chest Message from number two: Middle child Stanley also share a thowback snap of himself and a notably younger looking Piers The presenter reunited with Susanna Reid in the London studio the following day after she spent two weeks in self-isolation due to one of her sons developing mild coronavirus symptoms. Susanna was clearly delighted to be back in the studio with Piers, as she explained she was forced to enter isolation mere hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced strict new measures to limit the spread of the virus. Piers said: 'We saw you for one day and that's the last I saw of you.' Back together: The presenter reunited with Susanna Reid in the London studio the following day after she spent two weeks in self-isolation due to one of her sons developing mild coronavirus symptoms Susanna added: 'It was really bizarre, it was two weeks ago that the Prime Minister changed the advice the week before the lockdown. 'He said anybody who has a household with somebody in it who has a persistent cough or a high temperature, and I'm afraid you're out for 14 days.' During the show Piers also defended himself and his GMB colleagues for leaving their homes to continue to report on COVID-19, insisting they had been classed as 'essential workers.' Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) President Rodrigo Duterte warned government officials who dare to embezzle money from the COVID-19 aid fund that they will face immediate suspension and arrest. Duterte in his address late Monday night, more than seven hours past the 4pm tentative schedule, said that officials should never dip into the COVID-19 fund or else he will "detain" them. Kung mamulitika ka tapos mabalitaan na 'yon ang nagawa mo, I will suspend you ora mismo. And for those who are really absconding the money, I will detain you I said. Maybe I will release you pagkatapos ng COVID. Hindi ako nananakot, he said in his speech. [Translation: If you will politicize this and I find out that you did it, I will suspend you right away. And for those who are really absconding the money, I will detain you I said. Maybe I will release you after COVID. I am not scaring you.] He added that some officials think that they own what they receive from the government. That is not yours, neither it is mine, Duterte said. Moreover, he stressed that this is neither the time for profiteering and hoarding, as he talked about the implementation of a price freeze on basic commodities. The price freeze on commodities is already in effect and measures to curtail hoarding and profiteering are already in place. Uulitin ko, hindi ito panahon para kumita. Hindi ito panahon ng pagsasamantala, he said. [Translation: The price freeze on commodities is already in effect and measures to curtail hoarding and profiteering are already in place. I will repeat, this is not the time to earn money. This is not the time to be taking advantage.] Duterte signed the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act on March 24, which grants him additional powers to tackle the COVID-19 crisis in the country, including the power to reshuffle funds in this years budget to provide assistance to the poor. Under this law, Duterte should deliver a weekly report to Congress every Monday, where he would detail what the government has done in the past week to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The Philippines now has 1, 546 cases Monday, including 78 fatalities, and 42 recoveries. Health authorities urge the public to practice proper hygiene and social distancing in order to slow down the spread of the viral disease. For the past few years, most of the media and other Democrats have tried to take out Trump with intentional lies about Russian collusion and endless investigations about Russia and other things. Now they are trying to take him out by saying he is causing many deaths because he purportedly reacted too slowly to the virus from China. They are even calling him a racist because he truthfully calls it the Chinese virus or Wuhan virus. They are clearly more respectful of China, where they lied continuously about the virus, than they are of Trump. A significant number of media outlets are even censoring the daily press conferences. For the past few days, we have been treated to the media building up the deplorable, despicable Pelosi, who hung out in San Francisco for a week and delayed aid for days as she larded up the bailout bill with special interest money, while trashing Trump. Why aren't the media trashing Pelosi instead of praising her for what she did? Now she says Trump should be investigated for his slow response and blaming him for the deaths. Pelosi will soon be larding up a new bill with more pork and radical leftist policies. On Sunday, we were also treated to a Democrat campaign worker on Meet the Press, posing as Chuck Todd, asking the brilliant Biden if Trump had blood on his hands. Biden and Pelosi should be asked how many more people would have died if Trump had listened to the experts at the World Health Organization in mid-January when they repeated the Chinese propaganda that the virus wouldn't spread from human to human. Why do so many claim that Trump knew the problem months ago when WHO said they didn't know in January? How many more people would have died if Trump hadn't clamped down on travel from China at the end of January, while Pelosi, the media, and other Democrats fiddled with impeachment? Good reporters would ask Pelosi and Biden how many people would have died if they were in charge, since they called the travel restrictions racist and an overreaction. In February, Pelosi even encouraged people to go to Chinatown, and she claims Trump reacted too late! How many more people would have die if Biden and Pelosi got their way and we stopped using oil? How would the medical supplies, equipment, and drugs move around the U.S. and the world without planes, ships, and trucks? Maybe journalists should ask Governors Newsom and the brilliant Cuomo, leftists who also want to stop using oil, how many more people would die if they didn't have hospital ships powered by oil. How come the brilliant Cuomo had no idea that there were thousands of idle ventilators sitting in a warehouse while he was trashing the federal government for a shortage? How many more people would die if we kept relying on China for so much of our medical needs, as we have ever since Obama/Biden said manufacturing was gone for good? If Pelosi, the media, or anyone else would like to investigate an administration for causing deaths, he should look at the Obama/Biden years. There is a treasure trove of examples: How many worldwide deaths occurred because Obama pulled all troops out of Iraq and allowed ISIS, whom Obama called the J.V. team, to greatly expand its power? How many people died because Obama/Biden didn't declare a national emergency for six months after the swine flu pandemic hit? How many died because they didn't shut down the economy? How many people are dying today because Obama/Biden didn't replenish the medical supply and equipment inventory after it was depleted by the swine flu pandemic? Why didn't they prepare? Why is Trump being blamed for the shortfall? How many extra people died because costs skyrocketed under Obamacare mandates and life expectancy went down for four straight years? How many lives were saved after Trump lifted the individual mandate, costs stabilized, people again had freedom of choice, and life expectancy ticked back up in 2019? How many deaths were caused in Ukraine because Obama/Biden refused to give them defensive weapons because that would have made Putin mad? How many deaths have been caused because Obama/Kerry allowed Putin to monitor Assad and his chemical weapons? How many countries and people are threatened because the Obama administration allowed Russia to buy U.S. uranium assets after the Russians gave massive kickbacks to the Clintons? How many excess deaths did we have because Obama/Biden did so little to stop the opioid crisis? How many deaths occurred worldwide because of terrorism when the Obama administration continually lied through the media to get the deal done with Iran? How many lives were lost from terrorism and drugs because President Obama dictatorially stopped a years-long investigation into a billion-dollar-a-year drug-running operation by Hezb'allah to appease the tyrant dictators from Iran? Why don't Pelosi and most journalists care? How many lives has Trump saved because he has cut off the lifeblood from Iran tyrants who spread death around the world and pledge death to America and death to Israel? How many lives are lost because Obama/Biden, almost all journalists, and other Democrats support killing fully developed children before and after birth? As science has gotten better, Democrats have become more radical in their support of Planned Parenthood. Caricature by Donkey Hotey. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 31, 2020 | ULLIN By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 31, 2020 | 03:32 PM | ULLIN Shawnee Community College has donated protective gear to local health care facilities throughout the district to help provide for worker safety due to COVID-19 caused shortage. According to a press release from the college, Interim-President Dr. Kathleen Curphy asked faculty if PPE supplies were available to donate to local medical facilities. Faculty members Lori Armstrong and Tony Gerard began gathering items that had been previously purchased for use in Science Lab classes at the college. "We were so pleased to know we were able to contribute to our community. I was delighted when the faculty informed me that we had located supplies to donate. I continue to be overwhelmed by the generous nature of our employees. These folks truly prove their love for our community. I couldn't be more proud of their efforts during this crisis." Curfy said. Items collected for donation included masks, gloves, and isolation gowns. "We gathered every available item we could find on campus to share. When the time comes for our in-person classes to resume, we know we will be able to replenish the supplies we donated, and today was a time to give to those who are helping us all through this crisis," Armstrong said. "We wanted to help ensure healthcare workers were able to continue safely treating patients in our region and do our part to serve," Gerard said. Armstrong and Gerard spent the afternoon delivering items to facilities in the region where a need had been expressed. For more information contact 618-634-3200, or visit shawneecc.edu. In the last two weeks dozens of flights have been operating to return Egyptians from various parts of the globe stranded because of the coronavirus Two planes will soon head to Washington and New York to return Egyptians in the US stuck in the two cities due to the coronavirus. Two flights headed to the UK on Tuesday and another four flights operated Sunday to repatriate Egyptians from the UK, according to the Ministry of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs. Laila, a teacher who went with her husband to New York on holiday and to visit other family members, is anxiously waiting for that flight. We had a lovely holiday that ended badly. We need to return to our work and life in Egypt, she said. Another professional, who lives and works in California with her son, wants to be back with family in these difficult times. I am off from work and my son is out of school until September, most probably. There is no point in staying here. I want to reunite with my family. I hope this will be possible soon, she said. Minister of Immigration Nabila Makram said her ministry received various requests from Egyptian students in the US to return home especially following the closure of universities. The ministry called on all Egyptians stuck abroad and who wish to return to fill an application form available on the ministrys website or to contact their embassies by phone or in person. We give priority to those who were on business trips or went to visit family members abroad and their break ended, or their visas expired, and they have to leave. Given that most of them have no shelter and may not have enough cash, we had to run emergency flights to return them... The return of residents needs more time and different arrangements, Makram said. The number of Egyptians stranded in the US is nearly 1,000, according to Makram. Sources from the countrys carrier EgyptAir were quoted by the media confirming that the company will send a flight to return Egyptians stranded in the US before the end of this week. The ordeal faced by those waiting in the UK was not less difficult. Hundreds of students studying in UK universities need to return home after the suspension of universities until the next academic year. Seif, who was studying mechanical engineering in Huddersfield University, was lucky enough to catch a plane one day before the suspension of flights. My worst fear was that I wouldnt be able to go home. I am grateful that I returned at the right time, Seif said. Egypts suspension of international flights, which began on 19 March, was originally set to last until 31 March but was extended to 15 April. Another student, Abdel-Rahman, said he called the embassy who were very helpful and assuring. However, they could not tell me the time of the flight because they did not have any information at the time. They called me after three days to inform me about my travel details. I managed to return home last Thursday, thank God, he said. Several flights operated from London on Sunday, Tuesday and last week. The situation in the Gulf, where thousands of Egyptians work, is no better. EgyptAir declared last week that it would charter flights from Kuwait to Cairo from 26 March to 30 March. Another flight was added on 31 March. I was grateful to catch one of last weeks flights. I visited my daughter who lives with her family in Kuwait. But I had to return to reunite with the rest of the family in Egypt in this difficult time, a woman who identified herself only as Um Ahmed, said. But Dina, a teacher working in Kuwait for more than a decade, may need to wait for some time. Ive been staying at home for a month now. I may stay another month until I find a flight to take me home, she said. Talks are underway with Saudi Arabia to allow more emergency flights to return Egyptians stranded there, according to the Ministry of Immigration. Talks are also underway this week with the Tunisian Ministry of Aviation to return 37 stranded Egyptians via Tunis Air. A number of them were on business trips while others are working for UNICEF and UN organisations operating in Libya. They were forced to go to Tunisia to return home. On Saturday, an emergency flight arrived with 140 Egyptian passengers who were stranded in Oman. Egyptians in Sudan were allowed to return home by bus. Egyptians in other countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Pakistan and some African states may have to wait some more because the number of people who registered with the ministry are not enough to send special planes for them. Makram called on Egyptian expatriate communities to provide all the necessary help to those stranded until they return to Egypt. The minimum number of people who are stranded should be at least 140 to send an emergency plane for them, the minister added. Egypt is also working to bring back home dozens of Egyptian couples on their honeymoon in Southeast Asias holiday spots stranded by the coronavirus. Some 95 Egyptian honeymooners are stranded in the Maldives, 80 in Bali, Indonesia, and many others in Singapore, the minister said. All Egyptians brought from overseas undergo tests for the coronavirus and are asked to remain in self-isolation for 28 days, after the Health Ministry last week extended the period for those returning from abroad from 14 days. The return of stranded Egyptians was coordinated between the Ministry of Immigration, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Health and the Foreign Ministry. A task group was set up representing the four ministries to receive return requests and respond to all queries. It has received 12,121 requests by Monday, according to Makram. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri called on all Egyptian embassies and consulates abroad to assist Egyptians stranded in their countries of residence and notify the ministry of their phone numbers. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: WASHINGTON (AP) Older people remain most at risk of dying as the new coronavirus continues its rampage around the globe, but theyre far from the only ones vulnerable. One of many mysteries: Men seem to be faring worse than women. And as cases skyrocket in the U.S. and Europe, its becoming more clear that how healthy you were before the pandemic began plays a key role in how you fare regardless of how old you are. The majority of people who get COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms. But majority doesn't mean all," and that raises an important question: Who should worry most that they'll be among the seriously ill? While it will be months before scientists have enough data to say for sure who is most at risk and why, preliminary numbers from early cases around the world are starting to offer hints. NOT JUST THE OLD WHO GET SICK Senior citizens undoubtedly are the hardest hit by COVID-19. In China, 80% of deaths were among people in their 60s or older, and that general trend is playing out elsewhere. The graying of the population means some countries face particular risk. Italy has the worlds second oldest population after Japan. While death rates fluctuate wildly early in an outbreak, Italy has reported more than 80% of deaths so far were among those 70 or older. But, the idea that this is purely a disease that causes death in older people we need to be very, very careful with, Dr. Mike Ryan, the World Health Organizations emergencies chief, warned. As much as 10% to 15% of people under 50 have moderate to severe infection, he said Friday. Even if they survive, the middle-aged can spend weeks in the hospital. In France, more than half of the first 300 people admitted to intensive care units were under 60. Young people are not invincible, WHO's Maria Van Kerkhove added, saying more information is needed about the disease in all age groups. Italy reported that a quarter of its cases so far were among people ages 19 to 50. In Spain, a third are under age 44. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions first snapshot of cases found 29% were ages 20 to 44. Story continues Then theres the puzzle of children, who have made up a small fraction of the worlds case counts to date. But while most appear only mildly ill, in the journal Pediatrics researchers traced 2,100 infected children in China and noted one death, a 14-year-old, and that nearly 6% were seriously ill. Another question is what role kids have in spreading the virus: There is an urgent need for further investigation of the role children have in the chain of transmission, researchers at Canadas Dalhousie University wrote in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. THE RISKIEST HEALTH CONDITIONS Put aside age: Underlying health plays a big role. In China, 40% of people who required critical care had other chronic health problems. And there, deaths were highest among people who had heart disease, diabetes or chronic lung diseases before they got COVID-19. Preexisting health problems also can increase risk of infection, such as people who have weak immune systems including from cancer treatment. Other countries now are seeing how pre-pandemic health plays a role, and more such threats are likely to be discovered. Italy reported that of the first nine people younger than 40 who died of COVID-19, seven were confirmed to have grave pathologies such as heart disease. The more health problems, the worse they fare. Italy also reports about half of people who died with COVID-19 had three or more underlying conditions, while just 2% of deaths were in people with no preexisting ailments. Heart disease is a very broad term, but so far it looks like those most at risk have significant cardiovascular diseases such as congestive heart failure or severely stiffened and clogged arteries, said Dr. Trish Perl, infectious disease chief at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Any sort of infection tends to make diabetes harder to control, but its not clear why diabetics appear to be at particular risk with COVID-19. Risks in the less healthy may have something to do with how they hold up if their immune systems overreact to the virus. Patients who die often seemed to have been improving after a week or so only to suddenly deteriorate experiencing organ-damaging inflammation. As for preexisting lung problems, this is really happening in people who have less lung capacity, Perl said, because of diseases such as COPD -- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -- or cystic fibrosis. Asthma also is on the worry list. No one really knows about the risk from very mild asthma, although even routine respiratory infections often leave patients using their inhalers more often and theyll need monitoring with COVID-19, she said. What about a prior bout of pneumonia? Unless it was severe enough to put you on a ventilator, that alone shouldnt have caused any significant lingering damage, she said. THE GENDER MYSTERY Perhaps the gender imbalance shouldnt be a surprise: During previous outbreaks of SARS and MERS -- cousins to COVID-19 -- scientists noticed men seemed more susceptible than women. This time around, slightly more than half the COVID-19 deaths in China were among men. Other parts of Asia saw similar numbers. Then Europe, too, spotted what Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus coordinator, labeled a concerning trend. In Italy, where men so far make up 58% of infections, male deaths are outpacing female deaths and the increased risk starts at age 50, according to a report from Italys COVID-19 surveillance group. The U.S. CDC hasnt yet released details. But one report about the first nearly 200 British patients admitted to critical care found about two-thirds were male. One suspect: Globally, men are more likely to have smoked more heavily and for longer periods than women. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control is urging research into smokings connection to COVID-19. Hormones may play a role, too. In 2017, University of Iowa researchers infected mice with SARS and, just like had happened in people, males were more likely to die. Estrogen seemed protective when their ovaries were removed, deaths among female mice jumped, the team reported in the Journal of Immunology. - AP writers Nicole Winfield in Rome, Maria Cheng in London and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Former The Block star Suzi Taylor is back in jail after breaching her bail conditions. The 49-year-old, who is accused of extorting her Tinder date, was arrested on Monday night and spent the night behind bars. At Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday, she pleaded guilty to breaching her bail by not living at the home listed on her strict conditions. Former The Block star Suzi Taylor is back in jail after breaching her bail conditions Defence lawyer Michael Gatenby said Taylor wasn't staying at the address because she was concerned about drug use in the house. The former Penthouse Pet model took her three kids and stayed at a different address. She was first issued with a Notice to Appear in court at a later date for the breach when she reported her new living arrangement to police on Monday afternoon, the Courier Mail reported. In the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday she pleaded guilty to breaching her bail by not living at the home listed on her conditions Taylor (left), who won $349,000 with friend Yvonne Cosier in season 11 of Nine's hit reality series, is accused of luring a Tinder date to her luxury Brisbane apartment then beating him when he refused to hand over his bank details in October last year Then at around 9pm Taylor was arrested by Fortitude Valley Criminal Investigations Branch detectives. She instructed Mr Gatenby to report the arresting officer for 'unnecessarily' putting her in jail during the COVID-19 pandemic. Taylor, who won $349,000 with friend Yvonne Cosier in season 11 of The Block, is accused of luring a Tinder date to her Brisbane apartment then beating him when he refused to hand over his bank details in October last year. Police allege Taylor's assault was motivated by needing to pay off 'rebels and bikies' chasing her for money. Taylor wasn't staying at the selected address because she was concerned about drug use in the house Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County. 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. Relaxing compliance requirement for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), markets regulator Sebi on Monday allowed scanned copies of documents for renewing registration in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. The relaxation has been given till June 30, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in a circular. In light of the recent event pursuant to the COVID-19, a need has been felt for temporary relaxations with respect to compliance requirements for FPIs, it added. Accordingly, the regulator has decided to grant the relaxations in a situation where FPIs are not in a position to send original and/ or certified documents. Sebi has asked depository participants and custodians to process the request for registration, continuance, KYC and any other material change on the basis of scanned version of signed documents (instead of originals) and copies of documents which are not certified, received from e-mail IDs of their global custodians or existing clients where these details are already captured in records or e-mail IDs of new clients received from domains which are duly encrypted. It, further said, these documents can be uploaded on KRAs (KYC registration agencies) and other intermediaries may rely on the papers. Under Sebi guidelines, an FPI applicant needs to submit duly signed application form including KYC details and supporting documents and applicable fees. Further, copies of all the documents submitted by the applicant should be accompanied by originals for verification. In case the original of any KYC document is not produced for verification, then the copies should be properly attested by entities authorized for attesting the documents. Sebi said, the temporary relaxations shall be applicable till June 30, 2020. The regulator has asked depository participants and custodians to ensure to obtain the original and/or certified documents within 30 days from the deadline. Intermediaries should undertake necessary due diligence including that required for regulatory and risk based approach towards compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) requirements while processing these documents based on scanned copy, it noted. In case required documents for registration or KYC are not received by the deadline, Sebi said the accounts of such FPIs will be blocked for any fresh purchase. Further, in case documents are still not received within three months of the deadline, depository participants and custodians will have to report these cases to Sebi for appropriate action. In a separate circular, Sebi has relaxed the timeline for compliance with certain requirements for portfolio managers. It has decided to extend the timelines by two months for monthly reporting to Sebi by portfolio managers for the periods ending March 31 and April 30. The circular will come into force with immediate effect. Share Market LIVE: Sensex rises 550 points, Nifty at 8,400; metal stocks gain Stocks in news: NMDC, JSW Energy, Suzlon, Federal Bank and more Rupee vs Dollar: Rupee gains 8 paise to 75.51 amid recovery in equity market COLUMBUS, Ohio - Homemade masks, sewn from cloth or old T-shirts, dont look high tech or as professional as those used by health care workers. Yet, they could be useful in preventing people who wear them from spreading the coronavirus, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton said Tuesday. Right now, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesnt recommend that people always cover their faces when out in public. However, the CDC, in consultation with President Donald Trumps administration, is considering recommending face coverings. Acton said she looks forward to new guidance that could come out of Washington. Many people could be carrying the virus and not know it because theyre asymptomatic, Actor has said. "Again, Ive been saying this all long: Assume you have it. Assume each other has it, she said. Masks could be another tool in the arsenal people have to control the diseases spread -- which also includes social distancing, thorough hand washing and coughing and sneezing into elbows, said Acton, a licensed preventive medicine physician. So masks can help in not spreading those respiratory big droplets, she said. I dont know a pleasant way to say it -- spewing stuff out into the air. And obviously its microscopic, so even breathing close to someone, its getting out there. In the Czech Republic, people are required to wear masks out in public during the pandemic, even if theyre homemade. And the countrys public health officials credit its relatively low infection rate to the mask policy. The science is not definitive yet that masks can be instrumental in stopping the spread of coronavirus. However, the idea is gaining momentum, the Washington Post reports, since many people are asymptomatic but could be spreading the disease. To be sure, homemade masks are not as effective as N95 masks in protecting the wearer. They do a better job at filtering to keep a microscopic virus from the mouth or nose of the wearer. But increasingly, even so-called DIY face coverings are being viewed as effective in preventing infected people who wear them from spreading the virus. In other countries, whenever you have any cold people wear a mask because its seen as polite, and it stops the spread of disease, and youre sort of looked at funny if youre out and coughing without one, Acton said. But if youre using a surgical mask, keep a couple for yourself, and please immediately give the rest of them to your local nursing home or your local health department. The respirator masks -- the N95s -- absolutely have got to go to our health care workers, or nursing home workers, Acton said. We have nursing homes that are dangerously short of even the surgical masks, even the cloth masks. Acton advises people who have surgical masks at home, to keep one to three. Donate the rest of them to health care workers, who on Tuesday made up 20% of Ohios 2,199 confirmed infections. Meanwhile, the cloth mask is a great alternative, and the CDC has always had guidance on using bandannas or scarves, or any kind of cloth, she said. Im anxiously awaiting this guidance. Other coronavirus coverage: Confirmed coronavirus cases in Ohio increase to 2,199 and 55 deaths: Ohio Department of Health, Tuesday March 31 update Gov. Mike DeWine gives Tuesdays coronavirus update: Watch Live Columbus-based Battelle is at the forefront of battling the coronavirus: 5 facts about the nonprofit firm Boards of health in Summit, Lorain and Medina counties refusing to follow Cuyahoga County and release zip code data on coronavirus cases Coping with coronavirus: Guide aims to ease fear of pandemic disease 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. Union minister and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi lashed out at the Tablighi Jamaat on Tuesday after authorities blamed a meeting organised by it for spreading coronavirus infection, saying the organisation has committed a "Talibani crime" and its "sin is unpardonable". "Talibani Crime by Tablighi Jamaat. This is not a negligence. It's a serious criminal act. When the entire country is fighting united against Corona, such a sin is unpardonable," the minority affairs minister said in a tweet. He has posted on his social media accounts messages by Muslim religious leaders, appealing to people to strictly follow the lockdown and other guidelines to control the virus. According to the home ministry, as many as 2100 foreigners visited India for Tablighi activities since January 1 and all of them first reported at its headquarters in Delhi's Nizamuddin. In a statement, the ministry said while approximately 824 of them, as on March 21, were dispersed in different parts of the country, 216 people were staying at Nizamuddin Markaz, where several of them tested COVID-19 positive. Naqvi also allocated Rs one crore from his MPLADS funds for the measures being taken to combat the coronavirus. The BJP has asked all its MPs to allocate Rs one crore from the Rs 5 crore fund they receive annually for the development of their constituency towards fighting the pandemic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. A 35-year-old man with a travel history to Dubai tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday here, taking the tally of those afflicted in Bihar to 16, an official said. Pradip Das, Director of ICMR Rajendra Memorial Research Institute, which is conducting the bulk of coronavirus tests in the state, said the latest case was that of a resident of Gopalganj district who had returned from Dubai before the lockdown came into force. Meanwhile, a 45-year-old woman, who had tested positive on March 22 and had been admitted to AIIMS, Patna, was on Monday discharged after full recovery, hospital authorities said. The woman, who resides in Anisabad locality of the city, had recently travelled to Nepal and had turned up at the hospital to get tested as a precautionary measure. The hospital authorities said she remained stable during her stay at the facility, developed no symptoms and looked perfectly healthy, though a close watch would be kept on her for another week. Her family members, including her son who had recently travelled to Italy but did not test positive, have been living at home in self-imposed quarantine. According to the state health department, close to 1,100 samples have been tested so far. A 38-year-old man whose test results came on the same day as that of the woman, breathed his last before it was confirmed that he was infected with coronavirus. He had a history of travelling to Qatar and was admitted to AIIMS, Patna, because of renal failure. Testing of samples is likely to pick up in the state with hordes of migrant workers having poured in from different parts of the country, notwithstanding assurances by the Nitish Kumar government that it would ensure they were looked after wherever they happened to be. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 17:42:36|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close KUWAIT CITY, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait reported 23 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 289. Eight of the new cases are Kuwaiti citizens who returned from Britain, Iran and France, while 14 have history of contact with infected patients, said the health ministry's spokesman Abdullah Al-Sanad at a daily news briefing. The other one case is still under investigation, he added. In addition, 216 patients are still receiving treatment, including 13 in ICU, Al-Sanad noted. Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Minister of Health Bassel Al-Sabah announced the recovery of one more patient from the coronavirus, raising the country's total recoveries to 73. The Kuwaiti government has decided to impose a nationwide curfew to contain the spread of the coronavirus. On March 13, Kuwait suspended all commercial flights. The government also decided to close stores, malls and barbershops. Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne says shots fired at church, hes now getting death threats after arrest Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Hours after he was arrested for holding worship services during the coronavirus pandemic in violation of a "safer-at-home" order Monday, leader of River at Tampa Bay Church in Tampa, Florida, pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, said he's now getting death threats and shots were fired at the church's sign. Howard-Browne made the claims during a Facebook Live broadcast where he said the threats were stirred by religious bigotry and hatred in the media which forced him to make his Twitter and Instagram accounts private, and he called police to report the shots fired at the church. The media are stirring up every kind of religious bigotry and hatred right now. People firing shots last night at the church sign from the highway. We went this morning there was no bullet holes. We did report it but the police say unless you can show where the bullet landed, but I mean the guys, security were there. They could hear the gun going off and then the death threats, to the ministry and to the staff. Its beyond the pale. So people have basically, literally lost their ever-loving minds, Howard-Browne said. It was not immediately clear which sheriffs office was called to report the attack on his church but an official at the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office, which announced his arrest Monday, told The Christian Post that they have no record of the alleged gunfire incident at River at Tampa Bay Church. The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office said Howard-Browne was arrested at his home in Hernando County around 1:30 p.m. Monday for intentionally and repeatedly hosting church services with hundreds of members in attendance, despite knowing he was in violation of orders set in place by President Trump, the Gov. of Florida, the CDC and the Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group. The specific second degree misdemeanors Howard-Browne was arrested for are unlawful assembly and violation of public health emergency rules. His actions were a direct violation of Executive Order 20-05, which went into effect on March 20, limiting gatherings, including faith-based gatherings, to less than 10 people. He was also violating the Safer-At-Home Order, which went into effect on March 27, advising Hillsborough County residents to remain in their homes as much as possible to create greater social distancing and reduce the spread of the new coronavirus, the sheriffs office said. Officials explained that on Friday, and again on Sunday, personnel and legal staff from the Sherriffs Office spoke with attorneys representing the church in an attempt to educate them on the orders in place and the dangerous environment they were creating for their members and the community, but Howard-Browne and his church leaders chose not to comply. His reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people in his congregation at risk and thousands of residents who may interact with them this week in danger, said Sheriff Chad Chronister. The River at Tampa Bay has an advantage over most places of worship, because they have access to technology that allows them to live stream their services over the internet and broadcast television for the more than 4,000 members to watch from the safety of their homes. Howard-Browne, who is now being represented by Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family, said his decision to keep his church open is in defense of the First Amendment. My story doesnt change. I understand what the media said. I understand what the sheriff said. Theres another whole side about that which Im not gonna go into that. The sheriffs doing the best job that he can. I understand I got thrown under the bus which, thats fine. Im a big boy, I can take it. I understood. I knew this was coming. I thought it was gonna happen yesterday (Sunday) it didnt, it happened today. But we have forced a national debate on the First Amendment. And its not about a virus. Its about the church being a[n] essential service to the community where the church can meet and take care of the people. Thats the whole thing, he said. Howard-Browne said people have been asking him what he plans to do regarding the situation and he noted that he will make another announcement this week concerning that while noting that there are people in his church who carry guns. Our people pack. Its just because thats our church, but were not violent people. Were just there to protect our people. And were certainly not gonna have a shootout with the sheriffs. I mean, you have to be crazy to even want to do that. All of that stuff is just nonsense. Were not looking at having a showdown at the O.K. Corral. A warrant was served for my arrest which I surrendered myself. Was taken in and was booked, he said, showing his mugshot. He argued that people need to open their eyes and pay attention to what is happening in the world and insisted that the measures being taken to stop the spread of the coronavirus aren't what they seem. A lot of people, they dont understand whats going on. You see, I understand because Ive preached on this for years, he said, pointing to his first book, The Killing of Uncle Sam: The Demise of the United States of America. Theres a thousand footnotes in here, the bibliography is 15 pages long. I explain everything thats going on in this nation at this time, he said. In summary of the book on Amazon explains that the book captures details of the last 200 years of American history that mainstream media does not want you to know. It dissects the legalized system of the private central banks that has gone unchecked, and delivers gut-wrenching truths about the real domestic and foreign enemies of the United States. Howard-Browne also touted his other books, Killing the Planet: How a Financial Cartel Doomed Mankind discussing vaccines and Socialism Under The Microscope. Thats why I want to tell everybody, pray for the president that he does the right thing. And pray for every elected official. Even pray for the sheriff of Hillsborough County because they are under tremendous pressure, he said. I think, basically, to shut down now, which is being extended to the end of April, I think its gonna get even crazier. Im not ashamed to be arrested for the First Amendment of the United States, he continued, noting thats what the charges against him amount to. I know the sheriff said we cant hide behind the First Amendment, but we can because I was sworn in as a citizen of the Constitutional Republic of the United States and I raised my hand to pledge to defend the Constitution of America against enemies foreign and domestic, he said. The nation is under attack and whatever you give up this side youll never get it back. He argued that it makes no sense that churches are being closed yet Walmart, Costco and other stores like Lowes Home Improvement were being allowed to operate and restaurants were being allowed to serve takeout despite a clear risk of spreading the virus. As long as you can keep Lowes open and Walmart open and Costco and every other place and you go in there, talk about social distancing. I mean its insane. Theres so many holes in this thing. Even the people who deliver the food how do you know where the foods been cooked? Whos making it? How do you know that they dont have the virus? he asked. Somebody said, 'Well, theyre gonna catch it at the church.' I beg to differ, theyre at church one Sunday morning and six-and-a-half days a week theyre everywhere else. How do you know it wasnt the last trolley where you put your groceries in that wasnt infected? How do you know it wasnt the last restroom you went into? You dont actually know. I know America is fighting with each other right now, which its the whole narrative man. Divide and conquer, he said. Just get everybody fighting each other and everybody has an idea of why somebody is doing what theyre doing, but they dont know. They can only suspect or surmise, he added. He said hes not insisting on gathering because hes worried about losing money. Money is not the issue when it comes to the Constitution of the United States, he said. You think the founding fathers didnt know what viruses were? he said, urging people to stop and think and not accept what is being fed to them on television. He said he plans to follow the Holy Ghost on how to proceed and maybe by the weekend people will know his next move. God is on the side of the Church, he said. And the body of Christ we pray. We have a God who answers by fire and He hears from Heaven. You dont have to be a Christian to appreciate the Kafkaesque irony of Matthew 18:2135. A king who had loaned one of his best servants the Roman-era equivalent of $10,000 one day told that servant it was time to pay up. The servant begged for more time. Sure, the king said. Relieved, the servant went out into the public square and ran straight into a ragged fellow servant who owed the servant (lets say) $10. Pay up, the first servant said to the second. The rest of the story is worth quoting directly: So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will repay you! He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him in, and said to him, You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldnt you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you? His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you dont each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds As I say, we dont have to be Christians dont have to be religious at all to see that this story is about unfairness/hypocrisy/double standards. Thats how we might read the headlines from California this week. On the one hand, we hear union leaders banging the drum for social solidarity; on the other, we see them using coronavirus-induced panic to advance with utter cynicism the sorts of initiatives that demand they be delivered unto their tormenters (attending Catholic school, as I did, should do the trick). Consider this mornings story from the Los Angeles Times: Citing the coronavirus emergency, the L.A. teachers union on Thursday called for a moratorium on new charter school approvals and a halt to new campus-sharing arrangements with charters. Story continues United Teachers of Los Angeles president Alex Caputo-Pearl has always hated charter schools they are typically non-union and (just as typically) outperform union-run schools. But in a letter to the LA school board, governor Gavin Newsom, and state superintendent of public instruction Tony Thurmond, ACP cites the coronavirus as the new reason we cant afford new charter schools and especially the space-sharing deals that have allowed charters to move onto campuses with extra capacity in the low-income areas targeted by charters. Low-income means dirty: His concern, ACP insists, is for hygiene, but even that sounds remarkably like a callback to the water-fountain and bathroom apartheid of the Old South. UTLA isnt unique in leveraging the battle to insist upon its prerogatives. Across the state, California Teachers Association locals are stalling efforts to implement distance-learning technology. The governors important emergency declarations have not suspended obligations to negotiate with unions, CTA spokesperson Claudia Briggs said this week. Translation: Yes, yes, were in a crisis, but no mere pandemic can be allowed to infringe on union power. In nearby Riverside County, the board of supervisors has approved massive new public debt to pay off a fraction of what the county owes its retired public employees. The reason: Like everyone else on Wall Street, Californias government-pension-fund managers have taken a sharp kick over the last few weeks. The California Public Employees Retirement Systems fund balance stood about $335 billion Thursday, down from a record high of $404 billion one month ago, according to CalPERS officials, writes a Sacramento Bee reporter. Californias cities and counties now face the inevitable: Theyll have to plunder most of their residents in order to subsidize a few others. Riverside has already raised taxes, cut staff, and eliminated services in order to feed more cash into the chronically undercapitalized retirement fund. Why would politicians approve these unsustainable retirement packages in the first place? Why would they find themselves so utterly dependent on Wall Street (even as many of them call for the elimination of the financial industry and the rich)? The answer to both lies in the corrupt financial relationship between Californias politicians and the government-union leaders. The states largest government unions bring in a combined $1 billion per year in the form of union dues; they are by far the biggest dark money players in state and local politics. They use that financial power to elect politicians who, once in office, approve unsustainable retirement deals for the government workers. In this state, class conflict is a war waged by government retirees (especially its firefighters) living on guaranteed incomes that are paid for by everybody else. But its not just government workers. Leaders of Unite Here 11, the union that claims to represent hotel workers throughout the region, say social justice demands that businesses, including high-profile amusement parks, continue to pay employees throughout the statewide shutdown ordered by the governor. Most were already doing so. Yet that call for liberte, egalite, and fraternite during this plague came at about the same time as a text/tweet/bullhorn campaign to Unite 11s own members: Whether youve been furloughed or made unemployed, It is critical for you to keep paying your dues so that we can keep fighting, the unions leaders say. Fighting against whom and for whom is unclear: If you dont pay, the union has also said, youll lose your union health insurance. The time seems right for class war in California, the moment for workers sparked by outrage over such duplicity to deliver union leaders unto their tormentors. Real reform via the Supreme Courts decision in Janus v. AFSCME is on the way (my own California Policy Center has helped liberate nearly 200,000 public employees representing about $250 million in dues from their unions). But in the meantime, I suggest the tale of the Unforgiving Servant and the two-hour punishment I received in second grade, kneeling in contemplation of a crude knockoff of Jan Van Eycks The Last Judgment. More from National Review WASHINGTON--Adults who work long hours are more likely to have hypothyroidism, which is an underactive thyroid, according to study results accepted for presentation at ENDO 2020, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting, and publication in a special supplemental section of the Journal of the Endocrine Society. "Overwork is a prevalent problem threatening the health and safety of workers worldwide," said principal investigator Young Ki Lee, M.D., of the National Cancer Center in Goyang-si, South Korea. "To our knowledge, this study is the first to show that long working hours are associated with hypothyroidism." Lee said the researchers found a higher risk of hypothyroidism with long working hours regardless of the workers' socioeconomic status or sex, even though this common thyroid disorder affects women more than men. They conducted the study using data from 2,160 adult full-time workers who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013 to 2015. The investigators identified hypothyroidism from records of the participants' thyroid bloodwork. Hypothyroidism occurred at more than twice the rate in participants who worked 53 to 83 hours weekly versus those who worked 36 to 42 hours each week (3.5% versus 1.4%), the researchers reported. For each 10-hour increase in the workweek, individuals who worked longer hours had an increased odds for hypothyroidism compared with those who worked 10 hours less (odds ratio 1.46), Lee said. Lee stressed the need for further studies to determine whether long working hours cause hypothyroidism, which is a known risk factor for heart disease and diabetes. "If a causal relationship is established," he said, "it can be the basis for recommending a reduction in working hours to improve thyroid function among overworked individuals with hypothyroidism. Additionally, screening for hypothyroidism could be easily integrated into workers' health screening programs using simple laboratory tests." South Korea passed a law in 2018 that reduced the maximum number of working hours from 68 to 52 per week. "If long working hours really cause hypothyroidism," Lee said, "the prevalence of hypothyroidism in Korea might decrease slightly as the working hours decrease." Hypothyroidism can cause tiredness, depression, feeling cold, and weight gain. However, Lee said most of the study participants with hypothyroidism had a mild (subclinical) form that often does not yet cause symptoms. ### The Endocrine Society canceled its annual meeting, ENDO 2020, amid concerns about COVID-19. Visit our online newsroom for more information on accepted abstracts, which will be published in a special supplemental section of the Journal of the Endocrine Society. Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions. The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at http://www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 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. When Spanish invaders arrived in the Americas, they were generally able to subjugate the local peoples thanks, in part, to their superior weaponry and technology. But archeological evidence indicates that, in at least one crucial respect, the Spaniards were quite dependent on an older indigenous technology in parts of Mesoamerica (today's Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras). The invaders needed copper for their artillery, as well as for coins, kettles, and pans, but they lacked the knowledge and skills to produce the metal. Even Spain at that time had not produced the metal domestically for centuries, relying on imports from central Europe. In Mesoamerica they had to depend on local smelters, furnace builders, and miners to produce the essential material. Those skilled workers, in turn, were able to bargain for exemption from the taxes levied on the other indigenous people. This dependence continued for at least a century, and perhaps as long as two centuries or more, according to new findings published in the journal Latin American Antiquity, in a paper by Dorothy Hosler, professor of archeology and ancient technology at MIT, and Johan Garcia Zaidua, a researcher at the University of Porto, in Portugal. The research, at the site of El Manchon, in Mexico, made use of information gleaned from more than four centuries worth of archeological features and artifacts excavated by Hosler and her crew over multiple years of fieldwork, as well as from lab work and historical archives in Portugal, Spain, and Mexico analyzed by Garcia. El Manchon, a large and remote settlement, initially displayed no evidence of Spanish presence. The site consisted of three steep sectors, two of which displayed long house foundations, some with interior rooms and religious sanctuaries, patios, and a configuration that was conceptually Mesoamerican but unrelated to any known ethnic groups such as the Aztec. In between the two was an area that contained mounds of slag (the nonmetallic material that separates out during smelting from the pure metal, which floats to the surface). The Spanish invaders urgently needed enormous quantities of copper and tin to make the bronze for their cannons and other armaments, Hosler says, and this is documented in the historical and archival records. But "they didn't know how to smelt," she says, whereas archaeological data suggest the indigenous people had already been smelting copper at this settlement for several hundred years, mostly to make ritual or ceremonial materials such as bells and amulets. These artisans were highly skilled, and in Guerrero and elsewhere had been producing complex alloys including copper-silver, copper-arsenic, and copper-tin for hundreds of years, working on a small scale using blowpipes and crucibles to smelt the copper and other ores. But the Spanish desperately required large quantities of copper and tin, and in consultation with indigenous smelters introduced some European technology into the process. Hosler and her colleagues excavated an enigmatic feature that consisted of two parallel courses of stones leading toward a large cake of slag in the smelting area. They identified this as the remains of a thus-far-undocumented hybrid type of closed furnace design, powered by a modified hand-held European bellows. A small regional museum in highland Guerrero illustrates just such a hybrid furnace design, including the modified European-introduced bellows system, capable of producing large volumes of copper. But no actual remains of such furnaces had previously been found. The period when this site was occupied spanned from about 1240 to 1680, Hosler says, and may have extended to both earlier and later times. The Guerrero site, which Hosler excavated over four field seasons before work had to be suspended because of local drug cartel activity, contains large heaps of copper slag, built up over centuries of intensive use. But it took a combination of the physical evidence, analysis of the ore and slags, the archaeological feature in the the smelting area, the archival work, and reconstruction drawing to enable identification of the centuries of interdependence of the two populations in this remote outpost. Earlier studies of the composition of the slag at the site, by Hosler and some of her students, revealed that it had formed at a temperature of 1150 degrees Celsius, which could not have been achieved with just the blowpipe system and would have required bellows. That helps to confirm the continued operation of the site long into the colonial period, Hosler says. Years of work went into trying to find ways to date the different deposits of slag at the site. The team also tried archaeomagnetic data but found that the method was not effective for the materials in that particular region of Mexico. But the written historical record proved key to making sense of the wide range of dates, which reflected centuries of use of the site. Documents sent back to Spain in the early colonial period described the availability of the locally produced copper, and the colonists' successful tests of using it to cast bronze artillery pieces. Documents also described the bargains made by the indigenous producers to gain economic privileges for their people, based on their specialized metallurgical knowledge. "We know from documents that the Europeans figured out that the only way they could smelt copper was to collaborate with the indigenous people who were already doing it," Hosler says. "They had to cut deals with the indigenous smelters." Hosler says that "what's so interesting to me is that we were able to use traditional archeological methods and data from materials analysis as well as ethnographic data" from the furnace in a museum in the area, "and historical and archival material from 16th century archives in Portugal, Spain, and Mexico, then to put all the data from these distinct disciplines together into an explanation that is absolutely solid." ### The research received support from Charles Barber, CEO of Asarco; the Wenner-Gren Foundation; FAMSI; and MIT's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. Paper: "Copper smelting at the archeological site of El Manchon, Guerrero: From indigenous practice to colonial-scale production." http://doi.org/10.1017/laq.2019.105 Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2020) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or the "Company") is pleased to provide updates on matters of significance to its shareholders, specifically: (1) commentary regarding the novel coronavirus (or "COVID-19") and the world's need for diversified supply chains; and (2) updated information concerning the Company's legal proceedings pertaining to its prospective acquisition and integration of IBC Advanced Technologies, Inc. ("IBC"). COVID-19: Company Update & Commentary On Globalization Ucore has implemented a number of measures regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. These include social distancing, work-from-home provisions, limits on the number of employees permitted to meet in person, cleaning and upkeep protocols, as well as an effective ban on corporate travel. These measures are to protect its employees, business associates and neighbours as the Company continues to conduct its day-to-day business affairs in pursuit of the MINE-to-METAL-to-MARKET Plan of Action (the "M3 Plan of Action", or the "Plan"). "The current crisis underscores the extremely vulnerable nature of critical materials supply chains in the U.S.," said Pat Ryan, Chairman of Ucore. "Globalization and single-source foreign dependencies are not mitigating this risk - they are enhancing it [i]. Most urgent among these vulnerabilities are materials needed for widespread emergency health care and disaster relief, as well as unforeseen events affecting military and homeland security, including climate change, trade wars and foreign protectionist strategies. Ucore's M3 Plan of Action responds to this, with a highly-attainable, globally competitive and nationally secure path to U.S. critical metals independence." "The Trump Administration has been highly proactive in the use of Executive Powers to address both the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Critical Materials Crisis," said Jim Mckenzie, President & CEO of Ucore. "While these crises are vastly different in their importance, both are serious situations requiring immediate intervention in the domestic supply-chains, and both have triggered Presidential Determinations based on the Defense Production Act. The Ucore REE Consortium was organized further to our plan to facilitate near term production of critical metals indispensable to the U.S. Department of Defense. The recent unprecedented financial stimuli offered by the U.S. Federal Government are highly encouraging to us, and fit well with the M3 Plan of Action." Story continues Update on Prospective IBC Acquisition Legal Proceedings "Ucore is confident in its legal position regarding the prospective acquisition and integration of IBC, and plans to continue to patiently execute the Company's legal strategy," said Ucore COO, Mike Schrider. "Nonetheless, the M3 Plan of Action sets the course for our future in the mining and metal technology sectors either with or without IBC. In turn, we've successfully compartmentalized the IBC proceedings to a project within the Company as we advance our Plan, and look forward to the opportunity of yielding a healthy ROI in exchange for our investment in that venture." The Company provides the following general updates regarding each currently active [ii] legal action stemming from the proposed acquisition of IBC: Ucore v. IBC (filed by Ucore on December 11, 2018, amended on April 2, 2019) Court: The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia ("NSSC") Following a successful December 4, 2019 Court hearing granting an Interlocutory Injunction in Ucore's favour , this case is now in the Disclosure process [iii]. The Disclosure process involves the exchange of relevant documents between the parties, and is followed by the Discovery process which involves possible written discovery, examinations for discovery, and discovery motions; all leading towards trial preparation and the eventual trial. On December 9, 2019, IBC formally filed its materials on a motion to the Supreme Court of Canada ("SCC") seeking leave to appeal the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal's jurisdictional decision regarding the amended pleadings only. Ucore filed its materials in opposition on January 20, 2020. IBC's application for leave to appeal has now been forwarded to a panel of the SCC, in the normal course, which will determine whether IBC will be permitted to pursue the appeal. Due to the October 18, 2019, SCC denial of IBC's request to stay the proceedings, the current schedule of case events is not impacted by this SCC activity. IBC v. Ucore, et al. (filed by IBC on January 4, 2019, dismissed on September 19, 2019) Court: Third District Court, Salt Lake Division, Salt Lake County, State of Utah This case was formally dismissed by the Court for lack of jurisdiction on September 19, 2019. IBC submitted a Notice of Appeal on October 18, 2019. Further submissions by IBC and Ucore to the Utah Court of Appeals are stayed pending the District Court's determination of the Magistrate's ruling (see next section). After the briefs are complete, the Court of Appeals will schedule an oral argument. After the oral argument, the Court of Appeals will issue a written opinion. If Ucore prevails on appeal, this case is over. If IBC prevails on appeal, the case will be remanded back to the Court and will start over from the beginning of the case. IBC v. Ucore, et al. (filed by IBC on February 19, 2019) Court: U.S. District Court, District of Utah On December 23, 2019, the Court denied IBC's motion for leave to amend IBC's complaint. This decision was rendered by the Court's Magistrate Judge. IBC filed objections to the Magistrate's ruling and Ucore has formally opposed IBC's objections. These filings are awaiting a decision by the Court's District Judge. If the Court affirms the Magistrate's ruling, then Ucore will have 10 days from the date of the Court's ruling to answer the original complaint and assert Ucore's counterclaims. If the Court rejects the Magistrate's ruling, then the Amended Complaint will be filed by IBC and Ucore will still have 10 days from the date of the Court's ruling to answer the Amended Complaint, assert Ucore's counterclaims, and to oppose the previously filed preliminary injunction motion (filed with the Amended Complaint). The Disclosure and Discovery process will also begin after Ucore answers the applicable complaint. Additionally, Ucore also has until April 10, 2020, to respond to IBC's Motion for a Partial Summary Judgment, which was filed in March 2020. IBC's Motion for a Partial Summary Judgement seeks to declare Ucore's Option to Purchase IBC void or otherwise of no force or effect, which relief was not previously sought by IBC in either their original or amended complaint in this case. IBC v. Schrider, et al. (filed by IBC on October 18, 2019, amended on November 18, 2019) Court: U.S. District Court, District of Utah During a December 16, 2019, Court hearing, IBC sought a preliminary injunction against Mr. Michael Schrider (Ucore's COO) and another party on the false and unfounded allegation of misappropriation of IBC's trade secrets. The Court after hearing testimony from Mr. Steven Izatt, Mr. Schrider, and others, denied IBC's motion for a preliminary injunction, found that there was no threat of misappropriation, and refused to grant IBC any of the relief it sought. Furthermore, the Court dismissed IBC's entire claim against the other named co-defendant, finding that IBC's claim did not meet the threshold requirement of plausibility. The Court did not grant Mr. Schrider's motion to dismiss. Mr. Schrider's motion to dismiss did not, however, ask the Court to consider the merits of IBC's claims against him because it was not the correct time, under the applicable rules, to make a motion on the merits. Mr. Schrider intends to make such a motion at the appropriate time. Mr. Schrider filed his Answer, Affirmative Defenses, and Jury Demand on December 30, 2019. The pleadings are closed and the Disclosure and Discovery process is now underway. Decisions of the SCC's applications for leave may be accessed from its website, as they are posted at https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-l-csc-a/en/nav_date.do. Decisions of the NSSC and NSCA may be accessed from its websites, as they are posted at https://decisions.courts.ns.ca/nsc/en/nav.do. More information on the Nova Scotia proceedings can be obtained in person at the Law Courts, 1815 Upper Water Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia. More information on the Nova Scotia and other proceedings, generally, can be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or by contacting Mark MacDonald, Vice President Business Development at (902) 482-5214 or info@ucore.com. About Ucore Ucore Rare Metals is a company focused on rare and critical metals resources, extraction and beneficiation technologies with potential for production, growth, and scalability. The Company has a 100% ownership stake in the Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Earth Project. Ucore's vision and plan is to transition to become a leading advanced technology company that provides mineral separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry. This vision includes the development of the prospective Alaska Strategic Metals Complex ("SMC") in Southeast Alaska and the development of the Company's rare earth minerals property located at Bokan Mountain in Alaska. Cautionary Notes This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release (other than statements of historical facts) that address future business development and/or acquisition activities (including any related required financings), timelines, litigation outcomes, events or developments that the Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Regarding Ucore's M3 Plan of Action and the disclosure in the "About Ucore" section above, the Company has assumed that it will be able to procure or retain geometallurgy partners and/or suppliers, including a solvent extraction ("SX") partner or SX supplier for Ucore's expected future Alaska Strategic Metals Complex ("Alaska SMC"). Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be found to prepare a new NI 43-101 technical report that demonstrates that the Bokan Project is feasible and economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product mineral materials and metals and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed customer off-take agreements. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be found to develop the specific engineering plans for the Alaska SMC and its construction. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include: Ucore not being able to procure an SX partner or supplier for the Alaska SMC; Ucore not being able to raise sufficient funds to fund the specific design and construction of the Alaska SMC; adverse capital market conditions; unexpected due diligence findings; unexpected or adverse outcomes in the currently outstanding litigation matters between Ucore and IBC Advanced Technologies, Inc.; the emergence of alternative superior metallurgy and metal separation technologies; the inability of Ucore to retain its key staff members; unexpected transaction costs or other deal completion setbacks; a change in the legislation in Alaska and/or in the support expressed by AIDEA regarding the development of Bokan and/or the Alaska SMC; the availability and procurement of any required interim and/or long-term financing that may be required; and general economic, market or business conditions. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined by the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, please contact: Mr. Jim McKenzie President & CEO of Ucore Rare Metals Inc. +1 (902) 482-5214 www.ucore.com [i] An example of this near single source dependency can be found in the rare earth element sector, see U.S. Government Accountability Office, Report to Congressional Committees, GAO-16-161, February 2016, Rare Earth Materials Developing a Comprehensive Approach Could Help DOD Better Manage National Security Risks in the Supply Chain. [ii] Ucore's legal teams have also taken similar safety precautions regarding the COVID-19 outbreak and remain diligent in their execution of the litigation process. [iii] There is a difference in legal terminology between American and Canadian proceedings. The process of exchanging relevant documents is called "disclosure" in Canada, and "disclosure and discovery" in the U.S. The process of examining relevant witnesses is called "discovery" in Canada, and "depositions" in the U.S. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53979 Lucian Freud's nude portraits continue to command giddy sums even after his death, with Benefits Supervisor Resting achieving a world record in 2015 when it sold for more than 35 million. Now two charcoal nude sketchs allegedly by Freud have surfaced on eBay for a relative steal one priced at just 55,000, the other at 50,000. But are they what they seem? Both are described as 'original charcoal on paper', date from the 1940s to 1950s and are hand-signed by the artist. A genuine Freud or a fake? One of the drawings for sale on eBay. One has been priced at just 55,000, the other at 50,000 Of the first item, the vendor, an art dealer called Finefoxart, says it is 'a very rare opportunity to acquire an original signed work by Lucian Freud. With good provenance'. However, there is no elaboration on the said provenance. When I asked the vendor for further details, answer came there none. Even David Dawson, Freud's former personal assistant for 12 years, casts doubt on whether they are the genuine article. But are they what they seem? Both are described as 'original charcoal on paper', date from the 1940s to 1950s and are hand-signed by the artist 'I do not recognise these of having anything to do with Lucian's hand,' he tells me. 'I would stay well clear.' Freud, who died aged 88 in 2011, left 96 million in his will with 14 children acknowledged and many unacknowledged. He bequeathed to Dawson 2.5 million and his West London home. Freud's reputatation has only grown since his death as have opportunities for fraud. Lucian Freud's (pictured) reputatation has only grown since his death in 2011 as have opportunities for fraud Last year, Vincent Dyer was given a four-month suspected jail term after trying to sell a fake version of a Freud work 'worth millions' on eBay for just 3,000. In his advert, Dyer wrote: 'In very good condition. Has been kept in secure storage for many years.' Luckily, the Finefoxart sales note does include this proviso. 'In the unlikely event that the article is not genuine, we will make an immediate and full refund, without hesitation, if the item is returned to us in exactly the same condition.' Chelsy's dog days with pedigree chum While her ex, Prince Harry, is moving to California, Chelsy Davy, who spends her time between South Kensington and Cape Town, has decided to set up home near his brother. The 34-year-old Zimbabwean jewellery designer, who dated Harry from 2003 to 2010, reveals she has flitted to Norfolk, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and family are staying at Anmer Hall, their country home. Proving she's not lonely, Chelsy, having split from U.S. film producer James Marshall last year, shared a picture online of herself in bed with her black pooch aka her 'isolation buddy'. Chelsy Davy, who spends her time between South Kensington and Cape Town, has decided to set up home near his brother in Norfolk New York? It's far too tall a storey for Daisy Daisy Ridley's Hollywood career is blossoming, but the Star Wars actress has no plans to quit this country. The 27-year-old who grew up in North London's leafy Maida Vale considered moving to New York, but was put off by what she called the 'oppressive' buildings. Daisy Ridley's (pictured in December) Hollywood career is blossoming, but the Star Wars actress has no plans to quit this country 'I found it a very hard city,' says Daisy (above), who earned more than 8 million last year. 'I was doing the rounds before Star Wars came out and I thought I'll stay there for a couple of days and see. 'But I found it so lonely. Driving around is so stressful. There is only a bit of London that is [built] so high, so it is not so oppressive.' Adds Daisy: 'The waste in New York is heinous: straws and plastic everywhere.' Christie banks on sex and dragons Known worldwide as warrior Brienne of Tarth in sex and dragons drama Game Of Thrones, Gwendoline Christie wrapped up the final series with a 400,000 pay day. Accounts for the company through which the actress and model channels her earnings, Christie Ventures Ltd, reveal that her fortune rose from 1.14 million to 1.54 million last year. Known worldwide as warrior Brienne of Tarth in sex and dragons drama Game Of Thrones, Gwendoline Christie wrapped up the final series with a 400,000 pay day Assets in the business rose to 1.9 million, but after creditors including a 229,000 HMRC bill were paid she was still left with that cool 1.54 million. The 41-year-old statuesque star (pictured), who is courting fashion designer Giles Deacon, is also signed up as one of Kate Moss's top models at her agency. Robin Birley, the king of clubs, knows how to look after his members at 5 Hertford Street, his Mayfair establishment. Aware that some might be experiencing food shortages, he has sent them a list of contacts for the clubs highly valued food suppliers, who will endeavour to safely deliver directly to your doorstep. Bravo! Novelist Joanna Trollope has reiterated her belief that fidelity is less important in later life. The 76-year-old divorcee says: I think for menopausal women, and possibly for men too, its not of consequence to the same extent. 'Marriages nowadays go on for 60 or 70 years, whereas a Tudor marriage was maybe ten years. Adds Trollope, whose latest book, Mum & Dad, is out now: So perhaps you should be allowed to think again once youve had children and been married for 25 years. Doth he protest too much? Grantchester star James Norton says the role of James Bond doesnt appeal to him. I dont identify myself as the leading man and, when you do play them, you often realise they are the least interesting role, he says. Who wants to play Cinderella when you can be one of the Ugly Sisters? It certainly opens doors and gets you into a conversation when youre the dashing young lead, but as soon as you identify yourself with that, then you limit yourself. Harry Potter star Emma Watson claims gay couples have healthier relationships than their heterosexual counterparts. A lot of the healthiest relationships Ive seen have been between same-sex couples because, I think, they have to sit down and agree things, says the 29-year-old actress. They agree things between them as opposed to [accepting] certain assumptions and expectations. Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday shut down schools until at least May 4 and issued a statewide order that restricts operations of some businesses as the state continues to battle a growing pandemic. The order marks Abbotts most far-reaching restrictions yet to guard against the novel coronavirus. It is not officially a stay-at-home order and Abbott resisted use of that term Tuesday, but it has many of the features of such orders and delineates which types of businesses can remain open including churches, offering the possibility of limited Easter services. In short, what this provides is that Texans are expected to limit personal interactions that can lead to the spread of COVID-19 while also still having the freedom to conduct daily activities, such as going to the grocery store, so long as you are following the presidential standard of good distancing practices, Abbott said at a press conference at the Texas Capitol. Abbotts order largely defines essential businesses in line with what President Donald Trump announced Sunday. The federal guidelines recommend that people stay six feet away from each other and do not gather in groups of more than 10. They also call for older people and those with preexisting health issues to remain isolated. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Texas is one of at least 18 states that have not issued a stay-at-home order, according to the National Governors Association. Of those, Texas is the largest state yet without one. Abbott classifies religious services at churches and other houses of worship as essential in conflict with several counties orders, including the one in Harris, which prompted a GOP activist and pastors to file suit Monday. Abbott said the order overrides any put in place by local governments that are inconsistent with it, though cities and counties are free to issue stricter provisions in areas not mentioned in the statewide order, if they choose. To the extent, for example, that religious services are permitted, as specified in this executive order, they cannot be denied by a local ordinance or local order, Abbott said. However, to the extent that there are things that are not mentioned in this order, it still gives local jurisdictions the latitude to establish their own rules. If religious services cant be conducted from home or remotely, the order states they can be held in person if congregants use social distancing and other cleanliness guidelines recommended by Trump and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Abbott added Tuesday that drive-up services, where congregants would remain in their cars, which some churches plan to use this Easter, would satisfy the criteria that were talking about. Jared Woodfill, the attorney for the plaintiffs in the case challenging Harris Countys order, extolled Abbott's new order as protecting the sanctity of the First Amendment. He also accused Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo of picking winners and losers by restricting church gatherings. It's ridiculous, he said. I come into contact with more people at H-E-B than I do at these small churches. Josh Ellis, head of Houston's association of Southern Baptist churches, declined to comment on Abbott's order. But Ellis did advise churches to continue suspending in-person services. Ministry is essential, and continues, while continuing to keep the most people safe, he said. Some Democratic groups said Tuesday that Abbotts order didnt go far enough, while others expressed support. His press conference today was confusing at times, but we believe it amounts to a step in the right direction, said Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, adding that this was essentially the stay-at-home order that the group had requested last week. This can serve as a good baseline for counties that had none in place, even if it its less than what other counties have already done. Health experts have said that cohesive stay-at-home orders are most effective in stopping the spread of an infectious disease like COVID-19. Hours before Abbott spoke on Tuesday, the Texas Hospital Association and Texas Nurses Association had urged him to impose an official statewide policy, saying it would send a clear message about the seriousness of the threat and ultimately save lives. The governors order pertaining to schools is more clear. In Bexar County, all traditional public schools had already delayed their return to in-person classes, most until April 27, and have cautioned that they might not return this school year. Charter networks IDEA and KIPP have said they would remain closed indefinitely. All Houston-area public school districts have been closed for at least two weeks. Nearly all districts have announced closures that would extend through at least April 10, though local education leaders warned that in-person classes likely would remain suspended beyond that date. Houston and San Antonio students continue to receive instruction through online lessons and paper packets, while teachers and other school employees are still working from home. Many districts across both regions also are providing free meals to children throughout the shutdown. Krista Torralva contributed reporting from San Antonio. Bharati Airtel and Reliance Jio recently announced a validity extension for prepaid users and free Rs. 10 talktime due to coronavirus crisis. On similar lines now, BSNL and Vodafone IDEA has also announced special measures to assist customers impacted by coronavirus crisis. All BSNL prepaid users validity will be extended till April 20th, 2020, and they will be able to receive incoming calls. Vodafone IDEA users prepaid pack validity will be extended until April 17th, 2020. To compare, Airtel and Reliance Jio have also extended validity till April 17th, 2020 and BSNL has extended till April 20th, 2020. Similar to Airtel and Jio, BSNL and Vodafone IDEA will also be crediting free Rs. 10 talk time to prepaid users whose accounts reach zero balance and are unable to recharge. Due to the lockdown, physical stores are impacted and operators are urging users who are recharging their accounts to use online recharge channels. This move comes after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) requested mobile operators to extend the prepaid pack validity of users due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. In similar news, recently, Reliance Jio announced free 10 Mbps Jio Fiber connection in feasible areas, double data on Jio Fiber, and Bharti Enterprises and its companies Bharti Airtel, Bharti Infratel and others are contributing a sum of over Rs 100 crore for Indias fight against COVID-19. Commenting on this, Praveen Kumar Purwar, chairman, BSNL said: BSNL firmly stands with its subscribers during this crisis period and we request the subscribers to Go Digital for recharging their accounts. Several options available for recharge include MyBSNL mobile app, BSNL website, and other popular wallet services. Vodafone IDEA in a statement said: The unprecedented situation arising from the outbreak of COVID-19 has created several hardships, especially for low income, prepaid customers using feature phones. To ensure that such customers remain connected amidst these troubled times, Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL)today announced extension in validity of its prepaid plans, availed by low income customers using feature phones, till 17th April 2020. Via 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 : More than half of the 40 people who tested positive for coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh allegedly have a link with the Tablighi Jamaat and attended its congregation in New Delhi between March 13 and 15, official sources said on Tuesday. In all 21 people, who tested positive, either attended the event or transmitted it to their contacts, they said. "As many as 17 coronavirus positive people attended the religious congregation while four others were their contacts," official sources said. Of the 21, Guntur and Prakasam districts have nine such patients each while East Godavari has two and Krishna one. While the state government officials gathered information that at least 711 people from various districts of the state travelled to New Delhi for the congregation, 85 of them were yet to be traced. The largest delegation was from Kurnool district with 189 people while Srikakulam had zero participation. According to information with the state government that was reportedly presented to Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy at a review meeting on Tuesday, 297 out of 711 were now kept under home quarantine and 207 in government quarantine centres. Another 122 were in hospital quarantine. "The rest 85 are yet to be tracked. Some of them might still be staying in New Delhi," it said. Almost all of them travelled either by Duronto Express or AP Express from Hazrat Nizamuddin from March 16 and reached various destinations across the state. Some of them, like the first person who tested positive in Guntur city last week, met scores of people upon their return from the national capital and even allegedly hosted parties. The first patient in Guntur is allegedly a relative of the local YSR Congress MLA Musthafa but the latter denied having hosted any party. "Necessary action has been taken to identify the people who attended the congregation at New Delhi. Several people have already been identified in each district and kept in isolation centers and are being treated as per the requirement," Minorities Welfare Department Principal Secretary Md Iliyas Rizvi said. He requested people who attended the event to voluntarily notify the Collectors of their respective districts or to the helpline 104 immediately"in their own interest and in the interest of the mankind " to stop the spread of Covid-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Tuesday said that FIR will be registered against those involved in spreading rumours about COVID-19 and strict action will be taken under provisions of the Disaster Management Act. "Rumours are being spread about COVID-19 in the country leading to misinformation. FIR will be registered against those involved in spreading of these rumours and strict action will be taken under provisions of the Disaster Management Act," Bhalla said. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the people to understand facts about coronavirus and not believe in rumours. "At times, people don't pay attention to things which are important. I request the people to understand facts and not believe in rumours," said Prime Minister Modi during his interaction with the people of his Lok Sabha constituency -- Varanasi -- via video-conferencing. According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of coronavirus cases in the country stands at 1,251. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 185 winners of the annual ERC Advanced Grants competition have been announced today. They will explore their most daring and innovative ideas proposed in response to last year's call. The new research projects, apart from strengthening Europe's knowledge base, will also lead to creation of some 1,800 new jobs for post-doctoral fellows, PhD students and other research staff. These researchers' work covers all fields of research. What can we learn from the evolution of flu viruses? How to block cancer cells' ability to divide? Can tree rings help us better assess climate change? What solutions can economics bring to address violence against women? These are just some of the questions that the new grantees will investigate. "Europe's future depends on science and research" On this occasion, Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: "Europe's future depends on science and research. The crisis we face today reminds us how important it is to listen to scientific advice, and to allow the research community to help us prepare for the challenges of the future. By supporting frontier research, the EU enables our brightest scientists to push the frontiers of knowledge for the long-term benefit of all. We don't know from where the next scientific breakthroughs may come, how they could be inspired, and what challenges lie ahead of us. That is why we have the European Research Council as a vital component of the EU's Horizon 2020 programme. Congratulations to all the winners of this latest call for Advanced Grants. We are counting on you!" "Tribute to the heroic and invaluable work of the scientific community" The President of the European Research Council (ERC), Professor Mauro Ferrari, commented: "I am glad to announce a new round of ERC grants that will back cutting-edge, exploratory research, set to help Europe and the world to be better equipped for what the future may hold. That's the role of blue sky research. These senior research stars will cut new ground in a broad range of fields, including the area of health. I wish them all the best in this endeavour and, at this time of crisis, let me pay tribute to the heroic and invaluable work of the scientific community as a whole." He added: "In this grant competition, we noted a drop in number of UK-based grantees, which reflects the recent decline in applications from the UK. Collaboration is one of the biggest gifts we have in science and I am hoping for the best for our future relationship with the UK." This funding is part of the EU research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020. The new grantees will carry out their projects at universities and research centres across 20 EU Member States and associated countries with Germany (35), UK (34) and France (21) hosting most grants. ERC competitions are open to researchers of any nationality and, in this round, scientists and scholars of 26 nationalities received funding. Following this call, 1881 applicants submitted their proposals in all fields of research. Female researchers submitted 19% of proposals and nearly 21% of grants were awarded to women. For potential applicants Researchers who would like to compete for an ERC Advanced Grant have time from 14 May to 26 August 2020 to apply for the next round of funding. Background The ERC Advanced Grants in brief: For well-established top researchers of any nationality or age, who are scientifically independent and have a recent high-level research track record and profile which identifies them as leaders in their respective field(s). Based on a simple approach: 1 researcher with her or his team, 1 host institution, 1 project, 1 selection criterion: scientific excellence. The host institution should be based in an EU Member State or Associated country. This can be the institution where the researcher is already working, or a new one. The host institution can be changed in the course of the project if the researcher so wishes ("portability of the grant"). ### No consortia or co-funding are requested. Funding: up to 2.5 million per grant (can exceptionally go up to 3.5 million, in case of purchase of major equipment, mobility from another continent, etc.). About the ERC The European Research Council, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the premiere European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. Every year, it selects and funds the very best, creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects based in Europe. The ERC offers four core grant schemes: Starting, Consolidator, Advanced and Synergy Grants. With its additional Proof of Concept grant scheme, the ERC helps grantees to bridge the gap between their pioneering research and early phases of its commercialisation. To date, the ERC has funded more than 9,000 top researchers at various stages of their careers, and over 50,000 postdocs, PhD students and other staff working in their research teams. The ERC strives to attract top researchers from anywhere in the world to come to Europe. Key global research funding bodies, in the United States, China, Japan, Brazil and other countries, have concluded special agreements to provide their researchers with opportunities to temporarily join ERC grantees' teams. The ERC is led by an independent governing body, the Scientific Council. The ERC President is Professor Mauro Ferrari. The overall ERC budget from 2014 to 2020 is more than 13 billion, as part of the Horizon 2020 programme, for which the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel is responsible. By Akbar Mammadov The Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM) has condemned illegal elections held in Azerbaijans occupied territories. Nagorno-Karabakh region is Azerbaijan. GUAM condemns the so-called elections held on 31 March 2020 in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the GUAM Secretariat stated in the organization's Twitter page on 31 March. In another tweet on the same day, GUAM commemorated the victims of March 31 Genocide of Azerbaijanis. "The GUAM ODED Secretariat condemns any act of genocide and stands in solidarity with Azerbaijan on commemorating the victims of the bloody massacre perpetrated by Armenians against Azerbaijanis in March 1918," the tweet reads. Organization for Democracy and Economic Development GUAM is a regional organization established by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in a conflict over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region, which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France has been mediating the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts have resulted in no progress and to this date, Armenia has failed to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) that demand the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. -- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Rely+On Virkon inactivates coronavirus quickly To help fight the current COVID-19 pandemic in India, specialty chemicals company LANXESS India has donated its highly effective Rely+On Virkon disinfectant to Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to reduce the cross contamination of COVID-19 in civic hospitals and other establishments. Rely+On Virkon inactivates coronavirus quickly With regard to the current global Coronavirus situation, independent tests have proven that Rely+On Virkon quickly inactivates a closely related surrogate of the currently spreading coronavirus strain. From these tests it can be concluded that Rely+On Virkon would also be effective against SARS-CoV-2 which is causing the current COVID-19 epidemic. The independent test results indicated that Rely+On Virkon achieved inactivation of the coronavirus strain at a 1:100 dilution rate with a 10-minute contact time. This corresponds to test conditions required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and proves the performance and suitability of Rely+On Virkon for practical use. Rely+On Virkon is diluted for application and sprayed on hard surfaces and equipment. It can therefore help to reduce the risk of cross contamination from surfaces, door handles, tables or chairs during disinfection measures at public transport terminals, airports, hospitals, clinics, shopping malls, etc. Due to this wide application range, there has been a significant increase in demand from the Indian industry as many private hospitals and several corporations have placed significant orders of the disinfectant in their own efforts to limit the spread of the disease in their organizations. Neelanjan Banerjee, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, LANXESS India commented, We are working concertedly to ensure that our production and logistics capacities are optimally aligned to cater to the surge in demand for Rely+On Virkon. We are committed to fully utilize our product expertise to help fight the spread of COVID-19. The prepreg market is expected to grow by USD 1.84 billion during 2020-2024, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. Request a free sample report This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005568/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Prepreg Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) Automobile manufacturers are focusing on developing lighter vehicles to enhance fuel efficiency and meet carbon emission norms. For instance, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) legislation in the US has set the average fleet fuel efficiency target of 35 miles per gallon (mpg) to 36.6 mpg by 2017 and 54.5 mpg by 2025. Such regulations are compelling automakers to increase the use of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber composites to reduce the overall weight of their vehicles. This is encouraging many carbon fiber manufacturing companies to increase their R&D efforts to develop carbon fiber composites such as prepregs for a wide range of automotive applications. These factors are fueling the growth of the global prepreg market. To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR41622 As per Technavio, wind power capacity additions will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2020-2024. Prepreg Market: Wind Power Capacity Additions The growing shift toward the adoption of clean energy is attracting significant investments in renewable energy sources such as wind energy technologies. This is increasing the number of wind tower installations across the globe, especially in developed regions such as North America and Western Europe. Thermoset prepregs are widely used to manufacture wind turbines owing to their high strength-to-weight ratio and durability. Also, many market vendors are introducing carbon fiber prepregs specifically for wind energy applications. For instance, Hexcel offers the HexPly prepreg, an advanced epoxy-resin-based carbon fiber prepreg for wind energy applications. With the increasing number of wind tower installations, the growth of the global prepreg market will gain momentum during the forecast period. "Manufacture of eco-friendly carbon fiber composites and advances in prepreg processing methods will further boost market growth during the forecast period," says a senior analyst at Technavio. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Prepreg Market: Segmentation Analysis This market research report segments the prepreg market by application (Aerospace and defense, Wind energy, Automotive, and Others), type (Carbon fiber, Glass fiber, and Aramid fiber), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA). The North American region led the prepreg market in 2019, followed by Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA respectively. During the forecast period, North America is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to the increasing demand for carbon fiber composites from the aerospace industry in the region. Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Request a free sample report Some of the key topics covered in the report include: Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005568/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ She's been passing the time in self-isolation putting together Lego sets and taking walks with the appropriate social distancing. And on Monday, Laura Dern made a visit to a home in Santa Monica, California, to deliver a couple of suitcases. The Oscar-winning actress, 53, took precautions during the coronavirus pandemic by wearing a face mask secured over her long blonde hair. Helping hand: Laura Dern made a visit to a home in Santa Monica, California, to deliver a couple of suitcases wearing a mask as a precaution during the coronavirus pandemic The Marriage Story and Big Little Lies star was casually attired in a short-sleeve striped top and cropped black pants. She added black trainers and had a green sweater knotted around her waist. Los Angeles has been in under a 'safer at home' order for two weeks requiring non-essential workers to stay home and social distancing when leaving the house to get groceries or medications or for exercise. Dern shared a snap to her Instagram showing her progress in putting together what fans identified as LEGO Friends Lighthouse Rescue Center as she finds ways to keep occupied. Dressed for errands: Dern, 53, was casually attired in a short-sleeve striped top and cropped black pants. She added black trainers and had a green sweater knotted around her waist Fun hobby: During LA's 'safer at home' order, the Oscar-winning actress has been playing with Lego to pass the time Dern is set to appear in the new Jurassic World movie Dominion, which is bringing back the stars from the original Jurassic Park movie alongside reboot stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. Principal photography began on the highly anticipated film in February but was then halted due to the spread of COVID-19. It's not know when filming will resume. Following Bindi Irwin's surprise wedding to Chandler Powell last week, Australia Zoo has temporarily closed to visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic. And on Tuesday the newlywed was taking care of the household chores following her whirlwind wedding. Bindi shared a photo to Instagram of her mother Terri, 55, posing with a laundry basket which held her King Charles Cavalier puppy, Piggy. Getting back to normal! Terri Irwin (pictured) hung out the washing at home at Australia Zoo on Tuesday with adorable dog Piggy following a whirlwind week which saw her daughter Bindi get married and the zoo close during the coronavirus pandemic Behind Terri in the expansive backyard was the clothing she'd just hung out, drying on the line. 'The loveliest afternoon @Australiazoo,' Bindi captioned the post. Bindi, 21, and Chandler, 23, adopted the adorable puppy over the festive period, announcing the news to her Instagram on New Years Day. One of the family! Bindi (right) and Chandler (left) adopted the adorable puppy over the festive period, announcing the news to her Instagram on New Years Day 'Our family is growing! Chandler and I are so happy to introduce you to our sweetheart Piggy. 2020 is going to be beautiful. Happy New Year,' she wrote. Despite marrying last Wednesday, Bindi returned to work at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital on Monday, having presumably decided to skip her honeymoon due to coronavirus travel restrictions. Chandler shared a photo to Instagram of his new bride cuddling a koala, alongside the caption: 'My beautiful wife.' Whirlwind! Last Wednesday Bindi and Chandler (both pictured) married in a surprise wedding just hours after the federal government announced restrictions on the number of people who can attend weddings during the coronavirus pandemic 'Here's to a mission of saving the world together': Bindi showed off her wedding ring from Chandler while cradling a koala at Australia Zoo on Monday Bindi, who flashed her wedding ring in the photo, commented below: 'Here's to a life filled with purpose and a mission of saving the world together.' Her younger brother Robert, 16, has also been sharing behind-the-scenes pictures to Instagram as the family go about their work of caring for animals while the zoo is closed. 'Self isolation Australia Zoo style. Step 1. Graze with a tortoise,' the first post was captioned, alongside a picture of a giant tortoise. 'Self-isolation Australia Zoo style': On Sunday, Robert Irwin (pictured) fed sister Bindi's wedding cake to a chicken and cuddled a rhino while in lockdown FP Trending The all-new 2020 Honda City sedan has received the maximum rating in the ASEAN NCAP crash test. The vehicle, which secured a five-star rating, was earlier assessed by ASEAN NCAP in 2012 and then again in 2014. As per the ASEAN NCAP report, the City obtained an overall score of 86.54 points after which it was awarded with 5-Star ASEAN NCAP rating. The report added that the car's frontal occupant compartment remained stable in the frontal offset test, revealing that the vehicle gave a good protection to both adult occupants. The Honda City received 44.83 points for the Adult Occupant Protection or AOP category, 22.82 points for the Child Occupant Portection of COP category and 18.89 for the Safety Assist Technologies of SAT category. The report mentions that the sedan has four fitting airbags along with Seatbelt Reminder System for both frontal occupants and Electronic Stability Control as a standard across all variants of the car. The 2020 Honda City also comes with an Emergency Stop Signal technology for the Thailand market. All safety assist technologies that are assessed by the ASEAN NCAP are also available as standard or options in all variants of the new vehicle. MIROS Director-General and ASEAN NCAP Chairperson Dr Siti Zaharah Ishak said that they are excited to have another 5-star car in the line-up of ASEAN NCAP assessed vehicles. Although the City was assessed twice prior to this, we can see there have been significant improvements in the number of safety technologies that are equipped in this new model as a standard fitment, Ishak said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 02:05:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock on Monday warned that the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to have a devastating impact on the vulnerable communities in the conflict-affected Syria. "As of this morning, 10 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Syria, including one death. Judging from other places, that is the tip of the iceberg. The virus has the potential to have a devastating impact on vulnerable communities across the country," the UN humanitarian chief told the Security Council's meeting on the humanitarian situation in Syria via video-link. "Syria's health services are extremely fragile. Only around half of its hospitals and primary healthcare centers were fully functional at the end of last year," he said. "As in other countries the World Health Organization-led response advises a focus on prevention and preparedness. That includes preparing front-line humanitarian workers, most of whom are Syrians, to interact safely with communities," he said. Lowcock said that the UN-supported surveillance and early warning systems have been reinforced across the country, in joint efforts with relevant authorities. Preparedness and response plans have been developed and the pre-positioning of equipment and supplies, the rehabilitation of the Central Public Health Laboratory, the upgrading of available isolation units, and community engagement programs are all underway. "But all efforts to prevent, detect and respond to COVID-19 are impeded by Syria's fragile health system, by high levels of population movement, challenges to obtaining critical supplies, including protective equipment and ventilators, and by the practical difficulties of implementing isolation and protective measures in areas of displacement, with high population density and low levels of sanitation services," said Lowcock. In the meantime, Lowcock called special attention to the situation in northwest Syria, noting that humanitarian needs "remain enormous" in that part of the country. "Our data show clear evidence of deteriorating conditions since December. We are for example seeing increased rates of stunting - a consequence of child malnutrition, from which it is rarely possible fully to recover," he said. Noting that the pandemic is already further restricting UN's ability to access affected communities, the UN humanitarian chief reiterated the UN chief's call for a complete and immediate nationwide ceasefire throughout Syria to enable an all-out effort to suppress COVID-19. "I reiterate the secretary general's appeal for the waiving of sanctions that can undermine countries' capacity to respond to the pandemic," he said. Recalling UN's 2-billion-U.S.-dollar global humanitarian response plan to fight COVID-19 in the world's most vulnerable countries launched last week, Lowcock stated that "this crisis can only be overcome by a truly global response." Novalead Pharma on Tuesday said it has found that 42 existing drugs can be helpful in treating patients at different stages of coronavirus infection. The Pune-based startup's conclusions are based on a study of 2,100 approved drugs and 30 potential viral and human targets. "The major advantage with this approach is that the drugs being approved are already proved to be safe for humans, are being actively manufactured and therefore can be immediately put to use in a very short time," the company's chief executive Supreet Deshpande said in a statement. The company, which is into the field of drug repurposing, deployed its computational technology for identifying existing drugs which may be potentially effective against the SARS-Cov2 virus (coronavirus) as well as for minimising the impact on the human body, as per the statement. Till now, there is no drug or vaccine that has been developed against the coronavirus infection, a major reason for high number of fatalities across the world. "The fight against COVID-19 is a race against time and we are deploying whole of our computational infrastructure and technology platform armed with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and uses Machine Learning (ML) techniques, along with intensive statistical modeling and simulations," Deshpande said. The company, which is backed by Tata Capital Healthcare Fund, said that in the past, it has helped in developing drugs for diabetes and psoriasis. "We have completed three phases of rational computational screenings and our discoveries so far include drugs that show promise as effective treatment either by directly attacking the virus proteins or by empowering the human proteins to minimise its spread," the company's head of research Sudhir Kulkarni said. He also said the company would continue with its research efforts and shortlist candidates who are at different stages of coronavirus infection, including those suffering from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) stage. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With copious amounts of free time at home these days, this hilarious actor and rocker made quite an impression on a new video app that's become all the rage. Jack Black, of Shallow Hal and School Of Rock fame, made a hilarious debut on the app Tik Tok this week, with a spirited dance video performed on a half pipe in his backyard. The actor and Tenacious D frontman, 50, appeared shirtless in the clip, which has already racked up nearly 2 million views and 272 thousand likes since being uploaded. All in: Jack Black, of Shallow Hal and School Of Rock fame, made a hilarious debut on the app Tik Tok this week, with a spirited dance video performed on a half pipe in his backyard Jack was decked out in a beige Stetson cowboy hat, black and red gym shorts, black cowboy boots and nothing else as he displayed his epic dance moves, which included spinning, pirouetting, kicking, flapping arms and rushing the camera. At one point, the I Still Know What You Did Last Summer actor dropped his hat while spinning around like a top, but he recovered rather gracefully, moving into the Russian-style kicking portion of his choreography. And, ever the death metal rocker that he is, the heavily bearded Black rushed the camera at the end of the snippet with his tongue out. Funny crazy Jack: Black displayed his epic dance moves, which included spinning, pirouetting, kicking, flapping arms and rushing the camera in the clip Nice save: At one point, the I Still Know What You Did Last Summer actor dropped his hat while spinning around like a top, but he recovered rather gracefully, moving into the Russian-style kicking portion of his choreography 'Quarantine Dance #reallifeathome #distancedance #happyathome #boredathome' the father of two captioned the sequence, also being sure to give credit to his editor Taylor Stephens. Jack also gave himself props for the soundtrack of the clip, which was a percussion-filled, original poppy track by the actor and musician himself. Evidently, the Jumanji star isn't yet a total pro on the Tik Tok platform, a video-sharing social networking app that was launched in 2017 and only started gaining major traction recently. Kicking his heels up, literally: Jack also gave himself props for the soundtrack of the clip, which was a percussion-filled, original poppy track by the actor and musician himself Creative: 'Quarantine Dance #reallifeathome #distancedance #happyathome #boredathome' the father of two captioned the sequence Judging from the other video's on Black's TT page so far, he's had to depend on his son Sammy, 13, for help. Black most recently appeared in a big budget sequel to the Jumanji remake, Jumanji: The Next Level. In terms of upcoming projects, the Kung Fu Panda star is trying on the producer role again for a change, as co-producer of the dark comic thriller Happily starring Stephen Root, Shannon Woodward and Kerry Bishe. He's got the moves: Black most recently appeared in a big budget sequel to the Jumanji remake, Jumanji: The Next Level; seen here at the London premiere in December Photo: Alex Mertz/Unsplash Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Seattle. New map shows what Seattle businesses are open for takeout, delivery amid COVID-19 outbreak A new map released by the city of Seattle shows what small businesses are still open and providing takeout and delivery services throughout the Seattle area as the spread of the novel coronavirus in the region has forced many to shut their doors. Read the full story on SeattlePI. Seattle startup brings a mystery date to your home while supporting local businesses A Seattle-based startup is switching gears to help bring the fun of dating to your home while also supporting small businesses. Read the full story on KING5. Justices decline challenge to Seattle 'democracy vouchers' The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge to Seattle's first-in-the-nation "democracy voucher" program for public financing of political campaigns. Read the full story on Houston Chronicle. Study: University of Washington among top public colleges whose students earn most after graduation University of Washington alumni have a reason to cheer for their alma mater today: A recent study from Volusion, an e-commerce platform, found that the University of Washington-Seattle Campus was among the top 10 public universities whose students earn the most after graduation. 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. Whitfield County Chairwoman Lynn Laughter and other officials of the county announced Tuesday that several rules will be voted on Wednesday to try to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The public conference was streamed on Vimeo and citizens could call in with questions. Among the items are extending rules that would enforce the guidelines that are already in place until mid-April all the way to April 30. Other alterations would ensure the closing of childrens playgrounds, as well as the closures of massage parlors, hair salons and barbers, and tattoo parlors. She also asked for employers to allow their employees to work from home if possible. So those are the highlights of that, said Chairwoman Laughter. But just remember, its not finalized until five groups of elected officials vote on it. Claude Craig, Whitfield Countys Director of Emergency Services, ran through some statistics about COVID-19 in Georgia. As of noon Tuesday, there were 3,817 cases, with 818 hospitalized and 108 fatalities. He implored residents of the county to practice social distancing in order to slow the spread. I believe were failing as a society. The federal government, president, and the CDC came out with 15 days to slow the spread and slow the curve. I think weve failed on that. And were at the point where were not buying in to this as much as we could. Mr. Craig said there were two paths that the country could go down. One path involved social distancing and safe measures, which would end in people being able to live life normally and have cookouts on the fourth of July. But the other path would involve the country still mired in the pandemic as winter approaches. Dr. Brad DeLay asked for Whitfield County citizens to also act within the guidelines. However, he struck a slightly more optimistic tone, and told people that their mental health is still important. He noted that taking breaks from news coverage of COVID-19, and to get outside from time to time if you can stay away from people. He also stressed the need to get news from reliable and trustworthy sources such as the CDC, the Whitfield County website, and local news outlets. He warned watchers about false information they may see on social media, and he said there is much medical experts still do not know about COVID-19. Until the scientists and the real smart people come up with information on what kills it in water or in the air or here or there, Im good with the wait to concentrate and do what the CDC says, said Mr. Craig. One citizen asked if people who had already gotten over the virus could catch it again. Dr. Pablo Perez said at the moment, there was no way to know, as this information is still to be gathered. Dr. DeLay said it appeared to be a flu-like virus, where it could mutate from year to year, hence there would be no way for people to be completely immune to it. The city of Dalton is set to vote on a joint resolution concerning the COVID-19 situation on Wednesday at noon. Whitfield County has had 10 coronavirus cases with one death. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2020) - PORTOFINO RESOURCES INC. (TSXV: POR) (FSE: POTA) ("Portofino" or the "Company") wishes to announce that all management resolutions proposed in the Management Proxy Circular were approved by shareholders at its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") held Tuesday March 31, 2020, including: The number of Directors for the Company was set at three. The three members elected to the Board of Directors include: David G. Tafel, Stephen J. Wilkinson and Kenneth A. Cawkell. Manning Elliott LLP, Chartered Accountants, was re-appointed as auditor of the Company for the ensuing year. The Company's Stock Option Plan was ratified. Subsequent to the AGM, the Board of Directors re-appointed the following officers: Mr. David Tafel - Chief Executive Officer Mr. Jeremy Wright - Chief Financial Officer, Secretary About Portofino Resources Inc. Portofino is a Vancouver-based Canadian company focused on acquiring, exploring and developing mineral resource projects. Its South of Otter gold project is located in the historic gold mining district of Red Lake, Ontario proximal to the Dixie property owned by Great Bear Resources Ltd. Great Bear has recently reported multiple high-grade gold discoveries. The Company also maintains an interest in prospective lithium salar properties located within the world-renowned "Lithium Triangle" in Argentina. On Behalf of the Board, "David G. Tafel" Chief Executive Officer For Further Information Contact: David Tafel CEO, Director 604-683-1991 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. This news release may contain forward looking statements concerning future operations of Portofino Resources Inc. (the "Company"). All forward- looking statements concerning the Company's future plans and operations, including management's assessment of the Company's project expectations or beliefs may be subject to certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual performance and exploration and financial results may differ materially from any estimates or projections. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53994 Nine broadband providers will receive a total of $9.5 million in grants to bring high-speed internet access to Alabama communities. Gov. Kay Ivey awarded the grants under the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund, which was created by the Legislature in 2018 to help rural and under-served areas. The coronavirus pandemic has drawn attention to the need to expand broadband access, partly because public schools are closed and schools must begin using online instruction or other methods of teaching children at home. Availability of high-speed internet has always been vital, but the events of the past several weeks magnify just how imperative it is that all Alabamians have access to broadband, Ivey said in a press release. I am pleased to support these projects and look forward to the day when every household, school, healthcare facility, emergency service and business throughout Alabama is afforded broadband availability. The grants announced today are in response to applications submitted in late December. Additional awards from this round of applications could also be announced, the governors office said. The grants awarded and coverage areas are: Businesses are proposing a reduction in power prices to help them overcome challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee had recently proposed the government lower electricity prices by half during peak hours from March to May to help businesses at this time of crisis. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) also asked for a reduction in power prices for manufacturers and cold storage facilities. The association also wanted a postponement of the electricity payment deadline, with seafood producers suffering significant revenue loss due to canceled exports contracts. Vo Quoc Thang, CEO of construction materials producer Dong Tam Group Jsc, has suggested a 50 percent reduction in prices for households as the Covid-19 pandemic slashes incomes. The reduction should be applied for three months starting April, and the remaining 50 percent should have payment deadlines pushed back to next year to assist residents during this difficult period, Thang said. A senior official with the Ministry of Industry and Trade told VnExpress that the ministry was considering options to support businesses in terms of power prices. However, some experts say a reduction is unlikely as power demand is rising despite the pandemic. Tran Viet Ngai, chairman of the Vietnam Energy Association, said that power consumption in the first quarter rose 6.34 percent year-on-year, citing data from utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN). Although consumption by hotels and restaurants fell 0.4 percent, that of construction and industry rose 6.38 percent. "Had consumption fallen, lower prices could be considered. But this did not happen in the first quarter," he said. In March last year, the government had increased power prices by 8.36 percent to VND1,864 (8 cents) after keeping them unchanged for two years. James Frayne is Director of Public First and author of Meet the People, a guide to moving public opinion. There are two main groups of critics of the Governments strategy to contain the Coronavirus: those that say the Government is wrongly curtailing our civil liberties; and those that say the Government risks wrecking the economy with the lockdown. Both groups are currently politically weak; and only the second group has any realistic chance of changing Government policy. As it stands, the Government is seen to be doing a very good job. It has overwhelming support for the lockdown and clear majorities are in favour of a greater police presence, and even an army presence, on the streets to enforce it (although the police are doing their best to undermine this support with some extraordinary behaviour). This seems to be for three main reasons: most importantly and obviously, because people are worried about their old and vulnerable family members getting it, as well as themselves; because, now weve gone down this route, we should at least do it properly, so were not stuck in a sort of semi-lockdown forever; and, in terms of tougher enforcement, because people cant stand some people ignoring the rules that the rest of us are playing by. People are aware that their civil liberties are being curtailed, but theyre currently content with this; only a very small minority believe their civil liberties are being wrongly infringed. For the most part, people are essentially volunteering to stay at home. The vast majority of people dont want to go out and dont want others to go out either. To date, the conversation in politics and the media has been understandably primarily focused on the public health aspect of the virus, rather than the existing and potential economic impact. As such, while polls suggest the public expect a serious economic downturn, they also suggest that most people arent yet obsessing about the potential impact on their lives. Of course, immediate fears are very audible from the self-employed above all, and from business owners, but theyre not audible from the public at large. Again, this mainly reflects the fact that people are overwhelmingly worried about public health at this point. But it likely also reflects the success the Government has had in communicating its worker support programme; people feel like they will be looked after. The Government rightly judged that people, perfectly reasonably, will think first of all, and overwhelmingly, about their own wages. It seems impossible that this relative quiet about the economy will continue for long. For while the Government has reassured the mass of people in the private sector on PAYE about their salaries, many businesses will have to lay off staff regardless of the help the Government is offering if they have no money coming in; and the Government is offering support to keep staff on, they are obviously not banning firms from laying people off. Even though the Governments support for employees wages is welcome, plummeting revenue will wipe this benefit out and more. If businesses have no money and yet still have to pay for everything from renting premises to accountancy support to daily expenses then they just have no money. Many will start laying people off, and many will go bust. Even the most prudent firms generally only keep three months operating costs in their bank account; a long lockdown eats into this very fast. In such a climate, a comprehensive lockdown of the scale were now seeing isnt sustainable. There is another issue, of course, that hasnt yet been discussed. This is the extent to which social problems emerge because of people being kept in isolation. Again, the polling suggests that people dont view this as a problem at this point and say theyre feeling positive about isolation, but the media are beginning to report some of the darker things that are going on behind all those closed doors. Related to this, we will likely start to see a rise in general health problems as the NHS focuses on the impact of the virus. This will also add to pressure for change. Public opinion is solidly behind the Government and the strategy it has laid out but, in the environment of a lockdown, where days feel like weeks, and weeks feel like months, things could change quickly. People will always put health first, but they will start to call for serious mitigating action to protect the economy when the first signs of high-profile business closures are seen. There were suggestions this week that the lockdown could continue for six months. Very few businesses could survive a lockdown of the type were currently in for that period of time. A sustained lockdown will have to be more focused. FDA . google. The NewYork Times WASHINGTON A commercial aircraft carrying 80 tons of gloves, masks, gowns and other medical supplies from Shanghai touched down in New York on Sunday, the first of 22 scheduled flights that White House officials say will funnel much-needed goods to the United States by early April as it battles the worlds largest coronavirus outbreak. The plane delivered 130,000 N95 masks, 1.8 million face masks and gowns, 10 million gloves and thousands of thermometers for distribution to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, said Lizzie Litzow, a spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Ms. Litzow said that flights would be arriving in Chicago on Monday and in Ohio on Tuesday, and that supplies would be sent from there to other states using private-sector distribution networks. While the goods that arrived in New York on Sunday will be welcomed by hospitals and health care workers some of whom have resorted to rationing protective gear or using homemade supplies they represent just a tiny portion of what American hospitals need. The Department of Health and Human Services has estimated that the United States will require 3.5 billion masks if the pandemic lasts a year. That overwhelming demand has set off a race among foreign countries, American officials at all levels of government and private individuals to acquire protective gear, ventilators and other much-needed goods from China, where newly built factories are churning out supplies even as Chinas own epidemic wanes. China has abundant protective equipment now, and the rest of the world has a huge shortage, said James McGregor, the chairman of greater China for APCO Worldwide. The Trump administration has been seeking to ramp up production of respirators, ventilators and other medical supplies in the United States, but factories are already running at full capacity. Companies like General Motors, Ford and others have stepped forward to try making these products for the first time, but they may need weeks or months before newly built facilities can ramp up their production. The shipment from China that arrived in New York on Sunday is the product of a public-private partnership led by President Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner with major health care distributors like McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health, Owens & Minor, Medline and Henry Schein, a White House spokesman said. Representatives from those companies attended a meeting at the White House with Mr. Trump on Sunday. The White House is arranging for air transport to help expedite the shipping of personal protective equipment purchased by these companies overseas, the spokesman said, adding that both FEMA and the State Department were helping support the effort. Not all the supplies will come from China. Ms. Litzow said the United States was working with manufacturers from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, India, Honduras and Mexico. American governors, mayors and lawmakers have been trying to arrange their own shipments of products from China, with some saying the federal government has been moving too slowly, which risks losing out to other foreign buyers. American officials have leaned on sister cities and province relationships, liaison offices they had set up in China to attract investment and connections with state-run Chinese companies to try to secure scarce equipment. n the private sector, a variety of wealthy individuals, charitable organizations and corporate executives with connections to China have also stepped forward to try to help get goods to the United States. Jack Ma, the Chinese billionaire and co-founder of Alibaba, is funneling one million masks and 500,000 tests to the United States. The Committee of 100, a leadership organization of Americans of Chinese descent, has raised $1 million to purchase medical supplies and protective gear from around the world to bring to the United States. Li Lu, the chairman of Himalaya Capital Management, said he was helping to arrange a shipment to the United States of one million masks made by BYD, a Chinese automaker of which Himalaya Capital is a part owner. Since January, Mr. Li had helped to send more than $1.4 million of medical supplies from all over the world to Wuhan, where the outbreak first began. But by the beginning of March, as China was slowly recovering from its epidemic and a crisis was looming in the West, Mr. Li realized he needed to send the supplies in the other direction. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/29/business/economy/coronavirus-china-supplies.html The problem though lies in the fact that these agricultural foods are still being sold locally at very high prices with many vendors along sidewalks displaying prices of watermelons at VND 10,000 per kg or even VND 15,000 per kg; dragon fruits at VND 15,000 to 20,000 per kg; and durian for VND 60,000 to 80,000 per kg. Although other wiser sellers have reduced sale prices to more affordable rates such as dragon fruits at VND 10,000 per kg and watermelons for around VND 5,000 per kg. However, in these difficult times there are some entrepreneurs who have created innovative products to sell. One such entrepreneur is Mr. Kao Sieu Luc, General Director of ABC Confectionery Company, and President of the International Association of Bread in Southeast Asia, who has brought out a unique product called dragon fruit bread. He had joined hands with farmers to help them grow and sell dragon fruits, but when the borders were closed, the price of dragon fruit fell drastically. Mr. Luc then set about with his company's research and development team to successfully create a unique consumer product he called dragon fruit bread which is now selling as a processed food product throughout the country. Many shops and supermarkets have now launched dragon fruit bread, and customers are happily buying this tasty bread from shelves. Soon after launching the dragon fruit bread, people also saw this King of Bread, as Mr. Luc is popularly known, to make watermelon bread and durian dragon fruit cake. Mr. Luc partnered with durian brand 6 Ri to start the durian dragon fruit dishes and many other creations made from durian. In the near future it is clear that ABC's plans for creating new and innovative breads and cakes is unlimited. Besides King of Bread, there are also many other businessmen such as Mr. Le Duy Toan, Director of Duy Anh Food Company and Ms. Nguyen Thu Hong, Director of Carafoods Company who are researching and constantly creating great consumer products. Mr. Le Duy Toan and his team of researchers created two new consumer products, the watermelon rice noodle and dragon fruit rice paper, while Ms. Nguyen Thu Hong has just launched a two-skin grilled chopped fish covered with dragon fruit. Fresh agriculture produce is a highly perishable product, and involves risk and volatility, because agriculture relies not only on domestic consumption but also on international consumption. This makes agriculture products highly dependent on commodity market volatility. This calls for innovation in dire times to salvage this industry. Participation of many small and medium enterprises in processing of vegetables and fruits will relieve dependency on large factories. The innovative tactics employed by the above entrepreneurs is a promising direction for Vietnam's fruit and vegetable produce. A new and innovative rescue plan is therefore vital to adding value in the supply chain of all agricultural produce. This requires the cooperation of state agencies and the people in ensuring safe raw material is accessed in areas according to domestic and international standards, and then raise the value of agricultural products whether these are fresh or processed. When talking about deep frozen or processed agricultural products, especially fruits and vegetables, people are in actual fact referring to the trillion-dollar factories that produce these supermarket products such as juices, dried foods, and frozen foods in plastic packages. However, the numbers of such factories are still quite limited and they do not help the ground roots agricultural industry in any concrete way. Translated by Francis Thanh Lam File Photo A ban on pregnant girls attending school was overturned in Sierra Leone on Monday March 30, following a fight spearheaded by human rights activists for five years. The ban was introduced in the country in 2015 after a rise in rape, abuse and poverty during the deadly Ebola outbreak fueled a spike in teenage pregnancies. While the government insisted that pregnant girls will be stressed out with attending school, exposed to ridicule and indirectly encourage other girls to get pregnant, critics held that the ban increased stigma and set thousands back in their studies. A statement which overturned the ban read; The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education hereby announces that the ban on pregnant girls attending school is overturned with immediate effect. Overturning the ban is the first step in building a radically inclusive Sierra Leone where all children are able to live and learn in safety and dignity. Education Minister, David Sengeh further disclosed that the ban will be replaced with two new policies focused on radical inclusion and comprehensive safety in the education system. Judy Gitau, Africa coordinator of womens rights group Equality Now, which worked with the government said the safety policy will include measures to protect girls from sexual violence in schools. Reuters reported that human rights groups filed a case against Sierra Leone with West Africas top court in 2018. The court ruled in their favour in December, saying the ban was discriminatory and violated the right to equal education. 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 The police in Maharashtra's Palghar district came to the rescue of migrant labourers, who were left stranded with no means of livelihood during the COVID-19 lockdown. The district rural police on Tuesday provided essentials to a dozen workers from Karnataka's Bidar district, who were employed with a company in Wada here, an official said. The workers, who were housed at the quarters of a local company, had no means of getting back to their villages or to buy essentials, he said. The Palghar police provided food grains and essentials to them, he added. Similarly, the police in Jawhar helped a group of small-time traders from West Bengal, who were stuck in the district because of the lockdown, an official said. A group of seven to eight saree sellers were spotted at a bus stop in Jawhar, he said. The local police immediately arranged for essentials, including 50 kg of rice, for the stranded men and assured them of further assistance, he added. Meanwhile, the police in neighbouring Navi Mumbai have set up five cells to cater to the needs of senior citizens in its jurisdiction. Officials of these cells will keep frequent tabs on 865 elderly persons in the area and help them as and when required, a release stated. In another development, the Thane District Rural police on Tuesday said offences were registered against 490 persons for allegedly defying the lockdown by using ambulances, milk vans and container trucks to escape to other states. Apart from this, 160 cases were registered against 291 persons for violating the Disaster Management Act and lockdown orders, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an attempt to help the country in its fight against coronavirus, Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Tuesday announced that he has donated Rs 2 lakh to PM-CARES Fund and Rs 1 Lakh to Haryana COVID Relief Fund. "I have donated a sum of Rs.2 Lakh to #PMCARES fund and Rs.1 Lakh to the Haryana Covid Relief Fund. I hope we all can come together in our own individual capacities to bring relief during this time and help our nation overcome this pandemic," Neeraj tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 28 created the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) Fund and appealed to the countrymen to show their support for the cause. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases has risen to 1251 in India, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 By Ilkin Seyfaddini Trend: More than 22,100 coronavirus tests have already been conducted in Uzbekistan, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Health. In the past 24 hours alone, 3,713 tests have been conducted and nine positive results have been revealed, the ministry said. To date, the total number of infected people in the country has reached 167 cases. As reported, seven patients have fully recovered. They have been discharged from the hospital and sent to the rehabilitation center. The first case of coronavirus infection in Uzbekistan was detected on March 15 in the laboratory of the Research Institute of Virology; it was Uzbek woman who returned from France. The Ministry of Health later said that her son, daughter, husband and grandson also tested coronavirus-positive. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 39,000. Over 803,300 people have been confirmed as infected. Meanwhile, over 172,600 people have reportedly recovered. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. Several countries are working on a vaccine against the new virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini Stopped for pulling over on an expressway in northern Vietnam and found wearing no masks, three drivers proposed doing push-ups to prove their health. In the past few days, netizens across Vietnam have shared a video showing two men doing push-ups by the side of Ha Noi-Bac Giang Expressway as a traffic officer stands counting nearby. Colonel Do Van Tuyen, head of Bac Giang Province traffic police, was told by his officers the three drivers had in fact requested to do the push-ups. The three were caught stopping along the expressway connecting Hanoi with Bac Giang Province that lies 60 km to the northeast last Saturday while taking South Korean experts to work at Van Trung Industrial Park in Viet Yen District. They said the road leading to the park is crowded, and thus stopped along the expressway to let their passengers walk to work. Aside from violating traffic regulations, the drivers were questioned by traffic police for not wearing masks. Vietnam currently regulates everyone wears masks when going out to contain the new coronavirus. Failure to do so is punishable by fines of VND100,000-300,000 ($4.3-12.8). The drivers responded saying they were all healthy and promised they would take the warning seriously. As proof, the three suggested police let them do push-ups on the spot, as caught on camera. Police, who refused a bribe, warned them not to repeat the incident. The traffic department has yet to decide how to deal with the officers involved. In Vietnam, drivers could face fines of VND6-8 million ($250-340) and have their driving licenses taken for two-four months for pulling over on expressways. 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. India and China would formally kick off their much- planned celebrations to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on Wednesday, amid the prevailing grim situation in both countries due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. On April 1, 1950, India became the first non-Communist country in Asia to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC). Both the counties have finalised an ambitious 70 celebratory activities, a host of cultural, religious and trade promotion activities round the year besides military exchanges to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. But all such event may not take place in the near future as both the countries were going through most difficult times dealing with the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 35,000 people worldwide. While China made gradual efforts to open up as the coronavirus cases abated, India is currently under a 21-day lockdown to control the spread of the virus. Official sources here told PTI that while the implementation of the 70 events to celebrate the occasion may have to wait until the return of the normalcy, the event would be formally commemorated with the exchange of letters between Presidents of the two countries on Wednesday. The 70 events were finalised in line with the understanding reached by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their 2nd Informal Summit at Mamallapuram on October 11-12 last year. The Indian Embassy here said that the activities were aimed at demonstrating the historic connection between the two civilisations as well as their growing bilateral relationship over the years. The events were planned to further deepen people-to-people exchanges between the two countries at all levels, including between their respective legislatures, businesses, academics, cultural and youth organisations as well as the defence forces. Considering the ancient trade links between Tamil Nadu and China's Fujian province, the two sides also planned to engage in cooperative projects in studying ancient maritime links between India and China through establishment of sister-state relations between Tamil Nadu and Fujian. The activities included the two sides holding joint cultural performances at various border posts in China and India, visits of Indian naval ships as well as mid-level tri-service delegation of the Indian armed forces to China. Events were also planned to conduct various activities to trace the civilisational links between the two countries. On the Business and Trade front, China planned to hold a China-India Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Recently, Prof. Deng Xiuxin, an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), took on a new role as an anchor at a live broadcasting studio of an e-commerce platform. It was part of his latest attempt to promote farmers sales of Zigui navel oranges, something he has been doing for the past few decades. Deng Xiuxin (left) (Photo via the Chinese Academy of Engineering) Science and epidemic prevention and strict quality control ensure that fruits in (central Chinas) Hubei province are safe," he said, as he explained various aspects such as growing, taste, edible value and popular science knowledge. 30,000 kilograms of navel oranges were sold during the live broadcast. "Oranges come mainly from mountainous areas, many of which are poor regions. We've been working with oranges for decades, and we've been working in poor areas, trying to get people to enjoy the benefits of growing oranges," said Deng. Zigui county in Hubei province has been growing navel oranges for more than 2,000 years. But due to the uniformity of the variety and the limited time in which the oranges can hit the market, prices for Zigui navel oranges fell at one point to as low as 0.6 yuan (8 U.S. cents) per kilogram. As a result, Deng, who was still working in Huazhong Agricultural University, advocated breeding high-quality varieties. "The promotion of science and technology must pay attention to the economic benefits, and only technologies that can raise farmers incomes should be favored," said Deng, noting that Zigui county should make full use of its advantages in resources. Realizing that one of Zigui countys biggest advantages lies in its climatic conditions, Deng introduced some late-maturing varieties to fill the gap in the market. Thanks to these efforts, the price of Zigui navel oranges has seen a significant rise. Previously, all oranges were picked during the ripening season in November and December. Now, harvest times go from November to May. Farmers incomes per mu (about 667 square meters) have gone from about 5,000 yuan to more than 10,000 yuan, and even up to 20,000 yuan. When hes not in the laboratory, Deng spends at least 50 days a year in orchards, a habit that has not changed over the years. He goes to more than a dozen of the 28 comprehensive test stations in the country's citrus production areas every year, and has left his footprints in most places where oranges and tangerines are grown. "Poverty alleviation through science and technology is more of an interaction than a one-way output, Deng said, adding that in recent years, many of his team's research projects have been done in production areas such as the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, as these places have decades of accumulation of data and materials. From Dengs point of view, "scientific research projects should come from production, while their results should help promote production. Only when the foundation is deep enough, can the building be built higher." 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. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) suspects that a Pakistani journalist who has been missing for a month in Sweden was abducted "at the behest" of an intelligence agency in Pakistan. Sajid Hussain, the editor of the Balochistan Times news website, went missing in the Swedish city of Uppsala on March 2, according to the website, which covered human right violations and other aspects of the situation in the southwestern Pakistani region. "Considering the recent attacks and harassment against other Pakistani journalists in Europe, we cannot ignore the possibility that his disappearance is related to his work," Erik Halkjaer, the president of RSF's Swedish section, said in a statement on March 30. Daniel Bastard, the head of RSFs Asia-Pacific desk, said that "everything indicates that this is an enforced disappearance," adding, "And if you ask yourself who would have an interest in silencing a dissident journalist, the first response would have to be the Pakistani intelligence services." The Balochistan Times "often crossed the 'red lines' imposed by the military establishment in Islamabad," according to the Paris-based media-freedom watchdog. Meanwhile, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also urged Swedish police to step up efforts to find Hussain "The disappearance of a journalist who focused on one of Pakistan's most sensitive issues -- human rights in Balochistan -- and who escaped Pakistan because of threats he received, is especially concerning," said Steven Butler, CPJ's Asia program coordinator. Hussain fled Pakistan in 2012 after receiving threats related to his reporting, and lived in exile in several countries before seeking asylum in Sweden in 2017, according to news reports. No one has heard from Hussain since he boarded a train in Stockholm on March 2 to go to Uppsala, 70 kilometers north of the Swedish capital, to collect the keys to his new apartment and leave some personal effects there, RSF said. It quoted local police as saying that Hussain, who has political-refugee status in Sweden, did alight from the train in Uppsala 45 minutes after it left Stockholm. Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan has been plagued by sectarian violence, Islamist militant attacks, and a separatist insurgency that has led to thousands of casualties since 2004. Successive Pakistani governments and the powerful military have been accused for years of censoring the media. The country is ranked 142nd out of 180 countries in RSF's 2019 World Press Freedom Index. Research and development to support the design of clean green chemicals. Bedford, Mass., March 31, 2020has received a strategic investment from Sumitomo Chemical, global chemical company in Japan. The investment will accelerate Conagen's synthetic biology research and development contributing to a clean and sustainable planet. Both Sumitomo Chemicaland Conagen share a vision of bio-designing and introducing sustainable green chemicalsto the market for reducing the global chemical footprint that impacts humans, animals, plants, and the environment. "We are enthused to work with Conagen. Our strategic partnership is an excellent example of our commitment to sustainability.Conagen has a history of rapidly developing bio-products for commercialization while simultaneously developing extensive technology platforms. We look forward to supporting their newest innovations in particular areas," said Hiroshi Ueda, vice president, Sumitomo Chemical. Sustainable production of molecules usually involves the biological processes of fermentation or bioconversion by enzymes. This approach can scale molecules that often cannot be scaled using regular agricultural techniques. "We are excited to partner with Sumitomo Chemical to accelerate our growth as a company as they provide deep industrial knowledge, a history of innovation in diverse areas such healthcare, environment, food, and resources and energy to contribute to solve global issues, as well as world class manufacturing expertise," said Conagen's Co-founder and CEO Dr. Oliver Yu. Conagen's bio-production mission is to develop disruptive technology for producing products that improve humankind. Its science and innovation enable new applications and transform the way ingredients are sourced. The company's advantage in the synthetic biology space is its one-of-a-kind vertical integration business model with the capacity to scale-up ingredient bioprocesses at multiple biomanufacturing sites around the world. About Conagen Conagen is an accomplished biotechnology company located in the greater Boston biotech corridor.We innovate and develop synthetic biology solutions for supporting global partners across a spectrum of current and developing markets.From our proprietary strain development to fermentation and scaling up, Conagen impacts partners' abilities to sell and market products in the food, nutrition, flavor and fragrance, pharmaceutical, and renewable materials industries. About Sumitomo Chemical Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sumitomo Chemical is one of Japan's leading chemical companies. It offers a diverse range of products globally in the fields of petrochemicals, energy and functional materials, IT-related chemicals and materials, health and crop science products, and pharmaceuticals. For additional information, visit the company's website at https://www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp/ Attachment After writing and delivering so many heartfelt tributes over the years to my dear friend, the great playwright Terrence McNally, I have felt at a crippling loss for words when it comes to his recent passing due to the coronavirus. I have just felt gutted and heartbroken. Fortunately for all of us, he was never at a loss and always knew what to say and how to say it. That was his genius. Its as if my mind wont accept that hes gone, that maybe if I dont write this he wont be gone. He cant be gone. He was too vital, too passionate, too feisty, too smart and witty to succumb to death. He fought it and won so many times before. And yet here we are. Early on in our relationship he explained to me that he had recently lost his two closest friends and collaborators: actor, director and former partner, Bobby Drivas, and the inimitable character actor, Jimmy Coco. He said he felt I was sent to replace them, by God or William Morris, I suppose, and that he wanted to write plays for me. He said he felt better knowing he was writing for someone specific and that I heard his voice, the music, the way they did. I was a McNally actor. It was overwhelming for a young actor to hear, and I felt moved and incredibly grateful that a writer of his caliber and stature would say such a thing to me. It was extraordinary. It was also very exciting. He was at the top of his game and had a real artistic home at the Manhattan Theatre Club. Its where he did what I think was his best work. And I was lucky enough to go along for the ride. The very first time I met him was by chance in the lobby at City Center where Frankie and Johnny was playing in Stage Two and I was in previews for a show on the main stage that sadly wasnt going so well. I was sitting on some steps in despair with my head in my hands this was way before we werent allowed to touch our faces and he said, Hi, Im Terrence McNally. I know youre having some trouble with your show, but I think youre a terrific actor and I hope we get to work together someday. I said, Thank you, me too. And then this very kind gentleman with the beatific choirboy face a choirboy who knows where they hide the good wine was gone. Just like an angel, a guardian angel. Story continues Cut to two years later. John Tillinger and Terrence were casting The Lisbon Traviata and looking for an older actor to play the showy role of Mendy, a Maria Callas-obsessed opera queen. I thought the play was ambitious and theatrical, sexually frank and daring and hilarious and very emotional. It was a spectacular high-wire act of playwriting and the role was a tremendous gift. You saw that on the page. I was suggested for it and everyone thought I was too young, but they were having difficulty casting the part for some reason and so they thought why not? It changed my life as an actor. I had been in New York for 11 years at that point and had made my Broadway debut with George C. Scott in a successful revival of Present Laughter, which Terrence had thankfully seen, but The Lisbon Traviata put me on the map. Suddenly it was as if the theater community stepped back, squinted at me and said, Maybe youre more than just funny. O.K., you can be in the club. And that was all thanks to Terrence and his brilliance. Playwright Terrence McNally, right, at a rehearsal for It also led to my first Hirschfeld caricature in the New York Times, a long-ago coveted rite of passage for actors in its famous Friday Broadway column. And as if that wasnt enough, Terrence bought the original for me as a present. I KNOW. I treasure that drawing with all my heart and I would say it was still my all-time favorite present, but he also happened to give me my beloved dog, Mabel. YES, I KNOW! He really was an angel. Terrence used to say that everyone should have a dog, that the world would be a better place if that were the case. Dogs teach you unconditional love. You have to take care of them and they are so grateful to you for that. It would teach us all how to take more and better care of each other as humans. Amen to that. We went on to have a 30-year collaboration, rather unique in the fickle world of the theater. He gave me some of the best and most important roles of my career and I will be forever in his debt. In a typically Terrence moment of great generosity, he once referred to me as his muse, but I think it was the other way around. His work inspired and brought out the best in me, as it did in the many other wonderful actors for whom he wrote. How could you not be inspired by that kind of beautiful language and raw emotion? We had our ups and downs over the years as close friends and passionate theater folk do, but our love and friendship was profound and indestructible. In the last few years there was an underlying awareness of mortality to some of our conversations. We would express our love and gratitude for each other and how much that has meant, not forgetting to vigorously gossip and complain and laugh. He could really make me laugh. As I write this, tears are forming in my eyes. It seems inconceivable that Im talking of him in the past tense, that hes not here. But, of course, he is here. Hell always be here. In the plays, in the musicals, in the operas, in the eloquent and moving speeches he gave, in the love and kindness he generously shared and all the people he inspired. There are countless stories, just like mine, of young artists he has supported and mentored and given their first chance. He was a huge hero to the LGBTQ community, a groundbreaker and openly gay activist and writer way before it became fashionable, while he was also able to consistently reinvent himself in the theater, prolifically playing with new forms and telling us challenging stories of people trying to connect, to matter, in love and art. Sometimes in love with art. I think of him as the American Chekhov. Only funnier. Its not easy to have a biting wit while wearing your heart on your sleeve, but it was a magic trick he perfected like no one else. And somehow, in spite of all of the difficulties and stresses of being in the theater, he maintained a childlike innocence and excitement about it all. Dont get me wrong, no one was more amusing about the indignities of show business than Terrence, but deep down he was pure when it came to the ideals of the stage. Bless his heart. As I have often said, no one loved the theater more than Terrence McNally. He was like the love child of a wild night between the Lunts and Noel Coward, with Ethel Merman as the midwife. It has been very gratifying to see the enormous outpouring of love and respect for Terrence and his incredible body of work over the last week. He would be very pleased and touched. As Maria Callas says at the end of Master Class, The older I get, the less I know, but Im certain that what we do matters. If I didnt believe that Believe me, Terrence mattered. A lot. Correction, April 1 The original version of this story misstated Al Hirschfelds name. Its Hirschfeld, not Hirschfield. Advertisement Frightening footage has captured the moment that a huge 'gas' explosion destroyed a house in West Yorkshire this morning, leaving a 55-year-old man injured. Police and firefighters were called to the home in Ravensthorpe, near Dewsbury, as a blast tore through the home. A man was reportedly rushed to hospital with serious injuries from flying masonry as the front wall of the brick terraced house was blown off in the blast, exposing the bedrooms and lower rooms. A huge 'gas' explosion in Ravensthorpe near Dewsbury left the interior of the house, above, completely gutted and exposed at the front and debris strewn across the lawn Police and firefighters were called to the home in Ravensthorpe, near Dewsbury, as a blast tore through the home. Firefighters seen attending the scene, following the massive blaze. A 55-year-old man was reportedly rushed to hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries Police and firefighters attend the scene. The sole occupant of the house is believed to have been looking after the property as the family were abroad Terrifying footage captured a blaze raging through the roof from the suspected explosion The 55-year-old man's condition is not life-threatening, according to The Sun. Terrifying footage captured a black plume of smoke billowing into the sky after a blaze raged through the roof from the suspected explosion. Aerial pictures show the interior of the house left completely gutted by the blast and exposed at the front, with debris strewn across the lawn. Eyewitnesses said the explosion made a 'booming sound' and 'shook the whole street'. One resident, who lives on a nearby street, told Yorkshire Live: 'My dad came running downstairs and we ran out of the house because we thought it was unsafe. 'It was a huge booming sound and the whole street was shaking.' The area has been cordoned off while police and firefighters clear the debris from the house, and investigate the cause of the blaze Another said: 'It shook the whole street, I haven't felt anything like it.' The sole occupant of the house in Crescent Walk is believed to have been looking after the property as his relatives - a family of five - enjoyed a holiday abroad. Flames and think black smoke billowed from the roof as on-looker took photographs and awaited the arrival of emergency services at about 11.30am. The area has been cordoned off while police and firefighters clear the debris from the house, and investigate the cause of the blaze. Firefighters assess the damage as the explosion ripped through the property following the suspected gas leak earlier today A man claiming to be a relative of the family said at the scene: 'My brother has taken his family to Pakistan and the house was been looked after by another brother.' A West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: 'We got a call at 11.37 this morning to reports of an explosion at a domestic property in Crescent Walk, in the Ravensthorpe area of Dewsbury. 'We sent along crews from Mirfield, Dewsbury, Rastrick, Ossett, and Morley. We also sent out technical rescue crews from Cleckheaton, and an aerial appliance from Wakefield. 'We've also got search and rescue dogs attending at the scene as well.' In the wake of lockdown aimed at controlling COVID-19 spread in the state, the Karnataka government and the city civic body(BBMP) has asked project contractors, builders and developers in the city not to send their labourers to their native place and instead provide them with amenities like food and shelter. The administration has also warned of legal action and blacklisting of contractors or builders if they are found violating theinstructions. In a notice signed by Revenue Minister R Ashoka and Bengaluru Mayor Goutham Kumar, it is said that the contractors who have obtained projects contract from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palilike (BBMP) should not send laubourers working under them to their native place during the lockdown period. Contractors will have take the responsibility of providing labourers with food, grocery, accommodation and other necessary arrangements, it said. Warning of legal action if labourers working under the contractors are found roaming in public places, the notice also states that government will provide passes to officials and staff of the contract companies to make arrangements, during the lockdown. In a similar notice to builders and developers in Bengaluru city limits, they have been asked not send labourers working under them to their native during the lockdown period, and provide them with basic amenities like food and shelter. Builders and developers have also been warned of legal action, on any violation. Speaking to reporters, Ashok said no labourer or any other persons should be forced to vacate their rented accommodationby owners or landlords. If any such act comes to our notice, legal action will be taken against owners and may even send them to jail. During the meeting of top officials on Monday, the government had decided to take marriage halls to provide food and other arrangements for migrant labourers in all wards of Bengaluru. Following up with this, it has been decide that the BBMP will take over 214 marriage halls, convention, community and party halls among other such facilities under its limits and hand it over to the Labour department to make temporary food and stay arrangements, until further orders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan are the latest Bollywood celebrities to come forward to help those in need due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The couple has pledged to support to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), GIVE INDIA, and the International Association for Human Values (IAHV). Kareena took to her Instagram handle to share that she and Saif had decided to contribute to the above mentioned organizations tackling the crisis caused by Coronavirus. Her post read, "At difficult times like these, we need to come together and help each other. We both have taken steps to do just that and have pledged our support to UNICEF, GIVE INDIA and the International Association for Human Values (IAHV). We urge those of you who can to do the same. United we stand. Jai Hind. Kareena, Saif & Taimur," (sic). Saif's daughter Sara Ali Khan has also done her bit by donating to Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES). She is among many other celebs to have donated to this relief fund. Starting from Akshay Kumar who donated Rs. 25 crores to this fund, Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli, Varun Dhawan, Rajkummar Rao, Katrina Kaif, Ayushmann Khurrana, Karan Johar, Sonam Kapoor and others have also contributed. Salman Khan has pledged to financially support 25,000 daily wage workers in the Hindi film industry through his charitable organization Being Human. Hrithik Roshan has contributed Rs. 20 lakhs to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to help procure masks and other protective gear for their workers. ALSO READ: Katrina Kaif Joins Akshay Kumar, Ayushmann Khurrana; Donates To PM CARES ALSO READ: Twinkle Khanna Reveals What Akshay Kumar Said About Donating Rs 25 Crore To Coronavirus Relief Three quarters of the UK's first coronavirus fatalities were over the age of 75, according to official statistics. Details of the first 108 people to die from COVID-19 in England and Wales have emerged today in figures revealing deaths outside of NHS hospitals for the first time. They show that 59 per cent of the victims up to March 20 were male, a total of 64 out of 108, while 44 women died. Only one person under the age of 44 was counted among the fatalities and 73 per cent (79 people) were over the age of 75. The numbers, published by the Government's Office for National Statistics, revealed that the true death toll of the virus may be 24 per cent higher than NHS data shows. The ONS recorded 210 deaths up to and including March 20 in England and Wales, during which time the Department of Health tallied only 170. The higher figure includes anyone who had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificate, whether it was a direct cause of death or not. Some may not have even been tested. There are now at least 1,408 people dead in the UK because of coronavirus and more than 22,000 people have tested positive since the outbreak began in late February. ONS's figures, which don't include Scotland or Northern Ireland, have a lag of 11 days because of how long it takes to official register deaths, meaning huge spikes in its data can be expected in the coming weeks as it catches up with the devastating fortnight the UK has just experienced. The Office for National Statistics today released data breaking down the types of people who were among the first 108 to die with the coronavirus in the UK, finding that most of them were elderly men By March 20, ONS statistics revealed today, coronavirus had become a factor in one in every 100 deaths happening in England and Wales An ambulance is pictured outside the ExCeL conference centre in London, which has been transformed into a temporary hospital for coronavirus patients A worker is pictured disinfecting a railing in the east London Docklands area The NHS Nightingale Hospital in Newham, East London, has been put together in a matter of days and will open this week with facilities for at least 500 seriously ill COVID-19 patients Statistics show the majority of the first coronavirus deaths in England and Wales were among people aged over 85. There were 45 deaths among over-85s; 34 deaths in the 75-84 age group; 21 deaths between 65 and 74; seven for 45 to 64-year-olds; and one between 15 and 44. There were none among children. The single hardest-hit age group was men over 85, among whom there were 27 fatalities. There were 20 among men aged 75-84, and 18 for female over-85s. CORONAVIRUS DEATH TOLL 24% HIGHER WHEN NON-HOSPITAL VICTIMS INCLUDED The true death toll of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK could be 24 per cent higher than NHS figures show, according to statistics released today. Patients who had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificates numbered 210 in England and Wales up to March 20, the Office for National Statistics revealed. This was 24 per cent higher than the 170 deaths recorded by NHS England and Public Health Wales during the same time frame. If the ratio has stayed true since that time, the true current number of fatalities could be around 1,739 instead of the official 1,408. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has launched a new data series adding in the numbers of people who have died with or after having COVID-19 in the community, including those who died in care homes or their own houses. Coronavirus was not necessarily the cause of death for every one of the patients, but was believed to have been a factor. The data does not include Scotland or Northern Ireland - up to March 20, eight people had died in the those countries (six in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland), suggesting the true figure could have been 10. Anyone who has the virus - for which at least 22,141 people have tested positive in the UK - mentioned on their death certificate will be included in the weekly statistics. This adds to the daily updates coming from NHS hospitals around the country where adults of all ages are dying in intensive care units. Advertisement London had the most deaths of any region, with 44 people succumbing to the disease - 41 per cent of the national total. Second worst hit was South East England, with 19 deaths - the first recorded hospital death was in a woman in the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. And there were 16 deaths in the East of England. The North East and South West of England only recorded one death each, and just two happened in Wales. The ONS's statistics add an element of detail not provided in current figures from the NHS and Department of Health by keeping a running tally of people's ages, sexes and location. It also includes deaths which happen outside of hospitals, but does not clearly divide the data. Commenting on the release, Professor David Leon, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: 'What ONS has done is important as it starts to provide a more complete picture of the impact of COVID-19 on mortality. 'However, deaths which have COVID-19 as a cause on the death certificate that occur among people who were not tested for COVID-19 may misclassify them as such. 'On the other hand untested deaths that were precipitated by COVID-19 may still go unrecognised.' Professor Keith Neal, from the University of Nottingham, added: 'I support the reporting of new figures but there is now a danger of the death figures becoming increasingly difficult to interpret. 'We now have figures for the UK, England and Wales and the four separate administrations.' Statistics from NHS hospitals and public health authorities show that 1,284 out of the UK's 1,408 recorded COVID-19 deaths have happened in England. In addition, 62 people have died in Wales, 41 in Scotland and 21 in Northern Ireland. Authorities launched a nationwide search on Tuesday for participants of a huge religious congregation held earlier this month in the national capital's Nizamuddin area, which has become the new epicentre of the deadly virus pandemic amid fears that thousands present there could have carried the infection to the length and breadth of the country. Thousands of participants of the Tablighi Jamaat held in mid-March in Nizamuddin, which also is home to a famous Dargah, are known to have returned to their homes in virtually every state including Telangana, West Bengal, Karnataka and Gujarat. Many of these states have reported COVID-19 cases linked to the Tablighi Jamaat. Several fresh cases of infection were reported on Tuesday from Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar, among other places, taking the nationwide tally past 1,400 with at least 45 deaths, though a consolidated official tally was not announced in the Union Home Ministry's daily press briefing. The government separately told the Supreme Court it has taken "proactive and preemptive timely steps" to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, but termed fake as the biggest hindrance and sought a direction for the media not to publish any COVID-19 information without ascertaining facts with authorities. The apex court asked the Centre to prevent migration of people due to coronavirus and to set up within 24 hours a portal for disseminating real time information on the pandemic to counter the panic being spread through fake It also said "panic will destroy more lives than the virus" and asked the Centre to get trained counsellors and community leaders of all faiths to calm down the migrants, rather than the police to avoid use of force and intimidation. The Union Health Ministry lamented that the number of hotspots has risen due to "lack of people's support and delay in timely detection" of the cases. Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said the government is using cluster containment strategies and doing rigorous contact tracing in these hotspots to check the virus from further spreading. Within the national capital, more than 1,000 people who attended the congregation have been quarantined while more than 300 have been admitted to hospitals. The government is screening all those who participated in the event, officials said. Agarwal, however, said it was not the time to find faults but to take action. In the national capital alone, at least 24 people who took part in the religious congregation, Tablighi Jamaat, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, as he slammed the organisers for being "highly irresponsible" on their part to hold such an event at a time when thousands have died in other countries due to the pandemic. The Union Home Ministry said approximately 2,100 foreigners visited India for 'tabligh' activities this year, including those from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan. It also said that all state police have been asked to locate Indian Tabligh Jamaat workers from local coordinators, followed by their medical screening and quarantine. So far, 2137 such people have been identified and are being medically examined and quarantined, while more would be located, the Ministry said. Several state governments, including in West Bengal, Assam and Manipur, said they are taking steps to locate participants of the Nizamuddin event. Karnataka government said 54 people from the state had attended the event, out of which 13 have been identified but they have tested negative for the COVID-19. Gujarat police also launched a probe to identify all the attendees from the state and said primary investigations has revealed that some persons from Bhavnagar had attended the congregation. At least 17 people from Himachal Pradesh also attended the congregation, a state police spokesperson said. A Srinagar-based businessman is being seen as the "super-spreader" in this entire case as he travelled by air, train and road to Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and back to Jammu and Kashmir before he died of COVID-19 on March 26, raising fears he may have infected many others along the way, officials said on Tuesday. Six people in Telangana who attended the meeting in the city's Nizamuddin West area also died on Monday. According to officials, other states from where the attendees had come include Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Andaman Nicobar Islands, Rajasthan, Kerala, Odisha, Punjab and Meghalaya. In Andhra Pradesh, officials said more than half of the 40 people who have tested positive for coronavirus in the state were linked to the Nizamuddin event. Including the 24 new cases related to Nizamuddin, the total number of confirmed cases in Delhi was seen nearing 100, while Maharashtra reported 72 new coronavirus patients in the state including 59 in Mumbai. Kerala also reported 7 new cases, taking the total number of those affected in the state to 215. The state also reported its second death from COVID-19. Fresh deaths were also reported from West Bengal and Punjab, among other places. The government, however, asserted that there is no shortage of medicines to combat the deadly virus outbreak and the Department of Pharmaceuticals is regularly monitoring distribution and addressing issues with the help of other departments, states and Union Territories. Seeking cooperation from the public to fight the pandemic, the Union Health Ministry officials said there was no need to panic. They also said not everyone needs to wear masks and that following social distancing is more important to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Separately, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Centre and authorities concerned to provide free of cost testing facility for COVID-19 to all citizens in the country. The plea has also sought a direction to the authorities for ramping up the testing facilities for COVID-19 at the earliest "given the escalating mortality and morbidity rate across the country". Globally, the COVID-19 tally has crossed 8 lakh confirmed cases, while more than 37,000 people have died. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coronavirus may have been circulating among people for years or even decades before it became the deadly pandemic that's killed more than 36,000 people worldwide, a new study suggests. An international team of scientists traced the evolution of the virus and proposed two possible origin stories for it. One was that it might have developed the spike proteins that enable it to latch onto human lung cells while circulating among animals. But their second theory suggests that humans have long been walking around with a relatively harmless version of the virus, which finally mutated and became dangerous while living in us. Whichever the case may be, the study's findings leave little room for the possibility that theories suggesting the virus was made in a lab are true, wrote the director of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), who was uninvolved in the research. Coronavirus may have been infecting humans one at a time or in short transmission chains for years or even decades, suggests research from an international team led by Scripps University Since coronavirus became the deadly infection that's now sweeping the globe, more than 2,500 Americans have been killed by the virus 'Some folks are even making outrageous claims that the new coronavirus causing the pandemic was engineered in a lab and deliberately released to make people sick, wrote Dr Francis Collins, NIH director. 'A new study debunks such claims by providing scientific evidence that this novel coronavirus arose naturally.' Coronaviruses, as a broad family, are common in animals and humans around the world. There are four common forms of the virus that frequently infect humans and cause a regular cold, three additional types capable of causing severe illness - including COVID-19 - and many more that circulate among animals including cats, dogs, bats and even reptiles. Since the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Wuhan, China, and linked to an open-air fish and wildlife market there, scientists and armchair epidemiologists have played a sort of origin-roulette, trying to guess and trace the human disease back to one of the species sold there. Targets have included: snakes, bats and pangolins. Small weasel-like animals called civets were blamed for the SARS outbreak of 2002 and 2003 and were subsequently slaughtered en masse. A schematic shows the comparisons of the genomes of various coronaviruses found in bats, pangolins and humans that the researchers performed to try to work out COVID-19's origin They also propose that the virus may have jumped from pangolins - anteater-like animal that are the prime suspects for COVID-19's origin - to humans (left) but suspect that before pangolins, bats may have been the original source of the virus (right) COVID-19 may have mutated in small clusters of humans to become a virus capable of triggering the pandemic that's left no US state untouched Scientists - including the authors of the new paper, who hail from Scripps University in California, Columbia University, University of Edinborough, University of Sydney and Tulane University - still don't know from which animal the new coronavirus came. The team behind the new study, published in Nature Medicine, analyzed the genetics of the virus. They found that COVID-19's genetics suggest it may well have started in bats - common carriers of viruses that eventually infect humans - and jumped to bats. But their data also suggests that virus may well have been lurking in humans for years or even decades in a relatively harmless form before becoming deadly. The theory is that, like MERS before it, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), may have jumped to humans from animals (like pangolins) multiple times, causing single infections or short chains of them. But over the years that this happened, it may have mutated and developed the devastating spike protein that now attaches to human lung cells and causes devastating disease. It may have developed pandemic-causing capability after infecting a number of 'clusters' of humans, Dr Collins suggests. 'As a result of gradual evolutionary changes over years or perhaps decades, the virus eventually gained the ability to spread from human-to-human and cause serious, often life-threatening disease,' he wrote. by Adam Koffler | Tue, Mar 31st 9:42am EDT Veteran CB Dre Kirkpatrick is being released by the Cincinnati Bengals, per sources. (Tyler Dragon on Twitter) Fantasy Impact: Cincinnatis former 2012 first-round pick out of Alabama is being released by the Bengals after eight productive years with the team. Kirkpatrick finishes his career in Cincinnati with 302 tackles and 10 interceptions in 99 games with the Bengals. Look for another team in need of secondary help to reach out to the veteran corner. 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. 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 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 Counterfeiters seem to be taking full advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CCB seized 12,300 fake N95 masks by raiding the warehouse of a firm in eastern Bengalurus HRBR Layout on Monday night. The masks were made by a firm named ZIS Engineering, whose warehouse is located on the second floor of a building owned by Bangalore Diabetes and Diagnostic Centre. The firm made the masks from the fabric used in the manufacture of vests and collar canvas. It sold each mask for Rs 100 to Rs 125 and made a profit of Rs 18 to Rs 25 a piece. The CCB raided the warehouse after receiving a tip. It also arrested an employee named Asghar. But what startled the sleuths is that the firm had already sold a staggering 70,000 fake N95 masks worth Rs 1.05 crore and was lobbying to win a government contract for 10,000 N95 masks. Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), said the 12,300 masks, valued at about Rs 40 lakh, were about to dispatched to stores. For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here The only thing that certified the masks were N95 and ISO letters printed on them, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime 2) Ravi Kumar. An N95 mask is usually made from polypropylene and can filter at least 95% of airborne particles, including novel coronaviruses. According to Patil, the firm is owned by one Aamir Arsha, who is currently absconding. Arshads brother manufactures vests in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu. It was he who allegedly supplied the raw materials for the masks, Patil added. The CCB learnt the firm was in talks with the state government through a middleman to supply 10,000 masks. While details of the contract arent available, Kumar said Arshad knew the middleman and that they were trying to track him down. The middleman is also being pursued as the police believe he may have lobbied on behalf of other dubious firms. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) The Department of Health is currently looking for ways to decontaminate personal protective equipment (PPE) so they could be reused by healthcare workers who are treating patients with COVID-19, a high ranking official said Monday. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario disclosed this during a televised briefing when asked about the DOHs strategies to address the scarce supplies of PPE caused by COVID-19 outbreak. N95 masks, gowns, gloves are examples of PPE. Ito poy kasama na sa pag-aaral ngayon ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan," Vergeire pointed out. "In fact, marami na pong nagrekomenda sa amin even people from PNRI na sinasabing may mga technology na pwedeng gamitin para ma-decontaminate ang ating mga PPE. [Translation: This is part of the studies being conducted by the Department of Health. In fact, many have recommended it to us, even by the people from PNRI, saying that we could decontaminate PPE using technology.] PNRI is the the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. Vergeire was referring to the cleaning method used by a team of researchers from the Duke University in North Carolina. The researchers published their procedure to help hospitals deal with the dwindling supplies of N95 respirator mask, an item critical in protecting frontline medical staff from contracting the virus, and helping them do their jobs with confidence. But typically they cannot be reused. Duke researchers have said they decontaminated 500 pieces of N95 masks without damaging them using vaporized hydrogen peroxide, which is also used to sterilize medical instruments. This sterilization process has reportedly been effective for decades, but not without hazards. It must be done in a specialized laboratory, which could handle hydrogen peroxide vapor. The faculty of the University of the Philippines Diliman's College of Engineering is also developing a prototype cleaning chamber, based on ultraviolet light exposure, which will be used to disinfect PPE. The project is worth P600,000 Vergeire added the government is working with their partners from the private sector to address what she regarded as a "global shortage" of PPEs. Marami na pong ginagawa ang DOH ngayon na pakikipag partner sa iba ibang grupo especially in our private industry kung saan nagkakaroon na po ng efforts na magkaroon ng alternatives or options para sa ating mga masks, sa ating mga isusuot na aprons, ang gowns dahil nga po mayroon tayong global shortage. [Translation: There is this DOH initiative of partnering with other groups especially in the private industry to make alternatives to masks, aprons, gowns because we have a global shortage.] The Philippines now has 1546 cases of the viral disease with 78 deaths and 42 recoveries. Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, the country's healthcare system is being stretched thin as it scrambles to meet the needs of people sickened by the disease. The health crisis has prompted hospitals to ask for donations for PPEs and other essential supplies. Ordinary individuals, businesspeople and researchers are pitching in and helping out to deal with the scarce supplies so frontliners could continue their fight against COVID-19. Jeenah Moon/Getty As March winds down, at least 250 million Americans have been told to stay home or shelter in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Problem is, many cant help wondering if they can still afford a place to shelter inif they ever could. Long before the coronavirus pandemic, generous swaths of the United States faced an affordable housing crisis. With millions of Americans losing their jobs and millions more facing unemployment in the near future thanks to a concerted economic shutdown geared at reining in the disease, talk of rent strikes and freezes are in the air. The Trump administration recently nodded to the problem by ordering a foreclosure moratorium on single-family home mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration or obtained through government-owned lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie and Freddie have also offered forbearance for borrowers experiencing hardship. And the finance giants have dangled payment relief to indebted apartment building owners who grant respite to renters, a move the Federal Housing Finance Agency estimates could affect 43 percent of the market in multifamily leases. Then theres the $2 trillion stimulus bill that passed last week, which contains language forbidding evictions and late charges on any property receiving virtually any federal aid. It also permits those owing money to Fannie or Freddie to request up to six months of forbearance, though it leaves the onus on borrowers to do so. If your home doesnt fall under one of these categories or programs, and youre wondering if you owe money to your landlord or lender, the answer is probably yesat least for now. Still, some state and local governments have moved to stem evictions and foreclosures for everyone, and a few are even freezing rent and mortgage payments entirely. Heres a breakdown of COVID-19 rules on housing across every state and many large metropolitan areas. This story will be updated as events warrant. Story continues Will the U.S. Run Out of Groceries Under Lockdown? Alabama: No specific government measures to prevent evictions or foreclosures, but local Regions Bank is offering a mortgage payment reprieve and the state Supreme Court has cancelled in-person proceedings until April 16, which may stem new removal proceedings. Individual judges may conduct business via phone or video, however. Alaska: Gov. Mike Dunleavy has forestalled evictions and foreclosures of any tenant or homeowner covered by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, while the state Supreme Court has halted eviction hearings until May 1 and barred enforcement of outstanding ejectment orders against quarantined people. Arizona: Gov. Doug Ducey has ordered a 120-day stay on eviction orders against anybody quarantined or experiencing hardship because of COVID-19, starting March 24, and has launched a $5 million rental assistance fund. The states Save Our Home AZ Program is offering principal reduction assistance, monthly mortgage subsidy assistance, and second lien elimination assistance. Arkansas: No special COVID-19 programs in place as of this writing. California: Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered a statewide ban on evictions through the end of May, so long as tenants provide notice in writing within one week of their rent coming due that they cannot pay due to the disease. He has also cut a deal with Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, and 200 smaller lending institutions to defer mortgage payments for up to 90 days from borrowers who can show they've lost income during the crisis. Bank of America has assented to a 30-day grace period for mortgage payments. The City of Glendale has banned rent increases through at least April 30 (though not rent payments). Philanthropists in San Diego have established a COVID-19 Community Response Fund to provide rent, mortgage, and utility assistance to struggling locals. Colorado: Gov. Jared Polis has issued non-binding guidance to state-chartered banks discouraging foreclosures, and Denver has reassigned deputies away from eviction enforcement. Connecticut: James W. Abrams, Chief Judge for Civil Matters, has issued a stay of all evictions and ejectments through May 1, and postponed all foreclosure sales until June 6. Delaware: The Justice of the Peace Court has postponed all eviction proceedings until after May 1, while Gov. John Carney has put off all residential mortgage foreclosures until 31 days after he lifts his order of emergency. Late fees or excess interest are forbidden. Florida: No state programs in place as of this writing, but the Orange County Sheriff's Office has put off eviction enforcement "until further notice," as have police in Miami-Dade. The latter county has also called off evictions in its public housing. Georgia: No state programs in place as of this writing. But on March 17, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued an executive order imposing an eviction moratorium on the Atlanta Housing Authority, Atlanta Beltline Inc., the Fulton County/City of Atlanta Land Bank Authority, Invest Atlanta, Partners for Home, and the city Department of Grants and Community Development. Hawaii: The Hawaii Department of Public Safety Sheriff Division has indefinitely suspended evictions. Idaho: No state programs in place as of this writing, but Boise public housing has waived rent and ended removals, and a judge has called off eviction hearings in Blaine County. Illinois: Gov. J.B. Pritzker has barred evictions through April 7 by executive order. Courts have ordered longer cessations of evictions, including in Cook County (April 15) and in Peoria, Tazewell, Marshall, Putnam, and Stark Counties (April 17). A court covering Kendall and DeKalb Counties has barred new eviction and foreclosure proceedings for 30 days beginning March 18. Chicago is providing 2,000 residents with $1,000 grants to help cover rent and mortgage payments. Indiana: Gov. Eric Holcomb has decreed an end to evictions or foreclosures until the end of his declared state of emergency. Iowa: Gov. Kim Reynolds has halted foreclosures and evictions for the duration of a declared state of emergency, except in cases involving squatters. Kansas: Gov. Laura Kelly has stayed evictions and foreclosures until May 1. Kentucky: Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order March 25 suspending all evictions for the term of a declared emergency, while the Kentucky Supreme Court suspended all evictions until April 10. Louisiana: Gov. John Bel Edwards has halted evictions and foreclosures. Maine: Maine courts are closed for eviction proceedings through May 1. Maryland: Gov. Larry Hogan has forbidden the eviction of any tenant who can demonstrate loss of income related to the crisis. Massachusetts: Trial courts are closed through April 21 under order of the State Supreme Judicial Court, preventing evictions from advancing. Gov. Charlie Baker has announced $5 million in rental assistance, while the mayor of Boston has called off evictions by the city housing authority. Michigan: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has banned evictions until April 17, and the state Department of Health and Human Services is offering up to $2,000 in emergency assistance to prevent foreclosures. Minnesota: Gov. Tim Walz has suspended evictions and foreclosures during a declared state of emergency. Mississippi: No programs in place as of this writing. Missouri: No state programs in place as of this writing, but evictions are suspended in Jackson County until at least April 18, in Boone and Callaway Counties until April 17, and indefinitely in St. Louis County. Montana: No programs in place as of this writing. Nebraska: Gov. Ed Ricketts executive order has postponed all eviction proceedings for anybody impacted by the virus until May 31. The Omaha Housing Authority has called off evictions, while the Metro Omaha Property Owners Associationa landlord grouphas requested its members reduce rents by 10 percent in the month of April. Nevada: Gov. Steve Sisolak has blocked all eviction notices, executions, and tenant lockouts via emergency order for the entire length of the pandemic. State Treasurer Zach Conine has announced that lenders have agreed to a 90-day grace period for borrowers, although each mortgagee must reach an individual payment arrangement with their bank. New Hampshire: Gov. Chris Sununu has barred evictions and foreclosures via executive order during the emergency. New Jersey: Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order March 19 placing a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures for at least 60 days. On March 28, he instated a 90-day grace period for late mortgage payments, forbidding banks from charging hard-up borrowers late fees or making negative reports on them to credit agencies. New Mexico: The State Supreme Court has indefinitely suspended evictions of tenants who can furnish evidence the crisis has left them unable to pay rent. Albuquerque has suspended evictions for public housing tenants, while Santa Fe has halted removal of those who can prove hardship. New York: Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks has suspended all evictions until further notice, while Gov. Andrew Cuomo has ordered banks to waive mortgage payments in hardship cases for 90 days. There is no state policy in place on rent payments, despite the governors claim that he took care of the issue. North Carolina: State Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley on March 13 ordered courts to postpone eviction and foreclosure cases for at least 30 days. North Dakota: The State Supreme Court has placed a hold on all eviction proceedings "until further order. Ohio: Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor has requested, but not obligated, that lower courts stay eviction and foreclosure proceedings. Huntington, PNC, Fifth Third, Citizens, Third Federal, Chase, and Key Banks are all offering mortgage assistance to struggling borrowers. Oklahoma: No state policy in place as of this writing, but Tulsa County has halted evictions and foreclosures until April 15, while the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office has suspended enforcement of housing ejectments until appropriate. Oregon: Gov. Kate Brown has suspended eviction for nonpayment of rent for 90 days beginning March 22. This Is What a Coronavirus Lockdown Means in Each State Pennsylvania: The state Supreme Court decreed March 18 that neither evictions nor foreclosures could go forward for at least two weeks. Puerto Rico: U.S. District Judge Gustavo A. Gelpi has suspended all eviction orders and foreclosure proceedings until May 30. The island's Public Housing Administration announced it will not collect rent from tenants until the expiration of Gov. Wanda Vasquez's order of social isolationan order she recently extended to April 12. Residents of the government-owned developments will be liable for the payments after the governor's decree lifts, although they may apply for reductions based on loss of income. Rhode Island: Gov. Gina Raimondo ordered courts not to process evictions for 30 days starting March 19. South Carolina: Chief Justice Don Beatty has ordered a halt to all evictions until May 1. South Dakota: No state policies in place as of this writing, but Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken has established a fund to provide financial assistance to those facing eviction. Tennessee: The Tennessee Supreme Court has ordered judges not to proceed with eviction cases until April 30, unless "exceptional circumstances" prevail. Texas: The Texas Supreme Court halted all evictions until April 19, subject to an extension by the chief justice. A Dallas County judge has put a stop to new removal cases and landlord recoveries until May 17. The city of Austin passed an ordinance March 26 granting renters a 60-day grace period and preventing landlords from initiating evictions. Nonetheless, renters who can pay rent are encouraged to do so. Utah: No state policies in place as of this writing, but the Utah Apartment Associationa trade group has generated a proposed rent deferral agreement for impacted tenants. Vermont: The Vermont Supreme Court has suspended non-emergency hearings such as evictions until April 15, but individual courts may hold such proceedings remotely. Burlington-based affordable housing operators Champlain Housing Trust, Burlington Housing Authority, and Cathedral Square have all committed to suspending evictions. Virginia: The Virginia Supreme Court has suspended non-essential, non-emergency proceedings such as evictions and foreclosures until April 6. Washington State: Gov. Jay Inslee inked a 30-day eviction moratorium on March 18. Seattle has imposed a 60-day moratorium on evictions beginning March 3, with no late fees, and the King County Sheriff has suspended evictions "until further notice. Washington, D.C.: The D.C. Superior Court has suspended evictions and foreclosures. West Virginia: The State Supreme Court has suspended all non-emergency proceedings, including housing-related matters, until April 10, and left open the possibility of extension. Wisconsin: Gov. Tony Evers ordered the suspension of evictions and foreclosures until May 26. Judges in Dane and Milwaukee counties have forbidden sheriffs from executing outstanding eviction orders, and the Milwaukee Housing Authority has said it will not evict anybody during the crisis. Wyoming: State Supreme Court Justice Michael K. Davis has ordered all in-person proceedings suspended, and recommended civil trials be rescheduled, which could serve to delay evictions or foreclosures. But local judges have some discretion on whether to conduct trials via video or teleconference. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here 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. The Madhya Pradesh government has identified 82 of the 107 people from the state who attended a religious congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi, that has become a key source for the COVID-19 spread in the country, and put some of them in quarantine, a top official said on Tuesday. The gathering at Markaz Nizamuddin, the Delhi headquarters of the Tabligh-e-Jamaat, was held earlier this month. We have the addresses of 82 persons out of the 107 (from Madhya Pradesh) who attended the Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz in Delhi. Some of them have been put in quarantine, the official said. Efforts are on to identify the remaining people and they would be traced soon, he said. However, the officer refused to divulge the exact number of people who have been quarantined. Earlier in the day, Chief MinisterShivraj Singh Chouhan had directed officials to quarantine over 100 people from the state who had participated in the congregation. The Delhi government on Tuesday said 24 people, who took part in the congregation, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. According to an official, Chouhan held a high-level meeting where he said that over 100 people from Madhya Pradesh had participated in the meet and arrangements should be made to quarantine them. The Chief Minister has asked district collectors and superintendents of police to track down these people and keep a tab on pilgrims visiting places of worship, he said. People from across the country had taken part in the mega meet. After the matter came to light, the Centre and the Delhi government swung into action to trace people who attended the congregation. Six people from Telangana and one from Jammu and Kashmir, who attended the event, died due to coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE New Mexico announced two more deaths and 44 additional confirmed cases of the new coronavirus on Monday, while President Donald Trump pledged to get the state a U.S. Army field hospital that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham requested. The developments, three weeks after the states first positive COVID-19 tests, brought the number of confirmed cases in New Mexico to 281 as state leaders braced for a possible surge of additional cases in the coming days. Meanwhile, the two additional deaths both elderly Bernalillo County women with underlying health issues doubled the states number of coronavirus fatalities. Top state health officials urged New Mexicans to stay home except for essential outings, saying there is likely an unknown number of infected state residents that have not yet been tested for the coronavirus or determined to have positive test results. While only 24 coronavirus patients were still hospitalized in New Mexico as of Monday, state hospital officials have said the states health care system will be overwhelmed if a surge in cases cant be mitigated. Given that backdrop, Lujan Grisham last week asked the federal Department of Defense to set up a 248-bed U.S. Army field hospital in Albuquerque. During a telephone conversation between Trump and governors on Monday, the president told Lujan Grisham that he would grant her request for the hospital. Well build you that hospital as quick as we can, Trump told the governor, according to a transcript of the conversation obtained by CBS News. He also apparently directed aides to look into the issue. That came after Lujan Grisham brought up the request and said her office had not yet received word on the hospital from U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper. Lujan Grisham, who has cited concern about New Mexico hospitals ability to absorb a surge of novel coronavirus cases, had asked that the U.S. Army combat support hospital be in place by April 10, or as soon after that date as possible. However, no details about a possible location in Albuquerque have been released. New Mexico has fewer hospital beds per capita than the national average, with 1.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people. The national average is about 2.4 beds per 1,000 people, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Along with other governors, Lujan Grisham has been in regular contact with the White House as the coronavirus outbreak has intensified. Though Lujan Grisham has, at various times, criticized the federal government for its handling of how information and health care supplies are disseminated to states, the governor appeared to praise Trump during Mondays phone conversation, according to the CBS News transcript of an audio recording. After exchanging concerns about rising COVID-19 infection rates on the Navajo Nation, Lujan Grisham told Trump: Yeah, Im very worried and Mr. President, I appreciate you. Thank you very much. I appreciate you, Trump said in response, according to the transcript. New Mexicos epicenter In all, there are now confirmed coronavirus cases in 18 of New Mexicos 33 counties. Bernalillo County, the states most populous county, is home to 117 of the states 281 confirmed cases. Three of the four deaths attributed to COVID-19 have also been in Bernalillo County. The states first coronavirus death happened last week in Artesia, where a man in his 70s died before a positive test result came back from a state lab. The respiratory disease has also reached other rural parts of the state in recent days. In Torrance County, which had its first three announced cases of coronavirus on Monday, local leaders said they had been planning for the situation. With our close proximity to Albuquerque, it was only a matter of time before some of our residents were exposed to the virus, Torrance County Commission Chairman Ryan Schwebach said. Meanwhile, 26 New Mexicans who tested positive for the disease have recovered, according to the state Department of Health. Symptoms of coronavirus can include a fever, cough, fatigue and shortness of breath. Most cases do not require hospitalization, but severe cases can require medical intervention including the use of ventilators and other breathing devices. Near lockdown Lujan Grishams administration has taken numerous steps to try to slow the spread of coronavirus, including a stay at home order that banned public gatherings of more than five people and the shuttering of businesses deemed to be nonessential. In addition, a statewide public school closure has been extended through the end of the academic year, though school districts have been tasked with launching distance learning programs. The actions have had an immediate impact on businesses and employees statewide, with more than 31,000 unemployment claims filed last week an increase of more than 400% from two weeks earlier. BY THE NUMBERS Tested in NM 12,527 Number of negative tests 12,246 Number of positive tests 281 Number of deaths 4 hotline COVID-19 1-855-600-3453 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. BRIDGEPORT Mayor Joseph Ganim believes the city needs to reallocate $500,000 to purchase 2,000 laptops so upper grade students can better access distance-learning programs. But just where that money would come from is unknown to some of the City Council members. Ganim has taken to Facebook Live everyday around noon to conduct a town meeting in which he discusses various issues impacting residents, businesses and city employees during the governors stay-home directive to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. On Monday, the mayor said he had spoken to Acting Superintendent of Schools Michael Testani and City Council leadership about reallocating $500,000 in funding to purchase approximately 2,000 laptops. I spoke to the state about how theyre doing 60,000 computers we havent seen one yet and thats not a criticism, the mayor said. But we need to move ahead quickly if were going to do remote learning and were going to be the best we can at it. We need to make the transition. We need to do the full pivot where we can for as many students as we can. If that means committing more resources to that, were going to do that. And getting students laptops is only half the battle, which is why the mayor commended Optimum and the private sector for stepping up during this crisis. Ganim said Optimum has made its emergency designated WiFi hotspots available to people living in the 06604, 06605, 06606 and 06608 zip codes. The mayor said hes going to look at purchasing up to 2,000 laptops in conjunction with the Board of Ed. with the support of the City Council and start with where theyre felt to be best applied. If others dont supply high school seniors with laptops quickly, well buy them and well get them in their hands. We think this is critical. Scott Burns, who co-chairs the Councils budgetary committee, said Ganim did not talk to him about it. Both he and his co-chair, Mike DeFilippo said they have no idea where this money will come from. They have scheduled a virtual meeting for Tuesday night, but Burns said reallocation of $500,000 is not on the agenda and would require a special meeting. Coronavirus in Connecticut Free laptop distribution is a month away Meanwhile, Testani said he already has spoke to vendors. If we were to get the money today or tomorrow, Testani said he optimistically believes he could have the laptops by April 20 depending on how long it takes to install the necessary software and programs. That would give us two full months of access to distance learning, said Testani, who suspects schools probably will close for the rest of the year. But Hernan Illingworth, the Board of Educations vice chairman, would like to take the purchase one step further. Im hoping we can take that $500,000 and match it on our part to some extent, he said. Im wishful. ... Id like to see us have all new devices by the start of the school year in the fall. Testani suggested the new devices go first to high school students who dont have access to computers in their homes. Any left over would go to eighth and then seventh grade students. He estimates about half of the citys 22,000 students already have access to computers in their home. There are about 5,000 students attending high school and another 3,200 in seventh and eighth grades. For those interested in hearing more about how the districts distance learning has been going so far, on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Testani will use the citys page to host a Facebook Live session to discuss the subject with parents and students. Ill be telling and demonstrating to parents the simplest way to get their childrens work to their teachers is by photographing the pages with a smart phone and then emailing the photos to the teachers, he said. Then they dont have to worry about coming to the school with completed pages. As for students, he said he will encourage them to stay committed to learning during these days away. Were looking to put a plan in place that may involve implementing some summer programs and then on Saturdays and after school in the fall, he said. As for graduating to the next grade level, the acting superintendent said it will be based on the three previous marking periods as well as what is completed during this time away from school. He suggested that parents consider what other states are allowing, which is continuing the same grade the child was in next year. If it was my child thats what I would do, he said. Illingworth said that might be a good idea for the younger students but I dont know how parents or students who are older and in the upper grades would react. Entry level investors and SMSF buyers were interested in 93 Loughnan Road. It sold through Gorman Commercials Tom Maule and Jonathon McCormack for $525,000 on a yield of 4.4 per cent. Entry level investors and SMSF buyers were interested in 93 Loughnan Road in Ringwood. Melbourne A 49 sq m strata office, Suite 8.01 at 2 Queen Street, has sold to a local owner-occupier for $430,000, said Colliers Internationals Chris Ling, Anthony Kirwan, George Davies. 2020 commenced with a record low 3.3 per cent commercial office vacancy rate in the CBD, Mr Kirwan said. Another 92 sq m strata suite at Suite 405, 198 Harbour Esplanade sold for $540,000 amidst strong demand for small offices. Highton Japara Aged Care has sold a substantial 8244 square metre site at 297-307 Roslyn Road, for $3.6 million. The property was snapped up by Multicultural Aged Care Services Geelong. Zoned general residential, it had approval for a 3-level 120-bed aged care facility, said Knight Franks Ed Wright and Tom Ryan. Nunawading A property at 144 Junction Road sold for $525,000 within a week of being on the market, Gorman Commercials Tom Maule and Jonathon McCormack said. It fetched a yield of 3.9 per cent. It shows the strength and demand from investors in the sub $1 million bracket, Mr Maule said. North Melbourne Sutherland Farrellys Paul Farrelly has negotiated the sale of a 425 sq m modern office/warehouse at 63 Boundary Road well in excess of the quoted $1.5 million price. LEASES Kew East Kruger ANZ have leased 345 sq m on the ground floor of 620 High Street. The firm was attracted to the offices natural light and existing fitout. They signed a five-year lease with rent about $450 per sq m on a deal brokered by Colliers Internationals John Howell, Damien Adkins and Tom Rothel. Port Melbourne Fibre optic network firm Optical Solutions Australia has leased 3/30 Prohasky Street on a five-year deal plus a further five-year term. Leased for $170,000 per annum, the 922 sq m building has a ground floor showroom, first floor office and clear span warehouse. CBREs Guy Naselli and Ben Quennell handled the transaction. Fibre optic network firm Optical Solutions Australia has leased 3/30 Prohasky Street in Port Melbourne. Blackburn The Salvation Army has sublet 246 sq m of ground floor space at their Victorian HQ at 91-93 Railway Road to Perry Weston Lawyers. Colliers Internationals John Howell and Tom Rothel secured the legal firm within six weeks which they said demonstrates the strength of the sub-500 sq m office market. Doncaster East A cafe operator has leased a 100 sq m shop previously occupied by Bakers Delight at 50 Jackson Court. Gorman Commercials Richard Height finalised the 3-year lease at $56,000 a year. South Yarra Southlink Projects has leased a 121 sq m office at 506/12-14 Claremont Street. The firm signed up for two years and seven months with further options on rent around $450 per sq m. Knight Franks Jessica Martiniano handled the negotiations. Broadmeadows A federal MP has leased 225 sq m on level 2 of Hume City Councils recently redeveloped Broadmeadows Town Hall building. The $24 million revamp of the Broadmeadows Civic Hub at 10 Dimboola Road created a new 728 sq m open plan office, Gray Johnsons Rory White said. Rent is confidential but includes two car parks on the 3-year term. The remaining 403 sq m of space is expected to lease at an annual gross rate of $180,000. Cheltenham MP Orthodontics will relocate to a 315 sq m space in an adjoining property at 4-10 Jamieson Street. Despite a strong rent rise to around 340 per sq m, the group jumped at the upgrade to a superior building on an eight-year lease negotiated by Colliers Internationals Damien Adkins and Tom Rothel. Hawthorn The numbers stacked up for accountants and financial advisors HID Group. The firm leased level 3, 313 Burwood Road on a 5-year lease for $114,000 a year in a deal negotiated by Fitzroys Stephen Land. Competition has notably increased for office space in the suburbs, he said. Mount Waverley A yoga studio has taken a 2-year lease over a shop at 1/51 Wadham Parade. Gorman Commercials Richard Height negotiated the $32,500 per annum lease. Hawthorn Two separate businesses, Pop & Co and Avrus Solutions, will cohabit after signing a joint lease over 162 sq m at 192 Burwood Road. The 4-year lease was negotiated by Colliers Internationals Tom Rothel and Kevin Tutty at $350 per sq m. The tenants opted to combine their requirements rather than using co-working or serviced office facilities, Mr Rothel said. Hawthorn There is one less vacancy in Glenferrie Road. Gorman Commercials Richard Height has leased an 81 sq m cafe at number 769C. The 3-year lease was struck at a annual rent of $52,500. Braybrook Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Tuesday alleged that some people ware black marketing essentials in Haryana, leading to sharp increase in prices of food items. The party's chief spokesperson asked Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to intervene immediately as "some people were taking advantage of the ongoing lockdown". "As a result, prices of commonly consumed pulses, flour, vegetables and cooking oil have gone up sharply during the past one week," Surjewala said. "Prices of potato have doubled from Rs 20 to Rs 40 per kg, onion is up from Rs 25 to Rs 40 per kg now, capsicum is up from Rs 55 to Rs 100 per kg, cauliflower prices have increased from Rs 20 to Rs 30 per kg and peas prices are up from Rs 40 to Rs 55 at present," the Congress leader told the media via a video link. The former MLA from Kaithal in Haryana also alleged that liquor mafia was flourishing and working to "home deliver" liquor to customers. The Khattar government had recently decided to shut down liquor vends in the state after it came under heavy criticism from various quarters, including main opposition Congress, for keeping them open even as the country is under lockdown. Surjewala also demanded 50 per cent pay hike for police personnel and sanitation workers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) See the latest stories on the coronavirus outbreak. At least 4,200 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Australia and 18 people have died. The virus has killed more than 35,000 people worldwide and more than 738,500 are infected. Related... Coronavirus In Australia: Gatherings Restricted To 2 People, Everyone Advised To Stay Home Coronavirus In Australia: $130 Billion Wage Lifeline For Employees, Victoria Announces Stage 3 Restrictions What Are Australias New Fines For Breaking Social Distancing Rules Here is what is happening in Australia today: 1. There Will Be 34,000 More Hospital Beds And Chairs Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said 34,000 beds and chairs will be made available to the public hospital system thanks to a new integrated partnership between the commonwealth and the states and the private hospital sector. He also explained that ICU staff from private hospitals will be able to help fight against the coronavirus crisis in Australia thanks to shared resources. A third of intensive care units are within the private hospital system and will be made available, he said. Over 105,000 full-time and part-time staff, including over 57,000 full-time and part-time nursing staff. Minister for Health Greg Hunt (Photo: Sam Mooy via Getty Images) 2. New Social Distancing Fines, NSW Police Call It Lockdown As tough restrictions on leaving the house came into play overnight, authorities confirmed police will issue on the spot fines to enforce social distancing rules. The fresh government orders mean people in NSW could pay up to $11,000 in court ordered fines. A state-by-state breakdown on the fines can be found here. Youre in a lockdown wherever you live, said NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller. Wherever your primary home is, thats where we want you to stay, unless youre getting food or going to the doctors. Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force, Mick Fuller addresses the media. (Photo: Brendon Thorne via Getty Images) 3. Businesses Register With JobKeeper Wage Assistance Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that as of 8am on Tuesday, over 113,000 Australian businesses have registered their interest in the new #JobKeeper wage subsidy of $1500 per fortnight for each employee. Story continues Our $130 billion plan is all about keeping Australians in jobs while we deal with this #coronavirus crisis, the PM wrote on Twitter. More details about the governments $130 billion wage package can be found here. As of 8am today, over 113,000 Australian businesses have registered their interest in the new #JobKeeper wage subsidy of $1500 per fortnight for each employee. Our $130 billion plan is all about keeping Australians in jobs while we deal with this #coronavirus crisis. Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) March 30, 2020 4. Australians Receive $750 Payment Today On Tuesday the first Economic Support payment of $750 will hit Australians bank accounts. The first $750 payment will be paid automatically from today and progressively to those over 6.8 million people eligible for it, including pensioners, over coming weeks, tweeted Scott Morrison. More details about who is eligible for these government payments can be found here. Over $1.1 billion in Federal Government assistance for lower income Australians will hit bank accounts today. The first $750 payment will be paid automatically from today and progressively to those over 6.8 million people eligible for it, including pensioners, over coming weeks. Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) March 31, 2020 5. Tasmania Records Second Death An elderly man died at the Royal Hobart Hospital overnight, taking the states Covid-19 death toll to two. This is a very sad time, said Premier Peter Gutwein on Tuesday. This is two deaths in Tasmania, two deaths too many, and it serves as a warning to us all that these are going to be tough and difficult times and we must all do our part to keep Tasmania safe. Tasmanian Premiere Peter Gutwein (Photo: Brook Mitchell via Getty Images) 6. Virgin Seeking Government Loan Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd said on Tuesday it is seeking a government loan of A$1.4 billion and exploring other options to get through the coronavirus crisis. It is a preliminary proposal and remains subject to approval by the Virgin Australia Holdings board, and may or may not include conversion to equity in certain circumstances, the airline said in a statement. The proposed loan package would allow the government to take an ownership stake in Australias second-largest airline if it is unable to repay the loan in two to three years The Australian government has already announced some aid to the airline industry, including refunding and waiving charges such as domestic air traffic control fees worth A$715 million and A$198 million in support for regional aviation. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said on Tuesday that he was speaking with airline industry stakeholders and representatives daily to make sure they were receiving the support they needed. With additional reporting by Reuters. Related... Why Coronavirus Has Become An Awakening For Many Asian-Australians To Embrace Their Identity Lara Worthington Says Mother's Hotel For Coronavirus Quarantine Is 'Unacceptable' This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. 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. Jaya Kumari worked as a cook and cleaner for a couple in an affluent New Delhi neighborhood until two weeks ago. She lost her job when the family she worked for decided to leave the crowded capital and move to their hometown 200 miles away as the coronavirus began to spread in the city. Then, on March 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now Kumari and her husband, a taxi driver, are stuck indoors in New Delhi with no income and no way to earn money. We will use up the little we have saved to get through this, she says. What happens after that, I leave it to God. Modis hasty announcement of the unprecedented lockdown gave hundreds of millions of Indians less than four hours to prepare. In an address to the nation, he said Forget about leaving home for the next 21 days. If you cross the threshold of your house, you will invite the virus home. It has thrown much of the country into chaos. Modi assured Indians that essential services would continue, but was vague regarding how people would be able to buy food and other necessary items. As a result, people rushed to shops to stock up before the decree took effect. People were seen lining up outside stores late into the night and traffic congestion was reported from across the country. The lockdown has also triggered a massive exodus of migrant laborers and wage workers from cities back to the rural villages they are fromwhere many wont have to pay rent and food is cheaper. Many migrants were seen defying the curfew. Some have told news outlets that they are walking up to 500 miles to get back home. Videos of chaotic scenes at train stations showed people struggling to get on their last train home, some crying uncontrollably as they missed them. Overcrowding at public transport stations have raised concerns about further spread of the virus. Modi later apologized for the hardships caused by the lockdown, but said the measures were necessary. Story continues Migrant workers and their family members lineup outside the Anand Vihar bus terminal in New Delhi on March 18 to leave for their villages during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown. | Bhuvan BaggaAFP/Getty Images Mass congregations like this carry the risk of spreading COVID-19 even further, says Oommen C. Kurian, head of the health initiative at the Observer Research Foundation, an independent think-tank based in New Delhi. He worries that migrants might carry the virus to rural areas, where health infrastructure is weak, or even non-existent. The lack of clear risk communication from top leadership and mixed messages from across the system spooked the poorer migrants who chose to start uncertain journeys, Kurian says. The exodus of migrants may have spread out the virus far and wide, adding another layer to Indias problems. Most experts agree that a lockdown in India is necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19. A As of March 30, India has reported more than 1,200 cases of COVID-19. Given its densely populated cities, experts worry that the countrys fragile health system will not be able to adequately respond to a spike in cases. So far, India has administered more than 38,000 tests. While the country initially faced criticism for its low testing numbers, the number of tests has been ramped up in the days following the lockdown. Experts say India should use the time bought by the lockdown to test more and find and contain hotspots. Prevention is a stronger strategy, given the acute shortage of hospital beds, ventilators and protective gear, says Shamika Ravi, Director of Research at Brookings India, referring to the need for a lockdown. To understand how this will play out after the lockdown, we need to get more aggressive with testing. Keep up to date on the growing threat to global health by signing up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. But for the majority of Indians, social distancing is a luxury they cant afford. Many face hunger and starvation in the absence of daily wages that have been disrupted as the worlds seventh-largest economy grinds to a halt. On March 26, India announced a $22.5 billion relief package to help the countrys poorest people sustain and feed themselves. The government plans to use existing welfare schemes to roll out the relief measures, which include free food distribution and cash transfers to millions of low-income families across the country. As part of the relief measures, low-wage earners like Kumari will get 500 rupees (less than $7) per month for the next three months. Thats a fraction of the 4,000 rupees ($53) she was making before she lost her job. As of now, her husband is not eligible for any of the measures announced as his income doesnt qualify him as the poorest of the poor covered by government assistance. Kumari worries that the money from the government will not be enough to feed her family of four if the lockdown continues. Most of those who come under the purview of the new scheme belong to Indias massive informal economy, which employs about 424 million Indians, some 90% of the workforce, according to data from the countrys finance ministry. Thats a population greater than the combined size of the U.S., the U.K. and Australia. Auto rickshaw drivers, milkmen, vendors who sell vegetables and snacks from carts are all part of this economy, Most live on daily wages, do not receive any benefits and work jobs that do not exist on paper. This crisis shines a torch on the fragilities of the Indian economy that must be attended to, says Samir Saran, president of Observer Research Foundation. He praises the governments decision to use existing welfare schemes for the poor to provide immediate relief, but says much more will need to be done when the full implications of the lockdown become apparent. These immediate measures are only intended to blunt the worst short-term effects and should not be thought of as a stimulus, he adds. To make matters worse, Indias economy was already strugglingwith slumping growth and rising unemployment. Even some businesses that are thriving elsewhere in the world are hampered in India. For instance, Mumbais famous dabbawalas (lunch box carriers), have worked rain or shine to deliver peoples home-cooked lunches to their offices, schools and colleges for almost 130 years. They have braved heavy floods and terrorist attacks, but services were halted due to coronavirus even before the lockdown was announced, forcing 5,000 delivery men to stay at home. Even if we resume operations, it will be pointless because everyone is staying at home, says Subhash Gangaram Talekar, president of Mumbai Dabbawala Association, referring to how dabbawalas have been affected even as food delivery services around the world are surging in popularity at the moment. Who will we deliver the dabbas [lunch boxes] to? But shutting down a country like India for longer periods will be difficult, given the poverty levels prevalent across the country, says Suyash Rai, a fellow at Carnegie India, an international center for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. With so many livelihoods disrupted, he believes that the government might struggle to keep the countrys poor afloat. There is the question of where the government is going to get the money to keep the country running in case of an extension [of the lockdown,] Rai says. It is important to identify the hotspots during this lockdown and reopen the remaining parts of the economy while finding ways to work within this COVID world. For many, waiting out what could be a miserable, prolonged crisis is the only option. Prakash, who goes only by his first name, is an autorickshaw driver in Thiruvananthapuram in the southern Indian state of Kerala. His daily income started seeing a dip two weeks before the lockdown was announced. Kerala was the first state in India to report cases of COVID-19 and panic set in long before it spread to other parts of the country. Before the outbreak, he was concerned with paying for his sons college expenses. But, as he stays at home with no daily income, his main concern is putting food on the table. He estimates his savings can last for a month. After that, hes not sure what he will do. The virus doesnt worry me as much as the uncertainty that waits on the other side of this crisis. Please send tips, leads, and stories from the frontlines to virus@time.com. Spadikam, the action drama film that featured Mohanlal in the lead role, has been considered as a cult-classic. The complete actor portrayed the character Aadu Thoma, which is unarguably one of the most celebrated characters of his career in the movie. Spadikam completed the 25th year of its release on March 30, 2020. As per the latest reports, the makers are now planning to re-release the Mohanlal starrer in 4K format for the new generation audiences, as a part of the 25th year celebrations. Bhadran, the senior filmmaker who helmed Spadikam officially announced the exciting news through his social media pages recently. Director Bhadran also surprised the audiences by revealing the re-release first look poster of the Mohanlal movie through his pages. Reportedly, the makers were initially planning to re-release Spadikam on its 25th anniversary. But they canceled the plans later as the country is currently observing all India lockdown due to the coronavirus scare. However, the director has confirmed that Spadikam will hit the theaters once again after the fight against coronavirus comes to an end. As per the reports, the team is planning to release Mohanlal's character poster from the movie on the complete actor's 60th birthday, which is on May 21, 2020. The project will be distributed by Antony Perumbavoor's Aashirvad Cinemas. Spadikam revolves around the life of Aadu Thoma aka Thomas Chacko, a brilliant student who turns into a village goon due to circumstances. Mohanlal, who received extremely positive reviews for his portrayal of Aadu Thoma, had won the Best Actor Award at the Kerala State Film Awards and Filmfare Awards South of 1995 for his performance in the movie. The movie had featured some highly talented actors in its star cast including Thilakan, KPAC Lalitha, Bahadhur, Nedumudi Venu, Rajan P Dev, N F Varghese, Bheeman Raghu, Spadikam George, Maniyanpilla Raju, and so on. Spadikam was produced by R Mohan, for Shogun Films. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Egypt's Minister of Islamic Endowments Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa has urged all Egyptians to work to preserve their life and that of others by following precautionary measures against the coronavirus. "Preserving human life or others is one of the most important objectives of the [Islamic] sharia and acting accordingly is a legitimate duty, Gomaa said in a statement on Tuesday. Negligence in what could lead to death is tantamount to committing sin[s]," he added. Egypt ordered all mosques to shut their doors to worshippers performing the customary five daily prayers and Friday congregations as part of drastic steps to stem the spread of the deadly virus. And the endowments ministry said earlier this week it would extend the closure indefinitely. Avoiding infected people is an act that will be rewarded by God, the minister said, adding that following preventative measures is the only way to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Raising awareness of the dangers of the spread of the coronavirus and methods of prevention is a national duty, Gomaa said. Earlier, Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and the countrys top Islamic authority, underlined the importance of abiding by health instructions and precautionary measures to combat the coronavirus, including performing prayers at home, practicing social distancing and maintaining personal hygiene. Egypt has registered 656 coronavirus cases, including 41 fatalities. Search Keywords: Short link: These should be some of the busiest and headiest days for Biden and his fundraising team in normal times, now that he has knocked out all of his rivals but Sen. Bernie Sanders, who trails by a nearly insurmountable 300 delegates. But instead he has found himself holed up in Wilmington, Delaware, and limited so far to three video fundraisers from a makeshift studio installed in the retrofitted rec room of his house. CNN anchor Don Lemon on Monday night broke with the networks head over the live broadcasting of President Trumps coronavirus press briefings, calling it a plot and warning that Trump is never, ever going to tell you the truth. Im not actually sure, if you want to be honest, that we should carry that live. I think we should run snippets. I think we should do it afterwards and get the pertinent points to the American people because hes never, ever going to tell you the truth, Lemon told fellow host Chris Cuomo during their nightly handoff. He pointed to Trumps sparring with media during the question-and-answer periods of the briefings, saying the president reacts to questions negatively because he wants his base to think that the media is being mean to him and theyre attacking him. It is all a plot. It is all orchestrated. And if you cant see it, I dont know what youre looking at, Lemon claimed. Its obvious, its transparent to me . . . those press briefings have become his new Apprentice. Theyve become his new rallies. And he treats the press and the media as if hes talking to the people at his rallies. Its the same thing. Its no different except the audience isnt there. After Cuomo pushed back, saying that there is too much of a need for information to broadcast the live pressers, Lemon went further, saying he is not frustrated, but is just pointing out the obvious. Pointing out the obvious, especially as a journalist, is not being political. If we dont do that, then we are not doing our duty as journalists to point that out, Lemon argued. Thats our job to point that out. Thats exactly what hes doing. He then began impersonating Trump, challenging Cuomo to ask a real question and responding with what he called a stock answer. I dont like wasting peoples time and I dont like people being bamboozled. Thats it, Lemon stated. . . . Whether he gets reelected, thats not on me. People can vote for whoever they want as their president but as a journalist, I want to make sure that theyre getting the right information, their time is not being wasted, and that the administration is not using our airwaves to have the president promote things that arent necessarily true. Thats it. Story continues CNN chief Jeff Zucker told employees on Monday that while its a very difficult decision, as of now, we are going to continue to carry those briefings. Trumps polling numbers have risen in recent weeks, with overall positive views on his handling of the coronavirus. Last week, Trump scored a net positive approval rating for the first time in the Washington Post-ABC News poll. CNN chief political correspondent Dana Bash praised Trump after a coronavirus press briefing earlier this month, saying his tone is one that people need and want and yearn for in times of crisis and uncertainty. More from National Review By Gina Lee Investing.com - Asian stock markets were down on Monday morning as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise unabated. Risk sentiment remained weak today as the World Health Organization said that there are now 638,146 global COVID-19 cases as of March 29. The ASX 200 saw the sole gain as it rose 1.79% by 10:33 PM ET (3:33 AM GMT). Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will announce further income support for workers later today as part of a third stimulus package as the coronavirus savages the economy. He also announced tighter restrictions on foreign takeovers, with all proposed overseas investment in Australian businesses triggering government scrutiny regardless of the value. Chinas Shanghai Composite lost 1.22% while the Shenzhen Component was down by 2.9%. The National Bureau of Statistic will publish the country's latest manufacturing PMI numbers on Tuesday. Japans Nikkei 225 slipped 3.36%. The Japanese government expanded its entry ban to include citizens traveling from the U.S., China, South Korea and most of Europe. Meanwhile, Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index fell by 1.51%. South Koreas KOSPI was down by 1.74% as the government considers financial support to 10 million lower-income households at an emergency economic council meeting this week. Rodrigo Catril, a currency strategist at National Australia Bank, told CNBC: The big question for markets is whether the huge stimulus introduced so far across the globe will be enough to help the global economy withstand the economic shock from the COVID-19 containment measures. To answer this question one needs to know the magnitude of the containment measures and for how long they will be implemented, he added. Although this was unknown at this point, he suggested that markets are likely to remain volatile until the uncertainty is resolved. Related Articles Asia shares suffer virus chills, central banks offer cold comfort Toyota Suspends All European Factories Until End of April Indonesian Stocks Plunge 5%, Triggering Circuit Breaker World Vision launches weekly online chapel series for Christian students stuck at home Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As part of its response to the coronavirus outbreak, the evangelical humanitarian charity World Vision is producing an eight-week online chapel series and curriculum resources to be utilized by Christian schools across the United States as students remain at home during the pandemic. World Vision Ignite, an integrated program that provides free online resources to students and schools, launched the World Vision Ignite Chapel Series last Monday to help Christian schools looking for ways to continue offering weekly worship services during the crisis. The series is hosted by World Visions Director of Channel Marketing and Experience Michael Forsberg. Each week, services include worship time and a message from a special guest lecturer. It's really a time for students to take a timeout, stop and reflect and rest and worship, World Visions Senior Director of Partner Innovation, Lori Bae, said in an interview. So in every chapel, we open with our hosts, so they'll see a friendly face. Then, well have probably about two or three songs of worship, songs that are familiar songs that they know. And then we have chapel speakers who are World Vision experts. Each speaker will present a 20- to 30-minute sermon or chapel talk. So our very first chapel talks about the coronavirus and talks about kids going through exactly what they're going through when it comes to having to wash their hands, Bae explained. We show a clip of kids from the Philippines, a clip from China. So you'll see kids all around the world understanding that they are going through the same thing that our kids are going through. The first service featured a special message from longtime World Vision writer Kari Costanza about Gods love and how we can turn viral into a very good thing. I know your lives have been turned upside down by the coronavirus, Costanza told students in the chapel service. I know that you are frustrated. I know that you are scared. I know that this virus has created a new phrase social distancing. Here we are 6 feet apart and trying to stay connected. World Vision Ignite has existed for two-and-a-half years. Bae, who leads World Vision Ignite, told The Christian Post in an interview that World Vision Ignite seeks to promote human transformation by equipping a generation of students with a biblical worldview and empowering them with the tools to champion global change. Since its existence, World Vision Ignite has engaged 10,000 students from various Christian K-12 schools across the U.S. Considering our current situation, we really felt the pull and God calling us to really serve, not only our partners but the 78 million families and children that are home right now across the country, Bae explained. That is where the Ignite chapel series came from. Bae said World Vision has heard from many of its partner schools that they will be including the chapel services as part of their learning management systems. Bae said that during the week as students with partner schools go through their regular coursework, they will take part in a common chapel. Depending on the school, every school is gonna approach it differently, but I could imagine a school saying, Instead of our Wednesday chapels from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., everyone dial into here. We're going to watch it together, Bae explained. She said there is a possibility that the eight-week series could be extended depending on the need. Bae stressed, however, that the weekly chapel experience is just one service that World Vision is offering during the coronavirus outbreak. How to homeschool has a 70 percent increase in Google Trends right now. I think it's something that every family, every parent is looking at. So we're turning kids homes into global classrooms, she added. We're also going to be leading into a series of curriculum for primary and secondary students where kids will learn and experience from World Vision experts in different lessons to help them understand the world's most pressing humanitarian issues like health, gender, WASH. [They] all become change agents in the world. Bae said the new curriculums will be released this week. This is a free resource we're going to be putting on our landing page under the link for Free Family Resources, she said. And that's where anyone can find all the chapel series, as well as the curriculum that well be launching next week. According to Bae, the curriculum that World Vision is working on is a self-standing body of work that can really just get plugged in, played and then just have an opportunity for some great conversation. We want to serve and come alongside all of the parents and the teachers that are having to design curriculums all of a sudden, she said. It is about 40 to 50 minutes of content that is absolutely engaging from beginning to end. There's an activity that's built into the primary lesson. It gets them to think a little bit differently. Parents could easily just press play, and then watch it alongside their kids. As World Vision is one of the worlds largest evangelical humanitarian organizations operating in dozens of countries worldwide, the charity has also taken other steps to help people during the crisis. Last week, World Vision announced that it would work with its network of existing partners to distribute food and supply kits to over 650,000 people in major cities such as New York City, Seattle, Dallas and Chicago. Each kit will provide a weeks worth of food for a family of five as well as hygiene products, education supplies, and protective items. Hundreds of stranded Americans left Nepal on a repatriation flight Tuesday, days after a complete lockdown was imposed in the Himalayan nation to help fight the coronavirus. A Qatar Airways flight arranged by the US government flew out 302 Americans from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport to Washington, D.C. The elderly, families with children and people with a medical condition were given priority on the flight. The US Embassy in Nepal estimates that 3,000 to 4,000 Americans are still in the country, but says that not all of them are seeking to leave. Plans for future flights to evacuate more of the Americans were unclear. Passengers on board Tuesday's flight said they paid $1,250 for the seat home. I have a three-month visa and I was hoping to stay another month and a half or so," said one of the passengers, Ryan Paugh, a software engineer from Washington, D.C., who was trekking in Nepal. We don't feel like we want to leave, but it is the right decision to get back to the US until the pandemic can calm down. Cameron Collins, a plumber from Albany, New York, was trekking and learning yoga when he too decided to shorten his trip and head back home. I just feel as if I should go home and be with my family," he said. I am just nervous of the outcome. There were an estimated 10,000 foreign tourists in Nepal when the lockdown was imposed last week. Over the weekend, two flights to Germany and one to France took Europeans out of the country. The US ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry, said it took several days to gather Americans from various places and bring them to Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, before the flight could be arranged. We wanted to make sure we had time to get those people back in from those remote locations so that we were able to send a flight back to the States in fact capturing as many people as we can, Berry said. As a result of the lockdown, all flights have been halted in Nepal and vehicles have been ordered off the road, while businesses, markets and offices have been closed. Nepal has confirmed five cases of the coronavirus, including one person who has recovered from it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) COLUSA, Calif. - Colusa Police are looking for a suspect who they say shot and killed a man on March 26. Officials say around 7 p.m. on Thursday, they arrived at Wescott Road and found Giovanny Alcaraz with a single gunshot wound to his face. The 19-year-old was then life-flighted to Enloe Hospital in Chico where he later succumbed to his injures. Witnesses described to officers the possible suspect as a Hispanic male adult driving an older model black 4-door Honda. After searching the area, no suspect or car was found, according to officials. This is an open homicide investigation and anyone with information is encouraged to call 458-7777 and ask for Sergeant Jackson. Those who call will remain anonymous. The commission is aware that the Ministry of Health and Child Care has received donations of money, medical equipment and medication donated by individuals, business community, non-governmental organisations, international organisations and donor community on behalf of the government of Zimbabwe. In the past, there have been incidences of failure by the relevant authorities to account for donations of similar calamities, she said. New York officials have begged for health care reinforcements, saying up to a million more workers are needed to fight coronavirus, while the World Health Organisation warned that the pandemic is far from over in Asia as the worldwide toll passed 800,000. Spain and Italy are still struggling to avoid the collapse of their health systems, with Spain saying hospitals in at least half of its 17 regions are at or near their intensive care bed limits and about 14% of its 94,000 reported infections are medical workers. (PA Graphics) The US is poised to overtake Chinas reported virus death toll of 3,300, but experts say all numbers reported by governments and states in this pandemic are faulty in different ways, due to a lack of testing, mild cases that are missed or the determination of some governments to shape their pandemic narrative. This is going to be a long-term battle and we cannot let down our guard, said Takeshi Kasai, the WHOs regional director for the Western Pacific. We need every country to keep responding according to their local situation. Italy and Spain account for more than half of nearly 38,000 Covid-19 deaths worldwide and the US has the most confirmed cases in the world at 164,610, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Italy and Spain saw their death tolls climb by more than 800 each on Monday, and Spain had another high of 849 on Tuesday, but the WHOs emergency chief said cases there were potentially stabilising. (PA Graphics) Italys death toll rose to nearly 11,600 the highest in the world by far but its rates of new infections were slowing. In New York, the epicentre of the American outbreak, governor Andrew Cuomo and health officials warned that the crisis there is just a preview of what other US cities and towns will soon face. New York states death toll climbed by more than 250 people in a day to over 1,200, most of them in the city. Story continues Weve lost over 1,000 New Yorkers, Mr Cuomo said. To me, were beyond staggering already. Even before his appeal, close to 80,000 former nurses, doctors and other professionals were stepping up to volunteer in New York, and a navy hospital ship had arrived with 1,000 beds to relieve pressure on the citys overwhelmed hospitals. I am asking healthcare workers across the country: If things are not urgent in your own community, please come to New York. We need relief for nurses. We need relief for doctors. If you can, help us: https://t.co/hr8dG89QK2 We will return the favor in your hour of need. Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 30, 2020 In California, officials put out a similar call for medical volunteers as hospital cases doubled over four days and the number of patients in intensive care tripled. Experts maintain the pandemic will be defeated only by the social distancing measures that have put billions of people on lockdown worldwide. Chiara Lepora, who heads Doctors Without Borders efforts in the virus hotspot of Lodi in northern Italy, said the pandemic had revealed critical health care issues in developed countries. Outbreaks cannot be fought in hospitals, she said. Hospitals can only deal with the consequences. Worldwide, 800,049 people have been infected, 38,714 have died and 166,768 have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. Passengers leave a train from Beijing after it arrives in Wuhan (Ng Han Guan/AP) China on Tuesday reported just one new death and 48 new cases, claiming that all new cases came from overseas. In Serbia, Hungary and other states, concerns are rising that populist leaders may use the situation as an opportunity to seize more power and silence critics. The rights chief of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said while she understands the need to act swiftly to protect people from the pandemic, the new states of emergency must include time limits and parliamentary oversight. A state of emergency wherever it is declared and for whatever reason must be proportionate to its aim, and only remain in place for as long as absolutely necessary, said Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday visited Dhubri district in Assam to take stock of the measures taken by the district administration and health department to prevent the further spread of the COVID- 19. Notably, Assam reported its first confirmed case of novel coronavirus on the same day. Sonowal also held a review meeting with the district administration officials on the preparedness to tackle the new virus, a release from the Chief Minister's Office said here. Directing the district deputy commissioner to ensure that the people receive essential commodities without any interruption during the lockdown period, the chief minister stressed on the need to maintain social distance to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Later addressing the media, the chief minister said that the people of Assam have responded well to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for the lockdown to break the chain of coronavirus infection, and health department officials have also taken all precautionary measures to prevent the outbreak of COVID-19. He appreciated the role played by doctors, nurses, technicians, ward boys, and 'safai karmis', during these difficult times. He said that under the leadership of Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and Minister of State Pijush Hazarika the health department is working dedicatedly. The chief minister also highlighted the services rendered by the food and civil supplies department, power supply PSU APDCL, transport and police departments. He also urged the citizens to maintain social distance and stay indoors so that the spread of coronavirus could be contained. He said the state government has made arrangements to distribute essential commodities to the poor people. The chief minister also said that people who went to the Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi from the state must come forward so that the spread of COVID-19 can be prevented. He also called upon the people to provide information to the district administration about persons returning from outside the state. Later, Sonowal visited RN Brahma Civil Hospital in neighbouring Kokrajhar district and took stock of the isolation wards that have been set up for COVID-19 patients and discussed the preparedness with the administration of the Civil Hospital and doctors who are working hard to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (HealthDay)The COVID-19 pandemic has spawned a wave of scammers looking to take advantage of older adults, experts warn. Social distancing has created an easy playground for "fraudulent telemarketers and internet scammers," said Karen Roberto, a gerontology expert from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. "Elder financial abuse costs older Americans more than $3 billion annually, but we know the losses to elderly victims extend far beyond dollars and cents," she said in a Virginia Tech news release. "Elder financial abuse and exploitation endangers the health and well-being of older adults and invariably, their quality of life." Here are Roberto's tips for not being taken advantage of: Stay socially engaged. "Socializeremotelywith family members and friends," she suggested. "Isolation can lead to loneliness, depression, and make you more vulnerable to financial abuse or exploitation." "Socializeremotelywith family members and friends," she suggested. "Isolation can lead to loneliness, depression, and make you more vulnerable to financial abuse or exploitation." Beware of telephone pitches. "Billions of dollars are lost each year because of fraudulent telemarketers," Roberto said. "You are not being rude by hanging up when a solicitor calls." Use caller ID to screen your calls. If you don't know the number or name, don't answer and don't return messages, she advised. Social Security, Medicare and local police do not call asking for personal information. "Billions of dollars are lost each year because of fraudulent telemarketers," Roberto said. "You are not being rude by hanging up when a solicitor calls." Use caller ID to screen your calls. If you don't know the number or name, don't answer and don't return messages, she advised. Social Security, Medicare and local police do not call asking for personal information. Hang up. "If you find yourself on a call with someone you don't know or who is trying to sell food or paper products to help meet your needs during this pandemic, don't engage in the conversation," she advised. "Just hang up." "If you find yourself on a call with someone you don't know or who is trying to sell food or paper products to help meet your needs during this pandemic, don't engage in the conversation," she advised. "Just hang up." Guard your passwords. Never share passwords for ATMs, online or telephone transactions with banks, credit card companies, or anyone with whom you do business. Never share passwords for ATMs, online or telephone transactions with banks, credit card companies, or anyone with whom you do business. Do not share personal information. Never give out personal information such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, your date of birth, or Social Security and Medicare numbers. Never give out personal information such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, your date of birth, or Social Security and Medicare numbers. Report it. If you think you have been scammed, don't be afraid or embarrassed. Tell someone you trust, such as family members, clergy or a bank manager. "You are not alone," Roberto said. "The situation could become worse if you do nothing." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: For more on financial abuse of seniors, head to the For more on financial abuse of seniors, head to the AARP Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved. The day has officially arrived. After months of talk about this day, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry are officially stepping down from their roles as working royals today. While there have been differing opinions on whether Meghan and Harry made the right decision or not, there is no turning back now. So, this is what their new lives will look like. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex | Karwai Tang/WireImage Meghan Markle and Prince Harry step down from royal duties In January, Harry and Meghan announced that they wanted to be part-time working royals. Unfortunately, that was not possible and the two had to step back from their senior positions fully. Though Queen Elizabeth II would have rather had her grandson continue on in his role, she released a statement, supporting the couple. Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family, she said. Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life. I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth, and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family, she continued. It is my whole familys hope that todays agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life. Whats changing for Harry and Meghan Markle? The biggest change is that Prince Harry and Meghan will no longer represent the queen or the commonwealth. They do get to keep their patronages, though. Harry will retain his ranks of Major, Lieutenant Commander, and Squadron Leader in the military for the next year, but will lose his honorary military positions. The pair will be able to keep their titles but will no longer use their His and Her Royal Highness titles. Though they will still be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, their Instagram account, Sussex Royal is shutting down. As we can all feel, the world at this moment seems extraordinarily fragile, they captioned a photo with a quote that thanked the followers of Sussex Royal for all of their support. Yet we are confident that every human being has the potential and opportunity to make a differenceas seen now across the globe, in our families, our communities and those on the front linetogether we can lift each other up to realise the fullness of that promise. While you may not see us here, the work continues, the caption read. Thank you to this community for the support, the inspiration and the shared commitment to the good in the world. We look forward to reconnecting with you soon. Youve been great! Until then, please take good care of yourselves, and of one another. The couple also wanted to be able to earn money so now they will be financially independent and no longer receive money from the sovereign grant, which is paid for through tax money. Meghan reportedly already has a few projects in the works, such as doing a voiceover for Disney, so earning money should not be too big of an issue for the couple. A Pat's Farms grocery store worker wears a mask, gloves, and plastic visor on March 31, 2020 in Merrick, New York. Al Bello | Getty Images Temporary wage hikes. Special bonuses. Paid sick time. In recent weeks, tensions are on the rise between grocery workers and their employers, spurring many to take public action. Employees at Amazon-owned Whole Foods planned a "sick out" Tuesday, while some drivers who deliver Whole Foods groceries are calling for more protections. Thousands of people have signed an online petition circulated by Trader Joe's employees. On Monday, some Instacart workers held a nationwide strike. And a major grocery union, United Food and Commercial Workers Union, is advocating for workers to have access to coronavirus testing and protective gear. While some of these labor actions failed to draw large-scale support, workers on the front lines of the grocery business still expressed concerns in interviews with CNBC. They said they continue to feel underpaid and ill-equipped to confront the dangers they face. Although nearly three-fourths of the U.S. population is under some sort of lockdown order, grocery employees are among the essential workers who are leaving their homes each day to stock shelves with products, staff cash registers at stores or pick up orders at warehouses and deliver them to shoppers' doorsteps. They have joined police officers, paramedics, nurses and doctors on the front lines of the pandemic. Unlike other first responders, though, they lack many key benefits. They are often low-wage workers, with little or no protective gear, and, in some cases, no health insurance or paid time off. And their employers have less experience handling health-care crises. Marc Perrone, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Union, acknowledged grocery chains like Ahold Delhaize's Stop & Shop have raised wages and retailers like Walmart have offered special bonuses. But, he said he doesn't think these measures go far enough as grocers have seen a huge surge in sales, while hourly workers, by going to work each day, potentially expose themselves to a virus that can be deadly. "If you're looking at a bonus like Walmart offered at $300, is that worth somebody's life?" he said. Nearly every week, grocers large and small have announced new protocols intended to keep customers and employees safe as the number of coronavirus cases climbs. They've adopted a growing list of strategies: Reduced store hours to allow for more cleaning, special hours for seniors and vulnerable customers, extra hand sanitizer and handwashing breaks, plexiglass screens between customers and cashiers and floor decals to remind customers to stay six feet apart. Some have announced temporary pay increases and benefits for employees. Whole Foods raised pay by $2 per hour for hourly employees and Amazon raised pay by $2 per hour for warehouse and delivery workers in the U.S. through April. Instacart added a bonus for contractors who gather customer orders and adjusted its default tip setting in its app in an attempt to boost their pay. A shopper and cashier both wear masks, gloves and the cashier also has on a plastic visor at the checkout station Pat's Farms grocery store on March 31, 2020 in Merrick, New York. Al Bello | Getty Images On Tuesday, Walmart detailed the latest steps it's taking to lower risks. It will start taking temperatures of all employees when they report to work, Walmart's executive vice president of corporate affairs Dan Bartlett said. The company will also provide gloves and masks that employees can wear, if they choose. He said employee feedback inspired these latest changes. And despite the worries grocery workers express, the companies have been able to fill job openings posted to meet swelling demand at pace of nearly 5,000 a day, in Walmart's case. The coronavirus has shuttered so many businesses from clothing stores to fine-dining restaurants, nail salons to dentist offices. Amid the numerous furloughs and layoffs, workers are looking for a steady paycheck. Walmart said it has already made nearly 50,000 new hires after pledging to add 150,000 people to its payrolls. It also announced it would pay a $300 bonus to full-time employees and $150 to part-time employees, in addition to accelerating its quarterly bonus. Bartlett said a higher number of Walmart employees are calling in to take off from work, but said it's "still at a manageable level." Critical tweets and online petitions Employees at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's which, like those at Walmart, are not represented by a labor union have been among the most vocal in calling for increased safety measures and hazard pay, a term used for higher pay that's meant to compensate for higher risk. A coalition of Trader Joe's workers, which goes by Trader Joe's Union, has tweeted criticisms of the company and circulated an online petition that's gotten more than 20,000 signatures. In the petition, the group called for the company to compensate employees with a time and a half hourly rate as hazard pay and guarantee pay in the case of a forced store closure. The group has also urged the company to let employees use a tool that could make them feel safer: Disposable gloves. It said store managers told employees that they could not be worn. When contacted by email, a member of the group showed proof of employment, but requested anonymity out of concern for losing her job. She declined to say the number of employees who are part of the group or the geographic regions represented, saying it could jeopardize efforts to become a recognized union. Trader Joe's spokeswoman Kenya Friend-Daniel said the company encourages employees to go home if they feel sick and offers up to two weeks of paid leave if they are diagnosed or quarantined. She said stores do allow employees to wear gloves, if they would like. "The health and safety of our Crew Members and customers is our top priority and always has been," she said in an email. Calls for a 'sick out' As the coronavirus outbreak has worsened, Whole Foods workers have put out numerous requests for more protection, and called for a global "sick out," when employees call in sick to work en masse, on Tuesday. The protest has been in the works since earlier this month, when national employee group Whole Worker circulated a petition outlining their demands. The petition now has more than 9,700 signatures. The group is asking for guaranteed paid leave for all workers who isolate or self-quarantine, health-care coverage for part-time and seasonal workers, new social distancing policies, increased hazard pay and the immediate shutdown of stores where there have been confirmed cases. A Whole Foods spokesperson said the opinions were being voiced by "a small but vocal group, many of whom are not employed by Whole Foods Market." "So far today we have seen no operational impact and we continue to operate all of our stores without interruption," the spokesperson continued. "There is no higher priority for us than taking care of our Team Members." An Amazon worker holds a sign at the Amazon building during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the Staten Island borough of New York City, March 30, 2020. Jeenah Moon | Reuters But the concerns raised by the group prompted 14 state attorneys general to write a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Whole Foods CEO John Mackey last week. The AGs called on the executives to expand the paid sick leave policy at Amazon and Whole Foods. They noted in the letter that grocery stores like Whole Foods "remain one of the few places where people are regularly congregating in close quarters," making it "especially important" to minimize the risk of infection by extending adequate benefits to workers. A Whole Foods spokesperson pointed CNBC to the company's website, where it lists a number of changes made at stores to promote employee safety. It has introduced daily, enhanced cleaning and sanitation at stores, enforced social distancing practices, as well as implemented daily temperature screenings for employees, starting at its Columbus Circle store in New York. The spokesperson added that Whole Foods encourages dialogue between team members and leadership. 'In the trenches' without any protection Despite these measures, five Whole Foods workers told CNBC they don't feel safe coming into work under the current conditions and want the company to do more to protect them. All of the workers asked to remain anonymous so as to not upset their employer. One Whole Foods employee who works at a store in New England said she has been in quarantine for two weeks after she began showing symptoms of the coronavirus. Whole Foods said it's offering two weeks of paid time off to employees placed in quarantine, but the worker said that hasn't been her experience. The employee sent in a doctor's note last week to her manager saying she needed to self-quarantine, but was told she could not receive paid time off because she wasn't quarantined "due to travel," or from visiting a high-risk area. "I have worked [at Whole Foods] for a number of years and have never been this disappointed and angry at the company," the worker said. "...I can handle two weeks off with no pay but if it were any longer than that, no. It's definitely going to put me behind." She cannot prove she has the coronavirus due to a shortage of tests in her area and nationwide. But the employee suspects she has the virus, after experiencing a dry cough, fever and extreme fatigue, among other symptoms. When she was still coming into work two weeks ago, she said her store had no disinfectant wipes, masks or sanitizer available for associates. In the Prime Now packing area, where workers put together bags of items for delivery, "people were on top of each other" because the room is so cramped. At cash registers, cashiers stand just a few feet away from shoppers, despite social distancing rules, and they don't have enough time to wash their hands after taking cash from customers, she said. The store was allowing prospective employees to walk into the store for an interview, generating concerns that they could be sick and put others at risk in the facility. "We felt that we were just in the trenches and that we really didn't have any protections," the worker said. Laura Chelton, an Amazon Flex driver who delivers Whole Foods orders, said she stopped working for Flex because she doesn't want to risk her health and safety. As contracted employees, Chelton said Flex workers have to provide their own protective gear, such as gloves, masks and sanitizer. Amazon has asked Flex drivers to take additional safety precautions such as disinfecting all frequently touched surfaces in their vehicles and other work equipment at the start and end of each shift, recommending they wash their hands frequently and use a tissue when they cough or sneeze. The company has also urged drivers to stay home if they feel sick and told them to maintain a safe distance from customers at all times. It also has required Flex drivers to stay in their cars when they pick up Whole Foods orders. Other Flex drivers in Chelton's hometown of Seattle have expressed concern that Amazon has not given them adequate protections, she added. She recently created a private Facebook group to provide support for Flex drivers in the area amid the pandemic. "When this hit, it seemed to me they should've tried to do something and they didn't do it," Chelton said. "I'm not going to Flex until [the pandemic] is over, or until it feels safe." An Amazon spokesperson didn't respond to requests for comment. "Many cities and states have effectively shut down, making us literal emergency workers," said a Whole Foods worker, who is participating in the sick out. "The level of risk combined with the inflated profits from the past few weeks mean that us grocery store workers need to be fairly compensated, as well as given the option to self-quarantine without fear of being evicted." 'We pay for everything' Instacart is one of several grocery delivery services that has been overwhelmed with demand as shoppers remain stuck in their homes and face shortages at physical stores. The shift has highlighted the vital role these services play and Instacart workers feel their benefits and pay should reflect that. On Monday, Instacart workers staged an "emergency walk off" to call attention to the lack of protections for the contractors, often called shoppers. The organizers claimed they have been denied essential safeguards to prevent them from getting sick while they pack orders at grocery stores. An Instacart spokesperson told CNBC that health and safety is its "first priority." In addition to bonuses and changing the app's tip setting, Instacart has rolled out no-contact delivery and hygiene stations at grocery stores. It has created its own hand sanitizer that contractors can order for free. The company also started offering sick pay for in-store shoppers and two weeks of pay for workers who test positive for the virus or are in quarantine. "They're being asked to go into these grocery stores, which are considered transmission sites lots of people, lots of volume and they're expected to go in there and serve the public." Marc Perrone President, United Food and Commercial Workers Union, "Our goal is to offer a safe and flexible earnings opportunity to shoppers, while also proactively taking the appropriate precautionary measures to operate safely," the spokesperson said. "We're focused on serving as an essential service for millions of families, while providing immediate earnings opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people across North America." Kristina Manley, who works as a shopper for Instacart in Seattle, said she feels the company has gone "above and beyond" to make sure workers are educated on how to best protect themselves while they're on the job. When she puts together shopping orders, Manley said most grocery stores offer her disinfectant wipes. At Costco, she's allowed to enter through a separate door to avoid coming into contact with large crowds. But for all the changes Instacart has made, there are some risks that can't be eliminated due to the nature of the job itself. Like many gig workers, Instacart shoppers are contractors, meaning they're responsible for their own medical care and have limited benefits like paid time off. While Instacart provides sanitizer, the contractors say they have to provide their own personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves. In their petition, Instacart workers demanded the company provide them with safety gear at no cost. Manley said she's been using a painter's mask and a set of gloves to protect herself while she's on the job. "We pay for everything. We're not employees," Manley said. She added, she has taken fewer Instacart orders in recent weeks because she doesn't feel safe enough, and won't take orders from certain stores where she feels safety precautions are lax. "If we were employees, we'd expect more, but they're not an employer," Manley said. "They're a way for me to make extra money." 'We need to get in the queue' 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. The long-term ramifications of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on the oil industry could be significant and long-lasting. In March we saw significant impacts on price and demand. What we dont know is how long this crisis will last. Forbes reports in its article Oil For $1.75 A Barrel? that we are in the midst of an existential crisis for the oil industry as we know it. This will not be the same industry after this dark period ends. Only the strongest companies are going to survive the financial pain that lies ahead. There are many variables in this equation, and they are constantly changing. Demand is plummeting, production and prices are following, and Saudi Arabia and Russia are jockeying to hold onto market share. Vitol, the world's largest independent oil trading company, has said that oil demand could slump as much as 20 million barrels per day (BPD) over the next few weeks, which would lead to an annual decline of 5 million BPD. Vitol CEO Russell Hardy said Its pretty huge in terms of anything weve had to deal with before. Goldman Sachs said it expected March demand to be down 10.5 million BPD, followed by a further decline to 18.7 million BPD in April. The company noted that this deep plunge would be beyond the ability of OPEC to counteract: A demand shock of this magnitude will overwhelm any supply response including any potential core-Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries output freeze or cut. Meanwhile, benchmark prices have temporarily settled in the lower $20s, but local prices have dropped even further. In a story that warned of the largest idling of oil wells in the past 35 years, Bloomberg reported that last week Wyoming sweet crude was being offered for just $1.75 a barrel. The oil and gas sector has been crushed, and there will be a great deal of collateral damage. Its hard to see when the sector will emerge from this crisis, or what the supply situation will be when we do. But its inevitable that there will be fewer players in the sector when this crisis ends. An ill-advised water pistol prank sparked a 'gun scare' on set of Married At First Sight's reunion dinner party on January 15. Just hours before filming was scheduled to begin in Lilyfield, Sydney, producers heard whispers Natasha Spencer was planning 'something big' on set. The show's executive producer Tara McWilliams later discovered she intended on taking a plastic water pistol, not an actual firearm, but put a stop to this. Bad idea: There was a 'gun scare' on set of the Married at First Sight reunion on January 15, after producers heard rumours Natasha Spencer (pictured) had a 'weapon' in her hotel room Natasha, 26, apparently planned to use the water pistol on her ex-'husband', Mikey Pembroke, if he didn't own up to sleeping with Stacey Hampton. A source close to production said: 'She wanted to hide it in her dress and squirt it at Mikey and Stacey if they lied in front of the group. 'She was out for revenge and thought it would be hilarious to suddenly pull the water pistol out and start wetting them across the table.' Revenge: Rather than an actual firearm, Natasha had packed a water pistol which she planned to use on Mikey Pembroke and Stacey Hampton. Pictured on January 14 However, McWilliams put a stop to it because she feared it would 'promote gun violence', Natasha told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday. When the cast arrived for the reunion, there was increased security on set because the water pistol incident had 'spooked' producers. Staff members individually checked every car that entered the premises and there were security guards patrolling the area all night. Precautions: When the cast arrived for the reunion, there was increased security on set because the water pistol incident had 'spooked' producers Precautions: Staff members individually checked every car that entered the premises and there were security guards patrolling the area all night. Pictured: KC Osborne arriving Natasha dropped a bombshell at the dinner party when she stood up in front of the group and accused Stacey of sleeping with Mikey. Mikey, 29, then offered his own account of the night in question, before producing text messages that proved they'd spent the night together. 'One thing led to another, me and Stacey had a few drinks in Ivan and Aleks' room, and we slept together,' he said. Stacey denied the allegations but her 'husband', Michael Goonan, appeared to believe them. They split shortly afterwards. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment. Shock: Natasha dropped a bombshell at the dinner party when she stood up in front of the group and accused Stacey of sleeping with Mikey Queensland forced 1,100 oblivious holiday makers into lockdown as they attempted to cross the border into the state - as Australians were urged to dob in each other if they break strict social-distancing and quarantine rules. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said hundreds of parties had been broken up across the state in just days, as they stopped the would-be holiday-makers at the border and forced them into quarantine. 'I hate to say this, now's not the time for fun,' Ms Palaszczuk said. Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) has declared an end to 'having fun' as restrictions tighten on social distancing measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 Under the new restrictions gatherings of more than two people are banned (group of young people pictured in Brisbane CBD) which includes inside people's homes, with the exception of family 'I mean it's tough, everyone let's get through this. It's going to be a long, hard six months. 'These measures we have put in place are for a month, but this long, hard six months means if we all do this we'll come out the other end.' The premier's comments came after Queensland Police were called to more than 900 parties in the past week. 'Let me make it very clear, if we don't do this and we don't flatten the curve, our hospital staff are going to be stretched to the limit,' she said. New restrictions, which started on Monday night, now limit gatherings to just two people. Ms Palaszczuk also encouraged residents to dob in their neighbours, friends or family if they were flouting the social distancing guidelines. Scores of holiday-makers arrived at the Queensland border over the last week and had to be ordered into 14-day quarantine. 'We've seen a large number of people, around 1100 that we have had to order into self-quarantine as they came into Queensland,' State Disaster Coordinator Steve Gollschewski said. Queensland's chief health officer said people should only eave their homes for essentials, health care, fitness, education of employment but said people must remain in groups of less that two. Pictured: Exercisers at New Farm Park, Brisbane More than 1000 holiday-makers arrived at the Queensland border and were forced into quarantine as others still flock to the beach (surfers at Currumbin Alley in Queensland on Monday) 'That will change as of Friday. Those people will not be allowed into Queensland. 'Anyone who would otherwise be allowed in and asked to self-quarantine will be turned around.' Deputy Commissioner Gollschewski said Police will have the power to enforce the tougher measures. FINES FOR BREACHING SOCIAL DISTANCING IN EACH STATE Queensland: On-the-spot fine of $1,334 or a fines up to $13,000. New South Wales: Fines up to $11,000 or on-the-spot fine of $1,000 Victoria: $1,652 on-the-spot fine Tasmania: On-the-spot fine from $700-$1,000 and other fines up to $16,800 Western Australia: On-the-spot fines of $1,000 Northern Territory: On-the- spot fines of $1,099 ACT: Fines up to $8,000 South Australia: On-the-spot fine of $1,000 Advertisement 'If anyone decides to not follow that they run the risk of committing an offence and having enforcement action taken against them.' Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said people who are found flouting the gathering restrictions can expect an on-the-spot fine of $1334. 'Not only those who are attending but also the people that obviously own the household and are engaged in the party,' she said. Meanwhile Queensland's chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said there are only four acceptable reasons for people to be outside their homes. 'First to go out and buy essential supplies, essentially food. Secondly for exercise so that you can go out and have a walk or go for a run,' she said. 'But you can't go to the parks with equipment, those sorts of places. 'Thirdly is to access health care for yourself or to provide assistance to a vulnerable person. And then fourthly to attend work or for education purposes.' The strong caution comes as tight new restrictions were introduced overnight including of two people at gatherings. Other restrictions include closures on playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor gyms and people aged over 70 are also being urged to self-isolate where possible. These strict restrictions will be enforced with varying fines across the country. 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 Dubai's government announced Tuesday it will inject equity into Emirates airlines as the Middle East's largest carrier grounds nearly all of its flights due to coronavirus restrictions on travel. Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said in a statement that liquidity would be given to the state-owned airline, considering its strategic importance to Dubai and the economy of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the airline's key role in positioning Dubai as a major international aviation hub. He did not say how much credit would be pumped into the airline, only that further details would be announced at a later stage. Emirates carried around 58 million passengers last year, keeping Dubai's airport as the world's busiest for international travel for several years running. The coronavirus travel disruptions have pummeled the aviation industry worldwide, with carriers temporarily laying off cabin crew and pilots or reducing salaries of staff. The United Arab Emirates, which is home to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, has closed its borders to travelers and even transit flights. Mostly only cargo flights, a small number of returning Emirati citizens and emergency cases are flying through the country's airports. On Tuesday, low-cost carrier flydubai became the latest airline to announce pay cuts of its staff of nearly 4,000, though not all staff are being affected the same. The company told The Associated Press it was reducing salaries to between 25-50% for a three-month period starting in April. Employees' benefits will remain unchanged, and senior employees will see the biggest pay cut. This decision has not been taken lightly, the company said, but with a heavy heart" and with the aim of retaining our employees and ensuring we are in the best possible place when our regular schedule resumes. Emirates Air has already reduced salaries for its staff for three months, with cuts also ranging from 25-50%. The president of Emirates is taking a full basic salary cut for that period of time. Emirates and flydubai are owned by Dubai's sovereign-wealth fund and have the same chairman, but operate independently. Carriers and lobbyists in Europe are also urging their governments to bail out airlines. In one instance, low-cost carrier Norwegian Air was offered around $270 million in credit guarantees by the government of Norway, but the assistance is far from guaranteed given the many restrictions and hurdles in place for the airline to access the help. In the United States, the airline industry is lobbying for $29 billion in cash grants and a similar amount in zero-interest loans. The White House and Senate Republicans are offering up to $50 billion in loans but no grants. Some lawmakers are resisting what they consider a bailout, while others want to impose conditions on airlines such as new consumer protections opposed by the industry to any relief. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Emma Watson has revealed she is fascinated with kink culture. In an interview with author Valerie Hudson for Teen Vogue, the actress, 29, discussed her interests with the culture due to the level of communication and why she coined the phrase 'self-partnered'. Emma said: 'I've also kind of become slightly fascinated by kink culture because they are the best communicators ever, they know all about consent.' Revelation: Emma Watson has revealed she is fascinated with kink culture (pictured in 2018) Emma also touched upon the huge debate she sparked with the term 'self-partnered' as she dealt with the 'pressure that I had to be married or have a baby' by the the age of 30. Last year, the Harry Potter star hit the headlines when she announced she is not single but 'self-partnered' in an interview with British Vogue. Reflecting upon the term, Emma said: 'There was no word for this kind of subliminal messaging and anxiety and pressure that I felt building up but couldnt really name, so I used the word self-partnered.' Her thoughts: The actress told the publication: 'I've also kind of become slightly fascinated by kink culture because they are the best communicators ever, they know all about consent' 'For me it wasnt so much about coining a word; it was more that I needed to create a definition for something that I didnt feel there was language for, and it was interesting because it really riled some people up.' Emma went on to say it was 'less for me about the word but more about what it meant' and felt the term allowed her to express herself regarding her current situation. Despite insisting she is happy being 'self-partnered' Emma- who rose to fame as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise- was spotted kissing a mystery man outside a London bakery two weeks before her British Vogue interview last year. The Beauty and The Beast star was last romantically linked to Dominic Piazza, with the pair spotted on several outings in August. She also had a brief fling with former Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe, 40. Last August, it was also rumoured Emma was dating her former Potter co-star Tom Felton, 31, who played villain Draco Malfoy. The pair posted a snap on Instagram of them having an intimate guitar lesson in South Africa and social media followers quickly suggested they be referred to as 'Dramione' and 'Feltson'. But despite the swirling rumours, Planet Of The Apes star Tom denied this to MailOnline and called the Little Women actress an 'incredibly smart and lovely young lady', before admitting he was also 'happily self-partnered.' Emma previously dated Glee actor Chord Overstreet last year, but they split after six months. In wake of the situation arising from the coronavirus pandemic, Haryana has suffered a revenue loss of nearly Rs 3000 crore this month and the figure is set to double next month, Chief Minister M L Khattar said on Tuesday. He was speaking in a televised address to the people of the state, apprising them of the unfolding situation and the steps which the government was taking to combat it. "Although Haryana is financially better than many other states, but in the present situation, the state has faced a revenue loss of nearly Rs 3000 crore this month and in April estimates are that we will lose revenue of Rs 6000 crore," he said. He said that Rs 21 crore has been received as donation so far in the recently set up Haryana Covid Relief Fund and he appealed to people to come forward with more donations. "Many of our MLAs and ministers have pledged to donate their salary of one month, while some of them have said they will donate their basic salary component for the entire year," Khattar said shortly after presiding over a meeting of his Cabinet through video-conferencing to take stock of the present situation. He said that in the present situation the poor have been the worst hit and added that the state government has set up 437 relief shelters for them, including migrant workers, with a capacity to accommodate 70,000 people, and so far 12,000 are staying there. Besides the government, volunteers, NGOs, religious and social organisations are pooling efforts to help the sections worst hit by the situation arising in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, he said. Khattar said that the government has decided to give double ration for April free of cost to BPL and poor families. "We have, so far, extended financial assistance of Rs 250 crore to 10 lakh of 24 lakh poor families who are registered with the government. We have decided to give Rs 1200 crore per month as financial aide for the poor sections in the present situation," he said. "In addition to these 24 lakh poor families, families whose monthly income is less than Rs 15,000 or those having land holdings less than five acres, new registration has started for them with effect from March 31 and once registered they too will get a financial assistance of Rs 1,000 per week," he said. Reaching out to migrant workers, a number of whom recently covered long distances on foot to reach Delhi for onward journey to their hometowns in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Khattar said they don't need to go anywhere as the government has made all arrangements for their stay in the state during the lockdown period. "They are our brothers, they don't have to worry at all. To extend help to them, we will spend as much money as will be needed and all arrangements have been made for their stay. They have also played and are playing a role in building Haryana over the years," he said. Khattar once again appealed to farmers to cooperate with the government in this hour of crisis and store their ripened wheat and mustard, which during normal times was supposed to arrive in mandis from April 1 for procurement. "We have changed procurement date for mustard to April 15 and for wheat to April 20. I, again, request farmers not to hurry by bringing their produce to the mandis, be it mustard, wheat or any other crop. They should try to store as much as they can in their homes. "We hope this difficulty (lockdown) will end on April 14 but if due to some reason if it goes on for a few more days, cooperation of all of you (farmers) is sought Our big aim is to defeat coronavirus and kindly bear with us in difficult times," he said. The chief minister said government has given exemption to many activities related to agriculture, allowing farmers to reap their produce and store it without any difficulty. Khattar, meanwhile, detailed the steps to contain coronavirus that include completely sealing the inter-state and inter-district borders during the lockdown and ensuring items of essential need reach people. He also said dedicated hospitals for COVID-19 are being set up. "We have permission for setting up five private labs for testing. Besides, in addition to two testing facilities in government sector, permission has been sought from THE Centre to set up more such labs including at Rohtak, Hisar and Panchkula, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Vladimir Soldatkin, Ahmad Ghaddar and Alex Lawler MOSCOW/LONDON, March 31 (Reuters) - A rift in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has widened after members failed to agree unanimously on an emergency low-level meeting to discuss a market collapse that has seen global oil prices hit 18-year lows. OPEC president Algeria, which has been instrumental in organising the producer group's efforts to support the market, had been among the members pushing for a gathering of OPEC's Economic Commission Board (ECB) in April. But at least four members, including OPEC's de facto leader Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Nigeria, have made clear they see no need for such a meeting, four sources with knowledge of the matter said on condition of anonymity. One OPEC source said Kuwait had not received an official invitation to join the meeting, and does not consider a meeting necessary. Another OPEC source said it was best to stick to a previous arrangement to hold the ECB meeting in June rather than earlier given the extent of uncertainty over the market's direction. The meeting could be agreed by a simple majority of OPEC's 13 members, but the absence of leading nations, notably Saudi Arabia, would mean the meeting had no power to act. The Kingdom accounts for a third of the group's oil output. The ECB is an advisory panel made up of OPEC officials, usually national representatives. It does not set policy, but its recommendations can inform decisions made by ministers. The lack of agreement on holding a low level meeting highlights the growing frustration on the part of some OPEC members with the Saudi policy of taking no action to halt the fall in oil prices as it battles for market share with non-OPEC Russia. "You cannot freeze all channels of communication, even at the lower level," one of the sources said. Oil prices have lost around 70% of their value since a peak this year, and nearly 60% since a meeting of OPEC and its allies, known as OPEC+, at the start of the month, which failed to agree to extend an existing pact on oil output cuts. Story continues As a result, the three-year old deal, which had led to the withholding of 2.1 million bpd of oil production, mostly from Saudi Arabia, ends on Tuesday. From April 1, producers, including Saudi and the United Arab Emirates, say they will produce at maximum capacity. But with the novel coronovirus spread globally keeping 3 billion people in their homes, oil demand is disappearing fast. Some in the industry estimate it will fall by around a third from its levels of around 100 mln bpd last year. Global oil prices rallied on Tuesday from 18-year lows after U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during a phone call on Monday to ask their top energy officials to discuss slumping global oil markets. (Additional reporting by Rania El Gamal in Dubai; writing by Ahmad Ghaddar; editing by Barbara Lewis) Since many are discouraged from gathering in public or going to the office, here is a list of Montana-made movies available on streaming services. 1. Northfork, a 2003 surreal drama by Mark and Michael Polish, boasts sumptuous cinematography shot in the Glasgow and Great Falls areas, and includes unique views of the depths of the Fork Peck Dam. Starring James Woods, Nick Nolte and Darryl Hannah, it's a film with Biblical undertones involving a young orphan, a preacher, a hydroelectric dam and, ostensibly, Noahs Ark. Northfork portrays a Montana community forced to make way for a dam. Part of the filming involved an ark that was constructed against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountain Front. Sweeping Montana landscapes set a melancholy mood in Northfork. Critic Roger Ebert called it a visionary epic and the Polish twins the real thing. The New York Times labeled the film dreamy and entrancing and the Los Angeles Times deemed it a thoroughly original accomplishment of a high artistic order." The film is available on YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu. (Brian D'Ambrosio) 2. The 2013 film, Winter in the Blood transposes the Montana author James Welchs book into a story fit for the big screen. It is directed by Alex and Andrew Smith, Potomac natives who grew up living near James and Lois Welch. Welchs book is enduringly popular, so much so that it has never been out of print because the story is so profound. It was this reverence that led Montanans to embrace the film financially through the online fundraising site Kickstarter. "Winter in the Blood" was filmed in Havre and Chinook during the summer of 2011. The film is available on YouTube, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play and Vudu. (BD) 3. The 1971 film, Evel Knievel features George Hamilton in the title role. After portraying the larger-than-life Knievel, Hamilton dubbed the Butte native the father of extreme sports. The film features some vintage shots of Butte around 1970, including some footage of the East Ridge and the upper stretches of the Butte Hill, including Walkerville. One sequence early in the film was shot in the M&M bar. The film is available on YouTube and Amazon Prime. (BD) 4. The 1992 drama A River Runs Through It, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Robert Redford, is as iconic as any film could possibly be. The family saga plus the stellar fly fishing ignited an uninterrupted love affair with the state. "A River Runs Through It" earned an Academy Award for best cinematography, and the beauty of the film has since attracted visitors to the state from all over the world. The film is available on Sony Crackle (free), Amazon Prime, Vudu, YouTube and Google Play. (BD) 5. The year 1977 saw the release of Telefon, an odd spy thriller produced by James B. Harris in which craggy, taciturn Charles Bronson portrays a Russian KGB agent out to stop an unhinged Stalinist defector from unleashing a fury of sabotage across the United States. Borzovs character perfectly suited Bronsons rugged screen persona. The city skyline depicting Houston, Texas, is actually Great Falls, where the majority of the film was shot. The exploding building in one scene is the controlled demolition of the old Paris Gibson Junior High School. The Houston scenes were shot on a Hollywood back lot. The film is available on Amazon Prime. (BD) 6. Two scenes for "Forrest Gump" were shot at Glacier National Park. In both, Jim Hanks doubled for his actor brother Tom. One scene ultimately made the cut, the one in which Forrest Gump jogged through Montana on his inspired trek across the United States and back. The other scene with Forrest on the Going-to-the-Sun Road didnt end up in the movie. For this film Tom Hanks snagged his second Best Actor Academy Award. The film is available on YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Vudu, iTunes and Hulu. (BD) 7. Directed by Montana natives Andrew and Alex Smith, "Walking Out" was filmed in Paradise Valley, Livingston and Bozeman and features a cast of Matt Bomer, Josh Wiggins and Bill Pullman. The story follows a teenage boy (Wiggins) who leaves his big city life to go on a hunting trip with his estranged father (Bomer). An encounter with a grizzly bear forces the two to rekindle their father-son bond to survive. The film is available on YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Google Play and Vudu. (Laura Scheer) 8. "Certain Women," directed by Kelly Reichardt, was a 2016 Sundance Film Festival feature pick based on stories by Helena native Maile Meloy. Set in Montana and starring Laura Dern, Michelle Williams, Kristen Stewart and Blackfeet actress Lily Gladstone, "Certain Women" tells the story of three tough and determined women looking to create their own paths in the American West. Most of the film was shot in the Livingston area in the spring of 2015. The movie is available on YouTube, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu. (LS) 9. The most recently released film on the list, "Mickey and the Bear," follows a teenage girl living in Anaconda and dealing with a tumultuous relationship with her single father. Mickey Peck, played by newcomer Camila Morrone, is searching for her own identity while trying to keep her family together. The 2019 drama is Annabelle Attanasio's directorial debut and boasts a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is available on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play and Vudu. (LS) 10. "Ballad of Lefty Brown," a 2017 Western directed by Jared Moshe, follows a rough and tumble cowboy on a dangerous journey to avenge his partner's murder. The film stars Pullman ("Walking Out") as Lefty Brown and was mainly shot in Bannack State Park, 25 miles southwest of Dillon. A sold-out screening of the film in Whitehall in January 2018 raised more than $100,000 for the city's Jefferson Valley Museum. The movie is available on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime, Netflix and Vudu. (LS) 11. Academy Award-winner Rami Malek plays an eccentric mountain man in "Buster's Mal Heart." The 2017 puzzle box thriller features Malek in several different roles and as the viewer, you're not quite sure if it's the same person. The film's many layers allow the "Mr. Robot" star to showcase all angles of his craft. The movie was filmed in Kalispell and Whitefish, with the former Outlaw Inn serving as one of Malek's character's place of work. Gladstone ("Certain Women") has a small part too. The film is available on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu, Google Play, iTunes and Netflix. (LS) Brian D'Ambrosio is the author of "Shot in Montana: A History of Big Sky Cinema." He lives in Helena and writes about music for the Missoulian Entertainer. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Staying in? We've got you covered Get the recommendations on what's streaming now, games you'll love, TV news and more with our weekly Home Entertainment newsletter! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A rise in the number of unsupervised children using video-chatting apps while their parents work from home has created the "perfect storm" for cyber safety. Parents are being warned that periods of extended home isolation could be accompanied by an increase in paedophiles lurking on the popular social media video apps that their children are using such as Houseparty, Zoom, WhatsApp and TikTok. Kids are at risk of falling prey to predators. Credit:AAP Cyber safety expert Susan McLean said those wanting to harm children would be looking to take advantage of the social isolation rules, with criminals skilled at exploiting online opportunities to gain access to young people. Mr McLean said the consequence could be dire. A 13-year-old London schoolboy has become Britain's youngest coronavirus victim. Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, from Brixton, London, died alone at King's College Hospital in London on Monday, with family members unable to visit him in fear of catching the deadly virus. He is not thought to have had any underlying health conditions. News of Ismail's death was shared on a GoFundMe page created by Madinah College, in Brixton, to raise money for his funeral and was later confirmed by King's College Hospital. The boy's family, who also recently lost his father to cancer, said they would not be releasing any photos of Ismail and that they were 'beyond devastated'. It comes as a record-breaking 381 coronavirus deaths and 3,009 cases were declared in the UK on Tuesday, which is officially Britain's darkest day so far in the ever-worsening crisis. Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, 13, is believed to have died alone at King's College Hospital in London yesterday News of the boy's death was shared on a GoFundMe post created by Madinah College, a mosque in Brixton, to raise money for Ismail's funeral A statement from Ismail's family said: 'Ismail started showing symptoms and had difficulties breathing and was admitted to Kings College Hospital. 'He was put on a ventilator and then put into an induced coma but sadly died yesterday morning. 'To our knowledge he had no underlying health conditions. We are beyond devastated.' Mark Stephenson - College Director at the Madinah College where Ismail's sister works - said: 'Ismail was tested positive for coronavirus. They have not released the body yet, as the coroner wants to do an autopsy - I'm assuming due to his young age and not having underlying conditions.' The fundraising page reads: 'It is with great sadness to announce that the brother of one of our teachers at Madinah College has sadly passed away this morning (Monday 30th March 2020) due to being infected with Covid 19. Madinah College in Brixton, London, where Ismail attended. The college set-up a Go Fund Me page to raise money for his funeral 'He was only 13 years old without any pre-existing health conditions and sadly he died without any family members close by due to the highly infectious nature of Covid 19. 'We at Madinah College would like to appeal to our brothers and sisters to donate generously to help raise 4000 for the funeral costs.' A spokesman for King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: 'Sadly, a 13-year old boy who tested positive for Covid-19 has passed away, and our thoughts and condolences are with the family at this time. 'The death has been referred to the Coroner and no further comment will be made.' Ismail's death comes just hours after a 12-year-old girl died from coronavirus in Belgium. The girl had had a fever for three days before her death, and tested positive for COVID-19, said Belgian government spokesman Steven Van Gucht. No other details were given about her case, including whether she had any other underlying health problems. Young Vitor Godinho seen here smiling into the camera, seemingly a fit and healthy teenager Tributes have been paid to Julie Alliot, 16, (pictured) who succumbed to respiratory problems in a Paris hospital after first developing a 'slight cough' It was the first death of a child in the coronavirus crisis in Belgium, which has now recorded a total 705 deaths from the disease it causes, according to the latest official toll. Before the Belgian girl's passing, the youngest European to die from the deadly illness was Vitor Godhino, a 14-year-old boy from Porto in Portugal. He died on the early hours of Sunday after falling ill from the virus. Before Vito, 16-year-old French schoolgirl Julie Alliot was reported as the youngest Covid-19 death in Europe. She died at a hospital in Paris on 25 March. Medical staff are pictured wheeling a patient out of an ambulance at St Thomas' Hospital in London today. The capital city, home to around nine million people, is at the centre of the UK's crisis Statistics released this morning revealed basic details about the first 108 people in Britain to have COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificate. Elderly people and men were the worst affected, the data showed By March 20, the coronavirus had become a contributing factor or direct cause in one in every 100 deaths in the UK, according to the latest date from the Office for National Statistics The number of Brits who have been admitted to hospital with coronavirus has now almost reached 10,000, since the outbreak began to take hold in early March Charts from Public Health England show how the UK's outbreak compares to other countries battling similar situations. Despite being published today in the Downing Street press conference, it does not include the most up-to-date figures It comes as the UK revealed that some 1,789 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have now died, while the total infection toll has surpassed 25,000. However, the true size of the outbreak remains a mystery because of the UK's controversial policy to only test patients in hospital. The number of new deaths recorded today is twice as high as the 180 victims recorded yesterday. But there was only a 14 per cent jump in daily cases - up from 2,619. And the number of hospital admissions appears to have slowed, going up by a 'constant amount' each day, data shows - with around 1,000 new patients a day being treated by the NHS. One of today's victims was only 19 years old and had no underlying conditions that made them more vulnerable to the life-threatening complications of the illness. Today's development comes after government statisticians revealed this morning that the true death toll may be 24 per cent higher when people who died outside of NHS hospitals are added in to the count. California Prepares for Coronavirus Surge in Week Ahead LOS ANGELES (AP) The mayor of the nations second-largest city warned that the coronavirus may become so pervasive, families ought to prepare for how they will isolate themselves at home without infecting others in their households. Anticipating a surge in COVID-19 cases this week that may overwhelm healthcare systems, Mayor Eric Garcetti urged people who test positive for the coronavirus not to rush to hospitals unless they have serious symptoms. Instead, he asked the citys 4 million residents to think about how they will separate themselves from family members while quarantining at home. Dont just take social distancing seriously, I hope each and every one of us take isolation seriously too, Garcetti said as he described the strategy as the next phase in the fight against the pandemic. ADVERTISEMENT He acknowledged that physical distancing may be hard for people living in tight quarters and said local officials were working to set up safe quarantine spaces for them. Californians endured a weekend of stepped-up restrictions aimed at keeping them home as much as possible while hospitals and health officials scrambled Sunday to ready themselves for a week that could see a dramatic surge in coronavirus cases. Testing among the states 40 million residents has stepped up significantly after a slow start. Officials have warned the increase will bring with it a rapidly expanding number of cases. A Sunday evening tally by Johns Hopkins University found more than 6,200 cases statewide and at least 130 deaths. California was stocking up on ventilators and fixing outdated ones in anticipation of a shortage at hospitals in the coming days. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Saturday that the federal government sent 170 broken ventilators from the national stockpile. Engineers at Bloom Energy, a fuel cell maker in San Jose, were racing to refurbish the ventilators and send them to hospitals. In Southern California, people were kept off beaches and hiking trails that normally would have been swamped with visitors during this sunny weekend. A stay-at-home order restricts people to all but essential outside activities such as buying food and including only outdoor exercise such as walking or running near home that doesnt put them within 6 feet (1.8 meters) of another person. Officials closed Californias 280 state parks to vehicular traffic on Sunday, citing overcrowding. This was the first time that we saw across Southern California our iconic beaches and trailheads, the parks that define who we are, the views that greet us at our best and worst moments werent there except in our imaginations, Garcetti acknowledged while thanking residents who heeded orders to stay home. ADVERTISEMENT In Northern California, cloudy, drizzly weather led many to stick to the order but the restrictions could be tested soon with dry, warm weather forecast for the coming week. San Franciscos subway and light rail system will be closed beginning Monday, with buses replacing light rail service. Rail ridership dropped by more than 90% when the city virtually came to a standstill. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. Senior homes in Burbank and Yucaipa reported three deaths this weekend in potential outbreaks. Vernon Robinson, a resident of the Alameda Care Center in Burbank, died Thursday in the hospital after his wife, Willa, said he had tested positive for COVID-19. The 81-year-old had Alzheimers disease and underlying heart and lung conditions. Thats not the way I wanted him to leave here, Willa Robinson, 71, told The Associated Press. He deserved more. Elizabeth Tyler, who represents both assisted-living facilities, said two residents have died from COVID-19 at the Alameda Care Center. She said five other residents and 10 employees have also contracted the virus. Tyler said the Burbank nursing home had taken the two residents who died to the hospital for symptoms that were believed to be related to other health issues. She said once the facility learned of the positive tests, families of the other residents were contacted. In Yucaipa, a city of about 53,000 in the foothills of the San Bernardino mountains, Tyler said an 89-year-old woman who lived at the Cedar Mountain Post Acute nursing home died from the virus Thursday. San Bernardino County public health officials said 12 elderly residents at the home have tested positive in the countys first cluster of COVID-19 outbreak. The U.S. had over 142,000 infections and 2,400 deaths, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University, though the true number of cases is thought to be considerably higher because of testing shortages and mild illnesses that have gone unreported. The governments top infectious-disease expert warned Sunday that the coronavirus outbreak could kill 100,000 to 200,000 Americans as smoldering hotspots in nursing homes and a growing list of stricken cities heightened the sense of dread across the country. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, made the dire prediction of fatalities on CNN, adding that millions in the U.S. could become infected. Willa Robinson said she last saw her husband healthy on March 13 the day before the nursing home prohibited visitors. She brought him his favorite meal of baked chicken, garlic mashed potatoes and carrots and left with their customary farewell. I love you, she told him. I love you more, he replied. She sat outside his hospital room Monday for two hours and watched through a glass window as he struggled to breathe. I just prayed and asked God to get him out of his misery, she said. He died early Thursday morning. Now she must mourn her husband of 55 years alone in quarantine. Nobody can come to me, she said. SAFEGUARDS | FoodNO. 039/20 Prochloraz is the ISO common name for N-propyl-N-[2-(2,4,6-trichlorophenoxy) ethyl] imidazole-1-carboxamide (IUPAC), CAS No 67747-09-5. Prochloraz belongs to the group of imidazole compounds which are used as fungicide and it acts as an inhibitor of ergo sterol biosynthesis. Prochloraz is recommended for the control of stem, leaf and ear diseases of cereals, including Fusarium spp. Prochloraz has negligible systemic activity, but it is readily absorbed into leaf tissue from plant surfaces at the sites of application. The European Food Safety Authority (the Authority) submitted a reasoned opinion on the existing MRLs in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. The Authority proposed to change the residue definition to the sum of prochloraz, BTS 44595 (M201-04) and BTS 44596 (M201-03), expressed as prochloraz. The Authority recommended lowering the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for garlic, shallots, lettuces and salad plants, purslanes, herbs and edible flowers, peas, linseeds, sunflower seeds, rapeseeds/canola seeds, barley, oat, rice, rye, wheat, coffee beans, herbal infusions from flowers, leaves and herbs and roots, spices, sugar beet roots, bovine (fat, kidney), equine fat and poultry liver. The MRLs for those products shall be set in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. In addition, the Authority identified that there is no risk for consumers at the level of the existing Codex MRLs for citrus fruits, kiwi, bananas, mangoes, pineapples and bovine liver. These MRLs will be reviewed and the review will take into account the information available within two years of the publication of this Regulation. Therefore, regulation (EC) No 396/2005, as it relates to prochloraz in and on all products except citrus fruits, kiwi, bananas, mangoes, pineapples and bovine liver, still applies before being amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/192 and shall continue to apply to products which were produced in the Union or imported into the Union before September 4, 2020. What do the changes mean? EU Member States, third countries and food business operators must ensure their products comply with the new requirements, modified MRLs for prochloraz in or on certain products. For more information, or to discuss your testing, analysis and certification requirements contact a food safety expert, such as SGS. SGS is committed to keeping you informed of regulation news and developments. Leveraging our global network of laboratories and food experts, SGS provides a comprehensive range of food safety and quality solutions including analytical tests, audits, certifications, inspections, and technical support. We continually invest in our testing, capability, and state-of-the art technology to help you reduce risk, and to improve food safety and quality. For more information, please visit our website: www.foodsafety.sgs.com. For enquiries, please contact: Naovarat Dachprasat R&D Chemist, Food Technical Support Center t: +66 2683 0541 ext. 2168, 2169 Stay on top of regulatory changes within your industry: subscribe to SafeGuardS! Read more articles for the Consumer Goods and Retail Industry Cerebreon, a Donegal, Ireland-based insolvency technology startup, closed a 1.5m seed funding round. The round was led by Delta Partners and supported by HBAN/private Angels, Western Development Commission, Consilience Ventures and Growing Capital. The company intends to use the funds to scale operations and expand its business reach in the UK. Led by Gillian Doyle, CEO, Cerebreon is working with consumers, financial institutions and insolvency practitioners, to deploy their deep learning platform to help predict and prevent insolvency ahead of time. The startup, already selected by Accentures Fintech Innovation Lab to take part in the accelerator program, has also partnered with Microsoft to deliver security to protect sensitive personal data, using Microsoft Azure. FinSMEs 31/03/2020 The rice seeds market is estimated to account for USD 5.47 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 7.62 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 6.85% during the forecast period. The benefits associated with the adoption of commercial rice seeds is a major factor contributing to the growth of this market globally. The economic growth of the in developing countries and the increased R&D expenses in the agriculture industry drives the growth of this market. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=129962473 According to the International Seed Federation (ISF), rice accounted for nearly 5% of the global commercial seeds market in 2014. The major seed manufacturing companies have been expanding their product portfolio in the Asian countries. Strong support from the government in terms of subsidies for hybrid seeds has encouraged farmers to adopt this technology in developing countries as well. The decline in prices of hybrid seeds, to bridge the difference between hybrids and OPV seeds, has also encouraged key players to invest in the market. Open-pollinated varieties were estimated to dominate the rice seeds market in 2018. Increasing adoption of hybrid seeds and increasing seed replacement rate across the countries of Asia Pacific, particularly in India, Thailand, China, and Vietnam is projected to impact the market growth; however, due to the high prices of hybrid seeds, its adoption has been limited to these developing countries. According to industry experts, even though the consumption of hybrid seeds has been exponentially increasing, particularly in China and India, and hybrid seeds have been increasingly preferred by farmers, the market is dominated by open-pollinated varieties owing to the high price of the hybrids. The advent of genetically modified rice seeds was projected to boost the rice seeds market, after the success of Bt cotton. Majority of the key players have also invested in the development and support of GM rice projects. The Golden Rice Project supported by Syngenta and the development of GM rice seeds by Mahyco was scheduled to be commercialized in the past few years. However, the stringent regulations against GM technology for edible crops have hindered the commercialization of this technology, and multiple projects got shelved due to the regulatory policies. Speak to Analyst:https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=129962473 Asia Pacific is a major consumer and producer of rice across the globe, and inadequate arable land in this region has encouraged farmers for better yield from their cultivation. Adoption of advanced technologies such as hybrid and certified seeds is also increasing in this region. According to the recent data of USDA published in 2016, India and China are the two major producers and consumers of rice, not only in the Asia Pacific region but across the globe. The Asia Pacific market for rice seeds is consolidated with two players occupying the largest share, followed by other players. Since rice cultivation in other regions of the world is comparatively low, the growth of the Asia Pacific market is projected to remain steady during the forecast period. This report includes a study of the development strategies, along with the product portfolios of leading companies. It also includes the profiles of leading companies such as Bayer (Germany), DowDuPont (US), Syngenta (Switzerland), Advanta Seeds (UPL) (India), and Nuziveedu Seeds (India), Mahyco (India), BASF (Germany), Kaveri Seeds (India), SL Agritech (Philippines), Rasi seeds (India), Rallis (India), JK Seeds (India), Hefei Fengle (China), LongPing (China), Guard Agri (Pakistan), and National Seeds Corporation (India). Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 22:17:07|Editor: zyl Video Player Close KIEV, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian parliament on Tuesday voted to lift a ban on sales of farmland during an emergency session to meet one of the requirements needed to unlock an 8-billion-U.S.-dollar International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program. According to the approved version of the law, the land market will be open on July 1, 2021, though only individuals with Ukrainian citizenship will be able to buy farmland until 2024. The law also sets a minimum starting price for farmland and limits the area that can be accumulated by one person or entity. "The lifting of the moratorium on the sale of agricultural land is a significant impetus for the development of the economy, agriculture and agrarian complex in Ukraine," Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal posted on social media platform Telegram. Ukraine is one of the world's largest producers of agricultural products, with around 42.8 million hectares of farmland. About 75 percent of the country's farmland is privately owned, with the remaining 25 percent in state ownership. Passing the land market law was one of the IMF's requirements to open the 8-billion-dollar three-year financing program, which is much needed by Ukraine. The ban on farmland sales was introduced in Ukraine in 2001. Since 2002, the moratorium has been extended repeatedly. Photo: Facebook A Kelowna family physician says Canada is woefully short on personal protective equipment for front-line workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Janneme Frouws put out a plea recently on her Facebook page, asking for donations of critically needed masks, gowns, gloves and face shields and goggles. "I have recognized the need for PPE donations based on personal reports of almost 19,000 Canadian physicians on a Canada Covid-19 Facebook page, being distressed about the lack of PPE available," she wrote. "The need for organizing donations from the public has also been confirmed by friend who is a KGH hospitalist." While China has agreed to donate about 100,000 units of PPE to Canada, Dr. Frouws says the estimated need in Canada over the next six months is at least 200 million units. Since her original plea, Dr. Frouws says UBC Okanagan has offered to help liaise, store, and distribute any PPE supplies to Interior Health. An online donation campaign has been established at maskaherobc.ca. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry addressed PPE during one of her recent COVID-19 briefings. The 'burn rate,' as we call it is much higher than we would have expected and we are putting in measures now to try and control that and be more efficient and effective in how we're using PPE, Dr. Henry said. We're looking at things like alternative supplies across the board, alternative ways of preserving personal protective equipment, so it is available both now and in the future. We're at a bit of a critical phase with personal protective equipment, this happened quite quickly. Chandra Ganjoo, Group CPO & Executive Director, Trivitron Healthcare talks about how women leaders are changing the dynamics of corporate Women leadership still remains a universal issue and a topic of debate although we are now more aware of the need to have women at leadership roles and also at the board level. Thankfully, India is one of the first developing countries to have enforced a quota-- Legally we need to have at least one women director on the board of listed companies. Also, Female representation has increased to 13% from 5% in the NIFTY Companies. But clearly more needs to be done and every stake holder has to take the ownership and more importantly the WOMEN herself has to come forward and take control! Swami Vivekananda once said Women education and the empowerment are not in the hands of others, the powers are inherently present in the women. We need to provide gender equality in education, in recruitment, in job responsibilities, in work environment and companies need to embrace the diversity and should put in place the systems and processes which will end discriminatory practices and create an environment which allows for equal opportunity and collaboration. Women dont need special privileges, they need a platform to perform and a canvas to paint. The support from family is equally important and they need to believe in her capabilities and in her dreams. The most important factor in making women self-sufficient is her own willingness to pursue her dreams no matter what comes her way. The Healthcare working group comprises of 78% of women however there is still under representation of women in leadership role. The qualities that will represent a powerful woman leader in the industry is her active participation within her own organization, democratic leadership, encouraging others and nurturing new talent. Increased visibility of women at the senior leadership will send a clear message that company values diversity of thought and expertise this sets the tone for advancing their overall governance agenda. In the present scenario, there are many Indian companies who have effectively demonstrated how women can play an important role in the workforce. Today in several sectors such as IT, Media, Healthcare and hospitality women have bridged the gender divide quite effortlessly through their resolute efforts. If your foundation isnt strong enough, it will not take much time for the blocks above to tumble and fall. Let the mental strength be a priority for every woman so that it only empowers her to achieve all the things that she dreams of. Let empowerment originates from her. My advice to women Believe in yourself, if you dont, no one else will. As governments grapple with how to enforce self-isolating instructions during the coronavirus pandemic, the West Australian parliament is considering a law that will see flouters fitted with electronic tags. The WA government introduced laws into parliament on Tuesday that allowed for GPS trackers as well as fines for those who do not follow quarantine directives. Those who attempt to remove or disable the device faces a $12,000 fine or 12 months in prison. The Western Australian Government introduced the laws into parliament on Tuesday that introduces electronic monitoring or fines for breaking the laws aimed at reducing the spread of coronavirus. Pictured: People gathering in Bondi, NSW Anyone who tampers with the electronic device faces a $12,000 fine or 12 months in prison (stock) On-the-spot fines will also be introduced for those breaking isolation or the two-person gathering limit. The fine will be up to $1,000 for individuals and $5,000 for businesses. All states have laws that allow for fines and ultimately imprisonment for those who ignore public health acts. The Victorian government had set up a 500-officer squad to check people were complying with the laws introduced to tackle the spread of COVID-19. Since March 21, Victoria Police have conducted 7,010 spot checks at homes and businesses to make sure they are complying with self-isolation laws. One fine was issued in the state on Tuesday. The Western Australian government has also made it an offence to anyone who knowingly has COVID-19, or claims to, to threaten or harm an emergency service worker. On-the-spot fines for individuals of $1,000 for breaking isolation or the two-person gathering rules will also be introduced (stock) 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 This includes police, health workers, firefighters, SES workers and ambulance officers. Offenders can be imprisoned for ten years for assaulting these workers. The laws were intended to be repealed after 12 months and only exist during a state of emergency. Premier Mark McGowan said: 'Unfortunately we have seen a number of distressing reports of people across the country claiming they have COVID-19, deliberately coughing or spitting on innocent people who are simply doing their jobs. 'Our frontline staff in essential and emergency fields are working tirelessly around the clock at great personal risk to themselves and others to keep our community safe.' In recent weeks, facing public uncertainty about coronavirus and a severe domestic shortage of medical-grade face masks, top Trump administration officials offered adamant warnings against widespread use of masks, going so far as to argue that members of the general public were more likely to catch the virus if they used them. "You can increase your risk of getting it by wearing a mask if you are not a health care provider," Surgeon General Jerome Adams said during an appearance on Fox & Friends earlier this month. If it's not fitted right youre going to fumble with it, warned Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar late last month, when asked about N95 respirator masks. "Right now, in the United States, people should not be walking around with masks," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, an immunologist and a public face of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, on CBS 60 Minutes earlier this month. He, like the others, suggested that masks could put users at risk by causing them to touch their face more often. But as the crisis has played out around the world and intensified in parts of the U.S., reasons have emerged to doubt the wisdom of this guidance, which ranks among the most forceful warnings against mask use by national health authorities anywhere and does not differentiate between medical-grade masks and simple cloth coverings. A number of societies where mask use is more widespread, and where mask shortages have been less severe, seem to have had more success containing the virus. Now, some health experts, who say there is no evidence for the claim that masks increase users risk of catching the virus, are calling for more widespread use of face coverings in the U.S. Guidance needs to change and needs to be clear that these nonmedical, nonsurgical masks are beneficial to the general public and should be worn when outside of the home," said Robert Hecht, a professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health. Story continues The increasing calls for more use of masks raise the question of whether authorities recommendations were based on genuine concerns about spreading Covid-19 or instead motivated by a desire to prevent a run on limited supplies of masks: "Seriously people STOP BUYING MASKS! tweeted Adams in late February. "They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus but if healthcare providers cant get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk! This photo provided by the French Army communication department (ECPAD) shows the stock of masks in the Marolles depot, eastern France, after the first delivery of mask s coming from China, Monday March 30 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (Thomas Paudeleux/ECPAD via AP) Katie Miller, a spokeswoman for Vice President Mike Pence, who chairs the White House Coronavirus Task Force, referred questions to HHS. Neither the surgeon generals office nor the HHS press office responded to emails or phone calls requesting comment. In response to emails requesting comment from Fauci, Elizabeth Deatrick, a spokeswoman for the National Institutes of Health, referred questions to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At this moment, there are no updates or anticipated changes to the guidance, said Arleen Purcell, a spokeswoman for the CDC, who reiterated existing CDC guidelines that patients with symptoms should wear masks but that people who are well should not wear the masks to prevent contracting the virus. Unlike the verbal warnings from top health officials, the CDCs written guidance does not suggest that wearing a mask could increase the risk of catching the virus. Purcell did not address questions about the assertion that masks could increase users risk of catching the virus or whether the CDC was studying coronavirus responses in other parts of the world where face mask use had been more widespread. Asked on Monday afternoon about suggestions that mask-wearing could prevent transmissions, President Donald Trump offered a noncommittal response. We havent discussed it, but we could. We are getting the number of masks you need," he said. "We will take a look at it. Trump also suggested that wearing masks might be a way to help people get back to work. We are not going to be wearing masks forever, but it could be for a short period of time after we get back in gear. The current federal guidance against wearing masks is at odds with that issued in many other parts of the world, such as the Czech Republic, Beijing and Shanghai, where mask use has been mandated for anyone going out in public. A number of East Asian societies, where mask use is widespread such as South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore have reported lower levels of infection than the U.S. has, despite being closer to the source of the outbreak in Wuhan, China. In Taiwan, where reported levels of infection are also relatively low, authorities have called for people to use face masks whenever they are in enclosed spaces, such as public transportation. Some Western authorities and public health experts have also begun calling for more widespread use of face masks. On Monday, the government of Austria mandated the use of face masks for anyone entering a supermarket. Days earlier, the German Medical Association, that countrys umbrella organization for doctors, issued new guidance on Thursday urging citizens to find a simple fabric mask or make one themselves, and to wear it in public while forgoing medical-grade masks. A group of mostly UK researchers, publishing in the Lancet, a top peer-reviewed medical journal, on March 20, recommended that "vulnerable populations, such as older adults and those with underlying medical conditions, should wear face masks if available. Universal use of face masks could be considered if supplies permit." As of Monday, federal authorities were not budging. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee, said CDC experts were very loath" to issue recommendations that were not based on robust data. But Schaffner, who keeps in touch with government health officials, told POLITICO that the possibility has been broached within the CDC of issuing guidance suggesting the public use mask alternatives, while at the same time disclaiming a lack of published studies showing them to be effective for general use in public settings. I do not know how far those discussions have gotten along," Schaffner said. He said data suggesting that people could prevent catching the virus by wearing masks in public was scant. But he added, the absence of data doesn't mean the absence of effect." Shan Soe-Lin, a lecturer in global health at the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs at Yale University, said there is enough data showing face coverings are effective for use by the general public that people should be using them. "Admittedly, the studies are small, she said, but there is evidence that in pandemic settings, masks can be helpful." Soe-Lin and Hecht, who are married and run the nonprofit Pharos Global Health Advisors, authored a Boston Globe op-ed earlier this month that called into question federal guidance and urged people to begin wearing face masks including basic face coverings like a scarf or bandana while continuing to prioritize the distribution of medical-grade masks to hospitals. As for federal officials argument that wearing a mask will cause people to touch their face more often, Soe-Lin said she has looked for studies that back such a finding and found none. Both she and Hecht said that in their personal experience, they have been touching their faces far less often since donning face coverings. Schaffner also said he was aware of no data showing that wearing a mask could increase risk by making people touch their face more. He said he was also not aware of data showing that wearing a mask could cause a user to touch their face less often, but he said that in his own personal experience, he, too, tends to touch his face less often when he wears a mask to treat patients. Recommendations about the use of face masks have diverged widely from place to place, and can vary based on local availability as well as the type of face mask. Public health authorities both in the U.S. and around the world have called for prioritizing face mask allocation to health care providers and those infected with the virus. Mask recommendations are complicated by a number of factors, including the various types of coverings that exist. N95 respirator masks are the most effective in impeding transmission and can filter out smaller particles than other masks. Simple surgical masks are more plentiful but less effective. In some places, handmade cloth masks or simple face coverings like scarves or bandannas are being used. Experts say masks are more effective at preventing virus carriers from spreading the disease than they are at preventing healthy users from contracting it. But there is no consensus on how effective they are as a preventative measure for healthy people. And it is not yet known how contagious asymptomatic carriers of coronavirus are, further complicating guidelines for infected people. "If you mandated that the entire population had to wear a mask when they went out, all those asymptomatic carriers that are now transmitting it through respiratory droplets it would be much harder for them to transmit it," former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said during a video chat interview with The Wall Street Journal last week. Recommendations also vary based on categories of people and setting. Experts generally urge health care workers and others caring for infected people to use face masks. Some experts and authorities have gone further, recommending in some cases that older people or others who are especially vulnerable to the virus should wear face masks in public, or that anyone venturing into enclosed spaces like subway trains should wear one. In general, Western authorities and the World Health Organization have issued guidance calling for more limited use of face masks, while authorities in East Asia have tended to recommend, or mandate, more widespread use of masks. That difference echoes a preexisting cultural divide, in which face mask use was already widespread in parts of East Asia, which has been the site of other virus outbreaks in recent decades and is characterized by a large number of dense urban areas. In the U.S. where face masks are rarely seen outside of clinical settings hospitals have struggled to secure adequate supplies. In February, Azar testified that the federal government had only 30 million respirator masks stockpiled, but that the country needed at least 10 times that number to weather the outbreak. When there are shortages of surgical and N95 respirator masks, as there currently are in the U.S., experts broadly agree that hospitals should have priority in securing such masks. But that is a separate question from that of whether masks could be harmful to users, or whether the general public should be using face coverings. "Any possible additional protection that we can get and that we can employ, Soe-Lin said, I dont think we should sneeze at that." The G20 trade and investment ministers vowed on Monday to ensure the continued flow of essential supply, especially medical and pharmaceutical equipment, amid the current global crisis. They issued a statement on the website of the G20 General Secretariat of Saudi Presidency, expressing concern of challenges facing workers and businesses, particularly the most vulnerable ones. The statement also stressed efforts to take collective response which is supportive of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and recognize the importance of strengthening international investment. "We agree that emergency measures designed to tackle COVID-19, if deemed necessary, must be targeted, proportionate, transparent, and temporary and they do not create unnecessary barriers to trade or disruption to global supply chains, " the officials said. Johnny C. Taylor Jr., a human resources expert, is tackling your questions as part of a series for USA TODAY. Taylor is president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest HR professional society. The questions are submitted by readers, and Taylor's answers below have been edited for length and clarity. Have a question? Do you have an HR or work-related question youd like me to answer? Submit it here. Question: It seems my HR manager doesnt know how to handle woman-on-woman harassment. I have worked for the same company for nearly 17 years. Recently, I was touched inappropriately by another female colleague. I reported it to HR, but my co-worker told them were friends. Were not. Initially, HR let her telecommute. When that solution didnt succeed, I was told to avoid her work area. However, she routinely visits mine. If she was a man, my co-worker would have been fired. What should I do? Johnny C. Taylor Jr.: I am very sorry you find yourself in this troubling situation. Unwanted touching is inappropriate, regardless of sex or gender, and there absolutely should be consequences serious ones. You did the right thing by reporting this to HR. After all, 96% of organizations have a formal sexual harassment policy. But even when organizations have policies in place, that doesnt mean all employees will abide by them. I would start by following up with your point of contact in HR to help gather facts and minimize assumptions. Its possible HR is still investigating the incident or determining the best next steps. Maybe a conclusion was already reached, and HR was unable to disclose the specific resulting disciplinary actions. Remember: Sexual harassment, even if proven, does not always result in automatic termination. If you still feel HR inadequately addressed the incident after learning more, you could take your concern up the chain. Now, the person you should contact will depend on the size and structure of your organization. But, as a rule, avoid going over anyones head. If your HR contact has a manager, go to him/her. If you already worked with a manager, consider their supervisor. If youre out of options, then itd be time to talk to your HR executive. Story continues At the end of the day, if your organization isnt taking action, file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the equivalent civil and human rights agency in your state. I can guarantee you, at that point, this matter will be investigated. Again, Im sorry this occurred while you were at work. Considering your long tenure, I would hope and expect your company to hear you and take appropriate action. I wish you the best. Co-worker's affair: Disrupting to our workplace: Ask HR Poor communication: It's killing my company: Ask HR Question: One of my team members is transgender, and recently shared her preferred pronouns. Ill use them to respect her wish but I am wondering if Im required to? Anonymous Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.: This is not an easy one to answer, but Ill take a shot. The EEOC says intentionally failing to use an individuals preferred pronouns can be considered sex discrimination and some state civil/human rights organizations feel the same way. But the courts have not ruled on this issue in context of the workplace. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, in a recent case involving a transgender convict, refused to honor the convicted persons preferred pronouns in the court records. So, it is possible the EEOC and the courts understand this issue differently. Since the law is murky, I recommend following the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Think about it. If you asked a colleague to call you by your middle name, although your first name is what appears on your new hire paperwork. Wouldnt it bother you if your colleague refused to honor your request? So, even if its not required, why not just do it? As the workplace becomes more diverse, many organizations are working hard to improve their inclusion efforts. You can play a role in helping all people feel more included at work by honoring these types of small requests that dont cost you anything. Its great youll respect your co-worker's wish. I know a pronoun might seem like a small gesture, but it can have a big impact Im happy to hear yours will be positive. Thank you for this question! This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ask HR addresses same-sex sexual harassment and transgender pronouns. The startup community is in "crisis mode" and growth of early stage companies stands to be wiped out by the coronavirus crisis despite generous wage subsidies, Square Peg Capital's Paul Bassat warns. "Clearly some of the gains are going to be lost through the current crisis...The startup sector is going to be an important engine of growth creation though, and there will be a case to be made for specific policies for the startup sector," Mr Bassat said on Tuesday. Square Peg co-founder Paul Bassat said startups will need longer term support. Credit:Jesse Marlow. The comments came as the nation's newest businesses struggled to work out whether they would be eligible for the government's $130 billion JobKeeper subsidies for businesses that could demonstrate a 30 per cent drop in income due to coronavirus shutdowns. A Treasury spokesperson said the Australian Taxation Office would work with businesses to determine if they were eligible for JobKeeper payments. A teenage girl has been charged after she allegedly spat at and racially abused two women in Sydney's inner west. Shocking footage obtained by Daily Mail Australia on Monday afternoon and shot in Marrickville showed two women copping a torrent of racist abuse before one of them was spat at. Sophie Do, 23, and her sister Rosa, 19, were allegedly called 'Asian dogs' and a 'dumb wh***' as they crossed the street. In a reference to the coronavirus outbreak and its origin in a food market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the siblings were told they 'brought corona here'. The argument broke out in the streets of Marrickville, in Sydney's inner west, at around 3pm on Monday, with a woman in grey (pictured) racially abusing two sisters A woman in grey was captured on footage screaming: 'I've got a knife in my bag... you little Asian dog.' 'Asian b**ch. You brought corona here. Eat a bat again you dumb wh***.' Police will allege that the two women were approached by a 17-year-old girl and verbally abused with racial slurs while crossing Petersham Road at Illawarra Road at around 3pm on Monday. Officers said the teenager allegedly attempted to kick one of the young women, before a bystander intervened and told her to leave. As she walked away, the teenager allegedly spat towards the younger woman hitting her in the eye before leaving the scene, police said. Sophie (pictured, left, with sister Rosa) said no one should be able to get away with racial attacks, which have ramped up in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic 'She had pretty good aim, it hit my eye,' Rosa told Nine News. 'Straight in my left eye. It got in my hair, my cheek, everything. I was flabbergasted.' Her sister added: 'It was horrifying. I really, really wanted to retaliate. 'I really wanted to hit back, it took everything in me not to.' The 19-year-old was helped by witnesses to flush her eye out and seek medical assistance. Police arrested a 17-year-old woman on Tuesday afternoon and charged her with three counts of common assault, use offensive language in/near public place, and two counts of attempt stalk/intimidate intend fear of harm. The teenager was granted conditional bail to appear before a Childrens Court on May 1. Video captured by the sisters and shocked onlookers shows the woman (pictured, in grey) allegedly scream at the young women The woman in grey (pictured, centre) was captured on the footage screaming: 'I've got a knife in my bag you little Asian dog' Police spoke with a second teenage girl who was released without charge. Speaking on Tuesday, NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller said the incident was a 'disgrace'. 'We're arresting and charging people for spitting and coughing on people every day,' he told reporters. 'It's a disgrace, putting aside the racial slur. We will take action. 'Maybe it's a $5,000 fine that'll sharpen people up on this.' The sisters said the ordeal was terrifying. Sophie (pictured, left with her sister Rosa) said hate crimes against Asian people had increased since the coronavirus pandemic began Sophie (pictured, left) and Rosa (right) said they were not going to tolerate racist attacks 'Two girls walked passed us yelling racist things like ''stay away from them, they've got coronavirus'',' Rosa told Daily Mail Australia. 'I simply could not tolerate it so I yelled back and said ''Excuse me? What did you just say? Say it again'',' Rosa said. The 19-year-old university student said the two women continued to taunt her and her sister. 'Get out of here now, who do you think you're talking to,' the woman allegedly screamed while shaping up to the sisters. Rosa said the young women started walking away before coming back to abuse them again. 'You brought corona here. Eat a bat again you dumb wh***,' a woman (pictured) was heard screaming while walking away Sophie Do (left) and her sister Rosa (right) were crossing the road in Marrickville when they were targeted by a racist woman who accused them of bringing coronavirus to Australia 'She was untying her jumper from her waist and putting her bag on the ground, ready to fight me,' Rosa said. A woman was then seen trying to kick Rosa's back, but Sophie quickly managed to pull her away. Sophie said no one should be able to get away with racial attacks, which have ramped up in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Hate crimes against Asians have increased and I've seen disgusting videos from all around the world. I never thought I'd be in one,' Sophie said. 'It made me feel afraid for my sisters' safety. I knew that if I retaliated, it would've ended badly for us both. Sophie Do (pictured, left) and her sister Rosa (right) had condemned the alleged attack, saying it is an example of the racist abuse Asian people are suffering amid the coronavirus outbreak 'So I kept my cool. I knew I took the best approach to ensure we got out of the situation safely. 'It made angry but mostly disappointed that we even had to hear some of the things she was saying and then be physically assaulted.' Videos of the incident have since gone viral, with thousands of Australians condemning the the racist act. 'All the racists have something to do with failure in life,' one person wrote. 'That girl in grey ought to be ashamed of herself and her actions,' said another. 'I am so so sorry that you and your sister had to deal with this kind of disgusting inexcusable behaviour,' another person commented. Freshman Rep. Max Rose announced Tuesday he has been deployed to the front lines of the nations coronavirus epicenter in New York as a member of the National Guard. The New York Democrat will work in facilities in his own district in Staten Island which he has represented since January 2019 where 2,091 cases have been reported as of Monday. New York City overall has more than 38,000 cases. Rose will join more than 2,200 other troops who have been deployed in New York, tasked with assisting test sites, field hospitals, supply warehouses and other essential services in the nations worst hot spot for the virus. Over the past month I have seen acts of incredible bravery and sacrifice by our first responders, nurses, doctors, and essential workers who never thought theyd be on the frontlines of a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, Rose, who once served as an Army platoon leader in Afghanistan, wrote in a statement. My activation and deployment is nothing compared to what our city, state, and country has asked of all them. And its certainly nothing compared to the other men and women serving in uniform both here at home and overseas. I am just trying to do my duty and my small part. Before he was called up by the National Guard, Rose was already shoulder-deep in his states response to the outbreak. Earlier this month, Rose helped secure New York Citys first drive-through testing site in his district. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo activated the National Guard on March 10. As of Monday, the state reported more than 67,000 coronavirus cases and 1,200 deaths. Its the first time Rose has been deployed to the National Guard since being elected to Congress. He was last called up in 2018, when he took a two-week leave from the campaign trail for training exercises. Rose said he will be able to return to Washington, if needed, to vote on legislation to help combat the outbreak and the economic devastation left behind. The House is expected to be out of session until April 20, with lawmakers working from their districts. But House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) has advised that votes are possible before then on additional relief related to the outbreak. Like many Guardsmen and women across the country, I am leaving my day job to serve our nation. Unlike them, I will be able to return to it in order to vote if needed, Rose wrote in a statement. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 16:17:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KUNMING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Over 2,000 people have been sent to battle a fire that started Sunday in southwestern China's Yunnan Province, local authorities said Tuesday. The fire started at around 4:50 p.m. Sunday in Shangri-La economic development zone in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Strong winds and steep slopes have increased difficulties for putting out the fire, according to the local publicity department. The local authorities are continuing to send professional firefighters to the site. The work is still underway. Construction work has been halted at the National Children's Hospital due to the coronavirus pandemic. Contractor BAM said today's decision follows confirmation from its client, the National Pediatric Hospital Development Board, that the work is not considered essential during the current crisis. It said separate Covid-19-related worked on the main St. James' Hospital campus will continue along with some essential motorway maintenance it carries out around the country. BAM said the delay was due to the lack of clarity as to whether the work was considered essential. RISE TD, Paul Murphy, welcomed the move saying it was "clearly non-essential work" and was an "open and shut case of BAM putting profit before people's lives". Mr Murphy said: BAM should make a clear statement now confirming the shutdown and that they will also shut any other non-essential sites and not re-open any of them until it is safe to do so. "This also highlights the need for enforcement of this ban. Any company caught defying the ban and putting lives at risk like this should face serious fines." Deputy Murphy has also pointed to a provision in the 2005 Safety, Health and Welfare Act which protects workers' right to refuse to work if they believe conditions to be unsafe. He added: "I would encourage other non-essential workers who are being told to work as normal to speak out too, get in touch with my office and with their trade union." Mr Murphy will be hosting a special online public meeting tonight highlighting workers' right and entitlements. It starts at 8pm and will be live on his Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts. Justin Long revealed on his podcast Life is Short that he thinks he has Covid-19. During the episode with his younger brother Christian Long, the 41-year-old actor said they can't get a test to confirm it. Christian, 38, believes he has it too, with his girlfriend Maggie sick with the virus as well. The latest: Justin Long revealed on his podcast Life is Short that he thinks he has Covid-19; the star pictured December 2, 2019 at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversation in NYC Justin said during the podcast: 'We should tell everyone that you actually might have corona. You think you do. I might have it as well.' Christian added: 'I do have it. We're not just being paranoid.' The siblings can't get a test to confirm their suspicions, Christian said: 'Unfortunately we can't get the test because we're not considered high enough risk.' Justin added: 'We both tried to get the test and as many of you know, you have to be in a high-risk group which is older people and people with compromised immune systems. Or it has to be further along in your system and severe enough.' During the episode with his younger brother Christian Long, the actor said he can't get a test to confirm it; seen February 13, 2019 at a New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers game in NYC Justin said: 'Sadly, Christian's girlfriend Maggie came back from her work trip and a couple days later, she was very ill. She had classic corona symptoms. She had fever, dry cough, all the things that they're saying people have with COVID.' Christian said of his girlfriend: 'She's on day 12 of it now and thankfully, the last 24 hours or so, she's had no fever and seems to be doing a lot better.' Adding: 'The weird thing is, the day after she came down with symptoms, Justin and I came down with very mild versions of the exact same symptoms.' Candid: While Maggie was very ill, Christian and Justin had mild versions While Maggie was very ill, Christian and Justin had mild versions. Justin explained that the symptoms were 'achiness, some nausea, headaches, and then the tightness in the chests, we started noticing.' Adding: 'But then the strangest thing that happened, which we then read was typical of this disease, is that, it hasn't happened to me, but Maggie and Christian lost their sense of taste and smell.' Eight foreign nationals, who attended a large religious congregation at Nizamuddin where scores of those who participated tested positive for COVID-19, were found at Delhi's Bharat Nagar on Tuesday and quarantined, police said. They are from Kyrgyzstan and have been staying here since last 10 to 11 days, a senior police officer said. The medical authorities and the district magistrate were informed about it and the eight were quarantined, police added. Within the national capital, more than 1,000 people who attended the congregation have been quarantined while more than 300 have been admitted to hospitals. The government is screening all those who participated in the event, officials said. At least 24 people who participated in the Tablighi Jamaat have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said. Other states too were busy trying to identify and quarantine people who participated in the gathering and their contacts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Todays xkcd got me wondering how much land would we need if everyone stood six feet apart. Methodology We are all but spherical cows If we want everyone to keep a minimum distance of \(r\) from each other, the problem boils down to efficiently packing \(n\) circles of radius \(r\) in the smallest area possible. This can be calculated as follows: Area of a circle with radius \(r\), \[A_r = \pi r^2\] Optimal circle packing density, \[\eta = \frac{\pi\sqrt{3}}{6}\] Area required for \(n\) people, Crunching the numbers \[\begin{align} A_n & = n \cdot \frac{A_r}{\eta} \\ & = n \cdot \frac{\pi r^2}{\frac{\pi \sqrt{3}}{6}} \\ & = 2 \sqrt{3} \cdot n \cdot r^2 \end{align}\] Plugging in the current world population and the recommended distance of 6 feet: \[n = \text{7,773,861,168}\] \[r = 6\text{ft}\] we get And the answer is \[\begin{align} A_n & = 9.69510^{11} \text{ft}^2 \\ & = 34,775 \text{mi}^2 \\ \end{align}\] According to Wikipedia, this is just shy of the land area of Portugal . We could also squeeze into Hungary if some of us were willing to swim. Corollaries How many people can San Francisco fit standing 6 feet apart? Dividing the area of San Francisco by \(2 \sqrt{3} \cdot 36 \text{ft}^2\), gives us around 10.5 million people. Are there any countries where people couldnt stand 6 feet apart? 1 square mile of land can have 223,563 people standing 6 feet apart. This is much higher than the most densely populated countries and territories in the world. References SEOUL -- Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said on Tuesday that one of its chip factory workers in South Korea had tested positive for coronavirus, but its output has not been affected. This is the first time a Samsung chip factory employee has tested positive for the virus, although several confirmed cases at the tech giants smartphone factory in South Koreas southeastern city of Gumi resulted in a temporary suspension. Chip factories have been largely unaffected by the pandemic which started in China, although concerns over supply disruption have contributed to recent price rises. One of our employees at our Foundry fab in Giheung, Korea, has tested positive with COVID-19, Samsung said in a statement, referring to the respiratory disease caused by the virus. Those who had been in close contact with the employee are currently in self-isolation and the employees work area has been closed off for disinfection, Samsung said, adding that cleanrooms remained in operation. South Korea, which once posted the biggest outbreak outside China, has seen cases easing in recent weeks. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 78 new cases on Monday, at least 13 of whom were people who arrived from abroad. Steve Gonzales, Staff Photographer / Houston Chronicle Houston-based oil company Noble Energy said it will furlough and reduce work hours for about 30 percent of its U.S. workforce. Noble also is reducing its contractor workforce by about 75 percent as it tries to survive the oil crash caused by the coronavirus pandemic and global supply glut . BURLEY South Central Public Health District confirms Cassia Countys first death related to COVID-19. The individual was a woman older than 70. She was hospitalized and had complicating health factors, the health district said in a statement. The point of transmission was visitors to her home from areas that had community spread and transmission. Public Health officials continue to track the spread of COVID-19 and isolate anyone who came into close contact with known cases. SCPHD urges all residents to avoid all non-essential travel and errands and to isolate immediately if they begin showing symptoms of any virus. Gov. Brad Little issued a statewide stay-home order and signed an extreme emergency declaration on March 25. The stay-home order was effective immediately and in place for 21 days. The governor and public health officials will assess whether to extend the order near the end of the 21-day period. The official order, a list of essential services, and an FAQ are available on coronavirus.idaho.gov. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is also running a hotline for people feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or distress because of COVID-19. That hotline is available 24/7 at 888-330-3010. South Central Public Health District is running two COVID-19 informational hotlines, one in English at 208-737-1138, and one in Spanish, at 208-737-5965. These hotlines are currently running from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Please refer to phd5.idaho.gov/coronavirus for the latest local numbers and coronavirus.idaho.gov/ for Idaho-specific information. BANGALORE, India, March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Mobile Robots market size was valued at USD 14960 Million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 51100 Million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 19.0% from 2021 to 2026. This study focuses on the status of the mobile robots market size and share, future predictions, opportunities for growth, key markets, and key players. The report also covers regional markets like North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Central & South America. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-1K257/mobile-robots-market TRENDS INFLUENCING THE MOBILE ROBOTS MARKET SIZE Robots cover a wide variety of applications in the healthcare industry, with the advancement in robotics development and improved versatility in robotics use. Medical equipment manufacturers use robots in hospitals, clinics, and pharmaceutical firms. Increased adoption of mobile robots in the healthcare industry is expected to increase the market size. Growth is driven by the dropping prices of robotic components such as sensors, actuators, etc. that are aggravating the global sale of mobile robots. In addition, growth in the global market for mobile robots can be due to breakthrough technological advances and the increasing footprint of aerial, land, and marine mobile robots in hazardous defense operations, agricultural activities, warehouse automation, and a range of domestic applications. Other notable factors positively influencing the market forecast for mobile robotics include a growing need for human life protection and a rise in demand from online retailers for mobile logistics. Get Free Sample Report (Mention the customization you want in the report): https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Othe-1K257/mobile_robots_market MARKET SEGMENT BY TYPE: Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) MARKET SEGMENT BY APPLICATION : Logistics & Warehousing Defense Healthcare Field Applications Inquire for Regional Report (Mention the Country or Region of Focus): https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Othe-1K257/mobile_robots_market THE KEY PLAYERS COVERED IN THIS STUDY iRobot Northrop Grumman Amazon KUKA LEGO Honda ECA Group Adept Technology Geosystems Google General Dynamics Others Buy Now: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Othe-1K257 SIMILAR REPORTS : AUTONOMOUS MOBILE ROBOTS MARKET The Global Autonomous Mobile Robots market size in 2019 was estimated at USD 356.3 million and is expected to hit USD 1011.8 million by 2026, at a CAGR of 15.9% over the forecast period. An autonomous mobile robot (AMR) is any robot capable of understanding and traveling around its environment without an operator directly supervising them. This is usually accomplished via an array of sophisticated onboard sensors, computers, and maps that enable AMRs to understand and interpret their environment to act as an asynchronous mode of transport. The Global Autonomous Mobile Robots Report analyses the status and outlook, including power, production, value, consumption, growth rate (CAGR), market share, and history. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-4R209/autonomous-mobile-robots-market ROBOTICS TECHNOLOGY MARKET The Robotics Technology Market size is projected to hit USD 82.7 billion by 2020, showing a 10.11% CAGR between 2014 and 2020. Robotics technology is a mixture of systems, tools, and computer software used for various tasks like the design, manufacture, and other robotics software. Using robotics technology, customers can automate procedures, increase efficiency, improve quality, and reduce human errors. The report offers an in-depth review of the robotics engineering market with current and future trend developments to elucidate the imminent pockets of investment in the industry. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/ALLI-Manu-3S15/robotics-technology-market MOBILE ROBOTICS SOFTWARE MARKET Increasing robotics utilization across various applications, including healthcare, logistics, and military & defense, is expected to increase the mobile robotics software market size. This report studies the market size of Mobile Robotics Software by players, countries, product types and end markets. Furthermore, this study analyses 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-Othe-4N210/mobile-robots-software-market SLAM IN MOBILE ROBOTS AND SMART AR MARKET This report studies the market size of SLAM in mobile robots and smart AR by players, countries, product types and end markets, historical data 2013- and 2018- forecast data. Furthermore, the study analyses 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-Othe-0N218/slam-in-mobile-robots-and-smart-ar-market SECURITY MOBILE ROBOTS MARKET The Security Mobile Robots Market study covers both sales and revenues, and analyses the implementations, products, services, and regions segments. The research report also examines the competitive environment present on the global Security Mobile Robots market in order to determine the potential of the market. The Security Mobile Robots Market is segmented into North America, Europe, China, Japan, and South Korea based on region. Asia Pacific has a large population, which makes this region a market with a significant opportunity. It is the region with the highest growth and most income in the global economy. View Full Report : https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-0U219/security-mobile-robots-market SMART MOBILE ROBOTS MARKET This Smart Mobile Robots Market Report studies the size (value and volume) of the Smart Mobile Robots market by players, countries, product types and end industries, 2014-2018 historical data and 2019-2025 forecast data. Additionally, this report analyses 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 Ful Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-4A211/smart-mobile-robots-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. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. Valuates is curating premium Market Research Reports from the leading publishers around the globe. We will help you map your information needs to our report repository of Market research reports and guide you through your purchasing decision. We are based out of Silicon Valley of India (Bengaluru) and provide 24/6 online and offline support to all our customers and just a phone call away. CONTACT US: Valuates Reports sales@valuates.com 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 Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH4wNXynaTZbiD5m92WQI4A Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 11:11:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Sentiment among South Korean businesses over economic situation worsened in March amid worry about the economic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak, central bank data showed Tuesday. The business sentiment index (BSI) stood at 54 in March, down 9 points from the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). After peaking at 76 in December last year, the index slipped to 75 in January and 65 in February respectively. It was the lowest since February 2009. The sharp fall was attributed to the COVID-19 outbreak across the world that disrupted global supply chains. The BSI among manufacturers dived 9 points over the month to 56 in March, the lowest since March 2009. The sentiment for non-manufacturers plunged 11 points to 53 this month, marking the lowest since data began to be compiled in 2003. The index for the wholesale and retail industry nosedived 14 points in the month as people refrained from outside activities, such as shopping and travel, on the fear of infection. ZURICH, March 31 (Reuters) - Switzerland's treasury is stepping up its funding plans in response to government measures to cushion the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, doubling the volume of outstanding short-term money market instruments. "Over the course of this year, the Federal Finance Administration (FFA) will increase the outstanding volume of short-term money market instruments from around 6 billion Swiss francs ($6.24 billion) to 12 billion francs," the treasury said in a statement on Tuesday. "In addition, it will once again step up sales of its own Confederation bond holdings." ($1 = 0.9617 Swiss francs) (Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; Editing by Michael Shields) Monzo chief executive Tom Blomfield. (Monzo) The chief executive of app-only startup bank Monzo is waiving his salary for 12 months due to the coronavirus pandemic. TechCrunch reported on Tuesday that Tom Blomfield had told staff in a memo that he was forgoing pay for a year. Other senior managers and board members will also voluntarily reduce their pay by 25%. Monzo wouldnt comment the report or say how much Blomfield earns. Accounts show the companys highest paid director made 117,000 (144,875) last year, but it is not clear who that was. Almost 300 Monzo staff have also been asked if they would consider being put on the government-backed furlough scheme, TechCrunch reported. Monzo declined to comment. Founded in 2015, app-only bank Monzo has more than 4 million customers in the UK. It was valued at over 2bn last year. The salary cuts and furloughing come amid a slump in economic activity across Britain caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, Boris Johnson ordered all non-essential shops to shut and told the public to stay indoors as much as possible. Bank of America said on Tuesday that a survey of UK consumers this week found 34% had stopped working due to coronavirus, either sick, furloughed, laid off or company closed. Read more: World Bank warns of COVID-19 economic pain Sectors like travel and hospitality have been the worst hit but all parts of the economy are feeling the squeeze. A slowdown in consumer spending is likely to lead to lower revenues for banks like Monzo, which makes money when people spend on cards or take out products like loans. Monzo said in a blog earlier this month: Coronavirus could have an impact on your financial situation. We're here to help if you're in financial difficulties, Monzos vulnerability manager Natalie Ledward wrote. Chief executives around the world have been reducing or forgoing pay in response to the coronavirus crisis, although action has so far been limited in the financial sector. One of the few examples besides Monzo is Santander, where the chair and chief executive both cut their pay by 50% and pledged the money towards efforts to fight COVID-19. Field testing of the COVID-19 tests developed by scientists from the University of the Philippines is expected to end on April 1, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which funded the research. DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Pena said today in a Facebook post that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to issue a certificate of product registration on the locally made kits on April 3. The kits were approved by the government earlier this month, but werent yet ready for commercial use because they still had to be validated in compliance with FDA rules. Dela Pena said that the kits manufacturer, Manila HealthTek Inc., is ready to produce up to 120,000 units once the FDA has approved their release. The DOST chief said that some 26,000 tests will be distributed to several major hospitals, including designated COVID-19 facility Philippine General Hospital, as well as the Makati Medical Center and Baguio General Hospital. The remaining 94,000 kits will be sold commercially by Manila HealthTek at around PHP1,300 (US$25) per kit, or at roughly one-sixth the cost of units currently being used in hospitals. The manufacturers have enough orders from the private sector who intend to donate them in turn to the Department of Health and hospitals, Dela Pena said. In a separate announcement, the FDA said that it has approved five rapid test kits, which were reportedly registered and used in countries with advanced technology and wide experience with COVID-19, such as China and Singapore. FDA Director General Eric Domingo said the rapid test kits will help clear the countrys testing backlog, but noted that PCR-based test kits used in laboratories to extract genetic material from throat and nose swabs to compare it with the COVID-19 virus are still more reliable. The Department of Health (DOH) says PCR-based tests are still the current gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19. Story continues Over the weekend, the DOH announced that four other labs will now be able to conduct full-scale COVID-19 testing, including the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City, and Baguio General Hospital in Baguio City. Prior to this, the countrys sole testing laboratory for COVID-19 was the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City, and the sub-national labs had to send their tests to RITM for validation. According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, this is why the four labs had only been able to process up to 160 tests per day, while RITM can process up to 1,000 tests per day. Vergeire added that the four hospitals have now been fully certified, which means they no longer have to send their positive cases to the RITM for validation because theyre now certified to do individual testing. They can now release results for those positive for coronavirus. Vergeire said that the Lung Center of the Philippines is likewise expected to receive full certification to test for COVID-19 by March 30, while 30 other private and public laboratories across the country are undergoing different stages of certification. Of the 30, seven facilities are in the advanced stages of being certified. This article, Philippine-made COVID-19 test kits ready this week, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters! Iranian journalists have protested to the decision taken by a committee of Iran's Coronavirus Combat Taskforce which on Monday banned all print media. The ban will be in place as long as coronavirus-related restrictions are in effect. Continuation of publication of newspapers and other print media requires journalists, print workers and distribution agents to continue their activities which could potentially spread the disease, the committee said and suggested that the print media focus on online publication and social media in the absence of their printed versions. A number of Iranian journalists, however, have criticized the decision which they say will affect the livelihood of journalists, may inflict serious financial damages on print media companies and cause an information void. Abbas Abdi, a prominent reformist politician and the chairman of the Journalists Union of Tehran Province, has said that the decision of the committee should be respected in view of the current critical situation until the end of the Iranian New Year holidays (April 4). However, he added that a ban for more than a few days would be "intolerable" and the decision has to be revised. Mehdi Rahmanian who is the managing director of Sharq (Shargh), one of the top-selling Iranian newspapers, has protested the decision. Rahmanian says the government should find ways for safe distribution of newspapers rather than banning them altogether to stop the spread of the virus. The managing director of the reformist Sharq has also pointed out that newspapers have continued to publish in other countries that have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Even in Italy where the death toll is high and quarantine rules are strictly enforced newspapers have continued to publish, he has pointed out. Rahmanian has also warned that the ban could inflict serious financial damages on newspapers and cause loss of jobs and livelihood to journalists. Alireza Bakhtiari, the managing director of Donya-ye Eghtesad, another best-selling newspaper, has also criticized the decision to stop the publication of the print media. Bakhtiari says national newspapers should be allowed to publish with all safety measures taken into consideration because they are the source of much of the material that is shared online. "The ban could cause a vacuum in information circulation in the country," he says. 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. Two family members of the Omaha woman who became the first Nebraskan to test positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday also have tested positive for the disease, the Douglas County Health Department said Sunday evening. The family members have been in self-quarantine since Friday, the health department added. Other people who have been in close contact with the woman have tested negative for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. "We expected this to happen," said Dr. Adi Pour, the county's health director. "This demonstrates the importance of contact investigations and shows how well they work." According to the Douglas County Health Department, the two individuals, the second and third cases in Nebraska outside of those brought from the Diamond Princess cruise ship to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, had limited exposure to other people. Epidemiologists have developed a list of contacts who may have had contact with the woman and are reaching out to them individually about the health risks and how they can protect themselves and others. The confirmed spread of the virus comes two days after state and local health officials announced the first confirmed case of COVID-19 on Friday. The woman, who lives alone in an apartment in Omaha, is believed to have contracted the virus while traveling with her father to the United Kingdom from Feb. 18-27, an epidemiologist at Methodist Hospital said. The woman started showing symptoms on Feb. 24 and was brought to the hospital in severe respiratory distress, with pneumonia-like symptoms and low blood-oxygen levels. She was later taken to the biocontainment unit on the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Campus and said to be "very, seriously ill." Nebraska Medicine on Sunday did not identify the individuals in the biocontainment center, but said in a daily report one patient in the center remains in critical condition, while another is in good condition. Over the weekend, state health officials have tried to track her movements since she started showing symptoms. They included a Special Olympics basketball event in Fremont and a VFW dinner in northwest Omaha. On Sunday, Lutheran Family Services announced it was closing its Rupert Dunklau Center for Healthy Families in Fremont through March 15 "out of an abundance of caution to keep our clients and staff healthy and safe." Across the U.S., about 500 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19, with 22 deaths. More than 109,400 people worldwide have tested positive for the virus, and more than 3,800 who contracted it have died. Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com. On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS A return to normalcy. That's what many investors were hoping for as U.S. stocks jumped Monday after the Trump administration's extension of national social distancing guidelines to April 30. The major averages have been exceedingly volatile in recent weeks as U.S. coronavirus cases have continued to spike. The government's "stay-at-home" orders appear to be working well enough that U.S. businesses could be back up and running sooner than anticipated, Nick Colas, co-founder of DataTrek Research, told CNBC's "ETF Edge" on Monday. "The bottom line is we're seeing very good compliance in the U.S. with work-at-home, stay-at-home requests by the federal and local governments," he said. New York City traffic congestion, for example, is at "even lower levels than last week," which suggests residents of the country's largest coronavirus hotspot are heeding the government's calls to stay put, Colas said, citing proprietary data. "The weekend traffic was basically zero," he said. "So, in New York, really the epicenter, we're seeing excellent compliance. People aren't moving around. And that's broadly true across the U.S." China, where the virus emerged about three months ago, also saw a significant drop in traffic congestion when the country went on lockdown in the wake of the virus, Colas said. "The interesting thing is that as they've started to bring the economy back up to life, the weekday traffic is getting back to normal. The weekend traffic, which is consumer traffic, discretionary traffic, is still at quite low levels," he said. "So, they're doing a good job of bringing the economy back up, but consumer confidence just isn't there yet." That should still bode well for U.S. businesses, however, given China's rapid rate of recovery, Colas said. Since Edgewater Reads launched its Little Free Library project about seven years ago, coordinator Tom Welch said, more than 125 of the glass-front boxes have been installed within a two-mile-square area. Each one has its own character, fostered not only by the steward who built it but by the neighbors who use it. If a book lingers too long on a shelf in one particular library, a neighbor may walk it to a different library where it might find the right reader. But many of the people who cause problems are likely the ones who could benefit from a long-term city partnership with a mental health service provider. A man in Brooklyn has been arrested for coughing on FBI agents who went to investigate him for suspected stockpiling medical supplies such as face masks, according to the US Attorney's Office in New Jersey. Baruch Feldheim, 43, is accused of both assault and making false statements to the FBI agents on 29 March outside of his home in Borough Park,in the southwestern part of Brooklyn, where he allegedly was hoarding large quantities of N95 medical face masks. FBI agents had been watching Feldheim's home and found people leaving with what appeared to be medical supplies. Prosecutors said that he was selling them to doctors and nurses with as much as a 700 per cent mark up on the original price. Pictured: Broadway in Bushwick, Brooklyn, is very quiet during the evening rush hour under coronavirus lockdown. A man in Brooklyn has been accused of hoarding medical supplies When Feldheim was confronted by the FBI agents at his home, he is accused of coughing in their faces. The statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office in the District of New Jersey said: 'When the agents were within four to five feet of him, Feldheim allegedly coughed in their direction without covering his mouth. 'The agents then told him that they were looking for certain PPE materials and that they had information that Feldheim was in possession of large quantities of such materials. At that point, Feldheim told the FBI agents that that he had the Coronavirus.' In an attempt to justify his posession of the medical goods, he falsely told the agents that he worked for a company that buys and sells PPE supplies, claiming that he never took physical custody of the goods. In one case, Feldheim is accused of selling a doctor around 1,000 face masks for $12,000. As a result, he has also been accused of price-gouging. The doctor is said to have contacted the alleged fraudster through a WhatsApp chat group with the name 'Virus2020!' on 18 March, where he arranged to buy the large number of face masks, which doctors are in dire need of during the coronavirus pandemic. An NYPD traffic officer in Brooklyn wearing personal protective equipment, similar to that which Baruch Feldheim, 43, is accused of hoarding and selling to medical workers at marked-up prices The streets of Brooklyn are empty with shops closed and people staying indoors to stem the spread of the virus. New York state has seen over 66,000 cases The statement from New Jersey attorney's office also described how Feldheim is accused of offering to sell a nurse a quantity of surgical gowns on 23 March from his residence in Brooklyn. He also is said to have received a shipment from Canada containing eight pallets of face masks. The feds became aware of the man's actions when he directed another doctor to an auto-repair shop in Irvington, New Jersey, to pick up an order of medical supplies. It was there that the doctor reported Feldheim to authorities for allegedly holding enough supplies 'to outfit an entire hospital.' If found guilty, Feldheim is facing a maximum penalty of one year in prison an a $100,000 fine, while the false charge of making false statements to the agents could land him with a $250,000 fine and five years in prison. New York City has been hit particularly badly by the coronavirus outbreak, and could reach its peak of new coronavirus cases within the next seven to 10 days, experts say. The number of hospital ER visits is starting to decrease and official data has raised hopes that the city could soon start 'turning the corner'. New York City saw 138 deaths from the virus on Monday, an increase of 17% on Sunday but well down from Saturday's spike of 222 deaths. There were 4,319 new cases, which is again lower than Saturday's 5,367 new cases, according to official city figures. New York could reach its peak of new coronavirus cases within the next seven to 10 days, experts say, as the daily statewide death toll shows signs it is leveling out and the number of hospital ER visits starts to decrease In view of several people showing coronavirus symptoms after taking part in the Tabligh-e-Jamaat at Nizamuddin West in Delhi, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Tuesday instructed the authorities to trace the state citizens who visited the religious congregation in the national capital. Twenty-four people who took part in the congregation earlier this month have tested positive for the coronavirus, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Tuesday, adding that 1,033 people have been shifted to various places. When Tope was asked about it, he told PTI, "If anyone who has attended the congregation shows symptoms of coronavirus infection, we will quarantine the person and collect a swab sample for testing." All precautionary measures will be taken to avoid further spread of the disease, he added. State Minority Development Minister Nawab Malik said Tabligh-e-Jamaat is an Islamic sect having some followers in Maharashtra. "After learning that some 100 people from Maharashtra attended the congregation, I have asked my officials to find out how many people actually attended it and their current location," he said. "Once we zero-in on them, necessary steps will be taken with the support of the state health ministry. The priority now is to find out the exact number of people from Maharashtra who attended the congregation and their current status," he said. A senior state health official said it is a very serious matter because out of 25 COVID-19 patients found in New Delhi on Monday, 18 were at the seminary in Nizamuddin. "This means, the infection has spread significantly and we need to trace people from Maharashtra who attended it at the earliest," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Donations to COVID 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund that has been established to strengthen the mitigation activities aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19 virus in the country and related social welfare programme, have been exempted from taxes and foreign exchange regulations. A special account had been opened at the Corporate Branch of the Bank of Ceylon under the account number of 85737373. Deposits can be made through cheques or telegraphic transfers. Donors are requested to inform the Presidential Secretariat along with the relevant documents about their donations in cash to the Fund. COVID 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund was established by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on last Monday. Creating the Fund President Rajapaksa donated Rs. 100 million from the Presidents Fund. President requests everyone to work in unison and brotherhood in the wake of the present challenge before the nation. Local as well as foreign donors can make their financial contributions to the COVID 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund. The Fund has been set up to meet the following objectives. To provide immediate funding requirement of Director General, Health Services to meet all expenditure connected with COVID-19 related healthcare facilities including drugs, testing equipment and capacity expenses. To meet expenses connected to healthcare and safety of health sector employees and all logistic providers working to provide essential public delivery services. To provide basic essentials to children, women, low income, elderly, differently abled and vulnerable people. To mobilize required funding to strengthen public healthcare systems, including village and remote area dispensaries, testing and treatment centers, family healthcare system, to further consolidate Sri Lankas public healthcare system to reduce country risks to communicable diseases. To assist indigenous medicine, sanitary product manufacturing and distribution, promote research to use resources, knowledge and skills to innovate new health and sanitation products based on local raw materials. To promote research and innovation using Sri Lankas medical and scientific knowledge and experience to develop protective dresses and sanitation products to global market. To promote healthy living with organic food consumption, valuing traditional, yet rich living styles, through media and educational programmes. To coordinate fund raising with WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank, ADB and Sri Lankas major development partner community and agencies based on best guidelines for resource allocations, harmonized national procurement system and governance practices. The Fund will be managed under a management committee consisting of relevant Line Ministry Secretaries, Bankers, Financial Analysts and Health authorities. Read more: www.pmdnews.lk An American woman attacked health staff and tried to flee from the Ministry of Public Securitys Hospital 199 in central Da Nang city when she was brought to the hospital for quarantine on March 30 morning. A worker sprays chemicals at an isolation site in Da Nang However, local police and the medical response team found her one hour later in Phuoc My ward in Son Tra district, said doctor Truong Xuan Hung of the hospital. The woman, named D.R., 30, entered Vietnam on February 13, after travelling to China and Taiwan (China). Director of Son Tra districts medical centre Pham Hong Nam said the woman came in for a health check at the centre on the morning of March 30 as she was suffering from a cough and fever, typical symptoms of COVID-19. Having checked her travel itinerary, doctors decided to send her to the Hospital 199 for quarantine as regulated by the Ministry of Health for suspected COVID-19 cases. But she suddenly attacked health staff and managed to flee from the hospital during the process of making procedures./.VNA Life, Religions, Business, Globalization & Information Technology In The Post-Corona Pandemics Age The outbreak of corona pandemics , spreading from China to Europe, Iran, GCC Countries, Africa, India and several other countries has brought a standstill in the Global Economy, affecting all economies of the world. Stock markets have practically collapsed, followed by similar collapses in trade, travel, tourism, education, religious practices, normal public governance, Information Technology, industrial and the service sectors. Religion Religious Practices Very rigid religious practices of almost all religions have been crushed in the corona epidemics, making religious fundamentalism a laughing stock besides shaking the very foundation of Islamic Terrorism, especially ISIS. A Crisis of Faith is inevitable in the Post Corona Age in which no religion is free, affecting Islam most. The unavoidable massive religious practices, including religious pilgrimage of Islam in terms of millions of believers have been suspended or indefinitely postponed. The Pope Francis of the Catholic Church is forced to suspend his weekly meetings with the crowd assembled in Vatican from almost all countries. Several Hindu god-men or god-women claiming divinity have been hiding from the crowd for the fear of corona epidemics. Religious practices based on the gathering of the masses have become incompatible. In the post-corona age, religions must give more emphasis to spirituality based on personal happiness or bliss and humanism. The following works are worth to read in this context : 11 Apr 2015 - End Of Islam, Hinduism and Christianity And Rise of The Age Of Humanism, Spirituality And The Universal God - Sanadhana Dharma http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article50212.html 29 Dec 2014 - Are Islam And Christianity Being Wise And Brave Enough To Eradicate Hunger, Ignorance And Humiliation of Their Own People? http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article48798.html Globalization In the post-Corona Age, there is an urgent need for redefining the Globalization from the globalization of economic crisis and epidemics to globalization of Education, Medical Services, Trade and Business with new Technologies, limiting or eliminating the massive travel of business people and migration of workforce and student community. No nation can afford such massive migration of people as virus epidemics have become a permanent or regular feature at fixed intervals in one form or another. China, the greatest beneficiary of globalization has turned the greatest victim overnight with the outbreak of corona epidemics. It will take at least five years for China to regain the previous stage of economic growth. A similar situation is evolving in the west, especially the USA. Russia may be an exception. The Middle East could not afford the growth based on the work force of other nations on 'work visa' without granting citizenship. India must learn the art of using its own workforce instead of sending the majority to other countries, especially the Gulf. Education The Corona Epidemics has made Education, from Kindergarten to Universities, very much fragile and vulnerable, in spite of IT or Internet & On-line Education. Education has badly been hit. Classrooms, Libraries, Laboratories are in standstill. Both Professors or Teachers and students could not interact and share their knowledge. The World is getting realized that the very edifice of Education and Information Technology has been crushed or damaged. The faith of the all stake holders of Education, including schools and universities has been shaken. In spite of the truck load of Committee Reports and Doctoral Theses in Education, no reform or revolution could be brought in Education. It is high time to bring Revolution in Education. The following works are very relevant in these contexts: Apr 04, 2017- Revolutionize School Education Globally with Dynamic School Knowledge Banks www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article58660.html Mar 19, 2016 - Delivering Quality Education for All Under the Threats of Islamic Terrorism, Refugee Crisis and Budget Cuts -http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article54496.html 27 Mar 2016 - Making Higher Education Affordable and Accessible to Millions Globally -The New Strategies http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article54584.html 02 Feb 2014 - Education: Transforming The Most Unscientific And Mismanaged Industry Into A Scientific, Competitive And Learner-Friendly Industry http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article44230.html Information Technology Corona virus epidemics could easily make IT in standstill, in spite of the recent developments in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Robotics. Data based IT could not solve most of the basic problems of the humanity especially in a crisis ridden situation. It is time to develop Knowledge Technology and Knowledge Industry to revolutionize Education, Professional Services, especially Medical or Healthcare Services during epidemics. The following works may be relevant here : Oct 05, 2015 - 05:13 PM GMT - Redesigning Internet and Facebook to Explore Their Full Potentialities and Empower the Humanity with Knowledge for Finding Solutions for Its Problems http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article52547.html Dec.2016 Developing Knowledge-Intensive Society and Knowledge Industrial Hub in Kerala: Global Applications and Implications www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article57480.html Post-Corona Pandemics Age is quite different from what is familiar or pleasing and we have to adapt with new Outlooks, Mindset, Education & Training, Globalization, Work & Business , Information Technology and above all Religions. It is quite bitter than the Post-World War Age. Humanity survives and reinvents new culture, philosophy of work, economic growth and relationships between nations. My recent writings on these topics appeared in the Market Oracle (UK) can be found with the help of the following link: http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/UserInfo-Dr_R_M_Mathew.html Prof. (Dr.) Raju M. Mathew 2020 Copyright Dr. Raju M. Mathew - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. 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. 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 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 Because vocal, visible metropolitan India is relatively well-served, there is a general sense that the country is over the hump communicable diseases are a thing of the past. This has brought about a transformation in the way they are treated. For instance, cases of malaria are no longer a public health concern, but a matter for the neighbourhood doctor and pathology laboratories. Leprosy impinges on peoples consciousness only as what happens to the less fortunate. And TB is too personal to even talk about, but is entirely curable. Undoubtedly, investment in health care has risen sharply in the last decade. Corporate health institutions, fee for care, charitable hospitals and others dot the map with predictable distribution of both quality and quantity: dense in metropolitan areas, sparse in poorly developed regions. Surprisingly, state health services are also absent in the areas which do not have private health institutions. But because vocal, visible metropolitan India is relatively well-served, there is a general sense that the country is over the hump communicable diseases are a thing of the past. In newspapers and the television, in parliament and elsewhere, there is little discussion of these diseases. This has brought about a transformation in the way they are treated. For instance, cases of malaria are no longer a public health concern, but a matter for the neighbourhood doctor and pathology laboratories. Leprosy impinges on people's consciousness only as what happens to the less fortunate. And TB is too personal to even talk about, but is entirely curable. What formed the major focus of the health ministry, the communicable diseases control programme, is today perhaps the most neglected part of the ministry's activities. It is not then surprising that sudden occurrences, like the Siliguri fever, find the public health department and the research wings completely unprepared. It is this neglect that is reflected in the allocations in the central budget year after year. In 2001-2002 public health, which includes four vertical programmes and AIDS control, accounts for 34 per cent of the total for health and 12 per cent of the ministry's entire allocation. While this has been a trend over the years, the latest budget offers figures which are particularly depressing. Meagre as the allocation under the head was in 2000-2001, the various programmes returned unspent Rs 67 crore of the Rs 847 crore budgeted. Most of the unspent amount is from the malaria control programme. The allocation under this head, which accounted for 29.5 per cent of the total for public health, has registered a sharp decrease in 2001-2002 from Rs 250 crore to Rs 173 crore which is 21 per cent of the total provision for public health. Does this mean that malaria is under control? Reports and available statistics indicate that there has been a resurgence of the disease, especially of the more virulent forms. The incidence in urban areas, which have never had an effective control programme, is on the increase. And given the changing symptomatology, its control may require a more intensive multi-pronged approach, with close interaction with other public departments. But none of this concern is reflected in the health ministry's budget. Former deputy speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Arpine Hovhannisyan, who is observing the presidential and parliamentary elections in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), today told reporters that she has been receiving alarms from her fellow observers about a deputy candidate Artur Osipyan visiting various polling stations and stating that the elections are fraudulent. According to Hovhannisyan, she personally visited one of the polling stations when she received the alarm. I went to 1/4 polling station where Osipyan had been, but when I arrived, he wasnt there. I entered another polling station where Osipyan was located at that moment and tried to talk to the chairperson of the electoral commission to understand why police officers hadnt escorted Osipyan out of the polling station since he is a deputy candidate and has no right to be at a polling station, except when he is voting. Osipyan attacked me and said I have no right to be there, he is the leader of the Revolutionary Party of Artsakh and he has to make sure I dont come to Artsakh ever again. I told him I wanted to understand why he was at the polling station, to which he said he has the right by law. When I asked him to explain, he started offending the former authorities of Armenia, the current authorities of Artsakh, threatened me and the other observers and didnt let us observe the elections. Hovhannisyan added that she is preparing to file a report to the law-enforcement authorities of Artsakh. An application for an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) has been lodged with the court on behalf of Eden Dally against his girlfriend, Cyrell Paule, following a domestic dispute. Officers from Ryde Police Station were called to the couple's Sydney home last week after neighbours overheard them having a heated argument. Dally, 27, and Paule, 30, told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday the incident was just a 'misunderstanding' and the AVO was unnecessary. Legal dramas: An application for an AVO has been lodged with the court on behalf of Eden Dally against his girlfriend, Cyrell Paule, following a domestic dispute. Pictured on February 25 The pair, who welcomed a son named Boston in February, have since reconciled. Paule said: 'We had a fight like most couples do. The next day Eden asked why they're putting an AVO out against me.' Dally added: 'We had a little argument and it was a complete misunderstanding. I'd never get an AVO out against Cyrell. I'm with her right now.' The AVO application was lodged by Constable Chantelle Gibson on behalf of Dally, and served on March 28. Police matter: Officers from Ryde Police Station were called to the couple's Sydney home last week after neighbours overheard them having a heated argument. Pictured on October 6 There are no conditions set on the AVO, indicating there is no interim order. The matter is set to be mentioned at Burwood Local Court on April 17. A NSW Police spokesperson said they were unable to comment because the matter is before the courts. Dally, who rose to fame on Love Island in 2018, and Paule, who was a participant on Married At First Sight last year, began dating in March 2019. 'Little argument': Dally and Paule (pictured with their son, Boston) told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday the incident was just a 'misunderstanding' and the AVO was unnecessary Paule moved into Dally's family home in Drummoyne months later and announced she was pregnant in August. The pair split in late October but had reconciled by the time Paule gave birth to their son on February 9. They have since moved into their own home. NEW HAVEN The health guidelines have been clear: stay safe, stay home. But those without homes have few options to shelter-in-place if theyre not in a crowded shelter or one of the highest risk residents. Mark Colville, who founded Amistad Catholic Worker House with his wife, Luz Catarineau-Colville, has asked Mayor Justin Elicker to designate a building where people experiencing homelessness can shelter-in-place, or to ask Yale University to open its doors. No amount of social work can hide what this pandemic lays bare: there is a permanent underclass of people dwelling in our nations cities who have no way to safely comply with the directive to shelter in place and maintain social distance, Colville wrote in his letter to Elicker. They simply have no place to stay, and nowhere to store personal supplies for daily survival, Colville told Elicker. To live, they have to keep moving. The city plans to use Career High School to house homeless people who are diagnosed with COVID-19, and 84 people are in hotels. But beyond shelters, people the homeless could be moving from place to place. Elicker said Monday the city is coming up with a strategy to serve three different categories of homeless during the pandemic: those diagnosed with the virus, those who may have been exposed but are asymptomatic, and those who dont have reason to believe theyve had contact and apparently do not have the coronavirus. For those in shelters, staying six feet away from another person is impossible, so those at highest risk for catching the virus have been moved to hotels, he said. On Saturday, the state Department of Public Health directed state, local and private sector partners to transition homeless populations into alternative, less congested housing so that people could properly socially distance. From a health perspective, Elicker said opening a facility for the last group that as not been exposed to the virus would be challenging because they dont want people congregating, and the state has ordered all municipalities to decompress homeless shelters and that prevents the formation of new shelters. We were considering another site where they could stay under one roof and address social distancing, but because the state has ordered we decompress, we cant do that anymore, Elicker said. In instances where a member of a group has tested positive for COVID-19 but others are asymptomatic, Elicker wants them to self-isolate separately, which is why the city wants additional hotel rooms made available. Elicker said theyre also considering asking universities about making dorms available. For immediate emergency, theres a whole campus and it seems like the perfect place to lock down and shelter in place, Colville said. Im not saying we should open the whole campus, but youre telling me you cant find one building? For 25 years Colville and his wife have opened their home on Rosette Street to serve breakfast and lunch for anyone in need, working closely with people living without homes. But they can only take in a few people at a time. In this life and death emergency, with all of Yales dorms sitting empty and hundreds of vacant apartments, it seems absurd that we are still feeding, providing showers and laundry services every day to people who are coming from tents, vacant buildings, park benches and bus shelters scattered all across this city and its surrounding towns, Colville said in his letter. In Colvilles experience, theres no shortage of individuals who are willing to make sacrifices to help those in need, but when it comes to institutions helping, we see them fall down and we seem to exempt them in times like these unnecessarily, he said. Additionally, the institutions that are supposed to remedy these situations have had their funding cut, he said. Elicker said he has long admired the work Colville does, and agrees with the goal Colville has laid out, but some logistic and public health concerns make the execution of it a challenge. Colville said hes been in full agreement with Elickers orders thus far to protect the city from the full force of the pandemic, but what the city needs is for it to tell its homeless where they can ride it out. Long before the coronavirus pandemic, people experiencing homelessness have grappled with having a place to remain because theres no place outside a shelter theyre allow to stay put, he said. Colville said a citys health often is measured in the number of visible homeless people on the streets, so institutions do what they can to make those homeless less visible by getting them off park benches and sidewalks. But what they really need is to be remembered and cared for, he said. We dont have a healthy society because were not protecting the most vulnerable, Colville said. If this pandemic can do anything positive, it can teach us that we need to think differently. In the long-term, Colville said he wants to see the city name a space where those without a home can peacefully exist without being criminalized, and, in this emergency, what the city needs is to protect its homeless residents from moving around, acting as a public health threat to themselves and others. Yale and other area universities have opened housing for first responders to self-isolate away from their homes. Colville Letter by Helen Bennett on Scribd mdignan@hearstmediact.com Infiniti Research, a leading market intelligence solutions provider, has recently announced the completion of its latest success story on competitive intelligence engagement for an IT services provider This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005672/en/ IT services (Graphic: Business Wire) Challenge: An IT services provider headquartered in Germany, suffered a decade of sluggish revenue growth and encountered a decline in market position. To cover up for the losses, the client set itself an ambitious target to reduce overall operating costs. However, this required keeping up with key competitors, adopting approaches to tackle security risks, delivering projects on time, and ensuring the safety of user-data. They wanted a partner to help them identify key, strategic focus areas for business growth. They sought to collaborate with Infiniti Research to leverage their expertise in offering competitive intelligence solution. To retain a competitive edge, global IT firms need to be keenly aware of the competitive landscape. Our competitive intelligence solution can help you achieve this strategic objective. Contact us here. Approach: We worked with the client to develop a three-step approach that involved benchmarking key competitors, conducting a risk analysis study to identify security threats, and implementing regulated privacy protection to safeguard user data. Also, our experts identified strategies and processes undertaken by the client's key competitors to ensure timely delivery of projects, deal with rising industry risks, and secure the safety of user data. Business Impact: The client was able to meet their immediate priorities and attain faster time to market. At the same time, the implementation of an AI-based protection system and regulated privacy protections increased the company's reliability. Within six months, they were on a track to achieve huge savings in operating costs. Within the next six months, the client was able to reduce operational cost by 13% and enhance market share by 22%. Also, they were able to identify technologies and processes leveraged by their competitors to tackle security and operational risks in the industry. Having successfully conducted more than 500+ research projects, Infiniti Research is a reliable market intelligence company you can trust for all your research needs. Request more info and our experts will get in touch with you with comprehensive insights. About Infiniti Research Established in 2003, Infiniti Research, is a leading market intelligence company providing smart solutions to address your business challenges. Infiniti Research studies markets in more than 100 countries to help analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions, and develop intelligent business strategies. To know more, visit: https://www.infinitiresearch.com/about-us View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005672/en/ Contacts: Infiniti Research Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 844 778 0600 UK: +44 203 893 3400 https://www.infinitiresearch.com/contact-us A Delhi based social activist, Ajay Gautam, on Tuesday filed a complaint against those who participated in the "illegal gathering" at Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation held at Nizamuddin in the capital despite the coronavirus lockdown. Several people who participated in the event have tested positive for COVID-19. Gautam, in his complaint, alleged the officials of Tabligh-e-Jamaat of hiding information and attempted murder by spreading coronavirus among the citizens of India. The complaint was filed Under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), under the provision of Epidemic Diseases Act and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). It prayed that the police or another competent agency may file an FIR against the accused persons, summon them and punish them according to the law for the offences committed. "An illegal religious gathering at the site was organised dated March 17, 2020, to March 25, 2020, including hundreds of foreigners who came from countries where the coronavirus had already spread in large numbers," the complaint said. It said that the accused persons are not only hiding information about persons who have foreign travel history but also on the infection spread due to the illegal gathering. "As a result of this illegal gathering, the persons who had come from different States like Telangna and Kashmir carried this virus with them and spread the same in various States including Uttar Pardesh," it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. The Star Wars stand alone series The Mandalorian may have a new famous face for season two. A Monday report from MakingStarWars.net suggested that veteran actress Jamie Lee Curtis, 61, will likely join Pedro Pascal and Baby Yoda as she was seen on the set of the Disney+ show recently. Curtis, who is best known for her hit films A Fish Called Wanda and Halloween, is the daughter of Hollywood Golden Age vets Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. The Star Wars franchise is known for casting veterans such as Alec Guinness in A New Hope and Laura Dern in The Last Jedi. New cast member? The Star Wars stand alone series The Mandalorian may have a new famous face for season two; here is a sketch from season one A good choice: A Monday report from MakingStarWars.net suggested that veteran actress Jamie Lee Curtis will likely join Pedro Pascal and Baby Yoda as she was seen on the set recently. Seen in 2018 There was in indication about what character she would play. The writer Jason Ward says that 'for a few days during the filming of Star Wars: The Mandalorians second season I had Jamie Lee Curtis at the location for the filming of the show.' He added that if he was wrong about her being on the set for The Mandalorian, she may have been on the set of a nearby production, Avatar 2. On the go in LA: Pedro Pascal took a casual walk around his Los Feliz, California neighborhood on Tuesday and chatted on his phone through his headphones The two are filming in 'the same general location' he added. 'One day around the set and I can see Curtis having been there for a set visit,' reported Ward. 'But there were multiple times she was around and I think she has a role in the series. I reached out to sources for confirmation and at the moment, and I cant get total confirmation of it because of the current climate of the world if you know what I mean. I reached out to Curtis and I didnt get a response back.' Season one featured Pascal as the main Mandalorian, Din Djarin, who is hunted down after he abducts Baby Yoda after having handing the child over to dark forces that are the last of the Empire. She's got it: Rosario Dawson has reportedly clinched the role of Jedi padawan Ahsoka Tano in the upcoming second season of Disney+ series The Mandalorian Also in the series are Carl Weathers as Greef Karga, Gina Carano as Cara Dune, and Nick Nolte as Kuiil. Season two, which will drop in October 2020, has already added some interesting names like Michael Biehn and Rosario Dawson, who is set to play the live-action version of Ahsoka Tano. Dawson, 40, will be playing the first live-action version of Ahsoka, who has already appeared in the CGI animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels. Both of those series are considered 'canon' by Star Wars aficionados, as they come from original Star Wars creator George Lucas as well as Dave Filoni, who among his many credits include writing for, directing and producing on The Mandalorian. Ahsoka is one of the main protagonists of The Clone Wars, introduced as Anakin Skywalker's premiere Jedi padawan apprentice. She is of the Togruta race of aliens, characterized by her orange skin and unique striped headpiece or 'headtails'. Fan-favorite: Ahsoka was introduced in the CGI series Star Wars: The Clone Wars as Anakin Skywalker's premiere Jedi padawan apprentice 'Yes please!': Dawson's casting is a Star Wars fan's dream come true, as the actress herself stated her desire to play Ahsoka way back in 2017 when responding to a user on Twitter For those keeping track, Anakin is the Jedi master who eventually becomes Darth Vader played by actor Hayden Christensen in Lucas's Star Wars prequels in the early aughts. Dawson's casting is a Star Wars fan's dream come true, quite literally, as the 25th Hour actress herself stated her desire to play Ahsoka way back in 2017 when responding to a user on Twitter. That tweet spurred fans everywhere to campaign for Rosario to appear in a Star Wars movie as the character, which she even acknowledged on Good Morning America months later, saying that 'it would be amazing!' and asking, 'Internet, help me out!' Expanding world: It remains to be seen exactly how Dawson's character will figure into the world populated by Mandalorians, a creed of assassins made famous by Bobba Fett in the original films The Mandalorian is a sci-fi western, set in the world of Star Wars that quickly became a cultural phenomenon at the end of last year, largely thanks to the adorable Baby Yoda character (known on the show as 'The Child'). It remains to be seen exactly how Dawson's character Ahsoka Tano will figure into the world populated by Mandalorians, a creed of assassins made famous by Bobba Fett in the original films. In February, Variety reported that The Madalorian is slated to return to the Disney+ streaming platform with new episodes in October of this year it remains to be seen whether the show will be able to meet that date in light of the current industry-wide halt in production due to coronavirus. State-owned SJVN on Tuesday said it has paid a sum of about Rs 400 crore and 179 crore to the Centre and the Himachal Pradesh government, respectively, as an interim dividend for the financial year 2019-20. Engaged in the generation of power, SJVN is a joint venture between the Government of India and the Himachal Pradesh government. "SJVN Chairman Nand Lal Sharma has paid Rs 179.35 crore as interim dividend to government of Himachal Pradesh through cheque was handed over to Jai Ram Thakur, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh," the company said in a statement. For the financial year 2019-20, a total interim dividend of Rs 668.07 crore was announced by the company. "While Rs 400.32 crore has been paid to Government of India, Rs 88.40 crores are being paid to public shareholders as interim dividend," the SJVN chairman said in the statement. In the company, the government of Himachal Pradesh holds 26.85 per cent stake, while 59.92 shares are with the Government of India and the rest 13.23 per cent are with the public. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) Two towns and one province in Luzon confirm their first COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. Angono, Rizal Mayor Jeri Mae Calderon confirmed the first case of the disease in their town via Facebook Live. The patient is from Barangay San Isidro and currently confined in a hospital, she said. Dagupan City in Pangasinan also recorded its first cases of the disease today. In a statement, the city government confirmed there are four cases in their area. Two of the positive cases in Dagupan City are in their self-imposed quarantine in their home at Barangay Poco Chico. Due to these new cases, Mayor Marc Brian Lim ordered a total lockdown in the said barangay. The two other COVID-19 positive patients in Dagupan are currently isolated in the Region I Medical Center. Lim clarified there is no lockdown in the area of the said hospital. Ilocos Norte also announced its first COVID-19 cases in the province. The provincial government confirmed their first two cases in a Facebook post. The patients are confined at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center. Contact tracing is now ongoing for all the three places which declared their first COVID-19 cases today. The respective leaders of the three areas in Luzon urged their citizens to stay at home to prevent the spread of the disease in their locality. The Department of Health announced today a new all-time high number of COVID-19 cases recorded in a single day in the country. A total of 538 cases were added to the tally as the Philippines now has 2,084 confirmed cases of the disease. Some 88 persons died and 49 patients recovered from the virus. Election observers report a series of polling day incidents in volatile north and centre of the country. Malis parliamentary elections were marred by kidnappings, ransacked polling stations and a deadly roadside bomb attack, according to local officials. Voters in the war-torn West African country cast their ballots on Sunday to choose new MPs, in an election that was long delayed, mostly because of security concerns. There were also heightened fears about insecurity in the run-up to the poll, especially following last weeks kidnapping of Soumaila Cisse, a leading opposition politician. The concerns appeared to have been justified as local election observers recorded a string of incidents in the volatile north and centre of the country. These included kidnappings of village chiefs, election officials and one observer, the Cocem electoral observation group said in a statement on Monday. There were also death threats and ransacked polling stations, added the group, which had deployed some 1,600 observers across the country. Adding to the kidnappings, nine people were killed in central Mali on Sunday when their vehicle hit a landmine, a local elected official, who declined to be named, was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. The death toll could not be independently verified. Colonel Boubacar Yansari Sanogo, the regions military commander, told AFP that the violence continued on Monday when an army vehicle hit a roadside bomb. Three soldiers died in the attack, he said, and three were wounded. Mali has been struggling to contain a conflict that first broke out in the countrys north in 2012 and then engulfed the centre, killing thousands of soldiers and civilians since. The al-Qaeda-aligned GSIM group has claimed responsibility for several recent attacks in central Mali, according to statements verified on Monday by the SITE Intelligence Group, a monitoring group. These include the ambush on Friday of Malian soldiers who were escorting election materials, and a deadly attack on traditional Dozo hunters on Saturday. Experts hope that Sundays election for Malis 147-seat parliament will renew the impetus to implement reforms that could drag the country out of its cycle of violence. Posted on: March 31, 2020 3:09 PM [ACNS, by Staff Writer] The wife of the Bishop of Bari and a diocesan secretary have been released more than a week after they were kidnapped by gunmen in Nigerias Kana State. Saratu Zubairu, the wife of the Bishop of Bari, Idris Ado Zubairu, and a church secretary identified only as Deborah, were abducted when a gang attacked and looted the village of Gidan Mato, where the cathedral and bishops office are situated. News of their release was announced by the then-Archbishop of Nigeria, Nicholas Okoh, during a live televised broadcast on Friday night (20 March). The broadcast, on the provnices television station ACNNTV, was showing the consecration of five new bishops and the installation of two archbishops at the Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity in Kogi. The international charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide, which campaigns for the persecuted church, said that it welcomed the release and wish both women a speedy recovery from this shocking ordeal. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 22:19:50|Editor: zyl Video Player Close NAIROBI, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's ministry of health on Tuesday confirmed that nine additional cases have tested positive to coronavirus, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases to 59. Mercy Mwangangi, chief administrative secretary in the Ministry of Health, said that the cases were part of the 234 samples that were tested by medical personnel in the last 24 hours. "We are in the process of tracing contacts of the nine cases. So far, total close contacts reported were 1,658 and out of this number, 508 have been discharged after completing 14-day mandatory follow-up," Mwangangi told journalists in Nairobi. Mwangangi disclosed that a team of medical personnel is monitoring 1,163 contacts of the confirmed cases. She said that besides Mbagathi Hospital isolation facility that has 120-bed capacities, Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital is also ready for use with a 300-bed capacity. "We are looking at the possibility of turning some boarding schools into isolation units in the near future should the situation worsens," Mwangangi. She told county governments to help identify viable institutions in readiness for use in the event that the number of people tested positive continue to rise. The official said the ministry is in the process of hiring additional 1,000 health workers to assist the current staff. She revealed that the government is in talks with local industries to help manufacture urgently required medical equipments to hasten the management of the condition of people who test positive. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 16:04:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday spoke with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counselor to French President Emmanuel Macron, with the two sides vowing to uphold multilateralism in the joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Wang said that the two heads of state recently called on the international community to unite in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic at the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit, injecting important impetus into global cooperation against the outbreak. In the face of the global spread of the pandemic, the international community should strengthen confidence and respond with cooperation, instead of going its own way, Wang added. Noting that China, despite its huge domestic demand, remains open to the export of anti-epidemic supplies, Wang said the Chinese side believes that helping other countries combat the epidemic is also helping the country itself. China will continue to provide assistance to France in purchasing supplies and equipment for epidemic control, he added. The fight against the pandemic once again demonstrates that mankind, living in a global village together, is a community with a shared future, Wang said, urging to hold high the banner of multilateralism in the joint efforts to address various global challenges. Noting that any unilateralism or egotism is neither desirable nor popular, Wang said the Chinese side stands ready to strengthen multilateral cooperation and coordination with the French side in the joint fight against the pandemic. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China holds a positive attitude towards any initiative conducive to promoting international cooperation in epidemic control and stands ready to maintain communication with all parties, including France. It is imperative to fully implement the important consensus reached at the G20 leaders' summit, he added. Bonne, for his part, said both sides share highly consistent views and that facing the rapid spread of the epidemic, the international community needs to unite as one and step up coordination so as to prevail over the difficulties together. He thanked China for its support of anti-epidemic supplies to France, which demonstrates the profound friendship and good relations between France and China, while hoping that China will continue to provide convenience to France's commercial procurement of anti-epidemic equipment in China. Bonne said the French side is satisfied with the outcomes of the G20 leaders' summit, and stands ready to work with the Chinese side to uphold multilateralism, advance cooperation under such multilateral frameworks as the UN Security Council, and advance third-party cooperation in the health care and economic development in Africa. When the epidemic is over, he added, high-level exchanges and practical cooperation between France and China will make further progress. 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 The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group in formation in the Indo-Pacific region on January 25. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kaylianna Genier The commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, which was forced into port in Guam because of a coronavirus outbreak, said in a letter to the Navy on Monday that "the spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating." "Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset our Sailors," Capt. Brett Crozier wrote in the letter, which was exclusively obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle. He called on the Navy to find rooms off the ship to isolate almost the entire crew, a drastic measure the captain said was necessary to achieve a clean ship. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The commanding officer of a deployed aircraft carrier hit by a coronavirus outbreak is pleading with the US Navy for help, pushing the service to isolate all crew members off the ship, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Tuesday. The Navy had reported three coronavirus cases aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt last Tuesday, and the number of cases spiked to more than 30 by Friday, Fox News reported at the time. The Chronicle reported that there were now over 100 cases aboard the carrier. The ship was forced into port in Guam, where the Navy is testing the entire crew for the virus. The Navy has insisted that the ship remains operationally capable. "The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating," Capt. Brett Crozier, the carrier's commanding officer, wrote in a letter to the Navy exclusively obtained by the Chronicle. A source aboard the ship told the Chronicle that as many as 150 to 200 sailors had COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. There are two possible end states for the Roosevelt, the captain wrote in his letter. It could "maximize warfighting readiness and capacity as quickly as possible," he wrote, adding: "We go to war with the force we have and fight sick. We never achieve a COVID-free TR. There will be losses to the virus." Story continues Or, he said, the Navy could take "immediate and decisive action" to achieve a clean ship. "We are not at war," Crozier told the Navy. "Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset our Sailors." Crozier called for isolating most of the carrier's nearly 5,000 crew members off the ship, acknowledging that doing so might be considered an "extraordinary measure." He said that keeping thousands "of young men and women on board the TR is an unnecessary risk and breaks faith with those sailors entrusted to our care." The captain said that the current strategy, which involves removing only a few sailors, "will only slow the spread" and "will not achieve virus eradication on any timeline." He argued that the Navy's focus on testing over proper quarantining was inappropriate and said he was requesting "all available resources to find NAVADMIN and CDC compliant quarantine rooms for my entire crew as soon as possible." A Navy official told Insider that the Roosevelt's commanding officer "alerted leadership in the Pacific Fleet" of "continuing challenges in isolating the virus." "The ship's commanding officer advocated for housing more members of the crew in facilities that allow for better isolation," the official said. "Navy leadership is moving quickly to take all necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt, and is pursuing options to address the concerns raised by the commanding officer." Read the original article on Business Insider Gin distilleries and breweries in the UK have launched an effort to boost hand sanitiser supplies and are working closely with Scotland Yard to keep their officers stocked up during the shortages triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. Regularly washing hands with soap and water and keeping hands sanitised is the central advice for the fight against the rapidly spreading virus, which has claimed 1,408 lives in the UK. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), at the frontline of enforcing the government's stay at home message, said it was feeling the squeeze as the demand for hygiene products skyrockets during the Covid-19 outbreak. Hand sanitiser is a crucial item for officers and staff in the MPS, especially those on the frontline who are patrolling the streets of London, dealing with prisoners in custody and attending crime scenes. Planning ahead to ensure the MPS continues to have a sufficient supply of hand sanitiser, staff in the force's Commercial Services department started to pursue alternative sources for the product, the Met Police said on Tuesday. The force identified the alcohol industry as an alternative source for the provision of hand sanitisers and opened talks with a range of gin distilleries and breweries, several based in London, with many offering to supply hand sanitisers to the force. Portobello Road Gin in Notting Hill, 58 Gin Ltd from Haggerston and Copper Rivet Distillery from Chatham are among the companies joining the drive. Other distilleries are also in conversation with other police forces and public bodies with similar plans. And, Budweiser Brewing Group has said it would donate 6,000 litres of hand sanitiser free of charge to the Met Police. Hand sanitiser is an essential item for our officers and staff, especially those on the frontline. So I am extremely grateful to all of the suppliers who have agreed to work with us and provide us with this vital commodity, which will help prevent the spread of Covid-19 and ultimately save lives, said Mark Roberts, Director of Commercial Services at the Met Police. I'd also like to say a special thank you to Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, which is very kindly going to donate 6,000 litres of this critical product to us. It shows the importance and necessity of everyone working together in these challenging times, he said. The proposal was given the green light recently after ensuring health and safety guidelines were met, with the first delivery of the hand sanitisers to begin by the start of April. The Met Police revealed that all the analysis, research and exploratory discussions were carried out in under 72 hours by two placement students, under tutelage from leaders in commercial services. The orders were then placed within one week of starting discussions. All potential suppliers are producing and selling the hand sanitisers using the formulation provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO), allowing the product to be made in a timely manner. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 of this writing, according to Real Clear Politics's "Coronavirus Tracker," Europe has been the hardest hit by the Wuhan virus pandemic. Several factors have made this the case, but I believe, and multiple reports confirm, that there is little doubt that one of the biggest reasons why Italy, Spain, France, Germany, et al. have suffered so from this virus is because the average European is so much older than most of the rest of the world. Time and again over the last few weeks, we've seen and heard how the Wuhan virus is much more dangerous for the elderly. All over the world, the death rates for older adults reveal this to be true. As Business Insider, and more recently Vox, reveal, the older you are, the more deadly is the Wuhan virus. By median age, Europe is easily the world's oldest continent. Seven of the European nations hardest hit by the Wuhan virus rank in the top 40 (out of 230) in median age. Additionally, of the nine European nations with more than 100 Wuhan virus deaths, each of them is in the world's top 25 when it comes to the percentage of their population age 65 or older. However one looks at it, it's clear that Europe is an old continent, and this is one of the reasons why the Wuhan virus has hit it harder than much of the rest of the world. This raises the question: why is Europe so much older than the rest of the world? One reason in particular is because Europe is simply not having enough children. Compared to other continents, Europe has the world's lowest fertility rates. Compared to individual nations, Spain and Italy are nearly at the bottom. So why isn't Europe having children? A U.K. Vogue article from last year provides us with an anecdotal answer that I believe demonstrates what is widely believed across Europe. In a piece entitled "Not All Women Want to Be Mothers," Dr. Peggy Drexler declares that one reason for this is that children are "bad for the planet." She goes on: "[s]cience has long stated that having a child is pretty much the worst thing you can do for the environment; one study out of Sweden found that having one fewer child per family can save nearly 60 tons of carbon-equivalent emissions a year." Along with being highest in age and lowest in birthing rates, Europe also is easily the world's "greenest" continent. European nations dominate the top of the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). Of the nine European nations with more than 100 Wuhan virus deaths, each of them is in the top 18 out of 180 (top 10%) in the latest EPI. In other words, the left-wingers who dominate Europe's electorate and state houses have long been sold on the man-made global warming/climate change scam. This has turned them into an old and aging continent, thus they are more vulnerable to a wide variety of attacks. Though the Wuhan virus is terrible for humanity, many on the left think it's great for the planet. The climate kooks at CNN recently declared, "There's an unlikely beneficiary of coronavirus: the planet." As if there was some coordination in their messaging, the same day, USA Today asked, "Could the coronavirus actually be saving lives in some parts of the world because of reduced pollution?" Why would anyone want to put such fools in charge of our nation's health care? Unsurprisingly, warmists also want to blame climate change for the Wuhan virus. Ron Klain former chief of staff to Vice Presidents Al Gore and Joe Biden and Obama's "Ebola czar" recently concluded: There is one more thing we can do to reduce the risk of spread from animals to humans, and that's combat climate change. Climate change is driving this problem to some extent. ... Climate change has a lot, a lot, a lot of bad effects. What we don't think about very often is it's a driver of these epidemics, but it certainly makes our risks go up on this planet. To many American leftists, "combating climate change" means enacting the Green New Deal. While millions of Americans are champing at the bit to get our fabulous fossil-fueled economy rolling again, warmists like Joe Biden think the Wuhan virus pandemic provides an excellent opportunity for pushing the agenda of the Green New Deal. As if the Wuhan virus hasn't been hard enough on our economy, Biden and his ilk want to spend trillions more on this leftist boondoggle. What's more, it turns out a number of the left's favorite "green" habits have proven deadly during this pandemic. As John Nolte at Breitbart put it: [H]ow smart does urban living, mass transit, open borders, reusable straws, reusable grocery bags, reusable water bottles, gun restrictions, over-regulated housing, using the Centers for Disease Control to fight gun violence, and outsourcing to China look now? Nolte adds: What do these environmental loons think? That the whole idea of disposable items was just for laughs? ... No, the reason disposable items became so popular was sanitation. What could be safer than removing a straw from a sealed paper sleeve? Those straws are now outlawed in California. What could be safer than single-use grocery bags where you throw away that leaked meat juice instead of carrying it around until you finally throw the bags in the wash? Those single-use bags are now banned in eight states, including New York, whose ban took effect on March 1. But wait just an ironic minute! Only days ago, Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker announced a ban on reusable shopping bags. Gov. Baker declared, "From now on, reusable bags are prohibited and all regulations on plastic bag bans are lifted." This was necessary because the city of Boston and almost certainly many other Massachusetts municipalities had a ban on disposable, single-use shopping bags. As Michael Graham of the Boston Herald noted, "[w]hat's happened is that workers in grocery stores are complaining about the filthy, germ-infested reusable bags they're being asked to stick their arms into on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis." These moronic bans exist because for so many on the left, as Graham rightly concludes, "science comes second. Politics comes first." Speaking of science and politics, like most other diseases, it seems that the Wuhan virus discriminates. A recent report out of Italy revealed that men were nearly three times more likely to die from the Wuhan virus than were women. The L.A. Times also reports that the Wuhan virus mortality numbers out of Italy are very much in line with what is happening in China and South Korea. Additionally, the L.A. Times reveals that, according to a pediatric infectious disease specialist, there's evidence that strongly suggests "that there's something about estrogen that protects against the ravages of deadly coronaviruses." Also, Kent Pinkerton, professor of pediatrics at U.C. Davis, suspects that our response to the Wuhan virus reveals "important distinctions between the way that men's and women's immune systems fight infection" and that "hormonal differences may be playing a key role in that immune response." Imagine that! There are differences between males and females in matters of life and death, no less! Yet according to the dogma of the left, male and female are merely social constructs foisted upon the culture by the "unwoke." Today's leftists have so embraced this wickedness that we have fake females (males) taking trophies from girls and women, women claiming to be fathers, people threatened with arrest or job loss because of pronoun "misuse," drag queen story time, taxpayers being forced to fund what is medically impossible, and supposed champions for women who can't define a woman. How long before these immoral malcontents force "gender neutral" demands on medical research and drug development? All of this evil is courtesy of the modern left and the political party that runs. Again, why would anyone want to put these fools in charge of battling a pandemic or our nation's health care? Liberalism is not only dangerous; it is deadly. Remember this every time you vote! Trevor Grant Thomas: At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason. www.trevorgrantthomas.com Trevor is the author of the The Miracle and Magnificence of America. tthomas@trevorgrantthomas.com Guinness World Records, the global authority on record-breaking, announces today, that Robert Weighton, from the UK, is the oldest person living (male) aged 112 and 1 day. Adhering to current UK rules around social distancing, Guinness World Records were unable to meet Bob in person as they normally would, instead the assisted living home where he lives arranged for Happy Birthday to be sung to him on his balcony and presented him with his certificate, all from a safe distance. The evidence was scrutinised by Guinness World Records Senior Gerontology Consultant Robert Young and Weighton received the record-title after Chitetsu Watanabe (Japan, born March 5, 1907) passed away on February 23 at 112 years and 355 days. Born on March 29, 1908, in Kingston-Upon-Hull, Yorkshire, he was one of seven children. His father paid an extra 3 ($3.7) a term so he could stay at school until he was 16, which enabled him to take up a marine engineering apprenticeship. After qualifying, Weighton moved to Taiwan to teach at a missionary school, although he first had to spend two years in Japan learning the language. In 1937, Weighton married his wife, Agnes, a teacher he had known since they studied together in England. After marrying in Hong Kong, they returned to Taiwan, where their first child was born. The family decided to return to the UK in 1939, but were diverted to Toronto, Canada, due to the onset of the Second World War. While in Canada, the couple had two more children. They returned to the UK once the war had ended, Weighton eventually took on a teaching position at City University, London. As of 2016, Weighton has 10 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. He became a supercentenarian in March 2018. On receiving the Guinness record, Weighton said: "I cant say I am pleased to hear that the previous holder has died but I am very pleased that I've been able to live so long and make so many friends." The oldest person (living and female) is from Japan. Kane Tanaka (Japan, born January 2, 1903) of Fukuoka, is aged 117 years and 88 days. The oldest person ever to have lived was Jeanne Louise Calment (France, born February 21, 1875) who lived for upto 122 years and 164 days. The oldest person ever (male) is Jiroemon Kimura (Japan, born April 19, 1897) and passed away aged 116 years 54 days on June 12, 2013.-TradeArabia News Service When Jimena and Julia Lopez were young girls, their parents were delighted by their innocent and joyful personalities. The girls quick to smile, loving, compassionate and bright were friendly and never met a stranger. Finances were tight in the Lopez household, but Jesus and Veronica wanted to be intentional with their daughters education. Unsure of the school in their low-income neighborhood, they looked at small, private schools. Worried about committing to the tuition, they turned to a local charter school. When Julia started kindergarten and Jimena was in second grade, Jesus and Veronica tried again to pursue a private Christian school for the girls. They tried one, but the scholarships didnt work out, and they returned to the charter school for first and third grades. The family needed support to make private schooling possible. Since they lived in Tucson without much family and with English as a second language, they required help figuring out the scholarship tax credit program. In the spring of 2016, they toured Faith Community Academy, which has a lower tuition than many private schools. Together, the school and family researched tax credit scholarship programs. ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Academy of PAs (AAPA) is calling on governors in all states to waive physician supervision or collaboration requirements for PAs (physician assistants) during a declared public health emergency or disaster through executive orders. PAs are required to have a supervisory or collaborative agreement with a physician in order to practice in most states. This unnecessarily complicates where and how PAs can practice during a disaster or emergency and most especially during a crisis like a pandemic. Just four states Maine, Michigan, New York, and Tennessee have waived physician supervision or collaboration requirements for PAs in executive orders related to COVID-19. Fourteen states previously removed physician supervision requirements in legislation for PAs during emergencies or disasters. The majority of states do not have this crucial provision to remove supervisory or collaborative agreement requirements during a disaster or emergency. This severely limits the flexibility of the entire healthcare team to provide care in fluid situations like the current COVID-19 crisis, said AAPA President David E. Mittman, PA, DFAAPA, who authored this related commentary in The Hill newspaper on March 28. PAs are already a crucial part of the on-the-ground efforts to administer tests, and diagnose and treat patients, Mittman added. But governors must take steps immediately to remove all barriers so that every PA can fully mobilize and contribute to the COVID-19 response effort. At a time when our healthcare workforce and system is stretched beyond its limits in responding to this crisis, every team member is essential. Archaic supervision requirements are limiting the PA response during this pandemic. Patients need PAs, and our fellow healthcare team members need PAs. We must be allowed to practice to the top of our education, training, and experience. As an example, a surgical PA who is no longer in the operating room because elective procedures have been postponed could help test and diagnose COVID-19 patients at their hospital. But because the physician with whom that PA has an agreement would not be working with them to test and diagnose patients, the PA cant conduct them. PAs are highly trained and qualified medical professionals, who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patients principal healthcare provider. There are more than 140,000 PAs in the U.S. who work in all medical settings and specialties. PAs are trained at the masters degree level. PA programs are approximately 27 months (three academic years) and include classroom instruction and more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations. Recently, Congress demonstrated federal support for maximizing the PA workforce by passing the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act as an inclusion in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, signed by the president on March 27. This legislation permanently authorizes PAs and nurse practitioners to order home healthcare services for Medicare patients, helping to free up hospital beds for COVID-19 patients and decrease the spread of the virus by moving patients back into the home setting, away from exposures to the virus. However, additional action on the state level is needed to eliminate other outdated, unnecessary barriers and to increase patient access to healthcare providers during this national health crisis. To learn more about PAs, go to aaap.org. ### About the American Academy of PAs AAPA is the national membership organization for all PAs. PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patients principal healthcare provider. Learn more about the profession at aapa.org and engage through Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. A man is due before a Cork court later today charged in connection with an aggravated burglary in the city. It happened in the Mahon area early yesterday morning. YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... MBABANE Small business owners are distraught following the illegal closure of their businesses by law enforcers countrywide. Hairdressing salons, dressmaking and retail outlets are some of the small businesses which were yesterday affected by the illegal action of security forces as the country is on a 20-day partial lockdown. A group of police officers forced hairdressers out of their workplaces at the Commercial Centre in the capital city yesterday; and were carrying batons while shouting at the frightened employees. What seemed to be the gripe, according to the small business owners, was that neither government nor the law enforcers had notified them that they should close, but the police came to their businesses and ordered them to close shop. Nokubongwa Mamba, who operates her salon at the business centre narrated that she was in her business at 8:15am when a uniformed police officer who was carrying a baton stormed inside and demanded that she leaves. Aggressive I asked why he wanted me to leave because it was early in the morning and the salon did not have any customer. However, he was aggressive and simply told me that he would forcefully drag me out if I defied his order, the shocked businesswoman said. She said she went out as instructed and did not even close the windows due to the trauma she had experienced. The hairdresser wondered why government had deemed the exercise as a partial lockdown when in essence it seemed to be a total lockdown. Mamba expressed her concern on the confusion government had caused for small business owners in the country as she stated that they had not received any communication from government that there was a total shutdown of businesses. The business owner also registered her dissatisfaction on the law enforcers for the manner in which they dealt with them. She was of the view that government was not willing to assist them yet it wanted to close their businesses. In the same breath, another hairdresser shared the same sentiments. She also expressed her confusion on the law enforcers actions. Eswatini declared a partial lockdown and we seek clarity on what exactly it entails as it now appears that all shops are being closed and everyone is chased home. Why were emaSwati, especially businesspeople, not notified of this, why are we being closed? (Photo : pixabay) Essay writing is an essential academic procedure for students; essays are used to assess the student's level of perception. Students' capacity to write an essay decides their evaluations. In any case, students feel overpowered by a few essay assignments like research projects, assessment tests, or other writing-related tasks that build 80 percent of their evaluations. In school, most students are always forced to keep up good grades. An examination directed by a college in the US indicated most students who purchased essays from a custom essay writing service are international students. 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It can be all Smoke and Mirror Looking for an essay help accompanies a great deal of vulnerability since one can get appropriated work. There are examples where a person's work can be named cheating if he arranges for custom essays and hands over the work as a unique essay. Students don't have the chance to rewrite essays, particularly after seeing examples of essays from an expert. Instead, they use similar words used by the author. Most companies imply to offer the best essay writing services advantages yet are out to bring in cash from clueless students. A part of the online services doesn't thoroughly question student tasks, they reorder from different sources, submitting appropriated material to customers. Students get punished for cheating and end up with lower grades. There are a lot of custom essay writing services that help students with defeating academic weight. However, a few companies offer awful quality or copied essays. 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Currently home to 320 people and staffed by over 1,300 full-time employees, news from the Richmond State Supported Living Center mirrors reports from the Denton State Supported Living Center, the states largest facility of its kind, where 54 confirmed cases including 45 residents and nine staff members were confirmed of Monday, March 30. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: Houston to open second test site Last week, Denton County officials asked Governor Greg Abbott to set up a field hospital at the Denton facility saying a rapid rise in cases from the facility could overwhelm local hospitals. The residents and 1,400 employees of the Facility are at great risk for a rapid devastating spread of COVID-19 throughout the campus, Denton Mayor Chris Watts and Denton County Judge Andy Eads wrote Abbott in a March 24 letter. In such an event, the local medical capacity could be quickly overwhelmed. No field hospital has been established but state officials are reportedly coordinating with area hospitals for services for facility residents. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus expert Dr. Peter Hotez: New Orleans is a hot spot. Will Houston be next? Keeping our residents and staff healthy and safe is our top priority. We are working closely with Fort Bend County Health and Human Services and the Texas Department of State Health Services and taking precautions to prevent spread of infection in the center and the community, Scott Schalchlin, HHS Associate Commissioner for State Supported Living Centers said in a press release. Visitor restrictions will remain in place at all state supported living centers and we will continue to routinely screening staff, residents, and any essential visitor prior to entry on campus. Nonessential visitation at state supported living centers across the state was suspended on March 13. According to Fort Bend County health officials, two infected residents at the Richmond facility are residents are in their 60s that have been hospitalized. "Our staff is working alongside Richmond State Supported Living Center staff to implement additional infection prevention and control measures to protect the residents and staff, Jacquelyn Minter, Fort Bend County Health and Human Services director, said in a statement. The Richmond facility serves a 13 county area that includes Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jefferson, Matagorda, Orange, Waller and Wharton. Fort Bend County Health & Human Services (FBC HHS) officials say medical personnel are currently investigating the cases reported at the Richmond facility to identify potential contacts. No information has yet been released as to how many residents and facility employees at the Richmond facility have been tested for COVID-19. One month ago, the U.S. government and the Taliban signed a troop withdrawal agreement that paved the way for an intra-Afghan dialogue meant to end a nearly 19-year war. However, due to various obstacles, and despite extensive mediation by senior U.S. officials, including a surprise visit to Kabul by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on March 23, that dialogue has not begun. In the meantime, the Taliban has stepped up attacks. Still, recent developments, including progress on a Taliban prisoner release plan, suggest the stalemate could soon end. This online-only event, organized by the Wilson Center's Asia Program in partnership with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, will discuss where things stand with peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan; what can be done to overcome the challenges; what the coronavirus could mean for Afghan peace prospects; and what role Washington should play. WHEN: March 30, 2020 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM WHERE: Watch live on Wilson Center's website. Questions for the panelists can be tweeted to @AsiaProgram or emailed to asia@wilsoncenter.org. SPEAKERS: Sami Mahdi Bureau Chief, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Afghanistan Service (Radio Azadi) Nilofar Sakhi Professorial Lecturer in International Affairs, George Washington University Ashley Jackson Research Associate, Overseas Development Institute Laurel Miller Director, Asia Program, International Crisis Group, and Former Acting U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan MODERATOR: 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. BELGRADE, Serbia Soldiers patrol the streets with their fingers on machine gun triggers. The army guards an exhibition center-turned-makeshift-hospital crowded with rows of metal beds for those infected with the coronavirus. And Serbias president warns residents that Belgrades graveyards wont be big enough to bury the dead if people ignore his governments lockdown orders. Since President Aleksandar Vucic announced an open-ended state of emergency on March 15, parliament has been sidelined, borders shut, a 12-hour police-enforced curfew imposed and people over 65 banned from leaving their homes some of Europes strictest measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The Serbian leader, who makes dramatic daily appearances issuing new decrees, has assumed full power, prompting an outcry from opponents who say he has seized control of the state in an unconstitutional manner. Rodoljub Sabic, a former state commissioner for personal data protection, says by proclaiming a state of emergency, Vucic has assumed full supremacy over decision-making during the crisis, although his constitutional role is only ceremonial. He issues orders which are automatically accepted by the government, Sabic said. No checks and balances. In ex-communist Eastern Europe and elsewhere, populist leaders are introducing harsh measures including uncontrolled cellphone surveillance of their citizens and lengthy jail sentences for those who flout lockdown decrees. The human rights chief of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said while she understands the need to act swiftly to protect populations from the COVID-19 pandemic, the newly declared states of emergency must include a time limit and parliamentary oversight. A state of emergency wherever it is declared and for whatever reason must be proportionate to its aim, and only remain in place for as long as absolutely necessary, said the OSCE rights chief, Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir. In times of national emergency, countries often take steps that rights activists see as curtailing civil liberties, such as increased surveillance, curfews and restrictions on travel, or limiting freedom of expression. China locked down whole cities earlier this year to stop the spread of the virus as India did with the whole nation. Amnesty International researcher Massimo Moratti said states of emergency are allowed under international human rights law but warned that the restrictive measures should not become a new normal. Such states need to last only until the danger lasts, he told The Associated Press. In European Union-member Hungary, parliament on Monday passed a law giving Prime Minister Viktor Orbans government the right to rule by decree for as long as a state of emergency declared March 11 is in effect. The law also sets prison terms of up to five years for those convicted of spreading false information about the pandemic and up to eight years for those interfering with efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, like a curfew or quarantine. Rights groups and officials say the law creates the possibility of an indefinite state of emergency and gives Orban and his government carte blanche to restrict human rights and crack down on freedom of the press. Orban is dismantling democracy in front of our eyes,said Tanja Fajon, a member of the European Parliament, This is a shame for Europe, its fundamental values and democracy. He (Orban) abused coronavirus as an excuse to kill democracy and media freedom. This is not the way to address the very real crisis that has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, said David Vig, Amnesty Internationals Hungary director. Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga said criticism of Hungarys bill were political attacks based on the wrong interpretation or intentional distortion of its contents. Other governments have also adopted extreme measures. In Israel, Benjamin Netanyahus caretaker government passed a series of emergency executive measures to try to quell the spread of the new virus. These include authorizing unprecedented electronic surveillance of Israeli citizens and a slowdown of court activity that forced the postponement of Netanyahus own pending corruption trial. In Russia, authorities have turned up the pressure on media outlets and social media users to control the narrative amid the countrys growing coronavirus outbreak. Moscow went on lockdown Monday and many other regions quickly followed suit. Under the guise of weeding out coronavirus-related fake news, law enforcement has cracked down on people sharing opinions on social media, and on media that criticize the governments response to the outbreak. In Poland, people are worried about a new government smartphone application introduced for people in home quarantine. Panoptykon Foundation, a human rights group that opposes surveillance, says some users who support government efforts to fight the pandemic worry that by using the app they could be giving too much private data to the conservative government. While nearly 800 coronavirus cases and 16 deaths have been recorded in Serbia, according to Johns Hopkins University, testing has been extremely limited and experts believe the figures greatly under-represent the real number of victims. Most people suffer mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, from the virus but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, more severe illness can occur, including pneumonia and death. Images of the transformation of a huge communist-era exhibition hall in Belgrade into a makeshift hospital for infected patients has triggered widespread public fear of the detention camp-looking facility that is filled with row-upon-row of 3,000 metal beds. The Serbian president said he was glad that people got scared, adding he would have chosen even a worse-looking spot if that would stop Serbs from flouting his stay-at-home orders. Someone has to spend 14 to 28 days there, Vucic said. If its not comfortable, I dont care. We are fighting for peoples lives. Do not Drown Belgrade, a group of civic activists, has launched an online petition against what they call Vucics abuse of power and curtailing of basic human rights. It says his frequent public appearances are creating panic in an already worried society. We do not need Vucics daily dramatization, but the truth: Concrete data and instructions from experts, the petition says. ___ Associated Press writers Jovana Gec, Pablo Gorondi in Budapest, Hungary, and Vanessa Gera in Warsaw contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak The Vietnamese Government has decided to suspend cross-border activities of individuals at main and secondary border gates, and trails in border areas sharing with Cambodia and Laos from April 1. At the Cha Lo international border gate in central Quang Binh province The decision was delivered to the Lao and Cambodian Embassies in Vietnam. Vietnam wishes to receive cooperation of the two neighbouring countries governments. It will continue to coordinate closely with countries in the region and around the world to early control the pandemic. Amid COVID-19 impacts, countries and territories around the globe have implemented many strong measures to fight against the pandmic. ASEAN member nations have restricted entry and exit activities at different levels. Cambodia on March 20 announced the suspension of activities at the countrys border gates with Vietnam from March 30 to April 19, while Laos suspended individuals entry at all international border gates across the country from March 30 to April 19. Previously, the Lao government also ordered the temporary closure of 10 border gates with its neighbouring countries, including Vietnam, from March 19 to April 20, amid the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus in the world./. Trade Ministry proposes reopening of auxiliary border gates with China The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has proposed Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc permit customs clearance of goods through auxiliary border gates on the Vietnam-China border. This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form An A&E doctor who misdiagnosed an 11-year-old boy with constipation and left him to die of bowel failure is to keep her NHS job after she was hailed as a 'competent and dedicated medical practitioner' by regulators. Dr Aine Mullen, 35, wrongly diagnosed Stephen McElroy, from Northern Ireland, and sent him home with a laxative after the boy was admitted to hospital with severe stomach pain. However just six hours after being discharged, Stephen was rushed back into A&E after his condition deteriorated dramatically and his parents noticed his lips and hands had gone purple and his eyes were 'sunken in his head.' The schoolboy died the following day despite attempts to revive him and tests showed he had suffered a severe bowel obstruction and he could have survived had Mullen sent him for an X-ray. Stephen McElroy (left with mother), 11, from Northern Ireland, was sent home with a laxative after Dr Aine Mullen, 35, wrongly diagnosed him It emerged the mother-of-one, a locum middle- grade doctor, had graduated from medical school five years earlier and had only 12 month's experience working in an emergency department. At the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, in Manchester, Dr Mullen was found guilty of serious misconduct and was given a three month suspension from medical practice after a disciplinary panel said she did not pose a risk to patients. Dr Mullen admitted she had provided 'substandard care' and had since highlighted her role in the tragedy to help train junior colleagues. The tragedy occurred after Stephen was admitted to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland in 2015 after complaining to his mother Patricia about having a 'very sore stomach' and being physically sick. During the car journey to A&E the youngster was in so much pain he asked his mother 'to go slowly over the ramps as the bumping was hurting' him. Just six hours later, the schoolboy was rushed back into A&E after his condition deteriorated but he died the following day Within an hour of his arrival at 11.52pm on March 28 he was seen by a nurse and his mother was told they have to wait two hours to see a doctor. But Stephen was not seen by Dr Mullen until 6.10am. Although the doctor noted Stephen had suffered abdominal pain and had been vomiting over previous 48 hours which was consistent with bowel obstruction she made notes saying the youngster was 'comfortable at rest and pain free' adding: 'Abdomen soft. Nil tenderness. Nil guarding/rebound. Bowel sounds normal.' She then made a diagnosis of constipation without requesting an abdominal x-ray which could have detected the bowel obstruction and did not ask for a second opinion. Instead Dr Mullen sent Stephen home, advised him to rest and take sachets of Movicol. The hearing was told Mrs McElroy expressed 'relief' over the diagnosis and on the way home stopped at a supermarket to buy kiwi fruit for her son after nurses said it would help ease the boy's condition. But soon after they arrived home, Stephen was physically sick after consuming a sachet of the laxative and his mother rang Dr Mullen for advice at 8am. During the conversation the doctor suggested Stephen may have taken the Movicol 'too quickly' and advised his mother to let him sleep. But at 11am the boy's condition worsened and he was rushed back to A&E where he collapsed. Stephen died at 3pm the following day with tests showing his small bowel had failed due to an 'inadequate blood supply.' Later at an inquest in 2017, Dr Mullen gave misleading evidence to the coroner claiming she had advised Mrs McElroy to return her son to A&E if there any concerns about him. Nigel Grundy, lawyer for the General Medical Council told the hearing: 'Dr Mullen's failings had grave consequences. The overall standard of care she provided fell seriously below the level expected of a locum Middle Grade doctor in emergency medicine. She brought the profession into disrepute and provided information to the inquest that was misleading. 'Dr Mullen has shown some insight into her conduct by the admissions she made but this was a change in approach from the inquest where she adopted a defensive approach. Although Dr Mullen has made some attempts at remediation, she has not provided a recent appraisal.' The doctor's lawyer Simon Cridland said: 'This was a short episode which occurred five years ago and the key error was Dr Mullen's admitted failure to refer the patient for an abdominal x-ray. 'Dr Mullen had relatively limited experience as a Middle Grade doctor in an emergency department. It was a busy night in the department and there was only one Senior House Officer to assist Dr Mullen. 'She had been mistakenly reassured by the unremarkable vital sign observations of the patient who had presented with a normal heart rate and respiratory rate and had responded well to mild analgesia. 'Dr Mullen has accepted her failings and accepted that she had got it wrong. It is plain she has been profoundly affected by these events. described herself as being 'guilty' and that not a day goes by without her thinking about the patient. She has empathy towards the patient's mother particularly since becoming a mother herself. 'She has reflected carefully on the clinical issues this case flagged up and now shares her experience with others using it as a learning tool. There is no realistic prospect of Dr Mullen ever repeating this type of conduct again. An unnamed colleague of Dr Mullen submitted a character reference saying: 'I have always found Dr Mullen to be a very capable and conscientious doctor, a doctor with great clinical acumen, and a doctor who is always polite, empathetic and caring towards her patients and colleagues. 'In my experience Dr Mullen worked diligently and was never reluctant to discuss cases or ask for advice. 'She showed great competency and ability in resuscitation, majors, medical and surgical patients and in managing minor injuries. She is a very keen mentor on the shop floor to junior staff and has always been willing to help the medical and nursing staff in any capacity.' In suspending Dr Mullen, tribunal chairman Margaret Obi said: 'Dr Mullen's failings five years ago are not fundamentally incompatible with her continued registration. She has remedied her previous conduct and behaviour and she has worked effectively and competently as a doctor in emergency medicine since 2015. 'She has shown genuine remorse, has acknowledged her wrongdoing and that her remediation has been comprehensive. The Tribunal also considered, based on the testimonial evidence, that Dr Mullen is a competent and dedicated medical practitioner. There are no issues of patient safety arising in this case.' During Stephen's inquest, a coroner recorded a narrative verdict saying the care provided was 'wholly inadequate'. The Southern Health Trust admitted there were a 'number of missed opportunities' to correctly diagnose him and said blood tests were carried out on all children who present with abdominal pain. Harry and Meghan are reportedly hiring former SAS soldiers to replace their Scotland Yard bodyguards. They apparently chose from a shortlist of two firms whose staff have guarded stars including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Madonna and the Ecclestone family. From tomorrow, the Sussexes will no longer be working members of the Royal Family as they pursue new lives and careers in US with their ten-month-old son Archie. Harry and Meghan are reportedly hiring former SAS soldiers to replace their Scotland Yard bodyguards As the Daily Mail revealed this week, they have agreed to meet the bill for their own security in America. Harry and Meghan had found themselves at the centre of a row over the cost to British taxpayers of providing them with round-the-clock protection by the Metropolitan Police during their new life in California. The row deepened after President Donald Trump said Americans should not be asked to contribute. The couple have decided to hire a private security team charging around 400 a day per guard, the Sun reported yesterday. Experts say their annual bill could be up to 4million as they will require the use of several bodyguards a day. While a spokesman for the couple insisted they would meet the bill personally, Prince Charles may also contribute. The royal couple apparently chose from a shortlist of two firms whose staff have guarded stars including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (pictured) Harry and Meghan are pursueing new lives and careers in US with their ten-month-old son Archie He has agreed to make a substantial contribution towards his son and daughter-in-laws living costs for the next 12 months while they get on their feet. Sources have warned that the money, which will come from his personal funds and not the Duchy of Cornwall, is not inexhaustible and will be reviewed in a year. Meanwhile the Royal Family are determined to put the Megxit saga behind them, the Daily Mail can reveal. While there is still sadness and hurt over Harry and Meghans decision to step down as working royals and live abroad, the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and other senior figures believe there is no more they can do to bridge the divide. Harry and Meghan have made their decision and it is clear they have moved on, which is what everyone else is now trying to do, well-placed sources said. There is a lot of work to do, especially given the health crisis currently faced by this country. Teen Vogue, Snapchat urge teens to send sexually explicit sext messages during COVID-19 quarantine Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Online magazine Teen Vogue and multimedia messaging app Snapchat are encouraging their teen audience and users to create porn while they're at home during the coronavirus quarantine, according to the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. Like anything worth doing, sexting takes practice, said a Teen Vogue story published Monday on the Snapchat Discover page, according to The Daily Caller. Here are 7 things you might not have known about sexting. Another read, Sending someone details about what you want to do to them and getting back even more detail about what they want to do to you should be fun, easy, and ultimately joyful. Anything less than that isnt worth your time. The nonprofit group NCSE called on Teen Vogue to stop encouraging the creation of child sexual abuse material by sexting during quarantine. It also urged Snapchat to cease promoting these messages by Teen Vogue via Discover, which they said is putting kids at risk of sexual exploitation. Snapchat and Teen Vogue are playing right into sexual predators hands, Dawn Hawkins, senior vice president and executive director of NCSE, said in a statement. With the likely surge of young viewers on Snapchat due to quarantine, it is socially irresponsible for Snapchat Discover to encourage minors to self-produce underage pornography (i.e. child sexual abuse materials), thereby increasing their vulnerability to sexual predators, Hawkins continued. The proliferation of online child sexual abuse material has increased exponentially in recent years and more children are being targeted and groomed by predators via social media apps, Hawkins pointed out, saying Teen Vogue and Snapchat must be held socially accountable for promoting trends that put people at risk for exploitation. Research shows that sexting is often linked to offline sexual coercion, leaving teens inherently vulnerable, Hawkins said, adding that sexting can also make teens vulnerable to sexual extortion, sexual abuse or trafficking. Sexting is not harmless fun, as Teen Vogue would like teenagers to think, and Teen Vogue and Snapchat would be wise to stop promoting sexting to young, impressionable teens, Hawkins concluded. Last April, Teen Vogue pushed the idea that prostitution is acceptable to its young readers. In an op-ed called Why Sex is Real Work, Tlaleng Mofokeng, a medical doctor, noted that sex tourist destination Amsterdam would soon legally bar guided tours through the red light district but that many sex workers, a euphemism for prostituted persons but is often used to include brothel keepers and pornographers are opposing the ban. Not all sex workers engage in penetrative sex, though, undeniably, that is a big part of sex work. Sex-worker services between consenting adults may include companionship, intimacy, nonsexual role playing, dancing, escorting, and stripping. These roles are often pre-determined, and all parties should be comfortable with them, she explained. In 2017, Teen Vogue encouraged its audience to engage in anal intercourse and minimized its health risks. 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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 The trial of 14 people accused of aiding jihadist gunmen who targeted the Charlie Hebdo newspaper and other Paris targets in January 2015 has been postponed until September, after courts were almost totally shut down in France's coronavirus fight, prosecutors said Tuesday. Seventeen people were killed over three days in and around the city after brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi massacred 12 people at the offices of the satirical paper, heralding a wave of Islamic attacks on French soil in the following years. After years of investigations, the trial was to open in May, but confinement rules imposed by authorities to slow the coronavirus outbreak prompted prosecutors to announce a delay last week. It is now to open on September 2 and run until November 10, France's anti-terrorism prosecutors said. Two days after the Charlie Hebdo killings, the Kouachi brothers were cornered and killed by security forces at a printing company outside Paris. That same day, Amedy Coulibaly opened fire at a Jewish supermarket in eastern Paris, killing four, a day after he killed a young policewoman in Paris. He also was killed by security forces during the siege. All three gunmen had claimed allegiance to jihadist groups. The 14 suspects facing trial are accused of providing logistical aid to the attackers. Eleven of the suspects are in detention, but three will be tried in absentia, including Hayat Boumedienne, Coulibaly's girlfriend, who authorities say left for the Iraq-Syria region during the attacks. Also on the run are brothers Mohamed and Mehdi Belhoucine, who also fled the country just before the attacks. Unconfirmed reports have said all three were killed during the fierce bombing campaigns by coalition forces to defeat Islamic State jihadists in their so-called Syrian "caliphate." Prosecutors said earlier this month that the trial will be filmed -- normally forbidden in France, but allowed in cases deemed essential for the country's judicial archives. The Charlie Hebdo massacre sparked a series of jihadist attacks in French, including "lone wolf" killings by people said to be inspired by the Islamic State group, that have since claimed more than 250 lives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coronavirus testing in Southeast Texas has expanded once again with plans to bring a third testing site, in Orange County, online already in the works. A new drive-thru testing clinic in Silsbee, which is being run by the six-county Southeast Texas Regional Emergency Operations Center, opened midday Tuesday and tested 14 people. Officials are providing the location of the clinic only to individuals who have been screened and given a patient identification number and testing appointment. While the site in Jefferson County is being manned by nurses employed by city and county public health departments, Jefferson County commissioners on Tuesday morning approved a contract with Altus Lumberton Hospital for the Hardin County site. Related: Gov. Abbott orders schools closed until May 4 The clinic is staffed by Altus nurses, which doubles the cost to the counties or an individuals insurance provider, bringing it to $100 per test. While these costs currently are being incurred by Jefferson County, as county staff said its easier for one agency to take on all the purchasing duties, it ultimately will be split between Jefferson, Hardin, Orange, Jasper, Newton and Tyler counties. County Auditor Patrick Swain said determining how much each county owes for individuals tests is the easy part, as that can be calculated based on the number of patients from each county. He anticipates the coalition will have to come up with a formula, potentially based on population, to split other expenses, such as for nurses contracted to run the call center 24 hours a day and any additional personal protective equipment needed at the testing sites. Before approving the contract at a Tuesday meeting of the Commissioners Court, Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick gave more information about how the testing process has gone so far. More Information Helpful numbers (409) 550-2536: Hotline for residents of Jasper, Jefferson, Hardin, Newton, Orange and Tyler counties who have symptoms that could be coronavirus and want to be tested. The hotline is active Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In off hours, callers will be directed through an automated menu to their county's health department. 211, option 6: For general coronavirus inquiries. See More Collapse Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox Bio-Reference Laboratories, the New Jersey-based company selling the kits to the county, originally expected to be able to provide the county with enough kits to last 10 days, he said. But they keep bringing more and more and saying as long as were testing, they're going to bring us the kits, he said. The company picks up the kits at the end of the day and takes them to Houston, where theyre put on a flight to New Jersey for testing. The company has been getting the county test results within 48 hours, which surpasses other local entities timelines. Branick said Beaumonts Baptist Hospital has been getting results back in 48 to 72 hours. Christus St. Elizabeth Hospitals tests were taking eight to nine days to get results, although theyve since switched a different vendor. Related: PA nursing center employee positive as coronavirus tally doubles from Friday Patients tested by Legacy Community Healths at its North 11th Street site, even before Jefferson County opened its drive-thru clinic more than a week ago, have been told they likely wont get results back until April 12 or 13, Branick said. The health-care provider on Wednesday announced it is offering testing at both of its Beaumont locations, as well as all Houston clinics. Individuals are not required to call for screening prior to coming to a Legacy clinic. After the meeting, Branick told The Enterprise the counties were trying to test as many qualifying people as they could, so he wasnt sure what would happen if an individual still waiting for results from a Legacy test attempted to get another through the counties program. Even with slow results from some testing facilities, confirmed cases continued to rise Tuesday, adding four more positive tests for a total of 51 across the six-county region. Related: Couples adapt wedding plans to fit coronavirus restrictions A petrochemical giant and a construction contractor working at a local oil terminal project site on Tuesday confirmed an employee from each tested positive for COVID-19. An employee at Motiva Enterprises Port Arthur Chemicals plant tested positive, but has since self-quarantined. Motiva sanitized work spaces and notified employees of possible exposure, according to the company. As of Tuesday, operations were continuing as usual. Motiva has already implemented a no-contact temperature screening procedure for its Port Arthur manufacturing sites that will continue indefinitely, company representatives said. Every employee and contractor is having his or her temperature checked upon arrival at any of our gates. S&B Engineers and Constructors also had to disinfect its work site the Sunoco/Energy Transfer Partners site after an employee who was at the site until March 18 tested positive for the virus. Related: Travel from Louisiana unimpeded on 1st day of road restrictions This halted work the following weekend, according to the company in charge of the job, and it last week started taking employees temperatures at project sites Workers who were in close contact with the infected person were instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days and contact the company if they develop symptoms. S&B continues to take all the necessary precautionary measures advised by our public health officials as we work to maintain a safe and healthy workplace and community, David Taylor, S&B chief operating officer, said in a statement. Valero Port Arthur spokeswoman Lillian Riojas said the company does not publicize individual coronavirus cases, but has procedures in place as outlined by the CDC and is communicating with site personnel. The number of confirmed cases is expected to continue to rise, with 83 more people tested at Jefferson Countys drive-thru site at the Jack Brooks Regional Airport. The six-county coalitions call center received 174 calls Tuesday and 756 people have been referred for testing since the center opened March 20. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com jacob.dick@beaumonteterprise.com Brisbane may see almost the same 26 councillors returned for another four-year term, as vote counting continues at a crawl three days after the local government elections. The Saturday election was completed in strange circumstances with coronavirus fears keeping many away from polling stations, and generating record numbers of postal votes and pre-poll votes. Adrian Schrinner has been returned as Brisbane lord mayor. Credit:AAP/Albert Perez After a website glitch on Saturday night, the Electoral Commission of Queensland has been slowly completing the official count of votes not just for Brisbane but all 77 councils. In a statement on Monday night, the ECQ said returning officers were continuing to count votes in individual local government areas and the Bundamba and Currumbin byelections. Saudi Arabia's hajj minister has asked Muslims to temporarily defer preparations for the annual pilgrimage amid uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia suspended the year-round "umrah" pilgrimage over fears of the new coronavirus spreading to Islam's holiest cities, an unprecedented move that raised uncertainty over the annual hajj. "Saudi Arabia is fully ready to serve pilgrims and umrah seekers," hajj minister Mohammad Benten told the state-run Al-Ekhbariya television on Tuesday. "But under the current circumstances, as we are talking about the global pandemic... the kingdom is keen to protect the health of Muslims and citizens and so we have asked our brother Muslims in all countries to wait before doing (hajj) contracts until the situation is clear." Saudi authorities are yet to announce whether they will proceed with this year's hajj, scheduled for the end of July. The pilgrimage - which last year attracted 2.5 million people - is a key revenue earner for the kingdom. But it could be a major source of contagion as it packs pilgrims closely in religious sites. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia suspended prayers inside all its mosques except the two holiest sites in Islam as it increased efforts to contain the new coronavirus. The announcements risk riling fringe Muslim hardliners, for whom religion trumps health considerations. Saudi Arabia is scrambling to limit the spread of the disease at home. The kingdom's health ministry has reported 1,563 coronavirus infections and 10 deaths from the illness so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A US federal judge on Monday suspended a Texas state decision that included abortion among non-emergency operations banned during the coronavirus pandemic. "The Supreme Court has spoken clearly. There can be no outright ban on such a procedure," said federal judge Lee Yeakel in his court ruling. Like other states, Texas has outlawed non-medical procedures so that all health equipment and resources can be targeted at the coronavirus outbreak. The Texas attorney general said the ban applied to abortions except when the patient's life was at risk. Since then, four other conservative states, Ohio, Iowa, Alabama and Oklahoma, have followed suit. "It's alarming, and unacceptable that states long hostile to abortion rights are exploiting the coronavirus crisis to ban abortion care," said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights. The Texas attorney general is set to appeal the federal court judge's ruling, according to US media. President Donald Trump has increasingly aligned himself with the anti-abortion movement as he works to firm up his voter base ahead of the November election, when he hopes to win a second term. Abortion is a central issue in US elections due later this year Technavio has been monitoring the mouthwash market and it is poised to grow by USD 1.55 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of almost 6% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Request latest free sample report of 2020-2024 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005266/en/ Technavio has announced its market research report titled Global Mouthwash Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. Colgate-Palmolive Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson Johnson Services, Procter Gamble, and Unilever are some of the major market participants. The awareness about oral health will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Awareness about oral health has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Mouthwash Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Mouthwash Market is segmented as below: Product Alcohol-containing Mouthwash Alcohol-free Mouthwash Distribution channel Offline Online End-user Adult Children Geographic Landscape Americas APAC EMEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample report of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30320 Mouthwash Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our mouthwash market report covers the following areas: Mouthwash Market Size Mouthwash Market Trends Mouthwash Market Industry Analysis This study identifies access to distribution channels through omnichannel strategy as one of the prime reasons driving the mouthwash market growth during the next few years. Mouthwash Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the mouthwash market, including some of the vendors such as Colgate-Palmolive Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson Johnson Services, Procter Gamble, and Unilever. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the mouthwash market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Mouthwash Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist mouthwash market growth during the next five years Estimation of the mouthwash market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the mouthwash market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of mouthwash market vendors Table Of Contents : PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Preface 2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT Market segmentation by product Comparison by product Alcohol-containing mouthwash Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Alcohol-free mouthwash Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by product PART 07: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL Market segmentation by distribution channel Comparison by distribution channel Offline Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Online Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by distribution channel PART 08: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 09: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY END-USER Market segmentation by end-user Comparison by end-user Adult Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Children Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by end-user PART 10: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison EMEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Americas Market size and forecast 2018-2023 APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 11: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY ACTION Market segmentation by action PART 12: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 13: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 14: MARKET TRENDS Growing popularity of private-label brands Access to distribution channels through omnichannel strategy Growing demand for alcohol-free mouthwash PART 15: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption Competitive scenario PART 16: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Colgate-Palmolive Company GlaxoSmithKline Johnson Johnson Services Procter Gamble Unilever PART 17: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations PART 18: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005266/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ With five more persons testing positive for coronavirus in Bareilly on Tuesday, the total count of COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh has crossed the 100 mark, said officials. In all, 101 cases have been reported from 15 districts of the state, Principal secretary medical and health Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters here. "Five new cases were found positive in Bareilly. The samples of 6 members of a family of a man, working in Noida and found corona-positive earlier, were sent for testing. Five of them, including his mother, father, brother, sister and wife were found positive," Bareilly Chief medical officer, Dr Vineet Shukla said on Tuesday. After the report, declaring five Bareilly residents corona-positive, was received from the KGMU on Tuesday morning, the Subhash Nagar area, where the family lives, has been sealed off with a 5-km area around their house turned into a buffer zone, the CMO said. The Health Department has started screening all people residing in one kilometre area around their house, he added. The number of positive cases in the state is now 101, a health official said here. As per the district-wise break-up of total corona-positive cases in the state, 38 are from Gautam Buddh Nagar, 19 from Meerut, 11 from Agra, nine from Lucknow, seven from Ghaziabad, six from Bareilly, two each from Pilibhit and Varanasi and one each from Lakhimpur-Khiri, Kanpur Nagar, Moradabad, Shamli, Jaunpur, Baghpat, and Bulandshahr, the statement said. Prasad said, "One cluster is of Gautam Buddh Nagar, where cases were reported from a fire extinguisher factory, the other cluster is in Meerut. More than 50 per cent cases have been reported from these two clusters. In all, there are 101 cases, reported from 15 districts of the state." "At this time, we are entering a crucial phase, and we are appealing to the people of UP that the hand-washing norms and social distancing protocol must be strictly adhered to, even if it is causing some problems during lockdown," he cautioned. "If alertness and precaution is adhered to for the next 14 days, the number of cases in the state will remain low," he said. The chief minister, meanwhile on Tuesday, directed for deployment of a Health Department officer in each district of the state to supervise the ongoing anti-corona fight by the administration for the next 15-30 days. In this regard, a senior official has been deployed at all three hotspots in the state -- one each in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad and Meerut, he said, adding the officer would camp at all these three hotspots for the next 30 days and guide the local administration and their anti-corona operations. Wherever cases have not been reported, the district magistrates and chief medical officers have been told to put their areas under strict surveillance, and if any suspected corona carrier is found, he or she should be put in quarantine facility and be tested for the infection, the principal secretary (Medical and Health) said. "Testing is currently being done at eight laboratories in the state. We have held talks with the Indian Council of Medical Research and urged them to allow three more laboratories to operate as authenticated testing centres," Prasad said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Strict border controls meant to fight the coronavirus pandemic are limiting the advantages of Southeast Asia's economic integration, putting the region's four-year-old effort to promote cross-border trade and investment under pressure. As of Tuesday, about 4,000 cases of the new coronavirus had been reported in the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with some 100 deaths. These figures account for only 1% of the global total, but the region's governments have since mid-March enacted strict measures, including almost full lockdowns as they fear a new wave of the virus imported from Europe and America. Malaysia and the Philippines currently bar foreigners from entering the country; Singapore bars all short-term visitors from entering or transiting through the city-state; Thailand and Vietnam require a health certificate that verifies all visitors have tested negative for the coronavirus. As such, many businesses based in the region, from tourism to manufacturing, have suffered, adding to the weakening demand since the virus outbreak. On Tuesday, few people were seen at Singapore's famous Merlion Park, which is normally crowded with tourists. Singapore welcomed a daily average of about 50,000 visitor arrivals last year. But from Monday late evening, no visitors are allowed to enter the country. With such a drastic measure being put in place, Singapore Airlines will be cutting 96% of capacity until the end of April, resulting in the grounding of 138 of its 147 aircraft, whereas Jetstar Asia, a Singapore-based budget carrier, suspended all flights from March 23, until April 15. Singapore's popular Merlion Park has been nearly empty due to the country's entry bans on visitors. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto) Singapore's popular Merlion Park has been nearly empty due to the country's entry bans on visitors. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto) All four Vietnam carriers that fly overseas, including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific and Bamboo Airways, had to temporarily suspend international flights until the end of April. Vietnamese carriers are expected to suffer at least 30,000 trillion dong ($1.27 billion) in lost revenue in 2020 due to the coronavirus, according to initial estimates from the aviation authority. Meanwhile, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's decision to close 26 industries, including shopping malls and dine-in restaurants, from Sunday took away vigor from Thailand's capital. Some 80,000 people gathered Sunday at Mo Chit bus terminal in northern Bangkok, seeking to flee the capital to their home provinces or even neighboring home countries. In contrast, the streets of Bangkok on the weekend were desolate. The city infamous for its gridlocks were free of major traffic. Business sectors had voiced their willingness to cooperate ahead of the closures. "Operators in the tourism sector are willing to support the government's policies as strict as country lockdown in stopping the COVID-19 outbreak," the Tourism Council of Thailand said in a statement. "If it could help the country and preserve the tourism sector we are ready to sacrifice." The organization estimated that tourism will take a 1 trillion baht ($44 billion) hit if the current pandemic continues. "This will not result in good outcomes in the bigger picture as well, especially considering at least 650 billion-baht debt incurred to the tourism sector with commercial banks," it said. "Nonperforming loans will increase exponentially, if the government does not initiate any urgent measures." ASEAN countries welcomed 135 million visitor arrivals in 2018, of which about 50 million were from within the 10 member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Strict border controls not only dampen millions of business and leisure travelers, but also could have an effect on more crucial issues: the flow of labor and goods. Cambodia relies on Vietnam for agricultural imports. But Vietnam closed borders with Cambodia from March 15, while Cambodia later said it would stop all travel, including flights, between the two countries. As a result, produce prices may increase in Cambodia, according to a local logistics operator. "Cross-border controls can adversely affect food security, income and employment," Cassey Lee, senior fellow at Singapore-based think tank ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute told the Nikkei Asian Review. He said "bilateral consultations are very important at this stage" to mitigate the effect of travel curbs, adding that deeper coordination and joint discussions involving relevant ministries, such as trade, agriculture, labor and immigration, should be struck to handle movement of essential goods and services. Border controls also significantly affect global companies that have supply chains in the region. They capitalize on the region's relatively low labor cost and free trade agreements within the ASEAN. The world's biggest smartphone maker, Samsung Electronics, which produces about half its handsets in Vietnam, failed to send engineers for OLED panel production to Vietnam due to the entry restrictions for South Koreans. Vietnam allowed entry of some 200 Samsung employees on March 13 as a special consideration, but airlines connecting Vietnam and South Korea are suspended. ASEAN's manufacturing sector is already showing signs of weakening. According to the region's manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) in February, compiled by IHS Markit, factory activities in Vietnam deteriorated from a month earlier for the first time since late-2015. PMIs for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar also showed contraction. Governments in the region have been rolling out fiscal stimulus packages to support businesses, while central banks are rushing for monetary easing to buoy the economy. However, most countries will likely see slower growth or even contraction in 2020. Over the years, the bloc has integrated economies, promoting freer movement of people, goods and investment within the region, including visa exemptions for member states. In 2015, it established the ASEAN Economic Community, accelerating deeper integration through measures including lowering tariffs and facilitating easier customs for trade. On March 10, ASEAN economic ministers recognized the adverse effects the pandemic has on sectors from tourism, manufacturing, retail and financial markets. They agreed restrictions on cross-border movements "should be based on public health considerations, and should not unnecessarily restrict trade within the region," the said in a joint statement. This year's first ASEAN summit meeting, originally scheduled in April, however, has been postponed to late June. Nikkei State-owned Coal India (CIL) has pledged Rs 220 crore to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES) to fight against coronavirus pandemic, Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi has said. "Glad to see coal PSUs coming forward & pledging donations to #PMCARES in fight against #COVID19@CoalIndiaHQ has committed Rs. 220 crores @NLCIndiaLimited has committed Rs 25 crores," Joshi has said in tweet. Exuding confidence, the minister twitted that "'Corona will lose, India will win' #IndiaFightsCorona". CIL accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal output. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... A would-be-thief who smashed up cars belonging to NHS heroes working 'flat out' to help coronavirus victims has been jailed for 12 months. Callum Wood, 31, broke into the vehicles of staff while they were 'risking their lives' at James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, a court heard. One healthcare assistant finished a 12-hour shift on the wards and found her back windscreen shattered when she was about to drive home. Cleveland Police said Callum Wood, 31, was caught at Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital on Sunday, and handed a 12-month sentence on Monday Other NHS heroes found their vehicles wrecked after slaving away on the front line, prosecutors told Teesside Magistrates Court on Monday. Police were stunned when they heard reports of the vehicles being 'smashed up' in the hospital car park on Sunday at time of 'national crisis'. When security staff approached the thug - who had been looking for something to steal - at 2.30pm he became aggressive towards them but was arrested. Wood, from Middlesbrough, was charged with four counts of attempted theft from a motor vehicle (pictured, the aftermath) Wood, from Middlesbrough, admitted four counts of attempted theft from a motor vehicle. Det Con Elizabeth Malcolm, from Middlesbrough CID, said: 'At a time of national crisis, this man has broken into vehicles belonging to NHS staff and tried to steal from them. 'It's appalling that anyone would do this at any time, let alone when our NHS colleagues are working flat out and putting themselves at risk for others. 'Coupled with Callum Wood's previous offending, he was quite rightly sentenced to three months consecutive for each offence, a total of 12 months imprisonment. 'We welcome the sentence and want to warn anyone else who thinks it is acceptable to behave in such a manner, or who causes fear or harm in the current climate, we will find those responsible and we will prosecute them.' District judge Helen Cousins gave Wood three months for each of the four theft offences but ordered the sentences run consecutively. A further charge of being possession of a sharply bladed article was withdrawn. Wood was also ordered to pay 122 victim surcharge. 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. Dethroned emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has issued a warning to Muslim clerics still organising religious gatherings and prayers d... Dethroned emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has issued a warning to Muslim clerics still organising religious gatherings and prayers despite the ban imposed by the Federal Government. Sanusi in a statement made available by his son, Ashraf warned that disobedience of Muslim clerics to the instructions from the government could cause more harm to Nigerians in future. According to him, their actions can hinder Nigerian Muslims from performing Hajj or Umrah. The former CBN governor warned that lackadaisical attitude towards COVID-19 will only worsen things as the virus is real and can only be stopped when all precautionary measures by medical authorities are duly observed. Sanusi wrote: My father would like us to remember that this disease is normally a very mild one about 80 percent do not need to go to hospitals and recover at home by adhering to instructions Social distancing and compliance with the health authorities is the only way to ensure it does not continue spreading in our country We should not assume that this virus left unchecked cannot mutate into something even more dangerous and deadly We must comply with the suspension of religious gatherings including congregational prayers. Muslim scholars who continue to defy this guideline may wish to consider the implications of Nigeria being the country that has not put an end to this pandemic At the minimum, Nigerian Muslims will be barred from Hajj and Umrah for fear of restarting a global epidemic We must learn from the ill-advised opposition to polio vaccination. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31 By Ilhama Isabalayeva - Trend: The Azerbaijani Ministry of Education has voiced a new virtual initiative, the ministry told Trend. The Virtual School project is being implemented as part of cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Microsoft Corporation. Each pupil, having registered on the Virtual School's website, will study in the class corresponding to his or her age, where he or she will perform homework in line with assignments prepared by teachers in accordance with the topics which are taught on weekly TV lessons. By Ju-min Park and Naomi Tajitsu TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's governor on Monday called on residents to avoid outings in the evenings and at weekends as the coronavirus crisis deepened, but said it was up to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to declare a state of emergency to tackle it. As much of the rest of the world has gone into strict lockdowns to fight the coronavirus, Japan has so far managed to avoid the kind of outbreaks that have ravaged parts of Europe and the United States and restrictions are only requests. However, a spike in cases in Tokyo, along with the death of a beloved comedian on Monday, appeared to be driving home the potential risk. A top doctor called on Abe to act now. "If we wait until an explosive increase in infections before declaring an emergency, it will be too late," Satoshi Kamayachi, an executive board member of the Japan Medical Association, told a news conference, in comments carried by broadcaster Nippon Television. Throughout the development of the outbreak, Abe's government has appeared resistant to declaring a state of emergency, with the government's top spokesman on Monday squashing speculation it would take such a move on April 1. Only last Tuesday, the Japanese government and International Olympic Committee succumbed to intense pressure from athletes and sporting bodies around the world to delay Tokyo 2020 for a year because of the outbreak. "The number of infections continues to increase from last week and we are at a crucial moment which will determine whether we can minimize the number of further infections," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told a news conference. "Through April 12, we are asking that residents refrain from going out in the evenings, and to refrain from all unnecessary outings at the weekend." Koike last week appealed to Tokyo residents to avoid all but necessary outings over the weekend. But any lockdown in Japan would look different from mandatory measures in some parts of Europe and the United States. By law, local authorities are only permitted to issue requests for people to stay at home, which are not binding. Story continues Therefore, even if Abe were to declare an emergency, any lockdown would rely more on moral suasion and peer pressure than formal penalties. "CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE" The Asahi newspaper reported on Monday Japan had raised its defenses against imported cases by banning the entry of foreigners traveling from the United States, China, South Korea and most of Europe, However, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said the government had not made any decision on bans. Some 1,944 people have been infected and at least 56 have died, according to public broadcaster NHK. Those numbers exclude 712 cases and 10 deaths from a cruise ship that was moored near Tokyo last month, it said. Tokyo, the capital which has become the epicenter of the outbreak in Japan, reported 13 new cases for a total of 443 infections so far. Yoshihide Suga, the government's top spokesman, told a news conference earlier: "It's not true that the government is planning on declaring a state of emergency from April 1." Suga also said an expected telephone call between Abe and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, later on Monday had nothing to do with any decision on whether to call a state of emergency. Fans lamented the death of comedian Ken Shimura from the virus, with many saying on social media it should serve to highlight what a major threat it actually is. "It's probably bad to say this, but I hope his death helps Japanese, who still don't seem to be taking this virus seriously, start to change their attitude," one tweeted. Abe has already pledged to deploy a huge stimulus package, bigger than one compiled during the global financial crisis, to combat the outbreak. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party called for a package worth 60 trillion yen ($556 billion) that includes direct government spending of about 20 trillion yen. The government plans to issue more debt to fund the massive stimulus package, sources told Reuters. Separately, sources also told Reuters that Japan is conducting a survey on how prepared financial institutions are in case the government declares a state of emergency. (Reporting by Ju-min Park and Naomi Tajitsu, additional reporting by Leika Kihara, Takaya Yamaguchi, Izumi Nakagawa, Chang-Ran Kim, Linda Sieg, Elaine Lies, Tetsushi Kajimoto and Daniel Leussink; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim, Kenneth Maxwell and Alison Williams) In this March 27, 2020, file photo, a health worker in the intensive care ward observes a COVID-19 patient at a hospital in Belgium. Experts say Europe has some of the world's best health systems, but many hospitals have been overwhelmed with coronavirus patients and are ill-equipped to handle the pandemic. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File) As increasing numbers of European hospitals buckle under the strain of tens of thousands of coronavirus patients, the crisis has exposed a surprising paradox: Some of the world's best health systems are remarkably ill-equipped to handle a pandemic. Outbreak experts say Europe's hospital-centric systems, lack of epidemic experience and early complacency are partly to blame for the pandemic's catastrophic tear across the continent. "If you have cancer, you want to be in a European hospital," said Brice de le Vingne, who heads COVID-19 operations for Doctors Without Borders in Belgium. "But Europe hasn't had a major outbreak in more than 100 years, and now they don't know what to do." Last week, the World Health Organization scolded countries for "squandering" their chance to stop the virus from gaining a foothold, saying that countries should have reacted more aggressively two months ago, including implementing wider testing and stronger surveillance measures. De le Vingne and others say Europe's approach to combating the new coronavirus was initially too lax and severely lacking in epidemiological basics like contact tracing, an arduous process where health officials physically track down people who have come into contact with those infected to monitor how and where the virus is spreading. In this photo taken on Friday, March 27, 2020, healthcare workers assist a patience at one of the intensive care units (ICU) at German Trias i Pujol hospital in Badalona, in the Barcelona province, Spain. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Anna Surinyach) During outbreaks of Ebola, including Congo's most recent one, officials released daily figures for how many contacts were followed, even in remote villages paralyzed by armed attacks. After the new coronavirus emerged late last year, China dispatched a team of about 9,000 health workers to chase thousands of potential contacts in Wuhan every day. But in Italy, officials in some cases have left it up to ill patients to inform their potential contacts that they had tested positive and resorted to mere daily phone calls to check in on them. Spain and Britain have both declined to say how many health workers were working on contact tracing or how many contacts were identified at any stage in the outbreak. "We are really good at contact tracing in the U.K., but the problem is we didn't do enough of it," said Dr. Bharat Pankhania, an infectious diseases physician at the University of Exeter in southwestern England. In this photo taken on Friday, March 27, 2020, healthcare workers assist a patient at one of the intensive care units (ICU) at German Trias i Pujol hospital in Badalona, in the Barcelona province, Spain. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Anna Surinyach) As cases began picking up speed in the U.K. in early March, Pankhania and others desperately pleaded for call centers to be transformed into contact tracing hubs. That never happened, in what Pankhania calls "a lost opportunity." Pankhania added that while Britain has significant expertise in treating critical care patients with respiratory problems, like severe pneumonia, there are simply too few hospital beds to cope with the exponential surge of patients during a pandemic. "We are already running at full capacity, and then on top of that we have the arrival of the coronavirus at a time when we're fully stressed and there isn't any give in the system," he said, noting years of reductions in bed capacity within Britain's National Health Service. Elsewhere, the fact that health care workers and hospital systems have little experience with rationing care because European hospitals are generally so well resourced is now proving problematic. In this photo taken on Friday, March 27, 2020, healthcare workers assist a patience at one of the intensive care units (ICU) at German Trias i Pujol hospital in Badalona, in the Barcelona province, Spain. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Anna Surinyach) "Part of the issue is that Italian doctors are getting very distressed to make decisions about which patients can get the ICU bed because normally they can just push them through," said Robert Dingwall, of Nottingham Trent University, who has studied health systems across Europe. "Not having the triage experience to do that in a pandemic situation is very overwhelming." In a departure from their normal role as donors who fund outbreak responses in poorer countries, countries including Italy, France and Spain are all now on the receiving end of emergency aid. But Dr. Chiara Lepora, who heads Doctors Without Borders' efforts in the hot spot of Lodi in northern Italy, said the pandemic had revealed some critical problems in developed countries. "Outbreaks cannot be fought in hospitals," she said. "Hospitals can only deal with the consequences." In this March 18, 2020 file photo, medical workers gesture from a hospital in Madrid, Spain. Experts say Europe has some of the world's best health systems, but many hospitals have been overwhelmed with coronavirus patients and are ill-equipped to handle the pandemic. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File) Doctors in Bergamo, the epicenter of Italy's outbreak, described the new coronavirus as "the Ebola of the rich" in an article in the journal NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery, warning that health systems in the West are at risk of being as overrun by COVID-19 as West African hospitals were in the devastating 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak. "Western health systems have been built around the concept of patient-centered care, but an epidemic requires a change of perspective toward community-centered care," they wrote. That model of community care is more typically seen in countries in Africa or parts of Asia, where hospitals are reserved for only the very sickest patients and far more patients are isolated or treated in stripped-down facilitiessimilar to the field hospitals now being hastily constructed across Europe. In this photo taken on Friday, March 27, 2020, healthcare workers assist a patience at one of the intensive care units (ICU) at German Trias i Pujol hospital in Badalona, in the Barcelona province, Spain. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Anna Surinyach) In this photo taken on Friday, March 27, 2020, healthcare workers assist a patience at one of the intensive care units (ICU) at German Trias i Pujol hospital in Badalona, in the Barcelona province, Spain. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Anna Surinyach) A healthcare worker wears protective gear during the coronavirus outbreak in Madrid, Spain, Monday, March 30, 2020. Bells tolled in Madrid's deserted central square and flags were lowered in a day of mourning Monday as Spain raced to build field hospitals to treat an onslaught of coronavirus patients. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) A man wearing a protective suit sanitizes the elevator of a public housing building to prevent the spreading of the coronavirus, in the neighborhood of Spinaceto, on the outskirts of Rome, Monday, March 30, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse via AP) Hospice personnel and residents applaud from a window of the elderly people's home to a Russian team who sanitized the structure to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus, in Albino, near Bergamo, northern Italy, Saturday, March 28, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP) Spanish Royal Guard soldiers during disinfection work at a hospital to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, March 29, 2020. Spain and Italy demanded more European help as they fight still-surging coronavirus infections amid the continent's worst crisis since World War II. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) Workers wearing protective outfits sanitize a neighborhood to contain the spread of Covid-19 virus, in Rome, Saturday, March 28, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse via AP) Spanish Royal guard soldiers disinfect a hospital to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, March 29, 2020. Spain and Italy demanded more European help as they fight still-surging coronavirus infections amid the continent's worst crisis since World War II. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) Even Europe's typically strong networks of family physicians are insufficient to treat the deluge of patients that might be more easily addressed by armies of health workerspeople with far less training than doctors but who focus on epidemic control measures. Developing countries are more likely to have such workforces, since they are more accustomed to massive health interventions like vaccination campaigns. Some outbreak experts said European countries badly miscalculated their ability to stop the new coronavirus. "But I think the fact that this is a new disease and the speed at which it moved surprised everyone," said Dr. Stacey Mearns of the International Rescue Committee. Mearns said the current scenes of desperation across Europedoctors and nurses begging for protective gear, temporary morgues in ice rinks to house the deadwere unimaginable just weeks ago. In Spain, 14% of its coronavirus cases are infected medical workers, straining resources at a critical time. "We saw hospitals and communities get overwhelmed like this during Ebola in West Africa," she said. "To see it in resource-wealthy nations is very striking." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Billiionaire Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries (RIL) has said there will be no delay in commissioning its three major hydrocarbon exploration and production (E&P) projects in Krishna Godavari (KG) D6 block along Andhra coast despite the coronavirus outbreak and the nationwide lockdown. RIL and its joint venture partner BP Plc are investing Rs 35,000 crore to develop three fields - R Series, Satellite & MJ. The JV is slated to commence commercial production from R-Series in June this year. Satellite and MJ fields plan to start selling gas in 2021 and 2022, respectively. However, RIL's refining and consumer business have been affected by the pandemic and fall of crude price. It has reduced the petrol and diesel production after the national lockdown and diverted the focus to petrochemicals production, sources said. "While the COVID-19 situation has impacted our normal functioning, we currently do not envisage any delay in completion of the KGD6 projects," RIL responded to the email from BT. The companies expect production of one billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas a day from their assets when all the fields start pumping gas in full throttle. ALSO READ: Crude oil futures slide as coronavirus darkens demand outlook In November, Reliance-BP had e-auctioned the natural gas that it plans to produce. About half a dozen companies participated in the e-auction for 5 million metric standard cubic metres a day (mmscmd). According to reports, Essar Steel and Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) won two-thirds of the natural gas and the bidders quoted 8.4-8.6 per cent of Brent crude price. The gas price will be revised every three months based on the Brent crude price movements. Mukesh Ambani, Chairman, RIL had said at the last annual general meeting (AGM), "projects to develop these gas-fields are amongst the most complex being executed anywhere in the world." RIL-BP received approval for developing MJ (also known as D55) field in June last year. MJ is the last of three new projects in the Block KG D6 integrated development plan. It had earlier received approval for the development of 'R-Series' deep-water gas field in June 2017 and Satellites cluster in April 2018. The three fields together have about 3 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of discovered gas reserve. India consumes over 5 bcf of natural gas a day and aspires to double gas consumption by 2022. RIL's gas production from KG basin has been shrinking in the last decade because of geological constraints in exploration and production. BP was roped in by RIL to make use of the former's technology to revive production. RIL sold 30 per cent stake in its hydrocarbon assets to BP for over $7.2 billion in 2011. ALSO READ: Reliance Industries donates Rs 500 crore to PM CARES Fund More than a decade after being put to production, Reliance Industries shuttered its D1/D3 gas field in the KG-D6 block in February as the field ceased to produce. Touted as India's first deep-water gas field located in the Bay of Bengal, D1/D3 was put to production in April 2009. But the production started declining from 2010 due to the reservoir's complexity and sand and water ingress. Last quarter, the field produced an average of just 1.5 mmscmd. In September 2018, RIL had shuttered its only oilfield (MA field) in the D6 block due to lack of production. In December, RIL and BG Exploration and Production India (BGEPIL) transferred their entire stake in Panna-Mukta oil and gas fields to state-owned ONGC. RIL, BG Exploration and ONGC have been operating the Panna-Mukta fields in a joint venture for the past 25 years. With it's new investments in the R-cluster series, RIL is attempting a second try at India's hydrocarbon exploration and production sector. Colleen Raucci prays outside St. Andrew Catholic Church on Monday. Over a dozen workers at the church and parish school have been put on furlough without pay in recent weeks. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) After Catholic schools and churches closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles urged parishes to continue paying their staff. Those employees had accepted meager salaries for years, it said, and now wasn't the time to abandon them. "These people have responsibilities, have families. You've got to think of that," Msgr. Albert Bahhuth, the vicar general for the archdiocese, said in a March 24 webinar. "If we lay them off, if we stop paying them, whats going to happen to them?" That didn't stop St. Andrew Catholic Church and its school in Pasadena from going ahead with their furlough, without pay, of more than a dozen workers, a decision Father Marcos Gonzalez said was prompted because there was "no income to pay the employees." Workers, who spoke with the Los Angeles Times on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, said they worried about being able to pay their bills and expressed disillusionment with the church. This was probably the last thing I saw coming, one furloughed worker said. At least being part of a Catholic church. The Archdiocese of L.A. said it is helping parishes and schools to continue to pay their employees and cover bills. "The Archdiocese continues to urge all our parishes and schools to find ways to make sure that staff are kept on and avoid any layoffs or furloughs," spokeswoman Carolina Guevara said in an email. "That said the economic impact on our local church and the ability for our ministries to continue to serve our communities may be substantial as the crisis continues, requiring the Archdiocese to continually reevaluate the situation, especially since many of our ministries rely on donations and the generosity of our faithful and people of goodwill." A sign outside St. Andrew Church. Over a dozen parish and school employees were furloughed. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) Across the state, and country, there have been a surge of layoffs as employers grapple with the economic effects of the coronavirus. But even as Catholic schools and churches closed their doors and moved services and classes online, the Archdiocese of L.A. said it was not at the point of needing to take such drastic actions. Story continues I would like to plead with you and beg you to please dont lay off any employees at this time," Bahhuth, said in the webinar. "Don't put them on furlough." Bahhuth, who sat beside Archbishop Jose H. Gomez in the video, said parishes could apply for a loan from the diocese to help with payroll. And, rather than eliminating workers' income entirely, Bahhuth suggested reducing hours if needed. "For many years, many of them have accepted to work at our schools, at our parishes at lower pay so they can support the church and fulfill their mission," he added. "Lets not abandon them at this time." Days after St. Andrew Catholic School closed on March 13, church employees said, Gonzalez directed the principal to furlough nine workers. At the parish, three full-time and four part-time staffers were furloughed. In an email to The Times, Gonzalez confirmed that most of the nonteaching personnel at the school had been furloughed and that everyone at the parish was furloughed, "except one part-time bookkeeper since the church and office are closed." "This was a very sad decision but required since we have no regular collections so there is no income to pay the employees," Gonzalez said. The parish has not applied for a loan, but may do so in the future, according to Gonzalez. "The suggestion from Msgr. Bahhuth was not practical for us as we have no savings and only recently had started to balance our budget after paying off debt, which I inherited when I was appointed pastor last July," he said. Church employees described struggling to find work and to explain the situation to their families, especially their children. "It's still draining to see that this was the first resort," one furloughed worker said. "In the midst of a crisis, this is how you're going to do the people who kept that school going? It's heartbreaking." "I'm left here stressed trying to figure out what the hell I'm going to do," another worker said. "This is how were treated? Like were the trash on the floor? We deserve more than that." St. Andrew Catholic School in Pasadena has furloughed nine employees. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) In a Facebook Live gathering on March 25, the school's principal, Raphael Domingo, acknowledged to parents that school aides had been furloughed and that they were in the process of trying to get them back. "We have a financial obligation to our employees and to our staff and I take that obligation very seriously," he said. In the video, he said the school was doing well in terms of our cash flow." Domingo said he anticipated that the furloughed workers would return once school reopened, potentially on April 20. But that return date is uncertain after President Trump announced that federal social distancing guidelines meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus would be extended to April 30. Churches across the country are facing financial struggles. In a message to parishioners, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, said it "may be necessary to implement an archdiocesan-wide salary furlough of up to 25% for all employees." It is unclear how many church employees in the Archdiocese of L.A. have been furloughed. In comments left on the March 24 webinar, a Diamond Bar church's director of administration said their workers had already been put on furlough and asked to use vacation time in order to get paid. The director asked if the archdiocese's guidance meant "that our furlough will be suspended and our staff do not have to use their vacation." In the webinar, Bahhuth addressed questions about some who "might have already jumped the gun and put their staff on furlough." "You can bring them back," he said. In interviews with The Times, some St. Andrew parents said they are considering sending their children to a different school next year. Although instruction has shifted online, families continue to pay about $500 a month in tuition. "I think if youre going to come out in the green after this, then theres a problem," said one parent, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation against their child. "The people who really need it are the furloughed aides and assistants." Since 1957, The Gairdner Foundation has been recognizing the achievements of the world's top researchers for their contributions to health science. This year, Dr. Guy Rouleau joins an elite group of scientists by receiving the Canada Gairdner Wightman Award. The Foundation bestows the Canada Gairdner Wightman Award upon researchers who have had a sustained career of research excellence in the health sciences at an international level and have shown leadership and achievement above those of their peers, with local, national and international impact. Only one Canada Gairdner Wightman Award is given each year. Dr. Rouleau, director of The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) of McGill University and the McGill University Health Centre, has made critical discoveries in the field of genetics and neurological disease. He has helped identify more than 30 genetic risk factors, novel mutation types and their effect on human health. His work on mapping, isolating and characterizing the genes responsible for French-Canadian founder diseases have led to a dramatic reduction in the number of cases with some of these diseases due to carrier testing in the populations at highest risk. Dr. Rouleau has also been a leader in the identification of genes linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, epilepsy, schizophrenia and autism. In 2012, Dr. Rouleau published a paper identifying for the first time ever a gene that causes essential tremor, the most common movement disorder. Since joining The Neuro in 2013, Dr. Rouleau has spearheaded its Open Science initiative, which is breaking down barriers to medical discovery by encouraging the sharing of data and reagents across institutions. In order to understand the brain and discover new treatments and cures for patients, Dr. Rouleau believes scientists must take advantage of all the information and reagents being generated by the many different groups around the world. "It means so much to me to be recognized now by my peers for my discoveries and my position on Open Science," says Dr. Rouleau. "The Canada Gairdner Wightman Award is an extraordinary honour that gives a special meaning to my entire career." "The Wightman Gairdner Award is one of the most prestigious prizes available to health researchers," says Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University Suzanne Fortier. "Dr. Rouleau's selection is a wonderful recognition of his outstanding contributions to scientific research in the fields of genetics and neurology over his remarkable career. It also reflects the impact McGill University's scientists have on the lives of patients, and the importance of Open Science for the future of research. I join with the McGill community in sincerely congratulating Dr. Rouleau." "Dr. Rouleau is one of the world's leading experts in elucidating and understanding the genetic architecture of diseases affecting the central and peripheral nervous system," notes the Vice-Principal (Health Affairs) and Dean of McGill's Faculty of Medicine, Dr. David Eidelman, "He has had an extraordinary career as a clinician-scientist and I am proud to have him as a member of our faculty." "Dr. Rouleau's work in Open Science contributes deeply to the transformation of the ecosystem of science by stimulating new thinking and fostering communities of sharing," said Dr. Janet Rossant, the president and scientific director of the Gairdner Foundation. "Inspired by The Neuro's vision, the global science community is reflecting on current research conventions and collaborative projects, and the momentum of Open Science is gaining a foothold in organizations and institutions in all corners of the world." Over the course of Dr. Rouleau's career he has received many prestigious prizes, including the Michael Smith Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Margolese National Brain Disorders Prize from the University of British Columbia, the Prix du Quebec - Wilder Penfield from the Government of Quebec, and the Prix d'excellence of the College des medecins du Quebec. ### About the Canada Gairdner Awards The Gairdner Foundation was established in 1957 with the main goal of recognizing and rewarding international excellence in fundamental research that impacts human health. Annually, seven awards are given: five Canada Gairdner International Awards for biomedical research, one John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award, specifically for impact on global health issues, and one Canada Gairdner Wightman Award, reserved for a Canadian. Three hundred and eighty awards have been bestowed on laureates from 35 countries and of those awardees, 89 have gone on to receive Nobel Prizes. Bioventix plc ("Bioventix" or the "Company") Unaudited Interim Results for the six months ended 31 December 2019 Bioventix plc (BVXP) ("Bioventix" or "the Company"), a UK company specialising in the development and commercial supply of high-affinity monoclonal antibodies for applications in clinical diagnostics, announces its unaudited interim results for the six-month period ended 31 December 2019. Highlights Revenue up 17% to 5.1 million (2018: 4.4 million) Profit before tax up 26% to 4.1 million (2018: 3.2 million) Closing cash balances unchanged at 5.5 million First interim dividend up 20% to 36p per share (2018: 30p) CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S STATEMENT Business review We are pleased to announce a strong performance for the unaudited interim results for the six-month period ended 31 December 2019 with revenues for the half-year of 5.1 million (2018: 4.4 million) up 17% on the previous year. Total profits before tax for the half-year increased by 26% to 4.1 million (2018: 3.2 million). The cash balances remained very similar, finishing the period unchanged at 5.5 million. Vitamin D antibody sales continued at the healthy levels seen during the previous financial year and this contributed towards the growth. Whilst this is very encouraging, we continue to see evidence of a plateau in the downstream global vitamin D assay market. We have previously commented on the impressive performance of two specific customers in the downstream vitamin D test market - Diazyme (San Diego, US) and Boditech (South Korea) - and their sales continued to grow. Other revenue streams for the core of established antibodies showed modest growth during the period. Added to this were increased sales of a number of newer antibodies (T4/thyroxine, androstenedione and biotin). Sales relating to troponin antibodies grew significantly during the period. Whilst the actual sales were slightly below our expectation, the percentage growth provides encouraging evidence of the roll-out of these new tests and for the future sales performance. Our research activities continue in line with the plans described in the 2019 annual report. Whilst we will report further on these various projects with our full year results, we are particularly pleased with the development of our pollution exposure assay. We have successfully tested a prototype lab-based ELISA method and this will progress towards commercial kit manufacture during the second half of calendar 2020. Our hope is that we will have a lab-based kit available for sale to pollution researchers sometime during calendar 2021. In addition to the pollution research market, it is also possible that the test will have a degree of utility in the health and safety field (i.e. industrial worker biomonitoring). We will initially introduce the test directly to interested parties before seeking appropriate commercial partners for the future. With the exception of COVID-19, the overall context of the business and the landscape in which we operate has not materially changed since the 2019 annual report and we draw the attention of any new shareholders to this report. We have continued with the development of our Farnham laboratory. The work on our manufacturing facilities has been completed and we are now fully operational. The last remaining phase of the development work (cost ~100k) covering the technology development lab is planned for later in 2020. In relation to the comments below regarding COVID-19, Bioventix is a resilient business and the Board will continue to follow our established dividend policy. For the period under review, the Board is pleased to announce a first interim dividend of 36p per share which represents a 20% increase on last year. The shares will be marked ex-dividend on 9 April 2020 and the dividend will be paid on 28 April 2020 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 14 April 2020. We would like to offer some comments on and the impact of COVID-19 on Bioventix, accepting that perspectives on the infection have tended to be overtaken by rapidly changing events. Like many companies, we will be subject to the effects of COVID-19. Circumstances have changed quickly during the last few weeks and therefore we will limit our comments to some general observations that we believe to be accurate. In most affected countries, healthcare and associated products and services have been prioritised and so we expect that our customers will continue to operate and that we will continue to supply antibodies to them. Within the field of our customers in downstream in vitro diagnostics, it is possible that some routine diagnostic testing could be reduced as hospitals refocus towards virus-infected patients and this could have an impact on Bioventix into the future. Regarding our own activities in Farnham, the welfare of our staff is our top priority. We will be following Government guidelines on working practices which could result in staff shortages. During 2020, we will aim to maintain the production and supply of commercial SMAs to our customers. We have already implemented a raw material purchasing strategy that minimises the possibility of reagent supply shortages and we hold large stocks of final products which offers a degree of buffering against adverse effects. In conclusion, we are encouraged by the performance for the current half-year and pleased with the continued success of our vitamin D antibody and core antibody business. We remain optimistic about our troponin revenues and the success of these high sensitivity troponin products around the world and we look forward to further progress in the second half of the year. P Harrison I J Nicholson Chief Executive Officer Non-Executive Chairman For further information please contact: Bioventix plc Peter Harrison Chief Executive Officer Tel: 01252 728 001 finnCap Ltd Geoff Nash/Simon Hicks Alice Lane Corporate Finance ECM Tel: 020 7220 0500 About Bioventix plc: Bioventix (www.bioventix.com) specialises in the development and commercial supply of high-affinity monoclonal antibodies with a primary focus on their application in clinical diagnostics, such as in automated immunoassays used in blood testing. The antibodies created at Bioventix are generated in sheep and are of particular benefit where the target is present at low concentration and where conventional monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies have failed to produce a suitable reagent. Bioventix currently offers a portfolio of antibodies to customers for both commercial use and R&D purposes, for the diagnosis or monitoring of a broad range of conditions, including heart disease, cancer, fertility, thyroid function and drug abuse. Bioventix currently supplies antibody products and services to the majority of multinational clinical diagnostics companies. Bioventix is based in Farnham, UK and its shares are traded on AIM under the symbol BVXP. The information communicated in this announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014. BIOVENTIX PLC STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME for the six month period ended 31 December 2019 Six months ended 31 Dec 2019 Six months ended 31 Dec 2018 TURNOVER 5,098,588 4,364,665 Cost of sales (393,673) (438,160) GROSS PROFIT 4,704,915 3,926,505 Administrative expenses (643,819) (655,873) Share option charge (67,294) (67,294) Difference on foreign exchange 80,258 24,680 Research & development tax credit adjustment 5,369 8,319 OPERATING PROFIT 4,079,429 3,236,337 Interest receivable 17,521 9,662 Interest payable (0) (0) PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION 4,096,950 3,245,999 Tax on profit on ordinary activities (669,223) (499,183) PROFIT FOR THE FINANCIAL PERIOD 3,427,727 2,746,816 Earnings per share for the period: Basic 66.65p 53.44p Diluted 65.56p 52.54p BIOVENTIX PLC BALANCE SHEET as at 31 December 2019 31 Dec 2019 31 Dec 2018 FIXED ASSETS Intangible fixed assets 0 0 Tangible fixed assets 718,921 524,761 Investments 579,375 388,377 1,298,296 913,138 CURRENT ASSETS Stocks 219,007 258,814 Debtors 3,648,303 3,368,057 Cash at bank and in hand 5,530,539 5,456,257 9,397,849 9,083,128 CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year (940,209) (797,616) NET CURRENT ASSETS 8,457,640 8,285,512 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 9,755,936 9,198,650 PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES Deferred Tax 63,020 31,989 NET ASSETS 9,692,916 9,166,661 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Called up share capital 257,134 257,034 Share premium account 435,908 414,608 Capital redemption reserve 1,231 1,231 Profit and loss account 8,998,643 8,493,788 SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 9,692,916 9,166,661 BIOVENTIX PLC STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS for the six month period ended 31 December 2019 31 Dec 2019 31 Dec 2018 CASHFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Cash flows from operating activities Profit for the financial year 3,427,727 2,746,816 Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 57,391 30,349 Interest received (17,521) (9,662) Taxation 192,597 (90,014) Decrease / (increase) in stocks 20,288 24,276 Decrease / (increase) in debtors 285,612 448,733 (Decrease) /increase in creditors 28,574 63,281 Share option charge 67,294 67,294 Other tax movements (5,369) (8,319) Net cash generated from operating activities 4,056,593 3,272,754 Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of tangible fixed assets (261,492) (57,307) Interest received 17,521 9,662 Purchase of unlisted and other investments (190,998) (96,953) Net cash from investing activities (434,969) (144,598) Cash flows from financing activities Issue of ordinary shares 0 100 Movement on share premium account 0 19,500 Dividends paid (4,628,407) (4,678,013) Interest paid (0) (0) Net cash used in financing activities (4,628,407) (4,658,413) Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 6,537,322 6,986,514 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 5,530,539 5,456,257 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year comprise: Cash at bank and in hand 5,530,539 5,456,257 BIOVENTIX PLC Notes to the financial information 1. While the interim financial information has been prepared using the company's accounting policies and in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102, the announcement does not itself contain sufficient information to comply with Financial Reporting Standard 102. 2. This interim financial statement has not been audited or reviewed by the auditors. 3. The accounting policies which were used in the preparation of this interim financial information were as follows: 3.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with FRS 102. 3.2 Revenue Turnover is recognised for product supplied or services rendered to the extent that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Company and the turnover can be reliably measured. Turnover is measured as the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, excluding discounts, rebates, value added tax and other sales taxes. The following criteria determine when turnover will be recognised: Direct sales are recognised at the date of dispatch. Subcontracted R & D income is recognised based upon the stage of completion at the year end. Annual licence revenue is recognised, in full, based upon the date of the invoice, and royalties are accrued over the period to which they relate. Revenue is recognised based on the returns and notifications received from customers and in the event that subsequent adjustments are identified, they are recognised in the period in which they are identified. 3.3 Intangible fixed assets and amortisation Goodwill is the difference between amounts paid on the acquisition of a business and the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities. It is amortised to the Profit and loss account over its estimated economic life. Amortisation is provided at the following rates: Goodwill ? Over 10 years Know how ? Over 10 years BIOVENTIX PLC Notes to the financial information 3.4 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is not charged on freehold land. Depreciation on other tangible fixed assets is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of those assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases: Freehold property ? 2% straight line Plant and equipment ? 25% reducing balance Motor Vehicles ? 25% straight line Equipment ? 25% straight line 3.5 Valuation of investments Investments in unlisted Company shares, whose market value can be reliably determined, are remeasured to market value at each balance sheet date. Gains and losses on remeasurement are recognised in the Statement of comprehensive income for the period. Where market value cannot be reliably determined, such investments are stated at historic cost less impairment. 3.6 Stocks Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value, being the estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost includes all direct costs and an appropriate proportion of fixed and variable overheads. At each balance sheet date, stocks are assessed for impairment. If stock is impaired, the carrying amount is reduced to its selling price less costs to complete and sell. The impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss. 3.7 Debtors Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment. Loans receivable are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment. 3.8 Cash and cash equivalents Cash is represented by cash in hand and deposits with financial institutions repayable without penalty on notice of not more than 24 hours. Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash with insignificant risk of change in value. In the Statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents are shown net of bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the Company's cash management. BIOVENTIX PLC Notes to the financial information 3.9 Financial instruments The Company only enters into basic financial instruments transactions that result in the recognition of financial assets and liabilities like trade and other debtors and creditors, loans from banks and other third parties, loans to related parties and investments in non-puttable ordinary shares. 3.10 Creditors Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including bank loans, are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method. 3.11 Foreign currency translation Functional and presentation currency The Company's functional and presentational currency is GBP. Transactions and balances Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the spot exchange rates at the dates of the transactions. At each period end foreign currency monetary items are translated using the closing rate. Non-monetary items measured at historical cost are translated using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction and non-monetary items measured at fair value are measured using the exchange rate when fair value was determined. 3.12 Finance costs Finance costs are charged to the Statement of comprehensive income over the term of the debt using the effective interest method so that the amount charged is at a constant rate on the carrying amount. Issue costs are initially recognised as a reduction in the proceeds of the associated capital instrument. 3.13 Dividends Equity dividends are recognised when they become legally payable. Interim equity dividends are recognised when paid. Final equity dividends are recognised when approved by the shareholders at an annual general meeting. Dividends on shares recognised as liabilities are recognised as expenses and classified within interest payable. 3.14 Employee benefits-share-based compensation The company operates an equity-settled, share-based compensation plan. The fair value of the employee services received in exchange for the grant of the options is recognised as an expense over the vesting period. The total amount to be expensed over the vesting period is determined by reference to the fair value of the options granted. At each balance sheet date, the company will revise its estimates of the number of options are expected to be exercisable. It will recognise the impact of the revision of original estimates, if any, in the profit and loss account, with a corresponding adjustment to equity. The proceeds received net of any directly attributable transaction costs are credited to share capital (nominal value) and share premium when the options are exercised. 3.15 Research and development Research and development expenditure is written off in the year in which it is incurred. BIOVENTIX PLC Notes to the financial information " " Chief NASA 'sniffer' George Aldrich (right) has been part of the space agency's odor panel for nearly 50 years. NASA/WSTF Reed P. Elliott Every nut and bolt, every plastic zip tie, every container of Tang that is part of a manned space mission has to be thoroughly checked out before it gets blasted into the stars. It only makes sense, right? Space is no place for surprises. Testing these things all of them and how they'll act and react in potentially hazardous environments falls on a veritable army of professionals at NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. One group there, the Materials Flight Acceptance workforce, analyzes the space-suitability of different materials to make sure nothing will surprisingly catch on fire, or put off some toxic gas, or act strangely in the vacuum of space, or that no fluids will react poorly with other materials onboard. All this is done with a never-wavering eye on the safety of astronauts. And then there's the testing area that has made the Materials group a sort of quirky star in the NASA solar system: The odor panel. What an astronaut smells in space, it turns out, is mission-critical, too. "If you don't like the smell of fish down here on the ground, you open a window and let it air out," says Susana Harper, the Materials Flight Acceptance standards testing manager at White Sands. "We don't have that option up in space." Advertisement Why Smell Is So Important in Space The potentially smelly halibut or farting co-pilot is bad, but NASA is concerned with way more than simple stinkiness. (After all, some smells, especially in the relatively tight quarters of, say, the International Space Station or Orion, just can't be helped.) "We want to make sure we're not creating an environment that is uncomfortable or bothersome to the astronaut, so they can be 100 percent focused on their mission," Harper says. But beyond the comfort of astronauts which is important NASA wants to keep unnecessary smells out of spacecraft for a more practical reason: Too many unfamiliar odors in a tiny space can mask odors that the astronauts need to detect. Like, perhaps, an ammonia leak. Or the smell of something burning. You can't have so many odors on board that the astronauts miss the important stuff. "Our first line of detection is our human sense of smell. So even though we have worked with companies, and there are certain types of detectors on board," Harper says, "in the end we know that the human sense of smell is our most sensitive detector for those hazardous smells." " " Every item on every payload sent to the ISS must pass the smell test, so astronauts like Jessica Meir (bottom) and Andrew Morgan (seen here in front of the hatch to the Space Dragon resupply ship on March 27, 2020) can detect serious odors, like an ammonia leak or smoke from a fire. NASA Advertisement NASA's Nose Knows Best NASA, through the Materials group, has an odor panel that evaluates what can go up into space and what's just too darn stinky. Five volunteers put their schnozzes to everything in the astronaut's habitable space. The smell is captured first in an air chamber, then the air is injected through a syringe directly into masks that each panel member wears. They then rank the smells (0 for least offensive, 4 for "get this outta here") to determine what's allowable and what should be grounded. (Another group first tests the materials for toxicity.) Any odor over 2.5 fails. The panel's most-decorated member is George Aldrich, a 64-year-old chemical specialist who has been sniffing around NASA for some 46 years. He's lent his proboscis to more than 900 different sit-down smell tests way more than anyone, ever which has earned him a bunch of cutesy names (he once called himself a "nasalnaut"), a few jaw-dropping media appearances (including one in which he made like a police dog and, impossibly, sniffed out a smidgen of drugs), and the admiration of astronauts (he was awarded the Silver Snoopy award). Though Aldrich has been doing this since he was a teen, his is not some cushy seniority post. He has to qualify for the panel every four months. To do that, NASA puts Aldrich and other volunteers through what is known as a 10-bottle test. They have to identify seven smells, and then point out the three bottles that have no smell. "As we age, eyesight is not always the first thing to go," Aldrich says. "The day I go up there and can't pass that 10-bottle test is the day that they're going to retire me from the odor panel." The seven smells in the test are what are often known as "primary" smells. "You want me to name them for you?" Aldrich says. "Musky, minty, floral, etherous, camphoraceous, pungent and putrid. I still got it." " " Susana Harper (left), the materials flight acceptance standards testing manager, and George Aldrich (right) place an item in an offgas chamber, which tests and identifies gaseous compounds items release into the atmosphere. NASA/WSTF Reed P. Elliott Aldrich does not, it should be pointed out, have a particularly prominent nose. "Size," he insists, "don't matter." He's generally unbothered by allergies, which he credits with helping his sense of smell. But he also constantly tests himself, often following a smell through a hallway to try to identify it and its source. "I always stay in tune to odors," he says. "From my perspective," Harper says, "I also feel that he has developed his sense of smell much like a weightlifter develops his muscles or a wine taster develops a sense of taste. He does smell so many materials, and he focuses on what those smells are like. I feel like he has been working that like a muscle and that it has become more sensitive over time." Aldrich was a member of the NASA fire department at White Sands when his boss told him about the odor panel. "I had no idea," he says now. "I just thought I was doing something great for the astronauts." Since then, the Materials group has kept him busy, constantly giving him and the other members of the odor panel all sorts of materials to work with, including some truly awful bits (he recalls the odor given off by undoing a Velcro strap as being particularly nasty). You'll get no complaints from Aldrich, though. For a near half-century, he's been proud to stick his nose in wherever he can, all in the name of science. NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Notwithstanding that occasional gaseous fellow astronaut, smells in a spacecraft are as controlled as they can be. What isn't controllable: the smell of space. Astronaut John Herrington, who caught a whiff on his suit after returning from an extravehicular activity known here on Earth as a spacewalk referred to it as a kind of burnt metal smell. Statement on missile attacks in Saudi Arabia Statement Ireland condemns the missile attacks on 28 March, originating from areas of Yemen under Houthi control, which targeted cities in Saudi Arabia. Indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian areas are completely unacceptable, and are contrary to international law. Ireland encourages all parties to the conflict in Yemen to heed the call from the UN Secretary General for a ceasefire to facilitate the fight against COVID-19. ENDS PRESS OFFICE 30 MARCH 2020 Previous Item | Next Item Iran hawks in Congress are unhappy with the Donald Trump administrations announcement that it will extend four waivers enabling other countries to cooperate with Tehran on certain civil nuclear activities. The waivers are among the last remnants of former President Barack Obamas nuclear deal with Iran, which President Trump withdrew from in 2018. And while Trumps maximum pressure campaign and stinging sanctions on Iran have pleased some of his closest Republican allies, such as Sen. Ted Cruz, the Texas lawmaker expressed disappointment over todays announcement. Sen. Cruz has been public and explicit about the need to end these civil nuclear waivers, which allow Iran to continue building its nuclear program, a Cruz spokesperson told Al-Monitor. The officials inside the Trump administration who continue to push for these waivers are committed to preserving the catastrophic Obama-Iran nuclear deal, contrary to what President Trump has called for." Despite Cruzs contention that the waivers enable Irans nuclear program, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus framed the waivers as restrictions on the Iranian regimes nuclear program. We will continue to use the full range of our diplomatic and economic tools to constrain Irans destabilizing proliferation activities, said Ortagus. We will continue to closely monitor all developments in Irans nuclear program and can adjust these restrictions at any time. The waiver renewals expire in two months. They allow companies from Europe, Russia and China to help transfer enriched uranium into Iran to the Tehran Research Reactor, redesign the Arak heavy water reactor and build reactors at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. While the waivers help Iran develop a civil nuclear research program, the enriched uranium transfers to the Tehran reactor also help develop nuclear isotopes for medical purposes. Furthermore, the waiver for Arak is meant to transfer it from a heavy to light water reactor so that it can no longer produce plutonium, which could be used to develop a nuclear weapon. Cruz did secure a partial victory last year when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the end of another waiver that allowed Russia to help Iran transition reactors at the Fordow uranium enrichment facility to produce non-nuclear isotopes. Shortly after the announcement, he joined House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., in introducing legislation to terminate the waivers for the Tehran and Arak reactors. Cruzs spokesman told Al-Monitor that the senator intends to continue working with his colleagues here on [Capitol Hill] to ban them. The Trump administration has also renewed the waivers as Iran ramps up its uranium enrichment activity at Fordow in violation of the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran began violating certain restrictions in the deal last year in response to Washingtons biting sanctions and maximum pressure campaign and announced that it would withdraw from the deal after Trumps January strike on Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Meanwhile, Trump is taking heat from the left to lift the Iran sanctions as the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc throughout Iran. Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., joined Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., as well as 31 other Democratic lawmakers and 13 antiwar groups in a letter to Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin demanding that they suspend sanctions on account of COVID-19. Iran has accused US sanctions of inhibiting the delivery of vital medical supplies needed to combat coronavirus. At the same time, the Treasury Department did issue a general license exemption for trade in humanitarian goods through the Iranian Central Bank last month and Pompeo has offered US assistance to help Tehran cope with the pandemic an offer Iran has so far rejected. Farmers can delay wheat harvesting till April 20 without incurring any major losses as temperature in the growing states is still below the long-term average, government research body ICAR said on Tuesday, while advising farmers to take precautions amid the rapid spread of coronavirus in India. Normally, wheat harvesting begins from March-end. The government has pegged a record wheat output of 106.21 million tonnes in 2019-20 crop year (July-June) on the back of good rains as against 103.60 million tonnes in the previous year. In its latest advisory to farmers, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) sad, "The temperature in most wheat growing areas is still below long-term average and therefore likely to delay wheat harvesting by at least 10-15 days beyond April 10, therefore, farmers can delay wheat harvesting till April 20 without incurring any significant loss." This would give farmers enough time to manage logistics for procurement and announcement of dates, it said. ICAR said the movement of combine harvesters within the state and between states is permitted, and asked farmers to ensure that the workers engaged in repair, maintenance and harvesting operation adopt safety measures for coronavirus. Currently, manual harvesting of mustard -- the second most important rabi crop -- is underway and threshing is due wherever it is already harvested. ICAR said harvesting of lentils, maize and chillies is in progress, while that of grams is fast approaching. Sugarcane harvesting is also at its peak, while it is also time for manual planting in the north. In its advisory, the agri-research body asked farmers to engage only "familiar persons to the extent possible and after reasonable enquiry as to avoid the entry of any suspect or likely carrier (of the coronavirus) during field activity." "Prefer mechanized operations over the manual wherever feasible. Only the essential numbers of persons should be allowed to accompany the machine," it said. In case of manual field operations of harvesting/ picking, accomplish the operation in 4-5 feet spaced strips assigning one strip to one person. This will ensure adequate spacing between the engaged labours, it added. ICAR further asked farmers to stagger field operations wherever possible, and avoid engaging more number of persons on the same day. "All the persons engaged should use masks and ensure hand washing with soap at reasonable intervals. Maintain safe distance of 3-4 feet during rest, taking of meals, transfer of produce at collection point, loading/unloading," it said. With regard to rabi paddy, ICAR said the crop in southern states has been widely affected due to 'neck blast' disease. Therefore, adequate precautions should be taken while spraying of recommended fungicide by contract sprayers/ farmers. In horticultural crops at fruiting stage such as mango, adequate precautions should be taken in handling inputs and mixing while carrying out field operations related to nutrient spray and crop protection. Besides, delivery and washing of equipment should also be undertaken. ICAR said farm machines and implements should be sanitized at entry point and at regular intervals. All transport vehicles, gunny bags or other packaging material should also be sanitized The collection of the produce may be done in small heaps spaced at 3-4 feet and field level processing should be assigned to 1-2 persons/heap to avoid crowding. Proper sanitation and cleanliness of threshers for harvested maize and groundnut is to be maintained, especially when machines are shared and used by farmer groups. Copious washing of machine parts frequently touched with soap is advised, it added. For post-harvest, storage and marketing of farm produce, ICAR asked farmers to take precautions while performing drying, threshing, winnowing, cleaning, grading, sorting and packaging operations at the farm level. "Ensure proper drying prior to storage of harvested grains, millets, pulses at farm/home and do not use reuse previous seasons jute bags to prevent pest infestation. Use treated and dried gunnies after soaking in 5 per cent neem solution," it said. Farmers should take enough personal safety measures while loading and transporting farm produce and participating in sale at market yards/auction platforms, it said. ICAR said seed producing farmers are allowed to transport their produce to seed companies with supporting documents, and asked them to take precautions while receiving payments. Farmers should take precautions while direct marketing/supplying vegetables such as tomato, cauliflower, green leafy vegetables, cucumbers and other cucurbits from farms. "Seed processing/packaging plants and transportation of seed from producing states to growing states (south to north) is essential to make available seed for ensuing kharif crops. SSG seed for green fodder for sowing in April in north comes from southern states," ICAR added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It was only a few days earlier that Trump had been holding up GM and Ford as examples of companies voluntarily responding to the outbreak without the need for him to invoke the act. Then on Friday, he slammed GM on Twitter and during his daily briefing for foot-dragging. On Sunday, he was back to praising the company during another briefing: "General Motors is doing a fantastic job. I don't think we have to worry about them anymore." Peter Navarro, Trump's assistant for manufacturing policy, said Saturday that invoking the act was needed because GM "dragged its heels for days" in committing to the investments to start making ventilators at an automotive electronics plant in Kokomo, Indiana. GM expects to start making ventilators in mid-April, ramping up to a rate of 10,000 per month at as quickly as it can. The company is working with Ventec Life Systems, a small Seattle-area ventilator maker, and both say the Defense Production Act of 1950 doesn't change what they're doing because they're already moving as fast as they can, fronting millions in capital with an uncertain return. Experts on managing factory production say GM is already making an extraordinary effort for a company that normally isn't in the business of producing ventilators. "That is lightning-fast speed to secure suppliers, learn how the products work, and make space in their manufacturing plant. You can't get much faster than that," said Kaitlin Wowak, a professor at the University of Notre Dame who focuses on industrial supply chains. But President Donald Trump, claiming the company wasn't moving fast enough, on Friday invoked the Defense Production Act, which gives the government broad authority to direct companies to meet national defense needs. Twelve days ago, General Motors put hundreds of workers on an urgent project to build breathing machines as hospitals and governors pleaded for more in response to the coronavirus pandemic. But GM says it had been proceeding on the same course all along. The company got into the ventilator business on March 18 after being approached by stopthespread.org, a coalition of CEOs trying to organize companies to respond to the COVID-19 disease that has already claimed more than 30,000 lives globally. The organization introduced GM to Ventec, which makes small portable ventilators in Bothell, Washington. The automaker pulled together manufacturing experts, engineers and purchasing specialists, and the next day had people at Ventec's facility, a short distance from a nursing home where the virus killed at least 35 people. They worked on speeding up Ventec's manufacturing. A few days later, GM assigned more engineers and purchasing experts to figure out how it could make Ventec's machines. Some Ventec parts makers couldn't produce enough widgets fast enough, so GM went to its own parts bin to find suppliers to do the job, Johnson said. At the same time, GM was shutting down its car and truck factories temporarily due to worker fears about the virus. Erik Gordon, a University of Michigan law and business professor, said he thought Trump would commend GM and use it as an example for other manufacturers in the coronavirus fight. "What came out was a smack on the head," he said. Gordon, who teaches a class in commercialization of biomedical goods, said Trump likely will claim credit when GM starts making the machines. "This is an election year, and on all sides you're going to see political theater," he said. Critics have urged Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act broadly to control the production, supply and distribution of ventilators and protective gear for hospital workers who are running short. That's what the act was meant to do, and it was not for use against a single company, Gordon said. Even with increased production from all ventilator makers, however, the U.S. might not have enough of the life-saving machines. U.S. hospitals have about 65,000 of the ventilators that are sophisticated enough to treat critical coronavirus patients. It could probably cobble together a total of 170,000, including simpler devices, to help with the crisis, one expert says. A doctor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center estimates that 960,000 people in the U.S. will need to be on ventilators, which feed oxygen into the lungs of patients with severe respiratory problems through a tube inserted down the throat. Doctors hope social distancing will stop a huge number of people from getting sick simultaneously, flattening the curve of the illness so they can use one ventilator to treat multiple patients. Trump, in several appearances Friday, accused GM of promising 40,000 ventilators, then reducing the number to 6,000. He also said the company wanted higher prices than previously discussed. Ventec, which is negotiating with the government to provide more ventilators, said it only changed numbers and prices at the request of government agencies, which asked for a range of quantities and prices. The company said it's selling the ventilators, which can treat severe virus patients, at distributor cost, and it has offered scaled down versions for a lower price. Up until late Sunday, Ventec and GM hadn't known how many ventilators the government would buy but those details are now being worked out. Ventec isn't sure if it will make any money on the devices, which generally sell for $18,000 -- far less than ventilators used in hospital intensive care units that can cost $50,000. Johnson says GM has no intention of making a profit. Ventec will need government money to help pay parts suppliers and ramp up its own production from 200 per month to 1,000 or more, said CEO Chris Kiple. Invoking the Defense Production Act "shined a light" on the need for ventilators, he said, but Ventec can't move any quicker. "We're still moving full speed ahead," Kiple said. "We know there's a shortage of ventilators." Original Writer Composer Of Badshaah- Jacqueline's Genda Phool Is Aghast That No Credit Was Given To Him Private hospitals will continue to work with the HSE in the fight against Covid-19 for as long they are required. The landmark deal between the HSE and the Private Hospitals Association (PHA) is for an initial three months, with an option for a two-month extension. However, the PHA has said it will continue to work with the HSE beyond that point if required to do so. Dr Josh Keaveny, chair of the PHA, also said that the public and private sectors need to work together to ensure those with non-Covid related illnesses do not end up with not as good an outcome as they could have. He made the remarks on RTEs Today with Sean ORourke. The deal between the HSE and the PHA enables the HSE access to the existing bed capacity, equipment, and the services of clinicians and healthcare professionals working in the private hospital system. It includes some 2,500 inpatient and day beds in 19 hospitals, and more than 8,000 staff. Dr Keaveny said the timeframe of the public/private hospital partnership is not totally open-ended, but that private hospitals will play their part as required and work in partnership with the HSE. The initial agreement is for three months and includes an option for the HSE to add an additional two months. After that, it is negotiable. The Government feels that by five months, the hope is that well have passed crisis stage, said Dr Keaveny. But weve been quite clear with the Government that if the pandemic remains a serious problem, we will continue in the partnership and therell be minimal negotiation on that if we have a severe pandemic. He said that considering the number of hospitals involved and the scale of the issue, he feels negotiations went quite quickly. The cost will be assessed on the costs of running hospitals and of things like disposables, he said, and a formula has been worked out between the PHA and the HSE. He added that they do not know what the partnership will cost the taxpayer because they do not know how long the situation will last. Were not sure how much work, the complexity of the work that will come into the private system, so it is difficult to put an exact figure on it, he said. The private hospitals will be acting in unison with the public hospitals, all patients receiving treatments or investigations will be treated as public patients only... everything will be done on a needs basis, irrespective of whether they are public or private. All patients will be admitted as public patients, he said, and there will be no money changing hands within private hospitals. He also said it is absolutely crucial that the private sector continues to function. He said the rest of the health service continues, and that parallel to the corona-virus crisis people will have heart attacks, strokes, and develop cancers. He said the challenge is that the health service bands together so those with illnesses that are not related to the Covid-19 outbreak do not end up with not as good as an outcome as they could have. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] [The stream is slated to start at 2:00 p.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is holding a press conference Monday to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak that has infected more than 43,100 people in the city. On Monday, de Blasio and other state and city officials welcomed the USNS Comfort to New York City, which will provide an additional 1,000 hospital beds. De Blasio's office announced on Tuesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is sending 250 ambulances, about 500 EMTs and paramedics and 85 refrigerated trucks to serve as temporary mortuaries to New York City, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. "Our EMTs and paramedics are facing an unprecedented number of medical calls each day. There has never been a busier time in the history of EMS in New York City," New York City Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said in a statement. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel advisory on Sunday for residents of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to avoid non-essential travel for 14 days to combat the virus spread. The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. stands at more than 164,600 and the U.S. death toll has surpassed 3,100 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. New York state accounts for almost half of those cases with 67,384 confirmed infections as of Tuesday morning. Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the dedication shown by a Madhya Pradesh government doctor, who briefly met his family members outside his home after five days and then returned to duty, has won him praise from Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and also social media users. A picture of the doctor, Sudhir Kumar Deharia, in which he is seen sitting outside his home and sipping tea, has gone viral on social media. Deharia is Bhopal district's Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO). The picture was reportedly clicked on Monday when Deharia went to meet his family after a gap of five days. In the picture, Dr Deharia is seen sitting on a small wall outside his home, while his family members are standing at a distance inside the gate of his house. Dr Deharia is seen talking to them while holding a tea cup. Chouhan on Tuesday shared this picture on his twitter handle and wrote, Meet Dr Sudhir Deharia, who is the CMHO of Bhopal district. "On Monday, he reached home after five days, sat outside the house and drank tea, apprised himself about the well-being of family and returned to the hospital. "My best wishes to Dr Dehria and thousands of others like these #CoronaWarriors. We are proud of you. Several popular Twitter handles shared the picture and termed such health warriors as super heroes. The photo has been retweeted more than a thousand times on these Twitter handles. Madhya Pradesh has so far reported 65 coronavirus cases. Of these, 44 have been reported from Indore, eight from Jabalpur, five from Ujjain, four from Bhopal and two each from Shivpuri and Gwalior. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On Tuesday's episode of Married At First Sight, Natasha Spencer claimed Stacey Hampton had slept with her 'husband' Mikey Pembroke. The allegation followed weeks of Stacey publicly shaming fellow 'bride' Hayley Vernon after she confessed to 'macking on' with her 'groom' Michael Goonan. The claim that Stacey had also been cheating in the series sent Twitter into a meltdown, with fans claiming Stacey was the show's real 'villain', while others compared her to Regina George from the cult classic film Mean Girls. 'Stacey was the villain all along': On Tuesday, Married At First Sight fans compared Stacey Hampton (pictured) to Regina George from Mean Girls following her cheating scandal with Mikey Pembroke 'Plot twist... Stacey was the creepy villain all along,' wrote one fan. 'Raise your hand if you've ever felt personally victimised by Stacey,' said another, while sharing a still from the 2004 hit teen movie. As Stacey continued to deny the affair, calling Mikey 'desperate' and claiming he was 'obsessed' with her, the comparisons to Regina continued. One woman shared a clip of Regina asking, 'Why are you so obsessed with me?'. Ouch! The claim that Stacey had also been cheating sent Twitter into a meltdown, with fans claiming Stacey was the show's real 'villain' In the episode, Natasha, 26, began by telling the other couples Stacey and Michael Goonan had 'the fakest relationship in Australian reality TV history'. 'And I'd like to toast to Stacey, for f**king my husband on our one-month anniversary. Cheers to you, babe,' she concluded. Her bombshell revelation left everyone at the table stunned, and prompted Stacey, 26, to deny ever sleeping with Mikey, branding herself 'the most loyal partner'. Drama: Natasha Spencer (pictured) dropped a bombshell on Tuesday's episode of Married At First Sight, revealing her 'ex-husband' Mikey Pembroke had slept with Stacey Hampton Feeling the pressure to weigh in on the discussion, Mikey, 29, then stood up and confessed: 'One thing led to another, me and Stacey had a few drinks in Ivan and Aleks' room, and we slept together.' Stacey's 'husband' Michael, 29, said he trusted her, before asking if there was 'any evidence'. Mikey then walked away to retrieve his phone to show the group the text messages he and Stacey had exchanged. 'There's no messages,' Stacey insisted, with Mikey urging the show's producers to 'get a lie detector test'. Confirmation: Mikey (pictured) backed up the claim, pulling out his phone which contained text messages between him and Stacey Mikey then got fellow participant Chris Nicholls to read the messages aloud, with Stacey apologising in text for running out the following morning. Ivan Sarakula and Aleks Markovic then weighed in, revealing Mikey's clothes had been dropped off back at their apartment in a Mecca Cosmetics bag after the alleged incident. But Stacey insisted she was 'single' at the time because she had written 'leave' at their commitment ceremony, adding: 'If it did happen, I'd be sitting here going, "He deserved it".' Chris Godley, director of Emergency Management and leader of the Sonoma County's Emergency Operation Center, apologized for taking the Saturday trip A California emergency management official enjoyed a day with family at a beach despite strict a local shelter-in-place order that has closed all parks, beaches and open spaces. Chris Godley, director of Emergency Management and leader of the Sonoma County's Emergency Operation Center, apologized for taking the Saturday trip with his family to an unnamed beach on the Sonoma County coast. Photos were posted on the family's Facebook. 'I own this,' Godley said to the Press Democrat. 'It was a day off for my family. Any reasoning or justification is going to sound thin.' The family appear to be enjoying themselves on the unnamed and abandoned beach. 'Road tripping up the coast. Beautiful drive and nice views. Family beach time together. Grateful for fresh air and the ocean,' the post reads, according to the publication. California has more than 7,300 cases of the coronavirus and more than 140 deaths. The family appear to be enjoying themselves on the unnamed and abandoned beach (stock image) Lynda Hopkins, the Sonoma County Supervisor, was dismayed by Godley's trip to the beach. 'I'm extremely disappointed,' she asserted. 'In county government, we need to lead by example. We can't possibly expect the community to hold themselves accountable if we don't hold ourselves accountable as well.' Lynda Hopkins, the Sonoma County Supervisor, was dismayed by Godley's trip to the beach Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Susan Gorin said it was time to move on from the issue, calling the incident a learning experience. Sonoma County's shelter-in-place-order went into effect at 12.01am on March 18. Only essential businesses are allowed to be open and travel is prohibited to all but essential employees or residents making essential trips. The order was strengthened on March 23 when parks and open spaces were closed after people took to the Sonoma Coast. Public Health Officer Dr Sundari Mase found trips to the beach especially problematic, at the time. Godley's trip comes as local law officials have agreed to step up enforcement in the area. Citations will be issued to nonessential businesses that remain open and people who loiter. Supervisor David Rabbitt defended Godley Sunday, advocating that few work as hard as him. He asked for people to be more lax with people in Godley's line of work during this time. California has more than 7,300 cases of the coronavirus and more than 140 deaths 'If this was the doctor, in the midst of a battle for six days, and had one day off with family, would it be a sin?' Rabbitt said. 'Would that be a story? Or is it only a story for Chris Godley who works for the county?' 'I want my top people who are responding to this crisis to be of sound mind, body and health,' he continued. 'And if that means going to the coast to feel better, I'm all for it.' Godley's boss, County Administrator Sheryl Bratton, also took up for the man's work ethic. Godley expressed remorse and hoped people could be merciful for his actions 'He does an excellent job,' she said. 'He is the consummate professional and public servant. He and others are putting in excessively long hours at the EOC, and it's important that he and others get time off.' She did add, however, that time off did not include going to the beach. 'That's the conversation we had,' Bratton said. 'I take him at his word.' Godley expressed remorse and hoped people could be merciful for his actions. 'It's certainly not what I want to model for my community at this time,' he said. 'I seek the understanding and mercy of my community. The opportunity to grant just a moment of freedom to my family given that they rarely see me is not a justification, but it's what was going through my mind at the time.' An online meeting to publicize the reality of women's human rights in North Korea was held on the March 10th under the host of the North Korean Freedom Coalition (Chairperson Suzanne Scholte). The meeting was originally sponsored by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and organized by the North Korea Freedom Coalition(NFKC), but it was replaced by online conferencing as the offline gathering was canceled due to the spread of the coronavirus. The video conference featured Eiko Kawasaki, a victim of the repatriation project, and Shinae Oh, a North Korean defector, who reported the serious reality of women's human rights in North Korea. Also among the participants were Ann Buwalda, a lawyer for NFKC; Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK); and John Sifton, the Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. On the online conference, Greg Scarlatoiu said, "the current oppression of women in North Korea is a direct result of totalitarian politics." "The current North Korea women only know the totalitarian regime and are thoroughly educated in it," adding, "The poor treatment of women in the North is the outcome of totalitarianism, the self-reliance ideology that has handed over for 70 years, and this is what makes it difficult for women in the North today." "The North Korean human rights issue has been degenerated due to political, military and security issues," Greg said. "The negotiators in charge of that matter are those who are in a position to make a difference in the human rights of North Korea. We hope them to pay great attention to human rights when they are in the position of power and privilege," he also stressed. Women and girls in North Korea are so oppressed and they have no way out, director John Sifton said, adding that the international community needs to recognize that women and girls in the North do not have the ability to overcome their environment. Their voices are completely silenced within the totalitarian regime," he pointed out. John urged South Korea President, Moon Jae-in to have more interest in the North Korean Human Rights. John said, "Not only us but many human rights activists have recently written to President Moon with deep disappointment. In particular, the repatriation of North Korean fishermen in November last year was very disappointing, he said, pointing out that South Korea is giving up its role amid the U.N.'s pressure on the North over human rights issues. "In order to improve the human rights situation in North Korea, the international community should continue to expose human rights conditions and raise issues," said Ann Buwalda, a lawyer for the NFKC. "We also need to actively inform the truth to North Koreans and what happens in the world until they get accurate information about the outside world." Health and Safety Executive said it will not be visiting workplaces in Northern Ireland to check on coronavirus measures. Northern Ireland's Health and Safety Executive has had a 1,800% increase in complaints made against firms over safety concerns amid the coronavirus lockdown measures but said it has no plans to visit employers. It said the majority of the allegations concerned Covid-19 and social distancing measures in the workplace. Over the past week workers have staged walkouts over safety concerns during the crisis. Those firms involved stressed their priority was the health and safety of their employees and they were following government guidelines. The Health and Safety Executive said it was seeing "great efforts from companies to introduce the necessary measures and the vast majority are complying with our requests". "We have examples where production lines have been extended, break times staggered, canteen tables restricted to one per person, increased cleaning and physical measures such as perspex panels to minimise contact have been introduced," the organisation said in a statement. "We are seeing voluntary temporary closures being introduced in sectors such as construction. These are the sort of changes we are working with industry to introduce. "Our work with industry will save lives. Support in key messaging from industry, trade bodies and trade unions has all helped ensure the protection of workers in line with UK Government and Public Health Agency guidelines." It said it had been clear that measures to maintain social distancing must not only be put in place but must be adhered to by staff and strictly monitored by management. "The success of any social distancing regime will depend on high levels of collaboration between staff and management," the organisation said. The Health and Safety Executive told the BBC Stephen Nolan show it will not be visiting businesses to see what measures have been put in place and if social distancing is taking place. It said should allegations be made they will instead ask employers to prove compliance by email, verbal assurance, or sending in a picture. It said this was the most efficient way to handle the matter. Trade union Unite said the approach was "not good enough". "This can't go on.. as a body it is failing workers in Northern Ireland," regional organiser Susan Fitzgerald told the BBC Nolan show. She said staff at the organisation were also worried about the approach. The First Minister and deputy First Ministers said those firms not enforcing health authority guidance could face tough action. A forum has been set up to consider issues around health and safety in workplaces around Northern Ireland and the best approach. Arlene Foster said it was time everyone was on the same page in terms of the approach to dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. "The time for excuses is long past," she said. The Department for Economy said employers had a "legal obligation" to put safety of staff first and workers also had an obligation to ensure their safety and of those they work with. The Health and Safety Executive said given the large volume of calls it was dealing with its approach was to offer advise and work with companies on Covid-19 guidance. It said visits to employers provided only a snap shot of time and were not effective. It stressed it did not have the power to shut down businesses but could enforce a partial stop on some processes. "Our staff are dedicated and are working tirelessly to deal with each and every call we receive to achieve the outcome which best protects workers health and safety," it said in a statement on its website. "Our inspectorate staff are contacting businesses in response to raised concerns to ensure that measures are put in place to maintain social distancing and minimise the risks associated with Covid-19. "Given the range of work sectors HSENI deals with the implementation of these measures can be complex. This approach is allowing us to prioritise resources, rapidly raise concerns and point to appropriate measures which need to be taken. Inspectors are requiring employers to provide evidence of the measures being taken." The statement added: "HSENIs approach to this unprecedented situation has the support of Economy Minister, Manufacturing NI and Unite. Companies who are still working must operate in compliance with the UKGov and PHA guidelines. We will continue to provide help and assistance to companies to ensure this is the case." The Metropolitan Police arrested more than 650 suspects in a week-long crackdown on violent crime - which was helped by many wanted criminals being forced to stay at home. Officers raided the houses of known offenders who would usually be out on the streets if it was not for the coronavirus pandemic. Knife carriers, robbers and drug dealers were also targeted with stop and search, metal-detecting arches and 2,000 sweeps to find weapons hidden in parks and other public areas. Although the Met has been badly affected by staff sickness, a huge drop in crimes including burglary has helped officers on patrol, reported The Standard. While the Met was out arresting criminals, other forces such as Derbyshire have been criticised for perceived heavy-handed tactics during the lockdown including filming walkers with drones to deter visitors to the Peak District. The Metropolitan Police arrested more than 650 wanted criminals and suspects last week during a crackdown on violent crime. Pictured is Met commissioner Cressida Dick The crackdown took place between Monday March 23 to Saturday March 28 as part of the Met's Operation Sceptre. The total of 650 arrests includes wanted criminals and suspects who were arrested by officers on patrol. Commander Jane Connors said: 'If anybody had the view we would be going light, they are very much mistaken we will absolutely bear down on violence. It won't stop. 'Some of London's most prolific, high-harm offenders have been apprehended, and dangerous weapons which could have potentially ended up in the wrong hands have been removed from our streets.' It comes as police forces across the country continued to break up public gatherings as part of an effort to enforce the government's coronavirus lockdown. Some forces have been accused of heavy-handed enforcement, but these claims were rejected today by several senior police officers and politicians. West Midlands Police chief constable Dave Thompson said the public should be 'supporting' officers who are 'doing a marvellous job in difficult circumstances'. He also said allegations made by retired Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption were wrong as it emerged that all Britain's police were urged almost a week ago to be 'consistent' with new sweeping powers to enforce the coronavirus lockdown. Yesterday Lord Sumption criticised Derbyshire Police and its drone unit for having 'shamed our policing traditions' with 'frankly disgraceful' efforts of trying to shame people exercising in the countryside, including dog walkers who drove to an isolated part of the Peak District. He said that this had taking policing to 'unlawful' levels, because the new coronavirus legislation doesn't outlaw it. West Midlands chief constable blasts claims Britain is becoming a 'police state'... but he and Grant Shapps are forced to admit some officers have gone 'further than they should' during virus lockdown Heavy-handed approach of some forces attracted criticism from ex-Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption He said: 'In some parts of the country the police have been trying to stop people from doing things like travelling to take exercise in the open country which are not contrary to the regulations' Last week the National Police Chiefs' Council told forces to take a 'consistent' approach to enforcement West Midlands Police chief constable said claims Britain becoming a 'police state' were 'widely off the mark' Grant Shapps says people shouldn't drive dogs somewhere for a walk - even though law doesn't prevent it A police chief today dismissed claims that heavy-handed enforcement during the coronavirus crisis had tipped Britain towards becoming a 'police state' - as a senior minister issued more muddled travel advice to dog walkers and supermarket shoppers. West Midlands Police chief constable Dave Thompson has said the public should be 'supporting' officers who are 'doing a marvellous job in difficult circumstances'. He also said allegations made by retired Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption were wrong as it emerged that all Britain's police were urged almost a week ago to be 'consistent' with new sweeping powers to enforce the coronavirus lockdown. CC Thompson said today: 'There have been a small number of cases I have seen where I think this could have been done differently. However comments re police state are widely off the mark. I think the public are trying to stick to this, which they are, and I think the general comments that have been made by experts and people, they just need to cut us a little bit of slack at the moment, it's pretty tough.' Yesterday Lord Sumption criticised Derbyshire Police and its drone unit for having 'shamed our policing traditions' with 'frankly disgraceful' efforts of trying to shame people exercising in the countryside, including dog walkers who drove to an isolated part of the Peak District. He said that this had taking policing to 'unlawful' levels, because the new coronavirus legislation doesn't outlaw it. And today Transport Secretary Grant Shapps was accused of causing more confusion as he said people should not be getting into cars to drive to the countryside to take their daily exercise. 'The simple thing is, if at all possible, please take exercise close to your home,' he told the BBC, adding: 'I've got dogs and, rather than put them in the car and drive somewhere with them, it's about stepping out of the house and walking them around the block, or whatever it requires.' He also suggested Britons should only buy the essentials in their once-weekly trip to the supermarket - yet hours later Downing Street confirmed it does not set out how often people are allowed to leave their home to go shopping, but recommends that it is 'as infrequent as possible'. Police on horseback in Lewisham, south-east London today, as the row over how the coronavirus crisis has been policed rumbles on today West Midlands Police chief constable Dave Thompson said last night arguments from retired Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption that Britain was becoming a 'police state' were 'widely off the mark' in a series of tweets. Police officers from North Yorkshire Police stop motorists in cars to check that their travel is 'essential', following the Government's Covid-19 advice to 'Stay at Home' Forces are sending anyone home not going to work or the supermarket or pharmacy - but there have been a number of examples of overzealous enforcement of new powers handed to them last week Pictured: A shopper buys Easter eggs in Cainscross, Gloucestershire, as council officials and police issue guidance on waht constitutes essential shopping Neil Basu (pictured) has warned police to consider how they conduct themselves while seeking to uphold the Government's coronavirus lockdown guidelines Minister warns DON'T drive somewhere to walk the dog People should only leave their home to go shopping once a week as part of the restrictions imposed to combat Covid-19, a Cabinet minister has said. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said people should not be getting into cars to drive to the countryside to take their daily exercise. 'The simple thing is, if at all possible, please take exercise close to your home,' he told the BBC. 'I've got dogs and, rather than put them in the car and drive somewhere with them, it's about stepping out of the house and walking them around the block, or whatever it requires.' But the new coronavirus laws don't outlaw it. He also suggested Britons should only buy the essentials in their once-weekly trip to the supermarket. The official coronavirus guidance issued by the Government does not set out how often people are allowed to leave their home to go shopping, but recommends that it is 'as infrequent as possible'. Some police forces have been accused of heavy-handed tactics in enforcing the lockdown restrictions imposed by the Government. Mr Shapps acknowledged there had been 'teething problems' but said people should follow the rules. 'People know the rules that have been set, try and shop just once a week,' he told the BBC. 'Just do the essentials, not everything else.' Mr Shapps said there had been 'one or two instances' of police being overzealous with enforcement measures but forces were generally being 'sensible'. He said: 'I think the police are doing a difficult job. There will be one or two instances where they have perhaps not approached it in the right way but in general, actually, across the country not only are people complying very well but, generally speaking, the police are taking a very sensible approach to it.' Advertisement Critics including one of Britain's most decorated judges claim some officers have taken it to 'disgraceful' and 'unlawful' levels and in doing so have nudged the UK towards becoming a 'police state'. Derbyshire Police Chief Constable Peter Goodman today defended tactics used by his force, which included filming walkers with drones to deter visitors to the Peak District, and said the new powers have not been used once. He told BBC Radio 5 Live: 'Of course, we need to find our way in all of this - and it's difficult. When the regulations and the law only go so far, but then the advice from the Government goes a bit further, it leaves us in quite a difficult situation in terms of how we interpret that. 'My advice to my force is we want to do this by consent, we want to do this by explanation and conversation.' Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police Bill Skelly said his officers have not needed to make any arrests, hand out any fines or disperse any large gatherings during the Government imposed lockdown. He told PA: 'The only time we have used the (enforcement) powers is where someone has been really violent and spat at our officers, and saying they have got Covid-19 and hoping the officers get it too.' The document from the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing was issued to the 43 police forces in England and Wales last week - before officers chased dog walkers with drones, told off corner shops for selling Easter eggs and threatened to fine a bakery owner for putting chalk on the pavement outside her shop to maintain social distancing, The Guardian today claimed the NPCC is now rushing through guidance to be sent out again reminding officers that they cannot stop people from going for a run or a drive. And last night Scotland Yard anti-terror chief Neil Basu demanded officers maintain the British tradition of 'policing by consent' and said their conduct would be remembered for generations after they were accused of abusing their powers - hours after his boss Cressida Dick said fines and arrests must be the last resort. NPCC chairman Martin Hewitt said this morning that all forces need to show greater consistency in encouraging people to follow the coronavirus restrictions. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We will constantly be striving to achieve that level of consistency and we will be looking at the way the issues are being dealt with and the good practice as well as things we think maybe we wouldn't want to do in that way. 'But we are going to have to learn as we go along because this is very challenging, the measures are unprecedented for anybody to be dealing with, both for the public and the police.' NPCC guidance sent out to forces on Thursday said communities must receive a 'consistent' level of service from officers along with a 'single style and tone'. Yet since then Lancashire Police issued 123 fines for breaches of the rules over the weekend, while officers in Cheshire summonsed six people for various offences, including multiple people from the same house going out to buy 'non-essential' items. South Wales Police hit out at MP Stephen Kinnock for visiting his father, former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, on his birthday; while Derbyshire dyed the Blue Lagoon in Buxton black to deter groups of people from gathering at the beauty spot days after their drone unit began chasing dog walkers in the Peak District. In recent days: Lancashire Police issued 123 fines for breaches of the rules over the weekend Officers in Cheshire summonsed six people for various offences, including multiple people from the same house going out to buy 'non-essential' items. South Wales Police hit out at MP Stephen Kinnock for visiting his father, former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, on his birthday Derbyshire Police dyed the Blue Lagoon in Buxton black to deter groups of people from gathering at the beauty spot - days after its drone unit shamed walkers in the Peak District; Scotland Yard anti-terror chief Neil Basu has demanded officers maintain the British tradition of 'policing by consent' and said their conduct would be remembered for generations after they were accused of abusing their powers. Police have in recent days been accused of being 'overzealous' and pursuing 'over-enforcement' - from banning shops selling Easter eggs to shaming walkers with drones. Assistant Commissioner Basu demanded that officers maintain British policing traditions as he emphasised the importance of earning the trust and confidence of the public. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said: 'Everyone in policing is acutely aware that how we police this pandemic will be remembered for many years to come.' Former Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption criticised Derbyshire Police for having 'shamed our policing traditions' with 'frankly disgraceful' efforts of trying to shame people exercising in the countryside. He said: 'In some parts of the country the police have been trying to stop people from doing things like travelling to take exercise in the open country which are not contrary to the regulations simply because ministers have said that they would prefer us not to. 'The police have no power to enforce ministers' preferences but only legal regulations which don't go anything like as far as the Government's guidance. 'I have to say that the behaviour of Derbyshire Police in trying to shame people in using their undoubted right to travel to take exercise in the country and wrecking beauty spots in the fells so people don't want to go there is frankly disgraceful.' He added: 'Derbyshire Police have shamed our policing traditions.' Meanwhile former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation Lord Anderson said: 'Police in their words and actions need to be clear about the difference between rules and guidance, both to maintain public confidence in their role and to discourage snoopers, snitches and vigilantes. 'Serious breaches should attract fines, but news reports of over-enforcement by police and public are deterring the timid from exercising even the limited freedoms they have. Officers have been warning shopkeepers not to sell Easter eggs heavy-handed enforcement as the lockdown continues and it was revealed forces are planning to cut arrests and ignore crimes because of the crisis. Retailers say enforcement officers has trying to stop them from selling they consider non-essential, including chocolate gifts, even though there is no official guidance from the Government. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in the Government's daily press conference that police should use 'common sense' in applying the rules, but also that the public should 'follow the guidance, not just to the letter but also to the spirit'. Police officers from North Yorkshire Police stop motorists in cars to check that their travel is 'essential' in York yesterday Former High Court judge Lord Sumption (left) criticised Derbyshire Police for having 'shamed our policing traditions', while former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation Lord Anderson (right) said reports of 'over-enforcement by police and public are deterring the timid from exercising even the limited freedoms they have' The Association of Convenience Stores says some of its members have encountered 'overzealous enforcement', and James Lowman, chief executive of the trade group, told The Times: 'This is a misreading of the rules. In the cases where officers have challenged retailers and shoppers in this way, it's brought confusion, distracted retailers in the busiest weeks of their lives, and increased the interactions between people at a time when the government is trying to minimise them.' Downing Street said police officers should use 'their own discretion' in enforcing the coronavirus lockdown measures - but the PM's spokesman added: 'If a shop is allowed to remain open, then it will of course sell whatever items it has in stock.' It came as the UK's police forces are heading towards 'tipping points' in the coronavirus crisis with a 'graduated withdrawal of service plan' set up, including a reduction in 'essential critical activities' including investigating all crimes. Staff sickness is the driving force behind the plan, with up to one in six officers now off work due to illness or self-isolation. The Times has seen documents that show that officers will be moved to only answering 999 calls and investigating serious crime if forces reach 'black status' - only imposed at a time of national crisis. A senior source said: 'If you get to black, the force basically can't function. You will either have to call in the army or request aid from other police forces. It's edge-of-the-cliff stuff. I fear we will reach black in certain parts of this country, which is unprecedented. It is possible arrests won't be made. A suspect's journey through the custody suite involves 12 different people. If a police force is on its knees they won't be able to make those arrests.' Yesterday police set up road blocks to check people in cars or on bikes were on 'essential journeys' as Britain started its second week on coronavirus lockdown. And over the weekend officers broke up groups of more than two people on park benches, football matches in parks and one officer was dressed up in a Paw Patrol dog costume in Devon, where the force has set up road blocks. Lancashire Police issued 123 fines for breaches of the rules over the weekend, while officers in Cheshire summonsed six people for various offences, including multiple people from the same house going out to buy 'non-essential' items. The head of the Metropolitan Police, Cressida Dick, said yesterday that lockdown rules including fines and arrests should only be used as a last resort and made it clear officers should be 'encouraging' not over the top in their enforcement. She told LBC yesterday: 'We are all getting used to the new restrictions and I've been very clear that in the first instance I want my officers to be engaging with people, talking to people, encouraging them to comply. Explaining, of course, if they don't understand - already we have had examples of people who simply hadn't quite heard all the messages - and, only as a very last resort with the current restrictions, using firm direction or even enforcement. Police Scotland speak to walkers at Cramond, at the Firth of Forth west of Edinburgh, where officers were discouraging people from driving to walk Police speak to drivers at Tynemouth beach, in the north-east of England close to Newcastle yesterday A cyclist receives a telling off from a police officer in Richmond Park this morning after being caught cycling through the park which had been forbidden, except for NHS workers, since Friday Police Community Support officers patrol Piccadilly Gardens in central Manchester and speak to a man about his journey The Government is yet to issue official guidelines on what can be sold by convenience stores, newsagents and off-licences. But they have been deemed to be 'essential' stores which can continue trading. One of Britain's most decorated judges, Lord Sumption, who retired from the Supreme Court in 2018, also criticised Derbyshire Police for having 'shamed our policing traditions' after the force chased walkers with drones. He added: 'The tradition of policing in this country is that policemen are citizens in uniform, they are not members of a disciplined hierarchy operating just at the Government's command. 'Yet in some parts of the country the police have been trying to stop people from doing things like travelling to take exercise in the open country which are not contrary to the regulations simply because ministers have said that they would prefer us not to. 'The police have no power to enforce ministers' preferences but only legal regulations which don't go anything like as far as the Government's guidance. 'I have to say that the behaviour of Derbyshire Police in trying to shame people in using their undoubted right to travel to take exercise in the country and wrecking beauty spots in the fells so people don't want to go there is frankly disgraceful. 'This is what a police state is like. It's a state in which the Government can issue orders or express preferences with no legal authority and the police will enforce ministers' wishes.' Lord Sumption added: 'I have to say that most police forces have behaved in a thoroughly sensible and moderate fashion. Coronavirus lockdown: Can you leave your home and what are your rights? - When did the laws come into force? The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020 were introduced in England on Thursday at 1pm. Similar versions of the laws were enacted in Wales at 4pm and in Scotland at 7.15pm on the same day, as well as at 11pm on Saturday in Northern Ireland. - Why have the rules been enacted? The England regulations state they are made 'in response to the serious and imminent threat to public health' posed by Covid-19. - Can I leave my house? According to the legislation: 'During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.' A reasonable excuse includes: getting food and medical supplies for yourself, members of the same household and vulnerable people, getting money, to exercise and for essential work. You can also leave your house to: give blood, attend a funeral (in some cases), meet bail conditions, go to court and take part in legal proceedings, move house and to 'avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm'. But public gatherings of more than two people are banned apart from for members of the same household who are currently living together. There are some exceptions along similar lines as above. - How often can I go out? The law does not specify - or limit - how many times per day someone can leave their house for any of these reasons. The Government advice is to exercise once a day but the law does not say how many times a day this is allowed to happen. - Can I go for a drive? The Government urged people to 'stay local' when out exercising and only use open spaces near their homes where possible, keeping at least two metres apart from anyone they do not live with. Some police forces said the public should not go out for a drive or use their car to travel to exercise. But the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said there is nothing 'definitive' in the legislation on this, although it urged the public to be 'sensible'. The legislation does not address the use of cars or vehicles at all and does not forbid members of the public from using their cars to 'go for a drive' or travel to a location by car to exercise. It states petrol stations, car repair and MOT services, taxi companies and car parks can all remain open, albeit with restrictions. - Can I go shopping, and what can I buy? The legislation says you can leave the house to obtain 'basic necessities' like 'food'. The law does not define what constitutes 'food' and does not specify what type of food, drink or other items are permissible when shopping. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'If a shop is allowed to remain open then it will of course sell whatever items it has in stock.' The law says supermarkets, corner shops, off licences, hardware stores, pet shops and post offices can all remain open. - What can the police do? Officers can take action to enforce the requirements of the legislation if they 'reasonably believe' someone is in contravention as long as the decision is 'necessary and proportionate'. They can order someone to go home, leave an area, have the power to disperse a group and remove someone using 'reasonable force, if necessary'. Officers can also take steps to make sure parents are stopping their children from breaking the rules. Police can arrest someone refusing to comply and issue 60 fines - reduced to 30 if paid within 14 days. The fine doubles to 120 for a second offence and would continue to rise each time to a maximum of 960. Those who do not pay could be taken to court. You could also be arrested for refusing to provide your name and address to avoid being given a fine. The NPCC told forces to take a 'common sense approach' to policing the rules and use enforcement action as a last resort while Downing Street said police officers should use 'their own discretion' in enforcing the measures. - What else do the rules say? The law defines a vulnerable person as someone who is aged 70 or older, anyone aged under 70 who has an underlying health condition and anyone who is pregnant. Underlying health conditions include: chronic long-term respiratory diseases like asthma, kidney and heart disease, hepatitis, Parkinson's, diabetes, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, a learning disability or cerebral palsy, HIV, Aids, cancer, and obesity. - How long will the rules be in force? The emergency laws must be reviewed at least once every 21 days, starting on April 15, and will remain in place until they are scrapped by the Government. Ultimately they can expire after six months if not renewed. Advertisement 'Derbyshire Police have shamed our policing traditions. There is a natural tendency, of course, and a strong temptation for the police to lose sight of their real functions and turn themselves from citizens in uniform into glorified school prefects. 'I think it's really sad that the Derbyshire Police have failed to resist that.' Downing Street said police officers should use 'their own discretion' in enforcing the coronavirus lockdown measures. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The police will exercise their own discretion in the use of the powers which we have given to them and will take whatever steps they consider appropriate to disperse groups of people who are flouting the rules.' Asked whether shops could continue to sell non-essential items, the spokesman said: 'We have set out which shops can remain open. If a shop is allowed to remain open, then it will of course sell whatever items it has in stock.' In response to some forces moving people on in parks, the spokesman was asked whether it was permissible to 'take a breather' on a bench during daily exercise. The spokesman said: 'The rules set out what you need to do, there shouldn't be any gatherings of more than two people from outside any individual household and that people need to remain two metres apart.' The Government had published a 'clear set of instructions' and 'it's for the police to exercise discretion over how they use the powers that are available'. The head of Britain's largest police force has told officers that new powers to enforce coronavirus lockdown rules should only be used as a last resort. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said her approach is to 'help educate and encourage' the public to comply with the tightest restrictions seen in peacetime in the UK. Officers in Warrington summonsed six people for various offences, including someone who went out for a drive because they were bored, and multiple people from the same house going out to buy non-essential items. Police have also been patrolling the country looking to break up picnics and parties with threats of arrest or fines of up to 60 for those are breaching social distancing guidelines. But rather than using their draconian powers to drag suspected lockdown louts to the cells, many forces have instead preferred to shame the culprits online in the hope of preventing further breaches. Dame Cressida Dick said yesterday her officers have 'gently' cleared gatherings of people when discovered and are not routinely stopping drivers. 'We're not doing what you might call road blocks or anything like that,' she said. 'Yes, we stop motorists sometimes, we have a conversation with them. 'They might have a light out, we might talk to them, we might ask them about their journey. Our approach is one entirely trying to help educate and encourage people. 'I think we're all trying to get used to this. My approach in my service is one entirely of trying to encourage people, to engage with people, to have conversations with people.' A police force which summonsed six motorists for going out for a drive during lockdown were yesterday accused of an abuse of power. Warrington Police faced a barrage of criticism after they tweeted that they had summonsed six people for various offences over the weekend. These included someone who went out for a drive because they were bored, people returning from parties, and multiple people going out to buy non-essential items. The tweet stated: 'Overnight six people have been summonsed for offences relating to the new corona virus legislation to protect the public: 'These included; out for a drive due to boredom, returning from parties, multiple people from the same household going to the shops for non-essential items'. But angry members of the public called their actions an 'abuse of power' and questioned the enforcement of these new Covid-19 rules. Lewis, replying on Twitter said: 'Seems you are trying to get the general public to hate you. This is a petty abuse of power'. Police Scotland issued 25 fixed penalty notices over the weekend to people flouting the regulations introduced in a bid to stop people from spreading coronavirus in public places. The new powers in the Coronavirus Act make it a criminal offence to flout the public health guidance on social distancing to prevent Covid-19. On-the-spot fines of 30 can be issued to people who breach social distancing measures, rising to 60 if they are not paid within 28 days and capped at 960 for repeat offenders. Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that, despite the small number of cases where fines were issued, the vast majority of the public were complying with the new regulations. Mr Graham said: 'We issued 25 fixed penalty notices across Scotland over the course of Saturday and Sunday and I think that is strong evidence of how these extraordinary powers have had an impact in such a short space of time with communities across Scotland. 'We've also received a significant number of calls, firstly from people asking how do we comply with these regulations and, secondly, reporting people they felt were breaching them. 'We responded to those calls to make sure we could again explain why it was important, encourage people to comply with them, and in those very small number of occasions use the enforcement powers that we've got where that very small minority of people just refuse to comply with what is required'. There has been anger on the clampdown over Easter Eggs as people argued there were essential in these grim times - and questioned why police and environmental health were getting involved in the first place A police officer dressing up as a dog whilst enforcing the draconian lockdown measures The police are seen breaking up a football game taking place on Roath Rec in Cardiff over the weekend In Derby, police gatecrashed a party and found 25 adults and children enjoying a large buffet and singing karaoke When former Labour leader Neil Kinnock turned 78 on Saturday, his son Stephen, Labour MP for Aberavon, Wales, took to social media to share a heart-warming snap of their birthday meeting sitting around six feet from his parents. But his Twitter post was picked up by South Wales Police who said the meeting was in breach of government guidelines. A spokesman said: 'We know celebrating your dad's birthday is a lovely thing to do, however this is not essential travel.' Mr Kinnock responded by claiming the travel was in fact essential as he was delivering 'necessary supplies' to his father and mother, former MEP Baroness Kinnock. Despite warnings, many Britons continued to flout guidelines yesterday and were criticised by police. In Derby, police gatecrashed a party and found 25 adults and children enjoying a large buffet and singing karaoke. Officers were 'absolutely shocked' by the enormous buffet and sound system when they entered the property in Dover Street, Normanton, at 10pm on Saturday. Despite the scene, however, officers only gave those at the party 'strong words of advice' before dispersing the gathering. 'It is clear people are still having complete disregard for the Government advice and rules,' a statement to Twitter added. Former Labour Leader Neil Kinnock and his wife, receiving food and a cake at a distance from their son Stephen - but South Wales Police shaming them South West Police felt the need to warn Stephen that wishing his dad happy birthday did not count as essential travel but Kinnock replied that he was also delivering necessary supplies Neil's son, Steven keeping a safe distance as he delivered supplies and wished his father Happy Birthday. After posting this image on social media he was contacted by police Pictured: Former labour leader Neil Kinnock is visited by his son Stephen Kinnock and his wife Helle Thorning-Schmidt on his 78th birthday Britons taking the law into their own hands to enforce coronavirus lockdown measures are at risk of committing 'hate crimes', a police chief warned yesterday. The comments came amid a spree of vigilante reprisals on people breaking the country's social distancing guidelines over the weekend by visiting beauty spots or town centres. A businessman who was self-isolating at his second home in Devon was targeted by locals who daubed 'go home' on his car. Police Taser man who 'deliberately coughed over them' after shouting he had coronavirus as they sat in squad car in north London Police yesterday Tasered a man who allegedly coughed over them after claiming to have coronavirus. File photo Police Tasered a man after he allegedly began coughing over them after claiming he had coronavirus. The Metropolitan Police firearms command said the man walked up to officers sitting in a car in Haringey, north London, and shouted that he was infected before deliberately coughing saliva all over them'. He then began to physically attack the officers before he was Tasered and arrested, it was claimed yesterday. The suspect was later tested for coronavirus but came back negative. Last week director of public prosecutions Max Hill warned the public that using Covid-19 as a threat against emergency workers would be treated as a crime that could lead to up to two years behind bars. Deliberately coughing at other key workers such as supermarket staff could be prosecuted as a common assault, which could mean up to six months in prison. The crackdown follows numerous incidents of thugs targeting police and NHS workers with the sickening tactic. Yesterday, a paramedic who was helping an unwell patient was coughed at by another man who was self-isolating inside a house in Stroud, Gloucestershire. 'The man, a 43-year-old, was arrested, charged and remanded for assaulting an emergency worker by way of coughing and threatening GBH by infecting with Covid-19,' an ambulance service spokesman said. Advertisement Tony Willis also found a leaflet on his doorstep in picturesque Bigbury-on-Sea saying: 'Second home owners... stop being selfish.' And signs with the slogan, 'If you do not live here, go home' were in the village's car park. But Devon and Cornwall Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer called for an end to this 'unacceptable' behaviour. Mr Willis said he arrived in Devon before the lockdown to be near an elderly relative and decided not to travel home for fear of breaching non-essential travel guidance. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Willis who has owned the second property for ten years added: 'This is harassment and in any other context would be considered a hate crime.' Describing the behaviour towards Mr Willis as 'shocking, horrible and unacceptable', Mr Sawyer said he had witnessed 'horrible incidents of hate crime'. He said: 'This is a family who are probably just as frightened and concerned as everyone else. If they are already here we should welcome them and make them feel part of our community.' Amid the country's limitations on socialising, neighbours are being encouraged to report incidents to the police. And forces in Humberside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and Avon and Somerset have created hotlines and online portals where tip-offs can be reported. But some locals have been criticised for deciding to take more direct action. In Wales, furious residents trapped a Range Rover driver on a country road when it emerged he had travelled 115 miles from Sheffield to Snowdonia. Locals Aled Wyn Williams and his friend Oswyn Roberts confronted the man on Saturday morning when they realised he was not from the area. In footage recorded on a mobile phone, Mr Williams can be heard asking the driver: 'What the hell are you doing here? Haven't you got a television or radio?' Police attended and said 'suitable words of advice' were given. Farmers also joined the backlash by closing hundreds of footpaths running through their land. Despite having no authority to stop walkers using the paths, farmers are concerned that older workers are at risk so path closures are necessary. Four people were reported to the police in Cumbria over the weekend for disregarding lockdown advice. One of these people a 24-year-old man from Whitehaven was 'repeatedly' seen in the town centre 'with no reason'. He was returned to his home by officers. But well-meaning locals in Liverpool were left red-faced on Saturday when they called police to investigate claims a comedy gig was in full flow only for officers to discover it was a rerun being broadcast online. Officers were 'absolutely shocked' by the enormous buffet and sound system when they entered the property in Dover Street, Normanton, at 10pm on Saturday North West Motorway Police said a driver had been caught making a 224-mile round trip from Coventry to Salford, Greater Manchester, to buy 15 windows on eBay (Pictured: The M6) The driver's wife was travelling in the boot of the car when they were pulled over by a motorway patrol on the M6 in Cheshire, according to a tweet by the North West Motorway Police Twitter feed Yob spits in NHS worker's face as she walks home after ten-hour shift Sama Shali, 33, was spat at twice as she walked home from a 10-hour shift at The Christie Hospital in Withington, in Manchester. Fortunately two women were on hand to picture the yob An NHS worker was spat at twice as she walked home from a 10-hour shift, as doctors and nurses are warned not to wear uniforms and to hide ID badges on their way to work. Sama Shali, 33, fears she was targeted by the unidentified yob as she was still wearing her ID badge for the The Christie Hospital in Withington, south Manchester. It comes as doctors and nurses around the country have been robbed of ID badges, cash and even a car in recent weeks. Sama stopped after she heard a man on a bicycle say something to her as she walked to a tram station in Didsbury. She said: 'He said something to me and I took my earphones out to hear what he said. I asked him if he could give me some space as he was quite close to me and then he spat in my face. 'I was so shocked and I told him I was going to ring the police. He just started circling me on his bike and then he did it again - he spat at my face again.' She added: 'I am so grateful to the women that helped me. But I am so shocked and upset about it - I just don't understand why it happened. I am scared he might have had coronavirus and wanted to spread it. I am scared that I could pass it on to my colleagues or patients'. Advertisement Twitter users, however, were more baffled by the eclectic 1970s-style buffet the alleged lockdown rule-breakers were enjoying. Derbyshire Police also broke up a picnic and shisha party where eight people were found chomping away on kebabs at Snake Pass in the Peak District on Thursday. The individuals had travelled hundreds of miles from Manchester, Sheffield and Ipswich to meet, police said - who gave them a stern warning and sent them home. North West Motorway Police added a driver had been caught making a 224-mile round trip from Coventry to Salford, Greater Manchester, to buy 15 windows on eBay. But after picking up his purchase, the driver's wife could not fit in the vehicle for the return journey to the West Midlands. She was travelling in the boot of the car when they were pulled over by a motorway patrol on the M6 in Cheshire, according to a tweet by the North West Motorway Police Twitter feed. And a tourist was stopped in Devon after driving his motor home from Birmingham. An officer said: 'Birmingham to North Devon is not in the spirit of fighting the virus.' Thugs also took up valuable police time by purposely coughing on officers and emergency workers while claiming to have contracted the virus. On Saturday Paul Leivers, 48, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was jailed for 12 months after spitting at police custody officers after saying he was infected. It comes as police faced accusations of 'overzealousness' from ex-MPs, lawyers and human rights groups. Shoppers in Teesside head to their cars after shopping at The Range and B&M on Sunday Another shopper stocks up on 'emergency' supplies of plastic drawers and filing trays at the store in Stockton-On-Tees One man appeared to have bought a canvas print of a reptile as another pushed a trolley containing a metal bin A man in a face mask and a hi-vis jacket carries a thin cardboard box out of a shop in Teesside Officers have been accused of officious muscle-flexing since the Coronavirus Act received Royal Assent last week. This week, Derbyshire Police poured black dye into a crystal blue lagoon in the Peak District to deter people from making 'non-essential trips'. In a Facebook post, Buxton safer neighbourhood policing team said: 'No doubt this is due to the picturesque location and the lovely weather (for once) in Buxton. 'However, the location is dangerous and this type of gathering is in contravention of the current instruction of the UK Government. 'With this in mind, we have attended the location this morning and used water dye to make the water look less appealing.' Derbyshire Police dyeing the 'blue lagoon' in Harpur Hill, Buxton black, as gatherings there are 'dangerous' and are 'in contravention of the current instruction of the UK Government' The force says that people should not be heading to the Peak District to admire the sunset while Britain is in lockdown Derbyshire Police sent up their drone and filmed people on 'not essential' trips to the Peak District including people posing for an 'Instagram snap' Alex John Desmond, who lives nearby, wrote on Facebook: 'This is a joke, the way this force is acting is not representative of policing by consent which is the way the UK is meant to be governed. You should be ashamed of yourselves. 'You have taken something beautiful and damaged it.' He added that the force was promoting a culture of 'shaming' individuals, claiming that he was shouted down on his first trip out since lockdown began. Officers have been given powers to arrest people who are out of their homes on 'non-essential' journeys, with a three-strike fine policy which starts at 60 for a first offence, rises to 120 for the second and reaches 1,000. Furious Welsh locals block Range Rover driver who had driven 115 miles from Sheffield to Snowdonia despite coronavirus lockdown By Raven Saunt for MailOnline A group of furious locals blocked a Range Rover driver after he travelled 115 miles from Sheffield to Snowdonia despite the coronavirus lockdown. The man was spotted at around 10am on Saturday as he drove down country lanes near Bala in Gwynedd, Wales. Aled Wyn Williams recorded the confrontation before police were eventually called to the scene. Mr Williams stopped the vehicle, along with his friend Oswyn Roberts, after realising that the driver was not from the area. A group of furious locals blocked a Range Rover driver after he travelled 115 miles from Sheffield to Snowdonia despite the coronavirus lockdown The man was spotted at around 10am on Saturday as he drove down country lanes near Bala in Gwynedd, Wales He said he was angered by the lack of respect shown by the visitor when the pair stopped him on the road. Mr Williams added: '[The driver] was heading away from Bala and the main road. 'I drove along the road and stopped him. My friend Oswyn Roberts came along behind, blocking him in. 'He told me he called the police because he felt threatened. 'I told him all we were doing was encouraging him to go home. If he hadn't called the police, I would have done.' A sign erected near Pembrokeshire reads 'non locals please go home #covid-19' Signs have been erected across the country urging people to stay home and not travel, such as this one in Bala, north Wales In the footage, a queue of vehicles can be seen in a standoff along a single-lane track surrounded by fields. Sheep can be heard in the background as Mr Williams walks towards the driver's side of the black Range Rover, which has a trailer in tow. He points the camera at the man behind the wheel who also has a phone in his hand to take pictures. 'Keep active to aid immunity' Regular exercise during the lockdown will help Britons maintain a healthy immune system, researchers say. Keeping active while obeying social distancing advice can help us find and deal with pathogens plus slow the effect of ageing on immunity, they add. A team at the University of Bath recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, such as walking, running or cycling. They say those limited by a health condition or disability can still gain by aiming to move more and remember 'something is better than nothing'. Dr James Turner, from the university, said: 'People should not overlook the importance of staying fit, active and healthy during this period.' The study, in the journal Exercise Immunology Review, examined if exercise has a positive or negative effect on immunity. Advertisement Mr Williams then gestures down the road and says: 'Your friends have just arrived... 'What the hell are you doing here anyway? What the hell are you doing here? 'Haven't you got a television or radio?' The clip cuts to another angle of the confrontation recorded by an onlooker. Mr Williams throws his arms into the air before storming back towards his vehicle, which is where the video ends. The locals continued to block the route until police arrived at the scene. A spokesperson for North Wales Police said: 'Police were called at 10.12am to a report of a man being blocked on a country lane in Bala. 'Officers attended and suitable words of advice were given.' The driver of the Range Rover, who had driven 115 miles from Sheffield in an attempt to visit Snowdonia, was eventually asked to return home. Britons taking the law into their own hands to enforce coronavirus lockdown measures are at risk of committing 'hate crimes', a police chief warned yesterday. A businessman who was self-isolating at his second home in Devon was targeted by locals who daubed 'go home' on his car. Tony Willis also found a leaflet on his doorstep in picturesque Bigbury-on-Sea saying: 'Second home owners... stop being selfish.' And signs with the slogan, 'If you do not live here, go home' were in the village's car park. 'Bonkers' officials try to stop Easter egg sales By George Odling for the Daily Mail Overzealous council officers have been wrongly warning shopkeepers not to stock Easter eggs and other non-essential items. Pictured: A shopper buys Easter eggs in Cainscross, Gloucestershire Government guidelines do not specify what stores are permitted to sell and corner shops, newsagents and supermarkets are allowed to stay open as normal during the pandemic. But the Association of Convenience Stores accused some council officers of misinterpreting the rules and confusing shopkeepers with demands after four convenience stores reported being told to stop selling certain items. Chief executive James Lowman said: 'There is no government definition of which products can be sold within those stores. In the cases where officers have challenged retailers and shoppers in this way, it's brought confusion, distracted retailers in the busiest weeks of their lives, and increased the interactions between people at a time when the Government is trying to minimise them.' The trade body, which repre sents more than 33,500 shops, said it had contacted Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards officials, who confirmed that convenience stores can continue to sell all available products as normal. 'We advise any retailer facing this challenge to continue selling their normal range and to contact us with the name of the local authority or police force and officer [who may try to stop them] so we can follow up,' Mr Lowman added. Retail analyst Richard Hyman said: 'Quite frankly it sounds bonkers. This is a time when being excessively pedantic seems rather absurd. 'It's certainly right that if restrictions are going to be applied, they should be applied to types of outlet, not types of product.' Shopper Olivia Alderson, 28, a theatre marketing manager from Streatham, south London, bought five Easter eggs from a convenience store last night. She said: 'It seems mad. Easter eggs bring joy and we need some of that now more than ever.' Ten new positive cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Karnataka as the state's tally of people infected by the deadly virus crossed the 100 mark, the Health department said on Tuesday. Till date, 101 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state which includes 3 deaths and 8 discharges, a health department bulletin said. The government has so far identified 78 people from the state who were 'associated' with Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz Masjid in New Delhi and has quarantined them, it said. Officials said they were not sure whether all of them attended the congregation of the jamat but have been quarantined as they would have come into contact with those who took part in the event earlier this month. Six of them were transit passengers from Kerala who had arrived in airports in Karnataka. Out of the active cases, as many as 88 patients, including a pregnant woman, were in stable condition in isolation at designated hospitals while two others in intensive care unit (ICU), it said. The bulletin included details of three positive cases announced by Health Minister B Sriramulu late Monday night. They are a 52-year old man, and two women, aged 48 and 26 -- residents of Hosapete in Ballari district with a travel history to Bengaluru but no overseas journey. Detailed investigation was on to find out how they were infected by the virus, the department said. The fresh cases were reported from Bengaluru (3), Mysuru (2), Chikkabllapur (1), Dakshina Kannada (1), Uttara Kannada (1) and Kalaburagi (1). Contact tracing has been initiated for all the cases, the department said. Among the 101 positive cases mentioned by the department, 45 were reported from Bengaluru, 14 from Mysuru, nine from Chikkaballapura, eight from Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada, four from Kalaburgai, three each from Davangere, Udupi and Ballari, two from Tumakuru, and one each from Kodagu and Dharwad. All the eight discharged patients are from Bengaluru, while one death each had been reported in Kalaburgari, Bengaluru and Tumakuru. Speaking to reporters, Additional Chief Secretary Health and Family Welfare department Jawaid Akhtar said any person who has attended Tablighi Jamaat Congregation at Nizamuddin should contact Arogya Sayavaani helpline 080-29711171 number. He said 78 people from the state associated with Tablighi Jamaat have been identified and quarantined. "We are not sure whether all of them attended the congregation held earlier this month, but as they would have come in contact with those attended in one or the other way, they have been put under government quarantine." With many of them claiming that they have completed 14 days of quarantine already, we have also decided to put them for COVID-19 test, he said, adding that the 78 included some foreign nationals. Sriramulu had earlier said as many as 54 people, including a 60-year-old man from Sira in Tumakuru, who died recently had attended the religious congregation, and COVID-19 test reports of 13 of them who were under quarantine have come out as negative. The Commissionerate of Health and Family Welfare Services in its efforts to contain COVID-19 has instructed all private Hospitals to mandatorily report all severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) cases admitted by them to the District Surveillance Officer. It has given recommendations for empiric use of hydroxy chloroquine for prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 and has instructed all the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that the health workers were provided with the tablets. All SARI cases should be referred to District level hospital or medical college with ICU facility for clinical management. Sample may be taken for COVID-19 testing as per revised sample collection protocols. Availability of doctors and para-medical staff in UPHCs was an urgent and essential need for containment of COVID-19 especially in urban areas like the city corporation limits and in directions had been issued for urgent filling of of all vacancies in Urban Primary Health Centres. The special officers are designated for this urgent recruitment to be completed within 2-3 days through walk-in interview procedure, the bulletin added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Since the beginning of the Zionist movement in 1897 through the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 to the present, Zionist and Israeli leaders have operated on the conviction that the key to the realisation of the Zionist dream was to maintain close relations with one of the great powers and rely on it to defend this dream from threats that the Jews (or Israelis after the creation of the state) could not handle alone no matter how strong their defence capacities. Since at least the 1960s, the US has been that world power. However, the USs ways of handling international or regional crises in which Israel is directly or indirectly involved has not always been reassuring to Israel and has caused it to question the wisdom of hinging its security interests on the political will of Washington alone. The surge in tensions between the US in Iran since Washingtons targeted assassination of the Islamic Revolutionary Command Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Commander Major General Qassem Soleimani in January was a prime example of a US policy action that Israel finds quite troubling. IRAN: AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO ISRAEL: After evidence of Iranian intentions to manufacture nuclear weapons began emerge in 2003, Israel regarded Iran as an existential threat. Since 1979, Iran had been under the control of an extremist theocratic regime sworn to perform the Islamic duty (for both Shias and Sunnis) of eradicating the Jewish state on behalf of the Islamic world. Accordingly, preventing Iran from obtaining the nuclear option became an Israeli strategic objective. At the same time, Israel regards Irans success in creating and supporting militant Islamic groups in Israels vicinity (Hizbullah in Lebanon, the Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Gaza and, more recently, the Houthi movement in Yemen), and in asserting its control over decision-making processes in Syria and Iraq, as a threat no less grave than an Iranian nuclear weapon, Israel realised early on that it could not take on Iran on both fronts. So, as always, it attempted to drag the US into an extended confrontation against Iran in the hope that Washington would eventually overthrow the theocratic regime there or at least clip its wings by preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ceasing its support for anti-Israeli militia organisations in Israels vicinity. However, this strategy has not worked very well. The US only went so far in its support for Israels full-scale military offensives against Hizbollah in Lebanon in 2006 and against Hamas in Gaza in 2009, 2012 and 2014. When the confrontations lasted longer than Washington felt comfortable with, it began to pressure Israel into truces and ceasefire agreements before Israel could achieve its objective of terminating the perceived threats. Washingtons decision to sign the nuclear deal with Iran in 2015 marked an even greater failure in Israels dependency on Washington after Israel failed to persuade the US to use military force to halt Irans nuclear project and to dissuade former president Barack Obama from adding the USs name to the nuclear accord with Iran alongside the names of the other permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany. TRUMP AND AN OUTWARD CHANGE: Donald Trumps election in 2016 rekindled the Israeli hope to propel the US to war against Iran. It certainly succeeded in getting Trump to withdraw from the nuclear accord in 2018 and ratcheting up sanctions against Tehran. But it soon became clear that the Trump administrations policy towards Iran only differed in form from his predecessors. Trump preserved the principle of no direct military engagement with Iran under any circumstances. Washington refrained from military action against Iran after the strikes against the petroleum facilities in one of the USs closest allies Saudi Arabia and after Iran threatened navigation in the Straits of Hormuz. Following the assassination of Soleimani, Washington refrained from provoking Iran further after Iran staged retaliatory strikes against US/anti-Islamic State group coalition bases in Iraq. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the US was still studying how to respond to those attacks. If Israel had not already begun to rethink its strategy of dragging Washington into a military conflict with Iran, it certainly will have following the US Congresss recent passage of the War Powers Resolution requiring Congressional authorisation for military action against Iran. That congressional action also delivered a moral blow to Israel because it was a sign of the diminishment in the influence of the powerful pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC, on Congress. But Israel must also be worried by Irans restraint. Tehran, too, has refrained from direct strikes against the US and opted, instead, for a carefully calibrated succession of limited strikes against coalition bases in Iraq, in particular with the aim of forcing US troops to withdraw from Iraq. There are three reasons why Israel would be worried by the success of this Iranian tactic. Firstly, it serves Trumps declared aim of reducing the US military presence overseas. Second, the US has a history of withdrawing from overseas conflicts without taking into account the dangers this might cause its allies who had fought alongside it in those wars, as occurred when it withdrew from Vietnam in the 1970s, abandoning the regime in Saigon and, much more recently, when it withdrew from northeast Syria, abandoning the Syrian Kurds, the main partner on the ground in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria, to the threat of massacre at the hands of Turkey and its jihadist militias. The latest example comes from Afghanistan where Washington reached an agreement with the Taliban in order to bring an end to the US military presence there, even though Trump has acknowledged that the agreement could lead to the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. The third reason is that the US already practically signalled its intent to withdraw from Iraq when it announced plans to redeploy forces in Iraq. Redeploy is often a euphemism for withdraw. Even if the US remains committed theoretically to the defence of Israel, the prospect of the pull-out of US forces from the Middle East has Israel worried, because this would mean that it would have to bear the brunt of managing a more self-reliant deterrent policy against adversaries and rivals, some of which (like Iran and its militia wings such as Hizbullah, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad) dream of destroying it while others (like Turkey) want to reduce it to a regional ghetto. These threats would appear more immanent to Israel in light of Russias currently close relations with both Iran and Turkey. A gauge of Israeli anxiety over Washingtons policy of avoiding direct military confrontation with Iran and perhaps conceding to Iranian control in Iraq and Syria can be found in an article in Haaretz of 16 January by the Israeli military commentator Amos Harel. He writes that in light of the heightened tensions between the US and Iran following the assassination of Soleimani, Military Intelligence thinks an opportunity has been created to accelerate the pace of attacks against Iran and its allies. And it has urged Israel to seize this opportunity despite its assessment that Iran and Hizbullah will respond militarily if any of their people are killed. If this leak is true, then the only explanation is that Israel may be planning to embroil the US in a broader confrontation with Iran in the Iraqi and Syrian theatres so as to prevent a possible US troop withdrawal from there. The Trump administration has been pushing to bring US troops back home from the Middle East to halt attrition of US military strength in small endless battles. However, Washington will not be able to withdraw in the event of a slide into full-scale war. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: President Donald Trump retreated from his Easter deadline to reopen the economy , when faced with the dual realities of mounting deaths from the coronavirus and the possibility of tanking his re-election campaign. As the president pushed for a return to normal life by April 12, he was subject to an intervention from two sets of advisers: his health experts and his campaign team. Both had stark realities to offer them. 'Pay attention. You're going to lose the election,' a former White House official told the Los Angeles Times, in summarizing the political side of the argument; polling showed that Trump faced losing his core support if he did not keep the number of deaths down. The medical side - led by Dr. Tony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Deborah Birx, who's coordinating the administration's day-to-day response to the coronavirus - warned the number of deaths would increase dramatically. President Donald Trump retreated from his Easter deadline to reopen the economy after intervention from his medical experts and his political team As of Tuesday, more Americans have died from the coronavirus - 3,180 - than those who were killed in the September 11th attacks - 2,996. Fauci and Birx confronted the president in the Oval Office on Sunday about the stark reality facing the country should the guidelines be eased, predicting up to 100,000 people would die. 'We felt if we prematurely pulled back, we would only form an acceleration or a rebound of something, which would have put you behind where you were before, and that's the reason why we argued strongly with the president that he not withdraw those guidelines after 15 days, but that he extend them, and he did listen. I would not be surprised - I don't want to see it, I'd like to avoid it, but I wouldn't be surprised if we saw 100,000 deaths,' Fauci told CNN on Monday. The infectious disease expert said it was a short meeting as the president didn't need a lot of convincing. 'We showed him the data, he looked at the data and he got it right away. It was a pretty clear picture. Dr. Debbie Birx and I leaned over the desk and said here are the data. He looked at them, understood them and shook his head and said I guess we got to do it,' Fauci said. The president touted the medical modeling when he announced his guidelines on preventing the spread of the coronavirus would be extended until April. 'Yesterday I announced that we would be extending our social distance guidelines through the end of April,' he said at Monday's White House coronavirus briefing. 'This is based on modeling that shows the peak in fatalities will not arrive for another two weeks. The same modeling also shows that, by very vigorously following these guidelines, we could save more than 1 million American lives. Think of that: 1 million American lives,' he added. In addition to the medical briefing, the president's campaign team got their turn at bat, arguing a high death toll could be more politically damaging than the tanking U.S. economy, two sources told The Washington Post. Additionally, campaign advisers are concerned the coronavirus - which has thus far damaged coastal cities that vote heavily Democratic - is on a trajectory to the heart of the country and will strike the rural voters in red American who are strong Trump supporters, the Los Angeles Times reported. Polling numbers backed up the political argument. A Washington Post/ABC News poll released Friday showed that 51 percent gave the president favorable ratings for his handling of the virus but it also showed 58 percent thought the president was initially 'too slow to take action to address the problem.' Additionally, a Yahoo News/You Gov poll showing that 59 percent of Americans thought the Easter deadline was 'too soon.' A medical worker wearing protective clothing pushes a stretcher outside the Elmhurst Hospital Center in the Queens borough of New York A temporary field hospital for the treatment of coronavirus patients is set up at Central Park President Trump has bragged about his high approval ratings for his handling of the outbreak and argued they will translate into him being re-elected in November. 'I hope I'm going to win and the polls say I'm going to win. Now it's every poll says I'm going to win,' he said Monday morning on 'Fox & Friends.' 'I've gotten great marks. And even from almost every Democrat governor, so I've gotten great marks also.' But the president also touched on the personal. Trump, who grew up in New York and made his name there, cited photos from city hospitals of the dead lined up, waiting to be taken to mortuaries. 'You know, I grew up near Elmhurst, and I look at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, and I've known it,' he told Fox News. 'It's terrible, what's going on. It's body bags all over, they're bringing in refrigerator trucks to put the bodies in, refrigerated trucks, big vans, like, big trucks are coming in.' He also has maintained an optimistic spirit. 'We are in the midst of something that is very difficult, but we are going to win; it's just a question of when,' he said at Monday's White House briefing. 'We want to do it as quickly as possible. We want to have as few deaths as possible.' Last April, Alabamas economy was roaring: the 3.8 percent unemployment rate was a near-record low and wages were up in several sectors. It was under this climate of economic prosperity that the Alabama Legislature considered a bill to cut the length of unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to as little as 14 weeks, depending on the states unemployment rate. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, overwhelmingly passed both houses and was signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey in June. It went into effect on New Years Day. Now, Ivey and the legislature are deciding whether to reverse course on legislation that may have risked the financial future of tens of thousands of Alabamians who will now have to rely on unemployment benefits due to an economic crisis spurred by coronavirus. Its really short-term [thinking] to not prepare for the next crisis when you have the ability to do it, said Dev Wakely, a policy analyst for Alabama ARISE, which advocates for low-income families. We cut our ability to prepare for this just a year ago. At $275 a week, Alabamas maximum unemployment payment is tied for fourth-lowest in the country with Tennessee and Florida and only above Arizona ($240 a week), Louisiana ($247 a week) and Mississippi ($235 a week.) While cost of living is low, the amount we pay out in unemployment insurance is pitifully small, Wakely said. Its not enough to pay for a two-bedroom apartment in Alabama. Alabamas benefits will now be supplemented by Congressional action, boosting benefit payments over four months with a $2 trillion economic stimulus package to staunch the economic bleeding from the coronavirus crisis. The package offers the newly unemployed an additional $600 a week for up to four months and creates new benefits for gig-economy workers, freelancers and furloughed employees. Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, noted the state is poor relative to the rest of the country, which hinders Montgomerys ability to increase benefit amounts. And unlike Congress, the Alabama Legislature is required to have a balanced budget and cant print money like the federal government to weather a crisis. Still, we always seem to be behind the curve in addressing the problem, Ward said. Nobody ever thinks of unemployment benefits when unemployment is low. When legislators cut the length of unemployment insurance, their goal was to attract additional businesses to the state. The National Federation of Independent Business backed the legislation in part because reducing the length of benefits would save employers money and, they say, create jobs. It also supported the provision of the bill that would increase the time benefits would be doled out by five weeks if recipients register for a job training program. We were trying to have a better business climate, and guess what? It was successful, Ward said of the effect the law had in recruiting businesses to locate to Alabama. But the legislation which the Republicans pushed and the Democrats panned also harmed Alabamas ability to weather the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus. Last week, nearly 60,000 Alabamians filed for unemployment benefits a more than five-fold increase in those who applied the previous week the lions share of them in the food and hospitality industries. And 2.1 million Alabamians, or 45 percent of state residents, are considered poor or low-income individuals, according to the Rev. William Barber, president and senior lecturer at Repairers of the Breach, a nonprofit based in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and co-chairman of the Poor Peoples Campaign. "These are the people most vulnerable to the virus because they were vulnerable before the virus," Barber said. "This virus exposes why we are all at risk if we don't address poverty and provide health care for all." Wakely contended that the deck has been stacked against these Alabamians the food preparers, maids, cooks, home health aides and other workers like them since the states constitution was adopted and has only grown with the influence of money in politics. Bluntly, its because of the power of really well-heeled corporations and their lobbying structures, he said of why Alabamas unemployment payouts are smaller than most other states. Theyre really good at making their case for really weak worker protections. [The National Federation of Independent Businesses did not report any lobbying activity in 2018 or 2019 with the Alabama Ethics Commission, according to the agencys records.] The economic crisis caused by the public health crisis may have been a wake-up call for the legislature, Ward noted. When we come back into session on April 28, you'll see a huge focus on what to do to help small businesses and the unemployed, he said. Itll be our No. 1 priority. U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, and U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, sounded the alarm on Alabamas unemployment laws before the federal stimulus package passed, sending a letter March 19 to Gov. Kay Ivey imploring her and the legislature to make 26 weeks of unemployment available to workers throughout the crisis. Alabamas economy relies on workers across a variety of sectors and industries who will be impacted by the spread of COVID-19, they wrote. We are facing unprecedented economic upheaval, and families will increasingly rely on these funds to afford basic necessities, including food, housing, and medication. One of our top priorities must be to support workers and families facing difficult financial circumstances due to the pandemic. Alabama House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, signaled last week that Montgomery may undo last Junes legislation if necessary, but he could not be reached for comment on when that threshold would be reached. Ivey also said last week she would be open to returning to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. While businesses may fight back against restoring unemployment cuts, according to Ward, the crisis will give them less ammunition. I think its going to be hard to lobby against something like this, the senator said. Wakely said the dual crises means the state will now have to strike a balance between placating business interests and keeping Alabamas poor and low-income individuals above water. One of the things that this crisis is going to show is that you cant have a business-friendly state that isnt worker-friendly. Newly-elected senator John McGahon found out he was elected to the Seanad today while refreshing Twitter on his laptop in his bedroom in Dundalk, as counting unfolded 50 miles away in Dublin Castle. It's a mark of the strange times we live in that such a personal political success became such an anti-climax in many ways. Speaking to the Democrat this afternoon, Senator McGahon said that despite an abridged campaign of just 14 days (which ended on March 13), he still managed to travel over 6500kms to meet local councillors right across the country. It paid off, he says, as he gained 102 first preference votes, which put him into a commanding position to claim one of the five seats on offer as part of the Cultural & Educational election panel. That put me in a good position, but you hear of horror stories with Seanad elections, where transfers can change so much around, explained McGahon. However, in the end, the former county councillor claimed his seat on the 18th count. Looking back at his time with the local county council, Mr McGahon said he will be saddened to leave local politics behind him. I am a bit sad, to tell you the truth, Ive enjoyed working with everyone there over the past six years. Im going to miss being a part of it. Mr McGahon revealed that being part of the Seanad gives him a good platform to push on for the next general election. Its definitely the plan, he confirmed. Senator McGahon said that his first order of business in his new role will be on Thursday night when there will be a parliamentary party meeting, via video conference. Itll be back to the laptop in the bedroom, for the time being. Eventually, he says he will also re-open his office on Clanbrassil Street in town. Former Fine Gael TD and outgoing government chief whip Sean Kyne was elected first in this Seanad race, followed by Fianna Fail duo Malcolm Byrne and Lisa Chambers while McGahon took the fourth seat, with Fintan Warfield edging out the Green Partys Saoirse McHugh for the final seat. Nearly two days after the budget deadline, the state Legislature finally wrapped up negotiations, stretching the meaning of what is a timely passage of the budget due by April 1. The state Senate finished first, with legislative leaders giving closing statements on Thursday afternoon in a mostly empty chamber. The Assembly wrapped things up Friday morning. The $177 billion spending deal included provisions changing bail reform and overhauling Medicaid, while holding education funding flat. There is also a provision in the budget that allows the governor to cut state spending in the fiscal year that began April 1 on a quarterly basis if revenues fall below projections. Lawmakers would have 10 days to pass spending resolutions of their own, but it remains to be seen whether the state Legislature will continue to meet in the months ahead, given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. "This is a moment in history unlike any other, and government needs to function and deliver results, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said of the budget that contained many but not all of the policy proposals he unveiled in January. That it was done this year is really extraordinary." A final budget deal came without some of the typical political pomp. Unlike past years, there was no joint press conference or release from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. State Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan gave an emotional speech, perhaps the last of his career he is retiring this year, and its unknown if the Legislature will meet again amid the coronavirus crisis. Stewart-Cousins struck a more upbeat tone, thanking her colleagues and Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his leadership during these unprecedented times. But she still acknowledged that the budget the chamber just passed was not perfect, saying it was not the one her conference wanted to pass even a month ago. With COVID-19 pandemic leading the state Capitol to close to the public and lawmakers maintaining social distancing rules, the generally opaque budget process was shrouded even more in shadow than usual. Details trickled out a little bit at a time, and Cuomo, Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie broke with tradition and never officially announced a three-way agreement, although Cuomo said the day before that they had reached a conceptual agreement. The budget generally consists of 10 bills, but this time around it only has nine. The content of the final the health and mental hygiene bill was included in other different bills instead. The education bill, introduced Thursday morning, functioned as this years big ugly that is, it included many unrelated but outstanding issues that were all packed together into a single measure. Those included amendments to bail reform enacted on Jan. 1 and Medicaid reforms. Despite warnings from Cuomo about drastic budget cuts, the final budget turned out to be not much smaller than the $178 billion spending plan that the governor had originally proposed. According to Citizens Budget Commission Director Director of State Studies David Friedfel, this makes it likely the state budget director will use new authority included in the budget to enact rolling cuts throughout the year. The budget also authorizes the state to issue $11 billion debt in order to address expected loss in revenue. That includes $8 billion in short term debt to account for the delay in receiving state taxes, after Cuomo postponed the filing date from April 15 to July 15. Friedfel warned against converting that into long-term debt, which the state could be left paying off for years or decades. There had been hopes this year to pass the budget early while the state responds to the coronavirus pandemic, which has scrambled revenue projections and opened a deficit that appears to be in excess of $10 billion as state revenues falter. However, like many state budgets before, contentious issues like education and health care held things up into the new fiscal year. Bail had been the biggest remaining sticking point between Cuomo, Heastie and Stewart-Cousins. Heastie ceded some changes, but the budget does not include a controversial provision that would allow judges to jail criminal defendants pretrial because of their predicted dangerousness to public safety. Lawmakers agreed to give prosecutors more time to turn over evidence to defendants, in particular if a defendant is released pretrial. While the governor has not gotten everything he wants in the budget, he got his way ona number of the policy proposals that he pitched in his State of the State address less than three months ago. This included legalization of paid gestational surrogacy, a new domestic terrorism law and authorization to expand Penn Station by using eminent domain. All of this is being decided with minimal public discussion or input. The challenges have been particularly daunting for the two legislative leaders, who are negotiating with a governor whose formidable leverage in budget negotiations has only strengthened in recent weeks. A budget deficit can give any fiscally-minded governor a chance to deny lawmakers their funding priorities, whatever their merits, by pleading poverty. Cuomo has been arguably doing this for months, but he doubled down on it in recent days by claiming there is nothing easier than passing a budget when you have no money. Cuomo has suggested before that means lawmakers should give state Budget Director Robert Mujica the authority to unilaterally cut spending every fiscal quarter based on state revenues which is what the budget bill for localities did. will do. So from a fiscal standpoint, what is decided in the state budget could ultimately be changed by the governor later on. Heres a roundup of where things landed on some key issues. Taxes The revenue bills that have passed both houses did not include any new taxes on the wealthy despite the efforts of some lawmakers and activist. You could if you had a governor who is willing, Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger said early Sunday morning of efforts to raise taxes on the wealthy. Some lawmakers pushed in recent months to make the wealthy pay more in a variety of ways including higher income taxes and new levies on things like stock transfers and luxury yachts. Heastie has said since December that he wants some revenue raisers Cuomo has said the opposite. Senate Democrats, however, appeared to be warming to the idea, given the economic situation. I've said that this certainly is not my first priority, Stewart-Cousins said in mid-March. But we want to consider revenues for wherever we can. But Cuomo pushed back against the idea of raising taxes all year long, and had his way on the matter in the state budget. Public school funding Drastic cuts to school aid were averted, in part thanks to additional money from the federal stimulus, the aid to localities bill shows. Although the state is set to cut just shy of $400 million from school funding compared to the executive budget, the feds have chipped in an additional $1.3 billion. So the updated budget language actually represents about a $928 million increase in spending compared to Cuomors executive budget. Its also about $1.4 billion more in total funding since last years enacted budget. However, Foundation Aid, the main source of public school state funding, was frozen at last years levels. The budget also drops Cuomos proposal to change how the state allocates money in a way that would supposedly end the longtime shares agreement that allocates a fixed share of total state education funding to New York City and Long Island. In addition to the Foundation Aid freeze, the budget also authorizes the state education commissioner to make pandemic adjustments to school district allocation based on how much additional aid a district received from coronavirus relief funds. All the spending comes with the caveat that the state budget director may withhold any appropriations if the budget becomes unbalanced throughout the year due to economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. State lawmakers had big ambitions at the end of last year when it came to education funding. Democratic members of the Assembly and the state Senate were hoping to increase the amount of Foundation Aid part of a long-running feud with the governor over the meaning of a landmark 2006 legal settlement on education funding. But by the beginning of the week, it appeared that lawmakers were pushing for a freeze in the level of education funding in light of Cuomos warning of drastic cuts. Lawmakers also blocked a proposal by Cuomo to consolidate more than a half-dozen expense-based funding sources (money used to reimburse schools for things like textbooks and schoolbuses) and combining that with Foundation Aid, an arrangement that would make Foundation Aid appear to be more without increased total state aid overall. Medicaid funding Long before the first coronavirus case was diagnosed in New York, the state had a multibillion-dollar funding shortfall to deal with thanks to the state Medicaid program. Cuomos proposed solution was to appoint a Medicaid Redesign Team (somewhat stacked with political allies) to figure out the details of finding $2.5 billion in savings. Cuomo now wanted to stick with the findings of the MRT, which were released on March 19. In the end he was not able to change the share of costs that localities would have to pay, but he did get lawmakers to approve proposals that include tightening the eligibility rules for managed long-term care programs that help the elderly and disabled. While the state is also looking to make New York City and other localities contribute hundreds of millions to help ailing hospitals and nursing homes, the Cuomo administration is also looking for ways to delay some changes in order to receive some of the federal aid. We have the ability to delay them in the budget, so the effective dates can be changed, state Budget Director Robert Mujica told reporters at the state Capitol on Thursday. Lawmakers and activists have criticized the MRT recommendations and the idea of cutting aid to hospitals during the ongoing pandemic. But the limited time meant that the recommendations are the basis of negotiations, with lawmakers aiming to either accept, reject or modify them, according to Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried. Criminal justice The budget contains significant changes to the bail and discovery reforms that took effect Jan. 1. While a dangerousness provision was not included, judges will have additional discretion to remand people who miss court appearance or are accused of additional crimes while they are released pre-trial. Judges also have additional leeway to jail someone pretrial if they violate court orders or are accused of committing offenses that were ineligible for cash bail before, including aggravated vehicular assault, assault in the third degree, various sex crimes and any crime that is alleged to have caused the death of another person. The state Senate approved the changes on Thursday morning, and the Assembly the following morning. Prosecutors will now have 20 days post-arraignment to turn over evidence to defendants who are jailed pretrial and 35 days for people who are not. The budget also included updated legislative language to a proposal by the governor would require the Manhattan district attorney to turn over $40 million each year from state-sanctioned deferred prosecution agreements. That money would be used to create a state fund to help district attorneys implement the new discovery law that requires prosecutors to turn over within 15 days the evidence they have against criminal defendants. Some Democratic lawmakers and the governor have pushed hard in recent months for changes to the reforms, which drew sharp criticism from law enforcement officials and conservatives. A draft proposal dated March 19 but still in play as the final budget details were being hammered out this week would have allowed judges to impose the least restrictive conditions that will reasonably assure the principals return to court or prevent the principal from committing a crime involving serious physical injury to another person based on the facts of the instant case." That provision appears to be in line with what moderate Democrats were pushing for in the state Senate. Stewart-Cousins had defended a proposal floated by Democratic state senators in February by noting that it would completely eliminate cash bail, a talking point that the final legislative language did not substantiate. Recreational marijuana Recreational marijuana was not legalized in the state budget. Too much, too little time,'' Cuomo said at a morning press conference, echoing similar comments from key lawmakers. Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes and state Sen. Liz Krueger have also said that a deal cannot be reached by the budget deadline. A new version of the revenue bill, which originally included the recreational marijuana proposal, did not include pot. The proposal had been laid out in Part BB of that bill, but in the version introduced on Tuesday, Part BB has been intentionally omitted, underscoring the likely fact that marijuana is out of the budget for good. The main sticking point in recent weeks on the issue between Cuomo and lawmakers has been what to do with the money. Peoples-Stokes and Krueger have sponsored legislation that would require that a certain percentage of future revenues be used to spur economic activity in communities, overwhelmingly populated by people of color, that were most affected by the war on drugs. Cuomo has wanted fewer constraints on how that money would be spent. Renewable energy and the environment State lawmakers approved a $3 billion environmental bond fund for flood mitigation and wildland restoration efforts a headline issue for Cuomo at his January State of the State address was included in new budget legislation submitted Wednesday afternoon. The bond act appears to have wide support, especially since it does not add to the states bottom line, and would go before voters in November if it is included in the budget. Polystyrene foam, a styrofoam-like substance used in packing and food containers, will also be banned in most circumstances per a provision in the new bill. There are also provisions within the bill to ban hydrofracking and streamline the process of siting renewable energy projects or, as opponents argue, limit the ways that local communities can block renewable energy projects. Prevailing wage The state Senate on Wednesday approved an expansion of prevailing wage requirements on projects (with costs above $5 million) that received more than 30% of their funding from public sources. Members of the Assembly were still debating the proposal Thursday afternoon as part of a bill dealing with transportation, economic development and environmental issues. Some affordable housing project and nonprofit developments would be carved out of the new requirements. A 13-member board appointed by the governor will study how this all works in practice and possibly recommend changes in the future. Electric bikes and scooters State Sen. Jessica Ramos and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic sponsors of the overwhelmingly popular legislation last session to legalize e-bikes and e-scooters in New York saw a disappointing end to 2019, with Cuomos veto of their bill. But alas, the governor just had to put his own spin on the legislation before endorsing the legalization of e-bikes and e-scooters. Cuomos budget proposal for legalizing the devices, which added a helmet requirement, was endorsed by Ramos and Rozic, signaling early consensus on the issue in January. New legislative language submitted Wednesday includes the provision legalizing e-bikes across the state, but allowing localities to set their own rules for operation, was included in the final state budget. Gig economy workers Since last spring, the question of how gig workers like Postmates delivery cyclists and Lyft drivers should be classified has been gaining momentum in Albany a debate that picked up speed in the fall, when California enacted a controversial law that changes most gig workers classification from independent contractors to employees. Despite one observer claiming that gig workers could be the most important issue in Albany this year, the coronavirus pandemic has thrown that debate off course. City & State broke the news last week that legislation to propose changes to how gig workers are classified or to grant them new labor protections wont be included in the state budget this year, in large part because of the focus on coronavirus. Cuomos budget proposal on this issue would have created a task force to study how to treat and classify gig workers, and then authorize the state Department of Labor to introduce its own policies if that task force failed to make recommendations by May. But for now, that proposal and other legislation aimed at the gig economy are on the backburner. Gestational surrogacy Paid gestational surrogacy got legalized. The state Senate gave its blessing Thursday morning and the Assembly approved the proposal Friday morning as part of a budget bill that also includes education funding and changes to cash bail. The proposed legalization of paid gestational surrogacy affects relatively few people, but it has personal significance for some of the top people in state politics. Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa has related the proposal to her own experience with fertility treatments. Cuomo has touted the issue as a matter of civil rights issues for the LGBTQ community. But state Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger and Assembly Ways and Means Chair Helene Weinstein have qualms with the idea of someone paying a young, low-income woman to bear a child with another womans egg. State Sen. Brad Hoylman, the most high-profile lawmaker on the issue, has had two daughters with his husband through out-of-state surrogates. The politics were tricky indeed. Penn Station The governor wanted to expand Penn Station over a whole city block, but there was just one little problem the state does not own the land. So Cuomo had a provision put into his budget proposal that will allow him to seize that land through eminent domain. Domestic terrorism act In response to the anti-Semitic machete attack in Westchester County at the end of last year, Cuomo included a provision in his executive budget that would categorize some hate crimes as domestic terrorism. In a recent press conference, Cuomo suggested that the proposal was one of the budgetary sticking points between himself and state legislative leaders. In an updated version of the Public Protection and General Government bill, where that proposal was included, the provision has been renamed the Josef Neumann Hate Crimes Domestic Terrorism Act. The name honors Rabbi Josef Neumann, a victim of the stabbing attack who succumbed to his injuries and died on Sunday. Public authorities The governor appears to be leaning on public authorities, which are quasi-governmental agencies that can borrow money while keeping the debt off the states official books. Public authorities are effectively under the control of the governor who appoints their leaders, and Cuomo was leaning on them to help him get things done despite the budget deficit long before COVID-19 hit New York. Public authorities have their own ways of raising money, such as through fees and bonds, and Cuomo made use of them The governor got a $3 billion line of credit from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York and the Urban Development Corporation, which could be used to fund the states general operations. Lawmakers also approved a $300 million idea to have the New York Power Authority redevelop the Erie Canal. The Olympic Regional Development Authority is pursuing a $14 million project to rebuild a ski lodge in the North Country. Cuomos plans to promote electric vehicles and other green initiatives depend on the New York Energy Research and Development Agency and other agencies. A proposal to expand Penn Station (more on that below) includes the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. A proposed merger of the Bridge Authority into the New York State Thruway Authority was not included in an updated budget bill. Rolling budget cuts Both chambers approved a key demand from the governor for dealing with the states deteriorating finances. Cuomo said he wanted the authority to adjust the budget in a rolling fashion throughout the year. The updated Aid to Localities budget bill included language that authorizes the state budget director to make those changes if new revenue estimates make the budget unbalanced. The reassessments will take place at three points during 2020 the first Measurement Period runs April 1-April 30, the next May 1-June 30 and the final from July 1-Dec. 31. If at any point the budget falls out of balance, the state budget director will be able to withhold all some of the amounts appropriated to localities within the bill. That includes school funding and the Aid and Incentives to Municipalities program. The bill language gives the state Legislature 10 days to respond to cuts from the executive branch. It also includes a provision that localities receiving direct federal aid for the coronavirus pandemic may need to submit a spending plan to the state before using that money. Public financing Per Cuomos request, lawmakers codified recommendations from a state public campaign finance commission after a state judge rejected the recommendations of the commission and other changes to election law, finding that the commission itself was unconstitutional, Cuomo began pushing to include the proposed changes as part of the state budget. Language doing so was included in the transportation, economic development and environmental conservation bill. It sets aside $100 million for the public financing of state elections through matching funds and sets the limits on how much public money a candidate can receive. Gubernatorial and statewide candidates could receive $3.5 million, state Senate candidates could receive $375,000 and Assembly candidates $175,000. Each amount can be received once during the primary election, and again during the general election. Donations of up to $250 will be matched under the proposed new program. In addition to the public financing limits, the bill would also change the requirements for a third party to gain ballot access, making it more difficult for parties like the Working Families Party to maintain their status. Paid sick leave Cuomos paid sick leave proposal made it into the final version of the budget. It would require nearly every business in the state to offer employees at least some paid sick days. Businesses with 100 or more employees will be required to offer seven days of paid sick leave per year. Businesses with five to 99 employees will have to provide four days of paid time off and businesses with fewer than four will need to provide four days of unpaid sick leave. The language was also updated to include a list of reasons that an employee could request a paid sick day. Miscellaneous The budget omitted Cuomos past proposal to reduce the corporate franchise tax rate for small businesses does not have a proposal requiring lawmakers and other public officials to release tax returns and does not include a proposal to expand alcohol sales at movie theaters but there is legislative language extending the state film tax credit through 2025 with new minimum spending levels as well as language expanding sports betting, but only at additional locations inside casinos barring people who committed certain misdemeanors outside the state from purchasing firearms in New York giving the governor the discretion to close additional upstate prisons and requiring manual recounts in close elections. A proposed ban on repeat sex offenders in public transit was included the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will have new authority to issue bonds and borrow money to offset lost revenue due to the pandemic, as well as tap into money collected under the states proposed congestion pricing plan, which still awaits final approval and flavored vaping products, including menthol, will be banned throughout the state there was no rent freeze, despite the efforts of some state lawmakers and activists in recent weeks. With additional reporting by Annie McDonough. A resident of Ellora in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district was booked for not informing police about his foreign national tenant, an official said on Tuesday. He identified the house owner as Shaikh Nazir (45) of Rajwada area of Ellora. "The British national, who is here on a tourist visa, was living in Nazir's house since January 3. However, Nazir did not submit details of the tenant to the police department. We have booked the house owner under the Foreigners Act and section 188 of IPC," Inspector Sitaram Mhetre said. "The tenant has visited Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Mumbai," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The Uttar Pradesh government will soon release pending salaries of drivers and other workers of the 102 and the 108 ambulance services in the state, a senior official said on Tuesday. The announcement comes following reports that some ambulance service workers in Amethi have threatened to go on strike over pending salaries. "The Uttar Pradesh chief minister has directed that salaries of drivers of 102, 108 ambulance service or any other workers, whose salaries or honorarium are held up, be paid soon so that they do not face any problems," Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said here. "Work has already started to redress the problems of the ambulance service drivers. They have been told that their problems will be resolved at the earliest, and their interests will be looked into. This is an emergency situation, and going on a strike at this juncture is illegal. The issue has been resolved," he said. A senior office bearer of an organisation of drivers of the ambulance service, Hanuman Pandey, said 16,000 ambulance drivers in the state are on strike. "Our main demand is that our salaries, which are pending for two months, be paid to us," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement The families of dying coronavirus patients are being forced to rely on FaceTime and the kindness of medical staff to say their final goodbyes, after being banned from seeing their loved ones in person. Quarantine rules set up by hospitals desperate to stop the spread of the disease mean families have to use video calls to speak to their sick relatives. King County Sheriff's Major Michelle Bennett saw her mother, Carolann Gann, for the last time on FaceTime as the 75-year-old was slipping away at Swedish Issaquah Hospital in Washington state last Thursday. Retired nurse and mother of five Gann had tested positive for COVID-19 just a week earlier at Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, KIRO7 reported. 'Not being able to be there and hold my mom's hand, rub her head, tell her the things I wanted to say her. It was such a helpless feeling,' Bennett told CNN's Brooke Baldwin on Monday, reducing the veteran cable news anchor to tears. FaceTime farewell: King County Sheriff's Major Michelle Bennett (pictured left with her mother) got to say goodbye to her coronavirus-stricken mother, Carolann Gann, 75, via FaceTime on Thursday (right) thanks to the kindness of a hospital nurse Gann contracted the deadly virus a little more than a week ago while living at Issaquah Nursing and Rehabiliation in Washington state Hero: Bennett said a nurse at Swedish Issaquah Hospital (pictured) reached out to her on Thursday to say her mother was dying and offered to give the patient her phone so she could speak to her daughter on FaceTime one last time Bennett said Tatiana, a nurse looking after her mother at the hospital, noticed that Gann's breathing was becoming more labored, so she contacted the daughter to say her mother was dying, and to give her the chance to say a final goodbye to her via FaceTime on her own personal phone. 'I'm going to put the phone up to her face so you can tell her you love her and say your goodbyes,' Bennett says the nurse told her. 'She will not be alone, we will stay with her till the end.' Bennett said she told her mother she loved her, offered her forgiveness for past mistakes, said she was going to miss her and told her it was OK for her to pass on now. The daughter recounted that as nurse Tatiana took away the phone from her mother, she could see tears streaming down her mask. No one from Gann's family (pictured) was there at the end because of quarantine restrictions, but her nurse promised to stay with her until the end Bennett, a veteran law enforcement official, said she is eternally grateful to the nursing staff for giving her the opportunity to say goodbye to her mother An hour later, Carolann Gann breathed her last and passed away. 'I think she needed to hear that. I think she was holding on until we were able to say, "It's OK to go,"' Bennett said. Bennett said the most important thing for her was that her mother, herself a retired nurse of 38 years, did not die alone thanks to the kindness of compassionate hospital staff risking their lives. 'I cannot thank them enough,' said Bennett. 'I cannot imagine not having had the opportunity to say goodbye, to say, "You can pass," to say "I forgive you" and 'I love you."' By Monday night, coronavirus had claimed more lives in the US than the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. As of Tuesday evening, there were 181,989 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 3,699 deaths nationwide. Washington state, where Carolann Gann died last week, is one of the major US hotspots of the virus, with 5,192 cases and 219 deaths. As of Tuesday evening, there were 181,989 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 5,704 in Florida, and 3,699 deaths nationwide Vancouver, Washington, residents Merle and Dee Tofte, who have been married for 52 years, contracted the virus in early March, reported The Washington Post. Dee, a Parkinson's disease patient who had just turned 85 in February, fell ill first. Her 86-year-old husband came down with fever, chills and a bad cough - all textbook symptoms of the novel coronavirus - a few days later. By March 11, both were at the hospital and tested positive for COVID-19. The couple's condition rapidly deteriorated and on March 16 their five grown children and four grandchildren were told that Merle and Dee had just hours to live. Unable to be with their dying loved ones in person due to quarantine rules, the family members called Dee and Merle on FaceTime to bid farewell. Two granddaughters even serenaded the dying couple with their favorite song, Doris Day's classic 'A Bushel and Peck.' Later that day, Dee and Merle passed away a few hours apart, becoming the first two coronavirus fatalities in the county. The couple were laid to rest in matching pajamas sets that they received as gifts from family members during Dee's birthday celebration on February 28. No family members were allowed to attend their twin burials, and there was no funeral ceremony because of a governor's order banning large gatherings to curb the spread of the virus. Dee Tofte, 85, and her husband of 52 years, Merle Toft, 86, died within hours of one another in a Washington state hospital just days after testing positive for COVID-19. Their family members said goodbye to the couple on FaceTime In a different part of the hard-hit Washington state, Sundee Rutter, 42, a breast cancer survivor and mother of six, succumbed to the coronavirus after saying goodbye to her loved ones via walkie-talkie. She was first admitted to Providence Regional Medical Center, the hospital which treated the first known case of COVID-19, on March 3, according to BuzzFeed News. That day, she and her son, Elijah Ross-Rutter, 20, spent eight hours in a sealed room while she was treated by hospital staff wearing full protective suits. 'They dont even want to touch my mom,' Elijah, who was allowed to see his mother with a face mask on, recalled. That same day, she was sent home. 'She thought she had the flu, probably,' Ross-Rutter said. Four days later, Rutter and her son returned to the hospital. While Ross-Rutter waited in the visiting area, his mother was examined by doctors. A few hours later, Ross-Rutter was told that his mother was suffering from pneumonia and that she would be kept at the hospital overnight. The next day, Rutter tested positive for coronavirus. 'For a while, she was able to text,' Ross-Rutter said. On March 12, his mother texted him that she was feeling 'much better.' But her text messages would eventually be limited to just emojis. 'She was sending me hearts on the messages but she wasnt replying,' Ross-Rutter said. On March 16, the family received a phone call from a doctor telling them they should come to the hospital. Ross-Rutter, his five siblings, and his mother's sister watched from a small glass window as Rutter lay in her bed. Sundee Rutter, 42, a breast cancer survivor from Washington state, died on March 16 after saying goodbye to her family via a walkie-talkie. She is pictured on the right with her son Elijah Ross-Rutter Rutter is seen above with her six children in this undated file photo. She would have turned 43 years old in August As Rutter was moment away from death, her 20-year-old son assured her that her children would be looked after. The children said goodbye to their mother using a hand-held radio whose receiver was propped next to her pillow. 'I told her I love her ... she shouldnt worry about the kids,' Ross-Rutter said. The most difficult part was not being able to be in the same room with his mother during her final moments. 'Like, Im about to lose my best friend and she cant even hear me,' Ross-Rutter said. In San Jose, California, Mike Carter and his wife were struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss of his mother, 81-year-old Pat Carter, who lost her battle against the coronations last Monday. Like in most other cases, the family were barred from going near the patient and had to rely on technology to convey to the dying woman their final message of love. Pat Carter, 81, lost her battle against the coronavirus in San Francisco last Monday. The mom-of-two succumbed to the virus just four days after being diagnosed and coming down with pneumonia Mike Carter and his wife got to say goodbye to Pat via FaceTime with the help of one of the nurses caring for his mother in her dying days at the hospital 'Thank God for the kind nurse that was taking care of mom,' Carter told the station KGO-TV. 'She was able to get us on FaceTime so we could tell her that we love her.' According to family, Pat arrived in San Francisco to visit friends and family on February 28 and was feeling great. Two weeks later, she ended up in the emergency room suffering from rapid breathing and cough. She tested positive for the coronavirus and soon came down with bilateral pneumonia. Four days later, she was gone. 'I think the worst part of it, all the five days, was not being able to be there physically in that room with her,' said Carter. Across the country, in Florida, Tom Sheehan lay dying at Sarasota Memorial Hospital on Saturday after contracting the coronavirus on the Carnival Costa Luminosa cruise ship. Due to quarantine restrictions, family members could not be present when Sheehan, 69, drew his last breath, but they were able to say their goodbyes over speakerphone. Tom Sheehan, 69, and his wife, Jill (pictured), contracted the virus on a cruise to Europe last month. Tom passed away from the disease on Saturday after his family bid him farewell on speakerphone Kevin Sheehan, Tom's son (pictured together), said his father had a pre-existing respiratory condition and feared that were he to contract COVID-19, he would die. 'And he was right,' said the son As Miami Herald first reported, relatives told Sheehan they loved him and thanked him for being a great, husband, father and grandfather. His wife, Jill, who had joined him on the cruise to Italy, Spain and France, also tested positive for COVID-19, but she is home and is said to be doing better now. According to Tom's grown son, Kevin Sheehan, his father and stepmother were not told about the virus spreading on board the ship by the time the vessel reached Puerto Rico, where an elderly Italian couple were taken from the boat and rushed to a local hospital where both tested positive for the virus. The female patient has since died. 'If the ship had told everyone what was going on, my dad and stepmom would have gotten off in Puerto Rico and flown home,' said Kevin. 'But they didnt tell them. So they stayed on the ship.' In the days that followed, the ship continued on its voyage without making any stops, and Sheehan, who had a pre-existing respiratory condition, began having trouble breathing. 'We think at that point my father had already been exposed,' his son said. 'He thought his bronchitis was coming back. We realize now the virus had got him.' When the Costa Luminosa docked in Marseilles, France, about half of the 75 passengers who were tested were found to have the coronavirus. Tom Sheehan died at a Florida hospital on a ventilator. His family could not be there in person to say goodbye The American and Canadian travelers, including Sheehan, his wife and a couple they were traveling with, were put on a plane and flown to Atlanta, the home of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but Kevin Sheehan said agency officials only took their temperature and asked them a few basic questions before allowing everyone from the flight to enter the crowded terminal. On March 20, Tom and Jill Sheehan arrived back in Sarasota sick and bedraggled. The next time, they went to the hospital and tested positive for the coronavirus. By then, Tom's breathing was labored and he had lost 20lbs. 'He was terrified,' his son said. 'In one of his lasts texts to my sister, he said "if I caught this virus Im dead." And he was right.' On Friday, a nurse helped the family speak to Tom one last time on speakerphone. Kevin said he hoped his dying father, who was hooked up to a ventilator and given sedatives, could hear them in his final moments of life. The coronavirus pandemic is causing an unprecedented downturn in Texas service industry as retailers, hoteliers and restaurant owners shut their doors and furlough or lay off thousands of workers, a monthly survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas shows. In San Antonio, the Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt and La Cantera Resort & Spa are among the hotels that have temporarily closed. Eateries and bars across the city have suspended dine-in services, and North Star Mall, South Park Mall and other shopping centers have shut down. Numerous flights have been canceled. Its been devastating, said Ed McClure, a local hotelier. The loss of business is almost hard to fathom. On ExpressNews.com: Layoffs, closures and all takeout all the time as San Antonio restaurants, bars face the new reality of coronavirus The states service sector represents nearly 70 percent of the Texas economy. In March, the Dallas Feds revenue index plummeted to -67, almost 47 points below its prior lowest reading in 2008. Company outlook and general business activity gauges declined to record negative readings, and retail sales plunged. Labor market indicators declined to record lows, with over one-quarter of respondents reducing employment and nearly half cutting hours compared to February, said Christopher Slijk, an associate economist at the Dallas Fed. Survey respondents said its difficult to ascertain what the long-term effects of the pandemic will be on business. Theyre worried about sales rebounding after the pandemic. The consumer will pull back regardless to prepare for market shocks in the future, one executive wrote. Just like the Great Depression had an impact on an entire generation, this too will have a similar economic impact on a large part of the world economy. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio hotels are furloughing employees If they dont open up the economy soon, most businesses will be broke, another told the Dallas Fed. It is questionable just how long and deep this will extend. Other industries also are hurting. New factory orders in March dropped to the lowest levels since the last recession and manufacturers output slid, according to the Dallas Fed. Toyota Motor Corp.s plant in San Antonio, which employs more than 3,000 people, has been closed since March 23. Suppliers on the companys campus employ 4,000 people and also have mostly shut down. madison.iszler@express-news.net Doctors in California say they are 'cautiously hopeful' that the state's early shelter at home measures are working despite predictions that medical personnel will soon see a surge in coronavirus cases. California Gov Gavin Newsom was the first to issue a stay-at-home order to try to stop the spread before it happened. Dr Anish Mahajan, the chief medical officer at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, told CNN that they are 'cautiously hopeful that there has been a flattening of the steep curve because we have not seen the exponential rise of traffic coming in'. But other doctors in California, where there are more than 7,300 people who have tested positive for the disease and 146 deaths, weren't so optimistic. Doctors in California say they are 'cautiously hopeful' that the state's early shelter at home measures are working despite predictions that medical personnel will soon see a surge in coronavirus cases. Medical professionals administer a COVID-19 test in Daly City, California Dr Anish Mahajan, the chief medical officer at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, said they are 'cautiously hopeful that there has been a flattening of the steep curve because we have not seen the exponential rise of traffic coming in'. Testing is seen in San Francisco Dr Armand Dorian, the chief medical officer at the University of Southern California Verdugo Hills Hospital, said they did see a lull in cases over the weekend, 'but honestly, I would be very, very cautious because I really think we are at the beginning of the uptick'. Dorian also said that the virus 'is a development that is going to be coming in waves or mini waves'. 'And this is not disappearing, it's going to be here for the rest of our lives.' Dr Jahan Fahimi, an emergency physician and medical director at the University of California, also told CNN that everyone is 'kind of together holding our breaths'. 'The surge we have been anticipating has not yet come,' Fahimi added. On Monday, Gov Newsom was asked if the curve of coronavirus patients was beginning to flatten. 'We're in middle of this. It would be too easy to say what has or has not worked,' Newsom said. 'The stay home effort has bought us time to prepare.' Newsom also said that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state had nearly doubled over the past four days and the number of ICU patients tripled during that time. California Gov Gavin Newsom was the first to issue a stay-at-home order to try to stop the spread before it happened. But on Monday he said: 'It would be too easy to say what has or has not worked. The stay home effort has bought us time to prepare' There are more than 181,000 cases in the US and more than 3,600 deaths By Monday, 1,421 California patients had been hospitalized with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, up from 746 four days ago, Newsom said. The number of patients requiring intensive care beds rose to 597 from 200, he said. The rapid increase in the need for hospital and ICU care led Newsom to set up a website to connect retired doctors and nurses, as well as medical and nursing students, to hospitals and clinics that need them. The state will help retirees activate their licenses and students obtain licensing. 'If you're a nursing school student, a medical school student, we need you,' Newsom said. 'If you've just retired in the last couple of years, we need you.' The state is hoping its initiative, dubbed California Health Corps, will bring on board enough staff to handle an additional 50,000 hospital beds, Newsom said. On Friday, the US Navy ship, the Mercy, arrived in Los Angeles. The Mercy came just in time for California, which is expecting dramatic surge in coronavirus cases. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti warned on Sunday that families should prepare for isolating themselves at home in ways so they will not infect others in their households. Anticipating a surge in COVID-19 cases this week that may overwhelm healthcare systems, Garcetti urged people who test positive not to rush to hospitals unless they have serious symptoms. Instead, he asked the city's 4 million residents to think about how to separate themselves from family members while quarantining at home. 'Don't just take social distancing seriously, I hope each and every one of us take isolation seriously too,' Garcetti said Sunday. He acknowledged that physical distancing may be hard for those in tight quarters and said local officials were working to set up quarantine spaces for them. National Guard troops set up beds in the sprawling Los Angeles Convention Center, converting it from a site that normally hosts meetings, trade shows and exhibitions into a field hospital. Testing among the state's 40 million residents has stepped up significantly after a slow start. Officials have warned the increase will reveal an expanding number of cases. Korea M&A Exchange (KMX) Chairman Lee Chang-hun / Courtesy of KMX By Park Jae-hyuk The coronavirus outbreak has definitely derailed M&A practices in the domestic market, but potential buyers can take this as an opportunity to acquire valuable businesses at lower prices, according to the head of the nation's largest M&A matchmaking platform. Lee Chang-hun, the chairman of the Korea M&A Exchange (KMX), told The Korea Times that wise buyers have already begun searching for companies to acquire, despite the current crisis. "There are an increased number of companies looking for sizable travel agencies, because those agencies are expected to be sold at lower prices due to the COVID-19," he said in a recent interview at his office in Seoul. "I think that's a reasonable expectation." As the chief of the platform handling data of around 4,000 firms that want to sign M&A agreements, he admitted that requests for deals have plummeted since February this year and that progress of ongoing deals has been slow. The KMX chairman, however, advised potential buyers to stop hesitating on M&A deals at this moment, because most businesses will recover soon after the pandemic ends. "When the pandemic ends, a new chapter of the M&A market will begin," he said. "Contrary to the global financial crisis caused by structural problems, the recent recession can be overcome easily, as long as people can meet each other as before." When the time comes, competition will heat up among buyers for takeover of attractive firms, raising valuation for those companies, the M&A expert said. "Those who preemptively bought companies during the 1997 crisis have significantly become rich," he said. "It is true that sellers are shunning putting their firms on the market at this moment, but there still exist many good companies which have been put on the market since last year, so this is a great opportunity for buyers to consider diverse options." M&As for growth Lee said right after the pandemic ends, virus-hit businesses, such as travel agencies, exporters, importers and component manufacturers, will be put on the market because they are in desperate need of survival. However, he recommended market participants to show more interest in companies with growth potential, although they are priced higher than companies using M&As for survival. "Without cutting prices for their purchase, buyers should focus more on increasing the value and competitiveness of companies they bought," he said. "The world's leading companies in market capitalization have grown with M&As. This is the same for Korean firms." According to the chairman, potential buyers should look into small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which have been put on the market as their owners decided not to hand over their companies to their children. "More than half of such SMEs that give up family succession pursue M&As for growth, not for survival," he said. "They are still profitable, and can also improve awareness of M&A practices and stimulate the market." The European Council on March 30 passed a decision to ratify the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), paving the way for the deal to come into force. Once ratified by the Vietnamese National Assembly, the deal will officially take effect expected at the beginning of this summer. The EVFTA is expected to create a major push for Vietnams exports, helping diversify the countrys exports and markets. Under the agreement, Vietnam will cut 65 percent of import tax on EU commodities right after the deal takes effect, while the rest will be erased in a 10-year period. Meanwhile, the EU will cut more than 70 percent of tariff on Vietnams commodities right after the deal takes effect, while the rest will be abolished in the seven subsequent years. The document, together with the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, was signed in Hanoi on June 30 last year. They include intensive, extensive and comprehensive commitments covering the fields of economy, trade, investment and sustainable development issues./.VNA Written by ACM *Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- By a Timely "Coincidence", Both the EU and USA, as well as China and Russia, even G20, etc., reviewed, at Leaders' level, their Strategies against Deadly CoronaVirus' Pandemic, this Same Week. From a Comparison, at First Sight, (provided by "Eurofora"), appear Interesting insights, that a More Deep and Thorough Analysis could complete and develop further. EU Leaders held a specific Summit on CoronaVirus the 26th of March, by Video-Conference, shortly after Member States had already announced relevant National Measures. The Next Day, on March 27, USA President Trump signed an Exceptional "Cares" Bill, and held a relevant, long Press Conference at the White House. On that Same Day (27/3/2020), Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired a Key meeting of the Communist Party's Political Bureau, after speaking also at its Standing Committee since March 25. Russia had Earlier convened Top Governemental Meetings on Medical and Economic Measures since the 24th of March, followed by a Wider, comprehensive "Address to the Nation" by President Putin, on March 25. In parallel, an Extraordinary G20 Summit convened via Video-Conference, also on March 26, made an official "Statement on COVID-19". --------------------------------------------------- * The EU, (which has Already become the "Epicenter" of the World in CoronaVirus' cases, and even Deaths, since Early March 2020), still Explicitly Focused on "Limiting the Spread" of the virus, as the Latest EU Leaders' Summit stressed, (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/differentstrategiesagainstvirus.html, etc), while some Key Leaders Warned that "the Worse lies Ahead". On the Contrary, Despite a Recent "Explosion" of Infections and Death cases in the USA, President Trump, (who had Already eyed the "Slowing the Spread" target Earlier, since 3 March), seems Now Hesitating between Still "Flattening the Curve" (See also: ..., etc), and "see that Curve start Heading Down in the Other direction, at a Minimum", already "Hoping" that a Way Out of the Virus might emerge "Sooner" than several "Months", as he said at his Press Conference, promising a Reply on Strategy just after a Key Experts' Meeting scheduled for next "Tuesday". As for China, (where WHO Recently saw an encouraging "Hope" for the World), After having been Hit by that Virus the First, and Hard, at its Central Core area of Wuhan, since December 2019, it is Nowadays notoriously Preparing People to progressively "Return Back to Work", aiming "to consolidate and sustain the Positive Trend in Containing the Epidemic", in order "to Ensure" that it "Keeps Moving steadily in a Positive Direction", (while Also "preventing infections influx from Abroad and epidemic Rebound at home", as it's Recently "Facing increased Pressure of Imported cases"). Neighbouring Russia, (which hadn't, during a Long Period of Time, but Only ...2 Infections, of Chinese Citizens), Soon After "Importing" Dozens of Virus cases '"from Abroad" Later on, mainly Via the EU, Now it seeks "to Prevent the Threat of a Rapid Spread of the Disease", while still "Managing to Contain" it, since Moscow "canNot Fence itself Off from the Threat" completely, as President Putin Warned, (particularly since "a Million People have Arrived in Russia over the past 10 Days" from "Abroad", as Officials point out, speaking of "Risks", for which, Experts do Not Exclude any "Scenario" yet). + "G-20" Leaders Ambitiously vowed Now "to Overcome the Pandemic", by "Contain(ing)" it and "Tackling ...its interwined Health, Social and Economic Impacts", as their "absolute Priority". ---------------------------------------------------------- * However, it's also a Fact that Most EU Member Countries, astonishingly, did Not take, Timely, Any drastic Measure to Contain the Virus' Spread, Not Even from nearby Italy's Tragic "Hot-Spot" (See, f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/delaytoprotecteupeoplefromvirus.html, etc), including, Astonishingly, its Neighbour : France, (whose Strasbourg's Region of "Great East", soon became the Core of Deadly Infections from its Adjacent North-Eastern Italian Region of Lombardy, the notorious "Mecca" of Italian Record-High Deaths), and EU itself did Not call to Shield Europeans from incoming Foreign Air-Flights but Only, obviously, Too Late, i.e. long After the EU had been, Meanwhile, declared "Epicenter" of the World for CoronaVirus by the WHO, in Late March... USA did Block Flights from China, and, Later-on, also from the EU, etc., But, apparently, Not completely and/or Not Timely enough, so that, After an Initial Period, during which it appeared quite "Shielded" against the Virus, Suddenly the official Number of its Victims "Exploded" Nowadays there, (Perhaps, also, due to an eventual Downplaying, at first, Followed by possible Exagerations Later-on, in some Statistical ways to Present things). China, Notoriously, Succeeded in Containing the Virus inside Wuhan's Region with a Drastic Blocus, (i.e. Protecting, f.ex., Beijing, Shanghai, and even Xiyang Regions, etc), But faces, Recently, a Risk to Disseminate "Imported" Infections "from Abroad" accross several Other Areas of the Country, Even if the Chinese Authorities have Just Decided to Block InFlights from Foreign Countries Nowadays. As for its Neighbour and Ally, Russia, it Benefited from an Immediate Closure of Borders to China, staying for a Long period of Time withOut Any Death, Not even Infections, (with the Only Exception of ...2 Chinese Citizens !), But committed the Error to Leave Open other InFlights from the EU, etc., (as Italy, France, etc), which Started, Recently, to "Import" Dozens of Infections at Nearby Saint-Petersburg, etc., Spreading Fast into around a Thousand cases Now, Dispersed at 60 Different Regions. However, Russia is, still, one of the Rare Countries (as Hungary, etc) which now Decided to Close All its Borders (from the End of March), while having "Only" Five (5) Deaths... ------------------------------------------------------------ * Concerning the Crucial Issue of Medical Treatments and Vaccines, etc., against the Virus, the Latest EU Summit simply Reiterated that EU Commission had earmarked for relevant "Research" about "140 Millions ", (already since the End of February 2020). Obviously, this is Only a Pale reflect, compared to the ..."27 Billions $" that the USA have Just Decided to give for such New Drugs and/or Vaccines' relevant Research, as President Trump announced Nowadays... But it's also true that in Europe, Scientific/Technological Reseach is, still, Mostly Funded by National States, and Not so much by the EU, so that a Serious Comparison should, logically, Add Both the Member States' and EU's own Fundings Together. Moreover, French President Macron has, recently, boasted that Europe has "all trumps" to discover a Virus' Antidote, (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronandeuagainstvirus.html, etc), while EU Commission intervened (with an exceptionaly rapid Funding) in order to Keep in Europe a German Company developing a Vaccine, that USA reportedly attempted to recuperate. However, Vaccines seem to need too much Time, given the current, Fast growing Life or Death Urgency, so that many Focus now on possible Treatments, and particularly "Remdesivir", (developed by a Private Company supported by USA Government), and "HydroxyChloroquine", considered as "Cheaper and Simpler" than others, (initially Backed by some in China, and particularly by controversial but hyperactive French Professor Didier Raoult, which, for US President Trump, "is supposed to be the Better of the two", and "seems to have some good Backing", as "there are Signs that it could be doing well" : "were going to find out Soon", as, Nowadays, there is "a Lot" of "Tests" going on - Both in the USA and in the EU especially France - as he said on March 28). + Meanwhile, Russia also started to prepare 7 possible Vaccines, and Invented a Diagnostic Test reportedly giving Results (as "Positif" or "Negatif" in CoronoVirus) in about "2,5 Hours", in Addition to a "ROCHE" Company's Fast Test just bought by the USA Government, and to another French Company's rapid Testing method, in the process of being Commercialized, Together with a Different Chinese Test-method. But for Life-Saving Treatment, more Interesting seems Russia's announcement, Now, that, just in a Few Days, it managed to Invent a New type of "Ventilator", (an Equipment currently Scarce throughout the whole World, compared to Growing Needs), able to work for 2 or 4 Patients at the Same Time ! In parallel, USA President Trump announced Nowadays Deals with big Private Companies, (including even by Forcing them, via a Legislation on ...National Defense, as f.ex. vis a vis "General Motors", etc), to Produce a Large Number of "Ventilators", (f.ex.: "100.000 in 100 Days", etc), Part of which Might be Sold Abroad to Help f.ex. demanding EU Countries such as the UK and Germany, (where Chancelor Merkel reportedly Tries also to ReOrientate the Car Industry towards producing Ventilators), as France has too Started to cooperate with High-Tech Business, (f.ex. "Air-Liquid", etc) to produce similar Medical Equipments. Meanwhile, the EU Leaders asked EU Commission to "Accelerate ... Help ensuring urgent and adequate provision of Medical Equipment", including "Joint Procurement initiatives for Personal Protective equipment (Masks, Gants, DisInfectants, etc), Ventilators and Testing supplies". + "G-20" vowed to "Protect People, especially the Most Vulnerable", But did Not Mention yet any crystal-clear Concrete Measures, (See also Infra), except from "Expand(ing) Manufacturing capacity to meet the increasing Needs for Medical Supplies and ensure these are made Widely available, at an affordable Price, on an Equitable basis, where they are most needed, and as Quickly as possible" (sic !), as well as "proportionate Border management Measures", and "to SafeGuard our Peoples Health through the Postponement of major Public Events", (including by ReScheduling the Olympic Games", etc). ---------------------------------------------------- * On the Socio-Economic aspects of the Fight against Virus' Dramatic Consequences, concerning, First of all, Poor People, USA President Don Trump pointed, as Number 1 Measure inside an UnPrecedented, 2 Trillions $ Package Bill (Extensible up to 6,2 Trilliions $), that All Poor Citizens with Low or No Revenues at all, would, Exceptionally Receive "Direct Cash Payments" of 1.200 $ for One Person, 2.400 $ for Two Persons, or "3.400 $ for a typical Family of Four", Monthly, during at least a Three or Four Months' Period of Time, for which is consecrated an initial "300 Billions $" part of that Budget. In Addition, 2 Regular Meals Each Day would continue to be served to Poor Children, who Depended on (now Closed) School Cantines for that, and Even Delivered at their Family Home in Remote Areas, if necessary. + In parallel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced to "Pay all Families, ...eligible for Maternity aid, an additional + 5.000 Rubles a Month, for Each Child up to Three Years Old", During "the Next 3 Months", (while also Accelerating, for "Children aged 3 to 7", a "New Support package" from June). In addition, in order to "Support" Workers "on Sick Leave and Peple who have Lost their Jobs", all "Sick Leave Payments payments should be calculated based on the amount of at least one Minimum Wage a Month", "Until the End of the Year" 2020. Moreover, the "maximum Monthly UnEmployment Benefit", currently Limited to Only "8,000 Rubles", will be "Increased to ... 12,130 Rubles per Month", he added. At the same time, all Persons who "Face a Difficult Situation", (if their "Monthly Income Declined ... by over -30%"), will "have the Right to ...Stop Debt Servicing", and "ReSchedule" "Loan(s) and Mortgage(s)" "temporarily", while "any Penalties are Out of Question", and "the Bank of Russia" was requested "to set up a Similar ReScheduling mechanism for Self-Employed people, too", "If" they "are Unable to rePay their Debt for Objective Reasons" during the Virus' Crisis. In parallel, "Small and medium-sized Businesses and Micro Businesses, ....now facing objective Difficulties", will see "All Taxes on SMB (except VAT) Deferred ...for the Next 6 Months", and "Micro Businesses should also be granted a Deferral on their Contributions to Social Insurance funds", as well as "Struggling SMEs and Micro Businesses"' "Bank Loans ...must also be Deferred, for the Next 6 Months". (But, at the Same Time, "those Expatriating their income as Dividends to Foreign accounts should Pay a 15 % Tax", and Rich "people with Over 1 Million Rubles in Bank deposits" (i.e. "Only about 1 % of deposit Holders") , whose "Interest Earned is Not Taxed ...at all" currently, should also Start to "Pay a 13% Tax on this Income", he added, as a matter of "Fairness", since "People with Modest Salaries -Already- pay an Income Tax of 13%" ). + Son after, it's also China's CPC Political Bureau, chaired by President Xi, which "Deliberated on 2 Reports about Proverty Eradication" : "The Country will ...Help ImPoverished People Return to their Posts and get Employed, and ... Support those Slipping back to or Falling into Poverty, Due to the Epidemic", it was reported, "Call(ing) for Enhanced Endeavors to Win the Battle against Poverty, as the COVID-19 outbreak has brought New Difficulties and Challenges". In parallel, "Local Governments were Urged to adopt a Targeted approach towards Poverty Relief, keep Anti-Poverty Policies Stable, and Improve Rural weak Links". + However, on the Contrary, the latest EU Summit's official "Joint Statement", does Not make any Explicit Reference to the Fight against Poverty risks from that Virus' Crisis, except from a simple, vague Mention of "Tackling Socio-Economic Consequences", and "Flexibility" for EU "Member States" having taken "extensive Action to ... alleviate Social and Employment Problems", as well as to a "proposed Amendment to the EU Solidarity Fund", added to simple Compliments for "the EIB Group's contribution ... for Bank Guarantees to -and Investment in- European Companies, particularly SMEs". Inside EU Member States, f.ex. in France, President Macron had Earlier spoken about Poor People being cared by Humanitarian "NGOs" and "Local Authorities", (i.e., mainly Municipalities), etc., followed by various concrete Measures announced Nowadays by his Prime Minister Philippe, such as : No Expulsions and No Power Cuts for No Payment of Rent or Bills until the End of May ; Extension of UnEmployment Indemnisation during 2 Months ; 1.500 Monthly, during the Next 2 Months for Self-Employed ; Extension of Aides to Handicapped People, Social Housing, Access to Health Care, Minimum Income for Solidarity (about 600 ), etc, during the Virus' Crisis. + In parallel, it's Also in the UK that "BREXIT" Party's Chief, former Long-Time MEP, Nigel Farage, (Rightist), reportedly called to Exceptionaly establish a Universal Basic Income of 1.100 Monthly, (as a so-called "Helicopter Money", i.e. Only during a Few Months), for the Poorest People, precarious or withOut any revenue, (who are reportedly estimated to be around 11 Millions there), partially Echoed also by a "Labour" (Socialist) MP, mutatis-mutandis. + As for the "G-20" Summit, they "Called upon" the "WHO, IMF, WBG", etc. "to support emerging and Developing Countries facing the health, economic, and social shocks of COVID-19", and "Particularly (the) ...Least Developed Countries, ... notably in Africa and Small Island States, where health systems and economies may be Less Able to cope with the Challenge". "G-20" also mentioned "the particular Risk faced by Refugees and Displaced persons", and promised to "Address Risks of Debt Vulnerabilities in Low-Income Countries due to the Pandemic", while also Asking "the ILO and OECD to Monitor (its) Impact on Employment", in addition to "G-20" Member States' own "Immediate and Vigorous Measures to...Protect Workers, ...expecially Micro-, Small and medium-sized Enterprises, ...and Shield the Vulnerable (People) through adequate Social Protection". ------------------------------------------------------ * On Mainstream Business, and the Economy at large, the Latest EU Summit simply Observed, at First, that EU Member States and taken Extensive Action to Support their (National) Economies, and, for that reason, they "Needed Flexibility", (vis a vis EU's Financial Stability Rules), provided by EU "Commission's Temporary Framework for State Aid", and an "UnPrecedented use of the Geeral Escape Clause under the Stability and Growth Pact", as they underlined, Together with Exceptional Monetary Facilities by the ECB (for uroZone Countries). In Addition, at EU level, the EU Commission proposed "a CoronaVirus Response Investment initiative", with "37 Billions , ...under Cohesion Policy", while an "Amendment to the EU Solidarity Fund" would allow to be "also used for Public Health Emergency situations". Advancing Further, (But, practicaly, Postponing Action for Later-on), EU Leaders "invited (EU) Finance Ministers to explore ...possibilities to Scale Up EIB Group's" Bank Guarantees, etc, and, particularly, the "uroGroup to present Proposals, within 2 Weeks" Time, (i.e. on April), for "a Comprehensive Response", "taking into account the UnPrecedented nature of the CV-19 Schock, affecting All our Countries", and to "Step up ... Further Action, in an Inclusive way", and "in Light of Developments". (+ ECB ?!)... Notoriously, mainly Southern EU Member States (led by France, Italy and Spain, but also Greece and Slovenia, etc), as well as several Commentators, deplored the Lack of Agreement for "EU-Bonds"' editions to support the Fight against the Virus. Mainly Nordic Countries (led by Germany and the Netherlands, but also Austria, etc), appeared afraid of eventual attempts to "Communotarize" (make Common) a Debt due to Others' Decisions, to which they had not participated, and pointed out that a More Adequate Tool would be ESM (the European Stability Mechanism), which currently Holds a Total of 410 Billions for Emergencies. (As for the EU Countries which have Not Yet Entered in uroZone, they reportedly plan to make an appeal to the IMF). Perhaps some Interesting Joint Projects funded by special EU Bonds co-signed by all Participating Countries (including Germany, if it found them Attractive) might provide a Solution, in the foreseable Future. But, in the Meantime, National Measures by EU Member States to Back Mainstream Businesses Focused, f.ex. in France, particularly on massive Tax Relief, Postponing Contributions to Social Funds, "Freezing" Debts, Rents, etc., while Germany offered "UnLimited" Loans, with State Guarantee up to 80% of the Risk, (90% for solid SMEs), etc. + However, it's Not obvious that this might Compete with USA President Don Trump's decision to Fund a 500 Billions $ Aide to Mainstream Businesses, mainly Industry, (Added to 350 Billions $ for SMEs), inside a Wider exceptional Package Bill of 2 Trillions $, (Extensible up to 6,2 Trillions $, as he said), to which, US House of Representatives' Chairwoman Pelosi reportedly added that various Other Measures to support Economy are due to Follow, Later-on... + In China, the above-mentioned CPC's Political Bureau meeting chaired by Xi, reportedly decided "a Package of Macro-Policies and Measures", including to "Raise the Fiscal Deficit ratio", to "Issue special Treasury Bonds" and "Increase the scale of special Bonds for Local Governments", as well as to "Guide the Interest rate to Decline in the Loan market". They also "underscored Financial Policies, such as ReLoan and ReDiscount quotas, as Deferring RePayment of Capital with Interest", etc, in order "to provide ...Financial Services for Epidemic Control, Work Resumption (for the People), and Development of Real Economy". This should be done in the Context of "efforts to Release Demands in domestic Market, orderly ... Resumption of Malls and Markets", as well as to "ensure Normal operation of the Service sector", so that "Household Consumption" would "Expand", "Public Consumption reasonably Raised", "Brick-and-Morta r Business Activated", and "the prevailing Trend of New On-Line Consumption", (i.e. via Digitalisation and Internet, as with the WebSites "Ali Baba", or "Amazon" and "Instacart" etc. in the West). In parallel, China seeks to "strengthen International Cooperation" for a "Global Logistics Supply Chain system", with a "smooth flow of International Freight Transportation", (whose Interest is Highlighted Nowadays, particularly for Deliveries of Protective Masks, Diagnostic Test Kits, DisInfectants, and Other Medical Equipment Urgently Needed by Western Countries, Both in Europe and USA, etc., to Timely and Sufficiently help face CoronaVirus). + In Russia, President Putin just announced "Govenment and Central Bank ...action to ensure Stable Lending to the real Economy, including through State Guarantees and Subsidies", as well as "a 6-Month Moratorium on Bankruptcy claims by Creditors", or "on the Recovery of Debts and Penalties". He also instructed "the Government to constantly Monitor developments and, if necessary, expand and review the list of the Industries requiring Support", (etc). + The "G-20" Summit vowed "to do whatever it takes and to use all available policy tools to Minimize the Economic and social Damage from the Pandemic", "Injecting over $5 Trillion into the Global economy, as part of targeted Fiscal policy, Economic measures, and Guarantee schemes". They promised a "bold and large-scale Fiscal Support", Backing to "the Extraordinary measures taken by Central Banks", "to support the Flow of Credit", and "enhance Liquidity in Global Markets", as well as "Regulatory and Supervisory measures ... to ensure that the financial system continues to support the economy", including to "Facilitate International Trade", for "the Flow of vital Medical Supplies, critical Agricultural Producrs, and Other Goods and Services Accross Borders", while also "Resolving Disruptions to the Global Supply chains". ------------------------------------------------------------------- + Last, but not least, the "G-20" Summit's Leaders said that their Health Ministers are due to Meet "on April" for "a Set of ...Urgent Actions on Jointly Combatting the Pandemic", and asked their Trade and Finance Ministers with Central Banks Governors "to coordinate on a Regular basis", (in addition to a "Joint" meeting with Health ministers in the following Months), for relevant (Medical and Economic) "Response(s) to COVID-19", while also Declaring to "Stand Ready stand ready to React promptly and take any further Action that may be required", as well as their "Readiness to Convene again as the situation requires", throughout 2020. In Addition, in order "to SafeGuard the Future", the "G-20" Leaders "committed to strengthen national, regional, and Global Capacities to Respond to potential Infectious Disease outbreaks, by substantially Increasing our Epidemic Preparedness Spending", as well as "by work(ing) together to increase Research and Development funding for Vaccines and Medicines, leverage Digital technologies, and strengthen Scientific international cooperation", "including with the private sector, towards Rapid development, Manufacturing and Distribution of Diagnostics, antiviral Medicines, and Vaccines, adhering to the objectives of efficacy, safety, equity, accessibility, and affordability". For that purpose, the "G-20" Summit "asked the WHO, in cooperation with relevant organizations, to assess Gaps in Pandemic Preparedness ... in the coming months, with a view to Establish a Global initiative on Pandemic Preparedness and Response", able to "act as a universal, efficient, sustained Funding and Coordination Platform to Accelerate the development and delivery of Vaccines, (Partly near a Controversial "Microsoft" f. CEO Bill Gates' plan, But More Widely, also) Diagnostics and Treatments". Curiously, any mentions to all Other necessary and possible Preventive actions, to Protect Humans' Health (f.ex. Scientific Research to Strengthen the Immune System, ProPhylaxis, Hygiene, Security, Containment, etc), were Ommitted, in this paper, perhaps drafted in a hurry... Currently, the "G-20" is Chaired by Saudi Arabia, which was among the few Countries to Start taking Immediate Actions to Protect its Citizens right from the Beginning of the Virus' arrival at its own Territory, (f.ex. Closing Schools, Blocking certain Foreign Flights, etc., Already Since no more than Only about 100 People had been reportedly Infected !). Saudi Arabia was among those Countries which had been Hardly Hit, in the Past, by the "MERS" Virus, (2012 : meaning "Middle East Respiratory Syndrom"), which, by its Genetic Structure, Belongs also to that "CoronaVirus" Group, Similar to SARS (2003) and COVID-19 (2019) Mutated Variations, affecting Mainly Human Lungs, etc. That's why, SARS and MERS having been its Predecessors, as CoV-1 and CoV-2, Normaly, the Present Virus should Better be Called simply : "CoV-3". (../..) ("Draft-News") Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Analysis Global Baking Mixes Market is projected to reach approximately USD 4.27 billion by 2024 and grow at a significant CAGR of 6.79% during the forecast period, from 2019 to 2024. A baking mix is a pre-mixed formulation ingredient which is widely used for baking cakes, biscuits, pancakes, and cookies. Along with being convenient to use, baking mixes reduces preparation times catering to the need of working couples, thereby giving boost to market growth. Furthermore, health conscious consumers are showing inclination towards clean label and organic products, hence demand for organic baking mixes have grown significantly. In addition, growth in organized retailing system and e-commerce has made the product easily accessible to consumers, thereby supporting the market growth. Furthermore, increasing health awareness regarding celiac disease has accelerated the demand for free-from products such as gluten free baking mixes, globally. Changing consumption patterns and rising globalization are likely to enhance the market growth at an incremental pace. Also, effective promotional strategy coupled with novel product launches in different flavors will continue to support the market in upcoming years. Attractive packaging design and customization of product as per consumers needs provide huge opportunities to the key players for market expansion. Increasing urbanization and growth in female workforce are other key factors supporting the market growth. Major Key Players Update A surge in new entrants in Global Baking Mixes Market Revenue has been observed as the market is growing significantly. Therefore, the competition in the market is expected to intensify in coming years. The food lifestyle of consumers is evolving swiftly; henceforth key manufacturers are launching novel products catering to the needs of the consumers. For instance, Unilever launched chilled liquid cake mix targeting consumers who have limited time for cooking and are looking for quick, easy, and convenient option. Aggressive promotional activities by key manufacturers have increased awareness about products availability among consumers and thereby supporting the company in increasing consumer base. Furthermore, with the advent of social media, manufacturers are able to target the right audience owing to age targeting features of social media which is likely to give an impetus to market growth. The key players profiled in the report are Hungry Jack (Australia), Pillsbury (U.S.), Pioneer brand (U.S.), Betty Crocker (U.S.), Duncan Hines (U.S.), Nestle (Switzerland), King Arthur Flour (U.S.) and Jiffy (U.S.) among many others. Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/baking-mixes-market-2151 Regional Analysis Global Baking Mixes Market is segmented into Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. North America accounted for the largest share in baking mixes and it is expected to continue its dominance over the next few years owing to growing demand for convenience food and changing consumption pattern. Rapidly increasing population and rising disposable income in Asia Pacific region has given impetus to the demand for baking mixes. Market Segments Global Baking Mixes Market is segmented into Type, Claim, Target Market, Distribution Channel, and Region On the Basis of Type- Cookie & Biscuit Mixes, Cake & Muffin Mixes, Bread Mixes, Pancakes & Waffle Mixes, and Others On the Basis of Vegan, Organic, Claim- Gluten-free, Sugar-free and others On the Basis of Target Market- Residential and Institutional On the Basis of Distribution Channel- Store Based and Non-Store Based On the Basis of Region- North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and ROW The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday said that about 2,137 Indian Tablighi Jamaat workers have been identified in different states and they are being medically examined and quarantined. "As of March 21, there were about 1,746 persons staying in Hazrat, Nizamuddin Markaz. Of these, 216 were foreigners and 1530 were Indians. Additionally, about 824 foreigners had been, as on March 21, doing Tablighi activities in various parts of the country," the Ministry of Home Affairs stated. "Details of these 824 foreigners were shared on March 21 with police of states for getting them medically screened and quarantining them," it added. MHA stated that on March 28, states were advised to collect names of Indian Tablighi Jamaat workers to get them medically screened and quarantine them. "So far, about 2,137 such persons have been identified in different states. They are being medically examined and quarantined. This process is still on and more such people would be identified and located," it added. A statement from the MHA stated that it shared details of foreign and Indian Tablighi Jamaat (TJ) workers in India with all states on March 21, after COVID-19 positive cases among these workers surfaced in Telangana. "The swift action was taken with a view to identify, isolate and quarantine TJ workers who might be COVID-19 positive. Instructions were also issued by MHA to Chief Secretaries and DGsP of all states as well as CP, Delhi. The advisories were reiterated by the DIB to all State DGsP on March 28 and 29," MHA stated. Meanwhile, Tablighi Jamaat workers staying in the Markaz in Nizamuddin, Delhi, were also persuaded for medical screening by state authorities and police. By March 29, nearly 162 Tablighi Jamaat workers were medically screened and shifted to quarantine facilities. So far, 1,339 Tablighi Jamaat workers have been shifted to Narela, Sultanpuri and Bakkarwala quarantine facilities as well as to LNJP, RGSS, GTB, DDU Hospitals and AllMS, Jhajjar. Rest of them are being currently medically screened for COVID-19 infections, the Ministry stated. The statement added, "Usually, all the foreign nationals visiting India as a part of Tablighi team come on the strength of tourist visa. MHA had already issued guidelines that they should not indulge in missionary work on tourist visa. State Police would be examining categories of visas of all these foreign Tablighi Jamaat workers and take further action in case of violation of visa conditions." Tablighi Jamaat Headquarter (Markaz) is located in Nizamuddin, Delhi. On March 21 , approximately 824 foreign Tablighi Jamaat workers were in different parts of the country for missionary work. Besides, around 216 foreign were staying in the Markaz. In addition, over 1500 Indian Tablighi Jamaat workers were also staying in the Markaz while around 2,100 Indian Tablighi Jamaat workers were touring different parts of the country for missionary work. Since March 23, lockdown has been strictly imposed by authorities/police across Delhi including in and around Nizamuddin and Tabligh work came to a halt. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre has extended the tenure of Reserve Bank Deputy Governor B P Kanungo by a year with effect from April 3, 2020. Kanungo, whose term was to end on April 2, had taken charge as a deputy governor in April 2017. "The central government has re-appointed B P Kanungo as deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India for a further period of one year with effect from April 3, 2020, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, upon completion of his existing term on April 2, 2020," the RBI said in a release. Kanungo has under him at the RBI the Department of Currency Management, Department of External Investments & Operations, Department of Government & Bank Accounts, Department of Information Technology and Department of Payment & Settlement System. Other departments are Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), Foreign Exchange Department, Internal Debt Management Department, Legal Department and Right to Information departments. The apex bank has four deputy governors. Other three are N S Vishwanathan, M K Jain and Michael Debabrata Patra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) We can readily understand why investors are attracted to unprofitable companies. 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. But the harsh reality is that very many loss making companies burn through all their cash and go bankrupt. So should Greenland Minerals (ASX:GGG) shareholders 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'. First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves. See our latest analysis for Greenland Minerals How Long Is Greenland Minerals'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. When Greenland Minerals last reported its balance sheet in December 2019, it had zero debt and cash worth AU$8.6m. In the last year, its cash burn was AU$4.5m. Therefore, from December 2019 it had roughly 23 months of cash runway. That's not too bad, but it's fair to say the end of the cash runway is in sight, unless cash burn reduces drastically. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years. ASX:GGG Historical Debt March 31st 2020 How Is Greenland Minerals's Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Whilst it's great to see that Greenland Minerals has already begun generating revenue from operations, last year it only produced AU$64k, so we don't think it is generating significant revenue, at this point. As a result, we think it's a bit early to focus on the revenue growth, so we'll limit ourselves to looking at how the cash burn is changing over time. While it hardly paints a picture of imminent growth, the fact that it has reduced its cash burn by 28% over the last year suggests some degree of prudence. Greenland Minerals makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow. Story continues Can Greenland Minerals Raise More Cash Easily? While Greenland Minerals is showing a solid reduction in its cash burn, it's still worth considering how easily it could raise more cash, even just to fuel faster growth. Generally speaking, a listed business can raise new cash through issuing shares or taking on debt. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash to drive growth. By comparing a company's annual cash burn to its total market capitalisation, we can estimate roughly how many shares it would have to issue in order to run the company for another year (at the same burn rate). Greenland Minerals's cash burn of AU$4.5m is about 4.3% of its AU$105m market capitalisation. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money. How Risky Is Greenland Minerals's Cash Burn Situation? It may already be apparent to you that we're relatively comfortable with the way Greenland Minerals is burning through its cash. In particular, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap stands out as evidence that the company is well on top of its spending. Its cash burn reduction wasn't quite as good, but was still rather encouraging! Considering all the factors discussed in this article, we're not overly concerned about the company's cash burn, although we do think shareholders should keep an eye on how it develops. On another note, we conducted an in-depth investigation of the company, and identified 5 warning signs for Greenland Minerals (1 is concerning!) that you should be aware of before investing here. Of course Greenland Minerals 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-30 14:57:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives Zhang Lizhong (L) and Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid attend the handover ceremony of the aid materials from China in Male, the Maldives, March 27, 2020. The Maldives has received its first shipment of aid, including much needed epidemic prevention materials, from China to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Li Xiang/Xinhua) MALE, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives has received its first shipment of aid, including much needed epidemic prevention materials, from China to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives Zhang Lizhong on Friday handed over the aid materials from China's Yunan provincial government to Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid. At the handover ceremony, Shahid said the Maldives and China would remain united in the fight against the COVID-19. The foreign minister said later on his official Twitter account "Sincere thanks to the government of Yunnan Province of China for its generous donation of much needed epidemic prevention materials." Chinese Ambassador Zhang said that the aid from Yunan was a symbol of solidarity between China and the Maldives and a gesture towards forging a community of shared future. "I hope this aid will help the Maldives government in its efforts to fight the pandemic," the Chinese ambassador said. The aid shipment from Yunan province included epidemic prevention materials such as medical protective masks, surgical masks, gloves, stethoscopes, goggles and protective suits. The Maldives has had 17 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 so far. Decriminalising TV licence fee evasion will cost the BBC 1billion over five years resulting in a significant number of programmes being axed, the corporation warned. In its response to a Government consultation, the broadcaster told ministers yesterday that viewers would suffer if the income stream was taken away. The current system means it is a criminal offence to watch any live television, or recorded TV, without a licence. Those who do this can be prosecuted. If the licence was decriminalised, two alternative civil systems have been suggested. One is a civil penalty model similar to how penalty charge notices are issued for parking fines and the other is a civil debt scheme where the money is recoverable in the civil courts. Decriminalising TV licence fee evasion will cost the BBC 1billion over five years But a new system would reportedly cost the BBC 300million initially and then 200million for the next four years meaning the broadcaster would lose more than 1billion. The estimated annual cost of more than 200million takes into account an increase to evasion, costs of implementation and transition to a new system, and ongoing extra operational costs from running it. Instead the BBC suggested that, instead of paying the licence as a standalone cost, the fee could be added on to broadband bills instead. And in another attempt to cling on to the current system, which sees those who dont pay the fee threatened with court action, it warned a new civil system would hit the poorest hardest with no discretion on the size of the penalty issued. The new system would also have a significant impact on those on low incomes because the threat of bailiffs or impact on credit ratings will have serious consequences, the broadcaster said. A new system would reportedly cost the BBC 300million initially and then 200million for the next four years And the 1billion costs would reduce the BBCs investment in the UKs creative economy. The corporation said that while it understood why people have concerns about the criminal system, it is fair, effective and good value for money. It added that it was open to improving the current system, suggesting the Government could allow it access to more information which would make licensing better equipped to tackle evasion. The corporation also claimed that changing the system would take several years and cost the Government more, adding that it would deliver worse outcomes for the licence fee payer and the most vulnerable. The new system would also have a significant impact on those on low incomes But the BBCs own research showed that 41 per cent felt that a criminal sanction for licence fee evasion should end, compared with 40 per cent who believe it should remain. However, the corporation said there was evidence to suggest more people would be sanctioned under a civil system due to a lower burden of proof. A BBC spokesman said: There is no strong evidence to suggest there are either substantive issues with the current system or a need to change it. The current system remains the fairest and most effective. Any civil system would increase evasion and reduce investment in the creative economy by over 1billion for the remainder of the charter period. Taking money out of the BBC is not something we believe is backed by the public who enjoy our services every day. 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. By Tracy Rucinski CHICAGO (Reuters) - American Airlines Group Inc is set to sharply increase the number of jets it is planning to retire beyond its announced plans as it accelerates a fleet transformation to respond to the coronavirus crisis, people familiar with the matter said. Some 4,700 jets have been parked globally as airlines slash operations due to travel restrictions, according to Ascend by Cirium fleet data, and American's decision confirms industry speculation that many of those older jets will not fly again. In addition to the retirement of 34 Boeing Co 757s and 17 Boeing 767s announced just two weeks ago, American now plans to also sunset a batch of 76 Boeing 737s it acquired between 1999 and 2001, nine Airbus SE A330-300s and 20 Embraer E190s, the people said. The plans were announced by President Robert Isom in a video Q&A with employees on Sunday, where he said the arrival of new Boeing 737 MAX jets, expected later this year after a prolonged global grounding, could help facilitate the retirement of older jets that would be in need of heavy maintenance. American is also considering retiring some of its 50-seat regional jets, he said. American said on March 12 it was accelerating the retirement of its remaining Boeing 757s and 767s as it looks at removing older, less fuel-efficient aircraft from its fleet. "Decisions beyond the 757 and 767 have yet to be finalized, and we continue to make refinements to our overall fleet plan," American spokesman Ross Feinstein said, adding that decisions would be based on demand. Airlines around the world have slashed capacity and even the planes flying are nearly empty. Data firm OAG said the aviation industry was less than half the size it was in mid-January, just before countries started confirming coronavirus cases outside China. Aside from heavy maintenance needs on the A330-300s and some of the 737s, American was also facing retrofitting costs on some of the 737s. It said on Monday it would be seeking up to $12 billion from a government aid package meant to help airlines manage costs during the downturn, particularly for employee payroll. Story continues The pace of aircraft retirements influences an airline's cost structure since new aircraft are costly to buy but cheaper to run. It also gives a clue to potential future demand for new aircraft. Some analysts are predicting a surplus of aircraft as a wounded airline industry emerges from the coronavirus lockdown into what many economists expect to be a broad recession. But decisions by airlines to retire planes in 2020 and 2021 could trim that surplus, Ascend by Cirium consultancy head Rob Morris told an Airline Economics webinar on Friday. The last two years saw a total of 1,130 retirements, he said. Aircraft demand is influenced by a combination of new production and the rate at which airlines retire older planes. Airlines' fleet plans had been structured around expectations that global travel demand would continue to grow this year and beyond, but now analysts do not expect passenger traffic to recover 2019 levels for some time. As jets head to parking lots or graveyards, an American 767 landed in Miami from Lima, Peru late Monday in what could have been the final flight for its 767 fleet. So far American has temporarily parked 135 out of 150 widebodies -- including 787 Dreamliners -- and more than 300 single-aisle jets, and may continue to park more of its smaller aircraft as the crisis continues, Isom told employees. (Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; Editing by Tim Hepher, Nick Zieminski and Lisa Shumaker) North Korea is using the bodies of political prisoners as fertiliser to grow crops for the facility's guards, a former captive has claimed. The former prisoner, who used the pseudonym Kim Il-soon, exposed the monstrous practice after surviving the hell of Kaechon concentration camp, which is located north of Pyongyang. The guards considered the method to have been successful and suggested it be rolled out across the tough-to-farm mountainous land around the camp, Il-soon said. Pictured: An undated satellite image of the Kaechon camp in Kaechon, North Korea. An escapee of the camp has revealed how political prisoners were buried in shallow graves and used as fertiliser in the tough-to-farm area around the camp Pictured: A satellite image taken on 1 April, 2019 showing the burial mound where the former prisoner alleges that vegetables are being grown to feed the guards and their families in Kaechon, North Korea Pictured: A satellite image dated April 1, 2019 shows the different compounds within the Kaechon camp in Kaechon, North Korea Her testimony comes at a time when North Korea is already facing international condemnation, having stepped up its missile tests in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. Kim Il-soon said: 'The lands are very fertilised, and farming is successful there because the buried human bodies serve as natural fertilizers. 'Some guards said that they should bury the bodies evenly throughout the land so that it will fertilize the entire area. In this file photo from 2 March, provided by the North Korean regime, supreme leader Kim Jong Un inspects a military drill at undisclosed location in North Korea. On 29 March, Seoul announced that Pyongyang had fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea near Japan Pictured: A locator map shows the Kaechon concentration camp in Kaechon, north of Pyongyang, North Korea 'They buried people in the mountains. One time, a kid was peeing in the mountains and saw an arm sticking out because they forgot to cover it properly.' Ms Kim made her shocking disclosure to The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) after she escaped to Seoul, South Korea. Backing up her evidence, the committee noted that they'd had no testimony mentioning crematoria at the camp, nor could they see any such facilities in satellite imagery. Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of HRNK, said the new testimony served to remind us that, even in the midst of a pandemic, there was no respite from the crimes of the Kim regime. 'This is a regime that has preserved itself through perpetrating unimaginable acts of cruelty against the people of North Korea,' he said. Pictured: A 1 April, 2019 satellite image showing different compounds within the Kaechon camp in Kaechon, North Korea. A former prisoner alleges that the regime has been using the bodies of political prisoners as fertiliser to grow food for the guards 'As the world is struggling to cope with the COVID-19 crisis, the Kim Jong-un regime continues to commit crimes against humanity, brutalising and victimising its own people.' In its new report on the camp, HNRK described how dead prisoners were laid in shallow, hastily-dug pits and covered with only a thin layer of soil. However, if there were too many dead, the surviving prisoners 'dug a hole as big as a house' for a mass grave, Ms Kim testified. The vegetables grown, she added, were given to the camp guards and their families, and included cabbages, radishes and spinach. Kaechon concentration camp, also known as re-education camp number one, stands roughly 50 miles north of Pyongyang, and is thought to be holding between 2,000 and 6,000 prisoners. Despite the brutal conditions inside its walls, the camp is actually one of the places where people are sent for less-serious crimes. One former prisoner, Lee Soon-ok, told a US government committee in 2002 that prisoners faced 18-hour work days, shared one toilet between 300 people, and ate raw rat for sustenance. A 29-year-old bar owner was arrested and charged after he was caught operating his business on the Southern Main Road, California, on Friday night. Acting on information received at the Police Operations Command Centre, a party of police officers proceeded to the location and found the bar open and sales being conducted. In transmission, the coronavirus seems to follow principles of equality, but in so doing exposes with absolute clarity the distinctions between privilege and the lack thereof In transmission COVID-19 in general seems to follow principles of equality but in doing so exposes the graded nature of society. For in its effect the virus is a greater threat to the marginalised labourers and the precarious workforce like the poor and the migrant workers in cities, the domestic worker in homes, and the sanitation workers of all the urban settlements. In such times, any measures of health, nutrition and income support announced by the Central and state governments are welcome, but the government's handling of the situation must also be critiqued. One thing that we can learn from the experience of China and South Korea is that lockdown is the right way to begin with, especially when a countrys health services do not have the capacity to manage a complete break out of the disease. However, a lockdown alone is not enough and the governments of developing countries must exercise caution in importing solutions that did not necessarily originate in contexts similar to ours. As per the Economic Survey 2018-19, almost 93 percent of the total workforce is in the informal sector with weak and barely-enforced minimum wage or social security measures. This segment of the population continued to go to work, without any safety net, even as thousands of high risk individuals returned from foreign lands. And the current lockdown has pushed them out of their jobs, completely vulnerable to the disease. In Bengaluru, over the last two weeks, due to the COVID-19 scare, garment factories shut down creche facilities which forced many women garment workers to either leave their jobs or go on unpaid leave, as creches are vital for many to remain in the workforce. Had paid leave been the provision at the factory the workers would have not been forced out of jobs. Consider the specific case of domestic workers: Although there is uncertainty about the number of domestic workers in India, the most conservative government estimate is of more than 10 million and different sources in the media peg it to be around 90 million. Female domestic workers usually migrate from India's least-developed regions, such as Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Assam. Follow all the latest coronavirus updates here In order to grasp how vulnerable this subset of the population is, the following is worth noting. According to the National Crime Records Bureau data, cases of violence on domestic workers have been on the rise year after year. There are only two laws in India that considers domestic help as workers the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act of 2008, which is a social welfare scheme, and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013 which is aimed at protecting working women in general. After the lockdown was announced, most domestic workers were thrown out of jobs, and hence were without money or assistance. The question of paid leave did not even arise in the homes of employers. The irony is that they moved to cities in search of jobs but were forced to abandon these same cities and homes, that they built, to avoid starvation. This forces us to identify those who ought to be responsible for this calamity: The government or/and the middle class population of these cities. Two days after the lockdown, a relief package was announced by the Central government in two forms: Food assistance and cash transfer or direct benefit transfers (DBT). DBTs are directed to the banks of beneficiaries and the PDS entitlement has been increased by five kilograms of wheat or rice per person per month for the three months and additional kilogram of preferred pulse per household per month for three months. Exclusions from PDS seem to have increased post introduction of Aadhaar in delivery systems. The belief that this package will benefit the poor is largely based on the assumption that they have access to bank accounts. While there has been an increase in the proportion of adults having bank accounts from 53 percent in 2014 to 80 percent in 2017, the World Bank report in 2018 also showed that 48 percent of those with bank accounts made no transaction in the past year. Along with several flaws of the relief package announced by the finance ministry, the most worrying aspect of it is that migrant labourers (domestic workers among them) do not fit into these measures. Workers who have temporarily migrated for work do not have access to the PDS at their destination. The right step would have been to ensure food safety for all through distributing rations at the doorstep and to reopen canteens to provide subsidised cooked meals. Economists have been quick in responding to government measures and have been active in providing useful suggestions to Central and state governments. The question is, where are the employers of the workers in the informal sector? The poor are faced with multiple threats- of COVID-19 deaths, hunger deaths, and absence of health systems. How is it that the employers have abandoned their staff so easily, that they had no choice but to march onward to their villages? Could the answer lie in the composition of the middle class or rather middle classes? The upper castes are over-represented in the middle classes, according to a two-year-long survey conducted by Indian Institute of Dalit Studies (IIDS). Hindu high castes (HHCs) who are around 22 percent of the total population hold 41 percent of the total wealth in the country, followed by Other Backward Classes (OBCs) which holds 31 percent of the wealth and are 36 percent of the total population. Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are substantially underrepresented in the middle class population. Perhaps social stratification along caste lines impedes interaction across social groups, and the hierarchical nature of this structure obviates the need for HHCs to reach out. In the decade after liberalisation, there was a nearly 120 percent rise in the number of domestic workers in India from 7.4 lakh in 1991 to 16.2 lakh workers by 2001, as Tripti Lahiri's Maid in India points out. The most vulnerable are those coming from historically marginalised populations like Dalits and Adivasis. In 2017, domestic workers at a posh housing complex in Mumbai went on strike to protest the residents' attempts to standardise below-average payment. Workers demands were accepted after some time, but a few months later, all of the protesting women were sacked. This example is not an exceptional case to be quoted here, however it is to make the point about the role of the middle class in the crisis that we face. What if the middle class, as a bloc, gave paid leave to its domestic help (along with respectable pay in the first place) and the workers employed in its homes, shops and enterprises? Or offered minimum help to the migrant workers in the form of food, shelter and money? What if public health systems were guaranteed universally? What if unions of domestic workers could bargain for paid leaves? What if jobs of permanent and perennial nature had not been contractualised? Thousands of workers would not have been at the brink of starvation today and many deaths would have been avoided This counterfactual has been imagined multiple times, but never brought to reality. People's struggles have won us various rights, including the Right to Work and to Food, but these are far from complete. While we do not think that this disaster will move the conscience of the privileged to give their workers what is rightfully theirs, we can ask governments to provide safety nets, during this humanitarian crisis. The threat to the lives of those who can not afford to 'work from home', have access to good health systems or have enough nutrition to build up their immunity is very grave. Along with ensuring that food and assistance is reaching all, it also becomes very important to strengthen the demand for paid leave. Let's not imagine going back to the old social order when all this is over. Aditi Priya is a Research Associate at LEAD at Krea University; Aarushi Kalra is a graduate student at Brown University. Opinions expressed here are their own. The authors thank Sagarika Indu, Kalaiyarasan Arumugam, and Dr. Jean Dreze for their feedback. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 12:20:05|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close DHAKA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China has reiterated its commitment to supporting Bangladesh's efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. "We shall stay with Bangladesh in combating the disease and addressing the medical needs," Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming said Monday in an open letter released by the Chinese Embassy. The ambassador said China has donated 40,500 test reagents, 15,000 surgical N95 masks, 300,000 medical masks, 10,000 protective gowns and 1,000 infrared thermometers to Bangladesh for medical workers and others who are most in need, with more supplies to arrive in the near future. The Chinese Embassy is organizing a video conference between top Chinese medical experts and Bangladeshi doctors and nurses to provide training and instructions for managing the disease, Li said. "We shall stay with Bangladesh in the implementation of key cooperation projects to make sure that both during and after the epidemic, Bangladeshi workers on the projects will remain employed and the construction will go on as the sutiation permits." "We shall stay with Bangladesh in our bilateral trade and supply chains to help Bangladesh stabilize its market share and keep local factories up and running to produce critical medical equipment, with the Chinese airlines remaining in operation," Li wrote in the letter. Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Chinese Ambassador said "The Chinese side will work hand in hand with the government of Bangladesh and all sectors of Bangladeshi society to contain the situation, overcome the temporary difficulties and emerge from the crisis with even stronger partnership." "Through solidarity and mutual support, China and Bangladesh will prevail over this outbreak, and together we shall embrace a brighter future for the mankind," he added. Paramilitary personnel cordon off an area in Nizamuddin, where several people showed symptoms of coronavirus after taking part in a religious gathering a few days ago, during the nationwide lockdown, in New Delhi (PTI) Kochi: A Keralite hailing from Pathanamthitta district, who attended the Nizamuddin religious congregation, died in New Delhi. The person has been identified as Dr. M. Salim. According to reports, Salim had other health complications like cardiac issues. He died of a fever at a Delhi hospital four days back, as per reports in the regional media. But, it is not clear whether he died of coronavirus. The body was buried in Delhi Two other Pathanamthitta residents, who attended the religious congregation, held between March 17 and 19 are also under observation in Delhi. There are reports that few others including six persons from Pathanamthitta district who attended the prayer meeting returned to Kerala. Several persons from different districts in Kerala attended the prayer meeting, according to regional media reports. Authorities have initiated measures to trace the persons and to put them under isolation. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31 Trend: Turkmenistan aims to provide the country with highly qualified engineering and technical personnel, Trend reports with reference to "Turkmenportal" Information Portal. The developing economy of Turkmenistan requires highly qualified engineering and technical personnel, which is why their education is one of the urgent tasks, outlined By President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The technical base and technologies are being improved in Turkmenistan. This leads to high-quality, rapid search and exploration of new oil and gas deposits, field exploitation, and processing of hydrocarbons. There is an increasing demand for highly qualified personnel who have deep theoretical knowledge and practical skills that can solve the most complex production tasks. Production complexes have been put into operation in the country at Turkmenbashi and Seyidin oil refineries, a polymer plant in Kiyanli, and a plant for the production of synthetic gasoline from natural gas in the Akhal region. Turkmenistan is working to modernize the higher education system and introduce modern forms and technologies for training local specialists. A puzzle fan has created the world's largest Rubik's cube standing at six-foot-seven inches tall. Tony Fisher, 54, from Ipswich, Suffolk, previously built the biggest cube in 2016, measuring five foot one inch. His first attempt was subsequently beaten twice but now Mr Fisher - a former archaelogist - snatched back his world record and this time holds an official Guinness World Record to prove it. Tony Fisher, 54, from Ipswich, Suffolk, has created the world's largest Rubik's cube standing at six-foot-seven inches tall Mr Fisher completed the six-foot-seven-inch, 160kg cube in 330 hours in November Mr Fisher completed the six-foot-seven-inch, 160kg cube in 330 hours in November. Mr Fisher told a local newspaper: 'As a child I loved the Guinness Book of Records and was fascinating by extremes like the fastest runner, highest mountain etc. 'It was my dream to get in the book one day.' Mr Fisher previously built the biggest cube in 2016, measuring five foot one inch (pictured) Mr Fisher's new record-holding Rubik's cube was made using plastic pipe and reinforced boxes - and moves just like a regular Rubik's cube He has spent years combining his dream with his passion for Rubik's cubes - which he started to modify and make for himself in the 1980s. Mr Fisher's new record-holding Rubik's cube was made using plastic pipe and reinforced boxes - and moves just the regular puzzle. But Mr Fisher said you have to 'flip the whole thing 90 degrees' in order to rotate the sides. Timothy Tai /San Antonio Express-News CPS Energy has selected a buyer for several of its properties, including the utilitys former headquarters campus downtown. The San Antonio utilitys board of trustees gave the green light Monday for president and CEO Paula Gold-Williams or her designee to start negotiations. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 08:29:25|Editor: ZD Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday evening announced the formation of a volunteers' force to help official institutions in fight the COVID-19 spread. The prime minister addressed the nation in a recorded televised speech, saying the government will form the Prime Minister's Coronavirus Relief Tiger Force which would assist the state institutions in countering the COVID-19 spread and minimize its impact. The prime minister said the government has not locked down any part of the country completely yet because it has no system to reach out to the poor and the needy people to provide them food, medicines and other necessities. "Once we have formed the volunteers' force, we shall be able to lock down the affected areas completely and the force will be available to help the needy people," said the prime minister. Khan urged the people especially experts in the fields of medical science and philanthropists to join the force to provide relief to the common people. According to a statement from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, the online registration for the volunteers will start on March 31 and the prime minister's performance delivery unit will manage the registration process as well as data management of the volunteers. Khan also announced to set up the Prime Minister's Coronavirus Relief Fund to seek donations so that the cash strapped government could provide better care to the underprivileged people. He added that 25 percent of Pakistan's total around 210-million-population is living below the poverty line while 20 percent others are at the edge and the government needs to look after them. The prime minister asked the rich people to donate to the fund and promised to provide tax exemptions to the donors. According to the data released by the health ministry of Pakistan on Monday, at least 1,717 positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country with 20 deaths and 57 recovered patients. The government has taken a number of measures against the pandemic, including awareness campaigns, enhancement of testing and medical facilities besides imposing a partial lockdown across the country to promote social distancing. But not all in-state schools are the same. Just as your choice of major impacts your future earning potential, so does where you earn your degree. In fact, more than a third, or 35%, of seniors and 39% of juniors plan to choose a school closer to home than they had originally intended, a survey by college comparison site Niche also found. Thanks to heightened financial concerns, students and families may be more likely to choose local and less-expensive public schools rather than private universities far from home , according to Robert Franek, editor in chief of The Princeton Review and author of "The Best 385 Colleges." Amid a global pandemic and sharp economic slowdown , college-bound high school seniors are giving their state schools a second look. Public college, in particular, does a fantastic job of giving you a return on investment. "Public college, in particular, does a fantastic job of giving you a return on investment," said Kathy Morris, head of content at career planning site Zippia.com. However, depending on where you go, "the difference in earning potential can vary dramatically," she added. To that end, Zippia compared public schools in each state with the highest average earners 10 years after school. "Right after school, that entry level salary is relatively similar," Morris said. "We wanted to see after people had a chance to advance." In the long-run, however, careers are built on more than the reputation of a school, brand and perception, Franek added. Rather, "it's the quality of the student," he said, as well as what they are doing outside the classroom, "that seems to line so clearly up with great career value later on." The 10 public colleges where graduates earn the most: 1. University of Maryland Baltimore Average Earnings: $114,200 2. Georgia Institute of Technology Average Earnings: $85,900 3. University of Virginia Average Earnings: $79,400 4. University of California-Berkeley Average Earnings: $79,000 5. University of Michigan Average Earnings: $79,000 6. The University of Texas at Austin Average Earnings: $73,900 7. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Average Earnings: $70,900 8. New Jersey Institute of Technology Average Earnings: $70,300 9. University of Washington-Seattle Campus Average Earnings: $69,600 10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Average Earnings: $68,800 Source: Zippia.com Graduates of the University of Maryland earned the most overall averaging $114,200 a decade after school, according to Zippia's report, based on College Scorecard data. All in, the 10 colleges with the highest earners range from $68,800 to $114,200, Zippia found. "That amounts to a staggering $46,000 difference between the top 10," Morris said. More from Personal Finance: Colleges extend decision deadline due to coronavirus Federal student loan rates set to hit historic lows Stemming international enrollment could cost $41 billion Of course, regardless of the school, those armed with a newly minted diploma will enter an unsteady job market. Nearly half of all schools have cancelled their on-campus career fairs and interviewing programs for the spring, according to the latest data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Meanwhile, hiring at many firms has ground to a halt. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Kerala Tuesday reported its second COVID-19 death and seven new cases of coronavirus as the state government announced a special action plan for Kasaragod, which has become a hot spot for the infection, including monitoring of all fever cases in the district. Four people were declared cured on Tuesday while 215 positive cases remained under treatment in hospitals across the state and more than 1.60 lakh people under observation. A 68-year old retired police officer from nearby Pothencode became the second person in the state to die of the coronavirus. The man, on ventilator support since the past five days, had high blood pressure and was on dialysis before he passed away at midnight on Monday, the state government said. He was laid to rest in a 10-feet deep pit in a mosque in his native place after following all the international protocol for COVID-19 deaths. With this death, the government has ordered that people in the entire Pothencode panchayat and a 2-3 km radius around it should go under self-quarantine immediately since the deceased had attended a marriage, funerals and various other functions before falling ill. The first coronavirus death in the state was reported from Chullickal in Ernakulam. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who met media after the daily COVID-19 evaluation meet, said Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram districts have reported two fresh cases each while Kollam, Thrissur and Kannur have one each. "At least 1,63,129 people are under observation in Kerala, of whom 658 are in isolation wards of various hospitals. A total of 7,485 samples have sent for testing," Vijayan said. With Kasaragod accounting for 99 positive cases, the highest so far in the state, the government has drawn up a separate action plan for the the northernmost district, Vijayan said. "A separate action plan has been devised for Kasaragod district. The Panchayat-level officials will prepare the list of those who have cough and fever. The list will be monitored by the health department. The laboratory at the central university there has got permission for testing samples. We will be conducting more tests there," he said. The standoff between Karnataka over the closure of border roads continued, he said, adding he was optimistic of resolving it. At least four critically ill people in need of expert treatment in nearby Mangaluru have so far lost their lives after Karnataka police allegedly did not allow their ambulances. When asked about the Nizamuddin Tablighi jamaat congregation, Vijayan said those who have taken part in the event have been identified and the list handed over to the district collectors. He also said that the free ration distribution in view of the 21-day lockdown will begin in the state from Wednesday. The chief minister also urged the men to support the women folks in daily chores and warned of action in case of domestic violence. "We understand that there are chances of rising instances of domestic violence in the state during the lockdown. Women and children are prone to abuse. Such incidents must not take place," Vijayan said. In a word of advice to students, he said they can make use of the lockdown period by joining free online courses being offered by prestigious universities like Harvard and Stanford. Meanwhile, the state police on Tuesday registered 1,481 cases for lockdown violations, arrested 1,430 people and seized 987 vehicles. In the last eight days, a total of 11,910 cases had been registered, police said. When asked about prescription of liquor to addicts and the doctors opposing the plan, Vijayan said no one was forcing the medical practitioners to prescribe it. He also warned that strict action would be taken in case any April Fool messages with regard to COVID-19 was circulated. Kasaragod tops the state with 99 positive cases followed by neighbouring Kannur with 48. Ernakulam district comes next with 14 cases of COVID-19. A total of 163 people are in isolation wards while another 7,725 were under observation in the district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pastor says parishioners were suspended from jobs without pay for going to church 'Church is as essential as Walmart, Target' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A pastor in Louisiana, where public or private gatherings of more than 50 people are banned and 137 people have died due to the COVID-19 outbreak, says he still wants to continue to hold services with up to 1,000 people because the church is an essential part of the community he ministers to. We feel that we are as an essential part of our community as the retail stores, pastor Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, told Dr. Phil. It is in persecution of the faith for us to be asked to close our doors whenever more people are being contacted in those Targets and Walmarts than are in my service. Dr. Phil responded by saying, The fact of the matter is this is not a typical virus. This is much more infectious than influenza, much more deadly than influenza, particularly for those who are elderly with underlying respiratory disorders. This can be very, very deadly. How do you feel about that? Pastor Spell said, We reach out, we minister to people, feed people. We are the last stable institution in this community today. He added it was a time of instability for the community he serves. He said two teenage African American girls attempted to take their own lives this week because their parents lost their jobs, the schools are closed, and they dont get their meals during the day. We are ministering to them; we are not part of the problem, the pastor asserted. He added that some of his parishioners were suspended from their jobs without pay for attending church. Their argument to their employer, he said, was that other employees were at the gym, shopping, and at other locations where they, too, were surrounded by people but they were not suspended for their actions. "That, my friend, is a persecution for the faith," Spell said. He further explained that many people who attend his church don't have internet access and aren't able to watch church services online. In Louisiana, there are about 3,315 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 137 have died. In Cleburne County in Arkansas, Greers Ferry First Assembly is mourning their beloved long time greeter who died this week from the new coronavirus as the number of infected persons connected to the church rose to 37. We currently have 37 that have tested positive, with only a small handful that are still waiting on test results, Pastor Mark Palenske said in a statement on Facebook Wednesday. Many of us are recovering from a long list of symptoms that seem to be common with this virus, and we certainly appreciate the hints of restored health that are headed our way. We are familiar with the expanding scope of the Covid-19 crisis and that daily individuals are being treated and advised accordingly. Our prayers are that God would strengthen them just as he did with us. Please continue to listen to the public directives that we are being guided with. In Illinois, several members of a Pentecostal church are either at the hospital or in-home quarantine after at least 43 congregants fell ill following a revival service about a fortnight ago, and at least 10 of them have tested positive. In a Facebook post Wednesday night, Layna LoCascio, wife of pastor Anthony LoCascio who leads The Life Church of Glenview, said at least 43 of the approximately 80 people who attended a March 15 service at their church have fallen ill and everyone who has been tested for the new coronavirus has come back positive for the virus. We have 43 infected (at minimum) from our church or connected to our church from our last service on March 15th. They all havent tested but whoever gets a test done ends up being positive, and we all have the same symptoms. Its just not easy. Its especially not easy when youre a leader and a pastor of a precious church and we all got infected together, she wrote. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A new mechanism to enable the issuance of joint euro zone debt to counter economic fallout from the coronavirus epidemic, as recommended by nine European leaders, could take up to three years to set up, the head of the bloc's bailout fund said. However, common 'corona bonds' could in theory be issued immediately if the bloc's existing funding institutions were used, European Stability Mechanism (ESM) head Klaus Regling told the Financial Times. France, Italy, Spain and six other countries called last week for work on a common debt instrument issued by a European institution to cushion the effects of the pandemic, which is on course to trigger a global recession. Germany and the Netherlands strongly opposed such a mechanism, and the nine states who supported it did not specify how it would work. EU leaders gave the bloc's finance ministers until April 9 to come up with ideas on how to further support the economy after the bloc relaxed state aid rules and debt limits to let countries spend to prop up their economies. Regling said the euro zone was already issuing common debt when the ESM was borrowing on the market to lend to governments. The European Union could also borrow jointly through the European Commission, which raised money against the EU budget, and through the European Investment Bank (EIB), owned jointly by EU governments. "If you use existing institutions ... the EIB could do it immediately. The ESM is there. They can all issue mutualised European debt," Regling said. "Of course, one can also create a new institution if that is what the member states want. It would take one, two or three years, and member states have to come up with capital or guarantees, or assign future revenue." 'TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE' Euro zone finance ministers had suggested that governments use a precautionary credit line (ECCL) from the bailout fund worth up to 2% of GDP to fight the crisis, a move that would also pave the way for unlimited European Central Bank bond purchases if needed. Story continues Leaders did not reject that suggestion last week, but did not clearly endorse it either. Regling said that, to cover common short-term financing needs stemming from the outbreak, "I think the only way is to use existing institutions with existing instruments." The euro zone's finance ministers are due to discuss the matter again on Apr.7. Luxembourg's Pierre Gramegna expressed support for Regling's proposal on Tuesday. "COVID-19 warrants a common EU response," he tweeted. "The EU Commission and EIB together with ECB have the tools to quickly implement the ESM proposals. Time is of the essence to overcome this crisis." ECB head Christine Lagarde; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen; Charles Michel, the chairman of EU leaders; and Mario Centeno, president of the eurogroup of euro zone finance ministers, are due to discuss the matter further at 1300 GMT on Tuesday. To secure an ECCL, a country has to submit to a European Commission analysis of whether its debt is sustainable, something that heavily indebted Italy is reluctant to do. However, Regling said that, given the circumstances, conditions attached to such a credit line could be minimal. "There should also be a commitment to respect EU surveillance frameworks ... it would be no more than that," he said. (Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; editing by John Stonestreet and Pravin Char) With the lockdown now extended across Spain, many of the Costa del Sol's volunteer-run charities that cater for older English-speaking citizens are continuing to increase the services for those considered most vulnerable. Age Care and Age Concern have initiated numerous actions to ensure that they can continue offering support to senior citizens and those at risk. These have included chatlines, social media information platforms and daily email updates on all the current legal and administrative decrees. Age Care Calahonda has launched its latest campaign under the banner of Loneliness is Lonely, an interactive initiative that aims to help relieve the boredom and isolation of its 178 members. The charity is currently looking at ways to install a video chat site where members can log into the website to chat with friends. The Coin, Fuengirola/Los Boliches and Benalmadena branches of Age Care are also continuing with their efforts to assist the elderly. "People are worried and scared and we are doing what we can to help the elderly at home and those that need shopping or need to visit the hospital," spokesperson Nigel Foster explained. Emergency measures have been employed by Age Concern Marbella/San Pedro. The charity, is using local radio station TRE to keep its members updated. "We have many volunteers who risk their lives to take food to the many isolated people over our region," committee member Lynda Woodin said. Steve Marshall, Secretary of Age Concern Fuengirola/Mijas/Benalmadena, explained that the charity is adding to the services available to its clients. "We are continuing to help clients throughout this health crisis. Our hotline is now open 24-hours in order to cater for the amount of calls we are getting. We are also setting up a video link so people can have group chats." Belleville, Illinois, March 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries will be among Americans receiving vital support from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, according to Allsup, a nationwide provider of disability representation and return to work services. Signed into law March 28, 2020, the legislation also set aside more than $300 million to support the efforts of the Social Security Administration (SSA), which has shuttered its field and hearing offices around the country during the global health crisis. The amount of the CARES rebate varies by family size and income recorded in recent tax years. Each individual adult taxpayer can receive up to $1,200 ($2,400 for joint filers) and $500 for each child under age 17. The payment is reduced by $5 for every $100 of income over $75,000 (individual), $112,500 (head of household filer), or $150,000 for those filing jointly. Individuals with a yearly income above $99,000 (or couples with more than $198,000 in annual income) will not be eligible. If individuals experience an income loss in 2020, or increase the size of their family, they may be able to claim additional credit on their 2020 tax year return. Access to Federal Rebates Most American taxpayers with Social Security numbers will receive checks directly from the U.S. Treasury, through direct deposit or check, if they filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return. However, not everyone files a tax return each year, said Mary Dale Walters, Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications for Allsup, and this may be the case for many SSDI beneficiaries whose monthly benefit averages $1,258 and have no earned income. To help ensure SSDI beneficiaries receive their rebate, the SSA plans to share information about current recipients with the Internal Revenue Service, and $38 million has been provided to the SSA to assist in these efforts. Beneficiaries should monitor information as it becomes available about rebates at www.irs.gov or www.ssa.gov. The cash rebates are non-taxable and do not need to be repaid. In addition, these cash payments are not counted as income or resources for determining eligibility for means-tested SSA programs such as Supplemental Security Income or for Substantial Gainful Activity limits. The CARES Act also greatly expands unemployment insurance for millions of Americans who cannot work due to the coronavirus crisis. Both full- and part-time workers will be eligible for benefits, but the amount and duration could vary by state. An additional four-month extension of unemployment benefits for some will count as income when determining eligibility for means-tested programs, except for Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program. Allsup notes that many workers with disabilities already struggle to find and keep jobs, even in a robust economy. When unemployment rates were low in recent years, the jobless rate among those with disabilities remained more than double the national average, Walters said. Unfortunately, those who legitimately cant work due to a physical or mental disability and need to access their SSDI benefits, will find the coronavirus has affected the SSAs ability to deliver services. Former workers with a disability who can no longer work should know before they apply for disability benefits if they meet the SSDI programs stringent requirements and have paid enough FICA taxes to be insured, recommended Walters. Need To Apply For Disability Benefits? Potential applicants have a fast and easy way to determine if they are likely eligible for SSDI benefits, and can quickly begin the application process online with empower by Allsup. A nationwide representation organization, Allsup has helped more than 325,000 people obtain SSDI benefits over more than 35 years. With expert representation from Allsup, 97% of those who complete the process with the organization typically receive their benefits. Allsup also can assist those filing appeals for denied SSDI benefits. The CARES legislation also provides the SSA with $300 million to pay the salaries and benefits of employees affected as a result of office closures, telework, and phone and communication services for employees, overtime pay and for processing disability and retirement workloads and backlogs. The agency moved its more than 60,000-person workforce to telework, and in recent years, has been working to clear a large backlog of disability hearings that had SSDI claimants waiting more than 600 days, on average, just three years ago. ABOUT ALLSUP Allsup and its subsidiaries provide nationwide Social Security disability, veterans disability appeal, return to work, and healthcare benefits services for individuals, their employers and insurance carriers. Allsup professionals deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. Founded in 1984, the company is based in Belleville, Illinois, near St. Louis. Learn more at TrueHelp.com and @Allsup. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 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 Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 21:48:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHANGSHA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- At 7:30 p.m., Yang Yuanzhu, nearly 60 years old, sat in front of a phone and a beauty lamp and started livestreaming using Mandarin with a local accent. Yang is an agricultural expert and the vice president of Yuan Longping High-tech Agriculture Co., Ltd. Still, he is also a popular broadcaster that attracts over 100,000 people in one session. As China's spring farming is in full swing, agricultural companies are sharing their experiences and expertise with farmers to help them use technologies for improving yield and productivity. Yang is an expert in plant breeding, and each year he goes to the fields for teaching farmers. This year, due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, his lessons moved online. Zhou Dongdong, a manager with China's machinery equipment maker Zoomlion, also went to the fields to demonstrate how the company's seedling thrower works. A class that was planned to last 40 minutes lasted for over two hours. "Learning to use, repair and maintain has become new skill requirements for professional farmers today," said Zhou, "As companies, we need to conduct these training well and win more customers." Zhou's company plans to sell 1,500 such machines. In one training session, he sold 30. The company asked dealers of the machines to conduct training for farmers each year, with each dealer training over 200 people each year. "We also invite teachers from higher institutions to the training, and the content is not just limited to our own products," he said. The training also helped farmers get jobs in some small and micro agricultural firms. Jian Lirong, who leads a company in the city of Yiyang in central China's Hunan Province, said they select some farmers who perform well in training to become formal employees. "We now have over 20 trainers in the company, and over half of them are former farmers who have participated in our training before," Jian said. "They help promote standardized farming ideas and techniques in local villages." Jiang Taijun, an officer with the provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs, said such training conducted by enterprises are closer to the actual practice and production process and can help companies improve their products too. "It also serves as a good supplement to the government training," Jiang added. The head of the investigation into the poisoning of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal has been appointed as the next head of Britain's domestic intelligence agency. Ken McCallum led the probe into the 2018 chemical attack in Salisbury, southwest England, that almost killed ex-spy Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. Russia has repeatedly rejected claims that officers from its GRU military intelligence agency used a powerful nerve agent against Skripal in retribution for his work for Britain and Western agencies. Both survived after spending days in a coma and have since gone into hiding. A woman who was exposed to the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok died, and several other people were affected. The British government announced the appointment of McCallum on Monday. He will take over from the current head of MI5, Andrew Parker, when he retires at the end of April. McCallum, the current deputy director-general, has nearly 25 years' experience in the security service, and oversaw counter-terrorism operations before and during the 2012 London Olympics. He has also worked on security issues in Northern Ireland, Islamic extremism and cybersecurity. McCallum, a maths graduate from Glasgow, described his appointment as a "huge privilege", while Parker said he was "the right person to take MI5 forward". "He brings a wealth of leadership and national security expertise to the role, which is all the more important today as MI5 and the country deals with the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic," he added in a statement on the MI5 website. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Odisha government on Tuesday said it has reached out to around 40,000 of the 1.5 lakh Odia migrant workers stranded in different states due to the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. Home Secretary S Chopra, after presiding over a high- level meeting here, said that most of the migrant workers from the state are stranded in Delhi NCR, Gujarat and Mumbai. In the initial phase, 230 places were identified where more than 100 Odia workers are stranded in each location, he said. The control room set up for the purpose has received 5,200 distress calls so far, Chopra said. "The workers who have been reached so far have informed the state government that they have been provided with food and shelter in the places where they are stranded. The state government is exploring all ways to reach to people in distress," he said. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had earlier written to his counterparts in all the states urging them to provide assistance to stranded Odia migrant workers. He also called upon Odia associations to help their brethren who are stranded in their areas. Patnaik assured his counterparts in other states and the Odia associations that the expenditure incurred in keeping the stranded migrant workers safe will be borne by his government. The Odisha government, on the other hand, has opened 252 camps to provide shelter and food to 18,000 migrant workers from other states who have been stranded due to the lockdown. Meanwhile, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, who hails from Odisha, tweeted: "I have spoken with Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani about stranded Odia workers in his state. The CM has assured me that his government will look after shelter, food and health of stranded Odia workers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Technavio has been monitoring the LPG tanker market and it is poised to grow by USD 235.96 million during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 4% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Request latest free sample report of 2020-2024 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005578/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global LPG Tanker Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. DSME, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nakilat and Teekay LNG Partners are some of the major market participants. The rise in LPG fleet consolidation will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Rise in LPG fleet consolidation has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. LPG Tanker Market 2019-2023: Segmentation LPG Tanker Market is segmented as below: Technology Fully Refrigerated Semi-refrigerated Fully Pressurized Geographic Landscape Americas APAC EMEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample report of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30312 LPG Tanker Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our LPG tanker market report covers the following areas: LPG Tanker Market Size LPG Tanker Market Trends LPG Tanker Market Industry Analysis This study identifies rise in demand for natural gas as one of the prime reasons driving the LPG tanker market growth during the next few years. LPG Tanker Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the LPG Tanker Market, including some of the vendors such as DSME, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nakilat and Teekay LNG Partners. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the LPG Tanker Market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform LPG Tanker Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist LPG tanker market growth during the next five years Estimation of the LPG tanker market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the LPG tanker market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of LPG tanker market vendors Table Of Contents : PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Preface 2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY TECHNOLOGY Market segmentation by technology Comparison by technology Fully refrigerated Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Semi-refrigerated Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Fully pressurized Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by technology PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023 EMEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Americas Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Rise in LPG fleet consolidation Increase in adoption of IoT for LPG fleet management Development of efficient LPG tankers PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors DSME Hyundai Heavy Industries? Kawasaki Heavy Industries Mitsubishi Heavy Industries? Nakilat Teekay LNG Partners PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005578/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ 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 Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 The serviceman was taken to the hospital in a tough condition An employee of Ukraine's Amed Forces sustained an injury upon walking on a landmine; the incident took place near Katerynivka, Luhansk region. Upon the administration of first medical aid, the man was evacuated to the medical facility in a grave condition. Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported that on Tuesday. The landmine was of Russian origin; it belongs to the ammunition banned by the Geneva conventions. On March 31 so far, Russian mercenaries delivered three attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas. 120 mm mines landed In Krasnohorivka in the morning; machine gun fire was observed in the vicinities of Opytne. In Kamyanka, the militants opened fire from an automatic grenade launcher. The illegal armed gangs attacked Kamyanka, using an automatic grenade launcher. According to Ukraine's military intelligence, the enemy continues to reinforce the outposts with artillery and mortar units, as well as anti-tank missile weapons. On March 30, one Ukrainian soldier was killed in action; another four were wounded. March 31, 2020 RELEASE OF CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K/A FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2019 Carnival Corporation & plc is hereby announcing that today it has filed its joint Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A ("Form 10-K/A") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The information included in the attached Schedule A is extracted from the Form 10-K/A and has been prepared in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. Schedule A contains information on Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc's sales and purchases of their equity securities and use of proceeds from such sales The Directors consider that within the Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc dual listed company arrangement, the most appropriate presentation of Carnival plc's results and financial position is by reference to the Carnival Corporation & plc U.S. GAAP consolidated financial statements. The schedule is presented together as Carnival plc's annual report in accordance with the requirements of the UK Disclosure and Transparency Rules. MEDIA CONTACTINVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT Roger FrizzellBeth Roberts 001 305 406 7862 001 305 406 4832 The Form 10-K/A, including the portions extracted for this announcement, is available for viewing on the SEC website at www.sec.gov under Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc or the Carnival Corporation & plc website at www.carnivalcorp.com or www.carnivalplc.com . Carnival Corporation & plc is the world's largest leisure travel company with operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia. With a deep commitment to operating safely, protecting the environment and meeting or exceeding all environmental and regulatory compliance requirements, its portfolio features nine of the world's leading cruise lines - Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), Seabourn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard. Together, the corporation's cruise lines operate 105 ships with 254,000 lower berths visiting over 700 ports around the world, with 16 new ships scheduled to be delivered through 2025. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices. With a long history of innovation and providing guests with extraordinary vacation experiences, Carnival Corporation has received nearly 600 awards and honors in 2019 - including distinctions by Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers and Best Employers for Diversity, along with recognition by Newsweek as one of America's Most Responsible Companies, and a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index and designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality. Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com, www.carnivalsustainability.com, www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.seabourn.com, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com. SCHEDULE A EXPLANATORY NOTE This Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A amends the original Report on Form 10-K for the annual period ended November 30, 2019 filed by Carnival Corporation & plc (the "Company") on January 28, 2020 (the "Original Filing"). The sole purpose of this Amendment No. 1 is to include Item 5, which was inadvertently excluded from the Original Filing. Except as described above, this Amendment No. 1 does not amend, update or change any other items or disclosures contained in the Original Filing, and accordingly, this Amendment No. 1 does not reflect or purport to reflect any information or events occurring after the original filing date or modify or update those disclosures affected by subsequent events. Accordingly, this Amendment No. 1 should be read in conjunction with the Original Filing and the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities; Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities I. Repurchase Program Under a share repurchase program effective 2004, we are authorized to repurchase Carnival Corporation common stock and Carnival plc ordinary shares (the "Repurchase Program"). Effective August 27, 2018, the company approved modifications of the general authorization under the Repurchase Program, which replenished the remaining authorized repurchases at the time of the approvals to $1.0 billion. The Repurchase Program does not have an expiration date and may be discontinued by our Boards of Directors at any time. During the three months ended November 30, 2019, no shares of Carnival Corporation common stock were repurchased pursuant to the Repurchase Program. During the three months ended November 30, 2019, repurchases of Carnival plc ordinary shares pursuant to the Repurchase Program were as follows: Period Total Number of Shares of Carnival plc Purchased (in millions) Average Price Paid per Share of Carnival plc Maximum Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Repurchase Program (in millions) September 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019 0.5 $ 41.68 $ 237 October 1, 2019 through October 31, 2019 1.7 $ 39.45 $ 172 November 1, 2019 through November 30, 2019 1.0 $ 41.35 $ 132 3.2 $ 40.41 No shares of Carnival Corporation common stock or Carnival plc ordinary shares were purchased outside of publicly announced plans or programs. II Carnival plc Shareholder Approvals Carnival plc ordinary share repurchases under the Repurchase Program require annual shareholder approval. The existing shareholder approval is limited to a maximum of 19.2 million ordinary shares and is valid until the earlier of the conclusion of the Carnival plc 2020 annual general meeting or July 15, 2020. U.S. extends sanctions waivers on nuclear cooperation with Iran 03/29/20 Source: Press TV The United States has once again waived its sanctions on nuclear cooperation with Iran, allowing firms of the remaining signatories to a 2015 nuclear deal to continue working on Iranian nuclear facilities. The US State Department said in a statement on Monday that the Russian, Chinese, and European companies could continue their work at Iranian nuclear facilities without drawing American penalties. Iran's heavy water nuclear facility in Arak The measure will offer 60 days of immunity from sanctions to several non-proliferation projects to continue at the Arak heavy-water research reactor, the Bushehr nuclear power plant and the Tehran Research Reactor, among other Iranian nuclear facilities. The US State Department last extended the sanctions waivers in January. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement that "Iran's continued expansion of nuclear activities is unacceptable," claiming that Tehran's nuclear development "is among the greatest threats to international peace and security." She repeated Washington's claims that Iran was pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program, saying, "We will continue to closely monitor all developments in Iran's nuclear program and can adjust these restrictions at any time." The decision to extend the waivers comes in defiance of calls by hawkish elements in Congress, who claim that the exemptions give Iran access to technology that could be used for weapons. They have been pressing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to revoke all the waivers. Pompeo canceled the Fordow waiver in mid-December. Iran has always said that its nuclear program is exclusively civilian and void of any military dimensions, as has been verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency on multiple occasions. The extension comes amid growing global pressure on the US to lift the sanction it has re-imposed on Iran as the country battles a deadly coronavirus pandemic. Iranian authorities say the restrictions are hampering the country's access to lifesaving medical supplies at the current critical time. The US has so far refused to lift any sanctions and has even stepped up its pressure campaign in defiance of international objections. Last week, the US slapped new sanctions on 20 Iranian individuals and companies for what it called supporting Iraqi resistance groups. The US launched the so-called maximum pressure campaign against Iran after pulling out of the 2015 multilateral accord - officially named the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - and re-imposing the sanctions it had lifted under the agreement. The pullout decision came despite numerous reports by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirming the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities and Tehran's compliance with the JCPOA. English French JCDecaux to acquire a minority stake in Clear Media Limited as part of a consortium of investors Paris, March 31st, 2020 JCDecaux SA (Euronext Paris: DEC), the number one outdoor advertising company worldwide, announces to acquire a minority stake, through its wholly owned subsidiary JCDecaux Innovate incorporated in Hong Kong, in a consortium of investors which formed a special purpose vehicle (Offeror) to make a voluntary conditional cash offer to acquire all of the shares in the entire issued share capital of Clear Media Limited (Clear Media), a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The offer price of HK$7.12 per share represents a total value of approximately HK$3,857 million for all Clear Medias outstanding shares, of which 23% or HK$887 million will be funded by JCDecaux. The consortium composes of Mr. Han Zi Jing, Chief Executive Officer of Clear Media (Mr. Han) at 40%, Antfin (Hong Kong) Holding Limited (Antfin) at 30%, JCDecaux at 23% and China Wealth Growth Fund III L.P. (CWG Fund) at 7%. Clear Channel KNR Neth Antilles NV, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., who owns approximately 50.9% of the issued share capital of Clear Media, gave its irrevocable undertaking to tender its shares in favour of the offer by the Offeror. The offer is conditional upon the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions described in the offer announcement jointly made by the Offeror and Clear Media today. Clear Media is the largest operator of bus shelter advertising panels in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), operating a total of more than 57,000 panels covering 25 cities as of December 31st, 2019. JCDecaux started operating in Hong Kong in 1999, Macau in 2001 and Mainland China in 2005, and is the leading Out-of-Home Media company in Transport advertising (airports, metro and bus) in the PRC. Mr. Han Zi Jing is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Clear Media. Antfin is a company incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd. (Ant Financial). CWG Fund is an exempted limited partnership registered under the laws of the Cayman Islands, whose general partner is JT China Wealth Management Limited and whose sole limited partner is Empyrean Management (Hong Kong) Limited, which is in turn wholly owned by JIC Capital Management (Tianjin) Limited, a PRC state-owned enterprise and principally engaged in private equity investment. Goldman Sachs and Slaughter and May are acting as JCDecauxs financial and legal advisors respectively. Key Figures for JCDecaux 2019 revenue: 3,890m Present in 3,890 cities with more than 10,000 inhabitants A daily audience of more than 890 million people in more than 80 countries 13,210 employees Leader in self-service bike rental scheme: pioneer in eco-friendly mobility 1 st Out-of-Home Media company to join the RE100 (committed to 100% renewable energy) Out-of-Home Media company to join the RE100 (committed to 100% renewable energy) JCDecaux is listed on the Eurolist of Euronext Paris and is part of the Euronext 100 and Euronext Family Business indexes JCDecaux is recognised for its extra-financial performance in the FTSE4Good index and the MSCI and CDP A List rankings 1,061,630 advertising panels worldwide N1 worldwide in street furniture (517,800 advertising panels) N1 worldwide in transport advertising with more than 160 airports and 270 contracts in metros, buses, trains and tramways (379,970 advertising panels) N1 in Europe for billboards (136,750 advertising panels) N1 in outdoor advertising in Europe (636,620 advertising panels) N1 in outdoor advertising in Asia-Pacific (260,700 advertising panels) N1 in outdoor advertising in Latin America (69,490 advertising panels) N1 in outdoor advertising in Africa (22,760 advertising panels) N1 in outdoor advertising in the Middle East (15,510 advertising panels) For more information about JCDecaux, please visit jcdecaux.com . Join us on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram and YouTube . Corporate Communications: Agathe Albertini +33 (0) 1 30 79 34 99 agathe.albertini@jcdecaux.com Investor Relations: Arnaud Courtial +33 (0) 1 30 79 79 93 arnaud.courtial@jcdecaux.com Attachment Amidst the Coronavirus outbreak, Radhika Apte is self-isolating herself in her house in London, where she lives with her husband Benedict Taylor. The actress gave an account of how the situation is in London as of now. Drawing a parallel to what is happening in India, she said that people are panic-buying in the UK too, which she thinks is a shame as this is not a food crisis. Radhika also appealed to everyone to care for the sections of people which will be worst hit by this crisis, the daily wage workers, by requesting everyone to donate in whatever ways they can. Talking to Hindustan Times, Radhika said about the lockdown situation in London, "It's the same, it's completely locked down. People are panicking, and the supermarkets are quite empty. We are not in a food crisis, so it's really a shame. A friend of mine told me from Goa (India) that there's no food there. I think we need to be vigilant about it, if we start behaving like this, a lot of people will suffer. Nothing here is open apart from pharmacies and supermarkets. You are allowed to go and exercise, so I go for running." When asked for her opinion on the Hindi film industry being shut for business, Radhika said it is the daily wage workers we should really worry about. "We are still in a far better condition, we are all in a business where most people have savings. It's the most of the Indian population we need to worry about. A lot of people, daily wage workers are losing their jobs. There's only one message I want to give to people: donate, this is the time. It's really not a lot that needs to donate, there are so many platforms. Also, please don't hoard food, there's no shortage. It's damaging for others," she said. With regard to work, Radhika is all set to make her directorial debut with the film Sleepwalkers. She will also be seen in a film with Nawazuddin Siddiqui, titled Raat Akeli Hai. ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Radhika Apte Reports Her Travel Experience Flying To London; Says Flight Was Full! ALSO READ: Radhika Apte's Masked Pic From Hospital Leaves Fans Concerned; Actress Clarifies 'Not For COVID-19' North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is not expected to accept an offer from U.S. President Donald Trump to help Pyongyang combat the coronavirus pandemic, without Washington's sanctions relief. / Korea Times file By Kang Seung-woo The U.S. offer to help North Korea fight the coronavirus pandemic is unlikely to be accepted by Pyongyang, according to pundits, Tuesday. In addition, the U.S. humanitarian approach to the North is not likely to give South Korea leeway for inter-Korean quarantine cooperation, they added. On Sunday, Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's younger sister and close adviser, announced U.S. President Donald Trump had written a personal letter to his brother about cooperation on the fight against the virus although the reclusive country claims there are no cases of the COVID-19. "At this point in time, I doubt it," said Terence Roehrig, a professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College. "Though North Korean statements have recognized the severe threat COVID-19 is for the country, it does not acknowledge any cases though that seems very unlikely. The spread would have to get much worse and North Korea would be more likely to accept assistance through an international organization rather than the United States directly." Van Jackson, a professor of Victoria University of Wellington and former Pentagon official, echoed Roehrig's view. "If North Korea is in dire circumstances as a result of the COVID-19, Kim Jong-un would be willing to at least explore receiving assistance from the United States. But it's not clear at this point if North Korea has experienced the pandemic the way most nations have," he said. "And Kim is on an openly hostile footing toward the U.S. in a bid to get sanctions relief. If sanctions relief were forthcoming in tandem with medical assistance, then I'm sure Kim would take the offer seriously. But otherwise, I have doubts." Although she praised the personal relationship between the two leaders, Kim Yo-jong hinted the anti-epidemic work based on it was not enough to accept the U.S. offer, saying the relations between the two countries and their development should not be judged in haste in the light of the personal relations. "The Kim regime is still likely to limit the level of cooperation with Seoul and Washington because Pyongyang's price for improving diplomatic relations is much higher than humanitarian aid alone," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of Ewha Womans University in Seoul. As the U.S. and the United Nations are making humanitarian exemptions to sanctions on North Korea, speculation is rampant that they may create more diplomatic maneuvering room for the South to seek inter-Korean cooperation that has been at a standstill due to the deadlock in the denuclearization talks between the U.S. and the North. The North has yet to respond to the South's proposal for joint quarantine efforts as the coronavirus has swept the world. However, North Korea watchers do not buy into the idea. "South Korea's great recovery from the coronavirus puts President Moon Jae-in in a stronger position to offer assistance to North Korea. But Kim Jong-un has shown us all that he does not view South Korea as an equal, so he might be too proud to accept South Korean or even U.S. assistance," Jackson said. Roehrig also doubted that that would do much to change the current situation on denuclearization and inter-Korean relations as the U.S. is set to keep sanctions in place until there is progress on the North's denuclearization. "As to U.S. assistance to North Korea with COVID-19, if anything actually happens, it would be a humanitarian exemption and would not create momentum for greater sanctions relief," he said. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve the first of a whole new type of weapon to be tested in the international struggle against COVID-19 as the disease continues to sweep across the globe. New Jersey-based therapeutics company Celularity announced that its cancer treatment, CYNK-001, is awaiting "investigational new drug" status for COVID-19 from the FDA, which could come any day. Once the treatment gets the status, it will immediately enter a preliminary clinical trial to see if it can help people suffering from the illness.Independent immunologists say the rationale for the treatment is solid but warn that it could exacerbate the most severe cases of the disease. If the new strategy proves effective, Celularity stands ready to rapidly increase production. "It's important the world knows that there are companies out there developing therapies," said Dr. Robert Hariri, Celularity's founder, chairman and CEO. "I bet we will have a therapy." Researchers test CYNK-001, natural killer cells that may be able to boost immunity in coronavirus patients. Source: Celularity Celularity which has raised $311 million in venture capital funding and attracted the support of big-name entrepreneurs like John Sculley, former CEO of Pepsi and Apple is a growing biotech company with dreams of taking stem cell therapies mainstream. While sourcing these flexible cells has traditionally been ethically controversial, Hariri, a biomedical researcher, has developed a way to grow the regenerative cells from human placentas which would otherwise be thrown away. Sculley, the vice chair of the company's board of directors, envisions a wide range of applications, including someday growing synthetic lungs, but one of the company's initial goals has been to make a cutting-edge cancer treatment more accessible. Infusions of a certain type of immune cell known as Natural Killer (NK) cells have proven effective in some cases. "All of a sudden their cancer starts melting way," says Corey Casper, a medical researcher and president of the Infectious Disease Research Institute in Seattle. "It's like science fiction." But creating personalized NK cells from a patient's blood is a laborious and lengthy process, which is why Celularity developed CYNK-001. The company transforms placental stem cells into one-size-fits all NK cells, which they keep on ice, ready for transfusion into any patient, at any time. "What's really a game changer here is these end cells can be stored on the shelf and are ready, not specific to any one individual," says Casper. "It's a leap in the technology we haven't had before." Now Celularity is hoping that its NK cells might help patients suffering from COVID-19 too. Where many of the drugs currently under investigation try to neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus directly, CYNK-001 which is the first cell therapy awaiting FDA approval for trials for this illness has a different goal: to deliver reinforcements to a beleaguered immune system. When a virus invades the body, the immune system produces a horde of specialized cells that hunt down and kill the intruders. But learning to recognize the virus and raising an army takes days to a week. During that time, NK cells act as sentinels and keep the virus from replicating out of control. How exactly they pull off this task isn't completely understood, but one of their abilities is to target and destroy stressed cells a potential sign of infection. Dr. Robert Hariri, founder, CEO and chairman of Celularity, is testing whether a cell therapy used to boost immunity in cancer patients will help coronavirus patients. Celularity This general capacity to target any and all diseased cells is what makes NK cells effective against certain cancers, and it also makes them the body's first line of defense against viruses of all varieties. Celularity hopes that additional NK cells will curb SARS-CoV-2's ability to spread through the body, buying enough time for the immune system to start producing its own antibodies and permanently quell the infection. Natural Killer cells foe of viruses But will it work? Some research suggests that transplanting mature NK cells into baby mice makes them less susceptible to one particular virus, but no researcher has yet succeeded in using the all-purpose fighters to defeat a virus in humans. One challenge is that viruses and NK cells are ancient foes, and many viruses have become skilled in deception over the eons. "We kind of get hoodwinked by the virus' ability to evade the NK cells," says Wayne Yokoyama, an immunologist at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and longtime researcher of NK cells. Yokoyama calls the CYNK-001 treatment "an intriguing idea," but says that the only way to discover whether SARS-CoV-2 will prove a stealth master or a sitting duck is to try and see. He warns, however, that testing should proceed with extreme caution. COVID-19 turns lethal when the immune system goes on a rampage in what's known as a "cytokine storm," recklessly attacking otherwise healthy lung cells. For these people, pushing the immune system even further into overdrive with additional NK cells is the last thing doctors want to do. Celularity has proved CYNK-001 safe in small numbers of cancer patients, but in those cases the immune system generally remains calm, at little risk of being pushed over the edge. it has been used as a treatment for acute myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma, and glioblastoma multiforme. "Findings in cancer patients cannot be transposed to COVID-19 patients," says Puck van Kasteren, a virologist at the National Institute for Public Health in the Netherlands. But Dr. Hariri notes that the immune system does sometimes respond strongly while fighting cancer, and that Celularity has not observed any signs of cytokine storms while treating cancer patients with CYNK-001. He does not expect that CYNK-001 will cause any adverse effects in COVID-19 patients either. "Although this viral disease is different, we have taken steps to design our clinical trial to "tune" the anti-viral effect by escalating dose slowly while monitoring for evidence of toxicity," says Dr. Hariri. He notes that there is early evidence this treatment holds promise. The National Research Project for SARS, Beijing Group has studied NK cell number and function in patients of severe acute respiratory syndrome and the findings point to the fact that they play a direct role in fighting coronavirus. More from Tech Drivers: Wearable robots help paralyzed walk Coronavirus spurs 5G adoption Facebook, Google discuss sharing smartphone data with government to fight coronavirus With the FDA's blessing, Casper will immediately begin recruiting 86 patients for a combined Phase I/Phase II clinical trial to test whether CYNK-001 is safe and effective for patients with COVID-19. The full trial will last for 11 months from recruitment to analysis, but he hopes the treatment's effects will become visible within weeks to months. Celularity is funding the trial, which will cost millions of dollars. To minimize the risk of patients succumbing to what Casper calls "friendly fire" from a rampaging immune system, the trial will focus on moderately ill people patients who are hospitalized but not those who already need intensive care. Doctors will monitor the first 14 patients especially closely for any signs that CYNK-001 is triggering cytokine storms. "This is a new therapy, and safety comes first," Casper says. "If we see any signal, we will stop immediately. My hope is that we won't see this." Rush to fast-track experimental treatments The lockdown means millions of households are now relying on friends, family and neighbours to deliver food, prescriptions and other essentials to their doors. But many readers are worried about how to pay these good samaritans when they can't leave the house to get cash and are warned against handing over their debit or credit card and Pin. Some community groups have advised volunteers not to expect any payment. But with many of the country's most vulnerable people, including the over-70s and those with health conditions, self-isolating for three months, this just won't be practical in many cases. Lifeline: Millions of households are now relying on friends, family and neighbours to deliver essentials to their doors - but paying them can be a problem Banks have suggested using cheques, but just like cash, many fear these can carry bacteria. Here, Money Mail guides you through the ways you can transfer money without leaving the house... Do an online bank transfer If you have online or mobile banking you can send money directly to someone's bank account within a few minutes. You just require their name, account number and sort code. Those who have not yet set up online banking should visit their bank's website for instructions. The registration process varies from bank to bank, but you typically need to provide personal details including your name, date of birth and account information. You may then be sent an activation code by text message or post. Many banks also require you to set up some security questions that you will need to answer when logging into your account. Mobile banking is one of the best ways to pay someone, without having to come into contact Alternatively, smartphone users could download their bank's mobile app. You can then make bank transfers in much the same way and it may even be quicker, as you can often approve new payments using your fingerprint. Just be very careful you enter the correct account number and sort code. Getting one digit wrong could mean your money lands in a stranger's account, and it is difficult to then get it back. Try transferring just 1 first and then calling the person you are paying to check it has arrived before sending the rest. Make payments by phone Those with telephone banking are able to pay bills and transfer money to individuals just by calling their bank. The service is usually set up over the phone using your account number, sort code and personal information such as your date of birth. However, bear in mind that many banks have reduced the number of staff in their call centres, so it could take a while to get through. Banks have also said they will be prioritising their more vulnerable customers, key workers and those in financial difficulty. If you have access to the internet, check to see if you can set up telephone banking online. Royal Bank of Scotland customers who register for Digital Banking, for example, will also get access to its telephone banking service. No cash to pay family and friends Howard Hardy and his wife Glenys are vulnerable, owing to their age and health, and are self-isolating. The couple have friends and family in Cheshire who deliver supplies, but Howard, 74, says they do not have enough cash at home to reimburse them. Howard Hardy and his wife Glenys are vulnerable, owing to their age and health He says: 'We cannot leave the house to go to the bank. It is against the rules to give anyone a credit or debit card plus our Pin. 'We cannot pay by plastic and cannot expect anyone to finance our isolation for 12 weeks.' Howard has a PayPal account as do some friends and neighbours. He says: 'It should work as it provides security if we need to buy online as well as not having to disclose our bank details.' Sign up for a PayPal account PayPal allows you to send money to friends and family in the UK for free with ease, if they have a PayPal account, too. To sign up you need to register your email address and choose a password. You then have to add your bank account or card details. Once your account is up and running, you can make a payment by logging in and clicking 'send and request' at the top of the page. Then select the type of payment you want, and enter the recipient's email and the cash amount. When sending money to individuals, such as neighbours dropping off your groceries, choose the 'sending to family and friends' option. This will ensure the recipient does not pay a fee to receive the money. Easy: PayPal allows you to send money to friends and family in the UK for free with ease Send money by text message You can pay friends and family using just their mobile phone number with free services such as Paym which should already be an option if you use a mobile banking app. You and the recipient must both register your mobile numbers. You can do this on your banking app. The payee does not need a smartphone for payments to go through, but will need to register their number with their bank or building society. Once you are both registered you can just make a payment as normal through your banking app. But instead of entering their account number and sort code, you can simply choose a number from the contact list stored in your phone. Then just confirm the name, enter the amount you want to pay (usually up to 250 a day) and press send. You should receive confirmation that your payment has been sent straight away. Load up a prepaid card A prepaid card may be useful as you can just top it up with the money needed to do your shopping for that week. You can apply for the cards online in minutes. Many are free, although some come with spending limits. You can add funds by debit card or bank transfer. One card provider, Monese, has a simple mobile account that is free to use, but you must pay 4.95 for delivery of the card. A TransferWise account comes with a free card that can be topped up. Use the ATM with a code Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest allow customers to access cash at an ATM without a bank card or Pin. The customer just needs to generate a code using their mobile banking app which can then be entered into the cash machine. Select the 'Get Cash' option in the app and select how much money you want to be made available (up to a maximum of 130). The code will then be texted to you, and you can forward it to the friend or neighbour who needs the money to pay for your groceries. They can use it at any RBS and NatWest ATMs or those found outside Tesco stores. They should press the 'enter' key on the machine and follow the prompts on screen. The code remains active for three hours. a.murray@dailymail.co.uk 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. Just days after his arrest in Downtown Albuquerque, beleaguered UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Bones Jones pleaded guilty to one count of drunken driving, according to court documents. Under the terms of the plea agreement he entered into on Tuesday, Jones will spend four days in the Community Custody Program, which allows defendants to serve jail time out of custody while wearing a GPS monitor. He will also spend one year on supervised probation. Jones took responsibility for his actions early on in the case and in doing so the state agreed to 1 year supervised probation, Michael Patrick, spokesman for the District Attorneys Office, said in a news release. In a statement, the 32-year-old MMA fighter said that he was disappointed in himself for letting down his family, friends and fans. While we all work to understand and cope with stress and uncertainties surrounding the current state of our world, I want to express how truly disappointed I am that I have become the source of a negative headline again, especially during these trying times. A criminal complaint filed against Jones says that police heard a gunshot near 3rd and Central around 1 a.m. Thursday. When they arrived, they saw two homeless subjects and a parked but running black Jeep with Jones in the drivers seat. Jones, who smelled of alcohol, admitted that he had been driving. A breath-alcohol test showed he was at or above twice the legal limit, police said. Although Jones said he didnt know anything about the gunshot, police found a black handgun in his Jeep and a spent round outside of the drivers side door, according to an incident report. Additional charges Jones faced in connection with the incident will be dismissed under the agreement. His attorney, Christopher Dodd, said his client wanted to address the situation quickly and head on and to own up to his mistakes. Theres a lot of uncertainty with the courts with coronavirus, Dodd said. And we wanted to make this thing easy on everybody. We didnt want to have to be calling in witnesses and everything to come to court in light of all of that. Jones can begin his sentence any time in the next 90 days. He must also complete a 90-day outpatient treatment program, use an ignition interlock for two years, pay fines and fees, complete 48 hours of community service and comply with probation conditions. His attorney and Mr. Jones have been made aware that if he fails to do this, the state will seek to impose the balance of any jail time without regard for any exceptional circumstances, Patrick said. The state normally would have referred Jones to a specialty court that addresses substance use issues, Patrick said, but it was not clear whether that program could accept new participants in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. Jones has been convicted of DWI once before, in 2012 in Binghamton, New York. The maximum penalty for a second-offense DWI is 364 days in jail. These latest criminal charges came just two months after he completed probation in another case. I accept full responsibility for my actions and I know that I have some personal work to do to which involves the unhealthy relationship I have with alcohol, Jones said in his statement. I have dedicated so much time and energy to improve my community and I will not allow this personal setback to hinder my work within the community when we need it most. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 10:57:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest developments on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China: -- No new domestically transmitted cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported on the Chinese mainland on Monday. The National Health Commission received reports of 48 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland on Monday, all of which were imported. Also on Monday, one death which was in Hubei Province, and 44 new suspected cases were reported on the mainland. -- As of Monday, a total of 81,518 confirmed cases had been reported on the mainland, and 3,305 people had died of the disease. A total of 282 patients were discharged from the hospital Monday on the Chinese mainland. Altogether 76,052 patients had been discharged from the hospital after recovery by the end of Monday. A total of 183 people were still suspected of being infected with the virus and 19,853 close contacts were still under medical observation. On Monday, 1,199 people were discharged from medical observation. -- By the end of Monday, 771 imported cases had been reported. Of these imported cases, 667 patients were still being treated, including 18 severe cases, while 104 patients had been discharged from hospital after recovery by the end of Monday, with no death reported. -- By Monday, 682 confirmed cases including four deaths had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), 39 confirmed cases in the Macao SAR, and 306 in Taiwan including five deaths. A total of 124 patients in Hong Kong, 10 in Macao and 39 in Taiwan had been discharged from hospitals after recovery. -- No new confirmed cases were reported Monday in Wuhan, the hardest-hit city in central China's Hubei Province. As of Monday, Wuhan had seen zero new reports for seven consecutive days. Hubei also registered no increase in new COVID-19 cases on Monday. The province saw 271 patients discharged from hospital after recovery. Among the 1,461 patients being treated in hospital, 350 were still in severe condition and another 147 in critical condition. Hubei has so far reported a total of 67,801 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 50,006 in Wuhan. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) Netizens, including celebrities expressed mixed reactions, some calling for prayers, others dissatisfied with President Rodrigo Duterte's nearly eight-hour delayed speech on government's efforts to address the COVID-19 crisis. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier announced that the televised message was "tentatively" set at 4pm on Monday, but later in the day advised that it will be delivered late as Duterte was still meeting with the concerned agencies regarding updates on the COVID-19 response. The speech was aired at around 11:30pm on Monday night, almost eight hours behind schedule. Prior to the speech, netizens in the waiting game sought comic relief through Facebook and Twitter. "Mahal na pangulo, kung nandito ka, pakigalaw ang baso," Facebook user Emil Lunasco said, apparently alluding to the Ouija or Spirit of the Glass board game. [Translation: Beloved President, if you are here, make your presence felt by moving the glass] "Were those special powers invisibility or?" actress Gaby Padilla tweeted. Some also listed down what they were hoping to hear from the President's report, a week after he signed into law Republic Act 11649 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, giving him special powers to address COVID-19. "I want to know kung ano na ang dinulot ng emergency powers niya (what has been the effect of his emergency powers) because I've heard little so far," said @peachwrites. "Hopefully the public will finally have an answer to where those emergency powers will go and where the 257 billion pesos will be allocated. The people have the right to know," said @annebalad. But after the speech was aired, netizens expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of depth in the updates given by the Chief Executive. "T***na kahit budget allocation lang mas giginhawa na ako eh. Pero wala. Basta let's take comfort daw in the fact na he's worried about our well-being," spoken word artist Juan Miguel Severo tweeted. [Translation: S*****, it would have been a relief if had you at least spoke about budget allocation. But none. He just said let's take comfort in the fact that he's worried about our well-being] "Hay. Nakakalungkot. Kung essay yun sa exam, hindi papasa. Wala naman yatang nasagot sa mga tanong ng bayan," actress Janine Gutierrez said. [It's sad. Had it been an essay exam, it would not have passed. It seems none of the nation's questions were answered] Duterte reiterated that the government has allotted P200 billion for low income households and appealed to the private sector "to help in any way [it] can" to cushion the burden of those who were affected by the crisis. He also quickly thanked healthcare workers and frontliners, noting that those who died were "lucky to have died for the country," a move which netizens then described as a foul "romanticization" of their efforts in treating those who were infected. "I can't stand the fact that Rodrigo Duterte romanticized and glorified the death of our frontliners??? For real??? Our medical frontliners died so he could just mention that on his speech??? So yun na yon??? (Is that it?)" said @kuyafranceee. "Stop romanticizing the deaths of frontliners, Duterte. Part of the reason why they died is because of the lack of support from the government," said @TheAveengers. Meanwhile, a few others still rallied behind and called for prayers for the President after the speech. "So many people have a lot to say about Pres. Duterte's speech. Have we been praying for him also?" said @Karen_Baraquel. "Philippines is still blessed to have Pres. Duterte! Instead of criticizing his words and ways of governing our country, just pray for him. If he will die before the pandemic ends, mas mahihirapan tayo (all the more will we suffer). Everything will be in disorder," said @maangellyca. At least twelve doctors have already died of COVID-19 in the Philippines, the Philippine Medical Association bared Sunday, claiming that health workers were not getting enough protection. The country now has 1,546 cases, 78 deaths, and 42 recoveries from the infection to date. Not Afraid said he wasn't aware of any major issues relating to the checkpoints, which were being operated by the tribe. "One of the officers at the checkpoint told me they would ask the vehicle operators or the drivers, are they aware of the governor's order? And are they aware of Bighorn County's order? And are they aware of the tribe's order? And then they just educate them about it," Not Afraid said. "A good majority of them would say 'Oh, we didn't know that,' and then they would turn around, according to one of the officers I talked to this morning." In a Facebook Live video Sunday afternoon Not Afraid discussed COVID-19 as it relates to the Crow Tribe. During the 26-minute video, Not Afraid said at one point that the tribe was seeing people coming from out of state to the reservation, not necessarily because of recreation, but because of its lack of COVID-19 cases. "We do have people who are coming with campers, just staging up with campers, and we professionally and kindly ask them to keep moving on down the road," Not Afraid said. Speaking later, Not Afraid said that he was aware of three such recent incidents as of Saturday. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30) - The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the operator of the countrys electricity transmission system, will donate 1 billion assistance to frontline healthcare workers. The donation will be coursed through the Office of the President, according to NGCP. In his letter to President Rodrigo Duterte, NGCP president and CEO Anthony Almeda said the grid corporation willdonate 500,000,000 worth of goods and medical equipment, and another 500,000,000 cash to be allocated for other coronavirus disease response purposes, which will be determined by the Office of the President. Other companies have already pledged and sent donations and test kits, among other things, as the government is waging war against COVID-19 pandemic. Even billionaire Jack Ma also pitched in more than 500,000 face masks to the country. The governments economic team has prepared a 27.1-billion spending plan for everyone affected by the pandemic. Criminals have been jailed across Britain after spitting at police during the coronavirus crisis in a 'truly vile' act. Police have taken swift action against those accused of the 'appalling act', which officers say is now an 'even more abhorrent offence' due to the risks associated with the deadly virus. It comes as a record-breaking 381 coronavirus deaths and 3,009 cases were recorded in the UK today, which is Britain's darkest day so far in the ever-worsening crisis. Some 1,789 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have now died, while the total infection toll has surpassed 25,000. Criminals have been jailed across Britain after spitting at police during the coronavirus crisis in a 'truly vile' act (Pictured left: Stephen Budski and right: Peter Davy) Stephen Budski, from Llanfrothen in Gwynedd, was today jailed for 18 weeks after he spat on a policewoman in North Wales. Budski, 44, was arrested for public order offences after North Wales Police received calls about the behaviour of two men on the street. It was said Budski became aggressive when officers arrived and then spat on one of the pair, ITV News reported. He appeared before magistrates in Mold for assaulting an emergency worker today. Inspector Matt Geddes, of North Wales police, said: 'This is a truly vile offence at any time. 'However, the current risks associated with coronavirus make this an even more abhorrent offence which has caused the officer involved a significant amount of distress.' In Brighton, a man was jailed on Monday after he repeatedly spat at police while claiming to be infected with coronavirus. Pictured: Paul Leivers, who was jailed for a year after he spat at police while claiming to have coronavirus Peter Davy, 65, launched his attack when officers were called to a block of flats in East Sussex after reports of criminal damage at the property. While responding to the incident on Saturday evening, Davy became abusive and repeatedly spat at the officers while claiming he was infected with the deadly virus. The unemployed pensioner was arrested at the scene and charged with three counts of assaulting an emergency worker. He was charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence; and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress. Davy appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court on Monday and was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail. Nick May, Divisional Commander for Brighton and Hove, said: 'This is an appalling act by this defendant, against officers simply doing their job of protecting the public. 'The fact that he spat at the officers is bad enough, but to then claim to have COVID-19, makes the behaviour even more despicable. Being assaulted is not part of the job. 'I very much welcome the sentencing of the court as it acknowledges the severity of this case.' Police officers patrol the beach in Brighton as the nationwide lockdown continues amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 On Saturday, Paul Leivers was jailed for a year after he launched a 'despicable' attack on custody officers when he was arrested in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire three days earlier. Leivers, 48, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault on an emergency worker at Nottingham Magistrates' Court after he spat at police while claiming to have coronavirus. The court heard how Leivers does not have coronavirus, nor any symptoms of the deadly infection which has claimed almost 1,800 lives in the UK. District Judge Leo Pyle, sentencing, said: 'It was in the public interest to deal with the matter sooner rather than later. 'These are two distinct acts and it was appalling behaviour, these offences were deliberate and pre-mediated. A police patrol stops to speak to a cyclist in Richmond Park, southwest London earlier today Pictured: Police on patrol in Richmond Park, London amid the UK's coronavirus lockdown 'Emergency workers have a difficult job at the best of time even more so at the minute and the court will not flinch to protect officers.' Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cooper, of Nottinghamshire Police, added that the sentence 'sends out a very powerful and clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated'. 'In these worrying times for us all having someone spitting at front line officers threatening them with coronavirus is both despicable and appalling,' he added. 'Our officers are putting their duty to the public ahead of their own welfare at this current time. They put themselves at risk every single today in order to protect our communities - they should not and will not have to put up with this.' A police car patrols Downhill Beach, County Londonderry under Mussenden Temple as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus A police officer asks people to leave the beach in Brighton today amid the ongoing lockdown In Nantwich, Liam Terry was jailed for eight months after he coughed and spat in the face of a police officer as he was being arrested. Officers had been attempting to arrest Terry, from Cronkinson Oak, for being drunk and disorderly in Crewe on Friday when he became verbally abusive, Nantwich News reported. Chief Constable of Cheshire Police Darren Martland said: 'This type of behaviour is disgraceful. 'Our officers are working in really challenging circumstances. 'They are putting their own lives and the lives of their families at risk on a daily basis.' A lot of celebrities have been getting slammed for their responses or lack thereof to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As leaders around the world have been stressing the importance of social distancing and limiting non-essential travel, some people have found it hard to stick to the rules. Kristin Cavallari of Laguna Beach, The Hills, and Very Cavallari was in The Bahamas as the travel restrictions surrounding COVID-19 started getting more strict. Instead of turning right back and coming home to America, she decided to continue her vacation. Kristin Cavallari | Michael Tran/FilmMagic Fans call Kristin out Cavallari, naturally, posted pictures from her vacation, to which fans were not too pleased. Nice to be on vacation right now, one person commented on her Instagram. Youre relentless with this crap. Jeez, another person said. One fan was worried about the health of Cavallaris husband, Jay Cutler. Is Jay worried about the coronavirus being type 1 diabetic? the fan wrote. Most likely no because theyre so tone deaf to everything happening that they probably dont even know the coronavirus is a thing, another person responded. Super annoying, one commenter wrote. We are going through a major health crisis. Is this really the right thing to be posting? Why did Kristin Cavallari continue her vacation? Apparently, Cavallari is ignoring all of her haters because she had a good reason to stay in The Bahamas. Kristin doesnt care what anyone is saying about her being in The Bahamas, a source told HollywoodLife. Shes returning to the states early next week with her friends and family. She got stuck down there and at the time, felt it was safer and better to quarantine where they were then to leave. She didnt plan this and as things started unfolding so quickly they didnt know what was best so they stayed, the source continued. She was there for work. Shes taking this very seriously. But because people were asking questions, Cavallaris co-star, Justin Anderson, took to Instagram to tell everyone that they were not in The Bahamas by choice. Being stuck on an empty island and forced to quarantine could be worse, he captioned a photo of him and Cavallari on the beach. Thankful for my wolf pack during these scary times. This is where we are, this is us staying positive. We couldnt be social here if we tried I am afraid of what we will go home to when they let us back into the states. Hope youre all staying safe where ever you happen to be. Days later, he let fans know that he and Cavallari did follow the quarantining guidelines. I meannnn lets get real for a second- spending FOURTEEN days not spending time with anyone else is nuts, but weve done it, he captioned another photo in The Bahamas. AND I still love each of them. Thats pretty solid the family that quarantines together, stays together stay tuned ya filthy animals! As of Mar. 30, the crew was still in The Bahamas. Anderson took to Instagram, saying that he was still distancing and was missing his bed and normal parts of his life back in America. It is unclear when Cavallari will be allowed to come back to the states. Warren County supervisors are directly calling the owners of short-term rentals in their towns and asking them to close down for the duration of the pandemic. But neighbors are reporting that with people out of work and kids out of school, it is vacation time at many rental properties. One property has been rented three times in late March, to different groups who have partied as if there were no stay-home orders in the state, a neighbor said. Three Lake George owners of short-term rentals all said Tuesday that they would rent to anyone. They said there were no warnings, requests to quarantine or guidance from Public Health officials that they should pass on to would-be renters. However, Warren County Public Health has made it clear that people should not violate the states stay-home order. Staying safe at home does not mean traveling hours to go to someone elses home, the county said in a statement. The Warren County Board of Supervisors strongly urges property owners who rent their homes through short-term rental sites such as Airbnb and VRBO temporarily halt those rentals until the COVID outbreak subsides. Supervisors are looking up rental property, connecting it to owners names through assessment rolls and contacting them directly to ask them to stop. Partiers not only risk spreading the virus to others in their group, but to the community as they buy takeout, alcohol and supplies at local stores. On Monday afternoon, Warren County Board of Supervisors Chairman Frank Thomas, who is the Stony Creek supervisor, sent out a video plea asking landlords to stop. Stop renting and stop advertising your rental, he said. We are extremely concerned about overwhelming our capacity to address the spread of this virus. But Airbnb is not communicating that to local owners who use the platform. Instead, the company is suggesting that owners be more flexible with renters, agree to longer stays and offer discounts. The site is also giving owners advice on how to get more renters as many people cancel travel plans. Advice includes renting to first responders who want to stay somewhere apart from their family, to avoid infecting them, or renting to people who need to self-isolate. But advice also includes rewriting descriptions to attract families. Weve noticed that some people need a little more room, and many are searching for spaces where they can be alone or with family, the platform said. As many face school closures and shift toward remote work, those who decide to book a stay may be drawn to work- and family-friendly listings. Revise your listing title to mention that your space is great for a staycation, as a work-from-home alternative, or for families. That is exactly what local officials do not want. The state is on a stay-home order, which means people stay where they are, without traveling or socializing with people other than those they live with. Johnsburg Supervisor Andrea Hogan has tried the direct approach: Over the last week, she called each short-term rental owner in town. They either said they already stopped renting or would stop, she said. Shes not sure all of them are sincere. In observation, I am hearing from people that the rentals are continuing, she said. I get it. Its a big loss of income at a time when so many people are facing so much economic uncertainty. She was disappointed to hear that Lake George landlords were accepting rental reservations. From a public health point of view, thats disheartening, she said. We are balancing a tremendous amount of economic pain against what is just, bottom line, the right thing to do. Airbnb has told owners to stop renting when ordered, said spokeswoman Liz DeBold Fusco. If local towns require local Airbnbs to close, we sent out emails saying they had to do that, she said. She noted that in New York state, hotels and rental accommodations are considered essential businesses and thus allowed to stay open. Probably the vast majority of the people booking are first responders or people looking to self-isolate, she said. You can reach Kathleen Moore at 742-3247 or kmoore@poststar.com. Follow her on Twitter @ByKathleenMoore or at her blog on www.poststar.com. 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. Telecom giant Airtel has turned messiah for many low-income mobile customers as it introduced special measures to help people impacted by the coronavirus lockdown. Airtel on Monday announced that it has extended the prepaid pack validity for over 80 million customers till April 17, 2020. The customers under this scheme would continue to get incoming calls on their Airtel mobile numbers even after the validity of their existing prepaid pack gets over. Not just that, Airtel has also said that it will also credit an additional Rs 10 of talk time in the prepaid accounts of all low-income mobile customers which would allow them to make calls or send important messages without having to worry about the balance in their phones. The plan has already been kicked off for the customers and it will available for users in the next 48 hours. In this difficult hour of fighting off the threat of Covid-19, Airtel is committed to ensuring that all people remain connected without any disruptions. And for this objective, it is critical to take care of the under-privileged daily wage earners of our country, whose lives have been disrupted due to the lock-down, Shashwat Sharma, Chief Marketing Officer of Bharti Airtel said. With this move, Airtel eyes to help migrant workers and daily wage earners particularly, who might have been impacted due to the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19. Heartbreaking pictures and videos of the daily wage workers walking over 100 kilometers to reach their villages had surfaced on social media. The workers alleged that due to the lockdown they are not left with enough money or a place to live so they are returning to their villages. Airtel is the only telecom company so far to take up an initiative like this. If not more, these schemes by Airtel will at least help people in acquiring vital information from the local authorities. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry data reveals that the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases have gone past over 1000. Despite the nationwide lockdown, the number of cases have only gone up There have been over 29 deaths from the coronavirus in India so far with fresh deaths reported from Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. Among all the cities, Kerala has the highest number of confirmed cases at 194 and one death, followed by Maharashtra. Its no secret that the growth of U.S. shale oil has been a thorn in the sides of both Saudi Arabia and Russia. They have seen their market shares erode as the shale boom made the U.S. the worlds largest producer of crude oil. But Saudi Arabias national oil company, Saudi Aramco, is a single entity that produces 13 percent of the worlds oil and controls 17 percent of the worlds proved reserves. That puts them in a very powerful position. They can withhold a lot of oil from the market, or they can flood the market with oil and crash the price. I have warned many times that Saudi Aramcos power shouldnt be underestimated, even as some were suggesting the shale oil had rendered OPEC (which they control) toothless. In an article I wrote in 2016, I observed: OPEC is a big reason oil prices fell into $20s earlier this year, and they were a big reason oil prices were at $100 a few years ago. What other organization has the power to move the price of oil so dramatically both up and down? That is real market power. So they may sometimes behave like a paper tiger. But they are capable of rapidly moving the global oil markets. Saudi Arabia should not be underestimated. They started a price war in 2014 that drove oil prices into the $20s. No other single entity could have done that. The strategy temporarily stalled U.S. oil production, and although they did bankrupt a few shale oil producers, the industry proved resilient. So Saudi Arabia switched back to cutting production to prop up prices in 2016, and until recently they had maintained that strategy. Related: Oil Hits $20 For The First Time In 18 Years But this years coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has caused an enormous decline in oil demand, putting oil under tremendous price pressure. Saudi Arabia wanted more emergency production cuts in response. They had been working with Russia to enact this strategy. Story continues This time, Russia said Enough is enough. No more cuts. So, Saudi Arabia responded by ramping up production. When they did so, we saw a mind-boggling 30 percent drop in the price of oil overnight. However, this time Saudi Arabia may succeed where they failed in 2014. They struck at a very vulnerable time. U.S. producers were already reeling from the decline in production, and this now places them under tremendous pressure. The energy sector is suffering from a triple whammy. The collapse of oil demand, the overall decline in the stock market, and finally and most importantly the price war that Russia and Saudi Arabia have started have crushed the U.S. energy sector. Now I am seeing some sentiment from people that we should just let the industry go bankrupt. I have seen people cite the oil industrys subsidies, or the fact that too many producers took on too much debt, and that it should therefore be allowed to fail. Let me make a brief point about subsidies. Recently, President Trump suggested using funds from a program that helps low-income Americans afford heating oil to combat coronavirus. Some Democrats howled at the potential cut in this program. Well, guess what? As I have pointed out in the past, thats an oil subsidy. The reality is that the vast majority of oil subsidies in the world are consumer subsidies like this. The people who get angry about oil subsidies are sometimes the same people that complain about cutting these kinds of subsidies because they dont recognize them as oil subsidies. Subsidies arent direct payments to oil companies, even though thats what most people envision. So, they get angry about something they misunderstand. Thats the first point. But a more important question to ponder is What are the consequences of letting the U.S. shale oil industry go bankrupt? Related: Oil Prices Slide As Saudi Arabia Confirms Another Export Boost Look, you may think the U.S. oil industry deserves to go bankrupt. You may believe we should all be driving around in wind-powered electric vehicles or riding bicycles. But thats not the world we live in today. Should we use less oil? Yes. And we will over time. But right now the U.S. still uses a lot of oil, and we will continue to do so for several years, even as we transition to electric vehicles. The real consequences of letting the U.S. shale industry fail is to hand global control of oil production back to Saudi Arabia. Millions of Americans will lose jobs, domestic oil production will fall, and our oil imports will soar. Saudi Arabia will then be free to once again withhold production to drive up the price. Some producers will go bankrupt as a result of the current crash. And those that made really poor decisions should go bankrupt. But letting too much of the industry fail will begin toppling dominoes that will have enormous ramifications on the U.S. economy and on our national security. Russia is going to make decisions about the interest of its domestic oil industry. Saudi Arabia is going to do the same, and it has a powerful instrument with which to do so through Saudi Aramco. The U.S. must do the same, but there are those in government that seem like they would be glad to see the oil industry go out of business. Unlike Russia and Saudi Arabia, our oil industry has decidedly mixed support from the federal government. The American economy runs on energy. The energy industry is a matter of national security. We cant give up control of our energy security to Saudi Arabia. That is the consequence of letting this price war destroy the U.S. oil industry. By Robert Rapier More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Read this article on OilPrice.com Australia's health minister on Tuesday said the coronavirus growth rate has shown some signs of slowing down after the government enforced the enhanced social distancing norms in the country which has more than 4,450 confirmed cases and 19 deaths. Australia has introduced a host of stricter rules on social distancing, including on-spot fines for individuals and businesses and gathering restrictions to only two people outdoor or indoor, in a bid to flatten the curve of infection growth rate. "This progress is early, it's significant, but now, with these additional rules around gatherings and movement, we are going to take the next step to help reduce the level of infection, and to support our containment," Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Tuesday. Hunt said over 230,000 tests have been carried out across the country and the growth rate (spread) was now about nine per cent on average "down from 25-30 per cent growth just over a week ago.'' Till date, more than 4,450 recorded cases have been confirmed positive with highest number in New South Wales at over 2,000 patients.The number of deaths as on Tuesday was 19. Queensland has recorded 55 new cases since Monday, taking the state's total to 743 while Victoria has 917 confirmed cases, with 96 new cases. Western Australia has 355 cases, South Australia has 305, the Australian Capital Territory has 78 and the Northern Territory, 15. In Victoria, where residents would face fines from Tuesday midnight if they leave home for any reason that was not essential, four preschool-aged children reported to have acquired the coronavirus and investigations were ongoing into the cases. Meanwhile, according to deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatworth, health authorities were working round the clock to expand its intensive care capacity and procure ventilators. "We are working around the clock to procure ventilators," Coatworth said adding "Locally, we will have 500 intensive care ventilators fabricated by ResMed, backed up by 5000 non-invasive ventilators." Chief Health officer Brett Sutton stressed that the curve to flatten would happen if 90 per cent of the population adhered to the social distancing guidelines. He said other measures, including early testing and quarantining of close contacts, were also critically important but a rate of 70 per cent would cause an epidemic curve that continues to increase. He said with some modelling suggesting 90 per cent compliance was the minimum rate needed to be effective. The health minister also announced striking a new deal by the federal government with the country's 657 private hospitals, giving the government access to another 34,000 hospital beds to tackle the health crisis. "It will bring over 105,000 full and part-time hospital staff, including 57,000 of our amazing nurses and midwives," Hunt said. "It guarantees them their future... but most importantly it brings their resources to the fight against coronavirus, COVID-19, in Australia," the minister added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. Brahmaji, a senior actor from Telugu cinema, has recently slammed South actresses for not donating money to the Corona Crisis Charity aka CCC fund. He has donated Rs 75,000 to CCC funds. In an interview with a leading English daily, Brahmaji said, "Many of the leading actresses are from Mumbai and they are getting high remunerations here in Telugu. They are also getting stardom, and I am surprised that no one has responded to this charity initiative except actresses like Lavanya Tripathi." Brahmaji also quoted that some of the character artists are charging high remunerations and when there is a crisis, they don't respond. "You don't need to donate lakhs of rupees, but you can spend at least a few thousands for this charity," the senior actor added. Well, it's known that actors like Pawan Kalyan, Nagarjuna, Mahesh Babu, Prabhas and others have contributed a huge amount to help the cine workers and government to deal with this pandemic crisis. They have donated crores of rupees towards relief operations in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and the Centre. Notably, Lavanya Tripathi has donated Rs 1 lakh to Corona Crisis Charity. Apart from her, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma too donated money to PM-Cares Fund and Maharashtra's CM relief fund with husband and Indian skipper, Virat Kohli. Virushka didn't disclose the donation amount. Also Read : Photos: Bengali-Style Wedding For Telugu Actor Brahmaji's Son Coming back to Brahmaji, the actor has worked in many Telugu films. He was last seen in Vishwak Sen-starrer HIT. He was also a part of Nithiin-starrer Bheeshma, Mahesh Babu-starrer Sarileru Neekevvaru and Allu Arjun-starrer Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo. Talking about the deadly virus, India has so far reported 1251 Coronavirus positive cases in which 32 people died. On Friday, March 27, 2020, the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law after the House of Representatives passed it earlier that day. The bill is the largest relief package signed into law in United States history and will impact nearly every person in this country. The Office of Congressmember Karen Bass will update this page with information about to how to apply for relief as information is made available. If you have any questions, please call (323) 965-1422. Frequently Asked Questions: Find out how you will be impacted below: Direct Payments to Taxpayers In an effort to move as fast as possible to assist those whose jobs and businesses are affected by the pandemic, the stimulus will provide one-time payments to taxpayers. The stimulus will provide a one-time payment of $1,200 to qualifying adults with no annual income or incomes not exceeding $75,000 per year. A one-time payment of up to $2,400 will be provided to joint-filers with an annual income totaling less than $150,000. Families will also receive an additional $500 per child, in an attempt to create a safety net for those whose jobs and businesses are affected by the pandemic. Click here for answers to frequently asked questions regarding this direct payment. Employment The stimulus package includes a significant expansion of unemployment benefits that would extend jobless insurance payments by 13 weeks. It also includes a temporary four-month enhancement of benefits, called Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), which would boost the maximum unemployment benefit by $600 per week. FPUC will be paid in addition to, and in the same timeframe as, regular state or federal unemployment benefits. These payments will not affect eligibility for the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or for MediCal. ADVERTISEMENT The unemployment benefits were broadened to include freelancers, furloughed employees, and gig workers such as rideshare drivers. States will temporarily receive full federal funding if the state unemployment agency provides work sharing programs or Short-Time Compensation. At the insistence of Democrats, the program was broadened to include freelancers, furloughed employees and gig workers, such as rideshare drivers. States will temporarily receive full federal funding for states that provide work sharing programs or Short-Time Compensation. You can find more information from the California Employment Development Department (EDD) about unemployment benefits, as well as disability benefits (if you are ill or quarantined due to the coronavirus) or paid family leave (if you are caring for a child home from school or someone who is ill) here: https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/faqs.htm Housing The bill provides $4 billion for Emergency Solutions Grants, available to assist state and local agencies working with those who are either unhoused or at risk of becoming homeless. The previous Phase 2 bill ordered a prohibition of evictions from HUD-administered housing for 3 months. The new bill includes $3 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist individuals to safely remain in their homes or access temporary housing assistance in response to economic and housing disruptions caused by COVID-19. This funding will help low-income and working class Americans avoid evictions and minimize impacts caused by loss of employment and child care, or other unforeseen circumstances related to COVID-19. Among other things, the bill provides: $1.9 billion to a$1.9 billion to allow public housing agencies (PHAs) to keep over 3.2 million Section 8 voucher and public housing households stably housed; $1 billion to allow the continuation of housing assistance contracts with private landlords for over 1.2 million Project-Based Section 8 households; $65 million for housing for the elderly and persons with disabilities, including rental assistance, service coordinators, and support services for the more than 144,000 households and low-income persons in those programs; $65 million for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS; A moratorium on foreclosures on federally-backed mortgages for at least 60 days, with up to 180 days forbearance; llow public housing agencies (PHAs) to keep over 3.2 million Section 8 voucher and public housing households stably housed. Small Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations The bill provides $350 billion in a new Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses and nonprofit organizations with fewer than 500 employees. It is modeled after the existing SBA 7(a) loan program many businesses already know. The assistance is in the form of zero cost, zero interest loans for six months, extendable to 12 months if certain conditions related to employee retention or re-hire are met. The loans are aimed at supporting payroll costs (including healthcare), rent or mortgage payment, and utilities bills for the business or nonprofit. The loans are 100% guaranteed by the federal government, so lenders have a strong incentive to move the money out quickly, and an amount up to 8 weeks of those operating costs (through June 30, 2020) can be forgiven and would not have to be repaid. The bill also expands the Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Both programs now have relaxed the requirements to qualify. Previous stimulus efforts signed into law in early March 2020 also put $50 billion aside for the Small Business Administration. These programs are designed to assist businesses to remain open and keep their employees on payroll or (even re-hire employees laid off) while responding to this emergency. And remember that employees whose hours are reduced due to the current emergency can remain on payroll while also filing for partial unemployment insurance. Additionally, the self-employed, sole proprietors, and freelance and gig economy workers are eligible to apply. Businesses, even without a personal guarantee or collateral, can get a loan as long as they were operational on February 15, 2020. For more information, contact our office. Food Assistance The stimulus includes $15.8 billion in additional funding for SNAP (known as CalFresh in California) to ensure all Americans, including seniors and children, receive the food they need. Child Nutrition Programs will receive an additional $8.8 billion to support students receiving meals while school is not in session. The Emergency Food Assistant Program (TEFAP) will receive $450 million to provide resources to food banks. ADVERTISEMENT These programs are administered by Los Angeles County, which can also help identify a nearby food bank or meal program. More info here: http://dpss.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/dpss/main/programs-and-services/calfresh/ Testing Medicare and private insurers will be required to cover treatment and prevention. The bill includes $4.3 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support federal, state, and local public health agencies to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. The CARES Act includes $75 million for the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support research to better understand coronavirus genetics, modes of action, transmission, virulence and population dynamics, and $6 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology to conduct research and measurement science to support testing and treatment of coronavirus. These funds are just a start on the massive investment in testing that will be required to fully address this emergency. Health Care Infrastructure The stimulus includes more than $100 billion for hospitals and health systems across the nation. It also includes billions more to increase testing supplies, furnish personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers, and support new construction to house patients. The package will also increase Medicare payment to all hospitals and providers. A few highlights listed here: $1.3 billion for Community Health Centers Extends funding for CHCs, National Health Services Corps, Teaching Centers, and Special Diabetes Program through November 30, 2020 $1 billion to rapidly increase the manufacturing of medical supplies. Suspends cuts to Medicare until December 31, 2020 Education Funding and Student Loans For elementary and secondary education, $13.5 billion will be available for formula-grants to states, which will then distribute 90 percent of funds to local educational agencies (school districts) to use for coronavirus-response activities, such as planning for and coordinating during long-term school closures; purchasing educational technology to support online learning for all students; and additional activities authorized by federal elementary and secondary education laws. $14.25 billion will be available for emergency relief to institutions of higher education to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Funds may be used to defray expenses such as lost revenue, technology costs associated with a transition to distance education, and grants to students for food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care. For Federal Direct Student Loan borrowers through the US Department of Education, payments are automatically suspended without interest for the 6 months following the signing of the stimulus into law. During this timeframe tax and wage garnishments related to defaults on federal student loans are also suspended. This does not apply to Perkins Loans or some Federal Family Education Loans (FFELs) that are held by private lenders. Borrowers with excluded loans may be able to refinance into a Direct Student Loan in order to benefit from these provisions. It is always wise to contact your lender. Foreign Affairs The stimulus includes $353 million for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) operating expenses and international disaster assistance. The bill provides $95 million for operational needs of USAID, including support for evacuations and ordered departures of overseas staff, surge support, increased technical support for remote functions, and other needs. It also provides $258 million for USAID to respond to the extraordinary needs in other countries that are under-equipped to respond to the pandemic. The funding will prioritize populations affected by ongoing humanitarian crises, particularly displaced people, because of their heightened vulnerability, the elevated risk of severe outbreaks in camps and informal settlements, and anticipated disproportionate mortality in these populations. Paid Leave The Phase 2 Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which was sThe Phase 2 Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which was signed into law on March 18, 2020, included two new refundable payroll tax credits for small and mid-size employers, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees. It will reimburse, per employee, up to 80 hours of paid sick leave and expanded paid child care leave when employees childrens schools are closed or child care providers are unavailable. Health insurance costs are also included in the credit. Self-employed individuals can receive an equivalent credit. Parents who have to stay home to care for their children amid widespread school closures are eligible for up to 12 weeks of paid family leave, generally administered through the state unemployment agency. Regarding Large Impacted Companies At the Senates insistence, the bill provides loans for distressed companies from a $454 billion fund controlled by the Federal Reserve. An additional $46 billion would be available for industry-specific loans, including to airlines, hotels and cargo carriers. Democrats successfully pressed for immediate disclosure of any loan recipients and stronger oversight, including installing an inspector general and Congressionally-appointed board to monitor the funds. Companies that benefit could not engage in stock buybacks while they received government assistance, and for an additional year after that. Democrats also secured a provision ensuring that Trump family businesses or those of any other senior government officials cannot receive loan money through that fund, though they could potentially still benefit from other parts of the bill. Criminal Justice The stimulus includes $850 million for state and local law enforcement as well as $100 million for the Federal Bureau of Prisons to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. This funding will be used to pay for overtime and to acquire resources to meet the urgent needs of those in custody, corrections officers, and other law enforcement personnel. These resources include testing kits, the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE), and other necessary medical resources. The Director of the Bureau of Prisons was also granted the authority to determine which low-risk offenders could be released to home confinement during this emergency. The usual consideration related to time served and time remaining on a sentence will not apply. Unfortunately, those in custody who are highly susceptible to COVID-19 such as pregnant women, people over the age of 55, or those living with serious chronic medical conditions were not given a priority for immediate release in this compromise. The bill also includes $55 million for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Attorneys to respond to the coronavirus crisis and for information technology improvements. Local Relief The stimulus includes $150 billion for state and local governments to further assist their efforts in combatting this outbreak. More Information You can find more resources and answers to frequently asked questions here. Abbott Laboratories' newly-approved five-minute coronavirus test will begin shipping tomorrow, on April 1. The medical device company, based in Illinois, received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration on two weeks ago under Emergency Use Authorization. Abbott said it is ramping up production to 50,000 nasal swab tests - known as ID NOW COVID-19 - per day. Officials at the company say the test can be used anywhere, including hospitals, urgent care clinics and even doctors' offices. The US has more cases of the virus than other country, but healthcare workers are still struggling to keep up with the demand and test the thousands of people that are needed to contain the novel coronavirus. Abbott Laboratories' new coronavirus test (pictured) that can detect a positive result in just five minutes was approved by the FDA last week The medical device company, based in Illinois (pictured), expects to roll out its first batch of 50,000 beginning April 1 President Donald Trump (pictured) presented the test to reporters during a press conference on Monday and called it 'highly accurate' 'This is a significant leap forward,' John Frels, vice president of research and development at Abbott, said in an interview with Reuters. 'You can get a positive result in five minutes and a negative result in 13 minutes. You can walk into a clinic and literally get results while you are there.' President Donald Trump presented the new machine at a press conference and Monday, even doing a little show-and-tell. 'This is the first one on the line,' Trump said as he took the test out of the box, and called it 'highly accurate.' He explained that the FDA approved Abbott's new test in just four weeks as opposed to the usual months-long timeline. 'A point of care test is a test that gives you a result where you're getting care,' FDA Commissioner Dr Stephen Hahn said. 'Just like tests for flu or strep, where you go to the doctors, you get the test done, you can get an answer within minutes having this test done.' It is the second test to be approved by the FDA that can be used directly in physicians' offices and other community healthcare settings and promptly provide results to patients. Last week, the FDA approved a test made by Cepheid that can be used at the point of care. 'The COVID-19 pandemic will be fought on multiple fronts, and a portable molecular test that offers results in minutes adds to the broad range of diagnostic solutions needed to combat this virus,' said Robert Ford, president and chief operating officer at Abbott, in a statement. Abbott CEO Miles White - who retires today - told CNBC on Monday that despite 50,000 tests a day sounding like a significant number, it may not be enough. The company is 'putting a lot of effort...into capacity expansion because, while 50,000 a day sounds like a lot, it's not enough...and for a while we'll be allocating and prioritizing to high-need areas,' White said. 'We know that fighting this virus, and being able to go back to a world that's more normal, is going to require a lot of testing in the right places with rapid turnaround and, fortunately, we have multiple formats to do that with.' Worldwide, there are more than 803,000 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 39,000 deaths. In the US, more than 189,000 people have been infected and more than 4,000 people have died. A homeless man tested for the coronavirus says the cooperation between charities and State agencies has been unbelievable in recent weeks. Ray Halpin found homeless at the end of February. His landlord needed the house for his children, who were starting college, Mr Halpin told Newstalks Pat Kenny show. Having lived at the property for 18 years he took his case to the Residential Tenancies Board, but lost the case just after Christmas. Mr Halpin said he holds no ill-will towards the landlord, who had given him six months notice. Once I was notified that the lease was being terminated I then had to find another place - and of course I couldn't in a city where the rent was crazy. So without affordable alternative accommodation, I had to seek the assistance of the homeless services. He began to display coronavirus symptoms last Tuesday, when he was transferred from a hostel in Dublin city to a near-by hotel, where he has remained in isolation. In a crowded place, it's very difficult to practice self-isolation if indeed you begin to experience symptoms of Covid-19. It's also difficult to observe the social distancing guidelines, for understandable reasons, if you're in a cramped accommodation. It's simply impossible to observe the guidelines as thoroughly as you probably should. But Mr Halpin has praise for the homeless services and the government, for their response to the crisis. I wouldn't pretend that the homeless situation is an easy one to resolve. But I have to say that over the past few weeks, the charities and homeless services in government departments have come together and opened lines of communications that have allowed mountains to be moved in two weeks. It didn't seem possible to move those mountains prior to that point. I would imagine that now that people are housed in Airbnb places, hostels and so forth I imagine they would be reluctant to move from those places once this was over. I think myself with the cooperative services in place at the moment, if we can maintain those lines of communication the problem that I experienced - and others experience - could be resolved more speedily in future. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Terming the hosing down of home-bound migrants with a chlorine solution in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district "rude and indecent", Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed officials on Tuesday to initiate strict action against the guilty, a senior state government official said. The incident, caught on video and shared on social media, took place at Bareilly's Satellite bus station on Sunday. A state government official has argued that such spraying of people is permitted internationally. But the authorities did not follow the right procedure, he said. However, a fire brigade official said the migrants were sprayed with a solution containing sodium hypochlorite. It is often used to keep swimming pools sanitised. On Tuesday, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi told reporters, "The Uttar Pradesh chief minister has termed the incident as 'ashisth' (rude) and 'abhadra' (indecent). He instructed that actions should be initiated against the guilty persons, and said that such acts should not be repeated." The clip showed several migrants squatting on the ground as men in protective suits hosed them down. Someone is heard telling people to shut their eyes as the spraying begins. Several people in the group, which included women and children, complained of a burning sensation in the eyes. Chief Fire Officer C M Sharma said on Monday that spraying the group of migrants with sodium hypochlorite was necessary for "disinfecting". He said there was a burning sensation in the eyes for "two or three seconds, but it didn't harm them". As a row erupted over the incident, District magistrate Nitish Kumar blamed it on "overzealous" civic body personnel and said action is being taken against them. Those affected were seen by the chief medical officer, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the best investments we can make is in our own knowledge and skill set. With that in mind, this article will work through how we can use Return On Equity (ROE) to better understand a business. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of P3 Spain Logistic Parks SOCIMI, S.A. (BME:YP3L). P3 Spain Logistic Parks SOCIMI has a ROE of 0.5%, based on the last twelve months. That means that for every 1 worth of shareholders' equity, it generated 0.01 in profit. See our latest analysis for P3 Spain Logistic Parks SOCIMI How Do You Calculate ROE? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity Or for P3 Spain Logistic Parks SOCIMI: 0.5% = 171k 34m (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2019.) Most know that net profit is the total earnings after all expenses, but the concept of shareholders' equity is a little more complicated. It is the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. Shareholders' equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company. What Does ROE Mean? ROE looks at the amount a company earns relative to the money it has kept within the business. The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. That means that the higher the ROE, the more profitable the company is. So, all else being equal, a high ROE is better than a low one. That means it can be interesting to compare the ROE of different companies. Does P3 Spain Logistic Parks SOCIMI Have A Good ROE? Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. If you look at the image below, you can see P3 Spain Logistic Parks SOCIMI has a lower ROE than the average (6.3%) in the Real Estate industry classification. Story continues BME:YP3L Past Revenue and Net Income March 31st 2020 That's not what we like to see. We'd prefer see an ROE above the industry average, but it might not matter if the company is undervalued. Nonetheless, it could be useful to double-check if insiders have sold shares recently. How Does Debt Impact Return On Equity? Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the first two cases, the ROE will capture this use of capital to grow. In the latter case, the debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same. P3 Spain Logistic Parks SOCIMI's Debt And Its 0.5% ROE It seems that P3 Spain Logistic Parks SOCIMI uses a lot of debt to fund the business, since it has a high debt to equity ratio of 6.31. The combination of a rather low ROE and high debt to equity is is a negative, in our book. In Summary Return on equity is one way we can compare the business quality of different companies. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. If two companies have around the same level of debt to equity, and one has a higher ROE, I'd generally prefer the one with higher ROE. Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. You can see how the company has grow in the past by looking at this FREE detailed graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. 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. As the coronavirus spreads, the 2011 pandemic thriller, Contagion is coming back into the cultural zeitgeist. The screenwriter behind Contagion, Scott Z. Burns used the expertise of knowledgable scientists such as Dr. Ian Lipkin to inform his story. Now, Dr. Lipkin has tested positive for COVID-19. A woman carries a baby wearing a protective mask as they exit the arrival hall at Hong Kong High-Speed Rail Station on January 29, 2020 | Anthony Kwan/Getty Images Contagion expert infected with COVID-19 Dr. Ian Lipkin was an expert who served on the 2011 film Contagion. This month, the medical adviser revealed the news: he tested positive for COVID-19. Dr. Lipkin told Fox journalist David Asman about his diagnosis on Lou Dobbs Tonight. The infectious disease expert was on the show to discuss potential new treatments for coronavirus, Fox reported recently. Dr. Lipkin shared this warning: If it can hit me, it can hit anybody. Thats the message I want to convey. He discussed his experience with the virus. This has become very personal for me, too, Dr. Lipkin said. I have COVID as of yesterday. And it is miserable. I heard you cough, I didnt wanna be a hypochondriac and say, I hope you dont have it, Asman said on the Fox Business show. But you do. Dr. Lipkin is currently undergoing trial treatment for the virus and hoped to feel better soon. Dr. Lipkin warns Fox Business viewers about coronavirus Lipkin apparently joined the Contagion crew in an effort to raise public awareness about modern public health challenges. Actors Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne and director Steven Soderbergh pose at the Contagion photocall during the 68th Venice Film Festival at the Palazzo del Cinema | Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images He wanted Contagion tp be a wake-up call for the public that todays fiction could easily become fact tomorrow. In Dr. Lipkins expert opinion, communities across the country should be implementing standardized coronavirus restrictions. We have porous borders between states, between cities, he advised. Still, much about the COVID-19 outbreak is unknown. We really dont know when were gonna get this under control, he said. One doctor says the Contagion virus is not as bad as coronavirus To add to the chaos, a doctor from Pittsburgh recently wrote an opinion column for TribeLIVE.com. A Chinese woman holds her dog, who is wearing a protective mask as well | Kevin Frayer/Getty Images The infection in Contagion had a very short incubation period that is, hours, he wrote. Meanwhile, the coronavirus has a longer incubation. The doctor expanded: With covid-19 infection, most will walk around for near a week without feeling any symptoms, unknowingly spreading the virus. When we do finally feel sick, if you are lucky enough to get a test, then and only then are you asked to quarantine. By then, if you were not already sheltering in place prior to the testing, you probably spread it to a whole bunch of people. Dr. Carson concluded on what we can do to avoid the situation in Contagion. What you do now will affect the world, your country, your family and loved ones, he wrote. Be smart. Be safe. Share. President Donald Trump has seemingly denied there being a shortage of coronavirus testing kits and claimed in a conference call with several governors that he hasn't had a complaint in 'weeks'. During an hour-long phone meeting where he was joined by White House Coronavirus Task Force leader Dr. Deborah Birx, Vice President Mike Pence, head of allergy and infectious diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia and FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor, he pushed back when asked by rural state governors for help. 'I could give four or five examples over the last week where we have supply orders, and they've subsequently been cancelled, and they're canceled in part because what our suppliers are saying is that federal resources are requesting it and trumping that,' Gov. Steve Bullock of Montana, a Democratic, said. 'So we're trying to shift the supplies to really isolate that and do contact tracing, but we don't even have enough supplies to do the testing.' Gov. Steve Bullock of Montana told Trump: 'We are one day away, if we don't get test kits from the CDC, that we wouldn't be able to do testing in Montana' Trump replied in the conference call with several governors: 'I haven't heard anything about testing being a problem' But the American leader replied boasting about how the US has done more testing than any other country. He then bragged about a new four-minute test being released. 'I haven't heard about testing in weeks,' Trump responded. 'We've tested more now than any nation in the world. We've got these great tests and we'll come out with another one tomorrow that's, you know, almost instantaneous testing. But I haven't heard anything about testing being a problem.' Speaking about the new kits, Admiral Brett Giroir, head of the Public Health Service, chimed in that each state would soon be getting at least 15 of them. 'We're going to get that to your state lab as soon as possible,' Giroir added. New Mexico Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham also communicated the need for more tests after 'incredible spikes' in infection rates that she warned could 'wipe out tribal nations'. 'The rate of infection, at least on the New Mexico side although we've got several Arizona residents in our hospitals we're seeing a much higher hospital rate, a much younger hospital rate, a much quicker go-right-to-the-vent rate for this population,' Grisham told Trump. 'And we're seeing doubling in every day-and-a-half.' The leader simply replied: Wow, that's something.' Several governors complained that if their state did not get the testing and personal protective equipment needed soon, their areas could be the next epicenters of the outbreak that has ravaged the US. Admiral Brett Giroir, head of the Public Health Service, said that each state would soon be getting at least 15 new kits that can get a result in four minutes POTUS told Louisiana Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards (right): 'We're going to have some additional ventilators coming' Experts predict Louisiana will be the next place overwhelmed by the growing numbers of infected people. The state has created a 1,250-bed field hospital where 1,000 can be added from next week. 'We're having a really hard time getting the ventilators that we need,' Louisiana Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards said on the call obtained by the New York Times. 'We're pursuing every angle that we have, including requests from the [national] stockpile. We know that testing continues to be an issue, especially the test collection kits. Although this is getting better.' It led POTUS to reply: 'We're going to have some additional ventilators coming.' Currently New York has the most cases in the US. Wyoming Republican Governor Mark Gordon said he understood 'the challenges in New York' but added: 'I think a little bit of supply going our way could get us better prepared going forward.' 'Good point,' Mr. Trump replied. 'Thank you very much, Mark. If you have a problem, call me. I'll get you what you need.' The Times and CBS News reported that one of the call participants shared the audio shortly after the meeting. In the call Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy thanked the president for federal approvals for their states. Much of Trump's focus has been on the metropolitan states. Steve Mnuchins recent besting of Mike Pompeo on whether to waive sanctions on Irans nuclear program raises questions about the Trump administrations resolve vis-a-vis Iran. This week marked the end of a 60-day waiver on U.S. sanctions against European, Russian, and Chinese companies operating at Irans civilian nuclear plants. But despite the strenuous objections of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the State Department announced that it will renew the waivers. The statement emphasized President Trumps commitment to preventing Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon, and it speaks of renewing restrictions. But this is deceptive because the restrictions (and the United States has repeatedly granted exemptions to them, for all companies helping the Iranian nuclear program) are a mechanism for allowing continued business activity that would otherwise be illegal under Americas sanctions on virtually all business with or in Iran. In essence, renewing the restrictions which the U.S. then waives is a way to preserve one last element of Obamas nuclear deal, from which the United States has withdrawn in all other respects. But the decision was a clear victory for Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and a setback for Pompeo, who has been outspoken in his view that that the administration should maintain the pressure on Iran despite sympathy for the country generated by its being hit hard by the coronavirus. In an administration known for its infighting and diversity of views, a skirmish over an issue such as Iran sanctions is hardly unusual. But with Mnuchins view on sanctions apparently winning the day, its clear that he has President Donald Trumps ear on the issue. A campaign to pressure Trump to loosen sanctions on Iran has won support from Europe as well as from alumni of President Obamas administration, including former deputy national-security advisor Ben Rhodes, and from mainstream media outlets that supported the nuclear deal, such as the New York Times. (Rhodes once candidly called the Times part of Obamas media echo chamber on the Iran issue, and the papers editorial board argued last week that piling on more sanctions while Iran bleeds is morally wrong.) Story continues As Pompeo has pointed out, however, there are no U.S. sanctions on medical or humanitarian aid to Iran. The U.S. has even offered to help the Iranians cope with COVID-19, but Tehran has refused American aid. But the main problem with the arguments for easing Iran sanctions during the pandemic is that softening our stance toward the regime wont help ordinary Iranians but it will be a windfall for their rulers. In a tweet, Pompeo shared a video of Iranian president Hassan Rouhani speaking about the regimes goal, which is cash for its leaders: Startling revelation by #Iran's President @HassanRouhani that the regime's concerted effort to lift U.S. sanctions isnt about fighting the pandemic. It's about cash for the regimes leaders. pic.twitter.com/gyDFkgdYGI Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) March 28, 2020 The rogue Islamist regime has been tottering in the past year as its subjects have protested the leaders who have prioritized funding foreign terror and nuclear ambitions over the needs of ordinary Iranians. The Iranian people took to the streets last December by the tens of thousands to demonstrate against the theocrats who oppress them. Thousands were shot down by the regimes praetorian guard the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which also controls much of that nations economy. Any sanctions relief will be a gift to the IRGC and the foreign terror groups it funds. For decades, Iran has funneled its oil wealth into a nuclear program whose main goal is the domination of Irans Sunni Muslim neighbors and the ability to threaten Israels very existence. If the Trump administration allows the civilian component of that program to continue functioning with foreign help, it will undermine its entire policy agenda; it would also worry the Arab states and Israel, which felt abandoned by Obama. Those waivers are among the last vestiges of Obamas disastrous Iran deal, which enriched and empowered the regime while also allowing it a legal path to a nuclear weapon. Why is Mnuchin pushing for yet another extension of the waivers? In July of last year, the Treasury Department said it required the extensions so it could gauge the impact of the sanctions on the nations that continue to use the waivers to do business with Iran and to work with its nuclear program. At that time, a senior administration official told the Washington Post that the goal was still to end the waivers but that Trump had sided with Mnuchin over Pompeo on the question because of the Treasurys legitimate concerns about the effect of the sanctions on other nations. But several months later, it appears that Mnuchin is seeking to change the administrations basic purpose in dealing with Iran. Rather than replacing Obamas terrible deal, the administration would bow to European and Russian pressure to maintain it in place. Mnuchin is apparently more interested in good relations with the international community than in using American economic power to roll back the alarming gains Iran has made in the Middle East gains made as a result of Obamas misguided attempt to bring about a rapprochement with Tehran. This is a huge mistake. Richard Goldberg, of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (a key resource on Iran policy) has argued that we could retain the waiver if the Europeans, Russians, and Chinese promised to snap back sanctions in the event that Iran violated the deal. Indeed, under the pact, these countries have pledged to hold Iran accountable. But none of them have any intention of doing so. What they want is to preserve the nuclear deal at all costs; they want to roll back Trumps sanctions policy, which has made it harder for the Iranians to continue funding terror. The timing for this decision is also particularly tragic because it comes just after a public acknowledgement that Robert Levinson, a retired American intelligence operative kidnapped by the IRGC in 2007, died while in Iranian custody. Levinsons disappearance is still officially unsolved Iran has not produced his body. But Levinsons family has recently said that the Trump administration told them that newly discovered intelligence reportedly including intercepted Iranian communications show that Levinson died while in Iranian hands sometime in the past several years. The story of Levinsons mission is still classified; it involved CIA officials using him on a mission that was not officially authorized by the agency. This allowed the Obama administration to act as if freeing Levinson was not their responsibility or priority. Sadly, along with other U.S. concessions made during the Iran-deal negotiations, Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry decided they would not hold up the agreement by insisting that Iran free Levinson or produce his body. The recent history of American dealings with Iran has been dominated by that kind of callous expediency. Obama, in his effort to end sanctions on Iran, not only did nothing to improve the lives of Iranian people; he actually bolstered the regimes ability to threaten its neighbors and tyrannize its people at home. Strengthening Iran by once again loosening sanctions as Mnuchin apparently wants out of misplaced sympathy or a desire to accommodate the Europeans or Russians wont help anyone but the IRGC and its theocratic masters. Hostility to Obamas Iran deal has been a core foreign-policy position for Trump since he began his presidential campaign in 2015. Trump agreed with Pompeo on the need to withdraw the United States from the pact; he saw the impact of the sanctions on Irans ability to fund terrorism. But the president is apparently letting Mnuchin have his way on a waiver that would prop up Iran. Such a waiver would hurt rather than help Irans coronavirus victims and all those suffering under the regimes rule. Irans people deserve sympathy for their suffering from the pandemic. But we should have no sympathy for the regime that oppresses them and that is still working on a dangerous nuclear program. Trump should understand that Mnuchins agenda is undermining one of his key foreign-policy objectives, and its serving the interests of Democrats, who would surely revive the nuclear deal if they retook the White House. More from National Review Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher said on Monday that a coronavirus test she took last week came back negative. Fletcher had been in self-quarantine awaiting coronavirus test results since Thursday after flu-like symptoms, including a 101-degree fever. She said in a statement she tested positive for a different respiratory illness, but she is now on the mend. While the orders and advisories issued by local governments have differed, the message from public health experts has been clear: stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Now, a data company has created an interactive map that shows which counties in Texas and beyond are following that guidance. By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 31, 2020 | 04:09 PM | FRANKFORT The new cases include two in McCracken and two in Christian County. Beshear also announced seven new deaths associated with the virus, raising the state's total to 17. Tuesday's new figures were the highest daily amount for positive tests and deaths. The Governor has expanded child care options to include grocery store workers. He also praised the Kentucky Board of Nursing for working with officials to help ease some of their training and licensing requirements for the duration of the emergency. He also signed a new executive order, allowing critical workforce sectors to rehire previously retired workers to fill much needed roles. The order applies to law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, park rangers, and corrections officers. Beshear also provided an update on their drive-through testing model, and says they will be doing a test run with a drive-through testing center on Wednesday and Thursday. During his Tuesday COVID-19 update, Governor Andy Beshear announced 114 new cases in the state for a total of 591 cases. Italy must reopen its schools at the start of May or risk causing mass protests and riots, the country's former Prime Minister has warned. Matteo Renzi, leader of the Italia Viva party who led the country from 2014 to 2016, called for factories to be reopened by Easter and for millions of children to return to classrooms on May 4 to ease the pressure on hard-hit families and the economy. 'Italy cannot hibernate for another month because this is how the social revolt ignites,' he said. 'The balconies will soon turn into pitchforks; the songs of hope, into desperate protests.' But health experts poured cold water on his idea, insisting that it is still too early to talk about relaxing draconian restrictions that has seen all-but essential businesses shuttered and people banned from leaving the house. Matteo Renzi, Italy's former Prime Minister and leader of the Italia Viva party, called on schools to reopen on May 4 - and warned the country risks rioting if people are locked up for too long Renzi spoke out on Saturday as it became clear Italy's rate of new coronavirus infections was falling. Despite the drop, experts have said it is still too early to talk about ending restrictions The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy climbed by 812 to 11,591, reversing two days of declines Renzi spoke out on Saturday, as it became clear that Italy's rate of new coronavirus cases had begun falling. On Monday, the country announced it had fallen to a two-week low. But Giovanni Rezza, an infectious disease expert who has been helping to lead the country's response, said it needs to fall further still before measures can be eased. Speaking at the weekend, he said the average Italian coronavirus patient is now infecting just over one person with the virus. That is down from 2.5 people on average before the lockdown was put in place. 'But it must fall further,' he said, 'below one before the alarm is over.' Pierluigi Lopalco, another disease expert, agreed. 'Thinking about reopening schools on May 4th is madness and making proclamations at this time is wrong,' he said. Renzi made his remarks in an interview with Italian newspaper Avvenire, in which he insisted that life must be allowed to carry on during the pandemic - albeit differently than usual. Members of the military stand guard outside the Michelangelo hotel in Milan, which is being used to house quarantined coronavirus sufferers A police car stands watch over The Pantheon and Piazza della Rotonda in Rome, typically two of the city's most crowded landmarks that are now all-but deserted 'The coronavirus season has a before, an after, but also a during,' he said. 'And in the course of the course we will have to deal with reality. 'For a year we will no longer shake hands. We will no longer be attached to the tables in a pizzeria, we will go to the cinema and the theater keeping the safety distance. 'Crowded places will be avoided and more work will be done from home. We will live differently, but we will live. We must start again, however. Because the alternative is to shut yourself in and die.' The number of new coronavirus cases in Italy is the lowest in nearly a fortnight, suggesting the country's social distancing measures are working. New infections have risen by 4,050 - the lowest daily figure since March 18 - hitting a total 101,739 from a previous 97,689. But the death toll has climbed by 812 to 11,591, the Civil Protection Agency said on Monday, reversing two days of declines in the daily rate. The World Health Organisation said the country's epidemic should start to stabilise as Italy announced the lockdown will last until at least mid-April. Medical personnel and patients are pictured at a newly set up intensive care unit in the physiotherapy assistance gym of the Poliambilanza hospital in Brescia In Rome, coronavirus sanitation workers go through the Ater buildings with sprayers on Monday Italy's largest daily toll from the five-week-old epidemic was registered on Friday, when 919 people died Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said any easing of containment measures would be done incrementally to ensure Italy does not give up gains it has made. Health Minister Roberto Speranza later announced 'all containment measures would be extended at least until Easter' on April 12. Some 5,217 cases were recorded on Sunday and 5,974 on Saturday. Of those originally infected nationwide, 14,620 had fully recovered on Monday, compared to 13,030 the day before. There were 3,981 people in intensive care, up from a previous 3,906. Civil Protection Service Chief Angelo Borrelli said: 'We saw 1,590 people recover in the past 24 hours. This is the highest number of recoveries recorded since the start of the pandemic.' Italy has registered more deaths than anywhere else in the world and accounts for more than a third of all global fatalities from the virus. The Italian government has enforced a strict lockdown on citizens in a bid to stem the coronavirus. Streets like this one in Naples have become deserted The World Health Organisation said the country's epidemic should start to stabilise after weeks in lockdown (pictured, a park in Genova) The country's largest daily toll from the five-week-old epidemic was registered on Friday, when 919 people died, and there were 889 deaths Saturday and 756 Sunday. Riot and looting fears in 'powder keg' southern Italy Rioting has ripped through the south of Italy as PM Giuseppe Conte faced claims he had lost his grip there. Gangs have been using social media to plot attacks on stores in Palermo, Sicily. Police were deployed to the streets but there are fears the mafia may take over. City Mayor Leoluca Orlando told daily La Stampa: 'We need to act fast, more than fast. Distress could turn into violence.' Advertisement But a study suggests Italy will see no new coronavirus cases by the period between May 5 and 16. The Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance has studied the rate of infections and believes the virus will be practically eliminated in the country by early May. And the WHO's top emergencies expert Dr Mike Ryan said the country should witness a stabilisation in new cases due to its strict lockdown since March 9. He said: 'What we are likely to see, if you imagine the lockdown and stringent measures in Italy are now in place 2-3 weeks ... we should start to see stabilisation because the cases we see today really reflect exposures two weeks ago. 'So we do hope that Italy and Spain are nearly there on that ... And going down [on case numbers] isn't just about a lockdown and let go.' Hospitals in the north of Italy, particularly the Lombardy region around Milan, have been overloaded with intensive care patients and lifesaving treatment has had to be rationed. Hospitals in the north of Italy, particularly the Lombardy region around Milan, have been overloaded with intensive care patients Medical staff in Rome make the heart sign at Cremona Hospital on Monday as they continue to help patients battle the coronavirus Deputy Health Minister Pierpaolo Sileri said the latest data showed Italy was on course to start seeing 'a drop in the number of people infected within seven to 10 days'. Coronavirus death toll among doctors climbs to 61 in Italy with 11 new fatalities in the last two days Sixty-one doctors have died of coronavirus in Italy after 11 died in just two days. The huge leap is expected to be in Lombardy, the worst hit region in the crisis. But the national federation of doctors guilds FNOMCEO have not disclosed where they died. Advertisement The number of people currently sick with the illness is still growing - and the number of daily deaths is still high. The Mediterranean country's world-topping death toll grew by 812 in 24 hours to 11,591 on Monday. The number of infections recorded since the start of the crisis last month have surpassed 100,000. Health official said one of Monday's most encouraging figures was the drop from 25,392 on Sunday to 25,006 in the number of people in Lombardy currently testing positive for COVID-19 . The figure had been growing continuously for over a month. Lombardy's Chief Medical Officer Giulio Gallera said: 'The data are better but our work continues.' The latest data came out nearly three weeks into a national lockdown that has emptied cities and paralysed most forms of business life. Italian officials are expected to extend the closure and ban on public gatherings before they are due to expire on Friday. US President Donald Trump misstated the population of Seoul by some 28 million people, when challenged on coronavirus testing capacity during a news conference. Mr Trump made the false estimate when responding to a question from a PBS NewsHour reporter, before doubling down saying he knew South Korea 'better than anybody'. The president said with confidence that the population of Seoul is 38 million, when in reality official estimates put the figure at just over 10 million people. It is unclear where Mr Trump got his figure of 38 million from - but he has since come under criticism for his misstatement. President Trump misstated the population of Seoul by some 28 million people at a press briefing Mr Trump made the false estimate when responding to a question from a PBS NewsHour reporter Some have suggested Mr Trump mistook the figure for Seoul's elevation - 38metres above sea level. 'I know South Korea better than anybody,' said Mr Trump to the news conference. 'It's a very tight - do you know how many people are in Seoul? Do you know how big the city of Seoul is? 38 million people. That's bigger than anything we have. '38 million people, all tightly wound together.' It is believed Mr Trump was addressing a question posed by Yamiche Alcindor, a journalist for PBS NewsHour, about Covid-19 testing. The actual population of Seoul is some 10,025,927 people. Of those, 4,887,068 are registered male (135,372 being foreign residents), and 5,138,859 are registered female (150,157 also being foreign residents). The metropolitan area surrounding the city of Seoul is the fifth largest in the world, home to some 25 million people, according to Sky News. While South Korea itself has a total population approximating 51 million people. ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship wading in online to correct Mr Trump on his misstatement This Twitter user was urging people to think about the false statements their president makes A less kind tongue-in-cheek jab from this Twitter user at the US president for his Seoul line Zero charity from this Twitter user who claimed President Trump is grossly misinformed about South Korea President Trump came under fire online for his false utterance, shortly after making it. Chris Ship, ITV News Royal Editor, wrote on Twitter: 'Ha! Its 38m above sea level. Rather than having 38 million people.' While another person wrote on Twitter: 'Surely the American people cannot be buying his false statements and inaccuracies for much longer?' 'Who is advising him? My spaniel could do a hell of a lot better,' wrote another. And yet another wrote: 'What he meant to say is that he does not know anything at all, including about South Korea.' Recent figures released by Johns Hopkins University put confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the US at 164,671 people. There were 22,022 new cases recorded on Monday. There has been 3,180 deaths across the country, surging by at least 605 on the same day. The current death toll makes the outbreak more deadly than the September 11 terrorist attacks, which killed 2,977 people. There have been 3,180 deaths across the United States, surging by at least 605 on Monday The number of new cases continues to rise in the US, with 22,022 new cases recorded on Monday A detailed chart of the US showing how many death and infection cases there are in each state Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 02:29:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) of the UN-backed Libyan government on Monday said that two of its workers have been released after they had been kidnapped for over a year and a half in southern Libya. "Today, the board of National Oil Corporation welcomes the release of Ashraf Msallam and Valentin-Laurentiu Puscasu, who have been held captive for one year and seven months," the NOC said in a statement. "We call on the relevant law enforcement agencies to urgently investigate the case further and name and prosecute those responsible for this crime," NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla said. Four engineers, three Libyans and a Romanian were kidnapped by gunmen in 2018 while working in an oil field in southern Libya. No party has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. Libya has been suffering escalating violence and political instability ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Enditem NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio -- Like most churches in the area, Ascension Lutheran Church in North Olmsted has suspended its indoor worship services due to the coronavirus pandemic. But instead of closing down, church officials decided to offer an outdoor worship service that allows the congregation to follow the social distancing guidelines and stay in their cars. The parking lot service, known as Car Church: FM, takes place at 9:45 a.m. on Sundays with a local FM radio transmission to the parked cars. The first outdoor service was on March 22 and was well attended, church officials said. The Rev. Joshua Ulm, Ascension pastor, leads the parking lot service at the church, 28081 Lorain Road, across from North Olmsted Park. For more information, visit the churchs Facebook page or website, ascensionnortholmsted.org. Light the Night: LakewoodAlive has launched Light the Lakewood Night, a community solidarity initiative designed to convey optimism and togetherness during the coronavirus pandemic. Lakewood residents are asked to participate by decorating their front porch or apartment balcony railing with string lights as a display of solidarity. Those who dont have a front porch or lights at their disposal can participate by turning on an exterior light at dusk. Participating residents are asked to share their photos at the Light the Lakewood Night Facebook event, using the hashtags #LovingLakewood and #LighttheLakewoodNight. Light the Lakewood Night represents a simple way for community members to demonstrate that we are in this together, said Ian Andrews, LakewoodAlives executive director. Lakewood has always been a community of front porches, and nows a great time for us to put these porches to good use to offer fellow community members a sign of hope during challenging times." LakewoodAlive also has introduced a webpage, LakewoodAlive.org/COVID19 , in partnership with the City of Lakewood and the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce to compile resources for assisting Lakewood small businesses during the heath crisis. For more information, visit LakewoodAlives Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. Virtual workshop: Speaking of LakewoodAlive, the nonprofit organization will host another of its popular Knowing Your Home workshops from 10 to 11:30 a.m. April 4 -- but with a new twist. Garage Repair & Replacement is the title of the virtual workshop that will discuss best practices for maintaining aging Lakewood garages. Registration is requested. Visit lakewoodalive.org for more information or to register online. Mall closed: Great Northern Mall in North Olmsted has joined countless other shopping areas and non-essential business in closing during the current health emergency. Mall management plans to remain closed through April 6. As a result, the Great Northern Mall walkers are unable to use the mall. Several restaurants at the mall remain open for takeout orders, curbside delivery and delivery food service options for North Olmsted and nearby areas. Win, win: Anticipating a normally busy St. Patricks Day crowd, TJs Butcher Block in Lakewood bought lots of corned beef to serve to its customers. But as the health crisis escalated, the parade was canceled and schools and businesses began to close, store management wondered what it would do with all the provisions. Someone stopped by First Federal Lakewood bank and mentioned the situation. Not long after, FFL purchased more than 900 corned beef sandwiches from TJs -- one for every senior citizen in Lakewoods surrounding senior centers. The move ensured that the seniors got a special St. Patricks Day treat and that the food didnt go to waste. Many local restaurants are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, so support them -- if possible -- by pre-ordering gift cards or placing takeout orders. (Carol Kovach, special to cleveland.com) Food for thought: As the coronavirus pandemic continues, be sure to follow the social distancing guidelines, wash your hands, avoid crowds, stay home as much as possible, be kind to each other, check on neighbors and the elderly, and thank those who are working to make our lives easier during these trying times. Thanks to the medical professionals, and to those who run the grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, restaurants and other essential businesses. Also, thank you to the mail carriers, truck drivers, service workers and delivery people, as well as police, firefighters and other first responders. Your efforts make it possible for us to follow the stay-at-home order. Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. in Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted and West Park for the A Place in the Sun column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com. Read more from the Sun Post Herald. London, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/31/2020 -- Yonder, a luxury holiday package provider, offers their 'Barefoot Luxury Thailand' tour to give trallvers a unique experience and explore the beauty of Thailand. The luxury Thailand holiday package gives customers plenty of opportunities to celebrate and experience the richness of Thai culture. Yonder's team of 'Escapologists', or travel experts, have visited the many of the locations included in the Thailand tour and they only suggest the finest hotels that they have personally stayed at. The luxury Thailand holiday package lasts 14 days and costs 3,200 per person. The tour starts with the 'city of angels', Bangkok, where travellers stay for the first three days. From the airport, they will take a limousine to the amazing Como Metropolitanm where they can discover magnificent temples and old houses. Also recommended is a trip to the capital's best shopping centre or a visit to some of the capital's best bars. Others than Como Metropolitan, travellers can also choose from two other hotels including The Siam, and Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, depending on their personal preference. The next part of this luxury Thailand holiday package is for travellers to go to the island of Koh Samui for the perfect beach holiday. Here, they can stay for four days in the wonderful Six Senses hotel. Here they can visit various destinations ranging from Chaweng Beach and Lamai Beach to Bophut's Fisherman's Village and Maenam beach - this island has something for everyone. Yonder's customers will then travel on a speed boat to the neighbouring island of Koh Phangan, where they will stay for five days at the luxurious Anantara Rasananda. They can relax on the astonishingly beautiful crescent-shaped beach, lounging on the golden sands and swimming in the sea. The city's beauty is accentuated by a hilly, lush tropical jungle interior, many idyllic, long white-sand beaches and over 20 nearby dive sites. For the last three days of this luxury Thailand holiday package, Yonder's guests stay at Koh Samui where they can continue their beach holiday. There are various activities to enjoy including a beachfront barbecue, snorkelling among the rocks, shopping at the night market and even going to the outdoor cinema. Guests can choose to stay at one of these 2 hotels: Sala Samui and Six Senses Samui. At the end of the luxury Thailand tour, visitors will fly back to Bangkok, from where they will be able to fly back home. Any detail of the itinerary can be adjusted to each customer's preferences and needs, as well as including any other places you want to visit during the luxury holiday. In addition to their luxury Thailand holiday package, Yonder also offers luxury holiday packages to other countries including India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Burma. Talking about their luxury Thailand holiday packages, a representative from Yonder stated, "High life in Bangkok, City of Angels, jetting on to Koh Samui to be pampered in a hideaway hotel before island hopping to Koh Phangan where your barefoot luxury is a Thailand boutique hotel set beside a perfect crescent bay. The formula is simple in its presentation but as varied as one of the colourful marine ecosystems beneath the Gulf of Thailand's blue waters." About Yonder Yonder is a luxury travel company providing tailor-made holiday packages to customers worldwide. They have a team of passionate and experienced travel professionals who create unique luxury travel itineraries tailored exactly to each of their customer's personal wishes and desires. Their Escapologists only recommend hand-picked, delectable, usually boutique hotels that they have sampled and savoured personally. With Yonder, your luxury holidays might take you to the richly rewarding island of Sri Lanka, the palaces and jungles of Northern India, to Malaysia's vibrant cities, the to-die-for beaches of Langkawi, to the islands of your dreams in the Gulf of Thailand or to Burma where extraordinary sights and experiences await. For more information, please visit: https://www.yonder.co.uk/itinerary/barefoot-luxury-thailand/ Contact Details Yonder 1st Floor 239 High Street Kensington, London, W8 6SN T: +44 (0) 203 880 8585 E: escape@yonder.co.uk Police on Monday asked people in Pune district of Maharashtra not to spread rumours or false information regarding coronavirus in the name of April Fool's Day jokes or pranks on social media. The Pune rural police have issued a notification in this regard. The notification warned of penal action under section 188 of the IPC if a person is found circulating misinformation and rumours related to the deadly disease on social media platforms. Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) prescribes punishment for disobeying any order duly promulgated by a public servant. The punishment includes imprisonment for a term which may extend up to six months, or with fine which may extend to Rs 1,000, or both. "On April 1, as a custom people, friends, relatives play harmless pranks with each other by spreading hoax among each other. "However, in the current situation when a lockdown is in force to contain the spread of coronavirus, people should not spread any such information or messages or rumour regarding virus and lockdown on social media which can create confusion among people and may lead to violation of lockdown," stated Narayan Shirgaonkar, sub-divisional police officer, Pune rural police, in the notification. He said people found spreading misinformation and hoaxes will be penalised under IPC section 188. "Even the administrators of messaging applications should caution the group members on the issue and change the settings to "admin only", the officer added. Also read: Coronavirus in India: Man booked for spreading rumours on social media in Mumbai Also read: Coronavirus scare: Maharashtra bans N95 masks sale without prescription Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 15:44:35|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ISTANBUL, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish coast guard has apprehended a total of 50 illegal immigrants in two separate incidents off Turkey's Aegean coast on their way to a Greek island, state-run Anadolu agency reported Tuesday. The coast guard captured 26 migrants of different nationalities in an inflatable boat off Dikili district in the western province of Izmir. The migrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Gambia, Somalia, the Central African Republic, Tunisia and Palestine were planning to sneak into a Greek island, Anadolu noted. In a separate incident, 24 refugees from Syria, the Central African Republic, Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon were seized by the coast guard off Cesme district in Izmir. All the asylum seekers were transferred to a provincial migration office, according to Anadolu. The Aegean Sea was once the main route for migrants trying to sneak into Europe via Turkey. A deal was signed between Ankara and the European Union in March 2016 to curb the flow of illegal immigration. However, the Turkish government last month decided to allow the refugees to cross the Aegean Sea to Greece after it said it would no longer cope with the burden of over 3.7 million illegal immigrants in the country. But later, the coast guard announced that the sea was closed to all passages following the order of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Since the beginning of this year, a total of 9,003 refugees have intended to cross to Greece via Turkey, according to figures released by the Turkish coast guard. Turkish authorities stopped a total of 60,802 illegal immigrants from reaching Greece via Turkey last year, the force said. Victorians will no longer be able to buy guns or ammunition and a Melbourne bar has been fined almost $10,000 for breaching social-distancing rules, as authorities crack down in a bid to limit the spread of COVID-19. Police have warned they will take a harder line issuing penalties, as Victoria enters stage three of its response to the coronavirus crisis. Since Monday, there have been 96 new cases of coronavirus identified in Victoria, bringing the total to 917. The death toll remains at four. Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said the temporary ban on guns and ammunition was aimed at stemming the sale of the weapons, which have spiked amid the coronavirus pandemic. A Mindoro man was accused Friday of raping a woman, posting nude photos online without her consent and putting hidden cameras in her bathroom and a teenagers bedroom, according to court records. John Koskovich, 27, was charged in La Crosse County Circuit Court with second-degree sexual assault using force, two counts of invasion of privacy using a surveillance device one of which against a victim younger than 18 and misdemeanor bail jumping. In two separate misdemeanor cases, Koskovich also was charged with publishing a private representation without consent, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct and misdemeanor bail jumping. The woman called police at about 9:43 a.m. March 21 after learning Koskovich had posted nude photos of her on social media and was damaging her property while she was at work, according to the complaint. Police arrived to find broken glass, broken frames and photos on the floor and other detritus all over the kitchen floor, as well as a TV with a smashed screen; however, Koskovich had left, according to a witness. After speaking to the woman, police officers found Koskovich at his parents home, and, when told of the accusations, he responded, OK, that probably wasnt a good idea, according to the complaint. He was arrested and released on a signature bond with an order to have no contact with the victims. Koskovich was arrested again the next day after he was accused of showing up outside the womans home in violation of that no-contact order. While investigating the March 21 incident, police discovered evidence that Koskovich had placed cameras in the bedroom of a teen girl, as well as a shared bathroom, according to the complaint. The teen told police that in early March, she noticed a blinking green light in a fan in her room and found a camera attached to it. She put a piece of tape over the lens and told her mother, who confronted Koskovich, according to the complaint. During the ensuing argument, Koskovich tore up the fan and removed the camera, according to the teens statement. The woman also told police Koskovich assaulted her in February just after evicting her, according to court records. She told police she was packing her things in her bedroom Feb. 16 and arguing with Koskovich when she began having a panic attack. According to the complaint, Koskovich took some of her clothes off during the attack and refused to stop despite her protests, eventually assaulting her for two minutes. The woman told police she was too afraid to report the assault initially, but she was able to get a recording of him allegedly admitting to the rape, according to the complaint. Surveillance video at the womans place of employment shows Koskovich driving up to the womans car Wednesday and doing something to it while she was working, according to the complaint. The woman reported that there was damage to the interior of her vehicle, the caps for her oil, radiator, power-steering and brake fluids were thrown into a ditch, and she found her necklace and a burnt cigarette in her oil under the hood. La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke asked for a high cash bond for Koskovich, noting his three arrests this week and allegations that violated the no contact order and tampered with a vehicle. Gruenke said Koskovichs devices are also being searched for images of the teen. The analysis of the computer, of course, will take a while, but there might be further charges if there are images on those devices, Gruenke said. Koskovich was convicted of battery in 2011. Public defender Thomas Rhodes asked for a signature bond, noting that Koskovich has no ties outside the area and he has a place to go that would be away from the victims. Judge Scott Horne ordered a $10,000 cash bond with conditions of GPS monitoring if he were released. Jourdan Vian can be reached at jvian@lacrossetribune.com or follow her on Twitter at @Jourdan_LCT. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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. JSW Steel's Rs 19,700-crore acquisition plan for Bhushan Power and Steel (BPSL) may hit another roadblock as the commodity market conditions are going haywire in the country. The primary consumers of steel -- automobile and realty sectors -- have been in deep trouble since coronavirus spread across the world. There would be no clarity on steel demand for at least next one year, said industry experts. Indian steelmakers are expected to face a reduction in revenue and profit as they lost at least a week of production in this quarter because of the national lockdown, said experts. "In the coming quarter, the situation is going to be severe for the steelmakers as no end is visible to this problem," said a Mumbai-based executive. To avoid the high debt burden on its books, JSW Steel has been planning to keep BPSL in a special purpose vehicle (SPV). The steel major also wanted to rope in a strategic investor in the SPV. The company has already tied up with the banks for raising the debt in the SPV. JSW's net debt stood at Rs 49,500 crore at the end of December. The net debt to equity ratio stood at 1.35 times, compared with 1.36 times in the previous quarter. Net debt to EBITDA jumped to 3.71 times against 3.23 times in the September quarter. JSW Steel was supposed to make payment before March 16 for the acquisition, but it has been delayed as the former promoter Sanjay Singhal filed a petition against the takeover at the Supreme Court. The apex court has scheduled the hearing for April 15. In the special leave petition, Singhal said the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has erroneously allowed JSW Steel to retain BPSL's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore generated during the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP). "We are not sure how long the legal process will go on and when JSW will make payment," said a banker. Since the industry is entering into a bad phase, it will be difficult for JSW to go for such a big-ticket acquisition, he added. As the BPSL matter is sub-Judice and relying upon the said proceedings before the Supreme Court, we have been legally advised that it is not obligatory to implement the Resolution Plan during the pendency of appeals, said JSW Steel spokesperson. "Hence in the aforesaid circumstances, it is incorrect to state that JSW Steel has missed any payment deadline," he added. The resolution process started in BPSL in mid-2017, when RBI asked the banks to file insolvency petition against 12 major defaulted companies. The appellate tribunal, in February, had permitted JSW Steel to acquire the bankrupt company and granted it immunity from prosecution by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). JSW Steel's deal to acquire BPSL ran into rough weather earlier since ED seized the bankrupt firm's assets in connection with a money-laundering probe against Singal. The major relief came for Jindal after the government in December 2019 made changes in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), providing protection to buyers from criminal proceedings against previous promoters of the bankrupt firm. It introduced Section 32A to the IBC, giving immunity to the new management. The asset has been hotly contested with JSW submitting a bid higher than that of Tata and Liberty House much later in the process. JSW's first bid price was Rs 11,000 crore in February 2018. Tata Steel contested the other deals earlier at the tribunal. Also Read: Alcohol non-availability kills more than coronavirus in Kerala; foreign liquor served as 'medicine' Also Read: How is COVID-19 patient transported to hospital? Here's the process Also Read: Coronavirus crisis: '21-day lockdown to wipe off Rs 10 lakh crore from economy' Islamic scholar Maulana Muhammad Ilyas founded Tablighi Jamaat in 1927 after drawing inspiration from his second pilgrimage to Mecca in 1926. Coronavirus cases in Delhi have witnessed a massive leap on Monday after 24 people who were present at a religious gathering at the Markaz building in Nizamuddin tested positive for COVID-19. Around 1,500 to 1,700 people are estimated to have assembled at the building. Delegates from countries, including Indonesia and Malaysia, attended the Tablighi Jammat congregation in Nizamuddin from 1 to 15 March. People who attended the gathering stayed at the facility's six-floor dormitory and shared communal dining spaces and ate food that was cooked in a community kitchen. People have been evacuated from the Markaz building and shifted to hospitals and quarantine centres. What is Tablighi Jamaat? Tablighi Jamaat is a group of preachers that works among Muslims. It focuses on the Quran and Hadith and denies any affiliation in politics and Islamic law. Islamic scholar Maulana Muhammad Ilyas founded Tablighi Jamaat in 1927 after drawing inspiration from his second pilgrimage to Mecca in 1926. What is Markaz? Markaz are the centres that coordinate Tablighi Jamaat activities. Tablighi Jamaat is maintained from its international headquarters at Nizamuddin in Delhi. The Nizamuddin Markaz is also known as Banglewali Masjid. The building can accommodate up to 2,000 people. It is situated next to the famous shrine of Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya. Click here for Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE updates The volunteers and self-funding groups, also known as jamaats, are appointed by the mosques. The Markaz maintains records of each jamaat and its members. Delhi is among the cities that have reported the maximum number of COVID-19 cases in India. The country has so far reported 32 deaths and more than 1,250 positive cases of coronavirus. On Monday, India reported 227 cases of COVID-19, largest in a single day so far. 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 On Tuesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed Texas to revive its ban on virtually all abortion in a brief order. Although the 21 decision is only temporary, it indicates that the court will soon rule that the Constitution permits states to outlaw abortion during the coronavirus pandemic. When that decision comes down, abortion providers will almost certainly turn to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the justices to block abortion bans justified by the COVID-19 outbreak. Once again, Chief Justice John Roberts will have to decide whether to sanction the 5th Circuits brazen defiance of binding precedent governing abortion. This time, the stakes are as high as can be: Texas is not just trying to limit abortion but to end it completely for the first time since Roe v. Wade, using the pandemic as cover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This latest round in the Texas abortion battle began on March 22, when Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed an executive order directing health care facilities to cancel all elective surgeries and procedures. His order will stay in effect until April 21 at the earliest. On March 23, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a press release that interpreted Abbotts order to bar any type of abortion that is not medically necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother. Violators face a $1,000 fine, 180 days in prison, and a revocation of their medical license. Abbott and Paxton, both Republicans, justified the ban in light of the coronavirus outbreak, claiming that abortion providers would otherwise use up scarce medical resources necessary to treat COVID-19 patients. (By contrast, Paxton deemed gun stores essential and allowed them to stay open for the duration of the outbreak.) Advertisement Advertisement Abortion providers who refuse to follow state law are demonstrating a clear disregard for Texans suffering from this medical crisis, Paxton declared. For years, abortion has been touted as a choice by the same groups now attempting to claim it is an essential procedure. A group of abortion clinics sued, alleging that the order imposed an undue burden on the constitutional right to abortion access. (Texas already has some of the strictest abortion laws in the country, including a gratuitous requirement that patients visit the clinic twice.) The plaintiffs pointed out that abortion is extremely safe and requires minimal personal protective equipment. Moreover, nearly a third of Texas patients undergo medical abortions and do not require surgery at all. Doctors just hand women the pills they must take to end their pregnancyyet the governor deems this process one of the elective surgeries and procedures that must now stop. Advertisement Advertisement In court, Texas defended its outright ban by insisting that elective abortions are not immediately medically necessary. Its difficult to accept that contention, since abortions have a higher complication rate as the pregnancy goes along, and Texas bans the procedure after 20 weeks. The state also alleges that abortions, including medical abortions, frequently result in complications that require surgical intervention, forcing providers to further burden overtaxed emergency departments during a surge of COVID-19 cases. In reality, surgical abortion is extremely safemuch safer than childbirth, in factas are medical abortions, which have a complication rate of less than .5 percent. Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel sided with the clinics in an order protecting their ability to provide abortions. Yeakel, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote that the minor, theoretical benefits of limiting abortion are outweighed by the harm of eliminating abortion access in the midst of a pandemic that increases the risks of continuing an unwanted pregnancy, as well as the risks of traveling to other states in search of time-sensitive medical care. He continued: Advertisement Advertisement Regarding a womans right to a pre-fetal-viability abortion, the Supreme Court has spoken clearly. There can be no outright ban on such a procedure. This court will not speculate on whether the Supreme Court included a silent except-in-a-national-emergency clause in its previous writings on the issue. Only the Supreme Court may restrict the breadth of its rulings. The court will not predict what the Supreme Court will do if this case reaches that Court. Advertisement Advertisement This remarkable passage is a candid acknowledgment that the Supreme Court may soon roll back Roe v. Wadeas well as a reminder to the 5th Circuit that it has no authority to overthrow Roe on its own. Yet thats precisely what the 5th Circuit is poised to do. The case landed before a three-judge panel made up of Judges Jennifer Elrod (another Bush appointee), Kyle Duncan (a Donald Trump appointee), and James Dennis (a Bill Clinton appointee). By a 21 vote on Friday, the panel put Yeakels decision on hold, permitting Texas to resume enforcing its near-absolute abortion ban. Technically, the ruling provided only an administrative stay to allow this court sufficient time to consider Texas motion. But as University of Texas School of Law professor Steve Vladeck noted, its also a strong sign of how the court may rule on the merits. Equally ominous is Dennis decision to publicly dissent in a brief noting that irreparable harm would flow from Texas abortion ban during this critical time. Advertisement Advertisement For several years, the 5th Circuit has been pioneering the jurisprudence of Trumpism, which includes a fervent desire to end abortion by any means necessary. The court has already defied Supreme Court precedent to uphold one blatantly unconstitutional abortion restriction. There is little doubt that Elrod (a partisan) and Duncan (a bully) will devise a national emergency exception to Roe, letting Texas prohibit abortions indefinitely. After all, Abbott reserved the right to extend his initial April 21 deadline; if the court is credulous enough to accept his justification for the abortion ban, it will surely defer to his views on the duration of the emergency. Advertisement Once the 5th Circuit formally greenlights the ban, the plaintiffs will file an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, which is in the process of deciding another high-stakes abortion case out of the 5th Circuit. Given Justice Brett Kavanaughs hostility to Roe, the chief justice will likely cast the decisive vote. There is reason to believe that Roberts will keep the Texas ban on hold: He has previously joined the liberals to block the 5th Circuit when it ignored abortion precedent. But this case also bears some resemblance to Trump v. Hawaii, the 54 decision upholding Trumps travel ban. Roberts majority opinion deferred to the president, trusting him to make tough calls for the common good in times of crisis. It is easy to imagine Roberts penning a similar opinion deferring to Abbott, accepting at face value his claim that ending abortions is necessary to preserve public health. Texas is not the only state that has exploited COVID-19 to enact anti-abortion policies it has pursued unsuccessfully for years. Ohio and Alabama also targeted abortions, and also got smacked down in federal district court. But these cases are traveling quickly up to SCOTUS, which will decide very soon whether the coronavirus creates a national emergency exception to Roe. Reproductive rights advocates should be worried. The conservative justices need not devise some excuse for chipping away at abortion precedent. COVID-19 gives them a perfect pretense to erode Roe. 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. In November 2019, doctors and nurses in the Chinese city of Wuhan, located in the central Hubei Province started noticing an influx of patients suffering from an unusually violent flu. China is no stranger to harsh seasonal flu outbreaks, but this was unlike anything they had ever seen before. Patients would have to be placed on ventilators as the flu turned into life-threatening pneumonia, and their lung scans resulted in the terrifying realisation that this was no flu at all. The story of what happened next is what will go down in history as a compendium of the most poignant and expensive lessons about governance, economics and geopolitics that humanity has ever had to face in the absurdly short and compressed space of just 4 months. Regime Security =\= National Security The Chinese Communist Party is hardly a stranger to taking decisions that many of us would find restrictive, invasive even unthinkable. The institution that has controlled the government of the worlds most populated country since the early 20th century has presided over a litany of the most unbelievable human disasters, governance travesties and draconian policies in recorded human history. The world has become so used to such reports coming out of China that information such as the fact that Chairman Maos Cultural Revolution directly killed up to 30 million people barely raises an eyebrow. For reference, the first world war killed about 20 million people and permanently reshaped the world. When it is China however, eyes glaze over because, well is it not the Chinese at it again? Banning Google and only allowing their citizens access to government-approved information its just China. Locking millions of Uighur muslims up in concentration camps where they are raped and have their organs harvested is it not China? Rolling over student protesters with military tanks on an urban street big deal, its just China. The Chinese government has a way of interacting with local problems that goes back so long that nobody not foreigners, not Chinese people, not the CCP itself has any bigger expectations of itself. Thus in November, when faced with the jarring reality that it was facing a new outbreak of something new, nasty and infectious, the Chinese government simply did what it always does it kicked the ball into the long grass by silencing everyone who tried to raise the alarm about the emergence of what later became known as the SARS COV 2 novel coronavirus. With its unprecedented ability to silence people online and in real life through its dystopian social credit system, it is only too easy to duck the responsibility of governance and outsource the consequences to the people in classic authoritarian fashion. In China, like with every other society controlled by a dictatorship, all information that could potentially challenge the credibility of the ruling junta is fought with the intensity of actual warfare. Whether it is Xi Jinping or Idi Amin, the basic thread running through the dictators fear of information is the same the authoritarian regime can only survive by convincing the nation that said authoritarian is somehow intrinsic to its existence. Incidentally, the CCP regularly flies this very kite, claiming to Chinese citizens that only it has the capacity to keep China together because if China adopted democracy, the country would allegedly break up chaotically. When such regimes successfully perpetuate the idea that country and government are the same thing, they can also justify any action they take because regime security becomes the same thing as national security. Thus, anything that can challenge the credibility of an authoritarian government be it political opposition, pro-democracy protesters or news about the spread of a deadly new virus it may not be able to control is something to be put down with extreme prejudice. Unfortunately as we saw to disastrous effect, this reflexive position to defend the political interests of a ruling regime over anything else under the pretext of such contrived national security can lead to horrible outcomes. In this case, the horrible outcomes leapt out of Wuhan, where COVID-19 could have been contained according to some reports as far back as October 2019. Now it is tearing a path of unprecedented economic destruction across the world while threatening Nigerias agricultural planting season and jeopardising global security in a way nothing has done since the second world war. Even more unfortunately, being that the CCPs biggest claim to credibility among Chinese people is the countrys sustained economic growth, the Chinese government is now trying desperately to paint a highly improbable picture of having recovered from the outbreak, so that it can arrest the alarming economic slide by reopening factories and businesses. Once again, the interests of the regime are taking priority over the interests of the people. Xi Jinping wouldnt call it regime security though. He will call it national security. Hopefully those of us living under wannabe dictators and pseudo-dictators are taking notes about the difference between both terms. We are Only as Strong as our Weakest Links The bus conductor screaming for passengers at Obalende roundabout. The African illegal immigrant sweeping streets in Rome. The homeless man begging for spare change in Brooklyn. The Malawian makwerekwere doing odd jobs in Johannesburg. What do all these people have in common? They are among the poorest and least regarded people in those societies. And they are usually blamed unfairly for a lot of what goes wrong there. They are barely even recognised fully as people. The second thing they have in common however, is the fact that regardless of their perceived non-status in the world, we have all had to come to terms with the fact that we are not as separated from these people as we used to think we were no thanks to COVID-19. Drive your own car so dont have contact with the bus conductor? Well your colleague does and you may shake hands with them or touch the same laptop keypad with them. Theres only so much handwashing and hand sanitizing you can do before the reality sets in by 2 or 3 degrees of separation, we are in contact with the whole world. There are people in Nigeria who have never been to an airport in their lives who are now sick with a virus that originated in Central China. There are also people in Nigeria who fly their own private jets and use helicopters to escape the traffic in Lagos, who are sick with the same virus because they caught it indirectly from a slum dweller. At the end of the day whether we like it or not we are all near-identical sacks of flesh and blood whom Planet Earth can get rid of at any time if we do not work together. Humans after all, did not become the most successful evolutionary mammal species by competing against each other. Sure, occasionally the mechanics of Darwinian evolution boiled down to the slowest person in the group becoming lunch for the pursuing hungry sabre tooth, while the quicker ones would survive and breed and this trope of existing to outdo the next man is a very popular fixture of modern human society. It does not however account for the fact that if our ancestors did nothing more than race each other to win the I-wasnt-eaten-by-Shere-Khan-today Olympics, there would simply have been fewer and fewer humans until the tiger would eat the last one. Humans have survived and become the most successful animal through cooperation. The ability to organise ourselves in very large groups working toward specific purposes for the entire duration of our lives is what separates us from other primates not our opposable thumbs or our big brains. In an age where there are so many things to hide us from the reality of how unavoidably connected we all are, it has taken the spread of this nasty virus to remind us of our incessant mortality, the fragility of our physical bodies and economic systems, and the painful reality of our crushing unimportance as far as nature is concerned. The lesson here is for those of us who are highly placed in the world by nationality or personal achievement to understand the need to create inclusive systems and structures to enhance human development and cooperation. Individual achievement and intelligence is great but what can it do in a world where nobody can come out and the entire system of trade as you know it no longer exists? There is also a more specific lesson for Nigeria to learn, and few people say it better than Wharton Business School PhD Researcher, Jonah Rexer: #COVID19 shows us that cant science your way out of low state capacity. Jonah Rexer (@xtrexer) March 21, 2020 By Monday evening, four Montanans had died from COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. At least 177 had fallen ill and 12 people around the state are hospitalized, according to information from the state. The four people who have died include a man in his 70s from Lincoln County and a resident from Madison County. Sunday night the Cut Bank Pioneer Press newspaper reported that Toole County resident Bev Rogers had died of COVID-19. And on Monday morning, in a video posted to the Toole County Health Department's Facebook page, Blair Tomsheck, who works at the health department, confirmed the second death of a resident there, bringing the statewide total to four. She did not provide information about the person's age, gender or anything else. Last week the Marias Medical Center said employees at the Marias Heritage Center have tested positive for COVID-19. Those facilities are in Shelby, in Toole County. This situation also exposed others to COVID-19 and, as such, we expect that there could be other positives, the press release said. The Marias Heritage Center is a 40-unit retirement and assisted living facility. Gov. Steve Bullock on Monday released a statement about the deaths and also saying the state was working to get additional resources to the county. Losing two more Montanans to COVID-19 is a blow to our statewide community. Todays news is a heartbreaking reminder to us all that we must continue to do everything we can to slow the spread of this disease. Montanans in every corner of our state are keeping the family and friends of these Montanans in our hearts, Bullock said. Bullock's office said it was notified of the deaths Monday and is aware of the risks to the senior community in Toole County, which has six cases, and is working to deploy additional resources to the health care system. That includes sending additional personal protective equipment for health care providers and using health care staff from other areas of the state, the governor's office said Monday. Toole County commission chair Joe Pehan said Monday that health care facilities there are on lockdown and patients and residents are not allowed out of their rooms, to help prevent the spread of the virus. Employees wear protective suits when delivering meals. "We're taking every precaution to keep everyone safe and keep this from spreading in all our facilities," Pehan said. "The whole town, we're on the governor's shelter-in-place (order) so there isn't hardly any movement in the town of Shelby whatsoever." Gallatin County still has the most cases in the state, by far, at 69. Yellowstone has 28 cases; Missoula has 12; Lewis and Clark has 11; Butte- Silver Bow and Flathead each have nine; Cascade has seven; Toole has six; Madison and Lincoln have four; Park, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, Broadwater and Lake all have three; Jefferson has two; and Ravalli, Meagher, Roosevelt and Hill all have one. By Monday evening, COVID-19 tests for 4,411 Montanans had been processed at the state lab in Helena. That number does not include tests facilities have sent to private labs. 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. By Yoruk Bahceli LONDON, March 31 (Reuters) - Belgium saw record demand for its bond sale on Tuesday with euro zone governments drawing investor enthusiasm as they ramp up borrowing to tackle the impact of coronavirus. Investors placed orders of over 58 billion euros ($63.62 billion) for Belgium's 8 billion euro sale of seven-year bonds, according to a lead manager update seen by Reuters, making it the largest ever order book for a euro zone bond sale. That record previously belonged to Spain, which had seen demand of 52 billion euros for a 10 billion euro, 10-year sale in January. Belgium's bond, sold via syndication, when borrowers hire a group of banks to target a larger investor base, priced for a yield of -0.013%, according to the lead manager. The recent rise in government bond yields, a good chunk of which are in negative territory in the euro zone, have made bond sales more attractive to investors. That helps sovereigns gather demand as they accelerate their issuance and increase the size of their funding programmes to finance stimulus measures to combat the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Borrowers are also having to pay a higher premium on top of trading levels on their existing bonds, another factor that helps attract demand. Spain and Austria also experienced high demand for similar trades last week. A banker at one of Belgium's lead managers said that the deal had seen much larger orders from real money accounts, central banks and asset managers compared to other government bond sales that drew a high level of demand recently, which he said had been driven more by hedge fund and bank orders. "If I look through the line items on the top allocation, the top 20 or even more are all real money guys. That's very different to what we've been seeing probably in recent times," he said. Barclays, BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, HSBC and Morgan Stanley were lead managers on the Belgium trade. Portugal has also hired banks for a seven-year sale that is expected imminently. ($1 = 0.9117 euros) (Reporting by Yoruk Bahceli Editing by Mark Heinrich) Posted on: March 31, 2020 3:09 PM [ACNS, by Staff Writer] The Archbishop of Melbourne, Philip Freier, steps down as Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia today (Tuesday) without a successor in place. A meeting of the primatial Board of Electors met in Sydney earlier this month (14 March) but failed to reach agreement on who the next primate will be. Archbishop Philip will continue to serve as Archbishop of Melbourne. The Archbishop of Brisbane, Phillip Aspinall himself a former primate will serve as interim primate until a successor for Archbishop Philip is elected. By the third round of voting, the Archbishop of Adelaide, Geoffrey Smith, had achieved a clear majority over the Bishop of Tasmania, Richard Condie, in the Houses of Bishops and Laity; but did not receive a majority in the House of Clergy. The House of Bishops voted 15-8 in favour of Archbishop Geoffrey; and the House of Laity voted 9-3 for him. The House of Clergy voted 7-5 in favour of Bishop Richard. To be elected primate, a candidate needs a majority in all three houses. Dr Aspinall will now chair this years General Synod, which is due to be held from 31 May to 5 June in Queensland. The Synods Standing Committee is due to meet in Sydney from 17 to 18 April and an announcement is expected about whether plans will have to be changed in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some police may have gone further than they should have, says government minister, amid concerns over civil liberties. As Britons navigate their way around restrictions to try and contain the spread of the new coronavirus, there are growing fears that police officers are abusing their new powers. Some British police might have gone too far, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News on Tuesday, less than a week after the UK approved emergency legislation that gave police the power to issue instant 30-pound ($37) fines to people who gather in groups of more than two people or leave their homes without good reason such as for work, food-shopping or exercise. I am sure there are individual examples where perhaps you look at it and think that is perhaps a bit further than they should have gone but in general terms, I think the case is that if people help everybody out, including the police, by staying home and the rest of it, then there will be no problems, said Shapps. Some police have been accused of being overzealous by using drones to spy on people taking walks at nature spots and stopping dog-walkers from driving their pets to open spaces. There were reports they had even urged some shops not to sell Easter eggs because they were not essential items. The tradition of policing in this country is that policemen are citizens in uniform, they are not members of a disciplined hierarchy operating just at the governments command, Jonathan Sumption, a former UK Supreme Court judge, told the BBC. This is what a police state is like. Its a state in which the government can issue orders or express preferences with no legal authority and the police will enforce ministers wishes. As the national conversation turned to the lockdown enforcement, #policestate trended on Twitter in the UK, with several users offering their views. In all this, we cannot forget the importance of our civil liberties. Whilst this does not mean we should be able to do whatever we want, it does mean that the police should not abuse their power in such a vulnerable time, said Twitter user Olivia Lewis. Overnight 6 people have been summonsed for offences relating to the new corona virus legislation to protect the public: These included; Out for a drive due to boredom Returning from parties Multiple people from the same household going to the shops for non-essential items pic.twitter.com/FstjlfdEkD Warrington Police (@PoliceWarr) March 29, 2020 Unlike other countries, forces in Britain police by consent and pride themselves on being answerable to the public and not the state. Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), said they were looking to ensure consistency in the police response as everyone got to grip with the new unprecedented measures. Our plan is that we will engage with people, we will explain the measures we will encourage people to go home but then as a very last resort we will enforce, he told BBC radio. The government drafted in the new regulations amid concern some Britons were failing to heed advice to avoid social gatherings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. This is causing controversy near me. I think its difficult for the police as advice from the government has gone further than the legislation and so they are confusing the two pic.twitter.com/PixWspJDkg Ms Counsel (@seeyouatthebar) March 30, 2020 The fast-tracked 329-page emergency bill faced little resistance in Parliament. Before the regulations were introduced, the opposition Labour Partys Lord Falconer of Thoroton said he supported the powers. In normal times it would be utterly unacceptable. These are not normal times. As long as the emergency lasts and these powers are necessary, they should be available to the government. In recent interviews with Al Jazeera, human rights experts said draconian measures to contain the spread of coronavirus were understandable in the short term, even if they limited civil liberties, but warned global governments should not abuse their powers. YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian healthcare authorities will be supplied with 100 ventilators, 60,000 coronavirus test kits, face masks, protective suits, goggles and other equipment in the coming days, Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan said at the meeting of the Armenia Coronavirus Response Task Force chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Torosyan also briefed about the coronavirus cases in the country and the health condition of the patients. Measures aimed at preventing the spread of the virus, the management of the epidemiological issue, as well as issues related to the restrictions on movement and business activities were discussed, the governments press service said. The PM tasked the officials to draft a respective government decision taking into account the recommendations and observations made during the meeting. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan 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 31 Mar Celebrity couple Kylie Versoza and Jake Cuenca recently decided to contribute to the fight against COVID-19 by sending meals to hospital workers. As reported on Inquirer, the actress and former beauty queen recently posted a series of photos from her charity effort, saying that she and Cuenca were able to feed frontliners from the Makati Medical Center, Medical Center Taguig, Las Pinas General Hospital, and Unihealth Paranaque Hospital with the help of Frontline Feeders Philippines. She wrote, "I've been looking for ways and places to help out since the pandemic began, I'm grateful for the opportunity to lend a hand. If we could only hand them out ourselves, we would!" "To the doctors, nurses, lab technicians, security guards, all the cleaners and maintenance personnels, and to all those who are still working today - from the bottom of my heart thank you so much for all your and service!" the actress added. Cuenca also posted similar photos of medical frontliners receiving the meals they sent. He wrote, "We sincerely thank you for all the sacrifices and services you provide during this time. Thank you to the doctors, nurses, security guards and everyone who worked during this time. We pray for you. You are the real heroes." (Photo Source: Jake Cuenca Instagram) ALBANY The Arbor Hill Firehouse on North Manning Boulevard was shut down Monday as a cleaning crew used ionization machines to help clean the station's living area and trucks after a third city firefighter tested positive for COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the coronavirus. "It was a precautionary measure taken by the city," Albany Fire Chief Joe Gregory said. "He was not on-duty at the time but he worked." 'Science' to determine if Luzon-wide quarantine will be lifted or expanded CabSec Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) Health officials will finalize the guidelines that will help the Philippine government determine the next steps when the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine ends in mid-April. Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday the Department of Health will lead the technical working group that will craft the basis that President Rodrigo Duterte will use when he decides whether to lift, extend, or expand the lockdown enforced on the nation's most populous island until April 13. "The IATF technical working group, to be led by DOH, is directed to convene and finalize the parameters for deciding on the eventual total or partial lifting of the [quarantine] in Luzon, or the possible extension of its duration or its expansion to other areas outside the contained area, subject to the approval, amendment or modification by the IATF," Nograles said in a briefing. Duterte placed Luzon under enhanced community quarantine starting March 17 by enforcing strict home lockdown with some exemptions, suspending classes, and temporarily shutting down mass transportation in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease in the country. Nograles denied circulating reports that the national government has decided to extend the enhanced community quarantine for another 60 days, adding only "science" can determine the government's next move. "Hindi po totoo ang kumakalat na balita, fake news po na i-e-extend ang enhanced community quarantine ng 60 days. Sa usaping ito, science is in charge," he said. [Translation: It's not true that the enhanced community quarantine will be extended for 60 days. In this issue, science will dictate whether it will be extended.] DOH on Monday said that cases continue to rise despite the decrease in backlogs, noting this may no longer be considered as an "artificial rise" in cases. The country has logged over 1,500 COVID-19 cases. Health spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire said they cannot say whether the country has seen the peak as far as the number of cases is concerned. Gerard Butler divides his time between Glasgow, in his native Scotland, and Los Angeles, his adopted home in the years since he became a leading man of the silver screen. And with the coronavirus crisis reaching a fever pitch in March, the 300 star has been riding out his self-quarantine over the last couple of weeks with his longtime love Morgan Brown in Southern California. The couple took a reprieve from their sequester on Monday and met up with some friends at a beach just north of Malibu, despite the Stay At Home policy now in effect in the Golden State. Coronavirus crisis: Gerard Butler and girlfriend Morgan Brown spent park of their Monday at a beach near Malibu despite California's Stay At Home policy that's in effect until at least April 19 When Butler and company arrived at the beach, they carefully picked out a spot on the sand that was more than the six-foot distance recommendation by health officials. The 300 star kept things beach causal in camouflage cargo shorts with a white and red long-sleeve shirt. He also donned a pair of sneakers for the walk to and from their spot on the sand, but he pulled them off when he sat down to relax on a large towel that was laid out by his girlfriend. With the sun glaring, the Scotland native also sported some dark sunglasses. Social distancing: Butler and company carefully picked out a spot on the sand that was more than the six-foot distance recommendation by health officials From the looks of the sparse crowd, the other people in their general vicinity also spread out more than six feet. LA County officials announced the closure of beaches, piers, beach bike paths, beach access points, public trails and trailheads last week through April 19. That order covers beaches in every coastal city and unincorporated area of the county. The city of Los Angeles has also closed its hiking trails as well. Coronavirus crisis: LA County officials announced the closure of beaches, piers, beach bike paths, beach access points, public trails and trailheads last week through April 19 But individuals and families are still allowed to go hiking, walking, biking or shopping at essential businesses, like grocery stores and pharmacies, just as long as they keep a healthy distance from others. 'Stay at home,' is still the mantra that Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti repeated Monday, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. As of March 30, at least 30 states and the District of Columbia have Stay At Home orders in effect, according to CNN. California Governor Gavin Newsom was the first governor to set mandatory stay-at-home restrictions into effect to help combat the coronavirus. Ivanka Trump, Advisor and daughter of the US President Donald Trump on Tuesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a tweet in which he shared a video of yoga nidra, saying "this is wonderful". Prime Minister Modi on Monday shared benefits of Yoga Nidra in a tweet and said he practices it once or twice a week and it relaxes the mind and reduces anxiety. "Whenever I get time, I practice Yoga Nidra once or twice a week. It furthers overall well-being, relaxes the mind, reduces stress and anxiety. You will find many videos of Yoga Nidra on the net. I'm sharing a video each in English and Hindi," he said. Ivanka Trump replied to his tweet, "This is wonderful! Thank you. #TogetherApart," she said. Yoga Nidra is a state of consciousness between being awake and sleeping. It is also referred to as the "going to sleep" stage which is induced by a guided meditation. The Prime Minister had said in his 'Mann ki baat' radio programme on Sunday that he was a yoga practitioner and the asanas have greatly benefitted him. He also said that he will upload some videos on social media and these might help people during the lockdown, which has been enforced by the government to contain the spread of coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertising industry watchdog ASCI on Tuesday said it is keeping tabs on "unsubstantiated and opportunistic claims" done by brands in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has already asked companies to suspend such advertisements pending investigation, the body said, without divulging the number. "Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, there is widespread anxiety, confusion and fear amongst public at large. ASCI is monitoring advertisements that are making unsubstantiated and opportunistic claims," its Secretary General Shweta Purandare said in a statement. The self-regulatory body of advertisers has also appealed public to inform it of any misleading claims through whatsapp by contacting on the number 7710012345. Meanwhile, for December 2019, the body investigated complaints against 310 advertisements, of which 77 advertisements were promptly withdrawn, an official statement said. The independent Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) of ASCI evaluated remaining 233 advertisements, of which complaints against 225 advertisements were upheld, it said, adding that education sector led the way here. Under the direct complaints route, 33 advertisements were complained against of which 12 were withdrawn and of the remaining 21, 13 were upheld by the CCC, it said. Among those found on the wrong side were TTK Helathcare which made a claim of "virginity can be cured", and was acted against because it was considered to be in bad taste and implies as if virginity is a disease. It also rapped an ad by Vaseline, a HUL brand, for showing dangerous practices and manifests a disregard for safety. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This article on kids with disabilities was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. It was a Monday morning at breakfast, 10 days into the quarantine, that JoAnna Van Brusselen first noticed the claw. Her oldest daughter, Iolani Azul, 11, was sitting at the kitchen table in their house in San Francisco, her right hand curled up against her stomach. It reminded Van Brusselen of how her daughter had carried herself when she was an infant, before years of schooling, occupational therapy and guidance from teachers helped her overcome some physical and cognitive challenges resulting from a stroke in utero. I never show her any stress, because I dont want that to seep into her, so I just said, Hey, babe, dont forget your right hand also needs to stretch, Van Brusselen recalled. But inside she was reeling. Iolani Azul with her little sister, Natalia Luna. (JoAnna Van Brusselen) Iolani was never supposed to walk or talk and she does both, Van Brusselen said. How do I help her to not regress from all the skills shes gotten from being in school for so long and getting help from so many professionals? In a way, it feels a little hopeless right now. Iolani is one of roughly 7 million children 14 percent of all public school students who receive federally mandated special education services because of their disabilities. Over the course of a typical school week, the fifth grader works with two teachers, three instructional aides and seven therapists. Not only does she need more specialized support than many students, but her vision challenges and other impairments can make online learning difficult. Advocates, educators and parents say that kids with disabilities are particularly vulnerable as schools shut down to slow the spread of the coronavirus and turn to remote learning. In fact, when school districts first closed, some opted not to provide distance learning to any students, in part out of concerns that they wouldnt be able to effectively serve kids in special education and would face lawsuits as a result. Story continues Guidance from the Department of Education prompted some school districts to reverse that decision, and many have ramped up efforts to offer online learning. But civil rights advocates remain concerned that a provision in the coronavirus package passed by Congress last week will let some districts off the hook for not serving kids with disabilities. Less than a month into closures that could stretch to the end of the school year, the difficulties of homeschooling kids with disabilities are mounting. Related: Desperate parents need help as coronavirus upends their lives For Van Brusselen, these past few weeks have been the most challenging since the period right after Iolanis birth. Van Brusselen learned just a month before her due date that her baby had hydrocephalus, or an accumulation of fluid in the brain. Her doctors told her there was an 80 percent chance her daughter wouldnt survive after birth and encouraged her to terminate the pregnancy. But Van Brusselen could feel the baby kicking inside her and hoped they were wrong. Iolani survived. She learned to walk and talk, and after spending preschool with kids with severe disabilities, she entered general education classes in elementary school and flourished. This fall, shell head to middle school. JoAnna Van Brusselen with her daughter Iolani. (JoAnna Van Brusselen) The San Francisco Unified School District, where Iolani attends school, is gradually phasing in a plan for online learning. The goal is that by mid-April, teachers will offer virtual lessons and make alternatives available for kids who dont have computers and Wi-Fi. The district says that special education teachers are helping to figure out what learning will look like for kids with disabilities. Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak So far, Van Brusselen says shes been pretty much on her own. That first week at home, she received a downloadable packet of activities from Iolanis school, which she tried to work through, although she says they werent modified to take into account her daughters disabilities. Iolani needs constant guidance and supervision, and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day, Van Brusselen scrambled to keep her daughter occupied. They bounced on a trampoline, listened to music and worked on lessons Van Brusselen downloaded from a website for kids with disabilities. She tried with modest success to teach Iolani the card game UNO. She also tried to keep up with her job as an education coordinator at the nonprofit Support for Families of Children with Disabilities. And she cared for her younger daughter, who is 18 months old. Van Brusselens partner works in accounting at a job that is less flexible than hers, so most of the child care fell on her. Meanwhile, she tried to put aside the nagging fears about Iolanis physical well being. Her health is fragile, and up until three-and-a-half years ago she had seizures nearly every day. With the health system overwhelmed, Van Brusselen worries about what might happen if the shunt in Iolanis brain that manages her hydrocephalus were to stop working and she had to be rushed to the hospital. Please dont let this be the moment that something happens to her shunt, Van Brusselen said. With each day, Iolani became more upset about being cooped up. There was only so much Van Brusselen could say to explain the situation. She doesnt 100 percent understand the coronavirus, but shes very angry about it and keeps saying, I hate it so much, said Van Brusselen. I hate COVID-19, thats been on repeat all week. By Friday, March 20, after enduring a series of Iolanis tantrums, Van Brusselen posted on a Facebook group for mothers of children with disabilities asking for help. Another mom suggested putting Post-it notes on a wall with different activities that Iolani could choose from. For a few days, that helped. But by the next Monday, day 10, Iolani had lost interest in the Post-its. On day 11, March 24, Van Brusselen received a stream of emails from Iolanis teachers and therapists. They were checking in, not offering services, but it was still nice to hear from them, Van Brusselen said. Iolani thought so, too. She got on the phone to say hello to one of her teachers. I miss it. I miss my teachers, my friends, she said in an interview later that day. I miss learning. Related: Almost all students with disabilities are capable of graduating on time. Heres why theyre not. Van Brusselens fears about regression are shared by other parents. Kimber Rice, a mother of two who works as a family engagement specialist with the San Juan Unified School District in Sacramento County, California, is among them. Although her district plans to roll out distance learning in April, some of the supplemental materials initially provided by teachers werent accessible to her seventh grader, who has intellectual disabilities. Kimber Rice with her two children. (Kimber Rice) But at the end of last week, she learned that the school would distribute Chromebooks and laptops, and that the one assigned to her daughter had accessible software that could adjust the size of font and read aloud. Still, she wondered how her daughter would be able to keep up with lessons, especially if she couldnt sit by her all the time. She also worried about what sort of services the seventh grader would receive for her speech and vision impairments. Im stressed about how much of anything will be possible, Rice said. Kimber Rice is concerned about her daughter's ability to learn while schools are closed. (Kimber Rice) Tom Carter, in New York City, said a teacher from his sons specialized public school for children with disabilities has been in touch daily. But its been tough for Keenie, 17, who is severely autistic, to get any learning done. The first week off, Keenie had a meltdown that lasted five days. The teenager was hyperventilating and inconsolable; he kept trying to pull Carter to the familys car. Carter had to call his sons doctor for a prescription of Xanax, which helps to calm his son in emergencies. He's pretty energy sensitive, so I dont know if he was picking up on the general vibes of the planet or of his siblings, Carter said. Carter and his wife, Alex, spent the first week helping their six other kids get set up with online learning. This week they plan to focus on Keenie and trying to get him on a schedule of three structured hours of learning per day. The minute anyone stops putting what I would call constant work into him, he regresses, Carter said. Under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, schools are required to provide a free and appropriate education tailored to the needs of kids with disabilities. The March 21 guidance from the Department of Education, prompted by some districts decisions to not offer any distance learning at all out of concern over potential lawsuits from families with children who have disabilities, asserted that the act should not stand in the way of schools providing online education. We remind schools they should not opt to close or decline to provide distance instruction, at the expense of students, to address matters pertaining to services for students with disabilities, the agency said. Still, some districts remain concerned about liability, said John Eisenberg, executive director of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education. There will likely be a patchwork of approaches across the country, he said. Related: Special educations hidden racial gap Meanwhile, disability-rights and education advocates remain worried that the rights of students with disabilities will be undermined by the recent federal coronavirus aid legislation. Initially, the relief package included language that would have waived requirements that school districts provide a free and appropriate education to children with disabilities. The final version directs Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to report to Congress in 30 days on special education provisions she believes should be waived. Miriam Rollin, director of the Education Civil Rights Alliance at the National Center for Youth Law, said she worries that DeVos who in her 2017 confirmation hearing seemed to suggest that states could opt out of complying with the federal special education law will not ensure that kids get the services to which theyre entitled. But Rollin said that in districts that are committed to these students, this could be a time for innovation. Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak Some districts are holding virtual meetings with parents about their childrens individualized education plans, said Denise Marshall, executive director of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, a nonprofit that advocates for children with disabilities. And some are providing customized distance learning that combines lessons tailored to kids needs with opportunities like virtual field trips, she said. We realize were facing unprecedented challenges, Marshall said. She hopes to see schools and parents really work together to innovate and individualize and make sure the families have the resources they need and theres flexibility in the modes of delivery. Related: Coronavirus is poised to inflame inequality in schools Van Brusselen said she is cautiously optimistic about how online education might unfold for Iolani. But she worried she might have to take a leave of absence from her job to fill the place of Iolanis instructional aides, who sit beside her in class and tailor her general education assignments to her needs. On day 12 of the quarantine, Iolani fell apart. She was going back and forth between, I am scared for my life, Van Brusselen said, and I need relief. She refused to do any of the activities her mother suggested. After the tantrums and tears subsided, Van Brusselen felt a sense of unease. It reminded her of how she felt after Iolani was born, when the girls health was so precarious that she spent every day wondering if her daughter would make it to the next. This is the first time since having her I feel again like I dont know whats going to happen tomorrow, Van Brusselen said. Even if she can find ways to tailor Iolanis assignments, Van Brusselen said, she wont be able to do the work of the school nurse and the many therapists on Iolanis education team. Im not a therapist; Im not a nurse, she said. Im just a mom. Two Tomah residents were referred to the Monroe County District Attorney for drug charges after a Feb. 7 traffic stop in the town of Tomah. Crystal T. Volk, 29, and Christopher R. Skrenes, 34, were referred for possession of narcotic drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Volk was also referred for possession of an illegally obtained prescription drug. Shortly before 2:30 a.m., police pulled over a vehicle driven by Volk for failure to display a front license plate. Another officer with a K9 arrived on the scene, and when Volks travel story didnt make sense to the questioning officer, police used the K9 to perform an exterior sniff of the vehicle. After a positive response, police searched the vehicle and reportedly located a small plastic gem bag containing a brown substance that police believed was heroin. There was also a pouch that contained paraphernalia consistent with heroin use, a small plastic gem bag with a while substance in Volks purse and other items of drug paraphernalia. Volk told police the white substance was Gabapentin and admitted she didnt have a prescription. The report says Volk told police she used methamphetamine occasionally but hadnt used heroin in years. Skrenes denied any knowledge of drugs in the vehicle. They were both handcuffed and transported to the Monroe County Jail. In other Monroe County Sheriffs Office news: Wyllis Jay Lund, 38, Sparta, was referred to the district attorney for disorderly conduct after a Jan. 27 incident in the town of Leon. He is accused of screaming at a woman and threatening to burn all of her belongings at a Jancing Avenue residence. Michelle F. Babcock, 46, Tomah, and Tilleen Juanita Babcock, 31, Warrens, were referred to the district attorney after a physical confrontation Feb. 4 in the town of Lincoln. Shortly before 9 p.m, Police were called to Graceland Fruit, where both were employed. A witness told police that Michelle Babcock went into an unauthorized area of the Graceland facility seeking out Tilleen Babcock. A supervisor told them to both go outside, where Michelle Babcock reportedly pushed Tilleen Babcock backward and Tilleen Babcock responded by punching Michelle Babcock in the face. Tilleen Babcock told police that Michelle Babcock slapped her in the face. Police determined that Michelle Babcock was the predominant aggressor, and she was referred for battery and disorderly conduct. Tilleen Babcock was referred for battery. John Thomas Peterson, 43, Warrens, was referred to the district attorney for possession of drug paraphernalia after a Feb. 7 traffic stop in the town of Oakdale. Police ran a license plate check of a vehicle driven by Peterson shortly before 7 p.m. on Hwy. 16. Police determined that Peterson had four felony warrants and conducted a traffic stop. Peterson was placed under arrest without incident. He told police his coat pocket contained a dirty rig. Police seized the used syringe as evidence. Peterson had bond conditions that prohibit him from possessing drug paraphernalia and driving unless property licensed, which triggered bail jumping referrals. Edward John Parker Jr., 55, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for operating after revocation/drunk driving-related and tampering with an ignition interlock device. He was pulled over Feb. 3 in the town of Lincoln for having an illegible license plate. Matthew Harold Hage, 37, Sparta, was referred to the district attorney after a Feb. 7 incident in the town of Sparta. He is accused of putting his hands around a womans throat two separate times during an argument at an Epee Avenue residence. The woman said she was able to breathe and didnt believe she would lose consciousness either time. She also told police that Hage also grabbed her ponytail and pulled her hair. Gerald L. Powell, 25, Chicago, was referred to the district attorney for obstructing an officer. Police were pursuing Powell based on charges from other jurisdictions when he crashed his vehicle on Iberia Road in the town of Sparta. He fled the vehicle and refused a police order to stop. Police used a K9 to track Powell, who was hiding inside an outhouse on Icebox Avenue. Powell was missing both his shoes, was drenched with water and was bleeding at the hand when he was apprehended. He was transported by ambulance to Sparta Mayo Health Clinic before being taken to the Monroe County Jail. Tomah Journal editor Steve Rundio can be reached at steve.rundio@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 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. 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 Governor of Florida has said 'we can't afford' to have the Zaandam cruise ship carrying four dead passengers and nearly 200 with coronavirus symptoms 'dumped' in his state. The Zaandam's 450 guests and 602 crew members have not set foot on dry land for 15 days after setting sail from Buenos Aires on March 7 and were scheduled to arrive in Fort Lauderdale in early April before the pandemic gained its ferocious pace. 'We cannot afford to have people who are not even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources,' Gov. Ron DeSantis told Fox on Monday. 'We view this as a big, big problem, and we do not want to see people dumped in Southern Florida right now.' It comes as the number of people infected in Florida reached more than 5,700, with 71 deaths, compared to a national total of more than 164,600 who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 3,180 fatalities. Passengers were asked to keep their rooms dark and leave their drapes closed when they passed through the Panama Canal on Sunday night (pictured) after days of wrangling with local authorities Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said: 'We cannot afford to have people who are not even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources' The Zaandam's plans to dock as early as Wednesday in Florida are still up in the air. Dozens on board the Holland America Line ship have reported flu-like symptoms and four people have died, with at least two of the deaths blamed on the coronavirus by Panamanian authorities. The company said eight others have tested positive for COVID-19 but 2,300 passengers and crew members are in good health. DeSantis said at a later news conference that he was worried that if the passengers disembark in Port Everglades they will deplete Florida's hospital beds, of which just 33 percent are available. As has been seen throughout the world, Florida is urgently building field hospitals to cope with the surging numbers of coronavirus patients. The governor said he has been in contact with the Coast Guard and the White House about diverting the ship. Passangers of Holland America's cruise ship Zaandam are seen as the ship navigates through the Panama Canal in Panama City Broward County officials will meet Tuesday to decide whether to let the ship dock at its Port Everglades cruise ship terminal, where workers who greet passengers were among Florida's first confirmed coronavirus cases. Passengers were asked to keep their rooms dark and leave their drapes closed when they passed through the Panama Canal on Sunday night after days of wrangling with local authorities. The Zaandam was originally scheduled to travel on March 7 from Buenos Aires to San Antonio, Chile, and then depart on March 21 for a 20-day cruise to arrive in Fort Lauderdale in early April. But beginning March 15, the Zandaam was denied entry by South American ports, even before passengers reported their first flu-like symptoms on March 22. The ship approached the coast of Panama last week and negotiated permission to cross the famous canal to the Atlantic Ocean on its way to Florida. Canal administrator Ricaurte Vasquez said the country is not allowing any vessels with positive coronavirus cases through but made an exception for the ships. 'That case (the Zaandam) was simply for humanitarian reasons,' Vasquez said. The cruise ship MS Zaandam, where passengers have died on board, navigates through the pacific side of the Panama Canal, in Panama City, Panama, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues Nick and Celia Jones from Bristol in the United Kingdom who are onboard the MS Zaandam Passenger Emily Spindler Brazell, of Tappahannock, Virginia, said the company has been accommodating, offering passengers extravagant meals, wine and unlimited phone calls. At the same time, it has been clear they have to stay in their rooms and not have any contact with crew members. 'The captain said something like, 'This is not a trip anymore. This is not a cruise. This is a humanitarian mission,'' said Brazell, who was transferred to the Rotterdam on Saturday. The Rotterdam now has nearly 800 guests and more than 600 crew members. More than 300 U.S. citizens are on both ships combined. Holland America President Orlando Ashford penned an opinion column in the South Florida Sun Sentinel to plead with officials and residents to let the passengers disembark. 'Already four guests have passed away and I fear other lives are at risk,' Ashford wrote. 'The COVID-19 situation is one of the most urgent tests of our common humanity. To slam the door in the face of these people betrays our deepest human values.' Amazon warehouse employees and Instacart delivery workers joined protests Monday to press safety demands, highlighting the risks for workers on the front lines of supplying Americans largely sheltering at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An estimated 50 to 60 employees joined a walkout at an Amazon worker warehouse in the New York borough of Staten Island, demanding that the facility be shut down and cleaned after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus. "There are positive cases working in these buildings infecting thousands," warehouse worker Christian Smalls wrote on Twitter. Amazon, responding to an AFP query, said Smalls made "misleading" statements about conditions and that he was supposed to be in quarantine. "Like all businesses grappling with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we are working hard to keep employees safe while serving communities and the most vulnerable," Amazon said in a statement. "We have taken extreme measures to keep people safe." After the protest, Smalls was officially fired by Amazon. When contacted by AFP for comment, Amazon confirmed the decision, which it said was due to Smalls's failure to comply with the company's request that he self-isolate after he came in contact with another employee who tested positive for COVID-19. By taking part in Monday's demonstration, he put "the teams at risk. This is unacceptable," Amazon said in a statement, noting that only 15 of the more than 5,000 employees at the site had taken part in the protest. New York state attorney general Letitia James called Smalls's dismissal "disgraceful" and pointed out that the law protects employee's right to protest. "At a time when so many New Yorkers are struggling and are deeply concerned about their safety, this action was also immoral and inhumane," she said in a statement. James said she was exploring options for legal recourse and had asked the National Relations Board to investigate the incident. Meanwhile a group calling itself the Gig Workers Collective said it was maintaining its call for Instacart's independent contractors to strike despite new safety measures announced late Sunday by the company. "Workers aren't filling orders until our full demands are met," a spokesperson told AFP. "This isn't just about us, we want to also protect our customers." It was not immediately clear how many of Instacart "shoppers" who are independent "gig" workers, were participating in the stoppage. Instacart, which recently announced plans to hire some 300,000 people to help meet demand for grocery delivery, said in a statement it was "fully operational" and that the walkout caused "no impact." "We're continuing to see the highest customer demand in Instacart history and have more active shoppers on our platform today than ever before picking and delivering groceries for millions of consumers," said the San Francisco company, which operates in some 5,500 cities in the US and Canada. The firm said Sunday it would provide additional health and safety supplies to full-service "shoppers" and would set a "default" tip based on customers' prior orders. The group, whose numbers were not known, called the Instacart moves "a sick joke." "We had been asking for hand sanitizer for many, many weeks. But apparently the company is capable of sourcing some with two days of work? Where was this before," the group said in a Medium post. A separate group of workers at the Amazon-owned grocery chain Whole Foods meanwhile called for a one-day stoppage or "sickout" on Tuesday to press demands for improved health measures. The group calling itself "Whole Worker" said it was seeking guaranteed paid leave for quarantined workers, among other things. With much of the US population locked down, Americans are increasingly relying on delivery of food and other supplies from firms like Amazon. A report by NBC said Amazon workers at two Southern California warehouses had presented demands to shut down the facilities for two weeks for sterilization while employees are tested for the virus. Amazon has announced plans to hire an additional 100,000 people in the US, while rival Walmart is seeking to expand its workforce by 150,000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. A large number of users have suddenly been claiming that Houseparty, the video conferencing app, has been hacking their smartphones. Can an app actually do that? Ever since various countries, ours included, went into lockdown, Houseparty, a video calling app shot through the roof in popularity. The app allows you to add contacts to your profile and as you video chat with someone, others on your friend's list can join the conversation, without seeking permission. The app also offers games built-in that you can play with your friends during the video chat. Given the social distancing and isolation brought on by it, people turned to the app as a means of being digitally social. Now, the app has come under some serious fire for claims of stealing users banking details, trying to hack into their Netflix, Spotify accounts and more. Are these claims real? Where it all began Claims of Houseparty running rogue through the smartphone started early on Monday, with users taking to Twitter to report suspicious behaviour. Many tweets said someone is trying to access my Uber account, two days after I installed Houseparty and similar. Many users shared screenshots from Spotify stating that someone was trying to access their accounts from Russia, Israel, Netherlands etc. Some people even shared screenshots alleging unauthorized transactions, again with the claim being that the behaviour only started after they installed Houseparty. What security experts have to say Before we get into what professional cybersecurity experts have said, lets first just consider how Android and iOS protect apps from each other, especially banking apps. Both iOS and Android offer a Sandbox, a cordoned off part of the ecosystem for secure apps to run, without being in contact with anything outside of it. Think of it like a fenced-off area, your banking app lives inside it and all other apps outside. The outside and the inside cannot interact. That prevents apps from hacking into your banking app. Additionally, banking apps do not store your login information on the device, so any claims of credentials being stolen are either uninformed paranoia or the result of a very poorly developed banking app. As for Houseparty running a hack through your phone is concerned, Naked Security is a threat newsroom by Sophos, a security and encryption company thats been in the business for over 30 years. Naked Securitys report notes that it is unlikely that Houseparty is a rogue app, designed and serving the purpose of stealing data and credentials. What Could have gone wrong Naked Security hypothesizes that in this case, Houseparty was responsible for all the illicit activity, it's more likely that a server of theirs was compromised. That would need to be in conjunction with the fact that many users may have used the same password for their Houseparty account as they did for many others, effectively making their Houseparty password a masterkey of sorts. Additionally, Housepartys servers would need to store your account information, including your passwords, in a plain text file, a practice that is gravely frowned upon and definitely not expected from an app owned by Epic. While the company has denied any breach of their servers, there has been a trend amongst big corporations to defend their innocence until irrefutable evidence to the contrary is found. Thus, the only way to prove that Houseparty's servers were hacked is if the group responsible was to come forward with damning evidence. Another nail in the hacker app coffin Typically, when hackers want to siphon off data from your phone, they will usually send you a link to click on, which will take you to a legitimate-looking website, but in the background, its probably installing malware scripts to steal the contents of your phone. The reason for this is because both iOS and Android have a very robust app-screening process, one that catches apps that are pure malware. While a few apps with deeply embedded questionable code do slip through every now and then, an app that housed code to infiltrate every sandbox, monitor all keystrokes and upload all that data to third-parties would never pass Googles Play Protect scans or the scrutiny of the iOS App Store moderation team. Typically, if users do find an app behaving maliciously, teams at Android and Apple proactively look into the app and remove it, something that hasnt happened with Houseparty yet, despite the major social media uproar. Epic Bounty Program Convinced that this is nothing short of a smear campaign, Epic has announced two bounty programs. The first bounty program offers a million U.S. dollars to anyone who can provide hard evidence of the Houseparty app actually hacking through a users phone. The second bounty program is for another million dollars, up for grabs to anyone who can point to the source of this misinformation campaign. With two million dollars up for grabs, its difficult to ignore the confidence Epic has in its propertys innocence. What Should You Do If the novelty for Houseparty has worn off, you can delete your account before deleting the app. If you would still like to continue using Houseparty, it would be recommended that you change the passwords to your other social media, email and services accounts. This is so that in the off-chance hackers gained access to the host server for Houseparty and discovered the user passwords, your other accounts are no longer vulnerable. Although Houseparty has clarified through its official Twitter account that none of their servers were breached and that all accounts are still secure. If youre still shaking with paranoia, then feel free to delete your account and the app, but DO NOT forget to change all your passwords. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-01 02:52:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian air defenses responded to an Israeli missile strike in the central province of Homs on Tuesday evening, state TV reported. The Israeli warplanes fired missiles from inside the Lebanese airspace, said the report, adding that a number of missiles were intercepted. The missiles were targeting military positions, said the report, adding that the Syrian air defenses used big fire power to intercept the missiles. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Israeli missiles targeted the Shayrat air base in the countryside of Homs with eight missiles. The strike is the latest in a series of Israeli missile attacks. On March 5, Syrian air defenses intercepted Israeli missile attacks in Homs and the southern Quneitra province. Throughout the Syrian crisis, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes against Iranian targets in Syria, as well as convoys transporting weapons to the Lebanese Hezbollah group. On Feb. 23, the Syrian air defenses intercepted a number of Israeli missiles over the capital Damascus. On Feb. 13, the Syrian air defenses intercepted a number of missiles from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that targeted areas around Damascus. On Feb. 6, Israel carried out a similar attack around the capital Damascus, killing a number of pro-government fighters, according to the Observatory. In January, Damascus accused the Israeli air force of carrying out an attack on the T4 military airport in central Syria. The strikes further highlighted the sprawling tensions between Israel and Iran in Syria. Clashes between the two countries have escalated over the past months. Israel accuses Iran of entrenching itself near the Israeli border. In 2019 alone, more than 17 Israeli attacks took place against targets in Syria. 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. Archived Results for Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 Newer Older Entries Page 1 Page 2 In a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Indian Army has issued an advisory warning the troops against concealing symptoms and information related to the pandemic. "Non-disclosure of the information related to COVID-19 is likely to put other troops in harm and this act of not disclosing information will be treated as wilful concealment and it will be dealt with as a breach of discipline under the Army Act," the advisory said. The advisory made it clear that it is obligatory for all ranks to disclose any of the conditions immediately to superiors during rollcall and while screening by the medical authorities. The information, which the troops are required to give, include symptoms of cough, throat pain, fever, difficulty in breathing and contact with any COVID-19 patient or relative or friend while being on leave or temporary duty. The troops are also required to reveal any travel history to be identified COVID-19 hotspots by the government of India. The advisory also mentioned that the COVID-19 has spread to all parts of the country and the troops and their families are at risk of getting infected. In most people, the infection will be passed off as mild illness, however, it has the potential to cause severe respiratory illness. The Army has been making a lot of efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 amongst its rank and file and has also issued multiple advisories to deal with it. So far, there have been only three cases of COVID-19 in the 1.3 million-strong force including a jawan in Ladakh, who might have been infected by his father. The jawan's father had recently returned from an Islamic pilgrimage site in Iran. The other two include a doctor in Eastern Command Kolkata while the third person is a Junior Commissioned Officer in Dehradun. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and other public sector oil companies have contributed over Rs 1,000 crore to the Prime Minister CARES Fund to help in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic New Delhi: Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and other public sector oil companies have contributed over Rs 1,000 crore to the Prime Minister CARES Fund to help in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. ONGC was the top contributor with Rs 300 crore, followed by IOC chipping in Rs 225 crore. Privatisation-bound Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) provided Rs 175 crore, while Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) chipped in Rs 120 crore. Petronet LNG Ltd gave Rs 100 crore, gas utility GAIL Rs 50 crore and Oil India Ltd another Rs 38 crore. ONGC Chairman and Managing Director Shashi Shanker said the company gave Rs 300 crore from its corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds while the company employees contributed two days'' salary, totalling Rs 16 crore, to the fund. "We are maintaining oil and gas production by practicing social distancing," he said adding besides contributing to the PM fund, company employees and their families have feeding hungry daily wagers. In Vadodara, company employees not just fed daily wagers but also handed over 300 ration kits (8 kg each) to the district police chief for distribution. At Dehradun, the company distributed 10,000 sanitizers and an equal number of face masks to poor slum dwellers. In Noida, ONGC employees at their personal level handed over 100 food packets to the police, he said. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak "IndianOil as a responsible corporate is contributing Rs 225 crore to #PMCaresFund specially created to combat COVID-19 pandemic," the company said in a tweet adding its employees are also contributing two days of their salary towards the fund. In a statement, Petronet LNG Ltd said it has made a contribution of Rs 100 crore to the PM CARES fund. "While ensuring a seamless supply of LNG to India, the company stands with the nation and has also contributed Rs 1.53 crore to various health institutions for procuring personal protective equipment for healthcare workers at Bharuch in Gujarat and Kochi in Kerala," it said. BPCL in a statement said it continues to operate units, feeding the nation with fuel and LPG. "We want to assure everyone that we have enough of LPG stock, across our network. All our LPG plants have enough manpower to operate them and all our distributors are making all efforts to deliver Bharatgas cylinders at the doorstep of our consumers," it said. "BPCL and its subsidiaries commit Rs 175 crore towards PM CARES fund to help the government to combat coronavirus, as our humble contribution towards the well-being of the society," it said. Oil India Ltd Chairman and Managing Director Sushil Chandra Mishra said the company is contributing Rs 38 crore to the fund. "OIL strives not only towards energy security of the nation but also is resolved in rising to the occasion to combat this difficult time." Besides, employees of OIL have contributed one days salary to the PM fund, he said. GAIL, besides contributing Rs 50 crore to the PM Fund, said its employees have contributed 2 days salary amounting to Rs 3.8 crore. Further, Numaligarh Refineries Ltd has contributed Rs 25 crore, OIDB Rs 17 crore, MRPL Rs 2 crore, CPCL Rs 2 crore and Engineers India Ltd Rs 1 crore. "I am grateful, and delighted, to announce that the oil and gas establishment is ready with a contribution of Rs 1031.29 crore by the PSUs and other oil JVs for the PM-Cares Fund. Additionally, Rs 61 cr has been contributed by colleagues of PSUs from their salaries for the #PMCARES," Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tweeted. "I am humbled to see the commitment of our people of oil and gas PSUs when the world faces one of the biggest crises. I am proud to be a part of this family," he added. CLEVELAND, Ohio Ohios limited ability to test for coronavirus means we likely wont ever know how many people develop COVID-19. Even some who die from the disease may not be counted. Health officials say a severe shortage of testing materials restricts their ability to confirm cases, both for the living and the dead. But testing for the virus, even after death, is vital for efforts to understand how the virus spreads, how it manifests and who is at greatest risk of illness. Without this basic information, here in Ohio and in other states across the country, the true scope, scale and severity of the pandemic will remain unknown. Across Ohio, health departments and hospitals each must decide how to deploy the limited testing resources they have. That includes collection kits, the swabs and vials that are sent to a lab, and the testing kits used by labs to process the samples and get results. Read more: Local coronavirus test results delayed, creating backlog of data and anxiety for patients Most tests in the state are being reserved, at the Ohio Department of Healths direction, for health care professionals, first responders, hospitalized patients and those who live in high-risk environments, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities or suspected hotspots for the virus. Collecting samples from those who die, called postmortem testing, is extremely limited in Ohio. Case-by-case postmortem testing The states COVID-19 deaths, as reported daily, do include several cases in which a test for coronavirus was conducted postmortem, said Melanie Amato, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). ODH could not provide an exact number of positive postmortem coronavirus tests to date, which are confirmed by state or private labs. However, some county medical examiners and coroners told The Plain Dealer they didnt have the ability to do postmortem testing because they lacked the kits to collect samples. In Cuyahoga County, postmortem testing is being done on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the board of health, which has been investigating the spread of the virus by tracing contacts and identifying clusters of cases in the community, Dr. Thomas Gilson, medical examiner, said. Only a handful of postmortem tests have been completed, he said, and so far none have come back positive, Gilson said. To determine who to test, Gilson said, officials ask, Who do we get the most benefit from testing? That might include a person who lived in a densely populated housing complex and who died from respiratory-related symptoms, he said. More robust testing capabilities, or even to be able to autopsy those who die, would help build a better understanding of the new virus, Gilson said. But its not feasible right now and that makes it harder to know how prevalent COVID-19 is in the community, he said. There are things that are going to be missed, Gilson said. You are not going to identify every case. Dr. Heidi Gullett, medical director for the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, said postmortem tests can give public health officials a more accurate picture of the number of deaths related to coronavirus and could help them better understand if contact tracing, quarantine and isolation efforts are working. For the most part, Gilson said, confirmed COVID-19 deaths wont fall under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner offices because, like other viruses or infectious diseases, they would be considered natural deaths. Those deaths can be reported and certified by physicians. Tests his office can do, however, can provide an important backstop to catch cases that involve people who didnt seek medical care or who didnt qualify for one of the limited tests available, Gilson said. That could include cases where a person dies at home or if a person dies in a hospital or nursing home. Gilson said his office also has collected samples from deaths that preceded the testing capabilities, including from a person who had been on a cruise ship, and froze the samples. We saved them, and we could look back, Gilson said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended as of March 25 that medical examiners, coroners and other healthcare professionals use their judgement to determine if a person who died had COVID-19 symptoms and should be tested. Playing into those decisions could be whether a person had close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case or exposure within a cluster respiratory illness cases, like in a long-term care facility. Gap on postmortem testing In Ohio, the three counties with the most coronavirus-related deaths are Cuyahoga, Miami and Summit counties, and each has a different approach to postmortem testing. In Summit County, there are no tests available for postmortem testing, chief investigator Gary Guenther said. Including for people who exhibited respiratory symptoms but were never tested for COVID-19. Our testing capacities are so low at this point, were just trying to test individuals who are hospitalized, said Marlene Martin, spokesperson for the Summit County Public Health Department. Miami County, like many other counties in that area, relies on Montgomery County to perform autopsies and testing, said Coroner Dr. William Ginn. Montgomery County has performed a handful of tests but it, too, has been limited by a shortage of swabs, Coroner Dr. Kent Harshbarger said. The county, he said, had a limited number of tests for postmortem cases and only has two left. No one has swabs, Harshbarger said. There is a bit of a gap on postmortem testing. For that reason the number of deaths related to COVID-19 will be skewed, Harshberger said, and mostly only include those who died while hospitalized, since tests are being reserved for those high-risk patients. Theoretically, someone could die at home now or in the next few days and have symptoms and we won't have the capacity to test, he said. Montgomery County charges other counties $700 to collect a postmortem test. And Harshbargers team is only performing autopsies on confirmed cases if theres a homicide or suicide, to limit the staffs exposure to coronavirus. Cuyahoga Countys Gilson said his office will continue to track death trends, comparing whats happening now with previous years, to try to understand the bigger picture of the impact of the pandemic on overall mortality. What probably keeps me up at night is the stuff that I dont have the data to talk about yet, Gilson said. Gilson said hes thankful for what the state health department and governor have done to mitigate the number of deaths from the virus. Our curve is flatter than elsewhere, he said. It makes the response a lot more feasible. More coronavirus coverage: Delivering without doulas: Coronavirus hospital restrictions remove key support for black women Expectant moms, hospitals grapple with coronavirus uncertainties Cuyahoga County received 312 complaints about nonessential business operations Health care workers balance protecting family, serving community during coronavirus pandemic Cuyahoga County disease detectives,' CWRU medical students track coronavirus in one of Ohios hotspots Cuyahoga Countys public health warriors try to get ahead of the local coronavirus curve Russian MPs pass bill on prison terms for epidemiological rules breaching RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 12:22 31/03/2020 MOSCOW, March 31 (RAPSI) The State Duma passed in a final third reading on Tuesday a bill to toughen punishment for violation of sanitary and epidemiological rules up to 7 years in prison. Amendments are proposed to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The initiative in particular tightens punishment for breaching quarantine. During the coronavirus pandemic such actions increase a prompt mass virus infection hazard, according to one of the bills authors, the head of the lower houses Committee on State Building and Legislation Pavel Krasheninnikov. By the second reading the document was amended by sanctions for the distribution of fake news on the matter. Thus, violation of sanitary and epidemiological rules resulting in the crowd disease or poisoning would result in fines from 500,000 to 700,000 rubles ($6,500 9,000). Also, imprisonment for up to 2 years is possible. Sanitary rules violations led to death by are to be punished with fines starting from 1 million rubles ($13,000) or imprisonment from 3 to 5 years. If such breachs result in the death of two or more people, violators would face prison sentence of up to 7 years. Distribution of fake news about circumstances posing threat to life and safety of citizens or security and protection measures would be pubishable by fines ranging from 300,000 to 700,000 rubles or restriction of liberty for up to 3 years. If a fake results in the health harm, the fines could reach 1.5 million rubles and prison terms 3 years. In cases the fake news disseminating leads to death or other grave consequences, violators would face fines ranging from 1.5 to 2 million rubles ($19,000 - 25,500) or imprisonment for up to 5 years. According to Krasheninnikov, these penalties would apply to individuals. Sanctions for legal entities are stipulated by the Code on Administrative Offenses. To cater to requirements of various Municipal Corporations for disinfectant purpose Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals announced that in line with the Government of India's announcement on 24 March 2020 to observe nation-wide lockdown for 21 days with effect from 25 March 2020 upto 14 April 2020, the Company has also decided to continue the shut-down of its plants at Baroda and Dahej Complexes until further orders from the Government. Meanwhile, the company has started temporary operation of its Stable Bleaching Powder (SBP) Plant at Dahej from yesterday i.e. 30 March 2020 as this product is required by various Municipal Corporations for disinfectant purpose. Operation of other plants are still under shut-down conditions Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement A man accused of breaching his self-isolation orders three times in the one weekend has a history of drug and damaging property offences, police will allege in court. Matthew Adam Stephan, 30, got off a plane in Sydney from Jordan with his mother on March 18. They were meant to go into mandatory two-week isolation at home in the city's south-west. But police allege he was caught him breaching self-isolation twice on Saturday, and a third time on Sunday when they attempted to forcibly quarantine him at Camperdown's Atlas Serviced apartments. A police source told Daily Mail Australia officers dropped Stephan off in the basement of the apartment complex and placed him in the care of NSW Health staff, who showed him to his room. But as the officers began to leave the police allegedly saw Stephan racing out of the building with health workers in hot pursuit. 'No. Not staying here. I'm leaving. I'm not staying here,' Stephan allegedly told police. Matthew Adam Stephan, 30, is accused of breaching self-isolation three times on the one weekend. He was meant to be staying at a home in Edensor Park, in Sydney's south-west Doing the right thing: Return travellers, above, are taken into quarantine at Perth international airport on Monday. Since the weekend, all new arrivals are being forced into mandatory quarantine at city hotels. Stephan arrived at a time when all arrivals were supposed to police themselves in self-isolation. On right, an officer helps with a traveller's luggage during quarantine Police will allege Stephan was dropped off by police at the Atlas Serviced Apartments but tried to leave the building as the cops began to leave Prosecutors have alleged Stephan spent much of the past weekend gallivanting around Sydney when he was meant to be quarantined at Edensor Park with his mother. He was arrested and taken into custody where he was charged with allegedly failing to comply with a public health order. Police will tell the court in documents that Stephan has a 'few charges for drugs and malicious damage' on his record. They include a 12 month good behaviour bond for possessing a prohibited drug in 2017 and an $800 fine for a destroy/damage property offence in January. At the weekend, police will allege officers first found him breaching quarantine in Pagewood, in Sydney's east, at 1.20am on Saturday. He was fined $1,000 for failing to comply with the Public Health Act. Later that day, police claim they ran into Stephan again on Pitt St, the main pedestrian mall in the city's CBD, about 10pm that evening. Stephan was then arrested and charged with failing to comply with a ministerial direction. Officers also alleged he was also breaching his bail conditions for a separate matter. On Sunday, he was charged by police with failing to comply with a public health order after his alleged escape attempt from the Atlas apartments. Court documents say Stephan was meant to be at home in Edensor Park (1). He was first allegedly caught by police in Pagewood (2) at 1.20am on Saturday, March 28. He then ran into officers on Pitt St, in the city's CBD, at 10pm that same day (3). On Sunday, he was allegedly caught trying to flee serviced apartments police had quarantined him in (4) at Camperdown Return travellers are now being forced into quarantine at hotels, as of Saturday evening. Above, a new arrival at Sydney Airport and on right, a member of the Army reserve, which is assisting the quarantine program 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, Stephan's lawyer Mostafa Daoudie told Magistrate Margaret Quinn that his client's mother had 'concerns about his mental health'. The magistrate ordered Stephan be taken from the police cells to St Vincent's Hospital for a mental health assessment and detention. Outside court, Mr Daoudie said: 'Today's outcome was the best for my client and the community. 'My client suffers from a number of mental health problems that will be addressed.' If he is not found to be mentally ill Stephan will return to court on Tuesday, the magistrate said. He is listed to appear in court and is yet to enter a plea. Stephan was lashed by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, in a media statement. He was condemned as 'reckless and selfish' over the allegations. 'I commend police on their continued efforts to ensure those who breach self-isolation directions face the full force of the law,' Mr Elliott said. In New South Wales, someone who breaches a quarantine order can face a maximum fine of $11,000 and six months' imprisonment. Citizens can offer police 16 reasonable excuses to be outside, ranging from attending work, exercising once per day to donating blood. A woman sews hospital masks at the Detroit Sewn facility on March 23, 2020 as the spread of the coronavirus continues in Pontiac, Michigan. Rebecca Cook/Reuters A new study from the University of Minnesota created a 3D model of the new coronavirus and found that it could bind far more efficiently to human cell receptors than the SARS virus. This might explain how the new coronavirus could spread across the globe at such a dizzying speed. This 3D map could help scientists create vaccines that block these cell receptors, stopping the new coronavirus before it can replicate. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. A new study offers fresh insight into the unique structure of the novel coronavirus that makes it so infectious. Researchers at the University of Minnesota created a 3D map of the virus, known technically as Sars-CoV-2. They found that it has a shell of thick spikes that latch onto human cell receptors much more efficiently than Sars, another type of coronavirus that caused a smaller-scale but devastating pandemic in Asia in 2002. Health officials around the world are already recommending social distancing to combat the pandemic because it's clear that infection is spread by coronavirus droplets produced when infected people cough or sneeze. This study, published in Nature, adds weight to that directive: the team found that even a relatively small amount of infectious droplets inhaled are highly likely to attach themselves to receptors in the body, which can develop into the disease COVID-19. "The 3D structure shows that compared to the virus that caused the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, the new coronavirus has evolved new strategies to bind to its human receptor, resulting in tighter binding of the receptor," study author Fang Li, associate professor in Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Minnesota, told Business Insider. The finding, first reported by the Guardian, could be a major step for researchers trying to understand the spread of the disease, and how to develop a vaccine, Miryam Wahrman, author of The Hand Book: Surviving in a Germ-Filled World and a biology professor at William Paterson University, told Insider. Story continues "Once you've figured the receptor out, it's like a lock in a key," said Wahrman, who was not involved in the study. The spiky proteins on the surface of Covid-19 latch onto human cell receptors more efficiently than the SARS virus, a study found. BII The researchers also studied similar coronaviruses in bats, which bind to ACE-2 receptors in almost exactly the same way, backing up theories that this coronavirus started in bats and mutated as it moved into humans. Those mutations have made Sars-CoV-2 distinct from other coronaviruses, like Sars, which primarily affect the lungs, while the novel coronavirus also latches into the sinuses and the throat. The structure of the novel coronavirus' spikes have a lot to do with that. "This virus can be more infectious in humans, because there's a great match between the lock and the key, the virus and the receptor. And it can spread more widely in the human population, because it's so efficient at the binding," Wahrman said. This map could be used to help figure out how to make a vaccine The study is just a starting point: it only analyzed part of the virus' spike and its host, and needs to be further studied to draw broad conclusions. Li told Business Insider this 3D map could provide a blueprint for developing new antibody drugs that could prevent the coronavirus from replicating in the body. "If a new antibody drug can bind to those sites on the virus more strongly and frequently than the receptor, it will block the virus out of cells, making it a potentially effective treatment for viral infections," he wrote Business Insider in an email, adding that this map could also be used to create a vaccine to stave off future coronavirus infections. "Within a couple of months, scientists have figured out the whole structure of the virus," said Wahrman. "What this means is scientists can begin to think about drugs that can block a virus from finding and infiltrating our cell to slow down the transmission of the virus." Experts say the soonest we can expect a vaccine is within 12-18 months, but the wheels are in motion. American corporation Johnson & Johnson announcing that human testing of their coronavirus vaccine will begin by September 2020, while biotech company Moderna has already begun testing its experimental vaccine on human volunteers. German companies like CureVac and BioNTech have also thrown their hats in the ring, while human trials are underway for French biotech company Sanofi's vaccine. Read the original article on Business Insider Oil prices have tanked in recent weeks, crashing more than 65% since January 2020 to the low $20s a barrel amid fears of slowing global economic growth and ample supply. The worlds appetite for energy has been massively hit since the outbreak of novel coronavirus. With 3 billion people in lockdown, International Energy Agency (IEA) reckons global oil demand will witness a drop of 20% in the near future. Further, the fallout between Russia and Saudi Arabia has resulted in a supply glut of crude oil and sparked off a relentless price war, depressing prices further and hurting the global energy industry. Top oil and gas giants offer stable dividend payouts, a strategy to maintain the appeal of the stock among investors. However, as the world fights a pandemic, top energy companies will have to reassess their payout strategies, either by slowing down share buybacks or reintroducing non-cash dividends. Re-modelling of Strategies a Pressing Priority Many oil companies had cut expenses during the 2014 oil downturn, which was driven by supply factors, including booming U.S. shale oil production and shifting OPEC policies. Oil majors like TOTAL S.A. TOT and Royal Dutch Shell RDS.A issued scrip dividends after the last slump, which enabled them to issue dividends in the form of shares rather than cash. Lets see how these companies are dealing with the oil downturn this time around. The latest fall in crude has led several oil giants to slash their 2020 spending plans. Supermajors like Shell, TOTAL and Chevron CVX have rationalized their planned capital budgeting for the current year to weather the crisis. Shell plans to trim its 2020 capital spending by a minimum of $5 billion from the past projection of $25 billion to $20 billion along with material reductions in working capital. It further plans to cut operating costs by $3-$4 billion over the next 12 months. Shell has also suspended its $25-billion share buyback plan. Story continues TOTAL has decided to lower its 2020 capital expenditure guidance by nearly 20% to less than $15 billion from the prior $18 billion. Chevron has trimmed its 2020 capital spending guidance by 20% to $16 billion and aims to lower its run-rate operating costs in excess of $1 billion by this year-end. It has also suspended its $5-billion share repurchase program to weather the weak crude pricing scenario. Italian energy firm Eni E has downwardly revised its 2020 capital budget by roughly 2 billion, representing 25% of its total budget. The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company has also decided to cut operating expenditure for 2020 by almost 400 million. Earlier this month, it even rolled back its 400 million stock repurchases plan.You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Equinor ASA EQNR has revised its capital budget this year to $8.5 billion from the earlier $10-$11 billion. With the above measures, the companies are expecting to balance their books, generate enough free cash flow and put a check on escalating debt levels. But none of them have announced dividend cuts yet. Morgan Stanley reckons oil majors debt level will rise too high by 2021. Much remains uncertain, but if commodity markets evolve as expected, we think European majors will start to reduce dividends in the second half of 2020, says Martijn Rats, Morgan Stanley analyst. Conclusion The market has had to deal with twin shocks of the coronavirus pandemic paralysing global energy demand and the unexpected oil price war that erupted between producers Russia and Saudi Arabia earlier this month. Oil majors have time and again expressed their reluctance to cut dividends in order to retain investor interest in the sector, which has suffered a setback due to concerns of long-term sustainability as the world seeks to curtail its use of fossil fuel. The top five oil majors-Chevron, TOTAL, BP plc BP, ExxonMobil XOM and Shell-added a combined $25 billion to debt levels in 2019 to sustain capital spending and return huge amounts to shareholders. Although we expect the companies to be able to sustain their payout in at least 2020, in order to sustain it, they will have to review their costs and deepen operational and capital expenditure cuts. If energy giants do not reduce their payouts, they might have to resort to debt. Oil markets have experienced significant volatility and price declines amid concerns over the economic effects of coronavirus. However, oversupply of oil and slack in demand should not last forever, and once the economy regains momentum, the question to cut dividend payouts will hopefully not arise. Yet, the question on the affordability of such generous returns due to high levels of debt and growing crisis remains pertinent. Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020? Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys. Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report TOTAL S.A. (TOT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Chevron Corporation (CVX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Eni SpA (E) : Free Stock Analysis Report BP p.l.c. (BP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDS.A) : Free Stock Analysis Report Statoil ASA (EQNR) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research A placard commemorating NASA's "Send Your Name to Mars" campaign was installed on the Perseverance Mars rover on March 16, 2020, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Three fingernail-sized chips affixed to the upper-left corner of the placard feature the names of 10,932,295 people who participated. They were individually stenciled onto the chips by electron beam, along with the essays of the 155 finalists in NASA's "Name the Rover" contest. Liftoff aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket is targeted for mid-July of 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. NASA's Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy, is managing the launch. Credit NASA/JPL-Caltech NASA's "Send Your Name to Mars" campaign invited people around the world to submit their names to ride aboard the agency's next rover to the Red Planet. Some 10,932,295 people did just that. The names were stenciled by electron beam onto three fingernail-sized silicon chips, along with the essays of the 155 finalists in NASA's "Name the Rover" contest. The chips were then were attached to an aluminum plate on NASA's Perseverance Mars rover at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 16. Scheduled to launch this summer, Perseverance will land at Jezero Crater on Feb. 18, 2021. The three chips share space on the anodized plate with a laser-etched graphic depicting Earth and Mars joined by the star that gives light to both. While commemorating the rover that connects the two worlds, the simple illustration also pays tribute to the elegant line art of the plaques aboard the Pioneer spacecraft and golden records carried by Voyagers 1 and 2. Affixed to the center of the rover's aft crossbeam, the plate will be visible to cameras on Perseverance's mast. Currently, the coronavirus has not impacted the Mars Perseverance rover launch schedule. The installation was one of numerous recent activities performed by the Perseverance assembly, test and launch operations team. On March 21, the team began reconfiguring the rover so it can ride atop the Atlas V rocket. Steps included stowing the robotic arm, lowering and locking in place the remote sensing mast and high-gain antenna, and retracting its legs and wheels. The Perseverance rover is a robotic scientist weighing just under 2,300 pounds (1,043 kilograms). It will search for signs of past microbial life, characterize Mars' climate and geology, collect samples for future return to Earth, and help pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet. JPL, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, is building and will manage operations of the Mars Perseverance rover for NASA. The agency's Launch Services Program, based at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is responsible for launch management. The Mars 2020 project with its Perseverance rover is part of a larger program that includes missions to the Moon as a way to prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet. Charged with returning astronauts to the Moon by 2024, NASA will establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon by 2028 through NASA's Artemis lunar exploration plans. For more information about the mission, go to: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/ For more about NASA's Moon to Mars plans, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/topics/moon-to-mars Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. MADRID: Tightened lockdowns across the planet saw nearly half of humanity told to stay at home in a bid to stem the spiralling coronavirus pandemic, as Spain recorded its deadliest day Tuesday and the United States braced for the full impact of the disease. The virus has claimed nearly 38,000 lives worldwide in a health crisis that is rapidly reorganising political power, hammering the global economy and the daily existence of some 3.6 billion people. Spain, whose outbreak is the world's second deadliest after Italy, broke another national record of 849 deaths in one day Tuesday, dampening hopes it could have passed the peak of the crisis that has debilitated the country for weeks. In battered Italy, flags flew at half-mast during a minute of silence to honour the more than 11,500 people who have perished from the virus, and the health workers still working through nightmarish conditions. Although there are signs the spread of infections is slowing in Italy, hundreds are still dying every day, leading authorities to extend a stringent nationwide shutdown despite its crushing economic impact. In Belgium a 12-year-old girl infected with COVID-19 was pronounced dead, a rare case of a young person succumbing to the disease, and yet another grim reminder of its reach. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits an industrial park, which produces high-end auto parts and molds, in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 29, 2020. Xi on Sunday inspected the resumption of work and production in Zhejiang. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) HANGZHOU, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China will roll out more targeted measures to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) hit by the COVID-19 outbreak restart production and further develop. Xi made the remarks during an inspection to east China's Zhejiang Province which began on Sunday. Visiting the service center of an industrial park producing high-grade auto parts and molds in Ningbo on Sunday, Xi talked with the managing staff of the park, and representatives of SMEs management and employees returning to Zhejiang. Various industries and enterprises have been affected during the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, said Xi. A series of policies have been introduced and will be improved in tandem with the changes of the situation, said Xi, adding more targeted measures will be rolled out to help SMEs restart production and further develop. "We need to rise to the challenges. With the support of the Party and the government, we must stick together through thick and thin to overcome the difficulties," Xi stressed. A 71-year-old British man was discharged from the Hue Central Hospital Tuesday after recovering from Covid-19 infection. With his discharge, the national tally of discharged patients goes up to 56. He's been given his passport and a health certificate upon discharge, said Pham Nhu Hiep, the hospital director. The patient has tested negative for the Covid-19 virus twice and is being released in accordance with protocols set by the Health Ministry, he said. Upon discharge, the patient will be quarantined in a resort in Phu Vang District for the next 14 days. The patient's wife, a 66-year-old British woman also infected with Covid-19, is still being treated at the Hue Central Hospital. "I hope my wife will also be discharged soon, after which we would return to the U.K.," said the British man, after thanking doctors and nurses for having taken care of both of them. The couple had landed in Hanoi March 2 on Vietnam Airlines flight VN54. The wife had tested Covid-19 positive on March 8, and the husband on March 14. At least 14 other people on that flight were also later found to be infected with the Covid-19 virus. Vietnam has recorded 204 Covid-19 infections so far. Many of the active cases are Vietnamese nationals returning from Europe and the U.S., foreigners coming from the same regions and those whod come into contact with both groups of people. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected 200 countries and territories, killing more than 37,800 people. The Biotech Growth Trust PLC 31 March 2020 Coronavirus Investor Update It is clear that the coronavirus pandemic is having a far more severe impact on markets than previous virus outbreaks, with governments taking increasingly draconian measures to contain the virus. However, despite the significant economic implications, with unprecedented volatility in the markets, we still believe the outbreak will ultimately be a temporary phenomenon and should not have a long-term fundamental effect on the biotech industry. While there is clearly a lot of panic in the markets, there are several near-term events that could potentially calm investors, including signs that the social distancing measures implemented by various governments are effectively reducing the rate of new cases, a peaking in the number of confirmed cases in hotspots like Italy and New York, the continued decline of mortality rate estimates as broader testing is carried out and physicians learn more about properly managing the disease, and progress from the biotech and pharmaceutical sector on the development of treatments and vaccines for COVID-19. It is also possible that warmer weather later in the spring may help to limit further spread of the virus. The stock market is forward-looking, so we don't believe every case of the virus needs to disappear for the market to begin to recover. Much of the virus' economic impact has already been reflected in share prices with the steep drop in the market. As the increasingly stringent lockdown measures implemented in the US cause a dramatic slowing of the economy, the US government has already taken unprecedented actions to stimulate the economy, including the Federal Reserve's implementation of "unlimited" quantitative easing and passage of a $2 trillion fiscal stimulus package, the largest in US history. There is now talk in Congress of an additional fiscal stimulus package to be passed in the coming weeks. These financial measures should help stabilize markets and accelerate a recovery once the virus outbreak has been brought under control. Healthcare, as a defensive sector, should fare better economically during government-mandated lockdowns than other parts of the economy. In terms of the impact to biotech specifically, there may be some temporary negative impact to commercial sales, potential delays for clinical trials, possible regulatory delays, and a more dilutive financing environment with the decline in share prices. However, sales of drugs taken by patients at home should be minimally impacted, supply chain disruption for biotech has been largely non-existent, the FDA has stated that it intends to adhere to drug approval timelines, and most biotech companies have sufficient cash to avoid any imminent financing needs. Overall, any headwinds should be manageable for the industry. While we cannot predict the daily volatility of the market in the near-term, we think the current market dislocation provides an excellent buying opportunity for the biotech sector for long-term investors. Outside of the coronavirus, all of the fundamental investment themes for biotech remain intact: unprecedented innovation based on novel technologies, a friendly FDA proactively approving new drugs, compelling valuations relative to historical norms, and expected continued M&A activity. The only headwind that had dampened sector performance prior to COVID-19 was the political overhang of the Democrats potentially nominating a progressive Presidential candidate like Bernie Sanders, who supports nationalizing the US healthcare system. With Joe Biden's strong performance in recent Democratic state primaries, Biden has become the clear presumptive Democratic nominee. His centrist approach markedly reduces the likelihood of dramatic healthcare reform, and we believe the political overhang has largely abated with his ascendance. This significant positive fundamental development for biotech has been completely overshadowed by the coronavirus. Additionally, we think the biopharmaceutical industry's public image may actually be strengthened by the ongoing crisis. If a biotech or pharma company successfully develops a treatment or vaccine that curtails the epidemic, the electorate may develop a greater appreciation for the value to humanity that the industry provides. Our investment strategy in light of the coronavirus outbreak remains largely unchanged. We are fundamental stock pickers, and we have been capitalizing on the market volatility to improve the quality of the portfolio and add to our best ideas. We have not made significant changes to the overall structure of the portfolio or altered our emphasis on emerging biotech. While the higher-beta emerging biotech names experienced a greater share price decline on average in March compared to the large-cap biotechs, we believe the emerging names will rebound more strongly when the virus crisis abates. We are encouraged by the biotech companies attempting to develop potential treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, but we have not actively "chased" these names, as the probability of success and ultimate revenue potential from those therapies remains unknown. Having said that, some of the Trust's portfolio companies happen to have active coronavirus programs, including Gilead Sciences (developing the antiviral remdesivir), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (developing antibody treatments for COVID-19), and CanSino Biologics (a Chinese vaccine company which has already advanced a vaccine for coronavirus into human trials). Overall, we are staying the course but trying to be as nimble as we can. The entire public equity team - analysts, portfolio managers, traders - are in constant virtual communication every day in real time using the latest technologies available. Despite the significant challenges the coronavirus is posing to countries worldwide, we are more focused than ever on choosing the best investment opportunities for long-term sustained performance. Geoffrey Hsu, CFA, OrbiMed Advisors LLC Portfolio Manager, The Biotech Growth Trust PLC Please note a number of the companies mentioned are owned by The Biotech Growth Trust PLC ('BIOG') Important Information The Biotech Growth Trust PLC (the Company) is a public limited company whose shares are premium listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and is registered with HMRC as an investment trust. The Company has an indeterminate life, although shareholders consider and vote on the continuation of the Company every five years (the next such vote will be held in 2020). This update is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase shares in the Company and has not been prepared in connection with any such offer or invitation. Before investing in the Company, or any other investment product, you should satisfy yourself as to its suitability and the risks involved, and you may wish to consult a financial adviser. Any return you receive depends on future market performance and is uncertain. The Company does not seek any protection from future market performance so you could lose some or all of your investment. For information on the principal risks the Company is exposed to please refer to the Company's Annual Report or Investor Disclosure Document available at www.biotechgt.com. Shares in the Company are bought and sold on the London Stock Exchange. The price you pay or receive, like other listed shares, is determined by supply and demand and may be at a discount or premium to the underlying net asset value of the Company. Usually, at any given time, the price you pay for a share will be higher than the price you could sell it. The Company has increased its exposure to investments via the use of an overdraft facility and derivatives, and this could potentially magnify any losses or gains made by the Company. The Annual Report and Investor Disclosure Document, available on the Company's website, include further details on the use of, and exposure to, derivatives. Enquiries: Mark Pope Frostrow Capital LLP Company Secretary Tel: 020 3008 4913 LG Household & Health Care CEO Cha Suk-yong By Kim Jae-heun LG Household & Health Care's (LG H&H) has branched out into America but its prospects aren't looking too bright. The Korean cosmetic firm acquired American health and beauty company New Avon last April to act as a bridgehead into expanding its business into the world's largest cosmetics market. However, if New Avon continues to record deficits, this may lead to problems for the Korean company's broader plans. The American cosmetics firm recorded a 40 billion won loss in 2018, which was the year before LG H&H acquired the company. New Avon was also projected to record another 20 billion won deficit this year, but in light of the worsening situation due to the novel coronavirus, it will likely see an even greater loss. When a virus pandemic hits a country, demand for food and daily necessities goes up while demand for fashion clothing and cosmetics products decreases. LG H&H says it is in the beginning of expanding is business in the American market so it is not highly concerned about recording losses with New Avon. However, the Korean firm did not deny the fact that new coronavirus will hamper its plans to do anything there because the whole country might lock down in fear of infection. The outlook of LG H&H's performance in other countries including its biggest market in China also looks poor. If the cosmetics firm is struck hard by the pandemic, it may have to halt its investment in the American firm to aid other markets. Also, the American market is far more saturated and competitive than other markets. For example, newcomers often have to offer unique items in order to find success. LG H&H has previously been successful with its strategy targeting VIPs in China but the American market has totally different characteristics. The Korean firm has to fully understand the market and offer customized products for Americans. As families, educators, and community leaders wrestle with COVID-19, well be trying to bring conversations to readers that will be helpful in confronting the challenge. Mike Casserly has been the executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools , a coalition of the nations large urban public school districts, for more than two decades. Prior to this, he was the organizations director of legislation and research for 15 years. I recently talked to Mike about what the coronavirus has meant for urban schools, and how theyve been dealing with the challenges its presented. Heres what he had to say. Rick: Whats the biggest thing that people dont understand about what districts are dealing with right now? Mike: I think a lot of people would be surprised at how early big-city public school systems started planning for this. Most of our districts started developing plans and sharing strategies with one another around the third week of January. That doesnt mean that we are fully on top of everything, but the early planning gave us a head start that has helped all of us. Like hospitals, one major thing we are dealing with now is serving our students and families while trying to make sure that our own people dont get sick. Even with stay-at-home orders, we have food-service workers, bus drivers, custodians, administrators, and security staff in the field delivering meals and electronic devices for instruction. These are our first responders, and they are doing incredible work under difficult circumstances. I suspect the public doesnt quite understand the extent of the efforts being made. Rick: What are some of the other major challenges that your districts are facing? Mike: We have substantial challenges despite our early start on much of the work. Our biggest challenge will be how to ensure equity. But there are a number of others including figuring out how to conduct evaluations for students with disabilities, how to register incoming students new to the country, how to retrofit school buses that are delivering meals with refrigeration, how to deal with devices that dont work, how to provide mental-health services for those in need, and how to pay for the services were providing and the people who are providing them. Rick: Whats got you most concerned about all this? Mike: Our immediate concerns are around the virus itself and keeping people safe. Obviously, we will get through this in a matter of weeks or months, but my biggest concern is around the unfinished learning we may face when students go back to school next fall. When schools reopen, we are likely to face not only the instruction for the new school year but also a lot of catch-up instruction for students who did not grasp the concepts they will need going forward. Our folks are working triple time to provide the instruction students need now, but there will be gaps, especially with our struggling learners, students with disabilities, homeless, and English-learners. Rick: Your districts serve a lot of kids who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch. Can you talk a bit about efforts to continue serving those kids and how theyre going? Mike: Every one of our districts has put multiple food-service operations in place. Some districts are providing meals every day; others are providing meals for multiple days at a time. All are providing at least one meal a day, and some are providing three. Meals are being provided at pickup stations, and some are being dropped off where students liveincluding homeless sites. In a couple of instances, at sites where our food-service workers have gotten sick, the districts have had to temporarily shut those down, deep clean them, and redeploy meals and staff to differing sites. You can see great examples in every city. Philadelphia is distributing three breakfasts and three lunches per student two days per week at 49 schools and locations. Portland, Oregan has 15 meal-distribution sites with walk-up or drive-thru service, with one breakfast and one lunch provided to each child. St. Paul serves some 42,000 meals a day at school curbsides, on bus routes, and some home delivery. Each student gets a box with five breakfasts and five lunches included. All districts are making tactical changes to their meal-delivery services as numbers grow. Rick: What is the state of the districts instructional programs as they are dealing with the virus? Mike: Its a work in progress. Some districts like Cleveland are distributing hard copies of lessons; others are moving to online instruction. Many use a combination. Miami-Dade County has distributed nearly 60,000 devices for online learning; has trained some 18,000 teachers; set up a call center for students, parents, and teachers; and is working with its service providers to identify and close internet deserts in the county. Los Angeles is using its Public Broadcast System television station to provide lessons. Long Beach is using crowdsourcing strategies to assemble teachers for joint lesson development and planning. Baltimore is providing devices to its students with adaptations for students with disabilities. Wichita is providing online professional development for teachers every hour on the hour on how to provide blended learning. New York City is setting up hot spots in its public housing. Orlando is creating a virtual Parent Academy. San Diego is working with students and families to provide appropriate accommodations with their online devices. Dallas is providing virtual meetings for their special education parents in lieu of their regular in-person meetings. The District of Columbia has developed and distributed instructional packets for English-learners without internet service. And Boston and many others are holding their board meetings online. Rick: How are you thinking about planning into this summer and beyond? Is reopening schools likely? What are the considerations? Mike: Most of our districts did initial planning with the expectation that they might be able to reopen in mid-April. Obviously, this is not likely, so they are spending a lot of time planning for meals, instruction, graduations, etc., through the remainder of this school year. Reopening schools during the summer or earlier in the fall will depend on all kinds of things from collective bargaining agreements, to funding, to whether states will allow it. Several states, for instance, bar schools from opening too early in the fall in order to protect their tourism business. This may have to be rethought. When the time comes to return to school, we will need to build confidence in the public that having students return to their classrooms and buses is safe. Rick: What are your districts doing for staff? Are they being paid? How are you thinking about this? Mike: Yes, staff are being paid for the most part, but some hourly employees may not be if they are not working. Unfortunately, the Trump administration and Congress didnt help us much on this front when they established a new federally required expenditure for additional paid emergency sick leave and family and medical leave but prohibited school districts and other governmental entities from receiving the same federal payroll-tax-credit subsidy that private-sector employers will receive for identical emergency paid-leave expenditures. Rick: OK, so what should Washington or the states be doing to help right now? Mike: Send money, waive everything waivable, and file charges against any vendor who tries to price-gouge. We saw a recent example where one of the milk suppliers jacked up prices substantially on a district trying to provide meals for its students. The states and the federal government should know that districts do not yet have good projections on their loss of school revenue for the current and upcoming year. There is always a lag between the onset of any economic downturn and its effects on school revenues. School districts are being asked to keep track of their spending on virus-related activities, but we wont know the effects on revenues for a while. Some longer-range thinking and planning on the part of the federal government and the states on how to maintain the financial underpinnings of public education will be necessary. Rick: Is there anything else youd like people to know? Mike: There are several things that might be useful. One, there is just no substitute for students being with teachers as lessons are being taught. Our districts are using all kinds of mechanisms to ensure that teachers have access to their students. But even distance learning, as good as it can be, is no replacement for a teacher. Two, if your district has asked for and received a waiver from its state, a parent does not have to have a child with them when they pick up a meal. Three, most of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is not waivable, and the Department of Education cannot set aside the law on its own. Recent legislation asks the department to review and recommend provisions that Congress might consider for flexibility, but it is Congress prerogative. Four, parents should be careful with the online educational tools that are now flooding the airwaves. Check with your childs teacher on what is appropriate. Rick: If people want more information about whats going on, where could they go? Mike: They could go to www.cgcs.org/corona if theyd like to know more. We keep a running update city-by-city of what people are doing. Rick: OK, last question. What have you seen thats most promising or heartening? Mike: Every time we are involved in responding to one of these situations or something like itwhether its hurricanes, floods, shootings, bombings, 9/11, or earthquakes; man-made or natural disastersI am always heartened by the extraordinary compassion, energy, and skill of our big-city school folks who move mountains to make sure that our communities get what they need. Milwaukee is providing a nice example where teachers are creating and distributing lessons over YouTube and ClassDoJo; kitchen crews are getting up early to cook some 12,000 meals a day and distribute them to 20 sites across the city; and print-shop staff ran 30,000 supplemental instructional booklets for students. The spirit of collaboration is palpable. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Express your opinion! Fill out this form to submit a Letter to the Editor. Submit Californias medical system and the nations, for that matter need more of just about everything to cope with the oncoming wave of COVID-19 cases. More ICU beds, more masks, gowns, ventilators and tests. They also need more doctors and nurses. The disease already is taking a toll on medical professionals in New York City, sickening and even killing some and requiring others to be quarantined. California and the rest of the nation must take notice and move quickly to create adequate staff for existing hospital beds and for the new ones being brought on line to fight the virus. On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced some first steps toward putting untapped medical expertise to work steps that we hope will make it possible to move students nearing the end of their training as well as retired and other former professionals into the workforce. But the vague announcement left unclear what changes would be made and how fast. Thats disappointing. At this point, the governor must move swiftly and purposefully to bring these healthcare workers where they are badly needed. As an article last week in The Times explained, 10,000 California nursing students are within a couple of months of completing their training and could bolster the ranks of hard-working hospital crews. The problem is that the nursing students need more clinical training to complete their degrees, but coronavirus lockdowns are keeping them from getting that training. So far, the state has refused to let students fill the gap by learning through computer simulations. Other states have led the way in overcoming such dilemmas. Idaho announced it would grant temporary emergency licenses; Texas softened the rules governing how many hours nursing students must work in hospital training rotations. Newsom outlined a system that might temporarily allow these nursing students to work under the supervision of hospital staff. Decisions would be made later about whether they must complete their formal training once the crisis is over or whether they would be considered ready for permanent licenses. Story continues Doctors are badly needed as well, and last week, New York Universitys medical school became the first to announce that it would graduate fourth-year students early if they volunteered to take internships at the universitys affiliated hospitals. Within days, several other medical schools followed suit. Officials in Massachusetts urged that state's medical schools to join the early-graduation movement, offering provisional licenses to the newly minted doctors. All four of its schools signed on, including Tufts and Harvard, which calls its early-graduation offer Option to Serve. Newsom's announcement Monday included a mention of medical students but lacked details about how the state would bring them on board. This state has a lineup of excellent medical schools, six of them run by the University of California; the governor should consider following Massachusetts lead. Failing to tap this crucial resource borders on the ridiculous. Doctors whove gone to medical school for nearly four years and nurses who are within two months of graduation isnt it obvious that they have learned and practiced the skills we need and that government, facing this enormous resource crisis, should be turning over every possible stone to put them on the job within two weeks when the crush comes? Lets not let stodgy bureaucracy stand in the way of this. The state appears to be moving more quickly on another front bringing seasoned doctors back from retirement. If their licenses lapsed less than five years ago, Newsom said, they will be given a shortcut back to being practicing doctors. Less clear was whether nurse practitioners would finally be allowed to treat patients without the direct oversight of a doctor under certain circumstances. These nurses, who undergo extra training and have experience working with patients, have proven their ability to provide excellent medical care. The change is long overdue, and it would be desirable even without a deadly pandemic in our midst. Newsom has the right idea. There are thousands of medical professionals ready to step up to treat the rest of us, despite the potential risk to themselves. All states should be considering these steps. Weve seen how quickly the number of COVID-19 cases can multiply and overwhelm our medical system. No one should be waiting around for that to happen without bringing more of these qualified hands on deck. Advertisement Australians forced to self-isolate in luxury five-star hotels continue to complain about their living conditions despite enjoying three meals and a bottle of wine each day, free internet and laundry service. Thousands of people returning from overseas in recent days have been put in 14-day quarantine in some of Australia's best hotels in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus. While some are enjoying city views from their hotel room windows, the isolation and lack of fresh air has taken a toll on others, including Australian food presenter Lyndey Milan. The cooking show personality, who has spent two days in isolation at the five-star Sydney Hilton hotel, took to Instagram on Monday night to complain dinner still hadn't arrived by 8.30pm. 'Hungry jet-lagged people not yet fed at 8.30pm,' she captioned the video. 'They don't answer the phone. No one has been fed,' she told staff guarding the rooms outside. Pictured: A traveller who has been holed up in a Sydney hotel to stop the spread of the coronavirus. She posted to Instagram on Monday to share an insight into life inside the quarantine One traveller complained about the timing of the dinner service, sharing a picture of her yet-to-be-eaten meal at 9.51pm and comparing it to plane food Among the first to be isolated were Norwegian Jewel cruise ship passengers, who arrived in Sydney last Thursday. Buses transported the arrivals to the five-star Hotel Swissotel, where they've been stuck inside their lavish rooms for the last three nights. Guests started a closed Facebook group to rant about the conditions and claim they've been treated worse than prisoners. Among them was Di Minter, who took to the page on Monday after her breakfast didn't arrive until 10am. 'Coco pops with milk, yoghurt, no spoon, no bowl to eat from, no juice, a cold slice of toast, butter and a choice of vegemite or peanut butter,' she wrote. 'Hmmm. I think I was the forgotten one. Thank goodness I'm a forward thinker, saved some juice from yesterday's pastries too as they gave me a double serving. Detainee 1605.' But that same traveller also gave a more optimistic take on her quarantine, sharing how she had made friends with her next-door neighbours and formed a WhatsApp group to wait out the two-week period with them Di Minter (left) and Australian food presenter Lyndey Milan (right) have both taken to social media to complain about the standard of their food Robert Wong received his breakfast around the same time. 'Though my meal is diabetic, it appears the serving is incomplete,' he wrote. 'One tub of yoghurt, one tub of fruits, a bundle of vegemite, peanut butter, butter and two weetbix cakes. 'Where are the sandwiches (if any)? What is the point of providing butter, vegemites, ect with nothing to go with it.' A letter from Swissotel uploaded on the page insisted it is trying to make guests stay comfortable during their two weeks in quarantine. Guests can order toiletries, fresh fruit, jars of coffee, snacks, medical supplies and alcohol, which is limited to one bottle of wine or three beers a day per room. They also receive complimentary internet and a free laundry service if they leave their laundry outside before 7pm each night. Lyndey Milan and other guests on her floor at the Hilton in Sydney were still waiting for dinner to arrive at 8.30pm Monday night One traveller who returned from Singapore gave a more optimistic take on her quarantine, sharing how she had made friends with her next-door neighbours and formed a WhatsApp group to wait out the two-week period with them. But she too complained about the timing of the dinner service, sharing a picture of her yet-to-be-eaten meal at 9.51pm and comparing it to plane food. 'Tonight's dinner is finally here,' she wrote. 'Does this remind you of plane food? If it's pre-prepared from a catering company, why does it come so late? I miss making my own food.' One woman claimed she was being treated 'worse than refugees or prisoners', while another said her five-star hotel was a 'miserable hellhole'. No complaints: Two Australians being quarantined at the Crown Promenade waved to media on Monday from their high rise hotel room Quarantine and chill: One woman who was sent to the Hilton hotel in Sydney took to Instagram to show off her lavish suite In Sydney, travellers are being sent to the InterContinental, Hilton, Swissotel and the Novotel on Darling Harbour. All three hotels are upmarket with starting prices of over $200 a night for standard rooms. In Melbourne, people are being accommodated in the Crown Promenade where guests typically pay a minimum price of $233 per night. One woman who was sent to Hilton Sydney for her quarantine shared footage of her spacious hotel room. She was particularly impressed with a television screen installed in the bathroom. Another decided to dress up in a white gown to pose for a picture in his Hilton hotel room, sharing the photo online with the caption: 'Did someone say ''quarantine''?' One man who was sent to the Crown Promenade in Melbourne thanked the taxpayers for his free food and accommodation in a series of Instagram stories. 'To all you guys paying taxes over the past year, thank you very much,' he said while showing his followers the meal that was dropped at his door. The return travellers are updating their Instagram followers about what life is like in the 14-day quarantine In Melbourne people are being accommodated in the Crown Promenade, where guests pay at least $233 per night Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, who has been tasked with handling the New South Wales coronavirus response, said those being required to isolate should stop complaining. 'I understand that maybe the sheets do not get changed daily but you are coming back into five-star hotels. They are not going that badly. There are people after the bushfires still living in tents and caravans. People are going okay,' he said. 'The reality is they are in a hotel room, and yes, they will be isolated for 14 days. That is for their own protection, the protection of their family members and the protection of the NSW community. Which hotels are being used for quarantine SYDNEY Swissotel on Market Street in Sydney's CBD - housing 292 former Norwegian Jewel cruise ship passengers who flew into Sydney on Thursday The InterContinental Novotel on Darling Harbour Rydges Airport Hotel (not an official quarantine hotel but is housing forcibly quarantined travellers) MELBOURNE Crown Promenade in Southbank, in the CBD - housing travellers who arrived from Auckland, Santiago, Doha and other destinations BRISBANE Airport Novotel Hotel - housing passengers from the flight that arrived into Brisbane from Denpasar at 4.46am on Sunday Ibis hotel at Brisbane Airport Advertisement Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) on Tuesday said it has contributed Rs 105 crore towards the PM-CARES Fund to help the government fight the coronavirus pandemic. Out of the Rs 105 crore, Rs 5 crore has been donated from LIC's Golden Jubilee Fund, the state-owned company said in a statement. "India is facing a huge challenge in the wake of the global pandemic which is unprecedented in its severity. LIC is committed to the welfare of India and her people. We promise our solidarity with the efforts of the government and will take every step to ensure the safety and security of people and relief for the affected," LIC Chairman M R Kumar said. In a separate release, LIC gave its customers an option to pay insurance premiums at their nearest common service centre (CSC). The Corporation also said customers can use all digital modes through its website to pay premiums without any service charges. Earlier this month, state-owned insurer also extended the deadline up to April 15. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Europe has become the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, with countries across the continent reporting large increases every day. Italy, the worst-hit country outside of China, has recorded a total of 23,073 positive cases and 2,158 deaths, in figures released by its health ministry on Monday. Some 2,749 have recovered. Spain, the next most affected, posted an extra 1,438 cases today, bringing its total to 9,191, while Germany has 6,012 up 1,174 from yesterday and suffered 13 deaths. A home delivery service run by people wearing facemasks in Italy amid the coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse/Sipa USA) Switzerland has 1,680 confirmed cases, with 2,200 having had an initial positive test, according to its health ministry, with 14 deaths. The UK has announced it has 1,543 confirmed cases, with 53 people having died after testing positive for the virus. 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 In a bid to fight the outbreak, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced a proposal to ban travel to the European Union for 30 days. In a video posted to Twitter, she said: The less travel, the more we can contain the virus. She added that it would be a temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the European Union and said: These travel restrictions should be in place for an initial period of 30 days which can be prolonged as necessary. The @EU_Commission presents guidelines on border measures & proposes: 1Green lanes/fast lanes giving priority to essential transport to keep the mobility sector going & ensure economic continuity 2Temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU (30 days) pic.twitter.com/9bda9MntF0 Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 16, 2020 Her idea also recommends fast lanes for essential travel, like the emergency services or movement of medical goods, and changes to EU rules on state aid to allow governments to prop up businesses that struggle with the viruss impact. Story continues European states have developed different methods of trying to stem the viruss spread but several have introduced similar restrictions, with France banning gatherings of more than 1,000 people and closing schools. Germany has brought in temporary controls at its border with France and large gatherings have been banned. Spain, meanwhile, has introduced a nationwide shutdown to deal with its outbreak. On Monday, Boris Johnson advised people to avoid pubs and other social venues as part of a series of new recommendations for slowing the viruss spread in the UK. Inspired by their convictions around human dignity and their hope in the body of Christ, Asian American believers are asking the church to take the lead in opposing anti-Asian racism fueled by the coronavirus pandemic. The Asian American Christian Collaborative today released a statement describing the current rise in anti-Asian incidentsby some counts, more than 750 reports just last weekas the latest in the long history of yellow peril tropes in the US. The statement denounces xenophobia, stands in solidarity with victims, and directs Christians to speak out and make changes in their churches, schools, and communities. Our hope would be that people would address this from the pulpit, said Ray Chang, who collaborated on the statement with church planter and writer Michelle Reyes. There is no Good News without the bad news. The statement evokes the Christian commitment to neighborly love, calling for signatories to engage in whole-life discipleship in your churches, and embrace the teaching and work of Jesus, by actively combating anti-Asian racism from the pulpit, in congregational life, and in the world. Hundreds initially signed on, from prominent Asian American Christian leaders like North Park Theological Seminary professor Soong-Chan Rah and Evangelicals for Social Action director Nikki Toyama-Szeto to the heads of major evangelical entities like Fuller Seminary president Mark Labberton and World Relief president Scott Arbeiter. By Tuesday evening, the statement garnered more than 3,000 signatories. Asian American Christians have been vocal about racist remarks, characterizations, and violence since the earliest days of the outbreak. America first or my own race first is not living out the Parable of the Good Samaritan, where Jesus defined our neighbor as the one who is most hated, wrote Allen Yeh, Biola University professor of intercultural studies, back in mid-March. In times of fear, take this as an opportunity to defend and support those who are most targeted and marginalized. Over the past couple weeks, the scope of the threat has become clearer with a spike in media reports on recent incidents, including a stabbing in Texas targeting an Asian family because of the virus. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned about a potential surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans. Asian Americans are being spat on, beaten down, bullied. Asian restaurants were being avoided long before all non-essential businesses were getting shut down, wrote Grace P. Cho, editorial manager of Incourage. On top of the fear and stress we all carry concerning the health and safety of our loved ones, racism against Asian Americans adds another layer to the anxiety, and we are weary. Russell Jeung, chair of Asian American studies at San Francisco State University, tracked a 50-percent rise in coverage of anti-Asian racism linked to the new coronavirus between early February and early March. He predicts many more take place that never make the news, and set up a site to track reports of incidents in multiple languages. I pray that Asian Americans dont allow the hate and stigmatization to steep into their hearts, Jeung, also the author of the spiritual memoir At Home in Exile, told CT. Instead, may they recognize that their ethnic and racial backgrounds are Gods gift to them and the broader church. Christians like Reyes, a leader at Hope Community Church in Austin, have seen the discrimination in their own communities. A family in her congregation had their son chased by neighborhood kids yelling coronavirus and go home, and several pulled their kids from schools before the closures due to taunting from classmates. Chang experienced remarks firsthanda woman pointing and saying theres another onewhen he finally ventured to Walmart after a week in quarantine. Worried that fellow Christians were ignoring or downplaying the problem, even calling people snowflakes for taking issue with terms like Chinese virus or Wuhan flu, they rallied together Asian American voices to address the racism they knew was real and posed a serious risk. The statement, coupled with a range of informational resources for churches and leaders, is an effort to rally Christians to lead the way in quashing discrimination. Several Christian leaders had already spoken up over the past week to grieve the continued reports of racist incidents and stand with Asian Americans. Pastor, dont leave Gods people in the bondage of fear, lead them into the freedom of love. Condemn racism against our Asian neighbors, tweeted Mika Edmondson, pastor of New City Fellowship in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While the American church has had incidents of racial insensitivity and stereotyping toward Asians in its own past, statement organizers believe that with a willingness to listen to Asian American concerns and lean into a robust theology of human dignity, the church has the potential to lead the way in unprecedented and scary times. The church can play a powerful, prophetic role during this pandemic, said Jeung, the researcher. By preaching a message of peace and reconciliation, by caring for the sick and the marginalized, we would be a bright light in this time of darkness. Condemning anti-Asian hate and welcoming immigrants signals Christs embracing love. House members are being warned they may have to work five days a week when the coronavirus crisis is over to help deal with the backlog of legislation that has piled up during the shutdown. 'In order to make up for time that has been lost, the House may meet during weeks that had previously been scheduled as District Work Periods, and four-day weeks may become five-day weeks. While we have lost legislative days, we have not reduced the amount of work we have to do,' Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer wrote in a Dear Colleague letter on Tuesday. 'I would urge you to keep your schedules very flexible,' he advised. House members are being warned they may have to work five day a week when the coronavirus crisis 'We have lost legislative days, we have not reduced the amount of work we have to do,' Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer said in a letter to colleagues The decision could hurt lawmakers in tough re-election contests as the House typically takes long breaks in the fall to let members campaign for re-election. Lawmakers typically work three or four days in Washington D.C. and spend the rest of the time in their districts. And the current calendar has most of October through the November election set as 'district work' period. Last votes are scheduled for Friday, October 2, with members scheduled to return on Monday, November 16. That could change, however, because of the coronavirus, which has put the work of the legislative branch on hold. It's unclear when lawmakers will be able to safely make the trek from their home states to Capitol Hill. Lawmakers were supposed to be in session this week but members of the House have been told Congress is not likely reconvene before April 20, according to the message sent from Hoyer. And he reassured lawmakers that leadership would take advice from medical experts on when to return to Washington D.C. The biggest task on lawmakers plate when they return is the federal budget. Typically a process that takes months to get through hearings and appropriations, it may find itself moving at warp speed this year. The fiscal year ends on September 30th. A temporary spending package could be passed to extend that deadline and give lawmakers more negotiating time. Capitol Hill essentially shut down after lawmakers passed the $2.2 trillion coronavirus economic stimulus package last week. Several House members returned to Washington D.C. to vote on the measure but promptly departed again. The building itself is closed to visitors until May 1. All the food services in House Office Buildings - including the main cafeteria in the Longworth House Office Building and the ever popular Dunkin Donuts - are closed. The small Capitol Market take out in the basement of the Capitol is only open half a day. The dry cleaner is closed, as is the House barber shop and the shoe shine, according to a notice sent out jointly by the House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving and the Chief Administrative Officer of the House Philip Kiko to all staff that was dated Tuesday. Capitol Hill essentially shut down after lawmakers passed the $2.2 trillion coronavirus economic stimulus package last week House Speaker Nancy Pelosi remained in Washington D.C. in case she's needed for negotiations on additional coronavirus legislation Most congressional staff live in Washington D.C. or the Maryland or Virginia suburbs - all areas that have issued stay at home orders. Staff have been encouraged to telework but have been told they are considered 'essential' employees if they need to come to the Capitol. U.S. Capitol Police have told local authorities travel to the Capitol is permitted, Irving told staff in a note Monday. 'In the event a Member or staff member cannot telework and finds it necessary to have to travel to the Capitol Complex, the United States Capitol Police has already communicated to all local law enforcement agencies the essential nature and responsibility of the legislative branch under Article I of the U.S. Constitution,' he said. 'For your health and safety, and for the health and safety of those around you, I encourage you to stay at home and telework where possible. However, if you must access your office or place of work, the United States Capitol Police advisory in conjunction with the text of the Governors and Mayors orders will permit everyone who is required to travel or commute for work to be able to do so,' Irving said. The U.S. Capitol building is closed to tourists until May 1 Food services are shut down in the House Office Buildings, including the popular Dunkin Donuts Several lawmakers have shown symptoms of the coronavirus. Three House members and one senator have tested positive. But while most lawmakers have returned to their districts, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have remained in Washington D.C. in case they are needed for negotiations on additional help to combat the coronavirus. 'I hope that in this next bill that we will be able to address the concerns of our state and local governments. That is absolutely essential. We need to do more. We need to do more by way of our probations, by way of our tax code and by way of policy and also by way of the fed doing more to help the state and local governments with the challenges that they face, which are massive,' Pelosi said Tuesday morning on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe.' Small businesses in communities like Fremont can apply for multiple federal loans as the coronavirus pandemic sees more customers staying home. The COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) are offering money to businesses with 500 employees or less who have been affected by the pandemic. Weve had disasters, but this is something else, and thats why we reached out to over 8,000 financial institutions in the United States to help with getting this disaster relief money into individual businesses hands, said Leon Milobar, district director for the Nebraska District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Milobar said the EIDL is a direct loan through the agency, while the PPP will come through the financial institutions it is currently working with. He said Nebraska businesses can apply for the EIDL now while the PPP should become available by the end of the week. Although the EIDL is offering up to $2 million in assistance, Milobar said businesses can get $10,000 upfront before the rest of the loan. We made adjustments to the EIDL program, that $10,000 advance because we realized people needed money sooner, he said. And the nice thing about that program, just like the Paycheck Protection Program, part of it is forgivable. All of that $10,000 could be forgivable if it is being used for payroll and other operating expenses. Milobar said the process has been streamlined due to the nature of the situation, including the simplification of the platform. He said to ensure quickness, businesses should have information involving payroll and operation costs for last year and this year-to-date ready. As soon as the application is approved, Milobar said the U.S. Department of the Treasury will deposit the advance check into the business account. The PPP, which was signed by President Donald Trump last Friday, will allow businesses to receive up to $10 million. Everybody worked over the weekend after the bill was passed, and were working out the operating procedures, Milobar said. Weve gotten numerous calls from financial institutions, and we basically told them what they should ask their business clients on how to prepare, including employee cost, insurance cost, mortgages, rent and utility cost. Like with the EIDL, Milobar said that information will reduce the amount of time it takes to apply for the loan. I have told some of the lenders to start setting up appointments for next week for some of their clients as they call in so they can go ahead and schedule them, because hopefully, well have all of that stuff and everything up online, he said. And we did tell them well probably make additional adjustments to our loan program as we see the demand or there are questions. As the situation continues, Milobar said it will continue to change and people should check the websites for more updates. I went home Friday with one thing in mind and how things worked, and I got other information first thing Monday morning, he said. You have to think of the millions and millions of businesses that we have here in the state and how many are impacted. Milobar said he believes the loans will help stabilize businesses that apply, especially those who have an established workforce. They dont want to go ahead and lose what they have, especially if they have a well-trained workforce and theyve got good customers, he said. Again, this is that cooperation, coordination that is taking place between the employer and the employee, and their final customer, too. Businesses can apply for the loans and view the requirements by visiting sba.gov and find more information at fda.gov. Doctors and nurses are being 'gagged' and may face the sack if they speak out over conditions on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic. Members of the GMB Union, as well as Doctors' Association UK have warned NHS staff 'should not be gagged' after reports were published of staff being ordered not to speak to the media over concerns about personal protective equipment. The British Medical Association says staff face 'life-threatening shortages' of protective equipment as they work with Covid-19 patients round the clock. Some doctors have described how kit is being 'hidden' by desperate staff, while others have described how they feel as though it is 'inevitable' they will get sick. A paramedic wears personal protective equipment (PPE) as they emerge from an ambulance on Monday. The British Medical Association says staff are facing 'life-threatening shortages' of PPE Dr Rinesh Parmar, chairman of the DAUK - a campaign group for medics - said it had received a number of concerns from doctors. 'We are seeing draconian measures used to gag doctors and nurses on the frontline, he said. 'The NHS will only benefit if we learn from each other's experience. If we are unable to share our learning then patients will be put at risk. 'We must protect the frontline. NHS staff should not be gagged.' The GMB Union vowed to stand with any members who faced disciplinary action for speaking out. GMB organiser Helen OConnor said: 'It is scandalous that hospital staff who are speaking out publicly because government and NHS trusts are failing them and patients will now be lined up to be sacked by ruthless NHS bosses, who do not want failings in their leadership to be exposed.' But it appears that no national order has been handed down to prevent medics speaking out over concerns. An NHS spokeswoman said: 'Once a major incidents occurs it is vital that the public receive fast, authoritative, open, clear and consistent information from their NHS, which is why in line with long-standing protocols, official communications are therefore always co-ordinated nationally. 'But staff continue to speak in a personal, trade union or professional body capacity, and it is self-evident from print and broadcast media coverage throughout this incident that staff are able and do in fact speak freely.' The reports come after the British Medical Association (BMA) called for clarity from ministers about what risks they should not have to take if they do not have adequate PPE. The union warned that many hospitals and GP practices continue to face "life-threatening shortages" of PPE. BMA consultants' committee chairman Dr Rob Harwood said: 'Doctors are placing themselves at significant risk by treating patients on the frontline and there are concerns that sometimes this is without adequate PPE.' Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the Government 'cannot and should not ask people to be on the frontline without the right protective equipment' On Sunday, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the Government 'cannot and should not ask people to be on the frontline without the right protective equipment'. He also confirmed that 170 million masks and almost 10 million items of cleaning equipment are among the items being delivered to NHS trusts and healthcare settings. Meanwhile manufacturers have rallied to help frontline NHS workers by making new equipment. People with 3D printers have also joined the movement too. 3Dcrowd, a community of 3D printer owners, have come together to make protective face masks. As of Tuesday, they have received more than 365 separate orders from hospitals and social care facilities across the country, which equates to demand of more than 110,000 masks. Gen Ashley is helping co-ordinate the effort, and told the PA news agency: 'There is a huge demand for these shields, we get contacted by a lot of people from hospitals and care homes, even pharmacists, paramedics. 'There is a huge demand for it and there's a shortage. It's important to protect the people who are protecting us.' The group are hoping to meet a new fundraising target of 40,000 which will allow them to produce 20,000 masks. Could China Railway Signal & Communication Corporation Limited (HKG:3969) be an attractive dividend share to own for the long haul? Investors are often drawn to strong companies with the idea of reinvesting the dividends. Unfortunately, it's common for investors to be enticed in by the seemingly attractive yield, and lose money when the company has to cut its dividend payments. In this case, China Railway Signal & Communication likely looks attractive to dividend investors, given its 5.8% dividend yield and four-year payment history. It sure looks interesting on these metrics - but there's always more to the story . When buying stocks for their dividends, you should always run through the checks below, to see if the dividend looks sustainable. Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis SEHK:3969 Historical Dividend Yield March 31st 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. Comparing dividend payments to a company's net profit after tax is a simple way of reality-checking whether a dividend is sustainable. Looking at the data, we can see that 53% of China Railway Signal & Communication's profits were paid out as dividends in the last 12 months. This is a healthy payout ratio, and while it does limit the amount of earnings that can be reinvested in the business, there is also some room to lift the payout ratio over time. In addition to comparing dividends against profits, we should inspect whether the company generated enough cash to pay its dividend. The company paid out 87% of its free cash flow as dividends last year, which is adequate, but reduces the wriggle room in the event of a downturn. It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously. With a strong net cash balance, China Railway Signal & Communication investors may not have much to worry about in the near term from a dividend perspective. Story continues We update our data on China Railway Signal & Communication every 24 hours, so you can always get our latest analysis of its financial health, here. Dividend Volatility One of the major risks of relying on dividend income, is the potential for a company to struggle financially and cut its dividend. Not only is your income cut, but the value of your investment declines as well - nasty. Looking at the data, we can see that China Railway Signal & Communication has been paying a dividend for the past four years. The dividend has not fluctuated much, but with a relatively short payment history, we can't be sure this is sustainable across a full market cycle. During the past four-year period, the first annual payment was CN0.025 in 2016, compared to CN0.20 last year. Dividends per share have grown at approximately 68% per year over this time. China Railway Signal & Communication has been growing its dividend quite rapidly, which is exciting. However, the short payment history makes us question whether this performance will persist across a full market cycle. Dividend Growth Potential Dividend payments have been consistent over the past few years, but we should always check if earnings per share (EPS) are growing, as this will help maintain the purchasing power of the dividend. China Railway Signal & Communication has grown its earnings per share at 5.5% per annum over the past five years. Earnings per share are growing at an acceptable rate, although the company is paying out more than half of its profits, which we think could constrain its ability to reinvest in its business. We'd also point out that China Railway Signal & Communication issued a meaningful number of new shares in the past year. Trying to grow the dividend when issuing new shares reminds us of the ancient Greek tale of Sisyphus - perpetually pushing a boulder uphill. Companies that consistently issue new shares are often suboptimal from a dividend perspective. 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. First, we think China Railway Signal & Communication is paying out an acceptable percentage of its cashflow and profit. Unfortunately, earnings growth has also been mediocre, and we think it has not been paying dividends long enough to demonstrate resilience across economic cycles. In sum, we find it hard to get excited about China Railway Signal & Communication from a dividend perspective. It's not that we think it's a bad business; just that there are other companies that perform better on these criteria. It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. For example, we've picked out 2 warning signs for China Railway Signal & Communication that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. 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. by Samir Youssef* Iraqi Christians are pained by the tragic images coming from Italy. In Iraqi Kurdistan, the authorities too have ordered a lockdown, closed places of worship and forced people to stay at home. A "third generation" of war, a "biological" one, is underway. Protection is both spiritual and medical. Erbil (AsiaNews) From Italy to Iraq, the coronavirus crisis has become a global challenge to be fought with prayers and by following the instructions of public and health authorities. Fr Samir Youssef is a Chaldean priest in northern Iraq. For years, he has helped Christians, Muslims and Yazidi victims of the Islamic State. He has become a partner of AsiaNews in the campaign Adopt a Christian from Mosul. At present, he has dedicated his prayers (see video) to Italy, to the victims of the pandemic that increasingly looks like a war. He sees it as "third generation of wars, a biological war that is cold and hot, [. . .] like the flu, between light and darkness, between good and evil, in eternal battle. Here his testimony (first part). First of all, I hope you are all well. I call on the Lord our Saviour to intervene and save Italy, and the whole world, from this cursed virus. Like in your country, everything is on hold here. A total curfew is in place. People are locked down at home; universities, churches, restaurants and shopping centres are closed; all collective activities have stopped. Only mini-markets, pharmacies and hospitals remain open. Most products come from Turkey, some drugs are made locally but most come from Italy and Switzerland. We still fear future drug shortages. What unimaginable problems this invisible thing has created! Here in Enishke, Iraqi Kurdistan, one can walk only near the church; the main roads are off-limits. At the beginning, the lockdown was supposed to last until 29 March, then the government extended it to 8 April. Now it will certainly go beyond that. Iraq has hundreds of cases, but it is hard to get reliable numbers, also because the border with Iran, the COVID-19 hotspot in the Middle East, was not immediately closed. When Italy was first struck by the virus, I felt deep sadness and closeness, not only me but everyone here in Kurdistan, Christians and others, mindful of the great help received in the past from your country. We have heard many sad and touching stories. We heard about the doctors and nurses, the sacrifice they make by staying in hospitals for days; about those who didnt go home to avoid infecting their loved ones. We heard the stories of those who died, the elderly who die in hospitals without the comfort of their children and relatives. We heard of seniors, but also young people, full of life, who died. We saw the row of coffins outside churches, and those carried away by the army. We saw things in Italy, then France, the United States, Africa, Asia ... the whole world is facing a challenge. We either beat this cursed virus together, forever, or it will pop up again with a vengeance and terrorise us again. Here, too, we are under a curfew. Still, young people went out, especially among the Kurds, until the Kurdish government deployed the Peshmerga to force people to stay home. We are all working together clergy, doctors, politicians, police forces, experts and security forces to stop this virus. I think that a third generation of wars has begun, biological war. Government intervention is not necessary; three large technology companies that want to shape the fate of the world are enough to exploit this virus to their advantage. In the future, this period will be analysed more closely . . . There is a mystery behind it all. Ostensibly, we are in a global war, but it is not a classic conflict. I think that, like the Cold War, the conventional wars in Syria, Libya and Yemen will end to make way for another type of war, cold and hot at the same time, like the flu. This war will be one of science and people of good will against science and people moved by self-interest, a war between light and dark, between good and evil, in eternal battle. For this reason, we have two ways of protecting ourselves, a spiritual one and a medical one. The first requires prayers, reading the Gospel, entrusting oneself to the Lord and his mercy. The second consists in following the path of science and proper health guidelines. (first part) *priest in the Diocese of Zaku and Amadiyah The Vietnamese government has demanded the implementation of social distancing all over the country, including a ban on public gatherings of more than two people, to fight the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic. The entirety of Vietnam will practice mandatory social distancing from April 1 to 15, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said in a directive issued on Tuesday. Households are advised to keep a distance from households, villages from villages, communes from communes, districts from districts, and provinces from provinces, according to the directive. Factories have to be disinfected while workers are required to wear face masks and keep a safe distance from one another. Everyone is requested to stay home and only go out under absolutely necessary circumstances such as trips for food, medicine, emergency care or for working at essential businesses, factories, and services that have been allowed to continue operating. Citizens are required to maintain a minimum distance of two meters in social interaction, the prime minister said in the directive, insisting that the government bans any gathering of more than two people outside public offices, schools, hospitals, and in public spaces in general. It is highly recommended that everyone voluntarily declare their health status, take all preventive measures to protect themselves and their family, and engage in COVID-19 prevention and control activities. Leaders of enterprises, businesses, and service providers are responsible for taking on-site preventive measures to protect their employees. The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Security, Hanoi authorities, and the Ho Chi Minh City administration are charged with suppressing the outbreaks at Bach Mai Hospital, located in the capital, and Buddha Bar & Grill in the southern hub by all means, including the tracing of suspected cases and infected patients close contacts. Dozens of cases have been linked to Bach Mai Hospital and Buddha Bar & Grill. Vietnam has confirmed 204 COVID-19 infections as of Tuesday afternoon, with 55 patients having fully recovered. The country is trying its best to keep the number of patients under 1,000 for as long as possible, in the hope of completely controlling the epidemic in the end. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. The government of Armenia has retracted its bill from the second readings agenda in parliament on banning autopsies of coronavirus fatalities. Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan told lawmakers that the government decided to withdraw the bill from the agenda of the parliament session. He did not elaborate. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County. Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE updates: The number of novel coronavirus cases climbed to 1,397 on Tuesday after 146 new infections were reported in the past 24 hours across the country, while the death toll due to the pandemic rose to 35, according to the Union Health Ministry. Auto refresh feeds At 227, this is the largest one-day increase in the number of cases for India. The highest number of cases was reported from Kerala (202) while Maharashtra has 198 cases, said the health ministry. The government said there was no immediate plan to extend the 21-day lockdown period, which entered its sixth day on Monday, while the Indian Army dismissed as "fake" social media posts about a possible emergency declaration next month. The number of coronavirus cases in the country rose to 1,251 on Monday while the number of fatalities reached 32, said the Union health ministry. Officials in states hard hit by the pandemic have pleaded with the Trump administration and manufacturers to speed up the production of ventilators to cope with a surge in patients struggling to breathe. Hospitals in New York already are using one ventilator to sustain two patients. New Orleans has a fraction of the ventilators it needs for a surge of COVID-19 patients, Louisiana officials said. Ford said the simplified ventilator design, which is licensed by GE Healthcare from Florida-based Airon Corp and has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, can meet the needs of most COVID-19 patients and relies on air pressure without the need for electricity. Ford Motor Co said on Monday it will produce 50,000 ventilators over the next 100 days at a plant in Michigan in cooperation with General Electrics healthcare unit, and can then build 30,000 per month as needed to treat patients afflicted with the coronavirus. The first consignment of such materials had arrived here last week, he said. A total of 1,008 units of personal protective equipment, 10,000 masks, 5,000 screening kits, 6,000 confirmatory kits for test and 7,000 units of hand sanitiser among others were supplied to fight the coronavirus crisis, the health department official said. The consignment of medical equipment weighing more than 5 tonnes was brought by an cargo aircraft of the Indian Air Force, he said. The Manipur government on Monday received the second consignment of essential medical equipment including screening kits, sanitiser, masks, gloves and other personal protective gear, which will help the state health workers to combat the coronavirus outbreak, an official said. "Now we are seeing growing interest from US citizens wanting to return from Asia, India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. We had our first repatriation flight out of Bangladesh today and are coordinating with the Indian Government to begin flights there," Brownlee said. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Ian Brownlee told reporters during a teleconference on Monday that the US had brought back some 25,000 of its citizens from 50 countries and another 9,000, including those from India, have expressed their interest to return to America in the wake of the deadly coronavirus pandemic that has engulfed the world. The Trump administration is coordinating with the Indian government to evacuate stranded American citizens from India who have expressed interest to return to the US, a top official here has said, amid the rapid spread of coronavirus pandemic that has upended life, disrupted travel and killed over 37,500 people. The Maharashtra state has sought the expedition of the release of Rs 25,00 crore that the Centre has not yet paid to the state. These dues are to be paid by 31 March, demands the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government and will be used to fight the outbreak of the novel virus in state. The S&P 500 remains about 23 percent below its record set last month, and oil tumbled to an 18-year low. In early afternoon trading on Monday, the S&P 500 was up 2.3 percent. Nascent optimism is budding on Wall Street that the worst of the selling may be over, but markets around the world remain tentative amid uncertainty about whether global authorities can nurse the economy through the pandemic. Stocks pushed higher on Wall Street Monday, led by big gains for health care companies announcing developments that could aid in the coronavirus outbreak. The rally tacked more gains onto a recent upswing for the market, which is coming off the best week for the S&P 500 since hitting bottom after the financial crisis 11 years ago. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray reassures Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami that the 300 Tamil migrants stuck in Maharashtra will be taken care of. The move comes after the Tamil Nadu chief minister raised the issue on Twitter, urging Maharashtra to look after 300 Tamilians, who were stranded in the two locations without food for the past 4 days The PB 560 ventilator has a number of advantages, one being that its a relatively compact and lightweight piece of equipment that can be easily moved around and installed for use in a range of different healthcare environments and settings. And its a design that was originally introduced in 2010, so it has a decade of qualified, safe medical use in treating patients. Healthcare and biomedical engineering company Medtronic is making available to anyone the full design specifications, product manuals, design documents and, in the future, software code for its Puritan Bennett (PB) 560 portable ventilator hardware, say reports . Economic experts fear massive layoffs in various sectors of the American economy due to the current economic distress that is only going to deteriorate in the coming weeks and months. The current federal rules require an H-1B visa holder to leave the US along with their family members within 60 days of losing their job. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. Fearing massive layoffs in America due to the coronavirus crisis that is hitting businesses around the globe, foreign technology professionals on H-1B visas, most sought after among Indians, demand the Trump administration extend their permissible post-job loss limit to stay in the US from the existing 60 to 180 days. Police and paramilitary personnel cordoned off a major area in Nizamuddin West in south Delhi on Monday and over 200 people have been kept in isolation in hospitals after several people who took part in a religious congregation there showed symptoms of coronavirus. The special teams under the collectors have identified the persons who came in contact with the deceased and they are shifted to the hospitals, it said. Two of the six died at the Gandhi Hospital, one each in two private hospitals, and one each in Nizamabad and Gadwal towns, the statement said, without mentioning the time of their deaths. "Coronavirus has spread among some of those who attended a religious prayer meeting from 13 to 15 March at Markaz in Nizamuddin area in Delhi," according to an official release. "Among those who attended were some persons from Telangana." Six people from Telangana who attended a religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin died due to the novel coronavirus, the state government said on Monday. Analysts cautioned the result could even be higher given that the index measures the net balance of firms reporting an expansion or contraction in activity. There were also hopes a survey of Chinese manufacturing due later would show a sizable improvement for March as factories began to re-open. Forecasts are that the Chinas official purchasing manufacturers index (PMI) will bounce to 45.0, from a record-low 35.7 in February. Asian share markets managed a tentative rally on Tuesday after European and U.S. equities stabilised, though buying for month and quarter-end book balancing likely flattered the gains. Around 300-400 people had attended a religious gathering at Markaz and 163 people from Nizamuddin, have been admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital Delhi for tests. "It has come to our knowledge that administrators of Nizammuddin Markaz violated coronavirus lockdown conditions and now several positive cases have been found. Strong action would be taken against those in charge of this establishment. Delhi Government to ask police to register FIR against Maulana of Markaz, Nizamuddin," the Delhi government stated. The Delhi government will ask the police to register an FIR against the Maulana of Markaz in Nizamuddin area as some people have shown symptoms of coronavirus after taking part in a religious gathering in Delhi. We have managed to win time and slow down an explosive spread of the disease in the previous weeks, and we need to use that time reserve to the full, Putin said. A stern-looking President Vladimir Putin warned his envoys in Russia's far-flung regions that they will be personally responsible for the availability of beds, ventilators and other key equipment. The Russian capital, Moscow, on Monday woke up to a lockdown obliging most of its 13 million residents to stay home, and many other regions of the vast country quickly followed suit to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. Indian Express reports that the government in India is set to ramp up testing in 10 identified hotspots where unusual transmission has been detected. Of these, two Dilshad Garden and Nizamuddin are in Delhi, the others being Noida, Meerut, Bhilwara, Ahmedabad, Kasaragod, Pathanamthitta, Mumbai and Pune. An estimated 230 House members returned to Washington to pass the relief package on Friday, despite the health risks of traveling and gathering at the Capitol, after Republican Representative Thomas Massie said he would block any effort to pass the bill without at least half of the Houses 430 current members present. Now that Congress has passed a $2.2 trillion economic relief bill and President Donald Trump has signed it into law, neither the House of Representatives nor Senate is due back in Washington until 20 April at the earliest. At least six members of the US Congress have announced that they have contracted the novel coronavirus, and more than 30 others are or were self-quarantining in hopes of limiting the spread of the pandemic. To date Himachal Pradesh has 1,779 people under home quarantine. One patient is under treatment for COVID-19. A total of 211 samples have been taken so far out of which 208 were negative. "This would be an OTP based application which would be given by health worker and violation of quarantine will be monitored through this tracking application," Rohan Chand Thakur, Director, Department of Information Technology said. Himachal Pradesh government has developed a mobile application to track and monitor the people who are quarantined for COVID-19. The Department of Information Technology has started a 'Corona Mukt Himachal' mobile app. The health workers of the Health Department will monitor the people, especially on home quarantine through this app. Also, an 80-year-old man, who suffered from acute respiratory distress, succumbed to COVID-19 at a private hospital here, taking the death toll in MMR to eight, including six in Mumbai, said the civic body's release. While 29 of the new infections are in Mumbai, the rest 18 are from other parts of MMR, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials said. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region's COVID-19 count reached 170 on Monday with 47 people testing positive for the novel coronavirus, officials said. Italians have been under lockdown for three weeks, with most shops, bars, and restaurants shut and people forbidden from leaving their homes for all but non-essential needs. The Health Ministry did not give a date for the new end of the lockdown but said it would be in law the government would propose. Easter Sunday is 12 April this year. Italy is predominantly Roman Catholic and contains the Vatican, the heart of the church. Italys government on Monday said it would extend its nationwide lockdown measures against a coronavirus outbreak, due to end on Friday, at least until the Easter season in April, as the number of new infections declines. Earlier, the testing of these migrant workers for coronavirus had been carried out after their return to the state and the result had come out as negative. In a commendable move, which shows that people around the country and even in the rural areas are aware of the severity and the threat posed by the COVID-19 infection, the workers decided to self-quarantine themselves to protect their family. A dozen migrant workers in the Kalahandi district have set up camp to self-quarantine outside their village even after testing negative for coronavirus, as a precautionary measure after returning from Kerala. "So far, the accused has sold 70,000 masks at a cost of Rs 1.05 crore," police said in a statement. The warehouse in Kalyan Nagar was raided on Monday night and 12,300 fake N95 masks worth Rs 20 lakh were seized, it said. Over 12,000 fake N95 face masks were seized from a warehouse here by the Central Crime Branch, police said on Tuesday. The filtering masks have been in demand since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which has claimed 32 lives and affected 1,251 people in the country. Five more COVID-19 cases have been reported from Maharashtra as the total state tally climbs to 225, said health officials on Tuesday. One case has been reported from Mumbai, two from Pune and another two Buldhana. Besides, Jabalpur has reported eight cases, Ujjain- five, Bhopal- three and Shivpuri and Gwalior- two each. They are being treated in different hospitals of the state. She had no travel history and was already suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, the official said. So far, 47 persons have tested positive for coronavirus in the state, including 27 from Indore. A 49-year-old COVID-19 patient died in Madhya Pradesh, taking the number of coronavirus deaths in the state to five, an official said on Tuesday. The woman, a resident of Chandan Nagar, breathed her last at the Manorama Raje TB Hospital, an official from Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College said. "The person died on Monday night before test results came. Her test results confirmed that she was infected with the coronavirus," the official said. There were four new cases of coronavirus reported in West Bengal, taking the total number to 26 in the state, he added. An elderly woman who was infected with the coronavirus died at a hospital in West Bengals Howrah district, taking the total number of COVID-19 deaths to three in the state, a health department official said on Tuesday. The man had recently travelled to the northern part of the state, he said. Four new cases of coronavirus have been reported in West Bengal, taking the count to 26. A list of 17 vehicles with registration numbers along with names of drivers plus their license details were submitted to Ld SDM so that stranded visitors/guests could be ferried towards their destination. The requisite permission is still awaited, said the statement of Markaz, Delhi. It was also informed that LD SDM concerned had been requested to issue vehicle passes so that the remaining people could be sent back to their native places outside of Delhi. ANI reported that on 24 March, a notice was issued by SHO PS Hazrat Nizamuddin, seeking closure of Markaz premises. It was responded on 24 March, stating that compliance of directions regarding the closure of Markaz is underway and that around 1500 people had departed the previous day thus leaving around 1000 visitors of different states and nationalities in Markaz. Medical teams and police are present at the Markaz building, Nizamuddin where around 2500 people had attended a function earlier this month. With the help of the Health Department around 860 people have been shifted from Markaz building, in Nizamuddin to hospitals. Around 300 more people are yet to be evacuated, Delhi Police sources told ANI on Tuesday. Among the people that were admitted at the LNJP hospital in Delhi, from the Nizamuddin cluster case, 24 have tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease, reports CNN-News18. More results from two more hospitals are awaited. She was admitted at the Howrah District Hospital on Sunday with COVID-19 symptoms. There have also been allegations of gross negligence in handling the patient by hospital authorities. She was admitted in general bed instead of the isolation ward. Nurses and hospital staff have agitated against the negligence. The third coronavirus casualty in West Bengal was an elderly female patient. She had travel history to Dooars in North Bengal, along with 3 other families (a team of 15 members) and returned on 21 March, reports News18. The press release said: "During this entire episode, Markaz Nizamuddin never violated any provision of law, and always tried to act with compassion and reason towards the visitors who came to Delhi from different states. It did not let them violate the medical guidelines by thronging ISBTs or roaming on streets." Amid multiple reports which claim that the Markaz Nizamuddin had violated lockdown, the Markaz issued a detailed clarification into how they did not violate the lockdown announced by the government. With a hastily carried out lockdown, people were stranded and were forced to seek accommodation at the premises, on the orders of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for people to stay put at where they were. He also said that around 1,500 to 1,700 people have been estimated by the government to have assembled at Markaz building. He added that thought the government was no certain of the exact number, 334 people have been sent to hospitals and over 700 others have been sent to a quarantine centre. Delhi's health minister Satyendar Jain told ANI that 24 people who were present at the Markaz building, Nizamuddin have tested positive for coronavirus, so far. The portal is titled Stranded in India . The portal will help tourists get information/details of State Tourism departments and Regional offices of the Ministry of tourism to help foreigners to stay safe and healthy while in India. It will also help foreigners find information on ways of getting back to their home country. The aim is to extend support to the foreign tourists who are stranded in our country because of the COVID-19 pandemic, has set up a portal to disseminate information regarding the services that can be availed by them. The Ministry of Tourism on Tuesday said it has set up a portal called 'Stranded in India' for tourists stuck in the country to disseminate information regarding the services that can be availed by tourists while they're here. The decision was taken to facilitate the citizens facing difficulties in renewing the validity of various documents related to the Motor Vehicles Act and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules due to nationwide lockdown in the country and closure of government transport offices, according to the advisory. In an advisory to all states and Union territories, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has asked them to treat such documents as valid till 30 June. The Centre has extended till 30 June the validity of documents like driving licenses, permits and registration that expired since 1 February, in a move to ensure hassle-free transportation of cargo amid the lockdown over the novel coronavirus pandemic. Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday reported 17 new cases, with most patients having a travel history with Delhi. According to an official release by the state government, the state tally of confirmed cases has now climbed to 40. The cop was seen roaming outside the residential colonies of the area in a bid to raise awareness and urge people to take all necessary measures to contain coronavirus spread. Sub-Inspector Maruti Sankar was on Tuesday was seen riding a horse in Pyapili town of Kurnool district, while there is nothing unusual about this act what caught eyeballs were the drawings on the animal's body. The white horse had red circles dotted with lines, resembling the structure of the highly contagious virus which has plunged the world into crisis. With governments taking all possible measures of spread awareness over the highly contagious COVID-19, a cop in Andhra Pradesh devised a novel way to make people remember the enemy which the nation, and the world at large, is fighting. Among the 83, seven are evacuees from Iran who had landed at Jodhpur airport recently. Additional Chief Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said one person each has tested positive from Jhunjhunu, Ajmer, Dungarpur and Jaipur. He said the total number COVID-19 cases in the state has risen to 83. Four more persons tested positive for coronavirus in Rajasthan on Tuesday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 83, an official said. So far, six coronavirus positive patients have died in the state. Five patients have been discharged, the official said, adding that two are on ventilator support. Till now, Ahmedabad has reported 25 cases, followed by Rajkot at 10, Vadodara, Surat and Gandhinagar nine each, Bhavnagar- six, Gir Somnath-two, and Kutch, Mehsana and Porbandar- one each. Three new COVID-19 cases were reported in Gujarat on Tuesday, taking the total number of coronavirus patients in the state to 73, an official said. Out of the three new cases, two were found in Ahmedabad and one in Rajkot, Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi said. Five more new cases have been reported in Maharashtra. Among the five, four cases were reported from Mumbai and one from Pune. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 230, said Maharashtra Health Department on Tuesday. At the interbank foreign exchange the rupee opened at 75.52, then gained ground and touched 75.51, registering a rise of 8 paise over its previous close. On Monday, rupee had settled at 75.59 against the US dollar. Forex traders said the rupee is trading in a narrow range as the higher opening in domestic equities supported the local unit, while sustained foreign fund outflows and strengthening of the American currency weighed on it. The Indian rupee appreciated by 8 paise to 75.51 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday tracking positive opening in domestic equities. All his family members have been asked to stay in home quarantine, she added. His sample was tested COVID-19 positive late night on Monday, she said. He was accompanied by his sister during his travel from Mumbai to Korba and her sample was also collected for testing which came out to be negative, she said. The man, who studies in London, returned to Korba town via Mumbai on March 18 and was placed in home isolation. After he complained of cold and cough, his sample was sent for testing, Korba Collector Kiran Kaushal said. A 22-year-old man with foreign travel history has tested positive for coronavirus in Chhattisgarh's Korba district, taking the number of COVID-19 infection cases in the state to eight, officials said on Tuesday. He further said, "Indian Government has done what was unthinkable in locking down the entire country. We respect that. All my companies have effectively ceased operations. All manufacturing is closed as well." Mallya, who is wanted in India on alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crore, also said all his companies have effectively ceased operations and manufacturing following the lockdown in India. Embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya, on Tuesday asked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to consider his repeated "offer to repay 100 percent" of the amount borrowed by now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, in this time of coronavirus pandemic. "Additionally, we need to think of a suitable framework under which critical pharma products, medical devices, diagnostic equipment and kits and healthcare professionals can be deployed at short notice across territories under a pre-agreed protocol," he said. Participating in the Extraordinary G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial virtual meeting, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that trade facilitative responses need to be in place, and wherever necessary, requirements by authorities like customs, banks of producing original documents by importers for various clearances can be removed temporarily. India on Monday called for ensuring uninterrupted supply of vital medicines and food products across the globe to deal with the challenges in the wake of surge in the number of coronavirus cases across the world. The ministers stated that they will take immediate necessary measures to facilitate trade in those essential goods. They also agreed to implement those measures, upholding the principle of international solidarity, considering the evolving needs of other countries for emergency supplies and humanitarian assistance. "We are actively working to ensure the continued flow of vital medical supplies and equipment, critical agricultural products, and other essential goods and services across borders, for supporting the health of our citizens," the statement said. According to a joint statement issued after a video conference, the ministers agreed to support the availability and accessibility of essential medical supplies at affordable prices, on an equitable basis, where they are most needed and will guard against profiteering and unjustified price increases. Trade and investment ministers of the G-20 group have agreed to ensure fair trade and a continued flow of vital medicines as well as other essential goods to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, Indore has reported 44 COVID-19 cases, Jabalpur-8, Bhopal-5, Ujjain-5, and Shivpuri and Gwalior-2 each. Five coronavirus patients have so far died in the state, the official said. Seventeen more people tested positive for coronavirus in Indore on Tuesday, taking the total number of such cases in Madhya Pradesh to 65, a health official said. The order said that those who have physical and mental issues due to withdrawal symptoms could be given liquor in a "controlled" and "prescribed" manner. "Following the lockdown and the closure of liquor outlets in the state, there were many instances of social issues including the frustration and suicide tendencies shown by those who used to consume liquor regularly and the state government has decided to initiate steps to resolve the matter," the order read. A government order in this regard was issued on Monday night, despite objection from doctors' association, to supply liquor to tipplers under prescription during the 21-day lockdown initiated to counter the spread of COVID-19. The Kerala government has decided to issue special passes for tipplers, who have withdrawal symptoms and doctor's prescription, to purchase liquor from the Excise department. "This is apart from the unfathomable hardships the labourers are going through owing to stoppage of their income," the bench noted. The court while considering the issue said such large-scale movement of labourers increases the danger of further spread of coronavirus, and noted that these people are in need of assistance from the state government. A single bench of Justice Sunil Shukre on Monday heard a petition filed by one C H Sharma, raising concerns over the spread of coronavirus on account of the movement of thousands of labourers and their families from cities to rural areas, both within and outside the state. Taking note of the hardships being faced by migrant labourers amid the lockdown, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government to make all necessary arrangements for them, and also consider taking funds from charitable organisations. Infosys Foundation, over the last two weeks, has announced support for creation of an exclusive hospital in Bengaluru for COVID-19 patients. It has also enabled the acquisition of medical and PPE equipment for multiple military and government hospitals across the country. This sum will primarily be utilised across three broad areas of support that the Foundation has prioritised, including expansion of hospital capacity for treatment and enable hospital stays for COVID-19 patients across India, especially ones belonging to the economically weaker sections of the society, it added. Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, on Monday committed Rs 100 crore to support efforts towards fighting COVID-19 in India. The Foundation has contributed half of this commitment (Rs 50 crore) to the PM CARES Fund, a statement said. A cluster case has emerged from Delhi, from Markaz building in Nizamuddin, which has initiated fast action against coronavirus in Delhi. This is the country-wise case count of foreign nationals who were part of the event that took place between 15 to 17 March. If a foreigner is put in the Home ministry's blacklist, he or she can't travel to India in the future. A total of 281 foreigners were found by the police at the Nizamuddin campus in the last two days. "Those who came on a tourist visa but attended the Nizamuddin event stands to be in our blacklist as they have violated the visa conditions. Tourist visa holders can't attend religious function," a Union Home ministry official said. About 30 of those who attended the Nizamuddin event in mid-March tested positive and at least three have succumbed to the infection in last few days. These foreigners were among around 8,000 people who attended the Tabligh-e-Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz facility in March, many of whom have shown symptoms of COVID-19, a Union Home Ministry official said. India is likely to blacklist about 300 foreigners who came from 16 countries, including Malaysia and Thailand, on tourist visas but attended an Islamic congregation at Nizamuddin here that has become a key source for the spread of coronavirus in the country, officials said on Tuesday. According to News18 Assam, over 200 people from Assam participated in the religious congregation organised by Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin in New Delhi. An individual from Morigaon district in Assam, Kasem Ali, who spoke with News18 Assam said that he is still lodged in a six-storeyed building called Markaz in the institution. Ali claimed he has not been infected with the novel coronavirus, but one person from Assam has been admitted to a Delhi hospital. People from Assam went to participate in the event by train and most of them stayed on the fourth floor of the building. In a press release, Nizamuddin Markaz the Delhi headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat said after Prime Minister Narendra Modis call for Janata curfew on 22 March, the ongoing program was discontinued. However, as the Indian Railways suspended its operations, it had to accommodate the stranded guests. On the 16 March, the government further reduced number of people from 200 to 50 under the ban. Therefore, the clarification that has been issued wherein they say Makarz had intimated the SHO on 24 March is not enough. Delhi government on Tuesday replied to Markaz clarification which claimed that they did not violate the government lockdown, by saying that a ban was already in place since the 13 March reports News18. Karnataka health minister B Sriramulu on Tuesday said that the government has information that around 45 people from Karnataka had taken part in the Nizamuddin congregation. The Tumkur resident (who died on March 27) is one of them, he said and added that 13 people have been traced so far. Uttar Pradesh Police confirmed to ANI on Tuesday that the search for 157 people from the state, who had participated in Tablighi Jamaat event at Markaz, Nizamuddin in Delhi is currently underway. But 9 out of the 10 people who tested positive for coronavirus in Andaman & Nicobar, had attended Tablighi Jamaat event at Markaz, Nizamuddin in Delhi. "Wife of one of these people later tested positive," said Abhijit Roy, Dy Director Heath and Nodal Officer. The designated laboratory for COVID19 in Andaman & Nicobar, RMRC-ICMR, Dollygunj has tested 33 suspected cases on 29 March, out of which only 1 was found positive. The total number of cases found positive is 10 out of 99 samples tested till date, Andaman and Nicobar administration told ANI. The Maharashtra cybercrime has been asked to step up and take strict action against those who post fake or misleading information on social media platforms, Deshmukh said. In a pre-recorded video message, the minister said, "The lockdown is in force to contain the coronavirus outbreak. I appeal to people not to spread any fake messages that can trigger panic among people." Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday issued a stern warning against spreading fake news about coronavirus as part of April Fool's Day pranks, stating that it could trigger panic during the lockdown. Further, Development Commissioners of SEZs have been requested to ensure that there is no hardship to Developer/Co-Developer/Units and no punitive action is taken in cases where compliances like filing of certain forms required to be filed by 31 March, are not completed. Besides, more than 1900 IT/ITES units have been facilitated to enable their employees to work from home, a statement by the ministry said. Over 280 SEZ units engaged in manufacturing of essential items like drugs, pharmaceuticals or hospital equipment are operational to ensure these critical supplies are not disrupted during the lockdown period, the commerce and industry minister said on Tuesday. Former Delhi L-G Najeeb Jung slammed the Markaz Nizamuddin gathering on Tuesday, saying the jamaat should have cancelled the event as soon as COVID-19 cases began to get reported in India. "It was the duty of the Delhi Police to have cracked down on them, writing a letter to them was not enough," he said, adding that the administration should have been aware of the gathering long time back. "We are now crying over spilt milk," he said. "I beg all religious leaders to shut their places of worship," he told News18. The decision has been taken after a detailed deliberation with various unions of employees, he said. "The salaries of Class I and II will be cut by 50 percent while that of Class III employees will be cut by 25 percent. There will be no cut in the salaries of remaining classes in the state bureaucracy," he said. In an official statement, Pawar announced a 60 percent cut in the March salaries of the chief minister, all other ministers, MLAs, MLCs and representatives of local governing bodies. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is also the state finance minister, said the decision has been taken after consultation with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and various unions of employees. The Maharashtra government on Tuesday said there would be a 60 percent cut in this month's salaries of public representatives in the state, including the chief minister, in view of coronavirus affecting the economy. According to state data, 98 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state which includes 3 deaths and 6 discharges. From 5 pm yesterday till 8 am on Tuesday, 10 new cases have been reported. Over 24 people, who attended Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, were tracked in Bengaluru on Tuesday. "We've quarantined 54 people, aorund 8 people from Bidar. One person was found positive in Bidar and we've quarantined him. There are people who attended jamaat from almost all districts,' said Karnataka Home Mininster. The chief minister will hold a meeting with senior officials later in the day, the spokesman added. He was scheduled to visit Meerut and Agra besides Ghaziabad to review the situation. The chief minister visited Ghaziabad Tuesday morning. He, however, cut short his visit and headed to Lucknow to meet senior health officers to review quarantine measures, especially in the light of the incident in Delhi, a government spokesman said. Cutting short his visit to the districts with maximum number of COVID-19 patients, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday returned to the state capital to hold an urgent meeting with senior officials, in view of reports that people from the state attended a religious event in Delhi's Nizamuddin area which has emerged as one of the biggest hotspots of the disease. The total number of coronavirus cases in Punjab stood at 41 with 4 deaths. The states's first COVID19 patient has now fully recovered. "We are tracing and testing all connections of all positive patients," said Punjab Health Minister BS Sidhu. The 65-year-old man from Nayagaon near Chandigarh, who had tested positive for coronavirus succumbed to his illness on Tuesday morning, reports The Tribune. His condition was critical and he had been put on a ventilator. The Civil aviation ministry has formed a committee to facilitate movement of cargo across the country during the 21 day-lockdown period. "The cargo essentially included COVID-19 related reagents, enzymes, medical equipment, testing kits and personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, gloves & other accessories of HLL and cargo requisitioned by State/union territories governments and postal packets," Puri said. Amid the lockdown imposed to help curb the spread of coronavirus, domestic airlines and cargo operators along with the Indian Air Force have transported 15.4 tons of medical supplies in 62 flights between 26 to 30 March, said Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday. The Centre told the apex court that the suggestion to sprinkle water and chemicals on migrants to sanitise them does not work scientifically and is not the right way. It also asked the Centre to ensure that migration is stopped and to take care of food, shelter, nourishment and medical needs of the people and also to follow up of cases of the virus, also called COVID-19. The top court, which observed that panic will destroy more lives than the virus, asked the Centre to get trained counsellors and community leaders of all faiths to calm down the migrants, who are kept in shelter homes across the country. The Supreme Court Tuesday asked the Centre to set up a portal within 24 hours for the dissemination of real-time information on the coronavirus pandemic to counter the panic being spread through fake news. A Doctor of mohalla clinic in Babarpur has tested positive for coronavirus, reported ANI. A notice has been put up in the area asking patients who had visited the clinic between 12 to 20 March, should self-quarantine at home for the next 15 days. Times of India reported that keeping in line with the cooperative departments directive to housing societies to disallow its members to step out unless it is an emergency, several neighborhoods have got vegetables, grocery vendors allowed to set up shop inside housing societies. We arrested Punjabi from Bhendi Bazar area under section 188 of the IPC as well as provisions of the Disaster Management Act. He was later released on bail, Senior Inspector Sanjeev Bhole of JJ Marg police station told PTI. Sohail Salim Punjabis message read Mumbais Null Bazar, Bhendi Bazar, Dongri, Madanpura, Kala Pani, Sat Rasta area is uncontrollable by Police, Hence Military has been called. They will use force, lathi charge as well as firing to controll Mob. A 28-year-old man was arrested in Byculla in Mumbai on Monday for allegedly circulating a message on WhatsApp that the military had been deployed in some parts of the locality to enforce the lockdown for the novel coronavirus outbreak with the mandate to fire to control mobs. He has given Rs 5 lakh to 'Zomato Feeding India', which is helping families affected by the ongoing national lockdown, and another Rs 5 lakh to help aid the welfare of stray dogs. Rohit, who is the vice-captain of the Indian ODI team, has donated Rs 45 lakh and Rs 25 lakh to the PM and CM's Relief Fund (Maharashtra) respectively. Star India batsman Rohit Sharma has donated Rs 80 lakh to fight the rapidly-spreading COVID-19 pandemic, saying the onus is on the citizens to help the country get back on its feet. Earlier, the MBMC had set up a 40-bed ward at the civic hospital, but now it is upgraded to a 100-bed isolation ward to house patients, Chandrakant Dange, MBMC commissioner, MBMC told the newspaper. To combat the coronavirus outbreak, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC)-run Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Civic Hospital has been converted into a 100-bed isolation facility with immediate effect, reports The Hindustan Times . The duo had shared a video showing the police beating upa man during the lockdown on several WhatsApp groups, he said, adding that posting such contents on social media is banned during the lockdown. The Ulhasnagar police on Monday registered a case against former corporator and Sena leader Vijay Sawant and Raju Idani, while no arrests have been made so far, senior inspector Rajendra Kadam said. An FIR was registered against two persons, including a Shiv Sena leader, for allegedly sharing a video of the local police assaulting a man during the COVID-19 lockdown in Ulhasnagar town of Maharashtra, police said on Tuesday. One staff nurse of a hospital in Sector 6, in Panchkula has tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday. "She is in isolation now," Chief Medical Officer, Panchkula told ANI. The number of positive cases in Haryana stand at 22. He said people will have to maintain social distancing while buying essential goods. Bhilwara has reported 26 positive cases out of the 83 coronavirus cases reported in the state so far. For 10 days starting from 3 April, people should remain indoors. We are going to cancel all passes issued to media, public support groups or NGOs. Essential services will be delivered as per a time-table in the town, Bhilwara collector Rajendra Bhatt said. Residents have been asked to remain indoors as the district administration has prepared a time-table to deliver essential services at doorsteps, they said. With Bhilwara recording 30 percent of total COVID-19 cases in Rajasthan, the district administration plans to impose a stricter lockdown in the textile town for 10 days starting from April 3 by revoking passes issued to media and NGOs, officials said on Tuesday. IndiGo, India's largest airline, had announced similar cuts a couple of weeks ago. GoAir, owned by the Wadia group, has asked employees to go on a rotational leave without pay. Budget airline SpiceJet on Tuesday announced a pay cut for all employees, after the state-mandated lockdown grounded airlines in India for 21 days. Employees will take 10-30 percent deductions in their March pay with SpiceJet chairman Ajay Singh taking a 30 percent pay cut. The health department has started screening of all the people residing in one-kilometre area around their house, he added. The number of positive cases in the state is now 101, a health official said here. After the report was received from the KGMU on Tuesday morning, the Subhash Nagar area, where the family resides, has been sealed off and 5-kilometre area around their house has been made the buffer zone the CMO said. "Five cases have been found positive in Bareilly. The samples of 6 members of a family of a youth, working in Noida and earlier found corona positive, were sent for testing and five of them, including his mother, father, brother, sister, and wife were found as positive," Chief medical officer, Bareilly, Dr Vineet Shukla said on Tuesday. With five more people testing positive for coronavirus in Bareilly on Tuesday, the total count of COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh has crossed the 100 mark, said officials. "Those who are dying on way to home should be identified by the government and their bodies should be sent home. Families of such people should also be given Rs 25 lakh," Akhilesh said The 21-day nationwide lockdown sparked an exodus of hundreds of thousands of migrant labourers who undertook long journeys from major urban cities on foot to their native places in the last five days, threatening to overturn the benefits of the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to identify the people who died while making their way home and give Rs 25 lakh to their families. Additional Chief Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said one person each has tested positive from Jhunjhunu, Ajmer, Dungarpur and Jaipur. The other 10 are evacuees from Iran who had landed at Jodhpur airport recently, Singh said. Ten more Indian evacuees from Iran in Rajasthan have tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease. Fourteen more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Rajasthan, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 93, an official said on Tuesday. Thousands of Gujarat-based migrant workers had earlier started their journey on foot to reach Rajasthan following the announcement of lockdown last week to contain the spread of coronavirus. These labourers are now being sent to shelter homes in Gujarat, said Inspector General, Gandhinagar Range, Mayanksinh Chavda, who rushed to the spot after getting information about the matter. Over 500 migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar were stuck at the Shamlaji border town in Gujarat after the Rajasthan Police refused them entry, an official said on Tuesday. It asked the Centre to prevent migration of people and take care of their needs of food, shelter, nourishment and medical aid. It said these shelters should be run by volunteers and not the police, and there should be no use of force and intimidation. "Panic will destroy more lives than the virus", the top court said and asked the Centre to get trained counsellors and community leaders of all faiths to calm down the migrants, who are kept in shelter homes across the country. The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Tuesday to prevent migration of people due to coronavirus and set up within 24 hours a portal for disseminating real time information on the pandemic to counter the panic being spread through fake news. Meanwhile, the health ministry said that with more than 1,200 cases of COVID-19 in India, the number of hotspots in country has increased. R Gangakhedkar of the ICMR, one of the nodal agencies on India's action against the spread of coronavirus, said in the daily briefing on Tuesday, "Till now we have tested 42,788 samples, including 4,346 samples that were tested yesterday. It represents 36 percent of our capacity. 123 labs have been made functional, 49 private labs have been given permission. Yesterday 399 patients were tested in private labs." "With respect to the Nizamuddin area, we all need to understand and appreciate that this is not the time to do fault finding. What is important for us is to take action as per our containment process in whatever areas we find a case," said Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry. Addressing converns over the congregation that was held in Delhi's Nizammudin area of which several attendees have tested positive for coronavirus, the health ministry said that "fault finding" should be avoided. First three COVID-19 patients in West Bengal have recovered, reports said, adding that they will remain in quarantine for the time being. Meanwhile, two new cases were confirmed for the infection in the state on Tuesday, the total cases are now 27. It is estimated that from January 1 onwards, approximately 2100 foreigners had visited India for Tabligh activities, the statement said. In a statement, the home ministry said while approximately 824 of them, as on 21 March, were dispersed in different parts of the country, 216 of them were staying at Nizamuddin Markaz, where several of them tested COVID-19 positive. The government on Tuesday said as many as 2100 foreigners visited India for Tablighi activities since 1 January and all of them first reported at its headquarters in Delhi's Nizamuddin, which has apparently become a coronavirus hotspot. In Madhya Pradesh, the total number of coronavirus positive cases on Tuesday rose to 66 in the state, of which 44 positive cases have been reported in Indore. Five people have died due to the infection till now in the state. Italy on Tuesday observed a minute of silence and flags in the country were at half-mast in mourning for the 11,591 people who have died due to the coronavirus pandemic so far. Italy, one of the worst-affected countries, was declared as the epicentre of COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) after the toll crossed that of China's. "Moreover, the employees will also be treated as "on leave without pay" for the March 25-31 phase due to the suspension of air passenger services during the period, said the airline, which offered its aircraft and crew to the government for any "humanitarian mission" last week," the report said. SpiceJet airline is likely to cut 30 percent of its employees's salaries in March, The Indian Express quoted Chairman Ajay Singh as saying. The total number of positive coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh rose to 103 on Tuesday, with the highest number of cases reported in Noida with 39 cases. "Persons who are bonafide residents of the state of Punjab and are travelling from other states to the state of Punjab would be screened," a government notification said. All residents of Punjab returning from other states will be screened for coronavirus upon entry, the state government said on Tuesday. "Crisil may not recognise missed payments as defaults if they occurred because of temporary operational challenges caused by the lockdown," the agency said. Companies need not worry about missed payments impacting ratings if these are due to operational challenges in the lockdown, ratings agency Crisil said in a statement. Three new coronavirus cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh's Noida and 26 cases were reporting in Rajasthan's Bhilwara on Tuesday. Another COVID-19 death was reported in West Bengal on Tuesday, after which the toll in state rose to four, PTI quoted officials as saying. The Delhi Police has written a letter to Delhi government seeking immediate action with regard to persons including 157 foreign nationals associated with Tablighi Jamaat meet in Nizamuddin and presently staying at various mosques and places in Delhi. Sun Weidong, Chinese Envoy to India , said, "The 2nd batch of donation from Chinese charity organizations Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundations has arrived in Delhi today and been received by Indian Red Cross Society. Donation includes protective clothes, masks, respirators and ventilators. Chinese state-owned companies also provide assistance to their Indian partners. The Chinese people will stand firmly with the Indian people on the fight against COVID-19 and we'll get through hard times together." "With this, Odisha now has four positive cases. The previous three are in various stages of recovery," reports said. Meanwhile, a fourth COVID-19 has been confirmed case in Odisha. Reportedly, the patient is a 29-year-old male from the Bhadrak district with a travel history to Dubai. Efforts are on to isolate him from his family and to bring him to the coronavirus ward at SCBMCH in Cuttack, the state's largest govt-run hospital. He was asymptomatic and quarantined at home. Five more COVID-19 cases from Bihar, including four from Siwan and one from Gopalganj have been reported on Tuesday. Total cases in the state are now at 21. At least 15,000 people are listed for observation for coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir, a media bulletin said on Tuesday. The bulletin also said that 9,895 people were being kept under home quarantine, while 350 were in hospital quarantine and 51 people were kept in hospital isolation. A total of 3,334 people were kept under home surveillance, while 1,371 had completed the surveillance period. "Twenty-three laboratories in the Maharashtra (10 government and 13 private ones) have been approved by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) for COVID-19 diagnosis. Reports from private laboratories are being evaluated before they are finalised," the state public health department said. Maharashtra:Migrant workers staying in a shelter home in Nagpur allege that it lacks basic utilities.A worker says,"We don't have electricity&toilet facilities.We've to eat our meals near garbage. We were assured that we'll be fine but situation here is such that we can fall ill" pic.twitter.com/CI5608r49G Migrant workers staying in a shelter home in Nagpur allege that it lacks basic utilities.A worker says,"We don't have electricity and toilet facilities.We've to eat our meals near garbage. We were assured that we'll be fine but situation here is such that we can fall ill." Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST updates: The number of novel coronavirus cases climbed to 1,397 on Tuesday after 146 new infections were reported in the past 24 hours across the country, while the death toll due to the pandemic rose to 35, according to the Union Health Ministry. The active cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) stands at 1,238, while three deaths two in Punjab and one in Maharashtra were reported, the ministry said in an updated data on Monday night. The Union health ministry said that there has been an increase of 146 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which takes the total number of COVID-19 positive cases rise to 1,397 in India (including 1238 active cases, 124 cured/discharged/migrated people and 35 deaths). The Ministry of External Affairs (MHA) said that so far, 1,339 workers of the Tablighi Jamaat organisation have been shifted to Narela, Sultanpuri and Bakkarwala quarantine facilities in Delhi. The statement also said that some have also been admitted to the LNJP, RGSS, GTB, DDU hospitals and AllMS in Haryana's Jhajjar. Rest of them are being currently medically screened for COVID-19 infections. "Usually, all foreigners visiting India as a part of Tablighi team come on tourist visas. MHA had already issued guidelines that they should not indulge in missionary work on a tourist visa. Police will examine and take further action in case of violation of visa conditions," the statement added. Several attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi's Nizammudin tested positive for the coronavirus in Tamil Nadu and Telangana, while 36 attendees were kept in quarantine in Madhya Pradesh, reports said on Tuesday. 50 people from Tamil Nadu who attended the gathering at the Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi, have been tested positive for coronavirus, Tamil Nadu health secretary Beela Rajesh said. The government also said that out of 1,131 people who returned to the state from Delhi, where the around 2,000-strong congregation was held, 515 have been traced while the remaining 616 are asked to self-report. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday said that the Centre will take "strictest" action against those who violated visa rules and travelled to India for the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi's Nizammudin held on 13 March. Several attendees of the congregation from across the country have tested positive for the coronavirus, and some have also died. The MHA also said that the foreigners will be blacklisted and FIRs will be filed against "those spreading false rumours on COVID-19 crisis". A 52-year-old person has been found positive for coronavirus in Assam, state minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, adding that it is Assam's first COVID-19 patient. He is undergoing treatment at Silchar Medical College and his condition is stable, the minister said. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said that seven positive cases have been reported in the state, two each in Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod. He said that additionally, one each was reported in Kollam, Thrissur, and Kannur. The total active cases are now 215. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday, "Amid all this gloom and grief caused by the pandemic, we have a very heartening story to share. An elderly couple from Ranni, of age 93 and 82, have left the hospital after being successfully treated for COVID-19. Good work health department. Keep Hope Alive, We Shall Overcome." R Gangakhedkar of the ICMR, one of the nodal agencies on India's action against the spread of coronavirus, said in the daily briefing on Tuesday, "Till now we have tested 42,788 samples, including 4,346 samples that were tested yesterday. It represents 36 percent of our capacity. 123 labs have been made functional, 49 private labs have been given permission. Yesterday 399 patients were tested in private labs." National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said that people using hashtags like 'Tablighi virus' after the Tablighi Jammat organisation which hosted a congregation in Delhi's Nizammudin, were "more dangerous than any virus that nature could ever conjure". Several attendees from states across India have tested positive for coronavirus and some have succumbed to the infection. Over 500 migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar were stuck at the Shamlaji border town in Gujarat after the Rajasthan Police refused them entry, an official said on Tuesday. With five more people testing positive for coronavirus in Bareilly on Tuesday, the total count of COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh has crossed the 100 mark, said, officials. 'Five cases have been found positive in Bareilly. The samples of 6 members of a family of a youth, working in Noida and earlier found corona positive, were sent for testing and five of them, including his mother, father, brother, sister, and wife were found as positive,' Chief medical officer, Bareilly, Dr Vineet Shukla said on Tuesday. A doctor of mohalla clinic in Babarpur has tested positive for coronavirus, reported ANI. A notice has been put up in the area asking patients who had visited the clinic between 12 to 20 March, should self-quarantine at home for the next 15 days. The 65-year-old man from Nayagaon near Chandigarh, who had tested positive for coronavirus succumbed to his illness on Tuesday morning. The total number of coronavirus cases in Punjab stood at 41 with 4 deaths. AAP MLA Atishi Marlena urges for 'strong action' against Nizamuddin event organisers, stating that the event which took place between 13 to 17 march was illegal considering the Delhi government had banned gathering of more 50 people on 13 March itself. Karnataka health minister B Sriramulu on Tuesday said that the government has information that around 45 people from Karnataka had taken part in the Nizamuddin congregation. The Tumkur resident (who died on March 27) is one of them, he said and added that 13 people have been traced so far. Five more new cases have been reported in Maharashtra. Among the five, four cases were reported from Mumbai and one from Pune. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 230, said Maharashtra Health Department on Tuesday. Delhi's health minister Satyendar Jain told ANI that 24 people who were present at the Markaz building, Nizamuddin have tested positive for coronavirus, so far. He also said that around 1,500 to 1,700 people have been estimated by the government to have assembled at Markaz building. Amid multiple reports which claim that the Markaz Nizamuddin had violated lockdown, the Markaz issued a detailed clarification into how they did not violate the lockdown announced by the government. With the help of the Health Department around 860 people have been shifted from Markaz building, in Nizamuddin to hospitals. Around 300 more people are yet to be evacuated, Delhi Police sources told ANI on Tuesday. A 49-year-old woman who had tested positive for COVID-19 died in Madhya Pradesh, taking the number of coronavirus deaths in the state to five, an official said on Tuesday. She had no travel history and was already suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, officials said. A 68-year-old man from Thiruvananthapuram who had tested positive for COVID-19 died at Thiruvananthapuram medical college early Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, Delhi witnessed 87 coronavirus cases in Nizamuddin as area emerged as a hotspot after a religious meeting was held at Markaz by the Tableeghi Jamaat earlier this month. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region's COVID-19 count reached 170 on Monday with 47 people testing positive for the novel coronavirus, officials said. While 29 of the new infections are in Mumbai, the rest 18 are from other parts of MMR, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials said. Delhi Police cordon off Delhi's Nizamuddin area after six people from Telangana who attended a religious congregation in there died due to the novel coronavirus. The Delhi government has also asked the police to register an FIR against the Maulana of Markaz in Nizamuddin area as some people have shown symptoms of coronavirus after taking part in a religious gathering in Delhi. The number of coronavirus cases in the country rose to 1,251 on Monday while the number of fatalities reached 32, said the Union health ministry. The government said there was no immediate plan to extend the 21-day lockdown period, which entered its sixth day on Monday, while the Indian Army dismissed as "fake" social media posts about a possible emergency declaration next month. At 227, this is the largest one-day increase in the number of cases for India. The highest number of cases was reported from Kerala (202) while Maharashtra has 198 cases, said the health ministry. However, according to the latest figures given by the Maharashtra government, the case count rose to 220, with 17 persons testing positive. Out of these 17, eight are from Mumbai, five from Pune, two from Nagpur, while one each from Nashik and Kolhapur, PTI quotes a state health official as saying. The state also reported the death of two more persons due to the deadly infection, taking the total number of deaths in Maharashtra to 10. Of these, an 80-year-old man died in a private hospital of Mumbai on March 28, but his sample tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, the official said. The city of Pune reported its first death after a COVID-19 patient who was on ventilator support died of multiple organ failure. The patient also suffered from diabetes and high BP, said the official. Kerala reported 32 new positive cases of Covid-19, taking the total number of patients under treatment to 213 in the state with the worst affected Kasaragod district accounting for 17 fresh cases.The state also scripted history on Monday when an elderly couple was cured of the deadly virus.Thomas (93) and Mariyamma (88), from Ranni in Pathanamthitta district, admitted in Kottayam medical college were cured even as they battled with various age related complications. With 25 new cases, the count of positive cases rose to 79 in Delhi.Karnataka reported five new cases taking the tally to 88 while Jammu and Kashmir reported 11 new cases taking the total to 49.24 people tested positive in Uttar Pradesh taking the total to 96. "Of the 24 new corona patients, 14 are from Meerut, seven from Noida (Gautam Buddh Nagar), and one each from Agra, Lucknow and Bulandshahar," Joint Director-cum-State Surveillance Officer under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, Dr Vikasendu Agrawal, said in a statement. "In Meerut, 13 cases have been reported, all of which are relatives and acquaintances of one infected person," said another state health official. In Punjab, a 42-year-old coronavirus-positive woman died at a Patiala hospital taking the COVID-19 death toll in the state to three, an official said. It is the second coronavirus-related death within 24 hours in the state where 41 people are confirmed so far to have been infected by the virus.The Ludhiana resident was admitted at the hospital on Sunday night, Patiala Civil Surgeon Harish Malhotra told PTI over the phone. She was complaining of breathlessness and had acute respiratory distress syndrome, he said, adding that she died around 1.30 pm on Monday, before the report of her samples confirming her as coronavirus positive arrived. The state of Telangana also reported 1 death and 13 new cases taking the number of active COVID-19 cases in the state to 61. Details of the deceased person were not immediately known. India in local transmission stage, says Union health ministry Even as states reported a spike in numbers, the Union health ministry took a cautious approach and maintained that the country was in the local transmission stage. "It took 12 days for cases to rise from 100 to 1,000 in our country, whereas seven other developed nations having lesser population than us have seen multiple increase," Health ministry Joint Secretary Lav Aggarwal said while insisting that COVID-19 is still in the local transmission stage in India. The ministry, however, in its Standard Operating Procedure issued on Sunday for transporting a COVID-19 case, had mentioned the current phase of the pandemic as "local transmission and limited community transmission". "This SOP is applicable to current phase of COVID-19 pandemic in India (local transmission and limited community transmission), wherein as per plan of action, all suspect cases are admitted to isolation facilities. These procedures are meant to guide and be used for training ambulance drivers and technicians in transporting COVID19 patients," it read. However, Agarwal attributed the slow pace of rise in cases in India to people's participation in strictly following the social-distancing guidelines and the collective preemptive actions taken by the Centre in tandem with state governments. Speaking at the same press conference, Raman R Gangakhedkar, head of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research, said 38,442 tests have been conducted till now, out of which 3,501 were done on Sunday. He said 47 private laboratories have been given approval for conducting COVID-19 tests and in the last three days, 1,334 tests have been done in private labs, he said. "It is still below 30 per cent of or testing capacity," he said. On reports about death of doctors due to heart attack apparently after consumption of Hydroxychloroquine recommended by ICMR for healthcare workers taking care of COVID-19 patients, Gangakhedkar said they do not have details of the cases but added that two doses leading to death seemed difficult unless the doctor had underlying health issues. "It is difficult for me to say anything as I do not know the profile of the patient," he said. Over several people being allegedly quarantined in a particular area in Delhi's Nizamuddin after they showed symptoms of coronavirus infection, Agarwal said they initiate action as per the protocol. Be it in Nizamuddin or any part of the country healthcare teams go and take action as part of the containment strategy, he said, adding the government was focusing on hotpsots from where large number of cases are being reported and working in tandem with states to implement rigorous contact-tracing, community surveillance and other containment strategies to break the chain of transmission. Responding to a question over a video on social media showing a group of migrant workers allegedly being sprayed with a chlorine solution by the Bareilly municipal corporation personnel, Agarwal said the district magistrate has clarified it was some "overzealous" employees who did something which was not required. "This is an overzealous action done by field officers either out of fear or out of ignorance. There are no guidelines in terms of spraying disinfectants on people," he said. The video which had gone viral on social media had evinced strong criticism from many, including Opposition leaders. Government seeks to ramp up manufacture of ventilator, protective gear The health ministry also said the government has asked automobile manufacturers to use their facilities to make ventilators and added that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will start manufacturing 20,000 N-95 masks daily from next week. According to the health ministry, over 14,000 existing ventilators are earmarked for COVID-19 patients in various hospitals of the country, while there are 11.95 lakh N-95 masks in stock. and additional masks have been distributed over the past three days. The ministry also said 3.34 lakh personal protection equipment (PPE) coveralls are available with hospitals in the country and another 3 lakh, which have been donated, will be received from abroad by 4 April. Besides, the ministry has asked the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, to manufacture 30,000 ventilators in the next two months in collaboration with local manufacturers while private Agva Healthcare in Noida has been given an order to manufacture 10,000 ventilators within a month. In the meantime, orders have been placed with international companies such as Hamilton, Mindray and Draeger to supply ventilators, it said. The Ministry of External Affairs is also approaching suppliers in China for sourcing 10,000 ventilators from them, it said in a statement. Two domestic manufacturers are producing 50,000 N-95 masks per day. This is expected to go up to 1 lakh daily within the next week as they are ramping up their production capacities, the health ministry said. SC seeks status report on migrant exodus Seeking to contain mass spread of the deadly virus, several states effectively sealed their borders to stop movement of migrant workers rendered jobless due to a nationwide lockdown. Haryana police said they have completely sealed all inter-state borders to prevent the movement of migrant workers, while the Uttarakhand government withdrew its earlier decision of allowing inter-district movement of people within the state. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal warned district magistrates and deputy commissioners that strict action could taken against them for any laxity during lockdown. The lieutenant governor also told them to send anyone found roaming without an e-pass or a valid reason to district shelters set up by the administration. Sources told PTI that Baijal wrote to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, expressing displeasure over the handling of the migrant workers crisis, after thousands of people gathered at Anand Vihar ISBT violating the lockdown. Intense patrolling was initiated in borders areas of Delhi on Monday. Meanwhile a 35-year-old migrant worker placed in home quarantine after he returned to his native Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh from Tamil Nadu allegedly committed suicide on Monday, police said. "Local health officials had asked him to be in home quarantine as a precautionary measure. He was checked by doctors till 29 March and showed no symptoms like cold, cough etc. On Monday, however, he hanged himself,"a police official said. The Supreme Court also observed that fear and panic becoming was becoming "a bigger problem than the coronavirus", but stopped short of passing any order and sought a report from the government by Tuesday. Hearing two separate PILs which sought relief, including food, water, medicines and proper medical facilities, for thousands of migrant workers who are rendered homeless and jobless due to the lockdown, a bench of Chief Justice Bobde and Justice L Nageswara Rao said said before passing any direction, it would like to wait for the status report from the centre. The government also clarified that there was no immediate plan to extend the 21-day lockdown amid fears that shutdown of businesses across the country to counter the spread of the virus may trigger severe economic and social distress. The worldwide tally of deaths crossed 35,900, with more than 26,000 people dying in Europe. Globally, more than 7,40,000 people have been detected positive so far, out of which nearly 1,42,300 have recovered, as per various reports. In UK, Prince Charles appeared recovering and moved out of self-isolation, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered quarantine after an aide tested positive for the deadly virus. With inputs from PTI Wellington, New Zealand -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/31/2020 -- Vapemag.co.nz, the one-stop source for vaping information was founded by Robert Reid. Robert started his own vape shop eight years ago and is considered to be the first and prominent vape influencer in the country. The business has been thriving and flourishing amongst the retail and wholesale sector. Being an avid vaping advocate in New Zealand, Robert continues to make his own efforts to help New Zealand become smoke free by 2025. The idea behind creating The Vape Magazine online is to help all kinds of to-be, new and existing vapers understand the industry better. With an aim to build a trusted content hub, Robert ensures that this digital platform helps vapers with accurate, reliable and useful content in the industry obtained from across the world. Vaping, as most people in the vaping community know it, is a great alternative for tobacco smoking. Many people have found this to be one of the most practical ways to quit smoking without any adverse effects on both physical and emotional wellbeing. Ever since then, there have been numerous speculations about the safety and the usage of vaping products. This site aims at helping vapers understand the intricacies of the industry. Whether it is with regards to the national vaping regulations in New Zealand or those that come from across the world nations, this site offers some of the truest, latest and hottest news from the industry. From vaping health scare in New Zealand to E-Liquid bans for underage vaping in NZ, this site offers real information for the vaping community. Join the Newsletter today to get the latest information every day. To know more visit https://www.vapemag.co.nz/ About VapemagNZ Vapemag.co.nz is an online news portal and resource exclusively created for the vaping community from New Zealand. It is a one-stop content hug with reliable vaping information and industry referrals with no affiliation to big tobacco, mainstream media and political influences. Media Contact Robert Reid - Vapemag NZ Media Solutions Website: https://www.vapemag.co.nz/ A group of around 150 members of the transgender community in Surat has been distributing food kits - consisting of rice, flour, oil, tea leaves, and sugar among other things - to the residents of slum areas of the city and other needy people amid the 21-day nationwide lockdown to check the spread of the coronavirus. Nisha, a member of the group, said: "We had started with 200 kits but now it has gone up to around 1500. We prepare it ourselves for distribution. We used to get together for the celebration of Navratri, but it got cancelled this year due to COVID-19. So we thought of doing this instead." India has recorded 1,117 active COVID-19 positive cases. So far, 32 people have died of COVID-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Lee Seong-hyon Trump has sent a letter to Kim Jong-un, indicating his willingness to aid North Korea in battling the coronavirus. If Kim were to accept the offer, that would make China lose face, North Korea's most intimate ally. But how close are North Korea and China under Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping? This is both a policy question, and an academic inquiry. Without resorting to intelligence, we can probe the question by carefully perusing through open source documents. There is a view that North Korea and China have now entered the "second blood-alliance period," a reference to the historical ties between Kim Il-sung and Mao Zedong that underscore the significance of the renewed relationship, now under Kim Jr. and Xi. There are three pieces of evidence that support this theory. We can, for instance, compare the official words used between North Korea and China, in their characterization of their relationship during the Cold War and the present day. First, the term "blood alliance." That's the Korean translation of the original Chinese expression "sealed in blood" (xian xue ning cheng). At the summit banquet in March 2018, in Beijing, Xi characterized the two socialist countries' relationship as "sealed in blood." It was Xi's first meeting with Kim. And Xi cut the chase and went straight to use the iconic vocabulary from the Cold War era. Interestingly, the Chinese foreign ministry website records omit Xi's use of the expression. However, one can discover it from North Korea's state-run KCNA reports of the summit that Xi, indeed, used the term. Naturally, it is curious to know why the Chinese side chose not to include the important word from Xi's remarks, while the North Korean side duly publicized it. At least, we can see that Chinese officials use the term publicly. For instance, Li Jinjun, the Chinese ambassador to North Korea, used the term in October 2016 at a ceremony marking the 66th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's participation in the Korean War. Li said that the friendship between China and North Korea "is our common precious fortune, which was 'sealed in blood' by the sacrifice of soldiers and civilians of the two nations." North Koreans in Pyongyang also used this expression as they welcomed Xi during his visit there in June 2019. Perhaps, Chinese thought that the quintessential term "sealed in blood" by China's top leader could invite controversy. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Xi also characterized China's relationship with North Korea as "the one and only relationship in the world." In response, Kim said that it was his noble duty to keep the friendship between North Korea and China "as precious as life" and "from generation to generation." Second, the term "lips and teeth." During their second meeting in the Chinese port city of Dalian, Xi said that China and North Korea were a community of "shared destiny" and "a relationship of lips and teeth." Xi continued, "No matter how the situation flows, this is the firm line by the parties and the governments of the two nations. It is also the only correct choice." A major South Korean media outlet, Chosun Ilbo, immediately raised the alarm, pointing out that Xi had used "lips and teeth," a signature Cold War expression, to describe the China-North Korea relationship for the first time since Kim took power in late 2011. Third, the term "the same command camp." During his third meeting with Xi in Beijing, June, 2018, Kim remarked that North Korea and China supported each other "like a family." Kim also stated that North Korea would "closely cooperate" with China in the "same command camp" (han chammobu) to safeguard socialism and herald a new future for the Korean Peninsula. During the Korean War, when the battle between the United States and China became fierce, China's military formed a combined forces command ("Jojung yonhap saryongbu" in Korean) with the North Korean army to enhance combat coordination and efficiency against the United States and its allied forces. Kim resurrected the Cold War vocabulary from his grandfather's era. It is too early to speculate what all this means in the "evolution" of the Sino-North Korean relationship. We can, at least, see that three iconic vocabularies that were used during the Cold War to signify the intimate relationship between Pyongyang and Beijing are back in the market. Lee Seong-hyon (sunnybbsfs@gmail.com), Ph.D., is director, the Center for Chinese Studies at the Sejong Institute. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/31/2020 -- Global Software Development Tools market is anticipated to display considerable growth over the forecast period 2020 - 2025. The report is categorized on the basis of product type, technology, application, end user, and geography. Each of this segment is elaborated with the help of statistics and information that will guide the industry players in deciding various crucial strategies and policies for growth and expansion. Subject matter experts have discussed details on major driving factors with proper infographics that will support the players in getting a better picture of the market and approaches to be implemented in future. Moreover, researchers have also mentioned about the current trends and developments in the Software Development Tools industry. This will enable the players to plan more effective tactics and schemes and gain greater return on investment in the forthcoming years. Get PDF Sample Copy @ https://bit.ly/3bKZdwl Furthermore, researchers have discussed important factors regarding geographic segmentation to help the market players identify opportunities in the Software Development Tools industry and track potential customers. They have highlighted details on growing consumer requirements, product preference, consumer spending power, manufacturing and consumption capacity, and demographic information like gender, age, family, and income. This will assist the operating players plan their production accordingly and reduce wastage. In addition, list of key players is also given in the report to help the companies understand their existing market position and plan strategies accordingly. The Software Development Tools Market revenue was xx.xx Million USD in 2015, grew to xx.xx Million USD in 2020, and will reach xx.xx Million USD in 2025, with a CAGR of x.x% during 2020-2025. Based on the Software Development Tools industrial chain, this report mainly elaborates the definition, types, applications and major players of Software Development Tools market in details. Deep analysis about market status (2015-2020), enterprise competition pattern, advantages and disadvantages of enterprise products, industry development trends (2020-2025), regional industrial layout characteristics and macroeconomic policies, industrial policy has also be included. From raw materials to downstream buyers of this industry will be analyzed scientifically, the feature of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. In a word, this report will help you to establish a panorama of industrial development and characteristics of the Software Development Tools market. Market Drivers: - Growing product demand in the emerging economies due to development and steady adoption of modernized technologies - Growing research and development activities for innovations in electronic devices - Increasing government support for the use of advanced devices Market Restraints: - Easy availability of substitute equipment - Significant investment prices - High prices of modernized electronics Competitive Analysis: The players in the Software Development Tools market are increasingly adopting organic and inorganic growth strategies, such as partnership, mergers and acquisition, collaboration, takeovers, new product launches, innovations in the existing technologies, and more. Competitors in the market can take decisions on strengthening their presence in the industry. Inquire before Buying Report @ https://bit.ly/33XnIn2 Table of Content: Global Software Development Tools Industry Market Research Report 1 Software Development Tools Introduction and Market Overview 1.1 Objectives of the Study 1.2 Definition of Software Development Tools 1.3 Software Development Tools Market Scope and Market Size Estimation 1.3.1 Market Concentration Ratio and Market Maturity Analysis 1.3.2 Global Software Development Tools Value ($) and Growth Rate from 2015-2025 1.4 Market Segmentation 1.4.1 Types of Software Development Tools 1.4.2 Applications of Software Development Tools 1.4.3 Research Regions 1.4.3.1 North America Software Development Tools Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2015-2020) 1.4.3.2 Europe Software Development Tools Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2015-2020) 1.4.3.3 China Software Development Tools Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2015-2020) 1.4.3.4 Japan Software Development Tools Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2015-2020) 1.4.3.5 Middle East & Africa Software Development Tools Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2015-2020) 1.4.3.6 India Software Development Tools Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2015-2020) 2 Industry Chain Analysis 2.1 Upstream Raw Material Suppliers of Software Development Tools Analysis 2.2 Major Players of Software Development Tools 2.2.1 Major Players Manufacturing Base and Market Share of Software Development Tools in 2019 2.2.2 Major Players Product Types in 2019 2.3 Software Development Tools Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis 2.3.1 Production Process Analysis 2.3.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure of Software Development Tools 2.3.3 Raw Material Cost of Software Development Tools 2.3.4 Labor Cost of Software Development Tools 2.4 Market Channel Analysis of Software Development Tools 2.5 Major Downstream Buyers of Software Development Tools Analysis 3 Global Software Development Tools Market, by Type 3.1 Global Software Development Tools Value ($) and Market Share by Type (2015-2020) 3.2 Global Software Development Tools Production and Market Share by Type (2015-2020) 3.3 Global Software Development Tools Value ($) and Growth Rate by Type (2015-2020) 3.4 Global Software Development Tools Price Analysis by Type (2015-2020) 4 Software Development Tools Market, by Application 4.1 Global Software Development Tools Consumption and Market Share by Application (2015-2020) 4.2 Downstream Buyers by Application 4.3 Global Software Development Tools Consumption and Growth Rate by Application (2015-2020) 5 Global Software Development Tools Production, Value ($) by Region (2015-2020) 5.1 Global Software Development Tools Value ($) and Market Share by Region (2015-2020) 5.2 Global Software Development Tools Production and Market Share by Region (2015-2020) 5.3 Global Software Development Tools Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2015-2020) 5.4 North America Software Development Tools Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2015-2020) 5.5 Europe Software Development Tools Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2015-2020) 5.6 China Software Development Tools Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2015-2020) 5.7 Japan Software Development Tools Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2015-2020) 5.8 Middle East & Africa Software Development Tools Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2015-2020) 5.9 India Software Development Tools Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2015-2020) 5.10 South America Software Development Tools Production, Value ($), Price and Gross Margin (2015-2020) 6 Global Software Development Tools Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2015-2020) 6.1 Global Software Development Tools Consumption by Regions (2015-2020) 6.2 North America Software Development Tools Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2015-2020) 6.3 Europe Software Development Tools Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2015-2020) 6.4 China Software Development Tools Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2015-2020) 6.5 Japan Software Development Tools Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2015-2020) 6.6 Middle East & Africa Software Development Tools Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2015-2020) 6.7 India Software Development Tools Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2015-2020) 6.8 South America Software Development Tools Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2015-2020)... 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View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005072/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) IDEMIA's LiveScan technology provides law enforcement jurisdictions with a flexible workflow-based application to capture criminals' biometric information and demographics. LiveScan ensures that the biometric solution can be deployed across the state efficiently while meeting the highest quality and safety requirements. The New South Wales Police Force is serving more than 7.5 million people over an area of 800,000 sq. km. IDEMIA is the leader on the Australian market for biometric enrolment and authentication as LiveScan is being used across the states of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and the Northern Territory. "This contract strengthens a long-term partnership that we have had with the New South Wales Police Force for over two decades", said Tim Ferris, Asia Pacific President and Senior Vice President for Public Security and Identity at IDEMIA. "This collaboration proves IDEMIA's capacity to provide critical support and maintenance when it comes to integrating multiple biometrics technology to increase national security and support efficient police services. It is a great honour to be supporting the biggest police organization in Australia." About IDEMIA IDEMIA, the global leader in Augmented Identity, provides a trusted environment enabling citizens and consumers alike to perform their daily critical activities (such as pay, connect and travel), in the physical as well as digital space. Securing our identity has become mission critical in the world we live in today. By standing for Augmented Identity, an identity that ensures privacy and trust and guarantees secure, authenticated and verifiable transactions, we reinvent the way we think, produce, use and protect one of our greatest assets our identity whether for individuals or for objects, whenever and wherever security matters. We provide Augmented Identity for international clients from Financial, Telecom, Identity, Public Security and IoT sectors. With 13,000 employees around the world, IDEMIA serves clients in 180 countries. For more information, visit www.idemia.com Follow @IdemiaGroup on Twitter View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005072/en/ Contacts: Press contact REDHILL Communications Felicia Chiriac Email: felicia.chiriac@redhill.asia Phone: +65 9644 5927 Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 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. By Chayut Setboonsarng, Reuters | Mar. 30, 2020 Thai Airways International Pcl may permanently reduce the number of aircraft types it deploys once the coronavirus outbreak that has caused the company to ground most of its fleet ends, said a senior government official on Monday. Thai Airways is grounding 69 of its 82 jets following a drop in passenger volume and route cancellations from the increased border restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the state-owned airline said in a statement earlier on Monday. The airline's board and management will come up with two plans by next month, the first to get the carrier through the coronavirus outbreak and another for business rehabilitation, Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Senniam, the government official responsible for Thai Airways, said on Monday. "The rehabilitation plan must be done fast because by October, if COVID subsides, we will need to deliver services to travelers and tourists," Thaworn said, referring to the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. He added that sales and leasebacks of airplanes and other types of capital injections were being considered. "We have to reduce aircraft types to as much as possible to reduce cost ... we can take out old aircraft, replace them with new ones through leasing or other procurement methods," he said adding the plans should be done by next month. Thai Airways was already facing financial trouble, reporting losses since 2017. Losses in 2019 widened to 12.2 billion baht (US$385 million) from losses of 11.6 billion baht a year earlier. The coronavirus outbreak and the resulting travel restrictions limiting tourism in Thailand has exacerbated the airline's decline. The government last week banned entry to foreigners and declared a state of emergency to combat the disease. Thailand on Monday reported 136 new coronavirus cases, raising the total number of infections in the country to 1,524. Nine people have died. The flag carrier had canceled nearly all of its international routes after its president resigned amid the outbreak. The airline said last year it was reviewing long-delayed plans to purchase 38 jets for its expansion plan. Other Thai airlines are also suffering amid the pandemic. Regional carrier Bangkok Airways Pcl said it was suspending 20 international routes and 10 domestic routes until October, with staff taking salary cuts of 10% to 50%. Budget carrier Thai AirAsia is hibernating its fleet after suspending its international and domestic flights, its largest shareholder, Asia Aviation Pcl (AAV) said. Angered by China's "disinformation, lies and mishandling" of the coronavirus crisis, several top aides of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have urged the Prime Minister to "redraw" diplomatic ties with the communist nation. The top British officials have warned that Beijing faces "reckoning" if it has lied about the actual number of coronavirus cases, Business Insider reported. It is believed that British scientists have raised alarm on the actual number of cases as reported by China and some have even said that the communist state may have cases "15 to 40 times" more than the cases reported so far, which stands at 94,417. The British officials have also alleged that China is trying to expand its global economic footprint by assisting nations like Iran and Spain that have been severely affected but the novel virus. These top aides have also called the Prime Minister to rethink diplomatic ties with Beijing. It is believed that under-pressure Prime Minister Johnson may have to abandon his decision of letting Chinese tech giant Huawei build UK's 5th generation (5G) communication network. Johnson's decision of letting Huawei build the country's limited yet significant part of communication network has also reportedly displeased US President Donald Trump. President Donald Trump called up Boris Johnson last month to express his disapproval over the decision to grant the 5G contract to Huawei. The anger over the decision to let Huawei build the communication network has not only been observed in the labour party held Opposition but also amongst many members of the Prime Minister's own Conservative Party. Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was tested positive for the coronavirus and since then he has been in self-isolation. The UK is also facing a severe brunt of the coronavirus outbreak with at least 22,400 confirmed cases and 1,412 deaths. Many in the UK believe that the country is just weeks behind Italy in facing the peak of the disease and hospitals can be overwhelmed by the patients seeking medical assistance. The coronavirus that first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year has infected 800,049 persons globally and has killed 38,714 people as per the data provided by Johns Hopkins University. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Governments around the world have now implemented stay-at-home orders and lockdowns as a way to slow the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic, and that means more people are working at homeand they'll be using their computers for more than just official business, from perusing social media and playing online gaimes to watching free porn. But according to a National Public Radio report on Monday, there is a downside to spending more time online: more danger of hacking attacks, viruses and malware. The NPR report warns that companies may find themselves more vulnerable to hacks if locked-down workers access their corporate networks remotely from the same computers they use to check out free porn sites in their free minutessomething they would be much more reluctant to do in the office. Adult sites have always been in the top three categories of websites hosting malicious content," cybersecurity expert Tyler Moffitt told NPR. "I would say that is a reasonable assumptionthat we're going to see an increase, due to porn at home. You know, these cybercriminals are seizing on this opportunity during a difficult time of pandemic." As AVN.com has reported, in 2017 alone researchers found that more than a million internet users contracted dangerous viruses on their smartphones and other devices from visiting secretly infected porn sites. The danger of malicious hackers and cybercriminals threatens not only corporate employers, but the workers themselves, who thanks to their new homebound status spend more time on networks not protected by sophisticated corporate firewalls. "There has been a dramatic increase in cybercrime and cyberattacks over the past two weeks, targeting Americans, said cybersecurity specialist Tom Kellerman, in the NPR reportadding that opportunistic hackers are aware that more workers are now online without the shield of corporate cybersecurity. In addition to unintentionally downloaded malware, workers during the coronavirus shutdown also face more conventional threats from scammers, sometimes posing as big retailers such as Costco with bogus offers to sell much-needed supplieslike toilet paper, hand sanitizer and even protective face masks. In the wake of the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package that passed Congress last week, another common scam comes in the form of emails offering to immediately send out stimulus checksif only the recipients hand over their bank account information. The NPR article suggests some digital hygiene measures to combat viruses, such as cleaning old documents out of Dropbox or Google Drive and routinely changing passwords. And on top of that, AVN would suggest actually paying for your porn. Join a membership site, pay for downloads ... and dont click on random links promising something for nothing. Photo by Ruthson Zimmerman / Wikimedia Commons Public Domain Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough extended a stay-at-home order for residents after the number of novel coronavirus cases increased by 12 Tuesday, bringing the total for the county to 93 cases. Keoughs amended order is now in place through April 30. The countys new cases include a child younger than 9 but health officials say she is at home and doing well. In conjunction with the presidential decree issued by President Donald J. Trump and the executive order GA 14 issued by Governor Greg Abbott I have extended the current Stay at Home Stop the Spread order to April 30, Keough told The Courier Tuesday. All three orders are designed to minimize the spread of the coronavirus. The case counts for Montgomery County communities are: The Woodlands, 22; Montgomery, 18; Conroe, 15; Spring, 15; Oak Ridge North, 8; Porter, 7; Shenandoah, 4; Hockley, one; Pinehurst, one; Splendora, one; and Willis, one. Senior facility has 13 COVID-19 cases The extended order comes on the heels of a shelter-in-place order for a senior living facility in The Woodlands where 13 of the countys cases are residents. The Conservatory at Alden Bridge, at 6203 Alden Bridge Drive, offers apartment homes and services such as chauffeured transportation for scheduled trips to shopping, dining and medical appointments. The facility can house up to 237 residents and now has a capacity of about 200. According to the order, residents must shelter-in-place for the duration of the order. Those who leave the facility cannot return to the property until the order expires on April 13. Additionally, the order prohibits anyone from entering the property unless it is to provide food service, caregivers, medical professionals, law enforcement or someone assisting a resident in leaving under the order. 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 Jason Millsaps, executive director of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said while officials with The Conservatory had put some measures in place to help stop the spread of the virus, they were pleased with the shelter-in-place order since some residents were resistant to comply with the county stay-at-home order set in place March 12. Millsaps said there are still tests pending for residents of The Conservatory so the number of cases could rise. Its a hot spot, he said. No one should be coming in or out. Its warrants a shelter in place. Montgomery County Sheriffs Office Lt. Scott Spencer said deputies were providing security at the facility ensuring residents do not leave and no one is allowed in except those allowed by the order. He added deputies have been instructed not to enter the facility but said if it was necessary, they have been provided personal protection equipment. Officials with The Conservatory could not be reached for comment. For a complete list of all confirmed new coronavirus cases in Montgomery County, visit mcphd-tx.org/coronavirus-covid-19/confirmed-cases. cdominguez@hcnonline.com Qingdao Port International Co., Ltd. (HKG:6198), which is in the infrastructure business, and is based in China, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the SEHK, rising to highs of HK$5.74 and falling to the lows of HK$4.10. 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 Qingdao Port International's current trading price of HK$4.24 reflective of the actual value of the mid-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Qingdao Port Internationals outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. See our latest analysis for Qingdao Port International What's the opportunity in Qingdao Port International? According to my price multiple model, which makes a comparison between the company's price-to-earnings ratio and the industry average, the stock price seems to be justfied. Ive used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because theres not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stocks ratio of 6.58x is currently trading slightly above its industry peers ratio of 6.29x, which means if you buy Qingdao Port International today, youd be paying a relatively reasonable price for it. And if you believe Qingdao Port International should be trading in this range, then there isnt really any room for the share price grow beyond the levels of other industry peers over the long-term. Is there another opportunity to buy low in the future? Since Qingdao Port Internationals share price is quite volatile, we could potentially see it sink lower (or rise higher) in the future, giving us another chance to buy. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for how much the stock moves relative to the rest of the market. Can we expect growth from Qingdao Port International? Story continues SEHK:6198 Past and Future Earnings March 31st 2020 Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. Qingdao Port Internationals earnings growth are expected to be in the teens in the upcoming years, indicating a solid future ahead. This should lead to robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value. What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? 6198s optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading around industry price multiples. 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 6198? Will you have enough confidence to invest in the company should the price drop below the industry PE ratio? Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on 6198, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around industry price multiples. However, the optimistic forecast is encouraging for 6198, which means its worth further examining 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 Qingdao Port International. You can find everything you need to know about Qingdao Port International in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Qingdao Port International, 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. Fourteen Bangladeshi nationals and two Indian citizens were arrested here for violating an order promulgate by a public servant, police said on Tuesday. The two Indians were from Jharkhand and West Bengal, Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar said, adding they violated official order during the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Kumar said all the foreign nationals were staying in the town on rent without informing the district authorities. All have been booked under IPC Section 188, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A battery production line at a factory in Huaibei in China's eastern Anhui province Factory activity in China unexpectedly bounced back after a collapse the previous month when the country was forced into lockdown, according to an influential survey. The country's official Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 52 in March - a sharp recovery after plunging to a record low of 35.7 in February. Anything above the 50 mark signals growth. It suggests the country is bouncing back quickly after massive lockdowns to contain the coronavirus outbreak - but analysts warned that steady growth is by no means guaranteed as the rest of the world imposes strict quarantines. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected the March PMI to come in at 45. China's National Bureau of Statistics said the surprise rebound in PMI was triggered by its fall to a record low base in February, and warned that the readings do not mean that economic activity has stabilised. Many analysts said China's businesses now face a longer struggle due to the rapid spread of the virus across the world, unprecedented lockdowns in several countries and the near-certainty of a global recession. Economists are already forecasting a steep contraction in China's first quarter gross domestic product, with some expecting a year-on-year slump of 9pc or more the first contraction in three decades. Nie Wen, economist at Shanghai-based Hwabao Trust, said that weak export orders, rising stockpiles and low prices mean Chinese factories will suffer from a slump in demand just as they are coming back online. He said: "The biggest problem facing China's economy in the second quarter is the slumping foreign demand." A further state spending splurge is now likely to shore up the country's economy, he said. Manufacturers' new export orders were still mired in contraction after rising to 46.4 from 28.7 in February. Factories continue to face huge challenges, the survey showed. More than half of those responding reported a lack of market demand and 42pc said they are strugglnig with finances, both up from the previous month. Story continues Markets reacted positively to the PMI survey, with Asian stocks rising as investors cheered a rare bit of good news. Beijing, at great costs to the economy, imposed draconian quarantine rules and travel restrictions to curb the Covid-19 pandemic after it broke out in Wuhan late last year. But as locally transmitted infections dwindle, most businesses have reopened and life for millions of people has started to slowly return to normal. China is now fighting to stop a second wave of infections from abroad. In Ohio, meanwhile, the governor there took a different route, calling off the state's primary. Here in the Quad-Cities, Iowans wont go to the polls for another 2 1/2 months, and who knows what the situation will be then. With all the daily changes, 10 weeks seems like an eternity. But it is not. We dont know how long the isolation measures weve all taken will remain in place. But it seems as if it will likely go beyond the April 16 date in the governors emergency order. This may stretch out for months. We believe it is important, to the extent possible, to keep the primary on schedule. The health and safety of Iowans and all Americans come first. But the healthy functioning of our economy, and our democracy, are vital to calming our frayed nerves and upholding confidence. If the need for social isolation continues into June, there should be steps taken to make sure that polling places are kept clean and that voters can keep their distance in order to avoid further spreading the coronavirus. We also must take a hard look at expanding vote by mail, or absentee, options. Tightened lockdowns across the planet saw nearly half of humanity told to stay at home in a bid to stem the spiralling coronavirus pandemic, as Spain recorded its deadliest day on Tuesday and the United States braced for the full impact of the disease. The virus has claimed nearly 38,000 lives worldwide in a health crisis that is rapidly reorganising political power, hammering the global economy and the daily existence of some 3.6 billion people. Spain, whose outbreak is the world's second deadliest after Italy, broke another national record of 849 deaths in one day Tuesday, dampening hopes it could have passed the peak of the crisis that has debilitated the country for weeks. In battered Italy, flags flew at half-mast during a minute of silence to honour the more than 11,500 people who have perished from the virus, and the health workers still working through nightmarish conditions. In Belgium a 12-year-old girl infected with COVID-19 was pronounced dead, a rare case of a young person succumbing to the disease, and yet another grim reminder of its reach. Across the Atlantic, the United States was preparing for its darkest days after the death toll topped 3,000 out of 163,000 known infections -- the highest case count for any country. Scenes previously unimaginable in peacetime -- such as a field hospital set to open in Central Park -- shook frightened New Yorkers hunkered down in an eerily quiet city. A US military medical ship with 1,000 beds also docked in Manhattan to relieve pressure on the city's overwhelmed health system. The city's food banks are seeing a surge of newcomers who have lost income as the world's financial capital shuts down. In the state of Maryland, alarm bells rang after 67 residents of a retirement home tested positive for the virus, with one 90-year-old man dying at the weekend. Maryland joined Virginia and Washington DC to become the latest parts of the US to impose stay-at-home orders, putting three-quarters of Americans under some form of lockdown. President Donald Trump sought to reassure Americans that authorities were ramping up distribution of desperately needed equipment such as ventilators and personal protective gear. But he also offered a stark warning, saying "challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days" as he acknowledged a potential nationwide stay-at-home order. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases around is now approaching 38,000 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker. Health systems are in overdrive as exhausted medical professionals make grim decisions about how to distribute limited protective gear and life-saving respirators. "Waking up this morning I cried. I cried eating breakfast. I cried getting ready," French nurse Elise Cordier confessed on Facebook in a post that revealed the fear and anguish of those on the front line. But, she said, once in "the hospital locker room, I dried my tears. I breathed in. I breathed out. The people in the hospital beds are crying too, and it is I who am there to dry their tears." World leaders -- several of whom have been stricken or forced into isolation -- are still grappling for ways to deal with a crisis that is generating economic and social shockwaves unseen since World War II. Finance ministers and central bankers from the world's 20 major economies were to hold a second round of virtual talks Tuesday to forge a plan for confronting the crisis. Last week, G20 leaders pledged to inject $5 trillion into the global economy in hopes of heading off a deep recession. The virus has seen global markets plunging in recent weeks, although trillions of dollars pledged to offset the economic impact have provided some semblance of stability. Experts in Germany, Europe's economic powerhouse, said the virus would shrink output there this year by up to 5.4 per cent. Amid a global tussle for medical gear, Trump said would send some excess shipments of equipment to hard-hit Italy, France and Spain. European nations, meanwhile, delivered medical goods to badly-affected Iran in the first transaction under the Instex mechanism set up to bypass US sanctions on Tehran. The number of cases in Iran has surpassed 44,000, with US sanctions complicating efforts to rein in the virus' spread. The economic pain of lockdowns is especially acute in impoverished cities in Africa and Asia. Africa's biggest city Lagos, joined the global stay-at-home, with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari ordering a two-week lockdown for its 20 million people. The measures also apply to the capital Abuja. "Two weeks is too long. I don't know how we will cope," said student Abdul Rahim, 25, as he helped his sister sell food from a market stall. Poverty-stricken Zimbabwe also began enforcing a three-week lockdown. "They need to be fed, but there is nothing to eat," Irene Ruwisi said in the township of Mbare, pointing to her four grandchildren. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Dakota's chief justice seeks $5 million for courthouse security In Chief Justice Jensen's State of the Judiciary Address, he mentioned courthouse security, sexual harassment training and a lack of court reporters. The Manipur government on Tuesday said it has found out 14 people who were linked" to the religious congregation held in Delhi's Nizamuddin earlier this month, though 39 others are still outside the state. The Tablighi Jamaat event was attended by around 2,000 people from various parts of the country and abroad. The congregation has become a key source for the spread of coronavirus and six of its attendees from Telangana died of COVID-19. The state government had received a list of names and phone numbers from the Centre and the 14 have been traced in collaboration with administrations of districts, a statement issued by the COVID-19 Central Control Room said. Of them, three have been taken for testing and the remaining 11 will be screened, it said. Earlier in the day, state Director General of Police LM Khaute said anyone from the state who attended the religious congregation, or who stayed in the vicinity of the venue or passed near it should get themselves tested at the nearest government hospital failing which legal actions will be taken up against them. Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday appealed to the people of the state who had attended the congregation to come forward for a COVID-19 test. The appeal is not aimed at spreading panic but is a call for acting responsibly, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen warned on Tuesday that coronavirus emergency measures taken by EU countries must be "limited", after Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orban took on sweeping powers. Brussels' top official did not single out Orban or Hungary by name in her statement, but it came a day after he adopted rule by decree, claiming extraordinary powers ostensibly to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. "The European Commission will closely monitor, in a spirit of cooperation, the application of emergency measures in all member states," she tweeted. "We all need to work together to master this crisis. On this path, we'll uphold our European values and human rights. This is who we are and what we stand for." Orban's spokesman for international relations responded to the EU statement directly, also on Twitter, saying: "We completely agree. "That's why the Hungarian state of emergency and extraordinary measures are congruent with the treaties and Hungarian constitution and targeted exclusively at fighting the coronavirus," he insisted. "It upholds EU values, rule of law, press freedom." In a separate statement read out by her spokesman, Von der Leyen admitted: "Over the past weeks, several EU governments took emergency measures to address the health crisis caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus". "We are living in extraordinary times, and governments, in principle, need to have the necessary tools to act rapidly and effectively to protect the public health of our citizens," she added. But, in a clear but unstated reference to events in Hungary, she insisted: "Any emergency measures must be limited to what is necessary and strictly proportionate. They must not last indefinitely." "Democracy cannot work without free and independent media," she said. Hungary is threatening prison sentences for journalists who publish what it deems "falsehoods" about the virus or the measures against it. Critics at home and abroad have condemned Hungary's "anti-coronavirus defence law", saying it gives Orban unnecessary and unlimited power and is a means of cementing his position rather than battling the virus. After declaring a state of emergency on March 11, the new law passed on Monday gives Orban the power to indefinitely rule by decree until his government decides the emergency is over. It removes the current requirement for MPs to approve any extensions to decrees. Elections cannot be held either during the emergency period. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Donald Trump offered rare praise for Nancy Pelosi Tuesday morning in claiming her interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe 'wasn't bad.' 'I watched a portion of low rated (very) Morning Psycho (Joe) this Morning in order to see what Nancy Pelosi had to say, & what moves she was planning to further hurt our Country,' Trump tweeted Tuesday. 'Actually, other than her usual complaining that I'm a terrible person, she wasn't bad. Still praying!' he continued, in hitting at the House Speaker's frequent claim that she prays for the president. Trump's comments came after Pelosi's interview with the Morning Joe panel Tuesday morning, where she said she would be open to talking with the president after the two have gone months without speaking to each other but added she didn't know what benefits would come from them talking. 'People say, oh, you haven't spoken to him since October no. We were there for the State of the Union Address. You remember that,' she asserted. 'But, again, if it's necessary, I'm sure we will speak,' Pelosi said, adding that negotiations between White House officials and a bipartisan group of lawmakers was adequate. Donald Trump said Tuesday morning that he watched Nancy Pelosi's interview on MSNBC, and offered rare praise, claiming 'she wasn't bad' During her MSNBC appearance, Pelosi said she was open to talking with the president again, even though the two have not been on speaking terms since October 'If it's necessary, I'm sure we will speak,' Pelosi told the Morning Joe Panel on Tuesday. 'I don't know what I would learn in a conversation with the president' Trump signed into law the $2.2 trillion economic stimulus package on Friday, just before the death toll spiked in the U.S., and by Tuesday surpassed 3,000 'I don't know what I would learn in a conversation with the president,' the California Democrat continued. Pelosi claimed during her interview that as speaker she has only even spoken to the president on an 'as-need basis.' 'It's an historic occasion when the speaker and the president speak. It's history,' Pelosi said. 'So we have he tasked his people to negotiate with us on the legislation and we respect that. I did that with President Bush as well. He would say, this person speaks for me. This cabinet officer, whatever,' she continued. Pelosi and Trump have not spoken since October, when tensions between the president as House Speaker reached a peak during a meeting at the White House. Questions over whether the duo will begin speaking again comes as the White House and Congress have engaged in negotiations over economic stimulus packages to relieve Americans and businesses in an attempt to stabilize the economy in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has been leading the White House's efforts to work with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to reach a deal over bills Trump would sign. On Friday the president signed a $2.2 trillion stimulus bill shortly after Pelosi was able to get it passed in the House. Pelosi now says she is working on a fourth phase bill, which might include measures that Republicans say they are not keen on like a rollback on income taxes included in the GOP's 2017 tax cuts. Republicans also say they don't want to move onto another big economic relief bill before the phase three package is fully in effect. 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. PARIS One by one, elderly residents of French nursing homes are going into forced isolation into their rooms. Their caregivers are walling themselves in as well, against both the known and the unknown. They are running out of body bags. But no one knows for sure how many people have become sick. Governments in Europes hardest-hit countries Italy, Spain and France are not routinely testing for coronavirus among elderly residents who fall ill in nursing homes or even those who eventually die there, including those who suffered from symptoms of the disease. The three countries together make up around a third of the global pandemics confirmed cases, and the lack of testing leaves hundreds, potentially thousands, of victims of the disease uncounted as health authorities try to trace its path, The Associated Press has found. The heavy dependency upon hospitals to count coronavirus fatalities poses particular problems for evaluating the diseases spread among the oldest citizens. Hospitals are increasingly reluctant to admit elderly coronavirus patients judged to have little chance of successful treatment. Indications are they have paid a steep toll in anonymity. In France, the two regions hit earliest by the pandemic reported an over 30% increase in the number of deaths from March 1-16 compared to the previous year, according to the national statistics agency, which released the figures for the Haut-Rhin and southern Corsica regions late last week. Spain and Italy have not yet released initial death statistics for the month. In Madrid, one of the most affected cities in Europe, a leading regional official acknowledged that the coronavirus infection of one elderly woman was confirmed after her death only because the nursing homes physician insisted. Around the Italian city of Bergamo, the epicenter of the countrys outbreak, 400 people died in a single week in early March four times the number who died the same week the previous year, according to the Bergamo mayors office. Only 91 of those had tested positive for the virus. In France, once two residents of the same nursing home test positive, any other residents who fall sick and ultimately succumb to the disease are assumed to have the illness, but they are not actually tested or counted among the national toll, which so far only includes those who have sought care in a hospital. The government has promised to include nursing home residents early this week but has yet to implement widespread testing of residents. The supply of body bags is dwindling, according to Marc Bourquin of the French hospital federation, an umbrella organization for half of the countrys 7,000 nursing homes. A study by Italys national health institute used sampling to approach the question of how many elderly in nursing homes died with the virus that causes COVID-19. In the hardest-hit region of Lombardy, half of all residents of nursing homes who died since Feb. 1 either had the virus or its flu-like symptoms, but most of the deaths only cited flu as tests were carried out irregularly. About 1 in 10 Italian nursing homes said they struggled to get residents into hospitals, and 1 in 4 had problems properly isolating those who tested positive for the virus. Britain, too, is trying to trace the disease among those who never make it to the hospital. The Office for National Statistics added 40 deaths Tuesday for a toll of 210 in England and Wales, to include people who died in nursing homes and other settings. In Germany, where deaths so far have been much lower than elsewhere in Europe and the United States, testing is routine for anyone with flu-like symptoms who visited a high-risk area or had contact with someone confirmed to have the virus. So if a case appears in a nursing home and patients or staff fall ill, testing is available to everyone. France, where the government is bracing for a wave of sickness in the next 14 days, went from forbidding visitors to nursing homes on March 11 to asking the facilities to take even sharper measures last weekend. Im asking the establishments to isolate residents in their rooms, Olivier Veran, Frances health minister, said Saturday. We have to give priority to testing personnel. At many nursing homes, staff members are also volunteering to confine themselves with their charges. This is not something we do lightly. Its just that we have no choice, Eric-Angelo Bellini, director of a nursing home in the central Vienne region, told Europe 1 radio. Test us! Test all the staff, the residents! It is an especially sensitive subject in France, where every worker is required by law to dedicate a day of solidarity pay annually to the elderly and disabled after a heat wave in 2003 left 15,000 vulnerable people dead across the country. While most people suffer only mild or moderate symptoms from COVID-19, the elderly are vulnerable to more severe illnesses, including pneumonia, which can be fatal. In Spain, soldiers disinfecting nursing homes last week discovered that residents at several facilities were living among the bodies of people suspected of dying from the virus. In the United States, several facilities have seen unusually high death tolls. Federal officials found that staff at multiple long-term care facilities contributed to the spread of COVID-19 among the elderly in the Seattle area. In multiple nursing homes in France, including one for Holocaust survivors in Paris, the number of dead reaches into the double-digits, with far more believed infected. The fear is that their deaths will go unremarked. For the nursing homes, there will always be uncertainty, Bouquin said. The procedure is a doctor has to indicate the cause of death. And for that, there has to be tests. ___ Parra reported from Madrid. Associated Press writers Colleen Barry in Soave, Italy, and Frank Jordans in Berlin also 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 news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak 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. Thousands of migrant workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have been stranded at Raxaul-Birgunj border between India and Nepal due to the lockdown that has been imposed in both countries in view of the surging COVID-19 cases. The workers have been held up at the no man's land for 30 hours while attempting to flee back to their hometown after Indian authorities did not allow them to enter the country as a preventive measure over the coronavirus threat. On March 16, India sealed its porous border with Nepal, banned the entry of foreign nationals into Bihar and suspended bus services for a fortnight to stem the spread of the highly contagious disease. Health officials said the action was taken after a symptomatic case was detected at one of the 49 transit points along the border and one case of coronavirus was confirmed in Nepal. Health officials said the districts bordering Nepal are under special focus for stringent surveillance at transit points. Meanwhile, after a Cabinet meeting, the Nepal government decided on Sunday to extend its national lockdown by another week till April 7 midnight. Due to the lockdown in Nepal, the migrant workers were facing difficulty in receiving food supplies. As a result, they started walking to cross the border on foot. The District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Motihari, Bihar, are taking stock of the situation. Motihari DM said that the border is sealed and the safety of the people is more important at this time. "The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu are in talks with the Nepali authorities to facilitate the people at the border," he said. In a similar circumstance, thousands of Nepalese migrant workers are also stranded at the Indo-Nepal border town of Dharchula in Uttarakhand, following the lockdown due to the coronavirus threat. The Central government has ordered all States to seal borders and that there should be no movement of people. India has recorded 1,117 active COVID-19 positive cases as on Monday night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 23:10:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest developments on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China: -- Central China's Hunan Province, neighboring the former coronavirus epicenter of Hubei Province, further downgraded its emergency response toward the COVID-19 outbreak from the second level to the third level Tuesday. -- A total of 7,022 medical workers belonging to 66 medical assistance teams left Hubei by air Tuesday as the COVID-19 outbreak in the hard-hit province has been subdued. -- China's national college entrance exam, also known as Gaokao, will be postponed by a month to July 7 and 8 due to the novel coronavirus disease epidemic. -- Students shall always wear protective masks in the classroom as schools start to reopen, an official with the Ministry of Education said Tuesday. The official said the timetable for beginning the new semester and resuming classes in universities should be based on the local epidemic situation and the composition of students. -- The first batch of volunteers for a coronavirus epidemiological survey began to work on Tuesday in Shanghai after completing professional training. -- China's highest-altitude mask factory has been put into operation Monday in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. -- Over 300 tonnes of supplies for combating the novel coronavirus pandemic will be sent from Xi'an, capital of northwestern China's Shaanxi Province, to Europe. -- No new domestically transmitted cases of COVID-19 were reported on the Chinese mainland on Monday. The National Health Commission received reports of 48 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland on Monday, all of which were imported. Also on Monday, one death in Hubei Province, and 44 new suspected cases were reported on the mainland. -- As of Monday, a total of 81,518 confirmed cases had been reported on the mainland, and 3,305 people had died of the disease. A total of 282 patients were discharged from the hospital Monday on the Chinese mainland. Altogether 76,052 patients had been discharged from the hospital after recovery by the end of Monday. -- By the end of Monday, 771 imported cases had been reported. -- No new confirmed cases were reported Monday in Wuhan, the hardest-hit city in central China's Hubei, which also registered no increase in new COVID-19 cases. Hubei has so far reported a total of 67,801 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 50,006 in Wuhan. A young farmer has pleaded with the public to stay at home and not venture into the countryside as the coronavirus crisis continues. Emma Murdoch, a sheep farmer from New Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway, uploaded the viral video after coming across a walker and a dog off its lead. The Facebook clip, uploaded on Sunday 29 March, has since been shared over 11,000 times and has received 1,300 comments. "As for the general public, you're not getting this, you're not getting how dangerous this is, you think you're just walking about in the countryside," she said. Every gate you touch, every stile you touch, if you have the virus you are giving it to a farmer. "We are taking precautions, we are wearing gloves, we are washing our hands as much as we can." But she warned that due to the hands-on nature of an agricultural job, the general public are putting farmers 'at risk'. "The general public, I feel, do not understand how seriously farmers are taking this. We as farmers have already been in a lockdown. In 2001, when foot and mouth hit, we were all in a lockdown". But Ms Murdoch added that the Covid-19 pandemic is 'not like foot and mouth': "If we give it to the rest of the family it means the whole family is shut down for 14 days, and it also means if you are ill, how do we look after our livestock?" she asked, "How do we produce for the nation?" The young farmer urged the general public to 'stay safe and stay indoors'. It comes as national park authorities across the UK recently urged visitors to maintain social distancing to slow the spread of coronavirus and protect rural communities. Samsung recently started rolling out the One UI 2.1 update for the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 series. Reports earlier suggested that the newest version of Samsungs custom Android skin will be released for the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy Note 9. However, it appears this may not be the case and Samsungs 2018 flagships may not get the One UI 2.1 update. The latest information comes in the form of a notification sent through the Samsung Members app in South Korea. It states that Samsung currently has no plans to bring One UI 2.1 to the Galaxy Note 9. Although the post doesnt talk about the Galaxy S9, it most likely wont get the update either. Quick Share, Samsungs alternative to Apples AirDrop, is one of the most notable One UI 2.1 features. The feature allows you to easily share photos, videos, and other files directly with multiple people around you. Advertisement One UI 2.1 also brings improved Night Mode and several other features and enhancements in the camera department. Features like Single Take, Night Hyperlapse, Pro Video mode, Custom Filter, and Quick Crop add greatly to the devices functionality. It remains to be seen if Samsung brings any of these features to its other smartphone models. The company is yet to make an official comment regarding the One UI 2.1 update for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9. Advertisement Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 One UI 2.1 update Earlier this month, a community moderator on Samsungs official Korean forums had suggested that the company is working on One UI 2.1 for its older flagships. The Galaxy S9, Note 9, Galaxy S10, and Note 10 were all expected to get One UI 2.1. The update was expected to arrive in April but Samsung surprisingly released it for the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 last week. The expectation was that the Galaxy S9 and Note 9 will also be getting the new software soon. However, that has now been cut short as Samsung has no such plans as of now. Advertisement Of course, the plans might change in the future. However, given Samsungs software update policy, theres little chance that the Galaxy S9 and Note 9 will make the minor jump to One UI 2.1. The 2018 Samsung flagships currently run One UI 2.0 on top of Android 10. One UI 2.1 is the latest iteration of Samsungs custom Android skin. The new software first shipped with the Galaxy S20 lineup and the Galaxy Z Flip. The company made it available for the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 last week. The Galaxy S10 Lite and Galaxy Note 10 Lite also received the One UI 2.1 update, sans a few features. What makes you different? When we opened here we wanted to differentiate, Mai said. Many (restaurants offer items) from one country. At Noodles Pho U we have a variety. Mai also said they make everything to order and are happy to make changes to meet a customers request. We are willing to make anything and its not a problem, Mai said. You can always tell us what you want and we can customize for you. (Repeats item first published on Monday with no changes to text) By Dhara Ranasinghe and Ritvik Carvalho LONDON, March 30 (Reuters) - Britain's finances put it among the most vulnerable major economies in the face of the coronavirus crisis, investors warned on Monday, even as markets appeared to look past a credit rating downgrade before a splurge in state spending. Britain's government is ramping up fiscal expenditure, pledging hundreds of billions of pounds in loan guarantees and an unprecedented job retention scheme, while the Bank of England (BoE) has expanded its bond-buying programme - winning praise from many economists for the speed and scale of the stimulus. It is not alone: across the world governments are opening the spending taps to deal with the virus. The problem Britain faces is that its twin current account and budget deficits make it more vulnerable to investor sentiment than most - ex-BoE governor Mark Carney has said Britain depends on the "kindness of strangers" to pay its way in the world. According to official data, Britain had a current account deficit of 15.86 billion pounds ($19.7 billion) in the third quarter of 2019. Although that deficit has narrowed to its smallest since 2012, it remains sizeable at around 3% of gross domestic product versus just under 1% of GDP in France. Germany has a current account surplus of more than 7%. "The UK is more vulnerable than others," said Jan von Gerich, an analyst at Nordea. "It's starting position going into this crisis, say versus Germany, was much weaker." Confidence in Britain has been shaky since the 2016 Brexit referendum, and while a decisive election result in December re-introduced a measure of calm, investors say the end of a Brexit transition period this December will raise new uncertainties. "When fundamentals turn sour for whatever reason then you have a currency which is more exposed to its current account deficit," said Jane Foley, senior currency strategist at Rabobank. Story continues "And what we've been talking about is a worsening of UK fundamentals - the political issues, the Brexit issues, the public finance issues - and I think all of these together means that sterling is more vulnerable to a current account deficit than it was five years ago." RATINGS CUT With the large spending announcements this month and an expected explosion in the budget deficit and national debt, it was little surprise when Fitch Ratings on Friday downgraded Britain's sovereign credit rating to AA-, with a negative outlook. Fitch expects Britain's public debt, as a share of gross domestic product, to rise to 94% in 2020 and 98% in 2021, from 84.5% in 2019. For an interactive version of the below graphic, click here. Morgan Stanley believes the British economy will contract 5.1% this year and the budget deficit hit 10.4% of GDP in 2020/21 - up from around 2.1% this fiscal year. For now, markets are taking Britain's worsening finances in their stride. Analysts downplay the significance of downgrades for highly developed economies unless they tip a country into junk status, which shrinks the pool of investors eligible to buy their debt. Britain can also count on its vast defined benefit pensions industry for reliable demand. British government bond yields fell on Monday as investors shrugged off the downgrade, with 10-year bond yields down 5 basis points at 0.31%, heading back towards recent record lows. Sterling's reaction was also limited - the currency recovered from an initial plunge to trade back above $1.24 , holding the majority of last week's gains. The pound has seen some wild swings in recent weeks and is the second most volatile of the major 'G10' currencies. Given vast public spending plans to rescue their economies, investors say many countries will see their credit ratings pressured, and some downgraded. "Markets won't care about the UK sovereign being downgraded, just as they didn't care when many developed economies lost their top credit ratings a few years ago," said Mike Riddell, head of UK fixed income at Allianz Global Investors. "Markets are obviously already fully aware that credit ratings everywhere are on a downward trajectory." ($1 = 0.8061 pounds) (Additional reporting by Saikat Chatterjee, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes and Ritvik Carvalho; Graphics by Ritvik Carvalho; Editing by Alex Richardson) 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. Galliard's depot for COVID-19 emergency supplies in Essex, England. Photo: Alex Lawrie Londons largest private property developer Galliard has donated the use of one of the companys warehouse complexes in Essex in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The group told Yahoo Finance UK in a statement that it partnered with Essex County Council to transform the 61,000 square feet of storage space, located on a 2.5-acre site, into an emergency local community facility storing essential supplies. We are dedicated to assisting the UK government and our local communities in the fight against COVID-19, said Don OSullivan, CEO of Galliard Homes. The donation of our 2.5-acre warehouse site in Essex for storing essential supplies should benefit the local Essex community and beyond, and we have already had trucks arriving with supplies. These are uncertain times, and it is a duty for everyone to help where they can. Galliard was founded in 1992 and has become the largest private property developer in London, with a portfolio worth over 3.6bn ($4.4bn), including nearly 6,500 homes, with some 1,000 homes currently being marketed for sale. On 30 March, it revealed that it is partnering with a tech firm to allow virtual viewings of 1,000 marketed properties amid the UK-wide lockdown. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK 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. Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. Europe launched its first shipment to Iran today using a mechanism that was originally intended to function as a workaround to US sanctions in a Hail Mary bid to salvage the unraveling Iran nuclear deal. The shipment includes consists of medical goods for Iran to help it cope with the coronavirus outbreak that is ravaging the country. The mechanism dubbed INSTEX was originally conceived as a means to offset the economic burden on Iran resulting from US sanctions. But so far, the United States appears completely unbothered. The US has no issues with humanitarian trade so long as it is conducted with strong due diligence measures to prevent the Iranian regime from hijacking the aid for itself, a State Department spokesperson told Al-Monitor. Why it matters: Iran initially had high expectations for INSTEX, hoping that it would allow for business with European firms as Tehran hemorrhaged billions of dollars in oil revenue following President Donald Trumps reimposition of sanctions. After more than a year of delay, it became increasingly clear that INSTEX would only be used to facilitate humanitarian trade with Iran. While Iran has accused US sanctions of inhibiting its response to the coronavirus pandemic, the United States did revise its sanctions guidelines last month to allow for medical and agricultural trade via Irans Central Bank. This means INSTEX might never actually violate US sanctions so long as it engages only in humanitarian transactions. Whats next: A group of 34 Democratic lawmakers, including presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin today urging them to relieve sanctions on Iran as it struggles to cope with the pandemic. Thirteen anti-war groups also backed the letter. Know more: Read Al-Monitors report here for more details on the first INSTEX shipment to Iran. Technavio has been monitoring the rugged devices market and it is poised to grow by USD 2.27 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 7% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Request latest free sample report of 2020-2024 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005303/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Rugged Devices Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. Datalogic, Handheld Group, Honeywell International, Panasonic, and Zebra Technologies are some of the major market participants. The advantages of rugged devices will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Advantages of rugged devices has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Rugged Devices Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Rugged Devices Market is segmented as below: End-user Industrial Military And Defense Commercial Government Type Semi-rugged Fully-rugged Ultra-rugged Product Mobile Computers Tablets/notebooks Scanners Air Quality Monitors Geographic Landscape Americas APAC EMEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample report of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30313 Rugged Devices Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our rugged devices market report covers the following areas: Rugged Devices Market Size Rugged Devices Market Trends Rugged Devices Market Industry Analysis This study identifies strategic collaborations among market participants as one of the prime reasons driving the rugged devices market growth during the next few years. Rugged Devices Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the rugged devices market, including some of the vendors such as Datalogic, Handheld Group, Honeywell International, Panasonic, and Zebra Technologies. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the rugged devices market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Rugged Devices Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist rugged devices market growth during the next five years Estimation of the rugged devices market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the rugged devices market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of rugged devices market vendors Table Of Contents : PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Preface 2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY END-USER Market segmentation by end-user Comparison by end-user Industrial Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Military and defense Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Commercial Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Government Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by end-user PART 07: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT Market segmentation by product Comparison by product Rugged mobile computers Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Rugged tablets/notebooks Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Rugged scanners Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Rugged air quality monitors Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by product PART 08: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY TYPE Market segmentation by type Comparison by type Semi-rugged Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Fully-rugged Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Ultra-rugged Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by type PART 09: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 10: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison Americas Market size and forecast 2018-2023 EMEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023 APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 11: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 12: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 13: MARKET TRENDS Emerging applications of rugged handheld devices Increased demand for IoT based rugged handheld devices Strategic collaborations among market participants PART 14: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption PART 15: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Datalogic Handheld Group Honeywell International Panasonic Zebra Technologies PART 16: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations PART 17: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005303/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Lol! Allow me to crack up at the thought of a Bahati and Akothee child. Can you imagine? But my imaginations aside, the audacity of some people on the internet has it that Akothee is pregnant with Bahatis baby. The two music acts recently worked together on a gospel track dubbed Nakupa Moyo, which seems to have sparked trolls and rumormongers into life. A meme thats doing rounds on social media reads: Breaking news. Akothee is pregnant with Bahatis child. Aki wanawake si mjiheshimu. This prompted the self-proclaimed president of single mothers to respond on Instagram. In typical madam boss fashion, Akothee employed humor to dismiss the claims, saying that Coronavirus has started affecting peoples brains. Corona has now left the lungs, and respiratory systems, it has madly affected the brains and no one is thinking. Please God, allow this bad air to pass, so people can go back to work, this is sad times??? Korona, korona, when did you leave the lungs and attack the brain? she posed. Bahatis Number One Supporter This comes a day after Akothee penned a long message encouraging Bahati amid the negative backlash he has been getting You have shocked many with your moves, at your age you have responsibilities, a father and a husband. Some idiots in the industry can only count how many abortions their women or girlfriends have had. Some impregnate women and force them to have abortion or they ran away after blocking them on Instagram, my inbox is full with this kind of celebrities who take advantage of their fame. We know them, so just know that putting your family on clean limelight get ready to be admired, and its only success that triggers jealousy, otherwise they will ignore you, your brand gets stronger when people talk about you ? Keep doing what you are good at doing, they are not sleeping, it tells you they are watching?? ??, they are among the 200k views in one day ?????, you are winning, @bahatikenya you have mad fans and support behind you my son, waoshe wanyorosheeeeee ????, I am your number 1 supporter, ?? wrote Akothee. 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. (Photo : Top 5 Best Cloud Based Property Management Software in 2020) (Photo : Top 5 Best Cloud Based Property Management Software in 2020) Modifications and improvements have been changing the many faces of technology since the sands of time started moving. Take property management, for example. Over the years, oversight and maintenance of physical properties, such as real estate, have been maintained through an intricate web of paperwork coupled with an 8-hour day job. Now, however, property management has shifted from a paper-reliant physical ordeal to a clutter-free digital engagement. This modernization is taken further by advancements such as cloud storage and remote monitoring. This means that property management can now be easily accomplished anytime and anywhere, as long as access to the internet is available. Surveys have identified the following software as the top performers when it comes to cloud-based property management. When Mingus Software came up with Hotello in 2001, the company undeniably achieved its primary goal, to present a complete solution to property management. Hotello has gained popularity as it rose to compete with Opera and other internationally renowned products. Mingus Software is a North American company with more than 20 years of experience and expertise in the fields of hospitality and technology. This has led to company growth and satisfaction among an increasing number of loyal customers. In addition, Hotello has aided in simplifying the complex task of properties operation, which further improves the already ideal customer experience. Hotello currently caters to over 550 clients around Canada, the USA, and, Europe, including hotels and resorts with three to 5-star ratings - most with room counts between 30 to 1000. To name a few, the cloud version of Hotello has been serving main players such as Guesthouse Hotel Chicago, Vance Creek Hotel, Monville Hotel, Mount Stephen, and The Residences at Telus Sky. Awards: Hotello's performance garnered awards and nominations during the past few years. This includes taking home the "Master" Position in the 2017 FrontRunners Quadrant for Hotel Managements Software, the "Leader" Position in the following year of the said FrontRunners' annual event, and being nominated as "Best Hotel Management Software 2019" by TechTimes. Features: Being an established property management software in North America for the past 20 years, Hotello is a guaranteed first-class provider. Mingus Software has expressed confidence that Hotello will be the last software that customers will ever need to purchase. The efficient and user-friendly interface tops the list of notable features for Hotello. Its appeal is further boosted by advanced features that assist customers in making the best decisions, increase occupancy rates, simplify properties management, and maximize profitability. However, its availability in the Cloud is most appealing to many customers as it opened doors of various possibilities, including a secure and efficient infrastructure that is readily available, from across the globe. Strong Competitive Advantage. Hotello brings to the table a wide array of features that cater to a spectrum of customer needs. Among the features that customers are fond of include business intelligence, automating, complex packages management, yield management, housekeeping, and associated interfaces such as integrated payment solutions, an email marketing platform, guest experience tools, self-check-in, and check-out kiosks, and online training. Business intelligence puts the PMS in the center of operations while automating takes on automatically scheduling emails. Hotello can help to manage complex packages and the online sales of these packages, while yield management reports analysis that can aid in determining the best strategy in promoting profitable goals. Worries on housekeeping assignments will also be a thing in the past with Hotello as intelligent room assignment to a specific attendant can also be done through the software. Hotello also has advanced connectivity with partners, namely iHotelier, Expedia, and TravelClick, among others. For the Win. Hotello is always gearing to achieve technological advances. In fact, Expedia EQC QuickConnect Preferred Program acknowledges Hotello as the first PMS supplier in the world. Along with this, Hotello has also achieved to be the pioneer of the self-check-in kiosks in North America. As often said on customer review platform as Capterra, customers describe Hotello as an intuitive and efficient solution that is genuinely user-friendly. The software has been described as practical, versatile, complete, and yet is very affordable and competitive in rate. Of course, behind the continuous improvement of Hotello is its supportive customer service, which is available on weekdays from seven in the morning to seven in the evening. For emergency matters, Hotello's experienced specialists are ready to serve 24/7. In the subject of partners, Hotello leans more on quality rather than quantity. Its current partners offer previously tested solutions that are efficient and assure only the best and competitive advantage for customers. Schedule a live demo and see why Hotello is ahead of it's game. In 2004, Michael Monteiro & Dimitris Georgakopoulos both cofounded Buildium with the goal to simplify property management. Buildium grew steadily from 500 customers in 2008 to 10,000 customers by 2014. Presently, Buildium continues to prioritize customer experience as it makes the list for the top-performing property management software solutions for 2020. Features: Buildium covers a full tree of services. For accounting, the platform could take care of tasks such as property accounting, company financials, online payments, retail cash payments, and even 1099 e-filing. This means that with Buildium's powerful reporting, the customer would be able to track rent, budgets, and vendor payments. Business operations such as, conversing with tenants, vendors, and owners get easier as Buildium features tools such as a residential center, document storage, a portal for the owner, and renters insurance. For owners, quality tenants are guaranteed with the use of the platform's comprehensive tenant screening tool, high-yield rental listings, and, to top it all off, a fully-integrated professional website for property managers. The long list of features to watch out for does not stop there because the platform offers benefits to customers as well, which include onboarding, customer care, and data security among others. Being a cloud-based platform ties all these features in a neat bow. Another notable cloud-based platform for property management is RealPage's Propertyware. If purchasing an entire building is not in the cards, instead single-family properties are preferred, then Propertyware is the perfect solution. The high probability to grow doors goes with the platform's aim to optimize profits for the customer and increase revenue as well. Features: There is no need to dread being short of a CPA because with Propertyware, customers can get the accounting services and tools necessary to grow doors, even with little knowledge on accounts receivable, quick reconciliations, accounts payable, and other such matters. The platform reassures customers of timely rent, minimized property risk, and the freedom to choose the most convenient payment option, whether it be online or via cash-ins. Marketing in Propertyware gives its customers complete control over listings and prospect tenants, with features for tracking the effectiveness of the marketing channel, lead generation, and conversion. The tenant screening feature guarantees organized processing where double entries are screened and identify the highest quality tenant. AssetProtect Insurance Program is also included in the Propertyware package, putting a safety net under the customer's assets at a very low cost. Lastly, being a cloud-based platform, portals for both tenants and owners are available for access 24/7 from any location, whether in the office or on the go. 4. AppFolio Property Manager by AppFolio, Inc. When Klaus Schauser and Jon Walker founded AppFolio, Inc. in 2006, their mission was geared towards revolutionizing the vertical industry businesses through their software and services. To cater to the varying needs of its clients, AppFolio, Inc. presented two tiers of property management software. The first, AppFolio Property Manager, is built to aid customers with small to medium size businesses. On the other hand, AppFolio Property Manager PLUS is tailored especially for larger businesses to answer the more complex necessities. Features: Property managers are more ambitious nowadays. Their hunger to provide the needs of their clients is a priority. Thus, turning to automation and modernization is a must. AppFolio Property Manager makes it easy to achieve the goals and demands of the modern property managers. The platform offers a free demo to test out its compatibility with the needs of a customer. AppFolio looks into the different portfolio types, such as residential, commercial, student housing, and community associations, to determine a tailored solution. For owners, an online portal is readily available for access. This portal will ensure optimized owner communication and management. Also included in AppFolio are various maintenance transactions, marketing, and accounting. A mobile app is also available, making it easy for owners and renters to raise concerns and solve problems at any given time. ResMan is among the most complete software suite for property management out in the market today. The platform anticipates and understands the various needs of customers as the ResMan platform is designed by property managers who are knowledgeable on the matter. The ResMan Platform and Solutions are categorized into six divisions, namely Multifamily, Affordable, Commercial, Marketing, Engage, and Care. These divisions in the expanded product suite give specific solutions to the specific needs of the customers. Features: For ResMan Multifamily portfolios, the platform provides an organized system for going about accounting, budgeting, maintenance, and reporting. On the other hand, the ResMan Affordable category is a comprehensive compliance suite that answers the requirement for HUD and low-income housing tax credit properties. Expect confidence in managing any office, retail, and commercial properties with the ResMan Commercial property management software. With this platform, commercial clients can focus on increasing net operating income. ResMan Engage was made to improve the communication amongst staff, residents, tenants, and owners who live and work in a modern and harmonious community. ResMan's services do not stop there. The company expresses concern towards its customers through ResMan Care which is built upon the goal to connect ResMan support staff to the customers. Cloud-availability takes the completeness of the ResMan Expanded Suite up another level, as customers will be able to conveniently work on the platform and render services to their clients without being tied to an office chair. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... The sight of thousands of migrant workers, with families in tow, walking back to their villages from Delhi is distressing. Despite the governments promise of food, these poor labourers were compelled to undertake the arduous journey to reach the relative safety of their native places. In India, the whole system of governance has been hijacked by the rich and the well-to-do middle class. A typical example is a recent announcement by the Centre and the Rajasthan government to release the dearness allowances for their employees. These employees, who will anyway get paid for the period ... An economist with the St. Louis Fed is projecting coronavirus could cost 47 million Americans their jobs, resulting in a 32.1 percent unemployment rate, eclipsing even St. Louis Fed President James Bullards dire 30 percent estimate. These are very large numbers by historical standards, but this is a rather unique shock that is unlike any other experienced by the U.S. economy in the last 100 years, St. Louis Fed economist Miguel Faria-e-Castro explains in a blog post. Faria-e-Castros back-of-the-envelope estimate for unemployment in the second quarter of 2020 averages two different estimates of at-risk jobs due to social distancing to arrive at the 47 million prediction. Faria-e-Castro caveats that his numbers dont account for workers who may drop out of the labor force amid the pandemic decreasing the reported unemployment rate. He also admittedly does not account for the effects of the recently-passed $2 trillion economic relief package, which includes direct cash payments and substantial unemployment benefits for most Americans. Earlier this month, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin warned Republicans that the country could suffer 20 percent unemployment if the package was not passed. Last week, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the country may well be in a recession after the Department of Labor reported an unprecedented 3.28 million surge in unemployment claims, more than quadruple the previous record for a single week. But I would point to the difference between this and a normal recession. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with our economy. Quite the contrary. We are starting from a very strong position, Powell added. More from National Review A Qantas flight from Sydney to Adelaide has been forced to turn around due to the coronavirus. The plane was approaching the South Australian border on Tuesday when it was ordered to fly back to Sydney due to a lack of baggage handlers in Adelaide. Six Qantas baggage handlers tested positive for COVID-19 at Adelaide Airport on Tuesday. 'Seven flights to and from Adelaide are affected,' a Qantas spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. A Qantas flight from Sydney to Adelaide has been forced to turn around due to the coronavirus (stock) 'This includes one Sydney flight that was on its way to Adelaide which will return to Sydney and passengers will be provided with accommodation and put on alternative services tomorrow.' The spokesperson said the airline is working with the state health department to provide contact tracing for the confirmed cases. Other employees who have come into contact with them have been instructed to self-isolate. 'We are working to minimise any disruptions to customers who are flying in and out of Adelaide, although passenger numbers are significantly reduced due to government travel restrictions,' the spokesperson said. The airline said they are also introducing enhanced cleaning measures as a result. South Australia Health on Tuesday announced it was investigating a COVID-19 cluster at Adelaide Airport. Six baggage handlers tested positive for COVID-19 at Adelaide airport, meaning there is a lack of staff to unload and load planes 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 About 100 people who work in the immediate area of the infected Qantas baggage handlers will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. SA Health confirmed the outbreak while announcing 32 new cases in the state. 'We are currently talking to Qantas about risk mitigation and there is going to be a requirement for a significant number of staff to go into quarantine because of this,' Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said. 'This is a serious situation.' Dr Spurrier said they met with Qantas and will introduce measures to ensure baggage can still be offloaded despite the cases of infection. 'I'm absolutely hoping there will not be interruption to flights,' she said. 'Qantas has done an amazing job bringing people home internationally and also continuing to carry people around Australia in domestic flights.' Dr Spurrier recommended that travellers who have flown in the last 24 hours should give their bags a 'wipe over' and keep track of coronavirus symptoms. South Australia's latest cases of infection bring their total to 337. 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. The federal government hasn't issued a single stimulus check yet, but scammers are already trying to steal the money from Americans. These criminal efforts are prompting the Federal Bureau of Investigation, multiple state attorneys general and other agencies to warn Americans not to fall for phone calls, texts, emails or websites that ask for personal or financial information in order to receive the $1,200 federal payment. "If someone claims to be from the government with a check for you, it may be a phishing scam that is illegally trying to obtain your bank account or other personal information," New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement Saturday. "Do not pay anyone who promises that they can expedite or obtain a payment or a loan for you," James continued. "If you are eligible for relief, you will not need to make any up-front payment or pay any fee to receive a stimulus payment." Most Americans will receive up to $1,200 per person in coming weeks, as part of a historic $2 trillion stimulus package President Donald Trump signed into law Friday. Parents will receive up to another $500 for each child under age 17. The payments will start phasing out for individuals with adjusted gross incomes of more than $75,000. The amount will then be reduced by $5 for every additional $100 of adjusted gross income, and those making more than $99,000 will not receive anything. The income thresholds are doubled for couples. About 90% of Americans are eligible for a full or partial check, according to a Tax Policy Center estimate. RELATED: Trump signs $2.2T stimulus after swift congressional votes Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday told CNBC that Americans will start receiving the money within three weeks, but tax experts say it could take longer than that for the Internal Revenue Service to process the payments. Those who file their tax returns electronically and provide the IRS with their bank information will likely get their payments earlier via direct deposit. Some 88% of individual returns were filed electronically in 2018. Paper checks are expected to take longer to mail out. The IRS specifies on its website that no sign-up is required, and there is no need to call. The agency will post additional information, when it's available, at www.irs.gov/coronavirus. The stimulus law specifies that recipients will receive a notice by mail no later than 15 days after the payment was distributed, which will indicate the amount of money sent, the method by which it was delivered and a phone number to call at the IRS if the funds failed to arrive. Val-d'Or, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2020) - Bonterra Resources Inc. (TSXV: BTR) (OTCQX: BONXF) (FSE: 9BR2) (the "Company" or "Bonterra") is pleased to announce results from drilling recently completed at Moroy. The drilling continues to define and extend mineralization on the M1 and M4 structures and has interested mineralization, including 9.24 grams per tonne ("g/t") Au over an intersection length of 2.0 metres ("m"), on a new structure referred to as Moroy 7 ("M7"). The M1 structure (see Cross Section and M1 Zone Long Section) is the priority target for delineation and expansion of gold resources and will be the source of a bulk sample. Recent drilling on the M1 has been completed from underground and from surface. Infill and delineation drilling from Level 14 in the M1-2 zone is consistent with currently interpreted limits of mineralization. Recent grades in this area, including 7.19 g/t Au over an intersection length of 2.82 m and 14.4 g/t Au over an intersection length of 0.91 m indicate the potential to realize a grade greater than the current average resource grade. Assays are pending from the lower M1-2 zone. Recent drilling down plunge of the M1-1 zone has intersected unmineralized intrusive rock in the projected position of the mineralization. However, intercepts of 3.43 g/t Au over an intersection length of 1.22 m and 3.37 g/t over an intersection length of 1.37 m indicate continuity of structure and mineralization. Continued down plunge drilling of the M1 Zone remains a priority for the Company. A single, longer-range, exploration hole intersected a wide shear zone on the M1 plane, approximately 175 m down plunge of M1-1 and included an intersection of 0.72 g/t Au over an intersection length of 6.89 m (see the M1 Zone Long Section). The M4 Zone was recently discovered by the Company (see news release dated September 15, 2019). Recent drilling has expanded mineralization to the east with intercepts of 12.29 g/t Au over an intersection length of 1.79 m and 7.17 g/t Au over an intersection length of 1.89 m (see M4 Zone Plan). The M4 zone dips gently (25o - 35o) to the west-northwest with mineralization now occurring over length of approximately 225 m along a westerly trend direction. The M4 zone remains open and is a priority near term target for the Company. The Company previously released an intercept of 14.88 g/t Au over an intersection length of 4.71 m in hole MY19-155 (see news release date June 12, 2019). Follow-up drilling in the area of the MY19-155 intercept has resulted in the delineation of a near vertical structure striking to the south-southeast. It is located south of the M1 structure (see Cross Section). Several of the recent intercepts contain anomalous Au and highlights include 9.24 g/t Au over an intersection length of 2.04 m and 4.55 g/t Au over an intersection length of 1.96 m (see M7 Zone Long Section). This newly recognized mineralized structure is referred to as M7. Greg Gibson, President and CEO of the Company commented: "With the discovery of the M4 Zone during the fall of 2019 and now the M7 Zone, our exploration program continues to illustrate the potential at Moroy. Given the proximity of these zones to M1, continued drilling success and resource delineation has the potential to have a very positive, near term impact on developing reserves and mine planning at Moroy." Analyses and QAQC Gold analyses of Moroy drill core are completed at the Bachelor Mine assay laboratory. The Company employs an industry standard QAQC program that includes duplicate analyses from pulp and coarse rejects and the use of Certified Reference Materials (CRM) and blanks. Check assays on a minimum of 10% of the samples are completed at ALS Laboratories in Val-d'Or. Francis Lefebvre, P.Geo and Chief Geologist for the Company supervises all exploration activities on the Moroy project. Mr. Lefebvre is a Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101. Jamie Lavigne, P.Geo and VP Exploration for the Company has approved the information contained in this release. Mr. Lavigne is a Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101. Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) True Width (m) Au (g/t) Zone MY19-171 102.95 113.12 10.17 6.21 0.26 M4 MY19-173 79.44 81.27 1.83 1.25 0.80 M4 MY19-174 82.62 88.86 6.23 3.12 1.49 M4 including 84.98 86.09 1.11 0.56 4.18 M4 MY19-175 77.96 83.41 5.45 2.73 0.45 M4 MY19-175 183.73 192.06 8.33 1.22 NC including 189.16 189.77 0.61 11.95 NC MY19-176 88.73 106.68 17.95 8.98 3.04 M4 including 95.85 97.10 1.26 0.63 35.3 M4 MY19-177 337.92 338.53 0.61 0.35 0.19 M4 MY19-178 93.27 99.03 5.76 2.88 0.41 M4 MY19-178 148.45 149.47 1.02 5.32 NC MY19-180 75.63 87.64 12.00 9.78 0.72 M4 MY19-180 108.97 110.58 1.61 4.62 NC MY19-180 179.29 179.90 0.61 6.24 NC MY19-181 72.20 84.73 12.52 10.61 0.86 M4 including 82.50 83.11 0.61 0.52 8.31 M4 MY19-181 252.71 258.41 5.70 3.02 1.30 M7 including 256.59 257.80 1.22 0.65 5.77 M7 MY19-184 105.55 107.92 2.37 1.71 6.47 M4 including 105.55 106.16 0.61 0.44 15.2 M4 MY19-185 81.63 85.84 4.21 3.34 0.31 M4 MY19-185 303.54 314.02 10.49 5.24 3.41 M7 including 303.54 306.65 3.11 1.55 4.10 M7 and 310.06 312.10 2.04 1.02 9.24 M7 MY19-187 206.29 213.29 7.00 2.07 NC including 206.29 207.29 1.00 6.45 NC MY19-188 84.55 91.85 7.30 4.40 0.46 M4 MY19-188 137.65 141.19 3.54 1.52 NC including 137.65 138.26 0.61 4.27 NC MY20-189 44.57 49.70 5.12 2.94 NC including 44.57 45.73 1.16 9.7 NC MY20-189 75.91 86.28 10.37 9.03 2.61 M4 including 81.55 83.26 1.71 1.49 12.29 M4 300.06 301.05 0.99 0.86 2.1 M7 MY20-190 493.35 494.21 0.85 0.50 5.67 M1 MY20-191 69.02 74.83 5.81 5.31 0.22 M4 MY20-191 139.14 141.12 1.98 1.35 0.85 NC MY20-191 158.02 165.40 7.38 5.02 2.42 M1 including 160.70 162.59 1.89 1.29 8.72 M1 MY20-191 105.03 105.85 0.82 3.26 NC MY20-191 210.18 211.10 0.91 7.35 NC MY20-191 277.44 282.12 4.68 2.47 0.25 M7 MY20-192 64.63 75.15 10.52 7.00 3.94 M4 including 65.46 74.45 8.99 5.99 4.38 M4 including 72.93 74.45 1.52 1.01 13.13 M4 MY20-192 82.26 83.48 1.22 2.39 NC MY20-192 249.09 250.91 1.83 2.07 NC MY20-193 134.24 134.85 0.61 4.16 NC MY20-193 364.63 367.07 2.44 1.74 1.93 M1 including 365.24 366.46 1.22 0.87 3.43 M1 MY20-194 55.64 58.69 3.05 2.68 2.50 M4 including 56.40 57.93 1.52 1.34 4.76 M4 MY20-194 281.19 288.08 6.89 3.45 0.72 M1 MY20-195 193.45 199.70 6.25 1.74 NC including 198.17 199.70 1.52 5.22 NC MY20-195 211.89 218.11 6.22 5.30 2.72 M4 including 213.11 215.00 1.89 1.61 7.17 M4 MY20-196 175.30 182.32 7.01 4.87 0.78 M1-2 including 179.27 179.88 0.61 0.42 4.3 M1-2 MY20-197 191.92 195.58 3.66 3.50 2.76 M4 including 193.14 193.75 0.61 0.58 11.6 M4 MY20-197 317.58 323.93 6.36 4.90 1.61 M1-1 including 322.56 323.93 1.37 1.06 3.37 M1-1 MY20-198 162.80 174.05 11.25 7.99 2.25 M1-2 including 164.15 166.77 2.62 1.86 7.19 M1-2 MY20-199 158.23 178.26 20.03 14.12 2.24 M1-2 including 160.98 161.89 0.91 0.64 14.4 M1-2 and 170.58 174.70 4.12 2.90 4.48 M1-2 MY20-200 112.04 119.36 7.32 6.58 1.35 M1-2 including 112.65 113.87 1.22 1.10 5.80 M1-2 MY20-201 assays pending MY20-202 assays pending MY20-204 assays pending NC- Intercept currently not correlated with a zone and true width is not known FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Investor relations: Allan Folk ir@btrgold.com 2872 Sullivan Road, Suite 2, Val d'Or, Quebec J9P 0B9 819-825-8676 | Website: www.bonterraresources.com Neither 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. Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" that is based on Bonterra's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements with respect to Bonterra's exploration and development plans. The words "will", "anticipated", "plans" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information includes namely, information with respect to the planned exploration programs and the potential growth in mineral resources. Exploration results that include drill results on wide spacings may not be indicative of the occurrence of a mineral deposit and such results do not provide assurance that further work will establish sufficient grade, continuity, metallurgical characteristics and economic potential to be classed as a category of mineral resource. The potential quantities and grades of drilling targets are conceptual in nature and, there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the targets being delineated as mineral resources. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Bonterra's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include but are not limited to: uncertainties related exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labour relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. MOROY - VERTICAL CROSS SECTION LOOKING EAST To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1528/53982_9763c424d45e1bdb_001full.jpg MOROY - M1 ZONE LONG SECTION LOOKING NORTH To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1528/53982_9763c424d45e1bdb_002full.jpg MOROY - M4 ZONE PLAN To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1528/53982_9763c424d45e1bdb_003full.jpg MOROY - M7 ZONE LONG SECTION LOOKING EAST-NORTH-EAST To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1528/53982_9763c424d45e1bdb_004full.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53982 Shares of IndusInd Bank were locked in the 20 per cent lower circuit in an otherwise firm market, at Rs 329.25, on the BSE on Tuesday after the bank said the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) could push up its credit costs to around 200 to 210 basis point in March 2020 quarter, indicating a rise in bad loans. At 9:45 am, the S&P BSE Sensex was at 28,996.35, up 556 points or nearly 2 per cent. In an analysts call on Monday, the management said the near-term impact of covid-19 would have limited impact on their portfolio, assuming a 3-month disruptuon. The base-line assumptions say the ... Social distancing measures, a key aspect in the fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic, helps save lives as it reduces fever, according to an Indian-American CEO and founder of a health tech startup that monitors temperatures of people in the US through its inter-connected digital thermometer. More than 250 million Americans are said to be staying indoors in view of the fast spreading coronavirus, which so far has infected more than 160,000 Americans and taken the lives of over 3,000 people. Inder Singh, CEO and founder of Kinsa Health, in multiple interviews to various outlets, has said that the real time data of the US have revealed that social distancing has helped reduce fever. Consistent high temperature is one of the key aspect of a patient infected by COVID-19. "When you shut down schools and businesses, you are breaking the chain of infections," Singh told USA Today in an interview. "The data are showing it is working and the clusters of fever we were seeing are levelling off and diminishing within days," he said. Kansa health is based out of California. According to the report, flu-related illness in California's Santa Clara County, for example, have dropped by more than 60 per cent since a March 17 shelter-in-place order. At the same time, Florida's Miami-Dade County's level of flu-like illness has been going up. The State and local governments in Northern California took earlier and more aggressive action than in South Florida, he asserted. Kinsa's report is based on the fever readings that it downloads from more than one million digital thermometers in use around the US. The New York Times on Monday said that data from the health departments of New York State and Washington State have buttressed the finding of Kinsa Health, making it clear that social distancing is saving lives. In an interview to The Bulletin, Singh said the company had turned the digital system into a communications system. "I can't tell you for sure right away if it's COVID-19, but it immediately tells us, 'Look here! Something important is going on!'" he said. Subsequently, the system can help triage users to the care they require, while also capturing signs of spreading illness so that authorities can step in when needed, the media outlet reported. "We're taking our real-time illness signal, and we're subtracting out the expectation," Singh told TechCrunch in another interview. "So what you're left with is atypical illness. In other words, a cluster of fevers that you would not expect from normal cold and flu time. So, presumably, that is COVID-19; I cannot definitively say it's COVID-19, but what I can say is that it's an unusual outbreak. "It could be an anomalous flu, a strain that's totally unexpected. It could be something else, but at least a portion of that is almost certainly going to be COVID-19," he was quoted as saying. A total of 782,365 COVID-19 cases have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories with 37,582 deaths reported so far. America has the highest number of cases with a total of 161,807 reported infections, according to Johns Hopkins University data. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Syrian air defences intercepted several Israeli missiles fired at targets in the centre of the war-torn country late on Tuesday, according to Syrian state media. The air defences shot down a number of missiles before they reached their targets, official news agency SANA reported on Tuesday, without identifying the targets in Homs province. The missiles were fired by the Israeli air force from Lebanese airspace, it quoted a military source as saying. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, said the target was a military airport where Iranian forces are present. Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of attacks in Syria targeting government troops as well as allied Iranian forces and fighters from the Lebanese group, Hezbollah. It is rare for Israel to claim responsibility for such raids. Hungary's parliament on Monday voted to allow Prime Minister Viktor Orban to rule by decree indefinitely, in order to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The bill allows Orban to bypass a number of democratic institutions in his response to the outbreak, CNN reported. The bill, which has been criticized by international human rights watchdogs, was approved in the parliament with 138 votes in favour and 53 against. The bill required a two-thirds majority to pass. The suspension of parliament, punishments for journalists if the government believes their coronavirus reporting is not accurate, and heavier penalties for violating quarantine regulations are all made possible by the order. Orban said on Hungarian national Kossuth radio last week: "We cannot react quickly if there are debates and lengthy legislative and lawmaking procedures. And in times of crisis and epidemic, the ability to respond rapidly can save lives. "The Government is not asking for anything extraordinary," he added. "It is asking for the ability to rapidly enact certain measures. We don't want to enact measures that the Government has no general right to enact -- we simply want to do so swiftly." Hungary has recorded 15 virus-related deaths and 447 infections so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 19-year-old Indian-origin man was jailed on Tuesday for firearms offences following a proactive operation by officers from Scotland Yard's North West Command Unit, during which they found a set of guns in his home in London. Hrithik Sakaria from Stanmore in north London was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment at Harrow Crown Court after he had pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm at an earlier hearing. A remaining charge of possession of a shotgun was left to lie on file. "Proactive operations like this help keep our communities safe and may even save lives. I am sure residents in Harrow will be both relieved and pleased that we have removed these dangerous weapons from the streets, said Met Police Detective Constable Oliver Kotis, who led the investigation. "In sentencing, his Right Honourable Judge Spiro remarked upon Sakaria's incredibly poor judgement in providing a safe hiding place for these highly dangerous weapons. It was not established as to how long he had had them, or what he had been intending to do with them," he said. Sakaria was arrested in the early hours of August 19 last year following an intelligence-led search of his home under a UK Firearms Act warrant. Officers discovered two loaded Glock handguns and ammunition in a cupboard. Sakaria was arrested at the scene and charged later the same day and remanded in custody. "He has committed a serious offence and will now be spending years behind bars. This should serve as a warning to any others who may be intent on similar activities that we will find you and you will go to prison," said Kotis. A 38-year-old woman was also arrested at the address before being released under investigation and the Met Police said that no further action was taken against her. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court judges have contributed Rs 10 lakh to the relief fund announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help fight the coronavirus outbreak in the country. The information was provided by the high court''s registry on Tuesday. A registry official said that all the 34 judges of the high court together contributed Rs 10 lakh to the relief fund. The high court Registrar General's office had on Sunday said that the judges had decided to donate minimum Rs 10,000 each to the fund. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This Sunday (5 April) in the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, Anglicans around the world will be praying for the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean. Here, the Anglican Communion News Service introduces the Province and suggests items for prayer. The eight dioceses in the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean trace their origins to the arrival of an Anglican missionary from the Society for the propagation of the Gospel (now USPG: United Society Partners for the Gospel), who arrived in Madagascar in 1864, Ten years later, the Diocese of Madagascar was founded. Today, the island is served by six dioceses. The provinces other two dioceses are Mauritius and Seychelles. Another Indian Ocean island, Reunion, an overseas department and region of the French Republic, is a missionary area of the Province. The Anglican Church in Mauritius started life as the Church of England in Mauritius after the UK seized the island from France in 1810. In common with much of the Anglican Communion today, its first priests were chaplains serving the colonial administration. Two Anglican mission agencies SPG and CMS (the Church Missionary Society) helped the new church establish education, social and health ministries. As the church grew, indigenous pastors were trained and ordained to the ministry. Today, the Anglican Church in Mauritius reflects the many cultures represented in what is a microcosm of eastern and western, Asian, African and European cultures. The Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean was established as a province of the Anglican Communion in 1973. Its primate, Archbishop James Wong, is the Bishop of Seychelles. Please pray for the people of the province as their governments seek to curtail Covid-19; pray, too, for Bishop. Please pray, too, for Bishop Stenio Andre, who was consecrated and installed as the new Bishop of Mauritius during a service at the islands St James Cathedral. He succeeds Archbishop Ian Ernest, a former Primate of the Indian Ocean, who was recently installed as Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome. This week, he has written a blog for the Anglican Communion News Service reflecting on the Covid-19 situation in Italy. Before NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller starts his day leading the state's fight against coronavirus he has his temperature checked. It's an early start for a 6am briefing from all the agencies working hard to combat the COVID-19 epidemic at the new emergency operations centre in Homebush. "When I walk into the operations centre every day there is a nurse and the job of that nurse is to ask questions around your health, and to take your temperature with a thermometer in your ear," Commissioner Fuller said. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller speaks to the media during a press conference on Tuesday. Credit:AAP "She comes across hundreds and hundreds of people every day. She's not wearing gloves and she doesn't wear a mask ... but she keeps a safe [1.5m] distance and washes her hands between every person ... These are the things that are helping us win the war against the virus." Most gun and ammunition purchases have been banned in Queensland for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. The restrictions will stop the sale of ammunition and guns for recreational and sport shooters but farmers, vets and shark-control contractors will be exempt. Farmers will still be able to purchase guns and ammunition. Credit:GREG NEWINGTON The decision came after a surge in licence applications in Victoria but Queensland's Police Commissioner said there had not been an increase in the Sunshine State. Shooters Union Australia president Graham Park said there was no justification for the ban. BRYAN R. SMITH/Getty New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday acknowledged that the coronavirus is more dangerous than officials initially thought after more than 300 died across the state overnight. Im tired of being behind this virus. Weve been behind this virus from day one, Cuomo said at a Tuesday press conference in Albany. We underestimated this virus. Its more powerful, its more dangerous than we expected. More than 1,500 people have died and 75,795 more have been infected with the virus in New York State, accounting for a 14 percent increase in the last 24 hours, Cuomo said. About 43,139 of those cases are in New York City, where the daily number of newly infected patients has fortunately dipped below 6,000 across the five boroughs over the last 24 hours. To date, more than 3,416 people have died and 174,467 individuals have been infected with the virus nationwidea death toll that has eclipsed Chinas official count. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Implements Stay at Home Order Amid Coronavirus Pandemic Cuomo said it could be weeks before New York sees the worst of the pandemic, stating that the apex may not be for 21 days. Were all anxious, were all tired, were all fatigued. Its been all bad news for a long time. Our whole lifestyle has been disrupted. Everybody wants to know one thing, when will it end. Nobody knows, Cuomo said. Were dealing with a war weve never dealt with before. We need a totally different mindset and organizational transformation. New York Citys hospitals have been struggling over the last week to keep up with the influx of patients. With over 10,900 residents hospitalized with the virus, including 2,700 patients in ICUs, Cuomo said that the health-care system still needs more supplies, space, and personnel. The state has ordered 17,000 ventilators from China to help hospitals, paying about $25,000 per machine. Its like being on Ebay with 50 other states bidding on a ventilator. How inefficient, Cuomo said, noting that he only expects to receive about 2,500 machines from China because other states, the federal government, and Italy have also placed orders from the foreign government. And then FEMA gets involved and FEMA starts bidding. And now FEMA is bidding on top of the 50. So FEMA is driving up the price. What sense does this make? Cuomo asked. Story continues This Is a War: Cuomo Pleads for Help From Doctors Across U.S. as Coronavirus Death Toll Surges To further combat the shortage, Cuomo reiterated his Monday plea to health-care workers across the United States for help with the increasing number of infected patients, promising the Empire State would return the favor whenever its over the bell curve. The governor said that while the state is working to get ahead of the virus, several projections indicate the main battle at the apex will occur anywhere between one week and 21 days from now. Were still going up the mountain," Cuomo said, adding that New York is struggling to curtail the surge and you dont win by playing catch up. The main battle is at the top of the mountain, the apex of the curve. So far, government officials have already taken extraordinary steps to combat the pandemic. On Monday, local officials opened the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center as a makeshift, 3,000-bed overflow hospital facility. The same day, a naval hospital ship, the USNS Comfort, arrived in Manhattan to help relieve hospitals of patients not infected with the virus. The ship, which was previously used as a floating base for rescue workers after 9/11, is currently equipped with 1,000 beds, 12 operating rooms, a medical laboratory, and over 1,000 officers. Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, in conjunction with a Christian aid organization, also converted a section of Central Park into a field hospital to help house the influx of COVID-19 patients. The tent-hospital, which holds 68 regular hospital beds, along with 10 ICU beds, opened on Tuesday. Despite the emergency steps that have already been taken, the chair of the department of surgery at Columbia University said Monday the toll of the virus at New York City hospitals is getting so serious that medical professionals could soon be forced to decide who gets treatmentand who doesnt. One Mask Only: Coronavirus Docs and Nurses Forced to Make Terrifying Compromises According to Dr. Craig Smith, the apex of the virus will be too overwhelming for the amount of beds currently in New York, forcing doctors and nurses to shift to using a triage method as a fundamental operating principle in field hospitals. Triage determines who should be treated first, how they should be treated (surgery, fluid resuscitation, etc), and who should be kept comfortable, Smith said in an update to Columbia faculty and staff about the pandemic response. Broadly construed, we will all be operating more and more on field hospital principles as we move through the next few weeks. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Smith said, will have to carefully select which COVID-19 patients to send home with oxygen, an oxygen saturation monitor, and a strict follow-up system. Does this entail incompletely understood risk? It certainly does, but triage is an essential part of the resource/utility-balancing situation in which we find ourselves, he said. The devastating effects of the pandemic in New York have rippled from health care to law enforcement. New York City Police Commissioner Dermont Shea said Tuesday that the virus has greatly affected the citys law enforcement, as approximately 15 percent of the 37,000-member force has called out sick. NYC Is on the Brink as Patients Flood Hospitals Already Under Siege We have the reserves, we have the contingency plans, Shea said, stating that while about 5,500 officers are out sick, the NYPD is not extending shifts. He added that 17 NYPD members who tested positive for COVID-19 have since recovered. Seeming to take a jab at President Donald Trumps failed prediction that the United States would be able to return to normal life by April 21, Cuomo later emphasized that it is unclear when things in his state will return to normal. It is not going to be soon, he said, urging residents to stay home and stressing there will not be an Easter surprise. So calibrate yourself and your expectations, so youre not disappointed every morning you get up. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) - There is an assistance, in cash or in kind, waiting for people who are considered to be the most financially-hit while the enhanced community quarantine is in effect. In a televised briefing, Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases spokesman Karlo Nograles released a list of target beneficiaries who could avail between P5,000 to P8,000 worth of aid twice. Covered are families with at least one member who is a/an: -senior citizen -person with disability -pregnant and lactating woman -solo parent -member of the poor indigenous community -homeless -informal economy worker (such as directly hired, subcontracted house helpers, public utility drivers, street vendors) -anyone who earns wage below the prescribed minimum rate (examples: dishwashers and helpers in carinderia) -employee with no-work no-pay situation -a distressed overseas Filipino worker -entrepreneur with an asset of less than P100,000 -family enterprise owner -farmer -fisherfolk -stranded workers who cannot return to their places of residence at the moment Nograles said the local government units will be asked to submit their databases of existing beneficiaries. He added the databases which will be submitted by the LGUs are subject for evaluation to prevent duplicate entries. On Monday, the DSWD said it will be distributing social amelioration cards to LGUs, which in turn will hand out to the barangay officials. This in preparation for the distribution of cash assistance. Those eligible to avail of the financial aid must fill out and submit the social amelioration card to be included in the local government's list of beneficiaries. Economic relief for MSMEs The economic team is still finalizing the relief package for distressed micro- small and medium enterprises, Nograles said. The official also assured the current administration will help these MSMEs. Ayoko pong pangunahan ang economic team sa ginagawa nilang guidelines para dito pero meron pong assurance ang Pangulo at ang buong administrasyon na tutulungan natin ang mga maliliit na kompanya lalo ang mga distressed MSMEs. [Translation: There is assurance that the President and the whole administration will help the distressed MSMEs.] Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment has a one-time financial assistance worth P5,000 for affected workers in the formal sector. Affected workers are those who were displaced or whose work hours or work days have been reduced or whose work has been suspended temporarily. The official also said that the subsidy will be pulled out from the 275 billion pesos worth of realigned funds in the 2020 national budget. The newly approved law giving President Rodrigo Duterte additional powers to stem the spread of COVID-19 made the subsidy program possible. Duterte, on Monday, said the national government has allotted a total of 200-billion-worth of aid for low-income households. Under the Bayanihan law, the chief is compelled to deliver a weekly report to Congress every Monday, where he would detail what the executive branch has done to combat the COVID-19 crisis. Duterte has imposed a stay-at-home order for people in Luzon from March 17 to April 13, with the government putting up checkpoints and restricting non-essential travel to contain the spread of COVID-19. There are fears 50,000 people in Queensland may have been exposed to deadly coronavirus, as the state's number of confirmed cases soars to 743. The state's health department is contacting all 50,000 people who may have come into contact with any of the confirmed cases. More than 40,000 Queenslanders have also been instructed to self-isolate with the state taking measures to ensure they are following quarantine regulations. There are fears 50,000 people in Queensland have been exposed to the deadly coronavirus as the state's total soars to 743 (returning overseas travellers prepare to check in to an airport hotel in Brisbane) On Tuesday morning, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced there was 55 new cases of COVID-19. 'You can see that [Queensland] Health is doing everything they possibly can,' she said in a press conference. 'They have a unit of 500 people who are doing that contact tracing. I've said we will throw whatever we need at it.' Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said a team would be enforced to crack down on anyone who wasn't following isolation or quarantine rules. 'This is the only way we can save lives in this state, making sure that everyone who has received a notice to quarantine or isolate understand the significance of that order,' she said. 'You can't pop down to the shops, you can't go out for a walk, you should not be leaving your home if you are on a quarantine or isolation order. We will be supporting those efforts to help trace, to help monitor and to ensure compliance of those. Queensland police are seen stopping vehicles at the NSW and QLD border. Interstate visitors will be turned away 'We cannot emphasise enough how significant this is and how important this is, and that is why the Palaszczuk Government will throw absolutely everything at the enforcement, the monitoring and tracking of these individuals on these orders.' Queensland's chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young urged people to stay at home to avoid spreading the disease. 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 'You've heard all those figures about the number of orders that have been issued to date and that is so important because then we won't need to contact trace those hundreds of people for each case,' she said. Health Minister Steven Miles said anybody that was feeling unwell after attending the Edmonton PCYC for a wrestling competition on March 14 in Cairns, should seek medical attention immediately. 'Given that is more than two weeks ago, there is no need for anyone to take any action if they are currently well,' he said. 'However, if they became unwell in the 14 days from 14th to 28th, they are urged to seek medical advice if they became unwell with respiratory symptoms. There are 174 people who returned from international flights being quarantined at hotels near Brisbane Airport. Out of the 743 cases in the state, 65 are in hospital, seven are in intensive care and five are being ventilated. Beaches along the Gold Coast may also be closed if people continue to ignore social distancing rules. Reliance Industries announced a donation of Rs. 500 crore to PM CARES Fund in response to the call by the Prime Minister to support the nation's fight against the Coronavirus onslaught. RIL also informed that in addition to the financial contribution to the PM's Fund, the company has also provided contributions of Rs. 5 crore each to the governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat to support their fights against the Covid-19. RIL and Reliance Foundation is leading with a significant effort that encompasses several initiatives. These include: Contribution of Rs. 500 crore to the PM-CARES Fund Contribution of Rs. 5 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund of Maharashtra Contribution of Rs. 5 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund of Gujarat India's first 100 bed exclusive Covid-19 Hospital geared up in just two weeks to handle Covid-19 patients Fifty Lakh free meals in the next 10 days across the nation and scaling up rapidly to more meals and newer areas One Lakh masks daily for health-workers and caregivers Thousands of PPEs daily for health-workers and caregivers Free Fuel across the country to notified emergency response vehicles Jio seamlessly connecting nearly 40 crore individuals and thousands and thousands of organisations daily on its telecom backbone via 'work from home', 'study from home' and 'health from home' initiatives, helping to keep the country going Reliance Retail providing Essential supplies daily for millions of Indians via stores and home deliveries, Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) Several religious groups and churches in the metro have offered to transform their facilities into temporary shelters for frontliners battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Christian church Victory on Tuesday said its Bonifacio Global City building will start accommodating healthcare workers serving the St. Lukes Medical Center BGC as well as the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig. One of the ways we can serve and do our small part is to provide them with food and shelter, Victory said in a statement. We are collaborating with these hospitals to make room for those who need it the most. Apart from sleeping spaces, Victorys facility also offers basic amenities such as pillows, blankets, and slippers. The Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Senora de Guia in Ermita, Manila will also open its doors to 33 medical frontliners at the Manila Doctors Hospital. The Archdiocese of Manila said its other member-parishes are also expected to soon accommodate nearby healthworkers. Bp. Broderick Pabillo, Apostolic Administrator, has instructed to turn all available facilities into temporary shelters. Heres the list of other religious institutions offering shelters for frontliners: St. Mary College (Diliman, Quezon City) St. Anthony's Shrine (Sampaloc, Manila) Convent of the Holy Spirit (Quezon City) Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Convent (Pandacan, Manila) St. John Bosco Parish (Makati) The Christ's Commission Fellowship said it is also coordinating with a nearby hospital and planning the possible move to house its medical personnel. One of our favourites - and honorary Kiwi - Netsky already revealed to us that he has a drum and bass album on the way, and it sounds like it's getting a lot closer to release, with the Belgian producer/DJ confirming that the first single is coming this week. In a post on social media, Netsky reminisced on signing his first deal with Hospital Records one decade ago and officially announced the album along with the title of it's first single. Check out the post below, and pre-save 'I See The Future In Your Eyes' here. THE Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and six other health facilities across the country still have a combined inventory of almost 90,000 test kits to detect the novel coronavirus, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday, March 31. As of March 30, the DOH said a total of 15,337 tests have been conducted in the country. The number includes retests and validation tests. There are still a total of 89,969 test kits available, the agency added. The tests are being conducted at the RITM, San Lazaro Hospital and UP National Institutes of Health in the National Capital Region, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) in the Cordillera, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Central Visayas, Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Western Visayas, and Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao. As of March 30, a DOH report showed that the RITM has conducted a total of 14,001 tests. It still has an inventory of 42,000 test kits. San Lazaro and UP-NIH have conducted 65 and 143 tests, respectively, and were still capable of conducting 4,932 and 4,861 tests, respectively. The VSMMC in Cebu City has conducted 387 tests. It still has an inventory good for 24,396 tests. For Cordillera, the BGHMC has conducted 162 tests and is still capable of doing 4,937 tests. In Iloilo, the WVMC has done 173 tests. It has an inventory good for 4,843 tests. The WVMC, however, is still not accredited as a Covid-19 laboratory. As of March 31, 2020, the DOH said the WVMC is still in stage 3 of the accreditation process, which entails training of its personnel who will operate the laboratory. The hospital has sent a few personnel to the RITM for this required training. In Davao, the SPMC has conducted 406 tests and is capable of conducting 4,000 more tests. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire has repeatedly said that a patient may need at least two or three more tests. In areas where there are no accredited subnational laboratories, a patient would need to undergo at least two tests. Story continues If found positive after the first test, the patient would need to undergo a confirmatory test to be conducted by the RITM or its accredited laboratories. Those found positive for the novel coronavirus, which is formally known as Sars-CoV-2, will need to undergo more tests until a negative result is obtained. Only then can a patient be cleared and discharged from the hospital. As of March 31, accredited laboratories that are allowed to process and test samples from patients are BGHMC, San Lazaro Hospital, VSMMC, SPMC and UP-NIH. Fifty other health facilities, aside from the WVMC, have started the accreditation process. The Lung Center of the Philippines, meanwhile, is undergoing proficiency testing. This means it can accept samples for processing, but these will still have to be validated by the RITM. It may proceed to full scale implementation one five samples that yielded positive results are confirmed by the RITM. (MVI/SunStar Philippines) Dr. Sarosh Ashraf Janjua, who works as a cardiologist in a coronavirus quarantine unit in Duluth, was pulled over to the side of the road by Trooper Brian Schwartz last week A Minnesota state trooper who pulled over a doctor for speeding ended up giving her his protective face masks instead of a fine. Dr. Sarosh Ashraf Janjua, who works as a cardiologist in a coronavirus quarantine unit in Duluth, was pulled over to the side of the road by Trooper Brian Schwartz last week for traveling 85mph in a 70mph zone. But as the pair were talking the mood suddenly changed. 'He went back to his patrol car to look up my license, and when he returned, quite firmly told me it was very irresponsible of me to be speeding, especially since I would not only take up resources if I got into an accident, but would also not be in a position to help patients.Feeling thoroughly chastised, I waited for him to write me a ticket. Instead, he told me he was going to let me off with a warning,' Janjua wrote. Instead of fining her, Trooper Brian Schwartz gave cardiologist Dr. Sarosh Janjua five N95 medical masks that had been given for his protection from the deadly COVID-19 Even the police thanked her for her service despite speeding on a local Interstate Instead of writing out a speeding ticket, he instead offered her an act of extraordinary kindness. Schwartz gave Janjua five N95 masks that he was supposed to be using for his own protection. 'As I sputtered to apologize and say thank you, he reached in to hand me what I assumed was my license back. It wasnt until my hand had closed around what he was giving me that its unexpected bulkiness drew my eyes to it. 'Five N95 masks, from the supply the state had given him for his protection. The trooper gave her a stern warning but decided not to give her a ticket (file photo) I burst into tears. And though it may just have been the cold wind, I think he teared up a little as well, before wishing me well and walking away,' Janjua wrote in an emotional post on Facebook. 'I burst into tears. And though it may just have been the cold wind, I think he teared up a little as well, before wishing me well and walking away,' Janjua wrote in an emotional post on Facebook. 'This complete stranger, who owed me nothing and is more on the front lines than I am, shared his precious masks with me, without my even asking.' Schwartz said he offered Janjua the masks after spotting 'what appeared to be two used N95 masks in Ashraf's purse that he assumed she was reusing.' 'Thank you to Sarosh for her hard work and dedication,' the Minnesota State Patrol said on Facebook. 'Troopers are working hard during the pandemic and are thinking about all the first responders who are caring for Minnesotans during this critical time.' The N95 respirator masks are in short supply which makes the trooper's gesture even more significant. Janjua had mentioned that she was 'afraid' of not having the proper equipment to protect herself and getting sick In some cases, physicians have been forced to wear used masks which risks further infection Janjua had mentioned that she was 'afraid' of not having the proper equipment to protect herself and getting sick. 'Like all healthcare workers and emergency responders around the world, I have felt afraid of not having adequate protective equipment, and in my darkest moments, have worried about what would happen if I fell sick far from home,' she wrote. 'I think we are all just hanging on to something that makes us feel safe,' Janjua told CNN. 'Somehow, for Americans, that something has become N95 masks and toilet paper. Trooper Schwartz' act of kindness became my something.' Writing on behalf of all members of News Broadcasters Federation (NBF), Arnab Goswami, President, NBF, has sought I&B Minister, Prakash Javadekars, intervention in the move by some vested interest to stop the publication of TV ratings measured by BARC India. In a letter to the Minister, a copy of which has also been sent to relevant authorities at BARC, Goswami pointed out that these vested interests are doing so to protect their commercial interests. He added that they are also falsely claiming to represent the news broadcasting industry of India, which unlike them is doing real time public service broadcasting in this period. He implored that news channels are completely and totally dependent on publication of TV ratings to run our business and urged that if news channels also face a situation when ratings are stopped, we will be destroyed and our organisations will be at peril. Also read: NBF now seeks ad industry's help, says news broadcasters are doing public service COVID-19 Impact: NBF calls immediate measures to overcome business crisis We reproduce Arnab Goswamis letter below: Dear Mr Javadekar, I am writing to you on behalf of all members of News Broadcasters Federation (NBF). It has come to our notice that there are attempts made by some vested interest to put pressure via the ministry to stop the publication of ratings measured by BARC. I am informed that some of these vested interests, who are trying to stop ratings in this period, are doing so to protect their commercial interests, and falsely claiming to represent the news broadcasting industry of India, which unlike them is doing real time public service broadcasting in this period. You are aware that the efforts of the news channels have been appreciated by one and all, including the Prime Minister in his recent video conference with owners and editors of some news channels. In order to continue the effort, which in this period involves creation of informative and relevant news content while covering the entire country at a time when communication and transport is not easy, our hundreds of thousands of professionals are working round the clock, and taking this battle on the frontlines to ensure that COVID-19 is defeated. If news channels also face a situation when ratings are stopped, we will be destroyed and our organisations will be at peril. Mr Minister, while individual channels or bodies may claim to speak for us, let me assure you that they are only defending their short term interests at a time when they can shut down their programming while news channels work round the clock in this national effort against COVID-19. We are completely and totally dependent on publication of TV ratings to run our business. We are doing committed public service broadcasting in this period of national emergency. On behalf of all the members of the NBF I am requesting you for your urgent intervention to not allow this sinister move to stop the publication of TV ratings which is being done by vested interests alone. This if implemented will destroy the news broadcasting industry of India, which is doing an incredible job at this important time. I am marking a copy of this to the relevant authorities at BARC for their information as well. Once again, we request you to not allow any such decision or any such communication from MIB or anyone associated with your ministry to BARC, which is creating a sense of deep worry among news broadcasters and taking their attention away from the collective goal of defeating COVID-19, ensuring the lockdown is successful and we as a nation come through this together. Yours Sincerely, Warm Regards, Arnab Goswami President, NBF State-run Indian Bank, which is merging Allahabad Bank with itself from April 1, on Tuesday assured customers of both lenders that they will not face any disruption in services. Harmonisation of products, both on the loan and deposit sides, has been completed and the same products will be offered to all customers, Indian Bank Managing Director and CEO Padmaja Chunduru said. Following the merger, Indian Bank will become the seventh largest public sector lender. The merger is part of the government's mega consolidation plan to amalgamate 10 state-run banks to create four global-sized lenders, beginning next financial year. "Tomorrow is day one and the initial processes are complete. The main thing is about the customer service and there won't be any disruption for customers of both the banks," Chunduru told PTI in an interview. She said all the deposit and loan products, including access to Indian Bank's emergency credit lines launched in the wake of Covid-19, would be made available to the customers of Allahabad Bank. Chunduru said amalgamation consists of integration of products and processes, information technology and human resources. "We have focused all our resources on the important things that matter for day one -- treasury integration has happened and IT integration, to the extent of product harmonization and rolling out of the same products, has happened," she said. She expects the entire IT integration to be completed by December 2020. Integration of HR is an ongoing process and will take another three to four months, she explained. The combined entity will have 6,060 branches, a network of 2,870 ATMs and banking correspondent network of 9,000. She said none of the branches will be closed and about 150 to 200 branches have been identified that would either be merged or shifted in terms of location. "As a combined entity, Indian Bank's balance sheet is much stronger. We can offer higher amount of loans to the corporate segment, and will be able to invest in the required skill sets, whether it is credit management or recovery or risk management, to bring in more differentiated products and more value added services and also on the digital front," she said. Post-merger, the bank will not require capital on an immediate basis, she added. Chunduru further said the merged entity will retain Allahabad Bank's stakes in two firms -- a general insurance firm and an asset reconstruction company. "Indian Bank is going to inherit both the subsidiaries. After tomorrow, we will have a look at the whole thing and then see how to take it forward," she said. Allahabad Bank holds 28.52 per cent in Universal Sompo General Insurance Company. Other investors include Indian Overseas Bank, Karnataka Bank, Dabur Investment and Japanese insurance major Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc. It also holds 27.04 per cent equity stake in asset management company ASREC (India) Ltd, along with other banks/ institutions. There are three other mergers of public sector banks under the government's mega consolidation plan. Punjab National Bank will take over Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India to form the nation's second-largest lender; Syndicate Bank will merge with Canara Bank; and Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank will get amalgamated into Union Bank of India. Following the consolidation, there will be seven large public sector banks, and five smaller ones. There were as many as 27 state-run banks in 2017 when SBI took over five of its associates and Bharatiya Mahila Bank. In 2019, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank got merged with Bank of Baroda, making it the third largest state-run bank. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CESCO workers disinfect a BMW facility and car displayed in the showroom in Seoul, on March 24. / Courtesy of BMW Korea By Kim Jae-heun BMW, one of Korea's favorite German carmakers, is accelerating corporate efforts to fight the new coronavirus here. BMW Group Korea has started its "BWMMINI Relief Care Service Campaign" from Feb. 10 to temporarily close its driving center in Incheon and carry out disinfection at all its premises while keeping their employees working from home. The carmaker said its local dealer firms are strengthening 'untact' services whereby they offer to pick-up, repair and return the vehicles of customers who are hesitant to visit stores. This is to minimize the possibility of spreading the virus between customers and relieve their anxiety. Sanitation is a top priority concern at every BMW stores in Korea. All the employees must wear a face mask and customers without a face mask are restricted from entering the premises. Also, body temperatures checks are in place at entry points and hand sanitizers are available for use at all times. Tables for consultation at stores are 2 meters away from each other to help maintain social distancing guidelines. BMW Korea is working with CESCO, the No. 1 disinfection and pest management business here, to beef up quarantine efforts and disinfect all of its facilities including its headquarters, service centers and showrooms in Korea. CESCO uses disinfectants approved by the Ministry of Environment. The carmaker hired Sonax Service, a professional car care service firm, to disinfect cars displayed at showrooms and cars for test drives as well as cars released from shops. Sonax uses probiotics technology in their disinfectants. In addition, both CESCO and Sonax Service workers visit BMW stores to educate their employees about hygiene and sanitation matters. BMW Korea has donated 800 million won together with its car dealer firms and Community Chest of Korea to help the country overcome the novel coronavirus. The fund will be used to purchase medical supplies, protective clothing and necessities for doctors and nurses. BMW plans to support children in Daegu and North Gyeongbuk Province, where COVID-19 spread was most concentrated in the country. The carmaker takes its social responsibility seriously and is the first foreign car brand to establish a non-profit organization in Korea. Since the establishment of BMW Korea Future Fund in 2011, the carmaker has donated over 32 billion won ($25.45 million). In 2014, BMW raised 1 billion won together with its eight local dealer firms to help victims and bereaved families of the sunken ferry Sewol. The Pound Sterling Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate edged around 0.3% higher, leaving the pairing trading at around 1.1247. The Euro remained under pressure as upbeat PMI data from China failed to reassure markets, and tempt investors to move away from the safety of the US Dollar (USD). Although, the mood did improve slightly after the World Health Organization (WHO) said the coronavirus outbreak in Europe should begin to stabilise soon. According to Fiona Cincotta of City Index: Chinese factory data overnight gave a flicker of hope that the worlds second largest economy is firing back up, despite large parts of the world grinding to a halt. Comments by the WHO that the coronavirus outbreak in Europe may be approaching its peak is also boosting sentiment and comes as Italy sees the smallest number of new cases in two weeks. However, it is still far too soon to be singing victory. At the same time that the outbreak in Europe is showing signs of stabilising, restrictions on public life are also being ramped up meaning that there is still a lot of economic pain to get through. The coronavirus outbreak in the US is also escalating at a frightening rate. Deaths there have already reached 3000. This mornings unemployment figures from the blocks largest economy showed the jobless figure rose by 1,000 in March. German unemployment fell to 2.335 million, making it the second lowest March reading since the reunification of Germany. However, this was also the weakest March improvement in over a decade, implying the market had already started to lose traction before the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown. This likely sent the single currency lower. Added to this the data only covers the start of March, so did not reveal the full impact the coronavirus and lockdown had on the economy and job market. Meanwhile, data from Lloyds Banking Group Plc revealed that business confidence plummeted in March as the coronavirus pandemic dominated markets. Around 75% of firms said they were already suffering due to the pandemic, or expected to be, and this likely underestimates the scope of the economic fallout as the survey closed a week before the Prime Minister announced the UK would be going into lockdown to attempt to slow the spread of the virus. Added to this, GfK showed that consumers were less confident this month. Households were more pessimistic about their finances as well as the overall economy. commenting on the data, client strategy director at GfK, Joe Staton noted: This research was carried out during the first two weeks of March, when the coronavirus was headline news but not impacting day-to-day lives. Lockdown Britain can only expect further deterioration. Further data today from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed economic growth in the UK stagnated in the final three months of 2019. This suggests that Decembers General Election failed to spark an upswing in economic growth despite some recent surveys suggested growth had picked up. Commenting on this, Rob Kent Smith of the ONS noted: Growth in services was offset by a drop in construction and yet another fall in manufacturing. Household spending also saw no growth in the last three months of the year while business investment continued its recent weak path, with a decline at the end of 2019. Pound Euro Outlook: British and German PMI Data Releases in Focus Looking ahead, the Euro (EUR) could suffer some losses following the release of Markits manufacturing PMI data on Wednesday. If manufacturing slumps further than expected into contraction in the blocs largest economy, the single currency will slump. Meanwhile, Sterling could also suffer some losses following the release of final British PMI data. If Markits manufacturing PMI plummets further than expected below the no-change 50 mark, the Pound Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate will be left largely flat. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The U.S. donor egg IVF services market size is expected to reach USD 998.8 million by 2026, based on a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., registering a 9.5% CAGR during the forecast period. Increasing demand for eggs in the U.S. can be attributed to delayed childbearing, improved success rate of IVF procedures, and growing acceptance of fertility treatments. Additionally, laws for egg donation are not stringent in many states in the country. Hence, residents from European and Asian countries where egg donations and surrogacy procedures are illegal, visit the U.S. for infertility treatment services. Rising medical tourism when it comes to IVF is also expected to boost the U.S. market in the coming years. Major players offering these services in the regional market include Beverly Hills Egg Donation, Donor Egg Bank USA, Egg Donor America, MyEggBank, Extraordinary Conceptions LLC, Premier Egg Donors, California Fertility Partner, Extend Fertility, Boston IVF, and Fairfax EggBank. Mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations are some of the key strategies adopted by players to strengthen their presence in the market. For instance, in February 2017, Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (IVI) announced its foray in the U.S. by entering into an agreement to merge with Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey, LLC (RMANJ). This agreement was aimed at making IVI-RMA Global the worlds largest group of assisted reproduction. Further key findings from the study suggest: Presence of a large number of egg banks and fertility clinics, technological advancements, improvement in success rates, slightly dropped treatment costs in recent years, and rising infertility in the U.S. are the key driving factors Initiatives by egg banks and fertility clinics to meet the demand is expected to boost the U.S. donor egg IVF services market. For instance, in April 2016 Donor Egg Bank USA launched the Frozen Egg Bank Network. This new company guides women in egg freezing fertility practices and services Based on type, the frozen segment accounted for the largest share in the market in 2018. This can be attributed to the fact that they are more affordable than fresh eggs. They are also easier to ship and use according to the schedule of the recipient as they have already been retrieved from screened donors Key players offering these services in the U.S. market include Egg Donor America, MyEggBank, Extraordinary Conceptions LLC, Beverly Hills Egg Donation, Donor Egg Bank USA, Premier Egg Donors, American Surrogacy Center, and Surrogacy4all. Grand View Research has segmented the U.S. donor egg IVF services market based on type and end use: U.S. Donor Egg IVF Services Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026) Fresh Frozen U.S. Donor Egg IVF Services End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026) Fertility Clinics Hospitals & Others Access full research report on U.S. donor egg IVF services market: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/us-donor-egg-ivf-services-market Flash The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday slammed U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for seeking international pressure against Pyongyang and threatened to withdraw from further negotiations between the two sides. The Foreign Ministry's new department director general for negotiations with the United States, said in a statement -- without providing his name -- that his country would chart its own course amid stalled talks over its nuclear program. In the statement, which was carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the official accused Pompeo of encouraging other countries to continue to apply diplomatic and economic pressure against Pyongyang during a press conference last week following a video conference by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrialized nations. U.S. President Donald Trump recently "sent our leadership his personal letter carrying a sincere aid plan" to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas Pompeo criticized the DPRK, thereby countering the U.S. president, according to the statement. The foreign ministry official went on to say "the initiative for dialogue that the U.S. has proposed to earn time and create an environment favorable for its president was seriously damaged," and Pompeo's words "led us to lose will for dialogue." "However great and strong the friendly relationship between the leaders of the two nations, it cannot change the U.S.' hostile policy against us," and a resumption of dialogue which has been much touted by the U.S. side "is nothing but a decoy to keep us from going our own way," the statement added. The official also said Pyongyang has lost interest in holding dialogue with Washington, and has become more zealous for projects "aimed to repay the U.S. with actual horror and unrest for the sufferings it has inflicted upon our people." Talks on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula between the DPRK and the United States have been stalled after the Hanoi Summit between their leaders held February 2019 failed to reach an agreement. 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. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday condemned the killing of a youth in Bihar's Sitamarhi for tipping-off COVID-19 medical helpline about the arrival of two people from a village in Maharashtra. Taking to Twitter, the Union Minister said, "In Bihar, the news of the brutal killing of a young man giving information about people suspected of COVID-19 is very sad. In these difficult times, we need to stand united as a society. The future depends on this. Don't back down from your responsibilities." The police have arrested seven people in connection with the incident. Meanwhile, ruling Janata Dal (United) has assured strict action against all perpertrators who are found involved in the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) European tourists, who were stranded in Kerala following coronavirus lockdown, left for Frankfurt in a special Air India flight on Tuesday. The batch consisted of 232 tourists, majority of them from Germany. The evacuation process was carried out following joint efforts by Indian authorities, Kerala Tourism and the Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany. The special flight arranged for the home-bound journey of the asymptomatic tourists took off from the international airport here in the morning. "We are glad that the foreign tourists have been able to fly back home after their stay in the state. It was not an easy task to bring together the tourists stranded in different locations in 13 districts. We have taken great care to ensure that they did not face any difficulty during their stay," said Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran. He said that some other countries including UK have sought the state government's help for facilitating the transportation of the tourists from their countries. The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany had come forward to operate charter flights. The flight was arranged as part of an agreement between the German Embassy and Air India with required clearances from Ministry of External Affairs and Civil Aviation Ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Some alert families in Odisha's Kalahandi district stopped 12 migrant workers, who returned from Kerala, from entering their village and made them spend three nights in isolation before allowing to go home and placed under home quarantine, officials said on Tuesday. The 12 migrant workers, residents of Kumbhar Pipalguda, returned from Kerala on March 23 morning but the members of their families along with the villagers asked them not to proceed to their homes and mingle with others, they said. As the workers had returned from Kerala, they were asked to undergo a thorough medical checkup and remain outside the village, located under the jurisdiction of Jaipatna block, for 14 days as per quarantine guidelines, an official said quoting the villagers. Showing due respect to their families and the villagers, all the workers stayed in a temporary shed on the outskirts of the village. Officials and a medical team visited the site the same day, he said. Jaipatna Block Development Officer (BDO), Aiswarya Samantray said the villagers showed awareness about coronavirus. All the 12 persons were medically examined and none of them showed any symptoms of cold, cough and fever, the medical officer of the local Community Health Centre (CHC), Somnath Meher, said. As the migrant workers did not show any symptoms of the coronavirus, it was decided that their blood samples would not be collected for testing, he said, adding that the medical team along with police also examined the workers the next day and advised them to stay at home for 14 days. On March 24, all of them were shifted to the village school building where they stayed in isolation for 2 days, and then they allowed to go to their homes and asked to stay indoors. All the workers are under scanner and if they complain of any health problems their samples would be collected for testing. A worker's wife said that the villagers, as a precautionary measure, insisted that all of them should be examined and put under home quarantine for 14 days. Her husband said the villagers did the right thing by reminding them of their responsibility towards the society and their families. "What they did was in the interest of all. We readily followed their instructions and cooperated with the doctors and officials, he said. A senior police official said similar instances are being reported from different villages in the district where migrant workers are returning home. So far around 6,367 migrant workers have returned to their villages in Kalahandi district. Medical teams are visiting them for screening and asked them to observe home quarantine strictly, he said, adding that stickers are also being fixed outside their houses for identification and community monitoring. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A coronavirus outbreak has infected dozens of Marine recruits and staff members at the service's East Coast recruit training center, prompting the suspension of additional arrivals for the foreseeable future, defense officials said Monday. The cases at Parris Island, South Carolina, emerged following a "wave in testing" over the weekend, a defense official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. One official said there are at least 20 positive cases, and another said there are believed to be a few dozen but fewer than 50. The outbreak could mark the Defense Department's largest yet. Defense officials have said that dozens of sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the virus while on deployment in the Pacific, forcing a stop last week for treatment in Guam. The Marine Corps acknowledged the suspension of new recruits arriving at Parris Island on Monday but did not detail how many cases have emerged following a Pentagon decision last week to not provide specific information about coronavirus cases from individual bases and units. Marine officials said in a statement that the service is taking steps to "protect its recruits, recruit training personnel, their families and the communities where they live and serve by temporarily suspending the shipping of new recruits" to Parris Island. "The preservation of our Marines, recruits and their families is the highest priority for Marine Corps Recruiting during this national emergency," Gen. David Berger, the service's commandant, said in a written statement. "With that in mind, we've paused this week's shipping of new recruits to Parris Island and will revise our overall shipping plan to ensure we are able to meet the Nation's needs while protecting its next generation of Marines." The service wants to get a better understanding of how far the virus has spread before accepting any more recruits, one of the defense officials said. Recruits who have already begun training and are not believed to have been exposed to the virus will be allowed to continue and graduate. But it is still not clear what additional steps may need to be taken, the official added. "This is a fluid situation right now, and there's a lot of discussions going on about what could happen down the line when it comes to America's ability to defend itself," the official said. The cases were found as the service transitioned to requiring new recruits to quarantine for 14 days before training to prevent the spread of the virus. The Navy has taken similar steps at its enlisted training center in Great Lakes, Illinois. Senior military officials discussed proactively stopping the training of new recruits this month. Some senior Navy and Army officials recommended doing so, according to a Navy plan obtained by The Washington Post. Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed the issue March 16 and decided to continue recruit training because of concerns about how a stoppage could negatively affect the military, said Jonathan Rath Hoffman, a Pentagon spokesman. The issue, Hoffman said then, will continually be evaluated. Parris Island trains all enlisted women joining the service and all men from the eastern half of the country. Men from the western half train at a similar facility in San Diego. A Marine spokesman in San Diego, Capt. Martin Harris, said the service continues to receive new recruits there, but the number has been decreased to ensure there is enough space to allow social distancing and adequate staff to safely screen and evaluate them. "This is a dynamic situation that continues to evolve," Harris said. Harris said that plans to ship additional recruits could be adjusted on a case-by-case basis, and that "discretion will be applied" to current and future plans. Also Monday, the Pentagon announced that a New Jersey Army National Guardsman died Saturday after testing positive for the virus, marking the first coronavirus-related death of a U.S. service member. Capt. Douglas Linn Hickok was a drilling guardsman and physician assistant, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said. Esper called the death a "stinging loss." "Today is a sad day for the Department of Defense as we have lost our first American service member - active, reserve or Guard - to coronavirus," he said. "This is a stinging loss for our military community, and our condolences go out to his family, friends, civilian co-workers and the entire National Guard community." A civilian employee and a military spouse died this month after testing positive for the virus. As of Monday morning, 569 service members, 220 Defense Department civilian employees, 190 family members and 64 contractors had tested positive for the virus, the Pentagon said. The daughter of a man who sexually abused her, her siblings and three other little girls said she was forced to dress 'like a boy' in an attempt to stop his abuse. The Queensland man, who can't be named, pleaded guilty in the Gladstone District Court on Monday to sexually abusing six young girls - including his own daughters. The court heard how the man would abuse the girls, aged between six and 13, telling them he was giving them a 'massage' or having 'tickle time'. A Queensland father has been sentenced to 16 years jail for the sexual abuse of six young girls aged between 6 and 13, three of whom were he own daughters (stock image) His first victim was a family friend between 2006 and 2008 who he groped during 'tickle time'. The man touched the girl's ribs before moving to her chest and groin areas, The Gladstone Observer reported. His second victim was another family friend, aged between six and seven, who he abused after telling her mother she needed to have her posture corrected. Instead the man put a towel over the young girl's face before digitally penetrating her in her bedroom. Between 2013 and 2016 the man went on to abuse two of his own biological daughters who were aged between 10 and 13. The court was told how the man performed a range of sex acts on his daughter including 'penetration'. Police transcripts from an interview with one of the man's daughter's revealed she stopped wearing dresses because they were 'easy access'. Instead she started to dress more like a boy with the hopes the abuse would stop. The man's string off abuse was set to continue with another of his daughter's friends some time later, performing a number of sex acts on her. His final victim was his estranged biological daughter who he raped on her first night staying in his home after learning he was her father. The man pleaded guilty to seven counts of rape, three counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12, three of maintain unlawful relationship with a child and one count of indecent treatment of a child under 16. Upon sentencing him to 16 years' jail Judge Michael Burnett described the man and his actions as 'predatory'. Elizabeth Sobinoff finally got her happy ending with Seb Guilhaus on Monday night. Yet some Married At First Sight fans aren't convinced their connection is as strong as it appears on TV, and have accused the pair of putting on a show for the cameras. Here are all the signs Lizzie and Seb could be 'faking it' for publicity - although it's important to remember the couple insist their relationship is 100 per cent genuine. Do you buy it? Elizabeth Sobinoff finally got her happy ending with Seb Guilhaus on Monday's episode of Married At First Sight - but some fans aren't convinced by their fairytale love story PUTTING ON A SHOW IN PUBLIC? Usually when Married At First Sight airs, any couples that have stayed together are rarely spotted in public to prevent spoilers leaking. But in March alone, Liz and Seb were pictured at a music festival in Melbourne, a race day in Adelaide and having lunch in Sydney. They were also spotted 'getting keys cut' at a busy shopping centre near Elizabeth's home in Newcastle just days after their wedding aired on March 2. Putting on a show? Whereas most successful MAFS couples avoid going out in public while the show airs to prevent spoilers, Liz and Seb have done the opposite. Pictured at a gig on March 7 Too much? In March alone, fans spotted the couple at a festival in Melbourne with friends (right), getting keys cut in Newcastle (left) and at the Adelaide Cup MISERABLE AT SECOND SIGHT? While filming the show last year, Liz and Seb mostly looked miserable when the cameras weren't rolling. On November 25, they were pictured returning to their apartment building in Sydney's CBD separately, choosing to spend their downtime alone. A source told Daily Mail Australia: 'They were one of the most elusive couples throughout production and rarely went out together. 'All of the other participants would hang out in the city when they weren't filming, but Elizabeth and Seb were rarely spotted outside of the apartment building.' Miserable! While filming the show last year, Liz and Seb mostly looked miserable when the cameras weren't rolling. Pictured returning to their apartment separately on November 25 LIZ'S BIG INSTAGRAM BOOST Since returning to the show, Liz's Instagram following has skyrocketed. After her first season ended last year, she was losing up to 700 followers a day as the public moved on, according to analytics website Social Blade. But in recent weeks, she has been gaining thousands of new fans each day. It's believed Liz left her job as a jewellery store manager last year to become a full-time influencer, which is why her job description on TV is 'Returning MAFS bride'. She will now be able to charge thousands more per sponsored post following her surge in popularity. Influencer: Before returning to MAFS, statistics from analytics website Social Blade show that Liz was losing up to 700 Instagram followers per day as fans moved on from last year's season Change: But after returning to TV, she has been gaining thousands of new followers each day SHARING THEIR OWN SPOILERS Before Liz and Seb's wedding even aired, fans had guessed they were still together. After filming wrapped in December, the pair often shared photos on Instagram of themselves at the same locations and at the same time of day. Although they never tagged or showed each other in their posts, the pictures proved they were spending time together and presumably still a couple. Spoilers: Before their wedding even aired, fans had guessed Liz and Seb were still together by their less-than-subtle social media posts that showed them visiting the same places PRESSURE TO BE THE ONLY FAIRYTALE ENDING? If Liz and Seb hadn't joined MAFS as intruders, this year's season would have had no successful couples. Daily Mail Australia understands they were drafted in to try and salvage the show. 'After a few weeks of filming, producers realised none of the couples would stay together and they desperately needed at least one happy ending,' a source said. 'It's as if all their hopes of salvaging the entire season were riding on Elizabeth - which would have put a lot of pressure on her to make things with Seb work.' She's an Oscar-winning actress who's already appeared in some of the most iconic films of the last fifteen years. And Anne Hathaway will soon be adding yet another credit to her illustrious repertoire the film version of American-French New York Times International writer Pamela Druckerman's artfully titled autobiography, French Children Dont Throw Food. The Colossal star, 37, will star in the in-development feature, playing a 35-year-old American journalist living in Paris who becomes pregnant and quickly learns of the stark differences between the U.S. and France when it comes to expectant mothers and parenthood. Busy actress: Anne Hathaway will soon be adding another credit to her illustrious repertoire the film version of Pamela Druckerman's autobiography, French Children Dont Throw Food In the book, Druckerman learns that pregnant French women don't rush out to buy every single parenting bible out there, and they are also not as hung up on the ideas of natural births or C-sections. Anne will portray the expatriate trying to balance family life with her career in the French capital, as she sets out to discover why French children seem so well-behaved. It won't be the first time Hathaway has appeared in a film with a French connection one of her most celebrated roles, as Andy in the brilliant film adaptation of the bestselling novel The Devil Wears Prada, took her to Paris at the end of the movie. She also won her Oscar for playing Fantine in the 2012 movie version of the Broadway musical phenomenon about 19th Century France, Les Miserables. Je ne sais quoi: The book tells of an American journalist living in Paris who becomes pregnant and learns of the stark differences between the U.S. and France when it comes to motherhood In the book: Druckerman (pictured) learns that pregnant French women don't rush out to buy every single parenting bible out there French Children Dont Throw Food is set to be produced by French film house StudioCanal and London-based Blueprint Pictures, the latter of which scored big with the Oscar-winning 2017 film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. In addition to this new project, Hathaway has at least three other projects in various stages of development. The most anticipated is the remake of the 1990 classic family film The Witches, based on the children's book by Roald Dahl. Parisian girl: It won't be the first time Hathaway has appeared in a film with a French connection The Devil Wears Prada took her to Paris at the end of the movie; seen here at the Sundance Film Festival in January In that film, Hathaway will step into the impressive (and square-toed) shoes of Anjelica Houston, to play the fierce Grand High Witch. That film, costarring Octavia Spencer, (Anne's Prada costar) Stanley Tucci, and Chris Rock, is currently slated for a theatrical release in October. Hathaway's other two films, in pre-production, are Sesame Street presumably based on the PBS kids' show and a thriller called The Lifeboat. Four new coronavirus cases were reported in Gujarat on Tuesday, taking the tally of infections to 74 even as the number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 went up to six after two more persons were discharged, a senior health department officer said. All the four new cases, one of them a woman, were of local transmission, taking the count of such infections to 38, while cases of patients with a history of international travel stayed at 32, Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi said. Four of the COVID-19 patients have inter-state travel history, she said. As many as six COVID-19 patients have died in the state so far, she said, adding all of them had co-morbid conditions (other diseases). With two 28-year-old men from Surat and Rajkot, as well as a 55-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman from Ahmedabad testing positive on Tuesday, the number of COVID-19 cases in the state went up to 74, Ravi said. Amid the rising coronavirus cases, two more patients were on Tuesday discharged from hospitals in Ahmedabad and Vadodara, taking the total number of patients recovering from the infection to six, she said. "We hope more patients are successfully treated and discharged," Ravi said. With this, four patients from Ahmedabad, one each from Surat and from Vadodara have been discharged so far, Ravi told reporters. Among the Ahmedabad residents who have been discharged, three were over 60 years of age, considered a vulnerable group, she said. Of the six patients who have succumbed to the infection so far, three were from Ahmedabad, two from Bhavnagar and one from Surat, the senior bureaucrat said. Out of 62 active cases, two COVID-19 patients are on ventilators, while the condition of others is stable, she said. As may as 19,026 people have been placed under quarantinein Gujarat, including 18,078 in homes, 741 in government facilities and 207 in private centres, she said. Ravi said the health department has surveyed around 6.15 crore people in the state, which includes on-site and telephonic surveys, as part of measures to contain the spread of the virus. The health department converts areas where positive cases have been found into containment and buffer zones and undertake measures to prevent the outbreak of the virus as per central government's guidelines, she said. "Areas where positive cases have been found are being treated as hotspot. Since the last two days, we have taken proactive measures for cluster containment in these areas," Ravi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Subscribe to the Wake Up, cleveland.coms free morning newsletter, delivered to your inbox weekdays at 5:30 a.m. Weather Gray weather conditions continue today but there are no chances of showers until tonight. Temperatures will be in the mid-40s this afternoon, then drop to the mid-30s overnight. Read more. The headlines Todays Wake Up newsletter is longer than usual because it includes every coronavirus story from the last 24 hours. Read it and youre up to date on the crisis. Modeling: A new model from the University of Washington shows that Ohio has more than enough hospital and intensive care unit capacity to handle the onslaught of expected coronavirus cases, reports cleveland.coms Laura Johnston. According to projections from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, Ohios coronavirus cases are expected to peak April 19, with 3,900 hospital beds needed, 585 of them in the ICU, and 468 ventilators. Secrecy: Health boards in Summit, Lorain and Medina counties continue to keep secret where coronavirus cases have been confirmed in their borders despite a huge public demand for such information. Cleveland.coms Peter Krouse reports the three departments again on Monday attributed the secrecy to concerns about protecting the privacy of patients. But Summit will begin to disclose the zip codes of confirmed cases once the numbers reach an unspecified level. Subtext: Cleveland.com has started a new, free Subtext account to send coronavirus updates. Every day, the team covering the coronavirus will send three to four updates about the progress of the virus -- confirmed cases of the virus, major cancellations, the latest medical advice, relevant scientific information and more. You can even text us back. Go to https://joinsubtext.com/ohiocoronavirus and enter your phone number. Fill out the form below. Or send a text to 216-279-7784. Did we mention its free? Insurance coverage: Insured Ohioans will pay in-network prices for being treated for the coronavirus, even if they are treated at an out-of-network hospital, under a state order issued earlier this month. Under the order, health insurers must also cover COVID-19 testing and treatment without any pre-authorizations, cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer reports. This chart illustrates the increase in confirmed Ohio coronavirus caes from the first three on March 9 to 1,933 on Monday, March 30.Rich Exner, cleveland.com New numbers: Thirty-nine Ohioans have died from COVID-19,1,933 Ohioans have tested positive and 475 Ohioans have been hospitalized, reports cleveland.coms Andrew Tobias. Cuyahoga County led the state with 493 positive tests and 106 hospitalizations. This Week in the CLE: Cleveland.coms weekly news podcast, This Week in the CLE, is moving to a half-hour daily format every morning during the coronavirus crisis to keep up with the latest developments. Editor Chris Quinn tackles the question of whether insurance companies will have to pay if the new Ohio coronavirus hospital plan sends you for treatment outside your health insurance network, along with editors Jane Kahoun and Kris Wernowsky and reporter Andrew Tobias. Quicker tests: Patients at the OSU Wexner Medical Center could see coronavirus test results in as few as five hours, using a new test developed with Columbus nonprofit Battelle, according to cleveland.coms Emily Bamforth. The system can process approximately 200 tests per day initially, but when the infrastructure is fully built over the coming weeks, the goal is to process more than 1,000 test swabs per day. Schools closed: Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday extended in-person K-12 school closures through May 1 because of the coronavirus crisis, reports cleveland.coms Laura Johnston. DeWine said its possible students would not return to the classroom during this school year but downplayed the idea that school would be continued into the summer. High school: For high school seniors across Northeast Ohio, the coronavirus isnt an extended vacation. Its likely the abrupt end to their high school experience, without the celebratory sendoffs they earned and long goodbye to their friends and school they expected, reports cleveland.coms Mary Kilpatrick. Cleveland cases: The state of Ohio notified Cleveland that nine more residents have tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, cleveland.coms Robert Higgs reports. The new cases raise the total for Cleveland to 110. One person, a woman in her 70s, has died. Cuyahoga deaths: Cuyahoga County Board of Health officials on Monday reported the fifth coronavirus death in the county, reports cleveland.coms Courtney Astolfi. The four people who have died in suburban Cuyahoga County were between the ages of 70 and 91, two women and two men. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ohio increased by 17% on Monday, the lowest increase since March 10 by percent.Rich Exner, cleveland.com Hard hit: Northeast Ohio, including several counties in Greater Cleveland, have been struck harder by known coronarivus cases per capita than the rest of the state, with six of the top 10 counties per capita in Ohio, cleveland.coms Rich Exner reports. Voting dispute: A coalition of voting-rights groups has sued over Ohios new law that extends voting for its primary election through April 28, arguing the vote-by-mail process lawmakers created will disenfranchise thousands of voters, cleveland.coms Andrew Tobias reports. Refuse pickup: The city has suspended bulk pickup of refuse through at least April to help protect Cleveland refuse workers from the COVID-19 coronavirus, cleveland.coms Robert Higgs reports. Bulk pickup involves larger materials that dont fit into the citys refuse bins, such as pieces of furniture. Regular refuse pickup will continue. Prison manufacturing: Ohio prison inmates are stepping up to fill the ongoing shortages of masks, hand sanitizer, and other personal protection equipment needed in the fight against coronavirus, reports cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer. Inmates at some of Ohio prisons have already made 500 hospital gowns and will soon be able to manufacture 44,000 when they get additional fabric. Essential businesses: The Cuyahoga County Board of Health has received 312 complaints about businesses not following state orders to operate only if they are essential, reports cleveland.coms Courtney Astolfi. The county has also received 554 calls from businesses trying to determine if they are essential and another 107 from businesses trying to figure out how best to maintain social distancing standards. Abortion: A federal judge has temporarily banned Ohio officials from using a public-health order forbidding nonessential surgeries during the coronavirus pandemic to restrict providers from performing abortions within the state, cleveland.coms Andrew Tobias reports. Disaster: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the states congressional delegation want President Donald Trump to declare Ohio a major disaster area so the state can qualify for emergency federal funding to fight the spread of the coronavirus and cope with its aftereffects, reports cleveland.coms Sabrina Eaton. Plans for cruise ships to dock in Cleveland are being canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Laura Johnston, RocktheLake.com)Laura Johnston, RocktheLake.com Cruises canceled: The Port of Cleveland this year was scheduled to host 42 cruise ships, starting May 8. Cleveland.coms Laura Johnston reports that because of the coronavirus pandemic, all arrivals are canceled until mid-May. After that is a question mark. Prison case: A Marion Correctional Institution staff member has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, marking the first time a COVID-19 case has been found inside an Ohio prison, reports cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer. Meanwhile, a part-time contractor who works in the states juvenile justice system has tested positive. Police case: A Cleveland police officer tested positive for the coronavirus, reports cleveland.coms Adam Ferrise. The officer self-quarantined for more than a week before testing positive. Airport: A $3 million project to improve passenger access to shuttle and limousine services is slated to start Wednesday at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, reports cleveland.coms Robert Higgs. The project involves construction of an expanded Ground Transportation Center capable of handling many vehicles at a time. Walkways for passengers to access pickup points will be under cover and heated in bad weather. Court revamp: Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Administrator Greg Popovich spent a week on a cruise ship this month and came back to find the world changed. Cleveland.coms Cory Shaffer reports on Popovichs experience, including a 14-day self-quarantine that coincided with mass plea hearings, revamped jury duty process, suspension of most trials and expansion of phone and video conferencing to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Civil rights lawsuit: A man who spent more than 15 years in prison on a murder conviction overturned in 2018 has filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit against the Cleveland police officers who investigated the case, cleveland.coms Cory Shaffer reports. Kent State: Kent State University announced Monday its refund policy for school related services that will go unused because students were required to leave campus March 20 because of the coronavirus crisis. Cleveland.coms Peter Krouse has the details. Kent fund: A fund has been established to help Kent State University students who are in a financial bind as a result of the coronavirus crisis, reports cleveland.coms Peter Krouse. Kent State President Todd Diacon started the fund with an email last week to the universitys alumni, and within 24 hours had raised more than $15,800. Recuperating at home: Many people who develop the coronavirus will recuperate at home. What does that look like? Cleveland.coms John Pana made a video incorporating tips from the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hating the virus: Cleveland.coms Troy Smith writes that hes been overcome with a fear of dying. His blood is boiling with frustration and anger for the coronavirus thats changed all our lives. Restaurant predicament: During the coronavirus, Northeast Ohio restaurants have had to choose: transition into a takeout business or close for the foreseeable future. Cleveland.coms Marc Bona analyzes the dining scene, how its faring and how it may change forever. Hungry? If youre tired of all the food in your house, cleveland.com has a constantly updated list of more than 300 eateries offering curbside service, takeout and delivery. Cavs telethon: The Cleveland Cavaliers are teaming with local television and radio stations to host a two-hour telethon to raise money for the United Way and Greater Cleveland Food Bank on Saturday, reports cleveland.coms Marc Bona. Closings and delays: Cleveland.com has a list of delays and closings because of the coronavirus pandemic. Beer guy: The Jolly Scholar brewery has hooked up with the beer-hawking vendor who bellows his way around Progressive Field. Cleveland.coms Marc Bona reports Les Flake, whose "Not the tax man! Not the gas man! The beer guy!" refrain is a sign of summer, is delivering for the brewery on Western Reserve University's campus. Cavs employees: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse part-time event staffers whove lost their jobs will have an opportunity to get back to work at Giant Eagle stores, reports cleveland.coms Joey Morona. The grocery store chain has been looking to hire hundreds of workers to meet increased demand during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Unite the Night: Thousands of people lined their driveways and sidewalks with luminaries for Unite The Night, an event started by a small group in Strongsville that spread nationwide. Cleveland.coms Joshua Gunter has glowing photos from the first event, which will morph into a weekly tradition. Writer Jenny Davidson got close to her stepgrandfather Gene Kilik during the last 20 years or so of his life. Shortly before he died, some of his belongings were sent to her three huge bags filled mostly with his writing. When Davidson started sifting through the bags, she found some short stories Kilik had written, as well as a novel writings she thought might be of interest to the family. There was one genuine treasure among all that paper: a bound, unpublished manuscript titled The Duchess of Angus written by Genes late wife, gallerist and collage artist Margaret Brown Kilik, in the 1950s. Davidson opened it and started reading. Right away, she knew it was special. The book is set in San Antonio during World War II and paints a richly detailed portrait of the city during that time through the eyes of a young, single woman named Jane Davis as she tries to find her place in the world and with men. She also tries to figure out her frenemy, the beautiful and inscrutable Wade Howell. I was shocked by how great the voice was and how riveting the depiction of this lost San Antonio was, said Davidson, a professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University. I was pretty sure right away that I would be able to find someone who might publish it. On ExpressNews.com: Book festival poets talk about their work about SA She was right. Once Davidson got the novel into shape for publishers she had to do some light editing, and she had to have it typed, since she couldnt expect anyone to pore over a PDF of scanned pages she swiftly found her way to Trinity University Press, which just released the book. As Davidson sees it, there were two big reasons Duchess merited publication. For one thing, all the careful, firsthand details about life in San Antonio in the 1940s, including descriptions of boardinghouses, nightlife and the sex lives of young women. I did also feel on its literary merits, the voice of that main character, I think its really exceptional, and I wanted to make sure it got this second chance at life, said Davidson, who met the author just once before her death in 2001. Davidson wrote an introduction for the novel, in which she tells how she found it and about Kiliks life, including the many parallels with Janes. On ExpressNews.com: SAs indie bookshops offer online, curbside service To help put the story into a broader context, the book also includes Streetwise, an essay by Char Miller explaining the historical backdrop for the action, and Beyond Adobe Walls, an essay by Laura Hernandez-Ehrisman dealing with Anglo perceptions of Mexican culture. The latter essay was particularly important to Davidson, since the characterizations of Mexicans in the novel are often stereotypical and sometimes racist. This is a narrative that in some ways is ahead of or outside of its time, Davidson said. In other ways, its very much of its time. It would be irresponsible to put the book out without some kind of context. Davidson was slated to discuss the book during the San Antonio Book Festival, and she was disappointed when the event was scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemic. While she was here, she also planned to give the original manuscript to Trinitys library. Shes hoping to be able to hand it over in person later this year. She also is looking forward to seeing some of the places Kilik writes about so vividly in the book. Deborah Martin is an arts writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Deborah, become a subscriber. dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN Russia announced stay-at-home orders for St. Petersburg shortly after the capital, Moscow, was put into lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. An announcement can be heard saying: "Dear residents and guest of St.Petersburg! For you and your relatives' health we kindly ask you to stay at home and observe the regime of self-isolation!" "Please, maintain personal hygiene, clean and air your houses. When you have the first symptoms of cold call the doctor. For breaking the self-isolation rules you can be charged even with the criminal liability!" The country has so far had over 1,800 coronavirus cases with nine deaths. This footage was filmed on March 31. By Akbar Mammadov The Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh has issued a statement on the 102nd anniversary of March 31 Genocide of Azerbaijanis, calling for legal assessment of the mass killing of Azerbaijani civilians by Armenians. Over 80,000 Azerbaijanis in Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region call on the international community to support Azerbaijan's just position to give an objective political and legal assessment to the historical acts of aggression against the Azerbaijani people, community said in the statement published in the local media on March 31. The community detailed the ethnic policy pursued by Armenians against Azerbaijanis in the past 200 years. The main goal of this nationalist-chauvinist policy was to expel the Azerbaijanis from their historical lands and create the "Greater Armenia" state invented by the Armenians in the ancient territories of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh stressed. In the early twentieth century, Armenian nationalists expanded their activities to implement the idea of a "Greater Armenia" put forward in the program of the Dashnaktsutyun party and began to pursue a policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide, systematically expelling Azerbaijanis from their historical lands. Thus, in 1905-1906, Armenians committed massacres against peaceful Azerbaijanis in Baku, Ganja, Karabakh, Yerevan, Nakhchivan, Ordubad, Sharur-Daralayaz, Tbilissi, Zangazur, Gazakh and other places. The population was ruthlessly killed, towns and villages were burned and destroyed, the community said. Touching upon the historical background of the Dashnaktsutyun party and Armenian National Congress, the community also stressed that Stephan Shaumyan, who was appointed as Interim Emergency Commissioner for Caucasus Affairs in 1917, was the organizer of the massive massacre of Azerbaijanis. In early 1918, on the eve of the March massacre, the number of Armenian armed forces directly subordinated to Shaumyan was about 20,000. On March 30 of the same year, Armenian-Bolshevik forces shelled Baku from ships. After that, armed Dashnaks attacked the houses of Azerbaijanis and committed brutal murders. On March 31 and the first days of April, thousands of peaceful Azerbaijanis were killed solely on the basis of their ethnicity, the community said. As a result of the Armenian armed attack, more than 16,000 people were killed with special cruelty in the first five months of 1918 in Guba district, 167 villages were destroyed, 35 of which no longer exist, the community noted. The Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh also stressed that the facts of Armenian-Dashnak gangs massacring Azerbaijanis in Guba district have recently been proven: Thus, the finding of mass graves in the city of Guba in 2007 is a confirmation of the Armenian vandalism. During the investigation of the cemetery, it was determined that people were subjected to all kinds of violence during the attack of the Armenian armed forces on Guba in 1918, and that the cemetery belonged to the locals who were later buried en masse, the community added. It should also be noted that Armenian military units under the leadership of Amazasp committed massacres against the Turkish-Muslim population and Jews in Guba. As a result of the research, it was revealed that about 3,000 Jews were killed by Armenians in Guba in 1918-1919, the statement said. In addition, Armenians destroyed and burned hundreds of Azerbaijani settlements, including 157 villages in Karabakh, as well as committed brutal massacres of Azerbaijanis in Shusha. During this period, 167 settlements in Guba district, 110 settlements in Shamakhi district, 115 settlements in Zangazur district, 211 settlements in Iravan province, 92 settlements in Kars province were burned, destroyed and looted. In March-April 1918, about 50,000 people were killed by Armenian Dashnaks in Baku and other Azerbaijani territories with special torture. More than 10,000 Azerbaijanis were brutally killed in Zangazur district and 10,270 in Shamakhi district. In general, as a result of the massacres committed by Armenians in 1918-1920 in Baku, Guba, Shamakhi, Kurdamir, Lankaran, Shusha, Iravan province, Zangazur, Nakhchivan, Sharur, Ordubad, Kars and other regions, tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis killed in the most brutal manner, and more than a million people were expelled from their native lands. While these atrocities were committed by Armenians in the historical lands of Azerbaijan, schools, mosques were burned, material and cultural samples were destroyed. The Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh also stressed that Armenia grossly violated all international legal instruments, in particular Articles I and II of the UN Charter, as well as the basic principles of international law enshrined in the CSCE / OSCE Helsinki Final Act of 1 August 1975. One of the facts proving the sustainability of this criminal policy of Armenia is that only in the XX century Azerbaijanis were subjected to genocide and ethnic cleansing four times - in 1905-1906, 1918-1920, 1948-1953 and finally in 1988-1993 by Armenian nationalists, the community said. In the meantime, UN Security Council Resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884, adopted in 1993 in connection with Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan, stating the need for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of its borders, the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the occupying forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the appeal emphasized. However, despite four UN Security Council resolutions, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and other international organizations, the conflict has not been resolved within the framework of our country's territorial integrity and sovereignty because the obvious military aggression of Armenia so far. Therefore, the international community must take decisive practical steps and take the necessary measures to put an end to the policy of ethnic cleansing and aggression against Azerbaijanis by increasing pressure on Armenia. -- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 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. Someone tell Channel Nine that two hours of wrong doesn't make a right. After the A-tier cast (minus Connie and Jonethen) had their chance to say goodbye over the weekend, Married At First Sight dribbled out the leftovers on Monday. So if you didn't like what I came up with yesterday, I doubt learning the fate of an old married couple and an old robot couple is going to do much for you today. And the rest: After the A-tier cast (minus Connie and Jonethen) had their chance to say goodbye over the weekend, Married At First Sight dribbled out the leftovers on Monday Seb and Liz Never forget: As she lay in bed, her fake robot husband beside her, Liz was smacked with a sudden realisation: 'Far out! I didn't eat dinner, lunch or breakfast!' As she lay in bed, her fake robot husband beside her, Liz was smacked with a sudden realisation. 'Far out! I didn't eat dinner, lunch or breakfast!' A lack of daily nutrition goes some way to explaining her next quote. 'I'm worried that I tend to be a gypsy in my own brain,' she told producers of her struggles to visualise a future with Seb. Concerns: 'I'm worried that I tend to be a gypsy in my own brain,' Liz told producers of her struggles to visualise a future with Seb. Nobody knew what she was talking about It didn't provide any clarity, but it did explain who'd been stealing all the cutlery. Liz returned home to her parents, who spent the next week trying to convince her that Seb wasn't the one. 'He lacks direction, doesn't have a savings plan and he's just... all over the place!' argued mum. Hey mum, have you met LIZ? Here, let me show you this cool app called Instagram. 'I stand corrected. You're perfect for each other.' The parent trap: Liz returned home to her parents, who spent the next week trying to convince her that Seb wasn't the one. 'He's all over the place!' mum complained. Sorry mum, have you seen Liz's Instagram? They're perfect for each other! Mishel and Steve Crocodile tears: After chopping some onions to get the crocodile tears flowing, Steve spoke about how much he was going to miss Mandy. 'It's Mishel, you idiot!' yelled a producer Down the hall, hipster barber Steve - who sounds a bit like Oliver Twist: All Grown Up - was busy chopping onions. 'I just need five more minutes!' he yelled at producers, who could now tick 'how does Steve muster up the crocodile tears for every take?' off their list of questions. 'Why do I always do it?' he bawled to the camera, making sure to wipe his eyes with his oniony fingers. 'I'm going to miss Mandy so much!' [Off-camera] 'It's Mishel, you idiot!' Since you've been gone: Mishel spent the next week catching up with her friends (left) and deleting bad memories off her phone (right) The Final Vows Perfect! For some reason, Channel Nine decided to hold the final vows in a creepy abandoned forest. 'Never mind us!' said the 30 police offers nearby. 'We're just out here looking for Milats' For some reason, Channel Nine decided to hold the final vows in a creepy abandoned forest. 'Never mind us,' said the 30 policemen who kept interrupting the shoot. 'We're just out here looking for Milats - standard procedure.' Before walking out to face his certain death, Steve spoke to the producers about how he'd spent his time away. Been busy? Before walking out to face his certain death, Steve spoke to the producers about how he'd spent his time away His anecdote vocabulary consisted entirely of chocolate bar puns. 'I fought everythin' wuld be Cherry Ripe when I was back in my Melbourne Double Decker, but it turns out all my friends are Flakes,' he said. 'I can't deny it, it's been a Rocky Road.' Smart move! Steve thought he'd been doing bugger all. Little did he know he'd actually been undergoing intense training for life in March 2020 Steve's Vows Steve's Vows: 'On our wedding day, I knew I'd met the love of my life. It was then that I realised I'd be spending the next six weeks stringing her along' Now for the moment of truth. 'Mishel, you look beautiful!' he said, laying eyes on her for the first time in a week. 'That's a sloth, mate!' yelled the executive producer. 'Mishel's in red.' His vows were as predictable as can be. Clarifications: 'You were shaking like a leaf in your wedding dress. I held you and said, "It's okay, we will get through this together." At the time, you thought it was a promise, but you've since learned it was a threat' 'On our wedding day, I knew I'd met the love of my life. It was then that I realised I'd be spending the next six weeks stringing her along,' he said. 'You were shaking like a leaf in your wedding dress. I held you and said, "It's okay, we will get through this together." 'At the time, you thought it was a promise, but you've since learned it was a threat.' Take my breath away: 'Mishel, I will love you until my last breath,' Steve said. 'Oh my God, you'll love me until the day you die?' cried Mishel He added: 'You loved me for who I am and I feel I did the same in return. Mishel, I will love you until my last breath.' 'Oh my God, you'll love me until the day you die?' cried Mishel. 'Ah, no. I meant last breath in this speech... which was that one. I guess the communication could have been a bit better.' Mishel had been saying that for two months. Whoops! 'Ah, no. I meant last breath in this speech... which was that one,' he added. 'I guess the communication could have been a bit better.' Mishel had been saying that for two months. Decision: LEAVE Mishel's Vows Michel's Vows: Mishel had clearly spent the last week smashing 'like' on every inspirational Instagram quote under the sun. She was dishing them out at the rate of someone at least two seasons more washed-up than her Mishel had clearly spent the last week smashing 'like' on every inspirational Instagram quote under the sun. She was dishing them out at the rate of someone at least two seasons more washed-up than her. I call it the 'Davina Rankin effect'. Haven't heard of her? I rest my case. She used her vows to call Steve out for the same rubbish she'd called him out for all season. Somebody call the waaaaambulance! 'You didn't consider how I was feeling,' Mishel whinged. 'You kept telling me you weren't attracted to me. It made me doubt my confidence' 'You didn't consider how I was feeling,' Mishel whinged. 'You kept telling me you weren't attracted to me. It made me doubt my confidence. 'This experiment has taught me that a person comes into your life for a reason, or a season. 'Steve, our season is over. You have wasted my time.' Mic drop: 'This experiment has taught me that a person comes into your life for a reason, or a season. Steve, our season is over. You have wasted my time.' Decision: DUMPED HIS A** Liz and Seb's Vows Liz and Seb's vows were relegated to the last 15 minutes of the episode, so they're not going to get much coverage here, either Liz and Seb's vows were relegated to the last 15 minutes of the episode, so they're not going to get much coverage here, either. Seb did the trick where he fired off compliments, cut to commercial, and then came back firing off criticisms. Liz did the same thing but in reverse. Joke's on who? Seb did the trick where he fired off compliments, cut to commercial, and then came back firing off criticisms. Liz did the same thing but in reverse One of them said 'me robot Tarzan' the other one said 'me Instagram Jane', and they rode off into the sunset. If only that were literal. Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine 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 Five coronavirus patients in critical condition have tested negative in the space of 12 days after receiving treatment with recovered patients' blood in China. Three of them have been discharged from the hospital while the others are in stable condition, according to a report from the hospital on Friday. A doctor leading the treatment believed these successful cases could 'bring hopes to more coronavirus patients'. The news comes as pressure is growing on the UK to use a promising therapy for critically ill coronavirus patients after the US approved the blood-based therapy last week. Blood plasma from former patients contains antibodies that are purposely developed by their immune systems to fight the virus. Pictured: Vials of blood being tested for infection Blood plasma from cured patients contains antibodies that are purposely developed by their immune systems to fight the virus. Scientists believe the method, known as convalescent plasma, could treat the sickest patients by bolster their immune systems, using blood from recovered donors. The Shenzhen Third People's Hospital published a medical paper on March 27, documenting the treatment process of the five patients, aged 36 to 73. The hospital, which has the National Clinical Research Centre for Infectious Disease, said four of them showed normal temperatures within three days after being treated with blood from five donors. All patients, including three men and two women, tested negative after 12-day treatment and the antibodies in their immune systems 'significantly boosted', said the hospital. Scientists believe the method, known as convalescent plasma, could treat the sickest patients by transferring recovered donors' blood to bolster their immune systems. A cured coronavirus patient has his condition checked at an outpatient department at a Guangdong hospital All patients, including three men and two women, tested negative after 12-day treatment and the antibodies in their immune systems 'significantly boosted', said the hospital. A recovered COVID-19 patient donates his blood plasma in Wuhan of central China's Hubei Province 'We first started using recovered patients' blood plasma to treat our critically ill patients on January 30,' Liu Yingxia, deputy director of the hospital, told Pear Video. 'We hope sharing our research could provide first-hand clinical experience for international medical workers and bring hopes to more coronavirus patients.' Hospitals around China have been widely using the blood-based method to treat their patients - but the UK has still yet to even test the treatment. Leading British scientists say the therapy could 'make a life or death difference' for patients in the most critical states and that doctors should 'definitely' try it. The method may be the best hope for COVID-19 patients while scientists work to develop new, specific treatments for the disease. And researchers say it could work as a temporary shield for the most vulnerable by protecting them if they catch the virus, almost like a vaccine. The news comes as pressure is growing on the UK to use a promising therapy for critically ill coronavirus patients after the US approved the blood-based therapy last week. Residents are pictured shopping in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a hotspot for the coronavirus in the US Leading scientists have now called for the 'promising' treatment to be used in the UK, where over 22,000 people have been infected and 1,408 have died. Chinese medics are pictured working in a laboratory in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province on February 19 Dr.Mike Ryan, head of WHO's health emergencies program, said using convalescent plasma was a 'very valid' approach. He said: 'It must be given at the right time because it mops up the virus in the system, and it just gives the new patient's immune system a vital push at the time it needs it. But it has to be carefully timed and it's not always successful.' Leading scientists have now called for the 'promising' treatment to be used in the UK, where over 22,000 people have been infected and 1,408 have died. Researchers around the world are scrambling to find a cure for the killer virus, with dozens of drugs being tested. Earlier this month, China launched its first clinical trial for coronavirus vaccine developed by the country's top military bio-warfare expert and her team. 'Vaccine is the strongest scientific weapon to end the coronavirus,' the bio-warfare expert, Chen Wei, told state broadcaster CCTV. The research team also prepared for large-scale production of the vaccine, Chen added. More than 785,000 people around the world have now caught the coronavirus, with 37,703 patients known to have died since the outbreak began in December. Over a dozen workers at the Amazon.com warehouse in New York walked off the job after reports of COVID-19 among staff. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday that he had ordered the citys human rights commissioner to investigate the dismissal of a worker at an Amazon.com warehouse who had protested working conditions after a coronavirus outbreak at the facility. On Monday, 15 workers at the Amazon.com warehouse in Staten Island, New York, walked off the job following reports of COVID-19 cases among the facilitys staff. Amazon said later that it fired an employee who helped organise the action for alleged violations of his employment, including leaving a paid quarantine to participate in the demonstration. New Yorks attorney general has also said that her office was considering all legal options in response to the firing, citing the right to organise in the state. Warehouse, delivery and retail gig workers in the United States went on strike on Monday to call attention to safety and wage concerns for people labouring through the coronavirus crisis. Among the strikers were some of the roughly 200,000 workers at US online grocery delivery company Instacart, according to strike organiser Gig Workers Collective, founded earlier this year by Instacart worker Vanessa Bain. Workers have also protested in other countries. Dozens of Amazon workers at a facility near Florence, Italy went on strike on Monday. French Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire said last week that pressure on Amazon employees to work despite inadequate protections was unacceptable. From delivery drivers to grocery store clerks, shelf stockers and fast-food employees, workers have kept food and essential goods flowing to people who have been told by their governments to stay home to stop the spread of coronavirus. There are more than 846,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the world, and the death toll from the disease is fast approaching 41,500 globally, according to Johns Hopkins University. Amazon, the worlds largest online retailer, says it has taken extreme measures to clean buildings and obtain safety gear and that the vast majority of employees continue to show up and do the heroic work of delivering for customers every day. Less than half a percent of Amazons more than 5,000-person workforce at the Staten Island site protested, the company said. In statements on Monday, Amazon disputed comments from one of the striking Staten Island employees, Christian Smalls, who had accused the company of mishandling warehouse operations after a confirmed case of coronavirus. Amazon said Smalls was on a paid quarantine after having close contact with a diagnosed worker, and had received multiple warnings for violating social distancing guidelines, leading to his dismissal. Smalls responded in a statement distributed by Athena, a labour and activist coalition. Im going to keep speaking up. My colleagues in New York and all around the country are going to keep speaking up. We wont stop until Amazon provides real protections for our health and safety, he said. New York States Attorney General, Letitia James, issued a statement calling the firing disgraceful and also asked the National Labor Relations Board to investigate. Amazon did not immediately return a request for comment on the attorney generals statement. Hazard pay, sanitiser San Francisco-based Instacart which lets customers place online orders from grocers, retailers like Costco Wholesale Corp and CVS Health Corps CVS Pharmacy said in a statement that the strike of its contractors had absolutely no impact to Instacarts operations. On Monday, Instacart said it had 40 percent more shoppers on the platform than on the same day last week and sold more groceries in the last 72 hours than ever before. The health and safety of our entire community shoppers, customers, and employees is our first priority, it said in a statement. It was not clear how many Instacart workers were participating in the strike, Bain told Reuters. Bain has created a Facebook group with 15,000 members. She said hundreds more have reached out to her in light of Mondays campaign. In posts on social media, people who said they were Instacart workers demanded hazard pay to account for the dangers of working while most people stay home to comply with state, local and federal government guidance. They also asked for the company to provide hand sanitiser, disinfectant wipes and soap to clean their mobile phones, cars and shopping carts. We dont have to have 100 percent participation to force Instacart to manoeuvre on these issues, Bain said in a phone interview. Instacart said on March 23 that it wanted to hire another 300,000 gig workers because of a surge in demand. Staff in one supermarket of French retailer Carrefour will receive protective masks after some walked out over health risks, a union said on Monday. Employees of McDonalds Corp as well as people who said they worked at Walmart Inc, supermarket chain Harris Teeter, Waffle House, Family Dollar and Food Lion boycotted work at North Carolina locations on Friday. FILE PHOTO: An Air New Zealand aircraft passes a fuel truck on the tarmac of Auckland Airport during fuel shortages in New Zealand By Jamie Freed and Rachit Vats SYDNEY/BENGALURU (Reuters) - Major global airlines projected layoffs, furloughs and capacity cuts over the next few months, with Air New Zealand on Tuesday warning it expected staffing levels to be 30% lower than it is now, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Airlines have been rushing to shore up liquidity, reduce capital expenditure and cut costs to stay afloat amid the worst crisis to hit the global aviation industry. Data firm OAG said the aviation industry was less than half the size it was in mid-January due to the rapid capacity cuts implemented by airlines around the world. Around 40% of the world's passenger jet fleet is now in storage, according to data from aviation firm Cirium. Air New Zealand said it will lay off about 3,500 employees, nearly a third of its workforce, in the coming months, as the outbreak forced it to cancel nearly all flights. The virus "has seen us go from having revenue of $5.8 billion (4.71 billion pounds) to what is shaping up to be less than $500 million annually," Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran told staff in an email. "We expect that even in a year's time we will be at least 30% smaller than we are today." New Zealand's national carrier, which employs 12,500 people, warned the layoffs estimate was a "conservative" assumption and the numbers could rise if the domestic lockdown and border restrictions were extended. Air Canada will cut second-quarter capacity by 85%-90%, place about 15,200 unionized employees off duty and furlough about 1,300 managers, beginning on or about April 3. Canada's largest airline said it is drawing down about C$1 billion (573.14 million pounds) in credit to bolster liquidity, while senior executives will forgo between 25%-50% of their salary and board members agreed to a 25% cut. Low-cost U.S. carrier Spirit Airlines Inc is cancelling all flights to and from the New York region after U.S. officials warned against travel to the area because of the pandemic. Story continues On Monday, Germany's Lufthansa said 27,000 of its staff would reduce hours, Britain's EasyJet PLC said it would lay off 4,000 UK-based cabin crew for two months, and low-cost carrier flydubai said it would reduce staff pay for three months. U.S. airlines have been pushing the Treasury to release up to $58 billion in government grants and loans and had threatened to quickly start laying off tens of thousands of workers within days if they did not get a bailout. The $2.2 trillion stimulus and assistance legislation signed into law last week by President Donald Trump gives passenger airlines $25 billion in cash assistance to cover payroll costs and $25 billion in loans, while cargo carriers are eligible for $4 billion in grants and $4 billion in loans. Treasury said airlines should apply for grants by April 3. American Airlines Holdings Inc intends to apply for up to $12 billion government aid, ensuring no involuntary layoffs or pay cuts in the next six months, executives said in a memo to employees. "We certainly hope and expect that by that time, the virus will be contained, Americans will be flying again and we will be back to flying a full schedule," Chief Executive Doug Parker and President Robert Isom said in the memo. In Australia, Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd said it was seeking a possible government loan of A$1.4 billion ($864 million) which could convert to equity under certain circumstances to help it weather the coronavirus crisis. Virgin's shares are tightly controlled by foreign airlines including Singapore Airlines Ltd , Etihad Airways and Chinese conglomerate HNA Group that have also seen a sharp deterioration in revenues. (Reporting by Jamie Freed in Sydney and Rachit Vats in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Lincoln Feast.) PHILIPPINE aviation officials on Monday, March 30, grounded all aircraft belonging to a company that owns a plane that caught fire while taking off from Manila's airport, killing all eight people on board. All of Lionair Inc.s aircraft will remain grounded during the investigation of the burning of its Westwind 24 plane late Sunday, March 29, they said. The plane had been used earlier to transport medical supplies for the coronavirus outbreak. Lionair, a Philippine-based charter company, is not related to Lion Air, an Indonesian low-cost airline. The twin-engine aircraft was on a medical evacuation mission when it caught fire. Two passengers from the US and Canada and six Filipino flight crew and medical personnel died when the Tokyo-bound plane burst into flames on the main runway, airport general manager Ed Monreal said. The fire prompted the closure of the airport's main runway and caused one international flight to be diverted. The aircrafts cockpit voice recorder has been recovered by investigators, officials said. Lionair leases executive jets, helicopters and turbo-propeller planes for domestic and foreign travel, including medical emergency flights. Lawyer Lester Ople, a spokesman for the company, said four planes and seven helicopters would be grounded and that Lionair would fully cooperate with the investigation. Ople said the evacuation was not related to the coronavirus. The Department of Health said Monday that Lionair has helped transport medical supplies, including ones used to fight the coronavirus outbreak, from Manila to central and southern provinces. The pilot and crew of the plane that caught fire at the airport had transported medical supplies to four provinces before they perished, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said. The Manila airport had only minimal staff due to air travel restrictions that are part of a month-long lockdown imposed by the government in the northern Philippine region of Luzon to fight the coronavirus outbreak, officials said. (AP) By Trend Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has condemned the terrorist attacks committed in Saudi Arabia, Trend reports referring to the official Twitter page of the Foreign Ministry. "We condemn the Houthi terror attack targeting the residential areas in the cities of Riyadh and Jazan in Saudi Arabia, the statement said. Azerbaijan expresses solidarity with and support to Saudi Arabia in its measures to maintain security, stability and territorial integrity of the country." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 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. The Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz in Nizamuddin West has emerged as a hotspot of coronavirus as 24 people tested positive for COVID-19 following which a major area has been sealed and an FIR lodged against its cleric for violating government orders. The police registered an FIR against Maulana Saad of the Nizamuddin centre under sections of Epidemic Disease Act and other sections of the Indian Penal Code for violating government orders on management of the markaz in relation to social, political or religious gathering. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said 24 people who attended the religious congregation at Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz earlier this month have tested positive for coronavirus, while 1,548 have been evacuated and 441 hospitalised after they showed its symptoms. After the matter came to light, the Centre and the Delhi government swung into action to trace people who attended the congregation. Six people from Telangana and one from Jammu and Kashmir, who attended the event, died due to coronavirus. The Centre said 2,100 foreigners visited India for Tablighi activities since January 1 and all of them first reported at Tablighi Jammat's headquarters in Nizamuddin. The Home Ministry also said a total of 303 Tablighi activists had symptoms of COVID-19 and were referred to different hospitals in Delhi. In a statement, the Home Ministry also said so far 1,339 Tabligh Jamaat workers have been shifted to Narela, Sultanpuri and Bakkarwala quarantine facilities, as well as to LNJP, RGSS, GTB, DDU Hospitals in Delhi and AllMS, Jhajjar (Haryana). The rest of them are being screened for coronavirus. In a digital press conference, Kejriwal said 1,107 people, who attended religious congregation in Nizamudddin West, have been quarantined. The Delhi Police has cordoned off a major area in Nizamuddin West. Tablighi Jamaat workers, both foreigners as well Indians, indulge in preaching tours or 'Chilla' across the country throughout the year. Various nationals, particularly from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan come for Tabligh activities. All such foreign nationals report their arrival at Tablighi Markaz at Banglewali Mosque in Hazrat Nizamuddin, Delhi and then they are detailed for 'Chilla' activities to different parts of the country, the Home Ministry said. While the Health Ministry said it was not the time to find faults and emphasised on implementing containment strategies, the arrangement of congregation, at a time when strict restrictions were in place in Delhi due to coronavirus, invited criticism. Kejriwal slammed the organisers of the gathering, saying it was "highly irresponsible" on their part to hold such an event at a time when thousands have died in other countries due to the pandemic. He said his government has already written to Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal recommending the registration of an FIR against the organisers and added any lapse in performance of the officers related to the case will not be tolerated and strict action will be initiated. AAP MLA Atishi sought strong action against Markaz authorities "who organised a 3-day religious gathering, with 1000s of people from March 13-15, when Delhi government orders had expressly forbidden gatherings or more than 200 persons on 13th March itself". She was joined by her party colleague and Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan who said on March 23, at midnight, he spoke to DCP (southeast) and ACP Nizamuddin that there were nearly 1,000 people stranded in and around the Markaz, then why did the police not make any arrangement to move them. The Markaz in a statement said it has not violated any provision of law and offered its premises for setting up a quarantine facility. The statement referred to the directive of the Delhi government to take legal action against the Markaz administration. "During this entire episode, Markaz Nizamuddin never violated any provision of law, and always tried to act with compassion and reason towards the visitors who came to Delhi from different states. It did not let them violate the medical guidelines by thronging ISBTs or roaming on streets," the statement said. It said when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the 'Janata Curfew' on March 22, the ongoing programme was discontinued immediately, but a large number of people were stuck in the premises due to the closure of railway services on March 21. "Before the Janta Curfew could be lifted at 9 pm, the Delhi chief minister announced lockdown of Delhi beginning at 6 am on March 23 till March 31, thereby further diminishing any chances of these visitors availing road transport for their journey back home," the statement said. The statement said around 1,500 people left the Markaz on March 23 by "availing whatever transport was available". On the evening of March 23, the prime minister announced a nationwide 21-day lockdown, the statement said, adding there was no option for Markaz Nizamuddin but to accommodate the stranded visitors with prescribed medical precautions. Residents of the area accused the administration and police of not heeding their complaints about a large number of people converging at the Markaz amid the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile, eight people from Kyrgyzstan, who attended the congregation at Nizamuddin, were found at Delhi's Bharat Nagar on Tuesday and quarantined, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 01:48:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The Group of 20 (G20) economies should work together to ensure stability in global industrial and supply chains, said Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan Monday. All parties should actively take measures such as reducing or removing tariffs, eliminating trade barriers and facilitating unfettered trade, Zhong said at a video conference on COVID-19 control attended by G20 trade and investment ministers. Zhong suggested the G20 economies should step up international cooperation on disease prevention and control supplies and protect the life and safety of people and medical workers in all countries. All parties should uphold an open environment for global collaboration, Zhong said, suggesting the parties keep their markets open and safeguard the multilateral trading system and oppose protectionism. At the meeting, ministers discussed the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and G20's response. The parties agreed that the pandemic is a tremendous shock to international trade and investment, and that the joint statement of the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit on COVID-19 should be implemented collectively. It was agreed that the parties should enhance coordination and cooperation and adopt open trade policies to reduce the impact on global supply chains, facilitate cross-border flow of goods and services and revive the confidence in growth of international trade. The meeting was chaired by Saudi Arabia, which holds the G20 presidency. After the meeting, the Statement of the Extraordinary G20 Trade and Investment Ministers Virtual Meeting on COVID-19 was issued. Amazon AMZN is making every effort to strengthen retail services in order to cater to customers amid the coronavirus pandemic. This is evident from the companys recent partnership with ride-hailing company Lyft LYFT. Per the deal, Lyft has asked its drivers to consider job opportunities at Amazon as means of additional income. These comprise delivery drivers, warehouse and shopper jobs. This tie-up seems to be a win-win situation for both the companies in this challenging situation where people are being asked to practice social distancing in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Lyft and its drivers have been impacted severely by slowdown in the demand for ride hailing services. Thereby, opportunities at Amazon will help these drivers in earning extra during this crisis situation. Notably, Amazon is paying $17 per hour for the warehouse and shopper jobs. Further, Lyft drivers are getting options to join as either Amazon Flex delivery driver or delivery service partner (DSP) driver. Meanwhile, with more warehouse workers and delivery drivers, the e-commerce giant will be able to meet the flurry of online orders it has been facing for past few weeks. This can be attributed to customers unwillingness to visit offline stores on fears of contracting the deadly virus. All these will help the company in sustaining customer momentum during this challenging situation. This, in turn, will help the stock in gaining shareholders confidence Coming to the price performance, Amazon has returned 8.8% over a year against the industrys decline of 1.8%. Amazons Retail Strategies to Combat Coronavirus Although Amazons delivery capacity remains constant, overflowing orders have been slowing down deliveries of groceries and other essential goods packages. We note that the company will be able to improve its delivery timings with the aid of Lyft drivers, which in turn will help it in managing disruptions caused by COVID-19 outbreak. Hence, the latest partnership remains a major positive. The company has taken other measures on the retail front apart from the latest move to combat this contagious virus. Its Whole Foods stores in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom, will dedicate an entire hour to serve only senior citizens in an attempt to keep them safe from crowd as they are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection. Additionally, Whole Foods stores are closing two hours earlier in order to sanitize the stores and restock the shelves. Further, the company has taken an initiative to bolster its Same-Day Delivery program by making same-day delivery service available in the cities of Philadelphia, Phoenix, Orlando and Dallas for Prime members. Further, the company has built mini-fulfillment centers, which are first of their kind buildings. Notably, the new facilities are located closer to customers, which is likely to help Amazon to reduce the number of hours taken to deliver orders via same-day delivery services. Additionally, Amazon has recently announced plans to hire 100,000 warehouse and delivery employees. Story continues Amazon.com, Inc. Revenue (TTM) Amazon.com, Inc. Revenue (TTM) Amazon.com, Inc. revenue-ttm | Amazon.com, Inc. Quote Retailers Ramping Initiatives With the current home-isolation scenario, not only Amazon but also other retailers like Walmart WMT, Kroger KR, Dollar General and Albertsons among others are also on hiring spree in order to cater well to the spiking customer demand. Notably, Walmart is looking to temporarily hire 150,000 workers across its stores, clubs and distribution centers. Moreover, the company has also rolled out an hour-long senior shopping event that will happen on every Tuesday across its over 5,000 stores in the United States one-hour prior to opening for general customers. Further, Kroger is also planning to hire 10,000 new workers. Dollar General has also announced plans to hire roughly 50,000 workers by April end. Meanwhile, Albertsons is employing 30,000 new employees. Nevertheless, Amazons strengthening retail endeavours to deliver better shopping experience to customers are likely to keep it ahead of the pack. Currently, Amazon carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020? Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys. Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Walmart Inc. (WMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Kroger Co. (KR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Virgin Australia has been placed in a trading halt as the airline battles to survive the coronavirus crisis. The airline, which was struggling financially before the pandemic, is expected to make an announcement later on Tuesday, after trading in the company was paused at 9.52am. Overnight it was revealed that Virgin Australia was seeking financial support from the federal government. Scroll down for video Passengers are seen waiting for a Virgin Australia flight in Perth on Monday The carrier, Australia's second biggest after Qantas, wants a rescue package of up to $1.4billion. Virgin Australia has confirmed it is seeking financial help but has not confirmed the amount or nature of potential bailout. It could involve the government becoming a part-owner. 'We have been in ongoing discussions with government about the support the whole industry will need if this crisis is prolonged,' a Virgin Australia spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday. 'Companies like ours are taking a range of measures to respond and manage the financial impact. 'However, the support we've proposed will be necessary for the industry if this crisis continues indefinitely, to protect jobs and ensure Australia retains a strong, competitive aviation and tourism sector once this crisis is over.' Virgin Australia has entered a trading halt as the airline struggles to make it through the coronavirus crisis. Flight attendants are seen in Hobart The government is currently considering the bailout, with Mr Scurrah recommending a package be made available to other airlines as part of a $5billion scheme, The Australian reported. Under the plan, the government would take an ownership stake in Virgin if the airline was unable to repay its debt within three years. Mr Scurrah said the situation is unprecedented after Virgin was forced to ground its entire fleet of 125 planes and stand down around 8,000 staff members without pay. 'There has never been a travel environment in Australia as restricted as the one we see today and the extraordinary steps we've taken have been in response to the Federal and State Governments' latest travel advice,' he said recently. Virgin Australia Holdings annual losses 2009: $160million 2011: $67.8million 2013: $98.1million 2014: $353.8million 2015: $93.8million 2016: $224.7million 2017: $185.8million 2018: $653.3million 2019: $315.4million Source: Virgin Australia Holdings annual reports showing the statutory net loss after tax for the full year Advertisement 'We are now facing what will be the biggest grounding of aircraft in this country's history.' Treasurer Josh Frydenberg declined to comment on any 'specifics', saying 'we support strongly, the aviation industry'. 'I've been in close contact with leaders of the business community including the aviation sector (Virgin boss) Paul Scurrah and (Qantas chief) Alan Joyce,' he told ABC radio. 'But we have already illustrated our commitment to having a viable, sustainable aviation sector with more than $700 million in fees being waived.' Mr Frydenberg said the transport of freight and people was important to the economy. 'We'll continue that dialogue with key stakeholders,' he said. Tom Youl, an aviation analyst with IBISWorld, told Daily Mail Australia earlier this month that Virgin Australia's high debt levels threatened the viability of the airline, which employed 9,800 people. 'If it continues to stretch on, the amount of debt they have, there is going to be a concern there,' he said. 'In terms of actual viability of the company, it is of concern.' A Virgin Australia spokeswoman however said at the time the airline 'strongly rejected' suggestions its future was at risk, citing the listed company's $1billion cash balance and the retention of the B+ S&P credit rating. The airline recently cut its workforce by 80 per cent and its capacity by 90 per cent. Global credit rating agency Fitch on Monday both put Virgin Australia on rating watch negative citing a drop in demand in the aviation market due to the coronavirus. Virgin CEO Paul Scurrah (pictured) made the request last week, telling the government the carrier didn't need the cash immediately, but it would if the pandemic continued beyond six months Virgin redundancies to top 1,000, CEO says Virgin Australia boss Paul Scurrah says more than 1,000 of the workers it stood down last week will probably be made redundant during the coronavirus pandemic. Virgin Australia had said it would suspend 8,000 of its 10,000 workers as it slashed domestic flights. Mr Scurrah last Thursday gave more detail to ABC TV and said: 'This is the worst airline crisis the world has ever seen.' All 8,000 affected staff have been encouraged to take leave, and consider leave without pay. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce (right) and Virgin Australia boss Paul Scurrah (left) Those to be made redundant could include pilots at Tigerair's Melbourne base. About 220 pilot jobs could go. About 500 crew and pilots in New Zealand could suffer the same fate, according to Virgin. Remaining workers are providing essential services such as transporting critical freight. Mr Scurrah said Virgin was talking to major employers about finding work for affected employees. The airline had already announced 750 layoffs late last year in a bid to turn around its flagging financial performance. Elsewhere in the travel industry, Qantas earlier this month stood down 20,000 of its 30,000 workers, while bookings agency Flight Centre says an initial 6,000 sales and support staff will either be stood down or made redundant. Another travel agency, Helloworld, said it will be sack 275 people and stand down another 1,300 workers. The federal government two weeks ago provided a $715 million rescue package for airlines, which will involve forgoing fuel excise, air service charges and regional security fees. Advertisement Virgin Australia last week accused its rival Qantas of spreading rumours it would collapse amid the coronavirus crisis. Both carriers have suspended international flights until mid-year. Virgin Australia complained to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission after Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce told Sky News it would be unfair for the government to effectively nationalise Virgin to stop it from being placed into administration. 'The government can't pick winners and losers,' Mr Joyce said on Friday last week. 'Whatever aid is given to one company has to be given to every company in that sector.' ACCC chairman Rod Sims confirmed Mr Scurrah had launched a complaint against Qantas, following Mr Joyce's comments. 'The complaint that we've had from Paul Scurrah is that Qantas is engaging in anti-competitive conduct, designed to damage Virgin as a competitor,' he told the ABC. 'We have to look at whether the behaviour has the purpose or the effect of substantially limiting competition.' 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-01 00:05:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MACAO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government on Tuesday reported three newly confirmed imported COVID-19 cases, taking the tally of all confirmed cases to 41. The 39th case is a nine-year-old female Macao resident returning from Manila on March 18 with her father and her brother. The 40th case is a 47-year-old female Macao resident and the 41st case is a 20-year-old male resident, who are mother and son. They took a flight from London to Hong Kong on March 26, and had a 14-day medical observation at home after entering Macao. The patients were sent to Macao's hospital of Centro Hospitalar Conde de Sao Januario for quarantine and treatment. A total of 31 patients currently in Macao have COVID-19 infection and have been kept in quarantine for treatment at local medical facilities. The 10 cases previously reported before March 16 were all discharged from the hospital after recovery. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 19:22:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Tuesday by 17 to 463, with the death toll rising to 12, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. A total of 35 people have recovered from the disease in Lebanon, NNA said. Lebanese hospitals previously said the number of coronavirus patients has been growing slowly for a lack of enough PCR tests for all suspected cases. The Lebanese government has implemented general mobilization since March 15 to curb the spread of the virus, and shut down malls, shops, gyms, bars and pubs. Qantas has complicated the Morrison government's decision on whether to bail out Virgin Australia by insisting it should be eligible for a support package three times as large to "level the playing field" and avoid distorting the market. The debt-laden and loss-making Virgin wrote to the government last week requesting a $1.4 billion loan to help it survive the coronavirus pandemic, which has devastated airlines globally. Qantas has told the government it does not want further financial support and is confident of seeing out the crisis on its own, according to a well-placed source with knowledge of discussions between the airline and government. Qantas boss Alan Joyce has been lobbying against government support for Virgin, saying last week that government should not help companies that "have been badly managed for 10 years" and that helping Virgin and not Qantas would be "completely unfair" on his airline. Credit:Renee Nowytarger However, the larger airline is insisting that if the government helps Virgin it wants to receive a similar package to avoid distorting the market and to "level the playing field". Qantas says the support should be proportional to the size of each business. Qantas revenue is three-times higher than Virgins, meaning it would want a $4.2 billion loan, the source said. The demand complicates the governments decision of whether or not to help Virgin because it significantly increases the amount it will have to deliver in an industry-wide package. Japanese automaker Toyota has announced it would halt production at its Vietnam factory as a Covid-19 safety measure. A restart date for production at the companys factory in the northern Vinh Phuc Province is yet to be determined, as it would depend on the pandemic's development, the supply chain situation, agencies' inventories, market demand and the government's decision. The Japanese joint venture said its decision to halt production starting Monday aimed to ensure the health of its employees, customers and partners as the Covid-19 pandemic was still developing in a complicated manner. Last Saturday, the company closed all 10 Toyota agencies and a Lexus showroom in Hanoi following the capital city's instruction to suspend all "non-essential" businesses and services as part of the country's fight against Covid-19. Toyota is the second automaker to halt production in Vietnam over the Covid-19 pandemic, following American automaker Ford's decision to temporarily close its factory in the northern province of Hai Duong starting last Thursday. Toyota currently distributes 14 product lines in Vietnam, most of them imported. However, the models with good sales in the country are those assembled domestically like Vios, Fortuner, Innova, Camry and Altis. Last year, Toyota was the best-selling car brand in Vietnam with 78,795 units sold, followed by TC Motor with 69,916 Hyundai cars. The third best-selling automaker was Thaco with 66,470 Kia, Mazda and Peugeot cars. Hollywood couple Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively has once again come forward to do their bit amid the coronavirus pandemic, this time by donating USD 400,000 to the worst-hit hospitals in New York. The development comes two weeks after duo gave away a sum of USD 100,000 to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada. According to E! News, Reynolds and Lively made a personal donation of USD 100,000 each to four hardest hit hospitals in New York including Elmhurst, NYU Hospital, Mount Sinai and Northern Westchester. Aviation American Gin, owned by the "Deadpool" star, also last week that they were starting a tab by donating USD 15,000 to the United States Bartender's Guild. They will be adding an additional 30 per cent tip for every bottle delivered through May 1, the brand added. "Do your part to #FlattenTheCurve while we Support Those Who Serve Us. #TipYourBartender," the company shared on Instagram. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Governments around the world cannot afford to neglect public health after the coronavirus pandemic, infectious disease expert Dr. Ian Lipkin told CNBC on Tuesday. "One of the things we need to learn from this is we have to invest in our public health infrastructure, invest in our science, invest in global surveillance so things like this never happen again," Lipkin said on "Closing Bell." "That's something we're not thinking about right now, but we should be doing so very soon, if not now," added Lipkin, who himself became sick with COVID-19. Lipkin, director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, said he "ironically" became infected with the disease in New York City through community spread. He had traveled to China earlier this year to consult with local health officials on their response to the coronavirus outbreak and self-quarantined for 14 days in February upon returning to the U.S. to be sure he was not sick. He said it was after his self-quarantine was over that he became ill, developing symptoms that include a "terrible headache" and a "persistent cough that I still have to this day." "It takes your breath away," said Lipkin, who worked on the 2003 SARS outbreak alongside the World Health Organization. "It's 12 days into this illness for me and my voice is abnormal. I'm still coughing and I don't have the usual energy level. But I did not require hospitalization, and I'm grateful for that," he added. The world is still very much dealing with the spread of COVID-19, which has now sickened more than 838,000 and led to more than 41,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. But Lipkin said he believes it has presented lessons that can potentially prevent futures pandemics, combined with increased public health investment. "Some of the things we've taken for granted in the past will no longer pertain," Lipkin said. "Some of these cultural things that we do, handshakes and kissing and so forth, may change but I don't think that this is necessarily a bad thing. You could even say that this prevents us from having future pandemics, future outbreaks." Oyo is a hotel booking startup. (Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Oyo, the $10bn (8bn) hotel booking startup, has furloughed the majority of its UK staff after the coronavirus pandemic led to a slump in bookings. Oyo told staff in an email this week that the majority of roles would be placed on furloughed leave for up to eight weeks. Oyo will take advantage of the recently announced government income support scheme, which will pay 80% of staff wages up to 2,500. Staff are being furloughed due to a sharp, recent downturn in our business as a result of the coronavirus outbreak across the globe, management wrote in an email. Oyo has placed the majority of roles within its UK workforce on furlough leave due to a temporary reduction in work available during the current Coronavirus crisis, a spokesperson told Yahoo Finance UK. This has been caused by the recent downturn in the overall hospitality industry. The impact has been felt not just by Oyo but by many other businesses across the country. Read more: SoftBank-backed $10bn hotel startup Oyo axes dozens of UK staff An insider estimated that around 200 of Oyos 300 or so staff would be placed on furlough. A spokesperson declined to comment on numbers. Oyos management said in an email to staff that some people would continue to work for the startup to maintain its UK operations, communication channels with customers and hotels, and drive process improvements. We are taking steps now to ensure we can continue to service our existing available portfolio and be in the best position to be able to retain staff in the future, when business returns to normal, a spokesperson said. We thank the UK government for helping businesses like ours ensure that people have an income during these challenging times. Ritesh Agarwal, founder and CEO of Oyo Rooms. (Richard Drew/AP) Oyo announced last week that it would keep some of its UK hotels open during the pandemic to provide accommodation for NHS workers and key workers at reduced rates. Rishabh Gupta, head of Oyo UK, said the rates would cover the minimum costs of keeping these hotels operational and was not an exercise in profitability. Story continues We are working with our hotel partners to offer such support and are grateful for their cooperation and willingness to adapt, a spokesperson said on Tuesday. Oyo and our partners have already made more than 2,000 rooms available for key worker groups. We are working to provide our hotels with as much support as possible during this difficult period. Oyo is in touch with local councils, NHS Trusts, government departments and more to offer assistance in any way it can. India-headquartered Oyo, which is backed by Japans SoftBank, was set up as a way to book budget Indian hotel rooms online but has rapidly expanded to become a global business. It partners with hotels to provide booking and revenue management software, in exchange for a cut of earnings. Read more: Oyo's UK chief of staff leaves after layoffs The company was founded in 2013 by then 19-year-old Ritesh Agarwal and was valued at $10bn as recently as last October. Oyo has had a difficult start to 2020, with thousands of layoffs around the world. Dozens of staff were let go in the UK and the executive who spearheaded the UK launch left in January. A key lieutenant of his also left in recent weeks. Oyo has signed up around 200 hotels in the UK, most of which are small and medium businesses. 47 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, including Indian public healthcare employee Changi General Hospital. Photo courtesy: I Sengkang on Wikimedia The Ministry of Health announced 47 new cases of COVID-19 in Singapore as of March 31, taking the total number of infections to 926. Of the new cases, 16 are imported with travel history to Australia, Europe, ASEAN and other parts of Asia. Eight of these had travelled to the United Kingdom with others travelling to Canada, Denmark and Indonesia. One long-term pass holder had travelled to Malaysia. Of the 31 local cases, 13 cases are linked to previous cases or clusters and 18 are unlinked with contact tracing underway, said an MOH statement. All but one of the new cases are Singaporeans or permanent residents. MOH also said that four of the newly confirmed cases (Cases 922, 924, 925 and 926) are linked to a previous case (Case 875), forming a new cluster at Westlite Toh Guan dormitory (18 Toh Guan Road East). Additionally, a 22 year-old male Indian national, who is a Long Term Pass holder with no recent travel history, has tested positive after reporting symptoms on March 29. He is employed as a housekeeper at Changi General Hospital (CGH) and is currently in an isolation room there. The MOH also announced the recovery of 12 more cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of those discharged to 240. Of the 423 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving. 22 are in critical condition in the intensive care unit. 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. Dear Editor: I would like to take this opportunity to thank postal employees for all their hard work in delivering mail and packages during this pandemic. They come to work every day and do their job delivering packages, medicines, letters, etc. A special thank you to my local post office, in West Hurley, for going above and beyond to find an important parcel that was misdirected. Joanne, the postmistress, actually stopped in Kingston on her way to work to pick it up so I could get it that day. Patti, the mail carrier, spoke to me on the phone and told me she had it and would deliver it that day. We should all be grateful for the excellent job the U.S. Postal Service is doing. Anne M. Hass West Hurley, N.Y. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are acting like 'spoilt defiant teenagers,' Prince Harry's biographer has claimed. Royal biographer Angela Levin has criticised the way Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, officially relinquished their duties on behalf on the Queen - adding that she 'barely recognises' Harry anymore. 'Their choice of priorities smacks more of spoilt defiant teenagers than adults in their mid and late thirties,' she said, speaking to Tatler. 'I see a Harry who has turned sour, callous even and is obviously stressed. Although I barely recognise him I still believe that internally he is tearing himself into shreds about leaving his family, his country and his military connections.' Royal biographer Angela Levin has claimed Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, are acting 'more of spoilt defiant teenagers than adults in their mid and late thirties.' Pictured, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend The Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall in London on March 7, 2020 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex along with their son Archie meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu in cape Town on September 25, 2019 Angela went on to explain how she thought the couple - who will officially step back as senior royals today - would be 'gracious and dignified' in doing so. However, she says instead, they decided to announce they have quit Commonwealth country Canada in favour of celebrity hot spot Los Angeles, and that Meghan has narrated Disney documentary, Elephants. Prince Harry's biographer also recalled the year she spent accompanying him on his engagements to write his biography in December 2017. Then newly engaged, she says he was 'charismatic, intuitive and quick-witted but also restless and troubled' - and says he assured her the former Suits actress understood the role she was marrying into. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, 38, who will drop the royal from their titles today after giving up their positions as senior members of the Firm, posted a message to their account on Monday evening Pictured, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attending the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 on March 9, 2020 in London But, she added: 'It is profoundly sad but true that with each week that passes Harry and Meghans behaviour is becoming increasingly self-centred.' It comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared their final post on the Sussex Royal Instagram account. The couple, who are rumoured to be living in Malibu with 10-month-old Archie, promised to continue their charity work behind the scenes, and revealed they were focusing 'the new chapter to understand how to best contribute'. Encouraging followers to be strong and positive amid the pandemic, they thanked fans for their support and said they looked forward to 'reconnecting soon', with the post reading: 'Thank you for your support, inspiration and commitment to the good in the world.' Only one Homeland character can win the title of Most Hated Season 8 Player. In past seasons, there have been undisputed wins by figures as diverse as CIA Director Andrew Lockhart (Tracy Letts) in season 4 and, further back, Dana Brody (Morgan Saylor), daughter to Nicholas. In the case of Brody (Saylor), weve learned that a good deal of ink (virtual and otherwise) was dedicated to hating the teen in her peak angst years (season 3). As for Lockhart (Letts), the characters slimy, treasonous ways did the trick. (Lockhart May Finally Get What He Deserves Bustle, 2014.) But in 2020 the dastardly Lockhart and obnoxious Brody feel like footnotes in the current struggles of Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes). These days, she has all sorts of new problems, and chief among them is Kabul CIA station chief Mike Dunne (Cliff Chamberlain). [Spoiler alert: Plot details through Homeland season 8 episode 8 follow.] While Dunne makes Carries life in Kabul miserable, actions by another figure back home have caused problems for the entire Middle East. That figure is John Zabel, the weasel of a presidential adviser played so well by Danes husband Hugh Dancy. Zabel is also in the running for season 8s most hateable character. Carrie knocked Mike Dunne from the 1st mention of his name (L-R): Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson and Cliff Chamberlain as Mike Dunne in HOMELAND, Two Minutes | Sifeddine Elamine/SHOWTIME You may recall when we first learned about Kabul station-chief Mike. While visiting Carrie in Germany (episode 1), Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin) mentioned problems negotiating a peace deal. Specifically, the chances for peace had plummeted when Afghan vice president Gulam began running his mouth. Saul wanted Gulam to walk back some comments, and he told Carrie he needed her help. After inquiring about the station chief and learning it was Mike, Carrie paused. What? Saul asked. Carrie snickered, then responded. You need an alpha to deal with an alpha, she said. Mikes not that. Following that introduction, viewers caught up with Mike in Kabul. He wasnt pleased about Carries arrival in the slightest, and hes done his best to thwart her activities for better or worse, we cant be sure ever since. But whats galling about Mike Dunne is his manner, and his scolding-uncle vibe from the moment Carrie got to the station. If hes not waiting in Carries room for her to come home at 3 a.m., Mike has her under surveillance and is pushing Saul to put her in the Kim Philby category. Again, viewers cant know if hes just doing his job, but we know hes not on Carries level (she gives his team the slip on multiple occasions) and that, unforgivably, Max died on his watch. John Zabel is equally hateable while more obviously malicious Hugh Dancy as John Zabel in HOMELAND, In Full Flight | Sifeddine Elamine/SHOWTIME If we cant be certain of Mike Dunnes intentions or (God forbid) his loyalty to American interests, its a different story with John Zabel, adviser to the weak President Hayes (Sam Trammell). Zabel wants old-fashioned aggression (i.e., war) in the Middle East. As David Wellington (Linus Roache) notes at one point, the world changed but Zabel has refused to do so. After idiotically cheering the death sentence of Haqqani, Zabel lets everyone know who he is. Its what that part of the world understands, he tells Hayes and Wellington. An eye for an eye, a punch in the f*cking nose. At that moment, Homeland viewers probably thought, Funny he should mention a punch in the nose. Indeed, Zabels face complete with his pasted-on, junior Abe Lincoln beard ranks among the most punchable in the shows history. So viewers face a conundrum in the final stretch for Homeland. Do you hate the chicken-hawk Zabel (a cross between Richard Spencer and Sebastian Gorka) or mediocre Mike Dunne? The last four episodes should settle things on this important front. Also see: Homeland Season 8 Episode 8 Recap: Carries Heart Breaks as Kabul Turns Into a Powder Keg 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 I have taught online for nearly 20 years. As an online professor at George Washington University, my courses continued through the 9/11 terrorist attacks, beltway snipers, Hurricane Isabel, the H1N1 virus, and Snowmaggedon. Even when I lost power and was stranded in my home, I charged my phone in my car and provided updates on our learning-management system from my smartphone. During these emergencies, however, the content was already developed and lectures scheduled to launch for the entire semester. Clearly, disruption of our daily lives is not unusual, and preparedness is important, but what we are all experiencing because of COVID-19 is unprecedented. These are not normal teaching and learning conditions. What we are experiencing now is emergency remote teaching and learningor as some have called it, pandemic pedagogy. See Also Coronavirus and Schools It takes a lot of time and effort to design and develop effective, engaging online education. There are already many naysayers noting how inferior online education is, but the truth is that it is not the medium that matters but the design of the learning experiences, the quality of the content, and the engagement of learners. Well-designed online education can be just as effective as face-to-face instruction. Educators suddenly thrust into emergency remote teaching do not have ideal conditions to offer well-planned, quality instruction. On top of that, we are all living through a pandemic with a great deal of uncertainty. Everyone is likely experiencing some levels of stress about the unknown (How long will this last? How will this work? Who will get sick/survive/die? How will this affect employment? Will the virus come back in waves?). So, how can schools across the country help bring high-quality remote education to all students during this pandemic? First and foremost, school leaders and teachers need to be clear that we are functioning in an emergency. There is no playbook for how to lead and teach remotely at this scale, but here are my suggestions for leaders and educators struggling to adjust: 1. Communicate frequently and honestly: Frequent, straightforward, and honest communication is essential. Not only does it address questions students and families might have, but it also gives assurance that you have a planeven if it is evolving. Also, ensure everyone knows when and how to access communications. Be sure to touch base with colleagues and students on a regular basis. Document any concerns and those with whom you need to loop back. 2. Prioritize needs: Establish short- and long-term priorities and steps to address them. There is a lot to be accomplished. Its critical to determine what needs to be done and by when. 3. Be flexible: We are functioning in uncharted territory. Many policies and practices that work in brick-and-mortar settings and even regular online classes may not apply. School leaders and teachers will need to be flexible and, in some cases, very creative. 4. Keep it simple: Although numerous companies are offering free subscriptions to a lot of content and technology tools, this is not the time to roll out new toolsunless there is no other option. 5. Establish routines and schedules: When a schools staff and students are distributed across many miles, it is important to establish schedules for virtual conferences, meetings, and communications. 6. Collaborate: School leaders should work with faculty and staff, as well as other school leaders. This is a unique opportunity to learn from and with one another, and not just within ones district or state. Many online communities have emerged on social media and in professional organizations. 7. Engage the whole school community in decisionmaking: When possible and relevant, include a diverse range of voices in decisionmaking; this will not only recognize their roles as part of the learning community but also foster buy-in. 8. Develop contingency plans: Leaders, teachers, staff, students, and their family members will get sick and be unable to meet their responsibilitiesand not only because of COVID-19. Technology will fail. Things will not always work as planned. Be sure to have contingency plans in place. 9. Practice, model, and promote well-being: School leaders and teachers well-being (and not just emotional and physical but also social and intellectual) are important. Practice, model, and promote overall well-being. 10. Pause, listen, reflect, and learn: We all have a great deal to learn from this pandemic. However, it is easy to blaze ahead without pausing or reflecting on lessons learned. What approaches supported the transition to emergency remote teaching and learning? What policies changed? How did stakeholders adapt? 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. More than 10,000 people have now joined the local fight against coronavirus. An appeal to bolster the health and social care workforce prompted a huge response in just 72 hours. The figures, revealed by the UUP Health Minister Robin Swann on Tuesday, showed an additional 2,000 had registered since Monday. The scheme was announced by the Department of Health at the weekend, with Mr Swann telling the public: "Northern Ireland needs you." At least 1,500 of the total registrations were made by clinical staff. The number of people signing up doubled from around 4,000 to over 8,000 within 48 hours of the scheme opening. The Department of Health plans to invite second-year nursing, midwifery and allied health professions, including physiotherapy, radiography and occupational therapy, to further support care delivery as part of the scheme. Non-clinical workers are also needed for paid employment, including as porters, catering staff, cleaning and domestic services staff. Mr Swann hailed the response as great news for Northern Ireland and thanked the public for stepping up to assist our health workers. One of the retired clinicians returning to help is Progressive Unionist Party councillor and retired GP Dr John Kyle (68). He told the Belfast Telegraph he felt "motivated" to sign up to the workforce, having stepped down from his east Belfast practice last year after 35 years in the profession. "I felt that I wanted to do my part," explained Dr Kyle. This is the right thing to do, and taking that approach, it's less fearful Dr John Kyle The councillor said that he had yet to find out what role he had been assigned, but he was aware that he was one of many clinical staff returning to the health service. He revealed that he had spoken with his wife Helen and his five grown-up children before making his mind up because he did not want to expose them to the virus. Frontline health workers have contracted the virus and one consultant in England has died because of it. Dr Kyle said: "My family are supportive. Some were concerned for me. For me, it's probably not wise to dwell on it too much. That's how I personally deal with things. "This is the right thing to do, and taking that approach, it's less fearful." Dr Kyle, a former interim leader of the PUP, said he had been heartened by the support his party had shown to his decision to register for the scheme. "I've also had messages of support from friends as well as the wider community," he added. "I've been inundated with kind words and I'm very grateful for that." Across the UK, more than 700,000 have signed up to an NHS campaign which will support the 1.5 million vulnerable people told to shield themselves from Covid-19. The Department for Communities is also co-ordinating a large-scale community volunteering operation, providing support to older and vulnerable citizens. This campaign is linking in with neighbourhood initiatives and work by the community and voluntary sector, faith groups and others. Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey revealed on Tuesday more than 1,000 people had signed up in less than a week. She said: "A partnership response between government and the voluntary and community sector has never been more important as we face a public health emergency in which there is a need to protect and support those vulnerable people across our communities. "I have established a voluntary and community sector emergencies leadership group which brings together experts in emergency planning and our most experienced grass roots leaders." This is what joined-up Government looks like - different departments working alongside each other and with the public to make a real difference in vital areas Robin Swann Last week Volunteer Now launched a new online campaign called #HelpEachOther to support those who wish to volunteer for Covid-19 opportunities. It will also assist organisations which require the support of volunteers to deliver their services to those who need it most. Mr Swann praised both schemes, saying: "It is impressive and encouraging that so many people are stepping forward, both for the HSC recruitment drive and the separate community volunteering opportunities. "This is what joined-up Government looks like - different departments working alongside each other and with the public to make a real difference in vital areas. "If you cannot join the ranks of the workforce or do volunteering work in your community, you can still make a huge contribution by sticking to the public health guidelines. "As a prominent doctor said this week, we can all be heroes." 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. A community support helpline for at-risk members of the public is being set up in Dublin to operate during the Covid-19 crisis. It will allow the elderly or vulnerable people to access deliveries of groceries, medicine, fuels and advice. THROUGH SM Foundation, SM is donating over P170 million toward the fight against Covid-19, surpassing its initial allocation of P100 million. This is to ensure that healthcare workers in hospitals nationwide are armored with personal protective equipment (PPEs) -- full protective suits (including for ICU use), face shields, gloves, N95 masks, surgical masks, goggles, and including raincoats as requested by some hospitals as back-up alternatives. The SM Group also wants to ensure that testing is made more widely available, by supporting and donating the local Manila Healthtek test kits developed by the UP-NIH team (upon DOH approval), providing the testing needs of RITM, and donating FDA-approved PCR kits sourced from Korea. The company has been providing ICU-grade ventilators to help hospitals manage patients with severe cases. Among the designated Covid-19 hospitals that received PPE donations as of March 27, 2020 are University of the Philippines PGH, Lung Center of the Philippines, Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, also to include the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), National Kidney and Transplant Institute, San Lazaro Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, National Childrens Hospital, and Rizal Medical Center. Other hospitals include Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Chinese General Hospital, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay (UERM) Memorial Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital, University of Sto. Tomas Hospital, Makati Medical Center, The Medical City, Ospital ng Muntinlupa, and more. Several shipments of PPEs are also on their way to provincial hospitals nationwide, including Rizal, Pampanga, Bataan, Quezon, Pangasinan, Catanduanes, Cebu, Iloilo, Samar, Tacloban, Surigao del Sur, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Marawi and Zamboanga, among others. SM has committed to be of service to the Filipino public, its hospitals, and its government, to help contain and overcome the Covid-19 crisis. (PR) The Finance Minister has been urged to go further to help firms recover from the impact of Covid-19 by introducing a 12-month holiday from rates. In his 2020/21 Budget, Conor Murphy said Northern Ireland would have 912m for the fight against coronavirus. Around 639m of the sum has already been allocated and around 100m will be used to fund a three-month rates holiday for businesses. But there was disappointment that the three-month hiatus was not extended to a year, as is the case for retail and hospitality firms in England. Other measures to help households cope with the impact of the virus include freezing the regional element of the domestic rate. First Minister Arlene Foster welcomed the Budget and its measures to help business, saying: "We are determined to do more in this area". Expand Close Conor Murphy Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Conor Murphy Mr Murphy said he had also reduced business rates by 12.5% - bringing a total reduction in rates of 18% when combined with the impact of Reval 2020, through which rateable values of commercial properties were reassessed. The Finance Minister said the reduction would "help with the economic recovery on the other side of this pandemic". Facing these challenges when society returns to normality within the funding we have available will require long-term planning, innovative thinking and difficult decisions Andrew Webb, economist He also renewed small business rates relief and the rural ATM scheme, which brought rates relief for ATMs in rural areas but had been suspended. There was a real-terms increase for all government departments of 8.1% to 12.2bn in resource spending - the biggest increase in about 10 years. But Andrew Webb, the chief economist of business advisory firm Grant Thornton, said difficult questions remained. "The many budgetary challenges that existed before the coronavirus changed everything - massive infrastructure deficits, increasing demands on health care, and struggling schools - remain to be addressed" he said. "Facing these challenges when society returns to normality within the funding we have available will require long-term planning, innovative thinking and difficult decisions." The budget also allocated 1.6bn in capital funding, of which 847m is for ministers to allocate to high-priority projects. Some 278.6m will go to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for farm support payments to replace EU support. In addition 558m will be given to the Department for Infrastructure and 295m to the Department of Health. Mr Murphy said the Budget had ultimately been "overshadowed by the unprecedented public health crisis we face". "There is no doubt that we remain in a challenging financial environment. Protecting lives and livelihoods from this pandemic is the Executive's number one priority," he explained. The Department of Health also receives 1m for the contaminated blood inquiry, while a further 37.5m goes to the historical institutional abuse inquiry. PwC NI tax director Craig Harrison said the measures would be welcomed by the business community, but added: "Any who hoped to hear of an extension to the three-month non-domestic rates holiday will be disappointed. It is important for Northern Ireland's future economic recovery that this is levelled up with the more generous 12-month break seen in other parts of the UK." Angela McGowan, the CBI Northern Ireland director, said many companies would breathe a sigh of relief at the cut in business rates but added that a 12-month rates break may ultimately be needed. Dr Patrice Cairns, policy manager at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors here, also said a longer rates holiday was required and suggested a period of at least six months. "Many high streets were struggling before coronavirus hit and will need extra help in the period when it is over," he added. Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI, welcomed the minister's decisions to restore rate relief on rural ATMs as well as the cuts in the regional rate and the renewal of the small business rates relief scheme. But he reiterated that a longer period of rates holiday was required. Aodhan Connolly, director of the NI Retail Consortium, said a year's break would be needed if high streets were to "weather the storm" of coronavirus. The Fatah Alliances veto power has revived fears that the process of forming a new Iraqi government, recently mandated to Prime Minister-designate Adnan Al-Zurufi, will soon break down again. The Fatah Alliance, the largest parliamentary bloc in Iraq, maintains that the mechanism used to appoint Al-Zurufi was unconstitutional, according to bloc leader Mohamed Al-Ghabban. If, as this suggests, Fatah is insisting that negotiations over the appointment of a prime minister-designate for Iraq are not over yet, Al-Zurufi may meet the same fate as the preceding designate, Mohamed Tawfik Allawi, who resigned after failing to win a vote of confidence in February. Although the Fatah Alliance has framed its opposition to Al-Zurufis appointment as a legal objection, observers believe it is also personal. A dual Iraqi-US national, Al-Zurufi is seen as being too close to the US and is not looked on favourably by political and security forces close to Tehran, such as the State of Law Coalition headed by former prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki and MPs aligned with the Iranian-backed Asaib Ahl Al-Haq (AAH) group. Analysts see two possible scenarios. One is that Al-Zurufi, who faces opposition from more than half of Iraqs 329 MPs, may be forced to resign as Allawi did earlier. According to local reports, Shia political forces are sharply divided over his appointment, and negotiations are still in progress between them. The Fatah Alliance, which has spearheaded the opposition to the prime minister-designate, appears to have a nominee of its own in mind and may be lobbying to rally support for him. The other possible scenario is a compromise solution in order to mend fences within the Shia political community. A recent spate of meetings in the home of Ammar Al-Hakim, leader of the National Wisdom Movement Coalition, is a sign of movement in this direction. However, even if this works, it still offers no guarantee that Al-Zurufi will succeed, as he would still have to overcome the major hurdle of having to satisfy the Shia political party quotas in his government. Although the appointment of a prime minister has become a Shia decision, with the Iraqi Kurds holding the countrys presidency and the Sunnis the position of speaker of parliament, Sunni and Kurdish views are nevertheless taken into account. The Kurds and a majority of Sunni forces had opposed Mohamed Tawfik Allawis appointment, whereas Al-Zurufi has obtained around 70 signatures of support from Kurdish and Sunni blocs. This suggests a significant shift in parliamentary custom, as until recently the Kurdish/Sunni approval of the Shia choice for the premiership had been virtually automatic. For example, the Kurds and Sunnis approved of the choice of outgoing prime minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, just as the Shia forces approved of the Sunni choice of Mohamed Al-Halbousi as speaker of parliament. The current parliamentary dilemma is a function of numerous complicating factors, some of them relatively new. The first is what has been described as the Shia rift. Analysts agree that three months of disputes and negotiations between the Iraqi political forces in order to form a new government is not a manifestation of healthy political diversity as much as a sign of a fundamental and multidimensional structural problem. A major component of this has to do with the sectarian quota system that Iraqs Shia forces see as a historical gain and are therefore resistant to moves to change. But another component involves calculations related to the balance of power between the Shia forces. The Fatah Alliance, the largest and most influential bloc, sees itself as kingmaker in the selection of the prime minister and is determined to assert its prerogative in this regard. However, the most critical factor at the heart of the rift is Iraqs relationship with Iran and the Iranian agenda in Iraq now and in the future. The dilemma also intersects with other political developments in complex ways. First and foremost is the youth protest movement in Iraq that forced the last government to resign. Despite the current lull in this movement that erupted last autumn owing to the Covid-19 crisis, it remains a major factor in political calculations. The heightened tensions between Iran and the US following the assassination of the Iranian Al-Quds Force commander Qassem Al-Soleimani in Iraq have also had a crucial impact in feeding the Shia rift, as evidenced by the opposition to Al-Zurufis premiership by the Fatah Alliance, the State of Law Coalition, the Asaib Ahl Al-Haq and the Badr Organisation (formerly the Badr Corps). There has also been considerably speculation over the position of the senior Shia religious establishment in the city of Najaf with respect to Al-Zurufis nomination as prime minister. Some politicians said that the religious authorities had opposed the US embassys candidate. However other sources stated that senior Shia clergy in Najaf do not wish to meddle in the choice of the prime minister. However, this does not mean that the clergy are not a decisive factor at some level, especially given their influence. They are known, for example, to have supported most of the positions of the demonstrators in the recent uprising. The government that Al-Zurufi has been assigned to form is only a transitional one that will be tasked with certain limited functions, and this epitomises the strains between the political forces and alliances in Iraq at this time. It also helps to explain much of the polarisation and intransigence that is going on at present, as the work of this government will shape the political process in Iraq in the forthcoming period. Essentially, the contention is over how and to what extent the next government will be able to change the political rules that have taken root in Iraq over the two decades since the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime. There remains the question of legitimacy. The controversy over the role of the president, the Fatah Alliances possible recourse to legal action to challenge the constitutionality of the selection of Al-Zurufi, and the controversy over the functions of the current acting government are all likely to cast a long shadow extending well beyond the appointment of Al-Zurufi. In view of these and other complicating factors, the process of forming a new government in Iraq appears slated to drag on for the foreseeable future. In addition, the coming months may also pack in some further surprises that could not have been anticipated due to rapid developments in the region and the world, especially with respect to US-Iranian tensions and how they play out in Iraq. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Naspers has committed R1.5 billion in emergency aid to the governments response to the COVID-19 crisis. The group will contribute R500 million to the Solidarity Response Fund announced last week. In addition, Naspers will buy R1-billion worth of personal protective equipment and other medical supplies from China. This will be done in partnership with the Chinese government and Tencent to support South Africas health workers. The details of the personal protective equipment and other medical supplies are being finalised together with local South African authorities, partners, and supply networks in China. By working with government and civil society we want to help our country overcome this very difficult period, said Naspers South Africa CEO Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa. We hope this combination of support will help to make a difference in South Africas response to COVID-19, she said. Naspers CEO Bob van Dijk added that they realise these are tough times which require dramatic action. Naspers is contributing to the measures underway in South Africa. We want to thank the government of China and our partner Tencent for their solidarity, he said. Patrice Motsepe pledges R1 billion On Saturday the Motsepe family and associated companies pledged R1 billion to assist with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Several hundred million rand will immediately be made available with the primary objective of saving lives and slowing and restraining the spread of the coronavirus, said Patrice Motsepe. We are purchasing sanitisers, disinfectants, and personal protective equipment, he said. They are also in discussions with the government and health workers to assist with acquiring further equipment and making resources available to deal with the pandemic. Motsepe said relevant organisations will provide water to poor communities by purchasing water tanks, drilling and equipping for borehole water, and building sanitary facilities. In addition, the organisations will help build classrooms, computer centres, and laboratories to assist students. The Rupert and Oppenheimer families have also donated R1 billion each to the Solidarity Response Fund. Now read: Patrice Motsepe pledges R1 billion to fight coronavirus The corporate regulator is examining whether Qantas breached the law and engaged in false or misleading statements about rival Virgin Australia which could have influenced moves in the share prices of both airlines. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission probe follows earlier allegations that Qantas spread rumours to the media that Virgin was running out of cash and had appointed Korda Mentha as its administrators. Virgin boss Paul Scurrah. Credit:Peter Braig ASIC on Tuesday told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age it had been in contact with Virgin to make inquiries about the allegations but declined to comment any further. Virgin confirmed it had been contacted by ASIC on the matter and "have provided them with information as requested". The ASIC probe comes amid escalating tensions between the nation's two largest airlines, and as the travel bans caused by the coronavirus pandemic ground planes and force many carriers to seek government bailouts. There was bad news on Monday for states trying to use the coronavirus pandemic to halt abortions: Two federal judges ruled that pretextual pretexts are just pretexts. Clinics in Ohio and Texas will remain open, at least for the time being. As my colleague Christina Cauterucci reported last week, Republican governors in both Ohio and Texas tried opportunistically to halt abortions in their states by claiming that the procedures are not-essential and that states should redirect personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves, away from clinics so they can better serve coronavirus patients. Of course, women actually need abortion services even more during such crises, clinics dont use most of the essential medical equipment necessary to fight the virus, and most abortions are time-sensitive procedures that cant be delayed indefinitely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas and Ohio werent alone, though. Iowa, Mississippi, Alabama, and Oklahoma had all recently moved to suspend abortion access using the same excuses. The Texas guidance, which was particularly draconian, would have applied to any type of abortion that is not medically necessary to preserve the life of the mother, and violations would include a $1,000 fine or up to 180 days in jail. Meanwhile, Ohios deputy attorney general, Jonathan Fulkerson, had sent letters to a handful of abortion clinics accusing them of violating the Ohio order, but the clinics had replied that they were in compliance and continued to perform procedures. On Monday, a coalition that included Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and the Center for Reproductive Rights brought challenges in Alabama, Iowa, Ohio ,and Oklahoma, seeking to halt the coronavirus abortion bans. Last week, Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights sued Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Two of these suits have already paid dividends. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel lifted Texas restriction on abortion just a few hours before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett enjoined Ohio officials from implementing their ban. In his opinion judge Yeakel, a George W. Bush appointee, found that Texas attempt to shut down abortions would cause irreparable harm to abortion clinics and their patients, and rested his decision in the constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy: Regarding a womans right to a pre-fetal-viability abortion, the Supreme Court has spoken clearly. There can be no outright ban on such a procedure, Yeakel wrote. This court will not speculate on whether the Supreme Court included a silent except-in-a-national-emergency clause in its previous writings on the issue. Yeakel added that: Advertisement Advertisement The benefits of a limited potential reduction in the use of some personal protective equipment by abortion providers is outweighed by the harm of eliminating abortion access in the midst of a pandemic that increases the risks of continuing an unwanted pregnancy, as well as the risks of traveling to other states in search of time-sensitive medical care. Advertisement Advertisement Judge Barrett, also a Bush appointee, made substantially the same finding, writing: The law is well-settled that women possess a fundamental constitutional right of access to abortions. If a healthcare provider determines, on a case-by-case basis, that the surgical procedure is medically indicated and cannot be delayed, based on the timing of pre-viability or other medical conditions, said procedure is deemed legally essential to preserve a womans right to constitutionally protected access to abortions. Barrett found that enforcement of the Ohio directive would create a substantial obstacle in the path of patients seeking pre-viability abortions, thus creating an undue burden on abortion access. Judges overseeing the remaining state challenges will rule soon enough, but for the moment its heartening to learn that the federal judiciary, including judges appointed by Republicans, do not appear willing to fall prey to the dangerous myth that holds that national emergencies are by definition an excuse for opportunists to curb random fundamental freedoms simply because the word emergency is deployed. 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 With just three persons testing positive to novel coronavirus in the last 15 days from March 15, the Odisha government on Tuesday thanked its citizens for going by lockdown norms and made it clear that there will be no relaxation at least for another fortnight. The state could restrict the coronavirus positive cases at three because of the sacrifice and patience of people, mostly youths. Thanks all for that, Odisha governments chief COVID-19 spokesperson Subroto Bagchi said. Bagchi also said, We cannot be complacent because we just have three coronavirus positive cases. If not careful, it will spin out of control. He pointed out that the country reported 180 new positive cases in the last 24 hours. It is good to hear that Odisha has not reported any new case since March 26, but the figure may increase if we do not keep us at our house and follow the lockdown norms, he said. To drive home his point, Bagchi compared Puris population density with New York City, the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak in the US. He said the density of population in Puri and New York is 10,000 people per square km. High population density helps in spreading the disease. Therefore, people here should maintain maximum restrain, he said. Things went out of hand in New York but contained in China because the latter had announced a lockdown and its people cooperated with the government, Bagchi said. Bagchi, on behalf of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, appealed to the people to continue social distancing, practice homestay and abide by the lockdown norms for at least another fortnight to bring a change. Everything depends on us. If we sacrifice our comfort for another 15 days, things will certainly improve, he said. Meanwhile, Odishas Health and Family Welfare Minister N K Das said that the COVID 19 sample test facility has been started in SCB Medical College & Hospital in Cuttack. Now there are three test centres in Odisha, he said. The state government is trying to set up two test units also, the minister said. Speaking about the economically weaker sections of society the state's chief COVID-19 spokesperson Subroto Bagchi said the destitute and helpless people are being provided with cooked food in gram panchayats and urban areas. On Tuesday, around 1,75,385 people in 4,338 gram panchyats and 14,383 people in 114 urban local bodies state have been provided cooked food, Bagchi said. He said workers from other states stranded in Odisha have been provided with shelter and food. Till Tuesday evening, about 19,838 workers have been taken care of in 276 temporary camps. A 24-hour helpline number - 18003456703, has been set up to facilitate these people, he said. This apart, the state has identified 377 quarantine centres with 32,538 beds in 114 urban local bodies in the state, he added. Stating that the government has come to know that some ambulances are being misused by the drivers, Bagchi said that in 24 hours from Monday morning, the police has registered 209 cases for violations of regulations and guidelines related to COVID-19. This includes 198 cases for violation of the lockdown, two cases for violation of home quarantine and nine cases for violation of other issues, he said. While giving health update, he said up to Tuesday noon, 473 samples have been tested of which three tested positive for COVID-19. The 55 contacts of the first two positive cases are being tracked while 112 contacts of the third case have been identified. A total of 57 persons have been kept in isolation in various hospitals, Bagchi said. He also said a total of 11,575 persons have registered themselves through online and through the 104 health helpline. Out of these 4,304 persons have come from abroad, Bagchi said. Meanwhile, a report from Balasore said the police arrested a 26-year-old youth for allegedly circulating false information on the social media related to restrictions during the lockdown period. The accused has been arrested under various sections of the IPC, an officer of the Balasore district police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lokelma recommended for approval in EU for patients with hyperkalaemia on stable haemodialysis Details Category: Small Molecules Published on Tuesday, 31 March 2020 09:54 Hits: 2653 Label update is based on data from Phase IIIb DIALIZE trial LONDON, UK I March 31, 2020 I The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion on a dosing and administration label update for AstraZenecas Lokelma (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate) to include patients with hyperkalaemia on stable haemodialysis. The recommendation was based on data from the Phase IIIb DIALIZE trial, which showed a significant reduction in potassium levels pre-dialysis for patients receiving Lokelma, compared with placebo.1 Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, said: Despite being on dialysis, many patients with renal disease still have high potassium levels, which can be life-threatening if left untreated. This recommendation underscores the clinical value that Lokelma could provide to physicians and patients who are looking to normalise potassium levels between dialysis sessions. In DIALIZE, 41% of patients receiving Lokelma maintained pre-dialysis potassium levels on at least three out of four dialysis treatments after the long interdialytic interval and did not require urgent rescue therapy. This compared with 1.0% of patients receiving placebo, making it a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement. The safety profile of Lokelma observed in DIALIZE was consistent with previous trials.1 Lokelma is a highly selective, oral potassium-removing agent currently approved in the US, EU, Canada, Hong Kong, China, Russia and Japan for the treatment of hyperkalaemia. Hyperkalaemia Hyperkalaemia is characterised by high levels of potassium in the blood, generally classified as greater than 5mmol/l.2 Many people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have hyperkalaemia despite being on haemodialysis and often experience fluctuations in their potassium levels.3,4 Patients with high variability in potassium levels between dialysis sessions are at significant risk of arrhythmias which can lead to cardiac arrest.3 Hyperkalaemia occurs in 23% to 47% of patients with CKD and/or heart failure with an estimated 700 million and 64 million people, respectively, living with each condition worldwide.5,6 DIALIZE DIALIZE is the first ever randomised, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate a potassium binder in patients on stable haemodialysis. The Phase IIIb, multicentre, double-blinded trial investigated the efficacy of Lokelma versus placebo in 196 patients on haemodialysis with hyperkalaemia. Patients were randomised to receive Lokelma or placebo once daily on non-dialysis days for a treatment period of eight weeks. This included a four-week dose adjustment phase (starting at 5g and titrated weekly in 5g increments up to a maximum of 15g) and a four-week evaluation phase on stable dose. The full results of the DIALIZE trial were published in September 2019 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Lokelma Lokelma is an insoluble, non-absorbed sodium zirconium silicate, formulated as a powder for oral suspension, that acts as a highly selective potassium-removing medicine. It is administered orally, is odourless, tasteless and stable at room temperature. It has been studied in three double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials and in one 12-month open label clinical trial in patients with hyperkalaemia. AstraZeneca in CVRM Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) together forms one of AstraZenecas three therapy areas and is a key growth driver for the Company. By following the science to understand more clearly the underlying links between the heart, kidneys and pancreas, AstraZeneca is investing in a portfolio of medicines to protect organs and improve outcomes by slowing disease progression, reducing risks and tackling comorbidities. The Companys ambition is to modify or halt the natural course of CVRM diseases and potentially regenerate organs and restore function, by continuing to deliver transformative science that improves treatment practices and cardiovascular health for millions of patients worldwide. AstraZeneca AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, and Respiratory. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on Twitter @AstraZeneca. Contacts For details on how to contact the Investor Relations Team, please click here. For Media contacts, click here. References 1. Fishbane S et al. A Phase 3b, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate for Reducing the Incidence of Predialysis Hyperkalemia. J Am Soc Nephrol 2019. 2. Kovesdy CP. Management of hyperkalaemia in chronic kidney disease. Nat Rev Nephrol. Nov 2014; 10:653-662. 3. Kovesdy CP. et al. Serum and Dialysate Potassium Concentrations and Survival in Hemodialysis Patients. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2007:2:999-1007. 4. Evans KJ, Greenberg A. Hyperkalemia: A review. J Intensive Care Med. 2005;20:272-290. 5. Vos T et al. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 19902016: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet 2017; 390(10100):121159. 6. James SL et al. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 19902017: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet 2018; 392(10159):1789858. SOURCE: AstraZeneca The Austin Public Health Department is investigating a cluster of positive COVID-19 cases involving a large group of young adults returning from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. About a week and a half ago, approximately 70 people in their 20s departed in a chartered plane for a Spring Break trip. Some of the group returned on separate commercial flights. Stay up to date on the latest coronavirus news with mySA.com: Austin Public Health said 28 young adults on the trip have tested positive for COVID-19 and dozens more are under public health investigation. Four of the confirmed cases did not present any symptoms. Austin Public Health and UT Health Austin and University Health Services have made contact with every spring breaker on board the plane using flight manifests from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 28 confirmed cases are self-isolating at this time. Others are under quarantine while being monitored and tested. The Department of State Health Services has been notified. While Mexico at the time of the group's travel was not under a federal travel advisory, the public health agency said Austin-Travis County residents should follow CDCs travel recommendations indicating travelers avoid all non-essential international travel. "A leisure vacation of any kind is not considered essential," Austin Public Health said in a statement. Officials said nearly half of those testing positive for COVID-19 in Austin-Travis County are between the ages of 20 and 40. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Symptoms of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, typically include a dry cough, fever and shortness of breath. But evidence is beginning to emerge from other countries and now from the UK that sudden loss of smell (also known as anosmia or hyposmia) and in some cases, taste is an early indication of COVID-19. So far, there is currently no hard evidence on this, although many have taken to social media to report smell loss alongside other COVID-19 symptoms. As yet, it has not been listed by Public Health England or on the NHS website as an official symptom to look out for. But in this rapidly evolving situation, this may change. So why is it that people are reporting a loss of smell and taste from SARS-CoV-2? First, its worth clarifying that when we eat, we smell and taste together. Try pinching your nose when you eat and see what your food tastes like. Youll find that the only things you will detect are if the food is salty, sweet, sour, bitter or savory. This is because these elements of flavor come from the taste buds on the tongue. Losing the smell of food leads many people to think their taste has gone when in the vast majority of cases it will be intact. Smell loss can be caused by many things, including swelling in the nose and sinuses (such as chronic sinusitis), head injury, and nerve disorders (such as Parkinsons disease). In some cases, no cause is found. Loss of smell because of a viral infection, such as the common cold, is the second most common cause of smell loss and accounts for about 12% of all cases of anosmia. These episodes typically happen when the virus infects the nose, giving rise to the usual cold symptoms, including a blocked or runny nose. Your sense of smell usually comes back once symptoms subside. But sometimes even when other symptoms disappear, your sense of smell doesnt return or in some cases its reduced (hyposmia), or is distorted (parosmia). In these cases, the virus has damaged the smell receptors causing them to lose the fine, hair-like endings that allow them to pick up smell molecules from the nasal mucus. Previous studies have looked at which viruses cause this condition and many have been implicated, including the coronavirus family of which COVID-19 is a member. Permanent loss? With COVID-19, however, there is a somewhat different infection pattern to other viral upper respiratory infections. First, smell loss may be the only symptom, and indicates someone who seems otherwise well or has only very mild symptoms could be a carrier of the disease. Some people with this symptom appear to be younger under 40 years of age. The fact that it has been reported in health care workers, too, suggests that COVID-19s ease of transmission from the nose is because the viral shedding (when the virus reproduces) is highest there and even more so in severe cases. Those who have been affected also report that sensory loss comes back within seven to 14 days. A virus usually enters the body by implanting itself and infecting host cells throughout the body, such as in the airways or the gut, then reproducing. SARS-CoV-2 is believed to enter the nasal tissues through the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor though further research is needed to confirm whether this is the case. This protein is abundant in the nose, although the function of it is not clear. By entering the nose through this protein, it may cause temporary damage to the smell nerves. However, this damage appears to get better within one to two weeks after the onset of the disease. Though most people who have reported this symptom get their sense of smell back, its still too early to tell how many people may be left with more permanent smell loss after the virus has passed. An international group of sense experts has been established to try and collect worldwide data on this issue, and determine the extent to which COVID-19 causes smell loss. If current trends continue as the weeks roll by and the pandemic peaks around the globe, we expect that people reporting smell loss will only increase in number. Smell loss as a first warning sign could be important in further preventing the spread. _____ Ling Mao et al. 2020. Neurological Manifestations of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective case series study. medRxiv, doi: 10.1101/2020.02.22.20026500 Author: Carl Philpott, professor of rhinology and olfactology at the University of East Anglia. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Our Divisions Copyright 2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. Mr. Tarr left his mark on every aspect of the trumpet world. As a player he set new standards of lyricism on an instrument long associated with military bravado. As a scholar he hunted for rarities in European archives and created performance editions of hundreds of newly discovered works. He wrote the definitive history book on the instrument, and he led the revival of the 18th-century valveless trumpet played in period-instrument ensembles. The New York Times Kerala: Fishing harbours slip into silent slumber by Manoj Viswanathan March 31,2020 | Source: The New Indian Express The fishing harbours across the state wear a deserted look as the fishing community has stopped venturing into the sea. The harbours that used to bustle with activity have slipped into slumber. Mechanised and country boats lie anchored near the harbour in long rows. It is another season of misery for the fishing community. The traditional fishermen and the mechanised boat owners have voluntarily decided to stop the fishing operations in view of the lockdown. As the seafood exports have also come to a grinding halt, the sector is witnessing a total shutdown. The mechanised boat owners were forced to stop fishing operations two weeks ago as most of the workers from Tamil Nadu returned to their native places in view of the Coronavirus threat. The traditional fishermen decided to wind up fishing operations in Tuesday after the government announced a complete lockdown. Most of the traditional fishermen had stopped venturing into the sea in view of the depleting fish stocks in the coastal sea. A single days fishing expense comes to Rs 25,000 and most of the boats dont get enough catch to meet the expenses, said Traditional Fishermen Co-ordination Committee secretary PB Dayanandan. There are around 1.41 lakh fishermen in the state and around 5 lakh people depend on the sector for their livelihood. We have urged the chief minister to announce a compensation package for the fishing community and provide a monthly compensation of Rs 5,000 to each fisherman. All fishermen families should be provided free ration and medical aid, demanded Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Aikya Vedi president Charles George. The fishing industry is in deep peril as seafood export companies have been hit hard by crisis. Most of the exporters are holding stocks and payment to boat owners has been delayed. Ice plant owners, boat workshops, auctioneers and other stakeholders are also feeling the pinch, said All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators Association general secretary Joseph Xavier Kalappurackal. Exports We had dispatched consignments to China, Vietnam, the US and Europe during the past week. However, most of these consignments have not received clearance certificate, which has landed us in deep trouble. We have sent a representation to the Union Commerce Minister seeking immediate intervention to avoid rejection of the consignments, said Seafood Exporters Association of India Kerala region president Alex K Ninan. The bulk of our seafood exports is to South-East Asian countries, China and Europe. We will ensure that the relief announced by the government is extended to the fishermen, said Fisheries deputy director Maja Jose. Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong sees display products using QD-LED technology installed in a demo room at Samsung Display's plant in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, in this March 19 file photo. Korea Times file By Kim Yoo-chul Samsung will exit the saturated traditional liquid crystal display (LCD) market with the aim of taking the lead in the quantum dot light-emitting display (LED) sector that uses technology relying on advanced "QD-LED" material. "Samsung Display plans to suspend the operation of the firm's LCD plants both in South Korea and China until the end of this year. Employees have been notified and briefed on the details and specifics relating to the closure of the LCD facilities," a company official said Tuesday. "The suspension of the LCD plants means a shift toward developing profitable and promising advanced displays which are considered the next panel iteration. QD-LEDs, foldable OLEDs and QD-nano displays (QNED) will be the next tech that Samsung will spend money on, replacing conventional LCDs," a person familiar with the matter added. During a briefing, the display affiliate of Samsung Electronics, presented a detailed roadmap of why QD-LED mattered with regard to keeping the company's display business ahead of the field. Employees at its LCD plants will be reassigned tasks relevant to the development of QD-based displays. The number of people working at Samsung Display's LCD plants was about 3,000. "After the briefing, Samsung Display sent a letter to all company employees. The letter said business conditions in the LCD industry were rapidly worsening due to a significant influx of Chinese manufacturers. It said the decision to exit the LCD business was because of the need to move forward with new technology focusing on QD-LEDs." Regarding the possibility of completely closing its LCD business, Samsung Display spokesman Y.W. Cho said; "Samsung Display will stop producing LCDs from next year as the company will prioritize producing large-sized displays using next-generation QD technology." Samsung plans to invest up to 13 trillion won ($11 billion) by 2025 to build a plant capable of manufacturing "true QD-LED" screens that are self-illuminating. QD technology mainly relies on indium phosphide instead of toxic cadmium, and can produce a panel lifetime of up to a "million hours." The improved shell design of panels appears to increase their efficiency by preventing oxidation and energy leaks. Unlike its chief rival LG, which is betting on heavily organic LEDs or OLEDs, Samsung is now relying exclusively on the "QD-LED" brand though it still puts LED backlights behind a filter. Businesses that operate on a thin profit margin often find themselves in a constant struggle to maintain this. Because of oversupply and worsening profitability, as demand for LCD panels for low-end smartphones and TVs slowed, prices were falling, and this obviously impacted Samsung's bottom line. Its LCD facilities in Suzhou, China, could possibly be sold to Chinese LCD manufacturers. Samsung Display owns 60 percent of the plant, followed by the Suzhou regional government with 30 percent and Chinese LCD manufacturer CSOT with 10 percent. Samsung Electronics, the world's largest TV manufacturer, plans to procure conventional LCD panels from Chinese or Taiwanese suppliers after Samsung Display's decision. The exit of the leader in the sector bodes well for BOE, CSOT and Taiwan's Innolux which are Samsung Electronics' sourcing partners for LCDs used in its mid-tier TVs. Easton Hospital, owned by a portfolio company of Cerberus Capital Management, secured $8 million from the State of Pennsylvania in a last-minute bailout to keep the facility's doors open. Through June, the state funding commitment would total $24 million. Why it matters: It's very welcome news that a hospital won't close in the midst of a pandemic, but it also reflects pretty indefensible behavior by Cerberus. To be sure, Easton Hospital is unprofitable and had been negotiating for months to be acquired by a larger local rival. Under normal circumstances, it would make sense for Cerberus and portfolio company Steward Health Care to wind things down. But this is a national emergency, and Cerberus, its billionaire CEO, and very wealthy partners could have stepped in to help save lives. Plus, Cerberus and Steward both knew that federal aid to hospitals was on the way. The bottom line: "Its hard to believe that Easton Hospital could have sat vacant in the coming months shedding 700 jobs in the process as the rest of the Lehigh Valley scurried to free up every room, ventilator and medical staffer to try to save lives." The Express-Times editorial board Go deeper: Small hospitals worry about getting bailout money quickly Update: After this story was published, Cerberus sent Axios the following statement: Cerberus is working around the clock to support companies around the world as they protect their employees and serve their customers and communities during this pandemic. Steward Health Care is no different. We support the companys decision to continue working constructively with the State of Pennsylvania, as it has been doing for months, in order to continue serving the Easton community. We recognize and are deeply appreciative of the critical work Steward Health Care and its 42,000 team members are doing on the front lines, serving over 800 communities across more than 35 hospitals. Submitted photo Deer Park Chamber of Commerce President Tim Culp has announced his resignation from that group effective this Thursday after accepting a position as vice president of community relationship for aerial data and automated drone company Airobotics. This was not an easy decision, said Culp, who has been with the chamber since 2010. I absolutely love everything about this job. I have and have had an amazing staff. County School officials said Monday that the coronavirus has dealt a blow to the upcoming budget just as it was in the final stages of preparation. Brent Goldberg, finance director, said the economic downturn will mean no pay increases for the upcoming year except for step increases. He said the schools will continue with a 2.5 percent pay raise announced in February, however. Mr. Goldberg said the schools have been trying to get to $15 an hour for classroom support personnel. However, he said the best that can be done is a move to $12 an hour in 2021 and $13 and hour in 2022. He also said the school system has aggressively been pulling millions of dollars out of surplus operating funds for school maintenance needs, but that is coming to an end. He said the system appears to be limited to $3 million per year. Last year, some $15.2 million was put into maintenance, bringing the total to $40 million in three years. It has been $90 million in 10 years, it was stated. Mr. Goldberg said it now appears that the county schools "will be getting $3 million to $4 million less in BEP money (from the state) than we thought just a couple of weeks ago." He said the schools are getting a bump from a rush of buying in some sectors now, but it is expected that sales tax collections for the schools over the upcoming fiscal year will be down $1 million. Mr. Goldberg said the system will likely hire some additional teachers due to enrollment increases, but he said there would be "no other staffing changes." He said the health clinics and pharmacies would be opening this summer and should eventually bring cost savings. In a School Board meeting that was conducted via the Zoom ap with school officials and board members at their homes or offices, Supt. Bryan Johnson said, "We're on the tip of a recession - or in the middle of one." Board member Rhonda Thurman retorted, "I know all about a recession. I'm sitting here in an empty beauty shop." Before we turn to COVID-19 and the need for food, lets remember, even during the best of economic times, thousands of children and senior citizens go to bed hungry in our community. With 18 percent of the population living in poverty, meeting the needs of those food-insecure households in Bexar County is a never-ending community effort. Tons of food and thousands of meals are distributed each day by the San Antonio Food Bank, community food pantries and nonprofits, and through the free and reduced-price lunch programs in public schools. These are most certainly not the best of times, and economists have warned they are likely to get much worse. Over the past several weeks, the need for emergency food assistance has multiplied daily and is unlikely to level off any time soon. Social distancing and other precautionary public health measures have shuttered businesses and cost many people their jobs. Many workers are being furloughed or experiencing a reduction in hours. This is hitting those living paycheck to paycheck the hardest. Many of the families facing a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic are joining the ranks of those in need of emergency food assistance. Even before the crisis, many families lacked the financial resources to stockpile two weeks of groceries or weather an unexpected expense. With the beginning of a new month and few prospects for employment, families are now making tough choices about paying bills, refilling prescriptions or covering rent. At least for now, Bexar County residents shouldnt have to worry about being evicted for nonpayment of rent or having their utilities cut off local emergency measures prohibit such actions but we have yet to see CPS Energy or SAWS outline plans to address accruing bills. We can all be thankful schools are working to minimize child hunger. Even before school closures were announced, school district officials made it a priority to set up school lunch distribution programs. And some districts are taking meals to the students in areas where transportation is an issue. Others are providing students with food to tide them over the weekend. Before COVID-19, it was estimated 4.2 million people in Texas faced food insecurity issues, including 1.6 million children. In Bexar County, 8.4 percent of senior citizens go hungry and the rate among children is much higher. In 2017, it was estimated 1 in 5 children in Bexar County did not get enough to eat, according to data compiled by Feeding America, a network of the countrys largest domestic hunger-relief organizations, which includes the San Antonio Food Bank. The community safety net has always been stretched thin, but at this precarious moment, its getting thinner. Some pantries are unable to replenish their inventories due to demand on suppliers. Donations from wholesalers and restaurants are down considerably because consumers are wiping shelves clean and many restaurants are not operating a regular levels. This has all placed a higher-than-usual demand on the San Antonio Food Bank. To meet the increased food needs, the food bank has modified its operations. Some of its smaller food distribution sites have been replaced by larger, more centrally located sites that can handle bigger turnout. Families in need of food assistance must sign up online or call to register to get on the food distribution list. Generous corporate donations are helping maintain the food supply, but individual donations are also making a difference. If you are able, please make an online donation to the San Antonio Food Bank at safoodbank.org. Each dollar can be leveraged into seven meals. Together, lets strengthen our communitys safety net. FILE PHOTO: Consuelo Loera, mother of the Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, leaves from the U.S. embassy after requesting a humanitarian visa so she can visit her imprisoned son, in Mexico City By Raul Cortes and Jesus Bustamante MEXICO CITY/BADIRAGUATO, Mexico (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday defended his weekend handshake with the mother of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, calling her a "respectable old lady" and seeking to cast his critics as the principal menace to the country. In a 30-second video posted on Twitter on Sunday, Lopez Obrador could be seen approaching Maria Consuelo Loera's car, parked on a dirt road on the outskirts of Badiraguato, a mountainous municipality in the northwestern state of Sinaloa. Surrounded by onlookers, Lopez Obrador told Loera she need not get out of the car, they shook hands and after a brief exchange he told her he had "received her letter." Guzman was for years boss of the Sinaloa Cartel, a powerful criminal organization blamed for the deaths of thousands of people in Mexico ranging from rival gang members, ordinary citizens, police and members of the armed forces. Critics on social media asked what kind of message the encounter, videotaped by part of the entourage that regularly accompanies the president on weekends, was meant to send. Questioned about the meeting at his regular morning news conference, Lopez Obrador was unrepentant and quickly blamed "adversaries" for trying to make a "scandal" out of it. "Sometimes, because it's my job, I have to shake hands with white collar criminals who haven't even lost their respectability, how am I not going to greet an old lady who leaves her hand outstretched?," he told reporters. In the video, Lopez Obrador could also be seen talking to one of El Chapo's lawyers, Jose Luis Gonzalez Meza. Lopez Obrador said Loera, a "respectable old lady," wrote to him to ask for help in getting permission from U.S. authorities to visit her son, who is in a maximum security U.S. prison. "This depends on the United States government, the U.S. embassy. I believe that for humanitarian reasons she should be allowed to go with caregivers, sanitarians, doctors," he said. Story continues The leftist leader said "conservative" opponents, were trying to use the encounter to hurt him. Accusing them of hypocrisy, he said the corruption he identifies as their legacy is a much bigger threat to the country than a 92-year-old woman "who deserves my respect." After questions by reporters about the meeting, Lopez Obrador promised to publish the letter from Loera, saying: "We have nothing to hide ... there's nothing that can embarrass us." Guzman shipped tons of drugs around the world and twice embarrassed the Mexican government by escaping from prison. Captured for a third time in 2016, he was extradited to the United States in 2017 and sentenced to life in prison by a U.S. judge last year after his conviction on multiple drug charges. The Sinaloa Cartel caused Lopez Obrador's government considerable embarrassment last October, when security forces briefly surrounded and captured the notorious drug lord's son Ovidio Guzman in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa. Cartel gunmen responded with prolonged bursts of gunfire in the streets after Ovidio's arrest. To avoid bloodshed, the government ordered Ovidio's release, sparking widespread criticism of Lopez Obrador's security policy, and angering some military leaders. Lopez Obrador saw Guzman's mother on a visit to a rural area of Sinaloa where the government was building a new road that would pass near El Chapo's birthplace. The president said he went to meet Loera after hearing she wanted to greet him. The 66-year-old, who has flouted the advice of his own government not to engage in physical contact during the coronavirus crisis, dismissed the suggestion that he should not be shaking hands with an elderly woman at risk of contagion. He said it would have been "disrespectful" not to take her hand - even as two state governors Lopez Obrador had recently met with said over the weekend they had coronavirus. "I am not a robot," he said. "I have feelings." (Reporting by Jesus Bustamante and Raul Cortes in Mexico City; Writing by Anthony Esposito and Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Dave Graham and Tom Brown) NRI billionaire Lakshmi N Mittal on Tuesday announced a contribution of Rs 100 crore to the PM CARES Fund to combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus in India. "ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), a joint venture between (L N Mittal's) ArcelorMittal and Japan's Nippon Steel, and HMEL, a partnership between Hindustan Petroleum and Mittal Energy Investments, today announce a package of support to strengthen India's capacity to protect families and communities impacted by the virus. "Both our operations in India commit equally to a total of Rs 100 crore to PM-CARES for the ongoing relief efforts countrywide," Mittal said in a statement. "Citizens across India have shown extraordinary dedication, bravery and compassion in this moment of singular crisis and they deserve our support and the gratitude of the nation," the steel magnate said. COVID-19 is having significant repercussions for people in every continent, Mittal said. No country will be immune to it and for nations like India which have a vast population, the impact could be very serious, he added. Collaboration in times like these is critical, the industrialist asserted. Governments, companies and citizens must therefore work together to pool their resources, to ensure every action is taken to combat the pandemic as swiftly as possible, he said. Mittal also said his companies are providing daily meals to over 5,000 people and food kits to more than 30,000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday that the government is exploring the option of providing ration to non-ration card holders as well amid the lockdown in the city in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Kejriwal also said that he was happy to see that people are not giving importance to romours now. "On Friday and Saturday, there were romours that if people gathered together, buses will be arranged. So many people gathered at the Kaushambi bus stand (on Delhi-UP border). Now the situation is under control...The police and the administration have been directed to ensure that no one steps out," Kejriwal said. The Chief Minister also said that security at the borders has been beefed up. "I urge all not to pay attention to rumours. At this time, staying at home is the biggest act of patriotism," he said. Kejriwal also warned the ration shop dealers that any wrongdoing will be dealt with strictness. "Ration shop dealers indulging in malpractices will be given strict punishment. I urge them that this is the time you should show your humanity," he said. The Chief Minister said the government is also making arrangements to provide ration to those not having ration card. "This will be done in 2-3 days. Till then, those not having ration card and ration can have food at our hunger relief camps," he said. Kejriwal said he has ordered the arrest of a fair price shop owner who allegedly diverted the subsidised ration meant for distribution among the beneficiaries. The Delhi government is providing additional ration to the 72 lakh ration card holders in the city amid the lockdown to ensure enough food is available. The country is under a 21-day lockdown due to coronavirus. Of the 107 people from Madhya Pradesh who attended meeting in Old Delhi, 31 traced to two religious places in Bhopal Social distancing thrown to the winds as people of Bhopal purchase vegetables during the open window available to them each day under the 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the coronavirus. (PTI) Bhopal: The government of Shivraj Singh Chouhan is trying to reach out to people who attended a Tablighi Jamaat religious congregation in old Delhi earlier this month and returned to Madhya Pradesh thereafter. Health officials in Madhya Pradesh were alerted after the death in Telangana of six people who had all participated in the event, strongly indicating that the Covid-19 virus had spread widely in that congregarrion. Intelligence operatives have sent inputs to the state government that at least 107 people from Madhya Pradesh attended the event in Old Delhi; of them 31 people could be traced to two religious places in Bhopal. Many of these congregants left for MP in haste after a nationwide curfew was announced for March 22 followed by a total lockdown on March 25. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday convened a high-level official meeting to take stock of the situation in the wake of this development. He ordered health authorities to identify each of these participants who attended the Tablighi Jamaat conference and quarantine them. Alarms also went off in the Madhya Pradesh government with the industrial city of Indore emerging as a new hotspot of the outbreak, reporting 25 new Covid positive cases in the last 24 hours. Seventeen of these positive cases were reported on Tuesday and eight on Monday. A senior Indore district officer told this newspaper that a stringent lockdown will now be imposed on the city. At the review meeting, the chief minister expressed serious concern over the spike in Indore. With this, the total number of coronavirus positive cases in MP rose to 64, with Indore accounting for 45. There have been five deaths, Indore accounting for three. One death took place today, at the AIIMS, Bhopal. A man wearing a protective mask walks in downtown Los Angeles on Feb. 27. (Los Angeles TImes) To the editor: Thank you for your editorial about the measures we can take as a country to fight the coronavirus. There is one simple solution that was not mentioned: If we all wore homemade masks, we could greatly decrease the transmission of the disease. Basically, I wear a mask to protect you, and you wear a mask to protect me. Everyone can make a mask out of a shirt, cloth or scarf. Let's start wearing them to protect each other when we have to go out for any reason. In China, South Korea and Japan and elsewhere, going out wearing a mask is the courteous and cautious thing to do. Those countries flattened the curve, and we can too. Carrie Gibson, Venice .. To the editor: Your editorial clearly points out that fighting COVID-19 is a national problem worthy of a national response. The reason the fight is being handled by the governors of the various states is that they realized they had to take charge. We were sailing into this storm with Captain Queeg at the helm. The president's position was that he will lend a helping hand to the governors who publicly praise his seamanship. Thank God many of our governors know what needs to be done, because Captain Queeg has no idea. Bob Wicks, Brea .. To the editor: With the pseudo shutdown and everyone being told to stay home, I feel retired. The dream of doing anything you want, any time you want is just that a dream. Even if you are a fortunate American with disposable income, you cannot use that money to do anything. The happiest group during this trying time? All the dogs in America. Matthew D. Kerster, Gardena A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Monday, berated President Muhammadu Buhari over his broadcast on Sunday evening which, he said, was pre-recorded, noting the broadcast was a monumental embarrassment to Nigerians. Timi Frank decried that Buhari disappointed Nigerians in the broadcast, noting that it did not qualified as a presidential crisis broadcast when juxtaposed with what world leaders are providing for their citizens at this global crisis period. The broadcast was worse than COVID-19 because it failed to outline a specific roadmap on how Nigeria can win this invisible war. Any measure from the Federal Government that does not advance Nigerias response to the COVID-19 will ultimately hurt Nigerians. The President has not only lost precious response time, he is yet losing time while the rate of infection is steadily growing in the country. Nigerians were highly disappointed that instead of a live broadcast with the media given the opportunity to seek clarifications for the benefit of Nigerians the President opted for a pre-recorded and stilted message. He only played back to Nigerians what most experts have recommended and which many state governments have already started implementing. While Ghana with about 28 million population is attacking the pandemic with $100 million, Nigeria with over 200 million people is approaching the virus with a paltry N15 billion which translates to roughly $40 million going by the prevailing exchange rate. Are we being serious and responsive here, Timi Frank declared in a statement in Abuja. Timi Frank advocated that corporate individuals and big businesses making donations for the fight against coronavirus in Nigeria should rather partner state governments to ensure prudent usage of the intervention funds. He declared: They should rather partner with individual state governments to ensure that the funds are prudently spent like the example that GTBank has done in partnership with the Lagos State Government by erecting a 100-bed hospital for the isolation and treatment of confirmed cases. Timi Frank further decried: Buhari only told Nigerians what they already knew things many state governments have already implemented. Yet, all palliatives promised by the President will be delivered in coming weeks. The President failed to tell Nigerians about the testing capacity of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that is leading the charge against this deadly virus in the country. How many people can the NCDC test per day and what medical exigences are needed to successful treat confirmed cases and ensure that they resume their normal lives? How many people are going to benefit from the conditional cash transfer. How many IDPs will benefit from the two months food rations being planned by Buhari in the coming weeks? Nigerians are aware that the school feeding programme of the Federal Government has performed wonderfully in theory. How does the President want to feed children that are not in school? Buhari restricted movement in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT for two weeks, however, he failed to say when most civil servants, especially, in the FCT that have not been paid will receive their salaries. How are these categories of workers expected to cope with the lockdown without a Kobo in their pockets? All over the world, no government has restricted media coverage of the ongoing pandemic, but Buhari said those in Abuja and Lagos can only move if they can prove they cannot work from home! Do media houses operate newsrooms or broadcast stations from the homes of their respective employees? I think Nigerians deserve something better from their President in the face of this global scourge. Timi Frank commended Nigerians for their resilience in this trying moment and prayed for quick recovery for those undergoing treatment as a result of the virus. PV: 0 Microsoft has released an update for a bug which disrupted Internet connections on certain Windows 10 devices. Since cumulative update KB4535996, which was released on 27 February, users reported that their systems were showing limited or no Internet connection status in the Network Connectivity Status Indicator (NCSI) in the notification tray. Microsoft acknowledged the issue and explained that devices using a manual or auto-configured proxy, especially within a virtual private network (VPN), were known to be affected. This might happen when connected or disconnected to a VPN or after changing state between the two, Microsoft said. Additionally, affected devices could have issues getting online through applications that use WinHTTP or WinInet, Microsoft noted. This is particularly problematic in a time when more people are working from home as part of efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, as it affects a number of key productivity applications. This includes Microsoft Teams, Office, Office365, and Outlook. Browsers like Internet Explorer 11 and certain versions of Microsoft Edge could also struggle to access the Internet. Out-of-band update The patch is currently only available as an out-of-band update on the Microsoft Update Catalog and not within Windows Update itself. Given the fact that the updates rollout was sped up, the company recommended that users only install the optional update if they are affected by the issue. Updates are available for the latest Windows 10 versions, including: Windows 10 version 1909 ( KB4554364 ) ) Windows 10 version 1903 ( KB4554364 ) ) Windows 10 version 1809 ( KB4554354 ) ) Windows 10 version 1803 ( KB4554349 ) ) Windows 10 version 1709 (KB4554342) Suspended non-essential updates Microsoft recently announced that it will temporarily stop releasing optional updates for Windows 10. Starting in May 2020, we are pausing all optional non-security releases (C and D updates) for all supported versions of Windows client and server products (Windows 10, version 1909 down through Windows Server 2008 SP2), Microsoft said. The company explained that given the public health situation and how this was impacting its customers, it was prioritising security updates. There is no change to the monthly security updates (B release Update Tuesday); these will continue as planned to ensure business continuity and to keep our customers protected and productive, Microsoft stated. Now read: Microsoft launches News Bar for Windows 10 Most Asia markets advanced Tuesday, in an ironic ending to a volatile and brutal quarter in which the coronavirus pandemic left even top-name stocks in tatters. Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index finished with a quarterly loss of 16.3 per cent, having fallen into a bear market in mid-March. On Tuesday, it gained 1.9 per cent to 23,603.48. Hong Kong investors have been hit and hit and hit: The destructive virus arrived on the heels of months-long protests and the US-China trade war that battered the citys economy and the share prices of many of its companies. China Southern Airlines, Chinas largest airline, ended the quarter down by 37 per cent, as the virus grounded travel. Sands China, whose glitzy casinos are nearly empty due to virus-related travel restrictions into Macau, dropped nearly 32 per cent in the quarter. Even Alibaba, whose secondary listing in Hong Kong in November was heralded as the start of Chinese companies listed in the US coming closer to home, fell 11.5 per cent in the quarter. The e-commerce giant, which owns the South China Morning Post, is considered a bellwether of the China economy. Coronavirus turns stock markets into the wildest ride on the planet and thats not likely to change soon The quarter was driven by the black swan: No one could predict the virus outbreak, said Kenny Wen, wealth management strategist at Everbright Sun Hung Kai. Next quarter will be better. We expect [the Hang Seng] to hit 25,000 in the second quarter, provided that there are improvements on the virus outbreak. The Shanghai Composite Index fell nearly 10 per cent during the quarter. It is the only major index not in bear territory. (On Tuesday, it closed with a 0.1 per cent gain.) The coronavirus, which has led the global economy into a recession, according to the International Monetary Fund, has ripped up supply chains, devastated the travel industry and left one-third of the worlds population in lockdown. About 38,000 people have died of the respiratory ailment. Story continues While some hopeful signs have emerged including rapid testing and advances toward a vaccine it is unclear how long the coronavirus will shake and shape the world. This despite the worlds governments and central banks throwing kitchen sink stimulus at it. Other benchmarks in the Asia-Pacific region were also brutalised. The mother of all grizzly bears is mauling global stock markets. When will she go back into hibernation? Japans Nikkei 225 fell 20 per cent in the first quarter, while Koreas Kospi tumbled about 20 per cent and Australias ASX 200 plunged 24 per cent. The rest of the world fared no better. The worlds stocks were on track for their worst quarter since the last three months of 2008, during the global recession, Bloomberg reported. While the US and European markets still have their last trading day of the quarter, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had so far dropped 22 per cent, while the UKs FTSE 100 had fallen 25 per cent. Five questions every investor should be asking about the coronavirus and what it will next do to stock markets Yet, according to Stephen Innes, chief global strategist at AxiCorp, No longer is the speed of the equity markets declines what stands out, but instead, its the rate of the recovery, especially amid the plentitude of downward and dreary growth revisions. It speaks volumes about the amount of stimulus that has been rolled out. And as dreary as things look today, theres a chunk of pent-up spending to be done, and the markets are banking on this being a deep but short recession with the V-shape recovery still intact, as consumers will then make a mad dash to the mall with a big-ticket-item shopping list , Innes said. Jobless claims in the US the worlds largest economy hit an all-time record of 3.3 million last week, and an additional 2.7 million claims could be filed this week, according to a Dow Jones survey of economists, as struggling business lay off workers. The US jobless rate could skyrocket to 30 per cent, which would be worse than during the Great Depression, St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard has said. The hard time for Hong Kong and global markets with the virus may be over, but the real economy is still struggling, and we still may not have seen the end of the crisis, said Alan Li, portfolio manager at Atta Capital. On Tuesday, investor sentiment in Hong Kong was buoyed by new data out of China showing that the Purchasing Managers Index rose to 52 in March, above the 50 threshold that signifies expansion. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected activity to contract, with 45 their consensus prediction. The gauge slumped to a historic low of 35.7 in February amid a lockdown that forced many factories to close as part of Chinas efforts to contain the viral outbreak. Analysts now warn that China faces serious difficulties ahead, including a sharp weakening of foreign demand amid the lockdowns elsewhere. Bloomberg Intelligence economists Chang Shu and David Qu wrote in a new note: Looking ahead, Chinas economic outlook is extremely challenging in the coming months. The domestic economy is struggling to fully return to work. The increasing number of imported virus cases means containment measures will remain in place, restraining the pace of economic recovery. Firms continue to face wide-ranging challenges such as insufficient demand, staffing, funding, liquidity and interrupted supply chains. The challenges are particularly large for small private firms, they said. Outside of China, countries are imposing increasingly stringent containment measures, bringing a large number of economies to a sudden stop and significantly weakening external demand for Chinas economy, they added. 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 Hang Seng posts 16 per cent quarterly loss, joining other Asian stocks in brutal start to year due to coronavirus pandemic first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. COVID-19 could prove devastating for internally displaced children. The international community must step up to help. In just a few short months, the COVID-19 pandemic has reached devastating proportions, touching nearly every country and territory around the world. The situation is bad, but it could get decidedly worse, especially if the disease infiltrates more of the worlds most vulnerable populations and communities, infecting those with the most limited access to prevention and care. We have not heard yet of an outbreak of COVID-19 in refugee camps, but that is a catastrophe waiting to happen. Coronavirus has been reported among the local population of the Greek island of Lesbos, where thousands of refugees and migrants are waiting in camps. A case has also been confirmed in the local population of Coxs Bazar in Bangladesh, although not yet among the Rohingya refugees. It is only a matter of time before COVID-19 gains a foothold in a refugee camp, crowded reception centre or detention facility holding migrant families. Or maybe it has already. Given how quickly the virus is spreading, such a scenario is probably unfolding even now, and this is deeply concerning. Even without a pandemic, uprooted people those living as refugees, migrants or internally displaced due to conflict, natural disaster or extreme poverty face immense barriers to accessing healthcare and preventive services like proper handwashing and sanitation facilities. Clean water and soap are often in very short supply in shelters or informal urban settlements, where many refugees and migrants live. So, when an infectious disease hits, their risk is compounded. An outbreak of an opportunistic respiratory disease like COVID-19 could spread easily through the overcrowded confines and unsafe conditions typical of many camps or settlements. People in these environments would be more likely to get sick and be less capable of fighting off the disease because of inadequate services. There are a large number of children among these most vulnerable populations. Today, there are 31 million children who have been uprooted from their homes, including over 17 million internally displaced within their home countries, 12.7 million refugees and 1.1 million asylum seekers. All of them need some form of assistance. Each day, wars, disasters, climate change and extreme poverty drive people from their homes. COVID-19 only adds to their vulnerability. Spread out across a buffer zone along Turkeys land border with Greece are 11,000 refugees and migrants, 40 percent of whom are women and children. Most are sleeping outside in freezing temperatures without proper clothing, shelter or services. There are 40,000 refugees and migrants on the Greek Islands, including more than 11,000 children. They are living in overcrowded camps environments that are highly susceptible to the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. In northwest Syria, the escalation in armed conflict has displaced more than 960,000 people, including more than 575,000 children, since December last year. Meanwhile, in the countrys northeast, at least 28,000 children from more than 60 countries remain languishing in displacement camps. Syria has just confirmed its first cases of the disease. There are also nearly half a million Rohingya refugee children living inside congested camps in Bangladesh, and some 3.7 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants have sought shelter in the wider Latin America region. These children and families do not have the luxury of calling a doctor if they feel sick. Many cannot wash their hands whenever they need to or practice social distancing in order to stop disease transmission. None can afford exposure to the coronavirus disease. Any public health response to the pandemic should reach the most vulnerable, including refugees, migrants and those who are internally displaced. This means ensuring equitable access to healthcare, prevention information, water and sanitation services for uprooted children and their families. It also means that containment measures, like border closures and movement restrictions, should not block the right to seek asylum or reunite with family members. There should also be plans in place for safe, family-based care and support for children separated from their caregivers or whose caregivers die. As a charity which works around the world to promote access to services to protect children, we at UNICEF are working with partners to prevent the spread of the disease among refugee, migrant and displaced populations. This includes promoting hygiene practices that help prevent transmission in shelters, camps and other accommodation sites, and developing accurate, child-friendly information on COVID-19, including materials that address stigma and positive parenting tips and distributing hygiene supplies. Around the world, we are supporting preventative actions with risk communication, providing hygiene and medical kits to health clinics and monitoring the impact of the outbreak to support continuity of care, education and social services. We want to protect children and women from other impacts of the pandemic, including stigmatisation, abuse and gender-based violence. But we cannot do this alone. Now, more than ever, governments and the international community must come together to protect the most vulnerable by reaching them with preventative services and care regardless of immigration or economic status. Governments should ensure access to testing and treatment for all who need it and provide information on how to prevent transmission of the disease that is available in languages and formats accessible to everyone. Uprooted children and families should be moved quickly out of harms way to adequate accommodations where they have access to water, soap, physical distancing and safety. Finally, it is imperative that any restrictions on movement or border closures not compromise the right to seek protection and asylum. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. It must be five decades now since I began to research why US intelligence agencies had failed to predict the two-pronged Egyptian-Syrian attack against Israel in 1973. The October 1973 War was the subject of my PhD thesis and this aspect of my research naturally led me to study other cases featuring the element of surprise which has long been a subject of concern to political scientists. The best-known antecedent was the failure of all of the USs 16 intelligence agencies to predict the attack against Pearl Harbour which precipitated the USs entry into World War II. But there are many other instances. During the same war, Moscow failed to predict Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Moving forward in history, we have intelligence agencies inability to predict the Iranian Revolution, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rapid rise of the Islamic State group and its Islamic caliphate. Perhaps the 11 September 2001 attacks delivered the greatest shock to the US intelligence community because this was the first attack against the American mainland and, moreover, its economic capital, New York, and its political capital, Washington. In its report on this earth-shattering event, the Congressional investigations commission wrote: The system was blinking red long before the attack, but it happened anyway. Similar warnings preceded all the other surprises. There were signs, danger signals and even outright threats, but the system failed to believe them or take appropriate action. On 25 March, US political scientist Mecah Zenko published in Foreign Policy, The Coronavirus is the Worst Intelligence Failure in US History with the subtitle, Its more glaring than Pearl Harbour and 9/11and its all the fault of Donald Trumps leadership. A month before this, on 28 February, NBCs intelligence and national security correspondent Ken Dilanian wrote that while the US intelligence community failed to anticipate some big developments, the spies did forecast something like coronavirus. He went on to describe how the US intelligence agencies had been warning for years of a virus with pandemic potential, possibly originating in China. In like manner, a headline by Tel Axelrod in The Hill of 20 March read: Intel reports going back to January warned of coronavirus threat. Firstly, it should be stressed that Covid-19 took not just the US but the whole world by surprise and that the US is not alone making inadequate decisions in response. The Chinese response at the outset of the crisis is a case in point. Beijings reactions were not sufficiently thought out and the consequence was a large number of infections and many types of paralysis which were eventually overcome through some tough and courageous steps. Italy, Germany, the UK, France, Spain and European states as a whole were no better prepared or armed with knowledge for what lay ahead. India woke up too late to a disaster that was more difficult than ever to contain. The Arab world succumbed to a daze, then snapped to when indigenous cases appeared in every country. The world, as a whole, was not ready to face the other side of globalisation: viruses piggybacking on those unprecedented networks of communications, transport, production, travel and international intermingling. Economy, culture and politics were the focus of interest and concern. Even when it seemed that global warming threatened the planet with extinction, the general impression was that this was more of an imagined peril than a looming reality. Even with previous epidemics, from the plague to Ebola, the general attitude was that they were confined to certain regions and that we now have the international mechanics to contain them and come up with a vaccine. Secondly, from the literature of strategic surprises the lesson to be drawn is twofold: the intelligence and warnings were available but the decision makers either chose to ignore them or grossly underestimated them, resulting in tardy reactions with tragic consequences. The literature frequently alludes to the noise that distorts information, removes it from context and diminishes its value. The noise, here, comes from, among other things, a worldwide trend to criticise and rollback globalisation, a focus on major transformations in the name of identity and nationalism that build walls and cut bridges, a US-Chinese cold war over trade and influence, a rise in populist leaderships and demagoguery. It is not that health was missing from the picture. In fact, it was often quite visible in election campaigns in the US and elsewhere. It is just that, more often than not, disease and epidemics were basically a Third World problem. Thirdly, the virus hit at a time when the world was virtually without a leadership. Beneath the title The world after coronavirus in The Financial Times on 20 March, Yuval Noah Harari observes that the world is in a decade in which no one is there to take the decisions necessary to promote and steer vital global cooperation. A collective paralysis has gripped the international community. There seem to be no adults in the room In previous global crises such as the 2008 financial crisis and the 2014 Ebola epidemic the US assumed the role of global leader. But the current US administration has abdicated the job of leader. It has made it very clear that it cares about the greatness of America far more than about the future of humanity If the void left by the US isnt filled by other countries, not only will it be much harder to stop the current epidemic, but its legacy will continue to poison international relations for years to come. Today, when the discussion turns to other countries to take the helm, the mind automatically turns to China, especially in light of its experience in combating the epidemic, an experience which it has shared with the world, offering aid, knowhow and expertise in the use of the advanced technologies of the fourth scientific revolution. The problem is that the shift from one leader to another in the international community has never happened without a great war or a protracted series of wars and, more importantly, without the willingness of the emergent power to undertake the task. Last year, Graham Ellison, professor of international relations at Harvard, recalled what he called Thucydides Trap, named after the ancient Greek historian who authored The History of the Peloponnesian War. Although Sparta started that war and eventually won, according to Thucydides the cause of the war was Athens growing power, which invited a war to stop it. To translate this paradigm to our present day, Chinas rising power topped by its nomination to lead the world in the time of Covid-19 could be an invitation to a road to hell. On the other hand, perhaps we should not fall into the trap of historical paradigms. After all, the US is not Athens, China is not Sparta and we are not in the Hellenic era but rather the 21st century. The writer is chairman of the board, CEO and director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Nursing homes in Jefferson County were blindsided this week by a letter from the county health department telling them to take in residents who are recovering from COVID-19 and still test positive. For the past month, Alabama nursing homes have been doing everything they can to prevent COVID-19 from entering their buildings, said John Matson, communications director for the Alabama Nursing Home Association. Now, Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson wants nursing homes to accept patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 even though they still exhibit symptoms and have not fully recovered. Matson said the decision goes against sound medical advice. In a statement, the Jefferson County Health Department (JCDH) said it is following the CDC guidelines for treating COVID-19 patients in healthcare settings. We are also working in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Public Health as it relates to relevant state guidelines, according to the statement. In the letter that Wilson sent to area nursing homes, Wilson cites the possibility that our hospitals will not have the capacity to care for a large number of patients infected with COVID-19 as part of the reasoning behind telling nursing homes they can accept COVID-19 patients without a negative test. Matson told AL.com that the association began getting calls Tuesday from member nursing homes, alarmed at the letter. For weeks we havent allowed family members and volunteers to visit our nursing homes, and our families understand why, he said. Now they cant visit, but were supposed to admit someone thats COVID-19 positive? The elderly and those with medical conditions are considered the most at risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19. Nursing homes were among the first types of facilities in Alabama and nationwide to implement strict lockdown procedures at the beginning of the epidemic. In one nursing home in Washington state, more than 50 residents contracted the virus and at least 19 deaths were tied to the facility. Wilsons letter says the JCHD endorses the CDCs non-test-based strategy because of limited testing supplies available in Jefferson County. The health department says patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 could be admitted to nursing homes three days after fever is gone and respiratory symptoms have improved. Matson said the nursing home association has instead directed its members to follow guidelines from the American Medical Doctors Association, a trade organization for nursing home doctors, which say nursing homes should only admit former COVID-19 patients who no longer display symptoms and have two negative COVID-19 tests. Weve told our members to follow the guidelines set forth by the American Medical Directors Association because those are the doctors that practice in nursing homes and they understand the people we care for better than any group of physicians, he said. Wilsons request only applies to nursing homes in Jefferson County, Alabamas most populous county, which operates a health department independent of the state health department. Matson said he wasnt aware of any similar letters from the state. The JCHD request comes the same week that a Birmingham nursing home, Cherryhill Rehabilitation & HealthCare Center, announced a resident had tested positive for COVID-19. Statewide, Alabama nursing homes have reported eight confirmed cases of COVID-19 in six Alabama nursing homes. Two employees tested positive in a Hoover facility and another case was reported in Vestavia. The rest are in other parts of the state, including Dothan, Opelika and Northport. Read more: Coronavirus confirmed in six Alabama nursing homes Matson said neither Wilson nor the JCHD had contacted the association with followup information. He said nursing homes are already stretched thin, with no federal money allocated to help them fight the virus. Our nursing homes need resources to prevent the spread of COVID-19, he said, not orders from government officials to bring this horrible virus into the very place where our most vulnerable citizens live. *Updated at 7 p.m. 3/31/20 with a statement from the Jefferson County Health Department. A seven-year-old golden retriever is delivering groceries to a self-quarantined neighbor in need amid the coronavirus pandemic. Karen Evelth from Manitou Springs, Colorado, has enlisted her dog Sundance nicknamed Sunny to help her pick up and drop off their neighbor Renee Hellman's grocery order as safely as possible. Contracting the coronavirus could be deadly for Hellman, who is over 65 and suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Good Morning America reported. Woman's best friend! Renee Hellman from Manitou Springs, Colorado, has been getting her groceries delivered by her neighbor's dog Sundance amid the coronavirus pandemic Local hero: Sundance, who goes by Sunny for short, was trained by his owner Karen Evelth to pick up Hellman's grocery list and carry the shopping bags in her mouth Hellman's age and underlying medical condition both put her at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 'I told her, "I don't want you going anywhere,"' Evelth explained to GMA. 'When I get groceries, I'll get yours too.' Every day, Evelth has Sunny run across the yard to Hellman's home to pick up her grocery list and bring it back to her. After she picks up the items, Sunny carries the bags in her mouth and delivers them to Hellman. 'She is so happy and grateful to see him every day at her porch,' Evelth said. 'Smiling ear to ear every time.' Teamwork: Hellman, who is over 65 and suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Sunny picks up her grocery list every morning Helping paw: Sunny brings Hellman's list to Evelth (pictured), and after she picks up the items at the grocery store, the doting dog delivers them to their neighbor The doting neighbor explained that Sunny has learned to pick up her purse and shoes for her because she has issues with her feet and back. She proudly noted it only took her dog one day to get the hang of their new grocery routine with Hellman. Their system has been working for weeks, and Evelth said they will continue to help Hellman out until she feels safe enough to go grocery shopping on her own again. 'He does get his treats, he's motivated by those for sure,' Evelth told KRDO. But he's really special to me, and I'd be lost without him because he helps me so much, so I wanted him to help other people. That's exactly what he did. Im pretty proud.' BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 Trend: The communications sector, as well as the financial, banking and insurance sectors, are less or not affected by the coronavirus, Azerbaijans Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov said in an interview with Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Closed Joint-Stock Company (AzTV), Trend reports. The minister said that a reason for this is the high wages that employees of these sectors receive. Here we take the real salary or the average monthly salary of the employee as the maximum limit," Jabbarov noted adding that based on the concept of equality, it is necessary to recognize that the need for support for workers receiving high wages is significantly different from others. The fight against the spread of coronavirus allowed us to once again become witnesses of solidarity between the state and entrepreneurs, the government and the people," the minister said. Jabbarov also noted that the donations of both the head of state and entrepreneurs and the citizens to the Fund to Support Fight against Coronavirus are another manifestation of the national unity. Chris Smalls, 31, organized the strike after working for Amazon for five years Amazon has fired a worker at its Staten Island warehouse after the man organized a walkout on Monday to demand greater protections from the company amid the coronavirus outbreak. Father-of-three, Chris Smalls, 31, a management assistant at the facility, was laid off from his job following Monday's strike. He had worked for the company for five years. An estimated 50 to 60 employees joined the walkout at the New York facility demanding that it be shut down and cleaned after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus. 'They pretty much retaliated against me for speaking out,' said Smalls to the New York Post. 'I don't know how they sleep at night.' 'There are positive cases working in these buildings infecting thousands,' warehouse worker Smalls wrote on Twitter. Amazon said Smalls made 'misleading' statements about conditions and that he was supposed to be in quarantine and had no choice but to fire him after he came to the facility. Smalls had even posted on Twitter how the company was not following social distancing measures. 'They pretty much retaliated against me for speaking out,' said Smalls to the New York Post. 'I don't know how they sleep at night.' Smalls had even posted on Twitter how the company was not following social distancing Amazon workers at Amazon's Staten Island warehouse went on strike to demand that the facility be shut down and cleaned after one staffer tested positive for the coronavirus Workers say the company 'has still not provided essential protections' during the coronavirus outbreak which has seen some workers become ill 'Like all businesses grappling with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we are working hard to keep employees safe while serving communities and the most vulnerable,' Amazon said in a statement. 'We have taken extreme measures to keep people safe.' The company said Amazon's firing of Small was due to his failure to comply with the company's request that he self-isolate after he came in contact with another employee who tested positive for COVID-19. By taking part in Monday's demonstration, he put 'the teams at risk. This is unacceptable,' Amazon said in a statement, noting that only 15 of the more than 5,000 employees at the site had taken part in the protest. Seven workers have fallen sick with the coronavirus at the Amazon plant in NYC New York state attorney general Letitia James called Smalls's dismissal 'disgraceful' and pointed out that the law protects employees' right to protest. 'At a time when so many New Yorkers are struggling and are deeply concerned about their safety, this action was also immoral and inhumane,' she said in a statement. James said she was exploring options for legal recourse and had asked the National Labor Relations Board to investigate the incident. Meanwhile a group calling itself the Gig Workers Collective said it was maintaining its call for Instacart's independent contractors to strike despite new safety measures announced late Sunday by the company. 'Workers aren't filling orders until our full demands are met,' a spokesperson said.'This isn't just about us, we want to also protect our customers.' The workers allege the online retail giant has mishandled its response to the pandemic and want the entire facility to be disinfected and sanitized It was not immediately clear how many of Instacart 'shoppers' who are independent 'gig' workers, were participating in the stoppage. Instacart, which shares the same complex as Amazon in Staten Island recently announced plans to hire some 300,000 people to help meet demand for grocery delivery, said in a statement it was 'fully operational' and that the walkout caused 'no impact.' 'We're continuing to see the highest customer demand in Instacart history and have more active shoppers on our platform today than ever before picking and delivering groceries for millions of consumers,' said the San Francisco company, which operates in some 5,500 cities in the US and Canada. The firm said Sunday it would provide additional health and safety supplies to full-service 'shoppers' and would set a 'default' tip based on customers' prior orders. The labor group, whose numbers were not known, called the Instacart moves 'a sick joke.' NYPD Community Affairs officer watches as Amazon workers at Amazon's Staten Island warehouse strike in demand that the facility be shut down and cleaned 'We had been asking for hand sanitizer for many, many weeks. But apparently the company is capable of sourcing some with two days of work? Where was this before,' the group said in a Medium post. A separate group of workers at the Amazon-owned grocery chain Whole Foods meanwhile called for a one-day stoppage or 'sickout' on Tuesday to press demands for improved health measures. The group calling itself 'Whole Worker' said it was seeking guaranteed paid leave for quarantined workers, among other things. With much of the US population locked down, Americans are increasingly relying on delivery of food and other supplies from firms like Amazon. A report by NBC News said Amazon workers at two Southern California warehouses had presented demands to shut down the facilities for two weeks for sterilization while employees are tested for the virus. Amazon has announced plans to hire an additional 100,000 people in the US, while rival Walmart is seeking to expand its workforce by 150,000. Foodland supermarket has introduced one-way aisles at its stores in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus. The supermarket has added new floor markings to indicate the direction of traffic in aisles as a way of enforcing social distancing among shoppers. The move is intended to limit the amount of people in an aisle at one time and will make it easier for customers to follow the 1.5metre-apart rule. Foodland has introduced one-way aisles as part of new social distancing measures at its stores. Pictured: One woman is seen going the opposite way at a Noorwood, SA Foodland The supermarket has added new floor markings to indicate the direction of traffic in its aisles The move follows calls from members of the public for Australian supermarkets to introduce one-way aisles and limit the amount of people at a store at one time The new measure is just one of a slew of new health precautions supermarkets across Australia have taken to ensure a safe shopping experience for customers and staff amid the coronavirus pandemic. 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 also follows calls for Australian supermarkets to implement one-way aisles and limit the amount of shoppers in store. Owen Sharkey, mayor of Golden Plains Shire in rural western Victoria, last week demanded Coles, Woolworths and Aldi to introduce '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 4,514 Australians. 'It does then stop people walking towards one another, face-to-face,' Professor Mortimer told Yahoo. 'Although it may not prevent people from overtaking slow browsers in the aisle, which is an ongoing problem.' Supermarket giants such as Woolworths have installed signage at its stores reminding shoppers to keep a 1.5metre distance from one another Professor Mortimer also backed calls for supermarkets to limit the amount of customers in a store at any one time. '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. Coles and Woolworths have introduced a number of measures in recent weeks to protect customers and staff members - but are yet to implement one-way aisles. In a set of new safety measures imposed last week, Coles installed signs at its stores reminding shoppers to keep at least a trolley-length apart. The company has also asked customers to wash their hands before entering the supermarket and to pack their own grocery bags. Woolworths has followed suit by adding floor markings to indicate where shoppers should stand while queuing up. It also installed protective shields at its checkouts to minimise contact. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump meet at Panmunjeom in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, June 30, 2019. / Korea Times file By Kang Seung-woo U.S. President Donald Trump's personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to offer cooperation in fighting the coronavirus is raising speculation that Washington may be seeking to reopen nuclear disarmament dialogue with Pyongyang. At the very least, some critics say he is trying to preserve the status quo with the country ahead of the presidential election in November in order to portray the North Korea talks as a major foreign policy win. Since the collapse of the Hanoi summit between the two leaders in February 2019, nuclear diplomacy between the two countries has stalled. The North has carried out a series of short-range missile tests, the latest of which occurred Saturday, while Trump is now focused on his reelection. And what the two countries pay have in common is containment of the COVID-19 outbreak, as per Trump's letter. "We regard it as a good judgment and proper action for the U.S. president to make efforts to keep the good relations he had with our chairman by sending a personal letter again at a time as now when big difficulties and challenges lie in the way of developing the bilateral relations, and think that this should be highly estimated," Kim Yo-jong, the North Korean leader's sister and first vice department director of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party, said in a statement released Sunday. This is the second time that Trump has written to Kim this year following a birthday message in January. Kim Yo-jung also said Trump had explained "his plan to propel the relations between the two countries" and expressed his intent to render cooperation in anti-pandemic work. "President Trump said that there were difficulties in letting his thoughts known because communications were not made often recently. He expressed his willingness to keep in close touch with the chairman in the future," she added, praising his letter as a "good example showing the special and firm personal relations" with her brother. While keeping economic sanctions on the North, the U.S. has expressed its intent to help the country battle the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, the U.S. State Department said the U.S. was prepared to facilitate the approval of assistance from American and international health organizations, citing the vulnerability of the North Korean people to the coronavirus outbreak; followed by its boss Mike Pompeo saying last week that the U.S. has offered humanitarian assistance to the North and will continue to reach out to the country. In addition, the statement hinted that Trump may have proposed a new version of U.S. policy toward the North, which could bring the reclusive country back to the negotiating table. However, it seems from the letter that the plan was not enough for the North, as in the statement Kim Yo-jong threatened that bilateral ties would continue to worsen without impartiality and balance. Rather than going into detail regarding his policy, Trump may have remained theoretical about improving relations between the two countries. In that respect, some political watchers say the U.S. president's letter was aimed at maintaining the status quo the North does not launch long-range missiles or test nuclear devices to prevent its military provocations from adversely affecting his reelection campaign. Trump has trumpeted engagement with the North as a diplomatic achievement by his administration, but on Dec. 8, he warned of the country interfering with the election. "Although keeping the dialogue momentum going, the Trump letter is more of his effort to prevent the North from crossing a red line on its long-range missile or nuclear activities," Park Won-gon, a professor of international politics at Handong Global University, said. Park also said the personal letter cannot have suggested any specific U.S. policy changes that are palatable to the North. "Kim Yo-jong's response means the North will take its own way and the U.S. needs to offer more concessions," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 12:34:59|Editor: Liu Video Player Close Photo taken on March 30, 2020 shows an almost-empty terminal building at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington of Virginia, the United States. The United States has reported more than 160,000 COVID-19 cases, according to the latest tally from Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE). (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) NEW YORK, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The United States has tested 1 million people in its stepped-up effort to tackle the novel coronavirus, with a capacity to test 100,000 samples daily. "Today we reached a historic milestone in our war against the coronavirus. Over 1 million Americans have been tested," President Donald Trump announced Monday at a White House briefing. Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, said the United States is now testing 100,000 samples a day in their effort to combat the outbreak. The country has reported more than 160,000 COVID-19 cases, according to the latest tally from Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE). As of 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday (0130 GMT on Tuesday), there were 163,429 confirmed cases in the United States, with 3,008 deaths, an interactive map maintained by the CSSE showed. Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday issued an order directing residents to stay at home unless there is an essential reason for going out, such as getting food and medical care, performing or accessing government services or engaging in essential business or travel. It is a crime to disobey the order, and people who violate it could face up to 5,000 U.S. dollars in fines, imprisonment for no more than 90 days, or both, said Bowser. "Staying at home is the best way to flatten the curve and protect yourself, your family, and our entire community from COVID-19," said the mayor. As of Monday, total confirmed COVID-19 cases in Washington reached 401, with nine deaths, according to the CSSE. The District had earlier ordered all nonessential businesses to shutter, and the latest order came as similar measures were taken on the same day by the states of Maryland and Virginia. New York City, where non-essential businesses are also closed till April 15 in accordance with a statewide mandate, has also tightened rules on social distancing, which experts say is essential to slowing the spread of COVID-19. Local police have been patrolling on the street dispersing public gatherings over the past week. Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Sunday that those who do not practice social distancing will be fined between 250 and 500 U.S. dollars by police. On Monday, New York City greeted the U.S. Navy Ship Comfort, which brought 1,000 hospital beds and 1,200 medical personnel to help relieve the city's overwhelmed hospital system amid COVID-19 pandemic. The ship also contains 12 fully-equipped operating rooms, a medical laboratory, a pharmacy, an optometry lab, a CAT-scan, among other facilities, according to the website of the Navy. It will start operating on Tuesday to treat non-COVID-19 patients so as to free up beds in local hospitals which can be focused on fighting the pandemic by establishing more intensive care units, officials have said. The most populous city in the country has been the hardest hit with over 36,000 cases reported by Monday afternoon, data compiled by the CSSE showed. "New Yorkers thank this nation for the help they're giving New Yorkers today, and we will reciprocate the favor. And what we're learning here, and the training that's going on here, is going to benefit the places all across this nation in the coming weeks and the coming months," said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo while welcoming the ship at Pier 90 in Manhattan. Monday also marked the opening of the first 1,000 temporary beds in the field hospitals assembled by the Army in the Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan. The governor said the hospitals will provide altogether 2,500 beds which are also for treating non-COVID-19 patients. "So, we are doing this ship - 1,000 beds; Javits - 2,500 beds. About 3,500 beds to relieve the stress that our hospital system is facing," he added. The cigarette and tobacco industry is emerging as one of the very few winners from the economic havoc wreaked by the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Two of the worlds big four tobacco groups Imperial Brands and British American Tobacco (Bat) saw their shares surge on the back of them agreeing substantial new credit lines and saying they have taken no material hit from the coronavirus storm. Imperial the owner of Drum, Rizla, Gauloises, and Blu vapes saw its shares jump by as much as 11% after securing 3.5bn in new lending. Rival Bat the maker of Lucky Strike, Camel, and Dunhill cigarettes is raising 2.2bn in debt for general working capital and early debt repayments. Its shares rose by nearly 3%. When other industries are struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic, Imperial has seen little impact thanks to the unfaltering demand for its product. The possibility of supply chain disruption still exists, but Imperial is stockpiling key product lines as a precaution, said Hargreaves Lansdown equity analyst Sophie Lund-Yates. We understand tobacco shares arent for everyone, and global tobacco volumes have been falling for decades. But smokers willingness to pay ever higher prices mean tobacco giants have managed to protect their margins and grow dividends even as the smoking population dwindles, she said. Elsewhere, Volkswagen is also seeing a silver lining, with it expecting its vehicle sales in China the worlds largest car market to have quadrupled last month and saying that it is cautiously optimistic that the worst effects of the crisis, in China, will be over in two-to-three months. There are more and more signs that business is recovering. By the middle of the year, we could be back to last years planning. Hope is returning on the Chinese market, VWs boss in China Stephan Woellenstein said. Turbulence still reigns in the airline sector, however. IAG-owned British Airways has temporarily suspended all of its flights from Londons Gatwick Airport, the second busiest airport in the UK, due to the virus. BA warned, this month, that is was in a battle for its survival. Davy has forecast that around half of Europes 120 airlines might not survive the economic impact of the virus. However, troubled carrier Norwegian Air could end up getting around 256m from Norways government credit guarantee for airlines, which has been approved by the EU. The worlds largest advertising firm WPP has scrapped its dividend, share buyback programme and 2020 guidance due to the market uncertainty. The company is also slashing all operating costs. Cruise line giant Carnival is looking to raise $6bn through bond offerings in the US and the eurozone and via a share placing. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] India will buy ventilators and masks from China to help it deal with the coronavirus, a government official said on Tuesday, even though some countries in Europe had complained about the quality of the equipment. India has recorded 1,251 cases of the coronavirus, with 32 deaths, but health experts say the country of 1.3 billion people could see a major surge in cases that could overwhelm its weak public health system. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government said it was trying to procure medical gear, including masks and body coveralls, both from domestic firms and from countries like South Korea and China, to meet shortages. "China, definitely we are going to buy ... Because scaling up our domestic production will take time," said a top Indian policy official aware of the plan, who declined to be identified due to sensitivity of the discussions. The Netherlands has recalled thousands of masks imported from China because of quality issues, while Spain has complained about defective imported test kits supplied by a Chinese manufacturer, media have reported. China's foreign ministry said several countries had raised doubts about the quality of products imported from China, and acknowledged that there might be some problems. "A large number of Chinese manufacturers are working around the clock to help other countries save lives. Our sincerity and assistance is real. If problems occur in this process, the Chinese side will talk to relevant departments," China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a news conference on Monday. (bit.ly/2Jr5Mb9) A second source with direct knowledge of Indian government plans said Chinese manufacturers had shown keen interest in supplying protective health gear to India, lodging queries with Indian diplomatic missions in Shanghai and Beijing. China was emerging as a favourite possible supplier at this stage as new virus infections were slowing there and its factories were being pushed to reopen, the second source said. India needs at least 38 million masks and 6.2 million pieces of personal protective equipment as it confronts the spread of coronavirus, according to a report by its investment agency seen by Reuters. But Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) an influential Hindu nationalist group close to Modi's party, said India should look at domestic alternatives because of widespread concern over the quality of China's equipment. "I don't think we need Chinese support of any kind for our healthcare... Even if Indian firms produce at a higher cost, it doesn't matter," Ashwani Mahajan, a national co-convenor of the SJM, told Reuters. Also read: Coronavirus impact: India to produce hazmat suits locally as global suppliers say no Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: Mumbai reports four more COVID-19 positive cases; Maharashtra tally at 230 FILE PHOTO: A woman walks in an almost empty mall amid the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Dubai By Lisa Barrington DUBAI (Reuters) - Residents in the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states are urging telecom firms to further ease restrictions on free internet calls as coronavirus separates families and forces people to work and study from home. The UAE's two telecommunications firms Etisalat and Du said they recently enabled Microsoft Teams over both wifi and mobile data connections as well as Blackboard, Zoom and CloudTalk -- but appear to continue to block more popular applications. "Please just listen to us. Unblock Skype, WhatsApp, FaceTime, even if it's just temporary. 80% of the country is away from their homes," urged Twitter user @danielmarcevans. "If not now during the spread of the virus to allow us to communicate with our families, then when?" user Basem Saif tweeted on Sunday. Applications that use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services free Internet-to-Internet voice and video calls - are restricted to varying degrees in the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, but not in Bahrain or Kuwait. Expatriates make up the majority in many Gulf states, particularly the UAE, the region's business and tourism hub. The UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA)declined to comment on VoIP availability. State-controlled Etisalat and DU directed Reuters questions to the TRA. Virgin Mobile, part of Du, did not respond to comment requests, but told one customer complaining about VoIP restrictions on Twitter it was "working" on the issue. Oman, while still blocking WhatsApp - owned by Facebook Inc - said Skype for Business, Google Meet, Zoom and WebEx were now useable. Its Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said the move was to help business continuity and communication. In Qatar, where VoIP applications must also be authorized, a Vodafone Qatar customer helpline said Whatsapp and Skype are restricted, but Zoom and WebEx are available on mobile data. "Please please please unblock VoIP apps, it's really hard to work and teach remotely when we have to use a VPN," university worker Shaima Sherif tweeted at Qatar's telecoms regulator and firms, referring to the virtual private networks (VPN) used by many to by-pass state internet restrictions. Story continues "In this time of fear, when everyone is being price sensitive, it is ridiculous to have to use a VPN," said a Dubai-based consultant who pays $10-20 a month for VPN, and who declined to be identified due to sensitivities. Qatar's communications regulatory authority did not immediately respond to requests for comment. SMEX, a Lebanon-based digital rights advocacy group, urged all countries to remove VoIP bans during the coronavirus crisis. The UAE likely blocks the apps to support its telecoms firms and for national security reasons, SMEX Executive Director Mohamad Najem told Reuters, saying pushing specific VoIP programs helps "control data and the flow of information". Sultan al-Qassimi, a writer and member of the ruling family of the UAE Sharjah emirate, also supports lifting restrictions. "The benefit to the entire economy outweighs the benefit to a single firm," he said in a Twitter post. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington and Ghaida Ghantous; Writing by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Ghaida Ghantous, William Maclean) As New York continues its fight against the deadly virus, officials are concerned about other population centres. New York remains the epicentre for coronavirus cases in the United States with 10,834 deaths and over 200,000 reported cases as of April 14, but experts warn many other cities and states are quickly becoming hot spots for the outbreak. While New York City sees a spike in deaths, major cities in the states of Louisiana, Illinois, Michigan and Florida have seen a surge in the number of cases. Thats in addition to cities and states on the West Coast that were first affected by the outbreak. Heres a look at some of the US hot spots outside of New York: Detroit The home of the US automotive industry and one of the largest cities in Michigan, Detroit faced an economic downturn for years as auto production moved overseas. The metropolitan area has a population of more than four million and a poverty rate of 35 percent, roughly three times the national average. Detroit also has a large homeless population, which officials say is particularly at risk. Michigan has more than 25,000 confirmed coronavirus cases as of April 14. Wayne County, where Detroit is located had more than 11,000 cases and 760 deaths. While Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has taken proactive steps, the situation is still dire. At this time, the trajectory of Detroit is unfortunately even more steep than that of New York, Dr Teena Chopra, the medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology at the Detroit Medical Center, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Chicago The largest city in Illinois faces many of the same issues as New York City, and Chicagos coronavirus statistics are starting to paint a dire picture. Ventilators are in short supply but desperately needed [Mark Lennihan/AP Photo] Cases have shot up in Illinois, with over 800 deaths and more than 22,000 cases as of April 14. More than 15,000 of those cases were confirmed in the Chicago area, one of the largest cities in the US with a metropolitan population of over nine million. Officials, including those at the US National Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers, are working to set up emergency hospitals. McCormick Place, the largest convention centre in the US, has already been converted. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said at a coronavirus briefing that most of the models that he has seen show that well be peaking sometime in April. New Orleans Louisiana has developed coronavirus cases faster per capita than other states, according to officials there, and no city in the state has been hit harder than New Orleans. President Donald Trump granted Louisiana a federal disaster declaration on March 24. Louisiana had more than 21,000 cases reported with 1,000 deaths on April 14. There were more than 5,700 cases in the Orleans Parish, which encompasses New Orleans, according to the latest figures on April 14. Data shows 276 people there died of COVID-19, the disease that the coronavirus causes. New Orleans faces many of the same issues as Detroit. Its poverty rate is about 25 percent, according to Welfare Info, a website that helps people find benefits. A staff member of Odyssey House Louisiana (OHL), which runs a drive-through testing site for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), waves to passing vehicles to try to alert the community about testing taking place at OHL in New Orleans, Louisiana [Kathleen Flynn/Reuters] The Ernest M Morial Convention Center in New Orleans has been converted to an emergency hospital, with 1,000 beds and more capacity if needed. The city, along with Detroit, was highlighted as a cause for concern by Dr Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who has become a symbol of stability in the US. Its a smaller city, obviously, so they cant be totally comparable. But the dynamics of the outbreak in New Orleans are worrisome, Fauci said on March 30. South Florida Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a stay-at-home order for the southern part of his state as the number of coronavirus cases grows. The order affects the four counties Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Monroe that have the bulk of the states 21,000 cases, according to the latest figures. The order was later extended to include the entire state. Travellers entering the state from Louisiana or New York City must quarantine for 14 days. Washington, DC The US capital is relatively small, with an estimated population of slightly more than 711,000 as of 2019. However, many of those who work in DC come from both Virginia and Maryland, the two states that border the district. Its metropolitan population is more than six million. The citys importance as the home to most major branches of the national government and its proximity to other large population centres make it frequently visited by a wide range of domestic and international travellers. There were more than 2,000 confirmed cases as of April 14, according to city data. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser warned on April 3 that one in seven DC residents will likely contract the coronavirus before the pandemic ends. Further concerns Dr Deborah Birx, a health official in the US government, and coordinator of the White Houses coronavirus response team, warned last week that Pennsylvania and Colorado, along with DC, could be future hot spots. They are starting starting to go on that upside of the mortality curve, Birx said. Colorado health officials predicted 33,277 deaths by June 1 in the worst case and 379 in the best case, according to local media. There were more than 7,600 cases on April 14, with over 1,000 of those being in Denver, the largest city. At least 308 people had died, state authorities said. Pennsylvania had more than 25,000 cases of coronavirus on April 14, with 608 deaths, according to the states tally. More than 7,000 of those cases were in Philadelphia, the states largest city. While these cities are drawing concern, every population centre is at risk, due to the nature of the virus, officials say. Authorities continue to encourage social distancing and keeping travel outside the home to a minimum. CLAYMONT, Del. Business appears to be booming at the Total Wine in Claymont. Delco residents dont seem to mind making the trip on I-95, since they have no other choice. While beer distributors remain open in Pennsylvania, superstores such as Total Wine are among the states businesses considered non-life-sustaining by Gov. Tom Wolfe last month. Beer distributors in Pennsylvania remain open because the stores offer a wide array of non-alcoholic beverages, as well as snacks and lottery tickets. All Pennsylvania-based Wine & Spirits were closed indefinitely March 17. This reality is causing more Delco residents to make the trek across state lines. Total Wine & More was busy Monday afternoon. A store manager declined to answer if the store has experienced an increase in sales over the last few weeks, and directed all questions to the corporate office. Look at the license plates in the parking lot, the manager said. There were many Pennsylvania plates in the parking lot Monday, but that could be norm. Total Wine & More is a stones throw across the Pennsylvania-Delaware border on Naamans Road. One Chester resident made a quick stop on his lunch break. He was there to buy a bottle of his mother-in-laws favorite wine. I work five minutes away, so its easy for me to make a run, he said. I do what Im told. Will he come back anytime soon, and does he worry about risking his health over a bottle of wine? Maybe, he said, noting that he drinks beer, and you can buy that anywhere. Julius, of West Philadelphia, was in town to visit family members. He was on his way home when he thought it would be best to make a pit stop at Total Wine & More. I come here a lot, he said. Its crowded, like, most of the time I come here and I dont notice a difference, to be honest. You just want to stay away from people and not get sick. You see people coughing sometimes, and you dont want to go anywhere near them. The stay-at-home directive doesnt seem to apply to the avid wine or spirits drinker. The store was crowded, with no visible evidence of social distancing being practiced by its customers or staff. Many customers standing alongside their shopping carts did not adhere to the 6-feet-apart rule. That didnt stop customers from taking added precautions. Many were wearing masks and gloves. One elderly man donned a Phillies bandana across his face. One customer, who made the fast commute from Chichester, carried travel-size bottles of Purell hand sanitizer, lathering up his hands and face before entering the store. Have to be safe, said the man, who was stocking up on bottles of Jim Beam. He declined to give his name for this story. I have boxes of wine in the trunk, he said, pointing to his gunmetal grey Kia crossover. You have to kill the time somehow. Travel restrictions in and out of Delaware were announced Monday, but shouldnt impact Delco drivers so long as they dont plan to stick around. Gov. John Carney ordered all out-of-state residents traveling into Delaware to self-quarantine for 14 days to fight the spread of COVID-19. The 14-day period is measured from the time of entry into Delaware or for the duration of the individuals presence in Delaware, whichever is shorter, according to a press release on the state website. A total of 45 people are reported to be hospitalized across the state due to the coronavirus. Carney warned that Delaware, which had one of the lowest numbers of coronavirus cases in the country, is only getting worse, he said in an interview with WDEL radio. Were about to experience an acceleration in the number of cases and the number of hospitalizations, Carney told the radio station. Were going to see a big surge in the next two or three weeks, and we ought to be prepared for it. People need to understand that they need to follow the rules in order to limit that surge. Delcos wine lovers can rejoice. If youre just stopping through to stock up, you should be OK. For now. The United States has earmarked US$274 million in financial assistance to 64 countries, including nearly $3 million to Vietnam, to help them combat the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. According to the U.S. Department of States announcement on March 27, the $274 million includes nearly $210 million in emergency health and humanitarian assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to be provided for up to 64 of the most at-risk countries facing the threat of the global pandemic. U.S. government agencies are working together to prioritize foreign assistance based on coordination and the potential for impact, the announcement reads. The announcement said the U.S. is providing nearly $3 million in health assistance to help the Vietnamese government prepare laboratory systems, activate case-finding and event-based surveillance, support technical experts for response and preparedness, risk communication, infection prevention and control, and more. According to the U.S. Department of State, the United States has invested more than $706 million in health assistance and more than $1.8 billion in total assistance for Vietnam over the past 20 years. Many other Southeast Asian countries will also receive the U.S. financial assistance for fighting against COVID-19. Particularly, Cambodia will receive approximately $2 million, Indonesia $2.3 million, Laos nearly $2 million, the Philippines nearly $4 million, Thailand about $1.2 million, and Timor Leste $1.1 million. In a January 30 report, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said that developing countries will need $2.5 trillion to deal with the unprecedented economic damage from the COVID-19 crisis. The total amount includes $1 trillion in liquidity injection, $1 trillion in debt forgiveness, and $500 billion for emergency health services and related social relief programs. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! He revealed he tested positive for Covid-19 on March 20. And 11 days later, Colton Underwood said on Good Morning America he's feeling 'so much better, adding: 'It was definitely a little bit of a scary time but I'm back to what I would consider normal.' The 28-year-old former Bachelor star's book, The First Time: Finding Myself and Looking for Love on Reality TV, was released on Tuesday, where he revealed former girlfriend Aly Raisman Facetimed him to end the relationship. The latest: Colton Underwood said on Good Morning America he's feeling 'so much better': 'It was definitely a little bit of a scary time but I'm back to what I would consider normal' Colton and the Olympian gold medal winning gymnast dated from August 2016 until April 2017. Colton said that Aly 'was easy to talk to, open, funny, honest and inquisitive,' he wrote in his book via Us Weekly. On their first date he said that 'neither of us expected to get on as well as we did. For a first date, it couldn't have gone better.' For their second date, she asked if he was a virgin and that they both agreed the 'slow lane was fine with both of us.' Throwback: The 28-year-old former Bachelor star's book, The First Time: Finding Myself and Looking for Love on Reality TV, was released on Tuesday, where he revealed former girlfriend Aly Raisman Facetimed him to end the relationship; seen together in January 2017 Colton said he told her that he loved her too when he thought she had told him, but she had not. After she told him about Larry Nassar, he felt helpless: 'I wanted to find Nassar and rip his head off.' The Olympian told him she loved him soon after but two weeks after, they attended an event together in Houston; they said their goodbyes at the airport and the next day she broke up with him via Facetime. Colton said he was driving at the time: 'I pulled over to the side of the road, stunned an unable to comprehend this was happening. Aly said she felt overwhelmed, confused and in need of a break. Afterward, I sat in my car and cried. I was numb for days.' He revealed he reached out to her after but she never responded; he even tried to get Simone Biles, her best friend, to find out why. During his visit to GMA, Colton said he feels like what he considers normal but that people need to take Covid-19 and social distancing seriously. He said: At the time there was so much reporting going on that it might not affect the younger generation, and I consider myself 28 and healthy and it knocked me on my butt. I just wanted to share that message with everybody there that you do need to take this serious -- everybody of all ages.' Colton, who is recovering at girlfriend Cassie Randolph's parent's house in Huntington Beach, CA, revealed his Covid-19 diagnosis March 20. ATLANTA, March 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alimera Sciences, Inc. (ALIM), a leader in the commercialization and development of prescription ophthalmology treatments for the management of retinal diseases, announces that it has appointed Steven T. Gill as Vice President, Thought Leader Engagement. Mr. Gill rejoins Alimera from Novartis US where he was Associate Director, Thought Leader Liaison. In this newly created position at Alimera, Mr. Gill will have the responsibility to advocate for Alimera with physician and professional societies, further driving Alimeras mission to be invaluable to patients, physicians and partners concerned with retinal health. He will focus on leading a team that will improve customer access by building long term relationships with physicians and key opinion leaders. We are extremely pleased to welcome Steve back to Alimera in this new role intended to elevate our advocacy among key opinion leaders and drive increased peer-to-peer engagement between customers currently using ILUVIEN and those exploring its use in their practices, said Rick Eiswirth, Alimeras President and Chief Executive Officer. Steve joins us at a time when the need to reduce the recurrence of retinal disease and provide better vision with fewer visits to the physicians office for treatment potentially becomes more evident. Mr. Gill added I am honored and excited to rejoin Alimera and work with their dedicated team that is committed to the retina community, and the patients they serve. I look forward to working across Alimera's entire commercial organization to increase customer awareness and understanding of ILUVIEN and to improve the lives of patients diagnosed with diabetic macular edema. Mr. Gill has over 20 years of experience in the medical field, with 16 of those years specifically, in retina. Prior to his recent role at Novartis where he was a member of the Beovu launch team building advocacy and peer-to-peer marketing strategies, Mr. Gill served at Alimera as Senior Director, Thought Leader Liaison. His broad experience includes roles as a Medical Science Liaison at Ophthotech, and multiple roles at Eyetech pharmaceuticals where he served as a Regional Sales Director prior to taking a role as a Medical Science Liaison. Mr. Gill earned his B.A. in Organizational Communications at California State University, Sacramento. Story continues About Alimera Sciences, Inc. Alimera Sciences is a pharmaceutical company that specializes in the commercialization and development of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals for the management of retinal diseases. Alimera is presently focused on diseases affecting the back of the eye, or retina, because these diseases are not well treated with current therapies and will affect millions of people in our aging populations. For more information, please visit www.alimerasciences.com . About ILUVIEN The Companys primary product is ILUVIEN (fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant) 0.19 mg sustained release intravitreal implant, injected into the back of the eye. With its CONTINUOUS MICRODOSING technology, ILUVIEN is designed to release sub-microgram levels of fluocinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid, for 36 months, to reduce the recurrence of disease, enabling patients to maintain vision longer with fewer injections. ILUVIEN is approved in the U.S., Canada, Kuwait, Lebanon and the U.A.E. to treat diabetic macular edema (DME) in patients who have been previously treated with a course of corticosteroids and did not have a clinically significant rise in intraocular pressure. In 17 European countries, ILUVIEN is indicated for the treatment of vision impairment associated with chronic DME considered insufficiently responsive to available therapies. In March 2019, ILUVIEN received approval in the 17 countries under the Mutual Recognition Procedure for prevention of relapse in recurrent non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye. The 17 European countries include the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The non-infectious posterior uveitis indication for ILUVIEN was launched in Germany and the U.K. in 3Q 2019. ILUVIEN is not approved for treatment of uveitis in the United States. Forward Looking Statements This press release may include forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change these expectations, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Meaningful factors that could cause actual results to differ include but are not limited to, physicians and patients may not perceive the benefit of better vision with fewer visits to the physicians office for treatment, Mr. Gill may not be able to increase customer awareness and understanding of ILUVIEN to the extent anticipated, as well as the other factors discussed in the Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of Alimeras Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. By Trend During the plenary session held today, Azerbaijans parliament has discussed the issue of the country's joining another international document, Trend reports on March 30. The draft law "On joining the Intergovernmental Agreement for Dry Ports" was discussed at sessions of parliamentary committees and recommended for discussion at the parliaments plenary session. Following the discussions at the plenary session the proposal was put to a voting and adopted. The agreement was signed at a meeting of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand on November 7, 2013. The document envisages development of dry ports within the national programs, laws and regulations. It reflects such issues as the signing, ratification, approval, accession and entry into force of the document. The document also reflects clauses providing for the establishment of working groups on dry ports, amendments within the agreement implementation, the procedure for changing and amending the documents main content, withdrawal from the agreement and other issues. ---- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 10:12:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers and learns about the huge changes brought about by advancing green development, in Yucun Village of Tianhuangping Township in Anji County, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 30, 2020. Xi inspected the county of Anji in Zhejiang on Monday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) HANGZHOU, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stressed protecting ecological environment, saying all the ecological protection efforts will be rewarded. He made the remarks while visiting Yucun Village in the county of Anji of east China's Zhejiang Province Monday. 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 Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-01 01:02:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's total COVID-19 positive cases rose to 142 after 20 new cases were detected on Tuesday while two deaths have been reported to date, the Health Ministry said. Out of this number, 17 patients recovered and were discharged while 123 are under observation in the designated hospitals across the country, the ministry said. The cases detected on Tuesday were the highest number detected within a single day since the first local patient was detected on March 10, the ministry added. The ministry further urged people to remain indoors and avoid social interaction in order to prevent a further spread of the virus. Sri Lanka has been remaining under a countrywide curfew since March 20 which was lifted for a few days to allow people to re-stock on essential items. Five districts of the country including capital Colombo, however, remain under an indefinite curfew while the government has made arrangements to distribute food and essential items to households. Enditem The 2020 Detroit Auto Show has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic that is endangering lives and wreaking havoc on the global economy. In a bid to contain the spread of the pandemic, social distancing has been advised, leading to cancelation and postponement of various high profile events. Automotive industry event schedules have also been disrupted. Detroit auto show is the fourth big-ticket auto show to be cancelled in view of the health hazard. The noteworthy auto show in Beijing, which was scheduled to begin on Apr 21, had been postponed as well. The 2020 Geneva Motor Show, which was supposed to be held in March, was cancelled after the Swiss government banned gathering of more than 1,000 people to prevent further spread of the virus. Early this month, New York Auto Show, one of the biggest events in the auto industry's annual event calendar, was rescheduled to late August. The Detroit show, officially known as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), has been nixed as well and will now be held in June 2021. The cancellation of the shows comes at a time when the auto industry is reeling under pressure, with shutdown of factories, less customer traffic at dealerships and supply-chain issues amid virus outbreak. Moreover, the appeal of auto shows has somewhat started to fade due to logistics and cost issues. With automakers trying to connect with buyers through online advertising and social media campaigns, they have been scaling down their presence at auto shows. Notably, the 2020 Detroit Show was pushed back from January to June to avoid clashing with other events. It was expected that the show, to be held during summer, would witness more vehicle debuts and draw more attention and footfall. NAIAS has long been an important event for Detroit 3 carmakers, Ford F, General Motors GM and Fiat Chrysler FCAU along with other foreign auto biggies like Toyota Motor TM, Volkswagen VWAGY et al. Each of the Detroit 3 auto giants carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Story continues It is to be noted that NAIASs venue, TCF Center, will be repurposed as a temporary field hospital for the Federal Emergency Management Administration. Notably, Michigan is at the risk of becoming the next COVID-19 hotspot in the United States. Per Bloomberg, the state is registering new cases at more than triple the national rate. Amid the uncertainty associated with the unprecedented health crisis and the resulting economic impact, the Paris Motor Showexpected to begin on Sep 29 has also been called off. The news followed the cancellation of the Detroit Auto Show. Notably, many auto biggies that have temporarily shut down auto plants are now lending a hand in the fight against COVID-19 to tackle supply shortage of necessary medical gear and equipment. Ford is collaborating with GE Healthcare and targets to produce 50,000 ventilators within the next 100 days.Additionally, the company aims to manufacture more than 100,000 face masks each week and leverage its in-house 3D printing technology to create disposable respirators for healthcare workers. General Motors is teaming up with Ventec Life Systems, and is poised to produce the first ventilators next month and ramp up to a production capacity of more than 10,000 critical care ventilators each month. The company plans to ramp up production to 50,000 masks per day for two weeks, with the potential to increase to 100,000 per day. EV maker Tesla TSLA has joined forces with medical device maker Medtronic and Italy-based automakers Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler are in talks with Siare Engineering to help boost the production of medical equipments for treating the fast-spreading virus. Germany-based auto giants Volkswagen, BMW AG and Daimler AG are also exploring options to use 3D printers to produce ventilators. Indeed, automakers are heeding the call of government authorities and are coming forward to do their best in the face of the global health crisis. Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020? Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys. Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ford Motor Company (F) : Free Stock Analysis Report Toyota Motor Corporation (TM) : Free Stock Analysis Report General Motors Company (GM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCAU) : Free Stock Analysis Report Volkswagen AG (VWAGY) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. European Research Council backs research into anti-slavery in Africa and sign languages The European Research Council, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the premiere European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. Two researchers from the College of Arts and Law at the University of Birmingham have been awarded ERC Advanced Grants as part of 450 million (400 million) funding for Europes long-term frontier research. Dr Benedetta Rossi, a Reader in African History and Anthropology in the Department of African Studies and Anthropology, secured a grant to explore African Abolitionism: The Rise and Transformations of Anti-Slavery in Africa. Benedetta Rossi said: "I am grateful to the ERC for this great opportunity to expand our understanding of African and global abolitionism by developing new research with a team of researchers in Africa, Europe, and the UK. The AFRAB Project is the first large-scale comparative research project on African abolitionists. It will trace the historical developments of anti-slavery ideas and actions across African societies, networks and actors. Its results will contribute not only to African historiography, but also to the study of abolitionism as a global phenomenon." Dr Adam Schembri is a Reader in Linguistics in the Department of English Language and Linguistics. His research concerns The Dynamics of Sign Language Grammar: Morphology, Language Change, Iconicity and Social Structure in Signing Communities. Adam Schembri said: This new project aims to better understand similarities and differences in the grammar of sign languages around the world, and how they are shaped by language-internal and language-external factors. Im extremely excited about the opportunity that this funding will provide: how it will enable us to build a team of deaf and hearing researchers working on sign language linguistics research here at the University of Birmingham, and what the project will teach us about the emergence and evolution of sign languages in particular, and human language in general. The College of Arts and Law academics are among 185 winners of the annual ERC Advanced Grants competition. This funding is part of the EU research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020. The new grantees will carry out their projects at universities and research centres across 20 EU Member States and associated countries with Germany (35), UK (34) and France (21) hosting most grants. The President of the European Research Council, Professor Mauro Ferrari, commented: I am glad to announce a new round of ERC grants that will back cutting-edge, exploratory research, set to help Europe and the world to be better equipped for what the future may hold. Thats the role of blue sky research. Set up by the European Union in 2007, the European Research Council is the premiere European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. Every year, it selects and funds the very best, creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects based in Europe. The ERC offers four core grant schemes: Starting, Consolidator, Advanced and Synergy Grants. With its additional Proof of Concept grant scheme, the ERC helps grantees to bridge the gap between their pioneering research and early phases of its commercialisation. Note to Editors: For more information or interviews, please contact: Hasan Salim Patel, Communications Manager (Arts, Law and Social Sciences) on +44 (0) 121 415 8134 or contact the press office out of hours on +44 (0) 7789 921 165 About the University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the worlds top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries. About the ERC The European Research Council, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the premiere European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. Every year, it selects and funds the very best, creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects based in Europe. It offers four core grant schemes: Starting, Consolidator, Advanced and Synergy Grants. With its additional Proof of Concept grant scheme, the ERC helps grantees to bridge the gap between grantees' pioneering research and early phases of its commercialisation. The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. TOP OF THE HOUR: White House projects between 100,000 and 240,000 U.S. deaths. China reports 36 new COVID-19 cases, all but 1 from abroad. Churchgoers flock to hear Louisiana pastor despite virus ban. Trump says following social-distancing guidelines a matter of life and death. ___ BEIJING Chinas National Health Commission on Wednesday reported 36 new COVID-19 cases, one day after announcing that asymptomatic cases will now be included in the official count. The commission said all but one of the new cases was imported from abroad, while seven more deaths from the disease had been reported over the previous 24 hours. The commission did not say if any of the new cases were asymptomatic but on Tuesday reported that, of a total of 1,541 asymptomatic cases now being isolated and monitored for symptoms, 205 had come from overseas. The move to disclose the number of asymptomatic cases comes amid scrutiny of Chinas reported figures, which previously only included people who exhibited symptoms. While the proportion of people who have contracted the virus but remain asymptomatic is currently unknown, scientists say these carriers can still pass COVID-19 onto others who do end up getting sick. As Chinas domestic outbreak has largely abated, some questioned whether the countrys failure to count asymptomatic cases would lead to a resurgence of infections. China, where the virus was first detected in December, has recorded a total of 81,554 cases of COVID-19 and 3,312 deaths from the disease. ___ CENTRAL, La. Buses and cars filled a church parking lot as worshipers flocked to hear a Louisiana pastor who is facing misdemeanor charges for holding services despite a ban on gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic. Story continues A few protesters turned out Tuesday evening, too, including a man shouting through a bullhorn against the gathering at the Life Tabernacle Church. Another demonstrator held up a sign reading: God don't like stupid." Afterward, as people began leaving the church, some chatted outside the front doors and many appeared to not be adhering to social distancing recommendations to remain at least six feet apart. Hugs and handshakes were shared freely as people said their goodbyes and departed. Hours earlier, Pastor Tony Spell was issued a summons for holding services previously at the church in violation of the governor's order banning gatherings. ___ WASHINGTON The District of Columbia has announced nine new COVID-19 infections among first responders. The first day of high-volume testing for first responders revealed five new coronavirus cases among the fire department and EMS, bringing the total to 19. Four new cases were revealed for the Metropolitan Police Department, for a total of 13. Hundreds of police officers, firefighters and EMS members remain quarantined. Washington has identified 504 positive cases, with nine deaths. Mayor Muriel Bowser has issued a stay-home order for Washingtons approximately 700,000 residents. Neighboring Maryland and Virginia have done the same. ___ CANBERRA, Australia Australias biggest newspaper publisher has announced it will suspend printing 60 suburban and regional papers due to the toll the new coronavirus is taking on advertising revenue. News Corp. said Wednesday it is making local newspapers across the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia digital-only for a while beginning next week. The change is not permanent. News Corp. Australia executive chairman Michael Miller said the decision was necessary because of a rapid decline in advertising. The COVID-19 outbreak has brought a surge in new subscriptions to News Corp.s online publications. The journalists union Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance has called on the Australian government to provide financial help to several rural newspapers that have already stopped printing because of the lack of advertising. ___ TOKYO Japan's post office says deliveries will stop to more than 150 nations beginning Thursday as flights carrying mail get canceled because of the growing coronavirus pandemic. Mail will continue to the U.S., France, Australia, Hong Kong and a handful of other places, although delivery may be delayed, Japan Post said. Mail from Japan to China had already ceased last month. ___ UNITED NATIONS The U.N. Security Council is urging Afghanistans warring parties to heed the U.N. secretary-generals call for an immediate cease-fire to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the country. The council issued a statement Tuesday after a closed briefing by U.N. deputy special representative Ingrid Hayden who said the country appears to be reaching a defining moment whether its feuding leaders can join together to engage in meaningful talks with the Taliban to achieve a sustainable peace. The choice is made stark by the all-encompassing threat of COVID-19, which poses grave dangers to the health of Afghanistans population and, potentially, to the stability of its institutions, she said in remarks sent to U.N. correspondents. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and political opponent Abdullah Abdullah have been locked in a power struggle since last Septembers election, and both declared themselves president and held parallel inauguration ceremonies in early March. The discord has prompted the Trump administration to say it would cut $1 billion in assistance to Afghanistan if the two can't work out their differences. ___ SEOUL, South Korea South Korea has confirmed 101 new cases of the coronavirus, the majority of them in the populous Seoul metropolitan area, where theres alarm over a steady rise in infections linked to arrivals from abroad. South Koreas Centers for Disease Control on Wednesday said the country's caseload was now at 9,887. More than 5,560 people have been released from treatment, while 165 virus patients have died. South Korea started to enforce two-week quarantines Wednesday on all passengers arriving from abroad as it scrambles to slow infections imported from abroad amid widening outbreaks in Europe, North America and beyond. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said he was particularly worried about young South Korean students returning from overseas and warned that officials will employ a no-tolerance policy for those who fail to stay at home. Under the countrys recently strengthened laws on infectious diseases, South Korean nationals can face up to a year in prison or be fined as much as $8,200 if they break quarantine orders. Foreigners can be expelled. ___ HAVANA Cuban authorities say they are canceling the islands trademark May Day parade because of the new coronavirus and tightening air and sea travel restrictions that already bar the arrival of tourists. State media said Tuesday night that exceptions in travel restrictions that allow residents of Cuba to return to the island could be eliminated, although they did not provide details. The May Day parade often draws hundreds of thousands of mostly state workers to the Plaza of the Revolution in Havana. Cuba has also barred travel in and out of a town in western Cuba that is suspected to have a large number of infected people. Cuba has 186 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and six patients who have died. ___ RICHMOND, Va. The Virginia Department of Corrections says three offenders have tested positive for COVID-19, marking the first confirmed cases among inmates in a state correctional facility. The inmates are incarcerated at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women in Goochland, the department said in a statement. Three employees and one contractor have also tested positive, the department said. All corrections facilities "are operating on modified lockdown in order to minimize contact between groups of offenders from different buildings, the statement said. It did not provide information about the condition of any of the inmates or workers. Jails and prisons throughout the country have struggled with the question of how to protect inmates from the highly transmissible virus. Defense lawyers and some prosecutors have advocated releasing inmates, when possible, to reduce risk of transmission. ___ WASHINGTON President Donald Trump says he will speak to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis about the fate of two cruise ships carrying passengers sick with the coronavirus that are hoping to offload passengers in the state. DeSantis has said the states health care resources are already stretched too thin to take on ships' coronavirus caseload. But Trump says: They're dying on the ship, adding, I'm going to do what's right. Not only for us, but for humanity. Holland Americas Zaandam and Rotterdam ships are set to arrive later this week and at least two people on board need emergency attention. ___ WASHINGTON The White House is projecting 100,000 to 240,000 people in the U.S. will die from the coronavirus pandemic if social distancing measures continue to be followed. The projections were presented during a White House briefing Tuesday. They suggest that, if no social distancing measures had been put in place across the country, between 1.5 million and 2.2 million people would have died. Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is helping to lead the U.S. effort, says, "As sobering a number as that is, we should be prepared for it. But he says he hopes it wont soar so high. ___ WASHINGTON President Donald Trump is formally releasing his 30-day guidelines for battling the coronavirus, saying compliance with the recommendations is a "matter of life and death." At Tuesday's White House briefing on the pandemic, Trump said, "Every citizen is being called upon to make sacrifices." The guidelines are similar to the administration's earlier advice that aimed to slow the spread of the virus in two weeks. The president, however, recently announced that he was going to extend the guidelines for another 30 days, giving up his hope to reopen the national economy by Easter. Trump said: "This is going to be a very painful, very very painful two weeks." The guidelines call for continued social distancing, staying at home if sick and calling your doctor. People are also urged to refrain from going to restaurants and bars, to utilize delivery and takeout food options and to protect the elderly, although young people are at risk, too. ___ RENO, Nev. Gov. Steve Sisolak has issued a new travel advisory urging self-quarantines for visitors and residents returning to Nevada. The move comes as Nevada's coronavirus death toll reached 26 on Tuesday nearly double what it was three days ago. Statewide deaths have quadrupled the past week. Cases have more than tripled from 300 a week ago to more than 1,100. The governor's new advisory urges visitors and Nevadans returning from travel to self-quarantine for 14 days to help contain the spread of the virus. With some exceptions for essential workers, he says they should not visit public places or come into contact with anyone outside their household. ___ WASHINGTON The State Department says two of its locally employed staffers at U.S. embassies in southeast Asia and Africa have died from the new coronavirus. The department said Tuesday that one employee worked in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the other in Kinshasa, Congo. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said earlier Tuesday that one U.S. diplomat had died of the virus, but the department said it was not aware of any deaths among American staff at any of its 220 embassies and consulates overseas. On Monday, State Department health officials said they were tracking 105 confirmed cases of the coronavirus among the agencys global workforce of about 75,000. Of those confirmed cases, 75 are overseas and 30 are at State Department offices in the United States in nine cities. ___ MOSCOW An international media freedom watchdog says the autocratic ex-Soviet nation of Turkmenistan has banned the media from using the word coronavirus. Reporters Without Borders said Tuesday the word also has been removed from health information brochures distributed in schools, hospitals and workplaces. The gas-rich Central Asian nation that neighbors Iran so far has reported no cases of the new coronavirus. Iran has reported more than 44,000 cases. Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said people wearing face masks or talking about the coronavirus are liable to be arrested by plainclothes police. Ranked last in the group's 2019 World Press Freedom Index, Turkmenistan is one of the worlds most closed countries. Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has ruled the country since 2006 through an all-encompassing personality cult that styles him as Turkmenistans arkadaq, or protector. ___ LONDON A 13-year-old boy from south London with no apparent underlying health conditions has died after testing positive for the new coronavirus. He is believed to be the youngest person in the U.K. to have died after contracting the COVID-19 disease. Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab died early Monday. He had tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, a day after he was admitted to King's College Hospital with coronavirus-related symptoms, his family said. A spokesman for King's College Hospital said: Sadly, a 13-year old boy who tested positive for COVID-19 has passed away, and our thoughts and condolences are with the family at this time. Dr Jenny Harries, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, said it is the case very sadly that young people can still be affected from coronavirus. ___ TORONTO Canada's largest city has announced it is canceling all city-led and permitted events through June 30 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Toronto Mayor John Tory said Tuesday that the events being canceled include Pride Toronto in late June. Mayoral spokesman Don Peat said the cancellation applies to events that get city permits like parades and festivals and does not include sporting events like Blue Jays, Raptors and Maple Leafs games. Professional sports in North America are on hold because of the pandemic but there is some hope by leagues that play could resume before June 30. Tory said the health and safety of residents has to be the priority and said physical distancing is critical. He added that it is in line with the province's ban of gatherings of more than five people. The decision to cancel was made in consultation with Toronto's Medical Officer of Health. Toronto has at least 628 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, including eight deaths. ___ NEW ORLEANS A Louisiana pastor charged with six misdemeanors for holding church services in violation of a ban put in place to control the coronavirus said Tuesday that he would continue to ignore the ban because God told him to. Pastor Tony Spell was issued a summons Tuesday for holding services at the Life Tabernacle church in the city of Central in violation of an order from Gov. John Bel Edwards prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people, said East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore. Each violation carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $500 fine, Moore said. The whole situation just puts everyone at risk, Moore said. We ask everyone to abide by the governor's order. Spell, reached by telephone Tuesday, confirmed he was read his rights and fingerprinted but the summons wasn't deterring him. Another service was scheduled Tuesday night that he said was expected to draw hundreds. Were still here and still assembling and having church, Spell said. Asked why he was defying the governors orders, he said, Because the Lord told us to. ___ WASHINGTON A senior military general says the Pentagon has not yet delivered any of the 2,000 ventilators it offered to the Department of Health and Human Services two weeks ago because HHS has asked it to wait while the agency determines where the devices should go. Lt. Gen. Giovanni Tuck, the Pentagon's top logistics official, said in an interview with a small group of reporters Tuesday that the military arranged for an initial batch of 1,000 ventilators to be delivered, but HHS asked it to wait. Tuck also told reporters that of the 5 million respirator masks the Defense Department offered to provide to HHS as personal protective equipment for health care workers and others, about 1.5 million have been sent. He said another 500,000 are due to be shipped this week. The rest will be delivered when HHS asks for them, he added. ___ BATON ROUGE, La. Fifty-four more Louisianans have died from the new coronavirus, bringing the state's death toll to 239, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. Increased testing shows more than 5,200 people have confirmed infections, according to the figures, up more than 1,200. That's the largest single-day spike in the number of new virus cases Louisiana has seen since its first infection was reported March 9. ___ Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak The United States has a long-running love affair with natural gas, with fossil fuels acting as the lynchpin in the country's power generation mix, while nearly half of American homes use the fuel for heating. With the transition from fossil fuels to renewables in full swing in many states, natural gas serves as the bridge that will make the switch smoother and less jarring. It's hardly been smooth-sailing for the industry, though, with natural gas prices plunging to multi-decade lows thanks to an oversupply from fracking. But that's only part of the litany of problems facing the sector. There's no shortage of environmentalists and climate advocates in dozens of cities--especially in liberal-leaning states such as Washington, California, and Massachusetts--that have been pushing for natural gas to receive a complete ban in homes and businesses. Meanwhile, lawmakers in New York to California have taken a firm stand against greenhouse gas emissions. But now the industry is receiving support from a rather unlikely source--civil rights activists. Top American civil rights activists are vehemently opposed to an abrupt switch from natural gas, putting them on a collision path with progressive Democrats and environmentalists who have been pushing for an outright fracking ban. Clean Energy Bridge According to news site Axios, civil rights activists Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, and National Urban League President Marc Morial recognize the need for a clean energy transition. However, they want the switch to be gradual, mainly due to humanitarian concerns. Founder of Rainbow PUSH Rev. Jesse Jackson supports a fracking ban but has called for a "proper transition" so that poorer demographics can continue to access the vast and cheap resources it has helped to unlock: "I support the call [to ban fracking] with a proper transition. In the meantime, those who are down and out have to have it in the meantime." Meanwhile, influential civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton has voiced similar views: "I think people are concerned about the affordability and they are concerned about being left in the cold," Sharpton told Axios in early March. "I think natural gas is a temporary I don't think we ought to make it the end-all, be-all solution, but in the interim, people in communities of color should not pay the brunt of suffering through cold winters." Related: The U.S. Cant Afford To Let Shale Fail Their sentiments seem to be backed by hard facts. A 2016 study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) found that low-income citizens shoulder a disproportionately high energy burden compared to higher income groups. The study reported that low-income households spend 7.2% of their income on utilities vs. 2.3% by high-income households with the energy burden highest in Memphis (13.2% of income), Birmingham (10.9%) and Atlanta (10.2%). A big part of the high energy costs can be chalked up to inefficiencies, with the potential to eliminate 42% and 68% of the excess energy burden for African-American and Latino households, respectively, by bringing up efficiencies to the level of the average US home. Not every climate change advocate is reading from the same script; some are calling for an even stronger push to renewables. Tamara Toles O'Laughlin, North America director for influential climate activist organization 350.org, has argued that people should not have to choose between alleviating energy poverty and switching to clean energy, labeling it a "false dichotomy". "It is our duty as people who have any measure of privilege to take a position that evokes systematic change, because if we do not, then we'll all fail. Incremental decision-making only benefits the energy system that we're stuck in." Heavy Push Back The calls by the civil rights activists have added yet another string to the natural gas bow. Vanquishing coal might have been the easy part; pushing out natural gas might prove to be a much more onerous task, if California is any indication. California is regarded as one of the greenest states in the United States. Although its millions of vehicles still spew out tons of smog that pollute the air, the state has been very vocal and proactive than most at keeping greenhouse emissions low. For instance, the Golden Bear State produces more renewable energy than any other state in the nation and has even set an ambitious goal to generate 100% clean power by 2045. California has also become the first state to ditch coal for power generation. But unlike the state's successful push to abandon coal, early efforts to phase out natural gas have been facing heavy pushback. Pushing out coal was relatively painless for California residents and businesses because it mostly affected out-of-state mines and power plants. It's a different story, though, with natural gas, with the state's powerful homegrown company, Southern California Gas Co.(OTCMKTS: SOCGP)--a natural gas utility that serves nearly 22 million people from the Central Valley to the U.S.-Mexico border--determined to stay put. SoCalGas--a subsidiary of San Diego-based Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE)--has launched a sweeping campaign to preserve the role of its pipelines in powering society and convincing local officials that policies aimed at replacing gas with electricity would be wildly unpopular. Related: The Shadow War Playing Out Behind The COVID-19 Crisis SoCalGas is fighting for self-preservation with revenue from residential gas sales clocking in at nearly $2.3 billion in 2017. But it also appears to have a much better clean energy value proposition than your average fossil fuel company. The Los Angeles-based company also plans to produce biomethane using waste from dairy farms, landfills, and sewage treatment plants. It contends that doing this can kill two birds with one stone: replacing some of the natural gas in its system with renewable gas as well as limiting heat-trapping methane emissions. The company has already injected small amounts of renewable gas into its pipelines with plans to add more. Natural Gas Rebound? The natural gas camp will also be enamored by positive vibes coming from Wall Street, NaturalGasIntel writes. Goldman Sachs says that a drop in Permian gas output, though too late to save the natural gas market this year, sets the stage for a natural gas rebound with prices rallying sharply in 2021. "[A]s we enter the 2020/21 winter, we expect production declines to be visible enough that gas prices will rally sharply in our view to help summer 2021 reach comfortable inventory levels," Goldman Sachs led by Samantha Dart wrote in a report on Tuesday. "Under current forward prices, we believe this would lead US natural gas balances to a record-low level that summer, nearing only 2.2 Tcf," the analysts wrote. "This would be the result of an estimated 2.4 Bcf/d summer-on-summer decline in production matched up against a 5 Bcf/d expected increase in demand." "This exceptionally tight outlook suggests current forward prices are not sustainable," the bank concluded. GS has predicted $3.50/MMBtu gas price by the winter of 2020-2021 and $3.25/MMBtu by the summer of 2021, more than double the current price of $1.72/MMBtu. Bank of America Merrill Lynch is a bit less optimistic and sees 2021 pricing clocking in at $2.45/MMBtu--less than Goldman's 3.25-$3.50 prediction but still substantially higher from this year. Ultra-longs can take some comfort in the IEA prediction that natural gas demand will increase another 40 percent to nearly 200 quadrillion Btu by 2050 as the global transition from coal gains momentum. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. 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. Parliament is mulling the possibility of holding its coming plenary meetings via video conference due to coronavirus fears. Independent MP Osama Sharshar told Al-Ahram Weekly that the government of Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli held its weekly cabinet meeting on Thursday 26 March via video conference. This comes in line with the partial curfew and social distancing rules imposed on 25 March to help contain the spread of the coronavirus, Sharshar said, adding that parliament has a heavy legislative schedule in the coming period, not to mention that it should discuss the new fiscal years 2020-21 budget as soon as possible and before it goes into effect on 1 July. Egypts new budget was approved by the cabinet in its weekly meeting on 26 March and constitutionally it should reach parliament 90 days before it goes into effect. Mustafa Salem, deputy chairman of the Budget and Planning Committee, told Al-Ahram Weekly that in line with parliaments internal bylaws, the committee shall begin discussing the states new budget and development plan only after the minister of finance delivers to the House a detailed statement on it in a plenary meeting. That statement will then be referred to the committee to begin holding a series of meetings on the budget, at the end of which a report will be prepared to be discussed and voted on in a plenary meeting before 30 June, Salem said. Deputy Parliament Speaker Al-Sayed Al-Sherif, however, argued it was difficult to use video conferencing in holding parliaments plenary meetings. There are two obstacles in the way of parliament holding plenary meetings by way of a video conference, Al-Sherif said, explaining that Article 114 of the constitution states that the location of the House of Representatives shall be in the city of Cairo, and that the House may hold its sessions elsewhere only in exceptional circumstances and upon the request of the president of the republic or one-third of MPs, and that any meetings held otherwise and any resolutions passed thereby shall be considered null and void. Al-Sherif said Article 121 also states that meetings of the House and resolutions passed shall not be considered valid unless attended by the absolute majority of its members. Acknowledging the need to take precautionary measures to contain the coronavirus, Al-Sherif said parliament is scheduled to hold its plenary meetings on 12 April, and if things do not get worse, we can meet on this day under new rules. These necessitate that MPs will not meet in one hall, but in at least two halls and that microphones will be used so that MPs in the halls can listen to the debate and take a vote. According to Al-Sherif, for parliament meetings to be valid, there should be a quorum of at least 298 MPs attending. We have four big halls in which this necessary quorum of MPs can sit and listen to the debate, Al-Sherif said, adding that MPs can sit apart from each other. They will also be required to use facemasks and wear gloves as additional precautionary measures. Parliaments Secretary-General Mahmoud Fawzi said on Sunday that parliament took strict measures such as disinfecting the House, closing the Houses mosque and reducing staff by half. On an optimistic note, Ihab Al-Tamawi, deputy chairman of parliaments Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee, hoped that the coronavirus scare would soon be over and that parliament would be able to meet very soon. Al-Tamawi said he believed parliament does not have a heavy schedule and that the issues it is looking into could be covered if parliament is back in session by May. He too agreed it would be difficult for parliament to resort to video conferencing. We have the option of holding plenary meetings in the Grand Conference Hall in east Cairos Nasr City, parallel with precautionary measures, Al-Tamawi said, adding that the Grand Conference Hall is in Cairo, as Article 114 of the constitution stipulates. Al-Tamawi said Article 271 of parliaments internal bylaws also allows the House to meet in exceptional circumstances in a big venue that can accommodate all MPs. In these circumstances, MPs will meet and abide by all precautionary measures, Al-Tamawi said. In a statement on Sunday, parliament said heads of the Houses committees will send periodical reports to the speaker on the issues they should discuss and the reports they should prepare in the coming stage. Committee heads will also make contact with concerned cabinet ministers to follow up on recommendations and measures necessary to contain the virus, said the statement. Salah Fawzi, a professor of constitutional law and advisor to Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal, said parliament has three options. Given the fact that it will be difficult to accommodate 596 MPs in the main hall and seat them one metre apart, he proposed resorting to video conferencing. Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal will stay in his office inside the House in Cairo, while MPs will able to follow the debate online, Fawzi said, indicating that this will allow MPs to follow the debate behind video screens, deliver statements and make comments, and take a vote. Fawzi said if video conferencing proves to be technically difficult, there was another option: MPs could meet in the two halls of the House and Shura Council. The House has three floors of halls and the Shura Council has a big hall. MPs can sit there, at least one metre apart, wearing a facemask. A third option that abides by Article 114 of the constitution is that parliament hold longer meetings so that it can finish its legislative schedule on time, Fawzi said. But this option will be possible only when coronavirus fears subside, perhaps by the end of April or May. Parliaments activities were suspended until at least 12 April. A statement issued by parliaments Secretary-General Fawzi on 23 March said the Houses next plenary meetings will be held on 12 April instead of Sunday 29 March. The postponement matches state efforts to ban gatherings that might lead to an outbreak of the coronavirus, the statement said, noting that as MPs come from different governorates, it has become a necessity that they should not gather in one place. Fawzi indicated that the decision is also in tandem with Article 277 of the Houses internal by-laws which grants the speaker a mandate to change the date of plenary meetings whenever necessary. As a result, Abdel-Aal decided that the Houses plenary meetings which were scheduled for 29 March be postponed to 12 April. Meanwhile, MPs have been praising the governments measures aimed at containing the coronavirus. Deputy Parliament Speaker Suleiman Wahdan said the government of Prime Minister Madbouli was doing well in combating the spread of the virus. The governments approach was also necessary in order to not let the country face the disastrous consequences we saw in Italy and Iran, Wahdan said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 17:24:57|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close GABORONE, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi said on Tuesday that the government would declare a state of public emergency for the purpose of taking appropriate and stringent measures to address the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In his statement on the declaration of the state of the public emergency in Botswana regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in Gaborone, Botswana's capital city, Masisi said it has become apparent that urgent and necessary steps need to be taken to protect "our country and its people from this deadly virus." The threat to Botswana, which announced three confirmed cases on March 30, has escalated considerably in view of the fact that the southern African country's neighboring countries have seen a rapid rise in confirmed cases, some of which have resulted in fatalities, he said. "In terms of the powers vested in me under Section 17 (1) of the Constitution, I, Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana do hereby declare that a state of public emergency shall exist from midnight on April 2, 2020 until further notice," he said. Whilst the state of public emergency is in place, Masisi said there shall also be "extreme social distancing commencing on April 2, 2020 at midnight for a period of 28 days" because it is in the best interest of the nation. "This decision was by no means taken lightly," said Masisi, who addressed the nation via a live broadcast through the state television (Botswana Television) since he is still placed under a 14-day self-isolation which started on March 21. According to Masisi, all individuals across the country will be expected to adhere to a more severe form of social distancing and movement out of the home is only for those performing essential services and transporting essential goods during this period of extreme lockdown. Those involved will be permitted to travel using the COVID-19 Travel Permit that will be issued by the government. Masisi said the measures are taken to limit the spread of the diseases that are transmitted among humans. She's a perennial New Yorker, but in light of current events she's isolating in an upscale Long Island enclave. Sarah Jessica Parker was again seen shopping on Monday in the Hamptons, looking somber-faced and makeup free as she stocked up on groceries for the second time in four days. Parker, who turned 55 last Wednesday, was wearing a knit beige duster in the crisp late winter weather, layered over a heather grey top and two pairs of pants. Necessary errands: Sarah Jessica Parker was again seen shopping on Monday in the Hamptons, looking somber-faced as she stocked up on groceries The Sex And The City star rolled up her khakis to reveal olive green thermals underneath, peeking out just above her ankles. Sarah Jessica wore tan loafers without socks, and carried a small purse slung across her petite frame with a hot pink strap. The mother of three sported giant black SJP x Sunglass Hut sunglasses, and wore her curly blondish hair down. And in keeping with official recommendations, the theater, television and film actress put on black latex gloves before handling her shopping cart, in an effort to avoid catching the coronavirus. Casual: Parker, who turned 55 last Wednesday, was wearing a knit beige duster in the crisp late winter weather, layered over a heather grey top and two pairs of pants Careful: In keeping with official recommendations, the actress put on black latex gloves before handling her shopping cart, in an effort to avoid catching the coronavirus Upon exiting the market, Parker's cart was so full of groceries she could barely see over the heap. The wife of Matthew Broderick was last seen on Friday at the supermarket, picking up necessities for themselves, twin daughters Marion and Tabitha, 10, and son James, 17. Sarah and Matthew, 58, were gearing up to appear on the Broadway stage together, before the pandemic caused the Great White Way to shutter and go dark earlier this month. The couple, who've been married since 1997, were in rehearsals for the Broadway revival of Plaza Suite. Loading up: Upon exiting the market, Parker's cart was so full of groceries she could barely see over the heap Both the Divorce actress and her husband of Ferris Bueller's Day Off Fame are Broadway veterans, with Sarah having previously appeared in lavish productions like Once Upon A Mattress and Matthew performing in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, both in the Nineties. In Plaza Suite the pair were set to play three different couples at various stages of their relationships, but Sarah insisted that audiences wouldn't be able to see any similarities between the characters and her own relationship with her husband. 'Doing a portrait of our lives has no interest to me. These characters are not familiar to us at all. Their life choices are different, and they live in a different time and place. That's why the idea of doing this was so interesting,' she said recently. Family: SJP is wife to Matthew Broderick, and they share twin daughters Marion and Tabitha, 10, and son James, 17; seen here together last November in New York City Earlier this month, it was reported that Matthew's sister, Rev. Janet Broderick, tested positive for the coronavirus. Janet is a reverend at the Beverly Hills, California-based All Saints Episcopal Church. She recently traveled back from Louisville, Kentucky where she was at the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, attended by more than 500, according to the church. The church said that Janet was assessed, then 'moved to the ICU and placed under isolation,' when the positive test came back on March 11. Just days ago, SJP replied to a caring fan on Instagram, who asked for an update on her sister-in-law's condition: 'She is better. She was very sick. Home from the hospital now. Recovering. Thank you for asking. X.' TVS Motor Company on Tuesday announced a contribution of Rs 5 crore towards Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Public ReliefFund to fight the battle against coronavirus pandemic. The contribution has been made through Srinivasan Services Trust (SST) the CSR arm of TVS Motor Company, the company said in a statement. TVS Motor Company and group firms have already pledged Rs 25 crore to the PM-CARES fund to fight COVID-19. SST has taken up several initiatives in Tamil Nadu in the fight against coronavirus outbreak, including making and supplying one million protective face masks for essential service providers within the state. It has also deployed vehicles and disinfectants to municipalities within the state, the company said. Besides, the company has employed factory kitchens at the manufacturing units at Hosur and Padi in Tamil Nadu to make pre-packed cookedmeals. These are supplied to all essential care workers in the vicinity, from police personnel, municipal staff to healthcare workers. SST also handed over a 'Disinfectant Spray Cannon' vehicle to the Corporation of Chennai to help in disinfecting areas and localities, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Huawei reported slowing profit growth in 2019 as the U.S. blacklisting the Chinese technology giant weighed on its business. Meanwhile, a top executive at the company told CNBC the impact from the coronavirus on its business is unclear. Revenue for last year totaled 858.8 billion yuan ($123 billion), a 19.1% year-on-year rise in yuan terms. Net profit came in at 62.7 billion yuan ($9 billion), marking a 5.65% rise from last year. That's slower than the profit growth of 25% reported in 2018 and 28% in 2017. Eric Xu, rotating chairman at Huawei, told CNBC in an interview Tuesday that the company had missed its own targets. At the start of 2019, Huawei projected revenue of around 858.8 billion yuan or $123 billion, which it eventually ended the year with. But in April of last year, it was preparing to revise that target to $135 billion. In May, however, the company was put on the U.S. Entity List, a blacklist that restricts American firms doing business with it. This included companies like Google which was no longer allowed to license its Android mobile operating system to the Chinese company. Xu blamed the blacklisting for the $12 billion shortfall. "We didn't meet our revised targets, which was the $135 billion mark. We were short by $12 billion. This was the results of the U.S. sanctions," Xu said Tuesday, according to a CNBC translation of his comments in Mandarin. "We had to deal with the challenges around the supply continuity and we had to address the supply challenges in the short term, so as to supply certain products to our customers. And we also had to increase our R&D (research and development) investment," Xu added, speaking about why the net profit growth slowed. This was according to a translation provided by Huawei. Huawei faced a tough year in 2019 as the U.S. continued its campaign to try to get the company blocked from 5G rollout around the world. Next-generation mobile networks known as 5G promise super-fast data speeds and the ability to underpin future technologies like driverless cars. Washington has maintained that Huawei represents a national security risk arguing that its networking technology could be used by China for espionage. Huawei has repeatedly denied the allegations. Consumer weakness after Google block A large part of Huawei's revenue shortfall occurred in the consumer division which accounted for over 54% of the company's total sales in 2019. It overtook Huawei's core networking equipment business to become the biggest division in 2018. "It is the consumer business of Huawei that was hurt the most," Xu said. The unit, which includes smartphones and laptops, brought in revenue of 467.3 billion yuan or $66.93 billion in 2019. That was $10 billion less than Huawei was targeting. "We look at the consumer business, if everything goes on without being disrupted last year, the revenue from the consumer business would at least be $10 billion U.S. dollars more than the numbers we actually achieved," he added. Visitors pass in front of Huawei's display at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Lluis Gene | AFP | Getty Images He attributed this again to the effects of the U.S. blacklisting which meant licensed Google apps couldn't be on its smartphones. That's not a big deal in China where Google services are banned and Chinese consumers have alternatives. But in international markets, Huawei sells its phones with Google's Android operating system which includes apps such as Gmail or Google Maps. Huawei has now launched two flagship smartphones without licensed Google Android the Mate 30 last year and P40 earlier this month. The Chinese technology giant still managed to become the world's second-largest smartphone maker by market share in 2019, overtaking Apple, mainly by doubling down on its efforts in China. "China contributed to roughly three in five smartphones sold for Huawei globally in 2019 and this is about to rise further in 2020," Neil Shah, research director at Counterpoint Research, told CNBC. Supply 'fully restored' after coronavirus Photo: Richard Ricciardi/Flickr Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Philadelphia. Man shot in head, killed while riding Market-Frankford line Police said a 41-year-old man was shot in the head and killed while riding the Market-Frankford line early Monday morning in the city's Kensington section. Investigators said they believe the motive was robbery. Read the full story on 6abc Action News. 2-year-old boy among 5 people shot during birthday party in North Philadelphia The gunman opened fire into a crowd around 10 p.m. Monday along the 2300 block of W. Harold Street, according to investigators. Read the full story on 6abc Action News. Police exchange gunfire with man barricaded inside Holmesburg home The tense stand-off in Holmesburg on Sunday night left one man in critical condition. Read the full story on 6abc Action News. 5 dead, several injured after violent weekend in Philadelphia Gunfire killed at least five people and wounded others in recent days in Philadelphia, authorities said. Read the full story on FOX 29. City giving out free boxes of food to anyone in need The city of Philadelphia has free boxes of food prepared for pick up for anyone who needs one, with each box designed to last five days. This is in addition to the meal sites already set up for students while schools are closed. Read the full story on Eater Philly. 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. Schools in Maharashtra's Thane district have been warned against demanding fees during the COVID-19 lockdown, a senior official said on Tuesday. Errant institutions, who collect fees despite the warning, will lose the Maharashtra government's recognition, she added. In a strongly worded message to both aided and unaided schools, district officer Sangeeta Bhagwat said the department had received several complaints from parents that some schools in the district were demanding school fees immediately. Amid the lockdown, during which people have been unable to report for work, affecting their incomes, demanding school fees from parents is unjustified, she said. She also warned that if any school, aided or unaided, demands fees and if parents lodge any more complaints, then the errant school will lose its recognition from the state government. Bhagwat further said that till normalcy is restored, schools should not demand fees from students. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Lake District National Park along with local farmers have reminded people to remain at home during the coronavirus pandemic. The National Park Authority along with Cumbria Police, the National Trust, NFU and Farmer Network have urged the public to remain indoors. Andrea Meanwell, Farming Officer for the National Park, said that she has been talking to concerned farmers over the issue. One farmer from Borrowdale said they usually love saying hello to people when they come through the yard, Ms Meanwell said. But at the moment they are having to keep children inside the house in order to maintain our social distancing and keep their family safe. Maria Benjamin, a farmer from Nibthwaite Grange Farm, told the public to use discretion and avoid farmyards and rural homes when exercising. Its a busy, stressful time on the farm with lambing and calving and farmers dont need the additional worry of contamination to gates and property," he said. Cumbria Police are also urging people living outside the county not to visit the national park as they aim to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Slattery said: We ask people to remember that many of the rights of way, paths, gates and stiles they might walk on or touch on a day out in Cumbria are on farmers land, near their homes - where they carry out essential work. Your visit to their property may be spreading the virus that could affect all of us." He said while exercising is essential for physical and mental wellbeing, the public should avoid all unnecessary travelling in accordance with government rules and to stay away from rural homes when exercising. The message for people is that we all have an opportunity to protect our brave NHS workers and save lives. We are all in this together and we must all follow this essential advice, he said. In a bid to encourage people to observe social distancing guidance, the national park has produced signs for farmers to print at home to remind people to be cautious during the virus outbreak. The signs remind people to keep a safe distance from others, to sanitise hands before and after touching shared surfaces such as gates and stiles and where appropriate, advise on alternative routes to minimise contact. Vanuatus caretaker Minister of Foreign AffairsInternational Cooperation and External Trade, Ralph Regenvanu, receives the cheque of 100,000 US dollars of Chinese Ambassador Zhou Haicheng towards Vanuatus efforts to prevent and control COVID-19. International oil prices have fallen to record lows in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis The price of Brent crude oil stood at around $25 a barrel and US crude fell below $20 a barrel on Monday as the impacts of the crisis over the Covid-19 virus continued to affect international markets. In a sharp downgrade from its predictions on oil demand as recently as last February, the International Energy Agencys (IEA) March report predicted that global demand would be 99.9 million barrels a day in 2020, signalling a decrease of 90,000 barrels a day compared to 2019. The IEA has thus downgraded its predictions, with its March report seeing a further decline in prices due to contraction of demand for oil in China, the worlds largest consumer, coupled with the stoppage of aviation and reduction of economic activities on the global level. It has also produced scenarios regarding the outlook for the oil market in 2020. A low-case scenario sees global demand falling by 730,00 barrels a day if the coronavirus pandemic is not contained. A more optimistic scenario sees global demand growing by 480,00 barrels a day if the virus is contained on the global level. Meanwhile, the financial news agency Bloomberg reported that IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol had said in a press briefing on 26 March that oil demand could fall by about 20 million barrels per day. The storage of crude oil is a potentially growing problem, with dislocations expected to happen as soon as producers start running out of room to store crude, Edward Moya, a senior market analyst at the forex trading and broker the US Oanda Corporation, told the oil news website Oil.com. The continuous stockpiling of the commodity is also expected to push the price to as low as $10 per barrel. The falling demand for oil has adversely impacted the revenues of oil-producing countries at a critical time as they strive to draw up emergency budgets to support their economies that have been hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The US investment bank JP Morgan said that an approximate $100 to $150 billion in stocks had been offloaded by sovereign wealth funds in oil-producing countries. The situation is negatively impacting all oil-producers, from sanction-embattled Iran to US shale-producers hit by declining demand, bringing about a historically unprecedented crash in prices that will potentially induce an unprecedented curtailing of crude-oil production threatening the US oil industry. Following the US Congress passing a $2 trillion stimulus package to boost the US economy last week, the US Department of Energy withdrew its plan to buy 77 million barrels of oil for the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) after funding for the plan was removed from the stimulus package. As the demand for oil falls as a result of the slowing-down of world economies, the markets efforts to stabilise prices have also been beleaguered by the continuing tug-of-war between Saudi Arabia and Russia over production cuts. The stand-off between the two major oil producers started when a 6 March meeting of OPEC+ (OPECs 14 member-states and Russia, the worlds third-largest oil producer) failed to reach an agreement on production cuts proposed by Saudi Arabia, with Russia rejecting the proposals. Saudi Arabia had proposed a production cut to the tune of 1.5 million barrels per day until the end of June, over and above cuts already implemented by OPEC to stabilise market prices which had fallen by almost 50 per cent in January. In response to Russias refusal to approve its proposed cuts, and in a bid to demonstrate its ability to control the market, Saudi Arabia then announced a price cut, with the Saudi ARAMCO oil company announcing an increase in its production from 12 to 13 million barrels a day, causing prices to fall by 25 per cent. The US Trump administration has attempted to intervene in the standoff between Saudi Arabia and Russia, pressed by US oil companies as well as by Congress to do so. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had called on Saudi Arabia to start to stabilise market prices ahead of the G20 group meeting that was held on 26 March. But any negotiations on this front, regardless of outcome, will have little bearing on the downward turn in production and prices. According to the IEA, the short-term outlook for the oil market will ultimately depend on how quickly governments move to contain the coronavirus outbreak, how successful their efforts are, and what lingering impact the global health crisis has on economic activity. The future of the oil market at this point thus seems precarious, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimating that in 2020 Saudi Arabian oil will need to be priced at $78.3 per barrel and Russian at $40 in order to balance the countries budgets. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Utility waiver unfair Re: Waive utility bills, Your Turn, Thursday: J.A. Tony Saucedo Jr. no doubt means well by proposing the waiver of business utility bills. I, too, fear the damage to our economy from the loss of thousands of small businesses. But a proposal to waive small-business accounts would be demagogued to death. For the proposal to have a prayer, residential accounts would have to be included. Waiving utility bills passes the utility costs from utility ratepayers to San Antonio taxpayers. The two sets overlap but are not identical. Many utility ratepayers are in comparatively affluent suburbs and Hill Country subdivisions. Many city taxpayers are far less affluent than those ratepayers. Thus, waiving residential accounts would result in comparatively less affluent taxpayers subsidizing the comparatively more affluent. Thats poor public policy in anybodys book. Kenneth L. Bennight Jr. On ExpressNews.com: Bexar County to weigh creation of small business loan program Not-bright health care The New York Times says, This country has an unsurpassed medical system supported by trillions of dollars from insurers, Medicare and Medicaid. Well, the picture is not quite so bright. In the past 20 years, 20 hospitals in New York City closed because they couldnt make ends meet on Medicaid reimbursements. They were in low-income areas, most of their patients were on Medicaid, and there werent enough other patients they could overcharge to cover the shortfall. J. David Trawick Severity downplayed Though the U.S. has less than one-fourth the population of China, we now have more coronavirus cases the most of any other nation. But as President Donald Trump said Thursday, hes doing an outstanding job. His followers agree with him. Maybe if conservatives, such as KTSA radio talk-show hosts, hadnt downplayed the severity of the virus well into March, wed actually be back in the pews by Trumps randomly chosen date Easter. Stanley Hall Carnival Cruises has pleaded with the government to let the coronavirus-infected Ruby Princess return to Australia on humanitarian grounds as more than 1,000 crew remain stranded at sea. Eight people, at minimum, have caught the deadly virus from at least 409 sick travellers who disembarked in Sydney Harbour with no health checks on March 19. On Sunday, three sick crew members onboard the cruise ship stranded off the coast of Australia were rescued in a painstaking overnight medical evacuation on Sunday. The employees, who were rushed to Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, were all suffering respiratory symptoms. Carnival Cruises, which operates the Ruby Princess, on Monday called on the government to adopt a humanitarian approach and enable the company to repatriate the foreign crew left onboard. The Ruby Princess docked in Sydney Harbour on March 19 and more than 400 infected travellers were allowed to disembark the ship without any medical checks New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller on Tuesday revealed there were nine cruise ships either docked in NSW or waiting off the coast New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller on Tuesday revealed there were nine cruise ships either docked in NSW or waiting off the coast. 'There are thousands of people, potentially, in cruise ships off our coasts that aren't members of our state and if we take them in, then that could well flood our system unnecessarily,' Mr Fuller said. 'All the hard work we've done could be over. We will continue to allow them to have fuel and food ... but it is time to go to your port of origin.' Carnival Australia, however, says the crew on board the Bermuda-flagged Ruby Princess need to be repatriated 'on compassionate and humanitarian grounds'. The ship moved out of NSW waters on Tuesday, as was demanded by the state government. 'It is not safe for the ship to sail away from Australia while there are crew members on board who are ill,' the company said in a statement. 'While illness on board has been reduced due to strong health management, the ship needs to remain within reach of Australia to access healthcare services if an urgent need arises.' There are 1100 crew still on the Ruby Princess from 51 countries. The company argues while the ship is registered in Bermuda, its home port is effectively Sydney given it was here on a six-month cruise season. Eight people, at minimum, have caught the deadly virus from at least 409 sick travellers who disembarked in Sydney Harbour with no health checks on March 19 Carnival wouldn't be drawn on whether the crew would be flown home but stated it was 'in high-level federal and state discussions with the aim of enabling the repatriation'. The Ruby Princess has become a major source of COVID-19 spread in Australia after infected passengers were allowed to disembark without adequate checks. Three of its crew with severe symptoms were taken to hospital on Sunday night and another three crew were ferried to hospital on Monday night. Six people from the Radiance of the Seas were transferred to shore on Monday afternoon. Mr Fuller said NSW will continue to let people disembark cruise ships on humanitarian grounds, such as two pregnant women who asked to come ashore. 'We've had requests for two ladies to leave two different ships who were pregnant, which I thought was absolutely appropriate,' he said. 'We are receiving people sensibly back into NSW. They get the required health care, then go into mandatory isolation.' Following the Ruby Princess fiasco, NSW has banned all cruise ship passengers from disembarking until new protocols are in place. Mr Fuller said no cruise passenger will enter NSW unless they have his personal approval. Greg Butler, 56, was fighting for life in Tamworth Base Hospital's ICU after he and his fiancee Robin Russ got off the ship without any idea they could be infected Michael Dobrin, an 82-year-old Holocaust survivor, and his wife Rona, 75, caught coronavirus on the Ruby Princess and claim the cruise ship kept them in the dark about guests who had symptoms on board Australia's biggest border security blunder is still spreading the virus weeks after hundreds of infected passengers were let off the Ruby Princess. Five of the cruise ship's passengers have since died, including both of Tasmania's fatalities and one each in NSW, Queensland and ACT, with others fighting for life. The true number of infected cruise ship passengers is likely far higher as health authorities have been unable to trace everyone on board. Ruby Princess debacle cases and deaths New South Wales: 211 Victoria: 18 Queensland: 70 Western Australia: 11* South Australia: 68 Australian Capital Territory: 21 Tasmania: 3* Northern Territory: 2 Secondary cases: 8 TOTAL CASES: 412 DEAD: 5 Advertisement NSW Health said all 2,647 passengers were contacted, but its criteria for a successful contact is only that the email it sent didn't bounce. New cases are discovered every day and several states have failed to provide updated figures since last week. Passengers who later tested positive said they were not told that dozens of guests suffering from flu-like symptoms were tested on board. Instead, they found out from news reports days later they could have been exposed to coronavirus and rushed to get tested. Crew also didn't tell guests about the worsening situation on land, so they freely mingled with each other unaware of the dangers, allowing the virus to infect up to 20 per cent of them. Many got on flights, trains, and buses home and went about their lives with no idea they could be infecting thousands of people. Reports have since emerged that the ship logged 158 illnesses on board before it arrived in Sydney. Border Force and NSW Health blamed each other for the debacle in letting the passengers off the ship without being checked or told to self-isolate. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Washington, D.C., March 31, 2020 The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed concern over Iranian authorities decision to suspend all newspaper printing and distribution in the country, where newsgathering and distribution is already tightly restricted. Yesterday, Irans Coronavirus Combat Taskforce issued a decree suspending all newspaper printing, delivery, and distribution, citing the need to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to news reports and the decree, which was reprinted by local outlets. The decree was delivered to staffers at newspapers throughout Iran via text message yesterday afternoon, local journalists told CPJ on the condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal. The decree did not indicate when the ban would be lifted. Iranian authorities must contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but they must also recognize that the flow of news and information is a vital part of that effort, rather than a hindrance, said Sherif Mansour, CPJs Middle East and North Africa program coordinator. We call on the government to ensure that journalists can safely gather and distribute news in as many media as possible. Lifting internet restrictions would be an excellent way to offset the ban on printing. Since March 17, authorities in Yemen, Oman, Jordan, and Morocco have imposed similar bans on newspaper printing and distribution, as CPJ has documented. The coronavirus taskforce operates under both President Hassan Rouhanis administration and the Supreme Leaders office, according to news reports. The decree states that print media in Iran can continue their work online and on social media. However, when CPJ reviewed major national newspapers websites today, the only paper that published a full digital edition appeared to be Iran, a paper that is supervised by the presidents office. Abbas Abdi, the head of the Tehran Journalists Association, a local professional group, called the decision a damage to the media in the country, according to U.K.-based outlet IranInternational. A reporter who covers social issues for the reformist Shargh Daily and spoke to CPJ anonymously said, I disagree with the decision because many of us dont have any other income or support, we may even lose our jobs. Also, print papers have such a vast audience that online or social media necessarily doesnt have. At least 2,900 people have died from the virus in Iran, according to official estimates. The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has allowed private sector businesses affected by the Covid-19 measures to restructure the contractual relationship with employees, reported the Gulf News. These contractaul changes are to be made in mutual agreement through gradual procedures, it stated. Under the decision approved by Nasser Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, businesses affected by precautionary measures taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus and seeking to reshuffle their business structure shall gradually adopt the following actions, in agreement with their employees: The decision, which will be effective from the date of issuance - March 26, states that affected businesses having more employees than they need must register the additional staff on the virtual job market, so that they can be recruited by other businesses. Meanwhile, these businesses will remain obliged to provide these employees with accommodation and other dues, except for salary, as long as they are in the country or until they are hired by other businesses. Under Article 4 of the decision, businesses seeking to recruit during the suspension of overseas hiring shall be required to: *Post their vacancies on the virtual job market, search through available data, and select whoever meets the requirements *Apply for a work permit from the ministry, which will be provided through online systems, and hire selected candidates. Businesses can choose from a transfer work permit of employee to new employer, temporary work permit or part-time work permit. *Temporary reduction of salary Article 5 states that businesses seeking to temporarily reduce the salary of an employee during the said period shall sign an additional annexure. The validity of this temporary annexure is limited to the agreed-upon term, or as long as this resolution remains valid, whichever is. This annexure can be renewed in agreement of both parties. It shall be issued in two copies, with one copy for each party. The employer should be ready to present it to the ministry whenever requested. Under Article 6, businesses seeking to permanently reduce the salary of an employee should first obtain the ministry's approval to do so by applying for 'change of a job contracts data' according to effective procedures. As per Article 7, employees in the country looking for jobs should register with the virtual job market and apply for available jobs listed by registered organisations based on their qualifications and experience. The provisions of this resolution is only applicable to expatriate employees and during the period of applying the above-mentioned precautionary procedures. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday said the state government will ensure that no migrant worker or any other poor person starves amid the lockdown on account of coronavirus. He visited migrant labourers who have been given shelter at the Richardson Cruddas premises in Byculla in central Mumbai earlier in the day. Labourers who have become jobless due to lockdown and who have no permanent accommodation in the city have been put up at this relief centre. The minister also distributed them food packets. "This (his visit) reaffirms what Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerayhas said....the state will ensure no one goes hungry. "Tribals, daily wage labourers or any other poor person,irrespective of which state they are from, the Maharashtra government is committed to see to it that they don't suffer," he said. He had instructed officials to collect data of jobless migrant workers so that they can he given relief effectively, the minister added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China has lashed out at British politicians after ministers and senior Downing Street officials warned of a 'reckoning' with China over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Beijing today called such warnings 'slanders', 'attacks' and ways for leaders to 'dodge their responsibilities' during the global crisis, reported Chinese state media. A spokesperson claimed that Western politicians should feel 'guilty' for spreading such allegations. The news comes as latest statistics reveal that the true death toll of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK could be 24 per cent higher than officials figures show due to people died outside of hospitals. Hua Chunying (pictured) from China's Foreign Ministry today criticised American and British politicians for suggesting that Beijing covered up the true scale of its coronavirus outbreak Hua said: '[We] urge certain people to abandon political bias and prejudice and act like the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China...' A worker in a protective outfit is pictured checking the temperature of an elderly woman outside a bank in Wuhan on Tuesday True number of UK coronavirus deaths could be 24% MORE than official figures The true death toll of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK could be 24 per cent higher than NHS figures show, according to statistics released today. Patients who had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificates numbered 210 in England and Wales up to March 20, the Office for National Statistics revealed. This was 24 per cent higher than the 170 deaths recorded by NHS England and Public Health Wales during the same time frame. If the ratio has stayed true since that time, the true current number of fatalities could be around 1,739 instead of the official 1,408. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has launched a new data series adding in the numbers of people who have died with or after having COVID-19 in the community, including those who died in care homes or their own houses. Advertisement Hua Chunying, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was responding to recent comments made by American and British leaders when she voiced the criticism, reported Beijing's state-run newspaper Global Times. She condemned UK officials for suggesting that China gave false information about the epidemic there. She also blasted US politicians for alleging that Beijing's cover-up led to an escalation of the crisis. Hua said: '[We] urge certain people to abandon political bias and prejudice and act like the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China, which prioritise the lives and safety of its people.' Hua did not name any specific politicians. The Mail on Sunday revealed over the weekend that ministers and officials were furious about China's campaign of misinformation, attempts to exploit the pandemic for economic gain and animal rights record. There are even Cabinet calls to reverse the decision to let Huawei build large parts of the new 5G telecoms network. The UK's coronavirus death toll has risen to 1,408, with more than 22,100 people infected. A man is pictured walking through a deserted Trafalgar Square in London on March 30 Michael Gove also suggested that China was to blame for the government's slow response and the lack of mass testing for coronavirus in the UK. Chinese secrecy slowed the UK's response to the coronavirus crisis, Gove swiped on Sunday. The Cabinet minister said although the first case was identified before Christmas, the communist state had not been 'clear about the scale, the nature, the infectiousness'. Ministers and senior Downing Street officials has warned there will be a 'reckoning' with China over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Pictured, people wearing face masks arrive at a Wuhan train station on the first day of the resumption of inbound train services on March 28 Michael Gove swiped that China had not been 'clear about the scale, the nature, the infectiousness' of coronavirus The dig came amid mounting criticism of the UK government's approach, including delays in ramping up testing. Told on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that ministers had known about the coronavirus threat since before Christmas, Mr Gove said: 'We have been increasing the number of tests over the last month. 'It was the case that the first case of coronavirus was established in December last year. 'But it was also the case that some of the reporting from China was not clear about the scale, the nature, the infectiousness of this.' Mr Gove said the government had 'always followed the scientific advice', pointing out it had published much of the information it been given by experts. The UK's death toll has risen to 1,408, with more than 22,100 people infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Boris Johnson (pictured taking a meeting by video conference yesterday) now faces Cabinet calls to reverse his decision to let controversial Chinese firm Huawei build large parts of Britain's new 5G telecoms network One senior Government source said: 'Of course, the only priority now is to deal with the crisis, but everybody knows that there has to be a reckoning when all this is over.' Writing for The Mail on Sunday, former Tory Party leader Iain Duncan Smith said: 'For too long, nations have lamely kow-towed to China in the desperate hope of winning trade deals. But once we get clear of this terrible pandemic, it is imperative that we all rethink that relationship and put it on a much more balanced and honest basis.' Being asked about UK politicians criticism of China, Dominic Raab said the UK would need to team up with as many countries as possible to tackle the pandemic. Raab, pictured at the government's daily briefing on Monday, claimed that the UK had 'good cooperation' with China, but called for a 'lessons learnt' inquiry into the crisis when it is over Leading the government's daily briefing yesterday, the Foreign Secretary said: 'At home here, in terms of tackling this coronavirus crisis, we need to come together as a team. 'Internationally, we need to bring as many countries together [as possible] if are going to collaborate effectively in tackling this crisis and stopping further waves. Raab also claimed that the UK had 'good cooperation' with China, but called for a 'lessons learnt' inquiry into the crisis when it is over. He said: 'We had good cooperation with the Chinese government in terms of repatriating UK nationals from Wuhan. 'But obviously, after the crisis has abated, I think the time will be right to conduct the kind of lessons learnt and that I am sure the World Health Organization will be at the full front of that.' A New York scholar, renowned for his love of walking every block in the Big Apple, has died of coronavirus. William Helmreich, a prominent sociologist in the city, was said to be showing signs of improvement after testing positive for Covid-19. But he passed away from the virus on Saturday morning. He was 74 years old. Due to social distancing measures, William Helmreich's family have been unable to sit shiva - a Jewish tradition of mourning at home together Switzerland-born Helmreich became popular for walking 'virtually' every block in New York City. He wrote almost 20 books that chronicled his travels. One title, 'The New York Nobody Knows: Walking 6,000 Miles in the City', was a document about the people he met while walking the city. He was about to complete a spin-off volume in a series about the five boroughs of New York when he died. 'He was just about to finish Staten Island,' his son Jeffrey Helmreich told CNN. 'We've still got to finish that one.' The 74-year-old academic was born to Holocaust survivors in Switzerland, before immigrating to New York City as a young child. In later life, Helmreich became a sociology professor at the City College of New York. He is described as 'a true City College institution', by CCNY President Vincent Boudreau. 'Professor Helmreich was ... a man with a restless curiosity about the people around him, a ceaseless investigator and an avid storyteller,' added Boudreau. Helmreich's book, 'The New York Nobody Knows: Walking 6,000 Miles in the City', as seen online Helmreich's scholarship was 'so much about learning with his feet, with his heart, with his intuition, with his gut,' according to his son, Jeffrey, which spurred his quest to walk every inch of New York City. 'Every place and every person was interesting to my father,' added his son, talking to CNN. 'He believed that everybody had a story worth telling.' Jeffrey Helmreich is also a professor, but at the University of California, Irvine. Helmreich reportedly died suddenly on Saturday, despite improved symptoms of coronavirus. 'We weren't ready for this at all. We didn't say goodbye. We didn't think we had to say goodbye,' said his son. Due to social distancing measures owing to Covid-19, Helmreich's family have been unable to sit shiva - a Jewish tradition of mourning at home together. Instead, his family are understood to have held a 'virtual funeral', with just few a attendees. According to CNN, funeral service employees wearing protective clothing bore Helmreich's casket, before a bulldozer pushed dirt over his grave. His widow and one of his sons attended the funeral, standing six feet apart from one another. Discussions of how to save local news now need to balance two awkward realities. On the one hand, local news organizations need urgent help in order to keep their doors open and provide information to residents. No, it doesnt make sense to abandon the newspaper chains right now, as Ben Smith has argued in The New York Times. But it is true that before the coronavirus outbreak, the local news system was already teetering and twisted. Government policy must help develop a better local system, not just prop up antiquated models. Many people have offered intriguing suggestions for what government should do. Here are mine, informed not only by my work leading the Federal Communications Commissions 2011 report on Information Needs of Communities, which warned that the digital revolution would undermine local news, but more recently my job running Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. The goal here is to get serious resources to local news organizations, quickly, but in a way that grows the non-profit news sector, emphasizes local control of media, alters toxic financial structures, and supports the reporters who are making commitments to public service journalism. Urgent and Temporary The government should funnel public health ads through local media. Ive seen great commercials from the Centers for Disease Control about proper hand-washing running on HBO. Those ads also should be running in Flint Beat and the Redding Record Searchlight. Before COVID-19, the government spent about $1 billion in public service ads, mostly for the military and the census. It should spend at least another $1 billion on public health ads to help alter behavior and half of the spend should go through local media. That would be at least $500 million quickly infused into the local media economy. Half of the half should go through nonprofits. (More detail on this idea here). Apparently, Canada is beginning to try this approach. Sign up for CJR 's daily email COVID Emergency Response Funds should include efforts to improve the quality and quantity of local information. States are setting up COVID-19 emergency response funds, partly with federal money. Almost all of this money should go to respirators, testing, masks, and anything else to protect both the public and health care workers. But a small percentage should go to making sure the residents get accurate and trustworthy information. One idea: news organizations should each assign a community engagement reporter to hang out in Facebook groups or NextDoor sites to answer questions and also quash misinformation. COVID response funds could support that. Urgent and Permanent Now lets tackle the massive, structural issues that had led to the spread of news deserts and ghost newspapers a landscape that is making it harder for many communities to get the information they need now. Newspapers Whether we like it or not, many Americans still get their news from local newspapers that are parts of chains. If they were to go away right now, the situation would become catastrophically worse. However, we should recognize that the commercial newspaper system model has been warped into a system that mostly does not adequately serve communities. The issue is not that theyre for-profit, or even necessarily that theyre chains. The problem has been that they are massive and publicly traded and often owned by private equity firms. A forward-looking strategy should push toward more local control in the commercial newspaper sector, along with major growth of the non-profit sector. Create a De-Consolidation Fund. Private equity or venture groups often have roll-up funds to finance consolidation. We need a deconsolidation fund (or, more loftily, a Community-Based Media Fund). Such an organization could provide transition capital or legal support to ease a newspaper into non-profit status, represent the public interest in bankruptcy proceedings, and even sometimes buy local newspapers from private equity firms, as part of a plan to transition to local ownership. The key here is that the mission would be maximizing the health of local news ecosystems, not private shareholder return. Make it easier for a commercial news organization to convert into a nonprofit. The conversions of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Tampa Bay Times and Salt Lake Tribune to non-profit status offers great hope. Structured as non-profits, they can remain strong and large. But its not easy to pull off. In the best of times, this is a royal pain in the ass, says Jim Friedlich, chief executive of the Lenfest Institute, which managed the shift for the Inquirer and now owns it. In the case of the Salt Lake Tribune, the IRS acted swiftly and wisely to allow the move. The agency should quickly issue clear guidelines on how to make such expedited decisions the norm and should allow use of their EZ Form for newspaper-to-nonprofit conversions. Change bankruptcy and pension laws to help community-ground newspapers. Better policies in these areas could profoundly help local news. Bankruptcy courts are allowed to put only minor emphasis on whether a proposed restructuring deal is good for the community (as opposed to the creditors). But new law could change those old judicial habits. Courts overseeing bankrupt newspapers should be allowed to give greater weight to whether the new owners intend to invest in local reporting. Same with pensions. Firms like McClatchy should have been allowed more time to rework their massive pension obligations if they committed to invest in local reporting. Anti-trust and tax law should limit consolidation and financialization of local news. Since the 1980s, the federal government has taken the view that the consolidation of newspapers was fine as long as it didnt suppress competition in any given community. But in hindsight the creation of publicly traded mega-chains changed the incentive structure within media companies, requiring local papers to not just break even but clear hefty profits. Then, changes in the financial industry allowed the growth of private equity firms that bought many of the chains. Congress should alter antitrust laws to restrict those mergers that lead to less investment in local reporting. And it should get rid of the carried interest tax provision that has allowed private equity firms to flourish by paying lower rates than others. Public radio and TV The role of public radio and TV is often forgotten in discussions about how to save local news. As of 2011, about 70 percent of local public TV stations aired zero minutes of local news. But many local public radio stations are now pushing hard to cover their communities. In many cases, radio stations have the business model (member support) and reach to deliver real impact. The budget for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting should be doubled. But if that new wine is put into the old wine skins, it will sour. We need structural reform. Allow the Corporation for Public Media to fund non-profit websites. Right now there are two types of non-profit media. 1) Radio/TV and 2) online news organizations. The government funds the former but not the latter. That makes no sense. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting should be renamed the Corporation for Public Media and put at least $100 million into non-profit websites, using the same nonprofit, non-partisan approach that it has taken in the past. Stop putting the lions share of public broadcasting money into TV. About 67 percent of spending by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been earmarked for public TV. But radio stations are the ones now trying to improve local news. We should remove the cap and funnel more money to public radio if its used for local reporting that reaches the broad community, not just the public radio donor class. The public interest obligation for local commercial TV stations should be enforced and emphasize local reporting. The Federal Communications Commission ostensibly requires local broadcast stations to meet public interest obligations. These are a joke. Stations that do no local reporting at all are passing muster. This rule should either be enforced with an emphasis on stations providing real local information provision or stations should be able to buy out of the obligation by funding non-profit news in the area. Direct Aid to Journalists All of the above ideas help news organizations. We also need a strategy to directly help journalists. Local journalism should be treated as a public service profession and journalists should be eligible for federal loan forgiveness. The main public service loan forgiveness program enables graduates to wipe out their debt if theyve made 10 years of payments and work for a non-profit. Its a horribly structured program that few people can access. In addition to removing the red tape, the program should be changed to allow a debt wipe out if you work for two years in a public service profession, including as a reporter at a local nonprofit news organization. The government provides special loan forgiveness programs for lawyers, nurses, teachers, and veterinarians. Lets have one for journalists in local, nonpartisan, nonprofit news. AmeriCorps should include local journalism programs. I worked at AmeriCorps. I wrote a book about AmeriCorps. I love AmeriCorps. And yet when I co-founded a national service program of my own Report for America I decided not to ask that Report for America become an AmeriCorps program. The reason was that they only funded programs that met the governments grantmaking priorities (economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, disaster services, healthy futures, environmental stewardship and capacity building.) Addressing news deserts should count as a national priority. This more flexible approach would enable Report for America to field hundreds if not thousands more reporters and reduce the college debt of the corps members. Of course, AmeriCorps leaders would need to develop a certain tolerance for corps members writing articles critical of local officials or governments. Non-profit local media Hundreds of promising non-profit local news organizations have sprouted up in recent years. But theyre often fragile and small. Philanthropy needs to substantially increase its support, and many of the government spending programs outlined here advertising, Corporation for Public Media funds, the FCC changes should fund non-profits. But theres one other change that would help. Change the IRS rules so that nonprofit local journalism organizations more easily qualify for tax-exempt status. In the past, the IRS has sometimes advised non-profit news organizations to remove the word journalism from their application, and instead emphasize education. Its time to end that charade. Local non-profit journalism is a charitable purpose if the organization is set up through a non-profit structure. For years, the IRS has assessed whether a journalism entity could be a non profit by scrutinizing whether its operational practices were different from for profit entities. Nonprofits got penalized for having subscriptions or advertisers, for instance the very earned-revenue approaches that would make them more likely to succeed. Its a ridiculous approach. Lately, the agency has been doing better but the policy has never been clarified and could easily revert, with catastrophic results. The IRS should even consider allowing subscriptions to non-profit news organizations to count as a tax deductible charitable contribution. Online Ban cookie-based targeted advertising. The internet has harmed local media in part because cookies allow for ads to follow consumers around the internet. Many reformers are now advocating a dramatic step: improve privacy by banning this type of targeted advertising. This step could also help local news. To reach local consumers, local businesses would need to focus on local news sites, instead of just Google or Facebook. Create thousands of mini-SPANs. The cable industry created C-SPAN. Its time for state and local governments to make all public meetings available online. Many do it already, but many do not. Google and/or Facebook could make this a reality. Direct Government Cash to Media Organizations Ive left this for last because most discussions of government policy usually start with it. And its the most controversial and problematic approach. But its time to tackle this question head on: should the government directly fund local journalism? In my view, the Trump presidency has demonstrated the economic need for government help and the perils. Just imagine if we had a United States version of the BBC in place when Donald Trump came in. Do we really think he would have restrained himself from turning a USBC into a propaganda machine? Do we want the federal government exerting that kind of influence over the content of local media too? Having said that, the scale of the collapse of local news and the destructive consequences for democracy are so severe that the philanthropic sector alone probably is not sufficient. So we should ramp up government support, with a vigilant eye toward structures that guarantee independence and strict non-partisanship. We should create more non-partisan, local journalism funds with firewall protections against ideological influence. Free Press has made some creative proposals on how to finance a big effort to help media. A tax on some internet advertising, for instance, could generate $2 billion a year that could be spent on the local media. Journalism schools in each state should take the lead in designing independent structures that could distribute money locally. Of course, Im fond of the Report for America model. We have a double firewall because we select the reporters and gather the national funding but the local newsroom employs the reporter and decides on the stories. It also builds in a sustainability goal, as we help the local newsrooms to draw new dollars off the sidelines. But, of course, ours is only one model. There are encouraging experiments in New Jersey, Colorado and Ohio. What we cannot do is view this as a way to fund the resistance or the Tea Party. Conversely, well all have to develop a certain tolerance that my tax dollars will go to journalism we may not like. Most of these are reforms that could have happened if wed had a functional Congress. But, ironically, COVID-19 and the need for fast-moving bailouts has briefly made it possible to make major legislative reforms. Lets use this moment to create a local media system that will help us survive the pandemic and better serve communities in the decades to follow. Correction: a previous version of this story misstated funding and coverage figures for public television and radio. The statistics have been amended. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Steve Waldman is President and co-founder of Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Previously, he was the lead author of the Federal Communications Commissions report Information Needs of Communities, and chair of the Council on Foundations Task Force on Nonprofit Media. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) on Monday issued a statement on the evening's incident on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The statement reads as follows: Today's cross-border attack by Azerbaijan against the Tavush region of Armenia (two servicemen, one child wounded) confirms two realities: 1) OSCE's failure to challenge decades of Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia & Artsakh, in favor of false-parity (generically calling on all parties to refrain from violence) has emboldened Baku to the point it's willing to risk regional war during a global pandemic. 2) Armenians will never accept a reckless Madrid-style deal that asks Artsakh to cede territory, sovereignty & security upfront in return for vague, reversible promises from Azerbaijan that it will agree, at some point in the future, to a process regarding Artsakh's status. A great grandmother-of-seven aged 94 is believed to have become the oldest woman in the UK to beat coronavirus, while an 82-year-old grandfather has also returned home after fighting off the killer infection. Joy, who has asked for her surname to not be revealed, is back home after battling the infection for nine days in James Paget Hospital, Gorleston, Norfolk. She has credited NHS staff for her amazing recovery, saying to them: 'Thank you for the wonderful care.' Joy, one of just 135 full coronavirus recoveries in the UK, said she was 'absolutely overjoyed at how helpful and brilliant everyone was at the hospital'. She added: 'I couldn't fault them for helping so many people'. It came as Joseph Ruddy, 82, returned home to his wife in Newcastle today after spending 10 days in the Royal Victoria Infirmary fighting the disease. Meanwhile Helen Gent, 92, is at home and recovering with the help of some cakes from Tesco after spending a week at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital. Joy who has asked for her surname to not be revealed is back home after battling the infection for nine days in James Paget Hospital, Gorleston, Norfolk Joseph Ruddy, 82, returned home to his wife in Newcastle today after spending 10 days in the Royal Victoria Infirmary fighting the disease His granddaughter Erin said: Hes a hero and I honestly hope this inspires others to think positive. Joy's family have described her as 'amazingly fit and healthy for her age' have now nicknamed her 'Supergran' and 'Miracle Lady'. Joy who has three children, seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, fell ill on March 20 at her residential home in north Suffolk. She called the 111 helpline to report that she had breathing difficulties and a high temperature, and the call handler sent an ambulance to bring her to hospital straight away because of her age. Tests at the hospital later revealed she had both pneumonia and coroanvirus. Her grandson Toby Basil, of Leiston, Suffolk, said: 'To begin with, it was a suspected chest infection or pneumonia because of the way the symptoms presented themselves. 'When we found out that she had tested positive for both coronavirus and pneumonia, my mum thought that was it. 'I was a little bit more positive about it as I try to see the best and be optimistic, but mum was very worried. Last week it was revealed that former pharmacist Jack Bowden was thought to have become Britain's oldest man to survive COVID-19 - at the age of 98. Mr Bowden, pictured left, with son Mark, right 'They kept her in for nine to ten days, monitoring her temperature and looking after her. We weren't able to see her. 'After nine days, she was not getting any worse and she was so chirpy and full of energy - so they felt it was better for her to get out of the environment where she could get it again. 'At 94, that's amazing in itself. She's done remarkably well. 'She said every member of staff was brilliant. She couldn't fault the care - everyone was so lovely.' Joy is now in isolation at her residential home for another 14 days, to make sure she does not unwittingly pass on the virus to others. Mr Basil said her illness showed the huge dangers of coronavirus and the need for people to stick to social distancing rules. He added: 'I was shocked that gran had got it. She only regularly comes into contact with about 20 people because she lives in a very small residential home, not a care home. 'That puts into perspective how this virus is spreading. I don't think people appreciate how easy it is to get it. People don't seem to understand that.' Last week it was revealed that former pharmacist Jack Bowden was thought to have become Britain's oldest man to survive COVID-19 - at the age of 98. He tested positive for coronavirus without having 'any typical flu symptoms' after being taken ill with a water infection and being admitted to hospital. Mr Bowden, a former Royal Navy petty officer who worked on production of penicillin in World War Two, was discharged on March 21 just three days after being diagnosed and returned to his care home in Bolton, Greater Manchester. But he was then readmitted to hospital last Wednesday after his son Mark said he had taken 'a slight turn for the worst'. Helen Gent, 92, is another pensioner celebrating a remarkable recovery from coronavirus, after she was admitted to Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital a week ago. Helen Gent with grandaughter Hayleigh Clayton. Helen, 92, is on the road to recovery after she suffered a fall and was diagnosed with Covid-19 a week ago Helen's granddaughter Hayleigh said: 'Shes in very good health other than a failed hip - she has always looked after herself. Shes spent most of the time eating cream cakes or things from the deluxe section of Tesco' Her family said Helen, who has lived through World War Two and eight recessions has knocked it out of the park and is made of strong stuff. She had been in isolation for the last week at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19 and pneumonia. Last night, her family got the welcome news she is now deemed medically fit. The former Marks and Spencer worker's granddaughter, Hayleigh Clayton, from Basingstoke, Hants, said: 'She is still a bit weak and will probably have to go into a care home but we are so pleased. 'We are a very strong family. Weve had a lot of health issues and have really gone through the last few years so grandma recovering has really knocked it out of the park for us. We hope our luck is turning.' The former shop worker was taken into hospital last week after suffering a fall. Medics then noticed she had a temperature and was displaying symptoms of the disease. Miss Clayton, 35, added: 'Its funny because when we found out she had coronavirus I had a feeling she would be ok. 'She was put in isolation, but apparently the next morning she was sat up eating breakfast, watching television... 'Shes in very good health other than a failed hip - she has always looked after herself. Shes spent most of the time eating cream cakes or things from the deluxe section of Tesco.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 15:21:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday held separate phone conversations on the fight against COVID-19 with his Portuguese and Luxembourg counterparts, Augusto Santos Silva and Jean Asselborn, at their request. COVID-19 is rapidly spreading in Europe and the situation is grim, said Wang, adding that the Chinese side identifies with the feelings of the people in Portugal and Luxembourg and extends its deep sympathies to them. "As strategic partners, we've always had the great tradition of mutual support," Wang said, expressing his gratitude to the two countries for their support for China's fight against the epidemic. Though China's demand for medical supplies remains large, especially to prevent a resurgence of the outbreak, China is willing to provide maximum support for both countries within its capacity and actively assist their procurement of medical supplies and equipment in China, he said. China also supports Chinese experts to share their COVID-19 prevention and control experience with their Portuguese and Luxembourg counterparts via video links, Wang added. Wang expressed the hope that Portugal and Luxembourg will effectively safeguard the health, safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens, including those studying on their soil, and provide medical care for them. He believed that political mutual trust and practical cooperation between the two sides will be further enhanced in the fight against COVID-19. Silva congratulated China on the important progress it has made in the fight against the outbreak, noting that Portugal is willing to deepen cooperation with China to jointly combat the epidemic. The outbreak in China has been effectively controlled, and Chinese medical goods and equipment are very important for Europe's fight against the epidemic, said Silva. The Portuguese side hopes that China will continue to support and facilitate its purchase of medical goods, Silva said, adding that the Portuguese side will do its utmost to ensure the health and safety of Chinese citizens and students in Portugal. For his part, Asselborn said the spread of COVID-19 has become a global challenge and needs to be addressed through enhanced international cooperation. He said that Luxembourg supports China's anti-epidemic measures and efforts, and congratulates China on its effective fight. Luxembourg thanks China for providing medical supplies and experience in fighting against the COVID-19, and hopes to continue to receive China's support in the procurement and transportation of equipment, he added. 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. The world-wide spread of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) presents us all with rather interesting questions about the power and role of federal and state government. COVID-19 is the illness caused by a virus strain that began spreading in people in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. It is not the same as the coronaviruses which arise seasonally and cause mild symptoms, such as the common cold. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in both humans and animals. There are currently seven strains of human coronaviruses that have been identified. Four of these strains are common and found in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world. These common human coronaviruses typically cause a mild to moderate respiratory illness. Sometimes, new coronaviruses emerge, and COVID-19 is one of them. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the main way COVID-19 is spread to others is when an infected person coughs or sneezes. This is similar to how influenza is spread. The virus is found in droplets from the throat and nose. When someone coughs or sneezes, other people near them can breathe in those droplets. The CDC originally urged halting gatherings of 50 people or more. Consequently, church services, schools, sporting events, and concerts are cancelling, along with other events which involve a large gathering of people. Most of these cancellations are for the balance of the month of March, as Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal governments top infectious disease expert, said that a 14-day national shutdown should be sufficient to prevent the viruss spread. As of the moment this article was penned, the worldwide outbreak has sickened 235,166 people and left 9,774 dead. This seems insignificant when compared with the 45 million infections and more than 650,000 deaths each year from the common influenza. However, the goal is to nip the new virus in the bud until a vaccine is developed. GeoVax, a US-based pharmaceutical company, and BravoVax, a China-based pharmaceutical company, have announced they are close to developing a coronavirus cure in the form of vaccine based on the formers MVA-VLP vaccine platform. State and municipal governments in Illinois, Washington, and New York originally announced plans to close bars, restaurants and clubs. Other states, including Wisconsin, have followed suit. Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee (D) said late Sunday he will sign a statewide emergency proclamation mandating the order, which will also ban any gatherings of 50 or more people. Many are wondering whether and when the government will close private companies where employees gather, and whether they have the authority to do that in the United States. Up to now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has only recommended strategies for private employers, including: Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Separate sick employees. Emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette, and hand hygiene by all employees. Perform routine environmental cleaning. Advise employees before traveling to take certain steps. Additional measures in response to currently occurring sporadic importations of the COVID-19: Employees who are well but who have a sick family member at home with COVID-19 should notify their supervisor and refer to CDC guidance for how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure. If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19, employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Employees exposed to a co-worker with confirmed COVID-19 should refer to CDC guidance for how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure. There is talk about further shutdown of companies and small businesses across the country. This raises the question of whether the government has the authority to shut down a company and effectively put them out of business in conditions such as these. Every state, the District of Columbia, and most territories have laws authorizing quarantine and isolation, usually through the states health authority. The laws in all 50 states granting the government authority regarding quarantine and isolation can be found HERE. However, the U.S. Constitution places fairly strict limits on the federal governments power to quarantine individuals within a single state though these limits do not apply to state officials. And the Constitution prohibits both federal and state governments from denying anyone life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. However, the details and limits of due process in the contest of quarantines is not very well defined. If and when the federal government steps in to require severe and painful actions on the part of small businesses, there is likely to be a lengthy period of legal chaos where lawsuits are filed and judges across the country try to make sense of existing precedents often reaching contradictory results in the process until the Supreme Court steps in to hand down a nationwide rule. In 1944, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Korematsu v. United States decision that the federal government had the right as a military necessity to mandate that Japanese Americans leave their homes and jobs and be sent to internment camps. Over 117,000 Japanese were ultimately forced to leave their homes out of a national fear over subversion in the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor. In June of 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court in Hawaii v. Trump upheld President Trumps travel restrictions against five majority-Muslim countries Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. The decision officially overturned the Korematsu decision for the first time. Any legal challenge to a government decision telling a store or business owner that he or she is required to close her doors for the good of the public health will likely be decided in favor of the government. On March 18, Detroits three automakers all closed due to employee fears about the coronavirus. Fiat Chrysler shut its doors indefinitely in the Motor City, while Ford and General motors closed all their North American factories through March 30. On the same day, President Trump announced he was invoking the Defense Production Actan obscure wartime law which gives the government more ability to direct industrial production of certain items (including medicine and medical supplies) during emergencies. It allows the federal government to accept and prioritize contracts for services and materials deemed necessary to national defense, gives the President authority to create incentives for industry to produce critical materials, and allows the government to abrogate agreements with private industry and halt foreign corporate mergers that would threaten national security. It also authorizes the diversion of certain materials and facilities from ordinary use to national defense purposes, when national defense needs cannot otherwise be satisfied in a timely fashion. President Obama had used the same power in 2011 requiring telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon to divulge where they get their network hardware and software to combat potential cyber-espionage. Governments have expansive emergency powers when it comes to public health. The governments power to quarantine actually lies with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but that organization does not have the kind of mechanisms in place to effect a sanitary quarantine of an entire American city, yet alone to enforce an order to close businesses with more than a certain number of employees. The U.S. military might be the most obvious government body tasked with using governments police power to enforce such drastic measures, but statutes and long-standing constitutional norms weigh against calling up an army to enforce such measures. The concept of the states police power was adopted in early colonial America from English common law mandating a limitation on individual rights when needed for the preservation of the common good. It was one of the powers reserved by the states with the adoption of the federal Constitution and was limited only by the Constitutions Supremacy Clausewhich mandates preeminence of federal law in matters delegated to the federal governmentand the individual rights protected in the subsequent Amendments. The application of police power has traditionally implied a capacity to (1) promote the public health, morals, or safety, and general well-being of the community; (2) enact and enforce laws for the promotion of the general welfare; (3) regulate private rights in the public interest; and (4) extend measures to all great public needs. The courts have consequently held that states must demonstrate that public health actions are intended to further public health objectives in order to avoid criminal law constitutional limitations. Challenges any such extreme measures would likely involve an argument that the action is for more extreme than it necessary to fight COVID-19 and keep the virus from spreading. Lt. J.G. Jan Sangrones leads medical response team training aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort, which was deployed to serve as a referral hospital for non-coronavirus disease (COVID-19 patients) currently admitted to shore-based hospitals, as the ship transits the Atlantic Ocean on its way to New York City, March 29, 2020. [Photo/Agencies] By Li Jie As the COVID-19 pandemic is getting increasingly serious in the US, the Americans are paying close attention to what or how much the US military can do to fight the pandemic. On March 28, local time, the US President Donald Trump visited the Naval Station Norfolk in California to see off the much-anticipated Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH-20), which was seen as a high-profile mobilization order for the US military to join the anti-pandemic efforts. However, owing to multiple factors, the US military is likely to merely play second fiddle in the COVID-19 combat. First of all, the highly contagious novel coronavirus prevents the US military from fully exerting itself. The US military has only two 69,000-ton Mercy-class hospital ships. Although its the worlds largest ocean-going hospital ship equipped with 1,000 beds (including 80 beds in ICU) and 12 operation rooms, its mainly designed for surgical operations and used to save and treat soldiers suffering burning, gun or artillery injuries during wartime or maritime conflicts. Actually, the ship has no isolation section or negative pressure wards, making it unsuitable for the treatment and care of patients suffering from infectious respiratory diseases. Therefore, the US navys hospital ship will serve as a transfer hospital that will provide comprehensive medical care and services for non-COVID-19 patients, so that the local medical staff can concentrate on treating COVID-19 patients with the freed-up ICUs and ventilators. Second, the US military doesnt have enough medical personnel and it has to enlist civilians in wartime. The Mercy-class hospital ship can be staffed with more than 1,200 medical personnel in wartime or under special circumstances, including nine senior medical officers. But the US navy only assigned less than 1,000 medical and supportive personnel this time, indicating a manpower shortage. Besides, these medical staffs are best at regular surgical operation. Although they can provide ICU care and regular nursing, they have almost zero training in COVID-19-related treatment and care, and it will be hard for them to directly engage in such work. Even if they are trained on the spot, there is neither time nor conditions to make them fully prepared. Third, the US military already has a full plate with a growing number of COVID-19 infections. According to the US Department of Defense (DoD), 414 service members have been infected with COVID-19 as of March 26, including 280 in active service and 134 civilian personnel. The USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carriers have both reported confirmed COVID-19 cases, with the number of infections still on the rise. Almost 5,000 people on board are quarantined or under testing. Considering the rising number of infected service members, the Pentagon has ordered a suspension of all travels, deployments and exercises of American troops, including those stationed overseas, to contain the spread of COVID-19. The number of confirmed COVID-19 patients has been increasing at a daily rate of more than 10,000 cases. The mounting anti-pandemic pressure has forced Donald Trump, the commander-in-chief of the three services, and the top brass at Pentagon to tap the armys potential to the largest. For one thing, the National Guard is ordered to join the anti-pandemic battle with concrete actions. For instance, orders were given days ago to build cabin hospitals in the State of New York, California, and Washington, areas that are hit hardest by the pandemic, with 4,000 beds for COVID-19 patients. For another, according to the Constitution and the National Emergencies Act, the DoD and Department of Homeland Security are authorized to enlist reservists of the armed forces to join the battle against the virus. According to the mobilization order, no more than one million reservists will be enlisted for the service term of no more than two years. It is the fourth time to mobilize the reservists by a US president since WWII, with the largest scale ever. Last but not least, retired medical workers are summoned back to help frontline staff. With the rising number of confirmed cases, the medical staff working on the front line are under intensified pressure due to understaffing. An internal email from the US military shows that more doctors and nurses are needed at the ICU, anesthesiology department and respiratory department, but the retired military medical personnel can decide on their own whether to answer the call. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 22:06:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LANZHOU, March 31 (Xinhua) -- More than 13 tonnes of coarse grains produced in northwest China's Gansu Province have been exported to Canada for the first time, according to the customs authority in the province. The grains including millet, red beans, mung beans and sorghum rice were produced in the city of Qingyang, a traditional production base of high-quality coarse grains in China. The grains will be shipped to Vancouver in about two weeks. Gansu is one of important bases of characteristic agricultural products with a long and rich history in China. Despite the country's fight against the novel coronavirus disease, Gansu has maintained a stable agricultural product output. Backpackers living in Australia have signed a petition demanding funding from the government, claiming they've been 'hit hardest' by the coronavirus pandemic. The change.org petition, which was only started on Tuesday morning, argues backpackers weren't paid enough money while they still had jobs to cope with the crisis. 'The corona crisis has hit us harder than probably any other group,' the petition reads. 'We mostly lost our jobs and didn't make enough money to save up much... It is just a matter of time before we struggle to survive in a first world country.' German backpacker Leandra started the petition, and shared it on Tuesday hoping to encourage the Australian government to open their pockets for internationals who have found themselves stuck in Australia. Leandra lives in Melbourne and lost her job when Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced stage one business closures on all pubs, bars, clubs, cinemas and restaurants to slow the spread of COVID-19. Leandra wrote this message alongside the change.org appeal, describing backpackers as the 'hardest hit' by the crisis Tourists and locals in Byron Bay appeared to flout social distancing rules last week by congregating in groups near the beach Since then, further restrictions have seen more business closures and job losses, with hundreds of thousands of people likely to find themselves out of work. Poll SHOULD BACKPACKERS RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID FROM THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT? YES NO SHOULD BACKPACKERS RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID FROM THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT? YES 86 votes NO 728 votes Now share your opinion In Leandra's appeal, she said backpackers often take on manual jobs in construction, on farms and in hospitality during their stays in Australia. 'We contribute a big part of the economy. There would not be enough Australians working in these jobs otherwise... and we have to be afraid to even be homeless once hostels close.' The blogger said there are basically no other options but to stay in Australia and hunker down until the crisis is over. Most airlines have grounded their international fleet and are no longer flying. Countries often used as transit stops have closed their borders to anybody who is not a citizen and the price of flights that are still running have been hiked up. There are currently 4,514 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia, including 19 deaths Bondi is now considered one of the epicentres of coronavirus in NSW after a group of backpackers ignored self-isolation and social distancing policies and spread the infection. Pictured: Beachgoers on March 20, ignoring social distancing policies Prior to the major border closures, most governments - including Australia's - urged travelling citizens to return home as soon as possible, to avoid getting stuck in an unfamiliar environment. Following the international border shutdown, most Australian states and territories made the decision to close domestic borders, too. Anybody wanting to travel interstate is subject to mandatory 14-day quarantine periods. Backpackers who have found themselves stuck in Australia are increasingly turning to fundraising platforms like GoFundMe to pay their way. One such account set a $5,000 goal to help themselves and other people in their situation have money for food and accommodation. Pictured: Passengers sitting side by side on a train at Ciicular Quay while wearing face masks 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 'There are thousands of us stranded hundreds of thousands of kilometers from our friends and family, scared, isolated and alone,' another added. Another Irish backpacker, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail Australia she spent $8,000 on getting back home, but her flights were repeatedly cancelled after being left broke and homeless when she lost her job and her hostel was forced to close. 'To date I have booked four flights. Three have been cancelled and the fourth is my last hope, on Sunday 12th April. If this flight is cancelled I really am stranded in Australia,' she said. The 27-year-old contacted the Irish embassy in Canberra but claims she was offered little support. 'I explained I spent everything I had on the third flight and didn't have anything left. Her response was ''just get your family to transfer it to you'',' she said. The backpacker said she was disappointed in the Australian government for 'offering financial assistance to temporarily residents but people like me on a working holiday visa get nothing.' 'Just because we are backpackers we are pushed to the side... we are bottom of the list to be looked after,' she said. 'I just want to be at home home, I had a good year but the way I we have been treated in the last 10 days takes away from that.' More than a dozen backpackers have signed the petition in the two hours since it was first shared. Stay home if you can. But if you use a shopping cart, wipe it down with disinfecting solution and clean your hands afterwards. Credit: Pexels As the coronavirus pandemic continues its spread, it has infected more than half a million people and killed tens of thousands on nearly every continent. With offices shut down, people staying at home and hospitals bracing for an influx of patients, many people are unsure of what's safe and what's not. Here are answers to some of the common questions people keep asking about coronavirus. Can people without symptoms spread the virus? The short answer appears to be yes, some infected individuals who have not shown symptoms can spread the virus and this remains an issue of great concern. This is why social or physical distancing is considered to be so critical to slowing or reducing the transmission of the virus. Modelling studies in China and Japan, and testing of those on the Diamond Princess cruise ship suggest that a small number of people who are infected do not develop symptoms. We don't know much about how infectious these asymptomatic individuals might be, that is, how likely they are to spread the disease. Most studies done to date, often with small numbers of people, show that a person sheds more virus with the initial onset of symptomswhen they first start coughing (or sneezing), which can send the virus into the air in a fine spray. But a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine documented that some people with no or very mild symptoms can shed significant amount of virus. Children, who may not experience any symptoms or only very mild symptoms, may also be able to spread the infection. One important caveat here is that symptoms are subjective. One may feel a bit off but give it little attention and not report it to a health-care provider or researcher. So it may be difficult to conclude in these studies that someone recorded as asymptomatic is truly so. Cultural factors may affect how and when people report symptoms or seek care. How long does the virus stay on surfaces? Can the coronavirus persist on the mail, produce at the supermarket, gas pumps and so on? A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests the virus can survive for up to two or three days on some surfaces, particularly hard plastics and steel. It is also easier for people to pick up the virus if they touch these surfaces. The most important issue here is to avoid touching things that many other people have touched recentlyelevator buttons, grocery carts, door knobs and hand railsor to wash one's hands right away or use an effective hand sanitizing solution such as Purell. Disinfect surfaces to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Credit: Shutterstock Many grocery stores now provide wash stations and disinfecting solutions for wiping down carts. Use them! The evidence at hand indicates that the virus degrades rapidly on porous surfaces such as cloth, paper and cardboard. So the risks for infection from handling paper and cardboard (mail and packages) may be low, but the same rules applyafter handling, wash your hands thoroughly. It is important to remember that the main route of transmission will be directly from one person to another via coughing or sneezing. Which chemicals kill the virus? Any soap or detergent will destroy the virus, as will solutions of bleach and water, Clorox disinfectant wipes, Lysol brand cleaners, Purell, etc. Here's a full list. What does 'stay at home' mean? Authorities use different terms to describe measures to keep people away from one another to avoid spreading the virus. You may hear "stay at home," "shelter in place," "self-isolation" and "quarantine." All of them involve social or physical distancing to reduce rates of transmission. Technically speaking, "quarantine" restricts the movement of of people who may have been exposed to the virus but do not have symptoms. The term comes from the plague era in Europe where ships were not allowed to dock for 40 days to demonstrate that their crews were free from the disease. Quarantine is most often used to describe the closure or isolation of geographic locales where a disease is spreading, as was the case in Wuhan, China, although the restrictions are being relaxed. Perhaps because quarantine may be seen as invoking the coercive powers of the state or stigmatizing those living in affected locales, many public health officials avoid its use. An electron microscope image for the SARS-CoV-2 virus (in orange) emerging from a cell (grey) that had been cultured in the lab. Credit: NIAID-RML Canada, for example, focuses mainly on encouraging voluntary measures, distinguishing between "self-monitoring," where one may have been exposed to the virus (perhaps someone at work felt ill) and is asked to monitor oneself for symptoms, and "self-isolation," where one has no symptoms, but may have been exposed from travel outside their place of residence or from close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. "Isolation" is for people who actually have the virus or suspect that they may be infected. Those with symptoms will be asked to isolate themselves in their homes, staying away from others as much as possible. "Shelter in place" simply means asking people to stay at home as much as possible. "Stay at home" requests are similar, but may be backed by more formal requirements, such as in Italy, where people may not leave their homes except to go out for essentials, such as food and medicine. Stay-at-home orders are usually accompanied by closures of restaurants, bars, gyms, cancelling of public events, etc., and may be backed by legal sanctions and fines. Can COVID-19 cause long-term lung damage? At this early stage of the pandemic there is no evidence to show that permanent or long-term lung damage is a common consequence of infection. A report from Hong Kong suggests short-term declines in lung function among those recovering from COVID-19. A recent report by Dr. Keith Mortman of George Washington University Hospital, circulated widely in the media, provides a graphic description of the extensive damage to the lung caused by COVID-19 in otherwise healthy patients. However, these reports describe currently ill or newly recovered victims of the disease. It is still too soon to know whether the damage caused by the infection is permanent or long-term. Can ibuprofen make COVID-19 worse? This idea circulated on the internet for a few days, proposed initially by the French health minister, and based on some earlier studies of the impact of ibuprofen on respiratory infections. Initially the World Health Organization repeated this warning, but after examining the evidence it reversed its position, declaring that based on documented clinical experiences with patients, there is no evidence that ibuprofen makes the infection worse. Does blood type matter? A study of COVID-19 patients in Wuhan and Shenzhen, China who contracted COVID-19 suggested a higher proportion of infections among those who had blood type A. But the differences identified were relatively small and at this point would not have any impact on how we manage either the spread or treatment of the disease. But it is an interesting finding that requires further study. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Annual Report to Shareholders Perth, Mar 31, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The past year has been a very significant one for Cyprium Metals Ltd ( ASX:CYM ), with highly credentialed appointments to the board and senior executive management being made during the middle of the year along with the 80% earn-in acquisition of the prospective Cue Copper Project, located in Western Australia.The Company's strategy is to focus on mid to late stage Australian based projects that have an identified copper mineralisation with a high sulphide content, which will best suit our unique low-cost processing methodology, to produce copper metal on site, to be sold into highly liquid global LME grade copper metal markets.Many advanced stage Australian copper projects were assessed and we were pleased to commence the implementation of our strategy with the Cue Copper Project. A comprehensive drilling programme began in July 2019 immediately after transaction completion and receiving regulatory approvals. The key objectives of the drilling programmes are to increase the size of the copper deposits, test prospective exploration targets and provide sufficient sample material for metallurgical test-work.The drilling completed to date has significantly extended the Hollandaire and Hollandaire West copper deposits, intersected high-grade copper mineralisation at the Eelya South propect and produced sufficient sample material for metallurgical column test-work to be performed. The metallurgical column test-work undertaken on the samples of the massive and semi-massive sulphides from the Hollandaire and Hollandaire West prospects has resulted in copper leaching very rapidly into solution.A full processing cycle has now been completed, from drilling the mineralisation, crushing, leaching and plating copper. The Hollandaire deposits have proved to be very suitable for our unique processing methodology and it has outperformed our expectations. To produce a high purity copper plate so quickly is an extraordinary achievement and reinforces the amenability of the Cue Copper project, which gives us even greater confidence in the project's developmental potential.There is also a favourable timeframe for when the project could commence copper production, since the longer term outlook for copper remains very positive, driven by global population growth and rising living standards in emerging economies. The supply of copper will also be constrained by aging copper mines with declining ore grades and the diminishing number of developmental projects.Climate change policies around the world will also be a significant driving factor as copper is a critical input for wind and solar technology, energy storage, and electric vehicles. To put this into perspective, the generation of clean energy from solar and wind typically requires 4-6 times more copper than fossil fuel generators.Copper for wiring and cabling is required to connect to the renewable power generators, is required for electrical transformers, and is required for a wide range of infrastructure, including electric vehicle charging stations. Several car manufacturers have already committed to producing only electric vehicles in the near future, which requires approximately 4 times theamount of copper compared to conventionally powered vehicles.The capital raise at the end of 2019 places the Company in a good position to continue the advancement of the Cue Copper Project in 2020 whilst evaluating a range of other copper projects.To view the annual report, please visit:About Cyprium Metals Ltd Cyprium Metals Limited (ASX:CYM) is poised to grow to a mid-tier mining business and manage a portfolio of Australian copper projects to deliver vital natural resources, strong shareholder returns and sustainable value for our stakeholders. We pursue this aim, in genuine partnerships with employees, customers, shareholders, local communities and other stakeholders, which is based on integrity, co-operation, transparency and mutual value creation. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 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. TAMPA, Florida The pastor of a large mega-church has been arrested after he continued to hold services during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, flouting a state order prohibiting large gatherings and warnings to stop. Rodney Howard-Browne, 58, pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church and self-described Holy Ghost bartender, was arrested Monday on charges of unlawful assembly and violating quarantine orders during a public health emergency, both misdemeanors, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Howard-Browne posted a $500 bail, the New York Times reports. Because of the reckless disregard of public safety and after repeated requests and warnings, I worked with our state attorney, Andrew Warren, to obtain a warrant for unlawful assembly and violation of public health emergency rules, both of which are second degree misdemeanors, Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister tells the Tampa Bay Times. Our goal here is not to stop anyone from worshiping, but the safety and well-being of our community must always come first." The church held two services on Sunday, authorities tell CNN. A lawyer for the church says the church took. extra precaution," with staffers wearing gloves, hand sanitizer given to attendees, and family groups urged to stand 6 feet from other groups. The Tampa Bay Times reports the church also claims it has a $100,000 hospital-grade purification system" that kills every virus in place. Videos posted on the churchs Facebook page show dozens of people standing shoulder-to-shoulder. The Tampa Bay Times reports Howard-Browne has promoted conspiracy theories regarding the coronavirus. He also has visited the White House and, along with several other evangelical pastors, laid hands on President Trump in 2017. Florida does not have a stay-at-home order in place, and the New York Times reports this has led to a hodgepodge of restrictions, creating inconsistencies and confusion. The state has more than 5,200 confirmed coronavirus cases and at least 63 deaths, CNN reports. The Tampa Bay Times reports that if convicted, Howard-Browne could be sentenced to 60 days in jail and/or a maximum fine of $500. Rodney Howard-Browne, pastor of The River Church in Tampa, Florida. (Hernando County Jail via AP) More coronavirus-related content on cleveland.com: 9 new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus reported in Cleveland, pushing citys total to 110 Ohios limited coronavirus testing for the living and the dead means pandemic toll likely never known Federal judge blocks Ohio from using coronavirus health order to restrict abortions Mapping Ohios 1,933 coronavirus cases, plus county details Coronavirus prompted Cleveland, Cuyahoga and Summit counties, communities to restrict services, but adjustments are being made Coronavirus banner The New York Times reported this week that almost a dozen Liberty University students have come down with COVID-19 symptoms since the school reopened last week, according to a bombshell article published Sunday that cites a local physician in Lynchburg, Va., where the evangelical university is situated. Weve lost the ability to corral this thing, Dr. Thomas W. Eppes Jr. said he told Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr., according to the article. The Times identified Eppes as the head of the schools student health service, but he does not appear on the Liberty University website and a school spokesman told Yahoo News he has no official connection to the university. Dr. Eppes did not return a call to Yahoo News for comment. Many students at the university said they were unconcerned about the risks of returning to classes. According to the Times, three students were reportedly referred to a local hospital for testing, while eight others were told to self-isolate. But Liberty University officials have since pushed back on these claims, calling the Times story fake news in a piece posted to the school website Sunday night. The New York Times published a false and misleading story on March 29 claiming that Liberty University students started getting sick after students returned to campus from spring break, the post reads. The truth is a far different story. The post continued, despite the Times sensational headline and story lead, in fact, Liberty is only aware of three off-campus students who were sufficiently symptomatic to qualify for COVID-19 testing, two of which did not leave Lynchburg for Spring Break and one of which tested negative during Spring Break. On Monday, the Liberty Universitys official Twitter account published a tweet that read, So sad the failing New York Times had to quote local Dr. with no official role at LU about COVID-19 only for clickbait when it knew his data was incomplete and unofficial. Story continues So sad the failing @nytimes had to quote local Dr. with no official role at LU about COVID-19 only for clickbait when it knew his data was incomplete and unofficial. THANKS Dr. Eppes for researching more and making a public correction that no resident students have symptoms. Liberty University (@LibertyU) March 31, 2020 Liberty spokesman Scott Lamb declined an interview with Yahoo News on this story, but on Monday evening he offered the schools latest statement, which claims that 1,045 students remained on Libertys campus as of Sunday night. There are three students (both residential and online) who have been tested for COVID-19, of which one a recent graduate residing locally with family tested positive, the school said. There are an additional five students on campus who are self-quarantining because of symptoms or due to recent travel to New York City. Also on Monday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued a stay-at-home order for the state effective until June 10. Virginia residents may only leave their home to seek medical attention, work, care for family or household members, obtain groceries and prescriptions, and engage in outdoor activity. The order also bans gatherings of more than 10 people. Liberty says the school will close down its remaining in-person instruction and inform its residential students of new travel restrictions and guidelines. (Getty Images) Its an entirely new climate with new rules for students at Liberty University. And its a scenario many critics saw coming when Falwell welcomed students and faculty back to campus last week amid the countrys worsening outbreak of the coronavirus. One outspoken undergraduate voice, senior Calum Best, who also chose to stay on campus, questions if Liberty students can stay safe. Its theoretically possible to have an open college campus with a small number of residential students and keep everyone isolated, Best told Yahoo News. I thought this might be the case at Liberty. Its been disappointing since then to see the number of students breaking social distancing guidelines, but I still think that its possible to be safe. Best was quoted in the Times piece, calling out Falwell and his administrations attempts to quiet dissent. The only real question of fact was whether Dr. Eppes did actually say to the New York Times reporter that 12 students were symptomatic, Best said. He added that in spite of the schools response to the Times article, the piece remains rock solid and worth standing by, especially the parts about President Falwells misleading communication [and] students breaking social distancing. (Getty Images) Falwell, now dealing with fallout from the Times piece, maintains he has it under control. Liberty will be notifying the community as deemed appropriate and required by law, Falwell said Sunday. He added that any student now returning to campus would be required to self-quarantine for 14 days. The news has shaken critics, but students like computer science major Clayton Didinsky say that, despite the outside chatter, they will believe what the university tells them. When it comes to either choosing to believe my school or the New York Times, I'm going to choose my school just because they have no reason to lie to us, Didinsky told Yahoo News. But I overall think that it's a messy situation. I think that Liberty really should just communicate with their students [better]. Didinsky chose to drive back home to California when the school reopened last week. He did not agree with Falwells decision to reopen campus because he felt it endangered students like himself who suffer from preexisting health conditions. (Didinsky has mitochondrial disease.) He says the decision isnt just Falwells. I think there's a lot more that goes into it than a lot of us see, Didinsky said. And I think that overall, Jerry probably gets a big say in it. For other students, like track and field standout Jaqueze Durham of Orlando, Fla., staying on campus was the best option. I just think it's easier for us to be here than be at home, Durham said. I come from a house of 10 siblings and I wouldn't want to give it to my 2-year-old sister or give it to my older brother who has children. Durham admitted that he was concerned when he saw the Times piece, but reasoned that you can get it anywhere. He feels confident that the university is doing what it can to ensure student safety with the rules in place. Freshman Ethan Hale also chose to stay on campus and says he questions the news reports that students have coronavirus symptoms. I am living on campus and I'm going to probably get the news first or I would hope to at least, Hale said. I don't know exactly if those are facts or rumors. Regardless, Hale says staying on campus was what was best for him because going to his home in Fairbanks, Alaska, to study online would have made school nearly impossible. For me, it was the time difference and the fact that I have six siblings, said Hale. Its the [lack of] space in my house and I wouldn't really be able to get work done for an 8 a.m. class that I'd have to be there at 4 a.m. ... So for me, this space that I have here is really great because it's like I can do my work and focus on other things. Hale says that ultimately students need to decide what is best for them. It's a matter of choice, Hale said. Be safe. If you feel like you were being safe on campus, stay on campus. Make those smart decisions. But people who are on the outside, I don't think should be putting that feedback back in because it's not their decision. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: 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 Emergency government-funded flights will send $800million worth of seafood to Asia in a bid to keep Australian exporters alive during the coronavirus crisis - and bring back vital medical supplies for the country. The freight planes are part of a $170million exporter support package and will return with vital medical supplies and equipment to help Australia fight against COVID-19. Two hundred flights will leave for China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates in the next six months under the deal as borders across the world are shut to slow the spread of the disease. Scroll down for video Pictured: Sydney Fish Market in December. The government is paying for freight planes to send $800million worth of seafood overseas to combat the impact of the coronavirus The arrangement will benefit suppliers exporting rock lobsters, abalone, fresh fish and prawns, as well as dairy products. The special flights carrying 40 tonnes of product each will leave from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. It comes amid the widespread grounding of fleets by Qantas and Virgin Australia preventing exporters from moving their goods overseas. China's decision to stop overseas trade on January 24 has hit Western Australia's lobster industry hard, which exports more than 95 per cent of its produce to the Asian country. Before the pandemic, Australia's lucrative western rock lobster industry was worth about $500million. The fall in Chinese demand has led to the price of U.S lobster dropping to its lowest point in at least four years. Pictured: Medical supplies for COVID-19 testing. The flights will come back with vital equipment to help Australian hospitals fight back against the deadly virus Trade minister Simon Birmingham said the government plan was vital to kickstart Australia's economic recovery. 'We recognise the current COVID-19 crisis is placing immense pressure on Australian exporters, many of whom felt the earliest and deepest aspects of the economic downturn,' he said. 'Getting our export sector back on its feet is crucial to reduce job losses through the crisis and a critical part of the ultimate economic recovery. 'Necessary public health restrictions are already placing massive pressure on business viability and job security. We cant afford for our farmers, fishers and exporters to be under similar pressure just because they cant get their goods onto a plane.' The chief executive behind the co-operative leading Western Australia's biggest lobster processing companies said bringing medical equipment back to Australia would help keep costs down. 'You pay a premium for flying the plane empty so anything we can get on the back freight would be of benefit,' Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative's Matt Rutter told ABC News. 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 'Anything we can get on back freight will help us with the rate. 'We are very keen to make that available to the government first and foremost if they need it for medical supplies and respirators and those sorts of things.' Mr Rutter said he hoped lobster prices would reach at least $25 a kilogram following the announcement of the charter flights. The price had reached as high as $90 a kilogram in January, before dropping to $20 this week as the world economy grinds to a halt. Other government attempts to support the seafood industry during the pandemic include the waiving of $10million in levies for the rest of 2020. It follows a video emerging showing 90 tonnes of Australian medical supplies being exported to China just weeks before the crisis reached pandemic levels. The footage showed boxes of surgical masks being stacked up at Perth airport before being sent to Wuhan on February 8 - when there were 15 cases of coronavirus in Australia. A Chinese-owned property company, Risland Australia, was responsible for shipping off thousands of supplies, news.com.au reported. The video showed stockpiles of white supply boxes stacked up alongside the check-in counters at the airport. Pictured: Australian-based Chinese property company Risland shipped 90 tonnes worth of vital medical supplies to Wuhan from Perth on February 8 The hoarded supplies were piled almost at the shoulder height of passing travellers and were spread out on trollies and several metres across the floor. Risland said last month in an online post '90 tonnes of selective medical supplies' were sent by 'air transport direct from Sydney to Wuhan via corporate jet'. A photo showed four workers inside a warehouse packed high with thousands of boxes of protective clothing and holding up a Chinese sign. The post said Risland: 'Undertake such a campaign to show our faiths to Wuhan people and our ultimate appreciation to those who work days and nights and fight against the virus at the front line'. People form a long queue snaking a long way round the parking lot, as they wait to enter a wholesaler supermarket in Coventry, England. (Jacob King/PA via AP) A record 10.8bn ($13bn) was spent on groceries in the UK in March, as fears about the spread of novel coronavirus and a possible lockdown drove people to stock up. Market research firm Kantar Worldpanel said on Tuesday 31 March that grocery sales in the UK had risen by 20.6% over the last four weeks. The unusually large growth makes March the biggest month on record for grocery sales. It has been an extraordinary month and social distancing measures have had a profound impact on all our daily lives from the way we work and socialise, to how we shop and care for our loved ones, said Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar. Retailers and their staff have been on the frontline as households prepare for an extended stay at home, with grocery sales amounting to 10.8bn during the past four weeks alone thats even higher than levels seen at Christmas, the busiest time of year under normal circumstances. Read more: Supermarkets create thousands of jobs as UK stockpiles Supermarkets have in recent weeks been forced to introduce limits on baskets after shortages of items like toilet paper and soap were reported across the country. By the time prime minister Boris Johnson ordered the population to stay at home at the start of last week, pictures of empty shelves in supermarkets across the country were commonplace on social media. Bruno Monteyne, a supermarket analyst at investment firm Bernstein, dubbed it March madness on Tuesday. An elderly woman reaches up to a near empty shelf in a supermarket in London. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP) 88% of British households visited the supermarkets between 16 March and 19 March, Kantar said, accounting for an additional 42m visits. The company had previously said that shortages were driven by people making more frequent visits to the shops and buying slightly more, rather than more traditional stockpiling activity. Its inevitable that shoppers will add extra items to their baskets when faced with restrictions on their movement and possible isolation if one of them becomes unwell, but many families are also adjusting to having more mouths to feed, said McKevitt. Story continues Those with children over the age of 16 spent 508 this month on average, 88.13 more than they did in March 2019 a trend that likely reflects students returning home from college and university. Read more: Ocado closes website amid 'unprecedented strain' McKevitt said the closure of restaurants and pubs over the last week had also contributed to bigger shops as people eat more meals in the home. Alcohol sales jumped by 22% in March, which McKevitt put down to people stocking up to recreate trips to the pub with friends over apps like Houseparty and FaceTime. All 10 of the UKs biggest grocers saw their sales increase in the 12 weeks to 22 March. Sales at Iceland jumped by 11.7% as Brits looked to stock up their freezers and sales at online only supermarket Ocado (OCDO.L) jumped by 12.5%. Ocado was recently forced to suspend new orders due to surging demand. Sales at German discounters Aldi and Lidl rose by 11% and 17.6% respectively. McKevitt said he expects sales to slow now that UK pantries and fridges are full. 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. Credit: Andreas NeumannFoo Fighters have postponed the remainder of their Van Tour dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier in March, Dave Grohl and company had announced that the first leg of the run, set to take place in April, would have to be moved. Now, the second leg, scheduled for May, has also been pushed back. The good news is that all the shows have been rescheduled for later this year in October or December. Visit FooFighters.com for the full list of dates and all ticket info. The Van Tour will make stops in the same cities the Foos played on their debut tour in 1995. Additionally, Foo Fighters are planning a big Fourth of July stadium show in Washington, D.C. to mark the 25th anniversary of the group's first album. That date has so far been unaffected by COVID-19. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. 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 Mumbai: The number of Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra climbed to 220 on Monday as 17 more patients tested positive, while two patients succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll due to infection in Maharashtra to ten. The new cases included, eight from Mumbai, five from Pune, two from Nagpur, one each from Kolhapur and Nashik. However, 39 patients were discharged on Monday. An 80-year-old man, down with acute respiratory distress breathes his last on Sunday evening. He was admitted to the Fortis Hospital, Mulund on Friday. He was a known case of hypertension and ischemic heart disease. The senior citizen was tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday itself, stated a civic health official. The second death was reported in Pune. The 52-year-old man was suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure and was undergoing treatment at the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital. His samples turned out positive for coronavirus on March 22. He died on Monday at a hospital in Pune, Pune civic official said said. The man was on ventilator support. He died of multiple organ failure, the official added. Dr Daksha Shah, deputy director of the BMC health department, said, There are 47 Covid-19 positive patients recuperating in the city at various civic-run and privately-run hospitals. When asked about the measures taken by the civic authorities, she said, To improve the testing facilities and to speed up the process, the government has approved private labs for Covid-19 testing. She added, As containment measures, areas surrounding the positive cases including one lakh houses and 3,87,000 people are being surveyed to trace contacts of positive cases. The teams are also ensuring the home quarantine measures are being followed. In addition, digital mapping of the containment zone is being undertaken and it will be displayed on MCGMs website for citizen information and precaution. Malaysia's government apologised Tuesday after its advice for women to wear make-up and not nag their husbands during the country's coronavirus lockdown sparked online anger and mockery. Like many countries, the Southeast Asian nation has ordered all citizens to stay at home to stem the spread of the virus, which has killed over 30,000 people globally. In a series of Facebook posts, the Malaysian women's ministry offered tips for how wives should behave during the lockdown. One post -- now deleted -- showed a picture of a couple hanging up clothes together next to a caption that advised women to "avoid nagging" their husbands and to imitate the squeaky voice of Doraemon, a cartoon robot cat from Japan that is popular across Asia. Other posts advised women working at home to wear make-up and dress neatly, rather than in casual clothes. Social media lit up with anger and disbelief at the posts, with one netizen asking "how will dressing up and putting on make-up at home (prevent) COVID-19? Pray, tell?" The women's ministry apologised, conceding the posts may have offended some people, and said it would "remain cautious in future". But it insisted the suggestions were merely aimed at "maintaining positive relationships among family members during the period they are working from home". There have been fears of a surge in domestic violence worldwide as the stress caused by confinement and job insecurity increases the likelihood of conflicts. A government-run helpline in Malaysia for vulnerable people, including victims of domestic abuse, has seen an increase in calls of more than 50 percent since the start of the lockdown on March 18, local media reported. The Shiv Sena on Tuesday demanded action against Maharashtra BJP spokesman Avdhut Wagh who tried to link state minister Jayant Patil's criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over lockdown announcement to 25 people contracting COVID-19 in his Assembly constituency in Sangli. Such remarks not just malign Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but also hurt the legacy of progressive leaders and social reformers like Jyotiba Phule, Shahu Maharaj and Dr B R Ambedkar, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said. "What Avdhut Wagh has said is a fit case for taking action under the anti-superstition laws," it said. "When people venture out violating the lockdown, it is not Modi or the Maharashtra chief minister's fault. Those who have hidden their travel history and violated quarantine rules have brought this crisis on the state," the editorial said. In a bizarre statement, Wagh on Sunday said NCP leader and state water resources minister Jayant Patil has been "punished" for his criticism of Modi. Patil hails from western Maharashtra's Sangli district, where 25 members of a family from Islampur tehsil have been found to be infected with COVID-19. Islampur is Patil's Assembly constituency. In a series of tweets, Patil had said instead of announcing the lockdown at 8 pm on March 24, the prime minister should have given enough time to migrant labourers to make necessary arrangements to face the shutdown impact. Wagh's comment came as part of his rebuttal to Patil. Taking a dim view of the BJP leader's remarks, the Sena said, "President Donald Trump is a big fan of Modi and still coronavirus has created havoc in the US. A city like New York has been silenced. Can someone clarify who punished Islampur and New York?". It said when the virus is spreading its tentacles, BJP spokespersons are saying anything they want. Jayant Patil is not just a state minister but also president of the Maharashtra NCP. He put forth his view. Why should BJP leaders get so agitated?"the Marathi daily said. "Do they want to say homes, talukas, villages and cities ofthose who criticise Modi should be affected with coronavirus? What if someone says those who call Modi the avatar of Lord Vishnu wish destructionof Maharashtra," the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said. It said Delhi got more 29 more coronavirus patients on Tuesday, but nobody criticised Modi there. In Nagpur, the hometown of former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari, the figure (of COVID-19 cases) is more than 20, it pointed out. "If the figure in states that have not criticised Modi is rising, then it is defeat of his godliness," it stated. The entire country is with Modi in this fight against coronavirus and even Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has supported the decisions taken by the Modi government, it said. "Why is it that those who call themselves 'bhakts' behave in such a manner?" the Marathi publication asked. The Sena said it was confident that if Modi comes to know about such comments, he would take action against his own party men. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Somebody Cares Network Respond to COVID19 Crisis NEWS PROVIDED BY Somebody Cares America/International March 31, 2020 HOUSTON, March 31, 2020 /Standard Newswire/ -- In response to a plea from the White House for donations of supplies to hospitals, clinics, and other medical providers, Somebody Cares America/International has distributed over 40 thousand N95 masks, normally used by SCA for wildfires and relief efforts involving mold from flooding. Recipients include medical relief ministries in Texas and California; various medical practitioners and healthcare systems in Texas; a testing clinic in the Houston area; a military base quarantine site; law enforcement; and our Somebody Cares Baltimore chapter, which is working alongside the local police department and the National Guard to help with the crisis in their community. SCA has also donated personal supplies, cleaning supplies, and hygiene kits for ministries working with the elderly, widows, and disabled individuals as well as a transitional home for men and women. In addition, our office is receiving calls from individuals in need. One call came from an elderly woman who needed food and supplies. With the help of one of our ministry partners, she is now receiving hot meals delivered daily. Throughout the nation, our chapters are serving their communities: Somebody Cares Baltimore is helping facilitate the distribution of 1000 "heat & eat" meals each day through local churches who are serving the seniors, homeless and young families in their communities. Somebody Cares New England continues to distribute food to the community as one of the few food pantries in the region to do so. Somebody Cares Tampa Bay has been hosting webinars on a variety of subjects, including practical tools for smaller churches and organizations (i.e., setting up online streaming), workshops on sharing your testimony, and weekly prayer meetings. They are also soliciting surplus food donations to continue meeting the demand of their food truck outreach to families in need, which has quadrupled. Somebody Cares Denver is providing groceries for hundreds of families each week, sack lunches for the homeless, and grocery delivery to senior citizen apartments. Other chapters and centers are offering help in their communities as needs arise as well. "If we all do what we can, we can make a difference," says SCA/I President Doug Stringer. Somebody Cares also offers a 24/7 Prayer Line for anyone feeling overwhelmed or with a specific prayer request. Call or text 855-459-CARE. For more information, please call 713-621-1498 or email Jodie@SomebodyCares.org. SOURCE Somebody Cares America/International CONTACT: 713-621-1498, Jodie@SomebodyCares.org Related Links https://somebodycares.org/ US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Teusday that Juan Guaido, recognized by Washington as Venezuela's leader, should step aside along with President Nicolas Maduro for new elections. In a shift after more than a year of US-led efforts to topple the leftist Maduro, Pompeo told reporters that the two men should set up a transitional government to arrange elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As many as 101 people from Chhattisgarh, who attended a religious congregation in New Delhis Nizamuddin, that has become a key source for the spread of coronavirus in the country, have been identified so far and placed under quarantine, officials said on Tuesday. The gathering at Markaz Nizamuddin, the headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat in the national capital, was held earlier this month and it was attended by delegates from all over the country. The state government has so far identified 101 people who had participated in the gathering, a senior official said here, adding they hail from different districts and some are natives of other states. "Of them, 32 have been placed under quarantine, while 69 are in isolation in different places," the official said, adding their medical screening is underway. Most of them belong to Chhattisgarh, while the others hail from different states and were staying in mosques in cities, he said. Health department secretary Niharika Barik has directed district collectors to identify and trace all those those attended the event and carry out their medical examination. Officials in Delhi had said that about 30 of those who attended the Nizamuddin event tested positive for coronavirus and at least three have succumbed to the infection in the last few days. Till Tuesday, Chhattisgarh reported eight COVID-19 cases. Of these, two were discharged from a Raipur hospital on Tuesday following recovery. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Council of the European Union on Monday passed a decision to ratify the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), paving the way for the deal to come into force in the near future. Once the deal is ratified by Vietnams law-making National Assembly, it is expected to officially come into force at the beginning of this years summer. The EVFTA is expected to create a major push for Vietnams exports, helping to diversify the countrys exports and markets. Under the agreement, Vietnam will cut 65 percent of import tax on EU commodities right after the deal takes effect, while the remainder will be phased out gradually over a period of up to ten years. Meanwhile, the EU will cut more than 70 percent of tariff on Vietnams commodities right after the accord takes effect, while the rest will be eased in the seven subsequent years. The pact, together with the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, was signed in Hanoi on June 30 last year. They include intensive, extensive, and comprehensive commitments covering the fields of economy, trade, investment, and sustainable development issues. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Nationals from the UK and France are among 281 foreigners out of 1,830 people who were found by the Delhi police in last two days at Nizamuddin's Markaz Masjid, where a religious congregation, held in mid-March, has become a key source of coronavirus spread in the country, officials said. Most of those who were found at the facility have been shifted to different quarantine centres and isolation wards of hospitals. A total of 1,830, including these foreigners from 16 countries, continued to stay at the Tablighi Jamaat's Markaj even as a 21-day nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 24, according to officials. The foreigners were fromIndonesia (72),Sri Lanka (34), Myanmar (33), Kyrgystan (28),Malaysia (20), Nepal and Bangladesh (9 each),Thailand (7), Fiji (4), England (3),one each from Afghanistan, Algeria, Djibouti,Singapore,France and Kuwait. Remaining 1,549 people were from Tamil Nadu (501), Assam (216), Uttar Pradesh (156), Maharashtra (109), from Madhya Pradesh (107), Bihar (86), West Bengal (73), Telangana (55), Jharkhand (46), Karnataka (45), Uttarakhand (34), Haryana (22), Andaman Nicobar Islands (21), Rajasthan (19), 15 each from Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha, Punjab (9) and Meghalaya (5). In last one month, at least 8,000 people, including foreigners have visited the premises, and most of them have either returned to their respective places or currently in other Markaz facilities in different parts of the country, thereby having a link in some positive cases in those states. Apart from six Indonesians, who tested positive in Hyderabad, one person each from Jammu and Kashmir and Telangana, who succumbed to the infection, had also attended the congregation. Officials said Markaz office bearers informed police about the presence of about 1,200 people on March 25 after the lockdown was announced. Some of these people were escorted out of Delhi by police. On March 26, again about 2,000 people gathered at the Markaz facility. Even though the Markaz office bearers sought the help of police and civil authorities to send these people out of the city, the road, rail and air traffic were completely shut by then. Out of the 1,830 people found by the police, about 200 are believed to have showed COVID-19 symptoms and they have been shifted to hospitals. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said 700 people who attended this congregation have been quarantined while around 335 people have been admitted to hospitals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. Coronavirus-inspired social distancing has spurred some families to embrace videoconferencing apps on smartphones and tablets to keep in touch, but Smith was skeptical that her dad would do that. He doesnt always understand how to use his phone, she said. He doesnt understand FaceTime. Federal restrictions barring visitors to nursing homes except in cases of compassionate care, such as end-of-life care because of the coronavirus are frustrating relatives and friends of nursing home residents across the country. During this difficult time, its critical that residents are able to stay connected with their loved ones, said Megan OReilly, AARPs vice president of Health and Family. Virtual visitation plays an important role in both the health and well-being of residents and their families. It also helps to protect against social isolation, which can have very real and serious health impacts. Earlier this month, AARP urged the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to update its guidance to nursing homes to require them to facilitate alternatives for in-person visits, with an emphasis on virtual communications. Such virtual visits can be essential to the emotional, mental, physical, and social well-being of nursing home residents, AARP said in a letter to CMS. For some residents, these virtual visits may be the difference between life and death. AARP also urged the federal agency to assign staff members as specific contacts for families, and provide a telephone hotline that families could call to get information about their relatives. Catching up to televisit tech One Northern California network of senior communities and services, called Eskaton, has swiftly boosted the number of tablets to help residents in its 450 skilled nursing home beds, said Sheri Peifer, Eskatons chief strategy officer. We used to have two to three of them. Now we have 10 to 15, Peifer said in an interview. The nonprofit network is setting the tablets up with Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts and FaceTime, she said. Two major industry associations representing nursing homes the American Health Care Association and LeadingAge said in emails that their members are working hard to connect families with residents. Nursing homes have emerged as a central front in the war on the coronavirus. Washington States Life Care Center of Kirkland was an early epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, as the coronavirus infected two-thirds of its residents and dozens of staff members. The centers outbreak has been linked to 35 deaths. As of last week, 147 nursing homes across 27 states had at least one resident with COVID-19, out of more than 15,000 homes nationally, according to CMS. Amid these health challenges, some advocates for older adults say some nursing homes are scrambling to catch up to tele-visit technology. Certain nursing homes have struggled even to provide telephone access to residents, while others do not have televisions in rooms, they said. Now, tele-visits are the new frontier. Even one tablet could do the trick, if someone from the facility could take it from resident to resident while keeping it sanitary, said Michael Dark, staff attorney with San Francisco-based California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, in an email. Richard J. Mollot, executive director of the Long Term Care Community Coalition, an advocacy group, said mobile devices can provide a lifeline for residents and families emotionally. Relatives can ask, Did you eat today? How are you feeling? Did anyone check your blood pressure today? Mollot wrote in an email. But he added that most nursing home residents have some cognitive problems, and many have significant dementia, making tele-visits difficult. Eric Carlson, an attorney with Justice in Aging, has heard mixed reviews of how effectively nursing homes have embraced the use of mobile devices. I hear that in some facilities, theyre making a good faith effort, he said. But in others, due to staffing shortages and priorities or the lack of technology, in those facilities making these connections falls by the wayside. Families take the lead Even when virtual visits are successful, they cant always enable the kind of care relatives provide for nursing home residents. Families help with eating. They go in and bathe their loved ones, said Patricia Hunter, the long-term care ombudsman for the state of Washington. Its not unusual to see a husband go in and comb a wifes hair and care for her. Hunter oversees a program of advocates for residents of adult care facilities and says her office is raising money to purchase phones, iPads and other tech so long-term care residents can communicate with loved ones and doctors.The American Health Care Association is encouraging people to donate phones, tablets and other devices to aid residents, through a new program called #CareNotCOVID. LeadingAge, which represents not-for-profit nursing homes, pointed to its members activities around the country: Gurwin Jewish Family of Healthcare Services, in Commack, New York, has launched a GranGram program that accepts relatives video messages and shows them to residents. Piedmont Crossing, in Thomasville, North Carolina, celebrated a residents 100th birthday and used FaceTime to involve her daughters. Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, is encouraging people in the community to send notes and cards to residents and employees. But family members continue to take the lead in connecting with nursing home residents. Gene Casanova sprang into action when he learned that new COVID-19 rules meant he could no longer visit his wife at her San Jose, California, nursing home. The retired electrician, 78, just ordered two new top-of-the-line Samsung cell phones so that the couple can communicate, Casanova said. Those two phones will put us face-to-face again, he said. After a rough first week, Kristen Smith is conferring with her father, Carl, by phone, aided by staff members who help him make the calls. Now hes listening to the president. Hes settling into the new regime, Smith said, although she still worries about his cat. More Coronavirus Information for Caregivers A religious event held earlier this month in Delhi's Nizamuddin area by the Tablighi Jamaat, a Sunni missionary organisation,sparked off a nation-wide search for its attendees with reports emerging from various states of new clusters of coronavirus affected people linked to the event A religious event held earlier this month in Delhi's Nizamuddin area by the Tablighi Jamaat, a Sunni organisation, sparked off a nationwide search for its attendees with reports emerging from various states of new clusters of coronavirus-affected people linked to the event. Authorities also launched a search for workers of the religious order and registered a case against the head of the Jamaat with the markaz (centre) emerging as a hotspot of coronavirus. According to a BBC report, members and workers gathered for the congregation in February but some of the key events were held in early March. However, according to the organisers, many members were stranded at the Alami Markaz Banglewali Masjid or Nizamuddin Masjid Markaz (headquarters of the Jamaat) due to the nationwide lockdown announced on 24 March. As many residents at the markaz (centre) started showing COVID-19 symptoms on Sunday, police and paramilitary officials locked down the area, amid fears that the disease had spread to other states. According to a report in The Print, the Tablighi Jamaat is a non-political global Sunni Islamic organisation with its roots in India, started in 1927 by Muhammad Ilyas al-Kandhlawi. According to the report, the Jamaat mainly works on urging Muslims to return to Sunni Islam, particularly in matters of rituals, attires, and personal behaviour. Seven deaths linked to event, cases reported in many states According to reports, thousands took took part in the event and later returned to their homes in virtually every state including Telangana, West Bengal, Karnataka and Gujarat. Many of these states have reported COVID-19 cases linked to the Tablighi Jamaat. Within the National Capital, more than 1,000 people who attended the congregation have been quarantined while more than 300 have been admitted to hospitals. The government is screening all those who participated in the event, officials said. At least 24 people who took part in the religious congregation have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said. Several state governments, including in West Bengal, Assam and Manipur, said they are taking steps to locate participants of the Nizamuddin event. Karnataka government said 54 people from the state had attended the event, out of which 13 have been identified but they have tested negative for COVID-19. Gujarat police also launched a probe to identify all the attendees from the state and said primary investigations have revealed that some persons from Bhavnagar had attended the congregation. The Uttar Pradesh government said 157 people from the state attended the congregation at Nizamuddin, claiming that most of them have been traced. Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said that "95 percent" of this number have been traced and are being tested for coronavirus. The tests so far have come out negative, he said At least 17 people from Himachal Pradesh also attended the congregation, a state police spokesperson said. A Srinagar-based businessman is being seen as the "super-spreader" in this entire case as he travelled by air, train and road to Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and back to Jammu and Kashmir before he died of COVID-19 on 26 March, raising fears he may have infected many others along the way, officials said on Tuesday. Six people in Telangana who attended the meeting in the city's Nizamuddin West area also died on Monday, while fifteen more tested positive on Tuesday. In Madhya Pradesh, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said 107 people who attended the event have entered the state of which 36 were identified in Bhopal. Bhopal Collector Tarun Pithode said that the 36 people were quarantined and their samples have been sent for testing. In Andhra Pradesh, officials said more than half of the 40 people who have tested positive for coronavirus in the state were linked to the Nizamuddin event. In Tamil Nadu, 50 people who attended the gathering at the markaz in Delhi, have tested positive for coronavirus, ANI quoted Tamil Nadu health secretary Beela Rajesh as saying. The state government also said that out of 1,131 people who returned to the state from Delhi, 515 have been traced while the remaining 616 are asked to self-report. According to the BBC report, the cluster has even appeared in the distant Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where six of the nine who have tested positive, had returned from the Delhi event. The Meghalaya Police said that seven members of Shillong markaz of the Tablighi Jamaat who attended the meet have not returned to Meghalaya; five are currently in Delhi and two are in Lucknow. The police of both the states have been notified of their presence, ANI quotes the state police as saying. Foreign nationals among attendees The Union Home Ministry said that people from countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan attended 'Tablighi' activities this year. So far, 2,137 such people have been identified and are being medically examined and quarantined, while more would be located, the ministry said. It also said that all state police have been asked to locate Indian Tabligh Jamaat workers from local coordinators, followed by their medical screening and quarantine. Later in the evening, the ministry said that 1,339 workers of the Tablighi Jamaat organisation have been shifted to Narela, Sultanpuri and Bakkarwala quarantine facilities in Delhi, while some have also been admitted to the LNJP, RGSS, GTB, DDU hospitals and AllMS in Haryana's Jhajjar. Rest of them are being currently medically screened for COVID-19 infections, it said in a statement. "Usually, all foreigners visiting India as a part of Tablighi team come on tourist visas. MHA had already issued guidelines that they should not indulge in missionary work on a tourist visa. Police will examine and take further action in case of violation of visa conditions," the statement added. Amid outrage, organisers deny wrong-doing Coronavirus Outbreak: Delhi Police books Tablighi Jamaat head as Nizamuddin centre emerges as hotspot; over 1,339 workers quarantined, says MHA On Tuesday, political leaders, as well as television media channels, slammed the Jamaat for allegedly flouting social distancing guidelines. BJP Union minister and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi labelled the event a serious criminal act and said that it was unpardonable. Talibani Crime by Tablighi Jamaat.. This is not a negligence, its a serious criminal act. When the entire country is fighting united against Corona, such a sin is unpardonable. #IndiaFightsCorona Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (@naqvimukhtar) March 31, 2020 Delhi chief minister Kejriwal also lashed out at the organisers for being "highly irresponsible" on their part to hold such an event at a time when thousands have died in other countries due to the pandemic. The Delhi Government also asked the police to file a case against the organisers. Strong action should be taken against the administrators of the Nizamuddin Markaz who organised a 3-day religious gathering, with 1000s of people from 13th-15th March, when Delhi Govt orders had expressely forbidden gatherings or more than 200 persons on 13th March itself pic.twitter.com/n0f1rLE5Xx Atishi (@AtishiAAP) March 31, 2020 However, according to reports, the officials have denied any wrongdoings and instead said that they were forced to accommodate visitors who were stranded due to the nationwide lockdown in the premises of the mosque at Nizamuddin. The organisers also claimed that they informed the local police about the people who continued to be stranded and also cooperated with medical officers who came to inspect the premises. The mosque, the statement says, "never violated any provision of law, and always tried to act with compassion and reason towards the visitors who came to Delhi from different states. It did not let them violate the medical guidelines by thronging ISBTs (bus stops) or roaming on streets". Late in the evening, the Delhi Police registered a case against Maulana Saad and others of Tableeghi Jamaat under Epidemic Disease Act 1897 and other sections of IPC for violating government directions given to the management Nizamuddin Markaz regarding restrictions on gatherings, reported India Today, even as the health ministry said it that there was no time for fault finding but the process for containing the spread of the disease had to be taken up. With inputs from agencies BRUSSELS - Migrants and refugees and the situation along Greece's external borders will be the center of a April 2 debate during a video conference of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). The Member of the European Parliament (MEP) will be discussing these issues with the Greek government, the European Commission, the Croatian presidency, Frontex, and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Human Rights (FDA). The European Parliament noted in a statement that, while tensions along Greece's land border with Turkey seem to have been attenuated in recent weeks, concerns are growing about the poor living conditions of asylum seekers in overcrowded reception centers in Aegean Sea islands, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. During the meeting, the situation will be assessed with the Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum Notis Mitarachi and Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis as well as with European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas, Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ylva Johansson and Croatian Secretary of State for European and International Affairs Terezija Gras. The MEPs will also listen to Frontex executive director Fabrice Leggeri and FDA director Michael O'Flaherty. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and 11 other former leaders have appealed to governments in Africa to do more in the fight against ... Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and 11 other former leaders have appealed to governments in Africa to do more in the fight against coronavirus. They also advised international organisations to draw up a concrete, effective, and continental emergency plan to combat COVID-19 outbreak in the continent. The ex-Presidents/Prime Ministers warned that with porous borders all over Africa, national efforts will not be enough but regional and continental were required. Their position was contained in a joint statement on Tuesday titled Appeal for preparation for Africa to confront the onslaught of COVID-19. It read: We have seen the mitigation effect or otherwise by the preparatory and preventive actions made by different nations and international organisations to combat the killer virus. The results have been related to seriousness of preparation and preventive measures taken including the level of healthcare measures and delivery. The epidemiological progression in already affected areas has indicated that the worst case is yet to occur in Africa. Taking into account the weak healthcare bases in Africa, the conurbation, and the communal living of our people particularly in ghettos and poverty-stricken areas of our cities, the outbreak of COVID-19 in these areas of African communities and cities will be a monumental disaster. We, as concerned African leaders, note the efforts that African governments are making within their limited resources to deal with this global challenge. The statesmen urged the African Union (AU), United Nations (UN), World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank and G-20, to urgently come up with a plan to alleviate social and economic effects of the disease. The call for action was co-signed by Obasanjo, Festus Mogae (Botswana), Hailemariam Desalegn (Ethiopia), John Kufour (Ghana), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia), Joyce Banda (Malawi) and Joaquim Chissano (Mozambique). Others are Thabo Mbeki (South Africa), Kgalema Motlanthe (South Africa) Benjamin Mkapa (Tanzania), Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania) and Mohamed Marzouki (Tunisia). 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. 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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. 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. At the height of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, the Bethune Medical Development Association of Canada donated urgently needed medical supplies to Wuhan, which was at that time the epicentrre of the deadly respiratory illness. Mere weeks later "the tables have turned" and that act of kindness is being returned more than a thousandfold. Dr. Lee Errett, the association's president, said the donation of personal protective equipment arrived in Toronto on Friday and delivery to Toronto area hospitals is set for this week. "We have 50,000 pairs of gloves; 10,000 full gowns to cover all the body for those people on the direct line; we have 30,000 masks and we have 10,000 pairs of goggles," Errett told CBC Toronto. Richard Agecoutay/CBC Errett said his association had donated 10,000 N95 masks and three Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) machines, plus all the equipment that goes along with them, to Wuhan. ECMO machines act as an artificial lung, pumping oxygen in to a patient's blood, giving the respiratory and cardiovascular systems a rest. The donation, he said, was enough to service 100 patients. Shortly after the donation was made, Errett said the association received offers from the government of China and the Bank of China to donate the equipment for distribution in Canada. "What we like about this contribution is it arrived quickly, and the need is right now, so it's going to make a real difference," Errett said. Richard Agecoutay/CBC Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist with the University Health Network, said the donations will take some pressure off front-line workers, but that affect will be temporary. "The key thing here is figuring out the supply chain, not just for the next week to month, but also for the foreseeable future," he said. All of the equipment will be delivered to at least five hospitals in the GTA. Errett said while they're working to make the donations as equal as possible among the five hospitals, it will be based on what equipment is needed most, and where. Richard Agecoutay/CBC Over the weekend, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne thanked the Bank of China for the donation, saying in a tweet: "In the face of a global pandemic, supporting each other is not only the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do." After another rally on Wall Street, which saw all three main indexes jump more than three percent, Asia picked up the baton HONG KONG: Asian equities enjoyed a strong start to Tuesday following another rally on Wall Street, while oil bounced, with traders welcoming a surprise jump in Chinese factory activity, though analysts cautioned that the road ahead remained rocky for the global economy. The World Bank also warned that fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could bring China's growth to a standstill, with even a best-case scenario seeing expansion slow to 2.3 percent from 6.1 percent in 2019. Trillions of dollars pledged to offset the economic impact of the deadly virus have provided a semblance of stability to world markets, which were initially pummelled by the rapid spread of the disease, which has forced swathes of the planet and the economy into lockdown. While the number of infections and deaths continues to rise, observers said traders appear to be getting used to the new normal, with some suggesting the sell-off in stocks may have seen its worst. "Certainly we are seeing bottoming in the equity market," Jun Bei Liu of Tribeca Investment Partners told reporters. But she added it was "very hard to see equities rally away, on the basis that the infections are still getting worse and the employment numbers continue to track lower". After another rally on Wall Street, which saw all three main indexes jump more than three percent, Asia picked up the baton. Tokyo went into the break 0.8 percent better off, while Hong Kong and Taipei added more than one percent. Sydney, which soared seven percent Monday on its best day in history, added another two percent, while Seoul was up a similar amount. Singapore, Manila, Jakarta and Wellington all rose more than two percent, while Shanghai added 0.7 percent. "Stock market price action suggests that investors are comfortable with the 'whatever it takes, whatever is necessary' policymakers' response so far into a deep economic recession," said AxiCorp's Stephen Innes. He added that market players were now turning their attention to the implementation of government stimulus measures. The system assigns a rating of 1 to 10 to the likelihood that a person is carrying the Coronavirus. Israel's defence ministry plans to use software that analyses data gathered from mobile phones produced, according to Israeli media, by the spyware firm NSO to help locate likely carriers of the coronavirus in order to test them. Defence Minister Naftali Bennett told reporters that the "coronameter" would need approval from the cabinet likely to be given as well as an assessment of privacy issues from the attorney general, who has the power to block it. But it could be operational within 48 hours of getting the go-ahead. (Also Read: WhatsApp vulnerability allowed Israeli spyware to be injected onto phones: Report) Israel already tests around 5,000 people a day for the new virus, which can cause respiratory failure but also be present for several days without causing symptoms, and imposes strict quarantine on those found to have it. It hopes soon to double the number of tests. To help it decide who to test, it is using military-level surveillance to tracks civilians' movements prompting complaints about invasion of privacy from rights groups. So far, Israel has recorded 4,347 cases of the virus, and 15 deaths. As of Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was self-isolating after a parliamentary aide tested positive for the virus. Bennett said the cellphone tracking and geolocation data currently being used were no longer effective in finding the most likely carriers. According to Israeli media, the system assigns a rating of 1 to 10 to the likelihood that a person is carrying the virus. This is updated in real time and could, for example, jump if someone visits a grocery store where carriers have been identified. Israeli media said the software had been developed in cooperation with NSO. NSO declined to comment and Bennett said he would not "announce who and what, because there are also complex elements in this context". The FBI is investigating NSO on suspicion of hacking US residents and companies and gathering intelligence on governments, as reported by Reuters in January. Facebook's WhatsApp sued NSO in October after finding evidence that it had abused a flaw in the popular chat program to remotely hijack hundreds of smartphones. Bennett said that, while not perfect, the new software was the best option available to find likely carriers. "All that is needed is to pour in the testing information, to link up the cellular tracking which we are making use of anyway, today, in the epidemiological tests." A source close to the matter said NSO's first civilian product was being tested by about 15 governments around the world for use by health regulators. A husband who served more than three years in a Missouri jail for the murder of his wife before his conviction was overturned has won a $2 million settlement from authorities he sued over the handling of his case. Russel Faria won the settlement from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department who he had accused of arresting him without probable cause in the 2011 slaying of his wife Betsy, his lawyers say on Monday. His lawsuit also alleged the department fabricated evidence and failed to investigate the woman he claims is the real killer. Russel Faria (pictured), who served more than three years in a Missouri jail for the murder of his wife before his conviction was overturned, has won a $2 million settlement from authorities he sued over the handling of his case. Russel won the settlement from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department who he had accused of arresting him without probable cause in the 2011 slaying of his wife Betsy (pictured) Russel's lawsuit also alleged the department fabricated evidence and failed to investigate the woman he claims is Betsy's real killer. Russel and Betsy are pictured in image from Facebook Russel alleges that Betsy was stabbed to death by Pamela Hupp, who is already serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the 2016 murder of a disabled man, Louis Gumpenberger. Hupp, who has denied the accusation that she is responsible for murdering Betsy, is now being investigated for the crime. Russel alleges that Betsy was stabbed to death by Pamela Hupp (pictured), who is already serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the 2016 murder of a disabled man, Louis Gumpenberger Hupp, who has denied the accusation that she is responsible for murdering Betsy, is now being investigated for the crime An insurance company has agreed to pay the money to Russell , who resides in Lincoln County, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. 'He's thrilled,' said one of his attorneys, Joel Schwartz. Lawyers for the three current and former Lincoln County Sheriff's Department officers named in the suit did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Russel's conviction was overturned in 2013 and he was found not guilty at a retrial. Russel's conviction was overturned in 2013 and he was found not guilty at a retrial Russel found his wife Betsy (both pictured) dead in December 2011 after she had been stabbed an estimated 55 times. She was dying of cancer at the time The husband had found his wife dead in December 2011 after she had been stabbed an estimated 55 times. She was dying of cancer at the time. Hupp was the last known person to see Betsy alive and had been named the new beneficiary of a $150,000 life insurance policy days before the killing. Hupp is now imprisoned for fatally shooting 33-year-old Gumpenberger in August 2016 at Hupp's home in O'Fallon. She entered a 2019 plea that didn't admit guilt but acknowledged that prosecutors had enough evidence for a conviction. In that bizarre case, Hupp staged a fake kidnapping to divert attention from herself in a re-investigation of Betsy's killing, prosecutors said. Hupp is now imprisoned for fatally shooting 33-year-old Louis Gumpenberger in August 2016 at Hupp's home in O'Fallon. She entered a 2019 plea that didn't admit guilt but acknowledged that prosecutors had enough evidence for a conviction They claim she cruised St. Charles County, claiming to be a producer for NBCs Dateline in need of help reenacting a 911 call, and recruited Gumpenberger, who had mental and physical disabilities from an accident. Hupp shot Gumpenberger while on the phone with a 911 dispatcher, claiming that Gumpenberger had kidnapped her at knife-point. St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar said her claims unraveled quickly upon investigation. The Pakistan Army shelled forwards areas along the Line Of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, a defence spokesperson said. They fired from small arms and shelled mortars in Balakote sector, he said, adding the Indian Army was giving a befitting reply. There were 646 incidents of ceasefire violations along the International Border (IB) as well as the LoC between January 1 and February 23 this year, Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik had told Parliament on March 4. Over 3,200 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops were recorded in 2019, he had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Vilnius, Lithuania, March 31, 2020 Belarusian authorities should immediately release journalist Siarhei Satsuk and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 25, officers of the State Control Committee, which oversees the countrys financial investigations, detained Satsuk, chief editor of the Yezhednevnik news website, according to Yezhednevnik and Barys Haretski, deputy head of the Belarussian Association of Journalists, an independent trade group, who spoke to CPJ in a phone interview. Officers also searched Yezhednevniks offices and seized documents, according to a report by the journalists association. Today, the State Control Committee announced on its website that Satsuk remained in detention and that authorities had opened a criminal investigation into whether he accepted a bribe of $5,000. If charged and convicted, the journalists could face up to 10 years in jail, according to the Belarusian criminal code. Haretski said that Satsuks arrest followed Yezhednevnik publishing reports on the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, authorities want to teach a lesson to all journalists who write about the pandemic, as they hide the information pretending nothing is happening in Belarus and the country is free of coronavirus. Belarusian authorities should not cook up charges of bribery to persecute journalists for their reporting, said Gulnoza Said, CPJs Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, in New York. Siarhei Satsuk should be immediately released and the charges against him dropped. Authorities must allow journalists to report on the coronavirus pandemic, alleged corruption, and all other topics without fear of imprisonment. The journalists brother, Alyaksandr Satsuk, denied the bribery allegation, calling it lies and nonsense in an interview with the U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty On March 23, Satsuk published an editorial criticizing Belarusian authorities handling of the coronavirus and alleging that they had disseminated false information on the virus. On March 26, following his arrest, the Belarussian Association of Journalists published an article that Satsuk had written in case he was arrested, which said that he had previously received anonymous threats telling him to stop reporting and think about his family and himself. Alyaksandr Satsuk also said that the arrest could be retaliation for Satsuks investigative reporting into alleged corruption at the Health Ministry. CPJ called the State Control Committee for comment, but no one answered the call. By Akbar Mammadov Another provocation of Armenian armed forces has been thwarted on the order border with Armenia, State Border Service told to local media on March 30. Using large-caliber weapons, Armenian armed forces near the villages of Boganis and Voskevan of Armenias Noyemberyan region started intensively shelling the residential houses and vehicles for transporting citizens in Gushchu Ayrim village of Gazakh region starting from 17:30, March 30. The provocation of the advisory side was suppressed, and the combat positions of the Armenian armed forces, which opened fire on settlements and civilian vehicles, were thwarted by return fire. Currently, the countrys border military points control the military situation. In the meantime, State Border Service states that the information spread by Armenian media about the alleged violation of the ceasefire by Azerbaijani border military posts is not true. Azerbaijani units did not open fire on the settlements of Armenia," SBS emphasized. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz While students begin distance learning this week, municipalities are engaged in distance governing as government functions find a way to keep moving even when people are barely allowed in the same room as one another. The COVID-19 virus has disrupted the way people live their lives in big ways and in small ways. The respiratory virus that is killing thousands worldwide is rapidly spreading, causing Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to shut down schools, impose stay-at-home orders, limit gatherings of 10 or more and to shut down all non-essential businesses in order to keep the spread to a minimum. That said, cities still have essential services to deliver and official business to do and keep it open to the public. Because of this, Pritzker eased some of the requirements of the open meetings act, allowing for teleconference council meetings and even online-only meetings. Every citys approach to this is somewhat different. In Murphysboro, Mayor Will Stephens told the Southern he has had a phone-only system put in place. He and his councilmembers call in for a conference call and community members can do the same. I think the City Council meeting went well, but I greatly reduced the agenda, he said of the most recent meeting last week. He said there were no public comments this time but knows that wont always be the case. Du Quoin City Hall, library closed to the general public According to a news release posted by Du Quoin Mayor Guy H. Alongi, the city is initiating a series of temporary procedures on Tuesday, March Stephens said some things that are more sensitive will be hard to do over the phone. As this goes on, I think it is going to make it more difficult to consider some items, he said. Things like neighbor disputes or vicious dog rulings all these things take reading body language. While Stephens said the meeting was pretty efficient, he described it as sterile. Not being able to actually interact puts a real dampening effect on just the human interaction. In Marion, Mayor Mike Absher said theyve had one attempt with having a tele-meetings. It was not the best setup, but it worked, he said. They, too, had been operating via the telephone. He said while they are looking into other technologies, they will likely stick with the phone. Du Quoin is embracing a bit more tech with its meetings. Mayor Guy Alongi said the city set up a WebEx video conferencing account. He said not everyone was tech-savvy enough to use the video component but were at least able to call in. Alongi said the public was invited to call in through a publicized phone number and were given time during the meeting to speak on issues important to them. He said there werent any takers but he understood why. Theyve got their minds on something else right now, Alongi said. In Carbondale, the city council canceled its most recent scheduled meeting, giving city officials time to set up an alternative, digital meeting. City Manager Gary Williams said this week in an email that this would be in place for its April 14 meeting. Like others, Williams said governing amid the coronavirus crisis has been challenging. The downside of the COVID-19 restrictions is that we have less face to face interaction with the public although I haven't received any complaints from residents, Williams wrote. Harrisburg is creating a hybrid meeting the City Council will appear Thursday as normal, though maybe a few extra feet apart. But anyone else will be asked to meet in a separate room that has a live feed of the meeting. Mayor John McPeek said Tuesday that he also changed the meeting time from 6 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. that way there wouldnt be a lot of people there. When asked if he was afraid this would disincentive the public from engaging with the government, he said no. McPeek said they would also be broadcasting the meeting live on 102.3 FM on the radio, which he said would help make it more accessible. Here's everything you need to know about school closures, meals in Southern Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday that all schools around the state will be closed Tuesday, March 17, until March 30. Here is how local districts are responding. McPeek also said he will likely move the last meeting in April to the 30th in hopes they will be able to meet in person and pass the next years budget. The situation is not ideal, but Absher and Alongi said it was forcing people to make good with the tools they have. I think everybody's doing the best they can given the circumstance, Absher said. Citizens wanting to know how to attend their citys public meetings are encouraged to contact their city hall for a meeting notice or for special instructions. MADRID, March 31 (Reuters) - Spain's foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez on Tuesday proposed increasing the budget of the European Union to tackle the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. "Perhaps we should improve European cashflow, perhaps the European budget should be larger," Gonzalez said on French radio station Europe1. She said the European Central Bank and the European Commission have announced efforts, but there is a need for more solidarity between European Union countries. (Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by Andrew Heavens) A religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin is considered to be the new hotspot of coronavirus outbreak in India with at least 200 cases linked to it coming to light. The Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation that took place between March 13 to March 15 was attended by 2,000 delegates, including scholars from countries severely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The attendees were from 19 states. These include - 501 from Tamil Nadu, 216 from Assam, 156 from Uttar Pradesh, 109 from Maharashtra, 107 from Madhya Pradesh, 86 from Bihar, 73 from West Bengal, 55 from Hyderabad, 46 from Chattisgarh, 45 from Karnataka, 34 from Uttarakhand, 22 from Haryana, 21 from Andaman, 19 from Rajasthan, 15 from Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha, 9 from Punjab and 5 from Meghalaya. Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: Maharashtra, Telangana announce up to 75% salary cut; tally rises to 32 Besides, the international citizens who attended the event had come from at least 19 countries. These include - 19 from Nepal, 20 from Malaysia, 33 from Myanmar, 28 from Krygstan, 72 from Indonesia, 71 from Thailand, 34 from Sri Lanka, 19 from Bangladesh, three from England, four from Fiji, 2 from Kuwait, one from France, Algeria, Djibouti and Singapore. Delhi government was in dark about the activities in Nizamuddin Markaz till Indian security agencies found a connection between coronavirus cases and the religious congregation. A total of 1,033 people have been evacuated from the Nizamuddin Markaz, so far. Among them 334 have been sent to the hospital and 700 to the quarantine center, Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain said on Tuesday. Besides, 24 positive cases of coronavirus have also emerged, taking total tally in Delhi to 97. In Telangana, six attendees of the congregation died due to coronavirus yesterday. On March 26, a 65-year-old man from Kashmir, who had attended the congregation, died at a Srinagar hospital. Another, 52-year-old attendee from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, has been tested positive. Andhra Pradesh saw a jump in the number of coronavirus cases with 17 testing positive since Monday night, taking the overall tally to 40. Also read: Coronavirus cases in India surge to 1385, death toll at 32; state-wise tally Also read: Coronavirus impact: 5 reasons why you need to brace yourself for lower deposit rates NASA researchers have developed new satellite-based, weekly global maps of soil moisture and groundwater wetness conditions and one to three-month U.S. forecasts of each product. While maps of current dry/wet conditions for the United States have been available since 2012, this is the first time they have been available globally. "The global products are important because there are so few worldwide drought maps out there," said hydrologist and project lead Matt Rodell of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "Droughts are usually well known when they happen in developed nations. But when there's a drought in central Africa, for example, it may not be noticed until it causes a humanitarian crisis. So it's valuable to have a product like this where people can say, wow, it's really dry there and no one's reporting it." These maps are distributed online by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to support U.S. and global drought monitoring. "Being able to see a weekly snapshot of both soil moisture and groundwater is important to get a complete picture of drought," said professor Brian Wardlow, director for the Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies at UNL, who works closely with Rodell on developing remote sensing tools for operational drought monitoring. Monitoring the wetness of the soil is essential for managing agricultural crops and predicting their yields, because soil moisture is the water available to plant roots. Groundwater is often the source of water for crop irrigation. It also sustains streams during dry periods and is a useful indicator of extended drought. But ground-based observations are too sparse to capture the full picture of wetness and dryness across the landscape like the combination of satellites and models can. A Global Eye on Water Both the global maps and the U.S. forecasts use data from NASA and German Research Center for Geosciences's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow On (GRACE-FO) satellites, a pair of spacecraft that detect the movement of water on Earth based on variations of Earth's gravity field. GRACE-FO succeeds the highly successful GRACE satellites, which ended their mission in 2017 after 15 years of operation. With the global expansion of the product, and the addition of U.S. forecasts, the GRACE-FO data are filling in key gaps for understanding the full picture of wet and dry conditions that can lead to drought. The satellite-based observations of changes in water distribution are integrated with other data within a computer model that simulates the water and energy cycles. The model then produces, among other outputs, time-varying maps of the distribution of water at three depths: surface soil moisture, root zone soil moisture (roughly the top three feet of soil), and shallow groundwater. The maps have a resolution of 1/8th degree of latitude, or about 8.5 miles, providing continuous data on moisture and groundwater conditions across the landscape. The GRACE and GRACE-FO satellite-based maps are among the essential data sets used by the authors of the U.S. Drought Monitor, the premier weekly map of drought conditions for the United States that is used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, among others, to evaluate which areas may need financial assistance due to losses from drought. "GRACE [provided and GRACE-FO now provides] a national scope of groundwater," said climatologist and Drought Monitor author Brian Fuchs, at the drought center. He and the other authors use multiple data sets to see where the evidence shows conditions have gotten drier or wetter. For groundwater, that used to mean going to individual states' groundwater well data to update the weekly map. "It's saved a lot of time having that groundwater layer along with the soil moisture layers, all in one spot," Fuchs said. "The high-resolution data that we're able to bring in allows us to draw those contours of dryness or wetness right to the data itself." One of the goals of the new global maps is to make the same consistent product available in all parts of the world--especially in countries that do not have any groundwater-monitoring infrastructure. "Drought is really a key [topic]... with a lot of the projections of climate and climate change," Wardlow said. "The emphasis is on getting more relevant, more accurate and more timely drought information, whether it be soil moisture, crop health, groundwater, streamflow--[the GRACE missions are] central to this," he said. "These types of tools are absolutely critical to helping us address and offset some of the impacts anticipated, whether it be from population growth, climate change or just increased water consumption in general." Both the Center for Advanced Land Management and the National Drought Mitigation Center are based in UNL's School of Natural Resources, and they are working with international partners, including the U.S. Agency for International Development and the World Bank, to develop and support drought monitoring using the GRACE-FO global maps and other tools in the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa, South East Asia, and India. Droughts can be complex, both in timing and extent. At the surface, soil moisture changes rapidly with weather conditions. The moisture in the root zone changes a little slower but is still very responsive to weather. Lagging behind both is groundwater, since it is insulated from changes in the weather. But for longer-term outlooks on drought severity--or, conversely, flood risk in low-lying areas--groundwater is the metric to watch, said Rodell. "The groundwater maps are like a slowed down, smoothed version of what you see at the surface," Rodell said. "They represent the accumulation of months or years of weather events." That smoothing provides a more complete picture of the overall drying or wetting trend going on in an area. Having an accurate accounting of groundwater levels is essential for accurately forecasting near-future conditions. The new forecast product that projects dry and wet conditions 30, 60, and 90 days out for the lower 48 United States uses GRACE-FO data to help set the current conditions. Then the model runs forward in time using the Goddard Earth Observing System, Version 5 seasonal weather forecast model as input. The researchers found that including the GRACE-FO data made the resulting soil moisture and groundwater forecasts more accurate. Since the product has just been rolled out, the user community is only just beginning to work with the forecasts, but Wardlow sees a huge potential. "I think you'll see the GRACE-FO monitoring products used in combination with the forecasts," Wardlow said. "For example, the current U.S. product may show moderate drought conditions, and if you look at the forecast and the forecast shows next month that there's a continued drying trend, then that may change the decision versus if it was a wet trend." The U.S. forecast and global maps are freely available to users through the drought center's data portal. ### To download the maps, visit: https://nasagrace.unl.edu/ To learn more about GRACE and GRACE-FO, visit: https://gracefo.jpl.nasa.gov/ GRACE-FO is a partnership between NASA and the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GeoForschungsZentrum [GFZ]). Both spacecraft are being operated from the German Space Operations Center in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, under a GFZ contract with the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt). The Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages JPL for NASA. The GRACE-FO mission was launched in early 2018. GRACE was implemented as a joint mission of NASA and the German Aerospace Center. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory managed the mission's implementation and operations. The GRACE mission was decommissioned in late 2017. Development of the drought/wetness products was funded by NASA's Applied Sciences-Water Resources, Terrestrial Hydrology, and GRACE-FO Science Team programs. Florida's governor said Monday that he does not want passengers suspected of suffering from coronavirus on the cruise ship Zaandam to be "dumped" in his southern US state. The Holland America Line vessel passed through the Panama Canal overnight as the company searched for a port that will allow the Zaandam passengers to disembark. "We view this as a big, big problem and we do not want to see people dumped in southern Florida right now," Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told Fox News. "I'm in contact with the White House on this." DeSantis later said he would like to have medical personnel dispatched to the ship, which was originally scheduled to end its cruise in the Florida city of Fort Lauderdale in early April. "The cruise lines can hopefully arrange for that," the governor told reporters. "But I think a lot of these are foreign nationals, and we want to make sure we have the beds available for the folks here in southern Florida," he said. The Zaandam crossed the Panama Canal into the Caribbean Sea overnight after canal authorities reversed a decision to block its passage. It was followed hours later by its sister ship, the Rotterdam, which was dispatched from San Diego to take on the Zaandam's healthiest passengers. Holland America said that before crossing the canal, hundreds of Zaandam passengers were transferred via "sanitized tender" to the Rotterdam. The company said that currently 446 passengers and 602 crew members were aboard the Zaandam, while 797 passengers and 645 crew were on the Rotterdam. It said 73 passengers and 116 crew members on the Zaandam have reported influenza-like symptoms. Four deaths have been reported among the ship's passengers. Passengers have been self-isolating on the Zaandam since March 22, Holland America said. The Zaandam had been stuck in the Pacific since March 14 after dozens of people board fell sick, and several South American ports refused to let it dock. - 'Difficult and unprecedented' - Holland America Line president Orlando Ashford said in a video message that the company was trying to find a destination for the stricken ship. The situation was "difficult and unprecedented," Ashford said. Apologizing to passengers, he said: "It's been a tough last several days." The mayor of Fort Lauderdale, where the ship was initially scheduled to end its cruise on April 7, said it was not welcome. Mayor Dean Trantalis said allowing the Zaandam to dock was "completely unacceptable." "No assurances have been given" that the passengers "will be escorted from the ship to either a treatment facility or placed in quarantine. This is completely unacceptable," Trantalis tweeted. "We cannot add further risk to our community," he said. "There are many places on the eastern seaboard where this ship could dock and be dealt with in a much more controlled environment." French Deputy Foreign Minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne said meanwhile that Florida remains the "best option" for the ship's passengers, about 100 of whom are believed to be French nationals. "Florida has numerous ports," Lemoyne told the France 5 television network when asked about Fort Lauderdale's reluctance to take the ship. "We will continue our political intervention if necessary to find a solution," he said. The Rotterdam arrived from San Diego carrying medical staff, testing kits and food for the Zaandam. In his message, Ashford said he wanted to dispel a "myth" that one was a "healthy ship" and the other a "sick ship." "Whether you're isolated on the Zaandam or isolated on the Rotterdam, the way that we protect the health of those of you that are healthy is to make sure that you're isolated safely while we figure out where it is that we're going to take you," he said. The Zaandam left Buenos Aires on March 7 and was supposed to arrive two weeks later at San Antonio, near Santiago, Chile. Since a brief stop in Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia on March 14, it has been turned away from several ports after reporting that some people aboard were ill. US passenger Laura Gabaroni pleaded for help Sunday, saying that the ports that had turned the Zaandam away would have deaths on their conscience. "Four people are now dead, and that is on the head of all the people along the way who turned us away," Gabaroni told AFP. Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore has had enough of her estranged husband, Marc Daly. The pair separated last fall following an explosive fight. Their ups and downs have been well documented on the show, and a trailer for an upcoming episode reveals that Moore banned Daly from her house while they were working out a custody arrangement for their daughter, Brooklyn. RHOA stars Kenya Moore and Marc Daly | Paras Griffin/Getty Images) Kenya Moore and Marc Daly call it quits Moore and Daly tied the knot in a secret ceremony two years ago. After welcoming a daughter, the couple called it quits in September, and their marital issues have been a major part of the storyline in season 12 of RHOA. Most recently, Moore and Daly butted heads over a charity dinner he hosted for Miss USA. Daly was in charge of organizing the event, though Moore worked a lot of magic to help pull it off. In a recent episode of RHOA, Kenya Moores bestie, Cynthia Bailey, blasted Daly for not recognizing his wifes contribution. According to Hollywood Life, the event would not have been a success without Moore, yet Daly failed to mention her during his speech. Kenya Moore And Marc Daly Are Reportedly Working Hard To Co-Parent, Not Yet Back Together #RHOA #KenyaMoore #MarcDaly https://t.co/y0Git7EIsZ Real Housewives (@RHOGossip) March 31, 2020 Im not saying that he intentionally set out to not thank her, I just thought it was just really in poor taste that he didnt, Bailey shared. Ive seen all sides to Marc. Ive seen Marc where hes amazing and then Ive seen other sides where I dont get it. Hes not that nice. Ignoring his wifes help is bad enough, but things got really heated following an explosive fight that led to Daly and Moores split. Moore banned Daly from their home A preview trailer for an upcoming episode of RHOA shows how bad things got between Daly and Moore. According to All About The Tea, Moore confessed that she banned Daly from her house as the couple tried to figure out a custody arrangement. I just dont know how to even make the visitation work. Yes, he can see her whenever he comes here, Moore explains in the clip. No, I dont want him to stay here. Kenya Moore and Daly split right after the charity dinner. It sounds like their epic fight is why Moore banned Daly from their house, but we should learn more about what happened in the coming installment. In the meantime, RHOA star NeNe Leakes recently dished on Moores relationship drama. Leakes slammed Moore for her previous behavior and believes that her romance with Daly was never going to work out. what goes around, comes around, and Kenya had this coming. She has interfered with other girls on this shows relationships, Leakes stated. Leakes comments come on the heels of Dalys confession that he was very unhappy in his marriage, which is not that surprising given his behavior this season. Marc Daly admits he hates being married A few weeks ago, fans were offered a look at what Daly really thought about his marriage to Kenya Moore. During a scene for RHOA, Daly told some of his wifes co-stars that he hated married life and was going to end it. No, I hate it. Everybody knows I hate it. End it, he stated. Moore was not present when Daly made the comments. Shortly after the episode aired, Moore removed her married name from her Instagram account. She still refers to herself as a wife on the platform, something that she will likely change after the divorce is final. Although things clearly did not work out with Daly, Kenya Moore has been optimistic about fixing their marriage. But in light of everything that has happened since their split, the odds of that happening are pretty slim. Luckily, what is unfolding on the show was filmed several months ago and things between Moore and Daly have quieted down considerably. Where do things currently stand between Kenya Moore and Marc Daly? Despite how their marriage ended, Moore and Daly are working together to raise their daughter in a healthy environment. Their relationship has been very rocky since the split, but a source claims that they are communicating much better now. Kenya and Marc are really working hard to co-parent, the source dished. Shes allowing him to see Brooklyn a lot which he has been doing. Theyre trying to work on their relationship, not necessarily for the sake of getting back together, but for the sake of co-parenting and Brooklyn. The source added that Moore and Daly are unlikely to rekindle their romance. Considering everything they have been through the past few months, we cannot blame them. RHOAs Kenya Moore & Marc Daly: The Chances Of Them Getting Back Together Revealed https://t.co/8vZd8WOcXN pic.twitter.com/PdBz4Aj8pX peter alexander (@carribablue) March 28, 2020 While it sounds like both parties are moving on, the RHOA star is encouraging Daly to do his part to raise their daughter. They might not see eye-to-eye on most things, but it is good that they are both focusing on the well-being of their child. Moore and Daly tied the knot in a secret ceremony in 2017. They welcomed their daughter the following year and broke things up in the fall of 2019. Kenya Moore has not commented on the latest rumors surrounding her failed marriage. Catfish exports to China dropped by half in the first two months of the year in comparison with the same period last year, resulting in a 32 percent decrease in total export turnover for the entire seafood industry. Dao Thuy Phuong in Can Tho City has 1.5 hectares of catfish breeder ponds. In general, Phuong sells the breeders 2-3 months after farming. However, the fish cannot be sold, though she began farming one year ago. With the current price of VND20,000-21,000 per kilogram, Phuong estimates that she can earn VND450-500 million for 20 tons of fish breeders and take a loss of VND100 million. Farmers in the Mekong Delta said catfish breeder prices have been low for the last year. The price increased to VND30,000 per kilogram at times, but mostly stayed at below VND25,000 per kilogram, lower than the production cost of VND30,000. Many farmers, like Phuong, decided to keep breeding the fish, hoping that the prices would rise. The farmers raising catfish for food are in the same situation. Le Thanh Van in O Mon district said he has sold 70 tons of catfish at VND18,300 per kilogram, which means a loss of VND3,000 per kilogram. Van still has two ponds of catfish with estimated output of 170 tons. He is raising fish at a moderate level while waiting for the prices to increase. Duong Nghia Quoc, chair of the Vietnam Pangasius Association (Vinapa), confirmed that the catfish price has dropped dramatically and that sales have been stagnant because of low demand. Duong Nghia Quoc, chair of the Vietnam Pangasius Association (Vinapa), confirmed that the catfish price has dropped dramatically and that sales have been stagnant because of low demand. The problem lies in oversupply. As the catfish price reached its peak in 2018, farmers rushed to raise fish, leading to a rapid increase in farming area. However, since 2019, the catfish price has dropped sharply, causing many farmers to sell fish at a loss and leave ponds idle. The situation is even more serious this year because of Covid-19, especially because Vietnams catfish exports rely too much on the Chinese market. In 2019, Vietnam exported $662 million worth of catfish to China out of total export turnover of $2 billion. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) admitted that the reliance brings high risks. The orders from China dropped by 70 percent in February and March. Among seafood products, catfish has suffered the most during the Covid-19 epidemic. The catfish export turnover to the EU was $26 million only, a decrease of 40 percent compared with the same period last year. Exports to Italy, Germany and the UK have been at a standstill since March when the countries became epidemic centers. Linh Ha US food agency inspection an opportunity for Vietnamese catfish The ministry said Vietnam welcome the FSISs involvement to ensure Vietnamese tra fish hold up to the strictest of safety and quality standards. Three persons who recently returned from Delhi after attending a religious congregation at Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz in Nizamuddin West have been put on quarantine by the Odisha government, an official said on Tuesday. The state government is also trying to identify others who attended the programme from March 1-15, said Subroto Bagchi, Odisha's chief spokesperson on COVID-19. The state government is aware about the three persons who returned from the congregation. These three people have been put on quarantine and their family members under observation, he told reporters during the daily briefing here. However, Bagchi refused to divulge more details about the matter and said he will share updates on Wednesday. Six people from Telangana and one from Jammu and Kashmir, who attended religious congregation, died due to coronavirus. Besides, over twenty people have tested positive. Over 2,000 delegates, including those from several foreign countries, attended the congregation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Staff at the Royal Melbourne Hospital wear full protective equipment while conducting screening for COVID-19 An in-home nurse who treated a coronavirus patient with only gloves is concerned she may have spread the virus to a further 40 people because of a lack of protective gear. The Victorian healthcare worker - who is now in self-isolation - didnt find out the elderly man had tested positive for COVID-19 until a week after shed made multiple visits to many homes. The other patients are likely still in the dark about the whole situation, with no guidelines in place to advise the patients their nurse had come into contact with someone suffering coronavirus. The 58-year-old told ABC News shes afraid the lengthy delay between her patient going to hospital and her receiving the test could have put other community members at risk. I have been in people's homes every day - vulnerable people in society. Elderly people, people with lots of co-morbidities and lots of health issues, she said. The nurse visited the man to change a dressing when she discovered he was suffering respiratory problems and called an ambulance. Despite the paramedics showing up in full personal protective equipment she didnt realise the severity of the situation until eight days later. They had whole hazmat suits on and they were protected from head to toe. Whereas I'm standing there in my uniform wearing a pair of gloves ready to walk on to the next vulnerable client after he went off to hospital, she said. They had whole hazmat suits on and they were protected from head to toe. Whereas I'm standing there in my uniform wearing a pair of gloves ready to walk on to the next vulnerable client after he went off to hospital, she said (PICTURED, paramedics respond to a coronavirus outbreak at an aged care facility in Sydney Her employer later confirmed the man tested positive for COVID-19, but because she wasnt showing symptoms she would not be tested. She was also advised that the 30-40 patients she saw after coming into contact with coronavirus would not be informed unless she was diagnosed herself. The nurse was directed to self-isolate, leaving her to dwell on the fact she may have spread the virus to dozens of other people- including her own family- in the time between the mans hospitalisation and receiving news of his status. A spokesperson for the Victorian Department of Health said home-health care guidelines fall under the federal government's jurisdiction. The Australian College of Nursing has slammed the lack of support for nurses during the coronavirus pandemic in Australia. CEO Kylie Ward says paramedics are being kitted out with full personal protective equipment but community nurses are lucky if they get a disposable mask. Nurses going into the community who are not attached to GP clinics are not able to access PPE like face-masks, gloves or gowns through the primary health networks. The number of cases for COVID-19 has risen to 4,459 in Australia as of Tuesday morning with 19 deaths recorded Ms Ward told ABC news the nurse must be struggling to cope as she waits out her self-isolation period. Imagine what she's thinking. She's acutely aware of the impact she's had on the community and what that spread could mean, she said. Meanwhile the disability sector is facing a similar problem around a shortage of personal protective equipment for in-home workers. The issue has led to support workers making their own equipment, after being told they werent required by their employers to have face-masks. The Australian College of Nurses says community nurses are 'lucky' if they get a disposable mask while paramedics are receiving full scale personal protective equipment like masks, gloves and gowns (pictured a health staff member at a COVID-19 testing clinic in Adelaide) 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 Some have created make-shift masks using quilting supplies, while others have been using paper towels, rubber bands and staples. Workers are also being forced to re-use equipment because of the shortage. But its a potential spread of COVID-19 among the disability workforce that is raising concerns about the potential flow-on effect. If workers are forced to self-isolate and people with a disability are left without carers they may be forced to seek out care from the hospital network. The situation has ignited calls for the federal government to supply the sector with PPEs so workers are protected and dont cause further strain on the hospital system. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Federal Department of Heath for comment. A member of the Disaster Response Force of Telangana sprays disinfectant on a street in Hyderabad. (AFP) Nizamabad: A 62-year-old man, suspected to have been infected by the Covid-19 virus, died at the Government General Hospital (GGH) in Nizamabad, Telangana, late Sunday night even as hospital staff were shifting him to Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad. The dead mans family reportedly attacked hospital staff, accusing them of medical negligence. Doctors said the victim had died after suffering a heart attack. The deceased person was one of the 30 people who came in contact with a 63-year-old man from Quilla Crossroads locality of Nizamabad who tested positive for the coronavirus after returning from a religious programme in Delhi. He is currently in quarantine at Gandhi Hospital at Hyderabad. All the persons who had had contact with this Covid-positive patient were placed in an isolation ward at GGH Nizamabad. Doctors said the Covid suspect who died on Sunday was being shifted to the Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad as his symptoms had turned severe. Doctors said fear and stress might have caused the heart attack. A post-mortem report is awaited. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, GGH Nizamabad superintendent Dr M. Nageshwar Rao said the coronavirus suspect died due to a cardiac arrest as he was suffering with high blood pressure and diabetes. Due to his age and health problem, we tried to shift him to Gandhi Hospital but he collapsed, he explained. Dr Nageshwar Rao said shocked family members questioned the doctors about the mans death, and denied reports that hospital staff were attacked. All coronavirus suspects are being shifted to the isolation ward, he said. The 11 persons who came in contact with the body of the deceased Covid-19 suspect have been shifted to the GGH isolation ward too. Blood samples taken from the deceased man were sent to Hyderabad for tests. The newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave Windsor Castle in May 2018. (Steve Parsons / Associated Press) Prince Harry and wife Meghan officially make the transition Tuesday from senior members of Britains royal family to well, its unclear. International celebrities, charity patrons, global influencers? The royal schism that the couple triggered in January by announcing that they would step down from official duties, give up public funding, seek financial independence and swap the U.K. for North America becomes official on March 31. The move has been made more complicated and poignant by the global coronavirus pandemic, which finds the couple and their 10-month-old son, Archie, in California, far from Harrys father, Prince Charles who is recovering after testing positive for COVID-19 and Harrys 93-year-old grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. "As we can all feel, the world at this moment seems extraordinarily fragile, the couple said in a final post Monday on their now-mothballed SussexRoyal Instagram account. "What's most important right now is the health and well-being of everyone across the globe and finding solutions for the many issues that have presented themselves as a result of this pandemic, they added. "As we all find the part we are to play in this global shift and changing of habits, we are focusing this new chapter to understand how we can best contribute." It is less than two years since ex-soldier Harry, who is sixth in line to the British throne, married American actress Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle in a lavish ceremony watched by millions around the world. Soon the couple began to bristle at intense scrutiny by the British media which they said tipped into harassment. They decided to break free, in what Harry called a "leap of faith" as he sought a more peaceful life, without the journalists who have filmed, photographed and written about him since the day he was born. Harry has long had an uncomfortable relationship with the media, whom he blames for the death of his mother, Princess Diana. She died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi. Story continues Harrys unhappiness increased after he began dating Markle, then the star of TV legal drama Suits. In 2016 he accused the media of harassing his then-girlfriend and criticized racial undertones in some coverage of the biracial Markle. It's clear that Meghans upbeat Californian style embodied in the glossy images and life-affirming messages of the couples Instagram account rankled with sections of Britains tabloid press, which is both insatiable for royal content and fiercely judgmental of the family members. The couple who are keeping their titles, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but will no longer be called Their Royal Highnesses had hoped to keep using the Sussex Royal brand in their new life. But last month they announced they wouldn't seek to trademark the term because of U.K. rules governing use of the word "royal." The couple plans to launch a nonprofit organization for their charitable activities in areas including youth empowerment, mental health, conservation, gender equality and education. Harry will also continue to oversee the Invictus Games, the Olympics-style competition he founded for wounded troops. Meghan has been announced as the narrator of Elephant, a Disney nature documentary. But for now, the couples office said they wanted the world to focus on the global response to COVID-19." "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will spend the next few months focusing on their family and continuing to do what they can, safely and privately, to support and work with their pre-existing charitable commitments while developing their future non-profit organisation, the couples office said in a statement. The newly independent Harry and Meghan will also need to earn money to help pay for a multimillion-dollar security bill. As senior royals, they have had bodyguards funded by British taxpayers. Since late last year, Harry and Meghan have since been based on Canadas Vancouver Island, where security was provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Canadian authorities warned last month that would end once the couple ceased to be working royals. The duke and duchess recently moved to the Los Angeles area, where Meghan grew up and where her mother still lives. The news led President Trump to tweet on Sunday: the U.S. will not pay for their security protection. They must pay!" Harry and Meghans office said security costs are being personally covered by the couple. Some royal historians warned that Harry and Meghan could struggle to find a fulfilling role. Comparisons have been drawn to King Edward VIII, who abdicated in 1936 to marry divorced American Wallis Simpson. The couple lived the rest of their lives in self-imposed exile from Britain. Royal historian Penny Junor said U.K.-based royals were helping boost the nations morale during the coronavirus pandemic. The queen has issued a message to the nation, while Harrys brother, Prince William, and his children joined in a public round of applause for healthcare workers. "All of this is absolutely what the family is about," Junor said, "and those members of the royal family that are on a limb now are pretty irrelevant. This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? 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: More than 786,228 Global deaths: At least 37,820 Top 5 countries: United States (164,603), Italy (101,739), Spain (87,956), China (82,240), and Germany (66,885) The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University as of 12:47 a.m. Beijing time. All times below are in Beijing time. 6:23 pm: Spain's daily death toll hits 849, highest level since since epidemic started The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in Spain reached 8,189 on Tuesday, up from 7,340 the day before, the country's health ministry said Tuesday. The 849 deaths in 24 hours is the highest daily death toll since the epidemic started in Spain, Reuters noted. The total number of coronavirus infections rose to 94,417, up from 85,195 on Monday. Holly Ellyatt Tweet Two workers transport a coffin at La Almudena cemetery on March 26, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Spain plans to continue its quarantine measures at least through April 11. Carlos Alvarez | Getty Images 5:51 pm: Iran's death toll from coronavirus climbs to 2,898, health official says Iran's death toll from coronavirus has reached 2,898, with 141 deaths in the past 24 hours, the country's health ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur told state TV on Tuesday, Reuters reported. The total number of infected cases has jumped to 44,606. "In the past 24 hours, there have been 3,111 new cases of infected people. Unfortunately, 3,703 of the infected people are in a critical condition," Jahanpur said. Holly Ellyatt 4:43 pm: China to start reporting asymptomatic cases from April 1 An official from China's National Health Commission has said that the country is to start testing asymptomatic cases starting tomorrow, Reuters reported. It has 1,541 asymptomatic coronavirus patients under observation as of end of March 30. The commission said 205 of the patients under observation are from overseas. Holly Ellyatt 4:17 pm: Germany's RKI optimistic about flattening of coronavirus infection curve The head of Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases said on Tuesday that his optimism about the flattening of the coronavirus infection curve was justified, adding that this would be clearer after Easter, Reuters reported. However, Lothar Wieler, president of the Robert Koch Institute, told a news conference that the current mortality rate of 0.8% in Germany would rise further. Reuters 4:10 pm: European markets climb as sentiment buoyed by China data European markets advanced on Tuesday, following a positive lead set in Asia after Chinese manufacturing data rebounded in March, despite the coronavirus pandemic. The pan-European Stoxx 600 climbed 1.7% in early trade, with travel and leisure stocks jumping 4.7% to lead gains as all sectors and major bourses entered positive territory. European stocks reacted positively to data out Tuesday showing that China's official manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for March came in better than some analysts expected. Holly Ellyatt and Elliot Smith 3:42 pm: Indonesia plans to relax budget deficit limit amid coronavirus Indonesia is planning to issue an emergency regulation to allow the government to manage a wider fiscal deficit and increase spending in response to COVID-19, a move that will effectively revise the state finances law, a minister said on Tuesday, Reuters reported. The 2003 state finances law caps the budget deficit at a maximum of 3% of gross domestic product for a fiscal year. But the new rules will allow the government to exceed that limit for three consecutive fiscal years, but the cap will be reinstated in 2023, Luhut Pandjaitan, a senior minister who oversees investment and natural resources, said in a video statement. Indonesia recorded its first coronavirus cases on March 2 and has seen numbers climb to 1,414 infections and 122 deaths as of Monday. Reuters 3:27 pm: Southern Italians brace themselves as the coronavirus spreads across the country Italians in the south of the country are bracing themselves for the coronavirus outbreak that has crippled northern Italy, with those living in the poorer southern regions telling CNBC that people are scared, angry and desperate for more government help. "People are very scared," Rachele, a mother of two young children who lives in Salerno in Campania, told CNBC Monday. "In the south, the virus is spreading quickly and we're having a lot of deaths, we're hoping that this situation ends soon," she said. The spread of the virus is putting more pressure on the south where the economy is far weaker and where unemployment rates are much higher than in the north, and indeed, most of Europe. Holly Ellyatt A general view of a almost deserted street during coronavirus crisis on March 20, 2020 in Palermo, Italy. Tullio Puglia 3:06 pm: Switzerland to tap markets more for funds to fight outbreak Switzerland will be raising funds from financial markets more frequently to help cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, said the country's Federal Finance Administration. In a statement, the FFA said it will double its holdings of short-term money market instruments from around 6 billion Swiss francs ($6.2 billion) to 12 billion francs. It also said it will step up sales of bonds. Switzerland has reported 15,475 cases as of Monday, with 295 deaths, according to the Federal Office of Public Health. Yen Nee Lee 2:50 pm: Industry associations warn of looming major food shortages across Asia There could be major food shortages across Asia as a result of supply chain disruptions and trade protectionist measures due to the coronavirus outbreak, two industry associations warned. Many countries have locked down large areas, quarantined millions and restricted movements across borders to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease, formally known as COVID-19. Such measures restrict the movement of manpower and disrupt transportation and logistics. Some countries have also started stockpiling strategic food products and restricted exports in an environment where consumers are buying more for their own pantries as they stay home. "Any restriction of movement, including the workforce, will affect the stability of food production. The situation has now been exacerbated by the global increase in demand for food. Even the slightest measure affecting the free movement of people and goods will strain the global food chain further," said Abdul Halim Saim, president of the ASEAN Food and Beverage Alliance. ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The alliance and Food Industry Asia, are calling for governments across the region "to ensure the unhindered production and supply of food and beverages as each country tries to contain the outbreak of COVID-19," they said in a press release on Monday. "During a lockdown, if governments across the region put in place policies that hinder production across supply chains as well as trade barriers, this could lead to regional food shortages, especially when looking across the world and seeing the continued but unnecessary panic buying behavior," they said. Huileng Tan 2:37 pm: Virus is still smashing through markets but investors have found one they like As world markets, especially U.S. markets, tremble on surging cases of the coronavirus, there's one market seeing investors return: China. The infection rate of coronavirus has slowed in China, and there appears to be a growing appetite among fund managers to start buying Chinese assets again. Pinebridge Investments, a New York-based firm, is going "all in." "We have recently boosted China A shares from a small single digit starting position to a low double digit weighting," Michael Kelly, global head of multi-asset at Pinebridge, told CNBC over email. "As a result of COVID-19, the West is now seeing plunging economics through at least (the second quarter), while the East, led by China, is already full of" companies that are showing recovery. Tanvir Gill 1:55 pm: Germany reports 4,615 new cases, 120 more deaths The number of coronavirus cases in Germany has increased by 4,615, taking the tally to 61,913, according to the latest data by Robert Koch Institute, a federal government agency responsible for disease monitoring and prevention. The number of fatalities has risen by 120 to 583, the data showed. Germany has the third-highest number of confirmed cases in Europe behind Italy and Spain. Yen Nee Lee 1:24 pm: Southeast Asian countries step up measures to curb outbreak Several Southeast Asian nations have stepped up measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus, according to Reuters. The region's largest economy Indonesia said it has decided to ban the entry and transit of all foreigners, reported Reuters. Foreigners with stay permit and some diplomatic visits may be exempted, the report said. Meanwhile, Vietnam announced social distancing measures for 15 days starting Wednesday, according to a separate Reuters report. During the period, people are required to stay at home and can only can go out for emergencies or to buy goods, said the report. As of Monday, Indonesia has confirmed 1,414 cases of the coronavirus, while Vietnam has reported 203 infections, according to their respective official tallies. Yen Nee Lee 12:55 pm: Pandemic will hit profitability of Asia Pacific banks, says Fitch Asia Pacific banks will find it increasingly challenging to maintain their financial performance as economies around the world get hit by the coronavirus pandemic, Fitch Ratings said. The ratings agency earlier this month downgraded the outlook for 10 banking systems in the region to "negative." All 17 banking systems in Asia Pacific that Fitch assesses now have a "negative" outlook. But the outlook assessment doesn't necessarily indicate that economies in the region face higher risk of financial instability, said Fitch's Head of Asia-Pacific Bank Ratings Jonathan Cornish. Yen Nee Lee 12:23 pm: Japan asks citizens not to travel to 73 locations Japan's foreign ministry has urged citizens not to travel to 73 countries and regions, including the U.S., Canada and the U.K., reported Reuters. That's an increase from some 20 countries mostly those in Europe that Japan had warned its people not to visit in recent weeks, the report said. The Japanese government is also likely to ban the entry of visitors from the newly added countries, according to the report. The warning came as the number of cases in Japan continued to rise. As of Monday noon, the country confirmed 1,866 cases, 173 more than the previous day, according to the ministry of health, labour and welfare. Yen Nee Lee 10:39 am: Japan prime minister and his deputy to avoid attending the same meetings Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his deputy, Taro Aso, will avoid attending the same meetings as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus outbreak, Reuters reported. "Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe told cabinet members this morning that Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso would not join a meeting where he attends," Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Akihiro Nishimura said at a news briefing, according to Reuters. In the event Abe is unable to fulfill his duties as prime minister, Aso will be next in line to become Japan's interim leader. The country has at least 1,953 reported cases and 56 deaths, according to JHU data. Saheli Roy Choudhury 9:26 am: China says manufacturing activity expanded in March, defying expectations of a contraction China said the official Purchasing Manager's Index for March was 52.0, beating expectations for an economy hit by the coronavirus outbreak. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected the official PMI to come in at 45 for the month of March, from a record low of 35.7 a month earlier. China's manufacturing activity slowed dramatically earlier this year as the government instituted large-scale lockdowns and quarantines to contain the spread of COVID-19. Huileng Tan 9:23 am: Amazon fires warehouse worker who led Staten Island strike for more coronavirus protection Amazon confirmed to CNBC that it fired Chris Smalls, a warehouse worker who organized a strike at its Staten Island facility on Monday. The company said it fired Smalls after he "received multiple warnings for violating social distancing guidelines." Smalls and other employees walked out to call attention to the lack of protective measures for workers. They're also urging Amazon to close the facility after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus. Organizers put the number of strikers around 50, while Amazon said it was less than 15. "Amazon would rather fire workers than face up to its total failure to do what it should to keep us, our families, and our communities safe," Smalls said in a statement. "I am outraged and disappointed, but I'm not shocked. As usual, Amazon would rather sweep a problem under the rug than act to keep workers and working communities safe." Annie Palmer 8:53 am: Los Angeles halts evictions for people and businesses who can't pay rent due to COVID-19 Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a halt on eviction in the city for people and businesses who can't pay rent due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the state of California. Landlords are also barred from raising the rent on rent-stabilized apartments, Garcetti said. "If you cannot pay the rent as a result of this emergency, you cannot be evicted," Garcetti said. Residential tenants have 12 months and commercial tenants will have 3 months to pay after the emergency ends. "The money owed by tenants won't magically disappear, tenants still need to pay the rent if they can," Garcetti said. Kif Leswing 8:40 am: 'Act quickly, act decisively, act robustly' to stop coronavirus outbreaks, WHO special envoy says David Nabarro, a special envoy on COVID-19 to the World Health Organization, told CNBC that countries need to act fast and stop the coronavirus outbreak before it grows into an exponential problem. "This set of outbreaks that are making up the pandemic increase in scale exponentially; they double in size every few days, like every three days," Nabarro told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday. "Trying to get in ahead of an exponential problem is much easier if you're dealing with it early on." Countries are being forced to make difficult decisions at the moment to try and halt virus from spreading within their borders: They want to slow down the rate of infection to a level where their respective health-care systems can handle the strain. But, to do that, they are being forced to undertake strict lockdown measures that would undoubtedly have a severe impact on their economies. "Act quickly, act decisively, act robustly, so that you're not caught having to deal with a much bigger, bigger problem two weeks later," Nabarro added. Saheli Roy Choudhury 8:21 am: China says it had 48 new cases of infection China's National Health Commission said there were 48 new cases of infection reported on the mainland, all of which were attributed to travelers who returned from abroad. It added that one person died from the virus in Hubei province, where the outbreak was first reported. China says more than 76,000 cases have recovered from the disease and at least 3,305 died. Saheli Roy Choudhury 7:19 am: US cases surpass 160,000 The total number of reported cases of coronavirus infection in the United States was at least 161,807, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University. Among them, at least 2,978 have died and just over 5,500 people have recovered in the country, the data revealed. Global cases continued their upward trend, standing at least 782,319 reported instances of infection worldwide, according to JHU. The data also showed the worldwide death toll stood at more than 37,500 as countries continued to implement stricter social distancing measures in an effort to slow the virus' spread. Saheli Roy Choudhury 7:10 am: Italy has more than 100,000 cases but says new infections have slowed In one of the worst-hit countries in the global pandemic, Italy's health ministry reported that as of 6 p.m. local time on March 30, there were at least 101,739 total cases of infection among its 60 million citizens. But the ministry said the rate of new cases declined; though Reuters reported that could also be due to fewer COVID-19 tests being conducted. At least 11,591 people died and about 14,620 have recovered from the illness. A woman prays during the Sunday Holy Mass celebrated by priests from the roof of the church San Gabriele dell'Addolorata in Rome on March 29, 2020, amid the spread of the COVID-19 (new coronavirus) pandemic. Tiziana Fabi | AFP | Getty Images Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told El Pais newspaper that Italy was "in the most acute phase" of the outbreak and that it was reasonable to believe that the peak was near. But, concerns remain about another surge in the number of cases in the coming days. For its part, Italy is set to extend its nationwide lockdown measures at least until the Easter season, Reuters reported. Saheli Roy Choudhury All times below are in Eastern time. 6:41 pm: Department of Defense watchdog appointed inspector general for $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package The Defense Department's internal watchdog will serve as newly named chair of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, a body created to oversee the roughly $2 trillion stimulus deal that President Donald Trump signed into law last week in response to the economic devastation wrought by the coronavirus outbreak. Glenn Fine, the acting inspector general of the Department of Defense, was appointed by another committee of IGs assigned by the new law to name a chair. Fine will oversee a board of fellow inspectors general, all responsible for monitoring their respective departments. They include the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice, Labor, as well as the Treasury, the Small Business Administration and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Lauren Hirsch 6:35 pm: Airbnb extends coronavirus cancellation window to May 31, sets aside $250 million to pay hosts for missed stays Airbnb announced it will allow guests to receive full refunds for any trips starting on or before May 31 that were booked prior to March 14, as the company continues to struggle through the coronavirus' impact on the travel industry. The company will also set aside $250 million to pay hosts for the missed bookings. Airbnb announced the decision in a letter sent to hosts in an effort to rebuild Airbnb's relationship with its partners. Previously, the company had said that it would allow guests to cancel and receive full refunds for trips between March 14 and April 14. That decision overrode many hosts' existing cancellation policies that ensured they still received partial payments for those bookings. Many hosts harshly criticized Airbnb for that decision, and several told CNBC that they would be moving their properties onto other websites and into the long-term rental market. Sal Rodriguez 6:27 pm: Field hospital goes up in New York City's Central Park YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. At the initiative of the American side, Foreign minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan had a phone conversation with Acting Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia. The interlocutors exchanged views on the challenges rising from the spread of the novel coronavirus and measures aimed at overcoming them, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and coordination of efforts. In this context Zohrab Mnatsakanyan expressed gratitude to the US Government for providing Armenia with financial assistance for fighting against coronavirus. FM Mnatsakanyan expressed solidarity with the US Government in its fight against the novel coronavirus. At the request of Philip Reeker, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan presented the situation following the armed incident on Armenia-Azerbaijan border yesterday. At the end of the conversation the sides emphasized their readiness to take active steps for expanding the Armenian-US cooperation agenda. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan Five years of civil war has turned Yemen -- the poorest Arab nation on the Arabian Peninsula -- into the world's worst humanitarian crisis. An estimated 100,000 people have been killed during the conflict. Yemen is home to 24 million people. About 80 percent of the population depends on food and humanitarian aid to survive. Yemen's warring groups have welcomed a United Nations call for an immediate end to the conflict. But Middle East experts believe that such calls will not stop the fighting. A Saudi Arabian-led coalition launched a military offensive against Iranian-supported Houthi rebels five years ago. The coalitions members wanted to re-establish Yemens ousted government, under President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Rights groups have accused both the Saudi-led forces and the rebels of rights violations against civilians, as well as war crimes. Yemen expert Helen Lackner says the conflict appears to have no end. She told VOA, "These policymakers, as far as the Yemenis are concerned, are actively promoting the fightingthey don't care one bit about the millions who are suffering." Lackner added that at the end of 2019, the fighting appeared to be slowing. But two major agreements failed to move forward. The United Nations-supported Stockholm agreement was supposed to end the coalition offensive on the port of Hodeida. The Riyadh agreement was to solve the crisis between Hadi's government and southern separatists supported by the United Arab Emirates. But Lackner notes there has been a serious increase in fighting since January, especially in Yemens south. She adds that a major Houthi offensive also threatens other parts of the country that were once said to be more secure. Cinzia Bianco is watching events in Yemen for the European Council on Foreign Relations. She told VOA she expects the situation in Yemen to worsen if the Houthis continue their offensive toward the center of Marib province. Bianco predicts rising tensions in two separate areas: one...in the north, and the other in the south, along the Red Sea coast. Bianco says the Houthis have shown that they are able to continue fighting without support from Iran. She noted the country is currently battling a major coronavirus outbreak. Im Jonathan Evans. Dale Gavlak reported this story for VOA News. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story outbreak n. a sudden rise in the incidence of a disease promoting v. helping something happen, develop or increase 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. Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Minister Kodali Venkateswara Rao on Tuesday slammed Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu for critising the State government for not starting the free ration delivery system and said that "TDP, the Yellow virus, is more dangerous than coronavirus". "Chandrababu Naidu has hid himself in Hyderabad and is surviving on oxygen due to fear of death. But he is doing politics. Our leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy did not hide. He is taking measures to contain coronavirus, and saving lives. On the other hand, Naidu is doing mean politics even during these testing times," he said. "TDP, the Yellow virus, is more dangerous than coronavirus. They are doing false propaganda that a woman died in Chodavaram in Visakhapatnam district unable to withstand the ration queue. It is not correct to propagate such false news at this sensitive time. She was an elderly woman, who was ill for sometime, and died yesterday. But her death is not due to standing in the ration line. We have ordered action on channels that propagated the false news," the minister said. He further said that "the Opposition has been asking why village volunteers were not being used for distribution of ration. At present, the village volunteers are tracking foreign returnees, and monitoring the health conditions of the public. The government is using them to the optimum extent." Kodali Venkateswara Rao in his concluding statement claimed that so far the Andhra Pradesh have distributed free ration to as many as 38 lakh Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. have discussed on cooperation between the two countries at bilateral and multilateral levels during their recent phone talks. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh Minh extended thanks for the Philippiness effective support and collaboration with Vietnam the current ASEAN Chair, especially in fostering cooperation in dealing with the pandemic. He expressed his belief that the two countries and other ASEAN members will soon overcome challenges to stabilise socio-economic development and accelerate the process of the ASEAN Community building. Meanwhile, Locsin spoke highly of the effectiveness of the Vietnamese Governments fight against the COVID-19 as well as its initiatives in response to the pandemic. The Philippines pledges to continue supporting and coordinating closely with Vietnam to fulfil its role as the ASEAN Chair and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the tenure 2020-2021, Locsin affirmed. Both sides agreed to double efforts in further deepening the Vietnam-Philippines strategic partnership across fields, including health, trade, investment, and food security in the context of the current pandemic. They also agreed to further strengthen coordination in regional and international issues, including the East Sea issue./.VNA Although the number of coronavirus death tolls around the globe continues to rise, the wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, shared some good news to give everyone hope. Last weekend, Sophie posted a lengthy message on her Facebook page and gave an update regarding her health status after she caught the coronavirus. "I wanted to give you all an update: I am feeling so much better and have received the all-clear from my physician and Ottawa Public Health," the 44-year-old first lady wrote. Her recovery announcement followed her confirmation on March 12 that she got tested positive for the disease after returning from a trip to London. Since the day she received her diagnosis, Sophie remained in isolation and took all the recommended precautions since she felt mild symptoms. Sophie also took the chance to send her heartfelt gratitude toward those people who sent her well-wishes while she was still battling with the illness. She also acknowledged those who patients who caught the coronavirus and are still fighting up until now, telling them that she is giving them her love. Sophie Sent Inspiring Message Aside from unveiling the excellent news, the Canadian Prime Minister's wife also reminded her followers that people should only practice physical distancing and not an emotional one. She urged everyone to continue deepening their relationship through social media or a phone call for them to stay connected while everyone is expected to stay at their respective homes. "I strongly believe that science AND compassion will get us through this crisis," she continued. "That means listening and following the health protocols and staying at home for the time being." Aside from inspiring everyone, Sophie also admitted that she was touched by those people who are helping and caring for each other to fight and control the spread of the coronavirus. In the end, she gave a positive assurance that the Canadians will go through the health crisis. Trudeau's Status Although Sophie is now COVID-19-free, the Prime Minister still needs to self-isolate for two more weeks. In a daily briefing to the nation at his Rideau Cottage, Trudeau said, "I have to continue in isolation to be sure that we're following all the protocols and the recommendations by Health Canada." Since her wife's diagnosis, the family-of-five has been staying at home. The patriarch shows no symptoms, and neither have their kids, Xavier, 12, Ella-Grace, 11 and Hadrien, 6. Addressing reporters from his residence, Trudeau claimed that workers across Canada had found out that they can do an "awful lot of work via telephone, via video conferences"-- as it is what exactly what he is doing now. The Canadian Prime Minister became the first major world leader to confine himself and go into isolation because of the coronavirus. According to a tally published by the Johns Hopkins University, 6,243 Canadians had tested positive for the coronavirus, and 64 of which have died as of Sunday. Both Rihanna and Jay-Z are mobilizing to help fight the spreading coronavirus pandemic via their respective charitable foundations to help particular communities in need. On Tuesday, it was announced that Rihanna's Clara Lionel Foundation is matching a $1 million grant from Jay-Zs Shawn Carter Foundation, for a total of $2 million in aid to support both New York Citys and Los Angeless undocumented workers, children of healthcare workers and first responders, as well as the incarcerated, elderly and homeless populations affected by COVID-19. Last week, Rihanna's foundation had pledged a previous $5 million in grants to several on-the-ground partners working on the front lines of the pandemic response, geared to protecting vulnerable and marginalized communities in the United States, Caribbean and in Africa. Making charitable moves: Both Rihanna and Jay-Z are mobilizing to help fight the spreading coronavirus epidemic, via their respective charitable foundations Giving: On Tuesday, it was announced that Rihanna's Clara Lionel Foundation is matching a $1 million grant from Jay-Zs Shawn Carter Foundation, for a total of $2 million in aid; Riri seen last December in London This new round of emergency funding will specifically support efforts led by organizations like the Mayors Fund for L.A., Fund for Public Schools, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the New York Immigration Coalition. The Clara Lionel Foundation, founded by Rihanna, 32, along with the Shawn Carter Foundation, started by Jay-Z, 50, both announced the new pledges via their respective Instagram accounts on Tuesday morning. The funds from both nonprofit organizations will help to: offer daycare, food and supplies for the children of frontline healthcare workers and first responders; provide learning materials for over 20,000 children and youth in shelters and virtual mental health support for parents; ensure child-care centers are clean; and support the expansion of home delivered meals for the elderly and homeless in emergency shelters. Generous: The Shawn Carter Foundation, started by Jay-Z, 50, announced the new pledge via its Instagram account on Tuesday morning; seen on March 8 Additionally, the grants will be relegated to providing emergency economic and rights support for immigrants and undocumented workers, advocating for free testing and treatment for all New Yorkers, regardless of status, and offering legal support to protect members of marginalized populations, including the incarcerated and immigrant communities. Finally, the monies will also be used to help encourage voting and civic engagement during the COVID-19 response period. Justine Lucas, executive director of the Clara Lionel Foundation said, "There are a number of populations who are especially vulnerable during this pandemic those who are undocumented, incarcerated, elderly and homeless, as well as children of frontline health workers and first responders. Now more than ever, we need to support organizations prioritizing the health and rights of these individuals." Making news: Rihanna announced the matching pledge on both her personal account as well as that of her foundation Gloria Carter, CEO and co-founder of the Shawn Carter Foundation, added, "In times of crisis it is imperative that we come together as one community to ensure that everyone, especially the most vulnerable, has access to critical needs: shelter, health, nutrition and education. The only way to get through this pandemic is with love and action." Over the past five years, Rihanna's foundation named for her grandparents Clara and Lionel Braithwaite has been one of the first organizations to respond to some of the worlds most devastating natural disasters, and as a result, the foundation is committed to quickly getting ahead of this outbreak in order to protect as many frontline health workers and marginalized communities as possible. With the Clara Lionel Foundations focus on efforts surrounding the COVID-19 response, it also announced that it has decided to postpone this years annual Diamond Ball. Donations to the Clara Lionel Foundation can be made here. 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 One in two Australian workers will soon have their jobs subsidised by the federal government in a bid to prevent a prolonged coronavirus recession. COVID-19 restrictions have already shut down more than 5,100 gyms and 6,300 pubs, and forced more than 43,000 cafes and restaurants to become takeaway joints to legally operate. Conservatively, more than 250,000 small businesses that provide services have had to retrench their staff. Economists are expecting the shutdown of non-essential services to cause one million workers to lose their jobs in coming months, pushing the jobless rate to the highest double-digit levels since the 1930s Great Depression. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg have responded by unveiling a third stimulus package, worth $130billion, to provide a flat payment of $1,500 a fortnight to six million workers so their bosses keep them on. Scroll down for video One in two Australian workers will soon have their jobs subsidised by the federal government in a bid to prevent a prolonged coronavirus recession. Pictured is an empty cafe at Fremantle in Perth on March 28, 2020 In the early weeks of the outbreak in February, more than 13million Australians had a job but the ranks of the employed are expected to dwindle to 12million as one million people lost their job. That would create a situation where one in two Australian workers will soon have their wages propped by the Jobkeeper payment. Australia's biggest services employers before COVID-19 Retail traders: 132,835 (this includes 140 department stores) Accommodation and food services: 95,301 (this includes 43,582 cafes and restaurants; and 12,749 accommodation providers) Supermarket and grocery stores: 8,940 Pub, taverns and bars: 6,294 Gyms, fitness centres: 5,136 Hospitality clubs: 2,933 Amusement parks: 1,050 Air transport: 1,319 Airport operations, air transport support: 702 Casino operations: 26 Advertisement Employers will be receiving 70 per cent of Australia's $57,200 median wage, from the first week of May, to give to their staff. That's on the proviso their turnover in February and March had fallen by 30 per cent or more compared with the same month in 2019. As of 9am AEDT, 124,150 businesses have registered for the Jobkeeper program, Treasury figures showed. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world economy, Australia was home to more than 2.3million businesses spread over 500 industries. Retail shops were the biggest employer, with 132,835 businesses operating in the 2018-19 financial year, an analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data by CommSec showed. Department store Myer has this week stood down 10,000 staff without pay. The other services category was the next bigger employer, with 102,053 businesses. Accommodation and food services were the second biggest employer with 95,301 traders, including 43,582 cafes and restaurants. Economists are expecting the shutdown of non-essential services to cause one million workers to lose their jobs in coming months, pushing the jobless rate to the highest double-digit levels since the 1930s Great Depression. Before COVID-19, bars (Notting Hill pub in Melbourne pictured) were a big employer with 6,294 of them operating They were still a bigger employer than gyms and fitness centres, with 5,136 businesses operating. Pictured is the ClimbFit gym in Sydney on March 26, 2020 Drinking dens employed a smaller number with 6,294 pubs, taverns and bars. They were still a bigger employer than gyms and fitness centres, with 5,136 businesses operating. 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 federal government ordered the immediate shutdown of pubs, clubs, dine-in restaurants and gyms in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus. As the first cases of coronavirus were revealed in Australia, the jobless rate stood at 5.1 per cent in February. Westpac chief economist Bill Evans is expecting the jobless rate to more than double to 11.1 per cent by June. This would see 814,000 lose their jobs as unemployment surged to the highest level since late 1992 in the aftermath of the last recession. Mr Evans expected the jobless rate to peak at 13 per cent later this year - the highest since 1932 - as more than one million Australians lost their job, on top of the 699,100 who were without work in February. AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver is forecasting a 15 per cent jobless rate, a situation that would see another 1.3million people lose their job. ANZ's former chief economist Warren Hogan, who is now at the University of Technology, Sydney is forecasting a 17 per cent jobless rate, which would see 1.6million join the Centrelink queue as 2.3million Australians searched for work. Retail shops were the biggest employer, with 132,835 businesses operating in the 2018-19 financial year, an analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data by CommSec showed. Pictured is a Myer store after 10,000 staff were stood down without pay this week Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday appealed to the people of the state who had attended an Islamic congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi earlier this month to come forward for a COVID-19 test. The Tablighi Jamaat event was attended by around 2,000 people from various parts of the country and abroad, The congregation has become a key source for the spread of coronavirus. "If there is anybody from Manipur who had attended the religious congregation, organised by Tablighi Jamaat at Delhi's Nizamuddin, please come forward and undergo a test for COVID-19," the chief minister said. The appeal is not aimed at spreading panic but is a call for acting responsibly, he said. A total of 24 people who attended Nizamuddin West religious congregation tested positive for COVID-19. Authorities across the country are trying to trace attendees of the event. Meanwhile, state Health Services Director K Rajo Singh has requested all paramedic staff who retired in the past three years to report to the chief medical officer, state programme officers or the heads of the department concerned. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Were offering all of the families that have used our servicesand even if they have not used our servicesthat when all of this is over they can use our chapel with no fee to have some form of memorialization for their loved ones, Jacobson said. I think not only do the families need to express their grief but the communities need to express their grief to the families, and to share that as condolence calls. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree changing the presidential decree #175 dated January 19, 2005 "On Enforcing the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan" On the State of Emergency", Trend reports. In accordance with the changes, the forces and resources of the Ministry of Emergency Situations will also be used to ensure a state of emergency. Thus, the powers of the relevant executive bodies envisaged in Articles 11, 15.1 and 28 of this law and the relevant executive body envisaged in Article 12.2.5 will be implemented by the Interior Ministry, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the State Security Service, Foreign Intelligence Service and the State Border Service within their powers. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 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. A total of 55 prisoners have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK A total of 55 prisoners have now tested positive for coronavirus in England and Wales, the Ministry of Justice has said. The inmates are housed across 21 prisons. In addition, 18 prison staff and four prison escort staff have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. The total number of cases has doubled since the last update on Friday, when 27 prisoners were confirmed to have tested positive. In its daily update, the MoJ said it had temporarily paused the usual regime in prisons so it could implement the government's measures to encourage the public to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. "This is to ensure prisons are complying with social distancing rules and to protect staff and prisoners," it added. It said the government had moved quickly to keep prisoners in touch with their family members during the coronavirus crisis - providing 900 secure phone handsets across 57 jails. The MoJ also ensured that prisons are prepared to take immediate action wherever cases or suspected cases are identified, including the isolation of individuals where necessary. Ministers are being urged to release prisoners during the pandemic after Northern Ireland signalled it would let out more than 10% of those behind bars. Justice Secretary Robert Buckland has been under pressure to allow convicted criminals to go home in a bid to prevent more deaths in England and Wales' crowded prisons. Staff numbers in prisons are already stretched, with some 3,500 employees - around a tenth of the workforce - currently in self-isolation due to COVID-19. In Northern Ireland, justice minister Naomi Long announced the temporary early release of up to 200 prisoners. Meanwhile, Scotland's justice secretary Humza Yousaf said on Friday that he was "actively considering" options for the early release of prisoners. The Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody (IAPDC) said prisons should be only for "serious and violent offenders" at this time, with judgements made on a "case-by-case basis". Story continues Kate Allen, Amnesty International's UK director, said last week that decreasing the prison population and the number of people in immigration detention centres is "a crucial means of slowing the spread of COVID-19". She added: "We urge the government to follow the lead of governments in Northern Ireland and Scotland and provide alternatives to detention for those with underlying medical conditions, and older people, if they do not pose a threat to themselves or society." :: Listen to the All Out Politics podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker As of Monday, 134,946 tests have been carried out across the UK; 112,805 were negative and 22,141 positive, said the Department of Health and Social Care. A total of 1,415 people have now died in the UK after contracting coronavirus - following 180 more deaths across the country. Mail disinfection soon followed, as the then Republic of Venice extended and formalized the quarantine process to include cargo. Items that were considered particularly susceptible, including textiles and letters, were also subject to fumigation: dipped in or sprinkled with vinegar, then often exposed to smoke from aromatic substances, from rosemary to, in later years, chlorine. Once the items were treated, a distinctive wax seal or cancellation was usually applied to them, so the recipient would know where and when the disinfection had been carried out. (Such marks often provide the only remaining evidence of the ebb and flow of disease; some minor outbreaks of plague or typhus in remote areas of medieval Europe, for example, would have been lost to history without their postal traces.) The CPAP developed by Mercedes-AMG and University College London engineers can help keep patients who have trouble breathing out of the ICU. With the calendar for the 2020 Formula 1 season looking to be pushed forward indefinitely, teams and engineers are turning their considerable technical efforts to the coronavirus problem at hand, with Project Pitlane combining expertise. Apart from which, the Mercedes-AMG High-Performance Powertrains division, makers of the estimated 1,000PS hybrid powertrains that go into the team's F1 cars, has co-developed a breathing aid that could potentially save the lives of COVID-19 patients with breathing difficulties. Other versions of the device, called a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), are already in use in hospitals worldwide and delivers oxygen to the lungs without the need for expensive and cumbersome ventilators, which also require intubation of the patient, and thus require professional administration and monitoring. The CPAP developed by Mercedes-AMG and University College London engineers can help keep patients who have trouble breathing out of the ICU, thus freeing up the system for critically ill patients to get the level of care they need. The device is said to have been reverse-engineered from an existing off-patent device, and improvements to the design have allowed for it to be mass-produced in a short amount of time. The reworked device has been approved for use by the government in the UK, and limited units have already been dispatched to hospitals for further trials. Mercedes-AMG HPP says they can make up to 1,000 units a day, and with the reported success rate of these type of CPAP devices in recovery standing at 50 percent, this breakthrough will definitely help the UK health network. In India, manufacturers like Mahindra and Mahindra, and Maruti Suzuki have similar tie-ups with medical equipment manufacturers to help streamline and mass-produce essential equipment. A deformed rescue dog who spent months being rejected because his underbite, wonky nose and out-turned feet left him looking like an 'evil Minion' has finally found his forever home. Pepo was rescued by East Sussex rescue charity Animal Angels Global from Spain after he was found begging for food and brought over to the UK to be rehomed. But the little dog struggled to be placed thanks to his crooked looks and wobbly legs - staying in a temporary foster home for eight months. After several posts advertising Pepo got no interest, the charity wrote a status from 'Pepo's' point of view - begging for the 'nicest peeples in the world' to adopt him. The post was liked, shared and commented on more than 27,000 times and proved so popular that the charity received more than a 1,000 applications to rehome the Brittany. But the wonky dog finally found his forever home when Jo Strachan was selected to be his new owner - with the mother-of-two claiming it was 'meant to be'. Pepo (pictured) suffered abuse as a puppy in Spain, and was rescued by the dog charity Animal Angels Global, who brought him to the UK to be rehomed Pepo, a two-year-old rescue dog from Spain, found a loving family at last in Devon after months of being overlooked by potential homes due to his wonky teeth and crooked legs (pictured) Jo Strachan (pictured with Pepo), 47, from Tiverton, Devon, was tagged by her sister in a post adveritising for Pepo, and decided to file an application with the charity Jo, from Tiverton, Devon, said: 'I think it was just meant to be. He landed in my lap. ' 'It's really weird, because obviously the first time they advertised him they didn't get anybody. I think it's the way they spoke for him in his post, it really touched everyone's heart. 'It was more him talking than everyone else talking. My sister tagged me in the post and I joked, "I'd have him". 'I read a little bit more and it said you need to fill in this application, so I was stumbling along with it. Jo was looking to find a partner in crime for her Spaniel Bob, and fell in love with 'fragile' and 'loving' Pepo (pictured: Pepo with his new pal) 'My sister is so overwhelmed that I got him. Having gone from "look at this" on the internet to him ending up coming here, it's surreal. 'I've never been picked as being the right one for anything in particular, so to be trusted and given the opportunity to look after him is a big thing.' Pepo, who is thought to be two-years-old, is believed to have been a street dog and suffered violent abuse as a young puppy - with scans and X-rays revealing evidence of fractures and broken bones. In a status written online, 'Pepo' wrote: 'I have been looking for a new family for a long time now and I'm wondering if nobody wants me because of my teeth. Pepo (pictured) looks different because of his underbite and wonky teeth. His paws are also facing outwards Pepo, who is thought to be two-years-old, is believed to have been a street dog and suffered violent abuse as a young puppy - with scans and X-rays revealing evidence of fractures and broken bones, which has left his feet turned out 'When I was helped by nice people at Breton Spaniel Rescue, they said I would find a new family because I am so handsome. 'I'm not sure if they were telling the truth because nobody is asking to adopt me and [are] going for the Spaniels with normal teeth. 'I also have wobbly legs but I can run fast - sometimes I don't stop and I bang my head which I find very funny. 'The vet said that I don't need any nasty operations for my teeth and legs, I am just a bit wobbly. The rescue explained potential owners picked other dogs over Pepo because of his wonky smile (pictured) Breton Spaniel Rescue shared a picture of the pooch online with a message 'written' by Pepo (pictured) 'I love dogs and I don't mind cats. I love children and I come back when I'm called, and I love living in England with all the mud. I just wondered if I'm ever going to find my own family - I really want that and will try very hard to be a good boy all the time. Would anybody love me and make me a part of their family?' Jo claims her pooch runs like a 'newborn lamb or foal' thanks to carpal valgus on his front legs which stops him coordinating his feet properly. Jo and her husband Glen Strachan, 49, had been seeking another dog to keep their pet Bob, eight, company after his companion sadly passed away in November. The pup is now enjoying better days at home with dog pal Bob (pictured), and owners Jo and Glen So when the 47-year-old saw that Pepo would thrive with other canines in the house, she jumped at the chance to provide a forever home for him. Despite his violent past, Jo claims the lovable mutt is 'loving and grateful' for everything, even snuggling up to her within hours of picking him up earlier this month on Sunday March 15. Jo, who is an administrator, said: 'When you are reading about him, nothing would prepare you for what we met. Jo said Pepo (pictured) was 'the most beautiful dog' and revealed he slept with her when she was on the sofa 'He is the most beautiful dog, the dog that just wants to be so friendly with everybody, but the dog that has also had the biggest, toughest most awful time as a little thing. He's so fragile. 'He'll sleep with me on the sofa but when we get off, he can't jump down himself. When he gets off the sofa I have to hold him steady for 10 or 20 seconds so he can stand up and find his feet. 'He really is just one of these animals where you think, how can he have been so mistreated and still want human company and trust? It's just amazing. 'He's a funny looking little chap and perhaps he was a bit of a target over there. His face has an abnormality possibly. The bottom jaw is quite short. 'I think his nose has been bopped about but his jawline and his teeth, he could have been born like that. We're not sure. Jo admitted she sometimes had to help Pepo (pictured) to stand up, as he could not do it on his own 'He's as comfortable as he can be. It's just about giving him as good a life as he can have. I don't know how long he will have - I'm sure it will be, I would hope, a good while. 'He's coming out of himself. He started barking, and he gets on well with Bob, my Spaniel. I think he's a little bit deaf but I'm not sure if that's selective. 'He's really starting to get a pace on [when he runs]. My husband said, 'I think it's alright, I think we can catch him'. But actually, in his wonky donkey way, he can get quite a pace on. 'He's very grateful, very loving. There's no nastiness and no bites. You'd think a dog would have some sort of bite but nothing. Nothing at all. 'I don't understand how he can be so loving. All he wants is a cuddle and a gravy bone. That's it, he wants nothing else.' Anna Reed, director of operations at Animal Angels Global, said: 'We love all our dogs but Pepo has a special place in our hearts. We call him our wonky donkey. Everyone has worked really, really hard for him. 'You always wonder with a dog who has spent quite a lot of time in a foster home how quickly it will be for them to adapt, but I think he adapted the moment he got into the car. 'He's having a great time. I think they know when they're ready for their forever home. 'The foster home is absolutely marvellous and one of our best foster homes, but they know when it's home. Pepo has finally found that with his new brother Bob. 'We don't know much about his past life. We know he was a street dog on the east coast of Spain, and he was found begging for food. Jo said she didn't 'understand how he can be so loving. All he wants is a cuddle and a gravy bone. That's it, he wants nothing else' 'We found that people had tried to remove him from where he was and they took away his food. A local lady took him to get him away from that situation and contacted us. 'We said we would take him on straight away. He went to a foster home in England. That's where he was for six months. 'With his deformities, it's much harder to rehome them in Spain. 'To even home a "normal" Breton without any problems is difficult enough, but to rehome one that has medical problems is so much more difficult, hence why we decided to take him on.' Coronavirus COVID-19 has kept us indoors and, as a result, there's been a surge in sales of computer accessories like keyboards, mice, monitors and laptops, NPD said on Tuesday. People are outfitting their home offices, some with stipends from their companies. The surge in PC peripheral sales are a bright spot for companies such as Dell, Samsung, HP, Lenovo and TPV, while the rise in laptop sales suggests the downturn might not be as bad as feared for the PC industry, including giants such as Microsoft and Intel, which have surged more than 18% and 25% respectively from lows in mid-March. Microsoft warned investors in February it would miss quarterly guidance for the segment including Windows because of supply chain interruptions, but said at that time that demand was "strong." NPD said computer monitor sales doubled in the first two weeks of March to 80,000 units. Sales of laptops, mice and keyboards all increased by 10%. Business to business (B2B) sales were up, too. NPD said notebook sales to businesses jumped 30% year over year for the last week in February and up 50% in the first two weeks of March, as companies started to outfit their employees for working at home. B2B monitor sales, flat at the start of February, increased 40% during the first two weeks of March, NPD said. Anecdotally, monitors seem to be in short supply: During a recent outing to two Best Buy locations, two Staples stores and one Micro Center the first weekend in March, the computer monitors had been picked through. Micro Center had a huge line of people buying computers, printers, accessories and displays for their home offices. At the same time, widespread quarantines are slowing the mobile revolution. Instead of trying to do everything from our phones, we're back at our desks. That effect was shown in mobile phone and accessory sales, the latter of which dipped 14% in the first two weeks of March, NPD said. Its hard to overstate the nature of what has happened in the oil markets since the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in early January. At that time, supply and demand looked reasonably balanced. OPEC and its partners (primarily Russia) were taking action to make sure that balance was maintained. I felt confident enough in the fundamentals to predict that oil prices wouldnt fall below $50/bbl this year. But since then we have experienced the fastest and most dramatic change in oil market conditions that I have ever seen in my career. And when a market sell-off turns into panic, the market moves can become irrational. As John Maynard Keynes once said, The market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent. Thus, its prudent to apply a great deal of caution in the current environment. Sure, Energy Stocks Are Cheap Oil is the most important commodity in the world. Its still how our supply chains and critical services are moving around. But oil production has expanded so much in recent years, we suddenly found supply way in front of demand as people have stopped moving about. Oil prices and the energy sector were crushed in response (with a strong nudge from Russia and Saudi Arabia). Energy stocks look extremely cheap and they are. But it doesnt mean they wont get cheaper. The challenge is that the fundamentals are changing so rapidly that we dont even have a good handle on what those fundamentals currently are. When this sell-off began, I said that it could be 10 percent, 25 percent, or 50 percent we just didnt know because we are dealing with a moving target. What seems undeniable is that we still have a period of bad news in front of us before conditions begin to improve. Advice for Investors The collapse of oil demand, the overall decline in the stock market, and most importantly the price war that Russia and Saudi Arabia have started have crushed the energy sector. Investors arent discriminating between good and bad companies (recognizing that at $20 oil, you would be hard-pressed to find good oil and gas companies). The entire sector is on sale. Related: Oil Hits $20 For The First Time In 18 Years With oil prices all the way down into the $20s, Russia may eventually decide that the pain is too great and come back to the table. But in the interim, many shale oil producers will probably be forced out of business. What should investors do now? It may be instructive to review what happened in 2015 as oil prices collapsed. The hardest hit were shale oil producers, especially those with a lot of debt. There will likely be another wave of bankruptcies. So, I would only invest new money into the energy sector with the utmost caution. ConocoPhillips, which I have previously recommended, isnt primarily a shale oil producer. The company has retooled to break even at $40 oil (although we are a long way from there now). ConocoPhillips can sustain low prices longer than other producers. COP will be one of the last pure oil companies standing, but its share price has taken a gut punch from the collapse in oil prices. Pipeline companies, especially master limited partnerships (MLPs), were in a bubble in 2014. Their values collapsed along with oil prices, but the underlying fundamentals got stronger for those that werent highly leveraged. MLPs like Enterprise Products Partners even increased their distributions throughout the oil price collapse. It will take a long bear market before the strongest MLPs have to think about cutting distributions. But some of the highly leveraged MLPs are already announcing distribution cuts. Related: An Oilmans Plea To President Trump Refiners fared well the last time oil prices collapsed. They make their money on the price differential between crude oil and finished products. They often make their biggest profits when oil prices are falling. Thats what we saw in 2015, when Valero returned 43 percent as other energy companies were plummeting. Conditions are different today with gasoline demand collapsing, but refiners should be in a better overall position than oil producers. The large integrated companies have sufficiently deep pockets to survive the challenging times ahead. Many of the oil supermajors have gone decades without cutting dividends, despite enduring several challenging oil markets. The bottom line, however, is that we just dont know how bad this is going to get. The oil markets are certainly not alone in rapidly shedding market capitalization. The recent drop in the S&P 500 was the fastest since the 1987 market crash. That should have the full attention of investors. If you have cash on the sidelines, I would be extremely cautious in chasing these energy stocks down. We cant yet see the light at the end of the tunnel. When investing becomes more akin to gambling, its best to only invest money you can truly afford to lose. By Robert Rapier More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Over 200 scientists and members of the Indian academic community on Tuesday asked the government to rapidly enhance testing facilities to detect COVID-19 in every region of the country. In a statement, the scientists also welcomed the government's decision to implement a 21-day national lockdown to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The scientists, affiliated with several research and academic institutions, noted that both governmental as well as individual decisions and actions must be based on well-established scientific norms, protocols, logic and reason. Signatories to the statement, addressed to the Union government, public and state agencies and general public, include Aurnab Ghose from Pune's Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER), L S Shashidhara from Ashoka University, K Muralidhar from IIT Kanpur, Sonali Sengupta from the University of Delhi and Ayan Banerjee of IISER in Kolkata. The scientists noted that while the number of coronavirus afflicted persons in India is still relatively low, based on evidence from other countries, stringent, early mitigation strategies are key to avoid a full-scale, out-of-control pandemic in the country. Considering the possibility of an extended lockdown, disproportionate risks to certain care givers and essential service personnel, we urge the government and state agencies to introduce several measures to prepare the nation during the current lockdown phase, they said. We recommend steps to enhance testing, contact-tracing, isolating and quarantining possible carriers, the statement added. In the desirable situation of not having to prolong this lockdown, the scientists said, these measures will help the nation improve its preparedness for similar epidemics, pandemics or other natural disasters. We urge the general public to not get influenced by any pseudoscientific proclamations about miracle cures, hoaxes and myths, they added. Discussing the statement, Dibyendu Nandi, professor at IISER, Kolkata, said scientists have a responsibility to engage with society. We take this opportunity to appeal to the public at large to not get influenced by various myths, superstitions and pseudoscientific solutions circulating in the social media," Nandi told PTI. At this time, our collective decisions and actions must be based on logical reasoning and evidence-based conclusions. This is perhaps the most important message we want to send, Nandi, one of the signatories of the statement, said. The scientists also recommended that no primary health care centre should be more than 100 km away from a SARS-CoV-2 testing centre in the country. Maximum care must be taken to maintain large-scale water supply and sewerage systems. This will prevent the growth of other epidemics while dealing with this pandemic, they said. Essential service providers, including doctors, supporting health care personnel, nurses, emergency workers, and government officials dealing with the pandemic in their organisations or in the field should be provided with appropriate safety gear, the statement said. These personnel should be periodically tested for SARS-CoV-2, even if they are asymptomatic. The scientists also said they strongly discourage vigilantism, misbehaviour and violence directed against essential service providers and individual citizens or families out to access emergency and essential services. Violence and excessive force must be shunned and compassionate action must be practised while everyone adjusts to this unprecedented and unfamiliar situation. However, the scientists encouraged increased vigilance by local police authorities to ensure the protection of essential supply chains and the rights of individuals to access essential services and emergency transport during the lockdown. They also recommended that local government officials in different states and districts should constitute local task-forces to ensure a smooth supply chain pipeline for essential services such as food, grocery, medicines and shelter. We recommend that a national disaster-risk management plan be prepared and implemented in all states to test for the coronavirus and accommodate more patients. In the view of the scientists, convention halls, empty hotels, enclosed stadiums should be quickly converted into emergency isolation wards and temporary medical facilities. The scientists also urged individual citizens to not hoard medicines such as antibiotics. They encouraged schools and academic institutions to engage with students online or through other innovative means to keep them interested in academic and intellectual activities. Studies show that mentally and physically healthy individuals are better able to cope with medical issues. Therefore, along with intellectual stimulation, we also recommend at least a bare minimum physical activity be practiced during this time, they said. According to the scientists, the government should keep operational research laboratories working at the forefront of finding a cure or managing the disease. Many scientists are involved in spreading social awareness about the disease, and warning against dangerous hoaxes and myths that mislead the population. We urge the government to take advantage of resources and expertise available within the scientific community for spreading general social awareness and request the scientific community to assist the government and public agencies when called upon, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This article is for investors who would like to improve their understanding of price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll look at Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited's (HKG:694) P/E ratio and reflect on what it tells us about the company's share price. Looking at earnings over the last twelve months, Beijing Capital International Airport has a P/E ratio of 8.26. That is equivalent to an earnings yield of about 12.1%. See our latest analysis for Beijing Capital International Airport How Do I Calculate Beijing Capital International Airport's Price To Earnings Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price (in reporting currency) Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Beijing Capital International Airport: P/E of 8.26 = CN4.577 CN0.554 (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2019.) (Note: the above calculation uses the share price in the reporting currency, namely CNY and the calculation results may not be precise due to rounding.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? The higher the P/E ratio, the higher the price tag of a business, relative to its trailing earnings. That isn't a good or a bad thing on its own, but a high P/E means that buyers have a higher opinion of the business's prospects, relative to stocks with a lower P/E. Does Beijing Capital International Airport Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry? The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. The image below shows that Beijing Capital International Airport has a higher P/E than the average (6.3) P/E for companies in the infrastructure industry. SEHK:694 Price Estimation Relative to Market March 31st 2020 Its relatively high P/E ratio indicates that Beijing Capital International Airport shareholders think it will perform better than other companies in its industry classification. The market is optimistic about the future, but that doesn't guarantee future growth. So investors should always consider the P/E ratio alongside other factors, such as whether company directors have been buying shares. Story continues 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 even if the current P/E is high, it will reduce over time if the share price stays flat. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers. Beijing Capital International Airport saw earnings per share decrease by 16% last year. But EPS is up 12% 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. 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). 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. Is Debt Impacting Beijing Capital International Airport's P/E? Beijing Capital International Airport has net debt worth just 2.7% of its market capitalization. It would probably trade on a higher P/E ratio if it had a lot of cash, but I doubt it is having a big impact. The Verdict On Beijing Capital International Airport's P/E Ratio Beijing Capital International Airport's P/E is 8.3 which is about average (8.9) in the HK market. When you consider the lack of EPS growth last year (along with some debt), it seems the market is optimistic about the future for the business. Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. 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 report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock. Of course you might be able to find a better stock than Beijing Capital International Airport. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly. 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. Violent riots broke out in prisons across Colombia on March 21 over prisoners fears about the spread of Covid-19 within overcrowded detention centres. One man incarcerated in Bogota told our team that, while the rest of the country is self-isolating in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus, prisons lack even the most basic hygiene measures. Coordinated riots took place in 13 different detention centres across Colombia. The most violent clashes took place in La Modelo, one of the largest and most dangerous prisons in the capital, Bogota. At least 23 prisoners died in the riots and 90 people, including seven guards, were wounded. Some prisoners attempted to escape. Numerous videos, likely filmed and posted on social media by prisoners, document both the violent clashes and escape attempts. There is growing fear across the world about coronavirus reaching and spreading amongst incarcerated populations. Prison riots have taken place in Brazil, Italy and France over both restrictions implemented by authorities in an attempt to prevent the spread (including bans on prison visits and a halt on temporary release programs) as well as prisoners fears about the possibility of mass infection amongst the incarcerated. By March 24, there were at least 306 cases of Covid-19 recorded in Colombia and at least three deaths. The entire country was put under a confinement order on March 25. "There are six of us crammed into a cell meant for two"Daniel, who is waiting for his extradition and sentencing, is currently incarcerated in La Picota, one of the prisons in Bogota where riots broke out [weve changed his name to protect his identity]. He told our team about how the poor hygiene conditions in the prison make him terrified about the spread of Covid-19. We decided to protest in an attempt to demand that our rights be upheld and our dignity be respected. In my block, which is reserved for prisoners awaiting extradition, we just made noise by banging on the doors. So we didnt do much. But in other parts of the prison, they protested by burning clothes and mattresses. I heard that two people tried to escape but were caught in the end. The prison hasnt enacted any heath and hygiene measures, not even the most basic ones. We dont have any real medical support. The guards dont have gloves or masks even though they come in and out of the prison. Neither do the people who deliver us food. The prison administration doesnt provide us with anything; its every man for himself. In my cell, we managed to get some masks and gloves smuggled in but not everyone has that chance. And I wasnt able to get any hand sanitizer. If the virus gets in the prison, were done for. There are six of us crowded into cells meant for two. We live in extremely close proximity to each other. There are a lot of older people here. Some have even shown symptoms of the virus, but nothing is being done to have them examined. Story continues A cell in La Picota prison. This photo was taken by our Observer. La Picota prison. This photo was taken by our Observer. Colombian Justice Minister Margarita Cabello says that our Observer's fears are unfounded. There is no sanitation issue in the prisons that could justify an uprising, Cabello said. However, the occupancy rate in Colombian prisons was at 152% in 2017. After videos of the riots were shared on social media, an investigation was opened to determine, according to the public prosecutors department, Why prisoners had access to equipment that allowed them to share footage in real time. Daniel, who posted footage of the riots filmed by other prisoners, says that he mostly uses his phone to promote his business as a tattoo artist within the prison. He posts photos of his creations on Instagram. I dont understand how the debate could centre on the fact that we have phones. Becoming a tattoo artist saved me. Its my work here. I want to make something positive out of this experience, which is why I share photos of my tattoos and life in prison. Id like to do something with my tattoos when I get out. Article by Pierre Hamdi. This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? Health Minister: Coronavirus tests lost in collapsed deal would have made an earlier difference for us This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Mar 31st, 2020 Update 7pm: Roche have been in touch. A spokesperson for Roche Diagnostics said: Roche does not have, and has never had, a contract or agreement directly with Wales to supply testing for COVID-19. Roche has an agreement only with the UK Government to increase testing capacity across the whole of the UK. The UK-wide roll-out is being coordinated centrally by Public Health England, including Wales. Original article below from earlier today Health Minister Vaughan Gething has said Wales is only doing 18% of expected coronavirus tests after a deal to supply extra tests collapsed. The Minister was today asked about a testing contract that has collapsed, where Welsh Government expected 5000 tests a day to be provided in Wales by a third party company. Yesterday the First Minister said he believed there was an agreement in place that should be honoured, and was disappointed that it would not be happening. Swiss healthcare company Roche was named by Channel 4 as the provider, and quoted the company as saying they have only been working with Public Health England and never had a separate agreement with Wales. Today the Health Minister was asked by the BBC for more detail on the nature of the agreement as the Welsh Government understood it, and what had replaced the deal, and if the reports on the company named were involved was correct. Mr Gething said, I dont have much further to add to, or restate the position. Were absolutely not going to name the company that were due to provide 5000 tests for Wales. Weve been really clear about that. Our objective is to get more testing available and to focus on delivering that. We had a written undertaking an agreement, so we had a clear agreement for that company team to come into Wales to set up the infrastructure required to provide those additional tests. What I have been able to confirm over the weekend is our ability to nevertheless scale up our testing capacity within two to three weeks to be about to be at about 5000 tests a day. We also expect the by the end of May, well have a further 4000 tests because of the UK wider arrangements we signed up to together with colleagues in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. We also expect within a matter of weeks to have the new antibody tests available as well. Later the topic resurfaced, with Channel 4 pointing out ten days ago it was announced there would be 6000 tests a day as of tomorrow, and enquired if that projection was based off the now collapsed deal. Mr Gething replied noting there was now only 18% of the tests taking place Yes, the statement that I made on Saturday week was about our ability to get to about 6000 tests a day, because the additional 5000 tests a day that we were due to get. I have also said that this week we will nevertheless be going ahead with over 1,100 tests a day. Channel 4, who were in the room asking questions, pressed the point asking I think a lot of people would like to know whether us the Welsh Government can shed any light whatsoever on why that agreement fell through? Mr Gething said Ive tried to be clear and consistent about describing the fact that we had a written exchange and agreements and agreements for that team to come into Wales, and to make sure that that capacity was available now. Ive also been clear about my disappointment it hasnt happened. I recognise the interest to the public, in particular our frontline workers, in increasing our testing capacity sooner rather than later. Reiterating he would not name the company, he added: Our focus has got to be on providing more tests with the resources and the routes that we have got. We have diversified the range of people we are working with, we have heard from a range of different private organisations from the university sector, as well as our NHS capacity as well. So you will see an increase, but theres no getting away from the fact that those additional tests we were due to have would have made an earlier difference for us. Looking to the future he noted there would be time to crawl over lots of the detail reviewing the responses to the pandemic, adding, but my time now has to be on getting things right for today and tomorrow, and the big challenge that we know is coming through the doors of our health and social care system here in Wales. Mr Gething was again asked to shed light on why the deal did not go through. The company themselves made a decision they werent able to fulfil the agreement theyd reached with us. If I go further into that, then Im getting into an argument about that deal falling forward and not spending my time on doing what I think I should do to preparing our health and care system in the here and now. As I say, when all this is done, Im sure will be lots more questions for all of us about choices we made at various different points in time, including this particular aspect. You can view the full briefing along with the Q&A session via the below video: 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 For about 20 minutes Monday morning, Carissa Clay answered a lively barrage of questions about lionfish while several of them swam idly in a tank beside her. How toxic was their sting? How did they invade the central Gulf of Mexico coast? How many babies do they have? How long do they live? Do they die after they sting? How does it feel to touch one? Are they better fried or grilled? Clay, an aquarist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, was taking part in a new digital learning series that the Lab has ramped up since the coronavirus brought a shutdown of actual school visits. The daily series promises to provide the answers to some intriguing questions this week -- For example, Whats in a fishs stomach? The online barrage of questions was just as challenging as if a horde of small visitors were standing around Clay and the lionfish tank, hands raised. But she had a confident, enjoyably non-academic answer for almost everything. Despite their reputation as voracious predators, she said, theyre kind of lazy in their habits and maybe not the brightest fish in the school. The problem is that theyll eat anything that will fit in their rather large mouths, and in local waters they face few predators. But there was one area where her expertise stopped short. Ask the Aquarist- Lionfish Posted by Dauphin Island Sea Lab on Monday, March 30, 2020 I actually dont eat fish, she said. But from what Ive heard, it tastes like Mahi-Mahi. Throughout the Facebook Live session, a steady stream of thumbs-up and heart icons bubbled up the side of the screen, showing that whether they were asking questions or not, viewers were engaged. Sea Lab Public Relations Director Angela Levins, the camera operator who can be heard reading commenters questions to Clay during the video, said the series was conceived as a general resource. The videos can serve as building blocks that teachers use in larger, more formal lessons, or they can simply provide a lifeline for parents trying to find educational content for their children. The response so far has amazed them. This has been great, said Levins. Ive been blown away. There just might be another dynamic at play: For anyone who has had to cancel a trip to the beach, the videos offer a chance to enjoy the natural delights of the coasts unique ecosystems. Which, of course, goes right to the heart of the Sea Labs mission. We are Alabamas marine research center, Levins said. Levins said the idea for the series came about as soon as it became apparent that the Sea Lab wouldnt be hosting school groups for a while. It seemed imperative to reach out, using the resources they had available. We realize that there is absolutely no substitute for putting students in coastal marshes, walking them along the beach and sharing the amazing things that we see in Alabamas coastal resources, Tina Miller-Way, head of Discovery Hall programs at the Sea Lab, said in a video greeting to teachers. However these are unprecedented times. We are striving to continue to share our knowledge and expertise about our coastal resources with students wherever they are. Its such a period of time of thinking outside the box, Levins said. At a time like this its so important to stay relevant and in front of people. It helps to have resources like the labs aquarists, whose job is to take care of the sea creatures on display. They know the animals behavior, Levins said. They become connected to the animals, in a way. Sea Lab scientists, doctoral students and teachers also are taking part, she said. New question and answer sessions are being streamed live daily at 10 a.m. Central time on the Sea Labs Facebook page. As the videos are completed theyre also being archived at the Sea Labs YouTube channel and at a digital learning page at DISL.org. Other offerings are in the mix, with additional programs being offered at other times and in other formats. A Zoom meeting on Friday will focus on sand sharks. And because the Sea Labs biweekly Boardwalk Talks cant be held, educator Mendel Graeber will host a Facebook Live discussion of beach finds. Participants are encouraged not just to ask questions, but to submit photos of artifacts theyve found on Gulf Coast beaches. That session starts at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 1, on the Sea Labs Facebook page. Scheduled sessions will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/disealab/ unless otherwise noted: Tuesday, March 31, 10 a.m. CST - Ask the Scientist -- What's in a Fish Stomach? Wednesday, April 1, 10 a.m. CST - Ask the Aquarist -- Corals Thursday, April 2, 10 a.m. CST - Ask the Educator -- Marine Debris Mania Friday, April 3, 10 a.m. CST - Ask the Scientist -- How Old is that Fish? Friday, April 3, 1 p.m. CST - Zoom Learning with DHP -- Gotta Sand Shark? Click here to sign up to participate. Uncover the secrets of Alabamas most caught shark. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, some democracies around the world have used technology to avoid having to impose draconian mass quarantines that were common earlier this year in China. That's reassuring - and it's also worrying, because the very strategies that can help fight a plague can also be abused once it's over. In South Korea, the government constantly updates a website that tracks the movements of people who have been infected, and issues alerts to the mobile phones of people in the geographic vicinity of an infected citizen. Credit:Getty Images Consider Taiwan, where an "electronic fence" allows local police to make regular phone calls to everyone who is home under quarantine; if the citizen doesn't answer or the phone is out of power, police come to the home within 15 minutes. In South Korea, the government constantly updates a website that tracks the movements of people who have been infected, and issues alerts to the mobile phones of people in the geographic vicinity of an infected citizen. The Israeli government gained access to an archive of phone data to map the movements of infected people, then alerted those who had been in contact with them to self-isolate. Again, invoking these powers is reasonable during a pandemic. Once the outbreak is over, however, this kind of power can and probably will be abused. What's to stop a corrupt (or merely unscrupulous) leader from using such technologies to learn or even publicise the location of political opponents or dissidents? "This is a genuine emergency and that justifies a lot of things that would not normally be justified," says Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the ACLU. "But we have to make sure that these temporary powers do not become permanent in a way that hurts everybody else." The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic that originated in China, or as some experts hold was created was created as a bio-weapon as intuitively written in Dean Koontzs 1981 novel The Eyes of Darkness, in one way or another has benefited the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in its aggression against the U.S.-led free society. As foreign policy commentary for the Washington Examiner Tom Rogan wrote, just as it was with Mao Zedongs Great Leap Forward -- an economic and social campaign by the CCP from 1958 to 1962 to reconstruct China from an agrarian economy into a communist society -- Xi Jinpings coronavirus legacy is built on a mountain of bodies and lies in order to enhance Chinas global hegemony. Perhaps it is no accident why Peter Navarro, President Donald Trumps national Defense Production Act policy coordinator, recently stated: As soon as I saw a novel coronavirus emerge in Wuhan, my radar went up -- he had written in his book The Coming China Wars (2006) that China has become the worlds prime breeding ground for new and exotic strains of influenza and other viruses. He accused Chinese officials who visited the White House in mid-January for the signing of the phase one trade deal of suppressing crucial information -- even possibly transmitting the disease. They shook our hands. We broke bread with them, he said. They smiled and left with nary a warning about the severity of the crisis. We know how the CCP lied over its claim in December 2019 that the coronavirus was under control, simultaneously refusing to allow access to Western medical officials, failing to instigate an effective quarantine and deflecting responsibility during that period. It was not, however until late January that President Trump started regularly talking about the outbreak in relatively concerned terms. That shift suggests the issue had, by January, become a significant element of Trumps daily intelligence report. It is likely that Trump was then warned that the risk of a global pandemic was growing. While we are at war with the invisible enemy (the coronavirus), we are also at war with China and most of us are not even aware of it. The CCP is ultimately responsible for the deceptions that allowed the coronavirus to become a global pandemic as it daily destroys lives and economies. And yet, much of the mainstream media through the world has been sympathetic to General Secretary Xi Jinping -- his actual state title is goujia zhix: state chairman; the English translation president is a misnomer to give the impression that Beijings body politic is parallel to American democracy, when in fact, as clearly explained by Newt Gingrich in his book Trump vs. China (2019), Xi is actively seeking the ultimate demise of the U.S.-led free market and capitalist society, to be replaced by a Chinese-led socialist one. Xi, in the Leninist tradition, is fully dedicated to ensure that (Chinas) communism rules the world. He had told the members of Chinas Central Committee in 2013: The most important thing on running our own affairs well, continuously, strengthen our comprehensive national strengthcontinuously build socialism with superiority over capitalism, and continuously lay a more solid foundation for us to win initiative, advantage and future. President Trump, while trying to openly maintain a positive attitude towards China -- the last thing the public needs is to be told of another crisis -- has angered Beijing when he signed a legislation last Thursday that will help U.S. diplomats from keeping Xis attempts to isolate Taiwan, a sign that antagonism between China and the United States continues to ramp up. The signing took place following a new round of saber-rattling in the Pacific Ocean. An American guided-missile destroyer navigated the straits of Taiwan on Wednesday, just days after the U.S. Navys Pacific Fleet conducted live-fire drills in the Philippine Sea. Taiwanese government analyst Su Tzu-yun said: The U.S. has never conducted missile drills in the South China Sea, and the drill that it conducted in the Philippine Sea near the South China Sea is meant to tell China that the U.S. is capable of dealing with any situation despite the coronavirus outbreak. Then-presidential candidate Trump said in 2015: [China is] an economic enemy, because they have taken advantage of us like nobody in history. Its the greatest theft in the history of the world what they've done to the United States. Theyve taken our jobs. And at a campaign rally in Fort Wayne, Indiana in May 2016, Trump said, We cant continue to allow China to rape our country and thats what theyre doing. Its the greatest theft in the history of the world. Aside that Chinas hacking and intellectual property theft that costs the U.S. hundred of billions of dollars every year, the CCP is engraved in a systematic campaign to pilfer valuable trade secrets for countless industrial and consumer goods. This effort aims to reverse engineer non-Chinese goods and then flood foreign markets with stolen and knockoff products and technologies. Trump has taken direct aim at China. In 2019, under a long-term deal sealed by the Obama administration, a Chinese Communist company was set to control Americas second-largest container port behind the nearby Port of Los Angeles. In an unreported Trump administration victory, the Chinese had to withdraw after a drawn-out national security review forced a unit of China-based COSCO Shipping Holdings Co. (Orient Overseas Container Line -- OOCL) to sell the container terminal business, which handles among the largest freight of imports into the U.S. He has also raised tariffs aimed at pressuring China to cease giving its industries unfair economic advantages and violating the norms and rules of international commerce. China and its trading partners retaliated, which wound up hurting the competitiveness of U.S. firms overseas, suppressing manufacturing employment by more than protection from imports boosted it. Yet when one is at war, there are always going to be unwanted, and at times, unforeseen casualties. Chinas economy is not as strong Beijing makes it to be. As of last year, China's debt has topped 300% of gross domestic product, according to the Institute of International Finance. China suffered an even deeper slump as the coronavirus shuttered factories, shops and restaurants across the nation, underscoring the fallout now facing the global economy as the virus spreads around the world. Just like the pandemic, which we will eventually defeat, we can win the war against China but we must first acknowledge that it is an enemy that must be stopped. Infiniti Research, a leading market intelligence solutions provider, has recently announced the completion of its latest success story on market intelligence solution for a medical device packaging company. This success story highlights how Infiniti's market intelligence solution helped a medical device packaging company to successfully enter the US market and realize savings of over $2.7 million. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005639/en/ medical device packaging (Graphic: Business Wire) "Infiniti Research is a trusted market intelligence provider. They helped us in developing action plans and marketing strategies to successfully establish our operations in the United States." The client Planning a market entry can be daunting. It requires a deep understanding of the current market dynamics, including the competitive forces, barriers to entry, trade environment, and so on. Without these insights, navigating the business environment can be extremely challenging and can set the business up for failure. Our market entry research can help companies across various industries to strategically enter a new market or expand in an existing market. Request a FREE brochure to gain detailed insights into our services portfolio. The business challenge: The client, a medical device packaging company based out of Europe, approached the experts at Infiniti Research to create an informed US expansion strategy. By partnering with Infiniti Research, they wanted to examine critical factors including investment environment, industry development, and regional market changes. Besides, the client wanted to understand the stricter FDA medical device packaging regulations in the US, focus on building packaging materials that follow industry standards, and identify the best third-party services providers to support them in transportation needs. Having a comprehensive understanding of the market opportunities, trends, and challenges can help businesses to efficiently adapt to the market demands and succeed in the long-run. Our market intelligence solution can help you to achieve these objectives. Contact us today. Infiniti's Integrated Approach: Evaluated potential barriers to market entry, identified supply chain risks, and understood regulatory requirements in the US Identified medical device packaging trends and alternatives that need to be focused on in the coming years Analyzed the top companies in the US medical device packaging market and identified their business strategies and plans The business impact of the market intelligence solution for the medical device packaging company Devised a sound market entry strategy to enter the US medical devices packaging market Analyzed industry development, investment environment, US medical device packaging market size, and market opportunities Gained comprehensive understanding on the medical device market policies and regulations in the United States Designed products that could withstand shipping through different climatic conditions and a variety of physical hazards Exceeded their sales expectation and realized savings of over $2.7 million About Infiniti Research Established in 2003, Infiniti Research is a leading market intelligence company providing smart solutions to address your business challenges. Infiniti Research studies markets in more than 100 countries to help analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions, and develop intelligent business strategies. To know more, visit: https://www.infinitiresearch.com/about-us View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005639/en/ Contacts: Infiniti Research Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 844 778 0600 UK: +44 203 893 3400 https://www.infinitiresearch.com/contact-us Oslo, Norway, 31 March 2020 - PCI Biotech announces the appointment of Dr Amir Snapir, MD, PhD as Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr Snapir will also serve as a member of PCI Biotech's executive management team. He will lead the execution of all clinical development programmes, and be a key contributor to the identification and implementation of new opportunities and pipeline expansions. Dr Snapir brings extensive experience in global clinical development of novel therapeutics, from early clinical translation to marketing authorisation, combined with extensive international regulatory experience. Dr Snapir also brings years of experience in business collaborations, alliances and product co-developments. Since 2007 Dr Snapir has held various positions at Orion Pharma, Espoo, Finland, spanning from leader of clinical pharmacogenomics to clinical development leader in Oncology. In his most recent role, Dr Snapir held the position as Director, Rare Disease Development. Dr Snapir has a PhD from the University of Turku, Finland and an MD from the University of Tel Aviv, Israel. Dr. Snapir is the author of numerous scientific publications. Per Walday, CEO, comments: "We are delighted to welcome Dr Snapir to PCI Biotech. With his broad scientific, regulatory and clinical development background he will bring important knowhow and experience to our organisation, as we move towards a potential commercialisation phase for our lead programme fimaChem." Dr Amir Snapir added: "I am very excited to be joining PCI Biotech at what is clearly an important stage for the company. I look forward to the challenge leading the RELEASE study with registrational intent aiming for expedited development and market entrance to benefit underserved patients. I am also very excited about the opportunities ahead for the fimaVacc and fimaNAc assets." Dr Snapir will commence as CMO no later than 1 May 2020. For further information, please contact: Per Walday, CEO Email: pw@pcibiotech.no Mobile: +47 917 93 429 About PCI Biotech PCI Biotech is a biopharmaceutical late stage clinical development company focusing on development and commercialisation of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer through its innovative photochemical internalisation (PCI) technology platform. PCI is applied to three distinct anticancer paradigms: fimaChem (enhancement of chemotherapeutics for localised treatment of cancer), fimaVacc (T-cell induction technology for therapeutic vaccination), and fimaNAc (nucleic acid therapeutics delivery). Photochemical internalisation induces triggered endosomal release that is used to unlock the true potential of a wide array of therapeutic modalities. The company's lead programme fimaChem consists of a pivotal study in bile duct cancer, an orphan indication with a high unmet need and without approved products. fimaVacc applies a unique mode of action to enhance the essential cytotoxic effect of therapeutic cancer vaccines, which works in synergy with several other state-of-the-art vaccination technologies. fimaNAc utilises the endosomal release to provide intracellular delivery of nucleic acids, such as mRNA and RNAi therapeutics, thereby addressing one of the major bottlenecks facing this emerging and promising field. For further information, please visit: www.pcibiotech.com Contact information: PCI Biotech Holding ASA, Ullernchausseen 64, N-0379 Oslo Forward-looking statements This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, which as such are not historical facts, but are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. These assumptions are inherently subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this announcement by such forward-looking statements. PCI Biotech disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. 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. I think this is going to go a long way towards reducing that economic gap that weve seen for several years now with the AP program, Nowick said. The only comment I have in addition to moving forward is that we monitor so that we get feedback so that we can see how well it performs. : Asian Paints, Toyota Industries Engine India Private Limited and Xiaomi Technologies were among industries which on Tuesday announced donations to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to fight COVID-19 under CSR. The Department of Commerce and Industries said in a press release that Asian Paints donated Rs two crore, Toyota Industries Engine India Private Limited Rs 31 lakh, Xiaomi Technologies and JM Financial Rs 25 lakh each,Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts Rs 23 Lakh, Kennametals Rs 15 lakh and Brigade Enterprises Ltd Rs 10 lakh. Samsung R&D has announced that it would import health kits worth Rs one crore from Korea. Toyota Kirloskar, apart from donating Rs 31 lakh, was also providing 500 bodysuit sets to doctors and nurses and food for 1,200 poor families in Ramanagar district. Himarsinghka Seide has taken the responsibility of providing pillow covers, towels, and bedsheets worth Rs 10 crore while Britain Industries, Wipro, GSK, and Jothy labs will be supplying their products to affected people in the state, the press release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Batman has always taken on the challenge of battling crime, but he's now got a bigger task on his hands. An unidentified man dressed as the Caped Crusader's is spreading awareness of the deadly coronavirus in Monterrey, a city in the northeastern Mexican border state Nuevo Leon. Mexico's version of Bruce Wayne is driving around in a replica version of the Batmobile, similar to the one that appeared in the Dark Knight trilogy. A concerned man from Monterrey, Mexico, is dressing up as Batman and driving around in a replica of the Batmobile to warn people about the dangers of leaving their homes A replica of the Batmobile hits the streets of Monterrey, a city in the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon His message is clear and simple - stay home. 'I alone can't do the job,' he says in a prerecorded message played from his vehicle's speakers. 'Hey, you inside that home, try to come out as little as possible and together we'll be superheroes against the coronavirus.' The concerned man questioned why families continue to put themselves at risk, especially children, by wandering around the streets of Monterrey despite warnings from health officials. 'I call to all of Nuevo Leon that I alone cannot cope with this situation. Join us as superheroes, stay home,' he told Mexican news outlet Tele Diario this weekend. 'I understand that the situation is complicated, that people are desperate, that it is very hot.' He recommends people are better off 'turning the TV on... that they take advantage of the opportunity to spending time with their children' instead of venturing out in public and possibly getting infected with the virus and spreading it to others. A Batmobile appeared in the streets of Monterrey, Mexico, recently and it was driven by a local man who is fighting to contain the spread of the deadly COVID-19 The masked superhero is not alone in his quest to stem the outbreak of the global pandemic in his homeland. The governors of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila and Tamaulipas, whose states border with Texas, called on the federal government to impose strict measures on travelers from the United States that enter their states ahead of Holy Week. The three northern states expect a large influx of Mexican natives as well as American citizens who will return to Mexico to spend the holiday with their loved ones and to vacation there instead of observing social distancing measures recommend by health experts. The United States has banned non-essential travel via its borders with Canada and Mexico because of the coronavirus. All three governors met last Friday and called on Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to shut down the border for the time being. 'We don't have the authority of closing the border. But he can,' said Jaime Rodriguez Calderon, the governor of Nuevo Leon. As of Tuesday, the government had logged 28 deaths and 1,094 sickened people because of COVID-19. Globally, the virus has killed 41,261 people and infected 846,156. On Monday, Mexico declared a health emergency and issued stricter rules aimed at containing the fast-spreading coronavirus. The new measures to fight the virus include a reduction of the number of people who can gather to 50 and an extension of a previously announced suspension of non-essential activities. 'This applies - strictly - to people older than 60 years, those who have hypertension, diabetes or are pregnant, regardless whether their jobs are considered essential,' said Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell. Thomas Krajewski stopped at the hospital room in the American state of Louisiana at two oclock in the morning. The emergency department doctor was worried about his patient: A man in his 70s, with a fever and shortness of breath. Do you mind calling my son? the patient asked. He knew his family was worried. The man had COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Within 12 hours of seeing Krajewski, the patient needed a ventilator. In three days he was dead. COVID-19 has killed more than 150 people in Louisiana. The state has confirmed 3,540 cases of coronavirus infection since March 9. It is spreading there very fast. Governor John Bel Edwards has said Louisiana could become the next Italy. There is concern that some hospitals there may fill up completely and have to refuse entry to sick people. Health workers are preparing for that day. Edwards spoke about the situation Sunday on a television news program. He said Louisiana only had a small number of the 13,000 ventilators it will need. And, he said, the federal government has not approved the states request for ventilators from the national supply. The city of New Orleans has the most infections. Officials there are setting up a field hospital at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for the expected number of patients. Many doctors fear they will not get enough supplies and other support to help the number of victims. They are fighting a virus that threatens them, and their families, every time they see a patient. Krajewski is 31. He completed his medical training two years ago. He works nights at St. Bernard Parish Hospital, just east of New Orleans. Krajewski lives with his wife, Genevieve and their son, Cal, who is three weeks old. The doctor removes his clothes before entering his house. He puts his glasses and phone into a special cleaning device and goes to wash himself immediately. I come home and Im horrified, Krajewski said. Doctors across the New Orleans area are calling other doctors in New York and Seattle to ask for information about the virus. They exchange ideas on how to put two patients on a single ventilator. Some health workers have moved to temporary housing so they will not infect their families at home, said Joseph Kanter. He is an emergency department doctor and a top public health official for the New Orleans area. 'It can happen to me' In the United States there are more than 141,000 people infected with the new coronavirus. COVID-19 has killed more than 2,500 in the country. Older patients are at the greatest risk. But, some Louisiana doctors say they have been surprised by the severity of cases among younger people who have just one underlying health problem. Some patients in their 30s or 40s have been quickly put on life support, said Jeff Elder. He is an emergency doctor at University Medical Center in New Orleans. These cases worry doctors, especially those who are young themselves. Youthink, If it is happening to him, it can happen to me, said Elder, who is 40. Its not that hard to understand Louisianas rising infection rates mean some hospitals will have to start refusing patients in the next week. Governor Edwards hopes the statewide efforts to avoid social contact will show results. In his daily news briefing the governor has become increasingly angry about people who continue to go out in public. Its not that hard to understand! Edwards said on Friday. He said the path the area was on, in his words takes us to a place where we cannot meet the demands on our health care system. Krajewski decided early in college to become a doctor because of what he described as a hero complex. That has all changed in the last few days. He has put about 12 patients on life support. Only one has recovered so far. Five have died. There is a sense of gravity when you know you are one of the last people that will talk to somebody, Krajewski said. Im Jonathan Evans. The Reuters News agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story fever n. the hot forehead that occurs when the body's temperature rises ventilator n. a medical device that assists breathing quarantine v. to put a person separate so he does not spread illness gravity n. a very serious condition Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 09:31:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HEFEI, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Kangmei Chinese medicinal material price index, a barometer of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) material market, rose 0.06 percent to 1,292.7 points Tuesday. Covering more than 500 TCM materials including herbs and minerals from six major markets nationwide, the closely-watched index reflects the overall price trend in the country's TCM material market. It is released daily by Kangmei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, one of China's major TCM companies. The index was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission of China in 2012 to offer more timely and accurate reference for TCM material growers, traders and pharmaceutical companies. Traditional Chinese medicines, often given as oral liquid, granule and pills, typically use the combination of a number of medicinal materials, mostly herbs, to address health problems. The US New York Times posted an article on March 27th saying: Even though Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia's poorer countries, its efforts against the virus, praised at home, have ensured its tally of infections is lower than those in many of its neighbours. Photo for illustration (Source: thanhnien.vn) The article mentioned prompt and effective measures that the Vietnamese Government is applying such as limiting domestic flights, stopping public gatherings for two weeks from March 28th, and quarantining more than 57,000 to avoid the spread of the coronavirus in the community. Meanwhile, Germanys Deutsche Welle recently ran an article on Vietnams "war" on coronavirus, analysing factors that have helped the Southeast Asian country successfully curb the outbreak so far such as applying a widespread system of public surveillance and mobilising the military to the effort. The government has described the combat as the fight against an enemy and called for the engagement of all people, it said. The Philippines Rappler newspaper quoted the UKs Financial Times as saying Vietnam has proved itself as a model in the work with limited resources but determined leadership. The Diplomat carried a story, saying when the coronavirus began to rage the country in early January, the Vietnamese Government quickly responded and has deservedly gotten praise for doing so. The reasons for Vietnams robust response to COVID-19 are varied. But among the factors is leadership, the article said, adding that for instance, the decision of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to stop all events, activities and gatherings of more than 20 people in the country was viewed as a definitive and firm move. Other newspapers such as the UKs Evening Standard and Reuters, Russias Komsomolskaya Pravda, and Canadas National also posted stories relating to Vietnams moves to fight the pandemic./. Mel Gibson took a break from self-isolation to stock up his kitchen. The actor, 64, was spotted at Erewhon Market in Los Angeles on Monday with his long-time girlfriend, Rosalind Ross, 29. Mel kept it casual for the outing, sporting a faded plaid shirt, black shorts, and matching sneakers. Stocking up! Mel Gibson was spotted at Erewhon Market in Los Angeles on Monday with his long-time girlfriend, Rosalind Ross, 29 He protected himself from the sunshine beneath a buffalo print cap. Mel still had his wallet out as he left the store, simultaneously juggling his sunglasses and iPhone in the same hand. Rosalind followed several steps behind, pushing the grocery cart full of items whilst wearing her hair up into a high bun. Mel and Rosalind have been going strong since 2014, when they first started dating. Nothing fancy: Mel kept it casual for the outing, sporting a faded plaid shirt, black shorts, and matching sneakers The What Women Want actor welcomed his ninth child, son Lars, with Rosalind in January 2017. He and Robyn were married 31 years, from 1980 to 2011, though they separated in 2006. He also has a daughter, Lucia, 10, with Russian pianist Oksana Grigorieva. Mel was back in the news earlier this year after it was revealed he and Danny Glover were set to star in Lethal Weapon 5. Family man: The What Women Want actor welcomed his ninth child, son Lars, with Rosalind in January 2017 (pictured 2019) Producer Dan Lin confirmed back in January that he and the film franchise's director Richard Donner are working on bringing the action buddy cop franchise back to the big screen for another outing. Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter's Producers Roundtable, he said the film would focus on Detective Martin Riggs and his partner Detective Roger Murtaugh, 22 years after the release of Lethal Weapon 4. Dan explained: 'We're trying to make the last Lethal Weapon movie. And Dick Donner's coming back. The original cast is coming back. And it's just amazing. The story is very personal to him.' He said the two actors are both 'ready to go', but the script for the project still needs to be finished so the film is still in its pre-production stage. Dan added: 'Mel and Danny are ready to go, so it's about the script.' 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 15:06:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NANCHANG, March 31 (Xinhua) -- In Yixiang Agricultural Products Co., Ltd., truckloads of fresh duck eggs are being sorted, washed, processed, packed and ready to be delivered to customers across the country. The company in the city of Ruichang, eastern China's Jiangxi Province, has gradually resumed production, after it was brought to a standstill for over a month amid the coronavirus outbreak. Yixiang is a top egg-processing company in China with an annual output of over 100 million eggs. Their products are sold to over 20 provincial-level regions within the country and exported to many other countries. "This is the biggest crisis we have ever faced since the company's establishment 13 years ago," said He Xueping, general manager of the company. All the 190 employees had returned to their posts on Feb. 13, but she found that work resumption is much more than having enough hands. The company's upstream raw material suppliers were hit hard, feed prices surged, farmers ran short of funds, and logistics service was still slow. "We realized that we cannot simply resume operation on our own. Only when everyone gets their machines roaring can the industrial chain operate well," she said. Yixiang therefore decided to take out 3 million yuan (about 423,000 U.S. dollars) as interest-free loans to help farmers survive capital shortage and reduce losses. They also worked with local authorities to launch a green channel to transport fodder and other necessary materials to keep farms running. "The money was a real help in the nick of time," said Zhang Huixuan, a duck farmer in Huangjin township. Zhang raises nearly 4,000 ducks and borrowed a total of 60,000 yuan from the company to tide over the difficulties. The company helped over 30 duck farmers like Zhang. In addition to offering financial support to farmers, Yixiang also extended payment deadlines for downstream sales companies. With the whole industrial chain running, the company now receives over 10,000 orders each day and the sales volume hit almost 15 million yuan in February, up 60 percent from the previous year. Enterprises in China are taking a special test amid the epidemic. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, bear the brunt as production is delayed, cost is rising and the capital is often not enough. SMEs, which are vulnerable during the outbreak but contribute more than 80 percent of the job opportunities in China, have therefore been provided with an array of policies to ease their cash strain, such as temporary exemption of social insurance payments, and low-interest loans. About 76 percent of all SMEs in China have resumed work as of March 28, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The ministry also encouraged leading enterprises to give a hand to SMEs to fast-track work resumption across the industrial chain. "In addition to the supportive policies from the government, we're also actively helping local SMEs to look for a way out," said Hu Chunlin, chief executive officer of a leading packaging company in Xiangdong district in the city of Pingxiang. Color printing and packaging is a traditional pillar industry in Xiangdong district, which is home to over 100 packaging enterprises. Tea packaging, for example, takes more than 80 percent of the national market share. March is the golden time to make spring tea, but the coronavirus outbreak has led to a 35-percent contraction in tea-packaging orders, taking a heavy toll on SMEs. Leading enterprises like Hu's company have therefore been lending a hand to their peers by sharing orders to keep their production lines rolling. The same can be seen across the nation. Trip.com Group, China's largest online travel agency, exempted about 8,000 stores on its platform from management fees for three months, while e-commerce giant Alibaba waived all Tmall merchants' platform service fees for the first half of 2020. "Apart from the support from the government, enterprises should also stick together to pull through the 'winter' of COVID-19 and embrace the spring," said Zhou Dewen, vice president of China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises. After spending her time in isolation watching Tiger King, Cardi B vowed to start a GoFundMe account for flamboyant tiger breeder Joe Exotic. But the rapper's big Twitter talk about raising money for his defense won't happen -- because GoFundMe doesn't open its platform to inmates convicted of violent crimes. Exotic, born Joe Maldonado-Passage, was convicted of trying to hire a hit on his nemesis, Carole Baskin. Once Cardi got word about the company's terms of service stipulation, she backtracked and maintained she was only joking when she offered to start the defense fund. 'Omg I was just playing,' the I Like It rapper began in a new Tweet on Monday. 'I do love him tho and he deff needed better representation.' No Go: Cardi B's push to start a GoFundMe for Joe Exotic won't happen because the company doesn't open the platform up to inmates convicted of violent crimes And then in her own unique Cardi humor, she ended with, 'ooooooooooooooooooo here kitty kitty,' in a reference to the Tiger King star. Cardi's wave of support for Joe Exotic started after she watched Netflix's new seven-part documentary on Thursday. 'Carol you think you slick b****,' she wrote, referencing Baskin, an animal rights activist and founder of Florida's Big Cat Rescue. Oops: The Like It rapper, 27, revealed she was joking when she vowed to start GFM account Social media frenzy: Cardi's wave of support for Joe Exotic started after she watched Netflix's new seven-part documentary Tiger King on Thursday Baskin's feud with Joe Exotic over the practice of petting tiger cubs and his private breeding operation is thoroughly documented in the series. He was arrested in 2018 and later convicted of attempted murder after he tried to hire an FBI agent to kill Baskin. He was also convicted of multiple animal rights violations. Cardi may have though Baskin was 'slick' because of conspiracy theories about the conservationist. In 1997, her millionaire husband Don Lewis disappeared, and in 2002 she had him declared dead. But Lewis' children remained suspicious of his disappearance and fought over his estate, which was primarily left to Baskin in a will which only surfaced after his dissapearance. Arrested in 2018: Joe Exotic (born Joe Maldonado-Passage) is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence for attempted murder after he tried to hire an FBI agent to kill Baskin and multiple animal rights violations Two months before he disappeared, Lewis filed a restraining order against his wife because she had purchased a firearm and threatened to kill him with it, but the application was rejected. Tiger King also includes footage of Lewis' executive assistant claiming that Baskin had stolen his power of attorney after his death in order to take control of his estate. The documentary has led to a conspiracy theory that the big cat rescuer killed her husband and fed his body to her tigers to destroy the evidence. Cardi seems to be a fan of the theory after sharing a meme to Instagram that was photoshopped to read 'Carole Baskin fed her husband to the tigers Change my mind.' Lending support: The New York native implied that Joe Exotic did not get a fair shake Poll: Her fans seemed fairly split on who came off worse in the documentary, though some also blamed Joe's business partner Jeff Lowe Vote of confidence: Eventually, Cardi's pro-Joe tweets culminated with her plan to start a crowdfunding campaign to secure his freedom, which has since been rejected by GoFundMe 'They did Joe so dirty over and over again,' she wrote later. The Bodak Yellow rapper also let her followers weigh in on who was more sympathetic in Tiger King. 'Who you think is more wrong? Narcissist joe ? Or Greedy Carol ? And why ?,' she tweeted. Despite that, she was firmly in Joe Exotic's camp by Friday. 'Bout to star a gofundme account for Joe. He shall be free,' she wrote, which has since been shot by GFM's stipulation about convicted violent offenders. Maldonado-Passage is currently serving a 22-year sentence in federal prison. Making waves: Tiger King premiered on Netflix in March 2020 Out and about: Meanwhile, Cardi's husband was seen donning a glittery surgical mask while stocking up on marijuana at a dispensary in Los Angeles Shandong University of Art and Design in Jinan, the capital city of east Chinas Shandong province, has recently created a series of cartoon works featuring Chinas battle against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to salute medical workers who have fought the disease and been on the frontlines safeguarding lives. As COVID-19 has gradually been brought under control in China, medical teams dispatched from various Chinese provinces to the worst-hit province of Hubei have gradually returned to their hometowns. Meanwhile, people across the country have paid respect to the heroes who have fought the war in various ways. THE Department of theInterior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the local government units (LGUs) to fast track the identification of the poor families qualified to receive a monthly subsidy of P5,000 to P8,000 from the government for two months. The governments social amelioration program targets to help 18 million families, including the 4.4 million households benefiting from the conditional cash transfer program. Time is of the essence in this coronavirus crisis and the poor people who were ordered to stay at home and refrain from moving are the priority. The government assistance should reach the beneficiaries as soon as possible as the economy is on a standstill leaving millions of Filipinos with no source of employment or livelihood, DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano said in a statement. "We must act fast to help our poor countrymen. I am directing all LGUs to produce a master list of the social amelioration programs' target beneficiaries at the earliest possible time for us be able to immediately address the needs of our countrymen," he added. The social amelioration program (Sap) is one of the highlights of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the law that Congress passed in a special session on March 23 to give President Rodrigo Duterte special powers to address the economic fallout from the Covid-19 outbreak. Under the Sap, low-income families all over the country shall receive a special subsidy amounting to a mixture of food items and cash amounting to P5,000 to P8,000 a month for two months. Ano said the barangays will be distributing Social Amelioration Cards which will be filled up by the families to identify the beneficiaries to be able to come up with a master list. The DILG chief reminded anew that no LGU or barangay should limit the beneficiaries to registered voters in their areas of jurisdiction. He said a Voter's ID is not a requisite for inclusion in the list. He said "epal" signages or appendages crediting any local government official or bearing his name or image are also banned. Huwag na po sana nating gamitin ang krisis na ito pa sa politika. Malayo pa po ang eleksyon, let's devote our time and efforts in helping the people," Ano said. (SunStar Philippines) Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here. Oil prices saw a historic drop in the first quarter of 2020, and it's only going to get worse. West Texas Intermediate crude oil, the U.S. benchmark, plunged 67 percent over the past three months to settle at $20.48. Brent crude, the international benchmark, has tumbled 65 percent to $22.74 so far. Both drops are the biggest quarterly declines on record. We've got all the ingredients for a price crash, Stephen Schork, founder and editor of the daily oil subscription newsletter The Schork Report, told FOX Business, adding that oil could lose another 50 percent and possibly fall below zero. OIL PRICES COULD FALL BELOW ZERO: ANALYST The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated demand, with countries around the world issuing shelter-in-place orders that curbed consumption of gasoline and jet fuel. At the same time, a price war broke out between Saudi Arabia and Russia, two of the worlds largest producers. U.S. gasoline demand has tumbled 40 percent, or 3.5 million barrels per day, while worldwide jet fuel demand has fallen by 60 percent, or 1 million barrels, according to estimates from Andrew Lipow, president of the Houston-based consulting firm Lipow Oil Associates. He estimates total demand destruction is now over 15 million barrels a day. Others, Lipow says, are predicting double that in April. The supply glut, which was a problem even before the pandemic, has been exacerbated by OPEC and non-OPEC producers pumping out an additional 3 million to 4 million barrels per day amid Russia's struggle with the Saudis. Moscow earlier this month refused to join OPEC in deepening production cuts after the U.S. placed sanctions on its largest oil trading company, spurring Saudi Arabia to boost its output to avoid losing market share. Russia's move against Saudi Arabia, or decision not to cut, is really a decision based on the fact that they were going to lose market share to the United States, Schork said. Story continues Since oil prices are still expected to rise over time, all available storage space will be filled with the record output from the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Russia, with owners hoping for a better price later. In April 1986, $9.75 a barrel was the all-time low, added Schork, who wouldn't be surprised to see prices for Brent crude and WTI crude fall below $10 a barrel by the summer. He says U.S. crude prices could fall below zero, depending on how quickly the storage capacity in Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery hub for NYMEX crude oil futures, fills up. Looking ahead, Lipow expects U.S. shale production to decrease by several million barrels a day over the next few years due to low oil prices, which may result in America losing its crown as the No. 1 producer. Schork was a bit more optimistic, suggesting that while oil prices have entered the danger zone, producers are hedged so they are selling oil at $45, $50, $55 a barrel. Theres certainly going to be a fair share of consolidation in the U.S. shale industry with companies with weaker balance sheets being acquired by the behemoths, Shork said. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS If I'm Shell, if I'm BP, if I'm Exxon Mobil, I've got my shopping list of which acreage I want to buy. And I'm going to be buying over the next year and a half, he added. So you're going to come out of this with a U.S. shale sector that is leaner, that is in the control of much larger corporations. Related Articles Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category The latest to impress with their generosity are Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and son Taimur. The same was shared by Bebo on her social media handle as she revealed that the family will be contributing towards UNICEF, Give India and International Association for Human Values (IAHV). She wrote, "At difficult times like these, we need to come together and help each other. We both have taken steps to do just that and have pledged our support to UNICEF, GIVE INDIA and International Association for Human Values (IAHV). We urge those of you who can to do the same, United we stand. Jai Hind." View this post on Instagram AAAAA A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan) on Mar 31, 2020 at 3:37am PDT Just like the Pataudis, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have also contributed to different NGOs in the USA and India apart from the PM-CARES Fund. Its commendable that film stars are inspiring everyone to do their bit for the world and come out stronger than ever. Stay tuned for more updates on the same. Since the country is currently under the 21-day lockdown period announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bollywood stars are making sure to do their bit in this difficult hour. Right from Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma, Kartik Aaryan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Shilpa Shetty have come forward to pledge their support for those affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Vietnams startups are making every effort to help the community fight against coronavirus. Kompa sets up website to track epidemic developments To prevent fake news about Covid-19, Kompa, a technology startup using Big Data and AI, has created a website which keeps close watch over the developments of the epidemic at corona.kompa.ai. The website development team includes five members with some working in the US and others in Vietnam. The data on the website is updated regularly with official information from WHO, the Ministry of Health, CDC and ECDC. The first version of the website focuses on three functions, including a global infection map, Vietnam infection map and information from official sources. Vietnams startups are making every effort to help the community fight against coronavirus. Got It! introduces app checking coronavirus infections On March 14, Got It, the startup founded by Hung Tran, introduced the trial version of Covid-19 Check, a service that helps people check the possibility of infection with coronavirus, classified from F0 to F5. Covid-19 Check builds up a network of interpersonal contacts within 14 days through data crowdsourcing from individuals. The contact network is formed and updated daily. If any user of the network is at risk of coming into contact with an infected person, the system will send an alert. Elsa Speak app: learn English at home for free Elsa Speak, the startup founded by a Vietnamese woman Van Dinh Hong Vu which successfully called for $12 million worth of capital, has announced free tuition for Elsa Pro package for all students from the first to 12th grades nationwide. The program will last until June 30. To participate in the program, parents and students need to download Elsa Speak for free from App Store or Google Play, send email to care@elsanow.io with the subject hoc tai nha mua Corona (learning at home in coronavirus time) to receive the activation codes for Elsa Pro. FastWork: free mobile timekeeping solution In February, FastWork, the provider of business administration and management SaaS (software as a service), announced it is giving mobile timekeeping software for free. The program lasts from February 10 to the time when the government announces the containment of the epidemic. Workers in the office check in by taking selfies to report the venues and time they begin working. The data will be sent to managers in accordance with real time. AI-based face recognition technology will automatically identify the names of workers. Vietnam Remote Workforce To support businesses to apply work-from-home, Hung Dinh, the founder of DesignBold, and a group of startups have set up the Vietnam Remote Workforce group. This group shared knowledge, experience, and tools to help businesses apply working at home effectively. Kim Chi Text in which the author defends ideas and reaches conclusions based on his / her interpretation of facts and data It took the world three months to reach 100,000 confirmed cases of infection. The next 100,000 happened in just 12 days. The third took four days. The fourth, just one and a half. Those were the words of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization, in his recent warning to a group of world leaders. In the days following this meeting, the United States Congress managed to overcome its now customary inaction and approved the largest economic stimulus package in history. More than $2 trillion will go to individuals, state and local governments, and private companies to alleviate the economic devastation caused by the extreme measures that will be necessary to combat the pandemic. How much is $2 trillion? Antony Bugg-Levine, the CEO of NFF, a financial NGO, explains it this way: If you add a dollar bill every second for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, then in approximately two weeks you will have a million dollars. Reaching $1 billion will take 40 years and reaching $2 trillion would take 80,000 years. The world must strive to act locally at the smallest possible scale and multilaterally at the most global level possible The magnitude of this economic initiative is astonishing. But even more surprising is that this unprecedented avalanche of cash wont be enough to save the US economy from a recession. Most experts are still anticipating a deep economic downturn in the US this year. This recession will cause record layoffs, corporate bankruptcies, as well as massive evictions for both private homes and commercial properties when residents and businesses cant make rent or mortgage payments. Why are the experts so pessimistic? In large part because of the inevitable lags and problems in distributing the stimulus money, an effort that will, of course, be compounded by the continuing human catastrophe caused by the spreading virus. As long as there is no vaccine or treatment for COVID-19, the economy will remain weak. In addition, for many of the most needy, financial relief may come too late. The fear is that a large number of small- and medium-sized companies will be forced out of business before financial aid arrives. Meanwhile, the consumers who would have kept those businesses running are now lining up to collect unemployment insurance. To get an idea of the magnitude and speed of the crisis it is worth noting that three weeks ago, 200,000 workers applied for these benefits in the US. Last week the number was 3,300,000, or 16 times more than the week before. By comparison, the previous record had been in 1982 when 650,000 workers applied for unemployment insurance. The fear is that a large number of small- and medium-sized companies will be forced out of business before financial aid arrives The American economy is not the only one thats in trouble. China, for example, is experiencing the second most severe economic contraction since the 1970s. Its economy is highly dependent on its exports to the rest of the world, and that demand has fallen dramatically. A large number of countries are already, or will soon be, facing unprecedented economic crises. Emerging markets, which were already going through difficult economic times before Covid-19 made its appearance, are now facing even tougher challenges. The fight against the coronavirus is going to be enormously expensive and will produce unprecedented increases in public spending and debt levels. This impact will be even worse in countries with large populations, precarious economies, and weak healthcare systems, which means that nations such as India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Brazil, South Africa, Bangladesh and Mexico can expect to be particularly hard hit. This is why a pandemic that requires action at the local level such as stay home orders and social distancing also calls for urgent international coordination. Countries must coordinate their financial, monetary and trade policies. They should also eliminate barriers to the transfer of medicines, medical materials and hospital equipment, among others. In other words, the world must strive to act locally at the smallest possible scale and multilaterally at the most global level possible. We know we can do it because the world has done it before. In the midst of the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009, the Group of Twenty (G20) took a leading role. Founded in 1999, it had had little relevance until then. Its rotating leader at the time, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and other members decided to make the G20 the coordinating power of the global recovery. And even though mistakes were certainly made in their response to the financial crisis, G20 coordination made the damage much less severe. In our current crisis, individual isolation saves lives. But, between countries, isolation will make the costs both human and economic much higher. We should remember that in this unprecedented pandemic there are still some historical precedents that we can follow. Lets continue on Twitter @moisesnaim As the measures to keep the novel coronavirus at bay become more and more stringent, mental health experts are warning that isolation and the loss of social connections have taken a toll on the psychological wellbeing of people. (Photo : Pixabay) The World Health Organization (WHO) has continuously expressed to the public that maintaining social or physical distancing as well as home quarantine are some of the steps to avoid spreading the virus. However, as the measures to keep the virus at bay become more stringent, mental health experts are warning that isolation and the loss of social connections have taken a toll on the psychological wellbeing of people. People of all ages can contract COVID-19; however, the WHO identified elderly people and those with pre-existing medical conditions to be especially vulnerable to the novel coronavirus and more prone to being severely ill with it. In a study report, it was established that social isolation and loneliness in the elderly are public health risks that significantly affect a large portion of the older adult population. A rapid review of the psychological impact of social distancing published in The Lancet has revealed that a large number of individuals on quarantine have experienced short-term and long-term effects on their mental health. Twenty-four (24) studies were included in the review. These researches have revealed that social isolation has significant negative psychological effects. Some of these negative impacts include confusion, anger, and the exhibition of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Some stressors identified were the long duration of isolation and quarantine, fears of infection, boredom, inadequate supplies and information, stigma, and financial loss, among others. Nonetheless, the potential epidemiological benefits of compulsory mass quarantine need to be considered carefully against the possible costs and toll it may take on a person's psychological wellbeing. In G James Rubin and Simon Wessely's review entitled, "The Psychological Effects of Quarantining a Aity", the authors expressed that in weighing the benefits of mandatory mass quarantine versus its psychological costs is a judgment that should not be taken lightly. They particularly noted what is happening in Wuhan. A study published in 2008 illustrated the toll of the 2003 SARS outbreak to 549 hospital employees in Beijing, China. The study aimed to examine symptoms of alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence among the employees. The 2003 SARS outbreak has resulted in a significant effect on the psychological wellbeing of the employees. Their current alcohol abuse or dependence was positively associated with working in high-risk locations and being quarantined during the outbreak. The elderly who are more at risk of getting severely ill from the virus would be more vulnerable to the psychological impact of social isolation. Generally, however, loneliness, isolation, and chronic stress can also affect the overall health and wellbeing of a person across all age groups. Social isolation is also associated with an increased risk for early mortality. The rapid review also provided possible solutions or recommendations to mitigate the burden and mental toll of quarantine and social isolation. These include quarantining individuals only for a duration that is deemed necessary and not longer than what is required; officials should also provide clear and sufficient information about protocols and explain the rationale of the quarantine; and ensuring adequate support and supplies, as well as a clear explanation on the benefits of the quarantine can be extremely advantageous to the general public. Wikimedia Commons Washington/Sputnik/UNI/IBNS: China's GDP growth is expected to decline to 2.3 per cent in the baseline scenario in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the World Bank said in a report. "In a rapidly changing environment, making precise growth projections is unusually difficult. Therefore, the report presents both a baseline and a lower case scenario. Growth in the developing EAP region is projected to slow to 2.1 percent in the baseline and to negative 0.5 in the lower case scenario in 2020, from an estimated 5.8 percent in 2019," it said. "Growth in China is projected to decline to 2.3 percent in the baseline and 0.1 percent in the lower case scenario in 2020, from 6.1 percent in 2019. Containment of the pandemic would allow for a sustained recovery in the region, although risks to the outlook from financial market stress would remain high," the bank said. The COVID-19, which broke out in China, has now spread across the globe. Law suit filed: American lawyer Larry Klayman and his advocacy group Freedom Watch has recently filed $20 Trillion lawsuit against Chinese authorities in the US over the Coronavirus outbreak which has hit nearly all the nations across the globe. "Today Larry Klayman, the founder of both Judicial Watch and now Freedom Watch and a former federal prosecutor, announced the filing of a class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas (20-cv-656) for damage caused by China with the release of the COVID-19 virus from a biological weapons facility in Wuhan China," Freedom Watch said in a statement recently. "Klayman and his Freedom Watch did not file suit for political reasons, but rather to have a jury award damages to the victims of China's release of the COVID-19 virus, which has already killed many Americans, exposed huge numbers of others to death and harm, caused extreme emotional distress to loved ones and friends, and is on the verge of causing a near total stock market and economic collapse," it said. "Klayman and his clients, which include those severely harmed by the release of the virus are seeking to do what our government will not: namely make Chinese government pay for the massive damage. Klayman had this to say upon filing suit," it said. The virus outbreak, which is believed to have originated from China's Wuhan province, has also put a question mark on the future of the economic outlook of the world. Chinese government silencing critics: While China tries to combat COVID 19 and the backlash from the world for creating the virus, challenges are coming up from within its soil now as several journalists are fighting against the communist regime desperately attempting to silence its critics. Chinas journalists say it all started with the death of Dr Li Wenliang a whistleblower whose attempt to warn the country about the coronavirus outbreak was silenced by the government, reported The Independent. After contracting the disease, he passed away on Feb 6. The death of the doctor triggered a major outrage in China and in the social media platforms when citizens even initiated a short-lived online campaign demanding freedom of speech. Relevant posts were deleted by the Chinese government within hours, but the incident further strengthened citizens determination to preserve the truth of the coronavirus outbreak, reported the British newspaper. Li Wenliang was a normal guy with a good conscience and people see themselves in him, Yaqiu Wang, China researcher at Human Rights Watch, told The Independent. His death illustrates that anyone could die in this system of deception, suppression and zero accountability," he told the newspaper. According to reports, several independent journalists at that point even tried to reveal the real picture in Wuhan region. Chen Qiushi, Fang Bin and Li Zehua were briefly popular after uploading rare video footage from Wuhan to Youtube and Twitter. However, all three were soon forced into disappearance by the government in February and have not been seen in public since, reported The Independent. The government doesnt want Chinese citizens to have access to information that contradicts the official narrative, so they always try to silence whistleblowers by taking them out of the picture, Chen told The Independent. Supplying faulty kits worldwide: Joining nations like Spain and the Czech Republic, the Netherlands has now recalled hundreds of thousands of face masks they had imported from China after they were found to be defective, media reports said. Dutch authorities received 1.3 million face masks from China on March 21 and distributed some of them to health care providers battling against the spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, reported Euro News. But the health ministry "received a signal that, upon inspection, the quality of this shipment did not meet the required standards," it said in a statement sent to Euronews. "A second test also proved that the face masks did not meet the required quality standards. It has now been decided to stop the use of this entire shipment," read the statement. Bharti Enterprises has committed over Rs 100 crore to support India's fight against COVID-19, the company said in a statement on Tuesday New Delhi: Bharti Enterprises has committed over Rs 100 crore to support India's fight against COVID-19, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. A large portion of the corpus will be immediately contributed to the PM CARES Fund. The balance amount is being directed towards sourcing of masks and other key equipment for the doctors, healthcare workers and essential services personnel who are at the forefront of the battle, the statement said, adding that over a million N-95 masks are being procured and will be made available on an immediate basis. "Bharti Enterprises and its companies Bharti Airtel, Bharti Infratel and others are contributing a sum of over Rs 100 crore for India's fight against COVID-19," the statement said. Pointing to the "extremely challenging times" and "biggest healthcare crisis of modern era in the form of COVID-19 epidemic", the company said that the immediate priority is to collectively support the efforts of the government to mitigate the impact of this crisis. In addition to the Rs 100 crore committed by Bharti Enterprises, the employees of the company are also making personal voluntary contributions towards the cause through a platform created by the company. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak "Bharti companies will match the amount contributed by their employees, and the same will be contributed towards the COVID-19 initiatives," it said. Airtel's network teams continue to work 24X7 to ensure that India's digital backbone continues to operate seamlessly and people stay connected with their loved ones and are able to work from home at this hour of global crisis, it added. Corporate India has been rushing in to help the government and citizens fight the coronavirus pandemic in India. On Monday, Reliance Industries announced Rs 500 crore contribution to PM CARES Fund. Tata Trusts and Tata group together have pledged Rs 1,500 crore - by far the highest by any corporate. While Paytm will contribute Rs 500 crore to PM's Fund, L&T and NMDC have contributed Rs 150 crore each. Firms or philanthropy arms of billionaires Gautam Adani, Anil Agarwal and Sajjan Jindal have each contributed Rs 100 crore. An equal amount has been committed by HUL, PhonePe and Bajaj Group. ITC has pledged Rs 50 crore. Torrent Group will contribute Rs 50 crore towards PM CARES Funds and an equivalent amount for other initiatives such as providing medicines to government hospitals. Private sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank and its Managing Director Uday Kotak announced a Rs 60-crore donation. Asian Paints has chipped in Rs 35 crore, TVS Motors Rs 25 crore and LNJ Bhilwara Group Rs 5.51 crore. IIFL has committed Rs 5 crore. Australia's biggest border security blunder is still spreading coronavirus weeks after hundreds of infected passengers were let off the Ruby Princess. Eight people, at minimum, have caught the deadly virus from at least 409 sick travellers who disembarked in Sydney Harbour with no health checks on March 19. Five of the cruise ship's passengers have since died, including both of Tasmania's fatalities and one each in NSW, Queensland and ACT, with others fighting for life. The true number of infected cruise ship passengers is likely far higher as health authorities have been unable to trace everyone on board. Australia's biggest border security blunder is still spreading coronavirus weeks after hundreds of infected passengers (pictured) were let off the Ruby Princess in Sydney Harbour NSW Health said all 2,647 passengers were contacted, but its criteria for a successful contact is only that the email it sent didn't bounce. New cases are discovered every day and several states have failed to provide updated figures since last week. Passengers who later tested positive said they were not told that dozens of guests suffering from flu-like symptoms were tested on board. Instead, they found out from news reports days later they could have been exposed to coronavirus and rushed to get tested. Ruby Princess debacle cases and deaths New South Wales: 211 Victoria: 18 Queensland: 70 Western Australia: 11* South Australia: 68 Australian Capital Territory: 21 Tasmania: 3* Northern Territory: 2 Secondary cases: 8 TOTAL CASES: 412 DEAD: 5 Advertisement Crew also didn't tell guests about the worsening situation on land, so they freely mingled with each other unaware of the dangers, allowing the virus to infect up to 20 per cent of them. Many got on flights, trains, and buses home and went about their lives with no idea they could be infecting thousands of people. Reports have since emerged that the ship logged 158 illnesses on board before it arrived in Sydney. Border Force and NSW Health blamed each other for the debacle in letting the passengers off the ship without being checked or told to self-isolate. Ruby Princess docked at Circular Quay just a day after Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared no cruise ships would be allowed in Australia for 30 days. The total number of infected - and still alive - is 412 and NSW has the most cases with 211 passengers and six of their family members testing positive as of Tuesday. The ACT has 21 cases, plus two people they passed it on to, Queensland has 70, Victoria has 18, and the Northern Territory two in latest figures given to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday. A staggering 68 of South Australia's 305 coronavirus cases - 22.3 per cent of the state total - were Ruby Princess passengers. Karla Lake (pictured with husband Graeme) died in a Queensland hospital on Sunday after contracting coronavirus on the virus-stricken Ruby Princess cruise ship The cruise liner had been considered 'low risk' after a short cruise from Australia to New Zealand Western Australia 11, and Tasmania three, but neither of those states have updated their figures since Friday. Karla Lake is the only one of the four deceased passengers identified so far, dying in Caboolture Hospital on Sunday morning. She was celebrating her 75th birthday with her husband Graeme, who also contracted the virus on board. 'Just to watch your partner pass away, the noise, the breathing and that, for 12 hours,' he told Seven News. 'None of us believed there was any sickness on that ship whatsoever. All they wanted to do is get us off that ship.' Sydney couple Michael Dobrin, an 82-year-old Holocaust survivor, and his wife Rona, 75, said the Princess Cruises told them nothing about the risk of exposure. Michael Dobrin, an 82-year-old Holocaust survivor, and his wife Rona, 75, caught coronavirus on the Ruby Princess and claim the cruise ship kept them in the dark about guests who had symptoms on board Elisa McCafferty and her husband left the Ruby Princess and claimed they weren't told that anyone on board was showing symptoms of the virus until they landed at Heathrow 'They didn't tell us a thing, nothing. A note under the door would have been enough,' Ms Dobrin told Daily Mail Australia. 'We would have isolated ourselves in the cabin if we'd known. We're not spring chickens, we're high risk.' Ms Dobrin said the couple had coughs the day before the ship docked, but didn't think to get tested until they heard about other cases on the news. 'We've been on many cruises and one of us always gets a cold so we thought it was just that until we heard,' she said. 'People have been let off the ship, with no testing, flying all over the place without knowing they might have it.' Ms Dobrin said the crew didn't tell passengers coronavirus was becoming a pandemic and they needed to practice social distancing. Elisa McCafferty and her husband left the Ruby Princess and claimed they weren't told that anyone on board was showing symptoms of the virus until they landed at Heathrow. Greg Butler, 56, was fighting for life in Tamworth Base Hospital's ICU after he and his fiancee Robin Russ got off the ship without any idea they could be infected Because they were given no warning about the potential of having caught the virus on the ship, Mr Butler and Ms Russ caught the light rail from Circular Quay to Central Station, then a train to the Central Coast, before driving to Tamworth The couple said they were both feeling 'listless', finding it hard to focus, have no smell or taste, and she had a chesty cough. 'I was just absolutely petrified. We had just been on two full flights - what if we had infected someone?' she told the BBC. Greg Butler, 56, was fighting for life in Tamworth Base Hospital's ICU after he and his fiancee Robin Russ got off the ship without any idea they could be infected. The unknowing couple then travelled for six hours across about 430km on public transport to their hometown of Tamworth, in northeast NSW. 'We just can't understand how they let us do that, and now we're getting the blame for it,' Ms Russ told Daily Mail Australia. Mr Butler earlier wrote on Facebook: 'We weren't even looked at by anyone when we left the ship and were allowed to travel on public transport.' In addition to the unwitting passengers, others deliberately ignored orders to self-isolate after they were contacted by health authorities. British woman Coral Guise-Smith, 65, simply continued her holiday and flew from Sydney to London and on to her home in Spain. She told friends on Facebook that she was exhibiting classic coronavirus symptoms, but had not at the time been tested. It is unknown is she contracted COVID-19. Coral Guise-Smith (right) spent 12 days aboard the coronavirus-infected Ruby Princess cruise ship from March 8 until March 19 before flying to London and on to Spain on March 22. (She is pictured with a friend on board the vessel shortly before it made its final stop in Sydney) In a shocking audio clip played on the Kyle and Jackie O Show, a Ruby Princess crew member was heard allegedly telling passengers they could 'walk off and go home', without the need to self-isolate. 'In conference with the Australian Border Force today, we have the confirmation that none of our guests will be required to self-isolate or anything of that sort,' they are claimed to have said. 'We have a full, clean bill of health, so to speak. Whether you're international or going back home in Australia, you will walk off and go home.' The passengers are heard cheering on the recording, claimed to have been made hours before the ship docked in Sydney. 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 Emails later emerged revealing authorities were aware of 'inadequate' coronavirus screening measures at Australian ports before the outbreak was declared a pandemic. An email from the Maritime Union of Australia to PANSW, obtained by The Australian, reveal officials raised concerns about a 'gaping hole' in biosecurity. This was due to 'failure to implement adequate checks for coronavirus infections on vessels arriving at Australian ports.' The documents also raised concerns over how ship masters - who are not medically trained - are authorised to 'self-declare' any biosecurity risks. 'Undoubtedly, there is a global concern regarding the potential spread of this deadly virus,' Maritime Union of Australia assistant secretary Paul Garrett told PANSW chief executive Philip Holliday in an email. 'Any accurate diagnosis of a virus like the coronavirus is left to medically untrained seafarers as well as ships masters who simply would not be familiar with the symptoms and diagnosis of coronavirus as part of their Medical First Aid on board Ship Certificate.' NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian claimed Border Force was responsible for the disaster. She reportedly told a party-room meeting of Liberals that Border Force ultimately made the decision to allow the passengers ashore. 'She said it wasn't our failing - it was the feds,' an MP at the meeting was quoted to say by The Australian. Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram blamed NSW Health for the debacle, claiming his officers were only responsible for checking passengers' visas and making sure no contraband entered Australia Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram blamed NSW Health for the debacle, claiming his officers were only responsible for checking passengers' visas and making sure no contraband entered Australia. Mr Outram said NSW Health decided, after consulting with the ship's doctor, that the vessel did not require an on-board inspection. This was despite the fact that 13 passengers had flu-like symptoms and had tested negative for viral flu while on the ship. 'New South Wales Health stated to the Ruby Princess, 'You are free to disembark tomorrow',' Mr Outram said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison played down the federal government's responsibility for the Ruby Princess mistakes when he addressed Parliament. 'The chief health officer of NSW said this was a low risk,' he said. 'I note that NSW Health has stated that it undertook a full assessment of the Ruby Princess and allowed the passengers to disembark.' Vita Molyneux | Newshub Stoners are being told to ease up on the weed over the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, with scientists saying the health risks are significant. Dr Marta Rychert, a senior research officer at Massey University's SHORE and Whariki Research Centre, said in a statement people who use cannabis recreationally need to be careful, with usual practices presenting a serious risk during the pandemic. "[They] need to pay attention to the hygienic practices they normally may not think about," she said. "This is because sharing of cannabis joints, bongs or vapes, also creates risks for COVID-19 transmission." Buying drugs also presents a significant health risk, says SHORE and Whariki associate professor Chris Wilkins. "One drug dealer may have face-to-face contact with many buyers involving exchanges of cash and drugs that have the potential to transmit the disease," he said on Tuesday. "We are in the harvest months for cannabis and growers may seek to travel to crops and also sell cannabis to many customers, with potential for transmission." The NZ Drug Foundation has advised heavy drug users to use the lockdown period as a chance to take a break but has warned people to stay wary of the signs of withdrawal which can range from disorientation to trouble sleeping. Dr Rychert also said "people who self-medicate with cannabis are the most vulnerable in the terms of COVID-19." "They are older than recreational users and often suffer from multiple health problems." Newshub. A Chinese team of medical experts with experience in fighting covid-19 held lately a video-conference with their Moroccan peers on coronavirus pandemic control, prevention and treatment. During the teleconference meeting, organized by the Chinese Embassy in Rabat, medical and epidemiological experts from Guizhou (Southwest China) answered questions from their Moroccan peers and shared their experience on the best ways to contain the virus, diagnosis, testing solutions and clinical treatment of Covid-19-patients. They also discussed hygiene, precaution measures and the protection of doctors, nurses and all health workers who are on the frontline of the fight against the pandemic. In Morocco, the novel coronavirus has so far killed 33 people, infected 574 while 15 others recovered. Globally, Covid-19 has sickened more than 802,630 people and claimed over 39,000 lives. YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... The hospital ship USNS Comfort, carrying more than 1,100 medical personnel, arrived in New York Harbor on Monday morning to support the nation's fight against the coronavirus. President Donald Trump attended a sendoff ceremony for the Comfort at its homeport of Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday. "After being rushed out of maintenance with historic speed it was supposed to be here for four weeks and they did it in four days the Comfort will arrive at Pier 90 in Manhattan on Monday, three weeks ahead of schedule. Its crew will begin treating patients on Tuesday," Trump said, according to remarks released by the White House. The Comfort, equipped with 1,000 hospital beds and 12 operating rooms, will treat noncoronavirus patients. "By serving these emergency patients away from the hospitals, beds will be opened up all over the city for those who are infected," Trump said. "This ship can handle a lot of people, so it will open capacity all over the city. And it will be ready to address any life-threatening medical emergency. It is stocked. It's stocked to the brim with equipment and medicines and everything you can think of. Importantly, by treating noninfected patients remotely on the ship, it will help to halt, very strongly, the transmission of the virus." Rear Adm. John Mustin, vice commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, said in a statement released by the Navy, "The last time that this great hospital ship was here was in the wake of 9-11, where she served as respite and comfort for our first responders working around the clock. Our message to New Yorkers now your Navy has returned and we are with you committed in this fight." A second hospital ship, the USNS Mercy, accepted its first patients at the Port of Los Angeles in support of the nation's COVID-19 response efforts Sunday. It arrived at the port Friday. "I couldn't be more proud of our crew for all the hard work they did to get us here and ready in such a short time," said Capt. John Rotruck, the Mercy's commanding officer, in a statement released by the Navy. Story continues The Mercy 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 general surgeries, critical care and ward care for adults. 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 men and women embarked on board Mercy are energized, eager and ready to provide relief to those in need," Rotruck said. See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Research shows that physical and sexual abuse are risk factors for depression in adolescents. However, we know less about the differences between emotional abuse and neglect as critical risk factors in teenage depression. A new longitudinal study examined the depressive effects of these different types of maltreatment among a group of youth at risk of being maltreated. The study found that emotional abuse and neglect affect adolescent depression differently depending on gender and ethnicity. The findings come from researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. They appear in Child Development, a journal of the Society for Research in Child Development. "Emotional abuse and emotional neglect have different impacts on adolescent depression," explains Joseph Cohen, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, one of the study's authors. "Even though both types of maltreatment predict depression, they may predict depression for different reasons. Furthermore, female teenagers may be more sensitive to emotional abuse, while the impact of emotional neglect may differ based on the adolescent's racial or ethnic identity. Understanding how different youth are affected by different parenting behaviors can lead to more personalized, trauma-informed interventions." Researchers used self-reports from 657 youth ages 11 to 14 years from a range of racial and ethnic backgrounds. The youth were part of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, a nationally representative longitudinal study to evaluate the outcomes of children who had Child Protective Services investigations for child abuse or neglect closed during a 15-month period beginning in February 2008 in the United States. The teenagers were initially assessed on emotional maltreatment, relationships with peers (including feelings of loneliness and social dissatisfaction in relationships with other youth), school engagement (the extent to which students participated in the academic and nonacademic activities of school, and felt connected at school), and depression. They were assessed again 18 months and 36 months later. Emotional abuse was defined as parental psychological aggression and emotional neglect was defined as parental noninvolvement. The study found that both psychological aggression and parental noninvolvement were related to depression in the adolescents. Psychological aggression predicted an increase in symptoms of depression through increasing problems associated with peer relationships, especially for girls. The study also found that decreasing school engagement mediated the relation between parental noninvolvement and increasing symptoms of depression, but only for Hispanic adolescents. The study's authors acknowledge limitations to their work: the study assessed teenagers through self-reports, including the assessment of emotional abuse and neglect. They suggest that in the future, researchers should leverage the strengths of a multimethod approach (e.g., parent reports, administrative data) to provide a more comprehensive picture of how different forms of emotional maltreatment may manifest and predict depression. In addition, the 18-month gap between follow-up assessments prevented researchers from detecting fluctuations in symptoms in briefer intervals. "Current clinical services and policies are more focused on abuse than maltreatment," says Shiesha McNeil, a doctoral student in psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who coauthored the study. "By articulating the consequences of emotional neglect for different genders and ethnicities, we can develop better ways to address maltreatment and alleviate depression." More information: Emotional Maltreatment and Adolescent Depression: Mediating Mechanisms and Demographic Considerations in a Child Welfare Sample, Child Development (2020). Journal information: Child Development Emotional Maltreatment and Adolescent Depression: Mediating Mechanisms and Demographic Considerations in a Child Welfare Sample,(2020). DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13366 Prince Harry and Meghan Markles exit from the royal family is about to become official. Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are giving up a lot to leave the monarchy, including some of their HRH titles. With the pair looking to set up a second home in Los Angeles, will Harry be forced to give up his title as the Duke of Sussex? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Chris Jackson/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle move to California Harry and Meghans departure from the monarchy will become official on March 31. At that time, they will no longer use their HRH royal titles and will seek to become financially independent from the crown. As part of their exit plan, Prince Harry and Meghan will be splitting their time between the UK and North America. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been living in Canada for the past few months, but that changed last week when the pair flew to Los Angeles. The couple reportedly traveled to Los Angeles right before the US and Canada closed their borders to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Sources claim that the two are looking to settle down in the area and purchase a home. Meghans mother, Doria Ragland, lives in Los Angeles, which is one reason they decided to make California their final destination. According to Express, an insider claims that business opportunities are another reason they chose Los Angeles. This move was planned for some time. They realized Canada would not work out for various reasons and they want to be based in the Los Angeles area, the insider dished. They have a big support network there. Its where their new team of Hollywood agents and PRs and business managers are based. The real reason Meghan rushed to Los Angeles Meghan and Prince Harrys move to Los Angeles makes sense on multiple levels, but the timing of the move has puzzled some royal watchers. Some fans expected the pair to return to the UK amid the pandemic, especially after Prince Charles tested positive for the coronavirus. Turns out there was a good reason Harry and Meghan flew to Los Angeles instead of going to the UK. Omid Scobie, an expert on the royals, revealed that Meghan wanted to be near her mother as the entire world deals with the pandemic. [Meghan] wouldnt want her mother to be alone in a crisis like this, Scobie shared. NEW: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have moved permanently to Los Angeles https://t.co/LKaCNSExcv The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) March 26, 2020 Scobie added that Meghan and Prince Harry have been planning on buying a home in Los Angeles for months. But instead of waiting for the summer to relocate, Harry and Meghan decided to go now because of the crisis. Meghan and Harry have not said anything about their recent move to Los Angeles. It is unclear if the couple is in the process of buying a home, but they are expected to remain out of the spotlight in the weeks to come. Will the Duke of Sussex have to give up his title? With Harry and Meghan living in the US, there has been some talk about him giving up his title as the Duke of Sussex. If Harry wants to hold dual citizenship, he will be forced to become a resident under the Naturalization Law. Under that requirement, Prince Harry will be asked to forfeit any hereditary title or an order of notability in any foreign country. The US, of course, might make an exception given how Harry is a member of the royal family. Harry will be allowed to apply for a Green Card after living in the US for three years. He has not revealed his plans to become a citizen, so fans will have to wait and see how this one unfolds. At the very least, there is a chance that Harry will be forced to give up his title. Are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle having more children? Now that Harry and Meghan have settled on a new home in Los Angeles, royal watchers have been wondering about their plans to expand their family. According to Cosmopolitan, an inside source claims that the Sussexes want more children and want their family to grow sooner rather than later. Theyll be trying in earnest pretty soon. They just want to get firmly settled into their new surroundings first and give Archie as much attention as they can, the source shared. Baby No. 2 on pause? https://t.co/96tJQXXX4w Us Weekly (@usweekly) March 28, 2020 The insider added that Prince Harry and Meghan are enjoying the time they have with Archie Harrison, especially now that they are out of the royal spotlight. Although they want to give Archie a sibling, they do not want to put too much pressure on the situation. Considering everything that is going on in the world, it will probably be a long time before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce a second pregnancy. But another royal birth would definitely brighten things up for fans around the world. Courtesy of NETFLIX The Netflix docuseries "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness" has become a popular distraction for millions nationwide as many are forced to stay home during the cornoavirus pandemic, and there is a local tie. One of the show's subjects Carole Baskin was born in San Antonio. Baskin, who has a big social media following for her "cool cats and kittens," is an animal rights activist and the founder of Big Cat Rescue, an animal sanctuary in Florida. The show centers on her feud with Joseph Schreibvogel Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, who used to own a private zoo of exotic animals in Wynnewood, Oklahoma as well as others around the country. Being an animal rights activist, Baskin didn't agree with Joe Exotic's practices. Applications have been invited from the UAEs research entities to propose scientific or technology-driven projects in the fields of Human Health or Earth & Space Science to be conducted by astronauts on the International Space Station. This was announced by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). The objective of the initiative is to provide research entities in the UAE the opportunity to further humanitys knowledge and support future space missions by conducting research that tackles challenges faced in the region that would eventually prepare for human exploration of the solar system beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). We are excited to open the doors of our growing space sector to the scientific community in the UAE and look forward to receiving proposals that will extend humankinds reach into space. This is an amazing opportunity for the scientific community to contribute to space research while gaining invaluable skills that will serve them well through the years, said Yousuf Hamad AlShaibani, Director General, MBRSC. Earth & Space Science projects on the ISS mainly focus on testing technologies and materials that will be vital for long-duration exploration missions, or collecting Earth & space science related data from an altitude of ~400 km to provide comprehensive information when compared with data from Earth satellites or ground-based observatories. Whereas, human health research done on the space station focuses on improving astronaut health and performance, development of countermeasures, as well as the development and validation of new technologies to meet the needs of future exploration missions, and to enable safe and productive human space exploration. We are proud to invite the brightest minds of the UAE to partake in the nations space exploration journey. The innovative and future-focused programme will create a new paradigm in building capabilities for the UAE in space science and technology, and will be a source of inspiration for future generation of scientists, said Salem AlMarri, Head of the UAE Astronaut Programme, MBRSC. The invitation for proposals is open only to research entities in the UAE. Interested researchers may contact [email protected] , latest by April 9, 2020, for more information on the submission process. The UAE Astronaut Programme is one of the projects managed by the UAE's National Space Programme and funded by the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). -- Tradearabia News Service As Iran continues to battle the spread of the novel coronavirus, government officials are warning about the toll sanctions are taking and asking other countries to either ignore US sanctions or work with Iran to help combat the virus. Leading the way on the campaign to demonstrate the effects of US sanctions on Iran has been Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. In his latest Telegram post March 30, Zarif wrote, These days the world is combatting a common challenge. In order for the world to return to life as previously, we must believe that the entire planet is a battlefield and anywhere we fail the whole world fails. Zarif added, The world is indebted to everyones efforts, whether in Wuhan, Tehran, Milan, Madrid or New York, and every bitter news and every horrific image of the death of people demands the mourning of the whole world. On the impact of sanctions, Zarif said, Iran is the only country in the world that does not have access to all of its resources in order to protect its citizens [and] cannot buy equipment and medical supplies easily. The combination of sanctions and the coronavirus makes it a more dangerous and terrible complication. Sanctions make the coronavirus more resilient and the decisions to manage the crisis more difficult. The world requires a moral will to defy the excessive demands of the United States. We must not allow sanctions and the heeding of sanctions to add more to these war crimes," Zarif said. Last month, the US Treasury Department issued an exemption allowing for trade in humanitarian goods through Irans Central Bank. According to Irans Health Ministry, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases is now 41,495, with 2,757 deaths. In the last 24 hours, there have been 3,186 new cases and 117 deaths. Tehran continues to lead the way in both infections and deaths. Alireza Zaali, head of the Iranian headquarters for combatting the coronavirus, said March 29 half of Tehrans residents have not taken seriously the Health Ministrys warnings about social distancing and staying home. Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki said March 30 they have screened over 61 million people over 51 million of them over the phone. Of the individuals screened, over 218,000 were designated for follow-ups and 93,000 of those individuals received in-home treatment. Over 16,000 were hospitalized, and over 5,000 have remained in the hospital. Spokesman for the Hassan Rouhani administration Ali Rabiei also addressed the governments response to the coronavirus and warned the country would be dealing with the outbreak for some time. Rabiei also said they currently have 13,000 extra hospital beds in the country, mostly through the help of the armed forces. The Americans have claimed that sanctions do not affect our access to medicine. This claim is baseless. Because of US sanctions, we cannot conduct banking transactions. In order to purchase medicine and equipment, we cannot conduct banking transactions even with our own money," said Rabiei when asked about US sanctions. European Union flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Photo by Reuters/Yves Herman. The European Council has approved the signing of a free trade agreement between the E.U. and Vietnam. This is the final step for the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to be effective, it said in a statement on Monday. Vietnams National Assembly is expected to ratify the deal this summer, after which it would come into force. Croatias Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman said: "This agreement is the most ambitious free trade agreement ever concluded with a developing country." Under the deal, which took eight years to negotiate, Vietnam will eliminate 99 percent of its import duties over 10 years and the E.U. will do the same over seven years. The E.U. Parliament in February voted in favor of the trade deal, the second with a Southeast Asian country after Singapore, and one of the few with a developing country. The E.U. was Vietnams second largest export market last year behind the U.S. with a value of $41.48 billion. Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County. Bernie Sanders campaigning in February for South Carolina votes he did not win. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images) Joe Bidens resurgence has been swift and unstoppable. From the cusp of irrelevance, he rocketed to the status of presumptive nominee as Super Tuesday I and II unfolded. His historic reversal of fortune was made easier by other candidates folding up their tents and lining up behind him. What was supposed to be a hard-fought battle with Bernie Sanders through the spring is looking like a rout. Biden has black people to thank for the miracle. The outcome looks inevitable now, but the South Carolina primary, on Feb. 29, will be remembered as the point at which a fractured party first came to its senses about who could garner enough votes to beat Trump and stop the nations slide toward political Armageddon. Just as in the civil rights movement, black people are the moral vanguard, clarifying our national purpose at a key moment and breaking a paralysis of consensus. The South Carolina message was clear: The racist must go. We must beat Trump, and well beat him with Biden. Biden was the loyal sideman to the first black president, Barack Obama, who gave rise to massive white resentment that Trump successfully harnessed in 2016. That alone was more than enough reason for many black voters to give Biden the go-ahead in South Carolina. What has happened next, Bidens much-analyzed momentum, is the domino effect of black voters certainty. This may all work out just fine as far as ending Trumps reign, a goal that the coronavirus pandemic only makes more urgent. And yet the black certainty that will have saved us in the short term is a problem in the long term. Black folk are too certain. We vote pragmatically. We vote not for the candidate who will do us the most good but for the one who will do us the least damage. We choose politicians who wont create solutions for our many legitimate crises but who will put the brakes on the worst offenses that already exist. (Trump certainly qualifies as such an offense.) We dont vote ideology because we usually cant: United States history has been so hostile to black interests and racial equality that there usually aren't mainstream candidates who truly represent the way we think, what we believe. Politically, black people have to be on the defensive voting for what someone isnt, not for what he or she is. Story continues Voting defensively is not always a waste; in 2020, it has never felt more crucial. But the desperation fueling black defensiveness is obscuring something important. In 2020 we could be choosing ideologically at long last. Bernie Sanders mainstream candidacy, and its socialist-friendly agenda, addresses much of what black people prioritize, from ending mass incarceration to tackling homelessness. His campaign has proved that electoral politics can represent a deeply held belief system: ideology. Sanders unwavering progressivism is also supposed to be his fatal flaw: Hes not practical or realistic. But where has realism gotten us? I think of Martin Luther King Jr.s letter from Birmingham jail in 1963, which he wrote to white liberals his putative civil rights allies who were counseling patience and incremental change in the face of fierce Southern resistance. King was having none of it. For him, dramatic change was practical , demanding it was the only choice if segregation were to be defeated. Call that unrealistic and revolutionary, but it was utterly necessary. In the decades since Kings death, many black people have lost touch with the necessity of idealism and imagination. They have forgotten that those are the only things that ever worked for us. After South Carolina, the black vote secured by the Voting Rights Act, one decidedly revolutionary thing King forced into law was tracked from state to state, almost fetishized. The scrutiny was all about the horserace and how black folks might get Democrats across the finish line in November. Beyond the Obama connection, no one talked about Biden as a supporter of black voters interests. No one mentioned the former senators troubling record on school busing (not even Kamala Harris, who famously took him to task on the debate stage last year, but who endorses him now) or how he cleared the way for Clarence Thomas retrograde hijacking of Thurgood Marshalls seat on the Supreme Court, or how he embraced the Clintonian approach of talking empathetically about race and equality but tacking right in order to compete effectively with the white majority Republican Party. That strategy worked, but with black people as the biggest losers. As for Sanders, the tenets of racial equality are baked into his agenda. He has weathered criticism from black people that, like most white progressives, he emphasizes economic problems over racial ones. But his ideology is worth our consideration. Another complaint is that he isnt a Democrat, but thats the point in order to maintain his agenda, he cant be. I heard a black man in a grocery store line loudly decrying Sanders socialism; I couldnt help responding that government policies for and about the common good socialism have been the only thing thats come close to helping black people on the scale we deserve to be helped. I am not officially endorsing Sanders, a position that is almost moot. I am saying that black voters have the rare opportunity to consider the change his candidacy has offered and how that change could finally make the Democratic Party accountable to them, its most reliable and potent bloc. But Democrats won't be held accountable again because the overwhelming fear of a Trumpian future, intensified by the way COVID-19 painfully lays bare our crisis of national leadership, is making pragmatists of us all. For black voters, pragmatism is familiar, a default position. But it should never be mistaken for all of who we are, or what we want. Erin Aubry Kaplan is a contributing writer to Opinion. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 18:58:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday urged White House trade adviser Peter Navarro to stop defaming China on COVID-19 and undermining the bilateral relations. In a recent interview, Navarro, director of the White House Office of Trade & Manufacturing Policy, blamed China for setting the world back six weeks because it did not tell others that there was a crisis of human-to-human transmission with a new novel coronavirus promptly. "The American politician's remarks are not worth refuting, " China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a routine press briefing. "I noticed that even the journalist who was interviewing him at the time interrupted him to point out that it was just a waste of time." Hua said that China has always been open, transparent and responsible on informing the World Health Organization (WHO) and the international community of the situation, including sharing the virus gene sequence in a timely manner since the outbreak of COVID-19. China has also been actively engaged in international cooperation to fight against the virus, said Hua, noting that the country has responded to concerns of various parties actively and provided assistance to some countries. "The great sacrifices made by the Chinese people have bought precious time for the global fight against the virus," said the spokesperson. She pointed out that China has been regularly informing the WHO and countries, including the United States, of the COVID-19 situation since early January. "What is the purpose of the American politician? All he wants is to muddle the waters, put the blame on others, undermine the China-U.S. anti-epidemic cooperation, as well as the global collaboration in this respect," said Hua. "Anyone with a sense of right and wrong and a sense of justice would not fall for his tricks, " added the spokesperson. Navarro should learn more about the spirit of the phone call between the heads of state of China and the United States last week, Hua said. She urged the White House trade adviser to do something that is in the interests of the Chinese and American people, instead of defaming China and undermining the bilateral relations. Justice Minister Naomi Long has said she had "no alternative" but to temporarily release up to 200 prisoners in response to the coronavirus pandemic. However, prisoners serving a life sentence, detained under the mental health act, those serving a sentence for a terrorist offence and those deemed a risk are among those who will not be eligible for release under the scheme. Mrs Long said she anticipates the release of fewer than 200 individuals and each will be assessed against certain criteria. The charity Victim Support NI said many victims will feel "devastated" by the decision. Last week the Department of Justice said 163 prison officers out of a 1,200-strong workforce are self-isolating due to Covid-19. There are currently 1,521 prisoners in Northern Ireland. The Alliance Party leader described the release of prisoners as a "significant one which should only be taken when there is no alternative". The UUP's justice spokesperson Doug Beattie said Mrs Long has the support of his party in taking the action, while Amnesty International added that the decision is in the best interests of both prisoners and prison officers. There is yet to be a confirmed case of coronavirus in Northern Ireland's prisons, but Mrs Long said that, in anticipation of that moment and strained staffing levels, she now "considers it necessary to release some prisoners early". "Such a move is contrary to the ethos of the justice system and will cause distress to victims and their families," she continued. "However, in the context of the pandemic we are facing, and to ensure as far as possible the safety and wellbeing of staff and those in our care, it is, I believe, an appropriate and reasonable step. "These individuals will be subject to a number of Northern Ireland Prison Service applied conditions including a curfew, a requirement to follow all Public Health Agency guidance during the current emergency period, a ban on victim contact, an alcohol ban and a ban on having any engagement with the media." She added that prisoners released under Rule 27 can be recalled at any stage, whether their conditions have been broken or not. Victim Support NI said it recognised that prisons are "high risk environments" and that there is a duty of care to prisoners and staff but expressed concern for victims. "They may be angry that prisoners serving sentences they already felt to be too short given the nature of the crime will now be free before completing their sentence," the charity said in a statement. Meanwhile, Mr Beattie, an Upper Bann MLA, said that "some questions will arise" over how conditions can be enforced, such as the alcohol ban as prisoners will be confined to their homes, but stated they can be answered "when the time comes". Amnesty International UK's NI programme director, Patrick Corrigan, added that the Justice Minister should also consider the temporary release of older prisoners and those with an underlying health condition. He also said those who remain in detention must be provided with a standard of care that meets each prisoner's needs. Seventeen people from Himachal Pradesh attended the congregation organised by the Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi's Nizamuddin earlier this month, a state police spokesperson said on Tuesday. The statement came after the Telangana government said on Monday that six people who attended the religious congregation between March 13 and 15 died due to coronavirus. Subsequently, the authorities across the country swung into action to trace the contacts of those who went to the gathering, attended by hundreds of people, including from Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. Those who attended the congregation from the state included 14 from Chamba district, two from Sirmaur and one from Kullu district, SP (Law and Order) Khushal Sharma said. None of them has returned to Himachal Pradesh so far and according information, they have been quarantined in Delhi, he added. The Delhi government on Tuesday said 24 people, who took part in the congregation earlier this month, have tested positive for coronavirus. The Delhi health minister said 700 people who attended this congregation have been quarantined while around 335 people have been admitted to hospitals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. The United States, China and the European Union will provide aid to Armenia for combating the spread of the novel coronavirus, Deputy FM Avet Adonts said at a news conference. The US will provide 1,1 million dollars in aid to Armenia. The EU will provide 140 million euros to 6 Eastern Partnership countries which will be distributed among the countries. From this 140 million, 30 million will be directed for acquiring respective healthcare equipment, 100 million will be directed for supporting SMEs, and 10 million to NGOs for fighting against COVID-19. Recently FM Zohrab Mnatsakanyan received a letter from his Chinese counterpart expressing readiness to provide assistance to Armenia within the limits of their means and possibilities, he said. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan The opening of a site where people experiencing homelessness can recover from COVID-19 is now on hold, partly due to what appears to be a misunderstanding between the City of Toronto and its partner in the project. The facility, located in a converted 200-room hotel in an undisclosed location, was to begin operations Tuesday, but now the city will not say when it will begin operations there. Inner City Health Associates (ICHA), a group of 100 doctors working with the city on the initiative, says the site isn't suitable, and says Tuesday's attempt to open it was the result of "miscommunication" on the part of the city. "It is neither open yet, nor is it designed in any way or funded to be a site for people who are confirmed to be COVID positive for any form of recovery," said Andrew Bond, ICHA's medical director, in an email to CBC News Tuesday. Bond says he made the city aware of his group's concerns "consistently" and reiterated those misgivings on Monday. "The physical building cannot, in our professional opinion, and that of our humanitarian organization advisers, offer sufficiently safe space or with a sufficient staffing model for people who are COVID-19 [positive] for observation and monitoring. This has been articulated clearly and remains the case," he said "I was informed that there was a misunderstanding on the side of the city and that the misunderstanding has been clarified and that they understood the reasoning," he said. Phil Walter/Getty Images Despite that, City of Toronto staff pressed ahead Tuesday afternoon with a news conference unveiling the site. And when CBC News asked for a response to Bond's comments, no direct answer was given. "We do recognize that there are going to be situations where somebody will need to go to hospital. We also recognize that the hospital is going to be under considerable strain," Mary Anne Bedard, the general manager of shelter support for the City of Toronto, responded. Story continues "We want to make sure people who are experiencing homelessness who tested positive, that don't have severe symptoms, have a place to recover from this illness." But Bond says the converted hotel is currently funded and designed to act as a holding facility for those waiting for test results and nothing more. 'Close observation is not possible' "Close observation is not possible within a 13-story, single-room, single bathroom model, that would require an extremely intensive clinical model very similar to a hospital level of resources and staffing," he said. In an email Tuesday evening to CBC, Bedard said the hotel will both provide isolation spaces for those waiting for tests results, as well as for those who have tested positive, to recover if "their health status and support needs are mild enough not to require hospitalization and where no other adequate facility is available." But later, in response to emailed questions from CBC News, she said the centre is not open yet, although "our staff are onsite and ready to receive clients" and ICHA staff have been at the site "since last week." Bedard also said the centre "has been toured by City Occupational Health and Safety staff and [CUPE] Local 79 staff." She added approval by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada is "in the works and we will open as soon as that is in place." She did not give a date for the opening and would only say the site would be operational when "the medical model is in place." Advertisement New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has warned the worst of the coronavirus pandemic it yet to come and predicts the outbreak will stretch into May as the city scrambles to increase hospital capacity to cope with the crisis. The mayor's warning came a day after stark figures showed New York City had experienced one coronavirus death ever 2.9 minutes after the number of deaths increased by 127 over a six-hour stretch on Monday. The death toll in New York City increased to 917 by Monday night with more than 38,000 confirmed cases. Just six hours earlier, figures showed the death toll was at 790 with just over 36,000 cases. In an interview with NBC's Today on Tuesday, de Blasio warned that the trajectory of coronavirus cases in the city and the death toll showed that the worst was still to come. 'We're seeing a sharp upturn over the last days, certainly the last few weeks. We have to look at this pattern and conclude that the worst is certainly in the next few weeks minimum,' he said. 'I could see it going into May in fact with the numbers we're looking at, because we have community spread. That's really the issue.' New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has warned the worst of the coronavirus pandemic it yet to come and predicts the outbreak will stretch into May as the city scrambles to increase hospital capacity to cope with the crisis Officials are now scrambling to provide additional beds to help cope with the influx of coronavirus patients in New York City, according to de Blasio. 'We have about 20,000 hospital beds in all of New York City. That's where we were, say, the beginning of this month. Normal times. We project the potential that all of those beds, all 20,000, will have to be turned into intensive care beds to focus on COVID-19 patients who are really, really sick,' he said. 'We'll require a level of hospital capacity we've never seen for the weeks ahead, let's not kid ourselves, it gets a lot worse before it gets better. 'If testing had come earlier, I asked for testing from the federal government originally on January 24th. If we had gotten it in January, beginning of February, we could have gotten ahead of this. I think there are still states where they can. Getting them testing is crucial.' The USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship with 1,000 beds, 12 operating rooms and a full medical staff, arrived in the city on Monday. It will be used to treat non-coronavirus patients to free up space in city hospitals. Field hospitals have also been set up in Central Park, the Javits Center and even in hotels like the Plaza and St Regis. Makeshift morgues have been put in place at various hospitals across the city as the death toll continues to rise and healthcare workers struggle to keep up with the body count. Harrowing photos from Monday captured health workers using forklifts to load dead bodies onto a refrigerated truck outside a Brooklyn hospital. The last time that New York City deployed a fleet of makeshift morgues outside hospitals was in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Medical staff load bodies to a refrigerated truck outside of Brooklyn Hospital Center on Monday after makeshift morgues were set up at various hospitals across the city as the death toll continues to rise The mayor met with Thomas Von Essen, former Fire Department New York commissioner now at FEMA, Monday to discuss how the federal government can help the medical examiner's office properly store bodies Staff outside Brooklyn's Mount Sinai hospital wearing masks were seen standing with the body on a cherrypicker which had cardboard tied to it as a makeshift screen, while a sheet was slung across the back door of the truck The city's death toll surged to 914 on Monday, with a total of another 253 fatalities in the state in the last 24 hours. The number of cases in the city meanwhile soared to more than 38,000, while the number infected in the state stands at 66,497 (pictured: workers load bodies onto the back of a truck outside Mount Sinai hospital in Brooklyn) Meanwhile, De Blasio continued to warn people about the importance of social distancing and said it was 'unacceptable' that New Yorkers were not adhering to the warnings to help stop community spread of the virus. 'People must practice social distancing. I've authorized our police to start giving out fines - $250, $500 fines to people who don't get it,' de Blasio said. At the moment, New Yorkers are allowed outside and to visit grocery and drug stores but they are being asked not to leave their homes if they can avoid it. Despite this, dozens of people were spotted lining the river and not staying six feet away from each on Monday to watch the USNS Comfort arrive in New York. President Donald Trump has also urged Americans to follow the social distancing guidelines and extended the national restrictions to at least April 30. Total deaths across the United States increased by at least 541 on Monday alone as states raced against time to prepare their hospitals for the pandemic. An analysis by the the University of Washington School of Medicine has predicted that by April 20, the daily increase of deaths will hit 2,000. Deaths per day will drop to below 100 after June 9, according to the predictive analysis. Some people could continue to die of the virus as late as July, although deaths should be below epidemic levels of 10 per day by the first week of July. The analysis also highlights the strain that will be placed on hospitals with the number of hospitalized patients expected to peak nationally by the second week of April - although the peak may come later in some states. If social distancing is adhered to, the number of deaths from coronavirus is predicted to reach about 82,000 over the next four months, across all 50 states. Field hospitals have also been set up in Central Park, the Javits Center and even in hotels like the Plaza and St Regis Beds are lined up in a tent as volunteers from the International Christian relief organization Samaritans Purse set up an Emergency Field Hospital for patients suffering from the coronavirus in Central Park across Fifth Avenue from Mt. Sinai Hospita The USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship with 1,000 beds, 12 operating rooms and a full medical staff, arrived in the city on Monday. Dozens of people were spotted lining the river and not staying six feet away from each on Monday to watch the ship's arrival People continue to congregate at the corner of West 125th Street and Malcom X Boulevard in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood despite of the government warning to stay at least six feet away from each other New York's coronavirus pandemic could peak in 10 days: ER visits start to decrease despite rising death toll - and state cases level off - as experts say the city could soon 'turn the corner' and 'mitigation is working' New York could reach its peak of new coronavirus cases within the next seven to 10 days, experts say, as the number of hospital ER visits starts to decrease and official data raises hopes that the city could soon start 'turning the corner'. New York City saw 138 deaths from the virus on Monday, an increase of 17% on Sunday but well down from Saturday's spike of 222 deaths. There were 4,319 new cases, which is again lower than Saturday's 5,367 new cases, according to official city figures. Across New York state, the official number of new cases has fallen two days in a row. The number of new cases in the state dipped by 19% from Sunday to Monday, falling from 7,157 to 5,818. It was also down from slightly from Saturday to Sunday. The state death toll increased by 253 (26%) to 1,218 fatal cases on Monday. However over the past three days the number of daily deaths has remained almost flat, with an increase of only six deaths per day from Saturday to Monday. On Saturday the state announced 247 new deaths, on Sunday 183 and on Monday 253. Experts say the figures offer a glimmer of hope that hardest-hit New York could soon be 'turning the corner' and headed towards a downward trajectory in terms of coronavirus cases. Doctor and analyst Scott Gottlieb said: 'More data suggesting that New York could be approaching a peak in new cases. Over the next 7-10 days they could peak and start slowly turning the corner. Mitigation is working in New York.' However the figures should be treated with caution given that in Italy initial signs that the daily death toll was flattening turned back into a daily increase. Governor Cuomo and Bill De Balsio have also painted a grim picture of days to come. Deaths in New York are expected to peak within seven to 10 days, according to Farzad Mostashari, the founder of healthcare startup Aledade and a former national coordinator for Department of Health and Human Services. Visits to hospital emergency rooms in New York City showed a decline in numbers over the weekend, Mostashari says, which puts hospitalizations on a downward trend and shows signs the state's stay-at-home order is working. State officials expect the number of deaths in New York to continue to rise as the outbreak reaches its projected peak in the coming weeks. 'Whatever the numbers is, it's going to be staggering,' New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. 'We've lost over 1,000 New Yorkers... To me, we're beyond staggering already.' He said the rise in the number of new coronavirus infections appeared to be slowing and the hospital discharge rate was increasing. 'People come into the hospital, they stay for a period of time, a number of days, and then they move on,' Cuomo said. The state has already confirmed more than 66,000 cases, mostly in New York City. There are 9,500 people in New York currently hospitalized for COVID-19. By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 22 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on March 31. 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 regions. 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 regions. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz : Anupama V Nadella, wife of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, has donated Rs 2 crore to The PM Cares Fund, her family sources said on Tuesday. Welcoming her gesture, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu expressed his deep appreciation of her concern for, and solidarity with, the people of the country at this hour. Anupama had earlier donated Rs 2 crore to Telangana Chief Minister Welfare Fund to be used to help the poor during the lockdown period. "Happy to know Smt Anupama Nadella contributed from her personal income a sum of Rs 2 crore each to PM-CARES FUND and Chief Ministers Relief Fund of Telangana to combat COVID-19. Her gesture shows her concern for her motherland though she is living abroad #PMCARES #CMReliefFund," Venkaiah Naidu tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. SAN ANTONIO Early Friday evening, Joint Base San Antonios coronavirus web page said 28 military personnel, dependents and retirees had tested positive for COVID-19. A little later that night, the number vanished from the page. It wasnt a computer glitch. Citing national security, Defense Secretary Mark Esper had ordered military installations around the world to stop disclosing the number of novel coronavirus cases to the media and the public. Instead, the Pentagon and individual military services will release only the totals for the department and each branch. Espers order eliminated a way for residents of communities including San Antonio, home to three major military installations, to know how many troops, families and civilians living or working on the bases, along with retirees using base hospitals, have tested positive for COVID-19 or fallen ill. GOOD NEWS: Because we need more of it, submit your story and we may feature it in an upcoming article Cover-up is the worst damn thing you can do when youre having (the) serious issue that were having today with COVID-19, said.Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, who was surprised when told of the decision. The bases are part of San Antonio, so understanding what theyre doing, and how many cases they have, is important to our whole community because theyre not isolated on that base. They come into the city, too, so I think its important to know that, he added. More Information Defense, Pentagon Office of Economic Adjustment, Joint Base San Antonio See More Collapse Mayor Ron Nirenberg also took issue with Espers decision. I think this is a global pandemic, and the public has a right to know, he said in an interview Monday. The lack of information is complicating a coordinated pandemic response at the state and federal level, the mayor said, adding that one of the biggest battles that we have is helping people understand the seriousness of the situation. Until it was discontinued, the public daily count from JBSA officials had included brief descriptions of those in the military community testing positive, falling ill and going to a hospital. An unknown number of JBSA cases also have been part of the daily totals made public by the Metropolitan Health District, which includes them if theyre Bexar County residents without specifying how many are reported by JBSA. That hasnt changed, a spokeswoman there, Michelle Vigil, said by email. The joint base continues to share its data with Metro Health and the Defense Department has not issued instructions to treat the information any differently, Vigil said. Several Pentagon officials agreed. Even if base commanders are not sharing the numbers with the public, they are instructed to continue to work with local community health officials to share information on base community cases, said Defense Department press secretary Alyssa Farah. On ExpressNews.com: What we still dont know about coronavirus in San Antonio Jonathan Rath Hoffman, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, said the military would release only total numbers of cases for each service in order to protect operational security as we preserve the nations combat readiness. Hoffman and Brig. Gen. Ed Thomas, head of Air Force public affairs, said the reporting to local health authorities continues, because, as Hoffman put it, ultimately our bases are part of a larger civilian community. The first Air Force-wide numbers showed 277 cases among military personnel, dependents and civilian workers at bases around the world as of Sunday afternoon. Of those, 159 were military personnel, up by 59 from the previous report. In all, 22 people were hospitalized, half of them airmen, and 12 had recovered. Across the entire Defense Department, the tally came to 1,043 569 of whom were military personnel. On Monday night, the National Guard Bureau commander, Gen. Joseph Lengyel, said on Twitter that Army Capt. Douglas Linn Hickok died as a result of COVID-19. He was a physician assistant serving in the New Jersey National Guard. While the Pentagon was clamping down on releasing COVID-19 caseloads at specific installations, some commanders were still discussing issues related to it. Top hits: Get San Antonio Express-News stories sent directly to your inbox On Monday, Maj. Gen. John DeGoes, who commands the 59th Medical Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, told reporters that four Air Force basic trainees there had tested positive for COVID-19, up from just one a week ago. They were in isolation, and five instructors are in quarantine because they had contact with the recruits, he said. Our standard approach is we check on them medically twice a day, DeGoes said. We would move them to (Brooke Army Medical Center), obviously, if they were sick at all, but they have very low symptoms and so are being isolated away from those who do not have it. . Those measures include isolating critical personnel, dividing units into separate cohorts, and aggressively following CDC recommendations, he said. We have a comparatively young and fit force and have complete confidence in our ability to carry out all of our key national responsibilities. We appreciate our citizens understanding as we protect operational security and our nations readiness. On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus threat in San Antonio has Air Force creating new basic training site The potential impact on San Antonio of coronavirus cases within the military isnt known, but the city has one of the biggest defense footprints in the United States. Defense spending in San Antonio is nearly $6 billion a year. Its three bases and Camp Bullis employ 87,384 military and civilian personnel. San Antonio is also home to many military retirees 84,405, as of two years ago. Many of them routinely visit the three bases to receive medical care and shop at the commissaries. sigc@express-news.net YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... 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 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle officially mark the end of their lives as senior working members of the royal family through a heartbreaking Instagram post. A day before they will be able to live without any expectations from the monarchy, Harry and Meghan used their Instagram page @sussexroyal for the last time to give a farewell message for everyone. "Thank you to this community -- for the support, for the inspiration, and shared commitment to the good in the world," reads the text on the Instagram photo posted by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Along with the photo is a lengthy message from the royal couple that reminds their fans and followers to remain helpful with one another amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. "Yet we are confident that every human being has the potential and opportunity to make a difference-as seen now across the globe, in our families, our communities and those on the front line-together we can lift each other to realise the fullness of that promise," the caption reads after the couple described the current situation as "extraordinarily fragile." They went on and expressed their hope that people will soon find the solutions for problems like the current global crisis. They also promised to continue extending their hands to offer people help though they will not be around anymore. Aside from their unfeigned letter, fans also noticed that they have already turned off the comments for their posts, making it impossible to leave farewell messages to Harry and Meghan. Despite that, the post still gained over 273,500 likes as of time of writing. The post comes after the couple reportedly jetted to Los Angeles from their temporary home in Vancouver Island. What Will Happen After Megxit? From March 31, which is being referred to as Megxit Day, Harry and Meghan will no longer use their HRH titles. In addition, although they signed no documents regarding their decision, their titles as senior royals will no longer be available for them. Despite being ordinary people now, Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement in January that the Frogmore Cottage will still be their U.K. base. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their U.K. family home," the same statement stated. The royal correspondent Rebecca English initially reported that the staff of the Sussexes were removed from the house and moved somewhere else after Prince Harry and Meghan dropped their bombshell announcement in January. In terms of their security expenses, President Donald Trump announced through his Twitter account that the country will not shoulder the cost of their security although Canada has been covering it since they stayed in Vancouver Island in November last year. "The assistance will cease in the coming weeks, in keeping with their change in status," a government representative told CBC News, announcing that Canada will stop for them starting next month. LONDON Prince Harry and his wife Meghan officially make the transition Tuesday from senior members of Britains royal family to well, its unclear. International celebrities, charity patrons, global influencers? The royal schism that the couple triggered in January by announcing that they would step down from official duties, give up public funding, seek financial independence and swap the U.K. for North America becomes official on March 31. The move has been made more complicated and poignant by the global coronavirus pandemic, which finds the couple and their 10-month-old son Archie in California, far from Harrys father Prince Charles who is recovering after testing positive for COVID-19 and Harrys 93-year-old grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. As we can all feel, the world at this moment seems extraordinarily fragile, the couple said in a final post Monday on their now-mothballed SussexRoyal Instagram account. Whats most important right now is the health and well-being of everyone across the globe and finding solutions for the many issues that have presented themselves as a result of this pandemic, they added. As we all find the part we are to play in this global shift and changing of habits, we are focusing this new chapter to understand how we can best contribute. It is less than two years since ex-soldier Harry, who is sixth in line to the British throne, married American actress Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle in a lavish ceremony watched by millions around the world. Soon the couple began to bristle at intense scrutiny by the British media which they said tipped into harassment. They decided to break free, in what Harry called a leap of faith as he sought a more peaceful life, without the journalists who have filmed, photographed and written about him since the day he was born. Harry has long had an uncomfortable relationship with the media, which he blames for the death of his mother, Princess Diana. She died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi. Harrys unhappiness increased after he began dating Markle, then the star of TV legal drama Suits. In 2016 he accused the media of harassing his then-girlfriend, and criticized racial undertones in some coverage of the biracial Markle. Its clear that Meghans upbeat Californian style embodied in the glossy images and life-affirming messages of the couples Instagram account rankled with sections of Britains tabloid press, which is both insatiable for royal content and fiercely judgmental of the family members. The couple who are keeping their titles, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but will no longer be called Their Royal Highnesses had hoped to keep using the Sussex Royal brand in their new life. But last month they announced they wouldnt seek to trademark the term because of U.K. rules governing use of the word royal. The couple plans to launch a non-profit organization for their charitable activities in areas including youth empowerment, mental health, conservation, gender equality and education. Harry will also continue to oversee the Invictus Games, the Olympics-style competition he founded for wounded troops. Meghan has been announced as the narrator of Elephant, a Disney nature documentary. But for now, the couples office said they want the world to focus on the global response to COVID-19. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will spend the next few months focusing on their family and continuing to do what they can, safely and privately, to support and work with their pre-existing charitable commitments while developing their future non-profit organisation, the couples office said in a statement. The newly independent Harry and Meghan will also need to earn money to help pay for a multi-million dollar security bill. As senior royals, they have had bodyguards funded by British taxpayers. Since late last year, Harry and Meghan have since been based on Canadas Vancouver Island, where security was provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Canadian authorities warned last month that would end once the couple ceased to be working royals. The duke and duchess recently moved to the Los Angeles area, where Meghan grew up and where her mother still lives. The news led President Donald Trump to tweet on Sunday: the U.S. will not pay for their security protection. They must pay! Harry and Meghans office said they had no plans to ask the U.S. government for security resources. Privately funded security arrangements have been made. Some royal historians warned that Harry and Meghan could struggle to find a fulfilling role. Comparisons have been drawn to King Edward VIII, who abdicated in 1936 to marry divorced American Wallis Simpson. The couple lived the rest of their lives in luxurious but lonely self-imposed exile from Britain. Royal historian Penny Junor said U.K.-based royals were helping boost the nations morale during the coronavirus pandemic. The queen has issued a message to the nation, while Harrys brother Prince William and his children joined in a public round of applause for health care workers. All of this is absolutely what the family is about, and those members of the royal family that are on a limb now are pretty irrelevant, Junor said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 19:38:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The timetable for beginning the new semester and resuming classes in universities should be based on the local epidemic situation and the composition of students, Wang Dengfeng, an official with the Ministry of Education, said Tuesday. Noting that the ministry has set no unified requirements on resuming classes for universities, Wang, who is also an office director of the ministry's leading group on the COVID-19 response, said at a press conference that universities across the country should follow differentiated schedules. Wang said graduating students and post-graduates with research tasks should be given priority in resuming classes, noting colleges comprising of mostly local students will resume classes earlier, while colleges in high-risk areas should postpone the resumption of classes. He emphasized the importance of sticking to three principles, namely no resuming of classes before the epidemic situation is basically under control, no resuming of classes before the universities' prevention and control measures are in place, and no resuming of classes unless the safety of teachers and students can be guaranteed. Universities will gradually resume classes in Qinghai Province, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Shanxi Province and Jiangsu Province in April, according to Wang. International students who are unable to return to school for the moment will be given access to online classes and updates on the schedule to return, the official added. The ministry also required efforts in making emergency response plans in every university due to the large-scale cross-region population mobility caused by university students returning to school, Wang said, adding that every provincial-level region should also draw up emergency response plans for the beginning of the new university semester. Enditem President Donald Trump now endangers the post World War II order that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. The alliance has led to a global economy and the great creation of wealth in human history. Trump is lobbying for closer United States-Russian relations even though the Russians have been waging war against our democracy for over seven decades. President Donald Trump has been accused as being Putins puppet is now openly suggesting the United States should abandon Germany as an ally and treat it as an enemy simply because the two countries were adversaries in World War II. The off-the-cuff remark on a key building block of U.S. policy for over 70 years. Mr. Trump intends to fundamentally overhaul the post-World War II global power dynamic that saw Western countries bring Germany into their sphere while combating Moscow and fighting the spread of communism in the post-world war II era. Trumps comments are going to find a great deal of pushback from the even the GOP-run Senate. It signals the length he is willing to go to suck up to Russias Vladimir Putin, which will renew concerns that Putin has enough on President Trump to crush his re-election chances and is being blackmailed. President Trump, during another rambling and unhinged interview with "Fox & Friends" via his usual call-in, launched into a remarkable uneducated pro-Russian diatribe about Germany and Russia. Trump detailed how the United States should treat each country after being asked about what he and Russian President Vladimir Putin would discuss during a planned telephone conversation later in the morning. The President insisted on pushing his belief that it would be a "good thing" if Washington and Moscow had a warmer relationship, noting he has been saying so since he was first a presidential candidate. Despite his admission, the two Cold War adversaries remain rivals on the global stage. Mr. Trump said of Russia; then, the Soviet Union pushed the argument that... "They also fought World War II. They lost 50 million people," "Germany was the enemy. ... And Germany's [now], like, this wonderful thing," he added, suggesting the now-democratic European power is not-so-wonderful in his eyes. The President left out the fact that the non-aggression pack between Germany and the Soviet Union enabled Hitlers blitzkrieg across Europe and the slaughter of tens of millions of Europeans and almost the continents Jewish population. In pure Trumpian form, he attempted to give himself some distance from the suggestion, saying of his Germanic ancestry: "Look, its fine," President Trump said of U.S.-German relations. "It's in my heritage." Ironically President Trump has repeatedly played down his German family origins and claimed Irish origins. Trump continues to grow frustrated with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was close with former President Barack Obama and has rebuffed his demands and advice. A good example of this was Chancellor Merkels 2018 call for NATO to take a tougher stance against Russia. At home, her Christian Democratic Union political party has steadily advocated the most stringent policy prescriptions for how to deal with Mr. Putin's government. Trump has taken issue with Germanys imports $22bn annual energy products from Russia, according to ComTrade and TradingEconomics.com. Germany also buys billions more in copper, aluminum, steel, and other crucial materials from Russia, making the relationship one of economic necessity for Berlin. Yet despite the economic ties between Russia and Germany, Merkel has been unyielding in its objections to Russias illegal activities. Merkel objects include the invasion of Ukraine and have been pushing even more stringent sanctions, while at the same time trying to keep the door open to trade and cultural cooperation. Heather Conley, a former senior State Department official now with the nonpartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies, recently called Mr. Trump's coronavirus foreign policy approach "personality-driven" and "blame-driven" and "devastating." Saying it "has great real-world implications for America's leadership in the world and our allies and partners. James Davidson of Strategic Investment has been warning the Post World War II order is going to collapse and that it represents a disaster for the world. The re-occurring question is what Putin has on President Trump. Trumps unwillingness to release his tax returns may reveal that he is financially burdened and in debt to the Russians. If this is the case and why he is advocating for the Putin dictatorship, American voters should know this before the general election. Russia is looking to help Trump win in 2020, election security official told lawmakers - CNN News President Trump attended the 2019 Air Force Academy graduation ceremonies. USAFA Family, On behalf of the team of leaders, faculty, and staff entrusted with the care of our United States Air Force Academy, thank you for the support we have received through this unprecedented time. In nearly four decades in uniform, I can tell you that this week has been one of my most difficult, and I know that sentiment is shared across our team. In particular, the outpouring of positive support from our graduate community has been inspiring. I readily admit that I do not have all the solutions to the challenges we face, but the solution lies in the USAFA family. It is in times like these that feeling the full strength of the USAFA bonds between our cadets, graduates, faculty, staff and our entire community can make all the difference. I am heartbroken to confirm that since Thursday we have mourned the loss of two of our First-Class cadets here on our campus, and our entire Academy community is understandably shaken. The next of kin have been notified, and out of respect for the privacy of these cadets families members of our own extended family I will not be sharing their names or many details today. I will confirm, given the current circumstances, that their deaths were not related to the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time I ask that members of our community refrain from sharing speculation, as it can cause further damage to families as well as our cadets. We will share more information when the time is appropriate. More: Senior cadets at the Air Force Academy had to stay on campus when the pandemic hit. Now two are dead As an Academy community we are navigating uncharted territory, and I ask for your continued support as we grieve while continuing to face the challenges that lay ahead. While each cadet will require different, individualized care, and decisions we make will not be applied broadly across the cadet population, the health, safety and wellbeing of our cadets remains our top priority. I am writing this on the heels of a nearly 3 hour conversation with our First-Class cadets, where we covered topics of their choice while my team recorded every suggestion they gave and there were many. Yesterday our permanent professors, AOCs, AMTs and helping agencies gathered cadets by squadron for small group discussions and support. Earlier today our AOCs and AMTs met remotely with the dispersed members of their squadrons to continue these conversations. In addition, I have reached out through several video teleconferences to the rest of our Cadet Wing across the country to discuss the importance of looking out for each other wherever you are geographically, and to ensure they know about the resources, support and helping agencies we have available. Our leadership team and mental health professionals are available 24 hours a day. Story continues We will continue to coordinate with our own mental health professionals, and have called in those along the Front Range and from the Pentagon for guidance and assistance. We continue to conduct regular deep cleaning of common areas, including Arnold Hall and our gyms, in order to balance social distancing with the needs for social contact and support. We are having discussions with our healthcare professionals about how to balance cadet safety during a pandemic with providing the same sense of family and teamwork cadets are used to. Based on those discussions, along with feedback from our Cadets, we are allowing two cadets in a room again if they so choose. The two person room is only one of the suggestions our Cadets made during our meeting today, and we are continually looking at ways to consider all of their suggestions. Our goal in weighing each option continues to be both mental and physical health, along with turning our nearly 1000 First-Class cadets into lieutenants in 59 days. Coronavirus in military: Cuts to training, quarantines and shuttered recruiting stations create strains What our nation and the entire world is currently going through is understandably generating a lot of anxiety and unease for our families, friends and loved ones. As a parent myself, I understand the feelings of concern our USAFA parents have for the cadets who have remained on our campus. Likewise, as a graduate I understand and share the concern felt by our close-knit and protective community of graduates. We made the decision to keep First-Class cadets here because our Air and Space Forces have deemed us essential to their missions and while they are here I can guarantee access to COVID testing and world class medical care with our 10th Medical Group. Across our Air Force Airmen are restricted to their rooms, and in less than 90 days we will expect the Class of 2020 to lead those Airmen. Basic Military Training (BMT) and Initial Flight Training (IFT) are continuing with restrictions similar to those on our campus. In this situation, while we continue to share lessons learned with our sister service academies, those lessons are limited because the other service academies cadets and midshipmen were on spring break when the spread of COVID-19 escalated across the country. Our cadets were still weeks out from Spring Break, so we had the opportunity to make the call on whether they should stay at USAFA in a more contained and safe environment with our leadership and healthcare professionals, or return home to varying situations that could preclude them from graduating in May. In all of our decision making we have consulted with our medical professionals, the leaders of our sister service academies, and our Air Force and Department of Defense leadership. We still intend for the Class of 2020 to graduate in May. We are a family that cares deeply for its own, and this is one of the reasons I am so honored to lead our Academy. I understand that the feedback and messages of concern we are receiving come from a place of care, and I can assure you that these are concerns shared by every last member of our team. Solutions to our issues have come and continue to flow from our USAFA community based on the love we have for each other. I thank you for your support, and I ask for your continued trust as we come together to confront the challenges we face. Please continue to support our cadets by sharing our helping agencies with those in your communities: https://www.usafa.edu/helping-agencies/. Join us in keeping the families, friends and loved ones of the cadets we lost this week in your thoughts and prayers. The class of 20 is strong, the USAFA family is strong, but we grieve together, and we will get through this as a team, as a community. Together, we are USAFA. Together, we are strong. Jay Silveria This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Read email sent after two Air Force cadets die by suicide We need rapid diagnostic tools to detect the novel coronavirus, and we are taking part in that fight, we are already developing our own test, says Tuomas Tenkanen, the head of of Mobidiag. Anyone can operate the testing The company describes its testing platform as random access meaning that basically anyone, even without training in diagnostics, can operate it. Random access platforms will be increasingly important as countries deploy more and more people to run tests. To operate the Novodiag machine, a person simply uses a pipet to drop a sample into a cartridge, inserts the cartridge into the machine and presses a button to run the test. There is a big need to have closed-cartridge systems, where nonskilled people, who know how to protect themselves, are able to run the tests, Tenkanen said. Mobidiag is already marketing a test in Europe to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19 infections. This test was developed by its Chinese partner, Autobio Diagnostics. Antibodies testing is expected to become more important as the coronavirus progresses, because this can detect whether a patient was infected in the past not only whether the person is currently infected. As studies show that large numbers of people may have had the coronavirus without showing symptoms, testing for antibodies will be crucial to understand the spread of the virus and develop appropriate responses. In the coming weeks, Mobidiag is putting all its efforts into offering a complete solution for coronavirus detection with its Novodiag and Amplidiag coronavirus tests. This novel coronavirus situation is very severe. All the companies in our field need to act rapidly, Tenkanen emphasizes. Auvo Kaikkonen, a senior life science specialist at the European Investment Bank who has been following the developments at Mobidiag and other companies, says that the field of diagnostics will be a critical part of the fight against pandemics like the coronavirus now and in the future. By supporting the development of in-vitro testing platforms and facilities, we have been able to provide a crucial service in Europe in these difficult times, he says. We will shortly be moving away from just diagnosing the patients infected with the virus into identifying those people who have already encountered the disease and developed immunity. Such information will be key in making decisions when is it safe to dismantle the current restrictions of movement and isolation. Fighting the virus and other infections Another diagnostics company that has received EIB support is Curetis, a German molecular diagnostics firm. Curetis has developed a medical sample-to-answer platform called Unyvero that offers very fast and accurate testing of different kinds of samples from patients. It is very easy to use, takes no more than two minutes hands-on time, and you can drop in any sample type, says Oliver Schacht, the head of Curetis. This versatility the ability to integrate respiratory or blood culture samples from joint infections or sputum samples makes this platform stand out. You can use any native sample, drop it in, and get it fully automatically processed in a cartridge thats really a mini molecular diagnostic laboratory, Schacht says, and it will read out to you in a single run anywhere from 40 to 130 different parameters, such as bacterial and fungal pathogens and antimicrobial resistance markers. All this takes about four to five hours. The company also is developing a smaller, faster version of this platform allowing up to 30 markers to be read out in just 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the type of sample. The European Investment Bank signed a 25 million quasi-equity financing agreement with Curetis at the end of 2016, backed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments. When Curetis started on this project, one of the main drivers was identifying the correct antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. This helps doctors avoid treating patients with the wrong antibiotics, which contributes to the spread of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Now, the Curetis platform is proving to be indispensable in the treatment of a large number of coronavirus patients even though antibiotics do not treat the virus itself. More and more were going to see critical care patients in intensive care units who got hospitalized because of the coronavirus, and in the serious cases where patients get ventilated, they also very often get a bacterial pneumonia as a co-infection, Schacht says. He cites recent studies from China showing that up to 50% of all of the deaths connected to the coronavirus were caused by a secondary infection of bacterial pneumonia and sepsis. This secondary infection is related mainly to the use of ventilators. Studies show that ventilators increase the likelihood of bacterial lung infections. This bacterial infection happens because hospitals are hot spots for bacteria, and ventilators make it easy for bacteria to get into the body, leading to what is known as hospital-acquired, or nosocomial, infections. Another factor in these types of infections is the weak immune system. When the body is under enormous stress to fight the coronavirus, for example, it will be more susceptible to other infections. The Curetis platform allows testing for all the different bacteria, antibiotic resistance markers and fungi in one go and thus helps the clinicians then to select the right mix of antibiotics to give to those patients, Schacht says. Antibiotics, of course, do not work against the virus. They do, however, work if properly chosen against bacteria. Curetis is also looking at whether it should integrate the test for coronavirus into its pneumonia cartridge. The WHO and the scientific community have made available the sequencing of the coronavirus to the global R&D players, so we have developed our own coronavirus tests already, Schacht said. We are validating these currently in-house, for research-use only. Yu Zhang, a manager in innovation finance at the European Investment Bank, says the field of diagnostic tools is just one of many healthcare areas in which the bank invests, and it continues to look for new projects. We are in intense dialogue with a number of firms that could make a real impact in the fight against Covid-19, he added, whether through the development of vaccines or therapeutics, and we are working hard to make sure we can get the financing quickly to the most promising ones. At a time when most businesses and brands are staring at huge losses due to coronavirus outbreak, sectors such as pharma, FMCG and e-tail have turned unlikely beneficiaries. In the pharma, demand for medical appliances, including masks and gloves, in particular, has gone through the roof and stocks have run dry in most parts of the country. Similarly, health and hygiene products sales spiked and retail stores ran out of stocks as soon as COVID-19 started spreading. Masks, PPEs The shortage of masks, gowns, gloves and other single-use items for medical professionals has resulted in entry of a lot of new players in the segment. To ensure availability of these personal protective equipments (PPEs), the government has fast-tracked manufacturing permission. In less than 7 days, 15 firms received the government's go-ahead to produce PPEs: These include Arvind Mills, JCT Mills Phagwara, Amare Safety, Mumbai-based Sure Safety, Delhi-based Sai Synergy, Manchanda, Shree Healthcare, Chennai, among others. They have been asked to produce surgical gowns, gloves, goggles, hand sanitiser, clinical waste bags, waste bag closure devices, blood and fluid spill kits, mask fit test kits and thermometers. Interestingly, these PPEs were mostly imported from China since very few companies could produce them profitably in India. Also Read: Arvind Mills, JCT among 15 domestic firms to qualify for PPE kits manufacturing Ventilators Another area where Indian firms have acquired fresh capabilities is medical devices for intensive care, including ventilators, where nearly 85 pc of the requirement was being met through imports. Not just India, most countries battling coronavirus face shortage of ventilators at hospitals. Desperate doctors in Italy have even converted snorkelling masks into 'homemade' ventilators to treat coronavirus patients. Since the shortage of ventilators is even worse in India, the government has reached out to auto companies including Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Hyundai, to develop the life saving equipment. Indian automobile majors Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra and Mahindra have announced they are gearing up to produce ventilators at their factories. Also, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working with Tata and Mahindra and Mahindra to develop 'multi-patient ventilators'. Several patients can be supported by a single multi-patient ventilator. Ventilators typically costs anywhere between Rs 5-12 lakh. Pharma companies Since it's a medical crisis, several pharma companies are struggling to meet demand. Sales of drugs such as paracetamol have spiked in recent days as people stock up medicines. In fact the prices of such drugs have increased up to 40%. But, beyond medicines, it's the companies that'll test for coronavirus which are to look out for. Among them are Pune-based Mylab Discovery Solutions which has got ICMR approval to develop an indigenous coronavirus testing kit for commerical use. Mylab's director Dr Gautam Wankhede says they are able to start supplying because they already have "the raw material and been in the molecular diagnostics manufacturing for the last three to four years." German company Altona Diagnostics has applied for an import licence from the Drug Controller General of India. They hope to get it soon and start supplies. Swiss pharmaceutical major Roche, which received the emergency use authorisation for its coronavirus test kit - Cobas SARS-CoV-2 Test - from US Food and Drug Administration, has also got nod to import diagnostic kits in India. Also Read: 'Project STAY I' offers isolation rooms for COVID-19 patients Roche's Indian subsidiary - Roche Diagnostics India Pvt Ltd - has received conditional import licence from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and is in the process of importing the test kits. FMCG companies Another sector that's largely in the green is FMCG. The 21-day lockdown triggered panic buying among the middle class, which is likely to reflect in the sales figures of such companies. Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies such as Nestle, HUL, ITC, P&G, Godrej Consumer, Dabur, Amul and others are set to gain ground amid sudden rise in demand. A Nielsen report says that people not only have been stockpiling essential food items like atta (which saw a 25 per cent growth in demand in traditional trade and 16 per cent in e-commerce platforms) and pulses (which grew by 72 per cent in traditional trade), a lot of them also bought indulgence food items such as biscuits, chocolates and salty snacks. While orders for salty snacks grew by 84 per cent online platforms, there was a 31 per cent growth in orders for biscuits. However, they face production and supply chain challenges to make their product available on the shelf. The lockdown has resulted in shortage of manpower and disruptions in raw materials supply, forcing them to cut down on production. While the inventory with the companies could serve few weeks of demand for long shelf life products, short shelf life products could potentially witness availability challenges. Buyers have been scrambling to stockpile hygiene products like sanitisers, cleaning wipes, and other disinfectant products. In response, manufacturers such as HUL, ITC and Godrej Consumer are ramping up production. Sanitisers and handwash till recently were premium products, and comprised less than 2 per cent of the stock-keeping units (SKUs) of most FMCG companies. That's completely changed. Orders for hand sanitisers have grown by 1,425 per cent in the last one month, as per a Nielsen study. Online grocery platforms Riding on the rise in FMCG's growth, online grocers Grofers and BigBasket are also looking at making gains as consumers flock to shop online. Grofers, says while the number of new users on its platform has increased by 14-15 per cent, the number of orders from the existing users has doubled over the past week. Similarly, BigBasket also claims that there has been a 2x growth in traffic and revenue and there has been a 15-20 per cent increase in basket value. However, increased traffic has led to supply chain disruptions and delivery delays. Also Read: Coronavirus: 87% increase in social media usage amid lockdown; Indians spend 4 hours on Facebook, WhatsApp OTT platforms One of the most interesting fallouts of the lockdown is the impact on over-the-top (OTT) content players such as Netfllix, AltBalaji, Amazon Prime, Hotstar and ZEE5. According to a Hammerkopf Consumer Survey, internet browsing saw a 72 per cent spike during the first week of lockdown. As people spend more time at home, they watch more video content online. There has been significant jump in video consumption on connected devices. Adding to it, new viewers are expected to join OTT platforms during the lockdown period. There is also surge in content being watched on television. Married At First Sight's Stacey Hampton and Michael Goonan said other couples were jealous they had the 'strongest relationship' during Tuesday night's episode. When they both walked into the final dinner party, fellow contestant Natasha Spencer branded them as 'smug'. And it appears MAFS fans on Twitter felt the same way too, and they vented on the social media platform accordingly. 'Get over yourselves!' On Tuesday, Married At First Sight fans slammed Stacey Hampton (left) and Michael Goonan (right) for saying other couples envied them for having the 'strongest relationship' on the show 'I really cant understand why Stacey & Michael have this illusion that people are jealous of them?' one viewer wrote. 'Dear Michael and Stacey, please get over yourselves, sincerely, all of society,' said viewer. 'Stacey and Michael going in tonight as the strongest couple?' one person wrote, followed by a GIF of Lindsay Lohan spitting out her drink. One person joked: 'Stacey saying her and Michael are unbreakable is like saying the Titanic is unsinkable.' 'Its so fun to watch Stacey and Michael gush about how theyre the best relationship on the show knowing where they end up,' one person said, referencing what was to follow in the episode. Backlash: When they both walked into the final dinner party, fellow contestant Natasha Spencer branded them as 'smug'. And it appears MAFS fans on Twitter felt the same way too, and they vented on the social media platform accordingly. During Tuesday episode, Stacey said she and Michael were 'unbreakable' but admitted they would not be 'winning popularity votes'. 'We do come out as the strongest couple so at the end of the day, I guess people envy that and that's something we understand,' Stacey said in an aside interview. Meanwhile, Michael said: 'People naturally are going to be jealous to look on from afar at how successful our relationship is now.' 'Bless 'em!' Stacey chuckled. 'We do come out as the strongest couple so at the end of the day, I guess people envy that and that's something we understand,' Stacey said But later in the party, Natasha Spencer accused Stacey of cheating on Michael by sleeping with her 'husband' Mikey Pembroke. Mikey backed up Natasha's claim but Stacey vehemently denied the accusation. Stacey and Michael's relationship has been plagued by cheating scandals as Michael was also accused of kissing Hayley Vernon on Channel Nine's ratings juggernaut. Brits in lockdown due to the coronavirus are battling cabin fever by baking up a storm in their kitchens. Amateur bakers have joined the likes of GBBO winners Nadiya Hussain and Candice Brown in knocking out cakes, biscuits, scones and loaves of bread - explaining why many shoppers are struggling to find flour in supermarkets. Nadiya - who won the 2015 series of Bake Off - revealed a golden loaf studded with pumpkin and sesame seeds on Instagram. She said: 'We ran out of bread a week ago and so we made our own. Never have I seen them this excited about bread, something that was a "given" a few months ago has turned into a treat. Amateur bakers have joined the likes of GBBO winners Nadiya Hussain and Candice Brown in knocking out cakes, biscuits, scones and loaves of bread. Pictured: Nadiya's loaf (left) and Candice's shortbread (right) Anna Louise Wild, from Haywards Heath, shared this Bake Off-inspired bread loaf which she baked on Sunday evening 'I hope and pray as time goes by we can remember and when this is over we can remind ourselves of what isolation, what coronavirus taught us. Yes it's a loaf of bread, but no it's not a given, nothing should be.' Candice - who won the competition four years ago - shared a stack of rustic orange chocolate shortbread made on Instagram live. She added: 'Same time next week and we will be doing....... SODA BREAD!!! Any questions let me know and I'll get ingredients list up ASAP.' Inspired amateurs across the country followed suit, sharing snaps of orange blossom ring cakes, raisin scones and jam buns. Claire Harmer's partner Joe looked impressed with himself as he posed with a towering carrot cake at their home in Lewes, East Sussex (left) while Instagram user Fitzy83 shared a snap of his Victoria Sponge cake which was 'missing a few key ingredients' (right) Londoner Imogen Jones posed on her kitchen's work surface with a wide smile and a freshly baked loaf cake. She said: 'Just me here going bananas with boredom and trying to feed Piers' banana bread habit.' The fun-loving baking enthusiast said she is trying to use cupboard essentials or ingredients from a corner shop to minimise interactions and support local businesses. Londoner Imogen Jones posed on her kitchen's work surface with a wide smile and a freshly baked loaf cake Fay Jordan from Aboyne shared a snap of scones she and Emma Petrie (pictured) baked while in isolation Claire Harmer's partner looked equally as impressed with himself as he posed with a towering carrot cake at their home in Lewes, East Sussex. She quipped: 'Joe's turn for a day in the kitchen! He's made a delicious carrot cake, it's so a scrummy and so so f****** huge!' Savvy Katy Thompson created a bundt tin at home by teaming a sponge cake tin with a Pyrex pudding dish fitted in the middle. The veterinary surgeon whipped up an orange blossom and cardamom spiced Moroccan cake with blossom icing. Manchester bakery From Abbies Kitchen shared its jam buns baked during isolation (left) while Emma Paveley showed off her home-baked banana bread (right) Yet another tasty-looking classic jam and cream Victoria Sponge cake, shared by Lee Mason Sam Murray, who is pictured wearing his apron, showed off his chocolate marble cake in Coltishall, Norfolk. His partner Ellen Thompson suggested baking could become his new hobby as croquet season is 'effectively over before it began'. The Baking Co have also suggested they could help 'those in need of their chocolate fix' and shared a picture of their gooey, vegan brownies. Natalia Barralle, from Winchester, claims her house is running out of food - but she still found enough ingredients to bake these chocolate brownies Marianne, from Bristol, shared a snap of her posing with utensils mid-baking session (left) while Instagrammer Penny Baked That looked thrilled with her fruit pie (right) Sam Murray, who is pictured wearing his apron, showed off his chocolate marble cake in Coltishall, Norfolk Savvy Katy Thompson created a bundt tin at home by teaming a sponge cake tin with a Pyrex pudding dish fitted in the middle Darren doing his best Great British Bake Off oven-watching as his chocolate cake cooks (left) while Watford-based Naomi Deller's partner got stuck into making vegan meringues (right) Meanwhile Mary Sturges seemed disgruntled and dubbed her no-knead sourdough as 'definitely a learning curve and not for lunch' in Leighton Buzzard, Beds. The baking frenzy comes after PM Boris Johnson banned 'non-essential' travel during a total lockdown of the UK. Brits are only allowed to leave their properties for one form of exercise and 'essential' shopping trips. With the Reserve Bank of India cutting benchmark rates sharply and also allowing banks to defer EMIs, banks are slowing gearing up to lend to various sectors, including the salaried and entrepreneurs. And with the loss/fall in income, and even jobs coming under threat, there would be many who would be seeking such loans to navigate through these tough times. 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. 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Digital Editor A group of New York officials are seeking to declare all Covid-19 deaths by first responders and other essential employees 'line of duty' deaths, entitling them to full line of duty death benefits and payments. In a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, city councilman Joseph Borelli and 19 other officials state that workers who perish from Covid-19 should be 'presumed to have contracted the virus in the course of their work.' The officials cited the deaths of several members of the NYPD who died since last week, and maintained that 'this commitment will alleviate some of the stress of those on the front lines of this battle.' 'The tragic death of Detective Cedric Dixon and NYPD employees Dennis Dickson and Giacomina Barr-Brown reminds us of the unseen challenges faced by New York's first responders and essential employees,' states the letter, which was sent Monday. It was initiated by Borelli, from Staten Island, and signed by 13 council members, six state lawmakers as well as the Staten Island borough president. A group of New York officials have written a letter to Gov Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio to consider first responder deaths 'line of duty' deaths The letter states that workers who die from Covid-19 should be 'presumed to have contracted the virus in the course of their work' 'As such, we are asking you to collaborate with all applicable pension boards to ensure that first responders or essential employees of any city agency, state agency, or public authority, who perishes from Covid-19, is presumed to have contracted the virus in the course of their work, and are, as a result, entitled to full contractual line of duty death benefit and payments.' City councilman Joseph Borelli (pictured) and 19 other officials site several members of the NYPD who have died since last week Since the letter was written, the NYPD announced two additional deaths - school safety agent Sabrina Jefferson, who died of complications from the coronavirus, and senior police administrative aide Gwendolyn King, whose Covid-19 test results were still pending Tuesday. Jefferson was assigned to Patrol Borough Queens South Safety. King was assigned to Police Service Area #3 in Brooklyn. Borelli told DailyMail.com that the benefit should be extended to all first responders and essential employees of any city or state agency, or public authority, everyone from firefighters and correction officers to sanitation workers, city nurses and transit employees. 'We want to send a clear message that this is an okay expense, that we'd be happy to incur these benefits,' Borelli said told DailyMail.com. 'We are asking the public to stay home because of the danger and yet we are forcing employees of the government to show up for work every day, whether they are a firefighter or a bus operator. They should also receive maximum benefits if they die.' 'Months from now, we're going to look back at essential workers who died as heroes, so we should start treating them as such today,' the councilman said. 'Nobody I've contacted has objected to this proposal.' Death benefits vary. Spouses of cops who die in the line of duty generally receive a 3/4, tax-free pension, plus a significant payout. The number of cases and deaths are expected to rise in coming weeks as the virus reaches its apex in New York. As of Monday, more than 900 members of the NYPD had tested positive for the virus. As of Monday, more than 900 members of the NYPD had tested positive for coronavirus The New York City Police Benevolent Association is among those backing the proposal, tweeting: 'POs & other heroic frontline workers who are sickened or lose their lives to COVID-19 must be presumed to been infected at work. Thanks to all who support this important legislative effort.' Hundreds of firefighters have also contracted the virus. The FDNY announced the death of James Villecco, a department auto mechanic, on Sunday. Villecco joined the Bureau of Fleet Services in 2014 and worked in ambulance repair shops in Coney Island and Queens. Quinsey Simpson, a veteran New York City correction officer, passed away last week of COVID-19. Eight transit workers have also died due to complications from the virus as of Monday. 'After 9/11, there wasn't even a question of line of duty benefits,' Borelli told DailyMail.com. 'Now we should be affording the same treatment to this crop of individuals. Whether it's due to terrorism or a virus, both were caused by a person showing up to do the job they were meant to do.' 'We welcome their support,' FDNY spokesman Jim Long said. As of Monday, 282 members of the FDNY tested positive. NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea was noncommittal and punted when asked whether he supports granting line of duty benefits to covid-19 victims during a press conference Monday morning. 'We've told the unions, submit the line of duty paperwork if you think it's appropriate,' Shea said. 'We're in the middle of a pandemic where it's literally all hands on deck,' he continued. 'We're going to worry about that (line of duty issue) probably months from now. Let's get back to work, let's properly mourn the people that passed away. 'Let's be happy when we're surrounded by our family and friends again, and we can actually enjoy a nice spring day. Then we'll worry about line of duty and what's going to be designated or not.' Mary Murphy (pictured) and Kelly Black are part of the 'Covid-19 Facemasks for All-Ireland' group Belfast-based fashion designer Chloe Dougan is pictured leaving her home with material being used to make scrubs Hundreds of people on lockdown have risen to the challenge of sewing facemasks and scrubs for those working to keep vital services going. Award-winning Belfast fashion designer Chloe Dougan, better known as a designer of exotic creations for women and drag queens, said she has been blown away by the response to a recently created NI Scrubs Group page on Facebook. It has already enlisted over 2,000 people from across Northern Ireland willing to get behind the sewing machine and produce essential wear for medical professionals as they battle the coronavirus outbreak. "Seeing just how many people have bought in to the idea of us all being in this together has been brilliant," said Chloe, whose GoFundMe page for the campaign has already raised almost 4,000 towards the cost of fabric. The original campaign was started by Omagh woman Clara Maybin. "Like Clara, so many of us have family and friends working on the frontline of this battle," Chloe said. "With work no longer an option, like so many more over the past couple of weeks, I wanted to get involved and try to do something practical to help. "We're not doing this for payment, and since I signed up to get involved on Friday I've been sourcing as much material as I can and getting it to those who want to help by making the scrubs or masks. "Most of those now joining up have found themselves unable to work through this outbreak and just want to do something practical to help. "These items are in short supply in hospitals, care homes, even local shops staying open to serve us. I'm so grateful to Sew 'n' Sew in Belfast city centre for providing what material they could, and more outlets have been kind enough to pass on the material with a promise to pay later when the GoFundMe money is released." Chloe will be co-ordinating the Belfast and Lisburn campaign and for more information visit the NI Scrubs Group on Facebook. To donate, search on GoFundMe.com for 'NI Fund Fabric For Scrubs Etc'. Elsewhere, Co Londonderry mum-of-two Mary Murphy has been astonished by the response to a Facebook group she set up a week ago called Covid-19 Facemasks for All-Ireland. Drawing on her skills as a qualified aeronautical engineer, Mary has put together a pattern for a "fail-safe" mask. Since launching her group just over a week ago, she already has over 27 requests for hundreds of masks from GPs, nurses, care home staff, community care workers and even individuals caring for vulnerable relatives. Mary (40), who runs her own bridal underwear company, Sioda Lingerie, lives in Magherafelt with her husband Adrian (43), an engineering professor at Queen's University, and their two children, Sophie (7) and Johnny (9). She said: "I saw the chaos facing New York three weeks ago where only 1% of people had PPE [personal protective equipment] and I knew there was a great need here, too. "I am into product design and so I have been able to come up with a pattern which is fail-safe for those wearing it. My approach is that we need to work like a factory and sew like the clappers and hopefully get thousands of masks out in the next few weeks." Mary launched her group on Facebook a week ago and within just a few days was amazed to have 700 members. She has already got supplies to over 130 people sewing from their homes right across Ireland to meet demand and requests for masks are also coming in from throughout the island, north and south. "The response has been astonishing and we have everyone from home economics teachers to teenagers and people who haven't sewed much before to those who are more experienced," Mary said. In order to fund the purchase of fabric for the masks, the group has set up a GoFundMe appeal which yesterday had received over 1,600 in donations. Among the many who answered the call for volunteers is Edel Ni Ghribin (32, below left) who lives alone in a remote part of Coalisland. She has one sister, who lives in Norway, and admits she has been struggling to cope with her fears and isolation. "This day last week I was consumed by the news and just seeing all the bad things online filled me with anxiety and I was feeling completely overwhelmed by what is happening," she admitted. "When I saw Mary's post on Facebook, I thought that was something I could do to help. "It has been amazing for me to be able to focus on the good things and the people we can help. "It has done wonders for my mental health this week. I've always enjoyed sewing and since Saturday I have made 50 masks." Also making masks and helping Mary to organise the group is Newtownabbey businesswoman and mum-of-three Kelly Black. Kelly (41), who has had to close her wedding dress alterations business Kelly Black Design, has been isolating at home with husband Philip (36), an electrician, and children Reece (15), Evie (9) and Daniel (4). "It has definitely helped me to cope with lockdown as, having to close my business, I needed something to do to keep busy. "It has really helped me mentally to be able to give something back. "We now need donations to help buy the fabric and I hope people will go on to our GoFundMe page and donate what they can." To support the team you can donate at gofundme.com/f/cloth-masks-for-ireland-and-uk 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. Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn Photo: Courtesy of Kuhn Editor's Note: The coronavirus is posing an increasingly tough challenge to the entire world. What can China's successful experience offer? What role does it play in the global anti-virus fight? What's behind some Western politicians' slandering of China's efforts? Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of The Kuhn Foundation and recipient of the China Reform Friendship Medal (2018), shared his insights on these issues and more with Global Times (GT) reporter Yan Yunming. GT: The coronavirus outbreak within China has almost been brought under control. How do you evaluate China's efforts in curbing the epidemic? Kuhn: To me, one of the probative insights of why and how China has contained, and will continue to contain, the epidemic is the remarkable parallelism between China's war on the novel coronavirus and China's war on poverty. Consider the parallel factors: First, the operational leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), not just giving directives and pronouncements but actually implementing programs and projects through the CPC organizational structure - central and five levels of local government (provincial, municipal, county, township, village). Second, the leadership of President Xi Jinping, who sets an example for other government officials. President Xi makes the remarkable statement - "I have spent more energy on poverty alleviation than on anything else." I know no other national leader who has made such an assertion. Third, the mobilization leadership of the CPC, able to command the country's resources in personnel and materials. For example, assigning "sister" relationships between 16 strong provinces and specific cities in Hubei. An important factor is that since the CPC controls the PLA, through the Central Military Commission, the military can be mobilized instantly to help in domestic crises, like earthquakes, floods and now epidemics. I take it seriously when the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee calls the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic "a major test of China's system and capacity for governance" - a phrase of such significance that in my 30-plus years of watching China, I do not recall the like. Let me explain why I was, from the beginning, confident that China would overcome the epidemic. I had three reasons: China's commitment, competence, and readiness to change and improve. China's commitment to fight COVID-19 is exemplified by the country's astonishing mobilization to stop its spread. The government issued strict and resolute directives with instant and draconian punishment for non-compliance. The whole country marched to this music. This was China's monumental "whole of society" commitment. China's mobilization was unprecedented in global health history. Nowhere could it work like it works in China. And the reason it works relates to how the party system works. As noted above, it is the same kind of commitment and mobilization that the party has been using to win the battle against poverty since around 2012, with its targeted or precision poverty alleviation campaign, coordinating party leadership and organizations at central government and the five levels of local government. The structural similarities between China's war on the coronavirus and its war on poverty are indeed striking. China's competence to fight the virus is exemplified by the country's unremitting implementation of its commitment: locking down Wuhan; house-to-house temperature checks; the party's grid management system of social control; postponing the return to work after the Lunar New Year break of hundreds of millions of travelers. When I discuss the five or so primary reasons for China's remarkable development over the past four decades, I always include the party's willingness to admit and correct errors. Hence, in tracking this virus epic, I focus on the leadership's forthright acknowledgement of "shortcomings and deficiencies" in the country's response. As with any contagion early action is always essential in stopping the spread of virulent diseases. But how to develop an early warning system? The challenge is handling an avalanche of information, from diverse public and private sources and of variegated and uncertain quality. On the one hand, who can deny that false rumors can increase anxiety, trigger panic, and even destabilize society? On the other hand, it has become evident that suppressing information in the name of social stability can foment disaster. Early local efforts to play down the risks of the coronavirus delayed the response as the contagion mushroomed. A strong, top-down system is effective at stopping rumors, especially with advanced IT technologies, but it is challenged to enable diverse voices to surface and expose vital truths about frontline problems early in the process. Chinese top leadership has pledged to rid the party of "formalism and bureaucratism." Transparency is the key. The government states that it will learn lessons from the outbreak, which will enhance its capacity for governance. Self-correction, the party says, is its hallmark. If so, future historians may well look upon China's fight against the coronavirus as a turning point in worldwide efforts to contain outbreaks of novel diseases and stop their spread, which globalization and ubiquitous air travel have made vital. History may well thank China for pioneering how to deal with virulent contagions in a globalized world. GT: Some politicians have politicized the epidemic and used it to attack China's political system and the CPC. What's your comment? Kuhn: Those who use the pandemic to score political points have their priorities mixed up. They nourish the virus with US-China competition, when they should starve the virus through US-China cooperation. Never has such cooperation been more urgently needed - to battle and contain the pandemic and to sustain and bolster the world economy. Containing the global pandemic, like bolstering the global economy, depends on US-China collaboration. If climate change is the world's most intractable chronic problem, then COVID-19 is the world's most severe acute problem. My two favorite countries have a choice: either work together to fight the pandemic by developing drugs and vaccines to kill and stop COVID-19, or suffer an out-of-control global pandemic and a chain-reaction cratering the global economy. Nations can fight the virus and collectively win, or fight each other and collectively lose. GT: Some observers view the epidemic containment work as an assessment of different political systems. Europe has become the new epicenter of the global pandemic, and the number of infections in the US is also rising rapidly. How do you evaluate the measures taken by these democracies? Kuhn: There are no perfect political systems; all political systems have tradeoffs. No doubt, China's system of party-led, strong government can deal more effectively, more efficiently and more rapidly with the stringent demands of a lockdown, quarantine and containment, and mobilization of national resources and healthcare professionals. Democratic countries, such as those in Europe, are used to policy decisions being hotly debated by opposing political parties, and in the media, and thus are not as suited in dealing with emergency situations. Given the emergency situation in Europe, especially in Italy and Spain, they are now seeking to learn from China's containment success. Conversely, there are other areas of contemporary societies where China may learn from Europe. In this time of global shifts, the global community must understand one another, especially with respect to China. Simply put, China's path is socialism with Chinese characteristics, which stresses the leadership of the CPC, and the CPC's commitment to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the broad-based fulfillment of the Chinese people. China's path maintains a strong government in all sectors, promotes economic development with the market playing a "decisive role," enforces social stability and regulates social discourse, and prioritizes the welfare of all citizens, including the poorest. The unique feature distinguishing the China model from Western models, of course, is that the CPC, the party, maintains perpetual leadership and utilizes a meritocratic system rooted in Chinese civilization. Developmental policies that must have long-term commitments, such as infrastructure, science and technology, and poverty alleviation, can have long-term commitment. As for the trade-offs, the sustained anti-corruption campaign addresses one such trade-off. Comprehensively improving the rule of law addresses another. Continuing challenges also include how to provide diverse opinions in policymaking. GT: How do you see China's role in the global fight against the pandemic? Kuhn: President Xi's four proposals at the G20 on Thursday to enable humanity as a whole to win the battle against this major infectious disease, and the virtual proximity of world leaders in this extraordinary G20 meeting, give enriched and real-world meaning to the vision of an international community with a shared future and a common destiny. "A community with a shared future for all humanity" is a grand vision with multiple applications. For years, it has driven foreign policy, especially the Belt and Road Initiative, helping to rectify global imbalances. Few ever imagined that a pandemic could become so grave so fast. But as the pandemic has burst into planetary consciousness, it demonstrates viscerally the global criticality of "shared future" thinking. The challenge for China is to elevate this vision above what appears to some as competitive positioning or even as a sprint to assert China's leadership. China's experience in containing the contagion, which many countries now desperately need, provides just such an opportunity. By sending "battle-tested" medical teams to countries suffering under the siege of contagion, China brings to bear experts with contemporary, frontline, epidemic experience. China's evolved know-how in fighting and containing the novel coronavirus, especially the selfless work of dedicated Chinese healthcare and logistics professionals, can enable other countries, where outbreaks occurred after China's, to benefit from China's experience. In addition, as China is the world's manufacturing center, and having ramped up production of healthcare goods, the country has unexcelled capacity for supplying desperately needed materials and equipment. Now is the time to get needed supplies to where they are needed. Nothing else should matter. GT: The Daily Beast reported on March 21 that the White House is "launching a communications plan across multiple federal agencies" which focuses on accusing China of "creating a global pandemic." At this critical time for world cooperation, what's your comment on such acts? Kuhn: Emotions worldwide are frayed, rubbed raw by the pandemic's daily-life disruptions, with economic devastation threatening to exceed that of the 2008 global financial crisis. In this toxic psychological environment, when non-stop news, especially in social media, amplifies fantastical, scurrilous, unsubstantiated rumors by insensitive officials or block-brained conspiracy theorists, attitudes harden and antagonisms ossify. Indigenous nationalism flares in vicious circles. Containment of the polemic will be more challenging than containment of the coronavirus, the latter likely to burn out before the former. If so, Chinese views of America, and American views of China, are only going to deteriorate further, to the detriment of all. GT: What influence will the pandemic have on the Chinese economy and the global economy? Will it be a short or long-term effect? Kuhn: It is natural for the economy to suffer because consumption is so dramatically suppressed, the outbreak having come at the worst time, right before the Chinese New Year Spring Festival. But there is no simple statement about the economic condition because the epidemic's impact is differential - some industries are hit very hard where it will be difficult to recoup the losses, like hospitality, restaurants, airlines; some industries are hit hard but should expect to have a "bounce" make-up after the epidemic is over, like automotive. I expect e-commerce to do very well, even to accelerate its market penetration, because people will feel more comfortable, at least for a while, shopping online and not going to public places. Certainly, the central government is enacting policies in support of companies that must navigate several hard months, providing special financings and abatements, particularly for small and medium-sized companies. These programs are in process, giving a confidence boost. There is concern about international companies, some of which have prior to the epidemic felt their supply chains threatened by US/international trade tensions, and the virus may reinforce their risk-management sense to diversify their supply chains outside of China. Here is where China can take pro-active steps in accelerating further reform and opening up of domestic markets, which will encourage international companies to remain committed to China and perhaps even to take advantage of new opportunities. In general, China's economic recovery, once the epidemic is contained, is the "easy" part. One need only review China's recent history to appreciate the potency and resiliency of Chinese workers, who are the foundation of China's historic transformation, and to recognize the depth and sophistication of China's industrial chain, which has development dramatically in recent years and is the deepest and most comprehensive in the world. One need not be an economist to forecast that, with the novel coronavirus largely contained but with the country remaining cautious and alert there will be "snap back" or a "make up" period of strong growth driven by pent-up demand. 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 Middle-aged people have a dramatically higher risk of needing hospital care or dying from COVID-19 than the young, a study suggests. An analysis of more than 70,000 cases of COVID-19, mostly in China, estimated that eight per cent of those in their fifties will be hospitalised. The figure is four per cent for patients in their 50s, but soars to 18 per cent for those in their 80s and above. Of all patients infected, even those with just mild symptoms, around 1.4 per cent will die, according to the study by Imperial College London involving scientific advisor to the Government, Professor Neil Ferguson. Those under 20 years old have less than a one per cent chance of death, which rises to almost eight per cent of those aged 80 years old and over. Analysis of the patients also showed those in their 50s have a 0.59 per cent chance of dying, while the rate was 0.16 per cent for those in their 40s. The findings, published in prestigious medical journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, are some of the most comprehensive to date. The study, which comes as the worldwide infection toll today passed 800,000, can be applied to 'any country', according to the researchers. The real mortality rate is difficult to gauge at this stage of the pandemic because each country has a different testing strategy - potentially millions of mild cases are being missed. An analysis of more than 70,000 cases of COVID-19, mostly in China, estimated that four per cent of those in their forties will be hospitalised, while 0.16 per cent will die. Of those in their 50s, eight per cent will need hospital care and 0.59 per cent will die Middle-aged people have a dramatically higher risk of needing hospital care or dying from COVID-19 than the young, a study suggests. Pictured, a woman with an unknown condition is helped from an ambulance at the St Thomas' Hospital on March 30, 2020 in London An analysis of more than 70,000 cases of COVID-19 by researchers at Imperial College London estimated that eight per cent of people who catch coronavirus in their 50s will be hospitalised. Pictured, an NHS worker wearing a mask and goggles takes a man with an unknown condition from an ambulance at the St Thomas' Hospital on March 31 'Our estimates can be applied to any country to inform decisions around the best containment policies for COVID-19,' said Azra Ghani, a study co-author from Imperial College London. 'There might be outlying cases that get a lot of media attention, but our analysis very clearly shows that at aged 50 and over, hospitalisation is much more likely than in those under 50, and a greater proportion of cases are likely to be fatal.' The research was conducted by the team at MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis and Modelling, a branch of Imperial College London which provides advice for new diseases. Some 70,117 cases came from China and 689 among people who were repatriated from Wuhan to their home countries between January 30 and February 1. The team say age is a key determining factor in serious infections, with nearly one in five over-80s likely to require hospitalisation, compared to around one per cent among people under 30. Hospitalisation rate of patients in their seventies is estimated to be 16.6 per cent and 11.8 per cent for those in their 60s. Just over eight per cent of patients in their fifties are likely to need hospital care, and 4.3 per cent in patients in their 40s. The study estimated the mortality rate from confirmed COVID-19 cases in mainland China was 1.38 per cent. If unconfirmed cases were taken into account, the death rate dropped to 0.66 per cent, their model finds. Unconfirmed cases, or 'silent carriers', was informed by testing of international Wuhan residents returning on repatriation flights. All of the travellers would have been tested, giving an idea of how many people were positive for the virus without actually showing symptoms. WHAT ARE THE ESTIMATED HOSPITALISATION AND DEATH RATES FOR EACH AGE, ACCORDING TO THE IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON TEAM? Age Hospitalisation Death rate 0-9 years 0% 0.0016% 10-19 years 0.04% 0.0069% 20-29 years 1% 0.03% 30-39 years 3.40% 0.08% 40-49 years 4.30% 0.16% 50-59 years 8% 0.59% 60-69 years 11.80% 1.93% 70-79 years 16.60% 4.28% >80 years 18.40% 7.80% The death rate rose from 0.0016 per cent in those under 10, to 7.8 per cent in those 80 years old or above. Those in their 40s and 50s still have less than a one per cent chance of death if they have the disease, which rises to two to four per cent in those aged in their 60s and 70s. Using data on 24 deaths that occurred in mainland China and 165 recoveries outside of China, the team estimated the mean duration from onset of symptoms to death is 178 days. That means someone could be infected, develop symptoms, have hospital care and die within three weeks. Figures from those who recovered show the transition from infection to hospital discharge is 24.7 days. The overall mortality rate is significantly lower than what has been feared during the pandemic - up to four per cent, according to the World Health Organization. It is also similar to the Diamond Princess cruise ship, linked to 712 people cases and ten deaths - a mortality rate of 1.26 per cent. All patients would have been tested, giving a clearer picture of exactly how many are infected. Evidence of a lower mortality rate is beginning to emerge as scientists try and take asymptomatic cases into count. Statistics released this morning revealed basic details about the first 108 people in Britain to have COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificate. Elderly people and men were the worst affected, the data showed WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST UK CORONAVIRUS VICTIMS Three quarters of the UK's first coronavirus fatalities were over the age of 75, according to official statistics. Details of the first 108 people to die from COVID-19 in England and Wales have emerged today in figures revealing deaths outside of NHS hospitals for the first time. They show that 59 per cent of the victims up to March 20 were male, a total of 64 out of 108, while 44 women died. Only one person under the age of 44 was counted among the fatalities and 73 per cent (79 people) were over the age of 75. The numbers, published by the Government's Office for National Statistics, revealed that the true death toll of the virus may be 24 per cent higher than NHS data shows. The ONS recorded 210 deaths up to and including March 20 in England and Wales, during which time the Department of Health tallied only 170. The higher figure includes anyone who had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificate, whether it was a direct cause of death or not. Some may not have even been tested. Advertisement The only way to discover the mortality rate for COVID-19 is to find out how many people are infected in the population. Experts stress that without widespread testing it is impossible to know this. But the team at Imperial stress that while their estimated death rate is lower, COVID-19 is still several times deadlier than previous pandemic viruses, such as the H1N1 influenza. The team concluded that some countries will not be able to get a grip of their epidemics, like Asia has proven to do. They wrote: 'The world is currently experiencing the early stages of a global pandemic. 'Although China has succeeded in containing the disease spread for two months, such containment is unlikely to be achievable in most countries. 'Thus, much of the world will experience very large community epidemics of COVID-19 over the coming weeks and months.' According to their modelling, the authors estimate that 50-80 percent of the global population could contract COVID-19 - but that came with several caveats, as modelling can't account for behavioural changes such as hand washing and social distancing. Devi Sridhar, professor and chair of Global Public Health, at the University of Edinburgh's Medical School, urged caution against the assumption that most people will get it. It could lead governments, including in Britain, to abandon measures that could help slow the pandemic in the favour of 'herd immunity'. She tweeted on Tuesday: 'If assumption is everyone will get it, then UK will indeed be in an endless cycle of lockdown/release as gov't turns on/off tap of spread to let virus filter through the population & attempt to keep ICU need within capacity... 'Planning & preparing for unprecedented testing & using big data/apps for tracing were taken off the table. In my view, we went down the wrong path.' 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. AKRON, Ohio A teen was taken to the hospital after a shooting downtown, according to police. Officers were called to the 600 block of Brown Street, which is south of East Exchange Street and north of Interstate 76, at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday. They found a 19-year-old male in the street with a gunshot wound to his upper body. The suspect in the shooting was gone by the time officers arrived. Police did not release details on a possible motive for the shooting. The victim was taken by ambulance to Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center. He is in stable condition and his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, police say. Anyone with information can call police at 330-375-2490 or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. Tips can be sent by texting TIPSCO to 274637. Callers can remain anonymous. More crime-related content on cleveland.com: Teen shot to death in Clevelands Central neighborhood Man shot to death in Clevelands Glenville neighborhood Grand jury to consider charges against Lorain man accused of fatally shooting girlfriend North Olmsted serial purse-snatcher arrested twice in one day after targeting women at grocery stores, police say Man whose murder conviction was overturned in 2018 says Cleveland police withheld evidence, manipulated witnesses NEW YORK, March 31 (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co told employees on Tuesday it is changing its customer complaint system and how staff choose which customers are eligible for certain banking products after the New York Times reported allegations of racial discrimination against black customers at the bank last year. The reports prompted the bank to "look at how we do business so that we could gain a deeper understanding of what more we can do to root out racism and discrimination," co-Chief Executives Gordon Smith and Daniel Pinto wrote in a memo sent to the bank's staff seen by Reuters and verified by a bank spokesman. In December, the New York Times reported instances of racial discrimination at the bank's branches in the Phoenix, Arizona, area, citing audio recordings made by a bank employee and a customer as evidence. "We are looking across the whole firm and at everything we do. We've identified a number of areas that, with enhanced, scaled or new programming or processes, would serve to improve our culture in important ways," Smith and Pinto wrote. The bank will simplify the process through which employees file customer complaints and flag serious concerns to senior management. It is also re-evaluating the qualification requirements for new products and benefits and will strengthen tools bank managers use to monitor employees who have discretion over which customers get access to certain products and benefits. The bank also committed to recruiting more diverse staff and said it will expand assessment programs for managers that evaluate how successfully they recruit for and hire diverse employees in management. (Reporting By Elizabeth Dilts Marshall; Editing by Dan Grebler) The Zaandam cruise ship, on which four passengers died from COVID-19, was traveling to Florida on March 30 after passing through the Panama Canal with its sister ship, the Rotterdam, where asymptomatic passengers had been transferred. Holland America Line, which operates the ships, said on March 27 that four older guests had died on the Zaandam, while 53 guests and 85 crew had reported to the ships medical center with influenza-like symptoms. Two individuals tested positive for the new coronavirus, the company said. There were 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board the Zaandam. A company update said the ship left Chile on March 21 and planned to arrive at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 30, where the company hoped guests from both ships could disembark. However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said on Monday that he does not want to see people from the Zaandam disembark in Florida and was talking to the Trump administration about next steps. This footage was shared by Ian Rae, a passenger on the Zaandam who lives in London, England. He told Storyful he filmed the video as about two-thirds of the passengers were transferred from the Zaandam to the Rotterdam on March 29. He stayed on the Zaandam, he said. Credit: Ian Rae via Storyful 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 11:28:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close XI'AN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- An all-cargo charter plane carrying over 20 tonnes of medical supplies collected from across China took off on Monday from the Xianyang International Airport in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, for Leipzig, Germany. This was the first of 14 cargo charter flights to transport a total of 300 tonnes of Chinese medical materials to Germany, where they will be dispatched to other places in Europe to aid European countries' fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. The charter flight operated by Russian Atran Airlines was also the first cargo flight to Europe from the airport in Xi'an since the outbound flights had been suspended due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus in China. The first batch of medical supplies includes 2.08 million pairs of medical gloves and 30,870 protective clothes. The ensuing flights will send medical supplies of face masks, protective clothing and ventilators to Europe. China has coordinated airports, customs, freight forwarders and airlines for swift delivery of the medical supplies to Europe. Huawei Technologies reported a dramatic slowdown in the second half of 2019 on Tuesday, weighed down by U.S. restrictions on the Chinese telecom giant. While revenue grew 19.1% annually, topping $123 billion, the companys overall growth declined 80% from Q1 to Q4, making for a big challenge, according to SVP Vincent Pang. The business environment didnt change much globally for Huawei, Pang told Yahoo Finance, attributing the slowdown to the Trump administrations actions. If you see the slowdown from the first quarter to the last quarter, I would say its directly impacted by the restriction from the U.S. entity list and also [pressures] placed on other countries. I dont think theres other reasons. Huaweis annual profit also slowed down, coming in at $9 billion, a 5.6% growth year-on-year, compared to the 25% growth the company posted in 2018. Operating cash flow increased by 22% to $13.1 billion. The companys consumer business group proved to be the biggest growth driver, accounting for more than half the total revenue for the first time. Huawei shipped 240 million units globally, a 16.8% increase from the previous year. Yingying Li, head of marketing communications for unit, said Huawei achieved record high shipment globally in January of this year. The annual report comes on the heels of a year the company characterized as its toughest, amid pressure from Washington. Last May, the Commerce Department placed Huawei on the entity list, banning American companies from selling parts and components directly to the Chinese company. That dramatically slowed operations at the worlds second largest smartphone maker, resulting in a revenue loss of more than $10 billion, according to Huawei. President Trump has maintained the telecom equipment maker poses a national security risk because of its close ties to Chinas Communist Party, citing founder Ren Zhengfeis past with the Peoples Liberation Army. Huawei has repeatedly denied any accusations of espionage, saying it would fight back against any government requests to create a backdoor in its infrastructure. Huaweis slowdown was most pronounced in its enterprise business, where growth dropped from more than 30% in 2018, to just 8.6% growth last year. Story continues In addition to geopolitical pressures, Huawei executives said the company had also been hampered by the coronavirus outbreak globally. Pang said strict stay-at-home orders had delayed the buildout of 5G infrastructure in Europe and China, though he expected the domestic market to catch up quickly, given that China has already passed the peak of the outbreak. Li said sales of mobile devices took an immediate hit after Huawei stores, like many retailers, were ordered to close, but huge demand online helped supplement some of the loss. Specifically, the company saw 110% growth in online demand for PCs, with many working from home. The fortunate thing is most of our factories are actually in the southern part of China and not in the area that's been most affected, Li said. Our production capacity has already reached nearly 100%, and we have enough stock, and there's no disruption of supply chain. Despite the broader slowdown, Huawei is committing $20 billion to R&D, over 10% of its total revenue. Akiko Fujita is an anchor and reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @AkikoFujita Mixed messaging around face masks has been at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic as Canadians try to arm themselves with the correct personal protective equipment when venturing out of the house. Global perspectives on the use of masks in public are divisive. While some countries like the Czech Republic urge theyve been able to slow growth of coronavirus by making masks mandatory for every person leaving their home, hospitals in Toronto are facing a shortage and have begun to solicit them from the general public. Hospitals in Vancouver and Ottawa have told staff to limit themselves to two surgical masks per shift. Meanwhile, Michael Garron Hospital in Torontos east-end went as far as telling volunteers to sew masks for the general public. Right now, Canadians are being asked by their federal and provincial governments to only go out when in need of essential services, to work (if theyre required), or to the doctor. However, many arent sure if they need to gear up with a mask when they leave the house. Despite the rumours, both the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization have been clear on their messaging unless youre symptomatic, you do not need to wear a mask. The website for the Public Health Agency of Canada also states the use of a mask is not recommended for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Dr. Bonita Bodani specializes in pediatrics in Regina and Toronto and believes that while masks may provide some protection, in some cases, they can do the opposite. Wearing a mask can give a false sense of security and actually increase your risk of contracting the virus if not used and disposed of properly or not replaced frequently, she said. When masks become damp, Canadians should remove them and dispose of them immediately. The only time Canadians are advised to wear a mask out in public is when theyre experiencing symptoms such as a dry cough, fever, difficulty breathing or pneumonia in either lung. With someone whos ill, a mask can reduce spread. Story continues The mask acts as a barrier and helps stop the tiny droplets from spreading when you cough or sneeze, messaging on the site reads. The virus can also be airborne and remain dormant on inanimate objects for a large period of time. Dr. Bonita Bodani says Canadians can opt to put on a face mask when they know they'll be in close proximity with others when accessing essential services, but recommends good hygiene practices as the best solution. Dr. Bodani also recommends that if youre forced to come in close-proximity to others, where you cant adhere to the two metre or six feet recommendation, a mask is recommended. The grocery store, other essential services or enclosed spaces, you can wear a mask to provide some protection of possible transmission to yourself, she said. How to wear a mask properly First things first, before putting on a mask, you will need to either wash your hands with soap and water for 30 seconds or use alcohol-sanitizer. Next, figure out which side of the mask is facing outwards (usually its the coloured side). Following that, place the mask over the bridge of your nose, and loop it around your ears. Still life of a face mask on red background After its secured on your ears, slightly pinch the nose and pull the bottom of the mask around and under your chin to create a seal. It is essential that the mask covers the nose and chin to prevent aerosols from entering any openings. After youre done with the mask, remove it from behind your ears and avoid touching the front and dispose of it. Finally, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer. The best way to protect yourself Surgical masks are not a solution by themselves, and instead Dr. Bodani recommends Canadians continue to follow the WHO and the Public Health Agency of Canadas recommendations to continue physically distancing. The best safety measure to protect yourself from droplet transmission is to stay at home and isolate and avoid any human interaction, she said. Instead of opting for masks and trying to secure sanitizer, Dr. Bodani recommends using soap and water. Wash your hands frequently, do not shake anyones hands or hug anyone. Avoid touching your face, she said. Dr. Bodani believes if Canadians can buy into social and physical distancing and continue to wash their hands and practice good hygiene, the use of masks will be rendered effectively minimal. If you practice these other safety measures, the use of masks will only provide little additional protection, she said. Iranian official says attack took place near Irans Bazargan border with Turkey. Irans natural gas exports to Turkey have stopped after a terrorist attack on a pipeline inside Turkey, an Iranian official told state television. This morning, terrorists attacked a natural gas pipeline inside Turkey near Irans Bazargan border with Turkey flow of gas has been halted, said Mehdi Jamshidi-Dana, director of National Iranian Gas Co on Tuesday. The pipeline has exploded several times in the past. It is also likely that the PKK group has carried out the blast, he told Irans state news agency IRNA, referring to the outlawed armed group, the Kurdistan Workers Party. Jamshidi-Dana said the Turkish border guards have left because of the coronavirus outbreak before adding that we have informed them of the explosion and are waiting for their response, IRNA reported. It takes usually three to four days to repair and resume gas exports. Turkish side confirms blast Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency confirmed that a blast near the Gurbulak crossing known as Bazargan on the Iranian side in the Agri province damaged the pipeline and halted the flow of natural gas. Firefighters extinguished the flame caused by the explosion, the agency said, adding that military forces had secured the area. Anadolu also said an investigation was ongoing to find out what caused the explosion. The pipeline, which carries approximately 10 billion cubic meters of Iranian gas to Turkey annually, had been attacked frequently by Kurdish militants during the 1990s and up until 2013 before a ceasefire was established. The PKK is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Some 40,000 people have been killed in the fight between Turkish forces and the PKK ongoing since 1980s. People with visual impairments have claimed they were turned away from UK supermarkets 'because they would be unable to stay two metres from other customers' under social distancing rules. One man alleged he was stopped from entering an unnamed supermarket in Derby because he was 'unable to guarantee' he could remain a distance from the nearest person. Others with disabilities have claimed they are 'not being allowed helpers in some supermarkets' because the stores are 'limiting entry to one person at a time.' 'One individual was not allowed to go in because she couldn't carry her basket in her wheelchair,' Amo Raju from the Disability Direct charity said. People with visual impairments have claimed they were turned away from UK supermarkets 'because they would be unable to stay two metres from other customers' under social distancing rules (Pictured: Shoppers in London today) 'And there was the visually impaired customer who was not allowed into his local store because they said he could not socially distance and wouldn't allow anyone to help him.' The claims come as parents alleged major supermarkets had prevented them from shopping with their children as part of a crackdown on social distancing rules. Many grocers have limited the number of people allowed inside a supermarket at once, with others asking customers to remain at least two metres apart amid the UK's coronavirus outbreak. Supermarkets have seen a significant rise in footfall throughout March, with shoppers seen lining the streets with trolleys as they wait to enter stores and stock up on essentials. Major stores have now opted to set aside dedicated shopping hours for the over-70s and vulnerable - and NHS workers - so these groups are able to keep their fridges full. But Mr Raju said he has heard 'ghastly stories' about the treatment those with disabilities have allegedly faced at UK supermarkets. 'Common sense must prevail and reasonable adjustments must be made for disabled people, regardless of the current pressures,' he added. People queue outside a central London Sainsbury's Local amid the coronavirus crisis today Pictured: A man wearing a mask as a precaution against COVID-19 stands with a shopping trolley inside a Morrisons supermarket in York Mr Raju also appealed to non-disabled people to think of those in need and to not book delivery or Click and Collect shopping slots if they can go to the supermarket. He said: 'There seems to be some confusion over the Government prioritising 1.5 million of society's most at-risk citizens. 'Many many disabled people do not fall into this category because they are not on high enough immunosuppressant medications. 'There should not be the assumption that all disabled people have priority slots. We simply don't.' It comes as parents criticised supermarket chains including Aldi, Sainsbury's, Asda and Tesco after they were allegedly refused entry to stores when they arrived with their children. All four supermarkets, however, have confirmed to MailOnline that children are permitted to enter their stores. One grandmother took to Twitter after her daughter - who is a single mother - was allegedly turned away from an Aldi store because she had her five-year-old daughter with her. Parents have claimed supermarkets have prevented them from shopping with their children as part of a crackdown on social distancing rules (Pictured: Shoppers outside a Sainsbury's in Saltburn) One grandmother took to Twitter after her daughter - who is a single mother - was allegedly turned away from an Aldi store because she had her five-year-old daughter with her '@AldiUK since when did you stop children going into your shops? My daughter tried to go shopping today with her five-year-old daughter but was told she couldn't go in with her daughter,' she said. 'She's a single mother what is she supposed to do with her? I am beyond angry.' Another shopper claimed she witnessed a single parent being told to leave her four and six-year-old children in the car outside an Aldi supermarket. She said: 'Aldi are refusing to let mums and their children in to do shopping! 'What are single parents meant to do with their children. A single parent who has a four and six year old was told to leave them in the car! 'Disgusting! There is a three-week wait for delivery.' A third customer said: 'A friend visited @AldiUK this morning and has been told that she has to leave her four kids at the front of the store whilst she does her essential food shop. 'She's a single mom and has no choice but to take her kids shopping as she has nobody to look after them.' Parents have also hit out at Sainsbury's for allegedly not allowing families to enter stores with their children Parents have also allegedly been turned away from Asda stores despite the supermarket insisting families with children will be permitted to enter. 'Asda are allowing one person only from each household... I just got turned away with my son,' one shopper said. 'Luckily I could leave him outside if I wanted as he's old enough. Kinda concerned for the single parents with younger children and no family/support though. 'How can they shop?' Another added: 'I was at Asda with my seven-year-old this week and was told by security guards that I would be 'allowed in this time but next time I'd need to work something else out'! 'Unfortunately many of us do not have the privilege of leaving our children safe at home. I will shop elsewhere'. Similar scenes were reported at Tesco and Asda, with one customer claiming a single mother was asked to leave her five-year-old child outside the shop alone A third claimed an Asda store in Reading, Berkshire was also not 'allowing any children' inside despite claims by the supermarket that this 'isn't the case.' Similar scenes were reported at Tesco, with one customer alleging a single mother was asked to leave her five-year-old child outside the shop alone. 'Bunch [of] heartless staff around my area,' she said. 'Told a SINGLE mother to leave her five-year-old child alone outside because they aren't allowing children into the shop. 'And because she refused, they wouldn't allow her in.' Parents have also hit out at Sainsbury's for allegedly not allowing families to enter stores with their children. Parents have also allegedly been turned away from Asda stores despite the supermarket insisting families with children will be permitted to enter Shoppers stand two metres apart as they wait to enter a Sainsbury's supermarket which is now enforcing restricted entry to avoid overcrowding amid the coronavirus pandemic How is YOUR supermarket limiting customers? Many grocers have limited the number of people allowed inside a supermarket at once, with others asking customers to remain at least two metres apart amid the UK's coronavirus outbreak. ASDA In Asda stores, the number of people allowed inside has been capped depending on the size of the supermarket and the number of workers. A spokesperson said: 'Where needed, we are limiting the total number of shoppers we allow into a store at any one time. 'If possible, it would help us greatly if you could bring fewer family members when visiting our stores. This will help us maintain social distancing guidelines we already have in place.' ALDI Aldi is also capping the number of customers allowed inside each store at once. This is at the discretion of each store manager as stores are all different sizes. LIDL Lidl said last week it is 'implementing a crowd control system with immediate effect' in an attempt to manage social distancing in stores. SAINSBURY'S Sainsbury's has put in place a queuing system outside stores to control crowd sizes. People have been asked to stand two metres apart. TESCO Tesco is also limiting the number of people permitted to be inside a store at once. A Tesco spokesman told the Sun: 'We know how hard NHS staff are working at the moment. 'So we are opening our doors for them an hour earlier on Sundays, to help them access the things they need and as a thank you for all they are doing.' Advertisement 'So when did you decide to stop allowing children into your stores?' one shopper said. 'I was refused entry with my son and security told me to leave my seven-year-old outside ALONE! I am a single parent!' When contacted by MailOnline, a spokeswoman for Sainsbury's confirmed children are permitted to enter stores. Asda said it 'absolutely does not have a ban on children coming into our stores', but added it is 'limiting the total number of shoppers we allow into a store at any one time.' 'If possible, it would help us greatly if you could bring fewer family members when visiting our stores. This will help us maintain social distancing guidelines we already have in place,' a spokesman said. Aldi also confirmed there are no restrictions to people shopping with other family members, but said customers have been asked for one person per household to shop alone wherever possible. Tesco added it has not banned children from its stores but it is also encouraging customers to shop with no more than one other person to help maintain social distancing measures. The alleged crackdown on supermarket entry comes as the UK's coronavirus death toll jumped to 1,415 after dozens more fatalities were recorded in a single day. England reported 159 deaths overnight, while Wales recorded 14, Scotland six and Northern Ireland one. The daily increase in deaths in the UK has fallen for two days in a row, dropping from 209 on Sunday and 260 on Saturday - in what was Britain's darkest day in the crisis yet. But there are fears of a fresh spike in fatalities tomorrow because officials will count deaths outside of hospitals for the first time. Meanwhile the number of confirmed cases in Britain has now soared past 20,000 after hundreds of positive tests in the last 24 hours. But experts predict the true number to be more than two million because of the Government's decision to only test patients so ill they are admitted to hospital. 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. American Airlines became the first US carrier to announce it will request federal aid under the just-approved relief package, saying it will apply for $12 billion as it attempts to survive a global downturn sparked by the coronavirus pandemic. The US carrier has seen its business devastated as part of an industry-wide depression, but the funds should permit it to survive the very rough patch without resorting to deep layoffs, executives said in a letter to employees Monday. With air travel at a near standstill due to COVID-19, Trump administration officials have said they are examining the possibility of taking equity shares in airlines as part of the bailout for the industry. "These funds are being distributed to ensure continuation of essential airline service and protect jobs," American's Chief Executive Doug Parker and President Robert Isom said in the letter. "We intend to apply for these funds and are confident that, along with our relatively high available cash position, they will allow us to fly through even the worst of potential future scenarios." The executives said the funds should allow them to avoid involuntary furloughs or cuts to benefits or pay for the next six months. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, two other large carriers have until April 3 to apply for support under the $2 trillion "Cares" Act, which sets aside $50 billion for passenger airlines. - Huge drop in passengers - The airline industry is one of the sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 outbreak, with US carriers suspending most transatlantic flights and many domestic routes. There were just 154,080 travelers on Monday, down from nearly 2.4 million a year ago, according to data from the US Transportation Security Administration. The latest forecasts by the International Air Transport Association estimate that airlines globally will loss $252 billion in revenues in 2020 compared to last year due to the cutbacks. The trade group praised the US relief bill and also cited measures by other governments, including China, Australia, Colombia and Singapore. As part of their efforts to rein in costs at a time when revenues have fallen sharply, leading US carriers have encouraged employees to take unpaid leave where they maintain their health and flying benefits. The American Airlines executives said the company would institute "enhanced voluntary leave and early retirement options" as "there is no doubt we will have more team members than we need to fly our dramatically reduced flight schedules over the next several months." Under the new policy, employees who take voluntary leave will be eligible for a "partial salary component," Parker and Isom said. US officials said the government could take a stake in the airlines, as it did when Washington bailed out Detroit automakers after the 2008 financial crisis. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, speaking on CBS's "Face the Nation" talk show, said the government could take equity positions in return for infusions of taxpayer money. "Some of them are very good companies that just need liquidity and will get loans. Some of these companies may need more significant help and we may be taking warrants or equity as well as that," Mnuchin said. "The president wants to make sure the American taxpayers are compensated. This is not a bailout." Aid payment details will be discussed only once American Airlines has officially made its request. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 11:10:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers and learns about the huge changes brought about by advancing green development, in Yucun Village of Tianhuangping Township in Anji County, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) HANGZHOU, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stressed protecting ecological environment, saying all the ecological protection efforts will be rewarded. He made the remarks while visiting Yucun Village in the county of Anji of east China's Zhejiang Province Monday. Xi talked with villagers at a courtyard during the visit. Protecting mountains and waters here well will provide people a unique advantage for further economic development, Xi said. "Ecological environment itself is the economy. All the ecological protection efforts will be rewarded," he said. Fully building a modern socialist country includes both urban modernization and agricultural and rural modernization, Xi said, adding that China will make all-round efforts for rural vitalization after building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. "I am convinced that Yucun Village will embrace a better future," Xi said, wishing villagers a better life. On Mar 30, we issued an updated research report on Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. WPM. The company is poised to gain from higher gold and silver production for the current year, investments in mine expansions, acquisitions and higher gold prices. Upbeat 2020 Prospects Wheaton strives to generate revenues from a diverse production profile of precious metals, including gold, silver and palladium. For the current year, the company expects to produce 390,000 to 410,000 ounces of gold, silver between 22 million ounces and 23.5 million ounces, and palladium in the band of 23,000-24,500 ounces. The company has reiterated its current-year and long-term production guidance announced in February. Gold production is expected to be solid, primarily aided by the Salobo and San Dimas mines. Silver production will likely be stable this year as growth from Penasquito might be partially offset by slight declines at Antamina and Constancia due to mine planning. The company estimates annual gold equivalent production to average 750,000 ounces per year, primarily on continued growth at the Penasquito, Constancia, Stillwater and Salobo mines. For the five-year period ending in 2024, the company estimates that average annual gold equivalent production will amount to 750,000 ounces. Mine Expansions to Aid Growth Wheaton receives benefit from mine exploration and expansion activities. The company expects higher production of silver grade at the Penasquito mine in 2020 as Newmont initiates improvement program to drive productivity and grade. At Constancia, Hudbay has secured the surface rights for the Pampacancha deposit and expects to begin mining the satellite deposit in late 2020. At the Stillwater mine, palladium and gold production is likely to increase with the continued ramp-up of the mill projects. These projects are expected to be growth drivers in the coming years. Last October, Vale invested in the Salobo III mine expansion, wherein 40% expansion has been completed. Vale anticipates that the Salobo expansion is scheduled to commence in the first half of 2022. This will enhance the mines throughput capacity to 36 million ton per annum (Mtpa) from the current level of 24 Mtpa. However, metal producers worldwide are suspending production, slowing project construction as governments are imposing restrictions to contain the spread of coronavirus. Hence, Vale S.A VALE announced that it is placing its Voisey's Bay mining operation in Canada on care and maintenance for a period of four weeks. In 2018, Wheaton acquired two new low-cost, long-life assets to its high-quality portfolio, the Voiseys Bay mine and the Stillwater mines. Hence, suspension of mining operations is likely to hurt Wheatons business in the near term. The company is taking precautionary measures for health and safety of its employees on account of the coronavirus outbreak and implementing measures to minimize any possible impact on the business. Higher Gold Prices & Strong Financial Position Drive Growth Gold prices have been up 6.7% so far this year fueled by the slowdown in manufacturing activity, rate cuts, geopolitical tensions, and apprehensions regarding the coronavirus outbreak. The combination of lower mined-gold supply and higher demand, and geopolitical tensions are likely to drive prices north. This bodes well for Wheaton. The companys cash position, strong operating-cash flows, combined with available credit capacity under the revolving facility of $2 billion, help invest as well as sustain its dividend policy. These also provide flexibilities to acquire additional accretive precious metals. For 2020, Wheatons board of directors hiked the quarterly dividend by 11% year over year to 10 cents per share. Story continues Silver Wheaton Corp Price and Consensus Silver Wheaton Corp Price and Consensus Silver Wheaton Corp price-consensus-chart | Silver Wheaton Corp Quote Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider Wheaton currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Some other top-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Newmont Corporation NEM and Franco-Nevada Corporation FNV, both currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Newmont has an expected earnings growth rate of 72% for 2020. The companys shares have gained 35.7% in the past year. Franco-Nevada has an anticipated earnings growth rate of 37.6% for the ongoing year. Its shares have appreciated 46.6% over the past year. Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020? Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys. Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report VALE S.A. (VALE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Newmont Goldcorp Corporation (NEM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV) : Free Stock Analysis Report Silver Wheaton Corp (WPM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte QUEZON CITY, Philippines The Quezon City government is set to open its second temporary quarantine facility for persons under investigation (PUI) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The facility, dubbed as Hope II, will start accepting PUIs on Tuesday (March 31). It is located inside the Quezon City University (QCU) Complex in Novaliches. The quarantine facility has a 168-bed capacity for PUIs who are unable to undergo self-quarantine in their respective homes, said Belmonte. Patients who will be admitted in the facility will be provided meals, a self-isolation room, personal hygiene kits and proper medication. Medical health professionals will be attending to their condition as they undergo the prescribed quarantine. The city worked for the establishment of this second quarantine facility to limit and control further spread of COVID-19 in the communities after the Department of Health (DOH) ordered hospitals to send home PUIs and positive COVID-19 patients showing mild symptoms for strict self-isolation and close monitoring due to overcapacity in major hospitals. We cannot effectively control the spread of the virus if we send home PUIs and positive COVID-19 patients without the means to self-quarantine. Mayor Belmonte said. On March 19, the city opened Hope-1, a 49-room alternative medical facility which houses 10 COVID-19 positive patients and 24 PUIs as of Sunday (March 29). The post QC to open second temporary quarantine facility in Novaliches appeared first on UNTV News. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. Leo Varadkar spoke to the Chinese premier by phone this morning, discussing personal protection equipment and coronavirus, his office has announced. The Taoiseach thanked Li Keqiang for his countrys assistance regarding the supply of essential medical equipment from China. A statement from the Taoiseachs office said: Ireland has a framework agreement for the purchase of large quantities of supplies from China, and the first consignments arrived on Sunday. Premier Li said they would continue to facilitate smooth implementation of these arrangements, including transport of the medical supplies to Ireland. The Taoiseach and Premier Li discussed the situation regarding the coronavirus in China and Ireland. The Taoiseach commended Premier Li for the way in which China has reduced the spread of the virus. Mr Varadkar also offered to help China in areas of Irish expertise, such as in research, and looked forward to continued cooperation between the two countries. On the call, Premier Li thanked the Mr Varadkar for the way in which Chinese citizens and students are welcomed in Ireland. The statement revealed that they agreed that the Irish and Chinese authorities would maintain close contact in the period ahead. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 03:46:52|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close An Italian national flag is flown at half mast, to mourn the country's dead due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Parliament, Rome, Italy, March 31, 2020. The coronavirus pandemic claimed 11,591 lives in locked-down Italy up to Monday, as the cumulative number of cases reached 101,739, according to the latest data by the Civil Protection Department. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua) ROME, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The coronavirus pandemic claimed 11,591 lives in locked-down Italy up to Monday, as the cumulative number of cases reached 101,739, according to the latest data by the Civil Protection Department managing the national emergency response. On the same day, the country registered the highest daily increase in the number of COVID-19 patients recovered at 1,590. The death of 812 COVID-19 patients was registered on a daily basis, compared to 756 in the previous 24 hours, Civil Protection Department chief and extraordinary commissioner Angelo Borrelli told a press conference. The number of active infections rose by 1,648 against the previous day, reaching 75,528. Of those, some 3,981 people were currently in intensive care, and 27,795 were hospitalized in normal wards. "The majority of people who have tested positive -- namely 43,752 or about 58 percent (of positive) -- are isolated at home, because asymptomatic or with light symptoms," Borrelli said. The official also highlighted the positive trend in recoveries, which grew by 1,590 cases in 24 hours to 14,620 by Monday. "This is the highest daily increase of recoveries registered since the coronavirus has started spreading across our country, and the emergency began," the Borrelli stressed. By topping 100,000, Italy reported the second most cumulative number of coronavirus cases in the world, just after the United States, and was followed by Spain and China. MOST AFFECTED REGIONS At geographical level, the most affected regions by the pandemic remained Lombardy (25,006 active cases), Emilia Romagna (10,766), Veneto (7,564), and Piedmont (7,655), all of them in northern Italy. However, the worst-hit Lombardy seemed to be seeing a timid light at the end of the tunnel, according to local authorities. "The increase in the number of infections keeps slowing down ... with 1,154 new positive cases compared to yesterday, when we had 1,592 more cases," Lombardy's Welfare Councillor Giulio Gallera told a press conference broadcast live on social media and TV networks from Milan. Lombardy's death toll remained very high (6,818), with a daily increase of 458 fatalities, higher than 416 a day earlier, according to Gallera. Top health authorities confirmed a slowdown in the contagion there. "In Lombardy -- and especially in the worst-hit areas of Lodi and Bergamo -- the number of infectious respiratory events for which regional emergency vehicles have been called is markedly reduced," Higher Health Council (CSS) president Franco Locatelli told the press conference alongside Borrelli. "Interventions (deploy of emergency vehicles ) on the territory have halved compared to March 14-15," Locatelli said, adding that the country was moving "in the right direction." "We must not change our strategy, absolutely. The return to normality will be a gradual process ... the goal is to contain the situation now, and prevent further hotbeds," he stressed. Looking at health workers on the frontline of the emergency, some 63 doctors were among those who have died due to the infection -- of which at least 11 over the last 24 hours -- the National Federation of the Orders of Doctors and Dentists (FNOMCeO) said on Monday. In addition, 8,358 health professionals (comprising doctors, nurses, and other sector workers) were among those who tested positive, according to the latest available statistics by the National Health Institute (ISS) updated to March 29. Nicola Zingaretti, the leader of the country's main Democratic Party, said on Monday that he is cured from the coronavirus, more than three weeks after he became the country's first high-profile politician contracting the coronavirus. MIXED RESPONSE On the political side of the crisis, meanwhile, the central government's latest step to help local authorities face the economic impact of the emergency met with a mixed response. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's cabinet late on Saturday had announced it would allocate some 400 million euros (440 million U.S. dollars) to municipalities in order to provide food coupons to households struggling to buy basic goods in these weeks. This is because many poor and low-income families across the locked-down country have remained without a source of income while the halt imposed to all non-essential economic activities continues. The amount, however, was deemed limited by the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) on Monday. ANCI vice-president Roberto Pella further explained the financial provision was indeed welcomed, but it could "suffice up to mid-April." "It is necessary to think about the months that lie ahead, and the amount of 1 billion (euros) could be an effective first response to the (needs of) 8,000 Italian municipalities," all-news TV channel SKY TG24 quoted Pella as saying. At 12 a.m. on Tuesday, on the initiative of the ANCI, Italian mayors will put all flags at half-mast and municipalities will observe one and a half minutes of silence as a sign of national solidarity. Private citizens and firms have so far donated 63.8 million euros (70.2 million U.S. dollars) to a special bank account opened by the Civil Protection Department and devoted specifically to the emergency. By Kim Bo-eun Kyobo Life Insurance's headquarters in central Seoul / Korea Times file The logo of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) sits outside its headquarters ahead of the OPEC and NON-OPEC meeting, Austria December 6, 2019. (Photo: REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo) The United States this year will lose its standing as the world's top crude oil producer as its shale oil drillers are forced out of business by a combination of historically low oil prices and massively slashed demand due to a raging price war and the COVID-19 pandemic. The demise of the U.S.' standing comes less than two years after a boom in fracking propelled the U.S. to the status as the world's top oil-producing country. In America's shale country, chiefly the Permian basin in Texas and New Mexico, oil company budgets have been slashed, capital investments reallocated and thousands of workers laid off. In the last two weeks alone, 59 rigs have been shut down due to the massive glut of oil flooding world markets. "We see in this coming month of April what could be a 20 million barrel a day decline in oil demand. It's unprecedented," said Dan Yergin of IHS Markit to CNBC. "That's six times larger than the biggest downturn during the financial crisis period." This unprecedented oil glut, which has been immensely worsened by a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia, has helped force crude prices down more than 65% year-to-date. On Monday morning London time, global benchmark Brent crude traded at just $22.78 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate at $20.39 per barrel, their lowest prices in two decades. Yergin said if the market continues with these low prices, "we'll see a big decline in U.S. oil production. It will no longer be number one." The U.S. became the world's top oil producer in 2018 thanks to the shale oil boom. Yergin was seconded in his opinion by Edward Bell, commodities analyst at Dubai-based bank Emirates NBD, who thinks it's almost a guarantee that this year the U.S. will certainly lose the number one position. "And it might happen probably a lot faster than we anticipate," said Bell. Bell explained the U.S. will lose its top ranking because the current rate of rig closures in the U.S. means about 750,000 barrels per day will be lost from the second quarter onward. Bell said this will take U.S. oil production down from a production of 13 million barrels per day at the start of the year to "down below Saudi Arabia or Russia by the end of the year." For his part, Yergin said the U.S. can't do anything to either stop of mitigating the ruinous price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia that's led to the Saudis and their allies flooding already saturated markets with more oil. "The U.S. government doesn't have a lot of tools to address this however beyond diplomacy ... because oil production is controlled and regulated by the states," said Yergin. A 41-year-old man who married his wife, 31, just one week after meeting her has now turned their couple into a throuple after inviting a second woman - who is 23 years his junior - into their relationship. On May 14, 2012, marketing entrepreneur, Rodrigo Contreras Diaz, from Monterrey City, Mexico, met his now wife, nutritionist, Melin Velasco Reyes, from Guadalajara City, through a mutual friend. Sparks flew instantly and Rodrigo ended up proposing to Melin that same day, to which she agreed. Unconventional: Rodrigo Contreras Diaz, 41, from Monterrey City, Mexico, and his wife, Melin Velasco Reyes, 31, from Guadalajara City, have formed a throuple with 18-year-old Lucy (left) Meeting: Rodrigo and Melin married just one week after they first met in May 2012, and they were then introduced to Lucy in 2016, when she was still in high school Love at first sight: The couple said that sparks flew between Rodrigo and Lucy, who quickly became a part of the marriage After just a week of preparations, they got married on May 21, 2012. Despite only having eyes for her, he explained to her early on in their relationship that he didn't want a traditional monogamous relationship as he lived an alternative lifestyle and was open to a polyamorous relationship, which she accepted. For four years they focussed on their relationship then re-visited their exploration of other forms of partnerships and searched for another woman to join them in their union. On April 27, 2016, whilst they were both at a bar, they met one of the waitresses, Lucy, now 18, who was in high school at the time. Initially Lucy was shocked when Rodrigo began flirting with her in front of Melin, but after a few hours of chatting, they became closer and formed a polyamorous relationship. Since then, he admits that the addition of Lucy has positively improved his marriage with Melin and they now all plan to get married as a throuple, although Melin and Lucy, who are both straight, do not have a sexual relationship. 'A cousin of Melin's was my friend, and during one of their parties we met and were hooked. Bond: Initially Lucy was shocked when Rodrigo began flirting with her in front of Melin, but after a few hours of chatting, they became closer and formed a polyamorous relationship Information: Although the throuple all live together, Melin and Lucy are both straight and do not have a sexual relationship with one another Honesty: Rodrigo said that he was upfront with Melin when they first married that he did not want to have a conventional monogamous relationship 'So much so, that a week after we got married. It was love at the first sight,' Rodrigo said. 'From very early on [in our relationship] I told her that I didn't want a traditional relationship because my lifestyle is a little bit alternative and I don't believe in monogamy as a way of life. 'She accepted it but just asked me to first live and enjoy our own love; to press pause so that we can allow some time for our relationship to flourish and see where things go. 'When we reached the fourth year of our marriage, when the routines of every relationship gets boring, she wanted to talk about that pause we put. 'Then I started to talk and together we read about polyamorous love, even about swinger relationships but this wasn't for us as we wanted more, and we need emotional connections. 'Then one day we went to a rock bar, and one waitress caught our attention. We had a little talk, then I started to show my interest in this girl. Opening up: 'From very early on I told [Melin] that I didn't want a traditional relationship because... I don't believe in monogamy as a way of life,' Rodrigo said Changing things up: After being together for four years, Rodrigo and Melin began discussing the idea of exploring polyamory Perfect timing: They then met Lucy at a bar where she was working and sparks immediately flew between her and Rodrigo 'We started showing her flirtatious signs by taking her hands, giving her hugs. Lucy was shocked; we noticed she looked confused with the flirtations and at same time she noticed that I was very close to Melin. 'Nothing happened that day, but we became regular visitors of that bar. Lucy was still shocked but never asked anything; she was just flirting openly with us. 'At that time, there was a very good vibe between the three of us, so I move on to suggest we one day maybe go out as friends not just as waitress and bar clients, and Lucy said, "Yes! Add me on WhatsApp then figure out what to do and where to go." 'We spent some great times together; walking, eating, playing, laughing (I asked not to drink alcohol that day, because if something came from it, even a smile I wanted to live it raw without anything in our bodies other than joy).' They are now all planning on getting married despite society being against their relationship and would be open to having children in the future. 'As a triad our plan is to become closer every day, not only in terms of distance but in our hearts and our feelings,' Rodrigo said. Overcoming obstacles: They are now all planning on getting married despite society being against their relationship and would be open to having children in the future Pushing forward: The throuple says that they are determined to enjoy their happiness, despite critics saying negative things about their unconventional lifestyle Love: 'Our relationship is like any other, a relationship where we support each other, we understand and love each other,' Rodrigo said 'We want to make a short film that expresses the realities of polylove, we note that the stereotype that is handled in the cinema about polyamory differs a lot from reality, and that is why we would like to make a short film that goes deeper into the human aspect of life shared to three hearts. 'Our relationship is like any other, a relationship where we support each other, we understand and love each other, with the simple difference that my wife approves and applauds it, likewise there is love and understanding between them as well as a lot of respect. 'Certainly, there are many opinions about our relationship from our families, but respect and acceptance have always prevailed, as well as some there is some admiration and confusion. We always tell them, ours is different but just as important as any love. 'For us, the true commitment of our relationship lies in our hearts and in our sense of unity, but never on paper. The three of us are the same unit now, and we want to celebrate it socially with marriage. 'Between the three of us we don't have children, but we haven't ruled it out, we are travelers and we want to get to know at least fifty countries together before thinking about having children. 'This type of relationship is not like an eternal threesome; beyond the bed is the complexity of the human being with his feelings and his thoughts, we do not like to be stereotyped as a trio of promiscuous beings.' Many South Africans are experiencing slow Internet speeds due to a pair of undersea fibre cable breaks. South African ISPs described the latest breaks as a high impact event that may cause performance degradation for their clients. The South African Nation Research and Education Network issued an alert on 27 March 2020 stating there was a break on the West Africa Cable System (WACS). This coincides with a break on the SAT-3 undersea cable, which occurred on 8 March and has still not been repaired. The WACS and SAT-3 cable systems are deployed in the Atlantic Ocean and connect South Africa and other African countries to Europe. The WACS system lands in South Africa at Yzerfontein, Western Cape while the SAT-3 system enters South Africa at Melkbosstrand, Western Cape. RENAlerts confirmed the break on WACS took place on a cable belonging to TATA between Highbridge in the UK, and Seixal in Portugal. WACS cable RENAlerts recently announced that a cable repair vessel is on its way to repair the break in the WACS system. The repair ship tasked with fixing the break in WACS has the necessary spares aboard and is underway to the site of the fault. The vessel is owned by TATA, the company which owns the damaged segment of the cable system. This ship is expected to arrive at the break today at 11:00, and the repair of the cable is set to be completed on 4 April 2020. The map below shows the progress of the Ile DAix cable vessel to the site of the cable break as of 31 March 2020. SAT-3 cable While a ship is on its way to repair the WACS break, the Orange Marine repair ship Leon Thevenin has arrived at the break in the SAT-3 cable off the coast of Congo. This vessel departed from Cape Town harbour on 15 March to fix the break on the SAT-3 cable. As of 31 March, the team on the cable repair ship continues to make progress, with the estimated completion date for these repairs being 2 April 2020. SAT-3 Outage Update: The Leon Thevenin work is in the final stages with the crew working to complete the final splice work, RENAlerts said. This means that while South Africans may see an improvement in international connectivity on 2 April, full capacity will only be restored from 4 April. The map below details the location of the SAT-3 cable break, where the Leon Thevenin is currently conducting repairs. Now read: Liquid Telecom has mitigated network issues caused by WACS break School buses delivered hundreds of church-goers to Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Sunday, defying physical-distancing guidelines and the state governor's direct order banning gatherings of more than 10 people. Religious service, steeped as it is in community, is one area where people are finding it hard to avoid gathering amid the COVID-19 pandemic. And while some churches in the U.S. are finding innovative ways to continue services, such as conducting them virtually, a few are still gathering in person, potentially exposing many people to the novel coronavirus. South Korea has experience with the danger of public worship services: More than half of the country's coronavirus cases were linked to the branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu. But Life Tabernacle is flouting officials' pleas in a state where, as of Monday afternoon, more than 4,000 have been infected and 185 have died, according to an ongoing tally by Johns Hopkins University. Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, on March 22 ordered a lockdown of all but essential services, which did not include religious worship services, and prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people. Gerald Herbert/The Associated Press The father of Life Tabernacle's pastor Tony Spell says the church is an essential service. "The church is not a non-essential. The church is the most essential thing in all the world," Timothy Spell told NBC News outside the church Sunday. "No one is telling anybody you got to come to church. We tell people not to come if you have a fever, if you have any symptoms, if you're aged, if you're elderly, don't come." Pastors arrested That's got local residents like Ryan Tregre fuming. "If they really worried about just spreading the [spiritual] word, they would go on Facebook Live or YouTube or some kind of way to spread the word where they would not have to go and meet in places and spread this virus that's killing people every day," he told NBC. Story continues Life Tabernacle wasn't the only church to defy public orders and open their doors to parishioners on Sunday. A video posted to the Facebook page of the River at Tampa Bay Pentecostal church in Florida on Sunday shows hundreds of parishioners standing side by side. Hernando County Jail/The Associated Press Rev. Rodney Howard-Browne has said he would close services only for the Rapture and that shutdowns were for "pansies." He reportedly held two services Sunday, flying in the face of physical-distancing guidelines and attracting the attention of the local sheriff's department. Florida has not ordered a statewide shutdown of non-essential businesses, but on Monday the Hillsborough County Sheriff charged him with unlawful assembly and a violation of health emergency rules. On Tuesday, Spell was charged with six misdemeanors for holding church services in violation of the governor's ban, said East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore. "The whole situation just puts everyone at risk," Moore said. "We ask everyone to abide by the governor's order." That didn't deter Spell, who proceeded with a service Tuesday night. "We're still here and still assembling and having church," Spell said when reached by The Associated Press. Asked why he was defying the governor's orders, he said, "Because the Lord told us to." Canadian clergy urge compliance It's a different story in Canada. A statement released by religious leaders across Canada on Monday urged people to follow public health officials' guidelines. David Guretzki, vice-president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada said there were no evangelical services that he knew of this past weekend and noted his group has signed on to statement. Still, members of all faiths are grappling with how to continue practising. Some mosques in the Toronto area had stayed open to 50 or fewer people after Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a province-wide state of emergency March 17. They all now appear to be closed. In Montreal, police were called to a synagogue after receiving a report that someone saw Hasidic men going inside, CTV reported. "Some wonder if this is too much, too fast, but in general the approach has been that, no, the best approach is just to shut down," said Daniel Cere, an associate professor of Religion, Law and Public Policy at McGill University in Montreal. "My impression is that on the whole, in Canada, the religious communities have fallen in line with the government on this." 'God will take care of your body' One religious scholar in the U.S. attributes the defiance to a particular type of Christian teaching. "There is this strand in modern American Christianity that has rejected the norms of science and medicine and that thinks health can be achieved through discourse with the divine, holy spirit," said Bradley Storin, director of religious studies at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. The philosophy is, he says: "If you are a good and true believer then God will take care of your body." He's noted the church busing people in for services and passing out "anointed" handkerchiefs to people for protection. "What we see pastor Spell doing is giving way to this ancient tradition of linking faith in God with healing in the body," said Storin. "It feels a little violative of the social compact that we have right now," said Storin. If you own shares in Fang Holdings Limited (NYSE:SFUN) then it's worth thinking about how it contributes to the volatility of your portfolio, overall. In finance, Beta is a measure of volatility. Volatility is considered to be a measure of risk in modern finance theory. Investors may think of volatility as falling into two main categories. First, we have company specific volatility, which is the price gyrations of an individual stock. Holding at least 8 stocks can reduce this kind of risk across a portfolio. The second type is the broader market volatility, which you cannot diversify away, since it arises from macroeconomic factors which directly affects all the stocks on the market. Some stocks are more sensitive to general market forces than others. Some investors use beta as a measure of how much a certain stock is impacted by market risk (volatility). While we should keep in mind that Warren Buffett has cautioned that 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk', beta is still a useful factor to consider. To make good use of it you must first know that the beta of the overall market is one. A stock with a beta greater than one is more sensitive to broader market movements than a stock with a beta of less than one. Check out our latest analysis for Fang Holdings What SFUN's beta value tells investors Using history as a guide, we might surmise that the share price is likely to be influenced by market volatility going forward but it probably won't be particularly sensitive to it. Share price volatility is well worth considering, but most long term investors consider the history of revenue and earnings growth to be more important. Take a look at how Fang Holdings fares in that regard, below. NYSE:SFUN Income Statement March 31st 2020 Could SFUN's size cause it to be more volatile? Fang Holdings is a rather small company. It has a market capitalisation of US$126m, which means it is probably under the radar of most investors. Companies this small are usually more volatile than the market, whether or not that volatility is correlated. Therefore, it's a bit surprising to see that this stock has a beta value so close to the overall market. Story continues What this means for you: Fang Holdings has a beta value quite close to that of the overall market. That doesn't tell us much on its own, so it is probably worth considering whether the company is growing, if you're looking for stocks that will go up more than the overall market. In order to fully understand whether SFUN is a good investment for you, we also need to consider important company-specific fundamentals such as Fang Holdingss financial health and performance track record. I highly recommend you dive deeper by considering the following: Financial Health: Are SFUNs operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Past Track Record: Has SFUN been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of SFUN's historicals for more clarity. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks 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. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has asked police to ensure the safety of doctors and healthcare providers after reports emerged that some people kept in isolation for suspected coronavirus infection had misbehaved with medical staff and damaged hospital property. Taking up the matter suo motu, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Gita Mittal on Monday asked the Inspectors General of Police of Kashmir and Jammu to ensure that adequate security is provided to healthcare providers who are making every possible attempt to control the spread of the coronavirus. The high court appointed Monika Kohli as amicus curiae to assist the court on matters related to COVID-19 in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The two union territories have recorded over 60 cases of COVID-19 so far. The court, which for the first time in its history held the hearing through video-conferencing and voice call, also took note of a grievance regarding the plight of the residents of the two union territories lodged in prisons in other parts of the country. It was submitted before the court that people misbehaved with some doctors working at the two hospitals in Srinagar, where quarantining and isolation of suspected and infected patients were being done. "The doctors have complained that the persons who have been isolated are misbehaving and have also resorted to damaging available facilities. The doctors are apprehensive about their own security at the hands of the persons who have been lodged," lawyer Faisal Qadri from Kashmir told the court. In its 11-page order, the court said, There can be no manner of doubt that the safety and security of all health providers which would include not only doctors but also the nurses, the paramedics, mess boys, safai karamcharies as well as administrative staff at all government facilities has to be strictly ensured. "Such care and protection have to be provided to all healthcare givers in all hospitals in the Union Territories of JK and Ladakh as well. We therefore direct the Secretary, Department of Health and Medical Education of both the Union Territories together with the IGP, Jammu, IGP, Kashmir and IGP, Ladakh to ensure that complete safety and security is provided to the personnel who are serving at all government facilities," the court said. It also said that "if necessary, the present security should also be beefed up to ensure that no person is able to leave the medical facility till the period of quarantine or isolation is completed" and reiterate its directions to the authorities to take strict action against the persons who are violating any instruction issued by the central government especially where their conduct would result in the spread of the COVID-19 infection and endanger lives. Kohli and Qadri also expressed deep concern about the safety and well-being of people, who have been lodged in jails outside Jammu and Kashmir, with regard to care which is required for their protection from the COVID-19 infection. "We direct the Secretary, of the UT of JK to ascertain and ensure that well-being of all such prisoners," the order of the bench of Justice Mittal and Justice Sindhu Sharma said. The high court also asked the union territory lawyer about the decision of a high-powered committee, as directed by the Supreme Court, which will examine prisoners who are required to be released from jails but advocate Amit Gupta, representing the union territory, was unable to inform about the proceedings of this committee. The court also took note of people going out in the morning and said it appears that there is some misunderstanding about the requirement of the lockdown as a large number of people are resorting to their usual strolls, loitering and morning walks in local parks, etc. "A direction is issued to the law enforcing authorities and park owning authorities (all municipal corporations, development authorities) to prevent access to public parks, etc which are normally used for such purposes by the citizens. "The law enforcing agencies shall strictly ensure the lockdown and prevent any kind of activity which could adversely impact social distancing in any manner," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vedanta in a regulatory filing after market hours yesterday announced that its manufacturing sites will remain operational. The company said most of its operations are 'essential' or 'continuous' in nature. The company faced temporary disruptions largely driven by logistical bottlenecks but further assured that the issues will be resolved over the short term. This will eventually allow the company to return to full capacity in coming weeks, Vedanta said. Further, the company said its mining operations, which manufacture essential commodities, and the oil & gas business will continue across all sites during the lock down imposed by the centre to contain the spread of Coronavirus. This is in compliance with circular issued by the Ministry of Mines which states that the State Government should facilitate measures that would ensure continuity of operations of steel, aluminum, copper, cement and other such plants that require continuous process. Shares of Vedanta were up 4.38% at Rs 64.3. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 343.10 points or 1.21% at 28,783.42. Vedanta, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources, is one of the world's leading diversified natural resource companies with business operations in India, South Africa, Namibia and Australia. Vedanta is a leading producer of oil & gas, zinc, lead, silver, copper, iron ore, aluminum, steel and commercial power. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Wine sales in the United States fell last year for the first time in 25 years. The culprit behind the decline isn't easy to pin down. Tariffs haven't helped the industry, to be sure, but interest in this sliver of the booze market has been weakening for some time, perhaps reflecting societal changes in tastes. Ditto for beer -- even in the United States -- where sales of suds have declined for four years. The advent of so-called hard seltzers has been stunning with sales more than tripling in 2019. However, the young seltzer category only accounts for less than 3% of the alcohol industry's annual sales in the U.S., which surely can't upend wine's long-lived hold, right? Actually, it can, and it probably did. Wine companies have an answer, though, and it seems they're ready to make the most of it. Interest in sparkling wines ramps up Sparkling wines have been around for eons. They've just not been at the forefront of the wine business. You may know them better as champagnes, even if champagnes technically only come from the Champagne region in France. Any bubbling wine produced elsewhere is gauche if labeled as anything other than sparkling wine. Regardless of naming traditions, this piece of the wine market is suddenly red hot. Market analysis firm GlobalData reported this month that "sparkling wine" was the most mentioned category among Twitter's wine experts during the second half of last year. And it wasn't even close. "Sparkling wines" accounted for 64% of category mentions, while wine -- in reference to traditional choices such as red and white wine -- only accounted for 31% of Twitter mentions. It's only anecdotal evidence, to be fair, but it's not the only evidence pointing to a new craze. Google searches of the term have been steadily growing for years, soaring to record levels around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year's holiday last year before tapering off in the shadow of coronavirus concerns. That interest coincides with an increasing degree of positive media coverage of what used to be an uncovered topic. That's not the interesting part of the development for investors, though. Most noteworthy for them is the fact that where sparkling wines are now looks a lot like where hard seltzers were around 2017 -- that is, fragmented, misunderstood, and underestimated. Since then, the rise of the hard seltzer business has drawn the attention of big names such as Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM), Molson Coors (NYSE:TAP), and even Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:BUD). In fact, Boston Beer now commands about one-fourth of the entire seltzer market with its Truly brand, which launched in 2016. If the sparkling wine craze is on the same growth track as hard seltzers -- and there's good reason to believe it is -- investors would be wise open their eyes now, even without yet being able to identify a clear leader. Seltzers are a marketable alternative Hard seltzers are carbonated, low-carb beverages sold in a ready-to-drink can ... an option that ticks a lot of boxes for many consumers, and for millennials in particular. Hard seltzers have also proven more marketable than beer to women as an alternative to wine, and yes, a recent survey performed by Wine Intelligence indicates that seltzers are chipping away at wine's popularity. Mark Anthony Brands, which owns market-leading seltzer brand White Claw, has seen it as well. Boston Beer chairman Jim Koch has said the same, repeatedly. It's a modest migration in the aggregate, though. While hard seltzer sales exploded last year, they still only reached about $1 billion in the United States. That's a tiny fraction of the nation's total booze market, 11% of which still belongs to wine. Still, wine is losing ground and could continue to do so. As the millennials who love seltzer grow up and the generation after them regularly sees seltzers in stores, restaurants, and bars, the market share is seltzer's to win and wine's to lose. The wine business may finally be starting to push back, though, with an option that's something between wine and the beer-branded seltzers that have taken off: sparkling wine in a can. Wine labels make a splash It's not a new product, to be clear. Canned, carbonated wines have been available for years. They've just not been aimed at the mainstream market by highly recognized brands middle America might recognize. Wine producer Barefoot arguably changed that when it unveiled canned spritzers in 2017, but even then, consumers may have been unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the idea. That's changed thanks to work done by brands such as Truly and White Claw in the meantime. Barefoot now sees enough clear opportunity to step up its game, debuting Barefoot Hard Seltzer in January. Trinchero launched a wine-based seltzer under the Del Mar name just this month, also in a can. It's this subtle option between hard seltzers -- mostly made by beer companies -- and ones made by popular wine names that may well mainstream the products that fall somewhere between wine and seltzer. The leap from wine to a hard seltzer is still a big one for wine drinkers, but the leap from wine to a wine-based bubbly beverage made by a well-known wine label isn't nearly as far. Where to from here? The challenge for investors is capitalizing on the nascent trend. There aren't many publicly-traded companies that offer canned wine, and even fewer with sparkling wine. Barefoot and Trinchero are privately owned (Barefoot by E & J Gallo Winery). Other wine labels are likely to enter the market, but many of those are also privately owned. Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) is one name to put on your radar, though, not because it's a powerhouse in the sparkling wine arena, but because it's well-positioned to do something with the idea. Not only does it own recognizable brands such as Woodbridge and Mondavi, it's also affiliated with Crafters Union and Arbor Mist labels, which already sell wine in a can. A competitor could unexpectedly come from anywhere, though, as White Claw did when it took the hard seltzer lead from Truly last year. Investors simply need to put sparkling wine on their radar for now so they'll be able to spot an investment opportunity whenever one finally surfaces. Jennifer Hawkins' baby daughter, Frankie Violet, has made her magazine debut. The 36-year-old model stuns on the cover of the May edition of Marie Claire while cradling her five-month-old girl. While Jennifer has appeared on the covers of countless publications in the past, this is the first time she has posed with her child. Pretty in pink: Jennifer Hawkins' baby daughter, Frankie Violet, made her magazine debut in the May edition of Marie Claire Australia Jennifer, who is married to property developer Jake Wall, wore a peach-toned linen dress while holding Frankie close to her chest. The former Miss Universe looked ethereal with her signature blonde locks flowing past her shoulders. Showcasing her natural beauty, Jennifer opted for pink lipstick, and accentuated her eyes with a subtle blended grey. She's a natural! While Jennifer has appeared on the covers of countless publications in the past, this is the first time she has posed with her child Having previously suffered a miscarriage and struggled with endometriosis, Jennifer has relished motherhood over the past five months. Jennifer spoke about her pregnancy in August last year, telling Stellar magazine that hearing her daughter's heartbeat for the first time had been a life-changing moment. 'When we went to see the heartbeat scan for our little girl, it was the most incredible, overwhelming feeling because prior to that we were so scared,' she said. Love at first sight: Jennifer gave birth to her daughter, Frankie Violet Hawkins Wall, in October The former Australia's Next Top Model host also said of her miscarriage the year before: 'I felt like I almost broke, in fact, it's still really raw.' Jennifer gave birth to Frankie Violet Hawkins Wall in October. She decided to give the baby girl both her and her husband's surnames. She wrote on Instagram at the time: 'Frankie Violet Hawkins Wall. Dream come true! So thankful to be holding our beautiful, healthy baby girl!' When I come home from a day at the clinic and hospital, there is no better feeling than my children running up to give me a big hug. For the past couple of weeks, I have had to remind them to stop, and just do an air hug until I have had a chance to change clothes and shower. The idea is to wash away any germs and decrease the risk of getting my family sick after working with several patients and sick people during the day. Maybe these efforts are too much, or maybe they are not enough. The Covid-19 virus spreads through respiratory droplets, from talking, coughing, or sneezing, and appears to also spread via a fecal-oral route. The fecal-oral route is how the stomach flu often spreads, and many of us know how easily that circulates through families and daycares. Someone who has been to the bathroom may touch a doorknob or a serving spoon, which someone else touches before eating, and they may become infected. Thats why we need to wash our hands well and avoid touching our face and our food. Unfortunately, the virus can spread from people that do not have symptoms, or before they have symptoms which is why, I worry, I may not be doing enough to protect my family from the one person who puts them at the biggest risk: me. Some doctors and nurses are deciding to avoid their families altogether and live in the garage or the basement when they come home. I havent decided to do that yet, but maybe I should, or maybe I will. Pandemics and disease have separated families for longer than the history books can tell us. Before they knew the cause, our ancestors knew that if someone had smallpox, quarantine and fire were the only ways to help prevent the spread. People, houses, and entire cities were quarantined. Disease has arguably decided more wars than the battles themselves. During the 1918 influenza pandemic, soldiers from Fort Riley carried the disease to other American military bases and from there, to the battlefront in Europe. These lessons of history helped us learn about how to control disease. Advancements in infection control, medicines, and vaccinations have turned the tide and made many diseases a distant memory. For Covid-19, we do not yet have proven medications or a vaccine. However, we are learning more every day how to help those who are sick and how to better prevent the spread. In the meantime, my family and I will continue to practice social distancing and similar efforts to do our part to flatten the curve and slow the spread, to give us time to find treatments to combat this current scourge on humanity. Andrew Ellsworth, MD is part of The Prairie Doc team of physicians and currently practices family medicine in Brookings, South Dakota Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 12:03:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CARACAS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese medical and scientific experts arrived in Venezuela on Monday to help fight COVID-19, welcomed by Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza and Chinese Ambassador to Venezuela Li Baorong. Arreaza thanked the Chinese government and people for sending "this huge plane full of solidarity," after the aircraft landed at the Simon Bolivar International Airport in the city of Maiquetia. "The first mission of medical specialists, doctors and scientists from China has arrived here in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Venezuela is its first destination," Arreaza said. "With the experience that China has been able to gather in recent months, we know that many lives will be saved," said the minister, adding that the country now can apply "the best strategies" to contain the pandemic. China also sent quick test kits to rapidly verify infections, a capability Arreaza called "essential" to limiting the number of infections. The delegation comprises specialists in "infectious diseases, intensive care, laboratory testing and even traditional Chinese medicine, which has had very good results in mild cases of coronavirus," said Arreaza. The head of the Chinese delegation, Huang Mao, thanked the Venezuelan hosts for the welcome, saying that "we are going to share our experience and knowledge with all the Venezuelan people." Li, the Chinese ambassador, said the mission was sent by the Chinese government "with affection and brotherhood" to show "solidarity and support for the Venezuelan government and people in the battle against the coronavirus." He noted that "when the Chinese people were going through a difficult time in their battle against COVID-19," Venezuela "provided solidarity and strong support to the government and the people of China. We will always have them in our hearts, we will never forget." "China supports Venezuela with the same great love, the same joint actions and efforts to spur the joint building of a community with a shared future for mankind," said the ambassador. Li said he is confident "that the group of experts from China is going to make every effort to fulfill this important mission." As of Sunday night, Venezuela reported 129 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and three deaths from the disease. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has said states across the US are "fighting" amongst themselves to source essential medical supplies as the novel coronavirus cases in the country surge daily and "ironically" most entities are looking to buy from China, where the virus originated in the city of Wuhan. Addressing reporters at the sprawling Jacob K Javits Convention Center here on Monday, Cuomo said New York added 6,984 COVID19 cases and the total number of confirmed coronavirus patients statewide is 66,000 with 1,218 deaths. "That is a lot of loss. That is a lot of pain. That is a lot of tears. That is a lot of grief that people all across the state are feeling. 1,200 is up from 965 deaths," he said. Referring to the increase in deaths across the state, Cuomo said The longer you are on a ventilator, the less likely you will ever come off that ventilator. And as we have now some period of time when people first entered the hospital and were first intubated, we are seeing that death number go up as the length of time on the ventilator increases, he said. Of the 66,000 cases, 9,500 people are currently hospitalised, 2,000 are ICU patients and 4,000 patients have bee discharged, an increase of 632. You don't often focus on this line when we have these conversations. But people go into the hospital and people leave the hospital, and that is important to remember. Cuomo voiced concern over the shortage and slow supply of essential medical equipment to deal with the surge in coronavirus cases across the country. We need supplies desperately and we're working on that...we're in a situation where you have 50 states all competing for supplies. The federal government is now also competing for supplies. Private hospitals are also competing for supplies. So we've created a situation where you literally have hundreds of entities looking to buy the same exact materials, basically from the same place which is China, ironically enough. We're fighting amongst ourselves. We're competing amongst ourselves. The deadly coronavirus that first originated in Chinese city of Wuhan last last year has killed 3,305 people in the country and infected 81,518. He cited the example of the rising cost of ventilators, among the most essential equipments required by the hospitals to treat the COVID19 cases. Cuomo said when the state first started buying ventilators, they cost under USD 20,000 and are now selling for over USD 50,000 if you can find them. The ventilators didn't change that much in two weeks. The prices went up because literally we are driving the prices up. Emphasising that no state or country can win the battle against the coronavirus if it plays catch up with it, Cuomo said they have to plan for weeks in advance when the apex of the cases in reached. This virus has been ahead of us since day one. We have been playing catch-up from day one. You never win playing catch up. Get ahead of the problem. Don't fight today's fight. Plan for two weeks, three weeks, four weeks from now when you're going to have the apex, and make sure that we are in a position to win the battle when the battle is truly drawn, which is going to be at the apex. He said it is important to prepare stockpiles now so that the states are prepared for a battle to come. And you have to have the equipment, and you have to have it now. I have done disaster work all across the nation. I can tell you this, if you wait to prepare for the storm to hit, it is too late. You have to prepare before the storm hits. And in this case, the storm is when you hit that high point, when you hit that apex. How do you know when you're going to get there? You don't, he said, adding that there is no crystal ball but there is science and data that has tracked the virus and its progress since China. Cuomo added the coronavirus is a deadly, serious situation and is more important than politics and partisanship. And if there is division at this time, the virus will defeat us... In this situation, there are no red states, and there are no blue states, and there are no red casualties, and there are no blue casualties. It is red, white and blue, making a reference to colours of the American flag. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 'super-spreading doctor' has caused a giant Russian region 50 per cent bigger than Britain to be locked down after 21 people became infected at his hospital when he returned from Europe. So far 21 people are infected in Ezhvinskaya hospital with one reported fatality. Hundreds more staff and patients have been tested and results are awaited. The doctor was identified by Mash media outlet as Andrey Kern, who is head of surgery at the facility. Pictured: Andrey Kern, the man identified as Russia's 'super-spreader', after he returned from a trip to Europe and a number of people became infected with COVID-19 at his hospital. He and his wife are now in intensive care after being misdiagnosed with pneumonia Pictured: A general view of Ezhvinskaya hospital in Syktyvkar, where 21 people have been infected with the killer coronavirus Pictured: A view of surgery being performed at Ezhvinskaya Hospital in Syktyvkar, the regional capital of Komi in Russia All are forbidden from leaving the hospital in Syktyvkar, regional capital of Komi republic, population 901,000, which straddles the Arctic Circle and is the largest region in European Russia. The case has been described as similar to the Diamond Princess in the Arctic. The government ordered all Komi citizens to self-isolate - the same status for those in the capital city Moscow, the country's worst hotspot. Two dozen regions are also under self-quarantine rules. All are forbidden from leaving the hospital in Syktyvkar (general view of the city, pictured) Pictured: A locator map shows Syktyvkar, which has now been locked down, located in Komi, the largest region in European Russia He and his wife are in intensive care after they were initially diagnosed with pneumonia. Deputy health minister Igor Maklakov said: 'Employees do not leave the hospital, no-one is allowed inside the institution. 'Samples were sent for analysis. We are waiting for the results.' Deputy health minister Igor Maklakov (pictured)said: 'Employees do not leave the hospital, no-one is allowed inside the institution' Some 118 staff and 223 patients are held in a bid to stop a large Covid-19 spread, according to reports. But many medics had interacted with their families before the hospital was put on total lockdown, sparking fears of infection in the city and wider region, say locals. Human rights lawyer Ernest Mezhak said that a female patient who died in the hospital on 22 March was found after her death to have contracted coronavirus. On Monday Russia had 1,836 officially registered cases of the infection, with nine deaths. A home cook has revealed ideas for what people can use instead of eggs in recipes, after some shops started running out of them because of coronavirus hoarders. Her handy tips include seven ingredients that can be used instead of eggs. 'The lack of eggs is getting real, when baking you can use these substitutes,' she said. Her alternatives included ripe bananas, chia seeds, ground flax, soy protein, agar agar, apple sauce and peanut butter. Scroll down for video Posting an image to the Australian Slow Cooker Recipes and Tips communal Facebook page, the handy tip outlined seven ingredients that can be used instead of eggs 'There's a lot going on right now and grocery stores are doing their best to keep stocked. If you can't find eggs and need to bake, perhaps these can help you out,' she added. Depending on the recipe, each ingredient can be used by itself or by adding water to create a paste. For each tablespoon of ground flaxseeds three tablespoons of water must be used to create a thick egg-like mixture, while peanut butter, mashed ripe bananas and unsweetened apple sauce can be used on their own. The outlined alternatives included ripe bananas, chia seeds, ground flax, soy protein, agar agar, applesauce and peanut butter Depending on the recipe, each ingredient can be used by itself or by adding water to create a paste The cook's post on Facebook has been shared 1,100 times and currently has 479 likes. Some people shared their own advice on what you can use instead of eggs. 'You can make meringue using the water from canned chickpeas! Also check out vegan baking recipes for other egg alternatives,' one woman said. Numerous social media users commented on the post, with many addressing their own baking tips 'I freeze the eggs, split the egg whites from the yellows in freezer trays,' another said. A third added: 'Plain yogurt is one as well and white vinegar if your baking'. Others impressed users praised the home cook for sharing the insight, one woman commented: 'There is nothing like the connected spirit of women to solve a problem; if only we could steer you all toward the problems that face our leaders today'. Electronic signs thanking NHS staff in Sheffield city centre. (PA) Most older Britons believe the coronavirus pandemic has brought the country together amid a strictly enforced nationwide lockdown. A survey of more than 2,000 adults conducted by polling agency YouGov showed that the majority, 59% of people, believed the country had been brought together by the crisis in recent weeks. Only 11% of those questioned believed the coronavirus crisis had pulled the country further apart and 20% said it had made no difference. Most of those who believe the virus has unified the country were older generations, 69% of over-60s compared to just 46% of 18 to 24-year-olds. A woman walks past a message of support for the NHS in Londonderry. (PA) Meanwhile, both Remain and Leave voters from the 2016 referendum agreed that the virus had brought the country together, with 59% of Remainers and 66% of Leavers agreeing. Last week, the government launched an appeal for 250,000 people to help vulnerable people who are self-isolating for 12 weeks. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Recruitment of the volunteer army was so successful it had to be paused after the appeal attracted three times the initial target with over 750,000 people signing up to serve. A spokeswoman for the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) said it is hoped it will be up and running properly by mid-week. Those signing up will be helping to deliver shopping and medication to those in need, transport patients and NHS equipment, or check in and chat on the phone with individuals at risk of loneliness as a result of self-isolation. Thousands of costume designers, tailors and seamstresses have also come together in recent days to make urgently-needed scrubs for NHS workers. Ashleigh Linsdell, a nurse at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Lincolnshire, set up Facebook group, For The Love Of Scrubs, last Monday. Within a week more than 9,000 people joined to help make personal protective equipment (PPE) clothing from their homes, but they need funding. Story continues Coronavirus: what happened today SAN FRANCISCO While the worsening coronavirus pandemic has shuttered most businesses nationwide to promote social distancing, grocery stores have remained open, putting their employees on the frontlines in a public health emergency. A worker at Steves C-Town in Park Slope, Brooklyn, who spoke to Yahoo News on the condition of anonymity, said he doesnt think the supermarket is taking the health of its employees or customers seriously. To be honest, I dont think were doing much, the worker, who is in his 20s, said. They dont tell us to do any precautions. I try to wear gloves and Im trying to order a mask. The worker, who is paid $15 an hour, said that C-Town doesnt limit the number of customers who enter the store, and regularly exceeds social distancing guidelines laid out by city officials. To be honest, the management doesnt care all that much about safety, the worker said. Up until this week, Ive had more of the view to try not to freak out about whats going on. Keep staying healthy and self-isolate. The store should probably think more about trying to keep us all safe. Reached for comment, a manager at C-Town admitted to Yahoo News that the business was not attempting to limit the number of customers in the store at one time, and confirmed that while some of his employees were wearing masks and gloves, others really dont care. Health concerns prompted hundreds of Whole Foods employees across the country to launch a sick-out Tuesday. We cannot wait for politicians, institutions, or our own management to step in to protect us, Whole Worker, the group that organized the sick-out, said in a statement released Monday. A cashier works behind a Plexiglas shield at a Super H Mart grocery store in Niles, Ill., on March 26. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Politicians like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., threw their support behind the protest. Corporations like Whole Foods have a moral obligation to take this pandemic seriously and stop putting profits over people, Sanders said in a tweet that asked his supporters to sign a petition that sought the company, owned by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, to extend paid sick leave for employees. Story continues On its website, Whole Foods said it had implemented a number of new steps in response to the coronavirus, including mandating social distancing in its stores, bumping up pay by $2 per hour for all part- and full-time employees and increasing paid leave by two weeks for any employee diagnosed with COVID-19. Small grocers have been deemed essential businesses whose workers continue to interface with the local community at a time when the bulk of Americans have been told to stay home. At Shoppers Corner, a locally owned grocery store in Santa Cruz, Calif., Taylor Posey has had to adapt to a new routine. Were requiring all employees to wear gloves; some are choosing to wear masks. Our customers have to stay 6 feet away from one another at checkout; we have tape on the ground and we can choose to limit the number of people in the store, Posey, who manages the wine and liquor department, told Yahoo News. Posey said the days after March 19, when California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide stay-at-home order, saw Shoppers Corner mobbed by what he called panic buying. That deluge meant the store needed to adopt a new system to keep patrons and staff from infecting one another. Were all playing it relatively safe, I would say, though the biggest risk is that we do have a relatively old customer base, Posey said. Weve instituted curbside pickup where our workers are shopping for people and building their orders to come pick up. Customers line up to enter a Trader Joe's store in New York on March 13. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) For part-time, minimum-wage grocery store employees like 21-year-old college student Lewis Pietropaoli, the focus on the importance of what has been a one-shift-per-week job has been disorienting. Ive never seen anything like it, Pietropaoli, who works at a Trader Joes in San Luis Obispo, Calif., said of working after Newsom issued his order. The entire grocery section with all the dry pastas and sauces, beans, that was completely wiped out. The frozen aisle as well, not a single thing. As with Whole Foods and Shoppers Corner, Trader Joes has cut back on store hours. For a while we just literally had no food to put on the shelves. We all did extra cleaning and left early because there was nothing to stock, Pietropaoli said. Pretty much what Im doing now is working the bare minimum because Im doing fine financially. Theyve been cutting hours and Ive been worried about my co-workers for who this is a full-time job. While Trader Joes has not increased wages for employees who are still working, it has offered increased paid sick leave. To better support each Crew Member in making community-minded decisions, since March 2nd we have been providing up to two weeks of additional paid sick time to Crew Members who have any symptoms of illness, the company says on its website. Whole Foods and Trader Joes say they have also enacted enhanced cleaning protocols at their stores. The pressure of working at one of the few businesses open to the public has been challenging, as social distancing restrictions have continued to remain in place for weeks. It is a pretty intense feeling, Posey said. As somebody who came into work at a grocery store for the first time, this is one of the most important positions that I feel like Ive had. Many workers are hoping that their employers will begin paying more attention to their safety on the job, and others are still adjusting to an unfamiliar, and, yes, essential role. As long as theres a mutual respect between me and the customers, I feel like Ill be doing this as long as I have to, Posey said. _____ Click here for the latest coronavirus news and updates. According to experts, people over 60 and those who are immunocompromised continue to be the most at risk. If you have questions, please reference the CDC and WHOs resource guides. Read more: When 1-year-old Natalie Green developed a low-grade fever, just breaking 100 degrees, and became cranky, her parents didn't worry too much. Natalie tends to get sick more often than other children and has needed medical care for the flu and the common cold. Her mom, Clara Green, thought teething could be to blame. Her whole one year of life, she's been in and out of hospitals because of asthma and because of illnesses, Green, 34, of Denver, told TODAY. She's a very sickly kid. After three days of painful body aches and a fever, Natalie Green, 1, who has COVID-19, is feeling better. (Courtesy the Green family) Then her husband, Beau Green, learned he likely had COVID-19 and they wondered what that meant for their toddler. We just told the doctors, Hey we have a 1-year-old who just doesnt do well with viruses. Is (COVID-19) something we need to worry about? And they reassured us, No, shell be fine. Kids arent affected that we know of, Green recalled. Download the TODAY app for the latest coverage on the coronavirus outbreak. Health & Wellness Natalies fever was just slightly elevated and the family treated it with fever reducers and observed her. She didnt struggle to breath or even cough. But last Wednesday, her fever spiked and she started having febrile seizures (convulsions that occur when a child has a high fever). They called 911 immediately. She had five or six seizures, which she never had before, and then she was not responsive after, Green said. When Beau Green became sick with COVID-19, he and his wife, Clara, worried that their 1-year-old daughter would develop it, too. At first, doctors said not to worry, but then Natalie developed a high fever and had seizures. (Courtesy the Green family) They informed 911 that they presumed Beau had COVID-19 and the first responders carefully dressed in personal protective equipment before entering the house. I felt so bad. My daughter was needing immediate attention and care and they couldnt even come into our house, the mom said. "They were really concerned and we were scared. At the children's hospital, doctors ran a slew of tests. Because they didnt have any coronavirus tests, they had to diagnose Natalie through process of elimination, the same way Beau was diagnosed, Green explained. They actually rule out a bunch of other stuff. One of the things that they are doing is a chest X-ray to see what your lungs look like, she said. Story continues Clara Green shared her family's experience on social media to encourage others to practice social hygiene to keep their families safe. (Courtesy the Green family) Natalie tested negative for other viruses and conditions and doctors presumed she had COVID-19 and was suffering from complications from it, including low oxygen levels (but not low enough to require oxygen or help breathing), Green said. During the testing, Natalie had stabilized and doctors sent her home with instructions on how to care for her. Youre actually safer at home, Green said the doctors had told her. Natalie didnt experience any more seizures or have a cough or shortness of breath, but she felt terrible. The 1-year-old was crying a lot because of intense muscle aches that even the fever reducers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen couldnt ease. Miserable isnt even the word to describe it. It was like absolutely inconsolable miserable crying, Green explained. She was just in absolute pain, which was super sad to see. Theres nothing you can do for the body aches and the rundown feeling." The Green family maintains healthy habits and were surprised when 39-year-old Beau became so sick with COVID-19. While he and 1-year-old daughter, Natalie, are hopefully recovering, the family wants others to protect themselves from developing it. (Courtesy the Green family) Over the weekend, though, Natalie started improving and returning to her upbeat self. She hasnt had a fever for about two days now, which is great. Her attitude has changed. Shes happy, Green said. Beau still feels lethargic, has a nasty cough, and shortness of breath. And its also still too soon to know if Natalies health has completely improved. Health & Wellness There is a fear. But honestly, the fear is kind of actually more with my husband right now because he really hasnt shown that hes getting better, she said. I havent slept in probably 10 days. The family learned that Natalies case may represent a first when it comes to children with COVID-19. No other child has been reported having a febrile seizure, Green said she was told. Doctors suspect that the mom also has COVID-19, but is not as sick as her family. Her 5-year-old son is completely unaffected, has never broken a fever. Green shared her experience on Facebook to encourage others to practice social distancing. We were taking precautions but we were not those people that locked ourselves in the house immediately, she said. How quickly and how fast it hit my family and affected my child was basically my reason for posting that. If I had a message it is that it can happen to you, too. Lets just be smart. HONG KONG and SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SPI Energy Co., Ltd. ("SPI Energy" or the "Company") (SPI), a global provider of green energy solutions for business, residential, government, utility customers, and investors, today announced the appointment of Mr. Zhang Jing to its board of directors to replace Mr. Zhou Lang, who resigned as a director of the Company on March 28, 2020. Mr. Lang has been engaged by SPI Energy as a technology consultant, to advise the Company on its solar business. Mr. Jing has served as a director of Hong Kong Dongying Financial Group since 2012, where he manages the groups private equity operations. He has also been an independent director of New City Construction Development Group Co., Ltd. and China International Capital Corporation since 2012. He served as a deputy general manager of China Yituo Group Co., Ltd. and a director and chief financial officer of First Tractor Co., Ltd. from 1997 to 2007. Mr. Zhang Jing received the Master degree in Management Engineering from Jiangsu University. About SPI Energy Co., Ltd. SPI Energy is a global provider of photovoltaic (PV) solutions for business, residential, government and utility customers and investors. The Company develops solar PV projects that are either sold to third party operators or owned and operated by the Company for selling of electricity to the grid in multiple countries in Asia, North America and Europe. The Companys subsidiary in Australia primarily sells solar PV components to retail customers and solar project developers. The Company has its operating headquarters in Hong Kong and its U.S. office in Santa Clara, California. The Company maintains global operations in Asia, Europe, North America and Australia. For inquiries, please contact: SPI Energy Co., Ltd. IR Department Email: ir@spigroups.com RedChip Companies Bruce Haase (407) 712-8965 bruce@redchip.com Health officials who have previously urged Americans not to wear faces masks unless they're ill are now discussing if the public should wear them as a way to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. The coronavirus outbreak has prompted Americans to don surgical, cotton or even makeshift masks when they leave the home to buy groceries or exercise with the majority of the US now in various stages of lockdown due to the pandemic. Despite the CDC and the World Health Organization recommending that healthy people don't need masks, some health experts are advocating for the need to wear some form of mask out in public to reduce the risk of asymptomatic spreading. They argue that people who have no idea they are infected are spreading the virus because they either have no symptoms or have not begun to experience symptoms. Healthcare workers, however, are currently facing shortages of personal protective equipment - including N95 respirator masks and surgical masks - as they treat the onslaught of highly contagious patients. Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top coronavirus expert, said on Tuesday that when the US gets into a situation where there are enough masks there would be very serious consideration about broadening the recommendations of face masks. The possible shift in guidance comes as the virus continues spread rapidly across the country with more than 189,000 cases and over 4,000 deaths. It has prompted questions as to who should actually be wearing masks out in public and what to do if a person can't actually find one due to the current shortages. The coronavirus outbreak has prompted Americans to don surgical, cotton or even makeshift masks when they leave the home to buy groceries or exercise with the majority of the US now in various stages of lockdown due to the pandemic. Pictured above is the New York subway on Tuesday Who should be wearing masks? The current official guidance from both the CDC and the World Health Organization urges people who are healthy to avoid using masks due to the ongoing shortage for doctors and nurses. Out the healthcare setting, people who are healthy are urged to wear masks if they are caring for a person who has or is suspected of having coronavirus. Others are asked to wear masks out in public if they are coughing or sneezing - given they are some of the symptoms of having the coronavirus. How to wear masks to protect against coronavirus? The WHO says that masks are only effective for the general public when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning, including with alcohol-based sanitizer or soap and water. Health officials say that if people choose to wear a mask, it is important to know how to use it and dispose of it correctly. The US Surgeon General Jerome Adams has previously warned that healthy people who don't know how to wear a mask correctly can actually increase their risk of being infected. The risks increase because people wearing masks are likely to touch their face more often than others to make adjustments. The WHO has a list of recommendations for safely wearing masks, including putting it on with clean hands. They advise to make sure the mask is covering both the mouth and nose and to make sure there are no gaps between the face and mask. People are urged not to touch the mask while wearing it and, if they do, to immediately wash their hands. To remove the mask, health officials warn that people should avoid touching the front of the mask and should instead take it off from the side closest to the mouth. People are advised to throw single-use masks away immediately and to then wash their hands. The current official guidance from the CDC (above) urges people who are healthy to avoid using masks due to the ongoing shortage for doctors and nurses The World Health Organization has a list of recommendations for safely wearing and removing masks to avoid the risk of infection WEARING MASKS: THE WORLD HEALTH ORG'S ADVICE When to use a mask: If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection. Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing. Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly. How to wear medical masks to protect against coronavirus: Before putting on a mask, clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. Cover mouth and nose with mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask. Avoid touching the mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not re-use single-use masks. To remove the mask: remove it from behind (do not touch the front of mask); discard immediately in a closed bin; clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. Advertisement What to do if there are no masks available? The CDC currently has advice on its website for healthcare professionals to help them deal with situations where face masks are not available. The same advice can be implemented by the public. Heath officials say that when masks are unavailable, homemade masks should be used as a last resort. Homemade masks include a bandana or scarf covering a person's mouth and nose. Officials do, however, warn that homemade masks are not considered personal protective equipment and caution should be used when using this option. There are also cases across the country where people have opted to sew their own DIY masks with a t-shirt or kitchen towel due to the shortage. Past studies have also shown that vacuum cleaner bags can be used to make homemade masks. When masks aren't available, the CDC also advises health professionals to use some form of face shield that covers the entire front and sides of the face. Is there any evidence that face masks actually work? Research on how much protection face masks provides varies but, recently, experts are increasingly leaning toward the notion that something is better than nothing. Research published by the University of Oxford published on March 30 concluded that surgical masks were just as effective at preventing respiratory infections as N95 masks for doctors, nurses and other health care workers. While it is too early to tell if those masks can prevent infection in relation to coronavirus, the study found that thinner, cheaper masks worked in flu outbreaks. The difference between surgical or face masks and the N95 masks lies in the size of particles that are able to get through the material. N95 respirators are made of thick, tightly woven, molded material that fits over the face and can stop 95 percent of all airborne particles. Surgical masks are thinner, fit more loosely and have more holes - meaning they are less effective at stopping small particles from entering the nose and mouth. Research on how much protection face masks provides varies but, recently, experts are increasingly leaning toward the notion that something is better than nothing. A man wearing a face mask jogs in Venice Beach, California on Saturday A crowd of people lined up wearing face masks outside a Whole Foods in Harlem, New York on Tuesday A Pat's Farms grocery store worker wears a mask and plastic visor on Tuesday in Merrick, New York. When masks aren't available, the CDC has advised health professionals to use some form of face shield that covers the entire front and sides of the face Will health officials change the guidance for face masks amid the coronavirus pandemic? US health officials said on Tuesday they are discussing whether to recommend that the general public wear face masks as a way to prevent transmission of the new coronavirus but that it was too soon to take that step. Dr Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease experts, said the use of masks outside the healthcare setting is under active consideration by the CDC and that the White House coronavirus task force would discuss it on Tuesday. 'The thing that has inhibited that bit is to make sure that we don't take away the supply of masks from the healthcare workers who need them,' Fauci, who is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on CNN. When the country gets into a situation where there are enough masks, Fauci said, there will be very serious consideration of broadening the recommendation on face masks. 'We're not there yet but I think we're coming close to some determination, because if in fact a person who may or may not be infected wants to prevent infecting someone else, one of the best ways to do that is with a mask,' Dr Fauci said. The consideration of wider use of masks stems from the likelihood that people who have no idea they are infected are spreading the virus because they either have no symptoms or have not begun to experience symptoms. US Surgeon General Jerome Adams cautioned that wearing surgical-type cotton masks may not protect healthy Americans from contracting coronavirus and may even put them more at risk. 'Wearing a mask improperly can actually increase your risk of getting disease. It can also give you a false sense of security,' Adams told Fox News, adding that the CDC was looking at data involving the cotton masks. 'The data doesn't show that it helps individuals,' he said. 'If you're sick, wear a mask. If you have a mask and it makes you feel better then by all means wear it. But know that the more you touch your face the more you put yourself at risk. 'There may be a day when we change our recommendations - particularly for areas that have large spread going on - about wearing cotton masks... But again, the data's not there yet.' Who is pushing for the guidance to change? The idea is being pushed by some health experts, including Scott Gottlieb, a former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration. In a pandemic roadmap for the conservative American Enterprise Institute think tank published on Sunday, Gottlieb advocated for people, even those without symptoms, to wear non-medical masks during this initial phase of rapid community transmission. He called for the public to 'initially be asked to wear fabric nonmedical face masks while in the community to reduce their risk of asymptomatic spread'. Gottlieb told CBS on Sunday that the CDC should be issuing guidelines on how people can make adequate DIY masks so it would take away from the healthcare workers on the front line. On the issue of face masks, President Donald Trump said at the White House coronavirus briefing on Monday that 'it's certainly something we could discuss'. 'After we get back into gear, people could - I could see something like that happening for a period of time, but I would hope it would be a very limited period of time,' Trump 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 The Fredericksburg Nationals have selected 6 Bears & a Goat to make its official craft beers, including a FredNats-branded version, for its inaugural 2020 season. The Stafford County brewery will offer a variety of styles of its award-winning beers in the new 5,000-seat park near the Fredericksburg Expo & Convention Center in Celebrate Virginia South. The special FredNats-branded beer will be sold only in the stadium and at the brewery, which is located at 1140 International Parkway off U.S. 17. We are the face of the Fredericksburg Nationals when it comes to craft beer, said brewery spokeswoman Lindsey Heppner. She said Six Bears & a Goats beers will be available in every place in the stadium where beer is sold. We are proud to have locally brewed beer at the stadium, said Nick Hall, the teams executive vice president and general manager, in a news release. Mark Faller, founder and managing partner of 6 Bears & a Goat Brewing Company, said the teams vision of enriching the Fredericksburg community aligns with the brewerys values. Looking ahead to post-pandemic times, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts announced on Tuesday that tickets for Hamilton will go on sale Friday, April 3. Broadway at the Hobby Center brings Lin Manuel-Mirandas musical back to the downtown theater this summer from June 30 to August 9. Doctor Who fans were given an unexpected lock-down treat last night when former Timelord Matt Smith and the cast from 2010 live tweeted through an old episode of the show. The event was arranged by writer Richard Curtis and his partner Emma Freud in a bid to alleviate lock-down boredom but also to raise awareness about mental health - Curtis revealed his late sister Belinda's suicide had influenced his writing of the episode. At 7pm last night, Doctor Who enthusiasts tuned into the 2010 episode 'Vincent and the Doctor' which sees the timelord visiting famous Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh just weeks before his suicide in 1890 at the age of 37. Scroll down for video Back in time: At 7pm last night, thousands of Doctor Who enthusiasts tuned into the 2010 episode 'Vincent and the Doctor' on the BBC iPlayer as cast members from that time - including Matt Smith, left, and Karen Gillan, right, live tweeted throughout Love Actually writer Curtis revealed his late sister Belinda's suicide in 2009 had influenced his writing of the Doctor Who episode - he urged those struggling with mental health problems during lock-down to seek help Poignant: one point in the episode references artist Van Gogh's imminent suicide. Curtis, tweeting through his partner Emma Freud's account said his sister Belinda's 2009 death by suicide had influenced his writing of the episode The episode's writer Richard Curtis wrote the 2010 installment in memory of his late sister Belinda, who took her own life in 2009, he explained on Twitter, via his partner Emma Freud's account The Love Actually and Notting Hill screenwriter told fans that he had written the episode in memory of his sister, known as Bindy, who died by suicide around the time of her 55th birthday in 2009. Tweeting through his partner Emma Freud's account, Curtis referenced his sister's mental health battles, saying she would have enjoyed watching it. He wrote: 'So heres the thing the key reason I wrote this episode was out of love for my sister Bindy. She was a gorgeous and brilliant person, 2 years older than me. She loved Vincent Van Gogh and life. She couldnt have been more full of generosity and joy.#TheUltimateGinger.' He added: 'I think she would have liked the episode as I say she loved Vincent Van Gogh and she would have LOVED Matt Smith. And Tony. And Karen. She already adored Bill. #TheUltimateGinger' Matt Smith and Bill Nighy joined forces to tweet alongside other cast members including Karen Gillan, who once played the timelord's companion Amy Pond A letter shared by Curtis on Twitter ahead of the screening; he urged people with mental health problems to reach out to charities Curtis and Emma Freud, who arranged the lock-down screening, getting cast members from Doctor Who in 2010 on board Curtis also posted a letter written in advance of the screening addressing the need for people to take extra care of their mental health during the lock-down because of coronavirus. He referenced the UK helpline Shout and the Crisis text line in the US, telling viewers struggling with mental health problems to reach out. Actor Karen Gillan shared this photo of Van Gogh's famous painting, gifted to her by her dad after she appeared in the popular episode Matt Smith and Bill Nighy, who played Dr Black in the episode, tweeted throughout, Smith signed off: 'That was bloody lovely. What a nice interlude for us all. Be safe everyone. Take care. Bow ties are cool. M X" Karen Gillan, who played the doctor's companion Amy Pond, shared an image of a gift she'd received after starring in the episode. She wrote: Look what I got...my dad went on a secret mission to get it for my birthday. Had no idea! Best gift. #TheUltimateGinger' Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has asked private doctors in the state to carry out the chest X-rays and hemogram of coronavirus suspects. This can arrest the ailment at the initial stage and would help the patient, Thackeray said during a discussion on Monday with a Thane-based private doctor, who is part of the team providing medical assistance to people for coronavirus. He also enquired about the facilities, including masks, available to doctors and asked them to wash their hands repeatedly and take care of their health. State Cabinet minister and NCP Leader Jitendra Awhad said he has facilitated setting up of eight community clinics in the city which will cater to the needs of citizens. Thhe Thane Municipal Corporation and the local IMA Chapter have jointly prepared a panel of doctors to provide assistance to citizens during this critical time. IMA Thane Chapter president Dr Dinkar Desai has asked doctors to keep their clinics open for a few hours everyday to cater to people who need medical assistance. He said police were taking pictures of the clinics which are found non-operational during the lockdown period. Doctors abovethe age of 55 have been exempted from operating their clinics during this period. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The auction has offered up some big names in the art world in recent years, including two Picassos and works by Salvador Dali and Alexander Calder, given as full donations to the YAM. Those are not our typical pieces, but it will generate funds, and this is a fundraiser, said Olsen, who describes the auction as the organizations most significant annual fundraiser. Proceeds will fund the museums calendar of exhibitions and educational programs. This year, as in years past, a special lot on the auction is set aside for educational opportunities, providing up to 15% of the museums annual education budget, benefiting programs for adults and children including the YAMs work in the Montana Womens Prison and certified art education programs for children throughout the school year, according to Barnett. Approximately two-thirds of the work offered for auction sold last year, though funds raised have not been disclosed by the museum. As much as 25% of the YAM's yearly budget is raised during the auction, The Gazette previously reported. Weeks after the United States and Afghanistans Islamist Taliban movement signed an agreement to stipulate the withdrawal of foreign forces in return for counterterrorism guarantees, the hard-line movement has yet to begin talks with the Afghan government as outlined by the pact. Instead, the insurgents have opposed a 21-member negotiating team announced by Kabul and supported by most factions and prominent politicians supporting the political system under the umbrella of the Islamic Republic. The Taliban have ramped up attacks on security forces across the country after the February 29 deal with Washington. We shall only sit for talks with a negotiation team that conforms with our agreements and is constituted in accordance with the laid-out principles, said a Taliban statement on March 28. Michael Semple, a former European Union and United Nations adviser in Afghanistan, says the Talibans actions are consistent with their longstanding political goal of re-establishing their Islamic Emirate, the formal name of their regime in the late 1990s. He says the occasional optimistic statements by Taliban leaders about an inclusive government never relayed the movements true strategy. We should not be surprised when we see that even after the deal in Qatar [with the U.S.] the Taliban movement as a whole is pursuing a military campaign, which is already intensifying across Afghanistan, he told RFE/RLs Gandhara website on March 31. They are engaged in a military campaign to try to re-establish their Islamic Emirate -- a government of Afghanistan dominated entirely by the Taliban movement. Semple, now a professor at Queens University Belfast, says the Talibans commitment to negotiations with the Afghan government in the Doha agreement is undermined by their reliance on violence. If this is the position they take to the negotiations, there is little hope for success, he noted. He says that in the Talibans current calculations, they dont really need to negotiate peace with other Afghans. The Taliban have made it clear that they are very keen on this deal, which they have done with the Americans but only for the purposes of allowing U.S. forces to leave the country, Semple said. They consider themselves to be victorious over the U.S. and believe they somehow have a right or destiny to take on the whole country on the basis of what they say [as] having defeated the Americans. Mullah Fazel, a former top Taliban military commander and senior member of the Taliban negotiating team in Doha, recently portrayed this sentiment. In a March 25 speech to supporters in the southwestern Pakistani province of Balochistan, Fazel defined their redlines in future negotiations with the United States and the Afghan government. The amir or leader of [a future government] will be ours. There will be an Islamic Emirate, and there will be a system based on Sharia [Islamic law], he told Taliban fighters and supporters in the rural district of Pishin near the Afghan border. We will not let the sacrifices of our martyrs be wasted. God willing, we will see the victory. Fazel, however, indicated that they would accommodate Afghans who can work for the Taliban. Unlike in the past, all [officials] will not come from among the ulema or the Taliban, he said. The Taliban or the Islamic Emirate will never become part of the Kabul government, but we can grant them [some individuals] a ministry or some other post. But in a recent analysis, the International Crisis Group argued the Taliban have shown persistence in pursuing negotiations to end four decades of war in Afghanistan. Little is lost, however, by testing the Talibans potential to negotiate seriously. Much could be gained, not least the opportunity to curb violence in the deadliest war in the world, said a March 30 briefing by the international research group. It will require patience, as any peace process will probably involve many false starts and disappointments. Semple says the Talibans agreement with the United States underlines the fact that the Islamist movement is no longer waging a jihad against what they claimed was against foreign occupation. Any further fighting is entirely a fight among Afghans over the nature of government in the country, he said. It is not what they initially mobilized the young fighters for. It remains to be seen how long they can convince the people or young fighters to actually fight for such a cause. In my experience, there is also tremendous opposition to the idea of civil war. Semple says a negotiated solution to the conflict in Afghanistan will happen after the Taliban realize they cannot militarily overthrow the government. [They will then] actually negotiate the future of Afghanistan -- something they are really not ready to do yet, he concluded. In a sign of some progress toward contact and cooperation between the Afghan sides, a three-member Taliban technical team arrived in Kabul on March 31. They are expected to monitor the release of Taliban prisoners from Afghan prisons. The movement has insisted 5,000 of its fighters and supporters be unconditionally released from Afghan prisons in exchange for some 1,000 Afghan soldiers and government workers in their captivity before they begin talks with Kabul. Incredible footage shows how crocodiles, jaguars and sea turtles are 'taking back control' of two Mexican resorts as tourist activities are suspended and residents remains indoors during the COVID-19 lockdown. The animals were filmed in the coastal resorts of Cancun and Riviera Maya in the south-eastern Mexican state of Quintana Roo. In one clip, viewed 120,000 times on Facebook, a crocodile is seen swimming along a canal outside people's balconies. The cameraman says: 'It is gigantic!' In one clip, viewed 120,000 times on Facebook, a crocodile is seen swimming along a canal outside people's balconies in Mexico Another video shows a jaguar walking a city street at night. According to local media, the jaguar was also spotted inside the complex of the Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa in Tulum. Meanwhile, the absence of tourists and residents in public spaces led to a leatherback sea turtle laying its eggs on the beach in front of a luxury hotel in Cancun. Another video shows a jaguar walking a city street at night. According to local media, the jaguar was also spotted inside the complex of the Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa in Tulum Regional environment secretary Alfredo Arellano told local media: 'On average, we only see one leatherback sea turtle a year and the nesting season starts in May, it was something unusual.' According to reports, the turtle laid 112 eggs in front of the Grand Oasis Cancun hotel. Arellano said: 'These species lost their habitats when the cities expanded and their living spaces became smaller and smaller.' Meanwhile, the absence of tourists and residents in public spaces led to a leatherback sea turtle laying its eggs on the beach in front of a luxury hotel in Cancun The Mexican authorities have ordered a lockdown that will last until April 30 at least to curb the spread of COVID-19. As of March 31, Mexico has reported 1,094 cases of COVID-19 and 28 related deaths, according to the latest data from the Johns Hopkins University. Meanwhile, 35 people have made full recoveries. It comes as canals in Venice are the clearest they have been in living memory after Italy's coronavirus lockdown stopped boats from bringing sediment to the surface. In a rare welcome side-effect of the health crisis, the usually murky waterways are clear enough to see the schools of fish under the water. White swans near a bridge (pictured left) clear water in the canals (right) and in Venice where the usually overcrowded streets and piazzas have been left deserted because of the coronavirus outbreak White swans are also roaming the canals in a city where the usually overloaded piazzas and alleyways have become almost deserted, while air pollution has declined across northern Italy. With no tourists taking gondola rides along the canals, the sediment in the water has been able to settle at the bottom without being churned about - making the surface clearer. Thousands of lives have been saved in China since the coronavirus outbreak started, scientists have claimed, saying lockdowns have dramatically improved air quality. Satellite images from the European Space Agency and NASA show a dramatic reduction in the amount of harmful greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. Researchers from Stanford University say in places like China the reduction in air pollution has led to fewer premature deaths from breathing toxic air. If Democrats retake power, they vow to take over the health care system, claiming they'll "cut costs" and make medical care "free for all." Just one problem: The health care system would be run by people like this. In a conversation with Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute Director of Development Lisa LaTrovato, [Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Vice President for External Affairs Laura] Krolczyk wrote, "Trump supporters need to pledge to give up their ventilators for someone else ... and not go to the hospital." In response, LaTrovato wrote, "I think they should be the only ones in packed churches on Sunday," to which Krolczyk replied, "They should barricade themselves in there and ride this out." Krolczyk got fired. The other one, LaTrovato, apparently is still drawing a paycheck. And here's the thing about them: LaTrovato has been a Democratic operative who, according to this report, worked for far-left former Democratic congresswoman Louise Slaughter. Krolczyk, meanwhile, has reportedly worked on Hillary Clinton's staff during her time as senator. That's how they talk. That's how they think. Like a not inconsiderable slice of the most "motivated" part of the Democratic Party, they've got murder on their minds, not just of Trump, but of people who vote for Trump which in a hospital executive is pretty sickening. It's roughly parallel to the social media posts of another leftist hater, Lara Kollab, the anti-Semitic medical resident who vowed as a doctor to give Jewish people the wrong medicine to kill them in her social media posts. Remember her? That person, who also got fired, in her case from her medical residency, was a big-time supporter of the anti-Israel BDS (boycott, divest, and sanction) movement, which is an exclusively leftist cause common among Democrats. That's the same Israel that is the home to countless medical technology innovations and medical breakthroughs, something unusually unseemly in a doctor supposedly devoted to healing. And that doesn't even get into her lethal-minded hate against Jews in a medical setting, which is intolerable in a doctor. Yet it's very, very common on the left to wish Trump-supporters death. We saw that a lot in recent months, not just on the Hollywood D-list, but among actual Democratic operatives, starting with James O'Keefe's undercover video of an Iowa-based Bernie Sanders staffer named Kyle Jurek, who vowed to put conservatives "up against the wall" if not in Gulags and "re-education" camps. He said the Sanders camp was full of people just like himself and his buddies, according to O'Keefe, and said they were worried he might try to personally assassinate President Trump. Yet the Democratic staffer, so far as known, is still on payroll, and the incident was dismissed as "gossip" by a mid-level Sanders staffer. It's no anomaly, either. We also saw this violent hate against political opponents more recently in a Twitter post by Nancy Pelosi's daughter, Christine, who, again without sanction, or even a disavowal from her mother, speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, got away with cheering a thug convicted of felony assault against Sen. Rand Paul. She's still made zero apology. The lethal-mindedness is there, and it seems to be most obvious in Democrats with links to political power. This, in the medical field, is scary. Both Krolczyk and Kollab got fired when they took their political act to the private sector. The private sector, which knows it needs to keep clients, could not tolerate such people. On the left, this would be denounced as its obsession with "profits." But it shows that that system can self-correct in the interest of staying in business. That raises questions elsewhere, though. If Democrats take over health care, with no alternatives for citizens, how likely are people such as Kollab and Krolczyk to be fired for the same kinds of statements, or worse still, acting out on their homicidal fantasies against the politically different? We can already see that Democrat don't fire politically valuable Democrats, no matter what kind of murderous thoughts come out on their social media posts. Putting these people in charge of health care, with these attitudes, sounds like an unusually dangerous proposition for conservatives, Republicans, and the politically un-connected, given these Democrats' willingness to use medicine as a weapon on their political opponents. And with socialized medicine sure to create shortages, you can bet the death panel will be working overtime to ration care, along with the distinct possibility that conservatives might not fare as well as leftists when the time comes out to decide who gets what. It ought to become an issue for voters, given that the death wishes from the left are coming thick and strong. Are any Democrats disavowing this? Old Kyle Jurek is still on payroll, and Nancy Pelosi's daughter is tweeting on. Democrats ought to be answering questions about their capacity to self-clean as the private sector does, given their gargantuan appetite for power. Sound like a good idea to have these people running everyone's health care? Image credit: David Veksler via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. The government's promised tax cuts may need to be wound back as the nation's finances face what former Reserve Bank of Australia governor Bernie Fraser describes as a "reckoning" to deal with an explosion in budget deficits and public sector debt that could reach $1.5 trillion. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has spent $194 billion on stimulus measures to fight the economic impact of the coronavirus, including a $130 billion wage subsidy package announced on Monday. Economists have generally welcomed the response but forecast the government's plan to be net-debt free by 2030 is now highly unlikely, with some MPs resigned to dealing with an "inter-generational debt" transfer lasting decades. Mr Fraser, who was Reserve Bank governor during Australia's last recession in 1991, predicted there would be a "reckoning" for a swathe of government policies - including tax cuts - as the economy comes to grips with "an awful overhang of debt". He said the cost of the government's support packages, the equivalent of the entire annual defence, education and health budgets combined, would mean the government would have to re-examine policies it had already legislated. Chinese electronics major Xiaomi on Tuesday pledged Rs 15 crore contribution towards India's fight against COVID-19. Of this, Xiaomi will donate Rs 10 crore to the PM's relief fund and CM Relief Funds across various states, a statement said. Also, the company will continue to donate face masks and protective suits to hospitals across various states. The company has partnered with Give India on Mi.com to raise Rs 1 crore to make available hygiene kits for 20,000 families who do not have access to soaps, sanitizers and masks. It is also partnering with other NGOs to extend support to daily wage workers, migrants and stray animals. "At Xiaomi, we are pledging Rs 15 crore for the fight against COVID-19 outbreak...Unity shines in times of adversity. We request all our Mi Fans to also come forward and donate on Mi.com or directly to PM relief fund/CM relief funds," Xiaomi India Managing Director Manu Jain said adding that over 1,000 Xiaomi employees as well as partners have been requested to donate to the cause. Corporate India has been rushing in to help the government and citizens fight the covid-19 pandemic in India. Tata Trusts & Tata group together have pledged Rs 1,500 crore - by far the highest by any corporate. Reliance Industries' chief Mukesh Ambani has also committed a further Rs 500 crore to the Prime Minister's COVID-19 fund, topping up over the multi-crore initiative of India's first coronavirus hospital, meals to the needy, and fuel to emergency vehicles. Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, has committed Rs 100 crore, while a number of other companies are also extending support efforts towards fighting COVID-19 in India. South Korean consumer electronic giants Samsung and LG have said they will provide help to local authorities in India, offering preventive kits, infrared thermometers and consumer durables to hospitals, to help fight the spread of the dadly coronavirus. COVID-19 infection, which originated in Wuhan in China, has spread across the world and claimed over 34,000 lives. Countries like South Korea, Spain, Italy, Iran and the US have been badly hit. In India, the total number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 1,251, while the death toll touched 32. To combat the spread, the government had announced a 21-day lockdown that ends on April 14. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dozens of students from Texas who traveled to Mexico for spring break have tested positive for coronavirus. The group of 70 individuals journeyed from Austin to Cabo San Lucas on Mexico's west coast. Of those, some 28 people have since tested positive for the virus. Some of the group traveled to and from the country by private jet, while some returned on various commercial flights. Out of the 28 who have contracted the disease, it appears that four people did not present any symptoms. The Austin Public Health Department is investigating a cluster of positive COVID-19 cases involving a large group returning from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The above file photo is taken from a Facebook group and does not feature the 28 students who were infected with the virus Currently, 28 young adults on this trip have tested positive for COVID-19 and dozens more are under public health investigation. Four of the confirmed cases did not present any symptoms. The above file photo is taken from a Facebook group and does not picture the 28 students who were infected with the virus The Austin Public Health Department is investigating the cluster of positive COVID-19 cases involving the group. Austin Public Health has contacted every spring breaker who was onboard the plane using flight manifests from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All 28 students who were confirmed are now self-isolating for the time being while others under the quarantine are being monitored and tested. The Department of State Health Services has been notified of the cases. Mexico was not under a federal travel advisory when the students embarked on the trip. However, the CDC currently recommends would-be travelers avoid all non-essential international travel including vacations. A leisure vacation of any kind is not considered essential. Mexico was not under a federal travel advisory when the spring breakers left. The beaches of Cabo are pictured (file photo) Millennials on Spring Break go wild during the COVID-19 outbreak at the beach in Miami Figures show nearly half of those testing positive for COVID-19 in Austin-Travis County are between the ages of 20 and 40. 'The virus often hides in the healthy and is given to those who are at grave risk of being hospitalized or dying,' Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said in a statement . 'While younger people have less risk for complications, they are not immune from severe illness and death from COVID-19.' This particular outbreak among students occurred well after the City of Austin introduced social distancing measures designed to protect those most susceptible to catching and being hospitalized by COVID-19. Brady Sluder gained notoriety last week for spring break partying during a pandemic in Miami despite warnings against large gatherings. He has since apologized The Austin outbreak comes after an Ohio man who went to Florida on spring break ended up apologizing for saying in a viral video earlier this month that he wouldn't let warnings about the coronavirus stop him from partying and 'if I get corona, I get corona.' Brady Sluder said in an Instagram post that he was owning up to his mistakes and he didn't realize the impact of his words. 'Don't be arrogant and think you're invincible like myself,' he wrote. 'I wasn't aware of the severity of my actions and comments,' Sluder wrote in a humbling apology on his Instagram account. 'I'd like to take this time to own up to the mistakes I've made and apologize to the people I've offended.' The 22-year-old from Milford, Ohio, downplayed the seriousness of the pandemic telling a TV news crew in Miami last week that 'we're just out here having a good time. Whatever happens, happens.' 'If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day, I'm not gonna let it stop me from partying,' Sluder said during the TV interview. Meanwhile, five students at the University of Tampa have tested positive for COVID-19 after traveling for their spring break, school officials say. The college students were traveling together with other UT students, but the school has not specified where they went during their break. On Friday the university posted that initially one student test positive. Then on Saturday four more students who traveled together for break tested positive. Three of those students returned to campus after their spring break travels. Those students are now self-isolating and have not been hospitalized. It's not clear if those pupils live on or off campus. Spring is a time of hope and realizing the renewal of life, even in these challenged times. It is a time to plan for the future. For those in the South Carolina Promise Zone dreaming of planting the seeds of a new agriculture-related business or growing an existing one, there is an opportunity to get help to realize those dreams. The Agribusiness Center for Research and Development (ACRE), an initiative of the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA), is currently accepting applications for its Advanced Entrepreneurship Program. The program is open to applicants throughout South Carolina including the S.C. Promise Zone which includes all of Allendale, Bamberg and Hampton counties as well as significant parts of Barnwell, Colleton and Jasper counties. Applicants selected to participate in the ACRE Entrepreneurship Center (EC) program could receive a grant of up to $25,000 to develop their product or business, as well as access to a network of business mentors and grant writing consultants, said Kyle Player, ACRE Executive Director. This is a competitive program. Not all applicants will be selected to pitch or receive funds. The application deadline is May 1, 2020. Applications can be completed online or printed. A link to the application can be found by clicking the ACRE Entrepreneurship Program Application link. The EC program is considered ACREs flagship program which has awarded over $300,000 to 22 agricultural entrepreneurs since 2017. This competitive program is suited towards agribusinesses of all types that seek funding and mentorship in order to grow or expand their market, said Player. The Advanced Entrepreneurial Program is designed for committed, hard-working entrepreneurs armed with a product they are invested in and passionate about, explained Player. Applicants must be South Carolina residents, possess a business plan, and have an existing product, prototype, or business. Previous awardees have ranged from upstart businesses with their first crop in the ground to long-time businesses seeking to launch a new product line, she said. Applicants selected as finalists will be asked to pitch their business to a panel of judges. Following the pitch day, the judges will calculate cumulative scores from the pitch, application, and business plan; and will use these scores to determine the awardees. Awardees receive up to $25,000 in grant funding, access to a network of business advisors, professional assistance with further state and federal grant applications, and promotion of their product across the state and beyond, said Player. Having the backing of the SCDA after this competitive vetting and application process helps with future funding as well previous awardees have gone on to successfully receive angel investment, federal grants, and regional awards. Two companies - Covered in Cotton, located in Darlington, and Table Rock Tea Co. in Pickens - were winners of the 2019 competition. Tracy Woodard of Covered in Cotton said ACREs support has allowed us the opportunity to network with industry professionals, connect with much needed small business resources, and fund our new product line. Steve Lorch of Table Rock Tea Co. said, The ACRE grant helped us purchase a bagging machine that we could not otherwise afford. As a result, weve picked up more clients and have seen in increase in retail interest. We are grateful to the folks at ACRE for recognizing and investing in our potential. In 2017, the South Carolina General Assembly designated funding to promote agribusiness. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture used that funding to create the Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship. South Carolina is blessed with fertile soil, plentiful rainfall, and a historically strong agricultural legacy, yet we face many of the same challenges as states across the country: farm loss and consolidation, aging farmers, rising barriers to entry, international trade uncertainty, and evolving regulations, to name a few, said Player. We believe that South Carolinas farmers, processors, agribusinesses, and customers are up to the challenge. South Carolina needs people with passion for growing an agribusiness, because in doing so they grow a farm, a supply chain, and a community. Above all, we need farmers who are entrepreneurs: innovative leaders willing to work hard and think outside the box to bring healthy, diversified crops and products to the market. Its ACREs job to seek out and support such farmers, said Player. By hosting agribusiness workshops, running grant competitions for entrepreneurs, teaching new and beginning farmers the business skills they need to prosper, funding research, and supporting farmland transfer, ACRE works to inspire entrepreneurship and strengthen South Carolina agriculture from the bottom up. When asked about how the pandemic is impacting agribusiness, Player said, As for the virus, first, I just want to say I am tracking everything and know the toll this is taking on farmers and agribusinesses throughout the state. As a result, there is a possibility the timeline of the application deadline could alter. Secondly, with the virus, small businesses will suffer - it is something that cant be avoided, she said. For small agribusinesses, the ACRE advanced entrepreneurship program can be a light at the end of a tunnel. This funding could help make up what they lost during these uncertain times. In addition to funding, we will help businesses look for disaster aid depending on what legislatures put in place. She added, If I could give money to every small agribusiness in the state, I would - but even if ACRE can assist just a few, we hope this can be the difference in them potentially closing to keeping the doors open in 2020. The ACRE website can be accessed at acre-sc.com or for more information or to sign up for updates, contact Kyle Player at kplayer@scda.sc.gov or 803-734-2324. Supporting this effort is the South Carolina Promise Zone. The S.C. Promise Zone, funded by the federal government and whose lead organization is SouthernCarolina Alliance, is a program to give challenged places a better chance at getting federal grants and other help, according to its website. Included in the Promise Zone are all of Allendale, Bamberg and Hampton counties as well as significant parts of Barnwell, Colleton and Jasper counties. For more information on the South Carolina Promise Zone, go to scpromisezone.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Twenty-two people, who had attended a religious congregation in Delhi, have been quarantined in Rajasthan, officials said on Tuesday. The move comes after over 24 people, who took part in the congregation at Nizamuddin West earlier this month, tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Acting swiftly on the information that the participants of the congregation had come to the districts, officials have sent them to a quarantine facility and taken their samples for testing. Nine people from Haryana were staying at a madrasa in Churu, while as many from Rajasthan were at their homes in Sardarshahar town, Churu District Collector Sandesh Nayak told PTI. They have come back between March 18 and 22, and sent to quarantine facilities in Sardarshehar and Rajaldesar. Others who came in their contact have been home quarantined, Nayak said. Four people in Tonk district have been isolated after they returned in the past two days after attending the congregation. Samples have been taken for examination, District Collector Kishor Kumar Sharma said. Fourteen more people from Tonk had also attended the congregation, but had returned on March 3. All are being identified, the official added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PRESS RELEASE Paris, March 31, 2020 Covid-19 Impact Assessment of the situation to date Generix Group, Industrial, Logistics and Retail Ecosystems provider with leading Collaborative SaaS Solutions gives an update on how the Group is coping with the Covid-19 pandemic. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and the combat against propagation of the virus, Generix Group is rigorously following the directives of the World Health Organization and local governments to ensure the health and safety of company teams, customers and partners. The Group has deployed a Continuing Activity Plan (CPA) and has switched to teleworking at all sites and in all countries where the company is present. With a majority of customers in the food retail, fast-moving consumer goods and logistics sectors, where critical dematerialized and physical flows are essential in the current context, all Generix Group teams are mobilized. They will continue to ensure all services and customer commitments with the same level of safety and operational efficiency. After a 7% growth during the first nine months of the company's fiscal year, turnover for the end of Q4 on March 31, 2020, will be impacted by the health crisis but will show a slight increase since embedded and recurrent activity has not been particularly affected. However, with a substantial majority of customers now very occupied with managing the crisis, Generix Group has noted postponements in signing contracts and a slowdown in Consulting and Services activity. The Group has implemented all the measures required to adapt the load structure, and variable fees have been lowered. Since the Group has limited expenditures, the slowing of activity would not call into question the expected EBITDA growth dynamic for the 2019/2020 fiscal year. The Group will communicate more detailed information on April 27, 2020, after the close of the stock market, with the release of turnover for 2019/2020. Next financial press release: April 27, 2020 after the market closes Publication of turnover for the 2019/2020 fiscal year About Generix Group Generix Group is a Collaborative Supply Chain expert present in 60 countries, thanks to its subsidiaries and network of partners. More than 6,000 companies around the world use its SaaS solutions. The group's 550 employees provide daily support for such customers as Carrefour, Danone, FM Logistic, Fnac-Darty, Essilor, Ferrero and Geodis in the digital transformation of their Supply Chain. Its collaborative platform, Generix Supply Chain Hub, helps companies to keep the promises they make to their customers. It combines the capabilities to execute physical flows, digitalize information flows, manage collaborative processes and connect companies to all their partners, in real time. Generix Supply Chain Hub is aimed at all players in the Supply Chain: manufacturers, third- and fourth-party logistics providers (3PL/4PL) and retailers. www.generixgroup.com Founded in France in 1990, the company is listed on the Eurolist market of Euronext Paris, compartment C Financial Communication Contacts: Generix Group - Ludovic Luzza - Chief Financial Officer - Tel.: +33 CM-CIC Market Solutions - Stephanie Stahr - Tel.: +33 Attachment A Pakistani court has exempted ailing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is in London for treatment, from personal appearance in a money laundering case. Sharif, 70, has been in London since November last year. The Lahore Accountability Court on Monday exempted Sharif from personal hearing in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case till the filing of a formal case. Sharif in his petition had requested the court that he should be granted exemption as his doctors in London are not allowing him to travel. The three time premier's daughter Maryam Nawaz was also given exemption from personal appearance. She has also filed a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking permission to go abroad to look after her father. This case is pending in the court. The National Accountability Bureau has accused Sharif along with two others of money laundering under the garb of sale/purchase of the sugar mills' shares. According to Sharif's brother Shahbaz, the former premier will undergo a heart procedure this week. He said Sharif cannot return the country till he gets well. The Imran Khan government has already declared Sharif an 'absconder' after refusing to extend his four-week bail granted by court on medical grounds. The Pakistan government says it is not satisfied Sharif's medical reports and he should return to the country forthwith. The Lahore High Court in October last year granted bail to Sharif on medical grounds for four weeks, allowing the Punjab government to extend it further in the light of his medical reports. The Islamabad High Court had also granted bail to Sharif in the Al Azizia Mills corruption case, in which the former prime minister was serving a seven-year jail term, clearing his way to travel abroad for medical treatment. According to Sharif''s physician, he is suffering from complex multi-vessel coronary artery disease and substantial ischemic and threatened myocardium for which he is due to undergo surgery. According to a media report, Sharif's physician David Lawrence said that the his heart surgery will have to wait until the prevailing uncertainty of Covid-19 settles down, hinting at his extended duration of stay abroad. According to the doctor, Sharif "at his age, with significant disease burden, falls in the category of patients who if exposed can develop serious Covid-19 symptoms with adverse effects. The doctor further said that Sharif has been advised to stay in close proximity of advanced health facilities in London. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Odisha government on Tuesday issued an order deferring a portion of the salary of the chief minister, ministers and All India Service oficers as part of austerity measures to tackle COVID-19, an official said. In view of the economic impact caused due to lockdown and expenditures incurred to control COVID-19, the government ordered deferment of wages and salaries, he said. As per the order, there will be a deferment of 70 per cent in the gross salary in respect of the chief minister, ministers, MLAs, chairpersons of all state-run corporations and elected representatives of all local bodies. Similarly, the order said: There shall be a deferment of 50 per cent salary in respect of All India Service Officers like Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS). The order will come into force with immediate effect, the official said. Odisha has so far reported three positive novel coronavirus cases while 57 persons are under hospital isolation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nicole Murphy was spotted stepping out in Los Angeles on Monday. The 52-year-old - who is the mother to five of Eddie Murphy's 10 children - was fashionably dressed in a crop top, pulled up sweatpants and high heels as she picked up supplies at Pink Dot. The model also wore a hi-tech black fabric facemask over her mouth and nose, as a safeguard against the continuing coronavirus pandemic that is gripping the world. As of Tuesday morning, COVID-19 has claimed 135 deaths in California. On the go: Nicole Murphy was spotted stepping out in Los Angeles on Monday, decked out in head-to-toe Adidas sportswear paired with pink slip heels as she picked up supplies A longtime fashion model, Nicole looked beautiful in her coordinated outfit, which consisted of a black beanie cap over her cropped hair, a poofy black down coat, a pale pink hoodie pulled up to allow her taut abdomen to show, and black track pants. Every item brandished the logo of Adidas, including the black fanny pack Murphy wore around her waist. The 5ft10in beauty's footwear matched her hoodie perfectly. Adorable in Adidas: Nicole looked beautiful in her coordinated outfit, which consisted of a black beanie cap, a poofy black down coat, a pale pink hoodie, and black track pants Her track pants featured branded white piping down the front, and she pulled them up a little to show off her shapely calves. At one point Nicole stopped in front of the Pink Dot shop to talk on her phone, smiling and waving to the shutterbugs as she momentarily pulled her mask down from her face. Murphy has been sharing wistful and nostalgic throwback posts to her Instagram, reiterating how much she misses the time before the pandemic hit and everyone began isolating at home. The mother-of-five posted a snap of her granddaughter Evie Isla Murphy, by way of her son Myles Mitchell Murphy, 27, lamenting 'I miss her so much'. Keeping safe: Murphy, 52, wore a hi-tech black fabric facemask over her mouth and nose, as a safeguard against the continuing coronavirus pandemic She's also posted video content and images from previous travels with friends to gorgeous places including Turks and Caicos and Thailand, captioning them with wishes like 'Take me back to this day' and 'I wish I was here right now.' Just last month, Nicole supported her artist daughter Bria, 30 at her exhibition opening in LA, attending alongside ex-husband Eddie, 58, and his fiancee Paige Butcher, 40. Eddie and Nicole were married from 1993 to 2006 and also share daughters Shayne Audra, 25, Zola Ivy, 20, and Bella Zahra, 18. Iran has lacked viable, legitimate, and representative governance since February 1979. That has been demonstrated by its social and economic performance domestically. Its clerical Government has not been prepared to trust the population, and the population, as a result, has not trusted the Government. Equally, however, external powers friendly or unfriendly have constrained Iran since 1979 from progressing as a normal member of the international community. This was a response to the behavior of the Iranian Government, but it was often counter-productive. The current transformation of the international strategic and economic balance resulting from the 2019-20 COVID-19 crisis and the attendant global fear pandemic has taken the outlook for Iran into a new arena. The COVID-19 crisis management by the clerical Government was seen as so inept that the remaining trust levels in government by the public appeared to have evaporated. The one man on horseback, who appeared to be able to galvanize a sense of national pride and direction Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani was killed in his war against the US, and governmental behavior since his death on January 2, 2020, has been haphazard and domestically divisive. US thoughts on possibly taking advantage of the internal disarray in Iran included the announcement on March 20, 2020, that the US Navy had deployed two supercarrier strike groups around USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Harry S. Truman with unspecified purpose. That deployment seems destined, if escalated, only to galvanize the support of a reluctant Iranian population around the failed clerical Administration. Related: Is This The Beginning Of The End For Texas Oil? Iranians consistently rally around their government when a foreign threat appears. The US, Iran, and others have failed to learn that repeating failed policies does not improve the chances of their success. In viewing Irans prospects, it is essential to understand that most policies by and toward Iran for more than four decades have been poorly-conceived and counter-productive. The exceptions are that: - (a) The policies of the ruling clerics of Iran have been geared solely to the preservation of their power, and these have worked; and - (b) The policies of Iraq (1980s), Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (supported by the US) have been designed to cause, lead, or demand an international isolation of Iran, and these have partially worked. Neither of those policy streams has benefited the Iranian public nor the international community. It could be argued that both of those draconian policies of preservation of power domestically, and international containment did provide an opportunity for Russia (after 1990) and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) to gain some traction in the region because they kept the US and the West generally at bay. So there have been limited benefits for Moscow and Beijing, the most notable being the avoidance of an opportunity for a reassertion of Western influence. There is no evidence that, since the departure of the Shah from Iran in early 1979, Saudi Arabias security has benefited from the failure to develop a viable modus vivendi with Iran. The global economic breakdown into what, at least for a brief period, will be a depression will have a profound impact on Iran. Of primary initial importance will be the contraction of demand for Iranian oil and gas from the PRC and Japan, not just in terms of volume, but in terms of price. Allies (a term which needs to be qualified) Russia, Turkey, and Qatar (and to some extent Iraq and Syria) can do little for Iran at this time, particularly in the critical area of need: food supply. Absent an improvement in food supply, all domestic political crises will be exacerbated, particularly in light of the Governments poor response to the COVID-19 contagion which resulted from the clerical Government accepting PRC pressure to sustain unfettered air links between the two countries, thus exposing Iran to a higher-than-necessary level of risk to COVID-19. By March 30, 2020, the Government acknowledged that COVID-19 deaths were 2,757 out of a confirmed caseload of 41,495. In fact, the contagion rate in Iran at that point was an absolute unknown, and was clearly much higher than official confirmed cases, and the death toll was also much higher. The lack of a clear understanding of the dimension of the health threat further exacerbated public mistrust in the Government. Related: An Oilmans Plea To President Trump Irans porous border with Turkey may well have contributed to the situation in that country where informed estimates of contagion were that some 60 percent of the Turkish population had contracted COVID-19. Iranian Pres. Hasan Rouhani made the case on March 29, 2020, that sustained US economic sanctions against Iran were to blame for Irans situation. In fact, while the sanctions may have inhibited the Governments late-starting attempts to respond to the epidemic, the cause of the high-rate initial contagion was entirely due to the Governments submission to PRC demands for constant, open travel from affected PRC areas to Iran. What, then, is to happen to Iran, and what should or could the Western response be to the changing situation? - Irans Government is reaching a watershed in its ability to impose further constraints on public discontent, but, equally, the internal opposition lacks cohesion, energy, and resources. A military-led solution may occur if, for example, Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini Khamenei relinquishes power or dies. - The US must decide whether, at this historical point, it wants to devote increasingly limited resources to supporting the domestic opposition as part of a strategy to constrain the PRC. Washington first must understand Iran, which it arguably has not understood since Pres. Richard Nixon (1969-74), the last US President to balance Iran and Saudi Arabia. As with all good battlefield sieges, the besieger must offer hope to the besieged. For Iran, hope must be in the restoration of its historical civilizational glory. By GIS/Defense & Foreign Affairs Staff More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: BURLEY The Mini-Cassia Criminal Justice Center, Minidoka County, Cassia County and others are being sued for $25 million in federal court by the mother of a 44-year-old woman who died Jan. 24 in jail. The damage claim also asks for a punitive award, attorney fees and other costs. The case was filed on March 26. Tort claims were also filed the same day against Minidoka County and Cassia County. Cassia County Attorney Doug Abenroth and Minidoka County Attorney Lance Stevenson both declined to comment on the case Monday. Stephanie Lynn King Eads, a mother of three who had a recent amputation of her left hand from an industrial accident, died in her cell after being incarcerated for 14 days, according to the lawsuit filed by Eads mother, Carol Cole, and Eads estate and family. The death was from acute endocardia bacterial infection of her heart. The infection severely damaged the tricuspid valve and led to the collapse of her heart and lack of blood flow to her brain, with death following, according to court documents. Officials have not given Cole or her attorney, E. Lee Schlender of Mountain Home, Eadss autopsy report, detention center records or video that would show her deterioration, treatment and responses from staff, or reports from other investigators including the Idaho State Police investigation report, which is still underway. It is believed the autopsy revealed that Stephanie died from an untreated infection of her amputation stump and arm, which was ravaging her entire body and heart, the lawsuit says. The infection, if treated at an appropriate time, was treatable with medication and if needed, surgery. ... The Sheriffs office and all of the staff at the Detention Center, including deputies and jailers, ignored Stephanies known, obvious and severe deteriorating mental and physical condition for nearly two weeks and simply watched her slowly die, the lawsuit reads. Their actions were by a definition grossly negligent, reckless, willful and wonton and can be aptly described as barbaric. Other inmates as well as jailers could hear her screaming and crying in pain; pleading for help. None was given. The lawsuit says at least part of the time Eads was held in a cell with no bed, working sink, toilet or another source of water. She was unable to walk to the jail doors food portal to get her meals. Her cries for help and the requests by family and friends for her to receive medical care went unanswered. She progressively grew weaker and unresponsive until she died. Other parties named in the lawsuit include Cassia County Sheriff Jay Heward, jail director George Warrell, nursing chief Deborah Bell, jail deputies Clell Frasier and Daniel Renz, and probation officers Enrica Molina, Jayone Fitzhugh and Amber Prewitt. The lawsuit filed says Eads was arrested Jan. 7 for a probation violation after being released from the states rider program on a felony drug use-possession charge. She needed to be continually medicated after her accident and probation officials knew she was at a high risk for relapse due to her past drug use and use of opiates and other drugs for pain after the accident. Her use of pain medication while on probation was approved by the probation department. On Jan. 17, family friend Lloyd Smith sent an email, which is attached to court documents, to the detention center nurse, Bell, urging staff to immediately give her proper medical care. The email states Eads was so dehydrated her lips had split and she could not stand and was in critical condition and close to death. She is in isolation and apparently not doing well at all. I am sure you see this a lot but her family is very concerned she is going to die in there, the email reads. The email went unanswered. Lloyd also called Bell, who he personally knows, and left messages, but she did not answer or acknowledge the calls. Multiple calls were made to the jail by family and friends, which were ignored or answered with flippant information that staff was on vacation, forms had to be completed and no one at the jail had the time to read the requests for visitation or return calls, the lawsuit says. Eads was chained, belted and taken to Minidoka County on Jan. 22 for a court appearance on the probation violation charge for being in the vicinity of narcotics and other drug users after a residence was raided by police. In court, she was so debilitated the judge refused to continue the proceedings, saying she was in no condition to take part in the judicial process and she needed care before she could even understand the proceedings. She was returned to the solitary cell until Jan. 24 when she was found dead. She did not die at the hospital as claimed by some defendants, the lawsuit says. In the emergency room at the hospital ... her eyes were totally glazed and clouded. The lawsuit notes that a prior inmate, Thomas M. Rettew, 38, died in a holding cell at the jail on Jan. 17, 2019, of acute methamphetamine toxicity, according to a Twin Falls Sheriffs Office investigation. The lawsuits first claim of relief is against all parties named in the lawsuit for violation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which grants a person protection from officials exhibiting deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. A second claim of relief, against Minidoka and Cassia County, is for the deprivation of rights, privileges or immunity granted by the Constitution. The third claim, against Warrell and the individually named defendants, is also for violation of the 14th Amendment. The fourth claim, against all defendants, is for the liability of government entities. The fifth claim, against individuals and Monell, is for the denial of equal protection under the Constitution by governments that take federal funds to help protect the plaintiff. A Monell claim is a claim against a municipality based on the failure to train or supervise employees. The sixth claim, against both sheriffs departments operating under the Mini-Cassia Criminal Justice Center, is for the violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The lawsuit asks for damages to be determined by a jury. Love 2 Funny 3 Wow 1 Sad 6 Angry 3 Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) donated Rs 5 crore to Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES) on Tuesday. A cheque was handed over to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar by NAFED Managing Director Sanjeev Kumar Chadha. NAFED has also started the distribution of pulses, during the lockdown, for the needy. "Proud to announce start of supply of pulses for Poor announced by Hon'ble PM. First trucks moved for Punjab from Rajasthan. Working overtime to ensure supplies in trying circumstances to all States," Mr Chadha tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday had announced the creation of the PM-CARES Fund and urged people to make donations to support the government in the fight against coronavirus. According to the latest update by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country have reached 1,251, with 101 of these being successfully treated for the disease. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Warren Brown has said he was made up with the send-off he received as his character was killed in a shock twist in Sky drama Strike Back. The actor, who has played Sgt Thomas Mac McAllister in the British military intelligence series since 2017, said it was emotional to say goodbye to his character but he was pleased with his dramatic exit midway through the final series. He told the PA news agency: Everyone wanted to go out with a bang so inevitably one of the leads might have to go, for impact, so I knew the idea from the beginning. But it wasnt until a few weeks before we started when the scripts were ready that we read it and I thought it was really really good. (Sky/PA) I was with Dan and and Alin (Daniel MacPherson and Alin Sumarwata, his co-stars) and we all read them at my place in Croatia where we shot last year and we were all just blown away by it and there may have been tears. I just thought the writing was incredible. His final episode is interspersed with flashbacks to Macs time as a young solider in Afghanistan, before he joined Section 20 and Brown, who is also well known for his role as DS Justin Ripley in BBC drama Luther, added: I have been killed off in these shows before, to great effect, so Im no stranger to that. But when I read the script I was like, this is up there with any work Ive done in terms of script, how hard I had to work. Strike Back is undoubtedly the most physically and mentally demanding job Ive ever had, Ive loved it, and then to go out this year, in the final season, with those scripts, was an absolute gift. Going into the final season you want to give it absolutely everything and I was made up with that send-off and we managed to keep it under wraps so there was quite a bit of shock. Daniel MacPherson as Samuel Wyatt and Alin Sumarwata as Gracie Novin (Sky/PA) He continued: Its been a huge job for me, this last three years, we have filmed all over the world, we have been to Jordan, Budapest, Malaysia, Croatia and the cast and crew is such an international group and its been a life-changing job. Story continues In particular the three of us who have been on the show for three years, we are all so so close and we all brought so much for free. Yes it was characters saying goodbye but it was also us saying goodbye to each other and saying goodbye to the show so I think that was really useful for everyone to tap into. Brown said special measures were taken to keep Macs death a secret, meaning he stayed in Croatia for the filming of the last episodes so fans would not be suspicious of why he was not present. He said: We are all quite active on social media and the fans are into seeing behind the scenes while we are shooting so obviously if we are all posting, posting, posting and Im suddenly not posting for the last four episodes they are going to know something. So I wanted to be there for the end to say goodbye to the show and to say goodbye to everyone. I would have always made it back for a wrap party but to go one better I asked at the beginning would it be possible to come back for the final block and shadow direct? So I did and learned loads and then I was able to be in Croatia and be tweeting and be pictured with all the guys so that helped keep it under wraps. Because of the nature of the show, in the final weeks of shooting when things were getting a bit out of hand, I was able to get my hands dirty a little bit and was able to do a little bit of second-unit directing, which was brilliant. Strike Back continues on Tuesdays on Sky One. A man who coughed on several packets of noodles at Woolworths after being told he was over the two pack limit has been charged. The New South Wales man was shopping at a Woolworths in Wagga Wagga last week when he was told he could only purchase two noodle packets. The 34-year-old allegedly coughed onto the noodles and yelled angrily: 'Well they're now contaminated anyway'. The New South Wales man was shopping at Woolworths in Wagga Wagga (pictured) when he was told he could only purchase two noodle packets according to the new limit Police released CCTV footage which then helped identify the shopper, who had also posted about the incident online. 'He was identified because he was known to some staff members, as well as posting about the incident on social media,' Riverina Police District Acting Detective Inspector Steve Probst said. 'Police investigated the incident, followed up with CCTV, and he's been located, spoken to and is currently before the courts.' He was charged intimidate with intention to cause fear and will appear in court on June 24. Inspector Probst issued a warning about this behaviour and said police would not rule out issuing infringement notices. 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 'Anyone who's behaving in a manner likely to cause fear, particularly in relation to COVID-19, we will investigate and if identified, we will either issue an infringement or bring those persons before the court,' he said. Since the coronavirus crisis began supermarket workers have reported being abused and even attacked by angry shoppers. Some have been physically and verbally abused by customers who aren't able to find what they want amid widespread shortages caused by coronavirus panic-buying. A Coles liquor store employee said an irate shopper spat on a credit card before handing it over, while others reported being the target of racial slurs. An anonymous Coles worker also took to social media to share some of their own experiences in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Today was the first day in a while I didn't get yelled at ... there are always a few racist customers making dumb comments,' the worker wrote. 'I'm still shocked that we are not given any sort of safety protection nor it seems like they care for our safety and well being.' Serial Killer Dubbed Grim Sleeper Dies in California Prison SAN QUENTIN, Calif. (AP) Lonnie Franklin, the convicted serial killer known as the Grim Sleeper who preyed on the women of South Los Angeles for more than two decades, has died in prison. He was 67. California corrections officials said Franklin was found unresponsive in his cell at San Quentin State Prison on Saturday evening. An autopsy will determine the cause of death; however, there were no signs of trauma, corrections spokeswoman Terry Thornton said in a statement. The stepmother of a victim named Barbara Ware told People magazine she was shocked by the news. ADVERTISEMENT I wont say Im pleased he died but at the end there was justice for all the bad things he did in his life, Diana Ware said. We can now be at peace. Franklin had been on death row since August 2016 for the deaths of nine women and a teenage girl. Franklin was linked at trial to 14 slayings, including four women he wasnt charged with killing. Police have said he may have had as many as 25 victims. Most of the victims were fatally shot at close range, though two were strangled. Their bodies were dumped and left to rot in alleys and trash bins. The killer earned his moniker because of the apparent hiatus from the late 1980s to 2002. The murders went unsolved for years and Franklin avoided suspicion by working as a city trash collector and onetime garage attendant for Los Angeles police. Community members complained that police didnt seriously investigate the killings because the victims were black and poor and many were drug users and prostitutes during the crack cocaine epidemic. Franklin was connected to the crimes after a task force that re-examined the old cases discovered that DNA from Franklins son, which was in a database because of an arrest, showed similarities to genetic evidence found on some of the Grim Sleeper victims. ADVERTISEMENT A detective posing as a busboy at a pizza parlor collected utensils and crusts while Franklin was attending a birthday party. Lab results connected him to some of the bodies and led to his arrest. Investigators found a gun used in one of the killings and photos of victims in Franklins house after his arrest. Last year, Franklin was granted a reprieve when Gov. Gavin Newsom halted the execution of more than 700 condemned inmates on the nations largest death row for at least as long as hes governor. California hasnt executed anyone since 2006, under then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and inmates are far more likely to die of old age. A High Court judge has rejected a man's claim he was maliciously prosecuted arising from an incident during a Shell to Sea protest in Co Mayo. Mr Justice Max Barrett said the prosecution of Raymond Hanrahan on a charge of criminal damage to a Garda's jacket "was not run as well as it could have been" but there was no evidence of malice, "none at all". His decision concerned the final part of Mr Hanrahan's civil action for damages, brought against the Garda Commissioner and State, arising from the August 20, 2011 protest on the public road near the entrance to the Shell gas terminal at Glenamoy. A High Court jury had on February 20 last dismissed claims by Mr Hanrahan he was assaulted by Garda Justin Browne during the protest by being pushed out of the way when Mr Hanrahan entered the middle of the road to attempt to block a tractor heading towards the refinery. 'Took umbrage' After that verdict, the judge heard submissions concerning the claim of malicious prosecution which he had earlier determined had to be addressed by the court, not the jury. In a judgment delivered electronically today, Mr Justice Barrett said, during the protest, Mr Hanrahan (50), with an address at Fairhill, Cork, was pushed by Garda Browne, then temporarily stationed in Belmullet from Drumlish garda station. Mr Hanrahan "took umbrage" at this and resolved to take the Gardas shoulder epaulette number for the purpose of making a complaint. Because Garda Browne was moving away from him, he reached for the Gardas shoulder and somehow managed to rip an epaulette from his high vis jacket. As a result, Mr Hanrahan was subsequently charged with criminal damage to the Garda's jacket. Pacing the jacket in evidence bag The judge said it seemed the normal procedure, given the jacket was to become evidence in a criminal trial, would have been to place it in an evidence bag, with the chain of custody documented compehensively after that. Counsel for the defence had indicated to the court the failure to follow this procedure, "and failure there was", meant the outcome of the eventual prosecution "was always in jeopardy". Mr Hanrahan was convicted in the District Court but his conviction was quashed on appeal when it became clear there could be no certainty that the right jacket was tendered in evidence. In his evidence to the High Court, Garda Browne was "notably honest"; he had said he could not explain how he came to tender the wrong jacket, he seemed embarrassed by this fact and it seems almost certain the error derived from the initial failure to place the jacket in the evidence bag, the judge said. Garda Browne had also made clear in his evidence he bears no personal ill-will towards Mr Harahan and was simply doing his duty as he saw it, the judge added. He said malicious prosecution is concerned with excess/abuse of privilege but the evidence here, on the balance of probabilities, did not point to any such abuse. The evidence also did not point to a lack of reasonable or probable cause for the prosecution and rather "points in the opposite direction", he said. There was no evidence of malice before the court, "none at all". "All that presents is a prosecution that was not run as well as it could have been, but without any evidence of "evil motive". Alabama lawmakers met briefly today and agreed to put the legislative session on hold until April 28 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The House of Representatives and Senate met under special guidelines intended to follow social distancing rules to reduce the chances of spreading COVID-19. House Speaker Mac McCutcheon had instructed members to arrive at staggered times and report directly to their offices. They came to the chamber in small groups and spread out rather than sitting in all their usual assigned seats. Fifty-eight of the 105 House members answered roll, five more than the minimum needed to conduct business. McCutcheon had advised members who have been sick or around someone who is sick not to attend today. Employees with the Alabama Department of Public Health checked temperatures at State House entrances to to make sure no one with a fever went in the building. McCutcheon said he has not heard of any legislators who are showing symptoms of have tested positive for the coronavirus. The press, which is normally in rooms adjacent to the House floor, watched the proceedings from the gallery overlooking the floor. The Senate announced last week it would follow similar social distancing rules for todays meeting. Twenty of the 35 senators attended, two more than the minimum needed to conduct business. Lawmakers have not met since March 12. The state Constitution limits sessions to 105 days, so the session must end by May 18. The Legislature still has to approve the education and General Fund budgets for next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. Uncertainty over tax revenues because of the coronavirus pandemic could affect the ability to approve final budgets during the regular session. Gov. Kay Ivey could call a special session on the budgets this summer. But Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said today he believes the Legislature can pass the budgets in the remaining time left after the expected return on April 28. Both budgets will be bare bones, Marsh said. They will be basically budgets that were passed last year. All are in agreement with that, with the uncertainty in the economy at this point, we cant justify any kind of pay raises, any changes of commitments of revenues until we see whats happening with this economy. Edited at 6:35 p.m. to correct the date that legislators last met from April 12 to March 12. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 19:21:40|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Photo taken on March 31, 2020 shows facial masks made at a tailor shop in Cologne, Germany, March 31, 2020. Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Germany increased by 4,615 within one day to 61,913, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced on Tuesday. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua) BERLIN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Germany increased by 4,615 within one day to 61,913, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced on Tuesday. The number of deaths in Germany increased to 583 on Tuesday from 455 a day earlier, according to RKI, a federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention. However, RKI president Lothar Wieler warned at a press conference that he assumed the "mortality rate will increase" in Germany. According to RKI, the average age of people dying from the disease in Germany was 80 years, while the average age of infected people was 47 years. And the average number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants in Germany was 74, although there were "regional differences." Wieler was "still optimistic," but it was important to keep looking at the figures and to wait until Easter to see how the pandemic would develop in the country. Germany had a relatively high rate of intensive care beds per capita and the number was increasing, said Wieler. The task was to make "optimal logistical" use of available hospital capacities and to allocate patients to hospitals where there was free capacity. Whether Germany would have enough beds as the epidemic progresses "is another question," stressed Wieler. Germany currently had a doubling of confirmed COVID-19 cases about every five days. The rate had to slow down to at least every ten days before restrictions could be eased, a government spokesperson said on Monday. A man from Chandarlapadu mandal of Krishna district who had taken part in a religious gathering at Nizamuddin in the capital, has been quarantined here as a precautionary measure. According to the Police, he returned to his village in Muppalla two weeks ago. He has been isolated now under the suspicion of having contracted the lethal virus which has claimed the lives of over two dozen people in the country so far. Authorities across India have launched a massive search for hundreds of people who attended the religious event in New Delhi recently. The gathering is feared to have set off several COVID-19 clusters.Officials evacuated more than 1,000 people from the Islamic centre, known as Markaz, in the Nizamuddin area, sending them to quarantine facilities and hospitals. The events of the congregation, organised by Islamic movement called Tablighi Jamaat, began towards the end of February and continued till early March. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain had said that the officials are not certain of the number of people who participated in the event but it is being estimated that 1500-1700 people had assembled at the Markaz building. "Around 1033 people have been evacuated so far - 334 of them have been sent to the hospital and 700 sent to quarantine center. A total of 24 positive cases have been found," he had said. According to the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country has risen to 1251 as on Tuesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The administration on Tuesday sealed a private company in Noida after around two dozen coronavirus cases were traced to it, according to an official order. The development comes a day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the Gautam Buddh Nagar district, the hotspot of coronavirus cases in the state, and reprimanded officers for not being able to contain the virus from spreading. He had particularly pulled up officials for not taking effective action against private company Cease Fire, whose employees and their family members are among 22 people infected with COVID-19. "Due to several people getting infected with COVID-19 at Cease Fire Private Limited (about which I got informed by the chief medical officer on March 30), and with an objective to contain the virus from spreading further, I order that this company be sealed until further orders, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Sadar, Prasunn Dwivedi stated in the order. The firm, located in Sector 135, is engaged in fire safety services, fire-proofing homes, offices and vehicles, according to information available on its website. An FIR was registered against the firm on March 29 under the Uttar Pradesh Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, and IPC sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (unlawfully or negligently spreading infection of any disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) after a complaint by Gautam Buddh Nagar CMO Aurag Bhargava. The Managing Director ofCeaseFirehad gone to the UK and returned from there on March 1. On March 7 a staff officer of the company had returned from the UK. "A foreign national had carried out the audit of the company on March 14, 15 and 16 but the company did not inform about it to the health department. Thirteen people of this company including their family have got infected with coronavirus, Bhargava had said in his complaint on March 28. The number of coronavirus positive cases that have been traced to Cease Fire since then has surged to at least 22 within Gautam Buddh Nagar, which has so far recorded 38 COVID-19 patients, the highest in any district of UP, according to official figures. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 19:44:14|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close CAIRO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's tourism revenues hit a record high of 13 billion U.S. dollars in 2019, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) said in a statement on Tuesday. "The total revenues of tourism sector increased to 13.03 billion dollars in 2019 compared to 11.6 billion dollars in 2018, and 12.5 billion dollars in 2010 which was the peak year in terms of tourist flows," the CBE statement said. The revenues reached 7.8 billion dollars in 2017, 2.5 billion dollars in 2016, and 6.1 billion dollars in 2015, it added. The number of tourists who visited Egypt in 2019 was estimated at 13.1 million which was less than that in 2010 which stood at 14.7 million, according to the statement. As the main source of Egypt's foreign currency, accounting for over 10 percent of GDP, tourism was sharply impacted by the two uprisings of 2011 and 2013 that toppled Egypt's two presidents and shook the country's economy. The tourism sector started to flourish again after Egypt had improved its security and stability, with 11.3 million visitors in 2018, 8.3 million in 2017, 7.7 million in 2016 and 3.8 million in 2015, according to the statement. Sameh Saad, CEO of travel agency Misr Travel, attributed the improvement in tourism in 2019 to the measures taken by the ministry of tourism to restructure the sector. Terrorist attacks and security challenges brought Egypt's tourism almost to a halt over the past nine years, he told Xinhua. But the industry has been bouncing back after the ministry of tourism embarked on a five-year plan to restructure the sector by carrying out institutional and legislative reform, upgrading infrastructure, increasing investment and updating promotion mechanisms, he noted. It is worth noting that Egypt set new hotel standards in 2019 to avoid incidents regarding hygiene and food, according to Saad. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has floated another suggestion for the next round of fiscal stimulus: A retroactive rollback of the 2017 Republican tax laws limit on state and local tax deductions. In an interview with The New York Times, Pelosi said that a stimulus plan should do more to get money directly to individuals and suggested that a rollback of the $10,000-a-year deduction limit would be one way to do that. The Democratic-controlled House voted last year to repeal the cap, which has predominantly hurt top-earning households in high-tax blue states such as New York, Illinois and California, but the effort went nowhere in the Republican-led Senate. A full rollback of the limit on the state and local tax deduction, or SALT, would provide a quick cash infusion in the form of increased tax rebates to an estimated 13 million American households nearly all of which earn at least $100,000 a year, the Timess Jim Tankersley and Emily Cochrane explain. A Pelosi spokesman tweeted Monday night that action on SALT would be tailored to focus the benefits on middle class earners and include limitations on the high-end. But it could be difficult to have any rollback benefit significant portions of the middle class. As Tankersley and Cochrane note, the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation estimated last year that a repeal of the SALT limit for 2019 would have cut federal revenues by about $77 billion, with $40 billion of that going to taxpayers earning $1 million or more and most of the rest benefiting households with incomes of $200,00 or more. The Tax Policy Center estimates that only 3% of households in the middle quintile of American taxpayers would receive any benefit from the SALT cap repeal. Republicans dismissed Pelosis proposal as part of a partisan wish list. Tax experts and budget wonks, meanwhile, reacted with horror: Nooooooooooooooooo, tweeted Nicole Kaeding, an economist with the National Taxpayers Union Foundation. It certainly gets money into hands. But Im not sure its the correct hands, Kyle Pomerleau, a resident fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, told the Times. Weakening or eliminating the SALT cap would be regressive, expensive, poorly targeted, and precisely the kind of political giveaway that compromises the credibility of emergency spending, Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said in a statement. As stimulus or economic relief goes, Im not sure one could design a less targeted policy. [T] here are about 1,000 better ways to get help to middle-income people right now, Michael Linden, a liberal wonk who is executive director of the Groundwork Collaborative, tweeted. This is a road not worth going down. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. 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. A special CBI court in Jammu on Tuesday refused to grant interim bail to Hilal Rather, son of a former Jammu and Kashmir minister, in the Rs 177 crore bank fraud case rejecting his fears of contracting COVID-19 and noting that he is more at risk outside the prison. While rejecting the application, the Special CBI Judge Rajesh Sekhri also noted that in the prevailing situation, he is more likely to contract the virus if he moves of the jail, and his release may frustrate the purpose behind the lockdown. Rather had moved an application using WhatsApp on medical grounds before the Special CBI judge, Jammu seeking interim bail after the CBI filed a charge sheet against him in the Rs 177-crore J&K Bank loan fraud case, citing the prevailing threat of contracting coronavirus during incarceration, the officials said. Terming the allegations of the CBI as fallacious, concocted and imaginary, Rather had sought release on bail citing his health condition which makes him "more susceptible to contract coronavirus infection in unhygienic conditions in jail." "...health condition of the petitioner is being monitored, on a regular basis by courts and the jail authorities. Therefore, release of the convalescent petitioner in these pandemic situation may otherwise have deleterious effect on his health and frustrate the purpose behind the lockdown," Special Judge Sekhri said. He also directed the jail authorities to "ensure proper hygiene" in general, and in particular where Rather has been lodged. The CBI strongly countered his arguments submitting that Rather, son of former Jammu and Kashmir minister Abdul Rahim Rather, is more likely to be infected if he moves out of the jail. The Government of India has announced a complete lockdown and restricted all forms of movement to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the agency said. The agency argued that releasing Rather on bail on health ground will be against the spirit of the lockdown, putting him and fellow citizens at risk, the officials said. The CBI also said he was discharged by PGI, Chandigarh in a stable condition and there is nothing on record to suggest that he requires any special treatment or hospitalisation for any illness. Dismissing the application, the court observed that the medical record submitted by the accused bears testimony to the effect that the petition was discharged in a stable condition. Agreeing with the arguments of the agency and relying on the Supreme Court judgement in Asaram case, the special judge rejected the interim bail application filed by Rather. "I find force in the submission of the prosecution that given the condition of the accused and the prevailing situation, he is more likely to contract the virus if he moves out of jail," the judge said. The CBI had charge sheeted Rather and others in connection with the Rs 177-crore bank fraud scam within 10 days of taking over the case. In the charge sheet filed before the Special Court, Jammu, the CBI has also named the then branch heads of J and K Bank, New University Campus branch, Iqbal Singh and Arun Kapoor as accused, they said. The CBI has alleged that Rather entered into a criminal conspiracy with the then officials of the Bank to get loans of Rs 177.68 crore (approx) in violation of rules and guidelines. "The loans that were sanctioned for construction of flats were allegedly diverted and misappropriated by the accused using the bank accounts of his employees. It was further alleged that the accused submitted forged certificates and bills to the bank," a CBI spokesperson said here. The allegations were denied by Rather's family after the agency filed an FIR in the case. A statement issued by legal counsel of Rather had said having failed in its primary task of holding public officials accountable, the agency (JK ACB) is trying to give a different colour to the case by resorting to canards and false accusations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the sources lamented that while the Federal Government had announced the total lockdown of Lagos, Abuja and Ogun, some foreigners not tagged essential were still allowed to fly into the country. The source said: I think this is very unfortunate. How can you allow foreigners to enter the country without going through the usual test screening despite the high rate of COVID-19 in the country? Someone said the Americans would be isolated in Calabar for 14 days. I dont think that is enough excuse for them to pass through the Lagos airport without screening at the airport. I just hope everyone is save in this country because some people have exhibited selfishness in their approach. It would be recalled that America is battling to overcome the deadly virus with high number of deaths recorded daily in the North American country, while new cases are daily recorded. Meanwhile, some European countries are evacuating their citizens from Nigeria because of the high rate of the virus in the country. For instance, Air France last Thursday evacuated 378 European nationals from Nigeria through the Lagos airport, while Air Peace on Friday operated a charter flight to Israel with Israeli nationals who left the country. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-01 06:22:42|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BRUSSELS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Spain's health authorities confirmed on Tuesday that the country's total number of coronavirus cases increased by 9,222 to 94,417, a higher daily rise in new cases than on Sunday and Monday, when 6,549 and 6,398 new cases were confirmed respectively. Spain also saw 849 new deaths in the past 24 hours, a new high over 838 reported on Sunday, bringing its death toll to 8,189. Madrid, still the worst-hit in the country, registered 27,509 cases and 3,603 deaths as of Tuesday. INFECTIONS ON RISE The World Health Organization (WHO) data showed the global tally of COVID-19 infections has grown to 719,700 as of 10:00 CET Tuesday, with 33,673 deaths. Outside China, some 640,000 cases have been reported by more than 200 countries and regions, including 10 countries, mostly in Europe, with over 10,000 cases. Italy remains the worst hit in Europe. On Tuesday, the country observed a minute of silence for the victims of the coronavirus pandemic. Its total number of infections has climbed to 105,792, including 12,428 fatalities. A total of 2,107 new active infections were reported compared to Monday, bringing the national total to 77,635. In Germany, confirmed cases on Tuesday increased by 4,615 within one day to 61,913, while the number of new deaths rose to 583 compared with 455 a day earlier, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), a federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention. RKI President Lothar Wieler warned that the "mortality rate will increase" in Germany. The cumulative number of cases in France reached 52,128 by Tuesday, with death tally at 3,523. In the past 24 hours, the virus claimed 499 lives and forced 458 patients into intensive care units. Britain saw its COVID-19 cases reaching 25,150 as of Tuesday morning, a rise of 3,009 in 24 hours. A total of 1,789 patients have died as of Monday afternoon, up 381 from the previous day. Austria's cases climbed to 10,019 on Tuesday, with 128 deaths reported, making it the ninth country in Europe with over 10,000 confirmed cases, after Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Britain, Switzerland, Belgium and The Netherlands. BOOSTING PRODUCTION CAPACITY German Minister of Finance Olaf Scholz announced on Tuesday that the government was making "financial commitments" to support local companies in switching to the production of medical products. Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer also told the German newspaper Bild that in the future, Germany would need a law to "ensure medical supply," especially for medical products such as face masks and medicines in Germany. "For things that may never happen, may occur very rarely, but when they do, they are existential for all of us," said Seehofer. Also on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron, while visiting a surgical mask factory near Angers in western France, pledged that "We have to rebuild our national and European sovereignty" amid the coronavirus crisis. Macron said a consortium of four French industrial groups announced that it will produce 10,000 ventilators by mid-May to support French hospitals in their fight against the rapidly spreading coronavirus. Ventilators are crucial in the fight to save patients whose lungs are assailed by the novel coronavirus. One of the biggest challenges faced by health workers around the world amid the pandemic is trying to save lives when the number of patients needing intensive care overtakes the available medical facilities. A man who was arrested after cops were lead on a 100 mph chase Sunday left his excuse for the incident to the dogs. Washington State troopers who used spike strips to disable the vehicle and end the chase near Seattle said they found a pit bull behind the wheel. The animal's owner, Alberto Tito Alejandro, 51, claimed he was teaching the dog to drive, says State Trooper Heather Axtman. Washington State Troopers who used spike strips to disable the vehicle and end the chase near Seattle said they found a pit bull behind the wheel. The animal's owner, Alberto Tito Alejandro, 51, claimed he was teaching the dog to drive. Alejandro's vehicle is pictured after the incident During the pursuit, troopers were shocked to see the animal in the driver's seat and Alejandro steering and pushing the gas pedal from the passenger side. Alejandro was taken to a hospital and later booked on multiple felonies including driving under the influence of drugs. The incident unfolded Sunday afternoon after police received calls about a driver hitting two vehicles in an area south of Seattle and then speeding away, Axtman said the emergency services subsequently got multiple calls about a car traveling erratically at more than 100 miles per hours. Axtman said that as officers gave chase, they got close to the vehicle -- a 1996 Buick -- and were shocked to see a pit bull in the driver's seat and Alejandro steering and pushing the gas pedal from the passenger side. The pursuit ended after police deployed spike strips and arrested the dog owner. 'When we took him into custody... he admitted to our troopers that he was trying to teach his dog to drive,' Axtman said. 'I've been a trooper for almost 10 years and I've had a lot of excuses when I've arrested people or pulled people over, but I've never had an excuse that the dog was driving,' she added, laughing. Axtman said the female pit bull, which was not aggressive toward the arresting officers, had been placed in an animal shelter. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at Detroit Metro Airport stopped a Chinese scientist carrying vials believed to contain the MERS and SARS viruses in November 2018 just over a year before the first reported Wuhan coronavirus case, according to an FBI tactical intelligence report obtained by Yahoo News. Inspection of the writing on the vials and the stated recipient led inspection personnel to believe the materials contained within the vials may be viable Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) materials, the report reads. The vials were labeled Antibodies, and the unnamed scientist said he was asked to deliver them to a researcher at a U.S. institute. The report also lays out a pattern of Chinese interference, detailing two other cases from May 2018 and September 2019, in which different Chinese nationals tried to enter the U.S. with undeclared flu strains and suspected E. coli, respectively. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate assesses foreign scientific researchers who transport undeclared and undocumented biological materials into the United States in their personal carry-on and/or checked luggage almost certainly present a US biosecurity risk, the report states. The WMDD makes this assessment with high confidence based on liaison reporting with direct access. The FBI has stepped up its efforts to combat Chinese espionage operations in recent months after admitting failures in preventing the recruitment of U.S. researchers by Beijings Thousand Talents Plan. With our present-day knowledge of the threat from Chinese plans, we wish we had taken more rapid and comprehensive action in the past, John Brown, assistant director of the counterintelligence division at the FBI, told a Senate subcommittee in November. The time to make up for that is now. In January, the head of Harvard Universitys chemistry department was federally charged with failing to disclose funding from the Chinese government, after he hid his involvement in the talents program, which encourages the stealing of U.S. intellectual property. Story continues China has come under fire for its handling of the coronavirus, despite pushing propaganda, which has been parroted by Western media, in an attempt to shift criticism to the U.S. A study released earlier this month detailed how the Chinese Communist Party could have prevented 95 percent of total infections if it had acted sooner to limit the spread and warn others. More from National Review To our Hokies in Blacksburg, As of the morning of March 29, 2020, more than 2,000 Americans had succumbed to COVID-19 and over 120,000 had tested positive. The doubling rate is still on the order of three days. Social distancing and other more stringent measures could slow this increase, but there is no strong evidence of that effect yet at the national scale. If this rapid rate of spread continues, models indicate that over 100,000 Americans could lose their lives to COVID-19 during the next few months. While this would be an extreme result, it is a tragically realistic estimate if we were to do nothing to flatten the curve by limiting the spread of the disease. At Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, we are fortunate that the campus depopulated on March 6. Two weeks of spring break allowed us to prepare. We moved instruction online, closed the dining halls except for pickup and delivery, and issued housing rebates and dining plan refunds and rollovers to reduce the campus residential population to less than 10 percent of normal when instruction resumed on March 23. Most employees are telecommuting under reduced operations. Essential employees are following strict hygiene and distancing guidelines. If conditions indicate, we are prepared to move to restrict operations further while maintaining health, safety, food, IT, and essential research functions. While we have been successful in limiting the opportunity for COVID-19 to spread on campus, we have a more challenging situation in the neighborhoods that surround it. About 60 percent of our off-campus student population left the area, but many remain, and some returned from travel or spring break to their residences. Of the 40 percent who remain, many have no better option. For many international students and graduate students, Blacksburg is their home. Most of our students in Blacksburg are heeding the CDC and Virginia Tech guidelines. To those students, I want to thank you. You are saving lives in our neighborhood and beyond. To those who returned primarily because you were expecting to enjoy hanging out and partying with your friends, I hope you have realized by now that this was a mistake. If you really have nowhere else to go, you are welcome to stay, but the community expects you to follow public health guidelines. The governor has asked that no more than 10 people occupy the same space, that you maintain 6 feet of separation, and that hands and surfaces are cleaned frequently. This is necessary but not sufficient. I ask you to stay at home when you can, and limit in-person interactions to those with whom you share living quarters. Spending time outdoors is fine but do so alone or only with those with whom you live. If you experience symptoms, self-isolate immediately, and report your condition to the appropriate medical or public health authority. If you have traveled anywhere out of the region (even Northern Virginia) in the last two weeks, self-isolate and see this notice for reporting instructions. The degree to which we can flatten the curve in Blacksburg depends largely on your choices. And please be reminded while COVID-19 generally affects younger individuals less severely than those who are older and those who have predisposing health conditions, spread of infections among younger individuals such as yourselves places more susceptible community members at risk. Your behavior affects others. Over the next many days and weeks, Vice President for Student Affairs Frank Shushok will be working with Blacksburg Police Chief Anthony Wilson and the town leadership to ensure that these measures are strictly enforced both by the town and by the university. If there was ever a time when Ut Prosim required individual and collective action, this is it. Go Hokies! Tim Sands, President Resources to and for helping students: The Mizoram state information and public relations Minister Lalruatkima distributed hand sanitisers, hand gloves and masks to the Mizoram Journalists Association in Aizawl on Tuesday. Mizoram reported its first case of coronavirus on March 25, after a man who had returned from Amsterdam on March 22, tested positive for the virus. "The patient and his family have been put into quarantine facility in Zoram Medical College of Mizoram. His sample was tested at the Gauhati Medical College & Hospital in Guwahati, Assam, which declared it positive," said R Lalthangliana, Health Minister. Till now, only one person has tested positive for the virus in the state. According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family welfare, the total number of coronavirus cases in the country stand at 1,251. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday said at least 157 people from the state attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin, claiming that most of them have been traced. Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said, "around 95 per cent" of this number have been traced and are being tested for coronavirus. The tests so far have come out negative, he said. Only 10 to 12 people are yet to be identified, he added. Awasthi's press briefing came a few hours after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cut short a western Utter Pradesh trip, rushing back to Lucknow to take stock of the possible fallout of the Nizamuddin congregation. "People are being tracked. Their testing has to be done. If they are tested positive, they will be quarantined and given treatment," Awasthi said, adding that the chief minister has directed not to show any laxity in this regard. "Regarding the Delhi incident, the chief minister has instructed to immediately identify and examine all those who have entered UP after the event. Besides, he has also said action be taken against those who did not reveal their illness to the health authorities," Awasthi said. "Around 95 per cent of the people who returned from the event have been identified. Only 10 to 12 people are yet to be identified for which instructions have been issued to all the district magistrates and CMOs," he added. He also urged people who attended the gathering to get themselves tested. "People should themselves turn up before the administration for testing. This is in their interest, their relatives and the society," he said. Awasthi added that action will be initiated against those violating gathering restrictions, appealing to people to inform police about such persons. "They will be first counselled, and if necessary, action will be initiated against them," he said. Earlier in the morning, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Ghaziabad, but called off the rest of the trip. He headed back to Lucknow meet senior officers and review quarantine measures, after reports that a meeting organised by Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi's Nizamuddin may have infected many people from the state, an official said. Twenty-four people, who took part in the religious congregation in Nizamuddin West earlier this month, have tested positive for coronavirus, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Tuesday. "An estimated 700 people, who attended this congregation, have been quarantined while around 335 people have been admitted to hospitals," he told reporters, referring to the situation in Delhi. In Hyderabad, the Telangana government late Monday said six people who attended the congregation between March 13 and 15 died due to coronavirus. Thousands of people, including foreigners, visited the Jamaat premises over the past month, triggering fears now that they have spread the virus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 Foreigners among 8K people who attended Tabligh-e-Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz in March, many of whom have shown symptoms of COVID-19 Medics carry out screening as police cordoned off an area in Nizamuddin after some people showed coronavirus symptoms, in New Delhi. PTI photo New Delhi: India is likely to blacklist about 300 foreigners who came from 16 countries, including Malaysia and Thailand, on tourist visas but attended an Islamic congregation at Nizamuddin here that has become a key source for the spread of coronavirus in the country, officials said on Tuesday. These foreigners were among around 8,000 people who attended the Tabligh-e-Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz facility in March, many of whom have shown symptoms of COVID-19, a Union Home Ministry officlal said. About 30 of those who attended the Nizamuddin event in mid-March tested positive and at least three have succumbed to the infection in last few days. "Those who came on tourist visa but attended the Nizamuddin event stands being in our blacklist as they have violated the visa conditions. Tourist visa holders can't attend religious function," a Union Home ministry official said. If a foreigner is put in the Home ministry's blacklist, he or she can't travel to India in future. A total of 281 foreigners were found by the police at the Nizamuddin campus in the last two days. They include 19 people from Nepal, 20 people from Malaysia, one from Afghanistan, 33 from Myanmar, one from Algeria, one from Djibouti, 28 from Kyrgystan, 72 from Indonesia, 7 from Thailand, 34 from Sri Lanka, 19 from Bangladesh, three from England, one from Singapore, four from Fiji, one from France and one from Kuwait. Most of these foreigners came on a tourist visa, an official said. The record-breaking $2.2 trillion federal relief package passed by Congress last week contains a variety of resources aimed at helping small businesses that have been harmed by the spread of the new coronavirus. After the federal package, known as the CARES Act, was signed into law on Friday, New Mexico Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich released an online guide for business owners this week. It is designed to make it easier for small business owners to navigate the resources available through the U.S. Small Business Administration in the massive new federal law. Resources include a paycheck protection program that offers cash-flow assistance to employers who maintain their payroll during the ongoing crisis caused by the virus, debt relief for certain businesses and nonprofits, free business counseling and many other programs. A full list of programs and eligibility guidelines can be found at www.tomudall.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Small%20Business%20Owner%20Guide%20to%20the%20CARES%20Act.pdf Carla Sonntag, president and founder of the New Mexico Business Coalition, said the wide range of offerings give business owners a lot of options to choose the path that fits their needs. There is no perfect solution, and every business is unique in how theyre going to be challenged, Sonntag said. Sonntag said she was particularly impressed with the paycheck protection program, which provides employers with 100% federally guaranteed loans of up to $10 million, provided they maintain their payroll. The program appealed to her as a way to keep employees and employers connected, which she said could help businesses retain quality employees once they re-open, while helping to mitigate the recent spike in unemployment claims. Hiring is not always easy, and if (businesses) have got an employee whos been good, I think thats one of the biggest benefits, Sonntag said. The program provides businesses and other qualifying organizations with fewer than 500 people forgiveness of up to eight weeks of payroll based on employee retention and salary levels, according to the online guide. Other programs include immediate debt relief for businesses that have taken out loans from the SBA, as well as grants that provide an emergency advance of up to $10,000 for small businesses and private non-profits that were harmed by the virus and applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan. The new act also helps fund business counseling through a variety of SBA outlets. Sonntag encouraged small businesses to take advantage of those services, but also suggested that owners should chat with a tax professional, given the uniqueness of the situation. That double-check will make sure they dont have any surprises down the road, Sonntag said. The main street in the southwestern city of Gwangju is filled with soldiers and tanks in this May 1980 file photo after the military brutally cracked down on the pro-democracy protests there. Nationwide martial law was declared shortly during the May 18 uprising. / Korea Times file In 'Witnessing Gwangju,' ex-Peace Corps volunteer reconstructs 1980's pro-democracy uprising By Kang Hyun-kyung Paul Courtright's "Witnessing Gwangju" is an American's account of the tragic May 18 Gwangju Uprising that took place four decades ago. His memoir revisits the 13 days of fears and gunfire during the student-led pro-democracy uprising in the southwestern city in 1980 when the author was working with a leprosy resettlement center named Hohyewon in South Jeolla Province as a Peace Corps volunteer. As his workplace was located 30 minutes from Gwangju, he frequently travelled back and forth to Gwangju, as well as other neighboring cities, on business trips. Courtright said the publication of his first-hand experience of the protests and military's brutal crackdown on protesters during the turbulent days is an overdue job that was necessary for him to heal wounds and also to better inform people outside Korea of the significance of the incident. "Telling my story of 5. 18 was important for me partly to bring some closure to a traumatic period in my life," he said in the author's note of the book. "I hope that, as a foreigner who lived in the area at the time, my story will also help the healing still needed in Gwangju and the surrounding towns and villages." His notes and letters he wrote during and after the 13 days from May 14 to 26 helped him reconstruct his vivid memories of the days full of fears and violence in the southern city in the book. He defies some far-rightists' allegations and suspicions about the popular protests. "(T)here are people in Korea today questioning whether it actually happened," he wrote. "It happened. Some were saying that it was a communist insurrection, orchestrated or supported by North Korea. No, it was not. Some called it a riot by unruly students. No, it was not." Former President Chun Doo-hwan, who took power through a military coup weeks after the assassination of President Park Chung-hee and was in power when the May 18 Uprising occurred, claimed it wasn't a "homegrown" pro-democracy movement. In his 2017 book, titled "Chun Doo-hwan's Memoir: Days of Chaos," he claimed some 600 North Korean soldiers were involved in the May 18 Uprising in Gwangju. "The Gwangju Uprising was an urban guerrilla warfare conducted by the North Korean special forces," he claimed in his memoir. "It is an open secret among North Korean defectors that North Korea was involved in the incident." In a vivid sketch, the author revisits the appalling scene he and two Koreans in hanbok, who accompanied the U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in their trip to the southern coastal city of Suncheon, witnessed together at the Gwangju bus station on May 19. He says he felt a tense atmosphere at the bus station as soldiers in full camouflage and helmets were everywhere. "There were some loud thumps and a woman's voice pierced the air. 'They're killing him! They're killing him!'," his book reads. "Everyone froze. We turned around. The young man was on the ground, unmoving. Blood pooled beside his head. The soldiers stood over him, their posture still threatening. One soldier turned and aced us. There was no movement or words coming from the stunned crowd. 'Leave the area! Now!' barked the soldier." "Witnessing Gwangju" published by Hollym publishing house in Korea features several photos taken by Robin Moyer during the uprising. Back in 1980, Moyer was in Seoul on assignment for Time Magazine and went to the southern city to cover the tragic story. Paul Courtright, author of "Witnessing Gwangju" published by Hollym, speaks in the United States in this undated photo. His book will go on sale in May. / Courtesy of Hollym Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 17:13:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close XI'AN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Over 300 tonnes of supplies for combating the novel coronavirus pandemic will be sent from Xi'an, capital of northwestern China's Shaanxi Province, to Europe, according to local authorities. The first batch of the supplies weighing more than 20 tonnes, gathered from across China, was sent from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport to Germany's Leipzig at 3:30 a.m. on Monday. The first batch includes over 2 million pairs of medical gloves and over 30,000 protective suits. Thirteen more cargo flights are expected to be arranged for sending all of the supplies, which include face masks, protective clothes and ventilators. The supplies are expected to be distributed across Europe after arriving in Germany. The estimated proportion of hospitalization by age. Credit: The Lancet Infectious Diseases First comprehensive estimates from mainland China of the proportion of people with COVID-19 who required hospitalisation, and latest death rate estimates, both show sharp increases with age. Authors warn that without intervention the number of people needing hospital treatment is likely to overwhelm even the most advanced healthcare systems worldwide, though caution that as the pandemic unfolds, it is possible that outcomes could improve and it will be important to revise estimates in this study. Key findings: The death rate from confirmed COVID-19 cases is estimated at 1.38%, while the overall death rate, which includes unconfirmed cases, is estimated at 0.66%; these rates are slightly lower than some estimates for COVID-19 to date, which had not adjusted for undiagnosed cases or for the number of people in each age group of a population Death rates vary substantially, ranging from 0.0016% in 0 to 9-year-olds to 7.8% for people aged 80 and above Differences in hospitalisation rates by age were reported, increasing with agewith 11.8% of people in their 60s, 16.6% of people in their 70s, and 18.4% of those in their 80s and above estimated to develop symptoms severe enough for hospitalisation These hospitalisation rates compare with 0.04% of 10 to 19-year-olds, 1.0% of people in their 20s, and 3.4% of people aged 30 to 39. Hospitalisation rates nearly double from 4.3% in 40-49-year-olds to 8.2% in 50-59-year olds Nearly one in five over-80s infected with COVID-19 are likely to require hospitalisation, compared with around 1% of people under 30, according to an analysis of 3,665 cases in mainland China, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. The new analysis also finds that the estimated proportion of deaths from both diagnosed cases and from milder, unconfirmed cases is strongly influenced by age. The estimates are slightly lower than others that have been made for the virus, but are still much higher than for previous pandemics such as 2009 pandemic influenza H1N1, which was estimated to be fatal in around 0.02% of cases. The new estimates are based on an analysis of 70,117 laboratory-confirmed and clinically-diagnosed cases in mainland China, combined with 689 positive cases among people evacuated from Wuhan on repatriation flights. "This study provides critical estimates on the proportion of people requiring hospitalisation which, when applied to the UK population, enabled us to get a handle on how many people might need to access NHS services," says Professor Neil Ferguson from Imperial College London, UK. "As the UK epidemic unfolds, more data are becoming available, and at the moment the proportion of people in each age group most likely to require hospitalisation, and most likely to die from infection, are consistent with the estimates in this study." The authors warn that as 50% to 80% of the global population could be infected with COVID-19 the number of people needing hospital treatment is likely to overwhelm even the most advanced healthcare systems worldwide. However, they caution that it is possible that outcomes could improve, in which case it will be important to revise the estimates in this study. "Our estimates can be applied to any country to inform decisions around the best containment policies for COVID-19," says Professor Azra Ghani from Imperial College London, UK. "There might be outlying cases that get a lot of media attention, but our analysis very clearly shows that at aged 50 and over, hospitalisation is much more likely than in those under 50, and a greater proportion of cases are likely to be fatal." Estimated death rates by age. Credit: The Lancet Infectious Diseases Previous estimates of deaths from confirmed cases of COVID-19 have ranged from 2% to 8%, while deaths from overall infections have been estimated at 0.2% to 1.6%. Also, estimates for the proportion of deaths in the oldest age group, the over-80s, have been estimated to be between 8% to 36%. However, these past estimates had not adjusted for the fact that only people with more severe symptoms are likely to be tested, or people in quarantine following repatriation to other countries, so they did not reflect the true number of cases across populations. No previous studies have estimated the proportion of infections that will require hospitalisation. For the current analysis, a team of international researchers used 3,665 cases from mainland China to estimate the proportion of cases likely to be severe enough to require hospitalisation. To estimate the average time between a person displaying symptoms and dying, they analysed 24 deaths in Hubei Province. The average recovery time was estimated using data from 2,010 international cases, of whom 169 people recovered. Death rates from confirmed cases were estimated using data on 44,672 cases in mainland China. To estimate death rates relevant to the wider population, data from 689 people repatriated from Wuhan to other countries and 3,711 people quarantined on board the cruise liner Diamond Princess were used. For all the estimates, the researchers assumed that people of all ages are equally likely to become infected, which is consistent with previous studies on respiratory infections. The analysis found the greatest number of severe cases, requiring hospitalisation, in people in their 50s (222 out of 790 cases), but once the researchers had adjusted for the fact that many milder cases will have gone undiagnosed, the hospitalisation rate is 8.2%, compared with an estimated 18.4% in the most at risk group, the over 80s (51 out of 76 cases before adjustment). 154 out of 743 people in their 40s had severe symptoms, whereas 133 out of 263 people in their 70s had severe symptoms, but the adjusted hospitalisation rates were again even wider apart than the bare numbers suggest: 4.3% for 40 to 49-year-olds compared with 16.6% for 70 to 79-year-olds. Of those in their 60s, 201 out of 560 cases were severe, whereas the adjusted hospitalisation rate was 11.8%. The hospitalisation rates were lower for younger age groups: 3.4% of people in their 30s are likely to be hospitalised (while the unadjusted number of severe cases was 124 out of 733 cases), whereas for people in their 20s the rate is likely to be 1.0% (49 out of 437 cases before adjustment). There was only one severe case out of 50 for those aged 10 to 19 and the hospitalisation rate is estimated at 0.04%, whereas none of the 13 cases analysed in the under-10s were severe. The average time between the first recorded symptoms and death from COVID-19 was estimated to be 17.8 days. The authors note that as the data are from early in the epidemic, more people might die following a longer time lag. Recovering from the disease is estimated to take slightly longer, with patients being discharged from hospital after an average of 22.6 days. Most people will recover, even from severe symptoms. Death rates from confirmed cases were estimated at 1.38% across all age groups (1,023 out of 44,672 cases in mainland China, with unreported severe cases likely to add to the total, requiring the ratio to be adjusted), but the estimates rise rapidly with age. For example, there were no deaths out of 416 confirmed cases in the under 10-year olds, whereas 13.4% of people aged 80 or above were estimated to die (208 out of 1,408 cases before adjustment). The proportion of all people infected who die from the diseasemost of whom will display only mild to moderate symptomsis estimated to be slightly lower, at 0.66%. Again, the risk of death is much higher in older age groups. For example, 0.031% of people in their 20s are estimated to die, compared with 7.8% of the over-80s. The authors note that they are unable to adjust for the effect on prognosis of underlying health conditions until individual-level data become available. However, underlying conditions are likely to be correlated with age. Their existence will also vary geographically, particularly between low-income and high-income regions and countries. Writing in a linked Comment, Dr. Shigui Ruan (who was not involved in the study) from the University of Miami, USA, says: "Estimates of case fatality ratios might vary slightly from country to country because of differences in prevention, control, and mitigation policies implemented, and because the case fatality ratio is substantially affected by the preparedness and availability of health care. Early studies have shown that delaying the detection of infected cases not only increases the probability of spreading the virus to others (most likely family members, colleagues, and friends) but also makes the infection worse in some cases, thereby increasing the case fatality ratio." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Robert Verity et al, Estimates of the severity of coronavirus disease 2019: a model-based analysis, The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2020). Journal information: Lancet Infectious Diseases Robert Verity et al, Estimates of the severity of coronavirus disease 2019: a model-based analysis,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30243-7 To help authorities and people increase preparedness against Covid-19, electronic majors Samsung and LG have pledged to offer products and protective equipment like surgeon gown, face masks, glove, refrigerators, water purifiers, among others, to hospitals New Delhi: To help authorities and people increase preparedness against Covid-19, electronic majors Samsung and LG have pledged to offer products and protective equipment like surgeon gown, face masks, glove, refrigerators, water purifiers, among others, to hospitals. LG Electronics India on Tuesday said it has also partnered with Akshaya Patra Foundation to sponsor one million meals to migrant labourers and daily wage workers, who are struggling amid the 21-day lockdown in the country. "With the rise in confirmed cases of COVID-19, LG has taken a pledge to support India's fight against the pandemic. LG is committed to offer active support to people in need in this current situation," it said in a statement. LG Electronics India will donate products like water purifiers, air conditioners, refrigerators and TVs to the hospitals for their quarantine/isolation wards, covering 50 state and district hospitals across the country. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak Samsung India, on the other hand, will provide preventive kits to hospitals, which includes a surgeon gown, face mask, gloves, preventive eyewear, hood cap and shoe cover. It will also provide infra-red thermometers and public addressal systems that can be used by the authorities at hospitals and other facilities, along with air purifiers in medical facilities. The India unit of Samsung said it will also support local police by providing cooked food packets to local communities around its manufacturing facility. "Samsung is committed to work together with the people of India in this hour of difficulty. Over the last few days, our teams have engaged round-the-clock with various governments, local authorities, and healthcare professionals to prepare a broad and meaningful strategy to win this battle together, Samsung India in a statement. COVID-19 infection, which originated in Wuhan in China, has spread across the world and claimed around 34,000 lives. Countries like South Korea, Spain, Italy, Iran and the US have been badly hit. In India, the total number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 1,251, while the death toll touched 32. To combat the spread, the government had announced a 21-day lockdown that ends on 14 April. Corporate India has been rushing in to help the government and citizens fight the covid-19 pandemic in India. Tata Trusts & Tata group together have pledged Rs 1,500 crore - by far the highest by any corporate. Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani has also committed a further Rs 500 crore to the Prime Minister's COVID-19 fund, topping up over the multi-crore initiative of India''s first coronavirus hospital, meals to the needy, and fuel to emergency vehicles. Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, has committed Rs 100 crore, while a number of other companies are also extending support efforts towards fighting COVID-19 in India. "In these precarious and uncertain times, LG India believes in helping and supporting the Government & citizen of India with a meaningful contribution. Our initiative is designed to help those in need and contribute to society, at this critical juncture in a positive way. We will further monitor the situation and accordingly align our CSR endeavours," LG Electronics India MD Young Lak Kim said. Image by klimkin from Pixabay A Las Vegas business owner and entrepreneur has launched Everybody is Essential, a website to help the millions of small businesses and sole proprietors currently facing great economic hardships due to the closing of non-essential businesses to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. The website seeks pledges from individuals to help businesses maintain and sustain positive cashflow through the lockdown. The website is not a fundraising effort, rather, it seeks personal commitments from consumers to continue to pay for services not rendered during the COVID-19 business shutdown, thereby putting money into the pockets of small business owners and sole proprietors, particularly those who provide services not considered essential to human survival but are an integral part of daily life until now. Until just a few weeks ago, people regularly frequented small businesses that provide personal services such as hair styling, dog walking, childcare, private lessons, house cleaning, nail and wax treatments, and many others. Concerned by the short- and long-term impact the shutdown will have on these businesses, Scott Robertson, managing partner of Las Vegas-based advertising agency, Robertson + Partners, created Everybody is Essential to recognize that while some services may not be essential to our survival, the income generated by those services is essential to the survival of those who provide them. As a business owner myself, I know first-hand the challenges any economic downturn can create, but the shutdown of non-essential businesses is unlike anything Ive ever seen, said Robertson. While the toll on jobs and our overall economy is staggering, I worry most about the sole proprietors whose incomes and families depended on our regular payments for their services. This is a time for us as a community to come together to support each other. Not only should we #StayHomeForNevada but we should #SpreadPositivity and if financially able, support those whose services we have depended on for so long. Any amount can help during this difficult time. I truly believe that everybody is essential, and we are #StrongerTogether. Everybody is Essential asks people who have the economic means to continue to support these small businesses by making an online pledge to continue paying for their non-rendered monthly services during the crisis. Donations would then be made personally to the specific business owner via Venmo, Zelle or other digital payment service. The website also encourages the community to think of other creative ways to help and to share their personal stories, showcasing how a multitude of small actions can collectively make a huge difference. Robertson added that while the effort launched initially to help businesses based in his hometown of Las Vegas, he hopes the #EverybodyIsEssential movement would spread across the country to help as many businesses as possible. Pledges to support local small businesses can be made online at https://everybodyisessential.com/. With housing sales almost coming to a standstill due to lockdown, real estate developers and brokers are offering freebies and taking help of technologies, like digital walk- through of projects, to reach out to prospective customers for online bookings of properties. Builders and brokers are also giving an option to cancel online bookings with no penalty up to 90 days, if customers decide not to buy after doing site visits once the lockdown ends. Realty firms have enhanced their online marketing campaign budget and are advertising on their websites as well as on online property classifieds. Social media platforms like Facebook, are also being used for marketing purposes. "Housing sales have been hit badly after the lockdown. But fortunately it has not become zero as we were apprehending. In the first week of the lockdown, we have been able to achieve 10 per cent of our normal sales with the help of digital technologies like virtual reality," said Anuj Puri, Chairman of housing brokerage firm Anarock. "We are getting good customer leads on our digital platform and we expect sales numbers to increase in the second and third week of the lockdown. The good part is that people have a lot of time to search properties," he told PTI. Puri said developers have become flexible and encouraging prospective buyers to book their properties online by paying token amount as low as Rs 25,000. Assurances like full refund in case of cancellation and freezing of price are also being given, he added. Hiranandani group MD Niranjan Hiranandani said the lockdown has translated into no walk-ins or personal visits either to a sales office or a project site but it does not stop the communication process. To replicate the experience of site visits while sitting at home, he said the company is using a combination of various platforms based on the internet of things (IoT) as well as leveraging virtual walk-through and 3D imaging based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. "Technical specifications and costing details are communicated through text and voice communication, and the customer is given the option of blocking the apartment of choice by making an online banking transfer," he told PTI. Asked whether technology helps in achieving actual sales, Hiranandani said the end users are blocking apartments by paying token amounts while investors have no difficulty in concluding the transactions. Dhruv Agarwala, Group CEO, Housing.com and PropTiger.com, said: "To mitigate the impact, we have come out with various innovative schemes for builders and brokers to encourage them to continue advertising on our platform Housing.com." The company is offering discounted packages and additional days of advertising, so that developers can build their customer pipelines, he said. Agarwala said brokerage platform PropTiger.com is using future ready digital walk-through technology and slice view technology for providing a 3D view of buildings and apartments while employees are using video calls to connect builders with customers. The company has initiated a tie-up with a payment gateway, to enable online deal closure by offering booking payments online, he added. Puravankara group MD Ashish Puravankara said,"Through our robust online/digital system we are able to attend to all leads and manage the customer life cycle seamlessly. Through our online platforms like BookMyHome and MyPinkHomes, customers can select the project, view the available inventory and purchase a unit of their choice." Ashish said the sales volumes have definitely dropped but it has not come to a standstill. Ankur Gupta, Joint MD, Ashiana Housing, said the company has sold around 150 units in March. "Due to COVID-19, everything has been slowed down, however it is a blessing to have technology to our rescue. We have been doing video calls through Skype, Zoom, Google Chats in order to interact on the usual business and seamlessly coordinate sales tasks to ensure our customers are not affected in any way," he added. Gaurs Group has started a campaign 'Ghar Baithe Ghar Kharido Knockdown offer, under which a customer can book any residential or commercial unit by paying just Rs 1 lakh online. The balance booking amount can be paid over the next 100 days and units can be cancelled without any penalty. Omaxe CEO Mohit Goel said, "At a time when the entire country is in a lockdown, site visits, sale, recoveries and construction activities have all come to a halt, we are using this period for investor awareness and through webinars we are connecting with potential investors and educating them on issues like real estate as a better asset class for investment". Mahagun group director Dhiraj Jain said the company is offering a cash back of 5 per cent of the property value to all those who book units during the lockdown period. Ajnara CMD Ashok Gupta said: " We have tie-up with several leading property tech companies as well as online & digital platforms, we are receiving decent queries, but sales are hampered due to lockdown." Abhay Kumar, Chief Marketing Officer, JLL India, said: "With developers turning to new age technology solutions to aid the home buyer, aided with innovative marketing campaigns, we see the demand picking up in the near future." Brokerage firm Investors Clinic founder Honeyy Katyal said the company is using virtual walk-through and other technologies to connect with customers. It has launched multiple schemes to attract customers, such as Walk in Nahi, Log in Karona where consumers can book digitally just by paying Rs 1 lakh. "The success rate (sales conversion) is slow at the moment. The crisis has impacted market sentiments for both developers and consumers," he said. Wealth Clinic CMD Amit Raheja said the leads are getting generated through the help of technology but actual conversion of sales would happen once the lockdown is lifted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Aviv Kochavi, along with two of his senior commanders, went into isolation on Tuesday after a senior commander they came in contact with recently was tested positive for coronavirus, the army said. The development came a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his close advisers were placed under quarantine after an aide on Parliament affairs tested positive for coronavirus. Lt Gen Kochavi, along with Home Front Command head Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai and Operations Directorate Commander Gen. Aharon Haliva, had attended a meeting 10 days ago in which a commander in the reserves, who later tested positive for the coronavirus, participated. The commander who tested positive, as per local media reports, is the head of the Home Front Command's liaison unit to local authorities in Bnei Brak, an ultra-Orthodox Tel Aviv suburb where 508 residents had tested positive for the virus till Monday. The number of people infected by the deadly virus doubled in the ultra-Orthodox community within four days. A statement from the army said that "Kochavi feels well, is not displaying symptoms, and will soon be tested for the virus". Israel is under total lockdown with people not allowed to even walk beyond 100 metres from their homes and have been generally advised to go out only to stock up food. So far, 4,831 Israelis have tested positive for the coronavirus, with the vast majority of cases mild and 161 recoveries. Eighteen patients have died and 83 are in serious condition. One Israeli tourist died in Italy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Photo: (Photo : pexels/freestocks.org) It is natural for parents to bond with their babies once they held them in their arms. Parents love cuddling, kissing, and hugging their little ones. However, do you know that you can bond with your baby even while he is still inside your womb? Yes, you can. Here are 13 ways to bond with your baby while inside the womb. Sing Your baby already knows your voice even while inside the womb. It is the first sound that he hears, and it relaxes him. Sing them your favorite songs, a lullaby, or just any song. Your baby will love it, and who knows, maybe they would remember the songs played to them once they come out. Listen to Music Play any kind of music to your baby, may it be classical music or just any music, your baby will enjoy them. Try playing different genres and see how your baby reacts. Dance Slow dance movement is a good way to bond with your baby. Dancing releases endorphins making the mom feel good, therefore the baby feels good too. Talk to Your Baby You might feel awkward talking to your belly at first, but when you do it often, you would notice that it gets better every time. Try talking in a sweet, calm, and loving voice. Your baby will recognize your voice immediately and react to it. Read Aloud Start reading to your baby early on. You may read them baby books and bedtime stories. Your voice will help soothe them, and they will learn to love books when they grow up. Call Them By Their Name Call your baby by his or her name or nickname. You would notice them move as they hear your voice. Family Time Encourage your family members to talk to your baby so they will get accustomed with their voices too. Meditate or Yoga Try to rest your baby on your belly and relax. Also try deep calming breaths to connect with your baby through your heartbeats. Massage Your Belly Your baby will feel your touch when you do a massage. Frequent massage with your belly with olive oil may help prevent stretch marks. Start a Journal Jot down peculiar things during your pregnancy and read them aloud to your baby. You would have fun looking back when your baby grows up. Do a Belly Cast This is best done on your third trimester because that is when your belly is the biggest, and when you do the cast, you would have a remembrance once your belly shrinks to its original size. Plus, during casting, there would be touches on your belly that your baby feels. Book a Maternity Session A maternity shoot is one great way to bond with your baby, because the main model of the shoot is your baby and you. This is another great memorabilia when your baby grows up. Schedule a Relaxation When the mommy is relaxed, the baby inside the womb is also relaxed. This also relieves you from stress. Relaxing during pregnancy helps create a wonderful bond with your baby. Being dependent on cadaver donors, heart transplants are the most complicated and complex Dwarka-based Delhi Unit of Manipal Hospitals has recently got licenses for Heart and Liver Transplants from Delhi Organ Transplant Cell, State Health & Family Welfare Department. Manipal Hospitals, Dwarka has been performing 4-5 Kidney transplants every month since it became operational in Delhi and had applied for Heart and Liver transplant to the authority. Integrated multispecialty units at the Hospital facilitated the approval process. The approval has been given to Manipal Hospitals, Dwarka under the provisions of Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Act 1994. Dr Yugal Kishore Mishra, Head of Cardiac Sciences, Chief Cardio Vascular Surgeon &Chief of Clinical Services, Manipal Hospitals Dwarka, New Delhi said, With approval, the Hospital has started the process of registration of the patient who requires to undergo transplant. With world-class facilities, we are successfully performing Kidney transplants here. Now we are all set to perform Heart and Liver transplant. Being dependent on cadaver donors, heart transplants are the most complicated and complex. Any patient with severe Heart Failure not controlled on medicines and who does not have other contra-indication for a transplant like immune-compromised status, chronic infection, chronic lung disease etc. can undergo a heart transplant. During the heart transplant procedure, the heart is harvested from a brain-dead person and transplanted in a heart failure patient after removing his diseased heart. After surgery most patients are normally shifted toward after 4-5 days and discharged from hospital in 10-15 days. Patients have to take regular immune-suppressants after the surgery and have to come for regular follow-up. But the biggest limitation for Heart Transplant is the availability of donor, Dr Mishra explained. Dr Shailendra Lalwani, Head of the Department of Liver Transplant and Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery, Manipal Hospitals Dwarka, New Delhi said, Unlike heart transplant, which depends on the cadaveric donation, liver transplant can be performed by taking part of the liver from healthy donor from the family. Though cadaveric liver transplant is ideal as there is no risk to the donor but due to less donation rate, living donor liver transplant is most commonly performed liver transplant in Delhi and NCR. Advantage being no waiting time. In cadaveric liver transplant prolonged wait time is associated with very high mortality. In Manipal Hospital, Dwarka we have facility of all types of liver transplant which include living donor liver transplant (adult and paediatric), cadaveric liver transplant, combined liver and kidney transplant and ABO incompatible transplant. Liver transplant is a major surgery and risk involved in this procedure is between 5 to 10 percent. One year survival is 90 percent and 5 year survival is about 75 percent said Dr Lalwani According to Organ Retrieval Banking Organisations (ORBO) estimates the annual requirement of heart transplant about 15,000 whereas only 250 heart transplants happen. There is a need of 40,000-50,000 liver transplants every year but only 1,700-1,800 takes place, as per ORBO estimates. Similarly, India needs nearly 2 lakh kidney transplants a year, while only about 8,000 transplants happen. Though in Delhi waiting list is very high to get an organ for transplant, however with increasing awareness and availability of high-end facilities, doctors feel that the huge demand-supply gap can be bridged. Technavio has been monitoring the varactor diode market and it is poised to grow by USD 334.91 million during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of almost 11% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Request latest free sample report of 2020-2024 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005304/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Varactor Diode Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Infineon Technologies, MACOM, NXP Semiconductors, Skyworks Solutions, and TOSHIBA are some of the major market participants. The demand for radar systems will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Demand for radar systems has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Varactor Diode Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Varactor Diode Market is segmented as below: Application Consumer Electronics Satellite Communication Electronic Warfare Equipment Others Geographic Landscape Americas APAC EMEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample report of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30303 Varactor Diode Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our varactor diode market report covers the following areas: Varactor Diode Market Size Varactor Diode Market Trends Varactor Diode Market Industry Analysis This study identifies growth of the FM broadcast market as one of the prime reasons driving the varactor diode market growth during the next few years. Varactor Diode Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the varactor diode market, including some of the vendors such as Infineon Technologies, MACOM, NXP Semiconductors, Skyworks Solutions, and TOSHIBA. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the varactor diode market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Varactor Diode Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist varactor diode market growth during the next five years Estimation of the varactor diode market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the varactor diode market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of varactor diode market vendors Table Of Contents : PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY APPLICATION Market segmentation by application Comparison by application Consumer electronics Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Satellite communication Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Electronic warfare equipment Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Others Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by application PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Americas Market size and forecast 2018-2023 EMEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges Trends PART 11: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption PART 12: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Infineon Technologies MACOM NXP Semiconductors Skyworks Solutions TOSHIBA PART 13: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005304/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump and his coronavirus task force geared up on Tuesday to explain the sobering data that drove the decision to extend federal recommendations to blunt the spread of coronavirus until the end of April. His health health experts advised him 100,000 to 200,000 people could die even if the restrictions remained in place. At the same time, they said, models predicted that heavy death toll would still be significantly lower than the 2.2 million estimated without mitigation efforts. Trump on Tuesday also alluded to possibly providing some changes to the federal guidelines aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, which he initially implemented for a 15-day period set to run out early this week. The president said Monday said the recommendations would remain very much as they are but that they may be even toughened up a little bit. Across the country, governors and local officials have enacted their own social distancing rules, often mandatory and enforceable, unlike the federal ones. Trump said Sunday that, on Tuesday, he would explain the extension by sharing "all of the findings, all of the data, and the reasons we're doing things the way we're doing them." The White House has declined to elaborate on how the guidelines could be toughened as the president teased. Trump was expected to address reporters at a scheduled briefing by his coronavirus task force scheduled for 5 p.m. Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House's coronavirus response coordinator, told reporters Monday that the White House conducted its own modeling -- and consulted a dozen other models -- to make its decision. The White House "ended up at the same numbers" as did the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, Birx said. Assuming social distancing policies stay in place, that model predicts a nationwide peak on April 15, with a projected 84,000 deaths from the pandemic's first wave. She said that some models predicted that, without any mitigation, up to half of the United States population would become infected and up to 2.2 million would die. "There'll be a comprehensive piece presented on Tuesday that really talks about not only diagnosing individuals, but also increasing our surveillance now that we have more test kits so that we can really stop and contain new infections," Birx said. The update on the federal guidance comes as President Trump has publicly expressed openness to broadening out the federal governments recommendations on the use of face masks and coverings by the general public. I could see something like that happening for a period of time. But I would hope it would be a very limited period of time, Trump said Monday when about the idea that everyone should wear a mask in public but suggested the idea had not been discussed at length. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations foremost expert on infectious diseases and a member of the president's task force, confirmed Tuesday that the administration was actively discussing a recommendation for wide use of face masks or coverings. The idea of getting a much more broad, community-wide use of masks outside of the health care setting is under very active discussion at the task force, Fauci said in an interview with CNN. He then qualified: Were not there yet, but I think we're close to coming to some determination. Both the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have repeatedly said only health care workers and infected people should wear face masks. The administration has previously moved to actively discourage members of the general public from purchasing certain high-grade masks, such as N-95 respirators, in order to keep the limited supplies available for health care workers in desperate need of protective gear that has been running in short supply. "Seriously people - STOP BUYING MASKS!" the U.S. surgeon general, Jerome Adams, tweeted late last month. "They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers cant get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!" Fauci on Tuesday acknowledged that making sure the mask supply chains remain secure to meet the demands of healthcare workers is a top priority as the administration weigh expanding guidance on face coverings for general use. When we get in a situation where we have enough masks, I believe there will be some very serious consideration about more broadening this recommendation of using masks, Fauci said. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. India is adding more resources to tackle its increase in coronavirus cases by announcing that private hospitals may be requisitioned to help treat virus patients, and turning railway cars and a motor racing circuit into makeshift quarantine facilities. The steps were taken after a nationwide lockdown announced last week by Prime Minister Narendra Modi led to a mass exodus of migrant workers from cities to their villages, often on foot and without food and water, raising fears that the virus may have reached to the countryside, where health care facilities are limited. Indian health officials have confirmed more than 1,000 cases of the coronavirus, including 29 deaths. Experts say that local spreading is inevitable in a country where tens of millions of people live in dense urban areas with irregular access to clean water, and that the exodus of the migrants will burden the already strained health system. As India's under-resourced health care system prepares to confront a wave of coronavirus cases, some state governments have asked liquor factories and breweries to produce liquid sanitizer after the initial supply failed to match demand. Designers, nonprofit groups and prisoners in various jails have stepped up to help overcome shortages of masks and other personal protective equipment. CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, brother of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, revealed Tuesday he tested positive for coronavirus. Although the TV news personality said he has felt fever, chills and shortness of breath, he still plans do his prime-time show from his basement, where he has self-quarantined. "I just found out that I am positive for coronavirus. I have been exposed to people in recent days who have subsequently tested positive," the 49-year-old Cuomo tweeted. "I just hope I didn't give it to the kids and Cristina," he said, referring to his wife. "That would make me feel worse than this illness!" Cuomo joked that remaining trapped in his basement might be welcomed by some. "I am quarantined in my basement (which actually makes the rest of the family seem pleased!) I will do my shows from here," he continued. "We will all beat this by being smart and tough and united!" The Robin Hood Foundation's 2015 Benefit (Kevin Mazur / Getty Images) The governor said his brother's illness showed that everyone is susceptible. This virus is the great equalizer. Stay strong little brother. You are a sweet, beautiful guy and my best friend. If anyone is #NewYorkTough its you. https://t.co/B7veuweZzx Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 31, 2020 "This virus is the great equalizer," Andrew Cuomo, 62, said in a statement. "Stay strong little brother. You are a sweet, beautiful guy and my best friend." Andrew and Chris are the sons of New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, who died in 2015. Andrew has been a frequent guest on his brother's show in recent days, in appearances marked by good-natured feuding over who is the better athlete or their mom's favorite. Even in wishing the best for his younger brother on Tuesday, Gov. Cuomo managed to needle him. Credit: Shutterstock People need simple choices, not suggestions, in the Covid-19 crisisso they do things that are good for them and for the community by default, according to Dr. Kate Orkin, senior research fellow in behavioral economics with Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government. Dr. Orkin points out that, in Choice Architecture, Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein highlight that people have limited attention or 'headspace' and can be nudged to make better choices (as judged by themselves) without forcing them to act. But nudging in the current context does not mean making suggestions as to whether people should stay at home. They need to be given simple choices, she says: "The famous example of this was when it became the default option to save in pensions in the USmore people saved," she says. To encourage cooperation, basic game theory suggests, you need to have some sanctions to get people to cooperate, says Dr. Orkin. This can include fines but also social pressure. Dr. Orkin maintains: "Statistics show that 82 percent of Britons would support the police being able to arrest or prosecute anyone who should be self-isolating but isn't." But key to encouraging people is to highlight that the majority is doing the right thing, not that the minority is doing the wrong thing. According to Dr. Orkin: "Research shows that, if you highlight people doing a bad thing, it suggests it isn't that bad and they do it more. "It is much more effective to highlight positive behavior or ask people to do the right thing." Dr. Orkin says: "These Italian mayors all over social media scolding their constituents for doing the wrong thing may be funny, but evidence suggests it isn't actually very helpful." People learn socially, she says, they watch what others around them do and they're very influenced by people like them. "Evidence from smoking cessation, exercise, diabetes management programs show people are very influenced by hearing from others like them who have managed to make a positive change. And it helps if it is relatable: if people who can talk about how they've struggled and overcome those struggles." But will it be a problem to start with three weeks social-distancing, if it then has to be extended? Will it be less likely that people less likely to stick to it? "I don't think so," says Dr. Orkin. "It is true that people tend to set reference points or targets and stop when they reach their goals. But that's instinctive behaviorit is not difficult to overcome. ' She adds: "There is this sense are hard and fast rules about human behaviour. But we are agents, we can control our actions. We can also be quite easily guided." Dr. Orkin points out that the renowned psychologist Daniel Kahneman uses this idea of System 1 and System 2we almost have two brains. System 1 is automatic thinking, almost by instinct. We are guided by emotions, we use rules of thumb, we overinterpret cues. This particularly kicks in when we're tired, hungry or anxious. System 2 is more considered and rational. In the current crisis, Dr. Orkin says, public health action should have simple structures to guide people when they're using system 1. "So just set the default: don't go out the house. Oryou can only buy two packets of loo roll." But she says: "If you need people to make an active choice, you want to help people switch into system 2. And you want to give them motivation to do the right thing." This can be used by everyonesupermarket managers managing queues, local councils managing parks. As for whether it would be appropriate for the authorities to put people on a 'war footing," using analogies from wartime to encourage 'good' behavior, Dr. Orkin says that, in her opinion: "Appeals to do the right thing are effective, appeals to civic duty are effective. I personally think you want a message which emphasizes that everyone has to play a role and it isn't going to be fixed by one grand plan." Appropriate wartime analogies might be: Your actions have consequences for others. Don't leave your black-out curtains open, the whole street will get bombed, not just you. Or, she says, there's the scene in Dunkirk where the big transport ships are being overturned in the channel and then they send in all the little boats: everyone needs to play their part. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Provided by Oxford Science Blog Southside ISDs election on a $64.7 million bond to build two new schools will be delayed until November, its board decided Monday during a meeting in which a lone finalist for superintendent also was named. The district that serves more than 5,700 students in its nine schools had set the bond vote for May. After Gov. Greg Abbott suspended provisions of the election code to allow for May elections to be delayed until November because of the coronavirus pandemic, municipalities have reconsidered placing issues on the earlier ballot. Last week, the governing board of the city-funded early childhood education program Pre-K 4 SA voted to push the renewal of its sales tax to November, a decision the City Council is slated to make Thursday. On ExpressNews.com: Southside ISD, its enrollment growing, sets $64.7 million bond election for May 2 Southsides state-appointed board of managers also named Rolando Ramirez, superintendent of Valley View ISD in Hidalgo County, as the successor to outgoing Superintendent Mark Eads. By law, the board must wait 21 days after naming a finalist before making the hire. Ramirez, 45, is studying for his doctorate in educational leadership from Lamar University and holds a masters degree in educational administration from the University of Texas-Pan American. He graduated from Valley View High School in 1993 and has worked in the district in various roles. In November, Eads announced his intention to retire this summer after more than three years as superintendent. Eads committed to staying in his role to help transition his replacement. Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox On behalf of the board of managers I want to certainly let the community know that we took this very seriously, we worked very diligently with the help of the Texas Education Agency and certainly the staff at Southside, manager Velia Minjarez said before voting. Ramirez comes from a smaller district Valley View served 4,438 students last school year in eight schools but one that earned an A in the Texas Education Agencys yearly accountability ratings for the last two years. Southside ISD gained five points in the 2018-2019 school year over the previous year but still received a C. Student populations in both districts are majority low income, but Valley View ISD has a much larger proportion of English language learners, nearly 64 percent. Southside ISDs is about 17 percent. On ExpressNews.com: Southside ISD superintendent says hell retire Eads, who has received praise for his leadership from trustees and the Texas Education Agency, was hired before the state opened an accreditation investigation. That led to elected trustees being replaced with a board of managers appointed by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. Morath could have replaced Eads but decided to keep him. Eads has been an educator for 30 years. He worked in finance until the 1989 collapse of the savings and loan industry, when he started teaching in the Alice school district, west of Corpus Christi. Before joining Southside, Eads was superintendent at San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District. This year, Morath is expected to begin transitioning Southsides board of managers back to an elected board of trustees, a process that will be completed in May 2022. Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Krista, become a subscriber. Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva CHESTER A man was shot and killed on a city street Thursday night, police said. It is the citys 13th homicide of 2020. Officers responded to a call for shots fired in the area of 10th and Upland streets about 9:30 p.m. The discovered the victims, identified as Richard Harris, 34, lying facing down with several gunshot wounds, in the 300 block of Elm Street. Harris was pronounced dead at the scene by Crozer Chester paramedics. Police indicate they do not yet have any motive for the shooting. No arrests have been made,. Police continue to investigate. Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Detective Michael Canfield (City of Chester Detective) at 610-447-7813 or mcanfield268@chesterpolice.org, or Detective Michael Jay (Delaware County Detective) at 610-891-4711. Prison governors will be able to grant release on temporary licence to women who are expecting behind bars as long as they do not pose a high risk of harm to the public. Decisions will be made subject to them passing risk assessments and once suitable accommodation is found. Mothers who are behind bars with their children who pass the same checks can also be released. The announcement follows mounting pressure from campaigners urging Justice Secretary Robert Buckland to release prisoners in England and Wales during the pandemic. As of 5pm on Monday, 65 inmates had tested positive for coronavirus in 23 different prisons. On Tuesday the Ministry of Justice confirmed that visitors would no longer be allowed to enter the establishments in an effort to keep staff, inmates and families safe Justice Secretary Robert Buckland leaves the Cabinet Office, London, following a meeting of the Government's emergency committee Cobra to discuss coronavirus earlier this month The first death - convicted paedophile Edwin Hillier, who was serving his sentence at HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire - was confirmed on March 22. Pregnant women are considered by the Government as being in the 'at risk' category of those who could be in most danger if they contract the virus, alongside people with underlying health conditions or those aged 70 and over. There are currently 35 pregnant prisoners and 34 inmates in mother and baby units across 12 women prisons in England. The inmates in question are considered 'low risk' to the public but will be subject to licence conditions like a requirement to stay at home and wear an electronic tag where appropriate. 'They can be immediately recalled to prison for breaching these conditions or committing further offences', the MoJ added. The news comes as Northern Ireland signalled it would let out more than 10% of those behind bars and emergency powers allowing ministers to release prisoners from jail early were being considered in Scotland. Jails in England and Wales were put on immediate lockdown last week with all visits cancelled. And transfers for inmates between prisons are now only being allowed in 'exceptional cases'. Edwin Hillier (left), 84, from Hertfordshire, was one of the country's oldest inmates at HMP Prison Littlehey (right) in Cambridgeshire. He was the first UK prisoner to die of coronavirus Minister are also considering plans to turn some military barracks into temporary prisons in a bid to ease overcrowding in jails but no decisions have yet been made, the PA news agency understands. Staff numbers in prisons are already stretched, with some 3,500 employees - representing about a tenth of the workforce - currently in self-isolation due to Covid-19. Some 14 prison staff have tested positive in eight prisons, as well as four prison escort and custody services staff. Mr Buckland said: 'We have already taken extraordinary measures to protect prisoners and the public over the last few weeks, but it's clear now that we must temporarily release pregnant women and those with small babies with them inside prison. 'Governors can now temporarily release pregnant prisoners so that they can stay at home and reduce social contact like all other expectant mothers have been advised to do.' A man who spent a decade combating Northern Ireland terrorism has been appointed as the new director general of MI5. Ken McCallum takes over from Sir Andrew Parker, who retires in April having been in charge of the organisation since 2013. Mr McCallum has 25 years' experience in MI5, and has also worked on Islamist extremism and cyber security. He said: "MI5's purpose is hugely motivating. "Our people - with our partners - strive to keep the country safe, and they always want to go the extra mile. "Having devoted my working life to that team effort, it is a huge privilege now to be asked to lead it as director general." Sir Andrew said: "Ken will make an outstanding director general. "He's the right person to take MI5 forward and is already leading work to shape the future of MI5. "He brings a wealth of leadership and national security expertise to the role, which is all the more important today as MI5 and the country deals with the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic." Mr McCallum's career has seen him take charge of the MI5 response to the attempted assassination of former spy Sergei Skripal in the Salisbury nerve agent attack. He has been deputy director general of MI5 since April 2017, with responsibility for all of MI5's operational and investigative work. Mr McCallum led the Security Service's strategic response to the 2017 terrorist attacks. In 2012 he took charge of all counter-terrorism investigations and risk management in the run-up to, and during, the London Olympics. Mr McCallum began his career in MI5 with 10 years focused on Northern Ireland-related terrorism. He grew up in Glasgow and holds a maths degree from Glasgow University. MI5 said his out-of-work life is dominated by "trying to be an active father" and he enjoys mountain hiking. Home Secretary Priti Patel welcomed the appointment, and paid tribute to Sir Andrew, the outgoing director general. "Since becoming Home Secretary, I have worked closely with Ken and I'm delighted to appoint him as the new director general," she said. "We are facing unprecedented national security threats and I'm confident that his experience and vision will allow the UK to meet those challenges head on. "I also would like to pay tribute to Sir Andrew Parker, who has led the service through a very challenging period which saw the threat to the UK evolve rapidly. "He has served his country with dedication and commitment and I thank him for his efforts." Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill said: "Ken McCallum's expertise and leadership will be crucial to ensuring that the Security Service remains agile and creative in the face of new and emerging threats to our security. "I know that he will be a fantastic director general and I look forward to working with him." Virtual winemaking classes, live concerts and art tours are thriving as Australia's lockdown laws tighten and more people are told to stay indoors. City Winery Brisbane decided to serve virtual experiences to keep 35 staff members employed since restaurants, cafes and entertainment centres were forced to close their doors. City Winery Brisbane winemaker Kris Cush (on the screen) steps Jon through the process of creating his own wine. Co-founder Adam Penberthy said the demand was booming as more people were looking for interesting at-home activities to do while supporting innovative local businesses. "Over the weekend, we did an in-home wine blending workshop where consumers got to blend their own wine," he said. Natacha Akide aka Tacha and the queen of her Titan fans, shares pictures from a photo session with fans on her Instagram timeline. Tacha was the most controversial housemate during the 2019 edition of the Peper Dem Big Brother Naija show. Although she got evicted before the program ended, she has been able to gather a huge fan base who will do anything for the Port Harcourt native. Tacha recently spoke up against the lock down in Lagos state, urging the president to provide food and other necessities to families in times like this. 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 The COVID-19 outbreak is changing life all over Southern California, including our religious and cultural rituals of death -- especially those traditions that call on family and friends to gather in tribute. How do you mourn together in a time of social distancing? Cliff Cresencia from Lakewood reached out to us last week after his father, Guillermo, who was 96, died of a heart attack at a nursing home in Los Angeles. He wanted to know if his family would be violating city law if 15 of them attended a traditional post-funeral gathering at his father's home in Eagle Rock. "We are Filipino and typically we would have a large family gathering," Cresencia said. "In normal circumstances there would be 30 or so, the whole extended family." First, however, Cresencia had to arrange the burial. Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills asked him to keep the graveside ceremony to the absolute minimum number. So now Cresencia's father will be laid to rest with just four immediate family members standing by as witnesses. They will arrive in separate cars and keep their distance from each other and from cemetery workers, Cresencia said. One family member watching the graveside service from a car may be Guillermo's second wife, Susan, who has been self-isolating since her husband's death. The nursing home where he died later turned out to be one that had admitted a person who had COVID-19 and she was concerned she might have been exposed to the coronavirus. "She can't be within that circle during the burial," Cliff Cresencia said. "That's been one of the hard things we had to consider." His family is scattered around the region, including in San Diego, and some of his father's siblings did not want to let the burial go forward without seeing their brother. But they were persuaded to forego attending. As for the gathering after the funeral -- ultimately Cresencia held a conference call with his relatives to discuss what to do. They decided the safest thing for the entire family was to put it off until the one-year anniversary of his father's death. Families all across Southern California are going through the same decision process for deaths unrelated to the coronavirus for now, but soon, no doubt for COVID-19 deaths as well. IF A LOVED ONE DIES, CAN WE STILL HAVE A FUNERAL? Yes, but with severe limits given that state and local authorities are asking the public to avoid gatherings of more than two people, said Bob Achermann, executive director of the California Funeral Directors Association. "Death goes on and the families have to deal with that," Achermann said. "It's a difficult time emotionally. And we're trying to help these families as best we can navigate through unknown times." The funeral industry has adapted to changing rules, almost on a daily basis. Originally gatherings were allowed of up to 50 people, then restricted to 15 or 10 people. Now, some companies allow no more than two people, and others allow up to 10 to attend while being careful to maintain distance. "If there's an opportunity to postpone services, delay, and look at all alternatives," Achermann said. "It's a time to do that and to safeguard everybody's well-being as best we can." At Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary, President and CEO Patrick Monroe said it had canceled memorial services in its chapels but is continuing with small graveside services, with attendance limited to immediate family, and a limit of about 10 people observing social distance limits. He recommends families attend in small groups in separate vehicles, remain in the cars while cemetery staff prepare the grave, and then once the employees are at a distance, approach the grave in staggered groups of ones and twos. SITTING SHIVA ON ZOOM In the Jewish faith, burials are traditionally done the day after death, unless that day is the Sabbath, in which case one more day may pass. And the mourning is done by a group -- a minyan -- of at least 10 persons, said Jay Sanderson, president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. After the burial is the traditional eight days of shiva, where family and friends come to comfort the mourners and say prayers. Sometimes hundreds of people can arrive at the house. But that is changing. "What's really happened in the Jewish community in terms of adaptation is funerals still happen as soon as they can possibly happen. But because we're in an age, a moment of social distancing, a lot of what's happening is virtual," Sanderson said. A week ago, he participated in a shiva minyan -- online. Fifty people participated via a video conferencing app. "The immediate family was together, the extended family and friends were on Zoom on the internet, and participating just as if they were in the same room," Sanderson said. "Hopefully this is not going to last much longer because it's so much better to to put your arms around someone than you just look at them on a screen." Other religious traditions will also have to be postponed or altered. April 4 is the traditional Chinese tomb-sweeping day known as Qingming, when multi-generation family groups show up to honor their late family members. "This is very, very popular," Monroe said. "And it's not uncommon that we might have 10,000, 15,000 people come to the park for their observances," over the weeks before and after the Qingming Festival weekend. This year, however, large cemeteries like Rose Hills have canceled access for general public visitation. FAMILIES MUST FOREGO HANDS-ON TRADITIONS The Islamic Center of Southern California has its own funeral home, and licensed individuals to prepare bodies for burial, but the coronavirus outbreak is imposing some changes on traditions. Under normal circumstances, family members and volunteers could work with the mortuary staffers to help wash and wrap the body in the traditional cloth known as the kafan, with burials typically performed within 24 to 48 hours of death. But with the physical distancing requirements of the CDC and county Department of Public Health, only licensed mortuary employees at the Los Angeles center may perform those ritual tasks, said Kenan Kapetanovic, one of the Islamic Center's funeral directors. That's been a painful adjustment for some families. "Most families, they do understand it is for the protection of everyone. But it's not easy also," Kapetanovic said. "This is your loved one that you no longer are able to say your goodbyes, that you're no longer able to maybe participate in the washing of the deceased." Memorial services that would typically be at the Islamic Center on Vermont Avenue have been canceled, he said. Graveside services at the Islamic Center's two cemetery areas at Rose Hills Memorial Park are usually more heavily attended, but those are now also severely limited. Only a handful of people may attend, and they are required to stay in their cars and approach the grave one at a time. No traditional three handsful of dirt may be thrown into the grave, and no witnesses may remain behind to oversee its closing, Kapetanovic said. Normally, a graveside service would take an hour, but the memorial park is insisting they be completed more quickly, within about 15 minutes, he said. After her close friend and fellow sex worker is murdered, one woman is on a mission to stop the violence. Mexico City, Mexico On a sunny Friday morning in Mexico City, Kenya Cuevas marches up to the offices of Mexicos National Electoral Institute (INE). The line of people waiting to be seen spills out onto the pavement. The wait could be several hours. But Kenya is confident that when the officials hear she is outside, they will attend to her immediately. She leans in towards the intercom and tells the attendant her name. The door swings open and the tall 46-year-old strides through. Kenya is a household name around here. She boasts a range of titles: HIV prevention educator, transgender rights advocate and founder of the nongovernment organisation Casa de las Munecas Tiresias. She also works full-time at the Secretary of Public Education, where she trains teachers in the institutions continuing education programmes. She is also a former sex worker. Her work has made her well-known at the INE, where she regularly accompanies other transgender people looking to change their gender on official documents. Kenya talks to a trans sex worker in Buenavista, Mexico City [Toya Sarno Jordan/Al Jazeera] In December, Kenya inaugurated the Casa Hogar Paola Buenrostro, a shelter on the eastern periphery of Mexico City that will provide housing and services, including psychological support and career counselling, to transgender people. The shelter is named after her friend Paola Buenrostro. Like Kenya, Paola was a transgender woman and a sex worker. She was murdered in 2016. Her death catalysed Kenyas activism. After 30 minutes inside the INE, Kenya returns, triumphant. One of the staffers approaches to ask if the director had attended to her well. Oh, yeah, so nice, Kenya says. She started crying, she gave me her personal phone number; she said to call her for whatever we need. Good memories Kenya has a commanding presence and a packed schedule. She power-walks up Avenida de los Insurgentes, one of the citys main thoroughfares, explaining the details of her work as she flicks through her WhatsApp messages and sends dozens of voice-note responses. Im always like this, she says, gesturing at her jeans and flat shoes. Thats why I dress this way. She spots a younger trans woman on the pavement. They greet each other and Kenya adds her number to the womans phone. Let me know if you need anything, she insists. Kenya hugs a sex worker in Buenavista; this is the most popular area for trans sex workers, and Kenya often visits them to offer support [Toya Sarno Jordan/Al Jazeera] Kenya began working in the sex industry when she was nine years old. She grew up as the youngest of six children. Her mother left when she was young, so she and her siblings were raised by their grandmother. She says her four older brothers bullied her for being feminine but her older sister and grandmother defended her. Then, when Kenya was eight, her sister and grandmother died. Kenya was left in the care of her brothers. With no one to protect her from their bullying, Kenya decided to leave home. She headed to Mexico City, to the one place she could remember from day trips with her grandmother: the Alameda Central park in the centre of the city. I remembered that she would take us there to take a picture on Three Kings Day, so I had good memories there, she says. I identified with her Kenya narrates the story as if she has told it dozens of times. That night, she sat down at the corner of Avenida Juarez and, she says, I saw a woman in the distance, and without even knowing that she was trans, I identified with her. So I went to her, and I said, I want to be like you. She said to me, Then start working, sweetie. I said, How? She told me, Stand here, a car will drive up and ask how much you charge, and youll say four hundred pesos, and then youll get in the car and have sexual relations with them. The first person who paid Kenya for sex left her at a hotel with money for the week. When she woke up the next morning, Kenya says she saw that the hotel was full of trans women. Trans people are denied our right to housing, she points out, so lots of us live in hotels or single-room occupancies. Kenya talks to sex workers in Buenavista [Toya Sarno Jordan/Al Jazeera] Kenya says the women at the hotel took her under their wing. Well show you how to fix yourself up, they said, and after this, youll have to do it yourself.' They took her downtown, to the wig shop El Castillo de la Fantasia. They bought her a wig, a dress and makeup, and showed her how to put herself together. Then, she narrates, they told her, Now youve spent all the money you made last night, so its time to go back to work. Kenya mostly worked on the thoroughfare of Avenida de los Insurgentes, making about 1,500 pesos a day ($62) part of which she turned over to a madam. In the years that followed, she contracted HIV and began using drugs. Prison Then, in 2000, Kenya was arrested when a house in downtown Mexico City where she was buying cocaine was raided by the police. She was 25 years old. The authorities took her directly to the Reclusorio Norte, a prison in the north of Mexico City, where she was charged with possession, distribution and consumption of cocaine, and sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison. She was sent to a wing of the Santa Martha Acatitla womens prison where HIV-positive prisoners were housed. We didnt have medical services, and there was constant violence, she says. Kenya began making demands for better conditions and medical attention, as well as teaching her fellow inmates about HIV prevention and care. It was the beginning of her activism. After 10 years, eight months and seven days, Kenya left the prison at 3am on September 22, 2010. She was 35 years old. She immediately returned to sex work, but continued her HIV-related activism; collaborating with the Clinica Especializada Condesa, which provides HIV and AIDS care, and giving talks and leading workshops across the city. Meeting Paola Then, one night in downtown Mexico City, Kenya crossed paths with Paola Buenrostro. They met in Plaza Garibaldi, a square famous for the mariachi bands who play songs on demand for a few dollars a tune. Paola had just arrived in the city that day. She was originally from the small town of Pijijiapan, Chiapas in southern Mexico, on the Pacific coast close to the Guatemalan border. Like Kenya, she grew up being passed among various family members: her mother left Paola with her father, who then left her under the care of aunts. According to Kenya, when Paola was 14 or 15, she left her aunts home to move alone to the beach town of Ciudad del Carmen. At age 18, she moved to Mexico City. Kenya holds a photo of Paola Buenrostro in Mexico City, where Kenya inaugurated a shelter in December 2019 [Toya Sarno Jordan/Al Jazeera] Kenya remembers that the young woman asked her where she could go to work, and Kenya directed her to the nearby intersection of Eje 1 and Paseo de la Reforma. The two women worked the same areas for the next six years, moving later to Puente de Alvarado. Puente de Alvarado, just blocks from the historic Monument to the Revolution, has long been one of the citys primary thoroughfares for trans sex workers. The wide street cuts through the centre of the city, bordering the Tabacalera neighbourhood, which is filled with pay-by-the-hour hotels. Taco stands, cantinas and restaurants stand alongside abandoned 19th-century buildings on the avenue. It is bustling and busy during the day, but falls quiet at night, aside from the sex workers who stand in clusters on the corners. They just killed her Kenya and Paola found themselves there, as usual, on the night of September 30, 2016. It was Kenyas first night back on the streets in a while. Two weeks earlier, a customer had stabbed her, leaving still-visible scars across her arms and body. Each day, I would get ready, and then I would decide not to go, she explains. After two weeks, though, she had run out of money. When she arrived on the corner of Puente de Alvarado and Aldama that night, Kenya says, her friend Paola was feeling under the weather. They usually drank anise to stay warm and keep their spirits up while they were working, and Kenya remembers telling Paola, Its because you dont have your anise. Let me buy you one. Later that night, Kenya says a man drove up to them in a gray Nissan sedan. Kenya had already approached him, but both women saw right away that he seemed drunk or high. He had his pants down to his knees, Kenya says, and only had 200 pesos (about $8). She needed money, but given the risks of such a customer, she decided to pass. Paola got in the car. The car had only moved about 15 metres when Kenya says she heard three gunshots. Her friend screamed her name. Kenya approached the car. She says the man tried to shoot at her, too, but the gun did not go off. Kenya recorded the moments that followed on her mobile phone. The video shows her friend collapsed in the passenger seat of the car. Paola, Kenya screams over and over. They just killed her. Then, Shes still alive! Shes still alive! A chorus of voices fellow sex workers joins Kenyas, calling their friends name. Hold on, Paola, were here, heres the ambulance, someone calls. The sound of sirens gets louder, and the shot moves to a police car, where officers have taken the man. Kenya approaches the police car, where the man, in the back of the car, holds his cuffed hands above his head. He insists he does not know what happened. Then who shot her? Kenya shouts. I dont know! What do you mean, you dont know? I heard the shots. You wanted me to get in, didnt you? They argue, and the video ends with an officer asking Kenya to move away from the police car. Im in my right to record, Kenya yells back. Im a human rights defender. I work in the Clinica Especializada Condesa. She moves back to her friend and cries, Ambulance! an ambulance, please! Shes still alive! After the ambulance arrived, Kenya and some other sex workers headed to the police station. But the police, she says, would not give them any information about Paola because they were not her family. Kenya stands on the spot where Paola was killed [Toya Sarno Jordan/Al Jazeera] No evidence Paola had died. She was 24 years old. An initial hearing into her murder took place three days later, on October 2. Kenya showed up, expecting to be called as a witness, but she says the investigator in charge of the case asked her to leave the courtroom, as her presence could contaminate the proceedings. Within the courtroom, according to a report by the Mexico City Human Rights Commission, the defense lawyers argued that the shots had been accidentally caused by Paolas struggling. The judge ruled that there was no evidence to show that the accused had fired the gun. Kenya says none of Paolas family attended the trial. According to the Human Rights Commissions report, the authorities had not been able to locate and notify Paolas family because of uncertainty about Paolas legal name. Kenya and her advising team gather ahead of a meeting at Mexico Citys Human Rights Commission in Mexico City [Toya Sarno Jordan/Al Jazeera] In a fog Kenya says she spent the next few days in a fog. When the authorities finally released Paolas body, four days after her death, Kenya, fellow sex workers and friends held a vigil for two days before the burial. On October 6, as Paolas friends drove from the vigil to the cemetery, Kenya decided she needed to call attention to the moment. She stopped the car and got out. In the middle of the midday traffic on the busy intersection of Avenida de los Insurgentes and Puente de Alvarado, near where Paola had been killed, the funeral procession came to a halt. Kenya opened the hearse that contained Paolas body and pulled out the coffin. She placed the coffin on the street, the small window open to reveal Paolas face behind the glass. Members of the funeral procession chanted and held up handwritten posters with slogans demanding justice for Paola. In video footage filmed by journalists at the scene, Kenya holds the coffin with one hand and shakes the other in indignation, as she says, emphatic and hoarse: We dont want any more murderers free. Kenya shows a video of a recent protest she led [Toya Sarno Jordan/Al Jazeera] The impromptu demonstration received as much media attention, if not more, than Paolas murder. It catapulted Kenya into the public spotlight. I didnt have time to mourn, she reflects. I got bombarded by media and researchers and NGOs. Suddenly, she says, everyone in Mexico wanted to know about transgender women and sex workers. She started giving interviews. In 2018, a functionary from the Mexico City mayors office helped her secure funds to start her own non-profit organisation, which she named Casa de las Munecas Tiresias. Kenya listens to a voice message outside her house in Chalco; the fence, barbed wire and security cameras were put in place by a government programme to protect human rights defenders and journalists [Toya Sarno Jordan/Al Jazeera] Unsolved Despite the public attention that Kenya brought to Paolas case, it remains unsolved. Two weeks after the trial, on October 17, 2016, another arrest warrant was issued for the man who had already been released, but more than three years later, the authorities have yet to arrest him. In June 2019, the Human Rights Commission of Mexico City released a full report into the investigation of Paolas death. The report argued that both Paola and Kenyas rights had been violated and that the investigation had failed to take into account the gender-related motive for the crime. The commission requested that the attorney general take up the case. Kenya leads a meeting with volunteers from the Casa Hogar Paola Buenrostro at her house [Toya Sarno Jordan/Al Jazeera] But little progress was made. So in mid-January, Kenya led a group of 14 other transgender women in protest outside the commissions office. Just as they had during the impromptu demonstration two years earlier, they hoisted a coffin onto the street. Kenya lay inside in a beaded black dress, arms crossed over her chest. When I lay there and closed my eyes, I imagined Paola, she explains. The demonstration continued for an hour until the commission let Kenya and the others inside to meet directly with Ernestina Godoy Ramos, the citys attorney general. They asked for a public apology over the handling of Paolas case, for the attorney general to make the case a priority and for the suspect to be arrested. In the meeting, Kenya says, the attorney general committed to prioritising the pursuit of justice in cases involving LGBTQ people and to arresting the suspect in Paolas murder. Neither the attorney general nor the Human Rights Commission of Mexico City responded to requests for comment for this article. Kenya in a meeting with volunteers from the Casa Hogar Paola Buenrostro at her house [Toya Sarno Jordan/Al Jazeera] Fighting for justice Aside from Paolas case, Kenya is fighting for justice in two other cases of murdered transgender women. One of them, Itzayana Lopez Hernandez, was found dead on September 22, 2019. The other woman, Pamela Sandoval Ramirez, was murdered on January 28, 2019 in a beauty salon she operated out of Kenyas house. She had been staying there while Kenya was on vacation. Although Kenya no longer works on Puente de Alvarado, she returns often. In December, she threw a Christmas party on the street for sex workers in the area. Mexico City is by far the most progressive city in Mexico with respect to LGBTQ rights. Kenya hopes to extend her advocacy to the rest of the country, where the law in some regions condones discrimination. In the northern state of Nuevo Leon, for example, it is legal for medical professionals to deny services to LGBTQ people. Even in Mexico City, though, hurdles remain. Rocio Sanchez, the founder of the Mexico City-based Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans, an NGO that advocates for rights for transgender people, says that the city has a long way to go to guarantee full inclusion. Workplace discrimination makes it particularly difficult for transgender women to find work in the formal economy, she says. Rocio says that what transgender people in Mexico need is a politics of reparations. The state needs to recognise its responsibility for the situation of trans people, she says. To her, this means addressing issues around labour inclusion, access to education, medical costs and violence against transgender people. Mexico has one of the highest rates of transfemicides in the world. According to data gathered by Rocios organisation, 2016 to 2019 saw a spike in the number of murders of transgender women in Mexico. The organisation has recorded 202 transfemicides in that four-year period alone. Mexico does not have a legal framework for transfemicides, meaning that they are prosecuted as homicides and not as hate crimes. Mahia Michelle Calderon, 49, in her room at the Casa Hogar Paola Buenrostro, where she has been staying for two weeks [Toya Sarno Jordan/Al Jazeera] Kenya is currently working with Mexico Citys Human Rights Commission to have transfemicides recognised in Mexicos penal code. The shelter named in Paolas honour still does not have any furniture, but Kenya has big plans for the space. For now, it is an empty building on a steep hill at the far northeastern edge of the city. Kenya wants to hire mental health professionals, career counsellors and tutors, and she plans to create alliances with other organisations to provide services. The shelter will cater, she says, to all members of the transgender community, including those who are HIV-positive, migrants and sex workers, including children and teenagers as herself and Paola were when they first started working on the streets. She repeats her motto several times: Our revenge is that well be happy. SHANGHAI, Mar.31 -- The keel-laying ceremony for the second Type 054A/P missile frigate destined for the Pakistani Navy was held at the HudongZhonghua Shipyard in Chinas Shanghai on March 23. Officials from the Pakistan Navy and the Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group attended the ceremony. The Type 054A multi-purpose guided-missile frigate is the backbone type of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, with 30 vessels in commission. Pakistan signed the first contract of two Type 054A/P frigates, an export version of the Type 054A, in 2017 and purchased two more ships in June 2018. The steel cutting ceremony for the final two ships took place in last November. All four frigates will be manufactured in China and delivered to the Pakistan Navy in 2021. Commodore Azfar Humayun, Chief Naval Overseas (China) of the Pakistani Navy, attended the keel-laying ceremony and said that despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, the expertise of HudongZhonghua Shipyard and Chinese contractors ensured the timely completion of this important milestone program. The Pakistani Navy claimed that the 054A/P frigates are equipped with a modern surface, underwater and anti-aircraft weapons and sensors. Once built, these warships will become the most technologically advanced platforms of the Pakistani Navy, which will enhance the Pakistani Navys combat capability to meet future challenges and maintain peace, stability, and balance of power in the Indian Ocean. The Delhi Police Special Branch on Tuesday wrote to the city government for taking immediate action with regard to people, including foreign nationals, who stayed in 16 mosques in the national capital after taking part in a religious congregation at Nizamuddin which has turned out to be a COVID-19 hotspot, officials said. The communique said there were 157 such people -- 94 from Indonesia, 13 from Kyrgyzstan, 9 from Bangladesh, 8 from Malaysia, 7 from Algeria and one each from Tunisia, Belgium and Italy. Remaining are Indian nationals. It said they were staying in mosques in South East, North East and other districts in the city, police said. "A team of district administration, police and health department is visiting mosques and evacuating foreign nationals and shifting them to quarantine. They were part of Markaz and to decongest the building they had been shifted to various mosques in the national capital," said a police officer. No social distancing would be possible at those places. It may cause grave danger to public health and the objective of containing COVID-19, the communique said. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said 24 people who attended the religious congregation at Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz earlier this month have tested positive for coronavirus, while 1,548 have been evacuated and 441 hospitalised after they showed its symptoms. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For that, we are extremely proud and grateful. Zororo, your name demands that you rest in peace. The family and all those whose lives you touched will always love you and thank you for your short but highly productive life. The first bond issue in Europe by a public investment bank to fund measures to cope with the coronavirus pandemic has been successfully placed, one of the organisers said Tuesday. The Nordic Investment Bank raised one billion euros (USD 1.1 billion) on the markets for a "COVID-19 Response Bond", France's BNP Paribas bank said. "It's a first on European markets and is part of measures taken as a result of the epidemic," said Agnes Gourc of BNP Paribas CIB's sustainable finance and investment wing. The operation followed the model of green or responsible bonds with very strict conditions on what type of projects the funds may be used, she told AFP. Funding will go primarily to public sector finance to meet the rise in spending linked to unemployment, loans to the financial sector to help medium-sized companies and "direct finance for the real economy", including for large companies in the health and medical equipment sector, said Gourc. The Nordic Investment Bank is the international financial institution of the Nordic and Baltic countries with headquarters in Helsinki. Demand for the three-year bonds, which carried a coupon with no annual interest, was over three times the issue amount. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Washington: Actor Rita Wilson called herself a 'COVID 19 survivor' after returning home from quarantine in Australia. Rita who tested positive for the coronavirus alongside husband Tom Hanks in Australia earlier this month in an Instagram post thanked God for both her good health and continued success. As the couple acclimatised back into normal life in Los Angeles, Rita marked the importance of the date, 29 March, while sharing a series of pictures. MI5 has appointed its youngest-ever director general - but the intelligence agency has refused to reveal the spy chief's age. Ken McCallum will become director general of the security service when he takes over the top job from Sir Andrew Parker next month. Mr McCallum, who led the investigation into the attempted assassination of former Russian agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury in 2018, is in his mid-40s but MI5 has refused to specify his age. It is unclear why the security service is withholding this information but it is believed to be related to his personal security, the Telegraph reported. Ken McCallum who has been appointed as the new director general of the security service Mr McCallum, from Glasgow, has spent 25 years working for the security service and is understood to be well-liked by colleagues, personable, approachable, trusted and incisive. He spent his first decade with MI5 focusing on Northern Ireland before battling Islamist militants, developing cyber security and ensuring the safety of the 2012 London Olympics. McCallum was in charge of all counter-terrorism investigations and risk management in the run-up to and throughout the London Olympics, MI5 said. Then, after former Russian double agent Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found poisoned with a Novichok in 2018, he led the agency's response to the attempted murder. 'In 2018, Ken took charge of the MI5 response to the attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal, within the unprecedented UK-led international response from intelligence allies,' MI5 said. Britain blamed Russia for the attack in which a British citizen died. Russia denied any role, though Western powers expelled dozens of Russian spies working under diplomatic cover. Director General of MI5 Sir Andrew Parker, who is stepping down from the top job in April MI5 said one of Mr McCallum's top priorities was enabling MI5 to seize the fast-moving opportunities provided by technology, including machine learning. He enjoys mountain hiking. He succeeds Sir Andrew who will retire in April after leading the organisation since 2013. MI5, established in 1909 to counter German espionage ahead of World War One, is tasked with protecting British national security. Its main job is currently countering international terrorism though it is also a counter-intelligence agency. 'MI5's purpose is hugely motivating,' McCallum said. 'Our people - with our partners - strive to keep the country safe, and they always want to go the extra mile. 'Having devoted my working life to that team effort, it is a huge privilege now to be asked to lead it as Director General.' Queen Elizabeth II with Director General Andrew Parker during a visit to the headquarters of MI5 at Thames House in London The MI5 Building At Thames House 12 Millbank, South West London Mr McCallum will become the eighteenth director general when he takes over from Sir Andrew, the seventeenth director general to have headed MI5 since the post was created in 1909. Sir Andrew was appointed deputy director general of the security service in April 2007, and succeeded Sir Jonathan Evans as director general in April 2013. In February, Sir Andrew sanctioned ITV documentary makers to be allowed inside the heart of the security service. During the ITV programme, he was asked about being MI5 chief during five UK terror attacks in 2017. He said: 'I think it would be right to say it becomes progressively more challenging when, and then another attack happens of a different sort in a different place.' Asked if it has felt that the agency wasn't in control, Sir Andrew said: 'Well we're not in control of it ever, are we? We're not in control of 'To be in control would mean that somehow, we could, you know, manage this whole landscape and stop everything. We can't. We can't do that.' The unprecedented TV access came as the capital faced terror attacks on London Bridge on November 29 last year and in Streatham on February 2. NEWSALERT-PADAYATRA Karnataka Congress has decided to temporarily halt Mekedatu padayatra due to COVID concerns and in the interest of public health: Siddaramaiah. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 Victorians have been banned from purchasing guns after permit applications increased amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic. Police Minister Lisa Neville said at a press conference on Tuesday the number of people attempting to access firearms and ammunition had doubled. The minister and the National Cabinet decided to pause the sales of firearms and ammunition for sporting or recreational purposes. They fear an increased amount of weapons on the street would be dangerous as tensions rise and firearms may be stockpiled or accessed by criminals. Police Minister Lisa Neville said at a press conference today the number of people attempting to access firearms and ammunition had doubled The minister and the National Cabinet decided to pause the sales of firearms and ammunition for sporting or recreational purposes (pictured: Police Minister Lisa Neville) 'We're responding to an increase in demand for firearms and ammunition across the country by doing what we can to protect licensed firearm owners and dealers as well as the broader community,' she said. 'We sincerely hope that Victoria Police does not have to issue one of these on the spot fines, and people do the right thing. 'But for those that don't, they will be dealt with.' The minister said the fear of domestic violence figures increasing as the state shuts down was another factor behind the pause of firearm sales. The ban will exclude farmers, rural landholders, professional vermin control staff and armed guards as their jobs are considered essential and require them to have access to firearms. The Queensland Government have banned firearms dealers from remaining open as they have been declared 'non-essential services.' In Western Australia, a similar regulation has been implemented but primary producers, professional pest shooters and Indigenous people practising native title rights to hunt are allowed to access firearms and ammunition. They fear an increased amount of weapons on the street would be dangerous as tensions rise and firearms may be stockpiled or accessed by criminals amid the coronavirus pandemic (pictured: Hospital staff test people outside Tanunda Hospital in South Australia) This comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced tough new social distancing measures on Sunday including a ban on gatherings of more than two people (pictured: Police ushering overseas travellers into the InterContinental Hotel in Sydney) This comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced tough new social distancing measures on Sunday including a ban on gatherings of more than two people. Mr Morrison has not officially said Australia is in 'stage three' of its response to COVID-19, and left it up to state governments to enforce the restrictions with fines. But Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has used that phrase to describe his state's strategy, imposing on-the-spot $1,600 fines for breaking the two-person rule. Under present restrictions in Australia, Victorians also face fines for leaving the house for non-essential reasons and they can only go out for food and supplies, medical care, exercise, work and education. Columbus Area Transit has received a grant from the Columbus Area United Way to help pay for its services; however, the grant is lower than it has been in recent years. CAT received a $7,000 grant for 2020. But according to Doug Moore, the citys public property director and associate of CAT, the agency normally receives somewhere in the neighborhood of $16,000 each year. Were probably going to have to look at some other alternatives to make up that difference, Moore said of CAT, a call-based system that provides public transportation to all regardless of their race, ethnicity, age, sex or disability. Service is scheduled on a first-call first-served basis within the Columbus city limits. CAT will likely have to consider raising its fares from $2 per ride to something a little bit higher in order to make ends meet in the future. But, any movement in terms of price wont come until sometime around October, according to Moore. Our budgets already set, so we wont change anything until next (fiscal) year, Moore said. Whether thats raising fares or some other form of funding, (well) have to come up with (that). This year, things are already set, so wed have to wait until next year. Well have to decide what were going to change. The program provides a much-needed service for people who cant use a car but need to get around town to jobs and businesses. Moore said that people with low, fixed incomes are one of the targets of the program, in addition to elderly folks who need a lift to get from point A to point B. They count on low fares to get them where they need to, whether thats doctors appointments or the grocery store, Moore said. For a lot of people who use our service, this is their only form of transportation. The Columbus Area United Way isnt the only agency that contributes to CATs bottom line. The City of Columbus, the Nebraska Department of Transportation and other citizens make a contribution to helping CAT provide its service to people throughout the community. The Columbus Area United Way previously announced that its Board of Directors would discuss, analyze and determine the impact each partner agency could have upon the nonprofit's three focused pillars: Education, financial stability and health. As such, United Way Executive Director Hope Freshour and board members earlier this year met with fellow area nonprofits that applied for Partner Agency funding. The number of requests made by partner agencies to the United Way had exceeded the total raised in campaign dollars (United Way closed the year at $839,700), as previously reported. Therefore, the shift to a platform based on goals and impact measurements guided the board in determining how funds were to be designated. The City of Columbus publicly thanked the United Way for its contribution via its Facebook page. The United Way could not be reached for comment on Monday. Moore said that CAT provides a service that is much needed throughout the community, with the low fares providing assistance for people who need help getting around town. Its very valuable to us, Moore said. We can keep our fares low and affordable for the general public. For some of the people who are on a fixed income, it could be difficult for them if we had to raise our fares. Columbus Mayor Jim Bulkley previously said Columbus Area Transit patrons would need to be screened before being able to schedule a ride due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19 for the time being. Home meal deliveries and care facilities deliveries will continue, he said. CAT can be reached at 402-564-9293. Zach Roth is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at zachary.roth@lee.net. 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. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that she is contributing Rs. 5 lakhs to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund (PMNRF) and another Rs. 5 lakhs to the West Bengal State Emergency Relief Fund in an attempt to support our country's efforts in fighting the COVID-19. "Out of my limited resources, I am contributing Rs. 5 lakhs to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and another Rs. 5 lakhs to the West Bengal State Emergency Relief Fund in an attempt to support our country's efforts in fighting the COVID-19," Banerjee tweeted. In another tweet, she said that she "comes from limited means". "I do not take any salary as an MLA or a Chief Minister and I have also foregone my MP pension despite being a 7-time Member of Parliament. I come from limited means. My primary source of income is from my creative pursuits, the royalties I generate from my music and books," she tweeted. The total number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 1,397 after 146 new patients were reported in the last 24-hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Tuesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TPC Automation program offered to accelerate the manufacturing of medical ventilators. During the Shelter in Place order (National State of Emergency time period), the company is offering a free pneumatic components program to manufacturers making medical ventilators for use with COVID-19 patients. Santa Fe Springs, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2020) - TPC Automation has created a program to accelerate the manufacturing of medical ventilators. During the Shelter in Place order (National State of Emergency time period), the company will be offering a free pneumatic components program to manufacturers making medical ventilators used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. TPC Automation logo To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7030/53978_img.jpg "During this state of emergency, we are operating at full capacity to ensure companies have access to pneumatic parts needed to build life-saving ventilators," says Simon Walker, President of TPC Automation. Ventilator manufacturers can access the program by calling 562-946-8459, emailing info@tpcautomation.com. They can also visit https://tpcautomation.com/fmvp to access further information about the program and learn about TPC pneumatics products. Medical manufacturers have been working diligently to make sure there is an adequate supply of ventilators to support the growing demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. TPC Automation is part of the solution by offering its vast catalog of pneumatics to these companies at no cost during the crisis. "We want to be more than just a supplier," says Simon Walker. "As an essential business, we recognize our responsibility to the community. We are offering these pneumatic parts for free to speed up production for ventilator manufacturers. Ultimately, we want to help save lives." TPC Automation is a U.S.-based technology company in Santa Fe Springs, California. A DBA of Tanhay Inc., TPC Automation is a division of TPC Mechatronics Corporation. Ticker: 048770.KQ. The company has operated in the U.S. for over 40 years. Since its creation, the company has been a leader in pneumatic components in North America. It also sells truck backup safety systems and operates a material handling equipment unit. -30- Related Images tpc-automation.jpg TPC Automation TPC Automation logo Related Links Company website Ventilator program inquiry form To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53978 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. Mayor Muriel Bowser is threatening residents of Washington, DC, with 90 days in jail and a $5,000 fine if they leave their homes during the coronavirus outbreak. The threat of jail is alarming residents and civil libertarians who point out that at least five inmates tested positive for COVID-19 in the citys 1,700-inmate jail near Capitol Hill. Our message remains the same: stay home, Bowser, a Democrat, said in a statement Monday. The stay-home order has exceptions for grocery shopping and work deemed essential. Outdoor recreation such as running is allowed, but cannot involve people outside of a household. The order is similar to dictates in neighboring Maryland and Virginia, but shocked residents of Washington, where there are just 401 of the nations 160,000 confirmed cases. The FBI warned of concerns over a 'biosecurity risk' from Chinese scientists' research in the US after they intercepted virus samples carried in luggage a year before the coronavirus outbreak. In November 2018 - just over a year before the first coronavirus case was recorded in Wuhan - US customs at Detroit Metro Airport stopped a Chinese biologist with three samples labeled 'Antibodies' in his luggage. He told border control that someone he worked with in China had asked him to deliver the vials to a researcher at a US institute. After examining the writing on the vials, customs agents concluded that they believed the materials inside may have been MERS or SARS materials. The FBI warned of concerns over a 'biosecurity risk' from Chinese scientists' research in the US after they intercepted virus samples carried in luggage a year before the coronavirus outbreak (file image) An unclassified FBI report obtained by Yahoo News said: 'Inspection of the writing on the vials and the stated recipient led inspection personnel to believe the materials contained within the vials may be viable Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) materials.' The report - written by the Chemical and Biological Intelligence Unit of the FBI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate - does not give the name of the Chinese scientist carrying the suspected samples, or the intended recipient in the US. The WMPP assesses foreign scientific researchers who transport 'undeclared and undocumented' biological materials into the US that 'almost certainly present a biosecurity risk'. Concerns about China's flouting of biosafety rules is nothing new, but the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated tensions between Beijing and Washington. Donald Trump has used the phrase 'Chinese virus' in recent weeks The FBI concluded that the incident, along with two other cases mentioned in the report, were part of an alarming pattern. It appears to be part of a larger FBI concern about China's involvement with scientific research in the US. One professor of global biosecurity has said that the FBI appears to be concerned with research that would be used for bioterrorism. A couple wearing protective suits as a preventive measure against coronavirus walk along a street in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province They added that the transferring of samples was likely to be going both ways, saying that unless there is a comprehensive surveillance point, nobody knows what people are bringing in and out. Another expert said that there is a threat posed by Chinese nationals carrying biological samples but that the carrier would likely be someone 'unwitting'. Concerns about China's flouting of biosafety rules is nothing new, but the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated tensions between Beijing and Washington. In recent weeks disagreements have escalated, with President Trump calling COVID-19 'the Chinese Virus,' while Beijing in turn has promoted conspiracy theories claiming the virus originated in a US weapons lab. In addition, Mike Pompeo added fuel to the fire last week after referring to the disease as the 'Wuhan virus'. Critic, Femi Fani-Kayode, has reacted to US, Germany, France and Israel evacuating their citizens from Nigeria as a result of the dead... Critic, Femi Fani-Kayode, has reacted to US, Germany, France and Israel evacuating their citizens from Nigeria as a result of the deadly Coronavirus. According to Fani-Kayode, Nigeria could fight coronavirus without them and that they should go. He said Nigerians might not have more resources than them, but that God is with the nation. He wrote on his twitter handle: U.S., France, Germany & Israel evacuate citizens from Nigeria? Let them go! We shall get through this without them. We may not have their resources but we have God. He will never leave us or forsake us. We shall get through this and the name of the Lord shall be glorified. Nigeria currently has 135 people infected with Coronavirus, with nine discharged so far and two death. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 17:27:19|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Students shall always wear protective masks in the classroom as schools start to reopen, an official with the Ministry of Education (MOE) said Tuesday. Wang Dengfeng, director of the MOE leading group office on the COVID-19 epidemic, told a press conference that the requirement is necessary for crowded space like classrooms, but may be exempted when the students are on outdoor playgrounds and have enough space between each other in low-risk regions. The requirements for epidemic prevention and control are different in different regions, but ensuring safety is a prerequisite for schools to open for the new semester, said Wang, adding that the ministry has required all schools to formulate detailed emergency plans. He also highlighted the role of psychological counseling and assistance to teachers and students amid the epidemic. 32 Q&As For Overseas Chinese Students During COVID-19 Pandemic By:Eastday, Paper.cn, Shine | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-03-31 09:03 I. Personal protection 1Q: Many people abroad arent wearing masks, what should I do? A: Whether or not to wear a mask depends on cultural habits and the perceived protective efficiency. In the United States, masks are used mainly to prevent sick peoples virus-containing saliva from splashing onto others faces. Besides, many countries are facing a dearth of protective gear, therefore masks are being prioritized for medical care providers. (Source: Zhang Wenhong, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University) 2Q: Overseas countries are severely hit by the coronavirus, should I hoard some medicine? A: It is not recommended that you hoard a large amount of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, whose efficacy needs to be verified by further clinical trials. The best medicine is to drink more water and milk, eat more eggs, sleep more and not go out socialising. (Source: Zhang Wenhong, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University) 3Q: If I get no symptoms during the 14-day quarantine period, does it mean that I am virus free? A: At present, it is uncertain whether there is an ultra-long incubation period. Even if there is, it is not a common phenomenon. According to the current situation, the 14-day incubation view can remain unchanged. But at the same time, infection can't be ruled out simply because there has been no fever within 14 days, so isolation cant be released based on symptoms alone. For the isolated people, if having any physical discomfort such as cough and fever, they should report their symptoms by calling the appropriate coronavirus emergency number in their country or region. (Source: Cai Weiping, director of the Infectious Disease Center, Guangzhou Eighth Peoples Hospital) 4Q: If I choose to stay abroad and not return to China, what should I pay attention to in my daily life? A: Stay at home to avoid unnecessary exposure. Take care when going out to buy daily necessities by wearing a mask and washing hands. Wash hands after any contact in public areas. Eat more vegetables and fruit when staying at home and take appropriate dose of tranquilizers when having sleep problems. (Source: Zhu Lei, chief respiratory physician, Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University) 5Q: My school has reported confirmed cases. But, unlike in China, there are no apps to find out if I have had close contact with infected people. What should I do? A: Conduct self quarantine and live a normal life with enough sleep and nutrition. Consult the doctor if you have a fever. (Source: Zhu Lei, chief respiratory physician, Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University) 6Q: If I have symptoms like a cough and fever, how can I judge whether or not I have contracted the coronavirus? Should I go to hospital at once? A: Influenza and novel coronavirus may both cause a cough and fever, making it difficult for ordinary people to distinguish the two. 80% of the people infected with coronavirus have mild symptoms, and can survive it without seeking medical assistance. Whether to seek medical assistance mainly depends on your breathing. If you find it difficult to breathe, or hard to breathe when going up stairs, seek medical assistance. Fever is not necessarily the decisive point of seeking medical assistance, breathing is. (Source: Zhang Wenhong, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University) 7Q: The weather is becoming warmer, but the coronavirus does not seem to be contained by temperature like SARS. When will the epidemic in America turn a corner? A: The epidemic has not been effectively controlled in many areas around the globe. Europe is now the epicenter of the global coronavirus pandemic and the US is also badly affected. Great uncertainty still exists in the future, so currently it is difficult to predict when the pandemic will end, and it is the people in every country who will play the decisive role. (Source: Zhang Wenhong, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University) 8Q: Should I wear a mask when I go outside and there are no other people around me? A: The public does not need to wear masks when they are at home or outside their home where there is no gathering of people and ventilation is good. Patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, patients with asymptomatic infection, close contacts of confirmed cases, as well as inbound travelers (from the entry time to the end of quarantine) are advised to wear surgical masks or protective masks with a rating of or higher than KN95/N95 and without an exhalation valve. (Source: The National Health Committee of the PRC) 9Q: Is there a danger when opening windows for ventilation? A: Ventilation is very important. The concentration of virus in the air is quite low, so there is no need to fear that the virus may come in through the opened windows. The virus will gradually diminish or lose vitality once it becomes dried after exposure in the air. Besides, the air flows fast, and if a patient emits a breath, the exhaled air is dispersed quickly and the concentration of virus becomes low. So it is important to keep indoor ventilation, or mechanical ventilation and purifier ventilation to ensure oxygen levels stay high. (Source: Prof. Cao Junji, research fellow at the Institute of Earth Environment & director of Key Laboratory of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences) II. Assistance in life 10Q: I am studying in France, where the government has ordered strict restrictions on people's movement. Can I still go outside? A: Currently, the French government has escalated the epidemic control measures and imposed stringent restrictions on movement. Reduced movement of people will decrease the risk of infection. Please strictly observe the restriction measures of the French government, keep close tabs on the latest movement restriction measures, decrease your outdoor movement as much as possible, reduce your contact with others and avoid gatherings so as to effectively lower the risk of infection and transmission. (Source: Lu Shaye, Chinese Ambassador to France) 11Q: I am currently staying in the United States and I am afraid of having such symptoms as fever and cough. In case that I am infected, who should I turn to for help? A: The Chinese Embassy in the US has set up two new hotlines offering COVID-19 related assistance:+1-2028309551+1-2028484007. (Source: The website of the Chinese Embassy in the US) 12Q: Our school has suspended activities and our dormitories have been closed. I cannot find any accommodation and there is a severe shortage of supplies in the supermarket. What should I do? A: Most people studying abroad are living alone. They are young and are inexperienced at looking after themselves. Chinese overseas embassies and consulates attach great importance to addressing the difficulties of local Chinese students in their studies, accommodation and visa extension, etc. The embassies and consulates will coordinate with local Chinese and Chinese enterprises to offer food and shopping assistance to local Chinese students. The Chinese embassies and consulates in the UK, France, Italy and U.S. are coordinating efforts and resources to provide Chinese students studying there with health packs containing necessary protection supplies and an anti-epidemic guide. Some of the embassies and consulates have set up a special Consultation Hotline for Parents of Overseas Chinese Students to answer questions from those parents. (Source: Luo Zhaohui, Deputy Foreign Minister of the PRC) 13Q: I heard that the Chinese embassy in the UK is providing Chinese students with health packs. How should I get the pack? A: The Chinese embassy in the UK is providing Chinese students studying there with health packs containing an anti-epidemic guide. The health packs will be sent to you through the National Union of Students (NUS) and the Union of Students of various schools. Please pay attention to the relevant notice of those student unions. If you meet any difficulties, please call +44 20-74368294 or +44 20-72998435 to contact the Chinese embassy. (Source: The Chinese Embassy in the UK) 14Q: I am not able to buy face masks abroad and would like to ask my parents to send some masks from Shanghai. Which courier service provider can deliver the masks for me? How long will it take to deliver the masks? A: Shunfeng (SF) Express can deliver the masks. However, anti-epidemic supplies including masks can only be exported when customs declaration requirements are met. Currently, it takes a longer time to deliver masks to overseas countries. You can follow the WeChat account of SF Express and click MeService queriesShipping Costs and Transit Times. EMS and DHL can also deliver masks to overseas countries. Please dial hotline number 11185 and press 6 for more information. (Source: SF Express and Shanghai Municipal Postal Administration) 15Q: What is the safest way to deal with express deliveries and letters, as they may carry viruses? A: Actually there is no need for special treatment. However, if you are still worried, you can spray them with alcohol sanitizer, or put them in an oven for an hour at 60 degrees Celsius. (Source: Zhang Wenhong, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University) III. Overseas study 16Q: I am an exchange student in a university in the US. As the classes in the US have been suspended and exams have been cancelled, how do I convert my academic credits? Can I return to study in my home university in China after school starts? A: Classes are now suspended in US universities, but they are still offering distance learning and relevant assessment methods have also been published. So you can still gain your credits after the semester ends. Regarding whether you can come back to continue your studies, you have to consult your home university in China. (Source: Zhang Jie, an expert on overseas study and former principal of Stuyvesant High School in New York) 17Q: I am a US universitys exchange student in Japan. Now the Japanese University requires me to return to the American university, but classes in US universities have been suspended. What should I do? A: As an exchange student, your academic status belongs to the US university. Contact your home university right away once you are told to leave by the country you are visiting. For the time being, most US universities have not actually suspended their classes, because they are offering online education. The home university should not refuse the requests of its exchange students. If you have missed too many classes in the Japanese university to meet the required academic hours, you might have to retake the courses in the next semester. (Source: Zhang Jie, an expert on overseas study and former principal of Stuyvesant High School in New York) 18Q: Due to the pandemic, more and more countries have begun online education. Since online teaching and learning has been carried out in China for some time, could you share some experience with us? How can we overseas students master the rhythm of online learning? A: Measures for epidemic prevention should take priority. Maintain your study habits and be self-disciplined. Before taking the online class, preview the materials and keep in touch with your teacher, to ensure the quality of the class and assignments. If possible, it is recommended to separate the study area from the living area. Make a daily study plan. In addition, to ease your mood, you can talk about your learning experience and even life trivia with your classmates after class through many platforms. (Source: Zhang Jie, an expert on overseas study and former principal of Stuyvesant High School in New York) 19Q: I went to study in Australia this February. Should I apply to drop out? Will it affect my future application for admission to other schools? A: Dropping out is not recommended. You can complete your studies through online learning and other methods, in accordance with your schools regulations. While ensuring epidemic prevention and studying online, you can wait for classes to return to normal. If you decide to drop out, do clarify the reason for doing so when you apply for another school, and there should be no significant impact. (Source: Zhang Jie, an expert on overseas study and former principal of Stuyvesant High School in New York) 20Q: Im studying in a British school, which is now closed. But if I return to China at present, I may not be able to obtain a visa to return to the UK to complete my studies. Can the embassy offer some help? A: It is recommended that students stay in the UK. The embassy will coordinate the allocation of anti-epidemic materials and hand out health packs. As for your studies, it is recommended that you communicate with the school. For students who have returned to China, if they come across related problems they can reach out to the embassy for necessary information and help. (Source: Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the UK) IV. Affairs about returning to China 21Q: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread overseas, should returning to China immediately be my first choice? A: Long-haul flights incur infection risk. Due to the epidemic, journeys back home are usually longer than usual. Afraid of getting infected, some people may choose to refrain from eating or drinking during their entire flight. This, coupled with fatigue and worry over the coronavirus, may further lower immunity and then increase the risk of infection. (Source: Zhu Lei, chief physician of the Respiratory Department, Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University) 22Q: I am currently in London, UK, and plan to head back to Shanghai soon. What preparations should I make? A: Once youve made the decision to come back, direct flights should be your first option if possible. If you have to take a connecting flight, be sure to check the latest information regarding relevant airports, visa requirements, epidemic prevention regulations and so on in advance so that youre fully prepared. Also, make sure to follow the filing procedures required by your school, keep close contact with the school or institution where you do your internship, and properly arrange study and visa-related issues. You must also abide by the relevant epidemic prevention regulations in China once you arrive back. (Source: The Chinese Embassy in the UK) 23Q: With the reduced number of international flights, will I be able to buy a ticket home? A: All Chinese airlines are allowed to operate only one flight to each country per week, while foreign aviation companies can maintain only one route to China, and there should be no more than one flight per week for each, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said in a circular on March 26. All airlines are required to control passenger capacity on international flights to under 75 percent in order to curb overcrowding and reduce the risk of infection. The number of inbound air travelers is estimated to drop to 5,000 each day. (Source: The Transport Department, Civil Aviation Administration of China) 24Q: Is it possible for China to arrange temporary flights or chartered flights to bring back overseas students? A: Based on real demand, the Civil Aviation Administration of China will activate air travel transportation mechanisms for overseas Chinese citizens, including the arrangement of temporary flights or chartered flights, to bring overseas Chinese back to cities with mass demand and the ability to receive flights. (Source: The Transport Department, Civil Aviation Administration of China). 25Q: On the way home by airplane, what should I do to remain relatively safe? A: The cabin is a closed space and of high-risk virus for infection. Its necessary to ensure that a mask is worn for a long period. It is not necessary to wear protective clothing and goggles if no confirmed patients are in close contact. The riskiest infection scenario is the boarding process, and remember to wash your hands frequently. (Source: Zhang Wenhong, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University) 26Q: Can I apply for home isolation after entering Shanghai from abroad? A: Shanghai has implemented 14-day centralized quarantine health observation for all people returning from abroad from March 28. Those who have already been isolated at home (before midnight on March 28) will continue to be isolated until the expiry of their 14-day quarantine. Diplomatic personnel entering the country and those engaged in important economic, trade, scientific research and technical cooperation shall be processed in accordance with other regulations. Those who are not suitable for centralized quarantine including the elderly, minors, pregnant women, people with reduced mobility, elderly or children in need of care and those suffering from basic diseases will undergo nucleic acid testing at uniform inspection points in the citys districts. If the test result is negative and the conditions for home isolation are met, including passing the strict verification and approval process, home isolation can be applied for. (Source: Shanghai Fabu WeChat account) 27Q: How can Chinese students studying in Germany get help and accurate information about the COVID-19 pandemic? A: Students that choose to stay in Germany can find guidelines on epidemic prevention, practical advice, local medical advice, hotline numbers, cloud medical information and other information through the official website and the official WeChat account of the embassy. On top of that, the embassy has adjusted work hours and document application procedures, so as to reduce the risk of cross-infection. It is hoped that overseas students will reduce their travel and mobility, actively adjust their mentality, exercise and maintain their physical and mental health. Meanwhile, the embassy reminds you to look at the epidemic situation rationally, and actively look after yourself and those around you. The embassy is ready to provide help and support at any time. (Source: Wu Ken, Chinese Ambassador to Germany) V. Psychological Counseling 28Q: How can Chinese students studying in the UK protect themselves when encountering hostile people? A: First, overseas students should strengthen their self-protection, and try to avoid suspicious-looking people when walking on the street. If there is a quarrel, try to protect yourself and dodge and avoid physical conflict. Second, if attacked or abused, you should report to the school instantly and then report to the police. Third, make sure to inform the Chinese embassies and consulates in the UK in a timely manner. We will waste no time negotiating with school authorities and the British police, urging them to strengthen protection. (Source: Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the UK) 29Q: I am now staying in the UK and fearful of going out due to the risk of infection. I am lonely and afraid. How can I resolve anxiety in this special period? A: We advocate and support the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom and local unions to carry out activities under the theme of help each other and overcome difficulties in order to form a team of volunteers for mutual assistance, establish a WeChat group, organize online medical guidance, and set up psychological counseling activities to help everyone. (Source: The Chinese Embassy in the UK) 30Q: I am studying in Italy and I dare not go out every day. Im panicked and can't sleep well at night. What should I do? A: First, we must accept and consider the situation rationally. It is normal for people to feel anxious under the influence of an epidemic. Second, we must create a safe and comfortable environment to avoid going out and allow staying at home. Once again, we must arrange our daily lives reasonably. Keep a regular schedule, learn some knowledge about the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, and do proper housework and home exercise. Last but not least, seeking emotional support is also a good idea. You can make video calls with relatives and friends in China to relieve bad feelings. (Source: Qiao Ying, associate chief physician of the Psychiatry Department, Shanghai Mental Health Center) 31Q: I am worried about discrimination, even insults and attacks. Sometimes I am awoken by nightmares. How can I manage such panic and fear? AYou need support and comfort from your peers. Please talk about your feelings with other overseas students you may find such concerns are not unique. You can discuss solutions together, and brainstorming may lead to some golden ideas. Meanwhile, you can communicate with your family members to seek support. If the measures above are not effective, you may seek professional help. (Source: Qiao Ying, associate chief physician of the Psychiatry Department, Shanghai Mental Health Center) 32Q: I dont plan to return home right now, but my parents are extremely worried. Every time we do a video chat, I can see my mother weeping. How can I comfort my parents and reduce their worries? A: Peoples tensions and anxiety come from the feeling of losing control over something. Thus the best way to make your parents less worried is to let them know more about the truth. For example, you can explain to them patiently why you choose not to return. The reasons must be well considered and you should try to tell them in a way that takes their perspective into account. You can also show them the condition of virus control and prevention overseas. (Source: Qiao Ying, associate chief physician of the Psychiatry Department, Shanghai Mental Health Center) 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. Heartbreaking photos have emerged showing how hundreds of homeless people in Las Vegas have being affected by the outbreak of coronavirus. The images show a temporary homeless shelter set up in a car park at Cashman Center medical facility. Live blog: Coronavirus updates and news The parking lot is being used after a man at the Catholic Charities homeless shelter tested positive for COVID-19. Its left 500 people without overnight shelter after normally housing the homeless, immigrants and refugees. A check-in for the homeless looking to use a carpark to sleep in. Source: Getty Images That is disgraceful Pictures of the set up, which is being facilitated by police and council, were shared on Twitter leaving people shocked at the conditions the homeless are being subjected to. Lines on the ground show where they are allowed to sleep to ensure the homeless are following social distancing measures. That is disgraceful, one man tweeted. Another man simply called it dystopian while another questioned why the homeless werent at least given tents. Tents just a small personal pup-tent and a woven plastic mat would make a world of difference, he tweeted. My heart weeps for these people. Another man said this is a despicable way to treat homeless people. In what universe it this acceptable? one woman tweeted. The lines ensure the homeless follow social distancing. Source: Getty Images However, not everyone was critical of the makeshift car park shelter. You can't just put homeless people into hotels the same way you park a car, one woman tweeted. The hotels would have to be cleaned and maintained, as well as provide security. Depending on squatters' laws, it might also be a nightmare to get them to leave. The problem isn't that simple. Another woman added people need to remember homelessness is multi-layered and complex. Many who are homeless suffer from terrible mental health illnesses including severe schizoaffective disorders, of either the delusional, paranoid, (or both) types, she tweeted. People aren't impressed with the conditions the homeless are being subjected to. Source: Getty Images Helping us feel secure Lisa Morris Hibbler, chief community services officer for the city of Las Vegas, told 8 News Now the area is open from 8pm until 6am daily. Story continues Blankets and mats are laid down for the homeless and theyre disinfected daily. A homeless woman, known as Denise, told 8 News Now shes thankful to be able to use the carpark. This right here is helping us feel secure, feel safe. Other places, you dont feel safe, she said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nevada, the state Las Vegas is in, currently has 920 cases. Overall, the US has more than 140,000 cases and 2400 deaths. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. PRESS RELEASE SOCIETA EDITORIALE IL FATTO S.P.A.: The Board of Directors approves the draft financial statement at December 31, 2019 Stable revenues and strong investments in digital transformation Increase in revenues from digital activities Total absence of financial and banking debt Investments for more than double of the equity raised In the IPO Stable revenues at Euro 31,985 thousand (Euro 32,039 thousand at 31 December 2018, -0,17%) EBITDA down to Euro 1,239 thousand (Euro 3,263 thousand at 31 December 2018, -62%) due to substantial investments in the Group's digital transformation process Positive net financial position of Euro 1,139 thousand (Euro 2,810 thousand at 31 December 2018), with total absence of financial debts Shareholders' equity of Euro 4,147 thousand (Euro 2,722 thousand at 31 December 2018) Increased weight on revenues from digital activities: media content, advertising sales and digital subscriptions Rome, 31 March 2020 - The Board of Directors of SEIF S.p.A. (the "Company" or "SEIF") media content provider and publisher of several editorial and multimedia products announces that, today, the Board of Directors approved the draft financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019. ? In 2019 the Company has pursued the digital transformation process already undertaken, which represents the basis of the three-year business plan, investing more than double of the funds raised in IPO in this strategy. The results of this process are already visible in the increase in in revenues from digital activities, which has allowed, as early as the second half of 2019, to increase the volume of sales offsetting the reduction in paper sales on newsstands of the newspaper. The traditional "paper" market remains an important source of revenues, which shall be sustained and which can provide opportunities for revenue recovery. However, faced with the decline that has affected the entire newsstand market, SEIF has decided to invest heavily, to the detriment of the marginality of the year, in a process of digitalization, innovation and diversification, which the Company aims to complete by 2020, giving itself the necessary tools to seize all opportunities for marginality in the coming years. Cinzia Monteverdi, Chairman and CEO of SEIF commented: "In a context of deep evolution we believe that in the publishing sector only those who will be able to transform themselves will be able to grow; to stop investing in diversification and in digitalization would mean not keeping up with the times and exposing ourselves to the risk of contraction". "In this moment of strong uncertainty dictated by Covid-19" - continued Cinzia Monteverdi - "paradoxically the publishing market, defined for years as "in crisis", becomes an even more important support for all citizens; digital, together with the incredible effort of newsstands, allows us to keep up with the times and to be close to our readers even in a moment of extraordinary emergency offering a useful and quality service. The path of innovation, transparency and independence, together with the quality of content, will ensure that we stand by our partners, newsstands, readers and customers all in the right way. One cannot, of course, be pleased or delighted if the publishing market is growing during this period. We can and should simply be proud to provide a public service in smart working, and I am sure that this is the prevailing feeling among our investors as well". Main financial data (in thousands of Euro) Financial Year 2019 2018 % var.. A) Production value 1) revenues from sales and services 26,768 28,335 -5,53% 2) variations of inventory of raw and auxiliary materials, consumables and supplies -15 15 -205,93% 4) increases in fixed assets for internal works 4,504 3,480 29,43% 5) other revenues 728 210 247,17% Total (A) 31,985 32,040 -0,17% The table shows a substantial break-even in production value despite a reduction in revenues from sales and services, analysed in detail in the following table. Revenues from sales and services Value at 31.12.2019 % on revenues Value at 31.12.2018 % on revenues Publishing sector 19,914 74,40% 22,515 79,46% Media content sector 2,329 8,70% 1,429 5,04% Advertising sector 4,524 16,90% 4,391 15,50% Total 26,768 100,00% 26,123 100,00% Analyzing the variations in Company's revenues from sales and services, the following should be noted: Publishing sector : revenues from the publishing sector recorded an overall decrease of 11.5% (it was over 15% at 30.06.19). They are essentially made up by (i) newsstand sales of the newspaper; (ii) sales of the monthly magazine FQMillennium; (iii) sales of books in the Paper First series in the newsstand and bookstore channel; (iv) sales of subscriptions of the newspaper and the site. Media content sector : revenues in the media content sector grew by a total of 63% and are essentially made up of revenues from (i) the granting of rights to the exploitation of television content; (ii) sales of theatrical performances and events. Advertising sector : advertising revenues show a further 3% growth in the year 2019 and are made up essentially of revenues from (i) advertising revenues from the newspaper; (ii) advertising revenues from the website; (iii) advertising revenues from the monthly magazine sales. There is a further 5% increase in the year in revenues from digital activities equal to 35% of the total amount of the revenues (it was 30% in 2018), confirming the effectiveness of the strategic decisions taken by the Company to counter and mitigate the decrease in sales of paper products in the traditional version, with the digital transformation of processes and products. By analyzing the marginality of the business management, the following should be pointed out: (in thousands of Euro) Financial Year 2019 2018 Production value 31,985 32,039 EBITDA 1,239 3,263 EBIT -2,037 224 EBT -2,026 269 Net Result -1,492 0,4 Shareholders' Equity 4,147 2,722 Net Financial Position -1,139 -2,810 EBIDTA in 2019 is about 4% of the production value (it was about 2.5% at 30.06.19), decreasing by 10% in 2018. The impact of depreciation and amortization for the year (3,240 thousand euros) brings EBIT down to -2,037 thousand euros. Production costs amounted to Euro 34,021 thousand (Euro 31,815 thousand at December 31, 2018), or 7% more than in 2018. Personnel costs amounted to Euro 10,978 thousand, up from Euro 10,294 thousand in 2018, due to an average increase of 14 units during 2019. The increase in both values is due to the growth in the size of the company structure, also as a result of its status as a listed company, and in production activities, particularly the production of "Loft productions" television content. Allocation of the result for the year The Board of Directors resolved to propose to the Shareholders' Meeting to carry forward the net result for 2019. Shareholders' Equity increased by Euro 1,425 thousand, net of the loss for 2019, following the reduction of the negative reserve for treasury shares by Euro 2,917 thousand due to the placement of a 16.21% stake in the share capital in the IPO. Shareholders' Equity Reserves amounts to Euro 3,104 thousand and consists of the Extraordinary Reserve of Euro 3,695 thousand, the Legal Reserve of 500 thousand and the Negative Reserve for treasury shares in portfolio of Euro 1,091 thousand. Cash flow (in thousand of Euro) 2019 2018 Profit (loss) of the year before taxes on the income, interests and dividends (2,036) 224 Adjustments for non-monetary elements 3,781 3,553 Changes in net working capital 18 (581) Other adjustments (345) (262) Cash flow from operating activities (A) 1,418 2,934 Cash flow from investment activities (B) (6,006) (916) Cash flow from financing activities (C) 2,917 -2,799 Increase (decrease) of cash and cash equivalents (ABC) (1,671) (781) Cash and cash equivalents at the begging of the year 2,212 2,993 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 541 2,212 Changes in cash and cash equivalents (1,671) (781) The Net Financial Position, positive by 1,139 thousand euros and consisting exclusively of cash and cash equivalents with no financial debts, decreased by 1,671 thousand euros. This reduction is entirely due to the use of available bank current account funds which, in addition to self-financing and net funds raised during the IPO (2,000 thousand euros), made it possible to support the substantial investment program implemented during the year. The significant investment activity implemented in 2019 by the Company, amounting to 6,006 thousand euros (more than double of the equity raised in the IPO), was covered by the change in the NFP (- 1,671 thousand euros), the cash flow from the IPO (+ 2,917 thousand euros) and the cash flow from operating activities (+ 1,418 thousand euros). Activities carried out in 2019 The 2019 financial year represented the beginning of an important moment of transformation for the Company in many ways. From a corporate point of view , as is now known, in March last year the Company was listed on the AIM - Italia, a multilateral trading facility, organized and managed by Borsa Italiana S.p.A., through the placement of treasury shares representing the 16.21% of the share capital. In July 2019, the Company also completed the dual-listing of its shares on the Euronext Growth Paris market. From the point of view of the business model , which has been at the center of important changes driven by the digital transformation of processes and products. The year ended December 31, 2019, for the Company, represented the year in which the implementation of the new projects underlying the strategic development lines of the three-year business plan began. From the point of view of the diversification , because during the year under review, product diversification was not only enhanced but also used, through data analysis, to reach different markets and targets, the latter also within the same market segment, keeping the corporate identity unchanged. Significant events occured after the end of the year Following the end of the financial year, there were no significant events to report. The Company proceeded with normal management activities, which also include the gradual implementation of development projects. Therefore, the continuity of the company's production activities did not change, not even following the Covid-19 epidemiological emergency. Business outlook ? The Company operates in the publishing and information sectors, sectors that were not subject to restrictions by Ministerial Decree and/or Presidential Decree or by regional and/or municipal ordinances issued until the date of this press release. Production activities have, therefore, been carried out with continuity, adopting all the necessary measures to ensure the safety of workers also in compliance with the protocol signed between the Government and the social parties. The Company immediately started a program aimed at organizing the work with the use of the so-called smart working mode applied to all tasks, minimizing the physical presence of workers at the offices and editorial offices. It should be noted that the information sector, remaining among those of primary importance for the country, also in view of the current epidemiological emergency in progress, is not suffering a standstill and/or a significant drop in production and this does not suggest any possibility of deterioration of the company's continuity. It is possible, however, that there may be a temporary reduction in revenues from certain lines, such as the distribution of the new books in the Paper First series on the bookstore channel, or a slowdown in advertising sales due to reductions in the campaigns of investors operating in certain sectors. However, from the volumes of this first quarter of 2020 (and on the basis of pre-accounting data not yet approved by the Board of Directors or reviewed by the independent auditors KPMG S.p.A.), it can be seen that if there were to be a fall in the Company's revenues, it would be reasonable to think that this could in any case be offset by the growth of the number of visits on the website. On this point, it should be noted that the Company has recorded an increase in digital subscriptions due, in particular, to the fact that the Company is offering discounted subscriptions for the limited period due to the current restrictions due to the Covid-19 emergency. Lastly, there was a consolidation of copies sold on newsstands. Notice of call of the Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting and filing of the documentation The Board of Directors resolved to call the ordinary shareholders' meeting to resolve, inter alia, on the approval of the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2019 on 29 April 2020 (on first call) and 12 May 2020 (if necessary, on second call). The documentation required by current regulations will be available at the registered office at Via Sant'Erasmo 2, 00184 Rome, and on the company's website www.seif-spa.it, Investor Relations section, within the terms provided by current regulations. Please note that the draft financial statements have been audited by KPMG S.p.A.. *** SOCIETA? EDITORIALE IL FATTO S.P.A. (SEIF) is an independent media company, founded in Rome in 2009 and led by Cinzia Monteverdi, Chairman and CEO. The company publishes several editorial and multimedia products, including Il Fatto Quotidiano, founded by Antonio Padellaro and directed by Marco Travaglio, the website ilfattoquotidiano.it and the monthly magazine FQ Millennium, directed by Peter Gomez, the publishing company Paper First and the TV and multimedia content platform Loft. Recently, SEIF has undertaken a process of diversification to become more and more a media content provider at 360 degrees, starting a strategy of development of its products in digital key and data driven. For further information Press Office Close to Media - Company founded by Elisabetta Neuhoff Via Caradosso 8 - 20123 Milano Tel: 02.70006237 Fax: 02.89694809 www.closetomedia.it Luca Manzato, Sofia Crosta, Giorgia Cococcioni luca.manzato@closetomedia.it, sofia.crosta@closetomedia.it, giorgia.cococcioni@closetomedia.it Nomad Alantra Capital Markets Via Borgonuovo, 16 - 20121 Milano tel. +39 02 63671613 Stefano Bellavita mail: stefano.bellavita@alantra.com SEIF - Investor relations 06 32818514 Cinzia Monteverdi (CEO) ir@seif-spa.it Luigi Calicchia (CFO) l.calicchia@seif-spa.it Further information In addition to the financial information referred to above, the statement of assets and liabilities, the income statement and the cash flow statement are hereby attached. Ordinary Statement of Assets and Liabilities 31/12/2019 31/12/2018 Assets B) Fixed assets I - Intangible fixed assets - - 1) start-up and capital costs 988,893 588,818 4) concessions, licenses, trademarks and similar rights 24,073 63,833 6) assets under construction and payments on account 807,607 241,515 7) other 4,814,674 3,418,812 Total intangible fixed assets 6,635,674 4,312,978 II - Tangible fixed assets - - 4) other assets 223,703 123,260 Total tangible fixed assets 223,703 123,260 III - Financial fixed assets - - 1) shareholdings in - - b) parent companies 932,939 d-bis) other companies - 712,939- Total shareholdings 932,939 712,939 2) receivables - -- b) receivables from parent companies 121,277 -- d-bis) other receivables 89,882 87,692 due within the next year - 4,034 due after the next year - 83,658 Total receivables 211,159 87,692 Total financial fixed assets 1,144,098 800,631 Total fixed assets (B) 8,003,048 5,236,869 C) Current asset I - Inventories - - 1) raw, subsidiary and consumable materials 174,342 188,320 4) finished products and goods 76,378 91,738 Total inventories 250,720 280,058 II - Receivables - - 1) trade receivables 4,087,782 3,923,629 due within the next year 4,087,782 3,923,629 5-bis) tax receivables 1,027,014 296,496 due within the next one year - 296,496 5-ter) pre-paid taxes 798,216 264,116 5-quater) from third parties 328,082 276,225 due within the next one year 328,082 276,225 Total receivables 6,241,094 4,760,466 III - Financial assets not of a fixed nature - - 6) other assets 598,328 598,142 Total financial assets not of a fixed nature 598,328 598,142 IV - Cash and cash equivalents - - 1) bank and postal deposit 538,023 2,211,105 3) cash at bank and in hand 2,412 709 Total cash and cash equivalents 540,435 2,211,814 Total current assets (C) 7,630,577 7,850,480 D) Accrual and deferred income 240,303 104,021 Total assets 15,873,928 13,191,370 Liabilities A) Shareholders' equity 4,147,123 2,722,067 I - Share capital 2,500,000 2,500,000 IV - Legal reserve 500,000 500,000 VI - Other reserves, indicated separately - - Extraordinary reserve 3,694,856 3,694,856 Total other reserve 3.694,856 3,694,856 VIII - Profit (loss) carried forward 35,407 - IX - Profit (loss) of the year (1,492,384) 35,407 X - Negative reserve for purchase of own shares (1,090,756) (4,008,196) Total shareholders' equity 4,147,123 2,722,067 B) Provisions for risks and charges 4) other 641,989 763,989 Total for risks and charges 641,989 763,989 C) Employee severance indemnity 2,097,011 1,789,118 D) Payables 7) trade payables 3,718,577 3,161,220 due within the next year 3,718,577 3,161,220 12) tax payables 444,255 412,475 due after the next year 444,255 412,475 13) amounts payable to social security institutions 1,012,179 942,302 due within the next year 1,012,179 942,302 14) other receivables 2.531,000 2,129,611 due within the next year - 2,129,611 Total receivables 7,706,011 6,645,608 E) Accrual and deferred income 1,281,794 1,270,588 Total liabilities 15,873,928 13,191,370 Ordinary Income Statement 31/12/2019 31/12/2018 A) Production value 1) revenues from sales and services 26,767,687 28,334,999 2) variations of inventory of raw and auxiliary materials, consumables and supplies (15,360) 14,500 4) increases in fixed assets for internal works 4,503,896 3,479,835 5) other revenues and income - - other 728,296 209,783 Total other revenues and income 728,296 209,783 Total production value 31,984,519 32,039,117 B) Cost of production 6) for raw and auxiliary materials, consumables and supplies 1,488,422 1,455,995 7) for services 16,251,673 15,264,940 8) for use of assets owned by others 1,490,026 1,180,269 9) for personnel - - a) salaries and wages 7,791,923 7,329,782 b) social security 2,514,242 2,385,500 c) employee severance indemnity 427,072 359,487 e) other costs 244,384 183,701 Total personnel costs 10,977,621 10,294,470 10) amortization, depreciation and impairment - - a) depreciation of intangible fixed assets 3,163,222 2,919,380 b) depreciation of tangible fixed assets 76,730 67,092 Total amortization, depreciation and impairment 3,239,952 2,986,472 11) variations of inventory of raw and auxiliary materials, consumables and supplies 13,978 137,916 12) provisions for risks 35,442 53,240 14) other operating costs 524,076 442,154 Total of cost of production 34,021,190 31,815,456 Difference between value and costs of production (A - B) (2,036,671) 223,661 C) Financial revenues and expenses - - 16) other financial revenues - - a) from receivables recorded as fixed assets - - from affiliated companies 1,277 - Total financial income from receivables recorded as fixed assets 1,277 - c) from securities included under the working capital which are not shareholdings 12,008 29,510 d) revenues different from the previous - - other 3.583 24,443 Total revenues different from the previous 3.583 24,443 Total of other financial revenues 16.868 53,953 17) Interests and financial expenses - - other 6.667 8,771 Total interests and financial expenses 6.667 8,771 17-bis) exchange gains and losses (201) (299) Total financial revenues and expenses (15+16-17+-17-bis) 10.000 44,883 D) Value adjustment on financial assets - - 18) revaluations - - c) of securities included under assets forming part of working capital which are not investments 186 - Total revaluations 186 - Total value adjustments to financial assets (18-19) 186 -- Result before taxes (A-B+-C+-D) (2,026,484) 268,544 20) Current, deferred and prepaid taxes on the income of the year current taxes - 207,703 taxes related to previous years - 18,536 deferred and prepaid taxes (534,101) 6,896 Total current, deferred and prepaid taxes on the income of the year (534,101) 233,137 21) Profit (loss) for the year (1,492,384) 35,407 Cashflow statement, indirect method Amonut at 31/12/2019 Amont at 31/12/2018 A) Cash flows from operating activities (indirect method) Profit (loss) for the year (1,492,384) 35,407 Income taxes (534,101) 233,137 Payable (receivable) interest (10,000) (45,182) 1) Profit (loss) for the year before income tax, interest, dividends and capital gains/losses from conveyances (2,036,485) 223.362 Adjustments to non monetary items that were not offset in the net working capital. Allocation to preserves 541,012 567,507 Depreciation of fixed assets 3,239,952 2,986,472 Other adjustments to increase/(decrease) non-monetary items (186) Total adjustments for non-monetary items that were not offset in the net working capital 3,780,778 3,553,979 2) Cash flow before changing net working capital 1,744,293 3,777,341 Changes in net working capital Decrease/(increase) in inventory 29,338 123,415 Decrease/(increase) in payables to customers (164,153) (821,419) Increase (decrease) in trade payables 557,357 (18,974) Decrease/(Increase) in accrued income and prepayments (125,076) (50,319) Other decreases/(Other increases) in net working capital (279,328) 186,049 Total changes in net working capital 18.138 (581,248) 3) Cash flow after changes in net working capital 1,762,431 3,196,093 Other adjustments Interest received/(paid) 10,000 45,182 (Use of funds) (355,119) (307,560) Total other adjustments (345,119) (262,378) Cash flow from operating activity (A) 1,417,312 2,933,715 B) Cash flow from investment activity Tangible fixed assets (Investments) (177,173) (80,754) Intangible assets (Investments) (5,485,491) (3,990,963) Financial fixed assets (Investments) (343,467) - Divestitures 32,000 Not fixed financial assets Divestitures 3,123,858 Cash flow from from investiment activity (B) (6,006,131) (915,859) C) Cash flow from financing activity Own resources Transfer/(purchase= of own shares 2,917,440 (1,400,000) (Dividends and interim dividends paid) - (1,398,697) Cash flow from financing activity (C) 2,917,440 (2,798,697) Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (A B C) (1,671,379) (780,841) Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year Bank and postal deposits 2,211,105 2,990,644 Money and equivalents on hand 709 2,011 Total of cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 2,211,814 2,992,655 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year Bank and postal deposits 538,023 2,211,105 Money and equivalents on hand 2,412 709 Total cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 540,435 2,211,814 ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: m2prk5acYWrFyZ5paJponGlnbplhxpHHbGXHxmZoaciWmHGRlJlpmJeXZm9jnGxq - 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-0-62774-cos_eng_31032020.pdf The analysts covering Great Portland Estates Plc (LON:GPOR) delivered a dose of negativity to shareholders today, by making a substantial revision to their statutory forecasts for this year. Revenue estimates were cut sharply as the analysts signalled a weaker outlook - perhaps a sign that investors should temper their expectations as well. Following the latest downgrade, the nine analysts covering Great Portland Estates provided consensus estimates of UK95m revenue in 2020, which would reflect a not inconsiderable 14% decline on its sales over the past 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are presumed to shoot up 101% to UK0.45. Previously, the analysts had been modelling revenues of UK108m and earnings per share (EPS) of UK0.48 in 2020. It looks like analyst sentiment has fallen somewhat in this update, with a substantial drop in revenue estimates and a small dip in earnings per share numbers as well. See our latest analysis for Great Portland Estates LSE:GPOR Past and Future Earnings March 31st 2020 Despite the cuts to forecast earnings, there was no real change to the UK8.14 price target, showing that the analysts don't think the changes have a meaningful impact on its intrinsic value. The consensus price target is just an average of individual analyst targets, so - it could be handy to see how wide the range of underlying estimates is. There are some variant perceptions on Great Portland Estates, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at UK9.72 and the most bearish at UK5.87 per share. These price targets show that analysts do have some differing views on the business, but the estimates do not vary enough to suggest to us that some are betting on wild success or utter failure. Looking at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can make sense of these forecasts is to see how they measure up against both past performance and industry growth estimates. These estimates imply that sales are expected to slow, with a forecast revenue decline of 14%, a significant reduction from annual growth of 20% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the same industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 4.7% annually for the foreseeable future. It's pretty clear that Great Portland Estates' revenues are expected to perform substantially worse than the wider industry. Story continues The Bottom Line The most important thing to take away is that analysts cut their earnings per share estimates, expecting a clear decline in business conditions. Regrettably, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and the latest forecasts imply the business will grow sales slower than the wider market. Often, one downgrade can set off a daisy-chain of cuts, especially if an industry is in decline. So we wouldn't be surprised if the market became a lot more cautious on Great Portland Estates after today. With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for Great Portland Estates going out to 2022, and you can see them free on our platform here. Another way to search for interesting companies that could be reaching an inflection point is to track whether management are buying or selling, with our free list of growing companies 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. Seeking more funds for the fight against coronavirus pandemic, the government has appealed to top corporates to make contributions to the PM-CARES Fund New Delhi: Seeking more funds for the fight against coronavirus pandemic, the government has appealed to top corporates to make contributions to the PM-CARES Fund. Donations made to the fund will also be exempt from tax. Corporate Affairs Secretary Injeti Srinivas has made an appeal for contributions to chiefs of the top 1,000 companies in terms of market capitalisation. The corporate affairs ministry, which is implementing the Companies Act, has already clarified that contributions to the fund will qualify as CSR expenditure. "Your contribution to the fund would complement and supplement government efforts towards upscaling the public healthcare infrastructure in the country to meet this unprecedented challenge," Srinivas said in a letter. The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES Fund) has been set up to raise money to deal with any emergency situation like due to COVID-19 and provide relief to the affected. The contribution to PM-CARES Fund will be used for the most critical activities pertaining to COVID-19 such as testing, setting up of isolation wards, procurement of personal protective gear and ventilators. All companies donating to the fund before 31 March, whether in old or new tax structure, will get tax exemption under Section 80G of the I-T Act, the letter said. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak From 1 April, only those companies which have chosen to remain in the old tax structure would get the benefit, it added. On 28 March, the ministry clarified that contributions by companies to the fund would qualify as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure under the companies law. "As you are the chief executive of a highly successful company, I would like to appeal to your company to contribute generously to the PM CARES Fund, which may also include any unspent CSR amount, if applicable," the letter, dated 30 March, said. Even if the prescribed amount of CSR contribution has been made, companies could contribute more which can be later offset against the CSR obligation arising in subsequent years, if desired, it added. Corporates have spent Rs 52,000 crore towards social welfare activities in the last five financial years and now making contributions to the fund would further help them meet their obligations under the companies law, Srinivas said on Sunday. Under the Companies Act, 2013 -- which is implemented by the ministry -- certain classes of profitable corporates are required to shell out at least two percent of their three-year annual average net profit towards CSR activities in a financial year. This provision came into force on April 1, 2014. So far, around 1.8 lakh companies have filed CAR (Company Affirmation of Readiness towards COVID-19) 2020, affirming their readiness to contribute to contain the spread, morbidity and mortality of the disease. The web form -- CAR is to be filed by an authorised signatory of companies and LLPs concerned. More than 1,250 people have tested positive for coronavirus and the death toll is over 30 in the country. 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 A process that will likely bring an end to Israels Labor Party concluded on March 30. For the moment, Labor has only three members in the current Knesset Chairman Amir Peretz, Itzik Shmuli and Merav Michaeli and various reports indicate that Peretz and Shmuli have reached an agreement with Blue and White Chair Benny Gantz to join the Netanyahu-Gantz government. In exchange, they will probably receive the economic and welfare portfolios. Before the September 2019 election, Peretz swore to voters that he would never participate in a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu. As if to prove his seriousness, he performed the circus-like act, which he considered humorous, of shaving off his trademark bushy mustache. He announced to the nation, That mustache has been with me for 47 years, ever since I was a young armaments officer in the 890th Brigade. After consulting with family over the last few days, I decided to remove my mustache. I called a barber to come to my house, in the hope that the removal of my mustache will be accompanied by the removal of the cloud overshadowing the Labor-Gesher party. I want it to be clear to everyone: I will not join a Netanyahu government. Period. Gantzs decision to join a unity (or emergency) government with Netanyahu, and thus fracture his party, is somewhat defensible. It can be argued that he did not want to put Israel through a fourth round of elections within a year. But what excuse does Peretz have? The coronavirus government will be formed with or without him. There is no real need for him to act on behalf of the people by joining it. Michaeli, unlike her two fellow party members, decided not to be part of a Netanyahu-Gantz government. In a letter to Peretz she wrote, No one knows as well as you that you cannot join a coalition without the approval of the partys governing institutions. Even if the party decides to break its promise to its voters, that is not a decision that the partys Knesset members can make on their own. On the other hand, Michaeli also knows that the die has been cast. The Labor Party, based on the historic Mapai, was the ideological home of the nations founders, including David Ben-Gurion, Moshe Sharett, Golda Meir, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin. Now that party is dead, and it passed without as much as a whimper, in exchange for two relatively minor portfolios. It is a pathetic ending for a party that played such an important role in Israels history. There are those who claim that the Labor Party's historic role came to a close with Rabin's assassination, in 1995, and Netanyahu's subsequent election, in 1996. This resulted in the de-legitimization of Rabins legacy, not to mention the Oslo Accords. What Peretzs defection represents is the end of a Zionist, nationalist left based on values envisioning two states for two peoples. Peretz is an ideologue. He sincerely believes in the ideal of a two-state solution. Labor Party voters did not need the embarrassing antics involving his mustache, because they believed in the political path he had advocated over the past four decades. For instance, in December 2015 Peretz released a three-part diplomatic plan. A two-state solution is possible, he said. We need to want it, but we also need to implement it cautiously, while at the same time acting boldly and candidly. With all supporters of peace working together, we can bring about an end to the conflict and see better days for all of us. After the annual memorial for Rabin in November 2019, Peretz said in a radio interview, It is obvious to everyone that Rabin was killed while he was chairman of the Labor Party. What this means is that I now have responsibility for his legacy. Our activities in [Rabin] Square and my call to everyone to attend are a testament to what is really important, i.e., perpetuating the memory of Yitzhak Rabin and talking about his legacy, which includes the Oslo Accords. By abandoning the peace camp, Peretz also left the Zionist left-wing Meretz battered and bruised. Meretz, party of the late leading leftists Shulamit Aloni and Yossi Sarid, had already lost most of its voters. Concerned that it would be wiped off the political map entirely, it ran with Labor-Gesher in March. Now the party has been cast into the political wilderness. It has no leadership and apparently not much of a vision either. Most of its supporters abandoned its dream of achieving peace with the Palestinians, so the vision now seems hopeless. To make matters worse, this all happened overnight. Netanyahu won because left-wing supporters of the peace camp were never so lost, divided and helpless. Right now, there is only one party still advocating optimistically for a sustainable peace with the Palestinians: the Joint List. When the results of the last election were released, and it looked like the right-wing/ultra-Orthodox bloc had won, Joint List Chairman Ayman Odeh attempted to console left-wing voters who still believed in the promise of peace, telling them that he and his fellow party members now lead the real left. I call on the left not to give up hope or even take account of themselves, Odeh remarked. I call on them to think about partnership and an alternative based on principles, rather than some imaginary alternative. This alternative would be based on the values of real peace, real democracy, real equality between the Jewish and Arab residents of the country, and social justice for all the disempowered and disenfranchised. In the last election, Ahmad Tibi, chairman of the Joint Lists Taal faction, was able to convince Jewish voters to cast their ballots for the party, asserting, We are the true left. Tibi, Odeh, and the other members of the Joint List are now worried that a Netanyahu-Gantz government will forge ahead with the annexation of the Jordan Valley. After all, both men agree that the territory should be annexed. The debate between them revolves around the timing and whether they need President Donald Trumps approval for the move. The Joint List claims that a Netanyahu-Gantz government with Peretz as its newest member would not only ensure that Netanyahu gains immunity, but would also be an annexationist government, effectively putting an end to the dream of one day achieving peace. Can Meretz lead the shattered remains of the Israeli left? Alternatively, could it become part of some new Jewish-Arab partnership? Meretz Knesset member Yair Golan tweeted in frustration, I am also disappointed with the people I thought were my partners and am still digesting the news that they went crawling to Netanyahus embrace. I also think about what lies ahead. It will take a lot of time and effort before we are able to rehabilitate the left, but I promise you that I am more devoted than ever to achieving this. Together, we will build hope. Nevertheless, Meretz cannot ignore that it pushed Issawi Freij, its only Arab Knesset member, to an unrealistic spot on the Labor-Gesher-Meretz list while agreeing to give Orly Levy-Abekasis the number two spot. By doing so, it abandoned the key principles of the left. It will likely pay a price for that. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday that he has ordered the city's human rights commissioner to investigate Amazon's decision to fire a warehouse worker who organized a strike at its Staten Island warehouse. Chris Smalls, a warehouse worker at the facility, known as JFK8, organized a strike on Monday to call attention to the lack of protective measures for workers who continue to be on the job amid the coronavirus outbreak. Smalls claims he was fired by Amazon in retaliation for his decision to organize the strike. Amazon said it dismissed Smalls after he "received multiple warnings for violating social distancing guidelines." "I've ordered the city's commission on human rights to investigate Amazon immediately to determine if that's true," de Blasio said at a news conference Tuesday. "If so, that would be a violation of our city's human rights law and we would act on it immediately." De Blasio added that the New York City Sheriff's Office has inspected JFK8 to make sure it's following social distancing precautions and said that it will "continue to inspect as needed." Some people from Pune who had attended a religious congregation in New Delhi's Nizamuddin area had been traced and were being placed under quarantine, a police official said here on Tuesday night. Some of them were from neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad, he said. "So far none of them has any coronavirus symptoms," said the senior police official on the condition of anonymity. The gathering at Markaz Nizamuddin, the Delhi headquarters of the Tabligh-e-Jamaat, was held earlier this month. The Delhi government on Tuesday said 24 people, who took part in the congregation, have tested positive for coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 22:10:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday afternoon talked with Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad by phone on cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The traditional China-Algeria friendship is profound, Li said, noting that Algeria donated urgently needed medical supplies to China at the early time of its fight against the disease, which highlighted a commitment to going together through thick and thin. The COVID-19 epidemic spreading in the Middle East region poses a huge challenge for Algeria, Li said, adding that China feels keenly for it and stands firmly with Algeria, and that China is willing to provide support within its capacity and share its anti-virus experience. Meanwhile, the Chinese premier expressed the hope for the Algerian side to provide guarantee for the safety and living convenience of the Chinese nationals in Algeria. China is willing to work with Algeria to continue advancing the implementation of their key cooperation projects, he said, expressing belief that bilateral cooperation in various fields will be lifted to a new level after the epidemic is defeated. In the phone conversation, Djerad said it is necessary for countries to help each other and strengthen multilateral collaboration amid the global spread of COVID-19, adding that Algeria appreciates the anti-virus efforts China has made, and that it is grateful for China's sincere help. The Algerian prime minister voiced the hope for continued support from China in medical supplies, equipment and treatment to its fight against the coronavirus. Algeria is satisfied with the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership and is willing to work with China to push forward major bilateral cooperation projects, he said. Two tweets by Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro in which he questioned quarantine measures aimed at containing the novel coronavirus were removed Sunday, on the grounds that they violated the social network's rules. The far-right leader had posted several videos in which he flouted his government's social distancing guidelines by mixing with supporters on the streets of Brasilia and urging them to keep the economy going. Two of the posts were removed and replaced with a notice explaining why they had been taken down. Twitter explained in a statement that it had recently expanded its global rules on managing content that contradicted public health information from official sources and could put people at greater risk of transmitting COVID-19. In one of the deleted videos, Bolsonaro tells a street vendor, "What I have been hearing from people is that they want to work." "What I have said from the beginning is that 'we are going to be careful, the over-65s stay at home,'" he said. "We just can't stand still, there is fear because if you don't die of the disease, you starve," the vendor is seen telling Bolsonaro, who responds: "You're not going to die!" In another video, the president calls for a "return to normality," questioning quarantine measures imposed by governors and some mayors across the giant South American country as an effective containment measure against the virus. "If it continues like this, with the amount of unemployment what we will have later is a very serious problem that will take years to be resolved," he said of the isolation measures. "Brazil cannot stop or we'll turn into Venezuela," Bolsonaro later told reporters outside his official residence. On Saturday, Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta highlighted the importance of containment as a means of fighting the coronavirus, which has already infected 3,904 people in Brazil, leaving 114 dead, according to the latest official figures. "Some people want me to shut up, follow the protocols," said Bolsonaro. "How many times does the doctor not follow the protocol?" "Let's face the virus with reality. It is life, we must all die one day." In the four videos posted on his Twitter account, Bolsonaro is seen surrounded by small crowds as he walked about the capital. Bolsonaro has described the coronavirus as "a flu" and advocated the reopening of schools and shops, with self-isolation necessary solely for the over-60s. The captain of a U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier experiencing a dangerous coronavirus outbreak is pleading with the Navy to let the sailors out of the ships close quarters and into onshore quarantine spaces. In a letter first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle on Tuesday, USS Theodore Roosevelt Capt. Brett Crozier made a rare plea with senior military officials as he grappled with more than 100 of his 4,000-plus sailors having COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, just in the past week. We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset our Sailors, he wrote Monday from off the coast of Guam, where the ship is currently docked. Socially isolating those who are infected is impossible given the ships tight quarters. The USS Theodore Roosevelt has more than 100 COVID-19 cases on board. (US NAVY/Reuters) Due to a warships inherent limitations of space, we are not doing this. The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating, Crozier continued in his four-page letter, which has since been obtained by other mediaoutlets. He is seeking compliant quarantine rooms on shore in Guam for every member of the crew. But acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told CNN Tuesday morning thats not yet feasible. I heard about the letter from Capt. Crozier this morning, he said. I know that our command organization has been aware of this for about 24 hours and we have been working actually the last seven days to move those sailors off the ship and get them into accommodations in Guam. The problem is that Guam doesnt have enough beds right now and were having to talk to the government there to see if we can get some hotel space, create tent-type facilities. Croziers letter comes as more than 170,000 people in the U.S. have tested positive for the virus; more than 3,400 of those have died. A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus Stay up to date with our live blog as we cover the COVID-19 pandemic Europe is facing... Continue reading on HuffPost SOFIA, March 17 (Reuters) - Bulgaria banned all foreign and domestic holiday trips until April 13 on Tuesday as part of efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The Balkan country, with 81 confirmed cases of the new virus and two deaths, has already declared a state of emergency and closed schools, bars and many shops. The temporary holiday ban represents another heavy economic blow for Bulgaria, the EU's poorest member state, which relies on tourism for about 8% of its economic output. Announcing the restrictions, Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova said it would be irresponsible for people to travel for a vacation during the crisis. "It is very hard for me as a tourism minister to say that, but this is very important for the health of the people," she added. Bulgaria has already announced it will forbid people from 15 countries from entering the country, as of Wednesday, and many foreign holidaymakers have cancelled reservations at Bulgarian resorts. Two large winter resorts, Bansko in Pirin and Pamporovo in the Rhodope mountains, closed their ski facilities on Monday after a British tourist in Bansko tested positive for the virus. Two other people in the resort tested positive on Tuesday. Angelkova expressed hope that the situation would improve by the summer, when tourists traditionally flock to Bulgaria's Black Sea resorts, but she warned that bankruptcies in the country's hospitality sector could not be ruled out. "It is impossible for the time being to forecast whether we will have a summer tourism season at all." (Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova; Editing by Pravin Char) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 21:15:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 pandemic is a litmus test of character. While most people are caring for and helping each other during the global public health crisis, a few are callous enough to take advantage of the dire situation for their own agenda. In a recent report by The New York Times, Stephen Bannon, a former White House chief strategist known as a living fossil of the Cold War, went to great lengths to smear China and sell his confrontational take on China-U.S. relations, even exploiting the raging coronavirus disease to alienate the Chinese government from the Chinese people and the world. Bannon couldn't be more cold-blooded. It seems that he only views the ongoing global fight against the pandemic as a geopolitical game. Human lives do not bother him much. Bannon couldn't be more ridiculous. In his eyes, a government that has waged a rigorous battle against a previously unknown disease to protect the life and health of its people, offered timely support to those in need of help around the world, and whose prevention and control efforts have won global recognition is a threat. Bannon couldn't be more desperate. A long-standing far-right radical ideologue, Bannon is using every opportunity he can get to peddle his out-of-date zero-sum theories, without moral or humanitarian scruples whatsoever. Sometimes, many may wonder whether Bannon still lives in the Cold War era and just travels from time to time to the future to scare people with his extremist ideas that belong to the waste bin of history. Bannon is not the only mudslinger against China. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and White House trade advisor Peter Navarro, with their own calculations, are also in the rank of habitual China bashers. As is shown repeatedly, and recently in the U.S.' response to COVID-19, if anything goes wrong, they just blame China. However, no matter how hard they try, they will fail. First, the Bannons have failed to comprehend that the world today is no longer divided into two rival camps along an ideological entrenchment, as in the Cold War years. Rather, the fate of almost everyone has become closely connected. The novel coronavirus pandemic has only exemplified that. Sadly, the geopolitical thinking pattern has fossilized the minds of the Bannon band, and made them unable to see China's development in a rational way. In their eyes, the United States is the world's natural leader, and anyone they deem a challenge or threat needs to be contained. In the old days, it was the Soviet Union and Japan; now, the target is China. As Chinese scholar Xin Jiyan noted in her recently published book "Fake Fear: America and China Relations," "the hostility and isolation of the two countries during the Cold War decades hampered the Americans' understanding of China, leading to stereotypes that prevail to this day." Secondly, the Bannons have failed to grasp that it is normal for two major countries in today's world to cooperate and compete at the same time. Their "de-coupling" theories only serve to do both countries more harm than good. The temporary disruptions to the global supply chains amid the epidemic have to some extent staged a drill of a worldwide economic and trade decoupling, which produces nothing but chaos and the possibility of a global recession. The sober minds in the White House will not miss those monumental risks. Also, the epidemic has actually provided new opportunities to broaden China-U.S. cooperation, notably in the health sector. This is not only in the interest of China and the United States, but also conforms to the common expectation of the whole world. Last but not least, the fact that the Bannons are getting ever more agitated shows that they are increasingly frustrated by the advantage, vitality and potential of the Chinese nation and the country's unique governance system. China's development is unstoppable. Its readiness to join other nations, including the United States, to promote peace and stability worldwide, is undeniable. The ultimate failure of the Bannons' fringe dogmas will be unavoidable. During a telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China-U.S. relations are now at an important juncture, and that both will benefit from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Xi also urged the two sides to work together to boost cooperation in epidemic control and other fields, and develop a relationship of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. It is therefore important for both sides to ward off the disturbance of the Bannons, and jointly steer arguably the world's most important bilateral relationship in the right direction. DECATUR Eighteen tests for COVID-19 are pending in Macon County, officials said Tuesday. The number of confirmed cases remains at two. The county's Crisis Communication Team gives a daily afternoon update about the status of testing. On Tuesday, it said: Thirty-four tests have been completed in Macon County. In addition to the pending and positive results, 14 test results were negative. Eleven Macon County residents have been tested elsewhere. Ten were negative results. One is pending. The first two cases of the disease in Macon County were confirmed Friday night: a woman in her 50s being treated at HSHS St. Mary's Hospital and a man in his 60s who is isolated at his home. Memorial Health System confirmed on Monday that a physician working in Macon County had tested positive and was in isolation. Officials would not comment on whether the physician was the same patient previously announced as being in isolation, but there have been no other confirmed cases in Macon County. The doctor did not have any hospital contact, the health system said. Officials have stressed that people should not rely only on the test results as an indicator of whether, and to what extent, the virus is present in the community. Many people with symptoms do not meet criteria for a test, and the disease can be spread for days before symptoms appear. 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. Statewide, public health officials reported 461 new cases Monday, including seven deaths. Overall, Illinois has 5,057 cases with 73 deaths. New data is expected to be released later this afternoon. Here are other announcements from the Crisis Communication Team: HOSPITALITY EMERGENCY GRANT DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has launched the Hospitality Emergency Grant Program. This is a $14 million grant program to support working capital as well as job training, retraining, and technology to support shifts in operation. (Note: this is a GRANT, not a LOAN, which does not require you to take on debt. Completed applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. April 1 (in a little less than one week). Winners will be chosen via lottery, so a grant is not guaranteed nor awarded on a first come, first served basis. Eligible applicants include: 1. Bars and restaurants with a valid license to serve food or liquor and who generated revenues of less than $1 million in 2019 2. Bars and restaurants that generated between $500K and $1M in revenue in 2019 are eligible for up to $25,000 3. Bars and restaurants that generated less than $500K in revenue in 2019 are eligible for up to $10,000 4. Hotels with a valid license (hotels, motels, other lodging establishments) and who generated revenues of less than $8 million in 2019 5. Hotels that generated less than $8M in revenue in 2019 are eligible for up to $50,000 What can grant funds be used for? 1. For bars and restaurants, based on the businesses needs identified in the grant application, funds can be used to support working capital (rent, payroll, and other accounts payable), job training (such as new practices related to take out, delivery and sanitation) and technology enabling new operations as well as other costs to implement that technology. 2. For hotels, funds can be used as working capital to support the retention of employees. The grant application is live now. The application and full details on the grant can be found here. KEEP SOCIAL DISTANCING "As we begin to feel the warmth of spring and notice sunshine in some of our days, we must still adhere to social distancing best practices to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community," the Crisis Communication Team said. "This means that we must stay in our homes as much as possible while limiting/not allowing outside visitors to enter. Trips should be limited to gathering groceries, medications, or other necessary supplies and going to work if your workplace is deemed essential. "Social gatherings such as barbecues, parties, and playing with friends should be postponed to a later date. While these measures might seem strict or cause sadness or disappointment, we must remember that they are temporary and critical to keep our community as safe and healthy as we possibly can while we face many uncertainties." CROSSING ADJUSTS HOURS Crossing Healthcare has announced that it is adjusting its main clinic hours to aid in the communitys response to COVID-19 while still supporting the needs of its current clients. The main clinic will now be in operation seven days per week from 8 a.m. 6 p.m. Existing Crossing Healthcare patients and those needing to establish care with a provider can call (217) 877-9117 to schedule an appointment. 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. Contact Allison Petty at (217) 421-6986. Follow her on Twitter: @AllisonAPetty 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. With millions of people suddenly out of work and rent due at the first of the month, some tenants are vowing to go on a rent strike until the coronavirus pandemic subsides. On Wednesday, $81 billion in commercial and residential rent will come due across the U.S., and nobody is certain how many tenants will be unable, or simply unwilling, to pay. New York, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and St. Louis are among many cities that have temporarily banned evictions, but advocates for the strike are demanding that rent payments be waived, not delayed, for those in need during the crisis. Without a legal forgiveness of rental payments during the crisis, tenants face the threat of lawsuits or evictions as soon as housing courts reopen, which may happen as soon as mid-June in California and New York. In San Francisco, tenants hang a banner declaring that they are on rent strike due to the coronavirus pandemic. Millions have lost work and are struggling to pay rent 'Our building is in a rent strike 90% of us lost income,' writes this Brooklyn resident. 'Like millions we can't pay rent and afford necessities. Our government officials haven't suspended rent as other countries have.' The residential rent strike idea has taken root across much of North America and as far away as London. White sheets are being hung in apartment windows to show solidarity with the movement that is gaining steam on Twitter, Instagram and other social media sites. Meanwhile, major U.S. retail and restaurant chains, including Mattress Firm, Cheesecake Factory and Subway, are telling landlords they will withhold or slash rent payments, claiming 'force majeure,' or unforeseeable events that prevent fulfillment of a contract. Fliers urging residential tenants to participate in the strike are being posted in several cities, including bus stops in St. Louis, where 27-year-old Kyle Kofron still has his job at an ice cream factory, but his three roommates have suddenly found themselves unemployed. Their property manager so far hasn't agreed to a payment plan, Kofron said. 'For me personally, with everyone losing their jobs and unable to pay, it's really the only thing we can do,' Kofron said of the strike. 'It's just like we the people have to do something. We just can't stand idly by while the system takes us for a ride.' Stay-at-home orders and strict limits on gathering sizes have forced shops, restaurants and bars to shut down indefinitely. Kyle Kofron poses for a photo outside his home in St. Louis. Kofron still has his job at an ice cream factory, but his three roommates are suddenly unemployed due the the coronavirus pandemic. Kofron is advocating for a rent strike during the outbreak These tenants in Madison, Wisconsin are also joining the call for a nationwide rent strike Tenant protection measures by state No state has yet instituted rent suspension or cancellation. CALIFORNIA Executive order to halt evictions for renters and homeowners, slow foreclosures, and protect against utility shutoffs is in place till end of May. FLORIDA The governor is 'considering' an eviction moratorium. ILLINOIS Evictions paused statewide till April 5 and in Chicago till April 15. NEW YORK Three-month eviction moratorium in place until mid-June. Mortgage payment suspension for people out of work for over 90 days Advertisement Many service industry workers thrust into unemployment are living paycheck-to-paycheck in the best of times. Now, many say they don't have the money to pay rent. While the stimulus package passed by Congress should put cash in the pockets of tenants in several weeks, the economic carnage of the pandemic is still unfolding. Jobless claims continue to spike, with economists estimating that 3.3 million Americans filed for unemployment last week. Some politicians have expressed support, if not directly for a rent strike, then for a temporary rent moratorium, including Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. In New York and Los Angeles, the two biggest rental markets in the country, tenants fear that a moratorium on evictions won't be sufficient protection if landlords simply wait until the housing courts to reopen. New York Mayor Bill de Blaiso acknowledged on Monday that many residents are living 'hand-to-mouth' and supported a proposal to allow tenants to use existing security deposits to pay April rent and pay the money back in 30 days. 'You are not alone, hang the white flag to show your neighbors we are not alone and we are getting organized!' say organizers of the rent strike A Google Trends chart shows skyrocketing searches for 'file for unemployment' in recent weeks. Last week some 3.3 million people filed for unemployment in the US De Blasio called on regulators to freeze rent increases in rent stabilized apartments, in which landlords need government approval to raise rents each year. 'For those who are not rent stabilized, I think it makes sense to do some kind of rent moratorium. That also would require State action, but I think it's the right thing to do. There's just so many people who do not have the money to pay,' de Blasio told NY1 on Monday. New York Mayor Bill de Blaiso has now called on the state legislature to pursue a rent moratorium for those who have lost work in the crisis 'Right now, it's crazy to ask people who don't have any income to pay rent,' he added. More than 92,000 people in New York City have signed a petition to demand rent forgiveness during the crisis. In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti has indicated that he views an eviction moratorium as sufficient to address the problem. 'During this crisis, I know many Angelenos are worried about paying rent. If you're able to pay, you should continue to do so,' Garcetti said in a statement. 'But for those of you that arent able to pay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, your City has your back. No one should be evicted because of this emergency.' In New York, the state hit hardest so far by the pandemic, Democratic state Senator Mike Gianaris of Queens introduced a bill that would forgive rent and mortgage payments for 90 days for people and small businesses struggling because of the coronavirus. It has 21 co-sponsors. 'Tenants cant pay rent if they can't earn a living. Let's #CancelRent for 90 days to keep people in their homes during the #coronavirus crisis,' Gianaris said on Twitter. Graffiti demanding 'cancel rent' is seen this week in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn Strike advocates aren't waiting for legislative approval. Activist organizations in many places are leading the push for a strike. A group called Rent Strike 2020 is organizing on the national level. 'Our demands to every Governor, in every state, are extremely simple: freeze rent, mortgage, and utility bill collection for 2 months, or face a rent strike,' Rent Strike 2020's website states. Advocates in St. Louis are encouraging those who can afford rent to join the movement in solidarity with those who can't. Without a large number of participants, landlords will simply evict strikers, said Chris Winston, of For the People STL. In Seattle, these tenants joined the call for a nationwide rent strike on April 1 This sign in Seattle called on all renters to stop making payments, even if they can afford to Others say a rent strike could further worsen the economy if landlords and property managers themselves are forced to default on loans. Some strike advocates have urged banks to suspend requiring payments from landlords and property management companies so that those groups can better absorb their own financial losses from a rent strike or moratorium. Matthew Chase, an eviction attorney in St. Louis County, said property management companies and landlords have employees to pay, utility bills and other costs. A widespread rent strike could force them to lay off their own workers, cut back on property maintenance or even close apartment complexes. Chase cited one client who relies on income from renting a couple of homes. 'She's the big, bad landlord to these rent strike folks,' Chase said. In New Orleans, these tenants called for debt to be cancelled in addition to rent This sign in Atlanta calls for rent to be cancelled as the pandemic crisis continues Nick Kasoff, who lives in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, calls himself a 'small-time landlord.' He had words of warning for anyone refusing to pay their rent. 'Courts are closed, but they won't be closed forever,' Kasoff wrote on Facebook. 'If you choose not to pay rent when you are able, your landlord will be down there filing an eviction the day they open back up.' He continued: 'You will lose your home, ruin your credit, and make it difficult to get any sort of decent housing in the future. A "rent strike" isn't going to liquidate capitalism and make you a homeowner, it's going to demolish your credit and make you homeless.' Advertisement Britons are still not heading government warnings to stay at home to help stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus - despite the lockdown entering its second week. People were spotted out and about on the seafront at Brighton, East Sussex, today as police swooped to send them on their way. Ministers have been accused of sending 'mixed messages' in attempts to encourage the public to alter their routines in the face of the devastating pandemic. Scroll for video People were spotted out and about on the seafront at Brighton, East Sussex, today as police swooped to send them on their way Two people, with one covering his face with a mask, were seen walking along the bustling promenade in the seaside resort One man, who was wearing a surgical glove on his right hand but not his left, sat on a concrete block while pigeons swarmed around him (left). And a policeman scolds on woman on the beach (right) Two women had to be scolded by an officer for sitting on the south coast city's pebbled beach to watch the waves draw in A record-breaking 381 coronavirus deaths and 3,009 cases were declared in the UK on Tuesday, which is Britain's darkest day so far. Yet two women had to be scolded by an officer for sitting on the south coast city's pebbled beach to watch the waves draw in. A family, who were all covering their faces with masks, was seen holding hands and walking along the bustling promenade. One man, who was wearing a surgical glove on his right hand but not his left, sat on a concrete block while pigeons swarmed around him. And a couple drinking energy drinks on a bench appeared to laugh at a policeman as he told them off in front of Brighton Pier. Other officers could be seen pleading with beachgoers to go home as they patrolled the seafront on Tuesday afternoon. A family of six, who were all covering their faces with masks, was seen holding hands and walking along the bustling promenade A couple drinking energy drinks on a bench appeared to laugh at a policeman as he told them off in front of Brighton Pier This officer takes off his hat as he pleads with a man to leave the deserted beachfront at the seaside resort on Tuesday Other officers could be seen pleading with beachgoers to go home as they patrolled the seafront this afternoon (pictured) Despite the lockdown entering its second week today, crowds were still out and about in the seaside city on Tuesday Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesman Christine Jardine called for the Government to clarify its message to the public. Ms Jardine said: 'With police taking wildly different approaches to enforcing social distancing measures and ministers' off-the-cuff remarks adding to the confusion, it's no wonder people are uncertain about what the Government expects of them during this crisis. 'The vast majority are keen to comply with advice and will do whatever it takes to keep themselves and others safe by curbing the spread of the virus. 'However, the Government must make every effort to be absolutely clear about what the expectations are and why they are necessary. 'Mixed messages from ministers only add to the chaos and fuel anxiety.' An officer is seen confronting a person on the pebbled beach as a dog walker strolls past by the sea in the background on Tuesday One man gets a dressing down from a policeman (pictured) for being out and about when a quarantine is in place across the country Police officers patrolled along the beachfront, checking what reasons people had to be out of their homes The comments came after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said people should only go out to shop for food 'once a week' if possible. Mr Shapps told the BBC: 'People know the rules that have been set. Try and shop just once a week - just, you know, just do the essentials not everything else.' But Government guidance states people should shop for essentials 'as infrequently as possible', it does not limit the amount of times a person can shop. Cabinet minister Michael Gove has also told people to limit jogging to 30 minutes. He said: 'I would have thought that for most people, a walk of up to an hour, or a run of 30 minutes or a cycle ride of between that, depending on their level of fitness is appropriate.' Medical staff are pictured wheeling a patient out of an ambulance at St Thomas' Hospital in London on Tuesday. The capital city, home to around nine million people, is at the centre of the UK's crisis Mr Gove said most people were already displaying 'common sense' when it came to following social distancing guidelines. Government guidelines say that 'one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household' is allowed in the current situation. The comments come after some police forces have been accused of heavy-handed tactics in enforcing the lockdown restrictions imposed by the Government. At the beginning of March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted he would shake people's hands. The PM is currently self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus with 'mild symptoms'. The Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, Niall Cody, has said that the government's Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme is not a declaration of insolvency, instead it should be considered a mark of honour This list will be a mark of honour of an employer who's tried to do the right thing. It is not anything akin to a tax defaulters list, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland. Mr Cody said that if a company was continuing to trade and suffering significant impact, you would be recklessly trading, if you didn't apply for the scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to help employers to pay their wages, but also to leave that company and those companies in a position so that when the recovery comes to still be a valid, viable business, he explained. Businesses know how you deal with things, you keep documents, you keep records, we have an ongoing relationship, they send in returns, we will have detailed information from our own systems, I do not anticipate that we will be reviewing many cases at the end of the scheme. However, he did recommend that companies keep documentation that supports their application. If we get through this in three months and you're talking to me in six months time I don't anticipate that we'll be talking about a significant number of cases that will have difficulty, because we've structured it that to qualify you have to be up to date with your PAYE in respect of employees on your pay roll Feb 2020. I think that over time we will see that companies who have applied for this, who've tried to keep their employees on payroll, I think that being published on this list will be a mark of honour. Mr Cody also urged employers to be careful when filling out applications for the scheme. There were 26,000 employers in the scheme already, but hundreds had entered incorrect bank details, he said. This means Revenue is sitting on money that it wants to pay, he said. On Monday 8million was paid to the scheme and 9million will be paid today, Tuesday. The purpose of the scheme is to support employers and leave them in a position so that when the recovery comes, they will still be a valid business, he said. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] On Friday, Jan. 31, a member of the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors submitted his resignation. The following Monday, the appointing entity made up of the county attorney, auditor and treasurer met to receive the resignation, declare a vacancy and call for a special election. The election was set for Tuesday, April 14. All of that seems like a long time ago. On March 3, Woodbury County held a special election to decide a bond issue; it was the first election where we used countywide vote centers. For that election, we opened 13 polling places in Sioux City and 15 polling places in rural Woodbury County. The use of vote centers allows voters to choose any of the polling places to cast their ballot. At this election, there were 3,126 absentee ballots cast and 4,829 cast at polling places for a total of 7,955 total voters. We employed 92 precinct election officials for that election; the vast majority of these folks are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. On March 11, the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic and on March 13 President Donald Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency. On March 17, Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a state of public health disaster emergency proclamation and on the same day the Woodbury Board of Supervisors passed a motion to limit access to the courthouse by appointment only. While planning for the April 14 special election, we processed this information as we received it and made the decision to essentially conduct it as a vote-by-mail election. We decided to send every active voter a postage-free, personalized absentee ballot request form and to limit our polling places to two vote centers, thereby reducing the number of precinct election officials to 14. We also decided to send request forms to voters who are registered in health care facilities because we are not allowed to send teams into these facilities to assist these voters; activity directors will have to assist them. Iowa law requires each request form to have the voters name, date of birth, address, voter verification number and the name and date of the election. The voter verification number was recently added as a requirement and is defined as the voters drivers license number, nonoperator identification card number or the voters identification number (PIN) assigned by the state commissioner of elections. We designed our postcard to capture this information. Our mailing, 56,163 pieces, was delivered to the Sioux Falls mail processing center on March 19 and the very next day Secretary of State Paul Pate issued a directive to postpone the election to Tuesday, July 7. His directive tells us that we shall accept and fulfill the requests we receive for this rescheduled election and all ballots that we receive shall be counted in accordance with Iowa law. The personalized postcard request forms we sent, even with the wrong date for the election, are still valid and will be honored. If you are not comfortable sending the postcard with the required information, please place it in an envelope and send it to us. We are required by law to offer in-person absentee voting and it will be open for this election starting June 8 at our office in the courthouse and will be by appointment only; immediate appointments are available by calling our office upon arrival at the courthouse. We are asking that voters limit this activity to those who absolutely cannot cast their ballot by mail and need some sort of assistance, including the use of our accessible voting equipment. On election day, July 7, we also ask that the same parameters are observed. Please protect yourselves, our staff and our precinct election officials by voting at home. We plan to operate under the same conditions for the primary election to be held on June 2. The secretary of state has declared that absentee voting for that election will start April 23, with in-person absentee starting May 4. We plan to send a mailing for that election around May 1. We will no longer be using a postcard; the mailing will include a business reply envelope to place your request form in and send it to us in a more secure method. We again ask that you make every effort to stay at home and vote at home for these elections. Editor's note: Tuesday Topic is a weekly Opinion page feature. Each Tuesday in this space, local, regional and state writers will discuss issues in the news. If you have an idea for a Tuesday Topic, please contact Editorial Page Editor Michael Gors at 712-293-4223 or mike.gors@lee.net. Pat Gill is Woodbury County auditor. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 New Delhi: The number of people who died due to coronavirus across the world has exceeded 37 thousand. There are 7,84,314 total infected people worldwide. This number has reached around 1200 in India. So far, 32 people have died due to coronavirus in India. There are frequent studies on coronavirus infection. So that more and more information about this virus can be prepared and its vaccine can be prepared. Nizamuddin Corona case: People of Tabhligi Jamat tells lie to get visa of India In the United States, the incidence of coronavirus infection has almost doubled in China. The situation in Germany is also similar, but looking at the statistics of Germany, the death rate is very low here. Do you know what is the reason behind the low mortality rate here? Does India need to learn from this? In Germany, the death rate in the case of corona is only 0.9% which is the lowest among all the countries of the world. In Italy, where the death rate is 11.0%, it is 1.8 percent in a strong country like America. King of Thailand fled to Germany amid Corona crisis According to experts, the death rate in Germany is so low because of its extensive testing. In other countries, only those people are being tested in which symptoms of corona are being found, whereas in Germany, a comprehensive method is being adopted for this. This means that Germany is currently the fifth most transitioned country in the world. However, the mortality rate may vary from country to country, which is entirely based on testing. Testing depends on the diagnosis and treatment of your disease. In Germany, adults over 60 years of age have less population. The median age of patients infected with corona in Germany is 47. This means that Germany did not allow its older people to be infected, as it was in some other countries. The Germans were completely banned at the exit of the elderly. This is why the death rate in Germany is low. India needs to learn from this. BHU makes Corona test kit, accurate and inexpensive test can be done in just four hours Amazon is at the forefront of the new-type coronavirus pandemic, delivering essential goods while more than half the population faces government stay-at-home orders, Reuters reported. Nevertheless, there is news that hundreds of thousands of warehouse employees in the US became infected with the coronavirus. The company said that all necessary preventive measures had been taken, and the health and safety of their employees was a priority. News of COVID-19 infection caused concern among employees. Fifteen workers at an over 5,000-person Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, New York, walked off the job on Monday, leading the company to fire one of them who was violating a paid quarantine. And employees of company subsidiaries in several other countries held protests this week. According to logistics consultancy MWPVL International Inc, Amazon has 519 facilities in its US distribution infrastructure including fulfillment centers, delivery stations, and warehouses. Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty In a private conversation with President Donald Trump during the rapid acceleration of the coronavirus pandemic, Chinas leader Xi Jinping went out of his way to deploy one of the most effective diplomatic maneuvers of the current American era: aggressive flattery. In a phone call to discuss the international health crisis last week, Xi stressed to Trump how decisive, strong, and successful he feels his U.S. counterparts public-health and economic responses have been, two U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter said. The flattery came at a time when Trump was continuing to experience a deluge of criticism for his administrations response to the pandemic. It also came as some of the American presidents most prominent officials were still engaged in a multipronged campaign to castigate the Chinese government for an alleged coronavirus cover-up and to rebrand the illness as the Chinese virus and the Wuhan virus. Trump had begun incorporating that language into his public utterances, framing the pandemic as a war whose origins were in China. But lately, he has softened his tone and adopted a more deferential stance toward Xiwhom he routinely calls his good friend and an incredible guy going out of his way to compliment and excuse Beijing for its response to the virus, and to even publicly shrug off new reporting on Chinas disinformation apparatus in the midst of the pandemic. Chinas Coronavirus Keeps Spreading but the WHO Still Wont Declare a Global Emergency In the past few days, Trump has also told multiple officials that Xi has assured him that the Chinese government wouldnt lie about the numbers of reported cases of coronavirus currently coming out of the epicenter of the outbreak, Wuhan, two sources familiar with the comments said. For a long time, the president has enjoyed an epic bromance with Xi, a senior administration official said. If I were them, I would be doing the same thing. Why wouldnt you try to leverage that relationship with a [U.S.] president who goes on TV so many times to say how great he thinks your guy [Xi] is. Story continues The presidents messaging on Xi and China appears to have trickled down to other parts of the federal government as well. According to two senior Trump administration officials, the State Department has also toned down the tough talk on Beijing for not revealing its coronavirus case numbers sooner. In recent cables, it appears the department is also no longer calling the virus the Wuhan virus and is instead referring to it as COVID19 or simply COVID. As one senior Trump official told The Daily Beast: Theres an understanding that the departmentand the administration as a wholeis going to back away from that terminology. It is a fairly jarring turn. Just earlier this month, the State Department had transmitted a cable that included a section detailing National Security Council Top Lines and official talking points on the [Peoples Republic of China] Propaganda and Disinformation on the Wuhan Virus Pandemic. The State Department did not return a request for comment. But the shift comes as White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, along with the State Department and FEMA, set up the deliveries of essential medical supplies and protective gear from U.S. health-care distributors based in China. The new tone is particularly notable since, for weeks, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had accused Chinas leaders of contributing to the global spread of the virus because they took too long to warn the rest of the world of its spread and silenced health-care workers who tried to speak out about it. In his remarks to the press, Pompeo has continuously referred to the coronavirus as the Wuhan virus and brushed off suggestions that such a term was racist. Beijings leaders pushed back on the designation, claiming that the terms are xenophobic and inaccurate now that the virus has spread to dozens of countries across the world. Grim Scenes at Chinese Hospitals as Doctors Rush to Treat Deadly Coronavirus We condemn the despicable practice of individual U.S. politicians eagerly stigmatizing China and Wuhan by association with the novel coronavirus, disrespecting science and WHO, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a recent briefing. The international society has a fair judgment, and Pompeos attempts of slandering Chinas efforts in combating the epidemic is doomed to fail. According to cables reviewed by The Daily Beast, China launched a campaign to discredit the Trump administration's use of the term Wuhan virus. Dr. Zhong Nanshan, a respiratory disease expert widely respected by the Chinese public for his work on both SARS and the coronavirus, has been quoted widely by state-media outlets questioning the origin of COVID-19, the cable said. At a March 18 press conference at Guangzhous First Affiliated Hospital, Zhong again said there was no evidence indicating the virus originated in Wuhan, adding that it would be irresponsible to make conclusions about the origin of COVID-19 without further information. It all amounts to a concession to Beijing from Trumpworld, which for a year has made alleged submissiveness to Chinaparticularly on trade policya major political talking point against the presidents likely 2020 Democratic presidential rival. Joe Biden, incredibly, dismisses China as an economic competitor, so its little wonder that while Biden was in office he welcomed Chinas rise and sat back and watched as the Chinese ate Americas lunch, Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said last year. The president himself has routinely claimed that hes so tough on China that Beijing desperately wants Biden to win in November, insisting that China wants Sleepy Joe BADLY! Senior Trump officials and Capitol Hill lawmakers, alarmed by the recent change of tone in the administrations public-facing relationship with China, are still pushing for Pompeo and the president to continue to counter Chinas disinformation campaign, according to one official working on China policy. And on that front, Foggy Bottom still appears to be complying. Two officials with knowledge of the cables told The Daily Beast that the State Department was asking foreign countries to track Chinese disinformation efforts. One State Department cable said the Peoples Republic of China was pushing out stories that focused on preventing a second wave of outbreaks from imported cases. 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. " " Circuses have experienced many permutations and adaptations since the first one centuries ago. Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images I wonder if it would surprise 18th century Britons to hear circuses described as "traditional" versus "offbeat." After all, the modern circus has always been a little countercultural. While it might attract audience members from all walks of life and social statuses, it certainly showcased the kind of performers that were considered "alternative," in their times and perhaps it still does. The circuses we'll look at take the concept of the old Barnum-and-Bailey-Ringling-Bros. circus and either tweak it just a bit or turn it completely on its (hair-hanging, gravity-defying) head. We'll start with a circus that originated as a bit of an eccentric take, and later became one of the most popular live shows around. Step right up, ladies and gentleman, to learn all about the exotic Canadian circus that would become the Circus of the Sun. (Or something like that.) Latest News Understanding the 'perfect storm' that was the Sydney property market in 2021 Leading expert reflects on the crazy year that brokers and buyers experienced and throws forward to the 12 months to come How to manage home buyer regret Tips for brokers on how they can keep their clients onside once they have bought A non-bank lender has accelerated the rollout of the digital verification of identity (VOI) solution it began trialling last year given the unprecedented measures recently introduced around the COVID-19 pandemic. Liberty Financial has enlisted the aid of legal and compliance innovator, MaxID, which has recorded a spike in demand for its identity verification services for mortgages and conveyancing transactions. After successfully completing a pilot of MaxIDs VOI for home loans in 2019, Liberty began to implement the service to improve customer experience and remove the VOI burden otherwise born by brokers. Now, with the current social distancing rules around COVID-19, this process has been expedited. Accelerating the rollout gives great outcomes to lenders, borrowers and brokers during this unsettling time, said Fraser Todd, co-founder of MaxID. The MaxID solution requires no physical contact between a broker, their client or lender. By using MaxIDs legal services, brokers and lenders can arrange for safe harbour compliant identity verification to be completed anywhere in Australia with internet connectivity 24/7. Critically, given the current social distancing requirements, the interview can be conducted at home or at a location of the borrowers choice. Caesar Ibrahim, head of residential operations at Liberty, explained that the ability to provide digital VOI became business critical over a very short period of time. Quickly adapting so we could continue to support customers and brokers during this challenging time, and help those most in need, was our top priority, he said. Our main focus is to keep our loan applicants and broker network safe, while also achieving regulatory compliance. The MaxID solution was easily integrated into our existing business processes and has proved user-friendly. We were pleased that this service could be adopted with the same speed and agility that our team had to display to provide a seamless transition for customers and brokers, Ibrahim concluded. The California wines every collector wants to have in their cellar From the estate that brought California to the forefront of the wine world to wines of an Austrian emigre who eschews convention these are the names that excites connoisseurs of California wine. 1 Chateau Montelena One of the regions most collectible wines Mixed California. 6 bottles. Estimate: $600-1000. Offered in Fine & Rare Wines Including Two Outstanding Private Collections on 18 January-1 February 2022 at Christie's Online The estate that brought California to the forefront of the wine world is not surprisingly one of the most collectible from the region. Even before the 1976 Judgment of Paris, when Chateau Montelenas 1973 Chardonnay was rated above all other wines (including four of Burgundys finest), this forward-thinking producer has been crafting classically styled, age-worthy wines. Montelena is one of the most European-style wines, crafted in the image of the great wines of Bordeaux. In great vintages, it is one for the long haul, but when the tannins do soften out and yield, the elegance and grace of Montelena sets it apart. 2 Heitz Cellars Napas most acclaimed vineyard Mixed Heitz Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon. 10 bottles. Estimate: $2,000-$3,000. Offered in Fine & Rare Wines Including Two Outstanding Private Collections on 18 January-1 February 2022 at Christie's Online Heitz is a legend that has helped shape the history and notoriety of California winemaking, including the introduction of Napas first vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon, the globally celebrated Marthas Vineyard. It is arguably the single-most acclaimed vineyard in the Napa Valley, an icon since the first vintage in 1966. The wines produced at Heitz are truly individual in nature, with structure and character to age beautifully for decades. 3 Screaming Eagle The 'cult' classic Screaming Eagle 1997. 3 bottles. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Offered in Fine & Rare Wines Including Two Outstanding Private Collections on 18 January-1 February 2022 at Christie's Online One of Californias original cult wines, Screaming Eagle sits perennially atop lists of Californias most expensive wines. This small production estate, which had its first vintage in 1992, shocked the wine world when in 2000, a 6 Liter bottle of the 92 vintage sold for $500,000 at Auction Napa Valley. 4 Harlan One of the best expressions of California Cabernet Mixed Harlan Estate. 2 bottles. Estimate : $800-$1,200. Offered in Fine & Rare Wines Including Two Outstanding Private Collections on 18 January-1 February 2022 at Christie's Online Its only fitting that Napas First Growth should be one of the most collectible producers from the New World. From its Estate red to The Maiden, each vintage surpasses expectation in terms of balance and finesse. Harlans prime location on some of the better elevations and soils in the Oakville region gives it one of the best expressions of California Cabernet. Its a truly impressive wine, often fetching 100-point scores and boundless praise. As far as a safe bet for longevity goes, Harlan is as good as it gets. 5 Eisele Vineyard The vineyard once known as Araujo Estate Mixed Araujo Estate, Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005. 2 bottles, 1 magnum. Estimate: $600-$1,000. Offered in Fine & Rare Wines Including Two Outstanding Private Collections on 18 January to 1 February 2022 at Christie's Online Formerly known as Araujo Estate, Eisele Vineyard had originally been planted in the 1880s to Zinfandel and Riesling, while its first Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted in 1964. The vineyard has a rich history of producing excellent wines for several top tier California producers including Joseph Phelps and Ridge, but its cult status was cemented when the Araujos began bottling the Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon in 1991. Its wines invariably express the exceptional depth, elegance and longevity which are hallmarks of the Eisele Vineyard. 6 Opus One A staple in any serious collectors cellar Mixed Opus One. 4 bottles. Estimate: $800-$1,200. Offered in Fine & Rare Wines Including Two Outstanding Private Collections, on 18 January-1 February 2022 at Christie's Online The realisation of the shared dream of Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Opus One is a staple in any serious collectors cellar. Mixing elements of classical European and contemporary style, in winemaking and architecture, Opus One produces only two wines: Opus One and a second wine, Overture, made of the fruit that doesnt quite make the cut. At the inaugural Napa Valley Wine Auction in 1981 a case sold for $24,000 a price that was unheard of a the time. 7 Colgin Cellars One of the greatest wine estates in the world Mixed Colgin. 3 bottles. Estimate: $600-$1000. Offered in Fine & Rare Wines Including Two Outstanding Private Collections on 18 January-1 February 2022 at Christie's Online Founded in 1992, Colgins vineyards are among the best hillside plots in the Napa Valley; the oldest of which is Tychson Hill. The vineyard was owned Josephine Tychson in the late 19th-century, who was first woman to build a winery in the Napa Valley. It was removed during Prohibition and rediscovered by founder Ann Colgin in the mid-1990s. In 2005, Robert Parker named Colgin, One of the Fifty Greatest Wine Estates in the World. 8 Ridge Wines from historic vineyards throughout the state Mixed California Cabernet Sauvignon. 2 bottles and 2 magnums. Estimate: $500-$800. Offered in Fine & Rare Wines Including Two Outstanding Private Collections on 18 January-1 February 2022 at Christie's Online From the slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Ridges flagship Monte Bello is recognised as having helped to change the perception of California wine with the success of the 1971 vintage at the 1976 Judgment of Paris. It also took first place in the 30th-anniversary re-tasting. Though Cabernet is a sure bet, the Zinfandel is equally impressive in terms of structure, length and age-ability. Its estate in Lytton Springs, Sonoma, is an exceptional piece of ground, and it consistently produce wines that are cellar-worthy yet understated and sophisticated. 9 Marcassin The best that Sonoma has to offer Mixed Marcassin Chardonnay. 10 bottles. Estimate: $1,800-$2,600. Offered in Fine & Rare Wines Including Two Outstanding Private Collections on 18 January-1 February 2022 at Christie's Online French for young wild boar, Marcassins wines are undoubtedly among the best that Sonoma has to offer. They regularly hold their own against their Burgundian counterparts in the minds of critics and connoisseurs. Winemaker Helen Turley, who was recently inducted into the California Hall of Fame, perfected her craft at other famed California estates including Turley, Peter Michael, Bryant Family, and Colgin. 10 Sine Qua Non Part of a highly collectible tradition Mixed Sine Qua Non 2014. 5 bottles Estimate: $900-$1,300. Offered in Fine & Rare Wines Including Two Outstanding Private Collections on 18 January-1 February 2022 at Christie's Online Iconoclast vintner Manfred Krankl has a seemingly never-ending waiting list for his Sine Qua Non wines, which hail from some Californias lesser-known wine regions and are predominantly made from Rhone varietals. Sine Qua Non has a unique and highly collectible tradition, in which each wine has a distinct name, label and occasionally bottle style. Each label is designed by Krankl, often with linocut artwork of his own creation. A study of women who experienced mental ill-health from a hormonal contraception indicates they value their mental well-being higher than a satisfactory sex life. Their experiences can influence their choice of contraception. This is one of four themes that researchers have identified in interviews with 24 women who experience negative effects of some hormonal contraception. The study, from Linkoping University in Sweden, has been published in the European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care. Gynaecologist Agota Malmborg often sees women who experience negative effects on sexual desire or mental health from hormonal contraception methods, such as pill, patch and ring. Questions of sexual undesired effects have been examined previously, but it has not been established whether female sexual function is directly linked with the hormones used in contraceptives, nor how advice should be formulated for the women who experience undesired effects. In the present study, recently published in the European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, Agota Malmborg and her colleagues have examined in depth the significance of problems for the women and their choice of contraceptive method. The researchers carried out extensive interviews with 24 women who had described in a previous questionnaire that they experienced a reduced sexual desire when using hormonal contraception. Four themes were identified. Women who experienced a negative effect on mood from hormonal contraception described this as an important experience that was more significant than any negative effect on their sexual desire. Women who had experienced a worsening of their mental health were reluctant to try hormonal contraception again. Most of the women said that it took time and experience, not only of the use of hormones but also of the natural cycle of menstruation and its variation, in order for them to gain a better understanding of the body's interactions between hormones, sexual function and mental state. Another theme that the researchers identified concerned some women who experienced that hormonal contraception affected their sexual function. These women described how their body and genital area did not respond to stimuli, such as caresses, suggestive actions by another, and thoughts. Even though the women were ready for sexual activity, their body felt inaccessible, which in turn reduced their sexual desire. "This was a new insight for us - that sexual desire starts not only in the head or as a response to, for example, caresses. It is also necessary that conditions in the genital area are beneficial. Some women described how the genital area became more swollen and mucous secretions became more fluid when ovulation occurred, and they experienced this as positive for their sexual desire. These women felt that they lost this ability when using hormone-based contraception", says Agota Malmborg. She is gynaecologist at Kvinnokliniken Ryhov in Jonkoping and defended her doctoral thesis at Linkoping University in December 2019. The study also made it clear that an advisor, who is most often a midwife, plays an important role and can make a huge difference on how women experience these effects. An advisor can hasten the process of a woman coming to insight into which method of contraception is most suitable, and can make her choice of method easier. In contrast, less satisfactory advisory sessions can delay insight. "It is extremely important to follow up whether a woman is satisfied with the method chosen. This is particularly important for young women, who are at the start of their sexual life, and have not yet gained experience of how their own hormones, sexual desire and mental health can vary", says Agota Malmborg. She believes that further research in the field should focus on women who experience negative effects of hormonal contraception. Is it, for example, possible to predict which women run an increased risk of being affected? "We must continue to work on which recommendations for contraception the healthcare system should give to the relatively small subgroup of women who experience undesired effects from hormonal contraception. This should also be a signal to researchers to continue to develop new methods of contraception, both with and without hormones, such that a wider range becomes available. Thus, we hope that more women, and indeed more men, can find a method that is suitable for them", says Agota Malmborg. ### The study has been carried out at the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (which at the time was the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine), in the Division of Children's and Women's Health. It is included in Agota Malmborg's doctoral thesis: "Happy with the method? Sexual function changes in young women using contraception", published at the end of 2019 at Linkoping University. The article: "Sexual Function Changes Attributed to Hormonal Contraception Use - a Qualitative Study of Women Experiencing negative Effects", Agota Malmborg, Louise Brynte, Gabriella Falk, January Brynhildsen, Mats Hammar and Carina Bertero, 2020, Eur. J. Contracept. Reprod. Health Care, published online March 27 2020, doi: 10.1080/13625187.2020.1736545 Link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13625187.2020.1736545 Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 03:13:47|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a televised address to the nation in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 30, 2020. Erdogan on Monday said a total of 39 locations across the country are put under quarantine due to the rising number of confirmed cases for COVID-19. (Xinhua) ISTANBUL, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said a total of 39 locations across the country are put under quarantine due to the rising number of confirmed cases for COVID-19. "Currently, 39 villages and neighborhoods across the country are under quarantine," Erdogan said at a televised address to the nation. He once again urged Turkish people to perform personal quarantines to help curb the fast-growing spread of the virus. "The more our citizens keep themselves at home through voluntary quarantines, the shorter the process of returning our lives to normal," he said. The president also explained the reason behind the Turkish government not declaring a nationwide curfew is to ensure the continuity of production to support export and the supply of basic needs. He urged the companies that would continue production to take necessary precautions to protect the health of their employees. Meanwhile, he noted that Turkey has been opening new hospitals while strengthening the existing ones in line with the requirements of the outbreak of COVID-19. "We are planning to open our Ikitelli City Hospital in Istanbul in May with a bed capacity of 2,682," he said, noting that Goztepe City Hospital, with 1,000-bed capacity, will be one of the most modern hospitals in the country when completed in September in Istanbul. Erdogan also launched a National Solidarity Campaign to collect money for those who have been passing through a difficult time due to the outbreak. "I am inaugurating the campaign personally by donating my salary of this month," he said. The Turkish leader also noted that Turkey would send some aid supplies to Spain within a few days. "Similarly, through the Turkish Red Crescent, we shipped some relief materials to Italy, which was also going through a troubled period," Erdogan said. The death toll from the virus in Turkey climbed to 168, and the confirmed cases totaled 10,827 on Monday, according to the latest figures of the Health Ministry. By Tom Arnold LONDON (Reuters) - Plans to provide debt relief to lower-income countries could increase the risk of default if payment obligations to private sector creditors were restructured, credit-rating agencies warned on Tuesday. In a bid to help the poorest countries struggling with the effects of the coronavirus, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have urged official bilateral creditors to provide debt relief. But both Fitch and Moody's warned that any linking of official debt relief to restructuring of private-sector debt could qualify as a distressed debt exchange, triggering a move to restrictive default, Fitch said. If relief were applied only to debt held by official creditors it would not be counted as a default, Fitch said. It would offset rising liquidity pressures on weaker frontier-market sovereigns, acting as positive for their credit, Moody's said in a note. But Moody's warned: "The lack of clarity so far around potential private-sector participation suggests a heightened risk of delay to debt service payments, which could constitute defaults under our definition." In a joint statement, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund last week called on official bilateral creditors to immediately suspend debt payments from International Development Association (IDA) countries, which are home to a quarter of the worlds population. France added its support for the move, with Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire saying on Tuesday that France would seek a debt moratorium for the poorest countries. Goldman Sachs said in a note this week that IDA countries, those with a GDP per capita below US$1,175 in the fiscal year 2020, made up around 10% of the JPMorgan Emerging Market Bond Index. Zambia and Sri Lanka would in particular stand to benefit from the move, it said. Moody's said Ghana, Pakistan, Zambia, Mongolia and Sri Lanka were among those suffering from a sharp drop in economic activity because of the coronavirus, a collapse in commodity prices, strained government revenue and market dislocation, threatening their debt sustainability. But it added risks from the crisis went beyond frontier markets subject to the initiative to encompass emerging markets such as Turkey and Tunisia most reliant on foreign currency debt. (Reporting by Tom Arnold, editing by Larry King) First came a slight fever. Then chills, then aches. Then, a week after she returned to Auburn on spring break from SUNY New Paltz, Anna Streeter lost her senses of smell and taste. The 20-year-old didn't think she had coronavirus, or COVID-19. She had never heard of people losing those senses as a symptom. But two days after she did, Streeter learned she had indeed tested positive for the virus that's become a worldwide pandemic. She was the second of four confirmed cases in Cayuga County so far. Since then, Streeter has made a full recovery. She was released from mandatory isolation on March 27, her symptoms gone. She feels back to normal today. But as the pandemic continues, she shared her story with The Citizen in hopes of helping the community understand the virus and the measures officials are taking to control it. "People who have the virus do not show all the common symptoms," Streeter said. "If you are experiencing no sense of smell and taste, and have no other symptoms at all, I would recommend staying isolated and getting a test if possible." Coronavirus testing in Cayuga County: How it works and why everyone won't be tested You have the symptoms of the coronavirus a cough, fever, shortness of breath or a sore throat. The only way of confirming whether you've con Streeter said she caught COVID-19 at New Paltz, where she is a sophomore. A few days after her symptoms emerged, she received an email from the Hudson Valley college telling her she had been exposed to a professor who tested positive for the virus. Even before the email, Streeter said, her doctor and family encouraged her to get tested for COVID-19 based on her fever, chills and aches. The possibility was in the back of her mind, but she thought it was more likely a cold. She took the test anyway. While many have encountered difficulty taking it, Streeter said it was easy for her, as her doctor happened to have tests available. A few days after the test, she lost her senses of smell and taste. Then, late in the evening of March 21, Streeter learned she had tested positive. "I was pretty shocked," she said. "I didn't let myself believe that I actually had this virus that was affecting and killing so many people." She was contacted by the Cayuga County Health Department the next day. The department wanted to know Streeter's symptoms, she said, and anyone she had been in direct contact with recently. As a result, her parents have been placed in quarantine in Auburn until April 7, and three of her friends from New Paltz have been quarantined for two weeks as well. Neither her parents nor her friends have shown any symptoms, Streeter said. Her own quarantine took effect retroactively on March 14, when she first showed symptoms. Through her release on March 27, she was phoned daily by a nurse with the county, who asked Streeter what symptoms she was showing and whether she had the food and cleaning supplies she needed. A county employee also visited her house every day to make sure she and her parents were confining themselves there. Cayuga County Public Health Director Kathleen Cuddy said individuals who violate orders of mandatory isolation or quarantine will be brought before a judge for a supplemental court order. Depending on the case, the individual could return home with security paid for by the county. If they violate the court order, they could go to jail. But there has yet to be a violation of the county's isolation or quarantine orders, Cuddy added. "Fortunately, we have very informed and cooperative citizens who want to do the right thing," she said. When her quarantine ended, Streeter received a letter from the county saying she's no longer under any travel restrictions. She's read that her recovery could mean she's now immune to COVID-19, but she's not taking any chances. She'll remain home, staying busy with her studies. Like other campuses in the SUNY system, New Paltz has shifted to distance learning for the rest of the spring semester. So Streeter is continuing her coursework in communication disorders online, and hopes to become a speech-language pathologist after graduating. What Streeter won't do is risk spreading the virus that turned her world upside down for two weeks. Though her symptoms weren't serious, and she never feared for her life, she understands that not everyone will be so lucky with COVID-19. "Even if you think you feel OK and continue to go out, be mindful of the other people who may be at serious risk because of your actions," she said. Lake Life Editor David Wilcox can be reached at (315) 282-2245 or david.wilcox@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @drwilcox. 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 Alamo City was slated to take center stage at this years San Antonio Book Festival, with many of the featured works set here. This was my eighth year of programming the festival, and every year, we have maybe one or two books about San Antonio, said Clay Smith, literary director for the event. I dont know what was going on this year maybe there was something in the water but there were all these books about San Antonio. The books include The Taco Magician and Other Poems for Kids/El Mago de los Tacos y Otros Poemas Para Ninos, ($9.95, Arte Publico Press), Diane Gonzales Bertrands bilingual poetry collection for youngsters inspired by her experiences growing up in San Antonio, as well as those of her children, and Otro/Patria ($15, self-published), a fiery poetry collection by the one-named writer Chibbi exploring various aspects of otherness. The festival, which was to have taken place this weekend, had to be shelved because of the coronavirus pandemic. Rescheduling an event with more than 125 authors simply wasnt possible, Smith said, though the fundraising lunch that is key to keeping the festival going was moved to Nov. 30. And plans are being made for the 2021 edition mark your calendars for April 10. Well come back stronger than ever, Smith said. More Information Local literature Here are the San Antonio authors who were scheduled to showcase books at the San Antonio Book Festival: Nonfiction Henry Flores, "Racism, Latinos and the Public Policy Process" Gerald Poyo, "A Latino Memoir: Exploring Identity, Family, and the Common Good" Lewis F. Fisher, "Greetings from San Antonio: Historic Postcards of the Alamo City" Anthony Head, "Spirit: The Life and Art of Jesse Trevino" Fiction Patrick Stockwell, "The Light Here Changes Everything" Leila Meacham, "Dragonfly" Amalia L. Ortiz, "The Cancion Cannibal Cabaret & Other Songs" Poetry John Olivares Espinoza, "The Date Fruit Elegies" Joe Jimenez, "Rattlesnake Allegory" Chibbi Orduna, "Otro/Patria" Children's Diane Gonzales Bertrand, "The Taco Magician and Other Poems for Kids / El mago de los tacos y otros poemas para ninos" Xavier Garza, "Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Witch Owl/Vincent Ventura y el misterio de la bruja lechuza"; "Maximilian & the Curse of the Fallen Angel" Lorenzo Gomez III, "Tafolla Toro: Three Years of Fear" Source: San Antonio Book Festival See More Collapse Beyond the fundraising lunch, another big element of the festival still can be salvaged: Folks who planned to go can check out the books that were going to be spotlighted. On ExpressNews.com: SAs new poet laureate wants everybody to write For parents-turned-teachers seeking books for enrichment or language skills, Bertrands book might prove helpful. The idea for the poetry collection came from her publisher, Houston-based Arte Publico Press. Bertrand was told there was a big demand for poetry for children, particularly works that could be translated into Spanish. So she began crafting poems with that in mind. I started really thinking about trying to capture my experiences and my childrens experiences of things that I observed about growing up here in San Antonio, she said. And so most of the poems have to do with San Antonio experiences for example, wearing what we call chanclas, or flip-flops. A poem about buying ice cream from a van that is coming down the street with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star playing is a very San Antonio experience. The title poem is about her dads cooking: Like a magic wand,/he stirs circles through the frying pan,/Like a magic cape, he wraps a tortilla/around our wishes. The paperback is a flip book one side opens to an all-English series of poems, and the other opens to an all-Spanish series of the same poems. I was not raised in an English-speaking home, but I understand Spanish more than I actually speak it, Bertrand said. This has allowed me to reclaim the Spanish language because the translators do such a beautiful job with the Spanish poems, it helps me as well. A few of Chibbis poems explicity reference San Antonio, though the perspective is definitely one of an adult. The first poem in Otro/Patria is The Target Shoots Back, in which the protagonist confronts a group of homophobic drunks on the St. Marys Strip. The collection was drawn from works hes penned over the past six years. On ExpressNews.com: SAs indie bookshops offer online, curbside services I didnt start out with the intent of writing a book, he said. I do poetry and spoken word, and there were things that were on my mind a lot. Looking over it, I noticed a theme and a pattern the idea of the other and who society deems as others, and this idea of a homeland of sorts, especially for someone like me, born in Mexico but grew up in America where does one fit? In the book, my goal really was to speak about my experiences and my stories and to show this notion that what makes us different is what makes us the same. We can all find commonality in our identity if we stop focusing on the minutiae of Youre a man, youre a woman, youre a Mexican, youre an American and focus on the fact that were all people having these human experiences. Chibbi, who grew up in Laredo, said moving to San Antonio helped him connect with his culture more deeply. Being Mexican American and growing up on the border, constantly surrounded by Mexican culture, as I grew up, I wanted nothing more than to distance myself from it, be as American as possible, he said. It took coming back to San Antonio to realize how bountiful this culture is. Ive grown to really appreciate it and cherish it. So the city has a lot to do with the appreciation I have for where I come from. Neither Bertrand nor Chibbi are writing anything that deals with COVID-19 at least, not yet. Bertrand is taking some time to figure out what her next project will be. Shes considering writing an anthology of poems for children, and watching her two boxers, Abby and Rosy, chase squirrels in the backyard may inspire something. I need to spend more time actually documenting some of the things our dogs do, she said. Animals are very important to a lot of children. Chibbi, who got into poetry as a performer and is active on the slam poetry scene, said he needs some time to think about whats going on before it starts to filter into his work. He did respond to a writing challenge on social media in which people were asked to write a poem explaining who they are. People were writing about how amazing they are, he said. And I couldnt bring myself to write that because were in this really uncertain space right now. I ended up putting something up, and said sometimes I feel great, but right now, I feel hella lost. Who am I? I am confused. The response that I got from that was its good to acknowledge that (stuffs) crazy right now. We need to acknowledge that, and know that its OK to feel uncertain, its OK to feel lost. Isolation can drive somebody crazy. Thats where my head space is right now. Deborah Martin is an arts writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Deborah, become a subscriber. dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN 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 A federal judge on Monday blocked the state's emergency ban on abortions during the coronavirus outbreak. U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel said the ban violates a woman's right to choose as outlined in the 14th Amendment. He granted a temporary restraining order as abortion providers seek a permanent injunction. "Regarding a woman's right to a pre-fetal-viability abortion, the Supreme Court has spoken clearly," Yeakel wrote. "There can be no outright ban on such a procedure." The decision was issued as abortion providers move to overturn parts of an emergency order from Gov. Greg Abbott postponing non-essential surgeries during the outbreak. Attorney General Ken Paxton, a fellow Republican, had threatened to criminally prosecute health care workers who provided abortions, which he deemed non-essential. For subscribers: Texas abortion ban has patients, clinics scrambling for options Paxton said the measure would free up hospital beds and medical supplies as the state ramps up its response to the virus. Most abortions are not performed in hospitals, but officials said those in freestanding clinics and surgical centers still use protective gear now in high demand. We are disappointed in the courts decision, a spokesman for Paxton said in a statement. Well seek appellate review promptly. The ruling is the first in a series of lawsuits that abortion providers and advocates have filed in states that have imposed similar temporary restrictions. Earlier on Monday, Planned Parenthood and others announced lawsuits in Ohio, Iowa, Alabama and Oklahoma. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Louisiana and Mississippi have also moved to prohibit abortions during the pandemic. Doctors and staff reported patients in tears last week as their appointments were cancelled, some begging for pills to end their pregnancies on their own. Providers said they had discussed sending women to clinics in other states, but worried that travel was not safe, let alone a viable option for those already struggling from the financial fallout of the outbreak. Many people are already financially insecure and futures are uncertain," said Amy Hagstrom Miller, who oversees abortion clinics in Texas and is one of the plaintiffs. "We applaud todays ruling, which will allow us to do what we do best, provide safe and compassionate abortion care to those who need it. The ban had sought to prohibit all abortions through much of April, including medication abortions, in which a woman is given pills that terminate her pregnancy. Providers said they don't normally use any of the protective gear now in demand for medication abortions, and had limited their use of disposable masks for surgical abortion in recent days as the virus spread. In a brief filed Monday, attorneys for Paxton said that even if providers use less gear, "they are still using (personal protective equipment) that instead could be used for health care workers on the front lines." "Even one extra mask could save the life of a physician or nurse," they wrote. The restraining order lasts at least through April 13, when a hearing has been set for a preliminary injunction. FOLLOWING reports of discrimination and assault against healthcare workers, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Archie Gamboa has directed all police units to provide all the necessary assistance and security to the medical frontliners in the battle against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). At this time of national health emergency, the Philippine National Police stands doubly committed to apply the full might of the law against any person who will lay hands on our health workers, thus, we shall do whatever it takes to protect them from crime, violence, and any form of oppression and discrimination, he said. For added peace of mind of our health workers, PNP personnel manning Quarantine Control Stations are under instructions to extend utmost assistance to them, to include escorting them to their assigned hospitals, if need be, he added. In Cebu City, two unidentified assailants splashed chlorine on a male nurse who was on his way home on March 27. In Sultan Kudarat, five men splashed Zonrox on an employee of the St. Louis Hospital based in Tacurong City. Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano on Tuesday vowed to do everything in his authority to protect health workers against any attacks. Our countrymen in the medical profession are our front liners in the war against Covid-19. Just like our police officers, soldiers and other men and women in uniform, they wage a lonely but relentless battle against this disease everyday 24/7 to keep our nation safe. The last thing they need right now is discrimination when all they do is save lives and protect each and every one of us from an enemy we cannot see, he said. Ano said he has ordered the deployment of policemen in the vicinity of hospitals to prevent attacks on health workers. He also urged local chief executives to take steps to protect the healthcare workers, such as providing free transport and lighting up the streets leading to medical facilities. During this health emergency crisis, the least that we can do is to make sure that our health front liners are safe and protected as they continue to take care of the sick and save lives as we all confront the Covid-19 global pandemic, he added. Ano has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the inlectious pathogen that causes Covid-19. (SunStar Philippines) Nearly two weeks ago, Jamie Thursby had to make a tough call and temporarily closed his little peanut shop on Birminghams cobblestone-paved Morris Avenue. Like many small businesses, the Alabama Peanut Company had been staggered by the economic blow caused by the coronavirus outbreak, and Thursby, who launched his business about three and a half years ago, was uncertain when it would end. He didnt have a Plan B. I made the decision kind of reluctantly -- that (March 20) was going to be our last day, Thursby recalls. I didnt know how we were going to survive this because it was indefinite how long it was going to last. With only three other full-time employees on his staff, Thursby thought he might be able to weather the storm better than most small businesses, but he wasnt sure how to make it work. Then, inspiration hit. If his customers couldnt come to him, Thursby would go to them. So, he went into the delivery business. Thats right. Boiled and roasted peanuts, delivered hot and fresh to your front door. He spread the word on the Alabama Peanut Companys Facebook and Instagram accounts and sold out of peanuts that first Monday, delivering to neighborhoods in Bluff Park, Ross Bridge and West Homewood. Sometimes, great things happen when you dont have time to think about it, Thursby says. Youre thrust into making it work. We had to make it work. We couldnt fail at it, so we all hit the ground running. While food delivery is hardly revolutionary and it has boomed while people shelter at home during the COVID-19 pandemic its a safe bet that Thursbys business is one of the few, if only, ones in America delivering boiled peanuts. I do feel like were pioneers in this, he says. One person posted on social media, Only in Alabama can I get boiled peanuts delivered to me. From Mondays through Saturdays, the Alabama Peanut Company delivers to a different part of the Birmingham metro area each day, posting on its social media accounts the day before where they will be the next day. This week, for instance, they will be in the Spain Park and Caldwell Mills neighborhoods on Wednesday and in Mountain Brook, Cahaba Heights and Liberty Park on Thursday. The daily schedule is available here. The (delivery) guys say they have been seeing parts of Birmingham that they didnt even know existed, Thursby says. They also will see some of our regular customers when they go out. They like that. Customers have from noon the previous day until 9 a.m. the day of delivery to place their orders unless the Alabama Peanut Company sells out before then. The minimum order is $20, and delivery is free, although tips for the delivery drivers are welcome. All deliveries are paid for in advance on the companys website, and the drivers leave the orders in a paper grocery bag, alerting customers that their order has arrived with a text message or email so that there is no contact between the delivery drivers and the customers. Weve got a really good system now, Thursby says. Were getting faster with how we implement everything. At first, the Alabama Peanut Company was delivering only three flavors of roasted peanuts (original, salted and Cajun) and two flavors of boiled peanuts (classic salt and Alabama Cajun), but this week, Thursby started offering rolling out a few more of their specialty flavors. In addition to salty and Cajun, Thursby has dozens of different flavors in his repertoire including Salty Dill Pickle, Sriracha Lime, Buffalo Ranch and Bloody Mary, as well as peanuts boiled with such Alabama products as Wickles Pickles brine, Dreamland Bar-B-Que sauce and Dales steak sauce. We are going to start doing (more) flavors because thats kind of what were known for, he says. Its important to us for people to be able to taste the different boiled peanut flavors we make, he says. Thursby and his brother-in-law, Darrell Graf, started the Alabama Peanut Company in late 2016, selling their boiled peanuts at farmers markets, breweries and pop-ups around Birmingham. Nearly two years ago, Thursby moved into the former Peanut Depot space on Morris Avenue, where Greek immigrant D.J. Cassimus first started roasting and selling peanuts in 1907. "I joke with people that moving into this place is like I learned to play the guitar two years ago, and now I've been handed the keys to the Grand Ole Opry," Thursby said at the time. "There's a lot of pressure to make it perfect." Although the delivery option was borne out of necessity to get through a challenging time, Thursby says it will be part of his regular business plan going forward. Initially, I was like, as long as I can pay my employees and kept getting a paycheck to them -- if nothing less, it would be good grass-roots marketing for us, he says. Worst-case scenario, we are going to get our name out there for people who have never heard of us. I mean, we were hopeful, but we werent thinking it would do this good, he adds. So, were definitely going to keep this going after all of this passes. READ MORE: Keeping an Alabama peanut tradition alive, 111 years later The perfect Alabama marriage: Wickles Pickles and boiled peanuts The story behind one of the most Alabama dishes ever Alabama needs an official soft drink, and this is the one The measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus have an important impact on the global economy and consequently also on our company. Our focus is on the health and safety of our employees, our tenants, suppliers and users of the spaces we lease or make available. We are in direct contact with our tenants to assess the situation on an individual basis. The retail part of our consolidated real estate portfolio is at present most impacted. The current circumstances do at present however not impair the contractual lease obligations, unless otherwise defined by local legislation or regulation. As a regulated real estate company (SIR/GVV) with a real estate portfolio spread across the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (53%), Belgium (31%) and Austria (16%) and operating in the asset classes offices (46%), retail (48%) and logistics (6%), the company is partially exposed to the possible consequences of the abovementioned measures. Without these extraordinary circumstances, the rental income in 2020 would have reached a level comparable to that of the past year. Given the strict, limiting government measures taken within the framework of containing the spread of the Covid-19 virus since mid-March 2020 in the 3 countries Leasinvest Real Estate operates in, and depending on the duration of these measures, this can entail, especially in the retail segment, a substantial reduction in rents received and an increase in overdue rents, as an important part of the tenants were required to close their shops, and could ask Leasinvest Real Estate, as landlord of the buildings concerned, for compensation. Besides this, we expect an impact on the valuation of the participation (10.70%) in Retail Estates, as its share price has strongly decreased over the past weeks. Given the uncertainty with regard to the duration and the impact of the measures taken by the different governments, the company can at present not assess the impact on the 2020 company results. The debt ratio is however expected to increase on 31 March 2020, but will remain below the 60%-threshold. The company monitors the impact of the measures in the markets it operates in on a permanent basis and will consider further investments in this context. Nevertheless, we wish to emphasize that Leasinvest Real Estate disposes of solid and fixed shareholders, a high-quality real estate portfolio, confirmed and sufficient credit lines (headroom of ca. 90 million on 31 December 2019) and good relationships with its banks, in order to bridge this period. We also wish to confirm that the aforementioned events do not impact the events of the closed financial year 2019, as mentioned in our Annual financial report 2019 that is currently available. Consequently, and as announced by the company on 19 February, the payment of a gross dividend of 5.25 EUR per share will be proposed at the next general meeting of 18 May. Anyone who wishes to receive a printed copy of the Annual financial report 2019 is asked to register on https://www.leasinvest.be/en/investor-relations/ir-contact/ For more information, contact Leasinvest Real Estate MICHEL VAN GEYTE Chief Executive Officer T: +32 3 238 98 77 E: michel.van.geyte@leasinvest.be (mailto:michel.van.geyte@leasinvest.be) On LEASINVEST REAL ESTATE SCA Leasinvest Real Estate SCA is a Public BE-REIT (SIRP/OGVV) that invests in high quality and well-located retail buildings and offices in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Belgium and Austria. The real estate portfolio of Leasinvest is spread across the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (53%), Belgium (31%) and Austria (16%). The public BE-REIT is listed on Euronext Brussels. Attachment Two military police officers patrol the streets in Budapest, Hungary. (Zoltan Balogh / MTI) To battle a spreading pandemic, democracies across the globe are turning to tools like emergency proclamations, abrupt lockdowns and enhanced public surveillance. But so are the worlds autocrats and analysts say the burgeoning outbreak is providing cover for some audacious power grabs. Alarmed critics have given the phenomenon a scathing nickname: coronavirus coup. The latest example is in Hungary, where parliament on Monday granted Prime Minister Viktor Orban sweeping new authority to rule by decree for an unlimited period of time. Orban, already engaged in a systematic campaign to consolidate his powers and stifle political opposition, cited the need for heightened powers as a way to aggressively fight the outbreak. Especially in weak democracies, this is accelerating trends we were already seeing, said Sarah Repucci, who heads the analytics department at Freedom House, a Washington-based watchdog group that for years has documented the worldwide erosion of democracy. Repucci cited Orban as among the autocrats using the virus as an excuse to accelerate their repressive agendas. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban takes part in a Q&A session at parliament in Budapest on March 30, 2020. Lawmakers approved a bill giving Orban's government extraordinary powers during the coronavirus pandemic, without setting an end date. (Zoltan Mathe / MTI) From Israel to Brazil, from the Philippines to Chile, there are telltale signs of autocratic intent behind executive actions ostensibly spurred by coronavirus, analysts say. One is when measures giving a leader more authority are open-ended, rather than being linked to an easing of the outbreak. Another warning sign, according to analysts, is when newly imposed government measures are specifically engineered to resist oversight by courts or lawmakers, or appear to have little direct connection to actual efforts to halt the spread of infection. In Israel, the coronavirus outbreak came amid political deadlock, and at a perilous moment for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is under criminal indictment on charges of bribe-taking, fraud and breach of trust. He denies any wrongdoing. While launching a decisive early campaign to contain the virus spread, Netanyahu and his allies put off the scheduled start of his trial by closing the courts, handed the government unprecedented surveillance powers without parliamentary oversight and blocked the convening of the new Knesset, or parliament, in which the political opposition garnered a majority in March elections. Story continues Israelis wearing masks protest outside the parliament in Jerusalem on March 23, 2020. They say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking anti-democratic measures during the coronavirus outbreak. (Amir Levy / Getty Images) Then, through canny maneuvering, Netanyahu took advantage of a fractured opposition and managed to get his chief rival, Benny Gantz, to agree to serve under him. The prime minister, the countrys longest-serving leader, said the severity of the crisis demanded unity; Gantz, a former army chief, employed a classic military metaphor to explain his about-face, saying he did not want to be the one who refused to help carry a stretcher off the battlefield. The word magician is too weak to describe this stunning achievement, which isnt solely a result of his political abilities, columnist Yossi Verter wrote in Mondays Haaretz newspaper. The pandemics arrival in Israel, Verter wrote, was a matter of inconceivably perfect timing for Netanyahu, despite critics labeling his machinations a coronavirus coup. Like the virus itself, power grabs can take on the quality of a contagion, especially when established democracies offer little in the way of pushback. Its a dangerous signal to aspiring autocrats as to what they can get away with during this crisis, said R. Daniel Kelemen, a professor of political science and law at Rutgers University, pointing to the muted European Union response to Orbans moves. In Washington, the Hungarian leaders actions drew some sharp criticism on Capitol Hill. Rep. Eliot L. Engel, the New York Democrat who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called it the latest overreach by Orban. Such a serious affront to democracy anywhere is outrageous, and particularly within a NATO ally and EU member, he wrote in a statement. But the White House, where Orban was warmly received by President Trump less than a year ago, said nothing publicly. Other Trump allies have had mixed results in bids to tighten their rule amid the outbreak. In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte, notorious for extrajudicial executions at the hands of death squads, has been given broad emergency powers to confront the health crisis, although lawmakers balked at a provision that would have let him take over private businesses. Even so, rights groups were alarmed by the expanded scope of presidential authority. A woman walks along an empty park in Santiago, Chile, on March 29, 2020. More than 1.3 million people in Santiago were placed in quarantine to curb the novel coronavirus' spread. (Martin Bernetti / AFP/Getty Images) There are growing fears that some leaders in Latin America could use coronavirus containment as a pretext to keep a tight lid on dissent. In Chile, President Sebastian Pinera declared a 90-day state of catastrophe," which was likely to suppress the last vestiges of massive street protests over economic inequality that ignited there in late 2019. In Bolivia, where President Evo Morales was forced to resign and go into exile amid massive anti-government demonstrations last year, presidential elections deemed crucial to restoring stability have been postponed because of COVID-19. As the pandemic leapt from China to other parts of the world, Trump initially played down the threat, as did some autocratic leaders with whom he has demonstrated an affinity. As late as last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was putting an optimistic face on the outbreaks course. By breaking the speed of the virus spread in two to three weeks, we will get through this period with as little damage as possible, Erdogan, whose government has been accused of obscuring the scope of infections and where they have taken place, said in a televised address March 25. Another leader who considers himself a kindred spirit of Trumps is encountering political headwinds over an initially dismissive approach to the pandemic. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who at one point referred to COVID-19 as a little flu, has repeatedly contradicted the guidelines of his Health Ministry, calling on people to return to work and attend large gatherings. But like Trump, his approach has proved polarizing. For weeks, tens of thousands of Brazilians in big cities have leaned out their windows each night, banging pots to protest against the president. Bolsonaro's supporters, meanwhile, drive through the streets in cars draped in the national flag, honking horns to show their support for the president and their anger at business closures. Russian President Vladimir Putin was yet another Trump ally who kept his own coronavirus counsel. But unlike Trump, who has placed himself front and center at briefings on the crisis, Putin has let subordinates do most of the talking about the outbreaks course. As it often does, Moscow has taken heavy-handed measures to control the spread of information regarding the the pandemic, setting stiff penalties for news reports or social-media posts contradicting official accounts. Russia has so far reported nearly 2,500 cases, a number many international experts believe is artificially low. Putin suffered something of a messaging mishap last week, when he visited a hospital and was photographed in full biohazard gear. But beforehand, with no protective gear, he shook hands with the hospitals chief doctor, Denis Protsenko, who has now tested positive for the virus, according to news reports. By Tuesday, the Kremlin hasnt said whether Putin had been tested. Times staff writer Kate Linthicum in Mexico City contributed to this report. YEREVAN. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian sent a letter of condolences Tuesday to Levon Aronian, a member of Armenias men's national chess team and chess grandmaster, on the untimely death of his wife Arianne Caoili. The press service of the office of the President informs about this. The message states as follows: Dear Levon, we are in an unspeakable pain. The loss of your wife, Arianne Caoili, is immeasurable. Knowing both you and Arianne well, we knew that both of you are not ones to give up. And Arianne was fighting [for her life] until the last moment [My wife] Nouneh and I, of course, also our people, stand with you in sincere words of comfort and sorrow. Rest in peace, dear Arianne! Be strong, dear Levon!" 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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 The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is waging a ferocious, global propaganda campaign designed to deflect blame for the origin and spread of the COVID-19 outbreak from Wuhan, China. Moreover, Beijing is trying to take advantage of the pandemic to increase its global standing and influence. There are three main reasons why the world must hold the CCP accountable for the first global pandemic in a century. Morality The first reason the CCP must be held accountable for the pandemic is that morality demands it. General Secretary Xi Jinpings regime has refused to accept responsibility for allowing the epidemic to spread uncontrolled, first in Wuhan, then throughout China, and finally beyond its borders to the rest of the world. Chinese officials knew of the seriousness of the pandemic as early as December, yet waited weeks to begin restricting travel, allowing millions of Wuhan residents to visit relatives elsewhere in the country and abroad for Lunar New Year celebrations, spreading the virus as they went. British scientists have argued that if Beijing had acted just three weeks earlier, it could have reduced the spread of the virus by 95 percent. We also know that in the time before the outbreaks seriousness became apparent outside China, the CCP destroyed laboratory samples and punished the brave doctors and citizens who tried to warn their countrymen and the world about the pathogen, while refusing foreign offers of help. We are almost certain that Beijing dramatically underreported the number of deaths in Wuhan, and is no longer reporting new infections in China. Leaked photos have shown huge lines of Chinese waiting for the cremated remains of their loved ones in Wuhan, and widely shared calculations on social media of crematoria activity estimate up to 46,000 deaths in Wuhan alone, far above the countrys official death toll of just 3,300. Riots are breaking out as people desperate to leave Wuhans Hubei province are stopped at internal checkpoints. Story continues In short, the CCP, which for years has claimed to be a responsible member of the global community, showed its true colors when this crisis hit. It can no longer be denied that Xis regime is a danger to the world. Justice demands it be held morally culpable for its dangerous and callous behavior. Global Governance The second reason that Beijing must be held accountable is a political one: The CCPs actions have gravely undermined global political governance. As legal expert James Kraska has noted, China was morally and legally bound, as a party to the 2005 International Health Regulations, to provide expedited, timely, accurate, and sufficiently detailed information to [the World Health Organization] about . . . potential public health emergencies such as the coronavirus. Instead of doing so in this case, Beijing actively misled the WHO about the crucial fact that the pathogen was transmitted between humans. The result is that Xi can no longer credibly claim the CCP adheres to international law, and that the corruptibility of long-standing intergovernmental organizations such as the WHO is more apparent than ever. Moreover, despite being portrayed as a selfless provider of medical aid to other affected countries, Beijing is actually reaping hundreds of millions in profits by selling equipment to panic-stricken governments abroad. Much of that is useless and is being returned by Spain, the Czech Republic, and Malaysia, among other countries. This sort of thing is typical of the least altruistic regime on earth, and worse may be on the way: Xis government will likely expect political favors from the countries it has aided during the crisis, the same way that aid recipient Greece was pressured to block an EU statement on Chinese human rights in 2017. Those who believe that good global governance, however flawed, is an important tool for maintaining international peace and for contributing to development and growth should be appalled at how the CCP is undermining the liberal international architecture and suborning global institutions to its will. The normalization of such misbehavior cannot be allowed to stand. Protecting against the Next Deadly Pathogen The third reason Beijing must be held responsible is to prevent another pandemic from ravaging the world in the future. As we saw in the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Dallas, Texas, and are seeing again now, the era of globalization has allowed once-isolated pathogens to leap across national boundaries. Dr. Anthony Fauci of the CDC is among many who have pointed out that Italy has been devastated by the Wuhan coronavirus partly because it hosts a huge number of Chinese tourists as well as workers in the northern manufacturing regions where the virus emerged. In all, 310,000 Chinese live in Italy, and many returned there after visiting China for the Lunar New Year, spreading the virus to their adopted home country. This was, again, the fault of CCP officials, who failed to implement the proper travel restrictions despite knowing of the outbreaks seriousness. If Beijing escapes blame for its failure to curb the coronavirus pandemic, its lies, and its attempts to cover up the pathogens seriousness or, worse yet, if it actually earns global plaudits for its actions then no country will feel the need to be honest with the world when another epidemic breaks out, and the same deadly fiasco will repeat itself. Meanwhile, an emboldened CCP will grow only more aggressive and repressive, having learned that it can fool and bully the world into submission. Quite simply, if nation states do not understand that there will be repercussions for such malfeasance, then our globalized world will suffer more coronavirus-style pandemics in the future. Beijing freely chose to deny the truth of COVID-19, and its governing malpractice and incompetence helped unleashed a pandemic on the world. For the sake of morality, political governance, and the future, the world must speak truth to power, remember the facts, and condemn the CCPs actions. More from National Review 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. Researchers at Queen's University have designed protective shield masks that can be produced using a 3D printer to help meet the demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the fight against coronavirus. Dr Eneko Larraneta, Dr Juan Dominguez-Robles and Dr Dimitrios Lamprou from the School of Pharmacy have modified designs developed by Spanish engineers to help meet the demand across the Belfast Trust. The 3D printer is normally used to manufacture a range of drug delivery systems and medical devices including catheters, microneedles and tablets. "Everyone is thinking how they can help in this crisis situation," said Dr Dimitrios Lamprou. "I've worked with 3D printers to produce a number of pharmaceutical devices, so we decided to work on the prototype already developed in Spain to produce a mask that would work for healthcare staff . We have already produced over 20 masks this week, which we are delivering to the Belfast Trust. "The masks can be produced relatively low-cost and we are providing these as a donation to the NHS." The team plan to continue producing the face shields and ask that others with 3D printers do the same to increase supplies. Professor Brian Falzon, from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is also working to meet the demand using laser cutting technology of polymer sheeting. Professor Falzon said: "Simplicity is at the heart of these designs. We believe that we have the capacity to produce between 100 and 200 per day." The ventilators are not designed for people who are critical cases, but rather for those who are in respiratory distress. As the demand for ventilators rises with the number of coronavirus patients growing across the globe, a Texas-based university has developed an automatic, hand-held and inexpensive breathing unit that can soon be used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed over 37,500 people. A total of 782,365 COVID-19 cases have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories with 37,582 deaths reported so far, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Across the United States, hospitals are facing shortages of ventilators, some medical device makers, including Philips, have agreed to ramp up supplies. But because patients diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19 often require breathing support, there is widespread concern that these devices won't be developed and shipped quickly enough. Texas-based Rice University and Canadian global health design firm Metric Technologies have developed an automated bag valve mask ventilation unit that can be built for less than $300 worth of parts and help patients undergoing treatment for COVID-19. The collaboration expects to share the plans for the ventilator by making them freely available online to anyone in the world. The varsity team designed and built a programmable device able to squeeze a bag valve mask. These masks are typically carried by emergency medical personnel to help get air into the lungs of people having difficulty breathing on their own. But the masks are difficult to squeeze by hand for more than a few minutes at a time. "It's automatic, electric, and works independently of a tech," Wettergreen, a varsity professor and member of the Design Kitchen team, told PTI. "It's not designed for people who are critical cases, but rather who are in respiratory distress," the professor said. That delineation is important: the automated Bag Mask Valve (BVM) would take less-critical patients off ventilators and free them up for only those in dire need. The benefit could be a game-changer for those on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle, Wettergreen said. "When a crisis hits, we use our skills to contribute solutions. If you can help, you should, and I'm proud that we're responding to the call," said the professor. The design has caught the attention of the Department of Defense, which may authorise the Navy to utilise it in the near future. It's a huge feat for the small unit, dubbed the Apollo BVM team, whose students worked around the clock and took classes online in order to deliver the project as soon as possible. Rohith Malya - an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, an adjunct assistant professor of bioengineering at Rice, and a principal at Metric Technologies - coined the name as a tribute to Rice's history with NASA and former US President John F Kennedy's now-famous speech kicking off the nation's efforts to go to the moon. "This project appeals to our ingenuity, it's a Rice-based project and it's for all of humanity. And we're on an urgent timescale. We decided to throw it all on the table and see how far we go," he said. Malya inspired the Rice project two years ago after seeing families try to keep critically ill loved ones at the Kwai River Christian Hospital in Thailand alive by bag-ventilating them for hours on end. He expects the new Apollo BVM to serve that purpose eventually, but the need is now worldwide. "This is a clinician-informed end-to-end design that repurposes the existing BVM global inventory toward widespread and safe access to mechanical ventilation," Malya said, noting that more than 100 million bag valve masks are manufactured around the world each year. As coronavirus restrictions continue and all but essential medical treatment is unavailable, what do you do if you have a health problem such as toothache or a rash? The answer may lie with virtual clinics you access through a website or app, and phone and video consultations. Indeed, the Government recently urged patients to consult their GP remotely in order to reduce the number of infected people attending surgeries and slow down the spread of the virus. Medics are still able to see patients online (stock image) But are the online clinics worth the time and the money (after all, they dont come cheap)? We asked experts to assess some of the available options. PRESCRIPTION SHOP doctor-4-u.co.uk PRICE: Depends on what is prescribed. HOW IT WORKS: Acid reflux, blocked ears, migraine and thrush are among the conditions this website offers help for. On the website, you click on the problem you have and this takes you to a page that offers information and suggested treatments for it. Patients fill in a questionnaire including how long you have had the condition and what other medication you may be taking and a prescription request is submitted to one of the doctors at the website. EXPERT VERDICT: This isnt a consultation with a doctor, its more like an online supermarket for medication, says Sarah Burnett, a physician based in London. It might be helpful for over-the-counter medicines you may struggle to find such as antihistamines, but you could order these from an online pharmacy which is arguably more reliable. I worry about people being able to buy medication so easily. 3/10 JOINTS AND MUSCLES techniquephysio.com PRICE: 49 for 45 minutes HOW IT WORKS: Consultations with registered physiotherapists are carried out via video call using the computer programs Skype and Zoom. During a consultation, the physio will ask a series of questions to find out where things hurt, and may even get the patient to carry out certain movements on camera, such as bends or stretches so they can make an assessment. They may then suggest exercises or arrange further appointments. EXPERT VERDICT: There is a place for this at the moment to help provide relief for general aches and pains such as a bad back, says Professor Tony Kochhar, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the private London Bridge Hospital. But if you are in severe pain, have a high temperature or the painful joint feels hot, cold or tingly, then these are red flags for something more serious and you should contact your GP. 7/10 The Daily Mail's Good Health section trialled website instant-dental.com for teeth checks TEETH instant-dentist.com PRICE: 20 HOW IT WORKS: For those with dental problems, this website offers online assessments. After signing up, you fill in a questionnaire about your concern and can upload photos of the problem area, and previous dental X-rays. A dentist then reviews the information and offers advice, which you receive via email. EXPERT VERDICT: Most dental practices are currently shut or only seeing emergency patients as part of the coronavirus lockdown, says Dr Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen, an NHS dentist based in London. Im not sure what you can reliably diagnose with photos and without looking in the mouth or doing sensitivity tests. If you have facial swelling or anything that affects breathing, go to A&E. Otherwise, if there is pain you can take relevant medication and other minor issues such as chipped teeth will have to wait until dentists open again. 3/10 SKIN stratumclinics.com PRICE: 200 for 30 minutes HOW IT WORKS: On the website, you fill in your details and what your skin concern is, and an appointment with a dermatologist is arranged if it is something they can help with. While these virtual clinics can help advise on some skin issues such as moles or rashes, for example, other cases such as acne patients needing the drug Roaccutane are turned away as they need regular blood tests. EXPERT VERDICT: There is a real place for so-called teledermatology at the moment, says Dr Andrew Wright, a consultant dermatologist and a professor of dermatology at the University of Bradford. Of course, some cases such as moles that have changed shape or are bleeding will need to be checked by a dermatologist in person. But this is an effective way of having minor dermatology problems assessed and treatment options discussed. 8/10 All these medics can be reached at the touch of a button from the comfort of your own home GP SERVICES babylonhealth.com PRICE: 49 HOW IT WORKS: This website also available as an app on your phone functions like a GP; you can see a doctor online and can get prescriptions, referral letters and sick notes. After signing up, you book a digital consultation with a GP of your choice. EXPERT VERDICT: Non-verbal clues are important when you see a doctor so, if you are going to use an online service, I would advise you go for a video consultation rather than a phone consultation, because the GP can see your face and body language, says Dr Burnett. This might show the patient is in pain when they move a certain way, for example. Sometimes patients just need reassurance; maybe they have mild symptoms of earache or just cant get to the pharmacy. If you find yourself in these circumstances, using this service may help if you can afford it. But there are limitations of having an online consultation and there is always a risk that a problem could be missed. 7/10 CHILDRENS HEALTH e-hospital.co.uk PRICE: 280 for 45 minutes HOW IT WORKS: After choosing an appointment slot on the website, parents complete a questionnaire in advance of the consultation with a paediatrician, which is carried out via Zoom. After the 45-minute consultation, parents receive a treatment plan via email and the consultant organises any investigations needed to fully evaluate the childs condition, which can be arranged in private clinics locally. EXPERT VERDICT: This might be a useful alternative for parents who want to see a paediatrician for advice about an allergy to cows milk protein, for example, which can be diagnosed largely based on the childs history, says Dr Robert Block, a consultant paediatrician at Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHS Trust. However, the appointments are expensive. Instead, if a parent is concerned their child is ill they should call 111 or, if something is seriously wrong, they should go to A&E. Unlike other areas of medicine, paediatric emergency care isnt overwhelmed at the moment and we dont want children being kept at home and not getting the care they need because their parents are scared of taking them to hospital. 5/10 There are also several apps available for people to report their symptoms. They include the COVID-19 app, which is pictured above MENTAL HEALTH myonlinetherapy.com PRICE: From 49 for 30 minutes HOW IT WORKS: This online mental health service connects people with psychologists. Therapies include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a talking therapy to help change patterns of behaviour. After completing a free online assessment, the website matches you to the most appropriate therapeutic approach and the best psychologist for your situation, who you can connect with via video, live chat or daily messaging. EXPERT VERDICT: People do feel isolated at the moment and this can impact on mental health, so this resource could be helpful and seems quite straightforward to use, says Dr Burnett. Talking therapies can be effective online you dont need to see someone face-to-face for it to work. 8/10 Singapores Lark Technologies Pte Ltd has made its digital collaboration suite, Lark, available for free across Southeast Asia, including Viet Nam. Lark is available in Viet Nam, and for free. It brings together several essential work tools like messenger, online docs and sheets, cloud storage, calendar, and video conferencing. As businesses and educational institutions around the world scramble to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak with initiatives ranging from travel restrictions to mandatory work from home and remote learning, Lark is trying to help people stay connected. The free version comes with unlimited video calls (with advanced screen sharing), 200GB of cloud storage, online collaborative docs and sheets, a smart calendar, a messenger, unlimited third-party app integrations, and customisable attendance/approval workflows. The features are synchronised so that there is no need to juggle between applications to get work done. Lark has also just launched a live-streaming feature to unlock more virtual collaboration possibilities. Video meetings can be live-streamed to reach millions of people, useful for large-scale meetings in situations such as senior executives presenting a speech to thousands of employees around the world, and for teachers remotely giving lessons to their students. Joey Lim, the companys commercial lead, APAC, explained: With remote working in place, organisations are grappling to ensure that their employees remain productive while working remotely. The same also applies in schools and universities where educators are working hard to ensure that their students can continue to learn wherever they may be. VNS Online applications blooming in Vietnam during Covid-19 outbreak Just like other countries, Vietnam encourages its citizens to stay away from crowds as much as possible in this sensitive time of Covid-19 pandemic. New Delhi: Bharti Enterprises has committed over Rs 100 crore to support India's fight against COVID-19, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. A large portion of the corpus will be immediately contributed to the PM CARES Fund. The balance amount is being directed towards sourcing of masks and other key equipment for the doctors, healthcare workers and essential services personnel who are at the forefront of the battle, the statement said, adding that over a million N-95 masks are being procured and will be made available on an immediate basis. "Bharti Enterprises and its companies Bharti Airtel, Bharti Infratel and others are contributing a sum of over Rs 100 crore for India's fight against COVID-19," the statement said. Pointing to the "extremely challenging times" and "biggest healthcare crisis of modern era in the form of COVID-19 epidemic", the company said that the immediate priority is to collectively support the efforts of the government to mitigate the impact of this crisis. In addition to the Rs 100 crore committed by Bharti Enterprises, the employees of the company are also making personal voluntary contributions towards the cause through a platform created by the company. "Bharti companies will match the amount contributed by their employees, and the same will be contributed towards the COVID-19 initiatives," it said. Airtel's network teams continue to work 24X7 to ensure that India's digital backbone continues to operate seamlessly and people stay connected with their loved ones and are able to work from home at this hour of global crisis, it added. Corporate India has been rushing in to help the government and citizens fight the coronavirus pandemic in India. On Monday, Reliance Industries announced Rs 500 crore contribution to PM CARES Fund. Tata Trusts and Tata group together have pledged Rs 1,500 crore - by far the highest by any corporate. While Paytm will contribute Rs 500 crore to PM's Fund, L&T and NMDC have contributed Rs 150 crore each. Firms or philanthropy arms of billionaires Gautam Adani, Anil Agarwal and Sajjan Jindal have each contributed Rs 100 crore. An equal amount has been committed by HUL, PhonePe and Bajaj Group. Queenslands private hospitals could be asked to pick up the slack if the states public system becomes overwhelmed with coronavirus patients. Negotiations are under way between the state government and private hospital providers to finalise an arrangement that would see private facilities, including large private hospitals such as the Mater, take on more patients. Its understood the plan being hashed out would see public hospitals take on most if not all the coronavirus cases, while private hospitals would ease the strain by taking other patients. The move follows the federal government announcement on Tuesday that a deal had been struck between the private and public sectors at a national level, increasing the countrys capacity by 34,000 beds. Advertisement Tensions are rising in small towns where New York City residents have fled to escape the coronavirus hotspot as locals complain of ransacked supermarkets and hospitals grow more and more crowded. So-called 'coronavirus refugees' have been leaving the Big Apple in droves, snapping up rental properties in quiet communities where the threat of contracting the deadly bug is significantly lower. But full-time residents of those towns are pulling back their welcome mats, fearing that the influx of visitors will bring infection that much closer to their doorstep while overwhelming already stretched resources. Local leaders in a number of vacation destinations across the Northeast, including the Hamptons, Hudson Valley and Martha's Vineyard, have called for travel bans on refugees from New York City, citing a strain on the food supply and concerns that regional health systems will collapse. In the absence of such a ban, several communities have pleaded with visitors to stay away, while others are taking matters into their own hands by ordering mandatory quarantines for people coming in from coronavirus hot zones. In Cape Cod, Massachusetts, more than 5,000 people have signed a petition to close bridges linking the area to the mainland to physically block out-of-state visitors. Tensions are rising in small towns where New York City residents have fled to escape the coronavirus hotspot as locals complain of ransacked supermarkets and hospitals grow more and more crowded. Pictured: A Stop & Shop store in East Hampton is overwhelmed by customers stocking up for self-isolation In the Hamptons, year-round residents have flooded social media with photos of empty shelves at stores, like the Best Market in Westhampton Beach shown above Popular destinations among so-called 'coronavirus refugees' include Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, Rhode Island, the Hamptons, Hudson Valley, the Jersey Shore and southern Florida. Local leaders in those communities have called for travel bans on visitors from New York City, citing a strain on the food supply and concerns that regional health systems will collapse As of Tuesday morning, more than 38,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus and 914 have died in New York City In the Hamptons, full-time residents have flooded social media with photos of overcrowded grocery stores where shelves have been emptied by panic-buying customers stocking up for self-isolation. At a Stop & Shop in East Hampton on Sunday, the store was so busy that employees had to supervise lines to keep people six feet apart and put up barriers to protect cashiers. Describing the scene to Page Six, a source said: 'It was way overcrowded, with some aisles having 20 or 30 people. 'There was no social distancing They sent security to one aisle and asked people to disperse.' Long Island's coveted beach towns have seen a surge in demand for rental homes. Some residents claim that property managers have asked them to leave so their homes could be rented out for a higher price to wealthy visitors from New York City. A report from Vice on Monday claimed that limousine companies have seen an increase in demand for drivers who will bring mail from people's Manhattan homes out to where they're staying on Long Island. Several celebrities are among the alleged coronavirus refugees filling up local beaches - including Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson and Anna Wintour. The leaders of four Hamptons communities wrote to Cuomo on Friday urging him to take action and ban residents coming to the East End. In Cape Cod, another popular summer getaway for New Yorkers, full-time residents are trying to get the local government to close bridges to cars with out of state license plates. In Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Island, community leaders are discouraging second-home owners and other travelers from harder-hit areas from visiting the area, where hospitals are already reporting shortages in beds and supplies. The leaders of four Hamptons communities wrote to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday urging him to take action and ban New York City residents coming to the East End. A couple are seen on an empty beach in Hampton Bays on Tuesday Half-empty shelves are seen at the Best Market in Westhampton Beach on Tuesday Stores in the Hamptons and across the country have struggled to keep up with demand for basic items like cleaning products and toilet paper as customers rush to stock up for self-isolation at home. Pictured: A Stop & Shop in East Hampton Beaches in the Hamptons have been filling up earlier than usual as New Yorkers flee to Long Island to escape coronavirus A group of people stretch their legs by taking a walk along Dune Road in Quogue on Tuesday In Cape Cod, Massachusetts, another popular vacation destination among New Yorkers, full-time residents started a petition to close bridges (such as the Sagamore Bridge, pictured) to cars with out of state license plates In Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Island, community leaders are discouraging second-home owners and other travelers from harder-hit areas from visiting the area, where hospitals are already reporting shortages in beds and supplies (file photo) A member of the Rhode Island National Guard approaches a property to check for New Yorkers on Saturday after the state ordered mandatory quarantine for people visiting from the hard-hit state As of Tuesday more than 181,900 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the US and 3,699 have died Eight coronavirus cases are confirmed in Martha's Vineyard Eight cases of coronavirus have been reported in Martha's Vineyard as local officials urge visitors to stay off the idyllic New England island. Initially three cases were reported on Sunday. That number rose to eight on Monday, the hospital said in a press briefing. However, at current capacity Martha's Vineyard small hospital can only hold nine COVID-19 patients. The sudden spike follows the exodus of New York City's elite to their summer and vacation homes upstate and throughout the East Coast - sending local communities reeling as grocery stores are suddenly emptied and hospitals overwhelmed. Martha's Vineyard Hospital is now bracing for a potential surge in COVID-19 patients on the island that stretches 87 square miles and boasts a population of 15,000. As of Tuesday morning, the hospital has tested 101 people for COVID-19. Eight of those tests have come back positive, 76 negative and 17 are pending results. However, officials said no one is currently hospitalized on the island for COVID-19 and none of the positive cases were hospital employees. While it's not clear if the positive patients were people who flocked to the island in light of the pandemic, the influx of Vineyard summer residents is concerning local officials. 'That's why we urged the governor to do a travel ban,' hospital president and CEO Denise Schepici said, according to the Vineyard Gazette. 'Because people flocking from places like New York, which have such a high incidence, we are just assuming everyone is positive. Thats why quarantine is essential. That's the golden nugget,' she added. Hospital leaders are now urging seasonal residents to stay put and Islanders to stay home. 'Less travel is less of a chance to spread the disease,' Schepici said. 'We also want to let our summer residents know, we love them, we depend on them, but Martha's Vineyard cannot handle our summer population in this pandemic.' Now the Island's board of health is working with hospital officials to conduct extensive contact tracing for the eight positive cases on the island, according to Martha's Vineyard Times. 'With only eight cases, I don't think that the cases are there to support community transmission at this point, but I can't say for certain,' Maura Valley, who works with Tisbury's health department, said. On Monday Schepici said the hospital had only six ventilators and two respiratory therapists. Now the hospital is scrambling for more beds and planning for potential patient transfers with the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, its parent company. 'We are preparing for a surge. I wish it were unlikely. I think it is highly likely,' she said. Five tents have been set up outside the hospital since the coronavirus outbreak started including a decontamination tent for emergency room workers and a tent for drive-through COVID-19 testing. Inside the hospital, the area has been divided into two separate coronavirus and non coronavirus sections to avoid the potential spread of the virus from within. Reporting by Marlene Lenthang for DailyMail.com Advertisement Counties in upstate New York propose mandatory 14-day quarantines for visitors arriving from NYC In upstate New York, county officials are considering enforcing 14-day quarantines for anyone entering their boundaries from coronavirus hot zones, namely New York City. Rensselaer County led the way by issuing a public health order on Friday requiring visitors arriving in the area to contact the local health department and self-quarantine for two weeks. Executive Steve McLaughlin, who has repeatedly called for New York Gov Andrew Cuomo to impose a travel ban on New York City residents, said he informed the governor's office and New York Health Commissioner Dr Howard Zucker about the order before it was issued. He said Cuomo did not immediately respond, so they went ahead with the plan. 'Cuomo seized power in one of his executive orders and vested it in the health department and the state health department. Prior to that, county health departments had wide latitude in state statute,' McLaughlin told the Washington Examiner. 'It still remains in state statute, but he set it up in his mind so that we had to go to him and get permission. 'So, we did that. We said we don't want people coming here, but if they are, we want a 14-day quarantine.' And other county executives will likely follow suit, according to McLaughlin. 'We're already getting calls from other counties wanting to do the same thing,' he said. Senior Cuomo advisor Rich Azzopardi later said that the Rensselaer public health order is unenforceable, and that counties have to follow what the state prescribes. The Rensselaer order went out around the same time that Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo issued an executive order forcing travelers from New York to quarantine for 14 days after visiting her state. The Rhode Island National Guard then went door-to-door rounding up out-of-towners in a move that was not received well by Cuomo, who threatened to sue. Raimondo backed down on Sunday and subsequently expanded the order to include 'any person' coming to Rhode Island from another state. Drastic measures to keep out downstate visitors are warranted, McLaughlin says, because the vast majority of New York's more than 75,700 cases are concentrated in southern counties. In Rensselaer County, which is located about two and a half hours north of New York City and has a population of roughly 150,000, currently has 52 positive COVID-19 cases. New York City, by comparison, has more than 38,000 cases and 914 deaths as of Tuesday morning - far more than any other city in the US. Of people fleeing the Big Apple for upstate, McLaughlin says: 'The least that they can do is to self-quarantine for 14 days.' 'The way I look at it, if they're looking to escape, which clearly, they are, why would you risk infecting the very place that you escaped to?' the former Republican state legislator continued. 'Eighty-four percent of the cases were in Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, New York City, and Rockland counties. And if you add Putnam in, there it's probably close to 88 percent or to 89 percent. 'It's insanity to let those folks go freely. 'They're free to move about the state, of course, but I think it is common sense and just human decency to not infect the area that you're going to, and I don't think 14 days is a lot to ask.' At least six of Renssalaer's 52 confirmed coronavirus cases came from New York City residents who traveled to the county, according to local officials. In Columbia County, which is located about 125 miles north of Manhattan on the border of Massachusetts, about a third of the 36 confirmed cases were visitors from New York City, Public Health Director Jack Mabb said. Regional hospital systems brace for wave of coronavirus patients from out of town The influx of out-of-town infections has caused growing concern among county leaders that local hospital systems will be overwhelmed by patients. During a Facebook Live event on Monday, McLaughlin said healthcare facilities upstate will become 'rapidly overrun' if people keep traveling north from New York City and its hard-hit suburbs. 'Our health system will be in trouble,' McLaughlin said. He made the comments after Gov Cuomo announced that health systems across New York have agreed to a 'balanced approach' to handle the outbreak by moving patients from overstretched hospitals to less crowded ones. Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin (left) has repeatedly called for a travel ban on New York City residents fleeing upstate. On Monday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (right) announced that health systems across New York have agreed to a 'balanced approach' to handle the outbreak by moving patients from overstretched hospitals to less crowded ones Referencing the surge of patients at New York City's public and private hospitals, Cuomo said: 'We have hospitals in upstate New York that are experiencing none of this where they have staff capacity, they have bed capacity. 'We need you now, here in this fight and engaged, and thats a totally different concept [for hospitals].' But McLaughlin and other county leaders aren't fully on board with the state-led plan, fearing that it could heighten the risk of COVID-19 exposure in their communities and would take up space in hospitals that may later be needed for local residents. Asked his reaction to the plan after Cuomo's announcement, Columbia County Public Health Director Jack Mabb told local radio station WGXC 90.7: 'I'm concerned because my job is to be concerned about Columbia County residents, and if somebody needs a ventilator and all the ventilators are full at the hospital, I'm concerned about it.' However, Mabb conceded that the plan 'makes sense to some degree' - and it appears to already be in motion. McLaughlin said Rensselaer County had received 'confirmation from a reliable source' on Monday that 'potentially a bus load' of patients had been transferred from downstate hospitals to Albany Medical Center. Asked to confirm that statement, Albany Med spokeswoman Sue Ford told the Times Union: 'We have no information on this at this time.' As case counts in New York exploded last week, Cuomo issued an order requiring all hospitals in the state to increase their capacity by at least 50 percent, with a goal of 100 percent. At the time, officials at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson said they would be able to 'very rapidly' boost its staffed bed capacity by at least 65 percent. Chief medical officer Clifford Belden told a news conference that the hospital could 'go well beyond' that number with a little more time and 'some additional help' from the state. The hospital, which is part of the Albany Medical Center system and serves both Columbia and Greene counties, generally has six to seven ICU beds staffed at any given time, according to Belden. 'We will be able to likely more than double that with our surge plan,' he said. On Monday Mabb announced that Columbia County's Office of Emergency Management had also identified 11 buildings that could be converted into temporary medical facilities if necessary. Officials at Columbia Memorial Hospital (pictured) are aiming to boost staffed bed capacity by at least 65 percent The vast majority of New York's more than 75,700 cases are concentrated in southern counties Local leaders battle with rental companies inviting people to escape from hot spots Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said vacation rental companies such as Airbnb are making matters worse by attempting to draw more visitors from out of town to their properties. 'Airbnb are advertising: "Get out of the apocalypse. Leave New York City. Leave downstate. Rent a home,"' Neuhaus told the Examiner. He said executives from at 62 counties in New York participate in a nightly phone call about the coronavirus crisis. 'It's a big discussion every night, because upstate New York, the further you are, the more upset the county execs are getting,' he said. In the Hamptons, real estate agents have seen a spike in demand for rentals that aren't normally sought after until closer to summer. Nest Seekers International's Dylan Eckardt told the Wall Street Journal that one wealthy New Yorker called him on his way out of the city to say he had a blank check and to find him a property to ride out the pandemic. 'I got this call: 'I'm on my way, driving out from the city. You've got to find me a house south of the highway with nine bedrooms, I want no one around me. I want a pool, a tennis court. I've got a blank check. Make it happen',' he said. 'We're renting stuff that never rents in March. There's not even a price for it, because it doesn't happen.' In the Hamptons, real estate agents have seen a spike in demand for rentals that aren't normally sought after until closer to summer. A woman is seen outside Rogers Beach in Westhampton on Tuesday Beaches in Westhampton were quiet on Tuesday as clouds covered the sky A few surfers donned wetsuits and took to the waves on Tuesday despite the cloudy weather A man looks out at the ocean at Shinnecock Inlet on Tuesday In an op-ed for Bloomberg, columnist Joe Nocera described how a broker who sold him his home in the Hamptons recently asked if he had any interest in renting it out. Nocera and his family left New York City for their three-bedroom Southampton home when the outbreak ramped up about two and a half weeks ago. Not long after, the broker reached out to his wife Dawn and asked where they were planning to self-isolate, he said. When Dawn said they were staying on Long Island, the broker replied: 'I could rent your place for a lot of money. Let me know if you change your mind.' Nocera said that roughly two-thirds of his neighborhood is comprised of summer homes that remain empty through most of the year. But now, he said almost all of the homes have cars parked in the driveway - a rare sight for March. As one of the 'coronavirus refugees' himself, Nocera said he's felt significant disdain from locals who are frustrated to see so many New York City residents infiltrating their community to escape the virus. As the US outlook around the coronavirus pandemic changes day by day, pastors are quickly adjusting their expectations about how the disruptions will impact their ministry. Oregon pastor Tyler Braun explained that on top of just navigating the right-now urgency of how to pivotthe push to move services and giving and small groups onlinepastors are grappling with the inevitable fallout on their members and community. At New Harvest Church, where he leads worship and family ministries, Braun worries people will be forced to experience grief in isolation, lose out on finances, and face the coronavirus restrictions well into the summer. A new survey by Barna Research found over the course of just a week, most church leaders went from thinking theyd be back to meeting as usual in late or March or April (52%), to projecting the changes would extend to May or longer (68%). There is this realism thats setting in, said David Kinnaman, Barna Group president. But while most pastors are realistic, theyre also optimistic, according to Kinnaman. One of the cool things about pastors weve learned over the years is that they are by job description and by disposition more upbeat, positive, hope-filled people, he said. So they are often pretty capable of putting a good face in a tough situation, and they, like other leaders, are going to face a lot of tough decisions in the coming weeks as the crisis continues. Though most had already called off normal activities at church, pastors also implemented swift changes in policies around smaller group meetings over the past several days. The percentage who still allow the church building to be used for small meetings and gatherings has dropped by about half (from 18% to 8%), according to Barnas Church Pulse survey, hearing from 434 Protestant senior pastors and executive pastors in the US. A plurality say the church staff will be working remotely for the foreseeable future (up from 25% to 40%). The question of restrictions (not just for worship but also staff meetings, Bible studies, even the group assembled to livestream services) has been an urgent one for pastors as more stories emerge of coronavirus spreading in church settings like choir practices and funerals. A recent poll conducted by Denison University political scientist Paul Djupe and two fellow researchers found as many as 17 percent of US worshipers across traditions were still attending in-person gatherings of some sort as of early last week. Compared to other traditions, evangelicals werent significantly more likely to say their churches were still open, but those who also ascribe to the prosperity gospel do have stronger feelings against churches closing to comply with government orders, a case which played out in Tampa on Monday. Nearly half of evangelicals with prosperity gospel beliefs agreed that freedom to worship is too important to close in-person religious services due to the coronavirus even if more people die as a result. At this point, the vast majority of US Protestant pastors have closed their church doors and understand that ministry will be disrupted for months ahead. So the pressing questions have shifted to the state of their congregation as a whole, and what they as leaders can do to shepherd their disparate flock through an unprecedented time. More than three-quarters of pastors surveyed by Barna over the past few days indicated that the coronavirus pandemic had affected the well-being of their church, up from two-thirds during the beginning of the March 2030 survey window. Half (47%) say giving was significantly down, but only one in five (21%) have decided to cut staff hours. The vast majority (71%) say they have not been forced to make staffing changes. Though they recognize the financial impact as giving levels drop, pastors said their biggest concern is their congregants: how to care for more isolated members from afar and, in worst-case scenarios, how to minister to the sick and dying. (In many places, even chaplains can no longer visit patients.) What about the people who live alone? The depressed? The sick? Those who have lost loved ones? It feels like just at the time when their congregation really needs pastoral care, they arent able to be with them as they typically would. I am primarily concerned for the health of our people, particularly those in high risk categories, said Chris Taylor, teaching elder at Christ Church Bentonville in Arkansas. On his social media feeds, Taylor shares daily clips of driving to congregants homes to greet and check in from a distance. I am not concerned for us as a body, he said. I actually expect us to be strengthened and encouraged by our responses both individually and as a whole. Taylors outlook reflects what fellow pastors in the Barna survey: 95 percent are confident that their church will endure the pandemic and nearly all say it will not diminish their congregants faith, with 42 percent saying it is growing stronger as a result. Erik Koliser, who pastors the West Campus of Center Point Church in Lexington, Kentucky, brought up the challenge of meeting the large-scale needs of my church and community, but said that things have gone better than he expected. I have to admit Im quite proud of my church with this so far, he said on Monday. Kinnaman at Barna said that without the weekly in-person church gathering, many pastors have had realized how much they counted on seeing people in the pews as a sign of the health of the congregation. One of the long-lasting impacts of this crisis is that leaders will have to use better tools to stay connected with their people, he said. Ed Stetzer, director of the Billy Graham Center, saw similar challenges as more than 1,500 pastors responded to a recent survey around church life amid the COVID-19 outbreak. While pastors might have been looking for information or encouragement in the early days of the epidemic, their overwhelming request is for practical advice, Stetzer wrote on his CT blog, the Exchange. More than half of pastors specifically were looking for resources around ministry outside of Sunday services and traditional face-to-face outreach. A 22-year-old man with foreign travel history has tested positive for coronavirus in Chhattisgarh's Korba district, taking the number of COVID-19 infection cases in the state to eight, officials said on Tuesday. The man, who studies in London, returned to Korba town via Mumbai on March 18 and was placed in home isolation. After he complained of cold and cough, his sample was sent for testing, Korba Collector Kiran Kaushal said. His sample was tested COVID-19 positive late night on Monday, she said. He was accompanied by his sister during his travel from Mumbai to Korba and her sample was also collected for testing which came out to be negative, she said. All his family members have been asked to stay in home quarantine, she added. The man was shifted to state capital Raipur on Tuesday morning and admitted to isolation ward at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Raipur, Director AIIMS Nitin M Nagarkar said adding his condition is stable. On March 18, a 24-year-old woman tested positive for the virus in the state, while five more cases were confirmed on March 25. The seventh case was detected on March 28. Of the earlier seven cases, four, including two women, belong to Raipur while one each is from Rajnandgaon, Durg and Bilaspur districts. Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: 24 attendees at Nizamuddin religious assembly tested COVID-19 positive Also read: Coronavirus: One more patient dies in Madhya Pradesh, death toll at 5 Anita Cobby was brutally raped and murdered in a crime that shocked Australia Four men who brutally raped and murdered a nurse and beauty queen in a crime that shocked Australia could be released early from prison. Anita Cobby, 26, was found naked in a field in western Sydney after she was grabbed while walking home from Blacktown station and then beaten, raped and had her throat cut by brothers Leslie, then 22, Gary, 28, and Michael Murphy, 33, and John Travers, 18, and Michael Murdoch, 19. They were all found guilty of murder. Michael Murphy died last year and the remaining four are serving a life sentence. But the NSW Bar Association has backed a plan that could turn the definition of a life sentence on its head and allow Ms Cobby's four surviving killers to seek leniency, The Daily Telegraph reported. Offenders once considered unquestioningly violent and dangerous could be released after 'imprisonment, counselling and simple maturing', according to the lawyers' body. Leslie Murphy, 22, Gary Murphy , 28, Michael Murdoch, 19, and John Travers, 18 - were convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison Anita Cobby, 26, was found naked in a field in western Sydney after she was grabbed while walking home from Blacktown station. Pictured: Anita Cobby's parents Gary and Grace at her grave site Under the proposed changes, Allan Baker, now 71, and Kevin Crump, 69, who tortured and murdered young mother-of-three Virginia Morse in 1973 could also apply to have their life sentences reassessed. Ms Morse was abducted from her family's property in Collarenebri in north-west NSW and tortured for 22 hours. Details of her ordeal have never been released but one report said she was shot in both eyes before her body was dumped in a river. The pair have been in jail for 46 years. Virginia Morse's (pictured) killers have been behind bars for 46 years. Baker, who has diabetes, is now 71 and Crump is 69 Allan Baker (left) raped and murdered Virginia Morse in 1973 with Kevin Crump (right) The NSW Sentencing Council are reviewing the proposed changes after the release of serial paedophile Michael Guider in September last year caused public outcry. Guider pleaded guilty to kidnapping and killing nine-year-old Samantha Knight in 1986, along with 60 other child offences. He was released from jail even though never revealed the location of Samantha's body. The lawyers' body said the popular idea that sentences for murder and manslaughter are not tough enough is a 'misconception'. Legal Aid NSW also backed the motion to allow people serving life sentences to have their situation redetermined. The two bodies put in submissions for non-parole periods to be implemented for murderers who have been jailed for life - giving them the opportunity to be released. Samantha Knight was snatched from her Bondi apartment. Her body has never been found Guider had previously been jailed for sexually assaulting 13 children from 1980 to 1996 and police are aware of other victims still too traumatised to come forward 'The crushing nature of a natural term life sentence with no prospect of release from prison has been long recognised, particularly for young offenders who given the general rate of life expectancy could potentially spend 50 years or more in prison,' the Bar Association said in the submission. It also said 'predicting future dangerousness' of a criminal is 'notoriously difficult' and should be reassessed in the future. If passed, the submission would cover all 49 life sentences currently being served in the state. Legal Aid NSW said families of victims would need support and assistance to properly understand the re-determination process. Samantha Knight's mother Tess wrote in the submission: 'The only way a convicted killer can satisfy their debt to society is for society to ensure no other person is ever exposed to the risk of being killed by a convicted murderer.' Submissions have closed the the Sentencing Council is preparing its recommendation. The number of COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh climbed to 101 and the state is moving towards community transmission, state's Principal Health Secretary Amit Mohan warned on Tuesday. "The COVID19 cases rise to 101 including 14 cured in the state. Most of the cases have come from two clusters--Gautam Budh Nagar and Meerut," Mohan said while addressing a press conference."We are moving towards the community transmission phase of COVID-19. The next 15 days are very crucial," he added. Mohan said that the Chief Minister has decided that in every district, an officer of the health department should be made the nodal officer so that COVID-19 can be stopped under any circumstances. The testing is being done in 8 labs of UP. "Preparation has been completed in Jhansi and Lucknow, soon the testing will start. Work is also being done to start testing in Prayagraj," he added. The Union Health Ministry said the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 32 and the number of total active coronavirus cases to 1,117 as on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. Israeli police with face masks and batons and backed by surveillance helicopters have stepped up patrols of ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighbourhoods that have become coronavirus hotspots. This week has seen tense altercations, and some rabbis have admitted that their communities, where prayer and scripture study are traditionally communal, are not observing new social distancing regulations. A few days ago in Bnei Brak, a city near Tel Aviv with a largely ultra-Orthodox population, hundreds of faithful crowded together to attend the funeral of prominent rabbi Tzi Shenkar. They flouted pandemic emergency rules limiting attendance at funerals to 20 people, who must keep a distance of at least two metres (six feet) from one another. The orders have closed places of worship of all faiths. The mass funeral brought wide condemnation, including from some high-profile members of the ultra-Orthodox community. Eliyahu Sorkin, head of intensive care at Bnei Brak's Mayanei Yeshua hospital and himself ultra-Orthodox, called the breach of health regulations "criminal". Influential rabbi Chaim Kanievsky condemned the mass event and Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, also ultra-Orthodox, even said he had asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to impose a blockade on the city. "The situation there is horrific," the minister said in an interview with Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot. The government was said to be considering the blockade request. In Jerusalem, Chief Rabbi David Lau made a radio appeal to the observant to "inform" the authorities of those they see breaking the rules. Litzman's ministry has so far confirmed more than 4,800 cases of COVID-19 infection nationwide since the first recorded instance in Israel, in February. Since then 17 people have died and more than 160 have recovered, according to data released Tuesday. Media reports say that half of the country's sick are ultra-Orthodox, although they make up only around 10 percent of the population. Bnei Brak, where the mayor himself tested positive for COVID-19, runs second in the number of confirmed cases after Jerusalem. The Holy City is the heart of the Orthodox world, centred round the densely-populated Mea Sharim neighbourhood which has largely become a no-go zone for outsiders. There and in other ultra-Orthodox neighbourhoods, police helicopters hover over lanes, courtyards and alleys, looking for men gathering for outdoor prayer now that synagogues are locked down. Police said officers on the ground had handed out fines to violators on Monday. Police in Mea Sharim arrested ultra-Orthodox men who protested the closure of a synagogue there, an AFP photographer witnessed. Video shows an officer briefing his squad to sweep the area and ensure that all places of prayer were closed, while some objectors shouted "Nazis". Rabbi Henri Kahn told AFP that the ultra-Orthodox world had "missed the boat" in anti-virus measures. "We did not want to see," he said. In Bnei Brak in particular, some synagogues and seminaries stayed open well after the lockdown orders given by the authorities. Motti Ravid, director of the Mayanei Yeshua hospital there, expects a sharp rise in the number of ultra-Orthodox who become infected. He says that with internet and television prohibited in the community on religious grounds, government directives took a long time to filter through. Even for those using mobile phones, access to the internet and most instant messengers is blocked, shutting them off from the main means of communication used now by the health ministry. Kahn also said that the government measures directly clashed with Jewish religious obligations, such as the requirement for every man to pray three times a day in a synagogue with nine others. Next week is the major Jewish holiday of Passover, a feast also known as the festival of freedom which celebrates the biblical Exodus from Egypt. At its centre is feasting and reciting blessings with the extended family. Many now wonder how to observe the ancient traditions at a time of social distancing, while officials fear mass breaches of the safety regulations. As the holiday nears, said health ministry director general Moshe Bar Siman Tov, "we are afraid that people will gather on Passover despite the ongoing ban, and that the situation will worsen. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The hundreds of beds sourced across Dublin for homeless people are not being seen on the ground, a campaigner has claimed. Anthony Flynn, the head of Inner City Helping Homeless (ICHH), said there has been a massive increase in the number of homeless people leaving shared hostel accommodation over fears of becoming infected with coronavirus. The Dublin councillor said that individuals are not able to self-isolate in hostels as up to six people could be sharing one room. Up to 350 hotel rooms and living spaces were made available to Dublins homeless services over the last few weeks. The measures are part of the Governments efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The homelessness campaigner has said that the number of rough sleepers has not reduced, as many have decided to sleep rough rather than overcrowd the system. Mr Flynn said that today, ICHH served basic food provisions to more than 2,000 people while more than 300 hot meals were gone in 15 minutes last week. He said: There has been an increase in relation to the number of people who need assistance and in the number of people leaving hostels because the chances of self-isolating in hostels are slim. The hostels are overcrowded and we are now seeing this new wave of people coming into the homeless system in the last two weeks. People are afraid they will catch coronavirus in hostels. Despite promises of extra beds and self isolation units there is still a lot of uncertainty on the streets as our teams are out nightly We assisted 58 males and 22 females on outreach last night so the demand for support is there. Thanks @SelflessIreland for the graphic. pic.twitter.com/G4dbpgnXmG ICHHDUBLIN (@ICHHDUBLIN) March 31, 2020 There were three new tents last night so we are not seeing what we are being told has been initiated, because there is a new wave of people in homeless services. Mr Flynn also said that prisoners freed on temporary release over coronavirus fears are ending up on the street. The latest restrictions in operation since Friday, March 27 mandate that everyone should stay at home, only leaving to: Shop for essential food and household goods; Attend medical appointments, collect medicine or other health products; Care for children, older people or other vulnerable people - this excludes social family visits; Exercise outdoors - within 2kms of your home and only with members of your own household, keeping 2 metres distance between you and other people Travel to work if you provide an essential service - be sure to practice social distancing The Irish Prison Service (IPS) released inmates to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Mr Flynn added: Prisoners have been told they are leaving prison because it is overcrowded. There are around two to three people in a cell, but in hostels you are sleeping up to six people in one room. Its in complete disarray. There are empty buildings and empty hotels around the city but people are still sleeping rough People are working all hours to implement plans to keep people safe but the system is not working. There are facilities like those in City West Hotel where there are over 700 rooms available to people who need to self-isolate. People who are homeless and need to isolate need to use these rooms. There are already a number of homeless people who have to self-isolate and a number of others who have tested positive for the virus. We have been told there is now a one-tier health system but they are being treated differently. There are empty buildings and empty hotels around the city but people are still sleeping rough. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Ten more deaths took the toll to 88, while the tally of infections rose to 2,084, with 538 additional cases, said health ministry official Maria Rosario Vergeire Manila: The Philippines recorded on Tuesday its largest daily increase in coronavirus deaths and infections, as it ramped up testing with the arrival of thousands of kits from abroad and the opening of new laboratories. Ten more deaths took the toll to 88, while the tally of infections rose to 2,084, with 538 additional cases, said health ministry official Maria Rosario Vergeire. The ministry has opened new labs and run more than 15,000 tests, a five-fold jump from about 3,000 last week, she said, adding that more hospitals were seeking government approval to function as testing centres. We have six more laboratories to conduct tests, Vergeire said. We are also conducting contact tracing to find possibly infected persons. Philippine hospitals are struggling with a shortage of protective gear, manpower and testing capacity, as are hospitals elsewhere. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak The Philippines, the third country after China and Italy to order home quarantine for a large part of its population of 107 million had until recently reported fewer cases than expected, with many deaths. Authorities had attributed that to a lack of testing kits and lab capacity. President Rodrigo Duterte has put retired generals among his cabinet in charge of the task force battling the crisis, saying its management requires military-style discipline. To the delight of many of her 25.8 million Instagram followers, Emily Ratajkowski has been sharing a number of skin-baring photos of herself while under coronavirus quarantine with husband Sebastian Bear-McClard. And on Monday the model-actress, 28, sprawled out on the floor of her New York City apartment for a revealing snap; only this time with her beloved pet pooch Colombo 'He's so sick of the snuggles,' she captioned the image of her nearly naked body as she gave the pup a loved-up petting. Spreading the love: Emily Ratajkowski, 28, shared a nearly naked photo of herself snuggling up with her dog Colombo while in home quarantine in New York City on Monday Never one to be shy about showing off her amazingly toned curves, the London born star only wore gold and black thong underwear with a dark blue-patterned bathrobe that was left nearly wide open. The contrived move allowed for her body to nearly be on full display, with the exception of her breasts. She also appeared to have her dark brown tresses to be pulled back off her face in a ponytail or bun. Social distancing: The model and actress also shared a solo snap of Colombo where she revealed she will have another q-and-a on Tuesday Blossoming: Ratajkowski also shared some more revealing throwback photos As expected, Colombo appeared to be very excitable as his mom dished out the hugs and rubbed his tummy. The I Feel Pretty actress also posted a solo snap of the mixed breed pooch on her Insta-Story with the caption: 'think I'll do my weekly q and a tomorrow... how about that.' And in keeping with the last couple of weeks during her COVID-19 sequester, Ratajkowski shared some more throwback photos, which included her posing completely nude with only her right arm and a pink flower covering her private parts. Bringing beauty: In a move to try to ease the stress of these uncertain times we're now living in, Ratajkowski posted a number of photos that showcased flowers 'Mother's nature: Hope that added some beauty to your day,' she captioned one picture featuring a bouquet of flowers In a move to try to ease the stress of these uncertain times we're all now living in, Ratajkowski shared a number of photos that showcased flowers. 'Hope that added some beauty to your day,' she captioned one bouquet of flowers. She also used her platform to promote her session baking cookie with Tan France, the British fashion designer and television personality. Luxembourgs foreign policy chief Jean Asselborn spoke by phone with the State Councillor and Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China, Wang Yi, this Monday 30 March 2020. The conversation took place at the initiative of the Chinese side. The discussion focused on the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures that are being implemented at national, regional and international levels to contain the pandemic. Both Ministers stressed the importance of sending a positive signal of solidarity and cooperation between China and Europe and of promoting multilateral action in the fight against COVID-19. In this context, Minister Asselborn stressed that "this health crisis is a global challenge, and we can only face this challenge by helping each other and cooperating at international level, including at the United Nations level, by supporting the World Health Organization". Minister Wang Yi thanked Luxembourg for its assistance to China at the beginning of the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Minister Asselborn in turn thanked his colleague for the assistance provided to Luxembourg by China and for facilitating the transport of medical equipment from China to Luxembourg. In this respect, the essential role of Cargolux and HNCA was highlighted. In conclusion, the two Ministers reaffirmed the tradition of mutual support and solidarity between the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the People's Republic of China. They agreed to remain in contact and to continue joint efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Press release by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs AGAWAM, MA On Leap Year Night just a month ago, friends and family of Ilyssa Riley and Anthony Boido gathered at the Dante Club in West Springfield, Mass. for a Jack & Jill party to celebrate the couple's upcoming nuptials on May 2. Just days later, with the onset of the new coronavirus pandemic, those plans have been thrown into disarray, as have those of literally hundreds of engaged couples across New England. Riley, a 2009 graduate of Enfield High School, and her fiance became engaged on Feb. 23, 2019 in Lake George, N.Y., and immediately began making arrangements for their special day. The first thing they did was book La Notte, a busy banquet hall in East Windsor, then began all the other preparations associated with weddings - finding a DJ, videographer, photographer, makeup artist, florist, dress shop ... as any bride will attest, there is a lot of ground to cover. To register for free Enfield news alerts and more, click here. Invitations were sent to a guest list numbering around 200 people. Shortly after they were mailed, the world began changing, and before long, the young couple was faced with having to postpone the event, and trying to reschedule all their selected vendors. Riley say they were able to find some common availability dates for their vendors, but the big task would be rebooking the banquet hall. La Notte was able to come up with two dates compatible with the couple's other essential personnel - Friday, June 19 or a date in mid-October. Despite a Friday not being ideal for some people, Riley said she and Boido are leaning toward the June date, with the understanding it may change again due to the uncertainty of the pandemic. The next step was figuring out how to notify all the guests; their solution was to post the news on Facebook, which Riley did Tuesday morning. To all our wedding guests: This was a much easier way to get this out. We were almost a month away from our big day but due to the unfortunate event of the Covid-19 pandemic we had to cancel. We are now looking at June 19th or Oct 17th. New invites will go out in a couple weeks when we see how this all plays out. Stay safe everyone! Story continues "Very few of the guests are over 60, and almost all of them are on Facebook, so we figured we'd do it that way," Riley said in a phone interview with Patch. Knowing they will have to resend invitations, she contacted the online provider Shutterfly, which agreed to supply the next order at no charge. That savings will certainly help the couple, as Boido's business, TNT Tent and Table Rentals in Agawam, has been hurt tremendously by the fallout from the pandemic. The cancellation of St. Patrick's Day festivities at western Massachusetts bars, as well as many colleges shutting down early and opting to forego graduation ceremonies, has taken its toll on party rental companies. One final aspect of the wedding experience is planning a honeymoon. Riley and Boido had planned a trip to Costa Rica immediately following their ceremony, but depending on travel restrictions, they may wait until winter before embarking on their dream excursion. Despite the pressure of having to rearrange a year's worth of planning in a few hectic weeks, Riley is taking it all in stride. "There's nothing you can do, just got to go with the flow." This article originally appeared on the Enfield Patch By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, March 23 (Reuters) - 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. So far more than 351,00 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 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." (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Jonathan Oatis) 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. With coronavirus seemingly pushing Australia towards a cashless society, some consumers are confused over whether businesses can legally refuse to take notes and coins. Many cafes, newsagents and supermarkets across the country have already banned cash or expressed a preference for electronic payments to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Some businesses have gone further and asked customers to use tap-and-go technology to further avoid contact with Eftpos machines. However, those who choose to use cash or are uncomfortable with electronic payment, including the elderly, may be unsure whether they can insist on using hard currency. With coronavirus seemingly pushing Australia towards a cashless society some consumers are confused over whether businesses can legally refuse to take notes and coins. Pictured is a supermarket customer at Woolworths in Sydney's Town Hall Many cafes, newsagents and supermarkets across the country have already banned cash or expressed a preference for electronic payments to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Pictured is a doughnut van at the Queen Victoria Markets in Melbourne Some businesses have asked customers to use tap-and-go technology to further avoid contact with Eftpos machines. Pictured is a man shopping for fruit and vegetables in Melbourne The simple answer is that business can refuse to take cash in most circumstances. The Reserve Bank of Australia has set out the rules. 'Australian banknotes and coins do not necessarily have to be used in transactions and refusal to accept payment in legal tender banknotes and coins is not unlawful,' it states. 'It appears that a provider of goods or services is at liberty to set the commercial terms upon which payment will take place before the "contract" for supply of the goods or services is entered into. 'For example, some vending machines, parking meters and road toll collection points indicate by signs that they will not accept low denomination coins. 'Some road toll collection points indicate that they will not accept any cash at all.' Businesses such as cafes can alert customers to the commercial terms of the transaction they are about to undertake, for instance with a sign saying 'cash only'. Businesses such as cafes can alert customers to the commercial terms of the transaction they are about to undertake, for instance with a sign saying 'cash only' Earlier this month the Reserve Bank published a survey which found only one in four transactions last year were in cash. The Reserve noted Australians aged 65 and over were using cash less often but still handed over notes and coins for more than half their purchases 'If a provider of goods or services specifies other means of payment prior to the contract, then there is usually no obligation for legal tender to be accepted as payment,' the Reserve Bank states. When does a business have to accept cash? Businesses can refuse to take cash in most circumstances, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia. 'Refusal to accept payment in legal tender banknotes and coins is not unlawful,' it states. 'It appears that a provider of goods or services is at liberty to set the commercial terms upon which payment will take place before the "contract" for supply of the goods or services is entered into.' Businesses such as cafes can alert customers to the commercial terms of the transaction they are about to undertake, for instance with a sign saying 'cash only'. 'If a provider of goods or services specifies other means of payment prior to the contract, then there is usually no obligation for legal tender to be accepted as payment,' the Reserve Bank states. However, refusal to accept cash in payment of an existing debt when no other means of settlement has been specified in advance could leave a business open to legal challenge. Advertisement However, refusal to accept cash in payment of an existing debt when no other means of settlement has been specified in advance could leave a business open to legal challenge. There are also limits on how many coins a business is required to take in payment. For example, any combination of 5c, 10c and 50c coins does not have be accepted for purchases of more than $5. For 1c and/or 2c coins (both of which have been withdrawn from circulation) the cut-off is a 20c purchase. Ten times the face value of $1 and $2 coins is all that has to be accepted for that currency. For those who might want to dig through their grandparents' coin collections, another potential payment option opens up. In theory, you could use pennies, shillings and other pre-decimal coins to pay for a coffee because while they are no longer in circulation they remain legal tender. The monetary values of coins removed from circulation when decimal currency was introduced in 1966 are set in the Currency Act (1965). A pound is worth $2, a shilling 10 cents, and a penny is valued at five-sixths of a cent. However, some pre-decimal coins are worth more to collectors than their face value so trying to use them to buy goods today may be selling yourself short. The same rules limiting the number of coins that can be used to pay a debt apply and a merchant can still refuse to take old cash. The World Health Organisation has issued advice to avoid cash as part of efforts to slow the transmission of coronavirus. Shops are increasingly installing screens to protect workers from the spread of coronavirus As of Tuesday there were 4,459 coronavirus cases in Australia and 19 people had died from the disease. The most populous states, NSW, Victoria and Queensland had the most infections 'We would advise people to wash their hands after handling banknotes, and avoid touching their face,' the organisation advised earlier this month. 'When possible it would also be advisable to use contactless payments to reduce the risk of transmission.' Cash has been in decline in Australia in recent years and the Commonwealth Bank has predicted it may disappear from the economy by 2026. Earlier this month the Reserve Bank published a survey which found only one in four transactions last year were in cash. The Reserve noted Australians aged 65 and over were using cash less often but still handed over notes and coins for more than half their purchases. Monday, March 30, 2020 The rising cases of COVID-19 illness and deaths bring the end-of-life conversation and funeral planning issues into our daily consciousness. Here are helpful news stories to place these issues in perspective and offer actionable steps for you and your family. Step-By-Step Guide to Planning a Funeral USA Today recently posted this article with nine steps to planning a funeral. If your loved one has not discussed their end-of-life wishes, planning a funeral may be trying and draining. But with a strategy in place, funeral planning doesnt have to be overwhelming. USA Today also posted this helpful story, Tips to choose music for memorial events. Music touches hearts and is a wonderful element of memorial services. Its Time to Talk About Death This recent opinion column, Its Time to Talk About Death, by palliative care doctor Sunita Puri, M.D. in the New York Times, offers good insights about the importance of advance healthcare directives. She says,Americans are not good at talking about death. But we need to be prepared for when, not if, illness will strike. The coronavirus is accelerating this need. Our collective silence about death, suffering and mortality places a tremendous burden on the people we love, and on the doctors and nurses navigating these conversations. We should not be discussing our loved ones wishes for the first time when they are in an I.C.U. bed, voiceless and pinned in place by machines and tubes. Read the full commentary. My Horrifying Experience Burying My Aunt During Covid-19 This article in the BK Reader, based in Brooklyn, NY, details the challenges a niece faced when she had to claim her aunts body from a nursing home and arrange a funeral during this pandemic. Read the full article. Spare a Moment for Sorrow In The Atlantic, John Dickerson, contributing writer and 60 Minutes correspondent, provides a thoughtful commentary about grieving our losses. The test of a time like this is that it either drives us toward our common humanity, or it drives us apart. Let it be the former. Read the full commentary. Americans Rush to Make Online Wills This article on CNBCs website looks at the rush to make wills using online services. Lawyers caution that DIY wills can be deemed invalid if they dont meet all of the legal requirements of your state. DOWNLOAD A FREE EXECUTORS CHECKLIST. The 50 point checklist is featured in Gail Rubins book, Kicking the Bucket List: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die. Want to Plan for Your Death and Funeral? If these stories prompt you to pre-plan your funeral, this New York Times story from 2018 has great tips: Want to Plan for Your Death and Funeral? Heres How. Share this: The services will be free till April 30, or longer if lockdown last Coming to the aid of pharma, medical and healthcare companies amid coronavirus mayhem globally, New York based start-up Doceree which is the first Ad Exchange for branded Healthcare Professional Marketing has announced that it will allow companies to advertise on its platforms for free and help them reach out to doctors uninterruptedly. This is an initiative taken to support them when their crucial workforce of medical and sales representatives are locked indoors. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic upsurge followed by curfew, lockdown and Social Distancing supposed to be the effective preventive measures have almost put a pause in the lives of the people, posing serious challenges around. Despite putting sweat and blood round the clock to discover a vaccine or medicine for COVID-19 cure, medical scientists from across the world havent come out with flying colours yet. Owing to strict Social Distancing, Lockdown and stringent regulations coming up amidst COVID-19 scare for its prevention, Pharma companies are unable to reach out to the doctors as their Reps cant get face time with them to provide them with the free flow of scientific information about the drugs. Neither can they organise CMEs that update physicians information domain. Physicians need product information, KOL and Advisory Board content, services and support that Reps provide. In such circumstances where there is a complete disconnect between the doctors and the pharma, a New York-based Pharma Ad-tech start-up Doceree has created a digital Artificial (AI) based platform, which might be instrumental in bringing doctors and pharma together remotely despite Social Distancing and Lockdown. Dr. Harshit Jain, Founder & CEO, Doceree said, Of course, the outbreak of COVID-19 has been a sort of unexpected invasion over our personal and professional lives for several days and weeks. And the intensity of its ceaseless surge might prolong for a few months. In a situation where everything is locked in, HCPs cant have the option to put themselves out of their duties. However, they need some support which they get routinely by the pharma companies. But the question is how it could be done? Yes, this could be done through a technology-enabled remote working system that we call the digital medium. He adds further, We have developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based technology that uses data segmentation & analytics and offer the power to deliver sequential content, to promote the behaviour change needed to take the HCPs down the conversion funnel. This technology also understands doctors behaviour, so that one can connect with them better. Hence, in the situation when social distancing has been turning out to be quint-essential to fight the COVID-19 pandemic out, this is the only technology left for the pharmaceutical companies to reach out to the physicians. Despite willing to provide credible scientific information about the drugs to the doctors, the pharma companies are unable to reach them out as the COVID-19 pandemic is pacing faster. In such a situation, the digital medium is the only way forward wherein Doceree has been doing a marvellous job, influencing the US Pharma marketing & advertising with its latest digital modules based on AI. This technology has the potential to bridge the gap between the pharma and the doctors, paving the way for the former to reach out to the latter. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the specific module developed by the Doceree for the pharma companies that address the real problems they face in reaching out to the doctors has been largely superb. This innovative technology has been instrumental in bringing pharma companies back on track to reach out to the doctors in minimum resources with maximum credible scientific information. WASHINGTON Two deaths of cadets by suspected suicide since Thursday at the Air Force Academy, where 1,000 seniors are the only students on any military campus in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic, rattled the service from senior leadership to its trainees. The Air Force's top civilian and military brass rushed to the academy Monday to reassure cadets and steer the service through the turbulence of a global crisis and tragedies close to home. Unlike the Army and Navy, the Air Force has kept cadets on campus socially distant in single rooms, away from their roommates since the coronavirus began upending military and civilian life this month. Upon graduation, cadets and midshipmen are commissioned as U.S. military officers. At the Air Force Academy, new grads could serve as a source of new pilots to fill a shortfall, or new officers for the Space Force. Alumni of the academy and parents of cadets told USA TODAY, and filled private online chats, with concern about the Air Force response to the coronavirus and the deaths of the two students. The parent of one member of the 2020 class said the first suicide should have triggered a massive response by Air Force leadership to prevent a copycat act. It was not clear from communication from academy staff to the parents that enough attention was given to each cadet after the first death, said the parent, who asked not to be identified to protect their child from retribution. Precautions taken to fight coronavirus could have meant fewer civilian and uniform staff members were on campus to have eyes on cadets to see how they handled stress, the parent said. Military coronavirus: Cases continue to climb as all sailors on USS Theodore Roosevelt to be tested Air Force Academy graduates can serve as pilots if there is a shortfall. Underscoring the gravity of events, Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett, chief of staff Gen. David Goldfein and the commander of the newly minted Space Force, Gen. John Raymond, flew to Colorado Springs on Monday to meet with seniors, known as first-class cadets, as well as staff at the academy. There are about 1,000 cadets scheduled to graduate. Story continues I am heartbroken to confirm that since Thursday we have mourned the loss of two of our First-Class cadets here on our campus, and our entire Academy community is understandably shaken, Air Force Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria wrote in an email sent Monday to cadets, their families, staff and alumni. Silveria announced in the email one effort to balance fighting the virus with combating the isolation some of the senior cadets have felt. "We are having discussions with our healthcare professionals about how to balance cadet safety during a pandemic with providing the same sense of family and teamwork cadets are used to," Silveria wrote. "Based on those discussions, along with feedback from our cadets, we are allowing two cadets in a room again if they so choose." Read the email: Silveria's note after two cadets die by suicide on campus Army and Navy officials decided in March to close down their academies as the coronavirus spread across the country, continuing online education and not allowing their cadets and midshipmen to return to school. It's unclear when those graduation ceremonies, scheduled for May, will take place and in what form. "Keeping the Corps at home will better ensure the safety of the Corps, staff, faculty and the West Point community," Army Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, the West Point superintendent, wrote in a letter March 19. The Air Force chose a different path, Silveria noted in his email, because his cadets were not on spring break when the pandemic exploded. Three lower classes were sent home, while the seniors remained in single rooms to facilitate social distancing. "Our cadets were still weeks out from Spring Break, so we had the opportunity to make the call on whether they should stay at (the academy) in a more contained and safe environment with our leadership and healthcare professionals, or return home to varying situations that could preclude them from graduating in May," Silveria wrote. Military readiness: Coronavirus forces cuts to training, recruiting, adding to strained system Silveria acknowledged the concerns of parents and said he balanced those with the needs of the Air and Space Forces. "As a parent myself, I understand the feelings of concern our (academy) parents have for the cadets who have remained on our campus," Silveria wrote. "Likewise, as a graduate I understand and share the concern felt by our close-knit and protective community of graduates. We made the decision to keep First-Class cadets here because our Air and Space Forces have deemed us essential to their missions." He added that the students have access to coronavirus testing and top-flight medical care. At least one cadet has tested positive for the virus. Keeping fourth-year cadets at the academy comes against the backdrop of a shortage of pilots and the effort to begin staffing the Space Force, which was created in December when President Donald Trump signed legislation giving it birth. The Air Force, according to written testimony March 3 to the House Armed Services Committee, was short 2,100 pilots from the 21,000 it requires to execute the Trump Administration's National Defense Strategy. The 2020 Air Force Academy is set to commission 64 officers directly to the Space Force, making them among the new branch's first personnel. "The goal of this action is to maximize the chances of graduating the senior class on time for the Air and Space Forces while ensuring the best possible care for the entire base populace, Silveria wrote in his letter. Brig. Gen. Ed Thomas, the Air Force's top spokesman, said there was little or no consideration given to the pilot shortage or staffing the Space Force in deciding to keep cadets at the academy. "But our intent is to use the best data we have to strike a wise balance between military readiness and protection of all our people service members, families, our communities, while we support the national effort," Thomas said. "These are all exceptionally difficult decisions that we are making with the greatest care." If you are thinking about suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Air Force kept seniors on campus, isolated; two died within days Federal district court judges have issued temporary restraining orders on states that moved to restrict abortions amid the coronavirus pandemic, after abortion providers defied orders and sued to remain open. In Texas, District Court Judge Lee Yeakel sided with abortion clinics by issuing a temporary stay on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons ban to conserve protective gear for health care workers in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Paxton issued the ruling last week, which was enacted to preserve the states health-care capacity, and threatens a $1,000 fine or up to 180 days in jail for anyone who continues to conduct medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures, including abortion providers. Regarding a womans right to a pre-fetal-viability abortion, the Supreme Court has spoken clearly. There can be no outright ban on such a procedure, Yeakel, who struck down a Texas abortion ban in 2017, explained in the decision. Paxton responded by saying his office would appeal to ensure that medical professionals on the frontlines have the supplies and protective gear they desperately need. Sealy Massingill, the chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, said last week that Paxton was playing politics with the directive. In Ohio, District Court Judge Michael Barrett also ruled against the state in favor of Planned Parenthood and other groups, which sued on Monday to challenge the states ban. Barrett issued a two-week restraining order, saying that Ohio had not proved that banning abortions would save enough masks and other gear for medical workers to overrule the irreparable harm of denying women abortions. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a statement that hes consulting with the state Department of Health about next steps, be it an emergency appeal, a trial on the preliminary injunction, a more specifically drawn order or other remedy. Yost issued cease and desist orders earlier this month to abortion clinics that defied an order from the Department of Health (ODH) to stop conducting abortions. More from National Review Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-01 01:50:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Tuesday launched a report on the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, calling for global solidarity to respond to the impacts of COVID-19, which have caused and will cause tremendous losses to the human society. The report describes the speed and scale of the outbreak, the severity of cases, and the societal and economic disruption of COVID-19. "The new coronavirus disease is attacking societies at their core, claiming lives and people's livelihoods. The potential longer-term effects on the global economy and those of individual countries are dire," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the virtual press launch of the report: Shared responsibility, global solidarity: Responding to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19. "COVID-19 is the greatest test that we have faced together since the formation of the United Nations," said Guterres. "This human crisis demands coordinated, decisive, inclusive and innovative policy action from the world's leading economies - and maximum financial and technical support for the poorest and most vulnerable people and countries." The report comes after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced that the world has entered into a recession as bad or worse than that in 2009. The report calls for a large-scale, coordinated and comprehensive multilateral response amounting to at least 10 percent of global gross domestic product. As of 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, there were more than 820,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases across the world, with over 40,000 deaths, according to the data from Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering. The UN system and its global network of regional, sub-regional and country offices working for peace, human rights, sustainable development and humanitarian action, will support all governments and partners through the response and recovery, said the UN chief. To that end, the secretary-general has established a dedicated COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to support efforts in low- and middle-income countries. Its approach underpins the reformed United Nations with a coordinated multi-agency, multi-sectoral response for priority national and local actions address to the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis. "It will count on country leadership of Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams in swiftly supporting and enabling governments in this crisis, and recovery," Guterres said. According to the report, the shared responsibility and global solidarity roadmap calls for: suppressing the transmission of the virus to control the pandemic; safeguarding people's lives and their livelihoods and learning from this human crisis to build back better. The report warns that "there is no time to lose in mounting the most robust and cooperative health response the world has ever seen." The strongest support must be provided to the "multilateral effort" to suppress transmission and stop the pandemic, led by the World Health Organization. At the same time there is great need for scientific collaboration in the search for "vaccine and effective therapeutics." This must be matched with assurances of universal access to vaccines and treatment. Throughout the report, a "people-centered approach" is promoted that calls for engaging communities affected by COVID-19, respect for human rights and inclusion, gender equality and dignity for all. Recognizing that epidemics can expose and exacerbate existing inequalities in society, the roadmap shows it will be crucial to "cushion the knock-on effects on people's lives, their livelihoods and the economy." The report highlights examples of actions countries could take, such as direct provision of resources to support workers and households, provision of health and unemployment insurance, scaling-up of social protection, and support to businesses to prevent bankruptcies and job loss. The report strongly recognizes that women and girls must have a face in the response; and opportunities for young people, seriously affected, need to be preserved. No single country or entity will win alone against the pandemic, the report says. "A successful response and recovery will require international cooperation and partnerships at every level - governments taking action in lock step with communities; private sector engagement to find pathways out of this crisis. Partnerships based on solidarity will be the cornerstone for progress." "With the right actions, the COVID-19 pandemic can mark the beginning of a new type of global and societal cooperation," the report says. The report urges to adopt DO NO HARM trade policies, preserve connectivity, and ensure regional monetary-fiscal coordination; engage with private financial sector to support businesses; address structural challenges and strengthen normative frameworks to deal with transboundary risks. The report cites the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates as saying that "the world could lose between 5 million and 25 million jobs." The report also urges to undertake fiscal stimulus and support for the most vulnerable, protect human rights and focus on inclusion, support to small and medium sized enterprises, support decent work, support education and prioritize social cohesion measures. "We can go back to the world as it was before or deal decisively with those issues that make us all unnecessarily vulnerable to crises," the UN chief said at the virtual launch. "Our roadmap is the 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals," the secretary-general noted. "The recovery from the COVID-19 crisis must lead to a different economy," said Guterres. This photo provided by the North Korean government shows military exercise at an undisclosed location in North Korea on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) North Korea fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Sunday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, the latest in a series of projectile launches even as the country is on high alert against the coronavirus. Both were fired northeastward from the eastern coastal city of Wonsan at 6:10 a.m. and flew around 230 kilometers at a maximum altitude of around 30 km, the JCS said, adding that South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are analyzing other specifics. "In a situation where the entire world is experiencing difficulties due to COVID-19, this kind of military act by North Korea is very inappropriate and we call for an immediate halt," JCS said. The military is closely monitoring the situation while maintaining a readiness posture, it added. North Korea has carried out a series of weapons tests and artillery firing exercises this year. Except for small artillery firing drills, Sunday's launch is believed to be the North's fourth major weapons test this year. The last such test came on March 21, when the North fired two short-range ballistic missiles believed to be its version of the U.S.' Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) from its western county of Sonchon in North Pyongan Province. It is not immediately known if leader Kim Jong-un oversaw Sunday's firing, though the North's Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) had reported that the three previous tests this month took place under his watch. Sunday's firing seems to involve a super-large multiple rocket launcher, sources and experts said. If confirmed, it would mark the seventh test of the ground-based, solid-fuel weapon by the communist country so far, and the third launch this year. During the March 2 test, the North launched two missiles presumably from the multiple rocket launcher from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea. They flew around 240 kilometers on an apogee of 35 kilometers. Three projectiles of the similar type fired from its eastern town of Sondok on March 9 flew around 200 kilometers and as high as around 50 km, according to JCS. A series of the tests were believed to have been aimed at enhancing its capabilities by shortening the firing interval of projectiles so as to make them hard to detect and intercept. Their gap, in fact, was greatly shortened over the course of the tests. Some experts have said the North may have already put the launcher system into operational deployment, which is feared to serve as one of the most effective weapons aiming at its immediate neighbor, South Korea. Experts and officials say the North's recent military moves appear to be primarily aimed at strengthening his grip on power amid fears of the spread of the COVID-19 virus and economic difficulties caused by the prolonged international sanctions regime. The North has intensified efforts to contain the novel coronavirus, though the North has said it has not seen any confirmed case yet, a claim doubted by many. Last week, North Korea revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump had sent a letter to Kim, offering assistance in the fight against the coronavirus. But Pyongyang has not responded to the U.S. offer, according to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The North has also not reacted to the similar offer of inter-Korean cooperation on health issues made by South Korean President Moon Jae-in earlier this month, though Kim later sent a letter to Moon to console South Koreans fighting the virus and wish for their good health. Nuclear talks with the U.S. have been stalled since the breakdown of the Hanoi summit between Kim and Trump in February last year. Since then, the regime has called for boosting self-defense capabilities. In his New Year's Day message, leader Kim warned he will show off a "new strategic weapon" in the near future, which experts said may mean an advanced type of its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or an SLBM. (Yonhap) Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Research Future Published a Research Study on Calcium Chloride Market Research Report, Size, Share and Industry Analysis - Forecast to 2025 Calcium Chloride Market- Overview: The global market for calcium chloride, as for the analysis made by Market Research Future (MRFR), is showing substantial scope to surpass a valuation of USD 1.53 billion with a moderate CAGR of 4.3% a between 2016 and 2025, that would be considered as the forecast period. The calcium chloride market size would increase even further in the coming years. It is a compound of calcium and chlorine. As the report suggests, this growth in the calcium chloride market would get ample traction from the various uses, especially from dust control and de-icing activities. Especially, this would be the case in countries with cold weather. In the oil & gas industry, calcium chlorides application as drilling fluid can also spur the global demand. The growing calcium chloride application in the food industry as a preservative is providing the market an opportunity to diversify and increase its market percolation. In various other projects like water treatment, construction, agricultural, and animal sterilization, the demand for calcium chloride would lure in more market players. But the excessive consumption of calcium chloride compound can cause health-hazards like irregular heartbeats, muscle spasms, kidney stones, and joint pains. This can slacken the growth pace of the market. This can dampen the calcium chloride market demand. Segmentation analysis: The global Calcium Chloride Market Share, as had been reported by MRFR, can be segmented by grade, form, end-use industry, and application. These segments play crucial roles in determining how the market is going to profit in the coming years. By form, the global market for calcium chloride can be segmented into hydrated solid, liquid, and others. These segments have their niche clients who can make sure that the market gets strong tailwinds. By grade, the global report including details of the calcium chloride market has been segmented into agriculture grade, industrial grade, food-grade, and pharmaceutical grade. The second-largest segment has a remarkable scope in fetching higher revenues in the coming years. By raw material, the global report on the calcium chloride market can be segmented on the basis of the Solvay process (by-product), natural brine, and limestone and hydrochloric acid (HCL). By application, the global calcium chloride market report studies the market by having it segmented into oil & gas, de-icing & dust control, construction, healthcare, animal sterilization, food & beverages, agriculture, and others. Regional Analysis: The North American market had the highest market share in 2017. It was governing the market with 40% of the global market share. The current projection for the market suggests a recording of a significantly strong CAGR to score well during the forecast period. Its intake as a de-icing agent can make sure that the market grows significantly. In addition, the impact created due to the demand from the pharmaceutical industry and the production of drilling fluids can bolster its market growth. The European market can be termed as the second-largest market in terms of revenue share. Its growth in Germany and other countries like Spain, Italy, and France can secure better prospects for the market. The Asia-Pacific market has the potential to score a high CAGR during the forecast period. The growth would depend mostly on the industrial revamping process that is witnessing a surge in the investment from emerging economies. China would lead the market as the high demand from agriculture and food processing applications can trigger a better growth rate. In the Middle East & Africa, the market would fetch revenues from its profits in the oil & gas industry. Calcium Chloride Market- Competitive Analysis: Players, with their performance set to uplift the global calcium chloride market outcomes, are Solvay (Belgium), Occidental Chemical Corporation (US), TETRA Technologies, Inc (US), Tangshan Sanyou Group Co., Ltd (China), Weifang Haibin Chemical Co., Ltd (China), Ward Chemical Ltd (Canada), Auro Chemical Industries Pvt. Ltd (India), Nedmag BV (The Netherlands), Zirax Limited (UK), and Sulaksh Chemicals (India). MRFR's inclusion of these companies in the report discusses their impact on the market quite efficiently. In December 2019, Nuberg EPC announced that it would build a calcium chloride plant for Oman Chlorine. Browse Key Industry insights spread across 135 pages with 59 market data tables & 14 figures & charts from the Report, Calcium Chloride Market: Information by Form (Liquid, Hydrated Solid, and Others), Grade (Food Grade, Industrial Grade, Agriculture Grade , and Pharmaceutical Grade), Raw Material (Natural Brine, Solvay Process (by-product), and Limestone and Hydrochloric Acid (HCL)), Application (De-Icing & Dust Control, Oil & Gas, Healthcare, Construction, Agriculture, Food and Beverages, Animal Sterilization, and Others), and Region Forecast till 2025 " in detail along with the table of contents @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/calcium-chloride-market-2049 Related: Chemicals And Materials Market Research Report Click for Reports Infographics Click for Videos Residents of an informal settler community in Manila set up their own checkpoint to block outsiders from entering the area, March 31, 2020. The World Health Organizations regional chief urged Asia-Pacific nations Tuesday to dig in for the long haul in the fight against COVID-19 and prepare for large-scale infections at the community level. Dr. Takeshi Kasai, the Manila-based head of the WHOs Western Pacific region, said the world had changed dramatically since the new coronavirus was detected in China three months ago. Let me be clear: the epidemic is far from over in Asia and the Pacific, Kasai told an online news conference from Manila. This is going to be a long-term battle. Meanwhile, health authorities in the Philippines recorded the largest daily increase in coronavirus deaths and infections on Tuesday as they confirmed 10 more deaths, bringing the nations toll to 88, with 2,084 infections. At least 15 doctors have died due to the pneumonia-like disease, and hundreds of health workers have been isolated and quarantined after being exposed to carriers, officials said. Kasai said countries should keep responding to the viral outbreak according to their individual situations, but also prepare for the prospect that things could become worse. There remains no single strategy to beat the disease, he said, adding that intervention programs such as increasing physical distance between people social distancing or placing entire civilian populations under lockdown could slow the spread of the virus. But we need to be clear, that even with all these measures, the risk will not go away as long as the pandemic continues, he said. Rather, these measures can buy us valuable time to prepare for large-scale community transmission. Governments should protect the most vulnerable first, including the elderly, the health workers at the frontlines as well as those with pre-existing conditions, he said. Health workers are the group thats more exposed to the virus than anyone else, and they are critical to the response, Kasai said, as he warned countries where cases were beginning to taper off not to be complacent. Kasai said that for lockdowns to be effective, governments must conduct effective contact tracing and isolate potential carriers. In the Philippines two weeks ago, President Rodrigo Duterte imposed a lockdown all over Luzon Island to contain COVID-19 infections. Local officials across the country followed and implemented their own community lockdowns. Im very impressed by the Filipino peoples solidarity in trying to cope and support this lockdown in the Philippines, Duterte said as he emphasized seeing the same trend in other parts of the world. To make lockdown effective, not just individually it needs community support. Globally, almost 40,000 people have died and more than 800,000 others have been infected, according to the latest data compiled by disease experts at Johns Hopkins University in the United States. On Monday night, Duterte revealed in a speech that the government had allotted 200 billion pesos (US$3.9 billion) in funds to provide for the needs of the poor affected by the lockdown. But he did not say how the funds would be disbursed. With the disease already infecting several key officials in Dutertes inner power circle, the Philippines is in a precarious situation. Late Tuesday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano announced that he, too, had tested positive for COVID-19 and had received the test results earlier in the day. I make this announcement to call the attention of all persons I had close contact with to go on self-quarantine and observe any symptoms, in accordance with DOH [Department of Health] guidelines, the secretary said. To all those concerned, I am doing fine and have no symptoms. I will continue my quarantine and work from home. There's a chance that snap parliamentary and presidential elections could take place in Ukraine. Viktor Medvedchuk, the Chairman of Political Board of Opposition Platform - For Life party said so in the talk show at 112 Ukraine TV channel. "As for what Mr. Zelensky is going to do, I'd like to say that in conditions of the coronavirus, in conditions of economic crisis, which, I suspect, is going to be one of the toughest crises over all years of independence of Ukraine (...) the government has to think well. I already said this: if it lacks skills, if it lacks confidence, and these skills and confidence can't be converted into certain actions aimed at the interests of our citizens, it can't remain in power. So they've got to make decisions. This is why when they say there will be early parliamentary elections, I say - why the parliamentary elections? Yes, our party (...) is ready to campaign not just today, but also tomorrow and after tomorrow. We're ready to show people what we aspire for, what we did, what we're going to achieve and what we're sure about. Is the government ready to be held accountable for its actions (...)? Because if we take a look at the polls, 83 percent of respondents can't see any achievements in combating corruption, which is one of the key features of the government's work. 25 percent believe that the actions of Mr. Zelensky are successful, and 70 percent don't. In December, that number made only 50%. Isn't that a proof that the government should either change its politics - both internal and external ones - and recruit a team of professionals who are capable of chaning the situation in the country or leave these places. And then, the country shoud expect not only early parliamentary election, but also early presidential elections", he said. The Board of Directors, the Executive Chairman and the CEO have agreed to lower their remuneration by 30%. The company has initiated temporary layoffs in various countries to adjust to the demand evolution. The company is also reviewing its global operational expenditure to reduce discretionary spending as well as delaying lower priority capital expenditure. Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in China, Fluidra has been monitoring the evolution of the situation around the globe. Their priorities are protecting the safety of employees and business partners, and ensuring they maintain the strength of the company. To ensure this, Fluidra has put forward some initiatives in line with the recommendations from the authorities. A very significant part of the staff is working remotely. In production, logistics and other areas where remote working is not possible, split team arrangements have been made to reduce worker density and personal protection equipment has been provided. Even though some of the manufacturing sites have been temporarily closed, inventories have been spread across multiple geographies ensuring continued service to customers. Up to date, the coronavirus has not impacted the health of employees. While Fluidra's results up to February were off to a strong start, they have seen that confinement measures have slowed down business in some of the areas where they have been implemented. As a consequence, Fluidra is withdrawing its previously communicated guidance for 2020. The evolution of the situation is currently too unpredictable to accurately assess the full year impact of the pandemic. The company expects to communicate further information in its first quarter results presentation. The pool and wellness industry serves close to 16 million residential in-ground pools globally, with this installed base creating a strong, resilient base of activity, both for the sales of equipment and water treatment products. According to several disease control centers the coronavirus cannot survive in properly treated pool water. In many parts of the world, cleaning pool water is considered an essential activity and the company's teams continue working to support the customers. Confinement measures will favor "stay at home" behaviors, which will support the aftermarket business as pool equipment will have to be maintained and replaced. Residential pool business and pool water treatment represents today 70% and 14% of Fluidra's sales, respectively. On the contrary, the tourism industry is expected to face more severe headwinds due to COVID-19 with a consequent impact to the commercial pool business, which currently represents 7% of global sales. Fluidra's financial and liquidity position remain strong, with leverage of 2.6x at year-end. Fluidra has ample liquidity through its cash on hand, ABL, RCF, and other bilateral credit facilities. These latter facilities totaled 417 million at year-end, while they were only 2.5% drawn. As a reminder, the next term loan maturities are 07/2025 and there are no pending refinancing needs over next 12 months, while the ABL revolver maturity is 06/2023 and the RCF maturity is 06/2024. Furthermore, the company has no financial maintenance covenants on its term loans. At a more operational level, Fluidra is actively working to implement several measures to ensure they maintain and reinforce the company: The Board of Directors has decided to put on hold any dividend distribution. The Board of Directors, the Executive Chairman and the CEO have agreed to lower their remuneration by 30% for this period. In addition, the management committee has agreed to lower their salary by 20%. The company has initiated temporary layoffs in various countries to adjust to the demand evolution and has decided to partially complement the workers' salaries to soften the impact on their payroll. Such employment flexibility measures will be adopted in other geographical areas as needed. The company is reviewing its global operational expenditure to reduce discretionary spending as well as delaying lower priority capital expenditure. However Fluidra is ready for a strong season post the pandemic on all markets. Fluidra is also contributing to support the community during this pandemic by providing hospitals with 3D printed and plastic-injected components for respirators and ventilators that are used at hospitals with COVID-19 patients. Fluidra hopes for a swift recovery for all those affected by COVID-19 sending a special acknowledgment to the health professionals and others that are currently dedicating all their time and energy to protect all of us. Finally, Fluidra thanks all its employees, for their commitment and responsibility, particularly those who are still working on-site. About Fluidra Fluidra, a Spanish listed firm, is the global leader in the pool and wellness equipment business. It provides innovative products, services and Internet of Things solutions. The company operates in over 45 countries and owns a portfolio of some of the industry's most recognized and trusted brands, including Jandy, AstralPool, Polaris, Cepex, Zodiac, CTX Professional and Gre. To learn more about Fluidra, visit www.fluidra.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005594/en/ Contacts: Media: Sarah Estebanez, sestebanez@tinkle.es, +34 636 62 80 41 Xana Pena, xpena@tinkle.es, +34 674 73 47 82 Laura Gil, lgil@tinkle.es, +34 673 631 814 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. We all remember the images of Prince William and Prince Harry smiling and laughing with both of their wives when the foursome came together to support organizations close to their hearts. Now, those days are long gone as Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have decided to step down as senior royals, left the U.K., and plan on working to become financially independent. Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge meanwhile will likely pick up more duties in their absence as they try to stay loyal to the crown since the state of the monarchy directly affects their future. Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Kate Middleton | Paul Grover- WPA Pool/Getty Images So have the Sussexes lost much of their influence or has their decision made them the more influential couple? Each couples following Today, there are millions of Sussex and Cambridge fans around the globe. This is evident by the number of followers they have on social media. The Kensington Royal and Sussex Royal Instagram accounts both have over 11 million followers, showing the vast reach and influence they all have. William and Kate have a slight lead with 11.5 million compared to Harry and Meghans 11.3 million. On March 30, one day before they officially step down, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex suspended their Instagram account since they will no longer be using the royal brand going forward. Harry and Meghan previously dedicated their page to highlighting causes important to them in an effort to get the word out and there is no reason to think they wont continue to do so under a new brand name. Prince Harry Meghan Markle Prince William Kate Middleton | CHRIS JACKSON/AFP via Getty Images Royal fans choose more popular duchess Since Megxit was announced, many fans have been picking sides via internet polls. The popularity-contest polls in the U.K. have Meghan and Harry trailing Will and Kate for obvious reasons. But what do fans in other parts of the world think? A recent survey conducted by Research Co. polled Canadians on which duchess they preferred. Prince Williams wife had a 64% favorability rating over Meghans 56%. According to Business Insider Vancouver, overall Canadians are indifferent about the British monarchy. The proportion of Canadians who simply do not care when asked about the monarchy increased by nine points in a year, the publication noted. Meghan and Kates style influence Prince William, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry | PAUL GROVER/AFP via Getty Images The Express reported that after Harry and Meghan announced their decision to leave royal life behind, the Duchess of Sussexs influence in the fashion department dropped significantly. Like Kate, just about every outfit Meghan wore would sell out online. Meghans fashion game was so good that she was named as one of the best-dressed women of 2019 by Vogue, a list her sister-in-law didnt even make. Vogue credited the Suits alum with epitomizing modern-thinking royalty and that her streamlined, considered wardrobe is emblematic of a woman who epitomizes modern-thinking royalty. Data compiled by LovetheSales.com analyzed Google search queries, page views, and sales metrics of 4 million British shoppers. The data showed that Meghans style influence had dropped from 216% between 2017 and 2019, to 31% in 2020. Kates, on the other hand, increased from 119% to 159%. Read more: How Prince Charles and Camilla Proved They Are Closer With William and Kate Now After Harry and Meghan Stepped Down Jeffrey Epstein viewed women as nothing more than 'a life support system for a vagina,' a new book about the perverted child molester reveals. And the twisted financier admitted his ideal was 'the youngest-looking girl with breasts.' Reichart Von Wolfsheild, a software architect who visited Epstein on his Caribbean island and then helped lawyers bring him to justice, makes both claims in new book Relentless Pursuit by Bradley Edwards, the attorney who dogged Epstein for the last 11 years of his life. 'Epstein spent most of his time with Reichart talking about formulaic systems that might be invented ''to get young girls'',' Edwards wrote. 'Epstein expressed the view that women were ''a life support system for a vagina.'' So he wanted to discuss the statistical analysis of the marketplace and new ways for finding girls. 'He admitted that he knew nothing about computers but he thought the internet might hold the key for meeting volumes of young females in a short time.' Jeffrey Epstein viewed women as nothing more than 'a life support system for a vagina,' a new book about the perverted child molester reveals. And the twisted financier admitted his ideal was 'the youngest-looking girl with breasts' Epstein liked girls who were, according to an old definition, ''nubile,'', according to author Bradley Edwards. The pedophile was seen back in 2015 in exclusive DailyMail.com photos with a young blonde hanging round his neck, his hand firmly on her rear Reichart Von Wolfsheild (pictured), a software architect who visited Epstein on his Caribbean island and then helped lawyers bring him to justice, makes both claims in new book Relentless Pursuit by Bradley Edwards, the attorney who dogged Epstein for the last 11 years of his life Edwards describes Von Wolfsheild as a 'genius.' He says he viewed Epstein who died in prison last year as 'a lion' looking for prey. That prey were 'girls who were, according to an old definition, ''nubile,'' as Epstein put it. 'The youngest-looking girl with breasts.' Bradley Edwards writes Von Wolfsheild saw Epstein who died in prison last year as 'a lion' looking for prey Even after he was charged with having underage sex, he did not see that he had done anything wrong, Edwards wrote. But after being jailed in Florida, he did feel the need to be more careful, and so he brought on Von Wolfsheild. 'Epstein was not going to stop his sex abuse or change his thinking about girls simply because he had been caught in Palm Beach and jailed for a few months under a cushy deal. 'He couldn't stop. This was his way of life. It was what drove him.' With Von Wolfsheild's help, Edwards writes, 'he was just looking for more sophisticated and technologically advanced ways to find more girls and pursue them with less risk. 'The only thing jail had taught him was to be more careful and not get caught.' Edwards' book details his fight to bring Epstein and his 'madam' Ghislaine Maxwell to justice following the financier's sweetheart deal in Palm Beach. He was sentenced to 18 months jail, most of which he was allowed to spend days at his office at the Florida Science Foundation which Edwards called a 'do-nothing company.' While there, Edwards says, Epstein would 'talk on the phone to his various employees working at his various mansions around the world; send emails to his former and current girlfriends, including victims of his sex-trafficking operation; and continue to arrange for women to be flown to him for sexual purposes.' But after being jailed in Florida, he did feel the need to be more careful, and so he brought on Von Wolfsheild. 'Epstein was not going to stop his sex abuse or change his thinking about girls simply because he had been caught in Palm Beach and jailed for a few months under a cushy deal. 'He couldn't stop. This was his way of life. It was what drove him' When he was supposed to be spending time behind bars, Epstein full-name Jeffrey Edward Epstein even gave himself a new email address jeevacation@gmail.com. 'It was pretty apropos considering his jail time was by most standards a vacation,' Edwards writes. 'During evenings in the jail, Epstein was not referred to as an inmate like everyone else. Instead, he was discussed in reports as a 'client'. Because he was, according to internal sheriff's office memos, 'poorly versed in jail routine,' the sheriff authorized for 'his cell door be left unlocked and he be given liberal access to the attorney room where a TV will be installed.' Edward details Epstein's friendship with two presidents, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, although he says he has no evidence that either abused young girls during the time they spent with him. Edward details Epstein's friendship with two presidents, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump (pictured with Epstein in 1997), although he says he has no evidence that either abused young girls during the time they spent with him Trump told Edwards that his famous quote about Epstein 'He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side' was actually written by Epstein himself for an Esquire article and put in the future president's mouth He says he interviewed Trump, but Clinton would not see him. 'I've never said or thought that Bill Clinton did anything wrong in connection with Ghislaine, Epstein or their airplane rides, but by all appearances Clinton had helpful information. 'I couldn't help but wonder why he wouldn't pick up the phone and tell us what he knew.' Trump was different though. He was eager to help. He said his famous quote about Epstein 'He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side' was actually written by Epstein himself for an Esquire article and put in the future president's mouth. 'Seeing nothing wrong with that and having been asked for a favor long before the accusations of Epstein's abuse had surfaced, Trump agreed. 'Trump did say that he always saw Epstein around younger girls, but to his knowledge, none were underage,' Edwards writes. 'I asked about a rumor I had heard that Mr. Trump had expelled Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago Club for trying to take home a member's 15-year-old daughter. He paused before saying something along those lines happened.' During his time in jail, Epstein had famous visitors, including magician David Copperfield and Epstein's lawyer, Alan Dershowitz. 'We were never able to depose Copperfield due to a number of legal and logistical roadblocks,' Edwards wrote. During his time in jail, Epstein had famous visitors, including magician David Copperfield and Epstein's lawyer, Alan Dershowitz (pictured) . Edwards touches on accusations that Dershowitz was also involved in abusing young girls, writing: 'We gathered as much information as we possibly could about Dershowitz, given his lack of cooperation with us. Dershowitz has vehemently denied such allegations against him Edwards touches on accusations that Dershowitz was also involved in abusing young girls, writing: 'We gathered as much information as we possibly could about Dershowitz, given his lack of cooperation with us. Dershowitz has adamantly denied previous accusations of wrongdoing in relation to Epstein's teenage girls Edwards does include other stories he claims he had heard about the famed attorney. In one, he writes, 'A neighbor from Dershowitz's condo building in Miami called to recount in great detail how she would witness Dershowitz dress in a way to hide his identity while he walked the beach to look at topless girls sunbathing near their condo. 'Because of this behavior, the woman told Dershowitz's wife that he was a pervert. She claimed that in response Dershowitz got in her face and threatened her, forcing her to go to the police in fear for her safety. 'Other people telephoned to tell us how they had seen Dershowitz skinny-dipping on Martha's Vineyard. One Vineyard resident recalled walking up to a volleyball game where Dershowitz was playing nude.' Edwards does recount alleged abuse stories involving Britain's Prince Andrew. But Edwards does recount alleged abuse stories involving Britain's Prince Andrew (pictured) Accuser Virginia Roberts alleges she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew (pictured together with Ghislaine Maxwell in 2001) while she was underage. Prince Andrew has denied her claims Johanna Sjoberg, one of Epstein's victims, recalled sitting on one of the prince's knees, while another accuser, Virginia Roberts, was on the other. 'While the two girls were in his lap, Ghislaine took out a puppet figure of Prince Andrew and placed the puppet's hand on Virginia's breast, at which point Prince Andrew placed his hand on Johanna's breast. Everyone laughed.' Other celebrities mentioned in the book include Michael Jackson, who 'had been enough of an Epstein acquaintance to pay him a visit in Palm Beach' and Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, who agreed to 'draw a picture of Bart Simpson on Jeffrey Epstein's letterhead, as a favor to Virginia Roberts.' Roberts finally got away from Epstein by running off to Australia when she was supposed to be in Thailand. 'There did come a time when the debauched lifestyle of Epstein's cultish world became too much for even a strong soul like Virginia,' Edwards writes. 'She recalled that when she was 19 years old, after having been involved in the Epstein sex cult for two years, she was on an island with him and Maxwell when they made a new and surprising proposition to her: they wanted her to carry his baby. 'She would have to sign a contract agreeing that the baby was not her own, but the legal child of Epstein and Maxwell. 'This was the final straw for Virginia. She couldn't bear the thought of Epstein and Maxwell raising her child. She knew that she needed to escape.' West Bengal reported its third fatality due to COVID-19 and four more positive cases on Monday as the state authorities made efforts to identify those who had attended a religious gathering in Delhi's Nizamuddin, the new epicentre of the deadly virus pandemic. Among the four fresh cases, two persons from Kolkata did not have any travel history. A total of 1,03,391 cases are under home isolation in various parts of the state as on Tuesday, while the total number of positive cases stands at 27. The state government has started identifying those who had attended a religious gathering in Delhi's Nizamuddin earlier this month, after six of its attendees from Telangana died of COVID-19. The third person to die of the disease in West Bengal is a 47-year-old woman, who had recently visited Dooars in North Bengal but had no history of foreign travel. "The woman, a resident of Salkia in Howrah district, died in a hospital on late Monday night before test results came. Her test results confirmed that she was infected with the coronavirus," a health official said. The health department has sent all the family members and those who came in touch with her to home quarantine. It also started an inquiry to find out whether or not any family member of the deceased had recently returned from abroad. After the death of the woman, nurses and Group D staff of the hospital staged a demonstration, alleging that the woman was initially admitted to the general ward and they attended to her for nearly three hours without wearing personal protective gears. Meanwhile, four new cases of coronavirus have been reported in the state - two from the city and two from districts of West Midnapore and North 24 Parganas. Two men from the city -- one from Salt Lake and another from Tollygunge area -- tested positive for COVID-19, and are undergoing treatment at separate private hospitals here. "They did not have any history of travelling abroad or to any other state. We are trying to find out whether or not any of their family members had gone overseas or to other states. Family members of the two will also be quarantined," he said. Another man, in his early 30s, who had recently returned from Maharashtra, was admitted to the Midnapore Medical College and Hospital and tested positive for coronavirus. The detail of the fourth person who is in a hospital in Belgharia in North 24 Parganas is yet to be known. The 18-year-old youth, who was reported to be the first coronavirus case in the state, was released from the Beleghata ID Hospital after being declared fit. The hospital also discharged two more people -- a woman from Habra and a resident of Ballygunge. West Bengal Home Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay tweeted that the state government was trying to identify those who had attended a religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin earlier this month. "All those from West Bengal who have participated in this event are being identified and will be immediately tested for COVID-19 and put under mandatory 14 days quarantine," Bandopadhyay tweeted. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee donated Rs 5 lakh each to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund and the state Emergency Relief Fund from her personal savings to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. In the evening, she visited Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar to boost the morale of the police personnel who are working round the clock to ensure safety and security of the people. The state government also issued an order asking cable TV operators not to disconnect services on account of non- payment of monthly fee. The order signed by Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, said, "In view of the lockdown, cable TV connections should not be disconnected by the service providers for the next one month on account of non-payment of subscription fee." Meanwhile, after days of political bonhomie, a verbal spat broke out between the BJP and the TMC over distribution of relief materials to people, after the saffron party alleged that the ruling party was not allowing the opposition to take part in relief work. The TMC denied the claims and said the government is doing everything to help the people in distress. "If the chief minister visits various parts of the city and distributes relief material, then it's fine. But when the BJP is trying to do the same, we are stopped in the name of prohibition of assembly of more than seven people. This is absolutely unacceptable," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said. Senior TMC leader and minister Tapas Roy said people should refrain from indulging in politics at this time of crisis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. Details added (first version posted on 22:21) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 30 Trend: Another provocation of Armenian armed forces has been suppressed on the state border of Azerbaijan with Armenia, Trend reports citing the State Border Service. Armenian armed forces near the villages of Boganis and Voskevan of Armenias Noyemberyan region using large-caliber weapons, started intensively shelling the residential houses and vehicles for transporting citizens in Gushchu Ayrim village of Gazakh region starting from 17:30, March 30. Armenian provocations were averted, and the positions of the Armenian armed forces, which opened fire on Azerbaijani settlements and civilian vehicles, were suppressed by return fire. The military situation is under the control of border military points. The information spread by Armenian media about the alleged violation of the ceasefire by Azerbaijani border military posts is not true, said the State Border Service. "Azerbaijani units did not open fire on the settlements of Armenia." By Robin Respaut and Rebecca Spalding SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK, March 31 (Reuters) - U.S. hospitals and physician groups are beginning to feel severe financial strain as they shift operations from profitable procedures to focus on the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. The hospital industry nationwide is under growing pressure to halt lucrative elective surgeries, relocate patients not infected with coronavirus from frontline facilities, and greatly expand capacity for expensive intensive care to address the healthcare crisis. In roughly a dozen states, including hard-hit New York, New Jersey and Washington, government officials have ordered these changes. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and prevention recommended facilities reschedule elective surgeries as necessary. Hospitals administrators say high-margin services, such as orthopedic and heart procedures, can account for up to 80% of revenue, while infectious disease and intensive respiratory treatments are less profitable. "The red ink is going to be pretty deep, Kevin Ward, chief financial officer of New York-Presbyterian's Queens hospital in New York City, told analysts. The hospital, like many in the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, has been inundated with patients with COVID-19, the highly contagious, sometimes deadly respiratory illness caused by the virus. Unlike with typical elective or urgent surgeries, COVID-19 patients are not high-paying cases, and they require a lot of care, isolations and (personal protective equipment), Ward said. Healthcare networks in Atlanta, Kentucky and Maine have begun furloughing hundreds of employees, as offices and surgical centers shutter and hospital wings convert into coronavirus wards. The $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package approved by Congress includes a $100 billion relief fund to reimburse medical providers. The fund should cover hospital losses for about two months if revenue declines 50%, a JPMorgan analysis found. That excludes costs for more bed capacity and extra supplies to fight the outbreak. Story continues Some hospital networks have continued performing non-emergency surgeries before the anticipated surge of COVID-19 patients arrives. "At the moment, we're making individual decisions, said UC Davis Health Chief of Surgery Diana Farmer, whose Sacramento hospital late last week had just nine COVID-19 cases. It was still treating hernias, cataracts and performing orthopedic surgeries if it was determined the procedure should not wait to reduce pain or avoid potential complications later. There are patients begging to get their cases done early. They are afraid that they might have to wait for six months, Farmer said. Tenet Healthcare-owned United Surgical Partners International, which operates over 400 ambulatory facilities, said it was performing a limited number of procedures that, if deferred, would pose a health threat to patients. Kaiser Permanente, too, said its physicians would decide if an elective procedure should go forward. There is a risk that these surgeries could spread the virus as it is contagious even if an infected person has no symptoms. If there is a low number of suspected or confirmed cases, many hospitals will lean toward maintaining their surgery schedule for as long as they can, said George Huang, Wells Fargo healthcare analyst. FURLOUGHED WORKERS For hospitals stopping elective surgeries, the financial impact has been immediate. St. Claire HealthCare, a Kentucky-based medical center, furloughed 300 employees, or 25% of its workforce, following a significant decline in patient visits. Those furloughed were not directly involved in patient care and would be recalled if government funding becomes available, it said in a statement. Primary care doctors have also seen in-person visits plummet, adding pressure to small practices that operate with thin margins, said American Academy of Family Physicians President Dr. Gary LeRoy. LeRoy's Dayton, Ohio, practice is taking on only urgent visits. Like other family physicians in the group, he now sees patients via telemedicine, though the technology has raised concerns about payment. "If you're billing for it now, the question was, when do I get reimbursed for it? Is it 60 days from now? I might not have a practice 60 days from now if I'm just going to do three-fourths of my practice by telemedicine, he said. InterMed, a Maine-based primary care practice, furloughed about one-third of its workforce after stopping non-essential services, a spokesman said. Atlanta's Gastroenterology Associates, which has backing from private equity firm Frazier Healthcare Partners, furloughed about 300 of its more than 800 employees after cutting elective surgeries, which account for nearly 80% of procedures. Furloughed workers will receive a stipend and health benefits, a spokeswoman said. The practice hopes to rehire employees once the crisis ends. CLEARING THE DECKS, BUT FOR HOW LONG? In the hard-hit New York-area, with more than 38,000 cases in the city alone, hospitals have converted post-operative floors, pediatric wings and cafeterias, into coronavirus wards. Thank goodness we eliminated the elective "schedule," Richard Keenan, chief financial officer of Valley Health System in Ridgewood, New Jersey, told Jefferies analysts. That freed up a lot of staff and resources. Healthcare administrators are trying to calculate how long they will need to postpone procedures as the COVID-19 crisis has yet to reach a peak. New York-Presbyterians Queens hospital is rescheduling elective procedures for mid-May. Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, pushed most procedures back three months and annual wellness exams by six months. But these are merely educated guesses for when it might be safe to return to business as usual. (Reporting by Robin Respaut in San Francisco and Rebecca Spalding in New York; editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot) A farmer from Gautam Buddh Nagar district on Tuesday donated Rs 1.51 lakh to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister's relief fund as his contribution to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Balbhadra Pradhan, in his late 60s, hails from Ranhera village in the district's Jewar area. He handed over a cheque of Rs 1,51,000 to Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Shriparna Ganguli at her office, a police spokesperson said. On Monday, Noida Authority CEO Ritu Maheshwari had handed over a cheque of Rs 51 lakh to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his visit to Gautam Buddh Nagar. The chief minister was on a visit to review the situation in Gautam Buddh Nagar which has emerged as a coronavirus hotspot with 38 cases highest in any district in the state. The contribution was made on behalf of all employees of Noida Authority to fight the pandemic, Maheshwari had said in a tweet. The district administration has sought financial support from those willing to help it in the fight against coronavirus, which has been declared an epidemic by the state government. Those willing to contribute can donate any amount of their choice in the name of the district magistrate, Gautam Buddh Nagar to account number 30049902873 of State Bank of India with IFSC code SBIN0005106 or send a demand draft or cheque also, according to officials. The number of COVID-19 cases in India climbed to 1,397 and the death toll rose to 35 on Tuesday, according to the Union Health Ministry. Uttar Pradesh has reported 101 cases so far, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amnesty International India has appealed to the government to immediately release people detained in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the coronavirus outbreak. In a statement on Tuesday, the international rights body also demanded that the government restore full internet access and actively pursue trust building measures with the people of the region. "A public health emergency is not an opportunity to bypass accountability. Continuing use of unlawful and arbitrary detention along with limited internet connectivity and medical facilities only add to the panic, fear and anxiety caused by COVID-19," it said. "The people of Jammu and Kashmir are entitled to live with dignity and be informed of the threats that COVID-19 poses to their health. Measures must be taken to protect people's human rights in the region of Jammu and Kashmir and not further weaken them," Avinash Kumar, Executive Director of Amnesty International India, said in a statement. Restrictions had been imposed and several detained in Jammu and Kashmir since August 5 last year when the Centre announced its decisions to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution that provided special status to the state and divided it into two Union Territories. Data accessed by Amnesty International India from 37 Tehsils and 12 jails across Jammu and Kashmir show that at least 1,249 people were administratively detained, i.e. without any charge or trial by authorities," it said and demanded their release. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 Textile Coatings Market Research Report- Forecast to 2023 Market Segmentation: On the basis of Type of Coating, the Global Textile Coatings Market Analysis has been segmented into thermosets, thermoplastics, and others (silicon, fluoropolymers). The thermosets segment can be further sub-segmented into natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), and others (nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, and others). The thermoplastics segment has been sub-segmented into polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylics, polyurethane (PU), polyolefins, and others. On the basis of Coating Method, the Textile Coatings Market has been segmented into direct roll coating, direct coating, pad-dry-cure coating, hot melt extrusion coating, foamed & crushed foam coating, calendar coating, and others. On the basis of End-User Industry, the Global Textile Coatings Market has been segmented into transportation, clothing, building & construction, healthcare, home furnishing, and others (packaging, agricultural industry, geotextiles). Regional Analysis: For an Exhaustive Geographical Assessment, the Global Textile Coatings Market has been segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). Asia Pacific is expected to hold the lions share of the market in the years to come. Increasing applications across the burgeoning industry verticals such as automotive, healthcare, construction, etc. is expected to increase the revenue generation of the market participants over the next few years in the region. In addition, the rising purchasing power of the population is also projected to favorably influence the growth pace of the Textile Coatings Market in the years to come. Get Free Sample @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5913 Europe and North America are significant regional segments and are poised to contribute substantially to the development of the Global Textile Coatings Market over the next couple of years. The increasing demand for PU based Textile Coatings is prognosticated to drive the proliferation of the market in the foreseeable future. Market Synopsis: Textile Coatings are gaining momentum and witnessing rising applications across major end-use industries. The assessment offered by Market Research Future (MRFR) has revealed that the Global Textile Coatings Market is poised to register a steady CAGR across the projection period 2017 to 2023. These Coatings enable depositing polymeric resin on Textiles. The benefits of the process have paved its way across different industry verticals. The growth of the Clothing Industry is the major factor responsible for the development of the Textile Coatings Market in the forthcoming years. Increasing disposable income is likely to favor market expansion in the foreseeable future. These coatings are also extensively used in the automotive sector for the manufacturing of upholstery. The growing demand for vehicles is poised to encourage the revenue growth of the Textile Coatings Market in the years to come. The construction sector has also unleashed developmental opportunities to the market. In addition, the rising demand for Textile Coatings for home furnishings is prognosticated to accelerate revenue generation for the players of the market over the next couple of years. On the flip side, rising environmental concerns, in conjunction with the implementation of stricter regulations, is poised to undermine the expansion of the Textile Coatings Market in the years to come. Browse Key Industry Insights spread across 100 pages with 47 market data tables & 12 figures & charts from the report, Textile Coatings Market Information: By Type of Coating (PVC, PU, Acrylics), A Coating Method (Direct, Direct Roll, Pad-Dry-Cure, Foamed & Crushed Foam, Hot Melt Extrusion, Calendar), End-Use Industry (Clothing, Transportation, Construction, Home Furnishing, Healthcare) and Region Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast 2023 in detail along with the table of contents: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/textile-coatings-market-5913 Competitive Dashboard: The important players studied for presenting a detailed segmental analysis of the Global Textile Coatings Market are Lubrizol Corporation (U.S.), Covestro AG (Germany), Huntsman International LLC (U.S.), Clariant AG (Switzerland), Solvay SA (Belgium), Formulated Polymer Products Ltd. (U.K), BASF SE (Germany), Sumitomo Chemical Company (Japan), Omnova Solutions Inc. (U.S.), and Tanatex B.V. (Netherlands). Industry News: In May 2019, Covestro AG, Bayer's materials science division, has presented sustainable developments in Insqin technology designed for aqueous Textile Coatings and water-based polyurethane dispersion at Techtextil 2019. These developments are introduced for enabling biodegradable Textile Coatings. In May 2019, Archroma, a leader in specialty chemicals and sustainable solutions, has announced the launch of a break-through water-based textile coating binder named Appretan NTR which is based on natural renewable ingredients. 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 Reuters The number of people using Microsoft's Skype video calling system has surged by 70 percent in a month to 40 million people presently, as more individuals stay home due to the coronavirus outbreak, the company said on Monday. Skype-to-Skype calling minutes jumped 220 percent from a month earlier, the company said in a blog post. Microsoft added that it is re-branding its popular productivity suite Office 365 to 'Microsoft 365' beginning April 21, with new features including a family safety app that helps manage screen time across Windows PCs, Android, and Xbox. Stay-at-home stocks like video conferencing company Zoom Video Communications and several gaming stocks have seen a surge recently as millions of people are expected to spend weeks or longer inside their homes. The company also added new features in its Microsoft Teams, which is used by over 44 million people every day, promoting the use of the workplace chat app among family and friends. The Ogun State Police Command said it had arrested a masquerader for allegedly violating the federal and state governments directives on ... The masquerader was said to have been apprehended after he allegedly confronted some policemen and threatened to deal with them if they insisted on dispersing his followers.The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed these on Monday.Oyeyemi said the masquerader was apprehended on Sunday in the Ijeja area of Abeokuta following a complaint by members of the public that some persons had gathered in their hundreds in the area.The PPRO added that the gathering was to celebrate the traditional masquerader festival in the area.He said the gathering created fear of a massive spread of the virus in the minds of residents of the area.Oyeyemi stated, Upon the report, policemen from the Ibara Division moved to the area and warned the people to disperse, but the masquerader confronted the policemen and threatened to deal with them if they insisted on dispersing his followers.The masquerader was subsequently arrested and taken to the station, where he was warned to be law-abiding before he was released to a reliable surety. 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Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and 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 Agricultural mandis in many parts of the country have started going operational a week after the nationwide lockdown was implemented, but the process is gradual and disruption persists in some centres. Most mandis are arranging for the safety of their workers, including mathadis (Load-bearers). Arrivals and supplies are also being regulated in many centres to maintain flow and avoid crowding. In several areas, especially distant regions, there are reports of farmers either dumping vegetables that could not be delivered to the mandis or using them as animal feed. The scene in Gujarat is ... As the death toll from the novel coronavirus rises, we are brutally faced with the reality that public policy directly affects the number of Americans and Montanans who are victimized by this modern plague. And also by the reality that, because of its nature, public policy is not always driven by cold hard facts, science and evidence, but is at least partially driven by politics. In some ways that is bad, but in other ways it is good and necessary. This is a time when people are called upon to join the communal effort to flatten the curve of medical destruction and death, to help move us toward a more controlled medical situation in the face of having no cure for the silent viral enemy. Medical and public health leaders have been sounding the alarm bells and flashing red lights about the dangers of a pandemic since the Ebola crisis in 2014. Yet we are now coming to the realization that the United States has, at best, had a flat-footed response to the challenge, a response that is now leading to exponentially-rising numbers of both cases and deaths. Writing this as I sit at home, cloistered off because at age 75 I am in such a high-risk category, I know I will be chastised for failure to fully and completely stand behind the actions of our federal leadership. I suspect I will be accused of betraying our country because we should all be pulling together. But in the fifty years I have been deeply involved in public policy I have learned that the duties of citizenship are steeped in the need for active engagement, not passivity voicing our concerns rather than sitting in silence. We as citizens have the right, even the responsibility, to demand that the leadership we have chosen rises to the task in front of us. In fact, that is almost a citizens duty in a democracy. We have the right to demand that our elected leaders be in front of the curve, not put us all behind the curve, especially when missing that curve means death for thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens. We have a right to demand that our elected leaders take advantage of the expertise we have developed in government with our tax dollars, rather than decrying that expertise as a deep state product with some conspiratorial agenda. Political people shout accountability from the rooftops when it comes to the actions of individual citizens, especially those at the lower economic levels. Yet, those same political folk do not want the accountability lens focused on them. They suggest we should blindly fall in line behind a president or governor during times of crisis. But responsible citizenship calls upon us to not meekly line up behind bad direction in a crisis, but to insist upon fact-based decision-making that leads us in the right direction. We citizens are not rats following a pied piper nor lemmings marching to the sea. We are citizens with a responsibility that goes beyond the ballot box to demanding performance (and accountability) from those we elect. In saying that, our critical eye should not be blindly partisan. It needs to be shaped by values and the common good, by the facts of our situation. It needs to be based on rational thought and analysis not virulent political rhetoric or tribal thinking. Criticism of the initial direction of our president has helped begin to bend the curve toward better public policy. If we are finally moving away from denial, delay and deflection as our direction, it is because citizens have been willing to criticize the bad direction. That is the way a democracy is supposed to work. As citizens we are called upon to make shared sacrifices based upon the reality of our medical situation. Maintaining social distance for some social isolation is contrary to our active nature, yet it is necessary to keep the coronavirus crisis curve low. Do your part by practicing social distancing and other needed actions. And also, as citizens, contribute to the better good by critical thinking and active voicing of your concerns. The country needs your thoughtful voice. Evan Barrett lives in historic Uptown Butte after retiring following 47 years at the top level of Montana economic development, government, politics and education. He is an award-winning producer of Montana history videos who continues to write columns and commentaries and occasionally teaches Montana history. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Hungary has passed a coronavirus response law that gives sweeping powers to the government. Prime Minister Viktor Orban can now rule by decree, and there are jail terms of up to five years for anyone accused of spreading "misinformation," including social media posts. No time limit is given for the state of emergency in the European Union-member country. Excerpt from reporting by The Guardian's Shaun Walker in Budapest and Jennifer Rankin in Brussels: Parliament voted by 137 to 53 to pass the measures on Monday afternoon, with the two-thirds majority enjoyed by Orban's Fidesz party enough to push them through in spite of opposition from other parties, which had demanded a time limit or sunset clause on the legislation. The bill introduces jail terms of up to five years for intentionally spreading misinformation that hinders the government response to the pandemic, leading to fears that it could be used to censor or self-censor criticism of the government response. As of Monday morning, Hungary had 447 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 15 deaths, although the real figures are likely to be higher. More at The Guardian: Hungary passes law that will let Orban rule by decree Hungarian Parliament passes bill that gives PM Orban unlimited power & proclaims: State of emergency w/o time limit Rule by decree Parliament suspended No elections Spreading fake news + rumors: up to 5 yrs in prison Leaving quarantine: up to 8 yrs in prison#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/5ScZCbF4yv Balazs Cseko (@balazscseko) March 30, 2020 Don't let this become America. https://t.co/lEkeePB5L2 Melissa Jo Peltier (@MelissaJPeltier) March 30, 2020 "The bill introduces jail terms of up to five years for intentionally spreading misinformation that hinders the government response to the pandemic, leading to fears that it could be used to censor or self-censor criticism of the government response." https://t.co/v8IY49OZO5 Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) March 30, 2020 On today's new legislation in Hungary "From the beginning, they didn't want an agreement, because they have used the whole thing for political communication," said one opposition MP who said she would have voted for the package if there was a time limit.https://t.co/oI4ivJlatc Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) March 30, 2020 [via mediagazer] Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 23:55:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the latest developments related to the outbreak of COVID-19 during a phone conversation, Turkey's presidential office said Tuesday. "The two leaders agreed that the fight against the outbreak could only succeed with global solidarity and cooperation," the presidency announced in a written statement. Erdogan and Trump decided to take the necessary steps to share the best practices, data, and experiences to control the various effects of the pandemic, it added. Both leaders also discussed regional developments as well as bilateral issues during the phone conversation, according to the statement. The death toll from the virus in Turkey climbed to 168, and the confirmed cases totaled 10,827 on Monday, according to the latest figures of the Health Ministry. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2020) - Ely Gold Royalties Inc. (TSXV: ELY) (OTCQB: ELYGF) ("Ely Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Noble Capital Markets. Inc. ("Noble") has initiated equity research coverage on the Company. The publishing analyst is Mark Reichman, Senior Mining Analyst at Noble. Ely Gold announced in a news release on January 31, 2020 that it had entered into an equity research agreement with Noble, a Florida corporation. Noble is a FINRA and SEC registered broker dealer. The full report on Ely Gold is now available on Channelchek at: https://www.channelchek.com/news-channel/Research___Ely_Gold_Royalties__ELY_CA_____A_Golden_Opportunity_to_Invest_in_an_Emerging_Gold_Royalty_Company and is also available on the Company's website at https://elygoldinc.com/investors/research-reports About Noble Capital Markets and its Subsidiaries: In 2018, Noble Financial Group, Inc. launched Channelchek - a new investment community dedicated exclusively to small and micro-cap companies and their industries. Channelchek is tailored to meet the needs of self-directed investors and financial professionals. As the first service to offer institutional-quality research to the public, for FREE at every level without a subscription, Channelchek lists more than 6,000 emerging growth companies alongside growing content, including webcasts, podcasts, and balanced news. For more information, visit https://www.channelchek.com. About Ely Gold Royalties Inc. Ely Gold Royalties Inc. is a Vancouver-based, emerging royalty company with development assets focused in Nevada and Quebec. Its current portfolio includes 43 royalties and 19 properties optioned to third parties. Ely Gold's royalty portfolio includes producing royalties, fully permitted mines and development projects that are at or near producing mines. The Company is actively seeking opportunities to purchase existing third-party royalties for its portfolio and all the Company's option properties are expected to produce royalties, if exercised. The royalty and option portfolios are currently generating significant revenue. Ely Gold is well positioned with its current portfolio of over 20 available properties to generate additional operating revenue through option and sale agreements. The Company has a proven track record of maximizing the value of its properties through claim consolidation and advancement using its extensive, proprietary data base. All portfolio properties are sold or optioned on a 100% basis, while the Company retains royalty interests. Management believes that due to the Company's ability to generate third-party royalty agreements, its successful strategy of organically creating royalties, its equity portfolio and its current low valuation, Ely Gold offers shareholders a low-risk leverage to the current price of gold and low-cost access to long-term mineral royalties. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Signed "Trey Wasser" Trey Wasser, President & CEO For further information, please contact: Trey Wasser, President & CEO trey@elygoldinc.com 972-803-3087 Joanne Jobin, Investor Relations Officer jjobin@elygoldinc.com 647-964-0292 FORWARD-LOOKING CAUTIONS: This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding: (i) increase to the Company's outstanding common shares; (ii) use of warrant exercise proceeds; (iii) the Company's forecasts for its royalty portfolio and related business; and (iv) the Company's intention to secure a disinterested shareholder approval at its 2020 annual shareholder meeting. These matters are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks of declining precious metals prices, failure of projects in which the Company has an interest may underperform current management forecasts, the Company may not be able to identify suitable new royalty acquisitions, and the political uncertainties and regulatory or legal disputes or changes in the jurisdictions where the Company carries on its business that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effect. 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/53947 An Israeli firm has developed Light Blade, an air defense weapon designed to detect and shoot down the balloons and kites Hamas has been using from Gaza to transport incendiaries or small explosives into southern Israel. These devices cause more psychological than physical damage but the Israelis threatened are voters, and the devices do cause casualties or, more often, property damage and brush fires. The thousands of rocket, mortar and now kite and balloon attacks from Gaza over the last fifteen years has created a demand for specialized weapons to deal with the menace. Light Blade is the latest cure to appear. Another Israeli firm had already developed SupervisIR, a radar that can detect small, slow-moving, low altitude targets and pass that data on to a weapons system. When combined with Light Blade, over 90 percent of available targets were detected, tracked and destroyed by the Light Blade variable focus laser. The ability of the Light Blade laser to focus into a powerful enough beam to bring down the balloons or kites was an important breakthrough. This means the laser beam is eye safe if it hits anyone in a passing aircraft. The beam focuses only long enough to burn through the balloons or kites and bring them down. Light Blade can hit targets within five kilometers of the truck (pickup or hummer type) mounted laser and fire control system. There are several other new Israeli laser air defense systems, like Iron Beam and Drone Dome that use more powerful lasers to bring down small UAVs, mortar shells and rockets. Development of these weapons has been going on for over a decade. Earlier in 2020 an Israeli firm, Elbit, introduced Drone Dome, a breakthrough in the development of lasers that can be used to intercept mortar shells, UAVs and rockets. While testing under combat conditions wont take place until mid-2020, the government thought that the new technology was innovative and effective enough in preliminary tests to announce. Laser systems like this have been in development elsewhere for a long time, but so far no one has been able to develop a laser with the range and destructive power to perform like the new Israeli system. This new weapon is also being called Laser Dome because it would complement the existing Iron Dome system that uses missiles and an innovative radar/software system that ignores ballistic, rockets or mortar shell whose trajectory would mean hitting unoccupied land where there will be no injuries or serious damage. Most objects fired at Israel end up landing in unoccupied areas and the few objects that are dangerous are intercepted by missiles. This has proved very effective. Drone Dome is described as using a solid-state electric laser at an effective range of 5,000 meters. Unlike missile-based systems, the cost of bringing down each target is several dollars worth of electricity. A diesel generator/capacitor system can fire once every few seconds for as long as power was available. Drone Dome combines multiple laser beams to obtain a useful amount of laser power at longer ranges. Fire control systems for quickly, accurately and repeatedly aiming a laser have already been developed. The main problem has long neem obtaining effective burn (laser bean-created heat) at longer ranges to do enough damage to bring down or destroy the incoming warhead. Israel believes Drone Dome has sufficient burn power but realistic tests are needed to prove it. If Laser Dome works, several individual systems could operate with each Iron Dome battery to take down targets the laser can reach rather than use the $60,000 Iron Dome missiles. Iron Dome would continue to take care of longer-range targets. This would make Iron Dome a lot cheaper to operate and more effective against mass attacks when dozens of rockets are fired at the same target in a short time. Some of the tech Laser Dome concepts have already been used in other laser weapons. One of these is Iron Beam from another Israeli firm (Raphael). Iron Beam uses a single HEL (High Energy Laser) and requires more power and has a range of 7,000 meters. Another HEL example is the U.S. Army CLWS (Compact Laser Weapon System) which is currently only capable of handling UAVs. CLWS is a laser weapon light enough (2.2 tons) to mount on helicopters or hummers and can destroy small UAVs up to 2,000 meters away, while it can disable or destroy the sensors (vidcams) on a UAV up to 7,000 meters away. The CLWS fire control system will automatically track and keep the laser firing on a selected target. It can take up to 15 seconds of laser fire to bring down a UAV or destroy its camera. This is the tech that Laser Dome claims to have improved enough to destroy UAVs with one shot and at longer ranges. Another American system, LaWS (Laser Weapon System) was developed for the U.S. Navy and was installed on one warship for several years and is about to be installed on several more. In 2013 the navy announced that it had developed a laser technology capable of being useful in combat. This was not a sudden development but has been going on for most of the last decade. In 2010 the navy successfully tested this new laser weapon, which is actually six solid-state lasers acting in unison, to destroy a small UAV. LaWS was not yet powerful enough to do this at the range, and power level, required to cripple the most dangerous targets; missiles and small boats. The manufacturer convinced the navy that it was just a matter of tweaking the technology to get the needed effectiveness. In 2013 another test was run, under more realistic conditions. LaWS worked, knocking down a larger UAV at a longer range. At that point, the navy said it planned to install the system in a warship within the year for even more realistic testing. Those tests took place in 2014 and were successful enough to install LaWS on at least one warship to be used to deliver warnings (at low power) while at full strength (30 kilowatts). The LaWS laser cannon was mounted on a KINETO Tracking Mount, which is similar, but larger (and more accurate), than the mount used by the Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapons System). The navy laser weapon tests used the radar and tracking system of the CIWS. Back in 2009 CIWS was upgraded so that its sensors could detect speedboats, small aircraft, and naval mines. This was crucial because knocking down UAVs is not something that the navy needs help with. But the ability to do enough damage to disable boats or missiles that are over two kilometers distant meant the LaWS was worth mounting on a warship. LaWS may yet prove incapable of working under combat conditions, but so far this new development has kept passing tests. These included disabling a ScanEagel UAV, destroying an RPG rocket and burning out the outboard engine of a speed boat. LaWAS also proved useful in detecting small boats or aerial objects at night and in bad weather. LaWAS worked despite mist and light sand storms, though in heaver sand storms performance was much reduced. In 2018 LaWAS was moved to a large amphibious ship for continued testing and two more LaWAS are being built, for delivery and installation on two more ships in 2020. The manufacturer continues to work on extending the range and increasing damage inflicted on targets. LaWAS uses less than a dollars worth of power use and is supplied by a diesel generator separate from the ship power supply. In other words, LaWAS is still a work in progress. Such was not the case with an earlier research effort using chemical lasers. In 2011 the U.S. Department of Defense halted work on the U.S. Air Force ALT (Airborne Laser Testbed). The project was put into storage until such time as more effective technology is available to revive the effort, or it is decided that the ALT is not worth the storage expense. ALT cost over $5 billion during its 16 years of development. It never worked, at least not in a practical sense. In 2010, for the second time in a row, the ALT failed in an attempt to use its laser to destroy a ballistic missile. That time, the problem was with the radar and fire control system, which failed to lock the laser onto the actual missile (although the radar did detect the actual missile launch). In the past, the main problem has been a lack of power to drive the laser to lethal levels. Because of that, the ALT program has been an expensive near-miss for nearly two decades. In 2009 ALT was demoted from a system in development to a research program. The reason for this was all about energy supply. Even if ALT worked flawlessly it did not have enough energy to hit a launching missile from a safe (from enemy fire) distance. ALT needed more than twenty times as much energy than it had and it was believed it would be a while before that problem was solved. Back in 2003 developers of combat lasers were more optimistic. In 2005 manufacturers of combat lasers believed these weapons were only a few years away from battlefield use. To that end, Northrop-Grumman set up a new division to develop and build battle lasers. This optimism was generated by two successful tests in 2006. In one a solid-state laser shot down a mortar round. In another, a much more powerful chemical laser hit a missile type target. Neither of these tests led to any useable weapons, and the combat laser remains the "weapon of the future." The basic problems are reliability and ammo (power to generate the laser). Solid-state lasers have been around since the 1950s, and chemical lasers first appeared in the 1970s. The chemical laser has the advantage of using a chemical reaction to create the megawatt level of energy for a laser that can penetrate the body of a ballistic missile that is still rising in the air hundreds of kilometers away. The chemical reaction uses atomized liquid hydrogen peroxide and potassium hydroxide and chlorine gas to form an ionized form of oxygen known as singlet delta oxygen (SDO). This, in turn, is rapidly mixed with molecular iodine gas to form ionized iodine gas. At that point, the ionized iodine gas rapidly returns to its resting state and while doing so releases photons pulsing at the right frequency to create the laser light. These photons are channeled by mirrors and sent on their way to the target, which is being tracked and pinpointed by other lasers. The airborne laser weighs about six tons. It can be carried in a C-130H, producing a laser powerful enough to hit airborne or ground targets fifteen kilometers away. The laser exits via a targeting turret under the nose of the aircraft. The laser beam is invisible to the human eye. The chemicals are mixed at high speeds and the byproducts are harmless heat, potassium salt, water, and oxygen. A similar laser, flying in a larger aircraft (B-747 based ALT) was supposed to have enough range to knock down ballistic missiles as they took off. But the ALT never developed sufficient range to be an effective weapon. Nearly half a century of engineering work has produced thousands of improvements, and a few breakthroughs, in making the lasers more powerful, accurate, and lethal. More efficient energy storage has made it possible to use lighter, shorter range, ground-based lasers effective against smaller targets like mortar shells and short-range rockets. Northrop's 2005 move was an indication that the company felt confident enough to gamble its own money, instead of what they get for government research contracts, to produce useful laser weapons. A larger high energy airborne laser would not only be useful against ballistic missiles, but even enemy aircraft and space satellites would be at risk. But companies like Northrop and Boeing are still trying to produce ground and airborne lasers that can successfully operate under combat conditions. The big problem with anti-missile airborne lasers has always been the power supply. A lot of chemicals are needed to generate sufficient power for a laser that can reach out for hundreds of kilometers and do sufficient damage to a ballistic missile. To be effective the airborne laser needs sufficient power to get off several shots. So far, no one has been able to produce such a weapon. Shorter range solid-state lasers need lots of electricity. This is difficult for aircraft or ground troops but not for properly equipped ships. That's why these lasers remain "the weapon of the future" and will probably remain so for a while. LaWS seems to be going in the same direction as Laser Dome with similar but less effective tech. The Israeli laser system is light enough to be mounted in warplanes or large UAVs. Hopes are once more high that Laser Dome will prove that the long-awaited future tech has finally arrived. Believe it when you see it. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) Five doctors and three nurses confined at the Southern Philippine Medical Center in Davao City have tested positive for coronavirus infection, health officials have confirmed. Annabelle Yumang, director of the Department of Health in the Davao region, confirmed this in a media briefing on Tuesday. The SPMC's Medical Center Chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega admitted that one of the doctors and a nurse from their hospital breached protocol in handling the protective gear while attending to a patient infected with COVID-19. Three of the healthcare workers were from other health units, Yumang said. She did not disclose if the two other infected medical professionals are also with the SMPC or a different hospital. SPMC is one of the local-level testing centers in the country certified by the DOH to conduct COVID-19 tests. Davao region has 50 COVID-19 cases with six deaths all in Davao City and five have so far recovered from the viral disease as of March 30. Yumang also confirmed cases of local transmission in the Davao region. She cited the case of at least 11 patients who visited a cockpit arena in Matina, Davao City, where a known positive patient had visited. Three of them were among the six fatalities in the region. Other patients were exposed to a known COVID-19 case while at least 18 have history of travel to Metro Manila. Davao City is now under enhanced community quarantine, like Luzon and other areas which have restricted people's movement to contain the spread of the virus. The Philippines now has more than 2,084 COVID-19 cases. Of this number, 88 have died while 49 have recovered. Among the fatalities are 17 doctors, according to the Philippine Medical Association. With the price of oil wallowing beneath $30 per barrel for almost a month, some of the lowest prices in the last decade, the industry in New Mexico suffered from capital reductions and threats of layoffs. The State announced the global spread of coronavirus and subsequent respiratory illness COVID-19 reached New Mexico in recent weeks, with more than 200 case reported in the state as of this week. As the virus spread across the globe, the pandemic along with a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia decimated demand for commodities such as fuel, and local and state agencies were forced to look for ways to support the economy amid the pandemic in a state economically reliant on extraction. As of Monday, domestic crude oil was trading at about $20 per barrel. This low price could impact local communities throughout the Permian Basin, as major producers reduce expenses and operations in the region. One of those majors, Occidental Petroleum announced a multi-billion-dollar reduction in its 2020 capital spending from up to $5.4 billion to as low as $2.7 billion, while reducing its production by 6 percent, down from up to 1.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOEPD) to as low as 1.2 million BOEPD, per a Wednesday news release. Occidentals operating costs were also expected to be cut by at least $600 million, including salary cuts for executives at the company. We are making solid progress with additional cost reductions to help withstand the low commodity price environment and other macroeconomic pressures impacting our industry and the global economy, said President and Chief Executive Officer Vicki Hollub. Based on our teams recent efforts, we now expect to significantly lower our costs in all aspects of the business. We will continue to take actions as necessary to further strengthen our balance sheet and ensure the long-term viability of our business. The latest data from Baker Hughes showed New Mexico lost three rigs between March 20 and 27 from 112 to 109, as the virus spread throughout the state. That dropped New Mexico below the months average rig count of 114, and last months average of 114 rigs. With the vast majority of the states oil and gas activity centered in the Permian Basin in the southeast region of New Mexico, including Eddy and Lea counties, U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM) called on the federal government to provide relief to the southeast which could be the most susceptible region of her home state to the impacts of the price drop. She hoped to ensure additional relief legislation to address the unique challenges facing the energy industry in the Permian, read a news release. A bipartisan letter signed by Torres Small and eight other U.S. Representatives called on Congressional leaders in the House and Senate to include the industry in any further relief, as oil and gas was estimated to provide 10.3 million jobs, and 5.6 percent of total U.S. employment. We know from previous economic aid efforts that any COVID-19 relief package must protect all hard-working Americans. The effects of COVID-19 will be felt across the economy. But they will be particularly acute in the energy sector, the letter read. The dramatic reduction in production coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic leaves these hard-working men and women with an unprecedented challenge. The lawmakers worried oil and gas workers laid off during the industrys decline would be unable to seek new jobs due to state and local health restrictions in response to the pandemic related to travel and in-person gatherings. Unable to search for new employment because of federal, state, and local restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, they will face additional challenges in seeking new employment that makes this downturn unlike any we have experienced before, the letter read. As various sector-specific proposals are considered to address the impacts of COVID-19, this sector and the people who work in it must be taken into account. We stand ready to work with you on behalf of the women and men who work throughout the industry for the benefit of all Americans. Stacy Johnston, spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions said it was unknown what the extent of the economic damage would be, as the virus continued to spread, and it was unclear when prices would recovery. We simply do not know what the impact will be as we dont know how long prices will remain this low. What we know is that the shorter the situation lasts the sooner we can get back to business as usual, she said. Therefore, we encourage everyone to practice social distancing and wash their hands. The more we can flatten the curve on COVID 19 the better it will be for us all. Johnston said the Department was available for assistance to New Mexicans who lost their jobs. Local agencies such as the Carlsbad Department of Development hoped to increase revenue to businesses through promotion and informing consumers, said Executive Director John Waters. He said he was confident Eddy County would survive the outbreak. Right now, we as a department are focusing on helping out our area businesses that are hurting from this current COVID 19 situation. We are continuing to pass on important information on recovery and relief programs as they are announced by private and public entities, Waters said. Whatever the impact will be from this strange period that we are all living through, the people of Eddy County are hard-working and tenacious, and I have no doubt that our community will all pull through this and recover stronger than we were before. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter. 2020 the Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N.M.) Visit the Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N.M.) at www.currentargus.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Residents of Nagorno-Karabakh went to the polls on Tuesday in presidential and parliamentary elections strongly condemned by Azerbaijan. The presidential ballot was contested by 14 candidates. Only three of them were believed to stand a chance of succeeding Bako Sahakian, Karabakhs outgoing president who has been in office since 2007. Those are Sahakians former prime minister and foreign minister, Arayik Harutiunian and Masis Mayilian, and retired army General Vitaly Balasanian. None of them was openly endorsed by Sahakian or Armenias government during election campaign. The parliamentary race was also tightly contested, with 12 parties and blocs vying for 33 seats in the local legislature. Most of their top leaders also ran for president. The elections went ahead despite serious concerns about the spread of coronavirus in Karabakh. The authorities in Stepanakert, which have recorded no coronavirus cases so far, dismissed calls for their postponement made by several presidential candidates and prominent public figures in Armenia. They said that precautionary measures taken by them will minimize health risks. Critics are especially worried about the arrival of hundreds of election observers from Armenia where the number coronavirus cases surpassed 500 on Tuesday morning. The authorities counter that the observers as well as Armenian journalists underwent COVID-19 tests just before travelling to Karabakh. All other people from Armenia were temporarily banned last week from entering Karabakh. Many ordinary Karabakh Armenians also seemed unfazed by the coronavirus threat, flocking to polling stations disinfected throughout the day. Each voter was handed a face mask, gloves and a single-use pen while entering them. Election officials also wore protective masks and gloves. With only one or two voters at a time allowed into most of the 281 polling sites across Karabakh, lines formed outside many of them already in the morning. According to the Central Election Commission, about half of the Armenian-populated territorys 104,000 eligible voters cast ballots as of 2 p.m. Turnout is very high, said Kajik Harutiunian, the chairman of a precinct election commission in Stepanakert. People started queuing up at 8 a.m., he told RFE/RLs Armenian service. In terms of the numbers, there have been no such elections before. Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijani rule in 1991 but has not been formally recognized as an independent state by any country since then. The international community continues to regard the territory as an integral part of Azerbaijan. Baku has always condemned elections held in Karabakh as illegitimate. Its reaction to the latest polls was just as negative. In a statement released on Tuesday, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry said they run counter to Azerbaijani and international law. The illegal regime installed by Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is the product of aggression, ethnic cleansing and racial discrimination, and it is led and controlled by Armenia, said the statement. U.S., Russian and French mediators co-heading the OSCE Minsk Group said, meanwhile, that they have taken note of the so-called general elections and recognize the role of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh in deciding its future as part of a future resolution of the Karabakh conflict. The Co-Chairs note, however, that Nagorno-Karabakh is not recognized as an independent and sovereign state by any of the Co-Chair countries or any other country, they said in a joint statement. Accordingly, the Co-Chairs do not accept the results of these elections as affecting the legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh and stress that the results in no way prejudge the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh or the outcome of the ongoing negotiations to bring a lasting and peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The mediators, who regularly visit Stepanakert and meet with Karabakhs leaders during their tours of the conflict zone, had issued similar statements on past Karabakh elections. The European Union also reacted to the Karabakh elections, saying that it does not recognize the constitutional and legal framework within which they are being held. This event cannot prejudice the determination of the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh or the outcome of the ongoing negotiation process, said a spokesman for the EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell. Predictably, Armenia defended the holding of the elections. It argued that OSCE member states had adopted in 1992 a document saying that elected representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh should also participate in Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks. Elections must be held to have elected representatives, read an Armenian Foreign Ministry statement. Boulder, Colo., USA: The world's most powerful earthquakes strike at subduction zones, areas where enormous amounts of stress build up as one tectonic plate dives beneath another. When suddenly released, this stress can cause devastating "megaquakes" like the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku event, which killed nearly 16,000 people and crippled Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant. Now a study published in Geology suggests that sediments atop the downgoing slab can play a key role in determining the magnitude and location of these catastrophic events. In this newly published study, a team led by Gou Fujie, a senior scientist at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, used a trio of geophysical methods to image the subducting sediments in the northeastern Japan arc, where the Tohoku event occurred. The findings suggest that variations caused by volcanic rocks intruded into these sediments can substantially influence the nature of subduction zone earthquakes. "Our imaging shows that the enormous amount of slip that occurred during the 2011 Tohoku earthquake stopped in an area of thin sediments that are just starting to subduct," says Fujie. "These results indicate that by disturbing local sediment layers, volcanic activity that occurred prior to subduction can affect the size and the distribution of interplate earthquakes after the layers have been subducted." Researchers first began to suspect that variations in subducting sediments could influence megaquakes after the 2011 Tohoku event, when international drilling in the northeastern Japan arc showed that giant amounts of slip during the earthquake occurred in a slippery, clay-rich layer located within the subducting sediments. To better understand the nature of the downgoing slab in this region, Fujie's team combined several imaging techniques to paint a clearer picture of the subseafloor structure. The researchers discovered there are what Fujie calls "remarkable regional variations" in the sediments atop the downgoing plate, even where the seafloor topography seems to be flat. There are places, he says, where the sediment layer appears to be extremely thin due to the presence of an ancient lava flow or other volcanic rocks. These volcanic intrusions have heavily disturbed, and in places thermally metamorphosed, the clay layer in which much of the seismic slip occurred. Because the type of volcanism that caused sediment thinning in the northeastern Japan arc has also been found in many areas, says Fujie, the research suggests such thinning is ubiquitous--and that this type of volcanic activity has also affected other seismic events. "Regional variations in sediments atop descending oceanic plates appear to strongly influence devastating subduction zone earthquakes," he concludes. ### FEATURED ARTICLE Spatial variations of incoming sediments at the northeastern Japan arc and their implications for megathrust earthquakes Gou Fujie et al., fujie@jamstec.go.jp. URL: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article/doi/10.1130/G46757.1/583388/Spatial-variations-of-incoming-sediments-at-the GEOLOGY articles are online at https://geology.geoscienceworld.org/content/early/recent. Representatives of the media may obtain complimentary articles by contacting Kea Giles at the e-mail address above. Please discuss articles of interest with the authors before publishing stories on their work, and please make reference to GEOLOGY in articles published. Non-media requests for articles may be directed to GSA Sales and Service, gsaservice@geosociety.org. https://www.geosociety.org March 31, 2020 release at 7:30 am CET Sophia Antipolis, France Nicox SA (Euronext Paris: FR0013018124, COX), an international ophthalmology company, today announced that its U.S. licensee, Eyevance Pharmaceuticals, has launched ZERVIATETM in the United States. Commercial supplies were shipped to national wholesalers last week and are now available in pharmacies for patients to fill a prescription. ZERVIATE joins Eyevances existing ophthalmic commercial portfolio, including FLAREX, TOBRADEX ST and FRESHKOTE Preservative Free (PF), marketed by their own dedicated sales force. The Eyevance commercial team currently covers 40 key territories in the U.S. ZERVIATE is the first novel prescription-only treatment for allergic conjunctivitis in over 10 years. The launch of ZERVIATE in the U.S. is another major step in maximizing the value of ZERVIATE worldwide. The Eyevance team has demonstrated great execution and impactful marketing in building their commercial portfolio and we believe that they are ideally positioned to successfully drive ZERVIATE, the first and only topical ophthalmic presentation of cetirizine, into the U.S. market, said Gavin Spencer, Chief Business Officer of Nicox. The press release from Eyevance announcing the launch can be found here , in which Eyevance also sets out how they plan to market ZERVIATE in the current situation, taking into account restrictions due to coronavirus. Nicox and Eyevance entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for ZERVIATE in the U.S. in September 2017. Eyevance is responsible for all manufacturing, regulatory and commercial activities in the U.S. Nicox is eligible for up to $37.5 million in milestones payable on Eyevance achieving pre-defined sales targets, with $30 million of these milestones being triggered by annual sales of $100 million and above. Nicox will also receive tiered royalties1 of 8% to 15% on future net sales of ZERVIATE in the U.S. ZERVIATE is also licensed to Ocumension Therapeutics for the Chinese market and the majority of Southeast Asian region, and to Samil Pharmaceutical for South Korea. Nicox currently retains rights to ZERVIATE for all of the other territories outside of the U.S. and those mentioned above. About ZERVIATE ZERVIATETM (cetirizine ophthalmic solution), 0.24%, is the first topical ocular formulation of the antihistamine cetirizine for the treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. It is estimated that more than 75 million people suffer from allergic conjunctivitis in the United States and the estimated prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis may be between 15% and 40%. The annual U.S. market for prescription treatment of allergic conjunctivitis totaled approximately $400 million in 2018 according to IQVIA Health Analytics. Branded prescription products represent around 70% market share by value. ZERVIATE is a novel formulation of cetirizine, the active ingredient in ZYRTEC, developed and approved for the first time for topical application in the eye. Cetirizine is a second generation antihistamine (H1 receptor antagonist) that binds competitively to histamine receptor sites. Cetirizine, in approved oral formulations, has a well-characterized systemic efficacy and safety profile with worldwide exposure resulting from 20 years of oral use. Notes At least 248 million Americans in at least 29 states have been told to stay at home. It had seemed nearly impossible for public health officials to know how effective this measure and others have been in slowing the coronavirus. But the new data offers evidence, in real time, that tight social-distancing restrictions may be working, potentially reducing hospital overcrowding and lowering death rates, experts said. Harsh measures, including stay-at-home orders and restaurant closures, are contributing to rapid drops in the numbers of fevers a signal symptom of most coronavirus infections recorded in states across the country, according to intriguing new data produced by a medical technology firm. At least 248 million Americans in at least 29 states have been told to stay at home. It had seemed nearly impossible for public health officials to know how effective this measure and others have been in slowing the coronavirus. But the new data offers evidence, in real time, that tight social-distancing restrictions may be working, potentially reducing hospital overcrowding and lowering death rates, experts said. The company, Kinsa Health, which produces internet-connected thermometers, first created a national map of fever levels on March 22 and was able to spot the trend within a day. Since then, data from the health departments of New York state and Washington state have buttressed the finding, making it clear that social distancing is saving lives. The trend has become so obvious that on Sunday, President Donald Trump extended until the end of April his recommendation that Americans stay in lockdown. Trump had hoped to lift restrictions by Easter and send Americans back to work. That would have been the worst possible Easter surprise, said Dr Peter J. Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, who added that he thought the Kinsa predictions were based on very robust technology. Kinsas thermometers upload the users temperature readings to a centralized database; the data enable the company to track fevers across the United States. Owners of Kinsas thermometers can type other symptoms into a cellphone app after taking their temperature. The app offers basic advice on whether they should seek medical attention. Kinsa has more than 1 million thermometers in circulation and has been getting up to 162,000 daily temperature readings since COVID-19 began spreading in the country. The refinement Kinsa made on March 22 was to add trends a map showing whether all fevers were increasing, decreasing or holding steady. Finally, people are asking us for our data, Inder Singh, founder of Kinsa, said Monday. Were talking with six states about them distributing more thermometers. People understand the value now. Donald G. McNeil Jr. c.2020 The New York Times Company Coronavirus enables a less tribal, more ingenious America. Lets not backslide Once again humanity is humbled, this time not by fire, earthquake or tornado. Instead a wee creature our naked eye cannot see commandeers the Earth yet another killer reminder that many forces dwarf us cocky-to-a-fault mortals. So we learn anew that in nature were but temporary components of perpetual systems much bigger than ourselves. For most of us, the less than draconian demand is that we stay secluded incarcerated at home with our loved ones. We know teenagers who dutifully avoid their early-to-rise parents by sleeping from 3 a.m. until the crack of 2 p.m. There being no immunity to family frictions in tight quarters, social distancing at times necessitates spousal distancing like teenagers, a survivable inconvenience. Meanwhile the contagion, as if with a mind of its own, searches for fresh human hosts. For those among us who contract the disease COVID-19, as we see in daily news coverage, the effects range from discomfort to oxygen starvation to harrowing death. Whatever our individual fates as this ghastly pandemic unspools, each of us can find solace in the ways that millions of Americans are responding. Less than one week into a stay-home mandate, the concern people are showing for one another is evident and, we hope, long lasting. THE OTHER EPIDEMIC: RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS There always will be outliers arrogant me-firsters who refuse to conform to new rules. The criminals who strafe streets shall always be with us. Our focus instead is on the vast majority of citizens abruptly awakened to the urgent needs of the less fortunate souls around them. In their stoicism, their generosity to one another and their astonishing patience with the restrictions that now dictate their lives, these next-door heroes evoke author Sebastian Jungers account of World War II London during the Blitz. The peril then was more vivid, even if todays peril kills just as indiscriminately, just as impersonally. He writes of Londoners voluntary subservience to constraints as they resisted a shared enemy: the crowd policed themselves according to unwritten rules that made life bearable for complete strangers jammed shoulder to shoulder on cold, wet floors. Today, by contrast, we live an inverted exercise that seeks to keep us apart. Yet a similar ethos of Were-all-in-this-together is rewriting our social contract. We see the random acts of kindness everywhere the impromptu willingness of strangers to inconvenience themselves for one another by hauling packages, the household fostering of forlorn shelter animals, the drop-offs of food for first responders whose midshift lunch joints are closed. WHEN OPPORTUNITY BREEDS INGENUITY If some people cope by rebuilding frayed social bonds, others cope by rising to a challenge: How can I surmount this episodes limitations, small and large? Consider the many residents of cities whove put teddy (and other) bears in front windows. For neighborhood parents dealing with cooped-up kids, this small gift encourages bear hunting family strolls with little people waving to ursine creatures indoors. Or consider the Zooming of America the rapid (we wont say viral) adoption of video conferencing from Zoom and other providers online. Look with admiration at the workarounds. The innovations. The ingenious solutions. SAFE SPACES, REIMAGINED This emergent altruism, these reinventions of our routine protocols, speaks to a welcome togetherness. Welcome, but unfamiliar. For two-plus decades we Americans have divided ourselves, more avidly than we had before, into tribes. Suddenly we find ourselves, yes, all in something together. The phrase safe spaces abruptly refers less to protecting frail egos than to sheltering one another from deathly danger. In a few weeks, as during emergencies past, weve become a more serious, more other-oriented people. The optimist who celebrates this knows its early, that this vast mutual aid society is as novel today as is the coronavirus. ITLL BE HARD. BUT WE CAN DO THIS Like the other great forces of nature, every pandemic subsides. Then what? If Americans want to preserve our suddenly less tribal, more ingenious, other-oriented communities, we can do that. How? Paradoxically, each of us has to keep nurturing this communal spirit one by one. Chicago Tribune Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, the MP for Tooting, has been doing shifts at a south London hospital. (Getty) A Labour MP and doctor has told Boris Johnson to double the time he is self-isolating for after he announced he had caught coronavirus last week. The prime minister chaired a meeting of his Cabinet by videolink on Tuesday after he announced last week he would be self-isolating in Downing Street for seven days. But Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, the Labour deputy leadership candidate and a senior A&E registrar, said Mr Johnson should be self isolating for double that period of time. Rosena Allin-Khan told Sky News: I would like the prime minister to self-isolate for 14 days. The Prime Minister has been chairing video-link meetings from self-isolation. (PA) Im deeply concerned the advice were giving is not in keeping with what the WHO [World Health Organization] are saying theyre saying you can continue to spread the virus long after the symptoms are gone. Current NHS advice states that those who come down with symptoms should self-isolate for seven days. Those who live in close proximity to people with symptoms, meanwhile, are urged to self-isolate for 14 days. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Dr Allin-Khan has previously Johnsons relaxed approach to the disease and said his mixed messaging could cost lives. The Tooting MP, who has been doing shifts in St Georges Hospital in south London, said she has been surprised at how young some of the patients are with coronavirus. In a diary recorded for BBC Radio 4s Today Programme, Dr Allin-Khan said earlier this month: We have patients who are in their 30s and early 40s who are previously fit and well who are now in the intensive care and fighting for their lives. This is a virus which is very, very difficult to predict. We just dont know how the course of the next few weeks is going to pan out. In the diary, she said there is a very real sense that the number of cases are growing and they are growing very, very quickly. Story continues Dr Allin-Khan added: 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. Coronavirus: what happened today NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 31, 2020 / Let's take it back to 1998 when Enas Barkho was a Junior in high school who at an early age knew that one day cannabis would become recreational and change the world. Enas knew he would be a part of this evolution and would be a key player in bridging cannabis and music together. Enas was a cannabis connoisseur and an entrepreneur by the age of 17 who in 10 years would be the founder of one of the greatest cannabis brands known as Jetfuel. Enas, not being a stranger to creativity, likes hitting multiple birds with one stone. His track record of talent management as well as keeping strong public relations in the community while running a cannabis brand have not gone unnoticed. Enas played a critical role in having joined the claim to fame of administering hip hop management with creating pot to order the social piece of Los Angeles. Jetfuel, known as a luxury weed brand, has a reputation of being high quality with a strong high and is being sold in various dispensaries in all of California. It's marketed by many different social media influencers as well as customers that like to post pictures and caption "JetfuelOG" on their social media accounts such as Instagram and Snapchat. Recreational marijuana sales are up substantially from approximately $2.5 billion in 2018, the first year of licensed cannabis sales in California, in keeping with the evaluation by using multiple sales-monitoring firms. After a rocky start in 2018, outlets which have survived California's tough licensing are trying out and packaging guidelines are "battle-hardened" and stronger because of an influx of investment that has allowed them to take benefit of the state's big populace and pent-up demand for legal products, said numerous analysts for income-tracking firms. California being a global hotspot for hip hop and marijuana, Enas is successfully gaining market capitalization in both industries which is a very tough feat. Enas, the founder of talent management group Face Card, has been in the creative industry for over 15 years. Enas and his team have managed artists such as Cypress hill, Talib Kweli and Xzibit. These rappers have been growing their platforms and user base rapidly as they focus on West Coast Hip Hop which is a re-emerging genre in the Hip Hop and R&B scene. After managing such big artists, Enas wanted to venture off and see where else he could take artists' careers. As the artists were all pioneers in the marijuana space Enas quickly pivoted and started to invest heavily in creating brands in the cannabis industry labeling the brand "Jet Fuel". They have been creating a unique brand that offers a different, more high-end cannabis, with extremely high THC percentage, giving customers a very high-end product. "JetfuelOG" is the strain of marijuana. The brand has a reputation for being high quality and consistent. It's one of the traditional brands emerging in the compliant market. Media: Shazir Mucklai shazir@imperium-pr.com SOURCE: Imperium Group View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583320/Imperium-Group-Talks-to-JetFuel-CEO-Enas-Barkho-a-Cannabis-Entrepreneur A man arrested in connection with a stabbing in Co. Cork today has been charged. The stabbing left a man in his 20s in a serious but stable condition in hospital in Cork in what appears to have been a targetted attack at a bus stop in Bandon this morning. A man in his 20s was found in a collapsed state at the bus stop in the Glasslyn road area of Bandon at around 7.45am today. When gardai arrived at the scene, they found he had received multiple stab wounds. It was later confirmed that the man received one stab wound to a leg and several stab wounds to his back. The man was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital, where he is said to be in a serious but stable condition. Gardai found a knife at the scene and a man in his 40s who was present was arrested. He will appear before Macroom District Court tomorrow morning. It is understood that both men are known to each other and one line of inquiry being explored is that the stabbing may have followed on from an earlier dispute between both parties. Both men are Irish nationals but it is believed they are not from Bandon. Cruise lines, which have been pummeled by the economic impact of the coronavirus, may not be eligible to receive relief through the bailout fund included in the $2 trillion stimulus bill passed on Friday. While the stimulus bill allocates $500 billion for distressed businesses, in order to qualify, a company must be created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States and have significant operations in and a majority of its employees based in the United States, according to the new law. Some of the countrys largest publicly traded cruise lines are incorporated offshore. Carnival Corporation, which owns the Princess cruise line, is incorporated in Panama. Royal Caribbean is incorporated in Liberia, and Norwegian Cruise Lines is incorporated in Bermuda. Diamond Princess Cruise Ship Remains Quarantined As Coronavirus Cases Grow (Carl Court / Getty Images) It doesn't sound like they'd be eligible for relief, said Aaron Cutler, a partner with Hogan Lovells government relations and public affairs practice. The law firm represents some cruise line companies. The Treasury Secretary would ordinarily have some discretion as to how to implement the relief, he said but that might require creative lawyering at the Treasury Department, Cutler said. We did not ask nor expect a cash bailout from the U.S. government, Carnival told NBC News. Norwegian Cruise Lines did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Royal Caribbean pointed to its recent announcement that it would be taking a multibillion-dollar loan. The cruise industry became a flashpoint in the coronavirus outbreak as hundreds of people became infected with the virus on their ships. Passengers on two Carnival cruise lines were quarantined for more than a week as health authorities attempted to contain a virus outbreak that emerged on the ship. The Grand Princess was forced to moor off the California coast after 21 people tested positive for the virus. Passengers on the companys Diamond Princess were also quarantined in Japan after one passenger tested positive for the virus. Roughly 700 passengers on the ship became infected, and at least eight died. Story continues Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak Cruise industry stocks have been crushed by the financial impact of the coronavirus. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian all suspended operations earlier this month as their stocks continued to take a dive. Carnivals stock price has plummeted by about 72 percent from the beginning of the year. Royal Caribbean is down by 74 percent and Norwegian is down by 79 percent during the same time. The effects of the coronavirus outbreak on our business has been swift and severe, Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Frank Del Rio told investors in February. The continuous global headline news coverage has been substantial and relentless. Cruise line companies have few options to stabilize their businesses, aside from fully containing the virus, James Hardiman, a leisure and travel analyst with Wedbush Securities, told NBC News. The companies could access a debt bond offering from a traditional bank or follow Royal Caribbeans example in taking out $2.2 billion in debt backed by its ships. The devil is going to be in the details here and we dont know a lot of the details, Hardiman said. President Donald Trump has said his administration would help the industry, along with other travel industries such as hotels and airlines that have taken the brunt of the economic impact of the virus. We cant let the cruise lines go out of business, Trump said last week at a press briefing. I mean, that would be massive numbers of jobs for our country and, actually, for the world. However, the idea of extending aid to cruise lines remains controversial. The three biggest cruise lines are incorporated in what are called equivalent exemption countries where they are not required to pay the 21 percent corporate income tax that U.S. companies are obligated to pay, said Robert Willens, a tax and accounting analyst. Why dont they just relocate and domesticate and change the place of incorporation from Panama to the U.S. and this way theyll be eligible for loans and loan guarantees? he said. If they did that, they would win the battle but lose the war because they would be forced to give up their tax exemption. I assure you that is sacrosanct; they're not giving up their tax exemption. For instance, Carnival, the biggest U.S. cruise line company, would have had to pay around $600 million in corporate taxes on its reported $3 billion in income for 2019. With a potential loss in profit to taxes at these amounts, theyre not moving to the U.S., Willens said. A bailout for the industry has a swarm of critics in Washington, D.C. Earlier this month, Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., called on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to block a bailout of the industry. Unlike American families, corporations that operate foreign-flagged vessels do not pay taxes in the United States, she wrote. Additionally, pervasive safety and medical shortcomings on vessels have caused numerous Americans harm. The cruise line industry supports around 1.1 million jobs worldwide, with about 421,000 of those in America, according to the Cruise Line Industry Association. What we learned from the first known community-acquired coronavirus case in the US (SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - When UC Davis announced the first case of community transmission of COVID-19 in the U.S. on Feb. 26, it solved a medical mystery at the hospital and led to important changes to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for novel coronavirus testing. In a paper published today in Clinical Infectious Diseases, UC Davis Health physicians and medical staff who treated the severely ill patient provide a detailed case study of her condition and the medical steps and challenges they experienced before arriving at a diagnosis and treatment. The case study also reveals how her symptoms matched--and sometimes varied from-- published studies of COVID-19 infection at the time. SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, was first identified in a small number of cases in Wuhan, China in December 2019. As of March 30, the virus has infected over 752,830 people around the globe and caused more than 36,230 deaths. In the U.S., the CDC reports 140,904 have tested positive with 2,405 deaths. In California, the California Department of Public Health reported 4,643 positive cases and 101 deaths. No known risks for novel coronavirus An otherwise healthy woman in her 40s, the patient was admitted to UC Davis with a respiratory infection. Her chest imaging suggested community acquired pneumonia. The patient was immediately placed on droplet and contact precautions to prevent infection transmission. Within 24 hours of admission, her respiratory status deteriorated. She was intubated and given antibiotics including linezolid, piperacillin-tazobactam and azithromycin. Testing over several days--viral panel, respiratory culture, blood cultures, bronchoscopy cultures--failed to indicate a clear infectious source. The UC Davis team suspected a potential COVID-19 infection. However, because the patient had not traveled to high-risk countries (at the time China) and had no contact with an individual with high-risk travel, she did not meet the CDC criteria. As a result, public health officials did not pursue testing. The patient developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, a condition in which fluid builds up in the lungs and limits the oxygen that can reach the bloodstream. She developed a septic shock, a potentially fatal sharp drop in blood pressure in reaction to severe infection. Because of the severity of her respiratory condition, the patient was reviewed again for possible coronavirus infection. This time, the CDC recommended COVID-19 testing. The patient was put on airborne precautions and strict contact precautions. Two days later, the results came back positive. No approved therapies for the novel coronavirus Currently, there are no approved antiviral therapies for COVID-19 in humans, but clinical trials are underway at several academic medical centers, including UC Davis. Because of the severity of the patient's illness, the team received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat her with an investigational drug called remdesivir. The broad-spectrum antiviral developed by Gilead Sciences Inc., has been tested in humans with Ebola and has shown promise against coronaviruses in animal models. After receiving remdesivir infusions, the patient improved, needing significantly less ventilator support and having better blood oxygen levels and chest X-ray results. Fourteen days after first arriving at UC Davis, she was removed from mechanical ventilation. She has since been discharged and is recovering at home. The team emphasizes that whether remdesivir is effective against human COVID-19 is not yet known. Clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the pharmaceutical industry will be key to analyzing the drug's efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. "Given the urgent need to find an effective treatment for COVID-19, clinical trials are essential for determining, from a scientific standpoint, if remdesivir is safe and effective," said Allison Brashear, dean of the UC Davis School of Medicine. "With this new study funded by the NIH, UC Davis will be an important contributor to these critical efforts." Testing is key to tackling pandemic The case highlights significant knowledge gaps in the diagnosis and management of COVID-19. Without clear risk factors, the patient's infection first masqueraded as a community acquired pneumonia. She also was relatively young and without other health conditions that would identify her as at-risk for severe disease. "Our case has influenced national health policies for revising screening criteria," said Angela Haczku, associate dean for translational research at the UC Davis School of Medicine and senior author on the study. Because of this specific case, and other similar cases of community-acquired COVID-19, the CDC updated its guidelines so that any hospitalized patient with severe symptoms, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome or pneumonia without an explanatory diagnosis, can now be tested for COVID-19 even if no clear source of exposure is identified. "There are individuals in the community who are not manifesting severe enough symptoms to check with their health care providers," said Michael Schivo, co-director of UC Davis Comprehensive COPD Clinic and senior author on the study. "We expect community spread to occur more frequently, challenging the ability of health care systems to adequately contain the spread of COVID-19." As the virus continues to spread, and more data about it becomes known, the authors expect guidelines to change yet again. But they are adamant that to tackle the pandemic, there needs to be significantly faster, less expensive and more widespread testing of all patients who potentially have COVID-19. ### Other UC Davis Health researchers on the study "A community transmitted case of acute respiratory distress syndrome due to SARS-coV2 in the United States" include Stuart Cohen, Bradley Sanville, Rebecca Corbett, Wesley Pidcock, Kaitlyn Hardin, Christian Sebat, George Thompson III and Minh-Vu Nguyen. The clinical trial is being funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NCT04280705) A Northern Ireland artist is calling for more support for small limited companies who have been left out of Government bailout schemes during the Covid-19 outbreak. Adrian Margey, who has his own gallery in Portrush, said his firm is among over 30,000 limited companies in NI who are struggling for help during the current crisis. He said while self-employed workers will get paid 80% of their profits in a new payout scheme for three months, starting in June, he and a host of other limited companies here whose earnings rely on dividends will get no help. "I am employed by a limited company but part of my earnings comes from dividends on which I pay tax," Mr Margey said. The artist, who has now set up an online shop of his works via his Facebook page and website, said that the Chancellor's job protection scheme fails to take into account those who take payments in dividends. "We need them to look at our income tax returns and what we are taxed on in terms of earnings. That would be fair and give us a level footing." A Department for the Economy spokesperson said: "HM Treasury has announced that: 'Those who pay themselves a salary and dividends through their own company are not covered by the scheme [the Self Employed Income Support Scheme] but will be covered for their salary by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if they are operating PAYE schemes.'" The government scheme entails a company putting employees on furlough, where they continue to be paid 80% of their salary, but there is no work for them to do. But Mr Margey said the concept was not practical for a one-man band. It is the unfairness of the situation. It excludes us and I would hope the Chancellor would go back and look at this, he said. There are currently 30,335 limited companies in Northern Ireland. Roger Pollen, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) NI head of external affairs, said the package for self-employed still has some gaps, including for those whose average profits are above 50,000 or those who pay themselves through dividends. He said he would continue to work on behalf of those SMEs to get the greatest support and, in this vein, would urge the NI Executive to extend the initial three-month rates holiday which has already been announced so that businesses have certainty for the entirety of the year ahead, as has been implemented elsewhere. Chris Ross, managing partner at law firm McKees, which is currently operating an SME support service during the crisis, said: The government has had to rush through support and theyre trying to stop it from being abused but, from my point of view, the assumption has been made wrongly. Many people who have set up these payment structures are in a loophole. I would hope the government would have time to consider this and I would suggest it is an item that needs dealt with. Limited companies seem to be the one category that isnt being protected. A coronavirus outbreak has infected dozens of Marine recruits and staff members at the service's East Coast recruit training center, prompting the suspension of additional arrivals for the foreseeable future, defense officials said Monday. The cases at Parris Island, South Carolina, emerged following a "wave in testing" over the weekend, a defense official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. One official said there are at least 20 positive cases, and another said there are believed to be a few dozen but fewer than 50. The outbreak could mark the Defense Department's largest yet. Defense officials have said that dozens of sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the virus while on deployment in the Pacific, forcing a stop last week for treatment in Guam. The Marine Corps acknowledged the suspension of new recruits arriving at Parris Island on Monday but did not detail how many cases have emerged following a Pentagon decision last week to not provide specific information about coronavirus cases from individual bases and units. Marine officials said in a statement that the service is taking steps to "protect its recruits, recruit training personnel, their families and the communities where they live and serve by temporarily suspending the shipping of new recruits" to Parris Island. "The preservation of our Marines, recruits and their families is the highest priority for Marine Corps Recruiting during this national emergency," Gen. David Berger, the service's commandant, said in a written statement. "With that in mind, we've paused this week's shipping of new recruits to Parris Island and will revise our overall shipping plan to ensure we are able to meet the Nation's needs while protecting its next generation of Marines." The service wants to get a better understanding of how far the virus has spread before accepting any more recruits, one of the defense officials said. Recruits who have already begun training and are not believed to have been exposed to the virus will be allowed to continue and graduate. But it is still not clear what additional steps may need to be taken, the official added. "This is a fluid situation right now, and there's a lot of discussions going on about what could happen down the line when it comes to America's ability to defend itself," the official said. The cases were found as the service transitioned to requiring new recruits to quarantine for 14 days before training to prevent the spread of the virus. The Navy has taken similar steps at its enlisted training center in Great Lakes, Illinois. Senior military officials discussed proactively stopping the training of new recruits this month. Some senior Navy and Army officials recommended doing so, according to a Navy plan obtained by The Washington Post. Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed the issue March 16 and decided to continue recruit training because of concerns about how a stoppage could negatively affect the military, said Jonathan Rath Hoffman, a Pentagon spokesman. The issue, Hoffman said then, will continually be evaluated. Parris Island trains all enlisted women joining the service and all men from the eastern half of the country. Men from the western half train at a similar facility in San Diego. A Marine spokesman in San Diego, Capt. Martin Harris, said the service continues to receive new recruits there, but the number has been decreased to ensure there is enough space to allow social distancing and adequate staff to safely screen and evaluate them. "This is a dynamic situation that continues to evolve," Harris said. Harris said that plans to ship additional recruits could be adjusted on a case-by-case basis, and that "discretion will be applied" to current and future plans. Also Monday, the Pentagon announced that a New Jersey Army National Guardsman died Saturday after testing positive for the virus, marking the first coronavirus-related death of a U.S. service member. Capt. Douglas Linn Hickok was a drilling guardsman and physician assistant, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said. Esper called the death a "stinging loss." "Today is a sad day for the Department of Defense as we have lost our first American service member - active, reserve or Guard - to coronavirus," he said. "This is a stinging loss for our military community, and our condolences go out to his family, friends, civilian co-workers and the entire National Guard community." A civilian employee and a military spouse died this month after testing positive for the virus. As of Monday morning, 569 service members, 220 Defense Department civilian employees, 190 family members and 64 contractors had tested positive for the virus, the Pentagon said. While more than 60% of Britons to fall seriously ill from the coronavirus are over 60, there are a tragic number of young lives also being taken by the disease. To date Britain's youngest coronavirus death has been an 18-year-old teenager, on Sunday a 26-year-old RSPCA animal carer died 'after being off colour for a couple of days'. Other young victims include a fit and healthy 28-year-old father, a 33-year-old pharmacist who died the day after her dad and Britain's deputy ambassador to Hungary, 37-year-old Steven Dick. There are a growing number of people under 40 who are falling victim to the disease, many of whom were fit and healthy before the pandemic struck. This week the NHS Nightingale Hospital London will open at the ExCel Centre in east London. It will focus on treating younger Covid-19 patients from the Capital According to a government audit by the Intensive Care and National Audit and Research Centre, less than 10% of critically ill Covid-19 hospital admissions are under 40, as of last Thursday. This week the NHS Nightingale Hospital London will open at the ExCel Centre in east London. It will focus on treating younger Covid-19 patients who are at a lower risk of dying from the disease. The temporary hospital has space for 4,000 beds, taking in patients from across London. Despite being better placed to fight off the Covid-19 infection, many young people have tragically lost their lives, as the pandemic grips Britain. Pooja Sharma, 33 Pharmacist Pooja Sharma , 33, worked at Eastbourne District Hospital and died last Thursday. Pooja Sharma, 33, with her father Sudhir. The father and daughter both diedlast week after contracting Covid-19. Pooja was a pharmacist at Eastbourne District Hospital while her father worked as an immigration officer at Heathrow Airport A friend of Pooja's wrote on Facebook to warn the public to take coronavirus 'very seriously and to self-isolate,' following the pharmacist's death last week Her father Sudhir Sharma, an immigration officer at Heathrow Airport, had died the previous day. A friend of Pooja's posted online: 'May their souls rest in peace. Sending my heartiest condolences, prayers and love to their family.' They added: 'Please, please, please inform family and friends to take this very seriously and to self-isolate, socially distance themselves as much as possible, for their families if not for themselves. Adam Harkins-Sullivan, 28 Arsenal fan Adam, father to seven-year-old Harry, was admitted to University College Hospital with pneumonia last week but died after he was placed in an induced coma. Father-of-one Adam Harkins-Sullivan had a temperate of 39.9C before he was admitted to University College Hospital with pneumonia last week. He was placed in an induced coma but died later Before the north London painter and decorator was admitted, Adam had been seen by his GP in the surgery's car park, where his temperature was read at 39.9C, according to the Camden News Journal. We are all just in shock, because he was only a young man, said his devastated mother Jackki Harkins, adding: He was healthy. You didnt have to tell him to eat his greens, he was always like that. 'He went into hospital with viral pneumonia, but other than that he was healthy. People have got to start taking this seriously. A lot of people think its an old persons disease but look what has happened to Adam.' Steven Dick, 37 Britain's deputy ambassador to Hungary, Steven Dick passed away last Tuesday after being diagnosed with Covid-19. Steven Dick died from the coronavirus in Hungary. The 37-year-old was Britain's deputy ambassador to Hungary. He passed away on Tuesday In a statement, his parents Steven and Carol Dick said: 'Steven was a much-loved son, grandson and nephew. He was kind, funny and generous 'It was always his dream to work for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and he was very happy representing our country overseas. 'We are devastated by his loss and ask for privacy at this tragic time.' He started his career in 2005 with the Bank of Scotland as a Graduate Trainee, where he spent three years, before moving on to the Migration Directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. When the Nightingale hospital at the ExCel centre opens this week, it will be taking in lower-risk patients, mostly people under 40 with no previous health conditions. Workers are converting Parc y Scarlets rugby stadium in Swansea, Wales, into a field hospital with space for 500 beds. Staff are pictured on Monday, amid hopes the temporary hospital will open in the next two weeks The number of young people to die from Covid-19 will continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace than people over 60. Yesterday (Monday) a 32-year-old was the youngest death listed by the NHS' figures, over the weekend the youngest people were a 33-year-old and a 39-year-old. The average age for critically ill Covid-19 admissions was 64, as of last Thursday. The first British person to catch coronavirus was 25-year-old North Wales expat Connor Reed. Mr Reed caught the disease while teaching Wuhan, where the pandemic started and described it as 'the worst disease I've ever had,' as it left him sweating, shivering, and struggling to breathe as his eyes burned and bones ached Michael Prendergast, a 'fit, healthy, gym-going' 28-year-old from Kerry, Ireland, began to suffer a headache a fortnight ago, shortly after coming back from a trip to London. Within 24 hours, the symptoms came on with brutal speed: a soaring temperature, uncontrollable shaking, and sudden, extreme breathlessness. Connor Reed caught the disease while teaching Wuhan, where the pandemic started and described it as 'the worst disease I've ever had,' as it left him sweating, shivering, and struggling to breathe as his eyes burned and bones ached Michael Prendergast (pictured in hospital suffering with Covid-19) said the disease made him feel 'not far from death,' he is now recovering at home in Kerry, Ireland There is a misconception that this is just a cold or flu, said Michael, in a video he recorded from his hospital bed. It is not. It is harrowing. It feels like youre not far from death.' Michael returned home from the hospital last week, but recovery still left him having bouts of breathlessness and with a high temperature. In Britain there have been no reports of children dying from the disease, but last week a newborn baby in London, a nine-month-old infant in Manchester and a baby in Norfolk were all diagnosed with Covid-19. When the Nightingale hospital at the ExCel centre opens, it will be taking in lower-risk patients, mostly people under 40 with no previous health conditions. A senior doctor with knowledge of the government's planned response told The Guardian: 'There is a two-tier system but its a medically appropriate two-tier system. 'The sick will go to the ExCel and the very sick will stay in hospital, because thats an appropriate use of NHS resources. 'Anyone who goes to either place will be critically ill, be suffering lung failure and be on life support through a ventilator. But those at the ExCel will be those needing less life support as they will be the ones with nothing else wrong with them,' the doctor added. Authorities have released the name of a 12-year-old boy who died Monday after he was shot while he and his teen brother were playing with a gun. The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the boy as Sean Rose. The shooting happened at 1:07 p.m. Monday inside Seans residence in the 500 block of 29th Street North in Bessemer. Lt. Christian Clemons said it appears he and his 16-year-old brother were playing with a gun when the gun, in the hands of the brother, discharged and Sean was struck in the head. Sean taken to Childrens of Alabama where he was pronounced dead at 4:15 p.m. The brother was detained by Bessemer police for questioning but released Monday night. The investigation is ongoing by Bessemer police to determine what, if any, charges will be filed. By Kevin Watkins LONDON There are now worrying signs that the COVID-19 virus has taken root in Sub-Saharan Africa, the world's poorest region. The window of opportunity to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe is still ajar, but keeping it open will take decisive national action and international cooperation. Until recently, the low number of reported cases in Africa was fueling complacency. Perhaps higher temperature was limiting COVID-19 transmission rates. In a region with more children (who are less susceptible) and fewer elderly people than elsewhere, some experts conjectured that demography was offering some protection as well. But the time for complacency is over. The director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, former health minister of Ethiopia, has urged Africa to wake up to the COVID-19 threat. Governments and aid donors are now preparing for the worst, belatedly responding to a coronavirus trajectory bearing the hallmarks of Europe's experience: a small initial caseload that then grows exponentially. With few countries equipped to test for COVID-19, reported cases may represent the tip of an iceberg and the numbers are growing fast. While most early cases were "imported" by visitors arriving from Europe, several countries including South Africa, Senegal, Kenya, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo are now reporting community transmission. Many African governments are now acting with greater resolve than some European governments. Countries like Senegal and Nigeria are testing and tracking cases. Airports are being closed either fully, or to visitors from countries with high numbers of reported cases. Public gatherings and funerals have been prohibited in Ghana. Schools have been closed in several countries. Social distancing is being encouraged. But Africa's governments and communities cannot contain this pandemic alone. Even with multi-billion-dollar cash injections, some of the world's strongest health systems are buckling under the coronavirus strain. With roughly one-third of hospitalized patients requiring intensive care, COVID-19 is overwhelming hospitals, health workers, and medical infrastructure, especially supplies of personal protective equipment and medical oxygen. Witness the crisis in Italy's Lombardy region and the United Kingdom's National Health Service. If prevention and containment fail and COVID-19 spreads, Africa's health systems will be unable to withstand the burden. Chronic underinvestment and a deficit of more than three million health workers has left countries unable to meet even the most basic health-care needs, let alone respond to COVID-19. No region is further from universal health coverage. Half the population has no access to modern health services. Public health spending averages just $16 per person far short of the $86 per person needed to finance basic health provision. There are just seven hospital beds and one doctor for every 10,000 people (Italy has over 34 beds and 40 doctors). Consider medical oxygen, a vital part of the treatment regime for COVID-19 patients suffering from the acute respiratory distress accompanying viral pneumonia. It is sometimes forgotten that Africa already has a pneumonia epidemic that kills over 400,000 children each year. As the Australian pediatric consultant Hamish Graham has shown, many of these deaths could be averted through antibiotics and medical oxygen. The problem is that medical oxygen is seldom available. While health systems are on the front line of the fight against COVID-19, the pandemic poses far wider threats. Weak demand in China has already hit commodity prices. Recession in Europe and falling oil prices will hurt the region's major economies. African growth forecasts are being revised downward, with potentially devastating consequences for poverty. Millions of children's education will be disrupted as schools close. The most disadvantaged could be forced by poverty into labor markets or, in the case of adolescent girls, early marriage. In contrast to the situation in 2008, public debt and limited access to international credit markets constrain governments' ability to increase spending on safety nets, health, and economic infrastructure. That backdrop, added to the sheer scale of the coronavirus threat, makes international cooperation more critical than ever. Unfortunately, responses to date have been half-hearted. To its credit, the World Bank has put in place a package of fast-track financing that will help strengthen health systems. But the money is flowing too slowly. It is now urgent that the bank's finance is converted into public-health preparedness for the diagnosis, treatment, and containment of COVID-19. Real preparedness will require ruthless prioritization. Apart from early promotion of social distancing, countries in East Asia that have contained the pandemic more successfully have used large-scale testing to isolate carriers, trace contacts, and break chains of transmission. Africa must follow that example. Without more testing, an outbreak could go undetected until it's too late. That's why the effort by the United Kingdom's Department for International Development and the government of Senegal to develop a rapid diagnostic test is so important. The next few weeks are critical. Working with African health ministries, the WHO is well placed to support the development of front-line plans for COVID-19 containment, including the finances needed for testing and diagnostic equipment, medical supplies, and protective clothing. There is a ready-made vehicle for supporting these plans. Yet donors have still failed to fund fully the WHO's $675 million emergency appeal launched in January. Fiscal support is the second line of defense. Africa urgently needs commitments from the International Monetary Fund to inject liquidity. Current emergency credit lines around $10 billion for all low-income countries are just too small. Apart from providing a fiscal helicopter, both the IMF and the World Bank should be working together to support the health, education, and safety-net investment that will be so critical to recovery. Africa may seem a remote concern for policymakers in the rich world. But if there is one thing coronavirus has taught us, it is that pandemic viral threats don't respect borders. This is not a disease that can be beaten in our own backyards. It must be beaten globally, or it will not be beaten at all. And now we must beat it in Africa. ). Kevin Watkins is the CEO of Save the Children U.K. His article was distributed by Project Syndicate ( www.project-syndicate.org The number of recorded prostitution offences in Ireland has jumped by more than 205% in the past year. New crime figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that the number of offences increased from 37 in 2018 to 113 in 2019. The spike comes after a new law which targets people using prostitutes was introduced in 2017. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act expanded prostitution offences which includes paying for sexual activity with a prostitute and paying for sexual activity with a trafficked person. The Act also decriminalises those working as a prostitute. A review into the changes in legislation will be published this year. Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said: I note that gardai have carried out a number of days of action in 2019, under Operation Quest, to target the demand for sexual services and to enforce the law criminalising the purchase of sex and other related crime. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, which established offences in relation to payment for sex, will be reviewed this year. This review will include consideration of the number of arrests and convictions in respect of the new offences, as well as an assessment of the impact of the Act on the welfare of those who engage in sexual activity for payment. I look forward to learning from the results of that review. Meanwhile, the annual figures for last year show a decrease in homicide offences, a decrease in robbery and a decrease in burglary and related offences. There was an increase in a range of offence categories including sexual offences, fraud, deception and related offences, drugs offences and weapons and explosives offences. There was a significant decrease of 37.5% in the number of homicide offences committed to the end of 2019 in comparison to the number committed in 2018. However, there was an increase in the number of recorded incidents of attempted murder, threats to murder and assaults causing harm in 2019. Mr Flanagan said: I welcome the ongoing downward trend of homicide offences recorded in 2019, in comparison with 2018 and 2017 and in particular that the number of murders fell by 15 from 2018 to 2019. However, every murder is one too many and the increase in attempts and threats to murder starkly remind us of the ongoing challenge faced by An Garda Siochana in tackling serious criminality. There was an increase in sexual offences of 3.9%, representing a total 3,307 recorded offences in 2019. Controlled drug offences rose by 17.3% in 2019 compared to 2018, with an increase both in possession for sale or supply as well as possession of drugs for personal use. There has been an increase of over 26% in fraud, deception and related offences compared to 2018. Since 2018, changes have been made to the Garda Pulse system to improve the quality and consistency of recording of insurance related crime. Mr Flanagan added: While statistical releases reflect a point in time, they provide us with very valuable insight to us all in relation to trends and challenges in the criminal justice sector. I am confident in the ability of An Garda Siochana to continue to address all forms of criminality, including in the current context of the Covid-19 pandemic. A woman used her daily exercise to show her appreciation for the members of staff who cared for her mother for over 16 years. Susan Emmett wanted to thank the staff at Lindisfarne Crawcrook Care Home, where her mother was placed when she was 83 and remained until she died earlier this year at the age of 99. So she used her daily exercise to run to the home and stand outside holding a sign which read: You are doing a brilliant job which is very much appreciated. Thank you, keep safe, we love you all. Ms Emmetts mother was placed in the care home when she was 83 and remained there until she died earlier this year at the age of 99. So this is my crazy mother, who used her daily exercise to run up to the Care Home that used to look after my Gran, and stand outside to let the staff how appreciated they are, even though my Gran passed away earlier this year.#ThankYou pic.twitter.com/Rq0M4vSyAd Catherine Emmett (@Emmett_Cath) March 27, 2020 Ms Emmett told the PA news agency: The carers were always so very good and kind, and hardworking. They arent paid very much, just basic pay, and I was always staggered by how hard their jobs were. I was there very frequently, a few times every week, and we became friends and like an extended family. Ive often thought that I would love to get wider publicity for them because they seem to be unsung heroes. Its such really hard work which no one realises unless you are going into these places, how physical it is, how mentally difficult it is. Ms Emmett said she was inspired by last weeks clap in support of NHS staff working during the coronavirus outbreak. She added: I just thought if they didnt hear any clapping, they arent going to be getting the appreciation so I made the poster and went along, at distance, with another relative who still has a mother at the home and knocked at the window and clapped at the staff and stuck the poster on the window. Story continues It is still there so that they have this message when they are feeling a bit down, to let them know that they are appreciated. They really appreciate being appreciated. Just somebody telling them that they appreciate what they do and thanking them. It will definitely give them a boost. These people are just so caring. She also feels that the care home find it difficult during normal times and struggle even more during the Covid-19 pandemic. I think theyre struggling, Ms Emmett added. They had a nurse who went home to South Africa on holiday and is now stuck there. They are always tight for staff and I think they have one or two members of staff off sick. There are always issues, it is hard enough in normal times so it must be so, so difficult now. And it is such an important job, people are putting their loved ones into their hands and now you cant even visit your loved ones so it is completely left to those people and how kind and caring they are. Embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya, on Tuesday asked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to consider his repeated 'offer to repay 100 percent' of the amount borrowed by now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, in this time of coronavirus pandemic New Delhi: Embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya, on Tuesday asked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to consider his repeated "offer to repay 100 percent" of the amount borrowed by now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, in this time of coronavirus pandemic. Mallya, who is wanted in India on alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crore, also said all his companies have effectively ceased operations and manufacturing following the lockdown in India. "I have made repeated offers to pay 100 percent of the amount borrowed by KFA to the Banks. Neither are Banks willing to take the money and neither is the ED willing to release their attachments which they did at the behest of the Banks. I wish the FM would listen in this time of crisis," Mallya said in a series of tweets. He further said, "Indian Government has done what was unthinkable in locking down the entire country. We respect that. All my companies have effectively ceased operations. All manufacturing is closed as well." Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak Mallya sought government help and said, "we are not sending employees home and paying the idle cost. Government has to help." I have made repeated offers to pay 100 % of the amount borrowed by KFA to the Banks. Neither are Banks willing to take money and neither is the ED willing to release their attachments which they did at the behest of the Banks. I wish the FM would listen in this time of crisis. Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 31, 2020 Asking people to stay safe and maintain social distancing "which can effectively be achieved by staying home and enjoying home time with family and pets, he said, "I am doing the same. We all have a sense of bravado but its not worth challenging an unknown enemy which isnt Pulwama or Kargil." Mallya has challenged in the UK High Court his extradition from the country. Whenever one of Eloisa Garouttes parents took ill, she or her brother would fly home to help. Garoutte, 52, has made the more than 5,200-mile journey to Zaragoza, Spain, from San Antonio more than once, sometimes staying for a month. When its her brothers turn, the Berliner faces a 1,330-mile trip. A pandemic has gotten in the way and worries them to no end. Today, her father Manuel Carballo Barrada, 85, battles the coronavirus in a Spanish hospital. No one in the family has been able to see or speak with him. Even if they wanted to make the trip, the country has been locked down, hotels shuttered, and her mother cant have visitors because of her exposure to the virus. Garouttes father remains on oxygen, not yet progressed to a ventilator, the hospital has told them. Her mother, Eloisa Urbano Genoves, also 85, has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, and has tested negative for COVID-19. Shes barred from leaving her tiny apartment in Zaragoza, halfway between Barcelona and Madrid, one of the pandemics hot spots. Garoutte worries not only for her father but for her mother, whos devastated about their separation and feels trapped at home. If her father gets through the next couple of days, he might survive a deadly virus that has killed thousands in Spain and has not yet taken its toll in the United States. Her fathers condition is exacerbated by the fact that he has underlying health problems. Hes a prostate cancer survivor who has suffered several strokes. My brother and I cry with each other, because we cannot be there, Garoutte says. Millions now share that anguish and must deal with the prospect of funerals that cannot be planned and burials that cant be attended. Before the United States started addressing the pandemic, Garoutte says she and her husband, Jim, were preparing for what would happen. Theyve been staying home longer than the rest of us. Meanwhile, some U.S. states have yet to impose stay-at-home recommendations, let alone orders. Federal and state officials looked the other way when spring breakers converged on beaches and houses of worship continued to hold services, some in defiance of stay-at-home-orders. Some San Antonians still dont get it, either. They cant manage to stay six feet away from each other at grocery stores and insist on making such trips with several family members in tow. Others are having people over for barbecues and think its safe because their gatherings include no more than 10 people. Spaniards face fines and potential jail time for such behavior. An officer questioned Garouttes cousin recently because she was walking on the street with groceries. The milk and tangerines she carried were for Garouttes mother. The cousin lives in the same building but cant visit her. Garoutte finds some comfort in how Spains health-care system has cared for her parents. Shes comforted by how its citizens have found ways to cope. Like so many others weve seen on video, residents of her mothers apartment building go onto balconies to visit with one another or sing to one another. From San Antonio, she can laugh at some of the ways Spaniards have sidestepped harsh restrictions. Pet owners are allowed out to walk their dogs but apparently have taken that chore to the extreme to escape small living quarters. The pet-less have become resentful, Garoutte says, and have expressed their disdain on neighborhood social media pages. The I-see-you criticism is funny, at least from afar. Find the humor where we can. Late Monday, Garouttes father was only slightly better. If he goes on a ventilator, they know the worst is coming. He still has a fever. Im not being negative but staying realistic. Calls home to her mother are difficult. Heres the part of the story that offers hope: Eloisa Urbano Genoves was a child when the Spanish Civil War started. She tells stories about the lines people stood in to get a loaf of bread. It didnt matter how rich or poor you were. Shes tough. That might get her through a 21st-century pandemic. For the rest of us, its a lot easier. Stay home. Send one person to the store. Dont invite family and friends over to your house. Boredom is a blessing. eayala@express-news.net Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 Sun Life Financial Inc. announces virtual Annual Meetings of shareholders and voting policyholders and availability of 2019 Annual Report, 2020 Management Information Circular and 2020 Information for Voting Policyholders' Booklet TORONTO, March 31, 2020 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) announced that its Annual Meeting of shareholders and the Annual Meeting of voting policyholders of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, 2020 will be held in a virtual-only format. The Company also announced that its 2019 Annual Report and its Notice of Annual Meeting and Management Information Circular are available as of March 26, 2020. In light of any possible mail disruptions in the United Kingdom, the Company wants to ensure shareholders and voting policyholders are aware of the electronic availability of the meeting materials and instructions to vote in advance of this year's annual meetings. Virtual Annual Meetings of Shareholders and Voting Policyholders We're in the business of helping our Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. We have been actively monitoring COVID-19 developments and the directives provided by Government officials and public health authorities. The health and well-being of our employees, Clients, investors and communities is our top priority. We are doing our part to help contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In line with the latest directives and guidance from public health authorities and the Provincial and Federal Governments, this year's annual meetings will be held as a live webcast only. Shareholders and voting policyholders will have the opportunity to attend the meeting online in real time regardless of their location, submit questions and vote on a number of important matters. Shareholders, voting policyholders, investors or members of the public will not be able to attend the meeting in person. The Company's virtual Annual Meeting will be held Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 5 p.m. (Toronto time) by live webcast at https://web.lumiagm.com/186947015 using the password sunlife2020. For detailed instructions on how to join the webcast and vote at the virtual meeting, shareholders should refer to the 2020 Management Information Circular and voting policyholders should refer to the Information for Voting Policyholders' Booklet and their proxy form or voting instruction form. Shareholders and voting policyholders are encouraged to vote in advance by one of the methods described in the 2020 Management Information Circular or Information for Voting Policyholders' Booklet, as applicable. Registered shareholders are asked to return their completed proxies or exercise their vote by the voting deadline, Friday, May 1, 2020 at 5 p.m. (Toronto time). Voting policyholders are asked to return their proxies no later than 5 p.m. (Toronto time) on April 28, 2020. If you have any questions, please call our transfer agent, AST Trust Company (Canada) at the following numbers: Canada and the United States: 1-877-224-1760 United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man: + 44 (0) 345-602-1587 Philippines: 632-5318-8567 (Metro Manila) 1-800-1-888-2422 (Provinces) Hong Kong: 852-2862-8555 Other countries: 416-682-3865 Meeting Materials The meeting materials for Sun Life Financial Inc. have been filed with the Canadian securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Distribution to shareholders has begun and these documents can also be accessed electronically on: SEDAR at https://www.sedar.com EDGAR at https://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml Our transfer agent's website at https://www.meetingdocuments.com/astca/slf Our website at www.sunlife.com/2019AnnualReport andwww.sunlife.com/AnnualMeetingMaterials. Shareholders may obtain printed copies of the audited annual financial statements free of charge by contacting the Company through its website. The 2019 Annual Report includes the Company's management's discussion and analysis, consolidated financial statements, earnings by business group and other Company information. The meeting materials for Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada can be accessed electronically on: Our transfer agent's website at https://www.meetingdocuments.com/astca/sla Our website at www.sunlife.com/2019AnnualReport andwww.sunlife.com/AnnualMeetingMaterials. About Sun Life Financial Inc. Sun Life Financial Inc. is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life Financial Inc. has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2019, Sun Life had total assets under management of C$1,099 billion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. About Sun Life Financial of Canada in the UK Members of the Sun Life Group of Companies operate in the UK under the brand Sun Life Financial of Canada. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.K.) Limited, incorporated in England and Wales, registered number 959082, registered office at Matrix House, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4DZ, trades under the name of Sun Life Financial of Canada and is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Media Relations Contact: Rajani Kamath Associate Vice-President Corporate Communications Rajani.Kamath@sunlife.com Investor Relations Contact: Leigh Chalmers Senior Vice-President, Head of Investor Relations & Capital Management investor.relations@sunlife.com 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. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. A Cork couple who were repatriated home from Peru fears they may now have the virus. Andrew Cotter and Marie Barry arrived back in Cork yesterday. They have now gone straight into isolation for the next 14 days but expect to self-isolate for longer. Their journey back to Cork took three days and included a 20-hour journey on a packed bus, followed by an overnight flight on a British Airways plane to London that was - again - packed. It was impossible to socially distance ourselves, Mr Cotter, a 31-year-old pharma worker from Mitchelstown, said. He said that when he and Ms Barry, 30, from Conna, arrived back in Dublin from London before flying onto Cork, HSE staff met them and advised them what to do. We were given information when we arrived and were advised to self restrict movements to 14 days and weve to read through all the literature they gave us, he said. So we are going to do that. We are going to stay away from our families and stuff. A car was dropped off for the couple by their family and they drove themselves to a house in a remote part of west Cork. We won't see anybody we know for a few weeks and maybe even longer because I have to go back to work, he said. He said later that getting the virus is "a consideration". And he added: "If we show symptoms, we will obviously follow GP instructions. Regardless, however, until we each pass a 14-day period symptom-free, we won't be in contact with anybody now. He was full of praise for Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and his staff. If I could meet Simon Coveney I would shake his hand, he said. I appreciate I cant at the moment but I thank him very much. There was a lot of hard work behind the scenes by him and his officials and the ambassador in Chile and his officials. The couple was among 130 Irish citizens who were trapped in Peru over the past two weeks after martial law was introduced and its borders were closed. A hostel near where they were staying in the southeastern city of Cusco was put into quarantine after two guests tested positive for the virus. If it had spread to the hostel where they were staying, they faced up to three months in a military-enforced quarantine too. In addition, food was starting to be rationed, and in some parts of Peru, there was growing hostility against foreigners. Mr Cotter said: It was only getting worse every day, especially towards the last five or six days. There was something new every day that we weren't expecting and we didnt know how to react, so we are very lucky to get out. And we have to thank everybody who helped us get out all the TDs and everyone we got onto. He said that there were even issues with the flight, and at one point they werent even sure if they were going to get out. There was supposed to be a 4pm flight out but the timetable changed, he said. The Peruvian government decided to change things all of a sudden. Ms Barry said: Things changed all the time until the very last minute. We were informed the bus from Cusco to Lima initially was going to be 10am but during the night, we got an email saying we should get the 11am in a different location. There was always something threatening to spoil everything. Mr Cotter added: Even when we were about to take off, the Peruvians were threatening to come on board again to check to see how many people were on the plane and things like that. It was as smooth as it could have been but we werent confident until we were in the air. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Premier Gladys Berejiklian has asked companies around New South Wales to make medical supplies to help fight coronavirus. Australia imports much of its medical equipment such as masks and gloves - but the supply has been severely disrupted as countries stop exporting them. Ms Berejiklian asked companies to help, saying: 'Today I'm calling on the great people of our state, those great business people, those manufacturers who are able to re-tool, to consider re-tooling.' Premier Gladys Berejiklian has asked companies around New South Wales to help make medical supplies Companies who want to help can sign up here. Last month cricket legend Shane Warne announced his SevenZeroEight distillery would stop making gin and start producing hand sanitiser in a 'wartime effort'. In an Instagram post, the 50-year-old said: 'This is a challenging time for Australians and we all need to do what we can to help our healthcare system combat this disease and save lives. 'I am happy SevenZeroEight has the ability to make this shift and encourage others to do the same.' Health officials revealed there has been another death in NSW overnight, taking the state's death toll to nine and the national death toll to 20. A 95-year-old woman died at Dorothy Henderson Lodge in Macquarie Park, where several cases have previously been recorded. Meanwhile, a new pop-up clinic has been set up at Bondi - a coronavirus hotspot - and expects to test 200 people a day. 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 comes as farmers and fishers who had their exports derailed by coronavirus will be able to start sending their goods overseas again. Air freight will be used to export Australian produce and bring back urgently needed medical supplies. 'Getting our export sector back on its feet is crucial to reduce job losses through the crisis,' Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said. 'It's a critical part of the ultimate economic recovery.' The operation will also help prop up Australia's struggling airlines, with the government spending $110 million to secure the flights. Produce will be shipped to key Australian markets including China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. Fishers will also see $10 million worth of levies waived for the rest of the year. Former Australia Post executive Michael Byrne will head the export operations. Assistant Fisheries Minister Jonno Duniam said the industry had taken a massive hit when China shut its borders. 'Unlocking key international markets will get thousands of fishers, divers, deckhands and processors back on the job,' he said. 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. In light of the new coronavirus pandemic, more and more lawmakers and housing advocates are calling for rent cancellation in New York. They argue that as tenants lose their jobs or get their hours cut, they need economic relief. But the main legislative proposal may not be the best way forward, for either landlords or tenants. Gov. Andrew Cuomo imposed a 90-day eviction moratorium, effectively codifying a memo that came earlier from the state courts. Cuomo, who hasnt publicly supported a rent freeze, has said his action is enough to protect renters because their landlords cant evict them for not paying rent. However, tenant advocates have argued that Cuomos order will simply cause a backlog of evictions once the moratorium is lifted, because it doesnt offer any rent forgiveness. Renters who dont pay now can get penalized later. People are not paying rent, Cea Weaver, campaign coordinator for the Housing Justice for All coalition, a group of left-leaning organizations advocating for tenant rights, said. Were desperately seeking a policy solution thats not homelessness. In order to address the issue, state Sen. Michael Gianaris introduced a rent-relief bill that would allow any residential tenant or small business commercial tenant in the state that has lost income or has been forced to close their place of business to have their rent suspended for 90 days. That means that they wont owe any rent during that period, even when it is over. It includes relief for the landlords who need it in the form of mortgage payment forgiveness for 90 days. This goes further than the moratorium on mortgage payments that Cuomo already instituted, which only applies to owners of single and two-family homes facing financial hardships as a result of the pandemic, and only defers those payments to a later date. Gianaris hopes to remove the burden from both renters and landlords and instead place more of the financial strain on banks and mortgage holders, who are likely to receive significant aid from the federal government. The federal aid package will be helpful in that regard, Gianaris told New York magazine. Once you get past that to the next rung, the mortgage holders and the banks, I think theyre better equipped to absorb some of the sacrifice and more likely to be the beneficiaries of federal assistance. However, Michael Johnson, spokesman for the landlord organization Community Housing Improvement Program, said the Gianaris bill as written does not do enough to protect small landlords like his groups members. He said that the language is far too broad about who would qualify for a rent freeze, and that he is not confident that landlords would actually get the relief the bill promises. If it got changed in a way that makes sure that residential landlords got relief the mortgages are not the large chunk of the payments that they have in operating costs, Johnson said, adding that many small landlords may still need to file for bankruptcy under the Gianaris bill. The legislation is fairly light on detail, and Gianaris has admitted that some of that will be decided after passage through state agency regulations. For example, his legislation provides no guidance about how much loss of income would excuse someone from paying rent. Economist Josh Mason, who has been working with Housing Justice for All in developing their proposals, also suggested that intervention is best made early in the form of public funds going towards paying rent. Its much better, for all sorts of reasons, rather than to have a sort of disorderly wave of rents not being paid and mortgages going into default and the financial institutions are in distress it would be much better to be acting on the front end of that, Mason said. Gianaris bill would answer part of the question by proactively regulating lack of rent payments, thus providing some order there, but largely relies on the later bailout of financial institutions. Housing Justice for All, while supportive of Gianaris bill, has also proposed a $10 billion landlord relief fund alongside a universal suspension of rent, mortgage and utility payments. This way, there is rent relief for tenants while ensuring that overburdened landlords are receiving direct monetary aid where needed as well. We are trying to bail out buildings, Weaver said. Were not trying to bail out banks. She added that more well-off and large landlords, for whom a few months without rent will not bankrupt them, must also be willing to tighten the belt. Mason said that from an economic standpoint, a bailout for landlords is not fundamentally different from the other industry bailouts during the current crisis and past recessions. Johnson said that the landlords group would likely be supportive of the Housing Justice for All universal suspension of rent and mortgage payments. Thats just sort of a simpler way to solve the problem, Johnson said. He added that its similar to a bill that would create a voucher program for struggling renters that state Sen. Brian Kavangh introduced before the coronavirus pandemic in February. But Nicole Gelinas, senior fellow at the conservative think tank the Manhattan Institute, said that direct payments to landlords and property owners is the wrong way to think about the problem. She suggested that New York City come up with commissions to determine how to offer rent forgiveness for commercial tenants forced to shut down their businesses, and rent relief for residential tenants who have lost their jobs. But she said for the property owners, aid should come in the form of loans to stay afloat until their tenants can pay again. This is part of the downside of long term investments, and the federal government does not generally protect people from declines in their investment, Gelinas said. She noted, however, that the calculus is different for small, residential landlords with rent-regulated buildings, who may need more help since their margins are generally very slim. The other critical question for Weaver and her proposed landlord relief fund is how the state is supposed to come up with $10 billion, and why is it necessary to subsidize homeowners or renters who havent suffered any loss of incomes. The people who are still employed should not see this as a rent holiday, Gelinas said. New York is facing up to $15 billion in lost revenues as lawmakers negotiate the state budget. Progressive activists and lawmakers are calling for increased taxes on the wealthy, but Cuomo has long said he would not add any new revenue sources. The state and local governments are going to have significant problems keeping basic services up and running, Gelinas said. Weaver suggested that the money could come from federal relief funds, but New York is not receiving enough money for that now. Most of the expected $40 billion the state is getting in the most recent stimulus bill is for hospitals, uninsurance and a transit bailout $3.8 billion is directly for the state government, which will likely go towards filling the expected budget gap. Weaver said that the next federal relief bill should have more money specifically set aside to help renters and property owners. For renters facing tough times, Gianaris bill may not be perfect for many stakeholders, but it also may have the greatest chance of becoming reality. But many of the people who cause problems are likely the ones who could benefit from a long-term city partnership with a mental health service provider. The analysts covering Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HTZ) delivered a dose of negativity to shareholders today, by making a substantial revision to their statutory forecasts for this year. There was a fairly draconian cut to their revenue estimates, perhaps an implicit admission that previous forecasts were much too optimistic. Following the latest downgrade, the six analysts covering Hertz Global Holdings provided consensus estimates of US$8.7b revenue in 2020, which would reflect a definite 11% decline on its sales over the past 12 months. Before the latest update, the analysts were foreseeing US$10.0b of revenue in 2020. It looks like forecasts have become a fair bit less optimistic on Hertz Global Holdings, given the measurable cut to revenue estimates. Check out our latest analysis for Hertz Global Holdings NYSE:HTZ Past and Future Earnings March 31st 2020 The consensus price target fell 12% to US$13.67, with the analysts clearly less optimistic about Hertz Global Holdings' valuation following this update. There's another way to think about price targets though, and that's to look at the range of price targets put forward by analysts, because a wide range of estimates could suggest a diverse view on possible outcomes for the business. There are some variant perceptions on Hertz Global Holdings, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at US$38.00 and the most bearish at US$5.00 per share. As you can see the range of estimates is wide, with the lowest valuation coming in at less than half the most bullish estimate, suggesting there are some strongly diverging views on how think this business will perform. As a result it might not be possible to derive much meaning from the consensus price target, which is after all just an average of this wide range of estimates. Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. One more thing stood out to us about these estimates, and it's the idea that Hertz Global Holdings'decline is expected to accelerate, with revenues forecast to fall 11% next year, topping off a historical decline of 0.1% a year over the past five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in a similar industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 5.2% per year. So it's pretty clear that, while it does have declining revenues, the analysts also expect Hertz Global Holdings to suffer worse than the wider industry. Story continues The Bottom Line The clear low-light was that analysts slashing their revenue forecasts for Hertz Global Holdings this year. They're also anticipating slower revenue growth than the wider market. The consensus price target fell measurably, with analysts seemingly not reassured by recent business developments, leading to a lower estimate of Hertz Global Holdings' future valuation. Given the stark change in sentiment, we'd understand if investors became more cautious on Hertz Global Holdings after today. Need some more information? We have estimates for Hertz Global Holdings from its six analysts out until 2022, and you can see them free on our platform here. Another way to search for interesting companies that could be reaching an inflection point is to track whether management are buying or selling, with our free list of growing companies 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. Drug maker Amneal Pharmaceuticals is donating 400,00 tablets of the unproven malaria drug that President Donald Trump has dubbed a 'gift from God' to Louisiana to help fight the state's coronavirus crisis, the state attorney general said Tuesday. The drug, hydroxychloroquine, was given emergency FDA approval Monday, and the Trump administration plans to distribute millions of doses of for experimental use in coronavirus patients. It has shown promise in countries like China, South Korea and France to treat COVID-19, but US coronavirus task force member and infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has warned the evidence it works is only 'anecdotal.' US trials of hydroxychloroquine are underway in New York and Minnesota and will now begin at Louisiana's Tulane University, a move that state Attorney General Jeff Landry called 'one step toward trying to find treatments and cures for this epidemic.' Amneal is donating 400,000 doses hydroxychloroquine, sold in under the brand name Plaquenil by Sanofi, to Louisiana in the hopes that the drug will help combat coronavirus there Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced the donation to Louisiana and called it 'one step' toward fighting coronavirus's impact on his state 'Right now there are no silver bullets. We must remain vigilant against this virus.' Louisiana has been particularly hard-hit by coronavirus. More than 4,000 people there are infected and 185 have died. At least 28 nursing homes across the state have reported clusters of the disease and some 1,480 people in New Orleans are sick. Louisiana has a large population with multiple chronic conditions and is considered part of both the 'stroke belt' and the 'diabetes belt' by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Both heart conditions - like those that lead to stroke - and diabetes are underlying health conditions that put people at greater risk for contracting coronavirus and becoming life-threateningly ill from the virus, as does obesity. And Louisiana is the third most obese state in the nation (falling behind only Iowa and Alabama), with more than a third of its population weighing in with BMIs of 30 or higher. Hundreds of people in Louisiana are already hospitalized with coronavirus. Currently, there are no proven treatments for the virus, and the most severely ill patients have to be put on ventilators to keep them breathing as the infection attacks their lungs. The state has shut down its drive through testing and more than 4,000 in the state have coronavirus Nearly 200 people in Louisiana have died of coronavirus and clusters have emerged at nursing homes The hope for the Trump administration and doctors is that hydroxychloroquine can combat the dangerous lung inflammation from pneumonia triggered by coronavirus and help alleviate some of the pressure on health systems amid a shortage of ventilators. At the request of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the state was the first to receive doses of hydroxychloroquine from the federal government and clinical trials of the drug began there last week. Amneal doesn't make Market Watch's list of the top 10 producers of the drug, but the company has nonetheless donated a significant load of the medication to Louisiana, where hospital bed shortages are expected in the coming weeks, particularly in New Orleans. Some companies that make hydroxychloroquine were already reporting shortages of it last week, after Trump praised it as a possible 'game changer' in the coronavirus pandemic. It is also a treatment for inflammatory autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, and patients have complained they were struggling to get their medications. Still, Amneal has dedicated part of its stock of the drugs to the state of Louisiana. 'On behalf of Louisiana, I want to thank Amneal for this generous donation,' said Landry. 'It is important we all work together to help solve the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis. We must come together as Louisianans and as Americans. 'This donation from Amneal demonstrates their strong effort to be a good corporate citizen in our Nation.' He added that social distancing still needs to be practiced to keep the disease's spread at bay. Cases of COVID-19 have risen sharply in the US with a steep upturn this month to bring the national total to 181,989 cases nationwide HOW THE ANTI-MALARIA DRUG IS USED ABROAD TO TREAT CORONAVIRUS A version of the drug the US is now testing, chloronoquine, is already part of the recommended course of treatment in China. It is one of five antivirals included in the 7th edition of the countries guidance on caring for coronavirus patients. Scientists there have reported that it alleviated symptoms, shorten the duration of the illness, and patients who take it seem to break their fevers earlier. Chloroquine is also being used widely in South Korea, where officials have gone so far as to say it has 'a certain curative effect' and 'fairly good efficacy' in coronavirus patients. The World Health Organization has also launched a large-scale trial of a number of potential coronavirus treatments, including chloroquine. It will be tested in patients in Argentina, Bahrain, Canada, France, Iran, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand and perhaps others. The US is not slated for inclusion. Already in France, the drug has been tested in 36 patients. Hydroxychloroquine, the form of the drug that will now be used 'compassionately' in the US, was given to 24 out of 36 trial participants. Half of them cleared the infection entirely, according to an early announcement of the results on Wednesday. Advertisement Amneal's co-CEOs, Chirag and Chintu Patel, said: 'We are working with urgency to assist the hardest hit states and hospitals around the country to benefit as many patients as possible during this critical time.' South Korea's COVID-19 task force went so far as to say that studies on the drug demonstrated it had 'certain curative effect' and 'fairly good efficacy.' Patients treated with hydroxychloroquine improved more quickly and broke their fevers earlier than those who did not receive the drug. The drug is also included in China's treatment guidelines for COVID-19 - described there as 'chloroquine phosphate - for use in patients between 18 and 65. It is one of five antivirals suggested in the 7th edition of China's treatment plan, which also cautions the drug should not be given to patients with heart disease, as it has potential cardiac side effects. After promising test results in petri dish studies, some Chinese scientists came to believe that hydroxychloroquine was powerful against viruses in general, and for COVID-19 in particular. 'Previous studies have shown that chloroquine phosphate (chloroquine) had a wide range of antiviral effects, including anti-coronavirus,' wrote scientists from China's Guangdong province. 'Here we found that treating the patients diagnosed as novel coronavirus pneumonia with chloroquine might improve the success rate of treatment, shorten hospital stay and improve patient outcome.' Developed during World War II and approved by the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1955, hydroxychloroquine cured about half of the 24 patients who received the drug (there were 36 included) in a French clinical trial published yesterday. Landry warned that social distancing is still necessary. Mega churches in Louisiana have continued to hold in-person services. Pictured: A protester stands outside in protective gear as congregants arrive at Life Tabernacle Church in Central, Louisiana (file) It was the first clinical trial of the drug for treating COVID-19 after Chinese scientists found that it killed the virus in lab experiments, according to a study published in the Clinical Infectious Diseases Journal on March 9. US patients with 'mild' coronavirus disease are currently being recruited for a trial of hydroxychloroquine (sold under the brand name Plaquenil), to be tested against the effects of another pair of antivirals, posted to clincaltrials.gov last week. Hydroxychloroquine is also used to treat some forms of arthritis in some instances. When it was released half-a-century ago, the malaria drug was hailed for having milder side effects than its predecessor. But its side effects are still not to be dismissed. If it's used long-term, the treatment can irreversibly damage the retina, as signalled by trouble focusing, streaks of flashes of light in patients' vision and eye swelling or color changes. Its side effects can even be deadly. The drug can cause strange, bad and vivid dreams and difficulty sleeping. Taking hydrochloronoquine can also cause your heart to race, trigger headache, fainting, severe dizziness, nausea, a slow heart rate or weak pulse, muscle weakness, numbness and tingly, anxiety and irritability and low blood counts. Still, with the death toll of coronavirus nearing 200 in the US, even a drug with significant side effects would be cause for hope in the battle against coronavirus, for which there are currently no proven treatments. Because it is already on the market and FDA approved for other uses, hydroxychloroquine can be more easily used off-label. Details added (first version posted on 14:27) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 30 Trend: Turkey has called on the OSCE Minsk Group and all international organizations to boycott the holding of so-called "election" by Armenia in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, Trend reports on March 30 referring to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The so-called "election", scheduled for March 31, 2020 in Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region occupied by Armenia, demonstrates the unilateral attempts to "legitimize" the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh region, the ministry added. "This is an open violation of the principles of international law, including the UN Security Council resolutions and OSCE principles," the ministry said. YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian citizen who contracted the novel coronavirus in Italy has recovered from the disease, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Avet Adonts told a news conference. The Armenian citizen who was infected in Italy has recovered and the test results came back negative, which is good news. Our embassy in Italy is maintaining contact with the citizen and we are now discussing repatriating our citizen, he said. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan The coronavirus crisis will give a strong boost to automation. The majority of companies in Germany see considerable efficiency deficits in their own organisation. Every second company therefore focuses on more automation and better product quality. Six out of ten companies are pushing ahead with digitization projects and process automation. These are the results of the study "Potential Analysis Operative Efficiency" by Sopra Steria and the F.A.Z.-Institut. 323 decision-makers as well as managers and specialists from various industries were surveyed. Securing competitiveness through greater efficiency is a permanent topic for companies - the global corona pandemic is increasing the pressure. The economic effects are great. In this situation, efficiency gains in the form of savings and optimizations along the value chain are becoming even more important for many companies to master the effects of the crisis. Even before the global pandemic with its drastic consequences, the economy had already cooled down significantly. Acute trade conflicts and political hotspots have unsettled stock markets and reduced sales opportunities. The forecast made by institutes and the German government at the beginning of the year to revive the economy has been revised. In addition to current developments, this is due to the significant rise in labour costs in the past year. In times of Coronavirus, decision-makers are initially driving mainly on the basis of sight. However, early investments should help to cope with the situation, and operational efficiency should become even more important in the future. "Numerous companies have strategically cleverly set their digital investment priorities," says Urs M. Kramer, CEO of Sopra Steria. "In recent years, many companies have invested large sums in digitization and the restructuring of their business models, among other things. This can have a positive effect in the corona pandemic, because it is now accelerating the digital transformation. In the subsequent normalization phase, visible improvements can be expected in the form of new business, faster processes, lower costs or simplified workflows". Efficiency programs: Companies are going multi-track For 41 percent of the companies, a higher return on sales in their own company was already a high-priority goal before the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, according to the study. For example, staff should spend less working time on non-value-adding tasks. 22 percent of the companies want to increase so-called accountability. Every second decision-maker surveyed expects an automation boom, partly because the potential of new technologies is currently not being fully exploited. Six out of ten companies are driving digitization projects with the greatest quick-win prospects, as well as automation of their processes. 71 percent of the companies want to replace inefficient processes with new ones. Every second company is methodically searching for clues to remove efficiency brakes. "Many business processes today are IT-supported. Data traces make it much easier to find out how a process can be accelerated or the effort reduced," says Jens Rohde, an expert in digital process management at Sopra Steria Next. "Those who have digitalized and automated workflows at an early stage will have more options for ad-hoc measures required to reorganize processes due to the pandemic. They can continue to run remotely or partially automated. Prioritization of resources is also much easier with transparent processes". However, digitisation and process improvements are only two in a whole series of measures: More than every second company puts its range of products and services to the test. The goals are standardization and an increasingly modular structure. Divisional silos are to be broken up. Outsourcing is becoming less important for certain tasks. However, nearshore and offshore service providers remain important if alternatives such as robotic process automation (RPA) are not suitable, for example when outsourcing complex processes and entire business areas that are not core business. The "human factor" is crucial In addition to the classic rationalisation programs and detached from Coronavirus, the manufacturing industry, public administration, and energy suppliers in particular are also consciously investing in the health of their employees. Around one in three decision-makers wants to reduce sick leave in the normal course of business. In 2018, this figure had reached a new high of 18.5 days of absence per employee on average, according to the health report of the company health insurance funds in December. In order to reduce absenteeism, 38 percent of companies and administrations across all sectors are investing in company health management, while 58 percent of public authorities and utilities are doing so. This includes, for example, offers for the prevention of typical illnesses, but also the development of professional processes in the event of crises. For two out of three decision-makers, appreciation is also a central lever for making their own company work more efficiently overall. 40 percent want to increase employee satisfaction. For example, they are reducing hierarchies, teams should be able to act more independently and thus more quickly. In addition, departmental boundaries are to be overcome. "Acceptance is a decisive factor for more efficiency. If companies want to automate processes and parts of the business, they must explain to their employees that they will continue to be needed in the future and qualify them for these new tasks," says Sopra-Steria CEO Urs M. Kramer. Companies still have a lot of work ahead of them in this area: only 17 percent of the decision-makers surveyed currently see automation as relieving their employees of routine work rather than as a job killer, according to the study. The study "Potential Analysis Operational Efficiency" by Sopra Steria and the F.A.Z. Institute reflects the results of a survey of 323 decision-makers and managers from the financial services, manufacturing, public administration and utilities, telecommunications and media sectors. In January and February 2020 they asked how companies and public administration want to become more efficient. Sierra Leone which was the only West African country without a case of coronavirus has finally reported its first case. In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, President Maada Bio announced that the index case is a 37 year old male who arrived in the country from France on an Air Brussels flight on the 16 March and was immediately put into quarantine. The man reportedly finished the requisite 14 days isolation at a hotel on Sunday and was collected by his wife yesterday. Apparently the subject's wife, who is a medical doctor, noticed the signs and symptoms of Covid-19 and immediately drove her husband to the 34 Military Hospital where he tested positive for the virus Emphasising that from now on Every minute matters, President Bio disclosed that we have quickly isolated case number one. We have immediately and aggressively operationalised tracking and surveillance for all primary and secondary contacts (Ed.Note: that is every person Case# 1 may have come into contact with). "Those persons will be placed into mandatory quarantine and tested immediately starting today. From now on, I direct that health teams proactively seek out and compulsorily test all suspected cases. Health minister confident enough test kits are available When questioned by journalists about the level of testing, the Minister of Health Alpha Wurie revealed that health officials had been conducting tests only when patients are suspected with signs and symptoms and so far they have done 42 of those tests. He added a further 12 people were tested, who are suspected of having contact with other who had been traveling and subsequently tested positive. However, he said that enough kits are around and can presently do 40 tests a day but they can quickly scale up to do 100 tests per day if the need arises. The Minister promised that already the wife of the index case and all those who were in the quarantine facility with him will be tested today. President Bio emphasised that this is not a lockdown adding, but the government will respond rapidly to changes in the situation by announcing additional enhanced measures. Story continues Self discipline required The national coordinator of the government's Covid-19 response, retired Brigadier Kellie Conteh warned that the directives issued so far must be honoured by all citizens. It all boils down to our own self discipline he said, adding we hope we will not need to use force to enforce some of these measures, we hope it will be your own natural instinct to obey these measures, but if it comes to that we have to use force for people to understand what we are talking about - believe you me we will do that in the name of Sierra Leone we will he stressed. Schools, Colleges and Universities have all been ordered close as from today until further notice. Land, sea movement on the riverine areas have all been banned, as also gatherings of over 100 people. Hand washing and social distancing have also been encouraged. 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. 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. She's famed for her hourglass curves. And Jennifer Metcalfe left little to the imagination as she got going with the housework on Sunday. The Hollyoaks star, 36, was snapped showing off her enviably peachy derriere as she cleaned up the bathroom whilst in lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic. Caught on camera: Greg Lake shared a snap of his girlfriend Jennifer Metcalfe doing the housework in just a skimpy thong on Monday Jennifer was snapped in her skimpy ensemble by her longterm partner Greg Lake, who was delighted by the view. Greg shared the snap on Instagram as he penned: 'Thank you. When you're in isolation and she's OCD.' It was no wonder Greg couldn't take his eyes off Jennifer as she looked sensational in a skimpy white Calvin Klein thong. Cute couple: Jennifer and Greg have been keeping themselves amused while in lockdown Jennifer and Greg have been keeping themselves amused while in lockdown, and last week Jennifer warmed her social media followers hearts as she shared an adorable post dressed as Spiderwoman. The actress took to the photo-sharing platform to post a plethora of adorable snaps of her dressed as the marvel character in a bid to cheer her son Daye up amid the current coronavirus lockdown. In the adorable Instagram post, the soap star, who has played Mercedes McQueen Hollyoaks since 2006, revealed that playing the superhero was her 'favourite role to date'. Spidey senses: Last week Jennifer revealed her 'favourite role to date' and admitted it was dressing up as Spiderwoman for her son Daye in a heartwarming Instagram post Dressed in the comicbook character's navy and red suit, Jennifer pulled a spidey-esque pose in the first shot alongside her little boy, who was dressed as Spiderman, as they stood outside. Getting into the superhero spirit, the TV star was then seen jumping on her bed with Daye as they continued to practise their moves. The brunette beauty captioned the fun-filled snaps, 'Probs my favourite role to date !!' which left her followers commenting in their droves about how it most definitely his day and praised her mothering. One follower commented underneath the post: 'Bless him bet it made his day that'. Super: Dressed in the comicbook character's navy and red suit, Jennifer pulled a spidey-esque pose in the alongside her little boy, who was dressed as Spiderman What a hero: The TV star was then seen jumping on her bed with Daye as they continued to practise their moves 'This is everything. Daye what is your mama doing,' another wrote. 'You are a lovely mum to your little lad'. A fourth fan penned: 'You look like a fab mam. Wish I was like you! Xxx'. 'If that doesn't get you a marvel role.. Nothing will.. Lol #marvel #superheroes,' a follower joked. In June 2017 Jennifer welcomed her first child, baby boy named Daye with Greg. In a candid chat with OK! Magazine to announce her son's birth at the time, Jennifer revealed she had 'made up' Daye's quirky name around two years prior and had stored the name away until the couple made the decision to start a family. His middle name Colmic is an amalgamation of the pair's father's names, Colin and Mick . Jennifer's post comes days after prime minister Boris Johnson imposed a nationwide lockdown in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Joy: In June 2017 Jennifer welcomed her first child, baby boy named Daye, two, with her long-term partner Greg Lake, 35 As of Friday, 578 people have died out of over 11,658 COVID-19 cases in the UK, and now people are not allowed to leave their homes - with a few exceptions. Only essential work that cannot be done at home, exercise, and picking up food or medical supplies are valid reasons to go outside. Weddings and social gatherings have been outlawed and all shops have been banned from opening except for those selling food and medicines. Sporting events, music festival and other social gatherings have been either cancelled or postponed due to the crisis. 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 number of coronavirus cases in Madhya Pradesh has jumped to 65, with 18 more COVID-19 patients being reported in the state on Tuesday, an official said. This is highest number of coronavirus cases found in a day in the state. While earlier state additional director, health, Sapana Lovanshi said two fresh cases were reported in Bhopal, she later corrected it to one. The new cases include 17 from Indore and one from Bhopal. Indore, the industrial hub, has reported the highest number of 44 COVID-19 cases in the state so far. Till date, five deaths have also been reported in the state. Lovanshi said 17 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Indore while one fresh case has come up in Bhopal. The number of coronavirus patients in Bhopal has gone up to four now, she said, adding that the report of one more coronavirus suspect in the state capital is awaited. The 25-year new patient in Bhopal has a history of travel to London, Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Sudhir Deharia said. The man arrived in Mumbai from London and then went to Delhi before reaching to Indore, Deharia said. He was quarantined by the authorities when he reached Indore, but he fled from there and came to Bhopal where he was admitted to a hospital on Monday. When his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to AIIMS where he tested positive for coronavirus, Deharia said. Another person who was brought from Neemuch to Bhopal in an ambulance and admitted to AIIMS on Monday night has died, the official said, adding that his coronavirus test report is awaited. Earlier on Monday night, a 49-year-old woman died of coronavirus in Indore, taking the total number of deaths in Madhya Pradesh due to COVID-19 to five. Out of the total 65 coronavirus cases in the state, 44 have been reported from Indore, eight from Jabalpur, five from Ujjain, four from Bhopal and two each in Shivpuri and Gwalior, Lovanshi said. Meanwhile, the Bhopal district administration has divided the city into four zones in a bid to implement the lockdown effectively. No vehicle would be allowed to ply from one zone to another. The private four-wheelers, except those engaged in essential services, would not be allowed on roads, a district administration official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A federal judge in L.A. has ordered the U.S. government to speed up the release of minors held in immigration detention centers. (John Moore / Getty Images) A federal judge in Los Angeles, concerned that migrant children being held in federal detention are facing dangerous exposure to the coronavirus, ordered the Trump administration on Saturday to speed up the release of minors to relatives or other qualified sponsors. U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee stopped short of ordering the children's immediate release because of the need to find appropriate places for them to go and the logistical challenges posed by travel advisories related to the public-health crisis. Given the practical realities, Gee seems to have gone as far as she could. The government currently holds about 3,600 unaccompanied minors in shelters overseen by the Office of Refugee Resettlement and about 3,300 children with parents at facilities operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Four unaccompanied minors held at a detention facility in New York have tested positive for the virus, and at least one child in a family detention center is under quarantine. As the world has seen from the spread of the virus, where there are a handful of cases, its a strong bet that there are more coming, and probably more just waiting to be detected. The government has a significant responsibility to act to protect these children, regardless of President Trumps draconian immigration policies that forced them into detention in the first place. People in detention are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because they're held in confined spaces in close proximity to many other people, and they often can't take the preventive measures recommended to reduce the chance of infection. And even before the pandemic, the federal government was detaining migrant children awaiting processing in conditions that were at times unhealthy, denying them access to such basic necessities as soap and clean clothing. Furthermore, the government should not have been detaining the vast majority of these children in the first place. Psychologists and pediatricians warn that even short-term detention of children, with or without a parent's presence, can cause significant harm. The evidence is clear that children should not be held in detention centers unless the government can make a compelling case that holding them is necessary for public safety. Keeping them in conditions that also put their health at risk is not just inhumane, it is unconscionable. In fact, most people being detained by the Trump administration do not need to be, regardless of their age. There are more humane means of ensuring that they show up for their deportation proceedings. It is particularly objectionable to subject children to such treatment. Yet the Trump administrations hard-line approach to immigration enforcement has from the start ignored the humanity of the people it seeks to deter from entering the United States. Yes, many have no legal right to be here, but many others do have a legal right to seek asylum. None of them deserve to be exposed to a potentially fatal illness. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 21:46:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Xixi National Wetland Park during an inspection in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) HANGZHOU, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Tuesday inspected wetland conservation and technology-based urban management in the city of Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. During the inspection, Xi visited the Xixi National Wetland Park and the City Brain, a smart city platform aiming to improve urban management. Hangzhou's City Brain project was launched in 2016 to help the city make plans in areas including public security, transport and healthcare with the use of big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, among other cutting-edge technologies. With a total area of 11.5 square kilometers, the Xixi National Wetland Park is the first national wetland park in the country. We look back at Meghan Markle's stylish wardrobe as she steps down from her role as a senior royal today. (Getty Images) Yahoo Lifestyle is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry officially step down as senior royals today (Tuesday). As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex begin anew in LA, we take a look back at the 38-year-old royals style in recent years. The former Suits actress rarely fails to impress with her outfit choices and accessories, whether shes wearing items from high street brands or designer labels. During her tenure as a senior royal, Markle has worn dresses and blouses from popular affordable fashion retailers, including Marks & Spencer and Topshop. She has also turned to coveted jewellery brands, including Missoma and Monica Vinader. Additionally, Markle has supported ethical and sustainable names, such as American fashion house Everlane and French label Veja. The mum-of-ones sprinkled her wardrobe with designer garments, too, including accessories and footwear. Shes been spotted wearing Aquazzura heels, custom Dior dresses and Stella McCartney and Brandon Maxwell numbers. For those who want to take a leaf out of Markles sartorial book, but at a fraction of the original price, we have found the best buys to shop for less. Shop the six affordable buys Meghan Markle has worn At the beginning of March Meghan Markle made an unannounced visit to National Theatre in London, which was shared on the official Sussex Royal Instagram account. For the occasion Markle wore an all-white outfit, complete with the organza sleeve button through blouse from the British high-street brand Topshop, which is now on sale. Buy it: Ivory Organza Sleeve Button Through Blouse | 26 (Was 29) from Topshop Ivory Organza Sleeve Button Through Blouse Last year the Duchess of Sussex slipped into a chic jumpsuit from American brand Everlane when she visited The Woodstock Exchange in South Africa. (Getty Images) In September 2019, the Duchess of Sussex wore a navy jumpsuit from the American sustainable brand Everlane as she visited The Woodstock Exchange in South Africa to meet with female entrepreneurs. Story continues The sleeveless jumpsuit, which is now on sale, boasts a V-neck and back, as well as belt detail, which cinches in at the waist. Buy it: The Japanese GoWeave Essential Jumpsuit | 74 (Was 98) from Everlane The Japanese GoWeave Essential Jumpsuit The duchess hit the headlines when she wore a tan Everlane tote bag to her first ever Invictus Games in 2017. (Getty Images) When Markle attended her first ever Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada, in 2017, she had fans desperate to know where to get her tan tote bag. The accessory is from Everlane, and is still available to buy in the same shade, as well as other colourways, three years later - and for a fraction of the price. Buy it: The Day Market Tote | 107 (Was 144) from Everlane The Day Market Tote The Duchess of Sussex has previously accessorised her outfits with Missoma jewellery. (Getty Images) Meghan Markle has frequently been spotted wearing jewellery from the London-based brand Missoma. Back in 2018, during a visit to Social Bite in Scotlands capital of Edinburgh, the mother-of-one wore the Gold Interstellar Ring, which has a diamond encrusted into a band made from gold vermeil on sterling silver. Buy it: Gold Interstellar Ring | 45 from Missoma Gold Interstellar Ring During a visit to Cardiff Castle, in Wales in 2018, Meghan accessorised with the forest green mini Venice bag from DeMellier London. (Getty Images) The Duchess of Sussex accessorised with the green Mini Venice bag from DeMellier London during a visit to Cardiff Castle in Wales in January 2018, with husband Prince Harry. The leather bag, which is made from cowhide, can be worn across the body, over one shoulder, or held in the hand like Markle did on this occasion. Buy it: The Mini Venice bag | 295 from DeMellier London The Mini Venice bag Meghan Markle debuted the Veja V-10 trainers in 2018 during the Invictus Games in Sydney, Australia in 2018. (Getty Images) Meghan Markle traded her designer heels for a pair of comfortable flat shoes during the Invictus Games in Sydney in 2018. She made a case for the sustainable brand Veja two years ago, when she wore the V-10 trainers while on a boat taking in the view of Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Buy it: Veja V-10 Trainers | 115 from Office You will now be able to write error-free copies with the integration of Grammarly with Microsoft Word, the company has announced. The tool is now available for Word on Mac and Word online. Grammarly will provide all the writing suggestions right within the document you are working on. Once you download the free tool for Word, the suggestions about grammar, clarity, and vocabulary will appear in a panel on the right side. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brooklyn Beckham and girlfriend Nicola Peltz are currently holed up in New York where they are self-isolating together amid the coronavirus lockdown. And the couple are clealy enjoying nesting as they took to Instagram on Monday to give followers an insight into their new domestic routine. Nicola, 25, baked Brooklyn, 21, a cake - in the shape of a heart - clearly taking inspiration from his famous dad David who has been seen at home with the rest of the family whipping up lemon drizzles aplenty. Duo-isolation: Brooklyn Beckham and girlfriend Nicola Peltz are clearly enjoying nesting as they took to Instagram on Monday to give followers an insight into their new domestic routine Nicola - who also appeared to be wiling the hours away by drawing on her face - proudly showed off her baking skills, with Brooklyn showing off the cake on Instagram, captioning it 'my baby is so talented'. It turned out the cake was in fact a birthday cake for Nicola's brother Diesel, who turned 27. Indeed, he was captured on camera blowing out the candles placed around the rim of the cake. Nicola then gave Brooklyn a DIY haircut - something the world is having to do themselves currently due to the mass-closures of salons and barbershops everywhere. Made the cut: Nicola gave Brooklyn a DIY haircut - something the world is having to do themselves currently due to the mass-closures of salons and barbershops everywhere Sweet treat: Nicola, 25, baked Brooklyn, 21, a cake - in the shape of a heart - clearly taking inspiration from his famous dad David who has been seen at home with the rest of the family whipping up lemon drizzles aplenty Make a wish: It turned out the cake was in fact a birthday cake for Nicola's brother Diesel, who turned 27 Brooklyn is reportedly moving in with his girlfriend in New York, once the global health crisis subsides. A source claimed the aspiring photographer is planning to set up home in the States after ending his internship with iconic photographer Rankin. Brooklyn has been dating actress Nicola since November after he split from model Hana Cross in August. Getting serious: Brooklyn is reportedly moving in with his girlfriend in New York, once the global health crisis subsides An insider told The Sun On Sunday that Brooklyn and Nicola first decided to move in together in November, and the couple are currently self-isolating in her New York apartment. The move also reportedly has the backing of Brooklyn's famous parents David and Victoria, who seem to think they're the perfect match. The source said: '[Brooklyn] and Nicola are closer than ever and they are both excited to take their relationship to the next level by sharing the same home.' Setting up home: A source claimed the aspiring photographer, 21, is planning to set up home in the States as he and Nicola are currently in self-isolation in NYC (pictured February 2020) 'Nicola has been a big hit with the entire Beckham family - both David and Victoria have made it clear to Brooklyn how much they like her. So they completely support him in this move - though they will miss him a lot.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz for comment. On Friday Victoria admitted that she was missing her son Brooklyn after he eas stranded in the US due to the coronavirus pandemic. Taking to Instagram to share Brooklyn's latest post about his Icon Magazine photoshoot, she declared: 'We are all missing @BrooklynBeckham so much as he remains in lockdown in the US. 'Seeing this self-portrait he did for @ico_n brought a smile to all our faces this morning!' Nicola's breakthrough role as an actress came in the 2010 film The Last Airbender and she is also known for starring as Bradley Martin in the series Bates Motel. Since they started dating in November, the pair have been heavily documenting their blossoming romance on social media, with Brooklyn previously calling Nicola the 'love of my life.' Distance: Brooklyn and Nicola have been documenting their time holed up in NYC, after his mum Victoria admitted on Instagram she missed him Brooklyn had been linked to a string of women over the past few months, before meeting Nicola, following his split from model Hana Cross, including Canadian actress Natalie Ganzhorn, 21, and brunette actress Phoebe Torrance, 25. Most recently it was claimed he and Lottie Moss had a 'secret fling' before he started dating his now ex-girlfriend Hana. Earlier this month, American actress Nicola declared that she and Brooklyn will be together 'forever' as she stressed the strength of their relationship alongside a steamy photograph shared to Instagram. Amid the COVID-19 outbreak followed by the subsequent nationwide lockdown, the Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to put in all its resources to break the chain of transmission of the disease, officials said. The government has distributed funds among all the 26 deputy commissioners (DCs) of the state to tackle the situation, though Arunachal has not reported any COVID-19 positive cases so far, they said. Each DC has been given Rs 12 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), totalling Rs 3.12 crore, while a total amount of Rs 1.30 crore has been distributed among all the superintends of police (SPs), from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund (CMRF) to tackle the outbreak, an official said. "To empower the district administrations to fight against coronavirus, a total Rs 15 crore under the Mukhya Mantri Rogi Kalyan Kosh (MMRKK) have been distributed equally among all 26 districts in the state," Chief Minister Pema Khandu said in a statement here on Tuesday. The guidelines of the MMRKK have been relaxed and therefore 80 per cent of the funds could be used for procurement of medicines, consumables and equipment, Khandu said. The remaining 20 per cent would be utilised for conducting health camps, engaging doctors, retired doctors, paramedics and contingency staff for the next three months. The state government, to strengthen the public health system and ensure concrete preparedness against COVID-19, has appealed to the retired health professionals to volunteer to supplement the current human resources and staffing shortages in the state. The retired professionals have been requested to contact the Director of Health Services at Naharlagun. "The frontline response team deployed all over the state is dealing with COVID 19 suspects for which personal protective equipment (PPE) have been supplied," the chief minister said. "A total of 10,000 N-95 masks from HLL Lifecare Limited, 300 VTMs from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and 30 thermal scanners reached the state on Tuesday and distribution is underway, he said. To meet the shortage of medical equipment as a result of the lockdown, a special chartered cargo flight has been arranged by the state government. The special flight will ferry essential medical equipment such as surgical masks, PPE with all accessories and other things from New Delhi to Guwahati on Wednesday, he said. "Medical items for sanitisation have also been ferried to the state. Helicopters have been put into service to deliver all essential ration commodities to the people living in far-flung areas, Khandu informed, adding that the first helicopter sortie was made to Vijaynagar on Tuesday and five other sorties have been planned for the week. ICUs with ventilators have been set up in Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), while isolation wards and quarantine rooms have been identified in all the districts. Besides, helplines and control rooms are functioning round the clock, the chief minister said. The state has not reported any COVID-19 positive cases so far. Thirty-three swab samples from the state have been tested so far out of which 23 are negative while results of 10 are awaited, State Surveillance Officer (IDSP) Dr L Jampa informed. A total of 17 people are staying in quarantine facilities, while 85 have completed the 14-day quarantine period, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 36-year-old man was beaten to death by a group of persons in Bihar's Sitamarhi district due to an internal dispute, police said on Tuesday. The incident took place in Madhaul village in Runnisaidpur police station area on Monday, Sub-divisional Police Officer (Sadar), Kumar Veer Dhirendra said. The deceased's family, however, has lodged an FIR alleging that he was killed by two persons for reporting to the police about their return to the village from Mumbai amid the coronavirus outbreak, he said. Based on their complaint, the two persons have been arrested, the officer said. However, Runnisaidpur police station officials said they had received information about the Mumbai returnees from a local journalist and not from the deceased. Nevertheless, the deceased's mobile phone has been seized to verify whether he had made any call to the police, Dhirendra said. Health check-up was conducted on the two Mumbai returnees after their return to the village on March 20 and they did not exhibit any coronavirus-like symptom, police officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) During his March 20 press conference, President Trump said he hoped chloroquine, a prescription medicine used for malaria, lupus, and arthritis, would treat the coronavirus. A day or two later, a Phoenix-area couple showed up at Banner Health's emergency room, having ingested chloroquine phosphate, a toxic ingredient in fish tank cleansers. The man died. The media instantly framed the story to make it appear that Trump had told Americans to take chloroquine in whatever form available, regardless of whether they were sick. Slate headlined its story (no link, because it's too stupid to deserve a link), "Arizona Man Dies From Chloroquine Overdose after Listening to Trump Coronavirus Press Conference." Forbes was no better (and no link, for the same reason): "Man Dead from Taking Chloroquine Product after Trump Touts Drug for Coronavirus." BuzzFeed was the same (no link, etc.): "A Man Died after Self-Medicating with a Form of a Drug That Trump Promoted as a Potential Treatment for the Coronavirus." Nobody else in the media was any better. It was Trump's fault for "promoting" a killer drug. The fact that Trump said there was a potential treatment on the horizon and that he hoped it would work was irrelevant because the media's preferred narrative overrode the facts. The surviving woman was no better. "Don't believe anything that the President says and his people," she told NBC News. After some clever sleuthing, reporters at the Washington Free Beacon figured out the identity of the couple at the center of this story. Armed with their names, the Free Beacon did a little digging and discovered that the woman, at least, was a fanatic anti-Trumper who had spent several thousand dollars over the years funding her fanaticism. The funniest thing about her expenditures was that the last group to which she gave money purports to be "pro-science," a concept that eludes the woman herself: The Arizona woman who said that she and her 68-year-old husband ingested a substance used to clean fish tanks after hearing President Donald Trump tout chloroquine as a cure for the coronavirus has given thousands of dollars to Democratic groups and candidates over the last two years. The woman's most recent donations, in late February, were to a Democratic PAC, the 314 Action Fund, that bills itself as the "pro-science resistance" and has vocally criticized the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic and held up her case to slam the White House. [snip] Federal Election Commission records show that Wanda has donated thousands of dollars to Democratic electoral groups and candidates over the past two years, including Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and EMILY's List, a group that aims to elect pro-choice female candidates. Wanda told the Free Beacon that she and her husband were both Democrats, not Trump supporters. They heard about the potential benefits of chloroquine, an antimalarial drug, in news reports. She decided at the "spur of the moment" to try taking it, but reached for a fish tank cleaner in her pantry that contains chloroquine phosphate, a different and deadly form of the chemical. It's quite apparent that, while Wanda believes in science in the abstract, she missed the whole discussion about Darwinian survival. At Power Line, Scott Johnson reported on the incident and then made an interesting point: "Try as I might, I have a hard time getting my head around this story. Something doesn't compute." Johnson is right. Either this couple was staggeringly stupid (which is, admittedly, a possibility) or, as he said, something doesn't compute. The whole thing reads like something out of a mystery novel, with the narrative being too pat: Trump is hopeful about a drug, a Trump-hating woman "spontaneously" decides that Trump explicitly recommended eating fish tank cleaner, her husband dies, and the media have a ready-made headline. No matter how you spin it, it's a fishy story, at best. Don't be surprised if your employer pauses its contributions to your 401(k) plan during the U.S. economic downturn. As the coronavirus pandemic wallops the economy, and businesses deal with dropping revenue and limited cash flow, employers are exploring how to trim their obligations to those plans without violating federal regulations. Companies commonly give to worker's accounts either through a match (up to a certain amount) or other contribution. Plan sponsors "have been calling regarding how they might legally reduce their contributions to plans to preserve their cash positions," said Marcia Wagner, founder of The Wagner Law Group, which has heard from both privately held and publicly traded companies. "Employers need to know their options to try to navigate through this crisis," Wagner said. Jamie Grill | Blend Images | Getty Images Already, some larger companies have said they will scale back their contributions to workers' accounts, through suspending or delaying them until later this year. That includes Haverty Furniture Companies, La-Z-Boy, Amtrak and Marriott International. About 95% of employers offer either a company match or other type of contribution, according to 2019 data from Vanguard. Half of the plans it services provide a company match, while a third offer both a match and non-matching contribution (i.e., profit sharing), and 10% do only the latter. The average amount employers kick in is 4.3% of a participant's salary. In 2008-2009, the last time the U.S. economy hit the skids, about 18.5% of companies that offered a match pulled back, either through suspending or reducing the amount, according to a 2009 report from the Plan Sponsor Council of America. Of plans that offered non-matching contributions, 26% suspended or lowered those amounts. And, most companies that suspended their contributions saw a decrease in plan participation, the PSCA report says. More from Personal Finance: Answers to your questions about the coronavirus stimulus checks Unemployment benefits stalled by confusion, delays Which bills to pay during the coronavirus pandemic Of course, it also shows most companies made no pause or reduction to contributions 4.5% actually increased them during the last U.S. recession. This time, however, experts are concerned that this economic downturn could result in a greater share of companies needing to pause the practice until they're on sold financial footing. "The crisis we have now is different there's been a rapid pace of layoffs and furloughs, and companies have had to suddenly shut down," said Will Hansen, executive director of the PSCA. Hansen said that in locations where the coronavirus has been present longer e.g., Seattle some companies have sought advice on how to immediately stop contributions. Generally speaking, the plans seeking regulatory relief are so-called "safe harbor" plans they agree to certain employer contribution requirements so they can escape certain other regulations. They are often favored by smaller companies. Under current law, those plans must give a 30-day notice to participants that the employer contributions will stop, Hansen said. Bill with sentence reductions due in Turkish parliament Turkish justice minister reiterated that there have been no confirmed coronavirus cases in prisons so far, stressing the states commitment to inmates health. A bill that would reduce the sentences of thousands of Turkish inmates is hitting parliament this week, said Turkeys justice minister on Tuesday. PROPOSAL IS LIKELY TO PASS "It will be soon brought to the agenda of parliament and we expect the proposal to be passed, said Abdulhamit Gul of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party proposal, which reached the Parliament Speakers Office this afternoon. The scope of the bill for releasing some inmates will be clear when the proposal is submitted and passed by parliament, Gul said in televised remarks. There are about 300,000 inmates in Turkey, he said, adding: "Convicts and detainees are entrusted to the state." Sentences for crimes repugnant to society are not expected to be included in the reductions, including homicide, sex crimes, murders of women, violence against women and spouses, and terrorism, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 11:48:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The world is now in a battle against COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 200 countries and regions. The following are the updates on the contagious illness. - - - - UNITED NATIONS -- United Nations Security Council on Monday expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Syria and the potential impact of COVID-19 on the war-torn country. The council held a briefing via video teleconference on the situation in Syria and was briefed on by UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock and UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen. - - - - SEOUL -- Sentiment among South Korean businesses over economic situation worsened in March amid worry about the economic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak, central bank data showed Tuesday. The business sentiment index stood at 54 in March, down 9 points from the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea. After peaking at 76 in December last year, the index slipped to 75 in January and 65 in February respectively. It was the lowest since February 2009. - - - - WASHINGTON -- The death toll from COVID-19 in the United States has topped 3,000, according to the latest tally from Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE). As of 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday (0130 GMT on Tuesday), the United States has reported more than 163,000 confirmed cases, with 3,008 deaths, an interactive map from the CSSE showed. - - - - WUHAN -- No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported Monday in Wuhan, the hardest-hit city in central China's Hubei Province. As of Monday, Wuhan had seen zero new reports for seven consecutive days. The province also registered no increase in new COVID-19 cases on Monday, according to the National Health Commission Tuesday. - - - - WASHINGTON -- Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said on Monday that the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has been "rapid and sharp," and it's impossible to predict the depth of the recession at this point. "The downturn has been rapid and sharp and it's different than any we've ever experienced in America," Yellen, who served as Fed chair from 2014 to 2018, made the remarks at a webinar hosted by the Brookings Institution. - - - - BEIJING -- Chinese health authority said Tuesday that no new domestically transmitted cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported on the Chinese mainland on Monday. The National Health Commission received reports of 48 new confirmed cases on the mainland on Monday, all of which were imported. - - - - ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday evening announced the formation of a volunteers' force to help official institutions in fight the COVID-19 spread. The prime minister addressed the nation in a recorded televised speech, saying the government will form the Prime Minister's Coronavirus Relief Tiger Force which would assist the state institutions in countering the COVID-19 spread and minimize its impact. - - - - BEIJING -- The Chinese mainland reported 48 new imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Monday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 771, the National Health Commission said Tuesday. Of the 771 imported cases, 667 patients were still being treated, including 18 severe cases, while 104 patients had been discharged from hospital after recovery by the end of Monday, with no death reported. - - - - GENEVA -- Given the latest growth curve of new coronavirus cases amid extensive lockdown measures, European countries, particularly the most affected countries like Italy and Spain, could see potential stabilization of COVID-19 outbreak, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) expert noted here Monday. In the past 24 hours as of Monday morning, a total of 31,726 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Europe, which marked the lowest growth since last Friday, according to the WHO's daily situation report. - - - - BRUSSELS -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Europe kept swelling, with the region's total approaching 400,000 and that of Italy exceeding 100,000 as of Monday. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 693,224 COVID-19 cases and 33,106 deaths have been reported globally as of 10:00 a.m. CET Monday, of which, 393,285 cases and 23,966 deaths were registered in Europe. The @EmpireStateBldg reminding us that the city is in the middle of an emergency. pic.twitter.com/50TjEjOogN Rita J. King (@RitaJKing) March 31, 2020 This week, Americans braced for more restrictive lockdown measures across the U.S. as the death toll ticked higher, toward 3,000, and public health officials warned the number of American deaths due to the coronavirus could reach as high as 200,000. On Monday, in New York, the epicenter of the American outbreak, the Empire State Building began a light display resembling a flashing siren light as a salute to first responders on the front lines of the fight against the virus. Starting tonight through the COVID-19 battle, our signature white lights will be replaced by the heartbeat of America with a white and red siren in the mast for heroic emergency workers on the front line of the fight, the buildings official Twitter account announced. Advertisement The display is set to occur each evening at 9 p.m., according to the Empire State Realty Trust, which owns the building. The Empire State Building is an international symbol of dreams and struggles overcome, the head of the Empire State Realty Trust said in a statement. Tonight, and every night in this struggle, she is a beacon to remind us we are all in this together, and we will come out of this together. The siren light, however, also sent another perhaps equally appropriate message to many people: a city under siege. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. A small study out of China bolsters the notion that transfusing the antibody-enriched blood of people who've survived COVID-19 could help patients still fighting for their lives against the disease. The study of five critically ill patients from near the initial epicenter of the novel coronavirus pandemic found that all five patients survived COVID-19 following the transfusion. If the findings are replicated in larger trials, widespread use of the treatment "could help change the course of this pandemic," wrote Drs. John Roback and Jeannette Guarner of Emory Medical Laboratories, affiliated with Emory University in Atlanta. Roback and Guarner wrote an editorial accompanying the new Chinese study, which was published online March 27 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Despite the fact that tens of thousands of people have died from COVID-19 around the world, the vast majorityabout 85%of cases are actually asymptomatic or mild, similar to a cold or flu. But people who pass through COVID-19 relatively unharmed acquire a powerful immunological legacy: Antibodies in their blood that can recognize and attack the new coronavirus. There are currently no drugs or vaccines to help fight COVID-19. However, early in the pandemic, doctors understood that blood donations from survivors might help protect or treat other people, according to some infectious disease experts. The notion is far from new. In the first half of the 20th century, doctors used "convalescent serum" in an effort to treat people during outbreaks of viral infections like measles, mumps and influenzaincluding during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. The principle is fairly simple: When a pathogen invades the body, the immune system produces antibodies that latch onto the enemy, marking it for destruction. After recovery, those antibodies remain circulating in a person's blood, for anywhere from months to years. In theory, transferring some of those antibodies to other people with the same virus could help their bodies fight it off. Or, given to healthy peoplelike the health care workers on the front linesthe antibodies might offer some temporary protection from infection. A long history in medicine In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemicwith no vaccine or antiviral drug coming soonantibodies from recovering patients could provide a "stopgap" measure, according to Drs. Arturo Casadevall and Liise-anne Pirofski. It's an approach called "convalescent serum." Casadevall, of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore, and Pirofski, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, laid out their case in the March 16 online edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. For one, the authors pointed out, convalescent serum is not a thing of the past. It has been tried in limited numbers of patients during more-recent viral crises, including the 2003 SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic, the 2009 "swine flu" epidemic, and the 2012 outbreak of MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome). Reports on those attempts indicate the antibody treatment generally reduced the severity of patients' illnesses and improved survival. "In addition to public health containment and mitigation protocols, this may be our only near-term option for treating and preventing COVID-19," Casadevall said in a statement from Johns Hopkins. "And it is something we can start putting into place in the next few weeks and months." The new Chinese study offers more evidence that convalescent serum works. The research was led by Dr. Yingxia Liu, of a hospital affiliated with the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China, near the city of Wuhan, where the COVID-19 pandemic began. Liu's team focused on the plight of five extremely ill patients who required mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit to breathe. They had also received antiviral medications and other drugs. Desperate to save them, physicians transfused the donated blood of COVID-19 survivors into the very sick patients. Within just three days, fever began to subside in four of the five patients, there was a reversal in their progression to organ failure, viral loads fells, and by 12 days after the transfusion, four of the patients had recovered from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which so often proves fatal to patients. As of the end of March, three of the patients have been discharged from the hospital, the Chinese authors said, and the other two are now in stable condition. First U.S. patients being treated Use of convalescent serum "is a good idea. It's something that's been used before, and we know how to do it," said Dr. Gregory Poland, who heads the Vaccine Research Group at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn. That's not to say doctors can just start doing it. "You still have to go through the FDA," Poland said, referring to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Now, Houston Methodist hospital in Texas announced that it has "received FDA approval Saturday to become the first academic medical center in the nation to transfuse donated plasma from a recovered COVID-19 patient into a critically ill patient." The transfusion occurred Saturday evening, the hospital said in a news release. The treatment is also being planned for use by doctors elsewhere. In New York City earlier this week, Governor Andrew Cuomo said that recruitment will soon begin for plasma donations from COVID-19 survivors, and initially would focus on the New York City suburb of New Rochelle, N.Y., which has been hit hard by the outbreak. Also, New York hospital system Mount Sinai, in collaboration with the state's Blood Center and Department of Health, said trials in the technique could begin as early as the beginning of April. Doctors' experience with the general approach is not limited to viral pandemics, Poland pointed out. They routinely use injections of immune globulinpurified antibody preparations taken from donated human bloodto treat certain medical conditions. In addition, modern blood-banking techniques, which screen for infectious agents, should ensure any such tactic against COVID-19 would be as safe as a standard blood transfusion, Poland said. Maintaining safety Standard protocols will be needed, including logistic matters like coordination among local doctors, blood banks and hospitals, according to Casadevall. "We'll have to put protocols in place to make sure that the use of this sera [blood] is safe," Casadevall said. But, he added, "we're not talking about research and developmentthis is something that physicians, blood banks, and hospitals already know how to do and can do today." Dr. Bruce Y. Lee is a professor of health policy management at City University of New York. He said the convalescent serum idea is "certainly worth exploring." "We're in a situation where the toolbox is pretty empty," Lee said. Both he and Poland pointed to some key unknowns, including: How long do antibodies against this novel virus last? What amount of antibody would be necessary to help treat the infection or offer some protection? What is clear is that any protection would be temporary. "This would not replace a vaccine," Lee stressed. Vaccines, he noted, work by training the immune system to launch its own response to an invader, which involves more than antibodies. And what about people who've recovered from COVID-19? Are they immune to it, at least for a while? There have been reports from China and Japan of patients being declared infection-free then testing positive again. However, Poland said those cases probably reflect an issue with the testing. "I don't think they represent re-infections," he said. "That would be highly unusual." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Jesus came into the world to take our sins on himself and on the cross he really suffered and died. "We have to get used to looking at the crucifix in this light, which is the truest, it is the light of redemption". Vatican City (AsiaNews) - A prayer for those who are homeless and so society and the Church welcome them. With this thought, Pope Francis introduced morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta today. " At this moment in which everyone is supposed to be at home, may society, men and women, realize this reality and help them, and that the Church might welcome them. During his homily, he reflected on the symbol of the serpent presented in both readings of the Fifth Tuesday of Lent (Numbers 21:4-9 and John 8:21-30). A serpent is certainly not a friendly animal, Pope Francis said, beginning his homily. They're always associated with evil. Even in Revelation, the serpent is specifically the animal that the devil uses in order to cause sin. In the Book of Revelation, the devil is called the ancient serpent, the one who from the beginning bites, poisons, destroys, kills. The people can no longer put up with the long journey. They complain that they have no food or water, and are tired of eating manna. It's always the same music. Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert? . Their imaginationalways went back to Egypt. We were doing well there. We ate well. It also seems that the Lord can't put up with His people at this moment. He gets angry. The wrath of God is seen at times. And so, the Lord sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. At that time the serpent was always the image of evil. In seeing the serpents, the people saw their sinwhat they had done wrong. They repent. Pope Francis said he wonders if the serpent Moses mounted on the pole could have been idolatry. Rather than being idolatry, he said, It is a prophecy, a proclamation of what will happen in the future. Jesus Himself recalls the serpent mounted on a pole and applies it to Himself. To understand better, we need to put Jesus prophecy that He would be lifted up like the serpent on the pole, together with the more ancient prophecy. The core of the prophecy is that Jesus made Himself sin for us. He did not sin; He made Himself sin. As St. Peter says in his letter, He bore all of our sins in Himself. And so, when we gaze on the crucifix, we think about the Lord who suffers, and all of that is true. But let's stop a moment in order to arrive at the center of that truth. At this moment you seem to be the greatest sinner! You made yourself sin. He took upon himself all of our sins. There was a vendetta by the doctors of the law who didn't want Him. All of that is true. But the truth that comes from God is that He came into the world to take our own sins upon Himself to the point of making Himself sin. Our sins are there. Christians need to make it a habit of looking at the crucifix in this light, in the light of the redemption and as a reminder that Jesus did not pretend to suffer and die. Rather, it was the moment of His utter defeat. He was entirely alone with the burden of our sin that He had taken on Himself to the point of annihilation and the feeling of total abandonment by His Father, the Pope said.It's not easy to understand this and should we think about it, we'll never arrive at a conclusion. We can only contemplate, pray, and give thanks. Pope Francis concluded the celebration with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, inviting all those following through social media to spiritual communion. To pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, the head of Revival Ministries International, telling people not to infect each other with a potentially deadly virus is a "First Amendment threat" to Christian ministries. "Because the climate change narrative for global governance failed, they are using the World Health Organization to then come in and take over the control of nations and then they are going to bring in vaccines," he previously said about COVID-19. Unsurprisingly, Howard-Browne continued to hold religious services at his Megachurch in Tampa Bay despite the warnings of police, or the overwhelming encouragement by the global public to cut down on large social gatherings in order to slow the spread of the virus. Howard-Boone did also livestream the services, which is how video got around of congregants packed shoulder-to-shoulder during this past Sunday's Mass. Which is how the police found out about it. From the Tampa Bay Times: Howard-Browne was arrested Monday on misdemeanor charges of unlawful assembly and violating quarantine orders during a public health emergency, said Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Because of the reckless disregard of public safety and after repeated requests and warnings, I worked with our state attorney, Andrew Warren, to obtain a warrant for unlawful assembly and violation of public health emergency rules, both of which are second degree misdemeanors," Chronister said. "Our goal here is not to stop anyone from worshiping, but the safety and well-being of our community must always come first." State Attorney Andrew Warren added: I'd remind the good pastor of Mark 12:31, which said there's no more important commandment than to love thy neighbor as thyself. Loving your neighbors is protecting them, not jeopardizing their health by exposing them to this deadly virus. Jerry Falwell's evangelical Liberty University also encouraged students to return to campus and continue classes this past weekend, a decision which has already resulted in positive coronavirus tests. Pastor of Tampa church that held two large Sunday services arrested, jailed [Tony Marrero / Tampa Bay Times] Liberty University Brings Back Its Students, and Coronavirus Fears, Too [Elizabeth Williamson / The New York Times] Image via YouTube Xiaomi will also donate lakhs of face masks and protective suits to hospitals across various states. As India fights off coronavirus Xiaomi has announced that it will be donating a sum of Rs 15 crores to COVID-19 relief funds. As per the official tweet, the company will be contributing Rs 10 crores to the PM relief fund and Rs 5 crores to CM's relief fund across various states. In addition to this, Xiaomi says, it will be donating face masks and protective suits to various hospitals across several states in the country. Let's #FightCoronaTogether: We are pledging to donate 15 Crores to #PMCaresFunds and #CMReliefFund. In these testing times, all of us need to come together to safeguard our nation. You can also contribute via donations to @GiveIndia on https://t.co/D3b3QtmvaT.#XiaomiIndia pic.twitter.com/W6RDis81at Mi India (@XiaomiIndia) March 31, 2020 Xiaomi has also announced that it has partnered Give India, an NGO, on Mi.com to raise Rs 1 crore to make hygiene kits for 20,000 families. These kits will include soaps, sanitisers and masks. Due to the lockdown in the country, Xiaomi has also postponed its Mi 10 smartphone launch that was scheduled to be held today (31 March). In addition to this, the first sale of Redmi Note 9 Pro Max in India was also delayed recently. The UN Security Council, currently under China's Presidency, unanimously adopted four resolutions, voting for the first time remotely as diplomats and United Nations staff work from home due to the coronavirus outbreak in New York. The 15-nation powerful organ of the UN, chaired by Council President, China's Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun, met via video-conferencing on Monday. For the first time, it adopted resolutions without the UNSC members being present in the Council chamber at the UN headquarters and voting or casting a veto by raising their hands. The Council adopted unanimously a resolution on renewing the mandate for the Panel of Experts working with the 1718 Sanctions Committee for North Korea, a resolution extending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), a resolution on maintaining the African Union-United Nations Mission Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) of its current troop and police ceilings, and a resolution on improving safety and security of peacekeepers. As the coronavirus outbreak spread across the city, the state and the city of New York ordered offices and businesses to telecommute. Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said all UN staff will be required to telecommute, unless their physical presence at the workplace is required, from March 16 to April 12 to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Security Council last met at the UN headquarters on March 12 when it had adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. Diplomats from UN member states, UN officials and staff have been working remotely and according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, there had been only 89 swipes at UN entrances by people coming into the building on Monday, a sharp decline from about 11,000 on a normal day. Guterres has been holding video press briefings on the COVID-19 situation. Last week, the Council held a video-conference to discuss the work of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) as well as to discuss the work of United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). The Chinese mission said in a statement that in the context of the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the work of the Council faces serious practical difficulties. As President of the Council for March, "China has actively explored new working methods, maintained consultations with Council members by telephone, video, mails among other means, and broadened consensus, reflecting the Council's primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security through practical actions". This week the Council will also discuss Syria, Afghanistan and other issues via Video Tele-Conferencing (VTC). Zhang had said that the Council was actively exploring new working methods because given the worsening of the pandemic, members of the Council faced more difficulties in holding physical meetings at the UN headquarters. Members of the Council, with the support of the technical department of the Secretariat, set up a VTC system. Council members discussed a provisional procedure for the adoption of resolutions under the current circumstances. According to reports, the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has soared past 35,000 while the number of confirmed cases topped 750,000 globally. The total number of confirmed coronavirus patients in New York state is 66,000 with 1,218 deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Subscriber content preview OLYMPIA The Washington State Department of Commerce, in partnership with the state Health Care Authority, awarded $1.96 million to help fund construction of a 32-bed behavioral health facility in Spokane. The Spokane Mental Health Crisis Stabilization Facility will be operated by Pioneer Human Services. It will include a medical clearance unit and 16 beds each for withdrawal management and mental health crisis stabilization treatment. . . . In the first transaction of its kind, France, Germany and Britain have sent medical goods to Iran under a trade mechanism set up to bypass US sanctions against Tehran. In January 2019, the three European countries, known as the E3, developed the trade mechanism dubbed INSTEX as a workaround to export goods to Iran. INSTEX and its Iranian counterpart STFI will work on more transactions and enhancing the mechanism, the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement. These goods are now in Iran. The German Foreign Ministry did not specify what was included in the shipment, only confirming its arrival. Citing people familiar with the transaction, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the sale was equipment related to blood treatment from a German exporter. The Donald Trump administration imposed tough economic sanctions on Iran in 2018 after withdrawing from the nuclear accord reached by the Barack Obama administration, five other world powers and Iran in 2015. The reimposition of energy sanctions have since crippled Irans economy and prompted Tehran to retaliate by breaching its commitments under the nuclear deal. The Islamic Republic, meanwhile, is grappling with the Middle Easts worst coronavirus outbreak. The death toll climbed to 2,898 on Tuesday, with more than 44,000 confirmed cases, Irans Health Ministry said. The White House has resisted calls from some world leaders and human rights organizations to ease its maximum pressure campaign of sanctions against Iran, which Tehran says is hampering its ability to contain the virus. Officials in Iran have increasingly taken to social media to condemn the United States for what it calls "economic terrorism. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed in a Tuesday news conference that the United States has offered humanitarian assistance to Iran in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Medicine and medical supplies are exempted from US sanctions. When they make the claim that they just dont have the money to feed their people, these are decisions that these people's leaders have often made, Pompeo said of Iran and other sanctioned countries. It is indeed quite sad. Last week, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said his country would not accept American assistance, calling US officials charlatans and liars. Several times Americans have offered to help us to fight the pandemic. That is strange because you face shortages in America, Khamenei said in a televised speech. The European members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday condemned North Korea's latest missile tests, describing the launches as "provocative actions." Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom "are deeply concerned by the repeated testing of missiles, using ballistic missile technology," by North Korea on March 2, 9, 21 and 29, read a statement issued after an informal high-level UN videoconference. The Europeans noted that Pyongyang has conducted 17 sets of such launches since May 2019. The launches illustrate North Korea's "continued efforts to develop its ballistic missile programs and expand its arsenal, including of short-range ballistic missiles," adding that Pyongyang "has also continued to operate its nuclear weapon program." North Korea is under multiple sets of sanctions from the United Nations, United States and others over its banned weapons programs. "It is vital that the Security Council ensures full implementation of its resolutions and that sanctions remain in place," the statement read. Pyongyang said on Monday that it had successfully tested "super-large multiple rocket launchers" the day before. South Korea said two projectiles -- presumed to be ballistic missiles -- were fired on Sunday from the North Korean port city of Wonsan into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea. Analysts say the North continues to refine its weapons capabilities more than a year after a summit between the North's leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump broke down in Vietnam. Negotiations have since been deadlocked over sanctions relief and what the North would be willing to give up in return. The Security Council meeting requested by the Europeans, as well as the publication of their statement, took place on the last day that North Korea's ally China presided over the council. This picture taken on March 21, 2020 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 22, 2020 shows a demonstration fire of tactical guided weapons at an undisclosed location in North Korea The flight was approved in according with a proposal from the European Union and the Lithuanian government, a Bamboo Airways spokesperson said. It took off at 7 a.m. and will transit at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand, before landing at the Kaunas International Airport in Lithuania at 5:15 p.m. local time. Among the 220 European citizens on board the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner are 120 Lithuanians. It will not take on any passengers on the way back. Vietnamese carriers have suspended all international flights to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Bamboo Airways flight is the first flight to Lithuania by a Vietnamese carrier. Before and after the flight, the entire cockpit, passenger compartment and cargo hold will be disinfected. Prior to boarding, passengers were given a health check, ensured medical clearance and the maintenance of a minimum distance of two meters between two persons when queuing for check-in. Wearing a face mask during the flight is mandatory. Bamboo Airways has cooperated with diplomatic agencies to carry out several flights on humanitarian considerations. On March 25, a one-way flight from Hanoi to the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, brought back nearly 300 European citizens. Vietnamese carriers including Vietnam Airlines have also operated several flights to bring Vietnamese stranded overseas home. Since March 22, Vietnam has prohibited entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers. Only Vietnamese nationals and foreigners with diplomatic or official passports are allowed in, and all are quarantined for 14 days. Vietnam had recorded 204 Covid-19 infections as of Tuesday morning. YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government has come up with an initiative to start talks with Russia on revising the price of gas, and our Russian partners have been notified on the matter, Deputy Prime Minister, State of Emergency Commandant Tigran Avinyan said at a press conference, asked whether the gas prices will be revised given the current fluctuations of the price in the international market. With what stage and procedure the talks will be carried out, I think, its still early to say, but, in any case, the current fluctuations of prices in the oil and gas market at this stage already give as all grounds for preliminary revision. I think we will start these discussions with the Russian partners very soon, he added. Earlier today Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan sent a letter on behalf of the Armenian government to Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Management Committee at Gazprom PJSC Alexey Miller requesting to launch talks on the change of price of gas supplied to Armenia. Its already clear that the consequences of the novel coronavirus are going to have negative impact on the socio-economic development of our countries and this will lead to a decline on consumption volumes of energy resources. Of course, we will boost the production and consumption growth with all means, but for the efficiency of the aforementioned measures its necessary to ensure a competitive environment. We all understand that in this regard the price of gas in Armenia has a great significance. We also understand that the scales and level of friendly relations between our countries allow us and require from us to raise and discuss on time issues of systematic significance for our countries, also for the stable development of trade-economic cooperation. Taking into account the forecasts and the current situation in global markets connected with the prices of energy resources, including that of oil and gas, we find it appropriate to start new talks on the change of price of gas supplied to Armenia. In particular, we consider well-timed the discussion of issues on setting a rule to reduce the price of gas for one thousand cubic meters on the Armenia-Georgia border, as well as make payments for gas with the national currency, the deputy PM said in the letter. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Children's author and illustrator Tomie dePaola, the creator of the beloved Strega Nona character, died on Monday in New Hampshire. He was 85. DePaola's literary agent told The Associated Press he had a serious fall last week, and died of complications following surgery. During a career that lasted more than 50 years, dePaola worked on 270 books, which were translated into more than 20 languages, and received a lifetime achievement award in 2011 from the American Library Association. At the age of 4, dePaola told his family he wanted to write books, and they supported his passion for writing and drawing; he paid homage to his parents and siblings in some of his autobiographical works. DePaola was teaching theater at Colby-Sawyer College when he created the character that became Strega Nona, doodling his first image of her during a meeting. He had her live in southern Italy because that's where his grandparents came from, and in 2013, he told AP Strega Nona was popular because "she's like everybody's grandmother. She's cute, she's not pretty, she's kind of funny looking, but she's sweet, she's understanding. And she's a little saucy, she gets a little irritated every once in awhile." More stories from theweek.com Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is what real coronavirus leadership looks like The case for cautious optimism about the pandemic Walmart to start taking workers' temperatures, providing gloves and masks 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. Five of the six people from Puducherry who had visited Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi have been isolated amid fears of them being infected with coronavirus, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said on Tuesday. "Total six persons from Puducherry visited Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi, of which five persons have been kept under observation, they have been isolated. Further tests are being conducted," Narayanasamy said. At least 24 people staying at Markaz building in Nizamuddin area of the capital have tested positive for coronavirus, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said earlier today. Several COVID-19 positive cases have been found among those who attended the gathering held earlier this month. Six persons from Telangana, who attended the congregation, have died of coronavirus, Telangana Chief Minister's office (CMO) said on Monday. The Union Health Ministry had earlier informed that there are 1,251 coronavirus cases in the country and 32 persons have died due to the deadly virus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The dual pressures from COVID-19 and Decree 100 force beer manufacturers to cut 30-70 per cent of their target profits this year. Beer brewers in Vietnam will have a tough 2020 with disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic and Decree 100 Contrary to previous years, all beer brewers in Vietnam are looking at a hard time in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Decree No.100/2019/ND-CP outlining sanctions for drink-driving taking effect since early this year. Under the new rules, all drinkdrivers shall be imposed a fine of VND2-8 million ($87-348) minimum and their licenses could be revoked for 22-24 months if tests confirm alcohol content in their blood or breath. As soon as the decree came into force, well-known beer parlours and bars in Hanoi like Hai Xom and Prague Pub were submerged in silence and brewers have been forecasting a plunge in revenue. According to SSI Research, Sabeco will be hard-pressed to maintain double-digit output growth in 2020 due to Decree 100, with a forecast performance of 6-7 per cent in the whole sector instead. The COVID-19 outbreak has made the situation even worse because a string of business establishments, including restaurants, bars and karaoke venues, have been ordered to halt operations. That also means beer makers may see little revenue during this closure. As more infections are detected every day, major firms predict profits this year will plunge by 30-70 per cent. Saigon-Mien Trung Beer JSC (HSX: SMB) targets VND1.472 trillion ($64 million) in revenue, down 5 per cent on-year. Besides, its pre-tax profit is forecast to be VND156 billion ($6.78 million), equal to 60 per cent of last year. Saigon Beer Western (UPCoM: WSB) also predicts a 7 per cent fall in revenue, with expected earnings of VND967.3 billion ($42 million). Moreover, pre-tax profit will fall to VND111.9 billion ($4.87 million), equaling a 69 per cent drop on-year. Under the pressure of Decree 100 and the health crisis, Hanoi Kimbai Beer JSC (UPCoM: BHK) estimated pre-tax profit to reach VND8.6 billion ($373,910), down 31 per cent on-year. Meanwhile, Saigon-Dong Xuan Beer Alcohol (UPCoM: BSD) expects to earn about VND9.46 billion ($411,300) in profit, equalling 72 per cent of last year's performance. Giants like Sabeco (HSX: SAB) and Habeco (HSX: BHN) have yet to publish revised business plans for 2020. The latest information is that Habeco will organise a shareholders' meeting on April 28 while Sabeco announced delaying the meeting due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Accordingly, it will be held sometime before June 30. In the stock market, SAB is now traded at VND121,000 ($5.26) per share, down 45 per cent against early this year. BHN also recorded a downturn of 30.5 per cent to VND52,900 ($2.30). VIR Van Anh New regulations on drunk driving affect the beer industry The growth rate of the beer market in 2020 will be at 6-7 percent, while the two-digit growth rate is unattainable, experts predict. Photo credit: Getty Images/General Motors From Car and Driver These are tough times, but do you know what else seemed hopeless for the first many months? World War IIbecause of a lack of needed tools and equipment. Who helped turn that around? The U.S. automobile industry, by providing those tools and that equipment, and it's worth remembering how it all happened. To the list of Cadillac and Chrysler tanks, Buick airplane engines, and Ford B-24 bombers, add: Ford and GM ventilators for the coronavirus pandemic, with much more auto-industry aid to come. Trivia question: Who said this? "Never before since Jamestown and Plymouth Rock has our American civilization been in such danger as now." It was Franklin Roosevelt in his "Arsenal of Democracy" speech, delivered on December 29, 1940, to the largest radio audience ever up to that time. But it sounds like a sentence any of us could utter today. Back in 1940, Hitler's armies were rampaging across Europe, the Nazis seemingly unstoppable. A fact that often slips through the cracks of our national consciousness is the degree to which we were losing World War II desperately for roughly the first year and a half of the fighting. We had the soldiers, but we lacked the tools. Ultimately it was the automobile industry far more than any other that created the arsenal that allowed the Allies to win. Now once again we face an existential crisis, and once again our government is asking our auto industry for help. Automakers are plunging forward to build ventilators and masks in this new scenario that feels almost like science fiction. "Ford, General Motors and Tesla are being given the go ahead to make ventilators and other metal products, FAST!" President Trump said on Twitter on March 22. "Go for it auto execs, let's see how good you are?" Days later Trump was attacking General Motors, using the Defense Production Act, as a tool to press GM forward in the ventilator effort with greater speed. It was like FDR's "Arsenal of Democracy" speech recrafted by the pugilistic president. GM was "wasting time," the president said. Story continues Can the automakers pull this off? Can they do it fast enough so that their work will be useful soon? We dont know yet. However, a look in the rearview might give us some clues. Photo credit: Gordon Coster - Getty Images 50,000 Airplanes, 130,000 Engines . . . When FDR first asked private industry for help during World War II, he knew the auto industry was key. The industry had a bigger economy than every nation on earth except Britain, Germany, France, and possibly the Soviet Union. The war was shaping up to be a contest of mass production; in this newly mechanized kind of warfare, the side that could produce the most war machinery the fastest would win. FDR brought William Knudsen, GM's president and the highest-paid executive in the country outside Hollywood, to Washington to serve as production czar, with a salary of $1. At the 1941 New York auto show, Knudsen pleaded with his colleagues, the powerhouses of Motor City, in a dramatic speech in which he asked the auto industry to build 50,000 airplanes, 130,000 engines, 17,000 heavy guns, 25,000 light guns . . . Photo credit: Bettmann - Getty Images "Bombers, big bombers," Knudsen said, "are needed sooner than we dare hope to get them under present circumstances. We must build them at once! You've got to help! The first half of 1941 is crucial. Gentlemen, we must outbuild Hitler." The conversion to wartime desperately rattled the U.S. economyanother parallel to what we are seeing todayas businesses that were not able to serve the war effort largely disappeared. Business Week called this phenomenon in 1943 "the most severe contraction in the business population that we have ever experienced." Sound familiar? It took the auto industry a solid 18 months to get up and running, producing bombers and Jeeps and amphibious vehicles. Ultimately, GM became the largest military contractor on earth. GM made 119,562,000 shells, 206,000 aircraft engines, 97,000 bombers, 301,000 aircraft propellers, 198,000 diesel engines, 1,900,000 machine guns, 854,000 military trucks. Cadillac tanks, Oldsmobile bullets, Buick airplane engines. Chrysler had never made tanks; in a factory built from scratch, the Detroit Tank Arsenal, Chrysler made roughly as many tanks during the war than all the Nazi factories combined. Fordwhich became the nations third largest military contractorbuilt a production facility called Willow Run, the largest factory under one roof in the history of the world, churning out 18,482 B-24 Liberators. So many laborers worked at Willow Run, the government had to build a city from scratch"Bomber City"to give these people homes and infrastructure near the factory (rubber tires were rationed, so commuting was all but impossible). At the start of the war, the B-24 Liberator was the biggest, fastest, most destructive bomber in the American arsenal. Still today, because of Ford, the B-24 remains the U.S.'s most mass-produced military aircraft of all time. It is no exaggeration to say that the auto industry saved the world. Said Donald Nelson, head of FDR's War Production Board: "The American war production job was probably the greatest collective achievement of all time." The Big Three Were Medical Innovators Back Then, Too The story of Detroits efforts during World War II is well known today. What is not is the fact that the auto industry also has a history of innovating medical products. On November 30, 1955, GM announced that it had developed "an ingenious mechanical sterilizer" called a Centri-Filmer. The company partnered with medical researchers at the Michael Reese Research Foundation in Chicago to create this device, which spun liquid vaccines in a centrifuge into a layer 1/20th the thickness of a human hair. Ultraviolet light then blasted through the film, "killing" viruses in vaccines (making the virus unable to replicate, so vaccines could do their jobs without making people sick). Photo credit: GM via Free Library of Philadelphia In 1979, GM researchers developed a new "ostomy appliance system" consisting of a plastic pouch assembly, an elastic belt, and a soft seal ring. The system aimed to make colostomy bags easier to wear and maintain. The medical feat for which GM is most-known is nothing less than the first mechanical heart. The story begins in the 1940s, when a cardiologist at Detroit's Harper Hospital named Forest D. Dodrill had an idea. At the time, heart surgery was largely palliative because the heart had to function during the operation. Dr. Dodrill had the idea of creating a machine that could pump blood like an engine pumps fuel, so blood could circulate while surgeons worked on the heart. He turned to GM to design the thing (GM's president, Charles E. Wilson, was at the time chairman of the board of the Michigan Heart Association). A team of GM engineers went to work under the leadership of one Edward V. Rippingille Sr. "We have pumped oil, gasoline, water and other fluids one way or another in our business," Rippingille figured. "It seems only logical we should try to pump blood." A Heart Pump Built Like a V-12 On July 3, 1952, Dr. Dodrill and a team of surgeons operated on the heart of 41-year old Henry Opitek at Harper Hospital while a machine that resembled a V-12 engine (it had six pumps on each of its two banks) pumped Opitek's blood through his body. As the New York Times put it in a 2018 article, "Detroit muscle powered a heart and gave Henry Opitek another 29 years of life." Photo credit: General Motors Both Ford and GM have history innovating health-care systems. Henry Ford saw in the early years of his company that the massive movement of people to the Detroit area to work in his factory was going to require healthcare infrastructure, and so in 1915the heyday of the Model THenry Ford Hospital opened to the public. Today the Henry Ford Health System employs over 1200 physicians. In the 1940s, Alfred Sloan (the longtime chief of GM, often called the father of the modern corporation) and Charles Kettering (head of research at GM for decades) joined forces to create the Sloan-Kettering Institute, a biomedical research unit which today is known as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In 1941, the Ford Motor Company's engineers innovated a movable, affordable infant incubator that aimed to reduce infant deaths in hospitals. Seven years later, engineers at Ford's Rouge factory developed a new iron lung to aid polio victims during a terrifying epidemic. And History Repeats Itself Now today, the auto industry is going to work to build ventilators, respiratory masks, and who knows yet what else. On March 24, Ford CEO Jim Hackett told CBS News that his company is designing two to three versions of breathing apparatuses for front-line medical workers, but also, "hundreds of thousands of the simplest [masks] will be started to be produced in the next week or so." One challenge that engineers did not face during their heroic work of World War II is how to put workers on assembly lines without putting a lot of people in one place and thus creating potentially hazardous virus-spreading conditions. "A factory is all about working together on a line," Hackett said. "So the way these teams are designing the production of this [ventilator] is building subassemblies in smaller groups and having them come together to be assembled." As it was in wartime, the future today is a question mark. How long will this new plague stick around? Will it come back next flu season? One thing is for sure, however: the U.S. auto industry can help. Said Hackett: "We are ready to go." And, as in World War II, time is of the essence and lives hang in the balance. You Might Also Like India's women seaweed divers swim against the tide of climate change by Anuradha Nagaraj March 31,2020 | Source: Reuters In a blue plastic barrel, Meenakshi Mookupori packed her belongings for a five-day stay on an island in the Indian Ocean, off the Coromandal coast of south India. Besides her clothes, toothbrush and soap, she included her diving gear - a worn-out pair of black socks, a locally made pair of goggles, cheap plastic slippers, cloth gloves, a round metallic plate with straps - and pain killers. Mookupori, 56, is one of nearly 2,000 women in Tamil Nadu state who dive to collect seaweed used in making agar, a gelatinous substance that becomes a thickener in food and medicines. I started accompanying my mother and grandmother to sea when I was eight or 10, she said, as she helped load cans of drinking water onto the boat. Those days, the seaweed collection was huge. We would bring back bags full. Now the quantity has reduced. The number of days we harvest the seaweed has also reduced. The sea has changed and we also had to. Rising sea levels, hotter temperatures and stronger currents along this coast - considered one of the best for commercial seaweed cultivation - are some of the changes Mookupori is seeing. Scientists say they are caused by climate change. With the rise in sea temperature and salinity, seaweed growth has declined in the last decade, said K. Eswaran, a scientist who heads the field research unit of the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute in Ramanathapuram district. Women who harvest seaweed have definitely been impacted, with their incomes coming down by at least 20%, he said. Mookupori grew up watching her mother leave home before dawn, board a boat and go to work harvesting in the Gulf of Mannar. The shallow bay with a 365-kilometre (225-miles) coastline is known for its coral reefs and is home to endangered species such as dugongs, a marine mammal related to the manatee. In 1986, the region was declared a national biodiversity park under Indias Wildlife Protection Act and collecting natural resource there was prohibited. A Tamil Nadu government report noted at the time that the major environmental threat to the gulf region was quarrying of coral for production of calcium carbide and lime. But creation of the marine park meant restrictions on accessing the bays 21 uninhabited islands to fish - or to collect seaweed - for 125 local villages. It was like they were declared thieves in their own backyard, said Venugopal, the program head for the non-profit International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) Trust. The national park excluded them from that space, making it challenging for the women to earn a livelihood, instead of giving them rights to the sea and including them in the conservation program. However, with few other options to earn a living, the gulfs seaweed collectors have continued to illegally ply their trade. Raniamma, 50, one of the harvesters who works with Mookupori, said she always keeps an eye out for anti-poaching officials when she and other seaweed harvesters sail to the islands for a harvest. Being caught there can carry a fine. But if we dont camp on the island, we are unable to collect enough seaweed to sell, she said, rolling up her sari and slipping into leggings and socks held up by rubber bands. For each five kilograms of wet seaweed she collects, Raniamma earns 75 Indian rupees (about $1). Once the seaweed is dried and cleaned, it is sold by traders for 400 rupees ($5) per five kilos to domestic industry buyers. We only take what we need from the sea, which is seaweed, Raniamma said. The anti-poaching officers dont understand. We live off the sea and we are also its guardians. What we see down there is precious and we know it, she said. The women of Bharathinagar in Ramanathapuram district, who have waded into the waters of Indias southeast coast for decades, possess a wealth of knowledge about the gulf waters. Now 60-year-old Mariamma Masanam, her fingers gnarled after years of harvests, can see conditions shifting. We feel the changes. The waters are rougher and we have to spend longer hours underwater to fill our bags. We are also traveling farther from the coast then we did earlier, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Ramanathapuram district wildlife warden A.S. Marimuthu has also seen the changes, and said he was looking for ways to collaborate with the women. They have never been a big problem for us but we hope they will play a bigger role in managing the marine reserve with us. Under a United Nations Development Program initiative, for instance, eco-development committees have been set-up in fishing villages, with women educated on conservation and given training for alternative careers to reduce their dependence on the sea. For now, to deal with the changing conditions and protect their seaweed beds, the women have cut the numbers of days they harvest and discarded the metal scrapers they once used, now gathering the seaweed with their hands instead. To counter charges of over-harvesting, they ply their trade only about 12 days a month and ensure they rotate between islands. None of them harvest between April and June, the main breeding season for fish. But their biggest push to protect the ecosystem and their livelihoods has been to begin cultivating - as well as harvesting - seaweed. In additional to wild harvesting, the women now grow seaweed on bamboo rafts, as part of an effort promoted by the Tamil Nadu government. But set-up costs are significant and harvests unpredictable, the women say. Still, there are more than 600 women who have shifted to cultivating seaweed and that has helped the ecosystem tremendously, said Eswaran. Growing seaweed also has helped the women get a harvest in summer months when wild harvesting is harder as higher temperatures and disease outbreaks cut seaweed growth, he said. Mookupori and Raniamma, however, consider themselves likely to be the last generation of seaweed harvesters along this cost. All of the six women on the boat with Mookupori are over 50, with deeply tanned skin, greying hair and wrinkled faces. The women talk about the harsh conditions of the sea, the rising tides and the great physical strength required to hold ones breath and go down to the depths. But with every passing year, yields are falling and fines for wild harvesting increasing, they said, making their work an unattractive job option for their children. Our children would never do this, Mookupori said. In fact, sometimes we take them to the islands just for a picnic and show them a little of what we do. But when we stop diving, there will be no one else. Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha on Tuesday paid tribute to the 'Tragedy Queen' of Hindi cinema, Meena Kumari on the occasion of her 47th death anniversary. The 74-year-old actor took to Twitter and praised the late star for her "unique voice and style of dialogue delivery." "Homages, tributes & prayers for a beautiful, graceful actress, poetess #MeenaKumari, on her death anniversary. She was popularly known as the Tragedy Queen of the Hindi cinema. She had a unique voice & style of dialogue delivery which made her so special," the 'Naseeb' actor tweeted. Listing down several of the Meena's movies, including 'Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam', 'Baiju Bawra', 'Pakeezah', 'Kohinoor' and the cult film 'Mere Apne', Sinha expressed that he and late actor Vinod Khanna "were fortunate to have acted & learned from her." "She has left behind an extensive body of work of immortal films for us to cherish for a lifetime," Sinha concluded. Meena Kumari had bagged four Filmfare awards for the best female actor over her boasting career during the 1950s and 1960s. She had played an impressive array of roles, having more than 92 films under her belt. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NANJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec), China's largest oil refiner, has built a new meltblown non-woven fabric production line in eastern China's Jiangsu Province, which will boost the raw material supply to face mask producers. Face masks have become a daily necessity in people's self-protection against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. As the essential material to make masks, the non-woven fabric is the filtering layer in the middle part of the mask to absorb dust, bacteria and pollen. Sinopec Yizheng Chemical Fibre Limited Liability Co. in Jiangsu put its first meltblown cloth production line into operation Sunday night. It is designed to have a daily output of 1 tonne of the fabric, which is enough for producing over 1 million medical masks. The chemical firm has planned to build 12 such production lines. Once in full operation by end of May, they can ensure the supplies to produce 18 million medical masks a day. Sinopec is the upstream producer of the polypropylene raw materials in the industrial mask chain. Faced with the market shortage of masks and rising prices, the company has invested 300 million yuan (42 million U.S. dollars) to build the production facilities in its subsidiary of Sinopec Beijing Yanshan Petrochemical Co., Ltd. in Beijing and Sinopec Yizheng Chemical Fibre in Jiangsu. Wan Tao, secretary of the Party committee of Sinopec Yizheng Chemical Fiber, said it took 35 days for the company to design, build and install the production line from scratch before putting it into production, 18 days ahead of the original plan. Sure, Congress may be experiencing its least popular decade ever , and, yes, they've passed significantly fewer bills than we typically expect from a healthy Congress, but that shouldn't distract from the Legislative Branch's incredible legacy over the last 250 years or so. When they overcome partisan biases and work together, they can establish some exceptionally trivial and nonsensical rules like... 5 On The Floor, There's Only Milk And Candy...In The Senate Restaurant, There's Endless Bean Soup The year is 1966. Illinois senator Everett Dirksen engages in debate over labor laws but soon realizes something dark. Something terrible. Despite ready access to water, Dirksen remains a thirsty little bitch, and he realizes "water becomes pretty thin after a period of time." Dirksen musters every last ounce of his waning strength to ask, "Is it in violation of the Senate rules if the Senator for Illinois asks one of the page boys to go to the restaurant and bring him a glass of milk?" According to the history books, the officer in charge then checked the official Senate Handbook and determined, no, nobody gives a shit if you drink milk, Everett. So Dirksen grabbed a fresh glass of milk and the Senate at large took the time to write down that: Senate rules do not prohibit a senator from sipping milk during his speech. You still can't drink soda or whiskey on the Senate floor, but no senator shall be deprived of his God-given right to cow-juice--so help us God. This is just the sort of stuff Congress was most concerned with during the Civil Rights Era as just one year prior, in 1965, California senator George Murphy began keeping a shit-ton of candy in his desk drawer to share with other bored lawmakers. The practice stuck, and to this day there is a designated "Candy Drawer." Who runs it changes often, but the drawer reached its nadir during Rick Santorum's 1999 run during Bill Clinton's impeachment when there were nothing but Peppermint Patties. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (C) votes with other representatives about the government's bill on the protection against the new coronavirus COVID-19 at the plenary session of the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest, Hungary on March 30, 2020. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been granted the right to rule by decree for an indefinite period of time, and these new sweeping powers are raising concerns in Europe. The Hungarian parliament approved a bill Monday that allows Orban to rule the country by decree, meaning that he does not need to consult with other lawmakers to make decisions. The legislation, which came into force Tuesday, has been justified as an emergency response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the bill criminalizes any attempts to stop the Hungarian government fighting the outbreak, including the spreading of false information, which could be punishable with a prison sentence of up to five years. "The Hungarian government's primary concern during the coronavirus pandemic is the protection of human lives," a spokesperson for the Hungarian government told CNBC via email Tuesday. However, the bill has sparked criticism elsewhere in Europe. "Covid-19 requires adequate responses. But they must not endanger rule of law, disempower democratic institutions or put fundamental rights at risk. We need to overcome this together, not rule through decrees," Michael Roth, Germany's minister for European affairs, said Monday. Orban has been in the spotlight over recent years for his government's increasing oversight of the judiciary, media and foreign universities. The Mathura administration has put under observation 51 people, many of whom had attended a religious congregation of the Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi's Nizamuddin earlier this month, a top official said on Tuesday. Soon after the Telangana government on Monday said six people who attended the congregation between March 13 and 15 died of coronavirus, the district administration swung into action, tracing all 30 people who attended the event to Oal village, said DM Sarvagya Ram Mishra. All 30 people have been kept at a railway quarantine facility in Mathura, said Mishra, adding that their samples are being collected for tests. The samples will be sent to the medical college and hospital at Aligarh Muslim University, he said. He said a report from the local intelligence unit had revealed that 30 people from the Oal village in the district had attended the Delhi congregation. He said 21 other people have been put under home isolation and medical teams will monitor their health daily. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 SIOUX FALLS |South Dakota lawmakers met into early Tuesday morning to pass temporary emergency measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but rejected key bills that would have given Gov. Kristi Noem's administration the ability to shut down businesses. Legislators postponed local elections from mid-April until June and waived state requirements on schools due to the coronavirus, but declined the Republican governor's request that the state health secretary and county officials be granted the power to close businesses. Several lawmakers said it should be the governor who orders such closures in an emergency. Noem has faced criticism from the state's largest group of doctors for not already doing so, although she has said it's not clear in state law she has the power. She has so far only encouraged cities to enforce business restrictions as they see fit. That has made vocal critics of the mayors of South Dakota's largest cities. Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken told lawmakers that mayors have been hamstrung by the lack of a statewide mandate from Noem. In an unprecedented move, legislators used conference calls to remotely convene and vote. Even as the Legislature met, the deteriorating condition of one of their colleagues underscored the gravity of the crisis. Rep. Bob Glanzer, a Huron Republican, was hospitalized in critical condition Monday with the virus. Several bills passed unanimously, while conservative lawmakers amended several others to limit the powers they gave the governor during the crisis, including making sure she can't halt the purchase of firearms or delay the June 2 primary election any further if she deemed it necessary. Health officials said Monday the state has 101 confirmed cases of COVID-19, more than doubling the number of cases since Thursday. So far, 34 people in South Dakota have recovered; one has died. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are among those particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia. All the bills that passed received the two-thirds majority vote needed to be put into effect immediately if the governor gives final approval. They are all temporary, expiring at various points this year. A man and his child walk on a deserted street in Old Delhi on Friday, March 27, 2020. A whole clutch of coronavirus positive cases are being traced to a religious event that took place in the Nizamuddin area of Delhi earlier this month. (DC Photo: Pritam Bandyopadhyay) Hyderabad: The toll owing to the coronavirus Covid-19 in Telangana took a grim turn for the worse, with the state government announcing late Monday night that six persons have died from the infection at different hospitals in the city since Saturday. A news release from the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) said all six patients, identified as Covid-19 positive, had attended a Markaz at a mosque in the Nizamuddin area of Old City of Delhi between March 13 and 15. The CMO said two of these six patients died at Gandhi Hospital, one at Apollo Hospital, one at Global Hospital, one at Nizamabad and the sixth in Gadwal town. Special teams were urgently pressed into action to isolate the families of the six victims and any possible contact the deceased patients might have had. All these contacts were being shifted to hospitals to be kept under isolation and then tested for the disease. The health department also issued an urgent appeal to anyone who has any information on people who visited the event in Nizamuddin, or on those who were in contact with these individuals, to immediately inform the nearest health department or other government office so these persons can be identified, isolated and tested for the disease, and if need be, provided immediate treatment. The department further said that it is understood that everyone who attended Markaz is believed to have contracted the disease. It is the public duty of everyone who attended the event to immediately report to the health department, which will provide free testing and treatment. The possibility of the religious event at Markaz organized by Tablighi Jamaat as a hub for coronavirus transmission within the country, first came to light when 10 Indonesian preachers who came to Karimnagar after attending the event, earlier this month, tested positive for the disease. Subsequently, one contact person of the preachers tested positive and on Monday, this persons mother and sister too were tested positive. His entire family was shifted to Gandhi Hospital to be kept under observation and treatment. It is learnt that the Central government health officials were in contact with state health department seeking details on how the state went about identifying contacts of the 10 Indonesians as well as the six others who have died from the disease. Meanwhile, in New Delhi, authorities locked down portions of the Nizamuddin area and cordoned off those locations, including the mosque where the Markaz was held and shifted a few hundred people for testing for the disease. 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 A millionaire is looking to give one out-of-work Australian a job as his virtual personal assistant, who will get paid $52,000 a year to work entirely from home. Matthew Lepre, who is the founder of Ecom Warrior Academy, was saddened to hear that one million Australians are jobless since the coronavirus pandemic hit our shores, and wanted to help in his own way. 'I grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney relying on meal drops from the Salvation Army as my single mother couldn't afford groceries, so I can unfortunately relate to the hard times people are currently facing,' the 27-year-old told FEMAIL. 'The least I can do is give a job to someone who may be out of work at the moment and wanting to work from home.' Matthew Lepre is looking to give one out-of-work Australian a job as his virtual personal assistant, paying them $52,000 a year to work entirely from home Matthew Lepre, who is the founder of Ecom Warrior Academy , was saddened to hear that one million Australians are jobless since the coronavirus pandemic hit our shores What is required to do the job? * Confident taking phone calls * Ability to write detailed blog posts * Work with Excel and Word easily * Write and distribute emails * Help service the students who are signed up to Mr Lepre's mentorship program Advertisement The employee will need to have their own computer, access to the internet and be able to work from Monday to Friday, but they won't be required to leave the comfort of their lounge room. 'While I'm based in Australia, with thanks to technology, most people can work from anywhere these days,' he said. 'The type of tasks would include taking phone calls, writing blog posts, working with Excel and Word, writing and distributing emails and helping to service our students even more than ever during these trying times.' 'While I'm based in Australia, with thanks to technology, most people can work from anywhere these days,' he said Currently basing himself in a beachside apartment on the Gold Coast, Mr Lepre wants to show workers that they can find flexibility and escape the daily grind of a nine to five Currently basing himself in a beachside apartment on the Gold Coast, Mr Lepre wants to show workers that they can find flexibility and escape the daily grind of a nine to five. Earlier this year Mr Lepre put out a similar call for a global personal assistant, who would be given $52,000 (base rate) a year with luxury travel on the cards. The entrepreneur, who makes $120,000 a month from four successful e-commerce stores, sifted through 70,000 applications before hiring former fashion student Tyanna De Assis. Former fashion student Tyanna De Assis, who is based in Sydney, was selected to be Mr Lepre's personal assistant in September last year 'It's crazy. I am still in shock and wonder how they even came past my CV,' Ms De Assis told News.com.au at the time Tyanna (pictured) was chosen for the role after Mr Lepre considered 70,000 applications 'It's crazy. I am still in shock and wonder how they even came past my CV,' Ms De Assis told News.com.au in October 2019. She applied for the job by sending her resume and cover letter across in an email, writing 'Most entertaining PA you will ever have' in the subject line. Naturally it caught Mr Lepre's attention and he decided to offer her a phone interview, before cementing her position in his company in September. 'Tyanna has experience working for CEOs and directors and is knowledgeable about social media,' Mr Lepre said Tyanna has spent much of her life working in public relations and as an office manager, so is used to penciling in appointments and speaking to clients across continents 'Tyanna has experience working for CEOs and directors and is knowledgeable about social media. She is a perfectionist which is perfect for this role and is detail and task-oriented,' Mr Lepre said of his new assistant. She has spent much of her life working in public relations and as an office manager, so is used to penciling in appointments and speaking to clients across continents. Being the same age as her boss also makes communication easier. 'The bonus is we don't get sick of each other - sometimes we have to sit together for nine hours straight - we're both scatter brains, we jump from one thing to the next, but it works because I am very OCD and I make sure I get everything down,' she told the publication. The businessman is proof that taking risks can pay off; at 23 he dropped out of uni because he wanted to make it on his own Mr Lepre is an e-commerce mastermind - who makes a cool $120,000 a month - and he says business couldn't be better The businessman is proof that taking risks can pay off; at 23 he dropped out of uni because he wanted to make it on his own. Mr Lepre is at the top of his game because of his incredible work ethic. 'I do a lot of work every day but I operate on a philosophy of work hard, play harder,' he said. You can learn more about Matthew Lepre's work by visiting his website or sign up to be his virtual assistant here. Huami has announced a warranty extension in India till May 31 amid coronavirus lockdown in the country. The company is trying to make a significant contribution during this severe crisis to provide utmost ease to the customers. Earlier this week, the company announced a dedicated WhatsApp support (+91-85954 38550) helpline for government authorities in need of hygiene supply & high-quality masks. The company also donated N-95 masks to major hospitals like AIIMs, Manipal Hospital Dwarka, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, New Delhi and Honorable MP Dr Mahesh Sharma, in Noida for helping people fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Amazfit during this challenging crisis is trying to offer a seamless experience to its customer base in India. Speaking about this multiple announcement CP Khandelwal, CEO PR innovations (Managing India Business Amazfit) said, Amazfit recently faced a tough time due to the COVID-19 outbreak in China and completely understand the current situation in India. During this crisis, the company is trying its best to contribute and present the utmost support to India. They value their customers across the globe, and the Indian market has been one of the best-performing markets for Amazfit. The company wants to extend a smooth service and constant support to the customers in India. Hence, they decided to extend the warranty for their products in India till May 31. The company started to pick and drop service for its smartwatch repair across Pan India early this year to render consistent service to its customers. The company is also lined up with major product launches in India starting with CES 2020 major highlights, Amazfit TREX & Indias first fitness earbuds, Amazfit PowerBuds. The Amazfit T-Rex has passed 12 regulations of military standard (MIL-STD-810). The smartwatch is scheduled to launch in India by the end of April 2020, followed by the most awaited category announcement by Amazfit in India, PowerBuds, which comes with precise heart rate monitoring during exercise and ENC dual-microphone noise reduction technology. Yhombi-Opango, who was ill before contracting the virus, has died in a Paris hospital, according to his family. Jacques Joaquim Yhombi-Opango, former president of the Republic of the Congo, has died after contracting coronavirus, his family said. Yhombi-Opango died in a Paris hospital on Monday. He was 81. Yhombi-Opango was ill before he contracted the virus, his son told AFP news agency. He led Congo-Brazzaville from 1977 until he was toppled in 1979, being ousted by the countrys current leader, Denis Sassou Nguesso. Born in 1939 in the countrys northern Cuvette region, Yhombi-Opango was an army officer who rose to power after the assassination of president Marien Ngouabi. The troubled oil-rich former French colony was aligned with the Soviet Union during Ngouabis 1968-1977 rule. Accused of taking part in a coup plot against Sassou Nguesso, Yhombi-Opango was jailed from 1987 to 1990. He was released a few months before a 1991 national conference that introduced multi-party politics in the central African country. He founded the Rally for Democracy and Development party but lost in a 1992 presidential election. Yhombi-Opango later allied with elected president Pascal Lissouba, becoming his prime minister between 1994 and 1996. When civil war broke out in Congo in 1997, Yhombi-Opango fled into exile in France. He was finally able to return home in 2007, but then divided his time between France and Congo because of his health problems. WPP, the world's largest advertising group, pulled its dividend and share buyback and withdrew guidance for 2020 on Tuesday, after clients cancelled marketing booked with the company due to the coronavirus crisis. "The actions we have taken in the last 18 months to streamline and simplify WPP, together with raising 3.2 billion ($3.97 billion) in asset disposals, have put WPP in a strong financial position," CEO Mark Read said in a statement. Read told CNBC the company is "very cautious" about the impact of the coronavirus on its clients' budgets. "We are taking actions to reduce and look at our costs. And I think that there will no doubt be tougher decisions ahead, during the course of the year," Read told CNBC by phone on Monday. The ad industry is bracing itself as marketing budgets are often cut during downturns, with one analyst suggesting $26 billion could be lost in the U.S. alone. Rival ad group Publicis said earlier this month that it would "rigorously manage operating costs," while last week IPG also withdrew its financial performance targets for the full year 2020. Along with pulling its dividend, share buyback and guidance, WPP said on Tuesday it had launched a review of its costs to protect profitability. "We are very cautious about the impact on marketing budgets, but at the same time I do believe that when we come out of the other side, the things that WPP can do will be in even greater demand by our clients," Read told CNBC. WPP's businesses include media-buying companies MediaCom and Wavemaker, and creative agencies Ogilvy and VMLY&R and the group works for clients including Mondelez, Duracell and eBay. "Clearly, marketing budgets are going to come under pressure and increasing pressure during the year and we don't know yet at what point we're going to come out the other side," Read told CNBC. Short term, some businesses still need to communicate with customers, Read added. "Clearly, those industries that are most heavily impacted in the short term airlines, travel and tourism are clearly looking at their (marketing) budgets. Other parts of the economy, retail and packaged goods, understand the value of long-term brand building and continue to engage with consumers." "We have a solid roster of clients in the packaged goods, technology areas, media areas. Those clients I'd say are more re-planning their budgets to make sure they're in the most effective channels. But clearly, there are other parts of our business, other sectors that are more affected." Cargo is unloaded from an American Airlines flight that traveled from Beijing to Los Angeles International airport in November 2018. American, Delta and United, among other airlines, are flying cargo-only flights to help make up for the loss of passenger demand. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) The coronavirus outbreak has pushed the airline industry into strange territory. For American Airlines, that means for the first time in 36 years flying two cargo-only flights from the U.S. to Germany. The two round-trip flights earlier this month of a Boeing 777-300 from Fort Worth to Frankfurt were a sign of desperate times for an industry that has seen passenger demand drop by up to 90% on some routes since the crisis began. American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, isn't the only airline trying to find new revenue streams. Other major operators, including Delta and United, have launched new cargo-only service while dramatically cutting domestic and international passenger flights. Challenging times call for creative solutions, and a team of people across the airline has been working nonstop to arrange cargo-only flight options for our customers, Rick Elieson, president of cargo for American Airlines, said in a statement. Southwest Airlines, the nation's largest low-cost carrier, announced Tuesday that it is offering cargo-only flights for the first time in the company's nearly 50-year history, although the airline has yet to launch specific routes. "Were facing one of the most unprecedented times in our industry and its up to us to create new and innovative ways to continue serving our customers, including those who are moving cargo throughout the United States," the Dallas-based carrier said in an online post Tuesday. The cargo push isn't limited to U.S. airlines. Scandinavian Airlines, known as SAS, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates-based Etihad Airways said they are expanding their cargo operations using passenger planes in response to the steep drop in air travel demand. Since March 13, Korean Air has been flying A330-300 passenger planes with cargo only up to five times a week between locations in South Korea, Vietnam and China. Korean Air has converted passenger jets into cargo-only flights. (Korean Air) The addition of such cargo-only flights several times a week isn't enough to make up for the devastating drop in passenger demand that has sent the industry reeling. Story continues A recovery could take up to seven months, with passenger revenue dropping more than 40% and costing the world's carriers $252 billion in losses in 2020, according to a forecast by the International Air Transport Assn., a trade group for the world's airlines. Still, converting some passenger flights to cargo only makes sense, especially because many airlines are continuing to pay the salaries of some of their pilots and fuel prices have dropped significantly in the past month, according to industry experts. "They are trying to be creative and make the best of a bad situation," said Seth Kaplan, an aviation analyst and host of an airline-themed podcast. The $2.2-trillion coronavirus relief package signed into law last week requires that airlines that want to tap into more than $50 billion of it keep paying employees salaries and maintain service to all destinations served as of March 1 "to the extent reasonable and practicable," according to the legislation. But demand for air travel has dropped so dramatically that some airline executives are now considering appealing to the U.S. Department of Transportation to allow the carriers to consolidate their flights so that they aren't required to fly planes carrying only a handful of passengers, according to a report by CNBC. Before the coronavirus outbreak, traditional U.S. airlines generated less than 5% of their overall revenue from transporting cargo in the belly of their planes. Most of an airlines' revenue has come from air fares and charges for services such as checking luggage or providing food and drinks. When passenger demand plummeted over the last month, airlines cut capacity up to 90% on international routes and more than 50% on domestic routes. That created a shortage of passenger planes carrying cargo in the hold. On Monday, Delta Air Lines said it restarted regularly scheduled flights from China with cargo-only flights between Shanghai and Detroit, carrying 49 tons of medical supplies. Operating regularly scheduled cargo flights means suppliers in China can get these supplies to hospitals and healthcare facilities across the U.S. within hours, not the days or weeks it would take via cargo ship, Shawn Cole, vice president of Delta cargo, said in a statement. In the previous week, Delta flew several cargo-only flights, including a flight from Dublin, Ireland, to Atlanta, carrying more than 32,000 pounds of pharmaceutical supplies in a widebody Airbus A350. Delta also flew cargo-only flights between Chicago and Amsterdam and between Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia. United Airlines said that it launched a minimum of 40 weekly cargo-only flights last week, including flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Hong Kong, London and Shanghai as well as flights from Chicago, Newark, N.J., and Houston to Amsterdam, London, Germany, Hong Kong and Shanghai. The planes carried freight and mail, among other cargo. On Saturday, United flew a cargo-only B777-300 charter flight to transport nearly 100,000 pounds of food to U.S. troops in Guam. "They are trying to make lemonade, as the saying goes," Kaplan said of U.S. carriers. Isaac Wright Jr., whose real life inspired the ABC legal drama "For Life," started practicing law while in prison for a crime he did not commit. (Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times) Since it premiered in February, millions of viewers have checked out "For Life," ABC's drama about a wrongfully accused man who receives a life sentence and becomes a lawyer while incarcerated, fighting in court for his fellow inmates while also trying to clear his name. Many were likely drawn by the show's connection to Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, who is one of the executive producers. But for one of those viewers, "For Life" has been an emotional journey, both life-changing and healing. He is Isaac Wright Jr., the series' real-life inspiration. "It's obviously an incredible feeling to come from where I started to where I am right now," Wright, who works as an attorney in New Jersey, said in a recent phone interview. "Having this show has been a very enlightening and therapeutic process. It allows me to watch what I went through in the third person. That has helped me a lot because I never really had a lot of time to process my experience. I was spending all my time fighting it. It's been a real roller coaster. " "For Life" stars Nicholas Pinnock ("Counterpart") as Aaron Wallace, a nightclub owner who is sentenced to life in prison after being wrongfully accused of being a drug kingpin. Determined to overturn his conviction, he fights and eventually gets a license to practice law. He also becomes an advocate for other inmates in their legal battles. The series takes several departures from Wright's true story, including the premise that he was a lawyer while in prison. In fact, he was a paralegal with the prison paralegal organization the Inmate Legal Assn. In that capacity, he represented prisoners on infractions committed within the prison yards and also prepared supplemental legal briefs on the appeals of their criminal cases. Wright was a music producer in 1989 when he was charged with running a cocaine trafficking network in New Jersey. Studying law while in his cell, Wright represented himself at trial and, after his conviction in 1991, on appeal. He ultimately prevailed and was released in 1996, with the convictions ultimately vacated and the case finally dismissed. Story continues Wright went on to pursue a law degree, passing the New Jersey bar exam in 2008. But he met another obstacle when the bar's Committee on Character held up his bar admission for nine years while they investigated him. He was finally admitted to the bar in 2017. Executive producer Hank Steinberg, who created "For Life," was immediately intrigued when he first heard about Wright from Jackson and fellow executive producers Allison Greenspan and Doug Robinson, but knew he would have to change and condense the true narrative for dramatic purposes. He was determined to maintain the essence of Wright's story. "It's David against Goliath, for starters," Steinberg, whose prior credits include HBO's Mickey Mantle/Roger Maris docudrama "61*," FX's "RFK" and the series "Without A Trace," said in a phone interview. "His fortitude, determination, savvy and smarts to survive all those years in prison, his will and grit, is a great story. It's a personal tale where we can also show the flaws in the justice system and try to bring about change." Having Wright as an executive producer and consultant was essential, he said: "I've had a beautiful relationship and dynamic with Isaac. He's incredibly nimble and limber in helping us capture the spirit of his story," The British-born Pinnock was equally impressed when he met Wright at the first table read for the project. "I was completely overwhelmed by his case," said the actor. "I saw him across the room and we kind of waved at each other. Then I dragged him away into this other room and just kept asking him things. After that, I felt like there were some things that we needed to add." Pinnock's challenge, he said, was capturing the many complexities of Wright's dilemma and narrowing the elements down into a single persona. "There's really five different versions of Isaac," he said. "There's the prisoner. There's the prisoner representative in the legal cases. There's the lawyer in court. There's the family man. And then there's the character that we see in flashback before all the trouble started. I wanted them to have their own unique voice but yet be recognizable in a single person." Wright said that although there are clear differences between him and his fictional counterpart, he is still moved by Pinnock's interpretation. "I look at Aaron's struggle and see my own struggle," he said. "I'm speaking for everyone who has ever been incarcerated, especially those who are innocent or have been overly charged." Nicholas Pinnock as Aaron Wallace, the character based on Isaac Wright Jr., in ABC's "For Life." (Eric Liebowitz / ABC) The connection between the two men was so strong that Wright found himself caught off-guard by Pinnock's portrayal. "There were things going on inside of me that I didn't display, but Nicholas found without it being over the top," he said. "I couldn't always show the emotion that was going [on]. What people can't see, they can't understand." Another key difference is the family story in "For Life," which is also a key element of the series. Aaron still has a loving relationship with his estranged wife, Marie (Joy Bryant), a nurse who was less than pleased when Aaron, clinging to his innocence, rejected the plea deal that would have lessened his jail time. She has asked for a divorce and has become romantically involved with Darius (Brandon J. Dirden), Aaron's best friend. Further complicating the situation is Jasmine (Tyla Harris), Aaron and Marie's teen daughter, who announces she is pregnant. The distraught Jasmine keeps telling her father that he must find a way to be part of his grandchild's life. Wright said he did have an estranged wife and daughter during his imprisonment, but that his relationship with his former spouse was "much, much worse" than the dynamic in "For Life." Although he realizes that the series' primary mission is to entertain, he is excited that it has also had real-life impact. "It has given me a brighter outlook [on] the justice system," Wright said. "I know the air of hopelessness and what people in prison go through. I think the show is a real catalyst for change in the system." For Life Where: ABC When: 10 p.m. Tuesday Rating: TV-14-DLV (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 14 with advisories for suggestive dialogue, coarse language and violence) Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says it is illegal to deploy soldiers during the lockdown over coronavirus. In a national broadc... Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says it is illegal to deploy soldiers during the lockdown over coronavirus. In a national broadcast on Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered a lockdown of Ogun, Abuja and Lagos from 11pm on Monday. But Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, said he succeeded in convincing Buhari to extend that of his state till Friday to enable food supply. There had been criticisms over Buharis decision to restrict movement in those areas because, according to some lawyers, there was no legal backing. But the president later signed quarantine regulations on lockdown. Femi Adesina, his spokesman, said the regulations, effective March 30, 2020, gave legal backing to the various measures outlined in the Presidents National Broadcast on March 29, 2020, such as Restriction/Cessation of Movement in Lagos, FCT and Ogun State and others toward containing the spread of the pandemic in the country. In a statement, Falana said while the president has the powers to adopt any measures to tackle COVID-19 pandemic, the plan to deploy troops should be reconsidered. Following the national broadcast of President Buhari on the COVID-19 pandemic, some lawyers have questioned the constitutional validity of the restriction of locomotion of people in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states. No doubt, the President is empowered to adopt any measures deemed fit to combat the dangerous disease but such measures have to be spelt out in a Regulation made pursuant to section 305 of the Constitution or under the Quarantine Act. Otherwise the presidential order on restriction of movement in the affected areas cannot be enforced by the police, he said. However, while the nations armed forces should be commended for making their medical facilities available to members of the public in the fight against the highly dangerous virus the plan to dispatch armed soldiers to the streets to enforce the COVID-19 guidelines should be shelved because it is illegal. For the umpteenth time, I am compelled to draw the attention of the military authorities to the case of Yussuf v Obasanjo (2005) 18 NWLR (Pt ) where Salami JCA (as he then was) held that It is up to the police to protect our nascent democracy and not the military, otherwise the democracy might be wittingly or unwittingly militarized. This is not what the citizenry bargained for in wrestling power from the military in 1999. Conscious steps should be taken to civilianise the polity and thereby ensure the survival of and sustenance of democracy. Falana advised the military to focus more on the war against insurgency in the north-east while the police and allied security agencies should be allowed to enforce the COVID-19 regulations and guidelines. As a full-fledged coronavirus outbreak at the Harris County jail becomes increasingly likely, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced she would be putting in an order for the release of some inmates. Officials have been struggling for more than a week to come up with a joint plan to release as many people from the country's third largest lockup as possible, focusing on inmates accused of nonviolent offenses. "We are not releasing anybody with a violent history," Hidalgo said at an afternoon press conference announcing the planned order, which has not yet been signed. She said she was taking the action to stay ahead of a public health catastrophe. She stressed that only people with no violent history would be included, and that there would be electronic monitoring and other measures taken to keep track of those released. "The problem is we're still at a population of almost 8,000," she said. "Imagine them needing beds and ventilators." The key players--Hidalgo, state District Judge Herb Ritchie and Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal -- have been hamstrung by restrictions issued Sunday by Gov. Greg Abbott, who prohibited the release of anyone accused or convicted of a violent crime. A representative from Abbott's Attorney General's office indicated at a federal court hearing on Sunday that his office would appeal any blanket releases of inmates, including an order calling for the release of just inmates accused of nonviolent offenses. And Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg told some of the parties that she doesn't want anyone facing a temporary restraining order released, even if the person is facing nonviolent charges. For weeks, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez has been calling for compassionate releases of a limited set of people -- elderly and medically compromised people accused of nonviolent offenses. Hidalgo has said she would extend the list to include both compassionate releases and some people accused of non-violent offenses. It's not clear how many people the planned order would cover. Hidalgo said it could be 1,000 inmates, but previous estimates of people who would be eligible under terms she was suggesting were lower. Hidalgo was going to discuss a joint plan with Judge Ritchie on Tuesday, but Ritchie would need to run it by his 22 judges on the felony bench to delineate who would fit the criteria. At the press conference Hidalgo said, "We know the Harris County jail is a ticking time bomb." She said public health officials said it was impossible to enforce social distancing and proper quarantines for staff and inmates. "Every person, everyone of those workers has a family they are putting at risk," she said. At 4 p.m. Rosenthal, who presides over the civil rights cases challenging the county's bail practices, has a hearing at which she is expected to address yet another approach -- an order by the federal court allowing releases of people charged with certain nonviolent crimes. The state attorney general is now a party to that case. The judge said in introductory remarks that all parties had the same goal: "We do not want the jails to be sources of infection. No one including the governor does." The attorney representing Hidalgo said that the intent was not to violate the governor's order in the county order, which is to be signed later Tuesday. A naval hospital ship with a 1,000 bed-capacity, Monday, March 30, 2020, at Pier 90 in New York. The ship will be used to treat patients who do not have the new coronavirus as land-based hospitals fill up to capacity with those that do. (AP Photo) NEW YORK: The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus pandemic climbed past 3,000 on Monday, the deadliest day yet in the countrys mounting crisis, while New York cheered the arrival of a gleaming 1,000-bed U.S. Navy hospital ship as a sign of hope in the citys desperate fight. In a grim new milestones marking the spread of the virus, total deaths across the United States hit 3,017, including at least 540 on Monday, and the reported cases climbed to more than 163,000, according to a Reuters tally. People in New York and New Jersey lined both sides of the Hudson River to cheer the U.S Navy ship Comfort, a converted oil tanker painted white with giant red crosses, as it sailed past the Statue of Liberty accompanied by support ships and helicopters. The Comfort will treat non-coronavirus patients, including those who require surgery and critical care, in an effort to free up other resources to fight the virus, the Navy said. Its a wartime atmosphere and we all have to pull together, said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was among the dignitaries to greet the ships arrival at the Midtown Manhattan pier. Hospitals in the New York City area have been overrun with patients suffering from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. Officials have appealed for volunteer healthcare workers. The United States has the most confirmed cases in the world, a number that is likely to soar when tests for the virus become more widespread. Wall Street stocks closed a historically bad quarter on a weak note Tuesday, while European and Asian bourses gained following better Chinese economic data. The Dow dropped almost two percent more to finish at 21,917.16, a loss of more than 23 percent for the quarter, its worst since 1987. "Although stocks settled down this week following several weeks of wild swings, the key trend indicators continue to be bearish, and the benchmarks might still 'retest' their lows in the coming weeks," warned Gorilla Trades strategist Ken Berman. Earlier, European stock markets got a boost with solid Chinese manufacturing data that pointed to signs of revival after much of the economy shuttered due to the coronavirus -- a condition now hammering other economies. China's Purchasing Managers' Index, a key gauge of factory activity, jumped to 52.0 from a record low 35.7 the month before. Any figure above 50 is considered to point to growth. "Chinese factory data overnight gave a flicker of hope that the world's second largest economy is firing back up, despite large parts of the world grinding to a halt," said City Index analyst Fiona Cincotta. The Chinese data initially helped oil prices rebound from 18-year lows struck on Monday as measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak have hit demand. But European benchmark Brent crude began to fall once again and finished nearly flat, although the main US contract, WTI, mustered a gain. An ongoing price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia has also put downward pressure on prices. "Until markets can start to understand how bad the demand shock will be since practically the whole world is on lockdown, most oil rallies will get faded," said analyst Edward Moya at OANDA. - 'Bear market rally' - While the number of infections and deaths continues to rise, some observers believe traders are getting used to the new normal, with some suggesting the worst of the stock selloffs are over. Trillions of dollars pledged to offset the economic impact of the deadly virus have provided a semblance of stability to world markets, which were initially pummelled by the rapid spread of the disease, which has forced swathes of the planet -- and the global economy -- into lockdown. But others are more skeptical. "It is becoming obvious that lockdown measures around the world will need to be extended, and that will likely make everyones GDP decline forecast a little uglier," said OANDA's Moya. "Despite todays stock market resilience, this is still probably a bear market rally," he added. - Key figures around 2130 GMT - New York - Dow: DOWN 1.8 percent at 21,917.16 (close) New York - S&P 500: DOWN 1.6 percent at 2,584.59 (close) New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 1.0 percent at 7,700.10 (close) London - FTSE 100: FTSE 100: UP 2.0 percent at 5,671.96 (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 1.2 percent at 9,935.85 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.4 percent at 4,396.12 (close) EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.8 percent at 2,786.90 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.9 percent at 18,917.01 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 1.9 percent at 23,603.48 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 2,750.30 (close) Brent North Sea crude: FLAT at $22.74 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.9 percent at $20.48 per barrel Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1037 from $1.1048 at 2230 GMT Dollar/yen: DOWN at 107.63 yen from 107.76 Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2420 from $1.2414 Euro/pound: DOWN at 88.82 pence from 88.99 pence burs-jmb/dw FAIRFIELD Town restaurants are laying off staff, seeing a steep cut in business and evaluating their futures day-to-day as the coronavirus pandemic runs into its third week in Connecticut. Ermal Dido, the owner of Craft 260, a pub on the Post Road, said Gov. Ned Lamonts executive order to stop all dine-in services and only allow take-out and delivery at restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic has had an extremely detrimental effect on his business and that he worried his business would not survive without some form of governmental assistance. Our sales are probably at 10 to 20 percent of what they usually are, Dido said, adding that in a regular week before COVID-19s emergence, he would have about 600 customers. Now, he said, its down to around 100. Dido said he laid off about a dozen staff, most of my workers, which sucks for them as well. Paula ORourke, the owner of The Castle on Post, another pub on the Post Road, has cut back hours to try to stay solvent. The restaurant has gone from being open seven days a week to only being open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And while Friday and Saturday have been fairly busy for them, Sunday has seen less business than they anticipated. She said they were taking an 80 percent cut to regular business. Obviously, weve had to lay people off and limit hours, ORourke said, adding that she and her husband had to cut nine employees,which has left them with a skeleton crew. The other thing that were concerned about is, although we are deemed a necessity, I feel like we are encouraging people to come, which Ive been having a hard time wrestling with. ORourke said she worries for customers and her employees because they have stayed open during the pandemic. While some customers wear gloves, others do not and it can be hard to keep up with disinfecting the things customers use, like pens, when there is a rush. Its a very stressful time to say the least, she said. She also said the community has been amazing in supporting the business. Stephanie McCool, the manager of Flipside Burgers and Bar, a Post Road restaurant, said they had to lay off almost the entire staff 22 people. Michael Baffa, the owner, said they were doing around 5 percent of the business they usually do. Baffa said it was costing him money to stay open and that he has been evaluating whether to do so on a day-to-day basis. I like to think Im doing it to give people an alternative option for food, Baffa said. If youre locked in your house for three or four weeks, it gets tiring. He said he and the remaining staff spend most of their downtime cleaning, adding, If I go out of business, its going to be very clean. McCool said it was important for people to realize that many restaurants are staying open not to make money, but to give people options for their meals. She said if Flipside does close, it lowers its chances of reopening. We are just barely hanging on by a string, she said. To do a take-out business, Baffa said, I dont need a 2,700-square-foot building. Anthony Finto, the owner of Taj Indian Cuisine on Black Rock Turnpike, said business had been pretty bad, but he had yet to lay off workers. He said he was going to assess his situation in the coming days. Cameron Harris, the general manager of Geronimo Tequila Bar and Southwest Grill on the Post Road, said the restaurant was still doing some business, but it was nowhere close to the normal level. He said Geronimo had to lay off staff, but would not say how many. Now is the time for people to go out and support their local businesses, Harris said. Give more than you might normally be able to. A lot of small businesses are going to be affected by this in the long term. I dont predict (Geronimo) being one of them, but now is the time for people to act together and show support. Jamie Cooper, the owner of Bonda Resturaunt, the only restaurant in the Greenfield Hills neighborhood, said business was not bad, then added that he felt obligated to say that because he is an optimist. He said nothing they are doing compares to business when they are operating fully. Right now, weve definitely seen a good amount of support from local customers, Cooper said, adding that the restaurant was doing 50 percent of the business it would in a typical week. He said he thinks there has been a surge to support them and, while he appreciates that, he knows it is not sustainable. Its kind of like when somebody dies and, in the beginning, everybody is all over that persons family to make sure theyre OK, Cooper said. But, as time wears on, people stop checking in on them. According to Cooper, some customers have tipped hundreds of dollars. He said he divides those tips between the staff that are not working. Cooper said he currently has four or five employees on the job out of an original 10, working reduced hours but getting paid for full time. He said his other employees are welcome to come back as soon as the coronavirus pandemic ends and restaurants are allowed to have diners again. Weve been fortunate thus far, Cooper said. Everybody is impacted. We understand that all of our customers are feeling the pain too. David Snyder, the co-owner of Brick Walk Tavern on the Post Road, said the coronavirus crisis has been a horrific situation for everybody. His tavern, he said, has seen a 90 percent drop in revenue. If you look at the model of any business out there, if you are at 10 percent capacity, youre out of business, Synder said. Thats why plenty of small businesses are either going out of business or electing to go out of business temporarily, because you cant survive this. Unless a business has the reserve funds to hold on, Synder said, it is a fight every day. He said Brick Walk Tavern is a year into its lease and in tremendous debt from building the business. If we fold now, were screwed, Synder said. So we are doing everything we can to hold on. Snyder said he and his business partner, Ted Vincent, had to lay off 25 to 30 employees. They are keeping on as many employees as possible and offering free delivery so that some of the employees he laid off can drive and make tips. He said he and Vincent are not making any money. They are just trying to scratch out enough to pay their employees and vendors. When you are in your first year of business, and you are really in debt, there is no reason to put yourself further in debt, Synder said. If its not meant to be, its not meant to be. We arent going to fight against a current that cant be fought against. But, while theres a fight, were going to fight. We are all in this together. All of the small businesses that are staying open are doing it for a combination of reasons. Its for the community. Its for ourselves. Its for our empoyees, he said. TWO cops were dismissed from their post for providing security to 22 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo) workers who claimed to be distributing relief goods in Cagayan. Police Security Protection Group (PSPG) chief Colonel Allan Manibog identified the two policemen as Master Sergeants Harold Corpuz and Clifford Ventura. Quoting Corpuz and Ventura, Manibog said the municipal mayor of Sta. Ana in Cagayan was reportedly aware of the relief operation. Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, Joint Task Force Coronavirus Shield commander and Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy director for operations, said they violated the prohibition against large gatherings. Pero kung maraming mga workers o ibang tao, mali yun. Kaya nga violation yun (marami silang dalang tao) at ichi-check natin itong nag escort sa kanya kung saan galing yung authority na yun (for them to provide security to the POGO workers), he said. Lahat naman ng mga pagkakamali ay iniimbestigahan at pag napatunayan ay may corresponding sanctions, suspension o ang pinakamatindi ay dismissal pero depende nga sa kaso na yun, he added. The 22 workers, all Chinese nationals, and their police escorts traveled on March 26 from Manila to Cagayan in a convoy, which included two trailer trucks containing relief items. The convoy was allowed to get past all the checkpoints, except in Barangay Casambalangan, Cagayan, because of the two police escorts. Cagayan Police Director Ariel Quilang said the local task force on the coronavirus disease in the said town denied entry to the Pogo workers. Only the leader of the group was allowed to enter the barangay, but he was also required to go on 14-day quarantine. The rest were asked to return to Manila. (SunStar Philippines) A photo of a Woolworths employee in tears captures the grim reality for many retail workers who are being abused by customers angry about shortages caused by coronavirus-induced panic-buying and hoarding. The photograph shared on Facebook showed an exhausted worker in tears at the self-serve checkouts after she was treated horribly by rude customers, and summed up the anguish felt by staff at Australian supermarkets. Supermarket chains have all imposed rationing to curb shelf-stripping over-buying. The shortages and the rationing had infuriated many customers who were taking out their anger on staff and other shoppers, with several instances of physical fights in the aisles as they fought over scarce items. One woman who shared the image demanded customers get a 'reality check'. A picture of a Woolworths employee breaking down in tears has offered a heartbreaking insight into the impact panic-buying is having on supermarket workers amid coronavirus 'These poor workers are being brought to tears because of the way people are treating them, blaming them and abusing them for something they have no control of,' one woman said. 'They're humans just like the rest of us, trying to make a living, trying to do the best job they possibly can for everyone at the moment. 'Before you look for someone to blame for all of this mayhem, maybe try and think about the fact that these people are just trying to do their jobs and don't need to be abused every 10 minutes just because Woolworths and Coles is out of stock. 'Be a decent human in these time you never know what someone is struggling with in their lives and you're abusing someone over not being able to buy three packets of pasta or some toilet paper.' Other retail workers responded to the photo of the crying worker with their own experiences of being rudely treated by customers. 'Walked into Woolworths wearing my Kmart uniform and got yelled at because they didnt have toilet paper. Even though I didnt work at Woolworths,' one woman said. A second said: 'As a retail worker for Dan Murphy's, we are classed as "essential". We didn't ask for this pandemic. We certainly didn't ask for sh***y customers who can't buy their bottle of Gossips and Bowler's Run. Definitely blessed to have a job still.' A third said: 'This is horrible. These poor workers are just trying to do their best. They don't have control over anything that is going on. They are there just to get your items through for you to pay. Please show some extra kindness to all retail staff, especially those working in the supermarkets at the moment.' And another said: 'So sorry these hard working people are being disrespected. What is wrong with people, can they show some respect to theses people. Disgusting behaviour.' One Woolworths employee said her store had barely opened its doors when it had to deal with an unruly shopper. 'Half an hour into the day and we already had to call security and the police. Enough is enough guys. Treat each other with respect. We are just doing our job,' she said. An employee who works for Woolworths supply chain responded to the photo of a distressed colleague by praising the workers for being on the 'frontline' during this difficult time. 'Massive appreciation to all staff, some of whom are 15 to 18, putting in massive efforts and dealing with unspeakable behaviour, you are the true embodiment of the "everyday hero",' he said. Hundreds of shoppers thanked the supermarket workers for working long hours to keep up with the high demand of essential items. 'I take my hat off to the people working for Woolies, Coles and Aldi. Would be bloody tough at the moment. And it's no ones fault that stores are out of stock. They're all trying their best,' one said. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2020) -FALCON GOLD CORP. (TSXV: FG) ("Falcon" or the "Company") announces results of its Annual General ("AGM") held Monday March 30, 2020. Shareholders voted in favour of all management resolutions proposed in the Company's Information Circular. Resolutions proposed and approved include: The number of Directors for the Company was set at three. The members elected to the Board of Directors include- Mr. Karim Rayani, Mr. James D. Farley, and Mr. John Bossio. Manning Elliott LLP, Chartered Accountants, was appointed as auditor of the Company for the ensuing year. The Company's Stock Option Plan was ratified. Subsequent to the AGM, the Board of Directors re-appointed the following officers: Mr. Karim Rayani- CEO, Mr. James Farley- Interim CFO, Mr. Kenneth Cawkell- Secretary About Falcon Gold Corp. Falcon is a Canadian, mineral exploration company focused on generating, acquiring, and exploring opportunities in the Americas. Its Ontario, Canada projects include the Central Canada gold and copper projects in Atikokan; the Bruce and Camping lake gold projects in Red lake; the Wabunk Bay gold/base metal project in Red Lake and a 49 % interest in the Burton gold property with Iamgold Corp. located near Sudbury, Ontario CONTACT INFORMATION: Falcon Gold Corp. Karim Rayani CEO, Director Telephone: 604-683-1991 Email: info@falcongold.ca Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, etc. Forward looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Neither 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/53946 Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Cultivating Coders wants to turn todays stay-at-home lemons into tomorrows online lemonade through a free, four-week course that teaches people how to build websites. Anyone interested can join the daily, one-hour workshop to be offered at 10 am Mountain Time Monday-Friday with live instruction from the New Mexico companys newly formed Code Crush Crew team, said Cultivating Coders founder and President Charles Ashley III. Parents and families are struggling to find online educational resources, so weve built an online platform for everyone from age 9 to 99, Ashley told the Journal. Well offer a live workshop everyday from Monday to Friday. Everything will be logged on our site for people who miss the live portion to watch the tutorials on their own time. At the end of four weeks, participants will have learned enough skills to activate their own hello world page, Ashley said. When the first four-week course concludes, the company will add more four-week teaching blocks to offer additional coding knowledge that could benefit students who wont return to school this year, potentially provide laid-off employees with new marketable skills, or help businesses impacted by the coronavirus to build out their online presence and capabilities, Ashley said. Although the free workshops are for all ages, K-5 students must be assisted by someone 12 years or older. To participate, sign in at https://www.codecrushcrew.com/. For more information, write to info@codecrushcrew.com. Hospitals are threatening to fire health-care workers who publicize their working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic -- and have in some cases followed through. Ming Lin, an emergency room physician in Washington state, said he was told Friday he was out of a job because hed given an interview to a newspaper about a Facebook post detailing what he believed to be inadequate protective equipment and testing. In Chicago, a nurse was fired after emailing colleagues that she wanted to wear a more protective mask while on duty. In New York, the NYU Langone Health system has warned employees they could be terminated if they talk to the media without authorization. Hospitals are muzzling nurses and other health-care workers in an attempt to preserve their image, said Ruth Schubert, a spokeswoman for the Washington State Nurses Association. It is outrageous. Hospitals have traditionally had strict media guidelines to protect patient privacy, urging staff to talk with journalists only through official public relations offices. But the pandemic has ushered in a new era, Schubert said. Health-care workers must have the ability to tell the public what is really going on inside the facilities where they are caring for Covid-19 patients, she said. One reason is to prepare other nurses and doctors for the looming onslaught of cases and encourage donations of much-needed equipment, particularly the personal protective equipment or PPE that protects them from being infected and in turn infecting other patients as well as their families when they go home. In China, one of the earliest alarms about the mysterious new illness was raised by a doctor in an online chatroom in late December. He was reprimanded and forced to sign a police statement that the post was illegal. He later contracted the disease from a patient and died. It is good and appropriate for health-care workers to be able to express their own fears and concerns, especially when expressing that might get them better protection, said Glenn Cohen, faculty director of Harvard Law Schools bioethics center. Its likely hospitals are trying to limit reputational damage because when health-care workers say they are not being protected, the public gets very upset at the hospital system. Doctors are a famously independent profession, where individual medical judgment on whats best for the patient is prized over administrative dictates. Thats reared its head during the Covid-19 outbreak, with many physicians, nurses and other health-care workers taking to social media to express deep concerns about the lack of protective gear or much-needed patient-care equipment like respirators. Some posts have gone viral and are being shared hundreds of thousands of times, often tagged with #GetMePPE. Privacy laws prohibit disclosing specific patient information, but they dont bar discussing general working conditions. NYU Langone Health employees received a notice Friday from Kathy Lewis, executive vice president of communications, saying that anyone who talked to the media without authorization would be subject to disciplinary action, including termination. Jim Mandler, a spokesman for NYU Langone Health, said the policy was to protect patient and staff confidentiality. Because information is constantly evolving, it is in the best interest of our staff and the institution that only those with the most updated information are permitted to address these issues with the media. New Yorks Montefiore Health System requires staff get permission before speaking publicly, and sent a reminder in a March 17 newsletter that all media requests must be shared and vetted by the public relations department. Associates are not authorized to interact with reporters or speak on behalf of the institution in any capacity, without pre-approval, according to the policy, which was seen by Bloomberg News. Lauri Mazurkiewicz, the Chicago nurse who was fired by Northwestern Memorial Hospital after urging colleagues to wear more protective equipment, has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit. A lot of hospitals are lying to their workers and saying that simple masks are sufficient and nurses are getting sick and they are dying, she said. Mazurkiewicz, 46, has asthma and cares for her father, who suffers from a respiratory disease. At 75, hes in one of the most at-risk groups of dying from the virus. I didnt want to get infected because Im not wearing the proper mask and then spread it to my patients and my family, she said. A Northwestern Memorial Hospital spokesperson declined to comment, citing the lawsuit. The hospital said in an emailed statement that it is committed to the safety of our employees. Charles Prosper, chief executive of PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Centers Northwest network where Lin worked in Bellingham, said in an email that Lin was publicly critical of the hospitals readiness to deal with patients. Lins contract is through TeamHealth, which said its seeking to find him new work. Our oath is to do no harm, Lin said. I spoke out for patient safety and as a result I got terminated. Not all hospitals are blocking staff from talking to the press. New Yorks Mount Sinai has been scheduling media interviews for nurses, physicians and trainees to help the public understand the severity of the crisis, a spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The University of California San Francisco Medical Center has gotten hundreds of such calls and encouraged workers to talk to reporters. Nisha Mehta is a 38-year radiologist from Charlotte, North Carolina, who runs two Facebook groups for physicians with around 70,000 members. Shes fielded numerous requests from health-care workers hoping to get their stories into the public arena. Im hearing widespread stories from physicians across the country and they are all saying: We have these stories that we think are important to get out, but we are being told by our hospital systems that we are not allowed to speak to the press, and if we do so there will be extreme consequences, she said. Many say they get daily emails urging them not to talk to the media under any circumstances. The public needs to hear these stories and other physicians need to hear them to be warned against whats coming, Mehta said. Its so important that everyone understands how bad this is going to get. Absent immediate action, COVID-19 will overrun Connecticuts jails and prisons. Connecticuts Department of Correction has now confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the prison population after announcing that three DOC officers tested positive for the virus last week. This affects us all and the governor, state agencies and the judicial branch need to act immediately. A prison or jail outbreak could have drastic effects not only for the thousands of Connecticut residents who live and work in correctional facilities, their families and communities, but also for the population of the entire state. Connecticuts health care system which experts predict will soon be pressed to the point of capacity likely will not have the ability to treat a massive outbreak in the incarcerated population at the same time as it treats patients throughout the rest of the state. As jails and prisons become flashpoints for infection, the outbreak will overwhelm already limited state health care resources. Connecticut has days, not weeks, to chart a different future. It has taken only 10 days for Rikers Island jails first case of COVID-19 to proliferate to 139 cases among 4,637 incarcerated people. So what do we need to do? Because we do not have the resources to test all individuals, and because we have no cure and no vaccine, there is one effective method of prevention available for correctional facilities that we can and so must employ: social distancing. The predicament is that effective social distancing is impossible under typical conditions in Connecticuts correctional facilities. In Connecticuts jails and lower-security-level prisons, people sleep within feet of each other and use communal bathrooms, mess halls, dayrooms and showers. Even in maximum-security facilities, many are double-celled and share spaces to eat, bathe and recreate. Staff, officers, contractors and vendors are still moving throughout and between facilities, and they all link the facilities with surrounding communities. The DOC has stated that it is employing standard measures used to contain other communicable diseases, such as the flu, but these are inadequate in the face of COVID-19. Heightened hygiene practices even frequent washing of hands with soap, regular bleaching and disinfection of public surfaces, etc. are insufficient. Screening for symptoms, such as fever and cough, is also inadequate given that a significant percent of infections are transmitted by people even before they develop symptoms. This explains why the DOCs recently announced procedure of quarantining all people newly entering the facilities for 14 days is not enough all it takes is one correctional officer to be infected without showing symptoms, and an outbreak begins. Connecticut made important progress in March by reducing its incarcerated and pretrial population by 4 percent (almost 500 people). But there are still close to 12,000 people incarcerated and nearly 6,000 correctional employees who cannot be effectively socially distanced. There is no time for a staged or case-by-case approach. The governors most recent executive order on congregant housing provides guidance as to what should be done. The Department of Public Health must lead by authorizing the arrangement of non-congregant housing with sufficient physical distancing capacity for both workers and wards in our state prisons and jails. Simply put, our state correctional facilities should be treated no differently than any other working or living environment in our state that places people at higher risk to both get and transmit the virus. The virus does not differentiate, and neither should we. To do so puts our entire health care system, and thus population, at risk. To date, the criminal justice system has done a laudable job of mitigating the risk within the authority they have been given. What is needed now is the urgency and authority created by a decisive, transparent order from our leaders. We need an all-hands-on-deck approach that partners public health experts, criminal justice agency heads and community leaders to consider all options and maximize success. The trend in slowing down arrest rates should continue, with police and states attorneys declining to arrest anyone who does not pose a serious threat to public safety. Simultaneously, attention should turn to the pretrial population which we understand to be some 3,200 people and as many as possible should be released on their own recognizance, or with other limitations, until their trials. Consideration also should be given to the early release of the thousands of people already scheduled to be released within the next 90 days; indeed, we understand there are more than 1,000 scheduled to be released in the next 30 days alone, with a substantial proportion of them over 60. There are also more than 1,000 people currently in custody for a technical violation of probation or conditional discharge who could be considered for discharge, as well. In addition, the state should continue to exercise the use of transitional supervision to facilitate the release of people with shorter sentences. And the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Parole should expedite the release of people already found suitable for release on parole, expedite all review processes for people eligible for parole and use its discretion to grant compassionate parole release for people with advanced illnesses. Some people may be easier to divert or release than others, whether because they are healthy or because they have some place to go. The goal must be speed and safety. The medical community is here to do its part. Our clinic at Yale New Haven Hospital, which serves formerly incarcerated individuals, has been working for weeks, in cooperation with DOC, to mobilize re-entry service providers and we have been working with the CT Coalition to End Homelessness to address emergency housing. We have a team ready to address the health needs people may have after release. This includes a statewide hotline that DOC discharge planners, parole officers and halfway houses can call to plan the release of individuals in need of medical services. U.S. Attorney General William Barr has already recommended that the federal Bureau of Prisons release certain at-risk individuals including individuals with certain medical conditions and individuals over 60 years old. New Jersey decided to release 1,000 individuals last week; Michigan is reviewing a similar approach. Lawyers are in court asking for releases in California. Connecticut now faces a critical point in its own crisis that will affect us all, unless our leaders act. Andrew Clark is director of the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy at Central Connecticut State University; Abbe R. Gluck is a professor of law and faculty director at the Solomon Center Health Law and Policy, Yale Law School; Dr. Lisa Puglisi is an assistant professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine and co-director of the Transitions Clinic Yale-New Haven; Dr. Emily Wang is an associate professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine and co-director of the Transitions Clinic Yale-New Haven. By Stephen Kalin, Andrea Shalal and David Lawder RIYADH/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Trade ministers from the Group of 20 major economies agreed on Monday to keep their markets open and ensure the continued flow of vital medical supplies, equipment and other essential goods as the world battles the deadly coronavirus pandemic. G20 leaders pledged last week to inject over $5 trillion into the global economy to limit job and income losses from the coronavirus outbreak, while working to ease supply disruptions caused by border closures by national governments anxious to limit transmission of the virus. In a joint statement issued after a videoconference, the trade ministers pledged to take 'immediate necessary measures' to facilitate trade, incentivize additional production of equipment and drugs, and minimize supply chain disruptions. By Stephen Kalin, Andrea Shalal and David Lawder RIYADH/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Trade ministers from the Group of 20 major economies agreed on Monday to keep their markets open and ensure the continued flow of vital medical supplies, equipment and other essential goods as the world battles the deadly coronavirus pandemic. G20 leaders pledged last week to inject over $5 trillion into the global economy to limit job and income losses from the coronavirus outbreak, while working to ease supply disruptions caused by border closures by national governments anxious to limit transmission of the virus. In a joint statement issued after a videoconference, the trade ministers pledged to take "immediate necessary measures" to facilitate trade, incentivize additional production of equipment and drugs, and minimize supply chain disruptions. They agreed that all emergency measures should be "targeted, proportionate, transparent, and temporary," while sticking to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and not creating "unnecessary barriers" to trade. They also vowed to work to prevent profiteering and unjustified price increases, and keep supplies flowing on an affordable and equitable basis. "As we fight the pandemic both individually and collectively and seek to mitigate its impacts on international trade and investment, we will continue to work together to deliver a free, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, predictable and stable trade and investment environment, and to keep our markets open," the ministers said. They agreed to notify the WTO about any trade-related measures taken to keep global supply chains running and said they would convene again as necessary. The ministers, however, stopped short of explicitly calling for an end to export bans that many countries, including G20 members France, Germany and India, have enacted on drugs and medical supplies. A key adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump is working on new rules to expand "Buy America" mandates to the medical equipment and pharmaceutical sectors, something that dozens of business groups said could worsen shortages. The joint statement included the phrase "consistent with national requirements" already used by G20 leaders, which experts say could provide a loophole for protectionist barriers. SHORTAGES AND BOTTLENECKS Lack of protective medical gear is putting doctors and nurses at risk. Many countries rely on China, the source of the outbreak, for drug ingredients and are struggling to avoid shortages after lockdown measures prompted by the epidemic held up supplies and delayed shipments. Supply chains are backing up as air freight capacity plunges and companies struggle to find truck drivers and shipping crews. Europe and the United States are short of tens of thousands of freight containers. Shippers struggle with crew shortages and quarantines at ports. Agriculture is also being disrupted. The ministerial video conference was attended by representatives from the WTO, World Health Organization and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. A senior World Bank official urged G20 members to agree to refrain from imposing new export restrictions on critical medical supplies, food or other key products, and to eliminate or reduce tariffs on imports of key products. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told the ministers during the meeting that the pandemic had revealed vulnerabilities in the U.S. economy caused by over-dependence on cheap medical supplies from other countries. He did not reference the "Buy America" rule specifically, but said Washington was encouraging diversification and wanted to promote more domestic manufacturing to produce more suppliers for the United States and others. G20 finance ministers and central bankers will also meet virtually, on Tuesday, for the second time in just over a week to continue coordinating their response, the Saudi G20 secretariat said, as worries grow about the debt crisis looming over poorer countries. Japanese Trade Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama told counterparts that both the public and private sectors should try to avoid shutting supply networks to enable an early resumption of economic activities. The coronavirus has infected nearly 738,500 people worldwide and killed some 35,000, and has plunged the world into a global recession, according to International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva. (Additional reporting by Marwa Rashad in Riyadh and Kaori Kaneko in Tokyo; Writing by Stephen Kalin and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim, Mark Heinrich and Leslie Adler) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County. As the world battles the deadly coronavirus outbreak, Britain's response has faced savage criticism, particularly the Government's handling of testing. Here, Medical Correspondent Ben Spencer investigates what has been going wrong for our testing programme and what steps can be taken now to fix it and save thousands of lives across the country. Medical Correspondent Ben Spencer investigates what has been going wrong for our testing programme (stock image) TESTING IS CRUCIAL Until scientists develop a vaccine, mass testing will be our most powerful weapon in the war against coronavirus. Testing tells experts who has the virus, how it is being transmitted and where the hotspots are. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has told every country to 'test, test, test' and said any nation which fails to will be fighting the virus 'blindfolded'. Countries such as South Korea and Singapore have already shown it is possible to curb national outbreaks with aggressive testing programmes. These countries, which were hit badly in the early days of the pandemic, made sure every suspected patient was properly diagnosed, their contacts tracked, and anyone who had been in touch with them put into isolation. AFTER STRONG START, UK IS FIGHTING BLIND The country started strongly in its fight against coronavirus. The initial 'contain' phase of the campaign identified suspected cases as travellers arrived from China, northern Italy and other countries affected early on. People were tested, isolated and all their contacts traced. A testing protocol one of the first outside China was set up in January at Public Health England's main lab at Colindale, north-west London, then expanded to 12 other public health laboratories. But on March 12, with 600 people diagnosed with the virus, the Government admitted the containment strategy had failed and that the virus was freely spreading throughout the population. At that stage ministers decided to change tack and said they would only test those in hospital and would stop contact tracing. In doing so, they gave up all knowledge of how the virus was spreading outside hospitals. The information is now based on death rates and hospital admissions. Pictured: A nurse adjusts her face mask before taking swabs at a COVID-19 Drive-Through testing station for NHS staff on Monday GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE TESTING CAPACITY Officials say they can only test so many people and must reserve this for the very ill. The testing programme was expanded to an additional 40 labs in NHS hospitals last month, but it has still not been enough. On March 18, the Department of Health said it would ramp up testing to 10,000 a day by the following week and hit 25,000 a day within four weeks. But, a fortnight later, it has yet to hit 10,000 once. Over the last week just 51,000 people have been tested an average of 7,300 a day. UK LAGGING GLOBALLY As of last night, the US which was slow to start its response to the crisis had tested more than one million people, equivalent to 3,058 per million Americans. The UK has done 143,186 tests or 2,169 for every million people. Two weeks ago Germany had tested 167,000, and has boosted that figure to 500,000 a week. But Italy had only carried out 47,000 tests as of Monday night just 783 per million people. LACK OF EQUIPMENT Every country in the world is trying to ramp up coronavirus testing, and there is a major race for equipment. Testing is done by taking a cheek swab, which is sent to a lab to seek evidence of the 'antigen' the virus causing the illness. The process, called a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, is nothing new the same machines are used to test for seasonal flu. But existing equipment is not sufficient for the scale of testing. British suppliers of testing swabs, such as Surrey-based Novacyt, are selling their kits abroad as there are not enough UK machines to process the results. Officials have requisitioned university equipment and struck a deal with Roche Diagnostics to supply two high-capacity machines to process tests, but it will only boost UK capacity by 5,000 a day by the end of April. TOO FEW CHEMICALS Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove last night claimed testing 'reagents' are in short supply. The testing process involves certain chemicals that are added to a cheek swab and then run in the testing machine. These reagents help spot strands of coronavirus DNA in samples. Officials are looking for alternative sources of these chemicals and investigating whether different substances could be used. NHS STAFF TESTS VITAL One in four NHS doctors is now off work self-isolating. Thousands of key workers could be allowed back to work if they were proven clear of the virus. But testing of staff is minimal. Last weekend, the NHS announced a new staff testing procedure involving the establishment of three new testing hubs. These hubs have been equipped by two private companies Thermo Fisher Scientific and Randox. Staff are being tested by Boots workers at drive-through centres around the UK. The NHS aimed to initially test 800 staff. Insiders last night said the numbers of tests completed are still 'in the hundreds'. USE PRIVATE FIRMS Use of private firms in the staff testing programme shows what can be achieved by looking outside the closed world of the NHS and other health agencies. But businesses are not being used nearly enough in the testing war. In Germany, anyone can be tested with even mild symptoms, because they have a network of private labs which anyone can use through their health insurance. There are not as many labs in Britain as the strength of the NHS means the private health market is smaller but there are enough to boost capacity if used. But officials have been reluctant to use these labs because they say they may not guarantee accuracy. Britain also has 44 unused molecular virology labs in research institutes, according to former WHO director Anthony Costello. RAPID TESTS ARE KEY All testing so far has involved centralised PCR tests, which involve transport to a lab, processing by staff and a wait of up to 48 hours for a result. The Government has appealed to companies to develop rapid 'point-of-care' antigen tests that could give a result in half an hour. An emergency summit was held at Downing Street to discuss the challenge on March 17, with Roche, Thermo Fisher, Boots and Amazon in attendance. US medical firms Abbott and Cepheid have since developed two such tests, and have already received approval from the FDA, the US medical watchdog. But these are likely to be swallowed up by the US so it is vital that UK companies make their own breakthroughs. ANTIBODY TESTING OFFERS A ROUTE OUT Every test so far has involved 'antigen' testing determining whether someone suffering symptoms has Covid-19. But ministers have pinned their hopes on an 'antibody' test, which shows whether someone has carried the virus in the past. The Government is planning to use these tests in a randomised testing programme across the population. Such a project which may start as early as mid-April would mean officials were not blind in their fight against the virus. If it showed a high percentage of people are immune it could mean an early lifting of the lockdown. Some 17.5million tests have been earmarked for the testing programme but still need to pass stringent quality-control checks. If they pass these hurdles, it would solve many problems and could pave the way to a return to normality for us all. An Australian expat living in Dubai has revealed the extreme measures the city has taken to stop the coronavirus, warning Australia may not be doing enough. Elizabeth Donald, 35, a Melbourne musician who lives in the UAE, said its government was imposing an 8pm until 6am curfew and deploying drones to sanitise the streets. In an attempt to curb the coronavirus pandemic, all residents are legally obliged to wear face masks every time they leave the house. She explained the nation has also grounded all its airlines for at least two weeks, despite having only 611 cases of COVID-19 and five deaths. Australian musician Elizabeth Donald (pictured) lives in Dubai and described the city's strict COVID-19 restrictions Elizabeth Donald (pictured), originally from Melbourne but who now lives in the UAE, said it is mandatory for residents there to wear face masks if they leave the house In Australia, there were 4,559 confirmed cases of the virus as of Tuesday night, and so far 19 people have died. Ms Donald said that while the UAE was 'ahead of the curve', she worried Australia wasn't doing enough to stop the deadly respiratory disease. 'I cant fly in or out at the moment. I know the tide will turn but it is very difficult being away from family,' she told the Daily Telegraph. 'But people are out in the parks in Australia, they are just making this longer for everyone.' The curfew means people are only allowed outside after 6am and before 8pm, and even then, it is only to go to the supermarket, a pharmacy or an essential workplace. Police in Dubai are even using facial recognition software and data from people's smartphones to check if people are breaking the strict rules. Elizabeth Donald (pictured) said the tough restrictions in the UAE had helped the country get on top of the outbreak, but feared Australia wasn't doing the same Elizabeth (pictured) lives in Dubai, but her family are still in Australia This is matched with an elaborate system of cameras monitoring people's movements. Those that breaking the rules are met with fines starting at $450 on the spot. Health officials believe that social distancing, with people staying at home and not socialising in person, is the best way to halt the spread of the virus. Writing on Instagram about life in Dubai's COVID-19 lockdown, Ms Donald wrote: 'Food run looks a little different these days, but with good cause. 'We also have a curfew between the hours of 8pm until 6am. 'I implore everyone to please listen to our new rules and regulations stated by all governments entities. 'Masks are not to protect you, they are actually a preventative measure to help safe guard those you may come into contact with - they are now a requirement in the UAE. 'Again, I am not one for hysteria but I believe in looking after your fellow man and listening to those scientists smarter than I. 'Staying home is the best way, only venturing out for essentials.' Australia has restrictions on people leaving home without a reasonable excuse, but this did not deter sunbathers at Mackenzies Bay on Tuesday (pictured) Residents in Dubai can also be fined $25,000 if they go to a park, and $7,000 for hosting a party. Those attending a party at someone's house would be fined $1,500. The Australian government has been criticised by some health experts for not going far enough with its own coronavirus restrictions. Groups of young people appeared to ignore the Australian government's social distancing rules by gathering at Bondi Beach on Tuesday (pictured) What can you be fined $11,000 for in New South Wales? Under an emergency directive signed by NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard, people can be fined $11,000 and/or be be jailed for six months for breaking strict social-distancing rules. Examples of 'reasonable excuses' listed in the emergency directive are: obtaining food or other goods and services, travelling for the purposes of work or education if the person cannot do it at home, exercise, or medical or caring reasons. People are also stopped from gathering in a public place with more than one other person. Exceptions to the gathering rule include: gatherings of members of the same household, and gatherings essential for work or education. Advertisement On Tuesday, a host of new rules were brought in in New South Wales. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian implored people to remain home unless it was essential to go out. People in their 20s and 30s were the worst offenders when it came to flouting social isolation rules, she added. 'What's of concern to all of us is the unknown, that level of community-to-community transmission,' she said. 'That's the real threat - people walking around without symptoms, not realising they have this disease.' NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller warned police would no longer issue cautions for those flouting self-isolation rules and instead hand out $1,000 on-the-spot fines. Some 13 fines have already been issued. Police can also arrest and charge people who repeatedly ignore health orders, which could incur a maximum penalty of six months in prison. Dubai (pictured) has had a strict COVID-19 crackdown, with huge fines dished out to those who break social-distancing rules WASHINGTON--A type of artificial intelligence called machine learning can help predict which patients will develop diabetes, according to an ENDO 2020 abstract that will be published in a special supplemental section of the Journal of the Endocrine Society. Diabetes is linked to increased risks of severe health problems, including heart disease and cancer. Preventing diabetes is essential to reduce the risk of illness and death. "Currently we do not have sufficient methods for predicting which generally healthy individuals will develop diabetes," said lead author Akihiro Nomura, M.D., Ph.D., of the Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences in Kanazawa, Japan. The researchers investigated the use of a type of artificial intelligence called machine learning in diagnosing diabetes. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. Machine learning is a type of AI that enables computers to learn without being explicitly programmed. With each exposure to new data, a machine-learning algorithm grows increasingly better at recognizing patterns over time. "Using machine learning, it could be possible to precisely identify high-risk groups of future diabetes patients better than using existing risk scores," Nomura said. "In addition, the rate of visits to healthcare providers might be improved to prevent future onset of diabetes." Nomura and colleagues analyzed 509,153 nationwide annual health checkup records from 139,225 participants from 2008 to 2018 in the city of Kanazawa. Among them, 65,505 participants without diabetes were included. The data included physical exams, blood and urine tests and participant questionnaires. Patients without diabetes at the beginning of the study who underwent more than two annual health checkups during this period were included. New cases of diabetes were recorded during patients' checkups. The researchers identified a total of 4,696 new diabetes patients (7.2%) in the study period. Their trained computer model predicted the future incidence of diabetes with an overall accuracy of 94.9%. Nomura says he next plans to perform clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of using statins to treat groups of patients identified by the machine learning model as being at high risk of developing diabetes. ### The Endocrine Society canceled its annual meeting, ENDO 2020, amid concerns about COVID-19. Visit our online newsroom for more information on accepted abstracts, which will be published in a special supplemental section of the Journal of the Endocrine Society. Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions. The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at http://www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia. 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. The internet abounds with mask designs, but the research suggests that as long as the mask covers your nose and mouth and is comfortable to wear, the specific pattern you choose may not matter very much. Various household materials differ in their effectiveness in Davies study, vacuum-cleaner bags offered better filtration than fabrics made of cotton blends, but plain cotton T-shirt fabric still provided a useful barrier. One template comes from the community-supported, open-source sewing site freesewing.org, meaning, of course, that it requires that you know how to sew. Ethiopia has postponed its parliamentary election scheduled for August due to the coronavirus outbreak, the electoral board said on Tuesday, a move endorsed by some key opposition parties. The August vote had been regarded as an important test of the reformist agenda of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in what was once one of the continent's most repressive nations. "Due to the pandemic we were forced to suspend our activities," said an Amharic-language statement from the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia. The board will announce a new timeline once the pandemic has subsided, it said. The Horn of Africa nation has 25 confirmed cases of coronavirus and the government has closed schools and restricted gatherings to curb the spread of the highly infectious illness. Ethiopia is Africa's second-most populous nation with 105 million citizens. Abiy promised to liberalise the state-run economy and oversaw reforms that saw thousands of political prisoners, journalists and opposition activists released. Previous elections in Ethiopia, a parliamentary democracy, have been marred by allegations of rigging and intimidation of the opposition. Abiy had promised to hold free and fair elections in August and has been positioning himself as a unity candidate whose reforms could replace state repression as the glue to hold together Ethiopia's often fractious federal regions. But his party would have faced a stiff challenge from many newly resurgent regional, ethnically-based parties. Representatives of some of the regional parties - the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the National Movement of Amhara (NAMA) - voiced approval of the electoral board's decision, defusing the possibility of protests. "For now, our priority is how to overcome the pandemic," said Yesuf Ebrahim, NAMA's spokesman. Opposition parties and the government need to discuss what will happen when parliament's term ends in September, Yesuf said. Dawud Ibsa, OLF's chairman, told Reuters that his party was ready for further discussions. William Davison, the International Crisis Group think tank's senior analyst for Ethiopia, said the election postponement could be an opportunity to strengthen Ethiopia's democratic process. "A start would be the ruling party discussing with opponents critical topics such as the conditions for a fair election, transitional justice and reconciliation, and the federations major political fault lines," he said. The openness fostered by Abiy when he became premier in 2018 won him plaudits at home and abroad. But it also fanned the embers of long-repressed rivalries between ethnic groups as regional strongmen sought to mobilise local voting blocs. Political and ethnic clashes, along with natural disasters, forced more than two million people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations, although some have now returned. Hundreds of people have also been killed. Search Keywords: Short link: When I was in middle school, a friend and I got caught up in our moms television nostalgia and binge-watched That Girl, a 1960s sitcom about the adventures of Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas), an aspiring actress in New York City. Though it was lost on teen soapobsessed me at the time, the series broke ground by depicting a single woman with bigger dreams for her career than her love life, and with Anns dry-witted, suit-wearing boyfriend, Donald (Ted Bessell) acting more as a foil than a destination. Years later, I remember only Ann, striding down Broadway, gazing at skyscrapers, a brassy theme song welcoming her to the city where she believed she could do anything, a well-worn trope today but a milestone then. To understand the evolution of the single sitcom womanthe careerism of Mary Richards, the sexual independence of Carrie Bradshaw, the wackiness of Jess DayThat Girl is the place to start. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A far cry from the just-completed The Donna Reed Show or the fledging The Doris Day Showwhich began after Days husband signed her contract without her knowledge or consentThat Girl offered audiences a different kind of everywoman. Marlo Thomas, Betty Friedans The Feminine Mystique in hand, pitched a series that would neither begin nor end with marriage. Instead, from 1966 to 1971, its protagonist pursued an acting career, fended off her fathers matchmaking schemes, and waltzed off to her happily ever after of a womens liberation meeting. At its core, That Girl is about a twentysomething woman navigating New York City. (How appropriate that Thomas would later drop in on Friends as Rachel Greens mom.) Though parts of the show, like its lack of diversity or its tendency to pair sexual harassment with a laugh track, feel dated now, her crazy adventures and struggles to make ends meet were revolutionary for the time and well worth revisiting. Advertisement Advertisement A 1998 New York Times article described the show as making feminism approachable and almost, well, cute. To understand this dynamic, you ought to start with When in Rome, the 10th episode of Season 2. A famed Italian director, Vittorio Barrini, spots Ann modeling in a car at an auto show, apparently naked because of the position of the car door. The role of Angelica would be perfect for that girl, he says, and the shot zooms in on Anns surprised face, the usual spotted cold open staple of the series that complicates the idea of the male gaze more often than this scene suggests. Anns looks get her the audition, but her acting secures her the gig in her first feature filmbut only if shes willing to play the part nude. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As comical as the characters horror (including Anns) at performing nude is, the fact that Ann even considers accepting the role sets up a relatively groundbreaking episode, considering the show operated at a time when 25 minutes could entirely revolve around why Donalds pants are in Anns closet. (Its not because the couple is having sex.) Ann spends most of When in Rome telling Donald and her neighbor Ruth the party line, that she couldnt possibly do it, only to pause and ask, Could I?, seeking a permission that neither gives her. This is Anns decision alone. Ultimately, the episode isnt about modesty so much as a challenge to Anns identity: Is she still an actress if she turns down the part? Barrini says no. Youd like to be an actress, he corrects her at one point. Early in the episode, power dynamics like these are made even starker: As Ann reads Angelicas lines for Barrini in his hotel room, magazine-writer Donald and his co-worker Jerry (Bernie Kopell) wait by the phone. To them, a pretty, young girl is a pretty, young girl. You know what I mean? Jerry says, before Ann bursts into the office, hyperventilating. She is too excited to speak; the men, misinterpreting, pepper her with questions about whether Barrini hurt her. The scene is both funny and deeply discomforting, highlighting the ever-present threat of predatory men while playing it for laughs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this is the signature battle move of That Girlthe series doesnt directly call out sexism so much as show Ann wielding the power in the end. Even as Barrini emphasizes what an opportunity he could give her, Anns respect for her less glamorous work in minor productions, including as a mop on a childrens program, shines through. And her choice in the end rejects the notion, still present, that a woman must do things she is uncomfortable with to further her career. Youll have to watch to find out whether Ann gets the part, but know that her inevitable showdown with Barrini is classic That Girl, giving Ann the last word. 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. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), a civic body under Govt. of Karnataka, has invited applications from qualified and interested candidates for filling numerous vacancies to the post of Doctors on an immediate basis (contract) to be posted in BBMP's Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs), including the ones coming under the jurisdiction of Bengaluru Urban, District Health and FW Officers with immediate effect through a 'Walk-in-Interview' process scheduled from March 30, 2020 to April 1, 2020 (tentative) in Bengaluru, as a measure towards containing the COVID-19 or Novel Coronavirus epidemic. CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Doctors/Medical Officers (Contract) Organisation Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Educational Qualification MBBS Degree or equivalent Experience Desirable/Freshers Job Location Bengaluru/Bangalore Salary Scale As per NUHM and established norms Industry Civic Body/Health Application Start Date March 30, 2020 Application End Date April 1, 2020 Age Criteria And Fees Candidates interested in applying for the post of Doctors/MO through BBMP Recruitment 2020 must meet the age criteria as per the norms, with relaxation (upper age limit) for SC/ST/CAT-I/OBC (2A/2B/3A/3B) categories as per the State government guidelines. For details regarding application fee, refer to the official advertisement given at the end of the article. AIIMS Guwahati Recruitment For Faculty Posts, Apply Online Before April 16, Earn Up To Rs. 67,000 Educational Criteria And Eligibility Desirous candidates applying for Doctors/MO posts through BBMP Recruitment 2020 possess an MBBS Degree or equivalent from a MCI recognised University/Institution with desirable years of work experience in the concerned field. Selection And Pay Scale The selection of candidates Doctors/MO posts through BBMP Recruitment 2020 will be done through a 'Walk-in-Interview' process in Bengaluru/Bangalore as specified in the advertisement. Candidates selected as Doctors/MO posts through BBMP Recruitment 2020 will be paid an emolument under NUHM and established norms. ONGC Recruitment 2020 For HR Executive And Public Relation Officer, Apply Online Before April 16 How To Apply Candidates applying for Doctors/MO posts through BBMP Recruitment 2020 must appear for the 'Walk-in-Interview' process scheduled from March 30, 2020 to April 1, 2020 (tentative) in Bengaluruat at the address specified in the notification or can directly contact the authorities for more information. Read the detailed notification about BBMP Recruitment 2020 for Doctors/Medical Officers post here Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-30 20:24:32|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close A health worker checks the body temperature of a prisoner at a provincial jail in Dushi district of northern Baghlan province, Afghanistan, March 30, 2020. Afghan authorities have released the first batch of 10,000 prisoners in compliance with the presidential directive aiming to prevent spread of COVID-19 infection, sources said on Monday. (Photo by Elaha Sahel/Xinhua) KABUL, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Afghan authorities have released the first batch of 10,000 prisoners in compliance with the presidential directive aiming to prevent spread of COVID-19 infection, sources said on Monday. A total of 76 people were freed Monday morning from a provincial jail in northern Baghlan province, Mohammad Aslam Kohistani from provincial government told Xinhua. Another 75 prisoners were freed in neighboring Balkh province at the same period time, said Mohammd Bashir Tawhidi, deputy provincial governor. In western Herat province, the hardest-hit province bordering Iran, 500 people were released Monday morning, provincial governor Abdul Qaum Rahimi told Xinhua. "President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani issued a decree last week, to free 10,000 prisoners from 34 provinces within 10 days. The decree aimed to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus in prisons. Five hundred prisoners were released today in Herat and more inmates will be released soon," Rahimi said. No Taliban prisoner was among the released inmates, he said, adding "detainees sentenced for crimes against internal and external security are not included in the prisoners who are expected to be released." On Sunday, 55 prisoners were freed in southern Kandahar province. As of Monday noon, 145 people were confirmed with COVID-19 infection in Afghanistan, three of whom have died and five have recovered. Three Senators have now been elected to the new Seanad. Fine Gael's Sean Kyne and Fianna Fail's Lisa Chambers won seats this morning. A third former TD, Fianna Fail's Malcolm Byrne, has also been elected after contesting his fifth election in 300 days. It looks like the Green Party's Saoirse McHugh will miss out on a seat - with Fine Gael's John McGahon and Sinn Fein's Fintan Warfield expected to be elected to the Cultural and Education panel. Former government chief whip is first person elected to new Seanad - Daniel McConnell Former Government Chief Whip Sean Kyne is the first person elected to the new Seanad having passed the quota on the 14th count on the Cultural and Educational Panel. Benefitting from significant transfers from party colleagues eliminated, Mr Kyne lost his Dail seat in the February General Election but is seen as close to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. After Count 15, which saw the elimination of former Fianna Fail TD Margaret Murphy O'Mahony, the remaining four seats are likely to be filled by John McGahon of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail's Malcolm Byrne and Lisa Chambers and Sinn Fein's Fintan Warfield. Green Party hopeful Saoirse McHugh had secured a strong first preference vote and was well placed up until the end, but has struggled to remain transfer-friendly looks set to be pipped by Mr Byrne for the final seat. This election has seen some high profile losses with former Fianna Fail TD Declan Breathnach eliminated on the ninth count. Mr Breathnach said that in estimating the support of voters you should count the number of votes youre promised and divide by two. Fine Gaels Tom Neville, lost his Limerick Dail seat in the general election also lost out on a seat when counting stopped shortly before midnight on Monday. Along with Mr Neville failing to secure a seat, his outgoing Senate colleague Westmeath Senator Gabrielle McFadden lost her seat and was eliminated on the 10th count. Earlier: Sean Kyne elected to Seanad - By Digital Desk staff, with reporting from Press Association Former government chief whip Sean Kyne is the first person elected to the new Seanad. He will likely be joined by his Fine Gael colleague John McGahon on the Cultural and Educational panel. It looks as though the Green Party's Saoirse McHugh will be caught on transfers by outgoing Fianna Fail TD Malcolm Byrne. His party mate Lisa Chambers should also be elected with Sinn Fein's Fintan Warfield rounding out the five-person panel. With no one reaching the quota after 13 rounds last night, counting was suspended just before midnight and resumed this morning. The five vocational panels compromise 43 of the Seanads 60 seats. There are 118 candidates seeking election to the panels. In addition to the Cultural and Educational panel, the other four panels are: Agricultural, Labour, Industrial and Commercial, and Administrative. Votes for each panel had been due to be counted on successive days through the week. The counts for the two University panels for six seats, three each from National University of Ireland colleges and Trinity College will start on Tuesday. The final 11 senators to make up the next Seanad will be announced by the taoiseach of the next government. Outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is not able to nominate the final 11 senators, putting pressure on politicians for a new government to be formed. The contest for the Seanad has been heavily impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak. Candidates had to stop campaigning early in order to comply with social distancing measures. Access to the count centre at Dublin Castle on Monday was strictly limited, with even candidates urged not to attend. EU calls for extended UK Brexit transition period, pound Sterling volatility inevitable as British government faces key decision The UK government will be under intense pressure to request an extension to the Brexit transition period. Such a decision would prolong uncertainty, but also ease immediate fears over cliff-edge at the end of 2020 and potentially trigger relief buying. Under the current agreement, the transition or implementation period is due to end of December 31st 2020. There is, however, provision for this to be extended by one or two years if both sides agree to this by July 1st The UK government has maintained its position that there will be no extension of the transition period and that the end-2020 date is fixed in law. The trade talks are continuing at a technical level, but there will inevitably be major disruption to the talks, especially with very limited scope for face-to-face meetings. Ahead of the outbreak, only one formal session was conducted with the session earlier this month cancelled. There were plans to hold the next session in the first week of April by video-conference, but they look likely to be cancelled. Even if video-conferencing can take place, the process will inevitably take longer. The UK government also wants an outline trade deal in place by the end of June, but this timetable is exceptionally tight even without the coronavirus impact and must be considered unrealistic given that all governments will have to be focussed on coronavirus developments. European economies will also inevitably remain under stress throughout this year with major challenges across all sectors and especially in terms of the labour market. On Monday, the centre-right European Peoples party (EPP) issued a statement calling on the government to extend the Brexit transition beyond the end of the year. This grouping includes the parties of German Chancellor Merkel and Irish premier Varadkar. Luxembourg MEP Christophe Hansen, who sits on the European parliaments international trade committee, said: Under these extraordinary circumstances, I cannot see how the UK government would choose to expose itself to the double whammy of the coronavirus and the exit from the EU single market, which will inevitably add to the disruption, deal or no deal. I can only hope that common sense and substance will prevail over ideology. An extension of the transition period is the only responsible thing to do. German MEP David McAlister said: "The coronavirus pandemic complicates the already very ambitious schedule. "The EU has always been open to extending the transition period - the ball is now clearly in the British court. In response, the Prime Ministers spokesman said: "The transition period ends on December 31 2020. This is enshrined in UK law." While the government maintains this position uncertainty over the outlook will continue and will tend to be a negative underlying Sterling factor. Marc-Andre Fongern, head of research at MAF Global Forex, commented that: I expect the EU-UK trade negotiations to be postponed and thus the transition period to be extended, i.e. the ongoing uncertainty looks set to continue. The study should take a couple of months, but could be ended sooner if the drug proves to work or causes problems. This treatment is far different from a preventive vaccine, which would take much longer to test, in part because any vaccine would be new and might be used on millions of healthy people. Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and other public sector oil companies have contributed over Rs 1,000 crore to the Prime Minister CARES Fund to help in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. ONGC was the top contributor with Rs 300 crore, followed by IOC chipping in Rs 225 crore. Privatisation-bound Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) provided Rs 175 crore, while Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) chipped in Rs 120 crore. Petronet LNG Ltd gave Rs 100 crore, gas utility GAIL Rs 50 crore and Oil India Ltd another Rs 38 crore. ONGC Chairman and Managing Director Shashi Shanker said the company gave Rs 300 crore from its corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds while the company employees contributed two days' salary, totalling Rs 16 crore, to the fund. "We are maintaining oil and gas production by practicing social distancing," he said adding besides contributing to the PM fund, company employees and their families have feeding hungry daily wagers. In Vadodara, company employees not just fed daily wagers but also handed over 300 ration kits (8 kg each) to the district police chief for distribution. At Dehradun, the company distributed 10,000 sanitizers and an equal number of face masks to poor slum dwellers. In Noida, ONGC employees at their personal level handed over 100 food packets to the police, he said. "IndianOil as a responsible corporate is contributing Rs 225 crore to #PMCaresFund specially created to combat COVID-19 pandemic," the company said in a tweet adding its employees are also contributing two days' of their salary towards the fund. In a statement, Petronet LNG Ltd said it has made a contribution of Rs 100 crore to the PM CARES fund. "While ensuring a seamless supply of LNG to India, the company stands with the nation and has also contributed Rs 1.53 crore to various health institutions for procuring personal protective equipment for healthcare workers at Bharuch in Gujarat and Kochi in Kerala," it said. BPCL in a statement said it continues to operate units, feeding the nation with fuel and LPG. "We want to assure everyone that we have enough of LPG stock, across our network. All our LPG plants have enough manpower to operate them and all our distributors are making all efforts to deliver Bharatgas cylinders at the doorstep of our consumers," it said. "BPCL and its subsidiaries commit Rs 175 crore towards PM CARES fund to help the government to combat coronavirus, as our humble contribution towards the well-being of the society," it said. Oil India Ltd Chairman and Managing Director Sushil Chandra Mishra said the company is contributing Rs 38 crore to the fund. "OIL strives not only towards energy security of the nation but also is resolved in rising to the occasion to combat this difficult time." Besides, employees of OIL have contributed one day's salary to the PM fund, he said. GAIL, besides contributing Rs 50 crore to the PM Fund, said its employees have contributed 2 days' salary amounting to Rs 3.8 crore. Further, Numaligarh Refineries Ltd has contributed Rs 25 crore, OIDB Rs 17 crore, MRPL Rs 2 crore, CPCL Rs 2 crore and Engineers India Ltd Rs 1 crore. "I am grateful, and delighted, to announce that the oil and gas establishment is ready with a contribution of Rs 1031.29 crore by the PSUs and other oil JVs for the PM-Cares Fund. Additionally, Rs 61 cr has been contributed by colleagues of PSUs from their salaries for the #PMCARES," Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tweeted. "I am humbled to see the commitment of our people of oil and gas PSUs when the world faces one of the biggest crises. I am proud to be a part of this family," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As an investor its worth striving to ensure your overall portfolio beats the market average. But the risk of stock picking is that you will likely buy under-performing companies. We regret to report that long term New Toyo International Holdings Ltd (SGX:N08) shareholders have had that experience, with the share price dropping 56% in three years, versus a market return of about -17%. And more recent buyers are having a tough time too, with a drop of 42% in the last year. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 17% in the last three months. However, one could argue that the price has been influenced by the general market, which is down 24% in the same timeframe. View our latest analysis for New Toyo International Holdings While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. Over the three years that the share price declined, New Toyo International Holdings's earnings per share (EPS) dropped significantly, falling to a loss. Due to the loss, it's not easy to use EPS as a reliable guide to the business. But it's safe to say we'd generally expect the share price to be lower as a result! You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). SGX:N08 Past and Future Earnings March 30th 2020 Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for New Toyo International Holdings the TSR over the last 3 years was -48%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective We regret to report that New Toyo International Holdings shareholders are down 40% for the year (even including dividends) . Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 21%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 7.1% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. 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. Case in point: We've spotted 4 warning signs for New Toyo International Holdings you should be aware of, and 1 of them can't be ignored. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on SG 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. Credit: CC0 Public Domain COVID-19 has led to an elevated awareness of threat in the environment and has caused major disruptions to families' lives, through social distancing, school closures, and now effective lock-down. A new research survey, launched today from experts at the University of Oxford, will track children and young people's mental health throughout the COVID-19 crisis to identify what advice, support and help can actually protect their mental health. COVID-19 presents a rapidly changing situation where different pressures, including changes to children and young people's social lives, daily routines, and access to education as well as challenges associated with families spending extended periods at home, will arise for children, young people and their families over time. Professor Cathy Creswell, Departments of Psychiatry and Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, said, "Research has provided valuable information about how parents and carers can support their children's mental health in general. However, at this point, we know very little about what might be most effective in the current context of COVID-19. We hope to have more than 10,000 parents and carers across the UK complete the new online survey. Their responses will help us really understand how families are coping and what support could make all the difference to children, young people and their families at this time." This survey, called Co-SPACE (COVID-19 Supporting Parents, Adolescents, and Children in Epidemics), aims to track children and young people's mental health throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Survey results will help researchers identify what protects children and young people from deteriorating mental health, over time, and at particular stress points, and how this may vary according to child and family characteristics. It also aims to identify what advice, support and help parents would find most useful. Parents/carers will be invited to complete an online longitudinal weekly questionnaire for a month, then fortnightly for a month, and then monthly until schools reopen. The first survey will take about half an hour, and subsequent surveys about 15-20 minutes. Parents/carers will be asked to answer questions about family life and relationships, overall health and wellbeing, parenting, psychological symptoms and how they and their child are coping during the Covid-19 pandemic. Regular summaries of key findings will be made available via the UKRI (www.emergingminds.org.uk) research network website throughout the study and will be shared directly with partner organizations in health and education services and the community and voluntary sector, to inform the development of effective support for children, young people and families. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded the Cologne-based geophysicist Professor Dr Joachim Saur with the ERC Advanced Grant. Saur will receive a total of 2.1 million euros in funding. The ERC Advanced Grant is considered the most important funding award in the European research landscape. Joachim Saur is Professor at the Institute of Geophysics and Meteorology at the University of Cologne. His research focuses on planets and space physics. With the ERC Advanced Grant for his EXO-OCEANS project, Saur and his team will search for and explore extraterrestrial oceans mainly on the moons in the outer solar system. The occurrence of liquid water is considered one of the few essential prerequisites for life - at least as we know it on Earth. Using innovative methods and techniques, specifically a combination of computer simulations and new telescope observations, Saur's team plans to search for oceans on Saturn's moons, and also outside our solar system. In addition, the research work will for the first time allow for detailed analyses of the oceans on Jupiter's moons Europa and Ganymede. We already know that there is water on these Jupiter moons, but previous approaches failed to further characterize these oceans. The EXO-OCEANS project intends to significantly advance research into extraterrestrial oceans and thus create a basis for the search for extraterrestrial life. The project will also provide important results for the further exploration of Ganymede and Europe by the ESA and NASA missions JUICE and EUROPA CLIPPER, which are planned for around 2030. ERC Advanced Grants are awarded to outstanding researchers for projects which, due to their innovative approach, carry a certain amount of uncertainty, but may open up groundbreaking new avenues in their respective fields. Funding is provided to scientists who have been working consistently and successfully at the highest level for many years. Joachim Saur studied physics and geophysics at the universities of Stuttgart and Cologne. He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur (Nice, France) and at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, Maryland, USA), and as a Senior Research Scientist at the Applied Physics Laboratory (Laurel, Maryland, USA). In 2005 Saur returned to Cologne as a professor at the Institute of Geophysics and Meteorology. In 2011 and 2015 he also held visiting professorships at Johns Hopkins University. ### RACINE Racine Unified K-8 students will be back to school April 6 through the districts new remote learning plan. The district did not provide a set date that high school students would have to begin remote learning, but Unified will begin providing ACT prep packets for high school students in math, science, English and social studies via the district website and at food distribution sites beginning Wednesday. Teachers are set to begin contacting parents by phone Wednesday to find out their preferences for receiving schoolwork, either via U.S. mail or email. The district will attempt to reach all parents by phone or email and through other means, if necessary, according to Unified spokeswoman Stacy Tapp. Packets developed by Unified teachers, in addition to the ACT packets but in the same four core areas as well as health will be provided to high school students following spring break. Spring break is set for April 10-17. Teachers for students in all grades are expected to be in regular contact with students and families to discuss lessons and answer questions. Remote learning work for K-8 students will not be graded, although teachers will do progress checks with students. The district is still determining how grading will work for high school students and promised to provide information after spring break. High school students must obtain a certain number of credits to graduate, so they will turn in work that will demonstrate standards identified as critical knowledge for each of their classes. According to Tapp, the district is working with the Department of Public Instruction and Gov. Tony Evers to ensure that seniors will qualify for graduation this spring. The district is in the process of working with Gateway Technical College and University of Wisconsin-Parkside to ensure that students participating in classes for college credit can continue those via virtual learning. Remote learning daily work requirements will be different than for a regular school day. Per grade level, Unified students will be expected to put in the following number of hours: Grades K-2: 1 hour per day Grades 3-5: 2 hours per day Grades 6-12: 3 hours per day We know this new reality poses a big challenge for our families. You are now responsible for ensuring that your child participates in daily learning activities while juggling many other responsibilities, the district said in a letter set to be sent to families on Tuesday. Knowing this, we are working to set reasonable expectations for the amount of daily work time expected and will provide activities that parents can easily support at home. In the statement the district also reminded parents that physical activity is an important part of the day for all students, but especially those in elementary school. Racine Unified schools have been closed since March 16 in efforts to help stem the spread of COVID-19. The district and some of its staff and teachers have provided grade level packets to complete, activities for students to do and links to free educational resources but none of those were required. The district had previously said it could not require students to partake in virtual learning because it could not ensure that all students had access to devices or internet, creating equity issues. In the communication to parents, Unified noted that parents of special education and English as a second language students should work with their teacher teams to ensure their children are receiving the appropriate accommodations. We know this is a challenging and uncertain time, the district said in the letter. We are here to support you in any way we can. Please know, our goal is not to overload students, but rather to ensure they continue learning while schools are not in session. Dont hesitate to reach out to your childs teacher or building principal with questions. Teachers have spent many hours in the past two weeks working on materials for students, Tapp said. There are many logistics and challenges weve been working through as quickly as possible, she said. For example, how to reach every family to determine whether or not they have internet access or devices to access resources electronically. We also had to work through how to get paper copies to families who need them when we are very limited in staff reporting to work during the Safer at Home mandate. Most important to us is ensuring we are making every effort to provide equity of access to materials for all of our students. For high school, we are also working with the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Programs, Project Lead the Way, Gateway and UW-Parkside to ensure we are in line with their changes. 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. Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde The Chief Press Secretary to Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr Taiwo Adisa, has given an explanation how the Governor contracted coronavirus. Adisa said Makinde contracted the virus from known people in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Makinde tested positive on Monday for the deadly coronavirus, and the NCDC has confirmed that over 135 people have been infected with the disease. Adisa who spoke on Silverbird Television (STV) on Tuesday morning, said there was no need to use the issue of COVID-19 pandemic in the state as political tool. Adisa said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally on March 18, should not be politicized as at the time of the rally, there was no known incident of the virus in the state and the governor didnt show any symptom of coronavirus. The issue of the March 18 PDP southwest Zonal Unification Rally doesnt come to play because there was no known incident of the virus in Oyo State and the governor didnt also have any symptom(s) as at that time. The governors went back to Abuja the following day and they held a series of meetings. The governor had contact with people that are known. So, we should not politicise an issue like this, he stressed. Meanwhile, former governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala has prayed for a quick recovery for the governor and other victims of Covid-19. I am saddened to receive the news of the infection of Governor Seyi Makinde with Coronavirus (Covid-19). Jehovah Ropheka: The Lord our Healer Exodus 15:26 will heal you. I pray to Almighty God to heal you and protect your family as you go through the self-isolation and proper treatments. Similarly, I pray for the protection of all the citizens of the state from the Covid-19 scourge. There is no established cure for COVID-19 yet but it is not a death sentence as it can be managed. Therefore, I urge my fellow people to obey the governments and work collectively to stop the spread by constantly washing our hands and observing high standards of hygiene, avoiding social gatherings and events. Stay at home, stay safe, the statement concluded. Penske Automotive Group, Inc. PAG recently announced that it is implementing a number of actions to boost the firms cash position and preserve financial flexibility in the face of rising uncertainty due to the coronavirus crisis. The company has enforced a variety of measures, including a company-wide hiring freeze, substantial cost cuts, staffing-level adjustments, postponement of $150 million in capex, and negotiated rent deferrals at different locations for up to 90 days, to counter the pandemic-led crisis. Additionally, executive and management compensation has been drastically slashed, including a 100% pay cut for the CEO and president during the crisis. The board of directors has also suspended cash compensation for the next six months. Further, the coronavirus pandemic has affected businesses across all markets of Penske, with several dealership operations being suspended or significantly reduced. In the United States, Penskes automotive dealership operations have suffered a drop in unit volume and service revenues due to shelter-in-place orders issued in several states. However, online sales of new and used vehicles remain available at most locations, while the service departments remain open to meet essential transportation needs. In the U.K., all dealerships closed on Mar 24 to avoid the spread of the virus in compliance with government order. The U.K. government has introduced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, whereby it will compensate Penske for furloughed employees for up to 80% of the employee's monthly salary, subject to certain limits. Further, in Italy, all dealership locations have been shut down with service available only on an emergency basis. Although online sales and service operations remain available in Germany, the use of the workshops continues to decline. The Italian and German governments have put in place programs called the Casa Intergracion and KUG, respectively to provide benefits to displaced workers. Moreover, in Spain, all dealership locations are closed, other than limited service availability. The Spanish government has also set up a program ERTE to provide advantages for the displaced employees. Story continues In Australia, all non-essential business operations have been closed by government order. However, Penske Australia has been deemed essential, and therefore, parts, service, and defense functions remain operational. However, in Japan, all dealerships and locations are operating normally. Meanwhile, the company has $1.3 billion in liquidity, including $850 million in cash on hand and availability via non-floor credit facilities, and around $450 million in potentially funded real estate, which will be used to combat downturns caused by production shutdowns and revenue declines. Penske currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here. The rapidly-spreading coronavirus pandemic has become a concern for other global auto biggies as well, including Tesla TSLA, Honda Motor HMC, Toyota Motor TM, Volkswagen AG, Goodyear Tire, Nissan, Harley-Davidson and Hyundai Motor. Several automakers have closed their factories and suspended production, while the others plan to change manufacturing processes and cut production levels in their plants, in line with the nation-wide campaign addressing the crisis. The pandemic has not only dampened consumer sentiment and marred vehicle demand but also distorted the global supply-chain balance. Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020? Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys. Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (PAG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (HMC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Toyota Motor Corporation (TM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Photo: April Spreeman/Flickr Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Dallas. 36-year-old man killed in crash, Dallas police say He died at the scene of the crash, according to police. Read the full story on WFAA. Dallas ISD begins meal deliveries to make sure students in need are fed The pilot program aims to reach families who aren't able to visit DISD's Grab-and-Go meal sites. Students get three meals for three days before the next delivery. Read the full story on WFAA. Third Dallas police officer tests positive for coronavirus The officer who works at the In-Service Academy has been out of the office since feeling sick on Wednesday, March 18. Read the full story on CBS DFW. Dallas County starting to see clusters of confirmed coronavirus cases at assisted-living facilities As Dallas County approaches the 500 mark in confirmed coronavirus cases, Judge Clay Jenkins said the county is starting to see clusters of these cases in assisted-living facilities. Read the full story on CBS DFW. 16-year-old killed, 4 injured after car flips over, crashes into Dallas-Fire Rescue ambulance A 15-year-old boy is facing manslaughter and assault charges after a crash that killed a 16-year-old girl and injured four others, including two Dallas Fire-Rescue paramedics, police said. Read the full story on CBS DFW. 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. Married At First Sight's Mishel Karen previously accused Elizabeth Sobinoff of wearing an earpiece during filming to be fed instructions by producers. And on Tuesday, the mother-of-two, 48, recalled the moment she and Michael Goonan confronted Elizabeth about it. Speaking to The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Mishel said: 'It (Elizabeth wearing an earpiece) first happened at the dinner party when she first came in and at the first commitment ceremony. 'It was quite disturbing!' On Tuesday, Married At First Sight's Mishel Karen (pictured) said she confronted Elizabeth Sobinoff about being 'fed lines' by producers 'So, that was quite disturbing. But then because we actually pulled her up on it, it was Michael (Goonan) and myself, they didn't do that anymore.' Previously speaking to the Not Here to Make Friends podcast, Mishel said Elizabeth was being fed instructions from producers via an earpiece. 'We were just so suss (suspicious) because of the way she wore her hair and she never [normally] wears her hair over that ear,' she said. Where it began: Mishel said Elizabeth (pictured) wore an earpiece at the dinner party where she first appeared as an 'intruder' and at her first commitment ceremony The Brisbane-based police worker was also skeptical when Elizabeth effusively praised the show and its relationship experts. 'We actually didn't like the fact that she told us, "This is a one-off experience, you are so lucky to have this and whatever",' she said. Mishel also fuelled rumours that Elizabeth was being paid a significant fee to appear on the show, saying: 'I don't know, it's just speculation but it was $100,000.' MAFS participants aren't typically paid, but they do each receive a $150 daily allowance for food and other expenses. The MAFS detectives! Mishel said she and Michael Goonan (right) confronted Elizabeth about wearing an earpiece, which prompted her to stop wearing one Mishel's accusation come after fellow bride Hayley Vernon revealed that the relationship experts - John Aiken, Mel Schilling and Dr. Trisha Stratford - were fed lines by producers at the commitment ceremonies. 'The experts don't speak for themselves. They have an [earpiece] in their ear, and we can hear, because it's so silent on set,' she said on the same podcast last week. 'We can actually hear people feeding them lines.' Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 19:16:55|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JAKARTA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The exchange rate of the rupiah, which was transacted at the Jakarta inter-bank spot market on Tuesday morning, moved to strengthen as the Chinese economy began to recover. At 09:41 a.m. Indonesian Time, the rupiah moved to strengthen by 13 points or 0.08 percent to 16,325 rupiahs per U.S. dollar from 16,338 against the greenback on the previous day, Indonesia's national news agency Antara noted here on Tuesday. The Indonesian currency got a positive sentiment from the index data on China's manufacturing and non-manufacturing activities for March, exceeding expectations, Chief Researcher of the Monex Investindo Futures, Ariston Tjendra, was quoted by Antara as saying. The recovery of the Chinese economy could help the economies of countries that need Chinese materials and market, the stock market researcher said. 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 Ombudsman asks Russian authorities to protect employees made to work during quarantine RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 13:00 31/03/2020 MOSCOW, March 31 (RAPSI) Russias Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova has turned to Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov and Governments Chair Mikhail Mishustin asking them to take measures for protection of employees labor rights, the ombudsmans press-service informs. According to communications from regional ombudsmen, cases where employers force their employees to go to work during the week the businesses were to be closed as per Russias President Vladimir Putin order were registered in several regions, the statement reads. To settle the issue Moskalkova has asked the Prosecutor General and the Chair of the Government to take measures preventing such cases using their respective powers. Earlier, the President has announced the week from March 30 to April 5, would be non-working with full pay due to the situation with the spread of coronavirus. According to the President, the decision was taken to safe the citizens during the fight against the infection. As on March 30, 1836 coronavirus cases are recorded in Russia. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has ordered Americans to return to the United States, saying flights may soon cease amid the coronavirus pandemic. 'We don't know how long commercial flights will operate,' Pompeo said Tuesday during a press conference in Washington, DC. 'And we cant guarantee the US government's ability to arrange charter flights indefinitely once [those] commercial options no longer exist'. Pompeo told Americans to seek out an available flight 'immediately', or contact their local embassy for more information on travel plans. Around 10 million US citizens live abroad, and most do not wish to return home amid the crisis as they have established lives in new countries. However, the government stressed last week that all Americans abroad should weigh whether they are comfortable remaining overseas indefinitely. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has ordered Americans to return to the United States, saying flights may soon cease amid the coronavirus pandemic Travelers wait for a charter flight coordinated by the US embassy at the La Aurora airport in Guatemala City last Tuesday. They are among the 26,000 Americans repatriated by the US government Meanwhile, the State Department has already been repatriating Americans citizens traveling in foreign countries where commercial options are severely limited. Pomeo said Tuesday that The State Department has helped helped to bring home more than 26,000 citizens since the COVID-19 outbreak gripped the world. 'Never in the Department's 230 year history have we led a worldwide evacuation of such geographic complexity and scale,' he stated. The Secretary of State added that his Department has set up a '24/7 repatriation team' which has been coordinating closely with other agencies and the federal government. 'We have no higher duty to the American people than to pull this off,' Pompeo proclaimed, adding that the task force would 'continue to bring home thousands in the coming days and weeks'. Travelers wait for a charter flight coordinated by the US embassy at the La Aurora airport in Guatemala City last Tuesday Many Americans have found it difficult to get back to the US amid the coronavirus outbreak, as commercial airlines have canceled thousands of flights According to a report from NPR, approximately 30,000 Americans are still trying to get home. 'We're still working to connect people to commercial options where those flights are available and to lay on charter flights where they are not,' Ian Brownlee, who runs the State Department's repatriation task force, told the radio network. 'This is fairly complex contractual work. The State Department's capacity to do this is being strained. We're talking with the Department of Defense as to whether they can essentially help us out in lining up aircraft,' he added. NPR reported that flights from Morocco, Spain, Mexico, UAE, New Zealand, Kenya and Israel are all 'in the queue'. US citizens will be returning a country that has been one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak - with more than 180,000 Americans having tested positive to COVID-19. It comes amid a global shortage of ventilators during the coronavirus pandemic A 90-year-old coroanvirus patient has died in Belgium after selflessly refusing a ventilator and instructing doctors to 'keep this for the younger' patients. Suzanne Hoylaerts from Binkom, near Lubbeek, was hospitalised on March 20 when her condition rapidly deteriorated after contracting COVID-19. It comes amid a global shortage of ventilators during the coronavirus pandemic, a key piece of equipment in the battle against the respiratory disease. Suzanne Hoylaerts (pictured) from Binkom, near Lubbeek, was hospitalised on March 20 when her condition rapidly deteriorated after contracting COVID-19 Hoylaerts sought medical attention after suffering from a lack of appetite and shortness of breath. She was admitted to hospital where she tested positive for the virus and was placed in isolation, meaning her daughter was unable to visit. She reportedly told doctors at the hospital: 'I don't want to use artificial respiration. Save it for younger patients. I already had a good life.' Hoylaerts passed away two days after she was hospitalised, on March 22. Her distraught daughter Judith told Dutch newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws: 'I can't say goodbye to her, and I don't even have a chance to attend her funeral.' According to Judith, the family were baffled as to how their mother could have contracted the virus as she had stayed at home and was complying carefully with lockdown measures. Belgium has now recorded 705 deaths according to the latest official toll. The country's toll on Tuesday represented a jump of nearly 200 fatalities from that given the previous day, which stood at 513. Ventilators are crucial to helping severely ill coronavirus patients to recover. They are machines which pump oxygen in someone's lungs when they become unable to breathe on their own The small EU country, with a population of 11.4 million, now has 12,775 cases of persons tested positive for COVID-19, of whom 4,920 have been hospitalised, including 1,021 in intensive care. A 12-year-old girl Belgian girl confirmed infected with the coronavirus became the youngest person in Europe to die from the disease, officials said today. Ventilators are crucial to helping severely ill coronavirus patients to recover. They are machines which pump oxygen in someone's lungs when they become unable to breathe on their own. All 32 people from Bhopal, who attended a religious congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi, that has become a key source for the spread of COVID-19 in the country, have been quarantined in the national capital itself, an official said on Tuesday. The mega gathering at Markaz Nizamuddin, the Delhi headquarters of the Tabligh-e-Jamaat, was held earlier this month and has emerged as a key source of the spread of the deadly infection. "All 32 people from Bhopal, who had gone to Delhi to attend the gathering at Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz, have not returned to the state capital. They have been quarantined in Delhi itself, Bhopal district collector Tarun Pithode said. Besides, 55 Jamaat members who have come to Bhopal from abroad underwent health examination and none of them were found to be affected by any disease (including coronavirus)," he said. Samples of all those who came in contact with them were also collected and sent for testing, Pithode said. All Jamaatis have completed 21-day self-isolation and none of them were found affected by any kind of disease, he said. There is no need for the people of Bhopal to panic as all of them are under observation of the local administration and the health department. he added. Earlier, a senior official said the Madhya Pradesh government has identified 82 of the 107 people from the state who attended the religious congregation. He did not disclose the exact number of people who have been quarantined. The Delhi government on Tuesday said 24 people, who took part in the congregation, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. People from across the country had taken part in the mega meet. After the matter came to light, the Centre and the Delhi government swung into action to trace people who attended the congregation. Six people from Telangana and one from Jammu and Kashmir, who attended the event, died due to coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Victoria Woodhall was stabbed to death in Barnsley on Sunday. (Reach) Coronavirus A 40-year-old man has been charged with murdering an NHS worker who was stabbed to death in Barnsley. Mother-of-three Victoria Woodhall, 31 who worked as an operating department practitioner (ODP) at Rotherham General Hospital died after she was attacked in Windsor Crescent, Middlecliffe, just before 5pm on Sunday. On Tuesday, South Yorkshire Police said Craig Woodhall, formerly of Windsor Crescent, Barnsley, has been charged with murder and remanded in custody. He will appear before Sheffield Magistrates' Court on Tuesday morning. A GoFundMe page has been set up by Mrs Woodhall's friends, Donna Wetherall and Kelly Sims, to raise money towards funeral costs and to help her three children. Police at a house in Middlecliffe, Barnsley, after mother-of-three Victoria Woodhall was stabbed to death. (SWNS) The victim was described as someone who was "always helping others" and "lived for her children". Read more: Bikes stolen from NHS staff caring for coronavirus patients Her friends said: "Victoria worked really hard at university, qualifying to become an ODP at the Rotherham General Hospital. "She will be deeply missed by friends, family and her children. 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 6 charts and maps that explain how COVID-19 is spreading "She was lovely and caring, always helping others, lived for her children, and sadly she was taken away at a young age of 31." Wetherall, 29, said: "Vicky was an amazing friend and daughter and you couldnt wish for a better mum for her children. A forensics officer outside a property in Barnsley after the stabbing. (SWNS) Its a tragic loss and its been a massive shock for us all. She was absolutely amazing and its hurt us to know she is leaving behind her three kids. She will be greatly missed. Other friends left tributes on the page, which has already passed its 4,000 goal. Floral tributes were left outside a house in Middlecliffe, Barnsley, after the fatal stabbing. (SWNS) At the scene of Mrs Woodhall's death, white-suited forensic officers wearing face masks could be seen at a property in the street. A card on a floral tribute attached to the fence outside read: "Taken from us. Always in our hearts and thoughts. A loving mummy, daughter and sister." Story continues Read more: Nurse calls NHS attackers 'idiots' after staff member punched South Yorkshire Police said enquiries continue into the circumstances surrounding the womans death and appealed for anyone with information to contact police on 101, quoting incident number 471 of 29 March. Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers via their website www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling their UK Contact Centre on 0800 555 111. Coronavirus: what happened today A former Facebook executive joined digital auto insurer Root as its first Chief People Officer. Allianzs Australian operations hired a new chief risk officer. *** Root Inc., the parent company of digital auto insurer Root Insurance, has hired Annette Reavis, as its first Chief People Officer. Reavis joined Root after spending a decade at Facebook, serving as a strategic HR leader for Facebooks product, marketing, growth/integrity, community operations, and partnerships organizations. She will oversee the recruitment that will drive the next phase of Roots geographic and product expansion. In 2019, Root opened a second office in Columbus and expanded its national footprint with offices in Chicago and Phoenix. Root recently announced plans to expand its operations with a West Coast claims and customer service center in Chandler, Arizona, that over five years will create 480 new jobs, adding to the more than 850 employees already in Columbus, Arizona, and Chicago. *** Allianz Australia hired Tara Laybutt as its chief risk officer, effective May 11, 2020. Laybutt has extensive experience in guiding the risk functions of large, financial services companies through complex and challenging periods, the company said in a statement. She joins from Deloitte Australia, where she is currently a partner, Risk Advisory, responsible for leading teams servicing global financial services businesses. Before this, she spent over four years at Westpac where she served in her last role as the acting chief audit executive. Laybutt is replacing Lori Callahan who is retiring after 18 years with Allianz. Sources: Root, Allianz Australia David Spillers sees the images from New York and New Orleans, of hospitals crumbling under the weight of a patient load they cant carry, and wonders if hes looking at the future. He is the CEO of Huntsville Hospital, which he touts as treating more patients in a year than any other in Alabama. His job, amid the throes of the deadly novel coronavirus pandemic, is to prepare, to think of every variable and develop a solution. It's the same as those hospital leaders elsewhere in the country whose hospitals are now suffocating. Spillers maintains Huntsville Hospital and it's 11-hospital system across north Alabama is, at this moment, ready. But what does ready really mean? "I'm scared to death when I see what's going on in New York and New Orleans and some of these other places about that happening here," Spillers said Monday. Related: See AL.coms coronavirus coverage. As Spillers is asked question after question about the ready status of Huntsville Hospital, answer after answer comes with a disclaimer. March 23: "How are our supplies right now? Right now, we have adequate supplies on hand." March 29: "Our supplies are in good shape. As we look out two weeks, based upon the current patients were treating, we're in good shape." March 31: "Our supplies continue to look good based upon where we stand currently. All that could change very quickly if we get a large influx of inpatients." But what does ready mean? Spillers said Huntsville Hospital has discharged patients with the objective of creating more bed space capacity for COVID-19 patients. That purge has happened more quickly in hospitals throughout the system, he said, than at the main campus in downtown Huntsville. But inpatient capacity seems, for now, ready. Spillers said the hospital could create 500 (or possibly even more) beds beyond what Huntsville Hospital already has. Still, having hundreds of vacant beds across the system reveals yet another issue. "At some point, beds aren't the limiting factor," Spillers said. "Supplies and staff are the limiting factor. How do we staff all these additional beds if we ever need them? "You dont just put somebody in a bed. You've got to care for somebody you put in a bed. There's a lot more to it than just creating bed space." Huntsville Hospital CEO David Spillers talks to reporters at a day coronavirus briefing held in Alabama. Spillers is seated at the City Council's meeting chairs with other offiicals, but they are demonstrating social distance to protect from the disease. And the relentlessness of COVID-19 goes on. "COVID-19 patients consume an enormous amount of resources," Spillers said. "Probably use 10 times as much resources as a regular patient so about every 10 COVID patients could be the equivalent of 100 normal patients. They also stay in the hospital 10 to 12 days so that's why hospitals can fill up very quickly when we start having inpatients that have COVID-19." As far as equipment, Spillers said the hospital has fared well in collecting what is needed. A shipment of surgical masks was received last week. A shipment of N95 masks are expected later this week. The hospital system, as of a week ago, had about 300 ventilators a healthy stockpile that allowed Huntsville to loan some machines to East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika. "We want to stock up but we don't want to hoard," Spillers said. "That's a delicate balance. You dont want to take supplies from places like Birmingham and New Orleans where they've got to have them right now. But you want to have an adequate supply for our community when the time comes." That's the backdrop by which everything is being done by hospitals: "When the time comes." And that's the nightmare, that spike of serious cases that require hospitalization. The jarring reality is that Madison County, home of Huntsville, has seen it COVID-19 positive tests skyrocket in the past week increasing almost five-fold to 96 by Tuesday morning. Healthcare workers, however, look at a different number. No matter how many positive tests a community may have, the true measuring stick for a hospital are the numbers of those who need inpatient care. As of Monday morning, only eight were hospitalized in the Huntsville Hospital system and only two of those needed ventilators. That's eight COVID-19 patients out of roughly 800 inpatients throughout the system, Spillers said. Those are easily managed numbers. For now. "For our community, the burden on the healthcare system is what we're trying to flatten," said Dr. Pam Hudson, CEO of Crestwood Hospital in Huntsville. "There will be people get very sick with this. But there will be many, many, many more who are not very sick with it. And we're trying to flatten that because you have a really good health system in this community. We need to make sure we dont overwhelm it so that everybody gets the care that they need." Said Spillers, "If a lot of people test positive and a small percentage of those need hospitalization, that's not necessarily a bad thing. The ones we really worry about are the ones that need hospital care. That's where the crunch will come if too many people require hospitalization." Identifying those who need care, though, is not getting easier. Huntsville Hospital has closed its drive-thru COVID-19 testing site because of a lack of test kits. And to look across rural counties of north Alabama is to see such small numbers of positive tests that it seems clear people aren't getting tested. Spillers said that's detrimental to the overall effort to combat the coronavirus. And for those to be sick with the virus and not know it and potentially spreading it is the scenario that can eventually lead to a run on hospitals. And it's why no matter how much preparation is done today, more will be done tomorrow. Spillers said his staff is beginning to map out a plan for possibly using hotels to board patients and, later this week, he is meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about solutions for more hospital beds if needed. Those meetings are ongoing throughout the state at the largest hospitals, Spillers said. So what does ready really mean? In making frequent appearances at daily televised briefings in Huntsville, Spillers, Hudson and other healthcare officials never forget to remind everyone: Sanitize and separate. Wash your hands, maintain six-foot social distancing. It's the hope that these new behaviors will help combat the coronavirus and, at the same time, protect hospitals from being overrun. "We don't want it to happen here," Spillers said of those horrifying scenes from hospitals in New York and New Orleans, in Milan and Madrid. "And I think we as a community can keep it from happening here if we're going to follow the rules that have been set up." As you do your part, hospital leaders say they are trying to do theirs. Were doing everything we can to predict how much supplies we will need and acquire those either through our normal distribution channels or going directly to China or trying some unique and unusual things to get supplies, Spillers said. But every other hospital in America is doing the same thing. How Books and Buckets program in Long Beach aims to keep kids away from gang violence A leopard was shot dead by foresters in Assam's Jorhat district on Monday after it seriously injured three persons including a BSF personnel and a forest guard, officials said. The female leopard came out of Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary and attacked a resident of Doah Gayan Gaon when officials tried to cage it, a forest department official said. After the foresters failed to trap the animal, Jorhat Divisional Forest Officer Darvinder Suman sought help from Wildlife Trust of India's Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) at Panbari in Kaziranga National Park, the official said. CWRC officials tried to tranquilise the leopard but missed their targets twice, following which the feline attacked forest guard Nikibur Zaman and BSF jawan Ram Kekh, Suman said. The injured persons have been admitted to the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, the DFO said. When all efforts to trap the leopard failed, it had to be shot down, officials said. North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un sits in his vehicle after arriving at a railway station in Dong Dang, Vietnam, at the border with China, Feb. 26, 2019 file photo. /Reuters-Yonhap By Jon Herskovitz North Korean officials have sought urgent help from international contacts to increase coronavirus testing in a nation that could see its dilapidated health care system be crushed by an outbreak, the Financial Times reported. People familiar with the matter said the requests have come in over the past few weeks, the newspaper reported Thursday, saying it had seen one of the documents requesting aid. At least 590 people have been tested, all of whom arrived from overseas in January and had negative results, it reported, citing one person directly familiar with the situation inside North Korea. Bordered by China, where the virus originated, and South Korea, which has been among the hardest hit, North Korea claims it has evaded the pandemic with no cases of infection. But diplomats and experts piecing together the clues and who have previously spoken to Bloomberg News see a different picture. A worker of the Ryongaksan Soap Factory makes disinfectants in Pyongyang, North Korea, March 19. North Korea has been engaged in an intense campaign to guard against COVID-19, though it hasn't officially reported any cases of infection. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. /AP-Yonhap 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 Child care providers around the country have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with many facing closure even as others struggle to stay open. At least 12 states have shuttered all child care except for essential workers, according to The Hunt Institute, an education nonprofit. In California, the decision is up to each provider, who must balance the needs of families with the health and safety of workers and children. "The bottom line is we need our child care facilities, our daycare centers to operate, to absorb the magnitude of the impacts of the school closures," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said at a March press conference. At ABC Little School in Los Angeles, parents now drop off their children at the gates. Staff are advised to travel only between their homes and the school. And the center is closed on Fridays for deep cleaning. Director Stephanie Ortega says it falls on her to implement policies to ensure the safety of her employees and the students, who range in age from 18 months to 6 years old. "I have parents that are upset that I'm open, and I have parents that are in need of me being open," Ortega says. The state agency that licenses child care recommends facilities screen staff and students for respiratory illnesses and create contingency plans for an outbreak of COVID-19. Ortega and other providers say they're not getting enough guidance. "We're kind of on our own here," Ortega says. "[If] we continue to stay open and the situation does worsen, I'm putting not only my teachers at risk, I'm putting the children at risk." GETTING 'ESSENTIAL' WORKERS TO WORK Sarah Soriano, executive director of Young Horizons Child Development Centers. (Mariana Dale/KPCC) California is trying to ensure that "essential" workers have access to care. For the first time ever, the state's Department of Social Services issued a waiver that would allow employers to set up emergency child care. Existing centers are also changing to meet these families' needs. The Child Development Center at Fairplex in Pomona is just up the street from a hospital and a coronavirus quarantine center. "There's a tremendous amount of hand washing going on," says Executive Director Holly Reynolds. Classrooms are limited to 10 people at a time, there's an extra seat in between each kid at lunch and new students will be kept separate from existing ones. All this aligns with county health department guidelines. Reynolds says the center is prioritizing care for children of essential workers, like pharmacy employees, doctors and first responders. "We're providing an essential service so that these families can go out and save lives," she says. Still, it's been a challenge as less than a quarter of the usual kids show up each day. California's Department of Social Services reported 36% of Los Angeles County's preschools and day care centers have closed as of March 23, the most recent numbers available. That includes Young Horizons Child Development Centers in Long Beach. "The fear of spreading the virus was huge," says executive director Sarah Soriano. She says many recommendations, like keeping everyone six feet apart, were impossible to implement in a center with dozens of children from infancy to preschool. "Children naturally want to play together, they want to build things together, they want to color and paint," Soriano says. "If we have little ones you have to hold them, you have to feed them. How do you practice social distancing? You don't." On top of that, neither her regular suppliers nor nearby stores had basics like bread and cleaning supplies. "We did everything we could up to the moment that we couldn't," Soriano says. HOME PRESCHOOLS PRACTICE VIGILANCE Across town in North Hollywood, Kim Martin became extra vigilant about the health of the dozen or so kids usually in her care at her home. As two children arrived in March she asked if they had a fever or had been sick. "I personally am not going to close unless they tell me, but part of me wants them to tell me to close because I'm a little nervous, too," Martin said when I first reached her. Martin has been a home child care provider for 23 years. But she recently turned 66, making her part of the population more likely to get seriously ill from the coronavirus. And after California ordered all nonessential workers to stay home, there were few kids left to watch. Now Martin is making calls to defer her car payment and negotiate her student loans and rent in order to make ends meet Nationwide, child care workers earn an average of $11 an hour. Home providers are self-employed and don't typically qualify for unemployment. Martin does plan to apply for expanded benefits under the federal relief plan. "We've always lived paycheck to paycheck, and sometimes we've had no money," Martin says. "We know how to eat cheese and crackers for dinner." Martin is confident her child care business will survive. But as the pandemic stretches from weeks to months, it's not clear how many providers who've had to close will ever reopen. This story was originally published by NPR on March 31. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS: 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. Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County. Winter unexpectedly returned to Germany on March 30, with snowfall hitting the country and scenes of white powder in multiple cities including Hamburg, Berlin, and Frankfurt popping up on social media. This footage shows snowfall in the historic area of Kopenick in Berlin. The snowfall and a drop in temperature were caused by a cold front sweeping across southeast and eastern Europe, hitting Hungary, Romania, and Poland as well as Germany, according to reports. Credit: Tetyana Gusar via Storyful 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. Boris Johnson was accused of suffering a 'coronavirus memory lapse' last night after saying Covid-19 disproves Margaret Thatcher's theory that 'there is no such thing as society'. Tory peer Norman Tebbit claimed the PM whose official car was seen undergoing a deep clean yesterday had performed a U-turn after it emerged Mr Johnson once fiercely defended Baroness Thatcher over the remark, used by critics to claim she was hard-hearted and opposed to state welfare. In a tribute in 2009, Mr Johnson wrote that the reason she had said there was 'no such thing as society', was 'to shatter the post-war consensus that the solution to every problem was always an expansion of the state'. Baroness Margaret Thatcher and Boris Johnson in London, 2008 But on Sunday, after praising the 750,000 people who have volunteered for the NHS, he said: 'The coronavirus has already proved there really is such a thing as society.' Lord Tebbit, 89 a member of Baroness Thatcher's Cabinet said: 'Mr Johnson appears to have been robbed of his memory as a result of the coronavirus fever. 'Aside from changing his mind, he has completely failed to understand what Mrs Thatcher meant. She was saying society doesn't exist on its own; it is made up of people. The Prime Minister's vehicle gets a deep clean outside of No.10 Downing Street Monday afternoon, as he tests positive for coronavirus The PM's two custom Jaguar's were cleaned after Boris Johnson and a number of other key members of Parliament have had to go into self-isolation after contracting the Coronavirus 'Those people are not a collective, as socialists would have us believe, they are all individuals.' Lord Tebbit, 89, said Boris Johnson had done a U-turn with latest Thatcher comment Lord Tebbit said it was 'absurd' to argue that the 750,000 NHS volunteers was evidence that her views on society were wrong. 'The 750,000 have all volunteered as individuals, not as part of the State. If Mrs Thatcher had faced this kind of crisis as PM, she would have asked for volunteers just like Mr Johnson has.' Writing in 2009, Mr Johnson said: 'There are huge numbers of people who will never forgive Mrs Thatcher for saying that 'there is no such thing as society. There are men and women, and there are families'. 'Margaret Thatcher said thought-provoking things about the relationship between the State and the individual. 'Some of them were unpalatable, some of them were exaggerated. But much of what she said was necessary, and it took a woman to say it.' Luxury line Cunard's three ships Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria will suspend sailings through May 15. The ships met up in 2015 to mark the company's 175th anniversary. (Cunard Line) Spring cruises, including popular voyages through Alaska's Inside Passage, seem to be off the table this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Most lines decided to extend suspension of cruises by at least a month. Cruise lines are offering refunds or value-added vouchers for future cruises for those who delay their plans. Many are allowing passengers to change their plans within 48 hours of sailing. Some of parent company Carnival Corp.'s cruise lines are saying they won't sail until at least May, extending a suspension that was supposed to expire April 11. Four brands Holland America Line, Carnival, Seabourn and Cunard announced their plans Monday. Carnival canceled cruises through May 11; Seabourn and Holland America, through May 14; and Cunard, through May 15. Princess Cruises, also owned by Carnival Corp., which has had several ships affected by coronavirus-related problems, indicated in mid-March that its ships would not sail for 60 days. Other lines including Royal Caribbean, MSC and Disney have announced they will not sail at least until May. Royal Caribbean extended an offer to allow passengers to cancel up to 48 hours before their departure date to cruises now through Sept. 1. Travelers can postpone a future cruise without penalty for sailings through 2021. Viking Cruises, with 79 cruise and river ships primarily sailing in Europe, is suspending operations until June 30. Industry-wide travel restrictions went into effect March 13 when Cruise Lines International Assn., the industry's largest trade association, announced all its members totaling about 300 ships would voluntarily suspend cruise ship operations from and to U.S. ports of call. The closures have expanded to include many parks and recreational areas. Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, a standing destination on many cruises to the 49th state, is pushing back the start of its season from Memorial Day weekend to July 1, according to a statement by park superintendent Philip Hooge on Monday. This rapidly evolving situation and the remote nature of the park with its limited community medical capabilities requires the park to be extraordinarily careful," the statement said. In addition, Canada has closed its ports to large cruise ships through July 1. Alaska cruises stop at or start from Vancouver or Victoria ports on Vancouver Island. An Oregon couple went on a nearly month-long trip rafting through the Grand Canyon almost completely unaware of how devastating the coronavirus had become in the United States as they pretty much had 'radio silence.' Gayle Murphy and Chris Murray, from Portland, had begun their 24-day adventure down the Colorado River on March 1 and would not learn the impact of COVID-19 in the country until they completed the journey on March 24. They were completely unprepared for a world where nothing would be open as people took to social distancing to try to curb the spread of the virus. Scroll down for video Gayle Murphy and Chris Murray, from Portland, had begun their 24-day adventure down the Colorado River on March 1 There were few recorded cases in the US when Gayle and Chris went away, but the number of confirmed patients has skyrocketed over the last few weeks 'There's a normal amount of culture shock when you come back from being disconnected,' Murphy explained to KGW. 'Right now, it's like coming into a completely different world.' Prior to starting her trip, Murphy took one last look at her emails and learned that her home state had just announced its first suspected case of the coronavirus. At the time, the case was not confirmed. Life in Oregon had been mostly the same, with health officials stressing that Oregonians wash their hands. The state now has 606 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 16 people have died. On March 1, the pair met up with professional river guides and more than a dozen other people. They would ride down the river in six rafts. On March 1, the pair met up with professional river guides and more than a dozen other people. They would ride down the river in six rafts (Murray on another rafting trip) During their trip, the couple had a satellite phone that was only to be used for emergency purposes. Their group would occasionally come across other rafters, also unaware of what was happening globally. 'It was pretty much radio silence,' added Murphy. There are 181,989 confirmed cases in the United States Roughly 10 days into the trip, the group would get a hint as to what was happening on the outside world when they met hikers who explained that the coronavirus had gotten worse in the States but could not elaborate. On March 24, as the group concluded their trip, they were waved down by a woman from the rafting company. 'I have to read this to you. The world is different now,' Murray recalled the woman anxiously said to them. Murphy said: 'As she read this, we all just stopped and were looking at each other.' The employee updated the group on social distancing policies, which personally stuck with them as they had just became a tight knit family while surviving through the wilderness. Both would immediately be thrust back into everyday life as Murphy is a nurse who does leadership education while Murray is a social worker in a psychiatric emergency department The group felt that they were safe as they had been in a form of quarantine while on their trip. They all packed up and departed for home, as reality set in with the more cellphone service they received. 'I think we all had like 50 text messages,' said Murphy. 'Almost everyone was, 'The world has changed- you should be prepared'.' Both would immediately be thrust back into everyday life as Murphy is a nurse who does leadership education while Murray is a social worker in a psychiatric emergency department. 'It sunk in that this is a big deal,' said Murray. 'I need to go back to work in an emergency department in 36 hours.' 'We will have moments where we just look at each other and say, "This is crazy!"' added Murphy. There are now coronavirus cases in all 50 states There are more than 3,600 deaths in the United States from the coronavirus Is a homemade mask better than nothing at all? With an unknown number of asymptomatic virus carriers, some experts are advising people to fashion their own face coverings to prevent them spreading the disease. As health workers across the world struggle to get protective equipment and stocks dwindle, health organisations have stressed that there is little scientific evidence to show that masks are effective at preventing healthy people catching COVID-19. But some experts say they could be useful as a barrier to stop those infected -- particularly those without symptoms -- from contaminating others through the tiny respiratory droplets emitted when they cough, sneeze, talk or even breathe. "It only works if everyone wears (them), and if everyone does, you only need a very basic mask, because a piece of tissue can block it," said KK Cheng, director of the Institute of Applied Health Research at Birmingham University. "It's not perfect, but that's much better than nothing." There is scant evidence on the effectiveness of do-it-yourself face coverings, however. "It's not clear whether homemade masks would reduce transmission, there has been very little scientific research on this topic," Benjamin Cowling, epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong, told AFP. One 2013 Cambridge University study looked at a scenario of an influenza pandemic and subsequent shortage of surgical masks. Volunteers were tasked with making their own masks from cotton t-shirts for the research, which found that improvised masks might reduce the likelihood of infection -- but not eliminate the risk. "Our findings suggest that a homemade mask should only be considered as a last resort to prevent droplet transmission from infected individuals, but it would be better than no protection," the study said. Even the doctors who recommend the use of masks, insist they should not be seen as an alternative to the most crucial prevention measures, such as hand washing and social distancing. Since the start of the coronavirus epidemic, many western countries have stressed that the widespread use of masks is not necessary. This position has surprised many in parts of Asia, where mask-wearing is a common practice. "The big mistake in the US and Europe, in my opinion, is that people aren't wearing masks," said Gao Fu, the head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in an interview with Science magazine last week. Cheng said that mask wearing was not in "Western culture". But he added that the authorities may also have wanted to dissuade panic buying of protective equipment that would leave shortages for key health workers. World Health Organisation guidelines say that only those who are sick and the people caring for them need to wear masks. "There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any particular benefit," said Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's emergencies programme, in a briefing on Monday. "In fact there is some evidence to suggest the opposite," he said, adding people often did not know how to wear or remove the mask properly. Ryan said there was also a "massive global shortage" of protective equipment. "Right now the people most at risk from this virus are frontline health workers who are exposed to the virus every second of every day. The thought of them not having masks is horrific," he said. In recent days, several European countries have updated their position on mask wearing, with the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Austria announcing new rules to compel people to cover their faces in places like supermarkets. Pulmonologist Nicolas Hutt, who works in Alsace, one of the French regions most affected by the epidemic, said people should wear "alternative masks" not produced for medical purposes. These would act as a barrier in "areas where distancing measures are not properly followed, like shops". Online tutorials for making your own masks have circulated widely. While French authorities have stuck to the WHO guidance that healthy people do not need masks, the industry ministry's standardisation board posted a manufacturing blueprint on Friday. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has also said that textile and paper firms would now be encouraged to make masks. These would not be for medical personnel but for those who would see a mask as a good way of equipping themselves and "reassuring themselves, protecting themselves and fighting against the epidemic". Some could even be luxury branded. At the weekend, fashion house Chanel said it was mobilising dozens of its dressmakers to produce masks and gowns and would "start production as soon as the prototypes and raw materials have been approved". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) These are extraordinarily challenging times for the nations hospitals and health-care workers. In just a couple of months, the coronavirus has swept around the globe and across the country, disrupting and destroying countless lives and wreaking havoc on the nations health-care system. I have spent most of my professional life working in health care in Wyoming: as an orthopedic surgeon at the Wyoming Medical Center, as medical director of the Wyoming Health Fairs and as president of the Wyoming Medical Society. In fact, people here at home know me as a doctor first and as their senator second. Over the past week, I have spoken with the heads of Wyoming hospitals about the unprecedented financial challenges they are facing. What they report is hardly a surprise; it simply confirms that this is a dire situation demanding swift, bold action. That is why on Monday I led a bipartisan group of Senate and House members in urgently requesting that Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar provide immediate financial relief for rural hospitals in Wyoming and across the country. More than 120 members of Congress, including Wyomings entire congressional delegation, signed this critical appeal. All of these members were eager to sign regardless of party because supporting rural hospitals has never been and never will be a partisan issue. Party affiliation makes no difference whatsoever when a hospital must shut its doors in rural America. Protecting this lifeline for patients transcends Washington politics. Rural hospitals are the backbone of thousands of communities, caring for 60 million Americans nationwide. The National Rural Health Association, a leading voice for rural health-care providers, is backing our bipartisan, bicameral effort. In March Congress passed several coronavirus-related public health and economic-rescue measures, most recently the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act the largest relief package in American history. This massive emergency-funding bill, signed into law on March 27, includes $100 billion to help the nations hospitals. Still, we cannot afford to overlook rural hospitals. Local providers are on the frontlines in Wyoming and across the country. Operating on tight margins, they faced financial challenges long before the outbreak. Now many have stopped performing elective surgeries and other routine care, compounding their economic problem. Make no mistake: Stopping elective procedures and non-emergency care is the right thing to do to help fight the coronavirus. Hospitals and health-care workers need to focus their efforts on stopping COVID-19 and conserving the personal protective equipment, or PPE, needed for treating patients with the virus. As a doctor, I know these decisions have a real impact on the finances of hospitals and health-care providers. I am proud that so many hospitals are putting the emergency needs of their patients ahead of monetary concerns. It is the duty of the federal government to ensure that rural health-care workers get the help they need right now. We cannot afford to overlook hospitals that are doing the right thing for their patients and their communities while hurting their own finances in the process. As we note in our joint letter to Secretary Azar: We are hearing from rural hospitals across the country that have only days left of cash-on-hand money needed for payroll and supplies. Simply put, we cannot stand by and watch rural hospitals become collateral damage in the coronavirus war. Serving on the frontlines, Americas small community providers desperately need added support to survive this existential threat. So its time to send a message to rural hospitals and health-care workers in Wyoming and across the country that Congress is listening and Congress is acting. Its time to make these small-town heroes a priority as we work together to defeat the coronavirus. Senator John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming, is an orthopedic surgeon and chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 The Vietnamese government has demanded the implementation of social distancing all over the country, including a ban on public gatherings of more than two people, to fight the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic. The entirety of Vietnam will practice mandatory social distancing from April 1 to 15, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said in a directive issued on Tuesday. Households are advised to keep a distance from households, villages from villages, communes from communes, districts from districts, and provinces from provinces, according to the directive. Factories have to be disinfected while workers are required to wear face masks and keep a safe distance from one another. Everyone is requested to stay home and only go out under absolutely necessary circumstances such as trips for food, medicine, emergency care or for working at essential businesses, factories, and services that have been allowed to continue operating. Citizens are required to maintain a minimum distance of two meters in social interaction, the prime minister said in the directive, insisting that the government bans any gathering of more than two people outside public offices, schools, hospitals, and in public spaces in general. It is highly recommended that everyone voluntarily declare their health status, take all preventive measures to protect themselves and their family, and engage in COVID-19 prevention and control activities. Leaders of enterprises, businesses, and service providers are responsible for taking on-site preventive measures to protect their employees. The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Security, Hanoi authorities, and the Ho Chi Minh City administration are charged with suppressing the outbreaks at Bach Mai Hospital, located in the capital, and Buddha Bar & Grill in the southern hub by all means, including the tracing of suspected cases and infected patients close contacts. Dozens of cases have been linked to Bach Mai Hospital and Buddha Bar & Grill. Vietnam has confirmed 204 COVID-19 infections as of Tuesday afternoon, with 55 patients having fully recovered. The country is trying its best to keep the number of patients under 1,000 for as long as possible, in the hope of completely controlling the epidemic in the end. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! She's got a huge new house to renovate and a husband to self isolate with. But Love Island star Olivia Buckland found another way to pass the time on Monday during the coronavirus lockdown. The reality star shared snaps of her 'dress up' session, trying on a series of racy looks and lingerie for her 2.3million Instagram followers as she told them 'I can't wait to go out when all this is over.' Dress up: Love Island star Olivia Buckland found another way to pass the time on Monday during the coronavirus lockdown One outfit Olivia dug out of her vast wardrobe was a very racy sheer pink bodysuit. The stunning blonde tried on the skimpy garment with nothing underneath, flashing her ample assets as she posed in front of her bedroom mirror. Olivia flashed a glimpse of her huge back tattoo, as she admitted 'I always forget about this tattoo! It's a Phoenix - rose from the ashes and all dattt'. 'It's old, prob about 6 years but I love it,' she added as she showed her fans a closer glimpse of her ink. Party look: The reality star shared snaps of her 'dress up' session, trying on a series of racy looks and lingerie for her 2.3million Instagram followers Inked: Olivia flashed a glimpse of her huge back tattoo, as she admitted 'I always forget about this tattoo! It's a Phoenix - rose from the ashes and all dattt' Next up was a racy black lace bodysuit, with Olivia flashing even more of her tattoos as she stripped down to the lace lingerie. She also tried the daring bodysuit with jeans, telling her fans 'Omg I wanna wear jeans and heels again.' Olivia was soon interrupted by her hunky husband, who appeared behind her in one snap, mimicking her pose. Revealing all: 'It's old, prob about 6 years but I love it,' she added as she showed her fans a closer glimpse of her ink Sizzling: Next up was a racy black lace bodysuit, with Olivia flashing even more of her tattoos as she stripped down to the lace lingerie 'I was playing dress up for 5 mins & then this one comes in & says hes bored...,' she laughed in the photo's caption. Olivia recently revealed she would be donating 100% of her profits from her new In The Style clothing range to Age UK, in a bid to help the vulnerable older generation amid the coronavirus outbreak. And with all her upcoming projects postponed, Olivia has been focusing on spending quality time with her husband since going into self-isolation last week. All about the comfort: She also tried the daring bodysuit with jeans, telling her fans 'Omg I wanna wear jeans and heels again' The couple only recently moved into their new Essex home and have major renovation plans. Speaking about their grand new property, Olivia and Alex revealed that since they set up an Instagram account to document the refurbishment they've already got nearly 250,000 followers. The couple - who married in September 2018 - explained that they're going to gradually rework the house room by room, adding that this is the place they'd eventually like to start a family. 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 President of the Garda Representative Association (GRA), Jim Mulligan, has said that weaponizing the Covid-19 virus is "unpatriotic" and has called for stronger measures to protect officers. His comments come after several incidents of gardai being coughed at, spat at and threatened by people claiming to be infected with Covid-19. One man was arrested in Dublin last night for suspected drink-driving, and during his arrest threatened gardai that he had coronavirus and was in the Romanian mafia. Another case in Cork city on Sunday saw a 19-year-old man charged in connection with allegedly spitting at a member of the gardai in the face having told him he had coronavirus. Mr Mulligan said: Movement restrictions must be enforced. Gardai would prefer not to instruct people and inquire into their business in this way but it is absolutely necessary. At a time when the whole country is putting their shoulder to the wheel to save lives, it is essential that everyone pushes in the same direction. Anything that undermines this national effort is nothing other than unpatriotic. We all have a duty to save lives by maintaining social distance and gardai have a job of work to ensure this happens. Our members should not be deliberately endangered for carrying out their duty in protecting the public from this virus." At the moment, gardai can deal with this through Public Order legislation, but Mr Mulligan is calling for further measures to counter it. He said: "We are calling for a specific Garda Siochana policy to always oppose bail in cases where someone is charged with offences connected to the weaponization of Covid-19. The GRA is engaging with Garda management on these matters and have reiterated to them that this behaviour shows the need for greater availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including face masks. A cast-iron protocol adopted in every Garda station and specialist unit in the country for the deployment of PPE is also required. File photo of Jim Mulligan. Currently, members are being sent on duties that involve close contact with the public without being issued face masks." The GRA will meet the Department of Justice tomorrow to discuss how to implement new regulations around dispersing groups of people, enforcing self-isolation orders and other matters brought in under new emergency legislation signed into law two weeks ago. The latest restrictions in operation since Friday, March 27 mandate that everyone should stay at home, only leaving to: Shop for essential food and household goods; Attend medical appointments, collect medicine or other health products; Care for children, older people or other vulnerable people - this excludes social family visits; Exercise outdoors - within 2kms of your home and only with members of your own household, keeping 2 metres distance between you and other people Travel to work if you provide an essential service - be sure to practice social distancing Mr Mulligan said: We will seek clarity for our members on the legal operation of the regulations but also that gardai be recognised as a special category of frontline public service requiring a special priority for the allocation of national stocks of protective equipment. By Trend The restrictions applied by the state to economic activity primarily affect micro-entrepreneurs, Azerbaijans Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov said in an interview with Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Closed Joint Stock Company (AzTV) during Hadaf telecast, Trend reports. In his words, it is not about a support program in the amount of one billion manat ($588.2 million), but in the amount of 2.5 billion manat ($1.4 billion), which is three percent of Azerbaijans gross domestic product (GDP). We want to say to entrepreneurs, the banking sector and our citizens that the process of reviving and developing the economy of Azerbaijan remains our priority, Jabbarov emphasized. The minister noted that the support program was developed for micro-entrepreneurs, too. As a rule, the financial cushion of micro-entrepreneurs is narrower. The restrictions applied by the state to economic activity primarily affect these entrepreneurs. As a base, we use tax payments made by entrepreneurs during 2019, said the minister. When making payments, we take the numbers in this database as a basis. This software is focused on business support. For every entrepreneur, the payroll is the biggest expense. Therefore, the state provides direct financial support and assistance in this direction. About 600,000 of our citizens are covered by this, Jabbarov added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz New research from University of California, Davis, suggests that parents should delay introducing their children to any screen media, as well as limit preschool-age children's use of mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. The research was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics this week. Over a two-and-a-half-year period, researchers assessed 56 children aged 32 to 47 months and surveyed their parents. The research team assessed children's self-regulation skills, or those skills needed to plan, control, and monitor their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Young children's self-regulation skills predict later academic success, social functioning, physical and mental health, income, and criminality. Self-regulation skills were lower among children who began using any screen media devices (including television, computers, smartphones, and/or tablets) earlier in life, or who currently used mobile devices (smartphones and/or tablets) more often than others in the sample. "Young children are often exposed to substantial amounts of screen media. Even though consumption of moderate amounts of high-quality children's media has been established to have a positive influence on development, the current findings support limiting children's use of mobile devices," said the study's primary author, Amanda C. Lawrence, a doctoral candidate in the Human Development Graduate Group at UC Davis. Co-authors are Daniel Ewon Choe, assistant professor of human development and family studies, and Madhuri S. Narayan, who was an undergraduate student when working on the research. Devices also limit interaction time Researchers voiced other reasons for cautious use of mobile devices by young children. "The portable nature of mobile devices allows them to be used in any location, such as while waiting for appointments, or in line at a grocery store. The screen use, then, could interfere with sensitive and responsive interactions with parents or practicing self-soothing behaviors that support optimal development," said Lawrence. The research team recruited participants by handing out flyers at preschools and community events. Data were collected between July 1, 2016, and Jan. 11, 2019. During individual 90-minute visits to an on-campus research laboratory, children were asked to complete 10 tasks to evaluate their ability to self-regulate. Tasks were as varied as walking a line slowly, taking turns with the researcher in building a tower out of blocks, and delaying gratification -- for example, being asked to hold off unwrapping a gift while the researcher briefly left the room. Parents were asked about screen use using a novel survey designed by Lawrence, and researchers calculated the children's reported age at first use of screen media and average time spent per week on each device. Other findings include: There was substantial variation in the amount of time children spent with screen media devices in the average week in this community sample. Screen time for traditional devices (television, computers) ranged from 0 to 68 hours per week, and 0 to 14 hours per week for mobile devices (tablets, smartphones). Children's screen time in the average week was not related to their family's income in this sample, but children growing up in higher-income households started using mobile devices at a younger age than lower-income households. Screen time also did not differ by racial/ethnic minority status in this sample. Additionally, children's exposure to what the researchers consider traditional screen devices (televisions, computers) in the average week was not related to their self-regulation, in contrast to most previous research. Lawrence speculates that messaging about providing child-directed, educational content and cautioning parents to monitor children's viewing has reached parents and has been effective, at least among some groups. This is a small study, but the beginning of a long-term longitudinal study of children's development of self-regulation and looking at all screen media devices over multiple years with more children and parents, researchers said. ### JAMA Pediatrics article: https://bit.ly/2wFKeVz US-based Lockheed Martin, a global security and aerospace company, has been awarded an extra $932 million to supply intermediate-range interceptor missiles to the US and Saudi Arabia. The contract is another sign of the missile and missile defense powerhouse growing inside Lockheed's vast defence portfolio. The Pentagon on Tuesday announced a contract modification to add the new Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) one-shot interceptors. The THAAD system, designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin using Raytheon radars and Aerojet Rocketdyne boosters, is designed to shoot down short- and medium-range ballistic missiles on their descent. The system is somewhat portable and deployable as needed, and it, along with the Lockheed-built Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System deployed on much of the Navy's fleet of destroyers, is quickly becoming a vital cog in the US defence strategy. Foreign military sales funds earmarked for Saudi Arabia will pay for $605 million of the award, with the rest coming from US government funds, said a statement from Lockheed Martin. The award comes nearly a year after Lockheed Martin received its first down payment on a $15 billion missile defense system for Saudi Arabia, it added. The THAAD is the primary US deterrent to North Korean rockets from locations in South Korea and Guam and is also been deployed in the UAE, Israel, and Romania. A January escalation in tensions between the U.S. and Iran that led to strikes on US assets only reinforced the need to deploy defensive measures in the region. Lockheed's Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) unit doesn't get the same amount of attention as the company's airplanes and helicopters, but it is growing increasingly important to the overall investment case for the company. In addition to THAAD and Aegis, Lockheed Martin recently scored an apparent win on the Army's new long-range ballistic missile.-TradeArabia News Service Gilead Sciences, Inc, is switching to expanded access from a compassionate use program to fast track the emergency use of the experimental anti-coronavirus drug, remdesivir for severely ill patients. (Photo : Pexels ) Gilead Sciences, Inc, is switching to "expanded access" from a "compassionate use" program to fast track the emergency use of the experimental anti-coronavirus drug, remdesivir for severely ill patients. Daniel O' Day, Gilead's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, reported that multiple clinical trials are studying the effect of the new drug for coronavirus, remdesivir, in COVID-19 patients in China and other countries. The report on first clinical data will be available in April, as remdesivir is being tested in two trials in mild to moderate and severe COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, China Compassionate Use to Expanded Access Program Under the compassionate use program, Remdesivir was given to over 1,000 patients, requiring each application to be reviewed individually. Such programs are normally reserved for a small number of cases, report shows. U.S. President Donald Trump recently highlighted remdesivir as a promising anti-COVID-19 treatment. The said announcement triggered an exponential increase in requests, overwhelming the company where each application needed to be reviewed individually, Daniel O' Day, Gilead's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said. Numerous doctors asked for access to the drug, of which the demand overwhelmed the company. On March 22, Gilead ceased assessment of the new individual applications for emergency access to Remdesivir outside clinical trials, except for pregnant women and children. Access of the drug is in the process of transition where hospitals and physicians can apply for multiple patients at a time. According to O' Day, "With expanded access, hospitals or physicians can apply for emergency use of Remdesivir for multiple severely ill patients at a time". The said approach, he added, will ultimately accelerate emergency access for more people. A promising therapeutic candidate Remdesivir is not available as a pill or a shot. It can only be administered by intravenous infusion for 30 to 120 minutes. In January of this year, a World Health Organization panel hailed Remdesivir as the "most promising therapeutic candidate", anchoring its assessment on the broad antiviral spectrum and existing database on human and animal studies. The drug was initially developed for Ebola and Marburg viruses and was studied in patients in Eastern Congo. In an article published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, authors of the study suggest that the most promising COVID-19 antiviral is remdesivir, which gets combined into viral RNA, preventing it from being synthesized, thereby stopping viral replication. However, more clinical data is required before the drug can be approved for use. Despite all these positive reviews, the effectiveness of the drug will not be known until clinical trial results are out, with the first expected from China in the coming weeks. Affordability and accessibility The urgency of clinical trials comes from knowing the desperate need among patients and the lack of any approved treatment. It is the company's responsibility, however, to ensure that remdesivir is effective and safe before it is distributed worldwide, O' day said. If the said switch is approved, Gilead, Inc., a Foster City, California-based company, will ensure that affordability and access to make the drug available to patients with the greatest need, he added. The federal penitentiary in Port-Cartier, on Quebec's North Shore, is under lockdown, after two inmates and nine correctional officers tested positive for COVID-19. The maximum-security institution is located on Quebec's North Shore, 575 kilometres northeast of Quebec City. The two inmates, who have been medically isolated from the general population, are the first two confirmed cases in any federal corrections institution in the country, Correctional Service Canada (CSC) said in a written statement. On March 26, test results showed an employee at the Port-Cartier Institution was also positive for the novel coronavirus. By Monday, a total of nine workers at Port-Cartier were home with mild symptoms of COVID-19. Two other cases have also confirmed at the Joliette Institution for women, 75 kilometres north of Montreal bringing the total number of cases in federal prisons in Quebec to 11. CSC said it is taking "immediate action when an employee is symptomatic, including thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the space and ensuring the employee self-isolates at home until cleared to return to work." Several other measures are now in place to try to contain the virus, including enhanced screening for anyone entering the institution. All visits with inmates have been suspended. The union representing federal corrections officers in Quebec, UCCO-SACC-CSN, declined CBC's request for an interview, saying in a written statement that while both institutions remain locked down, "public health officials continue contact tracing, and provide recommendations to the CSC on mitigating further spread of the virus." 'Domino effect,' nearby mayors fear As of Monday, there were 27 cases of COVID-19 across the North Shore region. The prison is one of the biggest employers in Port Cartier, along with steel and pulp and paper plants. Mayor Alain Thibault said the 11 cases connected to the nearby prison is worrisome. Story continues "These correctional officers are people who live in our community, so they have been in contact with many other people," said Thibault. Marc-Antoine Mageau/Radio-Canada Many of the correctional officers are also volunteers firefighters, Thibault said, and have been in contact with some of their colleagues. Two other firefighters are self-isolating as a precaution. Nonetheless, Thibault said, he now has a better idea of the number of cases he may be dealing with in his municipality, since his region's public health officials aren't providing local breakdowns of the numbers. While some regions, like Montreal, are providing breakdowns of the the number of cases in each borough, other regional public health authorities are only giving overall numbers, to protect the privacy of people living in smaller towns. "I have the impression we're playing a big chess game with a bandage over my eyes." - Sept-Iles Mayor Rejean Porlier But Thibault and other mayors on the North Shore have been asking for more data, to be better equipped to put in place emergency measures if needed. "We're facing a situation that is new, that is big and difficult to manage, so having the right communication channels will be extremely important," said Thibault. A spokesperson for the CISSS-Cote-Nord said for the moment, the public health agency "is not planning to give out the data by city." "Prevention measures, like handwashing and social distancing, should be respected by the entire population," Pascal Paradis wrote in an email statement to CBC. The CISSS Cote-Nord confirmed, however, there are no cases on the Lower North Shore and Caniapiscau, which includes Fermont, Schefferville, Matimekush-Lac John and Kawawachikamach. Thibault said the cases in Port-Cartier may have a "domino effect" in the neighbouring city of Sept-Iles as well, where some correctional officers live. Mayor Rejean Porlier said people who live in Sept-Iles drive up and down Highway 138 to work in Port-Cartier, and vice-versa. He said he wasn't "surprised" to see dozens of cases being confirmed in the region. But he'd also like to know in real time where those cases are coming from. "If there are small pockets of contagion, like at the penitentiary, it's not normal that elected officials are learning about it on the news," Porlier said. "I have the impression we're playing a big chess game with a bandage over my eyes." No cases in Quebec jails The union for provincial correctional officers said there are no reported cases among its members. One inmate at the Sherbrooke jail has tested positive, however. The president of the SAPSCQ-CSN, Mathieu Lavoie, said anyone now admitted to a provincial jail is isolated from the rest of the population. Calling COVID-19 "an invisible enemy," Lavoie said his members "have always worked behind closed doors." But he said as in any other workplace, people are anxious. Workers also have to respect the guidelines of physical distancing set by the government. But Thibault said that is easier said than done, working in such tight spaces. "We're trying out best but the office is only so big, and we are afraid we could run out of protective gear," said Lavoie. YEREVAN. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia has issued a statement on the military incident at the border with Azerbaijan. The statement reads as follows: We strongly condemn the attempts of Azerbaijan to escalate the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, which resulted in the wounding of a 14 years old resident of Voskevan community of Tavush region. At the same time, two servicemen of the Armed Forces of Armenia have been wounded while preventing the infiltration attempt of the Azerbaijani side towards the Armenian positions in the same direction. This unprovoked ceasefire violation has no justification, especially today, when all countries of the world mobilize their medical resources in the fight against COVID19. By such actions, Azerbaijan disregards the calls of the international community, particularly the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the UN Secretary General to strictly adhere to the ceasefire and refrain from provocative actions during this period. This military incident demonstrates that either the Azerbaijani side has no control over the actions of its military units on the border or deliberately escalates the situation thus bearing full responsibility for its consequences. We wish speedy recovery to our injured citizens. Eligible businesses that apply will be chosen by lottery. Bars and restaurants that generated up to $500,000 in revenue in 2019 may receive $10,000, while qualifying establishments that did between $500,000 and $1 million in business last year are eligible for $25,000 grants. Hotels that generated up to $8 million in revenue last year may be eligible for $50,000. The High Court has confirmed an order removing a former deputy primary school principal jailed for distributing and possessing child pornography from the teaching register. Last year Brian Fitzgerald pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possession of child pornography on 6 May, 2017 and four charges of distributing over 50 images of child pornography on dates in February, March, and April 2017. He was found to have 555 images and 1,162 videos involving children under the age of 17 engaged in sexual activity with other children or adults. He was also found to have 529 category two images and 1,018 videos which involves children under the age of eighteen with their genitalia exposed. After admitting the offences Fitzgerald expressed remorse for his actions. Fitzgerald, with an address at Links Road, Youghal, Co Cork, was sentenced to three years in prison, to be served in the Midlands Prison, with the final 18 months suspended. The 50-year-old, who was a registered teacher for many years prior to his conviction, was then the subject of an investigation, and disciplinary hearing conducted by the Teaching Council. At the High Court Mr Justice Denis McDonald, following an application made by solicitor JP McDowell for the Teaching Council, formally confirmed the order removing Fitzgerald from the register. The sanction imposed by the Council was entirely appropriate given the circumstances, the judge said. The judge also noted that the council also imposed a requirement that Fitzgerald could not seek to apply to be restored to the register for a period of 15 years. Seeking the confirmation Mr McDowell said that in 2017 Garda were given information from New Zealand's Police force about a particular website, which allowed files and videos to be shared by groups of people. It was alleged that Fitzgerald, using the username 'schoolteacher' uploaded a video containing child pornography. That username was traced to a residential address and an IP address used by Fitzgerald. Various devices, including computers belonging to Fitzgerald, were examined by the Gardai. A large number of files containing images and videos containing child pornography, some of them involving very young boys and girls including babies, were discovered. Fitzgerald initially denied the allegations, but later admitted the offences, Mr McDowell said. 'Not a victimless crime' Evidence was also found from the Garda analysis that Fitzgerald had shared some of these files with other persons located overseas, Mr McDowell said. Arising out of the prosecution and conviction of Fitzgerald the Teaching Council commenced an investigation. Following the investigation a disciplinary committee found that he should be removed from the register of teachers. Mr McDowell said Mr Fitzgerald was aware of the investigation, the subsequent hearing into the allegations, and the sanction imposed against him by the teaching council. He did not attend the hearing, and he neither contested not appealed the council's finding against him nor the sanction imposed, Mr McDowell said. Mr McDowell said that his client was of the opinion that "no words" could be used to explain the appalling nature of the offences committed by Fitzgerald. The Teaching Council fully also agreed with Judge Sean ODonnabhain when sentencing Fitzgerald when he said that Fitzgerald had committed a "heinous" and not a victimless crime, Mr McDowell added. 991174 As of Saturday morning the count of known coronavirus cases in Missoula County in March 2020 had reached 9, with no deaths but a surge of new cases anticipated at any time. Spanish influenza cases in the corresponding initial two-week period in October 1918 were at 580, with 25 deaths. As the final days of that horrific month more than a century ago played out, the city and county of Missoula closed saloons, billiard halls and drinking establishments altogether; outlawed the consumption of ice cream and soft drinks at confectionary stores, and renewed pleas for volunteer nurses and gauze masks. Thirty-seven employees of the Rocky Mountain division of the Northern Pacific were stricken, leaving the railroad short of workers in a variety of capacities. They need machinists and helpers, carpenters and helpers, car repairers, boiler washers, roundhouse laborers, section men, extra gangs, experienced engine and railway timekeepers and bridge and building workers at many points on the division, the Missoulian reported on Oct. 24, 1918. The Missoula Red Cross chapter encouraged families to make masks that were now mandatory for clerks, barbers, messenger boys and deliverymen. It provided instructions that ran on the front page: For the required mask, a piece of gauze, 24 by 18 inches, should be folded to make nine thicknesses, six by nine inches in size. This pad should be sewed around the outer edge and a piece of tape sewed to each of the four corners. A black thread should be run down the middle of one thickness of gauze to indicate the front of the mask. After being worn for half a day, the mask may be boiled and worn again. If it is not boiled, it must be burned and a fresh mask used. A classified ad ran on Oct. 24 and 25 under HELP WANTEDFEMALE. Wanted To get in touch with a nursing mother willing to milk some milk from her breast to be furnished to a baby that is critically ill, or with a wet nurse willing to go to a home where there is influenza. Telephone 196 Purple. Spare the Physician, headlined a box on Page 1 on Oct. 25. If the people of Missoula will remember that our physicians are but human, that they are worn to a frazzle with fatigue, that some of them are already ill, they will realize the necessity of conserving the strength of the physicians by exercising a little care and consideration. Dont wait until night to call the doctor. Dont insist on a home visit. Dont call to find out the condition of a patient. Every minute of his time is needed for the relief of the suffering. There was a world war going on Kaiser Wilhelm II and Germany would surrender on Nov. 11. There was also an election coming up on Nov. 5. The key race was for the U.S. Senate, though incumbent Democrat Thomas Walsh had suspended campaign travels, the times calling for social distancing. So had Republican challenger Oscar Lanstrum and Jeannette Rankin, who was running on the third-party national ticket after losing to Lanstrum in the primary. For once the voters will go to the polls free from the spell of the silver-tongued geniuses who were wont to make us believe that two and two make five, Missoulian editor Martin Hutchens declared on the opinion page. The new departure is a reckless experiment, to be sure, but it is possible that the nation may be found intact on the day after election and the government at Washington alive. Everyone looked for signs the flu epidemic was waning. New cases dropped from 36 to 28 to 20 near the end of October, though nine people died during the three days. While todays figures show the first definite break in the incidence of new cases, the public is warned that there is yet still imminent danger of a serious flare-up of the epidemic and is urged not to relax its vigilance in the slightest degree, Dr. J.P. Ritchey, city health officer, said on Oct. 29. Even now, further regulations of a drastic measure are under consideration and it is believed that the promulgation of such regulations can only be avoided by every person considering himself a committee of one to prevent the spread of contagion. Not until deep into November would the theaters, billiard halls and saloons be allowed to reopen on a crowd-limited basis and churches to resume operations. Even on that day, Nov. 22, the paper reported 10 new cases and one death due to influenza. It would be December before Missoulas schools were back in session. Missoula wasnt Montanas hardest hit town in that awful October of 1918. Butte, by far the states largest town, held that mantle. Statewide almost 20,000 influenza cases and more than 1,000 deaths were reported during the month. By mid-1919, more than 5,000 Montanans were dead from the virus. It was left to Hutchens to put the Spanish flu's grip in perspective. The old Puritans could not have framed a more effective lot of blue laws' than the health authorities have put into force in this community, the editor wrote on Saturday, Oct. 26. The theaters, motion picture houses and dance halls are closed. We may not even sit down to a table with a girl in an ice cream parlor. The saloons are padlocked. The pool halls are closed. To play cards with a group of friends in a cigar store is a crime. We know what life was like 200 years ago in a New England village. It is even worse in Missoula, because we are not permitted to go to church. The lid is on for fair, but it is up to us to say how long it will remain before the kaiser of the germs is forced to unconditional surrender. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 17:15:28|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China's national college entrance exam, also known as Gaokao, will be postponed by a month to July 7 and 8 due to the novel coronavirus disease epidemic, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said Tuesday. Hubei Province, which was hit hard by the virus, and Beijing can put forward their proposals on the exam dates for their regions and publish the schedule after consulting and gaining approval from the MOE, according to an MOE statement. The MOE made the decision in consideration of the safety of examinees and related personnel, said Wang Hui, an official with the MOE, at a press conference in Beijing. Presently, the country has basically blocked the domestic transmission of the virus. However, the risks of sporadic cases and regional outbreaks still exist, said Wang, adding that China is faced with a mounting pressure of guarding against imported cases as the pandemic is spreading rapidly overseas. "Postponing the exam by a month will lower the risks," Wang said. He also said the postponement would ensure fairness for all examinees given that the outbreak had a bigger impact on students from rural areas. Since the epidemic broke out, authorities ordered schools to extend winter breaks and asked students to study from home via online course platforms. The gap in online study condition between urban and rural areas put rural students at a disadvantage, Wang said, noting that an extra month will allow better preparation for the exam. Around 10.71 million applicants will sit for this year's exam, according to the MOE. US proposes power-sharing transition govt for sanctions relief in plan experts say unlikely to be accepted by Maduro. The Trump administration on Tuesday unveiled a proposal for the lifting of Venezuela sanctions in exchange for the creation of a power-sharing transitional government made up of members of the opposition and President Nicolas Maduros Socialist Party. With the South American nation squeezed by low world oil prices, a spreading coronavirus pandemic and a US economic pressure campaign, Washington shifted its approach aimed at promoting new elections as soon as this year to end the political crisis there. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo formally announced the administrations Democratic Transition Framework for Venezuela, which offers for the first time a sequenced exit path from tough US sanctions, including on the vital oil sector, if Maduro and his allies cooperate. But it will be no easy task to draw Maduro onto a path of political reconciliation. He holds onto power despite the escalation of US efforts to remove him and has shown no willingness to seriously negotiate an end to his rule. The initiative comes less than a week after the US government took a more confrontational tack, indicting Maduro and more than a dozen other current and former top Venezuelan officials on charges of narco-terrorism, accusations he dismissed as false and racist. Maduros staying power has become a source of frustration for President Donald Trump, US officials have said privately. Maduro retains the backing of the military, as well as Russia, China and Cuba. But the Trump administration hopes an energy dispute between Russia and Saudi Arabia that has contributed to the plunging price of oil Maduros main financial lifeline and the growing coronavirus threat will help make Maduro and his loyalists more pliable. The regime is now under heavier pressure than it has ever been, US Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams told Reuters News Agency. Maybe this pressure will lead to a serious discussion within the regime. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro holds up a copy of his countrys case taken to the International Criminal Court regarding US sanctions during a news conference at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela [File: Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo] The US proposal, which Abrams said was approved by Trump, calls for Maduro to step aside and for the opposition-controlled National Assembly to elect an inclusive transitional government acceptable to the major factions. This council of state would govern until it oversees elections, which Pompeo said the United States hoped could be held in six to 12 months. But in what appears to be a softening of tone towards Maduro, Abrams told Reuters the plan did not call for him to be forced into exile and even suggested that he could theoretically run in the election. If the conditions of the framework are met, including the departure of all foreign security forces, Pompeo told reporters, then all remaining US sanctions would be lifted. Maduros government did not immediately comment on the US proposal. Maduro has previously accused the US of supporting the oppositions attempts off a coup. Standoff intensifies The US and dozens of other governments currently recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuelas legitimate leader. Guaido invoked the Constitution last year to declare himself interim president in a move Maduro labelled as an attempted coup. Meanwhile, the standoff between Maduro and Guaido has only grown more tense in recent days. Maduros chief prosecutor on Tuesday summoned Guaido to testify after one of the individuals indicted on drug charges said he signed a contract with the opposition leader and his American advisers to buy US assault rifles for a planned coup against Maduro. Guaidos team said he has never met the general, who subsequently surrendered to officials and was taken to the US from his home in Colombia where he had lived since 2018 despite having been previously sanctioned by the US for drug smuggling. Venezuelas opposition leader Juan Guaido waving as US President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address in front of the Congress in Washington, US [File: Leah Millis/Reuters] Still, any power-sharing arrangement is unlikely to win Maduros support unless the thorny issue of his future is addressed and hes protected from the US justice system, said David Smilde, a senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America. While Venezuelans are protected from extradition by Hugo Chavezs 1999 constitution, the charter could be rewritten in a transition, he said. Its a little hard to see how this is going to be convincing to the major players in the government, said David Smilde, a senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America. They seem to think the military is going to step in, but that seems extremely unlikely. A senior administration official said Monday that the US is willing to negotiate with Maduro the terms of his exit even in the wake of the indictments, which complicate his legal standing. But recalling the history of General Manuel Noriega in Panama, who was removed in a US invasion after being charged himself for drug trafficking, he cautioned that his options for a deal were running out. For his part, Guaido called on Saturday for the creation of a national emergency government. He said international financial institutions are prepared to support a power-sharing interim government with $1.2bn in loans to fight the pandemic. Guaido said the loans would be used to directly assist Venezuelan families who are expected to be harmed not only by the spread of the disease but also the economic shock from a collapse in oil prices, virtually the countrys only source of hard currency. The spread of the coronavirus threatens to overwhelm Venezuelas already collapsed health system while depriving its crippled economy of oil revenue on which it almost exclusively depends for hard currency. The United Nations said Venezuela could be one of the nations hit hardest by the spread of the coronavirus, designating it a country for priority attention because of a health system marked by widespread shortages of medical supplies and a lack of water and electricity. Last September, Guaido proposed a similar transitional government in talks with Maduro officials sponsored by Norway, which never gained traction. But with the already-bankrupt country running out of petrol and seeing bouts of looting amid the coronavirus pandemic, calls have been growing for both the opposition and Maduro to set aside their bitter differences to head off a nightmare scenario. Alabamas growing number of coronavirus cases came up during President Trumps daily briefing. Speaking from the White House, Trump said the government is working to send ventilators to states that need them. Probably more will go to Michigan, the president said, with some to New York, the area hardest hit by COVID-19 infections. Even Alabama flared up all of a sudden, he said, adding some ventilators would be sent to the state. As of Monday evening, Alabama has 907 cases of coronavirus, with 253 in Jefferson County alone. The virus is responsible for at least 11 deaths in the state. The presidents remarks came a day after he announced he was extending federal guidelines on social distancing until April 30, more than two weeks after his original April 12 goal. Reports received by Radio Farda indicate during rebellions in two prisons in the city of Ahvaz, southwestern Iran, at least three inmates were killed and several others injured. The first disturbance took place in Sepidar prison on Monday, March 30, which led to the death of three prisoners. This apparently led to a riot in Sheyban prison on Tuesday, which led to security forces surrounding the facility and firing tear gas at the inmates. In the past one week, disturbances have taken place in several Iranian prisons, where inmates are afraid of contracting the coronavirus amid lack of adequate medical care in correctional facilities. This is said to be the reason why prisoners also rebelled in Ahvaz, the capital of Irans oil-rich Khuzestan province. Reports received by Radio Farda say that three prisoners contracted the coronavirus in Sheyban prison, but they were not moved out and were being kept with the general prison population. Meanwhile, Karin Dahimi, a human rights activist told Radio Farda the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps has surrounded the prison. In a video received by Radio Farda intermittent gunfire is heard, but it is not clear if firing is from outside into the prison or is within the compound. Many family members of the inmates gathered outside the prison, concerned about their loved ones. Dahimi says that ward number 5 of the prison houses political prisoners while ward 8 is where Sunni prisoners opposed to the Islamic Republics Shiite government are housed. Khuzestans police chief has said that a group of prisoners at Sepidars ward 2 intended to start a disturbance on Monday, which was controlled by the timely presence of police and security forces. He insisted that the facility is now completely calm. However, reports on social media say several prisoners have escaped from Speidar, and part of the prison was set on fire. The police chief claimed a few prisoners set garbage cans on fire. Iran has released thousands of prisoners amid the coronavirus pandemic to reduce the risk of a major disaster in overcrowded correctional centers. But those prisoners who have remained behind, numbering more than 100,000 have attempted to break out from at least half a dozen prisons. ECA GROUP will provide the Lithuanian Navy with its K-STER mine disposal vehicles to be used for mine countermeasures at sea. More than 20 navies worldwide trust ECA Group MIDS ROV solutions. ECA GROUP will provide the Lithuanian Navy with its K-STER mine disposal vehicles to be used for mine countermeasures at sea. More than 20 navies worldwide trust ECA Group MIDS ROV solutions. ECA Group MIDS ROV solutions (Picture source: ECA Group) K-STER mine neutralisation capabilities already demonstrated in the Baltic Sea: In spring 2019, as part of the Open spirit exercise held in Lithuania, ECA GROUP's K-STER systems were deployed. Alongside traditional means of mine neutralisation, Lithuania and NATO mine countermeasure ships participating in the exercise were equipped with this ECA GROUP solution, which have once again successfully demonstrated its efficiency and reliability to complete mine neutralisation operations. ECA Group MIDS ROV solutions (Picture source: ECA Group) Neutralise a sea mine from a safe stand-off spot: K-STER is an expendable mine disposal system developed by ECA GROUP in 2008. Inheriting from the successful PAP solution and benefitting from the latest technologies and R&D development, this Remotely Operated Vehicle is dedicated to underwater mine countermeasures. This sea proven solution allows to neutralise mine while keeping the crew safe. Operators can run the drone from a command and control unit located outside of the minefield, whether onboard a ship or from the land - in this case, the K-STER can be automatically deployed from a USV platform. Designed with tiltable shape charge, the K-STER can neutralise all kinds of mines from sea-bottom mines, floating mines, historical mines to the smartest mines. Its unique propulsion architecture allows to stand strong water currents and approach the mine to its closest. Safety characteristics includes insensitive ammunition & multi-pole safety interlocks until the final firing. ECA Group's K-STER solution is compliant to NATO standards thanks to the integration of the most advanced technologies in term of reduced acoustic and magnetic signatures. ECA Group MIDS ROV solutions (Picture source: ECA Group) Easily integrated into a system of drones: UMISTM The K-STER MIDS ROV can also be integrated in a collaborative system of drones UMISTM, and can thus be automatically be deployed by an USV. All operations can be planned, run and analysed through a common interface software UMISOFTTM allowing the simultaneous use of several drones during all the phases of MCM operations, in a user-friendly way. Web Toolbar by Wibiya There has been much praise for Premier Francois Legault's leadership on the COVID-19 public health crisis. However, the Premier's magnanimous words won't help pay the rent for those Quebecers whose places of employment have been shut down. There ought to be a temporary suspension of rent payments until federal relief reaches those who need it as housing advocates have sought. We've been asking the Quebec government to actually suspend all rents for April unless there's money coming from the Quebec government to help tenants to make payments for April, Maxime Roy-Allard of the Association of Housing Committees told CTV. April 1 is fast approaching. How are scores of tenants in Quebec going to make the rent? Legault showed leadership on closing down commercial establishments which could become venues for the further spread of the COVID-19 public health crisis. But, he has shown great hypocrisy by failing to redress the socio-economic impact on the lives of Quebecers who don't have the Premier's plus $100,000/yr salary per year and all of his other savings to fall back-on as an elite member of Quebec's business community. I applied for unemployment but I'm still worried until I get confirmation in the mail, said tenant Sara Feldman. I always paid my rent on time, never late. Ive never, never had a problem with that. CTV elaborates that Quebec landlords are warning tenants that if they don't pay or fall behind, they could face "serious consequences". A report released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives this week highlights that 23 per cent of Quebec households that rent have less than a week of savings to rely on. "We definitely need to have something put in place to help tenants pay their rent," said Catherine Lussier, a community organizer with the Front d'action populaire en reamenagement urbain (FRAPRU). Yes, evictions have for now been suspended in Quebec. But, Legault's lack of leadership for renters will mean that they could eventually be evicted under a mountain of debt for rent which they have had no income to pay as a result of the closure of places of work. What the $2 Trillion U.S. Stimulus Package Means for Travel Businesses Editors Note: Please join my colleagues and Tori Barnes from the U.S. Travel Association online at noon on April 1 for a live discussion of these issues and themes. Well present details from multiple industry sectors as well as explain what we know as of now. You can register here. I hope to (virtually) see you there. Tom Lowry, Editor-in-Chief President Donald Trump last week signed what is now known as the CARES Act, a massive $2 trillion stimulus meant to keep the U.S. economic engine running despite concerns about coronavirus. As businesses will receive a good portion of that money individuals will receive about $600 billion, according to one estimate now comes the complicated part for companies. They must apply for money with U.S. government agencies, which will be tasked with deciding what businesses will receive aid, and how much. That will be no small feat, as the law is not always clear about what companies are entitled to money. Relief Package Webinar on April 1: Register Now to Hear Skift Editors Discuss the Impact on the Travel Industry All kinds of businesses have the right to make claims. But travel is at the forefront, with legislators creating special piles of money for industries hit hardest, including airlines, airports, and even travel agents. Travel businesses from segments not expressly named in the bill also will jockey for money, hoping they can apply for grants and loans to keep afloat until the coronavirus pandemic passes. How much travel businesses receive, and how they deploy the funds, will determine the industrys landscape for decades to come. Some will survive. Others, probably many small businesses that make up the majority of travel, wont be as lucky. Here are some potential winners and losers in the governments new law. Airlines and Airports U.S. passenger airlines will have access to roughly $50 billion, half in grants, and half in loans. After airlines accept federal money, the CARES Act bars them from laying off or furloughing frontline employees typically flight attendants, pilots, gate and airport agents, and ramp staff through September. In addition, the law limits airlines from buying back shares or increasing executive compensation. Story continues Most airlines are expected to apply for federal grants so they can meet payroll needs, and the government should make it relatively easy for carriers to get that money. However, the question of loans is murkier, Jamie Baker, an analyst at JP Morgan, wrote in a report. He noted airlines may go to the government only as a last resort, and at unclear terms. Should any airline ultimately apply for a loan, language on securitization is vague, stating that applicants would have to post collateral or that loans be made at a rate that reflects risk, suggesting unsecured borrowing may be possible, but at potentially unattractive rates, Baker said. U.S. airports also will receive $10 billion from the government. The trade group Airports Council International-North America said the money will help defray budget shortfalls and will help airports make bond payments, but said more is needed. U.S. airports are seeing a collapse in airport revenues, with far less money coming in from landing fees, parking, and concessions than expected. The formula for allocating the stimulus funds will be worked out with the FAA and the U.S. Transportation Department. Get the Latest on Coronavirus and the Travel Industry on Skifts Liveblog Hotels Individual hotel owners and big chains also will get a boost from the CARES Act, but insiders say the law offers short-term funding to an industry that needs a longer-term stimulus. Hotel operators are included in the group eligible to tap into federal small business loans set aside for businesses negatively impacted from coronavirus. A provision was added in the bill to enable many one-off hotel operators to qualify for small business benefits even if they operate under the flag of a larger brand like Marriott or Hilton. The large brands are not eligible for these federal loans. We have been advocating on behalf of these small business owners for the (U.S. Small Business Administration) emergency loans that will allow them to remain solvent while operations are suspended at their hotels, a Hilton representative said last week. These SBA loans are capped at 250 percent of a hotels monthly payroll. Loans are subject to forgiveness, meaning they dont have to be paid back, if hoteliers re-hire employees by June 30. The measure comes as many brands have had to lay off tens of thousands of hotel staff and corporate employees. But the relief package likely wont give the industry enough of a lift to get back to pre-coronavirus performance levels, according to one hotel trade group CEO. Were very grateful. The industry has never seen anything like this, so we need a remedy unlike anything weve ever needed, American Hotel & Lodging Association Chip Rogers said. Its definitely a lifeline. Calling it a stimulus package, I wouldnt agree with that. Hoteliers are in survival mode right now. At some point well need an actual stimulus package. The trade group wanted the small business loan cap at a higher 400 percent monthly payroll rate in order to give operators the ability to address debt payments as well as keep most employees on payroll. Given the uncertainty on when travel restrictions will be lifted, the organization also emphasized a need for a longer timeline to recall furloughed employees. We dont expect the industry to be back by June 30, Rogers said. By pushing that back to something later like, say Sept. 30, it would allow the industry to get back to full employment and not face financial penalties. Larger hoteliers werent entirely ignored by Washington. The new laws Coronavirus Economic Stabilization Act of 2020 subset offers $454 billion in liquidity to affected industries like the hospitality sector. The measure is meant to keep workers on payroll at mid-sized companies with between 500 and 10,000 employees. To be eligible, a larger hotel company would have to use funds to support business operations and keep 90 percent of its workforce with full salaries and benefits through the end of September. This package comes with oversight measures like salary caps as well as bans on stock buybacks while loans are outstanding. Experts said it could take weeks for hoteliers to get more clarity on the package aimed at larger companies. In the meantime, smaller operators and employees will at least see some degree of improvement in coming weeks. Short-Term Rentals Property management companies in the short-term rental sector, like major online travel agencies, were working Monday to understand the fine print in the stimulus package, and were hopeful it would provide enough relief to enable partners to hang on until business normalizes. U.S. hosts may be eligible for small business grants and loans, as well as unemployment insurance. Andrew McConnell, the CEO of Rented.com, a revenue management company for short-term rental hosts, said the stimulus package could be the difference in survival or not for many firms depending on the speed of the rollout. Rented has already seen some host partners fire all staff and cease operations. If this package can be accessed quickly enough, and things get back to some semblance of normality within a few months two big ifs it could provide just the bridge needed to keep businesses open, people employed, and get everyone to the other side of this intact, McConnell said. Right now we are hoping for the best, but at the same time not counting on it. T.J. Clark, co-founder and CEO of TurnKey Vacation Rentals, said the company is reaching out to legal, banking and tax advisors to determine how to leverage the relief package. We are hopeful that it could be meaningful, but are not relying on the promise of relief to make the necessary decisions of the day, Clark said. Cruise Lines In a late change, perhaps due to political pressure, lawmakers implicitly excluded the cruise industry from government funds. The bill states that businesses eligible for the allocated $500 billion in government loans and loan guarantees that might otherwise be allocated to cruise companies must be created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States and has significant operations in and a majority of its employees based in the United States. None of the the big three cruise lines Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Lines can easily make that claim. Each has physical headquarters in Miami, but all are incorporated and flag their ships in other nations. A large proportion of their workforce comes from other countries, and they pay comparatively little federal income tax. They also do not have to abide by U.S. labor laws. Carnival Corp.s CEO had previously indicated his interest in securing a loan guarantee from the government. A coalition of environmental groups is now calling to make sure political-savvy cruise industry cannot find a way to skirt the wording by claiming they are indeed organized in the United States and thus deserving of aid. Travel Advisors There are several facets in the bill that help travel advisors, but a key win was securing the eligibility of travel advisors to apply for $25 billion in loans, loan guarantees, and investments reserved for passenger airlines, other related aviation businesses, and ticket agents the statutory term for travel advisors. Politico characterized this provision as one of a handful of special deals included in the bill, as its a specific pot of money that travel advisors are entitled to that fewer businesses will seek. Travel advisors also will be eligible for the Small Business Interruption Loans/Paycheck Protection Program, a $349 billion dollar fund disbursed by the Small Business Administration. Loans of up to $10 million are available, no collateral is required, and the application process is meant to be streamlined. The Small Business Administration said it hopes by next week to be approving and disbursing many loans in as little as one day. Business that did not apply for small business loans can also seek relief from the $425 billion allocated in Economic Stabilization Loans for Severely Distressed Sectors. This fund provides loans and guarantees to U.S. businesses that incurred losses directly or indirectly due to the virus. In addition, unemployment benefits akin to those normally given to employees will be made available to independent contractors. About 40,000 independent contractor travel advisors work the United States, according to the American Society of Travel Advisors, and these workers usually do not have access to federal and state unemployment benefits. Travel Technology Unlike airlines or hotels, travel technology didnt get its own carve out in the legislation. But many companies can still apply for aid. If they are considered small businesses, they will be able to tap into some of the same resources as travel advisors, including loans. During this crisis, the Small Business Administration now defines small business as a company with no more than $22 million in annual revenue or no more than 500 employees. Travel tech firms should be able use payroll protection loans to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that cant be paid because of the disasters impact. The loans are good news for many travel companies, such as Navis, which builds customer-relationship management software for hotels. We certainly intend to apply for applicable loans, said Wade Tibke, vice president of marketing, technology, and software at Navis, which last week had to lay off a large portion of its workforce. Travel tech startups, however, may not find it so easy to take government money. Companies that have taken either significant venture capital or private equity investment may fall into a grey area. Until now, the Small Business Administration usually has not given loans to companies backed by private equity or venture capital. Lobbying groups like TechNet are asking the government to loosen that restriction. As far as small business loans, yes were planning to apply for them, said CEO Gillian Morris of Hitlist, the startup behind a deal-tracking app. Destination Marketing and Tourism Boards The bill does not specifically mention destination marketing organizations or tourism boards. However, the structure of some DMOs will entitle them to certain provisions, according to Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International. The Emergency Stabilization Fund seems to be the most promising financing tool for destination organizations because it provides relief for 501(c)6s and other nonprofits, but policy makers are still working on guidelines for how this fund will be administered and who will be eligible, he said. Online Travel Companies Expedia Group, Booking Holdings and Tripadvisor were still evaluating the relief package. Representatives from all three declined to comment. Werner Kunz-Cho, co-CEO of Fareportal, which operates CheapOair, said his company is studying the stimulus package to see how it might offset what he called a dramatic decline in sales. It is too early, right now, to conclusively determine in what capacity the package can help us, Kunz-Cho said. However, we are pleased that our government is stepping up efforts to support companies, such as ours, being drastically affected by this pandemic. Relief Package Webinar on April 1: Register Now to Hear Skift Editors Discuss the Impact on the Travel Industry Skift reporters and editors Rosie Spinks, Madhu Unnikrishnan, Dennis Schaal, Cameron Sperance and Sean ONeill contributed to this story. Subscribe to Skift newsletters for essential news about the business of travel. Photo: The Canadian Press Six-year-old Peyton Denette works remotely with speech-language pathologist Olivia Chiu in Mississauga, Ont. Despite years of discussions between politicians and doctors, the Quebec government couldn't find a way to pay its general practitioners for phone and video consultations with patients. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Premier Legault called a public health emergency March 14, sweeping aside legislative hurdles as well as the bureaucratic inertia of Quebec's health care network. Within days, family doctors across the province could be paid to examine patients by phone or video. But so-called telemedicine is likely just one of the technological legacies this crisis will leave. Experts in medicine, artificial intelligence, education and many other fields say they expect the pandemic to fast-forward innovations that will benefit the world long after the novel coronavirus has run its course. Dr. Louis Godin, president of Quebec's federation of general practitioners, said the pandemic has done what years of talk failed to accomplish. "Often there are positive things that happen during crises," he said in a recent interview. "It allows us, sometimes, to develop things much faster than we would have otherwise done." Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu told a Senate committee last week that the "uptick" in virtual care in Quebec and across Canada which includes screening for COVID-19 will leave "an amazing legacy in terms of our ability to access physicians in the 21st century." "If there's any silver lining to this crisis whatsoever," she continued, "it's the rapidity at which I see provinces and territories moving toward innovation and the delivery of health care." Carolina Bessega, chief scientific officer and co-founder of Montreal-based Stradigi AI, said artificial intelligence will be increasingly used to expand the ability to perform tasks at a distance. Machine learning, she said in a recent interview, is already capable of helping doctors spot mental illness in the written and verbal responses of patients. And while it's early to know exactly what AI solutions will be fast-tracked during this crisis, Bessega said many companies and governments don't have the luxury of waiting to implement new technologies. "Maybe this is sad, but history shows that in a moment of crisis, it's when technology and new ideas grow in a fast way," said Bessega, whose machine learning platform can help companies with things such as pricing products, equipment monitoring and fraud detection. "And I'm sure that most of the things that will be fast-forwarded right now," she added, "we are going to discover that they are very useful and they will improve our quality of life when the crisis is over." Anne-Louise Davidson, a professor in Concordia University's education department, said universities are usually slow to change, but when schools closed to stop the spread of COVID-19, many professors were forced to put all their material online. "It happened like a hurricane," said Davidson, who studies teaching and technology. The crisis is spurring teachers to explore online tools, to open more communication channels with students and to think about how they can be more agile in delivering course material, she said. She predicts universities that adapt will emerge from this crisis requiring professors to develop courses that can be delivered entirely online but that are also suitable for in-class teaching. Monday was the first day of classes for McGill University following a two-week break during which teachers and staff put about 2,000 courses online for the school's 40,000 students. "It's been an incredibly steep learning curve," Chris Buddle, associate provost for teaching and academic learning, said in an interview Monday. But, he said, McGill and the other universities that adapt will come out of the crisis stronger. "There are silver linings in some of the things that are happening right now," he said. "One of them is what institutes of higher education will learn about what it means to do remote and distance learning and teaching." Richard Worzel, a Toronto-based futurist, says he expects technology that helps businesses and institutions operate from a distance will be developed and deployed more rapidly because of the COVID-19 crisis. Artificial intelligence, for instance, will be used increasingly to triage patients, he said, and send them to hospitals and clinics that can provide appropriate care. "Anything to do with acting at a distance is going to be put on steroids after this, whether it's medicine, social interaction or dating," Worzel said in a recent interview. Companies able to capitalize on this need, he predicted, "are going to make fortunes." The Spanish government will once again call on opposition parties in Congress to support its latest measures aimed at combating the spread of the coronavirus, easing the congestion caused by the Covid-19 disease in the countrys intensive care units, and tackling the effect the crisis is having on the Spanish economy. This week the Cabinet approved the suspension of all non-essential activity in the country, which went into force on Monday and will be in place for two weeks. The Socialist Party (PSOE)-led coalition already secured support in Congress for the extension of the state of alarm declared more than two weeks ago, and now will seek backing for a series of other measures. The new measures are aimed at offering financial help to those who, for example, are unable to pay their rent due to the confinement measures The executive believes that the main opposition Popular Party (PP) has no arguments to reject these latest initiatives, and rejects the criticism that its leader, Pablo Casado, has leveled against it. Casado on Monday called the government disloyal and accused it of lying. He pointed to a lack of dialogue given that other parties were not contacted by the government before the stricter confinement was approved, and criticized the executive for improvising and not supplying enough information about its plans. The official state bulletin in which the list of businesses that were permitted to keep operating was not published until late on Sunday night, despite the fact that the measures went into effect on Monday. The contact between Sanchezs team and the opposition has been minimal. Until Monday, the prime minister had gone eight days without speaking to Casado. Sanchez leads a minority coalition government with junior partner Unidas Podemos. Given the lack of a working majority, the prime minister needs the support of other parties in order to pass legislation. Last week, when groups such as the PP and far-right Vox backed the extension of the state of alarm until after Easter, it marked the first time that these parties had supported the government in a congressional vote. Parties that support independence for their regions, such as the Catalan Republican Left (ERC), abstained at last weeks vote. Popular Party leader Pablo Casado. Mariscal (EFE) Within the government, there is not much concern over the accusations leveled by the PP. The prime minister, his team and the Cabinet have been focused on the new measures that will today be taken to the weekly Cabinet meeting, and are aimed at offering financial help to those who, for example, are unable to pay their rent due to the confinement measures in place and the shutdown of all but essential business. In this case, tenants will be offered zero-interest loans, a plan that is designed for those whose landlords own one or two properties for rent and depend on them for their income. Landlords who own a series of apartments, however, are likely to have the option of offering their tenants a four-month break on paying their rent, and later working out a repayment plan for the debt. These and other measures were being discussed last night in the heart of the Spanish government, both from a legal and technical standpoint, sources from the executive reported. This was a way of indicating that the opposition cannot yet be informed about a plan that has yet to be finalized and that is incredibly complex. The executive did, however, react with displeasure to the criticism and threats leveled at it by the PP leader on Monday, and has accused Pablo Casado of not being aware of the severity of the situation. The leader of center-right Ciudadanos, Ines Arrimadas, has opted for a different strategy, and has reiterated her support for the government, albeit insisting that Sanchez hold a video conference meeting with party leaders. The government argues that none of the measures being implemented by the Cabinet break Spanish law nor are outside the scope of the Constitution The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) has also held its hand out to the government, although it has voiced its clear rejection of the complete halt to industry that was put into place this week. Basque premier Inigo Urkullo has expressed his anger on the basis that the closure of non-essential businesses will be particularly damaging to firms in his region, which is one of Spains industrial heartlands. The central government has not sought to claim otherwise, but argues that it cannot see any other way to slow down the rate of contagion. The emergency situation has led the government to believe that the PP will, in the end, support its latest measures. None of the measures being implemented by the Cabinet break Spanish law nor are outside the scope of the Constitution, the government has argued in the wake of the debate opened by the PP with its criticism. A message posted on Twitter by Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias, of Unidas Podemos, in which he stated that the wealth of a country is subordinate to the general interest, has added fuel to the fire of the claims that Prime Minister Sanchez is pitting the public sector against the private with his measures. But Iglesiass tweet was not a political declaration, but rather a reminder of Article 128 of the Spanish Constitution. English version by Simon Hunter. By Julia Payne and Dmitry Zhdannikov LONDON (Reuters) - Global commodities trader Trafigura's chief economist said oil demand could fall by more than 30 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, as the global economy grinds to a near halt due to the coronavirus. The forecast, the highest yet from a senior industry forecaster, equates to around a third of the world's daily oil consumption. Saad Rahim, chief economist at the Geneva-based trader, said a battle for market share between Saudi Arabia and Russia had become increasingly irrelevant now that some 3 billion people are under lockdown to the prevent the spread of COVID-19, with no clear end in sight. "You can see every now and then when Trump says he will talk to Putin about energy, the market picks up a bit but...it's too late," Rahim said by telephone. Saudi-led OPEC and Russia failed to reach a deal to deepen supply cuts early this month, leading both countries to promise production increases from April. Rahim pegged global refinery run cuts at around 7-8 million bpd but saw them rising to 12-13 million bpd in the next two or so weeks as people and goods move around even less. "In Europe and some parts of the United States, traffic is at 10% of the normal level in major metropolitan areas like San Francisco, Paris and Italian cities," he said, while airline travel in the United States is down 90% versus last year. The only consistent fuel demand was coming from a recovering China, global military units and the parts of Africa that are still moving for now. Producers will have to start cutting more as next month storage will run out. "If oil demand destruction reaches 30 million bpd, that means 1 billion barrels of crude that needs to be stored in just one month. Globally there's only 800 million barrels of onshore storage plus another 100-150 million of floating," Rahim said. He said U.S. oil output was set to fall because, unlike during the 2014 price crash, shale oil firms have lost the opportunity to borrow from the debt or equity markets. Story continues They are also unable to squeeze service costs any further and need to start 2-3 million bpd of new output each year to maintain flat production as good reserves are depleting rapidly. Longer term, the days of U.S. oil output leaping by 1 million or more bpd each year are at an end. Instead, annual increases to daily output will only be several hundred thousand barrels as the shale industry will increasingly consolidate, resulting in a more cautious approach. "On the flip side, from a sudden stop we'll see a quick pop back up especially on gasoline," Rahim said, looking ahead to when the lockdowns end. (Reporting by Julia Payne; editing by Barbara Lewis) The process of making a curfew pass for Delhi NCT, Noida and Gurugram has been made online from today. As the entire nation is under a 21-day lockdown, the curfew pass is for essential service workers who head out on the streets to perform their duties. The online curfew pass making platforms for Noida can be assessed through the city police website of these cities. The curfew pass platform for Delhi NCT and Gurugram can be assessed from their respective government websites. It is necessary for all who wish to make a pass that they have an authorisation certificate from their employer as well as a government authorised identity card such as Aadhaar. The curfew pass will be valid only for those particular dates that the person making the pass has entered on the platform. The curfew pass making process is similar for all three cities. It is al follows: Step 1: The applicant needs to enter all the information asked by the website and register. The applicant needs to enter all the information asked by the website and register. Step 2: The authorities will view all the documents uploaded by the applicant and will decide after verification whether the applicant qualifies for a pass or not. The authorities will view all the documents uploaded by the applicant and will decide after verification whether the applicant qualifies for a pass or not. Step 3 : The applicant would then receive a mail on their registered ID containing a digital copy of the pass if it has been approved. : The applicant would then receive a mail on their registered ID containing a digital copy of the pass if it has been approved. Step 4: The applicant can get a print out of and use. The Gurugram Platform and the Noida Platform among other details ask for the type and registration number of the vehicle the applicant would be driving, while the Delhi NCT platform skips this information. Before the process was made available online, any person wishing to get a curfew pass made would have go to a police station to get it made. However, still, not just any person can get a curfew pass made, they need to be qualified as an essential service under the guidelines issued by the Home Ministry. Also Read: Coronavirus in India Live updates: Rajasthan govt to acquire 84 private hospitals in Jaipur Also Read: Coronavirus: 93-year-old recovers from COVID-19 in Kerala EU Parliament to focus on Greek refugee centers and borders In LIBE with Athens ministers and EU commissioners (ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, MARCH 31 - Migrants and refugees and the situation along Greece's external borders will be the center of a April 2 debate during a video conference of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). The Member of the European Parliament (MEP) will be discussing these issues with the Greek government, the European Commission, the Croatian presidency, Frontex, and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Human Rights (FDA). The European Parliament noted in a statement that, while tensions along Greece's land border with Turkey seem to have been attenuated in recent weeks, concerns are growing about the poor living conditions of asylum seekers in overcrowded reception centers in Aegean Sea islands, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. During the meeting, the situation will be assessed with the Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum Notis Mitarachi and Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis as well as with European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas, Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ylva Johansson and Croatian Secretary of State for European and International Affairs Terezija Gras. The MEPs will also listen to Frontex executive director Fabrice Leggeri and FDA director Michael O'Flaherty. (ANSAmed). There are now five flights that landed in Moncton where a passenger tested positive for COVID-19. In a press release, the Greater Moncton International Airport Authority said a Prince Edward Island resident passed through the Greater Moncton Romeo LeBlanc International Airport on Friday, March 20. The person was a passenger on Sunwing flight WG445 scheduled to arrive at 3:50 p.m. from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, the release said. The person then travelled to their home on P.E.I. The release says if anyone was on this flight, or was in close contact to someone on this flight, they should self-isolate for 14 days. If they then developed symptoms, they should call 811. The authority sent a notice about a similar case last Sunday, where a woman in her 20s flew from Toronto to Moncton on March 16. She was on WestJet flight 3456 that departed from Toronto at 8:35 a.m. and arrived in Moncton at 12:05 p.m. All passengers on that flight were also asked to self-isolate for two weeks. A list on the Prince Edward Island website, confirmed with the Moncton airport authority, shows five flights to Moncton where passengers are currently suspected for being at risk of COVID-19. The list is as follows: Sunwing Flight WG445 arriving to Moncton on March 20 from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Air Transat Flight TS2653 arriving to Moncton on March 18 from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Air Canada Flight AC7518 departing from Toronto on March 17 and arriving in Moncton on March 18. WestJet flight 3456 arriving to Moncton March 16 from Toronto. WestJet flight 3440 arriving to Moncton on March 8 from Toronto. On Friday, Chief Medical officer Jennifer Russell said there was a COVID-19 case connected to Sunwing flight 169 from Punta Cana to Fredericton on March 18. Government spokesperson Anne Moores said as with all suspected cases of COVID-19, "Public Health officials are in touch with those who were on that flight and others who may have come into contact with the person." Story continues In the dark Julie Pondant, spokesperson with the Moncton airport authority, said she can't provide many details about the confirmed cases because that's the health authority's purview. She said her organization has not been getting information from the province easily. She said sometimes, the authority finds out about affected flights along with everyone else during the 2:30 p.m. press conferences with Russell and Premier Blaine Higgs. "If we're not made aware then we can't share it," she said. "But once we are aware then we share it as soon as possible." She said that's a challenge because the authority wants to be part of sharing that information with the public. "Obviously everybody would want to know sooner, and we're part of that as well," she said. Pondant said P.E.I. is doing a good job keeping everyone up to date by posting affected flights online and it would be helpful if the province could do that too. "It's regrouping all of the cases that have been identified that have come into their province," she said. "It would be a good way to be able to summarize all the flights affected that came through our province if they had it out in one spot." The province's spokesperson Tyler Campbell said he will share a response to CBC's questions about this Monday. PITTSBURGH, PA / ACCESSWIRE / March 31, 2020 / Liberated Syndication (OTCQB:LSYN) ("Libsyn"), a world leading podcast hosting network, announced today that it has filed a Form 12b-25, Notification of Late Filing, with the Securities and Exchange Commission that will provide the Company with a 15 calendar-day extension beyond the March 30th, 2020 deadline within which to file the annual report on Form 10-K. Libsyn will delay its earnings press release and shareholder conference call to discuss 2019 financial results, previously scheduled for March 30th, 2020 and April 1, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. ET, respectively. The Company will announce a new date for the shareholder conference call at the appropriate time. About Liberated Syndication Libsyn, a world leading podcast hosting network and has been providing publishers with distribution and monetization services since 2004. In 2018, Libsyn delivered over 5.1 Billion downloads. Libsyn hosts over 5.6 Million media files from more than 67,000 podcasts, including typically around 35% of the top 200 podcasts in Apple Podcasts. Podcast producers choose Libsyn to measure their audience via IAB V2 certified stats, deliver popular audio and video episodes, distribute their content through smartphone Apps (iOS, and Android), and monetize via premium subscription services and advertising. We are a Pittsburgh based company with a world class team. Visit us on the web at www.libsyn.com. Pair Networks, founded in 1996, is one of the oldest and most experienced Internet hosting company providing a full range of fast, powerful and reliable Web hosting services. Pair offers a suite of Internet services from shared hosting to virtual private servers to customized solutions with world-class 24x7 on-site customer support. Based in Pittsburgh, Pair serves businesses, bloggers, artists, musicians, educational institutions and non-profit organizations around the world. Visit us on the web at www.pair.com. Legal Notice "Forward-looking Statements" as defined in the Private Securities litigation Reform Act of 1995 may be included in some of the information or materials made available on this website. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. These statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future results or events. We disclaim any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. There are important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, risks associated with our change in business strategy towards more heavy reliance upon on our new talent segment and wholesale channels, actions of regulators concerning our business operations or trading markets for our securities, the extent to which we are able to develop new services and markets for our services, our significant reliance on third parties to distribute our content, the level of demand and market acceptance of our services and the "Risk Factors" set forth in our most recent SEC filings. Investor Relations Contact Laurie Sims investor@libsyn.com https://investor.libsyn.com SOURCE: Liberated Syndication View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583364/Liberated-Syndication-Provides-Update-on-Form-10-K-Filing To cater to requirement of oxygen supply for multiple patients during the COVID-19 pandemic using limited resources, personnel from the Naval Dockyard here have designed an innovative portable arrangement that can help connect one cylinder to six people at a time. The "Portable Multi-feed Oxygen Manifold(MOM)' using a six-way radial header fitted to a single cylinder would enable critical care management to a larger number of COVID patients with the existing limited resources. The entire set up was made operational by the manufacture of a Fine Adjustment Reducer and specific adapters of requisite dimensions for connecting the Oxygen cylinder and the portable MOM, according to a release here. The preliminary trials of the entire assembly was conducted at the Naval Dockyard here and this was followed by rapid trials at the Naval Hospital INHS Kalyani wherein the portable MOM was successfully set up within 30 minutes, it said. A typical Oxygen providing facility in hospitals comprises of an oxygen cylinder feeding only one patient through a vent mask arrangement. During the ongoing pandemic, ventilator support will be required for about 5-8 per cent of patients with symptoms whereas a large number would require oxygen support, it said. As the existing facilities are not adequate to cater for such large requirements, a need was felt to design a suitable portable arrangement that could provide oxygen through masks to a number of needy patients using a single cylinder during emergencies. The preliminary trials of the entire assembly was conducted at MI Room at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. This was followed by rapid trials at the Naval Hospital INHS Kalyani wherein the portable MOM was successfully set up within 30 minutes. After successful trials, the Naval Dockyard has commenced manufacture of 10 portable MOM with two 6-way radial headers catering for 120 patients at makeshift locations to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. 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 An employee at the Alabama Department of Public Health who works in the laboratory has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a press release. The employee had no interaction with the public and was not working on testing for COVID-19, according to the announcement. The employee was sent home and those who interacted with them are also in isolation. The department is having the lab throughly cleaned. This is the first case of COVID-19 among an employee worked at the Alabama Department of Public Health. The department has encouraged other employees to work from home and has increased the frequency of cleaning. The Alabama Department of Public Health has led the states effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Its Bureau of Clinical Laboratories was the first in the state to offer testing for the virus. The Pennsylvania Senate overwhelmingly passed Deanas Law 43-6 Tuesday, a package of reforms to the states DUI laws that would increase penalties for repeat drunk drivers and implement new technology aimed at alerting law enforcement of possible infractions before drivers can get behind the wheel. Less than a year ago, Deana Eckman was violently and callously murdered by an individual now convicted of his sixth DUI, said state Sen. Tom Killion, R-9 of Middletown, the bills prime sponsor. With Senate passage of this legislation, we are a major step closer to honoring her memory and better protecting Pennsylvanians from the worst of the worst DUI offenders. Eckman, 45, was killed by David Strowhouer in a drunk-driving crash as she and her husband, Chris, were returning home from a family gathering. Strowhouer had five previous DUIs on his record in the prior 10 years, all with high rates of alcohol in his system. Strowhouer was sentenced to 25 and a half to 50 years in state prison last week after pleading guilty in August to murder in the third degree, aggravated assault and related offenses for the Feb. 16 crash on Route 452 in Upper Chichester. He previously pleaded guilty to his third and fourth DUIs at the same time in Chester County Oct. 2, 2017, and was given a total sentence of 18 to 36 months in state prison. Later that same month, he pleaded to a fifth DUI in Delaware County for DUI: Controlled substance combination alcohol/drug as a third offense. The sentence in the Delaware County case was run concurrent to the Chester County sentence. Eckmans mother, Roseanne DeRosa, has previously said allowing the sentence to run concurrent was a big flaw in the system that she and her family hoped to address with Killions help. There is no word strong enough to describe the lifelong pain of outliving your child, said DeRosa. I am grateful to the state Senate and especially Sen. Killion for their efforts to pay tribute to Deana by making sure no other family endures the tragedy that we have. Deanas Law, Senate Bill 773, would require anyone convicted of a third DUI to serve a sentence consecutive to any other sentence imposed by the court and increase jail time for repeat offenders. Current sentencing guidelines for fourth and fifth offenses are three-and-a-half to seven years, but the bill would raise those to five to 10 years and 10 to 20 years, respectively. Repeat DUI offenders callously disregard the lives and safety of others, said Killion. Those convicted of these crimes should not be allowed the luxury of serving DUI sentences concurrently. Had concurrent sentences not been imposed on the drunk driver who took Deana from us, he would have still been in prison when she was killed, said Eckmans father, Rich DeRosa. The bill would also impose preventative measures by mandating statewide use of continuous alcohol monitoring devices, also known as CAM (or SCRAM for Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor). These devices are affixed to offenders in the same manner as electronic home monitoring devices, but sample and test the wearers perspiration for the presence of alcohol. If the device senses alcohol in the wearers system, a signal is transmitted to a monitoring agency that can notify police to detain the person before they drive in the hopes of averting another tragedy. Killion said the devices are as sensitive and reliable as Breathalyzers, and have been used for several years in York County as part of adjudicating DUI cases. York saw a 90 percent decline in DUI recidivism within the first year of introducing CAM devices and a 21 percent drop in DUI fatalities over three years, according to Killion. CAM devices work, he said. They effectively deter offenders from consuming alcohol. You keep someone from drinking, you keep them from turning a vehicle into a killing machine. Senate Bill 773 now moves to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to be referred to the Transportation Committee. Killion thanked his Senate colleagues for supporting the bill and asked the House to move quickly on passage as well. Shannon Yearout arrived Monday afternoon at Pasadena High School expecting a modest wait 10 or 15 minutes long if her three previous trips served as a guide to pick up free meals for her three kids. Instead, she found more than 150 cars snaking through the neighborhood around the campus in a line stretching about three-quarters of a mile. When I was trying to find the end of the line, I was like, Oh my gosh, its not stopping, Yearout said from the front seat of her van, her 7-, 5- and 2-year old children sitting quietly in back. A wait bordering on an hour greeted hundreds of families seeking meals at the Pasadena ISD campus, as the district shifted from daily to twice-a-week curbside meal pickup amid school closures triggered by the novel coronavirus. The crowd proved so overwhelming that dozens of families were turned away after workers ran out of food, leaving them without school-provided meals for three days. As the regionwide school shutdown tied to COVID-19 enters its third full week, about 10 of the Houston areas largest districts have altered their curbside meal plans in recent days with changes resulting in headaches for parents and reduced access to food for some children. Most districts tweaking their schedules have announced reductions in pickup times, aiming to cut the number of contacts made between workers and families. Two districts, Pearland and Spring Branch, have added pickup days after initially offering food only twice a week. Several districts unveiled new plans Monday, with Aldine and Pasadena making the most dramatic shift. The two districts combine to enroll around 120,000 students, about 87 percent of whom are considered economically disadvantaged by the state. Both districts ended daily pickup this week and started providing three days worth of meals on Mondays and Thursdays. However, Aldine and Pasadena officials reported unexpectedly high demand that caused many of their sites to run out of food Monday. On HoustonChronicle.com: Free food providers report huge spike in demand due to COVID-19 Aldine administrators said they distributed about 49,400 meals Monday, while Pasadena officials handed out about 51,000. We will readjust our plans after today, said Dani Sheffield, Aldines executive director of child nutrition services. But its reassuring that were meeting a need for our students, that communication has been good because parents did show up today and that they appreciate what were doing. At Pasadena High, the overwhelming demand caused the abrupt shutdown of food distribution around 1 p.m., when the line still stretched about a half-mile. Belinda Martinez, who toted her 5-year-old and 1-year-old sons in the back of her sedan, left the campus exasperated after getting turned away. I wasnt expecting this long line, said Martinez, who had been coming to the campus daily to pick up lunches. I was happy they were going to do it this way because its a convenience thing for me. Its been helping us out a lot, because Ive been thinking a lot about our food expenses. In a statement, Pasadena ISD director of communications Art Del Barrio said the district will make adjustments before Thursday and increase meal availability as necessary. As we continue navigating through uncharted waters, we ask for patience and to trust that our district will continue to make the necessary adjustments for the betterment of our students, Del Barrio said. The most dramatic change in meal distribution took place Wednesday, when Houston ISD announced it was suspending food delivery indefinitely after an individual at one of the campus pickup sites went into self-quarantine because of possible exposure to COVID-19. On HoustonChronicle.com: HISD cancels food pickup, city takes on added lunch duty The impact of that move continues to reverberate, as available evidence suggests no organization has sufficiently filled the void left by HISD, the states largest district at about 210,000 students. In the days leading up to the suspension, HISD and Houston Food Bank officials were providing about 30 pounds of food to more than 5,000 families daily. By contrast, the primary organization tasked with feeding HISDs children, the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department, reported serving 1,350 lunches on Thursday and 1,770 lunches on Friday. We would love to see a greater response to the meal service offering at our community centers, Rummeka Allen, the citys administrative coordinator for after-school and summer food service programs, said in a statement. We do know that the need is significant, and likely more significant than what we are currently serving. Several districts made more meager changes to their schedules Monday. In Cy-Fair ISD, the regions second-largest district, officials cut the number of pickup times from three to one after concluding they could serve meals more effectively and efficiently that way, said Leslie Francis, assistant superintendent for communication and community relations. jacob.carpenter@chron.com A bipartisan group of 19 U.S. senators urged the Trump administration to push back the planned June 1 start date for the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact, saying the short lead time would add to pressures on U.S. companies due to the spread of the coronavirus. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer gestures as he speaks during a meeting at the Presidential Palace, in Mexico City, Mexico December 10, 2019. In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the senators, led by Republican Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and ranking Democrat Ron Wyden, said the new trade deal, which replaces the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement, should not enter into force until Mexico and Canada are in full compliance with their commitments. "Even absent the pandemic, a June 1 deadline would be highly aggressive, and raises questions as to whether businesses have the information they need to adjust to the new rules and comply by that date," the senators wrote. "We ask you to delay the proposed June 1 entry into force and work with Congress and stakeholders to determine a more feasible timeline." Grassley earlier had raised concerns about the auto industry's ability to quickly comply with higher standards for North American automotive content under the new pact, known as USMCA. The Mexican Automotive Industry Association on Monday urged its government to seek a delay in the regional automotive rules until 2021. In a statement to a G-20 trade ministers call, Lighthizer on Monday cautioned against using the coronavirus crisis to "push other agendas" in trade and other areas. Instead, the Group of 20 economies should stay focused on defeating the pandemic. "Let us not make long-term decisions in the midst of a crisis," Lighthizer said. Libya situation requires urgent action, EU top diplomat Irini to support Berlin process (ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, MARCH 31 - Libya is a priority for the EU, as shown by the Berlin conference, but the situation is critical and requires urgent action, High Representative for the European Union Josep Borrell said Tuesday. The EU's top diplomat was illustrating the bloc's new mission, Irini, which he said was a way to help support the Berlin process and play a key role in promoting peace in the North African country. He stressed that diplomacy would not be able to achieve its aims without such actions and that the aim is to help bring in and keep a ceasefire. (ANSAmed). Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. With nearly 3,000 deaths and more than 160,000 infected by COVID-19 in the United States, its clear no one will be spared from impacts of the pandemic. In the past week, four children in immigration detention and seven employees of the Office of Refugee Resettlement who work in childrens detention facilities in New Jersey and Texas tested positive for the virus. Doctors working with detained immigrants have warned members of Congress that immigrant detention centers pose a tinderbox scenario, where social distancing precautions are impossible. Advertisement Two separate lawsuits are asking federal courts to force the release of unaccompanied children as well as families in immigrant detention, citing the grave health risks of contracting the coronavirus and spreading the disease. These risks are particularly serious because of the confluence of factors in family detention centers: crowded quarters, limited cleaning supplies, and the influx of new families into the detention centers. While it is understood children are usually less at risk of serious complications from COVID-19, a handful of children in the U.S. with COVID-19 have died in the past few days, and children may be more likely to more rapidly spread the disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of a public healthoriented response to COVID-19 in the immigration legal system, we are seeing political opportunism. The Trump administration is using the virus as an excuse to swiftly deport unaccompanied minors at the border, despite laws that require that children be allowed to have their cases heard first by an immigration judge. Similarly, the Department of Justice is defying public health guidelines by forcing judges, attorneys, and immigrants to appear in select immigration courts across the country, despite positive COVID-19 tests from court personnel and risks inherent to crowded courtrooms, in order to continue deportation proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement This mistreatment of children is not new. Before the outbreak, children were finding themselves in an increasingly punishing immigration legal systemwhere they had been separated from their parents, detained in record-breaking numbers for longer periods of time, and held in shocking and abusive detention conditions, including dog cage holding cells without mattresses, overflowing toilets, and frigid temperatures. Children do not have to be held in these conditions; unaccompanied children can and should be released more expeditiously to live with family in the U.S., and children detained with parents could be released as a family unit to pursue their legal case outside of detention. Advertisement Detained children have experienced forced hunger, dehydration, and sleeplessness. Holly Cooper, an attorney representing detained children, stated: In my 22 years of doing visits with children in detention I have never heard of this level of inhumanity. One 15-year-old boy, detained at the jail-like Shenandoah Valley facility, wrote I want us to be treated as human beings. Advertisement As a law professor and immigration attorney for more than a decade, I have seen firsthand how the immigration system mistreats children. In a recent law journal article, I argue adultification bias can help explain the mistreatment of immigrant children, who are largely teenagers of color. Adultification is the phenomenon whereby children of color are perceived as more adultlike and therefore less innocent than white peers. Adultification has created systemic harm for children of color within public systems like education, juvenile justice, and child welfare. In particular, the disproportionate rates of arrests, adjudications, and sentencing for children of color within the juvenile justice system has been studied closely. Advertisement Advertisement Immigration laws were not designed to protect children. In fact, only a few areas of the law consider the special circumstances of children. The Flores settlement sets minimum standards for detaining minors, limited to children under 18. Under Flores, children should be released as soon as possible to family, when feasible. Furthermore, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, not U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is tasked with the custody of detained unaccompanied minors. According to legislative history, this is because ORR, under the Department of Health and Human Services, has more expertise in child care. Another child-focused measure is the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, or TVPRA, which expands legal protections for children including in the areas of asylum law and special immigrant juvenile status, a pathway to legal permanet residence and citizenship available for some children. Lastly, the government has issued guidlelines for childrens cases to improve immigration court proceedures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In most ways, children are treated the same as adults in the immigration legal system. Children, like adults, are arrested by ICE or Border Patrol agents, may be detained, and are put in deportation proceedings. There are no age limits in immigration courteven babies are deported. Children, like adults, have no right to a government-appointed attorney under immigration law, even though studies show a lawyer can make immigrants up to 10 times more likely to win their cases. Children in immigration court are usually forced to represent themselves. Since immigrants have to prove a defense to deportation, a child without a lawyer must complete immigration forms, amass evidence, and make their argument to win. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has taken every opportunity to warn of the threat of immigrant children, who look so innocent. They are not innocent. Meanwhile, White House press releases and fact sheets denounce the few existing child protection measures as loopholes that must be eliminated. Trump has repeatedly called for an end to Flores, with the Department of Homeland Security even proposing new rules to allow the indefinite detention of children (child advocates have challenged the new rules, which have not gone into effect). Trump demanded that Congress amend the TVPRA to restrict childrens access to special immigrant juvenile status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The purportedly child-protection-oriented ORR has morphed toward an enforcement focus, sharing with ICE information from childrens counseling sessions, allowing ICE inside shelters to fingerprint children as young as 14, and making formal and informal agreements with ICE to share fingerprints of childrens potential sponsors, leading to hundreds of arrests of potential sponsors who were trying to claim their children. The administration slashed the court guidance regarding childrens cases, sanitizing prior language about child sensitivity and deleting child protective modifications, such as leniency in granting motions for continuances. Instead, the new guidance advises judges to be vigilant that children may in fact be lying about their age or circumstances, despite no evidence of this as a phenomon. Advertisement This move in the immigration legal system to treat children more harshly may be a result of adultification bias against immigrant children. These practices are completely out of sync with our understanding of child development. Research shows that childrens brains are still developing, so courts and the public should take their immaturity and special vulnerability into account. The Supreme Court famously proclaimed in the 2012 case of Miller v. Alabama that the state cannot proceed as though they [juveniles] were not children. The immigration legal system has a long history of doing just this. By ignoring migrant childrens immaturity and vulnerabilities, the immigration legal system effectively discriminates against children. Advertisement Advertisement We must reimagine an immigration legal system for children. First, we must recognize and undo racist stereotyping of youth of color, exemplified by calling immigrant children wolves in sheep clothing. In a reimagined system, all children would have immigration lawyers, their best interests would be taken into consideration throughout the legal system, and children would no longer be detained for months in jail settings. Ultimately, the immigration legal system must stop proceeding as if immigrant children are not children. In this moment, we must heed the calls from public health officials and immigrant advocates to #ReleaseThemAll before facilities are overtaken by COVID outbreaksfor the safety of children, and for the safety of everyone. By Raul Cortes and Jesus Bustamante MEXICO CITY/BADIRAGUATO, Mexico (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday defended his weekend handshake with the mother of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, calling her a "respectable old lady" and seeking to cast his critics as the principal menace to the country. In a 30-second video posted on Twitter on Sunday, Lopez Obrador could be seen approaching Maria Consuelo Loera's car, parked on a dirt road on the outskirts of Badiraguato, a mountainous municipality in the northwestern state of Sinaloa. Surrounded by onlookers, Lopez Obrador told Loera she need not get out of the car, they shook hands and after a brief exchange he told her he had "received her letter." Guzman was for years boss of the Sinaloa Cartel, a powerful criminal organization blamed for the deaths of thousands of people in Mexico ranging from rival gang members, ordinary citizens, police and members of the armed forces. Critics on social media asked what kind of message the encounter, videotaped by part of the entourage that regularly accompanies the president on weekends, was meant to send. Questioned about the meeting at his regular morning news conference, Lopez Obrador was unrepentant and quickly blamed "adversaries" for trying to make a "scandal" out of it. "Sometimes, because it's my job, I have to shake hands with white collar criminals who haven't even lost their respectability, how am I not going to greet an old lady who leaves her hand outstretched?," he told reporters. In the video, Lopez Obrador could also be seen talking to one of El Chapo's lawyers, Jose Luis Gonzalez Meza. Lopez Obrador said Loera, a "respectable old lady," wrote to him to ask for help in getting permission from U.S. authorities to visit her son, who is in a maximum security U.S. prison. "This depends on the United States government, the U.S. embassy. I believe that for humanitarian reasons she should be allowed to go with caregivers, sanitarians, doctors," he said. Story continues The leftist leader said "conservative" opponents, were trying to use the encounter to hurt him. Accusing them of hypocrisy, he said the corruption he identifies as their legacy is a much bigger threat to the country than a 92-year-old woman "who deserves my respect." After questions by reporters about the meeting, Lopez Obrador promised to publish the letter from Loera, saying: "We have nothing to hide ... there's nothing that can embarrass us." Guzman shipped tons of drugs around the world and twice embarrassed the Mexican government by escaping from prison. Captured for a third time in 2016, he was extradited to the United States in 2017 and sentenced to life in prison by a U.S. judge last year after his conviction on multiple drug charges. The Sinaloa Cartel caused Lopez Obrador's government considerable embarrassment last October, when security forces briefly surrounded and captured the notorious drug lord's son Ovidio Guzman in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa. Cartel gunmen responded with prolonged bursts of gunfire in the streets after Ovidio's arrest. To avoid bloodshed, the government ordered Ovidio's release, sparking widespread criticism of Lopez Obrador's security policy, and angering some military leaders. Lopez Obrador saw Guzman's mother on a visit to a rural area of Sinaloa where the government was building a new road that would pass near El Chapo's birthplace. The president said he went to meet Loera after hearing she wanted to greet him. The 66-year-old, who has flouted the advice of his own government not to engage in physical contact during the coronavirus crisis, dismissed the suggestion that he should not be shaking hands with an elderly woman at risk of contagion. He said it would have been "disrespectful" not to take her hand - even as two state governors Lopez Obrador had recently met with said over the weekend they had coronavirus. "I am not a robot," he said. "I have feelings." (Reporting by Jesus Bustamante and Raul Cortes in Mexico City; Writing by Anthony Esposito and Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Dave Graham and Tom Brown) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) Former Senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. has contracted COVID-19, his spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday. Marcos spokesperson, lawyer Victor Rodriguez, said the former senator and 2016 vice presidential candidate has been in self-isolation since March 14 and that his condition has been improving since then. Sinusunod ng dating senador ang health protocol sa mga persons under investigation at taimtim at tahimik nyang tinupad ang ipinaiiral na proseso ng gamutan, tulad ng safety mask at self-quarantine, at walang ingay na inilayo ang kanyang sarili maging sa kanyang pamilya, Rodriguez said. [Translation: The former senator has been following health protocols for persons under investigation and has faithfully and silently complied with this, including the use of a mask and going on self-quarantine. He obediently isolated himself even from his family.] Rodriguez said the senator went to a hospital on the same day after a trip from Europe to get a check-up after experiencing chest pains and wanted to be sure if he had the coronavirus. But he said Marcos decided to go home because the hospital had too many patients. Rodriguez said the senator returned to the hospitals emergency room on March 22 after experiencing difficulty in breathing. He was tested for COVID-19 and was told to go on self-quarantine. Marcos sister, Senator Imee, had previously told reporters that he had undergone a COVID-19 test after coming back from Spain unwell. Unconfirmed reports circulated on Wednesday night that the son of former strongman Ferdinand Marcos contracted pneumonia during his trip to Spain and was intubated in a Metro Manila hospital. The former senator himself denied this, saying he is recuperating well at home. "I am deeply touched and overwhelmed by your concern over my condition. Don't worry, I am doing ok and contrary to popular belief, I am home on self-quarantine," he said in a statement. Employees of SBI have donated Rs 100 crore to the Prime Minister's relief fund to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The country's largest lender in a statement said its around 2,56,000 employees have decided to contribute two days' salary to the PM CARES Fund. With this collective effort and commitment of SBI employees, Rs 100 crore will be donated to the Fund, it added. "It is a matter of pride for State Bank of India that all our employees voluntarily came forward to pledge their two days' salary to the PM CARES Fund. We at SBI would keep continuing our support to the government in all its endeavours to address the challenges of this pandemic, SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar said. At this time of crisis, SBI is committed to providing best possible banking services to its customers, the bank said. Last week, SBI had committed 0.25 per cent of annual profit for 2019-20 as a part of its CSR activities to fight Covid-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Trend The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has risen by 812 in the last 24 hours, the Civil Protection Agency said on Monday, reversing two days of declines, Trend reports citing Reuters. Italy, the worlds hardest hit country which accounts for more than a third of all global fatalities, saw its total death tally rise to 11,591 since the outbreak emerged in northern regions on Feb. 21. More positively, the number of new cases rose by just 4,050, the lowest amount since March 17, reaching a total of 101,739. However, the decline in new infections may be partly explained by a reduction in the number of tests, which were the fewest for six days. Italians have been under nationwide lockdown for three weeks and officials said the restrictions, which were due to end on Friday, look certain for at least two more weeks. We have to agree on this with other regions, but I think we are talking about (maintaining the block) until at least mid-April, Attilio Fontana, head of the worst-affected Lombardy region, told reporters. The governor of the southern region of Puglia said on Saturday the restrictions should stay until May. Underscoring the dangers of the disease, the national doctors association announced the deaths of 11 more doctors on Monday, bringing the total to 61. Not all of them had been tested for coronavirus before they died, it said, but it linked their deaths to the epidemic. Lombardy, which is centered on Italys financial capital Milan, accounts for almost 60% of the total deaths in Italy and some 40% of cases. Fontana said the unprecedented curbs on movement, gatherings and business activity were preventing an exponential rise in cases, and needed to be kept in place. Were on the right track, were maintaining a (chart) line thats not uphill, but its not downhill either, he said. The head of the national health institute, Silvio Brusaferro, who is advising the government on how to handle the crisis, also said that for restrictions to be eased the number of new cases has to fall significantly. For sure the re-opening will happen gradually ... we are even considering the British idea of stop and go, which envisages opening things for a certain amount of time and then closing them again, he told La Repubblica daily. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Women's fashion retailer The Cato Corporation (NYSE:CATO) is keeping all its stores closed through at least April 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company operates 1,300 stores across the U.S. that are currently closed, but it had hoped to reopen by April 1. However, as the spread of the coronavirus worsens, companies like Cato are forced to extend store closures for the time being. As a result, much of Cato's workforce is now furloughed. This includes employees at the distribution center as well as corporate employees at the home office in Charlotte, North Carolina. What about e-commerce? This situation isn't unique to Cato, as many consumer-discretionary retailers are left with no choice but to keep locations closed. Macy's (NYSE:M) just furloughed the majority of its 130,000 employees as stores remain closed indefinitely. Similarly, luxury home-furnishings retailer RH (NYSE:RH) is keeping its stores closed indefinitely and paying its employees through April 3. But this may be a particularly difficult time for Cato. Its corporate headquarters and only distribution center are in Charlotte. Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina signed a statewide stay-at-home order that took effect on Monday. As a nonessential retailer, Cato has seen its Charlotte workforce directly impacted. Businesses like Macy's at least have some e-commerce to fall back on. But with Cato's distribution-center workers furloughed, it won't have the same option. Even so, the damage from losing its e-commerce revenue is minimal compared with having stores closed. In 2019, Cato's e-commerce operations generated less than 3% of total revenue. All furloughed employees enrolled in benefit programs will continue receiving benefits for now. Cato did not say for how long. ALEPPO, Syria Turkey has been seeking to secure the strategic flashpoint M4 highway connecting Aleppo and Latakia in southern Idlib in a bid to resume joint Russian-Turkish patrols, as per the cease-fire reached between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow on March 5. The Turkish army has recently stepped up measures, mostly sending more military convoys, setting up new outposts on both sides of the road and conducting patrols in separate parts of the strategic highway. The situation in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib continues to be volatile. There have been mutual violations of the cease-fire between the opposition armed forces and the Syrian regime on the Idlib fronts. The contact points have been witnessing clashes and bombardments on both sides. The regime forces seem to be ready to engage in battles again, as heavy military reinforcements have been mobilized in Idlib with intensified airstrikes. After being met by protesters blocking the road March 15, the Turkish army managed on March 24-25 to conduct two patrols on the M4 highway without any Russian forces. On March 23, the Turkish army set up three military outposts in the nearby Jisr al-Shughur area. The new military convoys that entered Idlib included several new military vehicles including tanks, armored vehicles, field guns, rocket launchers, engineering teams, logistic equipment and bulldozers. The majority of the Turkish military convoys headed toward areas in southern Idlib, where they were deployed in strategic locations on both sides of M4 and in major cities such as Ariha. The Turkish army is trying to keep extremist jihadi organizations at bay in order to resume joint patrols on the strategic highway. Mohamad Rasheed, a journalist based in Idlib and working with local media outlets, told Al-Monitor, The Turkish army seeks to secure the M4 highway by deploying more forces in the surrounding area in southern Idlib. Several outposts and military points were established on both sides of the road. On March 19, a Turkish patrol was directly targeted near the town of Muhambal on M4, killing two Turkish soldiers and wounding others. No armed group claimed responsibility for the incident, although a finger of accusation was pointed at Huras al-Din, which is affiliated with al-Qaeda and opposes the cease-fire in Idlib. Following the incident, several military groups affiliated with the Free Syrian Armys National Liberation Front as well as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham groups clashed with Huras al-Din militants and other extremist groups on the site, forcing the latter to pull back. The targeting of a Turkish army military patrol by jihadi groups on the M4 highway is seen as a major challenge to the Turkish military that could lead to unexpected confrontations. It also raises questions about Turkeys ability to carry out its commitment to the Russian-Turkish agreement to conduct joint patrols on the M4 highway. The Believers Operations Room, which includes jihadi groups, mainly Huras al-Din, issued a statement March 15 denouncing the cease-fire agreement in Idlib. Earlier on March 7, Huras al-Din commander Abu Himam al-Shami warned in a recorded speech against the deceiving promises of the international stakeholders. The Believers Operations Room, established in October 2018, includes Jabhat Ansar al-Din, Ansar al-Tawhid, Ansar al-Islam and Huras a-Din, all of which are jihadi groups in Syria mostly based in the countrys rugged mountainous areas in southern Idlib and the northern Latakia countryside. These groups were behind the bombing of the Kafr Bridge March 25, which is located on the M4 highway. It appears Turkey is not alone in facing the challenge to maintain the cease-fire in Idlib. Russia is also struggling, as regime forces and Iranian-backed militias seek to resume military operations and continue to mobilize military reinforcements on the southern and eastern fronts of Idlib and in al-Ghab Plain. It seems the visit by Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu to Syria on March 23 and his meeting with President Bashar al-Assad are part of efforts to maintain the cease-fire in Idlib. According to Syrian presidential sources on social media, Shoigu visited Syria as the head of a military delegation to discuss the Idlib agreement between Russia and Turkey, focusing on the mechanism of implementation. The cease-fire agreement in Idlib is hanging by a thread. The jihadi groups rejecting the agreement have stepped up their efforts to prevent joint patrols on the M4 highway. These groups believe their gains are at stake if the cease-fire agreement remains in force, as they would lose vital sites south of the road and in the highlands in the northern Latakia countryside, which would fall under Russian control as per the agreement, Mahmood Talha, a journalist based in Idlib working with Thiqa Agency, told Al-Monitor. On the other hand, the Syrian regime appears intent on ending the cease-fire, which is not in line with Irans interests. Tehran seeks to resume battles, with the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps deploying armed formations on the Idlib fronts, mainly the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Baqir Brigade, Talha concluded. From the living room window of her Brooklyn apartment, Alix Monteleone watched the team of workers assemble the morgue in stages over the weekend. First, they parked the refrigerated trailer along the curb, a white box about the size of a large shipping container. Then, they built a wooden ramp to allow hospital staff to wheel the bodies inside. Finally, on Monday, the workers erected a wall of panels, thin and white, to stop passersby from staring or getting too close to the dead. After that, the gawkers mostly went away. But Monteleone, a 28-year-old event planner from Long Island, kept up her vigil from the third-floor window. I spend my entire day like this, she says, propping her elbows onto the back of her couch and looking out toward the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, the hospital across the street. I still cant believe what Im seeing. Workers build shelves for a makeshift morgue outside Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, on March 30, as seen from an apartment building across the street. | Benjamin Norman for TIME The deployment of temporary morgues across the cityknown to emergency planners as Body Collection Points, or BCPsmarks a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic for New Yorkers, whose city has rapidly become the global center of the crisis. By late Monday, the states death toll had surpassed 1,200, with more than 66,000 confirmed infections. More than 900 of the deaths were in New York City. Until now, it had been largely possible for residents to shut out the worst of this calamity, retreat into their homes and only go out for short trips around the neighborhood, all without confronting anything more grim than empty streets and people wearing face masks. The arrival of the morgues and makeshift hospitalswhich have been installed in public spaceshas thrust the pandemic into full view as it envelops the nations largest city, making this escapism difficult. Anyone strolling through Central Park could observe a field hospital erected on the lawns to alleviate the patient load at hospitals like Wyckoff Heights. Another pop-up hospital has been set up at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, and on Monday, the Navy ship Comfort docked in New York to take on more patients. Story continues Marc Kozlow, 33, and Alix Monteleone, 28, look out their window toward Wyckoff Heights Medical Center on March 30. In one weekend, after a temporary morgue was erected outside, they counted more than a dozen bodies. The largest temporary morgue in New York City occupies a tent set up over the weekend outside Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. We have them at public and private hospitals throughout the boroughs, says Aja Worthy-Davis, a spokesperson for the office of the chief medical examiner, the city agency responsible for caring for the dead. At least four had been set up as of Monday, she said: two in Brooklyn, one in Queens, and one in Manhattan. We expect to start utilizing the large tent in Bellevue soon. Keep up to date with our daily coronavirus newsletter by clicking here. Ramon Rodriguez, the President and CEO of the Wyckoff Heights hospital, says it was not his decision to deploy the refrigerated truck, but he is thankful that the office of the medical examiner was able to provide it to his facility, whose morgue can only house nine bodies at a time. Over the last three weeks we have filled that morgue many times over, he says of the hospitals usual morgue space. The bodies in the refrigerated truck are being picked up by funeral homes for burial as quickly as possible, adds Rodriguez. Given the distress this process was likely to cause local residents, placing the truck on a public street was not an easy decision, he says. But the hospital had no other viable place to put the trailer, which is 53 feet long. We want to be respectful and kind both to the people who have left this earth and those who live across the street, says Rodriguez. And the need for extra privacy is why the hospital put an enclosure around the wooden ramp leading to the trailer. Under the New York City medical examiners protocols for a pandemic, the deployment of temporary morgues becomes necessary when the death toll tops 200 per day, overwhelming the capacity of hospitals to store bodies safely. New York City passed that threshold last week, triggering a new mobilization level in the citythe third level on a scale of sixaccording to a copy of the chief medical examiners pandemic surge plan for handling the dead, which Worthy-Davis shared with TIME. Drafted in 2008 to prepare for a devastating flu pandemic, the plan envisions far more dramatic measures of mass fatality management if the virus continues to spread. Officials at Rikers Island, the citys main jail, could put inmates to work burying some of the dead in the city-run public cemetery on Hart Island, the plan states. Under the current level of mobilization, the city must also draw up contracts with cemeteries that can accommodate temporary mass graves, which the plan describes in jarring detail: Ten bodies in caskets are placed lengthwise in a long narrow section in the ground. Workers transport a casket-sized box near the morgue set up outside Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn on March 30. | Benjamin Norman for TIME By comparison, the installation of temporary morgues would seem like a measure New Yorkers could stomach. But it has been enough to unsettle the neighbors of the Wyckoff Heights hospital. Before the refrigerated trailer arrived on Friday, Monteleone and her fiance, Marc Kozlow, had gotten used to the routines of confinement and boredom that come with social distancing. They took turns walking their dog Hank around the neighborhood. She had tried doing needlepoint to pass the time. He had started baking sourdough in the kitchen. But by Saturday, when they saw the first bodies taken on gurneys from the hospital and carried into the trailer, their hopes for riding out the pandemic at home began to dim. If a nuclear reactor is exploding near you, you dont stay near the hot zone, says Kozlow, 33. You get out. Although they understood from news reports that the hospital across the street was quickly filling with COVID-19 patients last week, the reality only sank in after they began to see the bodies, some of them zipped into bags, others wrapped in what appeared to be white bed sheets. They counted more than a dozen over the weekend. Monteleone keeps insisting they stay. This is my home, she says in the living room of their one-bedroom apartment. The only semblance of control I have in my life right now is staying in my home. So we just need to adjust. We need to close the blinds. But within a few minutes she was back at the window. I want to know, she says. I want to know the body count. Actor Vishnu Vishal is in relationship with Indian badminton player, Jwala Gutta. The couple has been posting their lovey-dovey pictures on social media. Ever since they confirmed the relationship with each other, Vishnu and Jwala fans have been eagerly waiting for their wedding. And guess what, their wait is going to be over soon! In an interview with a popular Telugu channel, Hyderabad-based badminton player, Jwala Gutta confirmed her relationship with Vishnu Vishal and said that they are going to get married soon. She said that her marriage with Vishnu Vishal is on cards and they will soon make a formal announcement at an appropriate time. Well, it seems like Vishnu and Jwala will get married after the 21 days Coronavirus lockdown, which was declared by PM Narendra Modi on March 24. After all, the Indian government has asked people not to host any mass-gatherings in which big-fat Indian weddings are also included. Considering the government's guidelines, Vishnu Vishal and Jwala Gutta seemed to have taken an ideal step. However, there is no confirmation about their marriage dates. A couple of days ago, Jwala Gutta shared a cosy picture with beau Vishnu Vishal on Instagram. She captioned the snap, "Missing my main ?". Well, due to the lockdown, everyone including celebrities, are staying at home. Replying to Jwala's post, Vishnu Vishal commented, "?things wil b alryt soon..". Meanwhile, Vishnu Vishal will next be seen in Kaadan, which will release in Tamil, Hindi and Telugu. The film stars Rana Daggubati, Pulkit Samrat, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Zoya Hussain in key roles. The film was scheduled to be released on April 2, 2020, but due to the lockdown, it has been postponed. Also Read : Vishnu Vishal Used To Flirt With Others Due To This Reason? The Shocking Revelation Is Out! Bahri, a global leader in logistics and transportation, has announced that its Board of Directors has recently approved a donation of SR10 million ($2.66 million) to Saudi Arabias Ministry of Health (MoH) to support its initiatives to fight against the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) disease in the kingdom. Commenting on this, Mohammed Abdulaziz Al-Sarhan, Chairman of Bahri, said: Given the current global situation and challenges resulting from the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Bahri is pleased to express gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and to H.R.H. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. We also extend our appreciation to the government sectors in general, and the Ministry of Health in particular, for their round-the-clock, tireless efforts to ensure the safety and health of citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia. Al-Sarhan added: Underlining its social responsibility commitment to cooperating all entities in the Kingdom to strengthen the national efforts and support the government during this period, Bahri decided to donate SR10 million to back the initiatives of the Ministry of Health to contain the outbreak. We are also pleased to place our expertise, maritime fleet, logistics services, and offices around the world at the disposal of the Ministry, to help achieve the common national goal of preserving public health. Bahri has taken all the necessary precautionary measures to ensure the safety of its employees at its offices and onboard vessels. With its robust business continuity plans in place, the company is operating as normal to deliver on its commitment to its customers around the world and to ensure that they receive the highest quality service without disruption. As it continues to evaluate the situation, Bahri is also keen to implement further instructions and preventive measures being issued by the government of Saudi Arabia. TradeArabia News Service Here are todays leading news stories: Politics -- Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong on Monday appealed to all compatriots, comrades and soldiers nationwide and overseas Vietnamese to stay united in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. -- Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed to declare COVID-19 a nationwide pandemic while chairing a meeting of the cabinet in Hanoi on Monday. Society -- A ten-year-old Vietnamese who traveled from Turkey to Ho Chi Minh City on March 15 has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the country 204th patient, the Ministry of Health confirmed on Tuesday morning. -- Starting Monday, all private clinics in Ho Chi Minh City have been closed, while local hospitals no longer allow people to visit patients in a bid to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. -- Authorities in the central province of Quang Nam have announced a list of five hotels and resorts where people can choose to undergo their quarantine period for VND600,000-900,000 (US$25-37) per day. -- The United States has earmarked a total of $274 million in emergency health and humanitarian assistance for 64 countries hit by the COVID-19 epidemic, including Vietnam, which would receive $3 million worth of support. -- The Hanoi Peoples Committee on Monday ordered the municipal Department of Health to establish ten task forces to carry out quick COVID-19 tests, which can return results after ten minutes, on people in multiple areas. Business -- The Council of the European Union on Monday passed a decision to ratify the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), paving the way for the deal to come into force. Once ratified by the Vietnamese National Assembly, the deal is expected to officially take effect at the beginning of this summer. -- Toyota Motor Vietnam suspended its vehicle production on Monday as the COVID-19 epidemic has impacted all aspects of its business operations. -- The $170 million Sunshine aerospace components manufacturing facility has been inaugurated in the central city of Da Nang, according to the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Zones Authority. World News -- The novel coronavirus has infected nearly 783,900 people and killed more than 37,700 around the world as of Tuesday morning, according to Ministry of Health statistics. More than 165,000 patients have recovered. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Pritzkers announcement came after the Tribune reported advocates for the incarcerated and inmates themselves have called for the state to speed up its consideration of releases and be more aggressive in preventing people from being exposed to the virus in the prison system. IDOC has been unclear about its process and parameters for considering which inmates can leave early to join the general public in sheltering at home. Gaza City, Gaza When the Hamas authorities reported the first two cases of coronavirus in the besieged Gaza Strip earlier this month, it was accompanied by an announcement that a slew of businesses would be shuttered indefinitely, including restaurants, cafes and wedding halls. The measures were introduced in an attempt to slow the potential spread of the highly contagious virus, which has overwhelmed health systems across the world. The authorities have since reported a further seven infections, bringing the total number of cases in Gaza to nine. Experts say that an outbreak could be catastrophic for Gaza, where two million Palestinians live in a densely populated coastal strip, which has been under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for more than 12 years and suffers from shortages of medical supplies, as well as basic goods and electricity. But the timing of the announcement posed an immediate dilemma for Nabil al-Hajeen, coming just two days before he was due to be married to Fatma. Downsize or delay? It was a shock for me and my bride, Nabil told Al Jazeera. I had spent five months planning for my wedding, and it was difficult to either cancel or delay it. With the wedding halls closed, the pair considered postponing. However, they eventually decided to get married on the planned date in Nabils family home in Gaza City, although it meant drastically reducing the number of guests at the ceremony from some 400 to around 25 female family members of the bride and groom. We didnt know when this ban would end, so we decided to have the party at home, Fatma said. In recent years, weddings in Gaza have typically seen dozens or hundreds of relatives, neighbours and friends of the bride and groom attend the ceremonies at the wedding halls, which are decked out in colourful, elaborate decorations and bright lights. Mohamed Abu Ali decided to go ahead with his wedding at his family home [Ashraf Amra/Al Jazeera] But for Nabil and Fatmas home wedding, Nabils sisters prepared the traditional Palestinian Somaqia dish for the party and decorated the lounge with plastic flowers and balloons, while they also set up disco lights to recreate the atmosphere of the typical wedding hall. The wedding Kosha, in which the bride and groom sit during the ceremony, stood in the middle of the lounge and was also adorned with balloons. It looks like the marriage parties during the Intifada times of the 1980s and 1990s, when grooms were trying to get married in small parties, Nabils sister, Huda said. Amid fears of infection or potentially spreading the virus, some relatives decided not to attend, while those who did took some precautionary measures. Although it was only a small number of guests, we were scared, so there were no kisses and hugs to congratulate us as normal, said Huda. Weddings in Gaza are typically paid for by the groom and the costs can be prohibitive: lunch for the guests, renting the wedding hall, transportation and a cake all need to be paid for. In a territory where the unemployment rate reached 47 percent last year, according to the World Bank, while youth unemployment is estimated to be even higher, the price of a typical wedding is not affordable for many young men. {articleGUID} According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, 54 percent of the population in Gaza lives in poverty, while 36 percent are in extreme poverty, as derived by a formula based on consumption levels. Fatma said that while she was upset when she realised she would not be able to have a large ceremony at a wedding hall, she said she was also relieved that married life would not begin with a mountain of debt. I cried a lot because I couldnt do my party in the wedding hall, but Im now very happy for the very cheerful party that we had, which has also reduced the cost on my husband so we will live with less debt. Sterilising studios The closure of the wedding halls in Gaza has also not prevented newlyweds from arriving at Asma Awni Nassars photography studio in western Gaza city, where brides and grooms have kept appointments and continued to arrive in order to have their wedding portraits taken. I have received more grooms and brides for photo sessions in my studio to document their special day. They didnt cancel the wedding party and most of them celebrated with family members in their homes, said studio manager Asma Awni Nassar. Despite the coronavirus outbreak, brides and grooms continue to have their wedding portraits taken at studios [Ashraf Amra/Al Jazeera] Even before the first cases were reported in Gaza, some grooms had decided to bring forward the date of their weddings amid fears of a potential outbreak in the territory, but after the wedding halls were closed, a number of couples decided to hold the ceremony at home. Asma has prohibited her film crew from visiting family homes to record videos of the wedding parties, as requested by grooms, limiting work to photo sessions in the studio only, where her team wear masks, gloves and sterilise the equipment and the location. She noted that she had seen a roughly 50 percent increase in the number of couples coming to her studio daily since the wedding halls were closed. A police spokesman told Al Jazeera that they had received hundreds of calls from grooms and wedding hall owners to check under what circumstances a wedding could be held. We do periodic tours of the halls and restaurants to ensure implementation of the decision, and we also send patrols to homes to prevent large gatherings and emphasize the need for a small number in these parties, Colonel Ayman al-Batniji, told Al Jazeera. Mohamed Abu Alis friends celebrated with him in the street [Ashraf Amra/Al Jazeera] The recent limits on the festivities meant that Mohamed Abu Ali decided to hold his wedding ceremony in the family home in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, but the restrictions left him feeling slightly on edge. The government banned the male party even, which is supposed to be held a day before the wedding, he told Al Jazeera. Also the house was very small for the wedding party, but there was no other choice, he said. My friends celebrated with me in the street before going to the brides house to bring her to the party in our home, but neighbours and relatives were afraid to join, he added. We were afraid that the police will come to our house to ban wedding in home, even, he said. Better to postpone While weddings have continued apace in private homes, some families in Gaza have encouraged couples to wait and hold a traditional ceremony when the wedding halls are reopened. After a year-and-a-half of preparation, Malak Nasser and her future groom Ismael, were set to get married on March 27 at one of the most storied wedding halls in Gaza City. Earlier this month, fearing that weddings halls may soon be closed in Gaza, Malak tried to push forward the date of the wedding but the hall, and many others, were fully booked. Running out of options, Malak and Ismael sought to convince their families to hold a small wedding party at home, but their families were not supportive of the idea. {articleGUID} Malaks mother, Sanaa, 55, insisted that the wedding be delayed. I agreed to an earlier ceremony, but there were no available halls, she told Al Jazeera. I refused to have a small party at home because Malak is the first bride and my first joy of my four children, and if we are not sharing our happiness with relatives and friends then this cant be called a wedding. We have been preparing for this special family event for a year. We have designed special dresses and clothes for this celebration and spent a lot of money to celebrate, so its better to delay and to celebrate the big day after the end of coronavirus emergency situation, she added. >>> Vietnamese expatriates advised to restrict travel amid Covid-19 pandemic >>> Singapores Temasek Foundation International presents ventilators to Vietnam >>> Prime Minister praises public security, military forces in COVID-19 fight >>> Thua Thien-Hue: COVID-19 patient No. 33 discharged from hospital They are N.H.C, 35, the 64th patient; L.N.V.A, 20, the 66th patient; and L.P.A, 21, the 90th patient, who reside in Ho Chi Minh City; while D.N.L, 48, (the 79th patient) is from Bac Lieu Province. All of them are Vietnamese women who returned from other countries and were kept in quarantine since their arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport. They have tested negative for the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, three to four times and no longer show any symptoms of the disease. A representative from the hospital said that, following their discharge, they will continue to be quarantined at home for 14 days. The hospital leader also revealed that three other patients are expected to leave the hospital today (Mar 30). According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), as of 10 pm on Sunday, Vietnam has recorded a total of 25 COVID-19 cases with full recovery and they have been discharged from hospital. Meanwhile, 65 others tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 after treatment, of whom 53 have had negative results between two and four times. Three critically ill cases being treated at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases No. 2 in Hanois Dong Anh District are getting better. One of them had mechanical ventilation removed on the night of March 28. Meanwhile, the British patient is being considered for gradual reduction in the use of mechanical ventilation, and the remainder are likely to get out of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine soon. On Mar 29, the MoH confirmed another 14 cases of COVID-19 infection (patients from No. 175 to 188). By Monday morning, six more people have been confirmed to have contracted SARS-CoV-2, and all of them are workers of the Truong Sinh Co. Ltd, which provides services for the Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital. As a result, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Vietnam had reached 194 as of 6 am this morning. HCM City extends students school break to April 19 Schools in Ho Chi Minh City continue their disinfection work while students are required to extend their break to avoid the spread of COVID-19. (Photo: NDO/Cao Tan) On Sunday, the HCM City Department of Education and Training said that the Municipal People's Committee sent a written instruction to relevant local departments and agencies on continuing to extend the school break for local students to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Accordingly, students of educational institutions in the city will continue to remain absent from school until the end of April 19. Students from vocational training units under the management of the city authorities will remain absent until the end of May 3. After the above school break, the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs are required to coordinate with the Department of Health to update the COVID-19 situation and advise the city authorities on the plan to welcome students back to schools, as well as implement professional guidance from the Ministry of Education and Training. US fatalities exceed Chinas tally, with more than 3,400 deaths, as Spain, UK and France report record rise in toll. The death toll in the United States from the new coronavirus outbreak has surpassed the official tally in China, with more than more 3,400 fatalities recorded, according to data collected by the Johns Hopkins University. That means the US now has the third highest death toll after Italy and Spain, and the highest number of coronavirus cases in the world with more than 175,000. Further restrictions on movement are being considered in the US to curb the spread of the virus, with the country now reporting twice the number of cases as China where the outbreak began late last year. Meanwhile, Spain, the United Kingdom and France each reported their biggest overnight jump in deaths since the start of the pandemic. Around the world, more than 820,000 people have been confirmed to have the virus, and at least 174,000 have recovered. More than 40,000 people have died. Here are the latest updates. Tuesday, March 31 20:50 GMT UN chief: COVID-19 worst crisis since WWII UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the world faces the most challenging crisis since World War II, confronting a pandemic threatening people in every country, one that will bring a recession that probably has no parallel in the recent past. There is also a risk that the combination of the disease and its economic impact will contribute to enhanced instability, enhanced unrest, and enhanced conflict, the UN chief said at the launch of a report on the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19. 20:11 GMT Oman reports its first death from coronavirus Omans health ministry reported its first death from coronavirus, a 72-year-old Omani man, state TV said on Twitter. Oman reported as of March 31, 192 coronavirus cases in the sultanate. 20:00 GMT Qatars airport staff reduced amid outbreak Qatars Hamad International Airport has temporarily reduced the number of employees onsite by 40%, with most working from home or on annual leave, a Qatar Airways spokesman said. In a press conference earlier today, we confirmed that there had been a temporary reduction of 40% of staff at Hamad International Airport across various areas including food and beverage, retail and ground staff, the spokesman told Reuters news agency. This is purely a short-term response to the COVID-19 crisis and the reduction in passenger numbers through the airport. Qatar has suspended inbound flights as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of coronavirus [File: Deepa Babington/Reuters] 19:30 GMT Teenager dies in London after testing positive for coronavirus A 13-year-old boy in London who tested positive for coronavirus has died, a UK hospital said. Sadly, a 13-year old boy who tested positive for COVID-19 has passed away, and our thoughts and condolences are with the family at this time, Kings College Hospital said in a statement. The death has been referred to the coroner and no further comment will be made. 19:20 GMT Tunisia extends lockdown by two weeks Tunisia will extend a lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus by two weeks to April 19, the presidency said in a statement. Tunisia has confirmed 362 cases of the coronavirus and nine deaths and has imposed a general lockdown for over a week, preventing people from leaving their homes except to buy necessities or work in certain jobs. Read more here. 19:10 GMT Qatar Airways sees 75% decrease in operations Qatar Airways operations have decreased by more than 75 percent, the chief operating officer of Hamad International Airport said on state TV. Badr Mohammed al-Meer said 75 percent of Qatar Airways fleet has been grounded and that will rise to 90 percent. He said figures from Monday showed a 90 percent decrease in travellers compared to before the coronavirus crisis. 19:00 GMT Burundi confirms first 2 cases The tiny East African nation of Burundi has confirmed its first two coronavirus cases, the health ministry said in a statement. Both men were Burundian. One, 56, had recently returned from neighbouring Rwanda and the other, 42, had recently returned from Dubai, the statement posted on Twitter said. This rap group in Senegal is using music to raise #COVID19 awareness [ You'll want the sound on for this!] pic.twitter.com/JFXRmW3UsA Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 31, 2020 18:45 GMT Turkeys coronavirus death toll exceeds 200 More than 200 people have died from COVID-19 in Turkey, which has ramped up tests to more than 15,000 a day, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced. Koca shared the latest figures on Twitter, saying that 46 people had died in the last 24 hours, which raised the countrys overall toll to 214. With 2,704 more cases of the novel coronavirus, the total has reached 13,531. 18:30 GMT Qatar reports 88 new cases of coronavirus Qatars health ministry reported 88 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, taking its total number of infections to 781, as it also announced a second death from the virus. A total of 62 people have so far recovered from COVID-19, the ministry said in its daily update. Latest update on Coronavirus in Qatar#__ #YourSafetyIsMySafety pic.twitter.com/hhqHcSB4Ux (@MOPHQatar) March 31, 2020 18:25 GMT US tourists tested positive after Mexico spring break A group of 28 US tourists who returned to Texas from the Mexican beach resort of Cabo San Lucas have tested positive for coronavirus, the city of Austin said in a statement. About a week and a half ago, approximately 70 people in their 20s departed in a chartered plane for a spring break trip. Some of the group returned on separate commercial flights. Currently, 28 young adults on this trip have tested positive for COVID-19 and dozens more are under public health investigation, the statement said. 18:00 GMT NY governor: Your s tupid actions dont just affect you Al Jazeeras Radmilla Suleymanova has this report from New York: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo blasted those ignoring strict social distancing orders to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, a day after crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the USNS Comfort docking in New York Harbor. You want to go out and act stupid for yourself thats one thing. But your stupid actions dont just affect you. You come home and can infect someone else and even cause death for them, Cuomo said during his daily briefing. People gathered on the west side of Manhattan yesterday, taking photos, clapping and waving the American flag at the US Navys floating hospital equipped with 1000-beds to treat COVID-19 patients. People watch as USNS Comfort docks at Pier 90 in New York City [Andrew Kelly/Reuters] 17:50 GMT France reports record 499 deaths in 24 hours France reported its highest daily number of deaths from coronavirus since the epidemic began, saying 499 more people had died in hospital to bring the toll to 3,523. There are now 22,757 people hospitalised in France with COVID-19, with 5,565 of them in intensive care, health official Jerome Salomon told reporters in his daily update. The French death toll includes only those who died in hospital and not those who died at home or in old peoples homes. 17:45 GMT First case in rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine Rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine has reported the first case of the coronavirus, the health minister of the self-proclaimed republic, Olga Dolgoshapko, told reporters in Donetsk. The conflict in eastern Ukraine, pitting Moscow-backed rebels against the Ukraine government, has killed more than 13,000 people since 2014. 17:30 GMT Dutch schools, restaurants to stay shut till April 28 Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said all schools, restaurants, and gyms would remain closed until at least April 28. Ruttes government on March 15 had ordered schools closed until April 6. A ban on public gatherings was strengthened last week and extended until June. Even after April 28 it will be a while before we get back to normal, dont make plans for the May holidays, Rutte told a news conference in The Hague, at which he also urged people to adhere to social distancing rules. 17:15 GMT Saudi minister tells Muslims to wait on making Hajj plans Saudi Arabia is urging Muslims to wait before making plans to attend the annual Hajj pilgrimage until there is more clarity about the coronavirus pandemic, the kingdoms minister for Hajj and Umrah said, according to state television. Some 2.5 million pilgrims usually flock to the holiest sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina each year for the week-long ritual. In addition to closing mosques, Saudi Arabia has already halted international flights and suspended the year-round Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca. General view of Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Mecca after Saudi authorities suspended Umrah [File: Ganoo Essa/Reuters] 17:10 GMT US death toll exceeds China tally The number of deaths in the US from coronavirus has surpassed those in China, where the pandemic began in December, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. There have been 3,415 deaths in the US from the virus, the Baltimore-based university reported, more than the 3,309 in China. There are 175,067 confirmed coronavirus cases in the US, the university said, the most of any country in the world. Here is breakdown of how each US state is handling the pandemic. 16:30 GMT Ethiopias national elections postponed due to coronavirus Ethiopias electoral commission said it would delay national elections scheduled for August because of the coronavirus outbreak. The board will announce a new timeline once the pandemic had subsided, the Amharic-language statement said. The August polls were seen as a key test of the reformist agenda of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Read more here. 16:10 GMT More than 830 new deaths in Italy The death toll from coronavirus in Italy has climbed by 837 to 12,428, the Civil Protection Agency said, with the daily tally rising, albeit slightly, for a second day running. The number of new cases was broadly steady, growing by 4,053 against 4,050 on Monday, and bringing total infections since the outbreak came to light on February 21 to 105,792. Keep track of all the confirmed cases around the world here. 15:45 GMT New York death toll up, more than 9,000 new cases The death toll in New York state has risen to 1,550 from 1,218 the previous day, Governor Andrew Cuomo said. The number of confirmed cases also jumped by 9,298 to hit 75,795. The virus is more powerful, more dangerous than we expected, Cuomo told a daily news briefing. Were still going up the mountain, the main battle is on top of the mountain. 15:30 GMT Brother of NY governor tests positive Chris Cuomo, the brother of New Yorks Governor Andrew Cuomo, has tested positive for coronavirus. Cuomo, who is a CNN anchor, said he is in quarantine in his basement and will continue to work from home. I have been exposed to people in recent days who have subsequently tested positive and I had fevers, chills and shortness of breath, he wrote on Twitter. I just hope I didnt give it to the kids and Cristina. That would make me feel worse than this illness! 14:45 GMT UK coronavirus deaths climb to 1,789 Britain has reported a record daily coronavirus toll of 381, more than double the number of deaths posted in the previous 24 hours. As of 5pm (1600 GMT) on 30 March, of those hospitalised in the UK, 1,789 have sadly died, the health ministry said on its Twitter page, up from 1,408 on Monday. The number of confirmed cases rose by 14 percent to 25,150 as of Tuesday at 0800 GMT, the Department for Health and Social Care said. UPDATE on coronavirus (#COVID19) testing in the UK: As of 9am 31 March, a total of 143,186 people have been tested of which 25,150 tested positive. As of 5pm on 30 March, of those hospitalised in the UK, 1,789 have sadly died. pic.twitter.com/ctiAd1ty9p Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) March 31, 2020 14:30 GMT Death toll in Italys Lombardy rises by 381: Reuters The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in the northern region of Lombardy, the epicentre of Italys contagion, has risen by around 381 in a day to some 7,199, a source familiar with the data told Reuters news agency. The daily deaths were down sharply from Mondays tally of 458 and marked the lowest daily toll since March 25. The number of cases in the region, which includes the countrys financial capital Milan, increased by some 1,047 to around 43,208, the source said. 14:15 GMT Lockdowns may have saved 59,000 lives in Europe: study Strict containment measures might have already saved up to 59,000 lives across 11 European countries battling the spread of the new coronavirus, experts in the UK say. Basing their modelling on the numbers of recorded deaths from COVID-19, researchers from Imperial College London said most countries it looked at had likely dramatically reduced the rate at which the virus spreads. Using the experiences of countries with the most advanced epidemics like Italy and Spain, the study compared actual fatality rates with an estimate of what would have happened with no measures such as school closures, event cancellations and lockdowns. 14:00 GMT What the coronavirus lockdown looks like from space What the coronavirus lockdown looks like from space [Al Jazeera] More than a third of the worlds population is now under lockdown as an increasing number of countries implement sweeping measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Before and after satellite images show the impact of the measures on cities worldwide. See more here. 13:50 GMT Englands coronavirus death toll rises to 1,651 The death toll in England from the coronavirus outbreak rose 29% to 1,651, the National Health Service said. Patients were aged between 19 and 98 years old and all but 28 patients (aged between 19 and 91 years old) had underlying health conditions, it added. Scotland said 60 people had died as of Tuesday. Wales said 69 people had died. 13:30 GMT India links coronavirus cases to Muslim gathering Authorities in the Indian capital, New Delhi, have sealed off the premises of Tablighi Jamaat, a Muslim missionary movement, claiming a religious gathering it organised from March 13-15 ignored the threat of the coronavirus. The Delhi government also asked police to file a criminal case against the group, one of the countrys oldest Islamic organisations, for flouting guidelines and not maintaining social distancing. Read more here. Men wait for a bus that will take them to a quarantine facility, amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease in Nizamuddin area of New Delhi [Adnan Abidi/Reuters] 13:15 GMT Russian doctor who met Putin last week tests positive A doctor who gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a tour of Moscows main coronavirus hospital last week has been diagnosed with the virus, the Rossiya 24 state TV channel reported. Putin visited the Kommunarka hospital last Tuesday where he interacted with the doctor, Denis Protsenko. Putin shakes hands with the hospitals chief physician Protsenko during a visit to the hospital for patients infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), on the outskirts of Moscow on March 24, 2020 [Sputnik/Alexey Druzhinin/Kremlin via Reuters] They shook hands and neither of them were wearing protective equipment during their conversation, TV footage from the visit showed. The Kremlin said Putin was being regularly tested for coronavirus and that everything is okay, the RIA news agency reported. Hello. This is Saba Aziz in Doha, taking over from my colleague Ramy Allahoum. 12:50 GMT US House Speaker Pelosi urges stronger federal response to coronavirus US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has urged the Trump administration to do more to implement widespread testing and deliver critical health supplies to combat the coronavirus, saying there needed to be a more coordinated response. In an interview on MSNBC, Pelosi said Trump should immediately leverage the Defense Production Act to spur production of more ventilators for patients and personal protective equipment for healthcare workers. 12:40 GMT Netherlands coronavirus death toll rises by 175 to 1,039 The Netherlands has reported 175 new deaths from the coronavirus, bringing its total number of fatalities to 1,039. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed infections increased by 845 to 12,595, the Netherlands National Institute for Health said. 12:35 GMT France to ramp up production of face masks, respirators French President Emmanuel Macron announced his country would quickly ramp up production of face masks and respirators to respond to urgent needs of hospitals and caregivers. During a visit to a face mask factory, Macron said France needs at least 40 million face masks per week and that current domestic production and stocks were insufficient. The countrys factories would boost output and by end-April they should be able to produce 15 million face masks per week, he said. Macron also said that France has put together a consortium to build more ventilators. The group will be led by respirator maker Air Liquide and will also include car parts maker Valeo, car maker PSA and Schneider Electric. 12:30 GMT Armenia extends emergency restrictions Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said is government was extending emergency restrictions for another 10 days in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The ex-Soviet country of about 3 million reported 532 cases of coronavirus as of Tuesday, the highest number in the South Caucasus region, including 30 who recovered. Three patients were confirmed. 12:05 GMT Sierra Leone reports first case Sierra Leones President Julius Maada Bio has announced the countrys first case of coronavirus: a 37-year-old man who travelled from France on March 16 and had been in isolation since. When I did my first coronavirus press conference, I said that it was not a matter of if, but when. Well, when has come, Bio said in a televised address He did not announce any new measures to tackle the pandemic. 11:59 GMT Khat traders, farmers take a hit Halima Ali Mohamud, a widow, depends on a red-stemmed, chewable green shrub to support herself and five children. Selling khat is the only job I have known since I was young, the 39-year-old told Al Jazeera. I have no other profession. It is a profitable business. With khat, I can feed my family and pay my rent as well as school fees. Halima, who plies her trade in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, used to receive a daily consignment of two bags from Kenya. But things changed some two weeks ago when the Somali government announced a ban on international flights other than humanitarian ones as part of efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. Read the story by Amanda Sperber and Abdalle Ahmed Mumin here Khat is a wildly popular herbal stimulant in Somalia [File: Feisal Omar/Reuters] 11:40 GMT Japans coronavirus strategy faces breaking point Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his deputy will no longer attend meetings together to cut exposure to the coronavirus, as pressure for a lockdown builds and a minister warned the countrys containment strategy was stretched to the limit. The decision comes as Japans Foreign Ministry announced that foreign nationals from the United States, China and South Korea, as well as most of Europe, will be banned from entering the country. Abe told cabinet members that his second-in-command, Taro Aso, would no longer be present at any meeting the prime minister attends, a government spokesman said, in a move to guard the leadership against infection that could hamper Japans response to the coronavirus outbreak. Read more here. 11:30 GMT Philippines reports largest increase in cases, deaths The Philippines health ministry reported its single largest daily increase in coronavirus deaths and infections. Ten more people died because of the virus, bringing the total number of fatalities to 88, while 538 additional infections increased overall cases to 2,084, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said. 11:15 GMT Russia cases reach 2,337 in record daily jump The number of coronavirus cases in Russia rose by 500 to 2,337, the biggest daily jump for the seventh day in a row. Health authorities reported 18 deaths, while 121 people have recovered. 11:00 GMT Doctors Note: Does coronavirus cause loss of smell and taste? We have all heard about some of the more common symptoms of coronavirus a persistent, dry cough and a high temperature. If you have either of these symptoms, then you must stay at home and self-isolate for at least seven days. But as time has gone on, we have learned a lot more about the virus and how it behaves; and it is clear that like most infections, different people exhibit different symptoms. Now, people are starting to report losing their sense of taste and smell. And it seems that a loss in some peoples sense of smell (anosmia) or loss of sense of taste (ageusia) can be the only symptoms they have at all. Read more here. 10:45 GMT Indonesia cases, deaths increase Indonesia reported 114 new coronavirus infections, bringing the total to 1,528, according to a health ministry spokesperson. Another 14 people had died, taking the total to 136, the official, Achmad Yurianto, reported. 10:30 GMT Spain death toll rises by 849 in highest jump yet Spains coronavirus death toll rose by 849 cases overnight to 8,189, the highest jump in fatalities since the start of the epidemic, the health ministry said. The total number of infections rose to 94,417 from 85,195 the previous day. 10:00 GMT Irans death toll reaches 2,898 Irans health ministry announced 141 new deaths from coronavirus overnight, bringing the total number of fatalities to 2,898. In the past 24 hours, there has been 3,111 new cases of infected people. Unfortunately, 3,703 of the infected people are in a critical condition, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur told state TV. The body of a coronavirus victim is taken to a cemetery just outside Tehran [Ebrahim Noroozi/AP] 09:40 GMT Swedish economy to shrink by four percent in 2020 Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson has said Swedens gross domestic product is seen shrinking four percent this year as the economy slumps due to the coronavirus outbreak. We have a very serious economic situation, both in Sweden and globally, she told reporters. This is both a demand and supply shock that is spreading between countries. The government has introduced measures, including subsidies for shorter working hours, tax rebates and loan guarantees, and easier rules for claiming benefits, to ease the blow 09:30 GMT March was biggest month on record for UK grocery sales British grocery sales soared 20.6% year-on-year in the four weeks to March 22 as shoppers stocked up before the country went into lockdown, making it the biggest month on record for grocery sales, industry data showed. Market researcher Kantar said growth was driven by people shopping more frequently and buying slightly more, with the average household spending an extra 62.92 pounds ($77.36) over the four weeks. 09:20 GMT Congos ex-president Yhombi-Opango dies of coronavirus Jacques Joaquim Yhombi-Opango, former president of the Republic of the Congo, has died after contracting coronavirus, his family said. Yhomby-Opango He led Congo-Brazzaville from 1977 until he was toppled in 1979 [Denis Sassou Nguesso/Reuters] Yhombi-Opango died in a Paris hospital on Monday. He was 81. Read more here. 09:00 GMT UK police accused of abusing power to enforce COVID-19 lockdown As Britons navigate their way around restrictions to try and contain the spread of the new coronavirus, there are growing fears that police officers are abusing their new powers. Some British police might have gone too far, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News on Tuesday, less than a week after the UK approved emergency legislation that gave police the power to issue instant 30-pound ($37) fines to people who gather in groups of more than two people or leave their homes without good reason such as for work, food-shopping or exercise. Read more here. 08:50 GMT Hunger will kill us before coronavirus, say Rohingya in India Din Mohammad does everything he can to keep his family and fellow Rohingya refugees healthy during a three-week lockdown enforced by the Indian government to fight the coronavirus. For the past week, Mohammad, 59, who lives with his wife and five children in Madanpur Khadar refugee camp in the capital, New Delhi, makes rounds of shanties to ensure people are maintaining social distancing and keeping their huts clean. But he knows these measures are hard to implement in crowded refugee camps like theirs, where people live in cramped conditions lacking basic facilities like toilets and clean water. Read more here. 08:45 GMT Spain proposes EU budget to address coronavirus crisis Spains Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez has proposed increasing the European Unions budget to address the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps we should improve European cashflow, perhaps the European budget should be larger, Gonzalez said on French radio station Europe1. Gonzalez said the European Central Bank and the European Commission have announced efforts but that these fall short of the solidarity needed between European Union member states. 08:40 GMT Bulgaria will have to raise $2.36bn to deal with crisis: Finance minister The coronavirus crisis will prompt Bulgaria to raise 4.2 billion levs ($2.36bn) in debt this year to finance an expected fiscal gap and pledges for loan guarantees to businesses, its finance minister said. Vladislav Goranov said that, under an adverse scenario, he expected the small and open economy to contract by 3% versus previous estimates of 3.3% growth. On Monday, the government revamped its fiscal plans to run a deficit of 2.9% of economic output this year and raised the ceiling on new debt it can raise to 10 billion levs. 08:30 GMT Thailand coronavirus cases reach 1,651 Thailand confirmed 127 new coronavirus cases and one death, a health official said. The latest number raises the total number of confirmed infections in Thailand to 1,651 cases and 10 deaths. Firefighters spray disinfectant using high-pressure pump trucks in Jakarta, Indonesia [Willy Kurniawan/Reuters] 08:10 GMT Coronavirus cases at Amazon raise spectre of disruptions, closure News reports that a handful of Amazon US warehouse workers have contracted the virus raise the potential of future site closures and operational disruptions at the worlds largest online retailer. The COVID-19 cases led to unrest among some staff. Fifteen of the 5,000-plus workers at the Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, New York, staged a walkout on Monday. The company fired one of them who it emerged was supposed to be under paid quarantine and not at the site. Employees have also protested in other countries, including dozens of Amazon workers at a facility near Florence, Italy, this week. 07:50 GMT Coronavirus tracking app must be voluntary: German minister German Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht told Deutschlandfunk radio that tracking apps to help tackle coronavirus could only be used voluntarily in Germany. Its a real infringement if I have such data so I can only agree with everyone who says that if there is such a solution that actually breaks the chains of infection, its only possible if those who have it on their mobile phones and so use it do so voluntarily, Lambrecht said. Germany hopes to launch a smartphone app within weeks to help trace coronavirus infections, after a broad political consensus emerged that adopting an approach pioneered by Singapore can be effective without invading peoples privacy. 07:30 GMT Czech Republics coronavirus cases surpass 3,000 The number of coronavirus cases in the Czech Republic surged past the 3,000 mark, the Central European countrys health ministry said, after 184 news cases were recorded the previous day. Of the 43,000 tests carried out, the ministry said 3,001 infections were detected, of which 25 people have recovered. Fatalities stood at 23. 07:25 GMT First coronavirus death reported in Tanzania Tanzania reported its first death from the coronavirus, Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu said in a statement. The patient, a 49-year-old male who had pre-existing health conditions, was admitted to Mloganzila hospital in the capital, Dar Es Salaam, for treatment. The East African country has recorded 19 infections as of Monday. People wearing masks to protect against the spread of coronavirus in Yokohama near Tokyo [Koji Sasahara/AP] 07:15 GMT China to postpone national university entrance exam China will postpone the annual national gaokao university entrance examinations by one month to July 7 and 8 due to the coronavirus outbreak, the state-run China Central Television reported. Hubei province, the centre of Chinas outbreak, and the capital Beijing will be allowed to put forward suggestions for their own timetables for the tests. 06: 45 GMT News you might have missed Australia thinks it might be slowing the rate of infections after implementing strict new quarantine measures for overseas arrivals and social distancing. More countries in the Asia Pacific are imposing distancing measures Vietnam is due to do so on Wednesday, while Indonesia is banning overseas arrivals and transit passengers, and Japan is telling its citizens not to travel to 73 countries and territories. The WHO in the Western Pacific is urging the region not to let down its guard and maintain not only physical distancing but measures to identify, isolate and track contacts of those found to have the virus. 06:04 GMT Number of coronavirus cases in Germany rises to 61,913 The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Germany has risen to 61,913, and 583 people have died of the disease, statistics from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Tuesday. Cases rose by 4,615 compared with the previous day, while the death toll climbed by 128, the tally showed. 05:15 GMT Japan containment under strain, PM and deputy to avoid joint meetings Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his deputy Taro Aso will stop attending meetings together to cut the risk of coronavirus, according to a government spokesman. Were just barely holding it together, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters on Tuesday. If we loosen our grip even a little, it wouldnt be surprising to see a sudden surge (in cases). Japan has more than 2,000 cases of coronavirus with 59 deaths, according to national broadcaster NHK. Pedestrians wearing protective face masks wait at Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo [Issei Kato/Reuters] 05:05 GMT Indonesia closes door to overseas arrivals, transit by non-Indonesians Indonesias Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is to suspend all arrivals and transit by non-Indonesians except for foreigners with residence permits and some diplomatic visits. The regulations are expected to be issued later on Tuesday, she said. Screening for Indonesians arriving from overseas is also expected to be stepped up. 05:00 GMT Vietnam to implement social distancing from April 1 Vietnam is to introduce social distancing measures from Wednesday. The restrictions will remain in place for 15 days. 04:55 GMT More cases in Czech Republic, Thailand The Czech Republic and Thailand have each just reported a further rise in cases, according to Reuters. The Czech Republic says it confirmed 184 new cases on March 30, bringing the total to 3,001. The central European nation has tested more than 43,000 people for the virus and is ramping up the programme. Thailand, meanwhile, reported 127 new cases and one death. The country now has 1,651 cases. 04:45 GMT Bolsonaros political calculation on coronavirus Brazils right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, is placing the burden of tackling the coronavirus on the countrys local administrations in the hope that he will benefit, according to Sao Paolo journalist Gustavo Ribeiro, who spoke to Al Jazeera. If the (locally imposed) measures work and the community can see some normality returning he will say Look: I told you it was nothing, Ribeiro said. Sam Cowie has more on Bolsonaro as he continues to defy international guidelines on curbing the spread of COVID-19. President Jair Bolsonaro speaks to journalists about the coronavirus pandemic at the Planalto Presidential Palace in Brasilia [Andre Borges/AP Photo] 04:30 GMT Children in South Korea to start next school term at home Children in South Korea are due to return to school next week, but will do so from home, like millions of others around the world. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun says plans are being finalised to implement remote learning, with online classes to start at some schools on April 9, before expanding to other institutions. 04:00 GMT Myanmar reports first COVID-19 death Myanmar has reported its first death from the coronavirus a 69-year-old man who also had cancer and died in a Yangon hospital. The health ministry says the man had sought medical treatment in Australia and stopped in Singapore on his way home. Myanmar has confirmed 14 cases of the virus, mostly in people who have travelled overseas. 03:45 GMT Australia optimistic measures beginning to slow infections Australia is optimistic that its strict measures on physical distancing are helping slow the spread of the coronavirus, but is urging people against complacency. Health Minister Greg Hunt told a televised media conference the country had about 4,400 coronavirus cases, with the rate of growth in new infections slowing from 25-30 percent a week ago to an average of 9 percent over the past three days. Beaches, like Sydneys Bondi, have been closed as Australia enforces tough distancing measures [James Gourley/EPA] There were early promising signs of the curve flattening, Hunt said. If you are wondering why the WHO has now begun using the term physical distancing rather than social distancing, Saba Aziz explains here. 03:15 GMT WHO in Western Pacific urges region not to let down guard in COVID-19 The WHO office for the Western Pacific is holding a virtual press conference on the outbreak in the region. Regional Director Dr Takeshi Kasai noted that while the region outside China had yet to see large-scale community transmission he stressed the fight against the virus was a long-term battle requiring sustained contact tracing, physical distancing measures and the commitment of every single member of society. We cannot let down our guard, he said. 02:40 GMT Stay away: Japan puts 73 countries and territories off-limits Japans Foreign Ministry is urging citizens not to travel to 73 countries and regions, including the US, Canada and the United Kingdom. The country earlier announced new dates for the virus-delayed Tokyo Olympics. The summer games are now scheduled to start on 23 July next year. Its now official! #Tokyo2020 Olympics will be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021. Stay safe and stay strong till then. https://t.co/rGkmrcuqBZ Tomoaki Ishigaki (@TomoakiIshigaki) March 30, 2020 02:30 GMT Spain to tighten movement restrictions from Tuesday Spain is moving to tighten a three-week lockdown to slow the spread of the virus. Healthcare workers account for about 14 percent of all those confirmed with the virus, which Jose Hernandez, an academic at the University of Cordoba told Al Jazeera is arguably the most alarming news of all. Read more of Alasdair Fortheringhams report from Granada here. 02:10 GMT Mexico announces health emergency as cases climb past 1,000 Mexicos government has announced a health emergency after the number of cases in the country passed 1,000 and deaths increased to 28. All non-essential activities will be suspended until April 30, and the number of people allowed to gather limited to 50. Health authorities are also urging vulnerable people and those over the age of 60 years old to observe stay-at-home recommendations. 01:30 GMT First Catholic cardinal confirmed with COVID-19 Cardinal Angelo De Donatis has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, the first cardinal known to have the disease. De Donatis, who is the vicar general of the Diocese of Rome, has been admitted to hospital, according to the Catholic News Agency. The 66-year-old became a cardinal in 2018. Pope Francis delivered an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) blessing normally given only at Christmas and Easter from an empty St Peters Square on Friday. The cardinal responsible for Rome has now been diagnosed with COVID-19 [Yara Nardi/Pool via Reuters] 00:45 GMT China reports 48 new cases China has just released its daily coronavirus update, with 48 confirmed new cases. The National Health Commission says all the cases came from overseas and there have been no new local infections. China requires centralised quarantine for everyone arriving from overseas, and is maintaining strict distancing measures. State media is reminding people that those rules will be strictly enforced. #COVID19 is far from ending, violations of regulations and law during the epidemic will be punished. Residents in Beijing are urged to strictly follow the epidemic control measures such as wearing masks, not gathering, not having meals together. pic.twitter.com/WfMGNeFqtF Global Times (@globaltimesnews) March 31, 2020 00:30 GMT Pentagon reports first coronavirus death of US soldier The Pentagon has reported the first death of a US soldier from COVID-19. The man was a New Jersey Army National Guardsman and had been in hospital since March 21. Mark Esper, the US defence secretary, said it was a sad day for the countrys military and a stinging loss. 00:00 GMT Indonesia urged to release wrongfully held from overcrowded jails Human Rights Watch is urging Indonesia to release all those held wrongfully in its jails, including all Papua political prisoners amid a growing risk of COVID-19 in the countrys overcrowded prisons. HRWs Indonesia researcher Andreas Harsono says the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, which manages the prison system, should also consider alternatives to detention for those nearing the end of their sentences and people jailed for minor offences such as failing to pay a fine. Harsono says there were 270,000 people in prison as of March 23, more than double the systems capacity. The trial of six West Papuan activists charged with treason is also continuing with more than 50 others on trial across the country. Read all the updates from yesterday (March 30) here. FILE PHOTO: A pump jack operates in front of a drilling rig at sunset in an oil field in Texas By Devika Krishna Kumar NEW YORK (Reuters) - Crude oil benchmarks ended a volatile quarter with their biggest losses in history, as both U.S. and Brent futures were hammered throughout March on the global economic freeze due to the coronavirus pandemic and the eruption of a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Both benchmarks lost roughly two-thirds of their value in the quarter, with March's declines of about 55% accounting for the lion's share of the losses. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude salvaged the end of the month with a modest 2% gain on Tuesday, while Brent ended slightly lower. Global fuel demand has been destroyed by travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Forecasters at major merchants and banks see demand slumping by 20% to 30% in April, and for weak consumption to linger as economic activity is severely curtailed for the next several months. WTI settled 39 cents higher at $20.48 per barrel. The U.S. benchmark plunged 54% during March and 66% for the first quarter, the worst declines since the contract's inception in 1983. May Brent crude futures ended the session 2 cents lower at $22.74 a barrel ahead of expiration. The international benchmark fell 66% in the first quarter and 55% in March, the worst quarterly and monthly percentage declines on record. The more-active June contract settled 7 cents lower at $26.35 a barrel. Oil drew in some buyers after U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed to talks on stabilizing energy markets. Markets have been in turmoil for more than three weeks after Saudi Arabia and Russia were unable to come to an agreement to curb supply to combat the growing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. That took prices down sharply earlier in the month, but markets dropped even more as the pandemic worsened. More than 800,000 people have been infected and more than 39,000 have died. So far it is unclear if Trump and Putin's efforts will come to fruition. Saudi Arabia and other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries were unable to come to an agreement on Tuesday to meet in April. Story continues Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of OPEC, and Russia, which had allied with OPEC to curb output for more than three years beginning in late 2016, remain at loggerheads. The Saudis plan to boost oil exports to 10.6 million barrels per day (bpd) from May on lower domestic consumption. The weakness in futures markets has been surpassed by the physical markets, where cargoes are selling at single digits in key markets like Canada, Mexico and Europe, reflecting expectations for the coming collapse in demand that will strand barrels of oil. "COVID has taken the oil market hostage," said Michael Tran, managing director of energy strategy at RBC Capital Markets in New York. "The unprecedented pace of demand destruction has forced the hand of refineries, on a global level, to issue run cuts, leaving barrels from the U.S. to the North Sea, to Asia searching, often unsuccessfully, for homes." Fuel demand is expected to fall sharply in coming months, with Trafigura's chief economist predicting a 30% falloff in demand. Worldwide aviation is basically shut down, and motorists are staying off the roads. "It's just a matter of time before we see the producers be forced by the crude gatherers to cut as one cannot 'gather' crude when there are no buyers or tanks to store it in," said Scott Shelton, energy specialist at United ICAP. U.S. crude output fell to 12.7 million bpd in January from 12.8 million bpd in December, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in a monthly report on Tuesday. That was the first time since July 2019 that U.S. crude output has declined two months in a row. Goldman Sachs anticipates that U.S. supply will fall by roughly 1.4 million bpd by the third quarter of 2021 to deal with falling demand. A Reuters survey of 40 analysts forecast Brent crude prices would average $38.76 a barrel in 2020, 36% lower than the $60.63 forecast in a February survey. (Additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar in London, Jane Chung in Seoul and Sonali Paul in Melbourne; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio) Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar said on Tuesday that people should not spray the sodium hypoclorite solution, a disinfectant, on their own as it could be hazardous. Only the civic officials should spray sodium hypoclorite using the standard operating procedure, she said. The mayor conducted a meeting of all the corporators through video conference from the headquarters of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in view of the coronavirus pandemic. At the meeting, fire brigade officials informed that disinfectants are being sprayed at hospitals, toilets and other public places besides housing societies and colonies where coronavirus cases were found. There were instances where people sprayed disinfectants without knowing the correct composition and quantity of the solution and the method of spraying, which could prove to be hazardous, he said. Pednekar said only civic officials would spray disinfectants, and people should not do it on their own. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) That is kind of the silver lining of the situation that were in, to really see the community come together, said Beth Rottman, executive director of Project C.U.R.E. Ive received so many calls from so many people, different people who are in unrelated industries, doing anything they can to help, offering whatever services they have to really rally together. 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. Early in March, a 37-year-old lab technician at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (MGIMS) in the western state of Maharashtra got sick at a time when the coronavirus pandemic was still not high on the Indian governments agenda. He had pneumonia in both his lungs and his condition was severe enough to be put in the intensive care unit (ICU), Dr SP Kalantri, the director professor of medicine at MGIMS, told Al Jazeera. The lab technicians breathing was assisted by mechanical ventilation. Our nurses are trained to take care of such patients day in and day out it wasnt something new, said Kalantri, who is also the medical superintendent of the MGIMS-run Kasturba Hospital. But there was a diagnostic possibility that he had COVID-19. The entire MGIMS staff was nervous when they sent a sample to a regional lab in Nagpur city for testing. They were worried that if it turned out to be a COVID-19 infection, others could have been infected, and in turn, infected their families. The staff of another hospital in Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra and the countrys financial hub, had already been quarantined after a patient tested positive. So when the test came back negative, everyone at MGIMS breathed a sigh of relief. A sense of alarm There is a sense of alarm among healthcare professionals across India as the country hunkers down in wait for what many believe will be a tsunami of coronavirus cases. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation last Tuesday, announcing a countrywide lockdown for 21 days. Governmental doctors walk towards a bus to go to several districts as reinforcement in the city during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown [Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP] It is going to help stop the spread of the virus to an extent, but it is also a time for the healthcare infrastructure to prepare itself, Dr Yogesh Jain, a doctor who works in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh state, told Al Jazeera. Jain, like most medical professionals, is deeply concerned over shortages of protective health supplies, such as masks, gloves and coveralls, known as personal protective equipment (PPE). The prime minister said nothing about that, he said. On Tuesday, Reuters reported that the government was planning to procure more PPE domestically and was also exploring imports from South Korea and China. In Chhattisgarh, six cases have so far tested positive for COVID-19, one in the district where Jain works as a doctor. But the low number of recorded cases across the country might be a result of the governments strict guidelines on who can be tested. Apart from those six reported cases, we have many patients who are showing symptoms of COVID-19, said Jain, who has no coveralls or disposable 3-ply face masks, fewer than a dozen N-95 masks and just a few sets of gloves at his hospital. Workers in Bangalore spray disinfectant on a road during the nation-wide lockdown [Jagadeesh NV/EPA] They think about their spouses and kids Minutes before talking to Al Jazeera, Jain was attempting to get a patient with COVID-19-like symptoms transported to the government medical college to Bilaspur town for a test. The ambulance driver showed up with no protective gear. Jain wanted to give him coveralls and a mask but was unable to, since he did not have enough for himself. If I cant even make sure of the safety of the health workers, how can I ask them to do their work? he asked. Kalantri from MGIMS said anxiety was pervasive among his staff. The doctors are also human beings. They read about death of healthcare workers in China or Italy or UK, and fear starts making a way into their consciousness. They think about their spouse and kids at home. Experts are blaming the current shortage of PPE on government mismanagement. The minutes of a meeting, which Al Jazeera has seen, held by the Ministry of Textiles on March 18 noted that the Health Ministry would require more than 700,000 protective coveralls, six million N-95 masks and 10 million 3-ply masks until the end of May. The estimates are wildly conservative in the eyes of industry watchdogs. According to the All India Drug Action Network, the need for coveralls, for instance, could rise to 500,000 per day. In the same meeting, the ministry also noted there is a shortage of material and the rate of supply is not meeting the rising demand. The government had also not paid attention to World Health Organization (WHO) warnings about impending global shortages of PPE on February 27, and called on industries to ramp up production by just 40 percent. Towards the end of January, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued a notification banning the export of all PPE. But that order was amended a week later, on February 8, to allow the export of surgical masks and gloves. It was only on March 19 that the government banned the export of raw materials used to manufacture PPE. Despite repeated attempts Al Jazeera could not reach Lav Agarwal, the spokesman of the ministry of health. Questions were also sent via email, sms, WhatsApp but did not receive reply until the time of the publication of the article. Governmental doctors board a bus in Kolkata [Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP] A human tragedy Indian manufacturers were urging the government to stock up materials since early February, and to impose anti-profiteering measures. Yet the by the time an order was received, the price of the components required to make ply masks had gone up from 250 per kg to 3,000 per kg, Sanjiiiv Relhan, the chairman of the Preventive Wear Manufacturer Association of India, told local media. Meanwhile, PPE shortages are forcing some doctors to use raincoats and motorbike helmets, according to a Reuters report on Tuesday. The shortages come amid a humanitarian crisis over the government lockdown, with tens of thousands of migrant workers fleeing cities to reach their homes in rural areas. This mass exodus of people risks infections spreading from cities to rural areas, which could prove catastrophic for the country of 1.3 billion people. While the number of reported cases has crossed 1,200 with 32 deaths, many believe Indias low testing rate makes those statistics meaningless. Jain says he expects the cost of the delays will be borne by healthcare professionals. It is going to be mayhem, he said. I think that even the healthcare professionals who are committed to work, out of fear of the pandemic and for their own lives, might desert the frontlines. Chemists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have chemically synthesized a new peptide (a short protein fragment) that can bind to part of SARS-CoV-2s spike protein, a key protein responsible for getting the virus into mammalian cells, potentially disarming it. We have a lead compound that we really want to explore, because it does, in fact, interact with a viral protein in the way that we predicted it to interact, so it has a chance of inhibiting viral entry into a host cell, said senior author Dr. Brad Pentelute, a researcher in the Department of Chemistry at MIT. Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, have many protein spikes protruding from their viral envelope. A specific region of SARS-CoV-2s spike protein, known as the receptor binding domain, binds to a receptor called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). This receptor is found on the surface of many human cells, including those in the lungs. In hopes of developing drugs that could block viral entry, Dr. Pentelute and colleagues performed computational simulations of the interactions between the ACE2 receptor and the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2s spike protein. These simulations revealed the location where the receptor binding domain attaches to the ACE2 receptor a stretch of the ACE2 protein that forms a structure called an alpha helix. This kind of simulation can give us views of how atoms and biomolecules interact with each other, and which parts are essential for this interaction, said first author Dr. Genwei Zhang, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemistry at MIT. Molecular dynamics helps us narrow down particular regions that we want to focus on to develop therapeutics. The scientists then used peptide synthesis technology to rapidly generate a 23-amino acid peptide with the same sequence as the alpha helix of the ACE2 receptor. Their benchtop flow-based peptide synthesis machine can form linkages between amino acids, the buildings blocks of proteins, in about 37 seconds, and it takes less than an hour to generate complete peptide molecules containing up to 50 amino acids. They also synthesized a shorter sequence of only 12 amino acids found in the alpha helix, and then tested both of the peptides using equipment at MITs Biophysical Instrumentation Facility that can measure how strongly two molecules bind together. They found that the longer peptide showed strong binding to the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2s spike protein, while the shorter one showed negligible binding. The team is now developing about 100 different variants of the peptide in hopes of increasing its binding strength and making it more stable in the body. We have confidence that we know exactly where this molecule is interacting, and we can use that information to further guide refinement, so that we can hopefully get a higher affinity and more potency to block viral entry in cells, Dr. Pentelute said. In the meantime, the researchers have already sent their original 23-amino acid peptide to a research lab at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for testing in human cells and potentially in animal models of COVID-19 infection. The teams paper was posted on the bioRxiv.org preprint server on March 20, 2020. _____ G. Zhang et al. 2020. The first-in-class peptide binder to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. bioRxiv, doi: 10.1101/2020.03.19.999318 This article is based on text provided by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Tanya Sam is a friend of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The Canadian native has been a breath of fresh air on the Bravo reality series. Although shes surrounded by drama, Sam has been able to maintain her bubbly persona and positive outlook. However, after Kenya Moore felt insulted by Sam she came after her and her marriage. Tanya Sam and Kenya Moore | Alex Martinez/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal / Tommy Garcia/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank What happened between Kenya Moore and Tanya Sam? The ladies of RHOA took a trip to Toronto, Canada to take part in the carnival festivities. Moore has always been a shady character amongst the cast and started dropping hints that all pointed to Sam. During a luncheon, Moore asked the table if any of them would want to know if their husbands are cheating on them. She didnt namedrop anyone but she had someone in mind and her words were directed at Sam. The former beauty queen was approached by a woman who claimed to have been in contact with Sams husband. Moore kept quiet but Cynthia Bailey knew exactly what she was talking about. The latter witnessed the moment the lady came up to Moore to tell her the gossip. Everyone kept mum about the situation until Moore heightened the situation taking it to another level. What made Kenya Moore upset? When the ladies returned to Atlanta, Sam said she had a secret about Moore. She said the Miss USA titleholder had left a wig behind. Marlo Hampton noted was surprised as Moore has always claimed she doesnt use wigs. Moore even has a haircare line for natural hair. At this point, Moore was upset because she thought Sam was messing with her business. People watching the show could think she is defrauding the consumers and she didnt like that as sales could be affected. As revenge, Moore ambushed Sam with the cookie lady, the woman that Sams husband allegedly flirted with. The low-blow was not taken well by fans and a backlash against Moore ensued. Tanya Sam fires back Moore has had other arguments with the ladies over them bringing up aspects of her life that she doesnt want them to bring up. A fan tweeted a message that exposed Moore for her clashing views. Kenya: my mom, my husband, and my child are off-limits, the tweet read followed by, uhh, didnt you bring the cookie lady around to attack Tanyas husband? Sam saw this tweet and retweeted adding, The definition of a hypocrite. And its true, Moore has brought up other peoples husbands. During season 8, she tried to cause a rift in Kim Fields relationship. She brought up rumors online that claimed that her husband was gay. Both Fields and her husband did not give her much importance but Moore has had no limits in bringing up inappropriate accusations. Fans side with Tanya Sam Following Sams epic clap back, fans commented taking her side on the whole situation. Kenya makes rules everybody has to follow but she doesnt and if you call her on it, she walks way, a fan wrote. Kenya likes to dish it out but cant take it, another fan added. I used to like Kenya and her fun shade but this season, she is just cruel, another viewer commented. The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. 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 Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Leather clothing company chooses Centric SMB to drive 'digitally intelligent' R&D and production CAMPBELL, Calif., March 31, 2020 Zhejiang GOMINO Clothing Co., Ltd. ("GOMINO"), the Chinese leather clothing company, has selected Centric Software's Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution for emerging enterprises, Centric SMB. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to fashion, retail, footwear, outdoor, luxury, consumer goods and home decor companies to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals. Founded in 1996, GOMINO has grown from a small family workshop to a leader in R&D, design, manufacturing and sales of leather and fur clothing. GOMINO originally concentrated on its ODM business, supplying top Chinese and international brands. In 2012, GOMINO established two independent brands, GOMINO and KOYAN. GOMINO values their independent design and R&D capabilities as well as proprietary technical processes. The company needed a PLM solution to provide a dynamic repository for technical know-how and standardize product development to better serve brand customers and consumers. We develop hundreds of new products every year, but data for patterns, techniques and materials has not been well-preserved, says Mr. Wang Maliang, general manager of GOMINO. Without digital data management, it is difficult for us to review products in development and support decision-making for next year's merchandise planning. Impressed by Centric's industry experience and partnerships with top Chinese clothing brands, GOMINO selected Centric SMB, a cloud-based SaaS PLM solution for emerging enterprises. GOMINO will use Centric SMB to promote internal collaboration, ensure R&D runs smoothly and systematically manage styles, product development, materials, costing and tech pack outputs. With Centric SMB, GOMINO will establish libraries for patterns, techniques, materials, colors and styles to set the standard for future rapid product development. GOMINO plans to eventually extend the scope of PLM to merchandise planning and supply chain collaboration. Mr. Wang concludes, GOMINO's strategy is to develop from 'Made in China' to 'Created in China', and from 'digitalization' to 'digital intelligence'. GOMINO is laying a strong foundation for digital research and development with Centric PLM so we can achieve digitally intelligent production in the future. We are very happy that GOMINO has chosen to work with Centric, says Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software. GOMINO has an ambitious business growth strategy that depends on effective digitalization coupled with market-specific innovations and experience. We are honored to partner with them now and into the future. Learn more about Centric SMB Request a Demo GOMINO (www.zjglm.com) Zhejiang GOMINO Clothing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "GOMINO") was founded in 1996. It is a fashion leather clothing company focusing on R&D, design, production and sales of leather and fur clothing, and adopts the business model of OEM + ODM + OBM. In the first 16 years after its establishment, GOMINO focused on leather clothing ODM business. It is the first choice leather clothing supplier of many first-line brand clothing enterprises, such as ELLASSAY, MaxMara, YAYING, EXCEPTION de MIXMIND, YINER, DAZZLE, Ochirly, and ZUCZUG. In 2012, GOMINO successively established two independent brands, GOMINO and KOYAN, and widened its scope of sales and service channels, opening Direct stores in many cities. 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, consumer goods and home decor. Centrics 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 Software is a registered trademark of Centric Software Inc. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Media Contacts: Centric Software Americas: Jennifer Forsythe, jforsythe@centricsoftware.com EMEA: Kristen Salaun-Batby, ksalaun-batby@centricsoftware.com APAC: Lily Dong, lily.dong@centricsoftware.com Online anti-porn ministry getting increased interest from churches due to coronavirus shutdowns Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An online ministry that helps men who struggle with sex and pornography addiction has been getting increased interest from churches looking to partner with them due to recent closures over the coronavirus pandemic. The Live Free Community app was launched in November 2019, with over 700 individual members as well as a couple of church partners signing up. In an interview with The Christian Post, Live Free founder Carl Thomas explained that, with many churches closing down over pandemic concerns, his group is suddenly receiving more interest and inquiries. Now with COVID-19, churches are being forced to take their efforts online, something many recovery groups have no experience with, Thomas said. Thomas also told CP that his ministry can provide them all the tools they need to do this and do it effectively. Given the need and the current situation, Thomas noted that the group was waiving their usual $299 setup fee for congregations, though the monthly fee of $4.99 would remain. When a church signs up with us we create a landing page for them and a private/secret group in our network that they manage and only their church members can access, Thomas added. Inside these groups churches can host live events, online meetings, post articles, videos, etc. We also provide free training for their leaders on how to run a group based on our model, both locally and online. Thomas added that he wanted to give churches a safe recovery community for their men where they can openly communicate and organize their efforts. I believe the issue is the tremendous shame that surrounds this struggle and that most men don't want to show up to a weekly group meeting that's being advertised in their church where they can be easily identified as a guy with that problem, he said. The first congregation to agree to become a partner in the program was Fervent Church, founded in 2012 and based in Voorhees Township, New Jersey. Fervent Church founder and lead pastor Mike Rosado told CP that his congregation has been a partner with Live Free at its inception. Our church attracts different types of people and since we value vulnerability, many men admit to struggling in this area, so we wanted to strike while the iron was hot, explained Rosado. Our partnership has been great. The men in our church now feel they have a healthy and safe place to process and be known, while still deal with their issues privately. Rosado went on to strongly recommend Live Free, telling CP he believes this struggle is so prevalent in our lives that its foolish not to resource our churches with ways to deal with it head on. 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. Italy's top health official said on Monday the nationwide coronavirus lockdown in place since March 10 would be extended until "at least" April 12, nine days beyond its original deadline. Minister of Health Roberto Speranza told reporters Monday that the decision had been made earlier on Monday during the meeting of the government's high-level Technical and Scientific Committee, Xinhua news agency reported. "The evaluation was made to extend all containment measures until at least" April 12, Speranza said. "The government will take these steps." A day earlier, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told Italians to prepare themselves for a "very long lockdown" that would be lifted gradually as the intensity of the outbreak in Italy weakens. Italy was the first industrialized western country to issue a peacetime lockdown when it was announced on March 9. Under the terms of the lockdown, Italians are required to stay home aside from performing certain "vital" tasks, such as food shopping, medical visits, or trips to the pharmacy. Since Italy's move to shut down the country, several other countries in Europe and some states in the United States have followed suit. The rules governing the lockdown have been tightened several times since March 9, and there has been widespread speculation it would be extended beyond the original April 3 deadline. In Italy, April 12 is Easter Sunday, a major religious holiday that would under normal circumstances be the cause of church gatherings and packed restaurants. On Monday, Italian health officials announced the total number of people in the country infected by the outbreak topped 100,000 for the first time. More than 11,500 people in Italy have died of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Pathanamthitta: On March 11, 2020, Pathanamthitta, a migration hotspot in southeastern Kerala, became the district with the highest number of cases in the state. Among the districts with lowest poverty rates in the state in India, it had nine cases, all linked to foreign travellers and their primary contacts. Most of those who were infected had travelled widely across the district before they were diagnosed with the infection, it was later found. This, along with the fact that the virus reproductive number--the number of secondary infections generated from one infected ... Four frontline NHS workers today revealed how coronavirus has left them feeling 'terrified' and is causing 'heartbreaking loneliness' to patients in Britain. Doctors Janitha Gowribalan and Rosena Allin-Khan, paramedic Sarah Blanchard and nurse Richenda Browne all spoke out about their work fighting the pandemic. They echoed Government calls for the public to 'stay at home' while they put themselves in danger to help patients, with 25,150 testing positive in the UK so far. Dr Gowribalan told Grazia magazine there was a 'sense of uncertainty', and told of making quick 'lifesaving' decisions with one patient including inducing a coma. The doctor at Whittington Hospital in Archway, North London, also told how she and colleagues were 'dealing with something we don't yet really know about'. Meanwhile Dr Allin-Khan, who is also an MP, said she was 'terrified of spreading the infection to the people I love' and spoke of patients arriving 'severely breathless'. Ms Blanchard told of 'watching a person struggle for air', while Ms Browne called on the Government to 'prioritise getting us more protective equipment'. Grazia editor Hattie Brett said: 'This week's issue is our attempt to say thank you to the NHS and let their workers send a clear message to us all. 'The cover shoot was like none I've ever worked on; shot in a matter of minutes in the car parks of NHS hospitals, maintaining social distancing.' This is what the four medics had to say about their work on the NHS frontline: DR ROSENA ALLIN-KHAN Dr Rosena Allin-Khan is the Labour MP for Tooting in South London and an A&E doctor, who decided to return to healthcare when the coronavirus crisis began. She is now juggling hospital shifts alongside her work as a full-time politician, and told Grazia: 'I'm terrified of spreading the infection to the people I love.' Dr Allin-Khan said she had seen a previously healthy 33-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman brought into her hospital showing the virus can affect anyone. Dr Rosena Allin-Khan is the Labour MP for Tooting in South London and an A&E doctor Dr Allin-Khan was also pictured in hospital on the ITV programme Good Morning Britain today She added: 'More and more patients are arriving severely breathless and terrified. They can't even have relatives by their side because the virus is so contagious. 'One of the hardest things is having to tell loved ones to say goodbye at the door to A&E, because they could risk their own life by holding their partner or parent's hand.' Dr Allin-Khan also told how NHS workers are 'worried' about fast rises in the death rate, amid a 'huge sense of sadness and trepidation' among her colleagues. DR JANITHA GOWRIBALAN Dr Janitha Gowribalan, 35, is an anaesthetist and intensive care doctor at Whittington Hospital in Archway, North London. She told Grazia how she got the bus in for her night shift at 7.45pm, and helped a man in his 50s with underlying health conditions who was struggling to breathe. Dr Gowribalan said: 'We have to quickly make lifesaving, unavoidable decisions to induce a coma and place him on a ventilator. He's frightened and asking for us to ring his wife and children. Dr Janitha Gowribalan, 35, is an anaesthetist and intensive care doctor at Whittington Hospital Dr Gowribalan (pictured in hospital) explained how she got the bus in for her night shift at 7.45pm, and helped a man in his 50s with underlying health conditions who was struggling to breathe 'He's struggling to speak through his tight-fitted mask but, if he takes it off, his oxygen levels will plummet. It's upsetting telling him it's not possible for us to call his family now.' She added that there was a 'sense of uncertainty' on the intensive care ward, and medics were 'dealing with something we don't yet really know about'. Dr Gowribalan also said they had all the equipment they need, but it can take a team up to 20 minutes to put on gowns, hats, gloves, goggles and masks. RICHENDA BROWNE Richenda Browne, 29, is a senior staff nurse in the emergency department at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. She has urged the Government to prioritise getting NHS workers more protective equipment, saying: 'Healthcare workers are the most precious commodity the country has right now.' Ms Browne added that she is finding it upsetting to help families who cannot be together when one of them is dying, but must be blunt about the health risks. Richenda Browne, 29, is a senior staff nurse at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust She told Grazia: 'I stay strong for my patients at work, but at home, on rare days off, I process everything. 'We need to think of innovative ways for people to communicate with patients in isolation, such as using video calls to say goodbye. 'I'm also finding it challenging to show empathy through protective equipment and masks I rely so heavily on my facial expressions.' SARAH BLANCHARD Sarah Blanchard, 27, is a paramedic in Essex, and told of her heartbreak after seeing previously healthy patients collapse and die. She told Grazia: 'I couldn't sleep last night. My last call of the evening was a 43-year-old woman who, three days earlier, had been healthy. 'After having a cold and a temperature for a few days, she collapsed. Her husband called 999 but, by the time we ran in, her heart had stopped and she had died.' Sarah Blanchard, 27, is a paramedic in Essex, and told of her heartbreak at the coronavirus She told how she is also finding it hard to keep her distance from 'panic-stricken' patients being taken to hospital in the back of an ambulance Ms Blanchard said that seeing the loneliness the pandemic is causing is 'almost as heart-breaking as watching a person struggle for air'. She told how she is also finding it hard to keep her distance from 'panic-stricken' patients being taken to hospital in the back of an ambulance. Ms Blanchard also revealed some elderly people are calling 999 amid fears they cannot breathe, but when paramedics arrive they are alone and too scared to leave the house. The latest issue of Grazia is on sale today On March 30, an Emirates SkyCargo flight carrying close to 500,000 Covid-19 testing kits landed at Sao Paulo airport in Brazil. The kits were moved from Guangzhou via Dubai by the air cargo carrier on the first of two such flights operated to transport supplies to Sao Paulo. During the same week, Emirates also executed two special charters carrying almost 200 tonnes of medical supplies such as hand sanitisers and protective face masks from Hong Kong to Sydney while another flight transported pharmaceutical supplies to Karachi, Pakistan. As part of a special charter operation, an Emirates Boeing 777 freighter transported close to 100 tonnes of relief material including hospital equipment to Milan and over 55 tonnes of highly temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals were flown to New York from Mumbai. Between March and April, the air cargo carrier will also be operating nine freighter flights to Budapest as part of a charter to transport supplies such as face masks and equipment to Hungary. In addition to transporting critical medical supplies around the world, Emirates SkyCargo is also playing a vital role in bringing food materials into the UAE and the Middle East. During the last week of March, the carrier operated special flights from Pakistan and India to bring in more than 150 tonnes of perishables to Dubai. Dedicated cargo flights from Cairo and Nairobi have also been transporting perishables to Dubai and onwards to other destinations within the Middle East. Operating within a rapidly changing global environment, Emirates SkyCargo has had to adapt and reinvent its operations and network to make sure that it can continue to facilitate not just transport of essential commodities but also support economies and help businesses around the world maintain continuity by keeping global supply chains up and running. "In these trying times, we more than ever stand by our commitment for Emirates SkyCargo to act as a global conveyor belt for the transport of much needed commodities such as food and medicines and also for flying in equipment, machinery and other components which are vital for business continuity across essential industries," said Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional senior vice president, Cargo. "As an extremely agile and customer-focused business, we have been able to establish a new network and schedule for our cargo operations within a very short period of time, utilising lower deck capacity on our widebody Boeing 777 passenger aircraft which supplement the cargo capacity we offer on our freighter aircraft. "Additionally, in order to consolidate operations and reduce costs in this new scenario, we have also temporarily shifted all our cargo handling operations to Dubai International Airport (DXB). Taken together, we are making sure that we react more quickly to requests coming in from every part of the globe from our customers," Sultan added. Dedicated cargo flights on passenger aircraft Emirates SkyCargo has announced a new flight schedule for its global cargo operations which also includes cargo flights operated on its Boeing 777 passenger aircraft. These flights will offer around 40 tonnes of lower deck cargo capacity per flight and will supplement the cargo capacity being offered on Emirates' fleet of freighter aircraft. These cargo only flights are scheduled to operate to over 30 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia with a majority of destinations being served with multiple weekly and daily flights. The schedules and destinations for the dedicated cargo flights on passenger aircraft have been planned keeping in mind optimal interconnectivity with Emirates' scheduled freighter operations. In addition to scheduled operations, Emirates SkyCargo will also operate charter and ad-hoc operations on Emirates aircraft based on market demand. Consolidation of operations at Dubai International Airport With effect from April 1, Emirates SkyCargo will consolidate all its cargo handling operations at Dubai International Airport, temporarily suspending operations at Emirates SkyCentral DWC, the terminal handling Emirates' freighter aircraft. The move will help the air cargo carrier streamline cargo operations between its freighter flights and the new dedicated cargo flights being offered on Emirates' passenger aircraft fleet. - TradeArabia News Service Advertisement New Yorkers were seen ignoring social distancing rules on Tuesday despite Mayor Bill de Blasio warning residents that they could face up to $500 fines. Images show a group of people standing outside the Harlem Gourmet Deli, which sits at the corner of 125th Street and Lenox Avenue where the 2 and 3 trains stop. Other photos show at least five New York City residents sitting and standing closely at a bus stop in Harlem, disregarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines that people should keep six feet apart. Other individuals were seen sitting back-to-back on the platform of a train station and on trains. New York state's confirmed cases have increased by 9,298 to 75,795 and deaths have risen by 332 to 1,550. The five boroughs have tallied 40,900 cases, with 932 deaths. While it is understood that a lot of New Yorkers are still working and having to use the train and bus system to commute to work, residents should still practice social distancing to help stop community spread of the virus. Scroll down for video Images show a group of people standing outside the Harlem Gourmet Deli, which sits at the corner of 125th Street and Lenox Avenue where the 2 and 3 trains stop This photo shows New York City residents sitting and standing closely at a bus stop in Harlem, ignoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines that people should keep six feet apart Other individuals were seen sitting back-to-back on the platform of a train station and side-by-side on trains (passengers pictured on a train at 125th Street). However many of these will have been heading to work New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has warned people about the importance of social distancing and said it was 'unacceptable' that New Yorkers were not adhering to the warnings. 'People must practice social distancing. I've authorized our police to start giving out fines - $250, $500 fines to people who don't get it,' de Blasio said. 'Theyre going to give people every chance to listen, and if anyone doesnt listen, then they deserve a fine at this point,' de Blasio said. 'I dont want to fine people when so many folks are going through economic distress, but if they havent gotten the message by now, and they dont get the message when an enforcement officers staring them in the face... that person then deserves the fine, so were going to proceed with that.' At the moment, New Yorkers are allowed outside and to visit grocery and drug stores but they are being asked not to leave their homes if they can avoid it. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has warned people about the importance of social distancing and said it was 'unacceptable' that New Yorkers were not adhering to the warnings 'People must practice social distancing. I've authorized our police to start giving out fines - $250, $500 fines to people who don't get it,' de Blasio said. Residents in Harlem are seen standing outside a deli near the 2 and 3 train station At the moment, New Yorkers are allowed outside and to visit grocery and drug stores but they are being asked not to leave their homes if they can avoid it. New Yorkers are seen chatting outside a deli in Harlem While it is understood that a lot of New Yorkers are still working and having to use the train and bus system to commute to work, residents should still practice social distancing to help stop community spread of the virus On Monday dozens of people were spotted lining the river and not staying six feet away from each other to watch the USNS Comfort arrive in New York. The ship is providing 1,000 beds for patients who do not have the coronavirus. Crowds gathered near Pier 90 and were seen recording and taking photos of the ship as it prepared to dock. Tuesday was the second day in a row that New Yorkers ignored the social distancing order. People push themselves against the railings to watch the USNS Comfort arriving in New York on Monday On Monday dozens of people were spotted lining the river and not staying six feet away from each other to watch the USNS Comfort arrive in New York. The ship is providing 1,000 beds for patients who do not have the coronavirus Crowds of New Yorkers at the New York Harbor on Monday for the arrival of the USNS Comfort on Monday despite being told to stay at home New York Gov Andrew Cuomo has also been warning New Yorkers about the importance of social distancing. He extended his New York On Pause order until April 15 and asked that all non-essential workers continue to work from home. Gov Cuomo even used his brother, Chris, who has tested positive for the coronavirus, as an example. The governor said he last saw his brother in person about two weeks ago. It is not clear when Chris was exposed to the virus. There are more than 181,000 confirmed cases in the United States with more than 3,600 deaths Cuomo said Chris was smart about social distancing but had still exposed himself to the virus as he used his brother's case to urge essential workers to exercise caution amid the pandemic. 'My brother Chris is positive for coronavirus. He is going to be fine, he's young and in good shape, strong, not as strong as he thinks, but he will be fine,' Cuomo said. 'But there's a lesson in this. He's an essential worker - a member of the press. He's been out there. You go out there, the chance you get effected is very high.' President Donald Trump has also urged Americans to follow the social distancing guidelines and extended the national restrictions to at least April 30. Castro, Corona Heights, Duboce Triangle, Mission Photo: Evan Blaser/Flickr It's time for another look at notable crimes reported in the Castro since our last roundup. All details are from official SFPD reports, unless otherwise noted. Hot prowler breaks into fire station On March 30 at 3:15 a.m., a 38-year-old suspect entered the fire station at 135 Sanchez St. while firefighters slept inside. The firefighters awoke and detained the suspect until SFPD units arrived and arrested him. No injuries were reported. Man in life-threatening condition after assault On March 28 at 4:43 p.m., a 56-year-old man was spitting on people at Market and Dolores streets. In response, two other men, 20-30, assaulted him before fleeing on Market Street. The older man was transported to the hospital with a head injury and was reported to be in life-threatening condition. Thief steals electric bike from garage On March 27 at 8 a.m., a 32-year-old man awoke to discover that someone had stolen items overnight from his residence on Buena Vista Terrace (near 14th Street). The victim found his garage door open, with his electric bike, helmet, and phone bike mount all stolen. There was no information on the suspect. Man arrested for smashing Unionmade windows According to a Nextdoor user, a suspect was caught by police after smashing windows at the old Unionmade location at 493 Sanchez St. Officers arrived and arrested the suspect, a man who appeared to be in his twenties or thirties, as he headed up 18th Street towards Noe. 18th & Sanchez St just an hour ago. This fine young miscreant smashed that window & now has to be arrested during this crisis. Cops asked me not to take pictures because it made him upset & their jobs harder so I stopped. But really? Can't we just cane this guy? Singapore style. pic.twitter.com/Mjcx8Ax4qe John Entwistle (@marijuanadotorg) March 28, 2020 Woman hospitalized after skateboard assault Story continues Later on March 18, at 10:06 p.m., a 49-year-old woman was struck by a man wielding a skateboard at Market and Castro streets. The man, believed to be 20-25, fled, and the victim was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Pond hot prowl Also on March 18, at 3:57 p.m., a 50-year-old man was inside his residence on Pond Street (near 16th) when he saw a male suspect, 45-50, enter his home. The suspect fled without taking any items. Vehicle fire On March 14 at 10:06 a.m., an unknown suspect lit a car on fire near 16th and Dolores streets. SFFD units responded and extinguished the fire. The car, belonging to a 49-year-old man, was reported as a loss. Hot prowler steals items on Douglass Sometime between 9 p.m. on March 12th and 7 a.m. on March 13th, an unknown suspect broke into a home on Douglass Street (near 20th) while a 33-year-old male resident was sleeping there. The suspect stole the victim's bicycles, laptops, computer, gaming system, headphones, and hard drive. 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. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 Castle Hills is one of just a handful of local suburbs that havent decided whether to move their regular municipal elections to November, a change other cities have made because of the coronavirus pandemic. Even before President Donald Trump extended the 6-foot social distancing and no-gathering guidelines to April 30, covering the early voting period for the May 2 elections, several suburbs had moved their election dates. Fair Oaks Ranch, Helotes, Kirby, Leon Valley and Somerset have postponed their city elections to Nov. 3, the day of the general election. Most of the 27 suburbs that are completely or partly in the county canceled their elections earlier because the candidates who filed were unopposed. A few, such as Converse and Schertz, regularly have their elections in November. Castle Hills is expected to make a decision at its City Council meeting tonight, possibly affecting the North East Independent School District board, which also has yet to decide whether to move its trustee elections to November. Almost everybody has postponed, but Im waiting for Castle Hills, Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen said. The Selma City Council is scheduled at the April 9 council meeting to discuss postponing its election on whether to continue its quarter-cent sales tax to fund street maintenance and improvements. And the Terrell Hills City Council will vote on moving its mayoral election to November at its next meeting, set for April 13. Alamo Heights doesnt yet have the issue on the agenda for its next meeting, also set for April 13. Officials there said they are closely monitoring the novel coronavirus situation. Any jurisdiction that proceeds with its May 2 election will have to enforce any emergency public health restrictions at its polling sites, county officials noted. On ExpressNews.com: Suburban issues decided in November vote If they choose to go ahead, we had told everyone that it would be up to them. It would only be held at their facility, Callanen said. It would be their responsibility to produce the signage and to monitor the social distancing to keep our election officials safe. For some small cities already mired in unrest, the decision to postpone until Nov. 3 has had some pushback. Last week, the Leon Valley City Council voted 4-1 to delay its election until November, including two contested council races, charter revisions and an initiative to recall two council members. Leon Valley Councilman Will Bradshaw argued the city could accommodate the required 6-foot social-distance spacing between voters in a May election. But other council members said public health concerns and a need for vigilance in slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus factored into their support for a delay. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases In Castle Hills, which also has been writhing in political unrest, Mayor JR Trevino said hes conflicted on the issue,. He added that he didnt hear a consensus when his council recently discussed the matter. Theres kind of mixed emotion. Some people think that we should go forward, and theres others that are a little bit apprehensive, he said. Were hoping that the coronavirus is eradicated soon. But theres potential that it might flare up again in the fall. So at that point, its kind of a question of, How far are we going to keep pushing this? Theres only one contested council race on the ballot in Castle Hills, where former Alderman Frank Paul is challenging Place 5 incumbent Douglas Gregory. In Place 4, incumbent Lesley Wenger, who has been at the center of controversy for her efforts to fire the city manager and restrict public comment at council meetings, did not file for re-election. The only applicant for her seat, architect Jack Joyce, cannot replace Wenger until an election is held unless she resigns early. Trevino said he cant ignore a concern at the forefront, that many of Castle Hills 4,400 residents are older than 60 a primary risk group for COVID-19. Early voting for a May 2 election would run from April 20 to April 28. If there is a stay-at-home order, then that puts us in a very precarious situation to tell people to go out and vote, he said. Id like to check the box and move forward, but at the same time, I realize that given the demographic of the Castle Hills community, these are some of the people that are most vulnerable. Todays meeting in Castle Hills is set for 5 p.m. in council chambers, 209 Lemonwood Drive, and will be live-streamed through the citys website, cityofcastlehills.com. The agenda includes information for residents to participate by phone or email. We are keeping a maximum of 10 people in chambers, Trevino said. Between council and essential staff, we are already at 10. On ExpressNews.com: Leon Valley grapples with COVID-19 Local elections cannot be added to the July 14 primary runoffs under the Texas Election Code. But Callanen said she expects some local officials to ask Gov. Greg Abbott to set a uniform election date in September, reducing the length of the delay and preventing local races from being placed at the bottom of a long ballot in the November general election, led by a hard-fought presidential race. The only other option is to seek a court order to hold an election on another date. I wouldnt be surprised if somebody does that, Callanen said. The only items she was confident would be voted on May 2 are three small public improvement district initiatives to create the Gates, Clearwater Creek and Stolte Ranch special improvement districts. They each involve a limited area with only a few voters and would be conducted at the Bexar County Elections Office downtown. Scott Huddleston covers Bexar County government and the Alamo for the San Antonio Express-News. To read more from Scott, become a subscriber. shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Awasthi on Tuesday said that nearly 95 per cent of 157 people of the state, who had participated in Tablighi Jamaat event at Markaz in Nizamuddin in Delhi have been traced. "At least 95 per cent of the 157 people of the state, who had participated in Tablighi Jamaat event at Markaz, Nizamuddin in Delhi, have been traced. The remaining 5 per cent will be traced by evening. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed us to conduct searches in every district as there is a possibility that some people might have entered the state," Awasthi said while addressing a press conference here. This comes after several people who participated in the religious gathering in Delhi tested positive for coronavirus. Commenting upon the Bareilly incident where officials sprayed disinfectant on migrant workers, Awasthi said: "Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has condemned the Bareilly incident and has ordered action against them. He also asked to make sure that such incidents do not repeat in the future." Awasthi informed that a total of 6079 FIRs have been registered and 12,213 vehicles have been seized under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for violating the prohibitory orders, which are in place in view of the lockdown in wake of coronavirus outbreak. As many as 5250 barriers have been installed throughout the state. Essential items are being distributed through 16410 grocery stores. A total of 692 complaints of food and milk have also been resolved. "Orders have been given that lockdown should be strictly implemented. Anyone found walking on streets will be inquired and taken to the quarantine facility. There should be absolutely no movement on the borders," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On Friday, Coughlin posted a message to readers saying print publication would be suspended, but the online versions of the newspapers would continue. He also said print subscribers would be converted to digital subscriptions, and made a plea for new subscribers to help support the local journalism 22nd Century Media provided. 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. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 With so much competition, sometimes you have to be a real animal to make it in the social media influencer community. No, seriously a real animal. This week, GuarantorLoans.com put out a 'Pet-Fluencer Rich List,' which ranks animal Instagram celebrities based on their estimated earnings. As it turns out, some of these pets are making bank for their owners, pulling is as much as $45,000 per sponsored post. Making bank! JiffPom has a whopping 10 million followers who love pictures of the pup in cute outfits and this Pomeranian tops the list of Pet-fluencers Lap dog: The site estimates that JiffPom can make $45,187 per sponsored post, and in the past he's done partnerships with TikTok, Target, and Banana Republic JiffPom JiffPom the Pomeranian has a whopping 10 million followers who love pictures of the pup in cute outfits and that's plenty of popularity for pulling in sponsorship deals. The site estimates that JiffPom can make $45,187 per sponsored post, and in the past he's done partnerships with TikTok, Target, and Banana Republic. JiffPom is also a three-time Guinness World Record holder and once appeared in a Katy Perry music video. Here, kitty! Nala Cat , who was rescued from a shelter by her owner, has 4.3 million followers on Instagram Rich! She stands to make $19,847 per sponsored post with brands like Paw CBD and Hulu Nala Cat Based on her 4.3 million followers, this kitty stands to make $19,847 per sponsored post with brands like Paw CBD and Hulu. Nala Cat, who was rescued from a shelter by her owner, also has her very own food line. 'I didnt think that she would be so famous because she looks so normal,' her owner, Varisiri Methachittiphan, told MediaKix. 'Shes just like any other cat, but my family, they actually live in Thailand, and Id been sending my sister photos. 'At the time Instagram had just started, so my sister said that I should start an account for Nala so that I could share her photo with everyone because she looks so cute with her big blue eyes. I just started Instagram without actually thinking that she was going to be so famous.' Famous! Doug the Pug has a whopping 3.9 million followers to his name, and is estimated to command $17,807 per sponsored post Star power: In addition to wearing cute costumes, Doug has appeared in commercials and hobnobbed with celebrities like Miranda Lambert, the Backstreet Boys, and the Jonas Brothers Doug the Pug Doug the Pug has a whopping 3.9 million followers to his name, and is estimated to command $17,807 per sponsored post. His owners take advantage of that, and have teamed up with brands like Sabra and Pizza Hut. In addition to wearing cute costumes, Doug has appeared in commercials and hobnobbed with celebrities like Miranda Lambert, the Backstreet Boys, and the Jonas Brothers. Foxy! Juniper has 2.9 Instagram followers and stands to make $13,541 per sponsored post Juniper the Fox The lone fox on the list, Juniper has 2.9 Instagram followers and stands to make $13,541 per sponsored post. The North American red fox lives in a home full of rescued exotic animals after being born in captivity to a fox on a fur farm.Now living a much happier live, Juniper inspired a book, sweaters, and pins that fans can buy. 'Juniper loves to eat socks, flirt with Moose, cuddle in the morning, and hide food in case of snack emergencies,' her owners said. 'Juniper is SASSY. I've never met anyone, human or animal more sassy than she is. She's will always let me know exactly how she feels about something. If she dislikes what's going on she'll walk over, ears back, and scream at me, then casually walk away. ' Beautiful: Maru , a Shiba Inu living in Japan, has 2.5 million Instagram followers, and is estimated to be worth $11,723 per post Maru Taro Maru, a Shiba Inu living in Japan, has 2.5 million Instagram followers, and is estimated to be worth $11,723 per post. Owner Shinjiro Ono found the pup at a pet shop and quickly made him an online star, documenting his life across social media platforms. The loveable dog even has its own online shop, where fans can buy shirts, bags, pillows, and phone cases. Ruff! Tucker the Golden Retriever not only has 2.4 million Instagram followers he also has 1.8 million subscribers on YouTube. He could command $10,745 per post Tucker Budzyn Tucker the Golden Retriever not only has 2.4 million Instagram followers he also has 1.8 million subscribers on YouTube. There, owner Courtney Budzyn shares clips of the doggy eating, playing, and lapping up attention from others. He gets a lot of it, and that attention means he could command $10,745 per sponsored social media post. Fast-cash feline: Smoothie has 2.2 million Instagram followers and is estimated to make up to $10,220 per post Smoothie the Cat Smoothie has 2.2 million Instagram followers and is estimated to make up to $10,220 per post. Once called 'the prettiest cat in the world,' Smoothie is a British Longhair who lives in the Netherlands with her owner Arvid van Boekel. 'I started this Instagram account because I was posting too many pictures on Facebook, and my friends were complaining (Another cat pic, really?),' van Boekel told The Huffington Post. 'But I just had so many nice pictures, that I wanted to share with the world ... and in a few months Smoothie gained a lot of followers all around the world. I guess all cat owners think they have the most precious kitten, but people seemed to agree that Smoothie is really special.' So chic! With 2.1 million Instagram followers, Bulldog Blogger from Russia can earn $9,941 per post Bulldog Blogger With 2.1 million Instagram followers, this very trendy dog can earn $9,941 per post. Based in Russia, the bulldog regularly poses in cute costumes, dressing up as a solider, a princess, and a unicorn. He has also promoted quite a few Russian products. Say cheese !Tuna isn't an especially attractive dog, but his 2.1 million followers love his wacky little face. That kind of following means he could make $9,787 per post Tuna Tuna isn't an especially attractive dog, but his 2.1 million followers love his wacky little face. That kind of following means he could make $9,787 per post. Tuna's come a long way: Several years ago, he was found abandoned by the side of the road in San Diego. A rescuer took him in and he was eventually adopted by Courtney Dasher, who gave him a loving home and fame. Wild doggie! Loki , who has 2 million followers and is estimated to earn $9,529 per post Loki the Wolfdog Rounding out the top ten is Loki, who has 2 million followers and is estimated to earn $9,529 per post, like ones he did with Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co. The dog has also had partnerships with Mercedes and GoPro. Loki's owner Kelly Lund, quit his job in 2013 to manage the dog's account full time. 'Lokis an animal that can tell what youre thinking and knows how youre feeling. You have to be able to do the same for him,' Lund told Outside. Investor Alert: After making a 40 percent return in the space of three days, our Global Energy Alert subscribers have been advised not to buy more energy stocks this week. Learn how to read the markets today by taking advantage of your risk-free trial. Chart of the Week - The OVX index measures implied volatility of oil prices and is calculated by using movements in the prices of financial options for WTI. - The OVX reached 190 on March 20, an all-time high measurement for the index since it began in 2007. - Since 1999, daily movements in oil prices remained below 2 percent roughly 70 percent of the time. There have only been a handful of times in which prices moved by more than 10 percent in a single day in the past 20 years, but that occurred 6 times in March 2020. - On March 9, prices fell by 25 percent, and on March 18, prices fell by 24 percent. These were the two largest single-day movements for WTI in more than 20 years. Market Movers - TC Energy (NYSE: TRP) said it would move forward with the Keystone XL pipeline if the provincial government of Alberta chips in $1.1 billion in equity. - Range Resources (NYSE: RRC) to cut 2020 capex by 17 percent. - Valero (NYSE: VLO) said it would curtail operations at two more refineries, including its St. Charles refinery in Louisiana and its Port Arthur, TX refinery. Tuesday March 31, 2020 WTI opened slightly up but, at $20 per barrel, remains stuck at 18-year lows. There are few reasons to be optimistic, as most analysts see demand destruction growing by the day. It seems the rebound in oil prices earlier in the month was only a temporary relief. Demand destruction to exceed 20 percent. Global oil demand could fall by more than 20 mb/d, and market forecasts continue to see daily revisions. Oil demand is breaking away, probably by much more than the 20% we have currently in our books for April/May, JBC Energy said. Pioneer and Parsley want Texas emergency meeting. Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD) and Parsley Energy (NYSE: PE) asked Texas oil regulators for an emergency meeting to consider mandatory production cuts. The American Petroleum Institute called the idea shortsighted. Trump speaks with Putin. President Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, and they agreed to have their top energy officials discuss the sliding oil market. Trump is trying to convince Saudi Arabia and Russia to back off the price war, but has little leverage. I never thought Id be saying that maybe we have to have an oil (price) increase, because we do, Trump said prior to the call on a Fox News interview. The price is so low now theyre fighting like crazy over, over distribution and over how many barrels to let go. Pipeline companies tell drillers to cut. Texas pipeline companies have told shale drillers to cut upstream production because pipelines and downstream storage and refineries are reaching capacity. The move is a sign that shut-ins are just around the corner. Shell backs out of LNG project. Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) withdrew from the proposed Lake Charles LNG project in Louisiana. Shells partner, Energy Transfer Partners (NYSE: ETP), remains in the project, but has delayed an FID. North Sea platforms hit by coronavirus. The FT reports that more than a dozen workers at an offshore platform in the North Sea had to be quarantined from the rest of their crew because of the coronavirus. Staffing will really be an issue, one industry executive told the FT. The reality is that people working on these sites will get it. You cant have the entire world in lockdown but keep these projects running just as they have been. Related: Natural Gas Prices Could Double Next Year African oil producers struggle. Oil-producing countries in Africa will struggle with low prices. Nigeria could see production fall by 35 percent without offshore investment. The continent could see production fall by 200,000 bpd through 2025, according to Rystad. The downturn threatens government finances. This is really different terrain, and these are very vulnerable economies, Alex Vines, head of the Africa Programme at British think-tank Chatham House, told Reuters. Natural gas prices could double in 2021. The sharp drop in associated natural gas production in the Permian could tighten up natural gas prices, with analysts seeing prices potentially doubling in 2021. 10 mb/d of production to be shut-in. IHS Markit says that 10 mb/d of global production could be shut in between April and June. Other analysts have smaller numbers. OPEC+ is expected to add 4 mb/d this year, but total global production could fall by 200,000 bpd, according to Energy Aspects, which highlights just how much supply needs to contract in non-OPEC countries. Goldman Sachs puts global decline at 900,000 bpd, with the true number likely higher and growing by the hour. Goldman said production capacity could shrink by 5 mb/d this year. Trump to finalize weaker fuel economy standards. The Trump administration is set to announce its final rule for weaker fuel economy standards on Tuesday. The new rules will allow the U.S. auto fleet to emit nearly 1 billion tons more of CO2 over their lifetimes than the Obama-era rules. The old rule would have required automakers to achieve 55 miles per gallon across their fleets by 2025. The Trump rule will lower than to 40 mpg. Oil storage in danger of filling up. The global oil market is broken, with storage filling up and surplus cargoes selling for steep discounts, according to Bloomberg. At current rates, storage could top off in just a few months. The physical oil market has seized up, said Gary Ross, chief investment officer of Black Gold Investors LLC. Equinor says Sverdrup to beat expectations. Equinor (NYSE: EQNR) said that its Johan Sverdrup field could ramp up production faster than expected. Banks see $34 oil for 2020. A WSJ survey of 11 investment banks predicts an average WTI price of $34.95 for 2020 and $38.12 for Brent. Refineries blast Trump admin on ethanol. The Trump administration has decided not to appeal a federal court decision that limited the governments ability to issue waivers to refiners to allow them to get out of their ethanol blending requirements. Its the latest twist in a multi-year battle between refiners and the ethanol industry, and the latest chapter ends in the favor of ethanol. At the same time, ethanol plants are shutting down because of collapsing demand. Related: Oil Prices Slide As Saudi Arabia Confirms Another Export Boost Lenders take control of Sanchez Energy. The top lenders of Sanchez Energy (OTCMKTS: SNECQ) took a majority stake in the company after the driller was unable to pay back $200 million in bankruptcy loans that have kept it afloat during the proceedings, according to the Wall Street Journal. PBF Energy sells assets, sees stock jump. PBF Energy (NYSE: PBF) saw its stock price jump 20 percent on Monday after it announced an asset sale and spending cuts. But Bloomberg Energy analyst said the moves wont be enough and the refiner will need to draw on its credit facility. Imperial Oil to cut spending by C$1 billion. Imperial Oil (TSE: IMO) will cut capex by C$500 million and it also said that it will cut opex by C$500 million. Aramco considers pipeline sale. Saudi Aramco (TADAWUL: 2222) is considering a sale of a stake in its pipeline unit in an effort to raise cash, and the company thinks it can raise $10 billion from the sale. By Josh Owens for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: YEREVAN. The Armenian Foreign Ministry said 600 Armenian nationals remain in different 46 countries, according to the data provided by diplomatic missions. Speaking during a media briefing on Tuesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Avet Adonts said return of the Armenian nationals is hindered by the lack of communication and the risks associated with the trip. Everyone wants to come back, but I cannot claim that everyone wants to come back right now, he said. He spoke about children who live in 36 states under the U.S.-Armenia exchange program. The embassy is in touch with them. However, it is a question whether it is safe to gather them and bring them back to Armenia under these conditions. Its too risky, especially given the pace of coronavirus epidemic in the U.S. We are in contact with the organizers of this program. They are ensuring necessary conditions of their safety, he added. Another 80 Armenian nationals are in Iraq, they are workers of one of European companies. Our embassy is in contact with the company. They provided necessary quarantine conditions, food, funding, medical services, Adonts said. The students studying in Russia did not incur problems, as the Russian government said the students could remain in isolation at campus even if the classes are suspended. The official warned citizens to be on contact with the embassies and diplomatic missions, as this will allow to assess the situation and to arrange further actions. We have already arranged several operations to bring our nationals back from China in cooperation with our Russian and Kazakh colleagues, and we are thankful to them, he added. Seventy Armenian nationals were brought back from Italy, some of them refused to come because of isolation. Armenians have been transported to Yerevan from Ukraine. 68 children and teachers came back to Armenia from Kolkata last night with the assistance of the Holy See of Mother Etchmiadzin, Adonts said. He added that the Armenian embassies are trying to help with accommodation, food and financial resources if there is no opportunity to bring the citizens back. The mural stretched over 10 metres of wall in Senegals seaside capital Dakar shows a giant pair of hands reaching out for sanitiser, and a woman in hoop earrings and a facemask colored blue, red, gold and green. It is the work of RBS CREW, a collective of graffiti artists who have offered up their spray cans in the cause of public health. Black and yellow block letters spell out the message Together against COVID-19, referring to the disease caused by the coronavirus. A big thank you to the caregivers, reads another message scrawled out like a graffiti tag, next to the governments health hotline on the high school wall. As Senegalese we have a duty, a responsibility to raise awareness, said Serigne Mansour Fall, the 33-year-old head of the collective who goes by the name Mad Zoo. Especially as the majority of the population is illiterate, as artists, we can communicate through visuals, said Fall, whose past work has focused more on Dakar street life and Malcolm X. Senegal had reported 119 cases and no deaths as of Friday. Figures reported across Africa are still relatively small compared with parts of Asia and Europe, but the World Health Organization has warned the continents window to act is narrowing. That, said Fall, makes it even more important to encourage prevention measures and head off false information, including one online rumor that only white people can catch the disease. Other murals painted around Dakar by the collective show people washing their hands with soap and water and sneezing into their elbows. Each year for the past decade, Dakar has also hosted the Festigraff festival, which bills itself as the leading graffiti festival in Africa and attracts artists from around the world. RBS CREW was set up in 2012 with the goal, according to its website, of making messages ring out like blasts of gunfire. 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: Minister of State for Labour and Employment Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Tuesday said a sum of Rs 1 crore will be released from his MPLADS fund to make necessary arrangements to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The amount is to be released from his next due MPLADS installment, Gangwar, who is a BJP MP from Bareilly constituency in Uttar Pradesh, said in his letter to the Chairman of Committee on MPLADS (the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme. "I...give consent for release of Rs 1 crore from my next MPLADS instalment due for release by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) during financial year 2020-21 to such central government pool or head of account as may be decided by the government of India for prevention and control of Covid-19 in the country," he said in the letter. In a separate letter to the Prime Minister's Office, the minister said a financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh has been extended towards PM-CARES Fund to fight the pandemic. The sum, Gangwar said, has been donated by Khanqahe-Alia-Niazia which is an international sufi centre in his constituency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dr Jacob Glanville (pictured), a scientist in California, believes he has found a treatment or coronavirus using antibodies that neutralized SARS in 2002 A California scientist believes he has found an antibody cure for the novel coronavirus. Dr Jacob Glanville, CEO of Distributed Bio, is perhaps best known as one of the physicians on the Netflix documentary Pandemic. 'We are happy to announce we have completed the engineering and we have some very potent antibodies that can be effective against the virus,' Dr Glanville said. He told Radio New Zealand that his team used five antibodies that neutralized SARS in 2002, and adapted them to attack COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. The new coronavirus, the strain of which is known as SARS-CoV-2, falls under a family of coronaviruses. They can cause symptoms ranging from severe breathing problems to mild respiratory infections such as the common cold. Coronavirus is believed to be milder than its cousin, SARS, and it takes longer for symptoms to appear. But, because they're cousins, Dr Glanville says the antibodies that fight against one virus likely work agains the other. 'So what we've done is we've created hundreds of millions of versions of those antibodies,' he told Radio New Zealand. 'We've mutated them a bit, and in that pool of mutated versions, we found versions that cross them over. 'This makes them suitable medicines that one could use once they've gone through human testing to treat the virus.' Dr Glanville said the antibodies bind to S-proteins, which the virus use to enter cells in the body. ''Antibodies are attractive because you can give them to a patient right when they're in the hospital like an antiviral,' he said. 'You can also give them to doctors, you could give them to the elderly people to prevent them from getting sick.' His team at Distributed Bio adapted five antibodies to attack the new virus, which is a cousin of SARS. The drug binds to S-proteins, which the virus use to enter cells in the body. Pictured: Dr Glanville with a colleague, left, and in Netflix's Pandemic, right The next step involves sending the antibodies to the military for confirmation testing and partnering with companies to speed up production. Pictured: Glanville (left) with one of his colleagues Glanville hopes human trials can begin by the end of summer and released, if proven to be safe, in September. Pictured: EMTs wheel a sick patient to a waiting ambulance in New York City, March 28 'Part of the reason we think we're moving pretty fast is that instead of starting from scratch discovering an antibody, we went to these existing antibodies that were already extremely well characterized against SARS,' he said. 'And we've adapted them. So we're piggybacking on two years of research.' Dr Glanville calls the drug his 'short-term' vaccine but, unlike a true vaccine, the antibodies only protect someone for eight to 10 weeks. The physician told Radio New Zealand that he's trying to speed up manufacturing of the drug, which usually takes anywhere from nine to 12 months. Dr Glanville said he and his colleagues are in contact with the US government about potentially conducting a study on the treatment's usefulness. Should a study be completed by the end of the summer showing efficacy and safety, the drug could be use for so-called compassionate use. 'This is was used in the Ebola crisis. And it's been used in other cases where if you have something that's effective, and there's no other good medicine, you can begin releasing it to the world for use prior to going through all the approval process,' he told Radio New Zealand. 'That could be as early as September. Unfortunately, that's also as far away as September. So that's as fast as we can conceive of having this medicine widely available.' In the US, there are more than 181,000 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 3,600 deaths - more than any other country. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 TOKYO, March 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857) has introduced its new versatile, high-throughput H5620 memory tester that combines the capabilities to perform both burn-in and memory-cell testing for advanced DRAMs and LPDDR (low-power, double-data-rate) devices. With the advent of 5G technology, worldwide DRAM bit-based consumption is expected to approximately double by 2023. This increase is being driven primarily by growth in the data-processing and mobile-communication market segments, with data centers requiring more memory and smart-phone functionality expanding to include higher resolution, foldable capability and multi-camera designs. As the average selling prices for memory ICs continue to shrink, semiconductor manufacturers need ways to reduce testing costs while increasing production volumes. Advantests newest tester helps to accomplish this with its superior efficiency. In production environments, the H5620 can test over 18,000 devices in parallel at 100-MHz frequencies and data rates up to 200 Mbps. It is adaptable for factory automation and supports a wide temperature range of -10 C to 150 C with a dual-chamber structure featuring individual thermal-control stability. In addition, the new system can reduce customers capital expenditures and save floor space by combining legacy memory-cell testing with the burn-in test process in memory production facilities. By delivering high productivity at a low cost of test, this memory tester raises the bar for evaluating todays newest DRAMs, said Takeo Miura, vice president of the Memory ATE Business Group at Advantest. The H5620 runs on the FutureSuite operating system with its versatile tool set. This software ensures that the tester can be easily integrated with legacy memory test systems from Advantest. In addition, assistance with program coding, debugging, correlation and maintenance is available from Advantests global support network. The new H5620 tester has begun shipping to customers and the H5620ES engineering model will be ready by the second quarter of this calendar year. About Advantest Corporation Advantest (TSE: 6857) is the leading manufacturer of automatic test and measurement equipment used in the design and production of semiconductors for applications including 5G communications, the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, smart medical devices and more. Its leading-edge systems and products are integrated into the most advanced semiconductor production lines in the world. The company also conducts R&D to address emerging testing challenges applications, produces multi-vision metrology scanning electron microscopes essential to photomask manufacturing, and offers groundbreaking 3D imaging and analysis tools. Founded in Tokyo in 1954, Advantest is a global company with facilities around the world and an international commitment to sustainable practices and social responsibility. More information is available at www.advantest.com . ADVANTEST CORPORATION 3061 Zanker Road San Jose, CA 95134, USA Judy Davies Judy.davies@advantest.com A new law further restricting religious expression in China went into effect on February 1. Known as the Administrative Measures for Religious Groups, it requires faith organizations to obtain government permission for nearly every aspect of their operations. Moreover, religious communities must now promote the principles of the Chinese Communist Party. Under Article 3 of the new Administrative Measures for Religious Groups, all religious activity in China by unregistered groups is banned without prior approval of the government.Article 25 includes the provision that religious organizations are required to submit for review and approval any leadership or personnel changes, important conferences or meetings. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom -- an independent, bi-partisan federal body tasked with monitoring violations of religious freedom or belief abroad -- noted in a recent report that given the systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations in the country, some observers fear that Chinese officials will use this authority to target religious groups that Beijing deems to be subject to foreign influence including Islam and Christianity. Article 22 of the regulation pushes the concept of sinicization -- in other words, religious groups must promote doctrines that comply with the governments version of traditional Chinese culture and socialist values.As one Chinese Catholic priest told the Catholic news agency Asia News, In practice, your religion no long matters, if you are Buddhist, or Taoist, or Muslim, or Christian: the only religion allowed is faith in the Chinese Communist Party. Defending the right of all people to live their lives according to their conscience is one of the [President Trump] administrations top priorities, said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.Thats why the State Department recently inaugurated the International Religious Freedom Alliance -- a group of like-minded countries that treasure and fight for, international religious freedom around the world. Every human being has the right to believe in whatever it is they wish, to change their faith, or to hold no faith at all, said Secretary Pompeo: Indeed, we must affirm, and fight for that truth now more than ever. More than eight in ten people in the world today live where they cannot practice their faith freely. And, added Secretary Pompeo, we condemn the Chinese Communist Partys hostility to all faiths. When breeding season was over that year, Honey and her kids disappeared to who knew where. Coyne guesses they hit the Mississippi Flyway, the bird migration route that extends from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada, and he figured hed never see Honey named for her color again. She might get shot by hunters or die of old age and, really, it was too much to hope that shed find her way back to a little pond in Chicago. Kmart predator Sterling Free lured a little girl from the Kmart toy aisle and sexually assaulted her in bushland A seven-year-old girl abducted from a Kmart by a stranger who sexually assaulted her in bushland curled up in the foetal position and reverted to baby talk when police tried to speak to her. Details of the attack on the girl were revealed in a Queensland Court of Appeal judgment which overturned a sentence potentially allowing Sterling Mervyn Free to walk free on parole in less than two years. Free, a father of twins, kidnapped the girl from Westfield North Lakes Shopping Centre, about 25km north of Brisbane, on December 8, 2018. The girl had been shopping with her mother in the toy section of Kmart, looking for something to buy with her pocket money. Free, then 26, drove the girl to bushland about half an hour away at Pumicestone Passage and molested her before returning the child to the shopping centre. Free, now 28, was jailed for eight years in October for crimes District Court Judge Julie Dick described as 'abhorrent' and 'every parent's worse nightmare'. He had pleaded guilty to taking a child for immoral purposes, deprivation of liberty, and indecent treatment of a child under 12. The Queensland Attorney-General appealed against the 'manifestly inadequate' sentence which offered Free an earliest possible release date of August 10, 2021. Free, who worked at Fantastic Furniture and is the father of twins, was originally eligible for parole on August 10, 2021. The Court of Appeal has overturned any parole recommendation Free leads the little girl away from Westfield North Lakes Shopping Centre, in footage shown to the District Court. Free said he acted on 'urges' to sexually assault the child On Tuesday the Court of Appeal confirmed Free's eight-year head sentence but removed any recommendation about his parole eligibility. It is still unclear exactly what Free did to the girl, beyond his admissions, because she has been unable to describe her ordeal. The Court of Appeal judges described the girl as having been 'reluctant, or unable, to provide any real details about what occurred in the time she was missing.' 'At times, when police tried to speak to her, she would avoid eye contact, curl herself up into the foetal position, hide or revert to speaking in baby talk and sounds,' the judges said. The girl told police Free approached her in Kmart and ordered her to come with him. 'He told her his name, and she told him her name,' the judges said. 'She went with the respondent, and got into his car. They talked about Christmas and drove past tall trees. 'When they got out of the car, there were lots of bushes and trees around. He told the child to follow him into the bush.' The girl recalled lying on the ground but did not describe the sexual offending. She said she did not talk to Free while they were in the bush. When he was finished Free told the girl to get in his car and drove her back to the shopping centre, according to the Court of Appeal judges. The little girl was searching the Kmart toy aisles at Westfield North Lakes for a present while her mother stood nearby, when the predator led her away In a letter to the court which was later read out loud to journalists sex fiend Free said: 'I can only ever say sorry. I know that this is not good enough' 'A few days after the incident, the child told her mother she knew she should not have gone with the respondent, but he had told her he was a good friend of her mum's and that she had said it was OK for the child to go with him.' Free told police he was shopping for Christmas presents when he saw the child alone in Kmart and 'the urges just kicked in'. 'He asked her to come with him and, to his surprise, she began to follow,' the Court of Appeal judges said. 'Part of his conscience was telling him "dont do this" and "freaking out" but the "urge" was telling him he needed to do it. 'He admitted he had always had sexual thoughts and fantasies about young girls, but had never acted upon it until this day.' Free told police once he was out on the highway 'the dark urge had taken over' and he sexually assaulted her in bushland where he could not be seen from the road. Sterling Free lured the girl from this shopping centre at North Lakes, north of Brisbane 'He described the child as looking confused and scared,' according to the judgment. 'Afterwards, he told the child to get dressed, then picked her up and carried her back to the car. 'After putting her in the car, he smoked a cigarette before driving back to the shopping centre. 'Once there, he parked outside the carpark, then helped her cross the road and walked her to the path leading to the shopping centre, leaving her to go in alone.' Free told police his actions made him feel sick and were disgusting. He knew what he had done was wrong but his sexual arousal was overwhelming and 'he had a demon inside that he couldnt control.' Since the attack the girl's behaviour had changed significantly, according to the Court of Appeal judgment. 'She became clingy, anxious and easily upset,' the judges said. 'She was also often angry and aggressive, particularly towards her mother. 'The material before the sentencing judge indicated the child appears to have blocked this incident from her mind, and refuses to discuss it. Anatomy of a crime: Sterling Free (on left) abducted the girl as she milled about the toy aisle at Kmart North Lakes on December 8, 2018, while he was Christmas shopping 'The incident has plainly, and unsurprisingly, had a severely traumatising impact on her; that impact is likely to be long-lasting. 'The impact on her mother is also substantial; and it has also affected wider family and friends. 'As described by the learned sentencing judge, the offending is every parent's nightmare; it is a nightmare for any child as well.' In a statement read outside court on the day of Free's sentencing by his lawyer Shaune Irving, the predator admitted: 'I took away her innocence and scared her family'. 'I hope that today my sentence provides her and her family some hope for the future,' he said. 'I can only ever say sorry.' Before Free's sentencing the girl's mother said no punishment would ever fit the crimes he committed against her daughter. 'My tiny innocent girl was well aware of stranger danger, however this person was friendly to her and tricked her into following him,' she said. 'No child should ever have to go through this type of trauma, and no sentence will ever be long enough to make up for the ongoing effects this will have on her.' 'We, as a family, remain positive and are trying to move forward. We would like to thank the Queensland Police Service, the Queensland DPP and the Australian public for their support throughout this ordeal.' Bulgaria's long-awaited plan to set up an "electronic health" system has received a surprise boost with IT workers left without work thanks to the coronavirus crisis pledging to work on the project for free. "We are offering to donate 15,000 man-hours from our experts to improve the public health system," Ilia Krastev from the AIBEST association of tech businesses said late Monday. "Let us come out of this crisis with one of the best prepared (digital health) systems in the EU," Krastev added. IT plays a key role in Bulgaria's economy, employing some 75,000 specialists and generating about 5 percent of Bulgaria's GDP. AIBEST has signed a memorandum with the health ministry to work on the system, which should include the introduction of digital prescriptions, electronic patient dossiers and medication tracking systems for hospitals. Electronic registers of infected people and those under quarantine should also help in the country's current fight against the novel coronavirus. Prime Minister Boyko Borisov welcomed the memorandum, saying it was a display of "real patriotism". "We are experiencing a decline in orders from clients," AIBEST board member Stefan Bumov told AFP, adding: "The experts are there and we'll keep them busy with an aim that will motivate them." Bumov said he hoped the move would prevent further emigration of IT specialists from Bulgaria and pave the way for increased activity for the sector once the coronavirus crisis is over. While the government will not be paying for the work, Bumov said the companies in the association are considering ways of compensating their employees. Bulgaria, the EU's poorest member, first announced plans for a digitised health system back in 2005 but most of the public tenders for the various parts of the system have been held up by appeals from failed candidates. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Greece's migration ministry on Tuesday said an asylum-seeker from a camp near Athens had tested positive for the coronavirus after giving birth at an Athens hospital. The unidentified woman lives at Ritsona, a camp some 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Athens. This is the first case among asylum-seekers living in a Greek camp. The state has run several vaccination campaigns in past years, but no screening has been done for the present virus. It was not immediately clear if the woman had been infected inside the maternity hospital. State TV ERT said the woman is of African origin. The ministry said another person living with the new mother had tested negative for the virus. "The public health organisation is already tracking the contacts of this case in recent days, and taking all necessary measures to protect (camp) residents and staff," the migration ministry said. Ten medical staff at the hospital have been quarantined and three other people in the same room as the woman are being tested, a hospital source said. There have been 46 recorded deaths and 1,212 cases of COVID-19 in Greece, which has a population of 11 million. In the camps, where tens of thousands of asylum seekers live in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions, regulations have been announced to keep residents as far from the local population as possible. The movement of camp residents has been drastically reduced for the next 30 days, with access to nearby communities only allowed to small groups under police supervision between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm. Specialised medical teams have being deployed to the camps and virus isolation areas and inspection points are being set up. Camp access to outside visitors is also barred, though aid and rights group representatives are still allowed to enter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New York: New Yorks governor urgently appealed for medical volunteers Monday amid a staggering number of coronavirus deaths, as he and health officials warned that the crisis unfolding in New York City is just a preview of what other U.S. communities could soon face. Please come help us in New York now, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said as the states death toll climbed by more than 250 people in a day to a total of over 1,200, most of them in the city. He said an additional 1 million health care workers are needed to tackle the crisis. Weve lost over 1,000 New Yorkers, Cuomo said. To me, were beyond staggering already. Weve reached staggering. Even before the governors appeal, close to 80,000 former nurses, doctors and other professionals were stepping up to volunteer, and a Navy hospital ship, also sent to the city after 9/11, had arrived with 1,000 beds to relieve pressure on overwhelmed hospitals. Whatever it is that they need, Im willing to do, said Jerry Kops, a musician and former nurse whose tour with the show Blue Man Group was abruptly halted by the outbreak. The spike in deaths in New York was another sign of the long fight ahead against the global pandemic, which was filling Spains intensive care beds and shutting millions of Americans inside even as the crisis in China, where the outbreak began in December, kept easing. More than 235 million people about two of every three Americans live in the 33 states where governors have declared statewide orders or recommendations to stay home. In California, officials put out a similar call for medical volunteers as coronavirus hospitalizations doubled over the last four days and the number of patients in intensive care tripled. Challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days, and this is a very vital 30 days, President Donald Trump told reporters. The more we dedicate ourselves today, the more quickly we will emerge on the other side of the crisis. In Europe, meanwhile, hard-hit Italy and Spain saw their death tolls climb by more than 800 each, but the World Health Organizations emergency chief said cases there were potentially stabilizing. At the same time, he warned against letting up on tough containment measures. MIAMI (AP) Two ships carrying passengers and crew from an ill-fated South American cruise are pleading with Florida officials to let them carry off the sick and dead, but Gov. Ron DeSantis says Floridas health care resources are already stretched too thin. As the Zandaam and its sister ship the Rotterdam make for Florida, passengers confined to their rooms are anxious for relief, hoping DeSantis will change his mind and allow them to disembark despite confirmed coronavirus cases aboard. The governor said he has been in contact with the Coast Guard and the White House about diverting them, and local officials were meeting Tuesday to decide whether to let them dock at Broward Countys Port Everglades cruise ship terminal, where workers who greet passengers were among Floridas first confirmed coronavirus cases. Holland America said the Rotterdam took on nearly 1,400 people who appear to be healthy, leaving 450 guests and 602 crew members on the Zaandam, including more than 190 who said they are sick. More than 300 U.S. citizens are on both ships combined. We cannot afford to have people who are not even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources, DeSantis told Fox News. We view this as a big big problem and we do not want to see people dumped in Southern Florida right now. Holland America President Orlando Ashford penned an opinion column in the South Florida Sun Sentinel to plead with officials and residents to let the passengers disembark. Already four guests have passed away and I fear other lives are at risk, Ashford wrote. The COVID-19 situation is one of the most urgent tests of our common humanity. To slam the door in the face of these people betrays our deepest human values. With authorities in country after country sealing borders and imposing quarantines in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Zandaam and then its sister ship became pariahs. Passengers were asked to keep their rooms dark and leave their drapes closed as they passed through the Panama Canal on Sunday night after days of wrangling with local authorities. Laura Gabaroni and her husband Juan Huergo, of Orlando, had wanted to explore the southernmost tip of South America for years to see the penguins on the Falkland Islands and the glacial landscapes of the Strait of Magellan. But their vacation turned harrowing as countries shunned them and people fell ill. Its been a trying time, especially because of the many ups and downs weve seen along the way, said Gabaroni. We are unable to leave our rooms, havent had fresh air in days. At least two of the four deaths on the Zandaam were caused by the coronavirus, according to Panamanian authorities. The company said eight others have tested positive for COVID-19, and that most of the passengers and crew on both ships appear to be in good health. Gabaroni and hundreds of others who were fever-free and not showing any symptoms were transferred to the Rotterdam, which replenished the Zandaam with supplies and staff last week. The Zaandam was originally scheduled to travel on March 7 from Buenos Aires to San Antonio, Chile, and then depart on March 21 for a 20-day cruise to arrive in Fort Lauderdale in early April. But beginning March 15, the Zandaam was denied entry by South American ports, even before passengers reported their first flu-like symptoms on March 22. Canal administrator Ricaurte Vasquez said Panama allowed them through for humanitarian reasons, but wont make another exception for vessels with positive coronavirus cases. Passenger Emily Spindler Brazell, of Tappahannock, Virginia, said the company has been accommodating, offering extravagant meals, wine and unlimited phone calls but they have to stay in their rooms, avoiding any contact with others. The captain said something like, This is not a trip anymore. This is not a cruise. This is a humanitarian mission,' said Brazell, who was transferred to the Rotterdam on Saturday. Gabaroni, a 48-year-old technical writer, wrote a letter to DeSantis imploring him to let them off the ships. Florida continues to receive flights from New York, and it allowed spring break gatherings to go on as planned. Why turn their backs on us? Gabaroni said. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak. Senator Sonny Angara posted a photo while in quarantine for COVID-19 MANILA, Philippines Senator Sonny Angara said he is on his way to recovery after testing positive for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Recovering, thanks to your prayers and some good medical attention, Angara said in a Facebook post on Monday night. His post accompanied a photo of himself with an unshaved beard and mustache. Angara announced he contracted the virus last week. He is currently under quarantine. He is the third senator to get infected with coronavirus after Koko Pimentel and Juan Miguel Zubiri. Angaras wife, Tootsy earlier bared the difficulties they have had to deal with after news of the lawmakers health came out. She said a neighbor wanted them out of the village and that others refused to deliver essentials to their home amid their households 14-day quarantine. She, however, thanked those who are still sending them help and food as she and her kids try to keep healthy amid the difficult time. Tootsy also said she has turned to her faith to survive this trying time, and expressed her belief that God will help her husband heal from the illness. The post Senator Angara says hes recovering from COVID-19, thanks public for prayers appeared first on UNTV News. 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. First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill during their daily media broadcast in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings, Stormont on Tuesday PACEMAKER BELFAST 31/03/2020 First Minister Arlene Foster has said she and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill have taken part in a "useful and appropriate" engagement with the Tanaiste Simon Coveney on Tuesday to discuss the coronavirus pandemic. Health ministers from both jurisdictions and Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis also took part in the teleconference to discuss cooperation in approach towards the virus. It comes after Belfast-born public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally suggested there would be more deaths in Northern Ireland than in the Republic of Ireland if Stormont continued to follow Whitehall's approach towards the virus. Speaking at Stormont on Tuesday, Mrs Foster said she would continue to take her advice from the Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride, who "has access to the modelling here". "Protecting lives is the number one priority," she said. Mrs Foster applauded the businesses which have re-calibrated their workflow to manufacture supplies to help the fight against the virus and asked companies who are able to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) to get in touch as more than 10,000 people come forward to lend their support. She said Health Minister Robin Swann is looking at "a number of sites" to assess their suitability for field hospitals, with a decision expected in the near future. Mrs O'Neill said: "It's really heartening to see so many people come forward to offer what help they can in this time of crisis." "We have to do everything possible for a coordinated approach," she said. "This is all about saving lives." On Tuesday, the Public Health Agency confirmed that a further six people in Northern Ireland have died after contracting the coronavirus. This brings the total number of deaths related to Covid-19 in NI to 28. There has been 53 new cases of the virus confirmed since Monday, bringing the total to 586 of those tested. Earlier Finance Minister Conor Murphy also announced a 912m package to fight the disease. Read More Check out our blog below to see how Tuesday's coronavirus developments unfolded. Two years ago, I talked to Gertrude Johnson Howardwho is now 84 years old and lives in Phoenixfor Slates Interview With an Old Person series. (Its exactly what it sounds like.) Our conversation stuck with me because of Johnson Howards candor, vivid memories, and spirited optimism. In this moment of widespread uncertainty and fear, as older people are being told with particular urgency to stay indoors and isolated, I checked back in to see how she was processing everything. This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Christina Cauterucci: Gertrude! How are you doing these days? Gertrude Johnson Howard: Im doing great. Im not stressed out at all. We just done got so crazy and got so I dont know what done happen to us. We got away from God. When I read my Bible, every time the people of God get too far away from him, he suffers things to happen. And then they repent and come back to him. I know Im just probably one of those fanaticals, they might call me. But I was reading in my Bible, and I looked up the word plague. And I just went through different Scriptures that I found, and I believe thats what [the coronavirus] is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have you ever been through anything like this, this kind of public health crisis, before? Well, when I was born, they had a pandemic or whatever they call it, and it was called malaria. [Editors note: Malaria was once endemic throughout parts of the American South and began to decline in the 1930s.] It was transported by mosquitoes. I was born on a plantation in Alabama, and we had no windows with screens or anything like that. It was long before electricity. We didnt know anything about electricity. The doctor had told my mother that I probably would die when I got malaria. I must have been between 2 and 3 years old. They did what they call home remedies for me. Do you know what the fat off of beef is? Its called tallow. If you make a beef roast then set it in the refrigerator, the next morning, you can see some white fat rolls in there. And they put quinine in that. And they greased me with it, and they wrapped me up in flannel cloth, and they heated a brick on each side and laid it close to me. And that caused me to sweat. They put some kind of leaf in there too. And my mother said I would just sweat, and they sweated that malaria out of me. I had pneumonia, too, at the same time. But now they have penicillin to help with pneumonia and stuff like that. You just think about all those epidemics Ive been through since malaria! They had polio, they had so many things. So Im not stressed out about this disease that done hit us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How are you dealing with it? Whats changed for you? We cant go to our senior center. Its closed. And I guess all the saloons around here are closed. This town is kind of shut down, but I stayed in here yesterday all day and kind of cleaned my house. I know my house was glad I couldnt be out running around! So I mopped all the floors, and I spent a lot of time talking on the phone too, because people call me. They want to know how Im doing because they know Im in that age group that this thing is supposed to hit. Advertisement Advertisement You just think about all those epidemics Ive been through since malaria! They had polio, they had so many things. Gertrude Johnson Howard Thats great to hear. Whos calling you? Advertisement Advertisement Some is family, but most are friends. And every day I look over my list, and if there are people I havent been in touch with for a while, maybe Ill call at least two or three of them a day and see how theyre doing and see if theres anything that I can do. I have a lot of friends because I have this letter writing ministry. It started when I was a young person in church. They gave me this job to send sick cards to people that was sick, and then as time went on, they gave me a job to visit people in their homesthey were called shut-ins, and they werent able to come to church at that time. I would go and talk to them and bring the outside world to them, I called it. Now they wont let me into the nursing homes because of this virus. But Im still writing to people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How have you been feeling, in general, these past few days? I had a dream last night that kind of bothered me. I was at the funeral of one of my cousins, and she passed away inI think it was 2002. I went from Arizona back to Ohio for that funeral. And it just kind of bothered me this morning when I got up, that I had had that dream. But there aint nothing you can do about dreams. You just dream. So I got up and I said, Well, I was in here all day yesterday, but Im not staying around this house all day today. People dont like when things like this happen, things they cant do anything about. My mother would say they acting like a chicken with its head cut off. Ive killed a lot of chickens in my lifetime. We used to kill a chicken and pull the head off, and you know, that chicken would hop around quite a bit and didnt realize he didnt have a head, he dont realize hes dead. Sometimes people look so lost like that, especially now, when the doctors say, We dont have a cure. Nobody knows where [the coronavirus] comes from. They say it comes from China, but it had to come from some place before it got to China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It came from bats. Came from bats, huh? Have you ever been close to a bat? Not really, no. Have you? Yes, I have. I was raised up with bats. Being born on a plantation, I was very conscious of all kinds of birds and snakes and small lizards and rabbits and possums and things. And bats are a thing we were always taught to fear. It was like they wasI dont want to say they were cursed, but it was almost like that. When they get close to you, they got a face that is scary. They really do. At the store, I got teary-eyed because people looked so desperate. They were coming out of there with big rolls of toilet paper. Gertrude Johnson Howard When [news of the virus] first came out, I took my friend to the grocery store. And that was quite an experience. I never seen peoplethey was rushing like they was running from something and didnt know what they was running from. And that really bothered me. Have you ever seen a dust storm? Advertisement I dont think so. Well, we used to have dust storms in Alabama. When youre in a dust storm like that, that sand gets in your nose, your eyes, your ears. And the look on those people that was at the store kind of reminded me of people running from those dust storms that I had seen when I was a child. They looked bewildered. I would just love to put my arms around everybody and hug them and assure them that its going to be all right. That this will be over after a while. I kind of wanted to cry. I got teary-eyed because they looked so desperate, Christina. They were just coming out of there with all these big rolls of toilet paper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Was your friend able to get what she needed? Yeah, she was just going to get a few things, but she came out with 70-some-odd-dollars worth of stuff. She was kind of panicky, too. I think it was kind of good for me to be with her that day, because she lives alone like I do, but she dont enjoy living alone like I do. I read, I write, and I talk on the phone. Then Ill eat. Ill go take me a nap. I know how to live alone. I didnt always know how to do it, and I thought I would be most lonesome. But I know how to do itand I got coloring books in there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats the best thing you did before everything got shut down? This year I was invited to go up to the city where my daughter teaches school and talk to the young kids about Black History Week. I really enjoyed the children, how they paid attention to what I said. Mostly I just told them the story of my life, where I was raised, and how good it is that they got nice schools to go to. My daughters kids, all them wrote me a note. I got it all rolled up here. Advertisement Thats so great. Isnt that great? My daughter said, When you have a bad day, Momma, just open it up and read what the kids wrote. I read everything that them 32 kids wrote for me. And not only that, sometimes I lay hands on it and pray for that roll. I ask the Lord to bless these kids and shield them. And about this virusIve asked the Lord to give the doctors and whoevers in charge an understanding of what to do. Advertisement On a happier note: I know its your 85th birthday in July. Thats a big one. What are your plans, if people are back out and about by then? My kids are planning something. They told me all I have to do is get ready and come to wherever. I looked in my closet, and Im wondering if Ill buy myself a new suit. Whats your advice for people in this moment? We can love each other. They havent passed no laws saying you cant love. So thats the one thing I try to do. I try to care for people, because Ive been hurt so bad in my lifetime, and love is what brought me through. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. Listen to the Waves, Slates podcast about gender and feminism, to hear a discussion of how the coronavirus quarantine is affecting women. The solicitor for a man accused of having a loaded pistol in Cork city last week claimed there was an extra onus on a court to grant bail in light of the Covid-19 emergency. speaking today at Cork District Court, Joseph Cuddigan said: "There is an extra onus on a court not to remand a person in custody pending hearing of the case where it is unlikely it will be heard until next year. The defence solicitor was applying for bail in a case where a man was allegedly caught late at night with a jerry-can of petrol and a loaded semi-automatic pistol in a car in a housing estate. There are easy ways to keep a close watch on him. He could be required to live full-time at his mothers house and sign on at his local garda station. The State has ankle bracelets (for tracking a person) although they do not use the technology. They could put it on him when he is out and about, Mr Cuddigan said. After hearing the prosecution evidence and the defence application, Judge Olann Kelleher refused bail and remanded Jonathan OSullivan of 55 Barretts Buildings, Gurranabraher, Cork, in custody until April 15. OSullivan claimed he was paid to drive a car from A to B and that was it. He said he did not see the gun or ammunition in the car. OSullivan said he did see the canister of petrol but knew nothing about it: I presumed that was for spare fuel. I only got the car to pick it up and drop it at a certain location and I done that, Garda Keith Shier and charged him with two counts namely having a firearm and having ammunition. The firearm charge states that: On March 23 at Ardcullen, Hollyhill, Cork, in the District Court area of Cork city, he did have in his possession a firearm, to wit, a black. .380 ACP calibre Grand Power model G9A automatic pistol in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he had not got it in his possession for a lawful purpose, contrary to the Firearms Act as amended by the Criminal Justice Act. The wording on the second charge is similar but refers to a single round of ammunition, namely a .380 ACP calibre round, contrary to the same legislation. Garda Shier testified that he arrested the accused at 2 a.m. on March 23 and charged him with the two offences. I cautioned him and asked if had anything to say, and he made no reply to both charges, Garda Shier said. The alleged possession of the firearm and ammunition was linked to an on-going feud which had already seen the discharge of firearms. The defendant admitted driving the black Audi car. Garda Shier claimed it would have been impossible to get in and out of that car without seeing the firearm on the floor in the front of the car. I believe that if released his direct or indirect actions will lead to the loss of life or serious injury, Garda Shier said. Advertisement Australians believe Tasmania is handling the coronavirus crisis better than other states. New South Wales has been the worst state at dealing with the disaster, according to a survey of 988 Aussies by Roy Morgan. The survey, which was conducted over the weekend before the government's huge wage subsidy scheme was announced, found that only 43 per cent of Australians believe the federal government is handling the coronavirus crisis well. Some 56 per cent think the Tasmanian government is doing a good job, compared with just 38 per cent who believe the NSW government is succeeding. New South Wales has been the worst state at dealing with the disaster, according to a survey of 988 Aussies by Roy Morgan In contrast, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been savaged over her government's handling of the Ruby Princess fiasco Poll Which state is handling the crisis the best? NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS Which state is handling the crisis the best? NSW 13 votes VIC 7 votes QLD 13 votes SA 6 votes WA 19 votes TAS 31 votes Now share your opinion Tasmania was the first state to introduce a 14-day quarantine period for travellers arriving from inter-state on 14 March. It also became the first state to ban any non-essential travellers on 24 March. Liberal Premier Peter Gutwein on Monday ordered Tasmanians to stay at home for four weeks with a few exceptions such as food shopping. As of Tuesday afternoon, the state has had 69 cases including three deaths. In contrast, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been savaged over her government's handling of the Ruby Princess fiasco. The health department let 2,700 passengers depart the cruise ship in Sydney two weeks ago before 412 tested positive for the virus, including five who have died. At least six people have been diagnosed after coming into contact with those passengers. New South Wales has more than 2,000 cases of the virus with eight deaths. The Ruby Princess disaster prompted the Western Australian government to force cruise ship passengers into quarantine on Rottnest Island before being allowed home. Some 53 per cent of Australians think the WA government is handling the crisis well, compared with 46 per for South Australia, 45 per cent for Victoria and 42 per cent for Queensland. It comes after four babies have caught coronavirus in Victoria as the state's toll rises by 96 to 917. The new cases include a one-year-old and three children under the age of one. A fifth child had previously tested positive to the illness in the state. Four babies have caught coronavirus in Victoria as the state's toll rises by 96 to 917. Pictured: A mother with her baby in Sydney Victorian health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the young patients are not part of a 'cluster' but are separate. One acquired the illness overseas. It is not yet known how the others contracted the virus. All of the children are at home in isolation. Dr Brett Sutton, Victoria's Chief Health Officer, said: 'Overwhelmingly for children, especially those nine years and younger, the illness of COVID-19 is very, very mild. 'And deaths are virtually unheard of. So, that should be a reassurance to any parent of young children.' Of Victoria's 96 new cases, 32 caught the illness in Australia. In total in the state, 29 people are in hospital with four requiring intensive care. Hazard tape is seen on outdoor playground equipment on March 31 in Melbourne Earlier today New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejikilan warned that people who have coronavirus without realising are an 'unknown threat' to others. 'What is a concern to all of us is that unknown level of community transmission that you might get if people don't have symptoms,' she said on Tuesday morning. 'That's the real threat - people walking around without symptoms while they have this disease.' Some coronavirus patients show no symptoms at all but may still be infectious. 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 Premier said everyone should assume they have the virus and stay at home to save lives. 'That's why it is important to assume that you have it, and to act like you have it,' the Premier said. There are now 2,032 confirmed cases of the virus in New South Wales, up by 113 since Monday morning. Health officials are ramping up testing in the city's eastern suburbs after a cluster broke out among backpackers in Bondi. Last night three crew members on the Ruby Princess, which is anchored at sea off Sydney with 1,000 crew on board, were rushed ashore to hospital. There are currently nine cruise ships that are either docked in New South Wales waters or just into international waters. There are no passengers on board but thousands of crew are not being allowed off as police urge the ships to return to their ports of origin. Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said: 'The Federal Government has issued warning notices to them to return to their port of origin and I think they should listen to those warnings. 'Of course we will continue to show humanitarian care to those individuals who need it. 'We will continue to allow them to have fuel and food. But it is time to go to your port of origin.' Meanwhile, more than 34,000 extra hospital beds will be available to help Australia deal with the coronavirus pandemic under a new deal with the private sector. More than 34,000 extra hospital beds will be available to help Australia deal with the coronavirus pandemic under a new deal with the private sector. Pictured: Health Minister Greg Hunt Health Minister Greg Hunt said the deal was a 'very significant stride' in increasing the system's capacity while guaranteeing the viability of all 657 private hospitals. The agreement will mean more than 105,000 full and part-time hospital staff, including 57,000 nurses and midwives, will keep their jobs and join the fight against coronavirus, Mr Hunt said on Tuesday. It comes as Virgin Australia asks the government for a $1.4billion loan to keep it from collapsing - and hundreds of thousands of companies sign up for the government's new 'JobKeeper' plan to keep Aussies in work. BRIDGEPORT City police officers, who have been complaining for more than a week about the lack of protective equipment against COVID-19, were handed packets of temporary supplies on Monday. The small packets, handed out by Assistant Police chief Rebecca Garcia to police supervisors, contain a paper mask, a pair of gloves, a bar of soap, an antiseptic wipe and tissues. Scott Appleby, director of the citys Office of Emergency Management, said each officer will receive a packet of supplies as an addition to kits that are already in police cars. We will be offering more PPE supplies once they are received as there is a nationwide delay on supplies, Appleby said. We are in good shape right now but items are delayed. Last week, in response to a question about officers complaining about a lack of equipment, Appleby said the Police Department had been handing out equipment as they received it, including PPE kits, gloves, hand sanitizer, wipes, masks and sanitizers for the vehicles. He said they were waiting to receive more equipment, which they got on March 26. There was also an issue about whether officers had to receive training by OSHA before getting masks. Appleby said informational training sessions had been implemented and commenced. Police Union President Chuck Paris said last week he spoke with a sergeant at the training division and was told that per OSHA regulation a doctor has to review medical paperwork of each officer. Once approved by a doctor, the officers are scheduled to be fitted for masks. As of last Thursday, Paris said 200 of the departments 383 officers had been approved by a doctor. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) The government can tap over 800 billion to fund its response to the COVID-19 crisis, President Rodrigo Duterte said in his first weekly report to Congress on his additional powers. The government can use at least 882.19-billion to fund its fight against COVID-19 from dividends, unreleased appropriations, excess and unauthorized balances, cash, and cash equivalents. The bulk of the possible funding for COVID-19 response comes from unreleased appropriations under special purpose funds, which the Budget Department estimates to be around P372.19 billion. Part of this is 145.717-billion worth of unreleased resources to support government corporations, 28.414-billion from special shares of local governments from national taxes, and 27.311-billion from the local government support fund. Also part of the unreleased funds which the government is eyeing is 7 billion from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, nearly 1.05 billion from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, 365 million from the special shares of local governments from Fire Code fees, and 50-million from the barangay officials death benefits fund. None of these special purpose funds have been used yet except for the Health Departments quick response fund amounting to 500 million which has been charged against the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management fund. The Finance Department and the Bureau of Treasury borrowed 300 billion from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which the national government can convert into cash as long as it can repay it within six months. The Treasury has also identified over 100 billion from excess and unauthorized balances of government corporations which can be used for the governments COVID-19 response. Up to 100 billion from cash and cash equivalents from national government agencies and government corporations may also be used for COVID-19 response, according to Dutertes report. Dividends from the Philippine Ports Authority, Manila International Airport Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines remitted in advance by the Transportation Department could also be used to address the COVID-19 crisis. The Budget Department has also pushed the Social Welfare, Health and Labor Departments to use their funding totalling to 159.802 billion to aid those affected by COVID-19 and the enhanced community quarantine in place in Luzon and other areas of the country. Apart from these, Duterte can also halt programs, projects and activities under the executive branch and rechannel money for these towards COVID-19 response. He has yet to do this, following the advice to use up all existing allotments for COVID-19 response pending the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases submission of projects, programs and activities that would need additional funding. No COVID-19 allowance yet Part of the governments COVID-19 response is assistance to the poor, including those who have been put out of work because of the quarantine. Among the key provisions of the Bayanihan to Heal as One law, which gave Duterte special powers, is the provision of a 5,000 to 8,000 monthly allowance for two months to indigent families. Three weeks into the four-week enhanced community quarantine and a week after the law took effect, the government is still finalizing the details of this program. The Labor Department, however, has distributed 5,000 to 8,641 beneficiaries of its COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program, while 51,293 have benefitted from its emergency employment program. So far, the Labor Department has used 95.4 million for these assistance programs. The Social Welfare Department has also distributed 78,651 food packs to local governments in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Western Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula on top of other financial and non-food aid. Duterte announced in a televised address Monday night that the government has earmarked 200 billion worth of aid for low-income households, farmers, and fisherfolk, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The country now has 2,084 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with the death toll climbing to 88, while the total number of recoveries is now at 49. State-owned steel maker SAIL on Tuesday announced a Rs 30 crore financial assistance to fight the coronavirus outbreak. The amount will be given towards the PM-CARES Fund, Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) said in a statement. "SAIL has joined hands with the nation in its fight against the coronavirus disease by contributing Rs 30 crore to PM-CARES Fund. This is a humble contribution from the company and its employees in the fight against the coronavirus emergency. We stand committed to dedicate ourselves in the service of the nation in every possible way," SAIL Chairman Anil Kumar Chaudhary said in a statement. He also said that along with this, the company also scaled up and mobilised various health services in coordination with local authorities of respective state governments for fighting this medical emergency situation. SAIL's employees have also come forward and contributed one-day salary amounting to about Rs 9 crore to the PM-CARES, he said. SAIL has also provided medical facilities including 83 ICU beds, 27 ventilators, 592 quarantine beds, 330 isolation beds besides arranging sanitisers and PPEs like masks at its hospitals and at workplaces at its plants and units in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Meghan Markle faced subtle racism and was cast as an invader by the British press and public, according to a documentary which charts her time as a senior royal. Airing on the final day Prince Harry and Meghan work for the Crown, the programme explores how the duchess had to deal with being stereotyped and criticised throughout her time as a royal. At one point, the British public is blamed for the duchesss final exit from the Royal Family. The documentary, which will air on Vice TV, brought together experts and activists and features interviews with palace insiders and experts including William and Harrys former butler, the US wives of the British aristocracy, and royal correspondents. Meghan was a victim of racism in the UK, activists and experts say. (Getty Images) Professor Kehinde Andrews, who lectures in black studies at Birmingham City University, told Vice Meghan was portrayed as aggressive and diva-ish saying: The angry black woman is a clear stereotype we see. His views were echoed by US comedian Kemah Bob, who lives in the UK and said: The idea that just because people are not hanging nooses to a tree here, [racism] is not happening is wrong. Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, an equal rights activist, said: If you can get away with that to a biracial member of the Royal Family, imagine what the rest of us are experiencing. Read more: Lecturer who clashed with Laurence Fox over Meghan says 'I've had to grow a pair' Canadian columnist Stephen Marche lays the blame at the feet of Britons, saying: The British public feels totally entitled to annihilate these people. The experts explore the comparative press coverage between Meghan and her sister-in-law Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, including headlines reporting on each of their pregnancies. The documentary charts the duchesss rise from childhood activism, to using her voice as a successful actor to champion causes close to her heart. It also tackles the struggles she faced inside the Royal Family, having to shut down her social media pages and blog, and change the way she spoke about issues she was passionate about. Story continues Read more: Meghan Markle 'jumped ship' instead of fighting racism in UK, says lecturer Meghan during one of her last engagements in the UK. (Getty Images) Grant Harrold, former butler to Meghans husband Harry, said: To be a member of the Royal Family you have got to change everything, your lifestyle, to a degree your personality. Your life is pre-planned she cannot just turn to a friend and say to go for lunch tomorrow, as a royal that is gone. Omid Scobie, royal editor at Harpers Bazaar, added: I remember speaking to her friends who said we dont really hear her voice anymore. He later adds of other Royal Family members: They should have been defending her, that silence spoke volumes. Read more: 'You may not see us here': Harry and Meghan share final Instagram post from royal account The family will now live in Los Angeles. (Getty Images) The documentary was filmed before the Sussexes chose Los Angeles as their new home, making a last minute dash over the border from Canada before it closed to tourists to prevent the spread of coronavirus. They shared their final post on their Sussex Royal Instagram on Monday evening, ahead of their last day, urging their followers to look out for one another, as they explained they would be going quiet on social media for a while. Meghan Markle: Escaping the Crown airs on Vice TV, 31 March at 9pm (BST). Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK Lifestyle The Illinois Emergency Management Agency has identified 1,000 rooms in Southern Illinois that may be used for isolation and/or quarantine services as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to grow downstate. An IEMA senior official said that the location of these rooms is not being identified at this time to protect our private-sector partners and the privacy of potential users. The state is waiting on final guidance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to determine the approved use of these facilities, the official said. The 1,000 rooms identified in Southern Illinois as of Monday are located south of Interstate 70; the state provided no further location information. IEMA has identified hundreds of potential rooms in all parts of the state. These rooms are in addition to those that county emergency management officials have been tasked with identifying. Each county emergency management agency was asked to create an alternative housing plan to provide assistance to at least 25 people. As well, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced plans last week to identify more than 2,000 hotel rooms in her city, the epicenter of the outbreak in Illinois. As a reminder, all disasters start and end locally. The role of the state is to assist local governments when they have exhausted all available resources to respond to a disaster or emergency, the IEMA official said in an emailed response to questions from The Southern. Jackson County Emergency Management Coordinator Orval Rowe said its his understanding that the Southern Illinois rooms identified by the state are in hotels in or around Effingham, Mount Vernon and Carbondale. Rowe said his team is working closely with emergency management officials in Carbondale to identify at least another 50 rooms, but officials have faced challenges in solidifying a plan. The goal of the state and county in identifying these rooms is to have a place for people to go if a member of their family contracts COVID-19 and they live together in a small older home that presents challenges to isolating. The family member with the diagnosis would stay home, and other family members would temporarily move into a hotel room, dorm or other identified space, Rowe said. Rowe said its his understanding that the state will pick up the tab for the rooms. 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. Through much of the 20th century, US news was dominated by outlets that professed principles of objectivity and nonpartisan balance. Today, outlets that openly declare a political perspectiveconservative, progressive, centrist, or otherwiseare more central to American life than at any time since the first journalism schools opened their doors. This has created a divide in consumers; conservative audiences, in particular, express far less trust in mainstream news media than do their liberal counterparts. These divides have contributed to concerns of a post-truth age and fanned fears that members of opposing parties no longer agree on basic facts, let alone how to credibly report and interpret the news of the day. The recent popularity and commercial viability of openly partisan media in the United States can be traced back to the rise of conservative talk radio in the late 1980s. But the expansion of partisan news outlets has accelerated most rapidly on the internet. This expansion has coincided with debates within many digital newsrooms. Should the ideals journalists adopted in the 20th century be preserved in a digital news landscape? Or must todays news workers forge new relationships with their publics and find alternatives to traditional notions of journalistic objectivity, fairness, and balance? Despite the centrality of these questions to digital newsrooms, little research on innovation in journalism or the future of news has explicitly addressed how digital journalists and editors in partisan news organizations are rethinking norms. In particular, researchers have almost entirely ignored news workers in conservative-leaning outlets. For our new report, Conservative Newswork: A Report on the Values and Practices of Online Journalists on the Right, published today, we interviewed 22 journalists and editors at 14 online conservative news organizations about what guides their news judgments, how they engage audiences, and how they think conservative news outlets should operate. Our findings offer insights into the aspirational ideals of our participants and their newsrooms. Vividly understanding how conservative news workers articulate their journalistic aspirations is a crucial point of entry to an understudied field. For some critics, the whole enterprise of conservative journalism can be written off as propaganda or as a network of bad-faith actors striving for partisan gain. Questions about the legitimacy of conservative news are leading to consequential debates among civic leaders, tech intermediaries, and mainstream journalists: Facebook has faced criticism over its decision to include conservative news organizations as partners in fact-checking operations, and mainstream journalists grapple with questions such as whether to link to certain conservative outlets and how to treat their claims. For some conservatives, these very debates reinforce the perception of a media sphere dominated by liberals who are all too quick to dismiss conservatives as illegitimate participants. Still, our interviews suggest that contemporary conservative news workers are grappling with many of the same questions and dilemmas as digital journalists at nonpartisan outlets. All are rethinking once-dominant journalistic normsespecially objectivitywhile trying to survive and compete in a digital environment, and forging new relationships with audiences. Several of our key findings point to similarities between conservative digital news and other forms of digital journalism: Most of our interviewees espoused a set of journalistic ideals shared by traditional nonpartisan journalists. Among these ideals are accuracy, fair representation of differing perspectives, and measured tone in debate. Among these ideals are accuracy, fair representation of differing perspectives, and measured tone in debate. There is no consensus on the roles of objectivity or balance as journalistic ideals. Some conservative news organizations subscribe to conventional notions of fairness and balance, and see impartial reporting as a worthwhile practice. Others advocate for radical subjectivity, and contend that all reporters (conservative or otherwise) ought to be transparent about their political and other biasestrusting in the audience to assess the veracity of news on the basis of authenticity. Some conservative news organizations subscribe to conventional notions of fairness and balance, and see impartial reporting as a worthwhile practice. Others advocate for radical subjectivity, and contend that all reporters (conservative or otherwise) ought to be transparent about their political and other biasestrusting in the audience to assess the veracity of news on the basis of authenticity. Our interviewees largely expressed a desire to engage with a broad public beyond committed conservatives. Most envisioned a pluralist public sphere with news, commentary, and criticism coming from many perspectives. The journalists we spoke with did not want to participate solely in an insular conservative enclave, though there is a debate within the field about whether to try to influence mainstream journalism or form a wholly separate countersphere. A similar debate has taken place among progressives in terms of whether to build alternative journalism institutions or try to influence mainstream reporting. Most envisioned a pluralist public sphere with news, commentary, and criticism coming from many perspectives. The journalists we spoke with did not want to participate solely in an insular conservative enclave, though there is a debate within the field about whether to try to influence mainstream journalism or form a wholly separate countersphere. A similar debate has taken place among progressives in terms of whether to build alternative journalism institutions or try to influence mainstream reporting. Like other political reporters working for niche publications such as Roll Call or Politico , some conservative journalists put a special emphasis on reaching policymakers and other elite audiences . Many of our interviewees felt that certain audience members (policymakers, activists) were most important, and they were attuned to the way those audiences could leverage the impact of their reporting. . Many of our interviewees felt that certain audience members (policymakers, activists) were most important, and they were attuned to the way those audiences could leverage the impact of their reporting. The editors we spoke with say they are typically looking to hire reporters who are more interested in covering news than in overt political advocacy . While conservative news outlets do seek reporters who share a common understanding of conservative thought, they express concern about hiring news staff who primarily want to engage in partisan advocacy. . While conservative news outlets do seek reporters who share a common understanding of conservative thought, they express concern about hiring news staff who primarily want to engage in partisan advocacy. The size and structures of conservative news organizations tend to correspond with their orientation toward either news reporting or commentary. With some exceptions (most notably the National Review ), outlets with large staffs, specialized reporting positions, and a full editorial hierarchy tend to be more oriented toward news reporting. More commentary-driven sites (e.g. The Federalist , The Resurgent ) tend to be less internally structured, with a higher reliance on casual and remote labor. With some exceptions (most notably the ), outlets with large staffs, specialized reporting positions, and a full editorial hierarchy tend to be more oriented toward news reporting. More commentary-driven sites (e.g. , ) tend to be less internally structured, with a higher reliance on casual and remote labor. Most of our interviewees pay close attention to how audiences react to their work, but different reporters and organizations use that information in different ways. Some embrace audience influence in steering coverage (at least in some respects) while others resist it. A small minority of our participants described actively shielding themselves from certain feedback mechanisms, avoiding social media or metrics. Sign up for CJR 's daily email These findings suggest that online conservative journalists face many of the same dilemmas as other digital journalists, and the two groups norms are not totally irreconcilable. However, the values and practices of conservative journalists are shaped by their proximity (both conceptual and geographic) to both mainstream political journalism and the modern conservative movement. This affinity results in sensibilities and challenges that are unique to the conservative journalism field: Many participants said they believed that conservative journalism as a whole is treated unfairly by the mainstream press . This was unifying among many of our interviewees, who believe conservative journalists and organizations are held to unfair standards and judged by a mistaken association with fringe elements of the conservative news sphere. For some, this sense of conservatives as embattled justifies limiting media criticism of other conservative outlets and focusing critique on what they see as liberal, mainstream mediaand traces back to the origins of modern conservative media. . This was unifying among many of our interviewees, who believe conservative journalists and organizations are held to unfair standards and judged by a mistaken association with fringe elements of the conservative news sphere. For some, this sense of conservatives as embattled justifies limiting media criticism of other conservative outlets and focusing critique on what they see as liberal, mainstream mediaand traces back to the origins of modern conservative media. Many participants said they see few other conservative outlets as high-quality news sources. Many interviewees described their own publications commitment to accuracy, thoroughness, or fairly representing fact as an exception within the field of conservative news. Participants varied in how well they felt conservative journalism was doing at representing a diversity of conservative perspectives . While most of our interviewees wanted to see conservative outlets opening themselves to vigorous debate among diverging conservative opinions, several of those we spoke with felt conservative media as a whole was falling short in this regard during the Trump presidency by marginalizing conservative perspectives critical of Trumps honesty and character. . While most of our interviewees wanted to see conservative outlets opening themselves to vigorous debate among diverging conservative opinions, several of those we spoke with felt conservative media as a whole was falling short in this regard during the Trump presidency by marginalizing conservative perspectives critical of Trumps honesty and character. Conservative journalists disagree on how to respond to conspiracy theories and misinformation. Most of our interviewees acknowledged that misinformation circulating among conservatives was a real problem, but they differed in whether they thought the problem of misinformation was any different among conservative audiences than liberal ones. They also differed as to whether and when they thought conservative outlets should take active steps to fact-check and discredit conspiracy theories or misinformation circulating among conservative audiences. This differs from the attitude of the mainstream press in that some conservative journalists felt they had a special role to play in debunking conspiracies that appealed to their fellow conservatives. Others suggested the mainstream press debunks right-wing conspiracies, so they saw their role as criticizing left-wing conspiracies. Most of our interviewees acknowledged that misinformation circulating among conservatives was a real problem, but they differed in whether they thought the problem of misinformation was any different among conservative audiences than liberal ones. They also differed as to whether and when they thought conservative outlets should take active steps to fact-check and discredit conspiracy theories or misinformation circulating among conservative audiences. This differs from the attitude of the mainstream press in that some conservative journalists felt they had a special role to play in debunking conspiracies that appealed to their fellow conservatives. Others suggested the mainstream press debunks right-wing conspiracies, so they saw their role as criticizing left-wing conspiracies. While conservative journalists enter the profession via many paths, the least circuitous involves plugging into the modern conservative movement . They might share similar functions in terms of career advancement, but the political networks in which conservative journalists travel are distinct from the educational and social networks more likely to launch the careers of reporters working in the mainstream press. . They might share similar functions in terms of career advancement, but the political networks in which conservative journalists travel are distinct from the educational and social networks more likely to launch the careers of reporters working in the mainstream press. Our interviewees tend to assume their audiences want US political stories that resonate with their everyday lives, and especially stories seen as improperly reported or underreported by mainstream media. They spoke to us about various types of stories they felt were consistently underreported by US media, such as investigations of liberal institutions such as labor unions and stories about gun culture and religious life. We conclude with a discussion of our findings implications for future efforts to understand the changing sphere of conservative news. First, we analyze what this research reveals about tensions within the field that are particular to this historical juncturea moment when conservative journalists are negotiating among the competing imperatives of journalistic autonomy, conservative ideology, and loyalty to a party with Donald Trump at its helm. Conditions unique to the Trump administration have given rise to two clashing narratives from within the conservative news sphere, and both offer pleas regarding the duties and perils they say conservative journalists face at this moment. One voice implores fellow conservatives to demonstrate principles over political expediency and calls for uninhibited criticism of Trumpisms influence on the right. The other voice cries out for fellow conservatives to stand unified and relentless in opposition to what is framed as an unprecedented assault by a putatively liberal media on Trump, his party, and its supporters. Looking beyond this moment, we present a preliminary guide to five key differences among conservative news outlets in their editorial philosophies: orientation toward original reporting, adaptation of professional news norms, stances toward engagement with a pluralist public sphere, audience orientation and characteristic style, and orientation toward viewpoint diversity within conservatism. These represent underlying differences in approach that will likely remain useful for differentiating conservative news outlets from traditional newsrooms for the foreseeable future. Read the full report here Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Anthony Nadler, A.J. Bauer, and Magda Konieczna are fellows at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University. Nadler is an associate professor of media and communication studies at Ursinus College and author of Making the News Popular: Mobilizing U.S. News Audiences (Illinois 2016). Bauer is a visiting assistant professor of media, culture, and communication at NYU whose work has appeared in American Journalism, TV Guide, and elsewhere. Nadler and Bauer are co-editors of News on the Right: Studying Conservative News Cultures (Oxford 2019). Konieczna is an assistant professor of journalism at Temple University and author of Journalism Without Profit: Making News When the Market Fails (Oxford 2018). A doctor at a major public hospital in New York City described having worn a single N95 mask, a critical tool in protection from the coronavirus, for an entire week. Normally, the Brooklyn doctor would change it after every visit with a patient. Colleague after colleague, including nurses and residents, have been falling sick with the virus. Patients were coming in for unrelated health issues and suddenly testing positive for coronavirus after coming to the hospital. "The situation is quite horrible and they're saying we haven't hit the peak yet and we're doing all sorts of crazy things to keep up," the doctor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said. "We're having so many patients dying." The doctor said medical staff have been fighting over rationed personal protective equipment, pediatric doctors have been asked to care for patients in their 70s and 80s, orthopedic doctors and cardiologists have been asked to help treat coronavirus patients and urologists have been working as senior intensive care unit staff. "They're pulling in doctors from everywhere to deal with the patient load,'' the doctor said. "It's changed the way the whole hospital culture operates." The doctor said the pandemic was ravaging a public hospital that was "already underresourced and underfunded," showing a critical weakness in the health care system as coronavirus cases continue to overwhelm medical facilities that often serve vulnerable populations. Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak "We don't have enough access to supplies on a regular basis, let alone when there is a crisis," the doctor said. "We are overwhelmed, extremely tired, working extremely long hours and it's becoming in some cases dangerous because it's not enough," the doctor said. "Mistakes can be made and certain things can be missed." New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday said he believed public hospitals would face "the greatest stress" in the fight against the coronavirus and urged other medical facilities to share resources, staff and supplies to help them. He also called on hospitals to take on patients from overwhelmed facilities. Story continues "No one hospital has the resources to handle this," he said during a news conference Monday afternoon at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, which has been converted into a field hospital. Cuomo called on the state's hospitals to work together as one system and said the state was centralizing the buying and distribution of supplies and creating a stockpile in anticipation of the apex of cases. He said that as one hospital starts to overload, patients should be moved to facilities that have available space and that this should be done on a daily basis. Eventually, as more and more hospitals hit capacity, Cuomo said that the public and private hospital systems "should work together to share the load." "The public system I think is going to face the greatest stress," Cuomo said. As of Monday morning, there were more than 36,000 known cases of COVID-19 in New York City and 790 deaths. Queens and Brooklyn remain the hardest hit boroughs, with nearly 12,000 cases and nearly 6,000 cases respectively. The doctor in Brooklyn said what was especially concerning was how quickly vulnerable coronavirus patients could take a sharp turn for the worse. Workers wheel a deceased person outside of Brooklyn Hospital Center during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the Brooklyn borough of New York (Brendan McDermid / Reuters) "They're talking to you, they're fine, next you know they're gone," the doctor said. Public hospitals were already more likely to treat vulnerable populations, such as people without health insurance and those with complicating factors, the doctor said The source described treating a patient in their 40s with minimal complicating factors needing to be sent to the intensive care unit and "numerous" patients in their 60s, 70s and 80s needing to be intubated. Last week, two nurses in New York died of the coronavirus. One of them was an assistant nursing manager with the Mount Sinai Health System, a nonprofit hospital system. An emergency room doctor with the Mount Sinai Health System said, "I think we have not been as hard hit yet" as colleagues in Brooklyn and Queens, but still, "pretty much every single patient we see is a COVID patient." "I feel like I live, breathe and feel COVID on me all the time," the doctor said. The doctor added, "Even at Mount Sinai hospitals, you just don't have the infrastructure to support, to take care of these patients." "There's just not enough staff to watch them," the doctor said. Staff at the hospital have been increasingly concerned about bringing the disease home to their loved ones, the doctor said. The doctor said staff were now being told they could have one N95 mask per day, but the week before the source felt there was not enough personal protective equipment. The doctor said the fear was that as cases continued to escalate, the hospital would have to make incredibly tough decisions about treatment and who would have access to precious medical equipment. "How do I tell someone that their family members are going to die and their family member is not going to get a ventilator if they want it?," the doctor said. One of the hardest hit hospitals has been the Elmhurst Hospital Center, a public hospital in Queens. Inside Elmhurst, doctors have described overfilled waiting rooms, patients waiting six hours to be seen, others packed closely together on stretchers waiting 50 to 60 hours for a bed and doctors desperately trying to get more ventilators. The doctor at the Brooklyn public hospital feared it was a sign of what was to come. "I think our hospital will be the next Elmhurst," the doctor said. NYC Health + Hospitals, the city's public hospital system, did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the issues public hospitals have been facing. The hospital system said in a statement to NBC News last week it was "working day and night to ensure that all our patients receive the care they need." The hospital system said it had "adequate supplies at the moment but were fully cognizant of the nationwide scarcity of resources" and that "reports of lack of personal protective equipment and ventilators in our system are false." "The public health system is working with all local, state and federal agencies to ensure that resources are strategically allocated throughout to accommodate the surge caused by COVID-19," the hospital system said. "We are committed to our mission to care for all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status and ability to pay, and are focused on keeping all our patients and staff safe." With movie theaters across the country are still shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak, more movies slated to debut this summer have been delayed. Sony Pictures revealed Monday that three of its upcoming summer movies - Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Uncharted, Greyhound and Morbius would be pushed to new dates. One of the studio's movies, the Kevin Hart comedy Fatherhood, will actually be opening earlier. Pushed: Sony Pictures revealed Monday that three of its upcoming summer movies - Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Uncharted, Greyhound and Morbius would be pushed to new dates Ghostbusters: Afterlife has been pushed from its original date of July 10 to March 5, 2021. Morbius was originally slated to hit theaters on July 31, and now it will open on March 19, 2021. Greyhound was set for a July 12 release but now its debut is 'TBD' (to be determined), with no concrete release slated at this time. New date: Ghostbusters: Afterlife has been pushed from its original date of July 10 to March 5, 2021 Delayed: Morbius was originally slated to hit theaters on July 31, and now it will open on March 19, 2021 Uncharted, which delayed the start of production earlier this month, is now slated to open on October 8, 2021, pushed from its March 5, 2021 date. Fatherhood will now open a few months earlier on October 23, up from its original January 15, 2021 release, while Sony also pushed an untitled Sony-Marvel movie from October 8, 2021 to 'TBD.' Earlier this month, Sony also pushed its animated sequel Peter Rabbit 2 from August 7 to January 15, 2021. Uncharted date: Uncharted, which delayed the start of production earlier this month, is now slated to open on October 8, 2021, pushed from its March 5, 2021 date Movie theaters across the country have been shuttered en masse since March 20 due to the spread of the coronavirus, and there is no indication when theaters may re-open. Sony had previously released its comic book adaptation Bloodshot on digital formats, just days after it had been released in theaters, due to the theaters closing. With Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Morbius and Uncharted getting new theatrical release dates, it seems the studio is still determined to release these in theaters. Shut down: Movie theaters across the country have been shuttered en masse since March 20 due to the spread of the coronavirus, and there is no indication when theaters may re-open Ghostbusters: Afterlife follows a single mother (Carrie Coon) and her two kids (Finn Wolfhard, McKenna Grace), who move to a small town and realize their grandfather had a connection to the original Ghostbusters. Morbius is a spin-off of Sony's 2018 hit Venom, following a biochemist, Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) who tries to cure himself of a rare blood disease but instead turns himself into a vampire. Greyhound stars Tom Hanks as an inexperienced Navy captain who must lead an allied convoy in battle against Nazi U-boats in World War II. Uncharted stars Tom Holland as the adventurer Nathan Drake, based on the hit video game franchise of the same name. Kids: Ghostbusters: Afterlife follows a single mother (Carrie Coon) and her two kids (Finn Wolfhard, McKenna Grace), who move to a small town and realize their grandfather had a connection to the original Ghostbusters Spin-off: Morbius is a spin-off of Sony's 2018 hit Venom, following a biochemist, Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) who tries to cure himself of a rare blood disease but instead turns himself into a vampire RFI Some three-quarters of teachers in France are to strike across the country this Thursday to protest the government's shifting rules on Covid testing for pupils. This comes amid growing frustration over what unions say is lack of support and unmanageable logistics in the face of surging Omicron infections. Led by the Snuipp-FSU union, the largest strike among primary school teachers comes after the latest of several changes on testing and isolation requirements for potential Covid cases that were 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 Kim Sung-gon of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, left, and Tae Ku-min of the main opposition United Future Party pose after formally registering as candidates running in the Gangnam-A constituency in the April 15 general election, at a regional branch of the National Election Commission in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, March 26. Yonhap : This is the third in a series on battleground districts for April 15 general election. ED. By Jung Da-min A "rare" competition between a high-profile North Korean defector and a veteran liberal politician is being held in Seoul's Gangnam-A district in the April 15 general election. Thae Yong-ho, a former senior North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea in 2016, is a candidate on the ticket of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP). He is running in the election under his new name Tae Ku-min. Standing against Thae from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is Kim Sung-gon, a former four-term lawmaker who held the National Assembly secretary-general position in 2018. The race between the two has drawn attention for its symbolic meaning, as Gangnam is seen as representative of South Korean capitalism and conservatives. Long considered home territory for the conservative camp, no candidate from a liberal party has won in the Gangnam-A district since 2000. But the election result is hard to predict as Kim has been working steadily to woo voters since the previous general election in 2016 when he narrowly lost but gained a respectable 45.18 percent of the vote. At the same time, the district is undergoing a generational shift which may indicate a shift toward liberal parties. While Thae has an advantage as a candidate of the conservative camp, critics say that residents might feel reluctant to vote for him as he has lacks a connection to and experience of the district as a person from North Korea. Thae is the first North Korean defector to run in an election as a constituency candidate. Cho Myung-chul was the first defector to enter the National Assembly, after gaining a proportional representation seat in 2012 for the then-ruling Saenuri Party. Kim Chong-in, a veteran economist and politician, had criticized the UFP's nomination of Thae for the constituency citing the matter of connection, saying the nomination of Thae was a "national shame" and that Thae is a "person without roots in South Korea." In response, Thae said he is a South Korean citizen who can run for an election in accordance with the Constitution. The conflict between Kim Chong-in and Thae however, has come to an end and as leader of the UFP's campaign committee, Kim pledged to support Thae. For Kim Sung-gon, his long-time experience as a politician could give him an advantage over Thae, but Gangnam residents' criticism of the Moon government's real estate policy, which has imposed a higher tax burden on them than before, could be a weak point. But Thae is not in an advantageous position over the issue either, as Gangnam residents doubt that Thae has the capability to deal with capitalist issues. Both candidates promised that they would lower the comprehensive real estate holding tax for single households and longstanding residents. Security-related issues could also be on their respective campaign agendas, as the two candidates are both well-versed on the topic. After defecting to the South in 2016, Thae worked as an advisory researcher at the Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS) under the National Intelligence Service (NIS) before resigning in May 2018. Thae has criticized the Moon Jae-in government's security policies for giving a "boost" to the Kim Jong-un regime while pursuing policies of "appeasement." He said the reason for his election bid was that he wanted to change the administration's North Korea policy, which he argues is going in the wrong direction, and that a win by a North Korean defector in such a constituency would show the maturity of South Korea's democracy. Kim Sung-gon served as the chairman of the National Defense Committee at the National Assembly from 2006 to 2008 and was engaged in defense and security-related legislation and policymaking. He is also the brother of Robert Kim, a Korean American, who was jailed for passing U.S. military secrets to South Korea while working as a civilian Navy intelligence analyst with access to highly classified information. The judges of the prestigious Mind How You Go Awards have convened an emergency meeting over police handling of the coronavirus crisis. Since the announcement of the Government lockdown, nominations have been rolling in at an alarming rate. Normally, they meet in December for a leisurely eight-hour lunch to decide the winners of the awards, which celebrate the most outstanding examples of police stupidity, incompetence and abuse of power. Are we going to see balaclavad armed response teams abseiling down the sides of buildings, bursting through windows and snatching chocolate bunnies from the trembling hands of terrified children and OAPs?. Armed police are pictured above in London But because travel restrictions and self-distancing rules have forced members to stay indoors, this weeks extraordinary meeting will now take place by video-conferencing app provided the judges are sober enough to work out how to use Zoom, whatever that is. Our regular panel has been supplemented by the appointment of a number of distinguished, retired career coppers, who are horrified at the excesses of the police under the leadership of the new breed of fast-track, jargon-spouting, virtue-signalling senior officers. They will consider creating a special Covid-19 category, for sheer bloody-mindedness beyond the normal call of duty. Drawing up a shortlist will not be easy. Even before the new curbs on movement and assembly were given parliamentary assent, some police forces were already pulling on their jackboots shouting at individual sunbathers through loudhailers and setting up roadblocks. Kinnock tweeted a picture of himself delivering food and a birthday cake to his 78-year-old father Neil and mum Glenys. Even though Kinnochio Jnr was keeping a proper distance from his parents, the South Wales Stasi warned him that his behaviour was non-essential Britains top police officer, Met Commissioner Cressida Dick, yesterday promised that enforcement of the rules would be through persuasion, not punishment. Yet while Dick of Dock Green is undoubtedly sincere about policing by consent, and the vast majority of officers are behaving proportionately, a power-crazy minority have inevitably seized the opportunity to throw their weight about. One of Dicks own Plods threatened a North London bakery owner with an 80 fine for criminal damage. Her offence was drawing chalk lines on the pavement outside her shop to help her customers follow the Governments social distancing guidelines. Others have been going out of their way to harass people walking their dogs on remote parkland, even though this isnt illegal. People have been warned not to drive their cars so they can exercise away from the madding crowd, despite the fact that not only is this sensible, there is also nothing in the rules to prohibit it. No wonder ex-MPs, lawyers, civil liberties activists and even former Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption are adamant sections of the police are behaving unlawfully thus proving yet again this columns dictum: if you give anyone any modicum of authority, they will always, always, always abuse it. Newspaper letters pages are filled with evidence of bullying, including a harmless middle-aged couple in Ipswich ordered to leave a bench in a deserted park. Labour MP Stephen Kinnock fell foul of iPlod, who are patrolling the internet for corona crimes. Kinnock tweeted a picture of himself delivering food and a birthday cake to his 78-year-old father Neil and mum Glenys. Even though Kinnochio Jnr was keeping a proper distance from his parents, the South Wales Stasi warned him that his behaviour was non-essential. Who the hell are the cops to decide whats essential and what isnt? Yet while Dick of Dock Green is undoubtedly sincere about policing by consent, and the vast majority of officers are behaving proportionately, a power-crazy minority have inevitably seized the opportunity to throw their weight about There are even reports of police officers trying to stop sweet shops and convenience stores selling Easter Eggs because theyre not essential. For heavens sake. After another couple of weeks of lockdown, eating Easter Eggs will be one of the few innocent pleasures left to us. Are we going to see balaclavad armed response teams abseiling down the sides of buildings, bursting through windows and snatching chocolate bunnies from the trembling hands of terrified children and OAPs? Step away from the Cadburys Creme Egg! Some of this stuff may seem trivial, but when it comes to genuine abuse of power, Derbyshire Police take the Jaffa Cake. Most people by now will be familiar with the Chief Constables demented decision to fly drones over the Peak District to intimidate and shame perfectly innocent dog walkers and ramblers. His force followed up this insanity by tipping dye into a Blue Lagoon at Buxton to discourage people from taking selfies. Wouldnt you have just loved to have been at the committee meeting which came up with that madness? Right, so weve sent up the drones, established roadblocks everywhere, seized all the Easter Eggs, and were going to Taser anyone out jogging or taking part in non-essential activity, which pretty much covers anything we say it is. Any other business? Why dont we tip indelible black dye into the Blue Lagoon at Buxton, chief? Then if they fall in while theyre taking a selfie, well have no trouble tracing them and nicking them. Home Secretary Priti Flamingo should read him the riot act publicly. Better still, remove him from office pour encourager les autres. Priti Patel is pictured above Brilliant! Anyone else vandalising a beauty spot by deliberately polluting the water would be charged with criminal damage, as a basis for negotiation. The Chief Constable of Derbyshire aka The Creature From The Blue Lagoon has either taken leave of his senses or is using the virus crisis to establish a police state. Hes behaving like a gauleiter, not a public servant. Home Secretary Priti Flamingo should read him the riot act publicly. Better still, remove him from office pour encourager les autres. And there are plenty of other police forces behaving in a similarly outrageous fashion, everywhere from Devon and Cornwall to Yorkshire. The most sinister development has been the establishment of dedicated police hotlines, in Humberside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Avon and Somerset, urging people to grass up their neighbours . . . Thank you for calling the Coronavirus Narkline. For English, press 1. For Polish, press 2. For all other languages, including Scribble, press 3. Hello? All our operators are self-isolating at home. Your call is important to us. To be scared to death, press the red button on your TV remote. Hello? If your neighbour has been walking the dog more than once a day, press 1. To report the reckless sale of non-essential chocolate products, press 2. If you want to shop that shameless hussy at No 27 for sneaking out without a face mask to meet her fancy man, press 3 . . . This years judges are going to have their work cut out picking the winners and were still only a few days into the lockdown. Mind How You Go! The PM is writing to every home in the country warning that things can only get worse. Why? What was I saying about joined-up thinking? The PM is writing to every home in the country warning that things can only get worse. Why? Its not as if the text hasnt featured prominently in every newspaper and on every TV news programme. So whats the point of sending a letter to 30 million households at a time were being told that the virus can be transmitted on any flat surface, envelopes included? Lets just hope that Boris hasnt signed them all personally. A copper in Bideford, Devon, has taken to dressing up as a police dog called Bravo and walking the streets, barking at people to stay in their homes. Either that or theyve run out of proper surgical masks and a giant Alsatians head is the next best thing. Ive heard of Juliet Bravo, but this is ridiculous. Incidentally, I wonder if social distancing applies to the dogging community. Get your laughter rations In my recent Dads Army spoof, I joked about wartime rationing coming back unless panic-buying stopped. As usual, I should have known better. Some supermarkets are already restricting what customers can buy and there are noises coming out of Whitehall that formal rationing may be inevitable. The good news is that impressionist and voiceover artist Christopher Gee liked the Dads Army sketch so much hes turned it into a podcast. You can hear it at Mailplus.co.uk and on Christophers website: christopher-gee.com/voice-overs-1 Dont panic! Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holds a meeting with some members of his Cabinet to discuss updates on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Presidential Security Group (PSG) Compound in Malacanang Park on March 24, 2020. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO MANILA, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte during a televised broadcast on Monday (March 30) issued an order clarifying the responsibilities of each department under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. I issued an order through Executive Secretary Medialdea clearly laying down the responsibilities of each department in implementing the Bayanihan to Heal a One Act, President Duterte announced. I have given them their marching orders emphasizing the need for sufficient authority to that they do not have to go back to me and ask for clearance for each and every action they have to take, he added. The new law, which he signed on March 24, provided the President additional powers to strengthen the countrys response against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). READ: Duterte assures stronger govt response to COVID-19 crisis with new special powers The post Duterte details Cabinet powers under COVID-19 response act appeared first on UNTV News. YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... Kieran Hayler will invite his soon-to-be ex-wife Katie Price and all of her children to his wedding to Michelle Penticost. The 33-year-old former stripper got engaged to Michelle in the Maldives earlier this month, after just over a year of dating, and he insists he'd be more than happy to have Katie and her kids, Harvey, 17, Junior, 14, and Princess, 12, to his nuptials. When asked if Katie and her children are welcome at the wedding, he told New! magazine: "I still get on with them all, so I'll extend the invite to them, of course. I'll send invites to everyone I believe should be welcome." Kieran will soon be divorced from Katie - with whom he shares son Jett, six, and daughter Bunny, five - with the legal process set to be finalised in the next few months. The hunk - who married the glamour model legend in the Bahamas in January 2013 but split from her in March 2018 after Katie discovered Kieran had been unfaithful with their children's nanny - admits that he and his former spouse have not spoken directly about his engagement to Michelle. Kieran never told Katie, 41, that he was going to ask Michelle to be his wife but he is sure she'll be fine with that because it is a chance for them to finally move on once and for all from their disastrous relationship. He said: "It's a good way to finally move on. Michelle and I have moved on and Kate has been with Kris [Boyson] and Charles [Drury] since me - hopefully this engagement draws a line under everything. At the end of the day, she's the mother of my kids, so she'll always be in my life, but she has to accept that I've moved on." "I think she saw the news online. She never told me when she got engaged to Kris. It's not something we need to confer about. I don't need to ask her permission on how to progress with my life, and she doesn't have to ask me either. We only need to communicate with each other about the children ... She hasn't spoken to me about it to be honest." Katie was briefly engaged to personal trainer Kris Boyson in July 2019, but they split a month later. As restaurants across Illinois were forced to either convert to carryout-only operations or temporarily close, the financial impacts have been felt both by the owners and their employees. On the North Shore, food industry workers say while they have tried to pivot their businesses to meet the new challenges, the economic outlook is still tough. Virgin Orbit, a business in Richard Branson's Virgin Group, has announced it is joining the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In consultation with Bridge Ventilator Consortium (BVC), the space access company said it has developed a "bridge" ventilator that can be mass produced. The bridge ventilator is meant for more moderate cases where a patient is out of intensive care and has already partially recovered. This would free up the more complex -- and in high demand -- units needed for more critically ill patients. Team of experts The BVC is a team led by the University of California Irvine (UCI) and the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), put together to address the shortage of supplies in the current crisis. It consists of experts in the fields of medicine and medical devices, aiming to bring simple ventilators to where there is a shortage of supply. Virgin Orbit normally focuses on building equipment for space launch like satellites meant to "enhance life on earth." It said it has resources such as designers, programmers and fabricators that are eager to help address the current crisis. It contacted California Governor Gavin Newsom last week, and was connected with the BVC. Virgin Orbit intends to start production at its Long Beach, California manufacturing facility in early April, pending Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance. The goal is to get the bridge ventilators to frontline healthcare workers and first responders as soon as possible. Virgin Orbit CEO, Dan Hart, commented that he's "never seen ideas moving quicker from design to prototype." Imagine the pyramids of ancient Egypt, and a vivid image comes right to mind. But unless you happen to be an Egyptologist, that image may possess a great deal more vividness than it does detail. We all have a rough sense of the pyramids size (impressively large), shape (pyramidical), texture (crumbly), and setting (sand), almost wholly derived from images captured over the past century. But what about the pyramids in their heyday, more than 4,500 years ago? Do we know enough even to begin imagining how they looked, let alone how people made use of them? Harvard Egyptologist Peter Der Manuelian does, and in the video above he gives us a tour through 3D models that reconstruct the Giza pyramid complex (also known as the Giza necropolis) using both the best technology and the fullest knowledge available today. Youll see weve had to remove modern structures and excavators, debris dumps, says Der Manuelian as the camera flies, dronelike, in the direction of the Great Sphinx. We studied the Nile, and we had to move it much closer to the Giza pyramids, because in antiquity, the Nile did flow closer. And weve tried to rebuild each and every structure. Of the Sphinx, this model boasts the most accurate reconstruction that has ever been attempted so far, and Der Manuelian shows it in two possible colors schemes, one with only the head painted, one with the entire body painted in the reddish brown reserved for male figures. He also shows the pyramid temple of Khafre, both in the near-completely ruined state in which it exists today, and in full digital reconstruction, complete with seated statues the Fourth-Dynasty pharaoh Khafre himself. The model accommodates more than just the built environment. Der Manuelian shows a model bark with another statue being carried into one of the chambers, explaining that it allows researchers to determine whether or not its big enough or small enough to actually fit between the doors of the temple. Elsewhere in the model we see a re-enactment of the Opening of the Mouth ceremony, the reanimation ceremony for the deceased king, meant to magically and ritually bring him back to life for the netherworld. The rendering takes place inside the temple of the Pyramid of Khufu, peopled with human characters. But how many should there be? What should they be wearing? Where are the regular Egyptians? Are they allowed anywhere near this ceremony, or indeed are they allowed anywhere near Giza at all? The greater the detail in which researchers reconstruct the ancient world, the more such questions come to the surface. In the video just above, Der Manuelian explains more about the importance of 3D modeling to Egyptology: how it uses the existing research, what it has helped modern researchers understand, and the promise it holds for the future. The latter includes much of interest even to non-Egyptologists, such as tourists who might like to familiarize themselves with Giza necropolis in the days when the Opening of the Mouth ceremonies still took place or any era of their choice before setting foot there themselves. These videos come from Pyramids of Giza: Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Der Manuelians online course at edX, a worthwhile learning experience if youve got your own such trip planned or just the kind of fascination that has gripped people around the world since the Egyptomania of the nineteenth century. The technology with which we study Egypt has advanced greatly since then, but for many, the mysteries of ancient Egypt itself have only become more compelling. via The Kid Should See This Related Content: How the Egyptian Pyramids Were Built: A New Theory in 3D Animation What the Great Pyramid of Giza Wouldve Looked Like When First Built: It Was Gleaming, Reflective White The Met Digitally Restores the Colors of an Ancient Egyptian Temple, Using Projection Mapping Technology Human All Too Human: A Roman Woman Visits the Great Pyramid in 120 AD, and Carves a Poem in Memory of Her Deceased Brother The Grateful Dead Play at the Egyptian Pyramids, in the Shadow of the Sphinx (1978) A Drones Eye View of the Ancient Pyramids of Egypt, Sudan & Mexico Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and culture. His projects include the book The Stateless City: a Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles and the video series The City in Cinema. Follow him on Twitter at @colinmarshall, on Facebook, or on Instagram. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 AAP MLA Atishi on Tuesday sought strong action against the Nizamuddin Markaz authorities for organising a three-day congregation, which later led to a spurt in coronavirus cases in the area, and asked why the Delhi Police did not take any step despite the government prohibiting such gathering to check the spread of the virus. Delhi's Nizamuddin area has been identified as one of the hotspots of COVID-19 in India after several people tested positive for the virus in the past few days. More than 2,000 delegates from countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Nizamuddin West from March 13-15. At least 24 people who were at the headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat have been diagnosed with COVID-19, prompting the authorities to cordon off the area and increase testing. Tagging a Delhi government order which prohibited assembly of over 200 people, Atishi sought strong action against the administrators of the Nizamuddin Markaz (centre). "Strong action should be taken against the administrators of the Nizamuddin Markaz who organised a 3-day religious gathering, with 1000s of people from March 13-15, when Delhi government orders had expressly forbidden gatherings or more than 200 persons on 13th March itself," the Kalkaji MLA said in a tweet. "Moreover, notification by Delhi government on March 12 stated that anyone with a travel history from COVID-19 affected countries have to self-isolate, then why did the administrators of the Markaz not ensure isolation of residents coming from those countries?" she said in another tweet. Atishi also targeted the Delhi Police, asking why no action was taken by it. "What action did Delhi Police take against the large religious gathering at the Nizamuddin Markaz from March 13-15, when there were orders from Delhi Govt prohibiting gatherings of more than 200 people? Strong action needs to be taken by MHA against concerned police officers," she said. In another tweet, she said tagged a screenshot to show the distance between Nizamuddin police station and the Nizamuddin Markaz. "The Hazrat Nizamuddin police station is right next to Nizamuddin Markaz, as can be seen on Google maps. Why did Delhi Police not take action against Markaz administration when 1000s of people gathered from March 13-15, in violation of Delhi government orders?" she said in the caption accompanying the tweet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Brunswickers know how many cases of COVID-19 have been reported in their province, but not how many are linked to community transmission. They don't know how many are male or female a detail the province stopped releasing last week, following a complaint or the age of the patient who has been hospitalized. Nor did the public know that a Prince Edward Island resident who later tested positive for COVID-19 passed through the Greater Moncton Romeo LeBlanc International Airport on March 20 after returning from the Dominican Republic on a Sunwing flight, until the Greater Moncton Airport Authority publicized the information not public health. Horizon Health Network has also declined to say how many of its staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, describing it as "personal health information." It raises a question: During the public health emergency over COVID-19, how much should the public know about the cases in their community? The decision on how much information to release to the public is up to chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell, Premier Blaine Higgs suggested on Friday. CBC "It's certainly within her purview to decide what is appropriate to share for details and what's not," Higgs said, after being asked why the public wasn't allowed to know more about New Brunswick's COVID-19 cases. But during a public health crisis, sharing "thorough and comprehensive information to the public" is more important than ever, according to Michael Karanicolas, president of the Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia. "This is not something that can just be shunted to the back burner," Karanicolas said. "Even though there is a crisis on, a lack of information is a part of that crisis, and keeping the public informed is a core duty of government now more than ever." Less public information As the number of cases in the province rises, the flow of information about specific cases has slowed to a trickle. In some cases, it changes day by day. On Sunday, when 15 new cases were reported, public health didn't provide age ranges for those patients, but the detail returned in the Monday briefing. Story continues At the same time, New Brunswick's access to information system has been slowed down significantly, as the provincial government focuses on essential services. Ombud Charles Murray approved extensions for public bodies, giving them until the end of May to complete active access to information requests. It's also been difficult to ask questions of other ministers in government: When Information Morning Fredericton tried to interview Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Dominic Cardy last week, it was told Russell and Higgs are now "the main spokespeople" for the government. The only opportunity to ask questions of Russell and Higgs comes during the daily news conference, but no news conference was held on Saturday or Sunday. Last week, reporters were told to limit their questions to only one per outlet so question-and-answer sessions could wrap up in 20 minutes, though the rule hasn't been enforced yet and outlets were allowed two questions on Friday and Monday. That's problematic for Karanicolas, who sees the media as the main intermediary for getting information from government to the public. Robert Short/CBC "It's very important that governments continue to take this responsibility of transparency and openness very seriously in order to ensure that the public has confidence in their government's response, especially in a time of crisis," said Karanicolas, who is also a researcher with the Yale Information Society Project. Differing standards across the country But how much should they share? Each province seems to be answering that question differently. While New Brunswick has stopped revealing the gender of patients, British Columbia breaks down its COVID-19 infections by gender, hospitalizations by age and date of onset of symptoms, though the province has significantly more reported infections than New Brunswick. Data is reported inconsistently across the border, too. In Maine, people can go online to see a breakdown of cases by county, age range and gender. But in Florida, the public can browse a dashboard with testing details by county, including the number of tests conducted in each county and the number of non-residents who tested positive. There's no doubt in my mind, the public should be getting more information about where cases are. - Colin Furness, infection control epidemiologist Murray, who is responsible for the protection of privacy and access to information, sees it from two competing sides. On one hand, people "want the best information possible," so they can understand what's going on. But on the other is the responsibility to protect the identity of people who have tested positive for COVID-19, he said. "When you have a small number of cases, one of the good problems you have from your luck in having a small number of cases is that you can't drill down that far in the data without a higher risk of identification," Murray said. Nicolas Steinbach/Radio-Canada He said people "often severely underestimate" how easy it is to piece together someone's identity with "small pieces of information." At the same time, he said government needs to be clear and transparent now with the public more than ever. "We're turning to the citizens of this province and we're saying to them, 'We're all in this together, we need a collective response to try to contain this outbreak and to protect the most vulnerable people in society," Murray said. "That is a time for government to show the citizens its cards and not to be secretive or to be protective of what's actually in its mind and what it's actually trying to do." Murray wouldn't confirm or deny whether his office has received privacy complaints from COVID-19 patients. "What I can say is that government has had patients in the system ask them to guard their information more, and government has decided to do that." Epidemiologist says location is key Colin Furness didn't hesitate when asked how much the public should know. "There's no doubt in my mind, the public should be getting more information about where cases are," Furness, an infection control epidemiologist and assistant professor with the University of Toronto, told Information Morning Fredericton on Tuesday. "By using the first three digits of the postal code, which don't identify a very, very tight area, but a tight enough area that people can get a sense of, 'Wow, there's a case in my neighbourhood, I should be more concerned.'" University of Toronto For Furness, it's not about the public's right to know, but more about getting people to be more vigilant. He doesn't buy the reasoning that someone might be able to figure out someone's identity from the first three digits of their postal code. "Public health and privacy are not always going to be aligned," Furness added. "When we think about what's important in the public interest, if we had to choose one or the other, I would choose public safety over privacy." Furness suggested that location is the most important piece of data for the public to have. Demographic data, such as gender, is less important, he said, and could actually make it easier to identify people. How will government use your information? At the same time as government has limited the flow of information going out, it is asking the public to give it more information. Last week, the government launched a COVID-19 information line that can also be used to report people who aren't following emergency declaration rules, including self-isolating if they're been required to do so. The premier warned on Monday that people breaking the rules could face fines. The province has also set up checkpoints at its borders, where provincial officers are collecting information from passengers and using it to track them. CBC When asked how that information is being protected, Higgs said on Friday that it's "exclusively used for our officers" but didn't specify exactly how people are being tracked or how long their information will be kept. "The information that we're collecting from our officials is information that we're using for our sole purpose of tracking and seeing that people are going to their homes if it's a self-isolating case," the premier said. Canada will spend 2 billion dollars (USD 1.43 billion) on medical equipment as hospitals fear shortages in the face of the accelerating coronavirus epidemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced. The move came as the country reached the grim milestone of 100 deaths, and as nearly 8,500 cases were reported by mid-day. "For some equipment, we have supply for three to seven days only," said Francois Legault, premier of Quebec -- the province most affected, with nearly half of the cases in Canada. The money dispensed from the capital Ottawa will be used to buy "personal protective equipment" such as masks, visors, gowns and hand sanitizer, Trudeau said at his daily press conference. Deliveries of some parts could take a few weeks, he acknowledged. "The entire world is trying to get its hands on the various equipment needed to fight this virus. That is why we know that it will be important to be able to have 'made in Canada solutions'," Trudeau said on Tuesday. In particular, Canada has ordered more than 60 million N95 masks, a "key piece" to protect caregivers from infection, said Public Services and Supply Minister Anita Anand. "Delivery of these will begin this week," she said, with orders expected from China. The government has also secured commitments from other manufacturers for the supply of 157 million surgical masks, the minister added. Ottawa has also ordered 1,570 respirators from companies in Canada, Europe and the United States, and is working to secure another 4,000, she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. Several organisations are feeding homeless and destitute people on the streets of Assam during the 21-day lockdown imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. The nationwide lockdown entered the seventh day on Tuesday. The good Samaritans were seen distributing either cooked food or foodgrains to the homeless and the beggars. The Khalsa Centre North East has been running a 'Guru ka Langar' in Guwahati and other parts of Kamrup Metro district since March 27. "Waheguru jee has given us an opportunity to serve people in Kamrup Metro due to the lockdown. The administration is helping us a lot in this endeavour," the organisation's chairman P P Singh said. In Kamrup district, several NGOs are distributing food to the needy on the streets of Rangia town. The United Christian Forum of North East India has urged Christian families to provide essential commodities to at least one other family irrespective of their religion during the lockdown. The appeal was made as part of 'Lent' observance during which Christians fast, practice abstinence and give alms to the poor, the forum's spokesperson Allen Brooks said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Northern Ireland's chief prosecutor has warned that anyone who spits or coughs on key workers could face up to a year in prison. Translink staff have been targeted by people claiming they have Covid-19 in Belfast. The most recent incident saw a bus driver spat at by a passenger in the Ormeau Road area. Previously a railway worker was targeted at Great Victoria Street station and a Glider staff member targeted in west Belfast. Several police officers in Northern Ireland have also been subjected to similar attacks in recent weeks. Stephen Herron, the director of the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland, warned that spitting or coughing attacks on police and emergency services "will not be tolerated" and perpetrators should expect a robust response. His counterpart in England and Wales, Max Hill QC, has previously said he was "appalled" at this behaviour and stated anyone using coronavirus to threaten emergency and essential workers faces serious criminal charges. Mr Herron said: "Assaults against emergency service workers should never be tolerated. "However, it is even more important that they are protected during the coronavirus pandemic while they work tirelessly to help us all. "We will work closely with police to ensure that anyone coughing on, spitting at or threatening any front line service worker can expect to face robust prosecution with a possible period of imprisonment of up to 12 months. "If actual harm is caused, more serious charges could be brought with potentially increased sentences." On Saturday night a Belfast bus driver was spat at by a passenger who claimed to have the coronavirus. The driver, called Michael, told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show that the passenger coughed in his direction before spitting at him during his last journey of the night. He said the man was the last passenger and as he got off spat and coughed in his direction before shouting: "Virus, I have the virus and now you have the virus, you better wear a mask." Michael said that when he contacted police, officers told him there had been similar incidents over the last few days. Technavio has been monitoring the frozen food market in Europe and it is poised to grow by USD 18.93 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of almost 4% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Request a free sample report This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005313/en/ Technavio has announced its latest Europe research report titled Frozen Food Market in Europe 2019-2023 (Photo: Business Wire) The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Dr. August Oetker, FRoSTA, McCain Foods, Nestle, and Nomad Foods and Orkla are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Increasing frequency of M&A has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Frozen Food Market in Europe 2019-2023: Segmentation Frozen Food Market in Europe is segmented as below: Product Frozen Ready Meals Frozen Fish And Seafood Frozen Meat And Poultry Frozen Fruits And Vegetables Others Geographic Landscape Western Europe Eastern Europe To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30109 Frozen Food Market in Europe 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our frozen food market in Europe report covers the following areas: Frozen Food Market in Europe Size Frozen Food Market in Europe Trends Frozen Food Market in Europe Industry Analysis This study identifies premiumization of frozen food products as one of the prime reasons driving the frozen food market in Europe growth during the next few years. Frozen Food Market in Europe 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the Frozen Food Market in Europe, including some of the vendors such as Dr. August Oetker, FRoSTA, McCain Foods, Nestle, and Nomad Foods and Orkla. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the Frozen Food Market in Europe are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Frozen Food Market in Europe 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist frozen food market in Europe growth during the next five years Estimation of the frozen food market in Europe size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the frozen food market in Europe Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of frozen food market in Europe vendors Table Of Contents : PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT Market segmentation by product Comparison by product Frozen ready meals Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Frozen fish and seafood Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Frozen meat and poultry Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Frozen fruits and vegetables Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Others Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by product PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison Western Europe Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Eastern Europe Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: TRENDS PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Dr. August Oetker FRoSTA McCain Foods Nestle Nomad Foods Orkla PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005313/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Advertisement Soldiers helping to build the Nightingale hospital in London have compared the coronavirus crisis to the Battle of the Somme as the 4,000-bed NHS unit at the ExCeL centre is set to accept its first patients today. Colonel Ashleigh Boreham, who has carried out two tours of Iraq and one of Afghanistan, said it was the biggest mission of his career. As commanding officer of 256 City of London Field Hospital, he is in charge of military personnel working on the NHS facility. Built in around ten days, it will have 500 beds for coronavirus patients when it opens this week. The number of beds will eventually increase to 4,000. Similar hospitals are being installed in Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow to ease pressure on existing sites. Colonel Boreham, who has helped create field hospitals around the world, said: 'We are building a hospital for people in our nation. You are saving people's lives and they could be the lives of your families. It's the biggest job I've ever done. 'My grandfather was at the Somme, this is no different. I'm just at a different battle. I'm from London, I have friends and family in London. Many of the people working here, many of the soldiers working here, are from London. 'We are doing this to save the lives of Londoners. These are our comrades, there's no difference. It doesn't matter if they are civilian or military.' Built in around ten days, the Nightingale hospital in London will have 4,000 beds for coronavirus patients when it opens this week Members of the Queen's Gurkha Engineer Regiment, 36 Engineer Regiment as they help build Nightingale Hospital Sky News was given access to the new NHS Nightingale hospital in London's ExCeL Centre. In just two weeks the giant conference centre has been turned into a specialist #COVID19 field hospital Read more on the giant #coronavirus hospital: https://t.co/b6NF4IfRsn pic.twitter.com/yYZrKWnmjQ Sky News (@SkyNews) April 1, 2020 Medical equipment is labelled and prepared for use by NHS staff at the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital (pictured on Tuesday) Up to 200 soldiers a day have been helping in the construction of the Docklands hospital. They are carrying out medical planning, logistics, engineering and tasks such as building beds, laying floors, and carrying out electrics and plumbing (pictured on Tuesday) Colonel Ashleigh Boreham (left), who has carried out two tours of Iraq and one of Afghanistan, said transforming the conference centre into a hospital was the biggest mission of his career (right, medical equipment is labelled and prepared for use by NHS staff at the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital) Work continues at the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital (pictured on Tuesday). The NHS Nightingale hospital, comprising of two wards, each of 2,000 people, has been created to help tackle coronavirus The news comes as a record-breaking 381 coronavirus deaths and 3,009 cases were declared in the UK yesterday, on what was Britain's darkest day so far in the ever-worsening crisis He said the NHS, which is leading the project, and the military had 'one single purpose, one single aim to save lives'. Colonel Boreham, who joined the Army in 1992, is due to retire in a few weeks and take up a job at an NHS clinical commissioning group. The 54-year-old father of two said his wife was a front-line NHS worker and his daughter was volunteering to distribute food during the crisis. His mother, 88, is in lockdown at home in London, as is his son, he said. Speaking about his mother, he said: She has been proud of me since the moment I joined the army. He said having family close by meant that the mission against the virus was very personal. He said: It is very personal, it cannot be anything else. It focuses the mind, and that is why you have everyone pulling together. During a tour in Afghanistan in 2013-14, he was commander med which meant he was responsible for all the military medical services in the war-zone. Helping to oversee the building of NHS Nightingale is his last job before he retires. At every stage the NHS are leading this, we are literally just doing that little bit of assisting and planning. They are amazing, he said. The ExCeL London Centre is being refitted to create thousands of new beds for COVID-19 sufferers, complete with oxygen, ventilators and other key equipment in the battle against the deadly virus (pictured on Tuesday) Natalie Forrest, Chief Operating Officer of the Nightingale Hospital at the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital - the NHS Nightingale hospital, comprising of two wards, each of 2,000 people, to help tackle coronavirus Before the scale of the crisis became clear, the UK was believed to have had one of the lowest proportions of intensive care units in Europe, but NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens says 33,000 beds are now available for COVID-19 patients (pictured, the temporary hospital in east London on Tuesday) Ventilators are stored and ready to be used by Coronavirus patients at the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital Medical equipment is labelled and prepared for use by NHS staff at the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital CORONAVIRUS DEATH TOLL 24 PER CENT HIGHER WHEN NON-HOSPITAL VICTIMS INCLUDED The true death toll of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK could be 24 per cent higher than NHS figures show, according to statistics released today. Patients who had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificates numbered 210 in England and Wales up to March 20, the Office for National Statistics revealed. This was 24 per cent higher than the 170 deaths recorded by NHS England and Public Health Wales during the same time frame. If the ratio has stayed true since that time, the true current number of fatalities could be around 1,739 instead of the official 1,408. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has launched a new data series adding in the numbers of people who have died with or after having COVID-19 in the community, including those who died in care homes or their own houses. Coronavirus was not necessarily the cause of death for every one of the patients, but was believed to have been a factor. The data does not include Scotland or Northern Ireland - up to March 20, eight people had died in the those countries (six in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland), suggesting the true figure could have been 10. Advertisement Comparing the mission to his time in Afghanistan and Iraq, Col Boreham said: The difference here is that it is at scale. He went on: The challenges are the same, the threats are in a different way. It is more the threat is one we cant see. He said two weeks ago he had no idea he was facing such a task but was called in and sat around a table with the NHS, over a brew and mapped out the plan. Up to 200 soldiers a day have been helping in the construction of the Docklands hospital. They are carrying out medical planning, logistics, engineering and tasks such as building beds, laying floors, and carrying out electrics and plumbing. Sergeant Mark Anderson, 32, 1st Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment, is also on the project. He has served for 15 years, carrying out tours of Iraq, four tours of Afghanistan and was part of a UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. He said: 'It's a new experience. It is an invisible enemy and we all need to work together to combat the outbreak. Everyone has been working flat out to the best of their ability to get this place up and running in the quickest possible time.' He added: The only way we are going to do it is everyone coming together which we have done at NHS Nightingale. He said arriving at the ExCel centre had hit home what the UK is facing and the reality of the scale of the outbreak. I didnt join the army expecting something like this to happen. Its not to say we are not ready and not prepared, he said. Everyone has been working flat out to the best of their ability to get this place up and running in the quickest possible time. Lt Michael Andrews, 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, said he had been pulled off a training mission in Sierra Leone to fly back to Britain and help with Covid-19. The 24-year-old, who is part of the effort to help construction workers with general tasks, said: We are enormously proud to be part of such a momentous task. It has been quite incredible to see the team effort, people from the NHS, civil services and military coming together in what is such an important time in this nations history. More than 16,000 members of staff could be needed to run the temporary hospital if it reaches its near 4,000-bed capacity. It will be split into more than 80 wards containing 42 beds each. The facility will be used to treat Covid-19 patients transferred from intensive care units across London. Chief operating officer Natalie Forrest said last night: 'If we have to use this facility, which I really hope we don't because everyone is staying home and washing their hands and social distancing, we will need thousands of doctors and nurses and volunteers. To run one ward we need 200 members of staff.' The hospital will initially care for 42 patients as a trial run. Medical staff in protective gear in the new Nightingale Hospital in the Excel Centre, Canning Town Ventilators are stored and ready to be used by Coronavirus patients at the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital Medical equipment is labelled and prepared for use by NHS staff at the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital (left and right). The NHS Nightingale hospital, comprising of two wards, each of 2,000 people, has been set up to help tackle coronavirus Split into more than 80 wards containing 42 beds each, the Nightingale will become one of the biggest hospitals in the world, according to Ms Forrest. The facility will be used to treat Covid-19 patients who have been transferred from other intensive care units (ICU) across London. Speaking to visiting reporters, Ms Forrest said a 'scary' number of staff would be needed to run the facility at full capacity and appealed for volunteers to come forward. 'If we have to use this facility, which I really hope we don't because everyone is staying home and washing their hands and social distancing, we will need thousands of doctors and nurses and volunteers to run this facility,' she said. Asked to clarify how many are required, Ms Forrest said: 'The numbers are scary, but if I tell you that to run one ward, including all of our ancillary staff, we need 200 members of staff.' The hospital will initially aim to care for 42 patients, before its expansion is 'ramped up' to ensure it can meet its full 4,000-bed capacity in two weeks' time if needed, the Nightingale's chief medical director Alan McGlennan said. He said coronavirus patients who are transferred to the hospital will already be on a ventilator and will remain at the Nightingale until their course of ventilation is finished. Coronavirus patients suffering from other serious conditions - such as cardiac issues - will be better cared for at other specialist centres, Mr McGlennan said. While the Nightingale will be able to provide up to 4,000 ventilator beds if they are needed, NHS London will still have control over the 'most precious resources', he added. Eamonn Sullivan, the hospital's director of nursing, said the facility will be able to operate as a large intensive care unit or a normal ward, depending on demand. The Nightingale will also include support services found in other NHS hospitals, such as pharmacies and therapy treatment, Mr Sullivan said. The exhibition centre, in East London, will become the NHS Nightingale Hospital , creating an impressive 4,000 beds. Before the scale of the crisis became clear, the UK was believed to have had one of the lowest proportions of intensive care units in Europe, but NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens says 33,000 beds are now available for COVID-19 patients More than 16,000 members of staff could be needed to run London's new NHS Nightingale Hospital to treat coronavirus patients should it reach full capacity Images from inside the new hospital showed military personnel help workers in erecting cubicles and carrying equipment into the transformed centre- which is set to hold up to 4,000 COVID-19 patients and will initially have 500 beds The new 4,000-bed temporary facility at the ExCel convention centre in east London is due to open this week despite building work only starting last Wednesday Split into more than 80 wards containing 42 beds each, the Nightingale will become one of the biggest hospitals in the world, according to its chief operating officer Natalie Forrest STATISTICS REVEAL DETAILS OF FIRST 108 UK COVID-19 DEATHS Three quarters of the UK's first coronavirus fatalities were over the age of 75, according to official statistics. Details of the first 108 people to die from COVID-19 in England and Wales have emerged today in figures revealing deaths outside of NHS hospitals for the first time. They show that 59 per cent of the victims up to March 20 were male, a total of 64 out of 108, while 44 women died. Only one person under the age of 44 was counted among the fatalities and 73 per cent (79 people) were over the age of 75. The numbers, published by the Government's Office for National Statistics, revealed that the true death toll of the virus may be 24 per cent higher than NHS data shows. The ONS recorded 210 deaths up to and including March 20 in England and Wales, during which time the Department of Health tallied only 170. The higher figure includes anyone who had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificate, whether it was a direct cause of death or not. Some may not have even been tested. Statistics show the majority of the first coronavirus deaths in England and Wales were among people aged over 85. There were 45 deaths among over-85s; 34 deaths in the 75-84 age group; 21 deaths between 65 and 74; seven for 45 to 64-year-olds; and one between 15 and 44. There were none among children. The single hardest-hit age group was men over 85, among whom there were 27 fatalities. There were 20 among men aged 75-84, and 18 for female over-85s. Advertisement Meanwhile, staff working at the Nightingale will be able to sleep at nearby hotels once they finish their shift, Mr Sullivan said. 'We have got the facility here at ExCel and there is many, many thousands of hotel rooms. It is a perfect location,' he said. 'If staff wanted to stay, they could stay, so it is optional. But if they want to go home, then they can.' An NHS England spokesman said the equipment being used at the Nightingale was all 'new kit' and had not been borrowed from other hospitals. The Guardian reported earlier this week that the temporary London hospital has been built to treat people who are at a lower risk of dying from the disease, so it will mostly treat the Capital's younger patients who were healthy before the outbreak. Older patients or those who are at a higher risk of death will be treated at NHS hospitals around London. A senior doctor with knowledge of the government's planned response told the paper: 'There is a two-tier system but it's a medically appropriate two-tier system,. 'The sick will go to the ExCel and the very sick will stay in hospital, because that's an appropriate use of NHS resources. 'Anyone who goes to either place will be critically ill, be suffering lung failure and be on life support through a ventilator. But those at the ExCel will be those needing less life support as they will be the ones with nothing else wrong with them,' the doctor added. A retired nurse from Northern Ireland will go back to work on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic to head the new mega hospital. Deirdre Barr, 62, will come out of retirement to work as director of operations at the new Nightingale Hospital in East London, which is preparing to house thousands of COVID-19 patients. Barr, from Bogside, has served the NHS for 40 years, after joining as a St John Ambulance cadet. She will now leave her home in Kent to work at the new hospital amid the global pandemic. The facility will be used to treat Covid-19 patients who have been transferred from other intensive care units (ICU) across London Soldiers arrive at the new NHS Nightingale Hospital at the ExCeL centre in Newham, East London, today as the hospital gears up to receive its first patients next week Pictured: A firefighter stands outside the new NHS Nightingale Hospital at ExCeL London, as the country tries to cope with the number of coronavirus patients The new hospital in London will comprise of two wards which will each be able to house 2,000 sick patients Her sister Dolores, 74, said that although the family were concerned for Barr, they were extremely proud of her decision. 'This is a massive job, and we're scared for Deirdre, but we are so very proud that she has taken it on. If anyone can do this, Deirdre can. She's always been the one person her whole family turns to in times of trouble and sickness. 'Now the whole of the UK will be turning to her. She'll handle it well. She has broad shoulders and never shirks from responsibility. 'This job is going to ask an awful lot of her but we know she'll face it head on. The pictures we are seeing of the Nightingale Hospital are terrifying but our Deirdre will take it all in her stride,' she told the Daily Mirror. It comes as NHS nurses from all over the UK are sent to London as the capital is set to be struck by a 'tsunami' of cases in the coming weeks. Air cabin crew will join doctors and nurses in staffing the new Nightingale hospitals built to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, the NHS has said. Staff at Virgin Atlantic and EasyJet have been invited to volunteer at the new 4,000-bed clinic being built at the Excel centre in east London, and those planned in Birmingham and Manchester. Their salaries will continue to be paid by the airlines as an astonishing 750,000 other Britons joined the NHS volunteer army in just five days. Many first-aid trained cabin crew across the world have been grounded as countries have closed borders and cancelled flights amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Statistics released this morning revealed basic details about the first 108 people in Britain to have COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificate. Elderly people and men were the worst affected, the data showed By March 20, the coronavirus had become a contributing factor or direct cause in one in every 100 deaths in the UK, according to the latest date from the Office for National Statistics The number of Brits who have been admitted to hospital with coronavirus has now almost reached 10,000, since the outbreak began to take hold in early March Charts from Public Health England show how the UK's outbreak compares to other countries battling similar situations. Despite being published yesterday in the Downing Street press conference, it does not include the most up-to-date figures London has recorded the most coronavirus-related deaths so far, followed by the South East and West Midlands, according to official statistics Deirdre Barr, 62, (pictured) will come out of retirement to work as director of operations at the new Nightingale Hospital in East London WHERE ARE THE UK CORONAVIRUS HOTSPOTS? By cases per 100,000 people London: 64 confirmed cases per 100,000 people Sheffield: 59 cases per 100,000 Birmingham: 50 Slough: 49 Derby: 46 Newcastle: 40 Liverpool: 36 Milton Keynes: 35 Barnsley: 32 Sunderland: 31 By total cases Birmingham: 578 total cases Hampshire: 498 cases Sheffield: 428 Southwark (London): 368 Lambeth (London): 366 Brent (London): 359 Surrey: 358 Cumbria: 340 Hertfordshire: 339 Wandsworth (London): 314 Advertisement EasyJet has already written to its 9,000 UK-based staff including 4,000 cabin crew trained in CPR to invite them to give their time to the NHS. Virgin Atlantic will begin writing to 4,000 of its employees on Monday and will prioritise getting in touch with those who already have the required skills. Those who join up will be given expert training and will then perform support roles such as changing beds under the guidance of trained nurses. St John's Ambulance have already said that hundreds of people will give their time at the first Nightingale hospital in London. Corneel Koster, chief customer officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: 'We are grateful to the NHS for everything they are doing in extremely challenging circumstances and we're committed to doing all we can to support the national effort against the rapid acceleration of Covid-19.' EasyJet has said it is 'proud' its staff can support medics at this 'crucial time'. Tina Milton, director of cabin services, added: 'The NHS is at the forefront of dealing with this health emergency but the training and skills our cabin crew have, working closely with the medical professionals, could help make a real difference.' Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, said the NHS needs 'all the support we can get'. She added: 'Thousands of nurses, medics and other expert staff are returning to work alongside us, but we need everyone to do their bit whether that is working in one of our current health or social care services, working in the Nightingale Hospital, volunteering to help the NHS or following government advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.' Earlier this week grim photos revealed the refrigerated morgue inside the new NHS Nightingale Hospital at London's ExCel Centre. Pictures showed huge refrigerator units and rows of beds for the bodies of those killed by Covid-19 during the pandemic. Soldiers roll out mats and assist in the final preparations for the new field hospital in London as the country continues to control the coronavirus outbreak A planning meeting is underway as staff from the Royal Anglian Regiment and the Queen's Gurkha Engineer Regiment arrive to the centre to help Soldiers help transform the exhibition centre into the new Nightingale Hospital as the nation tries to cope with the rising number of Covid-19 patients Soldiers help lay the flooring down as the new NHS Nightingale Hospital prepares for its first patients next week Soldiers help put up cubicles inside the new field hospital as the exhibition centre prepares for its first patients on April 4 Pictured: The units being used to cool the morgue at the Nightingale hospital which has been founded to cope with the coronavirus pandemic Pictured: The morgue that has been installed at the ExCel Centre in East London, which has become the Nightingale hospital Incredible images from inside the ExCel Centre show construction work to transform the exhibition centre into London's emergency coronavirus hospital is underway Work has also begun to transform the Welsh rugby stadium into a 500-bed hospital for coronavirus patients. The rugby union stadium in Wales is the latest venue to be turned into a temporary hospital for coronavirus patients, with Parc y Scarlets expected to be operational in two weeks and provide up to 500 extra beds. Work began last Monday to convert three areas of the stadium complex in Llanelli for medical use as the Scarlets work in partnership with the Hywel Dda University Health Board and Carmarthenshire County Council. The Juno Moneta Arena training facility will house 252 beds, while there will also be a hospital area in the Quinnell Lounge in the South Stand and the first-floor concourse. The beds in Llanelli are in addition to around 2,000 which are set to be installed at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff as Wales prepares itself for the peak of the pandemic. The Welsh locations will join others being be built inside UK venues including the SEC in Glasgow, Manchester Central Convention Complex, Birmingham's NEC and the new NHS Nightingale hospital at ExCel in London. The news comes as a record-breaking 381 coronavirus deaths and 3,009 cases were declared in the UK yesterday, on what was Britain's darkest day so far in the ever-worsening crisis. Paramedics stand next to a command unit outside the ExCel centre on Tuesday that is being turned into a 4000 bed temporary hospital know as NHS Nightingale to help deal with some of the coronavirus outbreak victims in London NHS staff outside the ExCel Centre in London on Tuesday. The NHS is anticipating a COVID-19 'tsunami' as the peak of infection rates nears British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that Britons can only leave their homes for essential reasons or may be fined, in order to reduce the spread of the coronavirus (pictured, the ExCel centre which will be used as a temporary hospital) Some 1,789 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have now died, while the total infection toll has surpassed 25,000 - but the true size of the outbreak remains a mystery because of the UK's controversial policy to only test patients in hospital. The number of new deaths recorded yesterday was twice as high as the 180 victims recorded on Monday. But there was only a 14 per cent jump in daily cases - up from 2,619. And the number of hospital admissions appears to have slowed, going up by a 'constant amount' each day, data shows - with around 1,000 new patients a day being treated by the NHS. One of Tuesday's victims was only 19 years old and had no underlying conditions that made them more vulnerable to the life-threatening complications of the illness. MailOnline understands their death was recorded at North Middlesex University Hospital in Enfield, north London. A 13-year-old London schoolboy was revealed last night to have become Britain's youngest coronavirus victim. Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, from Brixton, London, died alone at King's College Hospital in London on Monday, with family members unable to visit him in fear of catching the deadly virus. He is not thought to have had any underlying health conditions. News of Ismail's death was shared on a GoFundMe page created by Madinah College, in Brixton, to raise money for his funeral and was later confirmed by King's College Hospital. The boy's family, who also recently lost his father to cancer, said they would not be releasing any photos of Ismail and that they were 'beyond devastated'. Britain's youngest coronavirus death: Boy, 13, 'with no underlying conditions' dies alone in isolation in London hospital after testing positive - leaving his family 'beyond devastated' By Danyal Hussain for MailOnline A 13-year-old London schoolboy has become Britain's youngest coronavirus victim. Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, from Brixton, London, died alone at King's College Hospital in London on Monday, with family members unable to visit him in fear of catching the deadly virus. He is not thought to have had any underlying health conditions. News of Ismail's death was shared on a GoFundMe page created by Madinah College, in Brixton, to raise money for his funeral and was later confirmed by King's College Hospital. The boy's family, who also recently lost his father to cancer, said they would not be releasing any photos of Ismail and that they were 'beyond devastated'. It comes as a record-breaking 381 coronavirus deaths and 3,009 cases were declared in the UK yesterday, which is now officially Britain's darkest day so far in the ever-worsening crisis. Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, 13, is believed to have died alone at King's College Hospital in London yesterday News of the boy's death was shared on a GoFundMe post created by Madinah College, a mosque in Brixton, to raise money for Ismail's funeral A statement from Ismail's family said: 'Ismail started showing symptoms and had difficulties breathing and was admitted to Kings College Hospital. 'He was put on a ventilator and then put into an induced coma but sadly died yesterday morning. 'To our knowledge he had no underlying health conditions. We are beyond devastated.' Mark Stephenson - College Director at the Madinah College where Ismail's sister works - said: 'Ismail was tested positive for coronavirus. They have not released the body yet, as the coroner wants to do an autopsy - I'm assuming due to his young age and not having underlying conditions.' The fundraising page reads: 'It is with great sadness to announce that the brother of one of our teachers at Madinah College has sadly passed away this morning (Monday 30th March 2020) due to being infected with Covid 19. Madinah College in Brixton, London, where Ismail attended. The college set-up a Go Fund Me page to raise money for his funeral 'He was only 13 years old without any pre-existing health conditions and sadly he died without any family members close by due to the highly infectious nature of Covid 19. 'We at Madinah College would like to appeal to our brothers and sisters to donate generously to help raise 4000 for the funeral costs.' A spokesman for King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: 'Sadly, a 13-year old boy who tested positive for Covid-19 has passed away, and our thoughts and condolences are with the family at this time. 'The death has been referred to the Coroner and no further comment will be made.' Ismail's death comes just hours after a 12-year-old girl died from coronavirus in Belgium. The girl had had a fever for three days before her death, and tested positive for COVID-19, said Belgian government spokesman Steven Van Gucht. No other details were given about her case, including whether she had any other underlying health problems. Young Vitor Godinho seen here smiling into the camera, seemingly a fit and healthy teenager Tributes have been paid to Julie Alliot, 16, (pictured) who succumbed to respiratory problems in a Paris hospital after first developing a 'slight cough' It was the first death of a child in the coronavirus crisis in Belgium, which has now recorded a total 705 deaths from the disease it causes, according to the latest official toll. Before the Belgian girl's passing, the youngest European to die from the deadly illness was Vitor Godhino, a 14-year-old boy from Porto in Portugal. He died on the early hours of Sunday after falling ill from the virus. Before Vito, 16-year-old French schoolgirl Julie Alliot was reported as the youngest Covid-19 death in Europe. She died at a hospital in Paris on 25 March. Medical staff are pictured wheeling a patient out of an ambulance at St Thomas' Hospital in London yesterday. The capital city, home to around nine million people, is at the centre of the UK's crisis It comes as the UK revealed that some 1,789 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have now died, while the total infection toll has surpassed 25,000. However, the true size of the outbreak remains a mystery because of the UK's controversial policy to only test patients in hospital. The number of new deaths recorded yesterday is twice as high as the 180 victims recorded yesterday. But there was only a 14 per cent jump in daily cases - up from 2,619. And the number of hospital admissions appears to have slowed, going up by a 'constant amount' each day, data shows - with around 1,000 new patients a day being treated by the NHS. One of yesterday's victims was only 19 years old and had no underlying conditions that made them more vulnerable to the life-threatening complications of the illness. Tuesday's development comes after government statisticians revealed this morning that the true death toll may be 24 per cent higher when people who died outside of NHS hospitals are added in to the count. While the world has been trying to navigate the coronavirus and sheltering at home, Christine Schultz has found herself well-equipped for charting the unknown territory, much as she has done in her career as a female meteorologist. As the station chief for the Global Monitoring Division's (GMD) Atmospheric Research Observatory at the South Pole, Schultz spent 13 months during 2010 into 2011 in one of Earth's most isolated places: Antarctica. Three of those months were spent without the sun hanging in the sky and with temperatures dropping to an average of minus 70 F. It took a span of weeks for the sun to sink below the horizon of the Antarctic ice shelf, plunging the continent into darkness for the winter. For three months, Schultz and about 50 other people wintered on the continent in complete darkness, collecting data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Christine Schultz took her first photo in Antarctica after disembarking the military C-17 aircraft that flew her and the rest of her team there. (Photo / Christine Schultz) "It's a mix of emotions as the sun sets," Schultz told AccuWeather in a Skype interview. "It's excitement for the winter to actually start ... There's also a little bit of trepidation too because it's unknown: How are you going to react without the sun 24/7 for six months? What's it going to be like working in extreme cold conditions that (you) really haven't seen up to that point yet?" she recalled. "There's just a lot of unknowns, so it's both exciting and a little bit frightening." To add to the isolation, planes with supplies stop flying to Antarctica during the winter, as it's physically too cold for them to fly when the temperatures plummet to minus 40 F. Fuel freezes to slush, skis can stick to the ice and the hydraulics begin to falter in the harsh conditions. What the team has on hand starting in February is what they'll have to rely on to last them through the dark, brutal winter. Story continues When things broke, especially during the winter, the crew would have to get creative with their fixes and what they had on hand to make those fixes. From fixing her headphones when they broke midwinter to rewiring a computer power supply to replace the broken power supply of the laboratory's LIDAR -- or a laser used to look at aerosols and cloud heights high up in the atmosphere -- crew members used whatever they happened to have at their disposal. Planes with new supplies wouldn't be able to reach the continent until spring. As the station chief, Schultz's job is to run all of the 30 or so different instruments on the site, to perform maintenance, fix things when they break, calibrate the instruments and handle shipping and receiving during the summer months when the planes are flying. One of the instruments Schultz operated at the South Pole was a Dobson Spectrophotometer, which was used to measure ozone. (NOAA / Christine Schultz) "If the instruments were working, then the load was pretty light. But if things broke, that meant we would be out there fixing them as long as it took, basically," Schultz said. The instruments were key for Schultz and her team to record the different conditions and atmospheric composition of the South Pole, contributing to the data and knowledge that other scientists will work with, from vertical profiles of ozone in the atmosphere to surface ozone measurements and measuring carbon dioxide and halocarbons in the atmosphere. During the darker winter months, Schultz and her team did what the satellites couldn't in filling in the gaps that would otherwise go unrecorded. NOAA's GMD has four observatories including the Barrow Atmospheric Baseline Observatory (ABO) in Utqiagvik, Alaska; the Mauna Loa ABO on Hawaii's Big Island; American Samoa ABO in Tula, American Samoa and South Pole ABO in Antarctica. All of these locations were chosen for their remote locations back in the 1970s with the goal of measuring the composition of the atmosphere and how it changes over time away from the influence of humans and human pollution. A few corners of the world, including the South Pole where Schultz says at least two people are wintering at the ABO base, have yet to report coronavirus cases. Palau, Samoa, Turkmenistan, North Korea and a handful of other bases on Antarctica haven't reported any COVID-19 cases, according to Yahoo News. Schultz stands under the iconic whale bone arc of Utqiagvik, Alaska, known as the "Gateway to the Arctic." One of NOAA's Atmospheric Baseline Observatories is located at Utqiagvik, Alaska. (NOAA/Christine Schultz) Schultz says it's too early to tell if quarantine could affect pollution or air quality as well as pick up any influences of mitigation efforts, like spraying disinfectant. However, she believes the GMD's long-term records of aerosols and the composition of the atmosphere, as well as other records, could be critical to figuring out what has changed. "Our data really are the control to the experiment for what is going on right now," Schultz said. During her time in Antarctica when she wasn't working, Schultz and the rest of the crew found ways to stay entertained in their own shelter-in-place scenario. "People get pretty creative over the winter months when there's not a lot of outside stimulus," Schultz said. Over her time spent sheltering from the minus 70 F temperatures, Schultz and the group watched movies, learning how to knit and hit the gym. The aurora australis lit up the sky over the South Pole. (NOAA/Christine Schultz) "My greatest advice for anyone in isolation is to get creative and make sure you have a routine," Schultz said. Especially in the winter months, a routine helped her maintain her sense of day and night. She also suggests not staying in pajamas all day. Schultz compared her isolation in Antarctica not just to sheltering in place for the coronavirus, but also to her first job on a ship as a NOAA Corps officer job doing sonar research and mapping the sea floor near Alaska. For three years, Schultz charted uncharted waters in Alaska, contributing to the safety and navigation of ships at sea. "Surprisingly enough I was really well-trained to live in Antarctica because it felt very similar to living on a ship," Schultz said. "You were kind of stuck there." Schultz takes bottom samples in Alaska off of NOAA Ship Rainier. (NOAA/Christine Schultz) Even in Antarctica, where there was plenty of land to roam, Schultz and her team couldn't leave a two-mile radius of the station due to the hazardous conditions. At her current job with the GMD, she oversees the observatories she once worked at and runs the GMD meteorology program. She still helps to fix instruments that break on occasion, only now the different locations provide some variety to how certain instruments break. In the observatory at American Samoa, one of the fans critical for a temperature sensor has broken due to reasons from a swarm of mosquitoes flying in and clogging the machine to a gecko crawling in and dying. "Pretty much everything in my line of work I never thought I would do," Schultz said. She had once looked at forecasting or being on TV as her only options with a degree in meteorology until an internship at Mount Washington Observatory, New Hampshire, introduced her to fieldwork. Schultz driving a small boat in Alaska during a tide gauge installation off NOAA Ship "Rainier." (NOAA/Christine Schultz) "I also never thought I would drive a ship as my first job out of school," Schultz said. "As a 22-year-old you don't usually envision yourself piloting a vessel of 50 people, 231-feet long, for a job. But that was a skill that I got to pick up as a NOAA Corps officer. I never thought I would visit any of the Global Monitoring Division's research locations." She had also never envisioned herself going to Antarctica, taking a selfie with the candy cane-like symbolic marker of the South Pole. Schultz diverted from her path one day to take a selfie with the symbolic marker of the South Pole in Antarctica. (Image/Christine Schultz) "My advice for people is always to explore their options and seize opportunities when they present themselves," Schultz said. "I did not end up where I thought I would when I was studying meteorology in school, and I have used it in so many different ways that I didn't even know where possible when I was a student or even just starting my career. So I think keeping your eyes open, being open to taking some risk is really great too and will take you places you didn't know exist." During the last leg of Schultz's stay at Antarctica, she and other group members were watching a movie when they received a frantic call over their radios. "The sun's up! The sun's up!" Schultz sprang up, and other crew members dropped what they were doing, all running outside into the biting cold for a sight they hadn't seen in months. Pinks and purples painted the sky, heralding the first sunrise in months as slivers of light began to appear. The sun, and the end to their isolation, was on the horizon. When she manages to turn away from the news, she turns to her beloved British mysteries by Deborah Crombie. She's also returned to the piano she was a professional duo pianist to play some Bach, even though it's starting to hurt her shoulders. She is still an active emailer, though she has yet to reach out to Tom Hanks who played Fred in "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" last fall during his bout with COVID-19. (She's considering writing to him this week since the actor and his wife, Rita Wilson, will likely be less bombarded with messages.) Why The Number Of Cases Will Keep Rising In Nigeria A viral social media joke about Burundi (not necessarily true) being the only African country not to record a case of Coronavirus infection was simply linked to the unavailability of testing kits. This is the only way the true state of the contagion could be ascertained in any country. The World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in press conferences has been emphasizing that instruction to countries since the outbreak by saying; Test! test!! Test!!! Nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world has been proudly lagging in that area and nobody seems to be bothered about the untrue state of figures about infected people that it keeps making public. Since the 18th of March, 2020, Nigeria has been witnessing a gradual increase in the number of Coronavirus cases. An additional number of 5 cases making up 8 in total prompted the Federal Government to issue travel restrictions against 13 countries on that fateful day following massive pressure from Nigerians on social media and also some representatives of the Nigeria Medical Association. Despite the travel restrictions, the number of infected people has continued to increase but not at the rate of other countries of the world. Many have attributed this to some sort of luck, high temperatures limiting the virus spread or even answered prayers because Nigeria is a country not only populated with religious people but also very superstitious ones. Presently, we have 111 confirmed cases (as at Monday evening 30th of March) in Nigeria spreading across 10 states and the FCT, and one might decide to celebrate the low figure thinking an outbreak of the level of what the U.S, Spain, Italy, UK and others is far from Nigeria. The figure is very deceitful and in fact, most of the figures of the infected cases around the world are misleading due to the varying patterns of testing employed by different countries. In essence, the number of Coronavirus cases are largely under-reported and also played down by some countries due to political reasons. As for Nigeria, the truth is that our testing capacity has been very low and poor with an initial number of 5 NCDC testing laboratories across the 36 states in the country. Testing has been monopolized by government hospitals leaving private hospitals and laboratories out of the equation. The Nigerian government appears to be rationing testing kits by focusing on mostly returnees from Coronavirus-affected countries who display alarming symptoms of the dreaded ailment which has infected over 768,370 and leaving 36,912 others dead across the world. Close contacts of those that tested positive to the virus have also been given top priority. Since this disease could be very elusive as it infects people who unknowingly become carriers and spreaders without falling sick, it spreads rapidly under the radar and in a matter of days, thousands of cases can be confirmed. It only takes one person to maintain contact with a group of people and the infection will begin to spread like the California wildfires. There is also the belief that the disease has been spreading without the knowledge of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC. This isnt far from the crude approach of the government which instructs suspected carriers to fill a contact form, self-isolate and keep in touch with the government about their health. Probably out of crass ignorance, carelessness or negligence, the travelers fill in wrong contact details to avoid any sort of disturbance from health officials. Since Nigeria has issues with technology and keeping a database that could help track people with their mere names, phone numbers, fingerprints or pictures like China does, we start to look for such people in futility when its confirmed that an infected person travelled on that same flight with them. Today, the Federal Government is struggling to trace over 6,000 largely uncooperative people who have had direct or indirect contact with index cases. A handful of that big figure could carry the virus, and spread it amongst the over 200 million people we have in the country. That is a huge disaster waiting to happen or probably has happened but yet to be fully unravelled. As at Tuesday, the 24th of March, 2020, it was revealed that Nigeria had only tested 178 persons while South Korea was already bracing up for the dangers ahead by testing 10,000 people in a single day. It took the intervention of the Chinese billionaire, Jack Ma who donated testing kids and other Personal Protective Equipment before Nigeria scaled up its testing capacity up to 32% and since then, the numbers have been increasing. The informed general public who have been concerned about the unusual snail-speed of the spread of the disease are finally getting a true picture of what lies ahead. The virus is coming for us and we can only pray that its hit in Nigeria will not be too devastating. Lagos State the commercial capital of Nigeria has cemented its position as the Wuhan of Nigeria with 59 recorded cases leaving the FCT behind with just 14 cases. The Lagos State government appears to have access to some information about the virus which the general public might not. Its bracing up for a major disaster and it has been making frantic efforts to mitigate the crushing effects. Local transmission which is the major strength of the pandemic hasnt been pronounced in Nigeria but indications have it that its ongoing and its only a matter of time before we start counting infected cases in thousands like countries in Europe and America. Governor Babajide Sanwo-olus body language tells it all but he keeps claiming his decisions are more of precautionary. He has urged residents to stay at home with civil servants ordered to work from home. He has partially closed market places as he restricts trading to people dealing in essential commodities. Gatherings of over 20 people have been banned with religious organizations directly affected. He has also been hinting about the possible imposition of curfew if the need arises. Apart from this, some physical structures have also been put in place to combat the virus before it makes a full landfall in Lagos State. A health facility has been set up in Gbagada asides from the Infectious Disease Hospital at Yaba which reportedly boasts of 100 beds. A massive makeshift isolation centre has also been set up at the Onikan stadium to house hundreds of Coronavirus patients. Funds have also been raised from private individuals, corporate organizations and state coffers. Donation of needed health kits, ventilators and others have been gathered from well-meaning Nigerians. Furthermore, the government has set up a food bank to feed over 200,000 households in the state for 14 days during the austerity period. The Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Professor Akin Abayomi who has been instrumental to postponing the doomsday isnt mincing words. He doesnt want to be politically correct. He simply wants Lagosians to get their body armours and arsenal ready for the war ahead with the unseen enemy. He must have frightened Lagosians and Nigerians as a whole when he revealed his statistical projection that 39,000 people could be infected with the virus in Lagos. According to him, the figure might be beaten down to 13,000 if Lagosians adhere to the globally recommended practice of social distancing. Which ever way the pendulum swings, this spells doom for not only the state but Nigeria as a whole. The professor is not alone, he is only doing his job with a touch of professionalism. The United Kingdom predicts the death of 20,000 people in the worst case scenario and the Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo is projecting the need for 30,000 ventilators in a similar scenario thereby drawing criticisms from an already overwhelmed President Donald Trump. I know there is a need to be hopeful but we need to prepare for bad times. There is a way the virus operates. It initially spreads slowly like its doing in Nigeria presently, then balloons into several thousands, claims alot of lives of mostly the elderly including those with pre-existing medical conditions, and then peaks. China went through this process and I believe Nigeria might not be different. The Health Commissioner knows this and he isnt ready to downplay the capability of the virus like Trump dangerously did. With a bigger testing capacity and widespread testing of patients, the actual number of cases might hit 500-1000 for now and if its not well managed, we might be going the way of Spain, Italy, or Iran. Source:THEVILLAGETOWNCRIER Britain must toughen up its attitude to China and treat it more like the former Soviet Union in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, a former Cabinet minister warned today. Damian Green said that the contagion, which started in the Asian nation, plus the row over Beijing tech giant Huawei and its access to 5G networks, showed that a rethink was needed in dealing with the Communist state. Mr Green, 64, who was Theresa May's de-facto deputy prime minister between 2016 and 2017, criticised Beijing's handling of the coronavirus outbreak, which has now spread around the world. In an article for the Conservative Home website he argued that 'it is clear that a deeper look at the long-term interdependence of Western capitalism and Chinese communism will take place'. He said that the viewpoint of the past decade, that 'the economic gain from linking our economy closely with the Chinese was worth the obvious risks', would have to change. He argued that is has not worked and that China was continuing to act as 'an aggressive adversary' on the world stage, building up its military and commercial might. 'The UK stance towards China, regrettably, may have to become similar to our attitude to Russia in the more peaceful stages of the Cold War,' he said. Damian Green said that the contagion, which started in the Asian nation, plus the row over Beijing tech giant Huawei and its access to 5G networks, showed that a rethink was needed in dealing with the Communist state Mr Green said it is 'undeniable' that the pandemic - which has, as of 5pm on Sunday, seen 1,408 people die in UK hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19 - started in China (pictured) due to lax hygiene practices. 'Co-operate where we can, but guard when we must. It is a depressing prospect in many ways, but at least we can console ourselves with the thought the right side won the Cold War in the end. 'We need to protect our values as well as our economy.' Mr Green is one of a large group of Tory MPs who were already opposed to detente with Beijing over Huawei before the coronavirus outbreak. His comments come after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab suggested on Monday that a 'lessons learnt' inquiry would be needed in the aftermath of the crisis due to questions surrounding China's handling of the Covid-19 outbreak. Mr Green said it is 'undeniable' that the pandemic - which has, as of 5pm on Sunday, seen 1,408 people die in UK hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19 - started in China due to lax hygiene practices. His comments are a nod to reports that wet markets in the Communist country, where live animals are sold, could have been behind the outbreak in Hubei province. 'The irritation of the British Government with its Chinese counterpart, both for the delay in informing international bodies of the arrival of coronavirus and for its slightly dubious attitude to statistics, has been obvious in recent days, he said. 'Whatever charges can be laid at the door of others, it is undeniable that the pandemic started because of unhygienic practices in Chinese markets, which have been known about for years, and that the Chinese authorities were dilatory in informing the World Health Organisation about the outbreak.' The former welfare secretary argued that a 'deeper look at the long-term interdependence of Western capitalism and Chinese communism' would 'take place' once countries were done fighting their respective health emergencies. Governments across the world have been forced to impose draconian lockdowns on society and build field hospitals in a bid to stem and deal with the coronavirus outbreaks on their shores. Mr Green said Britain should rethink its policy of fostering relations with China and review dependence on the powerhouse within global supply chains. Already a vocal critic of Boris Johnson's decision to allow Chinese tech giant Huawei a role in the UK's fledgling 5G network, he made the case for UK manufacturers to use factories outside China for their products to protect supply lines, looking to the likes of Vietnam and Cambodia instead. The freedom of the internet would also need to be protected against tightening Chinese regulation, Mr Green argued, highlighting the state's control over the use of Facebook among its 1.4 billion population. Fellow Tory MP Bob Stewart was forced to apologise this week after referring to the Covid-19 virus as 'the foul Chinese illness' but said the description was not intended to denigrate Chinese people. Air India on Tuesday operated five chartered flights to Frankfurt carrying foreign nationals, mostly Germans, who were stranded in the country due to the nationwide lockdown, according to an airline spokesperson. The five flights were operated with Mumbai and Delhi as the two hubs. Out of the them, four flights took off for Frankfurt from Mumbai and one from New Delhi, the spokesperson said. The four flights operated from Mumbai picked up foreign nationals from Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. People were also ferried from Mumbai. The fifth flight picked up people from the national capital and Kolkata before flying to Frankfurt. All the five services were operated with Air India's 256-seater Boeing 787-800 (Dreamliner) planes, the spokesperson said. "Rescue flight @airindiain 1570 from #Chennai to #Frankfurt operated with 160 stranded passengers on board, today. All precautions taken and facilities provided to ensure smooth travel amid #COVID19 restrictions," Chennai airport said in a tweet. The country is under a 21-day nationwide lockdown to curb spreading of coronavirus infections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Bachelorette star Paddy Colliar has launched an OnlyFans account after losing his job due to the coronavirus pandemic. The personal trainer, 28, is stripping off on the X-rated subscription site, which charges users a monthly fee for explicit adults only content. For an introductory fee of $7.50, fans can see raunchy photos and videos of the former reality star, who shot to fame on Ali Oetjen's season of The Bachelorette back in 2018 before returning for Bachelor In Paradise, last year. Bad boy! Former Bachelorette star Paddy Colliar has launched an OnlyFans account after losing his job due to the coronavirus pandemic Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the Irish hunk confirmed that he'd lost his job as a personal trainer after the government closed Australia's gyms as part of the coronavirus lockdown. 'The gyms have all closed,' he said. 'I was given a huge opportunity in Melbourne and had it crumble due to this crisis.' To give back to others also suffering from the gym shutdown, Paddy has been holding free fitness classes live on Instagram three times a week. Adults only! The personal trainer, 28, is stripping off on the X-rated subscription site, which charges users a monthly fee for explicit adults only content 'I'm doing free online classes to give people's morning a positive start,' he said. 'I also work with three organisations raising awareness around suicide prevention and bullying, including Positive T-shirts, Reptile Apparel, and Bully Zero, so I'm going to focus on that as well.' He added: 'I did my first public speaking engagement with Reptile, where I spoke to 700 students about how I was bullied in primary school.' Claim to fame: Paddy is best known for starring on The Bachelorette in 2018 and season two of Bachelor In Paradise in 2019 Paddy added that he's also continuing to model and work with clothing brands, in addition to building his following on OnlyFans with racy content. Stripping off online won't be difficult for the 28-year-old, who worked as a male stripper before finding fame on reality TV. He's not the only reality star to turn to OnlyFans, with Love Island Australia bombshell Vanessa Sierra recently launching an account on the site too. Fitness: To give back to others also suffering from the gym shutdown, Paddy has been holding free fitness classes live on Instagram three times a week American Bachelorette star Chad Johnson has also joined the service with his girlfriend Annalise Mishler. Other celebrities that have cashed in on selling their nudes include Rhyce Power, best known for being Married At First Sight star Jessika Power's 'hot brother', and social media star Gina Stewart a.k.a. the World's Hottest Grandma. In January, Rhyce told Daily Mail Australia that he was earning up to $15,000 a month selling explicit photos and videos on the site. I greatly enjoyed Max Barry's 2013 novel Lexicon (Cory loved it, too here's his review). Barry has a new novel that came out today from Putnam, called Providence, which I started reading. It's a space thriller about a four person crew on an AI controlled spaceship programmed to seek and destroy "salamanders" creatures that kill by spitting mini-black holes. It's terrific so far (I'm 70% finished). I'm happy that Max wrote this op-ed for Boing Boing, titled "How Science Fiction Prepares Us For the Apocalypse." Mark My favorite theory on why we dream is that we're practicing for emergencies. Asleep, unguarded, our minds conjure threats and dilemmas so that once we wake, we've learned something. Maybe not very muchmaybe only what not to do, because it rarely goes well. But we learn more from our failures than our successes, and this is what our minds serve up, night after night: hypothetical dangers and defeats. Whether we're fleeing a tiger or struggling to persuade a partner who won't listen, we fail, but we also practice. I suspect that's also why we read fiction. We don't seek escapismor, at least, not only that. We read to inform our own future behavior. No matter how fanciful the novel, in the back of our minds, something very practical is taking notes. Popular fiction regularly mirrors the times in which it's published. Two hundred years ago, society readers were thrilled by dangerous flirtations in Jane Austen novels; a century ago, people living in newly urbanized cities devoured mysteries and detective stories; and the 1930s gave rise to the Golden Age of science fiction, with stories that asked where technology might take us. All of these types of books entertained, and occasionally stretched the bounds of plausibility, but they also delivered something very pragmatic: a chance for a reader to observe a dangerous new situation and explore ways to get out of it. In this way, every novel is not only a journey but also a guidebook. This might seem a long bow to draw with science-fiction novels, which have, in their most popular variants, included giant sandworms, interstellar warfare, self-aware spaceships, and Morlocks. But those of us who have always devoured such stories know they are painted cloth pulled over real people. For every alien world, there is a foreign country or another race; for every threat from the stars, there is one from a government, or an evolving society, or a neighbor. But beyond this, there is also the fact that a lot of these far-fetched stories are coming true. We are already living in the world of Fahrenheit 451not the part where they burn books, but everything else. "Orwellian" has become useless as a descriptor, because it applies so neatly to so much; it has lost all context, all contrast. And the post-apocalyptic stories have never seemed more directly relevant. Some are obviously so: There is no shortage of excellent novels featuring a terrible pandemic, or at least the threat of one, including The Stand by Stephen King, The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton, and Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. Blindness by Jose Saramago, published in 1995, tells a gripping story of quarantine in the face of an unknown viral affliction: A small group are locked down inside an asylum and guarded by soldiersand what happens next, I will be very glad to have read if the current world situation gets much worse. We might have read these stories for thrills, but in truth they offer an unexpected comfort: a sense of preparedness. Although I don't know what's coming, I do know what happened when the man and the boy walked The Road (Cormac McCarthy), and I watched how people survived, or didn't, in Cloud Atlas (David Mitchell). Some part of my brain has tucked away lessons from these books, I'm sure. What they're worth, if tested, remains to be seen. But I feel better for having them. And for many of us, whether we are health patients or citizens, workers or parents, acting decently and rationallykeeping our heads even as the world gets weirderis among the most important things we can do. Nothing is as terrifying as the unknown, and for science-fiction fans, who have been reading stories of blasted cities and fractured worlds for years, this is all known. No matter what happens next, or how bad it gets, we've been here before. We have, at least, dreamed about it. Citing the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, the Armenian government has asked Russias Gazprom giant to consider cutting the price of its natural gas supplied to Armenia. In a letter to Gazprom Chairman Alexei Miller published by the Armenpress news agency on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigorian proposed that the two sides open negotiations on the matter. Grigorian argued that international oil prices, which greatly determine the cost of natural gas, have fallen sharply over the past month. He also said that economic disruptions caused by coronavirus will significantly reduce energy consumption levels in Armenia unless they are offset by a gas price cut. In these circumstances, Yerevan finds it expedient to start new negotiations on changing the price of gas supplied to the Republic of Armenia, Grigorian wrote. He said the talks should focus on the possibility of lowering that price or setting it in Russian rubles, rather than dollars, as has long been the case. Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian likewise said that the collapse of the oil prices gives the Armenian side sufficient grounds to seek a price cut. I think that we will hold such discussions with our Russian partners very soon, Avinian told reporters. Armenia imports more than 80 percent of its gas from Russia. The wholesale price of that gas is currently set at $165 per thousand cubic meters. Gazprom raised it from $150 per thousand cubic meters in January 2019. Despite that price rise, the cost of Russian gas supplied to Armenian consumers remained unchanged. Officials in Yerevan indicated before the coronavirus crisis that Armenian utility regulators may allow Armenias Gazprom-owned to raise its retail tariffs this spring. Natural gas generates around one-third of Armenias electricity. It is also used in pressurized and liquefied forms by most vehicles in the country. August polls were seen as a key test of the reformist agenda of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Ethiopia has postponed parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for August due to the coronavirus outbreak, the electoral commission has announced. The August polls had been seen as a key test of the reformist agenda of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in what was once one of the continents most repressive nations. Because of issues related to the coronavirus, the board has decided it cant conduct the election as planned so it has decided to void that calendar and suspend all activities, the poll body said in a statement on Tuesday. It said a new date would be given when the pandemic is over. Jawar Mohammed, a leading opposition politician, told AFP news agency that a new calendar cannot be done by the ruling party alone. Ethiopia has recorded 25 cases of COVID-19 and federal and regional officials have introduced a range of measures intended to curb its spread, including banning large gatherings and restricting travel. These measures would have prevented the timely completion of activities like voter registration and the recruitment and training of observers, the election commission said. Ethiopia is Africas second-most populous nation. When Abiy took power in 2018, he promised to liberalise the state-run economy and introduced reforms that saw thousands of political prisoners released. He had promised to hold free and fair elections in August when his party would have faced a stiff challenge from many ethnically-based parties newly emboldened by his reforms. Tucson police and city officials have a message for anybody who might be looking to celebrate their time in coronavirus quarantine party's over. Calling it thoughtless, Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus today warned of consequences for people who continue to throw house parties during the pandemic and the emergency orders that have been issued here and the state to limit crowds. On Monday Ducey said people who can, should stay home except for essential activities, like buying food. "Not surprisingly, house parties are not listed as an 'essential activity in his order," Magnus said in a statement this morning. He says police are ready to enforce social distancing orders and that partiers could be charged with a misdemeanor. Councilman Steve Kozachik, who represents much of the area near the University of Arizona campus, said Monday that he's been working with both city hall and Tucson Police to curb partying as the community attempts to quell the spread of COVID-19. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero had taken several measures to limit outdoor activity and promote social distancing, including issuing a Friday proclamation encouraging Tucsonans to stay home "except as may be needed to address essential needs,'' like getting food and prescriptions, fresh air and going to work if employed in an essential function. Despite that, Kozachik said he witnessed one party on his way back from work Saturday night. Then, he was alerted to a second party about 12 hours later by a local TV station. 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. Kingston Mills, Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity College Dublin has said that while it was distressing to hear of the number of new cases and deaths from Covid-19, the rate of increase had slowed. The measures put in place by the government are having an impact, he told Newstalk Breakfast. Prof Kingston also welcomed a new test due to become available shortly that will determine if people who have come through the virus, but were not tested, are now clear. The new test, which is performed using a drop of blood, can be processed very quickly and can clear people to go back to work. This will be especially beneficial for health care workers, he said. Prof Kingston acknowledged that there had been shortages of testing kits, but this was inevitable he said as every country was competing for materials. The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) was doing a great job in getting on top of it, he said, but there would be other hitches along the way. Prof Kingston explained that the new test that should be available soon will allow people who were self-isolating, but had not been tested, to be cleared to return to work. The test will show whether they have recovered from the virus and can return to work. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] 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. On Tuesday the Ministry of Health acted to quarantine on areas where potential clusters of COVID-19 have been recorded. Al-Haytem village in the governorate of Gharbiya was fully quarantined. In Port Said two apartment buildings were also isolated. The measures came against a backdrop of a relatively stable increase in the curve of recorded cases of the new coronavirus. As Al-Ahram Weekly was going to press around 660 cases had been reported since 14 February when the authorities in Egypt announced the first case. In a press conference this week, Minister of Health Hala Zayed said that of the reported cases 182 had recovered and 132 had since tested positive and are being followed up pending their recovery. Egypt has recorded 41 deaths, including both Egyptians and foreigners. In statements this week Zayed said that the Ministry of Health is acting to make sure all cases recorded are promptly isolated and that contacts of confirmed cases are being traced. Zayed said contact tracing was essential to contain the fast circulating virus and flatten the infection rate curve to ensure health facilities are not suddenly swamped with positive cases. If Egypt manages to get through the next three weeks without the curve steepening then, according to Zayed, Egypt could well move into a period of reduced infection rates. Meanwhile, informed medical sources say the authorities are preparing for the possibility the situation could get worse. According to the sources, measures being taken include preparations for setting up temporary emergency hospitals in many governorates. These plans are being conducted in coordination with the Armed Forces. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Higher Education have also ordered the suspension of all non-urgent surgical operations in public and university hospitals for three weeks to free up medical and ICU capacity. According to the same sources, the two ministries aim to keep occupancy of ICUs at 50 per cent. The Ministry of Health has put in place measures to re-contract retired doctors to beef up capacity in public hospitals. It has also appealed for possible medical volunteers. Within three hours the appeal generated 10,000 responses. The Ministry of Health is working with several government bodies to stockpile supplies needed by hospitals. Medical sources at several leading hospitals said this week they have sent lists of supplies to the ministry so it can identify stocks that need to be supplemented. In a tweet on Monday evening, the official spokesmen of the Armed Forces said that as part of the combat against the new coronavirus, the Armed Forces are working on providing all necessary medical equipment and supplies in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the Unified Authority for Medical Purchases and Supplies. An informed medical source told the Weekly that the plan that Egypt is currently working on includes the purchase of 1,000 ventilators to treat the persistent pneumonia and possible damage to lung tissue that are symptomatic of acute cases of COVID-19. Minister of Industry and Trade Nevine Gamea said directives had been issued to companies that produce medical supplies to concentrate production on products required by the Unified Authority for Medical Purchases and Supplies for the next three months. These include protective clothing, gloves and masks needed by medical workers and medication required for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. The measures that the authorities are taking are in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations. At a conference in Cairo on Monday, John Jabbour, the representative of WHO in Egypt, praised Egyptian doctors and medical staff on the front line in the battle with the novel coronavirus. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the doctors, nursing staff and other health workers on the front lines of combating this pandemic, as they make every effort to save lives and prevent the spread of the virus inside the country despite the challenges, Jabbour said. Yvan Hutin, director for communicable diseases at the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, said Egypt has a real opportunity to stop the transmission. Though Hutin cautioned that there was a possibility transmissions could expand leading to a large number of cases in the country, he said the number of new cases detected in Egypt since the first case was confirmed on 14 February suggested that transmission is limited to chains of infection. Avoiding the worse is not only a medical job, said Zayed. The public must observe social distancing guidelines and the partial curfew. This week the Ministry of Interior upgraded its surveillance of the curfew. Government sources have said since the beginning of this month that if infection rates were to increase, more restrictive measures to stop the spread of this virus would need to be imposed. While the government and public sectors have opted to reduce the workforce to decrease chances of infection private sector workers are not exempted from full attendance, leading to crowds during rush hours, particularly on public transport. This week pictures of crowded metro stations appeared prompting fears over possible increases in infection rates. Minister of Transport Kamel Al-Wazir said that more buses and underground trains would enter service to reduce crowding during the busiest times. Many leading members of the business community have strenuously resisted suggestions working hours be reduced. Activist groups have criticised what they qualify as the indifferent attitude of private business leaders and demanded government intervention to reduce the possibility of crowds. Three weeks ago the government suspended academic activities at schools and universities, and the suspension was subsequently extended this week. Minister of Education Tarek Shawki has announced that final exams for primary and preparatory schools have been cancelled in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak and student assessment will instead be based on research assignments. Reda Hegazi, deputy to the minister of education, said that for the benefit of those high school students who will still take exams online the Ministry of Telecommunications will be distributing SIM cards. The distribution started on Monday, with schools being roped in to help to avoid crowds gathering at telephone offices. Minister of Higher Education Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said on Monday that while final exams have been tentatively timetabled to start at the end of May rather than the end of April, the date could be further delayed to the end of August or maybe beyond. University professors who spoke to the Weekly this week said that they have yet to be informed of possible scenarios for final exams. Meanwhile, the government has been hard-pressed to deliver solutions for the estimated five million daily workers who are struggling to make ends meet at a time when all economic activity has been hit by the impact of the pandemic. The Ministry of Labour has announced that casual workers will receive a one-off payment of LE500. Already, 1.2 million workers have applied. The Ministry of Social Solidarity has also said that it will expand the membership of its support programmes Takaful and Karama (Solidarity and Dignity). With no clear timeframe in sight for an end to the crisis caused by the battle against COVID-19, MP Ahmed Tantawi has been arguing for more concrete support to be offered for those on limited incomes. The package Tantawi has proposed includes social and financial support, the scrapping of electricity and water bills and an increased supply of discounted rations. With the holy month of Ramadan just three weeks away there is concern in some quarters about the availability of staple food items. This week President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi met with Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli and the Minister of Supply Ali Moselhi to review the situation. Speaking after the meeting, Moselhi said national stocks of food supplies remained adequate. The government has already ordered the suspension of exports of some food products pending the end of the crisis. Independent medical sources agree with the minister of health that there are no accurate predictions about when the crisis will end. They say, however, that if the situation remains under control for the next three weeks then Egyptians could start getting back to normal in late May or June. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: A number of field hospitals are under consideration in Northern Ireland to treat those less severely ill with coronavirus, the North's First Minister Arlene Foster said. It cones as the number of people who have died in Northern Ireland after contracting coronavirus has risen by six to 28, health officials said. Testing has resulted in 53 new positive cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the North to 586. The field hospitals under consideration include Balmoral Park near Belfast where a large annual animal show is normally held. The DUP leader said she had been in contact with Stormont health minister Robin Swann. She said: He will come to a decision on that in the near future. I absolutely support him in the need to expand our capability at this particular point in time and to do everything we can to protect lives because that is what we are engaged in, in this Executive. Mrs Foster said it would be necessary to expand the hospital estate. She added intensive care unit (ICU) beds would not be located in the field hospitals, similar to that being built at Londons ExCel centre. We are not talking about tents. We are talking about what we have seen in the Nightingale Hospital located at the Excel. Some of the sites that are being looked at include Balmoral Park and places like that. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Whether Britains COVID-19 lockdown will be worth what it will cost a bill involving far more than just money was and is, for now, unknowable. That it would be used as an excuse by empowered authoritarians to go even further than highly intrusive regulations allowed them to go was, by contrast, all too predictable. When the state is given a mile, its rank and file will generally add a few inches all of their own. Between them, police and local bureaucrats have already distinguished themselves with stunts such as pulling over cars to check if their drivers are on appropriate journeys, dyeing a beautiful lake black to discourage visitors, and deeming Easter eggs non-essential purchases. To be fair, stung by the public outcry over excesses such as these, Tory transport minister Grant Shapps came out with this ringing defense of freedom: The police are doing a difficult job and they are doing it well . . . I am sure there are individual examples where perhaps you look at it and think that is perhaps a bit further than they should have gone . . . Patrick Henry, eat your heart out. But beyond these largely petty instances of overreach, there are more profound reasons to worry, as highlighted in a recent interview by Lord Sumption, a retired U.K. Supreme Court Justice. His comments merit listening to on both sides of the Atlantic. Americans have the Constitution, and thus less cause for concern than the Brits across the pond. Nevertheless, the judges who are supposed to uphold the Constitution are not (to borrow a fashionable adjective) immune from the influences that shift Americans opinions. Nobody should deny that combating COVID-19 is a brutal challenge, and one that is giving rise to brutal policy dilemmas. But emergencies teach bad habits as well as good, including the setting of precedents that are a menace to individual liberty. Sumption explains how it begins: The real problem is that when human societies lose their freedom, its not usually because tyrants have taken it away. Its usually because people willingly surrender their freedom in return for protection against some external threat. And the threat is usually a real threat but usually exaggerated. Thats what I fear we are seeing now. The pressure on politicians has come from the public. They want action. They dont pause to ask whether the action will work. They dont ask themselves whether the cost will be worth paying. They want action anyway. Story continues Of course, people may reassure themselves with the thought that an extraordinary threat requires extraordinary measures: Once it has passed, everything will return to normal. But to believe that is to believe a great deal, not least that our notions of normal wont have changed substantially for the worse. This is more than a matter of the historical fact that governments have been reluctant to give up powers that they have been handed or, as during this crisis, put to use. To imagine that large swathes of America could be shut down by administrative order would, six months ago, have been no more than the stuff of prepper paranoia, and yet here we are. And powers that have been used once can be used again, perhaps not in the same way, and perhaps not to the same extent, but they will be used. After all, an emergency can be a conveniently flexible concept. Those, for example, who talk of a climate emergency will be paying close attention to the precedents that are now being set, as, doubtless, will be foes of the Second Amendment. The chances that the COVID-19 precedents may be abused will have only been boosted by the increase in the size of the state that the pandemic will leave in its wake, an increase made no less alarming by the irony that blunders by government have made no small contribution to the depth of todays mess. Power and patronage go hand in hand, and with so many new dependents some likely to be less temporary than others the role of the state in everyday life is going to be significantly enhanced. Repealing a few regulations that hampered, say, testing for the virus, or the manufacture of masks wont make up for that. Both individuals and private businesses have been given a dramatic demonstration of the ability of the state to, in the case of the former, upend their lives, and, in the case of the latter, destroy a lifes work. Its perfectly reasonable for someone to decide that government is acting benignly or taking the right hard choice in the current situation, while understanding that this may not always be the case and adjusting his or her behavior accordingly. So far as firing up those animal spirits that Keynes correctly saw were so important in helping a free market along, this is not the approach to take. And there should be no illusions that some default instinct towards freedom will stop Americans from succumbing to the intellectual temptations that the response to COVID-19 may send their way. Turning to Uncle Sam in times of insecurity, especially in a country where hard times can be much harder than many places elsewhere in the West is understandable enough. Theres also an unsettling aspect of human nature to consider. It may seem odd to describe a society as mobilized when so many and so much have been immobilized but thats what America now is, thus the frequent wartime comparisons. Despite chafing against some of the restrictions that typically come with it, there are plenty of people who rather like being mobilized. Thats just another reason why countries that have been mobilized tend to stay so for far longer than an emergency might call for, and why the state almost never retreats the whole way back to where it was before that emergency begun. Theres not much reason to think that things will be very different now. More from National Review A Korean-American teenager whose death has been linked to coronavirus was denied urgent care due to lack of insurance. His death is believed to be the first coronavirus fatality of a minor in the U.S. Seventeen-year-old William Whang from Lancaster, California, died of septic shock on March 18. In the medical examiner's report obtained by British newspaper the Sun, his ethnicity is given as Korean. The Global Sepsis Alliance said "COVID-19 can cause sepsis, which can lead to septic shock," according to the daily. Medical authorities in the U.S. said early tests indicated that Whang was infected with the virus but a further evaluation is pending to determine if his death was in fact caused by it. According to Lancaster Mayor Rex Pariss, the teenager's family had no idea that he had contracted the disease at the time of death and already buried him. In a video posted on YouTube on March 25, Pariss said the teenager was healthy and socializing with his friends until March 13. On the day he died, he "had gone to an urgent care" but "he didn't have insurance, so they did not treat him" and instead sent him to a public hospital in the area. On the way, he went into cardiac arrest and died. Six fresh cases of COVID 19 were reported in Bihar on Tuesday, taking the number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus in the state to 21, officials said. Among those who tested positive were four people who had returned to Siwan district from Saudi Arabia, all aged between 20 and 40 years, IGIMS hospitals microbiology head S K Shahi said. Besides, the two whose samples were sent to the RMRI have tested positive, its director Pradip Das said, adding that these included a 35-year-old resident of Gopalganj district with a travel history to Dubai and another man in his 20s who hails from Gaya and had travelled to Munger, which has reported several COVID 19 cases. A 38-year-old resident of Munger had tested positive on March 22, a day after he breathed his last at AIIMS, Patna, where he was admitted for renal failure. Two of his neighbours, a woman in her 40s and a 12- year-old boy, also tested positive later and they have been admitted to a hospital in Bhagalpur. One of his relatives who visited Munger to attend his funeral from another district also ended up testing positive. Some employees working with a private hospital in Munger, where the deceased was first admitted and another nursing home in Patna where he was taken subsequently, before being referred to AIIMS, have also tested positive. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. Laura Krolczyk (pictured), who was the vice president for external affairs at a New York hospital, has been fired for suggesting that Trump supporters should infect each other with the coronavirus A top hospital executive in New York has been fired for suggesting that supporters of President Donald Trump should infect each other with the coronavirus. Laura Krolczyk, who worked as the vice president for external affairs at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, was terminated after she slammed Trump's response to the pandemic in a Facebook exchange. A screenshot of the exchange shows Krolczyk telling Lisa LaTrovato, the director of development at the Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute, that 'Trump supporters need to pledge to give up their ventilators for someone else... and not go to the hospital'. According to The Buffalo News, LaTrovato has been placed on administrative leave from her position, but Krolczyk was fired. Their exchange was brought to the attention of the institutions after Republican operative Michael Caputo shared it on his Twitter on Friday. Caputo shared screen grabs of Krolczyk's Facebook comments that were written under an article by The Hill news site about the president's reluctance to pay $1 billion to General Motors and Ventec for ventilator production. A screenshot of the exchange (pictured) shows Krolczyk telling Lisa LaTrovato, the director of development at the Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute, that 'Trump supporters need to pledge to give up their ventilators for someone else... and not go to the hospital' Krolczyk was fired after officials from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (pictured) in Buffalo, New York, learned of the exchange According to Caputo, Krolczyk who earned $226,580 in 2019, wrote 'Vote Trump' in the caption of the post. LaTrovato responded to Krolczyk's post: 'But will waste more than that on a wall and space force.' That comment prompted Krolczyk to write: 'Trump supporters need to pledge to give up their ventilators for someone else... and not go to the hospital.' 'I think they should be the only ones in packed churches on Sunday,' LaTrovato responded. Krolczyk then wrote: 'They should barricade themselves in there and ride this out.' LaTrovato replied: 'Yup.' Another user also commented on the Facebook post, saying: 'Wow, just wow, so your saying we decide who lives and dies based on political views? Great plan (thumbs up emoji).' LaTrovato (pictured) has been placed on administrative leave from her position LaTrovato works at the Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute in Buffalo, New York Krolczyk responded to that person by saying: 'Don't cash your stimulus check. It's all a hoax. Chew some ibuprofen and be on with your day.' Roswell Park called Krolczyk's comments 'inappropriate' and said they didn't 'reflect the opinions of Roswell Park or its senior leadership'. In a statement released over the weekend, Roswell Parks said: 'This employee was terminated today [Saturday] after our Human Resources team concluded its investigation. 'We followed standard procedure, which required that we gather and verify relevant information before taking any disciplinary action.' The statement went on to say that behavior like Krolczyk 'is not tolerated at Roswell Park'. 'If any team members act in a way that does not accord with that commitment, we will take swift and appropriate action, just as we did in this instance.' 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. It obviously cant please me, the citizens of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) and, I am more than certain, the citizens of Armenia and the whole Armenian nation, for that matter. This is what President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan told reporters after voting today, touching upon the fact that second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan is in prison and a charge has been brought against third President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan are leaders who led the battle of the Armenian nation for liberation. Its clear that their current situation will spark different moods among the people, he said. When told that ten people were killed during the events of March 1, 2008 that took place during the administration of Kocharyan and Sargsyan and the murderers havent been found for years, Bako Sahakyan said he has never given legal evaluations of those events and that it is necessary to show respect towards the developments unfolding during the trials over the events. When asked if his motion to change the pre-trial measure for Robert Kocharyan isnt viewed as interference in the domestic affairs of Armenia, the President of Artsakh said the following: Im against such interpretations. At the end of the day, were talking about one homeland, and the developments are unfolding in one homeland. You know we are living in one homeland, two states. I dont believe such motions are a violation of the rules and procedure. I dont think were creating additional tension or complications. Sahakyan added that he will file a motion for Serzh Sargsyan as well, if necessary. YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian today had a video talk with Ambassador of Germany to Armenia Michael Johannes Banzhaf, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. The Armenian President and the German Ambassador exchanged information about the current situation in the two countries caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as the actions being taken to prevent, overcome and treat the disease. The Armenian President conveyed his greetings and wishes to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, expressing hope that his official visit to Armenia this year in September will take place. In this regard the Ambassador said the German Presidents visit is on the agenda. President Sarkissian also conveyed his best wishes to his good friend, Chancellor Angela Merkel, whom he knows for many years, since 1990s. The sides also discussed the possible joint actions in fighting the COVID-19. President Sarkissian proposed to consider the possibility of Germanys providing assistance to Armenia, in particular, delivering protective means, medical uniform, as well as other respective items. Highly appreciating the German engineering experience and knowledge, the President said in case of possibility he is expecting the consulting of the Germany companies, as well as the possibility to establish a joint production of lung ventilation devices in Armenia. President Sarkissian also introduced the presidential initiative ATOM (Advanced Tomorrow). The Armenian President said that he had discussions on this topic with a number of German research centers, as well as major companies, in particular with Siemens. The program aims at developing artificial intelligence in Armenia in cooperation with the international partners. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan 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. What is most remarkable, given the pulp energy of this classic struggle against eldritch evils, is that The City We Became is also an astute interrogation of the realities of New York life. The city Jemisin portrays is not a generic comic-book metropolis like well, Metropolis but rather a living, breathing portrait of the actual city where Jemisin has lived for years. Some of the challenges its characters face are all too recognizable, from political corruption to real estate chicanery to racism and white supremacists. Bronca, for example, is faced with a dilemma when a representative of a shady foundation offers to contribute millions of dollars to her art center on the condition that they mount an exhibit of a racist art collective. The offer is made by a Dr. White clearly a version of the Woman in White, and a reminder that the forces that might destroy a citys culture arent always supernatural monsters. A few hours ago, one of my sons showed me a photo of the USNS Comfort navigating into New York Harbor. It was a stunning photo. The ship is huge and projects U.S. strength and our humanity. Later, I shared the photo with friends overseas, and they were stunned. The questions went like this: how many of those ships does the U.S. have to how much do they cost to operate? The ship is in New York and soon will become a major hospital. This is from the New York Post: Dispatched Saturday by President Trump from Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, the craft arrived at Manhattan's Pier 90 at 10:42 a.m., as helicopters hovered above and a few dozen onlookers braved social-distancing regulations to catch a glimpse. The vessel has a capacity of 1,000 beds, sorely needed as the contagion continues to strain the capacities of brick-and-mortar facilities. "#NYPD Harbor and Aviation escort the @USNavy USNS Comfort as it enters New York Harbor," the department's Special Operations division wrote in a tweet, along with a video of the mammoth hospital ship cutting through an overcast Monday morning. It reminds me of what my mother used to say when we arrived in the U.S. She would often say: "Que grande es este pais," or, loosely translated, how great this country is! The world is watching this ship and very impressed with our ability to face a crisis with every resource available, including two hospital ships! PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. A Bahai follower, sentenced to death in Yemen by the Houthi rebels who control the capital, Sanaa, has been pardoned by the President of the Supreme Political Council, in a surprising move that has been welcomed by the Bahai International Community, which has called for its immediate implementation. Hamed bin Haydara has been in prison in Sanaa since 2013, charged with spying for Israel and converting Muslims to the Bahai faith. Baha'i man Hamed bin Haydara - here with his family - was sentenced to death by a Yemeni court on charges of spying for Israel and converting Muslims to the Bahai faith. He was sentenced to death in absentia by a judge of the Specialised Criminal Court controlled by the Houthis in 2018. He had faced a series of court hearings since January 2015, often with lengthy delays and cancellation of sessions in between. 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. Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2020) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or the "Company") is pleased to provide updates on matters of significance to its shareholders, specifically: (1) commentary regarding the novel coronavirus (or "COVID-19") and the world's need for diversified supply chains; and (2) updated information concerning the Company's legal proceedings pertaining to its prospective acquisition and integration of IBC Advanced Technologies, Inc. ("IBC"). COVID-19: Company Update & Commentary On Globalization Ucore has implemented a number of measures regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. These include social distancing, work-from-home provisions, limits on the number of employees permitted to meet in person, cleaning and upkeep protocols, as well as an effective ban on corporate travel. These measures are to protect its employees, business associates and neighbours as the Company continues to conduct its day-to-day business affairs in pursuit of the MINE-to-METAL-to-MARKET Plan of Action (the "M3 Plan of Action", or the "Plan"). "The current crisis underscores the extremely vulnerable nature of critical materials supply chains in the U.S.," said Pat Ryan, Chairman of Ucore. "Globalization and single-source foreign dependencies are not mitigating this risk - they are enhancing it [i]. Most urgent among these vulnerabilities are materials needed for widespread emergency health care and disaster relief, as well as unforeseen events affecting military and homeland security, including climate change, trade wars and foreign protectionist strategies. Ucore's M3 Plan of Action responds to this, with a highly-attainable, globally competitive and nationally secure path to U.S. critical metals independence." "The Trump Administration has been highly proactive in the use of Executive Powers to address both the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Critical Materials Crisis," said Jim Mckenzie, President & CEO of Ucore. "While these crises are vastly different in their importance, both are serious situations requiring immediate intervention in the domestic supply-chains, and both have triggered Presidential Determinations based on the Defense Production Act. The Ucore REE Consortium was organized further to our plan to facilitate near term production of critical metals indispensable to the U.S. Department of Defense. The recent unprecedented financial stimuli offered by the U.S. Federal Government are highly encouraging to us, and fit well with the M3 Plan of Action." Update on Prospective IBC Acquisition Legal Proceedings "Ucore is confident in its legal position regarding the prospective acquisition and integration of IBC, and plans to continue to patiently execute the Company's legal strategy," said Ucore COO, Mike Schrider. "Nonetheless, the M3 Plan of Action sets the course for our future in the mining and metal technology sectors either with or without IBC. In turn, we've successfully compartmentalized the IBC proceedings to a project within the Company as we advance our Plan, and look forward to the opportunity of yielding a healthy ROI in exchange for our investment in that venture." The Company provides the following general updates regarding each currently active [ii] legal action stemming from the proposed acquisition of IBC: Ucore v. IBC (filed by Ucore on December 11, 2018, amended on April 2, 2019) Court: The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia ("NSSC") Following a successful December 4, 2019 Court hearing granting an Interlocutory Injunction in Ucore's favour, this case is now in the Disclosure process [iii]. The Disclosure process involves the exchange of relevant documents between the parties, and is followed by the Discovery process which involves possible written discovery, examinations for discovery, and discovery motions; all leading towards trial preparation and the eventual trial. On December 9, 2019, IBC formally filed its materials on a motion to the Supreme Court of Canada ("SCC") seeking leave to appeal the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal's jurisdictional decision regarding the amended pleadings only. Ucore filed its materials in opposition on January 20, 2020. IBC's application for leave to appeal has now been forwarded to a panel of the SCC, in the normal course, which will determine whether IBC will be permitted to pursue the appeal. Due to the October 18, 2019, SCC denial of IBC's request to stay the proceedings, the current schedule of case events is not impacted by this SCC activity. IBC v. Ucore, et al. (filed by IBC on January 4, 2019, dismissed on September 19, 2019) Court: Third District Court, Salt Lake Division, Salt Lake County, State of Utah This case was formally dismissed by the Court for lack of jurisdiction on September 19, 2019. IBC submitted a Notice of Appeal on October 18, 2019. Further submissions by IBC and Ucore to the Utah Court of Appeals are stayed pending the District Court's determination of the Magistrate's ruling (see next section). After the briefs are complete, the Court of Appeals will schedule an oral argument. After the oral argument, the Court of Appeals will issue a written opinion. If Ucore prevails on appeal, this case is over. If IBC prevails on appeal, the case will be remanded back to the Court and will start over from the beginning of the case. IBC v. Ucore, et al. (filed by IBC on February 19, 2019) Court: U.S. District Court, District of Utah On December 23, 2019, the Court denied IBC's motion for leave to amend IBC's complaint. This decision was rendered by the Court's Magistrate Judge. IBC filed objections to the Magistrate's ruling and Ucore has formally opposed IBC's objections. These filings are awaiting a decision by the Court's District Judge. If the Court affirms the Magistrate's ruling, then Ucore will have 10 days from the date of the Court's ruling to answer the original complaint and assert Ucore's counterclaims. If the Court rejects the Magistrate's ruling, then the Amended Complaint will be filed by IBC and Ucore will still have 10 days from the date of the Court's ruling to answer the Amended Complaint, assert Ucore's counterclaims, and to oppose the previously filed preliminary injunction motion (filed with the Amended Complaint). The Disclosure and Discovery process will also begin after Ucore answers the applicable complaint. Additionally, Ucore also has until April 10, 2020, to respond to IBC's Motion for a Partial Summary Judgment, which was filed in March 2020. IBC's Motion for a Partial Summary Judgement seeks to declare Ucore's Option to Purchase IBC void or otherwise of no force or effect, which relief was not previously sought by IBC in either their original or amended complaint in this case. IBC v. Schrider, et al. (filed by IBC on October 18, 2019, amended on November 18, 2019) Court: U.S. District Court, District of Utah During a December 16, 2019, Court hearing, IBC sought a preliminary injunction against Mr. Michael Schrider (Ucore's COO) and another party on the false and unfounded allegation of misappropriation of IBC's trade secrets.The Court after hearing testimony from Mr. Steven Izatt, Mr. Schrider, and others, denied IBC's motion for a preliminary injunction, found that there was no threat of misappropriation, and refused to grant IBC any of the relief it sought. Furthermore, the Court dismissed IBC's entire claim against the other named co-defendant, finding that IBC's claim did not meet the threshold requirement of plausibility. The Court did not grant Mr. Schrider's motion to dismiss. Mr. Schrider's motion to dismiss did not, however, ask the Court to consider the merits of IBC's claims against him because it was not the correct time, under the applicable rules, to make a motion on the merits. Mr. Schrider intends to make such a motion at the appropriate time. Mr. Schrider filed his Answer, Affirmative Defenses, and Jury Demand on December 30, 2019. The pleadings are closed and the Disclosure and Discovery process is now underway. Decisions of the SCC's applications for leave may be accessed from its website, as they are posted at https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-l-csc-a/en/nav_date.do. Decisions of the NSSC and NSCA may be accessed from its websites, as they are posted at https://decisions.courts.ns.ca/nsc/en/nav.do. More information on the Nova Scotia proceedings can be obtained in person at the Law Courts, 1815 Upper Water Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia. More information on the Nova Scotia and other proceedings, generally, can be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or by contacting Mark MacDonald, Vice President Business Development at (902) 482-5214 or info@ucore.com. About Ucore Ucore Rare Metals is a company focused on rare and critical metals resources, extraction and beneficiation technologies with potential for production, growth, and scalability. The Company has a 100% ownership stake in the Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Earth Project. Ucore's vision and plan is to transition to become a leading advanced technology company that provides mineral separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry. This vision includes the development of the prospective Alaska Strategic Metals Complex ("SMC") in Southeast Alaska and the development of the Company's rare earth minerals property located at Bokan Mountain in Alaska. Cautionary Notes This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release (other than statements of historical facts) that address future business development and/or acquisition activities (including any related required financings), timelines, litigation outcomes, events or developments that the Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Regarding Ucore's M3 Plan of Action and the disclosure in the "About Ucore" section above, the Company has assumed that it will be able to procure or retain geometallurgy partners and/or suppliers, including a solvent extraction ("SX") partner or SX supplier for Ucore's expected future Alaska Strategic Metals Complex ("Alaska SMC"). Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be found to prepare a new NI 43-101 technical report that demonstrates that the Bokan Project is feasible and economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product mineral materials and metals and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed customer off-take agreements. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be found to develop the specific engineering plans for the Alaska SMC and its construction. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include: Ucore not being able to procure an SX partner or supplier for the Alaska SMC; Ucore not being able to raise sufficient funds to fund the specific design and construction of the Alaska SMC; adverse capital market conditions; unexpected due diligence findings; unexpected or adverse outcomes in the currently outstanding litigation matters between Ucore and IBC Advanced Technologies, Inc.; the emergence of alternative superior metallurgy and metal separation technologies; the inability of Ucore to retain its key staff members; unexpected transaction costs or other deal completion setbacks; a change in the legislation in Alaska and/or in the support expressed by AIDEA regarding the development of Bokan and/or the Alaska SMC; the availability and procurement of any required interim and/or long-term financing that may be required; and general economic, market or business conditions. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined by the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, please contact: Mr. Jim McKenzie President & CEO of Ucore Rare Metals Inc. +1 (902) 482-5214 www.ucore.com [i] An example of this near single source dependency can be found in the rare earth element sector, see U.S. Government Accountability Office, Report to Congressional Committees, GAO-16-161, February 2016, Rare Earth Materials Developing a Comprehensive Approach Could Help DOD Better Manage National Security Risks in the Supply Chain. [ii] Ucore's legal teams have also taken similar safety precautions regarding the COVID-19 outbreak and remain diligent in their execution of the litigation process. [iii] There is a difference in legal terminology between American and Canadian proceedings. The process of exchanging relevant documents is called "disclosure" in Canada, and "disclosure and discovery" in the U.S. The process of examining relevant witnesses is called "discovery" in Canada, and "depositions" in the U.S. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53979 Inmates across 6 prisons in Turkey have engaged in the fight against fast-spreading Covid-19, producing 1.5 million single-use masks every month, the justice ministry announced. Inmate workshops that were recently launched in several Turkish prisons contribute to the production of 80 types of hospital supplies, including masks and suits for nurses and surgeons, the ministry said. Turkey on Monday reported 10,827 confirmed cases after 1,610 more people tested positive for the virus, and 168 deaths. Monday President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a National Solidarity Campaign to aid fight the novel coronavirus, donating seven of his monthly salaries to the initiative, state-run Anadolu news agency reports. Members of the cabinet and lawmakers also donated 5.2 million Turkish liras ($791,000) to the initiative. WASHINGTON--Adults with type 2 diabetes requiring insulin therapy can safely achieve good blood sugar control using regular human insulin (RHI) in a wearable, patch-like insulin delivery device called V-Go, a new study finds. Results of the randomized controlled study--which was accepted for presentation at ENDO 2020, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting, and will be published in a special supplemental section of the Journal of the Endocrine Society--suggest "a more affordable option" for insulin therapy than newer insulin types, the researchers said. "The modern insulins--rapid acting insulin (RAI) analogs--have dominated the mealtime insulin market for years, but skyrocketing prices have resulted in concerns of affordability and whether their differences from other available insulins are clinically relevant," said study lead investigator Pablo Mora, M.D., an endocrinologist at Dallas Diabetes Research Center at Medical City, Dallas, Texas. When injected by an insulin pen or insulin syringe, RHI--an older and less expensive insulin--takes longer to reach the bloodstream and has a longer duration of action compared to modern RAIs, Mora said. These differences can influence blood glucose control, he noted. V-Go is a 24-hour small, disposable mechanical device that, according to its manufacturer, Valeritas, Inc., is cleared for use with RAI in adults with diabetes, is easy to use and worn like a patch on the skin. It has the ability to deliver both a steady continuous subcutaneous infusion of insulin for 24 hours and mealtime insulin dosing on demand, Mora said. The study was conducted at three study centers in the southern United States and evaluated the safety and effectiveness of delivering RHI with V-Go in 113 adults with type 2 diabetes who were currently using the device filled with RAI. The investigators randomly assigned 54 patients to continue using the V-Go with RAI, and they assigned another 59 patients to switch the insulin used to fill V-Go from RAI to RHI. Over the 14-week study, which Valeritas, Inc. supported with an educational grant, the researchers measured the between group difference in average change in hemoglobin A1c, a measure of long-term blood glucose control. The research team reported that improvements in A1c were observed, with a decrease of 0.6% in the RHI group and a decrease of 0.38% in the RAI group. Mora also stated that the study met its primary endpoint of noninferiority, or similar blood glucose control. The researchers found no between-group differences in the total daily dose of insulin required or in episodes of low blood sugar, a measure of safety. "By continuously infusing insulin for 24 hours with V-Go, differences in duration of insulin action are minimized between the two insulins. Our results support that RHI can be safely and effectively used when delivered by V-Go", Mora said, who reported receiving consulting and speaking fees from Valeritas, Inc.: "Use of RHI with V-Go expands the affordability of insulin therapy." ### The Endocrine Society canceled its annual meeting, ENDO 2020, amid concerns about COVID-19. Visit our online newsroom for more information on accepted abstracts, which will be published in a special supplemental section of the Journal of the Endocrine Society. Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions. The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at http://www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia. Magnolia Films Political consultants everywhere, on the national and state levels, are licking their chops at the prospect of slamming shut the backroom doors after the 2020 election and getting to work dividing up voters in order to give their parties an unfair advantage. Theyre plotting to rig the legislative maps that determine which voters will vote for which politicians, enabling a stranglehold on the laws that get passed over the next decades worth of elections. Thats rightwith the census on its way and an election year ending in zero, gerrymandering season is upon us once again. But will this decade be different? Have Americans finally reached the breaking point where they arent going to take it anymore? The groundswell of action leading to good-governance reforms around the country has led me to believe that change is on the way. After the election in 2016, I made a Facebook post saying I wanted to take on gerrymandering in my home state of Michigan and asking if anyone would like to join me. That spark was all it took to channel the frustration of thousands of my fellow Michiganders, whose herculean efforts eventually led to the amending of our state constitution to create an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. A new documentary about the corrosive effects of partisan gerrymandering clearly shows that our frustration was not unique. John Oliver Rips Into Trump for Failed Coronavirus Response in Triumphant Late-Night Return Stephen Colbert Unloads on Trump for Accusing Medical Workers of Stealing Masks Slay the Dragon, a critically acclaimed documentary set to be released on April 3, highlights our story in Michigan, as well as the epic Wisconsin legal case that wound up in the highest court in the land. The film points out just how extreme partisan gerrymandering has become in recent years due to advances in technology and the ability of political consultants to pinpoint data on voters so they can accurately predict which way theyll cast their ballots. It takes a deep dive into Project REDMAP, a comprehensive multi-state strategy employed by the Republican Party in order to control the once-a-decade process of drawing district lines. In doing so, the film documents the aha moment that voters of all political stripes had after the plan was successful beyond the architects wildest dreams and voters ability to hold their elected officials accountable in gerrymandered states was drastically diminished. Story continues Although Slay the Dragon shines a light on the stories of Michigan and Wisconsin, it turns out that similar aha moments were taking place all over the country, with redistricting reforms being passed in Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Utah in 2018. Additional court cases were filed in Wisconsin, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Maine, arguing that districts were drawn with the specific intent to gerrymander. That wave of anti-gerrymandering activism has led to a second wave across the country with voters frantically trying to fight back in their own states before the new election lines are drawn in 2021. Whether its trying to change whos drawing the lines, the criteria for how the lines are drawn, or the process followed in drawing them, there are a number of ways any given state can redesign its redistricting process to create districts that represent the interests of voters rather than those of partisan politicians. Time is of the essence, and those entrenched interests currently controlling how the lines are drawn wont give up their power easily. Why would they when they can bake-in an advantage that makes winning elections and passing their political agendas easier and less expensive, with little to no political ramifications? So it comes back to us: the voters. As we learned in our grassroots campaign in Michigan, the reality is that no one else is going to come along and willingly create a fair process. If we want one, we the voters have to make it happen ourselves. We the people of this country have the opportunityand I would assert, the responsibilityto create a process that actually puts voters first. The exciting news is that across our country there are opportunities in nearly every state for voters to pick up their civic-duty swords and become gerrymander-slayers themselves. Between now and 2021 there are citizen-led ballot initiatives, proposed legislation that can be passed by state legislatures, and key 2020 candidate elections that will have massive implications on how the new maps will be drawn. Below are just a few of the efforts taking place around the country right now: Key 2020 anti-gerrymandering ballot proposals The Virginia legislature just passed an amendment to their state constitution championed by One Virginia 2021 to curb gerrymandering, placing it on the ballot this November for final approval. Other states that need to collect tens of thousands of signatures by this summer to put their initiatives before their voters include: Arkansas (Arkansas Voters First), Nebraska (Nebraskans for Independent Redistricting), Nevada (Fair Maps Nevada), North Dakota (North Dakota Voters First), Oklahoma (People Not Politicians OK), and Oregon (People Not Politicians OR). Key 2020 legislation and candidate races that will determine who draws the lines Pivotal legislation is currently pending in Maryland and New Hampshire taking on the issue of partisan gerrymandering that could use support with lobbying efforts. When voting for governors and state legislators in states where politicians choose their voters, consider learning about and prioritizing their stance on redistricting. Upcoming gubernatorial races in states where politicians draw the lines will occur this year in DE, IN, NH, NC, ND, VT, and WV. With the release of Slay the Dragon we have a once-in-a-decade opportunity to amplify the threat of gerrymandering, build capacity to fight back against special interests, and take back our democracy. Thats why Im proud to support Participant and Magnolia Pictures on their Slay the Dragon campaign to increase awareness around this issue and get even more citizens engaged in the redistricting process, especially in Michigan. Together, were ensuring communities across the country are working toward fair maps and, where possible, voters are signing up to be on non-partisan, independent redistricting commissions that allow for ordinary citizens (like us) rather than politicians to draw electoral lines. Theres a crack in one of our democratic republics most basic building blocks: the process of determining who will be our representatives. You can support initiatives and anti-gerrymandering candidates by volunteering for, donating, and voting for their campaigns. The most important thing is to do somethinganythingto take on this issue. Sitting on the sidelines and hoping for the best is not an option while our democracy is at risk. The people of Michigan and other states proved that we can make a difference when we exercise our inherent power to make change. Lets build on that success. We are the people. This is our power. Katie Fahey is Executive Director of The People, a nascent nonprofit that gathers and empowers everyday Americans to find common ground and take action together to create a government that is responsive and accountable to all its people (follow on Twitter at @ThePeopleOrg). Katie is featured in the upcoming documentary Slay the Dragon coming to video-on-demand April 3. 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. The total number of coronavirus positive cases in Indore rose to 44 after 17 more people tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. "The total number of Coronavirus positive cases rises to 44 in Indore after 17 people tested positive today. Their samples were sent to Bhopal for test two days back," said Indore's chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Praveen Jadiya. The movement of migrant labourers has been stopped completely in Madhya Pradesh as the State borders adjoining Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have been sealed in the wake of coronavirus threat. Morena Collector, Priyanka Das told ANI that as per the orders of the Home Ministry, the movement of migrant labourers has been stopped, whether they belong to Morena district or not. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... By Trend Uninsured coronavirus patients are insured in the hospitals in Iran, said President of Iran Hassan Rouhani, Trend reports citing IRINN. According to Rouhani, 90 percent of the expense of hospitalized patients with coronavirus is paid by the state and 10 percent must be paid by patients. Rouhani added that free financial assistance was also provided to low-income foreigners. The president said that due to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the period of restriction of movement in the country has been extended until April 8. According to the head of state, all those infected with the virus in Iran must quarantine themselves and patients with severe symptoms should go to the hospital. Those who do not follow the rule will be punished. Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 41,400 people have been infected, 2,757 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 13,900 have reportedly recovered from the disease. The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease. The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Several reports have stated that despite the central bank's guidelines, borrowers were receiving messages reminding them that their EMI is due. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had last week advised all the lending institutions to offer a three-month moratorium on repayment of loans due to the outbreak of coronavirus. Several reports have stated that despite the central bank's guidelines, borrowers were receiving messages reminding them that their EMI is due. To clear the air, many public sector banks have now announced the moratorium through Twitter. State Bank of India The country's largest lender SBI stated that it has initiated steps to defer the instalments and interests/EMIs on term loans with due dates between 1 March to 5 May and extended the repayment period by 3 months. The SBI said the interest on working capital facilities for the same period is also deferred to 30 June. IDBI Bank IDBI Bank too has granted its customers a three-month moratorium for repaying loans. The bank, however, added that customers whose cash flows are not impacted and wish to continue payments can do so as per existing schedule. Punjab and Sindh Bank Punjab and Sindh Bank said it understands these are challenging times and as a special dispensation has made available the deferment of instalments for the month of March, April and May 2020 towards loan accounts. Syndicate Bank The bank has deferred EMIs of housing loans, vehicle loans, MSME loans and payment of all other term loans falling due after 1 March and up to 31 May, 2020 by three months. UCO Bank UCO Bank has also granted a moratorium of three instalments of term loans up to 31 May. The next instalment is now payable in June, the bank said, adding that the repayment schedule will be extended accordingly. Canara Bank The bank tweeted that borrowers are eligible for moratorium/ deferment of installments/EMI for the period between 1 March to 31 May and repayment period gets extended accordingly. The bank informed that SMS also has been sent to customers to avail the same. Indian Bank Indian Bank has said that it has allowed a moratorium by deferring payment of EMI/term loan instalments and interest/interest on working capital for three months with effect from March 1, 2020. Follow LIVE updates on the coronavirus outbreak here Corporation Bank A moratorium of three months on repayment of all term loan instalments and deferment of interest on working capital limits due between March 1 and May 31, 2020 is being provided by Corporation Bank. Bank of India Taking to Twitter, BOI has announced a moratorium on all term loans (including personal loans, housing loans, vehicle loans, education loan, agricultural term loans and crop loans) instalments and interests, EMIs payable and deferment of interest on working capital limits from 1 March to 31 May, 2020. Union Bank of India The bank said that it is extending COVID-19 relief to customers to defer their instalments/interest between March and May for three months. Punjab National Bank In view of coronavirus, PNB has decided to defer payment of all instalments on term loan and recovery of interest on cash credit facilities falling due between 1 March, 2020 and 31 May, 2020. Oriental Bank of Commerce OBC has also announced its decision of providing a three-month moratorium to its customers on Twitter. Central Bank of India The bank tweeted information for its customers elucidating relief measures. Bank of Baroda BoB has also provided moratorium of three months on payment of all instalments due between 1 March and 31 May, 2020. Indian Overseas Bank The bank in a tweet said, "In terms of Covid 19- Regulatory Package, borrowers are eligible for moratorium/ deferment of installments/EMIs for Term loans falling due from 1 March, 2020 to 31 May, 2020." DAMASCUS (Mideast Discourse) While the COVID-19 pandemic has taken center stage in the media, little attention is being paid to a tragedy playing out in southeastern Syria. Far away from the western media coverage of the Islamic State of Idlib, the scene is set in a desolate area on the border between Syria and Iraq, adjacent to the illegal U.S. military base of Al Tanf. The Rukban Camp holds 13,500 displaced Syrian civilians and 6,000 armed militant terrorists of Maghawir Al-Thawra and their families. On March 28, the Russian-Syrian Coordination Committee released a statement in Damascus, in which they exposed U.S. support for the terrorists who control the camp. Under the guise of humanitarian aid, the U.S. has coerced the UN into complicity. UN aid trucks, according to the statement, are being used to deliver not only food and supplies to the suffering civilians but also arms and ammunition to Maghawir Al-Thawra who administer the camp. The U.S. uses the residents of the camp as a pretext to continue its illegal occupation of the area, claiming the U.S. troops are protecting the displaced civilians living at the camp. The situation in the camp is dire, as the terrorists are in complete control, even deciding who eats, and who starves. According to the joint statement, many civilians have been evacuated from the camp and relocated to government-controlled areas that are safe and have free medical care facilities under the Syrian Ministry of Health, who work in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, the U.S.-backed terrorists have prevented some civilians from leaving by threatening them with dire consequences based on misinformation. Maghawir Al-Thawra is benefitting from the suffering civilians trapped in the camp as hostages. The Russian Centre for Syrian Reconciliation said in September 2019 that the Rukban Camp is controlled by an illegally armed militia, and they had refused to let UN buses inside to evacuate those who needed to be evacuated, instead insisting on using the civilians as human shields. Maghawir Al-Thawra had seized a large cargo delivered by the UN and the Syrian Red Crescent and the confiscated goods were warehoused by the terrorists. Sometimes, we received aid from the Red Crescent, but we only saw a small portion of it, most often sold to us, not given for free. The militants take the free aid and resell it to the refugees thats their business. To get money, we had to work at the camp. They set up a brick factory and we had to work like dogs there, said Ahmad Mohammed, a former resident at Rukban Camp, who has been evacuated to Palmyra, and is now living safely there. He said that Maghawir Al-Thawra was selling humanitarian aid given freely, Medical aid depended on the militants, too: if you co-operate, you have access to doctors. If you dont, there will be no aid, Mr. Mohammed said. The U.S. military uses the assets on hand, in this case Maghawir Al-Thawra, to keep the very small numbers of American troops safe, and firmly in control of the area. The Pentagon knows it would be very hard to get approval for 6,000 Americans troops to hold Al Tanf, but the terrorists are on hand and are vicious fighters who will carry out crimes without batting an eye. U.S. troops illegally occupied the area at Al Tanf in 2015, defying international law and the UN charter. President Trump famously ordered the troops to withdraw from Syria, only to back-track later and order the U.S. military to occupy and confiscate the oil wells in the Deir-Ez-Zor area illegally. However, the U.S. military presence at Al Tanf has never been under the withdrawal order, and the U.S. military base there is only manned by a few hundred troops. They partner with the Maghawir Al-Thawra, who are on the U.S. payroll and are tasked with the security and administration of Rukban. We believe that the American sides reluctance to exert influence on their militants to ensure the unhindered departure of people from the Camp and the safe work of humanitarian representatives in the At-Tanf zone they occupied is clear evidence of their intention, the March 28 statement asserted. The UN is prolonging the suffering On March 18, UNICEF shut down the only clinic providing Rukban Camp residents with advanced medical care, such as surgeries, and Caesarean-sections. Two days later a group in Rukban issued an urgent appeal addressed to the UN and the international community in general, calling for quick action to lift what it called the Coronavirus siege, which has only worsened the already miserable situation in the camp. Serena Shim, an American journalist, was covering the Syrian conflict from the Turkish-Syrian border in 2014. She had reported that terrorists had crossed from Turkey into Syria on trucks bearing the symbols of the UNs World Food Organisation and other humanitarian aid organizations. She was killed the day after she had broadcast that the Turkish intelligence agency had threatened her. While her death was pinned on a cement truck hitting her small car, the driver of the truck was never charged. Syrians need to return to normal life in their homes, not in camps. The solution for the Rukban Camp is to be shut down, the residents evacuated to safe areas, which have aid, schools and medical care available. The US troops should evacuate from the area, taking with them their partners Maghawir Al-Thawra. The Syrian war is over. Peace has returned to Syria, and there is no justification for keeping hostages in a camp, which has always been more like a prison than a sanctuary. Feature photo | A U.S.-backed anti-government fighter mans a heavy machine gun next to a US soldier in al Tanf, a border crossing between Syria and Iraq. Hammurabis Justice News | AP Steven Sahouni is an independent Syrian political analyst and writer based in Lebanon; he has been covering the Syrian crisis since its onset in 2011 and has published several articles in numerous media outlets He is regularly interviewed by US, Canadian and German media. The Uttarakhand government directed the district administrations on Tuesday to identify people who had attended a religious congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi. Taking cognisance of reports that people from the state had also attended the gathering at Nizamuddin West in south Delhi from March 1-15, the district magistrates and chief medical officers of all districts have been asked to identify them. They have also been asked to speak to prominent people of the Tablighi Jamaat to convince members of their community so that they come forward on their own to confirm that they had attended the congregation, an official said. In a major decision to ramp up facilities for the treatment of coronavirus patients, the state government also notified over a dozen hospitals to function as dedicated COVID-19 hospitals. The notification was issued by Health Secretary Nitesh Jha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX: SGQ, HK: 1878) (SouthGobi or the Company) announces that Mr. Shougao Wang (Mr. Wang) has tendered his resignation as the Companys Chief Executive Director (CEO), executive director, and the chairperson of the Health, Environment, Safety and Social Responsibility Committee, and ceased to be an authorised representative of the Company pursuant to Rule 3.05 of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (the Authorised Representative) with effect from March 31, 2020; and Mr. Dalanguerban (Mr. Dalanguerban) has been appointed as the Companys CEO, executive director, Authorised Representative, and Chairperson of the Health, Environment, Safety and Social Responsibility Committee with effect from March 31, 2020. Mr. Wang has resigned as the CEO, executive director and Authorised Representative of the Company due to career advancement. Mr. Wang has confirmed that he has no disagreement with the Board of Directors of SouthGobi (the Board) and that there are no matters relating to his resignation that need to be brought to the attention of the shareholders of the Company and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Board expressed its great gratitude to Mr. Wang for his leadership and commitment to the Company since his appointment in 2018. Mr. Dalanguerban, age 62, is a seasoned mining professional, having accumulated over 35 years of international mining and operational experience including a number of mining projects in Mongolia. Mr. Dalanguerban joined China Nonferrous Metal Industry's Foreign Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd (NFC) in 1985 and served in a variety of roles in various countries until his departure in 2017 when he was the Chief Representative of NFC in Mongolia. During this time in Mongolia, Mr. Dalanguerban accomplished numerous achievements including the development and commissioning of the Tumultin Ovoo zinc mine, which is recognized as an Exemplary Project of China-Mongolia Cooperation and for which he was awarded the Mining Contribution prize by the Mongolias Ministry of Mines. Mr. Dalanguerban had served as a director, executive deputy general manager, and general manager successively in Tsairt Minerals LLC (the holding company of the Tumurtiin-Ovoo zinc mine) from its establishment in 1997 until 2005, when the Tumultin Ovoo zinc mine was put into production. Story continues Mr. Dalanguerban cofounded the Mongolian Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Mongolia in 2002 and now serves as its Executive Vice President and Secretary-General. Mr. Dalanguerban studied Arabic at the Shanghai International Studies University and graduated in 1980. The appointment of Mr. Dalanguerban as the CEO and executive director of the Company has been approved by the Board upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, which is comprised of all independent non-executive directors. Consistent with the Companys executive compensation program, Mr. Dalanguerbans remuneration will be determined by the Board based on the recommendation of the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board, which is comprised of independent non-executive directors of the Company. Mr. Mao Sun, the Lead Director of the Board, said, We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Dalanguerban as CEO to lead the Companys senior management team. Mr. Dalanguerbans appointment has the support of China Investment Corporation and China Cinda Asset Management Co., Ltd., the two largest shareholders of the Company. Mr. Dalanguerban brings extensive mining industry experience to the Company and we look forward to his leadership in guiding and shaping the future of the Company. About SouthGobi SouthGobi, listed on the Toronto and Hong Kong stock exchanges, owns and operates its flagship Ovoot Tolgoi coal mine in Mongolia. SouthGobi produces and sells coal to customers in China. Contact: Investor Relations Kino Fu Office: +852 2156 7030 (Hong Kong) +1 604 762 6783 (Canada) Email: kino.fu@southgobi.com Website: www.southgobi.com Photo credit: KTSDESIGN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY - Getty Images From Popular Mechanics COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly as governments, hospitals, healthcare workers, and communities reel from the resulting death and economic devastation. Schools are shut down, college campuses are empty, and many people exhibiting symptoms find it incredibly difficult to get tested. This new strain of coronavirus continues overwhelming and exhausting resources and populations, but there is hopeseveral organizations are working on COVID-19 research which might help in the creation of treatments, and eventually, a vaccine for the disease. This post will be updated as more information becomes available. Pitt Doctors May Have Developed a Vaccine A promising development has come from the University of Pittsburgh, where researchers at the school's medical center (UPMC) might have developed a vaccine against COVID-19. According to a news release, the team who worked on the vaccine development were able to act quickly because they had already laid the groundwork during earlier coronavirus epidemicsincluding the SARS and MERS outbreaks in 2003 and 2014, respectively. Andrea Gambotto, MD, one of the paper authors, says that the team she worked with knew exactly where to fight this new virus because it's so closely related to SARS and MERS. The vaccine has been dubbed PittCoVaccshort for Pittsburgh coronavirus vaccineand would be delivered via a microneedle array in which a small patch containing 400 tiny needles delivers the spike protein pieces into the skin, where the immune reaction is the strongest. The patch would adhere to skinjust like a band aidand the microneedles, comprised entirely of sugar and the protein pieces would dissolve and be absorbed by the skin. Still, the vaccine needs FDA approval in order for the team to begin human clinical trials. The team hopes that the application and approval processes can be expedited so that they can produce a tested vaccine as quickly and responsibly as possible. Story continues Five Minute Test Ready to Go The fastest available COVID-19 diagnosis testwhich can produce results within five minutes has been dubbed ID NOW and was developed by Abbott, a medical device company. ID NOW will reportedly be ready for use in hospitals and medical offices beginning in the second week of April 2020. Abbott plans to begin delivering 50,000 tests per day for rapid diagnosis uses. The ID NOW machine is similar in size to a toaster, weighs 6.6 pounds, and uses molecular technology to deliver results. Protein May Distract Virus Researchers from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet and the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada teamed up to study how a protein used to treat patients with lung disease using a genetically modified version of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The modified proteinhuman recombinant soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hrsACE2)appears to decrease the growth and efficacy of COVID-19 to attach itself to our cells with results depending on dosage administered and the total amount of virus present. Still, the results are not decisively conclusivethe research and experimentation has only been conducted on cell cultures and engineered organ tissue; it remains to be seen if this treatment will be effective in protecting humans from the virus. The study and results were published in Cell. Peptide May Be Able to Block COVID-19 A peptide developed by chemists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) may have the ability to disengage and block COVID-19 from entering our cells. The scientists synthesized a peptide fragment made of amino acids that blocks the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interaction ... precluding virus entry into human cells. The finding has been published in bioRxiv but has yet to be peer-reviewed. Antibodies Hidden in Plasma Those who have been infected and fully recovered from COVID-19 may have antibodies in their plasma that can help patients in critical condition from the virus. The Atlantic called it a Hail Mary, but there does seem to be some promise in using convalescent plasma therapy from recovered COVID-19 patients to treat those with severe symptoms. Gary Kobinger, a virologist and director of the Infectious Disease Research Center at the Universite Laval in Quebec, told Wired that plasma transfer may be an effective therapy based on the results of a tiny sample size of five patients in China who were treated with the antibody-filled plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients. Still, we shouldn't count the plasma therapy as a cure all. If I had to put money on something that would help the most, it would be that. It's not to say other drugs were trying won't work. But I wouldnt expect miracles, because we would know already if they worked really well, Kobinger said. One of the challenges that come to mind includes obtaining donated plasma from those who have already recovered from COVID-19. FDA Fast Tracks Diagnosis Test The FDA has approved a COVID-19 test that delivers diagnosis results in 45 minutes. Science Alert reports that the emergency clearance designation occurred to make up for lost time in reference to the glacial pace at which the U.S. has responded to and tried to mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak. The tests are produced by Cepheid, a California-based biotech company, and won't need to go through a lab for processing but will have limited use. According to Cepheid's Chief Medical Officer, David Persing, the test should primarily be used in emergency rooms and hospitals, not in doctors offices. WHO Launches Global Clinical Trials On March 20, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the launch of a multi-country clinical study called Solidarity. This trial will test the effectiveness of four different drugsremdesivir, chloroquine, a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir, and that combination of lopinavir and ritonavir in conjunction with interferon beta (which helps reduce inflammation)against COVID-19. According to the announcement, the WHO will compare [drug] effectiveness to what is called standard of carethe regular support hospitals treating COVID-19 patients use now. So far, several countriesThailand, Argentina, Bahrain, Canada, France, Iran, Norway, South Africa, Spain, and Switzerlandare on board with the Solidarity trial. The U.S. is absent from that list. AI Takes a Crack at COVID-19 Two of the biggest threats COVID-19 poses include how rapidly and how easily the virus is transmitted. Mitigation efforts so far include social distancing and self-quarantining, but AI has also shown that it could play a role in virus mitigation and treatment creation. Summit, the world's fastest super computer, used AI to find out which drugs might prevent COVID-19 from spreading to new hosts. The results? Summit discovered that 77 compoundsout of 8,000 that it ran simulations on might be able to limit viral recognition of host cells and/or disrupt host-virus interactions, according to a paper published in ChemRxiv. While this is new information is helpful, it doesn't mean that an effective COVID-19 treatment is right around the corner. Our results don't mean that we have found a cure or treatment for the coronavirus, Jeremy Smith, one of the paper authors and director of the University of Tennessee's Oak Ridge National Laboratory Center for Molecular Biophysics, said. We are very hopeful ... that our computational findings will both inform future studies and provide a framework that experimentalists will use to further investigate these compounds. Only then will we know whether any of them exhibit the characteristics needed to mitigate this virus, Smith adds. UNMC Tackles COVID-19 Diagnosis & Testing Among the scores of healthcare professionals toiling away to save patients infected with COVID-19 is Jana Broadhurst, director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit Clinical Laboratory. Broadhurst told Esquire that her lab is the beating heart of a novel infectious disease response. The U.S. only has one federal quarantine center and it sits on the University of Nebraska's Medical Center (UNMC) campus in Omaha. Here, Broadhurst, with the support of her lab team, has spent 20-hour days working on a faster diagnosis kit than the testing procedures set up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And the grueling effort is working. Broadhurst and her team were among the first stateside clinicians to create their own effective diagnosis test. While this UNMC test isn't as fast as Cepheid's, same day results (Broadhurst says it takes four to six hours) are still possible. A Flu Drug May Treat COVID-19 Favipiravir, an antiviral drug typically used to treat flu patients, may be effective in also treating those who have contracted COVID-19. A member of China's science and technology ministry shared that the drug was used to treat patients in clinical trials in Wuhan, the virus epicenter, and Shenzhen in Guangdong Province. The patients out of Shenzhen who had tested positive for COVID-19 were retestedon average within a four-day periodafter receiving favipiravir. The results came back negative. The Guardian reports that x-rays showed improved lung conditions in 91 percent of those who received favipiravir doses compared the 62 percent who did not receive the drug. Japanese doctors are also using favipiravir on patients who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and exhibit mild to moderate symptoms. However, it seems that favipiraviralso known as Aviganis less effective in patients with more severe symptoms, per a Japanese health ministry source. Scientists Pool Their Data Wired reports that staff from the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City have teamed up to pool data for patients who have chronic illnesseswith a focus on people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and have contracted COVID-19. These registries include what medications each person takes for their chronic illness and what they've been prescribed for COVID-19 in addition to how the patient responds to treatment. The registry has been named Secure-IBD (Surveillance Epidemiology of Coronavirus Under Research Exclusion) and went from an idea to launch within a week per Michael Kappelman, a pediatric gastroenterologist at UNC and one of the founders of the registry. This effort has been a call to action for doctors in other disciplines who have begun working on creating their own international registries including the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance. This research could help doctors better understand COVID-19, its interactions within different populations who have preexisting conditions. and its interactions with prescription drugs. Additional Treatments in Progress Stat News reports that several drug companies are working to create treatments and vaccines for COVID-19. They note that Gilead Sciences, Ascletis Pharma, Moderna Therapeutics, and CanSino Biologics are among the groups working on novel medicines to combat COVID-19. Some of these companies are trying to develop vaccines while others are focusing on virus treatments. So far, no vaccine exists for COVID-19for a couple of reasons, the main one being that vaccine development can take years. Typically, introducing a vaccine to the public involves three lengthy approval process: licensure, recommendations, and requirements. Licensure is where the FDA needs to approve a new vaccine for use. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) says that licensure can take decades and notes that the varicella vaccine took 11 years to get FDA licensure. Recommendation is where healthcare providers seek the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the CDC, the Committee of Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), according to CHOP. This is where the FDA compares the risks vs. benefits of the vaccine. Finally, a vaccine reaches the requirements stage. This is where it's determined whether or not a vaccine is required by state legislatures, health departments, and local governments. Additionally, vaccines must undergo trial phases in which humans and animals alike are used to test the efficacy and effects of the new vaccine. According to CHOP, phase III is the final stage of development before a company requests product licensing, and it takes three to four years to complete. So, even with expedited trials and phases and approval processes, a COVID-19 vaccine will still take time. You Might Also Like Aerial view of Holland America's cruise ship Zaandam as it entered the Panama City bay to be assisted by the Rotterdam cruise ship with supplies, personnel and COVID-19 testing devices, eight miles off the coast of Panama City, on March 27, 2020. Nine cruise ships and nearly 8,000 passengers are stranded at sea as major ports deny access to the vessels as the coronavirus continues to spread. According to cruise tracker site Cruise Mapper, Holland America-operated MS Rotterdam, Coral Princess, MS Arcadia, Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 are still at sea with passengers and crew members on board. The Queen Mary 2 is currently sailing back to Southampton and currently has 264 guests on board, according to a spokesperson for Cunard North America. "Most guests disembarked Queen Mary 2 in Fremantle, Australia on March 14 and 15. The ship today made a technical stop in Durban, South Africa," the spokesperson said. CNBC has reached out to the other cruise lines for comment. Of the nine ships, the one getting the most attention is Carnival-owned MS Zaandam which has been at sea for 15 days. So far, four passengers have died while other passengers have displayed flu-like systems. The ship has been denied entry by multiple ports including Cuba, Mexico and Peru. As it makes it way to Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has yet to give the ship the green light to dock. "This has been a complex process with teams of people working day and night to coordinate a safe and orderly return to port for passengers and crew, with cruise lines that must follow greatly enhanced protocols and the requirements of governments and health authorities," said Anne Madison, a spokesperson for trade group Cruise Lines International Association, to CNBC. Travel experts caution that the longer these ships remain at sea, the more negative attention they will attract. "It's only contributed to the cruise lines' woes. The sooner cruise lines can get out of the headlines, the better. These ships stranded only extends the pain," said Patrick Scholes, managing director at SunTrust Robinson who covers lodging and leisure, to CNBC. All of these nine ships were already at sea when the U.S. cruise lines decided to temporarily halt sailings due to the spread of the coronavirus. Doctors will advise and follow up with patients according to their conditions and symptoms After PM Modi's Covid-19 appeal, in order to assure steady and quick medical services available to its customers, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Indias leading chain of maternity, childcare and fertility care group of hospitals headquartered in Bengaluru, has announced the launch of its teleconsultation service with doctors in response to the growing public health concerns caused by the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This first of its kind service in the maternal and child healthcare is part of the emergency response measures for new coronavirus infectious disease based on the guidelines released by Medical Council of India in partnership with NITI Aayog. The service has been made available across Gurgaon, Noida, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai units of Cloudnine. This service shall allow customers to consult doctors from their homes via video thereby avoiding all the non- essential travel to the hospital. Doctors will advise and follow up with patients according to their conditions and symptoms. Customers may use this service for follow up consultation on their ongoing treatment as well. This value-added health service shall be available on mobile phones through Its our Baby app which has currently 100k users. This will include doctor consultations, electronic prescriptions and electronic medical certificates. Speaking at the side-lines of the launch of this service says Raviganesh Venkataraman, CEO, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals In the wake the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in most parts of the world, the use of remote health consultation can be an effective way of triaging potential cases and also can serve as a form of first line of defense, while keeping frontline healthcare staff safe unless there is an urgent need for immediate medical attention/treatment. In the case of India, the experience of COVID-19 could be an opportunity for remote health consultation to enter into the mainstream and the availability of this service will allow us to continue to provide comprehensive quality care to patients. By combining revolutionary health technology and the convenience of telemedicine, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals is helping to empower consumers to take control of their health, anytime, anywhere. Adding further, Providing Digital solutions has always been core to our business that, unlike a lot of others, we really didn't look at it (digital) as being a separate entity but instead we brought that on completely in-house. The introduction of extensive telehealth capability adds to our comprehensive functionality for practitioners and patients. For customers, the technology partnership helps to connect their doctor at their fingertips saving on travel and waiting time. It also provides incredible convenience for people who are working to see a practitioner without needing to leave home to do so. Speaking about the service, says Chaitanya Shravanth, Chief Digital Officer & Chief Marketing officer at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals Digital health is a critical enabler for the overall transformation of the health system and Cloudnine has always been at the forefront by adopting innovative technological solutions. This service was developed by our in-house team of experts in less than 36 hours. We are trying to put all the B2C services (pharmacy, delivery etc) and we are confident that the tele consultation in real time shall facilitate simultaneous and rapid exchange of information with all our customers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Heeraben Modi has donated Rs 25,000 from her savings to Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES Fund). PM Modi has set up PM-CARES Fund as a charitable trust where citizens, corporates and just about anyone else can contribute towards the relief effort. Narendra Modi is also the Chairman of this trust and other members include Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Home Minister Amit Shah. PM Modi, in a tweet, said, "It is my appeal to my fellow Indians, Kindly contribute to the PM-CARES Fund. This Fund will also cater to similar distressing situations, if they occur in the times ahead. This link has all important details about the fund." People from all walks of life expressed their desire to donate to India's war against COVID-19. Respecting that spirit, the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund has been constituted. This will go a long way in creating a healthier India. - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 28, 2020 PM Modi, in a series of tweets, added, "People from all walks of life expressed their desire to donate to India's war against COVID-19. Respecting that spirit, the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund has been constituted. This will go a long way in creating a healthier India." People from all walks of life expressed their desire to donate to India's war against COVID-19. Respecting that spirit, the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund has been constituted. This will go a long way in creating a healthier India. - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 28, 2020 Several celebrities, sportspersons and industrialists have also generously contributed to the PM-CARES Fund. "The PM-CARES Fund accepts micro-donations too. It will strengthen disaster management capacities and encourage research on protecting citizens. Let us leave no stone unturned to make India healthier and more prosperous for our future generations," PM Modi tweeted. Also Read: Reliance Industries donates Rs 500 crore to PM CARES Fund Also Read: Beware of fake PM CARES Fund UPI ID! Govt warns against fraudulent coronavirus charity funds 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. The Health department officials in Srikalahasti on Tuesday identified 15 persons who had attended a Tablighi Jamaat gathering at Markaz Nizamuddin in Delhi, and shifted them to Sri Venkateswara Ramnarain Ruia Government General Hospital in Tirupati on the fear that they might have been infected with coronavirus. This came after several people who had participated in the religious gathering in Delhi tested positive for the coronavirus. Six persons from the neighbouring Telangana who attended a religious prayer meeting at the Tablighi Jamaat headquarters, or the Markaz, from March 13-15 in Delhi's Nizamuddin, have died of coronavirus, Telangana Chief Minister's office (CMO) said on Monday. According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of coronavirus cases in the country stand at 1,251. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Harsh lockdowns aimed at halting the march of the coronavirus has extended worldwide as the death toll soared past 35,000 and new waves of US outbreaks pushed the nation's containment efforts to the brink. Despite slivers of hope in stricken Italy and Spain, the tough measures that have confined some two-fifths of the globe's population to their homes were broadened. Moscow and Lagos joined the roll call of cities around the globe on Monday with eerily empty streets, while Virginia, Maryland and Kansas became the latest US states to announce emergency stay-at-home orders. The capital city Washington followed suit. In a symbol of the scale of the challenge facing humanity, a US military medical ship sailed into New York to relieve the pressure on overwhelmed hospitals bracing for the peak of the pandemic. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases around the world topped 750,000, with 413,000 of those in Europe, while most of the confirmed deaths are also from the continent, according to an AFP tally. World leaders -- several of whom have been stricken or forced into isolation -- are still grappling for ways to deal with a crisis that will have economic and social shockwaves unseen since World War II. US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed "closer cooperation" on the pandemic and talked about plunging oil prices in a telephone call on Monday, the Kremlin said. The US Navy's USNS Comfort, which has space for 1,000 beds and a dozen operating rooms, docked just a day after Trump extended social-distancing measures in the United States until the end of April. "It will be good for morale," said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio of the arrival of the Comfort, which will help people requiring intensive care unrelated to coronavirus, easing the burden on an overwhelmed hospital network. In Russia, Putin urged residents of Moscow to "very seriously" respect a lockdown that has seen the closure of all non-essential shops, including restaurants and cafes, in Europe's largest city. Red Square in the heart of Moscow was deserted and the surrounding streets were quiet. Anna, a 36-year-old web designer, said the lockdown would be hard for her and her five-year-old daughter. "But I don't want Arina to get sick," she told AFP while on her way to buy bread. "So of course we will observe the quarantine." Fears of a rise in cases drove Moscow to follow Italy, Spain and France in imposing full lockdowns, and Europe remains the epicentre of the pandemic with the death toll there passing 26,500 on Monday, according to an AFP tally. After weeks of life spent under a national lockdown in Italy, signs were emerging that its drastic actions could slow the spread of the coronavirus. Even though the country's death toll grew by 812 in 24 hours to 11,591, figures from the civil protection service showed the rate of new COVID-19 infections hitting a new low of just 4.1 per cent and the number of people who had recovered reached a new high. "The data are better but our work continues," said Giulio Gallera, the chief medical officer of Lombardy, Italy's worst-hit region. Spain also announced another 812 virus deaths in 24 hours. The country meanwhile joined the United States and Italy in surpassing the number of cases in China, where the disease first emerged in December in the city of Wuhan. France however reported its highest daily number of deaths since the outbreak began, saying 418 more people had died in hospital. Britain and Italy both warned at the weekend that measures to prevent disease spread would be in place for months to come. In Britain COVID-19 has hit high profile figures including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and heir to the throne Prince Charles, who was out of virus isolation, according to royal officials. In Israel, meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became the latest world leader to enter isolation and German Chancellor Angela Merkel's third coronavirus test came back negative. The lockdowns are causing hardship across the world but particularly in impoverished cities in Africa and Asia. Africa's biggest city, Lagos, was due to join the global stay-at-home from Monday, with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari ordering a two-week lockdown for its 20 million people. The measures, in force from 2200 GMT, also apply to the capital Abuja. "Two weeks is too long. I don't know how we will cope," said student Abdul Rahim, 25, as he helped his sister sell food from a market stall. Zimbabwe also began enforcing a three-week lockdown in the impoverished southern African country. "They need to be fed, but there is nothing to eat," vegetable vendor Irene Ruwisi said in the township of Mbare, pointing at her four grandchildren. "How do they expect us to survive?" The shutdown has already put millions out of work and forced governments to rush through huge stimulus plans. Experts in Germany, Europe's economic powerhouse, said the virus would shrink output there this year by up to 5.4 per cent. In the US, more than two thirds of the population were under lockdown orders, as the number of confirmed coronavirus infections topped 159,000, a global high, and deaths approached 3,000. For Louisiana, where the city of New Orleans is a coronavirus hot spot, Governor John Bel Edwards signalled the worst may be yet to come. "We are nowhere near over the hump. We still have an awful lot of work to do to flatten the curve," he said, adding that a crisis loomed with needs for ventilators expected to exceed capacity on April 5. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Ministry of Industry and Trade has asked the government to lift a ban it imposed on rice exports, saying that the position now is comfortable. The country could export 400,000 tonnes of rice each in April and May after retaining stocks of 700,000 tonnes, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said in a new report to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. It proposed that 400,000 tonnes should first be exported in April and the Prime Minister could decide the May volume in the last week of April. The proposed exports in April and May are 40 percent lower than in the same period last year, it added. The ministry expects rice production this year to exceed demand by 6.7 million tonnes and said this volume could be exported. But it agreed exports should be carefully controlled to safeguard the countrys food security amid the pandemic. It also wants 20 major traders to each sign contracts with at least one supermarket chain to meet domestic demand when required or lose their export certificates. The government banned exports on March 24 following a request by the ministry after exports surged 32.6 percent in the first two months, with a seven-fold rise in shipments to China. Rice traders said the sudden ban resulted in million-dollar worth of cargo idling at ports. Experts said that the ban could cause prices to plummet and farmers to suffer losses. Vietnam is the world's third largest rice exporter after India and Thailand. Last year it exported 6.37 million tons worth $2.81 billion, with the top markets being the Philippines, Ivory Coast, Malaysia, and China. This story was originally published by Undark and has been republished here with permission. If this winter had gone as planned, Bethany Jenkins would be getting ready to board a 274-foot research vessel called Atlantis right about now to head east across the Atlantic Ocean. But everything changed when the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 began to infect people worldwide and touched down on U.S. shores. In mid-March, the University of Rhode Island microbiologist received word that her teams trip had been suspended. The future of their research projecta three-ship, multi-institution investigation of ocean ecosystems that has been over a decade in the worksis now uncertain. Advertisement But as Jenkins and her team begin to pick up the pieces, she doesnt like considering what might have happened if the trip had gone ahead. The people on these ships leave their families behind, she said. If Im at sea, I wont be able to help anyone on land. The opposite is true as well: On these research cruises, there are four people sharing each bathroom, mates sharing a wheelhouse, professional crew in the engine room and sharing berths. If something went wrong, it would be really bad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the coronavirus has spread, reaching every continent except Antarctica and infecting over half a million people, scientific institutions all around the world have shut down or suspended field research like Jenkins, leaving many of these scientists work in limbo. Governments and health officials have told people to try to work from home using remote communication tools. But for the most part, field scientists cant do that; their projects rely on gathering new information out in the world. Unfortunately, many attributes of field researchinternational travel, limited access to medical testing or care, long periods spent sharing close quartersare also the very things that can help the coronavirus spread. Advertisement Advertisement This halt has left scientists feeling stranded, uncertain of the future, and with more than a few logistical headaches. As grants approach their completion dates and researchers miss out on once-a-year or even once-in-a-lifetime observations, theyre beginning to grapple with how this temporary crisis will have permanent reverberations in the scientific community. The path forward for students and junior researchers, who rely on fieldwork to learn essential skills and collect data to begin research of their own, is now filled with obstacles, creating a knock-on effect for future scientific expertise. Whats more, the pause may mean delays for important advancements in many areas, from fighting climate change to preventing the next pandemic. Advertisement Right now, were in a time of acute societal need that requires good science, said Jenkins. So theres a real mandate to keep going forward with good science, while being empathetic with the health of the people that are really struggling during this. You cant Skype meetings with corals, said Emily Darling, a scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society, who coordinates monitoring for increasingly threatened coral reefs all over the globe. Being underwater, and being with the communities that rely on reefs, is the only way we have information about the health of a reef. That information is not available remotely. Advertisement Advertisement You cant Skype meetings with corals. Emily Darling, the Wildlife Conservation Society Right now, though, human health is Darlings priority. Her team has canceled travel to their study sites, asking all researchers to stay at home for the time being. She was particularly worried about team members visiting remote villages in countries like Kenya and Fiji, where communities might be isolated from the coronavirus until an outsider carries it unwittingly into their midst. Advertisement Advertisement While our national staff might have access to health care in urban centers, theyd be traveling into communities that dont have that same level of care, she said. As her researchers shelter in place, life in the sea churns on, and Darling knows theyll miss out on important observations. One concern is that they may not be able to adequately monitor an outbreak of a different kind this spring: an often-fatal reaction to high ocean temperatures called coral bleaching, which is currently moving across the warming South Pacific. Some information can be gathered by flying above reefs in small aircraft, but few institutions currently have access to such flights, nor do they want to expose their researchers to the cramped quarters of a bush plane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nature of field work makes it difficult to reschedule around delays. Field research often cant simply be pushed off by a few months; by then, the natural events scientists want to observe may have already ended. And research vessels and field stations might be shared by hundreds of institutions, requiring scientists to get in line years in advance. Take the case of Jenkins research trip, part of a broad NASA-led effort called Exports, or Export Processes in the Ocean from Remote Sensing, thats seeking to investigate how the oceans take up and store carbon from the atmosphere (including climate-warming carbon dioxide), potentially for thousands of years. Their cruise would have monitored tiny, floating ocean plantsphytoplanktonthat have their biggest bloom in the North Atlantic for only a few weeks in the spring. Because any projects currently planned for after the quarantine will still go ahead, it will likely be at least two years before her team can book a new trip. Advertisement Advertisement Over the coming months and years, delaying field work also means delaying the publications that would have come out of it. Down the line, that could affect policy decisions that would ideally be based on the best and most current scientific data. This is especially concerning for scientists and policymakers tackling issues that are already on borrowed timelike in the case of Exports, which is collecting data that will allow more accurate predictions of global climate change. Advertisement With hundreds to thousands of other projects also put on pause, Jenkins sees how echoes of this shutdown will spread through the field of climate science: If field programs that measure climate-relevant variables are being canceled or put on hold, this is a step backwards for our contributions to understanding a rapidly changing ocean. Advertisement Ravinder Sehgal, an associate professor in the biology department at San Francisco State University, worries that delays in his field due to coronavirus could hinder the collection of data that might help prevent the next pandemic. Sehgal studies how deforestation allows disease to spread from animals to humans, and his field work, which includes following the spread of malaria by mosquitoes and birds in Cameroon, is currently suspended. Projects like his all over the world rely on detailed timelines of how diseases progress that will now likely feature gaps of months to years. Without the continuity of yearly monitoring of populations, we dont have the data we need for long-term study, he said. Like most science, field research often relies on grant funding that is given only for a specific time period. Because of this, chief among many scientists concerns is how project delays will impact early-career scientists, including Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When principal investigators apply for a project grant, they often will request funding to support a Ph.D. student or a postdoctoral researcher. These funds may now expire before students can gather the data needed to finish their degrees or leave postdocs without a salary while they are still working on a project. Advertisement Advertisement Matthew Smart could finish his degree without completing his field research, though it would be a tremendous disappointment, he said. A Ph.D. candidate in geochemistry at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Smart planned to complete his dissertation using data from a trip to eastern Greenland scheduled for this summer. His research uses samples from a particularly well-preserved outcrop of rocks there to learn about what happened when Earths ancient plants developed roots and began to make soil. But that trip is only possible during a short window from August to September when the study site is not blocked by ice. Advertisement Smart is still holding out hope, but he said its becoming increasingly likely the work will be canceled. That will push him and his adviser past the time limits on the grants funding their work, meaning Smart likely wont be a student anymore by the time he returns to Greenland. If this continues for long enough, my main concern is that students will either drop out of their research altogether or move to other fields. Ravinder Sehgal, biologist Theres a significant health element to this crisis that trumps science, frankly, Smart said. We have to make sacrifices in order to flatten the curve, he added in other words, keep the rate of infection low enough to avoid overburdening health systems. Some grant-funded projects may be able to extend their funding to make up for lost time. For example, all National Science Foundation grants are automatically eligible for a one-year no-cost extension, as well as additional extensions contingent on the foundations approval. Many universities and private foundations are developing special exceptions for research delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement However, these extensions dont necessarily guarantee any additional money just extra time. This could leave research teams in a tight spot, especially if a grant must cover salaries during the delay in addition to travel expenses. If this continues for long enough, my main concern is that students will either drop out of their research altogether or move to other fields, said Sehgal. They cant afford to not be doing anything. Advertisement Like the hundreds of millions of others around the world currently held in stasis outside of normal life, scientists are thinking about the future of their work in the space between communal sacrifice and self-interest. Interruptions to normal habits are necessary, and theyre saving lives. But its also understandable to process the conditions of this social contract through a personal lens: as disappointing, frustrating, and worrying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wildlife Conservation Societys Darling, though, sees the pandemic in another light: as an opportunity for scientists to rethink some of the ways they carry out field research. Her organization already relies chiefly on researchers based in-country, rather than flying in scientists from elsewhere in the world. Thats a model she sees as potentially helpful for other projects. One big benefit of doing this is that it reduces their researchs carbon footprint, but thats not the only advantage. We know so much about the inequity of scientific resources and training, where Western researchers can travel and fly and do helicopter science, Darling said, using a term for when a researcher spends only a brief stint in a place to gather data before heading home. Advertisement Thats not a model thats sustainable, and its not a model thats ethical, she said. So this new reality gives us a chance to develop online tools for collaborations, for conferences, for workshops, and identify where we really need to travel and be face-to-face with our work. For now, most researchers are still trying to get a grip on the situation before beginning to plan for the future. Theyll teach classes remotely, revise their writing, and read long-put-off papers. Theyll look for ways they can help. Many are donating gloves, masks, and chemicals that they now wont need for their work. Some are volunteering their expertise on the ground. Given their training in microbiology, Jenkins and some of her colleagues have signed up to assist with COVID-19 testing. And theyll wait perhaps missing the dramatic sweep of Arctic landscapes or the stark beauty of the middle of the ocean, but staying focused on the present. Were really hoping that this passes, as Im sure the rest of the world is, so we can get back out there, Darling said. But this is a fast-moving crisis, and we need to take care of people first. The Jamia Millia Islamia has started tele-counselling services for students and staff members distressed by the crisis due to the coronavirus outbreak. In view of the coronavirus pandemic, the University Counseling and Guidance Centre is extending support in the form of tele-counselling services to Jamia's teaching and non-teaching staff and students, the university said. "To facilitate this, a list of volunteers is provided in public domain to utilise the services," it said. "We are committed to providing counselling services to facilitate the well-being (of staff and students) and extend emotional support to all who are distressed in this crisis," it added. The university also said members of the Jamia Teachers' Association (JTA) will voluntarily donate their one day's salary to contribute to the efforts to fight coronavirus. Vice Chancellor Najma Akhtar, in a letter dated March 29, had appealed to all Jamia employees to contribute their one day's salary to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. The JTA Executive Committee had urged all teachers to make the contribution from their salary for the month of April. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Latest News Understanding the 'perfect storm' that was the Sydney property market in 2021 Leading expert reflects on the crazy year that brokers and buyers experienced and throws forward to the 12 months to come How to manage home buyer regret Tips for brokers on how they can keep their clients onside once they have bought The ACCC has provided a second authorisation for the Australian Banking Association (ABA) and banks to co-operate to provide supplementary relief packages for individuals and businesses affected by COVID-19. The authorisation protects against court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The ACCC grants authorisations when the public benefit of the decision outweighs the public detriment, but can review its decision at any time. On 30 March, the ABA applied for authorisation on behalf of its current and future member banks and their subsidiaries to discuss, agree, and give effect to any contract, arrangement or understanding between them for the benefit of their customers in order to better provide financial relief and assistance to customers and support government initiatives. The authorisation applies to all ABA member banks who agreed to participate: AMP Bank, ANZ, Bank Australia, Bank of Queensland Limited, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, HSBC, Macquarie Bank, National Australia Bank, Suncorp Bank and Westpac. Upon granting the interim authorisation, the ACCC gave the conditions that the ABA: Seek the approval of the ACCC where the coordination by member banks involves agents or suppliers that member banks compete with Notify the ACCC of financial relief programs or other arrangement arising from the proposed conduct prior to its implementation The first urgent interim authorisation came on 20 March, enabling the ABA and banks to work together to implement a small business relief package which allowed for the deferral of P&I repayments for loans to small businesses impacted by the pandemic. We recognise the public benefit from enabling banks to respond quickly to provide a relief packages to businesses and individuals affected by the pandemic, said ACCC chair Rod Sims. Individual banks can still offer more favourable and tailored terms to business customers outside of this proposed agreement. The conditions provide transparency over what is proposed and if major concerns are identified, the ACCC is able to revoke the interim authorisation, or require amendments. The banks will also be able to coordinate to ensure customers can access services, including, where possible, some counter services, in a range of locations and at various times. The ACCC did not conduct a public consultation on the matter as it concluded there was an urgent need for member banks to commence discussions and offer financial relief packages given the unprecedented circumstances impacting the economy and compelling nature of the public benefits to result from the authorisation. A public consultation will be conducted in the coming days. By Sanjeev Miglani and Sumit Khanna NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD, India (Reuters) - Police in India fired tear gas to disperse a stone-pelting crowd of migrant workers defying a three-week lockdown against the coronavirus that has left hundreds of thousands of poor without jobs and hungry, authorities said on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered the country's 1.3 billion people to remain indoors until April 15, declaring such self-isolation was the only hope to stop the viral pandemic. But the vast shutdown has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands of poor migrant laborers employed in big cities such as Delhi and Mumbai seeking to head to their homes in the countryside on foot after losing their jobs. Many have been walking for days, some with families including small children, on deserted highways with little access to food or water. On Sunday, about 500 workers clashed with police in the western city of Surat demanding they be allowed to go home to other parts of India because they had no jobs left. The police tried to convince them that it is not possible since buses or trains are not available...However, the workers refused to budge, and started pelting stones at police, Surat deputy commissioner of police Vidhi Chaudhari said. She said the workers, most of them employed in the shuttered textile industry in Surat, were driven indoors by tear gas volleys and on Monday 93 of them were detained for violating lockdown orders. TIP OF ICEBERG India has registered 1,071 cases of the coronavirus, of whom 29 have died, the health ministry said on Monday. The number of known cases is small compared with the United States, Italy and China, but health officials say India is weeks away from a huge surge that could overwhelm its weak public health system. On Monday, hundreds of people from the Nizamuddin West area of New Delhi were taken away to be quarantined in the latest sign that the virus has begun to spread locally in India. Story continues Officials said attendees of a training course at the Banglewali Mosque had transmitted the virus to several other regions in India, including Kashmir where a man connected with the event died on March 26. "The (mosque) area has already been locked down and it will be disinfected," said Rajendra Prasad Meena, a senior police officer overseeing the quarantine operation. Separately, officials in Maharashtra state said all victims of coronavirus would be cremated irrespective of religion, an order that could rile the state's sizeable Muslim population, who typically bury their dead. MUSHROOMING CHALLENGE A health official said the large scale movement of people into the countryside risked spreading the coronavirus widely, compounding the challenge of containing the outbreak in the world's second most populous country. "It's an evolving situation with daily new challenges coming up, like having migratory populations moving from one place to another. Like non-affected states adjoining affected states," said Dr S.K. Singh, director of the National Centre for Disease Control, which investigates and recommends control measures for outbreaks of illness. In the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, health workers dressed in protection suits sprayed disinfectant on a group of migrant workers who were also trying to make the journey home to their villages, local television showed. They were made to sit on a street corner in the Bareilly district and doused with hose pipes, prompting anger on social media. Nitish Kumar, the top government official in the district, later said health workers had been ordered to disinfect buses being used by the local authorities but in their zeal they had also turned their hoses onto migrant workers. "I have asked for action to be taken against those responsible for this," he said in a tweet. The federal government said on Monday that it had no plans to extend the shutdown beyond the three-week period. But neighboring Nepal announced it would prolong its shutdown for another week from Tuesday. The landlocked country has reported only five cases of the virus and no deaths, but it is concerned contagion will spread as more people travel. Following is data on the spread of the coronavirus in South Asia's eight countries, according to government figures: * Pakistan has registered 1,625 cases, including 20 deaths. * India has registered 1,071 cases, including 29 deaths. * Sri Lanka has registered 122 cases, including one death. * Afghanistan has registered 128 cases, including 3 deaths. * Bangladesh has registered 48 cases, including 5 deaths. * Maldives has registered 28 cases and no deaths. * Nepal has registered five cases and no deaths. * Bhutan has registered four cases and no deaths. (Additional reporting by Saurabh Sharma in Lucknow, Devjyot Ghoshal and Alasdair Pal in New Delhi, Nivedita Bhattacharjee in Bengaluru, Gopal Sharma in Kathmandu, Asif Shahzad in Islamabad; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Until the risk of COVID-19 is minimized, the Government of Sri Lanka requests Sri Lankans residing/staying in Switzerland, who wish to return to Sri Lanka to safely remain where they are. Requests to return to Sri Lanka, by Sri Lankans who are currently overseas, will be facilitated after containment of COVID-19 in the country. View in PDF Permanent Mission of sri Lanka Geneva Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2020) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ('Benton' or 'the Company') is pleased to announce that it has acquired a 100% interest in a project covering the Hele Intrusive complex in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, by staking 4 multi-cell mining claims totaling 1462 hectares. The new claims cover historical drill holes and geological mapping which identified a Midcontinent Rift-style ('MCR') intrusive complex as is located approximately 30km northeast of the TBN and Escape Lake PGE deposits. The Hele intrusion is a zoned, picritic intrusion of peridotite and olivine-gabbro which are two lithologies analogous with PGE deposits associated with the MCR, including the high grade TBN and Escape Lake deposits which Benton has optioned to Regency Gold Corp. (TSXV: RAU) ("Regency"). Regency is now being led by mining executives Abraham Drost (CEO) and Jim Gallagher (Executive Chairman), the latter being the former CEO of North American Palladium which recently sold to Impala Platinum for C$1 Billion. Upon trading resumption, Benton will hold 24.6M shares of Regency. Regency has announced it will change its Name to Clean Air Metals Inc and will trade under the symbol TSX-V:AIR upon TSX approval which Regency believes will happen within the coming weeks. Regency has also closed a $15.0 million financing which includes $2,000,000 from Eric Sprott representing 10,000,000 Unit Shares and 5,000,000 Warrants, representing 7.99% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Regency on a non-diluted basis and 11.53% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Regency on a partially-diluted basis, assuming the exercise of Mr. Sprott's Warrants. (See Regency PR Feb 11, 2020). Benton looks forward to Regency resuming active trading as well as the execution of their team's strategy to advance the Thunder Bay North and Escape Lake deposits. Thunder Bay North (TBN) Property includes high-grade intercepts of 46.65m @ 10.1g/t Platinum+Palladium+Gold (5.267g/t Pt + 4.555g/t Pd + 0.324g/t Au) with 1.62% Copper+Nickel (1.154% Cu + 0.465% Ni), incl. 13.0 m @ 33.2 g/t Pt+Pd+Au (17.305g/t Pt + 14.817g/t Pd + 1.061g/t Au) and 4.91% Cu+Ni (3.755% Cu + 1.308g/t Ni), incl. a spectacular intercept of 2.6 m @ 97.9 g/t Pt+Pd+Au (52.769g/t Pt + 41.538g/t Pd + 3.630g/t Au) and 14.9% Cu+Ni (11.599% Cu + 3.289% Ni) in drill hole BL 10-197. Drilling highlights on the 220 hectare Escape Lake Property include 121.6 m @ 2.49 g/t Pt+Pd+Au (1.04g/t Pt + 1.37g/t Pd + 0.07g/t Au) and 0.86% Cu+Ni (0.52% Cu + 0.34% Ni), incl. 33.4 m of 7.28 g/t Pt+Pd+Au (3.01g/t Pt + 4.08g/t Pd + 0.19g/t Au) and 2.26% Cu+Ni (1.49% Cu + 0.77% Ni) in drill hole 12CL0009, and 162 m @ 1.42 g/t Pt+Pd+Au (0.61g/t Pt + 0.76g/t Pd + 0.06g/t Au) and 0.47% Cu+Ni (0.28% Cu + 0.19% Ni), incl. 40.67 m 4.5 g/t Pt+Pd+Au (1.92g/t Pt + 2.48g/t Pd + 0.18g/t Au) and 1.26% Cu+Ni (0.89% Cu + 0.36% Ni) in drill hole 11CL0005. QP Nathan Sims (P.Geo.), Senior Exploration Manager for Benton Resources Inc., the 'Qualified Person' under National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release and prepared or supervised its preparation. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Resources Inc., "Stephen Stares" Stephen Stares, President About Benton Resources Inc. Benton Resources is a well-funded Canadian-based project generator with a diversified property portfolio in Gold, Silver, Nickel, Copper, and Platinum group elements. Benton holds multiple high-grade projects available for option which can be viewed on the Company's website. Many projects have an up-to-date 43-101 Report available. Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact Mr. Stares at the number below. For further information, please contact: Stephen Stares, President & CEO Phone: 807-475-7474 Email: sstares@bentonresources.ca Website: www.bentonresources.ca Twitter: @BentonResources Facebook: @BentonResourcesBEX THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53945 The Kerala government on Tuesday rejected concerns of community spread of novel coronavirus in the state in the wake of the second death of a patient here who had no travel history or reported contact with any infected person. Setting aside the concern, Health Minister K K Shylaja said the deceased man, a native of nearby Pothancode, was already suffering from several other health issues including high blood pressure. The 68-yearold man died at the government medical college here, taking the total number of COVID-19 deaths in Kerala to two, the government said. "We have got information that the deceased man had come in contact with some persons arrived from the Gulf. As he was very sick and was not in a position to speak, we could not collect details from him directly," she told reporters here. "So we had to collect such details from his relatives now. As per preliminary assessment, it was a case of contact spread. So, as of now, there is no need to get panic about the community spread," she said The possibility of death was high among patients, aged above 60 years and suffering from other diseases like heart ailments or diabetics, she said. "That's why we are giving strict directions to the elderly people to remain in homes and avoid contact with infected persons, " the minister said. However, the minister directed those came in contact with the deceased person to remain in self-quarantine and inform the authorities if they developed any infection symptoms. In both the coronavirus deaths in the state, the deceased persons were aged and were suffering from other diseases, she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Already wracked by conflict, the Arab world needs a financial rescue plan if it is to survive the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic The world is in the midst of a serious fight against a virus that has wrought havoc on the world economy with grave consequences on the political and social stability of most countries. In the wealthiest powers, for example the United States, struggling against the coronavirus has demonstrated that not every American will have the chance to find quick treatment if he is down on the social ladder. The US administration, in a rare demonstration of bipartisanship, collaborated with both Houses of Congress to pass a bill to inject $2 trillion into the economy. The Saudi government, in its capacity as the chair of the G-20 this year, had called for an emergency summit, through videoconference, 26 March to deal with the coronavirus. Group leaders agreed on a financial package worth $5 trillion for the sake of jumpstarting the world economy. The Arab world has not demonstrated yet a collective will to work as a group of nations to deal with the outbreak. Aside from bilateral contacts at the level of heads of state, no attempt has been made to call for an Arab summit to tackle the pandemic. For example, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi was on the phone with the king of Jordan and the Tunisian president separately to discuss how to coordinate bilateral efforts to better fight the pandemic. The United Arab Emirates sent aid to Iran and Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Zayed called President Bashar Al-Assad last week to assure the Syrian government that the UAE will stand by Syria and will provide much-needed assistance to the Syrian people, and more particularly Syrian refugees and displaced persons. In a war-torn Arab world, a collective response is much needed. No Arab country, save the oil-producing Gulf States, can tackle on its own the ravages of the pandemic. Millions of people are out of jobs and hence a decent income to enable each of them to secure the basic minimums for survival, let alone paying bills and rent. Maybe part of the $5 trillion promised by the G-20 will be earmarked to Arab governments that badly need a strong injection of liquidity to avoid a complete shutdown of their economies. However, this is still to be determined. Moreover, the World Bank decided to provide $160 billion to help the world economy to recover, and the International Monetary Fund has said the most fragile states in the developing world will need assistance among which figure some Arab countries that have suffered tremendously from the ravages of armed conflict, on the one hand, and the failure of revolutions on the other. The pandemic descended on the Arab world when it was least prepared to deal with such an existential threat. And despite the call by the UN secretary general to respect a ceasefire in the Arab countries that are still in the throes of military conflict, the call has not been heeded, regardless of expressions of good will in this regard. On Friday, 28 March, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar of the Libyan National Army threatened to bomb the headquarters of the Libyan Government of National Accord in Tripoli in case violations of the UN-mandated ceasefire are not stopped. The cases of Lebanon and Syria are not dissimilar from Libya. Although Lebanon has not been the scene of armed conflict, its economy was in shambles, and accordingly lacking in financial resources to deal with the pandemic. No Arab or foreign assistance has been promised thus far to the Lebanese government, though there have been press reports that the government is holding talks with the IMF to discuss the modalities of a future assistance agreement. The special representative of the UN secretary general to Syria called for a ceasefire in Syria in order to dedicate all resources, financial and otherwise, to halt the spread of coronavirus. In the case of Syria, the situation could get out of hand if the warring parties dont heed the ceasefire call. The threat in this eventuality will not be limited only to Syria but felt throughout the Levant and Iraq. The situation in Yemen is not much different. Although fighting has abated, relatively speaking, there are no coordinated efforts to face the pandemic. The Arab world is at a crossroads. Not only has it to strive to put an end to conflicts raging within it, but also to deal collectively with the pandemic now, before it gets worse. Strangely enough, no Arab country has called for an emergency Arab summit, through videoconference, to discuss ways and means of enabling Arab governments to work together to contain the pandemic before it spirals out of control. The other question, which is no less important, is a path forward once coronavirus is no longer a public health threat. One proposal in this regard will be for Saudi Arabia, as the present G-20 chair, to formulate, in agreement with other member countries in the group, a financial package for the Arab world out of the $5 trillion that the G-20 decided to set aside to ensure the recovery of the world economy. Similarly, Arab powers, including Egypt, should initiate talks with both the World Bank and the IMF to come up with a special financial assistance plan for the Arab world, with special attention to war-torn Arab countries. These moves would ensure Arab economies dont crash land under the combined weight of two deadly scourges: wars and the pandemic. Add to that the dramatic fall in oil prices which will hamper the ability of oil-rich Gulf countries if still we can call them that to provide direct financial assistance to their Arab brethren. The situation is not doomed provided there is political leadership to deal with the challenges immediately and forcefully. I would imagine a joint initiative by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE could save the day. There are no alternatives. The status quo could be highly destabilising for decades to come. The writer is former assistant foreign minister. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Separated parents are grappling with co-parenting arrangements amid the coronavirus crisis, as infection fears and restrictions on movements raise questions about the ability of children to move safely between households. The Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court, which both hear family law matters, have urged parents to act in the best interests of their children and respect the "spirit" of co-parenting orders where "strict compliance" is difficult or impossible due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Family Court and Federal Circuit Court are urging families to reach agreement on co-parenting arrangements where possible. Credit:Phil Carrick The restrictions on movements introduced across Australia do not prevent children moving between parents' households but there are cases where existing access arrangements must be altered, such as where a contact centre facilitating access by a parent to a child has temporarily shut. The effective closure of some state borders has also created issues of compliance with co-parenting orders where parents live in different states. A person cleans and disinfects a taxi car in Stockholm, Sweden, on March 24, 2020, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images The coronavirus pandemic has infected roughly 741,000 people around the world, and killed more than 35,000. The US surpassed China and Italy last week to become the country with the most confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Business Insider spoke with experts in the worlds of infectious diseases, public health, and car detailing to find out some tips people can use to lower their chances of contracting the disease when traveling by car. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The novel coronavirus has infected nearly 741,000 people and killed more than 35,000 worldwide, making it more important by the day to curtail the spread. One of the best ways to do that, and protect oneself in the process, is to stay home as much as possible. But staying at home isn't always an option, since many still need to get groceries, travel to essential jobs, and pick up medication. Although the coronavirus landscape and what we know about the virus changes rapidly, Business Insider spoke with some experts to learn ways those traveling by car can protect themselves and others based on the information available. Those experts include Dr. Avisheh Forouzesh, an infectious-disease specialist, University of Arizona public-health and microbiology professor Charles P. Gerba, who's earned the nickname "Dr. Germ" through his years researching germs and how to kill them, and Larry Kosilla, founder of car-detailing company Ammo NYC. Here's what they had to say. 1. Limit the number places you drive The 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles, California on March 15, 2020. Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images Drivers should abide by regulations local health authorities have put in place to slow the spread of the virus, which often include staying put except for essential errands. The more places you go, the higher your chances are of interacting with someone or something with the virus thus heightening the risk of bringing that into your car. Story continues "I would advise if you are driving your own personal car to make sure you do not make too many stops along your route to help decrease the chance of exposure," Forouzesh said in an email to Business Insider. However, "if it's just one person using it as a commuter car to go back and forth for work," then the risk of contamination is lower, Gerba said. 2. Be extra wary of what you're touching when filling up Gas station. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Studies have shown that fuel pumps may carry up to 11,835 times the germs of the average public toilet seat. Forouzesh recommends wearing gloves when touching fuel pumps, keypads, and other high-touch areas at the gas station, which may not be regularly sanitized. "If possible, try to use a contactless method of payment," Forouzesh said. 3. Limit the number of passengers you drive around A primary school student gets into a minivan as her mother picks her up outside her school, in Beijing. Thomson Reuters The risk of exposure also increases the more passengers travel in your vehicle. "If it's just you in the car, it's probably not a big issue," Gerba said, but kids and other passengers make things more complicated. In his research, Gerba found that vans carry more germs than standard cars because vans typically ferry around more passengers. Forouzesh recommends only transporting one passenger at a time, and said they should keep their distance by sitting in the back seat. 4. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently to not contaminate the inside of your car coronavirus virus flu sick cold hygiene hand sanitizer clorox hands wash cox 7 Crystal Cox/Business Insider The general-purpose recommendations for avoiding the COVID-19 virus apply to car travel as they would any other part of life. All the experts Business Insider spoke to said to use hand sanitizer immediately after getting in your car to avoid contaminating it with germs you might have picked up when out and about. "We are generation touch," Gerba said, underscoring the need to frequently clean one's hands. "We touch more common surfaces touched by other people than any other generation in history." 5. Disinfect your car's high-touch areas frequently Honda Accord Hollis Johnson/Business Insider Forouzesh said to disinfect high-touch areas every time you get in and out of your car, while Gerba recommends disinfecting those spots anytime you've been out in public. The steering wheel, interior door handle, gear-shift knob, seatbelt, radio, and cup holder are all potential hot spots for contamination and should be disinfected regularly. 6. Don't forget to disinfect your dashboard, too Honda Pilot 2019 Hollis Johnson/Business Insider The dashboard, according to Gerba, is one of the most germ-prone surfaces found inside a car. "That's because the air goes over the top of the dashboard when it's circulating, and so the bacteria impact there a lot," Gerba said. 7. Be mindful of what you're transporting in your car, and don't just disinfect it disinfect areas where airborne particles could land, too Honda Pilot 2019 Hollis Johnson/Business Insider Anytime you bring foreign, germ-prone objects into your car such as laundry or groceries there is a chance that you're bringing the novel coronavirus in with them. Gerba said slamming a car door or a breeze could send virus-causing particles airborne, so people should disinfect high-impact zones, like the dashboard, accordingly. 8. Crack the windows to air out your car between rides Toyota Land Cruiser Hollis Johnson/Business Insider Some studies show that the novel coronavirus can live in the air for up to three hours, so leaving your car's windows open between rides for at least a few minutes a day can reduce the risk of getting sick, Forouzesh said. 9. Make sure anyone who shares the car with you takes the same precautions Car cleaning. Westend61/Getty Images Each driver should disinfect high-touch surfaces after each use, Forouzesh said. 10. For best results, clean high-touch areas with soap before disinfecting them, as per the CDC's guidelines Target clean Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider For Kosilla, founder of car-detailing company Ammo NYC, eliminating the coronavirus from a car's interior is anything but a typical detailing job. For individual car owners concerned about the coronavirus, the company also put out an in-depth YouTube video on how they can clean and disinfect their vehicle's interior. Kosilla said to follow the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to clean, then disinfect, when approaching any surface in your car. By cleaning with your preferred car soap, Kosilla said, "you remove the contaminants that are just basic stuff on top dirt, junk, gunk, grossness, sweat, oil so that the other tools can do their job." Attempting to disinfect without removing surface grime essentially dilutes the effectiveness of even the best disinfectant, Kosilla said. 11. Keep disinfecting wipes in your car, as they're often used more effectively than sprays Clorox and bleach wipes Jeff Greenberg / Contributor / Getty Images Any EPA-approved disinfecting wipe or spray should do the trick when used according to the directions on the package. Both Kosilla and Gerba said letting a disinfectant sit on a contaminated surface for a sufficient period of time the "dwell time" is essential for properly killing germs in a car. Gerba recommends using disinfecting wipes and keeping a box in your car for easy access. In his research, Gerba found that wipes were "orders of magnitude" more effective at eliminating bacteria in homes, because when people use sprays, they don't let them sit on the surface long enough to fully take effect. 12. Avoid damaging your car's interior by using the proper products A damaged car interior. Ammo NYC, used with permission Lots of products will kill the novel coronavirus on surfaces, but not all of them are safe to use on a vehicle's interior. If you use a bleach-based disinfectant, Kosilla said, you would "definitely win the battle, but you'd also have a white interior, whether you like it or not." Kosilla recommends testing disinfectant on a small, inconspicuous area, and repeating that test on the high-touch spots in your car. Then, observe if the disinfectant causes any discoloration before letting the product sit for the full recommended dwell time. Kosilla said to be especially careful when dealing with high-end interiors, as they typically include a wider variety of materials and more supple leathers that are prone to fading. 13. Try to avoid ride-shares, but take extra precautions if they're necessary A cab driver sanitizing his cab. REUTERS/Yara Nardi To reduce the number of exposures, Forouzesh said to "try to minimize the use of ride sharing such as Uber and Lyft unless absolutely necessary." If you need to take a ride-share for some reason, use hand sanitizer after getting out and do not touch your fingers to your face before doing so, Gerba added. Gerba also said that in order to protect themselves and their passengers from the novel coronavirus, drivers for ride-sharing companies should provide hand sanitizer to passengers and should disinfect their back seat each day. 14. Above all, follow the latest guidelines set forth by the WHO, CDC, and your local health authorities People line up to get a test at Elmhurst Hospital due to coronavirus outbreak on March 24, 2020 in Queens, New York, United States. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images We learn more about COVID-19 and the virus that causes it by the day, so it's important to keep up with the latest guidelines on combatting its spread. That can be done by paying attention to the CDC, the World Health Organization, and your local health authorities. Read the original article on Business Insider 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. The UK government on Tuesday began putting in place processes involved as part of a historic GBP 75-million rescue effort to evacuate thousands of British citizens stranded abroad, including in India, due to border closures amid the coronavirus pandemic. Addressing the daily Downing Street briefing on Monday evening, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab had said that he had spoken to his Indian counterpart, S Jaishankar, among nearly 20 other foreign ministers over the weekend as he announced the new plan to charter special flights to bring back British nationals who find themselves stranded in the COVID-19 worldwide travel lockdown. "We've not faced challenges in getting people home from abroad, on this scale, in recent memory," said the Cabinet minister, second in command to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson -- who remains in self-isolation after his COVID-19 diagnosis last week. "Over the weekend, I spoke to foreign ministers from Australia, New Zealand, India and Brazil and Pakistan, and I also spoke to the Ethiopian Prime Minister, and in all of those cases urged them to work with us and keep commercial routes flying," said Raab. Under the rescue effort being finalised, the minister said the UK government had struck a deal with airlines to evacuate British nationals from certain priority countries where commercial routes are non-operational, with India being one of them "This is the greatest global challenge in a generation. An unprecedented number of British people are trying to get home," said Raab. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said charter flights are already up and running to Ghana and Tunisia, with India and South Africa to be added to the list this week. "We are negotiating intensely with countries around the world to secure permissions for return flights where airspace has been closed," the FCO said. Once special flights have been arranged, these will be promoted through the UK government's travel advice and by the British Embassy or High Commission in the particular country. British travellers who want a seat on the flight will book and pay directly through a dedicated travel management company. "This is a worrying time for many British citizens travelling abroad. We've already worked with airlines and governments to enable hundreds of thousands to return home on commercial flights, and we will keep as many of those options open as possible," said Raab. "Where commercial flights are not possible, we will build on the earlier charter flights we organised back from China, Japan, Cuba, Ghana and Peru. The arrangements agreed today will provide a clearer basis to organise special charter flights where Britons find themselves stranded. Our priority will always be the most vulnerable," he added. These flights will be run by British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and EasyJet, among other airlines who have signed up to the deal. The will come as relief to thousands of British travellers currently in India who have been petitioning the UK government to fly them out of the country, which remains under strict lockdown to control the coronavirus pandemic. "The UK must act now using whatever means possible to get these British citizens back on UK soil," urges an online petition on Change.Org calling to "Repatriate UK citizens stuck in India", which attracted nearly 50,000 signatures within days. The FCO has called on them to stay updated on arrangements via its official travel advisory online as well as through the social media channels of the British High Commission in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Moreover, two patients are provided with oxygen subvention as they are in the severe mode Open source In Chernivtsi region, seven people are in intensive care at non-invasive lung ventilation as the local administration reported on Facebook. It is reported that three people are provided with medical aid at the regional clinic hospital, and one patient is treated at Sokyryansky hospital and one more at Hlybotsky hospital. All of them have confirmed Covid-19 infection. Besides, two patients stay at non-invasive lung ventilation at Chernivtsi city hospital #1. One of them is diagnosed with coronavirus; another one has suspicion for Covid-19, the message said. Moreover, two patients are provided with oxygen subvention as they are in the severe mode. It is noted that mostly, these patients are older. As a rule, the disease is quite difficult for people who have accompanying pathologies, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease or overweight. As of March 31, Ukraine has officially confirmed 549 cases of infection with Covid-19. 69 new cases have been observed over the last 24 hours. In total, 13 fatal cases have been recorded. It should be noted that eight patients have successfully recovered. Big Society Capital and Guys and St Thomass Charity have partnered to fund Good Food Fund, a new Accelerator and Venture Fund which will be backing food and drink challenger SME and startup brands to help tackle childhood obesity. Business owners are invited to apply for a cut of the 1.8m Good Food Fund to come together in the fight against childhood obesity. The prototype fund will provide business support and allocate finances to brands committed to bringing healthier childrens brands to market. The Accelerator will be run by Mission Ventures and the Venture Capital Fund will be managed by Ascension Ventures. The after-school snacking occasion for school children will be a key focus, with the long-term aim of transforming the options available through the support of healthier challenger brands at an affordable price point. To apply, brands must be UK Limited Companies. The cut off for applicants to the accelerator is Monday 27th April and brands are invited to learn more about the program and the selection criteria by visiting missionventures.co.uk/goodfoodfund. Successful applicants will receive a fully-funded package of business support from Mission Ventures. This will include a business review using the companys own MissionMap, which will assess all aspects of the business and a plan for how it can be scaled to reach an accessible and sustainable price point. Participants can also apply for financial support in the form of equity and debt from Good Food Fund. FinSMEs 31/03/2020 Sea Master Lodge Tenants Donate to COVID-19 Fight The residents of the pensioner block Sea Master Lodge have donated 2,000 to the GHA account for the fight against the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19. Chairman Mr Jimmy Perez has confirmed to Minister Linares that the residents have personally contributed to show support to Gibraltar during this time of need. The Tenants Association also contributed money that they had previously collected from bingos and other activities held by them. The Housing Department would like to thank the residents of Sea Master Lodge for their generosity and solidarity in supporting such a worthy cause. Their contribution will assist the GHA during this unprecedented situation. The Housing Department also thanks all its tenants who are adhering to the instructions and procedures implemented by the Office for Civil Contingencies, the Housing Works Agency and the Housing Department, who in turn have been working closely with the GHA and the Care Agency to ensure the safety of residents of all pensioner blocks. The Minister for Housing, The Hon Steven Linares, said: I would like to thank the tenants of Sea Master Lodge for their kind donation and take the opportunity of thanking the tenants of Sea Master Lodge as well as those in Charles Bruzon House, Albert Risso House and Bishop Canilla House for their continuous cooperation with the Civil Contingency restrictions imposed. I am very pleased that after calling and personally speaking to all the representatives of our four blocks of flats for the elderly, they have informed me that their spirits are high and they are well looked after. I have reassured them that should they need anything, the Housing Department together with the Housing Works Agency will carry on assisting them in any way possible. MANILA, Philippines The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the immediate reopening of a private hospital in Angeles City in Pampanga that the city mayor earlier ordered shut down for admitting a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient and three persons under investigation (PUI) from Quezon City. In a statement on Monday night, DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano said the action of Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, Jr. to close down the Philippine Rehabilitation Institute Medical Center (PRIMC) was contrary to the recently passed Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. The law declares as a policy the immediate and ample provision of healthcare to Covid-19 patients, PUIs, or persons under monitoring (PUMs) and to promote and protect the collective interests of all Filipinos in these challenging times, Ano said. The DILG chief said the country is in a critical time where there is urgency to provide health service to patients and suspected carrier of COVID-19 whether they are your constituents or patients from other places. Access to health care is for everyone regardless of demography and identity. Local chief executives (LCEs) should not discriminate against non-residents in times of crisis in the same way that doctors have an oath to save lives, he added. Ano said Lazatin has since complied with the DILGs directive and the said hospital is now operational. The Bayanihan Law mandates the government to partner with the private sector and other stakeholders to deliver measures and programs quickly and efficiently, he said. What the PRIMC has done in attending to patients is only proper. That should not be a ground to abruptly order its closure. Malaking kawalan at panganib ang maidudulot ng pagsasara ng ospital ngayong tayoy nasa gitna ng krisis, he added. Ano also reminded local chief executives not to exceed their authority and that the implementation of policy obstructing regular hospital operations, whether public or privately-owned, threatens the safety of the general welfare of the community. DILG Spokesperson and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said that Section 6 of the Bayanihan Act penalizes local government officials disobeying national government directives in imposing quarantine as well as owners of privately owned hospitals that unjustifiably refuse to operate pursuant to the directive of the President. The Bayanihan Act allows LGUs to continue exercising your autonomy but within the parameters the national government has set. But please do not exceed your mandate and show compassion to all not just your constituents, Malaya said. He also reminded local officials that they are not allowed to restrict the movement of cargoes and people involved in food production and delivery including fish canneries amid the public health crisis. The post DILG tells Angeles City mayor to reopen hospital he closed for admitting COVID-19 patient, PUIs from another city appeared first on UNTV News. Portal titled 'Stranded in India' aims to act as a support network for foreign tourists stuck in various parts of the country New Delhi: Extending support to foreign tourists stranded in India, the Ministry of Tourism has launched a portal to disseminate information regarding services that can be availed by them in the country. The portal titled 'Stranded in India' aims to act as a support network for foreign tourists stuck in various parts of the country, the Tourism ministry said in a statement. The entire world is facing a truly unprecedented situation arising out of coronavirus and it is a constant endeavour to ensure the wellbeing of tourists, especially the ones that travel from foreign countries, it said. "The portal strandedinindia.com consists of comprehensive information on COVID-19 helpline numbers or call-centres that the foreign tourists can reach out to for help, the statement said. It also has information on the Ministry of External Affairs control centers along with their contact information and information around state-based/regional tourism support infrastructure. It also has a help and support section to extend help to the ones in need of further information and connect foreign tourists to authorities concerned. The website will be featured on the Tourism Website and prominent Ministry of Tourism channels, it said Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. On this weeks episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick spoke with Ian Bassin, who served as associate White House counsel from 2009 until 2011 and co-founded Protect Democracy, a cross-ideological project that has used litigation and policy advocacy to protect core democratic values in the era of Donald Trump. They discussed how the government can respond to the coronavirus crisis without defying the Constitution and why we should perhaps be more worried by what the Department of Justice is not doing right now than by what it is. Read a portion of their conversation, which has been edited and condensed for clarity, below. Advertisement Dahlia Lithwick: We have seen this virus contained with measures that would probably horrify us in the United States. Were seeing clamping down on free speech in Hungary; were seeing lockdowns in Italy that probably violate their constitution. Were seeing the Israeli government shut down its own parliament and use its domestic government surveillance apparatus to monitor quarantines. Some of these measures are probably effective in stopping the spread. What do we do when we actually do want the federal government to take strong, decisive, very, very draconian action, but we just dont trust it with our civil liberties? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ian Bassin: The first thing that we need to remember is that of the countries that have had successful responses to the virus, theyre not all authoritarian, right? There are democratic countriesSouth Korea, places like Taiwan that are more democraticthat have been very effective in their response. We need to dispense with this notion that only authoritarian countries or only authoritarian measures can meet the moment. Thats clearly not true. Advertisement Advertisement There is this temptation at moments of crisis and chaos and fear to abandon the way we normally do things and to make certain shortcuts or exceptions. And thats the real danger. Ian Bassin The second thing we need to remember, and this is something that we were reminded of after 9/11, is that our Constitution doesnt have special provisions in it for emergencies. It is designed to protect our rights, our system of government, even at a moment of great strain. Thankfully we are a country with constitutional norms, with constitutional guarantees, and with constitutional freedoms. And so we need to lean on them heavily here in this way. We absolutely need the government to do certain things that are relatively extreme. The social-distancing, shelter-in-place measures that we are seeing and frankly should be seeing in more parts of the countrywe need the government to be doing those things, but we need them to do it consistent with two things: law and facts. I think if we rely on those things, they can help us respond to this in a way that is democratic and a way that is consistent with our Constitution, our laws, and our system of government. Advertisement Advertisement Part of the problem is that when youre looking forward, its awfully hard to know what is appropriate, and then obviously when you look back, we are very good at saying, Well this was wildly inappropriate. How do you do that in real time? Its in these moments that the systems we have in place need to be relied on and hugged even more closely. There is this temptation at moments of crisis and chaos and fear to abandon the way we normally do things and to make certain shortcuts or exceptions. And thats the real danger. We dont have to do that. If we stick to the ethics that weve got, it should steer us right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that what youre describing is not only a system of norms but a system of trust, right? The things we need to be really on the lookout for are when people are trying to change those rules. You saw that in Hungary with Viktor Orban trying to basically give himself essentially dictatorial powers during the current crisis, and one has to imagine he will keep those afterward. In Israel with the sort of suspending of parliament, its those extra-ordinary measures that we need to be really, really suspicious of and fight back on. Advertisement Advertisement Those powers dont often get ratcheted back, right? A lot of the powers, things that were alarming in the Patriot Act when we first saw it, they dont dissolve unless Congress agrees to dissolve them. And a lot of the fears we have about authoritarian power grabs in emergencies is that they hold onto those powers long after the emergencies have passed. Advertisement Thats exactly right. Its these crises that are moments that autocrats seize power. We dont really have a normal United States president in office right now; we dont have a normal U.S. government. We have a very autocratic one that is supported by a party that has basically abdicated its duties in order to enable a president who is autocratic, so we need to be especially careful at a moment like this. One possible ray of hope is that there is an effort on the Hill to rein in emergency powers that have been granted to the executive branch by statute. Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, has introduced something called the ARTICLE ONE Act, which would really rebalance the powers that Congress for way too long has delegated to the executive to use in the case of emergency. The ARTICLE ONE Act would reform the National Emergencies Act to create a sunset provision that anytime a president tried to use certain emergency powers, they would be automatically for a short term unless Congress explicitly and affirmatively moved to authorize them and extend them. That is a flip from the default way things work now, which is that if a president invokes an emergency, in most cases, that emergency stays in place until Congress overrides it. That is a critical change that we need. There is bipartisan support for it on the Hill, and thats the kind of change that I think needs to especially be in place at a moment like this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been surprised we havent seen a big old crazy power grab from the Justice Department. Whats your theory on why we havent seen much more autocratic action coming from the Justice Department? One thought that came to mind as you were saying that is: My, how desensitized we have all become. That the proposal that was reported on that DOJ was looking for powers to petition a judge to be able to detain an American indefinitely without process beyond the judges signoff, that that doesnt fit the bill. I think we should have been very alarmed by that. And thankfully the two members of Congress that I saw speak out first and most forcefully against it were the independent from Michigan in the House, Justin Amash, and again Mike Lee from Utah, who I think said, Over my dead body, in response to it, so that was a positive sign. The other maybe also depressing point on this is I wouldnt make any assumptions about what DOJ and William Barr are or are not doing. I think we just dont know yet. Advertisement I think the jury is still out on what the Department of Justice is or isnt doing in this moment. And there are other things where its not what the Department of Justice is doing, but its what the Department of Justice is not doing that are really troubling. The Federal Bureau of Prisons is not taking aggressive enough action to protect the federal prison population, who are really sitting ducks for this virus. The immigration courts are reopening in a bunch of places as we speak to process deportations in situations in which that is not in the best interest of public health or necessary in an exigent kind of way. We need to be asking not only what is it that we should fear that the DOJ might do, but also what should we be concerned that theyre not doing, which is taking prudent public health measures to protect detained populations and those who are currently facing immigration proceedings. Listen to this episode of Amicus below, or subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. Male bottlenose dolphins sing synchronised 'duets' matching the tempo of each other's calls when working to impress females, a study has found. Researchers analysed long-term audio recordings of a dolphin population from Western Australia's Shark Bay. The team found that male dolphins co-ordinate their behaviour in a similar way to humans when they are working together. Male dolphins were shown to match the tempo of their partner's calls and sometimes produce their calls in time, alongside matching their movements. It was previously thought that only humans used both physical and verbal synchronised actions to strengthen bonds and improve co-operation. Scroll down for video Male bottlenose dolphins sing synchronised 'duets' matching the tempo of each other's calls when working to impress females, a study has found 'Male dolphins need to work together to herd a female and defend her from rival alliances,' said paper author and biologist Stephanie King of the University of Bristol. 'However, she added, they are also competing to fertilise her.' 'Such synchronous and coordinated behaviour between allied males may therefore promote co-operative behaviour and regulate stress as it has been shown to do in humans.' In humans, synchronised actions can lead to increased feelings of bonding, foster co-operation and reduce the perceived threat from rivals. Apart from humans, very few animals co-ordinate both vocal signs and physical movement when working together. The researchers found that male bottlenose dolphins not only synchronise their movements but also their vocal behaviour when working in alliances. Male dolphins were shown to match the tempo of their partner's calls and sometimes produce their calls in time, alongside matching their movements. It was previously thought that only humans used both physical and verbal synchronised actions to strengthen bonds Researchers analysed long-term audio recordings of a dolphin population from Western Australia's Shark Bay. The team found that male dolphins co-ordinate their behaviour in a similar way to humans when they are working together Male bottlenose dolphins 'can form alliances that can last for decades,' said paper author and biologist Bronte Moore of the University of Western Australia. 'To advertise their alliance relationships and maintain their social bonds, they rely on synchronous movements,' she added. The full findings of the study were published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 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. South Dakota's chief justice seeks $5 million for courthouse security In Chief Justice Jensen's State of the Judiciary Address, he mentioned courthouse security, sexual harassment training and a lack of court reporters. What happened Shares of Chemours (NYSE:CC) fell more than 8% on Tuesday, and were down more than 10% earlier in the day, after the chemical company's lawsuit against its former parent was dismissed on technical grounds. Chemours has vowed to fight on, but the decision is a setback in its battle to escape some of the environmental liability costs it currently faces. So what Chemours, a major supplier of titanium dioxide, was spun out of DuPont (NYSE:DD) in 2015 and held on to a lot of legacy environmental liabilities as part of the separation agreement. Chemours has argued that DuPont's estimates of how much its former subsidiary would be on the hook for were off base and were not prepared in good faith. And so Chemours had gone to court to try to get DuPont to foot more of the bill. Chemours had sought to "uncap" DuPont's liabilities related to PFOA, a chemical once used in nonstick coatings and other products, or require DuPont to pay back a $3.9 billion special dividend paid by Chemours to DuPont in 2015. Delaware Chancery Court Judge Sam Glasscock III on Monday granted DuPont's request to dismiss the lawsuit, ruling that he had no jurisdiction to hear the case because the separation agreement between the companies states that all disputes arising from the spinoff are subject to binding arbitration. Chemours said it will appeal the ruling to the Delaware Supreme Court. Now what This isn't over, with the appeals process still to play out, but the ruling is a major victory for DuPont and a setback for Chemours. Even without the litigation worries, Chemours is in a tough spot right now. Its core titanium dioxide product, which is used in sunscreens and as a white pigment in paint, is likely to see light industrial demand in the first half of 2020 (if not beyond) due to the global COVID-19 pandemic slowdown. If we end up in a recession, demand could be weak well into 2021. Given all that Chemours has to manage right now, it is no wonder investors are heading for the exits. Although 95% of executives stated that CX is important to them, only one-third of employees stated their organization had a proactive CX approach in place What customer-centric organizations do well isbring the human back into the equation-to the business-and focus on meeting customer needs as the most important driver for achieving their goals. While every organization strives to be customer-centric, most have not succeeded, which creates a pressing need for new approaches to understanding and serving customer needs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005225/en/ UserTesting Seventh Annual Customer Experience Report (Graphic: Business Wire) The unprecedented challenges facing the world today make it even more important that companies find new ways to deliver on their customers' expectations. "The companies that can empathize with their customer, and quickly adapt to support their evolving needs, will emerge from the crisis with a stronger customer foundation than ever before," said Janelle Estes, Chief Insights Officer at UserTesting. Data from UserTesting's seventh annual Customer Experience (CX) Survey shows that organizations value the importance of great customer experience, but have struggled with operationalizing the customer feedback process-rapidly identifying insights and turning those insights into action. Those companies that have optimized the customer feedback process will be ahead of the pack in their respective industries, particularly in the coming months, as business models are required to shift to accommodate new customer behaviors and needs. To become a truly customer-centric company, everyone in the organization must have a deep understanding of customer needs and expectations. This requires implementing structures and strategies, and getting operational support from across the organization. UserTesting, the leading provider of on-demand human insights, conducted the research to better understand the impact customer feedback has on a company's overall customer experience. The report uncovered three key trends influencing customer experience today: Greater Need for Organizational Buy-In Seventy-four percent of those surveyed said they felt their organization had the values and beliefs of a customer-centric culture. However, those beliefs didn't always lead to action. While the survey found that a majority of marketing, design and product teams agreed that it was important to get customer feedback before any type of launch, only 50% stated that customer feedback was integrated into the development processes. Additionally, only 50% of respondents felt they were empowered to use customer feedback in their decision-making process. Lack of CX Maturity Still Plagues Many Companies The survey also revealed a significant gap between the importance companies place on CX and the actual strategies and structures in place that allow employees to create great CX. While 95% of executives surveyed stated that CX is important to them, only one-third of employees surveyed stated their organization had a proactive CX approach in place. The remaining two-thirds said their company's CX strategies were either reactive (acting only when a problem occurred) or that they have no CX strategy in place at all. Mature CX organizations put systems and strategies in place proactively to educate employees about customer needs and empower them to create great products and services. Human Insight Drives Innovation The survey showed that 72% of respondents expect to see an increase in using customer feedback, a jump from 57% in 2019. The survey was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, which might change short-term investments. But the trend toward increased customer sensitivity is clear, and even during the outbreak, many companies are relying on fast human insight to ensure they connect emotionally with customers stressed by the crisis. The CX leaders of today, and the future, understand that creating a customer-centric culture means having full organizational buy-in, a mature CX strategy and, most importantly, continuous integration of customer feedback to create great experiences. Customer-centric companies that leverage human insight put themselves in the best position to become industry leaders and innovators. Concludes Estes, "This year's report shows us that although organizations want to be customer-centric, they still have a lot of work to do to support their employees in feeling empowered to, and capable of, leveraging customer feedback to drive their decision-making." To access the full 2020 Customer Experience Industry Report, click here. Survey Methodology The survey asked more than 7,600 professionals across a wide variety of industries how their organizations are approaching customer experience and conducting CX research. The survey was divided into sections based on the respondent's job role, plus a set of general questions asked of everyone and was fielded between December 2019 and January 2020. About UserTesting UserTesting enables every organization to deliver the best customer experience powered by human insight. With UserTesting's on-demand Human Insight Platform, companies across industries make accurate customer-first decisions at every level, at the speed business demands. With UserTesting, product teams, marketers, digital and customer experience executives, designers and UX researchers confidently and quickly create the right experiences for all target audiences, increasing brand loyalty and revenue. UserTesting has more than 1,500 subscription customers, including more than half of the world's top brands, and has delivered human insights to over 35,000 companies to-date. Backed by Accel, Greenspring, Insight Partners, and OpenView, UserTesting is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. To learn more, visit www.usertesting.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005225/en/ Contacts: Media Contact: UserTesting, Inc. Chris Halcon 415-699-0553 chalcon@usertesting.com UK Media Contact: UserTesting, Inc. Amy Kelly +44 (0)77 1862 3019 akelly@usertesting.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 15:09:12|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Partisanship and divergences between the White House and state governments have complicated U.S. efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic, which has taken thousands of lives in the nation. U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday for her criticism of his administration's response to the situation, calling her "a sick puppy." "It's a sad thing," Trump said in an interview on "Fox & Friends" Monday morning. "She's a sick puppy in my opinion. She's got a lot of problems." In an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, Pelosi accused Trump of downplaying the public health crisis in a way that has cost American lives, claiming that "his denial at the beginning was deadly." "Because when he made the other day when he was signing the bill, he said just think 20 days ago everything was great. No, everything wasn't great," said Pelosi, referring to a 2 trillion-U.S.-dollar bipartisan economic stimulus package that Trump signed into law last week. Pelosi and other Democrats were not invited to attend the signing ceremony at the White House. The already strained relationship between the country's two most powerful leaders has intensified since September last year when Pelosi signed off on an impeachment investigation into Trump. The Democratic-controlled House voted to impeach the president, but the Republican-dominated Senate acquitted him. Trump and Pelosi reportedly have not spoken to each other for nearly six months. U.S. lawmakers stuck to party lines on the latest feud between Trump and Pelosi. In an interview on Fox News's "Sunday Morning Futures," Republican Senator Lindsey Graham accused Pelosi of being "the first politician to blame another politician for people dying." Congresswoman Maxine Waters, a California Democrat, said Twitter that it is too early for the White House to gloat over the fight against COVID-19. Waters said Trump should try to "get more corps to develop masks, respirators, & everything needed to protect hospital workers trying to save lives." As of late Monday night, the United States has reported more than 164,000 cases of COVID-19, with over 3,100 deaths, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering. New York State has both the most cases and the most deaths, with over 67,000 and 1,200 respectively, according to the update. During a press briefing at the White House on Monday, Trump said over 1 million Americans have been tested for COVID-19. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar later said the nation is testing "nearly 100,000 samples a day." The president said his administration has delivered around 8,100 ventilators to the states, and hundreds more are going to Michigan, New Jersey, Illinois, Louisiana, and Connecticut shortly. The announcement came only days after Trump questioned several governors' pleas for more medical supplies, including ventilators. "I have a feeling that a lot of the numbers that are being said in some areas are just bigger than they're going to be," Trump said in a Fox news' phone interview last week. "I don't believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You know, you go into major hospitals sometimes they'll have two ventilators, and now all of a sudden they're saying, 'Can we order 30,000 ventilators?'" New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who reiterated the state's need for 30,000 ventilators, has said the devices are needed "for the apex." "The apex isn't here," Cuomo, a Democrat, said last week. "So we're gathering them in the stockpile so when we need them they will be there." Furthermore, Trump has recently singled out Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, accusing the two Democrats of not doing enough to address the crisis. Both Inslee and Whitmer have called on the Trump administration to provide more resources to their states. Inslee, responding to Trump's criticism, said that he will not be distracted by personal attacks from the battle to "beat the virus." Global steel giant ArcelorMittal on Tuesday said it is working to make critical medical and safety equipment available in countries like India and Liberia, where coronavirus cases are escalating. Like many in the private sector, ArcelorMittal is also attempting to harness its skills and resources in a useful and collaborative way to help address the challenges presented by the deadly virus, the L N Mittal-owned company said in a statement. "We have focussed our actions on collaborating to address the severe lack of the required safety and medical equipment, including face masks and ventilators. Now that China appears to have passed its peak, we are working with our associates there to help bring medical equipment to the countries now facing an escalation and particularly those, such as India and Liberia, that will struggle to source adequate supplies," the company said. Citing the World Health Organization data, the company said cases in the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement ) region have now exceeded those in China, with cases also increasing in Africa, India, South America and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). It said it will endeavour to maintain reduced operations to meet customer requirements in those countries where demand for its products continues. The company further said it has also contributed its 3D printing expertise to a global effort focussed on developing a 3D printed ventilator prototype. "This prototype will be tested imminently in hospitals and, if successful, will massively increase the ability to rapidly produce ventilators. We are now focussed on the prototype for a more advanced ventilator which also has the ability, in addition to providing lungs with oxygen, to feeding medicine incorporating AI algorithms," the statement said. Besides, wherever excess capacity exists, the company is offering space to medical facilities to host additional wards, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BUA provides funds for COVID-19 relief in Nigeria 31 March 2020 Nigerias BUA has fulfilled a pledge by transferring NGN1bn (US$2.6m) of funds to the COVID-19 relief account with the Central Bank of Nigeria. In addition, the group also announced another donation of NGN300m to Sokoto, Edo and Ogun states to further assist an adequate COVID-19 response. These additional donations will be made on behalf of its BUA Cement subsidiary which has major production operations in these states, whilst Ogun was also selected as a beneficiary due to its proximity to Lagos, which is the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria. "BUA is monitoring the situation closely and is also looking at other states that may need additional help. We will continue engaging with these states and relevant partners including the NCDC in the areas where they need support to win this fight against COVID-19," said Abdul Samad Rabiu, chairman of the group. Published under A Downpatrick woman who was stranded in Peru for weeks was finally reunited with her family in Dublin yesterday. Shauna Polly (27) had been in lockdown in a hostel in the Cusco region with other travellers and faced being stuck for months. Her return comes as hundreds of British and Irish citizens in other countries like Australia and New Zealand are still desperately trying to get home. Greeted with open arms in Dublin Airport by her "ecstatic" mother Claire and sister Natasha, Shauna was on a rescue flight from Peru arranged by the Irish Government. Two planes arranged by the UK Government also arrived in Heathrow yesterday, with more to follow this week. Speaking ahead of the reunion, Shauna's mother said she had asked the Irish Foreign Office for help after losing patience with the UK Government. Part of the difficulty had been that Shauna was a 24-hour drive away from an airport in Lima with no access to transport. Her mother said: "I registered her with the Irish Foreign Office in Dublin last Tuesday after frustration on hearing no information on flights home from the UK Government. They very professionally and quickly contacted her on Friday confirming her details and gave her instructions for travel, and she started her journey home on Saturday morning." She added: "I cannot thank (Irish Foreign Affairs Minister) Simon Coveney and the Irish Department for Foreign Affairs enough for their swift action and professionalism in the way they handled getting all the Irish back to their home safely on Irish soil." Shauna had to separate from her friend Stephanie Kidd (30) from Bournemouth on Saturday, but she has also started her journey home as more rescue flights arrived. The gruelling journey for Shauna included a 24-hour bus trip to a military base in Lima followed by a 12 and a half hour flight to London Heathrow and a connecting flight to Dublin. Carol said: "I am so elated to be getting her home at this very worrying and surreal time we are living in." Having already been in quarantine for 15 days in Cusco, Shauna will now spend another 14 days in quarantine at home with her family. Liz Canavan, assistant secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach, thanked the Peruvian authorities for their help. "Our embassy arranged for the transfer by road of many of our citizens from remote parts of Peru to the airport in Lima, journeys which in some cases took over 24 hours," she said. A number of British citizens repatriated from Peru yesterday said it had been a "confusing and stressful" experience. Shona McKenna had been in South America since the start of the year. Speaking to ITV, she said: "We had 50 people on standby but only 12 turned up to the airport. "The communication wasn't great, we didn't know when we were going to come home and when the emails came out there wasn't a lot of time." Assisted suicide group is using COVID-19 outbreak to push death as good option, activist group warns Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Some groups are using the COVID-19 crisis to legitimize and promote assisted suicide as a viable option for patients using telehealth, a pro-life advocacy group has warned. According to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, a recent fundraising email from Kim Callinan, the president of Compassion and Choices, which lobbies for assisted suicide, asserted that the widespread coronavirus crisis presents an opportunity to promote what is euphemistically known as "medical aid in dying" or "death with dignity." "As always, we are responding quickly to the needs and opportunities of the times. As the workforce grapples with the pandemic, telehealth is gaining prominence as a critical mode of delivering medical care. This provides a unique opportunity to make sure health systems and doctors are using telehealth, where appropriate, for patients trying to access end-of-life care options. These efforts should improve access to medical aid in dying in the short and long-term," Callinan wrote in the email message. Accessing life-ending drugs through telehealth is not new, said Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, in a March 20 blog post on the subject, noting the presence of telehealth provisions in bills in New Mexico and Hawaii. "The death lobby focuses on facilitating death and protecting doctors who are willing to be involved with killing their patients. They are not concerned with protecting people," he opined. This effort to promote doctor-facilitated death follows the publication of an ethics journal article contending that denying euthanasia is costly to society. 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, argued in support of the legalization of euthanasia because, in their opinion, it would increase people's "quality-adjusted life years" by helping them end their life following an incurable disease diagnosis. As technology advances the utilization of telehealth a collection of means or methods for enhancing health care, public health and health education delivery and support using telecommunications which encompasses a wide variety of technologies and tactics to deliver virtual medical, health, and education services has increased. On Monday, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai shared plans for a $200 million COVID-19 Telehealth Program to equip healthcare providers with broadband connectivity and devices to provide telehealth services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The states of Maine, Vermont, New Jersey, Washington state, Oregon, California, and Hawaii, along with the District of Columbia, have all legalized assisted suicide. Montana does not have a state law on the books but the option is legal in the state following a state Supreme Court ruling. The government is looking into the redirection of milk from the hospitality sector to the retail market as a 'matter of urgency' as farmers warn of financial trouble. The first two weeks of March saw retail demand for milk increase by 15-20% whilst the food service sector saw a 70% drop as consumers stayed away from cafes and restaurants. The UK liquid milk market is equally split between the proportion of milk which goes into the retail sector and the proportion which goes into food service. But this increased demand in retail is not sufficient to offset the decreased demand from the food service sector, NFU Cymru recently warned. Numerous dairy farming businesses have now highlighted severe financial implications due to the coronavirus situation. It comes as the UKs largest independent processing dairy, Freshways, announced a significant drop in its milk price due to the pandemic. The dairy processor, which supplies hotels, airlines and the food industry, slashed their milk price by 2p per litre. NFU dairy board chairman Michael Oakes explained that some dairy farmers were 'particularly vulnerable' in a situation which is 'highly volatile'. Speaking to the BBC about the situation, Staffordshire dairy and arable farmer Peter Pratt said his family-run farm had been 'hard hit'. He said he was 'quickly running out of money' and urged the government to act. Leicestershire-based Bumble Bee Farm, a family run business with a 101-year-old history, told the broadcaster that its future is now in doubt. Alan Smith, from Bumble Bee Farm, said: "We're losing nine pence on every litre we send but the worst of it is they won't now pay us for 70 days. "We can't go on losing forever." A Defra spokesperson said the government is aware of the need to redirect produce due to the Covid-19 crisis and is looking at the matter as a 'matter of urgency'. "We are working closely with representatives from the dairy supply chain to understand what short-term and long-term support the whole sector needs," the spokesperson said. By Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top U.S. officials have for now put aside a proposal for an alliance with Saudi Arabia to manage the global oil market, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter, an idea one of them said came from White House national security advisers. That the concept was even considered at high levels reflects both the depth of the crisis facing the global oil industry as well as its growing importance to the U.S. economy. A few weeks ago, proposals for Washington to work together with oil producers to curb supply to the global market would have been dismissed for violating U.S. antitrust laws. But prices for oil have slumped to an 18-year low because of the twin hits of the coronavirus pandemic slashing energy demand and a price war between top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia, threatening higher-cost U.S. and global drillers with bankruptcy. The idea of a U.S.-Saudi alternative to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, of which Saudi Arabia is the de facto leader, "has been floated but not at the stage of something that is being seriously considered," said one of the sources, who all spoke on condition of anonymity. The two other sources said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette discussed the alliance idea with President Donald Trump's national security adviser Robert O'Brien, but that nothing was decided. The National Security Council at the White House had asked the Energy Department to draft policy points before the possibility of a U.S.-Saudi alliance on oil was discussed, one source said. It was unclear which policy points were discussed. The Wall Street Journal reported in March that an alliance could involve supporting oil prices through use of national reserves, economic stimulus and offering indemnity to Saudi Arabia for oil market moves, points that no officials would confirm to Reuters. Story continues The Energy Department said Brouillette and others at his department are engaged with other U.S. officials, Saudi Arabia and other allies about oil markets, but would not confirm the Reuters or Wall Street Journal reporting. Brouillette, who is close to Pompeo, told Bloomberg TV last week an alliance with Riyadh is one of "many, many ideas" being discussed, but that no decisions have been made. Trump has taken a dim view of OPEC in the past, calling it a monopoly that pushes oil prices "artificially high" by cutting production, and often urged it to raise output. Still, Trump has nurtured the relationship with Saudi Arabia, emphasizing it has agreed to buy hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. weapons, and helped make up for lost shipments of crude from OPEC-member Iran after he reimposed sanctions in 2018. The United States was for decades the world's largest net importer of petroleum but the shale boom has transformed it into the worlds biggest producer of oil. That has given Trump freedom to take a different approach to the Middle East than predecessors who were more dependent on its oil imports. 'DIFFERENT PLANET' It is more difficult for the U.S. government to coordinate a production cut with another country because American oil companies are not state owned. But as Washington scrambles to limit the price shock that threatens to bankrupt companies and lay off thousands of oil and gas workers heading into the November election, it is likely that the alliance conversation will persist. "It's almost like we are on a different planet than we were a month ago," said Daniel Yergin, the vice chairman of IHS Markit, who sometimes advises U.S. officials on energy. "It's forcing everybody to rethink what's possible, what's not possible." There have also been signs that the oil and gas regulator in Texas, a top oil producer, could be open to OPEC-style market management. Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton said last week he spoke with OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo about a deal to ensure economic stability, but was not yet advocating for cuts. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to lift the oil market continue. The Energy Department will send Victoria Coates, a former White House Middle East adviser, to Saudi Arabia as a special envoy. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on Monday and directed their energy ministers to speak - an unprecedented move that further underscores the urgency both countries feel over low oil prices. Saudi Arabia showed no signs of letting up on boosting production to win market share, aiming to export 10.6 million barrels per day because of lower domestic consumption. Saudi Aramco has asked energy service firms to support plans to produce to its maximum capacity of 12 million bpd from April 1 "for the foreseeable future", a Saudi oil industry source told Reuters on Tuesday. DEFENSE RELATIONSHIP While Trump administration officials talk gingerly about the relationship with Saudi Arabia, U.S. lawmakers have taken a tougher approach - showing the kinds of legislative threats facing the kingdom if it doesn't respond to the administration. A bill introduced this month by Republican Senators Dan Sullivan and Kevin Cramer would remove U.S. troops from the kingdom and relocate them. The bill is unlikely to get the votes to reach Trump's desk. But it sent a signal to Saudi's de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "The United States must seriously reconsider the level of American support including military support for such partnerships that fail to support us in turn," Sullivan said. A source with knowledge of U.S.-Saudi relations said pressure from Congress is a card the administration could use to convince Saudi Arabia to reduce oil output on its own, obviating any need for a more formal alliance. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner in Washington, additional reporting by Valerie Volcovici, Steve Holland and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington and Rania El Gamal in Dubai; editing by Grant McCool) SIOUX CITY -- The 2020 census is going to be much more digital than those of decades past. There's two reasons for that -- one, this year marks the first time the census can be filled out online. And two, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted officials to encourage residents to fill out the forms as soon as possible, whether online or over-the-phone, or by mail. The U.S. Census Bureau anticipates that less than 1 percent of Americans will be counted by an in-person census taker -- the remainder are expected to respond on their own. Mail will still be a major factor in the census this year, with 95 percent percent of U.S. households projected to receive census mailings in March and April. The Constitution mandates that every person in the United States be enumerated, or counted, every 10 years. April 1 is the actual Census Day, though the actual counting takes place throughout the spring and into the summer. Results of the decennial census are used to determine everything from federal funding to congressional representation. Jeff Hanson, who is leading the city of Sioux City's census outreach efforts, said the city plans to place some 10,000 census information flyers in the free sack lunches being distributed to Sioux City school children. The school district began distributing the lunches to students at various sites after Gov. Kim Reynolds recommended on March 15 that K-12 schools in the state close temporarily to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Another 30,000 census flyers were included in Sioux City residents' water bills. The city is also planning billboard, bus and electronic advertising. "We've had to kind of change some of our outreach efforts, to more electronic, social media, sending out flyers," said Hanson, the city's community development operations manager. A number of in-person census events were called off due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Erica DeLeon, director of the immigrant and refugee advocacy initiative One Siouxland, said census-related public events the organization planned also were cancelled due to the virus outbreak. One Siouxland's initiatives aim to encourage full census counting for "hard-to-count populations," in this case immigrants and refugees. The Census Bureau also regards children under 5, renters and low-income individuals as "hard to count." "With a lot of the communities we work with, we were planning to do in-person events," DeLeon said, where iPads would have been provided to help people fill out the census. "And, of course, we can't do that now. So now the conversation has just changed to, 'How can we make sure that you're still filling it out, even though you're doing it on your own.'" Public facilities in the metro area that once offered free computer and internet access, including libraries, have been shuttered. Those who have smartphone access are encouraged to fill out census forms on their phones, or via the mail or telephone if that isn't an option. The Census Bureau has delayed or extended census activities, including door-to-door visits with residents that were originally set to begin late in March or early April. Hanson stressed that the delays should not be taken as an excuse for waiting to fill out the census. "One thing that we're trying not to do is, push those extended deadlines too much, because we want to people to fill it out now," he said. Iowa and Nebraska had high census response rates as of Saturday afternoon. According to a map on census.gov, 38 percent of Nebraskans had responded to the census on their own, while nearly 38 percent of Iowans had done so -- the majority of these over the internet. Just over 33 percent of South Dakotans had completed the census. 2020 census figures Sioux City's population, according to a 2018 census estimate, is 82,396 people, a decline of nearly 300 people from 2010 census figures. Between the 2000 census and the 2010 census, the city is estimated to have lost more than 2,200 residents. Hanson predicted this year's census figures should should be an improvement over those declines. "I would anticipate an increase from the 2018 estimate," Hanson said. "I think, between our record number of housing starts, also the economic development projects that have been completed since 2018, we'll prove that we have additional residents in town." The foreign-born account for an increasing proportion of the area's population -- a 2018 report indicated that 75 percent of metro Sioux City's newcomers between 2010 and 2015 were immigrants. A variety of organizations are working this year to ensure that immigrant communities will take part in the census -- including their employers. The census is available online or over-the-phone in 12 languages besides English -- or 13 if Chinese dialects are counted separately. The U.S. Census Bureau says that will enable more than 99 percent of U.S. households to answer in their language. This will be the first census One Siouxland will participate in. The group was founded in 2017. DeLeon, who worked with the Mary J. Treglia Community House at the time of the 2010 census, said this time there are a lot more local groups and businesses working on outreach than there were at the last census. "I certainly don't remember it being as much of a multi-sector approach as it is this year," she said. More coronavirus coverage Love 0 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. (Bloomberg) -- Officials in Austria and Italy are starting to use location data transmitted by mobile phones to determine the effectiveness of their coronavirus lockdowns. Telekom Austria AG, the countrys biggest telecom network operator, is providing anonymized data to relevant authorities, according to a statement late Tuesday. The tracking technology, developed by Invenium Data Insights GmbH in Austrias southern city of Graz, was previously used to analyze travel patterns. Vodafone Group Plc said in a statement it is providing Italian officials with anonymized customer data to track and analyze population movements in the hard-hit Lombardy region, where people are in lockdown. The countries are the latest on a growing list of nations using mobile phones to help contain the pandemic. Companies in China, Israel and Vietnam are also using data and applications to keep track of the disease. In the U.S., Alphabet Inc.s Google is developing a platform that includes user location. Operators have to tread carefully as European countries have some of the worlds strictest rules around the use and sharing of mobile phone location data. The data yielded by these initiatives wont be as granular as that provided by Israels NSO Group Ltd.. The company, known for its spyware, is working with about a dozen countries to test its technology to track the mobile phones of infected people. That information can then be matched with location data of other citizens to determine the potential for contamination. The technology being used in Austria is normally used to track where tourists go after they visit an important destination, according to the Telekom Austria statement. It is offered by a large number of companies across Europe and has been tested for years. Invenium estimates that movement in Austria has fallen by half since lockdown measures took effect this week, co-founder Michael Cik told state broadcaster ORF. The company didnt respond to emails and phone calls seeking comment. Story continues Vodafone is also offering governments the ability to send texts to people living in areas that have been hit by the virus. The company operates in 24 countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. 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. Taipei: The havoc of the corona is increasing so much today that it is becoming difficult to say anything. Many thousands of people have also died due to this virus every day and not only that there are still many millions who are infected with this virus. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry has accused the World Health Organization (WHO) is not sharing its country's corona cases and treatment methods with its member countries. It is noteworthy that under pressure from China, WHO has not recognized Taiwan as a member. China tells Taiwan its share. This has provoked Taiwan's anger. UN Secretary General resigns from his post WHO is ignoring the questions asked by Taiwan: According to the information received, Taiwan says that Taiwan is being played with the lives of Taiwanese people by taking them out of WHO during the outbreak of Corona epidemic. However, Taiwan, by sensing the severity of the disease in advance, kept a lot of control over the number of infected and dying by its efforts. Taiwan is also being praised for this. Taiwan had last week alleged that the World Health Organization was ignoring the questions it had asked about the onset of the disease. This is part of China's dangerous strategy that led to Taiwan being excluded from the WHO. Trump's big statement, says, 'Putin mau urge us to lift sanctions on Russia' Statements released by WHO about Taiwan: It is noteworthy that WHO issued an unexpected statement about Taiwan on Sunday saying that it is closely monitoring the spread of Coronavirus there. The people of Taiwan are taking lessons from how to deal with this crisis and also claimed that we are working closely with Taiwanese experts. Corona's injury hurt Xi Chinfing's reputation, now compensating 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 23:41:07|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Chinese Ambassador to Sudan Ma Xinmin (L) hands over medical supplies to a senior Sudanese official during a donation ceremony held at the headquarters of Sudan's Council of Ministers in Khartoum, Sudan, March 31, 2020. The Chinese Embassy in Sudan on Tuesday handed over 400,000 surgical masks to the Sudanese government to help the country fight against the novel coronavirus. (Photo by Mohamed Khidir/Xinhua) KHARTOUM, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Sudan on Tuesday handed over 400,000 surgical masks to the Sudanese government to help the country fight against the novel coronavirus. A ceremony for the donation was held at the headquarters of Sudan's Council of Ministers in Khartoum, which was attended by senior Sudanese officials and Chinese Ambassador to Sudan Ma Xinmin. Ma voiced China's willingness to support Sudan to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. "The Chinese government and people will firmly stand side by side with the Sudanese people and do as much as we can to help with Sudan's fight," said Ma. Sudan's Minister of Cabinet Affairs Omer Manis expressed Sudan's readiness to learn from China's experience in facing the coronavirus. "We are very pleased to learn from the experience of the friends in China in facing this epidemic," said Manis. Expressing Sudan's deep appreciation for China's help, Manis said the solidarity will "strengthen our relations in the different fields of cooperation." Riyadh (AFP) - Saudi Arabia said on Monday it will raise its oil exports to a record 10.6 million barrels per day starting from May, escalating a price war with Russia. Oil prices are languishing at 17-year lows as the coronavirus pandemic threatens a global recession that will send demand plummeting. Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, which already announced a sharp production increase for April, said it will add additional supplies to the global market, deepening a glut. "The kingdom plans to raise its petroleum exports by 600,000 bpd from May, so total exports will increase to 10.6 million bpd," said an official at the energy ministry, cited by the state-run SPA agency. Saudi Arabia had been exporting around 7.0 million bpd under an output reduction agreement among a 24-member producers' alliance known as OPEC+ which included Russia. Its Gulf neighbour UAE has also pledged to pump at least one million bpd more from next month. Riyadh said earlier this month it was raising exports to 10 million bpd in April after a production cut agreement among top producers flopped in early March. OPEC+ failed to reach an agreement on further production cuts to shore up sagging prices as the coronavirus hit the global economy hard. In an effort to grab market share, Saudi Arabia immediately announced a substantial increase in its production to 12.3 million bpd and exports to 10 million bpd at the beginning of April. The energy ministry said it will secure the increase from two sources, by using natural gas in the domestic market to free up oil for export and also as domestic consumption drops because of the coronavirus. The price of oil struck its lowest levels in more than 17 years on Monday, with Brent North Sea crude tumbling to $22.58 per barrel at one point. There are warnings that oil could sink even further as storage tanks around the world approach full capacity. Heath officials in Washington State - the initial epicenter of the US coronavirus outbreak - say they are possibly starting to see the effects of its strict social distancing and self isolation measures. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Washington was just over 5,100 as of Monday while the death toll reached 219. It was an increase of 15 new deaths and 292 new infections from the previous day. Health officials in King County, which includes the city of Seattle, said on Monday there were now 2,330 cases and 150 deaths in that area. It showed an increase of 171 cases and nine deaths from the day before. Deaths there are now not increasing as much as they are in other US states despite the fact that Washington was the epicenter of the country's outbreak just three weeks ago. In comparison, New York is now the pandemic epicenter with more than 75,000 cases and 1,550 deaths as of Tuesday. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Washington was just over 5,100 as of Monday while the death toll reached 219 Washington recorded the first known coronavirus case in the US and also the first few deaths of the pandemic before it started spreading rapidly across the country. At one point, Washington had recorded 37 of the country's first 50 fatal outbreaks. The number of statewide cases surged following an outbreak at the Life Care Center nursing home facility in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland. The state recorded its first known coronavirus case - and the first in the US - on January 21 after a patient returned from Wuhan, China where the global outbreak initially started. Washington's first deaths were then reported on February 29 after two people - one who was a resident at the nursing home - died in the same Seattle hospital. Following the outbreak, the state enforced strict social distancing measures by banning large gatherings in late February and closing schools in early March. Non-essential workplaces also shut down and the majority of residents started self-isolating as they stayed at home. King County health director Jeff Duchin said they were now seeing a positive effect from the introduced measures but the number of deaths and cases continued to increase. 'We are seeing a positive effect from the social distancing and other measures we've put in place, although significant numbers of cases and deaths continue to occur,' Duchin said. 'The threat of a rebound that could overwhelm the healthcare system remains and will remain for the foreseeable future if we let up too soon.' In New York on Tuesday, infections increased by 9,298 to 75,795 and deaths had risen by 332 to 1,550. New York's stay-at-home order, which included the closure of all non-essential businesses, was enforced on March 22 - about three weeks after Washington put its order in place. The number of cases in Washington state surged following an outbreak at the nursing home facility in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland (above) A patient at the Life Care Center in Kirkland interacts with her relatives through the window after strict social distancing measures were implemented following the outbreak there A nurse tests patients at a drive-through coronavirus testing station for University of Washington Medicine patients on March 17 A new statistical study has found that the measures introduced in Washington state appeared to have slowed the rate at which coronavirus spread from person-to-person over three weeks in the Seattle area. The Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) used government-compiled heath data, including positive and negative tests and overall mortality, and anonymized Facebook location data to calculate the impact of the lockdown. The study found that the data appeared to show that the pandemic has slowed in Washington state since the measures were introduced. The disease's reproductive number - the amount of people a single patient will infect on average - dropped by nearly half, from 2.7 at the end of February to 1.4 by March 18, it calculated. The reproductive number must fall below one for the pandemic to decline, according to the study. Facebook location data indicated 'a persistent decline in mobility' and 'strong evidence that people have been staying at home' over the period, the report found. It showed an average 27 percent increase in the occupancy of residential areas, and a 43 percent decline in areas with offices such as central Seattle. The state's stay-at-home order was 'timely and necessary' but must be maintained, and 'more progress is necessary,' the report said, noting that the models drew on a small amount of data and contain considerable uncertainty. BISHKEK, March 30 (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan has asked China to restart the movement of goods across the Chinese-Kyrgyz border, suspended by Beijing in early February, a senior Kyrgyz official said on Monday. Kyrgyzstan's convenient location and swiftness in joining the World Trade Organisation have made it an important hub for Chinese consumer goods trade in the post-Soviet region of Central Asia. Such trade has, in turn, become a key sector of the Kyrgyz economy which is now being hit hard by the global coronavirus outbreak. "We have been in talks with our Chinese colleagues for a week now," Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Kubatbek Boronov told a briefing, adding that shipments had been suspended by Beijing rather than Bishkek. "We have suggested opening the border for consumer goods. The situation in China allows us to discuss those matters. I think that very soon the border will be opened for Chinese goods." The border is also closed to people who are not Kyrgyz citizens. Citing expectations of a large current account gap, the Bishkek government has secured $121 million in emergency funding from the International Monetary Fund and is in talk with other creditors and donors about additional aid and a standstill on debt repayment. (Reporting by Olga Dzyubenko, Writing by Olzhas Auyezov, Editing by Timothy Heritage) Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari for ordering a total lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun Sta... Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari for ordering a total lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States. Soyinka said that Buhari had no constitutional backing to make the declaration and called on state governors not to allow the usurpation of their powers. The Nobel Laureate completed his 14-day self-isolation on Monday, having returned from the United States of America recently. In a statement he signed and made available to reporters in reaction to the Presidents nationwide broadcast on Sunday, Soyinka said State Houses of Assembly should determine whether the President acted under the law. President Buhari had on Sunday declared a curfew in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja from 11:00pm on Monday for 14 days. This ihe said is to enable authorities contain the spread of coronavirus. But novelist, Soyinka called on constitutional lawyers and elected representatives to step into the matter and educate Nigerians on the powers of the President. The worst development I can conceive is to have a situation where rational measures for the containment of coronavirus pandemic are rejected on account of their questionable genesis, Soyinka added. So, before this becomes a habit, a question: does President Buhari have the powers to close down state borders? We want clear answers. We are not in a war emergency. Despite the focus on saving lives and sacrifices for the preservation of our communities, we should remain alert to any encroachment on constitutionally demarcated powers. He said Nigerians need to exercise collective vigilance, and not compromise the future by submitting to interventions that are not backed by law and constitution. A President who has been conspicuously AWOL is now alleged to have woken up after a prolonged siesta, and began to issue orders, the Playwright said. Who instigated these orders anyway? From where do they emerge? What happens when the orders conflict with state measures, the product of a systematic containment strategy `including even trial-and-error and hiccups undertaken without let or leave of the centre. So far, the anti-COVID19 measures have proceeded along the rails of decentralised thinking, multilateral collaboration and technical exchanges between states. I urge governors and legislators to be especially watchful. No epidemic is ever cured with constitutional piracy. It only lays down new political viruses for the future, he said. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has appealed to local businesses to pivot to producing medical supplies amid confirmation a 95-year-old Sydney woman has become Australia's 20th coronavirus death. NSW Health executive director of health protection, Dr Jeremy McAnulty, confirmed the total number of NSW COVID-19 cases was now at 2182 as of 8pm Tuesday an increase of 150 new cases since Monday. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday Credit:AAP "In total we've tested 103,361 people who have been excluded and sadly there have been nine deaths. [There was] a new death reported yesterday sadly, a 95-year-old woman from the Dorothy Henderson Lodge where a number of cases had been reported previously," Dr McAnulty said on Wednesday. There are 21 cases of COVID-19 attached to the Dorothy Henderson Lodge at Macquarie Park. There have been nine deaths in NSW, with five deaths at the Dorothy Henderson Lodge facility. Jayne Azzopardi welcomed her first child, son Joey, just last month. And on Monday, the Channel Nine presenter joked that she was giving him the royal treatment when she shared a sweet picture of the newborn in the same personalised robe that Prince George once wore. The 35-year-old journalist posted the image of Joey on Instagram, which showed him wearing the blue and white dressing gown with his name on it. 'Giving him the royal touch!' Channel Nine's Jayne Azzopardi shared an adorable picture of her newborn son, Joey, on Monday. He was wearing the same personalised robe as Prince George The robe is from the British brand, My 1st Years, and retails for $52. Prince George wore the adorable get-up in April 2016, when he met Barack and Michelle Obama at Kensington Palace. 'We all feel a bit sad at the moment, so here's a cute baby to make you smile,' Jayne wrote on Instagram. Remember that? Prince George wore the adorable get-up in April 2016, when he met Barack and Michelle Obama at Kensington Palace New mother: Jayne (pictured) welcomed Joey just last month She said a friend had gifted her son the robe. 'Gorgeous gift from my Italian friend Anna. Giving Joey the Royal touch in a My 1st Years robe. Totally squishable and isolation-approved,' Jayne wrote. One fan remarked underneath: 'Omg this is the cutest thing I have seen all day.' Jayne welcomed Joey with her cinematographer husband, Trent Butler, last month. At the time of the announcement, the newsreader described her boy as simply 'perfect' when speaking to Nine Honey. She also said online that she and Trent were 'besotted' with their boy. Family: Jayne welcomed her son with husband Trent Butler (pictured) Doting: At the time of the announcement, the newsreader described her boy as simply 'perfect' when speaking to Nine Honey 'Our beautiful boy Joey arrived this week and his dad and I are completely besotted,' Jayne said underneath a picture of herself cuddling her little man. She added: 'Turns out dad is not only a whiz behind the camera, he's a total legend on the frontline of nappy-changing & baby-wrapping. I hit the jackpot with both of them.' Jayne had announced her pregnancy on the Today show in September, alongside her co-hosts Allison Langdon and Tim Davies. At the time, she said that conceiving a child 'had not been easy' for her and Trent. 'I know there will be people watching that may be struggling to conceive or have experience of loss themselves,' Jayne said. 'I know they'll be happy for me, but I also know that it can be extra painful with someone else announcing happy news. 'I hope that everybody else gets their happy announcement.' Ken Borsuk / Hearst Connecticut Media STAMFORD City police continue to look for the suspect or suspects who shot and killed jewelry store owner Mark Vuono during a robbery at his business on Sixth Street on Saturday afternoon. Capt. Richard Conklin said there would be no update made on the case Monday afternoon. No arrests have been made and police have not released any information regarding possible suspects. People harassing medical staff combating the novel coronavirus outbreak as well as those declared fit after undergoing quarantine, by accusing them of being carriers of the virus, would face action, said Gujarat Director General of Police Shivanand Jha on Tuesday. He said police had come to know that doctors, nurses and health workers as well as those who had returned home after being declared fit following quarantine were being harassed. "They are harassed and some have even been asked to vacate houses. Police will not tolerate this. We will take strict action. If need be, we will provide them protection," Jha told reporters in Gandhinagar. He said factory owners asking labourers to leave, while the state and country is in the midst of a 21-day lockdown, would face action. Meanwhile, inspector VR Chaudhari of Krushnanagar police station of Ahmedabad has been suspended for overturning two vegetable handcarts, said Jha. A video of the incident had gone viral on social media. "The inspector was suspended today for irresponsible behaviour," Jha said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The district administration has sealed the Ceasefire Company in Sector-135, Noida after 16 people associated with it tested positive for the coronavirus. The Department of Health has registered an FIR against the officials of the company. They had called an auditor from abroad in March. Earlier, the District Magistrate had said that an FIR will be registered against officials of the company, who tested positive for coronavirus, for hiding their travel history from the authorities. "The company is named Ceasefire, its owner and some other people had come from foreign countries and hidden their travel history. They later tested positive and due to this many employees of the company were exposed to the infection. These officials hid their travel history from the authorities and did not stay in self-quarantine. Therefore, we have issued orders to file an FIR against them," the District Magistrate had told ANI. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Countries need to act fast and stop the coronavirus outbreak inside their borders before it grows into an exponential problem, a special envoy to the World Health Organization told CNBC. Global cases of infection have exceeded 784,700 and at least 37,638 people have died, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The outbreak was first reported in China's Hubei province late last year. But in March, the infection spread rapidly across the globe and countries like the United States, Italy and Spain saw exponential growth in the number of people affected by the virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19. "This set of outbreaks that are making up the pandemic increase in scale exponentially. They double in size every few days, like every three days," David Nabarro, a special envoy on COVID-19 to the WHO, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" on Tuesday. "Trying to get in ahead of an exponential problem is much easier if you're dealing with it early on." Countries are being forced to make difficult decisions as they try to contain the virus within their borders. They need to slow down the rate of infection to a level where their health-care systems can handle the strain and treat everyone. To do that, they are implementing strict lockdown measures that disrupt daily life and adversely impact economic activity, affecting businesses and workers alike. Baku, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 Trend: EU doesnt recognize the constitutional and legal framework within which the so-called elections in Nagorno-Karabakh are being held, Trend reports citing the European External Action Service. In view of the so-called 'presidential and parliamentary elections' in Nagorno-Karabakh on 31 March 2020, the European Union reiterates that it does not recognise the constitutional and legal framework within which they are being held. This event cannot prejudice the determination of the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh or the outcome of the ongoing negotiation process, reads the statement. The EU recalls its firm support to the OSCE Minsk Group and, in particular, to its Co-Chairs efforts to bring about progress beyond the status quo and substantive negotiations towards comprehensive and sustainable peace. The EU stands ready to further support efforts, aimed at early, peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said the statement. 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. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. Social media keeps churches closed by the coronavirus open for visitors Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Many churches have closed their doors to visitors in response to the coronavirus pandemic. That doesnt, however, mean you cant go inside. Virtual visits are possible, thanks to the church enthusiasts behind several blogs and social media channels. By far, the most common medium is Instagram, where enthusiasts with differing photographic abilities document every conceivable detail of a church ranging from baptismal fonts and Gothic windows to ornately carved wooden pews. Douglas Young is among the enthusiasts who publish photos of historic churches and cathedrals on a daily or near-daily basis. He is the man behind @devonchurchland on Instagram, which showcases churches in the southwestern English county of Devon. A companion website, Devon Churchland, recently launched. An altarpiece in the National Gallery is a lesser thing than when it is hung above the altar with incense and the host being venerated, said Gawain Towler, a political operative who remarkably found time during the last British general election to visit churches wherever he went on the campaign trail. The architecture and fittings of churches, like the music, is beautiful in its own right, but takes on a far greater meaning when in the setting of a service. For others it is wholly secular, which is fitting since medieval churches were the art museums of their day with paintings, stained-glass and sculpture. My interest is primarily in art and architectural history, said Rob Andrews, better known as @churchcrawling on Instagram. It started in the final year of my undergraduate course at university. I soon discovered there was much more to learn about the buildings themselves. Arve Berntzen, who says he isnt religious but retains the Church of Norway (Lutheran) faith of his childhood, started visiting out of his hobby for photography. His photos are on Instagram under @kirkerchurches. Walking around the church to find the best angle for shooting is very relaxing and challenging at the same time, he said. I find church architecture fascinating. Berntzens subjects are primarily the Lutheran state churches from the idyllic Norwegian countryside. Think old medieval stone edifices to wooden churches from the 1800s. Nobody compares to Cameron Newman, who is several years into a goal of visiting all 12,000 rural parish churches in the Church of England (Anglican). So far, the self-described eccentric weirdo has visited more than 9,000 churches and taken at least 500,000 photos for the Parish Church Photographic Survey. A more curated collection of photos can be found on his Instagram, @realcbnewham. Importantly, one doesnt need to travel to the Old World for historic churches a point this column regularly makes. Not only are there surviving colonial-era churches, but splendid 19th century churches ranging in style from Gothic Revival to Richardsonian Romanesque can be found in many cities across the United States. Many think about various European churches but not the old and important churches in our country, said Lee Little, historiographer of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. Many have a vague idea about whats here, but they dont seem to leave a lasting impression like the European ones do. Lee conducts tours of Indianapolis-area churches. His photos are published on the aptly named Instagram channel @oldchurchesindy. Almost all enthusiasts agree that churches can do a better job at making themselves accessible to visitors. Sadly, most churches in the cities are locked, said Towler, whose Instagram is @gawaintowler. More and more country churches are the same. Andrews said all churches need clear instructions for key collection or information about other forms of access are a must even if the doors must through circumstance be kept locked. Others suggested more churches utilize volunteers to open on certain days of the week or month. This strategy is employed with great success by the Friends of the City Churches in London. On Instagram, be sure to also follow @helenhookerarchitecture, @matt.afc and @churchhunting. Spires and Crosses is a weekly travel column. Follow @dennislennox on Twitter and Instagram. SAUL LOEB /AFP / Getty Images Walmart will begin checking the temperature of its employees before each shift, the company said in a news release Tuesday. The retail giant said any employee with a temperature of 100 degrees or more will be sent home and asked to seek medical treatment if necessary, but will be paid for showing up to work. The employee will not be allowed to return until they have been fever-free for at least three days. The usually bustling streets of Bali have been left deserted as the coronavirus pandemic continues to take hold, forcing Indonesia to ban all foreign arrivals. More than a million Australians head to the holiday island every year, but travel restrictions in both countries have brought that to grinding halt. Only citizens, diplomats and family members are now allowed to enter Indonesia. 'We have decided that all foreign arrivals and transits in Indonesia will be temporarily suspended,' Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said, according to Coconuts Jakarta. The usually bustling streets of Bali have been left deserted after Indonesia banned all foreign arrivals due to the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured before the pandemic Balinese local guard crosses a road near a closed beach after the country closed them all due to coronavirus 'Of course, the restrictions come with exemptions, including holders of KITAS, KITAP, diplomatic residence permits, official residence permits, among others.' The details of the travel ban have not yet been detailed. An initial restriction was put into place on March 18. Anyone entering the country must adhere to a 14-day quarantine. A nearly deserted street in Kuta, Bali, after the island closed most of its holiday spots The details of the travel ban have not yet been detailed. An initial restriction was put into place on March 18 The country's military, police force and disaster agency have used water canons to blast the popular tourist destination, according to Seven. Beaches have also been closed. Indonesia's tourism industry has been left in tatters as a result of the coronavirus gripping the world. The country's leader - President Joko Widodo - declared a national emergency last week, however many have criticised him for not enforcing harsher measures to stop the spread of the virus. Under those rules tourists, foreigners holding Malaysian work permits or student visas weren't allowed to enter the country Passengers wear protective masks as they arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali However the state of emergency allows Bali to act on its own accord and shut down if it deems the move necessary. There have been 1,528 cases of coronavirus in Indonesia with 136 deaths. Bali has declared 19 cases. Europe is suffering a rising number of COVID-19 infections and related deaths. As public health remains the top priority, difficult measures are being implemented. However, lockdowns and disruption in business activities, transport, trade and several services are causing an unprecedented shock. Safe assessments of losses cannot be made at this time because the pandemic is ongoing. Amid uncertainty and fear, EU member-states are attempting to boost their economies at the national level; ultimately, however, a coordinated European response is required. At the time of writing, the European Central Bank has already announced the launch of a new temporary asset purchase program of private and public sector securities to try and counter some of the risks. This is called the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Program (PEPP) and will have an overall envelope of 750 billion until the end of the year. Additionally, the EU will activate the general escape clause allowing spending in member-states to deviate from the rules established by its Stability and Growth Pact. Other important decisions include the creation of a response initiative by the European Commission to provide 37 billions of investment under the cohesion policy and the proposal of the European Investment Bank Group to mobilize 40 billions of financing. Despite all this activity, enthusiasm on the potential containment of the economic consequences of the pandemic can hardly be generated. The European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism trade unions, along with Food-Drink-Europe, for example, consider additional support for struggling businesses necessary. Further, the Italian permanent representative to the EU Maurizio Massari, writing in Politico, proposed the creation of a new tool to support health care costs and mitigate the ramifications of the quarantine to be funded by special instruments already foreseen in the EU budget. What he is proposing is that the discussions of the Multiannual Financial Framework must include a focus on COVID-19 impact. From a technical perspective, the European Stability Mechanism created in 2012 to support Eurozone countries in financial distress can contribute to this. Its Managing Director Klaus Regling told a recent press conference that a precautionary credit line might be the most suitable instrument to respond to the coronavirus challenge. Funds can be made available up to 2% of a country's GDP. However, the Brussels-based economic think tank Bruegel believes countries would rather refrain from applying for a precautionary credit line because conditionality would be a prerequisite. New memoranda of understanding in times of the pandemic will be politically toxic and economically unbearable for ordinary citizens. Ten years after the European debt crisis, EU's most important problem remains the inability of member-states to agree on radical measures. In most cases they are only willing to take minor steps driven by the instinct of self-preservation and tending postpone difficult decisions to a later date. On March 26, members of the European Parliament called for a more unified EU response that so far has proved unattainable. The opposition of Germany, echoed by the Netherlands, Austria and Finland, to Italy's plea for the issuance of Eurobonds to be called coronabonds is indicative of existing divisions. Italy is not alone. Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain also signed a letter to European Council President Charles Michel proposing a common debt instrument. In an interview with Italian newspapers French President Emmanuel Macron went further and vowed support for Italy. And according to Reuters, President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde urged Eurozone Finance Minister to consider one-off coronabonds issue. In the view of Chancellor Angela Merkel, "not since World War Two [have we] faced a challenge that depends so much on our collective solidarity." Approximately 18 months before the next federal election and her pre-announced departure from politics, the German leader will have to make the most difficult decision of her chancellorship: putting the European interest above the national one by opening the door for deeper integration. George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.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. A family goes for a walk in Friedenau, Berlin. (Getty Images) With a third of the world said to be on some form of lockdown, scientists have investigated the factors that encourage people to stick to a quarantine. The coronavirus is said to have emerged at a seafood and live animal market in the Chinese city Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, at the end of last year. It has since spread into more than 170 countries across every inhabited continent, with over 787,000 confirmed cases since the outbreak was identified. In severe incidences, the virus can lead to a respiratory disease called COVID-19. To stem the spread of transmission, officials around the world have introduced enforcements that only allow residents to leave their home to buy essentials or for exercise, with socialising and non-essential travel as good as banned. Concerned many may struggle to stick to the draconian measures, scientists from Kings College London analysed 14 studies on adherence to quarantines during an infectious outbreak. They found people were more likely to stick to a lockdown if they had knowledge about the infection, understood the benefits of quarantining and had the supplies required for a prolonged stay indoors. A woman carries a bunch of flowers while wearing a mask in Beijing. (Getty Images) Coronavirus: what makes the public stick to a lockdown? Boris Johnson has introduced unprecedented enforcements that only allow Britons to leave their home for very limited purposes, like shopping for basic necessities as infrequently as possible. Anyone with the viruss tell-tale fever or cough has been told to isolate entirely for seven days, with other members of their household doing the same for two weeks. Letters have also gone out to 1.5 million vulnerable Britons, like those with severe asthma or blood cancer, telling them to stay indoors for the next three months. 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 Story continues While officials are confident these extreme measures will stem the spread of the pandemic, the Kings scientists stress quarantine does not work if people do not adhere to it. Officially-sanctioning lockdowns in the form of fines or other punishments can lead to legal dispute, chaotic scenes of confrontation and poor mental health. Many nations are understandably nervous of these outcomes, especially given that confrontation can now result in harrowing mobile phone footage making its way to social and mainstream media, the scientists wrote in the journal Public Health. Officials therefore tend to rely on a combination of inducements and appeals to civic duty in order to encourage people to adhere. To better understand the effectiveness of this approach, the scientists analysed 14 studies, where adherence ranged from 0% to 93%. Results suggest people are more likely to stick to a quarantine if they understand its procedure and the risks of the infection it is protecting them from. When five schools in Australia were closed during a flu outbreak, a lack of clear quarantine instructions led to some inventing their own rules based on what they deemed an acceptable degree of contact. A village affected by Ebola in west Africa became more compliant when they began to notice the spread of the infection was slowing. Residents of several Senegalese villages also stuck to a quarantine against Ebola when they learnt asymptomatic patients can spread the disease. Making quarantine a social norm was also found to be effective. For example, people quarantined in parts of Canada during the outbreak of fellow coronavirus strain severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) in 2002/3 were more likely to adhere to it if they were pressured to do so by their peers. Practical issues were also found to be important, for example people tend to stick to a quarantine if they know it will not leave them financially vulnerable if unable to go to work. Britons have long been urged to work from home if they can. With closed pubs, bars and restaurants leaving many out of pocket, chancellor Rishi Sunak has introduced unprecedented financial measures to help protect workers and jobs, including paying up to 80% of wages. Animal-rescuer Yogesh Panhale feeds water to a black kite in Mumbai. (Getty Images) Coronavirus: who would want to be a decision-maker right now? Experts have welcomed the timely research. This new review is very welcome and reinforces the viewpoint that there can be very different levels of compliance with quarantine interventions such as social distancing, varying from zero to almost 100%, said Dr Michael Head, from the University of Southampton. These differences in the behavioural response highlight the difficulty of making decisions around when to recommend quarantines, to what level, and importantly when to relieve any lockdown measures. Who would want to be a decision-maker right now? While the measures brought in are extreme, the public seem to have accepted then. It is clear from our empty streets and public spaces that the vast majority of people have got the message that we must all avoid social contact so we can slow down the spread of coronavirus and prevent the health system being overwhelmed, said Professor Lucy Yardley also from the University of Southampton. Although there have been a few examples of a few people who have not yet understood or have not followed the public health advice on social distancing these only make the headlines because they are so rare. One expert worries, however, the financial support put in place by the government may not do enough to ensure everyone sticks to the lockdown. These findings suggest key steps to enabling adherence to the current social isolation advice are to ensure financial security for all, for example ensuring that five million self-employed people are provided financial security now, rather than in June, said Professor Susan Michie from University College London. Sunak announced on Thursday a special package of support for the self-employed, promising to pay them up to 2,500 ($3,000) a month during the coronavirus shutdown. He went on to say the new scheme would likely only be up and running by June, leaving the self-employed with a wait of almost three months before cash comes through. Those who cannot wait until June can apply for a loan under the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme or apply for universal credit. Ministers have yet to rule out more severe measures While the government has not ruled out more extreme measures to combat the coronavirus outbreak, not all are convinced these are necessary. [The] government should consider more of a focus on the objectives of quarantine than on the precise means and trust people to devise their own solutions within a broader framework of guidance, said Professor Robert Dingwall, from Nottingham Trent University. Police harassment of citizens sitting on park benches or lonely beaches is not helpful. While many are no doubt finding lockdown difficult, experts stress now is not the time for complacency. These are difficult times but we should be proud in the UK that we are doing a great job of working together to stop transmission of the coronavirus, said Dr Tom Wingfield, from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Despite the encouraging signs, the social distancing measures and other restrictions to our daily lives will be needed for some weeks and possibly months to come and, by continuing to observe them, we are all contributing to controlling coronavirus in the UK. Lets keep at it. The coronavirus, colds and flu all cause fever. (Yahoo UK) What is the coronavirus? The coronavirus is one of seven strains of a virus class that are known to infect humans. Others include the common cold and Sars. It mainly spreads face-to-face via infected droplets coughed or sneezed out by a patient, but there is also evidence it can be transmitted in faeces and urine and survive on surfaces. Symptoms tend to be flu-like, including fever, cough and slight breathlessness. Early research suggests four out of five cases are mild. In severe incidences, pneumonia may come about if the infection spreads to the air sacs in the lungs, causing them to become inflamed and filled with fluid or pus. The lungs then struggle to draw in air, resulting in reduced oxygen in the bloodstream and a build-up of carbon dioxide. The coronavirus has no set treatment, with most patients naturally fighting off the infection. Those requiring hospitalisation are offered supportive care, like ventilation, while their immune system gets to work. As well as social distancing, officials urge people ward off the infection by washing their hands regularly. Globally, the death toll has exceeded 37,800, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 166,200 people are known to have recovered to date. Germany will give 100,000 people coronavirus antibody tests in the next few weeks as part of a major trial to get millions of workers out of lockdown. The mass study will allow officials to determine who has already caught the deadly infection and is therefore immune to being struck down again. British health chiefs have still yet to approve coronavirus antibody tests, despite the promises that the DIY kits would be ready for use by mid-April. Labour's shadow health secretary last night urged Number 10 to follow Germany's approach and roll-out antibody tests to get a grip on the outbreak. Jonathan Ashworth said: 'Germany appears to be leading the way in the testing and we have much to learn from their approach.' Public Health England's medical director Professor Yvonne Doyle last night said the 17.5million DIY antibody tests the Government had ordered were still being evaluated. Her comments came after one manufacturer of a finger-prick kit warned it may take six weeks for them to have any antibody tests ready for Britons to use at home. It comes as ministers today are facing fresh fury over the lack of mass coronavirus swab testing today. Each day Germany analyses around 100,000 PCR tests, which are throat swabs that pick up active infections not historical ones spotted by finger-prick antibody tests. In comparison, the rate in the UK is ten times lower, which experts have blamed on 'organisation' rather than a shortage of facilities. But there are fears that a global shortage of chemicals used to analyse the tests in the laboratory could also be hampering efforts to scale up the regime. Cologne's city centre is deserted amid the lockdown in Germany to contain the coronavirus CHEMICAL REAGENTS: NECESSARY FOR TESTING BUT IN HIGH GLOBAL DEMAND A global shortage of the chemicals needed to produce coronavirus tests has emerged as another setback in the UK's plans to test more people. Industry bosses say chemical reagents that are used in the test are in short supply around the world as countries have scrambled to test their citizens for COVID-19. Lab tests for the coronavirus work by regrowing a patient's DNA in a lab and examining it to find traces of genetic material left behind by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. For this to work, technicians need a chemical called a reagent to trigger the chemical reaction which starts the process. There are various types of reagents which can be used in a COVID-19 test, supplied by different companies around the world, but they are in high demand everywhere. They are not unique to coronavirus and are the same reagents used in tests for illnesses such as flu. The US has 10 different types of reagent listed in the priority list by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is not clear whether the UK is using reagents manufactured on home soil or importing them. Some NHS labs have now resorted to make their own in 'home brew' situations so they can test patients, The Times reported. Officials are now scrambling to see if there are alternatives to their first choice, according to the newspaper, and are also trying to shore up supplies of swabs, which are vital for tests. CEO of pharmaceutical company Roche, Severin Schwan, said 'demand is outstripping supply' for the reagents. 'Widespread testing is simply not possible,' he added. While the Professional Association of Laboratory Medics in Germany said: 'The materials required for testing - sample kits, materials for extracting samples, and reagents - are becoming scarce'. The Australian Medical Association sounded the alarm there two weeks ago, when it said some parts of the government had failed to stockpile the right reagents, The Guardian reported. It said global demand was 'exceeding supply' and that 'there are particular concerns around supplies of swabs and DNA extraction kits'. Advertisement BioSure, one of the firms in talks with the Government to make 17.5million home-kits, has been asked to get ready to ramp up production. But no DIY antibody tests have been approved yet, meaning the company is holding off on mass-producing the kits in case stringent medical tests fail. Brigette Bard, BioSure's chief executive, warned the delay could mean it won't have any kits ready for Britons to use in the comfort of their own home until mid-May. Germany is also planning to bring in 'immunity certificates' as part of preparations for the country to cease its lockdown. The team plans to test 100,000 people at a time from mid-April, issuing documents to those who have built up an immunity. They will then use the information gleaned from the testing to assess how and when the lockdown should conclude. Researchers will utilise the data as they advise the government on when schools will be re-opened and mass gatherings permitted once again. Germany is also planning to test 200,000 people a day for the coronavirus, in hope of replicating South Korea's success in slowing the outbreak. It is already testing more than any other European country at a rate of up to 500,000 a week, but the latest plans would more than double that capacity. Official figures in Germany show 60,000 people have been infected. Its death toll stands at nearly 600 - giving the nation a case-fatality ratio of less than 1 per cent. In comparison, the death rate in the UK where only hospitalised patients are being swabbed is six times higher because officials are missing tens of thousands of mild cases. Chancellor Angela Merkel's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected around 800,000 people worldwide, has secured a boost in poll ratings. British health chiefs have said they could start giving out coronavirus 'immunity' certificates like Germany to allow millions of Britons out of lockdown. Otherwise, there is no official way of keeping track of who has already battled the virus and has developed some form of immunity. On Sunday night it was claimed that officials had finally agreed deals to purchase millions of home antibody tests to start being used in the UK by mid-April. It comes as ministers yesterday faced a furious backlash after it emerged the UK is still not carrying out 10,000 tests a day - despite claims the level had been hit. Ministers boasted on Sunday that they had reached a target of 10,000 tests a day of whether people currently have the virus, as the deadly outbreak spreads. However, while the capacity has been apparently reached, the government has yet to carry out that number. The latest figures from Public Health England were 8,278 in the 24 hours to 9am on Sunday, which was actually down from 9,114 the previous day. Professor Yvonne Doyle, Public Health England's medical director, said the millions of kits Number 10 had ordered in principle were 'under investigation' NHS staff get tested for the coronavirus at a facility specifically for health workers in Surrey A testing station has been set up for NHS workers only in Chessington, Surrey. Healthcare staff are crying out for regular testing so they can be sure they are safe to work with patients 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 In last night's Downing Street press conference, Professor Doyle said the tests would be point-of-care, meaning they could be done 'in the home'. She added: 'This testing needs to be evaluated to make sure it is valid- in other words, that it does what it says and at scale. 'This would be large numbers. We want to make sure we are doing something that is safe and is actually valid and correct when it is ready.' Her comments echoed the concerns of England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, who last week warned that the only thing worse than no test was a bad test. Britain has repeatedly been criticised for its controversial testing policy to only swab patients in hospital for the killer coronavirus. It means the true size of the Britain's outbreak is a mystery because officials have no idea who is actually infected. A top Government adviser yesterday suggested up to 2million people may already have caught the deadly coronavirus. And University of Oxford scientists last week claimed that up to half of the UK could have already caught the disease, called COVID-19. But official figures show 22,000 patients have tested positive. The death toll currently stands at around 1,400. The World Health Organization earlier this month warned the only way to get a grip on the escalating pandemic was to 'test, test, test'. Confusion has surrounded Britain's plan to buy millions of antibody kits, which last week it was revealed would have to be sent off in the post. Professor Doyle said samples would need to be sent to a lab and analysed by specialists - a process that could take as long as a day. It is unclear who makes the antibody kits that would need to be posted - Number 10 has been tight-lipped regarding the whole testing regime. But the Government is also still in talks with firms that produce home-testing kits, which can give results in 10 minutes. Number 10 originally claimed to have ordered 3.5million kits in principle. It is unclear whether these relate strictly to just the postal kits. But ministers have now claimed to have ordered 17.5million kits, in principle. It is thought most of these will be home-tests, which will be available in batches - as and when they are ready. The Department of Health and Social Care has identified a number of suppliers who can make the antibody tests, if they past medical checks. Despite repeated requests from MailOnline, officials have refused to confirm which firms are in the running. BioSure's Ms Bard said it was 'hugely optimistic' for the Government to say it could get its tests out in three weeks, adding 'six weeks is more likely'. She warned that she cannot scale up any manufacturing until they are approved, in case the finger-prick kits fail stringent medical checks - which would be a great expense to the company. BioSure already makes a home-testing kit for HIV, which looks for antibodies in the blood and gives a result in 15 minutes. BioSure claims to have developed an at-home finger prick test that takes a quarter of an hour It works exactly like the firm's HIV self test, which requires the user to take a drop of blood using a safety lancet before using its pen device to scan the sample for COVID-19 antibodies FURY AS UK IS STILL NOT CARRYING OUT 10,000 TESTS A DAY Ministers are facing a furious backlash today after it emerged the UK is still not carrying out 10,000 tests a day - despite claims the level had been hit. Michael Gove and Health Secretary Matt Hancock both hailed the target having been reached yesterday amid mounting criticism of the government response. However, Public Health England has revealed that the latest daily number of tests of whether people were currently suffering from the disease was actually 9,114. And health minister Helen Whately conceded today that while the 'capacity' was now in place to carry out 10,000 checks a day, the actual figure was still below that. The confusion fuelled anger about delays in scaling up the testing regime, with questions over how Germany is managing to carry out more than 500,000 a week. Advertisement Its test, which is currently being evaluated, has just been recalibrated to look for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Other companies in discussion with the Government are likely to be in a similar position as Essex-based BioSure. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease specialist at the University of East Anglia agreed that the order of 17.5million kits by mid-April 'does seem a stretch'. He told MailOnline: 'Certainly we need to get a substantial proportion of them distributed to people as soon as possible.' Derby-based SureScreen is one company that has been approached by Number 10. It claims it can make 500,000 of its home-tests each week. Ministers hope the antibody tests will identify contagion hotspots as well as people who are immune. The tests would help get NHS staff back to work with screening of frontline workers, such as teachers and police officers, to follow. The programme could see movement restrictions lifted earlier than the six months suggested by the Government's scientific advisers yesterday. 'The top priority is randomised testing to establish how far the disease has spread,' a Whitehall source said. A car drivers into the testing facility at the make-shift drive-through facility in Surrey A worker wearing a face mask and apron stands waiting as a car approaches for a drive-through coronavirus in test UK COULD GIVE OUT 'IMMUNITY' CERTIFICATES The UK could start giving out coronavirus 'immunity' certificates like Germany to allow millions of Britons out of lockdown. Health officials are looking into whether members of the public could be given some kind of document that says they have built up immunity to the disease, and are therefore allowed out of their homes, The Telegraph reports. To get a certificate, a person would have to show they have already had COVID-19 using an antibody test, which is hoped to be rolled out soon. The finger-prick blood test will detect if a person has antibodies against the disease, indicating they have already the illness and fought it, therefore are unlikely to be 'reinfected' if they go back into society. The test won't be available to the public for some time. Public Health England have said that a small number of tests are being checked for accuracy in a laboratory. Then, they are expected to be distributed via Amazon and sold in Boots so they can be available to everyone. The move towards 'immunity certificates' follows Germany, who are making plans to introduce it soon. Up to 100,000 citizens are set to be tested at a time, with documents issued to those who are no longer at risk of catching the virus. Researchers will also use the data to advise the government on when schools should be re-opened and mass gatherings permitted once again. Advertisement For weeks Britain has relied on swabs to test patients in hospital, a lengthy process which can take up to two days. Officials finally announced on Friday that they would begin antigen testing on NHS frontline staff. It comes after former health secretary Jeremy Hunt announced he believes testing is key to the relaxation of social distancing measures. Writing in the Daily Mail, he asked: 'Is it too far-fetched to aim to be the first country that tests every single member of the population at home? 'Mass social distancing will help flatten the curve, but only testing will save us from months, maybe years, of anguish and economic paralysis.' Iceland has already carried out a population-wide testing programme and Norway announced one yesterday. It comes after the president of the Royal College of Physicians today said up to 30 per cent of its staff is currently off work. Professor Andrew Goddard told BBC Breakfast coronavirus testing being rolled out to frontline NHS workers would make a 'big difference'. He said: 'I have got lots of colleagues at the moment who are sitting at home with family members who have got symptoms. 'They themselves dont have symptoms and are champing at the bit to try to get back to work. 'So, if we can get the tests and get those people back on the shop floor, then that would be brilliant.' Scientists fear that lifting restrictions too early before the virus is in retreat could lead to a second spike in deaths. Britain is currently conducting only 'antigen' testing a swab that requires laboratory analysis. A drive through test facility is pictured above in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures, London HOW BIG IS BRITAIN'S CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK? Britain has repeatedly been criticised for its controversial testing policy to only swab patients in hospital for the killer coronavirus. It means the true size of the Britain's outbreak is a mystery because officials have no idea who is actually infected, or how many cases there are. Professor Neil Ferguson, a Government adviser, today claimed up to 2million people may already have caught the deadly coronavirus. He was one of the authors of a bleak Imperial College London report that convinced Downing Street to ramp up its efforts to stop the crisis. Professor Ferguson and colleagues warned that 250,000 Brits could die under a controversial plan to build-up 'herd immunity'. University of Oxford scientists last week claimed that up to half of the UK could have already caught the disease, called COVID-19. Epidemiologists claimed the virus was circulating in the UK by mid-January, around two weeks before the first reported case. Scientists called for immediate large-scale antibody testing to allow officials to understand the true size of the escalating outbreak. But official figures show fewer than 20,000 patients have tested positive. The death toll currently stands at around 1,200. Advertisement Professor Hunter said: 'If you relax social distancing based on a levelling off of cases you could see a resurgence. So we have to be cautious about that because we just don't know enough about what is going on. 'But if we know, through mass antibody testing, that a large proportion of the population is immune, you could lift social distancing much earlier.' Ministers decided earlier this month to reserve all Britain's testing capacity for those in hospitals. But that move has left officials 'blindfolded' in their response to the crisis, the World Health Organisation has warned. It has called on all countries to 'test, test, test'. The Government has been fiercely criticised for failing to prioritise testing, with the daily figures failing to yet hit 10,000. In Germany, by comparison, officials are testing more than 70,000 people a day. Even front-line NHS staff were not being tested until this weekend, which meant 20 per cent were in self-isolation last week. South Korea initially one of the worst hit countries managed to quickly control its outbreak by aggressively testing for the disease. Germany yesterday announced plans for a testing programme that will see it issue 100,000 'immunity passports' a month. Professor Eleanor Riley, an infectious disease expert at the University of Edinburgh, said: 'Mass antibody testing will give us a much better idea of how widely the virus has spread in the population.' Medical equipment is pictured outside London's Excel centre, which has been turned into NHS Nightingale Hospital. One in four Britons could be tested for coronavirus to try to shorten the lockdown In a sign that ministers have finally accepted the urgency of mass testing, officials have agreed deals to buy 17.5million kits for use by mid-April. They hope to identify contagion hotspots as well as people who are immune. An NHS worker is pictured above being tested for the virus in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures in London Australia's richest man Anthony Pratt has donated $1million to fund the trial of two drugs that may help patients suffering from COVID-19. The drugs, used in the treatment of HIV and arthritis, will be trialled by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity at the University of Melbourne on Monday, The Australian reported. Mr Pratt, who is the billionaire chairman of packaging companies Visy Industries and Pratt Industries, also issued 'a call to arms' to Australia's wealthiest to join the fight against COVID-19, as the number of confirmed cases hit 4,514. 'Bushfires unfortunately happen every year but this is a one-in-100-year event, so this is a call to arms for people to contribute more now,' he said. The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity will use HIV and arthritis drugs for their trial. Pictured: Packets of a Nivaquine, tablets containing chloroquine and Plaqueril and tablets containing hydroxychloroquine Australia's richest man Anthony Pratt (pictured) has donated $1million to a trial of existing HIV and arthritis drugs which could be a 'silver bullet solution' to the coronavirus pandemic 'We are hoping for a silver-bullet solution. We need to do something, and preferably something within 60 days. The Melbourne businessman, who has an estimated fortune of $16.95billion, said people who can help should step up in this situation. Doherty Institute director Sharon Lewin said the trial involves the HIV drug Kaletra and arthritis drug Hydroxychloroquine. The trial involves giving patients, who are in hospital but not intensive care, the two drugs and monitoring their condition with those who were not given drugs. The 60-day trial would take place in 60 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand, involving 2,440 people and costing $6.7million. The donation from Mr Pratt brings the total to to $3million. Doherty Institute director Sharon Lewin said the trial involves the HIV drug Kaletra and arthritis drug Hydroxychloroquine 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 is unprecedented is we are talking about making this available to all Australians if possible, but it needs to be studied and the only way to do that is in a larger study,' Professor Lewin said. He said it can take months to get funding from the government for medical trials, highlighting the importance of philanthropy in moving the process along. Mr Pratt's donation comes after Doherty Institute scientists grew coronavirus in a high-security lab in January after taking a sample from a man who was diagnosed with the infection. They were the second lab to grow the virus after one in China was able to cultivate it. Mining billionaire Clive Palmer also donated $1million to Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospitals Coronavirus Action Fund. The National Investigation Agency on Tuesday filed a supplementary charge sheet in the killing of an MLA and 10 others in Arunachal Pradesh allegedly in an ambush by the NSCN(IM) militant group in May last year, officials said. The agency filed its supplementary charge sheet against accused Ellie Ketok before a special NIA court in Yupia in Arunachal Pradesh. Ketok has been charged under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy and murder and relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The convoy of Tirong Aboh, the MLA from Khonsa constituency, was ambushed by armed terrorists of the NSCN (IM) on May 21, 2019 near Pansum Thong village in Tirap district. The MLA was travelling to Khonsa from Dibrugarh. The MLA was among 11 people killed in the ambush, while three others suffered injuries, the officials said. The agency has already charge-sheeted four accused --Luckin Mashangva, Jai Kishan Sharma, Yangte Josaham and Napong Jenpi -- on January 27, 2020, they said. The NIA has found that members of the NSCN(IM) had allegedly conspired to kill the MLA and others due to his opposition to extortion activities of the terror group in Tirap, the agency spokesperson said. The agency has found that some NSCN(IM) cadres led by self-styled Major General Rockwang Tangkhul alias Absolom Tangkhul, who has been absconding, formed a group to execute the killing. The group was financed by Jai Kishan Sharma, it said. The NSCN (IM) members had on an earlier occasion threatened the MLA and his supporters for their opposition to criminal activities of the group, the NIA has alleged. "In pursuance of this conspiracy, on May 21, 2019, the members of this terrorist group fired with sophisticated weapons in an ambush at the convoy of Tirong Aboh MLA, Khonsa leading to death of eleven people and injuries to three others," the spokesperson said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pressure for lockdown in Japan is building, as Tokyo recorded the most coronavirus cases in a single day. Japan's capital recorded more than 70 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, its highest total in a single day yet. Japan's prime minister is under increasing pressure to order a lockdown. NEW: Pressure builds for a Tokyo lockdown. The governor of Japan's capital Yuriko Koike has urged PM Shinzo Abe to decide on an emergency #coronavirus declaration, reports @NHKWORLD_News. She says Tokyo is on the brink. @CBSNews is here. #COVID19 https://t.co/bZvJsK3yPp Ramy Inocencio (@RamyInocencio) March 31, 2020 From Reuters: Domestic cases topped 2,000, and public broadcaster NHK said 78 cases in Tokyo took its tally of infections past 500. "This is the greatest increase up to now and is certainly of high concern, and I'm worried about what tomorrow's figures might show," said Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike. A government spokesman said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told cabinet members he and his second-in-command, Taro Aso, would no longer attend the same meetings to protect the leadership from infection. But the two were later shown at the same gathering although wearing masks and sitting apart. More at Reuters. Latest from Japan and beyond on the #coronavirus outbreak * Tokyo reports a record daily increase of 78 new infections * Japan advises against travel to some 50 nations including U.S., China For more #CoronavirusUpdateshttps://t.co/trk88RcbvN pic.twitter.com/1MkT51eGS8 Kyodo News | Japan (@kyodo_english) March 31, 2020 The death of iconic comedian #ShimuraKen has led to messages of grief and an increased sense of urgency surrounding the #coronavirus. For many people, particularly the young, his death is the first sign that this is a very real crisis.#COVID19 #Japanhttps://t.co/knQwUIJmpK NHK WORLD News (@NHKWORLD_News) March 31, 2020 The iconic Japanese comedian died on Sunday from severe pneumonia caused by the #coronavirus. His death has sparked an outpouring of grief from fans around Japan and his former colleagues in The Drifters comedy troupe. #Japan #ShimuraKen #COVID19https://t.co/xL7cGe4AoR pic.twitter.com/dVS10TAsSA NHK WORLD News (@NHKWORLD_News) March 31, 2020 Italys government said it would extend its nationwide lockdown measures against a coronavirus outbreak, due to end on Friday, at least until the Easter season in April, as the number of new infections declines Rome: Italys government on Monday said it would extend its nationwide lockdown measures against a coronavirus outbreak, due to end on Friday, at least until the Easter season in April, as the number of new infections declines. The evaluation was to extend all containment measures at least until Easter. The government will move in this direction, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said in a statement after a meeting of a scientific committee advising the government. The Health Ministry did not give a date for the new end of the lockdown, but said it would be in a law the government would propose. Easter Sunday is 12 April this year. Italy is predominantly Roman Catholic and contains the Vatican, the heart of the church. Italians have been under lockdown for three weeks, with most shops, bars and restaurants shut and people forbidden from leaving their homes for all but non-essential needs. Italy, which is the worlds hardest hit country in terms of number of deaths and accounts for more than a third of all global fatalities, saw its total death tally rise to 11,591 since the outbreak emerged in northern regions on Feb. 21. The death toll has risen by 812 in the last 24 hours, the Civil Protection Agency said, reversing two days of declines, although the number of new cases rose by just 4,050, the lowest increase since 17 March, reaching a total of 101,739. However, the decline in the rise of new infections may be partly explained by a reduction in the number of tests, which were the fewest for six days. The governor of the southern region of Puglia said on Saturday the restrictions should remain in place until May. Underscoring the dangers of the disease, the national doctors association announced the deaths of 11 more doctors on Monday, bringing the total to 61. Not all of them had been tested for coronavirus before they died, it said, but it linked their deaths to the pandemic. Lombardy, which contains Italys financial capital Milan, accounts for almost 60 percent of the total deaths in Italy and some 40 percent of cases. Lombardy President Attilio Fontana said the unprecedented curbs on movement, gatherings and business activity were preventing an exponential rise in the number of cases, and needed to be kept in place. Were on the right track, were maintaining a (chart) line thats not uphill, but its not downhill either, he said. The head of the national health institute, Silvio Brusaferro, who is advising the government on how to handle the crisis, also said that for restrictions to be eased the number of new cases has to fall significantly. For sure the re-opening will happen gradually ... we are even considering the British idea of stop and go, which envisages opening things for a certain amount of time and then closing them again, he told the daily La Repubblica. A Coronavirus patient has escaped from an isolation centre where she was being kept with eight others. The culprit is one of the e... A Coronavirus patient has escaped from an isolation centre where she was being kept with eight others. The culprit is one of the eight Guineans who tested positive for the novel coronavirus. She escaped from the facility in which they were being quarantined in Tamale, Ghana. So far, Ghana has recorded 152 cases of Coronavirus, with five death and two recovery. According to the Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, the patient, a woman in her early 20s, scaled over a wall leaving behind her belongings on Monday. He described it as a very disturbing situation because she is positive with the novel coronavirus. Since yesterday, up till this morning, I have not slept, with my security people. I directed that they should use all their networks to be able to track the person down and get her, Mr. Saeed told the media. According to Citi News, there were two police and two soldiers who were guarding the guest house where the infected persons were being monitored. Despite the gravity of the situation, Saeed urged citizens to remain calm. Our people are safe we are working very hard to ensure that the people dont get too panicked. Nobody should be afraid because the security personnel are on top of the issues. There's a lot of bad news out there. Here are some positive headlines, fun videos, and inspiring stories to brighten your day. Today, look for goat meetings, a cute coronavirus newspaper published by an all-kid editorial team in Bernal Heights, Dominique Crenn dancing to Backstreet Boys, and more. Watch Dominique Crenn and her kitchen crew lighten the mood with a little Backstreet Boys, Instagram How to Invite a Goat to Your Next Zoom Meeting, KQED Goat yoga classes are canceled for the time being, but Half Moon Bay's Sweet Farm is getting down with modern times, offering virtual goat hangouts and farm tours for schools, corporations, or just virtual happy hours via Zoom. Read more. Oyster Icon Hog Island Opens Larkspur Location for Takeout and Delivery, Eater SF Marin residents have no doubt looked forward to the much-anticipated opening of Hog Island's Larkspur Landing locale. Well good news: Hog Island is now open there, and locals can grab chowder, seafood pastas and sandwiches, oysters, tinned fish, meal kits, and even bloody marys to go. Read more. Here's Where to Donate and Volunteer in the Bay Area Right Now, The Bold Italic Food banks, relief funds, school districts, and blood banks all need our help. Read more. This kid-staffed SF newspaper is the coronavirus break we needed. Here's how it started, San Francisco Chronicle Local author/dad Chris Colin lead an all-kid staff to publish the 29-page Six Feet of Separation, a digital coronavirus newspaper filled with soul-satisfying flavors of humanity including a seven-year-old's review of dinner (linguine), literary and TV critiques, comics, a recipe for banana bread and, yes, journalism. Read more. Why the oldest restaurant in San Francisco refuses to lay off a single employee, SFGate Tadich Grill is one of the city's most iconic old haunts; its staff has been with them for decades. "Our employees are our DNA. We couldn't do this without each and every one of them. My dad's goal is to go through this without losing one employee." Read more. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 China reported 48 new cases of coronavirus today, all of them imported - putting an end to four days of declines. The figures reverse the trend of recent days after 67 cases were reported on Thursday, 55 on Friday, 54 on Saturday, 45 on Sunday and 31 on Monday. There were no new cases in the original virus epicentre of Hubei province, although one patient died in Wuhan where the outbreak began. Health officials found no new cases of the virus being transmitted locally, according to the figures released by the National Health Commission. Health workers wearing protective suits carry out disinfection work at Wushang Plaza Shopping Center in Wuhan, where restrictions have gradually been lifted Wuhan has begun to loosen the restrictions that have been in place since January, resuming bus and rail services and opening shops. However, there is growing concern about travellers bringing the virus to China from abroad, in a reversal of the original pattern. Beijing has stepped up health screening and quarantine protocols, reducing the number of international flights and barring entry to many foreigners. Of the latest imported cases, 10 were in northern China's Inner Mongolia region involving travellers whose flights were diverted from Beijing to the city of Hohhot, state media said. Shanghai reported 11 new imported cases, comprising mainly Chinese nationals returning from abroad, while Beijing reported three new imported infections. 'Beijing, the capital, still bears the brunt of the risks,' said Xu Hejian, spokesman for the Beijing government, told reporters. In Wuhan, the majority of shops on retail streets are now open but many have imposed limits on how many people could enter. Shopkeepers have set up dispensers for hand sanitiser and checked customers for signs of fever. Medical workers check information as they take swab samples during coronavirus tests in Wuhan, in the original virus epicentre of Hubei province Wuhan's bus and train service has resumed, easing curbs that cut most access to the city of 11million people on January 23 as China fought the coronavirus. The train station reopened on Saturday, bringing thousands of people to what is the manufacturing and transportation hub of central China. Travel controls on most of Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, were lifted on March 23. The final restrictions preventing people from leaving Wuhan are due to end April 8. Car makers and other manufacturers in Wuhan have reopened but say they need to restore the flow of components before production returns to normal levels. Some are waiting for employees who went to their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holiday and were stranded when plane, train and bus services were cut off. Some parents were on the street with their children but traffic was light. The latest figures bring China's total count to 81,518 cases and 3,305 deaths, according to the National Health Commission. Mainland China now accounts for barely 10 per cent of global cases, after its infection count was overtaken by the United States, Spain and Italy. Wyo. gov. explains why he vetoed bill requiring doctors help save babies born alive after abortion Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon vetoed a bill that would require an abortionist to help save the life of a baby who survives an abortion instead of leaving it to die. Gordon said In a statement Friday that while he identifies as pro-life, he believes the legislation would cause more harm than good. Laws already in place protect children from being denied life-saving care simply because they were born as a result of an abortion. This bill will not do anything to improve on those laws which already exist, Gordon said. Instead, this bill will harm people it never intended to harm parents who want a child, but have received the devastating news that their pregnancy is not viable. The State should not seek to make that moment for parents any more tragic than it already is. Known as Senate File 97, also rendered SF0097, the bill mandated that abortion providers take steps to medically assist any baby that survives an abortion procedure. The commonly accepted means of care that would be rendered to any other infant born alive shall be employed in the treatment of any viable infant aborted alive, read SF0097. Any physician performing an abortion shall take medically appropriate and reasonable steps to preserve the life and health of an infant born alive. State Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, sponsor of the bill, told the Cheyenne-based KGAB last month that she considered the legislation a clarification of existing law. Thats our job in the legislative session: we clarify law all the time, said Steinmetz. Thats what this bill seeks to do. Earlier in March, the bill passed the Wyoming House of Representatives in a vote of 44-16, having previously passed the state Senate. At the time, a spokesperson for the office of the governor told The Christian Post that Gordon had not yet reached a decision as to whether he was going to sign the bill. Legislation aimed at mandating care for babies who survive an abortion have been debated in other states and at the federal level, with mixed results. In early March, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signed a similar bill into law, saying in a statement that the legislation was an absolute no-brainer as far as Im concerned. Ive said for a long time, even back before I took office as governor, that I would support measures like this because every human life born or unborn is precious and truly a gift from God, Justice said at the time. Its unbelievable that we even have to go through this process for something that seems like its just common sense. But at the same time, we should be really proud that were defending the lives of our most vulnerable. To God above, that baby is worth it. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 In the view of coronavirus outbreak, some of the PSU banks have decided to give some relief to its customers regarding payments of instalments and interests on term loans. Also read: Confusion prevails among borrowers over three-month moratorium as many get EMI reminders Multiple PSU banks have decided to provide a moratorium of three months on payments of instalments and interest on term loans falling due between March 1 to May 31. PNB presents relief scheme for our customers. In view of COVID-19, it has been decided to defer payment of all installments on term loan and recovery of interest on cash credit facilities falling due between March 01,2020 and May 31 2020.@DFS_India @dfsfightscorona pic.twitter.com/dHRvu5luXb Punjab National Bank (@pnbindia) March 31, 2020 In view of COVID-19 pandemic, OBC provides moratorium of 3 months on payments of instalments/interest falling due between 01.03.20 to 31.05.20 for term loans and working capital facilities & allowing easing of working capital financing. @DFS_India @nsitharaman @PMOIndia OBC India (@OBCIndOfficial) March 31, 2020 In terms of Covid 19- RBI package, borrowers are eligible for moratorium/ deferment of installments/EMI for Term loans falling due from 01.03.2020 to 31.05.2020 & repayment period gets extended accordingly. SMS also has been sent to customers to avail the same. @DFS_India #COVID pic.twitter.com/NGuw1pARiv Canara Bank (@canarabank) March 31, 2020 1/3 Based on the recent COVID-19 Regulatory Package announced by RBI, we have implemented the following relief measures- Allowing moratorium of 3 months on payment of installments in Term Loans, which include (i) principal and / or interest components @DFS_India @FinMinIndia Central Bank of India (@centralbank_in) March 31, 2020 Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 19:00:57|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Heads of state of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have adopted a regional approach for the battle against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, which is ravaging nations across the globe. The IGAD heads of state and government on Monday convened a video conference, whereby they have deliberated on the regional IGAD strategy to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the region, according to a statement from the East African bloc on Tuesday. The heads of state have also commended the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group for the generous donation to the African continent of medical supplies used in the fight against COVID-19. As the chair of the IGAD assembly, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok of Sudan noted that the coronavirus represented a profound threat to the IGAD region. It would significantly impact on the economies of the IGAD region and roll back gains made toward realizing the Sustainable Development Goals in the region, he said. Stating that the virus is a threat shared by all humanity and it does not recognize international borders, the IGAD chair has emphasized on IGAD member states developing a collective and coordinated strategy to combat COVID-19 and other diseases for the region. Underlining the need for a collective regional strategy to combat COVID-19, the IGAD Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu, called for the establishment of an IGAD regional emergency fund for the control of pandemic diseases as well as for the strengthening of health systems in the region. The IGAD Heads of State and Government submitted detailed reports on the status of coronavirus infections, fatalities and recoveries in their respective countries, as well as the measures they are undertaking to combat the menace. They have also recognized and appreciated the efforts of the Chair, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and that of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia to mobilize support from the international community, particularly the generous donation to the African continent of protective equipment and testing kits by Jack Ma and Alibaba. The IGAD Executive Secretary has proposed five broad measures that would form the basis of the regional response strategy and further enable the IGAD region to efficiently and effectively respond to the threat of the coronavirus. The Executive Secretary noted that the IGAD region lay between the hammer and the anvil having barely recovered from the first round of the worst desert locust invasion in 25 years and bracing for a second invasion that would have devastating consequences for food security and livelihoods in the IGAD region. At the extraordinary summit, the IGAD Heads of State and Government held deliberations on the agenda and resolved to, among others, formulate an IGAD regional response strategy to pandemic diseases particularly COVID-19, and IGAD Ministers of Health and Finance shall meet virtually to inform the strategy. They have also resolved to establish an IGAD Emergency Fund for the control of pandemic diseases and the strengthening of health systems in the region; mobilize support from the international community to combat COVID-19, strengthen national health systems and build local manufacturing capacity for medical equipment and supplies to fight pandemic diseases; ask international financial institutions to cancel the debts of IGAD member states in order to free up resources to fight the coronavirus; and mobilize support from IGAD medical professionals in the diaspora. Libya situation requires urgent action, EU top diplomat Irini to support Berlin process (ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, MARCH 31 - Libya is a priority for the EU, as shown by the Berlin conference, but the situation is critical and requires urgent action, High Representative for the European Union Josep Borrell said Tuesday. The EU's top diplomat was illustrating the bloc's new mission, Irini, which he said was a way to help support the Berlin process and play a key role in promoting peace in the North African country. He stressed that diplomacy would not be able to achieve its aims without such actions and that the aim is to help bring in and keep a ceasefire. (ANSAmed). A ventilator manufacturer is making its designs available to any company in a position to build the machines in an 'unprecedented' move to boost supply and address a global shortage. Medtronic said the designs for its PB 560 artificial respirator - already sold in 35 countries around the world - will now be 'open source' so any firm can access them. The move represents a potentially massive development in the fight against coronavirus because it could provide a quick route for non-healthcare companies with adaptable production lines to start making the machines. The announcement by Medtronic came as UK ministers continue to scramble to source as many ventilators as possible. The NHS currently has 8,000 ventilators with 8,000 more on order from existing manufacturers. The government is also in the process of testing and signing off prototype ventilators worked up by numerous major UK manufacturing companies after ministers issued a 'call to arms' earlier this month. It is hoped thousands of those machines will be supplied to the NHS in the coming months. Boris Johnson, pictured in Downing Street on March 20, is scrambling to source as many ventilators for the NHS as possible Medtronic, a ventilator manufacturer, has announced the designs for one of its machines will be made available to any company which wants to make them. The firm is headquartered in Dublin and pictured is its operational HQ in Minnesota, USA Announcing Medtronic's decision to make its intellectual property available to all firms, the company's CEO Omar Ishrak tweeted: 'Our PB 560 Ventilator is being open sourced. 'Medtronic design and specs will be available to be manufactured by anyone. An unprecedented human challenge requires an unprecedented response. The global company which is headquartered in Dublin said its 'hope is that manufacturers and engineers will use this intellectual property to inspire their own potentially lifesaving innovations'. Any firm with an interest in building ventilators based on the designs can register on Medtronic's website to be granted access to the crucial documents. Medtronic's PB 560 was first introduced in 2010 and can be used 'in a range of care settings'. The company said the machine is a 'solid ventilation solution for manufacturers, inventors, start-ups, and academic institutions seeking to quickly ramp up ventilator design and production'. Bob White, executive vice president and president of the minimally invasive therapies group at Medtronic, said: 'Medtronic recognizes the acute need for ventilators as life-saving devices in the management of COVID-19 infections. 'We know this global crisis needs a global response. Over the past few weeks, we have ramped up production of our Puritan Bennett 980 ventilators. But we also know we can do more, and we are. 'By openly sharing the PB 560 design information, we hope to increase global production of ventilator solutions for the fight against COVID-19.' The company's announcement comes after NHS trusts called on health chiefs and ministers to provide greater detail on future ventilator capacity as an order was placed for 10,000 machines with leading manufacturers. Medtronic CEO Omar Ishrak said an 'unprecedented human challenge requires an unprecedented response' A consortium which includes Rolls Royce is ready to start producing medical devices under the name Project Oyster, and is also jointly scaling-up production of an existing design, known as Project Penguin. It follows an announcement from Dyson that it had received an order from Boris Johnson to build 10,000 of its own CoVent design. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents healthcare trusts, said it was clear ventilator numbers needed to 'significantly increase'. Welcoming steps to source more devices, he said 'extra capacity will take time to deliver' and it would be 'helpful' if forecasts on numbers could be shared with trusts. Downing Street said testing on other prototypes was continuing 'at pace'. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) (Takeda) today announced that the European Medicines Agencys (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) granted a positive opinion for the extension of the marketing authorization of ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) and recommended its approval in combination with CHP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone) as a treatment for adult patients with previously untreated systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL). The positive CHMP opinion is based on the results of the Phase 3 ECHELON-2 study evaluating ADCETRIS in combination with CHP to a standard care, CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone), in previously untreated patients with CD30+ peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), including the subtype sALCL. ADCETRIS is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed at CD30, which is expressed on the surface of several types of PTCL, including sALCL. There have been no significant treatment advancements for PTCL over the last few decades. Historically there have been a lack of randomized clinical studies in this setting, making it a challenge to establish an optimal therapy for these patients, said Eva Domingo-Domenech, MD, Institut Catala d'Oncologia Hospitalet, Hospital Duran i Reynals. Outcomes with currently available therapies are often poor, and there is an urgent need for new treatment options. If approved for adult patients with previously untreated sALCL, ADCETRIS may offer an important option for European patients. The positive CHMP opinion marks an important step forward for the European sALCL community, said Christopher Arendt, Head, Oncology Therapeutic Area Unit, Takeda. ECHELON-2 showed that ADCETRIS plus CHP demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free survival and overall survival while maintaining a safety profile comparable to the standard of care of CHOP. We look forward to the European Commissions review of this positive opinion and hope to bring ADCETRIS to eligible patients in need. The opinion for ADCETRIS will now be reviewed by the European Commission (EC) for Commission Decision. ADCETRIS is currently not approved as a therapy for frontline sALCL in Europe. The ECHELON-2 study met its primary endpoint with ADCETRIS plus CHP demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) as assessed by an Independent Review Committee (hazard ratio [HR]=0.71; p-value=0.0110), 29 percent improvement in PFS. The safety profile of ADCETRIS plus CHP in the ECHELON-2 trial was comparable to CHOP and consistent with the established safety profile of ADCETRIS in combination with chemotherapy. About the ECHELON-2 Trial ECHELON-2 is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial and is investigating ADCETRIS plus CHP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone) versus CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) as frontline therapy in patients with CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphoma, also known as mature T-cell lymphoma. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS) per Independent Review Facility assessment, with events defined as progression, death, or receipt of chemotherapy for residual or progressive disease. Secondary endpoints include PFS in patients with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL), complete remission rate, overall survival and objective response rate, in addition to safety. The multi-center trial was conducted at sites across North America, Europe and Asia and enrolled 452 patients. The majority of patient enrolled had sALCL. About T-Cell Lymphomas There are more than 100 subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphomas which are broadly divided into two major groups: B-cell lymphomas, which develop from abnormal B-lymphocytes, and T-cell lymphomas, which develop from abnormal T-lymphocytes. There are many different forms of T-cell lymphomas, some of which are extremely rare. T-cell lymphomas can be aggressive (fast-growing) or indolent (slow-growing). PTCL accounts for approximately 10 percent of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases in the U.S. and Europe and may be as high as 24 percent in parts of Asia. About ADCETRIS ADCETRIS is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) comprising an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody attached by a protease-cleavable linker to a microtubule disrupting agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), utilizing Seattle Genetics' proprietary technology. The ADC employs a linker system that is designed to be stable in the bloodstream but to release MMAE upon internalization into CD30-positive tumor cells. ADCETRIS injection for intravenous infusion has received FDA approval for six indications in adult patients with: (1) previously untreated systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) or other CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL), including angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and PTCL not otherwise specified, in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone, (2) previously untreated Stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine, (3) cHL at high risk of relapse or progression as post-autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) consolidation, (4) cHL after failure of auto-HSCT or failure of at least two prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who are not auto-HSCT candidates, (5) sALCL after failure of at least one prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimen, and (6) primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL) or CD30-expressing mycosis fungoides (MF) who have received prior systemic therapy. Health Canada granted ADCETRIS approval with conditions for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and sALCL in 2013, and non-conditional approval for post-autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) consolidation treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma patients at increased risk of relapse or progression in 2017, adults with pcALCL or CD30-expressing MF who have had prior systemic therapy in 2018, for previously untreated Stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine in 2019 and for previously untreated adult patients with sALCL, peripheral T-cell lymphoma-not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) or angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), whose tumors express CD30, in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone in 2019. ADCETRIS received conditional marketing authorization from the European Commission in October 2012. The approved indications in Europe are: (1) for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated CD30-positive Stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (AVD), (2) for the treatment of adult patients with CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma at increased risk of relapse or progression following ASCT, (3) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma following ASCT, or following at least two prior therapies when ASCT or multi-agent chemotherapy is not a treatment option, (4) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory sALCL and (5) for the treatment of adult patients with CD30-positive cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) after at least one prior systemic therapy. In Japan, ADCETRIS received its first approval in January 2014 for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and ALCL, and untreated Hodgkin lymphoma in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine in September 2018, and Peripheral T-cell lymphomas in December 2019. In December 2019, ADCETRIS obtained additional dosage & administration for the treatment of relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and Peripheral T-cell lymphomas in pediatric. The current wording of approved indication in Japan package insert is for the treatment of patients with CD30 positive: Hodgkin lymphoma and Peripheral T-cell lymphomas. ADCETRIS has received marketing authorization by regulatory authorities in more than 70 countries/ regions for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and sALCL. See important safety information below. ADCETRIS is being evaluated broadly in more than 70 clinical trials, including a Phase 3 study in first-line Hodgkin lymphoma (ECHELON-1) and another Phase 3 study in first-line CD30-positive peripheral T-cell lymphomas (ECHELON-2), as well as trials in many additional types of CD30-positive malignancies. Seattle Genetics and Takeda are jointly developing ADCETRIS. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Seattle Genetics has U.S. and Canadian commercialization rights and Takeda has rights to commercialize ADCETRIS in the rest of the world. Seattle Genetics and Takeda are funding joint development costs for ADCETRIS on a 50:50 basis, except in Japan where Takeda is solely responsible for development costs. ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) Important Safety Information (European Union) Please refer to Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) before prescribing. CONTRAINDICATIONS ADCETRIS is contraindicated for patients with hypersensitivity to brentuximab vedotin and its excipients. In addition, combined use of ADCETRIS with bleomycin causes pulmonary toxicity. SPECIAL WARNINGS & PRECAUTIONS Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML): John Cunningham virus (JCV) reactivation resulting in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and death can occur in patients treated with ADCETRIS. PML has been reported in patients who received ADCETRIS after receiving multiple prior chemotherapy regimens. PML is a rare demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that results from reactivation of latent JCV and is often fatal. Closely monitor patients for new or worsening neurological, cognitive, or behavioral signs or symptoms, which may be suggestive of PML. Suggested evaluation of PML includes neurology consultation, gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis for JCV DNA by polymerase chain reaction or a brain biopsy with evidence of JCV. A negative JCV PCR does not exclude PML. Additional follow up and evaluation may be warranted if no alternative diagnosis can be established. Hold dosing for any suspected case of PML and permanently discontinue ADCETRIS if a diagnosis of PML is confirmed. Be alert to PML symptoms that the patient may not notice (e.g., cognitive, neurological, or psychiatric symptoms). Pancreatitis: Acute pancreatitis has been observed in patients treated with ADCETRIS. Fatal outcomes have been reported. Closely monitor patients for new or worsening abdominal pain, which may be suggestive of acute pancreatitis. Patient evaluation may include physical examination, laboratory evaluation for serum amylase and serum lipase, and abdominal imaging, such as ultrasound and other appropriate diagnostic measures. Hold ADCETRIS for any suspected case of acute pancreatitis. ADCETRIS should be discontinued if a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is confirmed. Pulmonary Toxicity: Cases of pulmonary toxicity, some with fatal outcomes, including pneumonitis, interstitial lung disease, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), have been reported in patients receiving ADCETRIS. Although a causal association with ADCETRIS has not been established, the risk of pulmonary toxicity cannot be ruled out. Promptly evaluate and treat new or worsening pulmonary symptoms (e.g., cough, dyspnoea) appropriately. Consider holding dosing during evaluation and until symptomatic improvement. Serious infections and opportunistic infections: Serious infections such as pneumonia, staphylococcal bacteremia, sepsis/septic shock (including fatal outcomes), and herpes zoster, cytomegalovirus (CMV) (reactivation) and opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia and oral candidiasis have been reported in patients treated with ADCETRIS. Patients should be carefully monitored patients during treatment for the emergence of possible serious and opportunistic infections. Infusion-related reactions (IRR): Immediate and delayed IRR, as well as anaphylaxis, have been reported with ADCETRIS. Carefully monitor patients during and after an infusion. If anaphylaxis occurs, immediately and permanently discontinue administration of ADCETRIS and administer appropriate medical therapy. If an IRR occurs, interrupt the infusion and institute appropriate medical management. The infusion may be restarted at a slower rate after symptom resolution. Patients who have experienced a prior IRR should be premedicated for subsequent infusions. IRRs are more frequent and more severe in patients with antibodies to ADCETRIS. Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS): TLS has been reported with ADCETRIS. Patients with rapidly proliferating tumor and high tumor burden are at risk of TLS. Monitor these patients closely and manage according to best medical practice. Peripheral neuropathy (PN): ADCETRIS treatment may cause PN, both sensory and motor. ADCETRIS-induced PN is typically an effect of cumulative exposure to ADCETRIS and is reversible in most cases. Monitor patients for symptoms of neuropathy, such as hypoesthesia, hyperesthesia, paresthesia, discomfort, a burning sensation, neuropathic pain, or weakness. Patients experiencing new or worsening PN may require a delay and a dose reduction or discontinuation of ADCETRIS. Hematological toxicities: Grade 3 or Grade 4 anemia, thrombocytopenia, and prolonged (equal to or greater than one week) Grade 3 or Grade 4 neutropenia can occur with ADCETRIS. Monitor complete blood counts prior to administration of each dose. Febrile neutropenia: Febrile neutropenia has been reported with ADCETRIS. Complete blood counts should be monitored prior to administration of each dose of treatment. Closely monitor patients for fever and manage according to best medical practice if febrile neutropenia develops. When ADCETRIS is administered in combination with AVD, primary prophylaxis with G-CSF is recommended for all patients beginning with the first dose. Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS): SJS and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) have been reported with ADCETRIS. Fatal outcomes have been reported. Discontinue treatment with ADCETRIS if SJS or TEN occurs and administer appropriate medical therapy. Gastrointestinal (GI) Complications: GI complications, some with fatal outcomes, including intestinal obstruction, ileus, enterocolitis, neutropenic colitis, erosion, ulcer, perforation and haemorrhage, have been reported with ADCETRIS. Promptly evaluate and treat patients if new or worsening GI symptoms occur. Hepatotoxicity: Elevations in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) have been reported with ADCETRIS. Serious cases of hepatotoxicity, including fatal outcomes, have also occurred. Pre-existing liver disease, comorbidities, and concomitant medications may also increase the risk. Test liver function prior to treatment initiation and routinely monitor during treatment. Patients experiencing hepatotoxicity may require a delay, dose modification, or discontinuation of ADCETRIS. Hyperglycemia: Hyperglycemia has been reported during trials in patients with an elevated body mass index (BMI) with or without a history of diabetes mellitus. Closely monitor serum glucose for patients who experiences an event of hyperglycemia. Administer anti-diabetic treatment as appropriate. Renal and Hepatic Impairment: There is limited experience in patients with renal and hepatic impairment. Available data indicate that MMAE clearance might be affected by severe renal impairment, hepatic impairment, and by low serum albumin concentrations. CD30+ CTCL: The size of the treatment effect in CD30 + CTCL subtypes other than mycosis fungoides (MF) and primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL) is not clear due to lack of high level evidence. In two single arm phase II studies of ADCETRIS, disease activity has been shown in the subtypes Sezary syndrome (SS), lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) and mixed CTCL histology. These data suggest that efficacy and safety can be extrapolated to other CTCL CD30+ subtypes. Carefully consider the benefit-risk per patient and use with caution in other CD30+ CTCL patient types. Sodium content in excipients: This medicinal product contains 13.2 mg sodium per vial, equivalent to 0.7% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult. INTERACTIONS Patients who are receiving a strong CYP3A4 and P-gp inhibitor, concomitantly with ADCETRIS may have an increased risk of neutropenia. If neutropenia develops, refer to dosing recommendations for neutropenia (see SmPC section 4.2). Co-administration of ADCETRIS with a CYP3A4 inducer did not alter the plasma exposure of ADCETRIS, but it appeared to reduce plasma concentrations of MMAE metabolites that could be assayed. ADCETRIS is not expected to alter the exposure to drugs that are metabolized by CYP3A4 enzymes. PREGNANCY: Advise women of childbearing potential to use two methods of effective contraception during treatment with ADCETRIS and until 6 months after treatment. There are no data from the use of ADCETRIS in pregnant women, although studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity. Do not use ADCETRIS during pregnancy unless the benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risks to the fetus. LACTATION (breast-feeding): There are no data as to whether ADCETRIS or its metabolites are excreted in human milk, therefore a risk to the newborn/infant cannot be excluded. With the potential risk, a decision should be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or discontinue/abstain from therapy with ADCETRIS. FERTILITY: In nonclinical studies, ADCETRIS treatment has resulted in testicular toxicity, and may alter male fertility. Advise men being treated with ADCETRIS not to father a child during treatment and for up to 6 months following the last dose. Effects on ability to drive and use machines: ADCETRIS may have a moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines. UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS Monotherapy: The most frequent adverse reactions (10%) were infections, peripheral sensory neuropathy, nausea, fatigue, diarrhoea, pyrexia, upper respiratory tract infection, neutropenia, rash, cough, vomiting, arthralgia, peripheral motor neuropathy, infusion-related reactions, pruritus, constipation, dyspnoea, weight decreased, myalgia and abdominal pain. Serious adverse drug reactions occurred in 12% of patients. The frequency of unique serious adverse drug reactions was 1%. Adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in 24% of patients. Combination Therapy: In the study of ADCETRIS as combination therapy with AVD in 662 patients with previously untreated advanced HL, the most common adverse reactions ( 10%) were: neutropenia, nausea, constipation, vomiting, fatigue, peripheral sensory neuropathy, diarrhoea, pyrexia, alopecia, peripheral motor neuropathy, decreased weight, abdominal pain, anaemia, stomatitis, febrile neutropenia, bone pain, insomnia, decreased appetite, cough, headache, arthralgia, back pain, dyspnoea, myalgia, upper respiratory tract infection, alanine aminotransferase increased. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 36% of patients. Serious adverse reactions occurring in 3% of patients included febrile neutropenia (17%), pyrexia (6%), and neutropenia (3%). Adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in 13% of patients. ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) U.S. Important Safety Information BOXED WARNING PROGRESSIVE MULTIFOCAL LEUKOENCEPHALOPATHY (PML): JC virus infection resulting in PML and death can occur in ADCETRIS-treated patients. Contraindication ADCETRIS concomitant with bleomycin due to pulmonary toxicity (e.g., interstitial infiltration and/or inflammation). Warnings and Precautions Peripheral neuropathy (PN): ADCETRIS causes PN that is predominantly sensory. Cases of motor PN have also been reported. ADCETRIS-induced PN is cumulative. Monitor for symptoms such as hypoesthesia, hyperesthesia, paresthesia, discomfort, a burning sensation, neuropathic pain, or weakness. Institute dose modifications accordingly. ADCETRIS causes PN that is predominantly sensory. Cases of motor PN have also been reported. ADCETRIS-induced PN is cumulative. Monitor for symptoms such as hypoesthesia, hyperesthesia, paresthesia, discomfort, a burning sensation, neuropathic pain, or weakness. Institute dose modifications accordingly. Anaphylaxis and infusion reactions: Infusion-related reactions (IRR), including anaphylaxis, have occurred with ADCETRIS. Monitor patients during infusion. If an IRR occurs, interrupt the infusion and institute appropriate medical management. If anaphylaxis occurs, immediately and permanently discontinue the infusion and administer appropriate medical therapy. Premedicate patients with a prior IRR before subsequent infusions. Premedication may include acetaminophen, an antihistamine, and a corticosteroid. Infusion-related reactions (IRR), including anaphylaxis, have occurred with ADCETRIS. Monitor patients during infusion. If an IRR occurs, interrupt the infusion and institute appropriate medical management. If anaphylaxis occurs, immediately and permanently discontinue the infusion and administer appropriate medical therapy. Premedicate patients with a prior IRR before subsequent infusions. Premedication may include acetaminophen, an antihistamine, and a corticosteroid. Hematologic toxicities: Fatal and serious cases of febrile neutropenia have been reported with ADCETRIS. Prolonged (1 week) severe neutropenia and Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia or anemia can occur with ADCETRIS. Administer G-CSF primary prophylaxis beginning with Cycle 1 for patients who receive ADCETRIS in combination with chemotherapy for previously untreated Stage III/IV cHL or previously untreated PTCL. Monitor complete blood counts prior to each ADCETRIS dose. Monitor more frequently for patients with Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. Monitor patients for fever. If Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia develops, consider dose delays, reductions, discontinuation, or G-CSF prophylaxis with subsequent doses. Fatal and serious cases of febrile neutropenia have been reported with ADCETRIS. Prolonged (1 week) severe neutropenia and Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia or anemia can occur with ADCETRIS. Administer G-CSF primary prophylaxis beginning with Cycle 1 for patients who receive ADCETRIS in combination with chemotherapy for previously untreated Stage III/IV cHL or previously untreated PTCL. Monitor complete blood counts prior to each ADCETRIS dose. Monitor more frequently for patients with Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. Monitor patients for fever. If Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia develops, consider dose delays, reductions, discontinuation, or G-CSF prophylaxis with subsequent doses. Serious infections and opportunistic infections: Infections such as pneumonia, bacteremia, and sepsis or septic shock (including fatal outcomes) have been reported in ADCETRIS-treated patients. Closely monitor patients during treatment for bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. Infections such as pneumonia, bacteremia, and sepsis or septic shock (including fatal outcomes) have been reported in ADCETRIS-treated patients. Closely monitor patients during treatment for bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. Tumor lysis syndrome: Closely monitor patients with rapidly proliferating tumor and high tumor burden. Closely monitor patients with rapidly proliferating tumor and high tumor burden. Increased toxicity in the presence of severe renal impairment: The frequency of Grade 3 adverse reactions and deaths was greater in patients with severe renal impairment compared to patients with normal renal function. Avoid use in patients with severe renal impairment. The frequency of Grade 3 adverse reactions and deaths was greater in patients with severe renal impairment compared to patients with normal renal function. Avoid use in patients with severe renal impairment. Increased toxicity in the presence of moderate or severe hepatic impairment: The frequency of Grade 3 adverse reactions and deaths was greater in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment compared to patients with normal hepatic function. Avoid use in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment . The frequency of Grade 3 adverse reactions and deaths was greater in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment compared to patients with normal hepatic function. Avoid use in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment Hepatotoxicity: Fatal and serious cases have occurred in ADCETRIS-treated patients. Cases were consistent with hepatocellular injury, including elevations of transaminases and/or bilirubin, and occurred after the first ADCETRIS dose or rechallenge. Preexisting liver disease, elevated baseline liver enzymes, and concomitant medications may increase the risk. Monitor liver enzymes and bilirubin. Patients with new, worsening, or recurrent hepatotoxicity may require a delay, change in dose, or discontinuation of ADCETRIS. Fatal and serious cases have occurred in ADCETRIS-treated patients. Cases were consistent with hepatocellular injury, including elevations of transaminases and/or bilirubin, and occurred after the first ADCETRIS dose or rechallenge. Preexisting liver disease, elevated baseline liver enzymes, and concomitant medications may increase the risk. Monitor liver enzymes and bilirubin. Patients with new, worsening, or recurrent hepatotoxicity may require a delay, change in dose, or discontinuation of ADCETRIS. PML: Fatal cases of JC virus infection resulting in PML and death have been reported in ADCETRIS-treated patients. First onset of symptoms occurred at various times from initiation of ADCETRIS therapy, with some cases occurring within 3 months of initial exposure. In addition to ADCETRIS therapy, other possible contributory factors include prior therapies and underlying disease that may cause immunosuppression. Consider PML diagnosis in patients with new-onset signs and symptoms of central nervous system abnormalities. Hold ADCETRIS if PML is suspected and discontinue ADCETRIS if PML is confirmed. Fatal cases of JC virus infection resulting in PML and death have been reported in ADCETRIS-treated patients. First onset of symptoms occurred at various times from initiation of ADCETRIS therapy, with some cases occurring within 3 months of initial exposure. In addition to ADCETRIS therapy, other possible contributory factors include prior therapies and underlying disease that may cause immunosuppression. Consider PML diagnosis in patients with new-onset signs and symptoms of central nervous system abnormalities. Hold ADCETRIS if PML is suspected and discontinue ADCETRIS if PML is confirmed. Pulmonary toxicity: Fatal and serious events of noninfectious pulmonary toxicity including pneumonitis, interstitial lung disease, and acute respiratory distress syndrome have been reported. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms, including cough and dyspnea. In the event of new or worsening pulmonary symptoms, hold ADCETRIS dosing during evaluation and until symptomatic improvement. Fatal and serious events of noninfectious pulmonary toxicity including pneumonitis, interstitial lung disease, and acute respiratory distress syndrome have been reported. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms, including cough and dyspnea. In the event of new or worsening pulmonary symptoms, hold ADCETRIS dosing during evaluation and until symptomatic improvement. Serious dermatologic reactions: Fatal and serious cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) have been reported with ADCETRIS. If SJS or TEN occurs, discontinue ADCETRIS and administer appropriate medical therapy. Fatal and serious cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) have been reported with ADCETRIS. If SJS or TEN occurs, discontinue ADCETRIS and administer appropriate medical therapy. Gastrointestinal (GI) complications: Fatal and serious cases of acute pancreatitis have been reported. Other fatal and serious GI complications include perforation, hemorrhage, erosion, ulcer, intestinal obstruction, enterocolitis, neutropenic colitis, and ileus. Lymphoma with preexisting GI involvement may increase the risk of perforation. In the event of new or worsening GI symptoms, including severe abdominal pain, perform a prompt diagnostic evaluation and treat appropriately. Fatal and serious cases of acute pancreatitis have been reported. Other fatal and serious GI complications include perforation, hemorrhage, erosion, ulcer, intestinal obstruction, enterocolitis, neutropenic colitis, and ileus. Lymphoma with preexisting GI involvement may increase the risk of perforation. In the event of new or worsening GI symptoms, including severe abdominal pain, perform a prompt diagnostic evaluation and treat appropriately. Hyperglycemia: Serious cases, such as new-onset hyperglycemia, exacerbation of preexisting diabetes mellitus, and ketoacidosis (including fatal outcomes) have been reported with ADCETRIS. Hyperglycemia occurred more frequently in patients with high body mass index or diabetes. Monitor serum glucose and if hyperglycemia develops, administer antihyperglycemic medications as clinically indicated. Serious cases, such as new-onset hyperglycemia, exacerbation of preexisting diabetes mellitus, and ketoacidosis (including fatal outcomes) have been reported with ADCETRIS. Hyperglycemia occurred more frequently in patients with high body mass index or diabetes. Monitor serum glucose and if hyperglycemia develops, administer antihyperglycemic medications as clinically indicated. Embryo-fetal toxicity: Based on the mechanism of action and animal studies, ADCETRIS can cause fetal harm. Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to the fetus, and to avoid pregnancy during ADCETRIS treatment and for at least 6 months after the final dose of ADCETRIS. Most Common (20% in any study) Adverse Reactions: Peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, neutropenia, upper respiratory tract infection, pyrexia, constipation, vomiting, alopecia, decreased weight, abdominal pain, anemia, stomatitis, lymphopenia and mucositis. Drug Interactions Concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers has the potential to affect the exposure to monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). Use in Specific Populations Moderate or severe hepatic impairment or severe renal impairment: MMAE exposure and adverse reactions are increased. Avoid use. Advise males with female sexual partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during ADCETRIS treatment and for at least 6 months after the final dose of ADCETRIS. Advise patients to report pregnancy immediately and avoid breastfeeding while receiving ADCETRIS. Please see the full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING, for ADCETRIS here. About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to bringing Better Health and a Brighter Future to patients by translating science into highly-innovative medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Diseases, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries. For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com. Takedas Commitment to Oncology Our core R&D mission is to deliver novel medicines to patients with cancer worldwide through our commitment to science, breakthrough innovation and passion for improving the lives of patients. Whether its with our hematology therapies, our robust pipeline, or solid tumor medicines, we aim to stay both innovative and competitive to bring patients the treatments they need. For more information, visit www.takedaoncology.com. Important Notice For the purposes of this notice, press release means this document, any oral presentation, any question and answer session and any written or oral material discussed or distributed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) regarding this release. 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Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws. The companies in which Takeda directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release, Takeda is sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Takeda and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words we, us and our are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. Forward-Looking Statements This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takedas future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. 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Such forward-looking statements do not represent any guarantee by Takeda or its management of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to: the economic circumstances surrounding Takedas global business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations; the success of or failure of product development programs; decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or product candidates; the timing and impact of post-merger integration efforts with acquired companies; and the ability to divest assets that are not core to Takedas operations and the timing of any such divestment(s), any of which may cause Takedas actual results, performance, achievements or financial position to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or financial position expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For more information on these and other factors which may affect Takedas results, performance, achievements, or financial position, see Item 3. Key InformationD. Risk Factors in Takedas most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takedas other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takedas website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/reports/sec-filings/ or at www.sec.gov. Future results, performance, achievements or financial position of Takeda could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Persons receiving this press release should not rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. Takeda undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast or projection of Takedas future results. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005020/en/ SCOTTSDALE, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / March 30, 2020 / University Headquarters, known for providing important educational information to students looking to pursue a higher education, has just released the rankings for the top 25 nursing schools in the United States. The list features many nursing-focused colleges that rank high in various categories. The prominent, independent educational organization reports its Top 25 Nursing Colleges list based on the following data: retention rate, graduation rate, education cost, average salary for graduates, acceptance rate, reviews, and available online programs among others. University Headquarters uses a proprietary rating system in order to rank a wide variety of colleges and universities in the United States. The complete list will be available on universityhq.org, where students can access the information for free. The website features colleges profiles, career path descriptions, application guidance, a comprehensive resource center, and much more. There is also a frequently asked questions section that details the type of information University Headquarters provides. Columbia University in New York City earned the #1 spot on University Headquarters' Top 25 Nursing Colleges. Yale University landed the #2 spot on the list. Some of the additional colleges on the rankings report are: University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, Boston College, University of California - Los Angeles and Georgetown University. University Headquarters tailored its top nursing colleges list by looking at over 3,000 colleges in the United States that specialized in nursing, offered a wide variety of degree programs, featured high-quality instruction, and provided affordable tuition. The education service company recognizes that students must find the best college for their unique needs; as a result, it provides essential information to help college students make the best choice. For more information about the methodology for each of the above nursing college rankings, please visit University Headquarters best colleges rankings methodology page. About University Headquarters University Headquarters is a leading and successful education company that prides itself on providing students with the tools that they need to succeed in higher education. The organization offers important information about colleges across the United States, entrance requirements, and many career fields. Future college students can obtain information about expected earnings in these fields, employment outlook, and growth opportunities. University Headquarters also provides necessary resources for students who would like to attend a vocation or trade school, which allow them to enter the work force more quickly than a tradition, four-year degree program. The primary goal of the company is to be the number one resource to help students navigate the higher education process. Story continues For more information about University HQ, contact the company here: University HQ Christian Jacobs (800) 793-5011 info1@universityhq.org University HQ 14350 N 87th St #110 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 University Headquarters SOURCE: University HQ View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/583216/University-Headquarters-Top-25-Best-Nursing-Schools-List-is-Now-Available With panicked consumers emptying store shelves around the country, and shoppers in at least one city fighting over toilet paper, the coronavirus pandemic seems just a short distance from coronavirus pandemonium. The panic comes at a time when many police departments, to reduce spread of the virus, have curtailed arrests and are releasing certain criminals from prison. This is exactly the type of situation that the Second Amendment is meant to address. The White House has publicly recognized that reality. Yet many public officials insist on flaunting the Second Amendment, ordering gun shops closed or banning firearm sales. Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, for example, has ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses to close their physical locations. The long list of businesses that may remain open in Pennsylvania includes groceries, drug and hardware stores, newspapers, rental centers, and take-out from restaurants. But gun businesses didnt make the cut. Yet the Pennsylvania Constitutions Declaration of Rights declares that the right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, without even mentioning that provision, refused to issue an injunction on behalf of some gun shops against the governors order. Three justices dissented, including Justice David Wecht, who wrote: The inability of licensed firearm dealers to conduct any physical operations amounts to a complete prohibition upon the retail sale of firearms an activity in which the citizens of this Commonwealth recently have been engaging on a large scale, and one guaranteed by both the United States Constitution and the Constitution of this Commonwealth. The dissenting justices suggested that the constitutional right could be accommodated by allowing the completion of sales with minimal contact. New gun buyers are often surprised by how difficult it is to purchase a gun in their state. In Maryland, for example, it takes a month to get a handgun-qualification license. It could take six months in New York, where a judge has to sign off on each handgun license. California has a ten-day waiting period for delivery of a firearm after the sale is approved. Story continues Buying a gun requires a background check, which in most states is conducted by the FBIs National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). NICS conducted 2.8 million checks in February, the third-largest monthly total since the system was set up in 1998. Most NICS searches are automated and tell the dealer almost instantaneously to proceed or deny a sale, although some transactions must be delayed for examiners to research incomplete records. Some states insist on conducting the background checks directly. Thats the case in New Jersey, where Governor Phil Murphy has ordered non-essential businesses, a category in which he includes gun shops, to close. The state police then shut down NICS checks as well, effectively banning all firearm sales. A legal challenge has been filed. By contrast, Governor J. B. Pritzker of Illinois declared that firearm retailers are essential and may remain open for business. Gun sales already had been skyrocketing from the ever-escalating threats of gun bans coming from Democrat presidential contenders. The fear of societal breakdown stemming from the coronavirus has added to the demand for firearms across the country. Everyone wants to slow the spread of COVID-19. The various emergency decrees being issued distinguish between essential and non-essential businesses. What could be more essential than protecting yourself and your family from criminal violence, especially when the Bill of Rights declares it to be an essential right that may not be infringed? Americans should be mindful of the dangers of emergency decrees. History tells us that government diktats in response to man-made and natural disasters often lead to unprecedented restrictions on individual liberty that last long after the disasters are forgotten. Some of the anti-gun decrees now being issued appear to be motivated by the false premise that limiting gun sales will prevent upheaval in the event that the contagion causes mass shortages and desperation. Yet citizens who purchase firearms must pass stringent background checks to ensure that they are mentally stable and have no felony records or other legal barriers to firearm ownership. They are exactly the kinds of armed citizens needed if law and order break down. Strong measures must be taken against the spread of the coronavirus. But they must be tailored to accommodate the citizens ability to protect their safety in all aspects and to preserve their constitutional rights. More from National Review 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 11:26:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, March 31 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's corporate bond sale posted a double-digit growth last month as companies secured liquidity on worry about the COVID-19 outbreak, financial watchdog data showed Tuesday. Companies issued 16.9 trillion won (13.8 billion U.S. dollars) of bonds in February, up 51.4 percent from the previous month, according to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS). It came as local firms rushed to secure liquidity in advance amid growing concern about the economic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak across the globe. Bonds, sold by industrial companies, more than doubled in February from a month earlier, and financial companies-issued bonds advanced 25.1 percent. The asset-backed securities (ABS) sale nearly doubled last month. The corporate equity financing, including initial public offering (IPO) and rights issuance, amounted to 238.4 billion won (195.3 million U.S. dollars) in February, almost quadrupling compared with the prior month. Universities could go bust as they face losing 7billion of income in the next academic year due to coronavirus. Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said higher education is facing unprecedented losses due to the nationwide lockdown. University vice-chancellors are asking for a government bailout to deal with fewer international students coming over, reported The Times. Students who were due to sit their A-Level exams this summer might face a challenge in securing a place at their first choice university after restrictions were made on the number of unconditional offers made University leaders have warned the sector faces a 7 billion funding shortfall as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, file photo Universities will also lose out on revenue from conferences and student accommodation fees. The number of undergraduates universities can recruit may also be capped to ensure students are spread across more and less popular institutions. This would mean A-level students choice will be restricted, even if they have already been offered a place at their preferred destination Mr Jarvis told The Times: This kind of major financial hit suddenly puts a lot more universities in a tough position, which is why we will need some government support. You have got a top-end risk of 7 billion of income, which would be well over 20 per cent of university income next year. Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, added: We are closer to a university going bust than we have been at any point in living memory. This could be the catalyst that brings that on. More than 485,000 foreigners are registered to study in the UK, with more than 120,000 coming from China. These students contribute a total 6billion a year to universities, paying two or three times the domestic rate of 9,250 a year. This money subsidises unprofitable university courses and funds research, but the majority of it could go next year if the lockdown persists. International students applying to UK universities from September are already making decisions now and may be put off the longer measures are in place. Nearly 600million is made from accommodation fees, catering and conference income by universities over summer. This will also be lost as students return home earlier than expected. Two halls of residence have been turned over for NHS use during the pandemic at Exeter University. Sir Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of the university, told The Times: Universities are looking over the edge of the financial abyss and we dont know where the bottom is. Its scary. Universities may also be forced to cap the number of students they recruit after the Office for Students temporarily blocked unconditional offers. Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the OfS, said the body would work with universities to ensure there are places available. However, she said these are not normal times and did not guarantee the same level of choice. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to spend over 230million to bring in Harry Kane and Jadon Sancho this summer. United's squad is still in significant need of improvement and Ferdinand has identified Tottenham striker Kane and Borussia Dortmund winger Sancho as the ideal targets to pursue. Kane recently refused to rule out leaving Tottenham if they don't win trophies, and Ferdinand feels United would be an excellent destination for the England striker. Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to try and sign striker Harry Kane from Tottenham Speaking in an Instagram Q and A, former United defender Ferdinand said: 'Harry has always been coy and held back but he's dropped a couple of bombs. He's been waiting for the dream at Spurs to materialise but it hasn't happened. He's frustrated. 'Do you think Harry would be happy, fulfilled and satisfied if he scores goals, break records but with no trophies at the end of his career? No. He will be upset and devastated. 'I think that statement means Harry is off, he wants to win trophies and that will alert clubs. 'I know Man United will be in for him because that type of player is perfect for them. I'm sure Juventus will be in and will Real Madrid come in? 'He will go for massive dough, at least 130m in today's market.' Speaking in an Instagram Q&A, Ferdinand added that he wants United to sign Jadon Sancho Ferdinand is also eager for United to bring in another England international in Sancho, who has frequently caught the eye since joining Dortmund. Sancho is already familiar with playing with Kane and Marcus Rashford, with Ferdinand feeling that such an attacking triumvirate would help United return to their former glories. Ferdinand added: 'I want Jadon to go to a team where he will play, improve and get trophies. He's been linked with United, Chelsea, PSG but I think United is the place for him to go because I'm biased. '(Marcus) Rashford, (Anthony) Martial, Kane, Sancho, that would intimate a lot of centre-halves before a whistle is blown. Definitely.' Ferdinand believes that Sancho could thrive at United if he joined from Borussia Dortmund Ferdinand also discussed the possibility of Sancho being given the iconic No 7 shirt at United, which has been worn by the likes of George Best, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ex-England international Ferdinand admitted that signing Sancho would represent a risk given that his price tag would probably be over 100m, but insisted that such a deal is a gamble worth taking. Ferdinand said: 'Of course, he has to. If he wears the seven (shirt) he has to be there for the next ten years. That's what that shirt deserves and demands. 'He's flying and one of the best young kids in the world at the moment. He's a player with huge potential and will go for over 100m. 'You are buying someone for 10 years at your club, it's massive money but I'd take him and risk it.' An illustration of how the turbine could look. Spanish utility Iberdrola is heading a consortium aiming to develop a large-scale floating offshore wind turbine in the North Sea, as the sector looks to drive up the size of technology and push down costs. In an announcement Monday, the firm said the turbine would be in excess of 10 megawatts (MW) and tested at the Marine Energy Test Centre in Norway. The average size of offshore turbines installed in 2019 was 7.8 MW, according to trade body WindEurope. The international consortium, made up of firms from Spain, Germany, France, Norway and Denmark, aims to reduce the cost of floating offshore wind energy production. Iberdrola said it hoped to lower the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for floating offshore wind to between 40 and 60 ($44 and $66) euros per megawatt hour (MWh). There is definite scope for cost reductions in the offshore sector. Last November, Wood Mackenzie said Europe's LCOE for bottom-fixed offshore wind would drop from an average of $133 per MWh in 2019 to $51 per MWh in 2028. The project is connected to the European Commission's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, which is providing almost 80 billion euros of funding to projects between 2014 and 2020. Iberdrola said it hoped to sign an agreement amounting to around 25 million euros with the European Commission in the second half of this year. Construction of the project's floating platform could begin in the second quarter of 2021, with installation commencing in the first quarter of 2022. Another floating offshore wind project is being planned for Spain, although this will use different technology to that deployed in Norway. "There is tremendous potential globally for floating technology, as it will open up new markets where water conditions restrict the development of traditional offshore projects," Jonathan Cole, global managing director for offshore wind at Iberdrola, said in a statement. A leader in offshore wind, Europe is already home to the world's first floating offshore wind farm, Hywind Scotland. A 30 MW pilot scheme of five turbines in waters off the coast of Peterhead, it started to send electricity to Scotland's grid in 2017. As technology develops, the size of wind turbines is increasing. In December 2019, Dutch utility Eneco started to purchase power produced by the prototype of GE Renewable Energy's Haliade-X 12 MW wind turbine, which has a capacity of 12 MW, a height of 260 meters and a blade length of 107 meters. American Cast Iron Pipe Company plans to lay off 65 employees at its Birmingham plant effective April 10, company officials confirmed Tuesday. ACIPCO employs about 1500 people at its Birmingham plant. The company makes ductile iron pipes for water and sewer and steel pipe for oil and gas. As a result of the COVID-19 crisis we have announced a layoff of about 65 employees at our Birmingham plant effective Friday, April 10. Employees were notified of the layoff Tuesday, March 31. We regret what this means for affected employees and their families. We are working to connect them with resources. The companys employee assistance services, including counseling, also will be available to them and their family members for an extended period of time, ACIPCO said in a statement to AL.com. The company will decide on Wednesday which specific employees will be laid off. A meeting will be held between the impacted employees and HR officials to discuss the details of severance pay, medical and dental coverage, filing for unemployment compensation, rehire eligibility and other resources, according to the notice. These meetings will be conducted in a manner to maintain social distancing, according to the notice. From Sunday through Thursday, nearly 60,000 Alabamians filed for unemployment benefits. That number nearly doubled from the first three days of the week to the next two days; 31,281 Alabamians filed claims from Sunday through Tuesday, according to preliminary Labor Department statistics. 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 Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 22:06:15|Editor: zyl Video Player Close TOKYO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Japan's parliament on Tuesday enacted legislation encouraging companies to allow employees to continue to work until the age of 70. The move is aimed at addressing part of the country's growing demographic crisis that sees the population rapidly aging and simultaneously shrinking amid a falling birthrate. This has resulted in an increasingly hollowed-out workforce and the severest labor crunch since the early 1990s, as the government is grappling to deal with ballooning social welfare costs with the rising numbers of Japan's graying population. Under the new legislation, which will be implemented from April next year, companies, while not being legally bound to do so, will be more inclined to raise or scrap the retirement age, or simply allow their employees to work beyond any current age limitations. It also offers companies the option to provide work to retirees as outsourced contractors or freelancers, and the option for businesses to offer seniors beyond the current retirement age work related to firms' philanthropic initiatives. At present, Japanese companies are duty-bound to let their employees work until 65, but looking ahead the Japanese government is planning to make it obligatory for businesses to allow employees to work until they are 70, government officials said. The grand jury records from the 1946 lynching of two black couples in Georgia cannot be released despite their great historical significance, a federal appeals court said. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta ruled 8-4 that federal judges don't have authority to disclose grand jury records for reasons other than those provided for in the rules governing grand jury secrecy. Roger and Dorothy Malcom and George and Mae Murray Dorsey were riding in a car on a rural road in July 1946 when a white mob stopped it at Moore's Ford Bridge, overlooking the Apalachee River. The mob dragged the young black sharecroppers to the river's edge and shot them to death. The slayings shocked the nation, and the FBI descended upon the rural community in Walton County, about 50 miles east of Atlanta. Following a monthslong investigation, more than 100 people reportedly testified before a federal grand jury in December 1946, but no one was indicted. Roger and Dorothy Malcom (left) and George and Mae Murray Dorsey (right) were riding in a car on a rural road in July 1946 when a white mob stopped it at Moore's Ford Bridge, overlooking the Apalachee River. The mob dragged the young black sharecroppers to the rivers edge and shot them to death Historian Anthony Pitch wrote about the killings - 'The Last Lynching: How a Gruesome Mass Murder Rocked a Small Georgia Town' - and continued his research after the book's 2016 publication. He learned transcripts of the grand jury proceedings, once thought to have been destroyed, were stored by the National Archives. Pitch, died in June at age 80, but his widow took on the fight, along with Laura Wexler, who wrote another book about the lynching and joined the case at the family's request. Joe Bell, a lawyer for Pitch's widow, said he plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. 'He's looking down from a better spot,' Bell said of Pitch. 'He's going to guide me through this.' Rules governing grand jury secrecy provide specific exceptions that allow for the release of records. An 11th Circuit decision from 1984 had said judges may go beyond that and order their disclosure in 'exceptional circumstances.' Relying on that precedent, a federal judge in 2017 granted Pitch's petition and ordered the Moore's Ford grand jury records unsealed. The U.S. Department of Justice appealed, citing the secrecy of grand jury proceedings. Abridge that spans the Apalachee River at Moore's Ford Road where in 1946 two young black couples were stopped by a white mob who dragged them to the riverbank and shot them multiple times in Monroe, Ga. A three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit ruled 2-1 in February 2019 to uphold the lower court's order. But the full court voted to rehear the case, and oral arguments before all 12 judges were held in October. The full court opinion released Friday reversed the lower court ruling that had been affirmed by the panel and also overturned the court's 1984 ruling. The majority opinion written by Senior Judge Gerald Tjoflat says the exceptions listed in the grand jury secrecy rules are exhaustive. Judges 'do not possess the inherent, supervisory power to order the release of grand jury records in instances not covered by the rule,' he wrote. In a concurring opinion, Judge Adalberto Jordan agreed that those exceptions are exclusive and that judges cannot go beyond them, but he said it's time to review the rules. The Judicial Conferences Advisory Committee on Criminal Rules in 2012 decided not to go forward with a proposal from then-U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to amend the rules 'to allow disclosure for historically significant grand jury materials,' Jordan wrote. The committee found the amendment unnecessary at the time but said the issue might be ripe for consideration later. With a split between judicial circuits and a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court not to take up the issue, 'it appears that day is upon us,' Jordan wrote. Judge Charles Wilson wrote in a dissenting opinion that the court should leave in place its 1984 opinion and uphold the release of the Moore's Ford documents. A judge's power to disclose grand jury materials outside of the provided exceptions is limited and the burden on the petitioner is high, but this case meets that bar, he wrote. The Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act - passed by Congress and signed in January 2019 by the president - provides for the review and release of government records related to unsolved civil rights cold cases. That makes it clear that Congress, which adopted the grand jury secrecy rules, intended for judges to have the authority to disclose grand jury records outside of the stated exceptions, Judge Robin Rosenbaum wrote in a separate dissent. A bridge that spans the Apalachee River at Moore's Ford Road where in 1946 two young black couples were stopped by a white mob who dragged them to the riverbank and shot them multiple times in Monroe, Ga The lynching happened in 1946 after Roger Malcom, 24, had been jailed after stabbing and gravely injuring a white man, Barnett Hester, during an argument. A white farmer, Loy Harrison, paid $600 to bail Malcom out on July 25, 1946. Harrison later said he was ambushed by a mob as he drove the Malcoms and Dorseys home. Harrison, identified in an FBI report as a former Ku Klux Klansman and well-known bootlegger, wasn't hurt. He told authorities he didn't recognize anyone in the mob. The killings remain unsolved, despite law enforcement having reopened the case several times and efforts by students, researchers and activists to crack the case. Before the October arguments, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 30 news organizations, including The Associated Press, submitted a brief in support of Pitch that the court rejected without explanation. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 30, 2020) - EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSXV: EMX) (the "Company" or "EMX") is pleased to announce the filing of its 2019 annual report Form 40-F, which includes the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on EDGAR (www.sec.gov). EMX has also filed its Annual Information Form (AIF), audited Financial Statements (FS), and Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) for 2019 with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The Company's Form 40-F, AIF, audited FS, and MD&A are also available on EMX's website at www.EMXroyalty.com under the heading "Investors". Shareholders may receive a printed copy of the Company's complete Financial Statements, or its complete Annual Information Form, free of charge, upon request to the Corporate Secretary at Suite 501 - 543 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 1X8, Canada. HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2019 Financial Update All dollar amounts in this news release are CDN unless otherwise noted. EMX ended the year with a strong balance sheet including cash of $68,994,000, marketable securities, investments and notes receivable valued at $11,479,000, and no debt. Management notes that the majority of the Company's cash is held in USD. EMX had revenue of $5,084,000 which includes royalty income, interest earned on cash balances, and other property income including income from the sale or option of property interests. Revenue increased by $1,548,000 from 2018, despite a decline in gold ounces from the Leeville royalty. Royalty generation costs totaled $15,723,000 of which the Company recovered $7,277,000 from partners. The $2,261,000 increase in net costs compared to 2018 principally relates to a one-time exploration program completed during the year in Australia. General and administrative expenses totaled $5,127,000 which includes $1,885,000 in salaries and consultants, $968,000 in administrative costs, $1,111,000 in professional fees and $756,000 in investor relations costs. The significant increase from 2018 generally relates to increased activities in North America and Scandinavia, higher business development costs associated with the acquisition of royalties, and substantially higher legal fees associated with litigation the Company has related to a royalty dispute in Nevada with Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc. For the year, the Company had a loss from operations of $10,578,000 and an after-tax loss of $13,820,000. Other items affecting financial results in 2019 include $802,000 in depletion costs, share based payments of $2,423,000 and a foreign exchange adjustment of $3,646,000. Operational Update EMX's royalty and mineral property portfolio totals over 100 projects on five continents (see Figure 1). The following discussions summarize the work conducted in 2019, as well as subsequent events in 2020, by the Company and its partners. In North America, EMX received approximately US$640,000 from the sale of 476 gold ounces produced at the Leeville royalty property in Nevada's Northern Carlin Trend. Leeville is an important focus for resource and reserve additions by Nevada Gold Mines, LLC1. At the Gold Bar South and Hardshell (i.e. Hermosa-Taylor project) royalty properties, operators McEwen Mining Inc. and South32 Limited, respectively, continued to ramp-up drilling and nearby development activities2. In the southwestern U.S., base metals exploration programs funded by partners South32, Anglo American, and Kennecott continued, incurring approximately $17 million in expenditures to advance ten projects. On the royalty generation front, the Swift and Selena Carlin-style projects were partnered3, while EMX continued to fill the pipeline with new gold projects staked in Idaho. The Company's royalty acquisition initiatives resulted in the consolidation of a substantial royalty property position covering ~68,000 hectares surrounding the Pogo high-grade gold mine property and covering other prospective targets in Alaska's Goodpaster mining district4. In Scandinavia, the Company sold or optioned eleven projects to three different junior exploration companies, and another five projects to two junior companies subsequent to year end. The deals involved provisions for share equity, advance royalty payments, and NSR royalty interests in the projects to EMX's benefit. During 2019, partner companies continued to advance EMX's royalty properties, incurring approximately $3.7 million in expenditures. Field programs included a variety of sampling, mapping and drilling campaigns. These programs also led to the identification of new royalty generation projects for acquisition. As a subsequent event, EMX acquired a 2% NSR royalty covering Palladium One's Kaukua palladium-platinum deposit in Finland. EMX is a leading explorer and holder of mineral rights in Scandinavia5. In Serbia, operator Zijin Mining Group Ltd ("Zijin") continued to aggressively develop the Timok Upper Zone high grade copper-gold project which is covered by an EMX NSR royalty. Initial production from the Upper Zone is expected to be in 2021. Zijin also consolidated 100% control of the Lower Zone porphyry copper-gold project, also covered by the Company's NSR royalty6. In Turkey, the Company received US$1,050,000 as pre-production payments from the Akarca, Balya, and Sisorta royalty properties. EMX expects to realize increasing Balya royalty payments over the next one to two years as the new owner (Esan Eczacibasi Endustriyel Hammaddeler San. ve Tic. A.S.) operates a lead-zinc mine and 5,000 tonne per day flotation mill on the immediately adjacent property7. EMX fulfilled a significant goal in 2019 of having all of its assets in Turkey converted to royalty interests with the sale of the Alankoy and Trab-23 projects to a Turkish company. In Australia, EMX advanced the Queensland Gold project while undertaking discussions with potential partners. The operator of the Koonenberry royalty property conducted ongoing drilling, geochemical sampling, and bulk sampling programs during the year. At the Kimberley copper project EMX conducted a reconnaissance drill program; no further work is planned due to a lack of encouraging results. As a subsequent event, EMX completed the acquisition of 18 royalty properties in Chile from Revelo Resources Corp. ("Revelo") for US$1,162,000. Of that amount, US$369,907 was applied to fully repay EMX for an outstanding loan due from Revelo8. The Company's 2019 strategic investment initiatives focused on identifying near-term cash flowing opportunities. These efforts led to a US$3.5 million investment in the Rawhide gold-silver mining operation in Nevada's Walker Lane belt, with expected revenue to EMX from quarterly distributions resulting from production9. As a subsequent event, EMX invested US$3.79 million in Ensero Holdings Inc. ("Ensero"), an environmental services company focused on mine remediation and reclamation, for dividend and other payments totaling US$8.54 million over seven years, a 7.5% equity interest in Ensero10. EMX and Ensero have also formed a strategic alliance that uniquely leverages a combination of EMX's knowledge of historic mining districts in the U.S. and Canada with Ensero's mine reclamation expertise to unlock the value of legacy mining properties through remediation and reclamation in advance of eventual sale of an asset for future exploration and development. The final US$3.7 million in payments from the sale of the Company's earlier strategic investment in the IG Copper LLC's Malmyzh project were received from escrow in 2019. Corporate Update There were a number of corporate developments at EMX during the year, as summarized below. Jan Steiert, the Company's Chief Legal Officer since 2012, retired at the end of Q3. Her exceptional contributions over the past seven years have been key to EMX's success. Malik Duncan joined the Company as General Counsel at the end of Q3. Mr. Duncan has over 19 years of legal experience, having worked at several multinational corporations, and joined EMX from Newmont Goldcorp Corporation. While at Newmont, he held various positions within the Office of the General Counsel and on the executive team of multiple business departments. Mr. Duncan has extensive experience in domestic and international transactions spanning North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Prior to joining Newmont, he worked for Lockheed Martin Space and First Data Corporation. Mr. Duncan completed his JD/MBA at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Rocio Echegaray joined the Company in Q4 as Corporate Secretary. Ms. Echegaray replaces Ms. Lori Pavle who held the position previously. Ms. Echegaray holds a law degree from the University Federico Villarreal in Lima, Peru. She has worked in the mining industry with publicly listed companies providing corporate secretarial services since 1998. Bullion Monarch Mining Inc ("Bullion"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, has been advancing for the past seven years litigation against Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc. ("Barrick") and subsidiary entities for non-payment of royalties from properties in the Carlin trend, Nevada that are subject to an area of interest. The litigation is being pursued in both state and federal courts. Bullion and Barrick have attempted to reach a settlement, including formal mediation both at the state and federal level, but to date this has not resulted in a satisfactory resolution. Bullion is advancing both the state and federal cases towards the trial phase, which are tentatively set to take place in 2020. The Company will provide additional information as it becomes available. OUTLOOK EMX is in a strong position, ending 2019 with working capital of $75,178,000, including $68,994,000 in cash, the majority of which is held in USD. Company management will continue to evaluate our 2020 objectives, as well as new opportunities, in light of the rapidly developing worldwide impact from the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Company is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by protecting the health and well being of our employees, consultants, and partners, and following the recommendations from governmental agencies and health care experts in the countries where we operate. The Company's strong treasury, and a seasoned team who've weathered multiple industry cycles, puts us in a position to withstand the challenges that the industry is currently going through. EMX will remain focused on continued growth via the Company's royalty generation, royalty acquisition and strategic investment initiative business approach. EMX's recent accomplishments provide context for the strong foundation laid for the Company to move forward during 2020. The Company continued to see strong industry interest in its royalty generation properties in 2019. This interest was marked by the execution of agreements for 17 royalty generation projects that were partnered during the year. That is a record pace of annual deal flow for the Company. Importantly, many of EMX's current partners are well financed top tier companies (i.e., South32 and Kennecott). More than $10 million is slated for advancing EMX's organically generated royalty properties during 2020, albeit with schedules pushed out by a quarter or two due to the pandemic related slow down. As new deals were consummated, and EMX's mineral property interests advanced, the Company continued to fill the royalty generation pipeline with new projects. EMX has a track record of upgrading its project pipeline during market retrenchments, and management expects that 2020 will be no exception. The Company has also been successful in deploying capital to generate cash flows through strategic investments and royalty acquisitions. EMX expects distributions from its investment in Rawhide Acquisition Holding LLC, which is proceeding with mining operations at the Rawhide gold-silver mining operation in Nevada. The Company's strategic investment in Ensero Solutions Inc., an environmental remediation and mine reclamation company, generates immediate cash flow to EMX, and provides for a strategic alliance to identify prospective mineral properties to reclaim and subsequently sell utilizing Special Purpose Vehicles or other business arrangements. The Company's royalty acquisitions provide EMX with a commanding royalty position in the productive (i.e., the high-grade Pogo mine) Goodpaster gold district of Alaska, as well as 18 royalty properties in the prospective metallogenic belts of northern Chile. Importantly, two of the Company's long standing and key assets, the Leeville royalty in Nevada and the Timok Project royalty in Serbia, are the focus of exploration and development by international majors Nevada Gold Mines LLC ("NGM") and Zijin Mining Group Ltd, respectively. NGM is delineating new reserves, resources, and mineralized trends at Leeville, while Zijin is proceeding on a timeline for initial Upper Zone production in 2021. Similarly, with the agreement concluded between Dedeman and Esan, EMX's Balya 4% NSR royalty is on track for increased production. This will mark a milestone for EMX, with the Company realizing increasing cash flow from one of its organically generated royalty properties. QUALIFIED PERSONS Michael P. Sheehan, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the above technical disclosure on North America, Haiti, and Strategic Investments. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the above technical disclosure on Scandinavia, Serbia, Turkey, and Australia. ____________________ 1 See NGM "Analyst Presentation" dated September 19, 2019 and Barrick presentation "Results for the Quarter and Year ended 31 December 2019". 2 See McEwen Mining news release dated October 15, 2019 and South32 "Financial Results and Outlook Full Year Ended 30 June 2019". 3 See EMX news release dated May 30, 2019. 4 See EMX news releases dated April 24, and May 21, 2019. 5 See EMX news release dated February 25, 2020. 6 See Zijin news releases dated November 3, and December 30, 2019. 7 See EMX news release dated January 7, 2020. 8 See EMX news release dated March 26, 2020. 9 See EMX news release dated December 19, 2019. 10 See EMX news release dated February 18, 2020. About EMX. EMX is a precious and base metals royalty company. EMX's investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company's common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol EMX See www.EMXroyalty.com for more information. For further information contact: David M. Cole President and Chief Executive Officer Phone: (303) 979-6666 Dave@EMXroyalty.com Scott Close Director of Investor Relations Phone: (303) 973-8585 SClose@EMXroyalty.com Isabel Belger Investor Relations (Europe) Phone: +49 178 4909039 IBelger@EMXroyalty.com Neither the 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. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain "forward looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "believe", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to: unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the "MD&A"), and the most recently filed Annual Information Form ("AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2019, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov. Figure 1. EMX's royalty and mineral property portfolio (March, 2020). To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1508/53950_efe91748e46e0bb0_002full.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53950 (PHOTO: Getty Images) With much of the world now staying home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it stands to reason that some of us might be discovering that we dont really like being by ourselves, and that being isolated is not something we enjoy. While we know that we must stay physically away from people, social distancing doesnt mean we should not be communicating at all. Instead, we should be practising distant socialising. Actually, many experts, and even the World Health Organisation (WHO) say that we need to change the term from social distancing to physical distancing. In fact, we all need to socialise in some way in order to protect our mental health during this time of crisis. Dr Mark Mitchnick is the CEO of Mind Sciences, a mental health resource run by himself and Dr Jud Brewer, that specialises in helping people deal with issues of anxiety and stress through the use of mindfulness techniques used alone or alongside clinical practice. Dr Mitchnick agrees that physical distancing is a better term for what we need to be practising in the age of COVID-19. A better term is physical distancing, says Dr Mitchnick, because the last thing anyone wants is social isolation, where we are cut off from interactions with others. Today, with so many options for communication, every one of us can make sure that our friends, loved ones and community members dont feel socially isolated. According to Dr Mitchnick, social isolation will affect people differently, and for some of us will result in feelings of loneliness, fear and anxiety. (PHOTO: Getty Images) How do you know if you are lonely? We have all felt a bit alone or lonely in our lives for a variety of reasons; a new job, a new school, moving countries all these things can make us feel lonely. However the social isolation that we are experiencing now, can lead to a more intense version of loneliness. So, how do we know if we are suffering from a bout of extreme loneliness? According to Dr Mitchnick, it is actually harder to explain than you might expect. Story continues Thats actually a tougher question than it might seem. There are technical definitions like the distressing experience that occurs when ones social relationships are perceived to be less in quantity, and especially in quality, than desired but, as a practical matter, I would say that if you feel loneliness on a regular basis and are unable shake the feeling then you are lonely, explains Dr Mitchnick. Note that being alone and suffering from loneliness are not the same thing. Loneliness is a feeling, a perception of a lack of connection that can happen even if other people are present. On the other hand, people can be physically alone but not lonely. We have all experienced both of these at one time or another: Feeling disconnected even when surrounded by friends or, conversely, feeling quite content by ourselves. It is very dependent on the person and the situation, says Dr Mitchnick. However, you should also be aware that loneliness can exacerbate other mental health issues, says Dr Mitchnick: It is safe to say that true loneliness does no one any good. (PHOTO: Getty Images) Signs to watch out for if you are more than just lonely In a research setting where you might be subject to a battery of tests looking for this or that mental health issue, there might be measurable events indicating a slide towards, for example depression, explains Dr Mitchnick. For most of us, in the real world, this is not terribly relevant. I go back to the notion that if you are experiencing unhelpful feelings, loneliness, anxiety, panic, depression and so forth, and are unable to bring yourself out of them then you should be seeking [professional] help. In the case of loneliness, that help can be as simple as reaching out to someone. If you are physically isolated for infection control reasons, then use one of the many video chat options or make a call. Even texting has value, but some sort of visual contact is optimal if possible as about 70% of communication is non-verbal, points out Dr Mitchnick. Things to do to make physical distancing easier for your mental health To keep your mental health in tip-top condition, there are things you can do. Dr Mitchnick has a great list of helpful activities and attitudes to help you through coronavirus isolation: Develop a routine, keep yourself busy and have purpose Reach out to others. Making meaningful contact with a few friends and loved ones is more valuable than superficial contact with many. So chose a video chat with a friend over hours of scrolling through social media Read Exercise. Staying physically active is always important but especially so during stressful periods. Physically activity has consistently been shown to make us more mentally resilient Get a pet. Seriously, a connection with a pet is extremely strong and, when studied, consistently shows demonstrable positive impact on peoples mental health Focus on things you have not had time to previously pursue. Maybe it's learning to play an instrument, write or a home project. We all have things we have put off for lack of time And here is, in my view, the most important thing to do. Help someone else. We are social animals and built to feel good when we do something good, it's that simple. If you have a neighbor that cant go out to shop or is without friends, shop for them or reach out to say hello. There are countless ways to do this while still following the physical distancing rules we all must abide by. My wife for instance has been shopping for an older acquaintance of hers and has been sewing face masks for a local shelter. These are not small acts; they are huge and everyone benefits Dr Mitchnicks things to do to keep your mental health strong in times of crisis Stay educated and informed. This does not mean check the news every five minutes but do know what is going on. Maybe set a schedule of checking the news twice a day as an example Something that we have that no other generation ever has is access to unlimited input via the web. While its a source of trouble for sure, in times like these its a remarkable blessing when used to enrich ourselves Use the video chat tools to stay in contact. Look for quality content, things that leave you smarter and better adjusted after seeing them. Many professionals are offering their services free at this time. These range from cooking classes, to exercise to mental health Watch the founder of my company, Dr. Jud Brewers short daily YouTube pieces on coronavirus anxiety and ways to deal with it Take advantage of all the resources we have. Times are not ideal for sure, but they do present us with some unique opportunities to grow and behave in a way that, when we look back, we can be proud of. SINGAPORE For information about the Covid19 outbreak in Singapore go to https://www.gov.sg/features/covid-19. If you are struggling with thoughts or feelings about suicide, contact SOS on 1800 221 4444 (24hrs). If you have concerns about mental health issues, contact Emergency Helpline (IMH) on 6389 2222 (24hrs). For more information and help dealing with mental health issues, go to www.healthhub.sg/findhelp_servicesformentalhealthsupport. MALAYSIA For information about the Covid19 outbreak in Malaysia go to http://www.moh.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/2019-ncov-wuhan. If you are struggling with thoughts or feelings about suicide, contact Lifeline on (+603) 4265 7995 (24hrs). If you have concerns about mental health issues, contact the Malaysian Mental Health Association on (+603) 7782 5499. For more information and help dealing with mental health issues, contact the Befrienders on (+603) 79568144 or (+603) 7956 8145; or go to www.befrienders.org.my. PHILIPPINES For information about the Covid19 outbreak in the Philippines go to https://www.doh.gov.ph/2019-nCoV. If you are struggling with thoughts or feelings about suicide, contact Lifeline on (02) 8969191 or 0917 854 9191. If you have concerns about mental health issues, contact the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis Hotline on 0917 899 8727 (USAP) and 989 8727 (USAP). For more information and help dealing with mental health issues, go to the National Center for Mental Health at ncmh.gov.ph. The coronavirus outbreak has delayed the $17.3 billion deal between casino companies Caesars Entertainment and Eldorado Resorts, but the deal is moving forward, according to a source with firsthand knowledge. Following a report on CNBC, Caesars was halted on the news and reopened up 12%. Indiana, New Jersey and Nevada regulators still need to sign off on the deal but have postponed hearings. The merger also needs the approval of the Federal Trade Commission. "The board is still investigating," said Nevada Gaming Commission Chair Tony Alamo. "The merger is going like any other merger. It's just going through the process, which includes a normal investigation," he added. Eldorado and Caesars had anticipated closing in mid-April, but multiple sources have told CNBC it now looks more like June. There has been widespread speculation that the coronavirus pandemic will change the ways regulators view the debt associated with this deal. A highly placed source says both companies have the liquidity to last for well over a year. Caesars has $3 billion on its balance sheet and recently sold the Rio in Las Vegas for $460 million. That was an unexpected source of cash and was not factored into the deal. Assuming a $230 million asset sale of two casinos in Mississippi and Missouri to Twin River closes, anticipated in the next 60 days, Eldorado will have roughly $850 million on hand, a source tells CNBC. The Gujarat police on Tuesday said some persons from the state had attended an Islamic congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi that has become a key source for the spread of coronavirus in the country. While a probe has been ordered to identify all the attendees from Gujarat, primary investigations has revealed that some persons from Bhavnagar had visited the congregation earlier this month, said DGP Shivanand Jha. "We are aware that some persons from Gujarat had visited the gathering. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has also taken cognizance of the issue. "DCP Dipan Bhadran of Ahmedabad crime branch, along with the ATS, has been handed over the probe to identify the people (who attended the meet)," the DGP told reporters in Gandhinagar. "Primary investigations revealed that some people from Bhavnagar attended the event. Moore details will emerge during the probe. "We will share the information with the health department to initiate home quarantine for such people," Jha said. About 30 of those who attended the Nizamuddin event in mid-March have tested positive for coronavirus and at least three have succumbed to the infection in the last few days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Karnataka rose to 98 on Tuesday, according to the state government. This includes 3 deaths and 6 patients who were cured and discharged, leaving the active cases to 89. Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj S Bommai said that his government has succeeded in tracking more than 24 people in Bengaluru, who attended the Tablighi Jamat event in Delhi held earlier this month. "Over 24 people, who attended Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, tracked in Bengaluru. We have quarantined 54 people. 8 people also in Bidar. 1 person found positive in Bidar and we have quarantined him. There are people who attended jamaat from almost all districts of the state," Bommai told ANI here. Delhi's Nizamuddin area emerged as a hotspot after a religious meeting was held at Markaz by the Tableeghi Jamaat earlier this month, and several COVID-19 positive cases have been found among those who attended the gathering. At least 24 people staying at Markaz building in Nizamuddin area of the capital have tested positive for coronavirus, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday. "All of them are being screened. We are not certain of the number but it is estimated that 1500-1700 people had assembled at the Markaz building. 1033 people have been evacuated so far - 334 of them have been sent to the hospital and 700 sent to quarantine center. A total of 24 positive cases have been found so far," he said while speaking to reporters here. The minister also slammed the organizers of the religious event saying that they have committed a grave crime. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It takes only one bad experience with a business to sour a potential customer forever. One attempt at buying something online from Lowes was enough, and I do not expect to try again. General Motors is dead to me. We know that you have a choice when you fly! oh, if I had a real choice, it wouldnt be you, American Airlines. It is easy to blow it. One of the easiest ways to blow it is by hiring the wrong people, and the easiest way to do that is by losing the right ones. That fact has to be on the minds of a great many corporate managers right now, especially managers of retail businesses and home-delivery services whose customers are very much emotionally primed to receive a lasting impression of Instacart, Amazon, and a few other firms that suddenly find themselves serving as critical outlets in a largely shuttered economy. This is an important time for many of those businesses and the employees know it. The suits had better listen. Instacart workers organized a strike of sorts, demanding more money and more hand sanitizer. The Philadelphia Inquirer describes the Instacart strike as radical in that the workers in question are gig contractors, not regular employees and not union members. A strike by non-employees may seem radical, but it is a textbook example of a dynamic that has long been understood by law-and-economics scholars: Formal legal rights and standing often matter less than pure economics. The government doesnt really decide if you can strike effectively the market does. For all the power United Auto Workers has, it could not in the long term dictate wages and benefits for its members that would cause the manufacturers to make losses; even without formal protections, gig workers have the power to command higher wages when demand for their work increases and it is increasing right now. The group organizing the Instacart action, Gig Workers Collective, a 501(c)(3) organization, does not enjoy the formal power of a labor union; it has no real legal status and does not engage in collective bargaining under federal labor law. And none of that matters. What matters is whether Instacart gets my Red Bull, Advil, and asparagus here in a timely and reliable fashion. And it needs good people to get that done. Story continues (A little free PR advice, too: Dont make your food-handling employees beg for hand sanitizer during an epidemic.) The great economist Ronald Coase wrote a lot about transaction costs. In one very famous article, The Problem of Social Cost, he posited (forgive my simplification) that where transaction costs are low, disputes should produce economically efficient results irrespective of who is legally entitled to what. (With costless market transactions, the decision of the courts concerning liability for damage would be without effect on the allocation of resources.) In The Nature of the Firm, Coase dealt in part with the fact that transaction costs are not low: Businesses hire people to work eight hours a day knowing full well that their employees will not (and cannot) make maximum productive use of every minute of those eight hours and that there are other efficiencies in maintaining full-time staff; they keep regular employees instead of bidding out every task because the inefficiencies of recruiting and managing contractors are in many cases greater than the inefficiencies of keeping employees. You dont always know when it is, precisely, that you are going to need Bob to do whatever it is that Bob does, and, in real-world organizations, people perform work beyond their formal job descriptions. So you hire a Bob rather than bidding out bobjobs every time a bobjob pops up. For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, the efficiencies that large, rigorously managed organizations could wring out of their resources (human and otherwise) tended to favor the creation of large firms, to the extent that some people came to believe that monopolies were natural and inevitable and in many cases desirable, eliminating destructive competition and the replication of effort, all those 23 different kinds of deodorant that keep Senator Sanders up at night. (His admirers less so.) But information technology and other developments reduced transaction costs of many kinds, which changed the nature of the firm. Outsourcing is used as a synonym for moving the factory to China, but originally it referred to transferring in-house operations to third-party contractors, beginning with things such as custodial work and building maintenance that are not part of a companys core mission. It became more efficient for one janitorial company to clean 20 offices than for 20 firms to each maintain their own janitorial staffs. In some cases, this left the workers themselves no better off than they had been, while in other cases it left them better off, with higher wages and more security thanks to a portfolio of clients. But it did often mean fewer full-time jobs performing a given task thats where the gains in efficiency often came from. The so-called gig economy is another evolutionary episode in the nature of the firm, one also based largely on technological developments smartphones and apps. (It has been just shy of 13 years since the first iPhone was sold the pace of change has been extraordinary.) The smartphone has allowed firms to offload a lot of labor onto their customers (you do the work of depositing your own checks, getting your own boarding pass, etc.) and to benefit from a quasi-independent work force that can be rallied or idled in theory in an instant. Lower-wage workers will always have relatively weak negotiating positions (that is why they are lower-wage workers) but transaction costs have gone down for them, too: They have more flexibility and choice, and they have the technological tools to organize themselves in a sophisticated and effective manner. The picket line is passe in the gig economy, your work force can simply poof!vanish. Firms obviously still have a great deal of power compared with an individual gig worker or to a few dozen organized gig workers, but it is not the case that all of the advantages have accrued to the employers over the employees. And the employers had better take that to heart. An embarrassing labor shortage in the current context could be a brand-killer. The gig workers have some new power at the moment, and they should use it. On the flip side, they must incorporate into their calculations the fact that more than 3 million people have just filed new unemployment claims there is supply coming into the market. These things get complicated. Thats what negotiations are for. Efforts to shame workers in warehouses and grocery stores and delivery vans into selflessly putting off demands for better wages and conditions because of the coronavirus epidemic are wrongheaded. These are precisely the times that show how important it is to have good people in those jobs. The smart companies know that, but it is easy to forget when things return to normal. (Which they will.) Labor markets work, and they work both ways. The people in the warehouses and on the overnight stocking crews dont need a high-five from their customers they get paid in money. So pay them. More from National Review 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 For all their many strengths, Roku devices have not had the best voice control features. If that's important to you, your best bet has frequently been Amazon's Fire TV devices. However, with its latest software update, Roku is trying to change that with more robust voice features across the board. Spanish speakers in the US and Mexico have the most to look forward to with the new software adding voice support for their language. If you speak Spanish, you'll be able to ask your Roku device to launch apps, search for specific content and control playback as needed. People in the US have several new voice features to check out once the update is available. To start, there's a new interface that will organize voice search results into movie, show and short-form categories sorted by price. There's something for news junkies as well. If you say, "Play the news," your device will launch a live stream of ABC News. You can also ask for an update from a specific source and your device will remember your preference for future commands. When possible, Roku says more than 50 apps will play a movie or show directly from the voice search menu. Outside of the US, the new software expands the availability of Roku Voice to users in Canada, Ireland and the UK. Additionally, if you live in Canada, Mexico or the UK, you'll now also have the option to integrate your Roku devices with Google Assistant and Alexa. An updated mobile app with a tweaked interface is also on the menu. The redesigned app features a new navigation bar when you connect to a device that includes voice support. There's also a new dropdown menu that makes it easier to switch between controlling different devices, and a new shortcut to the remote screen. Additionally, you won't have to leave the remote screen to access other parts of the app. Last but not least, the company is promising performance enhancements, with Roku claiming the update will reduce device boot times and speed up app launch times. The company says the update will also make the home screen more responsive and make navigation faster. Users in the US can also look forward to new theme packs with which they can customize the interface to their liking. The company will begin rolling out the new software, Roku OS 9.3, to select devices starting this week. If you own a Roku TV from a manufacturer like TCL, Sharp or Hisense, you'll have to wait longer to get your hands on the update, with Roku saying it plans to push the new software in phases to those devices over the next few months. That was just part of a multi-faceted effort by the ambulance company to assist during the COVID-19 pandemic. In coordination with the United Way of Porter County, inHealth also is conducting a supply drive of personal protective equipment and sanitizing products, as well as using 3D printers to make the much in-demand N95 protective masks, using HEPA vacuum cleaner bags as the filters. 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 MBABANE A bit of good news for emaSwati is that electricity tariffs will not increase, at least for the next two months. This was according to a press statement released by the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC). It stated that this decision was in light of the national emergency declared in the country by Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini. The 2020/2021 tariff increase will now be effected on June 1, 2020. This means that as of June 1, 2020, customers will have to pay five cents extra for each electricity unit. Initially, the tariff hike was supposed to be effected tomorrow. The decision, according to EEC, was made having considered the economic challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.As the countrys economy slows down, trade flows are curtailed and movement is partial; thus EEC felt the need to put some measures in place to try and assist individuals and businesses that will be suffering the consequences of the economic crisis, stated the management of EEC through Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager Khaya Mavuso. In addition to the tariff deferment, EEC has also contributed E500 000 to the National Resource Mobilisation Committee (NRMC) towards the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses They stated that they were joining other businesses which were stepping up to help, because no one business could do it alone. They further called on companies across the country to come together to help the most vulnerable during this crisis. This is an unprecedented time in our history. The COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact on the health of our loved ones, the businesses we rely upon, the health of the global economy, and the way we live our daily lives. As we all continue to navigate through these unique and evolving challenges, we want you to know that EEC is here for you, he added. Also, the company has encouraged customers to use their electronic platforms to access services to minimise the need to go into service centres or depots, unless where unavoidable. They stated that electricity units could be bought using bank applications, electronic mobile platforms and third party vendors. They further advised that any power outages should be reported on their self-service platform, which is *8888#. The Army assisted 36 stranded people including students and labourers with food, water and other essential items in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Tuesday, officials said. Amid the ongoing lockdown, 21 casual labourers and two students, who were travelling from Srinagar to Thanamandi via Poshana on old Mughal road were stranded at Dogrian in the district, PRO defence said. The Army provided them rations, water, soap, medicines and coronavirus protection kits comprising of masks, gloves and hand sanitisers, PRO said. These individuals were also provided with hot food and tea, he added. They were educated on precautionary measures to be followed to prevent COVID-19 and were later shifted to a quarantine facility in Jarra Wali Gali established by the civil administration, the PRO said. Another batch of 13 daily wagers were stranded near village Rajdhani in the district and ran out of food and other basic amenities, he said. The Army tracked them and provided rations, water, soap, medicines and coronavirus protection kits, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With many getting payment reminders, confusion prevails among borrowers, term-plan investors and credit cardholders over the implementation of the three-month moratorium on all loan repayments amid disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak. As part of measures to alleviate hardships faced by people, the Reserve Bank, on March 27, announced a slew of steps, including a three-month moratorium on loan repayments. Many borrowers, credit cardholders and mutual fund investors have received SMSes from their lenders reminding them that they need to maintain sufficient balance on the due date. Among others, such messages have been received by people who have taken personal, auto and home loans. An SBI Cards customer from the city received an SMS on Sunday asking him to pay the minimum balance for payment on the annual charge even though the person is yet to activate his credit card. On Saturday, a Navi Mumbai homemaker who has a monthly investment plan from ICICI Lombard received a message asking her to maintain the EMI amount in the bank account. On Sunday, her husband got a call from his insurance broker regarding payment towards a plan taken from HDFC Ergo. An American Express credit card customer from the city also received a payment reminder on Monday. When contacted, a public sector bank official admitted that such messages are being sent to customers as the moratorium decision has to be approved by the board of each lender but in many cases, the board meetings have not taken place due to the nationwide lockdown. According to a banker, customers would have to inform their banks that they want to avail the benefit of the moratorium. "Wherever there is a standing instruction, the customer has to inform the bank that he or she wants EMIs to be deferred. Otherwise, instalments will be deducted," a senior public sector banker said. RBI has taken a slew of measures, including a 75-basis points cut in the repo rate, in the wake of the situation arising out of the outbreak of coronavirus, which has infected more than 1,250 people and has claimed over 30 lives so far in the country. There is also a three-month moratorium on payments on all types of loans and lenders have been directed not to treat such non-payments as NPAs or make bad loan provisions for them. The regulator has asked credit information bureaux not to report non-performing assets during the moratorium period. Another senior banker told PTI that the moratorium should not be seen as a kind of write-off. "This is not a loan write-off by the government. This is just an option to delay the payments for those customers whose jobs have been affected due to the lockdown or salaries been delayed because of the same. "Ultimately, each customer has to clear his or her dues and even the interest component of the three EMIs (Equated Monthly Installments) during the moratorium period will accrue to the principal, the banker said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New York City's wealthy elite, who fled America's coronavirus epicenter, are receiving their mail first class after hiring limousine drivers to deliver letters and packages to their lavish beach homes and rentals in the Hamptons. That's where Mark Vigliante comes in. Vigliante is the president of M&V Limousine Limited, which is now providing a mail delivery service for those New York City residents who recently fled to the Hamptons. Vigliante told Vice that his limousine drivers have already started making runs from Manhattan to the Hamptons. According to Vigliante, business has slowed down so he had to find ways to be innovative. New York City's wealthy elite, who fled America's coronavirus epicenter, are receiving their mail first class after hiring limousine drivers to deliver their letters and packages to their lavish beach homes and rentals in the Hamptons (pictured on Tuesday) Mark Vigliante, who is the president of M&V Limousine Limited, which is now providing a mail delivery service for those New York City residents who recently fled to the Hamptons The mail delivery, which costs a few hundred dollars, has allowed him to keep up to 15 per cent of his drivers employed. So far, the drivers have gone to homes on the Upper West Side to pick up packages, bills, letters and other items, that were then delivered to the rich in the Hamptons. Vigliante said there have also been some odd deliveries, referring to one customer requesting his drivers transport his bicycle. 'It's a lot of mail and a lot of packages,' Vigliante said. 'It's a lot of groceries, too, and luggage. Some of it's more odd. One dude had us transport a bicycle.' He also said that these deliveries now make up 30 per cent of his business. 'To be honest with you, if it keeps going well, we'll probably keep doing it after things get better,' Vigliante told Vice. Earlier on Tuesday, it was reported that tensions are rising in small towns where New York City residents have fled to escape the coronavirus hotspot as locals complain of ransacked supermarkets. The so-called 'coronavirus refugees' have been leaving the Big Apple in droves, snapping up rental properties in quiet communities where the threat of contracting the deadly bug is significantly lower. So far, the drivers have gone to homes on the Upper West Side to pick up packages, bills, letters and other items, that were then delivered to the rich in the Hamptons (pictured) Beaches in the Hamptons have been filling up earlier than usual as New Yorkers flee to Long Island to escape coronavirus People were seen out and about in the Hamptons this week after fleeing from New York City This graphic shows the areas where New Yorkers are fleeing in a bid to get away from the coronavirus But full-time residents of those towns are pulling back their welcome mats, fearing that the influx of visitors will bring infection that much closer to their doorstep while overwhelming already stretched resources. Local leaders in a number of vacation destinations across the Northeast, including the Hamptons, upstate New York and Martha's Vineyard, have called for travel bans on refugees from New York City, citing a strain on the food supply and concerns that regional health systems will collapse. In the absence of such a ban, several communities have pleaded with visitors to stay away, while others are taking matters into their own hands by ordering mandatory quarantines for people coming in from coronavirus hot zones. In the Hamptons, full-time residents have flooded social media with photos of overcrowded grocery stores where shelves have been emptied by panic-buying customers stocking up for self-isolation. At a Stop & Shop in East Hampton on Sunday, the store was so busy that employees had to supervise lines to keep people six feet apart and put up barriers to protect cashiers. Tensions have been rising in small towns where New York City residents have fled to escape the coronavirus hotspot as locals complain of ransacked supermarkets and hospitals grow more and more crowded This image shows the empty shelves at the East Hampton Stop & Shop Long Island's coveted beach towns have seen a surge in demand for rental homes. Some residents claim that property managers have asked them to leave so their homes could be rented out for a higher price to wealthy visitors from New York City. Several celebrities are among the alleged coronavirus refugees filling up local beaches - including Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson and Anna Wintour. The leaders of four Hamptons communities wrote to Gov Andrew Cuomo on Friday urging him to take action and ban residents coming to the East End. In Cape Cod, Massachusetts, more than 5,000 people have signed a petition to close bridges linking the area to the mainland to physically block out-of-state visitors. In Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Island, community leaders are discouraging second-home owners and other travelers from harder-hit areas from visiting the area, where hospitals are already reporting shortages in beds and supplies. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 10:05:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said on Monday that the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has been "rapid and sharp," and it's impossible to predict the depth of the recession at this point. "The downturn has been rapid and sharp and it's different than any we've ever experienced in America," Yellen, who served as Fed chair from 2014 to 2018, made the remarks at a webinar hosted by the Brookings Institution. "Every indication so far suggests there will be a huge plunge in output in the second quarter," said Yellen. She noted that the 3.3 million initial unemployment claims reported last Thursday suggest that the unemployment rate may have already spiked to 5.5 percent or so, up from 3.5 percent in February, which was a five-decade low. "Frankly, it's impossible to know at this point how deep the recession will be. It depends critically on how long the period of social distancing lasts," said Yellen. Yellen said the best-case scenario would be a V-shaped recession, but she is worried that damage may occur that could lead to a "prolonged recession," if containment measures lead to more layoffs and bankruptcies. 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. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have, in the last decade been overhauling the UK financial sectors regulatory framework and governance, with the introduction of the Senior Managers and Compliance Regime, or SMCR (read more). Since the 2008 Financial Crisis, there were have been a number of issues raised by the FCA with regards to personal accountability and responsibility within one of the UKs largest and most profitable sectors. One of the key issues identified has been the blame culture which has persisted within finance. This new set of rules and regulations replace the previous Approved Persons Regime (APR) and is set to change the way in which financial compliance and overall governance run in the UK, for the better. Changing the Compliance Culture In previous years, the way in which financial compliance operated was such that there would be a compliance manager or an individual within a financial firm who was responsible for all compliance-related matters and breaches. This meant that they had all but sole responsibility placed upon their shoulders to manage the entire scope of the firms compliance obligations. The UK government and subsequently the FCA have been seeking to overhaul this for the better and this has led to the ushering in of the SMCR programme which is in the process of being fully implemented. As of December 2019, firms must begin the process of training the necessary staff within their company on their obligations and responsibilities. Changing Compliance with SMCR The SMCR regime applies to all solo-regulated firms, who are FCA-authorised and unbeknownst to many, this includes a great deal of firms in the UK and all their staff, excluding ancillary staff (for example cleaners, security guards and porters.) One of the key messages and aims of this new set of regulations is that the senior management within financial firms, should have a level of responsibility in terms of compliance, comparable with their other responsibilities. Therefore, this regulation reaches and applies to the likes of chief executives and directors, who are responsible for high-level management within their respective companies, but who until now were not really responsible or liable for much of the financial governance within their companies. One of the big differences with this regime, compared to others that have been implemented in the past by the FCA is that individual companies have a large degree of the responsibility when it comes to certifying staff. This means that rather than all necessary staff having to be regulated directly by the FCA, their firm will need to certify them, as per the regulations on a regular (at least annual) basis to stay on the right side of these regulations. Classifying Firms Under SMCR A key element of this new regulatory framework is that firms are classed as one of three types. Each of the three types of firm classification comes with its own sets of responsibilities and requirements which must be accounted for and satisfied by the respective firms: Core Firms Comprising the vast majority of firms, core firms and their requirements under SMCR set the baseline and the FCAs benchmark when it comes to the rules of the regime. This includes most solo-regulated financial firms in the UK. Enhanced Firms This applies to a number of firms who are more complex in their makeup and nature. As a result, the regulations in place are designed to reflect the needs, requirements and more complex oversight such companies require, in addition to their obligations under core firm rules. Limited Scope Firms A small number of financial firms in the UK will be subject to more limited rules as limited scope firms. These will be firms who already benefit from exceptions under the Approved Persons Regime (APR). Who Does the SMCR Regime Affect? This new SMCR regime affects all solo-regulated firms in the UK. The list of firms and firm types it applies to is not exhaustive and many companies may still not be fully aware of their need to comply with the regulation. This is something the FCA and financial firms in the UK who are aware are looking to fix. A key part of the companies it applies to is that of companies who offer consumer credit. Hence, this regime will apply to everyone from dentists offering finance packages (more information) to car dealerships and various financial intermediaries. This regime will apply to the following (although it is in no way limited to these types of financial firms): Mortgage brokers Insurance brokers Companies offering consumer credit Financial intermediaries Important to note with these new regulations is that the current Appointed Representative (AR) regime in the UK remains unaffected and the rules of that regulatory framework still apply as always. Centres around the country are teetering on the brink of closure as parents pull their kids out in droves, whether because they can no longer afford the fees or have health fears. The sector is warning unless urgent steps are taken, the crucial care that allows the parents of more than a million children to keep working could disappear forever. 'We hold the economy of the nation in our hands,' Australian Childcare Alliance NSW president Lyn Connolly told AAP. 'If we close, there is nowhere for the children to go to while their parents go out to work. Then we'll never get this country going again.' Centres around the country are teetering on the brink of closure as parents pull their kids out in droves, whether because they can no longer afford the fees or have health fears (pictured: School children at a park in Sydney) The national cabinet - the prime minister and state leaders - will consider the problem when it meets again on Friday. But Labor's early childhood spokeswoman Amanda Rishworth said even that delay of a few days could be too long. 'They need some urgency around this, there will be centres closing their doors potentially permanently this week because of income issues not because they've been forced to shut down for health reasons,' she told AAP. It's widely agreed there is a simple solution within the government's reach - keep paying the child care subsidies (CCS) it has already budgeted for without requiring centres to charge parents fees. These subsidies account for about 60 per cent of a childcare centre's income on average and, combined with the $1500 fortnightly wage subsidy announced on Monday, could be enough to keep it afloat. Currently centres must charge a 'gap fee' to receive the government contribution, unless they are forced to close for health reasons. But the medical advice to governments remains that childcare - like schools - should stay open, although national cabinet has advised parents to keep their children home unless they absolutely cannot. The sector is warning unless urgent steps are taken, the crucial care that allows the parents of more than a million children to keep working could disappear forever (pictured: People entering Banksia Collage Childcare Centre wearing face masks) Health Minister Greg Hunt said the advice to keep centres open had been provided fearlessly. 'In relation to both schools or childcare centres, what we want to preserve above all else is the capacity of our critical workforce to be able to work,' he said. The difference is that schools don't lose out economically if children are kept home, United Workers Union early childhood education director Helen Gibbons said. 'If centres could have the capacity to waive the gap fee for this period, that would allow parents to keep their enrolments on the books and it would allow the CCS ... to continue to go to the centres,' she told AAP. 'It's really key that we've got to get that piece of it sorted out because parents can't afford to be paying the gap fee right now, centres don't want to charge them, but they're legally obliged to at the moment.' Ms Connolly said the sector only wanted the money already budgeted for it, not anything new from taxpayers. 'If there was no coronavirus the centres would be getting this money because the children would be attending,' she said. 'We hold the economy of the nation in our hands,' Australian Childcare Alliance NSW president Lyn Connolly said. 'If we close, there is nowhere for the children to go to while their parents go out to work. Then we'll never get this country going again' Education Minister Dan Tehan said last week he was aware of the challenges confronting the sector because of rapidly falling attendance. His office did not respond to questions on Tuesday about temporarily waiving the gap payment requirements for centres still open. The union also has concerns the wage subsidy might not extend to Australia's largest childcare provider, the Goodstart Early Learning, because its turnover was more than $1 billion which means it has to meet a higher threshold for losses. 'It's a perverse outcome, I don't think that this was the intention of the government to drive Goodstart to the wall in order to access the wage subsidies,' Ms Gibbons said. The union is seeking an agreement to let the not-for-profit giant access the wage subsidies if its turnover drops by 30 per cent, as with smaller businesses. A spokesperson for Goodstart told AAP it expected the $1500 fortnightly payment would help some of its centres' families keep their jobs and thus keep their children in care. The outlook for U.S. shale continues to darken with WTI testing sub-$20 territory. The supply glut could grow worse as the contraction in demand continues to deepen. On Sunday, President Trump extended the social distancing guidelines through the end of April, retreating from his plan to open up the economy by Easter. And before the ink was even dry on the $2 trillion stimulus, Congress has already started preparing the fourth emergency coronavirus legislation. As of now, 193 million people in the U.S. and a staggering 2.3 billion people worldwide are living under some sort of lockdown order, according to Raymond James. In early March, a few forecasters suggested that oil demand may be slightly negative in 2020, dipping by a mere 220,000 bpd. The call was somewhat provocative at the time. By the middle of the month, some forecasters said the demand hit could be as large as 10 million barrels per day (mb/d) in the second quarter. A few days later, another set of analysts put it at 13-14 mb/d. By last week, the IEA warned demand could fall by 20 mb/d. The negative revisions could keep on coming. Oil prices dropped sharply during midday trading on Monday. For us, this is simply reflecting the increasing awareness that oil demand is breaking away, probably by much more than the 20% we have currently in our books for April/May, JBC Energy said. The market has fallen apart rather quickly. Some areas are seeing catastrophically low pricing, including prices dipping into negative territory in areas far from takeaway infrastructure. Estimates for the demand side are being revised downwards on an almost daily basis, while on the supply side there is still no sign of any reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Russia, Commerzbank said in a note on Monday. Analysts are now watching global storage capacity, which could fill up in weeks or months at most. The contango for Brent between May and November has widened to a record $13.45 per barrel, a reflection of the massive short-term glut. The oil market supply chains are broken due to the unbelievably large losses in oil demand, forcing all available alternatives of supply chain adjustments to take place during April and May: Onshore product storage surge, refinery run rate cuts globally, massive increase in floating storage deals and upstream supply shut-ins, Rystad Energys head of Oil Markets Bjornar Tonhaugen said in a statement. Related: Relentless Oil Price War To Cause Huge Number Of Well Shut-Ins Plains All American Pipeline reportedly sent a letter to U.S. oil producers asking them to curtail production, according to Bloomberg, and other pipeline companies are apparently making similar requests. We are sending this proactive request to our suppliers to ask that you take steps to reduce oil production in response to the pandemic, Plains said in the letter, according to Bloomberg. Goldman Sachs sees U.S. oil production falling by 1.4 million barrels per day (mb/d) between now and the second quarter of 2020. However, the bank said that declines from lower drilling rates today wouldnt necessarily translate into lower production until the third quarter of this year. But because the glut is so gargantuan, and because storage is set to run low at current prices, that means that prices ultimately have to fall even further. For this reason, our view has been oil prices will need to move to cash costs, resulting in shut-in production, Goldman analysts wrote in a note on Monday. The U.S. rig count fell by 44 (40 oil rigs and 4 gas rigs) last week, the largest decrease in four years. Notably, the Permian basin accounted for 23 of those rigs. Bank of America said so much depends on whether or not the world can move past the pandemic in the next few months, or if the scars linger into next year and beyond. The oil market expects these massive supply and demand shocks to fade within 3 to 4 months, a plausible outcome, the bank said. However, if either shock (or both) last for 12 months or longer, the gigantic surplus could keep oil prices below $30/bbl for an extended period. By Nick Cunningham for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Two imams arrested last week in Kaduna have been docked before a chief magistrate for breaching the ban on large gatherings and 24-hou... Two imams arrested last week in Kaduna have been docked before a chief magistrate for breaching the ban on large gatherings and 24-hour curfew imposed to check coronavirus. The two clerics, Malam Aminu Umar Usman and Malam Umar Shangel faced two counts of criminal conspiracy and disobedience of lawful order. Chief Magistrate Ibrahim Musa granted them bail in the sum of N1million each and two sureties in like sum. The defendants will remain in police custody until the fulfilment of their bail conditions. Musa then adjourned the case till April 21 and 29 for hearing. Two servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been wounded as a result of the next shelling by illegal armed groups in eastern Ukraine in the Luhansk sector of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO). "The injured soldiers were promptly brought by the evacuation equipment to the military medical institution and provided with the proper medical assistance," the JFO staff said on Facebook on Tuesday. The city of Pflugerville took further precautions on Monday amid the coronavirus pandemic, closing Lake Pflugerville until further notice. In a news release, the city said overcrowding at the lake has put the public in danger. The closure, which begins noon Monday, includes the lake, fishing piers, pavilion, restrooms and trails surrounding the lake. "If the City continues to see overcrowding or lack of social distancing in other parks, they will also be closed," the release says. HOUSTON UPDATES: Dave Ward pleads for prayers for his wife, Metro suspends Park-and-Ride The action comes as the number of known coronavirus cases climbed from 179 to 200 in Travis County on Sunday, according to local health officials. Travis County data show nine of those cases are in Pflugerville and two are in the Wells Branch area. On Friday, the county confirmed a woman older than 70 died, marking the county's first coronavirus-related death. Also on Friday, the Pflugerville school district told parents that a staff member at Pflugerville High School tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member, who is not a teacher, showed no symptoms relating to coronavirus until the last weekend of spring break and had no contact with students or staff since March 14, according to the statement. The staffer's health care provider believes the person could have been within a contagious period of the virus the week before spring break, the statement says. District staff asked that school staff and students monitor their health and immediately inform their health care provider if they begin feeling ill. Pflugerville Mayor Victor Gonzales said the city is providing regular updates through the city website and advocating social distancing. Like many other cities, he said future City Council meetings will be held through a virtual platform, and the city has scaled back non-essential services in all departments. Like many other Central Texas residents, he and his wife worked from home last week, with him in a front office area and her in the master bedroom. He works as a senior account manager for Office Depot, while his wife is employed with the state. He said they rarely cross paths during the workday, though they met in the kitchen once for lunch. "(It's been) no different than working at the physical office," he said. "As a matter of fact I feel I have been more productive." Gonzales encouraged residents to adhere to Travis County's shelter-in-place order, and asked that they support local small businesses. "My message to Pflugerville: please stay home during this time, enjoy the sunlight when you have the opportunity in a safe arena of space, be compassionate (toward) your neighbors, and support your local businesses that are trying to hang on by a thread until this pandemic subsides," he said. "We will survive this challenge as a community." ___ (c)2020 Austin American-Statesman, Texas Visit Austin American-Statesman, Texas at www.statesman.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Three Brothers Bakery has faced three calamities since August 2017. Armed with lots and lots of pies, the 70-year-old bakery is still fighting and helping other small businesses do the same. Co-owner Janice Jucker understands that enduring Hurricane Harvey, losing her Kosher license and stay-at-home mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic doesnt just take work: it takes money. So she and her husband and co-owner, Bobby, have a goal to sell 25,000 to 50,000 pies to stay afloat and keep a village of others employed in the process. Sweet in more ways than one Jucker said to cover payroll and rent alone for 12 weeks at its three locations in Southwest Houston, Memorial and Rice Military, Three Brothers would need $400,000. The figure does not include other necessary expenses like insurance and utilities. She said a purchase of $22.95 for a pecan pie or $28 for chocolate fudge pecan pie would impact a lot of people. If you do that, youre going to touch all of these vendors that support us. And you also obviously are going to keep our team employed and working, said Jucker. Each time a pie is purchased, Jucker said around 20 people or businesses benefit (aside from her own employees), such as the seal maker, shrink wrap maker, pie tin maker, pecan growers and the bakery supplier that sells the ingredients. Backing employees She said she has not had to lay off any of her employees because of COVID-19 and that she hopes she doesnt have to. The bakeries are in survival mode, she said. We are going to survive because we support these families. Thats like the most important thing we do, Jucker said, adding she wants to keep all her employees because if they do have to close, it is much easier to get started again when they have all them lined up. She said things were looking pretty abysmal in terms of sales when the COVID-19 pandemic started coming down, but ABC-13 Localish aired a piece about what was going on. Since then, things have picked up a bit, Jucker said. Some businesses are encouraging their customers to buy gift cards. However, Jucker would rather take an order, make the pie (or other products) and deliver on that purchase now because she said at some point, people are probably going to cash in on those cards and she worries what happens if everyone does it during the holidays and there are still expenses to be paid when the cash has already been spent. Helping others overcome Jucker calls Bobby and herself The King and Queen of Disasters. Before Harvey, there were the Memorial Day floods, Hurricane Ike and Tropical Storm Allison. Bobby comes from nearly 200 years of bakers that started in Poland, according to the bakerys website. Three Brothers Bakery began after brothers Sigmund, Sol and Max Jucker survived the Holocaust with their older sister, who then moved to Houston and convinced the brothers to join her because of the great opportunities available there. The original Three Brothers Bakery opened on Holman Street in May 1949. Today, the bakery is a part of the NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business) and the National Restaurant Association that advocate for small businesses in Washington, as well as the Texas Retail Association. On March 30, Jucker said she was on a teleconference call with U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Ben Cardin as a part the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. Rubio serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Cardin serves as ranking member. It was actually probably one of the best calls Ive been on because they really explained all the different programs and kind of how they interact together, Jucker said. And so that understanding all the laws that have come into play and what you can take advantage of is really important for the small business. Jucker also sang the praises of the Small Business Administration, who she says has saved her business three times. She said she is not just trying to get through the pandemic but trying to helping other small businesses succeed too. Im pushing pies, Im looking for money and Im trying to affect policy, Jucker said. Visit the three bakeries at 4036 S. Braeswood Blvd., 12393 Kingsride Lane and 4606 Washington Ave. They have a variety of goods from pastries to cakes to breads. For more information or to order online, visit https://3brothersbakery.com/. 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 US oil producers hit by coronavirus demand shock and price war have yet to see a rescue package materialise. A precipitous drop in demand for oil has sparked talk of a bailout package for United States shale producers, but climate advocates appear to have prevented that from happening thus far. A sharp plunge in demand for crude stemming from the coronavirus pandemic and a subsequent oil price war initiated by Saudi Arabia have seen prices for global benchmark Brent crude and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fall by more than 60 percent this year. On Monday, WTI dipped below $20 a barrel far, far short what many shale producers need to cover their costs of production, let alone turn a profit. The supply glut has grown so acute that Texas shale producers Pioneer Natural Resources and Parsley Energy have formally asked state regulators to place curbs on oil production for the first time in almost half a century. US President Donald Trump had aimed for some form of shale oil industry bailout in the $2 trillion virus relief package signed into law last week. But a provision for $3bn in government funding to help out the shale patch by purchasing supplies to replenish US strategic oil reserves was jettisoned by Democrats. While government financial aid for US oil producers could be included in subsequent federal stimulus packages, climate groups and their allies have so far succeeded in blocking any form of government bailout for an industry they believe slows a faster transition to sustainable energy. And even the group representing the US and oil gas industry says weak companies should not be artificially propped up if they cannot remain competitive. Shale in distress Oil markets were already saturated before coronavirus disruptions and containment measures gravely damaged demand. The outlook went from bad to worse after Saudi Arabia having failed to convince Russia to agree to deep output cuts unleashed a price war and promised to pump crude with abandon. Saudi Arabia can produce oil more cheaply than any other supplier. The White House has turned to diplomacy to try and defuse the standoff between Riyadh and Moscow. On Monday, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to have their top energy officials discuss a way forward to try and bring stability to oil markets, after Trump called the price war between Moscow and Riyadh crazy. The White House is also planning to send a special energy envoy, Victoria Coates, to Saudi Arabia. But with many Americans sheltering at home for weeks, businesses shuttered and airlines barely flying, the immediate outlook for US oil companies is extremely grim especially heavily indebted shale firms that took out loans to fund the drilling of new wells. US oil majors and petroleum services firms have already announced belt-tightening measures, including laying off workers and cutting capital spending on projects. But without federal help, smaller, over-leveraged US shale firms could be facing bankruptcy. Shale producers are continually drilling new wells to maintain new production Mike Coffin, an analyst at energy market think-tank Carbon Tracker, told Al Jazeera. But even before the coronavirus demand shock and the price war, Coffin says US shale producers were poorly positioned against lower-cost rivals like Saudi Arabia because global climate targets are propelling a move away from fossil fuels in the longer term, and the lowest-cost producers will likely be the last ones standing. [Any] short-term bailout encourages them [shale oil producers] to further invest in projects, kicking the can down the line, said Coffin. May Boeve, the executive director of environmental action group 350.org, also disagrees with propping up struggling shale producers, saying it interferes with the economy moving in a direction that accelerates the clean-energy transition. Lets not forget the [oil companies] are already heavily subsidised, Boeve told Al Jazeera. The price at the pump does not at all reflect the real cost of drilling for oil. Market outcomes The shale revolution made the US the worlds largest oil producer, and the economies in states such as Texas, Oklahoma and North Dakota are hugely reliant on the sector. For the time being, shale producers are looking at market prices well below their cost of production. Very few of the hundreds of US firms can currently turn profits from their newest investments, according to a Reuters analysis of field data provided by Rystad Energy. Most of the companies had budgeted for oil prices around $60 per barrel roughly three times the current price the analysis said. So the present woes could push many into bankruptcy. Just 16 shale producers operate in places where the average new well cost is under $35 per barrel, according to Rystad. Exxon Mobil Corp, which is the largest US oil producer, and Occidental Petroleum Corp are among the firms that have costs below $30 per barrel. But barely covering costs leaves few dividends for shareholders. As a consequence of producers facing budget woes, analysts say that new drilling will stop. Chevron announced it is cutting $4bn from its capital budget. The carnage is already placing US jobs in peril. Halliburton has furloughed 3,500 workers in Houston. And upwards of 50,000 total jobs may be shed industry wide, according to PGIM Fixed Income economist Nathan Sheets. Despite this pain, even the lobby group for US producers has spoken out against possible government moves to rescue endangered companies, saying big government should not interfere with market forces. The American Petroleum Institute (API), which represents all segments of the US oil and gas industry, itself opposes any fresh intervention by Trump to save struggling firms. We are not advocating for any form of policy relief, Bethany Aronhalt, an API spokesperson, told Al Jazeera. APIs chief economist Dean Foreman said in a blog post that the group supports competitive market outcomes, including the likelihood that the strongest companies will scoop up fields that bankrupt producers leave behind. We are witnessing tumultuous times that have never been experienced before. The world has been shaken with the continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. In tune with necessity, India has taken stringent preventive steps by enforcing a total lockdown with only the essential services operating. Bharat Petroleum has a pivotal role to play in provision of vital products and services that fuel the nation. Our staff in operating locations have expended tremendous efforts to ensure that supplies of LPG and auto fuels to the market are made on time, despite the enormous hurdles they face in terms of logistics and workforce. Concomitantly, our sales team and channel partners (Dealers & LPG Distributors) have also worked diligently to ensure that LPG deliveries continue unabated in the midst of this turmoil and hardship. We would assure everyone that we have enough of LPG stock, across our network. All our LPG Plants have enough manpower to operate them and all our distributors are making all efforts to deliver Bharatgas cylinders at the doorstep of our consumers. Through media, I would like to convey all our Bharatgas consumers, that you please Stay at Home and Stay Safe, during the lockdown period. We shall ensure that your cylinders will reach your home. Our more than 16,000 Fuel Stations are operational and are ready to fuel our customers in line with directives of local authorities. Nation's lifeline, like Medical, Administrative, Essential and Emergency Services are being regularly fueled at our Fuel Stations. In this difficult time, we stand strong in serving our customers at our fuel stations and delivering the cooking gas at consumers home. PMUY beneficiaries who are the weakest section of our society have always been supported by BPCL, in line with Government of India's directives. We are fully geared up to meet the increased demand, which we expect from the next month, on account of the Free Cylinder Scheme announced by Hon'ble Prime Minister for PMUY beneficiaries, where three cylinders will be given in three months to such beneficiaries. BPCL and its subsidiaries have contributed towards 'c' to help the government to combat COVID-19, as our humble contribution towards the well-being of the society. Our employees are also contributing their one-day salary for the cause. We have today announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 5 lakh each, in the event of the death of any such personnel engaged at fuel stations (driveway sales men & women, etc), POL operation locations (depots & installations), LPG Bottling Plants, LPG distributorships (delivery boys, showroom & godown staff, etc.) Pipeline TOPs & , Intermediate Pumping Stations, and crew of all transport's services, including bulk LPG trucks due to the infection and impact of Corona Virus. More than 1,000 Fuel Stations, across our network, are regularly distributing food packets or serving meals and water to distressed and stranded migrant workers heading towards their hometowns and the truck crew. We are proud that our dealers have come forward to extend all help. Our Fuel Stations on highways are helping people with shelter, toilet and shower facilities. In addition to the above major initiatives, we are enforcing COVID-19 related specific safety and preventive precautions like Social Distancing and Personal Hygiene across our operations. Continuous messages, both internal and customer facing, through various means including the social media are being broadcast to encourage employees and channel partners to take necessary precautions. Through social media handles, internal posters, communique and messages from the leadership, we have regularly been acknowledging and encouraging our LPG Delivery Boys for their selfless service to the society, as the nation battles with the invisible enemy. Across our LPG network we are taking all necessary precautions so that when we deliver Bharatgas cylinders at your doorsteps, they are safe to use. Our cylinders are disinfected with Sodium Hypochlorite solution spray before they are dispatched from our bottling plants. Entire BPCL family including our employees, channel partners, and delivery staff has risen to the occasion and have proved to be an indomitable force working wholeheartedly to serve our customers. I take pride in them standing true to our core purpose of 'Energising Lives' of the nation. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The European Unions leading official has urged member countries to respect the blocs core values amid fears that restrictions imposed by some national governments to combat the coronavirus pandemic could erode democracy across the continent. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged the need for emergency measures as reported virus-related deaths approached 30,000 in Europe, but she reminded EU members they need to respect core values such as the rule of law, human rights and media freedom during the public health crisis. Her comments came a day after Hungarys parliament approved a bill giving prime minister Viktor Orbans government extraordinary powers with no end date in response to the pandemic. Belgian prime minister Sophie Wilmess cabinet has also been granted authority to govern by decree without parliamentary involvement for six months, while French legislators passed a law increasing the prime ministers powers, a move harshly criticised by a magistrates union and the human rights league. In many other European countries, the suspension of previously guaranteed personal freedoms, including the right to demonstrate, to gather and to circulate freely, have raised fears that temporary policies might be extended to last beyond exceptional lockdowns. It is of utmost importance that emergency measures are not at the expense of our fundamental principles and values, Ms von der Leyen said. Any emergency measures must be limited to what is necessary and strictly proportionate. They must not last indefinitely. Moreover, governments must make sure that such measures are subject to regular scrutiny. She said the European Commission would monitor in a spirit of co-operation the application of emergency laws adopted in EU nations. We all need to work together to master this crisis. On this path, we will uphold our European values and human rights. This is who we are, and this is what we stand for, she said. 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. The last time Chinese markets were selling bats, it was when the coronavirus ran amuck in Wuhan and started this pandemic that caused all these lockdowns. Now, these markets are once again open and can be a source of another epidemic. It was recently announced that there are no more coronavirus cases in the area. However, there are doubts about this report. Last January, the wet markets of Wuhan was the alledged source of coronavirus wherein five workers from this market were infected by the virus detected by Dr Li Wenliang. Are bats the carrier of coronavirus? Scientists are in agreement that bats were the source of the pathogen that escaped to infect other animals or humans eating the meat would have ingested the virus directly. Bats are carriers of many coronaviruses and are the same source of the SARS coronavirus epidemic that also came from a Chinese wet market. Back in February 24, the Chinese people's congress decided to close all the markets that sell many animals species including poached and endangered species. These animals are sold dead or alive. According to the British Daily Mail newspaper, 'Will they ever learn? Chinese markets are still selling bats and slaughtering rabbits on blood-soaked floors as Beijing celebrates victory over coronavirus." The Mail added that one source admitted that the markets are back to business, as they did and are not afraid of new outbreaks, even with coronavirus linked to bats. Other details revealed by the Mail include reports of dogs and cats that were occupying crowded and rusted cages. Bats and scorpions were for sale as traditional medicine with rabbits and duck killed and skinned on a filthy stone floor that was unsanitary by all means. Also read: Coronavirus Effects: How it Harms Human Body Organs One of the Mail's in-country correspondent went to a similar market in Guilin, southwest China. On sale was fresh dog and cat meat, and pitifully cramped dogs in terrible cages. The story submitted had a photo of caged cats which will be chopped up by the butcher. The Mail released a story with documentary evidence how the mainland Chinese prepared these dogs by boiling them alive or tossing them on a burning hot grill. Another of the Mail's local correspondents in Dongguan, Southern China reported that a pharmacy is reopening for business with bats as one of its products. There are also reports about alledged coverups about the virus. First victims of the COVID-19 was traced to Wuhan as the epicenter of the outbreak. American official accuses the Chinese Communist Party of keeping the virus secret. China even claimed that the transmission was not possible to humans. Despite the clear evidence, the World Health Organization did not declare and pandemic on January 23. The Beijing leadership moved to silence the whistleblowers, who knew the truth. One of them, Dr Li Wenliang who later died from the coronavirus (claimed by the authorities), from patients. The Chinese were permitted to travel to other places like the U.S. in December and January before he shut them out of American territory on February 1. The situation now According to the Washington Times, Communist China has once again allowed wild animal markets to operate. They offer live bats, raccoons, civets and other species. The report adds that a "series of studies shows the animals are teeming with viruses that threaten humans." Related article: Are Bats to Blame for Coronavirus? @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A woman with foreign travel history tested positive for coronavirus in Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur on Tuesday, taking the number of COVID-19 cases in the state to nine, officials said. Earlier, a 22-year-old man from Korba district who had returned from London recently was confirmed to have contracted the infection late Monday night. The number of active cases in the state stood at seven with two COVID-19 patients being discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur, following full recovery on Tuesday afternoon. As to the latest patient, a health official said the 25-year-old woman had returned here from UK recently. She was admitted to isolation ward at the AIIMS here, he said. Five COVID-19 patients are undergoing treatment at the AIIMS now, the official added. One patient is being treated at the Medical College Rajnandgaon and another at Apollo Hospital, Bilaspur. "Of the total 787 samples sent for testing until now, nine tested positive while 732 came out negative. Reports of 46 are awaited," he said. Health Secretary Niharika Barik has directed health officials to carry out testing of all those who recently returned from the UK, as most of the confirmed patients in the state have been to that country, he said. "As of Tuesday, samples of 95 persons who had travel history to UK were examined; four tested positive and 47 returned negative. Reports of the remaining samples are awaited," the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) FILE PHOTO: A participant stands near a logo of World Bank at the International Monetary Fund - World Bank Annual Meeting 2018 in Nusa Dua By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The coronavirus pandemic is expected to sharply slow growth in developing economies in East Asia and the Pacific as well as China, the World Bank said in an economic update on Monday. The bank said precise growth forecasts were difficult, given the rapidly changing situation, but its baseline now called for growth in developing economies in the region to slow to 2.1% in 2020, and to -0.5% in a lower-case scenario, compared to estimated growth of 5.8% in 2019. In China, where the coronavirus outbreak originated in late December, growth was projected to slow to 2.3% in the baseline scenario, or as low as 0.1% in the lower-case scenario, compared to growth of 6.1% in 2019. The region faced an unusual combination of "disruptive and mutually reinforcing events," the report said. "Significant economic pain seems unavoidable in all countries." Countries in the region should invest in healthcare capacity and take targeted fiscal measures, such as providing subsidies for sick pay and healthcare, to mitigate some of the immediate impacts of the pandemic, the World Bank said. "Containment of the pandemic would allow for a sustained recovery in the region, although risks to the outlook from financial market stress would remain high," it said. The financial shock of the pandemic was also expected to have a serious impact on poverty, defined as income of $5.50 a day, the bank said. The baseline scenario called for nearly 24 million fewer people to escape poverty across the region in 2020 due to the pandemic. If the economic situation deteriorated even further, poverty could increase by about 11 million people. Prior projections estimated that nearly 35 million people would escape poverty in the region in 2020, including over 25 million in China alone, the bank said. In addition to targeted fiscal measures, countries should look to deeper international cooperation and new cross-border public-private partnerships to ramp up the production and supply of key medical supplies and services, and ensure financial stability in the aftermath of the crisis, it said. Countries should also ease credit to help households smooth their consumption and help firms survive the immediate shock of the outbreak. "The good news is that the region has strengths it can tap, but countries will have to act fast and at a scale not previously imagined," said Victoria Kwakwa, vice president for East Asia and the Pacific at the World Bank. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Additional reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Leslie Adler) 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. San Antonio financial services company Frost announced it will donate $2 million to Texas nonprofits to help the novel coronavirus pandemic relief efforts. Frost said Tuesday that $1 million of the funds will go to organizations in the San Antonio area. Frosts Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth operations will each donate $200,000 to local charities helping with relief efforts. Its Austin and Permian Basin regions will each donate $125,000, while the companys Corpus Christi, Rio Grande Valley and Victoria regions each will distribute $50,000 to nonprofits in their areas. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios Frost temporarily closing bank lobbies amid coronavirus spread The nonprofits receiving donations are concentrated in health, human services, economic development and arts and culture. The combined total of $2 million is the largest charitable donation Frost has made, surpassing even the donations we made to nonprofits after Hurricane Harvey, Frost Chairman and CEO Phil Green said in a statement. Because the pandemic and the resulting shutdowns were unprecedented events in our states history, we felt that we, as one of Texass oldest businesses, should step up and make an unprecedented effort, he added. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases Frost also is directing unrestricted operating grants totaling more than $600,000 to nonprofits working on pandemic-related relief efforts. Those funds will come from a group of discretionary trusts. Frost Bank serves as the trustee of the trusts. Frost joins other local companies that have contributed to pandemic relief efforts. USAA and the USAA Foundation have donated $4.4 million to various organizations, while H-E-B has contributed $3 million. Frost Bank, the largest regional bank based in San Antonio with $34 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, on March 20 temporarily closed its roughly 140 bank branch lobbies in response to the novel coronavirus. Customers can still use the banks drive-thru locations, or bank via the internet, its mobile app or by phone. Patrick Danner is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering banking and civil courts. To read more from Patrick, become a subscriber. pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD An overcrowded jeep drove off the highway and plunged into gorge in Nepal on Tuesday, injuring 30 people. The incident occurred when the Bolero jeep was en route to Ramechhap from Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley. Tekendra Poudel, spokesperson at the District Police Office Ramechhap, said 27 injured persons were rushed to Dhulikhel hospital. Three others were undergoing treatment at a local health facility. The police have arrested the Bolero driver and launched a probe into the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State buys troubled nursing home in Seattle to free up hospital beds for COVID-19 patients The facility will be for patients who have tested negative for the virus but need other care. Real Estate Editor By BRIAN MILLER Real Estate Editor The Paramount Rehabilitation and Nursing facility at 2611 S. Dearborn St. has sold for $13 million, according to King County records. The seller, out of county-ordered receivership, was LJM Holdings LLC, which acquired the property in 2016 for $8 million. The buyer was the state Department of Social and Health Services. DSHS says the facility will be used to care for patients who've tested negative for COVID-19. The agency said, The goal is to free up beds in hospitals during the crisis by finding patients who are currently in hospitals, but could receive the same level of care in this nursing home. We are trying to find a contractor to run the facility and hope to open by the end of April. Again: It won't be a quarantine facility for those infected with the coronavirus. DSHS says there will be about 100 future job openings in nursing, food services, building maintenance and administration. Paramount, of New York, was cited last fall last fall as one of the 50 worst nursing homes in the nation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as KING 5 reported last month. That was shortly before the facility closed. It was previously fined in excess of $300,000 by state and federal regulators. NBC reported early this month that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services had placed Paramount on a special watch list. Developed in 1963, the three-story building has 66,400 square feet, plus surface parking. County records describe it as a 165-bed facility. The nominal sales price was $13.5 million, less a $500,000 personal property deduction. The deal was worth about $196 per square foot for the building. However, the property, which mostly faces Martin Luther King Jr. Way South, also includes 13,900 square feet of vacant land, south of the Paramount building. That parking lot is south of South Charles Street, which dead-ends at MLK. Brian Miller can be reached by email at brian.miller@djc.com or by phone at (206) 219-6517. 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. Operational Update and Covid 19 Policy Sydney, Mar 31, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Empire Energy Group Limited ( ASX:EEG ) ( OTCMKTS:EEGUF ) is pleased to provide the following operational update to shareholders.NORTHERN TERRITORY OPERATIONS UPDATEEmpire recently announced to shareholders that it has received Ministerial consent to drill its first well in EP187, Carpentaria-1. Those approvals are valid for two years.The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Government, Michael Gunner MLA, recently announced border restrictions preventing non-essential travel to remote Indigenous communities and a 14-day isolation period for people entering the Northern Territory.The Northern Territory Department of Health has released guidelines which provide for exemptions to the border restrictions for classes of persons (such as Empire employees and contractors) governed by a COVID-19 management plan to prevent the risk of transmission of COVID-19.Empire is developing a COVID-19 management plan to ensure that it can continue to operate in the Northern Territory while minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmission amongst its workforce, contractors and Northern Territory communities.Due to these developments and in light of current market conditions, the timing of the drilling of Carpentaria-1, targeting the Velkerri and Kyalla Shales in EP187, has yet to be determined.APPALACHIA USA OPERATIONS UPDATEThe Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, recently announced an Executive Order requiring all businesses providing non-essential services to temporarily cease trading. New York State has issued a stay at home order for the entire workforce (excluding essential services) and temporarily banned all non-essential gatherings.Under the terms of the Executive Order, Empire's New York State gas production operations are an essential service, being the production of natural gas for power generation, and are therefore exempt from the Executive Order.Empire is the second largest producer of natural gas in New York State, accounting for approximately 18% of total New York State gas production.Empire is continuing operations in New York State and Pennsylvania under its recently enacted COVID-19 policy. The policy requires all employees to abide by strict measures including remote working, social distancing, hygiene practices and self-isolation and testing for suspected COVID-19 cases.The health and safety of Empire's people and local communities is the highest priority of senior management.BALANCE SHEET AND LIQUIDITYEmpire currently has A$11.2 million cash at bank.Empire has reduced total debt from US$38 million to US$7.5 million over the last 2 years.Empire's debt facility with Macquarie Bank Limited, which matures in September 2024, is supported by its gas production assets in the USA. Empire has minimal direct exposure to oil prices (less than 1% of total production).US gas prices (benchmarked against Henry Hub) have experienced significant downward pressure in early 2020, reaching a multi-year low of US$1.60 / mcf in March. This compares to average prices of US$3.72 / mcf in Q4 2018 and US$2.87 / mcf in Q1 2019.Empire has over 80% of its 2020 gas production hedged with floor prices of US$2.50 / mcf. Empire's hedges allow it to benefit from prices higher than US$2.50 / mcf. Hedges are in place until the end of 2023.Despite Empire's hedging program, low market gas prices caused a breach of the Adjusted PV Ratio covenant as at 31 December 2019, which requires the net present value of the Proved reserves to exceed 1.5 times the net debt of the Borrower (Empire Energy USA, LLC).There is also a risk that Empire could breach financial covenants in the coming quarters if low market gas prices persist.Empire has sought, and Macquarie has agreed to, a waiver of existing and potential breaches to the financial covenants under the debt facility for all quarterly covenant tests until 31st December 2020 (inclusive).In consideration for Macquarie granting these waivers, Empire has made principal prepayments totalling US$687,500, in addition to a scheduled repayment of US$137,500 which otherwise would been due on 31 March 2020. All of these principal payments have been funded from existing US dollar denominated cash balances, and the remaining balance of the debt has been reduced to US$6,675,000.Empire's Managing Director, Alex Underwood, commenting on these developments, said:"Over the last 2 years Empire's Board and management team has been executing a strategy for value creation focused on building the team, strengthening the balance sheet and adding value to our world class Northern Territory properties.We are ensuring that the balance sheet remains strong and we are focused on preserving cash and minimising non-essential expenditure.The amendments to the Macquarie facility will reduce remaining debt while mitigating balance sheet risks associated with current US gas market conditions.We continue to build momentum and add value to our Northern Territory properties.The Board will make its investment decision regarding the drilling of Carpentaria-1 in EP187 once we are confident that we can carry out the drilling program in a safe, responsible and cost-effective manner."About Empire Energy Group Ltd Empire Energy (ASX:EEG) (OTCMKTS:EEGUF) holds over 14.5 million acres of highly prospective exploration tenements in the McArthur and Beetaloo Basins, Northern Territory. Work undertaken by the Company since 2010 demonstrates that the Eastern depositional Trough of the McArthur Basin, of which the Company holds 80% has very considerable conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon potential. The Beetaloo sub-Basin, in which Empire holds a substantial position, has independently assessed world class hydrocarbon volumes in place with a major ramp up in industry activity underway to appraise substantial discoveries already made by major Australian oil and gas operators. Empire Energy is an experienced conventional oil and gas producer with operations in the Appalachia region (New York and Pennsylvania). Empire has been successfully developing and producing oil and gas since 2006. With a nationwide lockdown in place in view of coronavirus, India continued to breathe easy as pollution level in 88 cities across the country remained minimal. Out of the 103 cities where air quality was recorded, 23 registered 'good' air quality while 65 others recorded satisfactory air quality, according to the data from the Central Pollution Control Board. An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 severe. Air Quality Index is assessment of the air quality by taking into account different factors. The lower the AQI the better the air is considered to be. The national capital witnessed a slight dip in air quality after the effect of rain subsided but it remained in the satisfactory category. UP's Bulandshahr and Guwahati were the only two cities out of 103 that recorded poor air quality. India is currently under the biggest lockdown with around 130 crore people asked to stay home in view of the coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed 29 lives and infected over 1000 people in the country. The government has urged people to avoid unnecessary travelling, significantly reducing the traffic movement across the country. Since the lockdown was imposed the air quality across the country has shown drastic improvement due to eradication of local pollutants generated due to construction activiites and vehicular traffic among others. According to the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the impact of the measures taken due to the coronavirus outbreak has resulted in a drop in PM2.5 (fine particulate pollutant) by 30 per cent in Delhi and by 15 per cent in Ahmedabad and Pune. The level of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) pollution, which can increase the risk of respiratory conditions, has also reduced. NOx pollution is mainly caused due to a high motor vehicle traffic. In Pune, NOx pollution has reduced by 43 per cent, in Mumbai, by 38 per cent and in Ahmedabad, by 50 per cent. Gufran Beig, a scientist at SAFAR, said generally in March, pollution is in the "moderate" category (Air Quality Index range: 100-200) while presently, it is in the "satisfactory" (AQI 50-100) or "good" (AQI 0-50) category. Environmentalists said that though it is not the ideal way to bring down air pollution but at least it proves that such outcomes can be brought. Jyoti Pande Lavakare, co-founder, Care for Air NGO, said the low AQI and the blue skies proved beyond doubt that a lot of the polluted air was "anthropomorphic, that is, man-made". "Obviously, slowing down the economy to such a degree is not the ideal way to bring down air pollution, but at least it proves that it can be done. We can achieve the same outcome by doing this mindfully, using technology and low-emission alternatives," she said. Lavakare emphasised on the need to realise that air pollution weakens the lungs, so countries like India with higher pollution and lower nutrition levels will be more affected by COVID-19, and morbidity and deaths are likely to be higher. Ravina Kohli, environmentalist and part of the #MyRightToBreathe campaign, said it was a "huge wake-up call" for governments obsessed with development at the cost of the "We, the people, are the problem. Our communication on solutions now also include how to reduce pollution at a personal level by being able to understand our behaviour and its consequences on our "For the first time, I believe our present generation will discover the critical importance and need for a focus on public health and the quality of air we breathe," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) The national government has allotted a total of 200-billion-worth of aid for low-income households, farmers, and fisherfolk, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte said. In his televised public address late Monday night, more than seven hours past the 4pm tentative schedule, Duterte said that the fund will go to low-income households who are most affected by this crisis in the country. We have allotted 200 billion for low income households who are badly affected by this crisis. Beneficiary households will receive emergency support for their two months based on the regional minimum wage, he said in his address to the nation Monday midnight. Duterte also urged the private sector to continue to look after their countrymen, and to help in any way that they can. Duterte also said that government is providing assistance to the agricultural sector. To our farmers and fisherfolk, we have not forgotten you, and government is now employing quick response measures to help you during the crisis as well as ensure food productivity, sufficiency, Duterte added. In line with this, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is set to distribute social amelioration cards for cash assistance amid the pandemic. RELATED: DSWD to distribute cards to LGUs for distribution of COVID-19 cash aid The cash aid ranges between 5,000 and 8,000, and will be given to vulnerable sectors of society such as persons with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant mothers, homeless persons and workers in informal sectors. Duterte added that this cash assistance program is the largest and widest social protection program in the countrys history. However, the DSWD is still coordinating with local governments regarding the schedule of submission of the list of beneficiaries for the distribution of the cash aid. The Health Department has also purchased one million set of personal protective equipment worth 1.8 billion to be given to health workers in referral hospitals for coronavirus patients in Luzon. Duterte was quick to thank healthcare workers and frontliners, even addressing the medical practitioners who have fallen to the respiratory disease, saying they are lucky to have died for the country. May mga doctors, nurses, attendants na namatay. Sila yong nasawi ang buhay para lang makatulong sa kapwa. Napaka swerte nila, namatay sila para sa bayan. yon dapat ang rason para dapat tayo namatay, he said. [Translation: There are doctors, nurses, and attendants who died. They died helping other people. They are very lucky that they died for the country. That should be the reason of our death.] Duterte signed the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act on March 24, which grants him additional powers to tackle the COVID-19 crisis in the country, including the power to reshuffle funds in this years budget to provide assistance to the poor. Under this law, Duterte should deliver a weekly report to Congress every Monday, where he would detail what the government has done in the past week to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / March 31, 2020 / Samson Oil and Gas Limited (SSN, ASX, OTCQB:SSNYY) ("Samson") advises that, effective March 31,2020, there will be a restructuring of the Company's corporate operations and implementation of a cost reduction plan. This will include a number of changes to its Board of Directors and management structure. The restructuring realigns the corporate structure to more effectively serve its operations and support the progression of Samson's business strategy. Mr. Terry Barr is retiring from his position as Samson's CEO and Managing Director but will remain on the Board of Directors. He will be replaced as CEO by Mr. Tristan Farel, Samson's current CFO. Mr. Farel will, also, join the Samson Board of Directors as Managing Director. Mr. Barr will assume the position of Chairman of the Board, replacing Dr. Peter Hill, who is retiring from the Samson Board. Mr. Farel stated, "We are grateful to Dr. Hill for his years of service, with distinction, as our Chairman in these unusually challenging times for the company and our industry. And while we regret the loss of Mr. Barr's services on a day to day basis, we are pleased that he will continue to be closely involved with the company as Chairman and that he will remain available for assistance and guidance throughout this transition." Tristan Farel, in his new role as CEO, has entered into an employment contract for a period of three years at an annual salary of $250,000. As Chairman, Terry Barr will be paid a Chairman's fee of $60,000 and the Non-Executive Directors Greg Channon and Nicholas Ong will be paid an annual fee of $45,000. These Board fees represent a further 25% reduction on the prior fee structure. Samson has entered into service agreements with two vendors to provide oversight for its field operations and its accounting and finance processes. Samson anticipates a 30% to 35% reduction in costs related to these contracts and the management changes discussed above. Board of Directors SAMSON OIL & GAS LIMITED For further information please contact, Terry Barr, CEO on 303 296 3994 (US office) Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward looking statements, including but not limited to statements using words like "may", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "should" or "will." Actual results may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or estimated by any forward looking information, including the risks that the anticipated sales transaction will not close or that the purchase price will be materially reduced on account of potential liabilities uncovered during due diligence as well as uncertainties inherent in estimating the methods, timing and results of exploration activities. A description of the risks and uncertainties that are generally attendant to Samson and its industry, as well as other factors that could affect Samson's financial results, are included in the prospectus and prospectus supplement for its recent Rights Offering as well as the Company's report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K, which are available at www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm. SOURCE: Samson Oil and Gas Limited View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583223/Samson-Oil-Gas-Announces-Management-Changes-and-Implementation-of-a-Cost-Reduction-Plan Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 12:55:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GUIYANG, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The leaves of a traditional Chinese herb have become an inseparable ingredient of a promotional campaign for the distinctive ethnic culture in southwest China's Guizhou Province. Zhang Yiqiong's studio is full of indigo linen fabrics waving in the wind. The cloth materials are wax dyed with the help of the leaves of rhizoma et radix baphicacanthis cusiae, the Chinese herb believed to have the effect of driving away epidemics and killing insects. "The root of the herb has a medicinal effect, and its leaves can be transformed into pigment for dark blue dyeing, which is perfect for the clothes of the Miao people," Zhang said. Zhang is a member of the Miao ethnic minority in the ethnic county of Sandu. Locals traditionally wear dark blue ethnic clothes featuring pictures with Miao elements. Zhang's company, Gen Lan Mu Tu, or "Miao wax dyeing" in the Miao language, specializes in wax dyeing for the Miao ethnic clothes. It has become a conglomerate, engaging in businesses such as rhizoma et radix baphicacanthis cusiae plantation, ethnic clothes making, wax dyeing and the Miao embroidering. The company's businesses have generated many jobs for the local people, and helped lift more than 2,800 farmers out of poverty. "The pigment we extract from the leaves can be applied in wax dyeing, and if we have extra pigment, we sell it to textile companies," Zhang said. Zhang started learning about Miao wax dyeing when she was a little girl. Her role model was her mother. "The Miao people's ethnic clothes were just so beautiful in my eyes, and I wanted to learn the skill well," she said. People traditionally grow rhizoma et radix baphicacanthis cusiae in the county and have always used its leaves as pigment for their garment. But for the little Zhang, it was no easy job. "Extracting the indigo pigment was quite complicated," she said. "You have to grow the plants first." After reaping the plants, Zhang would soak the leaves in water, fetch the blue leaves, extract the indigo essence and make it into the sediment. "I would carefully watch my mom do it," she said. With the pigment, she could then proceed to wax dyeing. "Wax dyeing also involves a number of procedures," she said. "First of all, you need to paint the wax on the cloth and soak the cloth material in the indigo pigment. The final product is not complete until you are done with oxidization, removing the wax and washing." In 1998, Zhang graduated from junior school and left her hometown for better-paying jobs. After three years of a life adrift, she returned to her home county with some earnings and prepared to create a business of her own. "I have always adored Miao clothes, so I decided that I wanted to do something about it," she said. "Then, I became a Miao clothes maker." In 2013, Zhang established a Miao clothes processing store, which would evolve into her own company Gen Lan Mu Tu within two years, mainly focusing on Miao wax dyeing. The products that the company churns out are Miao clothes with ethnic elements, including phoenixes, flowers, birds and Miao people playing the Lusheng, a reed-pipe wind musical instrument. All these pictures are wax dyed white, in contrast to the indigo background. "Gen Lan Mu Tu is about making the world more colorful with plant-based wax dyeing," she said. "It is a green and healthy concept, and it helps promote our ethnic Miao culture." The company has about 260 long-term employees for wax dyeing and embroidering. It has cooperated with local farmers in the plantation of rhizoma et radix baphicacanthis cusiae. Last year, locals planted 933 hectares of the herb. "I have done the wax dyeing work for a long time here," said employee Wei Liyun. "I enjoy the skill, and I am good at it." Wei can make 4,000 yuan (564 U.S. dollars) a month for her work. She has even continued to work at home during the coronavirus outbreak. "It is part of my life," she said. As her business expanded, Zhang wanted to give her ethnic clothes a more "modern touch" so that "more people will get to know the Miao culture." So she teamed up with some designers from big cities like Beijing and asked them to help re-design the pictures. "The ethnic style is unique in itself," said designer Wu Huahui. "The plant-based pigment has no pollution and is quite special, so the wax dyed Miao clothes are quite popular in the market now." The company met some setbacks in the past. "In the past, our pigment was basically in the form of liquid, which could cost more than 400,000 yuan in transportation fees every year," Zhang said. "Now we have drying and powdering machines, which turn the pigment into powder. It has greatly slashed costs." "Wax dyeing is our major business at the moment," Zhang said. "These days, people have more demand for plant-based pigment, and some big textile companies are coming to work with us for the indigo pigment." "Plant-based pigment is environmentally-friendly," she said. "It not only meets people's demand but also truly helps promote our ethnic culture to people." Filling station petrol pump A group of public health experts have called for petrol and diesel pumps to carry health warnings similar to those on cigarette packets. These could include blackened lungs and flooded homes. One scientist said the images would need to be shocking to have an effect, reports The Times. The labels should be introduced ahead of Novembers COP26 climate change conference in November. ALSO READ: What is E5 petrol and B7 diesel? Similar emissions warning labels are already carried on fuel pumps in Vancouver, Canada. Sweden will introduce them in May. Dr Mike Gill, one of the experts making the call, says telling consumers at the point of use about the climate and health risks could change attitudes and behaviour. Warning labels connect the abstract threat of the climate emergency with the use of fossil fuels in the here and now. The call is reported in the latest issue of The British Medical Journal, as part of a series of features on planetary health. The post Fuel pumps should carry cigarette-style warnings appeared first on Motoring Research. Amy Schumer's father Gordon lives in a nursing home as he needs care for multiple sclerosis which he has had for over 20 years. And on Tuesday the 38-year-old I Feel Pretty actress went to visit him along with her son Gene. But the stand-up comedian did not go inside and opted instead to wave to her dad through the window of his nursing home to avoid contact during the spread of COVID-19. There for daddy: Amy Schumer 's father Gordon lives in a nursing home as he needs care for multiple sclerosis. And on Tuesday the 38-year-old I Feel Pretty actress went to visit him along with her son Gene Amy was dressed in a blue sweat outfit and a black coat with white sneakers. She had on no makeup and her blonde hair was pulled back. The comedienne held Gene in one arm and a sign for her father in the other. The sign read, 'Hi Grandpa! We love you!' The actress was in great spirits as she smiled away on the sidewalk with a green lawn behind her as well as a market. Safety first: But the stand-up comedian did not go inside and opted instead to wave to her dad through the window of his nursing home to avoid contact during the spread of COVID-19 Not a bad place: She also gave a look at the exterior of his nursing home Little Gene, who turns one in May, had on a cap and a puffy jacket. Amy's father Gordon was diagnosed with MS when Amy was in high school. It came at a bad time: her dad's furniture business went under and he filed for bankruptcy and at about the same time her parents split up, which she has detailed in her autobiography. With her father: Amy and Gordon in New York Cit in 2017 when she filmed I Feel Pretty She includes him in her life: Here the two are side by side in New York's Central Park in 2016 Colin Quinn played her father in the film Trainwreck as Amy's character is seen visiting with him as he sits in a wheelchair. And when Amy filmed the 2017 film Snatched with Goldie Hawn, she asked the veteran actress to visit her father, which she did. He was so happy to meet his crush, that Gordon broke into tears. Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects the brain and spinal cord, according to WebMD and early MS symptoms include weakness, tingling, numbness, and blurred vision. Other signs are muscle stiffness, thinking problems, and urinary problems. Amy has been careful to stay indoors during COVID-19 which has taken 1,550 lives in New York State alone as of Tuesday morning. On Saturday night, the star took to Instagram to send 'love to all the pregnant ladies' who are currently in quarantine amid the coronavirus pandemic. 'We are thinking about you, too,' captioned Schumer, who shared a topless throwback portrait of herself cradling her then newborn son. Thinking of you: Schumer took to Instagram on Saturday evening to post a snapshot of herself and her now 10-month-old son Gene in order to let pregnant women in quarantine know she is 'thinking of' them Since Schumer was sans shirt, the actress plastered two flame emoji's over her private bits. In the black-and-white photo, Schumer, visibly make-up free, can be seen sitting in a chair in her post-labor hospital room, while baby Gene slept on her lap. Schumer and her husband Chris Fischer welcomed their first born just a year after tying the knot during a ceremony in Malibu, California in 2018. Better days: Amy and husband Chris Fischer were spotted in New York City in 2019 This is not the first time that Amy has addressed quarantining with her nearly 10million Instagram followers amid the coronavirus pandemic. To provide example of 'proper social-distancing,' Schumer recorded a video of herself and Tony award-winning pal Jerry Zaks acting out the recommended 'six foot' distance just last week. 'Social distancing with Jerry Zaks. #cherrypie,' captioned Amy who could be seen taking cautious back-and-forth steps away from Zaks. 'Step forward...step back...now THAT is social distance,' instructed Amy, while she held on tightly to her tiny pooch in the video that has garnered over 800,000 views. Schumers due diligence to maintain social distance and, for the most part, remain quarantined comes in the wake of New York amassing nearly 5% of the worlds coronavirus cases, according to the New York Times. Last Sunday, Schumer and her husband enjoyed a family stroll at a local NYC park, but the comedian practiced what she preached and kept her distance from fellow park goers. Fortis Healthcare informed that ICRA has upgraded the company's long-term rating to [ICRA] A- from [ICRA] BBB+ and the short term rating to [ICRA] A1 from [ICRA] A2. ICRA has also upgraded Fortis Hospitals (company's subsidiary) long-term rating to [ICRA] 'A-' from [ICRA] 'BBB+'. Further, the short-term rating of the company's subsidiary has been upgraded to [ICRA] 'A1' from [ICRA] 'A2'. The ratings agency has place the above ratings on watch with developing implications. Fortis Healthcare is a healthcare services company. It, along with its subsidiaries, now has 26 healthcare facilities, potential bed capacity of approximately 9000 beds. Further, through its subsidiary, SRL, the company operates over 400 diagnostic laboratories in the country. Shares of healthcare services provider ended 1.55% lower at Rs 126.90 on Monday, 30 March 2020. In three sessions, the stock has lost 3.68% from its recent closing high of Rs 131.75 recorded on 25 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.) 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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 Preexisting health problems also can increase risk of infection, such as people who have weak immune systems including from cancer treatment. Older people remain most at risk of dying as the new coronavirus continues its rampage around the globe, but theyre far from the only ones vulnerable. One of many mysteries: Men seem to be faring worse than women. And as cases skyrocket in the U.S. and Europe, its becoming more clear that how healthy you were before the pandemic began plays a key role in how you fare regardless of how old you are. The majority of people who get COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms. But majority doesnt mean all, and that raises an important question: Who should worry most that theyll be among the seriously ill? While it will be months before scientists have enough data to say for sure who is most at risk and why preliminary numbers from early cases around the world are starting to offer hints. Not just the old get sick Senior citizens undoubtedly are the hardest hit by COVID-19. In China, 80 percent of deaths were among people in their 60s or older, and that general trend is playing out elsewhere. The greying of the population means some countries face particular risk. Italy has the worlds second-oldest population after Japan. While death rates fluctuate wildly early in an outbreak, Italy has reported more than 80 percent of deaths so far were among those 70 or older. But, the idea that this is purely a disease that causes death in older people we need to be very, very careful with, Dr Mike Ryan, the World Health Organizations emergencies chief, warned. As much as 10 percent to 15 percent of people under 50 have moderate to severe infection, he said Friday. Even if they survive, the middle-aged can spend weeks in the hospital. In France, more than half of the first 300 people admitted to intensive care units were under 60. Young people are not invincible, WHOs Maria Van Kerkhove added, saying more information is needed about the disease in all age groups. Italy reported that a quarter of its cases so far were among people ages 19 to 50. In Spain, a third are under age 44. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions first snapshot of cases found 29 percent were aged 20 to 44. Then theres the puzzle of children, who have made up a small fraction of the worlds case counts to date. But while most appear only mildly ill, in the journal Pediatrics researchers traced 2,100 infected children in China and noted one death, a 14-year-old, and that nearly six percent were seriously ill. Another question is what role kids have in spreading the virus: There is an urgent need for further investigation of the role children have in the chain of transmission, researchers at Canadas Dalhousie University wrote in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. Riskiest Health Conditions Put aside age: Underlying health plays a big role. In China, 40 percent of people who required critical care had other chronic health problems. And there, deaths were highest among people who had heart disease, diabetes or chronic lung diseases before they got COVID-19. Preexisting health problems also can increase risk of infection, such as people who have weak immune systems including from cancer treatment. Other countries now are seeing how pre-pandemic health plays a role, and more such threats are likely to be discovered. Italy reported that of the first nine people younger than 40 who died of COVID-19, seven were confirmed to have grave pathologies such as heart disease. The more health problems, the worse they fare. Italy also reports about half of people who died with COVID-19 had three or more underlying conditions, while just two percent of deaths were in people with no preexisting ailments. Heart disease is a very broad term, but so far it looks like those most at risk have significant cardiovascular diseases such as congestive heart failure or severely stiffened and clogged arteries, said Dr. Trish Perl, infectious disease chief at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Any sort of infection tends to make diabetes harder to control, but its not clear why diabetics appear to be at particular risk with COVID-19. Risks in the less healthy may have something to do with how they hold up if their immune systems overreact to the virus. Patients who die often seemed to have been improving after a week or so only to suddenly deteriorate experiencing organ-damaging inflammation. As for preexisting lung problems, this is really happening in people who have less lung capacity, Perl said, because of diseases such as COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cystic fibrosis. Asthma also is on the worry list. No one really knows about the risk from very mild asthma, although even routine respiratory infections often leave patients using their inhalers more often and theyll need monitoring with COVID-19, she said. What about a prior bout of pneumonia? Unless it was severe enough to put you on a ventilator, that alone shouldnt have caused any significant lingering damage, she said. Gender Mystery Perhaps the gender imbalance shouldnt be a surprise: During previous outbreaks of SARS and MERS cousins to COVID-19 scientists noticed men seemed more susceptible than women. This time around, slightly more than half the COVID-19 deaths in China were among men. Other parts of Asia saw similar numbers. Then Europe, too, spotted what Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus coordinator, labelled a concerning trend. In Italy, where men so far make up 58 percent of infections, male deaths are outpacing female deaths and the increased risk starts at age 50, according to a report from Italys COVID-19 surveillance group. The U.S. CDC hasnt yet released details. But one report about the first nearly 200 British patients admitted to critical care found about two-thirds were male. One suspect: Globally, men are more likely to have smoked more heavily and for longer periods than women. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control is urging research into smokings connection to COVID-19. Hormones may play a role, too. In 2017, University of Iowa researchers infected mice with SARS and, just like had happened in people, males were more likely to die. Estrogen seemed protective when their ovaries were removed, deaths among female mice jumped, the team reported in the Journal of Immunology. 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. YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Filipino-born Australian chess player Arianne Caoili has died at the age of 33 in Yerevan, Armenia, two weeks after being seriously injured in a car crash. The cause of death wasnt immediately available. Caoilis husband, the Armenian chess grandmaster Levon Aronian, tweeted: I have no words to express the grievance over my wife Arianne's death. She was intelligent , hard working and joyous person that lived a beautiful life... I love you honeybun, sleep tight. Many renowned chess players from all over the world, namely Magnus Carlsen and Anish Giri, expressed condolences to Aronian. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan 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. The international humanitarian organization, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders expressed deep surprise in a statement March 24 after Iranian Health Ministry officials put a stop to its plans to launch a 50-bed intensive care field hospital in Isfahan for COVID-19 victims. MSF has sent two chartered planes to Iran carrying equipment and the inflatable hospital, as well as specialized personnel. The statement sent to Radio Farda says they were received well by local officials in Isfahan but then health ministry officials said Iran has enough capacity and does not need help. An adviser to the health ministry had tweeted earlier, the Iranian Armed Forces' medical capabilities are entirely at its service, Iran did not need hospitals established by foreigners. [Therefore], the MSF presence in Iran is irrelevant. Iranian hardliner followers of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei were accusing MSF and its personnel of being French spies on social media and in the Iranian press. Khamenei on March 22 went as far as saying that supernatural beings were conspiring with enemies to attack the Iranian people. We are deeply surprised to learn that the approval for the deployment of our treatment unit has been revoked, said Michel Olivier Lacharite, manager of the MSF Emergency programs in Paris. The need for this intervention, and the authorizations needed to start it, were discussed and agreed with relevant Iranian authorities during the past weeks. Our teams were ready to start medical activities at the end of this week. Hossein Shariatmadari, a top confidant of Khamenei, speaking to Irans Fars news agency controlled by the Revolutionary Guard, implicitly accused the Paris-based MSF of being an American puppet. Meanwhile, top Iranian officials have launched a public and diplomatic campaign to force the United States to give up its sanctions, arguing that Iran now needs resources to fight the pandemic. MSF says it is ready to re-deploy its emergency team elsewhere in Iran, or quickly move them to other countries in the region, where they are urgently needed to face the massive needs caused by the Covid-19 outbreak. Regulatory News: Faced with the compelling need for more respirators on its national territory, the French government has asked, on March 22, a group of French industrial companies led by Air Liquide (Paris:AI) to study the possibility of increasing the production of respirators so as to provide 10,000 respirators in 50 days, between the beginning of April and mid-May. In response, Air Liquide, Groupe PSA, Schneider Electric and Valeo have set up a Task Force composed of about 30 purchasing and industrialization experts in order to define an action plan to increase the production of Air Liquide Medical Systems respirators, which are already referenced by a great number of hospitals in France and abroad. To meet this industrial challenge, the exceptional contribution of 100 partner companies will also be sought so as to provide the 300 essential components that are necessary for the fabrication of these medical systems. As a reminder, Air Liquide has already started the process of tripling its production capacities after the French Ministry of Health had confirmed mid-March a first order of 1,000 respirators to Air Liquide Medical Systems, a dedicated subsidiary of the Air Liquide Group. These intensive care respirators are already being produced by the teams located on the site in Antony, France, and two thirds of that order will be delivered to health facilities by the end of April. Given the need to sharply increase the number of respirators in the context of the worsening Covid-19 situation and in order to fulfill the French government's request, formulated by Agnes Pannier-Runacher, Minister of State, attached to the Minister of Economy and Finance, to supply a total of 10,000 respirators in 50 days, Air Liquide is coordinating a working group bringing together Groupe PSA, Schneider Electric and Valeo. This has resulted in a proposal to the Government on March 27 to supply two models of Air Liquide Medical Systems respirators, which will be delivered in six weeks. This action leads to an exceptional mobilization and coordinated approach of the 4 major industrial Groups in order to secure the necessary components, the reorganisation of the production workshops and the involvement of the additional resources needed to assemble the elements that make up these respirators. 1/ Securing the components - Close to 100 suppliers will provide the 300 components that make up these respirators. The purchasing experts of Air Liquide Medical Systems are working in pairs with the dedicated experts of the other partners in each field (mechanics and electronics) so as to secure the supply all along the implementation of the project. 2/ Reorganisation of the production workshops The production rates of certain respirators will be multiplied by up to 70 thanks to the implementation of three additional lines, with three teams working six days a week. A pre-assembly of the mechanical part of the respirators will be executed on the site of Groupe PSA in Poissy, France. The last phase of the assembly, the control, the quality deliverance will be achieved on the Antony site, by the teams of Air Liquide Medical Systems. 3/ Involvement of additional resources To complete the work carried out by Air Liquide teams, this intensive production program will also require the mobilization of 240 additional operators, out of which 185 in Antony and 55 operators from Groupe PSA based in Poissy. As part of its commitment to solidarity alongside the healthcare professionals and the authorities, Air Liquide has committed to providing these respirators at cost price and without passing on the exceptional costs induced by the implementation of this unprecedented industrial program. More than one hundred respirators per week will be delivered until mid-April, and then more than 1,000 per week. The contribution of other companies is also under study and awaiting confirmation depending on the complementary needs that might be identified during project implementation. A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 80 countries with approximately 67,000 employees and serves more than 3.7 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide's scientific territory and have been at the core of the company's activities since its creation in 1902. Air Liquide's ambition is to be a leader in its industry, deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability. The company's customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable, regular and responsible growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders. Air Liquide's revenue amounted to 22 billion euros in 2019 and its solutions that protect life and the environment represented more than 40% of sales. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, EURO STOXX 50 and FTSE4Good indexes. www.airliquide.com Follow us on Twitter @airliquidegroup View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005443/en/ Contacts: Corporate Communications media@airliquide.com Investor Relations IRTeam@airliquide.com 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. Eight cases of coronavirus have been reported in Martha's Vineyard, after the nation's wealthy fled to their summer homes on the idyllic New England island to escape the pandemic. Initially three cases were reported on Sunday. That number rose to eight on Monday, the hospital said in a press briefing. However, at current capacity Martha's Vineyard small hospital can only hold nine COVID-19 patients. The sudden spike follows the exodus of New York Citys elite to their summer and vacation homes upstate and throughout the East Coast - sending local communities reeling as grocery stores are suddenly emptied and hospitals overwhelmed. Marthas Vineyard Hospital is now bracing for a potential surge in COVID-19 patients on the island that stretches 87 square miles and boasts a population of 15,000. Statewide in Massachusetts 6,620 cases were reported on Tuesday a massive jump from the 797 reported on Sunday. Eight cases of coronavirus have been reported in Martha's Vineyard, after the nation's wealthy fled to their summer homes on the idyllic New England island to escape the pandemic. Martha's Vineyard Hospital is now bracing for a surge in cases, its health workers pictured above holding up signs that say: 'We stay at work for you please stay at home for us!' As of Tuesday morning Marthas Vineyard Hospital has tested 101 people for COVID-19 and eight of those tests have proved positive, 76 negative and 17 are pending results A COVID-19 testing tent at Martha's Vineyard hospital pictured above According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health there are been 89 deaths in the state. No deaths have been reported so far in Dukes and Nantucket counties. Martha's Vineyard falls under Dukes County. As of Tuesday morning Marthas Vineyard Hospital has tested 101 people for COVID-19 and eight of those tests have proved positive, 76 negative and 17 are pending results. However, officials said no one is currently hospitalized on the island for COVID-19 and none of the positive cases were hospital employees. While it's not clear if the positive patients were people who flocked to the Island in light of the pandemic, the influx of Vineyard summer residents is concerning local officials. 'Thats why we urged the governor to do a travel ban,' hospital president and CEO Denise Schepici said, according to the Vineyard Gazette. 'Because people flocking from places like New York, which have such a high incidence, we are just assuming everyone is positive. Thats why quarantine is essential. Thats the golden nugget,' she added. The sudden surge follows the exodus of New York Citys elite to their summer and vacation homes upstate and throughout the East Coast including towns like Martha's Vineyard The hospital shared this COVID-19 update on Monday morning This map shows where New Yorkers are fleeing coronavirus across the Eastern seaboard Hospital leaders are now urging seasonal residents to stay put and Islanders to stay home. 'Less travel is less of a chance to spread the disease,' Schepici said. 'We also want to let our summer residents know, we love them, we depend on them, but Marthas Vineyard cannot handle our summer population in this pandemic.' Now the Island's board of health is working with hospital officials to conduct extensive contact tracing for the eight positive cases on the island, according to Martha's Vineyard Times. In the US there are over 181,000 cases of coronavirus and over 3,000 deaths Many people who own homes in Martha's Vineyard are wealthy New Yorkers. Due to the mounting number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in NYC, many have fled the Big Apple to safer towns 'With only eight cases, I dont think that the cases are there to support community transmission at this point, but I cant say for certain,' Maura Valley, who works with Tisbury's health department, said. On Monday Schepici said the hospital had only six ventilators and two respiratory therapists. Now the hospital is scrambling for more beds and planning for potential patient transfers with the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, its parent company. 'We are preparing for a surge. I wish it were unlikely. I think it is highly likely,' she said. Five tents have been set up outside the hospital since the coronavirus outbreak started including a decontamination tent for emergency room workers and a tent for drive-through COVID-19 testing. Inside the hospital, the area has been divided into two separate coronavirus and non coronavirus sections to avoid the potential spread of the virus from within. Fleeing New Yorkers leave Hamptons grocery stores bare and prompt a surge in bookings at premium rentals as Long Island and upstate leaders warn 'coronavirus refugees' from NYC could be quarantined for 14 days Tensions are rising in small towns where New York City residents have fled to escape the coronavirus hotspot as locals complain of ransacked supermarkets and hospitals grow more and more crowded. So-called 'coronavirus refugees' have been leaving the Big Apple in droves, and landing in Long Island, the Hamptons, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Rhode Island, and other small quiet towns with lower coronavirus cases. But full-time residents of those towns are pulling back their welcome mats, fearing travelers may bring the contagious infection. Local leaders in a number of communities upstate and on Long Island have called for travel bans on refugees from New York City, citing a strain on the food supply and concerns that regional health systems will collapse. Tensions are rising in small towns where New York City residents have fled to escape the coronavirus hotspot as locals complain of ransacked supermarkets and hospitals grow more and more crowded. Pictured: A Stop & Shop store in East Hampton is overwhelmed by customers stocking up for self-isolation Local leaders in a number of communities upstate and on Long Island have called for travel bans on refugees from New York City, citing a strain on the food supply. Pictured: Empty shelves at the East Hampton Stop & Shop In the absence of such a ban, several counties have pleaded with visitors to stay away, while others are taking matters into their own hands by ordering mandatory quarantines for people coming in from coronavirus hot zones. In the Hamptons, full-time residents have flooded social media with photos of overcrowded grocery stores where shelves have been emptied by panic-buying customers stocking up for self-isolation. At a Stop & Shop in East Hampton on Sunday, the store was so busy that employees had to supervise lines to keep people six feet apart and put up barriers to protect cashiers. Long Island's coveted beach towns have seen a surge in demand for rental homes. Some residents claim that property managers have asked them to leave so their homes could be rented out for a higher price to wealthy visitors from New York City. Beaches in the Hamptons have been filling up earlier than usual as New Yorkers flee to Long Island to escape coronavirus A member of the Rhode Island National Guard approaches a property to check for New Yorkers on Saturday after the state ordered mandatory quarantine for people visiting from the hard-hit state The leaders of four Hamptons communities wrote to Cuomo on Friday urging him to take action and ban residents coming to the East End. In Cape Cod, Massachusetts, another popular vacation destination among New Yorkers, full-time residents started a petition to close bridges to cars with out of state license plates. Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo issued an executive order forcing travelers from New York to quarantine for 14 days after visiting her state. The Rhode Island National Guard then went door-to-door rounding up out-of-towners in a move that was not received well by Cuomo, who threatened to sue. Raimondo backed down on Sunday and subsequently expanded the order to include 'any person' coming to Rhode Island from another state. Regional hospital systems brace for wave of coronavirus patients from out of town The influx of out-of-town infections has caused growing concern among county leaders that local hospital systems will be overwhelmed by patients. Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin has repeated called on Governor Cuomo to instate a travel ban for New York City residents. During a Facebook Live event on Monday, McLaughlin said healthcare facilities upstate will become 'rapidly overrun' if people keep traveling north from New York City and its hard-hit suburbs. 'Our health system will be in trouble,' McLaughlin said. Referencing the surge of patients at New York City's public and private hospitals, Cuomo said: 'We have hospitals in upstate New York that are experiencing none of this where they have staff capacity, they have bed capacity. 'We need you now, here in this fight and engaged, and thats a totally different concept [for hospitals].' Local leaders battle with rental companies inviting people to escape from hot spots Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said vacation rental companies such as Airbnb are making matters worse by attempting to draw more visitors from out of town to their properties. 'Airbnb are advertising: "Get out of the apocalypse. Leave New York City. Leave downstate. Rent a home,"' Neuhaus told the Examiner. He said executives from at 62 counties in New York participate in a nightly phone call about the coronavirus crisis. 'It's a big discussion every night, because upstate New York, the further you are, the more upset the county execs are getting,' he said. Rental property owners in the Hamptons have been accused of trying to capitalize on the crisis by hiking up their prices for people who are desperate to get out of New York City. In an op-ed for Bloomberg, columnist Joe Nocera described how a broker who sold him his home in the Hamptons recently asked if he had any interest in renting it out. Nocera and his family left New York City for their three-bedroom Southampton home when the outbreak ramped up about two and a half weeks ago. Not long after, the broker reached out to his wife Dawn and asked where they were planning to self-isolate, he said. When Dawn said they were staying on Long Island, the broker replied: 'I could rent your place for a lot of money. Let me know if you change your mind.' Nocera said that roughly two-thirds of his neighborhood is comprised of summer homes that remain empty through most of the year. But now, he said almost all of the homes have cars parked in the driveway - a rare sight for March. As one of the 'coronavirus refugees' himself, Nocera said he's felt significant disdain from locals who are frustrated to see so many New York City residents infiltrating their community to escape the virus. Zoom, the videoconferencing app whose traffic has surged during the coronavirus pandemic, is under scrutiny by the office of New Yorks attorney-general, Letitia James, for its data privacy and security practices Zoom, the videoconferencing app whose traffic has surged during the coronavirus pandemic, is under scrutiny by the office of New Yorks attorney-general, Letitia James, for its data privacy and security practices. On Monday, the office sent Zoom a letter asking what, if any, new security measures the company has put in place to handle increased traffic on its network and to detect hackers, according to a copy reviewed by The New York Times. While the letter referred to Zoom as an essential and valuable communications platform, it outlined several concerns, noting that the company had been slow to address security flaws such as vulnerabilities that could enable malicious third parties to, among other things, gain surreptitious access to consumer webcams. Over the last few weeks, internet trolls have exploited a Zoom screen-sharing feature to hijack meetings and do things like interrupt educational sessions or post white supremacist messages to a webinar on anti-Semitism a phenomenon called Zoombombing. The New York attorney-generals office is concerned that Zooms existing security practices might not be sufficient to adapt to the recent and sudden surge in both the volume and sensitivity of data being passed through its network, the letter said. While Zoom has remediated specific reported security vulnerabilities, we would like to understand whether Zoom has undertaken a broader review of its security practices. With millions of Americans required to shelter at home because of the coronavirus, Zoom video meetings have quickly become a mainstay of communication for companies, public schools and families. Zooms cloud-meetings app is currently the most popular free app for iPhones in the United States, according to Sensor Tower, a mobile app market research firm. Even as the stock market has plummeted, shares of Zoom have more than doubled since the beginning of the year. As Zooms popularity has grown, the app has scrambled to address a series of data privacy and security problems, a reactive approach that has led to complaints from some consumer, privacy and childrens groups. The company updated its privacy policy Sunday after users reported concerns, and Monday, Eric S Yuan, chief executive and founder of Zoom, posted a link on Twitter to a company blog item about the policy. In a statement for this article, the company said it took its users privacy, security and trust extremely seriously, and had been working around the clock to ensure that hospitals, universities, schools and other businesses across the world can stay connected and operational. We appreciate the New York attorney-generals engagement on these issues and are happy to provide her with the requested information, the statement added. Last week, after an article on news site Motherboard reported that software inside the Zoom iPhone app was sending user data to Facebook, the company said it was removing the tracking software. As many school districts adopted Zoom to allow teachers to host live lessons with students, some childrens privacy experts and parents said they were particularly concerned about how childrens personal details might be used. Some districts have prohibited educators from using Zoom as a distance-learning platform. There is so much we simply dont know about Zooms privacy practices, said Josh Golin, executive director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, a nonprofit group in Boston. In the letter, James office cited reports that Zoom had shared data with Facebook and asked for further information on the categories of data that Zoom collects, as well as the purposes and entities to whom Zoom provides consumer data. The office expressed concern that the app may be circumventing state requirements protecting student data. To help educators, the company recently expanded meeting limits on free accounts. The attorney generals office called such efforts laudable but also said the company appeared to be trying to offload consent requirements to schools. The office requested a description of Zooms policy for obtaining and verifying consent in primary and secondary schools as well as a description of third parties who received data related to children. Zoom has said its service for schools complies with federal laws on educational privacy and student privacy. The letter also asked for details about any changes the company put in place after a security researcher, Jonathan Leitschuh, exposed a flaw allowing hackers to take over Zoom webcams. The letter noted that the company did not address the problem until after the Electronic Privacy Information Centre, a public interest research centre, filed a complaint about Zoom with the Federal Trade Commission last year. Danny Hakim and Natasha Singer c.2020 The New York Times Company Scientists have developed a way of extracting a richer palette of colours from the available spectrum by harnessing disordered patterns inspired by nature that would typically be seen as black. Colours that we see in nature often come from nanoscale patterns that reflect light back in particular ways. A butterfly's wing, for example, might appear blue because tiny grooves in the surface of the wing cause only blue light to be reflected. When surfaces appear black or white, however, it's often because the nanoscale structures are completely disordered, causing all the light to be either absorbed or reflected. A team of researchers led by the University of Birmingham has now found a way to control the way light passes through these disordered surfaces to produce vivid colours. The team, which includes colleagues in Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, and Nanjing University in China, has compared the method to techniques that artists have exploited for centuries. Among the most famous examples of this is the fourth-century Roman Lycurgus cup, made from glass that appears green when light shines on it from the front, but red when light shines through it from behind. In a modern advance, the research team demonstrated a way of finely controlling this effect to produce extraordinarily precise colour reproduction. The different colours in the image are represented in different thicknesses of a transparent material - such as glass - on a lithographic plate. On top of this, the researchers deposited the disordered layer - in this case made of random clusters of gold nanoparticles. Finally, beneath this layer, the team placed a mirrored to form a transparent cavity. The cavity is able to trap particles of light, or photons, inside. The photons behave like waves inside the cavity, resonating at different frequencies beneath the lithographic surface and releasing different colours according to the length of each wave. By using this technique, the team was able to reproduce a Chinese water colour painting with exquisite colour accuracy. Lead researcher, Professor Shuang Zhang, explains: "The different ways in which nature can produce colour are really fascinating. If we can harness them effectively, we can open up a treasure trove of richer, more vivid colours than we have yet seen." Co-author Dr Changxu Liu adds: "In physics, we're used to thinking that randomness in nanofabrication is bad, but here we show that randomness can lead to be superior to an ordered structure in some specific applications. Also, the light intensity within the random structures that we produced is really strong - we can use that in other areas of physics such as new kinds of sensing technologies." 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. Latest News Understanding the 'perfect storm' that was the Sydney property market in 2021 Leading expert reflects on the crazy year that brokers and buyers experienced and throws forward to the 12 months to come How to manage home buyer regret Tips for brokers on how they can keep their clients onside once they have bought Australia's newest smartbank, 86 400, was built from the most modern technology with online customers and digital loans in mind. As an industry, we should really be using technology to help people take control of their money every second of every day, explains the banks CEO, Robert Bell. Having previously worked at Cuscal an Australian IT service management company and the smartbanks only funder to date Bell has been with 86 400 since the beginning. Launched just last year, the bank whose name derives from the number of seconds in a day is still in its early stages but has already gained a lot of attention from brokers and consumers. We want to be more than just a new bank; we aspire to be a smart bank. Our purpose is to help Australians take control of their money, Bell explains. Indeed, everything the bank has built from its app to its transaction and savings accounts and more has been designed with that aspiration in mind. Whether its predicting upcoming bills; our new energy switch product that helps people save money on our energy bills; or the prompts that we give to help people earn bonus interest, these are all designed around that, Bell says. A new era of banking The bank has watched whats been happening at the digital banks across the UK and Europe for inspiration, but to some extent the Australian market is already more advanced, Bell explains. When we launched we were actually more holistic than anything else weve seen in other markets. But at the same time, he says large incumbent banks still hold the majority of the market share. Our definition of a smartbank is giving people features and benefits that you wouldnt expect but need. Being new is not enough. Youve got to be different; youve got to be smart, he says. The sorts of things were doing now,like taking snapshots of financialstatements, that is being open-bankingready two years before open bankingbecomes helpful Robert Bell, CEO, 86 400 But theres more to 86 400 than just innovative use of modern technology. As the first bank to offer digital home loans through brokers, it highlights the need to still form very real relationships with clients. Bell says, The first question people ask is, why are you going through brokers for mortgages? He explains that, despite all the technology and innovation that 86 400 has become known for, mortgage brokers still look at some 60% of all home loans that come through the marketplace. He says, People still love brokers. So what we wanted to ask was: how do we solve all the pain points for a mortgage broker, to make it easier for them to spend time with their customers and then spend less time on all the paperwork that they would have to do with traditional lenders? Thats the key difference for us, with brokers. Verifying income through smart statements Typically, brokers have to get income statements and rental statements from banks, but 86 400 uses smart statements processes. This entails digitally taking 12 months of the clients data, or a scrape of all their transactions, which is then played back to them. Bell explains, The broker and the customer, therefore, see the entire financial snapshot of their finances that they havent seen before. What could be a week-long process becomes a half-hour process. Our credit assessment process is very automated and very fast. What we then do is give the broker a yes or no decision on that credit significantly faster than what a traditional bank can do. He continues, When theyve been approved, all documents that need to be signed can be done online. The final piece that weve done is a digital ID integrated process. It makes things much easier and simpler for the customer and the broker. Collaborating with aggregators and technology partners To make these processes work, Bell says 86 400 has collaborated with multiple technology partners and vendors, but getting them all together to work on it has taken some time. Although weve got a very efficient digital process, getting brokers to adopt the new process, and getting people used to working in a different way, is our biggest challenge, he says. Itll take a little while to get going. Weve seen lots of products and processes being digitised, and it just makes sense. And the idea of the broker or a bank collecting physical statements, income statements and tax returns and then manually going through them that will completely disappear over time. To date, 86 400 has also partnered with two mortgage aggregators: AFG and Vow Financial, which together represent about 2,500 brokers. Bell says, Were working through accrediting brokers at the moment; weve got over 500 accredited already. Brokers have a really important job in helping customers understand what they need, their options, etc. Were just getting started, but were in a good position to ramp up growth. Major banks still own majority of market share Bell estimates that the major banks own around 80% of the market share in retail banking. He says, Its a large market and were realistic, but even with just 1% market share we could be very successful. He adds that Australia doesnt need more banks per se; rather it needs banks that are different. And unfortunately, traditional banks are generally thought of as slow and sluggish. A bank that helps Australians truly take control of their money can deliver features people havent even thought of before, and that really excites me, Bell says. Additionally, he points out that the new requirements surrounding responsible lending will only be met by advanced digital processes, not by doing things manually. Were only going to see an increase in technology and efficiency over the next one or two years, with the market looking very different over the next decade. One of the few banks testing open data 86 400 is one of the very few groups of people who are testing out open banking at present. Although we think that open banking will change the ability to take more data on, to help make decisions, etc., it wont be quick to roll out. The sorts of things that were doing now, like taking snapshots of financial statements, that is being open-banking ready two years before open banking becomes helpful, Bell says. We want to keep doing things differently, keep innovating, keep bringing new products and testing new products. Were really supportive of brokers, and our immediate aim is to give brokers a fantastic experience and get in front of as many brokers as possible so they can see that there truly is a different way of doing things. The new coronavirus typically spreads via airborne particles from an infected patient's coughs or sneezes. But some research suggests the virus can spread via fecal matter studies have found traces of the virus in infected patients' poop. A new study found that the virus lingers in recovered patients' phlegm and poop for weeks after diagnostic tests using swabs from their nose and throats came back negative. This could mean doctors are discharging patients from the hospital who have tested negative for COVID-19 but are still shedding viral particles. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The coronavirus typically spreads via airborne particles: When an infected person coughs or sneezes, viral particles can land on someone else's nose or mouth or get inhaled, then infect the new host. But a growing body of research also suggests the new coronavirus can spread via poop particles. A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that even after samples from recovering coronavirus patients' noses and throats came back negative for the COVID-19 virus, the patients were still shedding the virus in their sputum (phlegm) and poop. "These findings raise concern about whether patients with negative pharyngeal swabs are truly virus-free, or sampling of additional body sites is needed," the authors of the study wrote. The problem is that the only means of diagnosing a coronavirus patient to date is a test that utilizes nose and throat swabs to scan for the virus' genetic code. Right now, two back-to-back pharyngeal tests that come back negative from samples collected at least 24 hours apart are part of the criteria that tells doctors whether to discharge recovered COVID-19 patients. But the new research raises doubts about whether that's conclusive enough. Some patients tested negative for the coronavirus but had virus-laden poop and phlegm The new study analyzed 133 COVID-19 patients admitted to Beijing Ditan Hospital in China between January 20 and February 27. From that group, the researchers identified 22 people who tested negative based on throat and nose swabs but had phlegm and poop that still tested positive for the coronavirus. Story continues The researchers found that the sputum and feces from those patients still tested positive for the coronavirus up to 39 days and 13 days, respectively, after the patients' pharyngeal samples tested negative. However, according to experts, some viral shedding after recovery is normal. "It's been long know that, for many viral diseases, for a period of time after you recover you can still excrete some virus, but usually pretty low levels of it," William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt Medical University, told Business Insider. Just because a patient's phlegm and poop still have live coronavirus in them, that doesn't mean the viral particles can infect others. "The question is whether that virus that sheds is actually culturable. Is it something that you could grow in a lab? Is it something that we think could actually transmit to someone?" Megan Coffee, an infectious disease clinician in New York City, told Business Insider. "Sometimes viruses shed and it's simply the genetic material. It's not actually a virus that could actually infect someone," she added. A cotton swab used in a nasal passage as healthcare professionals test for COVID-19 at the ProHEALTH testing site in Jericho, New York on March 24, 2020. NY coronavirus testing Nevertheless, the authors of the new study point out, diagnoses based on a patient's nose and throats swabs are pivotal in a doctor's decisions about whether to discharge them from a hospital and whether they need to continue self-isolating. If a patient is still shedding the virus when they resume normal behavior, they might pose a risk to others. The virus can spread through poop Several studies have found virus particles in infected people's poop. A study of three coronavirus patients in Singapore revealed that the coronavirus showed up in their stool samples taken from the toilet bowls and sinks in their rooms came back positive. Researchers from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention also detected viable virus particles in coronavirus patients' feces. But Schaffner said the presence of the virus in feces "is likely to play a very small role, if any, in its transmission in the US." "I don't think it's going to be a problem here, where we literally flush the fecal material with the virus down the drain," he said. A member of a medical team sprays disinfectant to sanitize bathrooms in Imam Reza's holy shrine, following the coronavirus outbreak, in Mashhad, Iran on February 27, 2020. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters But Schaffner added that the lingering presence of viral particles in phlegm is more concerning. "That may contribute to a small amount of transmission in hospital settings," he said, since that's where patients with severe cases are clustered close together and expelling phlegm. Aria Bendix contributed reporting to this story. Business Insider Abbott Laboratories has received federal clearance for two coronavirus tests in as many weeks and the company is on a mission to develop even more diagnostic devices, CEO Miles White told CNBC on Monday. "I have to say while we're very pleased with the performance that we've been able to deliver here we've launched two tests in the last couple of weeks there's still more, and there's a need for more," he said in a "Mad Money" interview with Jim Cramer. The Food and Drug Administration on Friday gave Abbott Labs, an Illinois-based health-care products maker, emergency use authorization for its point-of-care test called ID NOW COVID-19 that it says can diagnose individuals with the virus in five minutes, the fastest such test available. Another molecular test from Abbott, m2000 RealTime SARS-CoV-2, received emergency use authorization just the week prior, and the company has shipped out 150,000 units. This week, Abbott is ramping up production of the ID NOW nasal swab test to 50,000 units per day. Between the two tests, the company is looking to manufacture a total of 5 million per month as health officials try to slow the spread of the deadly disease. President Donald Trump on Friday heaped praise on Abbott Labs for developing the ID NOW test. But White, who is set to retire on Tuesday, said the tally won't be enough to get the job done. The U.S. has struggled to quickly make coronavirus testing available widely. "There are more tests coming," he said. The company is "also putting a lot of effort ... into capacity expansion because, while 50,000 a day sounds like a lot, it's not enough ... and for a while we'll be allocating and prioritizing to high-need areas." "We know that fighting this virus, and being able to go back to a world that's more normal, is going to require a lot of testing in the right places with rapid turnaround and, fortunately, we have multiple formats to do that with," he said. White was joined in the interview by operations chief Robert Ford. The Abbott Labs veteran will take over the chief executive seat after White's departure. The longtime chief will stay on with the company as executive chairman of the board. Ford, who has been with the company for more than two decades, will serve as the 13th CEO in its more than 130-year history and be tasked to lead a workforce of more than 107,000. Ford said Abbott has worked with the White House to prioritize distribution of the rapid test to health care, police and other workers on the front line of coronavirus response efforts. "We don't do PPE (personal protective equipment), but we do tests, and we want to make sure that these people are safe so that they can take care of us," he said. Other Abbott research and development teams are also at work to develop other testing processes, including serology and antibody tests, that will be available in a "matter of weeks to a couple of months," White added. "Those teams are working around the clock, just like the ones who brought ID now to us worked and the ones who brought the automated tests on the m2000," he said. HONG KONG: Asian equities enjoyed a strong start to Tuesday following another rally on Wall Street, while oil bounced, with traders welcoming a surprise jump in Chinese factory activity, though analysts cautioned that the road ahead remained rocky for the global economy. The World Bank also warned that fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could bring China's growth to a standstill, with even a best-case scenario seeing expansion slow to 2.3 percent from 6.1 percent in 2019. Trillions of dollars pledged to offset the economic impact of the deadly virus have provided a semblance of stability to world markets, which were initially pummelled by the rapid spread of the disease, which has forced swathes of the planet and the economy into lockdown. While the number of infections and deaths continues to rise, observers said traders appear to be getting used to the new normal, with some suggesting the sell-off in stocks may have seen its worst. After another rally on Wall Street, which saw all three main indexes jump more than three percent, Asia picked up the baton. Hong Kong shares ended Tuesday morning with strong gains following a surge on Wall Street, while traders welcomed data showing a surprise jump in Chinese factory activity. The Hang Seng Index rose 1.09 percent, or 253.04 points to 23,428.15. Tokyo went into the break 0.8 percent better off, while Hong Kong and Taipei added more than one percent. Sydney, which soared seven percent Monday on its best day in history, added another two percent, while Seoul was up a similar amount. Singapore, Manila, Jakarta and Wellington all rose more than two percent, while Shanghai added 0.7 percent. "Stock market price action suggests that investors are comfortable with the 'whatever it takes, whatever is necessary' policymakers' response so far into a deep economic recession," said AxiCorp's Stephen Innes. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the coronavirus pandemic as the disease barrels across the globe, with the US bracing for its darkest hours after its death toll surpassed China's on Tuesday. In a matter of months, the virus has infected more than 800,000 people in a crisis redrawing political powers, hammering the global economy and transforming the daily existence of some 3.6 billion people who have been asked to stay home under lockdowns. Deaths shot up again across Europe Tuesday as Spain, France and Britain reported their deadliest days. While there are hopeful signs that the spread of infections is slowing in hardest-hit Italy and Spain, more than 800 died overnight in both countries. With hospitals direly overstretched, lockdowns have been extended despite their crushing economic impact on the poorest. In Belgium a 12-year-old girl infected with the virus passed away in another worrying case of a youth succumbing to the disease. Meanwhile the US -- which has the highest number of confirmed infections -- reached a bleak milestone as deaths topped 3,400, ticking past China's official tally of 3,309, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker. France joined it with a surge to 3,525 deaths, an official toll that includes only those who died in hospital and not those who died at home or in old people's homes. The inundation of patients has sent health facilities around the world into overdrive. Field hospitals are popping up in event spaces while distressed medical staff make grim decisions about how to distribute limited protective gear, beds and life-saving respirators. In scenes previously unimaginable in peacetime, around a dozen white tents were erected to serve as a field hospital in New York's Central Park. "You see movies like 'Contagion' and you think it's so far from the truth, it will never happen. So to see it actually happening here is very surreal," 57-year-old passerby Joanne Dunbar told AFP. While many companies and schools around the globe have shifted to teleworking and teaching over video platforms, huge swaths of the world's workforce cannot perform their jobs online and are now lacking pay and face a deeply uncertain future. Food banks in New York City, the epicentre of the US outbreak, have seen a surge of newcomers struggling to feed their families. "It is my first time," Lina Alba, who lost her job as a cleaner in a Manhattan hotel that closed two weeks ago, said from a food distribution centre in the city. "We need the help now. This is crazy. So we don't know what's going to happen in a few weeks," added the 40-year-old single mother of five. With more than 175,000 infections in the United States, three-quarters of Americans are now under some form of lockdown. Off the coast of Florida, a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship and its sister vessel are pleading for somewhere to dock, possibly at Fort Lauderdale. "Already four guests have passed away and I fear other lives are at risk," Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line, wrote in the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The staggering economic and political upheaval spurred by the virus is opening new fronts for both cooperation and conflict. In virtual talks Tuesday, finance ministers and central bankers from the world's 20 major economies pledged to address the debt burden of low-income countries and deliver aid to emerging markets. Last week G20 leaders said they were injecting USD 5 trillion into the global economy to head off a feared deep recession. In the European Union, however, battle lines have been drawn over the terms of a rescue plan to finance the expected severe economic fallout. Worst-hit Italy and Spain are leading a group pushing for a shared debt instrument -- dubbed "coronabonds". But talk of common debt is a red line for Germany and other northern countries long opposed to such a measure, threatening to divide the bloc in the midst of a health catastrophe. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen warned governments not to use emergency measures as a pretext for power grabs. Her call followed concerns about a new law that gave Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orban sweeping authority to rule by decree until his government deems the emergency is over. Activists around the world have voiced fears that autocrats will overreach and hold on to their new powers even after the crisis abates. Elsewhere Poland toughened restrictions on movement while Russia expanded lockdowns across its territory as infections ticked up, including that of the head of Moscow's main coronavirus hospital. Though the doctor recently met with President Vladmir Putin, the Kremlin insisted the Russian leader is fine. The economic pain of lockdowns is especially acute in the developing world. In Tunisia several hundred protested a week-old lockdown that has disproportionately impacted the poor. "Nevermind coronavirus, we're going to die anyway! Let us work!" shouted one protester in the demonstration on the outskirts of the capital Tunis. Africa's biggest city Lagos has also been brought to a halt as it entered its first full day of a two-week shutdown. Containment will be especially tough in the megacity's packed slums, where many rely on daily wages to survive. "To reduce the number of people with coronavirus, we know they need to stop movement," said 60-year-old engineer Ogun Nubi Victor. "But there is no money for the citizens, people are just sitting at home, with nothing to eat." While much of the world shuts down, the ground-zero Chinese city of Wuhan has started to reawaken in recent days, giving the bereaved the first chance in months to bury their dead. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 Scores of Assamese people, who were in Delhi's Tablighi Markaz, are still in the capital, said Assam's Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday. The Markaz came in the spotlight on Monday after 24 men evacuated from the building were tested positive for Covid-19. "Several people from Assam are also present in Nizamuddin (Delhi) who had gone to attend the religious congregation arranged by Tablighi Jamaat. First list has come consisting the names of 299 people and second list consists of 157 persons," said Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Delhi Chief Minster Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that 1,107 Markaz evacuees have been quarantined. "After the matter came to the fore, 1548 people have been brought out of Markaz. 24 COVID-19 positive cases have been found. Out of 1548, 441 people were asymptomatic and now have been admitted to hospitals. No symptoms have been found in 1,107 people and they have been sent to quarantine," Kejriwal said in a press conference. With the addition of 24 case from (Tablighi Jamaat) Markaz, Delhi's coronavirus positive cases has reached 97. Out of these, 41 cases are of foreign travel and 22 cases are the family members of those who returned from abroad. The capital has so far seen two deaths. According to the Health and Family Welfare, the total confirmed cases in the country rose to 1251 on Tuesday and the death toll reached to 32. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2020) - Sona Nanotech Inc. (CSE: SONA) (OTC Pink: SNANF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $4.1 million grant from NGen, Canada's Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster, to develop and commercialize its Covid-19 rapid-response antigen test. This non-repayable grant will be used to accelerate the development of a prototype and scale manufacturing capabilities with a view to deploying this Covid-19 virus-detecting, point-of-care test with Canadian medical authorities as soon as possible. The Supercluster funding is pursuant to a $50 million initiative led by NGen and announced by Prime Minister Trudeau today. The initiative will support companies as they prepare to produce critically needed technologies, equipment, and medical products to aid in the fight against COVID-19. https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/03/31/prime-minister-announces-new-partnerships-canadian-industries-fight NGen will play a valuable role in project funding, enabling the acceleration of the development, and enhancing the scope of the Company's project to deploy its proprietary gold nanorod technology towards a credible, easy to use, rapid response, point-of-care Covid-19 test that can be used to reduce the strain on testing laboratories and enhance the capacity of health care systems. NGen's involvement also helped to bring to bear other Canadian suppliers and partners to the Company's efforts. "NGen is excited to support Sona Nanotech's efforts to get a point of-care test for COVID-19 in the hands of Canadian medical authorities as soon as possible. Sona's proprietary and unique gold nanorod technology enables a rapid-response antigen test that has the potential to significantly reduce the time-to-results for COVID-19 diagnosis and ultimately save lives." Jay Myers, CEO, NGen. The Company is working with a consortium of international and Canadian partners to develop a functional prototype for an antigen detecting, rapid-response, lateral flow test that is expected to provide in-field test results in minutes, without the use of specialized laboratory equipment or technicians. The Company is working with a consortium of diagnostic test developers including GE Healthcare Life Sciences, The Native Antigen Company, AffinityImmuno, Bond Digital Health and scientific advisors Fiona Marshall and Sandy Morrison. Actual manufacturing of Sona's Covid-19 rapid-response antigen test is not expected to commence until firm orders with deposits have been secured. Sona will provide further updates as warranted. About Next Generation Manufacturing Canada NGen leads Canada's Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster, managing $230 million in funding from the Government of Canada to leverage Canada's manufacturing and technology strengths to build world-leading advanced manufacturing capabilities. There is no more important priority for manufacturers across Canada today than to respond to COVID-19. NGen is targeting enhanced funding for companies that can scale-up production of critical supplies in response to the COVID-19 crisis and secure their supply chains given the likelihood of future global disruptions. For more information about NGen COVID-19 funding initiative, please visit www.ngen.ca/covid-19-response. NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. 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. Sona disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Contact: Sona Nanotech Inc. David Regan Strategic Advisor +1.902.448.1416 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53993 Photo: Alan Stark/Flickr Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Phoenix. Arizona police officer killed, 2 others injured in shooting A Phoenix police commander was killed and two other officers were wounded Sunday night after they responded to calls about a dispute between roommates. Read the full story on NBC10 Boston. Veterans Coliseum could transform into medical facility The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inspected the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and two other buildings for the potential treatment and housing of coronavirus patients. Read the full story on 12NEWS. Ducey orders Arizonans to 'stay home, stay healthy, stay connected' Governor Doug Ducey has issued an order to implement "enhanced physical distancing" measures in the effort to battle the coronavirus, COVID-19. Read the full story on www.fhtimes.com. 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. Baku, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 Trend: The GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development condemns so-called elections in Azerbaijans occupied territories, Trend reports citing the organizations Twitter page. Nagorno-Karabakh region is Azerbaijan. GUAM condemns the so-called elections held on 31 March 2020 in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, reads the message. 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. Like the rest of us, she's holed up at home. And Gwyneth Paltrow spent her time entertaining fans on Instagram, getting busy in the kitchen. 'Vegetarian Paella for the Faltrows in order to support [God's Love NYC],' captioned the 47-year-old actress as she shared footage of herself preparing the healthy dish on Monday evening. According to Paltrow, the non-profit charity 'cooks and home-delivers medically tailored meals to individuals living with serious illness' and is currently in need of donations. Challenge accepted: Gwyneth Paltrow took to Instagram on Monday evening show off her cooking skills as a way of spreading awareness for the non-profit charity God's Love NYC What's for dinner: The 47-year-old actress prepared 'Vegetarian Paella' She continued: 'Gods Love needs our help right now to be there for their clients during the Corona virus pandemic.' 'This post is for you, NYC,' wrote Paltrow, before instructing her following to head over to the charity's official website. In the clip, Gwyneth looked makeup-free as she posed before her impressive kitchen set up. The blonde beauty donned a nautical striped top that she paired with black trousers. Hands on: According to Paltrow, the non-profit charity 'cooks and home-delivers medically tailored meals to individuals living with serious illness' and is currently in need of donations Saute away: The footage then moved onto Gwen's cooking, which featured her sauteing an array of onions and peppers Carbs for days: Gwen then added a large helping of white rice to her yummy mixture The footage then moved onto Gwen's cooking, which featured her sauteing an array of onions and peppers. She then added artichoke leaves atop the mixture before adding a large helping of frozen peas. When Instagram users finished the cooking clip, they were urged to swipe to the Goop founders' next piece of content, which was a still image of the completed meal. Bon Appetite: When Instagram users finished the cooking clip, they were urged to swipe to the Goop founders' next piece of content, which was a still image of the completed meal Lots of veggies: She then added artichoke leaves atop the mixture before adding a large helping of frozen peas Thanks: At the end of her caption, Gwyneth thanked her fashion designer pal Michael Kors for 'tagging' her in the cooking challenge At the end of her caption, Gwyneth thanked her fashion designer pal Michael Kors for 'tagging' her in the cooking challenge. She then tagged some of her 'food-loving ladies' who she hoped would take part, including Goop food editor Caitlin O'Malley. Gwyneth has been taking quarantining very seriously in wake of the growing dangers surrounding COVID-19. But the actress has not just been worrying about her own health, but the health of her online following. Last Sunday, Gwyneth took to her Instagram following a farmers market outing with husband Brad Falchuk, 49, to discuss the importance of social-distancing. 'Although we are all on a learning curve and arent always perfect as we figure out this temporary new normal, we must take the orders seriously and not abuse the freedoms we still have; grocery store and essential errand runs, bike rides or walks (being disciplined about correct protocol).' She emphasized that 'its not the time for denial' and that as a society 'we must take this seriously and shelter in place.' Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. Social media companies Facebook and Twitter have ramped up oversight of misinformation about the coronavirus on their platforms, taking more direct measures to identify and take down misleading propaganda, and over the weekend, invoked their broadening oversight to force the removal of posts by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Both companies have previously been loath to remove content posted by world leaders even if their posts were demonstrably false. Twitter, however, has revised its terms of service to expressly disallow content that goes directly against guidance from authoritative sources of global and local public health information. Advertisement Over the weekend, two tweets by the Brazilian president were removed that overhyped the effectiveness of the treatment hydroxychloroquine. Facebook followed suit on Monday by removing the video from Facebook and Facebook-owned Instagram. We remove content on Facebook and Instagram that violates our Community Standards, which do not allow misinformation that could lead to physical harm, a Facebook spokesperson told BuzzFeed News. Bolsonaro, a right-wing populist, has preached and pushed conspiracy theories since taking office some 18 months ago and has, like Donald Trump has at times, cast doubt over the legitimacy and seriousness of the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deletion of Bolsonaros posts comes on the heels of Twitter removing a post last week by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro hyping a homemade natural brew treatment for the coronavirus. Maduro complained he was being censored by the company. The far right in American politics has been particularly active in sowing doubt about the dangers of the coronavirus, prompting Twitter to delete a tweet from Rudy Giuliani that pushed a similar line to that of Bolsonaro overstating hydroxychloroquines effectiveness. Fox News Laura Ingraham had a similar tweet, praising hydroxychloroquine, removed. The right-wing site the Federalist has also had one of its more cockamamie coronavirus tweets deleted. Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to the far-right echo chamber, its hard to discern where exactly the seed of an idea is first plantedwith the president or elsewhere. But Trump has used his platform to push a number of untested cures. A great early result from a drug that will start tomorrow in New York and other places! #COVID19 https://t.co/4F4Qk4WFtK Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2020 Advertisement HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE & AZITHROMYCIN, taken together, have a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine. The FDA has moved mountains - Thank You! Hopefully they will BOTH (H works better with A, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 21, 2020 Twitter has not yet used its oversight powers to rein in potential misinformation spewing from the president of the United States, but it might only be a matter of time. A military hospital ship arrived in New York Monday as America's coronavirus epicenter gears up for the peak of the pandemic, with emergency restrictions extended as the national death toll passed 3,000. The navy's 1,000-bed USNS Comfort docked at a Manhattan pier as more US states enforced stay-at-home orders after President Donald Trump abandoned his Easter target for life returning to normal in the United States. The 894 foot-long vessel -- which also has space for a dozen operating rooms -- was greeted by cheering crowds after departing Norfolk, Virginia on Saturday. Its arrival came as Virginia, Maryland and the capital Washington became the latest areas to restrict citizens' movements, meaning almost three-quarters of Americans are now living, or about to live, under various phases of lockdown. On Sunday, Trump cancelled his plans to re-open much of the United States by Easter -- April 12 -- and extended social distancing guidelines until the end of April after his top scientists confronted him with data on the rising coronavirus deaths. He said America's death rate was likely to increase for two weeks, describing as "horrible" a prediction by senior scientist Anthony Fauci that COVID-19 could claim up to 200,000 lives. Worst-affected New York is ramping up hospital capacity and taking delivery of desperately needed medical supplies as it races against time. - 'Apex' - "We have been playing catch up from day one," Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters. "Don't fight today's fight. Plan for two weeks, three weeks, four weeks from now when you're going to have the apex, and make sure that we're in a position to win the battle," he added. The Comfort will care for New Yorkers requiring intensive care unrelated to the coronavirus, easing the burden on a hospital network overwhelmed by an influx of COVID-19 patients. The US now has the highest number of confirmed cases in the world -- more than 163,000 according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. The virus has claimed more than 3,000 lives in the country, including more than 1,200 in New York state. Some 790 deaths have occurred in New York City, the country's financial capital and the most populous US city. It is spreading to other areas, notably New Jersey, Louisiana, Illinois and Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis said Monday he did not want passengers from the cruise ship Zaandam suspected of having the virus "dumped" in his state. New York opened a temporary emergency hospital in the Javits convention center with 2,900 beds on Monday. A field hospital in Central Park is due to open Tuesday. Four other sites have also been approved to house patients discharged from hospitals to make way for residents suffering from the novel coronavirus. - 'D-Day' for New York - Flights run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began arriving at New York's JFK Airport as Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city needed 400 more ventilators by the end of the week, describing next Sunday as "D-Day." The flights, part of 50 planned under "Project Airbridge," are delivering millions of masks, gowns and thermometers for hospitals. "We are all trying to reuse what we can because you never know when it's going to run out," 38-year-old doctor Peter Liang told AFP, referring to supplies at the Manhattan hospital he works in. Fauci, who leads research into infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health, said Sunday that between 100,000 and 200,000 Americans could die from "millions of cases." Trump told Fox News on Monday he expected a spike in cases around Easter, before numbers begin to fall. "That would be a day of celebration. And we just want to do it right," said Trump, who earlier said he expected the country to "be well on our way to recovery" by June 1. Fauci said he had no trouble convincing Trump to extend the confinement guidelines. "It was a pretty clear picture," Fauci told CNN on Monday. Trump, who initially downplayed COVID-19 pandemic, has oscillated between stressing the seriousness of the outbreak to talking of the need to get people back to work quickly. A staggering 3.3 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the third week of March, by far the highest ever recorded. The USNS Comfort medical ship moves up the Hudson River past the Statue of Liberty as it arrives on March 30, 2020 in New York A US Army National Guard soldier helps travelers register their arrival at TF Green International Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island People watch cellist Jodi Beder perform a daily concert on her front porch in Mount Rainier, Maryland near Washington, DC The USNS Comfort will care for New Yorkers requiring intensive care unrelated to the coronavirus, easing the burden on hospitals A makeshift morgue sits outside of Lenox Health Greenwich Village facility to handle an expected surge in coronavirus victims in New York The coronavirus epidemic has disrupted the use of polling places, making mailed-in ballots an increasingly popular election alternative. The twice-delayed Cedar Falls City Council special election to fill the at-large seat formerly held by Mayor Rob Green was designed to be primarily a mailed-in ballot affair with a single polling place. Because of the coronavirus, Gov. Kim Reynolds waived special election deadlines. Secretary of State Paul Pate set the latest date, July 7, with absentee ballots already returned still valid. The emphasis on voting by mail comes after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine postponed primary election voting there until June 2. In Florida, poll workers called in sick en masse. In Illinois, some polling places lacking judges closed early. In Arizona, the Maricopa County board of supervisors closed 78 Phoenix area polling places because churches, nursing homes and other sites were wary of incoming voters, disinfecting supplies were unavailable and some poll workers wouldnt come in. Many New Jersey municipalities, where voting was postponed until May 12, will vote exclusively by mail. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, approved voting by mail (a first) in the special congressional race to succeed the late Rep. Elijah Cummings. Democratic leaders in Rhode Island and New York also weighed making voting in their April 28 primaries predominantly by mail-in ballots. Washington, Colorado, Oregon and Hawaii have elections primarily held by mail as does Utah in all but two counties. California is next in line. Virginia plans to expand voting by mail without eliminating in-person voting. Another 33 states and the District of Columbia allow absentee balloting for any reason. Others require an illness or travel excuse. A quarter of all votes were cast by mail in 2016, including 40% in Iowa. Pate anticipates that could reach 65% this year. For the November presidential election, Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., have sponsored a bill that would require all states to offer a mail-in or drop-off paper ballot option if 25% of the states declared a state of emergency related to COVID-19, any infectious disease or a natural disaster. Ballot requests could be made online. All states would provide prepaid, self-sealing envelopes (no licking to spread COVID-19) with ballot-tracking markers. A House bill would provide the states with $2 billion the cost estimated by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, which promotes universal voting by mail (UVBM). Democrats have made voting by mail something of a holy grail, while its been resisted by Republicans, at least in Washington. Yet the Republican resistance is less pronounced in many states, including Utah, as recent actions indicate. The Washington Post recently reported the Indiana chairs of both parties advocated expanded access to absentee voting as did mayors of Green Bay, Appleton and Neenah, Wis., two of whom are Republicans. Pate, a Republican who is president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, told the Post congressional efforts to expand voting by mail are a recipe for disaster with insufficient machinery, inadequately trained poll workers and an ill-informed public. You have 50 states with different levels of resources and history of how they do voting, he said. I want to caution Congress that there is no one-size plan that fits all of us. Pate estimated an all voting-by-mail election would increase his annual budget from $1.5 million to $8 million. The best (Congress) can do is give us the financial resources to implement what we can in our states to be successful, Pate said. Im pleading with the feds, yes, we need funding, but allow states to develop plans that best fit their states. Higher costs are inevitable. The 31 states with fewer than 15% of ballots cast by mail in 2018 would have to print at least 70 million more ballots. Mail-in balloting is not without potential problems. Even Colorado, which is supposedly the safest state for election security, had 238 ballots with bad bar codes that couldnt be returned through the mail to the election center. (Those voters were notified they could cast votes online or resubmit paper ballots.) But the presidential election must go on in November as is constitutionally mandated. It has never been delayed not by the Civil War, World War I, the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918-20, the Great Depression or World War II. If the primary season has taught us anything, its that election procedures (or a certain caucus) should not be taken for granted. It is imperative that mail-in voting, perhaps with limited polling places or drive-up drop-off windows, be given greater consideration. We cant be certain when this plague finally will be banished. The Trump administration is coordinating with the Indian government to evacuate stranded American citizens from India who have expressed interest to return to the US, a top official here has said, amid the rapid spread of coronavirus pandemic that has upended life, disrupted travel and killed over 37,500 people. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Ian Brownlee told reporters during a teleconference on Monday that the US had brought back some 25,000 of its citizens from 50 countries and another 9,000, including those from India, have expressed their interest to return to America in the wake of the deadly coronavirus pandemic that has engulfed the world. "Now we are seeing growing interest from US citizens wanting to return from Asia, India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. We had our first repatriation flight out of Bangladesh today and are coordinating with the Indian Government to begin flights there," Brownlee said. The US is making arrangements to bring back its nationals, who have expressed their interest in view of the coronavirus pandemic, he said. "We are tracking over 100 additional flights over the next week, and we have identified an additional 9,000 US citizens who have indicated interest in those flights," Brownlee said. Urging US citizens to make plans now to avail themselves of the come back options, the official said that they are now seeing more US citizens decide to stay abroad and ride out this crisis where they are. "If people decide not to take advantage of these flights now, they will also need to hunker down where they are," he said. The US Embassy in India said on Monday that it was anticipating several flights from New Delhi and Mumbai to US this week. Unlike India, which repatriated its citizens free of cost, the United States, most of the time, hires the services of private airlines and its citizens are asked to pay for the air fare, which is generally much more than the regular commercial fair. "Repatriation flights are not free. All passengers will need to reimburse the US government for the flight," the US Embassy says on its website for those Americans who wish to return to their homes. "A promissory note for the full cost of the flight, which may exceed USD 2,000 per person, must be signed by each adult passenger before boarding. No cash or credit card payments will be accepted," says the embassy form which the US nationals are required to fill. American citizens cannot move forward with the repatriation process without consenting to this condition. According to the form, the repatriated citizens passport will not be renewed unless they clear their payment of the flight cost. "While my passport will not be cancelled, US citizens who have signed a loan agreement for repatriation may not be eligible for a new passport until the loan is repaid," the embassy website says. The embassy also cautions its citizens that the flight's destination may be unknown until boarding. "Passengers must be willing to go wherever the flight is going. Upon arrival in the United States, passengers are responsible for their own onward arrangements. Embassy personnel cannot assist with onward flight arrangements, hotel or rental car bookings," it said. A total of 782,365 COVID-19 cases have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories with 37,582 deaths reported so far, according to Johns Hopkins University data. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jason Carter, chairman of The Carter Center Board of Trustees and co-leader of the Centers election observation mission in Guyana, speaks with voters early in the morning on election day. (Photo: The Carter Center/R. Borden) On March 2, citizens of Guyana went to the polls for what the country was calling the mother of all elections. Every election is important, of course, but this one was deemed especially so because five years ago, Exxon discovered massive amounts of oil off the coast of Guyana. The first barrels hit the market in January. Now this small, poor nation is poised to become a very rich one. And the countrys two major political parties which are divided largely along ethnic lines desperately want to control the coming wealth. The 2020 election came more than a year after a National Assembly no-confidence motion against President David Granger in December 2018. The ruling party challenged the motion in the courts for months but lost. The newfound oil revenue, many Guyanese believe, could keep the winner of the 2020 election in power for decades. The stakes in this election are very high, said David Carroll, director of the Carter Centers Democracy Program. One major political parties base is mostly Afro-Guyanese, and the other is mostly Indo-Guyanese, and elections tend to bring longstanding ethnic tensions to the surface. Because The Carter Center has a long history in Guyana President Carter first led an election observation mission there in 1992 and is seen as a trusted partner, it was important for us to observe this election. The Center deployed a team of 10 election experts and long-term observers to Guyana in January, and in late February, they were joined by more than 30 short-term observers led by Aminata Toure, former prime minister of Senegal, and Jason Carter, chair of The Carter Center Board of Trustees. Guyana stands at a crossroads, Carter said. Not only is it critical that this election is seen as credible, its also essential that it serves as a springboard to a future that is more inclusive and so that all the people of Guyana can share in this new wealth. Election day proceeded smoothly. The Centers observers sent back mostly positive reports from all 10 of the countrys regions. But tallying went astray in Region 4 which is the largest region and includes the capital of Georgetown when, after only half the results for the region had been tabulated in the presence of observers, the returning officer responsible for the tallying abruptly announced the rest of results, which indicated that the ruling party had come from behind to win the election. The Carter Center and other international observer missions denounced the declaration of unverified results, saying they lacked credibility, and called for a return to the verification process. The opposition party filed a lawsuit, and Guyanas chief justice ordered a return to the previous tallying process. But the restarted process didnt meet the standards set by the court, according to Carter Center observers and others. Days later, the leaders of the two parties agreed to a recount supervised by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), but an injunction filed by ruling party supporters has halted the recount, for now. And so the country and the world waits. Four weeks after election day, Guyana still doesnt have a new president. The Carter Center concerned about the stalled process, international travel restrictions brought on by the Covid-19 virus, and harassment of observers by ruling party supporters made the difficult decision to pull its observers out of the country on March 20. Were still committed to observing the entire electoral process, said Brett Lacy, an associate director in the Centers Democracy Program. Nonpartisan observers have an important role to play. We report what we see and hear to the rest of the world. Whoever wins the election should want to ensure that their victory is seen as credible. The Center is also committed to supporting constitutional reform in Guyana. The Carter Center has long believed that Guyana needs to reform its constitution and electoral laws to get rid of its winner-takes-all election system, which tends to exacerbate conflict, Carter said. We believe it is critical for Guyana to make these changes to help make it possible for Guyanese to live together in peace and prosperity. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 Hanoi Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) has established three task forces to implement rapid COVID-19 tests in the area around Bach Mai Hospital, fast emerging as a complicated hot spot of the country. Medical workers help patients relatives leave Bach Mai Hospital to quarantine at home on Saturday. The move was launched Monday afternoon following the request of Nguyen uc Chung, head of Ha Noi Peoples Committee. Blood test results can be obtained after ten minutes. This is the type used in South Korea, said Chung, referring to the quick test that the East Asian country has used in its mass testing strategy. He also ordered the municipal health department to form seven other task forces consisting of the Capital City High Command, Ha Noi Police and medical staff to provide quick tests at some crowded areas in the city. Chung said the city hired ten 24/7 mobile testing stations at VN6 to 7 million (US$256-298) each per month. Most COVID-19 patients related to Bach Mai Hospital are workers of Truong Sinh Company, which provides food and logistics services for the hospital, however, health ministry's leaders said at Monday's meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Vu uc am, tentatively ruling out the possibility that the disease was introduced into the hospital by its healthcare staff. All present, all patients at Bach Mai Hospital are undergoing treatment as usual. However, in case of a long lockdown, patients in severe medical conditions transferred from lower-level hospitals will not be able to be admitted to the hospital. Up to 80 per cent of them may die. Health ministry and health experts said that Bach Mai Hospital could not just stop receiving emergency cases. Therefore, it is essential to ensure safety and stop the disease from spreading in the hospital. Deputy health minister Nguyen Truong Son said less critical patients could be sent to other tertiary referral hospitals in the capital city such as Viet Nam-Germany Friendship Hospital, Thanh Nhan, Saint Paul or other military hospitals. There will be specialised procedures to admit critical cases to Bach Mai Hospital in which patients will be considered as suspected of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 and medical workers will have to wear hazmat suits and strictly follow rules of infection control during examination and treatment. All doctors and medical staff tested negative the first time and are prepared for the second test. The hospital is not a source of infection," Son stressed, adding that "We request all doctors and medical staff to gather at Bach Mai Hospital in 14 days to take care of patients. The hospital needs to prepare lodging for them to rest and ensure isolation requirements." As of Monday afternoon, there were 34 confirmed COVID-19 cases related to Bach Mai Hospital. The developments of the outbreak are complicated, Ha Noi's leader Chung said, adding that confirmed patients are from five different localities including Ha Noi, Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Thai Nguyen and Nam inh. There are cases that contracted the virus from the hospitals patients. Chung has asked all patients discharged from Bach Mai Hospital from March 10 to 18, their relatives, students and interns to home quarantine and contact local medical facilities for tests. The capital citys residents are encouraged to stay at home and work online for the next ten days to limit the risk of disease transmission from the Bach Mai Hospital area. VNS Bach Mai hospital after disinfection Hanois Bach Mai hospital was disinfected on March 28 after it was linked to novel coronavirus infections. Currently, no one gets in or out of the hospital, except for special cases. Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County. As supermarkets and shopping centres continue to operate amid the coronavirus pandemic, Australians are being urged to follow health and safety measures while they shop to help reduce the spread of infection. Coles and Woolworths have introduced a number of drastic measures at their stores to keep shoppers and staff safe. But questions have been raised over the risks shoppers may take when venturing out to these areas. Daily Mail Australia takes a look at how you can protect yourself from infection while shopping. SHOULD I WEAR A MASK OR GLOVES BEFORE HEADING TO THE STORE? No. Health advice suggests masks are only necessary in preventing people who already have coronavirus from spreading it to others. Wearing a mask or gloves is not necessary when shopping, health advice suggests. It is recommended shoppers wash their hands before and after entering the supermarket The recommended advice is to wash or sanitise your hands and avoid touching your face while shopping. If you are sick, you should not be shopping. Those who are ill should remain home or seek medical attention if necessary. WHAT ABOUT SHOPPING TROLLEYS? Shopping trolleys, baskets and checkout are considered to be areas of 'high contact' and should be wiped down or sanitised to reduce risk of infection. Shoppers can protect themselves from potentially contaminated surfaces, such as shopping trolleys, by wiping them down and avoid touching their face Some supermarkets already have disinfectant wipes available to sanitise these surfaces. Coles last week announced it has added extra cleaning and sanitisation measures to its stores and shoppers are expected to have their hands washed before entering. SHOULD I BE PACKING MY OWN BAGS? Yes. The less contact you have with others, the lower the risk of transmission. Packing your own bags will reduce the amount of physical contact between you and staff There is no outright ban on staff bagging groceries for customers, but some supermarkets have started asking shoppers to pack their own bags as a health and safety precaution. Coles is among those supermarkets who have started asking customers to pack their own bags to minimise both handling and close contact time. Deputy Premier of NSW John Barilaro has also called for people to stop using recycled bags or other reusable items saying there is 'no guarantee what these products have been exposed to.' 'This is to protect the cashier and every customer that goes through the registers. Time to bring back single use plastic bags,' he said last Wednesday. WHAT ABOUT EXCHANGING CASH AT CHECKOUTS? Contactless payments such as Apple Pay or tap-and-go are highly encouraged to reduce the amount of contact between staff and customers. While it would be 'poor practice' to be testing 'every avocado for coronavirus', Mr Newsome did say anything people can touch poses a potential problem Coles announced it will still accept cash from customers, but has strongly advised shoppers to use tap-and-go payments. Woolworths, meanwhile has included an additional safety measure at its checkouts by installing protective shields to minimise contact. CAN I GET CORONAVIRUS FROM TINS OF FOOD OR OTHER GROCERIES? Coronavirus can survive on most surfaces for hours or even days - meaning anything people touch can pose a potential problem. The chances of getting coronavirus from a vegetables or other products are low, but shoppers should keep in mind that any surface could be potentially contaminated However, most health experts agree the chances of contracting the virus through a tin of beans, or other products at the supermarket, are low. Microbiologist Cathy Moir told the ABC there is a slight chance you can get coronavirus from surface contact of fruits, vegetables or other foods. 'I think, where possible, washing your fruit and vegetables is advised, as with a lot of bugs anyway, she said. 'I haven't seen any evidence appear of outbreaks being caused by contaminated vegetables.' WHAT ABOUT PRODUCE? Loose fruits and vegetables in the produce department could pose a risk as they are items that are constantly being handled by shoppers. The best course of action is to wash your fruit and vegetables with soap as soon as you bring them home, not simply relying on the high heat of cooking them to 'kill' the virus Although the risk of transmission through these items are low, Professor Newsome says the best course of action is to wash your fruit and vegetables with soap as soon as you bring them home, not simply relying on the high heat of cooking them to 'kill' the virus. 'Wash them with warm soapy water, just as you do your hands,' he said. ARE SUPERMARKETS AREAS OF HIGH RISK? In-store interactions at supermarkets are considered low-risk if proper social distancing guidelines are followed, according to the Department of Health. Less contact, lower risk: Shoppers should miminise contact with others and should wash their hands before and after entering the shops Shoppers, however, should be wary of 'high contact' areas or hard surfaces which could be contaminated if touched by someone who has been infected. Associate professor at the University of Sydney, Timothy Newsome, who specialises in infection, vaccines and virology, says people should be mindful 'that every surface is potentially contaminated'. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT MYSELF WHILE SHOPPING? Coronavirus can be spread through close contact with an infected person or contaminated surfaces, so it is important to keep physical contact to a minimum. Experts agree the best way to protect yourself while shopping is to maintain your distance from others, wash your hands and avoid touching your face The best way to protect yourself while shopping is to practice good hygiene by washing your hands before and after entering the shops, and avoid touching your face. Shoppers should also follow the recommended 1.5metre distance rule - or keep at least a trolley-length apart from other customers. 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. Claudia Schiffer has reflected on her 30-year modelling career, bullying in the fashion industry and why she's embracing the ageing process in a new interview. Gracing the cover of ELLE UK's May issue, the catwalk queen, 49, compared her status as one of the 'original supermodels' to being a 'rock star', and even revealed security workers were hired to guard her underwear at the height of her fame. The German bombshell - who looked as youthful as ever in the publication's accompanying photoshoot - admitted that while she's flattered by 'the wonderful compliments' she's received from being in the public eye, she's ready to 'move with the times', quipping: 'You dont have to be called [beautiful] your entire life!' She's still got it! Claudia Schiffer has reflected on her 30-year modelling career, bullying in the fashion industry and why she's embracing the ageing process in a new interview with ELLE UK Claudia rose to fame in the early 90s after she was scouted in a Dusseldorf nightclub. Ditching her aspirations of becoming a lawyer, the runway diva quickly became a household name, starring in massive campaigns for Chanel, Guess? and Balmain. On being considered as one of the world's most iconic models, the media personality explained: 'It was insane... like being like a rock star. 'You couldn't get to your car unless a path was carved for you. People would cut holes in the fashion tents and try to take pictures of us. We had security at every fashion show. Working it: The catwalk queen, 49, looked as youthful as ever in the publication's accompanying photoshoot 'When I was out on the runway I'd come back and constantly my underwear would be gone my bra, my knickers... gone!' During the early stages of her career, Claudia missed out on an opportunity to star in the late George Michael's Freedom! '90 music video alongside the likes of Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, and Tatjana Patitz - a decision she now refers to as 'stupid'. 'I was working with a lot of high-end brands at that time and I just thought, that doesn't fit with the strategy right now', she admitted. 'It [missing the opportunity to be in the video] was stupid.' Nearly three decades on, the blonde beauty insisted she's ready to pass on the baton to the younger generation, and has come to terms with ageing. 'It was insane': Claudia compared her status as one of the 'original supermodels' to being a 'rock star' (pictured in 1994) Regrets: Claudia missed out on an opportunity to star in the late George Michael's Freedom! '90 music video (Naomi Campbell pictured) - a decision she now refers to as 'stupid' The fashion star said: 'I've had many wonderful compliments in my time. But then you get to the next stage and you move on. 'You don't have to be called [beautiful] your entire life. It's a nice memory, but then the next generation starts and you hand over. 'For me, it's a natural thing to do... to hand over, to not be envious or jealous. As a matter of fact, I can't think of anything worse right now than if you said, "There's a magic pill and it's going to make you look 2O again."' Detailing the advice she'd give to models currently dominating fashion's leading catwalks, Claudia added: 'I would definitely say to the younger generation of models, it's a job at the end of the day just don't mix it in with anything else. Sometimes, of course, you can't avoid it, even with those rules.' The Love Actually star also touched on witnessing fashion executives abusing power: 'I have seen it and it's not nice. I'm not talking about sexual terms, but just bullying and exercising of power that you don't need. 'Nerves were intense': As Claudia holds the record for the model with the most magazine covers, it comes as a surprise that she describes herself as 'shy' 'Or asking for things that you don't need. I've seen that a lot and I've made a mental note that I don't want to work with those people again. And I haven't. 'Sometimes they are not great people, but at the same time the photos are really great and sometimes you make compromises. And that's life...' In the shoot, captured by Sebastian Kim, the Versace model showcased her lean legs in high-waisted camel briefs, styled with an animal print cardigan. For another look, the TV and film star put on a busty display in a plunging black dress, before switching into a bondage-style bralet and edgy shorts. As Claudia holds the record for the model with the most magazine covers, it comes as a surprise that she describes herself as 'shy'. Out soon: The May issue of ELLE UK is on sale from April 2 On her reserved personality, she added: 'I remember one day sitting next to [film director] Luc Besson on a first-class flight. 'I loved all of his films but all I thought was: Oh no! My shyness kicked in and I thought, I'm just going to pretend to be sleeping the whole time, so I don't have to speak to him. 'And then there was Michael J Fox. I thought he was amazing. I bumped into him somewhere and I couldn't even say hello. He asked me to work with him on a TV series, but I said no. It was too much!' Claudia also spoke about battling with nerves before hitting a catwalk show: 'The nerves before a catwalk show could be intense sometimes. 'I enjoyed them when they were over and we were all celebrating, but before I did not enjoy it. And getting there, I literally had to convince myself to go to each one. 'It was a very fast learning curve. Suddenly I was thrown into this world... I just thought: Close your eyes and jump in.' The May issue of ELLE UK is on sale from April 2. This month - and going forward - ELLE UK will be offering single issues delivered directly to your door. Click www.magsdirect.co.uk/magazine/elle-may-20 or download digitally https://gb.readly.com/products/magazine/elle-uk If you missed the ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW (photo above) in Fort Lauderdale where Tim Root, Vice President of Products at Poly was keynoting, you missed the introduction of numerous exciting products. I liked the Elara 60 the most check out my tweet from the show. .@PolyCompany Elara 60 is my favorite Poly product based on this great @ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW KEYNOTE FROM Tim Root pic.twitter.com/7iS53UTmyz Rich Tehrani (@rtehrani) February 12, 2020 Polys new portfolio of wireless Bluetooth headsets delivering high-quality, hands-free audio are available today, with Microsoft Teams certified versions available to order in May 2020. These include: Voyager 4200 Office and UC Series Voyager 5200 Office and UC Series Voyager 6200 UC Voyager 8200 UC Today, the Poly Voyager 4245 Office for intense phone users joins this lineup of Microsoft Teams certified solutions. The Voyager 4245 Office instantly invokes your Teams application to enable employees to experience high levels of wireless freedom, comfort, and audio quality. This headset offers versatility with three different wearing styles in one package: on your ear, behind the head, or over the head. Designed for intensive phone users, the headset includes a swappable battery for unlimited talk time, three-way connectivity and a version with a dedicated Teams button. By connecting to deskphones, PCs, or mobile phones, the Voyager 4245 Office headset system enables a smooth transition from on-premises equipment to the cloud. Voyager 4245 Office Teams and standard versions will be available in the U.S., APAC and EMEA in May 2020. Now more than ever, the role that clear, intelligible voice communication plays in our work experiences is rapidly evolving, said Christine Roberts, senior vice president and general manager enterprise headsets, Poly. Polys high-quality audio integrated with Microsoft Teams enhances our ability to effortlessly communicate with our colleagues and customers around the world. The Voyager 4245 Office joins our comprehensive Teams-certified portfolio as part of our long-lasting partnership with Microsoft to enable user productivity from anywhere. Poly has been a global leader in headsets for many decades and this new slew of products is perfect for a range of applications. With teleworking all the rage as we social distance thanks to Covid-19 Coronavirus these new headsets make the perfect addition to your home office. Dont have a home office? Then you probably work in a noisy environment and need a new headset even more. In case you missed seeing Poly at the last ITEXPO please excuse this short pitch for the next one. Read to the end. You could win something amazing, 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, Fuze, 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. 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. Parliamentary elections delayed nearly two years, were finally carried out. This was the first of two rounds. There will be a second round of elections in April. Participation was low, mainly because of fears of violence from Islamic terrorists or from disease (coronavirus). Despite all that most eligible voters could vote. Most of the 19 million people in Mali dont have to deal with the Islamic or tribal terrorism found mainly in thinly populated central and northern Mali. Everyone knows about this problem and how it has spread from the north to central Mali in the last five years. The main reason for the spread of this violence is corruption. It has been a problem ever since Mali became independent after the French left in 1960. It is a problem common throughout Africa and many other parts of the world. The foreign aid donors have been putting more and more pressure on the notoriously corrupt Mali politicians to back off on plundering the foreign aid. A favorite ploy of corrupt African politicians is to blame foreigners for all the problems the local politicians have caused. The corruption is perpetuated because senior politicians share the looted aid with their followers. To make matters worse, the most corrupt politicians try to avoid criticism by blaming foreign interference by peacekeepers (who are mostly African) and the special French counter-terrorism force (which is entirely French) for somehow causing all that is wrong with Mali. There are 12,000 peacekeepers up north and 5,000 French troops operate throughout the region against Islamic terrorists. The peacekeepers and French troops are welcome up north and that is one of many differences between northern and southern Mali. The thinly populated northern two-thirds of the country has a population of less than three million, which is about 16 percent of the population. The north was very poor in the best of times, and several years of Islamic terrorist violence there halted tourism (a major source of income, especially in the three major cities up there) and the movement of many goods. There are also ethnic and tribal differences to contend with. The Tuareg majority in the far north are more Arab than African and the peace deal with them was stalled for over a year because the black majority in the south did not want to even consider granting as much autonomy as the Tuaregs demanded. The two groups have always been at odds but were only united in the same country by the colonial French in the 19th century. Like most African countries, dividing the nation is not an acceptable option and the colonial borders are considered sacrosanct. The current mess began when France took swift action in January 2013 by leading a military operation to clear Islamic terrorists out of northern Mali. Aided by Chad and a growing number of other African peacekeeping contingents, this effort continues and is somewhat open-ended. The French acted because in 2012 Tuareg tribal rebels (with the help of al Qaeda affiliated Islamic terrorists) in northern Mali chased out government forces and declared a separate Tuareg state. The Mali army mutinied (because of a lack of support from the corrupt government) down south and took control of the capital. The army soon backed off when neighboring nations threatened to intervene. The elected government was soon back in charge and more corrupt than ever. Lots of corruption often produces rebels and in Moslem majority nations that often means Islamic terrorist groups. There are several of these in Mali and the largest of them is JNIM (Jamaah Nusrah al Islam wal Muslimin, or Group for the support of Islam and Moslems). This is an al Qaeda coalition formed in early 2017 to consolidate the many separate Islamic terror groups in Mali. In part, this was a reaction to the growing threat from ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), which is hostile to everyone who is not ISIL and will attack or recruit from the JNIM members like AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb), Ansar Dine, FLM and several other smaller groups. Another reason for the merger was to make it easier to pool resources, especially information and practical advice, and coordinate with other Islamic terror groups in the region. This reduces friction and destructive feuding. Making a coalition like this work is always difficult, especially considering the importance of ethnic differences. The FLM is Fulani (the largest local tribal contribution) while the other groups are largely Tuareg, or Arab, and some have a lot of foreigners. Note that JNIM did not absorb all of AQIM groups in the area, just local groups that had long been identified with al Qaeda. The income from the drug trade keeps a lot of these factions in business and the Islamic terrorists know that business and religious fanaticism do not mix and keep it that way. Those groups that did not went broke and withered to nothing. Meanwhile, the Islamic terror groups evolved with more radical JNOM members joining more radical groups like ISIL, which is universally hated by other Islamic terrorists and Moslems in general. Recently Malian ISIL members released a video on the Internet in which the group pledged allegiance to Abu Hamza al Qurayshi, the new ISIL leader. By 2018 there were two ISIL provinces in central Africa. The smaller one was ISGS (Islamic State in Greater Sahara), which showed up in 2018. ISGS is currently active in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The other, slightly older and larger, ISIL province was ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province). ISWAP was actually a faction of the Nigerian Boko Haram Islamic terrorists who had been around since 2004. ISWAP personnel is mostly in northeastern Nigeria as well as smaller numbers in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon. There are also a lot of tribal conflicts in central Mali but these have been active for decades and are made worse by corruption. As long as Mali suffers from the high levels of government and bad government, there were be Islamic terrorism and the threat of separatism succeeding, as it did in 2012-13 up north. France wont always be willing to move in the deal with the problem. The counter-terror operations by France, the G5, UN peacekeepers and the Mali Army has been successful but it has only suppressed Islamic terrorist and tribal violence, not eliminated it. There are fewer large scale terror attacks or tribal raids. But there is still lots of low-level activity that does not kill but rather intimidates and extorts financial and other support for the armed groups. March 29, 2020: The parliament elections were finally held, for the first time since 2013. The national election for the 147 parliament seats was supposed to be held in 2018 but was delayed several times because of the growing incidents of Islamic terrorism in central and north Mali as well as tribal violence in central Mali. A more recent complication was the appearance of coronavirus/covid19 cases in Mali. There are at least 20 people known to have it. The covid19 threat was a recent one, even though the disease has been ravaging China for four months. There has been little of the virus in Africa so far. Despite all the problems, 98 percent of 12,500 voting stations were able to open. In addition to this, several hundred thousand internal refugees were not able to vote. March 25, 2020: The government announced that the first two cases of coronavirus (covid19) had been discovered. The two patients had recently returned from France, where they caught the disease (which takes up to two weeks to make the patient fell ill). A nationwide curfew (from 9 PM to 5 AM) was declared and people who thought they may have covid19 should seek testing. Within a few days, 20 confirmed cases were found. The virus is not expected to be as large a problem in Africa as in the rest of the world. Thats because Chinese researchers found, and other scientists confirmed, that Africans are less likely to catch covid19 because they have one fifth as many cellular receptors in their lungs than Chinese. That difference enables covid19 to cause breathing problems more. Other researchers found that this genetic difference was most helpful for Africans and most harmful for East Asians. People in other parts of the world have less resistance to covid19 than Africans. Lung damage is the most frequent cause of death among covid19 victims. So far Africa, with 18 percent of the world population has only suffered less than one percent of the covid19 infections. Africans are not immune, just less likely to get infected or suffer the breathing problems that cause most covid10 related deaths. Such genetic differences are common and account for some ethnic groups having different health problems, or advantages. For example, Africans are more prone to have sickle cell anemia. This genetic mutation helps those with it to resist the deadly effects of malaria but also brings with it a high risk of blood disorders. Many of these genetic differences are useful with no bad side effects. That would include the unique eyelid structure of East Asians, which provides more protection from fine sand driven by high winds. Those sand storms still regularly blow into China from the Gobi Desert. Covid19 is feared in Africa because if you are exposed to it there is still a ten percent chance you will catch and suffer ill effects that are similar to flu. Being sick for a week or so is something to be avoided. In the north (outside Timbuktu), Islamic terrorists of ISGS (Islamic State in Greater Sahara) ambushed a convoy carrying Soumaila Cisse, the most powerful opposition leaders in parliament. He was accompanied by 11 associates, bodyguards and drivers. One bodyguard was killed and two wounded during the ambush. The killers released four men and took the seven others somewhere else. Cisse was campaigning for the parliament elections. No ransom demand has been received yet, probably because the ambushers didnt expect to capture a major politician and are now trying to figure out what they can demand for his release. ISGS has been around since 2018 and is currently active in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. This is the group that has been under heavy attack for most of 2019. The main reason for that is the ISIL strategy of inflicting lots of casualties on the Mali army and destroy soldier morale and willingness to fight or even remain in the military. This is not a new tactic and the battles with ISIL up north are something of a bloody endurance contest. March 24, 2020: The EU (European Union) agreed to provide $126 million over the next four years to keep the G5 (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger) counter-terrorism force going for another four years. In 2017 the EU and France agreed to create and finance the G5 Force of 5,000 troops from the five African nations involved, That support will be based on what has already been established for the French counter-terrorism and UN peacekeeping forces in the area. March 23, 2020: In the northeast (south of Gao), in the tri-border area where the borders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso meet, 1,700 French, 1,500 G5 and 1,500 Mali troops completed a 20 day operation to sweep the area for known or suspected Islamic terrorists camps and bases. Using nearly 5,000 soldiers, with air support, for this operation is the latest of several operations like this carried out in the last few months. The Islamic terrorists in the area know they are facing a very large force that has air support, so the usual tactic of ambushes defending a fortified position with a large force is not an option. The latest operation cleared areas in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, in part to demonstrate that the Islamic terrorists could not depend on escaping across borders as they had in the past. The entire counter-terror force was mechanized and the vehicles available included nearly a thousand armored ones. While the enemy fled when they realized they were under attack, or about to be, they had to abandon a lot of weapons, vehicles, equipment (tents, electronics, generators) and supplies (ammo, food, medical). The captured vehicles included 80 motorcycles. These are a favorite mode of transportation for scouts or raiders. The bikes can move faster, get into more kinds of off-road terrain and are harder to spot from the air. The French have Reaper UAVs, fighter bombers and two armed helicopters, plus transport helicopters, available. March 19, 2020: In the north (outside Gao), JNIM and al Qaeda cooperated in a three pronged attack on an army base that left 29 soldiers dead and five wounded. The attackers looted the base of weapons, vehicles and other portable equipment and then left before reinforcements showed up. March 15, 2020: The growing Islamic terrorist activity in neighboring Burkina Faso is forcing many Mali refugees from similar violence in Mali to move back to Mali. There are over 700,000 refugees in Burkina Faso, more than three times as many as in Mali and the 25,000 of them are from Mali. But in the last month at least ten percent of the Mali refugees in Burkina Faso have gone back to Mali. Apparently there will be more returning. March 14, 2020: Two foreigners (from Canada and Italy) who were kidnapped by Islamic terrorists in Burkina Faso during 2018, escaped and made it across the border into Mali where they encountered some peacekeepers. The two were moved to the capital and arrangements made for them to return home. No ransom had been paid. The two lived in Canada and were on their way to Togo, to work on a foreign aid project, when they were taken. March 12, 2020: Islamic terror coalition JNIM called on the government to negotiate a peace deal, but only after French troops left Mali. The government is not inclined to accept those terms because it as the French intervention in 2013 that ended a military coup and Islamic terrorist led separatist rule of northern Mali. March 1, 2020: In central Mali (Mopti region), five soldiers were killed when Islamic terrorists fired several RPG rockets at parked vehicles near a checkpoint. The attacked then fled but were tracked and an airstrike killed or wounded several of them. The Irish Ambassador to the United States is telling Irish students in the country to return home as soon as they can. The US now has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world according to research by Johns Hopkins University. Flights are still operating from a number of cities in the country to Dublin. Ambassador Daniel Mulhall said: I know how reluctant you will be to alter your plans and go back to Ireland. But in the current circumstances, our best advice to you is that you should go back to Ireland. There are still flights from a number of US cities and reluctantly I would suggest to you that you ought to contact your airline to check on flight availability and make your way back to Ireland as soon as possible. Advice to Irish J1 visa holders in the USA. I spent a summer in Kansas City & know how enjoyable and beneficial an experience it is. In current circumstances, the best advice I can give you is to return home as soon as you can. Contact your airline about flight options. pic.twitter.com/5nO6je8tdF Daniel Mulhall (@DanMulhall) March 30, 2020 Meanwhile, New Yorks governor has issued an urgent Read More: Please come help us in New York now, Governor Andrew Cuomo said as the states death toll climbed by more than 250 in a single day to a total of more than 1,200 victims, most of them in the city. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Egypt has imposed a series of measures to rein in the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, including suspending air traffic, closing schools and universities, shutting malls and cafes, and imposing a two-week curfew from 7pm to 6am every day. It has also banned gatherings for prayers in mosques and churches, and parliament has suspended its activities until 12 April. Among the other precautionary measures taken, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has closed all museums and archaeological sites across the country. In collaboration with the Egyptian Hotels Association, all social gatherings in hotels have been banned, and restaurants, gyms, casinos and nightclubs in hotels have been closed to outside guests. This is not an inactive period, however, Khaled El-Enany, minister of tourism and antiquities, said, explaining that the ministry was using the period to disinfect and sterilise museums, archaeological sites and hotels across Egypt in order to protect against the Covid-19 pandemic. The process is being carried out in coordination with the ministry of health and population and according to conditions approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO). A widespread re-organisation of the ministry and the development of infrastructure and facilities at the countrys cultural, maritime and leisure destinations would also take place, El-Enany said. Egypt, with its unique and diverse ancient civilisations, sunny and warm weather, and beautiful coastlines on the Mediterranean and Red Seas, is one of the best tourist attractions worldwide, he added, saying that Egypt would also surprise the world with a major discovery soon after the end of the crisis. Meanwhile, armoured with masks, gloves and yellow, white and gray suits, cleaners wielding industrial sterilisation equipment are the main scene inside hotels, museums and archaeological sites across Egypt. They are working to disinfect and sterilise site entrances, ticket offices, and nearby roads, as well as museum corridors and halls, hotel restaurants and kitchens, swimming pools, open areas, corridors, guest rooms and elevators across the country.The closing of the museums and archaeological sites will be extended until 15 April, Mustafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said, adding that since their first closing on 23 March the ministry had been engaged in cleaning operations on uncovered surfaces and those in direct contact with visitors.At the Giza Plateau, we started the first phase of the disinfection, including the areas around the Pyramids and the Sphinx, and there are other phases to come, said Ashraf Mohieddin, director-general of the Giza Plateau.We are in the process of disinfecting all tourist sites, though the artefacts themselves will require specific materials, and cleaning must be carried out by specialised teams of archaeologists, he added. We are making use of this period to sanitise the entire area of the Pyramids and to carry out maintenance work and renovations so that this area will be ready to welcome visitors again.The operations have swept hotels and resorts throughout Egypt. Disinfection and sterilisation measures had already been taken at historic sites in Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, and in the Delta.In collaboration with the Egyptian Hotels Association, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has started the sanitisation of all hotels and resorts on the Red Sea coastline, such as in Hurghada, El Gouna, Makady Bay, and Sharm El-Sheikh, as well as those in Luxor, Aswan and Cairo. Maged Fawzi, head of the association, told Al-Ahram Weekly that two international companies, Preverisk and TUV-Nord, had been assigned to help in the sanitisation process through training staff in hotels on how to ensure efficient sanitisation, develop complete procedures and checklists, and take swab tests from selective areas such as guest rooms, public areas, restaurants and bars, and recreational facilities, as well as carry out viral infection simulation exercises.Training programmes are also taking place to raise the awareness of hotel employees, the curators of museums, and archaeologists at historical sites on the precautionary measures that need to be taken to protect themselves and visitors from Covid-19 and other threats *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Media baron Ch Ramoji Rao on Tuesday donated a sum of Rs 10 crore each to the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana chief ministers' relief fund to combat the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, Rao, chairman of the Ramoji Group, said the amount was credited online into the respective accounts since he could not meet the chief ministers in person because of the ongoing lockdown. He wished the two chief ministers would succeed in their fight against coronavirus and people of the two Telugu states would be in the pink of their health. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) During her some 17 years in the health care field including the past four as director of the La Crosse County Health Department Jen Rombalski has never had just one topic on her daily agenda, much less on her weekly planner. But since the coronavirus infiltrated the state in early February, and the Coulee Region last week, Rombalski has had one focus. There is nothing else on my calendar right now than COVID-19, says Rombalski says. Theres no other work right now in three-quarters of our department since COVID-19. In the midst of an global pandemic, Rombalski, formerly a nurse and then public health director of Chippewa County, has become the go-to source of information, the leader of action and the face of calm for the Coulee Region. We take our role very seriously, Rombalski says of staff at the La Crosse County Health Department. Rombalski has always been a diligent and dedicated worker, priding herself on community connection and partnerships in fact, the level of collaboration in the Coulee Region was a big part of what drew her here. The mother of three has taken on many ambitious endeavors since taking on the local health director position in January 2016, kicking off a five-year Community Health Improvement plan that summer. In fall 2016, the La Crosse County Health Department earned national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board. Thinking about the words that come to mind reflecting on working with Jen these past four years what comes to mind are encouragement, energy, innovation and knowledge, says Paula Silha, health education manager for the county Health Department. She encourages staff to work together through challenges, she has lots of positive energy and easily shares that with her team. She is innovative in addressing department or community challenges, which the HUB and Alliance to HEAL demonstrate, and she has great public health knowledge. She is also genuine. Among Rombalskis greatest feats is the Great Rivers HUB, a system created to bridge the gap between health-care delivery and the social service sector to help save in costs, improve health outcomes and engage community members. Im very excited about the HUB. Its really helping a lot of people, says Rombalski, who is chair of the steering committee. Among those served by the HUB are veterans, youth, individuals with disabilities, those who are impoverished and families affected by natural disasters. The development of the Alliance to Heal, which tackles the opioid crisis with the assistance of Gundersen Health System and Mayo Clinic Health System experts, and the implementation of smoke-free laws for Downtown La Crosse have been other big wins. I think thats a really big deal, Rombalski says of the tobacco ban in buildings and on grounds. We need to be leading by example. Recently, Rombalski had been working on a new community health endowment fund through the La Crosse Community Foundation. Honing in on inclusivity, the project would prioritize raising up youth of color and looking at health concerns that particularly impact black and Hispanic populations. Ive been working in public health for 12 years, and Jen is the most visionary leader Ive ever worked under, says Jacquie Cutts, public health nursing manager for the La Crosse County Health Department. She is responsive to staff ideas and thinks at a very high, strategic level to ensure that we are as inclusive and effective as possible at impacting public health. She cares immensely about the public and her staff, and prioritizes our wellbeing so that we can be effective. I am grateful for her leadership, her example and her investment in our community and our team. Though close to coming to fruition, Rombalski has had to put the health endowment fund on pause as COVID-19 became not just an international worry but a local one. Rombalski, who has followed coverage of the virus since it was first detected in the Wuhan region, says she had immediate concerns about the lack of travel evaluations and airline precautions being taken. If youre not screening and trying to contain it right away in a strategic way, its going to spread, Rombalski says. Preparations for the inevitable reach of the virus on local soil began in late February a few weeks after the first positive case in the state with Rombalski holding a discussion with Cutts on Feb. 24. For the next several days, Rombalski worked on developing communication and an incident command system, followed up by meeting with local school district administrations the first week in March to go over precautions and potential scenarios. On March 12, about a week before La Crosse County had its first positive COVID-19 test result, the health department launched the incident command system, setting up two-day objectives and soliciting travel history information from community members as well as fielding calls and questions from concerned residents. Rombalski is used to pressure and a swift pace in her field of work, but since the Health Department began tackling COVID-19 full swing, the fluctuations have been rapid and relentless. Never has something been to this level where multiple times a day it changes, Rombalski says of staying abreast of the constantly updating advice from the CDC and national and state government. Trying to maintain consistent guidelines and messaging about regulations, testing qualifications and quarantine requirements has been a challenge, with the Health Department and local hospitals and health-care facilities making every effort to stay on the same page. Right now on a two-day operational period, meaning plans are drafted for a 48-hour period, Rombalski every morning consults with incident command team members in person or virtually and touches base with operations management, liaisons and health and safety officers. Every other day, she checks in with logistics and finance. Jen is doing a fantastic job, says Carol Drury, environmental health and lab manager for the La Crosse County Health Department. She has to stay on task for the response to what is going on with this disease. She has multiple communications going on at all times. But also, there are still daily operational tasks of the Health Department that she has to manage, and she is juggling all of the balls with the support of her Incident Command team and her Leadership Team at the Health Department. During daily joint operations center meetings, Rombalski connects with members of the local police and fire departments, as well as leaders from Gundersen and Mayo Clinic Health Systems, to coordinate needs and maximize reach. Post meeting, Rombalski is briefed on current data and prepares for the daily COVID-19 press conference, broadcast via Facebook to the public at 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The conference is followed by a situational report briefing meeting and preparation for the next day. The workload is a weighty one, with Rombalski on the clock seven days a week during the pandemic. Her colleagues too are being stretched thin, tired but motivated to support the health and wellness of every member of the community. The incident command team has a member dedicated to ensuring staff are taking care of their physical and mental health, and there are backup supports if someone needs a lunch break or time to relax in a quiet room. Over the past few years, Jen has intentionally prepared us to handle high-stress situations with wisdom, calmness and clarity through trainings on subjects such as emotional intelligence, resiliency and Trauma Informed Care, says Jennifer Mullin, interim fiscal manager for the La Crosse County Health Department. In addition to caring for the health of our community, she has taken extra steps to ensure health staff are able to be there for each other by offering us professional mental-health support and finding ways to monitor and mitigate our stress levels. Jen also begins and ends each day by expressing gratitude for her team and encourages us to provide her open feedback. This experience has and continues to test us in many ways. Im grateful that Jen is leading us. For Rombalski, the incident command system teams fine-tuned chain of operations has been a sanity saver, with calls and queries being filtered so she only receives those requiring her attention and expertise. On the weekends, she fields calls and emails from home to squeeze in every possible minute with her husband and kids. What is important to me is to spend time with my family, says Rombalski, who has a seemingly magical ability to find some semblance of work-life balance in a time of unprecedented instability. Level-headed and patient, Rombalski is perhaps the best possible person to be at the local helm during the coronavirus crisis, with a genuine passion for the job and no sense of frustration despite fielding queries, many of them the same, minute after minute and day after day. If people have a question, were just glad theyre asking, Rombalski says. Wed rather they be getting and sharing accurate information. Social media has been an integral way of keeping the community abreast of case numbers, protocol changes and mandates, and Rombalski says she hopes the transparency and responsiveness of the department has demonstrated its dedication to the public, some members of which have been skeptical of trusting government officials and entities. Were here for the right reasons, Rombalski says. We all want to serve our community. This has given us a chance to show when we are needed most well be here in full force. Rombalski implores residents to adhere to social distancing, sanitation and isolation guidelines as COVID-19 numbers continue to climb, and reminds people you dont need a test to know what to do: stay home. Among the most common questions and complaints to the Health Department and area hospitals is the testing criteria, which Rombalski stresses is to the benefit of the community at large. The availability of testing for those at high risk for severe cases of the virus, including the aging population, and those employed in essential roles like health care, is crucial to preventing rapid spread. Rombalski also fears testing gives people a false sense of invincibility, as negative results dont mean you are in the clear for contracting the virus. What we tell you to do doesnt change based on having the test, Rombalski says. Rombalski says one of the things that initially impressed her about the La Crosse area was the level of caring and contribution, qualities that have shone bright in recent weeks as families hunker down in their homes for the safety of their neighbors, grocers work to keep their stores clean and shelves stocked, and people volunteer to pick up prescriptions or provisions for their elderly acquaintances. People are scared, Rombalski says, but they are still expressing appreciation for the efforts of others and doing their part to flatten the coronavirus curve. Im most proud of our community, Rombalski says. We have a great community, and COVID-19 has just brought that out more. Emily Pyrek can be reached at emily.pyrek@lee.net. 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. 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 YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS. 14-year-old child wounded by the Azerbaijani shooting fired at the direction of Armenias Tavush province has been transported to Yerevans St. Mary hospital, assistant to the PR manager at the medical center Gevorg Derdzyan said on Facebook. The child is in stable, but serious condition and is in intensive care unit. The latter received a gunshot wound to the chest. The necessary first aid has been provided. The child underwent a surgery in Noyemberyans medical center. Additional information will be provided later, Derdzyan said. On March 30, at around 19:00-19:30, the Azerbaijani forces fired shots from various caliber weapons at Armenias military positions located in Noyemberyan town of Tavush province, as well as at the direction of Baghanis and Voskevan villages. 2 soldiers and 14-year-old child from Voskevan village have been injured from the Azerbaijani shooting. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. One more coronavirus patient has recovered in Armenia, Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan said on social media. The number of recoveries reached 31. Also, 150 people have been released from quarantine, 65 of whom were the citizens who were airlifted from Italy, Torosyan said. The total cumulative number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Armenia is 532. With 31 recoveries and 3 fatalities, 498 are active cases. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan More than 10,000 frontline NHS staff have written to the Prime Minister to demand proper protective equipment amid growing anger that a lack of supplies is putting lives at risk. Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, last night admitted there had been distribution issues but insisted the UK had enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to cope with the pandemic. Millions of masks, gloves, aprons and other items were delivered to hospitals on Monday, the Government said, with the Army helping to get them out nationwide. Import taxes on such clothing, ventilators and virus testing kits have also been waived to ease supply, the Chancellor said. Nurses clean their hands before taking swabs at a Covid-19 Drive-Through testing station for NHS staff on March 30, in Chessington, UK But, despite this, unions representing healthcare workers say their members are complaining in droves about shortages of safety equipment. The GMB said some social care staff were being expected to make visits with just a plastic apron and a pair of gloves the same protection that they use to make a sandwich. The letter to Boris Johnson has been co-ordinated by EveryDoctor, a membership organisation of UK doctors which campaigns on safety in the NHS. It says NHS guidelines on what medics should wear to treat Covid-19 patients are not stringent enough and should be brought into line with World Health Organisation recommendations. The statement has been signed by more than 20,000 medics, including 10,000 who work in the NHS, in less than two days. A member of hospital staff wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) outside St Thomas' Hospital in Westminster, London as the UK continues in lockdown Total number of cases and deaths from Covid-19 as the UK sees a spike in deaths on March 31 A senior nurse yesterday told the Daily Mail community hospital staff had been left as sitting ducks for coronavirus because of a lack of specialist masks and goggles. The healthcare worker, who has more than 20 years experience, said she was forced to take blood from a suspected Covid-19 patient, who later tested positive, at the community hospital in North Wales where she works, with just a flimsy paper mask and gloves. Only after managers complained and two more cases were confirmed were more staff measured up for the PPE equipment, she added. The Prime Ministers spokesman said: The full weight of the Government is behind the PPE effort with PPE being sent out 24 hours a day and the Army helping with deliveries. BEIJING, Mar.31 -- A Chinese fishing boat collided with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Shimakaze Monday evening in the East China Sea, in China's coastal waters, resulting in the injury of a fisherman and a hole in the destroyer. China has expressed concerns to Japan over the collision and is investigating the cause of the incident, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. The incident took place at about 7:30 pm on Monday in the East China Sea waters east of Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang Province, in which a Chinese fishing vessel collided with a Japan Self-Defense Force ship, said Hua Chunying, a spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a regular press conference on Tuesday. One fisherman suffered back injury in the incident, Hua said, noting that the China Coast Guard has now arrived at the scene, and the cause of the incident is under investigation. Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported on Tuesday that the incident took place about 650 kilometers west of Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, and no one aboard the Shimakaze, the Japanese destroyer, was injured. The waters where the accident took place are the coastal waters of China, Hua pointed out, noting that China has expressed concerns over the activities of the Japan Self-Defense Force vessel in the waters, which impacted the Chinese vessel's navigation safety. "China and Japan are now in communication over the incident. We hope the Japanese side can actively cooperate and find the cause of the incident as soon as possible in order to prevent this kind of incident from happening again," Hua said. The Shimakaze sustained a one-meter hole on its portside, NHK reported, citing Japanese Defense Ministry sources. Commissioned in 1988, the Shimakaze is 150 meters long and 16.4 meters wide, and has a full displacement of 5,900 tons. Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough issued a shelter in place order for residents of a senior living facility in The Woodlands where 12 residents tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The new order comes just days after Keough issued a stay-at-home order for Montgomery County. The county logged 16 more cases of COVID-19 Monday but health officials also reported 11 people have now recovered. The Montgomery County Public Health District confirmed the new cases, bringing the countys total to 81. The Woodlands was continuing to report the most cases with 20. The Conservatory at Alden Bridge, at 6203 Alden Bridge Drive, is a senior living facility that offers apartment homes and offers residents services such as chauffeured transportation for scheduled trips to shopping, dining and medical appointments. The facility can house up to 237 residents and currently has a capacity of about 200. Because of the rise of the coronavirus in Montgomery County and more specifically in a senior living facility, the Conservatory at Alden Bridge, this afternoon I issued a shelter in place order, Keough said. This order was issued out of concern for the well-being of the local community as well as the high risk individuals who reside at the conservatory. According to the order, residents have until 6 p.m. Tuesday to leave to stay with a family member as long as they continue to shelter in place during the duration of the order. Those who leave the facility cannot return to the property until the order expires April 13. Additionally, the order prohibits anyone from entering the property unless it is to provide food service, caregivers, medical professionals, law enforcement or someone assisting a resident in leaving under the order. Officials with the senior facility did not respond for comment. The current Montgomery County case counts of COVID-19 virus are: The Woodlands, 20; Montgomery, 14; Conroe, 14; Spring, 13; Oak Ridge North, 8; Porter, four; Shenandoah, 4; Hockley, one; Pinehurst, one; Splendora, one; and Willis, one. For a complete list of all confirmed new coronavirus cases in Montgomery County, visit mcphd-tx.org/coronavirus-covid-19/confirmed-cases. cdominguez@hcnonline.com More than 34,000 extra hospital beds will be available to help Australia deal with the coronavirus pandemic under a new deal with the private sector. Health Minister Greg Hunt said the deal was a 'very significant stride' in increasing the system's capacity while guaranteeing the viability of all 657 private hospitals. The agreement will mean more than 105,000 full and part-time hospital staff, including 57,000 nurses and midwives, will keep their jobs and join the fight against coronavirus, Mr Hunt said on Tuesday. More than 34,000 extra hospital beds will be available to help Australia deal with the coronavirus pandemic under a new deal with the private sector. Pictured: Health Minister Greg Hunt It comes as Australian dentists are concerned some of their businesses could be wiped out as the coronavirus forces price increases and creates confusion around essential dental work. The Australian Dental Association was placed under level three restrictions by the government on Friday, meaning dentists can no longer treat patients for issues such as chipped teeth, bleeding or sore gums, dentures, crown and bridge issues or jaw problems. It also rules out a routine scale and clean. Melbourne dental surgeon Dr Yvonne King said fear, skyrocketing costs, expensive technology and the closure of dental wholesale suppliers caused by the coronavirus emergency were factors that will put the industry under stress. Hospital staff test people outside the Tanunda War Memorial Hospital, a dedicated COVID-19 testing clinic in Adelaide 'We used to be able to get masks for 9 cents, but they've now gone up to to a dollar. It is a huge increase,' Dr King told AAP. The fear driven by coronavirus means some dental surgeries have closed, but Dr King said it was important to stay open for the sake of patients and surgery staff. 'A lot of people are not comfortable working with the risks we are exposed to, but I think it is important to stay open and look after people ... we are all in this together.' Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal New Mexico got off to a quick start testing for COVID-19. Last week, its testing rate lagged behind only states trying to counter serious outbreaks of people with the disease. Although the virus spread in some parts of the country before large-scale testing was available, New Mexico had a fast start once the first cases in the state were announced on March 11. Public health officials have said that aggressive testing can be beneficial by creating data about where the disease is spreading. I think whats important is to identify individuals who are infected, and once individuals who are infected have been identified, then our public health officials can intervene and help do the contact tracing and help with quarantine, said Dr. Karissa Culbreath, medical director and infectious disease division chief at TriCore Reference Laboratories. Tests in New Mexico are processed at both a state laboratory and TriCore, which tests samples collected by providers across the state, including at University of New Mexico Hospital and Presbyterian and Lovelace hospitals. Both labs have expanded their testing capacity by getting federal approval to use different testing platforms since the virus started spreading. The danger in these situations is the people who have the virus who dont know they have the virus, Culbreath said. So as we are doing testing, we are identifying those who are infected, and then they are able to quarantine instead of being out in the public and out in the community. Culbreath said that at one point last week, New Mexicos per capita testing rate was third in the country. On Friday, an analysis by The New York Times found that New Mexico had the fourth-highest testing rate, behind New York, Washington and Louisiana. Those three states have many more cases of the virus than New Mexico. Louisiana and Washington on Monday had about 4,000 and 5,000 confirmed cases, respectively, and New York had nearly 66,000 cases, according to the COVID Tracking Project. New Mexico, by comparison, on Monday evening had reported 281 cases. Data for state-by-state testing is changing rapidly, as more efficient testing practices are put into place. By Monday, the news organization Vox reported that Hawaii and Vermont had eclipsed New Mexico in per capita testing. But the Land of Enchantment still was processing more tests than most other states. On Monday, New Mexico had processed more than 12,500 COVID-19 tests, roughly the same number as Oregon, which has twice as many people. Virginia, which has about four times as many people as New Mexico, had processed 12,000 tests, according to the COVID Tracking Project. About 950,000 tests have been processed throughout the country. Collaboration How did New Mexico end up near the top of the country in terms of testing? Deputy State Epidemiologist Dr. Chad Smelser attributed the states high rate of testing to the governors early push to obtain test kits. The governor has been very aggressive in providing new equipment (including tests), he said. He also credited the work of TriCore and the state laboratory in reporting positive test results within 48 hours. We have an excellent public and private collaboration, he said. Culbreath said TriCores business model a centralized lab that processes tests for the major hospitals in the state is also unique and creates efficiency. While most hospitals across the country process their own tests or rely on a national lab, many New Mexico hospitals outsourced the task to TriCore, a local business, she said. As of Monday evening, TriCore had processed 10,000 tests, said Beth Bailey, a spokeswoman for the lab. With this current outbreak, it really shows how TriCore can ramp up testing that is highly competitive, Culbreath said. We are able to do testing in such an amazing way because we already had an approach to statewide diagnostic instead of everybody working by themselves. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, told MSNBC last week that although the states capacity was higher than that of many others, it still needed to improve. Were a state that has been doing better, I think, in terms of per capita representation of testing, she said. But its not enough to stay proactive so wed like to be doing more. Its not clear if New Mexico will hold onto its high rate of testing. Smelser noted that New Mexico cant control the supply chain. So the state is hoping to reduce the need for testing by urging self-isolation for people who may think they have the virus but dont have symptoms. Early test preparation At TriCore, lab officials were working to validate a testing platform in February, weeks before the first confirmed COVID-19 case was reported in the state. By the time there were actually cases that were announced, we had already been in the process of testing capacity and doing our internal work to validate testing platforms, Culbreath said. Since New Mexico announced its first case, analysts have been testing samples for the virus 24/7 at the companys core lab in Albuquerque, Culbreath said. Originally, the lab was processing tests using a manual method that was approved by the FDA. But TriCore has since gotten approval to use a machine that allows it to test at a higher capacity. The labs daily testing capacity went from 300 to 500 and is now about 1,000, Culbreath said. Officials at the New Mexico Department of Health didnt respond to testing questions Monday. State officials previously said the state lab had a capacity of several hundred per day. Culbreath said that as of last weekend, people in a hospital can expect results in 24 to 48 hours and patients who arent hospitalized are getting results in three to five days. As the state labs expand their testing capacity, Culbreath said, the time it takes to get results will drop. Currently, TriCore is prioritizing testing patients who are in hospitals. That does two things. That helps to ensure the patients in the hospital who are requiring more medical intervention and are the sickest patients are getting a diagnosis faster, Culbreath said. The other thing it does is help to preserve the protective equipment, the masks and the gowns. If we can identify that a patient doesnt have coronavirus, than we can preserve the personal protective equipment for other patients. Journal investigative reporter Colleen Heild contributed to this report. The number of COVID-19 cases has amounted to 212 after five more patients were confirmed as of 6am on April 1, according to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. A medical worker is disinfecting the environment Case 208, a 38-year-old woman, is an employee of the Truong Sinh Co. Ltd, which provides services for the Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital. Case 209 is a 55-year-old woman living in Duc Giang ward of Hanois Long Bien district. She is a cook at the Petrolimex Hanoi. From March 18 to 24, she had close contact with Case 163 at the kitchen of this company. Case 210, a 26-year-old woman, returned from Thailand on March 20. Earlier, she had close contact with Case 146. Case 211, 23 years old, is a female student returning from the US. She departed the US on March 19 and transited Abu Dhabi (the United Arab Emirates) and Bangkok (Thailand) before arriving in Hanoi on March 20. Another patient, Case 212, is a 35-year-old woman returning from Russia on March 27. The 210th, 211th and 212th patients have been in quarantine since their arrival in Vietnam. On March 31 evening, Vietnam announced three new cases. Of those cases, one was a worker from Truong Sinh Co. Ltd and two others were related to patient No.124. The 205th patient is a 41-year-old worker from Truong Sinh Co.Ltd that supplies services to Bach Mai Hospital. The 206th is a 48-year-old man residing in An Phu ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City. He was driver of the patient No.124 and No.151. He is being treated at Cu Chi hospital for acute respiratory diseases in good health conditions. The 207th is a Brazilian man residing at Thao Dien ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City. He is husband of the patient No.151 and colleague of the patient No.124. He is also under treatment at Cu Chi hospital in good health conditions. Among the 207 cases, 57 have fully recovered. Ho Chi Minh City basically contains COVID-19 hotbeds Ho Chi Minh City's Health Department said the city has basically contained the local clusters of COVID-19, adding that the city recorded 49 COVID-19 infection cases as of 7pm on March 31, 11 of them fully recovered. Among 196 samples collected from those who were related to the Buddha bar in District 1, 166 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, 11 positive, and 19 are waiting for results. Of more than 2,900 people who had contact with them, four were found positive, 505 negative and more than 2,400 on the waiting list. The medical sector collected 306 samples from Muslims in District 8, including those who had close contact with patients and attended a ceremony at a local mosque. All of them have tested negative. At present, 176 are under concentrated quarantine at the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City and 122 others self-quarantine at home. No new infection has been detected among this group since March 15. Up to 179 samples from those who attended a funeral in Binh Chanh district were also collected, with 86 negative and 93 others still waiting. Since March 23, no new infection case has been found among this group./. HCM City calls for peoples unity in COVID-19 fight Chairman of the Peoples Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Thanh Phong called on the citys residents to join hands in the fight against COVID-19, at a teleconference on March 31. He asked people to refrain from going out, except when really necessary such as buying food and medicine. Implementing the Prime Ministers directions to curb the pandemic given its complicated developments, Phong outlined several tasks that the southern economic hub will carry out within 15 days, starting from 0:00 am April 1. He ordered the municipal Department of Industry and Trade to coordinate with the Union of Trading Cooperatives (Saigon Co.op) and Saigon Trading Group (Satra) to ensure the supply of essential goods for people, and encourage online shopping and home delivery. Meanwhile, the Department of Transport is responsible for working with districts to arrange passenger trips according to anti-coronavirus regulations, and suspend public buses, intercity buses, and taxi services. Official vehicles, employee shuttle buses, and trucks delivering food and carrying production material must be operated in accordance with the health ministrys instructions. Phong noted that all working plans and programmes of agencies must be ensured, with only the working method. changed. He suggested that staff members work from home and only go to the office to handle necessary procedures with the agreement of the head of the office. The Department of Justice was tasked to make recommendations to the municipal Peoples Committee about the establishment of disease control groups. Hanoi ensures sufficient supply of goods for people Hanoi ensures sufficient supply of goods for residents as the capital city started a two-week nationwide social distancing order to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Tran Thi Phuong Lan, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade. Lan said the citys supply of goods is working normally, delivering to 26 shopping centres, 142 supermarkets and thousands of stores across the city. They have also been following rigorous sanitary protocols and regularly inspected to ensure food safety and to combat the spread of the virus. Under the Prime Ministers social distancing order, the citys supermarkets and traditional markets will remain open. Firms have been told to submit their transport vehicle numbers for special permits to deliver goods during the fortnight period. Mobile stores and make-shift supply centres are also considered as additional options. The army and the police have been ordered to assist with the transport of goods and logistics if necessary. The citys authority has been working closely with suppliers and firms in the city as well as the nearby provinces to make sure there will be sufficient supply of goods for the city in all scenarios. According to the department, the city increased reserves by 300-500 percent over normal demand. The municipal department would spend 194 trillion VND (8.3 billion USD) to triple the volume of goods for reserves in the second quarter of this year. RoK's bank supports over 200,000 USD for Vietnams COVID-19 fight President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man (third from right) receives Shinhan Bank's funding Hanoi (VNA) Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Vietnam Park Noh Wan and the countrys Shinhan Bank on March 31 presented 5 billion VND (213,000 USD) to Vietnams fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man thanked the diplomat and the bank's representatives for the support, and said that the money will contribute to Vietnams efforts to fight the pandemic. Speaking of the RoK Governments efforts in COVID-19 prevention and control, Man stated that many RoK enterprises operating in Vietnam have donated to support the fight in Vietnam, in response to the VFF Central Committees appeal. He affirmed that the fundings will be allocated to buy essential equipment to serve treatment and to concentrated quarantine areas and hospitals nationwide. Ambassador Park said that over the past days, the two Governments and the two countries enterprises have taken measures to sovle difficulties caused by the pandemic. He expressed his hope that with the support of the Shinhan Bank, Vietnam will have additional resources to win over the pandemic, and bilateral trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges will resume as normal./. HCM City attractions close in continuing coronavirus fight The Independence Palace, one of popular tourist attractions in HCM City, closes to visitors until further notice in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). HCM City authorities closed tourist attractions and landmarks on Saturday until further notice as part of efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Department of Tourism informed tourist sites and travel firms about the closure decision made by the Peoples Committee the previous day. am Sen Cultural Park and Suoi Tien Theme Park, which get thousands of visitors every day, have been closed since March 16. Ben Thanh Market, a popular tourist attraction, remains open since there are plenty of food and foodstuff stalls inside. Nguyen Khoa Luan, director of Anh Viet Hop on - Hop off Viet Nam Company, said double-decker bus tours of HCM City and Ha Noi are halted until further notice from local authorities. The city also ordered the closure of all entertainment sites, restaurants, beer clubs, eating facilities with a capacity 30 seats or more, beauty salons, barber shops, and gyms from March 24. Hotels in the city remain open. The number of visitors coming to tourist attractions in February-March plummeted by 50-70 per cent year-on-year, according to the department. Mekong Delta steps up efforts to fight COVID-19 The ong Thap Military School in ong Thap Provinces Sa ec town has been set up as a 150-bed field hospital. Photo giaoducthoidai.vn The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of ong Thap has set up a field hospital as a quarantine and treatment area for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 or suspected of having COVID-19. The ong Thap Military School in the provinces Sa ec Town has been set up as a 150-bed field hospital, said oan Tan Buu, deputy chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee. The field hospital was established after four people were put under mandatory quarantine at the ong Thap Military School after returning to Viet Nam from the UK on March 19. They were confirmed positive with the coronavirus virus that causes the disease called COVID-19 on March 22. The four patients were sent to Sa ec General Hospital for treatment, Buu said. A total of 160 people on the same flight with the four confirmed cases are being quarantined and tested, he added. The hospital is designed to isolate and examine patients with suspected COVID-19 and patients with COVID-19, he said. In the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, medical officials at the Can Tho Central General Hospital on Tuesday practiced emergency response procedures on patients with COVID-19, as issued by the Ministry of Health. Nguyen Minh Vu, director of the hospital, said that the practice prepares medical staff for all possible situations. The hospital is fully prepared with medical infrastructure and equipment to receive patients with COVID-19 according to guidelines from the Ministry of Health. Doctors and nurses at the hospital are equipped with personal protective masks, suits and gloves. HCM City issues guidelines on transporting quarantined people home A dormitory at the FPT University in Ha Noi being used as a quarantine zone. The HCM City Department of Health has given instructions on how to transport people from public quarantines to their homes after they complete the mandatory 14-day COVID-19 quarantine period. It said if they are picked up by their family, appropriate pick-up locations must be designated. HCM City residents will be taken by car to the designated pick-up locations arranged by district authorities and handed over to their family while those from the Mekong Delta will be taken to four pick-up locations in Long An, Tien Giang and Vinh Long provinces and Can Tho City from where they will be taken home by authorities from their province. People from the central region will be dropped off at ong Nai Province or Phan Thiet City in Binh Thuan Province. The elaborate arrangements have been made since they will have to remain in isolation for a further week after reaching home. A certificate of completion of quarantine will be issued. The Centres for Disease Control in provinces will continue to monitor the quarantined people even after they reach home. Since March 20 all travellers coming to Viet Nam have been subject to mandatory quarantine for 14 days. It does not apply to people coming for diplomatic and official purposes though they have to isolate themselves at their place of stay under the supervision of local authorities. All Vietnamese carriers have suspended international flights since March 25. Recently Viet Nam has sent thousands of its nationals returning home to escape the pandemic in the EU and the US to quarantine camps. As of Tuesday afternoon the country has had 204 COVID-19 cases, of whom 56 have recovered and the rest are still in hospital. There have been no deaths. Blood reserve shortage caused by COVID-19 in a Nang a Nang General Hospital has made an urgent call for blood donations as reserves have been severely affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Head of the hospitals haematology and blood transfusion department doctor Pham Thi Ngoc Anh said blood reserves would run out in four or five days and they currently only have about half of the reserves the hospital would normally store. She said the department has 700 units of blood, only enough to supply patients who faced fatal diseases or an emergency. We often receive more than 1,500 units of blood from donors in March when students from universities and colleges begin their blood donation campaigns. However, all universities and colleges are closed and students are staying at home to stop COVID-19 spreading, Anh said. The hospital has set up a strict process for blood donors to avoid SARS-CoV-2 infection. All donors must be sterilised and have a health check and their temperature taken before giving blood, she said. According to the hospital, blood donated by people in a Nang provides 99.5 per cent of blood used for transfusions and emergency cases for the city. The number of voluntary blood donors in the city accounts for 3.25 per cent of the population, the highest rate in the country. The city has a list of 650 individuals able to donate blood at short notice in emergency cases. Young people from Thanh Khe District donated 483 blood units in a voluntary campaign last week. In COVID-19 news, the city has begun using home sample tests for all local and foreign people who entered the city from abroad. Medical response teams will visit every household to take samples. The city encouraged all people to stay at home and limit contact at public sites, and all people were warned to wear face masks in public. Nine people were fined in Son Tra District when they did not wear face masks in public on Monday. VNA/VNS/VNN A newborn baby in Louisiana has died in a COVID-19-related death that is believed to be the first of its kind in the state, according to a local health official. The baby's mother, who was not identified, was admitted to a Baton Rouge hospital and tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. The woman was placed on a ventilator and then went into premature labor, according to East Baton Rouge Parish coroner Beau Clark, M.D. The baby did not survive "because of the extreme premature [birth]," according to Clark. "Had [the mother] not been COVID-19 positive, had not required ventilator support, had not had the shortness of breath, the hypoxia that is associated with the virus, likely she would not have gone into preterm labor and there would have been a different outcome," Clark said in a press conference Monday, adding that the baby "as of now has not tested positive for COVID-19." Earlier this month, a 6-week-old Connecticut baby who later tested positive for COVID-19 was brought to a hospital in an unresponsive state and couldn't be revived, according to Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. A Chicago infant under the age of 1 who tested positive for COVID-19 also died, according to public health officials in Illinois. The news of the infants' deaths, along with several other reports of infants testing positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, has given the parents of newborns and infants another worry -- that their baby could contract the virus, which has to date resulted in more than 10,000 deaths in the U.S. MORE: Im 28. My boyfriend and I both tested positive for COVID-19. Here's my message. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has also issued new guidelines for the care of infants as doctors learn more about the impact of the coronavirus on the youngest among us. Here is more information from experts on infants and COVID-19, including more details on the AAP's new guidelines. Story continues What we know about infants and COVID-19 Experts have long said the older population remains at a higher risk for COVID-19. Data from China, where the virus was first detected, indicates that the oldest of those affected were more likely to be hospitalized during the recent outbreak, and the oldest of the old were less likely to survive the severe respiratory illness that results from the infection. The number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases around the world has now surpassed 1.3 million, meaning more people, including infants, have and will get the virus, experts say. "This is a virus thats never been in the human population before so literally everyone in the world is susceptible to it except for those who have already had it," Dr. David Kimberlin, professor and co-director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, told "Good Morning America." "When the numbers get that large, in terms of people affected, then you will see those very rare and unusual situations." The fact that more infants have not so far tested positive for COVID-19 shows that young people are not as affected by the virus as older people, according to Kimberlin. "If it was going to be a common phenomenon, I think we would have already seen it," he said of infants and children testing positive. "Not to say it cant happen, but it does not appear to be a likelihood." It is too early on in the pandemic to know why coronavirus appears to affect older people more severely than it does the young, according to Kimberlin.- MORE: Mom of 7-month-old with coronavirus speaks out: What parents should know "Children normally would be in many situations predisposed to having more severe disease, especially very young children, and yet with this particular outbreak and this particular virus, right now it doesnt appear that they are," he said. Both Kimberlin and Dr. Rachel Thornton, an associate professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said parents should also remember that common late winter and spring viruses are going around, as well as some flu activity. "Not every fever, not every cough is going to be this new COVID-19 virus," said Kimberlin. "That said, the coronavirus is circulating widely and so it has to be on our radar and part of what were thinking. Pediatricians across the country are on heightened awareness with this." New guidelines for care providers The AAP's guidelines, issued on April 2, focus primarily on newborns who are born to women who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are being tested for the virus. In those cases, doctors should use "standard procedural mask and eye protection, gown, and gloves" when coming in contact with infants, according to the APA. Separating moms with COVID-19 or suspected of the virus from their newborn will help to minimize the risk of postnatal infection, according to the APA. The organization also recommends bathing infants "as soon as possible" after birth to remove any viruses on their skin. Healthy infants need to be kept away from infected moms for as much time as possible until the mom has been without a fever for 72 hours without medication and seven days have passed since symptoms first appear, or until the mom has negative test results from at least two tests done more than 24 hours apart, according to the APA. How infants are diagnosed, treated One of the top points for parents of infants to remember amid the coronavirus pandemic is that in most cases infants should continue to go to their regularly scheduled pediatrician appointments, especially to receive their vaccinations, according to Thornton. "A big part of our job is helping keep babies healthy, making sure that newborns are growing and developing properly and getting their routine vaccinations to prevent infections from other illnesses that can be severe in children," she said. "It's really important to still make sure that were doing the preventive care that keeps babies safe from other types of infections." PHOTO: A nurse in protective suit attends to a baby with COVID-19 in an isolation ward of Wuhan Children's Hospital in Wuhan, China, in a photo taken on March 16, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters, FILE) If a baby is showing symptoms, especially a fever, Thornton and Kimberlin say parents should call their pediatrician first. "Call the pediatricians office and the doctor or their staff will be able to sort through what symptoms the baby is having, whether they need to be seen in the office or whether they need to go to the emergency room," said Kimberlin. "They will use the symptoms' information with what they know is already circulating in the community." The pediatrician will also help determine whether your baby's symptoms are severe enough to be tested for COVID-19, which would include a nasal swab, according to Thornton. In mild cases, treatment for COVID-19 in babies would focus on lowering the fever, explained Kimberlin. Other treatments would be needed only in severe cases that involve hospitalization. Symptoms to watch for in babies The most important thing to watch for in a baby is a fever, which would be a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, according to Thornton. "Call [your pediatrician] if you notice your baby has a fever, regardless of whether they have other symptoms," she said. Other symptoms to watch and note to your pediatrician include how well your baby is feeding, how alert they are and their hydration level (Are they making tears when they cry? Are their diapers wet?), according to Thornton. Also, pay attention to your baby's breathing. "We get concerned when babies are working hard to breathe, like if their neck is bobbing up and down or they seem to be putting extra effort into breathing," said Thornton. "And any change in the color around their mouth, severe coughing episodes, those would potentially signal to us something a little more severe that would warrant medical attention." How to keep your baby protected from COVID-19 Parents should follow CDC guidelines to socially distance, stay home, sanitize surfaces and wash hands, according to both Thornton and Kimberlin. "The things that parents can do to protect their children are the same things they can do to protect themselves and their parents and so forth," said Kimberlin. "Social distancing, washing hands, wiping down surfaces, those kinds of things are going to be what protect not only infants but also the people who are even more at risk, the grandparents and parents who have other chronic conditions." PHOTO: Emergency medicine physician Thomas Krajewski wears a mask as he holds his baby Cal with his wife Genevieve after finishing his shift amid an outbreak of coronavirus disease in New Orleans, March 27, 2020 (Kathleen Flynn/Reuters, FILE) 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 Baby dies after mom with COVID-19 goes into premature labor: What we know about how susceptible infants are and how theyre treated originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com (Bloomberg Opinion) -- The coronavirus pandemic has forced Macys Inc. a retail giant venerable enough to be featured in an old Christmas movie and familiar enough to retain bragging rights to New Yorks annual Thanksgiving parade to throw most of its 130,000 workers into the unknown. Macys stores, which include Bloomingdales and Bluemercury, have been closed since March 18, and the company said on Monday that it will put a majority of its workforce on unpaid furloughs starting Wednesday. It also said all those employees, numerous enough to fill cities the size of New Haven, Connecticut, or Santa Clara, California, will have their health insurance premiums covered at least through May. After that, who knows? Meanwhile, a Holland America Line cruise ship, the Zaandam, was recently left floating off the coast of Panama for several days with nowhere to go while a coronavirus outbreak wound through its decks. The ship, one of those mammoth floating hotels that can accommodate as many as 1,432 passengers and 607 crew members, was adrift because no Latin American ports would allow it to dock after it departed from Buenos Aires on March 7. Four travelers on the Zaandam have died, at least two others have been infected with the coronavirus, and another 189 are reportedly displaying flu-like symptoms. The Panamanian government allowed the Zaandam and a sister ship that has picked up some of its passengers to pass through the Panama Canal on Sunday to sail toward Florida. A Holland America executive said that transiting the canal would allow the Zaandams passengers to make their way home. But who knows? The ship intends to dock in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, but local officials there said passengers havent been cleared to disembark. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told Fox News that many of the Zaandams passengers were foreigners he didnt want dumped in his state. So it goes as the coronavirus tightens its grip worldwide, forcing businesses such as Macys and Carnival Corp. (the parent of Holland America) to wrestle with harrowing, existential decisions that affect the financial well-being and sometimes the survival of employees and customers. We are likely in the very early stages of what may also be one of the most brutal transformations of corporate and workplace landscapes in generations, with longstanding businesses rocked to their foundations or entirely brought down. Story continues The coronavirus is a villain in all of this, of course. But the pandemic is also a reckoning for businesses that have been slow to turn themselves around, havent adapted to earlier transformations in their industries or are simply run too recklessly to survive. Macys was struggling long before the coronavirus came along. Its sales have sagged for years, its stores tethered to older, less free-spending shoppers and often located in down-on-their-luck malls. The department store chain has tried to fight back by pursuing off-price retailing and embracing Amazon.com Inc.s bailiwick online shopping more robustly. But Amazon is Amazon and Macys is Macys, and theres the rub. The company is doing honorable things as it wrestles with the coronavirus and past mishaps. Its chief executive officer, Jeff Gennette, has given up all of his own compensation for an unspecified period and is finding other ways to cut back on spending. Just six days ago, Gennette said he was doing everything possible to avoid kneecapping his employees with furloughs or layoffs. By Monday, that apparently was no longer tenable. Plans to re-open stores on April 1 were also recently punted. "We have no way of knowing how long our stores will remain closed, but we believe it will be at least several weeks before we have a clear line of sight," Gennette wrote in an email to employees. The federal government recently passed its landmark $2 trillion stimulus bill that could potentially offer a lifeline to companies like Macys (and other retailers facing the same predicament, including Kohls Corp. and Gap Inc.). The legislation sets aside $500 billion in loans and other aid for major corporations that are stumbling. But does it make sense for the government to prop up a company like Macys thats been stumbling for years and might have unraveled even if the coronavirus hadnt come along? Wouldnt the money be better spent on direct support for the companys workers? The decisions Carnival faces in connection with the Zaandams wanderings are even more stark. Cruise ships have the potential to act as gigantic, global Petri dishes: Before the coronavirus outbreak, the cruise industrys largest trade association estimated that as many as 32 million people would take a cruise in 2020. Although the cruise ship is no stranger to viral outbreaks (two years ago, 73 passengers contracted a norovirus on a trip off the coast of Alaska), the Zaandam and other Holland America and Carnival ships have received high marks in recent sanitation inspections by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet reports have popped up regularly about other Carnival ships that dont pass muster. (The parent company manages several brands, and the Princess lines have particularly weak health and sanitation records.) So how well prepared was Carnival for something as cataclysmic as the coronavirus? Moreover, why did the Zaandam set sail on March 7? Well before then, two other Carnival ships had already become poster children for the coronavirus. On Feb. 4, the Diamond Princess was quarantined at a Japanese port after a former passenger tested positive for the virus. A subsequent test administered to that ships 3,700 passengers and crew turned up 700 infections; several of those people later died. As early as March 3, it was reported that passengers aboard a Grand Princess cruise in February had tested positive. That Carnival ship, returning from Hawaii, was then detained off the California coast for several days before docking on March 9 to prevent a further spread. The peril for any ships heading out to sea was clearly known by early March. And if passengers werent aware of the danger, Carnival certainly was. Some Zaandam passengers have said they were assured that travelers were adequately screened for signs of the coronavirus prior to departure, but now doubt that claim. Although Carnival may be facing broader business hurdles similar to Macys, it can expect no financial lifeline from the federal government. Last weeks stimulus blocked major cruise companies from receiving aid because they are incorporated outside the U.S. (a move that has allowed them to avoid paying federal taxes and to skirt some regulations). What goes around comes around, especially during a pandemic. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Timothy L. O'Brien is a senior columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. 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. YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) today called for expanded U.S. military assistance to Armenia and the immediate suspension in military assistance to Azerbaijan, citing the Aliyev regimes ongoing attacks against Armenia and Artsakh and verified reports by the U.S. State Department of torture and human rights abuses by the Azerbaijani government, ARMENPRESS reports, citing the official website of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The United States should immediately suspend military aid to Azerbaijan until its government ceases its attacks against Armenia and Artsakh, agrees to the peaceful resolution of regional conflicts, and proves it has halted all human rights abuses, stated Chairman Pallone in his testimony to the House Armed Services Committee, as they prepare the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). We must also strive to send a more supportive signal to our regional partners currently undergoing positive, democratic transitions like Armenia by increasing security assistance and bolstering strategic cooperation between our countries, stated Rep. Pallone. The ANCA would like to thank Chairman Pallone for his continued leadership in ending U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan that has only empowered and emboldened Azerbaijan to escalate its aggression against Armenia and Artsakh, said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. His testimony, only hours after Azerbaijans latest attacks on Armenias Tavush region, underscores that America and the international community will not tolerate Azerbaijan recklessly risking a regional war amid a global pandemic. March 30th cross-border sniper fire by Azerbaijan injured two Armenian servicemen and hospitalized a child who was shot in the chest while playing on his apartment balcony. Hamparian issued a statement yesterday noting that the attacks confirm two realities: 1) The unwillingness of the OSCE to confront countless acts of obvious Azerbaijani aggression against both Armenia and Artsakh in favor of the false-parity of generically calling on all parties to refrain from violence has emboldened Baku to the point that it is today willing to risk a regional war during a global pandemic; 2) Armenians will never accept a Madrid-style deal that requires Artsakh to cede vast territory, strategic depth, sovereignty, and security upfront in return for vague, reversible paper promises from Azerbaijan that it will agree at some undetermined point in the future to a undefined process regarding Artsakhs status. In his testimony, Rep. Pallone expressed concern that ongoing U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan is emboldening cross-border attacks, like the March 30th sniper fire into Armenias Tavush region, which wounded two Armenian servicemen and a child. For years, the United States has invested in a negotiated peace to the conflict in the former Nagorno Karabakh, including humanitarian assistance funding for the HALO Trusts landmine and unexploded ordnance clearance efforts in Artsakh. Unfortunately, intimidation and cross- border attacks against Armenia and Artsakh are ongoing, in part, because of continued U.S. military assistance to the Azerbaijani government, said Pallone. Rep. Pallone urged the House Armed Services Committee to adopt a constructive approach in ending Azerbaijans aggression against Artsakh and Armenia including: Suspending U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan Tightening oversight of border services aid to Baku Strengthening Section 907 restrictions on aid to Azerbaijan Increasing U.S. military aid to Armenia CPS plans include both digital and nondigital learning materials, with printed packets available at schools where food is already being provided. Thursday and Friday this week, families can still get meals from any of the districts more than 600 schools. But when spring break begins Monday, CPS will consolidate meal distribution to fewer than one-fourth of schools, and all sites will be closed for Good Friday. When learning resumes remotely, the district is moving to a consolidated plan, through which meals will be provided at the 276 schools that have been busiest. For many people in France, the crisis over the Covid-19 outbreak in China was something mostly watched from afar. There had already been the SARS crisis in 2003 followed by the crises over MERS, H1N1 and avian flu. Even with the alarming news coming out of China in January and February this year, probably most people thought this crisis would also be contained and would eventually disappear. Perhaps the first signs that this would not be the case came in late February when along with other people across France I was asked to report my movements over previous weeks, particularly to regions reporting the spread of the Covid-19 virus. I had been in Kuwait, Cairo and the United Kingdom, none of them seen as giving cause for concern. Colleagues who had visited northern Italy and certain other areas were asked not to come to work for 14 days. This was towards the end of February when Italy was reporting a couple of hundred cases of Covid-19 infection in the north of the country and when there were only a handful of recorded cases in France. Things started to build from there. Even before French President Emmanuel Macron announced the first of Frances measures designed to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus, with the closure of schools and universities and certain other institutions being announced on 12 March, we had been told that there might be a need to work from home either temporarily or more permanently. Schools and other educational institutions were closed on 16 March. Meanwhile, a second set of measures was introduced on 15 March closing bars, restaurants, clubs, leisure centres, gyms and non-essential shops almost everything in fact apart from pharmacists, food shops and supermarkets and everyone who could do so was told to work from home. Anyone needing to leave their home would be allowed to do so, but only for essential purposes such as food shopping, medical appointments or individual exercise, in which case they would need to carry a document setting out their reason for being outside. The regulations that were introduced across France in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus thus mirrored those in place in Italy. From 24 March, it has been illegal in France to spend more than one hour a day on individual exercise outside the home, with this being taken a maximum of one km away. On 17 March, the European Union closed its borders to foreign visitors, and on 15 March Germanys border with France was closed. UK citizens are not allowed to travel to France unless they are residents of continental Europe. The weekend of Macrons second set of measures was perhaps the turning point for many people. Up until that point it might have still seemed possible almost to ignore the Covid-19 virus or to assume that it would disappear as SARS and H1NI had done. I walked across the Alexandre III Bridge from Les Invalides in Paris on Sunday 15 March, hoping to take the metro after a walk up to the Place de la Concorde. The area was full of people, some playing team games on the grass, others picnicking in family groups or strolling with groups of friends. None of them seemed particularly concerned about the rules to stop the transmission of the Covid-19 virus. That changed the next day. Public transport had been emptying out for days, and even in the morning rush hour there were far fewer people on the metro than usual. It felt like an early Sunday morning across Paris, with shops and restaurants closed and hardly anyone to be seen on normally busy streets. Since then, people have been confined to their homes, aside from essential sorties outside. The lights are on in most apartment buildings, indicating that not everyone has left Paris for the countryside, even though an estimated one million people have done so. The parks are closed, as are the schools of course, and the absence of young people milling around has been striking. While it may be difficult for older people to stay inside as the warm weather begins, how much more difficult must it be for young people or children? Parts of Paris have a very high population density, with many families being packed into tiny flats. One can only imagine how they are coping. People have been scrupulous about following social-distancing rules, though possibly not in every district. Those who are outside wait in lines outside supermarkets standing two metres apart before entering to keep the number of people inside to a minimum. The shelves are full, and there has been little sign of the kind of panic-buying seen in the United Kingdom. Cashiers wear masks and gloves and are protected by hanging plastic screens. There have been no masks, gloves or hand sanitiser to be had for weeks in the shops, and every pharmacy has a sign in the window saying it is out of stock. Post boxes have been sealed until further notice, and postal deliveries have been drastically cut back. Payments in shops are by card, and some are no longer accepting cash. The museums and cultural institutions that many people come to Paris to see are all closed to visitors. How much longer will this continue a life where everything has been put on hold while hoping to help combat the spread of the virus? As the terrible news continues to emerge from Italy and Spain, many in France fear that French figures, already high, will soon mirror those of neighbouring countries. The figures announced last weekend indicated more than 2,300 deaths in France and French hospitals in some regions already overflowing with severe cases. Deaths in Italy went beyond 10,000, and in Spain they were heading towards 6,000. Like in other countries, there have been shortages of beds, ventilators, protection equipment and doctors and nurses in France. Every evening at 8pm rounds of applause break out across Paris for those working to contain the crisis. When it first announced the lockdown measures, the government said they would be in place for two weeks before they were reviewed. That has now taken place, with the measures extended to 15 April. It is possible to get used to this strange sort of life, of course, and to scurry back into the safety of the apartment after rare sorties outside. But what stops any possibility of getting used to it is the terrible news that pours in from all directions, as the figures escalate worldwide and some governments seem to be having trouble comprehending the need for comprehensive measures. Not far away, hospitals are being overwhelmed by serious cases, and families everywhere are losing loved ones. If the lockdown in France has been a challenge for many, with the French healthcare system struggling under the pressure of new cases of Covid-19, it is impossible not to think about the situation for people across the world who may not enjoy the privileged living conditions common in France or access to quality state-provided healthcare services. Even in western European countries, many people are only steps away from penury as jobs disappear and markets collapse despite unprecedented state-led efforts to prop up the economy. Many fear that the crisis cannot continue much longer without the prospect of serious unrest, even setting aside the escalating death rates across Europe. But the crisis will be a great deal worse in countries already experiencing high rates of poverty and with fragile or very limited healthcare systems. For the time being, it looks as if we are just at the beginning of an almost unimaginable crisis, with countries having comprehensive healthcare and social security systems facing enormous strains and those without, among them the United States, threatened by disaster on a mediaeval scale. Everyone must do everything they can to help halt the spread of this terrible virus. In the meantime, we must live as best we may, day to day, in the hope that something better will emerge once we have seen the back of this crisis. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Ruling comes as several states seek to ban the procedure in an effort rights groups say is exploiting a health crisis. A federal appeals court on Tuesday ruled that Texas may go ahead with plans to temporarily ban most abortions during the coronavirus pandemic. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay on a ruling from a lower court that had blocked Texas from enforcing the ban. The ruling comes amid a wider effort by several conservative states to halt the procedures, an effort abortion rights groups have called an attempt to exploit a crisis to ban essential care. Texas officials say the ban is necessary to conserve medical supplies for health workers who are responding to the coronavirus, but abortion rights advocates say Texas and other states are using the pandemic as an excuse to block access to the procedure. In a 2-1 opinion, the appeals court ruled that the order from the lower court issued Monday be stayed until an appeal from Texas is considered. The two judges in the majority were nominated to their posts by President Donald Trump and former President George W Bush. The temporary stay ordered this afternoon justly prioritises supplies and personal protective equipment for the medical professionals in need, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement released after the decision. Circuit Court Judge James Dennis, who was appointed by former Democratic President Bill Clinton, dissented, writing a federal judge has already concluded that irreparable harm would flow from allowing the executive order to prohibit abortions during this critical time. The ruling comes after federal judges in two other states on Monday temporarily blocked similar measures. Along with Texas, federal judges in Ohio and Alabama on Monday blocked the bans as unconstitutional. Lawsuits also were filed in Iowa and Oklahoma after governors in those states similarly ordered a stop to non-emergency procedures and specifically included abortion among them. The lawsuits were filed by Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Reproductive Rights and local lawyers in each state. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced Friday that abortions were included in his executive order banning all elective surgeries and minor medical procedures until April 7, unless the procedure was necessary to prevent serious health risks to the mother. Stitt said the order was needed to help preserve the states limited supply of personal protective equipment, like surgical masks and gloves. On Monday night, US District Judge Myron Thompson issued a temporary restraining order against Alabamas order, saying the ruling will be in effect through April 13 while he considers additional arguments. Thompson wrote the states concerns about conserving medical equipment during the pandemic, does not outweigh the serious, and, in some cases, permanent, harms imposed by the denial of an individuals right to privacy. Lawyers for the Alabama clinics said facilities had cancelled appointments for 17 people scheduled this week. Patients that have already had their appointments canceled have been devastated; in many instances the calls cancelling the appointments have ended in tears, lawyers for the clinics wrote. Alabama closed many nonessential businesses with a state health order, effective Saturday. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said earlier Monday the state would not offer a blanket exemption to abortion clinics. A spokesman for Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Pat Garrett, defended that states ban, saying the governor is focused on protecting Iowans from an unprecedented public health disaster, and she suspended all elective surgeries and procedures to preserve Iowas healthcare resources. The Iowa lawsuit said abortion procedures do not require extensive use of medical equipment and do not use N95 respirators, the devices in shortest supply during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients abortions will be delayed, and in some cases, denied altogether, the lawsuit states. As a result, Iowa patients will be forced to carry pregnancies to term, resulting in a deprivation of their fundamental right to determine when and whether to have a child or to add to their existing families. The lawsuits seek court orders halting action pertaining to abortions and ask judges for immediate hearings. The Department of Justice is further postponing some immigration hearings. CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images Hearings for non-detained immigrants are postponed until at least May 1, the Department of Justice announced. Asylum-seekers in Mexico are ordered to present themselves at the border to obtain new court dates. Judges, prosecutors, and activists alike have been demanding that immigration courts be shuttered during the pandemic. More than 38,000 immigrants are currently detained, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. All hearings for immigrants who are not currently detained, including asylum-seekers, have been further postponed until May 1, the US Department of Justice said Monday. Hearings for non-detained persons had previously been set to resume April 13. The announcement, made in a tweet, falls short of increasingly loud demands from judges, prosecutors, lawmakers, and public health experts to completely shut down the nation's immigration courts during the pandemic. An immigration judge in San Francisco last week told Business Insider that little has been done to increase safety for those in her courtroom, which she has asked to be closed. The latest move is unlikely to ease discontent among her fellow justices. "It's good that non-detained cases are postponed," Judge Samuel B. Cole, an immigration justice in Chicago, told Business Insider, "but unfortunately detained cases are proceeding business-as-usual." He said such hearings could and should be done over the phone, saying, "People are being put at risk." Despite the latest postponement, the vast majority of the country's 68 immigration courts remain open, with judges continuing to hear cases involving detained immigrants including thousands who are seeking asylum, many of them children. Advocates have called for this population, especially, to be granted their freedom amid concerns that detained populations are at heightened risk of infection. Story continues On Sunday, a federal judge in Los Angeles ordered the federal government to "make continuous efforts" to release minors in its custody, citing concerns over the spread of COVID-19. Around 3,600 children are currently held in shelters and 3,300 more at detention facilities alongside their parents, The New York Times reported. A separate ruling, reported Monday by The Washington Post, instructs the government to work toward releasing their parents, too. As of March 21, more than 38,000 people were in immigration detention, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The majority have not been convicted of any criminal charge. Asylum-seekers awaiting their day in a US court, while stuck in Mexico, will have to wait longer, due to the last postponement. But those who had hearings through April 22 are still being required to "present themselves at their designated port of entry" on their court date, where they will receive notice of their new scheduled appearance, per the Department of Justice. Last week, US Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, joined immigration judges, prosecutors, and activists in calling for the immediate closure of all immigration courts. "The benefit of reducing the risk to public health outweighs pressing forward with non-critical matters durings this pandemic," she wrote in a letter addressed to Attorney General William Barr. On Monday, Feinstein noted that the Trump administration had agreed to waive in-person hearings for at least some immigrants on agricultural visas, responding to concerns that failing to do so could disrupt food supplies. Charanya Krishnaswami, advocacy director for the Americas at Amnesty International, said the federal government's moves were welcome but insufficient. The Trump administration should also stop forcing tens of thousands of asylum-seekers to live in crowded camps across the border in Mexico, she told Business Insider, and release immigrants currently held in "tinderbox" conditions. "The administration's handling of immigration court scheduling, like its treatment of immigrants and asylum-seekrs generally, is equal parts chaos and cruelty," she said. Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 21:48:36|Editor: zyl Video Player Close JOHANNESBURG, March 31 (Xinhua) -- South African Competition Commission has received a total of 559 complaints from consumers related to inflating of prices since the government declared the national state of disaster, said the organization on Tuesday. "The balance of the complaints are against retailers and suppliers for charging excessive prices for products related to COVID-19 essentials. The majority of the complaints related to hand sanitizers and face masks, followed by toilet paper, flu medication and other products," said the commission's head of communication Sipho Ngwema. He stated that they are prioritizing those cases against national retailers and suppliers and those complainants are essential services professionals, such as doctors, dentists and police. "The complaints are under expedited preliminary investigations, with respondent firms given 48 hours to confirm or rebut the allegations. The Commission has issued over 100 such letters to national retailers, suppliers and independent retailers," said Ngwema. "The Commission has also noted with concern the spiralling prices of agricultural products such as wheat, white maize, sunflower seeds, carrots, onions and tomatoes. There have been complaints streaming in the week in relation to these basic food products, whose spiralling prices hurt the poor the most," he said. The Commission said those caught charging excessively would be fined 10 percent of their annual turnover for the first offence and 25 percent for the repeated offence. Directors of companies could be jailed up to 10 years for price fixing. MADRID (Reuters) - Spain will delay a planned auction of 5G spectrum due to the coronavirus outbreak, the government said on Monday. As part of a Europe-wide drive to speed up the roll out of fast Internet and broaden coverage, Spain had been due to free up space in the 700 MHz band of its network by switching from analogue to digital terrestrial television by June 30. One of the world's worst national outbreaks of the virus, which had infected 85,915 people and killed 7,340 as of Monday, constitutes force majeure, making it impossible to stick to that deadline, the government said in a statement. Madrid has told Brussels it will set a new deadline for the 700 MHz band depending on the eventual end-date for emergency measures including restrictions on people's movements, it added. Austria postponed a planned 5G auction last week, and the CEO of French group Iliad said one coming up in France would likely meet the same fate. (Reporting by Isla Binnie; Editing by Jessica Jones and Giles Elgood) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 By Samir Ali - Trend: In order to inform the Azerbaijani population about a new type of coronavirus (COVID-19), an educational campaign was held by the Public Health and Reforms Center of Azerbaijans Ministry of Health, Trend reports referring to ministrys press service. According to the press service, within the framework of the action, educational materials were distributed in large supermarkets in Baku. They contain information on the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2), on the symptoms and signs of the dangerous COVID-19 disease caused by this virus, as well as important recommendations for protecting against this infection. At the same time, the customers making purchases were presented with booklets and leaflets about the importance of observing a special quarantine regime and self-isolation rules, instructions for proper hand washing and wearing a medical mask, as well as about the features that distinguish this infectious disease from seasonal flu and colds. Educational printed materials were also submitted to the State Social Protection Fund under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population and to the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society. Based on WHOs recommendations, the Public Health and Reforms Center prepared and published relevant information materials on the methods of prevention and protection against the spread of the new type of coronavirus. In order to ensure accessibility of materials, publications are freely available on the official news portal on coronavirus (https://koronavirusinfo.az/) and via the database of coronavirus on the centers website (https://isim.az/en/main). Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County. New Yorkers have been left spooked by the Empire State Building's new siren lights to honor emergency workers, as many say it looks like the city is panicking. The display on the iconic skyscraper in Midtown began at 9pm last night and will continue on through the course of the ongoing pandemic. The top of the building is now lit up in red, with a white light mimicking an emergency siren revolving from the mast. New York City has been the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the US, with 138 deaths from the virus on Monday, an increase of 17 percent on Sunday. There were 4,319 new cases yesterday. The display on the iconic skyscraper in Midtown began at 9pm last night and will continue on through the course of the ongoing pandemic A tweet from the building's official account read: 'Starting tonight through the COVID-19 battle, our signature white lights will be replaced by the heartbeat of America with a white and red siren in the mast for heroic emergency workers on the front line of the fight.' However the new display has divided opinion, with some saying it is a powerful show of solidarity, while others say it has left them feeling even more anxious than before. One concerned twitter user said: 'I mean, if the hospital in Central Park wasn't stressing you out enough....the Empire State Building is now red like blood, you know.' The top of the building is now lit up in red, with a white light mimicking an emergency siren revolving from the mast Another New Yorker wrote: 'Turning the Empire State Building into a massive flashing siren was either a stroke of artistic genius or a seriously intense way of panicking people.' A different user suggested the building should maintain its signature white lights amid the crisis. 'Just make it a normal Empire State Building. Nice, soothing white. A symbol of New York. Our buildings do not need to look like they are also panicking.' Added another user: 'We know we've really screwed things up when the empire state building gets mad.' However the new display has divided opinion, with some saying it is a powerful show of solidarity, while others say it has left them feeling even more anxious than before New York could reach its peak of new coronavirus cases within the next seven to 10 days, experts say, as the number of hospital ER visits starts to decrease and official data raises hopes that the city could soon start 'turning the corner'. New York City saw 138 deaths from the virus on Monday, an increase of 17% on Sunday but well down from Saturday's spike of 222 deaths. There were 4,319 new cases, which is again lower than Saturday's 5,367 new cases. However over the past three days the number of daily deaths has remained almost flat, with an increase of only six deaths per day from Saturday to Monday. Experts say the figures offer a glimmer of hope that hardest-hit New York could soon be 'turning the corner' and headed towards a downward trajectory in terms of coronavirus cases. The US death toll from the coronavirus pandemic climbed past 3,000 on Monday, making the outbreak more deadly than the September 11 terrorist attacks that killed 2,977, but the number of daily fatalities are expected to soar over the next two weeks. Reported cases climbed to more than 163,000 on Monday as the number of new infections jumped at least 20,000 in one day. The United States has the most confirmed cases in the world, a number that is likely to soar when tests for the virus become more widespread. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31 Trend: The Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh has disseminated an appeal in connection with the Day of the Genocide of Azerbaijanis, Trend reports referring to the community on March 31. "The ethnic cleansing, genocide and predatory policy, purposefully carried out by Armenian nationalists against the Azerbaijani people for the past 200 years, are the difficult stages of Azerbaijani history full of tragedies and bloody events, the appeal said. The main goal of this chauvinist policy was the expulsion of Azerbaijanis from their historical lands and the creation of "great Armenia" fabricated by the Armenians on Azerbaijani territories, the appeal said. At the beginning of the 20th century, Armenian nationalists expanded their activity to implement the idea of great Armenia, put forward in the program of the 'Dashnaktsutyun' party, having begun ethnic cleansing and the policy of genocide, systematically expelling Azerbaijanis living in their historical lands, the appeal said. Armenians committed massacres against Azerbaijani civilians in Baku, Ganja, Karabakh, Iravan, Nakhchivan, Ordubad, Sharur-Daralyaz, Zangezur, Gazakh and other areas in 1905-1906, people were brutally killed, the cities and villages were burned and destroyed. After the February and October events in Russia in 1917, the Dashnaktsutyun party and the Armenian National Congress began to expand their activity. In December 1917, Stepan Shaumian, appointed temporary emergency commissioner for the Caucasus affairs, became the organizer and leader of the mass extermination of Azerbaijanis. At the beginning of 1918, i.e., on the eve of the March bloodshed, there were about 20,000 Armenian armed people directly obeying Shaumian. The Bolshevik-Armenian formations opened fire on Baku from ships on March 30, 1918. On March 31 and in the first days of April, thousands of peaceful Azerbaijanis were exterminated only because of their nationality. During those days, Bolshevik-Armenian formations killed 12,000 Azerbaijani civilians in Baku. During these bloody events, people were burned alive in their houses, as well as tortured. More than 16,000 people were killed with special cruelty in Guba district, 167 villages were destroyed, 35 of which do not exist today as a result of the armed attack of the Armenians during the first five months of 1918. In 2007, a mass grave was discovered in Guba city. During the exploration of the burial, it was revealed that during the attack of the Armenian armed forces on Guba, people were killed, subjected to all kinds of violence. The Armenian military units, also exterminated the Jews along with the Turkic-Muslim population. As a result of the research, it became known that Armenians killed more than 3,000 Jews from 1918 through 1919 in Guba. Moreover, the Armenians destroyed and burned hundreds of Azerbaijani settlements, including 157 villages in Karabakh, committed massacre against Azerbaijanis in Shusha city. During this period, 167 settlements were burned, destroyed and looted in Guba district, 110 settlements in Shamakhi district, 115 settlements in Zangezur district, 211 settlements in Iravan province. Armenian Dashnaks tortured and killed about 50,000 people in Baku and other territories of Azerbaijan from March through April 1918. More than 10,000 were mercilessly killed in Zangezur district, 10,270 Azerbaijanis were killed in Shamakhi district. From 1918 through 1920, as a result of the massacre committed by the Armenians in Baku, Guba, Shamakhi, Kurdamir, Lankaran, Shusha, Iravan province, Zangezur, Nakhchivan, Sharur, Ordubad and other regions, tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis were killed with special cruelty, more than 1 million people were expelled from their native lands. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. LONDONOn March 22, 34-year-old Uber Eats courier Laurence Smith headed to his local Tesco supermarket in Catford, a district of southeast London. He planned to purchase food on behalf of a paramedic during a special shopping hour prior to opening, which had been set aside for National Health Service staff. But he was shocked to see long lines snaking around aisles. Everybody in the store except me was a health worker, he recalls. Its likely that many had just come off shifts lasting continuous days and were exhausted. There was little fresh produce available for them. These people are at the front line of this countrys fight against the coronavirus. If we cant even protect them, what will happen to the rest of us? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few hours later, Smith received permission from a church to use its community center as a collection hub for donations of food and other household essentials. After reaching out to his local mutual aid group in the borough of Lewisham, he was flooded with offers to drop off and deliver items to NHS workers as well as the vulnerable, isolated, and elderly. In addition, members of the group contributed over 10,000 pounds (U.S.$12,400) to a fund that Smith established in conjunction with the University Hospital Lewisham and a catering company. This money is being used to provide a free food box delivery service to any NHS worker in the area who is in financial distress. This has been surrealjust 40 hours ago, we didnt even have a building, says Smith. He has also consolidated a network of 45 couriers who assist him in sending necessities to those in need who are currently in self-isolation. Advertisement Advertisement Now boasting close to 5,500 members, the COVID-19 mutual aid group in Lewisham was the first to be established in London. This took place a day before U.K. chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance proposed the now widely ridiculed idea of building herd immunity in order to combat the pandemickeeping public gathering places open and intentionally allowing the disease to spreadas opposed to the more-stringent measures being adopted all across the world. Prior to this, Prime Minister Boris Johnson trumpeted the fact that he would carry on greeting hospital patients with handshakes. As of Monday, 22,141 people in the U.K. have tested positive for the virusincluding Johnson himselfwhile 1,408 patients have died. Advertisement As the government continues to come under fire for its clumsy and lackadaisical response to a panoply of problems, from insufficient testing to the paucity of ventilators and medical capacity, communities around the U.K. have taken matters into their own hands. Advertisement Advertisement The swift growth of mutual aid has also inspired the government itself to harness the strength of communal spirit. Starting in mid-March, tens of thousands of people began joining local clusters, which are loosely guided by an ad hoc umbrella organization, COVID-19 Mutual Aid U.K. Each of these groups serves a specific area ranging in size, from the length of a street to an entire borough. By the time Johnson finally announced a nationwide lockdown on March 24, volunteers had already printed and distributed leaflets describing all the types of community-led help on offer, and were picking up requests through phone lines they had set up for those requiring aid. Grocery shopping, dog walking, online pub quizzes, and Zoom exercise classes are just a few of the free services and activities that some have been keen to providebut others have introduced more unorthodox initiatives through their involvement in mutual aid groups. Advertisement Advertisement Romain Malan, director of the London-based World Harmony Orchestra, an ensemble of more than 100 musicians that typically performs for humanitarian causes, has been busy trying to fulfill requests for live music that come to him from dozens of mutual aid groups. So far were telling people to give as much as they like, but the orchestra itself pays the musicians 30 pounds for a half an hour assignment, he says. The fee is also a means of alleviating financial pressures on musicians who are looking for work, amid reports that 90 percent of workers in the music industry have experienced a sharp loss in income. Naturally, the orchestra is unable to play together, but Malan has sent individual violinists or cellists to the doorsteps of people in self-isolation, where they provide musical respite from a safe distance. There was even a pianist, he says, who managed to get his cable extension to work on the street somewhere in Doncaster. The lady was really touched to have music played for her on her birthday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not many are aware that the concept of mutual aid finds its conceptual roots in anarchist communism propounded by the Russian philosopher Peter Kropotkin. He argued against social Darwinism and discussed examples of how societies are likelier to thrive by adhering to the principles of mutually beneficial reciprocity. Regardless of mutual aids history, both leaders and participants in the U.K.-based movement agree that strangers have come together out of a sense of solidarity in crisis. We try to remove notions of saviorism from mutual aid. People arent driven by dutytheyre driven by a desire to give support, says Anna Vickerstaff, one of the main organizers of COVID-19 Mutual Aid U.K. The swift growth of mutual aid has also inspired the government itself to harness the strength of communal spirit. More than a week after the first mutual aid network in Lewisham was born, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock launched an appeal under the slogan Your NHS Needs You, exhorting everyone with the means and ability to join a volunteer army of up to 250,000. This scheme, Hancock emphasized, is not meant to replace mutual aid or other similar groups. Rather, members of the public who sign up will be relieving the strain on the NHS by assisting with tasks such as ferrying patients to and from appointments, delivering medication, and phoning to check in on the well-being of people in self-isolation. Advertisement Advertisement More than 500,000 peopledouble the initial figure suggestedenlisted themselves within this volunteer force in just 24 hours. This is perhaps testament to the fact that the single-payer, socialized NHS remains the U.K.s most beloved institution, regardless of where Britons sit on the political spectrum: The Conservative Party politician Nigel Lawson once famously proclaimed that the NHS is the closest thing the English people have now to a religion. Advertisement The NHS Volunteer Responders program may have been unanimously lauded, but more than a few have misgivings about the way it has been introduced. Vickerstaff, the mutual aid organizer, is sceptical about elements of it: The response from the government has been uneven and slow, and it has not happened at the speed we needed to prevent the worst from happening. Its important that theyre doing something [by creating NHS Volunteer Responders], but it is delayed and it doesnt seem right that these people are not going to be paid. Smith is more vociferous about his feelings on the states coronavirus strategy: I have zero trust in them and am ashamed of the path theyve taken. Advertisement Jake Bolton, a 25-year-old business associate who is unable to leave his house because of two flatmates who came down with fever, echoes this anxiety over the states inability to adequately handle the pandemic. He found his local mutual aid group on Instagram and was added into a WhatsApp chat where he asked if someone in the vicinity could buy and drop off some paracetamol at his residence. The delivery was made within the hour, and Bolton transferred 4 pounds to his neighbor though the man had not sought payment. Personally, he says, I feared that the government wouldnt do anything. In Wuhan, food is delivered to your door and theres no need to leave your house. I cant see that happening here. But we have people looking out for one another, and a small act like that is so reassuring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mary Harris-Cabado, 66, suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is considered at high risk of being infected by the virus. After receiving a message from the NHS instructing her to stay indoors, she was encouraged to join her local mutual aid group by her NHS doctor. Harris-Cabado has since had fresh food delivered to her home regularly by a woman in her neighborhood. Everyone has been very kind to me. As soon as this is over, I am going to take her shopping as a treat. Advertisement Advertisement But the rapid expansion of these community-led groups comes with mounting concerns over financial safeguarding. Louise Delmege, a director at the National Food Service Campaign, which tackles food poverty and advocates for universal access to food, mentions that she has identified a number of alarming issues with the way some mutual aid groups are run. There are a few absolute no-nos, namely the storage of volunteers personal data in publicly accessible documents, which could be used by scammers. This is also against data privacy laws, she says. In fact, in Bristol, where Delmege works, reports of elderly residents being tricked by bogus volunteers have already surfaced. Advertisement In Southwark, a borough that has been described as the epicenter of the outbreak in London, and which has higher-than-average poverty and unemployment rates, a few mutual aid organizers are still grappling with teething issues as they arise. Trin Gong, a 35-year-old leader of the 250-strong Surrey Docks mutual aid group in Southwark, is navigating unanticipated complications around the payment and delivery of groceries. Weve only existed for two weeks, so were really just building [our] infrastructure at the moment. Right now, when we get a request for groceries for those in isolation, we try to ask if they are able to use phone payment or select a click-and-collect option from their supermarket of choice so that volunteers dont end up always paying out of their own pockets. At the end of the day, we dont want [volunteers] to get hurt. Advertisement Advertisement Along with Oleg Giberstein, a 32-year-old fintech worker in her neighborhood, Gong has been attempting to devise a payment solution that allows volunteers to donate if and as they like to ensure that those unable to make payments for essentials are also covereda form of community insurance. Giberstein, who calls himself an extrovert who was going crazy in self-isolation, says that he has been delighted to lend his professional skills to mutual aid and get to know his neighbors at the same time, even if only over Skype and Zoom. NHS Volunteers is great and we live in a time where the more help is offered, the better, he says, but its decentralized, grassroots stuff like this that really matters. People always say that Londoners are unfriendly and dont speak to our neighbors, but at the end of the day we know the areas where we live best. Now that we cant really leave our homes, we have to rely on the people nearest to us. For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to Tuesdays episode of What Next. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31 Trend: Azerbaijans Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov said that financial support will be provided to certain areas in connection with the situation related to coronavirus spread. The minister made the remark during his interview to Azerbaijani national television, touching upon preparation of nine economic programs, Trend reports. "Naturally, first of all, we have put forward work on identifying the affected areas. It covers four large sectors and 20 areas of activity. The most affected, significantly affected, low-affected and non-affected sectors of the economy have been identified," Jabbarov said. The minister added that the program, which is the first and comprehensive one, covers 304,000 hired employees and 44,000 business entities. "The main logical philosophy of the program is to allocate the state financial assistance for providing a significant part of the wages to the employees of these entities. In January, the average monthly salary exceeded 700 manat. According to the programs philosophy, entrepreneurs in the form of direct financial separation are offered a share equal to 50 percent of the monthly salary fund to employees of these enterprises," he noted. The recent processes have affected 11 areas of activity by 100 percent including catering, service, tourism and other sectors. The other nine areas of activity are subject to significant negative impact. For them, we apply a coefficient of 70 percent. That is the effect is low, but significant," the minister added. The number of employees working for the city of League City who have tested positive for COVID-19 has hit double digits. At this time, 10 League City employees have tested positive for COVID-19, Sarah Greer Osborne, League Citys director of communications, said Tuesday afternoon. Of the 10, seven are employees with the citys fire marshals office. The other three are police officers, Osborne said. School's out: Gov. Abbott orders Texas schools to remain closed until May According to the League City website, the fire marshals office has 10 employees, of which one is an administrative assistant and the rest are fire marshals. The fire marshals are housed at 555 W. Walker. That building also is where Fire Chief Gary Warren is officed. The fire administration building has been closed since last week, and all 12 employees that have offices in the building were put under quarantine, Osborne said. Some have tested negative for the virus, and we are still awaiting test results on a few others. On HoustonChronicle.com: How to stave off loneliness and stress in the age of coronavirus The city has taken all precautions and quarantined those who have been in direct contact or at risk of exposure with these individuals. League City has engaged a crew to clean up the fire administration building, Osborne said. The city has brought in a professional team for thorough cleaning and deep sanitization of offices, workstations, buildings and vehicles, she said. None of the employees who tested positive for COVID-19 or who are in quarantine respond to calls for fires or emergency medical services, Osborne said. Information released Monday by the Galveston County Health District showed there have been 92 positive coronavirus cases in the county, with 41 of them coming in League City. John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com. By Trend Today, mankind is facing a coronavirus pandemic threat, and the situation develops according to the worse-case scenario, which can aggravate even more if people will go on behaving irresponsibly and wont follow the rules, Azerbaijans MP Ramil Hasan told Trend on March 31. Even the most developed countries in the world cannot fully protect their citizens and the situation is becoming increasingly difficult. Its complicated by the fact that countries with advanced medicine have to choose between the virus-infected patients because of lack of places in hospitals, and elderly patients with a high probability of a fatal outcome, left without necessary care. This is an extremely deplorable situation, and the reason is that people begin regarding this virus seriously when it is already late," he said. He stressed that Azerbaijan has mobilized all the resources to prevent situations like these in the country and a great responsibility for the effectiveness of these measures also falls upon society. "The Azerbaijani state pays special attention to protecting public health. Today, all relevant authorities are mobilized to combat the coronavirus spread. All work is aimed specifically at protecting the people's health, preventing this dangerous disease. Measures taken can give a positive result only if our people strictly comply with the rules. Our citizens should first of all care about their own and their family members health," said Hasan. He noted that as part of the measures taken by the state to prevent the wide spread of coronavirus infection in the country, it is required that people remain inside their homes, and leave them in the case of need for urgent medical care, immediate danger to life and health, etc. "Our people must take into account the seriousness of the issue, observe the established rules, protect the health and life of their family members," Hasan said. As part of the government measures to prevent the wide spread of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Azerbaijan, people are required to stay in their private houses and apartments, permanent or temporary places of residence. Other kinds of operation, except for the vital work and services, will be suspended from 00:00 on March 31, 2020 through 00:00 on April 20, 2020. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Assistance Scheme provided by Government is being extended to cover. 1. Self-Employed Individuals Eligible Self-Employed individuals will receive a financial support of Rs 5,100 (i.e. 50% of Guaranteed Income) for the period 16th March 2020 to 15th April 2020. Self-employed individuals who are either in business (examples: shops, hawkers, hair dressers, etc.) or are casual workers (examples: masons, plumbers, artists etc.) are eligible under the Scheme. Self-employed individuals in business or self-employed casual workers whose total monthly household income does not exceed Rs 50,000 will be eligible under the Scheme. Payment will be credited to their respective Bank Account. Those who do not have a Bank Account will obtain payment through the Mauritius Post. Online application form is available on MRA website. 2. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) (Turnover up to Rs 50 million) In addition to the moratorium of 6 months on capital repayments, eligible Enterprises will also benefit from a moratorium of 6 months on interest payments in respect of their existing loans with Commercial Banks. Under the Special Relief Amount of Rs 5 billion earmarked by the Bank of Mauritius through its Support Programme, MSMEs are eligible for a moratorium of 6 months on both capital and interest payments in respect of new loans with Commercial Banks. 3. DBM Support (Turnover up to Rs 10 million) Micro and Small Enterprises can apply for loan facilities through Commercial Banks or to the DBM. DBM will disburse an amount not exceeding Rs 1 Million to an eligible applicant. 4. Relief to Lessees for Rental of Buildings DBM is waiving rental payments from its lessees of DBM Industrial Estates during the curfew period. Landscope will not charge any penalty from its lessees for late payment of rentals for the month of March 2020. Lessees renting private owned buildings are eligible to apply for loan facilities to cover rental costs from the following institutions: DBM (Revolving Credit Fund) Micro and Small Enterprises. Interest will not be payable if loan is repaid within 9 months. Commercial Banks (under the Bank of Mauritius Special Relief Amount) Other Enterprises. 5. Waiving of Fees for Market Stalls As part of its commitment to mitigate the adverse financial impact of the lockdown on economic operators, Government is waiving the fees payable by sellers of vegetables, haberdashery and general merchandise in markets around the island during the curfew period. For those who have already paid, the amount will be deducted in the next instalment due. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Social distancing and strong will power are the 'mantras' shared by some of the coronavirus patients who defeated the deadly viral infection and recovered from it. Their stories offer a ray of hope to other patients who are battling the disease. While one of the survivors said she has emerged stronger after recovery, another one urged people to follow social distancing and stay at home, saying it is the only way to contain the spread of the infection. A 34-year-old woman who returned from Finland and couple in their early 60s, who had history of travel to Saudi Arabia, tested positive for coronavirus on March 18 and 20, respectively. They were discharged from a hospital here on Monday. Besides, 21-year-old woman from Surat, who had history of travel to the UK, was admitted to a hospital on March 18 and was discharged on Sunday. The Surat-based woman, who was among the first few cases of coronavirus reported in Gujarat, posted an emotional note on Instagram after being discharged. "I have come out of the pandemic (as a) stronger (person). I wouldn't have made it without the support of my family, friends, well-wishers and most importantly God. I walked the journey - of being the first positive coronavirus case in Gujarat to the first recovery in Gujarat. I pray that each affected person be healed as fast as I did," she said. The 34-year-old woman from Ahmedabad who has recovered regretted her decision to travel abroad which resulted in her contracting the infection. She urged people to remain indoors in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus. Talking to some mediapersons over phone, she said, "From my personal experience, I must say that there is no alternative to staying home. The risk of going abroad I took was absolutely not worth it. You are safe till you are home." Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani spoke to the four survivors over phone on Monday and wished them a healthy life ahead. The survivors also thanked Rupani and his government for providing them the medical treatment which helped them recover from the deadly infection. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On Feb. 8, the Student Government Association (SGA) announced that the student body decisively elected Lana Katai 21 to be president of the student government for the 2020-2021 academic year. Fernando Rodriguez 22 and Amelia Zoernig 21 won vice president of academic affairs and vice president of student affairs, respectively. Katai intends to focus her presidency around active representation for students surrounding three values: accessibility, transparency and diversity and inclusion. One of the really big [goals] I have is to start involving more student leaders in conversations that happen in more closed spaces, said Katai. Katai plans to reinstitute reoccurring town halls throughout the semester to increase said transparency and allow students to demonstrate their investment in the Colleges policy decisions and practices. Sometimes when administration sees how their decisions impact people in a visceral way, theyre more inclined to act, communicate and work with students, added Katai. Katai is a student-athlete on the Pioneer swim and dive team, a member of Concerned Black Students and a longtime SGA appointee, having served as senator, Student Senate president and All Campus Events chair. Due to her wide array of experience interacting with various student groups and administrators, she feels able to speak for and articulate the interests of a diverse student body. Im really excited to continue working with people I have and havent worked with. Im not doing this for myself, Im doing this so I can give back to the community that has given me so much in my three years here, said Katai. Zoernig also shared the sentiment of giving back to the Grinnell College community and improving transparency. As VPSA, her main goals are to create a strong relationship between the new Grinnell College President and the student body at large, improving engagement with and the transparency of SGA. Zoernig outlined her other goals for her term: to overhaul digital infrastructure, improve community relations and create new community attachments for students. [I want to emphasize] ownership of Grinnell as a place that we dont just go to school, but we live in. And I think thats a big conversation, but our attachment to Grinnell has been framed as a very academic one, she said. Zoernig plans to address how the College institutionally frames this relationship by building stronger relationships between the town and the College. As an example, she proposed reestablishing a formal relationship between the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce and SGA, and creating more collaborative programming between the community and College. Grinnell fails its social justice mission by not making [the relationship between the town and College] a priority. And I think it fails its students in the sense that we dont feel at home in the community we live in, added Zoernig. Zoernig is studying abroad in Ecuador this semester, which made campaigning for the votes of majority on-campus voters a challenge. Tess Kerkhoff 21 volunteered to help run Zoernigs campaign on campus. In addition to postering and social media work, Kerkhoff helped set up the candidate panel for Zoernig to Skype into and attended election board meetings in Zoernigs place. Im so grateful for [Tess], because running from abroad definitely looked like an insurmountable challenge. I had great friends that showed up and helped me in the physical space of Grinnell, said Zoernig. Rodriguez sticks out from the other candidates, as he will be serving in an executive capacity during his third year at Grinnell and lacks the SGA experience of the other executives-elect. However, Rodriguez was not worried about any challenges or difficulties associated with running as an underclassman or with a lack of experience. I didnt really encounter a lot of doubt in that respect [of running as a second-year], simply because I knew the goals that I wanted to accomplish. I figured that as long as I did the job well, I had nothing to worry about, said Rodriguez. Rodriguezs goals are focused around pre-professional programming. His plans include creating an online, centralized forum for job and internship opportunities, increasing the number of classes for professional career goals and revisiting Mentored Advanced Project pay. He also plans to continue current VPAA Gracee Wallachs work to decolonize Grinnells curriculum. YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian parliament voted down the government-authored bill on authorizing the use of location data of confirmed coronavirus cases for contact tracing. The bill received only 65 votes in favor, while 67 was needed to for it to pass. Despite many assurances from the justice minister that the method will not anyhow record or interfere with contents of calls and messages, both opposition parties had strongly disapproved the bill. The ruling My Step blocs parliament majority leader Lilit Makunts said they voted in favor. However, some of the ruling blocs lawmakers had left the session before the voting began. The bill had passed first reading on March 30 and underwent amendments before this final vote. Independent lawmaker Arman Babajanyan, who voted down the bill during the first reading, voted in favor this time, citing the growing number of coronavirus cases in the country. He also called on the opposition to vote in favor. Parliament Majority Leader Lilit Makunts said the oppositions move has contributed for the healthcare system to get paralyzed. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan A Myanmar journalist faces up to life in prison for publishing an interview with a rebel group operating in the country's restive Rakhine state, a week after the insurgents were classified as a terrorist organisation. The western region has long been a tinderbox of conflict between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA), a group demanding greater autonomy for the state's ethnic Rakhine people. Clashes have left scores of civilians killed, hundreds injured and about 150,000 displaced since January last year, and both sides have traded allegations of abuse. A March 27 interview with a top-ranking AA representative published by the Mandalay-based Voice of Myanmar landed editor-in-chief Nay Myo Lin in court on terrorism charges Tuesday. His report on the encounter was published after the government declared on March 23 that the insurgents had been classified as a "terrorist group". "I was accused under two charges of the counter-terrorism law," he told reporters after leaving the court in Mandalay. The charges -- which cover violations including allowing terrorist groups to spread fear, gather or hide -- were filed by Special Branch, Myanmar's intelligence arm, he said. They carry penalties ranging from three years to life in prison. "This is disturbing for press freedom," said the journalist, who previously worked for the BBC's Burmese-language service. His wife Zarni Mann, a reporter with independent local outlet The Irrawaddy, said her husband's laptop was seized. She decried the use of counter-terrorism laws against journalists. Myanmar has come under fire in the past for the high-profile jailing of two Reuters journalists who were convicted in 2018 of breaching a law on state secrets after revealing a massacre of Rohingya Muslims. The pair were eventually freed by presidential pardon after spending more than a year in jail. Myanmar is ranked 138 out of 180 countries for press freedom by campaign group Reporters Without Borders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Photo: Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA/Flickr Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Cleveland. 15-year-old fatally shot on Cleveland's east side Read the full story on WKYC. Ru-El Sailor sues city of Cleveland, Cleveland police officers for wrongful conviction Read the full story on Cleveland Scene. City of Cleveland has its first COVID-19 death Read the full story on Cleveland Scene. 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 victim,who has not yet been identified,suffered a gunshot to the torso. He was transported to Metro Health Medical Center where he later died. Ru-El Sailor, whose 2002 murder conviction was vacated in 2018 after the Conviction Integrity Unit of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office investigated his claims of innocence and found them to be true, has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city of Cleveland and the Cleveland police officers that worked the case that ended with 16 years behind bars for a crime he didn't commit. Dubai-based Leva Hotels & Resorts, a dynamic lifestyle hotel brand in the Middle East region, said it has signed management agreements for two new hotels in Muscat, Oman, and a stunning property in Kampala, Uganda, as part of its expansion strategy for GCC, Africa and Europe. Building up on its growth momentum, the brand is aggressively exploring further opportunities in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania as well as Europe. It currently has an asset under negotiation in Portugal. Founder and CEO JS Anand said: Despite the challenges, it is important to focus on long-term strategies to proactively target recovery in the hospitality sector. At Leva Hotels & Resorts, we are confident that it is only a matter of time before our industry turns around, and therefore, all of us must continue to work together by prioritising our goals to prepare for a better future. We remain committed to expand our footprint in our target markets offering superior brand standards and exceptional management options to hotel owners with flexible terms tailored for diverse market segments. Leva Hotels & Resorts is uniquely positioned in the upscale and midscale segments with four complementary and well differentiated brands designed to provide a solid return on investment for owners and greater value to guest. While Leva is specialised in the four-star and above category, Ekono by Leva is a smart and efficient choice in the mid-scale segment. In keeping with Leva Hotels corporate social responsibility, Anand shared plans for contributing to community welfare initiatives in Africa. He stated: We will invest back in the community as well as the development of people who work for us with an aim to improve lives. Our goal is to become the strongest and most preferred employer by supporting critical social causes such as building schools, funding medical requirements, providing humanitarian aid and offering educational scholarships for deserving students. In addition to its flagship hotel Leva Mazaya Centre, a deluxe four-star hotel located between Al Wasl Road and Sheikh Zayed Road, Leva recently took over the management of two hotels located within walking distance to each other in the Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos district, as well as the unique Emin Pasha Lake View Hotel Residences situated in Muyenga at Tank Hill in Kampala. - TradeArabia News Service The New York City nurse who died last week after contracting coronavirus shared a final heartbreaking text to his sister saying he couldnt speak with her because he felt like he was choking and couldnt breathe. Kious Jordan Kelly, 48, died on Tuesday, a week after he contracted the virus, after treating COVID-19 patients as an assistant nursing manager at Mount Sinai West in Manhattan. The hospital, like many others in New York and across the country, suffered a severe shortage of protective medical equipment that forced some nurses to wear trash bags to cover themselves. His sister Marya Sherron reveals he sent his final text to her on March 18 from the intensive care unit at Mount Sinai where he was on a ventilator to help him breathe. 'Cant talk because I choke and cant breathe. I love you. Going back to sleep,' he wrote. Sherron replied: 'Youve pulled through so much. Love you and we are praying.' New York City nurse Kious Jordan Kelly, 48, sent a heartbreaking final text to his sister saying he couldn't talk because he couldn't breathe and was choking just days before he passed away on Tuesday March 24 'Cant talk because I choke and cant breathe. I love you. Going back to sleep,' he wrote Mount Sinai West, like many others in New York and across the country, suffered a severe shortage of protective medical equipment that forced some nurses to wear trash bags to cover themselves. A shocking photo posted to Facebook shows three nurses at Mount Sinai West wearing black garbage bags as makeshift protective gowns 'He just had this infectious energy. You felt good when he was around and you noticed when he left,' Sherron said. Kellys death and that of other medics across the country are a testament to the risks health workers face in the front lines battling COVID-19 and the severe shortages of supplies and protective gear hospitals face. Sherron believes it was the hospital's lack of protective equipment that led to her brother's untimely death. 'I absolutely believe that he contracted this because of the lack of PPE in his unit and at his hospital but that's across our nation,' Sherron said to NBC, referring to personal protective equipment, which can include masks, gowns and gloves. The Lansing, Michigan native suffered from severe asthma but was otherwise healthy. Sherron is urging the public to take her brother's death as a warning of what will happen if hospitals do not properly protect their workers. 'There's only going to be more,' Sherron said. 'He's not the only one with asthma. He's not the only one with conditions who is going to work every day helping and fighting for people.' Kelly's sister Marya Sherron believes the lack of protective medical equipment at his hospital is to blame for his death. 'I absolutely believe that he contracted this because of the lack of PPE in his unit and at his hospital but that's across our nation,' Sherron said The Lansing, Michigan native suffered from severe asthma but was otherwise healthy 'He told my parents that he was positive and had corona...Six days later he died,' Sherron said on her brother Kelly's hospital Mount Sinai West, like other hospitals in New York and across the country, suffered an urgent shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and isolation gowns. A shocking photo posted to Facebook shows three nurses at Mount Sinai West wearing black garbage bags as makeshift protective gowns. 'NO MORE GOWNS IN THE WHOLE HOSPITAL,' the caption on the photo reads. 'NO MORE MASKS AND REUSING THE DISPOSABLE ONESNURSES FIGURING IT OUT DURING COVID-19 CRISIS.' Sherron, a resident of Indianapolis, said her brothers condition deteriorated rapidly over the course of a week. 'Unfortunately everything happened so quickly,' she told CNN. 'He told my parents that he was positive and had corona. Three days later he sent me a text message and shared that he was in the ICU and on a ventilator and he couldn't talk or he would choke so he was having trouble breathing. Six days later he died.' This chart shows how the number of New York COVID-19 cases has escalated this month This chart shows how the COVID-19 death toll has mounted in NYC In a statement to DailyMail.com, Mount Sinai Health System wrote: 'We are deeply saddened by the passing of a beloved member of our nursing staff.' 'The safety of our staff and patients has never been of greater importance and we are taking every precaution possible to protect everyone,' the statement continued. 'But this growing crisis is not abating and has already devastated hundreds of families in New York and turned our frontline professionals into true American heroes. Today, we lost another hero - a compassionate colleague, friend and selfless caregiver.' At least four staffers who worked with Kelly have also tested positive for the coronavirus, and there are nine coronavirus patients being treated in the telemetry monitoring unit where he worked, according to the Post. Mount Sinai West has about 40 coronavirus patients scattered throughout the building, sources said. New York has become the COVID-19 epicenter in the US New York has become the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States with over 75,000 confirmed coronavirus cases reported in the state as of Tuesday and 1,550 deaths. New York City has over 38,000 of those cases and 914 of the deaths. On Sunday Mayor Bill De Blasio shared a desperate plea for more medical supplies and medics to come to the Big Apple to help the inundated hospitals and overwhelmed testing centers. He warned that city hospitals only have enough supplies to last a week through Sunday April 5 if the federal government doesn't send protective equipment and ventilators to hospitals in need. New York City reported 138 new deaths on Monday. While it was an increase of 17 percent, it was a smaller increase than Saturday' spike, when 222 died. As of Tuesday there are over 181,000 cases of coronavirus in the US and over 3,000 deaths Experts are now trying to predict where the virus will peak next. Above, a map of potential hot spots with figures from March 30 Gov. Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio are trying now to do everything they can to prepare for the city for that peak. Field hospitals have been set up in Central Park, at the Javits Center and even in hotels like the Plaza and St Regis. There are makeshift morgues popping up outside the city's overwhelmed hospitals which are struggling to keep up with the body count. Coronavirus surpasses 9/11 death toll in US The US death toll from the coronavirus pandemic climbed past 3,000 on Monday, making the outbreak more deadly than the September 11 terrorist attacks that killed 2,977, and health experts are warning the worst is yet to come. As of Tuesday morning there are over 164,000 cases of the virus in the country. The University of Washington School of Medicine predicts that by April 20, the daily increase of deaths will hit 2,000. They say, by that metric, that the total US death toll will be 82,141. The White House has painted an even bleaker picture; that between 100,000 and 200,000 people die in a best case scenario where people follow social distancing guidelines As of Monday, 225 million people in the US were on lockdown as the likes of Virginia, Maryland and South Florida issued stay-at-home orders. This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? A Mumbai court on Tuesday rejected the temporary bail pleas of two activists arrested in the Elgar Parishad case who sought to be released from jail in view of the coronavirus outbreak. The accused - Varavara Rao (80) and Shoma Sen (60) - sought bail, saying they were suffering from multiple ailments and were vulnerable to coronavirus due to their age. Rao is currently lodged at Taloja jail in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, while Sen is lodged at the Byculla prison here. The activists in their pleas said it has been found that older people and those with underlying medical conditions like cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory problems, among others, are more likely to get the serious illness (coronavirus). However, special public prosecutor Prakash Shetty objected to their pleas, saying various bail applications filed by the accused have been rejected in the past and there was no change in circumstances. He also submitted that the grounds raised by the accused cannot be considered when they are charged under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act. Finding merit in Shetty's argument, the holiday court's Additional Sessions Judge R R Bhosale rejected the pleas of the two accused. Nine people arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist link case are being tried at a special court here after the NIA took over probe in the case in February. The 2017 case, which was being handled by Pune Police, was transferred to the NIA by the Centre in January. The case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the 'Elgar Parishad' conclave, held at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon- Bhima war memorial located on the city's outskirts. The Pune Police claimed the conclave was backed by Maoists. The nine accused are among 11 people booked by the NIA in the case for alleged links with Maoists. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flash Ethiopian Ambassador to China Teshome Toga Chanaka called for international solidarity and cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic during a recent e-mail interview with China.org.cn. "No single country, big or small, rich or poor, south or north, can win this battle on its own because the spread of the virus as we can see is borderless," the ambassador said. Toga explained, "This is a global challenge. It is not confined to any given territory. That is why global cooperation and global strategy are absolutely necessary." Talking about the importance of international coordination at a time when data from the WHO shows the virus has infected 697,244 people and claimed 33,257 lives across the world as of 6:00 p.m. CET, March 30, Toga emphasized, "There is a global institution, the WHO, to coordinate and work with." The ambassador said that providing necessary resources and financial support to the WHO is urgently needed, as the organization has enormous experience, six regional offices and 149 field offices in countries, territories or areas worldwide, and is best qualified to lead the global response. He continued, "It is time for a more concerted and coordinated global effort, not less. Isolated and national efforts alone cannot do the job well." International cooperation on a global scale is a necessity when fighting the coronavirus pandemic, and China, as the country first exposed to the virus, can play a leading role in this action, he noted. "The post-crisis period of recovery also needs global coordinated efforts," added the ambassador. "In order to bring our global systems back in place, the fight should be done together, and success can only be measured globally." Bilateral support and cooperation Ethiopia provided China with various forms of precious support when it was facing its toughest period combating the virus, fully demonstrating the two countries' comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Ethiopia and China have coordinated closely since the outbreak, said Toga. "The Ethiopian government stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the government and people of China at this challenging time." He continued, "China, after almost bringing the virus under control, in turn, is extending its solidarity to its friends like Ethiopia by sharing its experiences and also by donating medical supplies. Ethiopia is among the first three African countries to benefit from the generous support of China." China shared its anti-virus experiences with 24 African countries, including Ethiopia, and the African Union Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) via a special video conference on March 18. The ambassador said, "China understood very well the need for global solidarity, coordination and support if the positive results in the country could be sustained. Many private sectors in China including the Jack Ma Foundation, the Huajian Group and others have already delivered donations to Ethiopia. Others are in the pipeline and the task force in China is coordinating these efforts. " Both China and Ethiopia value the significance of joint action and collective efforts, he mentioned. Data from the Ethiopian Ministry of Health shows that as of March 30, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country had risen to 23. Faced by mounting challenges, Ethiopia has taken a range of measures. According to the ambassador, these include setting up a national task force; building up its diagnostic, testing and treatment capacity; enhancing public awareness; screening travellers at airports; preparing medical and isolation centers; training healthcare personnel; suspending social events; and closing its land borders. Toga said, "As experience from China shows, the critical measure for countries like Ethiopia and many in Africa, I believe, is to focus on prevention." Pan-African solidarity Toga stressed that pan-African solidarity is of paramount importance as the continent sees increasing numbers of cases. The death toll from the ongoing outbreak on the continent has reached 146, whilst confirmed cases surpassed 4,760 in 46 countries as of March 30, according to data from Africa CDC. "It is good that Africa CDC is coordinating continental efforts and setting guidelines based on WHO general guidelines," said Toga. According to the ambassador, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched an initiative with China's Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation, mobilizing the first continent wide donations for diagnostic kits and protective equipment to 54 African countries. Since March 22, Ethiopian Airlines has been forwarding the donations to all capitals across Africa. This is one good example of continental and global solidarity. A recent press release by the African Union (AU) stated, "The relief initiative [is] part of actions towards implementation of the Africa joint continental strategy for COVID-19 led by the AU through Africa CDC." China's contributions Toga said that China has shown the world how to prevent and control such a national challenge with the joint efforts of government, health workers, the Chinese people, the media and all other sectors of society. "Now China, with its own fight still at hand, decided to extend its support globally by sending health professionals to share their experiences, donating medical supplies and also contributing to the global system by donating to WHO." China is taking the global fight seriously and understands very well that victory can only be claimed when COVID-19 is defeated globally, the ambassador highlighted. "China has done its part in an unprecedented way," he commented. Since the coronavirus outbreak, many countries, including member states of the AU, have lent great support and invaluable help to the Chinese government and people. Now that the country has largely brought the virus under control, it is offering emergency assistance within its capabilities to many other countries, as well as international and regional organizations such as the WHO and AU. Anti-discrimination Toga also touched upon the xenophobia, discrimination and stigmatization shown towards Chinese and people of Asian descent in the wake of the outbreak, urging people around the world to stop discriminating in relation to the virus. "We need to think rationally, reasonably and [consider the] evidence," the ambassador said. Toga believes people should understand that viruses have broken out in the past and will again in the future. As they affect all of humanity, to link a virus to the citizens of the country where it breaks out is wrong and based on a misperception. "Leaders at all levels and ordinary people should fight equally the stigma, xenophobia and discrimination wherever it occurs," he noted, adding "human beings should support, care and love each other at times of challenges and also celebrate victory together." Two doctors in protective gear stand outside Cu Chi field hospital in HCMC's Cu Chi District, February 10, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. Doctors and nurses treating Covid-19 patients in Ho Chi Minh City can rest in hotels and enjoy dining services there. The city is planning to use three hotels to provide accommodation and dining for doctors and nurses working at three hospitals that are treating Covid-19 patients and quarantining those suspected to have the disease, the municipal health department said Monday. Several hotel operators have registered to offer their services for quarantining purposes. For now, the city is treating Covid-19 patients and quarantining suspects at the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases and two of its field hospitals in the two outlying districts of Cu Chi and Can Gio. The municipal Health Department is mobilizing more doctors and nurses so that they can take turns to be on duty at the three field hospitals. As of Tuesday morning, the city had recorded 46 cases, of whom 10 have been discharged. The rest are in stable condition. In all, Vietnam has confirmed 204 Covid-19 infections, of whom 55 have recovered and been discharged. Many of the currently active cases are Vietnamese nationals returning from Europe and the U.S., foreigners coming from the same regions and those whod come into contact with both groups of people. There have been at least 13 cases linked to the Buddha Bar & Grill in HCMC's expat precinct in District 2's Thao Dien Ward, and 33 cases linked to the Bach Mai Hospital and its partner Truong Sinh Company. The hospital, one of Vietnam's largest, has been locked down since Saturday. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Monday agreed with a Health Ministry proposal to declare the Covid-19 outbreak 'a national epidemic' and asked everyone to stay put, wherever they are, for at least 15 days. The government had decided Sunday to suspend all international passenger flights to Vietnam and limit flights between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other localities in the coming two weeks. Starting March 22, Vietnam also suspended entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers. We cant ride out five months on internet sales alone, she said. Better ways to help Despite the outpouring of goodwill, some sewists suggested there are better ways to help. As you can imagine, we were eager and willing to do all we could to help, said Lorraine Torrence, president of the Madison chapter of the American Sewing Guild. But as they learned more about the efficacy of cloth masks and that the federal government had millions of N95 masks that hadnt been distributed, Torrence said the board decided to encourage members to write President Donald Trump and their representatives in Congress to get better protective gear into the hands of people who need it. Jane Schirmer, a member of the sewing guild and registered nurse, applauded the effort but cautioned the cloth masks will not protect wearers from coronavirus and could even put them at risk. It can remind the wearer not to touch their face, Schirmer said. The danger is the wearer is going to believe its going to protect them. Schirmer suggested those who want to help sew gloves or mittens instead. The 190th General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the First Vision and the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in these latter days will be digitally broadcast this weekend for local Chattanoogans and everyone throughout the world, local church leader Phil Smartt said. As the Church continues to do all it can to curb the spread of COVID-19, the public will not be admitted to the conference center in Salt Lake City or in stake centers or meetinghouses in the U.S., Canada or elsewhere. As the Church states, Each session (of General Conference) will be broadcast from a small auditorium on Temple Square. The First Presidency will preside and conduct those in-person sessions, and only those who have been invited to speak or pray will attend. The music for the conference has been prerecorded. With Tennessee experiencing a rise in COVID-19, we are especially grateful for these precautions, said President John Griffey of the Chattanooga Stake. We are also thankful that President Nelson called for the world to join him for a day of fast and prayer for relief from COVID-19 (see more at https://www.chattanoogan. com/2020/3/27/406628/ Worldwide-Fast-Is-Sunday-In- Response.aspx ). Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the greater Chattanooga area participated in the fast held on Sunday, March 29, 2020, as did tens of thousands of congregations across the globe, including members and friends alike. We continue to unite our faith with everyone, everywhere for and in behalf of all those affected by this pandemic, including our healthcare workers who are on the frontline caring for patients with COVID-19, President Griffey said. At this time, especially, we also invite everyone to participate in General Conference at broadcasts. ChurchofJesusChrist.org , BYUtv, YouTube, or by radio, cable and other digital channels. The First Presidency, members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and other General Authorities and General Officers of the Church will deliver messages of truth, hope and inspiration. Four general sessions for individuals and families will be broadcast on Saturday and Sunday at noon and 4 p.m. Eastern time. A special session will also be held on Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern time for members, friends and youth. Chinas factory activity rebounded sharply in March as the country returned to work following virus-induced shutdowns. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia New figures showing Chinese manufacturers came roaring back to life in March following two months of coronavirus lockdowns gave Asian stocks a modest boost on Tuesday. European stocks were also up in early trade, while oil prices rose. The latest survey of Chinas factory activity, the so-called Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics, indicated that companies in the manufacturing sector are expanding again, after a deep contraction in February. The recovery may be an early signal that the worst is over for the worlds second-largest economy, where the pandemic began, but the road to a full recovery remains long and arduous, analysts said. In Japan, data released on Tuesday showed both factory output and retail sales rose in February, though the pandemic may still lead to weaker numbers in the months ahead. The data itself was pleasing in that it was broad-based and implies that the first countries into COVID-19, are perhaps on their way out of it, Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst for Asia Pacific at OANDA, told Al Jazeera. That wont alleviate the demand shock coming from elsewhere in the world, and any recovery will be fragile indeed, but the potential light at the end of the tunnel gave Asian investors some welcome cheer today, Chinas benchmark Shanghai Composite share index ended the day little changed with a 0.11 percent gain, while Japans Nikkei 225 index lost 0.88 percent. Both markets erased early gains after the release of their respective economic figures. Over the first quarter of 2020, the Nikkei has lost more than 18 percent of its value. Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index gained 1.85 percent, South Koreas Kospi Index rose 2.19 percent, and Singapores Straits Times Index increased 1.99 percent. Accelerated government efforts in South Korea and Japan to fight the pandemic and its economic fallout also buoyed investor optimism. Japans government on Monday proposed a record stimulus spending package worth 100 trillion yen ($926bn) the equivalent of up to 17 percent of the size of the Japanese economy to insulate the countrys people from the worst of the effects of the coronavirus. Meanwhile, South Korean President Moon Jae-in the country is planning a second round of emergency spending that will include direct payments to low-income families to help cushion the blow of the containment measures. Chinese factories rebound Chinas PMI jumped to 52.0 in March, from 35.7 in February, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics. The non-manufacturing PMI also rose to 52.3 from 29.6, bolstered by a recovery in the services and construction sectors. A figure above 50 indicates businesses are expanding, while anything below that means activity is shrinking. The latest survey data add to a broader evidence that activity has started to rebound but suggest that weak foreign demand and labour market strains remain headwinds, Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics, wrote in a note. A full recovery will take much longer given the deepening slump in foreign demand and the deterioration in the labour market the employment components of the PMIs rose last month but still point to continued layoffs. Shares in Europe were mostly higher in early trade, with the main indices in Paris, London and Frankfurt up between 2.2 and 2.5 percent. Meanwhile, oil prices rebounded after Brent crude nosedived to the lowest levels in 18 years on Monday amid a double whammy of a supply glut caused by a price war between top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia, and a collapse in demand as the world comes to a near standstill. After calling the price war crazy, US President Donald Trump agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone call on Monday to let their top energy officials meet to discuss the crash in oil markets. The plunge in crude prices has hurt US shale oil and gas producers because of their higher operating costs. Brent crude futures clawed back some losses on Tuesday, rising 0.7 percent to $27.12 per barrel. US West Texas Intermediate jumped 5.43 percent to $21.16 per barrel. Even with Tuesdays gains, global crude prices have fallen by about 66 percent so far this year. Virus still spreading The coronavirus pandemic continues to take its toll on the global economy since the first cases were reported in China at the end of 2019. The virus has infected more than 784,000 worldwide, killing about 37,500 people, while some 165,000 have recovered. The epicentre of the outbreak has shifted from China to the US, where the number of new cases has jumped to 163,500, the most in the world. With large areas of the US under lockdown, Trump has abandoned plans to reopen parts of the economy by mid-April while Congress started to ready a fourth round of stimulus spending plans to shore up the economy and protect its people from the deepening fallout. Due to the severe global travel bans and lockdowns in place in many countries around the world, the global economy is expected to experience the worst recession since the Global Financial Crisis in 2020, Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief economist at IHS Markit, told Al Jazeera. The US, UK, Europe and Japan are expected to experience deep recessions in 2020, he said. However, there is some brighter news as Chinas economy is showing signs of a gradual rebound in momentum in March as new COVID cases have fallen to extremely low levels, after the severe disruption of production and business activity during February, Biswas said. Future PMI surveys in coming months will help show the strength of Chinas economic rebound, while PMI readings for other Asian countries will provide a guide to the extent of the economic shocks from the pandemic across the Asia Pacific region, he said. ZERVIATE, Nicox's second licensed commercial product in the U.S., will create an additional recurrent revenue stream ZERVIATE to be marketed by Eyevance, an emerging, specialty ophthalmic company focused on the ocular surface and anterior segment March 31, 2020 - release at 7:30 am CET Sophia Antipolis, France Nicox SA (Euronext Paris: FR0013018124, COX), an international ophthalmology company, today announced that its U.S. licensee, Eyevance Pharmaceuticals, has launched ZERVIATETM in the United States. Commercial supplies were shipped to national wholesalers last week and are now available in pharmacies for patients to fill a prescription. ZERVIATE joins Eyevance's existing ophthalmic commercial portfolio, including FLAREX, TOBRADEX ST and FRESHKOTE Preservative Free (PF), marketed by their own dedicated sales force. The Eyevance commercial team currently covers 40 key territories in the U.S. ZERVIATE is the first novel prescription-only treatment for allergic conjunctivitis in over 10 years. "The launch of ZERVIATE in the U.S. is another major step in maximizing the value of ZERVIATE worldwide. The Eyevance team has demonstrated great execution and impactful marketing in building their commercial portfolio and we believe that they are ideally positioned to successfully drive ZERVIATE, the first and only topical ophthalmic presentation of cetirizine, into the U.S. market,"said Gavin Spencer, Chief Business Officer of Nicox. The press release from Eyevance announcing the launch can be found here (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eyevance-pharmaceuticals-launches-zerviate-in-the-united-states-301031828.html), in which Eyevance also sets out how they plan to market ZERVIATE in the current situation, taking into account restrictions due to coronavirus. Nicox and Eyevance entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for ZERVIATE in the U.S. in September 2017. Eyevance is responsible for all manufacturing, regulatory and commercial activities in the U.S. Nicox is eligible for up to $37.5 million in milestones payable on Eyevance achieving pre-defined sales targets, with $30 million of these milestones being triggered by annual sales of $100 million and above. Nicox will also receive tiered royalties1 of 8% to 15% on future net sales of ZERVIATE in the U.S. ZERVIATE is also licensed to Ocumension Therapeutics for the Chinese market and the majority of Southeast Asian region, and to Samil Pharmaceutical for South Korea. Nicox currently retains rights to ZERVIATE for all of the other territories outside of the U.S. and those mentioned above. About ZERVIATE ZERVIATETM (cetirizine ophthalmic solution), 0.24%, is the first topical ocular formulation of the antihistamine cetirizine for the treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. It is estimated that more than 75 million people suffer from allergic conjunctivitis in the United States and the estimated prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis may be between 15% and 40%. The annual U.S. market for prescription treatment of allergic conjunctivitis totaled approximately $400 million in 2018 according to IQVIA Health Analytics. Branded prescription products represent around 70% market share by value. ZERVIATE is a novel formulation of cetirizine, the active ingredient in ZYRTEC, developed and approved for the first time for topical application in the eye. Cetirizine is a second generation antihistamine (H1 receptor antagonist) that binds competitively to histamine receptor sites. Cetirizine, in approved oral formulations, has a well-characterized systemic efficacy and safety profile with worldwide exposure resulting from 20 years of oral use. Notes Nicox is committed to paying Eyevance consideration for certain manufacturing costs, which will be deducted from these royalty payments, reducing the effective royalty initially to 5% net until such costs are paid. A Singaporean activist said Tuesday he had begun serving a one-week jail term after refusing to pay a fine for questioning the independence of the city-state's judiciary in a Facebook post. Jolovan Wham was sentenced last year to a fine of Sg$5,000 (US$3,500) following a conviction for contempt of court -- but he did not pay, meaning he must serve the short prison sentence instead. While wealthy and modern in many ways, rights groups say the city-state uses unnecessarily harsh laws to curb dissent, and have held up Wham's sentence as evidence of this. He had alleged in his post that Singapore's judiciary lacked integrity and independence in cases involving the government or politicians. Wham, who is also an advocate for migrant workers' rights, appealed his conviction but it was dismissed by Singapore's highest court. In a Twitter post Tuesday morning, Wham said he was surrendering himself to the police to start serving his sentence after a send-off from supporters. "I'm doing this in lieu of a 5k fine because I do not recognise the legitimacy of the (judgement) and the law, both of which are unjust," he said. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said Wham "did nothing wrong and Singapore is blatantly violating his human rights by imprisoning him. "Every time Singapore imprisons a critic... the country's modern image gets another black mark." Passing sentence last year, a judge said that Wham "did not show any remorse" even after conviction. It was Wham's latest run-in with the authorities. He had previously been fined Sg$3,200 for organising an illegal public discussion that featured prominent Hong Kong democracy campaigner Joshua Wong speaking via Skype. His cases are among several that have alarmed rights groups, including that of a Singapore website editor charged with defamation and a lawsuit brought by the premier against a blogger. While wealthy and modern in many ways, rights groups say Singapore uses unnecessarily harsh laws to curb dissent Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 The extended shutdown of most K-12 schools nationwide is putting cyber charter schools in a spotlight few could have imagined before the coronavirus outbreak. But that attention could come with good and bad consequences. Several of the most prominent online school providers in the country have seen a surge of interest from parents looking to enroll their students for the rest of the school year. Cyber charter teachers and administrators have been sharing the expertise theyve honed over years with educators struggling to hastily throw together remote learning strategies. And free online learning platforms and resources abound for regular schools, at least for the moment, from providers that typically charge. In an ideal world, if I was a school leader in a brick and mortar school, and I had to close for a month, having the ability to access tools that I need to do that, but yet still use my own teachers to help facilitate the students getting through that online contentthat would be a wonderful marriage, said Michael K. Barbour, an education professor at Touro University California and an expert on virtual learning. But some education observers say virtual charters represent an imperfect model for what districts should be striving to provide for students at a distance. Critics of charter schools, which receive public funds to operate, worry that some providers will take a self-serving approach, positioning themselves as viable alternatives for students displaced from in-person schools despite track records that suggest otherwise. Cyber charter schools have been widely criticized for generating subpar outcomes, most notably in a dramatic 2015 report from the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University . Education Week in 2016 published an extensive investigation detailing the failures of many cyber charters to educate their students as well as their poor financial management practices. Some virtual charters have solid reputations and reliable academic outcomes for students. But for those that dont, it does raise questions about, hey, do you want to send kids into that environment? said Todd Ziebarth, senior vice president for state advocacy and support for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. States Try to Clarify Policy Confusion Several states had already been working prior to COVID-19 on shutting down underperforming online charter schools . And officials in Oklahoma, Oregon, and Pennsylvania have in recent weeks taken steps to limit the extent to which virtual charters could serve their current students and benefit from enrolling new ones during the pandemic. In Oregon, Gov. Kate Browns broad order to shut down schools across the state didnt explicitly mention virtual charters, leaving many of their operators uncertain about how to continue serving students until the local publication Willamette Week reported that virtual charters had been ordered to close as well. State officials goal, Willamette Week reported, was to avoid an onslaught of students transitioning from public schools to virtual charters, thus depleting the annual allotment of per-pupil funds schools receive from the state. The states education department has since clarified that virtual charter schools can still teach, Marc Siegel, an agency spokesperson, told Education Week. The shutdown order prohibits some operational components including state-mandated face-to-face gatherings and the ability to drop students from programs, he said. Some virtual public charter schools may be able to provide their normal curriculum, Siegel wrote in an email. For some students, their academic routines (talking to teachers, virtual group classes) may not change much or at all and they can still receive credit. Cyber charters have remained open in Pennsylvania, but the governor signed a bill last week restricting funding from the state for charter enrollments registered after March 13. The state legislature has separately been working this year on a proposal that would cut down on the states cyber charter school budget, per the Reporter. In some cases, legal guidance has been too vague for schools to interpret. Epic Charter School, which enrolls 30,000 Oklahoma students, posted on Twitter on March 16 that Oklahoma had shut down the states schools without making an exception for virtual charters. Four days later, the school shared that the department had permitted instruction to continue, starting on April 6. The school is currently embroiled in a legal battle over its financial records, with allegations that co-founders pocketed state funds. Meanwhile, at least one of the schools teachers posted on social media urging parents to consider Epic an enrollment option during the pandemic. Shelly Hickman, Epics assistant superintendent of communication, said Epic officials directed that teacher to remove her social media post and emailed all teachers shortly afterwards to advise them against recruiting students. While we know the allegations against our school have not been founded or fair and perhaps were a coordinated attack on a new model of student learning, this is not the time to be divisive or negative in our personal social media, the letter reads. Please refrain from any social media messaging that is anything but empathic to the challenges facing some in traditional education. We are here to help them; not present any challenges to them during this trying time. As for the state audit investigation, Hickman said school officials are confident it will prove that no wrongdoing transpired. She thinks the challenges schools are facing during the pandemic might convince some skeptics of online learning to soften their stance. Perhaps that will be the silver lining of the stigma around virtual charters, she said. See Also: Rewarding Failure An Education Week Investigation of the Cyber Charter Industry Experts are cautioning state officials against taking measures that inadvertently punish students already enrolled in virtual charter schools. For virtual charters with restricted operations, if I made a decision back in September to put my eight-year-old into this program, Im being unduly impacted in a negative sense, Barbour said. It could be tempting for some partisans in the debate between public and charter schools, and between in-person and online instruction, to dig their heels in during the pandemic, said Robin Lake, director of the University of Washingtons Center on Reinventing Public Education. Given the urgency of the situation, though, we have to be pragmatic and look for solutions where we can find them, Lake said. Be Helpful and Answer Questions The outbreak has hardly been business as usual even for fully online schools. Field trips and in-person staff training sessions have been canceled. Schools that blend face-to-face and online instruction have had to shift to an entirely virtual model. Cyber charter students arent immune from the challenges imposed by learning from homestudents with siblings who typically attend in-person schools will now have to adjust to a more crowded learning space. To make matters more challenging, Epic is dealing with supply chain shortages for computers and other hardware necessary to ensure that learning continues for 1,000 of its students who were enrolled at physical sites across Oklahoma, Hickman said. The everyday experience of teaching and learning, though, hasnt been disrupted for the most part for cyber charter students, said Angela Lassetter, superintendent of Georgia Cyber Academy, which currently enrolls 8,000 students. And now, she said, her virtual charter school staff has heard from numerous school district leaders and teachers asking for advice on how to help students learning remotely, especially those with disabilities. Weve told our teachers to be helpful and to answer their questions willingly and be there to support anybody who comes to us, Lassetter said. K12, Inc., one of the nations largest for-profit online education partners for K-12 schools, operates schools of its own and partners with public and private schools that operate on its e-learning platform. That platform is now available for free through June, and teachers for K12 have been hosting webinars and will soon start publishing live and taped lessons educators can adapt for their own purposes. The company has also been in touch with state officials to offer expertise and guidance, said Jeff Kwitowski, the companys senior vice president of public affairs and policy communications. Cyber charter officials say theyre seeing a surge of interest from parents who want to keep their students learning for the last couple months of the school year. Georgia Cyber Academy has had 100 applicants during its emergency enrollment period with fewer paperwork requirements, Lassetter said. Connections Academy, which offers full-time online education in 42 U.S. schools and its own private institution, currently has 2,000 pending applications, compared with 700 at this time last year, said Tom ap Simon, managing director of online and blended learning. Like K12, the school is offering its e-learning platform for free to schools. A Bump in Interest Ahead? Many states enrollment periods and funding schedules mean that virtual charters wont see additional revenue from new students for the rest of the school year. If the consequences of school shutdowns bleed into the 2020-21 school year, though, cyber charters could continue to see a bump in interest. Leaders of these schools insist that theyre not trying to profit from a national crisis. Anybody that we take on right now, this isnt about generating new revenue or long-term students, this is about serving students that need help now, Lassetter said. Scattered reports have suggested that some cyber charter schools have made explicit efforts to tie recruitment efforts to the pandemic. Cyber charter officials interviewed for this article said theres been no marketing campaigns along those lines. Parents are coming on their own and asking about what options are available, Kwitowski said. Ziebarth thinks states should only put caps on the number of new students poor performing cyber charters can enroll for the rest of the school year. Barbour believes more states should follow Pennsylvanias lead and continue funding schools based on where students were enrolled before the pandemic hit. As online learning becomes more mainstream during long-term shutdowns, Ziebarth thinks its possible some parents will get more interested in sending students there next school year. On the other hand, some families might come away with a much more negative impression of online learning if it is haphazardly implemented and poorly executed through the rest of this school year, said John Watson, founder of Evergreen Education Group, a K-12 digital learning research and consulting firm. Ive seen some things suggesting that the new normal will entail many more students enrolled in online schools. Im not convinced either way, Watson said. I think its way too early to tell. A man with dementia and "plenty of money" has been inappropriately placed in a community hospital for months with no co-operation from his family with efforts to secure a nursing home place under the Fair Deal scheme, the HSE has told the High Court. Katherine Kelleher, solicitor for the HSE, said today she did not have to tell the court about the crisis the country is facing due to Covid-19. The man has quite advanced dementia and has been quite inappropriately placed for months in the community hospital which is intended as part of a Covid-19 treatment outflow plan from a larger hospital in the area, she said. She sought orders, on foot of medical evidence that, as a result of his dementia, the man lacks capacity to make decisions about his person and finances, to have him made a ward of court. The general solicitor for wards of court, Patricia Hickey, had agreed to be appointed as the committee representing his interests, Ms Kelleher said. She anticipated she would be seeking "in short order" to have the man moved to a nursing home as more appropriate for his care needs. As of now, he is running up "significant debts" in hospital "when he does not need to be there". 'Plenty of money' The man has been in the hospital for some six months and there had been no family co-operation with the Fair Deal scheme aimed at moving him to a more appropriate location, Ms Kelleher said. A brief effort to move him to nursing home lasted only a few hours, she said. Ms Kelleher said the man has "plenty of money". He has a house, land and financial assets and his son has a "very good" job but is not engaging with the HSE concerning Fair Deal and has "completely disconnected" from the matter. The son may have his own challenges, she added. Ms Hickey said, if the criteria set by her office for nursing home placements are met in this case, there was no need for the matter to come back to court to formally facilitate that transfer. Xerox has dropped its bid to merge with HP, citing the current global health crisis related to the COVID-19 coronavirus, Xerox said. The news was previously reported by the Wall Street Journal. "The current global health crisis and resulting macroeconomic and market turmoil caused by COVID-19 have created an environment that is not conducive to Xerox continuing to pursue an acquisition of HP Inc," Xerox said in a statement on Tuesday. Xerox will not nominate candidates to HP's board, and has withdrawn its offer. "We have a healthy cash position and balance sheet that enable us to navigate unanticipated challenges such as the global pandemic now before us, while preserving strategic optionality for the future," HP said in a statement. Xerox had previously led a hostile takeover bid of HP which would combine the two legendary tech giants. HP had rejected Xerox's proposals. In February, Xerox raised its offer to $24 per share, which would value HP at about $34 billion. However, since Xerox sweetened its bid, the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak spread around the world and has created economic uncertainty, which led to Xerox ceasing its pursuit of the transaction. HP is a larger company and is more highly valued than Xerox. HP announced last year that it planned to cut between 7,000 and 9,000 jobs by the end of 2022 to save $1 billion per year. In February, Xerox said that it had met with HP's shareholders to discuss the potential "synergies" from a combination. In its statement about dropping its bid, Xerox said that HP used "delay tactics" while negotiating. Activist investor Carl Icahn owns a 10.6% stake in Xerox and bought a $1.2 billion stake in HP last year. He was pushing for the merger. HP shares were flat after dropping more than 1% after hours on the news, while Xerox shares barely moved after rising more than 5% during regular trading. Open source Cybersecurity companies report daily on new ransomware programs and remote access trojans that hackers are distributing in the wake of the coronavirus hype. The threat can lie anywhere: in an email from the World Health Organization with recommendations for combating Covid-19, on a site with an online map of the spread of the virus, and even in an online store selling medical masks and antiseptics. Hackers use not only the carelessness of a simple user on the Internet, but also manipulate their fear of picking up a dangerous virus. In conditions of quarantine and remote work, not only home PCs but also corporate networks of companies are at risk; separate hacker groups use viral chaos for state intelligence and attacks on medical facilities. At the same time, it can be an order of magnitude easier to defend against infection with a biological coronavirus than from its byte varieties: any antivirus is powerless before social engineering methods. When the first reports of infected with a new type of coronavirus appeared in mid-December last year, people around the world were discussing with interest its alleged source of distribution - the spontaneous market in the Chinese city of Wuhan. In the wholesale market for animals and seafood, you could find any exotic: fried snakes and bats, peacocks and giant salamanders, rats and wolf cubs. The gastronomic preferences of the Chinese ceased to be an object of idle curiosity as soon as Wuhan was quarantined in January, and WHO recognized the spread of Covid-19 as a public health emergency of international concern. A new infection has long crossed the borders of the Middle Kingdom, and hackers took advantage of this - the first victim was the computers of the Japanese. In late January, letters began to come to them from fake public health centers in Japan and the social welfare services for people with disabilities, in which they talked about suspected new cases of infection with coronavirus with an attached Microsoft Word file describing the relevant preventive measures. However, the seemingly innocent document contained macros (a set of user instructions with a given command to execute them) that activated the Emotet Trojan download process. It allows installing and removing other malicious programs (for example, ransomware viruses) at any time and, after gaining access to the list of email addresses, can further spread itself through spam mailing, combining with other infected PCs in a botnet: in the hands of attackers the network becomes a tool for mining cryptocurrencies or targeted DdoS attacks. At the same time, an inexperienced in hacking tricks, the user may not even be aware of the infection of his PC, since some viruses work quietly and may not make themselves felt for a long time. About 80% of computers around the world are infected with something. And hackers, as a rule, simply sell the stolen data and the botnet itself, says Dmytro Petrashuk, cybersecurity director at IT Specialist company. Most infections occur through spam mailings and phishing sites, which the user mistakenly accepts as originals: an email address can differ by just one sign (for example, PayPal and PayPa1) or a domain (instead of .com - .org). Since the beginning of February, the popularity of domain names that contain the words coronavirus and Covid-19 has been growing, and RiskIQ experts observed a special surge after the pandemic: on March 15, 13,500 such addresses were registered, and the next day, there were already 35,000 of them. According to various expert estimates, up to 10% of coronavirus domain names contain potential threats to the PC. Many of them end up in blacklists of search engines and browsers, but this process cannot be stopped already: on average 2,000 new similar addresses appear daily. The specialized Maltiverse service has identified over 130 compromised links, executable files and various documents that contain the words "coronavirus" and "COVID-19" in their name and are a source of infection. For the first quarter of 2020, Trend Micro reported on 199,400 spam emails and 198,000 malware sent worldwide, and their number will continue to grow steadily. Beyond the firewall When countries began to close their borders on entry and exit, hacker victims already began to receive spam mail asking them to click on a phishing link to clarify data on flights and booked hotel rooms: attackers thus stole credentials from inattentive users. But with the announcement of the pandemic, their battle tactics changed: virus spamming takes place under the fake mask of reputable senders, which are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WOH), the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the ministries of health in different countries. Phishing emails offer you to get updated statistics on the spread of coronavirus, medical research in this regard and recommendations for the prevention of the disease. Emphasizing the importance of information, the messages suggested urgent familiarization with the attachment: it could be a ready-made executable file (for example, Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) CURE.exe) or a less suspicious text document or archive (for example, CoronaVirusSafetyMeasures_pdf). Among others, the Netwalker ransomware virus, encrypting system files and requiring a ransom, has been spreading in this way since early February. According to expert estimates, he hit 10% of all organizations in Italy, and also attacked the logistics company Toll Group, the website of the Champaign-Urbana public health district in Illinois, Brno University Hospital in the Czech Republic and many Spanish hospitals. However, studies of cybersecurity companies show that the infection with the "computer" coronavirus occurs everywhere around the world, and it also has its own varieties. Recently, a galaxy of malicious software has been supplemented by the proprietary CoronaVirus, which in mid-March was discovered by MalwareHunterTeam experts on the WiseCleaner phishing site, which provides useful utilities and software. After downloading, the ransomware virus encrypts the data and renames the C: drive in CoronaVirus and locks the screen when the computer restarts, and it requires a ransom of 0.008 bitcoin (about $ 50) for data recovery. Attacks on the WHO computer system during the epidemic doubled, although they were unsuccessful. On March 15, cybercriminals attempted to discredit coronavirus control measures and attacked the US Department of Health. And the hacker group Maze infected the ransomware virus with a network of British research firm Hammersmith Medicines Research, which set about developing a vaccine against Covid-19. War of the Worlds However, during a pandemic, hacker groups act not only in the name of self-proclaimed humanistic mottos but also in the interests of state intelligence services. Thus, cybersecurity experts at Malwarebytes Corporation reported on March 16 that a Pakistan-sponsored hacker group APT36 on behalf of the Indian Ministry of Health sends spam with the Crimson RAT remote access Trojan, which is supposed to steal credentials and information about system parameters from computers in Indian government agencies. Other incidents are mentioned in reports on global cyber threats: North Korean hacker group Kimsuky arranged a similar spam mail for South Korean officials in late February, and the Chinese groups Vicious Panda and Mustang Panda for the government of Vietnam. Ukraine also turned out to be a testing ground for hacker attacks, and, according to experts, they are very sophisticated. According to the cybersecurity company QiAnXin, Russian hacker groups Hades and TA 542 first took advantage of misinformation about the threat of coronavirus entering Ukraine. Messages appeared on the network about allegedly infected foreigners, which is why in some cities our compatriots began to block access to hospitals, and riots began in Novi Sanzhary (Poltava region). Against the background of general confusion and panic, hackers staged a spam mailing on behalf of the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine with "the latest reliable data on coronavirus." Pretty covers However, the tricks of hackers are not limited to spam e-mail: victims are lured by new offers and services. Perhaps the most unusual of them is the fake Corona Antivirus, which the computer does not cure for any viruses, but infects the BlackNET remote access Trojan. Malwarebytes experts found such a surprise on January 23 at the antivirus-covid19 [.] Site with a pretentious design: Corona Antivirus - Worlds best protection. In addition, Covid-19 online distribution maps with interactive statistics are known, during the interaction with which the PC becomes infected with the AzorUlt remote access trojan. For their hacker designs, attackers often use primitive methods of social engineering, manipulating simple human feelings. Spam calling Coronavirus: act today or all people will die transfers the stunned user to the Microsoft phishing site, which requires logging in (that is, to merge their account to hackers via the fake login form). At the same time, not only a PC but also a smartphone can become a victim of coronavirus: cybersecurity experts have repeatedly reported fake mobile applications that can notify you that coronavirus infected people are approaching or offer to buy an exclusive mask (for example, Coronavirus Finder, COVID 19 TRACKER, Coronasafetymask). However, the phone is more protected against the formidable byte virus than a computer: firstly, as a rule, these applications are not available in the official GooglePlay market, but when you click on the corresponding link in the browser; secondly, something wrong can be suspected during the installation of the application, which gradually requests access to all new and new resources of the phone, trying to get administrator rights for the device. So, a banking ransomware Trojan, in the guise of a useful application, is trying to approach the rights of a screen lock - this is supposed to promptly notify the user about the approach of a coronavirus infected person. However, in reality, the smartphone at some point turns into a blocked useless "brick" with a demand for redemption. Cybersecurity experts also report how the malware was designed to spam across the entire contact book and spy through the camera and microphone. "To protect your computer from infection, you should first use a different account without administrator rights (or create a user account with limited rights) so that you do not accidentally install malicious programs. In addition, a free admin account allows you to recover important data and not lose complete control over what is happening on the computer. In general, cybersecurity companies do not sit still: there is a constant struggle, so to speak, with hackers. by creating cyber defense tools, others are looking for ways to get around them, and so on all the time," Dmytro Petrashchuk advises. A Nobel prize-winning immunologist and Australian Academy of Science Fellow has revealed why you should be careful with your takeaway food containers during the coronavirus pandemic. Professor Peter Doherty, from the University of Melbourne, said the way we bring food into our house is an issue during coronavirus - and while it's not as big of a problem as being close to someone who is coughing and spluttering, it does bear thinking about. 'It's worth thinking about possible infection when you pick up your pizza box or plastic container,' Professor Doherty said in a YouTube video by the Australian Academy of Science. Scroll down for video A Nobel prize-winning immunologist and Australian Academy of Science Fellow has revealed why you should be careful with your takeaway food containers during COVID-19 (stock image) Professor Peter Doherty (pictured), from the University of Melbourne, said the way we bring food into our house is an issue during coronavirus 'We've been told that coronavirus can live on cardboard and paper for up to 24 hours, while it can last on plastic and steel for at least three days and up to nine days on plastic.' Professor Doherty said the best course of action with your takeaway food containers, pizza boxes and cardboard is to practise caution as much as possible. 'You might think about picking up the pizza box, and taking the food out, then making sure the box is out of the way and washing your hands,' he said. Professor Doherty said the best course of action with takeaway food containers, pizza boxes and cardboard is to practise caution as much as possible with hand washing (stock image) Professor Doherty also said with plastic containers, you could transfer the food into another of your own plastic containers, before storing it in the fridge and washing your hands. Alternatively, you could spray any plastic boxes you get sent with something to kill any bacteria. 'I don't think these things are likely to be a major source of infection, but it is something to bear in mind,' he said. 'With the SARS epidemic, we certainly saw people wiping down elevator buttons.' In response to the growing coronavirus pandemic, the likes of Uber Eats and Deliveroo are all offering contactless delivery (stock image) How long can coronavirus last on surfaces? * One thing hat has been unclear is exactly how long Sars-CoV-2, the name of the virus that causes the disease Covid-19, can survive outside the human body. * Some studies on other coronaviruses, including Sars and Mers, found they can survive on metal, glass and plastic for as long as nine days, unless they are properly disinfected. * Some can even hang around for up to 28 days in low temperatures. * Coronaviruses are well known to be particularly resilient in terms of where they can survive. Source: BBC Advertisement Prime Minister Scott Morrison banned dining at restaurants, pubs and cafes last week, with food outlets only able to offer takeaway or home delivery instead. In response to the growing coronavirus pandemic, the likes of Uber Eats and Deliveroo are all offering contactless delivery. Associate professor at the University of Sydney, Timothy Newsome, told FEMAIL it's a good idea to wash your fruit and vegetables with soap at this time. 'We have to remember that every surface is potentially contaminated. And like with any surface there is a risk,' Mr Newsome explained. 'We don't see it as high risk because that comes from sustained contact with other people, but nonetheless it's important to be mindful.' Professor Doherty (pictured) also touched on the use of masks and why it might be a good idea to let your mask sit around your neck if you are out in the open and the fresh air Professor Doherty also touched on the use of masks and why it might be a good idea to let your mask sit around your neck if you are out in the open and the fresh air. 'I don't think there is any problem with being out in the fresh air at all,' he explained. 'But depending how good your mask is, it can get kind of wet, or filled with mucus, sweat and spit. 'If it's wet, you could be at more risk of getting contaminated.' With this in mind, if you're out on a walk, he said, it could be worth lowering your mask to enjoy the fresh air without your mask on. Mobile city officials announced on Wednesday that 16 city employees -- 9 police officers, 7 firefighters -- tested positive for COVID-19. According to James Barber, the executive director of public safety with the city of Mobile, the public safety officials have been quarantined before they receive further testing. The number has grown overnight from four public safety personnel who tested positive on Tuesday. Barber said at the tie that none of them were showing symptoms of illness at the time they were tested. He said on Tuesday that 131 first responders firefighters, police officers and emergency management service workers were given a rapid blood test to determine if the coronavirus antibodies existed. The blood tests were provided to the city by Mobile-based Synergy Laboratories, which recently donated 500 kits to the city. The workers who tested positive during the blood work have since undergone a nasal swab test to further determine if the virus was active. Austal USA, among the citys largest employers, also reported its first positive COVID-19 case. The person who tested positive has not been at work since March 17, but Austal officials say the employee claimed it was for unrelated issues. Craig Perciavalle, president of Austal USA, said the employees who worked alongside that person were quarantined for one shift. He said it had been 13 days since the worker had been on Austals property. Every one of the workers who had been in contact with the employee have since been screened for coronavirus, he said. Austal, which has 3,700 employees, constructs and delivers military warships. The companys work is viewed as a national need that is unwavering and crucial to national security, according to Assistant Secretary to the Navy James Geurts. The Mobile-based company will continue working through the COVID-19 pandemic to build warships inside its facility across the Mobile River from downtown Mobile. Perciavalle said that Austal has had a pandemic plan activated since mid-February that includes. That plan includes hiring more people to assist with enhanced cleaning efforts, communicating to workers daily about the latest CDC guidelines, and implementing a leave policy for employees affected by school closures. We have continuously done enforcement of social distancing, said Perciavalle. When there is a situation where people are working close together, we take care of it in different ways, and we make sure our folks wear shields and gloves and masks. We have signs all over the place enforcing social distancing. He added, We build ships and you cant do that from home, but were doing everything we can to slow the spread and more. This story was updated at 5:18 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, to update the numbers of Mobile police and firefighters who tested positive to COVID-19. There's a scene in Michael Lewis' book, The Fifth Risk, about President Donald Trump's takeover of the federal government that I can't forget. It takes place in the offices of the Department of Energy on November 9, 2016, the day after Trump unexpectedly beat Hillary Clinton to win the presidential election. Most people don't know what the Department of Energy doesLewis didn't before starting work on this bookbut one of its central missions is safeguarding the U.S. nuclear arsenal and combating nuclear proliferation, so it's pretty important. From South Sudanese Students Abroad To High-level Taskforce Committee On Covid-19 "...there is nothing that we can do to help ourselves because curfew laws are sharp in our respective countries of studies which no one can even hunt for food, and staying without sustenance is intolerable. Therefore, we request the government to let the assistance reach us as soon as possible." From South Sudanese Students Abroad To High-level Taskforce Committee On Covid-19 29/03/2020 South Sudanese students in the countries mentioned in the statement would like to cordially appreciate the parties involved in the peace agreement. The signing of the agreement which resulted in the formation of the unity government has enormously brought joy and hope not only to us but also to the whole world. We wish it's a sense of everlasting peace. Secondly, we would like to appreciate the government for the necessary preventive measures taken so far to hamper Covid-19. As it's said, "Prevention is better than cure" all South Sudanese have to get involved in the prevention of the virus. Furthermore, we appreciate the government most importantly the South Sudan Task Force Committee on COVID-19 for endorsing $3 Million to support us, we welcomed the decision with heavy smiles. Possibly, we urge at one hand the government to release these funds immediately so that we can early shop foodstuffs, masks, gloves and pay rent since the end of lockdown days are uncertain. In addition, we would also like to inform the government and the South Sudanese at large that we are all well and none of us has been infected by Covid-19. We pray that we all remain free from this fatal pandemic. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, South Sudanese Students in various countries around the globe have been facing alarming consequences. As representatives from different countries, we have decided on writing out these perturbing challenges. The students represented in this statement are from Turkey, Morocco, China, Malaysia, Egypt, Indonesia and Ethiopia. CHALLENGES WHICH ARE FACING SOUTH SUDANESE STUDENTS ABROAD 1. Turkey The first badge of South Sudanese Students on Turkish government scholarships came to the country in the last quarter of 2013. By then, the generosity of the monthly stipends in covering the students' needs was very indisputable, this great financial condition went on until late 2017. However, the political misunderstandings between Turkey and its allies roughly exterminated her economy, this crisis has since then ruined the financial status of students in the country. In 2017, students received approximately $200 (700 Turkish Lira) as monthly stipends but due to currency devaluation, this amount later dropped to nearly $100 when a dollar reached a pinnacle value of 6.87 _ 7.00 Turkish Lira as reported on 13th August 2018. From thenceforth, living conditions have deteriorated and most of the students who don't have external support go through unimaginable struggles. To exasperate the situation, approximately all students under Turkish scholarships study courses whose language of instruction is Turkish; a language they get to learn for 9 months before commencing in their respective departments. Consequently, some of the students end up showcasing displeasing performance due to the challenge the language post, as a result, their scholarships are either cut or completely terminated. As I write this, there are students whose scholarships have been cancelled. These students used to sustain their lives through part-time jobs alongside their studies, but right now, we're in a SEMI-LOCKDOWN as a result of Covid-19 outbreak, almost everything has been closed in the country. I can't even imagine their situation if the 3-million support still delays for the next few days. Furthermore, in the last two weeks, the coronavirus cases have surged in Turkey with 7,402 COVID-19 positives and 108 related death cases as reported by the minister of health on 28/03/2020. Generally, we are all in unnerving circumstances and would like to let our government be informed of our current situation in a country badly stricken by COVID-19. Your help will surely make a huge difference. By Abraham Chol Kur Deng SSSAT president, Turkey Email: cholkuragatbeek123@gmail.com Tel: +90 534 850 52 48 2. Indonesia Basically, all South Sudanese students in Indonesia are under partially funded scholarships offered by the universities which give them free education and a monthly allowance of $(100-150) depending on the institution. Health insurance, visa and accommodation are paid by the students themselves. The fact that these scholarships dont offer health insurance has made it the most burdensome condition for any student to bear at this critical moment. Ever since the government of the Republic of Indonesia issued the national state of emergency, students have not received their monthly allowance which covers all their basic needs. Its then become hard for them to purchase prevention items such as hand sanitizers, face masks, hand gloves and foodstuffs. Indonesia has no well-planned bilateral relationship with South Sudan, hence driving it out of handles for the students to communicate their issues of concern with the government since they act as the ambassadors for South Sudan in international conferences. By John Mathiang Machar, Indonesia Email: Mathiang1997@gmail.com Tel: +6285233429705 3. Egypt Since the government cut down the stipends of scholarship students in Egypt in 2014, life has become worse for those still pursuing studies in Egypt. The misery we live in is inestimable. As the matter of fact, majority of South Sudanese students in Egypt are either on private or partial scholarship from government of Egypt; for the case of those on partially government scholarship, the government of Egypt is only responsible for school fees while accommodation, textbooks, and all other requirements needed for studies are students' obligation. The case is different for the private scholarship students for they struggle to pay part of tuition fees and other requirements. The current economic situation in the country has made the matter even worse as most families cant afford to raise half a hundred dollars in a month, let alone supporting the now-stranded students in Egypt. To make the matter shoddier the current situation of Corona Virus (COVID-19) has made life so miserable and as the results; some students had been chased out of the hostels since the closure of the universities. Most of these students are not able to afford renting outside on their own and hence, are forced to live together in one apartment in greater numbers to afford renting. This could be dangerous in this situation where people are supposed to keep a distant. Imagine in this situation about 15 people sharing the same house. Others have been lockdown in the hostels without food rations, although some universities do give some junky monotonous food items, some students still cannot eat that food due to maybe medical condition (Imagine being feed on tuna for an entire month). Students who have no relatives to support them are caught up between rock and hard place as the whole world is under lockdown. Subsequently, they are not able to move out to do some manual work that used to be the main source of getting income. Even those with support cant get any help as most banks across the world are closed. There are so many problems that one can even write a book about, but for the sake of brevity, I will keep it short. On behalf of South Sudanese students in Egypt, I would like to make the following recommendations to the COVID-19 virus task force and the government of South Sudan. 1. To ask the South Sudanese embassy in Egypt to assess the situation of the students studying in various universities of Egypt. 2. To Empower the embassy to accommodate the students sent out from their universities especially the universities located far away from big cities such as; Fayoum, Tanta, Suez and Zagazig universities. 3. To provide the minimum stipends to all South Sudanese students whether on government or private scholarship during this time of Coronavirus so that they are able to buy the food and other basics items that might be necessary during this period. Conclusively, we know these are really tough times and our prayers are with our country. However, its high time for the leaders of our country to demonstrate the strong leadership quality of caring for all the citizens of South Sudan. The government now have a choice either to do something or watch the situation deteriorate. Any little effort done would be appreciated. Thanks By Elijah Achiek Panchol, Egypt Email : achmajhok@gmail.com Phone: +201110523183 4. China As a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, South Sudanese students in China have been facing unnerving consequences. The conditions continue deteriorating daily. We have been indoors for nearly three months now. Except for an overpricing online delivery, we are hardly allowed to buy foodstuff from supermarkets. Regardless of being under private or government Scholarships, the pandemic has poorly lowered all our financial favorability. This makes it extremely hard to buy Foodstuffs, sanitary materials (face mask, hands sensitizers) and Medication for students with financial inadequacy. However, the $3 million pledge by the government for students abroad has restored hope. Furthermore, we have been facing a passport-related problem which is unrelated to Covid-19 consequences. We would like to take this opportunity to inform the government that our passports are not permitted for opening bank accounts, receiving and sending money. It seriously challenges students most especially in this difficult time due to the fact that the possible way of receiving money is using friends passports from other nationalities. But now, social distancing which is one of the preventive measures has hindered use of others belongings. We request the government to cordially work in collaboration with the embassy in getting a solution. Besides, we urge our government to consider supporting partial scholarship and self-sponsored students in Chinese universities even after winning the Covid-19 battle for their living condition is alarming. All in all, we appeal to the government most especially the High-level Taskforce to speed up the processes of the allocation's delivery to the students in this disconcerting moment. By Arol Deng Arol Mabuoc SSSUC-President Email: arolmagnetic@hotmail.com Tel: +8615608450760. 5. Malaysia The South Sudanese Students Association in Malaysian Universities/SSSAMU do hereby appreciate the measures, level of preparedness and response made by our government to help curve the risks of potential exposure and spread of the virus in the country, at this time we need to stand together as a nation than ever before were at the midst of global pandemic and dealing with an emerging virus to ever hit and face the humanity, so there is nothing less when it comes to what we can pull together in an effort to fight the virus at the stake of keeping our people safe. Malaysia is by far the most hit country and a hotbed of Covid-19 cases in the region of South East Asia with a staggering rise in numbers of cases to 2320 as of 29th/3/2020. In this country there are about 140 South Sudanese students (both government and private sponsors) at a high level of learning in Various Malaysian universities throughout the Peninsular. As many countries are struggling to contain the spread of the virus, the Malaysian government has made some drastic effort in the fight to help bring down the curve by endorsing restriction of movement order until 14th /4/2020. The entire country is at a complete lockdown, all non-essential business including Universities are closed until further notices or unless promising effects are observed in the near future. Given the necessary measures and response adopted by the Malaysian government with coronavirus pandemic upon us, we are currently facing the very real prospect of spending one month indoors due to Social distant order. We understand this is not the right time to appreciate things we usually took for granted now we are being in a middle of global pandemic thousands of miles away from home, listed below are some items and dire challenges facing us in Malaysia. 1. Foods stock 2. Sanitary equipment (face mask, hands sensitizers) 3. Medication. Over the counter medication for students with some health problems. 4. Personal upkeeps. We really appreciate the decision and swift action made by H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit to form the high-level task force for Covid-19 and the grant of a sum of $3M to South Sudanese students studying in countries hit by this global Pandemic, both in the region and beyond African borders. By Chany Wicgoal Chatiem Luony, SSSAMU President Malaysia Email: wicgoalchany@yahoo.co.uk Tel: +60167953053 6. Morocco We are humbly requesting the government of South Sudan to consider the crucial time we are in, on behalf of students who were offered Partial scholarship by the Kingdom of Morocco in collaboration with the ministry of high education in Republic of South Sudan. As far as Coronavirus is concerned in the Kingdom of Morocco, the disease has been increasing everyday which leads to closure of all Universities/Institutions and it has pretentiously on South Sudanese students who are being sponsored by Moroccans Agency for International cooperation and in collaboration with government of South Sudan. However, as students leader having been trying for several years requesting for assistance from the ministry in order to solve some students issues that are facing them in their various residents. We would like the government to help us in accommodations and lodging at least to rent for us two residents per city in Morocco where there are a lot of students in this difficult time, many students have been refrain from their studies because they cannot manage to pay for renting, hence the union of south Sudanese students in Morocco have requesting the government to Stand with us with full support in this issue of Coronavirus COVID 19. By Ambrose Madut Madut Thiep, Kingdom of Morocco Email: madutthiepmadut@gmail.com Tel: +212640001116 7. Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia As far as Coronavirus is concerned in Ethiopia, the disease has been increasing every day which leads to closure of all institutions, and it has seriously affected South Sudanese students who are being sponsored by the government of South Sudan and bilateral relationship with the government of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is one of the most countries which take a huge number of South Sudanese yearly to pursue education and here are three categories of scholarship; 1. Partial Government scholarship 2. UNHCR scholarship and other organizations (full funded), 3. Individuals {parents/guardians} The Republic of South Sudan created an apprehensive memorandum of Bilateral government scholarship relationship (BGSR) with the government of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, which was started in 2011 and implemented in 2013 where Federal government of Ethiopia takes 100 students every year to public Universities in the regions of Ethiopia, TVET College offers 100 students yearly, both Civil Service University and Defense Colleges take agreed number of Students yearly. Currently, government scholarship students are suffering due to closure of universities as a result of invisible world war called Pandemic outbreak of Coronavirus and some universities have conditioned south Sudanese students to leave the campuses or else catering of food will not be provided to them. They started implementing the order in Asosa University where South Sudanese felt themselves by using their pockets and the pockets of Students have been emptied. Therefore, South Sudanese students are helpless to cater for themselves the following: 1. Food 2. Transportation (Students have got difficulties to transport themselves FROM and TO South Sudan during vocational period hence it increases drop out of school when they found unbreakable situations to transport themselves and within Ethiopia transportation 3. Accommodation 4. Health (hand sanitizers, face masks, hand gloves and aches, body weakness) 5. Other personal upkeep (Stationeries, sanitizers, toothpaste and toothbrush, Domestic transports, airtime (cards) and other miscellaneous expenses in all Universities of Ethiopia) We kindly request the government of South Sudan to speed up and serve students at the critical condition with the approved pledge by the High-level Taskforce Committee which is meant for assisting South Sudanese students who are studying in Covid-19 affected countries of which Ethiopia is one of them. Lastly, we request the government to take a full responsibility of buying tickets to go to South Sudan and provide money for South Sudan-Ethiopia tickets. This means that each students will be provided with both tickets by the government. Furthermore, we request the government to fully accommodate students in quarantines in South Sudan, but not in masses. By Maker Mangol Acien Yuol, Ethiopia Email: makerabraham97@gmail.com Tel: +251996693766 In conclusion, there is nothing that we can do to help ourselves because curfew laws are sharp in our respective countries of studies which no one can even hunt for food, and staying without sustenance is intolerable. Therefore, we request the government to let the assistance reach us as soon as possible. Best regards, South Sudanese Students Representatives Abroad Cc. Ministry of Higher education, science and Technology Cc. Ministry of General Education Cc. Ministry of foreign affairs Cc. Ministry of health Cc. 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But her autistic daughter lost her job at a Panera Bread because of the pandemic, her brother in California lost his job at a bookstore, and her son's employer is cutting his hours as a software developer putting all of them at risk of not making rent. Making matters worse, Joyner's parents would usually step in to help, but her 66-year-old mother is now filing for unemployment in Newport News, Virginia, after deciding to stay home from her job as a painter at a shipping yard where several workers tested positive for COVID-19. That's left Joyner holding nightly calls with relatives trying to figure out who needs money the most urgently. Joyner, 49, a paralegal who's been able to continue working from her Alexandria, Virginia, apartment during the coronavirus outbreak, said the financial stimulus passed last week by Congress will definitely help whenever the checks arrive. But the stress of making sure everyone in her family can pay their rent is pushing her to her limit. What to do if you can't pay rent:What happens if you can't pay rent on April 1 because coronavirus forced you out of work? "I do have a therapist if it gets to that point," Joyner said. "The government, I don't think, is realizing that people's mental health is in jeopardy because of the lack of action that the government has taken, and how long it took them to act." Get daily coronavirus updates in your inbox: Sign up for our newsletter now. With rent due this week for many Americans for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak erupted across the U.S., people across the country have been urging federal, state and local governments to institute eviction moratoriums as a record 3.3 million Americans have filed for unemployment in a crisis that could lead to nearly 50 million people losing their jobs. Landlords are also pleading for help, saying that if millions of tenants are allowed to forego their rent indefinitely, they themselves may go bankrupt and be forced to sell the houses, apartments and condos they rent out. Story continues On social media, #RentZero and #RentRelief have exploded in recent days, with people urging President Donald Trump and their local politicians to take more action to protect renters as they're being told to shelter at home but are losing their jobs and struggling to pay rent. The federal government took a big step toward protecting renters by issuing a 120-day moratorium on evictions from federally subsidized housing or from a property with a federally backed mortgage loan. And a USA TODAY analysis shows that at least 34 states have issued broader moratoriums on evictions as of Tuesday, either through executive actions taken by governors or orders issued by state supreme courts. Some states bar evictions for a few weeks, some for the duration of the state of emergency issued in those states. Some states bar all evictions, some only in cases where the tenant has been diagnosed with coronavirus or suffered a job loss because of it. State supreme courts have also stepped in. Some have simply postponed all non-emergency court hearings, with landlord-tenant disputes among those. Others have explicitly forbidden judges from issuing eviction orders or clerks of courts from issuing the legal document necessary to finalize an eviction. And a few states have not only barred evictions but dedicated state dollars to helping people pay their rent. In Delaware, for example, Democratic Gov. John Carney barred any evictions until the state's emergency declaration is lifted and the state will provide up to $1,500 to renters who have lost income because of the pandemic. "We hope this assistance program will give Delaware families, especially our most vulnerable neighbors, some peace of mind as this situation continues to evolve," Carney said after approving the subsidy. Four states have taken partial measures. In Florida, the state Supreme Court issued an order that could limit evictions, but the order has caused confusion among county clerks. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has not issued any eviction moratorium of his own. That confusion was on display last week in Bradenton, Florida, where the property managers of Robin's Apartments sent a letter to renters explaining that, "If you think that you dont have to pay rent because of the pandemic, you are mistaken," according to the Bradenton Herald. "We have received the emails, we have received the text messages of people who are afraid and who are scared because they dont know what the next day will bring," Shevrin Jones, a Democratic state representative from West Park, Florida, said during a video call Tuesday urging DeSantis to take action. That leaves 12 states 10 led by Republican governors, two by Democrats that have taken no states measures to limit or halt evictions. The most populous of those states is Georgia, where an online petition has garnered more than 20,000 signatures urging Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to issue a moratorium on evictions during the pandemic. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis has urged landlords not to evict renters but has not forbidden them from doing so, leading to the creation of a legal defense group to help those hit by eviction notices in the days to come. Dozens of mayors and local governments from Denver to New Orleans to St. Louis have also issued eviction moratoriums, providing some relief to renters in those cities. But that has still left millions unsure of what will happen in the coming days. In Arizona, renters can avoid eviction only if they prove they contracted the virus or suffered a "substantial loss of income" as a result of the outbreak. That left Ada Obinwa, a Nigerian immigrant who received a master's degree in engineering in the U.S. but was not working at the time the pandemic started, unable to qualify for that protection. Obinwa was scheduled to move out of her apartment at the end of March to move into a more affordable apartment. With the virus spreading, the people living in the apartment she was going to move into decided to stay put. That sent Obinwa on a desperate search throughout Phoenix to find a place to live. Finally, on Monday, her apartment manager allowed her to extend her lease for six more months, with an increase of $107 a month. "I will be able to pay my April rent, but I don't know about May or June," she said. "My relatives have been helping me out." Ashton P. Woods checks his phone while waiting to give out a gift card in Houston on March 18, 2020. Woods launched a petition asking Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to suspend rent, mortgage and utility payments. For the most part, if you're black and brown, you're getting it a lot harder with the systemic racism and xenophobia," Woods said. "Now, we have a pandemic where people are scared to go to the doctor, let alone miss work, because they still have to pay their rent. As the potential end of the national shutdown continues to push farther back into the summer, landlords are also facing a difficult road. Nearly half of the nation's 49 million rental units are owned by individual investors, "mom and pop" landlords who, in many cases, depend on that income to survive, according to data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Even in cases of larger apartment buildings, landlords say they have a long list of bills they have to pay as well, including mortgages, utilities, payroll, insurance and taxes. The National Multifamily Housing Council, a coalition of apartment building managers, along with 10 other real estate organizations, sent a letter to Congress and the White House applauding efforts to help renters pay their rents, but pleaded for help of their own. "Even if rental relief were provided to large numbers of residents, it is likely that rent payment shortfalls would nevertheless impact the ability of rental property owners to satisfy their own financial obligations," the groups wrote in the letter. The National Apartment Association, whose members operate more than 10 million rental housing units in the U.S., says the eviction moratoriums included in the federal stimulus package should have made clear that only people hurt by coronavirus should be protected by the government. "What should be a limited protective step is expanded to those who have not been financially impacted by the pandemic," the association said in a statement. "This is already creating an expectation that unaffected renters do not have to meet their lease obligations." Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks at City Hall in Chicago on March 19, 2020. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart announced that he was delaying enforcement of all eviction orders until April 30. During a televised address, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot asked property owners to "show grace" with tenants. "No one needs the added stress of evictions, certainly not now," she said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paying rent during coronavirus: Many states offer relief for renters National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on March 30 sent a letter to heads of the organisation's members, calling for their engagement in the fight against COVID-19. National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (Photo: VNA) In the spirit of cohesive and responsive, Ms. Ngan, who is also the Chair of the 41st General Assembly of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41), proposed AIPA members to join hands to protect the common home ASEAN in face of the pandemic. Ngan wrote that peoples in ASEAN and the globe are facing an unprecedented threat for decades - the COVID-19 pandemic. In her position, she expressed her sympathies to the peoples in the bloc as well as the mankind over the losses caused by COVID-19. More than ever, the ASEAN Community needs to uphold the spirit of solidarity, sharing, mutual assistance and support amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Ngan stressed. Ngan said she highly valued the prompt declarations and actions of world leaders and the World Health Organisation (WHO). On February 14, after consulting with the leaders of ASEAN countries, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc as the Chair of ASEAN 2020 issued the Chairmans Statement on ASEAN Collective Response to the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The timely and effective actions of the governments of the ASEAN countries, as well as the untiring contributions and sacrifices by all the forces in the society, especially medical workers, have been significantly contributing to the efforts aimed at containing and rolling back the pandemic the regional countries, Ngan said. She called upon AIPA member parliaments to partner with the governments of ASEAN countries in dealing with the pandemic by promoting their role, approving measures and policies proposed by the governments so as to cope with the disease, facilitating resource allocation and enhancing connectivity with the people. Ngan called on the parliamentarians, in their position, to further spread the message of solidarity, love and encouragement to all people, especially those on the front line combating the pandemic. As the Chair of AIPA 2020, the National Assembly of Vietnam has actively prepared and stood ready to organise conferences within the framework of the AIPA Chairmanship Year, Ngan stress. However, unfortunately these activities have been postponed to spare time for caring for the people's lives and health, and ensuring the containment of the spread of the pandemic, she said, expressing her hope that they will jointly find suitable forms to carry out these activities in the coming time. The Chairwoman affirmed that the Vietnam National Assembly will do its best and, with the support and unity of the AIPA member parliaments, bring about the success of the AIPA Chairmanship Year 2020, for the sake of a peaceful, safe and happy living environment for the peoples as well as the sustainable development and prosperity of the countries in ASEAN and beyond. She expressed her strong believe that with the great determination and efforts, solidarity and sharing of the leaders and the peoples of ASEAN countries, they will definitely overcome difficulties and bring peace to every people. Following is the full text of Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngans letter sent of heads of AIPA members on March 30. People around the world and across ASEAN are facing an unprecedented threat for many decades which is the global pandemic of the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). At this difficult moment, in the capacity of the President of AIPA and the President of the National Assembly of Vietnam, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies on the damage and losses due to this pandemic to the people of ASEAN and to humankind. More than ever, the ASEAN Community needs to uphold the spirit of solidarity, sharing, mutual assistance and wholehearted support in facing the Covid-19 pandemic. I highly appreciate the Declaration and timely actions of the Heads of State and Government in the world and The World Health Organisation (WHO). On 14th February 2020, after consulting with Leaders of ASEAN Member States, as the Chairman of ASEAN 2020, Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued an ASEAN Chairmans Statement on ASEANs joint response to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Those opportune and effective actions of the Governments of ASEAN Member States as well as the tireless dedication, the selfless sacrifices of all forces in society, especially medical teams have been significantly contributing to efforts to prevent and repel the pandemic in our region. Each AIPA Member Parliament should stand side by side, join hands with the Governments of ASEAN Member Countries in response to the pandemic by strongly promoting our roles, adopting measures and policies proposed by the Governments to curb the disease; facilitating resources allocation and enhancing connection with the people. As parliamentarians, we need to continue to spread messages of love, solidarity and encouragement to all peoples, particularly those forces on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic. Assuming the role of AIPA President in 2020, the National Assembly of Vietnam has actively spared no time to prepare and stands ready to organise meetings within the framework of AIPA President Year. However, it is regretful that we have to reschedule these activities in order that we can devote our time to taking care of lives and health of our citizens, applying all measures to fight the pandemic and its spread. I hope that we will find the appropriate forms to implement these activities in the time ahead. At this time, as the President of AIPA, in the spirit of cohesive and responsive, may I recommend all AIPA Member Parliaments to join hands to protect the ASEAN Common House against the Covid-19 pandemic. This illustrates the determination to enhance the awareness about the role of AIPA in fighting against pandemics and ongoing disaster risks. I would like to reaffirm that, together with the support and the unanimity of every AIPA Member Parliament, the National Assembly of Vietnam will spare no efforts to bring about success of the AIPA President Year, striving for a safe, peaceful living environment, the well-being of the people, sustainable development as well as prosperity in ASEAN Member countries and the world over. I am strongly confident that, with great determination and all-out efforts, the solidarity and sharing among the ASEAN Leaders and peoples, we will definitely overcome the difficulties, regaining peacefulness to all peoples. Please accept, Your Excellency, my wishes of good health and the assurances of my highest consideration. VNA/VNN Developed by researchers at the Butantan Institute (Brazil) and Boston Children's Hospital, part of the Harvard Medical School (USA), the innovation is capable of providing protection against all serotypes of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. A novel vaccine against pneumonia that is less expensive and more effective than those currently used in Brazil is being tested in human patients. Developed by researchers at the Butantan Institute (Brazil) and Boston Children's Hospital, part of the Harvard Medical School (USA), the innovation is capable of providing protection against all serotypes of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. "We chose a different strategy to activate the immune response. Instead of targeting the polysaccharides present in the bacterial capsule, as currently available vaccines do, we opted for proteins common to all serotypes of the microorganism," said Luciana Cezar de Cerqueira Leite, a researcher in the Butantan Institute's Special Vaccine Development Laboratory. The initial research was led by Cerqueira Leite and supported by Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP. Phase I and II clinical trials were conducted in Africa and coordinated in the US by the Harvard team, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Program for Appropriate Technologies in Health (PATH), a Seattle-based nonprofit dedicated to developing innovations that save lives and improve health. "It took more than ten years of research to arrive at this cellular vaccine," Cerqueira Leite said. "First, we investigated proteins that could be used as targets. The idea of developing a cellular vaccine occurred to us on the way. We designed the production process and changed the adjuvant [an agent used in conjunction with the vaccine antigen to augment the host's immune response] as well as the administration pathway. Initially, we set out to produce an intranasally administered vaccine, but then we realized that the product would be more efficient if it was administered by intramuscular injection." Polyvalent Some 90 serotypes of S. pneumoniae are estimated to exist worldwide. In addition to pneumonia, the bacterium causes meningitis, otitis and sinusitis, among other diseases. The serotypes are defined on the basis of the combination of polysaccharides present in the microorganisms' capsule. In conventional vaccines, this combination determines the antigen to be introduced into the organism to stimulate antibody production. The vaccine developed by the Butantan Institute triggers an immune response regardless of the bacterial serotype. "We cultured the bacterium without its capsule in the lab and used a special technique to kill it without disintegrating it. So, the inactivated bacterium can be administered as a vaccine. We also identified immunogenic proteins that are common to all S. pneumoniae serotypes," Cerqueira Leite said. In a recent article published in the journal Expert Review of Vaccines, Cerqueira Leite and collaborators stressed the importance of developing an affordable pneumonia vaccine that is effective against all S. pneumoniae serotypes. "In the specific case of pneumonia, insisting on the inclusion of new serotypes in conjugate vaccines only leads to increased complexity and higher production costs, making already expensive vaccines even less affordable for developing countries like Brazil," Cerqueira Leite said. The pneumococcal vaccines currently available are effective against between ten and 13 serotypes, she added. A nonconjugate version covers 23 serotypes but is used mainly to immunize adults, as it is not effective in children. "The first generation of conjugate vaccines was effective against the seven most prevalent serotypes in Europe and the US [7-valent]. However, because prevalence varied from one region to another, in Brazil it wasn't able to provide very good coverage, only about 60%," she said. As time passed, it became possible to combine more strains, and eventually 10-valent and 13-valent vaccines were produced, "but there's a problem with this strategy," Cerqueira Leite said. "When you take specific serotypes out of circulation, other strains [with different serotypes] emerge naturally, and the existing vaccines lose their efficacy. This is known as serotype substitution." As well as being more comprehensive than current vaccines, the cellular vaccine developed by the Butantan Institute is not vulnerable to the problem of serotype substitution. Pricing is another advantage, according to Cerqueira Leite. "It's hard to say exactly how much the vaccine will cost before it's even been approved and produced, but we estimate about two dollars. The polysaccharide vaccine [13-valent] currently costs the citizen who uses a private clinic about 60 dollars. Public services [administered under the umbrella of SUS, Brazil's national health system] pay 15 dollars," she said. The price is lower largely because the production process is less complex. "To make the 13-valent vaccine, each of the 13 different serotypes has to be cultured separately and purified to obtain the polysaccharides. Also, because it's a conjugate vaccine, a reaction has to be produced between the polysaccharide and a carrier protein. There are several stages. It's a laborious process with several stages and takes almost two years," she said. The new vaccine can be produced in approximately two months, according to Cerqueira Leite. Phase I and II clinical trials have been completed, analyzing safety and toxicity and validating immunogenicity, respectively. "We plan to hold another phase II trial in the US. This is the stage where you compare the type of immune response produced in the populations of different countries," she said. Phase III clinical trials involve a larger number of people and test the vaccine's effectiveness by comparing an immunized group with a group that receives a placebo. A phase III trial has yet to be scheduled for the new vaccine. ### 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. This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab. The latest: Coronavirus case numbers update Monday was the deadliest day for the coronavirus in the U.S. So far, over 500 new deaths and over 20,000 new cases Monday. This morning world-wide confirmed cases have just passed 800,000. The largest concentration of cases here in the U.S. Confirmed cases in the U.S. jumped to 164,000 confirmed. 7,000 of those confirmed cases are located in California. In Butte County, there are now eight confirmed cases. Shasta County has 6 confirmed cases. Glenn County has two confirmed cases. Tehama, Modoc, and Trinity counties remain at zero cases. Gov. Gavin Newsom announces "California Health Corps" initiative to expand health care workforce to fight COVID-19 Governor Newsom is calling upon health professionals in the state to prepare for a COVID-19 surge. Gov. Newsom announced the California Health Corps, an effort to recruit healthcare workers from dentists to psychiatrists. The governor said the program would help with re-licensing to expedite the process. Also happening today, Governor Newsom will provide a daily briefing with updates about the coronavirus. The daily briefings will happen every day at noon, you can watch it live on our website, Click Here. Today the governor is expected to announce a plan to help older Californians stay connected. Chico leaders explain State of Emergency impacts The City of Chico is working with Butte County leaders to set aside money for homeless aid during the recently enacted state of emergency for the city. Chico City Manager Mark Orme says the county has at least $400,000 dollars available for aid. It's not clear how much of that the city will receive, Orme says the city also wants to hire a "homeless solutions coordinator" who would communicate with the county about funding needs. Chico Police investigating attempted robbery at CVS Pharmacy Stay-at-home orders are not being followed by everyone, including at least two men who targeted a local pharmacy for robbery. Chico police are now on the hunt for the suspects who tried robbing the CVS pharmacy on Forest Avenue in Chico. Detectives say the suspects jumped the counter, and ordered employees to open the safe. But the would-be robbers then ran out of the store without taking anything. No one was hurt and witnesses say they took off in a silver or tan sedan. If you know anything about this - or who may be involved - call Chico police. Man arrested after standoff at Shasta County courthouse construction site A Redding man is behind bars after police say he threatened construction workers. Police say "Tyler Case" walked onto the construction site of the new Shasta County Courthouse Monday, and threatened construction workers with a knife. Police were able to talk that man down, they say he will be booked on charges including carrying concealed weapons and threatening officers. PG&E says it will not dip into fire victims claim fund PG&E is offering new assurances to wildfire victims. The utility announced Monday, it will not dip into its fire victims claim fund in order to pay a $4 million settlement with Butte County. That $13.5 billion fund has been designated for victims of the Camp Fire and other wildfires caused by the utility. PG&E said it will remain in full compliance with the funding commitments as it works to emergence from chapter 11 later this year. Macy's will furlough the majority of its 125,000 employees The latest retail victim to the coronavirus pandemic, the iconic department store Maceys. The company has announced it is furloughing the majority of its employees starting this week impacting about 130,000 people. The retailers say the cuts are necessary as it has lost most sales even with its online store still open. All of the company's physical stores have been closed since March 18 due to the coronavirus outbreak. Trump Administration rules gun shops as essential businesses A Trump Administration ruling is putting to rest questions of whether gun shops are considered "essential" businesses. The Department of Homeland Security has issued an advisory declaring firearms dealers should be considered essential. Just like grocery stores, pharmacies and hospitals are allowed to remain open. SINGAPORE, April 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 320,000 local jobs across the Asia Pacific region and a $36bn industry are at risk of being overlooked by politicians as they devise financial rescue measures to cope with the COVID-19 crisis. The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) is calling on governments in over 45 countries across the region to support 320,000 local and front-line employees in the region by including the duty free and travel retail industry in the same financial support packages as airlines, airports and maritime industries. 'The Economic Impact of Duty Free and Travel Retail in Asia Pacific' (October 2019), details a US$36bn industry providing 320,000 jobs, contributing almost US$15bn to GDP across Asia Pacific. Airport Retail and commercial services, including food and beverage, constitute a crucial business sector providing up to 60% vital commercial income for airport owners, outpacing aeronautical revenue streams. It is the most significant direct contributor to the investment in Asia-Pacific's aviation infrastructure and ongoing development of world-class national gateways, the region's hubs to the world. Grant Fleming, President of APTRA, comments. "The dynamics of duty free and travel retailing are intrinsically linked to the aviation and maritime industries and its viability is entirely dependent on the return in passenger traffic. This means 320,000 jobs are at risk that could be safeguarded if governments extend financial support packages to the industry. "The travel ecosystem is multifaceted and, beyond airports, the duty free and travel retail industry integrates deeply with the region's vital tourism market - directly with operators such as airport retailers, airlines, cruise-lines and downtown shopping malls and also indirectly with everything from hotels to travel agents and tour guides. We are calling on over 45 governments across the region to recognize the unique economic contribution of the entire Travel Retail industry and to prioritize support packages to our channel and the many that are, and will be, affected financially by COVID-19." https://www.aptra.asia/ Notes: The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) is a not for profit membership organisation whose mission is to strengthen, nurture and protect the duty free and travel retail industry In over 45 countries in APAC, across airports, maritime, retailers, food & beverage operators and consumer brands. PDF - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1139893/ASIA_PACIFIC_TRAVELS_RETAIL_ASSOCIATION.pdf In the face of the lockdown imposed due to COVID-19, some people from Movva village of the district joined hands and extended financial help to a pani puri seller, who is from Uttar Pradesh but is now settled in Andhra Pradesh. Pani puri seller Gajen had no money left to buy food for his family. Locals say that his family did not eat anything for the past two days. the little money he had was exhausted as the lockdown was imposed on March 24 midnight. Villagers came forward to help him in this hour of need. Villagers collected money and gave it to the Sub Inspector Habib Basha to hand over it to Gajen. Sub Inspector Habib Basha said: "Gajen came from Uttar Pradesh. He is living here for the last three years by selling pani puri. Due to lockdown, his livelihood is affected. People of the village understood his condition. They donated to him Rs 4000 cash, commodities, vegetables and other goods worth Rs 5000. I appreciate their service. Many people should come forward and help the needy people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Investors in China Taiping Insurance Holdings Company Limited (HKG:966) had a good week, as its shares rose 7.8% to close at HK$12.38 following the release of its annual results. It was a pretty mixed result, with revenues beating expectations to hit HK$245b. Statutory earnings fell 9.4% short of analyst forecasts, reaching HK$2.46 per share. The analysts 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. Readers will be glad to know we've aggregated the latest statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their mind on China Taiping Insurance Holdings after the latest results. Check out our latest analysis for China Taiping Insurance Holdings SEHK:966 Past and Future Earnings March 31st 2020 Taking into account the latest results, the consensus forecast from China Taiping Insurance Holdings's twelve analysts is for revenues of HK$265.5b in 2020, which would reflect a meaningful 8.6% improvement in sales compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to dive 25% to HK$1.83 in the same period. In the lead-up to this report, the analysts had been modelling revenues of HK$261.8b and earnings per share (EPS) of HK$2.65 in 2020. The analysts seem to have become more bearish following the latest results. While there were no changes to revenue forecasts, there was a large cut to EPS estimates. The average price target fell 11% to HK$20.30, with reduced earnings forecasts clearly tied to a lower valuation estimate. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. There are some variant perceptions on China Taiping Insurance Holdings, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at HK$29.50 and the most bearish at HK$14.90 per share. Note the wide gap in analyst price targets? This implies to us that there is a fairly broad range of possible scenarios for the underlying business. Story continues Looking at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can make sense of these forecasts is to see how they measure up against both past performance and industry growth estimates. It's pretty clear that there is an expectation that China Taiping Insurance Holdings's revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues next year expected to grow 8.6%, compared to a historical growth rate of 14% over the past five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in a similar industry are forecast to see their revenue shrink 2.0% per year. So it's clear that despite the slowdown in growth, China Taiping Insurance Holdings is still expected to grow meaningfully faster than the wider industry. The Bottom Line The biggest concern is that the analysts reduced their earnings per share estimates, suggesting business headwinds could lay ahead for China Taiping Insurance Holdings. On the plus side, they made no changes to their revenue estimates - and they expect sales to perform better than the wider industry. Furthermore, the analysts also cut their price targets, suggesting that the latest news has led to greater pessimism about the intrinsic value of the business. 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. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for China Taiping Insurance Holdings going out to 2021, and you can see them free on our platform here.. Plus, you should also learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with China Taiping Insurance Holdings . 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. Billionaire trader Steven Cohen is cautioning the staff of his investment firm, Point72 Asset Management, to remain cautious amid markets that have recovered slightly from coronavirus-driven lows. "Markets don't come back in a straight line; after an earthquake there are tremors," Cohen wrote to staff on Friday (US time) in an internal memo seen by Reuters. Billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen has urged staff at his investment firm to stay cautious. Credit:Bloomberg "We need to continue to be disciplined. We are seeing plenty of opportunities to generate returns, but I don't want us taking undue risks." Cohen also wrote that his $US16 billion ($26.1 billion) firm's returns are "essentially flat for the year," a result that "speaks to how well our investment professionals have managed risk in such a challenging environment." Were only stopping people for aggressive violations, he said. If someone is going maybe 10 to 12 (miles per hour) over the speed limit well most likely pull up alongside them and signal to them to slow down, which usually works. REUTERS President Donald Trump is so confident in the countrys production of ventilators that hes dangling the idea of helping countries abroad by sending them surplus supplies even as U.S. governors continue to ask the federal government for that crucial medical equipment. During a press briefing Monday, the president took a business friendly approach, touting an announcement from Ford and General Electric Healthcare that they would produce 50,000 ventilators, as well as nine additional companies also doing ventilators. He continued to praise his administrations response to the coronavirus pandemic. As we outpace what we need were going to be sending them to Italy, Trump said. Were going to be sending them to France. Were going to be sending them to Spain, where they have tremendous problems and other countries as we can. But the fact that were doing so many so quickly is a tribute to our great companies. This Is a War: Cuomo Pleads for Help From Doctors Across U.S. as Coronavirus Death Toll Surges After spending much of last week floating an Easter day push to re-open the country amid the pandemic, the president backed off the idea during a press briefing Sunday. Health experts and officials, as well as Republican governors, had pushed back on such a sudden push to normalcy. Trump is continuing to praise his administration's work during the pandemic and said modeling shows by very vigorously following his White Houses guidelines more than 1 million American lives could be saved. Our future is in our own hands, Trump said. But challenging times lie ahead in the next 30 days, Trump warned, saying were sort of putting it all on the line. Despite continued concerns from Americans over how they can get tested for the virus, Trump applauded the country reaching a historic milestone, of more than 1 million in the country being tested. Were really getting the job done, Trump said later during the press briefing. People are very impressed and Im very impressed by the people at FEMA, the people in the Army Corps of Engineers, because what theyve done, Ive never seen anybody do anything like it. Story continues Towards the end of the briefing, a question from CNNs Jim Acosta triggered Trumps standard condemnation of reporters. The reporter read back past statements from the president on the virus and asked for a response to Americans who feel the president got this wrong. After defending his past statements and saying the virus will go away, and promising a great victory, Trump turned on the reporter, saying he doesnt want panic in the United States. I could cause panic, much better than even you. I would make you look like a minor league player, but you know what, I dont want to do that, Trump said. I want to have our country be calm, and strong and fight and win. Instead of asking a nasty, snarky question like that, you should ask a real question, Trump said later. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here 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. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 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. The Centre has asked all states and Union Territories to ensure normal functioning of banks and ATMs during the lockdown period as the Rs 27,500-crore financial package announced under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana will be disbursed in coming days New Delhi: The Centre has asked all states and Union Territories to ensure normal functioning of banks and ATMs during the lockdown period as the Rs 27,500-crore financial package announced under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana will be disbursed in coming days. In a communication to chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said many state governments have issued instructions for reduced working hours of banks, functioning of limited number of branches, restriction on movement of personnel related to filling cash in ATMs and their maintenance among others. He however, said smooth banking operations and related activities across the country are essential. Further, the central government has announced a financial package under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana under which approximately Rs 27,500 crores are going to be disbursed during this week and in the coming weeks to the targeted public through bank branches, ATMs and business correspondents (BCS), Bhalla said. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak In view of these facts, the home secretary said, necessary instructions may please be issued by the state governments and Union Territory administrations to their field functionaries to ensure that bank branches remain functional. "Cash management and maintenance agencies of ATMs are allowed, banks are permitted to remain open and functional for extended working hours, if necessary, on March 30 and 31 for their annual closure and government business. "Local district/state/police administrations are in preparedness to coordinate with banks during the disbursement of money to the people covered under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana," he said in the letter sent on Monday. Banks, ATMs including IT vendors for banking operations, bank correspondent and ATM operation, and cash management services have been exempted under the guidelines on the lockdown measures issued under the Disaster Management Act. The 21-day lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 March in a bid to combat the coronavirus epidemic. Holidaymakers have shared seriously unsuccessful pictures of some of the world's greatest tourist attractions. Unhappy campers from across the globe shared the pictures of their worst ever holiday snaps, collated in a hilarious online gallery by Bored Panda. In one instance a person's honeymoon to the top of the Eiffel Tower was obstructed by bad weather, while another internet user captured the Leaning Tower Of Pisa -only for it not to appear tilted. Meanwhile a man on a 120-mile solo hike asked an elderly passer-by to take a picture - only to discover his head had been cut off. Here, FEMAIL reveals a selection of the most unfortunate examples... Just happy to be here! A man beams in front of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, despite the poor weather obstructing his view of the iconic structure Cheers... to that? One anonymous person's honeymoon on top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, was obstructed by bad weather During a 120 mile solo hike, one person (pictured) wanted to grab a picture of himself and asking an elderly person passing by to take an image. Only, when looking back, he realised he'd been slightly cut out of the image Better luck next time: This photograph is of the Taj Mahal, but it was taken during an extremely bad weather day, and left little to be seen This father and son took a lovely visit to Machu Picchu, but when the youngster wanted to document his time there, his parent failed to take a successful photo without his thumb being involved This man wanted to grab a cool photograph showing how high he was on the Great Wall Of China, however, the fog seriously messed with his 'cultural vibe' Nice view? The first time this person visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona, America, they viewed mostly clouds because of the bad weather A gallery has captured a series of seriously unsuccessful pictures of some of the world's greatest tourist attractions, A woman's first visit to Paris, France, occurred as the Notre Dame burnt down last year in April One person captured the Leaning Tower Of Pisa but much to his disappointment it didn't appear tilted in the photograph This couple had only one day in New York following a 10 hour flight across the Atlantic Ocean and yet their view of Central Park from this building wasn't as great as they'd expected thanks to the weather This person behind this photograph said they woke up at 2.30 am to make a two hour drive up to see the sunrise atop Haleakala in Hawaii. But they didn't quite get the view they were looking for There are 16 different reasons police will accept if they pull you up for being outside while coronavirus restrictions are in place. The new rules have been introduced to slow the spread of coronavirus, and each Australian state and territory has different fines for breaking the rules. New South Wales has some of the toughest penalties, and anyone caught flouting the rules in the state could be fined up to $11,000. However, you can dodge a fine if you have a 'reasonable excuse' for leaving your home. The NSW Government has identified 16 acceptable excuses for leaving your home during the next month, which includes getting food, going to work or dropping kids off at school. There are 16 different reasons police will accept if they pull you up for being outside while coronavirus restrictions are in place, one excuses is attending a wedding (Pictured: newlyweds posing for a photo in Sydney) Exercising is also an acceptable reason for leaving your home, as is attending a wedding or a funeral. Police can't fine you if you are moving house or on your way to donate blood. What can you be fined $11,000 for in New South Wales? Under an emergency directive signed by NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard, people can be fined $11,000 and/or be be jailed for six months for breaking strict social-distancing rules. Examples of 'reasonable excuses' listed in the emergency directive are: obtaining food or other goods and services, travelling for the purposes of work or education if the person cannot do it at home, exercise, or medical or caring reasons. People are also stopped from gathering in a public place with more than one other person. Exceptions to the gathering rule include: gatherings of members of the same household, and gatherings essential for work or education. Advertisement People in NSW can be fined $11,000 for leaving their homes without a 'reasonable excuse' under an emergency directive signed on Monday night. They could also be given a $5,500 fine for each day they continue to break the rules, the emergency directive states. The NSW Government is urging the community to keep social gatherings to a minimum and obey new regulations as the state boasts the highest number of coronavirus cases in the country. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said people in their 20s and 30s were the worst offenders when it came to flouting social isolation rules. She implored them not to put the vulnerable at risk. Unless there is a significant and unexpected spike in COVID-19 cases in the state, the current restrictions will not be revised for a month, she said. 'Health experts have told us they'd like to maintain the restrictions we've put in place for at least the next month and then assess,' she said on Monday. While many classrooms are empty across the country, you can still get away with leaving your home if you are dropping your kids to school (pictured: An empty classroom in Brisbane) Grocery shopping is also an acceptable excuse for leaving your home - hoarding toilet paper is not (pictured: People receiving toilet paper, paper towel and pasta as a police officer watches on at Coles Supermarket, Epping in Sydney) NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said police would no longer issue cautions for those flouting self-isolation rules - instead $1000 on-the-spot fines would be handed out. Police could also arrest and charge those repeatedly ignoring health orders, with a maximum penalty of six months in prison. A Sydney man is already behind bars for allegedly ignoring his home self-quarantine twice on Saturday before trying to leave the serviced apartment in which he had been confined. The number of confirmed NSW coronavirus cases on Monday rose to 1918, an increase of 127 on the previous day. Twenty-six NSW coronavirus patients are in intensive care. New South Wales has some of the toughest penalties, with anyone caught flouting the rules risking a fine up to $11,000 or six months in jail (Pictured: People socialising at a park) Tougher social distancing rules have been introduced to stop people from congregating in groups during the coronavirus pandemic (Pictured: People at Bondi Beach in mid-March) What are the rules in other states? Victoria People who fail to follow social-distancing rules can be fined $1,652, while businesses can be fined $9,913. Penalty for breaching quarantine is up to $19,826 for individuals and $100,000. Queensland Police can issue fines on the spot of $1,334 for individuals and $6,672 for businesses who break social-distancing rules. Penalties of up to $13,345 apply for people breaking quarantine while corporations can be fined $66,672. Western Australia Disobeying social-distancing rules will result in a $1,000 fine while businesses can be fined $5,000. Breaking quarantine can result in a $50,000 fine or a year behind bars. Northern Territory Breaking quarantine rules can result in a fine of up to $62,000. South Australia Flouting social distancing rules could result in a $1,000 fine, $5,000 for businesses. Breaking quarantine can result in fines of $25,000. Tasmania Ignoring social-distancing rules can lead to fines of $1,000 and arrest. Breaking quarantine could cause a $16,800 fine and up to six months in jail. Australian Capital Territory Fines can be given out for breaking social-distancing rules and breaking quarantine can result in fines of up to $8,000 for people, $40,500 for corporations. Advertisement The number of confirmed NSW cases from the Ruby Princess cruise ship, meanwhile, jumped to 189 on Monday, including three seriously ill crew members who were evacuated from the ship to a Sydney hospital. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the states 'aren't mucking around' when it comes to enforcing the new rules. 'They're very, very serious. And states like New South Wales and Victoria will move further down onto those two person rules, is my understanding,' he said. 'But states and territories will make their own announcements about those issues.' The two-person limit doesn't apply to workplaces, offices, schools and households. It applies to all indoor settings, including private properties and homes. People who live alone can only invite one friend over, while households of two people or more can't have any visitors. A family split across two houses can meet in private, allowing people to visit their partner, siblings or parents. The prime minister urged all Australians to only leave their homes to buy essential supplies, to exercise, to attend personal medical appointments and to go to work or school - if unable to work or obtain an education from home. 'Every single Australian needs to take this seriously or community transmission could get out of control and we could have a situation as terrible as even they are seeing in the US at the moment,' he said. Mr Morrison also strongly advised that anyone over 70 stay home for their own safety, except for going for a daily walk in the fresh air. 'States and territories will term whether they proceed to make this an enforceable limit in the same way that the 10-person limit is already been enforced,' he said. Mr Morrison made it clear the advice about gatherings of more than two people was for all circumstances, not just for social occasions in homes. 'That provides, importantly, for those who may be getting daily exercise, particularly for women, that they wouldn't be required to walk on their own and they be able to be walk with another person,' he said. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT), in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Organization of Migration (IOM), has launched a "National Referral Mechanism," which outlines best practices for handling cases of trafficking in persons, specifying the coordination of roles and responsibilities of the mandated authorities in the Kingdom. The Mechanism is a collaborative framework that helps government officials to coordinate their efforts to better prevent trafficking in persons, protect victims or potential victims of human trafficking in the Kingdom, and investigate and prosecute suspected perpetrators. The NCCHT, in collaboration with the UNODC and IOM, has begun to jointly train key members of the national anti-trafficking team in their respective roles to identify, refer and protect potential victims. Key staff, including labor inspectors, health professionals, and civil society representatives will learn a number of new skills depending on the roles mandated to them to help identify early warning signs of human trafficking and develop standard operating procedures to guide response staff. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the government is working closely with all parties to ensure that this valuable training continues through the use of teleconferencing. "The fact that the capacity-building program continues even during this unfortunate pandemic, reflects the commitment and determination of the Kingdom toward improving the national response toward trafficking in persons cases," said Dr. Hatem Aly, UNODC Regional Representative for the Gulf countries. He continued, "it is our pleasure and duty to partner with the NCCHT, to provide our tools and expertise to help implement these important national reforms." According to Mohamed El Zarkani, IOM Bahrain's Chief of Mission, "The launch of the NRM is a key milestone in the fight to combat trafficking in persons in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." He added that, "We are working in harmony, simultaneously, with a leading UNODC program focusing on partnership, prosecution, and data management. The collaboration shows a welcome and timely step into international collaboration on the subject of trafficking." The unveiling of the Mechanism coincides with the launch of an anonymous digital reporting service, embedded in the NCCHT website, for persons with information on possible human-trafficking violations in the Kingdom. The referral service will be expanded to include a 24/7 hotline and mobile application, both of which are currently under development. "Human trafficking is an affront to the dignity of all humanity," said Dr. Awwad Alawwad, Chair of the NCCHT and the President of the Human Rights Commission. "It is our duty to eradicate this heinous practice and I am proud to report that the launch of the National Referral Mechanism is a major step to that end. The Mechanism will be complemented by additional human rights reforms which will further improve the quality of life of all citizens and residents of the Kingdom - barring none." Twitter: @NCCTSA_EN Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1139728/Kingdom_of_Saudi_Arabia_NCCHT.jpg Photograph: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock As the world grapples with the human and economic devastation being wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic, not even the relationship between the United States and China is being spared. However, the US and China cannot allow their global competition and rising tensions to impede efforts to fight the pandemic. Related: 'They are leading us to catastrophe': Sweden's coronavirus stoicism begins to jar There will be time enough when this global emergency is over to figure out the ways in which the Chinese Communist partys (CCP) actions endangered the world by covering up the initial outbreak. But we are where we are, and China, the United States, and the rest of the world must focus on fighting the pandemic. Unfortunately, neither the US nor CCP leadership seems willing to resist throwing mud at one another. Donald Trump, the House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, and other elected officials have called Covid-19 the Chinese virus and one White House official reportedly called it the Kung Flu. The Republican senator Tom Cotton hinted (without evidence) that the virus could be a bioweapon created by the CCP. In China, a spokesman for the PRC ministry of foreign affairs lied in suggesting that the US military could be to blame for the virus. Chinese government officials have echoed that sentiment while the CCPs propaganda machine is busy promoting these conspiracy theories. This blame game is undermining diplomacy between the countries. Instead of calling his counterpart to coordinate responses to the global pandemic, the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, called Chinas senior foreign policy official, Yang Jiechi, instead to object to PRC efforts to shift blame for Covid-19 to the United States. And the Trump administration has reportedly attempted to stop the UN security council and the G7 from taking action against the pandemic unless the groups singled out China for blame. Its important to get the facts right. The virus started in China. In the early days, doctors tried to sound the alarm, but were not allowed to do their jobs. As the virus spread, the CCP censored many of those attempting to raise alarm bells. The CCPs botched initial response to the virus probably made this pandemic far worse. Story continues But the priority for every nation right now must be the pandemic, and tensions between the worlds two biggest economies cannot get in the way. Toning down aspects of the US-China competition temporarily in no way means that the United States should ignore the CCPs dangerous initial response to the virus, nor does it mean that the United States should stop blunting dangerous Chinese behavior elsewhere. What it means is taking concrete steps to ensure that the competition does not inhibit the fight against the pandemic. First, the United States must stop scapegoating China. Leaders need to stop referring to Covid-19 as the Chinese virus, trying to blame China for the outbreak and feeding conspiracy theories about China launching the disease on purpose. Halting this kind of rhetoric can help reduce some of the discrimination against Asian Americans that has been sparked by racist comments surrounding the virus. And while China will continue trying to spin this crisis to its advantage to win headlines, at the very least the United States can play the role of responsible leader rather than infantile finger-pointer. We must ensure all the doors to cooperation on the pandemic are open right now Second, the United States must ensure that no policy that is intended to blunt nefarious Chinese behavior will negatively affect the fight against the pandemic. In order to address genuine concerns, the United States has increasingly scrutinized Chinese investment and private sector cooperation in education, scientific collaborations and the technology sector. Sometimes, those actions can have unintended consequences: for instance, ProPublica reported that one scientist who had lived in the United States for decades and left the country after being investigated for ties to China is now developing a rapid coronavirus test in China. Whether its scientists sharing research to find a vaccine or companies partnering to produce necessary equipment, we must ensure all the doors to cooperation on the pandemic are open right now. The Trump administrations move to lift tariffs on Chinese medical products like masks and sanitization products is a good step. Third, the US and Chinese governments must work together to stem the tide of the pandemic. As tensions have risen in recent years there are fewer and fewer areas on which the two countries have pursued robust cooperation. But combating the pandemic is exactly the kind of challenge that requires the two nations to come together, from sharing lessons learned in their respective responses to searching for medical treatments to working together in multilateral organizations like the World Health Organization and the G20. And it means being open to support from one another: while China initially refused US help, reports now suggest the United States is declining Chinas offers of sending personal protective equipment. Fourth, dont worry for the moment about Chinas attempts to win public relations victories by sending aid to US allies. The United States must focus on actually helping US allies such as coordinating travel restrictions to avoid the disaster when the Europe travel ban was announced and being supportive of allies getting desperately needed help from anywhere it can, whether the United States, China or anyone else. Even if the United States has relatively little to offer and China is sending small amounts of aid as a public relations move, responding by trying to remind everyone that China is the cause of the outbreak will only make America look petty (and some countries are already finding out on their own that part of Chinas aid is faulty). If the United States and China are successful in fighting this pandemic and doing so together perhaps, at the end of all of this, the two countries just might end up building bridges that could be useful in tempering the more dangerous aspects of their competition. Britain's Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle on Tuesday bid a formal goodbye to their role as frontline royals as they settle down to their financially independent roles in the US. Harry, who remains sixth in line to the British throne, had announced the royal split along with his former actress wife Markle earlier this year and, as per the deal struck with Buckingham Palace, they will now be in a 12-month transition period with the option for the prince to return to his frontline roles by March 2021. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will hold on to their titles but will not be actively using them or formally representing Queen Elizabeth II from April 1. As we all find the part we are to play in this global shift and changing of habits, we are focusing this new chapter to understand how we can best contribute, they said in reference to their new roles away from the UK as the couple signed off as Harry and Meghan on social media. "What's most important right now is the health and wellbeing of everyone across the globe and finding solutions for the many issues that have presented themselves as a result of this pandemic, the couple said in their final message on their Sussex Royal Instagram. While you may not see us here, the work continues. Thank you to this community for the support, the inspiration and the shared commitment to the good in the world. We look forward to reconnecting with you soon. You've been great! Until then, please take good care of yourselves, and of one another, read their farewell message, which indicates their return to social media under a more private capacity in the future. On a more philosophical note, they referred to the extraordinarily fragile world as it undergoes the coronavirus pandemic. Yet we are confident that every human being has the potential and opportunity to make a differenceas seen now across the globe, in our families, our communities and those on the front linetogether we can lift each other up to realise the fullness of that promise, they add. Alongside, Buckingham Palace released a statement saying: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex would prefer that in the immediate weeks and months, the focus remains on the global response to Covid-19. "However, we recognise there are outstanding questions relating to their future beyond their household transition deadline." The statement reiterated that they would no longer use the name Sussex Royal for their charitable organisation, Instagram or website. Their Sussex Royal Foundation will not continue and the winding up process has begun. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will spend the next few months focusing on their family and continuing to do what they can, safely and privately, to support and work with their pre-existing charitable commitments while developing their future non-profit organisation," it adds. Harry, 35, and Markle, 38, will now settle down with their 10-month-old baby son, Archie, in California after they flew down to the US from their previous base of Vancouver Island in Canada. US President Donald Trump had tweeted soon after to say that his government would not foot the bill for their security. The couple's spokesperson immediately stressed the soon-to-be former frontline UK royals have no plans to ask the US government for security resources and that they had organised privately funded security arrangements. They have hired a top executive who worked for Micrsoft's Bill and Melinda Gates to help set up their new charitable roles. Catherine St Laurent, who the couple described as "an incredible asset", will start as chief of staff next month and also be executive director of their new non-profit organisation. In a statement, she said: "From our very first conversation, Harry and Meghan have expressed a deep commitment to improving lives and having a positive impact on society. "Their perspective on the role that empathy, connection, and compassion can play in that mission is both deeply personal and incredibly timely." Frogmore Cottage, the couple's refurbished home on the Queen's Windsor estate, will continue to be their family home in the UK, where they plan to spend some time in the future. They had announced earlier that they would be paying back the GBP 2.4-million used from the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant on re-doing it as they move away from access to the funding in their new avatar. Harry's sustainable travel initiative, Travalyst, will be established as an independent non-profit organisation and the couple are said to be committed to their roles as patrons. Their spokesperson has indicated that no additional information will be made public on their next steps any time soon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Akbar Mammadov Turkish Embassy in Baku has commemorated the Genocide of Azerbaijanis committed by Armenians in 1918. It its official Twitter account, the embassy wrote: 1918 was the year of the massacre of many Turks and Muslims in Azerbaijan and Anatolia. We honor the memory of our martyred brothers and sisters on the 102nd anniversary of the events that began on March 31, 1918. As always, we reiterate our support for Azerbaijan today as well, the ministry concluded. In the meantime, Press secretary of the Turkish Embassy Huseyin Altinalan, told Trend news agency that the genocide committed against Azerbaijanis by the Armenian troops in of March 1918, was one of the bloodiest pages in history. The spokesman reminded that as a result of the genocide, thousands of Azerbaijanis were brutally killed, including old people, women and children, hundreds of villages were wiped out. These atrocities occurred not only in Baku, but also in Shamakhi, Guba, Karabakh, Nakhchivan, Altinalan added. Only the entry of the Islamic Army of the Caucasus, created on the initiative of Minister of War of the Ottoman Empire Enver Pasha, put an end to this bloodshed. This army suffered great losses in Azerbaijan," Altinalan said. The January 20 tragedy of 1990, the Khojaly genocide and Genocide of Azerbaijanis committed on March 31 testify that gaining independence is not an easy task. No one must forget how the independence was gained and this truth must be conveyed to the future generations," Altinalan said. The spokesman stressed that 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories are still under Armenias occupation. "It is necessary to convey this to the international community," Altinalan added. In conclusion, the spokesman added that Turkey condemns the Armenian murderers for the genocide intentionally committed against Azerbaijanis in March 1918. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The economy is expected to shrink at an annualized rate of 34% in the second quarter this year, according to the latest estimate from economists at Goldman Sachs. The new analysis paints a darker picture of where the economy is headed than even the notably pessimistic report from Goldman released less than two weeks ago, which predicted a 24% decline in GDP on an annualized basis in the second quarter. Goldman says that the "sky-high jobless claims numbers" along with anecdotal evidence of weakness led to the most recent revision. The economists expect GDP to shrink 9% on an annualized basis in the first quarter, worse than the 6% decline they predicted in the previous report. As this CNBC chart makes clear, that would mean that the first two quarters of 2020 would be the worst for GDP growth since 1948 by a considerable margin. For the full year, Goldman projects a 6.2% decline in GDP, which would be the worst annual figure since the Great Depression. Unemployment is also seen as coming in worse than expected. The Goldman team had projected 9% unemployment by the end of June, but now foresees it rising to 15%. Light at the end of the tunnel: The economists say that the current emergency monetary and fiscal programs are setting the stage for a rapid recovery in the second half of the year, and could produce a 19% jump in economic activity on an annualized basis in the third quarter, up from the 12% rate projected in the last report. If that scenario pans out, the third quarter would be the best quarter for growth since at least 1948. Or maybe not: Some economists are starting to doubt that there will be a V-shaped recovery along the lines predicted by Goldman Sachs. We have no certainty the virus will be gone by the end of the second quarter, Nobel prizewinner Joseph Stiglitz told Bloomberg News. If the pandemic lasts through the summer, then all the effects will be amplified and the economy will continue to suffer. Story continues Instead of a V-shaped recovery, with a sharp decline followed by an equally sharp rise, Moodys Analytics economist Mark Zandi is forecasting something more like a Nike swoosh. Zandi thinks the economy could drop 25% in the second quarter, rebound about 15% in the third, but then stall, limping along for an extended period of time. Past pandemics lasted years, not months, says Tom Orlik, chief economist at Bloomberg Economics. Scientists at Imperial College London are warning containment measures may have to stay in place for 18 months. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday held a review meeting on redressing the problems being faced by the people of Bihar stranded outside the state. Kumar also reviewed the measures being taken to resolve the difficulties of those who have either come to Bihar from abroad or from different parts of the country, an official release said. Disaster Management Departments Principal Secretary Pratyaya Amrit informed the chief minister that a total of 1,80,652 people have come to the state from outside so far. Screening of these people are on they are being closely monitored, he said. Relief camps have been opened in border areas of the state and arrangements have been made to provide them with food and accommodation facilities, Amrit said. The CM's Principal Secretary Chanchal Kumar said those who are stuck outside Bihar have been contacted to know the problems they are facing and the facilities they have received. Their problems are being redressed after getting their feedback, he said. Kumar asked officials to increase the number of relief camps, if needed, being run in the state capital for labourers. The problems being faced by those stuck outside Bihar should be resolved at the earliest on the basis of their feedback, the CM said. The chief minister also appealed to those stranded outside the state due to the lockdown to stay wherever they are. The state government had decided to remit Rs 1,000 to all the ration card holders in view of the lockdown enforced due to the Coronavirus outbreak, Kumar said and asked officials to transfer the money at the earliest in the bank account of the beneficiaries. The number of coronavirus cases in Bihar rose to 21 as five more people tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, officials said adding that one of them died on March 21. Meanwhile, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi contributed Rs 3.18 crore from his "Mukhyamantri Kshetra Vikas Yojana" to the Coronavirus eradication fund formed in the state, according to an official statement. The "Mukhyamantri Kshetra Vikas Yojana" is a modified version of the legislators local area development fund under which all MLAs and MLCs can recommend projects. The Rs 3.18 crore also included a sum of Rs 50 lakh to be given to the eradication fund from local area development fund as per the state governments decision in this regard, the statement said. The chief minister had on March 28 contributed Rs 7 crore to the fund. Earlier, prominent leaders of Bihar such as Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav have donated varying amounts to the fund during the past one week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. Member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have agreed to forge a joint approach to curb the spread of Coronavirus disease. The Heads of States of Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan, Somalia and South Sudan Monday held a teleconference where they discussed the challenges the region is facing in managing the global pandemic. The Heads of State tasked the IGAD Secretariat to urgently formulate a regional response to COVID-19 that adopts a whole-of-government approach. The leaders also agreed to intensify information sharing including tracking of infected persons. Further, the Heads of State agreed to direct their relevant agencies to enhance cooperation in border control and management, with a view of ensuring safety along common borders and guarantee movement of cargo. The leaders appealed to the international community to provide support for vulnerable groups particularly refugees within IGAD countries and to support national efforts to ensure that humanitarian corridors remain open. In addition, the regional leaders agreed to pursue joint mobilisation of financial resources from international institutions and partners. They said the region needs resources to help in combating the virus as well as in mitigating the social-economic impact of the disease. The leaders urged the private sector to contribute more to the fight against the infectious disease. To mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic, the Heads of State tasked regional ministers of finance to carry out a comprehensive assessment with a view of establishing an IGAD emergency fund. Further, the Heads of State tasked the IGAD secretariate to formulate appropriate response programmes that will be discussed by the leaders. The leaders said the assessment will form the basis for joint engagement with international partners such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the African Development Bank Group, and the G20 for economic stimulus packages. While briefing his counterparts on the measures Kenya is taking to curtail the spread of the virus, President Kenyatta stated the countrys willingness to assist regional nations that may require its support saying, it is imperative for IGAD countries to forge a common front against the global pandemic. My administration will do whatever is within its power and capacity to extend any support that our brothers and sisters in our neighboring countries might require, President Kenyatta said. President Kenyatta also briefed the leaders on the outcomes of a teleconference of the Bureau of the African Union Heads of State and Government held on 26th March. One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the agreement to establish a continental anti-Covid-19 Africa Fund to which members of the Bureau agreed to immediately contribute US $12.5 million(Ksh1.3 B) as seed funding. The bureau also agreed to contribute a further US $4.5 million towards boosting the capacity of the African Union Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC). On its part, Kenya pledged to contribute US$ 2 million and US$ 1 million to the Fund and the Africa CDC respectively. President Kenyatta reminded IGAD member states to continue the fight against desert locust invasion even as they work to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus. He said the desert locust invasion risks plunging the region into a food crisis at a time when the worlds attention is focused on dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. The Chairperson of IGAD who is also the Prime Minister of Sudan Abdalla Hamdok, President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), President Ismail Omar Guelleh (Djibouti), Vice President Dr. Riek Machar (South Sudan) and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia participated in the teleconference. The heartbroken Australian family of an Irish man who died three days after being diagnosed with coronavirus are urging people to stay at home and respect social distancing rules after her family was forced to say their goodbyes over FaceTime. Sydney makeup artist Sandra Glynn, 49, is married to Dublin man Michael Glynn, 46, who's father Michael, 78, passed away at St James' Hospital in Dublin's southwest inner city late last Thursday night. 'The hospital has asked that we spread the message to self-isolate. Whilst he was in Ireland, the same applies here! We are unable to grieve with our friends and family here in Australia, let alone my husband fly home for the funeral,' Sandra wrote on Instagram. Michael, a father-of-six and popular taxi driver well known around Dublin, developed serious complications from a heart bypass surgery in December and had been recovering successfully in the intensive care and rehabilitation units at St James' until last week. Doctors were preparing to send him home on Monday, March 23 when his blood sugar dropped and he developed a cough, an early symptom of COVID-19. He tested positive for the virus less than 24 hours later. Michael Glynn (left) lives in Sydney with his wife Sandra and their two daughters. He was forced to farewell his beloved father Michael (left) over FaceTime last week three days after he was diagnosed with coronavirus at a hospital in Dublin, Ireland While doctors initially believed he had a mild case of the respiratory illness, Michael's condition rapidly deteriorated over the next three days and he was placed on a ventilator to help him breathe. 'He was on the ventilator when my husband had a two minute FaceTime conversation to ask him to keep fighting and say his final goodbye,' Sandra told Daily Mail Australia. Sandra, her husband and one of his five brothers who lives in the US were unable to return to Ireland to say goodbye to their beloved father, leaving the devastated family to grieve their loss from over 17,000 miles away. 'His dying wish was for us not to come home. He said, 'just light a candle for me' - typical Irish man. Of course we would have been there in a heartbeat if we could,' she said. Ireland has recorded 2,910 COVID-19 infections and 54 deaths since its first case was reported on February 29. Sydney makeup artist Sandra Glynn (right) and her husband Michael were unable to return to Ireland to say goodbye to their beloved father, leaving them to grieve their loss from over 17,000 miles away Sandra's sister-in-law Emily Glynn-Homan was supporting her mother Patricia at her father's bedside when he passed away. They were the only family allowed to be there. The life of popular Dublin taxi driver Michael Glynn will be celebrated by his family when they reunite in Ireland after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic Ms Glynn-Homan shared her story on Instagram in the hope of saving at least one life after critical care nurses at St James' told her that people were still refusing to take the virus seriously. She urged parents to keep young children inside and adhere to strict social distancing measures implemented by the government, telling readers the heartbreaking reality which faces the family's of those losing the battle to COVID-19. 'When you visit a patient with coronavirus only two people [are allowed] in. When we got into see my dad [we wore] double gloves and a hazmat suit - there is no hugging or kissing,' she said. Ms Glynn-Homan left the hospital with her father's belongings 'triple-bagged' and was told they must be left outside in a shed for four days to avoid the risk of contamination. CORONAVIRUS IN IRELAND The Republic of Ireland has recorded 2,910 COVID-19 infections and 54 deaths since its first case was reported on February 29. The country is in official lockdown until April 12, under sweeping restrictions to stay at home except to buy food, care for vulnerable people, do work deemed essential or briefly exercise within 2km (1.2 miles) of home. The Irish government has deployed hundreds of extra police on the streets and passed laws to enforce restrictions. Violators can be arrested or fined 2,500 ($4,450 AUD). Advertisement She has been in isolation since her father's death and will not see her husband her three young children for another nine days. Ms Glynn-Homan, her mother and three of her brothers will be the only mourners paying their respects to a closed casket at her father's funeral as Ireland continues its first week of official lockdown which is to last until April 12. 'His grandkids don't get to say goodbye, his son and daughter-in-laws don't get to either,' she wrote in an Instagram post the night of his death. 'There will be a closed casket, we will not see my dad in again after tonight. My brothers did not see him laid out. We will have no church service, no celebrating his life.' The Glynn family plan to reunite in Dublin to celebrate Michael's life together when the coronavirus pandemic is over. Dapo Abiodun, Ogun state governor, says the lockdown of the state as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari would commence on Friday. ... Dapo Abiodun, Ogun state governor, says the lockdown of the state as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari would commence on Friday. Buhari had ordered a lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the federal capital territory (FCT) from 11pm on Monday. However, while speaking at a press conference during the inauguration of the isolation centre in Ikenne, Abiodun said in Ogun, the lockdown would be effective from 11pm on Friday. He said he appealed to the president to shift the movement restriction in the state so that there would be enough time to adequately supply food to the people. I have been in consultation with the presidency and I have requested that he graciously allow us in Ogun state to prepare for this lockdown in terms of ensuring that we have enough food banks across the three senatorial districts so that people would have enough food supply, the governor said. He said the president graciously accepted. Abiodun appealed to the people to abide by the observe social distancing and practice good hygiene as advised by the ministry of health. Curious just how far your dollar goes in West Oaks? According to Walk Score, this Houston neighborhood requires a car for most errands, has minimal bike infrastructure and has a few nearby public transportation options. Data from rental site Zumper shows that the median rent for a one bedroom in West Oaks is currently hovering around $935. So, what might you expect to find if you're on a budget of $1,100/month? Read on for a roundup of the latest rental listings, via Zumper and Apartment Guide. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 1800 Eldridge Parkway Listed at $1,005/month, this one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo is located at 1800 Eldridge Parkway. Expect to find a balcony, hardwood flooring and a dishwasher in the unit. When it comes to building amenities, expect a swimming pool and an elevator. Animals are not welcome. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental. (Check out the complete listing here.) 1910 Westmead Drive Next, there's this two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment located at 1910 Westmead Drive. It's listed for $1,009/month for its 920 square feet. Building amenities include assigned parking and a swimming pool. Also, expect to find a balcony and a dishwasher in the unit. For those with furry friends in tow, know that cats and dogs are allowed on this property. The listing specifies a $400 pet deposit. (Check out the complete listing here.) 2255 Eldridge Parkway Here's an 810-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at 2255 Eldridge Parkway that's going for $1,016/month. You can expect to find a walk-in closet, hardwood flooring, a dishwasher and a fireplace in the apartment. The building features garage parking and secured entry. Pet owners, take heed: Cats and dogs are welcome. Expect a $350 nonrefundable pet fee. (Check out the complete listing here.) 13101 Briar Forest Drive Then, check out this two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment that's located at 13101 Briar Forest Drive. It's listed for $1,017/month. The building has secured entry and a fitness center. The apartment also comes with a dishwasher, hardwood flooring and a walk-in closet. Neither cats nor dogs are permitted. (See the complete listing here.) 12850 Whittington Drive Lastly, located at 12850 Whittington Drive, here's a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment that's listed for $1,020/month. The apartment offers a dishwasher, a walk-in closet and a mix of hardwood floors and carpeting. The building offers secured entry. When it comes to pets, both meows and barks are welcome. (See the complete listing here.) This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Additionally, if youre an agent or a broker, read on for real estate marketing ideas to promote your local listing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Richard Fifield isn't sure what the difference is between his first and second novels, but technically speaking, "The Small Crimes of Tiffany Templeton" is a young adult novel. His new book, out this week on Penguin's YA imprint, Razorbill, is similar in tone and content to "The Flood Girls," his debut, which drew a readership around the country and has been optioned for a television series. It's very snarky, set in small-town Montana with a smart outsider protagonist coping with being different and growing up surrounded by lovable, unlovable and sometimes idiotic people and circumstances it is a satire, after all. At first, Fifields agent pitched him on a contract book and he was given a detailed synopsis that he described as a classic YA love story set in a larger city, but decided he needed to write one about a girl growing up in a trailer park in a rural town, with self-discovery replacing the boy. "I really wanted to write that because it's not out there, and those girls need representation and they need to see themselves in fiction," he said. He also thinks "it's helpful for people who aren't used to red-state protagonists to read it, not in a condescending 'Hillbilly Elegy' kind of way and realize that many people in small towns have the same problems, but its more difficult to escape them in the glass bowl of a tiny community. Tiffany, a black-clad outsider teen, burgeoning writer and slasher film fan, has returned to Gabardine, her small hometown in western Montana, after a stint in a reform school for a series of "small crimes." She lives in a trailer court where everyone knows everyone else's business and she has few friends, except David (tall, handsome, gay). For a project, she decides to write and stage a play, "The Soiled Doves of Gabardine," about the town's founding prostitutes, performed by a group of retired but tough women. She's also coping with the death of her father, a theme Fifield had picked out before his mother's cancer returned while he was writing the book. Fifield, 44, grew up in Troy, which now has a population of just over 900, and graduated from high school there. His fictional burg, Gabardine seems like an amalgamation of many small towns in Montana. There are references to the Big Burn, which nearly destroyed it, and a smaller forest fire that did. There's no cellphone coverage and "the slowest Internet in America." The big news involves an announcement that the National Christmas Tree will be culled from nearby. Fifield's previous novel, "The Flood Girls," was also a biting but lived-in satire of small-town Montana, a feature that, like the movies of Alexander Payne, led to criticism that he was "punching down," predominantly lobbed at him from people who live in larger cities. "What was so mind-blowing to me was that when I would go on tour to bigger metropolitan areas, and almost every single time during a Q&A, an audience member would accuse of me of being condescending towards poor people, and people who live in red states, and I'd be like, 'Lady, I live in a trailer in East Missoula, I stay in my lane.' I write what I know, and you are welcome to come over and have some gas-station coffee with me because I would never, ever, ever, ever punch down, 'cause I am those people, and I'm proud of those people. I am proud to live in East Missoula," he said. Fifield lives in an immaculately decorated trailer in a court a short walk from Ole's with his two shelter dogs, one of whom was wearing a knitted sweater on a recent afternoon. His office, besides its writing desk, houses a rack of vintage thrift store clothes that he alters and bedazzles for fun. Photographs from a fashion project he did with friends cover the walls, along with a mounted LP, "Madonna's "True Blue." The shelves contain fashion books along with Montana literary fiction he teaches creative writing, and the older women putting on the play are an homage to the many students he's taught. "For as difficult as it was growing up in a small town, it made me the person that I am today, and I learned that lesson over and over and over again, that there were benefits that I didn't realize until I was an adult," he said. The public education, for instance, was strong and the classes were small he graduated high school with 51 other students, most of whom he knew since kindergarten. Main characters in both of his books are different, just like he was growing up. Tiffany knows that David is gay, but most people don't. Fifield had no such refuge. "I had no confidantes I had lots of girlfriends, and Im sure they knew I was gay, but I didnt feel comfortable telling anybody until my first year of college." (He came to the University of Montana to study English, then Sarah Lawrence College for his MFA in creative writing.) Mainstream culture in the 1980s was not at all kind or tolerant toward gay people. "Growing up, if I had had any story about a gay person, it would have changed my life. It didn't exist. Every portrayal of a gay person that I came across was negative," he said. "After 1990, I had Madonna, and especially 'Truth or Dare,' the documentary I watched obsessively (and secretly). My friend's mom owned a video store, and she kept a copy behind the counter!" he wrote in a message. Tiffany lives with a single mother. Her father, a sensitive man who raised African violets, died of a heart attack due to his morbid obesity, and (no spoilers) circumstances around it spur her misbehavior. (She spends time discussing his weight with her probation officer, who counters her stereotypical views about the subject.) Her spitfire mother runs the town's gas station on her own, and lobbies for Tiffany to have a space to stage her play. She's a direct homage to Fifield's own mother, Loretta Jones, who died of leukemia while he wrote the book. He volunteered to stay with her, either at the hospital or at home, during the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shifts. "She said, 'I want you to hit your deadline, no matter what happens,' " he said. Loretta ran the Town Pump in Troy when Fifield was a kid. "Owning a business in a small town and essentially being the only employee and being a woman is not easy," he said. "It takes unheard-of strength to not doubt yourself and to not listen to, you know, the naysayers." "That strength and that community-mindedness was one of the reasons I wanted to write this book," he said. Because you don't see that in YA fiction. Community means something completely different when it's 100,000 people." His mother had prior bouts with leukemia, and more than 10 years ago, she and Richard had reconciled, and he let go of the animosity he felt from his youth, that he needed a kind of support that she couldnt provide. Part of being in a 12-step program is doing, you know, work, and I had to do the work to realize that my mother was just a person who did the best she could with what she had, and as soon as I was able to do that, it changed our relationship completely. She became my friend," he said. Tiffany's mom is a tribute to her, and so was "We Leave the Flowers Where They Are," an anthology he edited that was published last fall. He solicited women writers from his memoir class to produce first-person stories. "With my mom, I wish that she had had the stories she needed," he said. He was there when she died, typing on his laptop in the middle of a chapter. That depth of feeling is in the book, but Fifield is a funny writer. Sometimes, he said, trauma comes out sideways in art, and in his case, satire. The local sheriff and Tiffany's brother, a Forest Service ranger, are obsessed with the threat of terrorism, despite living in a remote town closer to Canada than New York. Gabardine is also like many small towns Montana un-diverse and almost exclusively white. This was mentioned by Kirkus Reviews, which includes a note in each of its reviews of young adult books about racial diversity. "All main characters are white except for Tiffanys probation officer, who is black," it read. Fifield, who wasnt aware of the policy, said he took "huge exception" to it, since he felt it made him look racist. "I included an African-American character because I wanted to show that Montana has some diversity, because if I had just written a real document of where I come from, there's zero diversity," he said. The officer, Kelly, hails from Cleveland, a relative metropolis, and is an adult "echo" for Tiffany to indicate to her that Gabardine "is not representative of a lot of the world." Fifield did live in New York for about 10 years, but felt himself drawn back to Montana and its small towns. He spent two years recently living in a primitive cabin in the "snow belt" in Olney, an hour from Troy, and "got real plugged in to small town life," although has since returned to his home base in East Missoula, where hes working on another book and perhaps a play. "To people in Missoula, the towns I write about are foreign," he said. "I should never work for the tourism bureau." You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 6 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Love Jihadis: An Open-minded Journey into the Heart of Western Uttar Pradesh, by journalists Mihir Srivastava and Raul Irani, charts the territory of Western Uttar Pradesh, and uncovers why most communal clashes find their origins in this region. Theres no denying that the state of Uttar Pradesh remains a constant presence in news cycles in India. Most recently, it was over the decision to conduct the Ram Navami Mela in Ayodhya, despite advisories against large gatherings in view of the coronavirus outbreak. Over the years, theres been constant flow of news resulting from the tensions between Hindus and Muslims especially surrounding forced 'ghar-wapsi', a mass Hindu exodus from Kairana, and the infamous 'love jihad'. Former colleagues, journalist Mihir Srivastava and photojournalist Raul Irani, set out to investigate how much of the news was rumour, and how much of it was fact, twisted and propagated by the media. They documented their findings in Love Jihadis: An Open-minded Journey into the Heart of Western Uttar Pradesh (Westland). The duo wanted to share the other side of the story, in order to amplify the voices of people who fall under the broad category of dispensable, their lives merely a means to a certain end. They wanted to do journalism minus the propaganda. On the way, they found that the reality on-ground is always different from what the media portrays, and people, justifiably, are suspicious of reporters. Love Jihadis, unlike its title, doesnt just focus on one issue. Instead, it is a mix of a travelogue through Western Uttar Pradesh, and a narrative of the issues that dominate the area, which includes the case of forced ghar-wapsi in Agra; the Hindu exodus from Kairana; an interview with Chetna Devi head of the Meerut-based Akhand Hindustan Morcha, where she trains people to prepare for a war on faith; and a meeting with a gaurakshak in Mathura, besides a visit to Darul Uloom in Deoband. Most poignant is the 'Love Jihad' case. A young Shallu falls in love with Kalim, a Muslim man. Her family disapproves and tries everything including an incident of assault to destroy the relationship. They lodge a FIR against Kalim and four others, who are accused of allegedly abducting and gang-raping her. One of the five was Sanauallah Khan, a man who didnt even know the couple. He spent a year in jail and it destroyed his life, reputation and livelihood. Though Shallu has denied all charges of being allegedly gang-raped, Khans case continues. His story is a haunting testimony to how public perception and trial by media can ruin a persons life. Excerpts from an interview with Srivastava: Is love jihad really nothing but a non-issue, created by staunch Hindus supported by the media? What is its basis? I will just say that an inter-faith marriage here was projected as the case that epitomises 'love jihad'. The basis of love jihad to me is hate and fear. Contrary to it being an assertion of Hindu supremacy, it reflects a sense of fear, a threat. Chetna Devi is building an army of Hindu women and children against Muslims, for she loves to hate them, and fears the day they (Muslims in India) become a majority. She thinks Muslim men are sensuous and very difficult for a gullible Hindu girl to resist. This is not an assertion from a position of strength, to say the least. Im a Hindu, a practicing one. I believe in the philosophy of advaith, or non-dualism. Im very secure about my belief and faith. And my faith teaches me to respect and allow others to practice their faith. Being fundamentalist in terms of following a religion doesnt mean being communal. I think it was Gandhi who said that those who respect their own mother, cannot insult others mothers. The same applies to faith. The book is your attempt to tell the truth, even if the views differed from yours. How difficult was it thus, to interview people like Chetna Devi who have such polarised views? I feel the greatest crisis humanity faces is that we see things filtered through our myopic worldview. We think we know the answers, thats what our biased mind tells us. What Raul and I have tried doing through this book is not to approach the issue and people with preconceived notions, and lug the burden of our biases. We were to keep a check on each other by our mere presence. I dont subscribe to an ideology. The world is far more complex to be explained by a certain point of view. In this complex world, no one is actually wrong or right, for its just an interpretation. And being liberal, one has to be open to what others have to say and try not to impose ones own belief system. If we are militant about our views, then we are not liberals, whether we are a leftist or a rightist. Liberalism and tolerance go hand in hand. People should be allowed to speak their mind its a safety valve. A known devil is a lesser devil. The problem starts when voices are scuttled and the radicals go underground. In fact, we had great conversations with Chetna Devi. We told her that irrespective of whether we agree with her or not, we are here to understand her, and will give her an honest hearing and an adequate representation in the book. She was frank and candid because we were receptive to her views. And by doing that we understood the human side of a person like her. She has a violent streak; faith and the way she interprets it has given her a larger cause to unleash her own violent streak. Tell us about the research involved in the book? How did you find the cases and decide which ones to pursue? Were people willing to share their side of the story? One of the things we did so as not to cloud our minds with a plethora of information, is minimise the research. We wanted to make our own impressions by being there. And the cases we covered are the ones that hogged the headlines for all the wrong reasons. We just collected a bunch of them, and started visiting people and places where the communal clashes took place. Few years had passed, people were in the process of reconciling their traumatic experiences, and were willing to tell their side of the story. They were more than willing to speak for they felt cheated in the way they were portrayed, vilified, demonised by the mainstream media. They are poor and rural people. Had they been of any influence, and knew their rights, had the resources to enforce their rights, like their rich urban counterparts, theyd have surely sued the media for defamation worth hundreds of crores. They were easy picks. To me, one of the important functions of journalism is to give voice to the weak and marginalised, and when you do that you hear a different narrative, their narrative. People were willing to speak knowing full well that another set of scribes had wronged them in the past and were grateful we were there to hear their stories. I say this with great responsibility, after hearing their narrative and examining the facts on the ground. I was mostly disillusioned by the people of my fraternity, not the politicians. Theres hardly any distinction between propaganda and journalism when it comes to a certain set of media organisations. They dont reflect reality, but harp on their own agenda. They are in denial and the real people suffer. Though the book is called Love Jihadis, it really is like a travelogue into western Uttar Pradesh, covering ghar-wapsi, religious institutions, and even gau-shalas. Was the intention to talk about places and events instead of focussing only on the love jihad issue? Yes, its a travelogue by two disgruntled journalists, and only disgruntled journalists visit such places (in western Uttar Pradesh that had recently been in the news for communal issues). We wanted to profile the whole region and try to understand why most of the communal clashes have their origins here. Its a travelogue because its not detailed, but impressionist. A plain narrative of people, places and things anyone would encounter if they cared to visit these places. We were amazed to realise that despite the intense media attention due to communal flare-ups, many crucial facts still remain broadly unreported. Also, we had a great deal of fun while travelling through the dusty hinterland of western UP, eating out at dhabas, trying local cuisines. Pictures play an important part in any travelogue. They tell an irrefutable story and substantiate text. I felt we needed visual validation of all we have experienced. We wanted readers to be our co-travellers on this journey. And I am happy to say, despite the negativity, not all is lost, the composite culture is intact and fairly robust in this region. Im hopeful that what is happening now will pass. All photographs courtesy Raul Irani 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. YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... They are one of the most popular and down-to-earth celebrity couples in Hollywood. And Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard pulled no punches as they joined Katie Couric for an Instagram Live session on Monday. Asked how they are doing during the 'safer at home' order due to the coronavirus crisis, Shepard responded: 'We're getting along good with the kids and we're getting along good with adults we're friends with... This has been stressful for mom and dad.' Bell continued the candid exchange, saying: 'We've been at each other's throats real bad, real bad, oh yeah.' Not an easy time: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard confessed to Katie Couric in an Instagram Live session Monday that they are finding self-isolation with their kids 'stressful' Shepard pointed out that sitting side by side for the social media appearance was 'as physically close as we've been in a couple of days.' 'America's sweetheart has some character defects... just want to let you know,' he said. Bell, 39, and Shepard, 45, have been together since 2007, announcing their engagement in 2010 and marrying in 2013. They have two daughters - Lincoln, seven, and Delta, five. Cooped up at home: 'We've been at each other's throats real bad, real bad, oh yeah,' Frozen star Bell admitted Celebrity couple: Bell, 39, and Shepard, 45, (pictured January 2019) have been together since 2007, announcing their engagement in 2010 and marrying in 2013. They have two daughters - Lincoln, seven, and Delta, five The couple spoke to Couric to plug Bell's Nickelodeon coronavirus special set to air Monday night. The hour-long #KidsTogether: The Nickelodeon Town Hall will be simulcast across Nickelodeon, TeenNick and Nicktoons beginning at 7 p.m. It will also be available on Nick On Demand, Nickelodeon YouTube, the Nick App and the Nick Pluto TV channel following the live screening. 'Parents have a better ability to assess.. 'we're having trouble coz we're spending so much time together, this is crazy, we need to be gentle with one another',' Bell explained. 'Kids don't have that language, and sometimes adults use really scary words and the kids don't yet even know how to ask the questions they're thinking of.' The special will feature kids asking questions about COVID-19 as well as experts including the Surgeon General of California, Bell said. Caffeinating the city that never sleeps, even while its on PAUSE, is a calling of both passion and economic necessity. As the city shutters and shudders and continually adjusts in response to the fast-growing outbreak of COVID-19, coffee businesses throughout the boroughs have worked to find the solutions right for them and their employees. Some companies have closed completelywell-known players like Ninth Street Espresso, Gregorys Coffee, Joe Coffee Company, Gimme! Coffee, Irving Farm, and Cafe Grumpy have halted operations at their many stores, while #stillroasting from behind closed doors. (Youll find many of their virtual tip jars online at Go Fund Bean.) Deemed an essential service by the city, some coffee businesses are operating in takeout capacity only with limited hours, continuing to serve their immediate communities and keep healthy and willing staff at least partially employed. Shops like Sweetleaf, East One Coffee, Variety Coffee Roasters, Coffee Project New York, Cafe Integral, and Sey Coffee have remained open for to-go service only, at least at some, if not all, of their locations. While many of these businesses were operating pick-up service at time of this articles publishing, its likely that full closures will occur now that stimulus provisions have been announced to assist the wage workers most affected. But so far, the decision to close or remain open has been tied to employee demand, says Variety owner Gavin Compton. Most of our efforts and policies have been dictated by the staff that does want to continue working, says Compton. We will continue to provide a job even at a loss for those that want the work. Basically the only reason were still open is cause there are baristas that need and want to work. Our Upper East Side location is closed cause the entire staff there felt more comfortable not working, says Compton, who acknowledged that much of his staff requested to be formally terminated. We provided them with termination letters so they were able to collect unemployment, he says. Were also trying to not have anyone work alone, cause that just sucks. At Pulley Collectives roasting cooperative in Red Hook, owner Steve Mierisch says more than half of the companies who book regular roasting time there have hit the pause button. And many cafes that do retail, but not their own roasting, have chosen to close fully without that additional revenue stream. Third Rail Coffee, which operates two coffee shops in Manhattan, is one of those. Owner Humberto Ricardo says that it was a staff member who convinced him closing completely was the right thing to do. At the height of my anxiety and anger over the existential threat, I was feeling a comment from one of my baristas that really pierced through me, says Ricardo. She had dug into the numbers and told me how we were tracking along the lines of Italys outbreak. She then stated she wasnt sure we should ignore the CDCs recommendations of drastically limiting social interactions etc. and serving people that shouldnt be out in the first place. In other words, we shouldnt be giving people more reasons to not isolate by being there. Though Ricardo was able to offload his remaining coffee to his still-open neighbors at Everyman Espresso, who sold off his 5lb bags of Counter Culture Coffee beans for $50 a pop, Everyman plans to wind down operations by this weekend as well. At the beginning, we felt OK about serving with certain barrier measures in place, and making sure that we were doing everything we can to minimize contact between staff and guests and build those physical spaces so there is adequate buffer distance between the folks who are behind the bar and the folks who are ordering coffee, says Everyman co-owner Sam Lewontin. As the week went on, it became clear to us that other dangers were not getting any less dangerous, like, we became decreasingly comfortable asking people to commute to work. Its easy if you can walk to work, its less easy if you have to take the train. So were now at a point where were 100% uncomfortable asking anybody to get on a train for any reason. Its clear that that hasnt gotten any safer. Those stores choosing to remain open have turned to inventive solutions to add value to the service they already provide to their communities. East Village favorite Abraco has expanded menu options to include takeaway family meals and bottled cocktails. (And yes, their signature olive oil cake and olive shortbread cookie are available for carry-out as well.) Midtowns Culture Espresso, famous for its chocolate chip cookies, is offering contactless cookie delivery (but not coffee) at this time as well. Collaborations outside the coffee community have sprung up as well. Joe Coffee Company, which closed its 20 NYC locations the week of March 16, donated remaining coffee and milk reserves to the Bowery Mission and Northwell Health, among others. White Noise Coffee Co. is organizing a fundraiser to provide coffee and food to frontline healthcare workers, and Sam Penix, the other co-owner of Everyman Espresso, is this week launching Fuel Frontlines NYC, a coffee-to-essential-workers initiative inspired by the Restaurant Workers Community Foundations Feed the Frontlines programjust one of many international efforts to get coffee to the essential hospital workers who need it most. As with all things COVID-19, this story is developing. Liz Clayton is the associate editor at Sprudge Media Network and is based in New York City. Read more Liz Clayton on Sprudge. Top image courtesy Everyman Espresso. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are staying safe as they quarantine with their children amid the growing coronavirus pandemic. And the A-list power couple is using their means for a good cause, contributing to various relief efforts. Most recently, they donated $400k to four different hospitals in New York City, as the infection rate continues to rise. Big donation: Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively donated $400k to four different hospitals in New York City amid the growing coronavirus pandemic (pictured in May, 2019) According to TMZ, Reynolds, 43, and Lively, 32, made personal $100k donations to NYU Hospital, Mount Sinai, Northern Westchester and Elmhurst. They're also encouraging others to help out their local hospitals and healthcare professionals. Earlier this month, they donated $1million to be split between Feeding America and Food Banks Canada. Reynolds also pledged to donated 30 percent of all proceeds from his Aviation Gin to bartenders who are out of work amid nightlife and hospitality closures. Assisting the frontline: According to TMZ, they made personal $100k donations to NYU Hospital, Mount Sinai, Northern Westchester and Elmhurst (Lively pictured in January, 2020) Helping the hungry: Earlier this month, they donated $1million to be split between Feeding America and Food Banks Canada Bottoms up: Reynolds also pledged to donated 30 percent of all proceeds from his Aviation Gin to bartenders who are out of work amid nightlife and hospitality closures He also joined Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in urging followers to stay home in order to help flatten the curve. The Deadpool star said in a funny video: 'I think in times of crisis, we all know it's the celebrities that we count on most. They're the ones who are gonna help us get through this. 'Right after healthcare workers, of course... first responders, people who work in essential services, pingpong players, mannequins, childhood imaginary friends, like 400 other types of people. He concluded: 'Look, stay at home, practice social distancing, wash your hands. We are gonna get through this thing together.' Reynolds and Lively recently welcomed their third daughter last year, also sharing James, five, and Inez, three. Former union minister Ninong Ering has written a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and said the government should move International Court of Justice (ICJ) against China and seek compensation of USD 22 billion for the spread of coronavirus, which he termed "China's bio-war". "When the entire world was looking forward to progress further in 2020, reliable media reports suggest China has unleashed a bio-warfare programme of Wuhan coronavirus and put world peace and security at greatest threat," Ering said in the letter. Ering, who is MLA from Pasighat West in Arunachal Pradesh, said the whole of the world is under lockdown and it has severely impacted economies including that of India. "The government must put up a case in ICJ for bio-warfare and ask for compensation to the tune of 22 billion USD. India must unite with other countries on this and must ask for an international investigation in Wuhan coronavirus," he said. The Congress MLA also mentioned the issue of stapled visa that China has been issuing to the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the objections that it raises to official visits of the Prime Minister, Home Affairs Minister and Defence Minister to the state. Ering also said that river Siang in the state had "turned black" in 2018 due to various hydropower projects that China has undertaken and referred to "diversion in the flow of river Brahmaputra by Chinese authorities". He urged Jaishankar to take up the issues in an international forum and ensure security of people of Arunachal Pradesh. China reported its first case of coronavirus in Wuhan in December last year. The disease has killed over 38,700 people globally according to data provided by Johns Hopkins University. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Though Abu Dhabi Crown-Prince Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed has been talking over the phone to many world leaders in the last few days, his conversation with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Friday was a focus of particular attention. It was the first public contact between a Gulf leader and Al-Assad since the start of the war in Syria, and it came at a time of changing Arab attitudes towards Syria. No doubt the Emirati leader meant to tell Syria that it was not alone in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. He has done the same with Iran on humanitarian grounds in a gesture meant to show that the UAE holds to its principles regardless of political animosity. According to an official statement, the call to Al-Assad focused on the latest developments and effects of the coronavirus Covid-19 on the region and the world at large. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed tweeted that I discussed with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad updates on Covid-19. I assured him of the support of the UAE and its willingness to help the Syrian people. Humanitarian solidarity during trying times supersedes all matters, and Syria and her people will not stand alone. A couple of years ago, the UAE softened its stance on Damascus as part of its drive to combat terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the region. In late 2018, the UAE reopened its embassy in Damascus after an Arab diplomatic boycott after the Syrian Civil War had erupted in 2011. Though the embassy was at a charge daffaires level, it was a significant step in re-accommodating Syria into the Arab fold. Abu Dhabi then kept the rapprochement almost the same as Jordans opening towards Syria. However, talk about growing Gulf warmth towards Damascus could still be premature, as the Syrian government is still strongly allied with Iran and its proxies, especially the Lebanese group Hizbullah which the Gulf countries accuse of sabotaging peace in the region. The main Gulf state, Saudi Arabia, is not keen on opening to the Syrian regime, and militant groups in north-west Syria are supported mainly by Turkey, which Saudi Arabia sees as a temporary foe. The UAE shares the same sentiments towards Turkey, mainly because of the Emirati position of fighting the militant Islamist groups that Turkey supports. At the time of the first overtures towards Damascus by the UAE and Jordan, some thought there might be a new polarisation between moderate Arab countries most Gulf countries plus Egypt and Jordan on the one side and a pro-Muslim Brotherhood side represented by Turkey and its Gulf ally Qatar on the other. This was also at the height of the Quartet of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrains boycott of Qatar because of its support for the Brotherhood and its terrorist offshoots. There is another arena of polarisation in Libya, where Turkey and Qatar support militias in Tripoli threatening to embolden terrorism in North Africa, and the UAE and Saudi Arabia stand by the Libyan National Army fighting terrorists from its base in the east of the country. According to many analysts in the Gulf, the case of Syria is different, not only because of its alliance with Iran and Hizbullah, but also because of other factors that go beyond regional politics. The idea of the UAE leading an Arab move to rehabilitate Al-Assad seems implausible, even if some Syrian analysts have even raised hopes of Syrias official return to the Arab League. Syrian political analyst Ghassan Youssef told the Russian Arabic-language website Sputnik that the phone call [by the UAE leader] may be a prelude to Syrias return to the Arab League, adding that relations between Syria and the Gulf countries have become good except for Qatar. However, a Gulf analyst described the suggestion as far-fetched and reiterated that the UAEs position was humanitarian. He said that the UAE had been providing aid to Syrian refugees in countries neighbouring Syria as an apolitical effort. The call is just a continuation of that Emirati position, he said. Nevertheless, the UAEs change of policy towards Syria over the last two years is notable. Whether this will lead to more thawing of the ice between Damascus and the Gulf is a matter of wait and see. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: PRAGUE (Reuters) - The tally of coronavirus infections in the Czech Republic has exceeded 3,000 as the central European country ramps up testing and keeps strict measures in place to curb the outbreak. The country of 10.7 million people has seen the highest number of cases among the European Union's eastern wing but far fewer than in western neighbours like Germany and Austria. The growth rate of new cases has shown signs of slowing, however, and the government said on Monday it hoped to begin easing restrictions on daily life after the Easter holiday in April if the situation is under control. The Health Ministry reported the number of new cases rose by 184 on Monday to 3,001, a 6.5% increase, which is the second-lowest daily rise since the first infections were reported on March 1. By early Tuesday morning the number of cases stood at 3,002. The Czech Republic has recorded 24 deaths and has 291 people in hospital, including 64 in intensive care. The number of daily tests was a record 5,313 on Monday, more than double the figure a week earlier, bringing the total number of tests to 48,811. The government aims to increase the testing capacity to 10,000 per day and boost the tracking of contacts of infected people to improve the targeting of quarantine measures. The Czech government was one of the quickest in Europe to act when the virus started spreading throughout the continent. The Czechs have shut borders to international travel and anyone returning to the country is subject to mandatory home quarantine. The government also requires everyone to wear face masks in public and has banned gatherings of more than two people. It extended measures on Monday, keeping most shops and restaurants closed until April 11 along with restrictions limiting people's movements to essential shopping, work or family matters. (Reporting by Jason Hovet; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Ed Osmond) 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. 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 Rebel Wilson has shared some fun behind the scenes footage of an elaborate photo shoot, in which she poses as a mermaid. The video, posted to Instagram on Monday, shows the 40-year-old splashing about in a pool that appears to be in the yard of a hilltop mansion. A photographer is heard encouraging the actress to splash and embrace her inner lady fish but Rebel appears to struggle. Splash: On Monday, Rebel Wilson (pictured) shared some fun behind the scenes footage of her elaborate photo shoot, in which she posed as a mermaid Rebel explained in her caption: 'I clearly LOVE modeling in a pool when it's FREEZING (what you can't see from the video is that dry ice was added to the pool for the photos which made it extra freezing!) 'This was taken from a shoot a few years back with legendary photographer Tierney Gearon for @nytimes. 'The photos turned out brilliantly! Shout out to @dasweiner who moments after this almost had to jump into the pool to save me!' Watery: The footage, posted to Instagram on Monday, shows the 40-year-old splashing about in a pool that appears to be in the yard of a hilltop mansion. The actress said it was freezing It comes after the Australian star shared another behind the scenes moment, this time of her fellow cast mates kicking back on the set of Pitch Perfect. The throwback videos were posted to Instagram Stories on Sunday and showed herself and co-star, Alexis Knapp, sitting inside a crowded trailer with the rest of the cast. 'See most people think that the Trebles and Bellas don't get on, but we do,' Rebel told the camera, referring to Pitch Perfect's on-screen rivals, The Barden Bellas and The Treblemakers. That's showbiz! Rebel also recently shared previously unseen footage of her fellow cast-mates, including Alexis Knapp (left), behind the scenes on the set of Pitch Perfect 'Here's a Treble right here,' Rebel added, panning the camera over to her co-star Adam DeVine. He sarcastically retorted: 'I love acting.' 'What do we do in-between takes on the set of Pitch Perfect?' Rebel asked the camera. She then proceeded to walk around the trailer to film a group of cast members enjoying a festive singalong. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 10:45:17|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Policemen persuade a citizen to go home in Johannesburg, South Africa, March 30, 2020. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday defended the 21-day national lockdown against the coronavirus pandemic which began on midnight Thursday, saying it is "absolutely necessary." (Photo by Yeshiel Panchia/Xinhua) CAPE TOWN, March 30 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday defended the 21-day national lockdown against the coronavirus pandemic which began on midnight Thursday, saying it is "absolutely necessary." "This is an extreme measure we had to embark upon in response to the COVID-19 pandemic," the president said in a televised speech to the nation. He said that the number of infections continues to grow in the country and that 1,326 people have tested positive for the virus, with 3 deaths, up to date. "That is why we took the radical step of locking down the country for 21 days," he said. The quarantine has disrupted people's lives, he said, "but we all know and agree that this nationwide lockdown is absolutely necessary to save the lives of thousands, even tens of thousands, of our people." Many countries in Africa have adopted similar measures, said Ramaphosa, adding that "our own researchers and scientists have told us that our decision to lock down the country was a correct one." Without quick actions, South Africa is only a few weeks away from a similar situation in other countries hit hard by the virus, the president said. The lockdown, however, has been facing growing defiance. Over 1,100 people have been arrested around the country for violating lockdown rules in the past few days, said the South African Police Minister Bheki Cele. Ramaphosa called for people's understanding of the tough measures against the raging pandemic. "We have never experienced a situation like this before ... we ask for our people's understanding that all this is being done for the good of everyone," he said. The president said he was concerned about those who have not realized the seriousness of the disease. "I am therefore once again calling on each and every South African to stay at home for the next 17 days," he said. Those who infringed the rules put themselves and others at risk, helping the pandemic to spread, Ramaphosa added. In the coming days, the government will roll out a screening, testing, tracing and medical management program, he said, adding that around 10,000 field workers will visit homes around the nation to screen residents for COVID-19 symptoms. With mobile technology, an extensive tracing system will also be rapidly deployed to trace those who have been in contact with confirmed coronavirus cases and to monitor the geographical location of new cases in real time, said Ramaphosa. "We are pushing ahead to implement the necessary health interventions and economic and social measures to contain the spread of the disease and alleviate its effects on our people," he said. A 65-year-old man on Tuesday became the latest victim of coronavirus in Punjab, taking the death toll to four in the state which has witnessed 41 cases so far. A resident of Nayagaon in Punjab's Mohali district with no travel history, the man was admitted to the Chandigarh's Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) a week ago after he complained of chest pain and breathlessness, health officials said. He was confirmed to be a coronavirus patient a day before. It is the third coronavirus-related death in the past three days in the state. "He died around 1 pm, Mohali Civil Surgeon Manjit Singh told PTI over the phone. On Monday, a 42-year-old woman had died at a Patiala hospital. The Ludhiana resident was admitted to the hospital on Sunday night after she complained of breathlessness. On Sunday evening, a 62-year-old coronavirus patient, who was undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College in Amritsar, had succumbed to the infection. A 70-year-old Nawanshahr resident had died of cardiac arrest on March 18. A medical report, which came out after his death, revealed that he was suffering from the infection. Punjab has so far reported 41 coronavirus cases, of which 19 are from Nawanshahr, seven from Mohali, six from Hoshiarpur, five from Jalandhar, two from Ludhiana and one each from Amritsar and Patiala. One patient was discharged from the hospital after his second test result came negative. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the state government has the list of 299 persons who were present in and around the hotspot near the Masjid in Nizamuddin in Delhi, and alerted the district administrations to find out if they have returned. The minister said strict instructions have been issued to quarantine them if they are in the state. Sarma also appealed to them to voluntarily report to the nearest government hospital or call the helpline number. "Held an urgent Video Conference with all DCs & SPs advised them to take swift & strict measures for all those who returned from hotstpot at #NizamuddinMarkaz of #TablighiJamaat. All of them shall be quarantined by evening", Sarma said in a tweet message. More than 200 people who attended a religious congregation in the Nizamuddin West locality showed symptoms for the novel coronavirus and a major part of the area was cordoned off by the authorities to contain any possible spread of the deadly virus. Over 2,000 delegates, including from Indonesia and Malaysia, attended the Tablighi-e-Jamaat gathering held in mid-March. The event has become a crucial source of coronavirus spread in the country. Six persons from Telangana who attended the congregation died due to COVID-19 infection "We are acting swiftly and in best possible manner to quarantine all of them, as and when they reach Assam or those who may have reached", the minister said. He further tweeted on the micro blogging site, "Urgent Request. If there is anyone from Assam who attended the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi, please IMMEDIATELY report voluntarily to the nearest government hospital or by calling Helpline no # 104.Please treat this as very important". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Armenias government has decided to extend a nationwide lockdown by at least ten days because of a continuing increase in coronavirus cases in the county, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said on Tuesday. The government imposed one-week restrictions on peoples movements and ordered the closure of most businesses on March 24. Since then Armenians have only been allowed out to buy food, receive medical care or briefly exercise near their places of residence. The curfew does not apply to a limited number of public and private sector employees allowed to continue to go to work. Despite these measures the virus has continued to spread. The Armenian Ministry of Health said on Tuesday morning that 50 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been registered in the past 24 hours, bringing their total number to 532. This statistics worries us, Pashinian said when he announced the governments decision to extend the lockdown. The premier complained that some Armenians remain complacent about the epidemic and ignore stay-at-home orders issued by the authorities. The situation is very risky and I want to call on all of us to take it very seriously, he said in a live Facebook broadcast. Dear compatriots, stay at home and protect your and your loved ones health, he added. The restrictions will be tightened further, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian told a news conference held afterwards. We must also make the monitoring more effective. We are therefore going to beef up police forces [enforcing the lockdown] with various forces from other structures. Armenian health authorities have reported three coronavirus-related deaths so far. In Pashinians words, 30 infected persons are now in a serious conditions while 424 others are showing no symptoms of the respiratory disease. On Monday the government asked the Armenian parliament to allow it to access personal data from peoples mobile phones for tracking their movements, phone calls and text messages. This is supposed to make it easier for the authorities to identify and isolate those who have been exposed to infected individuals. The National Assembly tentatively approved, over strong opposition objections, a relevant government bill in the first readings on Monday. But it narrowly and unexpectedly failed to pass the bill in the second and final reading on Tuesday. Lilit Makunts, the parliament majority leader, blamed that on the absence of two dozen fellow deputies from Pashinians My Step bloc. Some of them are monitoring elections in Nagorno-Karabakh while others are in coronavirus-related self-isolation, she said. The two parliamentary opposition parties continued to categorically reject the proposed surveillance, saying that it constitutes a politically dangerous violation of citizens privacy and would not help to contain the epidemic. Pashinian defended the measure, however, saying that is not pleasant for the government but necessary for slowing the further spread of coronavirus. He argued that the authorities now have trouble tracing the primary sources of some infections. We are now looking for ways to again submit that bill to the National Assembly, he said. The parliament met later in the day for a fresh emergency debate on the bill initiated by its pro-government majority. Opposition lawmakers boycotted the session in protest. In relations between the IMF and Ukraine, the long-awaited clearance has come for Kiev. Ukraine will receive money, but must pass laws that the majority in the country considers unacceptable. Actually, Kiev has been notified about the terms of the tranche for a long time. But judging by how events unfold today, relations between the IMF and the Ukrainian authorities have moved into the field of trade. Today, the IMF is ready to provide not the requested amount of funds, but even increase the loan program from 5.5 billion dollars. up to 8 billion dollars. For this to happen, the Verkhovna Rada must pass laws that the opposition, in the person of Yulia Tymoshenko, has already called anti-Ukrainian. The IMF demands the abolition of a multi-year moratorium on the sale of agricultural land. The Verkhovna Rada at the beginning of the year began to discuss the bill, but did not advance far. There were contradictions between the deputies and factions, the bill was overgrown with so many amendments that it became clear that a new one was needed, because the text itself was simply lost in a mass of mutually exclusive comments and requirements. Today, the authorities seemed to be able to fight back from the massive attacks caused by the fear that the land would go to foreigners. An agreement was reached in principle - non-citizens of Ukraine will not be able to buy agricultural land at least until a referendum is held on this issue. True, it is not very clear how the IMF will react to this intra-Ukrainian compromise. Whether this alignment is included in the plans of this institute, whether it contradicts its plans, is not yet known. Another nuance. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that the area of allotted plots will be halved compared to those planned: for individuals - a maximum of 100 hectares, and for legal entities - no more than 10 thousand hectares. This, of course, if the results of the referendum are in favor of adopting such a law. However, the opposition was not impressed by such moves by the president. So, Yulia Tymoshenko managed to expose them, saying that the issue of food security is becoming aggravated on the planet, and under such conditions, the sale of agricultural land is a crime against the nation, because giving land to foreigners means getting into bondage and getting a destroyed country. Another key IMF requirement is to pass a law to prevent nationalized banks from returning to their former owners. Even a precedent is able to crush the entire financial system of Ukraine and plunge into chaos, not to mention the repayment of external loans. Here, its obvious that a well-known businessman Igor Kolomoisky should be singled out as a graph. Vladimir Zelensky became president not without its help. During the presidency of Petro Poroshenko, Kolomoisky lost one of his valuable assets in the form of Privat Bank. It seems that Kolomoisky had some kind of views on his former bank, because he reacted quite nervously, noting that Ukraine is better off defaulting, and not cooperating on such terms with the IMF. If a businessman connected some hopes with the fact that Zelensky for the reason mentioned above would not go against his interests, then it seems he was mistaken. The President, on the contrary, quite toughly announced in absentia polemic that default is not the way of Ukraine. He called on the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada not to postpone the meeting and to meet as soon as possible in the shortest possible time, since the matter is extremely important for the future of Ukraine issues and bills. Zelensky essentially made it clear that IMF assistance is perhaps the only chance for the state to get out of the crisis. But it will be very difficult for Vladimir Zelensky to achieve his goal. Firstly, it is difficult to say how the deputies will respond to his call "to get together in a short time." The next meeting was planned to be held this week, but did not take place, as several people's deputies were at once infected with a coronavirus. The rest went into legal quarantine. Regular organizational issues have arisen which, by the way, have not yet been resolved: where it is not very clear where to hold parliamentary meetings, whether they can be held remotely is also unclear, both in legislative and technical terms. Secondly, it seems impossible to push through the land bill in the form required by the IMF. The initiative in this matter is entirely on the side of the opposition, nationalist groups. Speculation on the topic of "sell the homeland" is in full swing. The idea is not popular among ordinary people. Thirdly, its very difficult with the law on the non-return of banks to their former owners. It may turn out that there will be no unanimity in the presidential team. The fact is that all of her at one time was connected with Igor Kolomoisky in creative terms - after all, it was he who stood behind the popular shows and series, thanks to which team members gained fame and popularity. And if Zelensky considers or is forced to consider himself free from obligations to Kolomoisky, including moral ones, then other team members may have a completely different attitude to the sensitive sensitive issue. In addition, or even without it, it is believed that Kolomoisky in the Verkhovna Rada has an influential group of supporters, and with the appropriate go-ahead, it can fail any bill. A summation of all this gives the result: the IMFs cooperation with Ukraine under the current conditions will not take place soon, if at all. YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... ELYRIA, Ohio -- A 25-year-old Elyria man and a 24-year-old Avon Lake woman are charged with violating Ohios stay-at-home coronavirus order during an altercation at an Elyria convenience store and later at a Subway, police say. The incidents happened about 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Convenient Food Mart and at the neighboring Subway on Chestnut Ridge Road, just east of Defiance Avenue in the citys Chestnut Heights neighborhood, according to an Elyria police report. Jeffrey Wheeler and Precious Bailey were both charged with inducing panic, domestic violence, assault, obstructing official business, the report says. Wheeler was additionally charged with abduction and resisting arrest. Bailey also faces charges of illegal conveyance or weapons and breaking and entering, the report says. Wheeler is still in the Lorain County Jail on a $16,750 bond, jail records say. He is scheduled for his initial appearance Tuesday afternoon. Bailey is free on a $12,500 bond, Elyria Municipal Court records say. Both are also charged with something called violations prohibited, which refers to the statewide stay-at-home order put into place. Under Ohio Revised Code, No person shall violate any rule the director of health or department of health adopts or any order the director or department of health issues under this chapter to prevent a threat to the public caused by a pandemic, epidemic, or bioterrorism event. A convenience store employee called police and said a man, later identified as Wheeler, was seen dragging a woman, later identified as Bailey, by her hair and trying to get her into a truck, the report says. The convenience store owner told police the couple walked into his store, started arguing and causing a scene, the report says. The owner intervened and told both of them to leave the store. They continued to argue and walked next door to Subway and started fighting inside of the dining room. An employee pulled the silent alarm and Wheeler dragged Bailey out of the restaurant, the report says. Police found the two about an hour and a half later on Purdue Avenue near Case Avenue. Wheeler struggled with officers, but the police eventually took them both into custody, according to the arrest report. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine implemented the statewide stay at home order at 11:59 p.m. March 23. The order will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. Monday unless it needs to be extended or lifted earlier. DeWine also has shutdown dining in at restaurants and bars and also shut down barber shops, malls, nail salons, spas and other non-essential businesses. Read the order here. Read related story and more coronavirus coverage on cleveland.com: Avon shoplifting suspect charged with violating Gov. Mike DeWines stay-at-home coronavirus order Akron implements hiring freeze, pauses bulk trash pickup due to coronavirus crisis The hunt for Tylenol? Where to buy acetaminophen near you Northern Ohios chief federal judge gives OK to handle criminal cases by video because of coronavirus Columbus-based Battelle is at the forefront of battling the coronavirus: 5 facts about the nonprofit firm As Coronavirus pandemic is continuing its spread in Africa, banks and insurance companies offer their support to governments in fighting the pandemic. The pan-African banking group UBA, whose head office is in Nigeria, announced in a press release that it makes available to 20 African countries, a donation of 8 billion FCFA to enable these countries where the bank is present, to effectively fight the Coronavirus pandemic. Sunu Group on its part has donated 310 million FCFA worth of health equipment (masks, gloves, hydro-alcoholic gel, etc.) to support the ministries of health in 15 countries. Coris Bank Mali has aided Mali government with 20 million FCFA and Orabank Cote dIvoire has given a support of 6 million to the countrys health system. Each company and agency of the UBA group has installed washing facilities at their main entrances. The reception staff have been equipped with masks and gloves. Water-alcoholic gels are made available to staff and visitors in all offices and agencies. A system of one-meter-distance between clients has also been instituted in most agencies to prevent customers contamination. Many banks send to their customers on daily basis prevention messages, stressing the best attitudes to adopt facing the pandemic. According to World Health Organization, nearly four thousand confirmed positive cases of the disease including 90 deaths are already recorded on the continent. The aggressive spread of COVID-19 has disrupted lives, livelihoods, communities and businesses worldwide. In these tough times, organisations and business leaders around the world are coming together and doing their bit to minimise the impact on public health and check the spread of the virus. This, in turn, should help limit disruption to economies and supply chains. Here are a few ways in which leading global companies and business leaders are contributing: Google Google has stepped up and responded to the Coronavirus pandemic, pledging a total of $800 million to support small- and medium-sized businesses, governments, health organisations and health workers fighting COVID-19. After announcing an initial $25 million in advertising grants last month, the company increased its grant commitment to $250 million for the World Health Organization (WHO) and more than 100 government agencies globally to provide critical information on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Were committing $800M+ in new #COVID19 response efforts, incl $340M in @GoogleAds credits for SMBs worldwide, $250M in ad grants for @WHO & 100+ govt orgs globally, a $200M investment fund for NGOs & banks to help small businesses access capital, and more https://t.co/oVj6MMs9Bl Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) March 27, 2020 Nestle Nestle has stepped up its efforts in the response to COVID-19 by partnering with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to provide urgent help to emergency services, caregivers, and to strengthen health systems. The company will donate food, medical nutrition products and bottled water to bring relief to those most affected by the pandemic. Apple Tim Cook, Chief Executive Officer, Apple announced that the company had sourced and would donate 10 million masks to the medical community in the United States, and millions more for the European regions hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Proud to share weve been able to source 10M masks for the US and millions more for the hardest hit regions in Europe. Our ops teams are helping to find and purchase masks from our supply chain in coordination with governments around the world. pic.twitter.com/uTsA6eA5ks Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 25, 2020 Tesla Elon Musk has promised to provide New York with hundreds of ventilators to help meet demand from the growing Coronavirus outbreak. The ventilators were purchased from US government-approved manufacturers in China. The ventilators were donated to hospitals in New York City and across New York state. Reliance Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has set up Indias first COVID-19 dedicated hospital in Mumbai. The hospital is fully funded by Reliance Foundation and includes a negative pressure room that helps in preventing cross contamination and helps control infection. All beds are equipped with the required infrastructure, biomedical equipment such as ventilators, pacemakers, dialysis machines, and patient monitoring devices. Tata Ratan Tata has committed Rs 500 crore to procure protective equipment for frontline workers, respiratory systems for treatment of increasing cases and testing kits in the fight against COVID-19. In a tweet on March 28, Ratan Tata shared a post detailing how Tata Trusts and the group companies will help as India battles to contain the spread of COVID-19. The COVID 19 crisis is one of the toughest challenges we will face as a race. The Tata Trusts and the Tata group companies have in the past risen to the needs of the nation. At this moment, the need of the hour is greater than any other time. pic.twitter.com/y6jzHxUafM Ratan N. Tata (@RNTata2000) March 28, 2020 Bharti Enterprises Bharti Enterprises and its companies Bharti Airtel, Bharti Infratel and others are contributing a sum of over Rs 100 crore for Indias fight against COVID-19. A significant portion of the corpus will be immediately contributed to the PM - CARES Fund. The balance amount is being directed towards sourcing of masks, PPE and other key equipment for the doctors, healthcare workers and essential services personnel who are at the forefront of this massive battle. Over a million N-95 masks are being procured and will be made available on an immediate basis. In addition to the Rs 100 crore committed by Bharti Enterprises, the employees of Bharti are also making personal voluntary contributions towards this cause through a platform set up by the company. Bharti Companies will match the amount contributed by their employees, and the same will be contributed towards the Covid-19 initiatives. During these uncertain times where the world has been struck by a pandemic never seen before, it is very important for world business leaders to come out and help the people in need. While the world has made them who they are today, we see these leaders give back to society which now needs them the most. Also Read: COVID-19 effect: 2020 estimates for M&E all askew; drop could be as high as 20-25% How COVID-19 will affect the global advertising market? A man rests alongside dogs beside a temple as Hyderabad endures the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Facing enhanced welfare spending due to the epidemic and the lockdown, the state government of Telangana has pruned the salaries of its staff this month. (AP) Hyderabad: The Telangana state governments decision not to pay the full salary to its employees this month is an admission that it is in dire straits. It is besieged by the Covid-19 pandemic at a time when an economic slowdown followed by the coronavirus lockdown have left it cash-starved. The central government announced last week that the COVID-19 epidemic would be notified as a disaster on par with earthquakes and floods so that states can access the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). However, funds from that source have remained on paper. Both the Telugu states, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, are still waiting for the funds. State officials who telephone their counterparts in New Delhi are being told that if the matter is really urgenthow could it not be?they could go in for an overdraft (OD), for which the Centre would sign the permissions. This really is code for Fend for Yourself. OD is not really an option either of the two Telugu states is in a position to take, being deep in debt already. The look of shock on state officials faces is palpable. New Delhi has promised them much: it that expenses on hospitalization of the sick would be borne by the National Health Mission; the cost of setting up additional testing laboratories and the money spent on buying thermal scanners, ventilators, air purifiers and consumables for government hospitals would come from the SDRF. At the moment its nothing more than talk. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. 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. Three weeks ago, when the Russian and Saudi war on U.S. shale oil started, we wrote: In the first week of January crude oil reached $69/bl but it has since dropped to $45/bl as the coronavirus crisis destroyed the global demand. The Saudis tried to make a deal with Russia, the second largest exporter after Saudi Arabia, to together cut oil production to keep the price up. But Russia rejected a new OPEC cut. It wants to keep its production up and it will use the crisis to further undermine U.S. oil fracking production. As the whole fracking boom in the U.S. is build on fraud the move might well be successful. Russia does not have a budget deficit and is well positioned to survive lower crude oil prices without much damage. Saudi Arabia is not. Only a week later oil was already at $30/barrel and we predicted that it would go down to $20/bl. On Monday the U.S. WTI oil price index reached that mark. Oil prices in other places are falling even further: Canadian heavy crude has become so cheap that the cost of shipping it to refineries exceeds the value of the oil itself, a situation that may result in even more oil-sands producers shutting operations. Western Canadian Select crude in Alberta dropped to a record-low close of $5.06 a barrel on Friday, according to Bloomberg data going back to 2008 ... The corona virus crisis has led to drop in global demand by some 20%. The world production and consumption in normal times was at about 100 million barrel per day. Consumption is now below 80 million bl/d. But after the OPEC+ agreement failed Saudi and Russia both started to pump as much as they could to regain market shares. Together they are increasing their production by some 3-4 million barrels per day. All that oil has to go somewhere. Trump announced that he would use the cheap prices to fill the U.S. strategic oil reserve. But the spare room in the reserve storage at that time was only some 150 million barrels. As it can only be filled at a rate of 2 million barrels per day the topping off of the reserve is insignificant in the current market. The oil producers at first pumped their oil into storage tanks to be sold later. When those filled up they rented supertankers to store the oil at sea. But empty supertankers are now also getting rare and the price for them is increasing: The CEO of the worlds largest tanker owner, Frontline Ltd., said on Friday that hed never known such demand to hire ships for long-term storage. Traders could book ships to put 100 million barrels at sea this week alone, he estimated, but even that could accounts for less than a weeks oversupply. The only solution will be a shut down of the more expensive oil fields. Canada and Brazil are already doing it. U.S. shale producers who are bleeding cash will now have to follow. That is clearly what Russia wants: As soon as U.S. shale leaves the market, prices will rebound and could reach $60 a barrel, Rosnefts Igor Sechin said recently. As fate would have it, in what many would have until recently considered an impossible scenario, a lot of U.S. shale might do just that. Breakeven prices for U.S. shale basins range between $39 and $48 a barrel, according to data compiled by Reuters. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is trading below $25 a barrel and has been for over a week now. The Trump administration has asked the Saudis to produce less oil but as the Saudi tourist industry is currently also dead the Saudi clown prince needs every dollar he can get. The Saudis will continue to pump and they will sell their oil at any price. The White House is now concerned that it will completely lose its beloved shale oil industry and all the jobs connected to it. Russia of cause knows this and a few days ago it made an interesting offer: A new OPEC+ deal to balance oil markets might be possible if other countries join in, Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russias sovereign wealth fund said, adding that countries should also cooperate to cushion the economic fallout from coronavirus. ... Joint actions by countries are needed to restore the(global) economy... They (joint actions) are also possible in OPEC+ deals framework, Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), told Reuters in a phone interview. ... We are in contact with Saudi Arabia and a number of other countries. Based on these contacts we see that if the number of OPEC+ members will increase and other countries will join there is a possibility of a joint agreement to balance oil markets. Dmitriev declined to say who the new deals members should or could be. U.S. President Donald Trump said last week he would get involved in the oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia at the appropriate time. A logical new member of an expanded crude oil cartel would be one of the biggest global producer that so far was not a member of that club - the U.S. of A. We now learn that Trump is ready to talk about that or other concepts: As Ria reports (in Russian) the topics of upcoming phone call [between Putin and Trump] will be Covid-19, trade (???) and, you guessed it, oil prices. Trump, who sanctioned the Russian-German Nord-Stream II pipeline while telling Germany to buy U.S. shale gas, is now in a quite bad negotiation position. Russia does not need a new OPEC deal right now. It has many financial reserves and can live with low oil prices for much longer than the Saudis and other oil producing countries. Trump would have to make a strategic offer that Russia could not resist to get some cooperation on oil prices. But what strategic offer could Trump make that would move Putin to agree to some new deal? Ukraine? Russia is not interested in that unrulable, bankrupt and fascist infested entity. Syria? The Zionist billionaires would stop their donations to Trump if he were to give up on destroying it. Joining an OPEC++ deal and limit U.S. oil production? That would be an anti-American intervention in free markets and Congress would never agree to it. And what reason has Russia to believe that Trump or his successor would stick to any deal? As the U.S. is non-agreement-capable it has none. The outcome of the phone call will therefore likely be nothing. The carnage in the oil markets will continue and will ravage those producer countries that need every penny while the corona virus is ravaging their people. Meanwhile the U.S. shale market will go bust. Another doctor from a mohalla clinic in Delhi has tested positive for coronavirus. A notice outside a community clinic in Delhi's Babarpur asked patients who visited the clinic between March 12 and 20 to quarantine themselves at their homes for the next two weeks. This is the second such incident at a Delhi mohalla clinic in one week. The clinic in Mohanpuri area of Maujpur was closed and sanitised. The doctor's wife and daughter were also tested positive for coronavirus. Soon after the doctor was tested positive, a similar notice was put outside the Maujpur clinic asking people who came in contact with the doctor to quarantine themselves. Satyendra Jain, Delhi Health Minister had said that a doctor at a mohalla clinic and four others were tested positive after they came in contact with a woman who had returned from Saudi Arabia. According to reports as many as 800 people were quarantined after they came in contact with the mohalla clinic doctor. So far, the number of active coronavirus cases has reached 1,117. The number of people to succumb to coronavirus has reached 32, as mentioned in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. So far, 101 people have been cured and discharged. Also read: Alcohol non-availability kills more than coronavirus in Kerala; foreign liquor served as 'medicine' Also read: How is coronavirus patient transported to hospital? Here's the process Photo: All rights reserved. Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are walking away from their Sussex Royal website and Instagram profile as they prepare to become private citizens. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex officially step down as working senior members of Britain's monarchy today, and as part of their agreement with Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, they will no longer use the word "royal" in their branding. On Monday, the couple announced the @SussexRoyal Instagram account, which was launched last year, will be retired, while its Sussex Royal website will not be updated. In a statement, representatives for the pair explained: "Both the Instagram account and website will remain in existence online for the foreseeable future, although they will be inactive." Harry and Meghan also shared one final message of encouragement and optimism with their 11.3 million @SussexRoyal followers as they reflected on life in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. "As we can all feel, the world at this moment seems extraordinarily fragile," they wrote. "Yet we are confident that every human being has the potential and opportunity to make a difference - as seen now across the globe, in our families, our communities and those on the front line - together we can lift each other up to realize the fullness of that promise. "What's most important right now is the health and wellbeing of everyone across the globe and finding solutions for the many issues that have presented themselves as a result of this pandemic." They added, "As we all find the part we are to play in this global shift and changing of habits, we are focusing this new chapter to understand how we can best contribute. While you may not see us here, the work continues." They went on to thank the online community "for the support, the inspiration and the shared commitment to the good in the world". "We look forward to reconnecting with you soon. You've been great! Until then, please take good care of yourselves, and of one another," they concluded, signing off the note, "Harry and Meghan." The couple, parents to baby son Archie, announced plans to retreat from the royal spotlight and become financially independent in January, when Harry and Meghan also temporarily relocated from the U.K. to Vancouver Island. They recently jetted to the former actress' native Los Angeles, where they reportedly plan to set up a more permanent base. Regulatory News: BALYO (Paris:BALYO) (FR0013258399, Ticker: BALYO, eligible for PEA-PME), a technological leader in the design and development of innovative robotic solutions, announces the decisions taken by the Group's Management following the COVID-19 pandemic and reports on the evolution of the composition of the Board of Directors. COVID-19 impacts Since March 6, 2020, the closing date of the financial accounts, the World Health Organization has qualified the development of Covid-19 as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The containment measures implemented since this date in Europe, the main focus of BALYO's activity, have led the Company to reorganize its activity in order to adapt to the new constraints related to the pandemic. Most activities, including R&D activities, are now carried out remotely. The production of kits and assembly on forklift trucks continues at the Moissy site, as well as validation at the Ivry site. The level of supply and stocks allows the continuation of the assembly work in good conditions until mid-April. However, it is likely that thereafter the disruption of our supply chains will also impact the assembly of our robots. As already communicated at the time of the publication of the annual results, as installation projects cannot continue during the containment period due to the closing of certain customer sites and the ban on cross-border travel, the Company has noted delays in the execution of certain projects. The people concerned have been placed on partial unemployment. In addition, other people are also on partial unemployment in order to provide care for their children. Together, these teams represent about 20% of our European staff. To date, the American and Asian teams have not been stopped. The length of the containment period and the time required to emerge from the pandemic are likely to have an impact on the 2020 results, which the Company is not in a position to estimate at this stage. As a result, BALYO is no longer in a position to maintain its 2020 sales target of more than 30 million previously announced. Uncertainty about sales calls into question the Company's objective of approaching financial break-even in the second half of 2020. In accordance with these circumstances, the Company is studying the possibilities of financial support under the plans recently announced by the French government. With the support of its two industrial partners, BALYO will also take all necessary measures to be ready for the restart of the activity as soon as the health situation allows it. Changes in the Board of Directors, co-optation of Pascal Rialland as Director Hyster-Yale Group has informed BALYO of its wish to resign from the Board of Directors with effect from 27 March 2020. The Board of Directors of BALYO of 27 March 2020 took note of this resignation and proceeded to co-opt Pascal Rialland, Chief Executive Officer, as a new director for the remainder of the term of office of Hyster-Yale Group. The co-optation of Pascal Rialland will be submitted for ratification at the next Balyo general meeting. The Board of Directors is composed of 6 members, including two independent members. All Board members thanked Hyster-Yale Group, represented by Suzy Taylor, for her active contribution to the work of the Board during her mandate. The industrial partnership between BALYO and Hyster-Yale Group remains unchanged, as does the order commitment announced in December 2019. The two companies will continue their collaboration initiated five years ago, and extended for ten years in 2018, with the common goal of producing, marketing and selling handling robots based on the standard Hyster-Yale Group forklifts. ABOUT BALYO Balyo transforms standard forklift trucks into standalone intelligent robots thanks to its breakthrough proprietary Driven by Balyo technology. The geoguidance navigation system developed by Balyo allows vehicles equipped with the system to locate their position and navigate autonomously inside buildings. Within the automated handling vehicle market, Balyo has entered into two strategic agreements with Kion Group AG (Linde Material Handling's parent company) and Hyster-Yale Group, two major operators in the material handling sector. Balyo is present in three major geographic regions (Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific). Its sales revenue reached 20.4 million in 2019. For more information, please visit our website at www.balyo.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005645/en/ Contacts: BALYO Benoit de la Motte Chief Financial Officer investors@balyo.com NewCap Financial Communication and Investor Relations Thomas Grojean/Louis-Victor Delouvrier Tel.: +33 1 44 71 98 53 balyo@newcap.eu This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 Two COVID-19 patients, including an elderly man, were discharged on Tuesday from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here in Chhattisgarh following their recovery, hospital authorities said. A 68-year-old man from Raipur and a 33-year-old man from Bhilai in Durg district were discharged from the hospital a week after they tested positive, Dr Karan Peepre, Medical Superintendent, AIIMS, told PTI. The two were admitted to the government-run hospital in the state capital after they tested positive for the novel coronavirus on March 25, he said. Their two consecutive tests were negative for the infection during the last four days, he said, adding this indicated their recovery from the viral disease. However, they have been advised to stay in isolation at home for at least a month, Peepre said. While the elderly man had no travel history outside the state capital, the Bhilai resident had returned from Dubai on March 11, he said. "After rigorous medication and isolation as per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) protocol, the two responded well to their treatment. "The VRD (Viral Research and Diagnostic) lab in the institute found their two consecutive tests negative and they were discharged as per the ICMR guidelines," he said. Four other COVID-19 patients admitted in AIIMS are in stable condition," an AIIMS release said. The release quoted director of AIIMS Nitin M Nagarkar as saying that the recovery of the two patients was a great achievement for the hospital and shows the dedication and commitment of its staff. Doctors, employees and technical staff of AIIMS, Raipur have decided to contribute one day salary in the PM- CARES Fund, set up for providing relief to those affected by COVID-19, the statement added. Almost 60 doctors, nursing staff and technical employees are working round-the-lock in AIIMS to provide treatment to coronavirus patients, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. She set out with the stated aim of procuring 10,000 N95 face masks for medical professionals in need. But after her fundraising far surpassed her initial goal, Bethenny Frankel has supplied an incredible one million full body biohazard suits to the New York State Government and New York Department Of Health. A million masks are also on the way to medical professionals, she pledged. Sharing pictures of 22 trucks filled to the brim with the yellow suits, she wrote on that it was 'mission accomplished'. 'Mission accomplished!' Bethenny Frankel delivers one million biohazard body suits to New York's health department amid drastic COVID-19 shortages; she is seen in a file picture Impressive: Sharing pictures of 22 trucks filled to the brim with the yellow suits, she wrote on that it was 'mission accomplished' She said they had managed to: 'Deliver 1 MILLION biohazard hazmat water resistant full body protective suits in 22 trucks to the New York State Government @nygovcuomo and the @nysdoh.' And Bethenny, who often uses her social media presence to fundraise for supplies during emergencies, said this was just the start. 'We are doing everything in our power to help health care workers who have been risking their lives everyday to save ours,' she wrote, asking for donations. Ready to roll: She said they had managed to: 'Deliver 1 MILLION biohazard hazmat water resistant full body protective suits in 22 trucks to the New York State Government @nygovcuomo and the @nysdoh' Packed with supplies: Bethenny sent 22 trucks filled with the suits to New York Fundraising: Bethenny collected funds through her disaster relief organization BStrong and their partner Global Empowerment Mission Body protection: The yellow suits are for front line staff to wear Bethenny collected funds through her disaster relief organization BStrong and their partner Global Empowerment Mission. Along with the suits, she is also supplying hospitals with the sought after N95 masks. And her organisation is also collecting funds to supply kits to healthcare workers. '1 million masks are still being delivered,' she Instagrammed on Monday. Her organisation now been cleared by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to provide the masks. Along with the suits, she is also supplying hospitals with the sought after N95 masks. And her organisation is also collecting funds to supply kits to healthcare workers. In need: The reality star has also 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 Doing good: Bethenny has revealed that she's donating half a million masks to medical staff in desperate need via her organization, BStrong 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' 'Every time there's a disaster I really hear from my social media followers,' she said last week. 'They're all over the world, and they let me know what's going on quicker than the news for me sometimes. '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 we're working with,' she said. Giving back: Bethenny's 'corona kits' included hand santizer, a hydration kit, medical recommendations, gloves, immune boosters, and a cash card Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cut short a western Utter Pradesh trip on Tuesday, rushing back here to discuss the possible spread of coronavirus from the religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin. Adityanath visited Ghaziabad in the morning, but called off the rest of the trip. Initially, he was scheduled visit Meerut and Agra next to assess preparations to fight the spread of coronavirus. He headed back to Lucknow meet senior officers and review quarantine measures, after reports that a meeting organised by Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi's Nizamuddin may have infected many people from the state, an official said. The CM was expected to hold a meeting with senior officials later in the day, a government spokesman said. Twenty-four people, who took part in a religious congregation in Nizamuddin West earlier this month, have tested positive for coronavirus, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Tuesday. "An estimated 700 people, who attended this congregation, have been quarantined while around 335 people have been admitted to hospitals," he told reporters, referring to the situation in Delhi. In Hyderabad, Telangana government late Monday said six people who attended the congregation between March 13 and 15 died due to coronavirus. Police have cordoned off a major area in Nizamuddin West. Thousands of people, including foreigners, visited the Jamaat premises over the past month, triggering fears now that they have spread the virus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal As novel coronavirus cases climb, the University of New Mexico Hospital announced this week that it will launch two clinical trials in an effort to find a cure. One of the trials will be for COVID-19 patients with pneumonia symptoms and another trial for patients without those symptoms. The trials are only for patients who are hospitalized with the disease. Patients at the hospital who have tested positive for the virus with pneumonia symptoms may be offered remdesivir, an antiviral drug created to fight the Ebola and Marburg viruses, said Dr. Richard Larson, the executive vice chancellor at the UNM Health Sciences Center. UNMH patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 but dont have pneumonia symptoms also can be part of a clinical trial. In that trial, patients will be treated with a combination of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, an antibiotic, according to the release. Neither clinical trial will give patients a placebo, Larson said. The way we set up this clinical trial there is not a placebo arm. Some scientists would say thats not as scientifically rigorous, but we have taken the position on this clinical trial that its better to see if it works and compare it to historical outcomes, he said. If the drug turns out to be effective we dont want to force people onto a trial arm where they couldnt get it. Dr. Michelle Harkins, the chief of UNMs Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, will be a lead investigator on both studies. We are working actively with Gilead (Sciences, Inc., the drug manufacturer) to have this in place by the end of the week, she said of the remdesivir study. I have one patient on the drug now and am looking to enroll more. Clinical trials using hydroxychloroquine are already underway at the Mayo Clinic, Columbia University and New York University. The drug is used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as malaria. Studies have suggested that it might be useful at treating the coronavirus spreading across the world. More than 160,000 people across the country have tested positive for the coronavirus and nearly 3,000 have died. In New Mexico, there have been 281 positive cases and four deaths attributed to the disease caused by the virus. There is no known cure for the disease, though for most people the virus causes mild to moderate symptoms and they recover within two to three weeks. Older adults and those with underlying health conditions are most at risk. Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County. Unmindful of the restrictions in place in Delhi, Tablighi Jamaat went ahead with their huge religious congregation between 13-15 March at Nizamuddin Markaz Masjid The fact that the sudden spurt in COVID-19 positive cases on Monday and Tuesday is attributed to Tablighi Jamaat, a large congregation with its headquarters in Nizamuddin West, gives rise to some questions about the group, its belief, and its activities. Over 3,000 of them, preachers and followers from about a dozen countries and from almost all parts of India had gathered for three days, from 13-15 March at Nizamuddin Markaz Masjid. Apologists argue that the religious congregation happened when there was no lockdown. They, however, conveniently ignore that though a full lockdown had not been ordered, by then, schools and colleges in India had already started closing, all offices government and private had issued work from home directive, and all visas were cancelled. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind had canceled their public engagements, Holi milans were canceled and Holi either was not played by individuals and societies, or, it was very subdued. Both the Union and the Delhi government had already issued orders that no function hosting more than 50 persons be held. Unmindful of these restrictions Tablighi Jamaat went ahead with their huge religious congregation. Was it a question of their faith, the belief that nothing would be done to them or they simply were not bothered or wanted to defy government orders due to COVID-19? They also didnt care that Iran had cancelled the weekly Friday prayers and Saudi Arabia had stopped closed the holy Kaaba. The fact the group still decided to hold the event could be indicative that the heads of the Jamaat believe that their faith is stronger than that of the rulers of many Islamic countries and that withholding congregational sermons and prayers owing to a viral disease, howsoever deadly, would mean repudiating Allahs command. An article titled, 'How Pakistan became a coronavirus super-spreader to the entire Muslim world' dwells at length the Tablighi Jamaats 25,000 people congregation in Lahore in Pakistan in mid-March. Ryan Naqash in Kashmir Observer details how a debate was going on among Muslim clerics in Kashmir on whether to follow faith or follow government orders on Friday prayers congregation at mosques. The Tablighi Jamaat was started in 1927 by Muhammad Ilyas al-Kandhlawi in undivided India. This orthodox group has since then grown rapidly, and is said to have established its roots in over 150 countries with over 80 million followers. Brahma Chellaney, a well-known strategic affairs expert, claims that the group was founded to wage global jihad. He then goes on to ask why not hold the negligent law enforcement officials to account" referring to the group's session in Nijamuddin. Founded in 1927 to wage global jihad, Tablighi Jamaat spread COVID-19 to six Southeast Asian nations through a mass gathering in Malaysia. Now its unlawful session in New Delhi has spread the disease across India. Why not hold the negligent law enforcement officials to account? Brahma Chellaney (@Chellaney) March 31, 2020 In another tweet, Chellaney claims that the group came under scrutiny in the US after the 9/11 attack for "serving as a recruiting ground for Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and other terrorist groups. FBI said it found that Al Qaeda was using Tablighi Jamaat for recruiting new terrorists". Tablighi Jamaat came under scrutiny in the U.S. after 9/11 for serving as a recruiting ground for Al Qaeda, the Taliban and other terrorist groups. FBI said it found that Al Qaeda was using Tablighi Jamaat for recruiting new terrorists. https://t.co/xhhBpgXJj9 Brahma Chellaney (@Chellaney) March 31, 2020 Its a fact that after the congregation was over, the preachers who had come from aboard, violating their Visa conditions, travelled to various parts of the country and gave sermons at mosques. The number of people they contracted is being scrutinised. The infected people have travelled to almost all parts of the country, so much so that a place like the Andaman and Nicobar islands reported 11 COVID-19 positive cases; ten out of the total cases had attended the Nizamuddin markaz congregation. (CNN) -- The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has sparked controversy after migrant workers, returning home during a nationwide coronavirus lockdown, were doused in bleach disinfectant used to sanitize buses. Video showed three people, dressed in protective gear, spraying the liquid directly on a group of Indian workers as they sat on the ground in the northern city of Bareilly. Ashok Gautam, a senior officer in charge of Covid-19 operations in Uttar Pradesh, told CNN as many as 5,000 people have been "publicly sprayed" when they arrived before they were allowed to disperse. "We sprayed them here as part of the disinfection drive, we don't want them to be carriers for the virus and it could be hanging on their clothes, now all borders have been sealed so this won't happen again," he said. He said the disinfectant used was a solution made from bleaching powder, and was not harmful to the human body. While chemical disinfectants work on surfaces, they can be dangerous to people. And according to the World Health Organization (WHO), putting disinfectant on your skin will not kill it if the virus is already in your body. 'Overzealous action' The chemical wash has appalled many in India. Lav Agarwal, senior official at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said Monday that local officials involved in the incident have been "reprimanded," adding that spraying migrant workers was not a "required" policy in the country. "This is an overzealous action done by some employees at the field level, either out of ignorance or fear," he said. The district magistrate of Bareilly, Nitish Kumar, also tweeted that while the municipal corporation and local fire service were under orders to sanitize buses, they were "overzealous" in spraying the migrant workers directly. "Orders to launch an inquiry against those responsible have been given," he said. Kumar, who is the highest-ranking district official in the city, added that workers affected by the incident are currently under medical surveillance following instructions from the chief medical officer. Tens of thousands of India's 45 million economic migrant workers have been making a long, arduous journeys back to their rural villages. Many of them had lost their jobs as businesses' shut their doors across India's cities due to the lockdown. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all states to seal their borders to stop the virus being imported into rural areas. Officials are now scrambling to find millions of migrant workers who had already returned to small towns and villages across the country, in order to quarantine them for 14 days. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Migrant workers sprayed with disinfectant in one Indian state" My primary conceit, if I have one, is that I have actually read a book. In consequence, I believe, I can think about the world from more than one perspective. Can we actually think about the Wu Flu yet? Cos right now most everyone seems to be running on empty. China? It is doing what lefty totalitarian dictatorships are good at: jailing its people and prompting its useful idiots abroad to broadcast its totalitarian propaganda. Progressive activists? They got busy calling Trump a racist for stopping flights from China and then calling the American people racists for disdaining the elite-approved name for the disease coined by international bureaucrats. Congerscritters? They got to work on a hand-out-the-loot stimulus bill, which only got held up for a week when the progressive activists got Nancy Pelosi to try to divert some of the loot to vital progressive activism. Federal Reserve? It got right to work printing money. Nancy Pelosi? She went on the Sunday talk shows to propose an investigation. Truckers? They marched towards the sound of the guns and insisted on keeping roadside facilities open. Media? They worked on finding five ways from Sunday to blame the whole thing on Trump. Trump? He is trying to stay two days ahead of conventional wisdom so he looks like a leader. Young people? They are acting as though they were immortal. Second-tier Democratic governors? They are making sure that nobody tries the Trump-boosted hydroxychloroquine treatment. Very Conservatives? They report being calm. Very Liberals? They lead the nation in being afraid and angry. Now, what Jordan B. Peterson writes, in 12 Rules, is that normal life is Order and anything that disturbs it is Chaos. Our brains respond instantly when chaos appears with simple hyper-fast circuits maintained from the ancient days, when our ancestors dwelled in trees, and snakes struck in a flash. After that comes the later evolving, more complex but slower responses of emotions -- and after that, comes thinking, of the higher order, which can extend over seconds, minutes or years. I think it is fair to say that not much thinking has occurred, not yet. But there is a real question about whether Chinas response is instinct or emotion. The difference between conservative and liberal response no doubt issues from the notion that liberals are all about science is real and conservatives are all about facts and logic. But let us think about what happens when people start thinking. Will China decide to come clean on the real number of cases and deaths from its Wuhan virus? Will it decide that its current propaganda offensive is beneath the dignity of the world biggest country? Will our progressive activists slow down the hunt for far-right deplorables? Will Nancy Pelosi decide not to do the obvious and blame President Trump for all the deaths? (Oh no, too late on that one.) Nah. All the actors are going to try to keep doing things just like always. The truth is that humans seldom step out of their assigned roles. That was emphasized for me yesterday when rereading Heinleins Orphans of the Sky first published in 1951. A bunch of humans are living in the Ship. They have a rigid prophetic tradition and an oral Scripture handed down from Witness to apprentice. That is their universe. But then our hero finds out that the Ship is really a spacecraft, on a multi-generational journey from Earth to the star Far Centaurus, and it is nearing its starry destination. But do the Ships politicians change their plans and maneuver the Ship to a hospitable planet? Of course not. They want to continue to rule as before; and change would disrupt their authority. But not to worry. Heinleins hero Hugh stays a step ahead of the politicians and bails out in one of the Ships boats. He lands on a hospitable planet and lives happily ever after. Just like the Pilgrims and their City on a Hill. We should be so lucky. Peterson is pretty clear. We humans like to live our lives in a nice predictable Order. We only deal with the Chaos of change when we are forced to. So really, what we are experiencing right now is everyone hoping that their current vision of Order continues unchanged, despite the threat of pandemic, death, and economic hurricane. And given the gerontocracy of todays America, with all the leaders in their 70s, good luck with any hope of change to adapt to the terrifying Chaos just around the corner. Mind you, as a geezer in his 70s, I am bound to say that the younger generation just isnt ready for leadership. What I would like to know is: when are they going to start thinking? Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class. 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It is. As of Monday, the dangerous and rapidly spreading virus has infected 831 and killed 15 in Alabama. Between Friday and Sunday, six patients succumbed to it at a hospital in Lee County. Unfortunately, this may only be the beginning. Scientists and health care professionals are warning of a widespread outbreak that will not peak until weeks from now. Worst-case scenarios paint a bleak and frightening picture of a surging infection that could overrun our healthcare system one that is already struggling due to hospital closures and a growing physician shortage. Even more troubling and concerning is the very real possibility that due to a shortage of tests, the virus may already be far more widespread than we know. While weve taken some steps to curb the rise of COVID-19, like closing schools and shutting down nonessential businesses, it is not nearly enough. In the absence of a statewide shelter-in-place order, Alabama residents, families, and community leaders must take it upon themselves to follow strict health guidelines to stop the spread of this virus. That means: Avoiding close contact and group settings. Staying 6-feet away from others. Washing your hands and avoiding touching your face. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces regularly. Staying home if you dont have to go out. And if you are experiencing symptoms, self-quarantine, and contact your doctor immediately. As a father of three small children, I am calling upon my fellow Alabamians to please hold yourselves and others accountable in the face of this unprecedented public health emergency. Its a matter of self-discipline. Its a matter of protecting ourselves and each other, including our friends, neighbors, and family members. Its a matter of life and death for our most vulnerable citizens the elderly and those with preexisting medical conditions, like asthma, diabetes or respiratory issues. As an elected official and Minority Leader of the Alabama House of Representatives, I am calling on my fellow lawmakers to act swiftly in taking immediate steps to address this crisis. That includes: Acting on Medicaid Expansion to invest in our healthcare infrastructure which would provide vital coverage to our uninsured and low-income population the very people and families who are undeniably in the crosshairs of this pandemic. Preparing to reopen hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients. Seventeen hospitals across Alabama have closed their doors over the last decade. We must act now to reopen them to meet an expected surge in patients, especially in our rural and underserved communities. Other states across the heartland and the nation are already doing just that providing additional beds anywhere they can from old medical centers to hotels and motels to dormitories to even erecting field hospitals in tents and parking garages. Taking stock of and acquiring additional vital medical equipment, including ventilators and antiviral drugs, as well as the proper masks, gloves, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure health care professionals can provide adequate treatment and care with minimal exposure to infection. Currently, supply is falling short of demand. So, our congressional delegation should be pushing federal officials and the President to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to ramp up production of PPEs and related necessities. Using any and all means to acquire more test kits. We must identify those who are infected and may or may not be experiencing symptoms. In doing so, we can empower them to take steps to protect others, like their parents and grandparents, from the spread. Given the lack of a cure or vaccine, testing and prevention are of utmost importance. Im eager to work with our federal leaders to substantially increase the availability of tests and get them to Alabama as soon as possible. Bringing on the necessary health care professionals, like doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists, to provide tests, treat patients, and save lives. We must consider cutting red tape and accelerating certification and training requirements to bring all hands on deck, including senior nursing and medical students. Lets also clear the way to allow retired healthcare providers who are ready, willing, and capable to return to practice to take on this pandemic. I respectfully and strongly ask my fellow lawmakers to join in this effort. It may mean convening a special session or changing the rules to give the legislature more flexibility to work and operate virtually. But it can be done because other states are doing it. We have a sacred duty and a moral obligation to lead with agility, urgency, and transparency to avert potentially catastrophic outcomes. We also have a responsibility to recognize the real heroes here -- those on the front lines of this battle. We thank the doctors and nurses, healthcare professionals, emergency first responders, fire and police, military personnel, farmers, grocery store staff, cashiers, food and service employees, pharmacists, truck drivers, warehouse managers, dock workers, mail carriers, delivery drivers, funeral home directors, community volunteers, nonprofits, and more. Thank you to all the essential employees across the public and private sectors who continue to show up to work every day. Thank you for keeping our state and our nation running. While their work is a source of strength, inspiration, and pride during this time of uncertainty, a cold, hard reality remains. There is more we can do. There is much more we must do. And if we continue to wait, it may be too late. Alabama is especially susceptible to this virus, given our aging population, a high rate of under- and uninsured, a high number of those with preexisting conditions, and a healthcare system thats already creaking at the seams. Thats why we cannot count on this virus to be eradicated by time and seasonal changes alone. We must flatten the curve. We must shore up our system now to prepare for the long haul, including the possibility of a second wave. Yes, there will be sacrifices. But acting now will save lives, lessen the impacts, and better position our economy for a successful recovery and long-term sustainability in the future. We know what we have to do and its nothing short of everything in our power. Now, lets do it. We may not be able to stand together physically, but lets stand together in spirit. Lets harness the strength of our will as Alabamians, individually and collectively, to stop COVID-19 and save lives. Anthony Daniels is Alabamas House Minority leader. 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. A young father has saved six lives by donating his vital organs and his family have shared their pride at knowing 'his heart is beating in someone else.' Connor Hudson, 27, from Brecon, Powys, was on the organ donor register when his life support machine was switched off two days after he tried to take his own life following years of struggle with his mental health. And now, his family have paid tribute to their 'kind, caring boy' who has already saved six lives by donating his heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. 'To know his heart is beating in someone else makes me so proud,' his mother Mandi Orton, 46, said. 'Me, his father and his step-father felt strongly about him donating his organs, and then we found out he was already registered so it gives us strength knowing that's what he wanted. Connor Hudson, 27, from Brecon, Powys, was on the organ donor register when he passed away on March 14 and donated his heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Pictured, with his four-year-old son Lawson Connor's proud family has paid tribute to the 'kind, caring boy' who has already saved six lives. Pictured, Connor She added: 'I'll remember him to be my kind caring boy who touched everyone.' Connor was a father to four-year-old son Lawson and worked at a care home for people with brain injuries. 'He felt happiest when he was at work or with his son,' explained Mandi. 'He liked being outside, walking and watching films. All through his life he was committed to helping others.' Connor died on March 14 after battling with his mental health. His friends have since rallied to raise thousands of pounds for suicide prevention. Connor (pictured) worked in a care home for people with brain injuries and was on the organ donor register And the fundraising page has since raised more than 6,000 for the mental health charity, Mind. 'My family and I are truly humbled by so much kindness and generosity being shown to Connor and my amazing family,' said his step-father Rob Orton, 43. 'You really don't know how much this is helping all of us through the darkest period in our lives.' 'Male suicide for under 30s in the UK is the biggest killer. That can't be right and we must act now.' For confidential support in the UK call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details. Coronavirus Diaries is a series of dispatches exploring how the coronavirus is affecting peoples lives. For the latest public health information, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions website. For Slates coronavirus coverage, click here. Three days into my spring break, on March 11, my college announced that we were switching to online classes until further notice. I was home visiting my parents in Herndon, Virginia, a three-hour drive from William & Mary, where Im a senior. I initially felt lucky and prepared; Id brought home three bags of dirty laundry and most of my textbooks. I had my essentialsI could handle some additional time away from campus. Some of my peers, on the other hand, were traveling with bathing suits and beach gear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then on March 19, we got an email from the colleges president telling us that campus would be closed for the rest of the year, effectively canceling the remainder of my college experience, or at least the version that I had expected. Commencement week is still scheduled for May, and our president has made clear she knows how important an in-person graduation is. But who knows what will actually happen. I am lucky. My parents can support me, while school closures and the loss of part-time jobs left others struggling to afford last-minute flights and scrambling to cover basic needs. After much campaigning by students, the college announced that we will be getting rebates on housing, meal plans, and parking decals, though we have the option to donate this money to the school to be used in an emergency aid fund for others. Students who really needed to were initially allowed to stay on campus, but then the residence halls closed. At the beginning of each semester, we all fill out emergency evacuation plans, thinking they are formalities that we need to complete for legal reasons. But in my time at William & Mary, we have had to use these emergency evacuation plans twice, first for Hurricane Florence in 2018, which kept us off campus for five days, and now for the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is my first experience as an adult with widespread panic and crisis, as it is for many of my college peers. Just when we expected to be taking on the world of cover letters and adulthood, were turning to our parents and institutions for answers about what the world will be like in a few months. They dont know whats going to happen, either, and were too old for them to hide that fact. Advertisement Advertisement I dont remember 9/11, even though I grew up about 20 minutes from Dulles airport, where hijackers boarded the plane that they flew into the Pentagon. I was 3 years old at the time. My parents made a big pillow fort facing away from the footage on the living room television and let me watch The Little Mermaid to my hearts content on a little television with a built-in VHS. With the coronavirus, my peers and I cant be shielded from the news or its consequences. But even more so, as potential carriers of the virus, we cannot ignore our role in it. My friends and I have been talking about the huge responsibility we have of slowing the spread any way we can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It made sense to close the school. With everyone coming back from spring break, someone was bound to bring the disease back. There is no isolating when you live in a 9-by-14 shoebox with a roommate and the closest thing you have to a kitchen is a Keurig coffee maker. And our student health center, sluggish under normal conditions, is not equipped to handle everyone getting sick at once, nor the staff shortages a highly infectious illness can causewe learned this week that the medical director now has the coronavirus and is in quarantine. There are people in the community we need to protect: older professors; immunocompromised students; the residents of the town, Williamsburg, 20 percent of whom are over the age of 60. Even now, the county is the epicenter of the disease in Virginia. We would have just made things worse. Advertisement Advertisement Even with the important matter of learning at stake, I cant help but think of all the senior year social activities were missing. As far as our education goes: Online classes started last week, and they are a whole different experience compared with the lively in-person lectures and discussions we were used to. We have been reduced to watching sad professors via webcam, as they combat unstable internet connections (both theirs and ours) and the Zoom videoconferencing interface. There have already been so many times when a student has finished asking what was most likely a well-thought out question, only for the rest of us to inform them that the audio and video were lagging so badly that we couldnt understand them. Were supposed to stay on camera for the whole class, to simulate the feeling of being together, but it fills me with a sense of dread, since I know all of my minuscule facial expressions are on display. Many professors have stated that we are all getting As, since anything else wouldnt be fair to the students do not have the right technology to use Zooms video feature and must instead call in to our online classes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even with the important matter of learning at stake, I cant help but think of all the senior year social activities were missing. I cant help but think about the Royal Ball, our colleges equivalent of prom. I had planned to bring my old high school prom dress back to school after spring break, but I guess it will just stay in my closet collecting dust. I cant help but think about my creative writing honors thesis defense, which I was supposed to do in front of my favorite professors. I cant help but think about the ringing of the Wren Building bell on the last day of classes and the candlelight ceremony with fellow graduating seniors. I cant help but think about toasting my freshman dorm and being reunited with the first people I ever met on campus. I cant help but think about Commencement Weekend, which would make four years of all-nighters worth it. But mostly, I cant help but think about trivia and movie nights with my friends. It was sad enough that we were going off in all different directions once we graduatedbut now we dont even get our last few weeks together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though we text, and collaborate on school projects on Zoom, were now left to take up solo hobbies: knitting, video games, writing tearful Instagram posts. I have downloaded The Sims 4 so that I can create humans who interact with one another and leave their homes. I am recording videos for the William & Mary Television Club in my bathtub Stephen Colbertstyle, and creating a virtual visiting experience of my favorite place in the world, the William & Marys 17th-century Wren Building, since I will never again get to give tours there in person. Because I dont have my friends to watch movies with me, my dad agreed to watch the Netflix teen rom-com To All the Boys Ive Loved Before. Unlike my friends, he didnt focus on the good looks of Noah Centineo, and just kept pausing the movie to look at the setting details of Portland, Oregon, where he recently went on a business trip. I know hes trying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think a lot about the Thursday before spring break, when I walked out of class with my best friend. I was determined to get to the dining hall before it got crowded, and not paying attention to my surroundings. I didnt realize my friend had changed direction to head to her car until she shouted at me, from a distance, Have a good spring break! I yelled, You too! before walking to the dining hall alone. No big deal at the timewe thought wed see each other soon. But I wish now that I had hugged her. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. Jameela Jamil has revealed she regrets coming out as queer at the time she did. The actress, 34, admitted she 'snapped' and came out after receiving criticism for joining TV series Legendary, a competition focused on ballroom culture. Many people thought the judging panel should be exclusively made up of queer people to reflect the show's themes, with Jameela then confirming she is queer. Interview: Jameela Jamil, 34, has revealed she regrets coming out as queer at the time she did (pictured in March 2020) In an interview with Variety Live, The Good Place star admitted she would have preferred to come out at a different time, describing the admission as an 'outburst'. She said: 'It was just an outburst. That was not well-handled. I'm just human and I snapped! If I could go back I would have done it at a different time. I don't know when it's ever really appropriate, but that was not the best time.' Jameela 'wrestled with the shame' of her sexuality for 'a long time' as she said being queer isn't 'accepted' within her South Asian background. And the actress kept this aspect of herself quiet because she wanted to keep part of her private life to herself, but admitted it does feel 'nice' to have it off her chest. Criticism: The actress admitted she 'snapped' and came out after receiving criticism for joining TV series Legendary, a competition focused on ballroom culture She said: 'I come from a South Asian background, so you just don't really have a lot of queer idols. There isn't a lot of conversation around it. 'There isn't a lot of acceptance for it within my culture, traditionally. It was just something that I wrestled with the shame of for a long time. 'I have never felt like my private life is mine alone, so I've been trying to grapple with how to handle that for so long because I don't like having my love life scrutinised. So I kept it quiet for a while to give myself some privacy and then it just burst out of me. 'Not my favourite moment of the year. We live and we learn it's nice to have it off my chest.' Show: Many people thought the panel should be exclusively made up of queer people to reflect the show's themes, with Jameela then confirming she is queer (pictured in January 2020) Jameela spoke about her sexuality in a lengthy social media post last month, where she said it was 'scary' to open up to the world before she was ready. She wrote: 'This is why I never officially came out as queer. I added a rainbow to my name when I felt ready a few years ago, as it's not easy within the South Asian community to be accepted, and I always answered honestly if ever straight-up asked about it on Twitter. 'But I kept it low because I was scared of the pain of being accused of performative bandwagon jumping, over something that caused me a lot of confusion, fear and turmoil when I was a kid. 'I didn't come from a family with *anyone* openly out. It's also scary as an actor to openly admit your sexuality, especially when you're already a brown female in your thirties. This is absolutely not how I wanted it to come out. 'I'm jumping off this hell app for a while because I don't want to read mean comments dismissing this. You can keep your thoughts. (sic)' She said: 'It was just an outburst. That was not well handled. I'm just human and I snapped! If I could go back I would have done it at a different time' (pictured in January 2020) It comes after Jameela admitted she chose an 'inappropriate time' to come out in a social media post soon after the backlash. She wrote: 'The sequence of events was insane, a misunderstanding was left uncorrected for too long, and misinformation spread too far, too fast, then my timing was bad, and in a moment of distress and pain, personal things were blurted out because when you have a secret for decades and youre traumatized, it always feels like it might just f*****g burst out of you at any given moment, even the most inappropriate and unfortunate ones. 'I thankfully chose the *most* inappropriate and unfortunate time, maybe ever, for mine. So now you dont have to feel embarrassed about yours. I PEAKED FOR ALL OF US! 'But timing aside. Better out than in, and thank you for the thousands of messages of kindness and deeply personal letters from strangers and people I know, coming out to me privately. I dont take it lightly and am happy for you that you felt ready to tell even one person. 'Do it whenever you feel the time is right, as long as you think youll be safe. Dont feel bad for hiding it for as long as you need, and move at your own pace. 'But feel no shame about getting it off your chest and know you arent alone. There is a huge community of people who understand you, respect you and stand with you. 'On we go, hoping this week will be calmer than the last, and sending everyone the most love. Jam'. Odisha Government on Tuesday informed that it is tracking people returning from Delhi, who were part of Tablighi Jamat religious congregation. This comes after 24 people were tested COVID-19 positive, who had attended the Markaz (Tablighi Jamaat) in Delhi's Nizamuddin held earlier this month. "Government of Odisha is tracking people returning from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Odisha. So far 3 persons already have been identified and kept under quarantine. We are tracking them to find other persons," said Commissioner/Secretary of Information & Public Relations Department, Sanjay Singh said during a press conference. Giving out information on the COVID-19 testing facility in the state, he added: "A new COVID-19 test facility has been started in SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Now there are 3 Test Centres in Odisha." Over inconvenience caused due to lockdown, he said: "Workers from other States stranded in Odisha have been provided with shelter and food. Till now, about 19,838 workers have been taken care of in 276 nos of temporary camps. A 24 hour helpline no-18003456703 is functioning to facilitate these people." Talking about the problems faced by daily wagers amid lockdown, he said: "Destitute and helpless people are being provided with cooked food in Gram Panchayats and urban areas, today, 1,75,385 persons in 4338 Gram Panchyats and 14,383 persons in 114 ULBs of the State have been provided cooked food. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After a week of the lockdown, the active coronavirus cases in the country stood at 1,397 against the global tally of 803,541. The death toll in India has risen to 35 from 10 at the time lockdown was announced on March 24. While big cities such as Delhi and Mumbai are witnessing a sharp spike in Covid-19 positive cases, Nizamuddin in the national capital was clearly the centre of attention on Tuesday. Even at the routine press conference on the virus, the questions revolved around the cases originating from a religious congregation in Nizamuddin earlier this month and how they might ... Of course the issues were different. The country was different, its role in the world was different. The means of communication were different, the methods of transportation were different. The roles of the sexes were different, racial attitudes were different. Even the diversions were different; there were dance halls and vaudeville and a World Series where the Cleveland Indians prevailed over the Brooklyn Robins. The candlestick phones that were popular did not have camera features. But there was this: In 1920, the leading presidential candidate did not campaign among crowds at all. A century ago -- when the post-World War I flu pandemic clearly had passed its peak danger and wasn't much of a campaign issue at all -- Warren G. Harding didn't venture into packed hotel ballrooms, held no rallies, appeared at no rope lines. He didn't venture into the country to seek votes. He stayed at home and bid the voters to visit him in Marion, Ohio. It was the last of the four front-porch campaigns, and the way he ran against Gov. James M. Cox of Ohio may be the precursor of the way former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. is forced to run against President Donald J. Trump this fall. The contours of presidential politics 2020 already have been altered. Nine states postponed their primaries. The parties can't be sure they can hold their summertime nominating conventions. The financial crash endangers campaign fundraising, and in any case, glittery events to rake in money are out of the question. The rhythms of the campaign have been reset. Just weeks ago the political world was dominated by the campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, and the struggle between Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont was the principal topic in political circles and on cable television. That fight has become the undercard in the American conversation. Biden is gasping for airtime, stumbled in an appearance on "The View," issued a bland video from his basement and was overshadowed even in his own campaign by a far more compelling video appearance by his onetime chief of staff Ron Klain, who asked why the Trump administration had dismantled the pandemic response operation he built in the White House in the Barack Obama years. Meanwhile, Sanders -- in the thick of the fight on Capitol Hill over the economic-stimulus debate and carrying much of the progressive water in that struggle -- has won much media attention. Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, with a personal profile perhaps even more abrasive and off-putting than that of Sanders, has emerged as the Democratic media star of the moment. His daily briefings have been so compelling that even Nikki Haley, the onetime South Carolina governor many Trump supporters wish would replace Vice President Mike Pence on the GOP ticket, regards them as must-see TV. The political figure who is the straw stirring the media drink: Trump himself. Presidents always emerge as the major figure in times of crisis; nobody paid much mind to Gov. Alf Landon of Kansas in 1933 as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt struggled to steer the country out of the Great Depression, much as nobody worried much about Sen. Barry Goldwater's views about the Cuban Missile Crisis. Trump remains where he has been since the early months of the 2016 presidential campaign and into his White House years: at the center of every conversation, every debate, every seminar in the American presidency, every conference (even by Zoom) on the nature and future of American politics. His televised appearances spawn more news than any event anywhere. And though his highest approval ratings remain the lowest of any president's since polling began, they are inching toward the important 50% mark in several of them and have surpassed that level in the Harris Poll, which generally has been more favorable to the president. Meanwhile his opponents wonder, as they once did about the mythological Waldo, where is Joe Biden? The editorial pages of The Wall Street Journal said Biden had become "a junior partner of the congressional wing of his party," no compliment from that corner. His campaign was slow developing a digital operation, in part because his campaign had been so weak early on that he didn't attract enough money to build what now is a vital part of his effort to slam Sanders from the race, gather the remaining 777 delegates to reach the 1,991 required for the nomination, and retool for the general-election campaign. Now he is facing the prospect of running for president less like FDR than like Harding, conducting a 2020 version of the 1920 campaign that Harding ran from his front porch. Harding argued for a theme Biden has embraced with enthusiasm: a return to "normalcy," a term that had been confined to higher mathematics until Harding popularized it a century ago. The Biden and Harding campaigns have political nostalgia, which is why Harding deliberately sought to employ an image from the Garfield campaign of 1880 while utilizing the radio technology of 1920. "A huge theme of the Harding front-porch campaign was that in a period of turbulence, he presented a portrait of the serenity of the good old days," said Phillip Payne, a St. Bonaventure University historian and author of "Dead Last: The Public Memory of Warren G. Harding's Scandalous Legacy," published in 2009. "Biden will campaign on a return -- a return to competent government, a return to the familiar. Harding may have stood on his front porch and spouted platitudes, but it worked. It was the image of 'normalcy' and looking 'presidential' that he was selling." A front-porch campaign -- also conducted by Benjamin Harrison in 1888 and William McKinley in 1896 -- has attributes Biden might consider in his makeshift studio. He cannot summon large crowds to Wilmington, of course, because people can't travel and can't assemble on his lawn. But he could set out his views, announce his running mate, mount a verbal offensive against the president, and even deliver his non-convention acceptance speech from that basement redoubt. "It could work," said Jeffrey Bourdon, a University of Southern Mississippi historian who wrote a book on front-porch campaigns. "You can produce optics for television, Twitter and Instagram. It is a technique tried only four times, but there never has been a candidate who tried it who lost." David M. Shribman is the former executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Follow him on Twitter at ShribmanPG. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stocks in the news today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus in Tuesday's trading session based on latest developments. Dhampur Sugar Mills: The company has started production of 'Hand Sanitizers' at its unit at Dhampur, District Bijnor, U.P., from 29th March 2020. NMDC: The company has donated Rs 150 crore to the PM Cares Fund to help in the fight against COVID-19. JSW Energy: The company informed the exchanges BSE, NSE that Brickwork Ratings India has reaffirmed its ratings on Commercial Papers of the Company. The filing also added that CARE Ratings Ltd has reaffirmed ratings on Bank facilities of Barmer Lignite Mining Company Limited9 company's joint venture). Coromandel Intenational: The company announced that it has redeemed Commercial Paper (CP) amounting Rs 300 crore that was issued by the company on January 31, 2020. HeidelbergCement India: The company said that debottlenecking projects at Imlai and Jhansi plants have been duly completed within the scheduled timelines and the grinding capacity of these plants stand enhanced to 2.50 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) and 3.25 MTP A respectively. The aggregate cement grinding capacity of the company stands enhanced to 6.26 MTPA, the filing added. Maharashtra Scooters: In a clarification note over the price movement, the company said that there are no disclosures on any events, or any information including price sensitive information which are pending to be made from its end. The filing added that the company has no information on the reasons for the current price movement of shares. Suzlon Energy: The company announced that the resolution plan has been unanimously approved by the consortium of lenders. SBI, the lead bank of the consortium conveyed to the company that the resolution plan was approved by it and subsequently circulated to the consortium of lenders, was put to vote by the consortium of the lenders and which has since been approved by 100% of lenders by value, and 100% of lenders by numbers, the filing added. Federal Bank: The lender informed BSE, NSE that its board has approved an investment of Rs 148 crore in subsidiary- Fedbank Financial Services Limited (FFSL) through rights issue. Objective of the Rights issue is to infuse regulatory capital in the firm. This is more than 5% of the Post-issue paid up capital of FFSL, the filing added. Piramal Enterprises: Company said the Administrative Committee of the Board of Directors has approved the allotment of 7,500 secured, rated, unlisted, redeemable non-convertible debentures having a face value of Rs 10,00,000 each, aggregating up to Rs 750 crore. Gujarat Gas: Company said its board of directors has approved the appointment of Sandeep Dave, GGM (S&L) as Company Secretary, Compliance Officer and Key Managerial Personnel, effective from 30th March 2020. Jubilant Industries: Company's announced that its material unlisted subsidiary, Jubilant Agri and Consumer Pro ducts Limited has temporarily discontinued manufacturing operations in plant located at Savli, Gujarat, engaged in the production of VP Latex, non-essential services till further directions of Government. During a conference call with governors on Monday, President Trump expressed surprise that there were shortages of coronavirus test kits in the United States. The New York Times obtained an audio recording of the phone call, in which Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) is heard saying his state doesn't have an adequate number of tests. "Literally, we are one day away, if we don't get test kits from the CDC, that we wouldn't be able to do testing in Montana," he said. There are reports out of all states that people with COVID-19 coronavirus symptoms are not able to get tested due to a lack of kits, but Trump told the governors he hasn't "heard about testing in weeks. We've tested more now than any nation in the world. We've got these great tests and we're coming out with a faster one this week." He added, "I haven't heard about testing being a problem." Based on how many people are being tested per capita, the United States is far behind other nations like South Korea, the Times reports. After the call, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) said he was stunned by Trump's remarks. "It would be shocking to me that if anyone who has had access to any newspaper, radio, social networks, or any other communication would not be knowledgeable about the need for test kits," he told the Times. "I can be assured that the White House knows very well about this desperate need for test kits." More stories from theweek.com Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is what real coronavirus leadership looks like The case for cautious optimism about the pandemic Walmart to start taking workers' temperatures, providing gloves and masks Rabbi Ilana Baden, of Temple Chai, located in Long Grove, said she knew it was the right thing to do, though. She said it was heartbreaking to cancel in-person worship but that she was proud the temple was doing its part in keeping its members safe. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy The Republic of Ireland's top health officials will today discuss the possibility of closing the Irish border in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Ireland's chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, was asked yesterday whether unrestricted movement across the Irish border should continue in the context of differing health policies on tackling the virus. The senior medic said the issue of all-Ireland travel would be discussed at today's meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team, which leads the country's efforts in tackling the pandemic. He said potential further restrictions on movement onto the island would also be considered. "We won't rule anything in or rule anything out - will give further consideration again tomorrow, and that will include questions of movement on the island," he said yesterday. Dr Holohan also challenged the suggestion that the Covid-19 infection rate could currently be lower if restrictions on movement had been introduced earlier. He said introducing measures too early risked public fatigue when adherence was most needed. Dr Holohan said he and his team would only recommend a relaxation of current restrictions on movement when it was appropriate to do so. "We will keep the progress of this disease under review right the way through that period, we will keep the effectiveness of these measures under review," he said. "We believe we've asked a huge amount of society. We will want to lift these measures as soon as we reasonably can. We won't recommend the lifting of these measures any point earlier than is responsible for us to do so." Epidemic modelling expert Professor Philip Nolan said social distancing measures have more than halved the growth rate of coronavirus in the Republic. The 33% rate recorded before restrictions were put in place has fallen to 15% in recent days, the chairman of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group (IEMAG) said. Professor Nolan said the rate had to drop further if the healthcare system was to cope with the peak of the virus. "Clearly we're flattening the curve," he said. "And by definition that pushes the peak further out. And that's good news. That's what we want." Meanwhile, there has been almost a 50% rise in just a few days in the number of people being treated for coronavirus in England's hospitals, according to new figures. Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said on Friday that more than 6,200 patients were in hospital with Covid-19. But yesterday, he said this figure had jumped to more than 9,000. England's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said the NHS was seeing around an additional 1,000 patients a day and described this daily rise as "stable". He said: "I do expect that number to continue. I expect people coming every day to be about that, it may go up a little bit. And in two or three weeks you would expect that to stabilise and to start to go down a bit." It came as 1,408 people were confirmed to have died in UK hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19, as of 5pm on Sunday. This is up 180 from 1,228 the day before. Meanwhile, Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London and author of a report warning of mass deaths if the UK did not introduce strict controls, said the epidemic was spreading at different rates in different parts of the country, but across the UK perhaps 2% or 3% of the population had been infected. Based on the estimated UK population of 66 million, this would mean between 1.3 million and 2 million people have or have had the illness. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 05:25:23|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close The U.S. Navy Ship (USNS) Comfort sails toward Pier 90 in New York, the United States, on March 30, 2020. The U.S. Navy Ship (USNS) Comfort arrived in New York City on Monday, bringing 1,000 hospital beds to help relieve the city's overwhelmed hospital system amid COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Guang Yu/Xinhua) NEW YORK, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Navy Ship (USNS) Comfort arrived in New York City on Monday, bringing 1,000 hospital beds to help relieve the city's overwhelmed hospital system amid COVID-19 pandemic. Both New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio went to greet the ship, which docked on Monday morning at Pier 90 in the West Side of Manhattan. "We all watch something absolutely extraordinary, absolutely inspiring as the USNS Comfort enter New York Harbor, coming here to save the lives of New Yorkers in our hour of need, " de Blasio made the remarks after welcoming the ship. The Comfort, one of two hospital ships with the Navy, is staffed by some 1,200 medical personnel. It also contains 12 fully-equipped operating rooms, a medical laboratory, a pharmacy, an optometry lab, a CAT-scan, among other facilities, according to the website of the Navy. It will start operating on Tuesday treating non-COVID-19 patients so as to free up beds in local hospitals which can be focused on fighting the pandemic by establishing more intensive care units, officials have said. The most populous city in the country has been the hardest hit with over 36,000 cases reported by Monday afternoon, according to data compiled by the the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. "We realize at this moment that our nation has heard our plea for help here in New York City. And there could not be a better example of all of America pulling for New York City than the arrival of the USNS Comfort," the mayor added. Governor Cuomo, who met with the press on site, expressed thanks to the U.S. Navy and the Army which is going to help staff the ship, and President Trump for mobilizing this effort in a short period of time. He again called for unity of all Americans as "what you're seeing in New York is going to spread across this country." "New Yorkers thank this nation for the help they're giving New Yorkers today, and we will reciprocate the favor. And what we're learning here, and the training that's going on here, is going to benefit the places all across this nation in the coming weeks and the coming months," he noted. Monday also marked the opening of the field hospitals assembled by the Army in the Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan. The governor said the hospitals provide 2,500 beds which are also for treating non-COVID-19 patients. "So, we are doing this ship - 1,000 beds; Javits - 2,500 beds. About 3,500 beds to relieve the stress that our hospital system is facing," he added. A 2,000-foot underground tunnel connecting Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, and a massive haul of drugs worth $29.6million was discovered, the Drug Enforcement Agency revealed on Tuesday. The DEA said agents on the San Diego Tunnel Task Force made the tunnel discovery March 19 before reaching out to Mexican authorities for additional support. The tunnel was built by a transnational cartel and extended from Tijuana, Mexico, to the Otay Mesa area of San Diego. The DEA announced Monday it seized more than 4,000 pounds of cocaine, marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl that were shipped across a 2,000ft cross-border tunnel is discovered March 19 The tunnel is 2,000 feet long and extends from a warehouse in Tijuana, Mexico, to a warehouse in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego The confiscated drugs have an estimated street value of $29.6 million, according to the DEA Federal investigators said the underground passageway is at least 31 feet underground and almost three feet wide throughout its trajectory. The DEA confiscated almost 3,000 pounds of marijuana, 1,300 pounds of cocaine, 86 pounds of methamphetamine, 17 pounds of heroin and two pounds of fentanyl. It is the first time in San Diego's history that five different types of narcotics were found inside a tunnel. A hatch leading to a cross-border tunnel connecting two warehouse operated by a cartel to ferry drugs from Tijuana, Mexico, to San Diego is pictured The DEA said it is the first time agents have confiscated five different types of drugs in a tunnel 'I'm proud of the excellent work performed by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, as well as U.S. Border Patrol and Drug Enforcement Administration agents as integrated partners of the San Diego Tunnel Task Force. Their tenacity made the difference in shutting down this tunnel,' said Cardell T. Morant, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego. 'I hope this sends a clear message that despite the ongoing public health crisis, HSI and our law enforcement partners will remain resilient and continue to pursue criminal organizations responsible for the cross-border smuggling of narcotics into the United States.' The DEA estimated that the tunnel was built several months ago. The tunnel is equipped with fortified walls, ventilation, lights and a rail system, which allowed the smugglers to easily ferry the drugs through the Mexico-United States border. The DEA confiscated almost 3,000 pounds of marijuana, 1,300 pounds of cocaine, 86 pounds of methamphetamine, 17 pounds of heroin and two pounds of fentanyl The clandestine narco tunnel was built 31 feet below the surface and extended 2,000 feet The agency said it received support from Mexico's Attorney General and the Secretariat of National Defense to find the tunnel's entrance in Tijuana before a federal judge in California approved a search warrant for the San Diego warehouse, the location of clandestine passageway's exit in the United States. 'If cartels keep spending millions of dollars building tunnels, we will keep finding and filling them,' said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. 'This time, we seized a jaw-dropping $30 million worth of dangerous drugs that aren't going to reach the streets... This takedown is even more significant in the face of a global pandemic, where stopping the movement of unauthorized people and packages across international borders is of utmost importance.' The one-upmanship of political parties began on Day 7 of the nationwide lockdown with each patting its back and finding fault with the other. Each party claimed that it is doing its best for the people facing hardships during the lockdown. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadera asserted that party-ruled states Punjab, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are geared up to face the crisis by taking over several private hospitals to run isolation wards. The Congress-ruled state governments is also ensuring that essential items reach every house, the grand old party claimed. Congress has been repeatedly raising the questions about the handling of the COVID-19 issue and in particular the problem faced by migrant workers due to the announcement of lockdown. For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here The party also took to social media to blame Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ignoring early warnings by WHO about coronavirus outbreak. "We had enough time to prepare but the Centre turned a blind eye," the tweet accused PM of apathy with #PMDoesNOTCare. With the same hashtag, it also tweeted Dear PM, We've been listening to your Mann Ki Baat for long enough but are you listening to the migrant labourers, doctors, expert voices & opposition? Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths On the other hand, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra trained guns on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleging that while it is time for non-partisan participation in relief work across the country, a party MLA was threatened and detained while he was distributing rice to the poor in his constituency following all social distancing norms." BJPs national general secretary (organisation) B L Santosh charged that the local administrations in Kolkata, Puducherry which is ruled by Opposition parties Trinamool Congress and Congress respectively were blocking BJP leaders and workers from distributing relief materials to poor. Petty politics at times of crisis. Strongly condemn, he said. After Sundays large movement of migrants out of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi party faced accusation of triggering exodus of migrant workers from Delhi. Congress communication department chief Randeep Surjewala sought to put BJP-ruled governments of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and AAPs Delhi government in dock over migration woes. The Manohar Lal Khattar government of Haryana was particularly in the line of fire by Surjewala, who alleged that it has totally failed to control the prices of essential commodities and ensure their delivery. CEDAR RAPIDS (AP) An outbreak of the coronavirus at a Cedar Rapids long-term care facility has infected 21 people, officials said Monday, as the state reported its biggest single-day jump in cases at 88. The outbreak contributed to a recent surge of infections in Linn County, which Monday became the county in Iowa with the most cases. Linn County Public Health spokeswoman Heather Meador would not identify the facility, saying that could jeopardize the privacy of its residents. She said public health officials are working with the facilitys corporate owner to monitor the situation, including the health of residents and safety of employees. We are in daily communication so we can help the facility and the residents through this crisis, Meador said at a news conference. Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday announced 88 more Iowa residents have tested positive for COVID-19, the largest single day increase thus far. She reported two new deaths, residents of Linn and Washington counties both over the age of 81. That brings to six the total COVID-19 deaths in Iowa so far. No new cases were reported in Black Hawk County, leaving the total at six. Tama County tallied another case, an adult between the ages of 18 and 40. The increase in cases, which brings the state total to 424, comes as the number of tests conducted has also jumped. Health officials expect cases in Iowa to increase for two to four more weeks before peaking. The reality is that the end is not yet in sight, Reynolds said. For now we must adjust to a new normal, one that is uncomfortable, inconvenient and uncertain. And this is not an easy time. Linn County now has had 71 residents test positive for the coronavirus. Johnson County, which has 70 cases, had been the leader in Iowa since the beginning of the outbreak. Linn County also had two of Iowas six virus-related deaths. Meador would not say whether those deaths were linked to the outbreak at the long-term care facility The virus is spreading through our community at a pretty good clip, said Linn County Board of Supervisors Chairman Stacey Walker, who urged Gov. Kim Reynolds to issue a shelter-in-place order. Reynolds has so far declined to do so. She has ordered bars, dine-in restaurants, theaters, casinos and businesses that sell furniture, books and clothing to remain closed until at least April 7 to help limit the virus spread. Schools have been closed statewide. She said shell decide later this week whether to extend that emergency order until the new April 30 federal target. Reynolds, who participated Monday in a conference call with Vice President Mike Pence and other U.S. governors, said the White House expects to issue more guidance for states on the pandemic this week. This isnt going to be over in two weeks, she cautioned. The governor said Iowa still has a significant shortage of personal protective equipment, but she praised inspiring businesses for stepping up to produce and donate needed items like masks, face shields, gowns and gloves. Iowa has pending orders for more than 2 million surgical/procedural masks, 500,000-plus N95 masks, 500,000-plus face shields and 250,000 gowns, Reynolds said. There have been 153 deliveries by Iowa National Guard soldiers and others to all Iowa counties. She said the state will receive at least 15 new mobile testing machines from Abbott Laboratories that can process tests in five minutes, possibly deployed to hospitals and nursing homes. The Health Department said Monday there have been a total of 6,162 negative tests to date, including 1,149 Monday, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs. Cases have been confirmed in 56 of Iowas 99 counties. Currently, 51 Iowans are hospitalized with coronavirus-related illnesses or symptoms, while another 23 have been discharged and recovered. Another 203 Iowans who tested positive have not required hospital treatment. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. Rod Boshart of The Couriers Des Moines Bureau contributed to this report. By Ruma Paul DHAKA, March 31 (Reuters) - Bangladesh, the second-largest apparel producer after China, is set to lose roughly $6 billion in export revenue this financial year amid cancellations from some of the world's largest brands and retailers, two major industry bodies said on Tuesday. The two groups, which represent the vast majority the readymade garment and knitwear manufacturers in the country, said cancellations were increasing daily amid coronavirus-driven lockdowns globally, and these risked jeopardizing millions of jobs in the poor South Asian nation. Low wages have helped Bangladesh build its garment industry, with some 4,000 factories employing 4 million workers. Garment exports accounted for $34.12 billion, or 84% of the country's overall exports of $40.53 billion, in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019. "We've lost more than $3 billion due to the crisis. All our orders until July have been cancelled or suspended," Mohammad Hatem, vice president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said. "Suspended orders will eventually get cancelled. All these orders were placed for summer and it takes three months to get these delivered. If they are not taking supplies now they will not take it when the summer is over," said Hatem, adding buyers had adopted a wait and watch policy, and are refraining from placing new orders. "Many factories will be closed if this persists," he added. One industry source, who asked not to be named as the order books are confidential, said Gap, Zara, and Primark were among the brands that had cancelled orders. Gap, Zara and Primark did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Readymade garment makers face a similar hit, warned Rubana Huq, the president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). Huq said some 1,048 factories that were part of BGMEA had reported that orders for over 900 million garments worth $2.9 billion had already been cancelled or were being held up. Story continues Huq said the order cancellations could affect some 2 million workers in the readymade garments segment. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently unveiled a $588 million package for the country's crucial export sector, asking companies to put the money towards paying workers. "This is not enough. The government should come up with more stimulus to save the country's biggest export sector," said Rezwan Selim, a director of BGMEA. Siddiqur Rahman, a top exporter who supplies H&M, and Walmart among others, said the situation was dire. "We're facing an unprecedented time," he said. "No one knows how long this is going to take. We're trying hard not to shut down our factories. But how long can we hold out?" (Reporting by Ruma Paul; Writing and additional reporting by Euan Rocha; Editing by Nick Macfie) A new hostel of a state-run engineering institute in Odisha's Sambalpur district will be converted into a 500-bed hospital for treating COVID- 19 patients, officials said on Tuesday. Work on converting an unused hall of residence of the Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla into a COVID-19 hospital is in progress and the medical facility is expected to be ready soon, a senior official said. Sambalpur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Suryanarayan Dash said the medical establishment will be equipped with all facilities required in a COVID-19 hospital, including 50 ICUs with ventilator facilities. "Doctors and paramedical staff of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla, will treat patients in the new medical facility," Dean and Principal of VIMSAR, Brajamohan Mishra said. Mishra said the district administration is carrying out work on the new facility and will hand it over to them once it is completed. Two isolation wards have been set up at VIMSAR and the state government is planning to establish a laboratory in the institute for testing samples of persons suspected to be infected with coronavirus, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US authorities were finalizing a plan on Tuesday to allow a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship, the Zaandam, to dock in Florida after its operator warned that more passengers may die if it is left out at sea. "Already four guests have passed away and I fear other lives are at risk," Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line, said in a column published in the South Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper. The Zaandam, which left Buenos Aires on March 7, was originally meant to dock in Fort Lauderdale on April 7 at the conclusion of a month-long cruise. After a coronavirus outbreak on board, it was decided to cut the voyage short. But, since a brief stop in Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia on March 14, it has been turned away from several South American ports over fears of contagion. Holland America has asked for permission for the Zaandam and its sister ship, the Rotterdam -- which was dispatched from San Diego to its aid -- to dock at Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades terminal. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressed opposition Monday, saying that he did not want sick passengers "dumped" in his state, which has more than 6,000 coronavirus cases already. But Fort Lauderdale port authorities and members of the Broward County Board of Commissioners appeared inclined Tuesday to allow the ships to dock, possibly as early as Thursday afternoon. William Burke, chief maritime officer at Carnival Corp., which owns Holland America, outlined a plan to the commissioners for healthy passengers to disembark and then be sent home on charter flights. Sick passengers would remain aboard and be treated until they are well enough to travel, Burke told a meeting of the Broward County Board of Commissioners broadcast online. "We have several ventilators, extra oxygen," Burke said. "We have the right equipment." The county commissioners appeared to be prepared to allow the plan to go ahead pending its approval by members of a so-called "Unified Command", made up of state and local authorities and others including the US Coast Guard and US Centers for Disease Control. "Get these people off the ship as quickly as possible," said Broward County commissioner Barbara Sharief. "They deserve to be treated humanely." Broward County Mayor Dale Holness said a final decision would be taken on Thursday morning pending the approval of the plan. President Donald Trump said Tuesday evening he would intervene and speak to the governor soon to find a solution. "I'm going to do what's right. Not only for us but for humanity," he told a new conference. - 'Compassion' - Ashford, the Holland America president, said a total of 1,243 passengers and 1,247 crew members were stranded at sea on the Zaandam and Rotterdam. There are 305 US citizens and 247 Canadians among the passengers. Ashford said that as of Monday, 76 passengers and 117 crew members on the Zaandam had influenza-like illness. Burke said they include nine who have tested positive for COVID-19. "These are unfortunate souls unwittingly caught up in the fast-changing health, policy and border restrictions that have rapidly swept the globe," he said. "Nations are justifiably focused on the COVID-19 crisis unfolding before them," Ashford said. "But they've turned their backs on thousands of people left floating at sea. "What happened to compassion and help thy neighbor?" Hundreds of healthy passengers were transferred from the Zaandam to the Rotterdam and the ships passed through the Panama Canal over the weekend to head for Fort Lauderdale. Passengers have been self-isolating in their cabins on the Zaandam since March 22, according to Holland America. The coronavirus-stricken Holland America Line cruise ship Zaandam (L) and its sister ship the Rotterdam The president of the Holland America Line has appealed for a port to allow the coronavirus-stricken cruise ship the Zaandam to dock The second batch of donations that includes Coronavirus protective equipment and ventilators from Chinese charity organizations have arrived in Delhi, said Chinese Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong on Tuesday. The donation was received by the Indian Red Cross Society in Delhi. "2nd batch of a donation from Chinese charity organizations Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundations has arrived in Delhi today & been received by Indian Red Cross Society. The donation includes protective clothes, masks, respirators, and ventilators," tweeted Weidong. Coronavirus which first originated from Wuhan city of China has so far claimed the lives of over 37000 people worldwide. India's first coronavirus cases were reported in Wuhan-return students. The total number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 1,397 after 146 new patients were reported in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Tuesday. "The Chinese people will stand firmly with the Indian people on the fight against #COVID19 and we'll get through hard times together," said the envoy. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The body of a 5-year-old boy was discovered near an Alaskan trail after his mother said they got lost during a hike. A ground search team found the child, Jaxson Brown, around 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, three days after he and his mother went for a hike along Lunch Creek Trail in Ketchikan. The boy's mother, Jennifer Treat, told Alaska State Troopers that she and Jaxson went on a hike Wednesday afternoon. Image: Jaxson Brown. (Alaska State Troopers) "During the hike, the pair became disoriented and lost the trail," the state troopers office said in a press release. "They spent the night together. In the morning, Treat left Jaxson to seek help on her own, as he was reportedly tired and didnt want to hike anymore." "In her rush to find help, Treat reportedly tripped on a root and significantly injured her leg," authorities said. Treat, 36, was found alone on Friday about three miles up the trail after state troopers received a call to help find a woman and her child. Her car was found parked near the trail, the press release said. Twenty ground searchers and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter assisted in the search for Jaxson. The Lunch Creek trail is 4.8 miles long and is composed of both natural tread and boardwalk, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Its difficulty level is rated as moderate. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks 2020/03/31 Q: As the global pandemic is spreading in multiple places, some overseas Chinese students are hoping to return home. What's the Chinese government's consideration of their return? A: The CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to and cares deeply about Chinese students abroad, and has taken major measures to protect their safety and health. Relevant departments have taken proactive actions accordingly. They are children of the motherland and the future of our country. After the COVID-19 first broke out, overseas Chinese nationals, especially students, donated funds and items out of care and support for the fight at home, which shows great patriotism. After the COVID-19 broke out in many places around the world, China arranged temporary flights to bring back in an orderly manner people in straits from Iran and Italy. The CPC and the Chinese government closely follow and care for the health and safety of overseas Chinese students. In accordance with the directions of the CPC Central Committee, the foreign ministry instructed over 280 Chinese embassies and consulates overseas to maintain close contact with overseas Chinese students, get to know their appeals and difficulties, and help them solve practical problems. Our diplomatic missions urged their host countries to take effective measures to safeguard the safety, health and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students. We also forwarded through various channels a prevention and control guideline on COVID-19 as well as local regulations on the pandemic and strengthened communication with the students in various ways. For example, we arranged for medical teams and working groups to exchange with them face-to-face or online to provide science-based, professional guidance. The diplomatic missions also mobilized resources to distribute "health kits" containing essential epidemic prevention materials and guidelines. The diplomatic and consular staff are doing all they can to address the students' general concern and help them get through this rough patch. Epidemic prevention and control is a major battle that takes all-out efforts from every one of us. All Chinese citizens are part of the fight in their own ways and are making their own contributions to the ultimate victory. At present, China still faces the risk of a rebound at home, and the spread of pandemic overseas has posed new challenges. Chinese civil aviation authorities reduced the volume of international passenger flights due to the pandemic, but the majority of passengers nowadays are overseas students. Experts on disease control, based on WHO recommendations, suggested reducing cross-border movement as much as possible. We note that some overseas students face various difficulties and need to return home. Yesterday, the Civil Aviation Administration said that major air transportation guarantee mechanism will be activated to arrange extra flights and charter flights to cities with viable destinations where a large number of people in need are concentrated. In light of the needs for prevention and control, those returning to China should comply with relevant regulations, including strict testing, isolation and observation. This is for the sake of their health and public health security. 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 A man who used a drone to ask a woman out on a date during the coronavirus lockdown in New York has taken her out on their first in-person date while wearing a protective inflatable bubble. Brooklyn photographer, Jeremy Cohen, 28, gained notoriety after he shared a video on social media of him flying a drone with his phone number attached to the woman, named Tori, while self-isolating. Cohen explained in an earlier video how he first noticed the woman from his New York apartment when she was seen dancing on a nearby rooftop, and decided to put his time in quarantine to good use by asking her out in a funny and very novel way. Creativity! New York City photographer Jeremy Cohen took his love interest, Tori, out on a date while wearing a protective bubble suit in observance of social distancing regulations Novel: The duo first got in touch after Cohen flew his number over to Tori on a drone, having first caught sight of her on a rooftop from his apartment Heartwarming: Cohen, who enjoyed a first date with Tori from his balcony while she sat on her roof, said he knew he wanted to see her in person, without breaking social distancing rules Knowing that he would be unable to meet her in person while New York City was in lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to use his drone to fly over his number to her. An hour later, Tori texted Cohen her response. 'I can't believe this actually worked and yes this is a real story,' Cohen wrote on Twitter. In the days since, Cohen reported that Tori and he had gone on a first 'date', revealing that they arranged to have a socially-distant dinner, with him sitting on his balcony while Tori set up her meal on the rooftop where he first saw her. The couple's meet cute quickly went viral, after Cohen shared a video about his unusual wooing techniques on TikTok, revealing to the world: 'Her name is Tori. She's cute and kind and I'm so happy I met her.' After a successful dinner date, Cohen said he planned to 'take this relationship to the next level' - a step that would once again require some clever thinking on his part. I cant believe this actually worked and yes this is a real story pic.twitter.com/X5KbBl0qIe Jeremy Cohen (@jerm_cohen) March 22, 2020 Cohen messaged Tori and asked her to meet him outside her apartment for their first official in-person date - to which she quickly agreed. What Tori could not have guessed was that Cohen would be wearing an enormous inflatable bubble to ensure that the two of them remained socially distant even while hanging out together. In yet another TikTok video titled, 'How to date during Quarantine (PART 3)', Cohen is seen outside his apartment building manually inflating the bubble, before climbing inside. He also posed with a bouquet of flowers for Tori. 'It's time for my boldest move yet - hope she doesn't burst my bubble,' he says. 'I needed to see her, but I also wanted to respect the fact that we should be social-distancing.' Big smile before their third date, Jeremy Cohen seen here with a bouquet of flowers for Tori Upon clapping eyes on Jeremy Cohen inside his inflatable bubble, Tori falls down laughing Tori emerges from her building and when she claps eyes on Cohen in his bubble suit she buckles at the knee and begins laughing. 'I think she liked it,' Cohen says. In addition to flowers, Cohen also jokes that he brought hand sanitizer, which he said was a 'misstep' because he is inside the protective bubble. The pair then go on a walk together through their neighborhood when a cop stops them. But it turns out the police officer recognized Cohen's story from the news and just wanted a selfie. In the video, Cohen writes: 'Just because we have to social distance, doesn't mean we have to be socially distant. 'Remember to spread love and kindness to another.' PART 2. Her name is Tori. Shes cute and kind and Im sor happy I met her pic.twitter.com/tyo0AItBbd Jeremy Cohen (@jerm_cohen) March 25, 2020 Jeremy Cohen spotted Tori while she was dancing on her rooftop on the other side of the street during the quarantine and decided he had to give his number to her The Brooklyn resident taped his phone number onto the drone and then flew it over to the mystery woman who later sent him a text message Getting ready for flight - Jeremy Cohen seen here with his drone before it landed near Tori A toast to new romance - Tori tops up her red wine a couple of blocks away from her admirer Tori seen here smiling at Jeremy Cohen while the pair share a rooftop socially-distant dinner Each of the videos posted by Cohen on various social media channels, including on TikTok, Twitter and Instagram, have gathered millions of views. One person wrote on Twitter: 'You two better get married.' While another wrote: 'You are so special. This has been so great to watch.' While yet another wrote: 'This might be the one story that gets us all through this quarantine. Thank you (both) for that.' Recent figures released by Johns Hopkins University put confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the US at 164,671 people. There were 22,022 new cases recorded on Monday. There has been 3,180 deaths across the country, surging by at least 605 on the same day. The current death toll makes the outbreak more deadly than the September 11 terrorist attacks, which killed 2,977 people. New York City is the undoubted epicenter, with 138 new deaths reported on Monday. While it was an increase of 17 percent, it was a smaller increase than Saturday' spike, when 222 died. Nearly 1,000 have died in the city. Illinois legislators or its governor would either have to lift the ban, or the law would have to be overturned in court, for the city to take action. On Monday, 14 Chicago aldermen, mostly those in the councils Latino Caucus, joined the Lift the Ban Coalition and dozens of community organizations, unions and churches to call on Pritzker to repeal the ban and establish a rent holiday and mortgage forgiveness. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. By Akbar Mammadov The Azerbaijani Foreign Affairs Ministry has said that tens of thousands of Azerbaijani civilians were killed across the country by Armenian Dashnak nationalist group in 1918. The ministry made the remarks on March 31 that marks Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis. Below is the test of the statement published in the ministry's official website: March 31 is the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis, commemorating the victims of the bloody massacre perpetrated by Armenians against Azerbaijanis in March 1918. In March-April 1918, massacres were committed in the city of Baku and other towns and districts of the Baku Province by the Armenian dashnak - bolshevik armed groups operating under the mandate of the Baku Council (Baku Soviet), and tens of thousands of civilians were killed only for their ethnic and religious affiliation. Stepan Shaumian, an ethnic Armenian appointed as the Commissar Extraordinary for the Caucasus by the head of the Russian Bolsheviks - Vladimir Lenin, admitted that 6,000 armed soldiers of The Baku Soviet and 4,000 from the Dashnaksutyun party participated in the massacres against the Azerbaijani people.[1] The genocide carried out against the Azerbaijanis along with Baku covered also Shamakhi, Guba, Iravan, Zangezur, Garabagh, Nakhchivan and Kars regions. During the first five months of 1918, more than 16,000 people were murdered with utmost cruelty in Guba province alone; a total of 167 villages were destroyed, 35 of which do not exist to this day. The Armenians also slaughtered local Jews and Lezghis living in Guba. Mass graves discovered in Guba region in 2007 constitute a clear evidence of the inhumane acts committed by Armenians. March massacres of 1918 were well prepared and ruthlessly implemented act by radical nationalist Armenians against Azerbaijanis on the grounds of racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing. The Government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic established in 1918 the Extraordinary Investigation Commission in order to investigate the serious crimes perpetrated by Armenians and has taken a number of measures to preserve the true facts revealed by the Commission in the memory of the people and to inform the world community about these atrocities. The Extraordinary Investigation Commission which was comprised of the best lawyers of that time representing different nationalities Russians, Jewish, Polish, Georgians and even Armenians, based on the evidences launched criminal cases against 194 individuals accused of different crimes against the peaceful population; 24 individuals in Baku and about 100 individuals in Shamakhy had been arrested for perpetrated crimes. However, this process had been suspended after the demise of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, full investigation of the tragic events and its political-legal assessment had been prevented. Only after 80 years on March 26, 1998 the adequate political assessment was given to these horrific events by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the Genocide of Azerbaijanis", signed by National Leader Heydar Aliyev and 31 March was declared the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis. The commemoration of the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis raises the awareness of the world community to the facts of the massacre and ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis in the past and present. Since late 1980s, unleashing the war against Azerbaijan and occupying its territories, Armenia continued the policy reminiscent of March Massacre by carrying out ethnic cleansing of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis in Armenia and in the seized lands of Azerbaijan and committing numerous war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide, including Khojaly Genocide of February 1992. While remembering the innocent victims of March tragedy, we strongly condemn the deliberate and continued policy of genocide, crimes against humanity, racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing by Armenia against the people of Azerbaijan and reiterate the importance of ceasing impunity of Armenia to prevent occurrence of such inhumane crimes. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) The new COVID-19 rapid test kits may not yield perfect results, but the recent green light for the products will still benefit largely-affected communities and hospitals, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. FDA Director General Eric Domingo said the fresh test kits which may reflect an 85 to 95 percent accuracy rate will help expedite the process for symptomatic patients. In comparison, Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction or RT-PCR tests currently being used are said to be 95-97 percent accurate. For example in a hospital where there a lot of patients that are really symptomatic, however there's no way to have them tested with PCR (machine)-based kits very very quickly, then this can be very useful tools, Domingo told CNN Philippines The Source. Domingo added the rapid test kits can also help check the extent of a possible community spread of the highly-contagious disease. In a community where you suspect a lot of infection going on, but you cannot test everybody with the PCR-based test, then maybe this can give you an idea of how widely the infection is spreading, he noted. The official likewise said the product can be used by recovering patients who would want to take a retest for COVID-19 infection. FDA approved the use of the imported test kits on Monday, but said samples will still have to undergo confirmatory tests using the machine-based method. Domingo reiterated that the test kits four manufactured in China and one from Singapore should be used wisely with the aid of physicians, given the possibility of "false positive" or "false negative" results. The rapid test kits are expected to roll out results as fast as 10 to 15 minutes, a shorter time period compared to the 24 to 48-hour window needed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for the COVID-19 testing. Previously, the only kits available in the Philippines were those at the RITM, which collects swab samples from the throat and nose for the virus detection. The newly-approved rapid test, on the other hand, only detects the presence of antibodies, which is the body's response to fight an infection. Local scientists from the University of the Philippines have also developed cheaper rapid test kits for COVID-19, but the products are still under field validation. The Philippines has recorded 1,546 cases of the infectious disease, as of the Health Departments latest record. Of the number, 78 have died, while 42 recovered. A 29-year-old man of Odisha's Bhadrak district, with a travel history to Dubai, tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday, an official said. "Fourth COVID-19 confirmed case: 29 years old male of Bhadrak district with travel history to Dubai," the Health and Family Welfare department said in its official twitter handle. The incident came to the fore hours after the state governments COVID-19 spokesperson Subroto Bagchi announced that Odisha reported three positive cases in a span of 15 days from March 15. The three earlier cases were reported from Bhubaneswar. Of them, two had returned from abroad while the third had come back after visiting Delhi and Haryana. Odishas health and family welfare secretary N B Dhal asked the Bhadrak district collector to take the fourth patient to SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack. His close contacts would be sent on isolation and tested. While the first and the third patients are undergoing treatment at the Capital Hospital here, the second patient is admitted at the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Post Reports" is the daily podcast from The Washington Post. Unparalleled reporting. Expert insight. Clear analysis. Everything you've come to expect from the newsroom of The Post - for your ears. - - - 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 Federal Judge Overturns Coronavirus Abortion Ban In Texas Ken Paxton really tried it. By it, I mean that the Texas attorney general interpreted a state-wide ban on non-essential procedures to include abortion in an effort to combat coronavirus. A federal judge ruled Monday that Texas officials actually couldnt use a health crisis and this ban to push their anti-abortion politics, overruling the attorney generals interpretation. Planned Parenthood, along with other womens health groups in Texas, filed suit against the Texas governor and Paxton and other state officials right after the ban was announced a week ago. The ban would have halted any abortion that is not medically necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother. The judges ruling on this case is only temporary, lasting through April 13, while the procedure ban lasts through April 21. However, a hearing has been set for a more permanent ruling on April 13. ADVERTISEMENT The attorney general's interpretation of the Executive Order prevents Texas women from exercising what the Supreme Court has declared is their fundamental constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy before a fetus is viable, Judge Lee Yeakel said in his decision, according to The Texas Tribune. In a statement released Monday, the acting president and CEO of Planned Parenthood, Alexis McGill Johnson, pointed out why this decision, and its quick turn-around, were so crucial. Abortion is an essential, time-sensitive medical service that cannot be delayed, the statement reads. To politicians and anti-abortion groups exploiting a global pandemic to score political points, heed our warning: We will not let you put the health of our patients, and the community, at risk. BREAKING: Patients seeking an abortion in Texas can get the essential and time-sensitive care they need, for now. We will continue to work day by day, week by week to safeguard the ability of our patients and community to access essential health care no matter what. Planned Parenthood (@PPFA) March 30, 2020 Before the ban was even announced in Texas, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists put out a statement that recommended abortions not be included in any bans of non-essential medical procedures, due to the time-nature of the procedure that can render it inaccessible, as well as the way not having access can profoundly impact a persons life, health, and well-being. Paxton filed for an appellate review Monday evening, as he believes abortion clinics are taking up materials that could be used by medical professionals fighting the coronavirus. Abortion providers who refuse to follow state law are demonstrating a clear disregard for Texans suffering from this medical crisis. For years, abortion has been touted as a choice by the same groups now attempting to claim that it is an essential procedure, Paxtons statement reads. I just need a second to unpack this mans warped understanding of what it means to be pro-choice. He seems to think that with this oh-so-clever statement, that hes revealed some massive hole in the touted pro-choice logic. So yes, Paxton, youre right, not every woman who gets pregnant needs to have an abortion, or not have an abortion. That is the definition of a choice. But lets not equate the choice of getting an abortion to say, the choice of getting a haircut. The choice to get an abortion, not that the logic behind it is any of this mans business, is because a woman does not want to be a mother to a child at that time. Maybe this is because she does not have the familial support, access to supplies, or the financial stability, circumstances which are, say it with me, all exacerbated by a global pandemic! So just so were crystal clear: abortion is an essential procedure for women who need it to be an essential procedure. That is what being pro-choice means. Also, as a side note: Paxton has a pretty consistent anti-abortion past. As in, reporting from The Texas Tribune last year shows that he tried to extend the power of his office to prosecute abortion-related crimes, despite claims from local law enforcement that these crimes didnt really exist to prosecute. Interesting, isnt it, that failure to comply with this attempted abortion-ban during the pandemic could have resulted in penalties of up to $1000 or 180 days in jail. Abortion restrictions as a result of COVID-19 were also overturned in Ohio and Alabama, according to POLITICO. Im gathering that as a general rule of thumb, its a good idea not to use a global health crisis as an opportune moment to take away women's rights. Lets hope that any other states thinking about trying it recognize that, too. Header Image by Clark Van Der Beken via Unsplashed More from BUST Sexual Assault Trials Postponed At Universities Due To COVID-19 Ohio Attorney General Attempts To Limit Abortion Access Amidst Coronavirus Progressive Businesswoman Marie Newman Unseats Anti-Abortion, Anti-Immigration Incumbent Incoming National Service recruits during their enlistment day. (PHOTO: Toh Ting Wei/AFP via Getty Images) SINGAPORE Guests will not be allowed on enlistment day at the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) on Pulau Tekong, as the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) announced several measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during basic military training. In a video post put up on the Singapore Army Facebook page on Monday (30 March), BMTC commander Colonel Pang Lead Shuan said that it will not be inviting guests on enlistment day to avoid the presence of large crowds. It has been a tradition for National Service (NS) enlistees families to be shown around the training centre and their childrens bunks, before they share a meal together at the cookhouse. It has been our practice to welcome enlistees' loved ones to BMTC on their enlistment day to share this significant milestone. Unfortunately, due to the evolving COVID-19 situation, we have to adjust our enlistment day process, Pang said in the video post. These are difficult but necessary adjustments to safeguard the health and well-being of everyone. Safe distancing in every step Enlistees will be administered in smaller groups, in order to reduce interaction and exposure. They will also observe safe distancing in every step of the process. They will maintain a safe distance from one another in the ferry and in the auditorium, during meal times at the cookhouse, and when they queue to draw their equipment, Pang said. BMTC has also enhances its hygiene and cleanliness measures throughout its schools, and its officers will be briefed to look out for their soldiers well-being. Pang acknowledged that such measures might cause inconvenience and even dilute the NS experience, but insisted that they are critical to control the spread of COVID-19. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: COVID-19: Singapore confirms 35 new cases, including NCID porter, and 3 new clusters COVID-19: Taxi, private-hire drivers can now deliver food, goods till end-June COVID-19: Amid rising infection numbers, some Singaporeans choose to remain in the US COVID-19: SingPost debunks audio clip claiming postal worker spitting on letters Negotiations between interim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz on forming Israels next government are ongoing, and among the unresolved issues is the identity of the next Knesset speaker. Just two weeks ago, the Blue and White party, led by Gantz, along with its allied parties Labor-Meretz, Yisrael Beitenu and the Arab Joint List led a successful move (with the Supreme Courts help) to replace Speaker Yuli Edelstein of the Likud party. At the time, Gantz thought replacing Edelstein was a vital move for him and his party to start their work in the Knesset and serve the citizens of Israel. We have been working hard all day through different communication channels, including me meeting personally with [Knesset member] Edelstein, who is refusing to let us congregate in the halls of democracy and work for the citizens and, above all else, tackle the challenge of corona, Gantz told his party members March 18. At this point, we have no choice but to turn to the high court. The court ruled in Gantzs favor and Edelstein resigned March 23 rather than obey its ruling and calling a vote on his replacement. Since then, Gantz generated the dismantlement of Blue and White and announced he was joining Netanyahu in a power-sharing government. Is the identity of the next speaker still high on his agenda? According to media reports, Gantz rejected out of hand Netanyahus suggestion that Edelstein be restored to his former post. Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, the minister probably closest to Netanyahu, is among the leading candidates for the prestigious job. For Gantz, this is a problematic choice. Having objected to Edelsteins return (probably due to public pressure and the ire of his voters who even initiated a petition against such a move) after he disobeyed the high courts ruling, how could Gantz accept Levin? After all, Levin had accused the Supreme Court last week of trying to take over the Knesset and of leading the state to anarchy. It is unclear whether Gantz, a political rookie with limited parliamentary experience, understands the significance of the speakers identity and its implication for Israeli democracy and the principle of separation of powers. The Knesset speaker sets the agenda and decides what issues will be brought up for debate, professor Chaim Weizmann of the Lauder School of Government, told Al-Monitor. This gives him tremendous power: when to convene, whether to convene, what to place on the agenda. That is why this is a highly significant position. To me, a person who calls for the violation of a Supreme Court ruling is not eligible to be speaker and not even a Knesset member, he said. A fairly recent example of the speakers power was provided in May 2019, when Edelstein brought to a vote a bill dissolving the Knesset elected in the April elections, even before anyone but Netanyahu (Gantz, for example) had gotten a crack at forming a government. In fact, that was the only bill adopted by the short-lived 21st Knesset. Three weeks later, facing harsh criticism of his move, the same Edelstein tried to undo the legislation in order to avoid new elections, but failed. The speaker, who until then had enjoyed broad support from all Knesset factions for his dignified conduct, lent a hand to a smelly parliamentary maneuver and to a political ruse that smelled even worse. Some in Israel accuse Edelstein of having weakened the Knesset during his seven years in power and making it subservient to the government rather than preserving its independence. In November 2019, Dan Tichon, a former Knesset speaker and Likud member, said the Knesset no longer exists and the principle of separation of powers had been violated under Edelsteins gavel. Former Labor Knesset member Mickey Rosenthal voiced similar sentiments a year ago. It is no secret that the Knesset has turned mostly into a circus, he wrote in April 2019. There has always been discussion here of unimportant issues along with substantive discussions. That era is over. The politics of gossip and gimmicks has won, the marginal has overtaken the essence after even senior politicians, including the prime minister, adopted it. On the other hand, in 2009, Speaker Dalia Itzik claimed the Knesset was the weakest of the three branches of government (compared to the executive and judicial branches) and must be strengthened. In Israel, as is the case in other parliamentary democracies, the Knesset has more power prior to the formation of a government than afterward, when the governing coalition commands a majority and supports the prime minister. However, even the few tools the Knesset had in the past to rein in the government are no longer in use, as Weizmann explained. The law was changed in 2014 so that there is no longer a simple Knesset vote of no-confidence that can bring down a government, only a constructive vote of no-confidence, meaning that the parliament must not only vote no-confidence in the incumbent government, it must also approve an alternative one, Weizmann said. That, in turn, greatly limits the power of the Knesset to topple a government, compared with a simple vote of no-confidence. With the Knesset a relatively weak institution, and when the designated speaker is a crony of the prime minister and a staunch believer in curbing the Supreme Court, such an appointment has particularly dangerous consequences for the running of the Knesset and the future of Israeli democracy. The identity of the speaker is also of consequence to Gantz himself, who, at least on paper, is supposed to take over from Netanyahu 18 months after the government is sworn in and serve as prime minister, assuming a unity government agreement is indeed signed soon. His faction, now that Blue and White has split, is significantly smaller in size than the factions of Netanyahus right-wing and ultra-Orthodox bloc and will therefore have few tools with which to defend itself within the government coalition. If Gantz does not have a political ally in the speakers chair and it is doubtful that Levin or anyone else nominated by Netanyahu could be an ally Gantzs situation will be especially grim if he eventually makes it to the rotation with Netanyahu. The Likud is well aware of the importance of controlling the Knesset in terms of bringing controversial bills to a vote or interpreting the Knesset bylaws, and is therefore insisting that the largest faction in the chamber, i.e., the Likud, be given the coveted podium. Previously, Gantz and Blue and White had originally, after the March 2 elections, designated their colleague, Knesset member Meir Cohen, for the top spot, but the Likud threatened to call new elections (the fourth since April 2019) if Cohen were voted in to replace Edelstein. It would have been interesting to see how things might have played out had Gantz not been deterred by the threat. Cohen would have been voted speaker with the slim 61-seat Knesset majority that Blue and White commanded at the time, and only then would Gantz have agreed to join a Netanyahu-led government. Ninety hands must be raised in the Knesset (now that Gantz holds the job) to replace an incumbent speaker, and that would have meant that Cohen would serve as speaker until the end of the Knessets term. If that scenario had played out, it is doubtful that Netanyahu would have carried out his threat to stop the talks on a power-sharing government with Gantz and opted instead for a fourth round of elections, especially in these days of the coronavirus. Netanyahu would probably have swallowed the bitter pill when given no other choice, but today this is all ancient history. The battle for the next Knesset speaker, who will be a Likud representative, is still raging. Although some of the centres have been open for mere days after the first was completed a week ago, they have already accommodated a large number of patients displaying coronavirus symptoms. The four centres, in the Luxexpo, Rockhal, Ettelbruck's Daichhal and Grevenmacher's cultural centre, have seen to 1,825 patients between when the first centre opened and 30 March, including 340 in the last day alone. The Ministry of Health said the majority of the patients in question had displayed symptoms of the virus. The maximum capacity of the centres is still some way off, as up to 2,600 patients can be received each day by the 140 carers operating them. Patients are able to attend of their own accord for a medical examination in case of symptoms of virus infection. They do not need to have a prescription and may also attend for unrelated health conditions. Patients showing symptoms of coronavirus are kept separate from those who come for other reasons to avoid spreading the disease. In case of suspicion, doctors can carry out a screening test. Practical information: The four centres are open every day from 8am to 8pm. Consultation is free but it is advisable to bring an identity card and your CNS card. The centres are not authorised to treat emergency cases. Mahesh Babu and Vijay are unarguably, one of the finest actors in their respective industries. The big stars enjoy a huge fan following, even on social media. Well, looks like the fans of the actors have taken the recent telecast of Tamil movie Ghilli on Sun TV very responsively, and have turned it into a big fan war on Twitter. For the uninitiated, Vijay's Gilli is the Tamil remake of Mahesh Babu's Okkadu released in 2003, and the recent telecast on Sunday had Vijay fans comparing the movie with the Telugu version. Mahesh Babu was called a 'dummy' which was used for an experimental purpose while the latter's fans have also retorted. They said that Vijay, after delivering consecutive flops, had to literally 'beg' for the remake of Mahesh's Okkadu and Pokiri, which fortunately became a hit. Here are the Tweets: Well, #RemakeStarVijay and #DummyStarMaheshBabu are trending on Twitter along with the Corona hashtags. Also, many pages have started polls for the actors to vote as the argument escalates. Another section of Twitterati has also requested the two sides to calm down and stand united against Coronavirus. Talking about the actors' films, Vijay is gearing up for the release of Master which has been postponed due to the ongoing pandemic situation. Mahesh Babu is said to be teaming up with director Parasuram for his next venture. Pawan Kalyan And Mahesh Babu Were Originally Considered For V? Reza Khandan got the word from friends locked away in Iran's most feared prison, Evin. A prisoner and a guard in their cell block had been removed because they were suspected of having coronavirus, and two guards in the women's ward had shown symptoms. It was frightening Khandan's wife, Nasrin Sotoudeh, one of Iran's most prominent human rights lawyers, is imprisoned in that ward in close quarters with 20 other women. Only days earlier, the 56-year-old Sotoudeh known for defending activists, opposition politicians and women prosecuted for removing their headscarves had held a five-day hunger strike demanding prisoners be released to protect them from the virus. The virus has entered the jail, but we don't know the extent of it, Khandan, who had until recently been imprisoned in Evin as well, told The Associated Press by phone from Tehran. "It will be impossible to control," Khandan warned. Tens of thousands of political prisoners are jailed in Iran, Syria and other countries around the Middle East, punished for anything from advocating for democracy and promoting women's or workers' rights to holding Islamist views, protesting or simply criticizing autocratic leaders on Facebook or YouTube. Alarm is growing over the danger the coronavirus pandemic poses to prisoners: if one guard, visitor or new inmate introduces the infection, the virus could race rampant through a captive population unable to protect itself. Conditions are prime for the disease to spread rapidly. Inmates are often packed by the dozens into dirty cells with no access to hygiene or medical care. Torture, poor nutrition and other abuses leave prisoners weaker and more vulnerable. So far, Iran, which faces the Mideast's biggest outbreak with thousands infected and hundreds dead, has not confirmed any coronavirus cases in its prisons. But Khandan's is one of several reports of cases that have emerged from Iranian facilities. Egypt and Syria, which have large numbers of political detainees, also have not reported any cases within prisons. The concern over prisons is worldwide. Multiple countries including Iran have released some inmates to reduce crowding. Others say they are sterilizing cells, halting family visits or increasing monitoring of guards and staff. Riots have broken out in prisons in several countries among inmates fearful not enough is being done. In authoritarian nations, ensuring protections for detainees is even more difficult. Activists, rights organizations and aid groups have grown bolder in pressing governments in the area to take action. Amnesty International called on Iran to free more prisoners, particularly rights defenders and peaceful protesters. They should not be in detention in the first place, it said. Egypt last week briefly detained four women including three relatives of a prominent jailed activist who called for prisoner releases. Mohsen Bahnasi, an Egyptian lawyer who also called for prisoner releases, was arrested from his home, though it was not clear why, according to the Arab Network for Human Rights Information. The International Committee of the Red Cross one of the few organizations that sometimes gets access to prisons in the region is stepping up efforts to help. We must act now to try to prevent it from entering places of detention. Trying to contain it after the fact will be almost impossible, said Fabrizio Carboni, the ICRC's Near and Middle East regional director. He said the ICRC has already begun distributing soap, disinfectant and protective equipment at prisons in several places in the Mideast. It has requested permission from Syria to do the same in its facilities and is hopeful it will get access, he said. Syria is the darkest black hole in the region. In the long civil war, tens of thousands of activists, protesters and others have been swallowed with hardly a trace into prisons run by President Bashar Assad's government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Getty Images Domestic violence programs and shelters in New York, the state with the most confirmed coronavirus cases, are seeing a decline in at-risk clients as people stay home to prevent the spread of the outbreak. Trauma experts warn that this could lead to more abuse. The outbreak has left women, in particular, with few opportunities to seek help as social distancing guidelines urge people to shelter in place, forcing some women to stay home with an abuser to avoid contracting the coronavirus. Some women who are survivors of domestic violence have either fled shelters back to their abusers out of fear, or they have found that they have limited opportunities to seek out and receive support from domestic violence resource groups because of distancing guidelines. "There's a sense of isolation," said Judy Harris Kluger, executive director of New York-based Sanctuary for Families. "If they are living with their abuser, then it's a greater isolation and it's a greater danger. There is no real release." Sanctuary for Families operates several emergency shelters in Brooklyn, providing housing for up to 200 people a night. The issue has attracted attention from some prominent politicians. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is competing for the Democratic presidential nomination, has called for "emergency shelters" to be built for those fleeing domestic violence. Some existing shelters have said they are aiming to put survivors in hotels. Bernie tweet According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of every 4 women and 1 out of every 7 men go through physical violence at the hands of their partner. Women between the ages of 18 and 34 generally experience the highest rates of intimate partner violence, according to information from the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Normally, domestic violence survivors who reside with their abusers have opportunities for short respites that come in the form of a trip to the grocery store or the need to drop kids off at school. Because of social distancing, these opportunities have been largely eliminated, leading to more periods of time spent with an abuser. This story is based on conversations with officials from seven shelters and domestic violence programs in and around New York City. The problem exists beyond the hard-hit metropolitan area. In other parts of the country, like Washington, D.C., the number of calls to hotlines from survivors have increased, according to The Washington Post, with one nonprofit, DC Safe, receiving more than 1,500 calls since March 8. Likewise, domestic violence shelters in Connecticut have seen an increase in the number of calls from survivors who are concerned about being stuck inside with their abusive partners because of the outbreak. One shelter in New Orleans, which is becoming one of the hot spots for COVID-19, has reported a slowdown in new clients. WomenRising, a New Jersey shelter, has seen "a decrease in calls and requests for shelter," but added that the shift is normal during a time of crisis. Dwindling numbers New York, with more than 75,000 confirmed cases so far, is now regarded as the epicenter of the outbreak. Shelters and domestic violence programs in the state have reflected the hit, with fewer people choosing to stay there out of fear of contracting the virus or fewer people being able to access resources provided by these groups. In the first week of March, just as the coronavirus was beginning to plant roots in New York state, Sakhi for South Asian Women, a nonprofit that provides services and resources to women affected by violence, saw the number of people calling its hotline decrease by 76% from the week before. The monthly calls overall decreased from 114 in February to 53 in March. In January, when President Donald Trump was assuring the country that the outbreak was under control, Sakhi received 166 calls. Other New York shelters saw similar downward patterns as the virus spread and as health officials and the president strengthened their language in response to the pandemic. Freedom House, an emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence with disabilities that is operated by the nonprofit Barrier Free Living, is licensed for 95 beds and currently has 89 occupants. "Some people have panicked and gone back to their homes to live with relatives because they felt like they'd be safer there," said Paul Feuerstein, CEO of Barrier Free Living. "We are trying to counsel people by saying we are keeping the program as sterile as we can. But when people are cooped up in an apartment by themselves with their kids, there is lots of opportunity for people to worry about their current situations." On a larger scale, the National Domestic Violence Hotline has begun to receive calls from survivors who are specifically concerned about the coronavirus. "The Hotline's call, chat and text volume remains in the average 1,800-2,000 per day range. However, we are seeing an increase in the number of survivors reaching out who [are] concerned with COVID-19 and how their abusive partner is leveraging COVID-19 to further isolate, coerce, or increase fear in the relationship. Between March 10 and March 26 we have had 1,216 contacts who have mentioned COVID-19," said Katie Ray-Jones, chief executive officer of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. There are many reasons a survivor of domestic violence would opt to stay at home with their abuser rather than stay in a shelter. Sometimes survivors don't have the economic means to leave. In recent weeks, people were instructed to stay indoors to avoid spreading and contracting the coronavirus. To stay at Freedom House, survivors have to go through a screening that consists of giving the staff "a basic understanding of what the violence is" to ensure that those seeking shelter are actually fleeing violence, according to Cynthia Amodeo, chief program officer at Barrier Free Living. Because of shelter-in-place orders, it's less likely that a survivor would walk in for that screening. Survivors are always measuring risk, said Maureen Curtis, vice president of criminal justice and court programs at Safe Horizon, a nonprofit organization that has nine shelters throughout the five boroughs with total capacity of 800 beds. "A woman who is in a violent relationship and is thinking about going into the shelter," she said, "will say, 'You know what? I don't want to go into a shelter right now because I'm afraid of my children getting infected, living in a place where it's a shared living space." Many shelters in New York offer families fleeing domestic violence shared apartment space. But Safe Horizon stresses that survivors who need support can still find it in its shelters even as the coronavirus continues to impact New York. Safe Horizon practices "social distancing tactics" and still offers assistance to survivors, an organization spokesperson said. Beginning anew At many of these shelters and programs, the staff has taken drastic steps toward limiting face time with survivors. Feuerstein of Barrier Free Living said the staff hosts teleconference calls in place of all the normal face-to-face activities to protect against the possibility of contagion. "Our front desk staff, we've had to change their schedules so they're literally working 12-hour days, three days a week," he said. "So they can begin to limit their risks of traveling on public transportation." Staff members carry around a letter from Feuerstein and identification in the event that they are stopped while traveling to work. Kavita Mehra, executive director of Sakhi for South Asian Women, said the front-line staff directly feels the impact. "We've tried to really create a separation between work and home. Now that all of us are working remotely, that separation no longer exists," she said. At The Dwelling Place, a private homeless shelter for women in Manhattan, the staff has reduced its capacity to just four women, from a typical 15, according to staff member Joann Sambs. Domestic violence is one of the primary causes of homelessness for women. The shelter has also changed the way it puts on a weekly dinner for local elderly and homeless women, transforming the event from dine in to take out. While the shelter typically served 35 to 45 women, this week only about 20 women came, according to Sambs. Limited face time often takes a toll on survivors, who are trying to get used to the new ways their programs and shelters are run. Sakhi has transitioned entirely to teleconferencing services, offering therapy sessions, for example, online. In some cases, children are in the same room as their parents who are survivors, often making it harder for the survivors to speak candidly about their experiences and feelings. "The sessions are shorter. There are often shorter answers," Mehra said. Thinking ahead Photo: Latha B/Flickr Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Sacramento. Bicyclist in critical condition after crash in West Sacramento A bicyclist is in critical condition after a crash in West Sacramento on Sunday, according to police. Read the full story on KCRA. Man carrying machete taken into custody after alleged confrontation at Sacramento County Burger King A search was on for a man who reportedly confronted an employee at a Sacramento County fast-food restaurant while carrying a machete. Read the full story on CBS13 CBS Sacramento. SCUSD: Help wanted distributing meals for students in need The Sacramento City Unified School District says it needs more helping hands to distribute to-go meals for students. Read the full story on KCRA. Natomas schools launch online learning during closure Students in Sacramento's Natomas area will start getting their lessons online as the district prepares for continued closures because of the coronavirus outbreak. Read the full story on KCRA. 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. A batch of 232 tourists from the European Union, a majority of them from Germany left for Frankfurt by a special Air India aircraft on Tuesday after being held up in Kerala due to the coronavirus lockdown. The special flight arranged for the home-bound journey of the asymptomatic tourists took off from the International Airport here this morning, after their "hassle-free" stay in the state for over a fortnight, the state government said. "We are glad that the foreign tourists have been able to fly back home after their smooth stay in the state. It was not an easy task to bring together the tourists stranded in different locations in 13 districts. "Great care had been taken to ensure that they did not face any difficulty during their stay," Kerala Tourism Minister, Kadakampally Surendran, said. Some other countries, including UK, have sought the state governments help for facilitating the transportation of the tourists from their countries, Surendran said. All the passengers on the special aircraft were asymptomatic and were kept under quarantine for 14 days. It was the seamless working together of the Department of Tourism, the Embassy of Germany inIndia, the Consul General at Bangalore and the Honorary Consul at Thiruvananthapuram that led to the successful repatriation of the tourists, Kerala Tourism Secretary Rani George said. The "unstinted support" from Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan and the Tourism Minister greatly helped in facilitating the repatriation of the tourists. "It is gratifying to know that the tourists are on their way home, she said. Kerala Tourism had provided all support and assistance to the tourists who were not able to return home due to the ban on international flights in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic, P Bala Kiran, Tourism Director said. The German Embassy had come forward to operate charter flights for the repatriation of the German and European Union nationals stranded in India. All asymptomatic tourists, who have not been in contact with high risk individuals and had completed 14 days in Kerala or had tested negative, were eligible to be repatriated under the programme. The flight was arranged as part of an agreement between the German Embassy and Air India with required clearances from Ministry of External Affairs and Civil Aviation Ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A shirtless father interrupted his daughter's news report when she decided to do a broadcast from the family kitchen. Hilarious footage shows the unsuspecting parent stumble into shot as his daughter, News reporter Jessica Lang, updates viewers on the coronavirus outbreak in Florida. The amused broadcaster uploaded the clip to social media with the caption: 'Work from home they said, it'll be fine they said'. She was forced to film at home in Tampa due to the state's coronavairus outbreak, which has seen four counties impose lockdowns until mid-April. News reporter Jessica Lang was filming in her kitchen in Tampa, Florida, when she was interrupted by her father She reacted to the interruption by shouting: 'Dad! Holy c***!' Her father, Kevin, quickly moved out of view and pulled down his shirt The video begins with Ms Lang, who works for local station SNNTV, covering news on how technology can kill viruses while standing next to the kitchen sink. 'What, what did you do mum?', she says, suddenly breaking off, and turning around. 'Dad! Holy c***!', she shouts. Her father, Kevin, who appears to have just got out of bed, quickly pulls a shirt over his stomach and turns to disappear out of shot. The video has gone viral since it was uploaded to social media on March 28, and has been viewed more than 500,000 times. SNNTV said the reporter had started working remotely on Thursday and was being filmed by her mother Diana at the time. The network covers news in Sarosota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto. Ms Lang is a news reporter at SNNTV, which covers the cities of Sarosota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto in Florida Ms Lang is pictured above sitting in the studio and ready for filming Coronavirus cases in the US have risen at speed since the country's outbreak began Florida has recorded the sixth highest number of cases in the US, out of the 50 states. Figures published today say there are 5,704 confirmed cases in the area and that 71 people have died from the virus. New York has the highest number of cases in the country, at 67,384, and has reported 1,342 deaths due to the virus. The US has recorded the most cases of coronavirus in the world, at 175,067, followed by Italy, which has recorded 105,792 cases, and Spain, with 94,417 cases. Donald Trump has moved to suggest that the outbreak could leave businesses unable to function normally until at least the middle of April. The incident happened on the Springfield Road. Pic Google A man has been arrested after a disturbance at a shop in Belfast. It happened the Saveways shop on the Springfield Road in the west of the city at around 11.45am on Tuesday. Footage of the incident has been shared on social media. It shows a topless man in a scuffle with four others. One attempts to hold him back. The man then can be seen lifting a pole before swinging it into the open doorway of the shop. The shutter of the shop is then brought down and the man walks away. A number of people can be seen standing in the queue to get into the shop. Police arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of criminal damage, disorderly behaviour and assault on police. The man is currently in custody assisting officers with their enquiries. The shop has been approached for comment. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal While none of the local hospitals is reporting dangerous conditions related to diminished blood supplies, there is a blood shortage in New Mexico, said Drew Sharpless, donor recruitment representative for Vitalant. Levels are up and down, but in general were having reduced capacity due to social distancing measures, which cause longer wait times for donors, and some donors dont want to wait. There are also far fewer blood drives out in the community, though the public response to them has thus far been good, he said. Vitalant, formerly United Blood Services, operates four blood donor centers around the state as well as five mobile buses and four trucks to set up blood drives in businesses and remote locations. It supplies blood to all of New Mexicos nearly 55 hospitals, Sharpless said. Whole blood, he explained, is separated into two components: Red cells, which can be stored for 42 days, and platelets, which can be stored for five days, but can be frozen for up to one year. Typically, were comfortable with having four or five days of every blood type on hand, but for some of those blood types were sitting at a half day to 1.5 days on hand, Sharpless said. For those wondering if it is safe to donate blood, the short answer is yes, said Dr. Annie Moore, a trauma doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital and an assistant professor at UNMs Health Sciences Center. COVID-19 is spread through respiration droplets produced when a person coughs or sneezes not through blood, she said. Further, said New Mexico Department of Health spokesman David Morgan, Individuals are not at risk of contracting COVID-19 through the blood donation process or via a blood transfusion; thats not how this virus is transmitted. Because of the blood shortage, Moore said, We are reconsidering procedures and surgeries on an individual basis. Common reasons for needing blood transfusions might include bleeding from trauma, pregnancy, anemia, surgical procedures, as well as people who are dependent on regular transfusions due to conditions like sickle cell disease hemophilia and clotting disorders, she said. Blood transfusions are 100% dependent on volunteer donors, Sharpless said. Depending on blood type, one donation can help up to three people. Even though blood donation centers are considered an essential business, they adhere to social distancing mandates. Consequently, people wishing to make a donation should call to make an appointment, Sharpless said. An appointment, however, is no guarantee that a donation will be accepted. Before entering the main area where blood is taken, people are screened for temperature and given a visual well-being check to see if they are coughing, sneezing, if their nose is running or if they have a hard time breathing. They are also asked a series of questions about risk behaviors, travel outside the country and then must complete an online health questionnaire, he said. Vitalant staff wipes down and disinfects all surfaces and equipment used by donors after their donation is complete. The same safety precautions are used at mobile blood sites as well, Sharpless said. To find the nearest Vitalant blood donation center, go online to vitalant.org. For dates and locations of upcoming blood drives, go to bloodhero.com. 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. MBABANE Some members of the public felt harassed by the conduct of law enforcers who wanted them to show proof of residence prior to moving about. The police officers were littered all over the capital city to minimise the movement of people as per the dictates of the partial lockdown. Police officers were visible in almost every street of the capital city yesterday morning. The armed forces personnel positioned themselves strategically to make sure that members of the public were questioned before they were allowedto continue with their journey. While near the Deputy Prime Ministers Office, the officers of the law were seen engaging members of the public. Regulations We are not here to fight anyone but to remind you about the regulations embodied in the partial lockdown. The partial lockdown prohibits moving around in town. People are expected to remain in their houses to minimise the spread of coronavirus, the police officers told the public. The police officers stated that only people who provided essential services and those who were going to buy food and needed medication were allowed to be in town. Make sure you do your business and go home as soon as you finish. Loitering is not allowed within the 20 days of the partial lockdown, the police officers told the public. However, other law enforcers were not so friendly as they requested pedestrians to show them proof of residence to corroborate where they were headed to. Noted was that the police officers were deployed along with officers from His Majestys Correctional Services in some streets. However, it was gathered that members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force were visible in some parts of the town. The public was heard murmuring claiming that the security officers, especially those from the defence force forced them to leave the parks and other places where they used to relax and play games while in town. The Coronation Park where people usually spend their time with friends while in town was clear. There were few people at the Freedom Square Park near the Buy N Save Spar. However, it was noted that it was only the regular faces and the employees who were seen during their lunch hour. WASHINGTON The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that has more than 100 cases of coronavirus wrote a stunning plea for help to senior military officials. In a four-page letter, first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, Capt. Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt described a disastrous situation unfolding aboard the warship, a temporary home to more than 4,000 crew members. "We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset our Sailors," Crozier wrote. "The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating." He proposed offloading the majority of the crew, quarantining those infected, testing others for the virus and professionally cleaning the ship. He explained in his letter that by keeping the crew on the vessel the Pentagon was taking "an unnecessary risk" that "breaks faith with those Sailors entrusted to our care." Read more: Coronavirus cases in the military are probably more widespread than known, Pentagon says The Pentagon did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. 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. Channel Nine has made a strategic scheduling change for Married At First Sight's grand final, switching the air date to this coming Sunday. The change is to coincide with the premiere of Channel Seven's House Rules: High Stakes, according to TV Black Box. The House Rules reboot, hosted by Jamie Durie and Abbey Gelmi, will see eight teams transform a 32-storey Gold Coast penthouse. Changes: Channel Nine has made a strategic scheduling change for Married At First Sight's grand final, switching the air date to this coming Sunday. The change is to coincide with the premiere of Channel Seven's House Rules: High Stakes, according to TV Black Box Channel Nine was on track to air its final episode of MAFS on Wednesday at 7.30pm, but moved it to Sunday at 7pm. Instead, after tonight's final dinner party episode, for the next five nights Channel Nine will air Paramedics at 7.30pm and a Nine News special on COVID-19 at 8.30pm. Channel Nine's ruthless move could very well put a dampener on Channel Seven's hope of a ratings winner, as participants of the social experiment are expected to drop explosive bombshells about each other since filming ended early this year. Reboot: The House Rules reboot, hosted by Jamie Durie and Abbey Gelmi (pictured with judges Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Saul Meyers and Kyly Clarke), will see eight teams transform a 32-storey Gold Coast penthouse In it's place: Instead, after tonight's final dinner party episode, for the next five nights Channel Nine will air Paramedics at 7.30pm and a Nine News special on COVID-19 at 8.30pm Seven's House Rules: High Stakes will continue airing during the week at 7pm, taking over The Latest's COVID-19 coverage, which will be pushed back to 9.30pm. The show will go head-to-head in the 7pm timeslot with A Current Affair hosted by Tracey Grimshaw. It comes after Seven's reboot of My Kitchen Rules failed to win audiences just a few episodes after it debuted on February 2. Revelations: On Tuesday night, the MAFS contestants will get together for a reunion dinner party, but viewers will have to wait another five days for the last episode MAFS quickly won audiences over after its premiere on February 3 and reached more than a million viewers almost every episode - while MKR's finale only brought a metro viewership of 553,000. Tonight, the MAFS contestants will get together for a reunion dinner party, but viewers will have to wait another five days for the last episode. The episode description for MAFS' grand final reunion on Sunday states: 'All 12 couples face the experts for a final time to look back at their time in the experiment, with some explosive revelations.' When we traveled to Vietnam in late December, the first novel coronavirus cases hadnt even been reported in China. Now, with the virus battering Chinese manufacturing, our impressions from that visit seem especially timely as investors seek to assess the shift of global supply chains to Vietnamese factories. Global companies have been testing Vietnams capabilities for several yearseven before the added impetus from the US-China trade wars. Thats because Chinas rise as the worlds factory has created labor shortages and pushed up costs. Labor costs in Vietnam, with its younger workforce and ample supply, are about 40 percent lower than in China. Vietnam also offers tax benefits and a six-day workweek, which can enhance productivity. Many popular clothing and sportswear brands, including Nike and Adidas, already have a large manufacturing presence in Vietnam. Today, most global brand outsourcing to Vietnam is done by Asian manufacturers in two industries. Textiles and footwear accounted for 18 percent of Vietnams total exports in 2018, while electronics and electrical equipment accounted for 40 percent. So we wanted to get a closer look at the latest outsourcing trends in these two industries to better understand the dynamics of local and global supply chains. We took a four-hour flight from Shanghai to Hanoi, followed by a two-hour hop to Ho Chi Minh City two days later. By visiting manufacturing plants and speaking with managers and employees, we aimed to find out what it takes for companies to relocate capacity to Vietnam. Cultural Sensitivity Is Crucial Getting a relocation right requires sensitivity to cultural issues. At all the companies we visited, locals told us that Vietnamese employees prefer to work at factories close to home and live with their families, unlike in China, where workers often live in on-site dormitories and return home only during holidays. Companies have also learned important lessons about modern slavery. Story continues Stella International Holdings, a leading global footwear and leather goods maker is a good example. We traveled about 100 kilometers from Hanoi to Thai Binh province to visit a Stella factory that employs more than 7,000 people. With 14 assembly lines and 52 stitching lines, it churns out about 7 million pairs of sneakers a year for Nike and other brands. Managers there seemed very attuned to global scrutiny of working conditions. The key to managing local workers is to take care of them, said one. Frequent visits to employees homes help enhance the companys bond with employees, he added. From Textiles To Technology Beyond cultural issues, technology companies face additional challenges. Can Vietnamese firms meet global quality standards for sophisticated high-tech products at efficient operational levels? Luxshare Precision Industry, a leading Chinese electronics company that manufactures components for Apple, is one of the Chinese tech pioneers in Vietnam. It already has one plant on line in the country and is in the process of setting up three more. Ultimately, the company plans to have at least 60,000 workers in Vietnammore than a third of its Chinese workforceas Apple seeks to diversify its supply chain away from China. What will it take for these new plants to meet Apples stringent standards? Much will be derived from the Chinese experience. One Chinese manager at the Bac Giang plant near Hanoi told us that the key is to take a step-by-step approach, starting with simpler product lines before bringing in more complex products. Highly experienced Chinese managers are charged with the task of training local managers and frontline workers to achieve a level of productivity similar to that of mainland China. To be sure, there will be hiccups in Vietnam. New laws to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 for men and from 55 to 60 for women in 2021 could provoke resistance from labor unions and, possibly, national strikes. And in 2019, President Trump indicated that he may slap tariffs on Vietnamwhich would add another barrier for manufacturers. Lessons For Investors However, we believe these risks are unlikely to stop the shift. If anything, the coronavirus crisis will accelerate moves by global companies into Vietnam. As this trend unfolds, we think there are two key lessons. First, large Chinese companies that have abundant experience outsourcing for global companies will have an advantage over smaller, less-experienced competitors when it comes to swiftly executing a relocation. Second, environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues will be key to success. Environmental regulations are even more stringent in Vietnam than in China, as the Vietnamese government has learned lessons from its giant northern neighbor. Social issues will also be especially important. Sensitivity to local Vietnamese ways of life and proper working conditions will be a key factor for facilities to achieve high operating productivity, and investor engagement with management can help ensure that companies are living up to ESG promises. These observations are important for investors. As the coronavirus-driven supply chain shock rattles more companies, fundamental research of stocks in several industries must incorporate a deeper understanding of what it takes to successfully outsource operations to Vietnam. About Min Zhou Min Zhou is a research analyst with AllianceBernstein (AB) covering the technology sector in China and the consumer-discretionary sector in Asia, excluding-Japan. Prior to rejoining AB in 2018, he worked at Bain & Company from 2017 to 2018 as a management consultant, and in ABs Hong Kong office from 2014 to 2017 as a sell-side equity research associate covering the Asian semiconductor, Asian insurance, Chinese banking, and real estate sectors. Zhou holds a BS in civil engineering and economics from Tsinghua University, an MS in finance from Peking University and is a CFA charterholder. About Vivian Chen Vivian Chen was appointed Portfolio Manager of International Small Cap Equities in 2016. She is also a Senior Research Analyst, covering technology and Internet companies in Asia, excluding Japan. Prior to joining AB in 2012, Chen covered regional technology as an equity research analyst on the buy-side and sell-side, most recently at Cavalry Asset Management and UBS Securities, in Taiwan. She holds a BA in business administration from National Taiwan University and is a CFA charterholder The post Could Vietnam Be Ready To Fill Chinas Supply Chain Gaps? appeared first on Emerging Market Views. The United States may lose its top spot among oil producers globally this year, according to economists. With oil prices continuing their slide and Saudi Arabia reiterating its plans to flood the market with oil, U.S. producers are idling rigs and cutting spending plans. Production has only one way to go: down. "I think it's almost a guarantee that this year it will certainly lose that position," Emirates NBD commodity analyst Edward Bell told CNBC, referring to the United States. "And it might happen probably a lot faster than we anticipate." IHS Markit's Daniel Yergin also expects that U.S. oil production to swing from growth to decline this year on the significant slump in oil demand caused mostly by the coronavirus outbreak that has so far infected more than 700,000 people globally. "We see in this coming month of April what could be a 20 million barrel a day decline in oil demand. It's unprecedented," Yergin told CNBC. "That's six times larger than the biggest downturn during the financial crisis period." Related: Could Oil Really Fall To $0? Earlier this month, Vitol's chief executive Russell Hardy told Bloomberg that he expected the outbreak to pressure demand by between 15 and 20 million barrels daily at its height. This demand loss is about one-fifth of the oil the world consumed before the crisis hit. West Texas Intermediate is trading at around $20 a barrel, down from over $50 a barrel earlier this year. In many parts of the U.S., oil wells are increasingly becoming uneconomical. In fact, many regional oil grades are already trading at below $20 a barrel or even below $10. This means well shut-ins may be the next step after idling rigs and cutting spending plans. Some 44 drilling rigs were idled last week, according to Baker Hughes' weekly update. On an annual basis, last week's rig count was 278 rigs lower than the count last year - the largest weekly rig count drop since early 2016. Meanwhile, everyone from the small shale independents to the heavyweights are revising their spending plans for the year. Some are even asking oilfield service providers for hefty discounts in a repeat of the 2014-2016 crisis when the situation was better than today's because back then, demand was its usual growing self. Now it has been crippled by the pandemic, and it's about to get worse. Related: Standard Chartered Sees Record Oil Demand Loss This Year In the past few days, there have been reports that storage space is filling up - not just in the U.S., but globally. Yet the problem is more acute in the United States because of the higher production costs compared with, say, Saudi Arabia. Earlier this week, a Texas Railroad Commissioner even said pipeline operators in the oil state had asked some producers to stop pumping oil because available storage space was growing scarce. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has just announced that it plans to export 10.6 million bpd next month. This is up from about 7 million bpd this month, so it is quite a substantial increase. Besides that, the Kingdom plans to boost production to over 13 million bpd. Some expect it to overtake the U.S. as the world's largest producer of the commodity in a couple of years. Does it matter? It seems that some industry observers and government officials in the U.S. insist on the top spot for its own sake. However, nobody is giving badges for how much oil a country can produce. While size may translate to energy security, the U.S. is still a large importer of crude oil - even if it last year became a net exporter of oil and refined products. Maybe the time has come to ask whether it is that important to be number one for the sake of being number one, or whether it might be wiser to become more resilient to market shocks even at the expense of losing the top spot. A country doesn't need to be the largest oil producer to be able to swing markets. It only needs to be a large enough producer. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Safe distancing measures in place at the Adam Road Food Centre. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore) SINGAPORE Safe distancing ambassadors are being hired to guide hawker centre patrons towards practising proper safe distancing. According to online job advertisements seen on the FastJobs and JobsBuddy portals, the roles provide a salary of $2,500 a month, with contract periods of between three and six months. One advertisement describes the role as to assist (National Environment Agency) in safe distancing measures at hawker centres islandwide. The job entails a five-day work week spread over three types of shifts: an 8.30am to 5.30pm day shift; 12pm to 9.30pm night shift; as well as a full-day shift from 8am to 2pm followed by 6pm to 9.30pm. Duties stated in the postings involve getting hawker centre patrons to: Only sit on unmarked seats Maintain a safe physical distance while queueing at food stalls Choose take-out or food delivery options if seating space is limited Return their trays after their meal Qualifying requirements for the job include having the minimum of a diploma or Higher Nitec certification; being fluent in English and ones mother tongue; and having good communications skills. In a Facebook post on Saturday, Enterprise Singapore (ESG) clarified that personnel from various government agencies have been deployed to ensure businesses implement and comply with the safe distancing measures imposed by the government. To do so, safe distancing ambassadors from ESG and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) have been reaching out to malls, retail and F&B establishments. Businesses are given 1-2 days to comply with the recommended measures, after which another check will be conducted. If the measures are still not implemented, ESG and SFA will issue an official warning letter to the business owner, said ESG in its post. Following this, a third visit will be made for further checks on compliance, it added. Businesses found to have violated the Infectious Diseases Act or related regulations may face charges. Ambassadors dont issue fines Story continues Separately, a Facebook post by ESG on Friday dispelled a rumour circulating on social media and text messaging apps that one of its safe distancing ambassadors had imposed a fine on a member of the public for sitting on a seat that was marked out as not to be occupied. Safe distancing ambassadors are deployed by various government agencies to guide and ensure that businesses implement and comply with the safe distancing measures. They do not impose fines, said ESG. Yahoo News Singapore has reached out to the National Environment Agency for more details regarding the job postings. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: COVID-19: No guests on enlistment day for NS recruits COVID-19: Singapore confirms 35 new cases, including NCID porter, and 3 new clusters The syndicate also called on the president to urge the parliament to issue a law for "fair" infection compensation that is in line with the hazard doctors are exposed to. Related Egypt allocates EGP 1 billion to provide preventative medical supplies The Egyptian Medical Syndicate has said a newly announced rise in monthly allowances granted to doctors and other medical staff is insufficient. Earlier this week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi ordered a 75% increase in monthly allowances given to medical professionals at a total cost of EGP 2.25 billion, as part of government efforts to support members of the healthcare sector amid the coronavirus crisis. Under a 2014 law issued under El-Sisi, a monthly allowance of between EGP 400 ($25.5) and 700 ($44.5) is offered to physicians, dentists, pharmacists, veterinarians, physiotherapists, nursing staff, chemists, physicists, and medical technicians. This new rise means the allowance will now range between EGP 700 and 1,225: EGP 1,225 for physicians, EGP 875 for dentists, pharmacists, veterinarians and physiotherapists, EGP 787 for nursing staff, chemists and physicists, and EGP 700 for medical technicians. The value of the monthly increase (after deductions) will be only about 400 Egyptian pounds, which is not commensurate with the efforts and sacrifices made by doctors, unless these increases are part of several forthcoming measures to improve doctors conditions, the syndicate said in a statement on Monday. An estimated 60,000 Egyptian doctors work at the health ministrys institutions, with salaries ranging from EGP 3,000 ($190) to 10,000 ($635), according to health ministry officials. El-Sisi has also ordered the creation of a risk fund for medical staff, a move welcomed by the union which suggested allocating part of the money for disaster damages and another for "supplemental" pensions for all doctors. He also ordered an exceptional bonus be awarded to all staff working at coronavirus isolation hospitals and other hospitals and central laboratories conducting tests for the deadly virus. Egypt has recorded 656 coronavirus cases, including 41 fatalities since the first case was registered in mid-February. The syndicate also called on the president to urge the parliament to issue a law for "fair" infection compensation that is in line with the hazard doctors are exposed to, a long-standing demand by Egyptian physicians. Since 1995, medical staff in Egypt have been receiving a meagre EGP 19 to EGP 30 in monthly infectious disease allowance, according to the Doctors Syndicate. Ehab Taher, a syndicate board member, told Ahram Online that a draft law to increase the infection allowance had been sent to the parliament over two years ago but it has yet to take any action. He says the law has not even been discussed by the parliaments health committee. "All we need to is to raise the compensation to a minimum EGP 1500-3000 based on the level of infection exposure of every medical profession," he said. The syndicate also called on the parliament to pass a law on medical liability and hospital protection law. Doctors are committed to performing their duty in all cases for nothing in return during these critical conditions the country is going through and will continue tosacrifice to ward off the epidemic, the syndicate said. Search Keywords: Short link: British Airways today axed all its flights to and from Gatwick Airport as coronavirus continues to strangle the aviation industry. The airline, which jets to Europe, America and the Caribbean from the West Sussex airport, has already mothballed many planes across its UK bases - but is still running from London Heathrow with a severely reduced schedule. The decision by BA to shut its Gatwick operation came hours after easyJet grounded its entire fleet of 330 aircraft and became the first UK airline to stop all its operations. From tomorrow, Gatwick's North Terminal will shut with the South Terminal operating from 2pm and 10pm to cut costs, meaning most of the airport's 2,500 staff will be furloughed this week. They will be paid 80 per cent of their average pay up to 2,500-a-month through the Government job retention scheme. A British Airways spokesman declined to say how many of its workers' jobs are under threat, but said: 'Due to the considerable restrictions and challenging market environment, like many other airlines we will temporarily suspend our flying schedule at Gatwick. We are contacting affected customers to discuss their options.' Two weeks ago British Airways admitted coronavirus is threatening its very survival as staff were told there will be job cuts and aircrafts must be mothballed because of the 'worsening' worldwide pandemic. Chief Executive Alex Cruz wrote to all 45,000 workers saying the virus' relentless spread is a crisis 'of global proportions like no other we have known', more serious than the 2008 financial crash, SARS or 9/11. But chief executive of its parent company IAG, Willie Walsh, has also stressed that he had not requested a government bail-out and insisted IAG was 'resilient with a strong balance sheet', adding there is 'no guarantee that many European airlines would survive'. British Airways today axed all its flights to and from Gatwick (its grounded jets pictured there today) as the aviation industry continued to collapse because of coronavirus BA is one of many that are to stop serving the UK's second busiest airport due to the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The airline will keep equipment for essential functions at the airport, such as maintenance, towing and cleaning, to enable it to restart operations quickly. Just 33 flights were due to take off or land at the West Sussex airport on Tuesday, according to aviation data provider FlightStats. From Wednesday, Gatwick's runway will only be open for scheduled flights between 2pm and 10pm. The airport will also close one of its two terminals. How coronavirus has affected airlines in the UK over the past month Flybe: Europe's largest regional airline collapsed on March 5 after months on the brink, triggering 2,400 job losses and left around 15,000 passengers stranded across the UK and Europe. Flybe's owners, a consortium including Virgin Atlantic, the Stobart Group and hedge fund firm Cyrus Capital, blamed coronavirus for hastening the ailing airline's collapse. Flybe operated up to 50 UK routes, accounting for 40 per cent of all domestic flights, and was used by 9.5million passengers a year. British Airways: The International Airlines Group, which also includes Iberia and Aer Lingus, said on March 16 that there would be a 75 per cent reduction in passenger capacity for two months, with boss Willie Walsh admitting there was 'no guarantee that many European airlines would survive'. easyJet: The airline with 9,000 UK-based staff including 4,000 cabin crew grounds its entire fleet of 344 planes on March 30. The Luton-based carrier said parking all of its planes 'removes significant cost' as the aviation industry struggles to cope with a collapse in demand. Loganair: The Scottish regional airline said on March 30 that it expects to ask the Government for a bailout to cope with the impact of the pandemic. Loganair will go to the government despite being told by Finance Minister Rishi Sunak last week that airlines should exhaust all other options for funding, before asking for help. Jet2: The budget holiday airline has suspended all of its flights departing from Britain until April 30. A number of Jet2 flights turned around mid-air earlier this month while travelling to Spain when a lockdown was announced in the country. Virgin Atlantic: The airline said on March 16 that it would have reduced its lights by 80 per cent by March 26, and this will go up to 85 per cent by April. It has also urged the Government to offer carriers emergency credit facilities worth up to 7.5billion. Ryanair: More than 90 per cent of the Irish-based airline's planes are now grounded, with the rest of the aircraft providing repatriation and rescue flights. Advertisement The measures will be in place for a minimum of one month. Airports are responding to the decision by airlines to suspend the majority of their flights due to demand plummeting and countries around the world introducing travel restrictions in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus. London City Airport closed its runway to all commercial and private flights last week while Southend Airport is only open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays between 4.30pm and 9.30pm. IAG recently announced three-quarters of flights will be cut over the next two months also said it was 'taking actions to reduce operating expenses and improve cash flow'. These include temporarily suspending employment contracts, reducing working hours and offering staff unpaid leave. The group, which also owns Iberia and Vueling, employs 66,000 staff. Airlines are in the process of temporarily laying off tens of thousands of staff without pay. Amid warnings of an industry collapse within weeks, BA-owner IAG, EasyJet, Ryanair and Norwegian all revealed drastic plans to slash costs and ground flights. Virgin Atlantic said staff had agreed to take eight weeks of unpaid leave over the next three months, with the salary docked from workers' pay over six months so their income does not dry up. All 10,000 employees of the company, founded and controlled by Richard Branson, will also be offered voluntary redundancy. In a sign of the scale of the coronavirus crisis, the airlines have been backed by the union Unite and pilots association Balpa. The most extreme measures were taken by Norwegian, which is the third largest airline at Gatwick. It is temporarily laying off around 7,300 staff 90 per cent of its workforce. The airline which is saddled with debt, has lost more than 80 per cent of its market value since the start of the year. EasyJet's founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou yesterday justified the decision to pay a 174million dividend to shareholders including around 60million to his family just ten days before it grounded all its 330 planes. The billionaire founder of easyJet Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou (pictured in Monaco where he lives) was awarded a 60million dividend from the ailing business ten says ago. It grounded all its planes today and furloughed staff Why are flights still landing in Britain from coronavirus hotspots including Italy, the US and Spain? Flights are still landing in Britain from coronavirus hotspots including Italy, the US and Spain. Passengers landed at London Heathrow this morning on planes from the likes of Rome on Alitalia, New York on United Airlines and Madrid on Iberia. Flights from America also brought passengers into London today from other US cities including Atlanta and Boston on British Airways, and Dallas on American Airlines. While passengers arriving on flights from affected countries are asked to self-isolate for 14 days, there are no means of enforcing this and no health checks are being carried out at UK airports. There is a split in the Cabinet other whether UK borders should be closed to stop people arriving from virus hotspots. Home Secretary Priti Patel wants to stop passengers being able to fly in to the UK from countries with high levels of infections such as Iran, the US and China. Mrs Patel believes flights from virus hotspots should not be allowed when the country is on lockdown to prevent its spread. The lack of a travel ban in the UK is in stark contrast to policies in the EU and the US which have closed their borders to travellers from many other countries. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab want to keep the borders open, in part to allow stranded Britons to return home. Advertisement The Luton-based airline employs 9,000 staff and is the first in the UK to stop all flights and mothball all jets since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in Britain. Sir Stelios said the now-controversial dividends were agreed in February when 'the world looked like a much happier place' and the cash was 'automatically' paid to shareholders on March 20 and were 'impossible to stop'. In an extraordinary statement the billionaire also said calls for him to give the money back were 'naive' and 'malicious', adding easyJet 'is not a charity'. The grounding of easyJet's gigantic fleet came just days after calling for a state loan to help them survive. Justifying the 170million payout Sir Stelios, who with his siblings are the largest single shareholders in the carrier with a 34 per cent stake, insisted that the dividends were 'legal' and 'rightful'. He said: 'The reality of the situation is the dividend was legally at the point of no return on the 6th of February, or at the very latest on the 27th of February 2020. The world looked like a much happier place on the 6th of February and the dividend was rightfully paid to all shareholders'. In a lengthy statement he said the payments could not have been stopped. He said: 'The dividends by the 20th of March we already paid automatically via a complex web of bank accounts where the shares are held and it is impossible to stop it for some shareholders but not for others'. Sir Stelios is threatening to seek the removal of board members unless the airline withdraws from a contract with Airbus to provide 107 aircraft which he said will cost 4.5 billion. In his statement today he said journalists who asked whether he would hand his dividend back were 'naive/malicious', adding: 'I am perplexed as to how that would work?', adding: 'To be used how? To pay that money straight over to Airbus? And what is the consideration for such a gift? Or is it meant as a selfless charitable donation? Charity towards which deserving cause exactly? easyJet is not a registered charity to receive donations and neither is Airbus. That's not how publically listed companies work'. EasyJet planes are seen grounded at Edinburgh Airport this morning as all its 1,000-plus routes closed for at least two months EasyJet grounded its entire fleet of 330-plus planes as coronavirus continued to wound Britain's airlines. Stelios battles Easyjet over 4.5bn planes Easyjet's founder has gone to war with the struggling airline over its plans to spend 4.5bn on aircraft. Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, 53, claimed the company should not be seeking a government bailout and is urging it to scrap its order for planes with Airbus instead. In an ultimatum to Easyjet's board, he threatened to launch a campaign to unseat one director every seven weeks unless bosses gave in to his demands. Easyjet grounded its entire fleet yesterday because of the coronavirus crisis, effectively leaving it without any source of revenue. The airline and its rivals have held talks with the Government about possible taxpayer-funded loans to help them stave off collapse. Advertisement The airline serves 159 airports and 1,051 routes, has 9,000 UK-based staff including 4,000 cabin crew. The company has worked with union Unite to agree two-month furlough arrangements for cabin crew which means that crew will be paid 80 per cent of their average pay up to 2,500-a-month through the Government job retention scheme. Virgin Atlantic will ask the British government for a package of commercial loans and guarantees worth hundreds of millions of pounds, the Financial Times reported. Other carriers including airlines such as Loganair and Eastern Airways, and Norwegian Air Shuttle are also considering to ask for state aid, the newspaper added. But British ministers want bigger airlines with wealthy shareholders will weather the storm without the need for billions in taxpayer cash. The Luton-based carrier said the measure 'removes significant cost' as the aviation industry struggles to cope with a collapse in demand caused by the outbreak of the virus. - Another doctor from the Philippines succumbed to the novel coronavirus disease - Dr. Leandro Resurreccion III, a frontliner against the said virus, passed away on Tuesday morning - He was an employee at the Philippine Children's Medical Center in Quezon City - His son also aired a heartfelt message for the said doctor upon learning that his dad already lost the fight against COVID-19 PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed The Philippine Children's Medical Center has just confirmed that one of its doctors already passed away because of the novel coronavirus. KAMI learned that Dr. Leandro Resurreccion III, a pioneering Filipino pediatric surgeon, succumbed to the deadly virus on Tuesday morning. It is the first time that the said hospital lost a brave medical frontliner in the midst of the pandemic that the Philippines is experiencing now. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Through a heartbreaking social media post, the management of PCMC described the 57-year-old doctor as a great surgeon, teacher, academician, and friend to all. He was also known for his always-positive vibe and his remarkable vision in pediatric surgery. Aside from being a doctor, Resurreccion served as a professor at the Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation and the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. He was well known locally and abroad as forward looking in his vision for pediatric surgery especially in Liver Transplants which he was working to the end. Always smiling, friendly and very cool, he will be missed. Our first fallen soldier in the battle vs COVID-19, PCMC said. There were no hugs, there were no kisses, and there were no goodbyes. As a matter of fact, the last time I saw him, he was still able to smile. It gives you a kind of heartbreak that I cannot even explain, the doctors son also quipped. In a previous article by , a biotechnology firm in the United States said that it has antibodies to fight COVID-19. The Philippines already has 88 fatalities due to COVID-19. The said number includes more than a dozen of medical frontliners. 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 Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Tuesday said he had directed officials to find out whether any resident of the state attended Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin West from March 13-15. I have asked the state home secretary (Vijai Vardhan) to find out if anyone from the state attended the congregation, Vij told PTI over phone. He said the officials will gather information from the districts and further action will be taken if someone in the state is found to have attended the congregation. Delhi's Nizamuddin area has been identified as one of the hotspots of COVID-19 in India after several people tested positive for the virus in the past few days. More than 2,000 delegates from countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Nizamuddin West from March 13-15. At least 24 people who were at the headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat have been diagnosed with COVID-19, prompting the authorities to cordon off the area and increase testing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. AP-Yonhap The United Nations warned the world is losing its battle to the coronavirus as the number of infections exponentially increased and the global caseload soared past 500,000 on Friday. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the leaders of the Group of 20 during a teleconference summit on Thursday that the world is at war with a virus and losing, urging them to come up with "a war-time plan to fight it." "It took the world three months to reach 100,000 confirmed cases of the infection. The next 100,000 happened in just 12 days. The third took four days. The fourth, just one and a half. This is exponential growth, and only the tip of the iceberg," he said. By midday Friday, the number of cases stood at more than 566,000 and nearly 25,500 deaths, according to a live tracker of the virus by Johns Hopkins University. Nearly 128,000 have recovered from the disease. Guterres called for solidarity, a global cease-fire and a coming together of developed and developing countries to fight the virus through suppression while working together to minimize its social and economic impact and to create a better world once the pandemic is over. "We must work together now to set the stage for a recovery that builds a more sustainable, inclusive and equitable economy," he said. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday acknowledged the grim milestone in the number of cases. "There are now more than half-a-million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 20,000 deaths," he said during his Friday briefing from WHO headquarters in Geneva. "These are tragic numbers, but let's also remember that around them there are hundreds of thousands of survivors." Ghebreyesus said he urged the G-20 leaders to "fight, unite and ignite." That meant "fight to stop the coronavirus with every resource at our disposal, and unite to confront the COVID-19 pandemic together," he said. "We are one humanity, with one, common enemy. No country can fight alone. We can only fight together." In China, the former epicenter of the outbreak, health officials who had been battling local transmission of the virus for months are now shifting their concern to imported cases. On Friday, China's National Health Commission reported 55 new cases of the virus over the previous day with all but one being imported from overseas. The country has the second-most number of infections with 81,340 of which 595 were brought into the country. Two weeks ago, it had fewer than 100 such cases. To clamp down on the influx of cases, China has announced it is temporarily suspending the entry of all foreigners, even those with visas and residence permits, starting at midnight Friday. "The suspension is a temporary measure that China is compelled to take in light of the outbreak situation and the practices of other countries," China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday in a statement. "The above-mentioned measures will be calibrated in light of the evolving situation and announced accordingly." In Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Friday that starting Saturday at midnight, all overseas arrivals will be quarantined for two weeks in either hotels or other accommodation facilities before they may return to their residences. "If their home is in South Australia or in Perth or in Tasmania and they have arrived in Melbourne, they will be quarantining in Melbourne," he told reporters during a press conference. Asked about the scale of this operation, the prime minister said 7,120 people arrived at the country's airport on Thursday a level at which they believe the states and territories can accommodate. But to help in the effort, Morrison has deployed the military "to assist in the compliance with these arrangements," though he stressed they are not authorized to perform arrests. "That is the responsibility of law enforcement officers so sworn in those jurisdictions," he said. "The [Australian Defense Force] will be there to support those enforcement authorities." According to a statement from his office, the military personnel will be bolstering local police efforts in visiting the residences of Australians under mandatory isolation. In Singapore, the Ministry of Health announced starting Friday that failing to comply with social distancing rules instituted earlier in the week could result in six months in jail or fine of about $7,000. The measures came into effect midnight Thursday, criminalizing those who don't ensure the physical distance of at least three feet with others or attend gatherings of more than 10 people. The move follows the ministry on Tuesday outlining strict measures, including the suspension of all religious services and the ordering of restaurants to ensure tables are a minimum of three feet apart. (UPI) Four persons, including an Army personnel and a minor, were arrested for allegedly robbing a man during the COVID-19 lockdown in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur city, police said on Tuesday. The Madhotal police arrested Army man Amit Raikwar, Sumit Raikwar (24), Rakesh Burman (21) and a 17-year-old boy, police station in-charge Anil Gupta said. On March 29, Jai Ram Sahu was driving home, when the accused intercepted his car and Amit Raikwar, who was in his Army uniform, asked him to furnish a pass permitting him to drive during the lockdown, he said. Amit Raikwar wielded a knife, while others were armed with lathis, the official said. Even as the accused Army man engaged the complainant in a conversation, the others stole a bag from the car, he added. Based on a complaint, the police verified with the Army and found that Amit Raikwar was presently posted at Hissar in Haryana, he said. The accused are booked under section 392 (robbery) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Arms Act, the official said. The police recovered the complainant's stolen bag and seized a knife, two motorcycles and lathis from the accused, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Panicky migrant workers leaving cities following Indian lockdown Incredible achievements of Cuba and China show that alternative to capitalist healthcare system is possible and inevitable The western capitalist media plays a major role in achieving these twin objectives. Therefore, the capitalist media is spreading stereotypes on food habits of Chinese people and negative image of Chinese society, state and its government during this pandemic. The successful containment and reversal of COVID-19 is an achievement of the Chinese state and government. The capitalist states and governments in Europe and America have failed its citizens from this pandemic. The incredible achievements of Cuba and China show that the alternative to capitalist healthcare system is possible and inevitable. The Cuban and Chinese medical aid to Italy, Spain and many other countries in the world shows that solidarity during a pandemic is only possible under non-capitalist healthcare systems. Therefore, it is imperatives for all working people all over the world to defend socialist experiences and achievements of Chinese people and stand against racial slurs against Chinese population outside China. It is not Chinese virus but COVID-19 which is a pandemic. It can only be defeated if we can reverse the business of illness spread by pharmaceutical corporations, private medicals and health insurance companies under capitalism. The failure to learn the lessons of history from the anti-Soviet propaganda then and anti-Chinese propaganda now will be an unimaginable defeat of working-class people all over the world. The pandemic of capitalism will continue to produce deaths and destitution for its own profit. Human lives, animals and environments are disposables under capitalism. It is time to debunk the capitalist myths and celebrate socialist achievements even during this pandemic. --- *Senior lecturer in business strategy, Coventry University, UK The ugly head of racism is out in open air amidst COVID-19 pandemic. The racism against Chinese people and propaganda against the achievements of the Chinese revolution spreads like coronavirus. The anti-Chinese media coverage also replicates the history of anti-communist propaganda and campaign against the Soviet Union from the days of its inception to fall. The anti-Soviet propaganda continues to appear in the front pages of mainstream media even after three decades of its demise. The ruling and non-ruling capitalist class, their well-paid right wing and liberal think tanks and intellectuals continue to argue that there is no alternative to capitalist world order after the collapse of Soviet Union. It means socialism is a utopia and it can never be an alternative to capitalism.The objectives of such ideological propaganda are to distort truth and hide incredible revolutionary achievements of the Soviet Union. Many anti-Soviet books, articles, newspapers, editorials, posters, advertisements, magazines, films, stories and documentaries were produced to sustain the narratives that uphold the interests of the bourgeoisies. The communists, socialists and workers parties were depicted like demons strangling the capitalist gods and goddesses of individual prosperity, liberty, democracy and freedom. The socialist alternative to capitalism is portrayed as apocalyptic culture of death.History is the witness to the failed experiments and achievements of socialism in the Soviet Union to Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our living experiences of capitalism in the 21st century documents the inhuman stories of death, destitution, inequalities, hunger, homelessness, environmental catastrophises and war.Capitalism destroys our planet and all human values of our society based on peace, prosperity and solidarity. Throughout the world history, anti-communist and anti-socialist propaganda led by capitalist system has served the forces of tyranny. Dictatorships, authoritarian regimes, fascism, Nazism, xenophobia, growth of terrorism and reactionary right-wing forces are products of capitalism.The capitalist system is not a friend of democracy, freedom, human rights and human emancipation from illness, poverty and inequalities. In spite of all its powers and propaganda, capitalism failed as a system.Deaths and destitution due to pandemics are not new in human history. COVID-19 is not the first one and it is not going to be the last pandemic. But for the first time, there are attempts to delegitimise the state and government of China in the eyes of its people when human beings in general and working-class people in particular are facing annihilating economic crisis again amidst COVID-19 pandemic.The crisis is accelerated by racism and anti-Chinese propaganda. The specific objective is to defeat the achievements of Chinese people and their revolution that uplifted millions from hunger, homelessness, illness, illiteracy and unemployment. The general objective is to defeat all available experiences of alternatives to capitalism. Elon Musk says he's prepared to provide ventilators to hospitals struggling to treat people infected with novel coronavirus. In a tweet, the billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla said that he would provide the 'FDA approve' ventilators to hospitals for free, following up on a promise made earlier this month. 'We have extra FDA-approved ventilators. Will ship to hospitals worldwide within Tesla delivery regions. Device & shipping cost are free. Only requirement is that the vents are needed immediately for patients, not stored in a warehouse. Please [let] me or @Tesla know,' wrote Musk in a tweet. As of Tuesday afternoon, confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US approached nearly 182,000 while deaths climbed to 3,699. We have extra FDA-approved ventilators. Will ship to hospitals worldwide within Tesla delivery regions. Device & shipping cost are free. Only requirement is that the vents are needed immediately for patients, not stored in a warehouse. Please me or @Tesla know. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 31, 2020 The move comes a little more than two weeks after Musk offered to help produce more ventilators if the US runs out. The CEO of SpaceX previously told his Twitter followers that 'if there is a shortage' he would step in to make ventilators for patients in intensive care who are struggling to stave off COVID-19. 'We will make ventilators if there is a shortage,' Musk tweeted in response to a fan's suggestion the billionaire should repurpose his factory for the task. General Motors and Ford say they are also prepared to help manufacture ventilators as the US faces shortages. Musk has been already delivered more than 1,000 ventilators to a California hospital to help with the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additionally, Tesla delivered 50,000 face masks to the Seattle home of a University of Washington physician to help protect healthcare workers as they grapple with the shortages of personal protective equipment. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk (pictured) has directed the aerospace company to begin making face shields and hand sanitizer to bolster supplies for medical workers The aid comes after Musk downplayed the severity of the coronavirus on Twitter calling panic over the pandemic 'dumb.' In addition to providing ventilators, SpaceX has started to make its own face shields and hand sanitizer and donate them to hospitals in California. An internal memo reviewed by CNBC suggests the company delivered 75 face shields over the weekend to Cedars Sinai, a health facility near the company's headquarters in Hawthorne, California. Unlike respirator masks, shields cover the whole face from the top down in a suspended layer of plastic. The company also reportedly donated 100 'tyvek' protective suits to medical workers there and is currently working on making hand sanitizer that 'complies with CDC guidelines and is effective at killing the COVID-19 coronavirus,' according to CNBC. Tamil Nadu on Tuesday saw as many as 57 new COVID-19 cases, the highest spike in a single day so far and 50 of them had travelled to Delhi to attend a religious congregation recently, the government said. The aggregate number of virus cases stood at 124 in Tamil Nadu, with at least 77 of them having links to the congregation held in the national capital recently. While the government confirmed seven new cases earlier in the day (of which five men had visited Delhi to take part in a religious congregation), Health Minister C Vijayabaskar confirmed 50 more new cases on his twitter handle. Health Secretary Beela Rajesh said of the 50 cases, 45 had travelled to Delhi to participate in the religious meet at the national capital's Nizamuddin West area. All of them have been admitted to medical college hospitals in Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Chennai and Namakkal and are stable, she said. The government said that of the approximately 1,500 people who took part in the meet in Delhi, 1,131 had returned, about 800 were traced and 300 could not be found so far and the rest were quarantined by authorities in Delhi. The government also said efforts were afoot to 'isolate' all the participants of the conference from Tamil Nadu soon to stem the further spread of the contagion. A day after Chief Minister K Palaniswami said a number of people from Tamil Nadu -part of a group of about 1,500 people- who had been to Delhi recently to attend a meet were infected, the government said that of the seven fresh cases, five men had a travel history to the national capital. Asked if the five were part of the Tamil Nadu group that attended a religious congregation in Delhi, an official replied in the affirmative. Tablighi Jamaat had held a conference in Delhi recently. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A billionaire landlord has defiantly refused to offer rent relief to some tenants whose business have had to close because of the coronavirus pandemic. John Van Lieshout, who has a property portfolio valued at more than $1billion, said he would not be made into a 'scapegoat' for the crisis and business owners had a moral responsibility to try to pay their rent. The government has announced a six-month moratorium on rental evictions but Mr Van Lieshout said he was only considering relief requests from his more vulnerable tenants. Scroll down for video Billionaire landlord John Van Lieshout (pictured) has said he should not be made into a 'scapegoat' after refusing offer rent relief to tenants whose businesses have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic 'Some of those people I'm going to be very kind to because I know that they cannot possibly [pay] because the government's closed it down completely,' he told ABC News. 'But take a tenant who has a good business that's been in business for 10 or 15 years, I think he has a moral obligation first to use some of his own capital.' The Super A-Mart furniture chain founder has asked his tenants to reveal which assistance the government is providing them before making a decision on relief. But the owner of Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar on Brisbane's south bank Arif Memis said he was astounded at being told to keep paying rent by Mr Van Lieshout. He said the branch had been reduced to six takeaway orders per day, but despite weeks of requests had been told via letter multiple times rent had to be paid immediately. 'I don't understand what planet he lives on,' Mr Memis said. The owners of Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar in Brisbane have been told to keep paying rent despite business drying up to six takeaway orders per day Mr Van Lieshout, who has a net worth of about USD$1.2billion (AUD$1.9billion), said he was also waiting for further information on the government's policies during the pandemic. 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, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a $130billion JobKeeper package to subsidise the wages of six million Australians. About 113,000 businesses have signed up for the scheme since it was announced on Monday afternoon. Employees will receive a flat-rate payment of $1500 per fortnight through their employers in a bid to lessen the economic blow caused by the virus. It applies to full and part-time workers, sole traders, as well as casuals who have been on the books for at least 12 months. The subsidies will last for six months. The government has also handed the banks $20 billion to help them lend $40 billion to struggling small businesses to help them stay afloat. Citing a public health order to curb the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration is swiftly deporting unaccompanied migrant minors apprehended near the U.S.-Mexico border, upending a long-standing practice required under a federal law designed to protect children from violence and exploitation. Despite initially maintaining that the new measures would not apply to unaccompanied minors, Customs and Border Protection on Monday said its officials could deny entry to children who cross the southern border alone under an order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. The agency said some minors could be excluded from the CDC directive if a border official "suspects trafficking or sees signs of illness." The administration has been using the CDC order, based on a 1940s law that allows the government to bar the entry of foreigners whom it determines could carry a communicable disease, to rapidly turn back border-crossing migrants to Mexico or Canada or to swiftly deport them to their home countries. Officials have said the objective is to prevent overcrowding in detention facilities where the coronavirus could spread. But the measures have been denounced by advocates as yet another barrier for asylum-seekers hoping to request protection in the U.S. They say Monday's announcement that the policy also applies to unaccompanied minors is particularly concerning because it overrides not just U.S. asylum law and obligations under international refugee treaties, but legal safeguards for migrant children. Immigration Child Detention Immigrants play soccer at the U.S. government's holding center for migrant children in Carrizo Springs, Texas. The facility closed only a few weeks after it opened last summer. Eric Gay / AP For decades, migrant children have been afforded extra legal safeguards under U.S. law and the landmark 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement. Children in U.S. immigration custody have to be detained in safe and sanitary facilities that are not overly restrictive; connected with legal counsel and advocates; and the government must make continuous efforts to release them. Unaccompanied minors can also have their asylum applications decided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, rather than by an immigration judge in an adversarial setting. Story continues Under the Bush-era William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, border officials need to transfer unaccompanied migrant children who are not from Mexico or Canada to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, or ORR, within three days of their apprehension, barring extraordinary circumstances. "We've had a bipartisan consensus in this country that we don't deport kids who are in danger, at least when they first come to the country," Anthony Enriquez, an immigration lawyer who leads the unaccompanied minors program at Catholic Charities Community Services, told CBS News. "We give them an opportunity to tell their story, we provide them with legal services in ORR custody and we let them have a fair shot at telling us why they were running from something, why they were so terrified that they had to leave their home." "This policy is a total sea change from that bipartisan consensus," Enriquez added. "From a humanitarian perspective, it's absolutely catastrophic." Jennifer Nagda, the policy director at the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights, said the administration is portraying the issue of processing unaccompanied children during a global pandemic as a "zero-sum game." Instead of rapidly deporting them, she said officials could designate facilities to screen children for the coronavirus. Nagda said ORR, which currently has about 3,400 minors in its custody, has enough capacity to process and house migrant children. "We are not at a place where there is no safe space to take them. We have the capacity to safely bring children across the border, to keep them safe and to make sure they don't present a risk of spreading the coronavirus or be exposed to the virus by others," she said. In a letter to acting Homeland Security secretary Chad Wolf, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Dick Durbin and Representatives Jerry Nadler and Zoe Lofgren said the administration could be violating federal law with the new border measures. "Children do not have to be put in harm's way to protect us from the coronavirus pandemic," the Democratic lawmakers wrote in Monday's letter. "DHS has the ability and capacity to protect both these children and the public." Migrant Children The Trauma In this Sept. 24, 2019, photo, girls play dominos with a staff member at a shelter for migrant teenage girls, in Lake Worth, Fla. Wilfredo Lee / AP "Sad and discouraged" The new policy, which was first reported by The New York Times, has already dashed the hopes of children in Central America who were searching for protection and a better life in the U.S. The families of four Guatemalan minors who recently journeyed to the U.S. southern border alone told CBS News that the children were rapidly deported to Guatemala within days or even hours of their encounter with U.S. border officials. Gelmer, a 17-year-old indigenous teen from the western highlands of Guatemala, said he was deported the day after U.S. border officials apprehended him near El Paso, Texas. "I feel sad and discouraged," he told CBS News in Spanish during a phone call from his village near the town of Sacapulas. "Despite everything I experienced along the way, they deported me the next day," Gelmer added. "It was very fast. I didn't get the opportunity to say why I was coming. They only told me they were going to deport me because of the disease." His mother said she had to pick him up in Guatemala City after his deportation because the government's travel restrictions in response to the coronavirus pandemic have halted transportation for deportees. "It's very sad because I'm a single mother, and I have four kids. He's the one who's always helping me," the mother told CBS News in Spanish. "I don't know why they deported him. They deported him immediately." For the past year, Gelmer has been studying for half the day and looking for construction work during the other half. But the teen said he often struggles to find work; and when he does, the pay is not enough to help his mother and three younger siblings. Gelmer was hoping to stay with his aunt in New Jersey while completing his immigration proceedings in the U.S. "I wanted to go there to help my mother, to study and to press forward." Two other families of deported unaccompanied minors told CBS News their children family members were still stranded at the main migrant shelter in Guatemala City because of the travel restrictions. Another family said their 16-year-old child was supposed to return home from Guatemala City this week. Like Gelmer, the three other children left poor indigenous communities in Guatemala. Their family members in the U.S. and Guatemala, some of whom only speak Mam or Kiche, languages of Mayan origin, all said they only received information of the children's whereabouts after they had already been deported to Guatemala. Back in Guatemala, Gelmer and his mother are worried about how they are going to earn the 30,000 quetzals, or nearly 4,000 U.S. dollars, to pay off the total cost of the teen's unsuccessful journey to the U.S. "I've always tried to help my mother so we can eat," Gelmer said. "But this a big debt that we owe and I don't know how we are going to pay it." Dog delivers groceries to quarantined neighbor Cavaliers star Kevin Love opens up about mental illness and social distancing Amazon employees make damning accusations against company's virus precautions "We must support every effort in that respect, without conditions. Peruvians must show total commitment and solidarity with the world," he stressed. On the other hand, he welcomed the recent provisions in favor of alleviating the critical economic situation generated by the pandemic, which affects the most vulnerable populations and the working class in the country, where tourism constitutes the most inclusive economic activity as it decentralizes, fights extreme poverty , and creates millions of jobs In this regard, he noted the Government's willingness to issue complementary measures in the coming days in order to prevent its collapse. Economy and Finance Minister Maria Antonieta Alva has recently announced that her sector had asked for special powers to legislate on matters relating to tax facilities and subsidies. "The current situation is the worst in decades. This pandemic has closed borders and airports, canceled flights and, what is worse, has immobilized citizens, which was a necessary measure of social isolation in order to avoid human losses ," he said. In response to the public health threat posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19), South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has issued an executive order that all public schools and publicly supported universities in the state be closed through March 31. South Carolina State University announced Monday that the campus is closed. While face-to-face classes on campus will not take place, students will resume coursework remotely. Employees Essential employees and those whose presence is deemed necessary by their division heads should report to work. Faculty should execute alternative remote teaching methods beginning March 23. Information about remote course delivery will be provided by the Office of the Provost and the Director of the Center for Online and Distance Education. Further details about the executive order and how it impacts work schedules will be communicated to employees as that information becomes available. All university-related travel is suspended until April 5. Exceptions may be granted only through the high-risk travel appeal process previously established. Students Students currently on extended spring break should NOT return to campus. On March 23, students will shift to remote learning methods, including online classes. ONLY students who have extenuating circumstances will be allowed to return to or remain on campus following spring break. Students may obtain approval by completing a Request to Remain On Campus Form. Forms should be submitted online by noon on Thursday, March 19. A decision will be emailed to the requester within 24 hours. For more information, call (803) 533-3675 / (803) 516-4792 or email SCSUHOUSING@scsu.edu The health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff remain our top priority, S.C. State stated. S.C. State continues to monitor the latest reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control regarding confirmed coronavirus cases. To date, there are no confirmed cases in Orangeburg County or on the S.C. State campus. International and domestic university-sponsored travel have been suspended. The university has established protocol to keep the campus community safe and prevent transmission, in the event there are any cases reported locally. Students, faculty, and staff who choose to travel to high-risk areas may be prevented from returning to campus and may be subjected to isolation and/or quarantine pending a health assessment by public health officials. S.C. State reminds people to please remember to exercise transmission prevention protocol, which includes: Avoid close contact with people who are sick Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth Stay home when you are sick Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds Symptoms of the coronavirus include: fever cough shortness of breath Symptoms may appear within 2-14 days after exposure: If you experience these symptoms, contact the University's Brooks Health Center or a local healthcare professional immediately. For more helpful information about the coronavirus and what you can do to protect yourself visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. For questions concerning local impact, contact nurse Pinkey Carter at (803) 536-7055 or pcarter@scsu.edu. 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 Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 21:19:06|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close by Burak Akinci ANKARA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish government is working on a bill that would release tens of thousands of inmates from prisons amid fears that the COVID-19 pandemic will carve a deadly path through cramped penitentiaries among prisoners and staff. A first version of the draft which caused outrage reportedly included the release of sex offenders, domestic abusers and drug related prisoners. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan "has categorically ruled out such a measure" during a cabinet meeting, pro-government daily Sabah reported. Women's rights organizations immediately condemned the first plan by expressing alarm at the proposal, saying it would place women and children at risk and asking for an "egalitarian" amnesty for all prisoners. Their insistent calls seem to have been heard by Erdogan's ruling conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP), which submitted to the parliament the proposal which would see the freedom of about a third of Turkey's 300,000 prisoners. There are also around 150,000 prison employees who are also at risk of being infected. The bill should be voted in fewer than two weeks, as the AKP and its nationalist ally MHP don't have the needed majority of 360 seats to vote for an amnesty, a parliamentary source told Xinhua. Under the suggested plan, some inmates would expect reduced sentences and others more than half of their jail terms. According to official statements, no diagnosed cases have been reported in prisons for now. Turkey has so far reported 10,827 COVID-19 cases and 168 deaths, with 39 settlements across the country put under quarantine. Turkey, where the rate of infections has outstripped many other countries in the last 10 days, has cancelled all its international flights, halted all intercity trains and restricted travels unless with a doctor's note. Human rights organizations have welcomed the government's plan to substitute prison time with alternatives such as early parole and house arrest. Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul met last week with representatives of main opposition parties to find a consensus to determine the scope of those who would be released. Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu also suggested that doctors or other health personnel currently incarcerated should also be freed to help with anti-coronavirus measures. "We are considering several options and all are being discussed and you will soon see," a source close to the government told Xinhua. FAIRFIELD Troopers are asking for the publics help to solve a recent larceny at an area highway rest area. At 1:52 a.m. Sunday, March 22, troopers from the Troop G barrack in Bridgeport were dispatched on a report of a larceny inside Fairfield rest area on Interstate 95 south. A janitor at the rest stop alleged that a brown wallet and cigarettes were missing from a backpack secured in the supply closet. In the backpack, state police said, was a drivers license, debit and credit cards and $1,000 in cash. When troopers reviewed the surveillance camera footage from the area, it showed a white man, possibly in his late 30s to late 40s, wearing a black stocking cap go into the supply closet and leave with something in his hands, state police said. The suspect was also wearing a black jacket, black pants and white sneakers. After leaving the supply closet, the man is seen leaving the rest area with what appears to be a brown item in his right hand, state police said. The man left in the same white sedan he arrived at the rest area in, state police said. Anyone with information is asked to call 203-696-2500, extension 4010. Callers can remain anonymous. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Vijay Mallya has said that all his companies in India have ceased manufacturing amid the coronavirus crisis and have still not laid off any employees. He also said that it is important to stay safe and maintain social distancing which can only be achieved by staying at home. In a tweet, the liquor baron said, "Indian Government has done what was unthinkable in locking down the entire Country. We respect that. All my Companies have effectively ceased operations. All manufacturing is closed as well. Yet we are not sending employees home and paying the idle cost. The has to help" Indian Government has done what was unthinkable in locking down the entire Country. We respect that. All my Companies have effectively ceased operations. All manufacturing is closed as well. Yet we are not sending employees home and paying the idle cost. Government has to help. - Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 31, 2020 Mallya also stated that he had made repeated offers to pay 100 per cent of the amount Kingfisher Airlines had borrowed from the banks. He said, "Neither are Banks willing to take money and neither is the ED willing to release their attachments which they did at the behest of the Banks." Mallaya wishes that the Finance Minister would listen to him in times of this crisis. I have made repeated offers to pay 100 % of the amount borrowed by KFA to the Banks. Neither are Banks willing to take money and neither is the ED willing to release their attachments which they did at the behest of the Banks. I wish the FM would listen in this time of crisis. - Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 31, 2020 Vijay Mallya was chairman of United Breweries (UB) Group which has diverse interests in brewing, distilling, real estate, biotechnology and information technology. On Tuesday, the UK High Court is scheduled to hear an appeal from Mallya against his extradition to India on charges of money laundering and fraud, amounting to Rs 9,000 crore. Also Read: Coronavirus in India Live updates: Rajasthan govt to acquire 84 private hospitals in Jaipur Also Read: PM CARES Fund better suited to deal with coronavirus crisis, say legal experts Budget carrier SpiceJet has decided to cut up to 30 percent salary of its employees in March with Chairman Ajay Singh opting for the highest 30 percent trimming in compensation, the airline said in an e-mail communication to the staff on Tuesday Mumbai: Budget carrier SpiceJet has decided to cut up to 30 percent salary of its employees in March with Chairman Ajay Singh opting for the highest 30 percent trimming in compensation, the airline said in an e-mail communication to the staff on Tuesday. Moreover, the employees will also be treated as "on leave without pay" for the 25-31 March phase due to the suspension of air passenger services during the period, said the airline, which offered its aircraft and crew to the government for any "humanitarian mission" last week. #JustIn | SpiceJet implements 10-30% pay cut for all top, mid-rank employees. Lowest pay grade employees to remain unaffected #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/VmeX6T5iT4 CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) March 31, 2020 Significantly, the pay-cut announcement coincides with the termination of service contracts of over a dozen expat pilots with the airline, as per a source. "These are extremely tough time and call for appropriate and exceptional measures to sale through the exceptional challenge. As tough as it seems, most Indian carriers have already announced a pay cut for their employees. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak "Unfortunately SpiceJet is not too immune to the situation which has unquestionably affected the airlines in the most severe form across the globe. Therefore in our bid to stay lean, and under absolutely unavoidable circumstances, we have been forced to take certain bold decisions, which will help the SpiceJet family surmount these difficult times," Human Resource department of the airline told employees in the e-mail. SpiceJet management has decided to implement a pay cut between 10-30 percent in March across our employee base. Our Chairman and Managing Director (Ajay Singh), in fact, has opted for the highest cut of 30 percent in compensation, SpiceJet said. It, however, spared employees in the lowest pay grades from any pay cut. In an official statement later, the airline said it has implemented a 10-30 percent pay cut for all its employees across the top and mid-rung levels. "The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have forced us to take some tough measures to ensure that no one at SpiceJet is retrenched. What we are facing is a global phenomenon and no airline in the world is immune to the impact, Singh said in the statement. India's aviation industry, reeling under the impact of the global outbreak of COVID-19, is seeking help from the government to mitigate the financial impact of the pandemic, SpiceJet said. Coronavirus driven lockdown has adversely impacted the industry, leading to significant economic headwinds. Several airline companies, both in India and abroad, have been forced to undertake severe measures in their attempt to survive amidst tough market conditions, it said in the statement. "There are a over a dozen expat captains on the Bombardier Q400 (regional jets) fleet who have been served the termination notice," an airline source privy to the development told PTI. "SpiceJet has not sacked any pilot. We have served a one-month notice' to 13 expat Q400 captains, as per their official contract. They have also been paid a month's salary as per their contract. "We have accepted the resignation of 18 Boeing captains," a spokesperson of SpiceJet said in response to a PTI query. Other budget carriers IndiGo and GoAir have already announced similar moves earlier. SpiceJet, in the e-mail, also said, "unfortunately due to the lockdown, we are forced to announce 'leave without pay for employees during 25-31 March, the lockdown period during which all air passenger services remained shut". India is under a three-week lockdown starting 25 March to curb the virus spread. Wadia Group-owned IndiGo was the first domestic carrier to announce a 25 percent across-the-board pay cut on 19 March, and it was followed by government-owned Air India, which affected a 10 percent cut in employees allowance to deal with the precarious finances amid coronavirus pandemic. IndiGo's smaller rival GoAir also announced a salary cut for all its employees in March. The U.S. Department of Transportation said Tuesday that it will allow airlines that receive coronavirus aid to consolidate certain routes into fewer airports, giving carriers some breathing room in meeting the requirements for the relief. Congress last week approved $50 billion in aid for U.S. airlines, part of the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package. Half of the aid is available in grants that wouldn't have to be paid back, a victory for the airline industry that lobbied against an all-loans package. The grants are dedicated to maintaining payroll and airlines that accept them have to commit to not furlough workers through Sept. 30. The Treasury Department late Monday issued application guidelines for airlines. Maintaining certain levels of service is among the requirements for the grants. But carriers that fly to multiple airports that serve a certain city can consolidate that service "at a single airport serving the point," the Department of Transportation said Tuesday. For example, a carrier that flies into Newark, John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport from Chicago's O'Hare can consolidate its flights into the New York City area into one airport. A cell, in greenish brown, heavily infected with the coronavirus, officially called SARS-CoV-2, that causes the COVID-19 disease. (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesIntegrated Research Facility) An elected official in the San Francisco Bay Area pleaded for help Tuesday, appalled by the shortage of personal protective equipment at a hospital leased by the state of California to care for coronavirus patients. "Here's what I see: I see a disaster on the brink of happening," San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa said at a meeting of the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, of the shortage of personal protective equipment, a category that includes masks, gowns and gloves, at Seton Medical Center in Daly City. After a county official said the state has been unresponsive to calls for help, Canepa said: "Us not hearing from the state is problematic. Because we don't have the resources the hospital can only acquire 20% of what they need we could have the potential of having all these COVID patients and no PPE [personal protective equipment]," Canepa said. "This is about a life and death issue." There's also a shortage of staffing at hospitals in San Mateo County, and there are five empty intensive care unit beds as of Tuesday, out of a total of 66 available across the county, said Louise Rogers, chief of San Mateo County Health. Located just south of San Francisco, San Mateo County is one of the hardest-hit counties in California's coronavirus outbreak, with 309 confirmed cases and 10 deaths. There are about 70 people under investigation who may have the virus in San Mateo County, which has a population of about 770,000 people and is home to companies such as YouTube and Facebook. About eight different congregate care facilities mostly assisted living facilities have reported one or more COVID-19 residents. Rogers said state officials didn't seem to have a plan to get adequate personal protective equipment to Seton Medical Center in Daly City, despite the state of California leasing 177 beds at the facility. Before the coronavirus crisis, Seton had been expected to be closed by its owner, Verity Health System. Story continues "The PPE in particular has been a huge challenge. It really hasn't been resolved," Rogers told the supervisors. Rogers said the owners of hospitals typically make sure the need for personal protective equipment is met within their own supply chains. Seton is purchasing personal protective equipment from a supplier, but the supplier is rationing the supplies, Rogers said. There is a system for the county to call for mutual aid, where every county is grouped into a region, and the region is tied to the state. There's a process for hospitals and nursing homes to request personal protective equipment through that system, and ultimately, requests can end up going to the state, and there are efforts to access a national stockpile. But unfortunately, "they're not fulfilling all those requests, because they themselves are rationing," Rogers said. "The state has indicated that eventually that they're going to try to fulfill them. But that has not happened." Seton Medical Center may have also been starting at a low inventory of supplies, Rogers said. Seton was on the brink of closure before the coronavirus crisis began. Given the state's agreement to lease Seton, Rogers said the county asked whether it would help. But, she said, "they didn't seem to have a plan for doing that. So that was very concerning, and one reason I highlighted it this morning." Seton Medical Center is currently caring for eight patients who have COVID-19, and six others who are under investigation for having the disease. San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy said the county has asked the state Emergency Medical Services Authority for the personal protective equipment, "and they simply do not have them....The state really needs to push on the feds to get those supplies in so they can be distributed down through the system that's in place here." There are also major challenges related to staffing hospitals in San Mateo County, Rogers said. She said she hopes Gov. Gavin Newsom's effort to call for recent retirees to rejoin the healthcare workforce can help. Hospitals are also concerned about whether skilled nursing and assisted living facilities will accept COVID-19 patients who no longer need care in a hospital. "We need those facilities to be able to manage COVID-positive cases on sight in their facilities to the extent possible if they don't need hospital care," Rogers said. Licensed facilities have the latitude to not take patients back if they don't feel comfortable doing so, Rogers said. That's why she hopes the county, state and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can figure out a way to get COVID-19 patients back into nursing homes if they no longer need to be hospitalized. A federal medical site with 250 beds is being set up at the San Mateo County Event Center as a spillover area for patients who are recovering or have mild illness in case the hospitals are full. In addition, a hotel with 145 rooms is being used by the county as an alternative care and housing site. There are currently seven occupants there, but the hotel would need more medical support if more people move in with medical needs, Rogers said. By Peter Nurse Investing.com - Oil markets bounced sharply Tuesday, amid hopes that the extreme global oversupply can be addressed following a phone conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that ended with vague promises of support for the market. AT 9:15 AM ET (1315 GMT), U.S. crude futures traded 4.6% higher at $21.02 a barrel, while the international benchmark Brent contract rose 2% to $26.94, after hitting 18-years lows Monday. The intervention of the U.S. president suggests the U.S. is becoming increasingly concerned about the low price environment, and that pressure could be put on Russia and Saudi Arabia to get back around the negotiating table to discuss supply cuts. Pressure is building in Texas, with WTI Midland prices trading sub-US$12/bbl, levels which are just far too low for producers, said ING analysts in a research note. It looks even gloomier for Canadian oil producers, where West Canada Select is now trading below US$5/bbl. That said, it is difficult to see Russia resuming talks with Saudi Arabia at the request of the U.S., given that the reason the deal fell apart was due to the fact that Russia was tired of giving market share away to the U.S., added ING. Furthermore, the sanctions we have seen the U.S. impose on a number of Russian companies give little incentive for Russia to listen to the U.S. Even if there was to be an agreement, it would have to result in very deep cuts. IHS Markit expects as much as 10 million barrels a day of world oil production to be cut or shut-in from April through June as storage fills up and demand craters due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This has resulted in the average cost of chartering a very large crude carrier, capable of holding at least 2 million barrels of oil, in the cash market, rising more than 50% to $208,900 a day, according to an assessment from Clarksons Platou Securities. Attention will now turn to the latest U.S. crude production figures from the EIA for January later Tuesday, with December crude production at 12.779 million barrels per day. Story continues Related Articles Saudis Start to Unleash Oil Wave Despite U.S. Political Pressure South African Gold Shipments to London Were Disrupted Exclusive: U.S. calls for broad Venezuela transitional government, lays out proposal for sanctions relief Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram CPJ today joined eight other human rights and press freedom organizations to call for the immediate release of journalist and human rights defender Azimjon Askarov, who has been serving a life sentence in retaliation for his reporting since June 2010. The joint letter to Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, led by Human Rights Watch, notes that Askarov, 68, has suffered from deteriorating health amid harsh prison conditions and is at a high risk of death with the spread of COVID-19 in Kyrgyzstan. On March 22, the government of Kyrgyzstan declared a state of emergency and introduced restrictions on public life after several people in the country were diagnosed with the coronavirus. The letter demands that the Kyrgyzstan government finally act on the 2016 call by the U.N. Human Rights Committee for Askarov to be immediately released and his conviction quashed. Read the full letter in English and Russian. The Randolph Field Independent School District board voted to hire Brian Holt as superintendent during a video conference meeting Monday. Holt, 46, is superintendent of Booker ISD in the Texas panhandle. A small district with fewer than 400 students in two schools, it received an A grade from the Texas Education Agencys yearly accountability rating for the past two years. Randolph Field serves nearly 1,500 students, mostly in military families, on Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. It also has twice received the states A rating. Holt will succeed Lance Johnson, who left last year for a superintendent job near Fort Worth after nearly seven years at Randolph. Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox Holt joined the boards video conference Monday and said he was anxious to make the move. He said previously scheduled visits were postponed due to obstacles presented by the coronavirus and restrictions ordered by local governments, including Caldwell County, where where his family plans to live. Holt addressed concerns he said the board knows need attention right away, such as how to issue grades while students are working from home and when to make decisions on graduation ceremonies and processing waivers to the TEA. But he praised Randolph ISDs staff and the board. Everybody has been awesome. I know Ive made a great decision just by the interactions Ive had, Holt said after the unanimous board vote. On ExpressNews.com: Randolph Field ISD demolishes decades-old high school Holt was offered a three-year contract with an annual salary of $161,000. He has a doctorate in education from Tarleton State University and a masters of education and bachelor of science from West Texas A&M University. He has worked in education since 1998, according to a news release. Throughout his career in education, Dr. Holt has demonstrated a very high level of leadership and a track record of success, and has earned the respect and confidence of his colleagues and peers all around the state, the statement reads. Holt and his wife, Jessica, a Navy veteran, have four children ages 10, 13, 15 and 19. Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Krista, become a subscriber. Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva 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 BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China's 2020 fund for poverty alleviation has added up to 139.6 billion yuan (about 19.7 billion U.S. dollars) after the central government dispensed 26.03 billion yuan to local governments recently, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said Tuesday. The fund will mainly be channeled to support areas in deep poverty, such as parts of Tibet Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan. Meanwhile, the MOF will give more support to regions hard hit by the novel coronavirus outbreak, and areas with large amounts of residents relocated from poverty-stricken areas. The ministry vowed to fast-track the fund allocations and closely monitor the use of the fund. China aims to eradicate absolute poverty by 2020. As the deadline approaches, the country is focusing on the nation's poorest people, who mainly dwell in deep mountains with adverse natural environments and backward infrastructure, or have special needs. COVID Meetings The Chief Minister today held meetings with the Cabinet and with the Platinum Command at No 6 Convent Place by video conference. Later on in the day Mr Picardo and the Deputy Chief Minister, Hon Dr Joseph Garcia MP, together with the Financial Secretary, Albert Mena, met with the Leader of the Opposition, Hon Dr Keith Azopardi QC MP, and the Opposition spokesperson on Public Finances, Hon Roy Clinton MP, to discuss the draft regulations on the BEAT Covid 19 Measures. Mr Picardo said: "Meetings continue with Cabinet colleagues, with the Governor and the CBF and with the Official Opposition as we work to get Gibraltar through these difficult times." 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. By Keith Zhai and Yew Lun Tian SINGAPORE/BEIJING, March 31 (Reuters) - Diplomats returning from overseas postings don't usually receive special attention at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a vast government bureaucracy with thousands of staff. But when Zhao Lijian, a diplomat known for his pugnacious social media presence, finished a posting in Pakistan in August, he received an enthusiastic welcome in Beijing. A group of young admirers at the ministry gathered at his office to cheer his return, according to two people familiar with the matter. That admiration was fuelled in part by a Twitter spat he had engaged in a month earlier with Susan Rice, the national security adviser to former U.S. President Barack Obama. Each accused the other of being "ignorant" and a "disgrace". Now a foreign ministry spokesman, Zhao has come to represent a new generation of diplomatic hawks in China, challenging the restraint that long characterised the country's engagement with the world, according to a dozen current and former ministry officials and government researchers who spoke with Reuters. Their emergence has caused a rift with the old foreign policy establishment, amid worries that increasingly assertive rhetoric could put the country on a dangerous collision course with powers like the United States, they said. The shift followed instructions that President Xi Jinping issued diplomats in a memo last year, calling on them to show more "fighting spirit", said two people with direct knowledge of the matter. "This is the first time since 1949 that the 'new hawks' have the power to reshape China's diplomatic policy," said Qin Xiaoying, who was a director of the ruling Communist Party's international propaganda department and is now a researcher with the China Foundation for International and Strategic Studies in Beijing. Driving the shift is the widespread feeling among many Chinese that the United States wants to contain China's rise. Aggressive pushback by diplomats on issues that provoke nationalistic sentiment, like the protests in Hong Kong or the coronavirus outbreak, has proven popular domestically. Story continues Most people who spoke with Reuters for this article declined to be named given the sensitivity of the matter. In response to a request for comment by Reuters, the ministry said Chinese diplomats from all age groups are determined to "resolutely safeguard" national sovereignty and security. "We will not attack unless we are attacked," the ministry said, citing a slogan from founding leader Mao Zedong. "But if we are attacked, we will certainly counterattack." Zhao, 47, did not respond to requests for comment. A spokeswoman for Rice, the former U.S. national security adviser, said she would not be available for comment. The U.S. State Department did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters. HANDWRITTEN MESSAGE Xi gave his instructions about adopting a tougher stance in the face of international challenges, like deteriorating relations with the United States, in a handwritten message to diplomats last year, two people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi gave the same message to officials attending the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the ministry's founding, Reuters reported in December. Over the past year, more than 60 Chinese diplomats and diplomatic missions set up Twitter or Facebook accounts, by Reuters' count, even though both platforms are banned in China, often using them to attack Beijing's critics around the world. Zhao this month promoted a conspiracy theory on his personal Twitter account that the U.S. military brought the coronavirus to the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began late last year. U.S. President Donald Trump escalated the spat, infuriating Beijing by repeatedly citing the "Chinese virus". The new Chinese assertiveness is a response in part to Washington's more confrontational stance towards China under Trump, according to Chinese diplomats. "Why can the Americans criticise us constantly, and we can't scold the U.S.? Nobody likes to be educated all the time," said a diplomat who helped one embassy set up its Twitter account. Among China's new Twitter warriors is Zhao's boss, Hua Chunying, who became the ministry's top spokeswoman last year and began tweeting last month. A rising star, Hua spent several weeks last year at the Central Party School, which trains officials destined for promotion. The Twitter aggression is aimed not only at Washington. In Brazil, Chinese Ambassador Yang Wanming shared a tweet, later deleted, calling the family of President Jair Bolsonaro "poison" after his son blamed the "Chinese dictatorship" for the coronavirus pandemic. China's embassy in Peru blasted Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa for "irresponsible" comments after the 83-year-old said the virus had "originated in China". And the Chinese Embassy in Singapore went after a former Singaporean diplomat, Bilahari Kausikan, after he linked the virus outbreak and China's political system. The article was "smearing China's political system and the leadership system," it said. "These diplomats are not engaging the world with diplomatic language, but they are trying to please the domestic audience," said Qin. "This is not diplomacy. This is very dangerous." Many young diplomats have pushed the Chinese government to take a harder line when dealing with the United States, according to diplomats. This month, the foreign ministry made an unprecedented move by expelling about a dozen American journalists at U.S. newspapers. WORDS OF CAUTION Some more traditional diplomats have sought to distance themselves from the new tactics, wary of putting China on a collision course with the United States. Cui Tiankai, a ministry spokesman in the 1990s and now ambassador to Washington, said in a recent interview with Axios on HBO that it would be "crazy" to spread theories about a possible U.S. origin for the virus. "There is definitely a generational divide," said Douglas H. Paal, who served on the National Security Council under U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Cui "was and is in the tradition of 'just the facts'." Some retired diplomats and researchers at state think tanks, wary of provoking anti-China sentiment globally, have been writing cautionary internal reports, the researchers said. Some cite the pragmatism of Communist China's first foreign minister, Zhou Enlai, who sought to make as many friends as possible for the country and avoid making enemies. Zhou's spirit of diplomacy was largely adopted by the later reform leader Deng Xiaoping, whose policy of "biding our time and nurturing our strength" enabled China to keep a low profile internationally while focusing on economic growth. "The young diplomats are taking control of strategy and want it to be more pugnacious to win domestic public opinion," said a veteran government researcher who wrote one of the reports. The younger generation only know a rising China, and think this is a law of nature, said Kausikan, the retired permanent secretary of Singapore's Foreign Ministry. "It sometimes seems as if this new generation feels obliged to have a public quarrel to prove their patriotism." (Reporting by Keith Zhai and Yew Lun Tian Editing by Tony Munroe and Philip McClellan) DANICS-cadre officers working with the Delhi government have decided to donate their three-day salary to the 'Chief Minister Relief Fund' to combat COVID-19. Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Island Civil Service (DANICS) Officers' Association has written to Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev informing their decision in this regard. There are around 450 DANICS Officers' working with the Delhi government Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal thanked DANICS officers for donating their three-day salary to the 'CM Relief Fund' to combat coronavirus. So far, 97 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the national capital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A human rights lawyer has said the new restrictions are messy and there is conflict between the law and government instructions. (AFP via Getty Images) Confusion over coronavirus lockdown restrictions means that shoppers are unclear if they can go out to buy an Easter egg, a human rights lawyer has warned. Adam Wagner, of Doughty Street Chambers in London, told BBC News on Tuesday that people who leave their homes could unfairly receive fines or a criminal conviction because instructions about lockdown restrictions have been messy. He said that leaving your home to buy an Easter egg would be a slightly risky move, as police could interpret doing so as a non-essential trip. There are differences between what is written down in law and what the government advice on leaving the house is, he said. Boris Johnson said people can only leave their house for one bit of exercise a day during lockdown, but Wagner said the law does not limit how much exercise you can do. He told BBC News: Its really messy. Im afraid the blame must lie at the governments hands because when Boris Johnson announced these measures a week ago he said there are four reasons you can leave the house and, for example, one of them is to take exercise, but only once a day. And that is the guidance people are following and in fact thats the guidance that I think a lot of the police are following. 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 6 charts and maps that explain how COVID-19 is spreading He said that in the coronavirus legislation theres no mention of one time a day (for exercise), which puts it in conflict with government guidance. Wagner pointed out that little detail has been provided over grocery shopping, meaning Brits cannot be sure if they are allowed to go out and buy items such as Easter eggs. He said that a Christian, for example, could view buying them as an important part of their or their childrens religious culture. He warned: Its probably a bit risky, because of the unclear nature of this law, to go out solely to buy Easter eggs, but in honesty this will have to go to court because the law is so unclear we really dont know the answer. Story continues People could be penalised if they are unsure about what they legally can and cant do and accidentally fall foul of police interpretations of the lockdown rules, Wagner said. Im not sure the police or the government have been very clear about what it is people can do and what is or isnt going to land you with a fine going up to 960, if its a repeat offence, or even a criminal conviction. His comments come after ministers were urged to clarify the restrictions, with a Liberal Democrat MP criticising off-the-cuff remarks for making the rules unclear. Transport secretary Grant Shapps has said shoppers should only go to stores once a week and cabinet minister Michael Gove has said jogging should be restricted to thirty minutes. Government advice does not suggest limiting shops to once a week, instead saying the trips should be infrequent, while it makes no mention of time limited jogs. Christine Jardine, the Lib Dems home affairs spokeswoman, said: With police taking wildly different approaches to enforcing social distancing measures and ministers off-the-cuff remarks adding to the confusion, its no wonder people are uncertain about what the government expects of them during this crisis. The government has been approached for comment. Coronavirus: what happened today In the post-Covid-19 world the institutions of global governance would have to be revisited and remodelled With reported global Covid-19 infections now touching 7,20,217 with 33,903 confirmed deaths across 196 Westphalian entities at the time of writing, this pandemic is truly global in every sense of the word. However, ultimately there would be a post-Covid-19 world. What would it be like? Is the current pandemic the first inflection point of the 21st century? The 20th century had five major geostrategic breakpoints. The First World War (1914-18), the Second World War (1939-1945), the Cold War (1945-1991) and the division of the world into the East and West blocs with some professing non-alignment, the demise of imperialism and colonialism, and the rise of newly liberated nations across much of the world. The end of the Cold War in 1991 and the rise of unipolarity and globalisation was underpinned by the Washington Consensus. It is not that there have not been influenza pandemics earlier after the maturation of modern medicine. There was the Spanish Flu during 1918-20, the Asian Flu 1957, Hong Kong Flu 1968, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) 2002 and the West African Ebola virus epidemic some years back. However, each of these never got elevated to the level of a geostrategic event. Why then is Covid-19 different even though fewer people may ultimately succumb to the disease than what is anticipated? Covid-19 is different because it is universal; there have been known cases in 196 countries and territories around the world. The previous five health events had a more localised influence. Currently three billion out of the eight billion people on Planet Earth are in the throes of an unprecedented lockdown. More than one hundred nations around the world have put their people under some form of punitive restrictions or the other. Global travel has all but stopped, supply chains stand disrupted and the most primitive form of disease prevention 'stay away from each other,' known by the chic-sounding nom de guerre social distancing seems to be the only weapon in the toolkits of governments. Medical practitioners have been experimenting with what is colloquially called hit and trial to save the most critical. Lack of leadership However, the biggest failure has been the lack of any substantive global leadership to pre-empt or prevent the proliferation of the virus. What are the known knowns at the moment? The World Economic Forum website on March 20, 2020, had this to say sometime in December 2019, 27 of the first 41 people hospitalised (66 per cent) passed through a market located in the heart of Wuhan city in Hubei province. However, it was only on December 31, 2019, that China notified the World Health Organisation (WHO) of several cases of an unusual pneumonia in Wuhan. Even as late as even between January 9 and January 11, 2020, WHO put out bizarre tweets either downplaying the situation or trying to undercut travel advisories that were anticipated. It was only on the 20th and 21st of January, 2020, that WHO conducted its first field visit to Wuhan. It is apparent from a perusal of the summary of the report that the full impact of the epidemic was not grasped even three weeks after China had notified the WHO. It took another five weeks before the director-general of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, declared Covid-19 as a pandemic on March 11 2020. It also calls into question as to why WHO did not question China about the whistleblower doctor Li Wenliang who in early December 2019 had posted in medical chat groups that a new SARS-type illness had started manifesting itself in Wuhan a full month before China grudgingly informed the WHO. It is another matter that this brave whistleblower is ostensibly dead because of the same Covid-19 that he exposed. It is, therefore, clear that there has been gross failure of the WHO leadership. It was both negligent, if not complicit, in the initial coverup and thereby needs to be investigated by an international group of medical jurists under the joint supervision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). If the bureaucratically top-heavy United Nations Security Council was to argue that these bodies do not have the mandate to carry out such an exercise then the UN General Assembly should amend their remit. Failure of UN The second is the failure of the United Nations leadership itself. The UN secretary general has been extremely slow in coordinating a global response to the situation while the rest of the UN has all but abdicated its responsibility. The UN Security Council no longer meets and most missions have either shut shop or pared down their presence to the bare minimum because of the situation in New York. Perhaps the UNSC needs to physically move to somewhere safe to continue functioning effectively. Even the G-20 that was created in the wake of the global economic meltdown in 2008 had its first virtual summit only on March 26, 2020 -- a full 11 weeks after the initial report to the WHO. What they come up with and how it would be implemented remains to be seen. So far all responses have been national if not nationalistic. Most countries and cities have tried to isolate themselves to insulate their populaces. This is also the result of sustained assaults by right wing bigots on globalisation and the neo-liberal global order at whose heart lies the United Nations system. It seems to have been severely weakened by this continuing rampage. In the post-Covid-19 world the institutions of global governance would have to be revisited and remodelled so that they have the nimbleness to respond swiftly to emerging global challenges. Moreover, countries and institutions would have to be held accountable for practices, either deliberate or inadvertent, that have put humanity at risk and are testing the resilience of national healthcare systems around the world. Both in the developed and the developing world, healthcare paradigms and national economic priorities, especially social safety nets for the most vulnerable sections of society, would have to be reimagined and re-budgeted because what would follow Covid-19 is a deep economic recession that would ravage the poorest. 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 COVID-19 Emergency Response Act enables compulsory drug licensing to help avoid medication shortages. Credit: Pixabay Canada's COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, which provides emergency assistance to cope with the expected dramatic economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic, contains an important clause that may get overlooked. The act effectively brings back compulsory licensing for drugs if supply is interrupted because of the effects of COVID-19. There have already been stories about toilet paper shortages in parts of Canada. Far worse would be a shortage of medicines. That has already been reported in Australia where people are being accused of hoarding Ventolin asthma puffers and acetaminophen. Here in Canada, pharmacists are already warning people not to stock up on drugs as that may trigger shortages. Compulsory licensing helps prevent drug shortages. Simply put, compulsory licensing means that generic companies can get a licence to produce and market a drug even if the drug is still covered by a patent. In return the patent holder gets a royalty. Under the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, the government can issue the licence almost immediately without having to first enter into negotiations with drug companies. The act doesn't set out the amount of the royalty. Controlling high drug prices In 1969, in response to high drug prices in Canada due to the effects of the patent system, Canada introduced legislation allowing compulsory licensing to import. This meant generic companies could import and sell their own versions of drugs in Canada. Compulsory licensing proved to be an effective way to control drug spending. A 1984 report found that compulsory licensing had reduced the country's annual drug bill by $211 million to a total of $1.6 billion, while at the same time brand-name drug companies lost only 3.1 percent of the market. In fact, according to the report, since compulsory licensing started growth in the pharmaceutical industry was more buoyant in Canada than in the United States. Despite its success, compulsory licensing was anathema to multinational pharmaceutical companies, especially those in the United States. Companies there influenced the American government to make the termination of compulsory licensing one of the key conditions for successful negotiation of the 1987 Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the U.S. Brian Mulroney's Conservative government complied with the U.S. demand and significantly weakened compulsory licensing, and then completely eliminated it following the completion of the NAFTA negotiations. That was effectively the end of compulsory licensing as a means of dealing with both drug prices and shortages. Canadians briefly heard about compulsory licensing again in the fall of 2001 when there was a scare about packages of anthrax being sent in the mail to various people in the U.S. Ciprofloxacin was considered the best antibiotic for treating anthrax, but Bayer, the multinational that sold it, said that it couldn't guarantee a sufficient supply if large numbers of people needed treatment. In return, Health Minister Alan Rock threatened to issue a compulsory licence, but never followed through on the threat as the scare never materialized. Compulsory licensing also played a role in the fall 2001 meeting of the World Trade Organization. Faced with the growing AIDS crisis and the then-unaffordable prices for HIV medicines, developing countries pushed the WTO to adopt a resolution allowing for the use of compulsory licensing to lower costs. The Doha Declaration applied to all countries, but Canada and a number of other developed countries pledged not to use compulsory licensing to import lower-priced drugs. Rethinking future use That's where compulsory licensing in Canada stood until last week. Any compulsory licence issued under the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act is only good for one year, and no new licences will be issued after Sept. 30, 2020. The federal government should rethink those positions. Drug shortages in Canada have been around for a decade now and they won't go away once the COVID-19 emergency is over. Public drug spending increased 6.8 percent in 2018, 1.5 percentage points higher than in the previous year. As we move to a national pharmacare plan we will need more ways to control drug prices and compulsory licensing could be one of those tools. Let's make compulsory licensing permanent. Explore further Opioid users treated in drug detention centers more likely to relapse This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Inside Hook As we learned earlier this year when naked philanthropist Kaylen Ward launched a viral charity porn initiative to raise money for Australian bushfire relief, Instagram models are among the greatest philanthropic heroes of our time, capes or no capes, clothes or no clothes. With the world facing yet another crisis, model and mental-health activist Jenna Lee, who was among the earliest adopters of Wards charity porn initiative back in January, has donned her philanthropist hat yet again, this time offering to pay rent for two of her Instagram followers whose income has been disrupted by the widespread financial fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. CLEVELAND, Ohio The Cuyahoga County Jail warden worked for more than three days in the jail after returning from vacation and is now in self-isolation because of fears of spreading coronavirus, according to a county spokeswoman. Warden Gregory Croucher returned from a vacation to Costa Rica on March 20, according to Cuyahoga County spokeswoman Mary Louise Madigan. He worked for three and a half-days after his return. He was sent home on March 25, the day that Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish issued orders that all employees self-isolate for 14 days upon returning from traveling out of the country. On his first day back, he entered the jail without medical screening, but shortly after, he decided to get tested, Madigan said. Croucher has no symptoms of coronavirus, Madigan said. He is working remotely from his home. Madigan said no inmate or corrections officer has tested positive for coronavirus as of Tuesday. Jail officials in recent weeks took steps to stem off what many believe is an eventual case in the jail, where workers and inmates are confined in small spaces and unable to practice social-distancing protocols recommended by health officials to stop the virus spread. Officials implemented mandatory screening and required temperature checks for all inmates and employees entering the jail every day. County judges and prosecutors helped shed hundreds of inmates from the jail after holding hearings for inmates with low-level, non-violent cases. Some pleaded guilty to charges while judges ordered others released on bail. Sheriff David Schilling issued an order to all police departments and municipal courts in the county that said the jail would not accept inmates accused of or sentenced for misdemeanors. Those two steps helped reduce the jails population to the point where jail officials can dedicate two floors for any inmate who needs isolated or quarantined. Croucher remains under investigation by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff and the Cuyahoga County Inspector General in connection with two accusations in early March. An inmate accused him of using excessive force in March. He is also accused of ordering an on-duty corrections officer to drive him to the airport. Read more from cleveland.com: Cleveland police officer tests positive for coronavirus, sources says Cleveland EMS worker tests positive for COVID-19 coronavirus, memo says Officials looking into use-of-force accusation against Cuyahoga County Jail warden Cuyahoga County activates at-home video visitation for jail inmates, gives one free visit per week amid coronavirus pandemic Ohio prisons might refuse inmates exposed to coronavirus in states county jails It comes as countries seek to prevent the spread of rumours about the virus Thailand has warned its citizens that April Fool's Day jokes related to coronavirus could be punished by up to five years in prison. It comes as countries across the globe have told people not to make jokes about COVID-19 on April 1, as they seek to prevent the spread of rumours which could put lives at risk. 'It's against the law to fake having COVID-19 this April Fools' Day,' the Thai government said on Twitter. Thai Buddhist monks wear face shields to prevent the spread of COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic, during morning alms in Bangkok on Tuesday. Thailand has warned its citizens that April Fool's Day jokes related to coronavirus could be punished under a law carrying a sentence of up to five years in prison Thai Buddhist monks wear face shields to protect themselves from coronavirus as they walk to collect alms from devotees in Bangkok. 'It's against the law to fake having COVID-19 this April Fools' Day,' the Thai government said on Twitter Free meals are delivered at the Wat Arun temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, March 31 Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen took to Facebook to tell people not to prank about the virus, adding that anyone spreading rumours or false information could face up to three years in jail and/or a fine of up to NT$3 million (80,000). In India, Maharashtra state's cyber security unit said it would take legal action against anyone spreading fake news on April Fools' Day. 'The state govt won't allow anyone to spread rumours/panic on #Corona,' Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh tweeted, adding that he had instructed the authorities to 'act swiftly & strongly (against) such miscreants'. Under the heading 'Corona is no joke', Germany's health ministry also urged the public not to make up stories related to the virus. With people relying on the internet and media for vital information about coronavirus, there are fears that jokes could fan the spread of misinformation. From drinking cow urine to sleeping by chopped onions, myths about how people can catch and cure COVID-19 are already widely circulating. Visitors maintain a distance as they wait for free meals at the Wat Arun Buddhist temple in Bangkok A municipal worker in Mumbai, India sprays disinfectant in an alley where a patient had tested positive for the virus. Maharashtra state's cyber security unit said it would take legal action against anyone spreading fake news on April Fools' Day The World Health Organization has described it as an 'infodemic', which could increase the spread of the virus among vulnerable people. Google said it had suspended its annual April Fools' tradition 'out of respect for all those fighting the COVID-19 pandemic'. 'Our highest goal right now is to be helpful to people, so let's save the jokes for next April, which will undoubtedly be a whole lot brighter than this one,' it said in an internal email to staff. Demi Sims has thanked her followers for giving her confidence to share pictures of her vitiligo patches as she shared a swimsuit snap on Instagram on Tuesday. The TOWIE star, 23, posted a picture on the photo-sharing app wearing a plunging black swimsuit alongside a touching caption about her condition. Demi also revealed that she plans to share a video of how she covers up her skin, after receiving requests since she first revealed she had vitiligo in May last year. Honest: Demi Sims has thanked her followers for giving her confidence to share pictures of her vitiligo patches as she shared a swimsuit snap on Instagram on Tuesday The reality star penned: ' Hi from me and my vitiligo patches. To upload a picture like this takes me a lot of courage so I guess I woke up with confidence today! She continued: 'But most importantly Im also going to show how I cover my patches up in a video as I have been asked by so many people to do it since I uploaded my first picture last May.' Thanking her followers for their support, she said: 'I know many of yous might look at this picture or watch my video and wont think its a big deal but it has always been too me... Touched: The TOWIE star, 23, posted a picture on the photo-sharing app wearing a plunging black swimsuit alongside a touching caption about her condition 'So I just want to thank everyone for all the previous support because it has given me enough confidence to upload another one and make a video to help other people in similar situations out. Demi revealed she has vitiligo as she shared a swimsuit snap on her Instagram account in May last year. In the candid post, she admitted she no longer wants to deal with 'the stress of having to hide' her condition, and vowed to 'stay to myself' after years of concealing her skin with fake tan and make-up. 'I dont want the stress of having to hide it': Demi revealed she has vitiligo as she shared a swimsuit snap on her Instagram account in May last year The TV personality looked sensational as she displayed her toned figure in a high-rise swimsuit by Love Island star Montana Brown's beachwear label Swim Society. Addressing her 131,000 followers, the reality star confessed: 'Its taken me years to upload a post like this with my vitiligo patches on my body showing.' The younger sister of Chloe Sims went on to detail the lengths she take to hide her physique: 'The thing is I cant be bothered to keep editing them out or fake tanning and putting make up over them anymore so that people dont judge.' Candid: She admitted she no longer wants to deal with 'the stress of having to hide' her condition, and vowed to 'stay to myself' after years of concealing her skin with fake tan and make-up Promoting body confidence and self-love, the Essex beauty elaborated: 'Especially now summer is coming up I dont want the stress of having to hide them 24/7 when wearing a bikini. 'I know that 2019 is so excepting of everything now and I am grateful for the people who have made it like that. Ive learnt to be true to yourself and dont hide what makes you different, self love should always come first. 'I'm wearing @swimsociety and I love this brand because it is for ALL women no matter who you are, girls defo check them out', [sic] Demi ended her post. Rise to fame: The reality star currently stars on The Only Way Is Essex alongside older sister Chloe Sims, 37 Vitiligo is a skin condition in which the pigment cells of the skin are destroyed in certain areas of the body by the immune system. Although the exact cause is unknown, experts say it is an autoimmune condition in which the body's defense system mistakenly attacks and destroys certain cells within the body. It's not painful and doesn't have significant health consequences, but it can have emotional and psychological consequences. New York Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who attended a bill ceremony with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Friday, has announced she has as 'presumed' coronavirus infection. Velazquez, 67, chairs the House Small Business Committee at a time when the administration and Congress are trying to get billions into the hands of workers and their employers amid the coronavirus epidemic. The Democrat was in Washington to vote on a $2.2 trillion bailout measure after GOP Rep. Thomas Massie objected to it passing on a voice vote, infuriating colleagues and President Trump. House Small Business Committee Chair Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., left, accompanied by other legislators, watches as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., center, stands after signing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act after it passed in the House on Capitol Hill, Friday, March 27, 2020. Velazquez announced Monday she has symptoms of the coronavirus Velazquez also attended the enrollment ceremony arranged by House Democratic leaders for the measure. Pelosi, 80, presided over the event, as NBC reported. 'I developed the abrupt onset of muscle aches, fevers, nasal congestion and stomach upset,' Velazquez said in a statement. 'I noticed that I could no longer smell my perfume or taste my food. After speaking with The Attending Physician by phone, I was diagnosed with presumed coronavirus infection.' She provided detailed information on her health status, which appeared to be good despite her diagnosis which stopped short of a a test for the virus, amid a shortage and major outbreak in her home of New York City. She represents parts of Brooklyn, Queens, and Lower Manhattan, among the top hot spots for the outbreak in the nation. Velazquez chairs the Small Business Committee in the House In an August image, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (R) and US Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez speak as they attend a press conference in Tegucigalpa, Honduras 'My symptoms are mild at the present time and I am taking Tylenol for fever, and isolating myself at my home. At the advice of The Attending Physician, neither COVID 19 laboratory testing nor a doctor's office visit was recommended. I am carefully monitoring my symptoms, working remotely and in constant contact with my staff Velazquez tweeted March 27: 'I'm back in DC as we prepare to pass the #coronavirus stimulus package. More will be needed, but this bill is a good first step. There are reports one GOP Member may delay this bill, but make no mistake, we WILL pass this bill for families, workers & small businesses.' Although the bill passed overwhelmingly on a bipartisan voice vote in the House and a bipartisan vote in the Senate, it featured entirely separate ceremonies. House Democrats held their own enrollment ceremony, and President Trump invited only Republicans to a bill signing, where he handed out pens. Pelosi also was pictured out and about in Washington over the weekend, shopping at a Whole Foods. 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. Coal India, which accounts for over 80 percent of domestic coal output, had set an ambitious target of 660 million tonnes of production for 2019-20. New Delhi: With coronavirus cases rising in India, Coal India has urged its employees to abide by the guidelines issued by the government to overcome the current crisis. "I urge all in Coal India family to abide by the guidelines in true spirit issued by Central/state government, ministry of health and family welfare or Coal India from time to time," chairman and managing director Pramod Agrawal said in a letter to the employees. He also appealed to the employees to maintain social distancing, personal hygiene at home and work place, if called to attend, and wear protective gears as needed. COVID-19, he said, poses a greater challenge to the entire society and the country. Coal India, which accounts for over 80 percent of domestic coal output, had set an ambitious target of 660 million tonnes of production for 2019-20. By Lisandra Paraguassu, Ricardo Brito and Pedro Fonseca BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday that there can be no more quarantine measures imposed on the country than those already in place to combat coronavirus because jobs are being destroyed and the poor are suffering disproportionately. By Lisandra Paraguassu, Ricardo Brito and Pedro Fonseca BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday that there can be no more quarantine measures imposed on the country than those already in place to combat coronavirus because jobs are being destroyed and the poor are suffering disproportionately. Speaking to Rede TV, Bolsonaro criticized self-isolation and other measures imposed by local authorities to limit the spread of the virus, a view that again appeared to put him at odds with Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mendetta. Mendetta on Monday urged Brazilians to maintain maximum social distancing to ease the strain on the fragile health system and said that 200 million personal protective equipment (PPEs) items would be arriving from China next month. "You can't impose any more quarantine than there already is," Bolsonaro said, adding that the question people ask him most is when can they return to work. Brazil's Senate passed a bill on Monday evening guaranteeing some of the country's poorest citizens income of 600 reais ($117) a month for three months, a package that could cost almost 50 billion reais. According to Bolsonaro, all measures to combat the crisis could cost 800 billion reais, and the economy, which is expected to contract this year, could rebound and be back on track within a year. Earlier on Monday, Bolsonaro had stepped up his stand-off with state governments, branding governors in the hardest-hit states "job-killers" and suggesting that democracy could be at risk if the coronavirus crisis leads to social chaos. "When the situation is heading toward chaos, with mass unemployment and hunger, it's fertile ground for some to exploit, seeking a way to reach power and never leave it," Bolsonaro told reporters outside the presidential palace. Bolsonaro last week warned that Brazil could break with "democratic normalcy," citing the risk of rioting and suggesting "the left" could capitalise on any chaos, without elaborating. The right-wing populist, elected in 2018 on a pledge to break with a corrupt political establishment, has long defended Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship as necessary to keep communists out of power. The coronavirus outbreak, which has now resulted in 4,579 confirmed cases and 159 deaths in Brazil, has led governments around the world to call for emergency powers, raising concerns among human rights advocates. So far Brazil's political leaders have been eager to negotiate emergency measures such as a "war budget" exempt from fiscal rules, but many have criticized the president, who lacks a solid alliance in Congress, for downplaying health risks. On Sunday, Bolsonaro visited a market area outside the federal capital to stress the message that lockdown measures should be relaxed. Facebook on Monday followed Twitter and removed a video of him speaking to street vendors, explaining that it violated their standards on misinformation. (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu, Pedro Fonseca and Ricardo Brito; Additional reporting by Ana Mano; Writing by Jamie McGeever; Editing by Brad Haynes, Alexander Smith and Cynthia Osterman) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Wisconsin, one of the pivotal midwestern states for the 2020 general election, is also currently set to be the first state to restart the primary process next week amid the deadly coronavirus pandemic. With more than a dozen states backloading the election calendar due to the novel coronavirus, the Badger State stands as an outlier, instead determined to forge ahead with their presidential nominating contest on April 7. "Nothing has changed from my vantage point. We have several lawsuits occurring right now and so it's part of state law," Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said on Monday at a press conference on the outbreak, referring to five major lawsuits filed over the election across the state according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It's in state law. The date is set and we're encouraging lots of people to vote absentee and online...and people are responding to that." MORE: Coronavirus and 2020 campaigns: Race looks grim as states continue to delay primaries The decision to stay put is in part because more than just the presidential candidates are on the ballot for the upcoming spring election, which is a primary only at the presidential level and a general election for the state Supreme Court races and other local elections. The upcoming contest also injects some sense of normalcy back into a primary season that was ground to a halt by the coronavirus. PHOTO: A sign marks the location of a polling place, Aug. 14, 2018 in Janesville, Wis. (Scott Olson/Getty Images, FILE) Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis. For Wisconsin, election day nears as confirmed case of COVID-19 reach over 1,000, while state leaders vacillate over the best path forward. In the lead up to next week's election, top officials in the state resisted postponing, appearing united in their commitment to plow ahead. But on Friday, Evers appeared to reverse course - urging the state's Republican-controlled legislature to mail absentee ballots to all 3.3 million registered voters in the state. Story continues "This is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issuethis is an issue of democracy. I dont care who gets the credit, I just want to make sure that everyone has the chance to vote this April. We dont have time for politicswe have to get this done, folks," he said in a video on Twitter. The last-minute request, which came only 11 days before the contest, has cleaved a wedge between the two parties over how to conduct the election. Top GOP lawmakers in the state rebuffed Evers' sudden demand, saying it would be "impossible" to send every voter a ballot under such a tight timeline. MORE: Partisanship in a pandemic: Democrats more concerned about virus than Republicans, but increasing concern for all: Polls "Were united as a caucus in rejecting the governors request to upend the April 7th election," said Robin Vos, the speaker of the State Assembly, in a statement. "His last-minute scheme of a mail-in ballot election is logistically impossible and incredibly flawed. In fact, other states say its impossible to implement, especially two weeks before the election with countless staffing, postal and safety considerations; our local clerks are already running out of ballots and supplies." Evers is also up against some apprehension within his own party, as one key Democratic lawmaker in the state argued that expanding voting by mail should have happened weeks ago. "There are not a lot of good choices given when our election was scheduled and how much time that we have," state Rep. Gordon Hintz, the Democratic leader in the State Assembly, told ABC News. "I still feel like if we had initially, a couple of weeks ago, agreed to postpone the election in order to switch to a mail ballot system, it would have been the best balance between adhering to the public health order and enabling people to participate in the election process." "I think we heard from clerks in the elections board that sending everybody a ballot 12 days before the election was not, you know, realistic and the fact that it would require legislative action when we haven't met yet made it an unlikely prospect," he continued. "You're going to force people into a situation that we have spent the last two and a half weeks, begging people to avoid...I don't think it's possible to safely enable in-person voting without risking further transmission of the virus." When asked what steps should be taken over the next week to ensure the election is as safe as possible for voters, Hintz replied, "I don't think you really can." The clash between Wisconsin's Democratic chief executive and Republican lawmakers over whether to broaden the current vote by mail apparatus - while also allowing ballots to be postmarked on the day of the election and extending the collection period of give officials more time to process the ballots - or simply move forward as planned, underscores the scale with which the coronavirus has disrupted the democratic process. Since the arrival of the virus in the country, more than a dozen states delayed primaries until the summer, the presidential hopefuls remain sidelined from the campaign trail, and a coast-to-coast push for voting by mail continues to gain support. But in Wisconsin, it might be too late. "While we encourage people to request absentee ballots, you know, I've requested mine over a week ago and still haven't received it yet. People that are requesting it today may not get it in time to turn it around and vote," Hintz said on Monday. "We're asking many people to request an absentee ballot," he said. "[But] it's a 7-to-10 day turnaround in most places." PHOTO: Wisconsin Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) addresses the Assembly during a contentious legislative session, Dec. 4, 2018 in Madison, Wis. (Andy Manis/Getty Images, FILE) For weeks, Wisconsin state election officials have been "strongly encouraging" voters to cast their ballots absentee by mail, according to a Milwaukee election official. So far, 883,293 absentee ballots have been requested and 251,897 have been returned. While the official told ABC News earlier this month that the state is "retooling" to prepare for an election amid the outbreak, in-person voting is still set to be an option of April 7, for now. In Milwaukee, precautions are already underway, including equipping poll workers with gloves and masks, supplying polling sites with cleaning supplies and disinfecting wipes, and complying with CDC guidelines in terms of social distancing, by spacing out voters in line and limiting the number of people inside a polling site. MORE: Coronavirus and the 2020 campaigns: Some states delay primaries; caution urged in canvassing But in Waukesha, a suburb of Milwaukee, only one polling location will be available for the city of over 70,000 due to a lack of available poll workers. In Green Bay, city officials took even more drastic measure to safeguard voters and poll workers from the coronavirus by filing a lawsuit in federal court against state officials, seeking to postpone the election and move to voting by mail. But on Friday, U.S. District Judge William Griesbach dismissed the case on Friday for lack of jurisdiction. The Wisconsin Elections Commission also unveiled guidance for polling sites and poll workers on how to implement curbside or drive-through voting to safeguard voters. It isn't just the municipalities that are concerned, however. Before Evers' announcement, the chief election official in the state, Meagan Wolfe, wrote a letter to Evers on March 20 underscoring concerns from local election officials and urging for "immediate action" from his administration to "support" their efforts to safeguard voters and poll workers. "As new concerns emerge daily related to COVID-19 we must work closely with our federal, state and local government partners to ensure that every eligible Wisconsinite can safely participate in the election," she wrote in the letter, requesting Evers to assist in securing adequate sanitation supplies to local officials, such as hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, recruiting younger poll workers, and accessing accurate guidance from health officials for local counterparts. Of the difficult circumstances local election officials are facing, according to Wolf, chief among them is the fact that more than half of poll workers in previous elections were in the age ranges considered most at-risk to the coronavirus. "On April 7 there will be nearly 2,000 polling places requiring more than 20,000 poll workers and the potential of up to 2,000,000 voters or their absentee ballots," Wolfe writes in the letter. "In previous elections, more than 50% of Wisconsin's poll workers are over the age considered to be more at risk to develop serious illness from COVID-19. Local election officials around the state have expressed that they have exhausted their lists of backup poll workers; many poll workers have already conveyed they will be unable to serve." MORE: Inside Trumps reelection effort amid the pandemic: Digital canvassing, virtual trainings and marathon press briefings "As of today, local election officials do not have access to the people or supplies needed. This leaves voters, clerks, and poll workers to make difficult choices. Voters should not have to choose between voting or staying healthy." In a letter responding to Wolfe, the governor's chief legal counsel, Ryan Nilsestuen, wrote that the administration is helping to address the surge of absentee requests by helping to find envelope vendors for the absentee ballots and expedite the "purchase and delivery of the envelopes." To guarantee there will be enough poll workers on Election Day, the governor's administration is coordinating with volunteer organizations, reaching out to large businesses, and relying on state employees to bolster staffing. But according to the letter, Evers has also said he will "call upon" the National Guard as a last resort. "As Gov. Evers has publicly stated, he will call upon the Wisconsin National Guard if these efforts are not enough," the letter adds. 'I don't think you really can' make the election safe: Wisconsin gears up for next primary amid coronavirus originally appeared on abcnews.go.com ZTEs new smartphone comes with the Snapdragon 765G, and it supports 5G connectivity. This phone also has a rather odd name, its called the ZTE a1 ZTG01. This device has been listed in Japan, with the Japanese carrier au. Whats weird here, is that the device is still not available for purchase, nor will it be soon. The site states that it is scheduled to be released after July 2020. So, for whatever reason, this phones design and specifications got listed on the site 3-4 months before the phone is scheduled to arrive. In any case, chances are that this smartphone will be available in other regions as well, maybe under a different name, though. Advertisement ZTEs new smartphone comes with the Snapdragon 765G & supports 5G connectivity The device seems to be made out of metal and glass. It comes with a flat display, and its bottom bezel is thicker than the rest. A display camera hole is placed in the top-left corner. The device has four cameras on the back, and those cameras are placed in the top-left corner. A fingerprint scanner sits on the back of this phone, along with a dual-LED flash, and ZTEs logo. Only the black variant of the phone is listed on the site, for now. Now, in terms of specs, this phone is actually quite compelling. ZTEs new smartphone is not only fueled by Qualcomms best mid-range SoC, the Snapdragon 765G, but it also supports 5G connectivity. Advertisement The phone features a 6.5-inch fullHD+ (2340 x 1080) TFT display, along with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (expandable via a microSD card up to 1TB). Android 10 comes pre-installed on this phone, along with ZTEs custom UI. A 4,000mAh battery is included in the package as well, while charging speed hasnt been mentioned. It includes four cameras on the back A 48-megapixel camera is included on the back as this phones main camera. The exact sensor hasnt been mentioned, but well guess this is Sonys IMX586 sensor. Advertisement In addition to that, an 8-megapixel camera is included, alongside a 2-megapixel camera, and a depth positioning camera (ToF). A single 32-megapixel unit can be found on the front side of the phone. The phone measures 164 x 77 x 9mm, while it weighs 185 grams. It is quite possible that some additional color variants will become available once the phone becomes available. We do not know how much will this phone cost, not yet. The device is still several months away from being available, at least in Japan. ZTE may announce its global availability at some point in the coming weeks / months, though. Mitch McConnell told Hugh Hewitt on Tuesday that in the early days of the global coronavirus pandemic, the government was distracted by impeachment: Hewitt: In your experience in the Senate, was Senator Cotton the first one to say hey, Leader, hey Mitch, this is a deadly situation that I do not trust to the Chinese? Was he first? McConnell: He was first, and I think Tom was right on the mark. And it came up while we were tied down on the impeachment trial. And I think it diverted the attention of the government, because everything every day was all about impeachment. But Tom figured this out early, and he was absolutely right. Headlines to the contrary notwithstanding, in context McConnell was clearly aiming to give credit to Tom Cotton rather than to make excuses. But was he right? The Center Ring At the simplest level, if you just ask, Were President Trump and his senior aides distracted by impeachment? the answer is, Of course they were. But how much that matters requires us to reconstruct the context of two months ago, which now seems like the distant past. The House impeached Trump on December 18. The Senate trial began January 16, was effectively wrapped up with the vote to hear no live witnesses on Friday, January 31, and concluded with the vote of acquittal on February 5, the day after Trumps State of the Union address. Impeachment was an all-consuming drama for this White House, the Congress, and the Washington press corps. It swamped coverage of the Democratic presidential race just as the Iowa caucuses kicked the voting off. Nearly everyone scoffing at McConnell today was spending vastly more of their energy on impeachment at the time than they were on the virus news out of China. The possibility that impeachment would distract the government from more important things was part of the debate at the time over whether to go through with it. For those of us who questioned the wisdom of forcing a House vote and Senate trial when the outcome was predetermined, the waste of time and attention was part of the case against impeachment; for those who saw the process as a way to inflict political damage on an administration they regard as deeply dangerous, keeping the president occupied was a bonus. Story continues There was a good deal of debate at the time about who was and was not distracted from what by impeachment. On January 6, Elizabeth Warren claimed that Trumps authorization of a military strike on Qassem Soleimani was driven by his being upset at impeachment and was intended to distract the public from it. On January 18, CNNs Jim Acosta reported that: Donald Trump has appeared distracted by the impeachment trial that begins on Tuesday, according to a source close to the White House who speaks to the President regularly. Why are they doing this to me, the source quoted Trump as saying repeatedly, telling people around him this weekend at Mar-a-Lago that he cant understand why he is impeached. Trumps administration, however, was not paralyzed, even with the president preoccupied. On January 23, David Graham of The Atlantic argued that even as the presidents impeachment trial moves forward, the White House is acting aggressively on a range of policy proposals that are politically, legally, or morally suspect, wageringprobably correctlythat the press and the people will mostly overlook them amid the drama in the Senate. To the extent that impeachment was consuming the finite attention of senior policymakers in the White House and on Capitol Hill, we can only be thankful that Senate Republicans wrapped up the trial by voting down additional witnesses on January 31. Had the Democrats gotten their wish, Washington would have been consumed for additional critical weeks into February looking backward at Ukraine instead of forward at the threat of the virus. Attention to the Virus The American response to the coronavirus was, in retrospect, too slow and too complacent. There is plenty of blame to go around. As Jim Geraghty has detailed, any accounting begins with China, which misled the international community about the nature and scope of the original epidemic in Wuhan. The World Health Organization was at best gullible in relying on Chinese assurances to insist, into mid-January, that preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in Wuhan, China. And, yes, our own leaders dropped the ball, too. Key health agencies within the federal government the CDC and National Institutes of Health were not inactive during January, but aside from a ban on foreign travel from China, there was little public leadership from the president. There were early, obvious-in-retrospect missteps such as the CDCs botching the early coronavirus-testing kits and the FDAs dragging its feet on approval of private testing development and inspection of equipment. While FDA red tape is a problem inherent to the agencys design and culture, it is precisely the kind of problem that can be mitigated by the hands-on leadership of a bull-in-a-china-shop figure such as Trump. If you read the timeline on the Trump campaigns website, which is designed to cast the federal response in the most favorable possible light, you will notice that the items before February 5 are almost all agency-level actions rather than White House actions. The White House Coronavirus Task Force wasnt formed until January 29. On February 4, Trump included a brief mention of the outbreak in the State of the Union address: Protecting Americans health also means fighting infectious diseases. We are coordinating with the Chinese government and working closely together on the coronavirus outbreak in China. My administration will take all necessary steps to safeguard our citizens from this threat. Little of the media commentary on the speech focused on that line. As late as February 19, Lester Holt and Chuck Todd of NBC moderated a Democratic debate without asking a single question about the virus. Some voices in politics and the media (including, as Ross Douthat notes, an odd assortment of people on the right) were beginning to sound alarms about the virus in late January and early February, but they were a distinct minority. As Zeynep Tufekci details at The Atlantic, From the end of January through most of February, a soothing message got widespread traction, not just with Donald Trump and his audience, but among traditional media in the United States, which exhorted us to worry about the flu instead, and warned us against overreaction. Many politicians focused more on fear of anti-Asian racism than on the risk of a real health crisis. Mayor Bill de Blasio spent much of that period giving New Yorkers disastrous health advice. Impeachment, however, didnt cause Trump to claim on January 22 that we have it totally under control. Its one person coming in from China or to tweet thanks to Xi Jinping two days later for Chinas efforts and transparency. Nor can the failures of Trump and other federal officials to take the outbreak seriously after the end of impeachment be blamed on the distractions of January. Presidents are supposed to be able to do multiple things at once, but they are also human, and this president is more easily distracted than most. History is full of examples of governments caught looking the wrong way at the wrong time because their leaders were too busy putting out other fires. The British Cabinet spent the early summer of 1914 worried about the Irish question instead of the dispute between Austria and Serbia over the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, until, as Winston Churchill wrote later, The parishes of Fermanagh and Tyrone faded back into the mists and squalls of Ireland, and a strange light began immediately, but by perceptible graduations, to fall and grow upon the map of Europe. Much of the story of Americas delayed reaction to the coronavirus can be told without mention of impeachment, but it is hard to deny that Washington was looking in the wrong direction until a strange light again began to fall and grow upon the map of the world. More from National Review Amazon warehouses have become a potential hotbed of contamination, workers claimed yesterday. Whistleblowers at two distribution plants said they feared the virus would thrive there amid a lack of hand sanitisers and non-enforcement of two-metre social distancing. Amazons business is booming as shop closures and the lockdown has seen internet shopping surge. Amazon has faced criticism for its protection measures during the crisis. Pictured above is a worker at its Tilbury centre in the UK Chief executive Jeff Bezos, pictured with girlfriend Lauren Sanchez, has faced repeated criticism for his company's lack of action to protect workers against coronavirus But a worker at a factory in Doncaster, where up to 90 night shift workers sort parcels for delivery, said the lack of space means they have been told to keep just one metre apart from each other not the two metres recommended by the Government and World Health Organisation (WHO) to stop the spread of the virus. Workers who raised concerns were told not now. Amazon denied the claim. Workers are also required to write their name in the signing in book, creating a huge risk of cross contamination, he said. The worker, who wished to be anonymous, said: Its a potential hotbed of contamination. Theres no separation, no social distancing. If it spreads around our warehouse it could spread around the whole country on these parcels. The coronavirus can last on cardboard for up to 24 hours, and on plastic, metal and hard surfaces for up to 72 hours according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. However, the WHO says the likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low, as is the risk of catching the virus from a package that has travelled and been exposed to different conditions and temperatures. A worker at a separate Amazon warehouse in Doncaster also said the two-metre rule was not being enforced, especially in the canteen. They also said there was not enough hand sanitiser and staff were not given time to regularly to wash their hands. Staff are dropping like flies because of illness but anyone who has to go home is mocked by the managers. They are hiring staff from all over to try to plug the gaps but this only increases the chances of spreading it. They added: When anyone complains to the managers they make out you are crazy and tell you to get back on with your work. Mick Rix, of the GMB union, said staff across the UK were petrified of being infected. Amazon is blatantly disregarding the two-metre social distancing rules, there are no masks, no sanitiser. Amazon has a duty of care not just to its own workers but to the whole of the British public, Mr Rix said. An Amazon spokesman said: Since the early days of this situation we have worked closely with local authorities and our people to proactively respond, ensuring we continue to serve customers while taking care of our people. He added that proactive measures including increased cleaning and maintaining social distance were introduced at all facilities, as well as increased entitlement to paid time off. Workers in at least 11 Amazon warehouses worldwide have tested positive for coronavirus. Chief executive Jeff Bezos is facing calls to provide better protection for staff. US senators have also written to Mr Bezos, whose girlfriend is TV host Lauren Sanchez, to express concerns. In the US one warehouse worker was fired after organising a walkout to demand greater safeguards against the disease. An Amazon employee protests against the company outside its facility in New York Amazon workers have said that the company is not taking action to look after their health Chris Small was dismissed after the one-day strike at the warehouse in Staten Island, New York, as workers called for it to be shut and cleaned during paid time off after a colleague tested positive. New York attorney general Letitia James called the sacking a disgrace and warned Amazon it could face legal action. Amazon said it fired Mr Small for violating a quarantine order after he allegedly came into contact with the colleague who tested positive. It comes after staff at online fashion retailer Asos claimed they are scared to go to work at its distribution centre because they are not being properly protected. Workers at the warehouse in Barnsley said there were no social distancing measures, the clocking in system saw lots of people gathered in a small area and hundreds of workers broke for lunch at the same time, a GMB survey found. Asos strenuously denied the claims and Barnsley council leader Stephen Houghton said inspections of the warehouse last week had not shown any problems. Open source A cargo plane arrived in Ukraine from China. It carried 100,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for coronavirus, 40,000 glasses of multiple-use, medical masks and the facilities for lung ventilators. The press service of the Presidential Office reported that on March 31. After the completion of all sanitary and customs procedures, the cargo will be sent to hospitals and labs in all regions of Ukraine. Protection devices will be handed over to the military and workers of the State Border Guard. The masks will be handed over to pharmacies, in order to satisfy the demand of the locals. The office of the President of Ukraine was behind the transportation of medical cargo. 100,000 PCR tests were brought to Ukraine from South Korea on March 30. As of today, March 31, 549 cases of Covid-19 infection are observed in Ukraine. 13 people deceased, and another eight recovered. On March 30, 10,000 people crossed the border at the Ukrainian checkpoints, as the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported. During the past 24 hours, the employees of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine held 10,000 passage operations. Almost half of them, about 4,800 are the pass of the citizens of Ukraine from abroad, the message said. 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. 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 Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 17:19:42|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close YANGON, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar and Chinese associations donated medical supplies to the Natmauk General Hospital in Myanmar's Magway region on Tuesday to help fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. With the help of the Chinese embassy in Myanmar, Myanmar-China Exchange and Cooperation Association handed over 20,000 surgical masks to the Natmauk General Hospital while the Golden City Charity Foundation donated an oxygen plant to be used for the treatment of the infected patients. "The embassy will continue its assistance in provision of the hospital's needs," Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai said. "Such donations mean a lot and we are very grateful as now is the critically important moment," Dr. Myat Thant, on behalf of the hospital, told Xinhua. The Natmauk General Hospital is the second China-Myanmar Friendship hospital which was renovated last year. Founded in 1982, the Natmauk hospital had been previously upgraded to a 50-bedded hospital in 2015 and the hospital has been providing health care services to at least 300,000 local people since then. Prabhas and Pooja Hegde were busy shooting for their upcoming film Prabhas 20 till recently. In fact, both the actors flew down to Georgia and canned few action sequences despite the deadly Coronavirus outbreak. Not too long ago, the entire cast and crew of Prabhas 20 returned to India and since then, both Prabhas and Pooja have been practicing social distancing by staying at home. Reportedly, the European schedule was supposed to be a long one but, the makers had to cut it short and return to the home turf because of the Corona crisis situation. Since all the film shootings have been halted as of now, the cast and crew of Prabhas 20 will resume the European schedule only after things get better. However, the makers are still working and using the lockdown time to their advantage. Yes, you heard that right. According to a report in Tollywood.net, the post-production work on Prabhas 20 has already started and the makers are eyeing to complete it during this lockdown period. Apparently, Prabhas 20 is almost ready as the team only has to shoot a few more important action scenes. Initially, Prabhas and Pooja-starrer was being called Jaanu, however, the makers clarified on that front and revealed their film's tentative title as Prabhas 20. Set in the 1970s, the movie is touted to be an intense love-story packed with some high-octane action sequences. We hear Prabhas is essaying the role of a fortune-teller in the film, which is being helmed by Radha Krishna Kumar and is expected to arrive in theatres on Dusshera this year. ALSO READ Prabhas 20: Pooja Hegde Leaves Georgia, Makers Confirm First Look To Be Out Soon The community of auto dealers has said it would be losing thousands of crores as it is stuck with unsold BS-IV stocks due to the Covid 19 crisis. Dealers are also unable to access the portal for vehicle Many expecting a bumpy ride for the auto sector till the second half of the year. The Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) said that VahanPortal, used for registering new vehicles, has been disabled across the country even though its staff is working from home. If the portal isn't up and running soon, dealers will face thousands of crores of loss as they ... Photo: Twitter Famous for their brief television segments promoting fitness during the 1980s and '90s, the 'Body Break' duo have always inspired Canadians to stay healthy. Now, the pair are encouraging residents to maintain their well-being in a new way. Vancouver International Airport shared a video of the popular Canadian twosome giving advice on how to stay healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod start the video by introducing themselves, and then Johnson states that they have a message about staying safe and healthy during the COVID-19 situation. After that, they give three simple habits to practise in daily life. These include maintaining a safe social distance of two metres, coughing into your elbow, and washing your hands with disinfectant soap. Johnson adds that you should sing happy birthday to yourself twice while washing your hands to ensure they are thoroughly clean. He sings "Happy birthday to Hal" to get the point across. As the video concludes, McLeod teases, "No more singing." "The Prime Minster has implored and the movie stars have all weighed in, but to truly get the message out about social distancing, we needed the help of two Canadian icons to spread the safety message," YVR said in its tweet. Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE updates: 'The assault on Duty Doctor at Gandhi Hospital treating COVID19 patients is condemned. Strong action against the culprits will be taken immediately. Anyone indulging in such acts of vandalism will not be spared,' said Director General of Police. Auto refresh feeds The total number includes 1,238 active cases, and 124 people who have been cured/discharged/migrated and 35 deaths. Three deaths two in Punjab and one in Maharashtra were reported on Tuesday. The Centre on Tuesday said that there has been an increase of 146 novel coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of COVID-19 positive cases to 1,397 in India. "While the revenue streams have totally dried up due to the lockdown, the demand on state resources has increased tremendously for contact tracing, quarantining, providing personal protection equipment, drugs, health facilities, etc. and for providing financial assistance to the poor people, most affected by the lockdown," he said. The deferments will range from 10 to 100 percent for different categories of employees, it said. In an order issued around midnight, Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney said the deferment will continue to be in force till further orders. The Andhra Pradesh government late on Tuesday night announced deferment of payment of full salaries to the chief minister, officers, and employees, saying its revenue streams have "totally dried up" in view of the ongoing lockdown to combat coronavirus. After he was discharged, he conspired with three others and forged a certificate of his death to travel in a private ambulance, officials said. A police team intercepted the ambulance and found the man alive and subsequently arrested all the four accused. Police sent them to a quarantine facility. A man faked his death to reach home in an ambulance in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district during the nationwide lockdown, according to officials. A 1,000-bed emergency hospital set up at the mammoth Javits Convention Center began taking non-coronavirus patients to help relieve the city's overwhelmed health system. A Navy hospital ship with 1,000 beds that arrived on Monday was expected to begin accepting patients on Tuesday. New York was the nation's deadliest hot spot, with about 1,550 deaths statewide, most of them in New York City, which braced for things to get much worse in the coming weeks. The governor pronounced on Tuesday the disaster unlike any other the city has weathered: "This is ongoing and the duration itself is debilitating and exhausting and depressing." The crisis hit close to home for Governor Andrew Cuomo, who reported teary-eyed that his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, was infected. The US death toll from the coronavirus has climbed past 3,600, eclipsing China's official count, as hard-hit New York City rushed to bring in more medical professionals and ambulances and parked refrigerated morgue trucks on the streets to collect the dead. The containment measure will remain in force in all parts of the district, he said. In exercise of powers under Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the state government order to initiate effective and immediate measures needed to prevent and contain the spread of coronavirus, the total closure will be imposed from 6 am on April 1 to Midnight of April 3, 2020, an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Anoop Khinchi, said on Tuesday. At the end of the first week of 21-day nationwide lockdown, the district administration of Dimapur has ordered total closure of all shops, commercial, private establishments, and imposed restriction on movement of public and vehicles for 66 hours with effect from 6 am on Wednesday. The state government so far had identified 70 people, who had attended a religious gathering in Delhi's Nizamuddin earlier this month. A total of 1,03,391 people are under home isolation in various parts of the state as on Tuesday, while the total number of positive cases stands at 32. Two persons have earlier died due to the disease. Five people did not have any travel history, while the rest either came in contact with a positive patient or had a travel history outside the state. The two persons who died were among the 10 new cases, officials said. The death toll due to the coronavirus pandemic climbed to four in West Bengal on Tuesday after two patients succumbed to the contagion, while 10 new cases were reported, the highest single-day rise in the state so far. He said their addresses and the places they visited after attending the religious congregation are being ascertained. Nizamuddin area in Delhi has turned into a new hotspot after a number of people who attended the Jamaat's gathering tested positive for coronavirus. "People who returned two days ago from Delhi and Noida on buses were scanned. Of this, there were around 50 persons who returned after attending the Tabligh-e-Jamaat. These people have been quarantined at Shia College, and their health check-up is being done," District Magistrate Dinesh Kumar Singh said. The Jaunpur administration has quarantined about 50 people who attended a Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area and returned to the district recently. If no steps were to be taken, the death toll could range between 1.5 million and 2.2 million, Brix said on a day when the confirmed number of coronavirus infections in the US, according to the Worldometer website, skyrocketed to over 188,000, adding more than 24,000 new cases in a single day and the fatalities rose to 3,867. Trump's remarks came as Deborah Bix, a member of White House Task Force on coronavirus, based on a model from actual data from the ground, said the death toll in the US could be between 100,000 to 200,000, with the strict implementation of the existing mitigation measures including social distancing till 30 April. The US is headed for a "tough two weeks", President Donald Trump has warned, advising people to be prepared for the "hard days" ahead, as the country fights the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic that the White House projects could claim one to two lakh lives in the coming weeks. Ramjee, aged nearly 50 years, was the Clinical Trials Unit Principal Investigator and Unit Director of the HIV Prevention Research Unit of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) offices in Durban. Ramjee, a stellar vaccine scientist and an HIV prevention research leader, had returned from London a week ago but reportedly showed no symptoms of COVID-19. World-renowned virologist Gita Ramjee has become the first Indian-origin South African to have died after contracting the novel coronavirus that has killed five people in the country. Governments, companies and citizens must therefore work together to pool their resources, to ensure every action is taken to combat the pandemic as swiftly as possible, he said. Mittal also said his companies are providing daily meals to over 5,000 people and food kits to more than 30,000. COVID-19 is having significant repercussions for people in every continent, Mittal said. No country will be immune to it and for nations like India which have a vast population, the impact could be very serious, he added. Collaboration in times like these is critical, the industrialist asserted. "Citizens across India have shown extraordinary dedication, bravery and compassion in this moment of singular crisis and they deserve our support and the gratitude of the nation," the steel magnate said. "Both our operations in India commit equally to a total of Rs 100 crore to PM-CARES for the ongoing relief efforts countrywide," Mittal said in a statement. "ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), a joint venture between (L N Mittal's) ArcelorMittal and Japan's Nippon Steel, and HMEL, a partnership between Hindustan Petroleum and Mittal Energy Investments, today announce a package of support to strengthen India's capacity to protect families and communities impacted by the virus. NRI billionaire Lakshmi N Mittal on Tuesday announced a contribution of Rs 100 crore to the PM CARES Fund to combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus in India. The district administration said the COVID-19 positive tested persons attended the Markaz meeting in New Delhi. The total number of coronavirus cases in India climbed to 1397 on Tuesday after 146 new infections were reported in the past 24 hours across the country. Four more fresh coronavirus positive cases were reported from Vishakhapatnam on Tuesday. This takes the total number of those infected with the deadly virus in Andhra Pradesh to 44. A total of 229 suspected COVID-19 cases were investigated in which 222 samples have been found negative and 3 samples were positive, Himachal Pradesh Health Department said on Tuesday. The total number of coronavirus cases in India climbed to 1397 on Tuesday after 146 new infections were reported in the past 24 hours across the country. Nearly half those deaths were in New York state, still, the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio pleaded for reinforcements from the Trump administration, saying the worst may still be weeks away. The US government raced to build hundreds of makeshift hospitals to ease the strain on overwhelmed healthcare systems as the United States marked 700 deaths in a single day from COVID-19 for the first time on Tuesday. That is the equivalent of a person dying every two minutes. Adequate arrangement of sanitisers, soaps, and water should be maintained at every shop, and only after washing hands, the ePOS machines should be used. No crowding should take place at the ration shops and social distancing must be adhered to. Free ration should be distributed to Antyodaya card holders, MGNREGS labourers, registered labourers of the labour department and daily wage labourers of the urban development department. Social distancing should be adhered to during the distribution of food grains at e-POS shops. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday directed nine district officials, including from Meerut and Saharanpur, to ensure an adequate supply of food grains to the poor, an official said. The official said the meeting was held via a video link. Health department officials in Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh have identified 15 persons who had attended the Markaz gathering in Nizamuddin in Delhi. These individual have been shifted them from Srikalahasti to Ruia Hospital in Tirupati, reports ANI. Meanwhile, Deputy Director Heath and Nodal Officer in Andaman and Nicobar, COVID-19 Abhijit Roy, on Tuesday informed that nine out of the 10 people who tested positive for coronavirus in the Islands had attended a Tablighi Jamaat event at the Jamaat's headquarters in Delhi's Nizamuddin. These people have been giving wrong information about the places they visited during the home quarantine period apart from violating the terms and conditions of home quarantine. Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman District has ordered to register FIR against two people who have been tested positive for COVID-19 for continuously misleading contact tracking in tracking their contacts. The two people tested positive have been identified as Farzand Ali and S Rehman. 18 new positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in Maharashtra, taking the total count to 320. 16 new cases are reported in Mumbai, while two were reported in Pune. The toll in Maharashtra climbs to 12 after the death of two more coronavirus positive patients, said Health official on Wednesday. Twenty-four people, who took part in the congregation in Nizamuddin West earlier this month, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Tuesday. According to the Delhi Health Department, out of the total 120 cases recorded so far, about 90 are admitted at various hospitals like the LNJP Hospital, GTB Hospital, RML Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital and the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital. Five have been discharged, two have had died and one has migrated out of the country, it said. These 120 cases include 24 people who took part in a religious congregation at Nizamuddin West area earlier this month. Till Monday night, the number of cases of the deadly COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) stood at 97, including two deaths. The total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi climbed to 120 on Tuesday after 23 new cases of the pandemic was reported in the past 24 hours, the Health Department said. "So far none of them has any coronavirus symptoms," said the senior police official on the condition of anonymity. Over 115 people from Pune are suspected to have attended a religious congregation in New Delhi's Nizamuddin area, reports News18. Out of them, 30 people have been identified and sent for quarantine in Pune. Some of them were from neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad, am official told PTI. The first four tests conducted in the lab had also come out negative. After initial five coronavirus positive cases in the coastal state, rest all tests have come out negative so far. The GMCH has set up a virology lab which started functioning from Tuesday. "The tests conducted on all the 14 samples at GMCH lab have come out negative," Rane said. This has come as a huge respite for residents of the tourist state. Tests conducted on 14 coronavirus suspects in Goa have come out negative, state health minister Vishwajit Rane said on Wednesday. This was the second batch of tests conducted at the newly set up virology laboratory at the state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) near Goa. Meanwhile, after 24 people who attended the Markaz event in Nizamuddin were tested positive for coronavirus, Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava, on Tuesday said that an FIR has been registered against Tablighi Jamaat head Maulana Saad and others under the Epidemic Disease Act 1897. Delhi Police on Tuesday wrote a letter to Delhi Government seeking an immediate action with regard to the persons including 157 foreign nationals associated with Tablighi Jamaat meet in Nizamuddin and presently staying at various mosques and other places in Delhi. The Palghar man had no travel history, he said. This is the first death reported from Palghar, a predominantly tribal district. Maharashtra now has 320 COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths. Thirty-nine coronavirus positive patients have been discharged after recovery. "The 75-year-old male patient died in Mumbai on Tuesday. We are finding details of his travel history and also checking if someone close to him had a travel history, an official said. Two more COVID-19 patients died in Maharashtra, taking the state toll to 12, health officials said on Wednesday. One was a 75-year-old man from Mumbai, while the other, a 50-year-old man, died in adjoining Palghar district, the officials said. Benchmark indices are trading flat to positive in the pre-opening session with Nifty above 8,600-level. At 09:02 am, the Sensex was up 172.05 points or 0.58 percent at 29640.54, and the Nifty up 7.35 points or 0.09 percent at 8605.10. The US government raced to build hundreds of makeshift hospitals to ease the strain on overwhelmed healthcare systems as the United States marked 700 deaths in a single day from COVID-19 for the first time on Tuesday. Two people from Kerala lost their lives to the coronavirus in United States on Wednesday, reported Manorama. A 45-year-old man hailing from Elanthoor in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district died in New York, while an 85-year-old man who hailed from Ramamangalam in Ernakulam district lived in New Jersey. The Karnataka government had closed the roads connecting its border with Kasaragod in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the north Kerala district. During the hearing, the High Court directed both states to inform it about the easiest way connecting Kerala''s Kasaragod and Mangalore in Karnataka to facilitate the movement of people from Kasaragod seeking treatment in hospitals in Mangalore. The AG said Karnataka was ready to open two roads connecting the state with Kerala''s Kannur and Wayanad districts to facilitate movement of essential goods. This followed a request from the bench to the Advocate General of Karnataka on Monday, seeking the government''s views on the matter Joining the hearing conducted by Kerala High Court Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Shaji P Chali via video conferencing. The Kerala HC to take up the issue of border closure by Karnataka again on Wednesday. The Karnataka government on Tuesday informed the Kerala High Court that it was willing to open two roads connecting both states, which it had closed following the COVID-19 outbreak. Those without ration cards can also purchase grains by giving an affidavit at the PDS shops. Non-priority cardholders will get 15 kgs of rice over and above their regular ration, as part of the Rs 20,000-crore package announced by the chief minister. New India Express r eports that Kerala will start distributing free rice through 14,250 ration shops from today (1 April). Priority card holders (yellow and pink cards) can purchase free rice and other items from ration shops from morning till noon, while the non-priority cardholders (blue and white cards) can approach the shops in the afternoon. The test of their samples conducted in the centrally administered JIPMER here found that they were infected with the virus. A source said the two persons belong to Ariyankuppam village near. Director of Health and Family Welfare Mohan Kumar said the two had returned from Delhi after attending the congregation and were admitted to the State Government hospital. Two persons, who had attended a religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, tested positive for coronavirus in Puducherry on Wednesday, a senior official said. As a precautionary measure, the police officials wife and two daughters are also kept in a separate ward of the hospital. The police station where the official was posted as in-charge has been sanitised and steps are taken to protect the other staff from the infection, Parashar said. Of the 19 new patients in Indore, nine are from one family, including three children, aged 3, 5 and 8, residing in Tanzeem Nagar area of the city, the official said. A police official from Indore is also among the new coronavirus patients. Twenty more people tested positive for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 86, a health official said. Among the new cases, 19 were reported from Indore and one from the neighbouring Khargone district, he said. Karnataka DGP threatens pranksters that their vehicles will be seized if they violated lockdown rules. The police officer urged citizens to strictly adhere to lockdown rules which include the ban of two/ four wheelers from use till the 14 April in view of April Fool's Day. Tech Mahindra said it has taken all the necessary preventive measures to ensure the wellness and well-being of its associates. CP Gurnani, MD and CEO of Tech Mahindra, said the company's focus continues to be on ensuring the safety and well-being of associates, partners, and customers, while continuing to keep mission-critical systems on for global clients. These employees are working towards keeping critical systems running for global clients, including governments, public-sector institutions, healthcare institutions and leading service companies, it added. The tweaked logo shows the "e" in Tech Mahindra as boxed inside a house for the next few weeks, and showcases how the company's over 1.3 lakh associates have adjusted to the crisis, it said in a statement on Saturday. IT services major Tech Mahindra has temporarily tweaked its brand logo to show solidarity with the fight against COVID-19 that has claimed thousands of lives globally. Accroding to the FIR, despite the direction and notice served on 24 March, the place was not vacated. The complaint further states that around 2,100 people were vacated from Markaz within five days, but it has not been sanitised completely. Saad has two houses in Delhi - one in Zakir Nagar and another in Nizamuddin. An FIR has been filed in the case of the Nizamuddin Markaz event, 100 of whose attendees tested positive for coronavirus. The FIR in the case names Saad, Dr Zeeshan, Mufti Shehzad, Mursalin Saifi, Yonus and Mohd Salman. In a letter to the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) 10th Battalion's commandant, the senior superintendent of police (SSP) for the Police Control Room in Kashmir on Tuesday asked him to put his men on escort duty with the mayor for the last 10 days in isolation as a precautionary measure. The employee, whose brother tested COVID-19 positive, works as a generator operator at the Srinagar Municipal Complex. Mattu said the precautionary step was taken because of the security personnel station's proximity to the generator room. Security personnel guarding Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattu were put in isolation after a family member of an employee in his office tested positive for the novel coronavirus, officials said on Wednesday. Yediyurappa on 25 March had appealed to people to help the state government by donating money for the advanced medical support system to fight the spread of COVID-19. He has appealed to Ministers, legislators, Members of Parliament, officials and citizens to also do their bit and contribute in whatever capacity possible to help the state in fighting the coronavirus outbreak. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday announced he will donate his one year's salary to the Chief Minister Relief Fund COVID-19. The total US death toll from the coronavirus pandemic topped 4,000 early Wednesday, more than double the number from three days earlier, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The number of deaths was 4,076 -- more than twice the 2,010 recorded late Saturday, Johns Hopkins data showed. The religious gathering was held at the Markaz building in Nizamuddin between 13 to 15 March. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain had said that the officials are not certain of the accurate number of people who participated in the event but it is being estimated that 1,500-1,700 people had assembled at the Markaz building. "Nobody has the symptoms and samples are being sent for testing. Tracing for others is on," said Ram. "The total number of people from Pune who attended the event at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi is more than 130. Many of them are either not in Pune or are untraceable. The search for them is underway," he added. Pune District Collector, Naval Kishore Ram on Wednesday said that till now 60 people from Pune have been put under quarantine in connection with the Nizamuddin Markaz event in Delhi, which was attended by over 130 people from the State. It continued: A daily bulletin by the government of India through all media avenues, including social media and forums to clear the doubts of people, would be made active within a period of 24 hours as submitted by the Solicitor General of India. It noted that such panic-driven migration has caused untold suffering to those who believed and acted on such fake news and in fact, some have lost their lives in the process. The top court, however, made it clear that the court does not intend to interfere with the free discussion about the pandemic, but direct the media refer to and publish the official version about the developments. In particular, we expect the Media (print, electronic or social) to maintain a strong sense of responsibility and ensure that unverified news capable of causing panic is not disseminated, the bench said. The top court said that the migration of large number of labourers working in the cities was triggered by panic created by fake news that the lockdown would continue for more than three months. Taking a serious note of the panic caused among the migrant workers due to fake news, the top court said it expects the media including print, electronic and social to maintain a strong sense of responsibility and ensure that "unverified news" with regard to coronavirus pandemic is not disseminated. The Supreme Court on Tuesday had directed media outlets to publish the governments official version of developments pertaining to the coronavirus outbreak. "We expect the media (print, electronic or social) to maintain a strong sense of social responsibility and ensure that unverified news, capable of causing panic, is not disseminated," the report stated. The Centre stated in its report that it wanted media houses not to publish the news of COVID-19, without asking the Central government authorities, who are assigned to talk to media houses, keeping in view the welfare and benefit of migration labourers and other people due to the pandemic. The Central government had filed its status report with respect to the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a lawyer, Alakh Alok Srivastava, seeking a direction to provide food, medicines, shelter and other basic necessities to migrant labourers and workers amid the national lockdown. The Centre has sought directions from the Supreme Court for the media houses not to publish, print or telecast anything without first confirming it from the concerned authorities, keeping in view the sensitivity of the news regarding COVID-19 in the country on Tuesday. These 120 cases include 24 people who took part in a religious congregation at the Markaz in Nizamuddin West earlier this month. The total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi climbed to 120 on Tuesday after 23 new cases of the disease were reported on Tuesday. Taking to Twitter, Sisodia said that out of the 2,361 people, 617 have been admitted to hospitals while the rest quarantined. "The medical staff, administration, police and DTC staff worked together in this 36-hour operation, putting their lives at risk. Hats off to all of them," the deputy chief minister said in another tweet. The Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz in Nizamuddin West, which is among the major COVID-19 hotspots in the country, has been cleared after the evacuation of 2,361 people in the past 36 hours, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Wednesday. Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai had last night said about 300 people from the state had attended the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat and efforts were on to identify and quarantine them. "The Home Department and the Health Department will identify and quarantine those who are staying here without going to their country," he added. In a tweet, the Minister also said COVID-19 test reports of 12 of them have come out as negative. Stating that the government has got information about 62 Malaysia and Indonesia nationals who had attended the congregation have come to Karnataka, in another tweet Sriramulu said, 12 of them have been identified and quarantined. Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Wednesday said about 300 people from the state had attended the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz Masjid in New Delhi last month, and 40 of them have been identified and quarantined. In all 373 samples were tested since 9 pm on Tuesday and 330 of them turned negative till 9 am on Wednesday, the bulletin added. Five new cases were added in Chittoor district, four in Prakasam, two each in East Godavari, SPS Nellore and one each in Krishna and Visakhapatnam districts, according to the latest bulletin of the Medical and Health Department. West Godavari district, which did not have a single COVID-19 case till Tuesday, recorded 13 positive cases while Kadapa district too reported 15. As many as 43 new cases of coronavirus have been reported in Andhra Pradesh since Tuesday night, taking the overall count to 87 in the state, the government said.Most of these cases relate to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation. These companies are currently producing 50,000 litres of sanitisers per day and it will be increased to 60,000 litres soon, he said. To deal with this increased demand, the government has issued licences to distilleries and sanitiser-manufacturing companies to increase production, he said. "The total sanitiser licenses issued in the state is 48 and production ramped up to 50,000 litres per day," Additional Chief Secretary, Information, Awanish Awasthi, told reporters. The move comes in the wake of a spike in demand of sanitisers, an alcohol-based disinfectant, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, which has claimed 35 lives and infected 1,397 people in the country. Forty-eight companies have been issued licences by the Uttar Pradesh government to produce 50,000 litres of sanitiser per day, officials said on Wednesday. Two men from Sheoraphuli in Hooghly district and another man from Egra in Purba Medinipur district tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 34, he added. "The man was diabetic for the last 20 years and was hospitalised since March 23 with kidney ailments. He tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday night," he said. Family members of both the deceased have been placed under quarantine, the official said. The second person had no history of travelling abroad or to any other state in India, the official said. Another 57-year-old man died in a hospital in Belghoria in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday morning, he said. "We are trying to find out the travel history of the deceased and whether he had come in contact with any person infected with coronavirus," the official said. A 57-year-old man, who was admitted to a private hospital in Golabari area of Howrah district two days ago, died on Tuesday night, he said. According to multiple reports, two COVID-19 patients died in West Bengal on Wednesday, taking the death count rises to six in the state. A huge religious gathering was held at the Markaz building in Nizamuddin between 13-15 March, the gathering came into the spotlight after over 24 people who attended the event tested positive for coronavirus. The FIR holds the seven accused responsible for the gathering which took place, and added that visitors were allowed to continue living in the premises despite a notice being issued to them on 24 March. Maulana Saad, Dr Zeeshan, Mufti Shehzad, M Saifi, Younus, Mohammad Salman and Mohammed Ashraf have been named in the FIR filed in connection with the case, according to sources in the Delhi police. The FIR filed by Delhi police in connection with the religious gathering held at Markaz Nizamuddin case holds seven people responsible for the gathering and the ensuing stay of people on the premises. "We are keeping a close watch on them. There is no reason to worry or panic," he added "We have identified all the 107 people from Madhya Pradesh who attended the Tabligh-e-Jamaat's event in Delhi. They have been put under quarantine and are being examined thoroughly," Bhopal Collector Tarun Kumar Pithode told PTI. The gathering at Markaz Nizamuddin, the Delhi headquarters of the Tabligh-e-Jamaat, was held earlier this month. All 107 people from Madhya Pradesh who attended the religious congregation at Nizamuddin West, which has turned out as one of the major COVID-19 hotspots in the country, have been identified and quarantined, a senior official said on Wednesday. Among the 23 confirmed cases, one patient has died while another has been discharged from hospital upon full recovery. According to the state health department, 1,350 samples have been collected so far across Bihar out of which 1,324 have tested negative while three were rejected. According to Pradip Das, Director of the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute, an ICMR centre here, those who have tested positive include one man each from Begusarai and Nalanda districts with travel histories to Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Two fresh cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Bihar on Wednesday, taking the total number so far in the state to 23, an official said. The man hailed from Basti in Uttar Pradesh. The two lab technicians, who had taken his samples, have been admitted to the quarantine ward of the hospital as a precautionary measure, Kumar said. "Whether the patient died due to the coronavirus has not been ascertained yet," he said, adding that the patient showed symptoms of COVID-19, but the test reports came after he died on Monday. "The sample of the patient was found positive for the coronavirus," an official of the King George's Medical University said in Lucknow. Uttar Pradesh reported its first coronavirus-related death on Wednesday after test reports of a 25-year-old man, who died two days ago, came COVID-19 positive. The man was admitted to the BRD Medical College here on Sunday and he was suffering from kidney and liver problems, the institute's principal Ganesh Kumar said. In a statement, the RBI said presently value of goods or software exports made by the exporters is required to be realised fully and repatriated to the country within a period of 9 months from the date of exports. It also increased ways and means advances (WMA) limit by 30 percent from existing limit for all states and union territories. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today announced more measures, including extension of period for realisation and repatriation of export proceeds, to deal with the economic fallout of COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 300 attendees, an estimated 150 persons from the State had left the centre to other regions for religious work. At least 300 persons from Kerala had attended the back-to-back meetings from which the disease had radiated to outlying States. The Hindu reported that the Kerala government is bracing itself to contain a possible spread of COVID-19 infection from a large group of persons who had returned from the Tablighi Jamat centre at Nizamuddin in New Delhi in early March. A total of 1,637 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in India so far and 38 deaths have taken place due to the infection, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The number of active cases in India climb to 1,466 with 132 cases recovered so far. Nigam said around 30 to 35 people might have arrived in that region from Nizamuddin in the intervening night of 29-30 March. They had travelled in two mini-bus registered in Noida and Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh. Block Development Officer Rajjan Lal Nigam told the Firstpost that all six have been put under quarantine and they are questioning the leader of the group to find out whereabouts of others. Six people from Nizamuddin's Tablighi Jamaat have been traced to a remote village 'Kunjbanna' in Pirpainti of Bihar on 30 March. Villagers informed the police on Tuesday. According to the official data, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the City was 41,771 and 1,096 people died of the disease as of 31 March. At least 8,400 people are hospitalized and of those, at least 1,888 are in the ICU. More than 1,000 people have died in New York City alone from COVID-19 as the authorities struggled to procure enough medical equipment to cope with the rising coronavirus cases and warned that it is approaching the toughest weeks of this crisis. State officials said that the railways are providing lists of passengers to the district authorities which are being compared to the list of participants of the event to ensure contact tracing. While there are yet no definite numbers with the railways on the actual number of people who could have come in contact with the participants of this event, sources say that each train carried around 1000-1200 passengers and other staff members which could put them all at risk. All these trains began from Delhi between 13 and 18 March: the Duronto Express to Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, the Grand Trunk Express to Chennai, the Tamil Nadu Express to Chennai, New Delhi-Ranchi Rajdhani Express and the AP Sampark Kranti Express. Railways is scrambling to provide information regarding thousands of passengers who travelled on five trains with people who participated in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi, many of whom have tested positive. Palaniswami told reporters that while a section could not be contacted yet, others have been quarantined in Delhi. "About 515 people have been identified...others who took part in the meet should voluntarily get in touch with the authorities...we have not got the addresses of others fully," he said apparently indicating that their whereabouts could not be ascertained so far. Several people who took part in the meet from Tamil Nadu at the national capital recently have tested positive, Palaniswami said adding 1,131 men have returned of the about 1,500 people who went for the event. The whereabouts of a section of people from Tamil Nadu who took part in the recent conference held by the Tablighi Jamaat at Delhi is not known yet and in view of several attendees testing positive they should voluntarily get in touch with authorities, Chief Minister K Palaniswami appealed here on Wednesday. These 120 cases include 24 people who took part in a religious congregation at the Markaz in Nizamuddin West earlier this month. The doctor, who tested positive for coronavirus, worked at the institute. The total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi climbed to 120 on Tuesday after 23 new cases of the disease were reported. Delhi State Cancer Institute has been shut for a day after a doctor tested positive for COVID-19, an official said on Wednesday. According to the official, the Delhi government-run institute is being disinfected and that is why it has been shut for a day. The Indian government curtailed all international flights and later extended that suspension on domestic flights as well. Seeing the situation turning adverse, the Russian Embassy decided to extend an immediate helping hand to the 28 stranded nationals who were in New Delhi and sought help to return to their country. At least 28 Russian nationals who arrived in India for different purposes were stranded here due to curbs placed on travel by the government to contain the spread of coronavirus. The fourth flight with Russian nationals on board departed from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport to their country on the intervening night of 31 March and 1 April, the country's embassy said on Wednesday. The results of the rest 51 samples, including those of 15 foreigners, are likely to arrive by Wednesday evening. Apart from this, the samples of those who came into contact with the foreigners and others were also sent for testing which revealed three more cases bringing the tally up to five. A total of 34 people, including 29 foreigners, who had attended the religious gathering in Delhi were traced in Ahmednagar by the administration. Out of these 29 foreigners, the results of 14 people have arrived which revealed two confirmed cases of the infection. Five positive cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, including two foreigners who had attended the Markaz in Nizamuddin, Delhi, according to the District Collector on Wednesday. In the backdrop of COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown, a high-level meeting of Union Ministers was held at Singh's residence earlier on Sunday. There has been an increase of 240 COVID-19 cases in the last 12 hours across the country. Taking to Twitter Singh posted the pictures of the review meeting held today. "Today, via video conferencing, had a review meeting with the CDS, Service Chiefs, Secretaries, and DPSUs to discuss the preparedness and ongoing efforts towards tackling #COVID19 menace. Armed Forces and MoD are fully prepared and geared up to face any situation," Singh tweeted. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday held a review meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, Service Chiefs and other officials to discuss the preparedness and efforts being taken to tackle COVID-19 outbreak. The government has inserted a clause for the domicile category under which a person has to stay in the Union Territory for a period of 15 years. Children of all-India services personnel who have served there for 10 years also come under the category. The government on Wednesday issued a gazette notification announcing a slew of amendments to 138 Acts of Jammu and Kashmir that included protecting jobs up to Group-4 for only those who are domicile of the union territory. The notification said among the laws amended is the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralisation and Recruitment) Act. Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah took to Twitter to question the timing of the Centre to introducing a new domicile for the newly formed Union territory amid a nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. He said, "Talk about suspect timing. At a time when all our efforts & attention should be focused on the COVID-19 outbreak the government slips in a new domicile law for Jammu and Kashmir." The policeman, a resident of Kalyan township in neighbouring Thane district, complained of uneasiness in breathing following which he was rushed to hospital on Monday. This is the first case in Maharashtra of a police personnel contracting the viral infection, he said. The constable is being treated at the Kasturba Hospital, the official said, adding that samples of four police personnel who worked with him have been sent for test. After a constable posted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus police station in Mumbai tested positive for coronavirus, his family members and 32 police personnel who came in contact with him have been asked to remain in home quarantine, an official said on Wednesday. The minister had earlier said that Bengaluru Urban and Mysuru have been identified among the prime 25 COVID-19 hotspots in the country. Chikkaballapur, since the last fourteen days, has been emerging as another hotspot, according to Sriramulu. Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Wednesday said that 200 people, out of 342 from the state who had attended the religious gathering at Markaz building in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, have been quarantined. He added that 68 people had stayed back in Delhi and 4 of them tested positive in the National Capital itself. "347 are back in Assam and but did not get themselves quarantined. Out of 347, 230 of them have been traced overnight and samples are being collected." said the health minister. 117 are yet to be traced. Sarma further said that Centre has provided with a list of 547 people to Assam government on Tuesday. Out 547, 134 were in the Nizamuddin area but not in Tablighi Jamaat. Addressing a press meet in Guwahati, health minister Sarma said that in addition to the first patient at Silchar Medical College and Hospital, four more people have been tested positive for Coronavirus at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). Four more positive cases reported in Assam on Wednesday, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 5 in the state. "All four were in Markaz, attended Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi," said Assam health minister HB Sarma. He also stated that the cases in the state increase. "may cross double-digits by evening." "On the directions from the Centre, a team of seven to eight medical officials has been deployed along with the police to carry out inspection and for identifying those who had attended the event. So far they have identified at least 25 persons from two madrasas (seminaries) in Mumbra and the search is still on," said Dr RT Kendre, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) incharge for coronavirus cases for Thane. The area has emerged as one of the hotspots for coronavirus outbreak since the 'markaz' or gathering of Tabligh-e-Jamaat was held there, prompting many states to launch a massive search for the attendees. Authorities have so far identified at least 25 people from Mumbra in Maharashtra's Thane district who had attended a religious event in Nizamuddin area of Delhi last month, an official said on Wednesday. His wife, Gabrielle Rogers, who is quarantined in Australia, posted on social media: Andrew Jack was diagnosed with coronavirus 2 days ago. He was in no pain, and he slipped away peacefully knowing that his family were all with him. Star Wars actor Andrew Jack has died in Britain as a result of the coronavirus, his agent said on Wednesday. He was 76. The actor, who also worked as a dialect coach, died in a hospital in Surrey on Tuesday, Jacks agent Jill McCullough said in a statement. She also documented her experience on Instagram highlights saying she came down with body aches, chills and temperature on 13 March, which escalated on 14 March and on 19 March she was diagnosed. Nikkanen said she was feeling better but still had some tightness in her chest. According to a report by the Hollywood Reporter, the actress said, This is a scary thing. It's all-consuming...Im glad that Im okay and that my mom is okay." The Society actress Olivia Nikkanen has tested for the novel coronavirus. The 21-year-old appeared on Instagram Live with her co-star Kathryn Newton for the health update. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah said it will pass the orders in favour of the petitioners and would ask the Indian embassy to take fresh tests and look into the possibility of bringing them back as and when possible. It observed that government is taking the matter seriously. The top court observed that it is thinking of asking the Indian embassy to constantly monitor the situation and be in touch with the stranded Indians in Iran. The Centre Wednesday told the Supreme Court that 250 Indian pilgrims stranded in Qom, Iran, have tested positive for coronavirus and have not been evacuated, while over 500 have already been brought back. Efforts were underway to trace these people, and information is also being gathered if those who came in contact with these people display any symptoms of the virus, the state health department said in a release. A religious congregation held earlier this month at Nizamuddin West has turned out to be one of the major COVID-19 hotspots in the country. According to the details sent by the Centre to the Gujarat health department, around 1,500 people recently returned to the state after visiting the Nizamuddin area in the National Capital. The number of coronavirus cases in Gujarat rose to 82 on Wednesday after eight more people tested positive, officials said, adding that efforts were on to trace nearly 1,500 people from the state who recently visited Delhi's Nizamuddin area. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to a meeting via video conferencing with the chief ministers of al the states on Thursday over coronavirus, ANI reported. Delhi minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said that around 32,358 construction workers have been given the sum of Rs 5,000 in their bank accounts through the Delhi government's initiative. He added that other 9,000 workers will also be given the amount soon. He also added that no community transmission has been reported in Delhi yet. "I request them to apply for the ration card on Delhi government's e-district website. They will not get the card but we will give them ration till COVID-19 issue persists," he said, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that there are around 10 lakh people who don't have a ration card should apply for one on the government's website. A bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao, which took up the matter for hearing through video conferencing, issued notices to the Centre and the Delhi government and sought their replies on the plea filed by NGO 'Justice For Rights Foundation' and others. The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and the Delhi government on a plea filed by an NGO seeking direction to ensure fair and equitable distribution of masks and also the sale and distribution of hand sanitisers and liquid soap among the public to deal with COVID-19. For rest of the subjects, CBSE will not hold board exams and instructions for their marking, assessment will be issued soon, he said. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct class 10 and 12 examinations for only 29 main subjects which are crucial for promotion and admission to higher educational institutions, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal announced on Wednesday. "The entire governemnt machinery has been working overtime the last 24 hours. We have taken them into isolation wards, 658 samples have been lifted and 110 have been found positive so far. For every patient, we'll see what was the mode of transport used, who were the people who travelled with them, what have they been doing, where all have they gone, all of these are being worked out. Since numbers are large, it will take some time," she added. "I would like to thank every person who came forward voluntarily on our appeal for having attended the Delhi conference and they have come into our treatment facilities. We have tested 658 of them, 1,103 members have come forward," she said. Tamil Nadu health secretary Beela Rajesh said that the government machinery is working "overtime" for the last 24 hours to trace contacts of the attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday granted special permission to conduct cargo operations using passenger category aircraft during the lockdown which was enforced as a measure to curb the spread of coronavirus. Meanwhile, BMC said that 191 areas in various locations of Mumbai have been marked as 'Containment Areas', where COVID-19 patients are confirmed. Entry/exit is restricted for all such areas and residents of the area are instructed to remain home quarantined. The Maharashtra health department on Wednesday said that the coronavirus cases rose to 335 with 14 cases reported in Mumbai and one case in the Buldhana district. "One attendee from Bhavnagar, who tested positive, has passed away while 71 others are asymptomatic and in quarantine," said DGP Shivanand Jha. Gujarat Police on Wednesday said that seventy-two people from Gujarat, including 34 from Ahmedabad, 20 from Bhavnagar and 12 people from Mehsana, attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi. The figure of 29, however, does not include the 14 Italian tourists who were earlier admitted to a private hospital in Gurgaon for treatment. During the day, no positive case was reported from anywhere and the total number of Covid-19 cases stands at 29, a bulletin issued by the state Health Department said. No new COVID-19 patient was detected on Wednesday in Haryana which has seen 29 coronavirus cases so far, PTI reported. Customers on-boarded under settlement scheme SBI OTS 2019, Rin Samadhan 19-20 and general compromise can meet payment obligation by June 30, 2020, said the country's largest lender. Against the backdrop of current disruption in the market and 21 days lockdown till 14 April, 2020, State Bank of India (SBI) has come forward to extend the timeline for payment of settlement amount by three months, it said in a statement. State Bank of India has given a three-month relief to borrowers under its settlement schemes and will not charge extra interest keeping in mind the COVID-19 pandemic, the country's largest lender said on Wednesday. He had symptoms like fever, cough, respiratory issues and also had co-morbid condition of renal failure, ANI reported. A 56-year-old man who tested positive for coronavirus from Mumbai's Dharavi died on Wednesday in Sion Hospital, reports said. Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has asked chief secretaries of all states and union territories to create a mechanism at state -level where people can verify facts and unverified news promptly, similar, to the web portal being created by the Centre. He had symptoms like fever, cough, respiratory issues and also had co-morbid condition of renal failure, ANI reported. A 56-year-old man who tested positive for coronavirus from Mumbai's Dharavi died on Wednesday in Sion Hospital, reports said. "The assault on Duty Doctor at Gandhi Hospital treating COVID19 patients is condemned. Strong action against the culprits will be taken immediately. Anyone indulging in such acts of vandalism will not be spared," said Director General of Police. Twelve Tablighi Jamaat attendees have tested positive for coronavirus in Rajasthan so far, of which five are from Tonk. There are now 120 COVID-19 cases in the state. "It is learnt that some audio recordings etc are circulating through social media creating confusion about COVID-19. It is clarified that till date there is no new/second confirmed COVID19 cases in the state and there is no advice from the govt to hoard essential items." The Manipur government on Wednesday said, "There were 10 persons who returned to Manipur after attending religious conference at Nizamuddin, Delhi. Out of them, eight tested negative for COVID-19 and are now at quarantine centre. Result of the remaining two are inconclusive and they're presently at JNIMS and RIMS respectively. Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has asked Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories to create a mechanism at state -level where people can verify facts and unverified news promptly, similar, to the web portal being created by Govt of India. #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/MduBP5JaUR Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has asked chief secretaries of all states and union territories to create a mechanism at state -level where people can verify facts and unverified news promptly, similar, to the web portal being created by the Centre. Twenty-four new COVID19 positive cases were reported in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, taking the total number of positive cases to 111. According to reports, Maharashtra has reported 302 cases of coronavirus which is the highest in the country, followed by Kerala with 241 cases. Tamil Nadu has reported 234 cases, while Delhi has reported 152. Padma Shri recipient and former 'Hazoori Raagi' at the Golden Temple, Nirmal Singh, on Wednesday tested positive for coronavirus, India Today reported. Noida chief medical officer Anurag Bhargava was removed from his post on Wednesday, reports said, adding that AP Chaturvedi is likely to be appointed as the next CMO. A 60-year-old person from Surya Nagar in Bhubaneswar with multiple co-morbid conditions, and admitted at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, tested positive for COVID-19. This is the 5th COVID-19 positive case in the state, the state department of health and family welfare said. Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST updates: "The assault on Duty Doctor at Gandhi Hospital treating COVID19 patients is condemned. Strong action against the culprits will be taken immediately. Anyone indulging in such acts of vandalism will not be spared," said Director General of Police. A 56-year-old man who tested positive for coronavirus from Mumbai's Dharavi died on Wednesday in Sion Hospital, reports said. The Maharashtra health department on Wednesday said that four more coronavirus patients passed away in the state, taking the total statewide toll to 16. The total number of positive cases in the state has risen to 335, including 41 people who have been discharged. 'It is with great regret that the AELTC has today decided that The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic. The 134th Championships will instead be staged from 28 June to 11 July 2021," the official statement by Wimbledon said on Wednesday. BMC said that 191 areas in various locations of Mumbai have been marked as 'Containment Areas', where COVID-19 patients are confirmed. Entry/exit is restricted for all such areas and residents of the area are instructed to remain home quarantined. The Maharashtra health department on Wednesday said that the coronavirus cases rose to 335 with 14 cases reported in Mumbai and one case in the Buldhana district. Some of the people who attended the Tablighi Jamaat conference in Delhi and returned to the Thane and Nagpur districts of Maharashtra have been identified and quarantined, authorities said on Wednesday. The congregation, which was attended by over 2,000 people from all over the country and abroad, has become a hotspot of the coronavirus infection after several attendees tested positive. Thane Police said that 13 Bangladeshi nationals and two people from Assam who visited the event and came to Thane afterwards have been home quarantined. "Their test reports will be available by tomorrow. On the basis of the report, further action will be taken," said Subhas Burse, DCP, Mumbra, Thane. Meanwhile, Nagpur municipal corporation commissioner Tukaram Munde said, "54 people from Nagpur, who attended the Tablighi Jamat meet in Delhi's Nizamuddin, have been identified and quarantined." The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct class 10 and 12 examinations for only 29 main subjects which are crucial for promotion and admission to higher educational institutions, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal announced on Wednesday. For rest of the subjects, CBSE will not hold board exams and instructions for their marking, assessment will be issued soon, he said. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the phone numbers of people who have been prescribed quarantine will be tracked to ensure compliance with the measure to curb the spread of coronavirus. He added that 1,1084 phone numbers have already been shared with the police and another 14,345 will be shared on Wednesday. "These are the numbers of people who are supposed to be in quarantine. However, there have been complaints that people are violating this. Now, movement will be tracked though your phone we will know of you have violated quarantine norms and also who else you have come in touch with." Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal tweeted that the CBSE board has been advised to promote all the students studying in classes 1 to 8 automatically as regular schedules of exams have been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Eight villages in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district have been declared as red zones after 10 people from the district attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin, PTI reported. Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, in a press conference over coronavirus on Wednesday said that of the 87 confirmed cases in the state so far, 70 are returnees from the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi's Nizammudin. "A total of 1,083 people had attended Delhi's event from the state and 585 people who return from Delhi have been tested. The state government is requesting private hospital help at this juncture," he added. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that a total of 2,344 people connected to the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi's Nizammuding have been evacuated, out of which 536 people have been admitted to hospitals and 810 have been quarantined. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the state governments are arranging food and shelter for the migrant workers. Joint Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said, "21,486 relief camps have been set up where 6,75,133 persons have been given shelter." The health ministry on Wednesday said that so far, 1,637 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in India, including 386 new positive cases since Tuesday. The statement also said that 38 people have died and 132 people have recovered. "The number of positive cases have gone since Tuesday and one of the main reasons for it is the travel by members of Tablighi Jamat," the statement said. The Telangana government on Wednesday said that so far, about 1,100 attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat event in Deljhi have been traced in Telangana, out of which 940 people have been traced and 160 people are left. Four more positive cases reported in Assam on Wednesday, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 5 in the state. 'All four were in Markaz, attended Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi,' said Assam health minister HB Sarma. Five positive cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, including two foreigners who had attended the Markaz in Nizamuddin, Delhi, according to the District Collector on Wednesday. A total of 34 people, including 29 foreigners, who had attended the religious gathering in Delhi were traced in Ahmednagar by the administration. All the 43 patients tested positive for COVID19 on Wednesday in Andhra Pradesh had returned after attending the event at Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz. Meanwhile, a total of 1,637 positive cases of coronavirus has been reported in India so far and 38 deaths have taken place due to the infection, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Uttar Pradesh reported its first coronavirus-related death on Wednesday after test reports of a 25-year-old man, who died two days ago, came COVID-19 positive. The FIR filed by Delhi police in connection with the religious gathering held at Markaz Nizamuddin case holds seven people responsible for the gathering and the ensuing stay of people on the premises. The Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz in Nizamuddin West, which is among the major COVID-19 hotspots in the country, has been cleared after the evacuation of 2,361 people in the past 36 hours, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Wednesday. An FIR has been filed in the case of the Nizamuddin Markaz event, 100 of whose attendees tested positive for coronavirus. The FIR in the case names Saad, Dr Zeeshan, Mufti Shehzad, Mursalin Saifi, Yonus and Mohd Salman. Saad has two houses in Delhi - one in Zakir Nagar and another in Nizamuddin. The complaint further states that around 2,100 people were vacated from Markaz within five days, but it has not been sanitised completely. Twenty more people tested positive for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 86, a health official said. Among the new cases, 19 were reported from Indore and one from the neighbouring Khargone district, he said. Two more COVID-19 patients died in Maharashtra, taking the state toll to 12, health officials said on Wednesday. One was a 75-year-old man from Mumbai, while the other, a 50-year-old man, died in adjoining Palghar district, the officials said. Eighteen new positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in Maharashtra, taking the total count to 320. 16 new cases are reported in Mumbai, while two were reported in Pune. The toll in Maharashtra climbs to 12 after the death of two more coronavirus positive patients, said Health official on Wednesday. Four more fresh coronavirus positive cases were reported from Vishakhapatnam on Tuesday. This takes the total number of those infected with the deadly virus in Andhra Pradesh to 44. The Centre on Tuesday said that there has been an increase of 146 novel coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of COVID-19 positive cases to 1,397 in India. The total number includes 1,238 active cases, and 124 people who have been cured/discharged/migrated and 35 deaths. Three deaths two in Punjab and one in Maharashtra were reported on Tuesday. The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Tuesday to prevent migration of people due to coronavirus and set up within 24 hours a portal for disseminating real-time information on the pandemic to counter the panic being spread through fake news. Meanwhile, a religious congregation of the Tablighi Jamaat held from 1 to 15 March in Delhi's Nizamuddin West has become a point of concern for authorities after several people showed symptoms of coronavirus after taking part in the congregation. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has ordered the registration of an FIR against a cleric for leading the congregation State-wise figures The cases of coronavirus in Maharashtra, which is one of the worst-affected states by the pandemic, have gone up substantially, reports said on Tuesday adding that there are now 302 positive cases in the state. News18 reported that there are 59 cases in Mumbai, two each in Pune, Thane, KDMC and Navi Mumbai. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that seven positive cases have been reported in the state, two each in Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod. He said that additionally, one each was reported in Kollam, Thrissur, and Kannur. The total active cases are now 215 in the state. Thirteen new cases of coronavirus were reported in Karnataka in the last 21 hours, reports said. The total number of positive cases in the state rose to 101, including three deaths and eight discharged/cured cases. Additionally, reports said that 88 COVID-19 patients (including one pregnant woman) are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while two are in the ICU. In Assam, a 52-year-old person has been found positive for coronavirus, state minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Sarma said that it is Assam's first COVID-19 patient. He is undergoing treatment at Silchar Medical College and his condition is stable, the minister said. In Madhya Pradesh, the total number of coronavirus positive cases on Tuesday rose to 66 in the state, of which 44 positive cases have been reported in Indore. Five people have died due to the infection till now in the state. However, in what comes as a positive development, several patients have been successfully cured of the disease across the country. News18 India reported that in Rajasthan's Bhilwara, 13 out of 26 positive cases have been cured. The first three COVID-19 patients in West Bengal have recovered, reports said, adding that they will remain in quarantine for the time being. Meanwhile, two new cases were confirmed for the infection in the state on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 27. Row over Tablighi Jamaat event At least 24 members of the Tablighi Jamaat tested positive in Delhi and another six died in Telangana due to the virus, nearly two weeks after attending a congregation in its Nizamuddin West centre. Following this, the Centre has asked all states and Union territories to immediately trace and quarantine the estimated 2,000 foreign workers of the organisation present in India. The Home Ministry in a letter to all chief secretaries and police heads told them to deport all foreign Jamaat followers who test negative for the deadly virus to their countries "by the first available flights". "Presently, it is estimated that about 2,000 foreigners, on tourist visa, from over 70 countries are spread all over the country for Tabligh work. Majority of these foreign nationals belong to Bangladesh (493), Indonesia (472), Malaysia (150) and Thailand (142) and their period of stay in the country is up to six months," the Ministry of Home Affairs said in the letter. Some Jamaat members in Erode district of Tamil Nadu and eight Indonesian nationals, part of a Jamaat team in Hyderabad in Telangana, tested positive for the virus recently. Kejriwal said that the congregation at the Nizammudin markaz (centre) in Delhi, which was attended by around 2,000 people, was "highly irresponsible". Prevent migration, SC tells Centre The Supreme Court asked the Centre to prevent migration of people due to coronavirus and set up within 24 hours a portal for disseminating real-time information on the pandemic to counter the panic being spread through fake news. "Panic will destroy more lives than the virus", the top court said and asked the Centre to get trained counsellors and community leaders of all faiths to calm down the migrants, who are kept in shelter homes across the country. It said these shelters should be run by volunteers and not the police, and there should be no use of force and intimidation. It asked the Centre to prevent migration of people and take care of their needs of food, shelter, nourishment and medical aid. The Centre told the apex court that the suggestion by a petitioner to sprinkle water and chemicals on migrants to sanitise them does not work scientifically and is not the right way. Meanwhile, the Centre, in an affidavit, also sought a direction from the Supreme Court on Tuesday that no media outlet print, publish or telecast anything on coronavirus without first ascertaining facts from the mechanism provided by the government. It said that in an unprecedented situation of this nature, any deliberate or unintended fake or inaccurate reporting either in electronic, print, social media or web portals has a serious and inevitable potential of causing panic in large sections of the society. Considering the very nature of the infectious disease which the world is struggling to deal with, any panic reaction by any section of the society based upon such reporting would not only be harmful for such situation but would harm the entire nation," it said. The government said that though an act of creating panic is a criminal offence under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, appropriate direction from the top court would protect the country from any potential and inevitable consequence resulting from a false alarm having the potential of creating panic in a section of the society . With inputs from PTI At least 42 residents of Gujarat's Surat district who returned to India from foreign trips this month have not been found at the residential addresses mentioned in their passports, an official said on Tuesday. In view of the coronavirus outbreak, the Centre had provided Gujarat government a list of around 27,000 people whose passports mentioned their addresses in the state so that they could be tracked and their health monitored. However, 42 of these people, whose passports mentioned that they are residents of Surat, have not been found at the specified addresses, a district health official said. Of these 42 'missing' persons, 16 are from Palsana area, nine from Bardoli, six each from Choryasi and Olpad localities, three from Mangrol and two from Kamrej, he said. After their foreign trips, most of these people landed at various airports like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Chennai, the official said. Gujarat has so far reported 73 cases of coronavirus and six deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) by Melani Manel Perera Sri Lanka has 122 coronavirus cases. Next Friday, Card Malcolm Ranjith will ask Our Lady of Lanka to protect the country and the whole world to. People are asked to light a candle at 11 am when the bells begin to toll. Colombo (AsiaNews) The Catholic Church of Sri Lanka has decided to cancel all public services scheduled for Holy Week to avoid spreading the novel coronavirus. Masses and other services will be broadcast live on television. Archbishop Card Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo, who made the announcement two days ago, will ask Our Lady of Lanka to extend her protection to the country in a special intention next Friday. The infection rate on the island nation now stands at 122, with two deaths, including a 60-year-old diabetic man from Marawaila. Sri Lankas Health Ministry reported that 16 people have recovered so far. Catholics are going to have a new experience during Holy Week. All special services will be broadcast on TV and radio, explained Card Ranjith. Despite the restrictions, Passion Week services will be celebrated and broadcast on various platforms, including the Washing of the Feet, the Way of the Cross, Holy Saturday and Easter Mass. With this in mind, Card Ranjith has urged the faithful to watch the Mass that will be celebrated next Friday at the National Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka. "We shall pray to the Blessed Mother to protect not only our country, but the whole world from the coronavirus, he said. To this end, the prelate urged the faithful to light a candle at 11 am when Church bells start tolling. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 00:04:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHANGSHA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Railway repair is well underway after a train derailed in the city of Chenzhou in central China's Hunan Province Monday that killed one and injured 127. The accident happened in Yongxing County at 11:40 a.m. when the train ran into a landslide, leaving five carriages derailed. The power generation car caught on fire. The fire has been put out and all of the injured have been sent to hospital, with four in serious condition, local authorities said. There were 691 people on board the train when the derailment occurred, rescuers said. Except for those injured that were sent to hospital, other passengers took shelter in a nearby primary school until buses were sent to deliver them to a high-speed railway station. "We volunteered to cook noodles and dress the wounds of several hundred passengers in the school until they were picked up," said Liu Guijiao, a local villager. He Zhiwen from China Railway Guangzhou Group told Xinhua that about 380 meters of tracks need repair. The engineering department has prepared 450 meters of tracks and 1,600 railroad ties. Carriages will be removed after the repairs are completed, but the time for the traffic to resume has not been decided yet. He said over 1,000 workers have been sent along with seven excavators, six railcars, two large tampers and three relief trains. "We will try our best to resume traffic as soon as possible," said an engineer on site. The train, T179, was running from the city of Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, to Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong Province. The group said 88 trains on the southern section of the Beijing-Guangzhou railway have been affected, including 54 suspensions, 22 returns and 12 detours. His officers have been instructed to investigate and document any bars and/or restaurants that are suspected to be defying the governors order. If a probable violation is found, the business owner will be contacted and a report will be made, which will then be forwarded to the appropriate state agency. WATERFORD I was attacked by my ex-husband in 2004. He beat me with a bat, forced me into a garbage can and left me inside a freezing storage shed to die. After the 26-hour ordeal and my miraculous rescue, the back of my head had a gaping hole that required surgery. My head was swollen to 3 times its normal size because of the bruising and lacerations. I had frostbite on all my extremities. My toes were the most affected, and I lost all of them. I also lost the baby I was carrying. Its a miracle I survived. My story may sound familiar to you, and you may have seen my face before. After my life came so close to ending, I decided this traumatic ordeal would be a new beginning. I became an outspoken advocate for victims of domestic violence, and one of the leading proponents of the crime victims constitutional amendment that is up for a vote April 7. The amendment, commonly known as Marsys Law for Wisconsin, seeks to strengthen the rights of crime victims to ensure their rights are equal alongside those of the accused. No more, no less. The amendment will clarify and strengthen the victims rights now in our state constitution, and elevate some rights that victims now have in state law. This will ensure those rights are not automatically trumped in the courtroom by the constitutional rights of the accused. Some of the rights Marsys Law for Wisconsin gives to crime victims include the right to be heard in the courtroom at every important part of the process, the right to be present during all proceedings and the right to assert their rights with a judge if they are violated. Im so proud Marsys Law for Wisconsin has broad bipartisan support from across the political spectrum. After a lengthy and rigorous vetting process in the Legislature, the amendment cleared both houses in 2017 and 2019 with 87 percent of lawmakers voting yes. It has the support of the current Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, and former Attorney General Brad Schimel, a Republican. In fact, Marsys Law for Wisconsin has been endorsed by over 400 criminal justice system stakeholders including victim service agencies such as the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, every statewide law enforcement group, community advocates such as the NAACP-Milwaukee and hundreds of individual police chiefs, sheriffs and district attorneys. The small number of opponents to the crime victims amendment claim the protections in the amendment would infringe on the rights of the accused. Thats just not true. These new rights will simply give victims like me equal legal footing as a judge is evaluating our rights and those of the defendant. This intention is even laid out in the amendment, which includes the following language: This section is not intended to and may not be interpreted to supersede a defendants federal constitutional rights. You cant be much clearer than that. As a survivor, and as one of the many innocent people who have been forced to go through the court system through no fault of their own, I imagine all of the times invoking Marsys Law would have made a difference in my case. But I am most hopeful for what it can do to help others survivors in the future. I ask you to join me in standing up for crime victims past, present and future and cast a yes vote on additional rights of crime victims when you mark your ballot this spring. Nicolai, of Waterford, is an advocate for survivors of domestic violence and other crimes. She survived an abduction and beating by her ex-husband in Racine County in 2004. Love 1 Funny 9 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Subscriber content preview By GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press KLAMATH, Calif. California's second-largest river has sustained Native American tribes with plentiful salmon for millennia, provided upstream farmers with irrigation water for generations and served as a haven for retirees who built dream homes along its banks. With so many demands, the Klamath River has come to symbolize a larger struggle over the American West's increasingly precious water resources, and who has claim to them. . . . In the eternity since former Vice President Joe Biden turned his presidential campaign around by winning the South Carolina primary in a blowout it was actually just a month ago a lot of things have changed. A pandemic has been declared. Deaths from the novel coronavirus have surged to more than 30,000 around the world and nearly 2,500 at home. The stock market has crashed, with the Dow dropping thousands of points. Much of the economy has been put through a sudden stop as millions of Americans have been asking to abide by public-health measures designed to slow the spread of the virus. Weekly unemployment claims have spiked to levels that dwarf numbers seen during the great recession of 2008-2009 and that could well augur a global depression to come. In response, Congress has passed the largest aid package in American history ($2 trillion) to soften the economic shock of it all. It's been a momentous few weeks, but one thing has not changed: Biden is still overwhelmingly likely to become the Democratic Party's nominee for president, and he's still better positioned than any other candidate to defeat President Trump in November. That's something that needs to be repeated over and over again for several reasons. For one thing, Democrats are worriers in the best of times, and a pandemic and economic collapse during the Trump administration is among the very worst of times. For another, the kinds of people who write about politics for a living tend not to be especially impressed by the verbally challenged, unideological, gaffe-prone septuagenarian pragmatist from Delaware, and their analysis of the race reflects their incredulity about his prospects. For yet another, over the last two presidential election cycles the party has been rocked by a rebellion on its leftward flank led by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a lifelong democratic socialist, who has little chance of catching Biden in the delegate count but who is refusing to bow out of the race, leaving the frontrunner looking more vulnerable than he actually is. Story continues Now mix all of these factors with the oddly apocalyptic holding pattern in which we find ourselves most of the primaries scheduled for late March and April have been postponed to May and June and we have a situation perfectly designed to provoke a freak out. This is exactly what we've been seeing over the last week or so. First people asked where Biden had gone. With Trump giving daily briefings to the media about COVID-19, why was the presumptive Democratic nominee keeping such a low profile after his decisive primary victories in Michigan, Florida, and several other delegate-rich states? Then, when Biden started making his own somewhat low-tech statements from the basement of his home in Wilmington, Delaware, others worried that he looked small and sounded smaller an impression that worsened when he began lapsing into verbal and cognitive chaos in televised interviews. Then came the polls showing Biden leading Trump by as little as two points nationally and inspiring maximal excitement in only 24 percent of those planning to vote for him, which might turn out to be a sign of the same kind of weakness that hobbled Hillary Clinton's campaign four years ago. (These concerns are intensified for some by contrasting these measures of enthusiasm with the much greater excitement among Republicans to vote for Trump's re-election.) Finally, there's the new accusation that Biden sexually assaulted a Senate aide back in 1993. The story is circulating on numerous news sites but has yet to break into the prestige media. When and if it does, Biden will be thrust into a firestorm of scandal that could fatally damage him. All of these perceived vulnerabilities are leading Sanders to stay in the race through this extended lull in the voting, ready to pounce as soon as Biden implodes, and also encouraging fantasies of some mysterious alternative mainstream candidate magically swooping in to take Biden's place. Over the past week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been the object of these daydreams, with his strong performance in his daily briefings about the coronavirus supposedly making for a stronger contrast to Trump than Biden's wan media appearances. It sounds bad. Except for the fact that Biden remains, and is quite likely to remain, a very formidable candidate and more formidable than any other Democrat around. More than two dozen Democrats ran for president in this election cycle. Biden has dispatched them all, including Sanders. The Vermont senator may be refusing to formally bow out, but in their head-to-head competitions over the past month, Biden has bested him over and over again. Sanders wins the youth vote, and he does well among Latino voters out west, but that's about it. Biden wins African Americans and working-class whites and suburban voters by such wide margins that he has surpassed Clinton's 2016 showing against Sanders almost everywhere. Nowhere has this been more obvious than in Michigan. Sanders famously beat Clinton there (very narrowly) four years ago. Yet Biden beat Sanders this year in the state by more than 16 percentage points and also managed to best him in every single county in the state. (Biden accomplished the same feat in Florida.) That makes Biden a very strong candidate, and certainly a stronger one than Clinton was. It may well be true that Biden himself inspires only mild levels of enthusiasm among voters when pollsters ask them about it in the abstract. But in reality, when faced with a choice between Biden and Sanders, voters have showed up in states across the country to express their support for the former vice president. That's a very good sign that they will do the same when his opponent is the far more widely loathed Republican in the White House. It's also important to keep in mind that Trump is benefitting at the moment from a rally-round-the-president effect from the coronavirus crisis. That bump, along with a few mildly scary head-to-head polls, is unlikely to persist through the next seven months. (And even now Biden still leads Trump in aggregate head-to-head polling by 5.8 points.) As for the possibility of the Biden candidacy being consumed by a sexual scandal, it will depend on whether the alleged victim can offer any kind of corroboration to back up her claims about an event 27 years in the past and if anyone else comes forward with similar accusations. If the latter happens, Biden could be in trouble. But if not, a single unsubstantiated claim from nearly three decades ago is unlikely to wound a candidate running against a flagrant misogynist who brags about his own serial assaults on women. Biden might not be any Democrat's idea of a perfect candidate. But more factions of the fractious party like him than anyone else around. That makes Biden something very close to a generic Democrat with the broadest possible appeal which could make him a fearsome opponent to take on a president as polarizing and deeply disliked as Donald Trump. At a time when there's so much to be worried about, Democrats would be well advised to relax about Joe Biden. Want more essential commentary and analysis like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for The Week's "Today's best articles" newsletter here. More stories from theweek.com What comes after social distancing? Scientists are proposing a massive test-and-trace effort requiring 'tens of thousands of people' Trump's message to blue states battling coronavirus: Drop dead Late night hosts mock Trump's coronavirus ratings fixation, compare him with Tiger King's Joe Exotic / -- Continuing the legacy of humanitarian and philanthropic efforts of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Presidents, H.H. Sushri Dr. Vishakha Tripathi Ji, H.H. Sushri Dr. Shyama Tripathi Ji and H.H. Sushri Dr. Krishna Tripathi Ji have confirmed a contribution of 100 Lakhs to the Prime Minister's CARES Fund. The trust secretary, Mr. Ram Puri, said that the initiative was taken to help the state government fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. "Our main objective is to support the Government's plan to quickly recover from this challenging situation and to help the impoverished manage during these difficult times," said Puri. Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP), under the guidance and direction of its Presidents, also operates Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya and Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Education. Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya operates in Mangarh, Vrindavan and Barsana and has given medical care to over 4 million impoverished patients from these locations. Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Education offers education (Kindergarten to College level) to underprivileged girls from Pratapgarh and nearby areas and has helped over 55,000 of them to get the education they need to have a good life. The Poor Relief Fund operated under JKP, also gives out warm blankets, jackets, clothing, food items, school bags and resources (benches, chairs etc) and many other necessities to almost 100,000 impoverished individuals every year. All these philanthropic efforts are in place to ensure that the vision of Jagadguru Kripalu, who was given the title of Jagadguru on 14th January 1957, continues through these combined efforts to help and support the communities and individuals that needs help. Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat was established in 1972 with aims that includes teaching the eternal knowledge of the Vedas to seekers globally and conducting philanthropic and humanitarian efforts to help society. Bhakti Mandir (Bhakti Dham, Mangarh), Prem Mandir (Vrindavan) and Kirti Mandir (Barsana) are the three major Temples established by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj for the benefit of all. About Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat: Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat is a non-profit, charitable, educational and spiritual organization dedicated to increasing spiritual awareness and helping those in need in society as a whole. Information can be found at www.jkp.org.in For more information of the organization and to see a special documentary on Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, one can visit www.jkp.org.in/about-us. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1139697/Prem_Mandir_Stall. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 In light of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, Our Town St. Helena has updated its policies in the way it does business. It has closed its new administration offices; its team continues to work on the design package for 963 Pope St. and, as long as it is safe, families will continue to work on the Brenkle Court self-help housing project, which is exempt from the countys shelter-at-home order. The details are as follows: Administration: All board and staff will work from home using conference calling for meetings with each other and with other colleagues and vendors. Our new office at 1250 Church St. will be closed until further notice. Please contact Mary Stephenson at 707-849-2583 or mary@ourtownsthelena.org if you have questions. 963 Pope Street: Our team will continue to work on the design package scheduled to be submitted to the Citys Planning Department in early April. Work with all contractors and vendors will be done via email and conference call. The HOME loan application has been submitted and the Apple Affordable Housing Fund grant application deadline has been postponed until April 9. For further details, please contact Erica Roetman Sklar at 738-2294 or erica@outtownsthelena.org. Brenkle Court: This construction project is exempt from the California Shelter-at-Home order. We have confirmed this exclusion with the St. Helena Police Department. The plan below, which has been shared with City of St. Helena leadership and USDA, will be in place until any changes are required to meet new precautions established by the city, county or state. - Families will continue to work in small groups maintaining mandatory 6-feet social distancing. - All tools and equipment will be sanitized at the beginning and the end of each work day. - Workers will wash their hands frequently and wear protective gear as needed. - No one younger than 16 years of age is allowed on the job site at any time. - The generous people who have been volunteering their time and bringing lunches to the site will be asked to postpone these activities until further notice. - Nobody will be allowed onto the job site who is not feeling well, who has family members who are ill, or who has been exposed to COVID-19 through travel, work or other situations. If you have questions regarding Brenkle Court please contact Larry Vermeulen at 707-287-0843 or projectmanager@ourtownsthelena.org It is OTSHs goal to continue working on the projects as long as those involved, and the people they come in contact with, are safe. These operations policies went into effect on March 24 and OTSH will update its policies and continue to comply with government orders and recommendations as they are issued. 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/. The European Union's top diplomat has fired a warning shot at China's "politics of generosity," amid a growing sense of unease over Beijing's targeted strategy to help certain European countries with medical supplies to fight Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. The European Union's top diplomat has fired a warning shot at China's "politics of generosity," amid a growing sense of unease over Beijing's targeted strategy to help certain European countries with medical supplies to fight Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. In an unusual choice of language, the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on EU countries to stand ready for a "struggle for influence" in a "global battle of narratives." While Beijing has called its campaign to send millions of face masks to Europe the current epicentre of the pandemic a show of solidarity and friendship, Borrell cast light on its geopolitical significance in a blog post released by EU External Action, the agency he leads. "There is a global battle of narratives going on in which timing is a crucial factor," he said, noting that the focus had shifted from Europe helping China to the other way round. "China is aggressively pushing the message that, unlike the US, it is a responsible and reliable partner. "In the battle of narratives we have also seen attempts to discredit the EU as such and some instances where Europeans have been stigmatized as if all were carriers of the virus. "The point for Europe is this: we can be sure that perceptions will change again as the outbreak and our response to it evolves. But we must be aware there is a geopolitical component including a struggle for influence through spinning and the 'politics of generosity'," Borrell said. "Armed with facts, we need to defend Europe against its detractors." Since the focus of the pandemic shifted from China to Europe, Beijing has tried to help to plug European shortages by distributing medical equipment, but Europe was left disappointed with US President Donald Trump's decision to impose a travel ban on travelers from the Schengen Zone, which allows for passport-free travel across much of the continent. The latest EU country to receive aid from China is Hungary, whose eurosceptic Prime Minister Viktor Orban shared a video on Facebook showing the arrival of a Chinese plane carrying 3 million masks, 100,000 test kits and 86 ventilators. France and Austria, which sent support to the central Chinese city of Wuhan where the first cases of the new disease were reported last year at the height of the outbreak in China, have also received supplies from Beijing. Some big Chinese corporate names including billionaire Jack Ma and tech giant Huawei Technologies have also sent medical equipment to countries such as Belgium, Spain and Ireland. Even Borrell's own boss, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, sounded positive last week, when she thanked China for providing the EU with medical supplies, including 2 million surgical masks. She called it a "reciprocal" act given the EU had dispatched similar equipment to China during the start of the outbreak. Italy, which currently has the highest number of deaths in the world, has been the biggest beneficiary of Chinese medical aid and supplies, while also reaching out to Russia and Cuba for medical help. But two recent developments have changed the EU's thinking, according to a diplomatic source briefed on the matter, driving EU officials closer to the rhetoric of regarding China as a "systemic rival," a phrase first used under von der Leyen's predecessor, Jean-Claude Juncker. First, there is the sense that China's leadership prefers to deal directly with European countries, rather than through the EU. Von der Leyen was the only major European leader who did not receive a phone call from Chinese President Xi Jinping. While Xi has phoned French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spain's King Felipe over the past week, it was left to Premier Li Keqiang to make the call to Von der Leyen. Second, the EU was startled by the reaction of Serbia, which is on course to begin accession talks at some stage to join the EU. When the EU hastily enacted an export ban on medical equipment, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic lambasted EU solidarity as a "fantasy," turning instead to Xi, whom he called a friend and a brother. While the EU urgently arranged $8.1 million in aid for Belgrade, China moved swiftly to solidify ties with Serbia, with Xi calling Vucic last week to pledge medical support and heap praise on the "ironclad friendship" between the two countries. At the same time, Chinese diplomats stepped up what critics describe as a disinformation campaign on Twitter. The Chinese Embassy to France, for instance, posted a series of tweets claiming the US government had covered up a coronavirus outbreak last year as flu cases, deflecting claims that Covid-19 originated in China. "Following the surprise closure last July of the largest American research center for biochemical weapons, Fort Detrick base in Maryland, a series of pneumonia or similar cases have occurred in the United States," one of the tweets claimed. Mikko Huotari, executive director of the Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies, called it a "good signal" that Borrell showed awareness of the geopolitical dimensions of "Chinese diplomatic spin." "This is clearly not just apolitical altruism," Huotari said. "[China's efforts] will backfire with many advanced economies. Trust is based on reciprocating ... deeds, not words and certainly not spreading conspiracies." Andrew Small, an expert on EU-China relations at the German Marshall Fund, said initial EU goodwill towards China had gone. "The level of politicization, propaganda and outright disinformation on the Chinese government's part has really stepped up in recent days," he said. "Borrell's statement is both a strong message of unease at Beijing's behaviour and a signal that the EU and its member states will have to play a more active role in competing with China and others to influence the European and global narrative around this crisis." Beyond Europe, both China and the EU have also vowed to assist Africa in its battle against Covid-19. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Monday that China had been providing African countries with medical equipment, and would "step up the level of support as a next step." Borrell, meanwhile, had a similar message. "The EU should be ready to assist others in fragile situations who risk being overwhelmed," he said. "In this regard, Africa is a major concern." The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Tuesday asked doctors to keep their clinics open and refer patients showing novel coronavirus symptoms to dedicated civic hospitals after taking necessary precaution. The BMC directive, under the Epidemic Diseases Act, comes amid complaints that several private clinics, pathology labs and medical shops etc are closed, possibly due to the fear of infection. A BMC release said doctors should send patients having COVID-19 symptoms like cough, cold and fever to the dedicated civic body hospitals. It also asked these doctors to not allow patients having cough and cold to enter their clinics. The release said the civic body would start 'fever clinics' in all wards and citizens can visit for cough, cold and fever. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five members of a Bareilly family are among the seven people who tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, taking the count of COVID-19 patients in the state beyond the 100-mark, officials said. The other two new cases are from Ghaziabad and Noida, according to a statement by Dr Vikasendu Agrawal, Joint Director, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). So far, 103 coronavirus cases have been reported in the state. Gautam Buddh district, where Noida is located, tops the list with 39 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Nineteen cases were reported in Meerut, 11 in Agra, nine in Lucknow, eight in Ghaziabad, six in Bareilly, two each in Pilibhit and Varanasi, and one each in Lakhimpur-Kheri, Kanpur Nagar, Moradabad, Shamli, Jaunpur, Baghpat and Bulandshahr. Bareilly reported a sharp spike after reports came in following the tests done on six members of the family of a youth who worked in Noida and had tested positive earlier. His wife, mother, father, brother and sister have now also tested positive, Bareilly Chief Medical Officer Vineet Shukla said. Subhash Nagar, where the family stays, has been sealed off and a buffer zone created up to five km beyond it, the CMO said. The health department has started screening all the people living within a kilometre of their home, he added. Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) Amit Mohan Prasad listed Gautam Buddh Nagar and Meerut as the two clusters which account for half of the cases in the state. "We are entering a crucial phase at this time, he said, urging people to follow the hand-washing and social distancing protocols If we exercise alertness and precaution for the next 14 days in the state, the number of cases in the state will remain low." Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed that a senior health department official should be deployed in every district. Prasad said such senior officials are now camping at the three hotspots of Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad and Meerut. Testing is done at eight laboratories in the state, he said. Earlier in the day, the chief minister cut short a western Utter Pradesh trip, rushing back to Lucknow to discuss the possible spread of coronavirus from the religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin. Adityanath visited Ghaziabad in the morning, but called off the rest of the trip. Initially, he was scheduled visit Meerut and Agra next to assess preparations to fight the spread of coronavirus. He had visited Noida on Monday, the trip leading to the transfer of the district magistrate there. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MOSCOW, March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ERIELL ("the Company"), an international oilfield services group, provides an operational update for targets achieved in 2019 and projections for 2020. Operational highlights include: Continued high-quality gas and oil field services to customers in Russia and Uzbekistan in both extreme cold and extreme heat conditions; and in both extreme cold and extreme heat conditions; 2019: 350 wells and 1.37 million meters drilled, fleet (work-over rigs excepted) 108 rigs 2020: 450 wells and 1.63 million meters expected to be drilled, fleet (work-over rigs excepted) 99 rigs 15th anniversary - a period in which more than 8.8 million metres of rock have been drilled and more than 2,6 thousand wells constructed in the most difficult climatic and geological conditions for more than 45 contractors; Intensive growth and new contracts in Russia and Uzbekistan ; and and ; and A strong market presence and competitive advantage in the gas sector which is generally less volatile than oil markets in current circumstances. Vitaly Dokunikhin, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of ERIELL Group and CEO of ERIELL Russia, said: "We are very pleased with our execution as a team in 2019 and expect a good performance in 2020. "We have a heavy involvement now in the gas sector where we have a competitive advantage and which experiences a bit less volatility than the oil sector. "To maintain our place among industry leaders, ERIELL continues to invest in technology and innovation. This allows us to provide services of equally high standards in extreme desert climates, mountainous regions and permafrost zones. Our reputation rests on experience and the high level of expertise of our staff and this gives us a competitive advantage to design and execute our projects efficiently and responsibly. "Whilst demand for our services is high in our home markets, we always remain open to new geographic opportunities such as the Middle East. We have good experience in Iraq and Bangladesh and when our capacity and the economics of projects align - we can move swiftly." In 2019 the Company continued to provide quality gas and oil field services to its contractors and worked successfully to high standards in various geographies and climate conditions. These conditions ranged from extreme cold in the Russian far north to extreme heat in Uzbekistan. Last year projects were mainly concentrated in two countries: Russia (in the Far North in the Gydan Peninsula and the Yamal Peninsula) and Uzbekistan. In Uzbekistan, ERIELL continued to work on a large-scale program to construct new wells, overhaul existing wells and create new technological facilities in support of a decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to increase hydrocarbon production for 2017-2021. In 2019 in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and in the regions of Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, Bukhara and Andijan the Company completed the construction of and commissioned 114 oil and gas wells. In addition, the Company overhauled 79 wells in Surkhandarya, Bukhara-Khiva, Aral-Ustyurt regions and south-western part of Gissar region. The largest and most complex project in 2019 in Uzbekistan was the Mustakillikning 25 Yilligi field, whose reserves are estimated at more than 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas, and last summer a new gas-bearing facility was opened. In 2019 was drilled the first test well, 7 wells are expected to be drilled in 2020. In Russia, several new contracts commenced with primary customers NOVATEK and Gazprom Neft. Contracts for drilling production wells at the Kharbeyskoye, Severo-Russkoye, Zapadno-Yurkharovskoye and Utrennee fields were signed with NOVATEK and contracts for the drilling of E&P wells in the Zapadno-Yubileynoye, Tazovskoye and Yamburgskoye fields were signed with Gazprom Neft. In 2019, an additional contract was signed with Arctic LNG 2 for the drilling of 59 wells at the Utrennee field. This will involve 3 Arctic drilling rigs in total: ZJ-70 DBS Aurora and two Uralmash 6000/400 Arctica lightweight. These are completely sheltered drilling rigs designed to work in the harsh Artic conditions. ZJ-70 DBS Aurora was mobilized from China to the Gydan Peninsula for 27 000 km and it took over 3 months. The first Uralmash drilling rig is already at the well site and is installing now, the second one will be mobilized by summer 2020. An eight-year project with Achimgaz was completed, during the lifetime of the project the company has built and mastered 108 production wells at the Urengoy oil and gas condensate field. This project required the use of most advanced technologies and equipment of such international oilfield services companies as Halliburton, Baker Hughes, FMC Technologies, Marubeni-Itochu and others. Cooperation continued with Arcticgas (a joint venture between NOVATEK and Gazprom Neft). This project is one of the Company's longest (over ten years) and is not only the most complex but also one of the most successful. To date, more than 180 wells have been drilled for Arcticgas and work is currently underway at the Urengoyskoye and Yaro-Yakhinskoye oil and gas condensate fields on the Achimov and Valanginian deposits, and Several records were set at the Urengoyskoye field in 2019: Drilling a subhorizontal liner with a length of 1,500 meters for Achimov deposits in one flight (previously no other company has achieved a similar result); Drilling the deepest well in the region (final face 5881 m ); ); A record for well construction for Achimov deposits, the lead was 1/3 of the planned time (plan - 65 days, fact - 43) Notes to editors By Kazeem Ugbodaga Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has tested positive for the deadly Coronavirus. The governor disclosed this on his twitter handle on Monday evening, saying that he just received his coronavirus test result and that it was positive. He said he was still asymptomatic and would continue to self-isolate. I just received my COVID-19 confirmation test result. It is POSITIVE. I am asymptomatic and will continue to self-isolate, he tweeted. Makinde said he had designated Prof. Temitope Alonge, former Chief Medical Director of the University College, Ibadan, as the Head of COVID-19 Task Force while he recovered fully. I have designated Prof Temitope Alonge, former Chief Medical Director of the University College, Ibadan, as the Head of COVID-19 Task Force while I recover fully. Please continue to comply with all the directives from the COVID-19 Task Force. Stay home, stay safe, he added. I just received my COVID-19 confirmation test result. It is POSITIVE. I am asymptomatic and will continue to self-isolate. pic.twitter.com/SX6UAYBb0S Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) March 30, 2020 I have designated Prof Temitope Alonge, former Chief Medical Director of the University College, Ibadan, as the Head of COVID-19 Task Force while I recover fully. Please continue to comply with all the directives from the COVID-19 Task Force. Stay home, stay safe. Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) March 30, 2020 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 A young entrepreneur left in a 'vegetative state' after a machete attack by a former Chelsea FC star and his friend has contracted the coronavirus. Douglas Sepouo, 21, was ambushed by 19-year-old Keiano Gooden-Josephs and a teenager when he was walking through Preston Park in Wembley on July 9 last year. Ex-Chelsea prodigy Gooden-Josephs and the 17-year-old pounced on him hacking him with a machete as he tried to fend them off in a dispute over drugs. CCTV of Keiano Gooden-Josephs and a teenager who can't be named for legal reasons following the victim who they went on to attack with a machete as he tried to fend them off in a dispute over drugs Members of the public witnessed the attack and ran over to help after Gooden-Josephs and the boy who cannot be named, ran off, throwing away the blade and sheath. Devastating internal wounds to Mr Sepouo's chest left him brain dead after paramedics did all they could to save him. He was rushed to Northwick Hospital in Harrow, where he remains and has since been placed into isolation having contracted coronavirus, the court was told today. An Old Bailey jury convicted Gooden-Josephs and his friend of wounding with intent in January of this year. Judge Sarah Munro QC jailing them for 24 years today and said: 'The two of you have a long-standing fascination with machete and other lethal knives as was demonstrated by the video on the youth's phone. Mobile phone picture of the attackers of Douglas Sepouo fleeing the scene in Preston Park in Wembley on July 9 'The two of you attacked Douglas in broad daylight in full view of members of the public. You stabbed him twice. The attacked ceased when a brave member of the public intervened and shouted at you to stop. 'This case is rightly described as a tragedy. The harm could not be greater. There is a very high chance Douglas will die and no realistic chance of a recovery.' Both attackers have a previous conviction for possession of a blade while Gooden-Josephs threw away his bloodstained clothes and his phone after the stabbing. They appeared on video-link at the Old Bailey today wearing tracksuits. Mr Sepouo had plans to open a business with is friends after studying plumbing. Alistair Richardson prosecuting said: 'The latest information is that Douglas remains in the same state. 'The significant change is he has since contracted coronavirus and as a result is now in isolation and receiving treatment for that.' Summarising the victim impact statement of the mother, Mr Richardson added: 'He wasn't someone who liked to go out partying and liked to spend time at home. Keiano Gooden-Josephs who was sentenced to 13 years in a young offenders' institution along with a 17-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, at the Old Bailey, London 'He had hopes for a business with his friends offering different services. She [the mother] refused to give up hope. 'The hospital told her she was not entitled to make decisions on his behalf. 'She had to contact lawyers in order to get the intervention of the court to prevent them from ending the treatment with ventilation. She successfully obtained the intervention of the court. 'He remains on a ventilator and is fed through a breathing tube. He is now able to open his eyes but does not interact or communicate. 'He remains in a persistent vegetative state, from which he is highly unlikely to ever recover.' Mr Sepouo has spent nine months in his current state as the court heard his mother has recently contracted the virus as well as the grandfather of Gooden-Josephs. Mr Richardson added: 'On 9 July 2019, Douglas Sepouo was the victim of a serious assault. 'At about 2.40pm these two defendants followed Douglas Sepouo into Preston Park. They were both armed with machetes or similar knives. 'Having followed Douglas Sepouo, they attacked him as he desperately tried to defend himself, and screamed for help; they, in the words of one witness, 'hacked' at him. 'Together, they hacked at him, one of them stabbing him in the chest with a machete. He was stabbed a number of times. 'This was a joint attack: an attack they committed together. When members of the public intervened, both ran off, disposing of their weapons as they fled. 'They left Douglas Sepouo for dead. His injuries were devastating, and he is unlikely to ever recover. 'Let us be clear at the outset, it would appear too, that Douglas Sepouo was armed. 'Paramedics found on him a machete sheath, which could fit a machete found nearby in the park. 'But that does not provide an excuse for these two defendants, armed with machetes, to follow Douglas Sepouo into Preston Park, and attack him, leaving him with life threatening injuries from which he is unlikely to ever recover.' Gooden-Josephs, of south London was convicted of wounding with intent and possession of the machete. He was detained for 13 years for wounding and 18 months concurrently for having a knife. The youth was convicted of wounding with intent was sentenced to 11 years detention and no separate penalty for having a machete. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) A construction firm is putting business aside, for now, and is offering the Department of Health use of partially unpaid, newly-constructed barangay health stations as COVID-19 centers. JBros Construction Corporation's Director for Operations Julieanne Jorge said the government can use 570 health stations for free. These were constructed in 2016 and 2017, under a contract with DOH during the Aquino administration. But the health department has not yet given the company full payment. JBros is also asking DOH to release the 2.4 billion it deposited in Landbank four years ago. This money is part of the 3.5 billion public funds originally allotted as payment for the project. The barangay health centers Each of the barangay health center being offered by the company is 50 square meters. There is enough space for 2 to 3 beds and a separate office for heath workers. Some 465 out of the 570 barangay health centers are located in the regions with high number of COVID-19 cases, including Central Luzon with 150 units, CALABARZON with 234 units, Metro Manila with 12 units, and Bicol region with 43 units. Most of these are located in far-flung areas. The DOH can use it as a headquarters maybe, or a testing center, a quarantine area, since it is located in the barangay level, the patients they dont have to go to the hospital anymore. They will just go to the barangay, they can get tested within the confines of their own barangay, Jorge told CNN Philippines. It could limit the spread of the virus," she added. Jorge said this is one of the best solutions, as local governments continue to look for quarantine or isolation places for persons under investigation for COVID-19. Truth be told it would be negligent on the part of the government not to use resources that are already available, Jorge said. JBros: Release unused DOH funds JBros is also asking DOH to release a part of the P2.4 billion fund it deposited in Landbank in 2016 for the Barangay Health Station project. The health department initially entered a contract with JBros for the construction of 3,200 barangay health stations nationwide amounting to 3.5 billion. But the health department has not fully paid it yet and has pending injunction against the Construction Industry Arbitration Commissions award to JBros. The commission ruled that DOH should pay JBros 1.043 billion for the completed and partially-constructed units. Since only this 1.043 billion payment is disputed, JBros said the DOH can just withdraw the remaining 2.4 billion which can be used in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. We actually made a breakdown of how much the 2.4 billion could impact our fight against this pandemic. For example, funding for PPEs, additional support for our health workers, so many things that we can do with it, Jorge said. At P4,000 per health worker, imagine how many health workers we can support with the P2.4 Billion. The money is just sitting there, why dont we just use it? he added. Jorge said, with the latest Bayanihan as One Act, the president may now reallocate or realign savings. JBros has sent a letter to DOH and Malacanang last week, but has not yet received any response. We need funds, its there, why not use it? We are willing to help out, Jorge said. Whatever document that we need to sign, we are willing to execute it. Jorge is asking the government to set aside all of these technicalities, other issues, (which) are not material to saving lives. The Paithan Hydroelectric Power Plant in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district produced 21.9 million units of electricity on Tuesday, over 40 per cent more than its target of 15.5 million units, a senior official said. The Jayakwadi Dam on the Godavari River, which feeds the project, has been at 86 per cent water storage since August last year, allowing the project to work at full steam, he said. "This year, water flow from Jayakwadi Dam was continuous. The allotted target of 15.5 million units was completed in the first week of November. Today is the last day of the financial year and we have generated 21.9 million units of electricity from Paithan," Aditional Executive Engineer Abasaheb Morale of Maharashtra State Power Generation Company told PTI. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A total of seventeen persons from Himachal Pradesh attended the Islamic religious congregation held by the Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi's Nizamuddin earlier this month, a state police spokesperson said on Tuesday. The statement came after the Telangana government on Monday said six people who had attended the congregation between March 13 and 15 died of coronavirus infection. The authorities across the country subsequently swung into action to trace the contacts of those who went to the gathering, attended by 2000-odd people, including over 250 foreigners from Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and elsewhere. Those who attended the congregation from the state included 14 from Chamba district, two from Sirmaur and one from Kullu district, SP (Law and Order) Khushal Sharma said. None of them has returned to Himachal Pradesh so far, he added. Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh's Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R D Dhiman said all 17 persons are asymptomatic and have been quarantined in Delhi for 14 days. The Delhi government on Tuesday said 24 people, who took part in the congregation earlier this month, have tested positive for coronavirus. The Delhi health minister said 700 people who attended this congregation have been quarantined while around 335 people have been admitted to hospitals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tenant rights activists assemble at El Monte City Hall to demand that the El Monte City Council pass a moratorium barring all evictions during the coronavirus pandemic. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) More than 1 million Californians have applied for unemployment assistance as coronavirus cases have surged in recent weeks. The pandemic and the economic devastation it has caused have led many renters to wonder how theyre going to pay rent on April 1 after weeks of being asked to stay home and, in some cases, not work to slow the spread of the virus. From eviction bans to mortgage relief, heres a guide to protections for renters and homeowners in California. Do I still owe rent? Yes. No government program passed to date relieves California renters of their duty to pay. Even in Los Angeles and other cities where renter relief efforts have been approved, tenants are required to ultimately pay back rent in full. But what if I can't pay? Will I get evicted? The federal government, state government and individual cities and counties have offered many protections for tenants at risk of getting evicted. But there is no blanket ban preventing the legal process of eviction across California, and the strength of the protections that exist depends on where you live and who your landlord is. All renters in the state, however, are entitled to a delay of an eviction through May 31 if they cant pay rent because of financial or medical circumstances caused by the coronavirus. To qualify, renters must have lost their job or hours at work, or have had to take care of children whose schools are closed or family members with COVID-19. Tenants also must notify their landlords in writing no later than seven days after their rent is due or by April 8 or May 8 if theyre unable to pay. Come June 1, affected tenants can still be evicted if they didn't pay rent in April or May. What about protections from the federal government? As part of the coronavirus economic stimulus package signed by President Trump last week, the federal government has offered additional safeguards for renters. These provisions, however, are confusing and it will be hard for tenants to figure out if they qualify. Story continues The package included a 120-day eviction moratorium for tenants who cant pay rent. But the moratorium only applies to renters in properties both single-family homes and apartments whose owners have federally backed mortgages. Every renter who lives in federally subsidized low-income housing also is automatically covered, said Shamus Roller, executive director of the National Housing Law Project. Overall, about 40% of the nation's single-family homes and about half of multifamily homes qualify, with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or other federal sources, according to the National Housing Law Project and National Multifamily Housing Council. But renters have no easy way of knowing whether their landlord has such a mortgage. From the tenant perspective, its very difficult to understand whether youre protected, Roller said. What about protections from cities and counties in California? More than 80 local governments including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco have passed some version of a temporary ban on evictions, according to the California Apartment Assn., the states largest landlord group. These measures provide protections beyond those offered by the federal and state governments. In the city of Los Angeles, renters who cannot pay their rent because of economic hardship or because their health has been affected by the coronavirus are not allowed to be evicted. Neither are Angelenos who have had family members move in because of the virus and increase the number of people that would otherwise be permitted under their lease. Tenants in L.A. have up to a year after the citys emergency order expires to pay back rent. All late fees for nonpayment will be waived. Also protected from eviction are tenants whose landlords were planning to pull rentals off the market under the Ellis Act or had wanted to displace their tenants by moving in themselves. On Monday, Mayor Eric Garcetti issued a separate executive order preventing the landlords of hundreds of thousands of apartments across the city from increasing rents during the pandemic. Oakland approved a less strict policy as part of its eviction moratorium, which limits the ability for landlords to hike rents in properties covered by the citys rent control policies. What happens if my landlord tries to evict me anyway? Los Angeles renters can contact the citys housing agency for assistance. Tenants in L.A. and elsewhere in California also can use the moratoriums approved by their city, or rules approved statewide, as a defense against an eviction in court. Also, an eviction filing might not go far right now. Adhering to calls for social distancing, many courts across California have greatly restricted their activities, including the ability to hear eviction cases. In Los Angeles, such cases have been suspended until further notice except for emergencies. In short, many overlapping government programs provide some protections for tenants against getting evicted right now. But none ultimately waive rent payments, and just about all of the protections on the books require tenants to demonstrate how they have been harmed by the coronavirus. The best way for a renter to prevent an eventual eviction is to make sure theyve saved all of their documentation, including employment and health records. What will homeowners get? Homeowners are getting more than renters, as both the federal and state governments have secured different forms of financial assistance. Under the federal plan, homeowners with federally backed mortgages cannot be forced into foreclosure for at least two months. Additionally, homeowners who have suffered economic hardship over the virus can request a six-month deferral of their mortgage payments without penalties, interest or late fees. Also, last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that four of the nations largest banks Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, Citibank and JPMorgan Chase as well as 200 state-chartered banks and credit unions will allow affected homeowners in California to defer payments for at least three months. Late payments would not be reported to credit agencies. For landlords, under a plan offered by the federal government, apartment owners with federally backed mortgages can defer their payments for three months. But if they accept that relief, they also have to agree not to evict their tenants and must waive late fees. What are landlords doing? Some landlords are offering renters relief beyond whats required under the law. The California Apartment Assn. is advising its members to halt all rent increases and evictions for those affected by the coronavirus, plus waive late fees and offer flexible payment plans. These are just guidelines, however. Whats the bottom line? While the federal government has increased unemployment benefits and is issuing a one-time direct payout of up to $1,200 for most adults, many housing advocates including landlord groups believe thats not enough money to ensure renters, particularly in high-cost states like California, can pay all their bills. There isnt direct rental assistance for everybody who needs it, said Carol Galante, faculty director at UC Berkeleys Terner Center for Housing Innovation. I think thats a mistake. Homeowners, on the other hand, are likely to fare a bit better. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 31, 2020 / YDX Innovation Corp. (TSX-V:YDX, OTC PINK:YDRMF, FSE:A2PB03) ("YDX" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an amendment agreement (the "Amendment") to its letter of intent to acquire the issued and outstanding shares of BEAT Gaming Corp. ("BEAT") previously announced in the Company's news release of March 23, 2020. Pursuant to the Amendment, the aggregate cash consideration payable by the Company has been reduced to $400,000, which amount will not be payable until the date which is 13 months from the closing of the proposed transaction and the parties have increased the stock consideration from 3 million shares to 4 million shares. Daniel Japiassu, CEO of YDX Innovation stated, "The Company is pleased to be able to reduce its overall cash payment obligations in respect of the proposed acquisition of BEAT and to have extended the deadline for payment. Despite the current uncertainty in the financial markets and the associated challenges in raising capital resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, the Company believes it is in a positive position to leverage its share capital for this strategic acquisition which is intended to augment the existing and growing esports division of YDx." Other than the Amendment in respect of the consideration payable for the acquisition, the remaining terms and conditions of the letter of intent remain. The letter of intent is non-binding and provides for an exclusivity period of 90 days during which time the parties have agreed to work together to sign a definitive agreement within 60 days. As part of the transaction, and on the closing thereof, the Company anticipates the payment of a finder's fee to an arm's length finder. The Company expects that such finder's fee may be comprised of shares of the Company. Any finder's fee agreement and payment thereunder will be subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") and the approval thereof. The acquisition of BEAT is anticipated to be an Expedited Acquisition under the policies of the Exchange. The acquisition is subject to routine conditions precedent for similar transactions, including entry into a binding definitive agreement, approval by the Exchange and respective due diligence. About YDX Innovation YDX Innovation Corp. (TSXV- YDX :: www.ydxinnovation.com) is a technology company that develops products and services and is an expert in immersive technologies like Augmented and Virtual Reality, eSports events and Interactive Exhibitions under the following three divisions: Arkave VR Arena - https://sales.arkavevr.com/ - a gaming platform that brings the most immersive Virtual Reality experience to Location Based venues with a highly scalable business model. YDreams Global - www.ydreamsglobal.com - have developed over 1,300 interactive experiences for clients all over the world such as Disney, NBA, Adidas, Cisco, Nokia, Nike, Mercedes-Benz, Coca-Cola, Santander, AmBev, Qualcomm, Unilever, City of Rio and Fiat. Game On Festival - www.gameonfestival.com - is a new event under development by the Company that combines eSports Tournaments with a large Interactive Exhibition about the videogame industry and its history. More Information: Daniel Japiassu Director and CEO dj@ydx.rocks (604) 704-6466 contact@ydxinnovation.com | www.ydxinnovation.com | www.youtube.com/ydreamsglobal This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including, without limitation: the entry into a definitive agreement, the closing of the proposed transaction, receipt of stock exchange approval, the introduction of new products, and the intention to expand business through organic growth and future acquisitions based on revenue, margins and EBITDA. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, and contingencies. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "will", "could", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe" or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company's statements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and conditions, many of which are outside of the Company's control, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding the proposed acquisition, including: that the Company's assumptions in making forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect; adverse market conditions, including those arising due to uncertainties surrounding the current COVID-19 pandemic; the inability to finance future growth and cash payments under the agreement; that future results may vary from historical results; and that market competition may affect the outcome of the business, results and financial condition of the Company. Except as required by securities law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. Neither the 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. SOURCE: YDX Innovation Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583304/YDX-Innovation-Amends-Letter-of-Intent-to-Acquire-BEAT-Gaming-Corp Not much riles Atascosa County Judge Robert Hurley. Hes 73, but hardly slowing down. Theres a sense of calm diligence about his oversight of this Mayberry-meets-suburbia county south of San Antonio that comes in handy right now. Just got off the phone with a company that says they can do COVID testing with a smartphone, Hurley said from his de facto command post behind his desk on the top floor of Jourdantons 1912 courthouse. They said they signed up Hays County. Ill get the Texas Department of Health Services to vet them. Men with badges poke their heads in to confer. Their county has had only two confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus as of Tuesday, but Hurley is negotiating with a motel beside the towns only hospital to see how many beds they could use if the infection numbers climb. Were looking for every source right now. Weve even got a lady in the courthouse who says she is sewing a hundred masks in case we run low. Hurley, like leaders of all the other counties surrounding Bexar thats Comal, Guadalupe, Wilson, Medina, Bandera and Kendall is managing this crisis as he would a tornado or flood. But since its a pandemic, not a weather event, it impacts transportation, rural hospitals, county jails, food supply, schools, child and elderly care, the health of police officers, local agriculture, everything. Those counties have formal communication channels that have been in place for decades. Hurley chairs the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG), a network of some 13 counties. There are regional health, transportation and law enforcement groups. But the COVID-19 crisis highlights how small town friendships often bypass or speed up the bureaucracy and heighten government accountability. Sixty-seven miles north, in Comal County, for example, commissioner Kevin Webb doesnt just know the head of the county health authority, Dr. Dorothy Overman she delivered two of his children. I wouldnt expect anything different at a time like this, Webb said of crisis-induced candor. But, yes, it certainly helps when you know everyone by their first name. Comal County reported its second COVID-19 death this week, and has 11 confirmed cases. The common good As most Texans know, the county judge might handle the occasional marriage or probate case, but his or her primary duty is that of an elected CEO, to run county government. They and four elected county commissioners each have one vote at meetings but the judges hold considerable sway over every county office. More populous counties might hire an emergency manager - Atascosas is David Prasifka but the county judge is still likely to be the one with numbers for deputies, nurses, road contractors, game wardens and school principals on his cell phone, including for neighboring areas. At a time like this, we call on a lot of people, said Bandera County Judge Richard Evans, whose 800-square-mile territory includes the scenic Medina and Sabinal rivers. They arent waiting for the government to tell them to do the right thing. Hurley was an enlisted medic in the Air Force from 1969 to 1973. His family has been in Atascosa County since 1885 and his encyclopedic knowledge of who works where or is married to whom comes from having run the familys funeral homes and local auto parts stores. He sees the COVID-19 infection reports in starkly personal terms. We dont have prompt testing yet in this county, or anywhere, Hurley said. We must identify the cases that test positive. Emergency responders can get tested and get results in a few hours, but for an average citizen its up to a week. We have some old and very high-risk people in this county, like my wife, who has diabetes. Everything is in a state of flux, he said, in full multi-task mode. We need more masks and protective gear for our healthcare workers and first responders. Our courts cannot close entirely. The state supreme court declared that. I have to deal with all my mayors - my orders can override them because constitutionally I am the emergency managerWe must legally enforce social distancing. I dont really approve of the term shelter in place, he added, suggesting that it has a Big Brother overtone for some in this deeply Republican community. I prefer to call it a stay at home order. Hurley, a Republican, was first elected in 2014, with no Democratic opponent. About 15 percent of the countys roughly 51,000 residents live below the poverty line, according to 2018 U.S. Census data. In between calls, he railed about someone from Karnes County who he said knowingly went to work in Atascosa County after testing positive and later sought treatment at the Atascosa Health Center in Pleasanton, prompting an investigation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Damned irresponsible, and you can quote me, the judge said. We cannot afford to have that clinic shut downThe idiocy of some people. I lose my temper sometimes, Hurley later admitted. I make mistakes, and sometimes I have to apologize for the things I say, but I am trying to work for the common good. On ExpressNews.com: Many reasons to do the right thing: Self-quarantine against coronavirus in San Antonio Hes thinking hard about hospital beds. There are 67 spaces at Methodist Hospital South in Jourdanton on Texas 97 East, the only one in the county, Hurley said. If we got overrun with cases about my only option would be to commandeer some of the motels next to the hospital. A citizen suggested that to me, he said. Would his county, if needed, take overflow patients from San Antonio? Of course, we would, Hurley said. The highway factor There are obvious cultural, geographic and demographic similarities among the metro counties. They still have ranches amid the hills mesquite covered to the south, cedar to the northwest but recent decades have seen much of it turned into subdivisions and strip malls, accompanied by traffic jams, poverty rates ranging from 10 to 15 percent and the occasional meth lab. They are not islands in the Pacific, joked Diane Rath, the director of AACOG. They are diverse, but very interconnected. The northern counties are more educated, more sophisticated. The southern ones are more agrarian, more challenges about education. New Braunfels is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. I think they are doing well in handling this situation, she said. The Texas Disaster Act of 1975 gives counties a framework for handling any disaster. This one has some unique challenges. Counties without a major interstate might see a lower rate of infection, Rath said. Comal, Guadalupe, Medina and Atascosa counties must deal with both the benefits and vector-carrying problems of Interstate 35, one of the nations busiest highways. Interstate 10 crosses Guadalupe and Kendall counties. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases I-35 and U.S. 281 both have great attributes and challenges, said Comal County Judge Sherman Krause. Theyre nothing we should complain about, but they could have tractor trailers with hazardous waste. You could have spills. I certainly never thought Id be talking to a reporter about them being conduits for a virus. Krause has a degree in environmental science from Texas State University in San Marcos and formerly worked for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. In times like these, he said, he appreciates when science wins out over politics. Comal County has two major hospitals and about 310 beds, but like his colleagues, Krause is most concerned with PPE personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and first responders. He has been working the phones and internet to find private sources for masks. Often, that means local benefactors and Chinese manufacturers, but the formal channel would be through the Texas Division of Emergency Management. I think the rural hospitals are some of the best managed facilities in the world because they work on such shoestring budgets, said Kelly Cheek, president of the Texas Rural Health Association, an advocacy group in Abilene. He said the smaller hospitals have already been crippled because of Gov. Greg Abbotts continued opposition to expanding Medicaid under Obamacare, which deprived Texas hospitals of billions of federal dollars and kept the health crisis costs of some half a million low-income Texans at the doorstep of their home counties. For now, the COVID-19 infection rate in the seven outlying counties has been manageable, and the hospitals seem prepared for a substantial increase in patients. But the shortages in masks, gowns and gloves concerns John Henderson, CEO of Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (TORCH), which has helped coordinate PPE purchases for some of its 157 member hospitals. Ive heard that some rural hospitals are paying $7 to $9 for masks. Its ridiculous, said Henderson, whose small staff has worked through several weekends locating equipment. He said the State Office of Rural Health, within the Department of Agriculture, has been a great help and found drivers to pick up the masks in Houston and forklift operators to distribute them to trucks back at their home base of Austin. TORCH had to cancel its statewide convention recently, but Henderson said most of the vendors asked that their application fees not be refunded, but turned into donations. This crisis has not been fun, he said. But it definitely has brought out the best in people. The urban hospitals have the same issues, but they have more resources. I cannot stand the thought of all these rural technicians and doctors not having what they need in order to be safe. Bruce Selcraig is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Bruce, become a subscriber. BSelcraig@express-news.net Saudi Arabia wants Muslims to wait until there is more clarity about the coronavirus pandemic before planning to attend the annual haj pilgrimage, the minister for haj and umrah said on state TV on Tuesday. Some 2.5 million pilgrims from around the world usually flock to the holiest sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina for the week-long ritual, which is a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every able-bodied Muslim and a major source of income for the kingdom. The largest annual gathering of Muslims is scheduled to begin in late July, but the coronavirus outbreak has raised questions about whether it can or should go ahead given the risk of spreading the disease further in large gatherings. Saudi Arabia has already suspended the smaller, year-round umrah pilgrimage until further notice, halted all international passenger flights indefinitely and last week blocked entry and exit to several cities, including Mecca and Medina. The kingdom has reported 10 deaths among 1,563 cases of coronavirus, which has infected some 800,000 people globally and killed more than 38,000. Pilgrimage is big business for Saudi Arabia and the backbone of plans to expand visitor numbers under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans ambitious economic reform agenda. Cancelling the haj would be unprecedented in modern times, but curbing attendance from high-risk areas has happened before, including in recent years during the Ebola outbreak. Search Keywords: Short link: The spread of the new coronavirus has unexpectedly helped fishermen in Kenya. More Kenyans are now buying freshly caught fish from Lake Victoria instead of frozen fish imported from China. Kenya bought $23.2 million worth of frozen fish from China in 2018. The International Trade Center reports that almost all of Kenyas fish imports came from China. Kenyan fishermen have long noted that the low-cost imports were harming the countrys fishing industry. But the coronavirus pandemic has slowed Chinese imports. In Kenya, many buyers have now turned to local fish. However, Kenya will soon face shortages unless imports from China are re-started. China produces just over one third of what people in Kenya eat. One Kenyan fisherman profiting from the new interest in fresh fish is 38-year-old Maurice Misodhi from Kisumu. He says Chinas efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus seemed to have stopped imports of low-cost 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, Misodhi said. A month ago, one kilogram of Nile perch cost 250 shillings or about $2.50. Now, the price is up to $3.50. Fish trader Mary Didi usually buys from Chinese suppliers but now buys from Misodhi. She says, 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. To keep the business running, I had to turn to fish from the lake. Bob Otieno is chairman of the Dunga Beach Management Unit. He says sales of locally caught fish have risen. He said the area records a catch of between 1 and 1.5 tons of fish each day. He added that sales have gone up from 50% of the catch to 90% over the past two weeks. Before, fishermen would eat, trade or give away around half of their catch. Otieno told the Reuters news agency, We used to have many fishermen sell their catch at low prices because of competition from the Chinese fish. Kenya produces 180,000 tons of fish each year, but eats about 500,000 tons, according to 2019 government records. Christine Adhiambo is the governments assistant director of fisheries for Kenyas lake region. She said the two biggest importers of Chinese fish had not shipped from China since November. She noted that Kenya could face shortages soon. Kenya cannot satisfy its local fish demand, she said. That is why we heavily rely on supplements from China. Im Jonathan Evans. Katherine Houreld reported on this story for the Reuters news service. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story customer n. someone who buys good or services from a business 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 scared adj. afraid of something; nervous or frightened supplement n. something that is added to something else in order to make it complete Astronomers have found the best evidence for the perpetrator of a cosmic homicide: a black hole of an elusive class known as "intermediate-mass," which betrayed its existence by tearing apart a wayward star that passed too close. Weighing in at about 50,000 times the mass of our Sun, the black hole is smaller than the supermassive black holes (at millions or billions of solar masses) that lie at the cores of large galaxies, but larger than stellar-mass black holes formed by the collapse of a massive star. These so-called intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) are a long-sought "missing link" in black hole evolution. Though there have been a few other IMBH candidates, researchers consider these new observations the strongest evidence yet for mid-sized black holes in the universe. It took the combined power of two X-ray observatories and the keen vision of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to nail down the cosmic beast. "Intermediate-mass black holes are very elusive objects, and so it is critical to carefully consider and rule out alternative explanations for each candidate. That is what Hubble has allowed us to do for our candidate," said Dacheng Lin of the University of New Hampshire, principal investigator of the study. The results are published on March 31, 2020, in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. The story of the discovery reads like a Sherlock Holmes story, involving the meticulous step-by-step case-building necessary to catch the culprit. Lin and his team used Hubble to follow up on leads from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA's (the European Space Agency) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton). In 2006 these satellites detected a powerful flare of X-rays, but they could not determine whether it originated from inside or outside of our galaxy. Researchers attributed it to a star being torn apart after coming too close to a gravitationally powerful compact object, like a black hole. Surprisingly, the X-ray source, named 3XMM J215022.4?055108, was not located in a galaxy's center, where massive black holes normally would reside. This raised hopes that an IMBH was the culprit, but first another possible source of the X-ray flare had to be ruled out: a neutron star in our own Milky Way galaxy, cooling off after being heated to a very high temperature. Neutron stars are the crushed remnants of an exploded star. Hubble was pointed at the X-ray source to resolve its precise location. Deep, high-resolution imaging provides strong evidence that the X-rays emanated not from an isolated source in our galaxy, but instead in a distant, dense star cluster on the outskirts of another galaxy -- just the type of place astronomers expected to find an IMBH. Previous Hubble research has shown that the mass of a black hole in the center of a galaxy is proportional to that host galaxy's central bulge. In other words, the more massive the galaxy, the more massive its black hole. Therefore, the star cluster that is home to 3XMM J215022.4?055108 may be the stripped-down core of a lower-mass dwarf galaxy that has been gravitationally and tidally disrupted by its close interactions with its current larger galaxy host. IMBHs have been particularly difficult to find because they are smaller and less active than supermassive black holes; they do not have readily available sources of fuel, nor as strong a gravitational pull to draw stars and other cosmic material which would produce telltale X-ray glows. Astronomers essentially have to catch an IMBH red-handed in the act of gobbling up a star. Lin and his colleagues combed through the XMM-Newton data archive, searching hundreds of thousands of observations to find one IMBH candidate. The X-ray glow from the shredded star allowed astronomers to estimate the black hole's mass of 50,000 solar masses. The mass of the IMBH was estimated based on both X-ray luminosity and the spectral shape. "This is much more reliable than using X-ray luminosity alone as typically done before for previous IMBH candidates," said Lin. "The reason why we can use the spectral fits to estimate the IMBH mass for our object is that its spectral evolution showed that it has been in the thermal spectral state, a state commonly seen and well understood in accreting stellar-mass black holes." This object isn't the first to be considered a likely candidate for an intermediate-mass black hole. In 2009 Hubble teamed up with NASA's Swift observatory and ESA's XMM-Newton to identify what is interpreted as an IMBH, called HLX-1, located towards the edge of the galaxy ESO 243-49. It too is in the center of a young, massive cluster of blue stars that may be a stripped-down dwarf galaxy core. The X-rays come from a hot accretion disk around the black hole. "The main difference is that our object is tearing a star apart, providing strong evidence that it is a massive black hole, instead of a stellar-mass black hole as people often worry about for previous candidates including HLX-1," Lin said. Finding this IMBH opens the door to the possibility of many more lurking undetected in the dark, waiting to be given away by a star passing too close. Lin plans to continue his meticulous detective work, using the methods his team has proved successful. Many questions remain to be answered. Does a supermassive black hole grow from an IMBH? How do IMBHs themselves form? Are dense star clusters their favored home? The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy in Washington, D.C. ### COLUMBUS, OhioThe Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a lawsuit in which the state of Ohio is seeking hundreds of billions of dollars in penalties from Volkswagen for the automakers 2015 emissions cheating scandal. If Ohio wins the lawsuit, it could open Volkswagen up to lawsuits from other states, as well as thousands of local governments, for intentionally violating clean-air laws by using software that evades federal emissions standards. In 2016, Volkswagen agreed to a nearly $15 billion settlement, under which the German car company agreed to pay the state of Ohio $13 million, as well as offer compensation of at least $5,100 each to nearly 14,000 Ohioans who bought or leased Volkswagen and Audi diesel-powered vehicles in model years 2009-2015. In its appeal, Volkswagen stated that through various court settlements and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency penalties, Ohio and its residents have received (or will receive) more than $343 million in consumer relief, $71 million in environmental mitigation, and $36 million in compensation to dealers, which adds up to nearly $33,000 per affected vehicle in Ohio. However, then-Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a separate state lawsuit against the automaker for tampering not just with new cars, but (through recalls and updates) used cars already being driven on Ohio roads. The suit seeks $25,000 per day of noncompliance for each of the 14,000 vehicles sold in Ohio -- which could reach $350 million per day or over $100 billion per year over a multiyear period, according to Volkswagens appeal. The Franklin County Common Pleas Court ruled that the states lawsuit was preempted by the federal Clean Air Act, but in December, the 10th District Court of Appeals overturned that ruling, holding that while the Clean Air Act gives the federal government authority over new cars, it does not address the regulation of emissions of in-use motor vehicles. In its appeal to the Supreme Court, Volkswagen called the 10th District ruling an outlier decision that, if upheld, would create a regulatory nightmare for the auto industry because it would force them to get approval from not just EPA, but all 50 states and potentially tens of thousands of local governments before updating their vehicles. The Ohio Supreme Court didnt explain its reasoning for accepting the appeal Tuesday. Justice Sharon Kennedy dissented, while Justice Judith French did not participate in the decision. Oral arguments before the court have not yet been scheduled. In a non-binding friend-of-the-court brief supporting Volkswagen, the U.S. and Ohio chambers of commerce told the Supreme Court that the Ohio appeals court decision conflicts with previous rulings in six other state and federal courts and would create nightmares" for car manufacturers and the entire automotive industry. This case has sweeping implications for the automobile industryand, in turn, the vehicle buying public," the brief stated. Volkswagens market value is around $99 billion, making it the second-most-valuable automaker in the world after Tesla. Read more Ohio politics and government stories: Voting rights groups sue over Ohio primary elections new April 28 date, seeking in-person voting Federal judge blocks Ohio from using coronavirus health order to restrict abortions Insured Ohioans wont be charged out-of-network prices for coronavirus treatment, under state order Ohio employs prison labor to fill shortage of masks, gowns and other protective equipment Ohio authorities ask President Trump for federal 'major disaster designation Auto components major Bharat Forge, the flagship company of Kalyani Group, and other group firms on Tuesday pledged Rs 25 crore contribution to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES) to fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The group is also looking at using its R&D facilities to meet requirements of critical medical equipment such as ventilators, respiratory equipment and other sanitation/hygiene goods. The other group companies involved in the donation are Kalyani Steel, Saarloha Advanced Material Pvt Ltd, Automotive Axles and Hikal Ltd, the group said in a statement. Bharat Forge Chairman Baba Kalyani said, "The group is committed to assist the central and state government and the local authorities in all possible ways to deal with the pandemic." He further said, "We are also using our group R&D facilities to look at ways of easing the shortage of critical medical equipments, including ventilators, respiratory equipment and other sanitation/hygiene equipment." Kalyani said as part of CSR activity, the group has started addressing food requirements of local community and will increase the efforts in the coming days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This week in Christian history: Assemblies of God, Charles Wesley's popular sermon, Knights Templar Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christianity is a faith with a long and detailed history, with numerous events of lasting significance occurring throughout the ages. Each week brings the anniversaries of great milestones, horrid tragedies, amazing triumphs, telling tribulations, inspirational progress, and everything in between. Here are just a few things that happened this week, March 29 to April 4, in Church history. They include the pope issuing a decree supporting the Knights Templar, the founding of the Assemblies of God, and the preaching of a popular Charles Wesley sermon. 1 2 3 4 Next She's set to steal the show at the Married At First Sight reunion on Tuesday night. And just hours before filming her comeback on January 15, Natasha Spencer ensured she was looking flawless by attending various beauty appointments around Sydney. The financial analyst, 26, was pictured returning to her Surry Hills hotel to meet with producers after spending more than $4,000 on cosmetic treatments. Looking good! Just hours before filming the MAFS reunion on January 15, Natasha Spencer ensured she was looking flawless by attending various beauty appointments around Sydney Natasha flaunted her huge thigh tattoo as she ran errands in skimpy gym shorts. She dressed casually in a black jumper and sneakers, and accessorised with a designer handbag. For the reunion, Natasha was determined to 'look like a human Barbie doll'. Tatt's bold! Natasha flaunted her huge thigh tattoo as she ran errands in skimpy gym shorts High maintenance: Natasha began by getting her teeth whitened for $700 at Smile By Design. She then had 22-inch extensions put in her hair at The Hair Extension Bar Natasha began by getting her teeth whitened for $700 at Smile By Design. She then had 22-inch extensions put in her hair, with keratin bonds costing up to $2,700, at The Hair Extension Bar. Afterwards, she had filler and Botox at Sydney Cosmetic Centre, before finally having a spray tan and getting her nails done. Quest for perfection: Afterwards, she had filler and Botox at Sydney Cosmetic Centre, before finally having a spray tan and getting her nails done During the reunion, Natasha will drop a bombshell when she accuses Stacey Hampton of sleeping with her ex-'husband', Mikey Pembroke. She also confronts Stacey and her partner, Michael Goonan, by saying they have 'the fakest relationship in Australian reality TV history'. Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine Allegations: During the reunion, Natasha will drop a bombshell when she accuses Stacey Hampton of sleeping with her ex-'husband', Mikey Pembroke Swab samples are taken for Covid-19 tests at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, March 18, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy. The Health Ministry has bought 200,000 rapid coronavirus test kits from South Korea for carrying out mass testing as the Covid-19 fight enters a crucial stage. Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said at an online meeting Monday that there is no shortage of test kits to diagnose the novel coronavirus infection, including kits for real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid testing. The 200,000 rapid test kits imported from South Korea in the coming time will be used for testing 37,000 people in centralized quarantine areas, tens of thousands of people under home quarantine and those coming to Covid-19 hotspot Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi from March 12 onwards, Long said. Localities can either do real-time RT-PCR tests, a technique that combines reverse transcription of RNA into DNA and amplification of specific DNA targets using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or they can wait for quick test kits. The Health Ministry also noted that rapid test kits should only be used after seven days after exposure to the pathogen. Before three days, the sensitivity and specificity are very low, it said. Earlier, Vietnam had successfully produced test kits that help diagnose a Covid-19 infection in just an hour. Currently, the health ministry allows 21 medical facilities around the country to carry out Covid-19 tests, in addition to the three approved by the World Health Organization. On Monday, Hanoi Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung ordered the citys Health Department to set up 10 teams and arrange 10 quick Covid-19 test stations around the Bach Mai Hospital to carry out mass testing in the context of the hospital becoming the countrys main Covid-19 hotspot with 25 infections. Chung also asked the citys Center for Disease Control, which received 5,000 rapid test kits from the ministry on March 29, to conduct rapid testing immediately. "The kits will show results in 10 minutes through blood samples," Chung said. Hanoi, with 86 Covid-19 infections, is the locality with the highest number of cases among Vietnam's 204. Of the national cases, 55 have been discharged from hospitals so far, including the largest single-batch release of 27 from a Hanoi hospital Monday morning. Many of the currently active cases are Vietnamese nationals returning from Europe and the U.S., foreigners coming from the same regions and those whod come in contact with both groups of people. The Covid-19 pandemic has killed more than 37,800 people after spreading to 200 countries and territories so far. Advertisement A replica of the sailing vessel Pilgrim that Richard Henry Dana Jr. wrote about in Two Years Before the Mast has sunk at its dock in Dana Point, California, where it served as a classroom for marine science and maritime history programs. The 130-foot-long all ship keeled over in its slip on Sunday and is likely beyond repair, the Ocean Institute said in a social media post. Work was underway Monday to refloat the Pilgrim and determine what caused it to sink. A worker and a crane operator remove parts of the sinking historic tall ship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, California, on Monday Workers at the dock were attempting to refloat the ship and investigate what caused it to sink The replica Pilgrim dated to 1945 as a three-masted schooner from Denmark. In 1975, it was sailed to Portugal and converted into the replica Pilgrim The Ocean Institute said a survey of the vessel was conducted in 2016 and it had been scheduled to be hauled out and undergo repairs in January but the shipyard was overloaded The ship was a recreation of the original Pilgrim, the vessel that Dana sailed on from Boston in 1834, carrying New England goods to California for sale or trade and in return carry back a load of cattle hides obtained from Spanish colonial missions and ranchos. The coastal bluff at Dana Point is where hides were hurled down to the beach below and loaded on ships. The replica Pilgrim dated to 1945 as a three-masted schooner from Denmark. In 1975, it was sailed to Portugal and converted into the replica Pilgrim. It reached Dana Point Harbor in 1981. The institute said a survey of the vessel was conducted in 2016 and it had been scheduled to be hauled out and undergo repairs in January but the shipyard was overloaded. Warehouse, delivery and retail gig workers in the United States went on strike on Monday to call attention to safety and wage concerns for people laboring through the coronavirus crisis. Among the strikers were some of the roughly 200,000 workers at U.S. online grocery delivery company Instacart, according to strike organizer Gig Workers Collective, founded earlier this year by Instacart worker Vanessa Bain. Fifteen workers at an Amazon.com Inc warehouse in Staten Island, New York, also walked off the job on Monday following reports of COVID-19 among the facility's ... 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. Armenias Aragatsotn has new provincial governor Armenia reservists training camps to be held from January 15 to April 15 Armenia flag to be permanently raised on buildings of some more institutions Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit trial judge to not self-recuse Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit court case resumes 298 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh emergency service: Remains of another participant in hostilities are found 816,660 tourists visit Armenia during 11 months of 2021 US proposes to UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Amnesty process suspended in Armenia indefinitely Newspaper: Those in Karabakh are resisting Armenia authorities arbitrariness FLYONE Armenia gets permission from Turkey to operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul Slovak government approves defense treaty with US US imposes sanctions on 6 North Koreans US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart 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 By Jung Min-ho Korea reported more deaths than births for the third consecutive month in January. According to Statistics Korea Wednesday, 28,471 people died last month, up 4 percent from a year earlier. Meanwhile, the number of newborns decreased 11.6 percent to 26,818. The trend of more deaths than births started in November, with the government running out of policy ideas and now with the COVID-19 pandemic resources to boost the falling birth rate. Korea's total fertility rate the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime hit a record low of 0.92 in 2019, a further drop from 0.98 a year before. The level is the lowest among members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and far below the replacement level of 2.1, which the country needs to keep its population stable at 51 million. The trend is only expected to accelerate, with fewer couples tying the knot. Data shows that 239,200 couples married in 2019, down 7.1 percent from a year earlier. The agency said the number of deaths is expected to exceed that of births for all of this year, although the total population may still increase with an influx of workers from overseas. Scotland Yard's Indian-origin lead for counter-terrorism policing, Neil Basu, on Tuesday made a plea for compassion as police officers adjust to the new realities of dealing with the current lockdown in place in the UK to slow down the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner struck a personal note as the son of a general practitioner (GP) and a nurse and the brother of a National Health Service (NHS) consultant, currently on the frontline of the Covid-19 fightback. I will do everything possible to help protect the courageous men and women of the NHS albeit with powers I never imagined a British police officer would be asked to use, Basu writes in The Daily Telegraph'. "There will be a period of readjustment to our new responsibilities, which no police officer ever thought they would have. Not every police response will be surefooted and some will spark healthy debate. We should not judge too harshly, he said. The senior Met Police officer admitted that everyone in policing is acutely aware that how police forces up and down the country conduct their duties during the pandemic will be remembered for many years to come. "Preserving the trust and confidence of the public in policing by consent is our mantra, he said. Basu's intervention came amid unprecedented powers handed to Britain's police forces to enforce the government's stay at home message and social distancing rules as the Covid-19 death toll continues to mount in the country, hitting 1,408 on Monday. Under the powers unveiled by Home Secretary Priti Patel last week, UK police is empowered to instruct members of the public to go home, leave an area or disperse and can issue a fixed penalty notice of 60 pound which would double with each repeat offence. Individuals who do not pay a fixed penalty notice under the regulations could be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose unlimited fines, and if someone continues to refuse to comply, the police may even arrest them where deemed proportionate and necessary. I'm giving the police these new enforcement powers, to protect the public and keep people safe, the Indian-origin Cabinet minister said. However, some forces have come under criticism over what has been seen as an overreach of these powers, including Derbyshire Police recently using drones to monitor people heading to the scenic Peak District of England. Lancashire Police issued 123 enforcement notices over the weekend, while Cheshire Police reportedly summonsed six people for various offences, including travelling to purchase "non-essential" items. Under guidance being issued to police, officers have been told to take a "consistent" approach when ensuring people comply with emergency measures aimed at curbing coronavirus. "We are all getting used to the new restrictions and I've been very clear that, in the first instance, I want my officers to be engaging with people, talking to people, encouraging them to comply," said Cressida Dick, the Met Police Commissioner. "Explaining, of course, if they don't understand already we have had examples of people who simply hadn't quite heard all the messages and, only as a very last resort with the current restrictions, using firm direction or even enforcement," she said. Meanwhile, there have been reports of people using coughs directed at officers, an act which has been criminalised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to be able to take action against perpetrators. I am appalled by reports of police officers and other frontline workers being deliberately coughed at by people claiming to have Covid-19. Let me be very clear: this is a crime and needs to stop, said Max Hill, CPS Director of Public Prosecutions. Under the enhanced legal protection, coughs directed as a threat at police, key workers or members of the public in the UK could be charged as common assault, punishable by up to 12 months in prison. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Tuesday said it will use vacant properties in residential buildings, lodges, clubs and exhibition halls to quarantine suspected patients. The civic body issued a circular stating that vacant properties will be used to quarantine those who are suspected to have been exposed to coronavirus. The BMC has authorised its assistant commissioners to requisition vacant residential buildings, lodges, hotels, dharamshalas, clubs, exhibition centres, colleges, hostels, dormitories, cruise ships, banquet halls and gymkhanas with immediate effect. As per the circular, officials will provide food and make basic arrangements at these quarantine facilities. The civic body also warned action against property owners, who refused to adhere to its orders. Officials may initiate action under section 188 (disobeying an order issued by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code against those who refuse to comply with the BMC's directive, it read. These vacant properties will be used for 14-day quarantine of people who were in close contact with COVID-19 patients, especially those living in slums, chawls and other densely populated areas, a civic official said. "The BMC will provide food and other facilities at these quarantine centres," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Serial prankster Hamish Blake is at it again. With millions of Australians self-isolating due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 38-year-old comedian has found a way to have fun with those working remotely. In an online series titled Zoom for One More, Hamish hijacks video conferences and surprises the participants with his own suggestions for their business. Scroll down for video Clever! With millions of Australians self-isolating due to the coronavirus pandemic, serial prankster Hamish Blake has found a way to have fun with those working remotely So far, he has infiltrated a university tutorial, an air force flight log meeting, a primary school staff briefing, and an executive meeting for online retailer The Iconic. Zoom is a video conferencing tool used by many professionals to host meetings for small or large teams remotely. While Hamish is often hands-on with his pranks, he was forced to take his humour online as more people work from home to help flatten to curve. He means business! In an online series titled Zoom for One More, Hamish hijacks video conferences and surprises the participants with his own suggestions for their business His video on Monday showed how his sudden appearances in these 'private' meetings surprised many of the participants. His unexpected drop-ins were met with laughter and applause as he pretended to have knowledge about what each group was speaking about. Hamish even dressed the part, wearing a tie as he posed as the 'head of finance' at The Iconic, and sporting a gold bomber jacket at the air force meeting. Reporting for duty: Hamish even dressed the part, wearing a tie as he posed as the 'head of finance' at The Iconic, and sporting a gold bomber jacket at the air force meeting (pictured) The Lego Masters host has been overwhelmed by people asking for him to join their private meetings on Zoom. 'Literally about a dozen hundred or so of you guys have sent me times and Zoom codes for me to waltz silently into your uni classes/family catch ups/beers/work meetings so I may learn and/or contribute to your business and/or drink during the day,' he said. 'I'm going to keep doing this. Its too much fun.' Crowd pleaser: His unexpected drop-ins were met with laughter and applause as he pretended to have knowledge about what each group was speaking about Hamish is believed to be self-isolating in Melbourne with his wife, Zoe Foster Blake, and their two children. The couple, who married in 2012, share son Sonny, five, and daughter Rudy, two. As of midday Tuesday, there are 4,514 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia, including 19 deaths. They tied the knot in a low-key ceremony in Paris last june. But Zoe Kravitz's husband Karl Glusman has revealed that his proposal was a far-from glamorous affair, and he actually popped the question in a Friends t-shirt. Speaking to MR PORTER the actor, 32, also recalled the hilarious moment he first met Zoe's mum Lisa Bonet 'looking like a freak,' as he covered his body from head-to-toe to prepare for a movie role. Unusual: Zoe Kravitz's husband Karl Glusman, 32, has revealed that his proposal was a far-from glamorous affair, and he actually popped the question in a Friends t-shirt Karl admitted that he was fraught with nerves about the prospect of proposing to Zoe, which was why he decided to change into just a Friends t-shirt and sweatpants to pop the question. He said: 'I was on the verge of having a panic attack so I needed to get into something much more loose and comfortable. 'With our schedules, I just didn't know where it would happen. We spend a lot of time on planes, so at one point I thought, maybe I could wake her up by going down on one knee in the aisle and give her a nice heart attack at 34,000ft!' Stylish: The actor displayed his ripped physique in a fashion-forward shoot for MR PORTER as he gave some insight into his proposal to Zoe Mr and Mrs: Karl and Zoe tied the knot in June 2019 after around three years together (pictured together in February 2019) Low-key: Karl admitted he decided to pop the question in a Friends t-shirt and sweatpants after being on 'the verge of having a panic attack' about proposing Karl and Zoe tied the knot in a low-key ceremony at her father Lenny's masnion in June, with a star-studded guest list including her Big Little Lies co-stars. Asked why they decided to exchange vows in France, Karl explained: 'It really is the city of love. Literally in so many ways for me... [The wedding itself] was really sweet. I was really nervous that I wouldn't even have fun at my own wedding.' Karl also recalled the hilarious moment he first met Zoe's mum Lisa when he looked far from his best as he prepared for an acting role. Scared: Speaking about his fears ahead of the big day, Karl added: 'I was really nervous that I wouldn't even have fun at my own wedding' Bizarre: Karl also recalled the hilarious moment he first met Zoe's mum Lisa when he looked far from his best as he prepared for an acting role He explained: 'I wanted her parents to like me. And I think I was even more nervous with her mom... 'When I met her for the first time, I was trying to stay out of the sun, because I was filming Gypsy and needed to look pale because my character was depressed. 'I was in Topanga Canyon in long sleeves, sunglasses and this big hat pulled down low. 'I was all covered up like a freak! In hindsight, it's like, ''Dude, you are being so weird in front of her mum.'' She says she doesn't remember, but I think she's just being kind...' Covered up: The actor explained he was dressed in clothes that shielded every inch of his skin, as he had to be pale for an upcoming role Karl also admitted that when he and Zoe first started dating in 2016, he felt a need to smarten up his usually laid-back wardrobe. He explained: 'When we started dating, I did feel like I needed to get nicer clothes. Its funny, over time you relax around each other more, and thats when Zoe started commenting that she really liked how I was dressing. 'I was like, this is how Ive been dressing since middle school. You know, sneakers, baggy pants and oversized T-shirts. I could have saved myself all that money.' Read the full interview at www.mrporter.com. Texans are used to hearing talk of securing the southern border with Mexico, but the idea of checkpoints at the border with Louisiana is something no one ever imagined. After late last week Louisiana and specifically New Orleans have emerged as the southern epicenter for the coronavirus outbreak in the US, with the Bayou State on Sunday reporting more than 3,500 positive cases - a number expected to grow rapidly following a busy Mardi Gras season, Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Sunday ordered all travelers entering Texas from Louisiana to enter a 14-day quarantine, now enforceable by state troopers. File image of a border patrol checkpoint along US Route 70 in New Mexico, via NPR. Crucially, for the first time police have been told to enforce the quarantine order at checkpoints along the state border. Few details have been given, but it's expected that law enforcement will for the first time in living memory establish and beef up checkpoints along all major roadways that cross into Louisiana. According to some of the few known details in The Houston Chronicle: Those in quarantine will be asked to provide an address for where they plan to hole up in Texas, either for two weeks or until their return to Louisiana, whichever comes first. A provision in the order allows DPS special agents to check on those under quarantine to ensure theyre complying. Violators could be subject to either a $1,000 fine or 180 days in jail, according to the four-page document. Another provision states that if a driver is showing symptoms associated with COVID-19, such as fever, coughing or shortness of breath, a trooper will follow them to their destination. It's similar to current inter-state travel advisories and restrictions in place in Flordia, New York and New Jersey. The order takes effect Monday at noon and will involve unprecedented border control checks along the busy Texas-Louisiana border. Health officials have recently warned that the skyrocketing Covid-19 cases in Louisiana could threaten the entire southern region of the United States, which thus far has generally seen lower numbers than either the Northwest or East coast cities. The stay home, stay safe mantra against the coronavirus is having dreadful and even deadly consequences for women in Turkey, where, activists warn, measures to contain the outbreak are exacerbating the rampant problem of femicide and domestic violence in the country. Womens rights groups are urging the government to review and enhance measures to protect victims of domestic violence as they remain trapped with their abusers, often deprived of any help from authorities paralyzed by the pandemic. At least 18 women have been killed across Turkey, 12 of them at home, since March 11, when Ankara confirmed its first COVID-19 case, according to the We Will Stop Femicide Platform, a civic group dedicated to fighting violence against women. The killers included spouses, partners, ex-husbands and ex-partners as well as male relatives of the victims, the platforms tally shows. Women are being told to stay home, but homes are the most dangerous places for [some of] them, Gulsum Kav, a spokesperson for the platform, told Al-Monitor. About 470 women were killed in Turkey last year, at least half of them by husbands, partners, exes and male relatives, the platform says. Emergency hotlines for domestic violence victims have seen a surge in calls amid the outbreak. Most callers complain of physical abuse, Canan Gullu, head of the Turkish Federation of Women's Associations, told Al-Monitor, adding that psychological abuse was the second most prevalent complaint. The Turkish authorities have yet to take any additional measures to protect battered women during the pandemic. The existing mechanisms of support appear to be largely disrupted as many public bodies are now understaffed, providing only limited services, or overwhelmed with outbreak emergencies. The government runs walk-in counseling centers for victims of domestic violence, available in eight big cities, as well as nationwide social support hotlines. Filiz Kerestecioglu, a lawmaker for the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party, has sought to personally test how functional those services are amid the outbreak. According to her findings, in-person counseling has effectively stopped, while call centers are failing to offer adequate solutions to callers because many public institutions have minimized their services. The polices emergency line, 155, meanwhile, is overwhelmed with outbreak emergencies, and many women fail to get through to a responder or receive adequate assistance, activists say. Lawyer Tuba Torun recounted a personal experience. A close acquaintance of mine and her mother were recently attacked by her father with a knife. Had she not been versed in self-defense [techniques], they would have been probably wounded, Torun told Al-Monitor. They failed to reach the emergency line and had to rush to the police station themselves. The enforcement of restraining orders for abusive men has also become a problem, Torun noted, as measures to contain the contagion have slowed the judicial system and only a limited number of courts remain open. Furthermore, taking refuge in womens shelters has become an uphill task for those who fear for their lives, according to Gullu. The women are required to present negative COVID-19 tests to be accepted in the shelters. They have to go to hospitals and wait for an appointment day, she said. For women left without any form of state protection, the last option perhaps is to abandon their homes and try to make it on their own. But at a time when the economy is sputtering under the impact of the pandemic, financial independence is a tall order for many in a country where female employment is already notoriously low. Womens participation in the workforce stands at 29%, and more than 40% of working women are unregistered workers who earn daily wages in jobs such as child care or housekeeping, economist Ozlem Albayrak told Al-Monitor. Such jobs have become largely undoable due to social distancing measures against the coronavirus," she said. "This means serious financial losses for those women. Moreover, they will be unable to benefit from the very limited [assistance] measures the government has proposed since they are unregistered workers. As a result, Albayrak said, financial woes will make it impossible for many women to move away from abusive men, while social distancing measures will hamper their access to institutional support. The unemployment rate among women [in Turkey] has always been higher than the average one. We can expect that it will increase further now and that women will find it even harder to find jobs once the crisis is over, she added. Surging domestic violence has become a worldwide problem amid pandemic lockdowns, prompting the United Nations to call for action. According to Ceren Ergenc, a political scientist specializing in China, Turkish activists and the public in general can learn from the Chinese experience on how to support victims of domestic violence. When the [Chinese] state failed to fulfill its duties on [preventing] violence against women during the outbreak, activists launched a campaign on social media," she said. "They produced guidelines on what victims of domestic violence could do. The Chinese example shows that civic groups and support networks could play an important role in encouraging victims to seek help, she added. Turkeys women rights groups are now pressing for urgent measures as the authorities, busy with enforcing self-isolation to stop the spread of the virus, have remained largely oblivious to what is happening behind closed doors. The Turkish Federation of Women's Associations, for example, has proposed a set of measures, including the designation of a hospital in each province for victims of domestic abuse, a ramped-up public awareness campaign and the reactivation of hotlines. Kavs organization has come up with the idea of an online portal where women can file confidential complaints against their abusers and called on municipalities to open out-of-use facilities to shelter victims of domestic violence. Torun, for her part, highlights the importance of self-preparedness. She advises women to decide their emergency contacts in advance, keep an emergency bag at the ready and leave the home as soon as violence erupts. The 24-year-old Vietnamese woman was discharged from the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases after being treated for around three weeks. She would still have to self-isolate at home for the next 14 days as per the Health Ministrys protocols, said Nguyen Thanh Phong, head of the hospitals Infectious Disease Department. The woman had landed March 9 in Saigon's Tan Son Nhat Airport on a private chartered flight from London. She was confirmed Covid-19 positive the next day. The 33-year-old Latvian man has been discharged from the Covid-19 Treatment Hospital in Can Gio District. Hed landed March 8 in Saigon and was confirmed infected March 15. Vietnam has confirmed 207 Covid-19 cases so far, with most of the active cases those coming back from Europe and the U.S. and people whod come into close contact with them. The Covid-19 pandemic has so far spread to 201 countries and territories, claiming over 38,900 lives. Press Release March 31, 2020 Drilon to gov't: 'Do we have enough funds to fight COVID-19?' Do we have enough funds to fight COVID-19? Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon raised this question Tuesday as he urged the government to speed up the implementation of the P200 billion aid to low-income households and the immediate release of funding for programs identified in the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. On Monday night, President Duterte announced that his administration has allotted a total of P200 billion in assistance to poor Filipino families, including farmers, and fisherfolk, to help them fight the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Marami po sa ating mga kababayan ang nagugutom na. We need to feed the poor and make them healthy," Drilon said. "We need to augment funding for our healthcare system, buy more test kits, personal protective equiipment (PPEs), mechanical ventilators, among others," Drilon added as he pointed out the number of affected COVID-19 patients continue to rise. Drilon, however, raised concerns that the lack of sufficient funds will undermine government interventions to fight COVID-19. Due to the pandemic and the lockdown, Drilon said revenue collections are greatly affected and government disbursements, which account for roughly 20 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, are expected to slow down. "Our tight fiscal space seriously affects the government's capabilty to address COVID-19," Drilon said. Drilon said that this would make the government dependent on loan and aid to address the pandemic, hence the slow responses. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has earlier committed to provide P300 billion loan to the Duterte adminitration to address the pandemic on top of the P20 billion it has remitted as advance dividend to the government. The Department of Finance also said that GOCCS or government-owned and -controlled coporations have committed P100 billion for COVID-19 response. For their part part, the Philippine Port Authority, the Manila International Aiport Authority, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, GOCCs under the Department of Transportation, have already remitted in advance P10 billion in dividends to fortify the government spending measures against the pandemic. During the hearing on the supplemental budget to address COVID-19, Drilon noted that the Bureau of Treasury that only P1.65 billion in excess funds are available to be realigned to the DOH. "It appears that even before COVID-19 hit the country, our fiscal position is already worsening," he added. For 2019, the Bureau of Internal Revenue has collected P2.176 trillion, which is lower than the agency's revenue target of P2.271 trillion. Similarly, the Bureau of Customs also fell short by P30.7 bllion of the P661 billion target for the year. "The government must brace for the worst: our depleting resources and the economic effects of COVID-19," said Drilon, lamenting that the Duterte administration's response to COVID-19 is lacking in many aspects, lacking in coherence. "We regret to see from that the government has not crafted any new interventions or programs that could help the poor and keep the economy afloat while we are on a lockdown," Drion said. Worse, he added, some of the much-needed allotments and programs for the poor may even be realigned and tapped to fund COVID-19 response activities. "There is no additional funding because they did not request for a supplemental budget. That is very clear. The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act utilizes the 2020 General Appropriations Act," Drilon noted. Drilon emphasized that RA 11469 already authorized the President to reprogram, reallocate and realign funds for the immediate roll-out of measures that will respond to the COVID-19 emergency. He, however, pointed out that the President's first report stated that as of 27 March 2020, no special purpose funds (SPFs) have been utilized for COVID-19 measures except for the P500 million replenishment of the DOH's quick response Fund. "We have to see a comprehensive COVID financial package that will cover both the health and economic aspects . The Report does not show us what this looks like," he said. "For one, has the governent augmented our health workforce? The 2020 budget has funds for the hiring of nurses and doctors under the Miscellaneous and Personell Benefit Fund," he said. Drilon thus called for the immediate release of funds for programs identified in the law, including the hiring of doctors, nurses, and other health workers; purchase of medical supplies and equipment like testing kits, mechanical ventilators; and establishment of isolation units; the operational budget of the Philippine General Hospital; among others. Drilon also said that the national government should enhance its collaboration with the local government units. "This is the best time to harness the local governments as partners of the national government. We must capacitate them to address the issues, as the frontline government institutions," he stressed. "We have to enhance the participation of LGUs. The Report shows very limited assistance, if at all," he said. They will be spending more time than ever as California residents are urged to keep their distance from others and stay at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. And Emmy Rossum cut a casual figure as she went for an early evening walk with her husband Sam Esmail and their pet dog in Beverly Hills on Monday. The actress, 33, donned a pale blue jumper which she paired with navy skinny jeans and black trainers. Out and about: Emmy Rossum, 33, cut a casual figure as she went for an early evening walk with her husband Sam Esmail and their pet dog in Beverly Hills on Monday Keeping her look simple for the stroll, the Shameless star let her brunette locks fall loose down her shoulders. Sam, 42, also went for a laid back look for the day and sported a black hoodie with matching trainers with blue jeans. Emmy is arguably best known for her role as Fiona Gallagher on Shameless, which she played from 2011 to 2019. The star most recently filmed a new TV miniseries based on 1980s Los Angeles icon Angelyne with her in the lead role. Casual: The actress donned a pale blue jumper which she paired with navy skinny jeans and black trainers Emmy took to Instagram last month to announce that Angelyne herself had signed on to the project as an executive producer. The eight-episode series, simply titled Angelyne, is based on the 2017 Hollywood Reporter profile, which pulled the veil back on her true identity and backstory. It was announced last year that Emmy and her husband were at the helms of the series for NBC's upcoming streaming platform, with Emmy starring. Role: Emmy most recently filmed a new TV miniseries based on 1980s Los Angeles icon Angelyne with her in the lead role (Angelyne pictured in 1987) Sam previously discussed his wife's transformation into Angelyne for the series, describing the work she has put into the role as 'brilliant'. He told The Hollywood Reporter: 'Emmy is doing all this movement training. When I come home and I see her do it, it's so crazy how realistic it is. 'She's just brilliant, but I've never seen this before from the beginning someone studying and training for a role. It's pretty fascinating because initially it was hard for me to wrap my head around it.' U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attends a news conference at the State Department, in Washington By Arshad Mohammed and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held out the possibility on Tuesday that the United States may consider easing sanctions on Iran and other nations to help fight the coronavirus epidemic but gave no concrete sign it plans to do so. The comments reflected a shift in tone by the U.S. State Department, which has come under withering criticism for its hard line toward sanctions relief even in the face of a call by the U.N. secretary-general to ease U.S. economic penalties. Pompeo stressed that humanitarian supplies are exempt from sanctions Washington reimposed on Tehran after President Donald Trump abandoned Iran's 2015 multilateral deal to limit its nuclear program. However, broader U.S. sanctions deter many firms from humanitarian trade with Iran, one of the nations hardest hit by the coronavirus epidemic. Asked if there might come a point at which Washington might reevaluate its stance on easing sanctions, Pompeo told reporters: "We evaluate all of our policies constantly, so the answer is - would we ever rethink? - Of course." Asked about such relief on March 20, Pompeo simply said U.S. sanctions do not apply to medical and other humanitarian goods. Washington is pursuing a "maximum pressure" policy to try to force Tehran to curb its nuclear, missile and regional activities. Iran has accused the United States of "medical terror," prompting Pompeo's spokeswoman, Morgan Ortagus, on Monday to tweet: "Stop lying. ... It's not the sanctions. It's the regime." France, Germany and Britain have exported medical goods to Iran in the first transaction under a trade mechanism set up to barter humanitarian goods and food, Germany said. Jon Alterman, a Middle East analyst at Washington's CSIS think tank, said Pompeo's shift in tone might be a response to the European move. "There is an Iranian effort to peel off Europe ... Holding open the possibility of reconsidering is an effort to keep Europe on side," he added, though he saw little chance of a U.S. policy shift. "In the current environment, the chances are very low, but the environment keeps changing." Story continues Pompeo has been sharply criticized for the administration's stance on Iran sanctions. In recent weeks, the United States has repeatedly tightened sanctions on Iran, notably seeking to make it harder for it to export oil. "Pompeo appears to view the epidemic as a handy means to compound 'maximum pressure,'" Washington Post columnist Jackson Diehl wrote on Sunday. "To what end?" (Reporting by Arshad Mohammed and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Paul Simao and Cynthia Osterman) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 By Ilkin Seyfaddini Trend: Uzbek Ministry of Health has invited an expert from South Korea to Uzbekistan to help fight the coronavirus, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Health. Jae Wook Cho, a professor who holds the position of Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Korean Medical Association and is a leading advisor for the fight against coronavirus, has already started his activities in Uzbekistan in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health. The expert plans to pay special attention to treating patients with coronavirus infection and further expanding the effective use of modern medical technologies to accelerate their recovery. Earlier, seven Uzbeks, who were diagnosed with coronavirus, recovered and were sent for rehabilitation. As an additional measure to combat infections, it was decided to ban the movement of personal transport throughout the country without a special sticker from March 30 to April 20. From the same date, the country's airports completely cease to operate. The first case of coronavirus infection in Uzbekistan was detected on March 15 in the laboratory of the Research Institute of Virology; it was Uzbek woman who returned from France. The Ministry of Health later said that her son, daughter, husband and grandson also tested coronavirus-positive. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 37,800. Over 786,200 people have been confirmed as infected. Meanwhile, over 166,000 people have reportedly recovered. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. Several countries are working on a vaccine against the new virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini 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. Text of the Address by His Excellency Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria on the occasion of the address titled: at Government House, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Sunday, March 29, 2020 Ekiti-kete, On Friday, March 20th 2020, I addressed you on the global scourge of the novel coronavirus named COVID-19 and its presence in Ekiti State as well as on the immediate actions we were taking to prevent the virus and curtail its spread. I am glad to report that as at this morning, Ekiti State has not recorded any additional case of confirmed coronavirus patient while our single patient is doing very well in our isolation center, still without showing any symptom. We are hopeful that his repeat test will come back negative so he can be discharged soon. I also want to acknowledge the patriotic residents who have acted responsibly in public interest by complying with the initial guidelines issued in my broadcast as part of our strategy to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Ekiti State. However, it is very disappointing that some of us have either been lukewarm, nonchalant or downright defiant in observing the simple but extremely effective preventive actions of hand washing with soap under running water, coughing into the inner elbow and maintaining social distancing to protect themselves from infection and curtail the spread of the virus in their communities. While I acknowledge our resilient nature, incurable optimism and spiritual activism as a people, it is critical that we balance these with pragmatic and urgent actions that can ensure the safety of lives for our families and communities. Unlike any other infection, the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus is a type the world has never seen, so there is no verified cure or medication to manage the effects of an infection. The only proven means of defeating this lethal enemy of the human race is PREVENTION. And these preventive steps must be taken individually and collectively for it to be effective. With the devastating impact this virus is having on more developed countries like the United States, United Kingdom, China, Italy, Spain and over 140 countries across the world, it is very clear to us that Nigeria, and especially Ekiti State, cannot afford a breakout of this virus on a large scale as we do not have the resources, human and financial, to cope with a surge in positive cases of the coronavirus infection. If we do not take steps necessary to contain this virus, it has the potential to overwhelm our health infrastructure, cripple our economy and devastate Ekiti State in unimaginable proportions. As you are aware, the State is under significant financial constraints especially as a direct consequence of the impact of the coronavirus on the global economy and the price of crude oil that has gone down considerably. So, we cannot afford a public health crisis. It is in urgent public interest that we must ensure strict compliance with all directives given to prevent community spreading of the disease. Therefore, in our collective interest and to further ensure the safety of Ekiti-kete, having declared Coronavirus (COVID- 19) an infectious disease in Ekiti State, I hereby, in pursuant to Section 8 of the Quarantine Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) impose a curfew of movement in Ekiti State. The purpose of this curfew is to impose restrictions on the movement of persons and goods within Ekiti State for an initial period of fourteen days. This is in order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in Ekiti State. Therefore, effective from 23H59 (11:59pm) on Monday, March 30, 2020 until 23H59 (11:59pm) on Monday, April 13, 2020, there shall be restriction of movement across the length and breadth of Ekiti State, with all our borders closed. That is a full and total shut down of Ekiti State, and a 12-hour dusk to dawn curfew in Ekiti State from 7:00pm 7:00 am. All Ekiti residents are hereby directed to STAY AT HOME. We are implementing the Quarantine Act to keep all Ekiti residents safe. So let me be clear. If you do not go home or stay home for at least fourteen (14) days as from Monday, 30 March, 2020, you could face serious fines or prison term. RESTRICTED MOVEMENT: During this period, movement between local governments is prohibited; movement between towns, villages and communities is also prohibited; every person shall be confined to the place where he or she ordinarily resides in Ekiti State. EXCEPTIONAL MOVEMENTS: Those who are performing essential services will be allowed to move around, particularly health workers, but must be duly designated with an identity card by the Head of their Institutions. Individuals and institutions providing the following services shall be exempted from the restrictions: Members of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary; ii. Production, distr ibution and marketing of food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, medicine, paper and plastic packages iii. Environmental and sanitation activities iv. Staff of electricity, water, telecommunications, e-commerce and digital service providers; v. Members of security agencies assigned on lawful duties; vi. Staff of Banks and similar financial institutins; vii. Staff of fuel stations. MARKETS / BUSINESSES CLOSED: All businesses and other entities shall cease operations during this period except those involved in the provision of essential goods or services. Markets, retail shops and shopping malls must be closed, except where essential goods are sold and with strict hygienic conditions to prevent the exposure of persons to COVID-19. PROHIBITED GATHERINGS: Religious gatherings e.g. worship and prayer services, night vigils, house fellowships and NASFAT meetings; Social gatherings e.g. Funerals, weddings, family meetings and parties of any kind in night clubs, bars, beer joints; and Political gatherings, e.g. rallies, congresses, ward meetings. All of these are prohibited activities under these regulations. EXCEPTIONAL GATHERING: Only gathering in respect of funeral will be allowed but the attendance shall be limited to 20 persons with no night vigil or party. CLOSURE OF BOUNDARIES: All boundaries of Ekiti State are closed during this period, except for transportation of fuel, food and drugs and other essential goods. All non-residents who arrive the State prior to, or after, the imposition of this restriction, and who remain in the State, must remain in their place of temporary residence in the State for the duration of the 14 days, as the case may be, and may be subjected to screening for COVID-19 and be quarantined or isolated if necessary. PROHIBITION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT: All commuter transport services including bus services, taxi services, motor bikes (Okada) and tricycle services (Keke), is prohibited; except those for purposes of rendering essential services, obtaining essential goods, seeking medical attention, funeral services and to receive payment of social grants or food: Provided that such vehicle carries not more than 50% of the licensed capacity and all directions in respect of hygienic conditions and the limitation of exposure of persons to COVID-19, are adhered to. PENALTIES: Any person who contravenes these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and, on conviction, liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment. Ekitikete, this administration is fully aware of the inconvenience these directives will have on our daily lives and livelihoods but it is the sacrifice we must all make to remain healthy and alive. To make this a little easier for us all, I hereby announce the following palliative measures especially for our high risk and vulnerable citizens. March salaries have been paid last Thursday, 26th March so that civil and public servants can stock up on food and essential items necessary for the Stay-At-Home period. This was despite the fact that the FAAC disbursement for March was significantly lower than our salaries and many other states have found it difficult to pay March salaries. We are however hopeful that subsequent months will not fail, though the implications of the global economy are not very encouraging as IMF formally announced that the world is now in recession due to the coronavirus pandemic. I have directed that the Ekiti State Food Bank be reactivated immediately to provide food items to the poor and vulnerable families in our communities. The Task Force will announce the modalities as soon as the process is fully activated. The State Government will consider providing a stipend to our self-employed citizens whose daily income will be interrupted at this time as subsidy for their loss of income. I have directed the Commissioners of Finance and Budget to advise on the amount the State can afford in view of our dire financial constraints. We shall commence the disinfecting of major public places like markets, bus stops, motor parks, health facilities, and all likely places where the virus may be lurking across our State. Already, a massive cleanup and disinfection is ongoing in some locations in Ado Ekiti e.g. Atikankan, Irona and Oja Oba areas and I am aware some Local Government Chairmen are already taking initiatives to dredge and clear drains within their jurisdictions. Massive advocacy and sensitization is ongoing to advise you on the necessary preventive measures and how to identify and manage the symptoms of COVID-19 as well as what to do when you notice symptoms of fever, coughing, diarrhea or difficult breathing. Please remember that anyone can carry the coronavirus even if they do not have any of these symptoms; that is why you must wash your hands regularly and abstain from bodily contact at this time To protect our senior citizens who have been proven to be most vulnerable to this deadly virus please do not visit your elderly parents or family at this time to prevent the risk of infecting them. If they live with you, please keep them separate as much as possible. Do not let them share common household items like plates, spoons, towels, soaps at this period. We must keep them safe and healthy as much as we can. Ekitikete, it is necessary to let you know that though this virus is deadly, a positive result is not a death sentence. Anyone showing symptoms is most likely going to get better but may be very sick for some time, depending on the capacity of his/her body to fight the infection. Instead of stigmatizing anyone with symptoms, they should be cared for in accordance with medical advisory while the caregivers must ensure they protect themselves from being infected. Please call the Emergency Number 112 or 09062970434, 09062970435 and 09062970436 if anyone around you is showing symptoms, but first, isolate them from the rest of the family. I have also directed the Ministry of Health to begin the process of establishing a second isolation center in Ado Ekiti. We currently have a 10-bed Isolation Center but we must begin to increase our capacity up to 100 beds with necessary medical equipment required to manage suffering patients. We have also ordered more PPE for our medical personnel to protect them from infection while caring for the sick. This war against the coronavirus COVID-19 is a global one. Nigeria is just joining this global battle and we are doing everything possible nationally and at state levels to protect our citizens from this deadly virus. However, a time like this calls for better coordination among all stakeholders Federal, State, development partners and private sector in order to stem the tide of this pandemic. One area that States have been speaking with one voice is the importance of ramping up on testing. The World Health Organisation (WHO) advisory is to test, test and test. We need the Federal Government to accelerate the establishment of more testing centres whilst at the same time allowing testing to be done by private laboratories and also give approval for the use of quick test-kits as a way of halting community spread of the virus. Another key request of States is that the Federal Government enable a joined-up strategy for addressing the economic implications of the pandemic by providing stimulus for those likely to be affected by loss of income and to States and Local Governments directly hit by the impact of the measures taken. This is a very expensive battle, especially for us in Ekiti State, where we can barely meet our regular obligations. I have therefore been holding meetings with development partners, philanthropic bodies and federal agencies to assist us in preventing an outbreak in Ekiti State by providing access to some of the support available nationally. We have also set up an Ekiti State COVID-19 PANDEMIC SUPPORT ACCOUNT with UBA Current Account Number 1022752067 for donations towards our efforts in this regard. I want to thank all our citizens and political leaders who are providing hand sanitizers and information leaflets to their constituents as a way to sensitize and educate them on this virus. We encourage everyone to do all they can to ensure awareness, compliance and prevention in every farmstead and community in Ekiti State. While the state government will continue to do all we can, every family, community, kingdom and local government must also take responsibility for their area of jurisdiction. All hands must be on deck to defeat coronavirus in Ekiti State. It must be our collective responsibility. Ekiti-kete, this indeed is a trying period, not only for our State or Nation, but for the whole world. I therefore plead for your understanding and tolerance as we jointly fight and defeat this monster, COVID-19. As a government, to save the lives of Ekiti-kete is our topmost priority. Hence, it is my plea to you to continue staying wherever you are now within Ekiti State. The coming days are definitely going to be unusual and somewhat unpleasant, but if this is what it takes to ensure our collective safety, I urge you all to cooperate with the government and make the sacrifice. The measures we are taking now have been taken by more advanced and technically prepared government, all in the quest to curtail the spread of coronavirus and protect the life of the citizenry. Coronavirus is not a respecter of persons, many highly placed persons have been infected all over the world, including in Nigeria. If you or anyone has been in contact with anyone who just arrived from abroad in the past 7 days, please call the emergency numbers immediately. You will recall that I also went into self-isolation after I submitted myself to be tested for coronavirus. I thank you most sincerely for your concern and prayers, while I waited for my result which eventually came out negative. I must confess that the period of waiting for the result of my test was a difficult moment for me. As a responsible leader, my thought was not about my result, but about people around me and those I have made contact with. The palpable fear of someone being infected through me was more tormenting than my own personal wellbeing. On this note, I implore you to let us take responsibility for our life and the lives of those around us. All the helplines already given out are active and will respond in case of an emergency. The Taskforce will continue to update you on the efforts we are taking to curtail the spread of this virus as earlier announced. Please avoid spreading rumors or unauthorized medical tips. There are no known cure for COVID-19 globally yet so please do not endanger your life by taking any concoction that will harm you out of fear. Ekitikete, this is not the time to be fearful or panic stricken. COVID-19 is not a death sentence. We are not helpless against it if we are resolved to prevent it. Keep all the preventive measures, stay at home and maintain social distancing. Government is determined to ensure we stop its spread. You also must be determined to do your part. Once again, I plead for your usual support and understanding, and pray that at the end of it all, we will have cause to rejoice and congratulate ourselves for taking necessary precautions. Alale Ekiti a ja ko a o! Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON Governor Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE updates: The number of novel coronavirus cases climbed to 1,397 on Tuesday after 146 new infections were reported in the past 24 hours across the country, while the death toll due to the pandemic rose to 35, according to the Union Health Ministry. Auto refresh feeds At 227, this is the largest one-day increase in the number of cases for India. The highest number of cases was reported from Kerala (202) while Maharashtra has 198 cases, said the health ministry. The government said there was no immediate plan to extend the 21-day lockdown period, which entered its sixth day on Monday, while the Indian Army dismissed as "fake" social media posts about a possible emergency declaration next month. The number of coronavirus cases in the country rose to 1,251 on Monday while the number of fatalities reached 32, said the Union health ministry. Officials in states hard hit by the pandemic have pleaded with the Trump administration and manufacturers to speed up the production of ventilators to cope with a surge in patients struggling to breathe. Hospitals in New York already are using one ventilator to sustain two patients. New Orleans has a fraction of the ventilators it needs for a surge of COVID-19 patients, Louisiana officials said. Ford said the simplified ventilator design, which is licensed by GE Healthcare from Florida-based Airon Corp and has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, can meet the needs of most COVID-19 patients and relies on air pressure without the need for electricity. Ford Motor Co said on Monday it will produce 50,000 ventilators over the next 100 days at a plant in Michigan in cooperation with General Electrics healthcare unit, and can then build 30,000 per month as needed to treat patients afflicted with the coronavirus. The first consignment of such materials had arrived here last week, he said. A total of 1,008 units of personal protective equipment, 10,000 masks, 5,000 screening kits, 6,000 confirmatory kits for test and 7,000 units of hand sanitiser among others were supplied to fight the coronavirus crisis, the health department official said. The consignment of medical equipment weighing more than 5 tonnes was brought by an cargo aircraft of the Indian Air Force, he said. The Manipur government on Monday received the second consignment of essential medical equipment including screening kits, sanitiser, masks, gloves and other personal protective gear, which will help the state health workers to combat the coronavirus outbreak, an official said. "Now we are seeing growing interest from US citizens wanting to return from Asia, India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. We had our first repatriation flight out of Bangladesh today and are coordinating with the Indian Government to begin flights there," Brownlee said. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Ian Brownlee told reporters during a teleconference on Monday that the US had brought back some 25,000 of its citizens from 50 countries and another 9,000, including those from India, have expressed their interest to return to America in the wake of the deadly coronavirus pandemic that has engulfed the world. The Trump administration is coordinating with the Indian government to evacuate stranded American citizens from India who have expressed interest to return to the US, a top official here has said, amid the rapid spread of coronavirus pandemic that has upended life, disrupted travel and killed over 37,500 people. The Maharashtra state has sought the expedition of the release of Rs 25,00 crore that the Centre has not yet paid to the state. These dues are to be paid by 31 March, demands the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government and will be used to fight the outbreak of the novel virus in state. The S&P 500 remains about 23 percent below its record set last month, and oil tumbled to an 18-year low. In early afternoon trading on Monday, the S&P 500 was up 2.3 percent. Nascent optimism is budding on Wall Street that the worst of the selling may be over, but markets around the world remain tentative amid uncertainty about whether global authorities can nurse the economy through the pandemic. Stocks pushed higher on Wall Street Monday, led by big gains for health care companies announcing developments that could aid in the coronavirus outbreak. The rally tacked more gains onto a recent upswing for the market, which is coming off the best week for the S&P 500 since hitting bottom after the financial crisis 11 years ago. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray reassures Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami that the 300 Tamil migrants stuck in Maharashtra will be taken care of. The move comes after the Tamil Nadu chief minister raised the issue on Twitter, urging Maharashtra to look after 300 Tamilians, who were stranded in the two locations without food for the past 4 days The PB 560 ventilator has a number of advantages, one being that its a relatively compact and lightweight piece of equipment that can be easily moved around and installed for use in a range of different healthcare environments and settings. And its a design that was originally introduced in 2010, so it has a decade of qualified, safe medical use in treating patients. Healthcare and biomedical engineering company Medtronic is making available to anyone the full design specifications, product manuals, design documents and, in the future, software code for its Puritan Bennett (PB) 560 portable ventilator hardware, say reports . Economic experts fear massive layoffs in various sectors of the American economy due to the current economic distress that is only going to deteriorate in the coming weeks and months. The current federal rules require an H-1B visa holder to leave the US along with their family members within 60 days of losing their job. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. Fearing massive layoffs in America due to the coronavirus crisis that is hitting businesses around the globe, foreign technology professionals on H-1B visas, most sought after among Indians, demand the Trump administration extend their permissible post-job loss limit to stay in the US from the existing 60 to 180 days. Police and paramilitary personnel cordoned off a major area in Nizamuddin West in south Delhi on Monday and over 200 people have been kept in isolation in hospitals after several people who took part in a religious congregation there showed symptoms of coronavirus. The special teams under the collectors have identified the persons who came in contact with the deceased and they are shifted to the hospitals, it said. Two of the six died at the Gandhi Hospital, one each in two private hospitals, and one each in Nizamabad and Gadwal towns, the statement said, without mentioning the time of their deaths. "Coronavirus has spread among some of those who attended a religious prayer meeting from 13 to 15 March at Markaz in Nizamuddin area in Delhi," according to an official release. "Among those who attended were some persons from Telangana." Six people from Telangana who attended a religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin died due to the novel coronavirus, the state government said on Monday. Analysts cautioned the result could even be higher given that the index measures the net balance of firms reporting an expansion or contraction in activity. There were also hopes a survey of Chinese manufacturing due later would show a sizable improvement for March as factories began to re-open. Forecasts are that the Chinas official purchasing manufacturers index (PMI) will bounce to 45.0, from a record-low 35.7 in February. Asian share markets managed a tentative rally on Tuesday after European and U.S. equities stabilised, though buying for month and quarter-end book balancing likely flattered the gains. Around 300-400 people had attended a religious gathering at Markaz and 163 people from Nizamuddin, have been admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital Delhi for tests. "It has come to our knowledge that administrators of Nizammuddin Markaz violated coronavirus lockdown conditions and now several positive cases have been found. Strong action would be taken against those in charge of this establishment. Delhi Government to ask police to register FIR against Maulana of Markaz, Nizamuddin," the Delhi government stated. The Delhi government will ask the police to register an FIR against the Maulana of Markaz in Nizamuddin area as some people have shown symptoms of coronavirus after taking part in a religious gathering in Delhi. We have managed to win time and slow down an explosive spread of the disease in the previous weeks, and we need to use that time reserve to the full, Putin said. A stern-looking President Vladimir Putin warned his envoys in Russia's far-flung regions that they will be personally responsible for the availability of beds, ventilators and other key equipment. The Russian capital, Moscow, on Monday woke up to a lockdown obliging most of its 13 million residents to stay home, and many other regions of the vast country quickly followed suit to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. Indian Express reports that the government in India is set to ramp up testing in 10 identified hotspots where unusual transmission has been detected. Of these, two Dilshad Garden and Nizamuddin are in Delhi, the others being Noida, Meerut, Bhilwara, Ahmedabad, Kasaragod, Pathanamthitta, Mumbai and Pune. An estimated 230 House members returned to Washington to pass the relief package on Friday, despite the health risks of traveling and gathering at the Capitol, after Republican Representative Thomas Massie said he would block any effort to pass the bill without at least half of the Houses 430 current members present. Now that Congress has passed a $2.2 trillion economic relief bill and President Donald Trump has signed it into law, neither the House of Representatives nor Senate is due back in Washington until 20 April at the earliest. At least six members of the US Congress have announced that they have contracted the novel coronavirus, and more than 30 others are or were self-quarantining in hopes of limiting the spread of the pandemic. To date Himachal Pradesh has 1,779 people under home quarantine. One patient is under treatment for COVID-19. A total of 211 samples have been taken so far out of which 208 were negative. "This would be an OTP based application which would be given by health worker and violation of quarantine will be monitored through this tracking application," Rohan Chand Thakur, Director, Department of Information Technology said. Himachal Pradesh government has developed a mobile application to track and monitor the people who are quarantined for COVID-19. The Department of Information Technology has started a 'Corona Mukt Himachal' mobile app. The health workers of the Health Department will monitor the people, especially on home quarantine through this app. Also, an 80-year-old man, who suffered from acute respiratory distress, succumbed to COVID-19 at a private hospital here, taking the death toll in MMR to eight, including six in Mumbai, said the civic body's release. While 29 of the new infections are in Mumbai, the rest 18 are from other parts of MMR, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials said. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region's COVID-19 count reached 170 on Monday with 47 people testing positive for the novel coronavirus, officials said. Italians have been under lockdown for three weeks, with most shops, bars, and restaurants shut and people forbidden from leaving their homes for all but non-essential needs. The Health Ministry did not give a date for the new end of the lockdown but said it would be in law the government would propose. Easter Sunday is 12 April this year. Italy is predominantly Roman Catholic and contains the Vatican, the heart of the church. Italys government on Monday said it would extend its nationwide lockdown measures against a coronavirus outbreak, due to end on Friday, at least until the Easter season in April, as the number of new infections declines. Earlier, the testing of these migrant workers for coronavirus had been carried out after their return to the state and the result had come out as negative. In a commendable move, which shows that people around the country and even in the rural areas are aware of the severity and the threat posed by the COVID-19 infection, the workers decided to self-quarantine themselves to protect their family. A dozen migrant workers in the Kalahandi district have set up camp to self-quarantine outside their village even after testing negative for coronavirus, as a precautionary measure after returning from Kerala. "So far, the accused has sold 70,000 masks at a cost of Rs 1.05 crore," police said in a statement. The warehouse in Kalyan Nagar was raided on Monday night and 12,300 fake N95 masks worth Rs 20 lakh were seized, it said. Over 12,000 fake N95 face masks were seized from a warehouse here by the Central Crime Branch, police said on Tuesday. The filtering masks have been in demand since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which has claimed 32 lives and affected 1,251 people in the country. Five more COVID-19 cases have been reported from Maharashtra as the total state tally climbs to 225, said health officials on Tuesday. One case has been reported from Mumbai, two from Pune and another two Buldhana. Besides, Jabalpur has reported eight cases, Ujjain- five, Bhopal- three and Shivpuri and Gwalior- two each. They are being treated in different hospitals of the state. She had no travel history and was already suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, the official said. So far, 47 persons have tested positive for coronavirus in the state, including 27 from Indore. A 49-year-old COVID-19 patient died in Madhya Pradesh, taking the number of coronavirus deaths in the state to five, an official said on Tuesday. The woman, a resident of Chandan Nagar, breathed her last at the Manorama Raje TB Hospital, an official from Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College said. "The person died on Monday night before test results came. Her test results confirmed that she was infected with the coronavirus," the official said. There were four new cases of coronavirus reported in West Bengal, taking the total number to 26 in the state, he added. An elderly woman who was infected with the coronavirus died at a hospital in West Bengals Howrah district, taking the total number of COVID-19 deaths to three in the state, a health department official said on Tuesday. The man had recently travelled to the northern part of the state, he said. Four new cases of coronavirus have been reported in West Bengal, taking the count to 26. A list of 17 vehicles with registration numbers along with names of drivers plus their license details were submitted to Ld SDM so that stranded visitors/guests could be ferried towards their destination. The requisite permission is still awaited, said the statement of Markaz, Delhi. It was also informed that LD SDM concerned had been requested to issue vehicle passes so that the remaining people could be sent back to their native places outside of Delhi. ANI reported that on 24 March, a notice was issued by SHO PS Hazrat Nizamuddin, seeking closure of Markaz premises. It was responded on 24 March, stating that compliance of directions regarding the closure of Markaz is underway and that around 1500 people had departed the previous day thus leaving around 1000 visitors of different states and nationalities in Markaz. Medical teams and police are present at the Markaz building, Nizamuddin where around 2500 people had attended a function earlier this month. With the help of the Health Department around 860 people have been shifted from Markaz building, in Nizamuddin to hospitals. Around 300 more people are yet to be evacuated, Delhi Police sources told ANI on Tuesday. Among the people that were admitted at the LNJP hospital in Delhi, from the Nizamuddin cluster case, 24 have tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease, reports CNN-News18. More results from two more hospitals are awaited. She was admitted at the Howrah District Hospital on Sunday with COVID-19 symptoms. There have also been allegations of gross negligence in handling the patient by hospital authorities. She was admitted in general bed instead of the isolation ward. Nurses and hospital staff have agitated against the negligence. The third coronavirus casualty in West Bengal was an elderly female patient. She had travel history to Dooars in North Bengal, along with 3 other families (a team of 15 members) and returned on 21 March, reports News18. The press release said: "During this entire episode, Markaz Nizamuddin never violated any provision of law, and always tried to act with compassion and reason towards the visitors who came to Delhi from different states. It did not let them violate the medical guidelines by thronging ISBTs or roaming on streets." Amid multiple reports which claim that the Markaz Nizamuddin had violated lockdown, the Markaz issued a detailed clarification into how they did not violate the lockdown announced by the government. With a hastily carried out lockdown, people were stranded and were forced to seek accommodation at the premises, on the orders of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for people to stay put at where they were. He also said that around 1,500 to 1,700 people have been estimated by the government to have assembled at Markaz building. He added that thought the government was no certain of the exact number, 334 people have been sent to hospitals and over 700 others have been sent to a quarantine centre. Delhi's health minister Satyendar Jain told ANI that 24 people who were present at the Markaz building, Nizamuddin have tested positive for coronavirus, so far. The portal is titled Stranded in India . The portal will help tourists get information/details of State Tourism departments and Regional offices of the Ministry of tourism to help foreigners to stay safe and healthy while in India. It will also help foreigners find information on ways of getting back to their home country. The aim is to extend support to the foreign tourists who are stranded in our country because of the COVID-19 pandemic, has set up a portal to disseminate information regarding the services that can be availed by them. The Ministry of Tourism on Tuesday said it has set up a portal called 'Stranded in India' for tourists stuck in the country to disseminate information regarding the services that can be availed by tourists while they're here. The decision was taken to facilitate the citizens facing difficulties in renewing the validity of various documents related to the Motor Vehicles Act and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules due to nationwide lockdown in the country and closure of government transport offices, according to the advisory. In an advisory to all states and Union territories, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has asked them to treat such documents as valid till 30 June. The Centre has extended till 30 June the validity of documents like driving licenses, permits and registration that expired since 1 February, in a move to ensure hassle-free transportation of cargo amid the lockdown over the novel coronavirus pandemic. Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday reported 17 new cases, with most patients having a travel history with Delhi. According to an official release by the state government, the state tally of confirmed cases has now climbed to 40. The cop was seen roaming outside the residential colonies of the area in a bid to raise awareness and urge people to take all necessary measures to contain coronavirus spread. Sub-Inspector Maruti Sankar was on Tuesday was seen riding a horse in Pyapili town of Kurnool district, while there is nothing unusual about this act what caught eyeballs were the drawings on the animal's body. The white horse had red circles dotted with lines, resembling the structure of the highly contagious virus which has plunged the world into crisis. With governments taking all possible measures of spread awareness over the highly contagious COVID-19, a cop in Andhra Pradesh devised a novel way to make people remember the enemy which the nation, and the world at large, is fighting. Among the 83, seven are evacuees from Iran who had landed at Jodhpur airport recently. Additional Chief Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said one person each has tested positive from Jhunjhunu, Ajmer, Dungarpur and Jaipur. He said the total number COVID-19 cases in the state has risen to 83. Four more persons tested positive for coronavirus in Rajasthan on Tuesday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 83, an official said. So far, six coronavirus positive patients have died in the state. Five patients have been discharged, the official said, adding that two are on ventilator support. Till now, Ahmedabad has reported 25 cases, followed by Rajkot at 10, Vadodara, Surat and Gandhinagar nine each, Bhavnagar- six, Gir Somnath-two, and Kutch, Mehsana and Porbandar- one each. Three new COVID-19 cases were reported in Gujarat on Tuesday, taking the total number of coronavirus patients in the state to 73, an official said. Out of the three new cases, two were found in Ahmedabad and one in Rajkot, Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi said. Five more new cases have been reported in Maharashtra. Among the five, four cases were reported from Mumbai and one from Pune. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 230, said Maharashtra Health Department on Tuesday. At the interbank foreign exchange the rupee opened at 75.52, then gained ground and touched 75.51, registering a rise of 8 paise over its previous close. On Monday, rupee had settled at 75.59 against the US dollar. Forex traders said the rupee is trading in a narrow range as the higher opening in domestic equities supported the local unit, while sustained foreign fund outflows and strengthening of the American currency weighed on it. The Indian rupee appreciated by 8 paise to 75.51 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday tracking positive opening in domestic equities. All his family members have been asked to stay in home quarantine, she added. His sample was tested COVID-19 positive late night on Monday, she said. He was accompanied by his sister during his travel from Mumbai to Korba and her sample was also collected for testing which came out to be negative, she said. The man, who studies in London, returned to Korba town via Mumbai on March 18 and was placed in home isolation. After he complained of cold and cough, his sample was sent for testing, Korba Collector Kiran Kaushal said. A 22-year-old man with foreign travel history has tested positive for coronavirus in Chhattisgarh's Korba district, taking the number of COVID-19 infection cases in the state to eight, officials said on Tuesday. He further said, "Indian Government has done what was unthinkable in locking down the entire country. We respect that. All my companies have effectively ceased operations. All manufacturing is closed as well." Mallya, who is wanted in India on alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crore, also said all his companies have effectively ceased operations and manufacturing following the lockdown in India. Embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya, on Tuesday asked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to consider his repeated "offer to repay 100 percent" of the amount borrowed by now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, in this time of coronavirus pandemic. "Additionally, we need to think of a suitable framework under which critical pharma products, medical devices, diagnostic equipment and kits and healthcare professionals can be deployed at short notice across territories under a pre-agreed protocol," he said. Participating in the Extraordinary G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial virtual meeting, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that trade facilitative responses need to be in place, and wherever necessary, requirements by authorities like customs, banks of producing original documents by importers for various clearances can be removed temporarily. India on Monday called for ensuring uninterrupted supply of vital medicines and food products across the globe to deal with the challenges in the wake of surge in the number of coronavirus cases across the world. The ministers stated that they will take immediate necessary measures to facilitate trade in those essential goods. They also agreed to implement those measures, upholding the principle of international solidarity, considering the evolving needs of other countries for emergency supplies and humanitarian assistance. "We are actively working to ensure the continued flow of vital medical supplies and equipment, critical agricultural products, and other essential goods and services across borders, for supporting the health of our citizens," the statement said. According to a joint statement issued after a video conference, the ministers agreed to support the availability and accessibility of essential medical supplies at affordable prices, on an equitable basis, where they are most needed and will guard against profiteering and unjustified price increases. Trade and investment ministers of the G-20 group have agreed to ensure fair trade and a continued flow of vital medicines as well as other essential goods to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, Indore has reported 44 COVID-19 cases, Jabalpur-8, Bhopal-5, Ujjain-5, and Shivpuri and Gwalior-2 each. Five coronavirus patients have so far died in the state, the official said. Seventeen more people tested positive for coronavirus in Indore on Tuesday, taking the total number of such cases in Madhya Pradesh to 65, a health official said. The order said that those who have physical and mental issues due to withdrawal symptoms could be given liquor in a "controlled" and "prescribed" manner. "Following the lockdown and the closure of liquor outlets in the state, there were many instances of social issues including the frustration and suicide tendencies shown by those who used to consume liquor regularly and the state government has decided to initiate steps to resolve the matter," the order read. A government order in this regard was issued on Monday night, despite objection from doctors' association, to supply liquor to tipplers under prescription during the 21-day lockdown initiated to counter the spread of COVID-19. The Kerala government has decided to issue special passes for tipplers, who have withdrawal symptoms and doctor's prescription, to purchase liquor from the Excise department. "This is apart from the unfathomable hardships the labourers are going through owing to stoppage of their income," the bench noted. The court while considering the issue said such large-scale movement of labourers increases the danger of further spread of coronavirus, and noted that these people are in need of assistance from the state government. A single bench of Justice Sunil Shukre on Monday heard a petition filed by one C H Sharma, raising concerns over the spread of coronavirus on account of the movement of thousands of labourers and their families from cities to rural areas, both within and outside the state. Taking note of the hardships being faced by migrant labourers amid the lockdown, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government to make all necessary arrangements for them, and also consider taking funds from charitable organisations. Infosys Foundation, over the last two weeks, has announced support for creation of an exclusive hospital in Bengaluru for COVID-19 patients. It has also enabled the acquisition of medical and PPE equipment for multiple military and government hospitals across the country. This sum will primarily be utilised across three broad areas of support that the Foundation has prioritised, including expansion of hospital capacity for treatment and enable hospital stays for COVID-19 patients across India, especially ones belonging to the economically weaker sections of the society, it added. Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, on Monday committed Rs 100 crore to support efforts towards fighting COVID-19 in India. The Foundation has contributed half of this commitment (Rs 50 crore) to the PM CARES Fund, a statement said. A cluster case has emerged from Delhi, from Markaz building in Nizamuddin, which has initiated fast action against coronavirus in Delhi. This is the country-wise case count of foreign nationals who were part of the event that took place between 15 to 17 March. If a foreigner is put in the Home ministry's blacklist, he or she can't travel to India in the future. A total of 281 foreigners were found by the police at the Nizamuddin campus in the last two days. "Those who came on a tourist visa but attended the Nizamuddin event stands to be in our blacklist as they have violated the visa conditions. Tourist visa holders can't attend religious function," a Union Home ministry official said. About 30 of those who attended the Nizamuddin event in mid-March tested positive and at least three have succumbed to the infection in last few days. These foreigners were among around 8,000 people who attended the Tabligh-e-Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz facility in March, many of whom have shown symptoms of COVID-19, a Union Home Ministry official said. India is likely to blacklist about 300 foreigners who came from 16 countries, including Malaysia and Thailand, on tourist visas but attended an Islamic congregation at Nizamuddin here that has become a key source for the spread of coronavirus in the country, officials said on Tuesday. According to News18 Assam, over 200 people from Assam participated in the religious congregation organised by Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin in New Delhi. An individual from Morigaon district in Assam, Kasem Ali, who spoke with News18 Assam said that he is still lodged in a six-storeyed building called Markaz in the institution. Ali claimed he has not been infected with the novel coronavirus, but one person from Assam has been admitted to a Delhi hospital. People from Assam went to participate in the event by train and most of them stayed on the fourth floor of the building. In a press release, Nizamuddin Markaz the Delhi headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat said after Prime Minister Narendra Modis call for Janata curfew on 22 March, the ongoing program was discontinued. However, as the Indian Railways suspended its operations, it had to accommodate the stranded guests. On the 16 March, the government further reduced number of people from 200 to 50 under the ban. Therefore, the clarification that has been issued wherein they say Makarz had intimated the SHO on 24 March is not enough. Delhi government on Tuesday replied to Markaz clarification which claimed that they did not violate the government lockdown, by saying that a ban was already in place since the 13 March reports News18. Karnataka health minister B Sriramulu on Tuesday said that the government has information that around 45 people from Karnataka had taken part in the Nizamuddin congregation. The Tumkur resident (who died on March 27) is one of them, he said and added that 13 people have been traced so far. Uttar Pradesh Police confirmed to ANI on Tuesday that the search for 157 people from the state, who had participated in Tablighi Jamaat event at Markaz, Nizamuddin in Delhi is currently underway. But 9 out of the 10 people who tested positive for coronavirus in Andaman & Nicobar, had attended Tablighi Jamaat event at Markaz, Nizamuddin in Delhi. "Wife of one of these people later tested positive," said Abhijit Roy, Dy Director Heath and Nodal Officer. The designated laboratory for COVID19 in Andaman & Nicobar, RMRC-ICMR, Dollygunj has tested 33 suspected cases on 29 March, out of which only 1 was found positive. The total number of cases found positive is 10 out of 99 samples tested till date, Andaman and Nicobar administration told ANI. The Maharashtra cybercrime has been asked to step up and take strict action against those who post fake or misleading information on social media platforms, Deshmukh said. In a pre-recorded video message, the minister said, "The lockdown is in force to contain the coronavirus outbreak. I appeal to people not to spread any fake messages that can trigger panic among people." Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday issued a stern warning against spreading fake news about coronavirus as part of April Fool's Day pranks, stating that it could trigger panic during the lockdown. Further, Development Commissioners of SEZs have been requested to ensure that there is no hardship to Developer/Co-Developer/Units and no punitive action is taken in cases where compliances like filing of certain forms required to be filed by 31 March, are not completed. Besides, more than 1900 IT/ITES units have been facilitated to enable their employees to work from home, a statement by the ministry said. Over 280 SEZ units engaged in manufacturing of essential items like drugs, pharmaceuticals or hospital equipment are operational to ensure these critical supplies are not disrupted during the lockdown period, the commerce and industry minister said on Tuesday. Former Delhi L-G Najeeb Jung slammed the Markaz Nizamuddin gathering on Tuesday, saying the jamaat should have cancelled the event as soon as COVID-19 cases began to get reported in India. "It was the duty of the Delhi Police to have cracked down on them, writing a letter to them was not enough," he said, adding that the administration should have been aware of the gathering long time back. "We are now crying over spilt milk," he said. "I beg all religious leaders to shut their places of worship," he told News18. The decision has been taken after a detailed deliberation with various unions of employees, he said. "The salaries of Class I and II will be cut by 50 percent while that of Class III employees will be cut by 25 percent. There will be no cut in the salaries of remaining classes in the state bureaucracy," he said. In an official statement, Pawar announced a 60 percent cut in the March salaries of the chief minister, all other ministers, MLAs, MLCs and representatives of local governing bodies. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is also the state finance minister, said the decision has been taken after consultation with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and various unions of employees. The Maharashtra government on Tuesday said there would be a 60 percent cut in this month's salaries of public representatives in the state, including the chief minister, in view of coronavirus affecting the economy. According to state data, 98 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state which includes 3 deaths and 6 discharges. From 5 pm yesterday till 8 am on Tuesday, 10 new cases have been reported. Over 24 people, who attended Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, were tracked in Bengaluru on Tuesday. "We've quarantined 54 people, aorund 8 people from Bidar. One person was found positive in Bidar and we've quarantined him. There are people who attended jamaat from almost all districts,' said Karnataka Home Mininster. The chief minister will hold a meeting with senior officials later in the day, the spokesman added. He was scheduled to visit Meerut and Agra besides Ghaziabad to review the situation. The chief minister visited Ghaziabad Tuesday morning. He, however, cut short his visit and headed to Lucknow to meet senior health officers to review quarantine measures, especially in the light of the incident in Delhi, a government spokesman said. Cutting short his visit to the districts with maximum number of COVID-19 patients, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday returned to the state capital to hold an urgent meeting with senior officials, in view of reports that people from the state attended a religious event in Delhi's Nizamuddin area which has emerged as one of the biggest hotspots of the disease. The total number of coronavirus cases in Punjab stood at 41 with 4 deaths. The states's first COVID19 patient has now fully recovered. "We are tracing and testing all connections of all positive patients," said Punjab Health Minister BS Sidhu. The 65-year-old man from Nayagaon near Chandigarh, who had tested positive for coronavirus succumbed to his illness on Tuesday morning, reports The Tribune. His condition was critical and he had been put on a ventilator. The Civil aviation ministry has formed a committee to facilitate movement of cargo across the country during the 21 day-lockdown period. "The cargo essentially included COVID-19 related reagents, enzymes, medical equipment, testing kits and personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, gloves & other accessories of HLL and cargo requisitioned by State/union territories governments and postal packets," Puri said. Amid the lockdown imposed to help curb the spread of coronavirus, domestic airlines and cargo operators along with the Indian Air Force have transported 15.4 tons of medical supplies in 62 flights between 26 to 30 March, said Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday. The Centre told the apex court that the suggestion to sprinkle water and chemicals on migrants to sanitise them does not work scientifically and is not the right way. It also asked the Centre to ensure that migration is stopped and to take care of food, shelter, nourishment and medical needs of the people and also to follow up of cases of the virus, also called COVID-19. The top court, which observed that panic will destroy more lives than the virus, asked the Centre to get trained counsellors and community leaders of all faiths to calm down the migrants, who are kept in shelter homes across the country. The Supreme Court Tuesday asked the Centre to set up a portal within 24 hours for the dissemination of real-time information on the coronavirus pandemic to counter the panic being spread through fake news. A Doctor of mohalla clinic in Babarpur has tested positive for coronavirus, reported ANI. A notice has been put up in the area asking patients who had visited the clinic between 12 to 20 March, should self-quarantine at home for the next 15 days. Times of India reported that keeping in line with the cooperative departments directive to housing societies to disallow its members to step out unless it is an emergency, several neighborhoods have got vegetables, grocery vendors allowed to set up shop inside housing societies. We arrested Punjabi from Bhendi Bazar area under section 188 of the IPC as well as provisions of the Disaster Management Act. He was later released on bail, Senior Inspector Sanjeev Bhole of JJ Marg police station told PTI. Sohail Salim Punjabis message read Mumbais Null Bazar, Bhendi Bazar, Dongri, Madanpura, Kala Pani, Sat Rasta area is uncontrollable by Police, Hence Military has been called. They will use force, lathi charge as well as firing to controll Mob. A 28-year-old man was arrested in Byculla in Mumbai on Monday for allegedly circulating a message on WhatsApp that the military had been deployed in some parts of the locality to enforce the lockdown for the novel coronavirus outbreak with the mandate to fire to control mobs. He has given Rs 5 lakh to 'Zomato Feeding India', which is helping families affected by the ongoing national lockdown, and another Rs 5 lakh to help aid the welfare of stray dogs. Rohit, who is the vice-captain of the Indian ODI team, has donated Rs 45 lakh and Rs 25 lakh to the PM and CM's Relief Fund (Maharashtra) respectively. Star India batsman Rohit Sharma has donated Rs 80 lakh to fight the rapidly-spreading COVID-19 pandemic, saying the onus is on the citizens to help the country get back on its feet. Earlier, the MBMC had set up a 40-bed ward at the civic hospital, but now it is upgraded to a 100-bed isolation ward to house patients, Chandrakant Dange, MBMC commissioner, MBMC told the newspaper. To combat the coronavirus outbreak, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC)-run Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Civic Hospital has been converted into a 100-bed isolation facility with immediate effect, reports The Hindustan Times . The duo had shared a video showing the police beating upa man during the lockdown on several WhatsApp groups, he said, adding that posting such contents on social media is banned during the lockdown. The Ulhasnagar police on Monday registered a case against former corporator and Sena leader Vijay Sawant and Raju Idani, while no arrests have been made so far, senior inspector Rajendra Kadam said. An FIR was registered against two persons, including a Shiv Sena leader, for allegedly sharing a video of the local police assaulting a man during the COVID-19 lockdown in Ulhasnagar town of Maharashtra, police said on Tuesday. One staff nurse of a hospital in Sector 6, in Panchkula has tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday. "She is in isolation now," Chief Medical Officer, Panchkula told ANI. The number of positive cases in Haryana stand at 22. He said people will have to maintain social distancing while buying essential goods. Bhilwara has reported 26 positive cases out of the 83 coronavirus cases reported in the state so far. For 10 days starting from 3 April, people should remain indoors. We are going to cancel all passes issued to media, public support groups or NGOs. Essential services will be delivered as per a time-table in the town, Bhilwara collector Rajendra Bhatt said. Residents have been asked to remain indoors as the district administration has prepared a time-table to deliver essential services at doorsteps, they said. With Bhilwara recording 30 percent of total COVID-19 cases in Rajasthan, the district administration plans to impose a stricter lockdown in the textile town for 10 days starting from April 3 by revoking passes issued to media and NGOs, officials said on Tuesday. IndiGo, India's largest airline, had announced similar cuts a couple of weeks ago. GoAir, owned by the Wadia group, has asked employees to go on a rotational leave without pay. Budget airline SpiceJet on Tuesday announced a pay cut for all employees, after the state-mandated lockdown grounded airlines in India for 21 days. Employees will take 10-30 percent deductions in their March pay with SpiceJet chairman Ajay Singh taking a 30 percent pay cut. The health department has started screening of all the people residing in one-kilometre area around their house, he added. The number of positive cases in the state is now 101, a health official said here. After the report was received from the KGMU on Tuesday morning, the Subhash Nagar area, where the family resides, has been sealed off and 5-kilometre area around their house has been made the buffer zone the CMO said. "Five cases have been found positive in Bareilly. The samples of 6 members of a family of a youth, working in Noida and earlier found corona positive, were sent for testing and five of them, including his mother, father, brother, sister, and wife were found as positive," Chief medical officer, Bareilly, Dr Vineet Shukla said on Tuesday. With five more people testing positive for coronavirus in Bareilly on Tuesday, the total count of COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh has crossed the 100 mark, said officials. "Those who are dying on way to home should be identified by the government and their bodies should be sent home. Families of such people should also be given Rs 25 lakh," Akhilesh said The 21-day nationwide lockdown sparked an exodus of hundreds of thousands of migrant labourers who undertook long journeys from major urban cities on foot to their native places in the last five days, threatening to overturn the benefits of the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to identify the people who died while making their way home and give Rs 25 lakh to their families. Additional Chief Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said one person each has tested positive from Jhunjhunu, Ajmer, Dungarpur and Jaipur. The other 10 are evacuees from Iran who had landed at Jodhpur airport recently, Singh said. Ten more Indian evacuees from Iran in Rajasthan have tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease. Fourteen more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Rajasthan, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 93, an official said on Tuesday. Thousands of Gujarat-based migrant workers had earlier started their journey on foot to reach Rajasthan following the announcement of lockdown last week to contain the spread of coronavirus. These labourers are now being sent to shelter homes in Gujarat, said Inspector General, Gandhinagar Range, Mayanksinh Chavda, who rushed to the spot after getting information about the matter. Over 500 migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar were stuck at the Shamlaji border town in Gujarat after the Rajasthan Police refused them entry, an official said on Tuesday. It asked the Centre to prevent migration of people and take care of their needs of food, shelter, nourishment and medical aid. It said these shelters should be run by volunteers and not the police, and there should be no use of force and intimidation. "Panic will destroy more lives than the virus", the top court said and asked the Centre to get trained counsellors and community leaders of all faiths to calm down the migrants, who are kept in shelter homes across the country. The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Tuesday to prevent migration of people due to coronavirus and set up within 24 hours a portal for disseminating real time information on the pandemic to counter the panic being spread through fake news. Meanwhile, the health ministry said that with more than 1,200 cases of COVID-19 in India, the number of hotspots in country has increased. R Gangakhedkar of the ICMR, one of the nodal agencies on India's action against the spread of coronavirus, said in the daily briefing on Tuesday, "Till now we have tested 42,788 samples, including 4,346 samples that were tested yesterday. It represents 36 percent of our capacity. 123 labs have been made functional, 49 private labs have been given permission. Yesterday 399 patients were tested in private labs." "With respect to the Nizamuddin area, we all need to understand and appreciate that this is not the time to do fault finding. What is important for us is to take action as per our containment process in whatever areas we find a case," said Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry. Addressing converns over the congregation that was held in Delhi's Nizammudin area of which several attendees have tested positive for coronavirus, the health ministry said that "fault finding" should be avoided. First three COVID-19 patients in West Bengal have recovered, reports said, adding that they will remain in quarantine for the time being. Meanwhile, two new cases were confirmed for the infection in the state on Tuesday, the total cases are now 27. It is estimated that from January 1 onwards, approximately 2100 foreigners had visited India for Tabligh activities, the statement said. In a statement, the home ministry said while approximately 824 of them, as on 21 March, were dispersed in different parts of the country, 216 of them were staying at Nizamuddin Markaz, where several of them tested COVID-19 positive. The government on Tuesday said as many as 2100 foreigners visited India for Tablighi activities since 1 January and all of them first reported at its headquarters in Delhi's Nizamuddin, which has apparently become a coronavirus hotspot. In Madhya Pradesh, the total number of coronavirus positive cases on Tuesday rose to 66 in the state, of which 44 positive cases have been reported in Indore. Five people have died due to the infection till now in the state. Italy on Tuesday observed a minute of silence and flags in the country were at half-mast in mourning for the 11,591 people who have died due to the coronavirus pandemic so far. Italy, one of the worst-affected countries, was declared as the epicentre of COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) after the toll crossed that of China's. "Moreover, the employees will also be treated as "on leave without pay" for the March 25-31 phase due to the suspension of air passenger services during the period, said the airline, which offered its aircraft and crew to the government for any "humanitarian mission" last week," the report said. SpiceJet airline is likely to cut 30 percent of its employees's salaries in March, The Indian Express quoted Chairman Ajay Singh as saying. The total number of positive coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh rose to 103 on Tuesday, with the highest number of cases reported in Noida with 39 cases. "Persons who are bonafide residents of the state of Punjab and are travelling from other states to the state of Punjab would be screened," a government notification said. All residents of Punjab returning from other states will be screened for coronavirus upon entry, the state government said on Tuesday. "Crisil may not recognise missed payments as defaults if they occurred because of temporary operational challenges caused by the lockdown," the agency said. Companies need not worry about missed payments impacting ratings if these are due to operational challenges in the lockdown, ratings agency Crisil said in a statement. Three new coronavirus cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh's Noida and 26 cases were reporting in Rajasthan's Bhilwara on Tuesday. Another COVID-19 death was reported in West Bengal on Tuesday, after which the toll in state rose to four, PTI quoted officials as saying. The Delhi Police has written a letter to Delhi government seeking immediate action with regard to persons including 157 foreign nationals associated with Tablighi Jamaat meet in Nizamuddin and presently staying at various mosques and places in Delhi. Sun Weidong, Chinese Envoy to India , said, "The 2nd batch of donation from Chinese charity organizations Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundations has arrived in Delhi today and been received by Indian Red Cross Society. Donation includes protective clothes, masks, respirators and ventilators. Chinese state-owned companies also provide assistance to their Indian partners. The Chinese people will stand firmly with the Indian people on the fight against COVID-19 and we'll get through hard times together." "With this, Odisha now has four positive cases. The previous three are in various stages of recovery," reports said. Meanwhile, a fourth COVID-19 has been confirmed case in Odisha. Reportedly, the patient is a 29-year-old male from the Bhadrak district with a travel history to Dubai. Efforts are on to isolate him from his family and to bring him to the coronavirus ward at SCBMCH in Cuttack, the state's largest govt-run hospital. He was asymptomatic and quarantined at home. Five more COVID-19 cases from Bihar, including four from Siwan and one from Gopalganj have been reported on Tuesday. Total cases in the state are now at 21. At least 15,000 people are listed for observation for coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir, a media bulletin said on Tuesday. The bulletin also said that 9,895 people were being kept under home quarantine, while 350 were in hospital quarantine and 51 people were kept in hospital isolation. A total of 3,334 people were kept under home surveillance, while 1,371 had completed the surveillance period. "Twenty-three laboratories in the Maharashtra (10 government and 13 private ones) have been approved by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) for COVID-19 diagnosis. Reports from private laboratories are being evaluated before they are finalised," the state public health department said. Maharashtra:Migrant workers staying in a shelter home in Nagpur allege that it lacks basic utilities.A worker says,"We don't have electricity&toilet facilities.We've to eat our meals near garbage. We were assured that we'll be fine but situation here is such that we can fall ill" pic.twitter.com/CI5608r49G Migrant workers staying in a shelter home in Nagpur allege that it lacks basic utilities.A worker says,"We don't have electricity and toilet facilities.We've to eat our meals near garbage. We were assured that we'll be fine but situation here is such that we can fall ill." Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST updates: The number of novel coronavirus cases climbed to 1,397 on Tuesday after 146 new infections were reported in the past 24 hours across the country, while the death toll due to the pandemic rose to 35, according to the Union Health Ministry. The active cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) stands at 1,238, while three deaths two in Punjab and one in Maharashtra were reported, the ministry said in an updated data on Monday night. The Union health ministry said that there has been an increase of 146 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which takes the total number of COVID-19 positive cases rise to 1,397 in India (including 1238 active cases, 124 cured/discharged/migrated people and 35 deaths). The Ministry of External Affairs (MHA) said that so far, 1,339 workers of the Tablighi Jamaat organisation have been shifted to Narela, Sultanpuri and Bakkarwala quarantine facilities in Delhi. The statement also said that some have also been admitted to the LNJP, RGSS, GTB, DDU hospitals and AllMS in Haryana's Jhajjar. Rest of them are being currently medically screened for COVID-19 infections. "Usually, all foreigners visiting India as a part of Tablighi team come on tourist visas. MHA had already issued guidelines that they should not indulge in missionary work on a tourist visa. Police will examine and take further action in case of violation of visa conditions," the statement added. Several attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi's Nizammudin tested positive for the coronavirus in Tamil Nadu and Telangana, while 36 attendees were kept in quarantine in Madhya Pradesh, reports said on Tuesday. 50 people from Tamil Nadu who attended the gathering at the Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi, have been tested positive for coronavirus, Tamil Nadu health secretary Beela Rajesh said. The government also said that out of 1,131 people who returned to the state from Delhi, where the around 2,000-strong congregation was held, 515 have been traced while the remaining 616 are asked to self-report. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday said that the Centre will take "strictest" action against those who violated visa rules and travelled to India for the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi's Nizammudin held on 13 March. Several attendees of the congregation from across the country have tested positive for the coronavirus, and some have also died. The MHA also said that the foreigners will be blacklisted and FIRs will be filed against "those spreading false rumours on COVID-19 crisis". A 52-year-old person has been found positive for coronavirus in Assam, state minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, adding that it is Assam's first COVID-19 patient. He is undergoing treatment at Silchar Medical College and his condition is stable, the minister said. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said that seven positive cases have been reported in the state, two each in Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod. He said that additionally, one each was reported in Kollam, Thrissur, and Kannur. The total active cases are now 215. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday, "Amid all this gloom and grief caused by the pandemic, we have a very heartening story to share. An elderly couple from Ranni, of age 93 and 82, have left the hospital after being successfully treated for COVID-19. Good work health department. Keep Hope Alive, We Shall Overcome." R Gangakhedkar of the ICMR, one of the nodal agencies on India's action against the spread of coronavirus, said in the daily briefing on Tuesday, "Till now we have tested 42,788 samples, including 4,346 samples that were tested yesterday. It represents 36 percent of our capacity. 123 labs have been made functional, 49 private labs have been given permission. Yesterday 399 patients were tested in private labs." National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said that people using hashtags like 'Tablighi virus' after the Tablighi Jammat organisation which hosted a congregation in Delhi's Nizammudin, were "more dangerous than any virus that nature could ever conjure". Several attendees from states across India have tested positive for coronavirus and some have succumbed to the infection. Over 500 migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar were stuck at the Shamlaji border town in Gujarat after the Rajasthan Police refused them entry, an official said on Tuesday. With five more people testing positive for coronavirus in Bareilly on Tuesday, the total count of COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh has crossed the 100 mark, said, officials. 'Five cases have been found positive in Bareilly. The samples of 6 members of a family of a youth, working in Noida and earlier found corona positive, were sent for testing and five of them, including his mother, father, brother, sister, and wife were found as positive,' Chief medical officer, Bareilly, Dr Vineet Shukla said on Tuesday. A doctor of mohalla clinic in Babarpur has tested positive for coronavirus, reported ANI. A notice has been put up in the area asking patients who had visited the clinic between 12 to 20 March, should self-quarantine at home for the next 15 days. The 65-year-old man from Nayagaon near Chandigarh, who had tested positive for coronavirus succumbed to his illness on Tuesday morning. The total number of coronavirus cases in Punjab stood at 41 with 4 deaths. AAP MLA Atishi Marlena urges for 'strong action' against Nizamuddin event organisers, stating that the event which took place between 13 to 17 march was illegal considering the Delhi government had banned gathering of more 50 people on 13 March itself. Karnataka health minister B Sriramulu on Tuesday said that the government has information that around 45 people from Karnataka had taken part in the Nizamuddin congregation. The Tumkur resident (who died on March 27) is one of them, he said and added that 13 people have been traced so far. Five more new cases have been reported in Maharashtra. Among the five, four cases were reported from Mumbai and one from Pune. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 230, said Maharashtra Health Department on Tuesday. Delhi's health minister Satyendar Jain told ANI that 24 people who were present at the Markaz building, Nizamuddin have tested positive for coronavirus, so far. He also said that around 1,500 to 1,700 people have been estimated by the government to have assembled at Markaz building. Amid multiple reports which claim that the Markaz Nizamuddin had violated lockdown, the Markaz issued a detailed clarification into how they did not violate the lockdown announced by the government. With the help of the Health Department around 860 people have been shifted from Markaz building, in Nizamuddin to hospitals. Around 300 more people are yet to be evacuated, Delhi Police sources told ANI on Tuesday. A 49-year-old woman who had tested positive for COVID-19 died in Madhya Pradesh, taking the number of coronavirus deaths in the state to five, an official said on Tuesday. She had no travel history and was already suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, officials said. A 68-year-old man from Thiruvananthapuram who had tested positive for COVID-19 died at Thiruvananthapuram medical college early Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, Delhi witnessed 87 coronavirus cases in Nizamuddin as area emerged as a hotspot after a religious meeting was held at Markaz by the Tableeghi Jamaat earlier this month. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region's COVID-19 count reached 170 on Monday with 47 people testing positive for the novel coronavirus, officials said. While 29 of the new infections are in Mumbai, the rest 18 are from other parts of MMR, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials said. Delhi Police cordon off Delhi's Nizamuddin area after six people from Telangana who attended a religious congregation in there died due to the novel coronavirus. The Delhi government has also asked the police to register an FIR against the Maulana of Markaz in Nizamuddin area as some people have shown symptoms of coronavirus after taking part in a religious gathering in Delhi. The number of coronavirus cases in the country rose to 1,251 on Monday while the number of fatalities reached 32, said the Union health ministry. The government said there was no immediate plan to extend the 21-day lockdown period, which entered its sixth day on Monday, while the Indian Army dismissed as "fake" social media posts about a possible emergency declaration next month. At 227, this is the largest one-day increase in the number of cases for India. The highest number of cases was reported from Kerala (202) while Maharashtra has 198 cases, said the health ministry. However, according to the latest figures given by the Maharashtra government, the case count rose to 220, with 17 persons testing positive. Out of these 17, eight are from Mumbai, five from Pune, two from Nagpur, while one each from Nashik and Kolhapur, PTI quotes a state health official as saying. The state also reported the death of two more persons due to the deadly infection, taking the total number of deaths in Maharashtra to 10. Of these, an 80-year-old man died in a private hospital of Mumbai on March 28, but his sample tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, the official said. The city of Pune reported its first death after a COVID-19 patient who was on ventilator support died of multiple organ failure. The patient also suffered from diabetes and high BP, said the official. Kerala reported 32 new positive cases of Covid-19, taking the total number of patients under treatment to 213 in the state with the worst affected Kasaragod district accounting for 17 fresh cases.The state also scripted history on Monday when an elderly couple was cured of the deadly virus.Thomas (93) and Mariyamma (88), from Ranni in Pathanamthitta district, admitted in Kottayam medical college were cured even as they battled with various age related complications. With 25 new cases, the count of positive cases rose to 79 in Delhi.Karnataka reported five new cases taking the tally to 88 while Jammu and Kashmir reported 11 new cases taking the total to 49.24 people tested positive in Uttar Pradesh taking the total to 96. "Of the 24 new corona patients, 14 are from Meerut, seven from Noida (Gautam Buddh Nagar), and one each from Agra, Lucknow and Bulandshahar," Joint Director-cum-State Surveillance Officer under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, Dr Vikasendu Agrawal, said in a statement. "In Meerut, 13 cases have been reported, all of which are relatives and acquaintances of one infected person," said another state health official. In Punjab, a 42-year-old coronavirus-positive woman died at a Patiala hospital taking the COVID-19 death toll in the state to three, an official said. It is the second coronavirus-related death within 24 hours in the state where 41 people are confirmed so far to have been infected by the virus.The Ludhiana resident was admitted at the hospital on Sunday night, Patiala Civil Surgeon Harish Malhotra told PTI over the phone. She was complaining of breathlessness and had acute respiratory distress syndrome, he said, adding that she died around 1.30 pm on Monday, before the report of her samples confirming her as coronavirus positive arrived. The state of Telangana also reported 1 death and 13 new cases taking the number of active COVID-19 cases in the state to 61. Details of the deceased person were not immediately known. India in local transmission stage, says Union health ministry Even as states reported a spike in numbers, the Union health ministry took a cautious approach and maintained that the country was in the local transmission stage. "It took 12 days for cases to rise from 100 to 1,000 in our country, whereas seven other developed nations having lesser population than us have seen multiple increase," Health ministry Joint Secretary Lav Aggarwal said while insisting that COVID-19 is still in the local transmission stage in India. The ministry, however, in its Standard Operating Procedure issued on Sunday for transporting a COVID-19 case, had mentioned the current phase of the pandemic as "local transmission and limited community transmission". "This SOP is applicable to current phase of COVID-19 pandemic in India (local transmission and limited community transmission), wherein as per plan of action, all suspect cases are admitted to isolation facilities. These procedures are meant to guide and be used for training ambulance drivers and technicians in transporting COVID19 patients," it read. However, Agarwal attributed the slow pace of rise in cases in India to people's participation in strictly following the social-distancing guidelines and the collective preemptive actions taken by the Centre in tandem with state governments. Speaking at the same press conference, Raman R Gangakhedkar, head of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research, said 38,442 tests have been conducted till now, out of which 3,501 were done on Sunday. He said 47 private laboratories have been given approval for conducting COVID-19 tests and in the last three days, 1,334 tests have been done in private labs, he said. "It is still below 30 per cent of or testing capacity," he said. On reports about death of doctors due to heart attack apparently after consumption of Hydroxychloroquine recommended by ICMR for healthcare workers taking care of COVID-19 patients, Gangakhedkar said they do not have details of the cases but added that two doses leading to death seemed difficult unless the doctor had underlying health issues. "It is difficult for me to say anything as I do not know the profile of the patient," he said. Over several people being allegedly quarantined in a particular area in Delhi's Nizamuddin after they showed symptoms of coronavirus infection, Agarwal said they initiate action as per the protocol. Be it in Nizamuddin or any part of the country healthcare teams go and take action as part of the containment strategy, he said, adding the government was focusing on hotpsots from where large number of cases are being reported and working in tandem with states to implement rigorous contact-tracing, community surveillance and other containment strategies to break the chain of transmission. Responding to a question over a video on social media showing a group of migrant workers allegedly being sprayed with a chlorine solution by the Bareilly municipal corporation personnel, Agarwal said the district magistrate has clarified it was some "overzealous" employees who did something which was not required. "This is an overzealous action done by field officers either out of fear or out of ignorance. There are no guidelines in terms of spraying disinfectants on people," he said. The video which had gone viral on social media had evinced strong criticism from many, including Opposition leaders. Government seeks to ramp up manufacture of ventilator, protective gear The health ministry also said the government has asked automobile manufacturers to use their facilities to make ventilators and added that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will start manufacturing 20,000 N-95 masks daily from next week. According to the health ministry, over 14,000 existing ventilators are earmarked for COVID-19 patients in various hospitals of the country, while there are 11.95 lakh N-95 masks in stock. and additional masks have been distributed over the past three days. The ministry also said 3.34 lakh personal protection equipment (PPE) coveralls are available with hospitals in the country and another 3 lakh, which have been donated, will be received from abroad by 4 April. Besides, the ministry has asked the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, to manufacture 30,000 ventilators in the next two months in collaboration with local manufacturers while private Agva Healthcare in Noida has been given an order to manufacture 10,000 ventilators within a month. In the meantime, orders have been placed with international companies such as Hamilton, Mindray and Draeger to supply ventilators, it said. The Ministry of External Affairs is also approaching suppliers in China for sourcing 10,000 ventilators from them, it said in a statement. Two domestic manufacturers are producing 50,000 N-95 masks per day. This is expected to go up to 1 lakh daily within the next week as they are ramping up their production capacities, the health ministry said. SC seeks status report on migrant exodus Seeking to contain mass spread of the deadly virus, several states effectively sealed their borders to stop movement of migrant workers rendered jobless due to a nationwide lockdown. Haryana police said they have completely sealed all inter-state borders to prevent the movement of migrant workers, while the Uttarakhand government withdrew its earlier decision of allowing inter-district movement of people within the state. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal warned district magistrates and deputy commissioners that strict action could taken against them for any laxity during lockdown. The lieutenant governor also told them to send anyone found roaming without an e-pass or a valid reason to district shelters set up by the administration. Sources told PTI that Baijal wrote to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, expressing displeasure over the handling of the migrant workers crisis, after thousands of people gathered at Anand Vihar ISBT violating the lockdown. Intense patrolling was initiated in borders areas of Delhi on Monday. Meanwhile a 35-year-old migrant worker placed in home quarantine after he returned to his native Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh from Tamil Nadu allegedly committed suicide on Monday, police said. "Local health officials had asked him to be in home quarantine as a precautionary measure. He was checked by doctors till 29 March and showed no symptoms like cold, cough etc. On Monday, however, he hanged himself,"a police official said. The Supreme Court also observed that fear and panic becoming was becoming "a bigger problem than the coronavirus", but stopped short of passing any order and sought a report from the government by Tuesday. Hearing two separate PILs which sought relief, including food, water, medicines and proper medical facilities, for thousands of migrant workers who are rendered homeless and jobless due to the lockdown, a bench of Chief Justice Bobde and Justice L Nageswara Rao said said before passing any direction, it would like to wait for the status report from the centre. The government also clarified that there was no immediate plan to extend the 21-day lockdown amid fears that shutdown of businesses across the country to counter the spread of the virus may trigger severe economic and social distress. The worldwide tally of deaths crossed 35,900, with more than 26,000 people dying in Europe. Globally, more than 7,40,000 people have been detected positive so far, out of which nearly 1,42,300 have recovered, as per various reports. In UK, Prince Charles appeared recovering and moved out of self-isolation, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered quarantine after an aide tested positive for the deadly virus. With inputs from PTI New york coronavirus testing Sgt. Amouris Coss/U.S. Army National Guard/Handout/Reuters Hospital workers in New York the epicenter of the US coronavirus outbreak describe the stark reality of treating patients amid a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). One doctor described working conditions like a "petri dish" as coronavirus patients flood hospital hallways, The New York Times reported. As of March 30, the coronavirus has infected at least 67,384 people in New York, and the death toll in the state has surpassed 2,700. Doctors and nurses are getting infected two nurses even died of the virus, which causes a respiratory disease known as COVID-19, as they tend to patients amid a national shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. A New York doctor at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States described to The New York Times that working conditions were like being in a "petri dish," as doctors and nurses care for an overwhelming number of patients. As of March 30, the coronavirus has infected at least 67,384 people in New York, and the death toll in the state has surpassed 2,700. Doctors and nurses are getting infected and two nurses died of the virus, which causes a respiratory disease known as COVID-19, as they tend to patients amid a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). Thomas Riley, a nurse working in the Bronx who was infected with the coronavirus, set the scene in the hospital where he worked patients with "lungs that sounded like sandpaper" crowding the hallways and doctors and nurses facing a shortage of PPE, according to The Times report. "I'm swimming in this," he told The Times was thinking at the time, adding that he thought, "I'm pretty sure I'm getting this." Hospital workers are forced to reuse their masks and gowns amid the protective gear shortage, instead of swapping out PPE after treating each patient, per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation. At Kings County Hospital Center, hospital staff are given one N95 mask to last through the week and are forced to sanitize the masks with hand sanitizer in between patients, according to a Times report. Story continues "It puts us in danger, it puts our patients in danger," Kelley Cabrera, an emergency room nurse in the Bronx, told The Times. "I can't believe in the United States that's what's happening." Despite the potential threat to their own health, medical workers continue to show up to their shifts to treat patients as the city continues to grapple the virus. "We all think we're screwed," Kimberly Marsh, a nurse working outside New York City, told The New York Times. "I know without any doubt that I'm going to lose colleagues. There's just no way around it." Read the original article on Business Insider 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. Spider-Man does whatever a spider can -- and now he is running the streets and using his superpowers to help cheer up dozens of citizens stuck indoors due to the coronavirus quarantine. With the United Kingdom mired in the second week of an unprecedented lockdown over the COVID-19 outbreak, Andrew Baldock, a childrens martial arts teacher in England, and his friend, Jason Baird, had an idea. Ive had [the Spider-Man costume] for ages because I used to work in retail. I used to work in computer games so when games were released I would always go in dressed up so I have been various characters throughout the years from Batman to Darth Vader, said Baldock. MORE: 'Once a nurse, always a nurse': 20,000 former UK medics return to battle coronavirus PHOTO: With the United Kingdom mired in the second week of an unprecedented lockdown over the COVID-19 outbreak, Andrew Baldock and Jason Baird in Stockport, England, had an idea to run around as Spider-Man to cheer up children stuck indoors. (Leanne Cooper) Not shy about dressing up, he has even put on the Spider-Man outfit a few times before while teaching his martial arts classes which has always been a hit with the kids. This led to the idea of both Baldock and Baird using their one hour of allotted exercise time per day under the current U.K. government guidelines to don their costumes to try and cheer kids up who are bored and stuck inside. As soon as you put the outfit on, you kind of forget who you are. You just become the character. You just unleash the inner child, said Baldock who has now been going for hour long runs around different neighborhoods in the city of Stockport, England, for more than a week. MORE: Trump extends coronavirus social distancing guidelines to April 30 PHOTO: With the United Kingdom mired in the second week of an unprecedented lockdown over the COVID-19 outbreak, Andrew Baldock and Jason Baird in Stockport, England, had an idea to run around as Spider-Man to cheer up children stuck indoors. (Joanne Hallworth) Their Spider-Man runs have become so popular, they have become known as Stockport Spider-Man and there is even a social media group on Facebook of more than 1,000 people and growing by the day -- who have been putting in requests for them to come to their neighborhoods for a visit. Its fantastic. Absolutely fantastic, said Baldock. It makes it worthwhile. You get a little bit hot, a little bit sweaty in it. Youre running around and youve got a mask but you dont even think about how uncomfortable you might be in it because you go around and you just see these families and they are just happy. It is what we need. Right now it is what we need. Definitely warms your heart. Story continues The COVID-19 outbreak has killed 179 people and infected more than 22,000 across the United Kingdom so far. But their Spider-Man runs have snowballed quickly with hundreds of comments and requests on their Facebook page. MORE: National Guard to deploy against coronavirus in NY, California, Washington PHOTO: With the United Kingdom mired in the second week of an unprecedented lockdown over the COVID-19 outbreak, Andrew Baldock and Jason Baird in Stockport, England, had an idea to run around as Spider-Man to cheer up children stuck indoors. (Louise Stockton) [The kids] jump up and down shouting Spider-Man, Spider-Man, waving, big smiles on faces. Just joy, which is fantastic because I think we all need a bit of joy at the moment, said Baldock. Louise Stocktons son Dexter dressed in his own Spider-Man costume when the Stockport Spider-Man paid the Stockton family a visit. Today we saw Spider-Man and Spider-Man cheered us up, said Dexter as his mother said this is now the third week they have been stuck under quarantine. MORE: Coronavirus shuts down major cities, Trump asks Americans to avoid groups over 10 people PHOTO: With the United Kingdom mired in the second week of an unprecedented lockdown over the COVID-19 outbreak, Andrew Baldock and Jason Baird in Stockport, England, had an idea to run around as Spider-Man to cheer up children stuck indoors. (Louise Stockton) But It isnt just the kids who are getting a kick out of seeing Spider-Man running the streets either. Said Baldock: I have had lots of adults beaming and laughing and I am going to see an elderly lady tomorrow who has been going through chemo and she has requested a visit from Spider-Man so I will be waving to her as well. Spider-Man, being the superhero that he is, also makes sure to follow strict social distancing guidelines while the U.K continues to battle the coronavirus outbreak. Spiderman follows strict government guidelines when out and about and always keeps social distancing in place. When you see him please shout from your window but do not come outside, the Stockport Spider-Man Facebook page says. MORE: 3-year-old boy gets lost and left behind by class, teachers on preschool field trip PHOTO: With the United Kingdom mired in the second week of an unprecedented lockdown over the COVID-19 outbreak, Andrew Baldock and Jason Baird in Stockport, England, had an idea to run around as Spider-Man to cheer up children stuck indoors. (Sarah Harris) When asked what he wants to get out of all of this, however, Baldock was clear. Just a moment where [the kids] can forget they are stuck inside, a little bit of excitement for them. Just a moment in what otherwise might be a dreary day. As Spider-Man fans know, with great power comes great responsibility. Said Baldock: There is nothing like helping the community. Matt Graveling contributed to this report. 'Spider-Man' runs the streets of England cheering kids up in coronavirus lockdown originally appeared on abcnews.go.com LONDON, March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Raymond James has appointed Allan Bertie as co-head of its European Investment Banking practice. Bertie will co-lead the firm's fast-growing European investment banking practice alongside current Head of European Investment banking and Chief Operating Officer Steve Hufford. Bertie will bring his three decades of investment banking and market experience to Raymond James to continue to grow the team of over 75 investment banking professionals further in Europe. He will build on the firm's strategic vision to continue to offer content-rich, sector-specific, high-value middle-market investment banking services on a global basis. "Allan is a very skilled and talented banker who has deep relationships with many of the pre-eminent middle-market private equity houses in the UK and continental Europe. He also has a stellar reputation in those markets, and is known for his strategic insight, keen eye for a transaction and straightforward manner. We look forward to leveraging his deep relationships and expertise for the benefit of the firm and its clients," said Jim Bunn, president of Global Equities and Investment Banking. "Since we launched our European operations in 2016, we have achieved significant growth. Allan's appointment signifies an exciting new chapter and positions us for even greater expansion and success in European markets." Bertie joins from Jefferies International where he was managing director in the European M&A Group based in London. Prior to this, he held the role of senior managing director of Macquarie Capital's Industrials, Communications and Sponsors (ICS) team. Bertie has also worked at GCA Savvian, Dresdner Kleinwort and Credit Suisse First Boston. He is also a member of the Campaign Leadership Board for the University of Glasgow. "I'm thrilled to welcome Allan as co-head of our European team," said Hufford. "We have continued to grow our revenues, deal counts and employee counts in London, Munich and Frankfurt, and as a strong investment banking leader, Allan is joining at an exciting time and will be a great addition to our client-focused team." "I'm delighted to be joining the experienced and respected team at Raymond James," said Bertie. "As co-head I look forward to building upon the excellent work of Steve and my new colleagues." About Raymond James European Investment Banking Raymond James European Investment Banking provides advice to mid-market companies, corporations and private equity firms on international transactions. This includes consultancy on mergers & acquisitions, financing, restructuring and secondaries. They exclusively represent the interests of their clients at all stages of the transaction process - from the definition of strategic goals to the negotiation of financial terms and the conclusion of the deal. Raymond James has dedicated teams focused on the following sectors: Industrial, Technology & Services, Health Care, and Consumer & Retail. Within the group, the Munich and Frankfurt-based advisory team is part of the Investment Banking division. With more than 350 M&A advisors, Raymond James Investment Banking is already a market leader in the US and in 2016 was named "Investment Banking Firm of the Year" (The M&A Advisor) and "USA Middle Market M&A Investment Bank of the Year" (Global M&A Network). Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange. Disclosures for these awards can be found at raymondjames.com/corporations-and-institutions/accolades. About Raymond James Financial, Inc. Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE: RJF) is a leading diversified financial services company providing private client group, capital markets, asset management, banking and other services to individuals, corporations and municipalities. The company has approximately 8,100 financial advisors. Total client assets are $855 billion. Public since 1983, the firm is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RJF. Additional information is available at raymondjames.com. Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. In the insect house at Whipsnade Zoo, angry stick insects yell abuse at a new arrival, a cicada from Corfu. They think hes an outsider, coming in to the country to spread the virus, explains the Assistant Director of the Insect House. As a consequence, the zoo rehouses the cicada in temporary accommodation in the Elephant Enclosure, banking on the fact that elephants are less easily bothered. WPC Snow White raids a woodland house and discovers an unlicensed gathering of up to seven dwarves failing to employ social distancing In North Wales, police swoop on a car after a passer-by reports catching sight of a six-pack of toilet rolls in the passenger seat. A woman has been taken into custody, announces D.S. Gruntled. The next morning, locals surround the police vehicle transporting the woman to the courtroom, hurling missiles and screaming insults. Twelve of these protesters are then arrested for failure to observe a reasonable distance between each other. As they are taken to court, they, too, are heckled in the street by a large group of members of the newly-formed Keep Our Streets Free of Other People League. WPC Snow White raids a woodland house and discovers an unlicensed gathering of up to seven dwarves failing to employ social distancing. I cautioned them on charges of inessential whistling while they worked, she informs a press conference. And one of the seven, a Mr Sneezy, has been arrested for failure to use his sleeve. In North Wales, police swoop on a car after a passer-by reports catching sight of a six-pack of toilet rolls in the passenger seat [File photo] In the U.S., President Donald Trump tweets: We will stop at nothing to protect the truly awesome people of this great country. But those who are not truly awesome will get whats coming to them. Later, in a major speech, he announces that: America now has more people testing positive than any other country in the world. And thats something we can be very, very proud of. In Lincolnshire, a group of ten policemen burst in on a suspect room, find it empty, and, for want of anything better to do, proceed to caution themselves for failure to observe social distancing. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announces an emergency restriction on games of chess. It is no longer viable to have 32 chessmen in such a confined area. For the foreseeable future, games of chess will be restricted to two chessmen on either side, with a minimum of six squares between them at any one time. In the U.S., President Donald Trump tweets: We will stop at nothing to protect the truly awesome people of this great country. But those who are not truly awesome will get whats coming to them' In Londons Piccadilly Circus, reporters from four different TV stations converge, and cross-question each other as to what on earth they are doing there, flouting the Governments clear instructions on social distancing. In an emergency ruling, senior health officers advise all glove puppets to wear gloves. A police drone flying over a moor in the Peak District uncovers a flock of a hundred sheep gathering in a public place. The leader of the sheep blames the dog, and the dog blames the shepherd, who in turn blames the sheep, insisting he was doing his best to separate them, but they insisted on sticking together. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announces an emergency restriction on games of chess. It is no longer viable to have 32 chessmen in such a confined area. For the foreseeable future, games of chess will be restricted to two chessmen on either side, with a minimum of six squares between them at any one time. Northamptonshire police reveal that their packed control room has received dozens and dozens of calls to its Social Distancing Hotline, reporting neighbours flouting the rules by watching television programmes in which three or more people are gathered together in a single room. In one particularly disturbing incident, my men raided a private house in which a middle-aged couple were watching a repeat of Strictly Come Dancing, involving a number of competitors dancing cheek-to-cheek, declared Det Insp. B. Boot. On closer inspection, we discovered they were not wearing essential facemasks. Trauma counselling has been made available to all those officers who witnessed this harrowing scene. In the Basingstoke branch of Waitrose, eight triangles of Bel Paese cheese are discovered huddled together in a confined packet. What those cheeses were doing was madness! says store detective Daphne Snoop, 51. To be squeezed so tightly together at a time like this is grossly irresponsible. In the same store, a dozen fish fingers were found nestling together in a single pack. I have since separated them, and they are now available to our customers as single fingers. Any customer attempting to buy three or more fingers will face prosecution. Dont they know theres a crisis on? BERLIN (Reuters) - Shares in meal-kit delivery firm HelloFresh jumped to a record high on Tuesday after it said it expected strong first-quarter sales and profit due to a surge in demand as coronavirus lockdowns prompt more people to cook at home. HelloFresh shares were up 14.2% at 1021 GMT, making them the biggest gainer on the German mid-cap index <.MDAX>. The company, which delivers pre-portioned meal ingredients with recipes to subscribers, has grown rapidly in the United States, outperforming rival Blue Apron , which has also reported a sharp increase in demand following the coronavirus outbreak. Founded in Berlin in 2011, HelloFresh is active in 12 markets, including Germany, Britain, Canada and Australia, but it makes more than half of its sales in the United States, HelloFresh, said late on Monday it expects quarterly revenue of between 685 million and 710 million euros ($755-783 million), while adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) should come in at 55-75 million euros. Deutsche Bank said that implied revenue growth of up to 69% year-on-year for the quarter, which it said would be the strongest rise for HelloFresh in more than three years. HelloFresh said it was managing to ramp up to meet demand, even though Chief Executive Dominik Richter said last week that food supply chains are stretched and it might have to change delivery times depending on the schedules of its partners. "We are doing everything we can to deliver our boxes on time and so far there have been no major disruptions to our service," a spokeswoman said on Tuesday. HelloFresh has introduced extra safety measures in its facilities where food boxes are packed, including more frequent hand washing and cleaning, and it has enabled contactless delivery in all its markets. HelloFresh said uncertainties created by the coronavirus crisis meant it was not amending the guidance it gave earlier in the month for 2020 revenue growth of 22% to 27% on a constant currency basis and an adjusted margin of 4-5.5%. ($1 = 0.9115 euros) (Reporting by Emma Thomasson; editing by Louise Heavens and Barbara Lewis) The United States on Tuesday offered a path for Venezuela's leftist leadership to remove sanctions in the face of a mounting humanitarian crisis by accepting a transitional government that excludes US ally Juan Guaido. The tactical shift came after more than a year of faltering US-led efforts to oust President Nicolas Maduro and as fears grow that the coronavirus pandemic will spread rapidly both inside and from poverty-stricken Venezuela. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Guaido as well as Maduro should step aside for a transitional government comprising members of both their parties that will arrange elections in six to 12 months. If fully implemented, the United States and European Union would lift sanctions, including sweeping US restrictions on Venezuela's key export of oil, the State Department said. The IMF and other international lenders would be invited to plan economic relief for Venezuela, from which millions have fled as they face dire shortages of food and other necessities. The plan also calls for the departure of foreign forces from Venezuela, a reference to the regime's support from Russia and Cuba. "We believe this framework protects the interests and equities of all Venezuelan people who desperately seek a resolution to their dire political, economic and humanitarian crisis, and who know Venezuelans can have something better," Pompeo said, urging all sides to consider it "carefully and seriously." Maduro has repeatedly ruled out ceding power and his government quickly rejected the framework, which is similar to a proposal put forward last year by Guaido in failed Norwegian-brokered talks. "Venezuela is a free, sovereign, independent and democratic nation that does not and shall never accept instructions from any foreign government," Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said. Elliott Abrams, the US pointman on Venezuela, downplayed the reaction as predictable but said Washington hoped to jumpstart private talks within the regime and the military, which has remained loyal to Maduro. - Still trying to oust Maduro - The United States has not shifted its goals, with Pompeo renewing support for Guaido -- a 36-year-old engineer who has been recognized as interim president by some 60 countries since January 2019. And while the framework says that any Venezuelan can run for president in future elections, Pompeo reiterated that the United States wanted Maduro out. "We've made clear all along that Nicolas Maduro will never again govern Venezuela," Pompeo told reporters. Abrams later said that, while the United States would accept any results of a free election, it did not believe Maduro could win. "There is no possible way that Nicolas Maduro remains in power if Venezuelans get to choose their own fate and get to elect their own leaders," he said. Asked if Guaido could run, Pompeo said: "Absolutely yes." "I think he's the most popular politician in Venezuela. I think if there were an election held today, he could do incredibly well," Pompeo said. "But more importantly we continue to support him. When we put together this pathway to democracy, we worked closely with him." - Guaido summoned - Guaido welcomed Pompeo's initiative, writing on Twitter: "This is the time to rise; we are taking the right steps to save Venezuela." Hours earlier, Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab said on state television that Guaido had been summoned to appear before prosecutors in an investigation into the seizure of weapons in neighboring Colombia. Saab alleged that the arms were to be smuggled into Venezuela. Colombia last week said it discovered a weapons cache linked to a retired Venezuelan general, Cliver Alcala -- who last week surrendered to US authorities on drug-trafficking charges. Alcala on Tuesday pleaded not guilty before a federal court in New York. He was once close to late president Hugo Chavez, Maduro's predecessor and ideological inspiration. But Saab charged that Alcala was taking orders from Guaido. Opposition supporters say the Venezuelan judiciary regularly trumps up charges for political reasons, although Guaido has been allowed to operate freely, even after he flew to Washington earlier this year to meet President Donald Trump. The United States last week also filed drug-trafficking charges against Maduro, putting a $15 million bounty on his head. Abrams said that the indictment, as well as any sanctions against Maduro not directly related to his holding of power, would remain in place even if he accepts a transitional government. burs-sct/dw Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido addresses supporters during a March 10, 2020 demonstration in Caracas US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (right) says that Washington still wants to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (left) A supporter of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido shoots back a tear gas canister shot by security forces during clashes on March 10, 2020 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 Russia has set up a wholly state-owned oil company named Roszarubezhneft after Rosneft announced it would exit Venezuela and ditch its Venezuelan assets to a new--as of yesterday--and unnamed company, Reuters reports. The news agency also cited an unnamed source as saying Moscow had cut its stake in Rosneft below a majority stake after it agreed to buy Rosnefts Venezuelan assets. The capital of Roszarubezhneft was set at some $4 billion, according to official data, which Russian business daily Vedomosti called massive. According to the daily, Moscow paid for the Venezuelan assets in Rosneft stock, which is where the reduction of the states interest in the company came from. The value of the deal was 9.6 percent in Rosneft. Rosneft announced its pullout from Venezuela over the weekend without going into details about the reasons. However, these are obvious enough and boil down to the effect of U.S. oil sanctions on the company. Earlier this year, Washington announced sanctions on Rosnefts Swiss-based trading arm as part of its attempts to cut off all revenue streams to the Maduro government in Caracas. The U.S. has signaled that it is ready to tighten even more the noose around the Venezuelan government. Today Rosneft concluded an agreement with the company 100% owned by the Government of Russian Federation, to sell all of its interest and cease participation in its Venezuelan businesses, including joint ventures of Petromonagas, Petroperija, Boqueron, Petromiranda and Petrovictoria, as well as oil-field services companies, commercial and trading operations, the state giant said in a press release on Saturday. Meanwhile, Venezuelas oil production fell to the lowest in five months, Reuters reported yesterday, with the total average at some 670,000 bpd, according to documents and unnamed sources. Thats down from an average of around 900,000 bpd for November to February. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Putin, Trump agree oil market amid coronavirus fear Two leaders held phone call, discussed coronavirus pandemic. The presidents of Russia and the US on Monday discussed the spreading global coronavirus pandemic over the phone. CLOSER COOPERATION WAS SIGNALED Russia's Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump both voiced concern over the scale of the novel coronavirus outbreak and informed each other about the measures their country took to stem the infection, the Kremlin said in an online statement. "The heads of state expressed serious concern about the scale of the coronavirus spread in the world and informed each other about the measures taken in Russia and the United States to counter this threat. The possibilities of closer cooperation between the two countries in this area were discussed," it said. In addition, Putin and Trump exchanged views on the current state of the global oil market, agreeing to hold bilateral consultations on the issue, it added NEW YORK Some Instacart and Amazon warehouse workers walked off the job Monday demanding greater safeguards against the coronavirus, even as both companies are speed-hiring hundreds of thousands of new workers to handle a surge in delivery orders. The one-day strikes had little impact on consumers, but the unrest called attention to mounting discontent among low-wage workers who are on the front lines of the pandemic, serving the needs of those who can keep safe working from home. Whole Worker, a workers group for Whole Foods employees, is calling for a nationwide sick out on Tuesday. Many workers in high demand are part-time or contracted employees, lacking in benefits such as paid sick time off or health care. In addition to demands for more protection against coronavirus, workers are citing longstanding grievances over practices that keep wages low and part-time workers from getting more hours. Online grocery-delivery service Instacart and Amazon say they are working to equip their workers with sanitation gear and have taken steps to increase pay and extend paid sick time. Instacart said Sunday that it would make hand sanitizer available to its workers upon request and outlined changes to its tip system, but strikers said it was too little too late. They need to give us hazard pay right now and it should be guaranteed, said Shanna Foster, a single mother who stopped working her Instacart gig two weeks ago out of fear of contracting the virus. It wasnt worth the risk. But a rush of hiring is likely to dilute any attempts by existing workers to organize walk-offs. Many people are applying for the new jobs as layoffs surge in restaurants, retail, hospitality, airports and other industries that have shut down. Nearly 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, almost five times the previous record set in 1982. While many Instacart workers said they would stop taking orders Monday, other, newer workers were reluctant to give up a source of income at a time of mass layoffs. Im grateful to have some way to make money, said Summer Cooper, 39, who started working as an Instacart shopper in the Tampa Bay, Florida, area recently after losing her position as a server at a hotel restaurant. San Francisco-based Instacart said it is nearing its goal of hiring 300,000 more workers more than doubling its workforce to fulfill orders it says have surged by 150% over last years levels in the past weeks. In the past week, Instacart said 250,000 people have signed up to work as full-service shoppers gig workers who make multiple trips a day to groceries stores to get and deliver groceries that people order on its app. The company said about 50,000 of those workers have actually started shopping. It said the strike had no impact on its operations Monday, with 40% more shoppers using its platform compared to the same day last week. Instacart workers are demanding $5 in hazard pay per order and a tip default on the app to at least 10%. The company instead announced Sunday that it would change the tip default to the amount last paid by the client, saying workers are seeing a surge in tips amid the pandemic. Instacart is also giving 14 days of paid time off for any worker who is diagnosed with coronavirus, or is ordered to isolate, a policy it extended for another month last week. Strikers want that policy extended to any worker with a doctors note verifying an underlying condition making them vulnerable to the virus. Several Amazon workers, meanwhile, walked out of an Amazon warehouse, in Staten Island, New York, on Monday demanding the facility be shut and cleaned during a paid time off after a co-worker tested positive for the virus. About 100 workers were expected to attend the rally, but Amazon said the number was much lower. Amazon said it has taken aggressive steps to safeguard its employees from the virus, including enhanced cleaning and sanitation and social distancing enforcement. At the Staten Island facility, which employs 4,500 people, Amazon implemented daily temperature screenings. Whole Foods, which is owned by Amazon, also is offering a temporary $2 raise in hourly wages and two weeks of paid time off for anyone who tests positive for coronavirus or who is quarantined. But Whole Workers, the group calling for a strike Tuesday, said they want hazard pay, immediate shut down of stores if a worker tests positive and health care benefits for part-time and seasonal workers. Amazon is hiring 100,000 workers, a mix of full-time and part-time positions and include delivery drivers and warehouse workers. Walmart, Dollar General and Pizza Hut and other companies are hiring thousands more, both to meet a surge in delivery order and more in-store demand for basics like cleaning supplies and toilet paper. Andrew Challenger, a senior vice president of recruitment firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said he expected a lot of competition for the new jobs despite the new risks from the pandemic. Theres a tsunami of unemployed people who lost wages in the last two weeks. A lot of the people who have been let go are lower wage workers who left positions similar to the ones that need to be filled right now, Challenger said. ______ Associated Press Writer Curt Anderson reported from St. Petersburg, Florida. ______ This story has been corrected to show that the Whole Foods sick out is set for Tuesday, not Wednesday. Deserted shopping streets around Belfast, where traders say they are unlikely to qualify for main means of government support Deserted shopping streets around Belfast, where traders say they are unlikely to qualify for main means of government support Business groups in Belfast have said the majority of traders in the city will not qualify for support measures introduced to help with the impact of the coronavirus. Belfast Chamber and the three Business Improvement Districts in the city - Belfast One BID, Destination Cathedral Quarter BID and the Linen Quarter BID - said that the use of rateable values as an eligibility criteria was preventing businesses accessing support. They said analysis indicates that while around 22% of business across Northern Ireland will be eligible for the 10,000 grant, in the city centre as few as 16% will meet the criteria. The groups urged Government to target future support to those businesses that have been forced to close to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Les Hume, owner of Dawsons Music, said his business may qualify for a larger 25,000 grant but fears the majority of those around him will not. "It leaves them stuffed, to be honest," added Mr Hume, who is also vice-chair of Destination CQ BID and secretary of Belfast Chamber. "After the Bank Buildings fire we were still feeling that impact and trying to discover ways of bringing feet back into the city to bolster up business in general. "The economic effect of this is not going to be sorted out within 10-12 weeks. This is going to go on for that same period again by the time we get shipments coming in again. "At that point we're going to find our income will not be at a level to continue to support staff the way we'd want to. "From our perspective it is going to be tough, not for six months but for at least the next two years." Belfast Chamber chief executive Simon Hamilton said that "far fewer businesses in Belfast get Small Business Rates Relief than elsewhere across the region and won't be entitled to the 10,000 grant". "Furthermore, the use of a net asset value of 51,000 as a qualification for the 25,000 grants scheme has meant that many businesses in Belfast have not been eligible for this much-needed support," he added. "Belfast city centre has endured a tough few years. "On behalf of our members and levy payers, we are asking the city's elected representatives to urge Government and the Executive to consider additional interventions to support businesses like those in Belfast who have been forced to close and cease trading but are not going to be able to avail of some of the support that has been introduced thus far." US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed efforts to combat coronavirus and other global issues during a phone conversation, the White House said. "President Trump and President Putin discussed the latest developments and efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The two leaders agreed to work closely together through the G20 to drive the international campaign to defeat the virus and reinvigorate the global economy," the White House said in a statement on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported. Trump and Putin also touched upon the issues of Venezuela and the global energy market. According to the statement, Trump and his Russian counterpart agreed on the importance of stability in global energy markets. Saudi Arabia and Russia failed to reach a new deal on curbing oil production, which sent shock waves through the global energy market, as the oil price took a nosedive at a time when the global demand for oil was already hit by the raging coronavirus pandemic. The low oil price will also hurt the US shale industry. Advertisement Outside of a hospital in Brooklyn, workers have been spotted using a forklift to load bodies into a refrigerated morgue truck in stark scenes that make the human cost of the coronavirus pandemic all too clear. Throughout the day on Tuesday, at least 16 bodies were removed from Brookdale Hospital Center in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, which like other New York City hospitals has been stretched to the brink by the crisis. It came as U.S. deaths in the pandemic exceeded those reported in China, with the New York City epicenter alone accounting for 914 deaths and more than 38,000 confirmed cases. At Brookdale, two bodies were carried side by side on the tines of the forklift at times and loaded into the waiting morgue truck. Stunned workers grimly did their duty, removing the bodies as quickly as possible to free up crucial hospital space and lessen the morale blow to hospital staff and patients inside. Workers are now loading the the dead by forklift two at at time at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in Brooklyn Stunned workers grimly did their duty, removing the bodies as quickly as possible to free up crucial hospital space and lessen the morale blow to hospital staff and patients inside t came as U.S. deaths in the pandemic exceeded those reported in China, with the New York City epicenter alone accounting for 914 deaths and more than 38,000 confirmed cases A hospital employee takes a break from working inside a temporary mobile morgue, put in place due to lack of space at the hospital, outside of the Brooklyn Hospital Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday A handful of horrified onlookers paused as they went about vital tasks on the nearly empty sidewalks, hardly believing what they saw. 'No one should see a body being loaded with a forklift on a public street,' passerby Lydia Ramirez, 32, told the New York Post. 'It's really sad and disturbing to see. At least put up a tarp or a tent, if for no other reason than for the dignity of the deceased's family,' she said. Even hospital staff could hardly believe the sight, staring aghast out of the building's windows. Inside, the scenes were even worse, however. 'The hospitals look like a war zone,' Dr Emad Youssef of Brookdale told CBS News last week. 'People lining up out of the hallway, through the EMS bay, through the ambulance bay, with masks on themselves, with oxygen on their nose.' Even hospital staff could hardly believe the sight, staring aghast out of the building's windows Hospital employees transfer a body on a forklift to a temporary mobile morgue, put in place due to lack of space 'It's really sad and disturbing to see. At least put up a tarp or a tent, if for no other reason than for the dignity of the deceased's family,' said one onlooker The grim scenes come as medical staff are now loading the the dead by forklift as the public walk past on the open street Hospital employees transfer a body into a temporary mobile morgue, put in place due to lack of space at the hospital, outside of the Brooklyn Hospital Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday The use of the forklift was first revealed by a Facebook user who posted a video clip on Sunday, clearly emotional at the sight. 'Y'all, this s**t is for real,' the man exclaimed with a trembling voice. 'Sorry the camera is shaking, but this is for real, y'all, this is for real.' A spokeswoman for the hospital said Tuesday that screens to cover the loading area from public view had been ordered, and the hospital was waiting for their arrival. It came as New York City's cemeteries, morgues and funeral homes reported being completely overwhelmed by the death toll. Bodies were also transferred by stretcher as workers rushed to move them into the temporary mobile morgue Two funeral cars did come to pick some of the dead up from the coronavirus pandemic at Brookdale on Tuesday Workers load one of the bodies into a funeral home hearse. Undertakers have been overwhelmed by the crisis New York State Funeral Directors Association director Mike Lanotte said religious cemeteries are operating under reduced manpower because of social distancing protocols to reduce the risk to staff. 'They're not able to bury as many people in a day as they normally would and that's a concern because if there's a large number of cemeteries that start to do this, we're going to start to have for lack of a better word a bottleneck,' Lanotte told the New York Post. 'You're going to have people's caskets, remains, unable to be buried and that could create a backlog and a public health problem,' he said. Some of the city's funeral homes are already 'stretched to capacity' and others are 'helping twice as many families as they normally would,' Lanotte said. Lanotte added that the city's morgues are 'at the brink if not in a state of excess capacity.' The city currently has space for about 3,500 bodies after adding mobile morgues to handle coronavirus deaths. It came as New York City's cemeteries, morgues and funeral homes reported being completely overwhelmed by the death toll New York state now has 75,795 cases of coronavirus - an increase of 9,298 since Monday - and 1550 have died The death toll across the state of New York rose by 332 overnight and is not yet showing signs of slowing down The US has now surpassed China in the number of infections and deaths; there are now more than 181,000 cases in the US Patrick Marmo, an undertaker in Brooklyn, epidemic is straining his industry to a breaking point. 'I don't know how many more bodies I can take,' Marmo told Business Insider. 'No one in the New York City area possibly has enough equipment to care for human remains of this magnitude. New York state now has 75,795 cases of coronavirus - an increase of 9,298 since Monday - and 1550 have died, Governor Andrew Cuomo revealed on Tuesday as he admitted 'no one knows' when the pandemic will end and said the entire country 'underestimated it'. Speaking at a wide-ranging press conference on Tuesday, Gov. Cuomo told of how he was unifying the state's private and public healthcare systems to operate as one before the pandemic 'apex' in the state hits. He admitted he does not know when it will come and that data projections he looks at suggest it could happen anytime between seven and 21 days from now. The death toll across the state of New York rose by 332 overnight and is not yet showing signs of slowing down. The new numbers for how many new cases and new deaths there are in New York City have not yet been given. The US has now surpassed China in the number of infections and deaths; there are now more than 181,000 cases in the US and 3,699 people have died. Gov. Cuomo told people to settle in for a longer period of crisis than they were anticipating and said 'we still have to come back down the other side of the mountain' even after the peak happens. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has started GIS mapping of coronavirus affected areas in the city and set up a 'war room' to monitor the viral infection in the city and take steps to prevent its spread further. The maps of the areas where there are higher number of coronavirus cases will be posted on the civic body's website to provide information about it to the public, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Praveen Pardeshi said in a release. With the help of the maps, residents in those areas could take precautions more vigilantly, and people visiting those places for any work could easily take preventive measures, he said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has sent two senior IAS officers - Ashwini Bhide and Dr Ramaswamy N - on deputation to the BMC to take steps to contain the spread of the deadly disease in the country's financial capital, the civic body said. The BMC has also formed a 'corona war room' in its disaster control unit which will be functional round-the-clock and various activities like planning, prevention and management of the pandemic will be conducted there. Bhide, the former managing director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, will work as coordinator of the war room that will collect and analyse the data on coronavirus disease. The final year students of four BMC-run medical colleges and second and third year students of nursing colleges will also be given certain responsibilities and imparted proper training for it. Till Monday, 170 COVID-19 cases were reported from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which consists of Mumbai city and parts of adjoining districts of Thane, Raigad and Palghar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US has started procuring malaria medicine 'Hydroxychloroquine' for treating COVID-19 patients as it anticipates a favourable result from its ongoing treatment of some 1,100 coronavirus infected people in New York. Pharmaceutical company Sandoz has donated 30 million doses of Hydroxychloroquine to the US government, president Donald Trump told reporters. Bayer has donated one million doses of the chloroquine which will soon be distributed to states and health officials around the country, he said, adding that Teva Pharmaceuticals is also donating six million doses to US hospitals. A day earlier, Trump said that malaria medicine Hydroxychloroquine is being administered to 1,100 coronavirus patients in New York, exuding confidence that the drug, touted as a "game-changer" by him, might give some incredible results in the fight against the disease that has infected over 163,000 people in the country. It is being tested out on the COVID-19 patients in New York on an experimental basis, hoping that this will give a solution in the treatment against the novel coronavirus. Last week, Trump said that the drug could be a "gift from god". Trump said that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also authorised the Battelle's N95 respirator mask sterilisation kits. Each machine now can disinfect 120,000 masks. The FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorisation to allow Hydroxychloroquine sulfate and chloroquine phosphate products donated to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to be distributed and used for certain hospitalised patients with COVID-19. These drugs will be distributed from the SNS to states for doctors to prescribe to adolescent and adult patients hospitalised with COVID-19, as appropriate, when a clinical trial is not available or feasible, the FDA said. The EUA requires that fact sheets that provide important information about using chloroquine phosphate and Hydroxychloroquine sulfate in treating COVID-19 be made available to healthcare providers and patients, including the known risks and drug interactions. Meanwhile, the University of Washington on Monday said researchers are investigating whether Hydroxychloroquine, a commonly used anti-malarial and autoimmune-disease treatment, can prevent COVID-19. A multi-site clinical trial, led by the University of Washington School of Medicine in collaboration with New York University Grossman School of Medicine, aims to definitively determine whether Hydroxychloroquine can prevent transmission in people exposed to the virus, according to a statement. "We currently don't know if Hydroxychloroquine works, but we will learn in as short a timeframe as possible what the outcome is," said principal investigator Ruanne Barnabas, associate professor of global health in the University of Washington schools of Medicine and Public Health. Her team is starting to enrol 2,000 participants referred by physicians in six sites who are close contacts of persons with confirmed or pending COVID-19 diagnoses. The trial is slated to run for eight weeks and, if all goes well, results are expected in summer. Currently, there is no proven way to prevent COVID-19 after being exposed, says Anna Bershteyn, assistant professor of population health at NYU and co-principal investigator on the study. "If Hydroxychloroquine provides protection, then it could be an essential tool for fighting this pandemic. If it doesn't, then people should avoid unnecessary risks from taking the drug," Bershteyn said. The USD 9.5 million trial looking at post-exposure preventive therapy for COVID-19 is part of a USD 125 million initiative launched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and Mastercard to speed development and access to therapies against COVID-19. The three organisations are partners in the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator. The Hydroxychloroquine trial is one of the three grants announced on Monday by the accelerator. Hydroxychloroquine is a medication that has been used since the early 1950s. "It's used to prevent malaria and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The medication is hypothesised to work by preventing the virus from entering the cell. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 31, 2020 / 01 Communique Laboratory Inc. (the "Company", "01 Communique") (TSX-V:ONE) today announced it has signed a Technology Licensing Agreement with Hitachi Solutions Create, Ltd. ("HSC") for the Japanese market. This agreement has replaced the Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") the Company entered into on October 2, 2018. Under the terms of the agreement the parties agree to apply for Japanese patent protection of the IronCAP technology and HSC agrees to license the IronCAP technology for the Japanese market. The Technology Licensing Agreement comes as a result of HSC's thorough analysis indicating that Quantum attack threats are a reality and that data encrypted with today's cryptographic technology can easily be cracked using quantum computing. As a result, sensitive data must be protected with new post-quantum cryptographic technology like IronCAP, which is compatible with conventional computers while safe-guarding against the excessive computing power of future quantum computers. Andrew Cheung, President of 01 Communique stated, "We have had a long-standing relationship with HSC and are pleased to sign a Technology Licensing Agreement with them." Mr. Cheung further commented, "We believe that Japan represents an excellent market opportunity for our IronCAP technology beyond North America. IronCAP is at the forefront of the cyber security market to protect customers from cyber-attacks and the very serious risk of future quantum computer attacks." About Hitachi Solutions Create, Ltd. Hitachi Solutions Create, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the core IT Companies of Hitachi Group delivering proven business and IT strategies and solutions to companies across many industries. The company provides value-driven services throughout the IT life cycle from systems planning to systems integration, operation, and maintenance. For more information, visit the company's website at www.hitachi-solutions-create.co.jp About IronCAP and IronCAP X: IronCAP is at the forefront of the cyber security market and is designed to protect our customers from cyber-attacks. IronCAP's patent-pending cryptographic system is designed to protect users and enterprises against the ever-evolving illegitimate and malicious means of gaining access to their data today as well as in the future with the introduction of powerful quantum computers. Based on improved Goppa code-based encryption it is designed to be faster and more secure than current standards. It operates on conventional computer systems so users are protected today while being secure enough to safeguard against future attacks from the world of quantum computers. An IronCAP API is available which allows vendors of a wide variety of vertical applications to easily transform their products to ensure their customers are safe from cyber-attacks today and from quantum computers in the future. IronCAP X, a new cybersecurity product for email/file encryption, incorporates our patent-pending technology and is planned for commercial release on April 23, 2020. The new product has two major differentiations from what is in the market today. Firstly, many offerings in today's market store users secured emails on email-servers for recipients to read, making email-servers a central target of cyber-attack. Our new product, on the other hand, delivers each encrypted message end-to-end to the recipients such that only the intended recipients can decrypt and read the message. Consumer's individual messages are protected, eliminating the hackers' incentive to attack email servers of email providers. Secondly, powered by our patent-pending IronCAP technology, we believe our new product will be the world's first quantum-safe end-to-end email encryption system; secured against cyberattacks from today's systems and from quantum computers in the future. Consumers and businesses using our new products will have tomorrow's cybersecurity today. About 01 Communique Established in 1992, 01 Communique Laboratory Inc. (TSX-V:ONE) has always been at the forefront of technology. In early 2018 the Company announced the transition of its business focusing on post-quantum cybersecurity with the development of its IronCAP technology. IronCAP is an advanced Goppa code-based post-quantum cryptographic technology that can be implemented on classical computer systems as we know them today while at the same time can also safeguard against attacks in the future post-quantum world of computing. The Company's legacy business provides its customers with a suite of secure remote access services and products. The Company's legacy products are protected in the U.S.A. by its patents #6,928,479 / #6,938,076 / #8,234,701; in Canada by its patents #2,309,398 / #2,524,039 and in Japan by its patent #4,875,094. For more information, visit the Company's web site at www.ironcap.ca and www.01com.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements. Certain statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking" statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, such statements use such words as "may", "will", "expect", "believe", "plan", "intend", "are confident" and other similar terminology. Such statements include statements regarding the timing of the release of IronCAP X and the future of quantum computers and their impact on the Company's product offering, the functionality of the Company's products and the intended product lines for the Company's technology. These statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risk and Uncertainties" in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis document filed on SEDAR. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Neither TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") 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. INVESTOR CONTACT: Andrew Cheung Chief Executive Officer 01 Communique (905) 795-2888 x206 Andrew.cheung@01com.com SOURCE: 01 Communique Laboratory Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583200/01-Communique-Signs-Technology-Licensing-Agreement-with-Hitachi-Solutions-Create-Ltd-in-Japan 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. L'Oreal finalizes the acquisition of the Mugler brands and Azzaro fragrances Clichy, 31 March 2020 - After obtaining the necessary authorizations from the relevant authorities, L'Oreal has finalized the acquisition of the Mugler brands and Azzaro fragrances from Clarins Group, in accordance with the terms announced on 21 October 2019. Cyril Chapuy, President L'Oreal Luxe, said : "We look forward to welcoming the Mugler and Azzaro teams to the L'Oreal family, and to accompagnying them, especially in this difficult time." About L'Oreal L'Oreal has devoted itself to beauty for over 100 years. With its unique international portfolio of 36 diverse and complementary brands, the Group generated sales amounting to 29.87 billion euros in 2019 and employs 88,000 people worldwide. As the world's leading beauty company, L'Oreal is present across all distribution networks: mass market, department stores, pharmacies and drugstores, hair salons, travel retail, branded retail and e-commerce. Research and innovation, and a dedicated research team of 4,100 people, are at the core of L'Oreal's strategy, working to meet beauty aspirations all over the world. L'Oreal's sustainability commitment for 2020 "Sharing Beauty With All" sets out ambitious sustainable development objectives across the Group's value chain. More information: https://mediaroom.loreal.com "This press release is not a sales offer or a request for a bid to purchase L'Oreal shares. If you would like more detailed information about L'Oreal, please see the public documents that have been submitted in France to the Financial Markets Authority, which are also available in English on our website www.loreal-finance.com. This press release may contain certain provisional statements. Although the Company believes that these statements are based on reasonable assumptions on the date this press release was published, they are, by nature, subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may result in a discrepancy between the actual figures and those indicated or implied in these statements." L'OREAL CONTACTS Individual Shareholders and Market Authorities Jean Regis CAROF Tel: +33 Financial Analysts and Institutional Investors Francoise LAUVIN Tel: +33 Media Polina HUARD Tel: +33 Switchboard: +33 (0)1 47 56 70 00 For more information, please consult banks, brokerage firms or financial institutionsor the L'Oreal Finance mobile application, or call the freephone number: 0 800 66 66 66. www.loreal-finance.com- Follow us on Twitter @Loreal Attachment Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 11:22:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The death toll due to the COVID-19 in India rose to 32 as the number of confirmed cases in the country reached 1,251, the federal health ministry said Tuesday. "Death toll related to novel coronavirus has reached 32," reads the updated information released by the ministry. According to ministry officials, so far 102 people have been discharged from hospitals after showing improvement. "The number of active cases in the country right now at 1,117," reads the information. Kerala state has reported the highest number of cases in India, at 202, followed by Maharashtra at 198. On Monday morning the number of COVID-19 cases in India was 1,071 and the death toll was 29. Tuesday marks the seventh straight day of the 21-day lockdown across the country announced by the center government to contain the spread of the pandemic. Authorities have imposed strict curfew-like restrictions to prevent the movement of people across the country. All road, rail and air services have been suspended in wake of the lockdown, except essential services that have been exempted. AI-Assisted Exam Proctoring Allows Postsecondary Students to Complete School Year TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 31, 2020 / eCampusOntario and the provincial government have announced a partnership to support the province's colleges and universities whose academic year has been disrupted by the COVID-19 health emergency. All publicly assisted institutions will be provided access to an automated Artificial Intelligence-assisted proctoring tool on an as-needed basis to enable the delivery of final exams. As alternative assessment strategies are being considered by institutions, this technology will fill a gap for courses that have unique assessment needs, especially those that are high impact, with admissions prerequisites or specific program needs. "We commend postsecondary institutions for their leadership and innovation in using alternative assessment approaches that have allowed students to demonstrate their learning during this challenging time," said Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities. "Our government will continue working with our postsecondary and health partners to provide updates and to protect the health and well-being of students and faculty, while ensuring students can continue to access the world-class education our institutions provide." Organizations and educational institutions around the world have been developing business and academic continuity strategies in light of COVID-19, and eCampusOntario and the provincial government's approach is unique in scope and capacity. "Ensuring that tens of thousands of college and university students are safe and healthy is everyone's top priority", said Dr. Steven Murphy, President & Vice-Chancellor of Ontario Tech University and Co-Chair of eCampusOntario's Board. "The solutions proposed by eCampusOntario, in partnership with the province of Ontario, and the cooperation of our faculty, position our students well, and we look forward to ending a modified school year on a positive note." eCampusOntario will facilitate access to secure educational technology and is committed to preserving privacy and the integrity of academic assessment. "A global public health crisis has compounded the end of the school year stress for students, educators, and families who support them," said Judith Morris, President and CEO of Lambton College and Co-Chair of eCampusOntario's Board. "So, we truly appreciate our provincial government working with eCampusOntario staff to assist our students and faculty in the completion of the academic year." eCampusOntario is a publicly funded organization that was established to drive success in online and technology-enabled teaching and learning in Ontario by building partnerships, advancing the use of educational technology, and creating digital learning environments that are open and collaborative. Facilitating the integration of this technology, eCampusOntario is committed to preserving student privacy as well as the integrity of academic assessment. Contacts: Questions related to the proctoring tool should be directed to proctorsupport@ecampusontario.ca Media-related questions should be directed to Daniel Roukema, Director of Communications at mediarelations@ecampusontario.ca SOURCE: eCampusOntario View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583323/eCampusOntario-and-Provincial-Government-Enable-Digital-Academic-Continuity Some say volatility, rather than debt, is the best way to think about risk as an investor, but Warren Buffett famously said that 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk'. It's only natural to consider a company's balance sheet when you examine how risky it is, since debt is often involved when a business collapses. Importantly, Precious Dragon Technology Holdings Limited (HKG:1861) does carry debt. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt? When Is Debt A Problem? Debt is a tool to help businesses grow, but if a business is incapable of paying off its lenders, then it exists at their mercy. In the worst case scenario, a company can go bankrupt if it cannot pay its creditors. 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, the upside of debt is that it often represents cheap capital, especially when it replaces dilution in a company with the ability to reinvest at high rates of return. The first step when considering a company's debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together. Check out our latest analysis for Precious Dragon Technology Holdings What Is Precious Dragon Technology Holdings's Net Debt? You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that Precious Dragon Technology Holdings had HK$40.0m of debt in December 2019, down from HK$75.0m, one year before. But on the other hand it also has HK$135.0m in cash, leading to a HK$95.0m net cash position. SEHK:1861 Historical Debt March 31st 2020 How Healthy Is Precious Dragon Technology Holdings's Balance Sheet? Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that Precious Dragon Technology Holdings had liabilities of HK$115.8m due within 12 months and liabilities of HK$28.6m due beyond that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of HK$135.0m as well as receivables valued at HK$30.3m due within 12 months. So it can boast HK$20.8m more liquid assets than total liabilities. Story continues This surplus suggests that Precious Dragon Technology Holdings has a conservative balance sheet, and could probably eliminate its debt without much difficulty. Succinctly put, Precious Dragon Technology Holdings boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load! On the other hand, Precious Dragon Technology Holdings's EBIT dived 14%, over the last year. We think hat kind of performance, if repeated frequently, could well lead to difficulties for the stock. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But it is Precious Dragon Technology 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. While Precious Dragon Technology Holdings has net cash on its balance sheet, it's still worth taking a look at its ability to convert earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, to help us understand how quickly it is building (or eroding) that cash balance. In the last three years, Precious Dragon Technology Holdings's free cash flow amounted to 41% of its EBIT, less than we'd expect. That weak cash conversion makes it more difficult to handle indebtedness. Summing up While it is always sensible to investigate a company's debt, in this case Precious Dragon Technology Holdings has HK$95.0m in net cash and a decent-looking balance sheet. So we don't have any problem with Precious Dragon Technology Holdings's use of debt. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Precious Dragon Technology Holdings (including 1 which is is potentially serious) . 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. Shares of 3M India jumped 9.10% to Rs 19,000 amid bargain hunting after recent steep losses. Shares of 3M India slipped 15.57% in the past 20 trading sessions to settle at Rs 17,414.45 yesterday, 30 March 2020 from its close of Rs 20,626.75 on 28 February 2020. Meanwhile, 3M India announced on Tuesday (31 March 2020) that it has suspended operations in its Ranjangaon (Pune), Ahmedabad and Bangalore plants till 14 April 2020 amid the nationwide shutdown to contain Covid-19 pandemic. However, respirators and sanitizers lines in the Ranjangaon plant will continue to operate, as they are classified as essential commodities. 3M India's consolidated net profit tanked 34.73% to Rs 71.92 crore on a 5.83% decline in net sales to Rs 745.38 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. 3M India is a technology company which offers tapes, adhesives, advanced ceramics, sealants, specialty materials, closure systems for personal hygiene products, as well as offers scotch masking tape, scotch filament tape and scotch packaging tape. 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 biggest ever consolidation exercise in the public sector banking space is slated to take shape on Wednesday when six PSU lender will be merged into four in a bid to make them globally competitive. The exercise assumes significance as it is taking place at a time when the entire country is under the grip of COVID-19 outbreak. It has triggered 21-day lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Experts said merger at this point of time will not be very smooth and seamless. However, heads of the anchor banks are exuding confidence. "We don't foresee any problem it is going as per the plan. We have reviewed in the light of this situation also. Certain modification in implementation. We have done so that there is not any disruption for employees and customers. We are ensuring zero disruption," Union Bank of India Managing Director Rajkiran Rai G told PTI. The four anchor banks -- PNB, Canara Bank, Union Bank and Indian Bank -- are postponing some part of the implementation and processes due to the lockdown. "For merging banks, we have not changed some of the process like loan process etc, which we proposed to do earlier. However, because of the prevailing situation we will be continuing old system till the situation comes under control," he said. With the merger, the bank looking at more than Rs 2,500 crore of synergy benefits in the next three years, he added. As per the mega consolidation plan, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India will merge into Punjab National Bank (PNB); Syndicate Bank into Canara Bank; Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank into Union Bank of India; and Allahabad Bank into Indian Bank. Following the consolidation, there will be seven large public sector banks (PSBs), and five smaller ones. There were as many as 27 PSBs in 2017. The total number of public sector banks in the country will come down from 18 to 12 beginning next financial year. Speaking on preparedness, Indian Bank MD Padmaja Chunduru said harmonisation of products -- both on the loan and deposit sides -- has been completed and the same products will be offered to all customers. She also said all the deposit and loan products, including access to Indian Bank's emergency credit lines launched in the wake of Covid-19 would be made available to the customers of Allahabad Bank. "We have focused all our resources on the important things that matter for day one -- treasury integration has happened and IT integration to the extent of product harmonization and rolling out of the same products has happened," she said. She expects the entire IT integration to be completed by December 2020. Following this merger, PNB will become second largest after the State Bank of India (SBI), Canara Bank fourth, Union Bank of India fifth and Indian Bank seventh biggest public sector lender. Commenting on the consolidation, Canara Bank MD L V Prabhakar said, "We are delighted that following the amalgamation as a single legal entity, we will become a powerful banking institution that is globally competitive and efficient working towards providing differentiated customer experience excellence across all our products and services". The combined entity will be large but with an unchanged approach to grass-root banking, customer delight, and satisfaction, Prabhakar said. The merger will result in the creation of seven large PSBs with scale and national reach, with each amalgamated entity having business of over Rs 8 lakh crore and it would help create banks with scale comparable to global banks and capable of competing effectively in India and globally. In addition, consolidation would also provide impetus to merged entities by increasing their ability to support larger ticket-size lending and have competitive operations by virtue of greater financial capacity. Last year, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank were merged with Bank of Baroda. Prior to this, the government had merged five associate banks of SBI and Bharatiya Mahila Bank with the public sector bank. These were State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Travancore and State Bank of Hyderabad effective April 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is urging President Donald Trump to begin aggressively using the Defense Production Act to force production of critical equipment like ventilators after Trump brandished the law against General Motors but then congratulated the firm. Pelosi pointed to medical professionals putting their lives on the line fighting the coronavirus outbreak and referenced the life-and-death decisions some hospitals have warned they may have to start making amid scarcity. 'The American people, their representatives, their officialdom, all the rest, are united in that recognition of that need. It will save lives. We're asking people to risk their lives to save other lives,' Pelosi told MSBC's 'Morning Joe' on Tuesday. 'We're asking people to make judgments about who gets a ventilator or not. That should not be happening,' said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Tuesday 'We're asking people to make judgments about who gets a ventilator or not. That should not be happening,' she said. She said the president should 'immediately' use the Defense Production Act. To the president I would join those, whether its the governors, the mayors, people across the country who are saying we need the equipment, the personal protective equipment. For the workers: the ventilators and other equipment. For the patients' we need proper testing, testing, testing,' Pelosi said. 'I would say to the president: immediately implement the Defense Production Act insisting that businesses in our country turn to producing the equipment that we need,' she continued. Pelosi noted that the president has signed three coronavirus response bills, the most substantial being a $2.2 trillion bailout plan signed last week. During key negotiations Pelosi met with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, though not with Trump. Staff work in a ventilator refurbishing assembly line at Bloom Energy in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Saturday, March 28, 2020. Bloom Energy is a fuel cell generator company that has switched over to refurbishing ventilators as an increasing number of patients experience respiratory issues as a result of COVID-19 In this Saturday, March 28, 2020, file photo, staff work in a ventilator refurbishing assembly line at Bloom Energy campus in Sunnyvale, Calif. President Trump said he was invoking the Defense Production Act with General Motors, then lauded the company on Sunday Pelosi made her comments to MSNBC Tuesday New York governor Andrew Cuomo says his state may need up to 40,000 ventilators 'We had hoped there would be leadership from the White House because the president has to sign the bill,' Pelosi told the network, as she called for additional legislation dealing with state and local taxes as well as infrastructure. 'We all come to this discussion with very heavy hearts about what we can do to prevent more of a spread of this,' Pelosi told hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. 'To the president, I would join those whether it's the governors, mayors, people across the country who are saying we need the equipment, the personal protective equipment, for the workers,' she said. 'I hope that in this next bill that we will be able to address the concerns of our state and local governments that is absolutely essential. We need to do more,' Pelosi added. Trump attacked General Motors and its CEO, accusing it of price gouging over its crash effort to produce ventilators amid needs for thousands as hospitals overflow with patients, then said he was applying the Korean War-era Defense Production Act. Then on Sunday, the president was praising the company. 'General Motors is doing a fantastic job,' Trump said. 'I don't think we have to worry about General Motors now.' Five million Egyptian daily workers are struggling to make ends meet amid the repercussions of the Covid-19 crisis With social distancing and staying at home the most used precautionary measures to face up to the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide, millions of families are being threatened with poverty as their sources of income vanish and workplaces close. Daily workers and the families of those who do not have fixed jobs often suffer the most, including in Egypt. According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), Egypt has 5.2 million daily workers, representing 20 per cent of the total labour force in the country. Almost all of them do not have social or medical insurance, making them dependent on what they can earn day to day. The government is working on solutions to support those affected by the crisis, however, and the Social Solidarity Ministry has said it will add 80,000 to 100,000 families to the Takaful and Karama social programmes at a cost of LE800 million. The Ministry of Manpower has also announced support for casual workers with a onetime LE500 allowance. Over 1.2 million informal workers applied for the grant in less than a week after the government announced the call, according to Minister of Manpower Mohammed Safaan. Beit Al-Zakat, one of the biggest social solidarity organisations in Egypt and under the direction of Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb, is making the monthly allowance it provides for families in need substantially higher over the next two months. However, NGOs have so far played a more important role in mitigating the effects of staying at home on the families of daily workers. The Abwab Al-Kheir Foundation, an NGO, has been covering the expenses of 50 families of daily workers in the Al-Ayyat neighbourhood of Cairo and will continue to do so for the next three months. It is currently collecting donations for another 50 families. While many of us joke about getting fat because of staying at home in quarantine and during curfew hours, for others staying at home means hunger and suffering, Haitham Al-Tabie, the founder of Abwab Al-Kheir, told Al-Ahram Weekly Al-Tabie said the foundation supported each family with LE1,000 a month, which is approximately the amount of money they would get from working for two weeks, he added. The foundation, which has been implementing social-support projects in 19 governorates for over two years, believes that supporting families by paying them almost half their monthly income can help them to maintain a decent standard of living and prevent them from having to beg on the streets. Al-Tabie highlighted the fact that most of the families the Foundation supports rely on daily labourers working in the informal sector of the sector of the economy who spend what they earn on food. Most of the workers work on construction sites or in factories, earning from LE50 to LE70 per day. But due to the Covid-19 crisis, most factory production lines have stopped, and construction projects have been suspended, so they have ended up jobless, he said. However, with the support of social-media platforms, peoples support for those suffering economically from the crisis has been huge. We received over LE150,000 within only 36 hours of announcing our appeal, and people are still donating. Current conditions have brought people closer, making them feel more for others, Al-Tabie said. The leading NGO Resala has also launched an online campaign called Donate the Good, challenging celebrities to financially support as many families as they can for a month during the Covid-19 crisis. The initiative has been widely taken up among public figures, who have appeared in videos stating their willingness to cover the expenses of a number of families whose breadwinners are casual workers that have lost their sources of income due to the coronavirus pandemic and calling on others to do the same. According to Resalas Facebook page, the celebrity campaign has managed to fully sponsor the monthly incomes of over 10,000 families. The Egyptian Food Bank, another NGO, has announced plans to help the families of casual workers with food and asking people for donations as part of the 500,000 food boxes it is planning to distribute to the workers families. Forty-five per cent of Egypts underprivileged people consists of casual workers, according to Heba Al-Leithy, a professor at the Faculty of Economic and Political Science at Cairo University. Al-Leithy, who has made extensive studies on poverty in Egypt, told the Weekly that this percentage was on the rise as thousands of those who has used to have low-ranking jobs in the private sector were now joining the group. Most of them are already poor, and now we are facing a real challenge in reaching them and supporting them so that they do not fall beneath the poverty line, Al-Leithy said. Having an NGO provide these families with a monthly income is better than a government grant, she added. We understand that the government cant provide more due to the huge financial pressures resulting from the coronavirus, but it can make the NGOs jobs easier, she said, saying that it could shorten the period to connect in-need families with donating bodies through providing lists of families living on the poverty line, for example. The support of charities and individuals was one way of mitigating the economic effects of the crisis, Al-Leithy said, adding that the different initiatives to help the poor did not only need money, as they were also in need of volunteers to deliver food and money to those in need. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Andhra Pradesh government has started tracking its citizens who are in-home quarantine amid a rising number of coronavirus cases in the state. The tool is called "COVID Alerting Tracking System", which uses signals of mobile towers to track people's location. Through this technology, Andhra Pradesh is tracking at least 25,000 people, reported ANI. The state government has taken the base location as the actual location of a person's residence. If any of these persons travel beyond a 100-metre radius from the location, the district authorities get an alert and the required action is taken. This way, the state government ensures each person abides by the rules. Andhra Pradesh Govt to use a tool "Covid alerting tracking system" developed by State Disaster Management Authority to track over 25,000 people placed under home quarantine, by tracking the location of their numbers in realtime with help of telecom service providers. #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/pRklLwcsOQ ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2020 In Andhra Pradesh, 23 confirmed coronavirus cases have emerged as of March 31, 9 AM, while one person has been cured. The Andhra government is also tracking the travel history of COVID-19 positive cases by using the same data and mobile tower signals. With the help of COVID-19 patients' phone numbers and service providers, the authorities are mapping all places where they visited prior to the test. After that, places are being categorised on the basis of time spent by them. This procedure helps set-up red zones within 2-3 km radius and sanitise them. So far, the Andhra government has mapped all locations where the 23 coronavirus patients visited. Telangana, Odisha and Bihar are also contemplating adopting the Andhra Pradesh model to combat the deadly virus. India has registered as many as 1,353 total coronavirus cases till now, including 32 deaths. Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: West Bengal reports another death; 3rd casualty in the state Also read: Coronavirus: 'Shut my companies but still paying employees,' says Vijay Mallya Agricultural markets (mandis) have started reopening in many parts of the country a week after the nationwide lockdown was imposed. However, the process has been gradual and operations have been disrupted at some centres. Those mandis that have continued to operate have introduced safety measures for workers, and restrictions on arrivals and supplies to avoid crowding. However, reports have come from across the country that farmers have dumped their produce after being unable to deliver them to mandis or use them as animal feed. In Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, oilseed supplies ... Photo: M S/Flickr Here's what you need to know about what's happening in New York City. FEMA sends refrigerated trucks to New York City to hold bodies Read the full story on POLITICO. Rabbi dies three months after Hanukkah night attack Read the full story on The New York Times. De Blasio: Trumps suggestion face masks are being stolen is insulting Read the full story on POLITICO. The Empire State Building was lit up like an ambulance to remind New Yorkers to stay home Read the full story on Business Insider. 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. There is a desperate need for morgue space in Queens in particular, FEMA regional administrator Thomas Von Essen said Monday. The borough has the most coronavirus cases in the city, and Elmhurst hospital has been swamped with gravely ill patients. Josef Neumann had been gravely injured in the machete assault in a Hasidic rabbi's home in Monsey, NY, northwest of New York City. The New York City mayor said Trump's comments were "incredibly insensitive to people right now who are giving their all." 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. Hyderabad: The Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA) has called for a silent boycott from duty starting March 31 after 16 junior doctors and post-graduate doctors were exposed to a three-year-old child who tested positive for Covid-19 at Niloufer Hospital in Hyderabad. A total of 42 people who had come in contact with the young patient, including 18 children aged between 5 and 10 years, and eight attendants of patients, have bee put in quarantine. All of them were sent to Gandhi Hospital to take the coronavirus test after the child was confirmed positive. The Covid-positive child was being treated in the general ward of Niloufer Hospital. There is no clarity as to how the child got the virus as both parents are asymptomatic. According to sources, the parents may have either come in contact with a visitor from a Covid-affected country or it could have been a case of community transmission. The child was brought to the hospital four days ago with symptoms of cough and high fever and was admitted to the general ward, where there were more than 20 patients. The Telangana Junior Doctors Association said hundreds of doctors are being exposed as they are working without N-95 masks and personal protection equipment. The incident at Niloufer Hospital has angered doctors, who demanded full protection. They are angry that despite assurances from the government that their protection would be taken care of, nothing has been done on that front. Exposing doctors will also expose thousands of patients who come to hospitals everyday, a member of the association said. This could lead to another spurt in cases. Niloufer Hospital is a public hospital. This incident could mark the first cluster transmission in a healthcare set-up in Hyderabad. Testing for the coronavirus Covid-19 takes time, and two tests are mandated before a person is declared positive. This resulted in four days being wasted. It is estimated that there were 1,000 contacts during the course of those four days. 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. The Jaunpur administration has quarantined about 50 people who attended a Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area and returned to the district recently. "People who returned two days ago from Delhi and Noida on buses were scanned. Of this, there were around 50 persons who returned after attending the Tabligh-e-Jamaat. These people have been quarantined at Shia College, and their health check-up is being done," District Magistrate Dinesh Kumar Singh said. He said their addresses and the places they visited after attending the religious congregation are being ascertained. Nizamuddin area in Delhi has turned into a new hotspot after a number of people who attended the Jamaat's gathering tested positive for coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Many New Brunswick tenants will face their largest bill since the emergency declaration when their rent comes due Wednesday. The first of the month brings a wave of uncertainty for tenants and landlords alike. That has some advocates calling on government to afford renters affected by the COVID-19 outbreak extra protection and support, while others are looking to apartment owners for compassion and compromise. For Willy Scholten, president of the New Brunswick Apartment Owners' Association, the expectation is that tenants will pay. "We still have the same obligations that we've had in the past. We have to pay our expenses and continue to employ our people, pay maintenance, pay the operating costs, pay our mortgage payments," Scholten said. "Our expectation is that rent will be paid when it's due." That aligns with comments from Premier Blaine Higgs shortly after declaring the state of emergency March 19. As part of the measures, the province suspended the right of landlords to evict tenants for non-payment of rent until May 31. "We are not saying tenants don't have to pay rent," Higgs said at the time. "They absolutely do. We're simply asking for flexibility that may be required as people and businesses lose income." CBC The "flexibility" will have to be negotiated by tenants and landlords on a case-by-case basis. Scholten said the association does not control its members, who set their own policies. Asked what could happen if tenants do not pay, Scholten said: "Everything is completely uncertain at this point. We don't know what's going to happen." He said owners expect tenants eligible for government financial aid to use those supports. In New Brunswick, the government will provide a one-time income supplement of $900 for workers or small business owners who lost their income on March 15 or after. The first payments could be delivered later this week. Story continues The federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit offers income support for up to 16 weeks about $2,000 a month to those who lose pay because of the pandemic. The application process is set to open in early April, with support to come about 10 days later. Help for those who fall between the cracks Those aid packages won't be available in time for Wednesday and they fail to help some low-income workers and people living on social assistance beyond a bump in the GST rebate, according to Jean-Claude Basque, provincial co-ordinator for the New Brunswick Common Front for Social Justice. His organization is proposing government waive rent payments during the crisis for anyone living in New Brunswick Housing or non-profit social housing. They're also calling for the Department of Social Development to reinstate 75 rent subsidies that were cut in December. "They have a lot of difficulty in the best of times to have a decent life and now with the crisis certainly they're being impacted a lot," Basque said. On a broader scale, the group wants apartment owners to reduce rent payments by 25 per cent per month during the crisis. Basque said owners were given a boost in the latest provincial budget with news the non-owner-occupied residential property tax will be cut in half over a four-year period, and now, he said, is a time to give back. CBC "Government and everybody is saying we're all in this together, which is true, but then we're asking the province and the federal [government] to do their part to help our tax system, to help people," Basque said. "But the private sector also has to do their part. They're going to receive all kinds of money to help either their business or help their employees. But they have to do their part also." Eligible businesses and non-profit organizations will receive wage subsidies up to 75 per cent, retroactive March 15, Ottawa announced. Interest-free loans of up to $40,000 will also be available to small businesses and not-for-profits in order to to help cover operating costs. Basque advises anyone concerned about paying rent to speak to their MLA. Opposition calls for more support Opposition MLAs say the provincial government should consider doing more for tenants and landlords. Liberal MLA Lisa Harris, Opposition critic for Social Development, said New Brunswick could look to other provinces. CBC "Nova Scotia is also helping landlords with a rent deferral program where they agree to defer rent for businesses that have had to shut down and the province will cover rent that can't be recovered," Harris said in a statement to CBC News. "In BC, there's a program that offers $500 to cover the cost of rent. We think more can be done in New Brunswick." Green Leader David Coon said provincial and federal officials should work with banks on a mortgage-deferral program, which would release some of the pressure on apartment owners. The province must suspend rent increases, he added. Coon hopes tenants can manage to make rent with government aid they receive, but he said the province will have to deal with the question of what happens once the crisis is over, the no-eviction order is lifted and tenants have accumulated debt to their landlords a debt that can't be paid all at once. It's a concern for Basque, who wonders how tenants can be protected from retaliation once the pandemic and lockdown has passed. "We don't have a tenants' association like other provinces, so we rely on government action or on owners of apartments to do the right thing and we hope they won't kick people out, for sure," he said. A novel idea The co-founders of Damage Deposit Refunds, a Saint John business that assists tenants in getting money entitled to them from their landlord, are pitching a compromise to address the issue. Elizabeth Vickers and Loai Jaouni say illegal pet fees collected by some apartment owners for years that are now owed to tenants could be deducted from rent payments. "That would reduce the amount of money they would owe the tenant and it would acknowledge that they owe the tenant that money," said Vickers. "It would allow the tenant to still pay some of their rent. It would be a reduced amount, but then the landlord would receive hopefully enough to cover his mortgage and electric or whatever their arrangement was." Jaouni said that could be a workable solution, but he hopes to see compassion from owners for affected tenants already shown in places like Prince Edward Island, where one landlord waived rent entirely, and in Wisconsin, where the landlord lowered rent to $100. "I don't think they should bring the price down because of the illegal fees, if landlords want to be nice enough, like the landlord in Wisconsin," he said. "That should be a separate thing because of the situation we're in with COVID-19." Amazon has fired a Staten Island warehouse worker who organized a strike to demand greater protections for employees amid the coronavirus outbreak. Chris Smalls, a management assistant at the facility, known as JFK8, said he was fired Monday afternoon following the strike. Smalls and other employees walked out to call attention to the lack of protections for warehouse workers. The workers are also urging Amazon to close the facility after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus last week. The organizers said that at least 50 people joined the walkout. "Amazon would rather fire workers than face up to its total failure to do what it should to keep us, our families, and our communities safe," Smalls said in a statement. "I am outraged and disappointed, but I'm not shocked. As usual, Amazon would rather sweep a problem under the rug than act to keep workers and working communities safe." An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that Smalls was fired, saying he received "multiple warnings" for violating social distancing guidelines and refusing to remain quarantined after coming into close contact with an associate who tested positive for the virus. "Despite that instruction to stay home with pay, he came onsite today, March 30, further putting the teams at risk," the spokesperson said. "This is unacceptable and we have terminated his employment as a result of these multiple safety issues." Amazon also disputed the number of employees that participated in the strike, saying 15 people walked out at the facility. The company called the workers' accusations "unfounded" and said it has taken "extreme measures" to make sure employees are safe while on the job. "Like all businesses grappling with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we are working hard to keep employees safe while serving communities and the most vulnerable," the company said in a statement. "The truth is the vast majority of employees continue to show up and do the heroic work of delivering for customers every day." New York State Attorney General Letitia James called Amazon's firing of Smalls "disgraceful" and said the Office of the Attorney General is "considering all legal options," as well as calling on the National Labor Relations Board to investigate the incident. Here are the latest developments in Asia related to the coronavirus pandemic: - First confirmed Myanmar death - Myanmar reported its first coronavirus death -- a 69-year-old man who returned to the country in mid-March after receiving cancer treatment in Australia. The country of 54 million people, with one of the region's weakest health care systems, only confirmed its first case last week. - World Bank warns on China growth - Economic fallout from the pandemic could bring China's growth to a standstill, the World Bank said, warning of "an unprecedented global shock" that could also increase poverty across the region. Chinese factory activity saw surprise growth in March as businesses grind back to work following a lengthy shutdown, but analysts said the economy faces a challenging recovery as external demand is devastated by the virus crisis. - China to report cases without symptoms - Chinese health officials said that they will start reporting asymptomatic cases in their daily tally from Wednesday. Infected people who are asymptomatic will have to go into quarantine for 14 days, as will their close contacts, they said. The country where the outbreak emerged last year reduced the number of locally transmitted cases by placing large areas under lockdown, but is now seeing a surge in infections from overseas. Separately, the Chinese government ruled out an immediate resumption of major sporting events "for better epidemic prevention and control". No date was set by which sports such as basketball and football could resume. - Hundreds buried in Jakarta, says governor - The governor of the Indonesian capital Jakarta said nearly 300 suspected and confirmed victims of the virus had been wrapped in plastic and quickly buried since the start of this month. He has been pushing for a total lockdown of Jakarta, a move resisted by the president. His warning fuelled fears that Indonesia's death toll is higher than the official figure of 122. - Japan tightens travel advice - Japan is advising its citizens to avoid travelling to 73 countries and regions worldwide in a bid to halt the spread of the virus. People are also being warned against non-essential travel to all other parts of the world, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said. - Markets bounce back - Asian equities rose strongly following another rally on Wall Street, while oil bounced and traders welcomed a surprise jump in Chinese factory activity -- although analysts cautioned that the road ahead remained rocky for the global economy. Global markets have suffered historic falls in recent weeks as the virus batters economies worldwide. - Protest in Sri Lanka over cremation of Muslim virus victim - Sri Lanka's minority Muslims Tuesday slammed the authorities for cremating against their religious rites a fellow Muslim who became the islands first novel coronavirus victim. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) political party said the 63 year-old victim identified only as Jamal was cremated on Monday night shortly after his death at a state hospital. The party accused authorities of "callous disregard" for religious sentiments and the wishes of the victim's family. It said the action would discourage Muslims -- around 10 percent of Sri Lanka's population of 21 million -- to seek medical treatment for "fear of possible cremation" if they die from a COVID-19 infection. The pandemic has infected 142 people and claimed two lives in Sri Lanka. - New Delhi gathering a fresh virus hotspot - A large gathering at an Islamic religious center in New Delhi has become one of India's major virus hotspots after several deaths and dozens of COVID-19 infections were linked to the event. Some of the thousands who flocked to the religious centre in Delhi's Nizamuddin West neighbourhood returned to their states after the meeting, but many remained nearby, saying they were trapped because public transport had been shut down due to the virus. Police escorted buses carrying more than 1,000 people from the area to be quarantined, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain told reporters Tuesday. However 335 of those were admitted to hospital, the official said. The narrow streets near the religious centre were taped off Monday and Tuesday by personnel in hazmat suits. - Bangladesh extends holiday - The government has extended public holidays from April 4 to April 11 in an effort to stem the COVID-19 pandemic, a junior minister told reporters. Bangladesh will be virtually locked down during the period, with only food, medicine and export lorries being allowed to move. burs-sr/ch/dw BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31 Trend: The so-called "elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh occupied by Armenia contradict to international law and will never be recognized as legitimate, Huseyin Altinalan, press secretary of the Turkish Embassy in Azerbaijan, told Trend. He noted that Armenia continues the occupation despite the resolution of the UN Security Council of March 14, 2008, on the unconditional withdrawal of Armenians from the occupied Azerbaijani lands and the return of Azerbaijanis in refugee status. Compounding this irresponsibility, Armenia seeks to "legitimize" the fact of occupation through the so-called "elections". This step is contrary to UN resolutions and OSCE provisions, as well as international law, and at the same time it undermines the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group to reach a settlement [of the conflict]. Our country ultimately does not recognize these so-called 'elections'. The UN and the OSCE Minsk Group should not only reject these "elections", but also strongly condemn the Armenian government and take measures to prevent such steps, Altinalan said. Armenia should end its predatory actions and leave the occupied territories, the press secretary added. 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. British and American submariners stealthily cruising the ocean depths are likely to have no idea about the coronavirus pandemic, former and current officers have revealed. The teams, which are at sea for 60 to 70 days at a time on top secret missions of nuclear deterrence, are deliberately shielded from world news to improve mission focus and because it could undermine morale. They are believed to be one of the last pockets of humanity unaware of the global shutdown and almost 40,000 deaths caused by the virus so far. France has the sixth highest number of confirmed cases globally, at 45,170, and has instigated a nationwide lockdown as authorities grapple to contain the outbreak. Mariners are shielded from world news to encourage undivided attention on their missions. Pictured above is Le Vigliant nuclear submarine in Brest, France French naval commander Axel Roch pictured on the 'Suffren' submarine in Cherbourg, north-west France, in July last year Officers said that any crews that left port before the virus spread will most likely be spared the news until the final two days of their mission, when they are heading back to port. 'They wont know,' said retired Admiral Dominique Salles, who commanded the French ballistic submarine squadron from 2003-2006 and the nuclear-armed submarine L'Inflexible. When he was on a 60-day mission he wasn't told his father had died until he got back to shore. 'The boys need to be completely available for their mission. Those who are at sea dont need this information. 'The commander, I think, is doubtless informed about what is happening. (But) I don't think he'll have all the details. When the retired admiral was on a 60-day mission while he was serving his father died. The news was kept from him until he returned to shore. French President Emmanuel Macron visits the 'Suffren' submarine in July last year. He has ordered a complete shutdown of France due to coronavirus Chief Doctor Gabriel, who was underwater in 2012 when an Islamic extremist killed French paratroopers, said that all events that could affect or change the crew's morale 'are kept from them'. 'Since there is no internet, no radio and no television on board, the only news you get comes from messages received by the commander,' he said, 'and the commander filters the messages to not give all of the information to everyone'. 'The only place where you are really cut off from all information is underwater, because even on a vessel in space there is still the radio, television, the internet.' The French navy has refused to say whether its submarine crews currently at sea have been made aware. French navy spokesman Leitenant Commander Olivier Ribard said it was 'impossible' to know whether crews have been informed because 'the deterrent is wrapped in a bubble of protection and confidentiality'. The crews will be returning to a changed France when they come back into port. Pictured above is a view of Saint Lazare train station in Paris on March 30 This is the outside of Paris' usually bustling Gare du Nord station, which connects the French capital to London. People have been urged to stay indoors by authorities Four of the country's ballistic submarines, laden with 16 missiles that each carry up to six nuclear warheads, left harbour before a nationwide lockdown was started on March 17. Missions last between 60 and 70 days, with about 110 crew members, meaning that any submarines that left in February could be unaware of the coronavirus pandemic until the end of April. On March 1, France had recorded just 130 cases of coronavirus and two deaths. A serving officer, who was the doctor on ballistic submarine 'Le Triomphant' for four years, said that the coronavirus outbreak will be 'quite a surprise' for the crews. 'They wont have experienced the crisis as we did, with a bit of fear, the lockdown,' they said. 'So for them it will be quite a surprise. They will learn the history, but it will be a history that is related to them.' Salle said that when bombings hit Madrid in 2004 he didn't inform his crew, who were then at sea. He said the situation will be tough for any crews leaving France in the weeks ahead, as they will be leaving loved ones without knowing what will happen to them. A deserted Massena's place in the French Riviera city of Nice on March 30 The empty 'Place Vendome' square in Paris, France, pictured on March 30 The French government has already extended its stay-home orders to April 15 and warned that it may need to do so again. Salles said he believes those crews will get regular coronavirus updates, but won't be told of any family deaths until they are returning to the lIle Longue submarine base near Brest in Brittany. 'No matter how serious an event is, there is nothing a submariner can do about it. And since he cannot do anything, better that he know nothing,' Salles said. 'They know that they won't know and accept it. It's part of our deal.' Modern ventilators are very expensive and sophisticated devices Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad Director Prof. B.S. Murty has called upon on the Government of India to consider adopting bag valve mask as an alternative to meet any surge in demand for ventilators, both in India and other countries, to treat COVID-19 patients While the conventional ventilators are expensive, hard to produce, and not portable, Prof. B.S. Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad and Prof. V. Eswaran, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, highlight that bag valve masks are small devices, which are used to deliver breathing support in emergency situations that are inexpensive, easy to produce, and portable - which therefore have every quality that is required in this crisis. They are most common of these devices is the bag valve mask, often called by the propriety name of Ambu Bag, that is used for resuscitation in emergency situations. The COVID-19 virus has varied effect on the people it infects. Some barely show symptoms, while they still pass on the virus to others who may be more seriously affected. Of the 15 per cent of COVID-19 affected patients who may need hospitalization, around one-third, (5 per cent) would likely develop respiratory difficulties for which ventilators for assisted breathing will become necessary. The Professors note that while bag valve mask are currently hand-powered and therefore not suitable for continuous use as a ventilator, it would be easy to design a similar device powered by an electrical source, which could be a car battery, apart from the conventional power supply. It could be made portable, and therefore adopted in villages and other areas without a power supply and be inexpensive enough to manufacture in bulk. Elaborating on the advantages of this system, Prof. B.S. Murty & Prof. V. Eswaran, Department said, Our estimate of the cost is that it can be manufactured for less than Rs 5000, or one-hundredth the cost of a conventional machine. The cost of manufacturing 6 million of these devices will be probably less than that of the inadequate number of 60,000 conventional machines mentioned above. The cost is so low that it can be considered a single-use device that will be given over to single patient, and never used again. It needs to be manufactured, however, on an industrial scale, in millions, within a short time of a few months. There have been several designs proposed within India itself, with IIT Hyderabad having at least one proposed design. The Professors also added that this idea was not new. In the past few weeks, many countries have come up with this idea of manufacture of low-cost ventilators and have even started competitions where the winning design would be declared open-source, which are not patented, and can be given free for anyone to adopt. Several designs are already available for 3-D printing, and so can be manufactured on a small scale on a 3-D printer. However, Prof. B.S. Murty and Prof. V. Eswaran also cautioned that while this was reassuring, there were some caveats involved: These designs are untested, and uncertified Even if inexpensive, the designed devices should be capable of continuous and faultless 24x7 operation for at least one month which requires very high performance both of the design and the manufactured components While 3-D printing could be part of the manufacturing solution, conventional manufacturing may be much more effective for making the millions of devices in the most rapid and cost-effective way Further, Prof. B.S. Murty and Prof. V. Eswaran said, We are proposing that the Government of India (through the Department of Science and Technology/Defence Research and Development Organisation, or some other nodal organization) constitute a highly empowered taskforce, which will carry out the tasks needed to start the production of these low-cost ventilators, within a maximum time-frame of two months. The production rate thereafter would need to be of several lakh units per week, so the preparation has to be done at a war-footing, under the direct scrutiny of the highest levels of Government. A Ventilator is a device designed to force breathable air into the lungs of patients who are unable to breathe for themselves. Modern ventilators are very expensive and sophisticated devices, which are generally found only in the ICUs (intensive care units) of large hospitals. The most sophisticated computer-controlled ventilators cost around Rs. 40 lakh while more modest foreign-made ones cost around Rs. 15 lakh with Indian-made ventilators costing around Rs. 6 lakh. It is estimated that there are around 40,000 ventilators in India at present, mostly in the private hospitals. The Indian industry has a maximum manufacturing capacity of approximately 6,000 units per month, but even the Indian-made devices use a lot of foreign-made parts whose availability would now be uncertain, when every country would be maximizing their own ventilator production. The Professors said that assuming a low 6 per cent infection rate, in case COVID-19 advancement in India continues, in the Indian population of 1.3 Billion, that would mean that around 80 million people would get affected. Of these 80 million, at least 5 per cent (4 million patients) would require ventilators. Each of these 4 million patients would need the ventilators for around 21 days, thereby blocking that machine for at least that amount of time. Further, the machines are not portable and are found only in high-end hospitals in large cities, so patients from villages would need to be transported to these cities, which would be a logistics problem of unimaginable complexity. It is quite clear that even a mild 6 per cent Stage-3 would overwhelm the countrys capacity to a devastating degree. Even if the Indian Industry was at peak production, it could manufacture only another 60,000 machines in the next 10 months, at a cost of Rs. 3,600 crore. Prof. B.S. Murty and Prof. V. Eswaran conclude, Therefore, the total number of ventilators would barely be 1 lakh devices - at a time when millions of machines may be needed. We cannot depend of the conventional ventilators for a solution to this crisis. 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. Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2020) - Rockcliff Metals Corporation (CSE: RCLF) (FSE: RO0) (WKN: A2H60G) ("Rockcliff" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an updated Mineral Resource Estimate by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. ("P&E") for the Company's 100% owned Rail Deposit located in central Manitoba. The Rail Deposit is within trucking distance to Rockcliff's fully functional +1,000tpd leased mill and processing facility and is part of the Company's extensive Manitoba property portfolio located within the prolific Flin Flon-Snow Lake greenstone belt. Highlights of the Rail Mineral Resource Estimate Include: Indicated tonnes increased by 42% (1.17Mt vs. 0.82Mt); Inferred tonnes of 0.73Mt @ 4.09% CuEq containing 50.0M lbs of copper; Indicated copper increased by 27% (70.2M lbs vs. 55.1M lbs); Indicated gold increased by 72% (30.0k oz vs. 17.4k oz); Indicated zinc increased by 34% (22.0M lbs vs. 16.3M lbs); and Indicated silver increased by 37% (334.3k oz vs. 243.3k oz). Alistair Ross, President and CEO commented, "We are very pleased that the successful drill programs at Rail have added substantially to the Rail Indicated classification tonnage. They have also identified over 730,000 tonnes of new, high-grade Inferred tonnage. The high-grade Rail deposit remains open along strike and at depth and several additional nearby copper targets remain untested. We look forward to the completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Rail deposit before the end of Q2 2020." The updated Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate prepared by P&E, with an effective date of March 27, 2020, for the Rail Deposit is detailed below. Rail Deposit Updated Mineral Resource Estimate at 1.5% CuEq cut-off March 27, 2020(1-10) Classification Tonnes (k) Cu (%) Zn (%) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) CuEq (%) Cu (Mlbs) Zn (Mlbs) Au (koz) Ag (koz) CuEq (Mlbs) Indicated 1,168 2.73 0.86 0.80 8.90 3.52 70.2 22.0 30.0 334.3 90.7 Inferred 728 3.11 0.72 1.11 8.54 4.09 50.0 11.6 25.9 199.7 65.6 1) Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, marketing, or other relevant issues. 2) Mineral Resources were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM"), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council. (3) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence that that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration. (4) Approximate Jan 31/20 two year trailing average US$ metal prices used were $3/lb Cu, $1.10/lb Zn, $1,350/oz Au and $16.50/oz Ag. The US$: CDN$ exchange rate used was 0.77. (5) Respective process recoveries for Cu, Zn, Au, Ag were 95%, 80%, 80%, 80%. (6) Respective smelter payables for Cu, Zn, Au, Ag were 96.5%, 85%, 90%, 90%. (7)Respective USD Cu and Zn smelter treatment charges used were $80/tonne and $250/tonne with concentrate freight of CDN$65/tonne. (8) CuEq% was calculated as follows: Cu% + (Zn % x 0.220) + (Au g/t x 0.673) + (Ag g/t x 0.008). (9) The 1.5% CuEq cut-off is approximately equivalent to a CDN$100/tonne project operating cost. (10) Contained metal totals may differ due to rounding. Figure 1: Rail Indicated and Inferred Resource, looking west. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3071/53973_3cb69062e42ddaac_001full.jpg Resource Estimate Methodology The Mineral Resource Estimate reported herein, considered drilling information available up to February 10, 2020 and was evaluated using a geostatistical block modeling approach constrained by polymetallic mineralization wireframes utilizing Geovia GEMS modeling software. The evaluation of the Mineral Resource Estimate involved CuEq cut-off value determination, cross-sectional polyline interpretation' constraining wireframe creation, compositing, grade capping, variography, grade Interpolation and Mineral Resource Estimate quantification. A total of 97 drill holes (totalling 32,767 metres) from the entire database were reviewed and 74 of those drill holes (totalling 23,505 metres) were utilized to create the constraining wireframes which have an overall strike length of 960 metres, down dip projection of 515 metres and average true width of 1.6 metres. There were 316 assays captured by the constraining wireframes that were combined into 206 composites with an average core length of 1 metre. A grade capping evaluation was performed on the composites and Cu, Au and Zn were capped at 11%, 7g/t and 5%, respectively, while no capping was required for Ag. The capped composites were evaluated with variography to determine the grade interpolation search ellipsoid ranges for grade interpolation and classification. The Indicated Mineral Resource classification search ranges were 65 metres along strike, 65 metres down dip and 15 metres across dip. In order for a model block to be coded with an Indicated classification, its centroid must be able to see a minimum of 4 composites from at least 2 drill holes. Grade interpolation was undertaken with the ID2 method for Cu and Zn and ID3 for Au and Ag. The bulk density model was interpreted with ID2 from 37 bulk density composites with a single pass. The resulting block model utilized blocks that were 2 metres in the X direction, 5 metres in the Y direction and 5 metres in the Z direction. The subsequent block model grades and tonnages were quantified for the Mineral Resource Estimate at a 1.5% CuEq cut-off value. Neither Rockcliff's Qualified Person, Ken Lapierre, P.Geo., nor P&E's Qualified Person, Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., nor management of Rockcliff are aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues that may materially affect the estimate of the Mineral Resource. The Technical Report, compiled in accordance with NI 43-101, will be filed on Rockcliff's issuer profile on SEDAR within 45 days of this press release. Quality Control and Quality Assurance Samples of half core were packaged and shipped directly from Rockcliff's core facility in Snow Lake to TSL Laboratories (TSL), in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. TSL is a Canadian assay laboratory and is accredited under ISO/IEC 17025. Each bagged core sample was dried, crushed to 70% passing 10 mesh and a 250g pulp is pulverized to 95% passing 150 mesh for assaying. A 0.5g cut is taken from each pulp for base metal analyses and leached in a multi acid (total) digestion and then analyzed for copper, lead, zinc and silver by atomic absorption. Gold concentrations are determined by fire assay using a 30g charge followed by an atomic absorption finish. Samples greater than the upper detection limit (3000 ppb) are reanalyzed using fire assay gravimetric using a 1 AT charge. Rockcliff inserted certified blanks and standards in the sample stream to ensure lab integrity. Rockcliff has no relationship with TSL other than TSL being a service provider to the Company. The Mineral Resource for the Rail Deposit disclosed in this press release has been estimated by Mr. Yungang Wu, P.Geo. an associate geologist of P&E and Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., president of P&E, both independent of Rockcliff. By virtue of their education and relevant experience Messrs. Wu and Puritch are "Qualified Persons" for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Puritch has read and approved the technical contents of this press release as it pertains to the disclosed Mineral Resource Estimate. Ken Lapierre P.Geo., VP Exploration of Rockcliff, a Qualified Person in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101, has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this press release. About Rockcliff Metals Corporation Rockcliff is a well-funded Canadian resource development and exploration company, with a fully functional +1,000 tpd leased processing and tailings facility as well as several advance-staged, high-grade copper and zinc dominant VMS deposits in the Snow Lake area of central Manitoba. The Company is a major landholder in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake greenstone belt which is home to the largest Paleoproterozoic VMS district in the world, hosting mines and deposits containing copper, zinc, gold and silver. The Company's extensive portfolio of properties totals over 4,500 square kilometres and includes eight of the highest-grade, undeveloped VMS deposits in the belt. For more information, please visit http://rockcliffmetals.com Twitter: @RockcliffMetals Linkedin: Rockcliff Metals Corp Instagram: Rockcliff_Metals For further information, please contact: Rockcliff Metals Corporation Alistair Ross President & CEO Phone: (249) 805-9020 aross@rockcliffmetals.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from the historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although Rockcliff believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53973 FILE PHOTO: Logo of Swiss bank UBS is seen in Basel By John Miller ZURICH (Reuters) - UBS plans to pay a 2019 dividend that is more than half its annual profit, defying calls by the Swiss government and financial markets supervisor for lenders to limit payouts during the coronavirus crisis. Banks around the world have been asked to withhold payouts to ensure that they are able to support businesses through the economic disruption caused by the global coronavirus pandemic. "UBS has a strong capital basis and is strategically well positioned, which is especially crucial in this difficult time," the bank said on Monday, adding that it was "in a position to support the economy while maintaining an appropriate dividend policy." Shares in UBS, Switzerland's largest bank, whose proposed dividend of $0.73 in cash per share is up nearly 6% over 2018 and foresees a payment of $2.6 billion to shareholders, closed little changed at 9.06 Swiss francs. UBS posted net profit of $4.3 billion last year and the dividend payout reflects a roughly 8% return on the bank's share price, that has fallen some 30% since February. The European Central Bank (ECB) last week told banks in the euro zone to skip dividends and share buybacks until October. This call has so far been heeded by groups including ABN Amro , the Bank of Ireland, ING , Rabobank [RABOVR.UL] and Italy's UniCredit and Germany's Commerzbank . And Bank of International Settlements (BIS) general manager Agustin Carstens said at the weekend that "a global freeze on bank dividends and share buybacks" was needed. UBS was rescued a decade ago by the Swiss federal government with a 6 billion Swiss franc ($6.28 billion) capital injection during the financial industry crisis. Chief Financial Officer Kirt Gardner said this month that UBS was comfortable with its liquidity levels, despite sharp falls in equity markets. UBS is also appealing an order by a French court to pay 4.5 billion euros ($5 billion) after being found guilty of laundering proceeds of tax evasion in 2019. Story continues 'NOT A BAN' Swiss financial market watchdog FINMA said two weeks ago that Switzerland's financial institutions were well equipped to deal with extreme stress scenarios and continued to function, although its CEO cautioned last week they should exercise restraint on payouts.. "It is not a ban, it is an appeal," FINMA Chief Executive Mark Branson said, as the Swiss government announced a 20 billion franc support programme for businesses. The Swiss government said it backed recommendations from the Swiss National Bank and FINMA on dividend payments and bonuses. Separately, UBS said voting rights at its annual general meeting on April 29 can only be exercised through independent proxies, as shareholders cannot physically participate. ($1 = 0.9032 euros) ($1 = 0.9557 Swiss francs) (Reporting by John Miller and Oliver Hirt in Zurich; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Alexander Smith) Casey is Irish Catholic and had visited cousins in Ireland in 1968 and dreamed about going back or even living there. She also has used website that connects you with locals and housesit while theyre away, and another website through which you can meet up with the homeowners who allow you to stay in their home a few nights. She traveled throughout Ireland and parts of Europe that way. Hundreds of thousands of tons of rice in Mekong Delta remain unsold as merchants have stopped collecting rice. Farmers fear the rice price will drop dramatically if Vietnam stops exporting rice. Le Van Lam, 69, in Dong Thap province, is worried as the rice price has unexpectedly fallen by VND300-500 per kilogram and merchants have stopped collecting rice from farmers because of unclear information about the rice export interruption. Just one week ago, the rice price reached its peak of VND5,700-6,300 per kilogram after the continued increase for one month. With the price, Dong Thap Muois farmers can make a profit of VND2-3 million for every cong (1,000 square meters). If rice is unsalable, we may have to leave 30 hectares of fields uncultivated in the upcoming crop, he said. Dong Thap Muois farmers have harvested more than 97 percent of its total cultivation land of 200,000 hectares. The average yield is 7.1 tons per hectare, or 0.1 tons higher than the previous winter-spring crop and the average selling price is VND5,000-6,300 per kilogram. Dong Thap Muois farmers have harvested more than 97 percent of its total cultivation land of 200,000 hectares. The average yield is 7.1 tons per hectare, or 0.1 tons higher than the previous winter-spring crop and the average selling price is VND5,000-6,300 per kilogram. If the current situation continues, it is highly possible that 40,000 hectares of summer-autumn crop rice will not find buyers, or the prices will drop, Nguyen Phuoc Thien, director of the Dong Thap provincial Agriculture Department warned. Dong Thap is one of the localities with the largest rice cultivation area in Mekong Delta, which produces 3.5 million tons each year. Meanwhile, in Kien Giang province, farmers have harvested 270,000 hectares of winter-spring crop rice with the yield of 7.2 tons per hectare. They are planning to harvest rice on the remaining 20,000 hectares. About 1,000 hectares have been affected by drought and saline intrusion. The local authorities said natural calamities have not had a big impact on cultivation. What worries local farmers now, according to Kien Giang provincial agriculture department official Nguyen Van Tam, is that 376,000 tons of rice to be harvested may go unsold and 290,000 tons of summer-autumn crop rice may not find outlets. Tam affirmed that the Mekong Delta now has rice in excess. The rice output of Kien Giang province alone is 4.2 million tons, which is enough to ensure food security. Therefore, Mekong Delta provinces can boost exports to help farmers make bigger profits. Vo Tong Xuan, a respected agriculture expert, also thinks the government should permit rice exports. With 1.5 million hectares of winter-spring crop rice, the Mekong Delta can have 5.3-5.5 million tons of rice. The best solution is storing 1.5 million tons of rice and exporting 4 million tons, which ensures high profit for farmers, Xuan said. Xuan believes there is no need to worry about food security. Vietnam produces 40-43 million tons of rice each year. Kim Chi Halting rice exports to stabilise food supplies The Vietnamese government has asked rice exporters to temporarily suspend signing new export contracts in a bid to increase stockpiles and ensure the countrys food supply. Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. Nonetheless, only a fool would ignore the risk that a loss making company burns through its cash too quickly. So should Sareum Holdings (LON:SAR) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. We'll start by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves in order to calculate its cash runway. See our latest analysis for Sareum Holdings Does Sareum Holdings Have A Long Cash Runway? You can calculate a company's cash runway by dividing the amount of cash it has by the rate at which it is spending that cash. As at December 2019, Sareum Holdings had cash of UK995k and no debt. In the last year, its cash burn was UK1.3m. Therefore, from December 2019 it had roughly 9 months of cash runway. That's quite a short cash runway, indicating the company must either reduce its annual cash burn or replenish its cash. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years. AIM:SAR Historical Debt March 30th 2020 How Is Sareum Holdings's Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Sareum Holdings didn't record any revenue over the last year, indicating that it's an early stage company still developing its business. Nonetheless, we can still examine its cash burn trajectory as part of our assessment of its cash burn situation. As it happens, the company's cash burn reduced by 9.6% over the last year, which suggests that management may be mindful of the risks of their depleting cash reserves. Admittedly, we're a bit cautious of Sareum Holdings due to its lack of significant operating revenues. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow. Story continues How Hard Would It Be For Sareum Holdings To Raise More Cash For Growth? While Sareum Holdings is showing a solid reduction in its cash burn, it's still worth considering how easily it could raise more cash, even just to fuel faster growth. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Many companies end up issuing new shares to fund future growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations. Sareum Holdings's cash burn of UK1.3m is about 10% of its UK13m 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 Sareum Holdings's Cash Burn Situation? Even though its cash runway makes us a little nervous, we are compelled to mention that we thought Sareum Holdings's cash burn relative to its market cap was relatively promising. Even though we don't think it has a problem with its cash burn, the analysis we've done in this article does suggest that shareholders should give some careful thought to the potential cost of raising more money in the future. Taking a deeper dive, we've spotted 6 warning signs for Sareum Holdings you should be aware of, and 2 of them are a bit unpleasant. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) 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. Michael is the Daily Emerald's Editor-in-Chief. He started at the Emerald as a reporter in 2017 and has held the roles of senior news reporter and associate news editor. He has bylines in The Wall Street Journal, The Portland Tribune and Eugene Weekly. Follow Michael Tobin 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. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Advertisement Photographers will go to great lengths to get the perfect shot. And one man who knows this only too well is Stefan Forster, who has dedicated 14 years of his life to compiling a breathtaking collection of images of the Nordic islands. Swiss-born Forster, one of the most renowned nature photographers in Europe, made more than 80 intrepid trips through far-flung Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and the islands of Norway to capture their mesmerising beauty. His journey saw him walk hundreds of kilometres through the Highlands of Iceland, paddle a kayak along the west coast of Greenland, sail on an old wooden ship through the mighty Scoresby Sound of East Greenland, and scale one of the steepest cliffs on the Faroe Islands. All for the love of the lens. His images appear in a new book called Nordic Islands and capture staggering cliff faces, vast blue icebergs, the dazzling Northern Lights and intriguing wildlife. Scroll down to view a selection from the tome... Beautiful: Forster captured this sunrise shot in Scoresby Sund, a fjord system in Greenland, from an inflatable boat Forster's journey saw him walk hundreds of kilometres through the Highlands of Iceland to capture images like the one above Epic: Forster used a drone to capture images of mammoth icebergs in Greenland Forster said capturing images of the Northern Lights requires 'a lot of patience' as you need perfectly clear skies Labour of love: Forster spent 14 years compiling the photos for the collection, which includes panoramic images of Iceland's lakes Forster said he couldn't believe his eyes when he caught sight of this seahorse made of ice during his first trip to Greenland in 2012 The photographer's journey also took him to the Faroe Islands, which are known for harbouring dramatic cliffs Snap happy: Pictured are the mountains and crystal clear waters surrounding the Lofoten archipelago in Norway Rugged: This atmospheric image is of Vestrahorn, a 454-metre (1,489ft) mountain in south-east Iceland Forster encountered this Arctic Fox near Ilulissat, a coastal town in Greenland. Forster reveals in his book that the fox bit the hood off his camera out of curiosity Thirty-four Gautam Buddh Nagar residents, who have shown no symptoms of coronavirus yet, have been home quarantined as a precautionary measure after it was found that they had attended Tablighi Jamaat twice in Delhi's Nizamuddin, police said on Tuesday. The Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz (centre) in Nizamuddin West has emerged as a coronavirus hotspot as 24 people who attended a religious congregation there from March 1-15 have tested positive for COVID-19. "We received information about the Tablighi Jamaat but found that no one from the district had participated in it. However, with a view to ensure precaution, we searched and found that some people from Gautam Buddh Nagar went there earlier in March (this year) and in December last year," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Ashutosh Dwivedi said in a statement issued late on Tuesday night. "Eleven people from Dadri police station area had been there on December 7, while 10 from Phase 2, six from Ecotech 3 and 17 from Dankaur went there on March 12," he said. Dwivedi said all these people have been examined for COVID-19 by the health department here but none of them have showed any symptoms so far. "The health department has asked them to stay home quarantined for some time. It has already been more than 14 days since they attended the congregation and none of them has shown any sign of coronavirus. However, the health department is alert and monitoring them," the officer said. Gautam Buddh Nagar in western Uttar Pradesh, adjoining Delhi, has already become a hotspot for coronavirus with 38 cases so far, according to official figures. The markaz in south Delhi's Nizamuddin had organised a Tabligh-e-Jamaat from March 1-15 and at least 2,000 people, including foreigners and Indians from across the country, attended it. On Sunday night, many residents of the centre started showing symptoms for coronavirus infection and police and paramilitary officials locked down the area. However, authorities fear a spread of the virus. Meanwhile, five FIRs were registered across Noida and Greater Noida and 30 people arrested for defying the ongoing lockdown, the police said. A total of 709 vehicles were checked at 132 barriers in the district and challans issued to 98 drivers for various violations. Three vehicles were impounded, they added. Police Commissioner Alok Singh said his force has so far helped 41,635 people in the district by distributing food, medicines, masks and other items since the lockdown, ordered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to combat the spread of coronavirus, came into force. He also appealed to people to strictly adhere to the lockdown. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Heads of government from the Arab League usually meet in one of the leagues 22 member states in March for their annual summit with its routine agenda of unifying ranks and pushing for joint action in fresh directions. Not this year. Plans for a leadership summit scheduled in Algeria last week were shelved, as most Arab countries remain gripped by the Covid-19 outbreak that has wreaked havoc and caused widespread sickness and fatalities worldwide. The Leagues Secretary-General Ahmed Abul-Gheit, attributed the postponement of the annual gathering to current global developments, especially health conditions that cause concern at meetings and gatherings. It is not strange to see Arab League summits marred by cancellations, cutbacks or boycotts by heavyweight leaders due to conflicts or the wrangling over issues. But the organisations lack of action on the terrifying and challenging Covid-19 pandemic that is gripping the world was especially stunning. The Arab Leagues lack of action to ensure adequate coordination of the Arab response as the pandemic strikes remains phenomenal, and for many it has forced a catastrophic strategic failure onto the Arab peoples. But as the Arab League was put on mute, international organisations continued to battle the Covid-19 virus with whirlwind coordination in order to respond rapidly to the lethal epidemic and its economic impacts. The United Nations and its specialised agencies have led the international response to the Covid-19 pandemic to help those governments and humanitarian groups standing on the front lines to cope with its consequences. The UN has taken a series of measures including providing technical assistance and funding to help vulnerable countries battle the spread of the Covid-19 virus, which has claimed thousands of lives across continents and infected more than half a million people. On 25 March, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres launched the Covid-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan, an ambitious joint effort by the UN, other international organisations, and certain NGOs to respond to the direct and indirect humanitarian consequences of the pandemic. Despite hurdles and disputes, the European Commission has also been struggling to work out a comprehensive coordination plan and common European response to the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus on the continent. EU leaders met last week at a summit meeting to try to hammer out plans to support their economies that have been battered by the coronavirus. During a six-hour videoconference, the leaders discussed plans to set up what has been billed as a new Marshall Plan for Europe. Among the measures they have been contemplating is a credit line worth some two per cent of the member states economic output to tackle the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and its financial consequences. In Africa, government leaders have hurried to discuss the repercussions of the new coronavirus pandemic on the continent and means of dealing with the consequences of this crisis on the fragile economies of its countries. After a mini-summit via videoconference, members of the African Union Bureau agreed to establish a fund to provide resources to support anti-coronavirus efforts and confront the economic repercussions expected across the continent. In another sign of multilateralism, G20 group leaders, whose countries account for 80 per cent of the worlds GDP, met last week to look into international efforts to stem the spread of the virus. In a videoconference summit, the G20 leaders also assessed policy tools to minimise the economic and social damage of the pandemic, restore global growth, and maintain market stability and strengthen resilience. After the two-hour meeting, the leaders agreed to assess gaps in pandemic preparedness and increase funding for the research and development of vaccines and medicines, an area in which the G20 has also shown interest in the past. After the new coronavirus pandemic was declared a global emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the world has mobilised to confront the pandemic and fight it across borders, asserting the interconnectedness and vulnerabilities of its different states. Yet, there has been a broad consensus that the 22-member Arab League is failing in this vital area, not least in coordinating efforts to help the most vulnerable Arab countries in confronting the deadly virus and its dire consequences. As warning signs of the coronaviruss spread worldwide emerged in early February, questions were raised as to whether the Arab League would show it had a purpose in times of crisis and would play a role in its member states efforts to confront the virus. In late February, nearly three months after the first reported cases of infections in Wuhan in China, Arab health ministers travelled for a regular meeting at the Cairo headquarters of the Arab League to find out what their countries could do to tackle a problem that had already taken on a cross-border dimension. A final communique issued later said the ministers had called for maintaining inter-Arab connections and the exchange of information and preventive plans to confront the disease and that they took notice of a Saudi proposal to deal with emergencies and disasters. But the communique from the ministers lacked specifics and was void of tangible plans of a cooperative nature to deal collectively with the virus, which was soon declared a pandemic by the WHO. As of Monday, there have been more than 802,831 COVID-19 infections and around 40,000 deaths worldwide, according to World Meter. With cases of Covid-19 rising, and the problems in public health systems in many Arab countries and the growing economic costs of the pandemic, this meeting ought to have been a time for the Arab League to assert itself. According to the WHOs Middle East Regional Office that serves 22 countries including non-Arab Afghanistan and Iran, two-thirds of the region is now directly or indirectly affected by the Covid-19 emergency with health systems too fragile to rapidly respond to the deadly virus. There has been no word that the wealthy oil-rich Arab countries in the Gulf will be there to help those Arab countries whose healthcare systems are most vulnerable in handling the outbreak. The healthcare systems in many Arab countries are already severely stretched, with limited financing and resources to provide hospital beds, intensive care units and the supplies needed to fight the coronavirus. The potential breakdown of healthcare systems, especially in countries plagued with domestic conflicts, would not only have a drastic impact on their populations health, but could also push the countries concerned into further crises that could spread into neighbouring countries. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the economies of nations worldwide, and the Arab countries are not immune to its devastating impacts due to recessionary trends and negative growth rates in both the national and world economies. While the economies of the oil-rich countries in the Gulf are expected to be strongly affected, the interruption of economic activity is going to exact a heavy toll on the non-oil producing countries as well, and in particular on those struggling with economic hardships, political instability and conflicts. To avoid an economic upheaval caused by Covid-19 with its dire social and regional security impacts, the rich Arab states must focus on helping the other Arab countries with weak economies, despite the fact that they are fighting their own battle with the crisis. The Arab League was established in 1945 as a pan-Arab regional cooperation framework that would bring the Arab countries and peoples together and provide a forum to serve their interests. Among its main goals was to boost relations between its member states and coordinate their development policies through its Economic and Social Council, specialised ministerial councils and collective or bilateral agreements. Arab League officials have long blamed the organisations failures on its member states, which they accuse of being divided and of keeping the organisation under-resourced. They also accuse the member states of making the Leagues decisions themselves and of forging its policies and not acting through the organisations own bureaucracy. While this remains true, the pan-Arab organisation, criticised for being overly bureaucratic and inefficient, should take responsibility for failing to lead and move towards rallying actions and taking bold initiatives to address current challenges. While the Covid-19 pandemic remains a health and economic issue, it has also markedly changed how politics works, and it is likely to reshape international and regional organisations and their roles in leadership and collective actions. The pandemics long-term geopolitical implications will prove to be just as consequential, especially when it comes to the Arab region, which is already burdened with multiple problems, including long-running conflicts, sectarian tensions, economic crises and political unrest. Even by the modest goals set by its founding fathers and the standards of its hitherto often dismal performance, the Arab Leagues response to the coronavirus challenge has been a flop brought about by unprecedented unpreparedness and perhaps even indifference. *A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: 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. YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. The current stage of the fight against the spread of coronavirus is the period of the strictest limitations, which will last until April 14, ARMENPRESS reports Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, State of Emergency Commandant Tigran Avinyan said at a press conference, presenting the strategy of the Commandant's Office. He noted that during this period all possible restrictions on free movement, economic activities will be imposed. ''We will force entrepreneurs to respect safety and sanitary epidemiological regulations, we will add control mechanisms and will apply various penalties and fines'', Avinyan said. According to him, the next stage is planned after April 14. Avinyan hoped that during that period they will be able to develop tools that will allow to take effective preventive measures. ''Those tools already exist and we are waiting for the bill to be adopted, so as to be able to effectively detect the circle of people who possibly have interacted with the infected people and make sure that the rules of self-insulation are strictly respected'', the Deputy PM said. State of Emergency Commandant Tigran Avinyan hoped that Armenia will return to normal life after mid-April-early May, if they are able to perfectly implement all the preventive measures. The total cumulative number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Armenia is 532. With 31 recoveries and 3 fatalities, 498 are active cases. 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 Tigran Sirekanyan SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho speaks during the company's general meeting of stockholders at its headquarter in Seoul, March 26. / Courtesy of SK Telecom By Kim Jae-heun, Baek Byung-yeul The country's largest wireless carrier SK Telecom may acquire cable TV operator Hyundai HCN, industry sources said, Tuesday. Hyundai HCN is now up for sale after its mother company decided to unload it. All three of the country's mobile carriers KT, LG Uplus and SK Telecom are tapped as "potential buyers" of the pay-per-view TV operator but SK Telecom is the strongest candidate, they said. SK Telecom has lost its No. 2 position in the pay broadcasting market to LG Uplus after the latter acquired cable TV operator CJ Hello. SK Telecom also bought the country's No. 2 cable TV operator t-broad in the same year, but still lost its position to LG Uplus. An industry analyst said the country's top mobile carrier will continue pursuing an additional merger as this is the simplest way to reclaim the No. 2 pay TV player position and further seek the No. 1 rank. "If SK Broadband merges with Hyundai HCN, the combined entity will be able to secure 27.5 percent of market share with 9.53 million subscribers," Choi Nam-kon, an analyst at Yuanta Securities Korea, said. SK Broadband is owned by SK Telecom. Hyundai HCN has less subscribers compared to its chief rival D'Live, No. 4 player in the pay TV market, but the company was looking quite stable in terms of total debt amount as most of its subscribers are concentrated in the upmarket Gangnam and Seocho areas of Seoul. Hyundai HCN had a total of 1.34 million subscribers as of the first half of 2019 making it the No. 6 player in the market at that time. Regarding a potential merger of Hyundai HCN, SK Telecom said it is not considering a takeover of the cable TV operator. "There has been investment reports from analysts that SK Telecom would acquire Hyundai HCN, but we don't have any plan to do so," an SK Telecom official said. "Currently we are concentrating on finalizing an acquisition deal of t-broad and are not considering an additional merger and acquisition deal," the official added. In 2019, SK Telecom's fixed broadband subsidiary SK Broadband received the government's approval to merge with t-broad, the country's No. 2 cable TV operator, in a bid to expand into the media business. After merger completion, SK Telecom was able to its internet protocol TV (IPTV) business, operated by SK Broadband and t-broad's cable TV business, helping it to increase the number of subscribers to 8.2 million in the country's pay TV market. Hyundai HCN was also said to have approached KT; however, it's unlikely that KT will initiate its plan to acquire HCN as its new CEO Koo Hyun-mo was hoping to focus on ensuring the company's internal stability first. LG Uplus can also join the bid for the M&A of Hyundai cable TV operator to throw its chaser SK Telecom off the scent, which is only 0.69 percent behind in terms of market share. It sold off its payment gateway business last November so it has money to acquire Hyundai HCN. Air quality has substantially improved in the city, amid the lockdown imposed by the government over the growing COVID-19 threat, with most industries suspending its operations and vehicles largely keeping off the roads. Kalyan Rudra, the chairman of West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB), said Kolkata had been waking up to azure skies over the past few days, as Air Quality Index (AQI) in different parts of city hovered between 50 and 100 (satisfactory level). "If there is less commercial activity outside, it is bound to have an impact on the Kolkata is no exception," Rudra told PTI. Another WBPCB official said the city, where the AQI had breached the 400-mark (very poor level) last November, can breathe easy for a change, with far less particulate matters hanging in the air. At Jadavpur air monitoring station on Tuesday morning, the ninth day of the lockdown, the AQI stood at 76 (PM 2.5), at Rabindra Bharati University, it was 89. Similarly, at Rabindra Sarobar, the AQI stood at 68. The pollution level was, however, slightly higher at Fort William, where the AQI breached the 100-mark (moderate). The official reasoned that almost all vehicles carrying essential goods ply the Red Road and Jawaharlal Nehru road both of which flank the Fort William. Environmentalist Somendranath Ghosh, however cautioned against increase in ground-level ozone concentration - caused by rising temperatures and low humidity among other factors. "While pollution level has dipped, the ground-level ozone limits have shot up in the past few days. That could also trigger a variety of health problems," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Simon Cook, Managing Director, Cannes Lions writes an open letter to advertising fraternity. The Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity recently announced that they are shifting the event to October amidst concerns of COVID-19 outbreak. And, in a period where there are so many things that we simply cant do, we should never forget what creativity can do. Over the past few weeks, weve spoken to many members of the global community who have shared fascinating stories of invention, collaboration and compassion. Stories about how creativity is working overtime right now, to respond to rapidly changing consumer behaviour, evolving circumstances and periods of extended isolation, or to create positive change. Were opening up our platform to share these stories and breakthroughs, no matter how big or small. Whether youre a brand pivoting to make hand-sanitisers, a platform providing mental well-being content or a company building the plane as its flying to adapt to the changing world, the creative community wants to hear about your brilliant insights and realisations. Well also be releasing relevant classic talks from the Festival, along with Lion-winning work and useful insights and intelligence on the evolving situation. Helpful content and inspiring ideas to remind everyone of the power of creative possibility. Do you have a breakthrough, story or recent learning that youd like to share? Your community wants to hear from you if you have inclusive, universal and globally applicable learnings that everyone can benefit from. Theyre interested in your ideas if you have something valuable, useful or uplifting to share. Above all - and now more than ever - they want to hear about moments of real progress that we can all relate to, be inspired by and learn from as we navigate the way forward together. We look forward to hearing from you. We will share your stories for as long as you find them helpful, useful and hopeful. Stay well, Walmart Inc. will provide masks and gloves for its workers and take their temperature before shifts, the latest moves by the nations biggest private employer to ensure the safety of its employees as unrest mounts among front-line food retail workers. The worlds largest retailer said Tuesday that it will begin supplying high-quality masks and gloves to associates who request them starting this week, and will conduct temperature checks of employees at its warehouses and stores. Its also trying to reduce crowding in stores by implementing procedures like one-way aisles that are normally reserved for high-traffic events like Black Friday. The personal protective equipment will go to warehouses first and then reach stores in the coming weeks, beginning in areas hardest hit by the coronavirus. This is voluntary but from listening to associates, we felt that this was a necessary step, a prudent step to take, Dan Bartlett, executive vice president of public affairs, said on a call with reporters Tuesday. This is a work in progress. The moves come as the workers who pack, deliver and stock everyday essentials grow increasingly vocal about their safety and issues like paid sick leave. Amazon.com Inc. and Instacart Inc., which handles grocery deliveries for thousands of U.S. supermarkets, suffered walkouts yesterday and a sickout is planned at Amazons Whole Foods Market chain on Tuesday. Walmart has fended off attempts to organize its massive workforce over the years, but is increasingly caught between addressing their concerns and the need to satisfy shoppers unslakeable demand for basic goods. Bartlett said the retailer might need as many as seven million masks a week eventually, and did not specify where they would be sourced from. He said the masks and gloves should not substitute for frequent hand-washing, social distancing and other sanitary guidelines already in place. Many associates are already taking their temperature at home before coming to work, he said, with anyone registering 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher advised to not work. Grocery Sales While its hard enough to keep employees safe, an even bigger challenge for Walmart is managing the flow of customers eager to stock up on food, toilet paper and disinfecting wipes. Grocery sales rose 68% over the past two weeks, according to Nielsen data included in a note from Jefferies analyst Christopher Mandeville. Walmart is experiencing astonishing volume, Bartlett said, and is working with local officials to test and implement crowd-management protocols. Still, he said that its hard for employees to have to be enforcers of social distancing. Walmart has already begun mandating one-way aisles in the U.K. and Canada, he said. The unprecedented stresses on cashiers and shelf-stockers have resulted in more of them than normal missing or skipping shifts, said Bartlett, who described the situation as manageable. Walmart has also hired nearly 50,000 new associates as of last night, he said, part of its pledge to bring on 150,000 and increase its U.S. workforce by 10%. Regarding Walmarts plans to test for Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, in its parking lots, a Walmart spokeswoman said there were no new sites opened beyond the two outside Chicago that began testing last week. We dont know where the next sites will be, she said. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. CLEVELAND, Ohio The funeral services for retired deputy U.S. Marshal John Elliott, a decorated crimefighter, were expected to draw hundreds of friends and former co-workers. Instead, only his immediate family attended earlier this month because of the novel coronavirus. [The virus] complicated everything, said Elliotts son, Peter. We couldnt have the viewing that we had wanted. We couldnt have the funeral Mass that we had wanted. But we did the very best that we could. We will do more later. The rapid spread of the virus has affected every part of our lives, including how we grieve for those who have died. Funeral directors across Northeast Ohio said they have had to alter the way they do business and provide empathy and compassion to ensure mourners safety. At a time when families need human interaction and physical touch most, state and national funeral home guidelines, as well as state directives, limit it. Some families have struggled, while others have been helped by planning and technology. Were fond of saying, Grief shared is grief diminished, said Jack Lechner, the president of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. In a lot of ways, the virus has taken that away. We grieve as individuals, but we mourn together. Funeral directors have had to find innovative ways of helping families through the process. Services, for the most part, have continued, though changes are apparent. Funeral directors are urging families to avoid handshakes and hugs. They are recommending smaller, private services now and larger memorials later. And they are increasing the use of technology for those who cannot attend. In my 40-plus years in this business, Ive never seen anything like this, said Jon Rettig, a member of the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, the state body that regulates funeral directors and operators of crematories. This [virus] has impacted everyone. To share a familys love and grief Funeral directors are staggering services to limit the number of people in their facilities. They are urging families to keep services to less than 50 people, and they are abiding by cemeteries requests for just 10 people at graveside services. They also are telling families to avoid meals and gatherings after services, and to plan for larger ones over the summer. To many, the recommendations go against what families have done for generations. One of the advantages of funerals is that they bring people together to share a familys love and grief, said Michael Carlson, the chairman of Carlson Funeral Homes in Medina and Portage counties. But it is difficult now because you have to limit the number of people who can help you get through that process. Mark Busch, the co-owner of Busch Funeral and Crematory Services, which has seven locations in Greater Cleveland, agreed. Human interaction is how we grieve, Busch said. Families have enough anxiety in dealing with the loss of a loved one. And then to have social restrictions on top of that just compounds it. Finding comfort from afar Ohio has 1,154 funeral homes, and 2,774 funeral directors. All are dealing with mourning, anxious families caught in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. To help, some businesses have made simple accommodations. They are providing hand sanitizer alongside the boxes of tissues, moving chairs farther apart and taking away candy dishes, which are a natural gathering place for people and germs. They also are providing mourners their own individual pens to sign the guestbook. Some funeral directors are having an employee sign the book for mourners. In nearly all cases, funeral home directors said, families are following their suggestions. They said they have seen far fewer people attend services. Instead, many friends are sending cards, flowers and messages via funeral homes Facebook pages and online guestbooks. Rettig owns three funeral homes and a crematory in Columbiana County, near Youngstown. He said families and friends have been understanding. They know what is going on and realize the necessity of adjusting their expectations, he said. John Elliotts family understood. Elliotts immediate family members were scattered across the pews of St. James Catholic Church in Lakewood during the funeral Mass earlier this month. Elliott, 83, a former Cuyahoga County sheriffs officer and deputy U.S. Marshal, died in his sleep March 20. Citing the virus, the Rev. Dan Schlegel, who celebrated the Mass, noted there were far more patrol cars outside the church honoring John Elliott than there were people inside. It is hard for me psychologically, Schlegel said. I cant just walk up to someone and give a person a handshake or a hug at a funeral. It is interesting to me, though, how we are exploring new ways to reach out to people. In recent weeks, funeral homes across Ohio have used livestreaming to bring families together and allow them to share moving moments of services. For instance, Katie Anderson and her family reached out to hundreds of people during a small funeral service for her father, Don Hummel, earlier this month. Schoedinger Funeral Home in Columbus livestreamed the service for the family of the 86-year-old, retired banker. That allowed family members and friends from Florida to Wisconsin to view it. He died March 18. Technology is a wonderful thing, said Anderson, of Bexley. It was amazing. So many more people were able to see the service. Busch livestreams services at each of its locations and provides equipment for graveside services and other family events. Mark Busch said the process is an attempt to draw people closer at a difficult time. In a note to families, Busch said, While we cant ask you to pause your grief, we will take every possible step to support you during this difficult time. In most cases, families are holding services within a week of their loved ones deaths. Funeral directors said it has been rare for families to inquire about preserving their loved ones bodies to wait until groups can safely gather. At most, they said, embalmed bodies can be preserved for several weeks before burial or cremation. That doesnt happen at Jewish funeral homes. A body is typically buried quickly, often within three days of an individuals death, and funeral homes are continuing that custom. Jewish tradition is to not embalm the body nor have a viewing. Natalie Shapiro, who owns Shapiro Funeral Services in Orange, said she now only handles short graveside services, for immediate family members. In the past, she has had services in chapels, synagogues and temples. Whatever people wanted, that was fine, Shapiro said. But now, everybody understands. Were an essential business, but we have restrictions. People cannot be in a crowd, and, to be honest, they dont want to be in a crowd. Read more coronavirus coverage: Virus prompts families to visit nursing homes from afar How and where to get tested for coronavirus Childcare centers, parents grapple with tough choices Workers at highest risk Health care workers, whats it like handling coronavirus cases? Denver, CO March 31, 2020 Katherine Burlake's first book, The Bystander, introduced readers to Amy Prowers as she navigated the politics and culture of Saudi Arabia. The novel dug deep into the palace intrigues, the desert culture, and the religious tensions within the area as Prowers uncovered a mystery behind the hotel bombing she witnessed and as the fate of the Saudi crown is hung in the balance. Now, Amy Prowers is back in The Last Request, as she travels across the globe to fulfill her father's wishes to find the true Shroud of Turin. The Last Request follows Amy Prowers as she reels from the untimely and suspicious death of her father in a plane crash. Having to abandon her life and career, she finds herself trying to fulfill his last request to her and is left with words of warning: Be careful who you trust. Her journey takes her from the Balkans to Mexico as she tries to locate the real Shroud of Turin. As a North African leader and former Nazis are also on its trail, it becomes clear this journey will change not only Amy's life, but the fate of Christianity itself. When asked about why she started the Amy Prowers series, Burlake has stated she wanted to "Give people an adventure and information they could find on the internet, but they find in the course of an interesting story that takes them away from their daily grind." The novel draws from Burlake's rich life experience from her travels to over 130 countries, as well as research into World War II as Amy delves into her father's past and his history with the Shroud. This newest Prowers adventure was born out of Burlake's fascination with the over 100,000 religious artifacts recovered after World War II and the power they still have over our culture. "The aura that surrounds [the Shroud] is unbelievable," Burlake says. "The idea of this book is not about if the Shroud of Turin is real or not. It's all these people who believe and pray around it." Katherine Burlake has travelled to 130 countries and her experience living in Thailand, Germany, and England led her to working for the Department of State. She uses her experiences in international relations to write thrilling and engaging novels. The Last Request (Meroe Press, First Edition 2017, ISBN 978-0998973432, $17.95) is currently available to buy at Barnes & Noble, and Amazon in hardback, trade paperback, and ebook. For additional information on Katherine, her blog, chapters for her book, and short stories, go to www.KatherineBurlake.com ### Tory heavyweight William Hague today warned Boris Johnson he must show UK businesses a 'way out' of the coronavirus crisis by the end of April - or risk thousands of firms permanently closing their doors. Lord Hague said many businesses will choose to shut down if they are not given 'hope' in the form of a government plan for what will happen after the current state of lockdown ends. The former foreign secretary said the government's blueprint for recovery must include a 'massive and compulsory' testing programme so the UK is better able to withstand future outbreaks of the deadly disease. He said the ability to test and trace people in the way that South Korea has been doing will be key because it will give ministers the ability to contain the spread and allow businesses to stay open. The ex-Tory leader said a failure to pursue massive testing capacity would likely result in the UK facing an economic depression rather than just a recession. And he called for one minister to be put in charge of overseeing the development of the future action plan so they are not distracted by day-to-day events. Lord Hague, the former leader of the Conservative Party pictured in London in January, said the government needed to tell businesses soon what its post-lockdown plan is in order to give firms some 'hope' and stop them shutting permanently Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson have pledged billions of pounds to bailout businesses and keep them afloat. But Lord Hague said businesses will need to see an action plan for what happens next by the end of April Mr Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak have put in place bailouts for businesses and the self-employed worth billions of pounds in a bid to keep the economy afloat. But Lord Hague said the government must now turn its attention to what happens when the lockdown measures can be lifted. He said ministers and health experts were right to warn the nation it is in for the long haul on living with the restrictive measures. However, he argued firms need to know they are clinging on for a reason as he warned Mr Johnson the 'biggest challenge is yet to come'. Writing in The Telegraph, Lord Hague said: 'Taking the country into extraordinary measures, winning acceptance for them and mass participation in them has been the task up to now. 'But more difficult still will be the way out. And it will not be long before millions of businesses and most of the country will want to know what that is.' He added: 'Any successful mitigation of the loss of jobs and livelihoods will require, in the fairly near future, some hope that there is a plan for the next stage.' He said some businesses could choose to 'abandon' their ventures if there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Businesses will need to know 'before April is out' what the government is 'going to do next and when we are going to do it', he said. 'Having some increasing hope, some rising certainty, some end in sight, will be crucial in preserving millions of jobs,' he added. South Korea and a number of other Asian countries have had success in reducing the impact of coronavirus because of mass testing programmes and Lord Hague said the UK needed to follow suit for the future. Being able to identify who has the disease and to establish who they have been in contact with would enable authorities to stop the spread and allow businesses to remain open. Lord Hague said it would 'not be wise' to 'bet' the UK's prosperity on the swift development of a vaccine or 'herd immunity' and suggested testing should be viewed as the UK's best hope. The former Cabinet minister said countries are likely to soon be divided into those with major testing programmes and those without. The former will likely face a recession while the latter will face a depression, he claimed. 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. By Prasto Wardoyo and John Geddie SURABAYA, Indonesia/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A drone dispersed clouds of disinfectant in the sky above Indonesia's second-largest city Surabaya on Tuesday, a response to the coronavirus pandemic which is catching on around the world despite warnings from health experts. Mass disinfections, often by workers in protective gear resembling characters from the comedy film Ghostbusters, have become a common sight -- from Turkey's Grand Bazaar to bridges in Mexico and migrant workers in India. But the visually-impressive measures taken to contain the fast-spreading virus which has killed over 37,000 people globally, have been criticised by disease specialists as a health hazard as well as a waste of time and resources. "It's a ridiculous image seen in many countries," said Dale Fisher, an infectious diseases expert in Singapore who chairs the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network coordinated by the World Health Organization. "I don't believe it adds anything to the response and could be toxic on people. The virus does not survive for long in the environment and people do not generally touch the ground." A spokesman for Surabaya's major said the use of drones for disinfection was necessary in areas with confirmed cases because the virus "can be anywhere". Febriadhitya Prajatara compared the benzalkonium chloride disinfectant, which can cause skin irritations in high concentrations, to "soap" and said it would help "weaken the virus so it won't enter our body". Coronavirus is a contagious respiratory disease that spreads through droplets from the nose or mouth via coughing or sneezing. People can also become infected by contacting something contaminated before touching their own nose, mouth or eyes. Paul Tambyah of the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection said handwashing and targeted cleaning of commonly-touched surfaces like elevator buttons offered better protection than mass disinfecting. Story continues "It (spraying) is probably a cheap and visible way of doing it, but careful attention to personal and environmental hygiene is probably more effective," said Tambyah. Indian health workers caused outrage on Monday when they used hose pipes to douse migrant workers in the northern state of Utter Pradesh, amid fears the movement of people from cities to the countryside risked spreading the virus. FURTHER TRANSMISSION In Malaysia, under nationwide lockdown due to the virus, authorities have gone on a disinfection spree in areas with high case numbers to reduce the risk of further transmission. But images of plumes of disinfectant spray fired from trucks into the air or from spray guns on to roads have riled health experts. "Disinfecting roads is clearly not going to be impactful," said Christopher Lee, a former deputy director general in Malaysia's health ministry and an infectious disease specialist. "Waste of resources and man hours." Malaysia's director-general of health Noor Hisham Abdullah said on Tuesday the government would be issuing guidelines to local authorities to make sure disinfection operations are carried out properly. Back in Indonesia, telephone box-shaped disinfection chambers are being set up across the capital Jakarta, offering passers-by a quick blast to rid their clothes and skin of potential germs. "I think it's good...I feel sanitized after touching a lot of things from the bus...I feel well-protected," said Jakarta resident Fany Anisa after exiting one of the chambers outside a bus stop in central Jakarta. The private initiative being rolled out with the support of local authorities has been criticised by one expert who is advising the government's virus-fighting taskforce. "It is not good for skin, mouth and eyes, it will cause irritation," said Wiku Adisasmito, a public health professor at the University of Indonesia. Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious disease expert at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth hospital, said mass disinfections are eye-catching and may boost morale but are not effective virus controls. "It would have better effect using a water cannon to disperse people and make them go home," he said. (Reporting by Prasto Wardoyo in Surabaya and Angie Teo in Jakarta; John Geddie and Aradhana Aravindan in Singapore and Krishna Das and Rozanna Latiff in Kuala Lumpur, editing by Ed Osmond) A mange-ravaged street dog with little energy and no hair on his feet or tail underwent a miracle transformation after a travelling couple decided to adopt him. Teacher Ruby Maunder, 26, and her partner, student Eve McConville, 24, from Australia, fell in love with chihuahua-terrier cross Miguel, one, when he tried to sit in Ruby's lap moments before they were due to leave Mixquic in Mexico. Miguel had been left hairless by mange, weighed less than half what he should have and was being harassed by other stray dogs. Ruby said: 'Being dog lovers, we always used to give street dogs food and water in Mexico before leaving a town. Teacher Ruby Maunder, 26, and her partner, student Eve McConville (pictured), 24, fell in love with chihuahua-terrier cross Miguel (pictured after his transformation), one, in Mexico 'That's when Miguel came to us - he had no fur and wanted to sit in my lap, that's all he wanted to do.' The couple had been in the town for Day of the Dead celebrations last November, before travelling on through the country, stopping in places including Oaxaca City, Guanajuato and the city of San Luis Potosi. 'There are lots of stray dogs in Mexico but I've never seen a dog so small and unhealthy as he was then,' she added. She revealed the pup didn't even look like a dog, more like 'a rat or a little dinosaur' because he was so skinny and hairless. Miguel had been left hairless by mange, weighed less than half what he should have and was being harassed by other stray dogs. Pictured when the couple took him to a vet Since being rescued Miguel has put on weight and grown his hair back. The couple spent 700 on vet bills for the pup 'He had no fur on his feet and no hair on his tail and was very lethargic and slow moving,' Ruby added. 'I picked him up and took him to the taxi to the vets in Mexico City. 'Normally, I would be afraid to do that in case a dog bit me, but it was almost like he was trying to tell me that he needed help.' When, after ringing around, they were told there were no places left in the animal shelter they decided to take care of the pup themselves. The couple have since spent $1,400 on medicine, tests and vaccines. Ruby revealed the pup didn't even look like a dog, more like 'a rat or a little dinosaur' because he was so skinny and hairless Miguel weighed less than half what he should have and was being harassed by other stray dogs Ruby said: 'The moment the shelters said they were full, we decided that it was our responsibility to look after him. 'On the first day we rescued him the vet said he was about 6lbs in weight when he should have been 15lbs.' Miguel was severely malnourished and suffering from mange, a skin disease which causes itching, as well as internal parasites. Ruby added: 'Because of the mange, all he did was scratch. The couple had been in the town for Day of the Dead celebrations last November, and Miguel has since travelled with them through Mexico, stopping in places including Oaxaca City, Guanajuato and the city of San Luis Potosi Ruby (pictured) fell in love with Miguel when he tried to sit on her knee in what she interpreted as a call for help. When, after ringing around, the couple (pictured left to right: Eve, Miguel and Ruby) were told there were no places left in the animal shelter they decided to take care of the pup themselves Over the last five months Miguel has more than doubled in weight and his fur has grown back - leaving the pooch looking dramatically different as he accompanied them on their travels Miguel went through a huge improvement as the couple took care of him while continuing their travels. Pictured recently The couple taught Miguel how to play and he has since improved dramatically in confidence 'It was really unpleasant to watch him scratching all day so he was prescribed antihistamines to deal with it. 'He just slept most of the time during the first week, but since then you wouldn't believe he was the same dog.' Over the last five months Miguel has more than doubled in weight and his fur has grown back - leaving the pooch looking dramatically different as he accompanied them on their travels. She added: 'We used to carry him around a lot initially because he didn't have enough energy to walk upstairs or long distances, but now he has so much energy and loves playing with his toys with us. But Ruby and Eve had to leave Mexico earlier this month due to the coronavirus outbreak Miguel is living with a friend, Julio and his family in Mexico City, until the pandemic subsides 'Teaching him to play was one of the most beautiful things about this whole experience. 'He has gone from being a timid and shy puppy to a confident and curious dog. 'And physically, his hair growth is the biggest change. You wouldn't believe that he was the same dog.' But Ruby and Eve had to leave Mexico earlier this month due to the coronavirus outbreak. Miguel is living with a friend, Julio and his family in Mexico City, until the pandemic subsides. Miguel was severely malnourished and suffering from mange, a skin disease which causes itching, as well as internal parasites Miguel is pictured soon after his rescue. The dog is now a much healthier colour and fur has grown on his tail and paws Then they hope to fly him over to live with them in Brisbane. Ruby said: 'It was difficult having to part with Miguel so suddenly, but we got a chance to say goodbye and he'll be back with us soon. 'We had 10 minutes alone with him and said my goodbyes and there were lots of tears. 'We miss him lots now, but are so lucky to have friends in Mexico who will look after him in the meantime. The couple think they'll have spent 3,500 in total by the time he is reunited with them in Australia 'If we hadn't have taken him that day, his future would not have been bright. 'He wouldn't have made it. I have always grown up with dogs in my family and I see a lot of my previous pet dog in Miguel. 'He has travelled across Mexico with us and he loved doing that, so making the trip to Australia will be nothing hard for him.' The couple think they'll have spent $7,000 in total by the time he is reunited with them in Australia. Ruby is now asking for donations to her GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of Miguel's transport back to Australia, quarantine costs and vaccine fees In the meantime, Ruby is sending them $200-a-month to pay for Miguel's care and keeping up to date with his progress via video calls. Before arriving in Australia he will live with a foster family for a few months in Argentina until he passes a Rabies antibody test. Ruby is now asking for donations to her GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of Miguel's transport back to Australia, quarantine costs and vaccine fees. She is regularly updating people on Miguel's journey through her Instagram @rescuingcocomiguel2019. To donate: go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/meet-coco-miguel An Australian who died of coronavirus contracted it on the Ruby Princess cruise ship. The woman in her 80s caught the virus while she was on board the ship and died the Australian Capital Territory. ACT Health-Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said no more details would be released at the request of the woman's family. Australia's biggest border security blunder is still spreading coronavirus weeks after hundreds of infected passengers (pictured) were let off the Ruby Princess in Sydney Harbour Eight people, at a minimum, have caught the deadly virus from at least 409 sick travellers who disembarked from the ship in Sydney Harbour with no health checks on March 19. Ruby Princess debacle cases and deaths New South Wales: 211 Victoria: 18 Queensland: 70 Western Australia: 11* South Australia: 68 Australian Capital Territory: 21 Tasmania: 3* Northern Territory: 2 Secondary cases: 8 TOTAL CASES: 412 DEAD: 5 Advertisement Five of the cruise ship's passengers have since died, including both of Tasmania's fatalities and one each in NSW, Queensland and ACT, with others fighting for life. The true number of infected cruise ship passengers is likely far higher as health authorities have been unable to trace everyone on board. NSW Health said all 2,647 passengers were contacted, but its criteria for a successful contact is only that the email it sent didn't bounce. New cases are discovered every day and several states have failed to provide updated figures since last week. Passengers who later tested positive said they were not told that dozens of guests suffering from flu-like symptoms were tested on board. Instead, they found out from news reports days later they could have been exposed to coronavirus and rushed to get tested. The cruise liner had been considered 'low risk' after a short cruise from Australia to New Zealand Crew also didn't tell guests about the worsening situation on land, so they freely mingled with each other unaware of the dangers, allowing the virus to infect up to 20 per cent of them. Many got on flights, trains, and buses home and went about their lives with no idea they could be infecting thousands of people. Reports have since emerged that the ship logged 158 illnesses on board before it arrived in Sydney. Border Force and NSW Health blamed each other for the debacle in letting the passengers off the ship without being checked or told to self-isolate. Ruby Princess docked at Circular Quay just a day after Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared no cruise ships would be allowed in Australia for 30 days. The total number of infected - and still alive - and NSW has the most cases with 211 passengers and six of their family members testing positive as of Tuesday. The ACT has 21 cases, plus two people they passed it on to, Queensland has 70, Victoria has 18, and the Northern Territory two in latest figures given to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday. A staggering 68 of South Australia's 305 coronavirus cases - 22.3 per cent of the state total - were Ruby Princess passengers. MISSING: Jade Felsbourg A desperate search is underway for a 14-year-old girl who mysteriously vanished from a home in Victoria. Jade Felsbourg has not been seen since she left her home in Valley Court in Newborough, just over 100km east of Melbourne. Her family and police are concerned about her. She was last seen wearing a white jumper, black leggings and white shoes. Police believe she is in Melbourne Anyone with information about Jade is urged to contact Moe Police Station on 03 5128 1100. An Aussie chef has spoken about the disgusting food while in mandatory coronavirus quarantine in a 5-star Sydney hotel. Lyndey Milan, host of popular TV series Lyndey Milans Taste of Australia, and her partner John have been in isolation at the $250+ per night Hilton since they flew in from the UK on Sunday morning. After being escorted from Sydney airport to their hotel room door by police officers and army personnel, the pair have largely been left in the dark by authorities as to the procedure for their 14-day lockdown. Theres no information, no communication. Keep us informed of whats going on, were not in jail, Lyndey tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Aussie TV host Lyndey Milan has exposed the disgusting food and chaotic conditions in hotel quarantine. Photo: Instagram/lyndeymilan. Disgusting food Along with sporadic communication, Lyndey and John have been beholden to an erratic meal delivery schedule thats left them frustrated and hungry. After flying in at 7 am and arriving at the Hilton some hours later, it was 12.30 pm when they received a plastic bag on the doorknob containing some long-life milk, prepackaged muesli, an apple and not much else. Dinner on night two arrived at 9.30 pm, cold and barely edible. Finally it comes and it was disgusting. I got two little boxes of gluggy rice with hard, cold deep-fried tofu on top. Thats it, Lyndey reveals. We were feeling pretty down that night. Chef Lyndey has been less than impressed with the meals in quarantine. Photo: Instagram/lyndeymilan. No room service, no Uber Eats With room service apparently off-limits and an empty minibar upon arrival, the pickings were slim. Lyndey says Uber Eats and Woolies online delivery were initially available to them, however, those options were rescinded without warning or explanation less than 24 hours later. The lack of communication really gets me. Explain why, give us a reason, she says. Lyndey is counting her blessings after receiving some goodies from a family member but worries about those less fortunate. Im a lucky one, my sister was able to drop off a care package. What about these people opposite who are from Tasmania? They havent got anyone to drop them off a care package and now they cant even order in. They just get what theyre given, she says. Story continues Like headless chooks Lyndey describes her experience of the last few days which shes been documenting on her Instagram page as chaotic at best. If [the authorities] can slow down the virus then I totally accept it and I think theyre doing their best but lower down there are people rushing around like headless chooks, she says. They were provided with two general COVID-19 information sheets in their room upon arrival but nothing detailing what they could expect for the next fortnight. Their only other communication with those in charge so far has been via notes left at their door and the occasional phone call if they can get through to reception, that is. Most of the time, Lyndey says, the line is engaged. She suggests the buildings intercom system could be used to inform and reassure people throughout their two-week stay. Instead, it was used to remind guests of the hotels strict non-smoking policy and the hefty fines facing any who contravened it. Lyndey shared this snap of the deserted Hilton hallway during quarantine. Photo: Instagram/lyndeymilan. Mental health concerns Lyndey is also concerned for the mental wellbeing of others in hotel quarantine due to the obvious lack of support available. I dont think anyone who is supposedly in charge has thought about what its like to be in a room and locked up, she admits. What they could do is just think about it. Get somebody from [NSW department of] mental health or somewhere get someone to just think about the welfare of people in isolation. What about those people isolated on their own while their families, their husbands, their wives are in another city? Lyndey and her partner John have been in quarantine at the Hilton since Sunday morning. Photo: Instagram/lyndeymilan. Lyndey recognises that her position is much better than most and is focussed on giving those less fortunate a voice, but she also has her own struggles. Her son Blair died eight years ago from acute myeloid leukemia. He was 29 years old and the mother-son team had just finished filming Lyndey and Blairs Taste of Greece. Lyndeys daughter lives in Singapore with her own family and Lyndey misses them dearly, particularly at a trying time like this. Ive just got Lucy and her children left, and thats really, really distressing. I FaceTime with them all the time, but its like, when will I see them again? she says. Life in isolation While the couple isnt exactly sure when their quarantine will be over they havent been told a specific date and time in the meantime, theyre focussing on saving their global TV production and distribution business, Flame Media. John, the companys MD, is madly trying to restructure the business so we can ride out the storm, Lyndey says. Were under immense pressure work-wise. Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com An unusually dry end to the summer season across parts of South America is expected to impact the harvests of important crops in the region. "Rainfall averaged below normal across much of southern Brazil, including [the states of] Rio Grande Do Sul, Santa Catarina, for the month of March, and in many instances the entire summer season," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls. CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Some major cities in these states include Porto Alegre, Santa Maria and Florianopolis, although even Curitiba in Parana had a drier-than-normal month of March. In this May 19, 2011, file photo, corn stalks stand during the Agro Brasilia, an agricultural exhibition on the outskirts of Brasilia. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File) All of the above cities saw 35 percent or less of their normal rainfall for the month, which has proven significant for growing areas of corn and soybeans. Although not as extreme, parts of northern Argentina, which are also contributing producers of these crops, only recorded 30-65% of their normal rainfall during the month of March. "The resulting drought from the lack of rainfall across these crop-heavy regions, in addition to bouts of heat, have stressed corn and soybean crops and has led to a reduction in crop yields," added Nicholls. Argus reported in mid-March that Rio Grande do Sul lowered the estimates for their soybean and corn harvest for the second time in less than two weeks. Unlike other regions of Brazil, the geography of the region keeps the state from having a second harvest, like many other states in the country. Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina alone account for 30 percent of Brazil's first corn crop and over 16 percent of the country's soybean crop. Reductions in both could cause shortages as well as affect pricing and the economy. Further complicating how this crop yield could affect the world's economy is the COVID-19 pandemic. Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez announced on Sunday that the mandatory countrywide quarantine would extend into mid-April. Story continues On Wednesday and Thursday, a front brought rain and gusty thunderstorms to northern Argentina and southern Brazil. While rainfall totals reached 40-60 mm (1.5-2.5 inches) in some locations, this is unlikely to be enough to ease the drought conditions, according to Nicholls. AccuWeather meteorologists say drought conditions will continue to build as the next chance for rain is not expected until early next week. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved a fourth laboratory in Himachal Pradesh for conducting tests for COVID-19, Chief Minister Jairam Thakur said on Tuesday. In a statement, Thakur said the ICMR gave its approval to conduct COVID-19 tests at Kasauli's Central Research Institute (CRI) in Solan district. The ICMR's approval for the fourth laboratory will increase state's capacity to conduct the tests, the chief minister added. Earlier, the state had a capacity of testing 80 people daily in three labs at IGMC Shimla, Tanda College in Kangra and Medical College, Ner Chowk in Mandi, Thakur had informed the state Assembly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. Archeologists in Mexico have recovered four centuries of artifacts showing how Spanish occupiers enlisted indigenous metal workers to help them produce ammunition for their guns and cannons. A team of researchers from MIT and the University of Porto spent four seasons at an excavation site in El Manchon, Mexico studying copper slag samples from improvised smelting operations set up by the occupying Spanish forces. The samples show how the occupiers struggled to keep themselves supplied with munitions made from locally available metals to maintain the small colonial outpost at the site between at least 1240 and 1680. A team of researchers from MIT and the University of Porto studied artifacts from copper smelting operation that indigenous artisans operated on behalf of Spanish invaders to keep them supplied with ammunition 'We know from documents that the Europeans figured out that the only way they could smelt copper was to collaborate with the indigenous people who were already doing it,' MIT's Dorothy Hosler told MIT News. 'They had to cut deals with the indigenous smelters.' In Spain, metal was mostly imported from central European countries, and the occupiers found themselves unsure of how to create effective smelting operations to resupply their munitions. Smelting was a common practice among indigenous people in western and central Mexico at the time. Indigenous people used blowpipes and small metal and clay pots called crucibles to melt copper and alloy it with arsenic, tin and silver to produce religious and decorative objects like bells and amulets. In exchange for an exemption from colonial taxes that were levied on the general population, the Spaniards enlisted the help of these local smelting experts to produce munitions. The smelting operations appeared to be a hydrib design, using a European-style hand operated bellows to fire a small furnace, with carved clay or stone channels for the molten copper to flow out of Researchers spent four seasons gathering samples from the excavation site in El Manchon, Mexico, but finally had to suspend their efforts after drug cartel activity in the region made it too dangerous to continue The resulting metallurgy operation appears to be a hybrid of local and European techniques, with a hand operated bellow made from animal hide powering a small furnace that heated the copper to at least 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit. The melted copper was then channeled out through small channels carved in stone or clay and then formed into ammunition and other objects. Over the years, large samples of copper slag formed around this area of the smelting setup, and analysis of the recovered samples show the slag could not have been produced by the lower temperature blowpipe operations indigenous people relied on for their own material. While many questions still remain about the relationship between the Spanish occupiers and the indigenous population, the team had to cut their research short after drug cartel activity in the region made it unsafe for them to continue their work. Logistics provider Geodis has been commissioned by the French Government to organise the emergency supply of millions of masks from China to France. In order to respond to requests from the national authorities, Geodis is planning 16 flights over the coming weeks, representing in volume terms approximately 2400 cu m of capacity weekly. If necessary, this schedule could be extended into the month of May. For this operation, mounted in a record time, Geodis has chartered two Antonov 124 aircraft which will operate in rotation between France and China. The Antonov is a plane specially designed for the transport of cargo in large quantities. The French Minister of Solidarity and Health has said that this air bridge, was part of the expected delivery to France of 1 billion masks over the next 14 weeks. The first flight from Shenzhen Airport in China containing 8.5 million masks arrived in France via Paris-Vatry airport. A second flight is scheduled later this week carrying 13 million more masks. Geodis, a world leader in transport and logistics, in located in 67 countries and has more than 1,700 employees in China. -- Tradearabia News Service Based on best practices around the world on how to manage positive cases and contain this virus, McCormick will be dedicated mostly to non-acute COVID-19 patients, people who could benefit from the care of medical professionals but are not likely to need a formal ICU, Pritzker said at his daily news briefing. Of course as Ive said before, this is an evolving situation, and if our experts determine down the line that McCormick Place should be dedicated to a different set of criteria, we will shift our mission to follow the medical experts best advice. 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 The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are starting to ripple through an already-taxed mental health care system -- with social distancing a particular challenge for people who were already struggling before the current national emergency. Here's one example: There are about 3,200 licensed board and care homes in L.A. County. They range in size from converted private homes to apartment buildings. These non-medical facilities are home to thousands of elderly people and those living with a severe mental illness. And people with mental illnesses who live in these homes are accustomed to venturing out for therapy sessions and group activities. But because of social distancing rules, many adult day programs have stopped providing those services in person. "Now that the adult day centers are closed, the residents are (at their board and care homes) 24 hours a day," said Barbara Wilson, a social worker who runs a non-profit that connects people with mental health services. Power great local fact-checked coverage today. Your support ensures everyone in your community has paywall-free access to developing coronavirus news and everything LAist has to offer. Donate now. The freezing of adult day programs is putting extra strain on people who run board and care homes, like Elizabeth Bijou, who operates a San Fernando Valley facility that's home to six men. "I do my best to encourage everybody that things are going to get better," Bijou said. "But it's hard to say things aren't as bad as they seem when it's on T.V. and every day they say it's worse." Her residents are accustomed to taking part in group therapy sessions with psychiatrists, Bijou said. Their programs aren't simply adult babysitting, she added. "They have their medication that they take, they have their housing that provides support," Bijou said. "But they need that group therapy side and that piece of the puzzle. With that piece missing, they feel it, is all I can say... Everybody's getting cabin fever times 10." Lydia Missaelides, former Executive Director of the California Association for Adult Day Services, said she worries about the effects of isolation on people's mental health, on their depression and anxiety. Some adult day centers have started offering check-ins and group sessions over the phone. But Missaelides said the in-person day programs are a lifeline for so many people. "(They get) peer support and socialization and all the benefits that accrue from that as well as the side benefit -- a very important one -- of providing respite to the person's family member or caregiver," Missaelides said. ALREADY UNDER PRESSURE These new pressures come as dozens of board and care homes have shuttered in the past few years due to funding issues that existed well before the pandemic. Many serve low-income clients who use most of their Supplemental Security Income -- about $1,000 a month -- to pay for their care. "'(Board and cares) are supposed to provide three meals a day, two snacks, medication management and 24-hour staff for 35 dollars a day," Wilson said. "That's nuts." Last year, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors directed county health officials to find additional funding for board and cares from federal, state and private sources. Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed budget includes more than $1 billion to fight homelessness, and some of that money would be allocated for board and care homes. But with the coronavirus pandemic changing everything, advocates like Wilson worry that the promise of more assistance for board and care homes will be put on pause. "We need to have emergency funds to all the board and care homes that take these populations," Wilson said. For now, board and care operators like Bijou are just taking things day by day, trying to adapt to the increased stresses of the new coronavirus reality. "I try to encourage the guys to just think of it as we're all shipwrecked here together," Bijou said. "I don't know if that's any better or any worse, but they seem to relate to that a little bit better." GET SOME TIPS: Some resources from our friends at CalMatters: ASK FOR HELP Few moments better capture the world into which we've slipped than the decision of one man to order 1.4 billion into lockdown. Why it matters: Indias three-week lockdown is the largest ever attempted, and it sparked South Asia's greatest migration since partition in 1947. While the economic effects could be devastating, the public health crisis it's intended to fend off could be more destructive still. Driving the news: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today apologized to poor Indians for the hardships they'd suffered. But he defended the measures he announced last Tuesday, with virtually no warning, as brutal but necessary. "If we dont manage these 21 days, the country will be set back by 21 years. Narendra Modi, on March 24 The big picture: Nearly half a billion Indians work informally, scraping by on construction sites, in restaurants and other such jobs. Many travel hundreds of miles to find work. Lacking savings, suddenly jobless and with transport halted, untold thousands began desperate journeys toward their home villages on foot or in packed buses. At least 22 people have reportedly already died on such journeys. On the ground: Among those stuck were Sanjay Kumar and his father, Ashok, both daily wage laborers, Joanna Slater and Niha Masih write in the Washington Post: They had been trying for two days to travel from Delhi to their home 420 miles away. "His father had a fever, Sanjay Kumar said, and the two men were running out of money. The police, charged with implementing the lockdown measures, admonished them to get off the streets. Zoom out: Neighboring Nepal was also suddenly ordered into lockdown last week despite having just five confirmed cases, former Axios fellow and BBC Nepali journalist Phanindra Dahal tells me from Kathmandu: Migrant workers returning from India have been stranded at the border. Even as hundreds have been rescued, more continue to arrive. There have been shortages of cooking fuel and other staple supplies due to hoarding. Nepal's position is particularly precarious because it imports everything from food to fuel from India. Tourism is shut down, including at Mt. Everest, another big blow to the economy. As life moves online, rural areas with limited access are left behind. And because testing has been so limited (fewer than 1,000 tests have been conducted, nearly all of them in the capital) and health infrastructure is poor, a sharp rise in cases could be devastating. The same is true in India, where the official totals of 1,251 cases and 32 deaths are almost meaningless given the lack of testing. As in other developing countries, living conditions for many Indians make social distancing and regular handwashing near impossible. Indias health care capacity is notoriously insufficient: 1 doctor per 11,600 people, 1 isolation bed per 84,000 people and a total of 40,000 ventilators for 1.37 billion people, per Monkey Cage. The bottom line: Before long, Modis dramatic step may again seem unthinkable. For now, there's concern it could be too little too late. Czech authorities are testing a new IT system to quickly trace back the contacts of those infected with coronavirus to curb the spread, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. The solution offered by the Covid19cz group of computer experts uses data from the mobile phones and bank cards of people diagnosed with coronavirus to trace their movement with their consent. "It generates a memory map showing... for instance that a man spent half an hour at the corner of two streets," Covid19cz spokeswoman Irena Zatloukalova told AFP. "The public health officer can ask if the person visited or met someone to identify other people who may be infected. People won't have to merely rely on their memory when they recall what they were doing over the last two weeks." Under the so-called smart quarantine system, which is being tested in a southeastern Czech region, the contacts will then be put in a short quarantine of a maximum of three days until they undergo COVID-19 tests. "If they test negative, they can return to everyday life. If they test positive, they will go into full quarantine," deputy health minister Roman Prymula said on the government website. Prime Minister Andrej Babis said he would like to have the system in place nationwide by April 12. The EU country of 10.7 million people has registered 3,002 confirmed cases of the virus, including 24 deaths. Earlier this month, the government closed all schools, pubs, theatres and most shops and shuttered the borders. "Owing to the system, we won't all have to end up in quarantine, only those who are really sick or potentially endangered," said Zatloukalova. She said the Covid19cz group has registered interest in the IT solution from Britain, Lithuania, Serbia, Slovakia, but also Latin American countries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 As many as 17 foreign nationals from Indonesia and Thailand besides two Indian Muslim clerics, who attended an Islamic religious discourse at Nizamuddin early this month, have been rounded up here and have been quarantined, a senior official said on Tuesday. Sixteen out of 190 persons who returned to Bahraich from foreign in March this year, however, are still untraceable, Bahraich Superintendent of Police Vipin Mishra said. Out of the rounded up persons, the samples of two foreign nationals have been sent to Lucknow for testing, he said. "Following the precautinary measures initiated after the outbreak of COVID-19, the authorities found seven nationals of Thailand, and two clerics from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh respectively, staying in a mosque in Kotwali police station area," said Mishra. "They had come to Bahraich from Delhi on March 7. These people had informed the local intelligence unit about themselves," he added. The police superintendent said for four days after coming from Thailand, the Muslim clerics were in Delhi's Nizamuddin. "During interrogation, they said they have been staying in this mosque since March 7," the SP said. Mishra said all these Muslim clerics have been admitted to the quarantine ward for suspected coronavirus-hit people made at the trauma centre here. SP Mishra also said 10 Indonesian nationals (clerics), who had come to the city after attending the Nizamuddin congregation, were found staying in the Qureshi Masjid in Bashiratganj area of the city, and they too were quarantined there itself. "At present, they have been quarantined in the mosque itself," he said. Dr Atul Srivastava, the nodal doctor for coronavirus infection, said, "Two participants who had come from Thailand had shown symptoms of cold and cough, and their samples have been sent for testing. Prima facie it seems there is no reason to suspect them as coronavirus-infected, as all the participants have quarantined themselves." "Aadil, one of the 16 missing Indians having address of Bahraich, has been traced to Delhi through mobile location services. Police is taking action in this regard," he added. Tablighi Jamaat, an orthodox Muslim organisation, had held a religious congregation at Nizamuddin in the national capital on March 13. It was attended by 2,000 odd participants, including 250 foreigners. With 24 of its participants found positive for coronavirus infection, the 'markaj' has emerged as an epicentre for the coronavirus spread in the national capital and elsewhere in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 Continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) devices are known to improve outcomes in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), yet African American and Hispanic patients face barriers to the use of these devices, according to results of a small single-center retrospective study. The results of the ENDO 2020 abstract will be published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society. "We observed that the use of technology among Caucasians was higher than its use in other racial and ethnic groups, and the difference was statistically significant," said lead author Kamonkiat Wirunsawanya, M.D., an endocrinology fellow at Boston University Medical Center in Boston, Mass. "Our study included an adult population that is more racially diverse than seen in the currently available literature." Wirunsawanya, Ivania Rizo, M.D., and Kathryn Fantasia, M.D., all of Boston University Medical Center, examined the odds of CGM and CSII device use in patients of different races. They reviewed the electronic medical records of 227 adult patients who had type 1 diabetes and were seen in the endocrinology clinic of one safety-net hospital between October 2016 and September 2017. Overall, 43% of patients were Caucasian, 25% were African American, 15% Hispanic, 2% Asian, and 15% who identified as other. While 30% of all patients in the study used CGM, its use varied by race: 47% of Caucasians used CGM, compared with 14% of African Americans, 23% of Hispanics, 25% of Asians, and 0% who identified as other. While 26% of all patients in the study used CSII, 43% of Caucasians used CSII, compared with 10% of African Americans, 14% of Hispanics, 18% of those who identified as other, and 0% of Asians. The mean hemoglobin A1c level--a measurement of average blood glucose levels over the course of two to three months--was better controlled in patients who used CGM or CSII devices than those who did not. A1c levels were 8.27 in patients who used CGM, CSII, or both devices, compared to 9.49 in those who used no technology. Patients who had government health insurance--roughly half of the participants--had lower odds of using technology than those with private health insurance. Patients in the African American and "other" groups had lower odds of using technology, and the results were statistically significant. "Our findings were consistent with racial disparities found in youth with type 1 diabetes and in adults with type 2 diabetes," Wirunsawanya said. "Our results add to the current knowledge of disparities in access to healthcare." "Given the known benefits of diabetes technology and racial disparities in its use, future exploration of barriers is required," he said. "We hope our findings will allow endocrinologists to design and implement effective strategies to increase the use of technology among minority patients with type 1 diabetes." ### The Endocrine Society canceled its annual meeting, ENDO 2020, amid concerns about COVID-19. Visit our online newsroom for more information on accepted abstracts, which will be published in a special supplemental section of the Journal of the Endocrine Society. Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions. The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at http://www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia. Photo: (Photo : pexels/ThisIsEngineering) The four-year-old daughter of Diedre Wilkes was found beside her lifeless body on Thursday. Authorities said that she could have been dead for around 12 to 16 hours. Coweta County Coroner Richard Hawk tells People magazine that initial COVID-19 tests showed Wilkes positive for coronavirus. Still, her autopsy report is pending. Hawk also confirmed that when they arrived at the house of Wilkes, they found Wilkes' daughter alone and alive. Wilkes worked as a mammogram technician in Piedmont Newnan Hospital in Newnan, Georgia. Not Sure If The Daughter Also Has the Virus Authorities said that it could be possible that the daughter is a carrier of the coronavirus. She is now in the care of her father, Hawkes told the People. Mother Tested Positive With COVID No one knows how the mother has contracted the coronavirus, and she had no underlying symptoms when she died. A statement was given to the Newnan Times-Herald by Piedmont Healthcare representative, John Manasso, who explained that they are treating Wilkes' case as inconclusive because they could not confirm how she contracted the virus. The statement says Piedmont Healthcare contacted employees and patients who may have come into contact with Wilkes in the days up to her last day of work. This action is a precautionary measure because Wilkes is said to have tested positive for coronavirus, and infected people without symptoms could spread the virus to others. Manasso added that Piedmont is going to provide the individuals with detailed information for self-monitoring and will offer COVID testing for those who request for the kit. Wilkes Was Not Involved in Treating COVID Positive Patients Manasso confirmed that Wilkes did not work in an area where patients that tested positive for the coronavirus are being treated. He said that they are praying for the employee's family now that they are having a difficult time. The management of the Promenade at Newnan Crossing, where Wilkes lived, sent their residents a letter saying they reached out to the public health authorities regarding the mother's death. It said that as indicated in their previous communications and given the current global health conditions, they previously implemented measures to close the community's common areas, amenities, and management offices and to enhance cleaning protocols. More from the letter, there is also enhanced cleaning protocol, including daily wipe downs of the mail center, mail, and package center. Reminders to Everyone Mark reminds everyone to follow hygiene practices as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This practice includes washing of the hands for 20 seconds, self-quarantine, and keeping a safe distance of at least six feet from other people. On that same day as Wilkes was found dead, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that a 48-year-old woman who worked at Donalsonville Hospital in Georgia also died of COVID-19. She passed away in a hospital in Tallahassee, Florida. As of writing, there are 788,205 cases of COVID-19, with 37,883 deaths and 166,434 recoveries worldwide. The U.S. alone has 164,359 cases, with 3,173 deaths and 5,507 recovered. 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. China has been cooperating and holding in-depth communication with the international community on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and shared with the world its scientific research data, technological achievements, and epidemic prevention and control strategies, a Chinese official said on March 26, Science and Technology Daily reported Monday. Chinese medical experts have a photo with local doctors in Padova, Italy on March 18, 2020. (Photo/Xinhua) China has constantly upheld the idea of a community with a shared future for mankind in its efforts to prevent and control COVID-19, stressed Xu Nanping, vice minister of Chinas Ministry of Science and Technology, at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office. Early on during the epidemic onset, Chinese researchers isolated the first strain of the novel coronavirus and shared with the World Health Organization (WHO) its full genome sequence, providing an important foundation for virus research, drug screening and vaccine development around the world, Xu said. According to Xu, China has set up two platforms to share its scientific findings on the novel coronavirus with the world. One of the platforms, the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Resource (2019nCoVR) database, which was established by the China National Center for Bioinformation, provided data services for more than 76,000 visitors from 152 countries and regions and witnessed 4.4 million downloads as of March 25, Xu disclosed. In addition to sharing scientific data, China has also offered technological products, medical assistance teams, solutions, and its experience in fighting the epidemic to virus-stricken regions around the world, according to Xu. Zhang Xiaojun, marketing director of the Beijing Applied Biological Technologies Co., Ltd., a Beijing-based enterprise specializing in the development of detection solutions for pathogenic microbes, has been busy making videos, looking for Persian translation teams, and contacting Chinese embassies in recent days. We want to send the detection kits to where they are needed the most, and figure out ways to provide technical support, said Zhang, explaining that transport of supplies is just one aspect that has to be dealt with for donated technological products, as these products can only be made full use of with the appropriate technical support. In an effort to help the recipients better use their products, Zhangs team created video tutorials with subtitles in different languages. Last week, the company donated novel coronavirus detection products for over 10,000 people together with instructional videos to the Italian embassy in China. Luca Ferrari, the Italian ambassador to China, attended the donation ceremony and thanked the company for its efforts. On March 15, 1,000 rapid test kits manufactured by Chinas leading gene-sequencing provider BGI Genomics and donated by the Chinese humanitarian organization Mammoth Foundation arrived in Belgrade, capital of Serbia. The medical aid from China was the first batch of anti-epidemic supplies Serbia received by a foreign country in its fight against COVID-19. By March 22, BGI Genomics had received orders for novel coronavirus rapid test kits for 1 million people from 70 countries and regions. The products have been shipped to countries including Japan, Brunei, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Peru. After arriving in Serbia 10 days ago, a Chinese medical expert team has been exchanging ideas with Serbian dignitaries and experts, visited local hospitals and detection departments, and offered suggestions on the countrys prevention and control measures against COVID-19, carrying out their mission earnestly and unceasingly. At a video conference held on March 25, Chinese medical experts, including renowned respiratory specialist Zhong Nanshan, exchanged ideas with experts from European countries including Germany, Italy, the UK, and Romania on the current epidemic situation and various countries coping strategies, and shared with them Chinas diagnosis and treatment plans as well as Chinese medical workers experience in disease prevention. Chinese experts have selflessly shared their countrys experience with the world and exchanged ideas with their foreign peers on such aspects as treatment of critical cases, controlling hospital infection, and use of medicine via video conferences, winning recognition from various parties, Zeng Yixin, deputy director of the National Health Commission, said at the press conference on March 26. YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... By Akbar Mammadov Today the country mourns the 102nd anniversary of March 31-Genocide of Azerbaijanis, which was committed by Armenians from March 30 to April 3, 1918 in several various villages, cities and regions of Azerbaijan. Among the deadliest of the massacres against the Azerbaijanis are those committed by the Armenian armed forces in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Goychay, Kurdamir, Salyan, Lankaran and other regions in March, 1918. According to official sources, during those tragic events from March 30 to April 3, 1918, tens of thousands of peaceful civilians were killed on ethnic and religious grounds in a horrific act of genocide by Soviet troops and Armenian Dashnak armed units in the city of Baku and a number of regions in Baku governorate, as well as Karabakh, Nakhchivan, Shamakhi, Guba, Khachmaz, Lankaran, Salyan, Zangazur and other areas. Residential settlements were destroyed, historical monuments, mosques and cemeteries were razed to the ground. The advent of March 31 Genocide The first massacres in the 20th century were committed by the Armenians in 1905-1907 when thousands of innocent civilians were slaughtered in Baku, Nakhchivan, Zangazur, Iravan and other historical Azerbaijani lands. From December, 1917 to March, 1918, the Armenian armed forces, led by Andranik, destroyed a total of 197 villages, including 32 villages in Iravan governorate, 84 villages in Echmiadzin governorate, and 7 villages in Nor-Bayazid governorate, slaughtering and expelling local residents, looting their property and razing their homes to the ground. After the October Revolution of 1917, Armenians attempted to carry out their despicable intentions under protection of the Bolsheviks. In March of 1918, Stepan Shaumyan was appointed as the commissar extraordinary of the Caucasus and dispatched to Baku. This marked the beginning of a treacherous plan to wipe out the Azerbaijanis living in the city of Baku. Presented under the guise of the fight against anti-revolutionary elements, this plan was carried out by Baku Commune led by Dashnak-Bolshevik Shaumyan. On March 31, 1918, the massacre of peaceful Azerbaijanis began in the city of Baku. Committed by the 6,000-strong Baku Soviet troops and 4,000-strong armed units of Dashnaktsutyun party, the barbaric act lasted for three days, during which Azerbaijani settlements were suddenly attacked and all residents from children to adults were massacred. Proofs, investigations and truth Kulner, a German witness of those tragic events, wrote in his memoirs on Baku in 1925: Armenians attacked Muslim (Azerbaijani) settlements, killing everybody, cutting them up with swords and bayoneting. Several days after the genocide corpses of 87 Azerbaijanis were pulled out from a groove. Their ears and noses were cut off, their abdominals were ripped up and genitals chopped. Armenians showed no mercy to children and elderly people. The March 1918 events received considerable attention following the proclamation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) when in order to investigate violence against the Azerbaijani population, the ADR Council of Ministers set up an Extraordinary Investigation Commission on July 15, 1918. According to material of the Extraordinary Investigation Commission, Armenian gangs annihilated nearly 8,000 civilians in Shamakhi. Some 28 villages in Javanshir governorate and 17 villages in Jabrayil governorate were completely destroyed and their population wiped out. The gangs ambushed and shot down a 3,000-strong caravan of Azerbaijani civilians, mostly women, children and the elderly, to the last person near Gyumru. In Nakhchivan governorate, several villages were burned down, in Zangazur uyezd, 115 Azerbaijani villages were destroyed, 3,257 men, 2,276 women and 2,196 children were killed. In Zangazur uyezd, 10,068 Azerbaijanis were murdered or made disabled, while 50,000 people became refugees. In Iravan governorate, 135,000 Azerbaijanis in 199 villages were killed and the villages were razed to the ground. In 1918-1920, the Armenian armed units destroyed 150 villages in the mountainous part of Karabakh, annihilating local population. March 31 is a nationwide mourning day In 1919 and 1920, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic commemorated March 31 as the nationwide mourning day. In fact, that was a first attempt to politically recognize genocide against the Azerbaijanis and more than a century-long occupation of Azerbaijani lands. It was national leader Heydar Aliyev who initiated a comprehensive investigation into the March 31 genocide and launched a campaign to raise the world community`s awareness of the tragedy. On March 26, 1998, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev signed a historically-important Decree On the genocide of Azerbaijanis to proclaim March 31 as the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis. This gave a strong push to efforts to study the history of genocide, and a large number of works have been written and translated into foreign languages. Numerous new evidence and documents have recently been discovered to prove the genocide. One of the bloodiest episodes of this genocide took place in Guba uyezd when 167 villages were completely destroyed in April-May, 1918. Guba genocide mass grave was discovered during excavation works on April 1, 2007. In 2009, the Cabinet of Ministers issued an Order to approve the Plan of measures to immortalize victims of massacre in Guba district, which included the erection of a memorial in the site of the mass grave. The Guba Genocide Memorial Complex was unveiled on September 18, 2013. It was later discovered that apart from Azerbaijanis, representatives of other ethnicities living in Guba were massacred and buried in the mass grave, including Lezgis, Jews, and Tats. On January 18, 2018, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan signed a Decree On the 100th anniversary of the 1918 genocide of Azerbaijanis. Annexation of Zangazur and other regions of Azerbaijan In 1920, Armenians took advantage of the coming of the Soviet power into the South Caucasus, and declared the annexation of Zangezur and other regions of Azerbaijan to the Armenian Soviet Republic. They later started to utilize newer means to strengthen their policy, aimed at the deportation of Azerbaijani people from these territories. For this purpose, they got use of the 23 December 1947 decree of the Soviet Council of Ministers "On removal of collective farmers and other Azerbaijani population from the Armenian Soviet Republic to the Kura-Araz lowlands of the Azerbaijan Soviet Republic". During 1948-1953, they finally achieved the purpose of mass deportation of Azeri people from their historical land, at the state level. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday said 157 people from the state attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin, claiming that most of them have been traced. Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said "95 per cent" of this number have been traced and are being tested for coronavirus. The tests so far have come out negative, he said. Awasthi's press briefing came a few hours after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cut short a western Utter Pradesh trip, rushing back to Lucknow to take stock of the possible fallout of the Nizamnuddin congregation. "People are being tracked. Their testing has to be done. If they are tested positive, they will be quarantined and given treatment," Awasthi said, adding that the chief minister has directed not to show any laxity in this regard. He also urged people who attended the gathering to get themselves tested. "People should themselves turn up before the administration for testing. This is in their interest, their relatives and the society," he said. Awasthi added that action will be initiated against those violating gathering restrictions, appealing to people to inform police about such persons. "They will be first counselled, and if necessary, action will be initiated against them," he said. Earlier in the morning, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Ghaziabad, but called off the rest of the trip. He headed back to Lucknow meet senior officers and review quarantine measures, after reports that a meeting organised by Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi's Nizamuddin may have infected many people from the state, an official said. Twenty-four people, who took part in a religious congregation in Nizamuddin West earlier this month, have tested positive for coronavirus, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Tuesday. "An estimated 700 people, who attended this congregation, have been quarantined while around 335 people have been admitted to hospitals," he told reporters, referring to the situation in Delhi. In Hyderabad, the Telangana government late Monday said six people who attended the congregation between March 13 and 15 died due to coronavirus. Thousands of people, including foreigners, visited the Jamaat premises over the past month, triggering fears now that they have spread the virus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ABC's The Good Doctor aired its Season 3 finale on Monday night, which revealed the shocking death of Nicholas Gonzalez's Dr. Neil Melendez. Gonzalez's character had been with the show since the beginning, but in last week's episode, the first half of the two-part finale, he was caught in the midst of a brewery collapse. Another series regular, Jasika Nicole, who played Dr. Carly Lever since the first season, will also not be returning as a series regular, but she may return to the show in a much smaller capacity, according to TV Line. Death: ABC's The Good Doctor aired its Season 3 finale on Monday night, which revealed the shocking death of Nicholas Gonzalez's Dr. Neil Melendez Goodbye: Another series regular, Jasika Nicole, who played Dr. Carly Lever since the first season, will also not be returning as a series regular, but she may return to the show in a much smaller capacity, according to TV Line During Monday night's finale, Melendez ultimately succumbed to the internal injuries he suffered during the brewery collapse. Before he passed away, he was able to say goodbye to Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff), his boss, Dr. Audrey Lim (Christina Chang), is ex-girlfriend, and Dr. Claire Browne (Antonia Thomas), his current love interest. Gonzalez revealed in an interview with TV Line that it wasn't exactly his decision to leave the show. Suffered: During Monday night's finale, Melendez ultimately succumbed to the internal injuries he suffered during the brewery collapse 'It was a creative decision [that] just kind of came at a good time, you know? Theres a lot about this job that I loved and was honored to do, and a lot of that came out of the family that we created behind the scenes,' he said. He added that he found out just after the new year, with about six episodes left to film, that Dr. Melendez was going to die, which he acknowledged that no ending was good enough, and he felt his death came a bit 'early' in the show's run. 'It was tough because I felt like nothing was good enough. It wasnt going to be a good enough goodbye because, you know, I think its a little early so I think that nothing was ever going to really feel appropriate,' Gonzalez said. Creative: 'It was a creative decision [that] just kind of came at a good time, you know? Theres a lot about this job that I loved and was honored to do, and a lot of that came out of the family that we created behind the scenes,' he said The actor added that it was important to acknowledge his character's previous relationship with Audrey Lim. When it was mentioned that he didn't get a final scene with the main character, Freddie Highmore's Dr. Shaun Murphy, Gonzalez added, 'Freddie was there for my final day, watching every scene from behind the camera in support.' Fans were not too pleased though, including Twitter user @LifeLoveCats, who exclaimed, 'THIS IS *NOT* HOW YOU CELEBRATE NATIONAL DOCTORS DAY.' Another fan, @AmandaKihl, added, 'I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face. Melendez needed to continue with the show.' Support: When it was mentioned that he didn't get a final scene with the main character, Freddie Highmore's Dr. Shaun Murphy, Gonzalez added, 'Freddie was there for my final day, watching every scene from behind the camera in support' Not pleased: Fans were not too pleased though, including Twitter user @LifeLoveCats, who exclaimed, 'THIS IS *NOT* HOW YOU CELEBRATE NATIONAL DOCTORS DAY' Tears: Another fan, @AmandaKihl, added, 'I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face. Melendez needed to continue with the show' Jasika Nicole's Dr. Carly Lever has been a series regular since the second episode of the first season, but her appearances lately have been more sporadic. She was last seen in the 16th episode of the third season, which aired in late February, discussing her failed relationship with Shaun. Series creator/executive producer David Shore stated, 'I would love to have her back here and there. love Jasika, and would love to see her on the show, but it will not be in the same capacity.' Sporadic: Jasika Nicole's Dr. Carly Lever has been a series regular since the second episode of the first season, but her appearances lately have been more sporadic Failed: She was last seen in the 16th episode of the third season, which aired in late February, discussing her failed relationship with Shaun Syrian air defenses opened fire Tuesday night on missiles launched from Israeli warplanes on the central province of Homs, shooting down some of them, state media said. State TV said the warplanes fired the missiles while flying in Lebanese airspace. The outlet said the warplanes targeted a Syrian army position without saying where exactly. It added that some of the missiles were shot down. Residents of the Lebanese capital Beirut heard the sound of warplanes in the air shortly before the airstrikes were reported. There was no immediate comment from Israel. Last month, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a car in southern Syria, killing one person. Opposition activists said at the time that the man targeted was an anti-Israel operative. In recent years, Israel has repeatedly carried out airstrikes in Syria against targets belonging to Iran and its regional proxies. One airstrike in February killed two members of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, which is backed by Iran. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County. By Brenda Goh WUHAN, China (Reuters) - Residents of China's Wuhan city, ground zero for the coronavirus pandemic, have mixed emotions as containment measures are lifted and the community infection rate slows to a trickle, with some praising the government and others rueing the economic costs. The strictest curbs on movement and business were in the Hubei provincial capital of Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have emerged from a seafood market last year. The city of 11 million people accounts for about 60% of China's total infections, which stood at 81,518 as of Tuesday. That market is now boarded up, and an adjacent wholesale fruit centre is also closed with more than 100,000 yuan (11,411.78 pounds) worth of mangoes, melons and other fruit rotting outside. A fruit trader surnamed Fang said the lockdown of the city had ruined her livelihood. "Of course I'm scared," she told Reuters, gesturing to the two masks she wore, one on top of the other, as she packed apples which she sells to residential compounds at wholesale prices. "But I've not made any money for the last three months." Wuhan residents' attitudes towards the curbs are far from aligned, with some expressing immense pride in their government while others say the help they have received has not offset the costs from the lockdown. Some firms have resumed work and the city will start allowing people to leave on April 8. China has unveiled numerous measures to ease the devastating economic impact of the outbreak, and has pledged to help Wuhan get back on its feet. Fang teared up as she described how she had planned to see her children who are back in her hometown after the Lunar New Year in January. She will be unable to return after the lockdown ends because she has to stay and sell her fruit. "At the earliest the stock might only clear by June," she said, declining to give her full name due to the sensitivity of the situation. Story continues CHEAP RIBS Hu Yanfang, who was supervising the unpacking of boxes of protective equipment and food at her housing estate in Wuhan, had a different take. The lockdown on residential compounds like hers was recently eased and she feels optimistic that the government has the crisis in hand. "It's much better now," said Hu, who heads the compound's residents committee. Her voice cracked with emotion as she recounted how she had worked through the past two months to support her neighbours and sanitise the compound. She thanked the government for sending ample supplies of protective gear like masks. "It makes me feel like our country is strong - just look at countries like Europe," she said, referring to the surging infection and death numbers in countries like Italy and Spain. "The government helped us to get these," she said, as slabs of pork ribs arrived in the boot of a taxi. They were to be sold to residents at less than half the usual price. Another resident, Yu Tianhong, agreed with Hu as she queued for ribs. "This shows how the government is giving support and love to those of who stayed at home. It's not just about the meat and the money. This makes us feel like someone is concerned about us," she said. Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus: https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Tony Munroe and Stephen Coates) During his Sunday Mann ki Baat radio address, prime minister Narendra Modi asked for forgiveness not for his ad hoc policymaking, not for his nudge-wink to the periodic violence that keeps his brand undiluted, not for his disdain for experts, and certainly not for his exclusionary politics but for his tough lockdown decision. One, begging for mercy from everyone in general and no one in particular is disingenuous. I strongly feel you will forgive me, he commanded the hapless citizenry. Two, the decision was hardly tough considering societies across the planet are locking down against the deadly microbial coronavirus. Three, he should have thought of the trouble he says he put us through before abruptly announcing the lockdown he could have primed his administration for measures to alleviate the suffering of economic migrants. But no; around a score have died in the mass return-migration. His response is almost as incoherent as was his decision to demonetise. The lockdown should have been announced on March 1 and not four hours prior; and Modi only realised the second-order consequences as an afterthought, two days later. Instead, he announced a relief fund, PM-CARES, though there already exists a PMs National Relief Fund (an audited account), giving rise to suspicion that it is solely meant to enhance his cult of personality. His MPs announce they are donating from their Local Area Development funds, though that money is not their personal savings or charity, but belongs to citizens. An American had famously said, Never let a serious crisis go to waste, and the BJP has taken this advice to heart by relentlessly pursuing self-promotion instead of self-quarantine. Contrast Modis words to those of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has been warning the government for several weeks about the impending coronavirus crisis. Unlike the incessant nastiness from the ruling cliques cadre and trolls, the opposition has supported the decision to lock down India; and former finance minister P Chidambaram has even offered specific suggestions on mitigating the coming economic crunch which will be crushing. Congress president Sonia Gandhi wrote to Modi two days ago suggesting a one-time state transport arrangement so that migrants did not have to trudge home (a 38-year-old died of exhaustion walking to Madhya Pradesh over the weekend), and her advice was sensibly heeded. In his letter to Modi, Rahul Gandhi predicted that the 21-day lockdown will be extended. (The US has extended its till end-April.) Gandhi feared the return-migrants would infect their elderly back home, resulting in a catastrophic loss of life. He asked Modi to strengthen the social safety net; called for the China-style erection of hospitals with thousands of beds and ventilators; asked that financial institutions be insulated from the shockwave; and urged him to engage our immense network of small and medium businesses and farmers in a conversation to build their confidence and protect their interests. The difference was clear. For Gandhi, his letter was about India and Indians, especially its poor. For the PM, his speech was all about himself. The Pentagon has instructed bases and installations not to reveal the specific number of coronavirus cases affecting soldiers so as not to give potential enemies an advantage as the number of military-linked infections surpasses 1,000. A spokesperson for the Department of Defense said that figures indicating the number of soldiers infected with the virus will be released to the media, but those figures will not be broken down specifically to each base. If a commander believes that COVID-19 could affect the readiness of our strategic deterrent or strategic response forces, we understandably protect that information from public release and falling into the hands of our adversaries - as we expect they would do the same, Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Rath Hoffman told NBC News on Monday. As of Monday morning, 633 active military service members tested positive for coronavirus. The Pentagon has directed all military bases and installations around the world not to provide the number of coronavirus cases. Defense Secretary Mark Esper is seen right next to President Trump in Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday Marine Corps Pfc. Brandon Shim guides an ambulance toward the terminal leading to the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy in Los Angeles on Sunday Of those, 64 had recovered and 26 were hospitalized. The Pentagon says there were no deaths. The Defense Department said that 220 civilian employees tested positive, as did 190 dependents and 64 contractors. One contractor and one dependent died from the virus. Last week, the US military decided it will stop providing some of the more granular data about coronavirus infections within its ranks out of concern that the information might be used by adversaries as the virus spreads. Defense Secretary Mark Esper outlined the plan in an interview with Reuters, saying that he wanted the military to keep providing broader data about infections in the armed forces, which boasts well over one million active service members. He also banned all troop movement overseas for 60 days to curb the spread of the coronavirus as cases among U.S. service members multiplied. The freeze will affect 90,000 service members including those who were set to leave Afghanistan as part of a peace deal with the Taliban. The US Defense Department has issued a 60-day freeze to troop deployments to aid in further prevention of the spread of the coronavirus as cases jump U.S. sailors man the bridge of USS Boxer, just one of the U.S. warships hit by the coronavirus The largest increase in military cases has been seen in the United States but there are thousands more US military personnel in quarantine or in self-isolation in Europe and the Middle East due to exposure to a person with the coronavirus or recent travel to a high-risk area. Esper, a former Army secretary, said he wanted some of the more mission-specific information to be withheld to prevent compromising operational security. 'What we want to do is give you aggregated numbers. But we're not going to disaggregate numbers because it could reveal information about where we may be affected at a higher rate than maybe some other places,' Esper said, without disclosing precisely what information would be withheld or when the plan would be implemented. The military has a small number of infections compared to its one million-plus forces but until now the locations of individual cases have been provided, including the first case in a US soldier in South Korea in February. 'I'm not going to get into a habit where we start providing numbers across all the commands and we come to a point six, seven weeks from now where we have some concerns in some locations and reveal information that could put people at risk,' Esper said. 'The rate of infection and its impact is not hitting us at the levels that we have any concerns about right now,' he added but noted that releasing information about troops overseas was dangerous for the safety of those in the fight against al-Shabaab in East Africa as well as Islamic State militants in Syria or Afghanistan. Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Ernesto Santa Ana, right, and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Maria F. Potts-Szoke work in Naval Medical Research Center's mobile laboratory aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, where 38 cases of the coronavirus were confirmed on Monday Sailors prepare surgical equipment to be sterilized aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy which docked at the Port of Los Angeles last week Last Tuesday, the Navy revealed they had changed their policy to no longer supply information on which ship positive sailors serve on after over a dozen cases were discovered on various warships based in San Diego. The policy said it would will now 'only release the number of positive cases and the geographic location of those sailors'. The largest increase in troops has been seen within the U.S. with 85 percent of cases in the Air Force based at home. Esper did not confirm that the threat of the coronavirus was greater for troops based at home than overseas but commented on it being easier to control the actions of troops and their families who are stationed outside of America. 'You have far, far, far greater control of your service members when you're deployed abroad, even when you're stationed abroad, than you do back in the United States,' he said. The number of those in quarantine and self-isolation has also not been revealed amid claims that it is not something the military want 'to advertise'. 'If advertised, numbers can be used by adversaries to their advantage,' said Air Force Colonel Christopher Karns, a spokesman at the U.S. Africa Command. U.S. Navy sailors lower a larne target from the fantail of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt last week before four sailors were airlifted from the ship with the coronavirus U.S. Navy sailors participate hang targets during a small arms qualification aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. All 5,000 personnel aboard will be tested for the coronavirus The US headquarters overseeing operations in Afghanistan reported last Tuesday that four service members who recently arrived in the country had tested positive for the virus and were placed into a separate quarantine. As the Pentagon institutes a freeze on troop movements, exceptions will be granted to those needing medical treatment and Navy ship deployments if they will be in transit for 14 days. 'The purpose is to make sure that we're not bringing the virus back home, infecting others, that we're not spreading it around the military,' Esper told Reuters. The Pentagon froze domestic travel for service members, civilian employees and their family members until May 11 earlier this month. The news also comes as a total of 38 cases were confirmed aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, currently underway in the Pacific, after three people were airlifted from the ship last Tuesday. The 'Big Stick', with its crew of 5,000 sailors, pulled into port in Guam on Friday, where it is supposed to undergo a rigorous disinfection. Four patients were airlifted out for treatment at a medical facility in Guam as the number of cases on the ship rose. Aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt where 23 cases on the coronavirus have been found as the ship is now forced to dock in order to test all 5,000 personnel onboard Two Kenya Port Authority boats can be seen in front of the Wasp class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer. Now based in San Diego, coronavirus cases have been confirmed on the ship The warship is now forced to dock to test all 5,000 on board despite the Navy previously banning all ships from going into port to prevent any further infections. There are only 800 tests on board and limited testing ability. 'We found several more cases on board the ship. We are in the process now of testing 100 percent of the crew of that ship to ensure that we're able to contain whatever spread might have occurred there,' Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said from the Pengaton Thursday. However, Admiral Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations, is adamant that the carrier will continue with its operations. Once at port the crew will not be permitted to leave the carrier. The USS Theodore Roosevelt was deployed from San Diego in January to the western Pacific. On March 5, it made a port call in Da Nang, Vietnam, a country where there were known coronavirus cases. At that time, the number of cases in the country was low and all were in the northern part of the country away from the port. 'At that time, there were only 16 positive cases in Vietnam, and those are well to the north all isolated in Hanoi,' said Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday. 'So this was a very risk-informed decision by the (Indo-Pacific) commander, Adm. Davidson, on whether or not we proceed with that port visit. 'We took great precautions when the crew came back from that shore visit, and did enhanced medical screenings of the crew.' U.S. Marines walk down a removable Trident Pier leading to an American ship docked near an Emirati military base home to a Military Operations and Urban Terrain facility in al-Hamra, United Arab Emirates on Monday despite the global new coronavirus pandemic Colorado National Guard medical personnel prepare to perform coronavirus test on a motorist at a drive-thru testing site outside the Denver Coliseum Saturday, March 14, in Denver Gilday added that it is not certain the sailors contracted the virus in Vietnam as other personnel regularly fly on and off the carrier while at sea. Extra precautions had also been taken to protect the crew in Vietnam such as limiting self-service in the ship's chow hall and screening sailors coming back on board for illness. Sailors live within close conditions on the ship in staterooms and berthing spaces. The number of cases in the US has rocketed over the last two weeks People are asked to leave six feet between themselves and other people to prevent the spread of the virus which would be next to impossible in the crowded quarters. 'They are beefing up their cleaning stations,' Cmdr. Myers Vasquez, a spokesman for the Pacific Fleet, told the San Diego Union-Tribune. 'Across the fleet, (ship commanders) have been looking at best practices and implementing them. Everyone's following what (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidance is and putting those into effect.' Port visits across the Pacific fleet have been called off and ships have been ordered to stay at sea for 14 days to isolate sailors. 'We canceled, I think, every port visit, with the exception of ships that need to pull in for maintenance or resupply. In those cases, when you pull in, (sailors) are limited to the pier,' Gilday said. On March 13, the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, currently in port in San Diego, reported one of its personnel had tested 'presumptive positive' for the virus. A second cases on board was confirmed a few days later. And a sailor aboard the Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado, also in San Diego, tested positive before the Navy changed their policy and are now no longer confirming which ship positive sailors serve on. They will now 'only release the number of positive cases and the geographic location of those sailors', according the Military.com. The virus has spread to at least a dozen serving on US warships in San Diego. Testing is also being conducted on the amphibious assault ship USS America and the 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge, both based in the Pacific. Ships can be difficult to protect during an outbreak as seen with the Diamond Princess and Grand Princess cruise ships which became coronavirus outbreak centers earlier this year. In 2019, a mumps outbreak aboard the USS Fort McHenry infected 28 people despite efforts to quarantine the infected and disinfect the ship from the vaccine-preventable disease. There is no current vaccine for the coronavirus. The US. military is already on the front lines of the fight against the coronavirus in the US as Navy hospital ships are deployed to New York and California. 'The Department of Defense has been at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus since the early days of our nation's response effort,' wrote Esper in an op-ed for Fox. 'In January, we provided housing at March Air Reserve Base in California to assist the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in caring for hundreds of State Department employees, dependents and U.S. citizens who were evacuated from Wuhan, China. 'Our contributions and efforts to the interagency's response has only grown since then, as we simultaneously took major steps to ensure the safety of our military personnel and their families.' Esper has been criticized, however, for not doing more earlier on to prepare the Defense Department to protect its own forces and to assist in the federal response. On Wednesday, he cautioned that the U.S. military is not positioned to deploy nearly enough medical resources to address the scale of the coronavirus outbreak The US Naval Ship Mercy enters the Port of Los Angeles on Friday to provide aid to the local hospital system as the number of coronavirus cases rises U.S. National Guard members stand beside crates of medical supplies at the Jacob Javits Center on Monday in New York. New York City hospitals are just 10 days from running out of 'really basic supplies,' Mayor Bill de Blasio said late Sunday of the coronavirus crisis The coronavirus is taking a growing toll on the U.S. military, and commanders and senior officials are bracing for worse. From nuclear missile fields at home to war zones abroad, from flight lines to ships at sea, the Pentagon is striving to shield vital missions even as it faces urgent calls for help on the civilian front. Training exercises big and small, including one of the largest in Europe since the end of the Cold War, have been curtailed. Army recruiting stations have closed. Troops around the globe are hunkering down to confront an enemy unlike anything the world's most lethal armed forces have encountered before. 'It's unprecedented in my lifetime,' Esper said, adding that he believes that 'in a period of months' the worst will be over and the force will once again be 'fully mission capable.' Until then, the ramifications of COVID-19 for the military are likely to expand. There are worries, for example, about the defense industry being weakened and key weapons development slowed. The US Naval Ship Comfort enters New York Harbor on Monday. New York City has seen the highest incidences of coronavirus in the country Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says that in a worse-case scenario, the military will lose some of its preparedness for combat and other missions. But the impact is likely to be 'moderate to minor to low in terms of its risk' to national defense, he told reporters on Monday. 'I'm just not in a place right now where I can give you an accurate description of what that's going to look like,' he said. The Pentagon budget also is taking a hit, although a coronavirus relief bill working its way through Congress would provide billions for the growing list of new expenses, including loans to industry that would enable accelerated production of medical equipment like ventilators and respiratory masks for civilian needs. Many of America's closest allies are waging their own COVID-19 battles, including Britain, Germany, Italy, France and other NATO partners, as well as South Korea, which hosts about 28,500 U.S. troops. At least temporarily, the pandemic has taken the edge off conflict in some of the globe's major flashpoints, such as Iran, as governments focus on fighting the disease inside their own borders. Hakehillah group members tour downtown Seoul together. / Courtesy of Sarah Gavin By Hallie Bradley "Many people come to us saying, 'I'm Jewish, but '" said Anna Toombs-Yun, co-founder of Jewish community organization Hakehillah. "But we think, 'I'm Jewish and ' is much better." Whether you have only one Jewish parent, attended Hebrew school but never joined a community or maybe just know the tune of the "Shema," Hakehillah believes you have the right to claim and be proud of your Jewish identity. Hakehillah is a progressive Jewish community in Seoul built around the ideas of diversity and inclusion. One of only two Jewish organizations in Seoul currently, Hakehillah is a group for everyone from the Orthodox to those who are looking for egalitarian services. "For us, living a Jewish life is crucial to feeling at home and we wanted it to be available for every Jew, not only some," Toombs-Yun explained. Hakehillah group members socialize at a picnic. /Courtesy of Sarah Gavin Schools are being encouraged to donate leftover personal protective equipment to healthcare staff. A Dublin teacher yesterday got permission from her school's management to bring the PPE to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown. Amy Doolan got 40 bottles of anti-bacterial soap, goggles and 6,000 pairs of gloves and brought them to the facility. She is now encouraging others to follow her lead. I think schools would have a large quantity of equipment in their labs, like in their presses and in their storerooms, that they may not even realise," she said. Like today [Monday] 6,000 pairs of gloves - thats a large quantity that Connolly Hospital are delighted to receive to protect their front line workers. Meanwhile, the President is urging people to "stay patient" with the restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19. In a statement last night, Michael D Higgins called on people to "stay the course" and show solidarity by keeping our distance. He said what people are being asked to do now will bear fruit in the weeks ahead. He also praised the efforts of health workers and those in essential services and expressed his sympathies to people who have lost loved ones to the virus. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 22:45:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MOGADISHU, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Tuesday called for joint efforts and unity in the fight against the novel coronavirus in Somalia which has confirmed three cases. In a joint statement, the UN appealed to everyone in Somalia to come together in the fight against COVID-19, saying Mogadishu is facing the unprecedented challenge of the novel coronavirus disease. "The UN family in Somalia stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Somalia during this testing time. We will continue to support all efforts to address the immediate health and long-term socio-economic impact of COVID-19," said James Swan, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia. Swan said the UN has established system-wide operating, medical and support procedures to reinforce the ongoing efforts to contain COVID-19 at the federal and state levels as well as limit the possibility of further spread of the virus. The UN called for a cessation of acts of violence and terrorism so that all resources and support can be channeled to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The UN said a task force has been established to ensure business continuity and agencies have developed a detailed preparedness and response plan in support of the government's efforts. The World Health Organization (WHO) said it will support the Somali health sector by scaling up its operational readiness and response to COVID-19. Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO Country Representative in Somalia said the UN health agency's support has been essential to rapidly establish a mechanism for testing and confirmation of suspected cases and isolating suspected cases to prevent onward transmission. "The WHO is heavily engaged with the Somali health authorities for case findings, contact tracing, testing, isolation and containment activities with the intention of virus suppression and delaying patient surge," said Malik. Other UN agencies and programs are supporting the implementation of the COVID-19 response plan by providing technical expertise and logistics to the government and federal member states. Some of these, the UN said, are training health workers, providing equipment for isolation centers, including testing kits, personal protective gear, and expanding early detection capabilities. "Our robust support to Somalia continues. All agencies remain engaged and continue to deliver critical assistance to those most in need," said Adam Abdelmoula, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Somalia. The World Food Programme plans to distribute two months' worth of food rations in anticipation of the deteriorating situation. For the second time in six months, San Antonio lawyer Phil Ross has been sued in district court by the State Bar of Texas on allegations of serial misconduct in a guardianship case involving an elderly person. According to the bars recent suit, Ross misbehavior included habitual and intentional disregard for court orders, misrepresentations to the court, fraud upon the court, conflicts of interest, dishonesty and deceit. The suit stems from Rosss role in a high-profile Bexar County case involving Charlie Thrash, 82, the longtime owner of CT Thrash Differential and Axle Service on West Avenue. In 2017, Thrash was found to be mentally incapacitated, and since 2018 he has been in the care of court-appointed guardians. In the past 15 months, hundreds of thousands of dollars of estate assets have been spent on legal costs as Ross, who sought to overturn the guardianships, has battled a team of lawyers representing the guardians. The earlier suit against Ross, filed in October, pertains to allegations of misconduct in a Comal County guardianship case involving Sybil Sims, an elderly San Antonio woman who died in 2016. That case is set for trial this summer in Bexar County. Ross, 71, who is known for his contrarian and sometimes combative style, plans to represent himself in both cases. I intend to defend myself and bring to light the truth of what happened to Charlie Thrash. The story is not over, he said. I trust that when a jury hears the entire case, not only will I be vindicated but the news will present itself that the claims against me are false. The bars latest suit, triggered by a grievance filed last year by Tonya Barina, one of Thrashs guardians, lists a dozen specific violations of the rules of professional conduct for lawyers. Among the accusations are that Ross repeatedly tried to represent Thrash when he knew Thrash lacked mental capacity to hire a lawyer; that Ross took Thrash out of Bexar County, contrary to court orders, to obtain a license for an impermissible marriage to his girlfriend, Laura Martinez; and that Ross was involved with Thrashs subsequent improper adoption of two of Martinezs adult children, which later was reversed. The suit also accuses Ross of filing meritless, vexatious pleadings and motions in an apparent effort to burden and cause expense for the estate, charges he denies. All the things I did were in an effort to advocate the rights, privileges and immunities of Charlie Thrash, said Ross, who linked the timing of the bars latest suit to the recent release of Dirty Money, a Netflix film critical of the guardians in the Thrash case. The outcome of either trial could cost Ross his license to practice law. Or he could face lesser sanctions or be exonerated. Last year, Rosss misconduct in the Thrash case triggered one of the largest court sanctions ever seen in Bexar County. In May, Probate Court Judge Oscar Kazen imposed a $220,000 penalty on Ross and several members of the Martinez family. The 35-page order listed dozens of specific acts of misconduct, including the marriage and adoption, as well as Ross interfering with Thrashs guardians. Ross has appealed the sanctions. Les Katona, one of the lawyers representing Barina, said Ross actions in the Thrash case are the most egregious I have seen in 30 years of practice, and they merit the most severe sanction available. The public and our profession need to be protected against the kind of activities that Judge Kazen has already found Mr. Ross to have engaged in, he added. John MacCormack is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from John, become a subscriber. JMacCormack@express-news.net | Twitter: @JohnMacCormack By quietly acquiring a global network of commercial ports from countries and investors unable or unwilling to maintain their critical economic infrastructure, China has reverse-engineered the logic of conquest: Chinese state-owned companies now control a base network of the sort that previous global hegemons obtained through military victory. Expect China to use the coronavirus crisis to accelerate its efforts to use that economic leverage to pull host countries deeper into Beijings political orbit. Its too early to say that the coronavirus crisis spells the end of globalization, but as the pandemic unfolds, the outlines of a new international trade and political order are emerging in the Mediterranean region. Call it globalization with Chinese characteristics. As the death toll in Italy soared, China flew in a team of medical experts and nearly 30 tons of medical equipment. On a phone call a week later with Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte, Chinese president Xi Jinping pledged additional supplies and medical personnel. China also shipped medical equipment to Spain, Austria, and the Czech Republic, and millions of protective masks to France, the Netherlands, Greece, and other nations. But the aid was too late. By late March the death toll in Italy had surpassed the total that China was officially reporting, and even the news that the number of cases had dropped for the first time was accompanied by photos of Italian-army trucks carrying the dead on their final journey. That was not the visual backdrop Italian leaders were seeking less than a year ago when they signed a memorandum of understanding with China, committing Italy to Xi Jinpings Belt and Road Initiative. Italy also signed nearly 20 related agreements to build new port and road infrastructure, initiate scientific cooperation in space science and satellite technology, boost exports of frozen pork and citrus fruit to China, and tap Chinese investment funds to pay for many of the projects. Despite the wide-ranging commitments agreed to in Rome in March, China apparently did not believe it had any responsibility to tell its new partner that a dangerous virus had been on the loose in Wuhan in December, and that many of the Chinese arriving in Northern Italy during the winter might be carriers. The decimation of Italys elderly highlights how China handles partner nations, and its a dark future. Story continues Receiving less attention are papers and articles in the last few days in which leading Chinese academics and industrial leaders present the virus crisis as an opportunity to make epidemic control a major Chinese export. From surveillance drones, disinfection robots, and AI-powered epidemic-forecasting systems to no-contact technology for online education and new factories to make fabric for protective masks, the virus is a boon for Chinese business. In the Peoples Daily, the former head of Chinas state cement company, Song Zhiping, wrote that these areas are bound to become the focus of attention of the entire society and have great potential for development as if deaths in Turin were market research for Chinas new industry. Song described Chinas plan to dominate production of medical supplies, using N95 mask fabric as an example. Song said China, already the worlds largest manufacturer and exporter of masks, produced 5 billion pieces in 2019, including 2.7 billion capable of protecting against viruses, about half the world supply. Demand is highest for the meltblown nonwoven fabric used for medical-grade N95 masks, but only 1 percent of the three million tons of nonwoven fabric made annually in China fits the bill. To help fill the gap, Song said, Chinese state oil company Sinopec built a new meltblown-fabric plant that began operation in early March, capable of producing material for 1.2 million N95 masks each day. Such production, Song said, shows the Chinese power in the global anti-pandemic effort. We need to increase the export of medical and health supplies and pharmaceutical ingredients to relevant countries, he said. Song knows his subject. He previously led the consolidation of the Chinese cement industry into a single colossus, China National Building Material, and claims to be responsible for building more than 300 cement production lines around the world between 2007 and 2017, when he became the first official from a Chinese organization to be appointed head of the World Cement Association. In 2011, Harvard Business School professors wrote a case study pondering whether Songs effort could succeed. In his first keynote address to the WCA in 2017, Song answered, citing the market power of CNBM, which now controls about 60 percent of Chinese cement production, as an example for the industry to follow. Such plans illustrate the true nature of Chinese investment. Provision of seemingly humanitarian aid to Italy and other Mediterranean nations is actually a practical move by China to protect some of its largest and most strategically valuable overseas investments and carry out its drive for geopolitical power. In fact, China is taking advantage of the virus crisis to accelerate its use of the economic leverage derived from the global network of ports and logistics infrastructure now under the long-term control of Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Chinese SOEs have acted in plain sight to assemble this network of commercial maritime power, which includes ports, ships, and landside logistics facilities. Carefully targeting economically weak nations, the Chinese companies bought contracts that grant them the rights to rebuild and manage ports, container-handling facilities, roads, and railways for decades to come. The sellers have been Western governments, pension funds, and port authorities that were no longer willing or able to afford the outlays required to maintain their own critical economic infrastructure. Make no mistake ports are hard-power assets, the foundation stones of global empires. Chinese SOEs or Chinese-allied companies now control a commercial network that connects the factories of the Pearl River Delta and Hubei province to the major consumer markets through ports in Canada, Latin America, Africa, both Northern and Mediterranean Europe, and, as of last August, the East Coast of the United States. Chinas commercial maritime network is far more dangerous than any collection of Belt and Road projects; its up and running right now, giving Chinas logistics SOEs a say in the economic-development, financial, and trade decisions of major developed countries. The contracts to operate ports and logistics sites run for decades, and China is only now starting to use the influence it has acquired. Today the main container ports at Valencia in Spain, Vado Ligure in Italy, and Piraeus in Greece economic lifelines in the globalized world are controlled by COSCO, the most prominent actor in Chinas commercial maritime expansion. Vado was an aging facility until COSCO bought a major stake in the port; the standard package of Chinese cement, cargo cranes, and automation was installed, and in December the revived facility began operations including the largest refrigerated terminal in the EU, which will help increase exports of pork and citrus. Under these arrangements, China is the arbiter of trade flows for those countries, and COSCOs mega-vessels are not mere commercial container carriers, but ships of state, carrying Chinese national power to every shore where they dock. That power reduces the ability of countries to object to Chinese policy, to criticize China for covering up the coronavirus that is now decimating the Italian population and claiming hundreds of lives in Spain and France, or to negotiate the terms of Chinas medical assistance. Those terms will be presented after the crisis abates, while the world is distracted by recovery and mourning. Expect China to expand its control over critical economic infrastructure in countries such as Italy. The crisis may also serve as a pretext for gaining control over Italys virus-impaired national finances, and perhaps for extending Chinese influence to the financing and development of health-care infrastructure with a heavy dose of Chinese surveillance technologies. The EU opened the door to Chinese influence by unwisely refusing Italys early pleas for financial and medical help; Germany has since indicated willingness to consider financial aid for Italy, but news reports suggest that Germany favors limited methods such as a line of credit. For a glimpse into the future, look to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that Italy signed in March 2019 to formalize its commitment to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. A government is in large measure a series of commitments by leaders to deliver a range of essential infrastructure services in exchange for citizens giving them power over budgets, security, trade, and public health. The SinoItalian MOU is a blueprint for taking control of a country by gaining influence over the entire set of essential services that a government provides. The MOU includes terms calling on Italy to accept financing from the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which China set up a few years ago, to establish a strategic partnership between the Bank of China and one of Italys main investment banks in Turin, and for the two nations ministries of finance to collaborate on financial and structural reforms. Ports are seats of power, and Chinas maritime commercial network poses a long-term security threat to the U.S. and Western allies. Uniquely among infrastructure assets, multi-decade port contracts give the operator an integral role in many financial and political decisions of host governments. Ports also confer military advantages direct intelligence gathering, access denial due to the risk of cybersurveillance, and the extension of supply lines required to support global naval operations. Shipping sources suggest that vessels large enough to carry 14,000 to 24,000 containers are easily convertible to flight decks, and virtually unsinkable. Closed containers can transport weapons, electronics, and communications equipment, and, as the world is learning the hard way, essential medical and pharmaceutical supplies not currently available from sources outside of China. Unloaded at ports under Chinese control, containers carrying cargo of strategic value to China are unlikely to be delayed. China has allies in its effort. COSCO is the dominant member of the Ocean Alliance, one of three vessel-sharing consortiums that manage global shipping capacity. COSCOs primary partner is French shipping line CMA CGM, which in 2015 received about $1 billion in Chinese state financial support. The main port operator of Singapore, PSA International Pte. Ltd., relies heavily on COSCO for container volume that flows from a network of land and sea links to Chinas industrial heartland to terminals in Singapore, where PSA operates in concert with COSCOs port subsidiary to consolidate cargo onto the mega-vessels that sail to the EU and U.S. The COSCOPSA alliance was forged in 2003, when PSA allowed a COSCO predecessor company to take a 49 percent equity stake in a terminal PSA owned, the first time a foreign firm was allowed to invest in the Singapore ports berths. The JV opened two new mega-vessel berths a year ago, and has already increased volume by more than 55 percent. Through an investment company called Temasek Holdings Pte., the government of Singapore is the sole owner of PSA, which operates the port of Antwerp, and in August 2019 bought the contract to operate the port of Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and at Penn Terminals in Philadelphia. A CMA CGM mega-vessel last week became the first such large ship to call at Halterm, which has been renamed PSA Halifax. As calls increase for U.S. companies to move production of critical medical supplies out of China, some Chinese business schools believe large international companies may delay such supply-chain adjustments. In a paper this month, the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance at Shanghai Jiao Tong University argues that the driving force of globalization is the profitability of capital, and risk-averse large companies may decide to leave substantial portions of their production capacity in China. Its easier to promote the idea of globalization to large investors, the paper contends, while anti-globalization trends involve political factors that are more difficult to confront. The paper also recognizes the potential for Italys debt problems to worsen. Italys vulnerability to Chinese power raises concerns about the security of U.S. and NATO bases in Naples. During an interview in Athens last October, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo indicated that those facilities were secure. But the situation bears careful monitoring. The EU is a major target for Chinas global ambitions. The EU is home to extensive scientific and biotech expertise, but the main rationale for dominating the EU is that the Mediterranean is the source of the values underlying Western civilization, such as religious liberty, representative government, and respect for individuals. China wants to replace those values. The EU sits at the far peninsula of Eurasia, which some Chinese military theorists see as a world island that must be captured in order to mount the final campaign against the United States and the Westphalian order. Articles in Chinese state media typically claim that China seeks to build a community of shared future for all humanity. But the version of globalization with Chinese characteristics that is unfolding in Italy is a dark future that no country wants to share. More from National Review Rum: Spiced and flavoured variants are picking up pace Spiced rum producers have been studying the gin category closely for inspiration, and this now looks to be paying off. UK distilleries in particular have carefully sought out natural and authentic flavours to help push the flavoured segment into a more premium space, while the mixing possibilities of rum to rival the classic G&T are also increasingly being explored. And this has all had a positive effect on the overall rum category. At the end of 2019 The Whisky Exchange says it saw rum grow faster than gin for the first summer in five years, with rum sales up 165% in the three months to October. Majestic Wine says it added several rum lines such as Rockstar Spirits, Plantation and Appleton to its range before Christmas because of the growing popularity of this spirit and it reports that flavoured and spiced rum is driving annual sales growth of 30% in the category. It is also seeing really exciting developments with higher- priced rums. Jack Merrylees, head of communications at Majestic, says spiced and flavoured rums are working well with the companys customers. We have introduced grapefruit, pineapple and a number of vanilla or spiced styles, he says. They have all proven hugely popular. Of course, theres a novelty angle customers are eager to sample them in stores, but theres a seriousness and provenance to them too. This novelty factor has, in the past, been frowned upon by some evangelists of premium, unadulterated rums, but is it now possible for flavoured and spiced rums to be regarded as premium products? Over the past 12 months a number of new flavoured rums have entered the market and many of these have been positioned as more premium, with authenticity and, in some cases, a nod to sustainability too. William Grant & Sons has now added a Banana Peel rum to its Discarded range, to sit alongside the existing Cascara vermouth. The rum is made from discarded banana peel and Caribbean rum, previously used to season casks for the producers whisky. Calum Fraser, Discardeds UK brand ambassador, says: The rum category as a whole is premiumising. This isnt limited to ranges with age statements. The exploration of this is only beginning. There are a number of fine examples of premium flavoured or spiced rums, which are being championed in bars, and that is filtering into the off-trade. We will see a rapid disruption to the traditional rum shelf over the next 18 months as consumers demand the opportunity to explore a wildly diverse category. GIN INFLUENCES Majestics Merrylees says rum producers are clearly learning lessons from the gin boom. He says: Getting that sense of place, of craft, in the labelling and ingredients creates a product which people cant wait to get in their hands. A clear influence from gin is the increased focus on ingredients, with the popular word botanicals now finding its way into the category. Brewdog Distilling is one producer that has segued into rum via this route. Brewdogs Five Hundred Cuts Botanical Rum, which was introduced at the end of last year, is made using 11 botanicals, including orange peel, lavender, Schezuan peppercorns, cinnamon, nutmeg, tonka beans, ginger, allspice and cardamom. David Gates, chief executive of Brewdog Distilling, says: We created this by using two mixing methods: redistilling the softer botanicals with the base spirit to create a spiced white rum distillate, then steeping the bolder flavours in the remaining white spirit for 14 hours. That way, when the macerated white rum and white rum distillate are combined, you are left with a more authentic, complex and layered palate, rather than a generic spiced rum with artificial colour and sweetness. Also going down the botanical route is Spirited Union Distillery, which recently launched the worlds first white botanical rum, Union Lemon & Leaf rum. It joins the producers existing Union Spice & Sea Salt rum. Founder Ruben Maduro says: We are seeing a clear trend towards high quality natural spirits with quality cues borrowed from gin. By introducing a range of fresh botanical rums, we are trying to tap into consumers moving away from gin and unlocking the gin and tonic moment in rum. In the past, flavoured and spiced rums have been valuedriven with heavily sweetened artificial liquids. As consumer behaviour changes and bars and retailers are becoming more knowledgeable and quality driven, there is more room for premium-positioned infused rums. Gin has also helped to inspire a number of British producers, such as Brewdog, to explore the potential of rum. Arlu Rum, which describes itself as Caribbean born, Manchester made, is one of many UK newcomers in rum. The range, from Aldermans Drinks, comprises Arlu Rum Original Spiced, Passionfruit & Mango and Blood Orange. The Duppy Share, founded in 2015 as the first London- based rum company to launch in over 100 years added Duppy Share Spiced in February with an exclusive listing with Selfridges. The newcomer is flavoured with pineapple and kola nut. Founder George Frost says: Spiced rum is booming in the UK, with sales topping 10 million bottles in 2019, and I saw a massive opportunity to create a spiced rum that focused on adding depth of flavour and complexity that consumers dont usually get or expect from other spiced rums. Spiced rum has had a bad reputation in the past for being super sweet and packed so full of flavourings that you cant even tell its a rum. We wanted to forge a different path to advance the category and show consumers how good a spiced rum can be. Another UK newcomer in rum is Lugger, which is now stocked in Waitrose. Lyme Bay Winery sources Caribbean rum which it ages in bourbon-charred oak barrels in Devon. The liquid is then spiced with nutmeg, orange peel and cloves, as well as vanilla. RUM IN THE OFF-TRADE Merrylees notes that Majestic staff have taken the energy and excitement of rum into their stores, following a company-wide tasting of rum for all of the retailers store managers. He says: Customers are eager to embark on their own mix and match experience, and it is something we can facilitate with our expert staff and in-store tastings to really create that sense of theatre. One of the notable rum success stories for Majestic has been Rockstar Spirits. Founder and chief executive Tom Hurst says: Our first release, Pineapple Grenade 65% Overproof spiced rum is still our bestseller. Pineapple is the key flavour at the moment with lots of new entrants due on the market this year. My prediction for the next big flavour after pineapple is orange. However, I expect my more premium take on a more traditional spiced rum, Captn Webbs Two Swallows Spiced, will overtake sales of Pineapple Grenade when our new national listing in Sainsburys goes live this month [March]. Rockstar also has a cherry variant of Two Swallows and it promises NPD this year: Passionfruit Grenade 65% and Two Swallows Orange & Ginger. Hurst adds: Retailers can definitely offer tiered pricing in spiced and flavoured as more premium brands are being launched into the category. At Rockstar Spirits we use premium spirit from Diamond Distillery in Guyana, with all natural flavours, higher abvs and premium packaging that allow our brands to justify a premium upsell price point on shelf. Related articles: The Reserve Bank on Tuesday reallocated portfolios of deputy governors, with the Department of Regulation being entrusted to M K Jain. The move was necessitated as N S Vishwanathan demitted office on Tuesday, an RBI communique said. Among Vishwanathan's portfolios, regulation goes to Jain, a career commercial banker-turned-central banker, while inspection will be taken care of by B P Kanungo. Kanungo, a career central banker whose term was extended on Tuesday, will also oversee the coordination function, while risk monitoring will go to Jain. Jain will also take care of communication, while enforcement and secretary departments will be headed by Kanungo, the RBI said. Kanungo, Jain and the third DG Michael Patra will continue to hold their earlier portfolios. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Expects to treat more patients in Israel in the coming days Company is in discussions with regulators in the U.S. and Europe to define its clinical strategy for COVID-19 HAIFA, Israel, March 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (PSTI) (PSTI), a leading regenerative medicine company developing a platform of novel biological therapeutic products, announced today that since its last update on COVID-19 , it has dosed three patients in two different hospitals in Israel under a compassionate use program for the treatment of COVID-19, as approved by the Israeli Ministry of Health. Pluristem expects to enroll additional patients in Israel in the coming days and anticipates providing updates on clinical outcomes once significant data has been gathered. All three treated patients are in a high-risk group based on age and preexisting conditions, have been experiencing severe respiratory failure, and intubation with a ventilator. Pluristem is closely following the medical condition of these patients in conjunction with the hospitals medical professionals delivering the care. Pluristem is prepared for immediate ramp-up of PLX cell production with consistent batch-to-batch cell production quality through its GMP certified manufacturing facilities in order to meet potential demand. In this time of emergency, we are honored to be taking part in the global effort to support patients and healthcare systems. We watch with great admiration the endless efforts of the outstanding medical teams at the hospitals, and we would like to thank them for their collaboration and support. It is our hope that our mutual desire to help patients will result in improved outcomes for those hard hit by the life threating complications of COVID-19, stated Pluristem CEO and President, Yaky Yanay. In addition to our current activity in Israel, we are in discussions with regulators in the U.S. and Europe to define our clinical strategy for COVID-19. Pluristems advanced manufacturing capabilities enable us to serve potential need of treating large numbers of patients under compassionate use and clinical studies across numerous countries and hospitals in accordance with our expansion program and regulatory approvals. We are facing a very different global condition right now, and the entire Pluristem team is committed to being an important part of the solution. Story continues PLX Cells for COVID-19 PLX cells are available off-the-shelf and once commercialized, can be manufactured in large scale quantities, offering a key advantage in addressing a global pandemic. PLX cells are allogeneic mesenchymal-like cells that have immunomodulatory properties that induce the immune systems natural regulatory T cells and M2 macrophages, and thus may prevent or reverse the dangerous overactivation of the immune system. Accordingly, PLX cells may potentially reduce the incidence andor severity of COVID-19 pneumonia and pneumonitis leading hopefully to a better prognosis for the patients. Previous pre-clinical findings of PLX cells revealed therapeutic benefit in animal studies of pulmonary hypertension, lung fibrosis, acute kidney injury and gastrointestinal injury which are potential complications of the severe COVID-19 infection. Clinical data using PLX cells demonstrated the strong immunomodulatory potency of PLX cells in patients post major surgery. Taken together, PLX cells potential capabilities with the safety profile observed from clinical trials involving hundreds of patients worldwide potentially position them as a therapy for mitigating the tissue-damaging effects of COVID-19. The potential therapeutic effects of PLX cells for the treatment of respiratory and inflammatory complications associated with the COVID-19 are currently being studied through a collaborative agreement between Pluristem and the BIH Center for Regenerative Therapy (BCRT) and the Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT) at Charite University of Medicine Berlin. About Pluristem Therapeutics Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a leading regenerative medicine company developing novel placenta-based cell therapy product candidates. The Company has reported robust clinical trial data in multiple indications for its patented PLX cell product candidates and is currently conducting late stage clinical trials in several indications. PLX cell product candidates are believed to release a range of therapeutic proteins in response to inflammation, ischemia, muscle trauma, hematological disorders and radiation damage. The cells are grown using the Company's proprietary three-dimensional expansion technology and can be administered to patients off-the-shelf, without tissue matching. Pluristem has a strong intellectual property position; a Company-owned and operated GMP-certified manufacturing and research facility; strategic relationships with major research institutions; and a seasoned management team. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S. Federal securities laws. For example, Pluristem is using forward-looking statements when it discusses its expectation to enroll additional patients in Israel in the coming days and anticipation of providing updates on clinical outcomes once significant data has been gathered, or when it discusses preparation for immediate ramp-up of PLX cell production with consistent batch-to-batch cell production quality through its manufacturing facilities in order to meet potential demand, or when it discusses that its advanced manufacturing capabilities enable it to serve potential need of treating large numbers of patients under compassionate use and clinical studies across numerous countries and hospitals in accordance with its expansion program and regulatory approvals, when it discusses the benefits and potential therapeutic effects of PLX cells that they may prevent or reverse the dangerous overactivation of the immune system, that they may potentially reduce the incidence andor severity of COVID-19 pneumonia and pneumonitis leading hopefully to a better prognosis for the patients or that PLX cells potential capabilities with the safety profile observed from clinical trials potentially position them as a therapy for mitigating the tissue-damaging effects of COVID-19. These forward-looking statements and their implications are based on the current expectations of the management of Pluristem only, and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; Pluristem may encounter delays or obstacles in launching and/or successfully completing its clinical trials; Pluristems products may not be approved by regulatory agencies, Pluristems technology may not be validated as it progresses further and its methods may not be accepted by the scientific community; Pluristem may be unable to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of its products; unforeseen scientific difficulties may develop with Pluristems process; Pluristems products may wind up being more expensive than it anticipates; results in the laboratory may not translate to equally good results in real clinical settings; results of preclinical studies may not correlate with the results of human clinical trials; Pluristems patents may not be sufficient; Pluristems products may harm recipients; changes in legislation may adversely impact Pluristem; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition, which could cause the actual results or performance of Pluristem to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, Pluristem undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Pluristem, reference is made to Pluristem's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Contact: Seyi Makinde, the Oyo state Governor has tested positive for coronavirus.He disclosed this in a tweet via his official twitter handle this evening. I just received my COVID-19 confirmation test result. It is POSITIVE. I am asymptomatic and will continue to self-isolate. pic.twitter.com/SX6UAYBb0S Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) March 30, 2020 Seyi Makinde becomes the third Nigerian governor who has tested positive for the deadly virus.Recall that the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has tested positive for the coronavirus disease. Post Views: 3 India is all set to enter the strict BS-VI emission era from Tuesday midnight with Indian automobile industry pumping in around Rs 70,0000 crore in the last four years to upgrade its technology. While auto companies put in around Rs 40,000 crore to upgrade their facilities and products, the auto component industry chipped in with an investment of Rs 30,000 crore for the same. Originally, automobile manufacturers across segments were to not produce or sell BS-IV vehicles from midnight tonight, although the Supreme Court recently allowed sale and registration of BS-IV vehicles for ten days after the end of the ongoing lockdown. Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) President Deepak Jain said the auto components industry invested around Rs 30,000 crore for migrating to BS-VI regime. In the long-term, the changeover to stricter emission norms would be beneficial for the country, but in short-term it would bring pain in terms of price escalation to an industry which is already reeling under a slowdown and now the lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic, he added. "Besides this, we also need initiatives like scrappage policy at the earliest to chuck out old polluting vehicles from roads," Jain said. Reflecting upon the company's journey of upgrading to stricter emission norms, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Senior Executive Director and Member of Executive Board CV Raman said the auto major conducted over 11,000 emission tests across 14 models, besides spending hundreds of hours on engine calibration and validations. "All of these efforts helped us in phasing out BS-IV systematically and we are glad to share that we barely have any BS-IV inventory left. We were able to liquidate all our BS-IV stock and hence there is no need for any fire sales from Maruti," Raman said. The company had upgraded its mass models such as Alto and Baleno with BS-VI petrol engines in April 2019. This was closely followed by other models. MSI stopped production of BS-IV vehicles in January 2020. In fact, the auto major has already sold over 7.5 lakh BS-VI units till date. Similarly, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Senior Vice President Naveen Soni said the company's vehicles turned compliant to BS-VI norms well ahead of time. "We have been successful in upgrading our vehicles to BS-VI technology before the stipulated timelines, thereby allowing us to focus on the production and sale of BS-VI vehicles," he noted. Various other carmakers including Honda, Hyundai and Tata Motors have also worked towards making their products BS-VI compliant. Similarly, various two-wheeler companies and commercial vehicle players have also announced transition to BS-VI norms. On a petition filed by auto dealers' body FADA, the Supreme Court on March 27 allowed the sale of unsold stock of BS-IV vehicles for 10 days after the expiry of the lockdown period, except in Delhi-NCR. The Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) had sought additional time of two months to clear the BS-IV inventory. The nationwide lockdown imposed on March 24 to check spread of coronavirus will last till April 14. The government in 2016 had asked automobile industry to upgrade to BS-VI norms by April 1, 2020. The short deadline was unprecedented anywhere in the world as it was a leap from BS-IV to BS-VI. Deteriorating air pollution situation in various cities, including Delhi-NCR, was one of the prominent reason to usher in stricter emission norms in the country. In 2018, the Supreme Court ordered that no Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) vehicle shall be sold across the country with effect from April 1, 2020. The apex court was deciding whether grace period should be given to automobile manufacturers for sale of BS-VI non-compliant vehicles after April 1, 2020. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A passenger arriving from Germany enters into a government-designated quarantine facility in Gwangju, Tuesday. / Yonhap By Bahk Eun-ji The number of Coronavirus infections is fast approaching 10,000 as cluster outbreaks and imported cases continue to increase, health authorities said Tuesday. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), 125 new infections were confirmed Monday, bringing the nation's total to 9,786. Among them, 29 cases were detected at immigration quarantine checkpoints, bringing the total number of the imported cases to 518. Of the newly reported, 60 were in Daegu, the epicenter of the virus outbreak here, following mass infections at a hospital. The death toll rose by four to 162. In Seoul, 24 additional cases were detected after more confirmed cases were reported at a church. Gyeonggi Province reported 13 new infections, while Incheon, west of Seoul, recorded six new cases. The government plans to enforce a two-week mandatory self-quarantine measure to all passengers arriving from abroad starting Wednesday in order to effectively contain the imported cases. Passengers without local addresses are to stay in government-designated facilities at their own expense. In regard to the continuous concerns over community infections due to imported cases, President Moon Jae-in called for strict legal measures against those who violate the quarantine rules. "To protect our citizens and secure the public safety, we need strict legal measures for those who do not follow the rules," Moon said during a weekly Cabinet meeting. He said the country still has a long way to go before reaching a status of stabilization, so containing imported cases is a key factor to mitigate further spread here. "A small hole will break a dam. At the time that all citizens endeavor to ensure the safety of the community at the expense of their inconveniences such as following social distancing rules, there should be no single person rendering everyone's efforts useless," he added. As a part of the strict legal measures coming into force, Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Government said it has filed a lawsuit against two travelers who tested positive to COVID-19 after a five-day trip to the island. The lawsuit has sought compensation for a total of 20 local businesses who were forced to temporarily shut down as a result of the two Korean visitors a student returning from college in the United States and her mother and that 97 people had been placed under quarantine after coming into contact with them. Jeju Gov. Won Hee-ryong said the Jeju provincial government is likely to seek 132 million ($108,370) won in damages from the student and her mother. The provincial government is also considering filing a separate criminal lawsuit against the student for violating Korea's laws on prevention of infectious diseases. Order from the full menu, by phone or online, then pay ahead. Remember to tip for curbside pick up, but if you forget leave some cash in your car trunk. When you arrive, pull into the designated curbside pickup lane. Former busboys will now greet you outside where you can request a no-contact trunk drop. Google Translate may help you communicate through closed windows. When you get home, discard as much of the packaging as possible before you go inside. As always wash and lotion your hands before you relax and finally eat. 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 Opposition Platform - For Life Open source Ze-party in alliance with Poroshenko and the Voice party (political parties that voted for the presidential land sale law on March 31, 2020, - ed.) betrayed Ukrainian people. Contrary to the will of Ukrainian citizens, these unprincipled traders opened the sale of Ukrainian land! Neither the epidemic, nor the distressful situation of Ukrainian families, or the disaster of the domestic economy stopped the looters from the old and new authorities. Political scammers took advantage of the difficult situation in which Ukraine found itself to comply with the order of its foreign patrons. They took away its main national wealth from Ukrainian people - the land. It became quite obvious that the current government is a complete political bankrupt. The president and his "piano players" were not able to fulfill any of their campaign promises: restore peace, ensure the development of the economy, improve the lives of citizens. The untalented and irresponsible Ze-team have eventually destroyed the country. Instead of helping people and supporting the economy during the epidemic, they once again befooled their electorate. There exist no mono-majority in parliament anymore - the servants faction is no longer able to pass laws on its own, President Zelensky no longer controls everyone he brought to the Verkhovna Rada. Having entered into a conspiracy with fragments of the Poroshenko regime, not caring a dime the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, they exchanged Ukrainian land for another loan from the IMF. OPPOSITION PLATFORM - FOR LIFE declares that the vote on the land sale bill passed with massive violations of the law and the Constitution. This decision was made without consultations with the people of Ukraine and against the will of most Ukrainian citizens, the attitude of local councils and the requirements of Ukrainian farmers. Having categorically refused to put the issue of land sale to a referendum, the government violated Art. 5 of the Constitution of Ukraine. The constitutional status of Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, the bearer of sovereignty and the only source of power, was called into question. We have no hope that Volodymyr Zelensky understands the depth of the crisis, which the country was doomed into when the law on the sale of land was adopted. It is useless to wait for the President's veto. The Opposition Platform - For Life will dispute the adoption of the Law opening land sale in the Constitutional Court. Following this decision of the Ze-majority, we will seek to hold a national referendum not only on the free sale of land, but also on the trust of this government. The Ze team has become the Zero team. By all legal means, we will protect the Ukrainian land, the Ukrainian Constitution, the Ukrainian people! The rapid spread of the coronavirus has dealt a huge blow to the global economy. The situation is far worse than what ensued in the weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and during the 2008 global financial crisis. With no drug or vaccination yet, researchers are at present working overtime to find a cure and are making use of advanced technology to diagnose infected patients and prevent the infection from spreading further. To contain the pandemic, large-scale government travel restrictions and country-wide lockdowns have been imposed. Supply chain disruption due to the coronavirus outbreak is impacting businesses worldwide and inducing market volatility. However, during this turbulent period, certain industries are still in a position to provide healthy return on investments. 3 Shock-Proof Stocks In the wake of the present scenario, one can choose to keep an eye on companies that are poised to witness improvement in business despite coronavirus-led market turbulence. Such stocks will not only protect investors from downside risks but are likely to gain, more so when no immediate respite is in sight. We are presenting three stocks with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) that are well positioned to gain in this scenario. Each of these stocks has a solid expected earnings growth rate for 2020 and has witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions in the past 60 days.You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Lets have a look at these stocks. Fluent, Inc.FLNT: This New-York based provider of data-driven digital marketing services primarily in the United States is well poised to gain from the coronavirus outbreak as people are spending more time indoor on various media platforms and streaming video services. This has increased digital media consumption. The stock is housed within the Zacks Advertising and Marketing industry, which currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #97. This rank places it in the top 38% of more than 250 Zacks industries. Story continues Currently, Fluent has a Zacks Rank #2. The companys expected earnings growth rate for 2020 is more than 100%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 EPS has moved up more than 100% in the past 60 days. FLUENT, INC. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise FLUENT, INC. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise FLUENT, INC. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | FLUENT, INC. Quote Headquartered in San Jose, CA, eBay Inc. EBAY one of the leading online retailers in the world is poised to gain from the pandemic since people are relying more on online stores under strict lockdowns across the globe. This stock is housed within the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, which currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #74. This rank places it in the top 29% of more than 250 Zacks industries. The company, carrying a Zacks Rank #2, is likely to see earnings growth of 8.5% in 2020. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 EPS has moved up 1.3% in the past 60 days. eBay Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise eBay Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise eBay Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | eBay Inc. Quote With proper disposal of used masks, gloves, suits, syringes and other medical equipment being a major concern for several countries across the globe to curb the spread of coronavirus, waste management companies stand to benefit from the current scenario. An emerging winner in this field is China Everbright International Limited CHFFF, a Hong Kong-based investment holding company, which provides environmental solutions in the People's Republic of China, Germany, Poland and Vietnam. This Zacks Rank #2 company belongs to the Zacks Waste Removal Services industry, which currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #86. This rank places it in the top 34% of more than 250 Zacks industries. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 6.9%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year EPS has moved up 2.2% in the past 60 days. CHINA EVERBRIHT Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise CHINA EVERBRIHT Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise CHINA EVERBRIHT price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | CHINA EVERBRIHT Quote Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020? Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys. Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report eBay Inc. (EBAY) : Free Stock Analysis Report CHINA EVERBRIHT (CHFFF) : Free Stock Analysis Report FLUENT, INC. (FLNT) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. * China cuts reverse repo rate * Oil prices tank * Euro zone banks start freezing dividends * STOXX 600 down 0.9% Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters. You can share your thoughts with Thyagaraju Adinarayan (thyagaraju.adinarayan@thomsonreuters.com), Joice Alves (joice.alves@thomsonreuters.com) and Julien Ponthus (julien.ponthus@thomsonreuters.com) in London. CORONA CRASH: WHO'S NECK AND NECK BEHIND THE TRAVEL SECTOR? (1133 GMT) With something like a third of mankind under lockdown and the rest of humanity largely subjected to some form of travel bans, it doesn't take a PhD in finance to guess which sector has suffered the most from the pandemic. In Europe, shares listed in the Travel and Leisure sector have lost over 45% year to date, which constitutes by far the worst performance. But who comes after as the second worst performer is a 'neck and neck race' so to speak. At the time of writing, three sectors have clearly being singled out by investors: autos with a ytd 40% fall, banks with 38.8% and oil and gas down 37.6%. There's bad news for every industry today with oil prices collapsing, euro zone banks freezing or scrapping dividend and car makers burning cash while production is halted and sales fall. Here's how it looks YTD: Another way to look at it is to see how each of these sectors performed since the February 19 highs. As you can see the race is close: (Julien Ponthus) ***** EZ SENTIMENT PLUNGE TRIGGERS MUTED MARKET REACTION (0950 GMT) We're all quickly getting used to unprecedented times, unchartered territories, epic volatility and all that jazz. So when at 0900 GMT, fresh data showed the euro zone sentiment suffered its steepest ever monthly decline in March, traders didn't lose it. Actually, looking at the STOXX 600 at that time, it's difficult to tell if they even noticed. (Julien Ponthus) ***** WHICH UK COMPANIES ARE STILL PAYING DIVIDENDS? (0854 GMT) A string of euro zone banks have just announced freezing or scrapping dividend payments after the ECB asked lenders to beef up capital cushions. In the meantime, more than 100 UK firms have postponed or cancelled some 4.2 billion pounds of dividend payments in March alone. When more and more firms are delaying or ditching dividend payments, the real question is: which companies do still pay them? In the UK, only nine companies have maintained dividend payments in the month to last Friday, says AJ Bell. Find below the list: Company Dividend payment held ( million) SSE 582.0 CCH 208.7 Berkeley Group 124.9 Vivo Energy 29.7 Reach 12.1 GCP Student Living 7.2 Supermarket Income REIT 3.5 Mattioli Woods 2.0 Tandem 0.3 TOTAL 970.4 The businesses involved are all very different, from a pan-European fizzy drink bottler to a housebuilder, from a utility to a media group..." says AJ Bell. What do they have in common? Here is AJ's view: * Relatively predictable and stable revenues streams or businesses that supply basic needs(food, utilities) * Plenty of cash at hand (net cash or robust balance sheets) * Good levels of interest cover and earnings cover * Interesting debt structure in terms of covenants, maturity (several years away), headroom for the firm to tap existing loans (Joice Alves) ****** OPENING SNAPSHOT: A MORNING BURST OF VOLATILITY (0743 GMT) Futures and cash markets are riding an early roller-coaster this morning with volatility all over the place! There were solid gains at the open but that just fizzled out in thin air in less than 10 minutes, showing that the Chinese repo move ain't gonna save the day after all. Oil prices tanking on the other hand are spooking investors out. Another 10 minutes later most European bourses were deeply in the red and so were most sectors at the exception of chemicals and healthcare. At 0720 GMT, the STOXX 600 was down 1.3%, Milan losing 2%, Paris 1.8% and the DAX 1%. Among individual stocks, a lot of British blue chips led by cinema operator Cineworld after the British authorities said it could take months before the economy could go back to 'normal'. (Julien Ponthus) ***** ON THE RADAR: THE WINTER DIVIDEND IS COMING (0640 GMT) It's a bit a song of ice and fire this morning: blue chips are burning cash like Daenerys Targaryen her enemies and investors have to come to terms with one of the only certainty of these troubled times: the dividend winter is coming! UniCredit became the first Italian bank to comply with the ECB call to put dividend and buybacks on hold to preserve beef up capital and support the economy. It was followed this morning by Dutch lenders ING and ABN Amro which said they would follow the advice of the ECB and suspend any payment of dividends until at least Oct. 1. One exception outside the EU in the banking sector is UBS Group which maintained its 2019 dividend. Apart from lenders, the pay-out freeze is still doing its thing with Sweden's SSAB dropping its dividend for 2019,a move that came less than a week after the steelmaker had halved its original payout proposal. In terms of fire, Volkswagen Chief Executive Herbert Diess told German TV channel ZDF his company was burning through $2.2 bln a week with production halted by the coronavirus pandemic. On that note Nissan just announced that its global vehicles sales fell by 24.2%. British fashion chain Next just cut off its remaining source of revenue and shut its online business, bowing to pressure from workers worried about their health. More companies joined in to warn investors about the recession with ABB saying all of its businesses would suffer in the first quarter. Other coronavirus led headlines for European equities include: * British accounting firm KPMG's chairman testing positive for the coronavirus * A new version of a breathing aid has been developed in less than a week by a team involving Mercedes Formula One, and is being tested at London hospitals. * Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals have expanded a clinical trial of their rheumatoid arthritis drug Kevzara as a coronavirus treatment to patients outside the United States. (Julien Ponthus) ***** MORNING CALL: STEADY AS SHE GOES (0533 GMT) European futures are trading in the black pre-market despite a difficult session in Asia where shares slipped and oil prices tanked as fears for the global economy lingered on despite the many fiscal and monetary stimulus plans implemented or pledged around the world. China on Monday became the latest to join in with a cut of 20 basis points in a key repo rate. U.S. futures have also cut their losses and are now firmly in positive territory. While investors were hoping that stock markets had reached a bottom in the coronavirus crisis, many analysts warn that the economic damage is likely to be deep and long-lasting. Sunday, a senior medical official said lockdown measures to combat coronavirus in Britain could last months and only be gradually lifted. (Julien Ponthus) ***** . (Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Joice Alves, Julien Ponthus and Thyagaraju Adinarayan) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 07:33:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Overseas Chinese look to WeChat for COVID-19 medical information, consultation. Eight doctors dispatched to Wuhan are using their spare time to reach out to the diaspora, and help them during this stressful time. A former Royal Marine, described as an 'incredible' human being, shot himself in the head while working in Afghanistan after suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an inquest has heard. Stuart McBrearty, 39, from Aldershot, Hampshire, who had been working for a private security firm at the Canadian Embassy in Afghanistan, was found dead in the shower of his accommodation in Kabul on October 17 last year. Described as 'a great man who had his demons', Mr McBrearty was plagued with dreams about combat and feared he would lose his job if his PTSD was ever discovered, a coroner was told today. Today, an inquest held at Winchester Crown Court, Hampshire, heard that Mr McBrearty was believed to have developed PTSD following tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. The former Royal Marine had been working as a security officer in Kabul, Afghanistan, last year. Pictured: General view of Kabul Hampshire Coroner Jason Pegg held the inquest via video-link because of the Covid-19 lockdown, with witnesses connecting from as far as Germany and Afghanistan. During the inquest, Mr Pegg said a post-mortem examination showed that Mr McBrearty, who carried a pistol at all times, had suffered a gunshot wound to the right temple with an exit wound to the left temple. He added that a toxicology report showed the 39-year-old was more than three times the drink-drive limit and also had therapeutic levels of diazepam, a drug used for depression and anxiety, in his system. The coroner said Mr McBrearty had served with the Royal Marines before leaving in 2013 to become a close protection officer and at the time of his death was working to protect the Canadian embassy in Kabul for the Olive Group, part of security firm Constellis. The inquest heard that the company had a zero-tolerance policy to alcohol but drink could be obtained in Kabul. Mr McBrearty's widow, Sophie Hughes, today paid tribute to her husband who she described as 'one of the most incredible people' she had ever met. Ms Hughes, who married Mr McBrearty in 2010, told the inquest: 'He was one of the most incredible people I have ever met. He was goofy, he was funny, always professional, but troubled. An inquest held at Winchester Crown Court (pictured), Hampshire, heard that Mr McBrearty had suffered a gunshot wound to the right temple 'The night before he died I spoke to him and he told me he had been drinking.' The court heard, in July 2019, just months before he died, Mr McBrearty sent a WhatsApp message to his wife which read: 'Last night I put my pistol to my head three times and unloaded it three times... 'I must find out what kept me from pulling the trigger... When I woke up this morning I just felt numb.' Mr Pegg said that, a month before his death, Mr McBrearty had visited psychiatrist Dr David Oyewole at the private Nightingale Hospital in London and told him that, during his periods of service in Iraq and Afghanistan, he had a 'number of horrific and frightening experiences'. He said this had involved members of Mr McBrearty's team 'being injured or killed' and Dr Oyewole diagnosed that Mr McBrearty had 'PTSD with possible superimposed depression'. He added that Mr McBrearty, who also had a difficult childhood, showed signs of being 'hyper-vigilant, extremely anxious' and suffered 'intense thoughts and dreams about combat'. Dr David Oyewole, who saw Mr McBrearty in August 2019, said: 'He said he felt more able to cope when on duty in the Middle East. 'He told me he had dreams about combat that had happened and also sometimes about combat that had not yet happened.' Mr Pegg added that Mr McBrearty's GP said he had been diagnosed with depression in 2000 and had taken a paracetamol overdose in 2003 and suffered a shrapnel wound to his backside in 2008. Colleague and friend Steven Ronald, who had been working with Mr McBrearty in Kabul at the time of his death, said: 'I knew him from work but we became good friends. Stu was the best. The best guy. 'He told me that he felt trapped and he had nowhere to move. He was very professional, but he kept a lot to himself.' Dr Adnan Al-Badri, who carried out the post-mortem on Mr McBrearty, found he had an entry wound on the right hand side of his temple and another exit wound on the left hand side. He concluded the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head. Last year, according to official figures, 58 former soldiers took their own lives, but many veterans charities believe the figure could be much higher. Coroner Jason Pegg concluded: 'This was someone who wanted to conceal the way he was feeling from his GP he wanted to conceal what was going on for fear of losing his new career in the close protection world.' He added: 'His PTSD was a result of his service in hostile environments. When he put the pistol to his head he knew what the outcome would be and therefore the appropriate conclusion is one of suicide. 'He was clearly a great man who had his demons, and those demons contributed to his death on October 17. 'When he put the pistol to his head he knew what the outcome would be and therefore the appropriate conclusion is one of suicide.' For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details A Wuhan doctor who was among the first to alert other medics to the spread of coronavirus has disappeared sparking concerns that she has been detained, reports suggest. Dr Ai Fen said she faced 'unprecedented, extremely harsh reprimanded' by officials at Wuhan Central Hospital after she shared a picture of a patient report labelled 'SARS coronavirus'. The image was widely circulated and made its way to whistle-blower Li Wenliang who raised the alarm about the bug, which has killed more than 41,000 people worldwide. Dr Li was reprimanded by authorities for 'illegally spreading untruthful information online'. Dr Ai gave an interview to a Chinese magazine criticising the hospital's management for dismissing the early warnings of the coronavirus but has not been seen since, 60 Minutes Australia reported. Dr Ai Fen - who went public over the spread coronavirus in Wuhan - has disappeared sparking concerns that she has been detained, reports suggest A woman wears a face mask while riding a scooter along the street in Wuhan after the government relaxed lockdown rules Officials wearing hazmat suits control an entrance to Biandanshan Cemetery in Wuhan After the show's investigation aired, a post on the doctor's Weibo account - a social media platform similar to Twitter - shared a picture with the caption: 'A river. A bridge. A road. A clock chime,' RFA reports. Her rumoured disappearance comes after criticism was levvied at the Chinese government for lying and covering up key information during virtually every stage of its coronavirus response. Beijing initially tried to cover up the outbreak by punishing medics who discovered it, denying it could spread person-to-person and delaying a lockdown of affected regions - meaning early opportunities to control the spread were lost. Then, once the virus began spreading, the Communist Party began censoring public information about it and spread disinformation overseas - including suggesting that US troops could have been the initial carriers. A man is seen in a protective mask overlooking the Yangtze River in Wuhan after the city was partially reopened Dr Ai Fen said she faced 'unprecedented, extremely harsh reprimanded' by officials at Wuhan Central Hospital after she shared a picture of a patient report labelled 'SARS coronavirus' Even now, prominent politicians have warned that infection and death totals being reported by the regime are likely to be wrong - with locals in the epicenter of Wuhan suggesting the true tolls could be ten times higher. In the interview prior to her alleged dissapearance, Dr Ai admitted 'feeling regretful about not speaking out more' after four of her colleagues, including Dr Li, had contracted the virus and died while fighting the outbreak. 'If I had known what would have happened today, I wouldn't have cared about the reprimand. I would have told whoever and wherever I want,' said Dr Ai. Dr Fen criticised the hospital bosses for dismissing the early warnings of the coronavirus in a feature article published online yesterday by Chinese magazine People The interview was posted on Tuesday but quickly retracted from social media by its publisher People (Renwu) Magazine. On 30 December, Dr Ai received a patient's report labelled 'SARS coronavirus'. She said she broke out into a cold sweat after reading the lab results several times. Ai Fen, whose text prompted whistle-blower Li Wenliang to sound the coronavirus alarm says her hospital punished her for sharing information on SARS-like disease last year The SARS epidemic 17 years ago infected more than 8,000 people worldwide and killed over 800, according to the World Health Organisation. The medic circled the word 'SARS' and sent a picture of the report to one of her former classmates and a group chat within her department. Dr Ai said she alerted hospital authorities about the case. 'Later that evening, the stuff was shared all over the place with screenshots of the report bearing my red circle,' she said. She added: '[These platforms] included the chatting group, which Li Wenliang shared the information with. I thought something bad is going to happen.' Two days later, the Wuhan medic was summoned by the head of the hospital's disciplinary inspection committee. Dr Ai said she faced 'unprecedented, extremely harsh reprimanded' and was accused of 'spreading rumours as a professional' by the hospital's officials. Li Wenliang, 34, succumbed to the deadly contagion in the early hours of Friday morning local time, despite attempts to resuscitate him. The ophthalmologist caught the public's attention after he was reprimanded by police and accused of spreading 'fake news' for warning on social media of 'SARS at a Wuhan seafood market.' Dr Zhu Heping (left) and Dr Mei Zhongming (right) both passed away after contracting the coronavirus while fighting the outbreak in February. They both worked with Li Wenliang 'I was in shock,' she continued. 'What did I do wrong? Knowing the fact that a significant virus has been found on a patient, how can I not tell when another doctor asks about it?' Ophthalmologist Li Wenliang was among eight people who shared Dr Ai's picture before being reprimanded by police and accused of spreading 'fake news' for warning the public of 'SARS at a Wuhan seafood market' on social media. The 34-year-old medic succumbed to the deadly contagion in the early hours of Friday morning local time despite attempts to resuscitate him. Three other doctors who worked along with late heroic whistle-blower Dr Li Wenliang have also died of the disease after contracting it while fighting the outbreak. Dr Ai said she doesn't think of herself as a whistle-blower: 'I was the one handing out the whistles.' 'This incident has shown that everyone needs to have their own thoughts because someone has to step up to speak the truth,' she added. 'The world needs different kinds of voices.' The original article has been removed from the magazine's Wechat account but web users have been posting screenshots of it online. Dr Liu, the head of Wuhan Wuchang Hospital at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, died of the disease at around 11am on February 18 after catching it at work, health officials confirmed The great cover-up of China: Beijing punished covid whistleblower, claimed it came from US and 'is STILL lying about death figures' - so what CAN we believe from them? China has lied and covered up key information during virtually every stage of its coronavirus response - from the initial outbreak to the number of cases and deaths, and is still not telling the truth, observers, experts and politicians have warned. Beijing initially tried to cover up the virus by punishing medics who discovered it, denying it could spread person-to-person and delaying a lockdown of affected regions - meaning early opportunities to control the spread were lost. Then, once the virus began spreading, the Communist Party began censoring public information about it and spread disinformation overseas - including suggesting that US troops could have been the initial carriers. Even now, prominent politicians have warned that infection and death totals being reported by the regime are likely to be wrong - with locals in the epicenter of Wuhan suggesting the true tolls could be ten times higher. Here, Mail Online analysis of Beijing's actions lays bare the great cover-up of China: Initial outbreak Doctors in China, including Li Wenliang, began reporting the existence of a new type of respiratory infection that was similar to SARS in early December last year. But rather than publicise the reports and warn the public, Chinese police hauled Wenliang and eight of his colleagues who had been posting about the virus online in for questioning. Wenliang, who would later die from the virus, was forced to sign a document admitting the information he published was false. While China has been widely-praised for a draconian lockdown that helped slow the spread of the virus, evidence suggests that the country could have acted much quicker to prevent the spread. Dr Li Wenliang, one of the first Chinese medics to report the existence of the new coronavirus, was forced by police to confess to spreading false data. He later died from the virus Samples analysed as early as December 26 suggested a new type of SARS was circulating, the Washington Post reported, but Wuhan was not locked down until January 22 - almost a month later. Wuhan's mayor also admitted an error that allowed 5million people to travel out of the city before the lockdown came into place without being checked for the virus, potentially helping it to spread. Chinese authorities have also been reluctant to had over information on the country's 'patient zero' - or the first person known to have contracted the virus. While Beijing claims the first infection took place on December 8, researchers have traced the virus back to at least December 1 and anecdotal evidence suggests it was spreading in November. A lack of information about the first patient has meant scientists are still unclear how the disease made the leap from animals into humans. Theories include that it could have been carried by a bat or pangolin that was sold at a market in Wuhan and then eaten by someone, but this has not been confirmed. Early reports Chinese authorities initially reported that the virus could not spread person-to-person, despite evidence that it was spreading rapidly through the city of Wuhan including doctors being infected by patients. This was used as justification for keeping the city of Wuhan operating as normal through a major CCP conference that was held between January 11 and 17, with authorities claiming zero new cases in this period. China did not confirm human-to-human transmission of the virus until late January, when large parts of Hubei province including Wuhan were put into lockdown. Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market (pictured), where the coronavirus pandemic is believed to have started, was one of the largest marketplace in Wuhan with throngs of customers daily Despite reporting the existence of a 'novel type of pneumonia' to the World Health Organisation on December 31, Wuhan's largest newspaper also made no mention of the virus until the week of January 20. That meant people in the city were not taking precautions such as social distancing to stop it spreading. It also meant that people had begun travelling for the Lunar New Year holiday, which was due to start on January 24 and sees millions of people visit relatives, spreading the virus further. Furthermore, China delayed reports suggesting that some 14 per cent of patients who initially tested negative for the virus or who appeared to have recovered tested positive a second time, only confirming such cases in February. That further hampered efforts at early containment of the virus in places such as Japan, where patients who tested negative on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship were allowed to leave - only to test positive later. Authorities in Beijing were also slow to report the deaths of two doctors from the virus, including one who was killed on January 25 but whose death was not reported by state media until a month later. The market was shut on January 1 after dozens of workers there had contracted the disease Origin of the virus Despite early admissions that the virus began in the city of Wuhan, China later back-tracked - even going so far as to suggest American troops had brought the infection over after visiting the province. Lijian Zhao, a prominent official within the Chinese Foreign Ministry, tweeted out the claim on March 12 while providing no evidence to substantiate it. 'When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals,' he wrote. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian accused American military members of bringing the coronavirus to Wuhan Referencing a military athletics tournament in Wuhan in October, which US troops attended, he wrote: 'It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. 'Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation!' In fact, America's 'patient zero' was a man who travelled from China to Washington State on January 15. The case was confirmed by the CDC six days later. Chinese has also tried to push the theory that the virus originated in Italy, the country with the most deaths, by distorting a quote from an Italian doctor who suggested the country's first cases could have occurred much earlier than thought. Zhao spread the theory in a tweet, while providing no evidence to back it up Giuseppe Remuzzi said he is investigating strange cases of pneumonia as far back as December and November, months before the virus was known to have spread. Chinese state media widely reported his comments while also suggesting that the virus could have originated in Italy. In fact, Remuzzi says, there can be no doubt it started in Wuhan - but may have spread out of the province and across the world earlier than thought. Infection total China has reported a total of some 82,000 infections from coronavirus, claiming a domestic infection rate of zero for several days in a row recently - even as it eased lockdown restrictions in placed like Hubei. But, by the country's own admission, the virus is likely still spreading - via people who have few or no symptoms. Beijing-based outlet Caixin reported that 'a couple to over 10 cases of covert infections of the virus are being detected' in China every day, despite not showing up in official data. Meanwhile foreign governments have heaped scorn on China's infection reporting cannot be trusted. Marco Rubio, a prominent Republican senator and former presidential candidate from the US, tweeted that 'we have NO IDEA how many cases China really has' after the US infection total passed Beijing's official figure. 'Without any doubt it's significantly more than what they admit to,' he added. Meanwhile the UK government has also cast doubt on China's reporting, with Conservative minister and former Prime Ministerial candidate Michael Gove claiming the Communist Party could not be trusted. 'Some of the reporting from China was not clear about the scale, the nature, the infectiousness of this [virus],' he told the BBC. Meanwhile sources told the Mail that China's true infection total could be anything up to 40 times as high as reports had suggested. Marco Rubio, a prominent Republican senator, has said that China's figures cannot be trusted and a far higher than has been reported Death total Doubt has also been cast on China's reported death toll from the virus, which currently stands at around 3,300. Locals in epicenter city Wuhan have been keeping an eye on funeral homes since lockdown restrictions were partly lifted, claiming they have been 'working around the clock' to dispose of bodies. China has reported 3,300 deaths from the virus, but social media users in Wuhan have suggested the toll could be in excess of 42,000 Social media posts estimate that 3,500 urns are being handed out by crematoriums each day, while Caixin reports that one funeral home in the city placed an order for 5,000 urns. Locals believe that efforts to dispose of the bodies began March 23 and city authorities have said the process will end on or around April 5. That would mean roughly 42,000 urns handed out in that time frame, ten times the reported figure. Chinese aid packages As it brought its own coronavirus epidemic under control and as the disease spread across the rest of the world, China attempted to paint itself as a helpful neighbour by sending aid and supplies to countries most in need - such as Italy. In fact, while the Chinese Red Cross supplied some free equipment to the Italians, the country purchased a large amount of what it received. Meanwhile officials in Spain said that a batch of coronavirus testing kits bought from China had just 30 per cent reliability - unlike the 80 per cent they were promised. China has said it is willing to help supply the world with much needed aid and supplies, but has been accused of hoarding protective equipment and selling test kits that don't work China is also the world's largest manufacturer of disposable masks of the kind being worn to slow the spread of the virus by people while out in public. But as the disease began gathering speed in the country in January, China began limiting exports of the masks while also buying up supplies from other countries, the New York Times reported. As well as halting virtually all exports of masks, China also bought up some 56million masks and respirators from overseas while fears of a pandemic were still far off. Despite reports from US mask manufacturers of factories in Shanghai being effectively nationalised, China denies it has any such policy in place and has said it is 'willing to strengthen international cooperation' on the issue. Louisiana's patients hospitalised for coronavirus and the number of patients on life-saving ventilators have doubled within the last five days, the state's governor has announced. The state also saw a one-day surge in more than 1,200 confirmed cases of Covid-19, a 30 per cent increase that brings the statewide total to more than 5,200. At least 239 people have died, including 54 newly reported deaths. Governor John Bel Edwards said that the increase has "put us firmly on the path to exceeding capacity to deliver healthcare" as the state's hospital systems brace for a surge in patients and dwindling resources to treat them. He told reporters on Tuesday: "There is no community that is free of the virus and free of the disease Covid-19." The governor has extended a statewide stay-at-home order through at least 30 April. At the Ernest N Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, which has seen a majority of the cases, the state has set up 1,000 hospital beds to be available 5 April. Another 1,000 beds will be available at the end of the month. Those beds will be used for patients moved from hospital care to help free up hospital beds and ventilators. The state also has received 292 ventilators from private vendors as well as 150 from the federal stockpile. More follows Governor Bill Lee said 25 companies and universities have made significant donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the state of Tennessee to assist health care workers and those on the front lines. He said, "These donations, in conjunction with the aggressive supply procurement of Unified-Command has enabled the administration to connect with all 95 counties, assess needs and mobilize supplies. "Companies and non-profits who are ready to help with supplies and other innovations are urged to contact Launch Tennessee. Since the announcement yesterday, Unified Commands partnership with Launch Tennessee has already netted 100 companies who are willing to get to work in fighting this pandemic." On the top of mental health and the pandemic, he said, "To serve individuals who need professional behavioral health help during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tennessees behavioral health providers and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services have been working closely over recent weeks to ensure seamless delivery of services. "These groups have been working to expand telehealth services, implement daily conference calls to address needs as they arise, and increase collaboration to procure necessary PPE for front-line mental health workers who continue to interface with patients. "The United States Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Tennessee a grant to provide mobile behavioral health care units for rural counties in East and West Tennessee. These mobile units will expand services Tennessee provides through partnerships with non-profits. Tennessees front-line crisis services system is well-equipped to meet the needs of Tennesseans. Available resources include a 24-7 crisis phone line (855-CRISIS-1 or 855-274-7471), mobile crisis for both adults and children and youth, crisis walk-in centers, crisis stabilization units, and crisis respite. "To meet the ongoing/non-emergency mental health needs of Tennesseans who are uninsured and have no means to pay, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and 15 community behavioral health providers offer the Behavioral Health Safety Net which meets the essential mental health needs of Tennesseans 18 years of age and older who are at or below 138 personal Federal Poverty Level. These vital services are available in all 95 counties." With ridership down as much as 45 percent on some routes because of COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions, VIA Metropolitan Transit announced Monday that beginning April 6, it will impose reduced Saturday schedules on its 96 routes. VIA will continue offering its buses free of charge until April 30. For most riders, the reduction in service means there wont be as many buses on the routes, often doubling wait times that were about 15 or 30 minutes. The Saturday schedules will be in effect Monday through Friday, while Saturday and Sunday schedules will remain largely unchanged. VIAtrans, for those with disabilities, and VIA Link, an on-demand app service for passengers on the Northeast Side, will continue to operate normally and will also be free through April 30. Some routes such as VIVA No. 11, 40 and 301 will not operate. On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus cases in San Antonio climb as city and county officials order shelter-in-place Despite the reduced service, VIA expects to be able to continue practicing social distancing on its buses. But VIA drivers say some routes, such as those on Fredericksburg and San Pedro, are still quite busy and may actually require more buses so as not to increase crowding. For more detailed information about how the changes affect each route, consult VIAs webpage or the VIA app. A VIA spokeswoman said that with about a 40 percent decline in the roughly 122,000 people using the buses each day, plus factoring in the free rides for April, VIA could expect to lose about $450,000 a week. In a normal month, VIA expects to collect about $1.8 million in fares. The bus agency is also funded through sales tax revenue, which is expected to decline dramatically. The reductions in service have been discussed for a few weeks, said Juan Amaya, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 694, which represents VIAs estimated 1,100 drivers and maintenance workers. On ExpressNews.com: VIA might cut San Antonio area bus service by 25 percent for driver safety Amaya said Monday that he is pleased that VIA has agreed to keep all the 700 to 800 drivers at full pay during the service reduction, even if they may drive less than a full weekly schedule. We are completely committed to public transportation during this crisis, Amaya said. He said about 120 of his most senior drivers would be the first ones allowed to go home with full pay if their routes get cut. These people have committed their lives to VIA, he said, and are also the oldest and most susceptible to the virus. Amaya is still concerned, however, that VIA is not providing protective masks for its drivers, whom he describes as very scared about infection from passengers despite VIAs efforts to frequently sanitize the buses and reduce contact with riders by removing the exchange of money. He said a small percentage of drivers are using their own masks. Late Monday, VIA officials said they were now considering the feasibility of making masks available to drivers. The union president, also a former driver, said he was unaware of any VIA driver who has tested positive for the COVID-19 disease, which is caused by the coronavirus. Should that happen, however, he advocated that VIA announce the positive test, though not disclose any names, and explain what routes the operator worked so passengers would be fully informed. When asked if VIA would commit to that protocol, a spokeswoman for the agency said: We will follow the rules and laws that govern these situations, including informing the appropriate government and health agencies, alerting staff and customers who may be affected, and taking all necessary steps that are in the interest of preserving public safety. bselcraig@express-news.net : Andhra Pradesh saw a jump in the number of coronavirus cases with 17 testing positive since Monday night, taking the overall tally to 40, the Medical and Health Department said in the latest bulletin. As many as 14 of the 17 new patients had attended the Jamat congregation in Nizamuddin area of New Delhi between March 13 and 15. While one person got afflicted upon his return from Medina, two others contracted it from a Mecca returnee in Karnataka. Prakasam district recorded the highest number of eight cases, followed by five in Guntur, two in Anantapuramu and one each in Krishna and East Godavari, the bulletin said. The bulletin said a total of 164 samples were tested since Monday night of which 147 turned negative. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vulcan forgoes some rents SEATTLE Vulcan Real Estate announced that it won't collect April rents from its retail and nonprofit tenants, owing to the coronavirus outbreak. The decision does not apply to commercial tenants in its office buildings, like Google, or residential tenants in its apartment buildings, like the new Helm and Mera in South Lake Union. Vulcan's Ada M. Healey said in a statement, We are part of the community that is navigating this extraordinarily difficult time We hope this action will help these small businesses weather the next phase of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis. The company estimates that about 40 tenants will benefit from the rent relief, including restaurants, hair salons, non-profits and others. Partnership gives Duck Creek customers access to proven business and functional expertise to drive faster time to production and deliver superior ROI BOSTON, March 31, 2020announced today that it has expanded its Partner Ecosystemprogram through a new relationship with Xceedance. A P&C-insurance-industry-focused consulting and managed services company, Xceedance works with insurers, MGAs, brokers, and reinsurers worldwide to launch new products, implement cutting-edge technologies, optimize workflows, and boost profitability. With an experienced staff of Duck Creek professionals and subject matter experts on hand as part of its global insurance practice, Xceedance helps to serve Duck Creek's growing international customer base. "Xceedance has clients on four continents, and our insurance-focused workforce is responsive to a wide range of insurer organizations in distinctive business ecosystems," said Amit Tiwari, chief technology officer at Xceedance. "Xceedance offers systems integration, configuration, and support services for the Duck Creek Platform. Our team offers deep product and industry knowledge for end-to-end implementations across specialty, commercial, and personal lines globally, and partnering with Duck Creek is a natural fit for us." Xceedance leverages the latest technologies to help insurers improve service, increase business, and grow revenue. Its insurance operations and technology experts deliver system implementations, process optimization, and manage product launches and functional workflow across all lines of insurance. As a Systems Integrator to both new and existing Duck Creek customers, the company offers a broad range of development and testing accelerators and frameworks for Duck Creek products, enhancing efficiency and enabling standardization during implementations. Those powerful accelerators help to enhance efficiency and standardization, for example by reducing forms development time by 40 percent. "The strength and value provided through our Systems Integrator Partner network has always been a competitive advantage for Duck Creek, and it continues to grow in importance as we work with an ever increasing number, and more diverse types, of insurers around the world," said Elizabeth Del Ferro, Vice President, Partner GTM at Duck Creek Technologies. "Xceedance brings industry expertise with all types of insurers in multiple markets around the globe and a substantial track record of success to the table, and Duck Creek is thrilled to welcome them into our rapidly-growing partner ecosystem." About Xceedance: Xceedance) is a global provider of strategic consulting and managed services, technology, data sciences and blockchain solutions to insurance organizations. Domiciled in Bermuda, with offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Liechtenstein, Germany, Poland, India, and Australia, Xceedance helps insurers launch new products, drive operations, implement intelligent technology, deploy advanced analytic capabilities, and achieve business process optimization. The experienced insurance professionals at Xceedance enable insurers, reinsurers, brokers, and program administrators worldwide to enhance policyholder service, enter new markets, boost workflow productivity, and improve profitability. About Duck Creek Technologies: Duck Creek Technologies is a leading provider of core system solutions to the P&C and General insurance industry. By accessing Duck Creek OnDemand, the company's enterprise Software-as-a-Service solution, insurance carriers are able to navigate uncertainty and capture market opportunities faster than their competitors. Duck Creek's functionally-rich solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite, and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand. For more information, visit www.duckcreek.com. Media Contact: Paul Rechichi Racepoint Global 617-624-3295 prechichi@racepointglobal.com This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? RIDGEFIELD Connecticut will break up the states nursing home population and send those who are sick to facilities designated only for residents who have been infected with the coronavirus. This is not something any of us ever thought would happen in our longterm care community, but these are unprecedented times, reads a letter sent to families of nursing home patients by the state health department. We must take immediate action to prevent and delay the further spread of COVID-19 to keep all residents and staff safe. The states decision means residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus will be transferred to designated nursing homes where they will be treated together, while residents who have tested negative for COVID-19 will be transferred to other nursing homes, according to a letter obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media. It was not immediately clear on Tuesday when the state would begin transferring sick patients, or where the state has designated the COVID-19 nursing homes. Nor was it clear what the state planned to do about assisted-living facilities such as Benchmark Senior Living at Ridgefield Crossing, where six former residents have died from coronavirus infections. On Sunday, that assisted-living home moved all patients who tested negative for the virus and transferred them to an off-site location. A top state health department official said Tuesday the state was working to establish designated coronavirus-positive nursing homes here and across the state where respiratory care could be concentrated rather than spread out. Across Connecticut, 213 nursing homes are licensed by the state health department, and serve about 20,000 residents. Many of those residents because of their age or health ailments are considered high risk to catch COVID-19, which has infected 3,100 people in Connecticut and killed 69 in March. The letter to families of nursing home patients said the decision was final and could last for months. This measured decision is the only option available at this time, reads the letter, signed by Mairead Painter, the states long-term care ombudsman, and Donna Ortelle, section chief of facility licensing and investigations for the state health department. This will be in effect for an unknown period of time, perhaps months, but will allow you to transfer back to your home when it has been determined that this separating of residents is no longer necessary. The letter acknowledged that transferring nursing home patients from one facility to another could be stressful and overwhelming for families. We understand this period of uncertainty and extra safety measures is incredibly challenging, the letter reads. Unfortunately, we are at a point in this pandemic that more extreme precautions need to be taken. Without giving specifics, the letter noted that, there have now been positive tests for the coronavirus (COVID-19) in many nursing homes across our state and, as we have learned from other areas of the country, to address the pandemic these necessary measures must begin and be taken as soon as possible. Washington state where three dozen COVID deaths were linked to a single senior living facility has been a cautionary tale for Connecticut and the rest of the nation. Health officials are battling the same problem across the tri-state area. In New Jersey, for example, the number of nursing homes with COVID-19 cases continues to climb, according to Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli. The state reports positive cases in 73 of its 375 facilities. Last week, the figure was just over a dozen, the Associated Press reported. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and difficulty breathing, that clears up within weeks. For the elderly and those with health problems, it can cause severe respiratory distress, including pneumonia or death. Worldwide, 750,000 cases of coronavirus were reported by mid-morning Tuesday, and more than 36,000 deaths. The United States, reported 163,000 cases more than anywhere else in the world and 2,800 deaths. The state health department letter said it was setting up video-conferencing meetings for families to visit with quarantined loved ones. Please remember it is normal to have questions, feel uneasy or even scared due to this unprecedented situation, the letter reads. We need to do things differently right now and will continue to offer support so that we can get through this together. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 The ridiculous triple-0 calls that time wasters have made to ambulance officers during the coronavirus pandemic have been revealed. The panic calls were played on KIIS FM with Kyle and Jackie O on Tuesday morning and included complaints about neighbours coughing and asking whether or not they should go to work due to the virus. NSW Ambulance Deputy Director of Control Maxine Puustinen said silly calls weren't helpful at this time, and pleaded with the community to only ring triple-O for emergencies. 'We have had a lot of calls in relation to coronavirus for a whole stack of reasons,' she said. 'A lot of people are ringing us concerned when they have not had any contact or any reason to be concerned.' Ambulance officials have endured a wealth of ridiculous calls in relation to the coronavirus, including one man who called triple-0 because his neighbour had been coughing (stock image) Another called to ask whether or not they should go to work or not. Pictured: two women travel on an empty train during peak hour in Redfern last week Ambulance officials have urged the public to leave triple-0 calls for emergencies only during the coronavirus outbreak. Pictured: an ambulance outside Royal North Shore Hospital in March 'What we're actually asking the public to do is to stay calm and ask themselves is it really an emergency or can they seek advice another way.' Ms Puustinen said ambulance officials have experienced an increase in calls from people with respiratory issues during the pandemic as people are nervous about contracting the deadly disease. Over 80% of coronavirus cases are mild and do not require emergency services and patients should transport themselves to clinics to be tested. The NSW Health coronavirus web page provides up to date information for the public regarding the cirus, while all calls regarding COVID-19 should be directed to the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080. Ms Puustinen urged the public to leave triple-0 calls exclusively for emergencies only. 'We really do need to consider that triple-0 is there for people who have medical emergencies or traumatic incidents and keep the lines there for those people so they are not delayed in getting an ambulance,' she said. Armenians from all walks of life, ranging from keyboard warriors and pundits of dubious credentials to commentators of some repute and politicians, appear to enjoy schadenfreude at the topsy-turvy state of affairs entrapping Kazakhstan. by Helena Xiang - Teresa Grazia Xiao Fear during the Lunar New Year. Then the shattering tragedy: elderly mourned dead children; nurses watched their parents die; people committed suicide throwing themselves from their balconies. Families disintegrated. People became homeless so as not to infect loved ones. The loss of hope and refuge in prayer. Wuhan (AsiaNews) - Helena Xiang and Teresa Grazia Xiao talk about the first moments of the epidemic crisis in Wuhan (Hubei), the epicenter of lung infection in China. From the joy of family reunions during the Lunar New Year, to the despair of the isolation imposed by the authorities to prevent the spread of the virus. The elderly who died on the streets. People who committed suicide by throwing themselves from the balconies of buildings to escape quarantine measures. The sick crowded in the corridors of hospitals, and the tragedy of doctors and nurses. Everything in those days in Wuhan spoke of death. Below part 1 or their story. The pandemic, and the media that speak about it, bring death closer to us. Now suffering, anxiety, struggle, anguish and hope are part of our daily lives. Cities are lockdown, villages closed, transport halted, streets silent: everything speaks of death. Never as in these days, has death been so palpably close and strong. It all began 70 days ago with the arrival of the Chinese New Year. China was bustling and vibrant in preparation for the festive season. People with so much joy, hope and so many plans were busy ahead of 10-15 days of vacation. Nobody could have imagined they would last such a long time, without ever knowing when these "forced vacations" would end. We have to stop and think about the ongoing epidemic: "Men consume the life of animals in cages; they burn the life of trees in fire; now they close their lives in concrete boxes." We are living through an unprecedented moment, with daily news of deaths. Nobody knows if they will be next, infected with the coronavirus, facing death. A rumor circulates on Wechat and many Chinese blogs. It is said that every citizen is asked three questions when they leave the house or return: Where are you from? where are you going? Who are you?". When stopped for a police check, your temperature is measured and you have to fill in a form with these three questions. On January 15th, Wuhan citizens were alerted to the virus. On the 16th, the newspapers reported two people who died from pneumonia. The city residents would joke that the world was panicking, but they are calm. When the first disturbing data emerged on 19th, everyone understood that it was serious. On the 23rd, New Year's Eve, the vast majority of Chinese returned home to their families; then, the authorities announced the isolation of Wuhan and the suspension of all public transport. Although every family had already plenty of food stocked up for the celebration, the sudden closure of the city created panic: people were worried about their health and daily needs. On New Year's Eve, traditionally, Chinese families prepare the dishes for dinner, the midnight banquet and breakfast on the first day of the new year. Jiaozi (ravioli) are the most popular dish, because they can be prepared together by all family members: someone rolls the pasta, others mix the filling and still others shape them. In the meantime, everyone talks about what they have done in the year that is coming to a close, and they share the dreams and plans for the year that is to come. However, this year the discussion was dominated by fears over the epidemic. People have no desire to see the shows scheduled for the celebrations, especially in Wuhan. We turned on the TV, but only to create background noise. Medicines are in short supply, and masks cannot be purchased. Concerned, but also a little reassured, Helena and I discover that the New Years Eve, several medical rescue teams, with hundreds of doctors and nurses, flew from Shanghai to Wuhan by plane. Holy Mass was not celebrated on New Years, but many families said the rosary. Prayer ceremonies immediately appeared on the internet. We prayed for a first novena. From that moment on, we never stopped, reaching the 10th novena. On January 26, when nationwide it was no longer possible to leave the house, Pope Francis' prayer for the Chinese gave us great comfort. Meanwhile, every day, more than a dozen priests and lay people posted homilies, poems and liturgical songs on Wechat. Yet outside Wuhan, people still did not perceive the danger. In Chengdu (Sichuan), the real emergency was the earthquake those days. There city was hit on February 3 by a 4.7 magnitude shock. Locals initially joked, but that was a tragedy that added to the other two: the epidemic in Hubei and the bird flu in Changsha. However, it was also during this most difficult time, when people could not leave their house that Wuhan's air became cooler, without the usual haze. You could admire the blue sky and the bright sun. People seemed calmer and more in harmony with each other. More books were read, the dialogue between parents and children grew; the children began to show respect for the elderly. People were scared, but there was confidence: our sick city could heal. The epidemic then began to worsen, and death appeared closer. Many tragic events happened in the building where Helena lives. An 80-year-old elderly man was infected and could not be hospitalized, as well as a married couple. The inhabitants of the building were frightened and constantly called the mayor and the emergency room. Helena's cousin, who lives in another area of the city, also got sick: she had a fever, but again there was no place in the hospital. Helena sought help online, phoned the mayor, but without success. After 10 days, the elderly gentleman died, and the couple was hospitalized. Helena's cousin stayed at home and was treated by a doctor who is an expert in traditional medicine: luckily she recovered, and to continue taking care of her mother who is ill with cancer. Tales of death also come from nearby neighborhoods. An old woman died while dragging herself along the street. A 90-year-old gentleman queued for five days and five nights to hospitalize his 65-year-old son, without success. Many had a high fever, but they were not diagnosed with coronavirus. They were not hospitalized, but they dared not go home. Refused even by hotels, they were forced to wander around Wuhan like homeless people. There was no food, no medicine and many - especially the elderly - do not know how to ask for help. Some gave in to despair and committed suicide by throwing themselves from the windows of the buildings: many of these images have circulated online and Wechat. In the meantime, hospitals were filling up. The hospitalized people also died in the corridors. Then the doctors and nurses began to die. Death made no distinction, it affected famous professors, artists, directors and entire families alike. A nurse saw her parents die in the hospital where she served. After the tragedy, rather than going back to the empty house, she preferred to stay and treat the patients in the hospital: "When I help the sick - she said - I forget everything". Another nurse worked for 25 days straight. One day she went home to have a bite to eat. Her husband and son prepared something that she then ate outside the house, without even going in, for fear of infecting them. A patient shouted that she wanted to commit suicide: she was asymptomatic, and had infected her parents, her husband and her six-month-old son. She felt like a sinner: for her, living no longer had any meaning. A girl, on her knees, despaired at her father's death: "Daddy, why can't I see you or touch you?" Then there is the tragedy of the rescuers. In a message on Wechat, a policeman assigned to control highway exits said he was forced to wear already used masks, to sleep in the office so as not to infect loved ones at home. Officials and members of the Communist Party are drafted in to control the streets. In these first days of isolation, people were in great difficulty. They felt helpless, lonely, depressed, angry and scared. They were in the grips of anxiety and saw no way out of the situation. They didnt want to do anything: just to explode. (End of Part 1) Passersby wearing protective face masks are reflected on a screen displaying stock prices outside a brokerage, Tokyo, Japan, on March 17. Reuters Japan once appeared to be avoiding a full-blown epidemic, but the country has recently seen a large increase in coronavirus cases. Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said the Japanese government failed to adequately address the viral outbreak, putting the now-cancelled 2020 Olympics above the health of citizens. In Tokyo, two viral clusters were discovered Sunday. They could be a sign that the outbreak will soon worsen. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Earlier this month, Japan appeared to have the novel coronavirus epidemic well-contained. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the country reported zero cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, on March 11 and again less than a week later, on March 15. But by March 24, when Tokyo called off the 2020 Olympics, the virus was spreading rapidly. In Tokyo alone, Monday marked the biggest daily increase in COVID-19 cases since the epidemic began: 68 people tested positive on Sunday, March 29, according to Reuters, which cited local media. In total there have been 1,866 confirmed cases across Japan. Concerns about containment, and COVID-19 clusters, are surfacing Just three days after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe decided to delay this year's Olympics, Japan saw its biggest daily increase as a country: at least 225 cases emerged March 27, according to Johns Hopkins data. Some concerns have emerged about the country's containment measures, and there is speculation that mitigation strategies were delayed in order to quell fears about hosting the Olympics during an outbreak. "In order to make an impression that the city was taking control of the coronavirus, Tokyo avoided making strict requests and made the number of patients look smaller," tweeted former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, whose administration Abe once called "a nightmare". "The coronavirus has spread while they waited," Hatoyama added. "[For Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike] it was Olympics first, not Tokyo's residents." Story continues A day after the Olympics was postponed, Gov. Koike said Tokyo residents should stay home on weekends until at least mid-April, Japan Times reported. "To avoid an overshoot in infections, the cooperation of Tokyo residents is critical. I ask you to act with a sense of crisis," she said. Tokyo's residents may face an increased risk of infection: at least two viral clusters have recently emerged, according to local broadcaster NHK. More than 20 cases were confirmed in a hospital in Taito, an eastern Tokyo ward that has already seen many staff and patient infections. Another cluster was reported in a home for people with disabilities in Chiba prefecture, near Tokyo. Sunday saw 28 confirmed cases there. Japan is currently only testing people with symptoms, and those connected to clusters. As in the US, the stringent testing requirements reflect officials' concern that widespread testing would overwhelm the healthcare system. But the clusters signal that the outbreak could worsen in the immediate future. "Once infections overshoot, our strategy will instantly fall apart," Abe said, adding that Japan's health crisis could soon be comparable to the US or Europe's. "Under the current situation, we are just barely holding up." Last week Abe convened a task force to consider declaring a state of emergency. People should "be prepared for a long battle," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider Confused about the coronavirus? Read our explainer here. Looking for medical resources in Casper? Find a list of them here. In need of financial assistance? We've got you covered here. Want to know what's closed or canceled? Browse our rundown here. Trying to order delivery or takeout in Casper? Here are your options. President Trump's conversations with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping led to the State Department backing off calling the coronavirus the 'Wuhan virus' and the Chinese virus.' On Tuesday, The Daily Beast reported how Xi was able to get Trump to make an about-face and it consisted of one main tactic - flattery. In a phone call last week, Xi told Trump he was 'decisive, strong, and successful,' according to the Beast, in his handling of the health and economic crisis created by the coronavirus pandemic. President Trump has changed his tune on calling the coronavirus the 'Chinese virus.' The Daily Beast reported Tuesday that he was flattered out of it by Chinese President Xi Jinping President Trump spoke with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, last week by phone and has changed his rhetoric explicitly blaming China for the coronavirus outbreak Prior to the leaders' conversation, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was calling the coronavirus the 'Wuhan virus' Xi's compliments came as Trump's sluggish response has been criticized by a number of public officials, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Even public polling showed that 58 per cent of Americans believed he was too slow to react during the onset of the virus. Prior to their conversation, Trump had been using China - and the country's secrecy over the virus - as a convenient scapegoat. The president and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would use the terms 'Wuhan virus' and 'Chinese virus' in their public remarks. Earlier this month, Trump was even caught by a photographer in the White House briefing room having changed the working of his prepared remarks with a Sharpie to say 'China virus' instead. And both Trump and Pompeo pushed back on the assertion that the term was racist. 'It's not racist at all,' the president said at the March 18 White House press briefing. 'Not at all. It comes from China, that's why. It comes from China. I want to be accurate.' But in recent days, according to the Beast, the president told multiple officials that Xi had assured him that the Chinese government would not lie about the number of cases coming out of Wuhan. 'For a long time, the president has enjoyed an epic bromance with Xi,' one senior official told the website. 'If I were them, I would be doing the same thing. Why wouldn't you try to leverage that relationship with a [U.S.] president who goes on TV so many times to say how great he thinks your guy [Xi] is.' Trump's change of heart has impacted the State Department's rhetoric on China as well. Recent cables show the virus being called 'COVID19' or 'COVID' instead of 'Wuhan virus,' according to the Beast. 'There's an understanding that the department - and the administration as a whole - is going to back away from that terminology,' a senior Trump official told the publication. From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. Much is unknown about the disease COVID-19. But health experts say they do know this: Age makes a big difference as to whether a person infected with the new coronavirus lives or dies. The reason is something called reserve capacity. The Associated Press spoke with several doctors about the subject. One of them is Richard Baron, an expert in health care for older adults. He heads the American Board of Internal Medicine, a non-profit group. Baron notes that at age 18, you have a lot of extra lung capacity you dont use unless youre running a long race. He said that the ability of our lungs to process the air we breathe decreases with age, even in healthy people. So, the lungs of older men and women do not have this extra capacity. If youre an old person, said Baron, even a mild form (of COVID-19) can overwhelm your lungs if you dont have enough reserve. How does COVID-19 affect the lungs? The new coronavirus is like most respiratory viruses. It affects the movement of air into and out of the lungs. The virus is spread by droplets from an infected persons mouth when they cough. Or the droplets can come from their nose when they sneeze. Most people who get COVID-19 experience mild to moderate symptoms like coughing and high body temperature, or fever. These people generally recover. With other people, the virus gets deep into the lungs and causes a severe infection: pneumonia. Recently, American doctors studied 121 chest scans of COVID-19 patients. These images were provided by doctors in China. The American doctors work for New Yorks Mount Sinai Health System. They saw something unusual in the images. Healthy lungs look mostly black on medical scans. This is because they are full of air. An early infection with bacterial pneumonia shows up on chest CT scans as cloudy in part of a lung. Adam Bernheim works as a radiologist at Mount Sinai. He notes that in people who get COVID-19 pneumonia, these cloudy areas seem to form on the outside edge of both lungs, by the rib bones. As the infection worsens, the clouds form rounded clusters and slowly turn white. For the patient, breathing becomes difficult. Aimee Moulin works as an emergency care specialist at the University of California Davis Medical Center. She told the AP that when a patient reaches this point, the best treatment we have is supportive care. By that she means helping a person to breathe when the oxygen levels in the patients blood starts to drop. For some people, it is enough to have oxygen sent through a face mask or tubes in the nose. However, the very sick will need a breathing machine, also called a ventilator. The goal is to keep the person alive until the disease takes its course and the lungs begin to heal, explained Neil Schachter, another doctor at Mount Sinai. Doctors say that the very worst cases develop a condition called A-R-D-S, or ARDS. This is short for acute respiratory distress syndrome. At this point, the lungs fill with fluid. Dr. Baron says that this is the bodys natural defense system trying its best to fight the infection by attacking the lung. What else is impacted? Severe pneumonia can lead to organ damage. Last week, Chinese doctors told members of the American College of Cardiology to watch for additional problems in severe COVID-19 cases. The Chinese doctors warned to be especially watchful with people who have heart disease. The worst off may need blood thinning drugs as their blood starts to harden, blocking passages. Also, the heart may suffer damage from the lack of oxygen and from inflammation in the body. The Chinese doctors gave other warnings. They noted that age is not the only risk factor. Medical records from China show that 40 percent of people who required critical care had other health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes. Can lungs recover from COVID-19? Doctors say it is too soon to know about any lasting trouble for patients who recover from COVID-19. The World Health Organization has said that it can take three to six weeks to recover from a severe case of the disease. But it could take months to get back to normal activity after any form of severe pneumonia. This is especially true if the person also had earlier health problems. Doctors say that recovery depends, in part, on how long someone was on a breathing machine. For people who had to stay on such a machine for four weeks, experts say it can take six months to a year to completely heal. And thats the Health & Lifestyle report. Im Anna Matteo. The Associated Press reported this story. Anna Matteo adapted the for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Quiz - How Covid-19 Affects the Lungs Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story reserve n. a supply of something that is stored so that it can be used at a later date capacity n. the ability to hold, receive or store something overwhelm to defeat (someone or something) completely cough v. to force air through your throat with a short, loud noise often because you are sick symptom n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present inflame v. to cause (a part of your body) to grow sore, red, and swollen inflammation n. a condition in which a part of your body becomes red, swollen, and painful radiologist n. a doctor that specializes in a branch of medicine that uses some forms of radiation (such as X-rays) to diagnose and treat diseases take its course idiom : to allow something to happen without trying to control it Twenty-four people, who took part in a religious congregation at Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz in Nizamuddin West earlier this month, have tested positive for coronavirus, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Tuesday. Talking to reporters at his residence, he said, "700 people who attended this congregation have been quarantined, while around 335 people have been admitted to hospitals." Jain said the screening of all those who participated in the event is being conducted by the government. After the matter came to light, the Centre and the Delhi government swung into action to trace people who attended the congregation. Six people from Telangana and one from Jammu and Kashmir, who attended the event, died due to coronavirus. The Delhi Police has cordoned off a major area in Nizamuddin West Over 2,000 delegates attended the congregation from March 1-15. Nationals from the UK and France are among 281 foreigners out of 1,830 people who were found by the police in the last two days at the Markaz that became a key source of coronavirus spread in the country, officials said. In last one month, at least 8,000 people, including foreigners visited the premises of the Markaz, and most of them either returned to their respective places or were in other Markaz facilities across the country, thereby having a link to some positive cases in those states, they said. India is also likely to blacklist 300 foreign nationals who attended the event for violating visa norms, the officials said. Meanwhile, AAP MLA Atishi sought strong action against Markaz authorities. "Strong action should be taken against the administrators of the Nizamuddin Markaz who organised a 3-day religious gathering, with 1000s of people from March 13-15, when Delhi government orders had expressly forbidden gatherings or more than 200 persons on 13th March itself," the Kalkaji MLA said in a tweet. "Moreover, notification by Delhi government on March 12 stated that anyone with a travel history from COVID-19 affected countries has to self-isolate, then why did the administrators of the Markaz not ensure isolation of residents coming from those countries," she asked. Atishi also targeted the Delhi Police, asking why no action was taken by it. "What action did Delhi Police take against the large religious gathering at the Nizamuddin Markaz from March 13-15, when there were orders from Delhi govt prohibiting gatherings of more than 200 people? Strong action needs to be taken by MHA against concerned police officers," she said. In another tweet, she tagged a screenshot to show the distance between Nizamuddin police station and the Nizamuddin Markaz. She was joined by her party colleague and Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan. Khan said on March 23, at midnight, he spoke to DCP (southeast) and ACP Nizamuddin that there were nearly 1000 people stranded in and around the Markaz, then why did the police not make any arrangement to move them. The Markaz in a statement said it has not violated any provision of law and offered its premises for setting up a quarantine facility. The statement referred to the directive of the Delhi government to take legal action against the Markaz administration. "During this entire episode, Markaz Nizamuddin never violated any provision of law, and always tried to act with compassion and reason towards the visitors who came to Delhi from different states. It did not let them violate the medical guidelines by thronging ISBTs or roaming on streets," the statement said. "Visitors/guests/devotees/worshippers from across the globe throng the place for pre-scheduled programmes and all the programmes are decided a year in advance in order to facilitate visitors from far-off places to plan their participation," it said. The statement said when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the 'Janata Curfew' on March 22, the ongoing programme was discontinued immediately, but a large number of people were stuck in the premises due to the closure of railway services on March 21. "Before the Janta Curfew could be lifted at 9 pm, the Delhi chief minister announced lockdown of Delhi beginning at 6 am on March 23 till March 31, thereby further diminishing any chances of these visitors availing road transport for their journey back home," the statement said. The statement said around 1,500 people left the Markaz on March 23 by "availing whatever transport was available". On the evening of March 23, the prime minister announced a nationwide 21-day lockdown, the statement said, adding there was no option for Markaz Nizamuddin but to accommodate the stranded visitors with prescribed medical precautions. On March 24, a notice was issued by SHO of the Hazrat Nizamuddin police station seeking closure of Markaz premises. The Markaz responded to the notice the same day by stating that around 1,000 visitors belonging to different states and nationalities were present in Markaz while 1,500 had left. It had also requested the SDM of the area to issue vehicle passes so that the remaining people could be sent back to their native places outside of Delhi, the statement said. Residents of the area accused the administration and police of not heeding their complaints about a large number of people converging at the Markaz amid the coronavirus outbreak. Sheikh Mohammad Umar, the secretary of Nizamuddin West Resident Welfare Association, claimed the RWA had brought the issue to the notice of the SDM, local police and SDMC but "nothing happened". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RICHMOND As college students in Virginia finish the semester with classes online, universities are giving them extra flexibility for how theyll get credit. Colleges across the state are rolling out new pass/fail grading options for the spring semester, a move aimed at helping to make sure students are able to complete classes as the coronavirus pandemic forces higher education to encounter the unknown. Its a move happening across the country, even garnering its own hashtag on Twitter: #PassFailNation. We recognize that the day-to-day turmoil and uncertainty is stressful; conditions students and faculty are facing vary widely both in dealing with the COVID-19 threat and in managing remote learning, University of Richmond Provost Jeffrey Legro said. The university announced on March 20 that it was enacting temporary academic policies to address our unparalleled conditions, Legro said. Those policies include a special notation on transcripts to remind future readers of the extraordinary circumstances students faced as they completed their studies this semester. Theyre highlighted, though, by giving students the option to receive a standard A-F letter grade or to simply get credit or no credit. Students with a D-, D, or D+, though, will receive credit with a D. The credit option grades wont be factored into calculating a students grade point average, the university said, but those who choose a standard letter grade would have those grades count as they normally do in their GPAs. Students can choose from the different options until April 24, the last day of classes. The aim of these options is to allow students flexibility in deciding what makes most sense for them in these exceptional and fluid circumstances, Legro said. Virginia Commonwealth University is also giving students leeway. Provost Gail Hackett and Interim VCU Health CEO Peter Buckley announced Thursday a new pass/fail option, also giving students the choice between a standard letter grade and the pass/fail grade. Students will have until May 15 to decide, meaning theyll be able to see their final grades for each course before making a decision. The pass option wont be factored into a students GPA, the university said, but the fail option will. The change came with the support of VCU faculty. Due to the near-instantaneous move from on-campus instruction to remote/online instruction, many faculty and students have been placed into unfamiliar environments for instruction and learning, a resolution passed by the faculty senate last week reads. A spokeswoman for Randolph-Macon College in Ashland said the school is discussing increased flexibility. Spokespeople for Virginia State University and Virginia Union University did not return requests for comment. At Virginia Tech, students can have an A-F grade or choose from three credit options similar to the University of Richmonds: CC for credit equivalent to a C- or better; CD for credit equivalent to a D; CN for credit equivalent to a failing grade. Provost Cyril Clarke said students dont need to make an immediate decision on the grading. As they continue their spring 2020 courses online, they will have adequate time to acclimate to the online environment and then can make informed and appropriate decisions in consultation with their advisers, Clarke said. We will provide specific guidelines and instructions on the timeline and process for choosing grade options in the near future. Wes Hester, a spokesman for the University of Virginia, said the default grading system for undergraduate schools and most graduate schools where work this semester isnt done is credit or no credit. He added that students, like at other Virginia colleges, will have the option to receive a letter grade. We are currently developing a way for students to make that selection in the Student Information System and well be providing details to students directly within the next week, Hester said. More than half of revellers claim to be high on psychedelics after taking fake pills, scientists have found. Researchers gave 33 volunteers a placebo while telling them that it was instead a drug similar to magic mushrooms. They then monitored the participants in a fake dance party setting where secret actors were pretending to have taken psychedelics. Almost two-thirds of participants reported feeling some kind of effect from the placebo from feeling 'heavy' to seeing paintings move. The findings may help in tackling of depression, for which real psychedelics drugs have been recently proposed as a treatment. Scroll down for video More than half of revellers claim to be high on psychedelics after taking fake pills, scientists have found. (stock image) 'These results may help explain "contact highs" in which people experience the effects of a drug simply by being around others who have consumed it,' said paper author and cognitive anthropologist Samuel Veissiere of Canada's McGill University. In their study, Professor Veissiere and colleagues recruited 33 participants, who had been told they were taking part in a study on the effect of drugs on creativity. The participants were each given a placebo pill, but were told that the tablet contained a drug that resembled the active ingredient in magic mushrooms one that would cause them to experience a change in consciousness. They then spent four hours in a room that had been decked out like a psychedelic rave complete with coloured lights, trippy paintings and a DJ. To make the drug party setting more believable, the researchers also included a security, psychiatrists and ten research assistants in white lab coats. Finally, among the participants were several actors who had been trained to act out the gradually increasing effects of the psychedelic drug that the volunteers had been told they had been given. The researchers wanted to see if participants would experience placebo effects if they thought that everyone had consumed psychedelic drugs. Researchers gave 33 volunteers a placebo while telling them that it was instead a drug similar to magic mushrooms. They then monitored the participants in a fake dance party setting where secret actors were pretending to have taken psychedelics At the end of the study period, 61 per cent of the participants claimed that they had felt some effect from the placebo. These ranged from mild symptoms to effects resembling the taking of a moderate-to-high dose of an actual drug although such varied among individuals. Some participants, for example, said that they saw the paintings on the walls 'move' or 'reshape' themselves. Others described feeling "heavy... as if gravity [had] a stronger hold", while another participant described experiencing a 'come down' before another 'wave' hit her. 'Our study helps shed light on the "placebo boosting" component inherent in all medical and therapeutic intervention, and the social influences that modulate these enhancing effects,' said Professor Veissiere. 'Placebo effects may have been under-estimated in psychedelic studies,' he added. 'The current trend towards "micro-dosing" (consuming tiny amounts of psychedelic drugs to improve creativity), for example, may have a strong placebo component due to widespread cultural expectations that frame the response.' Can magic mushrooms help fight depression? Professor David Nutt, at Imperial College London, is among the leading academics looking into whether a chemical contained in magic mushrooms could be used to help fight - or even cure - depression. The psilocybin mushroom, commonly known as a magic mushroom, is a Class-A drug that has hallucinogenic effects when eaten. The psilocybin produced by the mushroom can broken down into psilocin, a chemical which academics believe could be used to treat depression. Professor Nutt led a study in which 20 people with 'treatment resistant depression' - depression that has not responded to at least two other forms of treatment - were given an extracted form of psilocin in a controlled environment. Results of these trials show it has had a positive effect in a very small group, with some even being classed as being 'cured' of depression. Professor Nutt explained this is because the psilocin allows the brain to break down established pathways and form new ones. Speaking on BBC Wales documentary Charlotte Church: Inside My Brain said: 'Under psilocybin the brain can make connections which the brain hasn't been allowed to make since childhood. 'We believe that by breaking down those old connections, and making new connections, is why people overcome their depression. 'Depression is a way of thinking that gets very deeply embedded. People ruminate, they think the same negative thought all the time. 'By disrupting those thought processes, we can allow people to escape from it.' Advertisement 'The study reinforces the power of context in psychedelic settings,' said paper author and psychiatrist Jay Olson, also of McGill University. 'With the recent re-emergence of psychedelic therapy for disorders such as depression and anxiety, clinicians may be able to leverage these contextual factors to obtain similar therapeutic experiences from lower doses.' This, he added, 'would further improve the safety of the drugs.' The full findings of the study were published in the journal Psychopharmacology. A man has been charged after a woman was killed when she was run over by a garbage truck in Sydney's west. The 61-year-old woman died at the scene after being hit by the vehicle in Doonside while she was crossing the road at about 7am on Tuesday. Emergency services rushed to Crawford Road following reports of a crash. A woman has died after being run over by a garbage truck in Sydney's west The 54-year-old driver was taken to Blacktown Hospital for mandatory testing and officers from Blacktown City Police Area Command established a crime scene. The man was arrested and taken to Blacktown Police Station where he was interviewed by police. Following inquiries he was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, driving dangerously, negligent driving occasioning death and not keeping left of a dividing line. He was granted bail to appear before Blacktown Local Court on Tuesday, April 7. Advertisement Dozens of people have been moved on from one of Sydney's busiest parks as police crack down on residents who are still failing to observe social-distancing rules in the face of fines of up to $11,000. Five police cars drove through Rushcutters Bay Park, in the city's east on Tuesday to disperse crowds during the coronavirus outbreak, while at beaches nearby crowds of sunbathers were also told to move on. The officers did not leave their cars while telling groups sitting on the grass they were violating the new public health restrictions. Those who were exercising in the park were allowed to stay. Sydney's eastern suburbs has emerged as Australia's coronavirus epicentre with 140 cases in Waverley, 79 in Woollahra and two large clusters of cases - one involving backpackers at the Bucket List bar in Bondi. Pictured: Police arrive at Rushcutters Bay Park to enforce social distancing rules Young people kick a soccer ball while other sunbathe on the grass at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Tuesday New restrictions on gatherings and movements which ban people from leaving home without a reasonable excuse, but this did not deter sunbakers at Mackenzies Bay (pictured) The police patrol follows new restrictions on gatherings and movements which ban people from leaving home without a reasonable excuse. In footage taken by Sky News, one sunbather lying on the grass texting was forced to leave when a police car came within metres of his face. What can you be fined $11,000 for in New South Wales? Under an emergency directive signed by NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard, people can be fined $11,000 and/or be be jailed for six months for breaking strict social-distancing rules. Examples of 'reasonable excuses' listed in the emergency directive are: obtaining food or other goods and services, travelling for the purposes of work or education if the person cannot do it at home, exercise, or medical or caring reasons. People are also stopped from gathering in a public place with more than one other person. Exceptions to the gathering rule include: gatherings of members of the same household, and gatherings essential for work or education. Advertisement There are 2,032 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New South Wales and Sydney's eastern suburbs has been identified as a hotspot for infection. All public gatherings of more than two people were banned from Monday and police are allowed to issue fines to people who break the rules. But backpackers and locals appeared to ignore the government's orders on Tuesday by congregating on the grass hill at Bondi Beach. Young people were soaking up the sun, kicking around a soccer ball and sitting together in groups despite the government advising all residents to stay at home. Beachgoers were also moved on from the rocks at nearby Mackenzies Bay. The crowds came just hours after NSW Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant confirmed a cluster among backpackers at Bondi Beach. The government was forced to close the iconic beach after thousands of beachgoers ignored social distancing rules and flocked to the sand on March 15. There was also a party held in Bondi that same weekend, when the tougher social distancing rules were introduced. Coronavirus testing in the eastern suburbs will now increase because of the outbreak. 'There is a potential risk that other members of the community may have come in contact with infected backpackers,' Dr Chant said. Groups of young people appeared to ignore the government's social distancing rules by gathering at Bondi Beach on Tuesday Crowds of sunbakers are spotted on the rocks at Mackenzies Bay in Sydney's east on Tuesday 'We have had a small number of cases in that community where there aren't obvious links, but a plausible explanation is they have come into contact with an infected backpacker before that backpacker was aware they had COVID-19. 'Out of an abundance of caution we want to increase testing rates and introduce some pop-ups to increase our testing.' Sydney's eastern suburbs has been identified as one of the state's hotspots for coronavirus infections, with 140 in Waverley and 79 in Woollahra by the end of March 30. 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 NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian implored people to remain home unless it was essential to go out. People in their 20s and 30s were the worst offenders when it came to flouting social isolation rules, she added. 'What's of concern to all of us is the unknown, that level of community-to-community transmission,' she said. 'That's the real threat - people walking around without symptoms, not realising they have this disease.' NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller warned police would no longer issue cautions for those flouting self-isolation rules and instead hand out $1,000 on-the-spot fines. Some 13 fines have already been issued. Police can also arrest and charge people who repeatedly ignore health orders, which could incur a maximum penalty of six months in prison. A NSW Police spokesperson said: 'Commissioner Fuller has made clear the intention of the NSW Police Force to enforce all ministerial directions related to COVID-19.' 'The ministerial directions, which give detail on inclusions and exclusions, are available on the NSW Health website.' Sunbakers leave their spots on the rocks after being asked to move on at Mackenzies Bay in Sydney on Tuesday Carls Da Rocha from Waverley Council asks sunbakers on the rocks to leave Mackenzies Bay in Sydney The Indiabulls Group on Tuesday said it will contribute Rs 21 crore towards PM CARES Fund to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic that has spread across the world, the Indiabulls Group today pledged Rs 21 crore to the Prime Minister's 'Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund' (PM-CARES Fund), it said in a statement. The group hopes to keep supporting the exemplary work done by the Centre and state authorities in conjunction with healthcare professionals across the country, as they lead the unsung efforts against the pandemic, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. An Amazon employee claims he was fired by the company after he led a protest against its coronavirus safety conditions. In an interview with Bloomberg, Chris Smalls, former assistant manager at Amazon's Staten Island fulfillment center, said that he and more than 60 colleagues walked off the job on Monday to demand Amazon close the center for proper cleaning. Smalls said his employment was subsequently terminated. The protest was the latest in a string of coronavirus-related demonstrations held by Amazon employees. According to Smalls, staff have not been given adequate protective gear and many are fearful of contracting the virus and spreading it to their families. Protestors say that a number of their colleagues have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Amazon has confirmed that it fired Smalls, but says it did so because he violated safety rules, including failing to self-isolate after being exposed to a colleague with a confirmed case of the virus. In a statement to BloombergA Amazon said, "Mr. Smalls received multiple warnings for violating social distancing guidelines and putting the safety of others at risk. [He] was asked to remain home with pay for 14 days, which is a measure we're taking at sites around the world. Despite that instruction to stay home with pay, he came on site today, March 30, further putting the teams at risk." The company also contested the number of employees involved in Monday's protest, claiming just 15 individuals from the facility took part. Smalls has dubbed Amazon's response "ridiculous" and said in the TV interview that "Because I tried to stand up for something that's right, the company decided to retaliate against me." He added, "I'm still going to continue to fight for those people inside of the building." New York Attorney General Letitia James released a statement in response to the news. "It is disgraceful that Amazon would terminate an employee who bravely stood up to protect himself and his colleagues," she said on the Attorney General website. "At the height of a global pandemic, Chris Smalls and his colleagues publicly protested the lack of precautions that Amazon was taking to protect them from COVID-19." James also called for the National Labor Relations Board to intervene: "In New York, the right to organize is codified into law, and any retaliatory action by management related thereto is strictly prohibited. At a time when so many New Yorkers are struggling and are deeply concerned about their safety, this action was also immoral and inhumane. The Office of the Attorney General is considering all legal options, and I am calling on the National Labor Relations Board to investigate this incident." Vedanta Ltd on Monday said its operations, including mining, oil and gas, have been impacted due to the coronavirus outbreak and the company expects return to the full capacity in the coming weeks. The company and its subsidiaries have been taking various precautionary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all its employees and stakeholders, Vedanta Ltd said in a BSE filing. Follow latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic here "While most of our operations are essential or continuous in nature, (still) we have had temporary disruptions largely driven by logistical bottlenecks. We expect these issues to be resolved over the short term that will allow the company to return to full capacity in coming weeks," it said. There are various advisory directives issued by the central /state governments and municipal authorities in India to prevent and contain the spread of coronavirus. It said that through a circular issued by the Ministry of Mines dated March 26, it has been advised that state governments should facilitate measures that would ensure continuity of operations of steel, aluminum, copper, cement and other such plants that require continuous process. Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths The related activities such as supply, movement of raw materials and equipment, including imported ones, through rail, air and ports can be similarly facilitated, it said. The aforesaid mining operations including allied activities as well as the oil and gas business operations which is covered under manufacturing of essential commodities, will be carried out during the lockdown period as per the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs and advisories issued to the state governments by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, including ICMR, NDMA and other related agencies. "Accordingly, our sites will be operational in compliance with the referred order," it said. 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. Pandemic in the land is putting strain on our self-image as a free people for whom the rule of law is our ne plus ultra. Alas, when it gets down to brass tacks, even those two beacons, liberty and law, are as much in tension as in mutual need. It is by law that society restricts our freedom. On the other hand, as Burke observed, without the order that a just legal system ensures, there can be no liberty worth having. We would descend into anarchy, into the law of the jungle. Times of true security crises war, natural catastrophes, or the sudden spread of a potentially deadly disease have a remorseless way of reminding us about some brute realities. It is all well and good for libertarians to say that the Constitution is not suspended in emergencies, and that are our rights are never more essential than when governments tyrannical tendencies rear their head. But then real emergencies happen. Inevitably, unavoidably, our rights get restricted sometimes dramatically. This is not because government tends to tyranny, though it does if unchecked. It is because people crave security and community. They are willing to sacrifice their individual liberties, at least to a degree and for a time, to preserve them. This does not make them craven. It makes them rational. There would be no union, and no constitutional system protecting our liberties, if Abraham Lincoln had not persevered in defending them. Yet, in 1861, Lincoln suspended habeas corpus, the right against arbitrary imprisonment. The Civil War was raging and, with it, secessionist terrorism. In response, Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney (he of Dred Scott infamy) presumed to issue a writ of habeas corpus in favor of John Merryman, a Maryland militiaman detained by Union forces after he burnt bridges to stall the movement of troops. In spurning the court, Lincoln rhetorically asked, Are all the laws but one to go unexecuted and the government itself go to pieces lest that one be violated? Story continues History is romantic. The lesson it most often gushes is that Lincolns impetuous order was unconstitutional. So devoted are we to the rule of law, you are to understand, that we cannot abide the notion of an arrested American being denied due process, including a prompt court hearing at which the government must show probable cause. This very nice story elides a few inconvenient details. Taney did not rule that habeas corpus could not be suspended. He ruled that it could be done only by Congress, not by the president the authority to suspend being spelled out in Article I, which enumerates legislative power. See, it is overwrought to speak of suspending the Constitution in times of emergency. It is not that the Constitution is suspended; rather, the Constitution explicitly provides for the restriction of some rights so that the government can effectively confront emergency conditions. No surprise there. The Framers realized that the survival of the United States was no sure thing in 1787. We needed a government capable of quelling threats. Lincoln was justified in suspending a right fundamental to liberty, for if the government were to collapse out of unreasonable deference to it, all of our rights would perish. Indeed, there remains a good argument that Lincoln did have the unilateral authority he claimed at the time. The Constitutions habeas provision (Article I, Section 9) specifies only when the right may be suspended (when required for public safety in cases of rebellion or invasion), not by whom (the president or Congress) it may be suspended. Plus, unlike today, Congress was not easily called into session in the 1860s. And in any event, Congress in 1863 endorsed Lincolns suspension of habeas corpus. It was the right thing to do, even if there is legitimate quarrel over who should have done it. As we consider this episode amid the coronavirus outbreak, we should bear two things in mind. First, because dread for our safety naturally elevates security over liberty in our minds, we are susceptible to indulging measures that are too draconian. It might, for example, have been sensible to monitor Japanese aliens, and even detain at least some of them, during World War II. After all, it has been the law of the United States since the late eighteenth century that nationals of a hostile power may be detained during a formally declared war. Nevertheless, the governments internment of American citizens of Japanese descent is one of the most shameful blights on our history. When we permit restrictions in emergency conditions, we must remember these are fundamental rights that are being limited. Restrictions should be no more extensive than the threat reasonably demands. Second, we tend to give a wide berth to the authorities while a crisis ensues sometimes, too wide a berth. It is simply a fact that true emergencies do not afford the luxury of extensive deliberations. Bad things happen. It is the history of the United States that abuses are eventually addressed by courts and legislatures, but only after the emergency has subsided. This, of course, is cold comfort to the people who have been harmed. It does, however, establish norms of behavior for the next crisis. The good news is that we do learn. The bad news is that we learn from our mistakes. More from National Review Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 19:47:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SAO TOME, March 31 (Xinhua) -- San Tome and Principe received a donation from Chinese billionaire Jack Ma and his foundation to support the island in preventive actions against COVID-19, the national news agency STP Press reported on Tuesday. Jack Ma's donation includes test kits, surgical masks, protective suits, among other medical consumables and hospital supplies, it reported. The donation from the Chinese billionaire comes four days after the government announced the planned arrival of the cargo, as an offer from the Alibaba Foundation as part of this institution's support to African countries, says the report. According to the report, the San Tome government announced its intention to propose to the President the extension of the State of Emergency for another 15 days, to tackle with the pandemic. Despite the declaration that there are no cases of the novel coronavirus in the country, the government has deployed preventive measures such as the prohibition of all foreign citizens from entering the country, closing of borders, prohibition of gatherings in the face of disease. MANILA, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has announced a P200-billion social protection program for low-income families affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). During a televised speech on Monday (March 30), the President noted that such financial assistance is reportedly the biggest social amelioration program in the country so far. We have allotted P200 billion for low-income households who are badly affected by the current crisis, the President said. Sila ang nasa [They belong to the] informal sector and those with no work, no pay, he added. Under the program, beneficiary households will receive emergency support for two months based on the prevailing regional minimum wage rates. To those who have more in life, I implore you to take in the cause of taking care of the less fortunate and keeping the society intact, he appealed. They have also contributed in the prosperity in one way or the other. Let us support them in this crisis, he added. President Duterte also appealed to the private sector to reach out and help the vulnerable sector at this time of crisis. Buksan natin ang ating puso sa nangangailangan [Let us open our hearts to the needy]. I also appeal to the private sector to contribute in any way you can in dealing with this national emergency, he said. We implore employers to do their part in protecting the welfare of the millions of Filipino households who belong in the formal sector, he added. Meanwhile, the President thanked those who silently extend help to those in need. For those who have silently helped, away from the cameras, maraming salamat po [Thank you so much], the President concluded. The post Duterte unveils P200-B aid for poorest families affected by COVID-19 outbreak appeared first on UNTV News. A herd of goats took over a Welsh town where most of the residents are social distancing because of the coronavirus outbreak. Dramatic pictured showed dozens of Kashmiri goats roaming the streets of Llandudno, north Wales, uninterrupted. Police arrived in a patrol car and rounded up the 12 roaming Kashmiri goats and took them back to the hilly grasslands of the nearby Great Orme. Despite their eviction, however, the herd returned to the sleepy town the next day. Dozens of the animals took over the streets. (Wales News) They were eventually taken back to the hilly grasslands where they live but later returned. (Wales News) Andrew Stuart saw the runaways outside the pub where he lives and dialled 101 to speak to North Wales Police. He said he thought he "was seeing things when the goats were eating a hedgerow outside his pub. Andrew added: They sent a patrol car down who turned on the big red lights. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice So, Im sorry if the goats got arrested. But they were being very naughty." The goats are well-known troublemakers in the area. They were previously called vandals by a headmaster as they ate newly-planted trees at the local school. The goats invaded the town where most residents are social distancing because of coronavirus. (Wales News) The town of Llandudno is currently deserted because of coronavirus. (Wales News) Town councillor Carol Marubbi told BBC News: "They are curious, goats are, and I think they are wondering what's going on like everybody else." "There are very few visitors on the top [of the Orme], so they have come down in their droves," she said. "There isn't anyone else around so they probably decided they may as well take over." One of the goats resting in a hedge. (Wales News) A goat climbing on roofs in the sleepy Welsh town. (Wales News) Coronavirus: what happened today Five days after the Montreal General Hospital cancelled my surgery, I had questions that needed answers: "Why?" and "What next?" I'm a cancer patient. Last year, I beat throat cancer. This year, about a month ago, I found out I have bowel cancer and need an operation. The sooner, the better. We found it early, so there's a good chance for a full recovery. The longer we leave things, the slimmer are my chances of coming out of this without complications. It was all straightforward until COVID-19 became more than someone else's problem. It became mine. Sometime in the two weeks after my surgery date was set, everything changed for everybody heading for a Montreal hospital. The person who gave me the bad news about my postponed operation had the same news for everyone: all surgeries had been cancelled at the Montreal General. The reason? The novel coronavirus epidemic. That was it. No further explanation about what this meant for me, when my surgery might happen, or how putting it off would affect my life. A friend suggested I must be angry or at least, disappointed. I told her I couldn't be as a recovering cancer patient. I've already shaken my fists at the skies, done the "why me?", the "why didn't they find it sooner, and why not operate instead of putting me through seven weeks of hell with chemo and radiation?" But I'm alive today and grateful because of the decisions my doctors made last year. Now they've cancelled my surgery. Yes, I'm a patient. I deserve to know what's happening. It is my life, after all. But I'm not angry. I could be but I choose to understand instead. I follow the news. I know that Montreal is the centre of the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec. I know this province has more COVID-19 cases than anywhere else in Canada. I assumed the hospital must be scrambling to adjust to this situation. I guessed that hospitals had shifted from business as usual to an emergency footing. Story continues But I didn't know what this meant for my cancer surgery. If it was delayed, I needed to know until when and how that delay might affect my recovery. Who must go now, who can wait? Getting answers wasn't easy. I had an app on my mobile phone that was supposed to keep me in constant contact with my surgeon. I posted my questions but I didn't get a reply. After a few days, I phoned all the numbers the Montreal General and Royal Victoria hospitals had given me. No one answered at either place my calls didn't even go to voicemail. Then I decided to send an email to a general address, provided my file number, described my situation and asked that someone forward it to my surgeon. I've described this in detail because I believe it's important for you to understand a couple of things. First, the stress on patients. It's never easy to face cancer. The word "cancer" is scary as hell. It's no longer a death sentence, but the word still means a lot of stress, anxiety and pain. My surgery should be fairly routine under normal circumstances, but things aren't normal anymore. I'm also aware that all kinds of patients head to hospitals for all kinds of reasons some for life-saving surgeries and others for everything from broken bones to giving birth. No matter the reason why we enter the system, we're all used to getting some of the best health care in the world. When we don't get that level of health care, we get anxious, disappointed, and even angry. It must be particularly difficult and stressful for the parents of children and for those caring for the very old to understand or accept. On the other hand, as my surgeon explained (and yes, he phoned to explain), entire hospitals have had to shift everything they do and how they do it to deal with an expected flood of new COVID-19 patients. Doctors, he explained, are reviewing their patients' conditions, identifying those who need immediate attention, separating those who might be able to wait awhile. These lists of patients and priorities are submitted to hospital committees. These committees are looking at their available resources, reviewing their day-to-day operations and making changes to everything they do in order to handle the COVID-19 crisis. These committees also review each list of patients submitted by doctors. They decide whether someone, like me, gets the recommended procedure as soon as possible or gets put on a waiting list. My surgeon apologized. I tried to reassure him that I understood, that I wasn't worried. I'm not sure either of us completely believed the other. I know it must be a stressful time for him and everyone he works with at the hospital. I assume that some, maybe most, are having to make life and death decisions that they never thought probable or possible in Canada before. But here we are. This is our new reality. EDITOR'S NOTE: On Monday, Dan David got the call he'd been waiting for: he'd been slotted in for a last-minute surgery date for the next day today at a different hospital in the McGill University network. By the time you read this, he is hoping to be already recovering at St. Mary's Hospital. While we're mostly bored at home and trying not to go out, we can't help but think: what makes a great bug out vehicle in the Philippine setting? And can you build one on a relatively light budget? When the pandemic hit, everyone started stocking up on goods, fortifying homes, and making sure we have enough alcohol and toilet paper to last a lifetime. There are many choices in the market, but we thought we'd outline a few criteria that can help us decide. A proper bug out vehicle must have a proven track record for reliability, the capacity to haul, have a decent amount of space, easy to work on and parts must be easy to source. Four-wheel drive is optional but preferred. Fuel efficiency is important too so no thirsty V6 or V8 engines. Besides, where will you find a filling station in the middle of nowhere or, knock on wood, when the fuel supply has almost dried up? Thankfully, there are still a lot of good platforms for bug out vehicles out there in the second-hand market, and we ranked 10 of them based on our criteria to arrive at the ultimate one... and you may be surprised. #10: Toyota Fortuner (AN50/AN60) This is perhaps the most modern among the group. There's little to no doubt about the Fortuner's reliability and durability thanks to its Hilux genes. Even if it does have modern tech and electronics, problems have been few and far between although there were injector problems during its initial release. Thankfully, Toyota rectified it and its diesel engines are among the sturdiest out there. Even the 2.7L gas engine has outstanding reliability too, but it can be thirsty. Opt for the four-wheel drive and you'll be pleasantly surprised at its capabilities, again thanks to the Hilux DNA. There's room for seven and their luggage, plus it's easy to fix and mend thanks to a wide parts supply and dealership network. Because it's also relatively new, finding parts for it won't be that difficult either. The only thing stopping it from ranking higher is the potential problems lurking in the first batch of diesel-fed units. The most affordable Fortuners you can find are the two-wheel-drive gas models which you can get for Php 350,000, more or less. Two-wheel drive diesel versions, on the other hand, would typically command a Php 100,000 premium, while the least expensive 4x4 diesel starts at about Php 550,000. Pros: Most modern in this list Cons: 2.5L non-intercooler diesel feels slow, electronics means it won't be as easy to maintain in an SHTF situation #9: Suzuki Jimny (JB) The Jimny may be small, but its size is what makes it such a great vehicle off-road. The diminutive dimensions help it climb over obstacles with ease without much risk of scraping. Yes, it's fuel-injected but it's still mechanically simple, and that pays dividends id you have to camp out. It doesn't have much in the way of electronics either. It may only have a 1.3-liter engine but it's tuned for torque so it's surprisingly punchy off the line. The automatic makes it an easy little SUV to drive but with a manual, it's almost unstoppable. Parts are aplenty and the modding community for it is huge, so fixing and upgrading will be easy. If it is pure capability you're looking for, the Jimny is right by the top of the list. But it's not enough that it's a nimble mountain goat. It's not a big vehicle so it might get a little cozy when it's time to sleep. Also, it can seat four inside, but it's not going to be comfortable for the ones in the back seat. Cargo space isn't too generous either. Still, if you're trekking solo or with just one person, the Jimny should be fine. Just fold the back seats to make more room. Resale values are strong for the Jimny, and you'll struggle to find one under Php 400,000. An early model would typically start at Php 400,000, all the way to Php 700,000 for later ones. Pros: Off-road capability, parts support, favored by enthusiasts, can still find nearly brand new units today Cons: Tiny #8: Mitsubishi L200 (K30 to K70 series) If it's hauling we're talking about, then it must be a pick-up. One solid choice is the Mitsubishi L200. You have the peace of mind of the bulletproof 4D56 diesel engine and those engines are easy to mend when something does go wrong. A few mods here and there will make it your home away from home. The only thing going against it is that it can't carry more than five people at a time. Find one with four-wheel drive and taking on treks and trails will be mostly effortless plus you have mechanical simplicity working in your favor as these pickups are easy to work on for the most part. They might not have the same parts support network as Toyota but they're on hand in many shops. You can bag yourself an L200 for as little as Php 150,000, but those might be a little on the rough side. Later L200 pickups can go as high as Php 450,000 if you want one with four-wheel drive. Pros: Capable off-road, mechanically-simple, good payload capacity, still easy to source parts Cons: Hard to find clean examples, 4x4 models are still expensive, not as popular as other pickups of the era #7 Toyota Tamaraw FX and Revo AUVs may look antiquated these days, but you can't count out the Toyota Tamaraw FX and Revo. It can haul people and cargo, so it ticks the basics of a bug out vehicle, but we wouldn't advise you overloading the this candidate. Plus, there is seating for 10 although the front middle bench passenger could get a little close for comfort with the gear stick. It's no 4x4 by any means, but this vehicle can take you almost anywhere thanks to its rigid body and robust suspension It's all about rugged simplicity for the Tamaraw FX, which also makes it easy to work on as well and parts will be the least of your problems too. There are loads of them in the second-hand market and, most importantly, they're easily within reach. You can get a solid example for as little as Php 100,000. Add another Php 50,000 if you want the more modern-looking Revo. Pros: 10-passenger "capacity", simple mechanicals, cheap Cons: Very few clean examples left, most survivors are high-mileage #6 Toyota Hilux (LN116) From camping areas, road trips, job sites, and (sadly) conflict zones, you're bound to see a Hilux in the background doing work in one way or another. If it can handle all of that, surely converting it into a survival/leisure vehicle will prove little trouble for it, right? Reliability is proven, tried, and tested and, as for parts, it's a Toyota. The Hilux is simple and straightforward to work on too, especially the earlier models. Early models don't have much in the way of electronics meaning tape, zip-ties, and a bit of ingenuity is all you need to keep it running. With four-wheel drive, these pickups are almost unstoppable. Hiluxes from the early to mid-'90s are favored by collectors so you might be shocked at some of the prices. We saw a clean, solid, and sturdy four-wheel-drive example go as high as Php 800,000, but you can get one for as low as Php 180,000. Pros: The gold standard for durability and reliability Cons: Limited passenger capacity, prices shooting up on 4x4 models #5 Nissan Patrol Safari GQ We start the big 4x4s with the Patrol "Safari" GQ. With its ladder-frame chassis, high ground clearance, rugged underpinnings and (mostly) bulletproof mechanicals, the Safari is a no-brainer candidate. It uses an old-school four-wheel-drive system that's very much proven, and because it's mostly mechanical, you have fewer electronics to worry about too. Besides, the Patrol GQ has a long-standing reputation for durability, so you have that going for it. As a bug out vehicle, there's no doubt that the Safari is a definite shoo-in. However, the age of the vehicle might work against you when it comes to sourcing new parts. That said, there's a huge enthusiast community that will be more than willing to help you out. Another thing that might put you off the Safari is its surprising lack of rear legroom. Yes, it's a huge SUV but carrying passengers in the second row will be a tight fit. At least it makes up for it in cargo space. The Safari has become a bit of a collector's item so prices have become rather skewed. We have seen examples go as high as Php 600,000, but those are for preserved or restored examples. Fortunately, most of them start at about Php 275,000 and typically hover in the Php 300,000 to Php 450,000 range. Pros: It looks the part of a bug out vehicle, prices are much lower than similar Land Cruisers Cons: A bit heavy on fuel for some models #4 Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series When you think of bug out vehicles, its hard not to bring the Toyota Land Cruiser into the mix. But the question is, which generation of the Land Cruiser though? While all models of the Land Cruiser are known for their toughness and durability, its the 80-series that has always been one of the most popular series in the Philippines. Locally dubbed as the LC80, it continues to be a staple in the garage of affluent families, enthusiasts, and off-roaders today. You will still see numerous models plying around town; a testament to its reliability. What makes it great as a bug out vehicle is the simplicity of the locally sold LC80 units. All models sold by Toyota Motor Philippines back then came standard with a diesel engine, 4x4, and a manual transmission. It also has split door tailgate to make loading cargo easier. Theres still a surplus of parts available considering the unit isnt that old either. As such, it has retained very good value. How much you ask? Well, its hard to find a clean local model LC80 for below Php 1 million nowadays. If the local LC80 models are quite out of budget, the imported 80-series Land Cruisers do sell for a lot cheaper. Theyre often priced below Php 1 million and can go as low as Php 650,000, depending on the variant and whether theyre converted. Not that theyre any less reliable though. At the end of the day, it's still a Land Cruiser. Pros: It's a Land Cruiser, what can go wrong? Cons: Very expensive especially local models, hard to find clean examples #3 Mitsubishi Pajero (LO40 to Fieldmaster) The Mitsubishi Pajero has always been a favorite in Filipino households: from the boxy first-generation to the legendary Field Master and even the more luxurious CK and BK models. But when were talking about bug out vehicles, the first and second generation are the ones that perfectly fit the description. Why? Well, two-words Dakar Rally. So if the Pajero can survive thousands of kilometers of harsh terrain, it can practically survive anything. Though theyre rarer to find on the streets, its hard to spot clean examples. Working in your favor is its popularity. Parts for the first generation are harder to come by but the enthusiast community will be more than willing to give you a hand. It's also mechanically simple, making it easy to mend and maintain. The Fieldmaster on the other hand easy to get parts for, although it's not as easy to work on. It's long-lasting too, as Mitsubishi Motors Philippines continued to build and sell the model up until 2008, due to strong demand. Possibly the most sought after version of the Fieldmaster would be the manual 4x4 variant, only offered between 1999 to 2000. The 'box' Pajero used a 2.5-liter diesel, while the later Fieldmaster came with a 2.8 mill, both of which are bulletproof. Due to age, the first-generation models are often a lot cheaper as you can easily find one for less than Php 200,000 but be wary of rust. Fieldmaster models continue to hold a premium. Second-hand models still float around the Php 350,000-400,000 range for earlier models. Meanwhile, clean examples and the highly coveted manual 4x4 Fieldmaster easily fetch Php 480,000 or more thats if you can find one. Pros: Edges out the LC on price, still looks modern Cons: Rust is a common sight, hard to find 4x4 variants of the Fieldmaster, newer variants can be pricey #2: Isuzu Crosswind If you're thinking of a bug out vehicle, then you have to consider the Isuzu Crosswind. Yes, they're limited by the lack of four-wheel drive, but it has all the ingredients that could make it a good bug out vehicle. The Crosswind rides on a truck frame, has a tried and tested 2.5-liter diesel engine, space for 10 (unofficially), and has a well-deserved reputation for reliability. Parts are abundant thanks to the support for these AUVs and they only stopped Crosswind production in 2017. It's DIY friendly too, thanks to a wide engine bay and most parts are easy to access. The market is awash with these Isuzu Crosswind, and prices can start for as low as Php 250,000 but prepare to shell out about Php 700,000 for the later ones. Pros: It's hard to keep a Crosswind down Cons: Slow #1 Mitsubishi L300 (pre-Euro 4) No, the L300 isn't an SUV or a pick-up. It doesn't even have four-wheel drive. So why then do we think it's the best bug out vehicle? Let's just say that there's a very good reason why Mitsubishi revived the production line for this model. Businesses, haulers, contractors, and any job that requires hauling either people or cargo can be done by the L300. Be it Versa Van or FB, you get a lot of space in there, perfect for converting it into a house on wheels with a fair bit of stretch-out room to spare. With its boxy shape, you can let your imagination run free too in turning it into a mobile home...or command center. So it may not have four-wheel-drive but it more than makes up for it with versatility. Parts support is massive thanks to its long production run and its simplicity makes it easy to DIY. There's a wide selection of L300s to choose from in the second-hand market. Versa Vans start for as low as Php 100,000 but be wary as these typically have high mileages. FBs meanwhile can be had for Php 150,000. Pros: They revived it, so it's basically the zombie of automobiles Cons: No four-wheel drive, basic - As you can see, the simpler the vehicle, the better. In an SHTF situation, electronics and fancy tech will just hinder your progress and that's something you wouldn't want at all. Of course, we wouldn't want the world to descend into chaos but, just in case, these ten bug out candidates won't let you down. 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. By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 30, 2020 | 05:09 PM | WESTERN KENTUCKY West Kentucky Star spoke with Shawnna Rhine, Public Information Officer for the Southern Seven Health Department, about the importance of participating in the census. According to Rhine, when a community doesn't participate, it can affect federal benefits to local areas. She said, "When people don't do their census, the government looks at that and thinks, well, maybe that region doesn't have enough people, or it doesn't have the people we thought, maybe those services aren't needed and we all know they are." Rhine says when people refuse to fill out their census questionnaire, it could cause our region to miss out on important money that could go towards disaster relief. The funds could also go towards helping our local schools, businesses, hospitals, and infrastructure like roads and bridges. The more people an area has, the more resources the government will allocate to us. "The more people that respond to that, the more money we get, because we're showing that those resources are needed here locally," Rhine said. According to Rhine, the last census took place in 2010. Since the last census, the lower seven counties of Illinois specifically have missed out on over $12 million in funding. If that money was there now, it might have been used to help battle COVID-19 more effectively. You can find additional details and participate in the 2020 census at the link below. Participating in the 2020 census can have a positive impact on your community. On the Net: Howard Marks put it nicely when he said that, rather than worrying about share price volatility, 'The possibility of permanent loss is the risk I worry about... and every practical investor I know worries about. When we think about how risky a company is, we always like to look at its use of debt, since debt overload can lead to ruin. As with many other companies Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE:VSH) makes use of debt. But the more important question is: how much risk is that debt creating? What Risk Does Debt Bring? Debt is a tool to help businesses grow, but if a business is incapable of paying off its lenders, then it exists at their mercy. Part and parcel of capitalism is the process of 'creative destruction' where failed businesses are mercilessly liquidated by their bankers. While that is not too common, we often do see indebted companies permanently diluting shareholders because lenders force them to raise capital at a distressed price. Having said that, the most common situation is where a company manages its debt reasonably well - and to its own advantage. When we examine debt levels, we first consider both cash and debt levels, together. See our latest analysis for Vishay Intertechnology What Is Vishay Intertechnology's Net Debt? As you can see below, Vishay Intertechnology had US$499.1m of debt, at December 2019, which is about the same as the year before. You can click the chart for greater detail. However, it does have US$803.0m in cash offsetting this, leading to net cash of US$303.8m. NYSE:VSH Historical Debt March 31st 2020 A Look At Vishay Intertechnology's Liabilities Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that Vishay Intertechnology had liabilities of US$520.4m due within 12 months and liabilities of US$1.11b due beyond that. On the other hand, it had cash of US$803.0m and US$328.2m worth of receivables due within a year. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by US$501.9m. Story continues Vishay Intertechnology has a market capitalization of US$2.14b, so it could very likely raise cash to ameliorate its balance sheet, if the need arose. But it's clear that we should definitely closely examine whether it can manage its debt without dilution. While it does have liabilities worth noting, Vishay Intertechnology also has more cash than debt, so we're pretty confident it can manage its debt safely. The modesty of its debt load may become crucial for Vishay Intertechnology if management cannot prevent a repeat of the 42% cut to EBIT over the last year. When a company sees its earnings tank, it can sometimes find its relationships with its lenders turn sour. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Vishay Intertechnology's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting. Finally, while the tax-man may adore accounting profits, lenders only accept cold hard cash. While Vishay Intertechnology has net cash on its balance sheet, it's still worth taking a look at its ability to convert earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, to help us understand how quickly it is building (or eroding) that cash balance. In the last three years, Vishay Intertechnology's free cash flow amounted to 34% of its EBIT, less than we'd expect. That's not great, when it comes to paying down debt. Summing up Although Vishay Intertechnology's balance sheet isn't particularly strong, due to the total liabilities, it is clearly positive to see that it has net cash of US$303.8m. So while Vishay Intertechnology does not have a great balance sheet, it's certainly not too bad. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Vishay Intertechnology that you should be aware of before investing here. 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. Boris Johnson sparked security fears as he posted pictures of the UK's first ever digital-only Cabinet meeting online today - including details of how to join the conversation. The Prime Minister, who is currently self-isolating in Downing Street after being diagnosed with coronavirus, tweeted an image of this morning's meeting, which went ahead completely using the Zoom app. It raised eyebrows because in the corner of the screen-grab he shared with his two million followers was the 'room' ID for the meeting using the Zoom software. But those trying to gain access many hours after the morning meeting had ended were scuppered because the meeting was also password protected - prompting people to immediately start guessing what it could be. Mr Johnson (top left) led a more relaxed regime as they met remotely this morning, appearing via webcam in an open-necked shirt and jumper But he raised eyebrows when he tweeted a screen-grab from the meeting showing his colleagues - and the room ID for the meeting using the Zoom software. Downing Street said it was confident its communications links were secure, despite concerns raised about the apparent use of Zoom to conduct the meetings. What security measures does Zoom have? Users of the Zoom video-conferencing app are given a code to enter the meeting 'room'. This number of between nine and 11 digits can then be shared with those the meeting host wish to join them. But things can get out of hand if people share these codes online on social media, allowing something called 'zoombombing', where mass groups of people can join a meeting as a joke or to disrupt it if they receive the code. However, there are additional steps that can be taken to block this. Private groups can also be set up so that they require an additional password to join. This means that even if the room code is shared accidentally, as in today's case, it is not possible to join the room. Additionally, a meeting can be set up so that no-one can enter before the organiser or chair. This means pranksters cannot 'sit' in a room waiting for others to log in. The chair of the meeting has the power to kick uninvited guests out of the room once they are in it. Advertisement Last week the use of the software by Ministry of Defence staff was suspended last week while 'security implications' were investigated. The Prime Minister's official spokesman today told reporters: 'I don't think we have named the particular video conferencing tool that we have been using, but as you would imagine we ensured that it was done in a secure way.' Downing Street was 'following all necessary security procedures' and 'I am happy to say with confidence we were satisfied it was secure', the spokesman added. Mr Johnson joined the country in going casual while working from home (WFH) today as he hosted the meeting from his isolated home in 11 Downing Street. The Prime Minister and his top political team are usually dressed to impress when they arrive at 10 Downing Street for the regularly weekly discussion. But Mr Johnson led a more relaxed regime as they met remotely this morning, appearing via webcam in an open-necked shirt and jumper. He can be excused for dressing-down as he is currently halfway through a seven-day quarantine Downing Street, after testing positive for coronavirus last Friday. And not everyone got the 'home casual' memo. Predictably, Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg, a stickler for correct dress, was among those who still wore a shirt and tie for the 10.15am face-to-face. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, Business Secretary Alok Sharma and Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis joined him by dressing smartly. But new Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Matt Hancock - who is also under quarantine - were happy to ditch the neckware. And International Trade Secretary Liz Truss trumped the rest by making sure she had a Union Jack flag behind her as she took part in the call. Mr Johnson posted a picture of th emeeting on Twitter, writing: 'This morning I chaired the first ever digital Cabinet. 'Our message to the public is: stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives.' Social media users were quick to point out the presence of the meeting's ID code in the image. But according to US firm Zoom, which built the software, the ID expired after the end of the meeting. Additionally, the room was protected by a password. The meeting of the UK's top ministers was held entirely via videolink after three of the four people who were in the room for last week's semi-remote meeting were struck by the virus or showed symptoms. Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock have been under quarantine since testing positive last Friday. Chief Medical Officer professor Chris Whitty, who dialed-in to today's meeting, is also been self-isolating with symptoms. He gave a presentation to last Tuesday's meeting in person. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'Ministers all appeared on a single digital screen, in a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister. The meeting was held entirely via videolink - which Mr Johnson has been using to communicate with aides since last's coronavirus diagnosis (pictured) Asked about Mr Johnson's condition, Grant Shapps told BBC Breakfast: 'The Prime Minister is Good. He is chairing Cabinet later this morning and we will be dialling in via video, via Zoom. 'Only the Cabinet Secretary (Sir Mark Sedwill) and a small number of officials were in the Cabinet room itself, observing social distancing rules on keeping two metres apart. 'Updates on the Government's coronavirus response were given by videoconference by the Chief Scientific Advisor and the Chief Medical Officer. 'Cabinet discussed the work which is taking place to support the NHS, expand testing, safeguard jobs and repatriate British citizens who are stranded abroad. 'They thanked the NHS and frontline workers for all of their tremendous hard work. 'The PM said the rising death toll in recent days showed the vital importance of the public continuing to stick to the social distancing guidance which has been put in place by the Government, based on scientific and medical advice.' Concerns were raised about the use of Zoom last week after it was reported that the Ministry of Defence was examining it for possible security weeknesses. But a Government spokesman said: 'In the current unprecedented circumstances the need for effective channels of communication is vital. NCSC (National Cyber-Security Centre) guidance shows there is no security reason for Zoom not to be used for conversations below a certain classification.' Earlier, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had confirmed the meeting would take place via web video conferencing. Asked about Mr Johnson's condition this morning he told BBC Breakfast: 'The Prime Minister is good. He is chairing Cabinet later this morning and we will be dialling in via video, via Zoom. 'He is in fine fettle.' It came as 1,408 people are confirmed to have died in UK hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19, as of 5pm on Sunday. But the true death toll of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK could be 24 per cent higher than NHS figures show, according to statistics released today. Patients who had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificates numbered 210 in England and Wales up to March 20, the Office for National Statistics revealed. This was 24 per cent higher than the 177 deaths recorded by NHS England during the same time frame. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has launched a new data series adding in the numbers of people who have died with or after having COVID-19 in the community, including those who died in care homes or at home. Coronavirus was not necessarily the cause of death for every one of the patients, but was believed to have been a factor. Anyone who has the virus - for which at least 22,141 people have tested positive in the UK - mentioned on their death certificate will be included in the statistics. This adds to the daily updates coming from NHS hospitals around the country where patients of all ages are dying in intensive care units. Mr Johnson using Zoom to chat with ministers at last week's Cabinet meeting. He and Matt Hancock, who were both in the room together, have since tested positive for coronavirus The meeting came amid growing pressure to get more protective equipment to health workers. The Prime Minister has faced heavy criticism over shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline NHS staff as well as the slow rollout of testing - issues which are likely to be discussed by ministers on Tuesday morning. Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has also voiced further concerns about the lack of testing in the UK after it emerged the Government had still not hit its target of 10,000 tests a day. This is despite earlier claims by Mr Hancock that the target had been reached. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged countries to 'test, test, test' as a key part of their strategy to beat the virus. But officials have admitted the UK does not have the same capacity as other countries that are testing more, including Germany which is conducting around 70,000 per day. Mr Hunt told the Guardian: 'The big advantage we now have is evidence that testing works in other countries. 'We can see that Asian countries have been spectacularly more successful than European ones in avoiding mass lockdown.' 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. Our mailbag is overflowing with emails from bitterly disappointed holidaymakers whose travel plans are now in ruins. Many had spent thousands of pounds on once-in-a-lifetime trips to celebrate weddings, milestone birthdays and anniversaries. Now, as well as missing out on those holidays with loved ones, they are finding it near impossible to get their money back. As the Mail reported yesterday, travel firms are pleading with ministers to relax rules on refunds over fears many will go bust if they have to shell out so much cash. Holiday hell: Travel firms are pleading with ministers to relax rules on refunds over fears many will go bust if they have to shell out so much cash If they get the go-ahead, customers will have to rebook or face a four month wait for a refund. With no definite end to the lockdown in sight, let alone global travel restrictions, it is entirely understandable that many people won't want to book another holiday they might have to cancel. Many due to go away are also older or have underlying medical conditions. They rightly want to prioritise their health and put any worry about whether they will be well enough to travel later in the year to the back of their minds. On top of this, a number of people are now facing job losses and a drop in income, so would rather have the money back in their bank accounts to pay essential bills. And who knows what will happen over the next month, let alone four? Customers should remember that, if airlines or travel companies go bust, those people who accepted vouchers or credit notes could end up with nothing unless the industry introduces a scheme to ensure they are honoured. As for the travel firms, they cannot rely on already struggling households to bail them out. That said, it also doesn't make sense to force firms to pay huge sums in refunds if it means their almost certain failure. Easyjet has grounded all of its flights with many passengers left contacting the firm for refunds Ministers must find a compromise. In the meantime, holidaymakers must be as practical and patient as possible. Don't waste energy chasing down every last penny. If you have had to pay extra for lounge access at the airport or to reserve a seat on your new flight, just let it go this time. If you can rebook now, you could be helping a firm stay in business. And I would say to the travel firms, if you want customers to rebook, you must play fair. Don't try to squeeze more cash out of people by hiking prices or charging astronomical rebooking fees. Be reasonable and you might have a customer for life when the dust settles. Banking buffers Bravo to those banks who have responded to our call for action so swiftly and introduced help for borrowers with overdrafts. The most generous lenders are removing overdraft fees entirely, giving struggling customers real breathing space. But it is vital you do not borrow more than you absolutely need, as you will have to pay interest on this debt in the future. The smaller interest-free buffers will go some way towards helping customers, but will be of little comfort for those already in their overdraft and likely to go deeper into it in the coming months. We hope banks will continue to review their charges and seek to do even more to help. It is hard to see how NatWest, for example, can justify continuing to charge 19.89 per cent interest when the cost of borrowing is at an all-time low of 0.1 per cent. It is also disappointing that some of the new mobile banks have been slow to offer their customers any help. Rainy day cash Finally, as Tony Hazell reports, many of us will have seen a drop in our outgoings over the past couple of weeks. My bank statement is positively boring, only utility bills, the odd supermarket shop and a couple of Amazon Prime films (I spent my Saturday evening watching the 1995 action movie Outbreak and the 2011 thriller Contagion). So if you do have some spare cash and haven't yet built up a rainy day fund for emergencies (such as the one we are currently facing), please do so now. It has never been more vital to have some cash reserves. v.bischoff@dailymail.co.uk HONOR is planning to launch its flagships next month. The HONOR 30 and 30 Pro flagship handsets will become official on April 15. The companys brand ambassador has revealed. This information has been revealed via Weibo, by Li Xian, a Chinese actor. If you take a look at the image provided below this paragraph, youll be able to see the actors, and a phone in his hand. HONOR will launch two flagships on April 15, the HONOR 30 & 30 Pro That is the HONOR 30 or 30 Pro, but unfortunately, that image does not reveal much. All we can see is that the device will be made out of metal and glass, and that it will offer a curved back, as expected. Advertisement This seems to be a rather interesting color for the device, though. Its some sort of purple color that shifts based on where the light source is. In any case, at the very bottom of the image provided above, you can see a date. It clearly states that April 15 is the day we can expect the HONOR 30 series. The HONOR 30S got introduced quite recently, and that phone will be inferior to these two, of course. This is a mid-range smartphone, while the HONOR 30 and 30 Pro will be flagship-grade phones. Advertisement The HONOR 30 and 30 Pro will almost certainly be fueled by the Kirin 990 SoC. Both devices are expected to support 5G connectivity, and chances are theyll have really compelling camera setups. These two phones will include the same main camera as the Huawei P40 series devices The HONOR 30 and 30 Pro will probably include the very same main camera as the Huawei P40 flagships. That means that well see a 50-megapixel camera from Sonys IMX700 series of sensors. That camera will support 4-in-1 pixel binning, resulting in 2.24um pixel size. In addition to that sensors, several others will be included on the back, at least three. Advertisement A 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and an 8-megapixel telephoto unit are expected on the HONOR 30. It remains to be seen how accurate those rumors are. The HONOR 30 and 30 Pro will probably be quite similar in terms of the design. Both are expected to be made out of metal and glass, and include a display camera hole on the front. We still do not know whether theyll include a single camera hole, or a pill-shaped one like the Huawei P40 series. It is also unclear whether their displays will be flat or curved. Everything will be revealed on April 15, only a day after the OnePlus 8 series launch event. 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: 31 March 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 70,151 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,486 pence 18.49 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,454 pence 18.10 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,466 pence 18.25 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 31 March 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 3,629 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 17.98 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 17.82 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 17.96 USD PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 26.91 USD 22.91 GBP which was calculated as of 24 March 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 201,314,607 Public Shares outstanding, or 206,990,834 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 9,642,143 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/20200331005771/en/ Contacts: Media Camarco Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk To the Times: On or about 1918, my father, a returning WWI soldier contracted the Spanish flu and fought like hell to live. Now in 2020, we as a great nation and people are facing another menacing pandemic. As one who has worked with young people, ranging from 18 to 22 years of age as their career and college counselor, I am saddened and disappointed in the way thousands of them are confronting this menacing, silent killer. While many of their youthful counterparts are in distant lands laying down their lives facing a visible and fanatical enemy, many of their college-attending, so-called educated friends at home are frolicking on sun-drenched Florida beaches in open defiance of the common-sense strategy calling for social distancing as the main way in limiting the highly contagious spread. When after our trusted scientific and medical scholars join forces with what is left of our wise and honest elected officials to defeat this life-shattering threat, colleges should mandate that every enrolled student on either the most elite campus or the least elite campus should take a course in common sense. I suggest that no Ph.D., tenured faculty member teach it. Citizens who were lucky enough to survive the coronavirus epidemic might best be suited. We will no doubt face additional assaults on our accustomed and satisfying lifestyles in the future. Having more citizens equipped with fundamental, common sense survival skills will help insure continued victories over our visible and invisible enemies. 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 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 Over 1,000 Xiaomi employees as well as partners have been requested to donate to the cause. New Delhi: Chinese electronics major Xiaomi on Tuesday pledged Rs 15 crore contribution towards India's fight against COVID-19. Of this, Xiaomi will donate Rs 10 crore to the PM's relief fund and CM Relief Funds across various states, a statement said. Also, the company will continue to donate face masks and protective suits to hospitals across various states. The company has partnered with Give India on Mi.com to raise Rs 1 crore to make available hygiene kits for 20,000 families who do not have access to soaps, sanitisers and masks. It is also partnering with other NGOs to extend support to daily wage workers, migrants and stray animals. "At Xiaomi, we are pledging Rs 15 crore for the fight against COVID-19 outbreak...Unity shines in times of adversity. We request all our Mi Fans to also come forward and donate on Mi.com or directly to PM relief fund/CM relief funds," Xiaomi India managing director Manu Jain said adding that over 1,000 Xiaomi employees as well as partners have been requested to donate to the cause. Corporate India has been rushing in to help the government and citizens fight the covid-19 pandemic in India. Tata Trusts & Tata group together have pledged Rs 1,500 crore - by far the highest by any corporate. Reliance Industries' chief Mukesh Ambani has also committed a further Rs 500 crore to the Prime Minister's COVID-19 fund, topping up over the multi-crore initiative of India's first coronavirus hospital, meals to the needy, and fuel to emergency vehicles. Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, has committed Rs 100 crore, while a number of other companies are also extending support efforts towards fighting COVID-19 in India. South Korean consumer electronic giants Samsung and LG have said they will provide help to local authorities in India, offering preventive kits, infrared thermometers and consumer durables to hospitals, to help fight the spread of the deadly coronavirus. COVID-19 infection, which originated in Wuhan in China, has spread across the world and claimed over 34,000 lives. Countries like South Korea, Spain, Italy, Iran and the US have been badly hit. In India, the total number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 1,251, while the death toll touched 32. To combat the spread, the government had announced a 21-day lockdown that ends on 14 April. Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, on Monday committed Rs 100 crore to support efforts towards fighting COVID-19 in India New Delhi: Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, on Monday committed Rs 100 crore to support efforts towards fighting COVID-19 in India. The Foundation has contributed half of this commitment (Rs 50 crore) to the PM CARES Fund, a statement said. This sum will primarily be utilised across three broad areas of support that the Foundation has prioritised, including the expansion of hospital capacity for treatment and enable hospital stays for COVID-19 patients across India, especially ones belonging to the economically weaker sections of the society, it added. The funds will also be utilised to provide ventilators, testing kits, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like masks, and other protective gear for frontline healthcare workers, and towards ensuring better access to food and nutrition for the underprivileged section of the society that is bearing the adverse economic impact of the current situation, the statement noted. Infosys Foundation, over the last two weeks, has announced support for the creation of an exclusive hospital in Bengaluru for COVID-19 patients. It has also enabled the acquisition of medical and PPE equipment for multiple military and government hospitals across the country. The Foundation is also supporting various NGOs that provide food and hygiene kits to thousands of people in need. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak Corporate India has been rushing in to help the government and citizens fight the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Tata Trusts & Tata Group together have pledged Rs 1,500 crore, by far the highest by any corporate. Reliance Industries'' chief Mukesh Ambani has also committed a further Rs 500 crore to the Prime Minister's COVID-19 fund, topping up over the multi-crore initiative of India''s first coronavirus hospital, meals to the needy, and fuel to emergency vehicles. "These are unprecedented times that require every section of the society to rise up to the challenge. Infosys Foundation has always supported the needs of the country in difficult situations and we will continue to work with governments, non-profits, and healthcare institutions in their fight against this global pandemic," Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murty said. She added that all efforts will be targeted towards ensuring that the relief material reaches the people who need it the most, whether it is a patient who cannot afford treatment, healthcare personnel, or daily-wage workers whose livelihood has been severely impacted. "The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the toughest challenges that the world has been faced with. At such a time, it is imperative for businesses to join hands with the governments, civil society, as well as healthcare institutions to support the communities we live and serve in," Infosys CEO and MD Salil Parekh said. He added that Infosys Foundations, both in India and in the US, are extending their resources and technological capabilities to help people who are most impacted by this pandemic. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. Even as Floridas coronavirus cases have skyrocketed, the state has been acting far too slowly. Gov. Ron DeSantis is taking delayed measures while blaming outsiders for COVID-19 transmission, and residents continue to pack still-open public spaces. [Update, April 1, 2020, at 1:38 p.m.: On Wednesday, DeSantis announced that he would sign a statewide stay-at-home order that would take effect Thursday night.] But one local leader is leading the charge to protect her constituents: Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. She proposed a shelter-in-place order for her city when county officials werent even considering it, and she eventually managed to get it passed. Now shes taking further steps to make sure Floridians get the testing and treatment they need, even as the federal government fails to provide adequate supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I spoke with Castor on Tuesdays episode of What Next to get a sense of what its like to lead her city during this crisis. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Mary Harris: Were speaking Monday, March 30. What is the situation right now? Jane Castor: On the testing front, I feel like we were woefully underprepared and have not caught up. If you look at literature from Taiwan, the government was testing 20,000 people a day. Here in Hillsborough County, we received just 900 collection kits over a week ago. We went through those in two days. We just received another thousand, and well get through those in two days as well. Advertisement How frustrating is this for you as a community leader? It sounds like you would pop up a testing facility and then have to shut it down a couple days later. It must have driven you nuts, as someone whose job is to give clear information to the public. I have never seen this kind of unpreparedness from the federal government. Jane Castor Well, you really cant focus on that. You just have to understand the steps that need to be taken and then focus on that. Drop your head and move forward. If youre wasting time being frustrated, then youre wasting time. Advertisement Are you talking to other mayors or county officials or even the governor? Im a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and Im also lucky enough to be in the Bloomberg Harvard mayors cohort, which includes 41 mayors from around the world. We are in constant communication, so thats very helpful. Advertisement Advertisement It stands out to me that youre mentioning this coalition of mayors thats not coordinated by the federal government or your state government. Its done through a completely different system. Does that stand out to you too? Advertisement Advertisement Well, I dont want to go too deep into that. But the one thing I will say is that in 31 years of law enforcement, having worked in emergency management, I have never seen this level of unpreparedness from the federal government. To a degree, everyone was sort of caught off guard by this. But the fact is there really havent been any attempts to catch upafter all these weeks, we still dont have the swabs for the collection kits, and everybodys running short on PPE. On the state level, Im talking to other Florida mayors. We did some of these shelter-in-place orders basically at the same time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Someone youre not mentioning here is your governor, Ron DeSantis. Youve said that you wish your shelter-in-place order had been a statewide order, that you wish you didnt have to say it as mayor. Im wondering if youre noticing any partisan differences in terms of how leaders are responding to the pandemic. I dont feel that its being approached in a partisan manner. Were probably ahead of the curve in terms of disaster response because we deal with hurricanes on a regular basis. Granted, its the first time this governors been through it. What a hell of a test this is. I think the state is working as hard as it can to get the supplies out when it receives them. Its just that there are 50 other states all vying for the same supplies. Advertisement When you look at whats happening in New York or Seattle, what are you most trying to prevent happening in Tampa? The virus spreading to those individuals who can least afford to have it: those who have comorbidities and the elderly. The information thats coming from the health care community and from the scientists says there are many people whove already had this and gotten over it. I think thats the data we need to focus on right now, because there is so little ability to test. Thats not a lost cause. We need to continue to do that. I also think looking at antibody treatments will be a focus in the next couple weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im on the phone with the heads of our local hospitals on a regular basis. Im very worried about a surgeI have no doubt that thats coming. And Im trying to be realistic. Im not painting any kind of a rosy landscape for my city. This is real. People are going to die. We have to deal with this and not try to bury our heads in the sand. With the lack of testing, how are you trying to get as much information from your city as you can? At the University of South Florida, some of the students and researchers in the infectious disease area are putting together a dashboard of the information we need. Theyre collecting the ages and the geographic locations of all the people who call in to try to get a test. We can then look and measure where the positive tests are coming from, and where the hot spots are. Advertisement That really stands out to me, because what youre saying is your own individual municipality is taking on this big data crunching thing. Normally, that wouldnt be on the city of Tampa to do. Its really every man for himself in this coronavirus. This is not a normal situation. Its new territory, uncharted waters for everybody nationwide. So were trying to hit it from as many angles as we possibly can. The data and analysis angle is something that I have seen be very successful in the past. I think itll be successful here as well. We just have to make sure were getting the right data. Advertisement Advertisement Youre saying its every man for himself, which strikes me as true. But there has to be a collective solution. Right? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right. But sometimes its hard to get individuals to listen. If you can show them the actionable data, then they may listen. The situation changes every single day. When I first proposed a stay-at-home order, the emergency policy group wouldnt even vote to discuss it. Days later, we were voting on it for the entire county. Thats fast. Its fast, yeah. But thats what I told everyone: They said slow down, and I said no, you need to keep up. Everyone needs to understand the severity of this: the speed with which it spreads and the need for action now, not tomorrow. How have you been coping in the time of the coronavirus? Call the What Next team and tell us about it. Our number is 202-888-2588. Or you can tweet at me @marysdesk. Listen to the full episode using the player below, or subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker will extend his stay-at-home order through the end of April as part of the states effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, the governor said on Tuesday. The new order means that public and private schools across the state will remain closed for another month. The news comes as state officials announced 937 additional coronavirus cases and 26 more deaths. There have been 5,994 known cases of COVID-19, including 99 deaths, in 54 of the states 102 counties since the outbreak began in Illinois in late January. Here are the latest updates Tuesday on the new coronavirus in the Chicago area and Illinois: 10:16 p.m.: Gov. Pritzker: Without more ventilators, Illinois will be unprepared for coming onslaught of coronavirus cases Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday evening if the state doesnt receive a significant shipment of additional ventilators within the next week, Illinois wont be ready for the kind of onslaught were going to see, as coronavirus cases continue to rise and officials project the state will reach the peak of the outbreak in April. Pritzker made those comments Tuesday evening on CNNs Cuomo Prime Time program, where he said he spoke to Vice President Mike Pence earlier on Tuesday. Pritzker said he told Pence Illinois needs 4,000 more ventilators. When I said that, and repeated that to him, he said well, our models show that maybe you need 1,400 ventilators. Well, I hope hes right. But I said to him well give me the 1,400 ventilators then, because were only a couple of weeks away from the peak, Pritzker said. Truly, if we dont have those ventilators delivered in the next week, were not going to be prepared across the state for the kind of onslaught that were going to see. At a White House briefing earlier on Tuesday, Pence also mentioned his call with Pritzker, and said in the last week and in the week ahead the federal government will have sent 450 ventilators to Illinois. On Monday, Pritzker said that in the states most recent shipment of personal protective equipment from the federal government included surgical masks, and not the N95 masks Pritzker said he requested from President Donald Trump directly last week and was later told the state would receive from the federal government. Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said in a statement Tuesday Illinois has received 300 ventilators since the governor called the president, and there are another 150 coming for the Chicago area, were told. But this is still not enough and less than we asked for. The federal government has acknowledged the mistake in our recent delivery of masks and is working to remedy the situation, Abudayyeh said. Pritzker said at his daily briefing Monday that he expects that by the end of the week the state will have received 5.5 million n95 masks and nearly 5.6 million surgical masks from state-executive contracts, with more on the way beyond that, he said. Im looking all over the world looking for ventilators, Im purchasing every ventilator that I can find, but were buying them in hundred-lots and 200-lots and frankly, Im taking them 50, 20, 10 wherever I can get them, Pritzker told CNN Tuesday. Were going to run out of ventilators and the federal government really isnt helping at all. Pritzker on Tuesday extended a statewide stay-at-home order through April 30, and state officials reported the known coronavirus case count in Illinois was 5,994 Tuesday, including 99 deaths. Jamie Munks 10 p.m.: Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot join to create an emergency fund for the arts and artists in Illinois In an attempt to boost the battered arts and cultural communities in the Land of Lincoln, the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago will join with philanthropies to create a new emergency fund. Dubbed Arts for Illinois, the fast-tracked initiative will be seeded with at least $4.5 million in unrestricted support for artists and artisans, many of whom now find themselves out of work. It will also support nonprofit cultural organizations across the state, most of which are now bereft of income, with some staring total ruin in the face. We want artists to know that they have a broad base of support in Illinois, said Gov. J.B. Pritzker in a telephone interview on Tuesday. Read more here. Chris Jones 6:50 p.m.: Illinois might have 19,000 COVID-19 cases about a week from now, according to one analysis. But it could have been worse. The number of COVID-19 cases in Illinois could exceed 19,000 a little more than a week from now, according to a new analysis by experts at Rush but thats far less than the 147,000 cases the state could have seen by then if residents had not retreated to their homes. The projections from Rush related to a new forecasting tool being offered to hospital officials add to efforts by academics and experts across the country to estimate how bad the outbreak might get and how best to prepare. The White House discussed several models at a briefing Tuesday, including one that projected 100,000 to 200,000 deaths nationally if mitigation measures are in place to slow the transmission of the illness. Illinois officials have not publicly released predictions about the number of cases in coming days and weeks, other than saying that they expect cases to peak in April and that the state would have run out of hospital beds by now without the governors stay-at-home order. As of Tuesday, Illinois had 5,994 confirmed cases statewide. Read more here. Lisa Schencker and Joe Mahr 6:28 p.m.: Panel charged with revising lobbying and government ethics law blames coronavirus for missing deadline A legislative panel charged with revising the states lobbying and government ethics law has blamed the coronavirus for missing its March 31 deadline to produce a draft report. With legislators confined to their homes like everybody else in the state, the bipartisan Illinois Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform hasnt convened in nearly a month. Democratic House Majority Leader Greg Harris, a co-chairman of the commission, said a new deadline for the panels report has not yet been established, but that he believes the Democratic and Republican caucuses in the House and Senate will be eager to take action when the legislative session resumes. Hopefully when we get back into session we can get right back onto this as a priority as well, Harris said. Lots of things are going to be naturally limited, but I hope this one will be one of the ones that will be, you know, elevated during that time. The commission was formed in 2019 in response to the federal corruption investigation that has touched a number of state legislators including former state Sen. Martin Sandoval and former state Rep. Luis Arroyo, both of whom resigned in light of the investigation. Both face federal criminal charges -- Sandoval has pleaded guilty, Arroyo has pleaded not guilty. Republican State Sens. Dan McConchie, of Hawthorn Woods, and John Curran, of Downers Grove, who both serve on the commission, released a statement Tuesday attributing the missed deadline to the COVID-19 public health crisis. "Illinois residents should know that this delay in no way negates the critical work our commission was doing, nor does it mean our need for ethics reform has fallen on the wayside. Rather, we look forward to the time when we can all meet again and fulfill our goal of submitting recommendations to bring real ethics reform to Illinois, they said. The Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform last met March 5 and had planned to meet one more time before todays deadline. Antonia Ayres-Brown 5:52 p.m.: Aurora youth pastor on ventilator in Michigan hospital battles coronavirus An Aurora youth pastor is on a ventilator battling coronavirus in a Michigan hospital, but his family says they are holding onto their faith that God has a bigger plan for him. Andrew Coffield, 29, has been working as a youth pastor for First Apostolic Church of Aurora since 2015. He grew up in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and has been living in Aurora with his wife Chelsea and his son Carson, who turns 2 years old on Thursday. After the couple heard about the shelter in place order in Illinois, Coffields older sister Rachelle Huff said they traveled back to Michigan to be with family, including Coffields mom, who is a nurse. They didnt want to quarantine with a 2-year-old and wanted to be with family, so they came here, Huff said. The couple arrived in Michigan on March 20, not realizing Coffield had been exposed to the virus. Huff said she doesnt know where that happened. It could have been from a grocery store shopping cart, which is essential, Huff said. Read more here. Megan Jones 5:37 p.m.: Pritzker promises state doing all it can to see more prisoners exit system The state has made a concerted effort to release prison inmates early to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 behind bars, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday, pointing to an Illinois prison population that sits at its lowest count since the 1990s. In his daily coronavirus press briefing the same day a Tribune story raised questions about the Illinois Department of Corrections response to the virus, Pritzker said nearly 300 more inmates have recently been released and the state is continuing to review case files to potentially send more out of harms way. Were working hard to balance the need to free up as much space in our prisons as possible with making sure were not releasing those who may pose a risk to their communities, Pritzker said at his press conference. Jails and prisons where effective social distancing is nearly impossible have the potential to become hotspots for the virus spread. There are 32 inmates in state prisons who have tested positive for COVID-19, and 18 staff members with confirmed infections, Pritzker announced. One of the states 99 confirmed COVID-19 fatalities was an inmate at Stateville prison in Joliet. Read more here. Megan Crepeau and Annie Sweeney 4:58 p.m.: Suburban newspaper chain folds amid coronavirus ad drought Days after suspending print publication of its suburban Chicago newspaper chain, 22nd Century Media ceased operations Tuesday amid a coronavirus-spawned advertising drought. The end was sudden and the downfall swift, as businesses closed shop and advertising dried up, cutting off the key revenue stream for the weekly newspapers, Joe Coughlin, 22nd Centurys publisher, said Tuesday. We were having a great year, and then...March, Coughlin said. "Advertising and revenue collection just stopped. The decision ends a 15-year run for the hyperlocal publisher, whose 14 Chicago-area weeklies ranged from the north suburban Highland Park Landmark and Northbrook Tower to the Orland Park Prairie and Lockport Legend in the southwest suburbs. The newspaper chain had about 50 employees. A handful will stay on to help wind down operations over the next few weeks, Coughlin said. The rest have been laid off as of Tuesday. Read more here. Robert Channick 4:57 p.m.: Coronavirus prompts feds to change renewal system for DACA work permits From his Gage Park home, 24-year-old Francisco Rafael Peralta-Cerda is busy developing lesson plans and coursework to keep his middle school students focused on daily assignments amid a public health crisis sweeping the nation. In addition to the stresses of teaching remotely, Peralta-Cerda, who immigrated with his parents from Mexico more than two decades ago, also is worried about his ability to keep working in the country. Peralta-Cerda is among the more than 32,000 immigrants in the Chicago area who are enrolled in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that shields young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation. Because the future of the program is uncertain the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule in the coming weeks on whether the Trump administration can end it immigrants like Peralta-Cerda are anxious to keep their work permits up date and maintain their jobs. But with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices closed because of the new coronavirus, work permit renewals have been a concern in the immigrant community. Read more here. Abdel Jimenez 4:57 p.m.: Should Illinois expand mail-in voting for November election? Were looking at it, Pritzker says, but ultimately its up to the General Assembly. Given fears over a resurgence in the fall of COVID-19, politicians and elected leaders have been talking about whether states need to expand or even pivot to total mail-in ballot voting systems. Ive been an . . . advocate for mail-in ballots for a long time anyway, Gov. Pritzker said this afternoon, when asked about expanding Illinois mail-in system. I do think were going to have to look at for the general election the idea that we may have to move to a significant amount or all mail in ballots or at least giving people the opportunity to do that. But its something were going to look at, he said. The legislature would have to make that decision, Pritzker said. And that brings about another complication: Bringing 177 members of the General Assembly together, not to mention smaller committee hearings, at a time when crowds and gatherings are being discouraged to avoid the spread of the disease. Over the weekend, NBCs Chuck Todd asked Vice President Joe Biden, front-runner in the Democratic presidential race, about whether the November election might need to be done via mail-in ballot. Biden offered a similar response as Pritzker: I think we should be looking to all-mail ballots across the board to begin with, because its an easier way for people to vote. But whether or not thats required across the board in all 50 states and territories Im not sure yet. ... But we should be beginning to plan that in each of our states, he said. The White House did not immediately respond to a question about whether President Donald Trump favors such a plan. Read more here. Lisa Donovan 4:57 p.m.: Another patient from Willowbrook nursing home has died Another victim of coronavirus at a nursing home in Willowbrook has died, officials announced Tuesday. The woman was in her 70s and had underlying medical conditions. Her death is the 10th from the virus in DuPage County, officials said. Six were from the Chateau Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in the southwest suburb. Read more here. Robert McCoppin 4:41 p.m.: Northwestern, U. of I. hospitals part of global trial of the drug remdesivir Two Chicago hospitals are participating in a global trial of an experimental anti-viral drug to treat coronavirus. Northwestern Memorial Hospital and University of Illinois Hospital are testing the safety and efficacy of remdesivir, which has been found to have anti-viral activity against coronaviruses in the lab and in animals, officials said Tuesday. An 89-year-old man in intensive care was the first patient at Northwestern Medicine to participate, and his family was very excited about it, according to a news release. Four patients have quickly enrolled at University of Illinois since Thursday, with possibly as many as 30 to be enrolled, said Dr. Richard Novak, chief of infectious diseases. The drug was promising when used against the Ebola virus, and has worked well with minor side effects in laboratories and in animals, including monkeys, Novak said. It works by blocking the virus from reproducing itself, so if it works it should also help patients be less infectious to others. High demand for remdesivir developed after President Donald Trump called the drug promising in a news conference in mid-March. Another drug the president called a game-changer, the anti-malarial hydroxychloraquine, has also not yet been proven in such a clinical trial. The study should take a couple of months, but could be ended sooner if the drug proves to work or causes problems. Read more here. Robert McCoppin 4:38 p.m.: State emergency alert issues plea for health care workers An emergency alert was issued across cell phones in Illinois asking health care workers in the state Tuesday to sign up to be deployed to help fight COVID-19. The alert blared around 4 p.m. Tuesday with the text: State needs licensed healthcare workers to sign-up at IllinoisHelps.net to fight COVID-19. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has asked licensed Illinois medical professionals to sign up for a new alert system that when activated will ask you to deploy to assist in our response to urgent needs during this public health crisis. Pritzker also asked retired professionals, such as doctors, nurses and technicians, to volunteer to help. The state is expediting license renewals. More than 500 former health care workers have answered the call. The cell phone emergency alert system was also used last week after Mayor Lori Lightfoot closed the Lakefront and 606 trails. Madeline Buckley 4:25 p.m.: Our vacation was stolen: VRBO guests fume over refunds on trips When Erin Haughton planned her familys spring break getaway to Mexico earlier this year, she booked a place to stay with VRBO, a popular vacation home rental site shed used in the past. The Frankfort woman is supposed to be on that trip in Playa del Carmen right now, enjoying a sunny week with her husband and three kids. Like other would-be travelers, the coronavirus pandemic means shes stuck at home. And like other VRBO customers, shes fighting a bitter battle to get her money back. Expedia Groups VRBO is hardly the only travel company dealing with incensed customers as a result of COVID-19 and the chaotic swirl of closures and cancellations trailing in the new coronavirus wake. But compared with rival platform Airbnb, which mandated the option of cash refunds for a wide swath of customers, VRBOs approach has been more hands-off, ultimately leaving it up to guests and hosts to work out the details of compensating for dashed travel plans. Read more here. Lori Rackl 3:55 p.m.: The Illinois school shutdown has just been extended through April 30. Now what? The governors latest announcement extends not just Illinois stay-at-home order for another month but also the statewide school closure. What will that mean for students, parents and teachers? How will remote learning work? Will students be graded? We explain it all here. Hannah Leone 3:53 p.m.: Lake Bluff woman, 11-year-old son home from Peru after international borders closed After 54 hours of straight travel, the first thing Kelly Gross and her 11-year-old son did when they got home was hug. The Lake Bluff woman and son had been stuck in Peru under the Peruvian government's strict quarantine measures that closed international borders and banned most travel within the country starting March 17. They worried that they wouldnt be able to make it home, her son telling her he wished he were the superhero Dr. Strange so he could create a portal to get them home. The two are among the scores of Americans that the U.S. government has repatriated from Peru and other countries as international borders around the globe began to close, a process that Gross found isolating, frustrating but also managed by State Department staff who were obviously working incredibly hard. Read more here. Emily K. Coleman 3:51 p.m.: Glenview pastor remembers usher who died of coronavirus and responds to backlash over fateful gathering The Life Church of Glenview, where leaders previously said dozens of members were experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, held a virtual service Sunday where a member who recently died of the disease was remembered and the pastor spoke on the criticism received over holding a recent in-person gathering. Prayers were offered for the health of the congregation. "This church is in need of a touch from the holy ghost, Pastor Anthony LoCascio said in prayer at the start of the service that was livestreamed on YouTube. Forty-three people who attended a March 15 service at the church, located in Glenview, are displaying symptoms of the illness, including LoCascio, his wife Layna LoCascio wrote in a Facebook post March 25. Ten members tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, Anthony LoCascio confirmed in an email Monday to Pioneer Press. Read more here. Anna Kim 3:15 p.m.: Staffer at LaRabida Childrens Hospital tests positive, 6 patients isolated as precaution A staff member at LaRabida Childrens Hospital on Chicagos South Side has tested positive for coronavirus, and six patients have been isolated as a precaution, the hospital said Tuesday. The staffer was last in the hospital last Thursday, according to hospital spokeswoman Michele Wysoglad. The person began experiencing symptoms Friday and tested positive for the virus over the weekend. On the last day at work, the staffer had interacted with six patients and they have been placed in special respiratory isolation, Wysoglad said. Wysoglad said the staff member was wearing proper PPE at work, limiting the possibility of patients being exposed to the virus. We feel like we mitigated this person exposing anybody else, she said We are pretty confident the risk is minimal. As of Tuesday, no patients have contracted the virus, she said. Wysoglad said the hospital has been cleaning and disinfecting on an ongoing basis. The hospital has also implemented additional safety protocols, ensuring all staff have washed their hands and are wearing protective equipment before they enter a room with a patient. Sophie Sherry 3:07 p.m.: Coronavirus forcing the states marijuana industry to adapt Employees at Illinois marijuana dispensaries worked tirelessly during the first weeks of recreational weed sales, attempting to meet insatiable demand for the newly legal product. Three weeks ago, everything changed. As the new coronavirus pandemic spread and Illinoisans were ordered to stay home, dispensaries which are deemed essential by the state and allowed to stay open suddenly had to figure out how to enforce social distancing in their stores. Protecting medical marijuana patients, many of whom have compromised immune systems, became a pressing concern. And plans to open new dispensaries were put on the back burner as city approvals for new sites ground to a halt. Read more here. Ally Marotti 2:44 p.m.: Officials announce 26 more deaths, 937 new known cases as Pritzker says he will extend stay-at-home order State officials on Tuesday announced 937 additional cases of the new coronavirus and 26 more deaths as Gov. J.B. Pritzker extends his statewide stay-at-home order through April. That brings the statewide totals to 5,994 known infections and 99 deaths since the start of the outbreak. The deaths announced Tuesday include 17 people in Cook County: two men in their 50s, one man and two women in their 60s, five men and two women in their 70s, three men and one woman in their 80s, and one man in his 90s. The other dead are two DuPage County women in their 70s, a Kane County man in his 80s, a Lake County woman in her 60s, a McLean County man in his 70s, a Morgan County man in his 80s, a St. Clair County woman in her 30s, and a Will County man and woman in their 80s. After the death of an inmate at Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet was announced Monday, Pritzker also outlined the steps the Department of Corrections is taking to combat the virus. The department has been reviewing the case files of low-level offenders and releasing those who pose a low risk, including about 300 released Tuesday afternoon, Pritzker said. 2:30 p.m.: Preckwinkle says coronavirus likely to have profound impact on Cook Countys hospital system Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle expects a profound impact on the county hospitals systems budget as doctors stop performing profitable elective procedures in order to make more room for coronavirus sufferers. The number of people without health insurance who need expensive intensive care is also expected to go way up in coming weeks, further hurting the bottom line for the Chicago areas safety net health system, Preckwinkle said Tuesday. For our health and hospital system, we receive the most compensation for the elective surgeries that we do, Preckwinkle said. Those are being halted because beds at Stroger Hospital and elsewhere are going to be needed as the number of patients with COVID-19 spikes. How much it will hit the budget is unclear, Preckwinkle said. I cant tell you how much of a financial impact it will have, because we dont know how long the pandemic will prohibit us from doing elective surgeries, she said. Meanwhile, Preckwinkle said the county medical staff remains concerned about the number of virus cases at the Cook County Jail, where a field hospital has been set up in an area where boot camp sentences used to be carried out. The jails a petri dish, Preckwinkle said, adding that she continues to work with Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and Chief Judge Tim Evans to lower the head count in the jail so fewer people inside are exposed to the disease. There are about 5,000 inmates now, Preckwinkle said, and there could be about a thousand more non-violent offenders eligible for release soon. John Byrne 12:58 p.m.: Pritzker expected to extend stay-at-home order through April 30, source says Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to extend his stay-at-home order through the end of April as part of the states effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, a source said. The new order would run through April 30 and bring Illinois in line with the latest recommendations from the federal government. The governors order also means that public and private schools across the state will remain closed for another month. On Tuesday, districts were required to begin offering remote learning for their students. Pritzkers initial order went into effect March 21 and requires people to stay home except to go to work at essential jobs and to run errands like trips to the grocery store or pharmacy, was set to expire after April 7. Pritzker has said projections suggest that the number of known COVID-19 cases which topped 5,000 on Monday will peak sometime in April.More to come. Dan Petrella 12:33 p.m.: Muslim-American charity donates much needed gloves to Franciscan Health, South Side hospitals The Bridgeview-based Zakat Foundation last week donated thousands of pairs of much needed medical gloves to Franciscan Health Hospital in Olympia Fields and hospitals on the South Side. We have a shortage of (personal protective equipment, just like every other hospital, said Yvonne McCauley, internal medicine program coordinator for Franciscan Health. Read more here. Frank Viasvilas 12:30 p.m.: City to put first responders up in downtown hotel rooms The city will provide 274 hotel rooms for Chicagos paramedics, firefighters and police officers as a respite for those who may have been exposed to people with the coronavirus, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Tuesday. The rooms will be provided by the Hotel Essex, at 800 S. Michigan Ave., the mayor said, speaking at graduation for new Chicago Fire Department paramedics. These rooms arent for first responders who are themselves sick," Lightfoot said. We have hospitals for that. However, the reality is that they are coming in contact with the virus everyday and working long, hard hours. And some of them may prefer to stay downtown rather than going home to their spouse, kids or friends. Jim Tracy, president of Local 2 of the Chicago Fire Fighters Union, said the new accommodations were a relief. Everybodys got a different situation that they live with, whether theyve got young children, whether they have somebody with an autoimmune deficiency, whether we have senior citizens or parents that were taking care of, grandparents, Tracy said. Lightfoot spoke at a ceremony honoring 34 newly-minted paramedics, which was held at the Fire Departments headquarters and not in its normal place in the ballroom of Navy Pier. The families and friends of graduates could not attend due to restrictions put in place as part of the city and states response to the coronavirus. Graduates sat several feet from one another to adhere to social distancing restrictions. And when it was time for them to cross the podium after their names were called, graduates traded forearm bumps with Lightfoot and Fire Commissioner Richard Ford II, instead of traditional handshakes. Read more here. Jeremy Gorner 12:16 p.m.: Criminal court hearings schedules changed due to coronavirus Hearing schedules at the Leighton Criminal Court Building will change significantly beginning Wednesday as the court extends its massive shutdown through mid-May to try to slow the virus spread. On weekdays, bond hearings in murder and sex-crime cases will be heard at 11 a.m. daily instead of noon. Central Bond Court - where most other felony bond hearings are conducted - will begin two hours early, at 11:30. The building is closed to the public, so defendants loved ones can check the results of bond hearings on a list that will be posted in the courthouses entryway every afternoon. In addition, the Public Defenders office will post bond information on their website. Anyone seeking information about the results of a bond hearing also can call the sheriffs office at 773-674-7833 and 773-674-5200; or the circuit clerks office at 773-674-5882. The new schedule is expected to be in effect for the duration of an emergency order signed by Chief Judge Timothy Evans that mandated the postponement of non-essential court operations. On Monday, that slowdown was extended until at least May 18. Megan Crepeau 11:26 a.m.: No plans for city worker layoffs, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says Mayor Lori Lightfoot doesnt expect the city to have to lay off any workers due to the coronaviruss impact on the budget, she said Tuesday. Asked if the city is expecting to do layoffs, Lightfoot said no. Our economy in this region is incredibly diverse, and if you look at how we have fared in other economic downturns, whether its 9/11 the Great Recession of 2008 or 2009, weve had some impact of course, but (weve) rebounded back very very strong and well, Lightfoot said. For our city revenues, no one revenue stream is more than 13% and what we call the economically sensitive revenue streams, none of them in the aggregate add up to more than 25%. The budget anticipated an economic downturn, Lightfoot said. Lightfoot also said she doesnt anticipate a large naval vessel on Lake Michigan, similar to whats happening in New York, and thats partly why officials are working to transform McCormick Place into a coronavirus hospital. Gregory Pratt 11:22 a.m.: Elmhurst Hospital caregivers get gift of meals from local catering company Market Table Catering & Events of Elmhurst is helping the fight against coronavirus by donating meals to Elmhurst Hospital to feed caregivers and other staff as they work to care for those affected by the pandemic. Market Table, 130 N. York St., has pledged to provide 1,700 individually prepared meals twice a week for the foreseeable future. The business, which describes itself as an event venue and catering business, began deliveries last week. Providing sandwiches, chips, fruit and cookies that hospital food service staff are arranging on platters for delivery to staff working in units all over the hospital. The donations benefit anybody and everybody working in the hospital, according to Keith Hartenberger, system director, public relations for Elmhurst Hospital parent Edward-Elmhurst Health. Read more here. Greydon Megan 11:20 a.m.: Newest crime stats show continued drop in Chicago during COVID-19 emergency Chicago continued to see significant decreases in major crimes during the first full week of Gov. J.B. Pritzkers statewide stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus pandemic. From March 23 through Sunday, the city saw a 23% single-week dip in its seven major crime categories, including homicides, burglaries and major thefts, compared to the same stretch in 2019, official city data shows. Last weeks major crime numbers were also down by about 7% from the previous week, March 16 through March 22. During that week, Pritzker closed schools across Illinois, bars and restaurants were shuttered and his stay-at-home directive went into effect March 21. It has only been a few weeks since the spread of COVID-19 led many Chicagoans to adhere to social distancing restrictions and avoid large gatherings all the more reason for crime experts to caution against reading too much into the lowered crime numbers over such a short time frame. Violence continued to persist last week, though just slightly lower than the same week in 2019. Only three homicides were reported in Chicago from March 23 through Sunday, 10 fewer than the same week last year, the data shows. There were, however, 41 total shootings, just one below the same week in 2019. Read more here. Jeremy Gorner 10:49 a.m.: United Center to serve as a storage facility for the Greater Chicago Food Depository The United Center has been transformed into a satellite storage facility for the Greater Chicago Food Depository as the home of the Bulls and Blackhawks begins to play its role in the emergency relief efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Lines of boxes sat atop the ice at the arena, which initially was scheduled to host the Blackhawks home finale on Tuesday night. Instead, the venue began being put to use following last weeks announcement that it would be transformed into a logistics hub to assist with aid. By alleviating space in the food banks warehouse, the Food Depository can bring additional volunteers into their facility to build more family food boxes in an environment that adheres to social distancing protocols, a United Center statement said. These boxes will continue to be distributed to those in need by the Food Depositorys partner network throughout Chicago and Cook County. Read more here. Jamal Collier 10:04 a.m.: Lake County, Ind., sees first fatality jump from COVID-19 with 4 more dead, officials say Lake County, Indiana, saw four new reported deaths from coronavirus overnight, officials said Tuesday. Locally, it was the first major fatality spike since cases hit Indiana March 6. In total, Lake County now has five deaths from COVID-19. The State Department of Health earlier reported a death in Jasper County. Both Lake and Porter counties continued to see new coronavirus cases Tuesday. With Indianas second-highest number of infected persons, Lake County cases grew by 49 to 146. Porter County now has 24 cases, up from 19 the prior day. LaPorte County reported eight cases. Read more here. Meredith Colias-Pete 6:40 a.m.: Lightfoot, fire commissioner hold Chicago Fire Department graduation ceremony, announce new support for emergency crews with unions Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Fire Commissioner Richard C. Ford II were scheduled to hold a Fire Department graduation ceremony and congratulate new paramedics Tuesday morning, then join union leaders to announce new supports for emergency workers, according to the mayors office. City fire and police graduations are usually massive affairs, held often at Navy Piers historic Grand Ballroom, at the east end of the pier. Tuesdays event looked to be a scaled-down version of the ceremonies, to be held at the citys Public Safety Headquarters on the South Side. Chicago Tribune staff 6:30 a.m.: Struggling to keep the homeless safe and sheltered during outbreak: I dont think we can paint a really rosy picture Missy Lees nerves are shot. Shes had bronchitis for about a month and is feeling increasingly helpless as the coronavirus outbreak grows wider and wider. Unlike a lot of people, she cant isolate herself at home. She doesnt have one. She lives with about 40 other women in a shelter in Chicago. Their beds are about 2 feet apart, even after many residents, including Lees partner, were moved to comply with the 6-foot social distancing guidelines. Lee has trouble sleeping. Theres so many women that are coughing, she said. We dont know if any of them have the coronavirus because nobodys been tested. One breathes, we feel it. The Tribune interviewed Lee and a dozen other homeless people in the Chicago area who are struggling through a health crisis that threatens the services they rely on to survive. Read more here. Cecilia Reyes 5 a.m.: Cook County, state struggle with what to do with incarcerated in the face of the new coronavirus Officials knew two weeks ago just what kind of crisis loomed outside the front doors of the sprawling Cook County Jail. COVID-19 had just been declared a pandemic. More than 5,500 detainees were housed in close quarters inside the Southwest Side facility, with new arrivals coming daily from all corners of the county. Conditions were ideal for the new diseases unchecked spread. A potential disaster, as Cook County Public Defender Amy Campanelli put it. A huge problem, Sheriff Tom Dart added, noting, there is no playbook here. In the Illinois Department of Corrections, too, alarms were sounding. Advocates, attorneys and loved ones of the systems 40,000 inmates watched anxiously, wondering what could be done to protect a population with nowhere to shelter. And so authorities were quickly confronted with the challenge to strike a balance. Which would better protect public safety: keeping people behind bars, or letting them out to join the public in isolation efforts to try and slow the escalating coronavirus emergency? Some expedited releases have begun, but advocates say neither the state nor the county has pivoted fast enough in the face of the growing public health crisis. Instead, COVID-19 has highlighted flaws they have been complaining about for years mass incarceration, massive bureaucracy, and poor health care and conditions behind bars. Read more here. Annie Sweeney and Megan Crepeau 5 a.m.: Neighbors worried about pollution from troubled North Side scrap shredder during pandemic Much of Chicago is shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a North Side company with a long history of pollution problems is still shredding flattened cars, twisted rebar and used appliances every day. Neighbors are livid. They have been complaining for years about metallic odors from General Iron Industries, a scrap yard sandwiched between the densely populated Bucktown and Lincoln Park neighborhoods. With Chicagoans under orders to stay home until at least April 7, many are worried their exposure to air pollution could make people more susceptible to a dangerous coronavirus that attacks the lungs and upper-respiratory tract. Read more here. Michael Hawthorne Monday, March 30 Heres a recap of coronavirus updates in the Chicago area and Illinois from Monday: Sunday, March 29 Heres a recap of coronavirus updates in the Chicago area and Illinois from Sunday: Saturday, March 28 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday agreed that expert teams of the two countries would actively share information on measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus as well as about ongoing research on treatment and vaccines. During their telephonic conversation, the two leaders discussed the domestic and international aspects of the crisis posed by the pandemic, and underlined the importance of global collaboration and solidarity in the present situation, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said. The French president strongly agreed with Prime Minister Modi's view that the COVID-19 crisis is a turning point in modern history, and offers the world an opportunity to forge a new human-centric concept of globalisation, it said. The two underlined the importance of not losing sight of other global concerns like climate change, which impact humanity as a whole. They also stressed on the need for devoting special attention to the needs of less-developed countries, including those in Africa, during the present crisis. Modi expressed his condolences to Macron for the loss of lives in France due to COVID-19 pandemic. "They agreed that the expert teams of both countries would actively share information on measures to prevent the spread of the virus, and research on treatment and vaccines," the statement said. Macron welcomed Modi's suggestion that the practice of yoga offers a convenient means of ensuring mental and physical well-being, for people confined to their homes by the pandemic. "He confirmed that Yoga has been winning new practitioners in France during the present health crisis," the statement said, adding the two leaders agreed that the India-France partnership could contribute to advancing a spirit of human-centric solidarity in the present difficult times. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. Scientists aim to unearth genetic information of SARS-CoV-2. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Scientists of Comenius University in Bratislava are working to uncover the full genetic information of the new virus in Slovakia. They have already analysed isolates from the first Slovak patients, and the genomes are now part of the international GISAID database, as reported by the TASR newswire. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement "Knowledge about genomes can help us better control the spread of disease or trace the disease," said Tomas Szemes of the UKs Faculty of Natural Sciences. Experts from the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Comenius University (UK) are, moreover, prepared to help Slovakia test people suspected of having the coronavirus. A virus map of Slovakia Deputies found three children alone inside a home with their dead 37-year-old mother Tuesday in northeast Harris County. The discovery happened moments after a man turned himself into the Baytown Police Department claiming he had outstanding warrants, later divulging that his wife was dead inside their home in the 13100 block of Ashley Meadow Lane, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. The 37-year-old man, whose identity was not immediately released, did not give any other details, Gonzalez said. 'ISOLATION COMPOUNDS VIOLENCE': Abuse victims more at risk during coronavirus quarantines Deputies with the Harris County Precinct 3 Constables Office went to the home to check on the woman and were greeted at the door by three children, ages 4, 7 and 11. One of the children led deputies to a bedroom inside the home where the woman was dead with traumatic injuries, Gonzalez said. It is unclear whether the children knew their mother had died before deputies arrived. The home, decorated for Easter, was built in 2019 and is situated in a brand-new development, records show. Detectives said the man is being questioned but was not in custody as of late Monday morning. They are awaiting an autopsy to determine how the woman died. Gonzalez said detectives are still trying to piece everything together and did not say whether they thought the man was the suspected killer. MORE FROM JAY R. JORDAN: Houston father threatens son with gun for taking too long in shower Were not going to speculate, Gonzalez said. Obviously, everybody will be interviewed. The fact (is) that he resides here and obviously everyone will be looked at. There are strong indications it was a traumatic death that he could have had some involvement. Gonzalez said the womans death could be related to domestic violence, an issue which the sheriff has said could increase as more and more people are forced to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Montgomery County, prosecutors announced theyve seen a 35 percent uptick in domestic violence-related incidents since the onset of the pandemic when compared to cases filed in the same time frame in 2019. Gonzalez said hes seen similar increases in Harris County and fears things could get worse as the shelter order continues. The children were left with family members, Gonzalez said. Its going to be traumatic on anyone, if not immediately, then later on especially those who are a little bit older, like the 7- and 11-year-old, Gonzalez said. Our hope is they eventually recover from all this and have the proper love and support from others. Anyone with information is urged to call Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477). 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 President Uhuru Kenyatta has constituted a 10-member board to oversee the Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund. The board is expected to foster the national response to the coronavirus pandemic, Statehouse spokesperson Kanze Dena said in a statement yesterday. The board will be chaired by Jane Karuku and its members include acting Safaricom CEO Micheal Joseph, Equity Group Chief Executive James Mwangi, Dr Narenda Raval, KCB CEO Joshua Oigara and Absa Bank Kenya PLC Managing Director Jeremy Awori. Others are Royal Media Services MD Wachira Waruru, Mohammed Hersi and Kenya Association of Manufacturers CEO Phyllis Wakiaga. While Kennedy Kihara will be the secretary to the board, Uhuru has designated Interior CS Fred Matiangi and the Chairperson Council of Governors Wycliffe Oparanya as joint representatives of the government. The principal objective of the fund shall be to mobilize resources for an emergency response towards containing the spread, effects and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a statement reads in part. President Kenyatta said that the emergency response fund will help mitigate the effects and impacts of Coronavirus. The seed capital of the Fund shall be drawn from the Exchequer, including the voluntary salary-cuts undertaken by the senior ranks of the Executive, Judiciary, Legislature and County Governments. The Exchequer contributions shall be supplemented by donations by Kenyan individuals and corporate entities, grants from our development partners and multinational institutions, and such other gifts, subscriptions and contributions as the Fund may receive from time to time, said Kanze Dena. The Government of Kenya calls upon all Kenyans, Corporate Entities both domestic and multinational, as well as our international development partners to support the national initiative. Kanze said by so doing Kenya will be better able to successfully contain the spread, effects and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic to its citizens and particularly those vulnerable in the society. 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. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden marked the birthday of civil rights icon Cesar Chavez on Tuesday by calling on employers to provide protections and benefits for farmworkers exposed to the coronavirus. President Barack Obama declared Chavez's birthday a national commemorative holiday in 2014. Biden, who was vice president during both of Obama's terms, leads Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in delegates in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. While many Americans are working from home, farm laborers have been in the fields in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, sustaining the food supply, which is under strain amid the crisis. In a statement to NBC News, Biden thanked the more than 2 million farmworkers whom he described as being "on the front lines, working to keep Americans fed and healthy during this pandemic." Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak Biden called the farmworkers "soldiers in this war against an invisible and undiscriminating enemy." The majority of the nation's farmworkers are undocumented. More than ever, employers should ensure the health and safety of their workers by providing those exposed to COVID-19 with paid leave so they can self-quarantine, Biden said. He also called for lifting a 90-day waiting period for farmworkers to become eligible for sick pay and for child care assistance and worker flexibility, because many farmworkers' children may be home as schools in their communities closed. "Farmworkers have always been essential essential to our national strength, essential to who we are as a people," Biden said. "And in a moment of national emergency, like we are in now, we all see and recognize just how vital they are, and the dignity and respect they are owed." The Trump administration restricted visas for farmworkers this month in response to the coronavirus, but the State Department has eased some of the limits in recent days. Story continues Cesar Chavez Day is what is known as a federal commemorative holiday. It honors Chavez's life and achievements but does not call for federal agencies to close, as is done on Presidents Day, for example. A handful of states celebrate it as a holiday, while others offer it as an optional holiday. Download the NBC News app for full coverage and alerts about the coronavirus outbreak Chavez, who was Mexican American, led marches, boycotts and other civil disobedience actions during the civil rights movement to secure rights for the nation's farmworkers. At the time, a greater share of them were U.S. citizens working for little pay in poor living conditions, with little injury protection, few benefits and a lack of educational resources for their children. IMAGE: Cesar Chavez in 1965 (George Brich / AP file) Along with labor activist Dolores Huerta, Chavez unionized farm laborers and helped win contracts with certain guarantees; he also pushed for federal and state legislation. But farmworkers continue to struggle for labor protections, particularly as the U.S. agriculture industry has become more dependent on immigrant labor. The House in December passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide a path to legal residency for undocumented farmworkers and revise the agricultural guest worker program known as H2A. The measure is in a Senate committee. The $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package excluded undocumented people from the stimulus checks that will be sent to Americans. Many farmworkers could get paid sick days and paid family and medical leave under the second coronavirus response bill signed by President Donald Trump, as long as businesses with 50 employees or fewer are not exempted, according to the Economic Policy Institute. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus pushed for protections for farmworkers, too, in a letter Tuesday to the administration. Among other things, it asked whether the administration will advise agriculture employers how to use coronavirus relief money to prevent COVID-19 transmission in housing and transportation provided to farmworkers. Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Organizers of a relief fund for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak say it has awarded more than $60,000 to 18 businesses this week. Organizers of the Small Business Relief Fund, a partnership between the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and the Community Foundation of West Alabama, also expect to make additional disbursements later this week. The Small Business Relief Fund includes donations from local businesses, individuals, foundations and government entities. Recipients are selected by a committee composed of business and community leaders. To qualify, businesses must have experienced a financial hardship as a result of COVID-19; have employed between two and 50 full-time employees as of Feb. 29; be in good standing with state and local government jurisdictions, and be located in Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter or Tuscaloosa County. Businesses can apply here. We are pleased to be able to assist our local small businesses during this challenging time, Bobby Bragg, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Chamber said. Supporting our friends and neighbors in the West Alabama business community is critical. Jim Page, president and CEO of the Chamber, said additional funding is needed and donations can be made via the Chambers and the Foundations website. Were proud of our business community for stepping up and helping to fund the program, he said. The more we all pitch in, the more businesses we can help. In coronavirus-crushed Italy, it's not just European Union flags being burned now, the situation is now degenerating into at least a threat of riots. Police have been deployed on the streets of Sicily's capital, Palermo, amid reports gangs are using social media to plot attacks on stores. A bankrupt ferry company halted service to the island, including vital supplies of food and medicines. As the state creaks under the strain of the coronavirus pandemic, officials worry the mafia may be preparing to step in. Preventing unrest in the so-called Mezzogiorno, the underdeveloped southern region that's long lagged behind the wealthy north, has become the government's top priority, according to Italian officials who asked not to be named discussing the administration's strategy. With the European Union's most dangerously indebted state already fighting the Germans over the terms of the financial aid it needs, the fallout may reach far beyond Rome if Conte fails. Proud of yourselves, European Union? Turns out it's not just Italy's European Union membership that's burning in Italy; it's the state itself. Not only is Europe's refusal to help Italy in a disastrous pandemic that has left more than 10,000 dead is making Italians wonder what its E.U. membership is good for; it's making some, at the fringes, at least, wonder what the state is good for. The state has failed to protect the people, and now the state is on the line, and there's a major threat of riots and disorder making the country a powder keg. Here's additional affirmation of a crumbling state, according to the Wall Street Journal: At a time when aid from Italy's allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and European Union was nowhere to be seen, Mr. Putin dispatched nine Iluyshin-76 aircraft laden with medical supplies and military personnel planes that landed at the Pratica di Mare military airfield near Rome within 24 hours of his March 21 conversation with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. "The Russians have taken advantage of the situation in a very agile way," said retired Gen. Vincenzo Camporini, the former chief of staff of Italian armed forces. "Yet, it's very unpleasant that our tragedy is being exploited for propaganda purposes." Russians to the rescue? In a NATO country? It's insane. But it's certainly possible in a place where the state is helpless, which this highlights. Apparently, the Russians invited themselves in, bearing banners in Russian, Italian, and English (to make sure we can read it): "From Russia with love." We all know what Russia-love is like. Meanwhile, the threat of a mafia takeover is positively surreal and yet in Italy, it's also perfectly possible. The Italian government thinks as much. Italy's mafia originally arose out of the failure of the state to act as a state, leaving people in the hinterlands to fend for themselves, the dynamic being that of peasants taking matters in their own hands and surviving by family-based crime and thievery. Italy's government must know well that when it fails, the mafia is right there, organized and ready to step into the void. Poor and despairing people will often gravitate to whatever seems to offer protection. It happened in Colombia with Pablo Escobar's narco-state, and shockingly in the 21st century, it looks as if it's on track to happen in modern Italy. The horrors the country has endured, and its abandonment by the international community, have to have left a sense of despair in the country at minimum, the feeling of being "a broken civilization" like post-Aztec Mexico. Oh, and there's not much religion to turn to; socialism has left empty pews in Italy, and the current pope isn't much help. Yet what could be more horrible in family-oriented Italy, where large numbers of people still live with their parents and grandparents, than to lose all the Italian nonnos and nonnas? That personal social disintegration leaves a lot of people feeling uprooted and lost and looking for some kind of strong hand. This is dry tinder for riots and unrest. Some kind of shakeout is coming to Italy in light of this disaster. It's hard to say what, but it underlines that it's important for Italy's allies to embrace it in its distress. The WSJ article notes that the Russian show of aid has at least prompted allies, including the U.S., to send aid. The pandemic, it seems, has the capacity to remake states. It might not just be China and Iran that get a reckoning from this; it's also Italy. It's also worth heeding the lessons seen there here. Image credit: PxFuel, public domain. Amid growing coronavirus concerns, Hollywood couple Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively has donated USD 400,000 to New York hospitals to aid the battle against the pandemic. According to TMZ, Reynolds and Lively, made personal USD 100K donations to NYU Hospital, Mount Sinai, Northern Westchester and Elmhurst. As the infection rate continues to rise the couple also encouraged people across America to help their local hospitals, healthcare workers and communities during this difficult time. It is their second major donation as earlier this month Ryan and Blake donated USD 1 million to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Armenias foreign ministry strongly condemns Azerbaijans March 30 attempts to escalate the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, MFA spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan said at a press conference. This violation provoked during the ceasefire has no justification, especially when currently the medical resources of all countries of the world, including the countries of the region, are directed for the fight against the novel coronavirus, the MFA spokeswoman said. On March 30, at around 19:00-19:30, the Azerbaijani forces fired shots from various caliber weapons at Armenias military positions located in Noyemberyan town of Tavush province, as well as at the direction of Baghanis and Voskevan villages. 2 soldiers and a 14-year-old child from Voskevan village have been injured from the Azerbaijani shooting. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Covid-19 hotspots account for three new cases in Vietnam A medical worker disinfects an ambulance car at Cu Chi Field Hospital in HCMC, February 10, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. Two Vietnamese and one Brazilian associated with two Covid-19 hotspots in Hanoi and HCMC were confirmed infected Tuesday evening. The three new cases took Vietnams Covid-19 tally to 207. "Patient 205" is a 41-year-old Vietnamese man who works for the Truong Sinh Company, which provides food and water for Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital, one major Covid-19 hotspot in the country. "Patient 206" is a 48-year-old Vietnamese man in Saigon's District 2, a chauffeur for Patients 124 and 151, often driving the latter two to multiple company branches in Dong Nai Province's Vinh Cuu District and Saigon's District 12. "Patient 124" was found to be infected after attending a party at the Buddha Bar in the district; following which "Patient 206" was quarantined in a military school in Cu Chi District. On March 27, he developed a sore throat, before testing positive on March 28. He's now being treated at the Cu Chi Field Hospital and is in stable health. "Patient 207," a 49-year-old Brazilian man in Saigon's District 2, is the husband of "Patient 151" and colleague of "Patient 124." He first tested negative on March 22, before being quarantined at a military school in Cu Chi District on March 23. He developed a sore throat on March 27 and tested positive on March 28. He's also being treated at the Cu Chi Field Hospital, and his health is stable. Tuesday additions thus far have raised the number of patients linked to the Buddha Bar to 15 and to the Bach Mai Hospital to 34. Of the 207 Covid-19 patients confirmed in Vietnam until now, 58 have been cured and discharged from hospitals. Most of the active cases are those who have returned from Europe and the U.S. and people whove had close contact with them. The Covid-19 pandemic has spread to 200 countries and territories, claiming over 38,000 lives. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 31, 2020 / First Mining Gold Corp. ("First Mining" or the "Company") (TSX:FF)(OTCQX:FFMGF)(FRANKFURT:FMG) is pleased to provide an update on the advancements being made at the Company's Springpole Gold Project ("Springpole" or the "Project") located in northwestern Ontario. First Mining is currently focused on advancing a Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") on the Project as well as progressing the permitting process. Pre-Feasibility Update As noted in First Mining's news release from January 15, 2020, a PFS on the Project is underway. This includes metallurgical and geotechnical drilling, as well as further hydrogeological studies. The Project is generally accessible by air only, except during the winter months where access is also possible via a winter ice road. The company contracted a winter ice road earlier this year to support the PFS winter drilling and metallurgical programs. This has allowed for re-supply of the camp, including diesel for drilling, at a significantly reduced cost when compared to flying necessities into camp. First Mining anticipates that the road will be accessible until early April, before the warmer temperatures and spring ice-break commences. A detailed, two-phase, metallurgical program has been scoped and is underway. The "Phase 1' testwork program utilized material from the 2016 metallurgical drill program, with testing underway at the SGS laboratory in Lakefield, Ontario. A second "Phase 2' test work program is being completed using additional core material obtained from three new metallurgical holes drilled in early 2020. The main objective of the program is to optimize flotation and cyanide leaching conditions and provide design criteria for the PFS. Drills were mobilized to the Project in early February. In addition to the three metallurgical drill holes completed, additional holes have been strategically located to support both hydrogeology and geotechnical assessment. This combined geotechnical-hydrogeological drill program, which has already commenced and is anticipated to be completed later this year, will consist of 10 holes in the proposed pit wall and coffer dam areas. The results of this drilling will help guide how the ground water moves within the region and provide a better sense of the pit slope stability, which in turn may help improve strip ratio estimates. A further 14 geotechnical drill holes, in addition to a number of test pits, are also planned as part of the PFS on-site work to test the proposed plant site, tailings and waste storage areas. Trade-off studies have also been initiated as part of the PFS work program. These studies focus on the tailings storage facility, mine plan optimization, process recovery validation and optimization, power supply and other required infrastructure. These desktop studies aim to uncover potential areas for value optimization and improvement. Ken Engquist, COO of First Mining, stated "We are excited with the progress we are making in advancing the PFS work program at Springpole. We believe there are many areas for improvement on the existing 2019 PEA economics as we de-risk the Project technically. Springpole is a unique project given its size and scale, and an asset with a meaningful production profile once built. We are excited to unlock this potential by moving the Project closer to a construction decision." In response to the ongoing concerns surrounding COVID-19 and in order to ensure the health and safety of all its employees at Springpole, First Mining announced on March 24, 2020 the early demobilization of contractors on-site at Springpole and a reduction in staffing to care and maintenance levels. Apart from the field data collection, most of the remaining PFS work will be completed remotely, and as such First Mining does not anticipate any significant delays in completing the PFS. However, given the need to complete additional on-site work in support of the PFS at a later date, and the evolving global environment in respect of COVID-19, First Mining anticipates that the PFS results will now be released in early 2021. Permitting Update Consultations are ongoing with the Indigenous communities in support of the advancement of permitting of the Project. In the provincial Environmental Assessment ("EA") process, there are two main stages: development of the Terms of Reference ("ToR") and development of the EA report. The ToR is a work plan which will outline how the EA will be prepared, with the ToR document detailing the community consultation and engagement plans (for the Indigenous communities, government and other stakeholders), baseline studies, key components of the project and a range of alternatives that will be considered. First Mining submitted a revised draft ToR for review to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks ("MECP") on February 20, 2020, with MECP requesting a 45-day review period. Simultaneously, First Mining also submitted a revised draft to the Indigenous communities, provincial and federal government agencies, and various municipal governments near the Project. First Mining is working towards submission of the final ToR in April 2020, with receipt of the final approved ToR expected by the end of Q2 2020. First Mining has also been collecting baseline data and undertaking consultation meetings to advance the federal and provincial EA processes. In 2019, First Mining completed a data gap assessment on the environmental baseline work to identify any remaining work requirements for the Project. Data collection programs as part of this assessment to further advance the EA process included terrestrial studies (species at risk, a fish and fish habitat study), surface water quality monitoring, geotechnical studies, traditional and ecological knowledge studies, hydrogeology, groundwater well pumping tests, and tailings and mine rock geochemical characterization. First Mining elected to continue to stay in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 permitting process and not the newly enacted Impact Assessment Act process ("IAA"). First Mining is working on the Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") as per EIS Guidelines that were issued to the Company on June 19, 2018. The balance of the environmental program for the year involves continued baseline studies (described above), with a goal of collecting all of the data required under the ToR for compilation of an EIS by the end of the year, and submission of the EIS in 2021. While First Mining does not currently foresee any significant delays to this process, the Company acknowledges the potential for consultation timeframes to be impacted by the important prioritization of the health and safety of the Indigenous communities that First Mining is in consultation with. Despite these uncertainties, First Mining is well financed to continue moving the Springpole project forward in 2020, having closed an $8.5 million equity financing on March 6, 2020. Filing of Company's Year-End Filings First Mining has filed on SEDAR its audited financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and annual information form for the financial year ended December 31, 2019. In addition, concurrently with the annual Canadian filings set out above, the Company has filed its annual report on Form 40-F with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The Form 40-F incorporates by reference the above annual Canadian filings of First Mining, and is available on the SEC's website, EDGAR, at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. All the above noted filings are also available on First Mining's website at www.firstmininggold.com, and printed copies of the filings are available free of charge to First Mining shareholders upon written request. Qualified Person Hazel Mullin, P.Geo., Director, Data Management and Technical Services of First Mining, is a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of NI 43-101, and she has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release. About First Mining Gold Corp. First Mining Gold Corp. is a Canadian-focused gold exploration and development company advancing a large resource base of 7.4 million ounces of gold in the Measured and Indicated categories and 3.8 million ounces of gold in the Inferred category. First Mining's primary focus is the development and permitting of its Springpole Gold Project and the advanced exploration of its Goldlund Gold Project, both located in northwestern Ontario. Springpole is one of the largest undeveloped gold assets in Canada, with permitting and a Pre-Feasibility Study underway. Goldlund is an advanced exploration stage asset where drilling in 2020 is planned to define both the extension of the existing resource area and to better define the regional scale potential. First Mining's eastern Canadian property portfolio also includes Cameron, Pickle Crow, Hope Brook, Duparquet, Duquesne, and Pitt. First Mining was created in 2015 by Mr. Keith Neumeyer, founding President and CEO of First Majestic Silver Corp. ON BEHALF OF FIRST MINING GOLD CORP. Daniel W. Wilton Chief Executive Officer and Director For further information, please contact: Mal Karwowska | Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations Direct: 604.639.8824 | Toll Free: 1.844.306.8827 | Email: info@firstmininggold.com www.firstmininggold.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the PFS for Springpole being completed by early 2021; (ii) the winter ice road at the Project being accessible until the end of March; (iii) the Company's plans to complete a 10-hole geotechnical-hydrogeological drill program at the Project by summer 2020 (iv) the Company's expectations that the results of the geotechnical-hydrogeological drill program at the Project will help guide how the ground water moves within the region and provide a better sense of the pit slope stability; (v) the Company's plans to drill a further 14 geotechnical drill holes at the Project, in addition to a number of test pits, to test the proposed plant site, tailings and waste storage areas; (vi) the timing and expected results of trade-off studies at the Project as part of the PFS; (vii) the Company's belief that there are many areas for improvement on the existing economics of the Project; (viii) most of the remaining PFS-related work being completed remotely: (ix) the timing for completing and submitting the final ToR; (x) receipt of approval of the final ToR in Q2 2020; (xi) the Company's primary focus on developing and permitting Springpole and the advanced exploration of its Goldlund Gold Project; and (xii) realizing the value of the Company's gold projects for the Company's shareholders. All forward-looking statements are based on First Mining's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. 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. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation the Company's business, operations and financial condition potentially being materially adversely affected by the outbreak of epidemics, pandemics or other health crises, such as COVID-19, and by reactions by government and private actors to such outbreaks; risks to employee health and safety as a result of the outbreak of epidemics, pandemics or other health crises, such as COVID-19, that may result in a slowdown or temporary suspension of operations at some or all of the Company's mineral properties as well as its head office; fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in the currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar); changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities, indigenous populations and other stakeholders; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; title to properties.; and the additional risks described in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on EDGAR. First Mining cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to First Mining, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. First Mining does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law. Cautionary Note to United States Investors This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all resource and reserve estimates included in this news release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum 2014 Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the SEC, and mineral resource and reserve information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term "resource" does not equate to the term "reserves". Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve" unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. The SEC's disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or "inferred mineral resources" or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute "reserves" by U.S. standards in documents filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. U.S. investors should also understand that "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimated "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. The requirements of NI 43-101 for identification of "reserves" are also not the same as those of the SEC, and reserves reported by the Company in compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as "reserves" under SEC standards. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards. SOURCE: First Mining Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583201/First-Mining-Provides-Update-on-its-Springpole-Gold-Project-Activities 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 21:34:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to provide Ireland with necessary assistance within its capacity to combat COVID-19, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Tuesday in a phone conversation with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. Li said that COVID-19 is spreading in many countries, and Ireland is also affected by the epidemic. China firmly supports Ireland's efforts in the fight against the disease, and is willing to provide Ireland with necessary assistance within its capacity, Li said. He said China is also ready to facilitate Ireland's procurement and transportation of medical supplies from China, enhance exchanges of experience on epidemic prevention and treatment, and carry out cooperation in medical research and development. There are quite a number of Chinese nationals living or studying in Ireland, and the Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting their health as well as legitimate rights and interests, Li stressed, expressing his hope that the Irish side will take practical and effective measures to guarantee the safety and living convenience of these Chinese nationals, including Chinese students. For his part, Varadkar said that China has made remarkable achievement and progress in fighting the epidemic, and shared information with the World Health Organization and the international community in a timely manner, which deserves the respect of all countries in the world. The epidemic is currently spreading in Ireland, said the prime minister, who thanked China for providing support and assistance. Ireland hopes to receive China's support in purchasing anti-epidemic supplies, and strengthen cooperation in medical research and development between the two countries, Varadkar said, adding that his country will effectively guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals, including Chinese students, in Ireland. Aside from being surrounded by war, Seeing Hands parlour stands out for one main reason all the therapists are blind. One upside of working from home in self-isolation is having freed-up time from commuting, but this could also mean we are unintentionally spending more hours at our desks. According to an analysis of server activity on its network, NordVPN found that the average working day has increased by three hours in the U.S. since mid-March, when more companies around the world had started to practice working from home due to the widened spread of the coronavirus. It found that in the U.K., France, Spain and Canada, people are typically working for two more hours a day since that date. Meanwhile, people were working an extra hour in the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium and Austria on average but the working day had not changed in Italy, which has so far been the worst-hit country in Europe by the virus. Gemma Lloyd, co-CEO of global jobs network Work180, said there was a tendency to work longer hours at home as people find it harder to initially adjust and set work-life boundaries. A person's working day is typically structured around getting to and from work, she explained, meaning that without the rush to finish work in order to catch a train home, there is no longer the same urgency. But sitting at a desk for hours on end isn't healthy, she added, and could be detrimental to the quality of employees' work over time. Many people will also be seeking to prove to their employer that they are still working hard, said Molly Johnson-Jones, co-founder of flexible working job platform Flexa. BIG RAPIDS To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, voters around the state will be participating in a mail-only election May 5. For Mecosta County voters, the only item on the ballot will be the Big Rapids Public Schools operating millage renewal, which must be passed every May to ensure the district maintains its operating millage rate for the following school year. The operating millage makes up about 18% of the school district's general fund revenue. "It helps us support student learning with instruction and staff," BRPS Superintendent Tim Haist said. If the millage renewal is approved, the estimated revenue BRPS will collect in 2020 is approximately $3.8 million. The revenue collected helps ensure the district receives per-pupil funding from the state and will not be made up by the state if it does not pass. The operating millage is only levied on properties that do not qualify for the homestead exception, including industrial, commercial and some agricultural properties. The operating millage is put on the ballot every May, and has been passed every year. "Our community has supported (the operating millage renewal) every year," Haist said, adding he hopes to see this continue this year as well. However, Haist said it is especially important this year that voters pay attention to the changes brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak. Because voting will only be done by absentee ballot, each registered voter in the Big Rapids Public Schools district will receive an application prefilled with the voter's name and other information. It also will come with prepaid postage and a pre-addressed return envelope to the Mecosta County clerk's office for voter convenience. According to Mecosta County Clerk Marcee Purcell, these applications must be filled out in order to receive the absentee ballot. Purcell said there is no word yet on when households will be receiving the applications. However, once they are returned to the county clerk's office, voters will receive their absentee ballots right away. Unregistered voters who are wishing to participate should register to vote online or by mail at least 14 days prior to the election. Voter registration will be counted as absentee ballot applications in these cases. While Big Rapids Public Schools is the only item on the May ballot, Morley Stanwood Community Schools originally had a proposal to go before voters in May as well. Due to the circumstances, MSCS Superintendent Roger Cole said the district has decided to remove their bond proposal from the ballot. "(There is) too much going on in people's lives right now," Cole said. Though the proposal which was for 3 mills or $3 for every $1,000 of taxable valuation has been removed from the May ballot, Cole said the district currently is discussing whether or not to put it on the August ballot. "My concern is that 3.2 million people have applied for unemployment," he said, adding that not knowing what the economy is going to look like by August was a major issue for trying to plan ahead. The district will likely reach a decision about the bond proposal in late April. A New York City ER nurse has told her family she or they may die alone without each other because hospitals packed with coronavirus patients are no longer allowing visitors. The unnamed nurse, with 12 years of experience, told the BBC that the hospital she works at was running out of personal protective equipment (PPE) for medics to guard against COVID-19. 'Before this pandemic, you were never to reuse this equipment.' She told the broadcaster. 'It was one time use and it was thrown out. It was discarded. Now we are being told to use it for our shift, put it in a paper bag and save it for next shift.' It comes after Governor Andrew Cuomo appealed for 30,000 ventilators as his state braces for the peak of the virus which has so far killed 914 in NYC, with more than 38,000 cases. That compares with a national total of more than 3,000 deaths and around 164,000 cases. Two bodies on hospital gurneys are staged to be stored in a mobile morgue, put in place due to lack of space at the hospital, outside of the Brooklyn Hospital Center on Monday The Army Corps of Engineers have established a temporary field hospital at Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 30, 2020. The temporary field hospital will help ease the burden on New York City hospitals, many of which are now overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients The nurse described working flat-out everyday to the point her limbs were numb and her body was drenched in sweat. But that doesn't bother her. She is more concerned with ensuring her family is safe. The nurse said: 'I'm making sure that my family knows that, hey, if you go out, know that you are not protected, that you're being exposed to things. And if something were to happen to you, or if something were to happen to me, and God forbid, I pass away, or God forbid you get sick or you have to be intubated, we're all going to have to do it alone. Our hospitals are no longer allowing visitors so all my patients are going out and battling this virus alone. 'I don't think that I was ever prepared for something like this. I mean, you are always prepared for the worst as a nurse, in nursing school, you're always given the worst-case scenario, and how to get out of it.' She said there were nurses who are not even going home to their families because they worry about infecting their children. Navy Hospital Ship USNS Comfort travels under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge as it heads to Pier 90 as the coronavirus pandemic continues to overwhelm medical infrastructure in NY The nurse told the BBC the virus was 'taking out everybody' and that one of her managers, considered to be a healthy man, had recently died from the disease. Her biggest fear is that they will have to deploy 'war-time medicine. And when I say that, I mean triage, being with a patient and saying 'this person doesn't have a good quality of life to begin with so we're not going to take heroic measures to save them'. The nurse, who sees the virus lasting into at least June, said she would like to see an absolute lock down of the country, with even food delivery being banned and only the completely essential workers continuing to go out. Many parents have found themselves in the role of carer, and teacher, while still juggling work. (Getty Images) Parents should be financially compensated during the coronavirus outbreak as childcare should be recognised as full-time work, a new report has suggested. As families enter their second week after COVID-19 caused schools to shut, many parents have been forced to juggle the role of teacher, caregiver, while also staying on top of their working from home schedules. But, a leading think-tank has called for parents to be paid for the extra childcare they are having to provide for children during the outbreak. A paper by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) claims parents should have the right to paid parental leave for those who need to look after children, under the governments coronavirus job retention scheme. Should the move go ahead it would be in line with schemes in France, Italy and the US. 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 struggle for many parents is oh so real right now. (Getty Images) The IPPR briefing paper, released on Tuesday and titled Children of the Pandemic, also calls for an increase in the child element of universal credit by 10 a week, and the removal of the two-child limit for benefits payments. The IPPR also wants to see measures introduced to ensure all children can access learning resources online, with mobile network providers asked to extend free data for use of BBC and other educational websites. There are calls for the government to set up an emergency digital access fund to provide tablets or other digital devices to households where children cannot get online. The organisation believes the measures would help protect vulnerable children from becoming unseen victims of coronavirus. Read more: How to get food vouchers if your child is eligible for free school meals Clare McNeil, IPPR associate director for work and the welfare state, and co-author of the paper is now urging the government to go further with its financial support for parents. Story continues Caring for children needs to be recognised for what it is a full-time occupation, she said. The government needs to give people who are unable or unwilling to work from home while caring for children the option of paid leave for the duration of this crisis, as other countries have done. And to prevent children in newly unemployed families from falling into poverty or hardship as a result of this crisis, the government must invest further in universal credit to make it a genuine safety net not a tightrope over poverty. For all the children of the pandemic, a normal childhood is out of reach for the foreseeable future. We need to intervene now to reduce the financial, educational and health gaps that will otherwise only widen while this crisis endures. Read more: Online classes and activities children can take part in during the coronavirus outbreak A think-tank is calling for parents to receive paid parental leave during coronavirus outbreak. (Getty Images) TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady backed the IPPRs call for a right to paid parental leave during the crisis. "With schools and nurseries closed, lots of parents with younger children have no choice but to care for them at home. For many, this means they can no longer work. "Parents urgently need paid parental leave and protection from losing their jobs during this exceptional time. The government should make clear that parents can qualify for the coronavirus job retention scheme. And it should be available on a flexible basis, to enable shorter working hours and shared childcare between parents where possible." Additional reporting PA. FP Trending US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that it has selected a new mission to study giant solar particle storms. The Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment (SunRISE) will look into how Sun generates and releases the giant weather storms, known as the solar particle storms, into space. The mission will help in greater understanding of the solar system. The findings would safeguard astronauts from solar storms while they travel to Mars or the Moon, NASA said in a press release. SunRISE contains six CubeSats which will work together as a large radio telescope. Each of the CubeSats would run on solar power and would be of the size of a toaster oven. Together, these will observe radio images of low-frequency emission from solar activity and create 3D maps to locate the origin place of a solar particle storm on the Sun. The entire procedure of the storm evolution as it moves outward into the space will be studied too. NASA has awarded $62.6 million for building, designing and launching the mission. It will be headed by Justin Kasper of the University of Michigan and managed by NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The launch date of the mission has been set for July 1, 2023. The more we know about how the Sun erupts with space weather events, the more we can mitigate their effects on spacecraft and astronauts, said Nicky Fox, director of NASAs Heliophysics Division. NASA had in August 2017 shortlisted SunRISE, along with another Mission of Opportunity proposal, for an 11-month mission concept study. Following the study in 2019, the space agency approved an additional formulation study for another year. Missions of Opportunity are part of NASAs oldest continuous program called the Explorers Program. These aim at providing low-cost, efficient and frequent access to space for various missions. The Nigeria Centre of Disease Control (NCDC) has announced four new cases of coronavirus across Nigeria. The latest report released at 11:15 am Tuesday, revealed three of the four cases are from Osun State and one from Ogun State. This brings the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases to 135. This came just 14 hours after 20 new cases were confirmed. The NDDC had revealed on Monday night that 20 new cases had been confirmed. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed this in a tweet on Monday evening. The new cases are spread across Lagos, Kaduna, Oyo and the federal capital territory (FCT). Twenty new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Nigeria; 13 in Lagos, 4 in FCT, 2 in Kaduna and 1 in Oyo State As at 09:00 pm 30th March there are 131 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria with 2 deaths, the tweet read. Of the 131 confirmed cases, Lagos state has 81, FCT has 25 and Oyo has eight cases. Ogun and Kaduna states have three cases each, while Edo, Osun, Enugu, and Bauchi states have two cases each. Ekiti, Rivers and Benue states have recorded one case each. Nigeria had earlier recorded its second death from the disease. Suleiman Achimugu, a former managing director of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), is the first victim of the disease in the country. Globally, over 600,000 cases have been recorded with at least 36,000 people already dead from coronavirus. Then they reported the 4 new cases this morning Four new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Nigeria; 3 in Osun and 1 in Ogun As at 11:15 am 31st March there are 135 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria with 2 deaths. As at 11:15 am 31st March, there are 135 confirmed cases 2 deaths For a breakdown of cases by states in real-time, please see http://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng Currently; Lagos- 81 FCT- 25 Ogun- 4 Enugu- 2 Ekiti- 1 Oyo- 8 Edo- 2 Bauchi- 2 Osun-5 Rivers-1 Benue- 1 Kaduna- 3, NCDC tweeted. Post Views: 10 Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd. (IFFCO) on Tuesday said it has contributed Rs 25 crore to the PM-CARES Fund for tackling coronavirus outbreak. "I humbly announce the contribution of ?25 Crores on behalf of #IFFCO to #PMCARES Fund to fight against #COVID19 and support all relief work for #IndiaFightsCorona," IFFCO MD U S Awasthi twitted. Apart from this contribution, IFFCO is also contributing at ground zero by distributing masks, hand sanitisers, disinfectant soaps, Vitamin-C tablets and essential food kits to the farmers and villagers at various places across the country. IFFCO's five fertiliser units in the country are functional and continuously operating in shifts to produce the fertilisers and essential soil nutrients so that this pandemic does not affect the agriculture activities. "The pandemic has compelled various industry verticals, including real estate, to come up with innovative ideas involving technology to market properties or services. "During these trying times where social distancing is practised, we are using apps like FaceTime /WhatsApp/Zoom/ Google Duo for video calls/messages, exchange of PPTs, PDFs and various other marketing material," said Amit Goyal, CEO, India Sotheby's International Realty. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As governments, groups, professionals, agencies and experts continue to search for remedies to curtail the spread of the deadly Corona... As governments, groups, professionals, agencies and experts continue to search for remedies to curtail the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, traditional religious adherents have urged governments at all levels to consider the use of traditional and spiritual remedies to contain the spread of the virus. The traditionalists urged President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors not to ignore traditional and spiritual solutions in the battle against the killer disease. Secretary-General of Traditional Religion Worshippers Association of Oyo State (TRWASSO), Chief Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode (PhD), in a statement on Monday, said that the use of modern medicine should not been seen as the only solution to the deadly Coronavirus. Fakayode who issued the statement on behalf of traditional religious adherents in the state, maintained that the same approach by our forefathers can be employed to tackle the disease while the spiritual solutions should not be ignored and should instead be handled by community spiritual leaders. Fakayode who is the founder of Ijo Imole Olodumare, Alade Town in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital noted that to rescue the world from the crisis of Coronavirus, it behoves everybody with the knowledge of the solution to come forward. He added that this is the main reason traditionalists in the state were coming out to contribute their own quota in the containment of the deadly Coronavirus in the country. As part of measures to curtail the spread of Coronavirus from the traditional perspective, Fakayode recommended that, People should squeeze efo yanrin (wild lettuce) and efo ewuro (bitter leaf) inside palm wine and drink responsibly. It can also be rubbed on the body as sanitizer. Also, daily consumption of guguru (Popcorn) is recommended. Fakayode who suggested that palm wine consumption is very advantageous in this period, added that some items of great symbolic connotations like Akoko leaves and Tangiiri pod can be put at the entrance and inside the house respectively to repel the Ajogun, noting that the kind of food that Yoruba spirituality advise in this period of time is corn related. To rescue the world from this crisis of Coronavirus, it behoves everybody with the knowledge of the remedies to come forward. Nowadays, the same approach by our forefathers can be employed. While the spiritual solutions should not be ignored and should instead be handled by the community spiritual leaders, It is here recommended that for prevention and cure of Coronavirus, people should squeeze efo yanrin (wild lettuce) and efo ewuro (bitter leaf) in palm wine and drink responsibly. It can also be rubbed on the body as sanitizer. Also, daily consumption of guguru (Popcorn) is recommended. Another approach from Yoruba tradition is to squeeze efo yanrin (wild lettuce) and efo ewuro (bitter leaf) inside palm wine and use it to rub the body as well as drinking part of it. Nowadays, some people substitute alcohol (gin and spirit) for palm wine. Palm wine consumption is very advantageous in this period. In Yoruba land, during this time of epidemic, our ancestors drank palm wine and placed a bowl of palm wine in front of the house. Who knows? Maybe the virus causing the epidemic is more attractive to palm win and will get trapped in the bowl of palm tree juice. Some items of great symbolic connotations like akoko leaves and Tangiiri pod can be put at the entrance and inside the house respectively to repel the ajogun. The kind of food that Yoruba spirituality advise in this period of time is corn related. It can be boiled corn called egbo or popcorn called guguru. Back to the weapon at work now, though nobody for now could emphatically tell the components, the implications could make one conclude that each race has way of doing things with materials in line with her culture and environment. It is pertinent to note that in those days, there were also antidotes for this kind of ajogun called virus either it is natural or a biological weapon. The antidotes were used for both preventive and curative measures then. Oral history has it that the antidotes were always effective. The antidotes might be in form of incision, sanitizer or soap to bathe, shear butter to rub the body, water to drink or powder to lick which can be likened to the modern day injection, soap, cream, syrup or capsules/tablets respectively. At times, in Yoruba spirituality, repelling this kind of Ajogun would involve rituals like divinations, sacrifices and appeasement of the natural forces and Divinities like Obaluaye/Sanponna, Esu and Oro. Sanponna is believed to have control over all unseen ajogun and as a result prevent or rid off any kind of epidemic. Esu is capable of defending every boundary against any ajogun that might want to spread from another territory. Hence, the work of Esu is to restrict such virus to the very geographical location it started till it gets annihilated. Ritual of Oro could be employed because, it is believed that the voice of Oro is capable of repelling evil forces like this unseen ajogun. The efficacy of the application of Oro voice could be felt when one sees every obstacles moving away just because of the voice of siren. Unfortunately, in Yoruba land today, some Muslims and Christians want Oro rituals eradicated for allegation of gender bias. A virus is described as an infective agent that is too small to be seen. By implication, it means that the agent is invisible to the naked human eye. Though the invisibility persists, the virus could be seen only by high resolution electron microscope. This virus could be said to be one of the ajogun mentioned in Yoruba spirituality. The ajogun are said to be unseen but Ifa, the scripture, is silent about the size. Therefore, no assurance that it is too small to be seen, though Elenini as one of the ajogun is said to be smaller to the Divinities but could destroy them excluding Orunmila. However, the Yoruba spirituality claims that though, the ajogun cannot be seen with naked human eye, people with spiritual or inner eyes can sight the ajogun clearly. The inner eyes could be likened to the high resolution electron microscope. If Coronavirus is a natural infective agent, we can liken it to the ajogun that come from celestial world to the terrestrial space for a purpose, either favourable or unfavourable to the human race. That means, it is not too strange to the Yoruba people who are versed in their spirituality. And the solution might be the usual approach employed by the ancestors. If Coronavirus is a biological weapon invented as an instrument of war by a world power as alleged by people, I think such knowledge is not limited to a single land. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his deputy will no longer attend meetings together to cut exposure to the coronavirus, as pressure for a lockdown builds and a minister warned the countrys containment strategy was stretched to the limit. The decision comes as Japans Foreign Ministry announced that foreign nationals from the United States, China and South Korea, as well as most of Europe, will be banned from entering the country. Abe told cabinet members on Tuesday that his second-in-command, Taro Aso, would no longer be present at any meeting the prime minister attends, a government spokesman said, in a move to guard the leadership against infection that could hamper Japans response to the coronavirus outbreak. Last week British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was obliged to switch to running the country from isolation after testing positive for the virus. Abes step came as Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said Japan was not yet in a situation to declare a state of emergency, triggering a potential lockdown, but that the situation was precarious. Were just barely holding it together, Nishimura told reporters on Tuesday. If we loosen our grip even a little, it wouldnt be surprising to see a sudden surge (in cases). Speculation that a lockdown may come soon has been intense, fuelled by rising numbers of domestic cases. Possible state of emergency declaration A centre for disabled people in Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, found seven more infections on Tuesday, pushing the national total past 2,000. A total of 59 deaths have been recorded, according to national broadcaster NHK. Only last Tuesday, the Japanese government and International Olympic Committee succumbed to intense pressure from athletes and sporting bodies around the world to delay Tokyos 2020 Summer Games for a year because of the global outbreak. But any lockdown in Japan would look different from mandatory measures in some parts of Europe and the United States. By law, local authorities are only permitted to issue requests for people to stay at home, which are not binding. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has requested citizens in the capital to stay indoors, while her counterpart in Osaka, Japans second-biggest city told reporters on Monday he thought the national government should declare a state of emergency, according to local media. A director of the countrys top organisation of doctors has said the government should declare a state of emergency before it is too late. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Tuesday Japan is urging its citizens not to travel to 73 countries and regions a third of all countries in the world including the United States, Canada, China, South Korea and Britain. Citizens from the US, China, South Korea, as well as most of Europe will also be banned from entering Japan. Elsewhere Abe said in a call with World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday evening that development of medicines and vaccines would be crucial to contain the outbreak. Abe said Japan intends to promote clinical research on an anti-flu medicine called Favipiravir with other countries as a treatment for the virus. The drug, also known as Avigan, was developed by a Japanese company. 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. Kingston Mills, Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity College Dublin has said that while it was distressing to hear of the number of new cases and deaths from Covid-19, the rate of increase had slowed. The measures put in place by the government are having an impact, he told Newstalk Breakfast. Prof Kingston also welcomed a new test due to become available shortly that will determine if people who have come through the virus, but were not tested, are now clear. The new test, which is performed using a drop of blood, can be processed very quickly and can clear people to go back to work. This will be especially beneficial for health care workers, he said. Prof Kingston acknowledged that there had been shortages of testing kits, but this was inevitable he said as every country was competing for materials. The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) was doing a great job in getting on top of it, he said, but there would be other hitches along the way. Prof Kingston explained that the new test that should be available soon will allow people who were self-isolating, but had not been tested, to be cleared to return to work. The test will show whether they have recovered from the virus and can return to work. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Tablighi Jamaat headquarters in New Delhi sealed after dozens test positive for coronavirus and seven reportedly die. India has launched a massive search to track down those who attended an event organised by a Muslim missionary movement after dozens of people test positive for coronavirus and at least seven reportedly die. Authorities in the Indian capital on Tuesday sealed off the premises of Tablighi Jamaat, accusing it of organising a religious gathering from March 13-15 and ignoring the threat of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Delhi government also asked the police to file a criminal case against the group, one of the countrys oldest Islamic organisations, for flouting guidelines and not maintaining physical distancing. Authorities said around 2,000 people were found to be staying at Markaz Nizamuddin, the New Delhi headquarters of the group, founded in 1926. Delhis Health Minister Satyender Jain told reporters at least 24 people staying there had tested positive for the coronavirus, while seven people who attended the congregation have reportedly died. Delhi police on Tuesday said they have filed cases, including criminal conspiracy, against the organisers. Jamaat denies allegations Tablighi Jamaat denied accusations it had broken social distancing laws, saying it was forced to accommodate visitors stranded by the lockdown announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24, with just four hours notice. In a press statement, the group said: A rumour started gaining ground across social media that allegedly people affected with COVID-19 are present in Markaz. It is also being circulated that certain deaths have occurred due to the same. Men wait for a bus that will take them to a quarantine facility, amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease in Nizamuddin area of New Delhi [Adnan Abidi/Reuters] Under such compelling circumstances there was no option for Markaz Nizamuddin but to accommodate the stranded visitors with prescribed medical precautions till such time that situation becomes conducive for their movement or arrangements are made by the authorities, the statement said. However, Delhi legislator Atishi tweeted that strong action should taken against the organisers because Delhi government orders had expressly forbidden gatherings of more than 200 persons on 13th March itself. A case has been registered against Maulana Saad and others of Tablighi Jamaat u/s 3 of Epidemic Disease Act 1897 read with Section 269, 270, 271 and 120-B IPC for violation of government directions.@PMOIndia@HMOIndia @LtGovDelhi #DilKiPolice Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) March 31, 2020 According to a senior official quoted in The Hindu newspaper, the Ministry of Home Affairs is set to blacklist hundreds of preachers from Indonesia that attended the congregation. They came here on a tourist visa but were participating in religious conferences. This is violation of visa rules. We are going to blacklist around 800 Indonesian preachers so that in future they are not able to enter the country, the official said on condition of anonymity. Yasmin Kidwai, a councillor from the Nizamuddin area where the congregation took place, asked why the government had issued visas to them in the first place. We had enough time to prepare for coronavirus, she told Al Jazeera. Why werent visa restrictions in place? Delhi-based author Rana Safvi also accused the Tablighi Jamaat of being irresponsible. Was Tablighi Jamaat aware of the Delhi governments order? it is highly irresponsible of them to have gone ahead with it, she told Al Jazeera. I am worried, therefore, about two things. The spread of the virus, and the spread of Muslim bashing. So far most of the media had nothing much to talk about, they have suddenly got a lot of material, she said, referring to the medias negative portrayal of Muslims. Authorities said around 2,000 people were found to be staying at Markaz Nizamuddin, the New Delhi headquarters of the group, founded in 1926 [Danish Siddiqui/Reuters] #CoronaJihad The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had previously been criticised for the manner in which Modi announced the lockdown just hours ahead of it being imposed. The timing of the announcement left hundreds of thousands of migrant workers stranded in cities, forcing many to attempt to walk hundreds of kilometres to their villages. Pictures of stranded workers showed Modis government in a poor light. The congregation at Markaz Nizamuddin has since provided an opportunity for BJP government supporters to attack Muslims for spreading the virus. Soon after reports of the gathering hit the headlines, the hashtag #CoronaJihad trended on Twitter, with many tweets blaming Muslims for the spread of coronavirus in India. After #Nizamuddin, those Tiktok videos and Islamists speeches worldwide, Indian agencies should seriously probe if #CoronaJihad is a ground reality. Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) March 30, 2020 Videos, images and text messages shared on social media appear to show crowded Muslim gatherings and police attacking Muslims for defying coronavirus orders or offering namaz (prayers). Omar Abdullah, former chief minister of Indian-administered Kashmir, tweeted that the incident will become a convenient excuse for some to vilify Muslims everywhere, as if we created and spread COVID around the world. Many people on social media also pointed out that similar gatherings by people of majority faiths did not attract such prompt attention by authorities. Two days after the Tablighi Jamaat congregation, a large number of Hindu pilgrims gathered in Maharashtras Sai Baba temple. Days later, in the central Madhya Pradesh state, Shivraj Singh Chouhan of the ruling BJP took an oath as the chief minister surrounded by a large crowd, ignoring Modis message of social distancing. A day after Modi announced the lockdown, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, had organised a group religious ceremony in Ayodhya town in an apparent violation of lockdown rules. The Delhi government also asked the police to file a criminal case against the group, one of the countrys oldest Islamic organisations [Danish Siddiqui/Reuters] Diversion from migrants issue Writer and journalist Saba Naqvi told Al Jazeera the Tablighi incident has given the right-wing government and the media a diversion from the difficulties thousands of migrant workers had been facing since the lockdown began on March 25. For the first time, I saw so much attention on poverty or migration workers even in the media. And the Tablighi issue has allowed a diversion, she said. The BJP has taken that opportunity. And it is not even a manufactured case of outrage. There was a class element so far around the lockdown. Now there is a communal element. All the horrors of India are unfolding. I was waiting for RW to link corona to religion. The tragic deaths of people after a Tableegi Jamaat congregation has provided that chance. To link corona to religion when thousands across the world ACROSS religions are dying is INHUMAN. Lets for once keep religion out of this. Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) March 31, 2020 Senior TV journalist Rajdeep Sardesai echoed Naqvis sentiment but added that Nizamuddin was a one-day tragic breaking news story and that the migrants crisis will sustain for an extended period. The stories of migrant workers are enduring stories. Their tragedy and their long walks will remain with people, he told Al Jazeera. Hashtags like #CoronaJihad are typical of the Islamophobia, he said, adding that such social media trends will actually rebound on those who spread them. Because everybody is hurting today cutting across all boundaries. Vietnam had confirmed 204 COVID-19 cases as of 6:00 on March 31, with the latest patient a 10-year-old boy living in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 2, according to the Ministry of Health. browser not support iframe. The boy flew from Prague (the Czech Republic) to Istanbul (Turkey) on Flight 1770 on March 14, and from Istanbul to Vietnam on Flight TK162 on March 15 - the same flight as the 83rd patient. Upon entry, he showed no symptoms and was transferred to a concentrated quarantine centre at the Military School of Military Zone 7 in HCM Citys District 12. His test on March 18 turned up negative for SARS-CoV-2 that causes the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the test result on March 27 was positive. Currently, the boy is being treated at the hospital for COVID-19 in Can Gio district, HCM City. Earlier, nine people were confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 that causes the COVID-19 pandemic on March 30 evening. Among the new patients, seven, aged 41, 34, 53, 57, 61, 23 and 57, are female employees of Truong Sinh Ltd., Co and work at the canteen of Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital. Another patient is a 41-year-old man in Hanois outskirts district of Thanh Oai who visited the centre for tropical diseases of the Bach Mai Hospital on March 12 and tested positive for the virus on March 29. All of the eight patients are under treatment at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases No. 2 in Hanois Dong Anh district, and in stable health condition. The other is a 35-year-old Vietnamese woman who boarded flight TK162 from Greece after transiting in Turkey to Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on March 17. Upon entry, she was sent to a concentrated quarantine facility in Nha Be district in the city. Her samples, sent to the city's Hospital for Tropical Diseases on March 27, were confirmed positive. She is being treated at the hospital for COVID-19 in Can Gio district, HCM City. 31 COVID-19 patients test negative A COVID-19 patient with serious illness is treated at Central Tropical Diseases Hospital's branch 2 in Ha Noi's ong Anh District. Among 149 COVID-19 patients currently under treatment in hospitals across Viet Nam, 31 have tested negative for SARS-Cov-2 virus more than twice, the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday morning. It is expected that two patients the 49th patient treated in Hue Central Hospital and the 54th patient in HCM Citys Can Gio Hospital will soon be transferred to other hospitals later Tuesday as they have recovered. Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the ministry's Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, said that up to Tuesday morning, the four COVID-19 patients with the most complications at the Central Tropical Diseases Hospital in Ha Noi were progressing well, despite them still being on ventilators. There are 53 COVID-19 patients being treated at the hospital now. Four healthcare workers including two doctors of the hospital and two nurses of Bach Mai Hospital were also in stable condition. On Tuesday morning, the latest patient to test positive for COVID-19 in Viet Nam was a 10-year-old boy, which brought the total number of cases in the country to 204. As of Monday, 16 people infected with the disease from January 23rd to February 13th and 39 other patients since March 6th have made full recoveries. HCM City to strengthen fight against COVID-19 COVID-19 prevention and control efforts at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City. HCM City authorities plan to strengthen the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the next two weeks, which is considered the golden time to contain the outbreak. They have asked all citizens to stay at home as much as possible. Speaking at a meeting on Monday, Nguyen Thien Nhan, secretary of HCM City Party Committee, noted the rapid spread of the virus, with 9,500 new infections worldwide in January, mostly in China, and then rising to 76,000 in February and 840,000 in March. Experiences from countries with COVID-19 have shown that 100 cases increased to 1,000 within 10 days and to 2,000 within three days, he said. The death toll has also increased dramatically, he said. HCM City targets containing the outbreak within the next two weeks, he said. He said it would be hard to predict if the city can control the number of infections to fewer than 150 in the city in the next two weeks. However, the city has done a good job in containing the outbreak so far. As of Mar 30, the number of infected people in the city totalled under 50. He said Viet Nam has been trying to prevent the number of COVID-19 cases from rising up to 1,000. The next two weeks will be decisive for the city and the country. The public, organisations and agencies must all join the prevention effort, he said. According to Nhan, the city has spent about 25 per cent of the citys total budget to support people who lost income due to the pandemic. We will also discuss ways to help the homeless in the city to fight against COVID-19, Nhan said. The city is learning from Bach Mai Hospital in Ha Noi which has become an epicentre involving about 30,000 patients and people who visited the hospital in the past 14 days. They are now being traced for testing and quarantine. After the incident at Bach Mai Hospital where two medical workers tested positive for the virus, HCM City instructed hospitals to not allow people to travel freely from one department to another to avoid the spread of the disease. The city has also directed the Department of Health to ensure time off for medical workers and provide training for non-infectious disease medical staff so they can work in infectious departments as needed. Nhan demanded that city residents stay at home as much as possible. Limiting travelling is one way to prevent the spread, he said. Experience from other countries shows that when an outbreak has worsened, travel must also be prohibited. Nhan said that wearing a face mask in public places is required, and anyone who violates this will be strictly punished. Nhan also emphasised the importance of limiting close contact with others and washing hands thoroughly as often as possible. Health Ministry launches account on COVID-19 prevention on TikTok platform A screenshot of the TikTok account of Vietnam's Ministry of Health Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Health has recently launched its account on video app TikTok (@boytevietnam) in an attempt to bolster the dissemination of preventive measures against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The move aims to raise public awareness and call on people to follow health recommendations, as well as provide guidance for those who develop symptoms of the disease and regularly update information for TikTok users. As of March 27, using hashtag #BYT_nCoV, the account had drawn more than 15,000 followers, 40,000 likes and over 1 million views with 22 animated films. In addition, to ask people to refrain from making crowds and avoid community transmissions, especially during peak time of the COVID-19 prevention and combat, the ministry on March 29 started a campaign titled #HappyAtHome on the platform to call on users to share their happy moments while staying at home. Many organisations have taken part in the campaign, including the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), along with Vietnamese singers Amee and Ho Ngoc Ha, among others. As of March 30 morning, Vietnam had reported 194 cases of COVID-19. As many as 52 patients were discharged from hospital after their full recovery, including 16 people infected with the disease from January 23 to February 13 (the first phase). The 36 others patients have been treated since March 6 (second phase)./. Foreign press hails Vietnams efforts in COVID-19 fight Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital is considered the biggest and most complex hotbed of COVID-19 in Vietnam at present. The relentless efforts by the Vietnamese Government and people in the fight against COVID-19 over the recent past have been recognised many newspapers and experts around the world. The US New York Times posted an article on March 27 saying: Even though Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia's poorer countries, its efforts against the virus, praised at home, have ensured its tally of infections is lower than those in many of its neighbours. The article mentioned prompt and effective measures that the Vietnamese Government is applying such as limiting domestic flights, stopping public gatherings for two weeks from March 28, and quarantining more than 57,000 to avoid the spread of the coronavirus in the community. Meanwhile, Germanys Deutsche Welle recently ran an article on Vietnams "war" on coronavirus, analysing factors that have helped the Southeast Asian country successfully curb the outbreak so far such as applying a widespread system of public surveillance and mobilising the military to the effort. The government has described the combat as the fight against an enemy and called for the engagement of all people, it said. The Philippines Rappler newspaper quoted the UKs Financial Times as saying Vietnam has proved itself as a model in the work with limited resources but determined leadership. The Diplomat carried a story, saying when the coronavirus began to rage the country in early January, the Vietnamese Government quickly responded and has deservedly gotten praise for doing so. The reasons for Vietnams robust response to COVID-19 are varied. But among the factors is leadership, the article said, adding that for instance, the decision of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to stop all events, activities and gatherings of more than 20 people in the country was viewed as a definitive and firm move. Other newspapers such as the UKs Evening Standard and Reuters, Russias Komsomolskaya Pravda, and Canadas National also posted stories relating to Vietnams moves to fight the pandemic. Grassroots healthcare important for early detection of COVID-19 cases Health workers in Phu Yen province insert locals' medical declaration forms on computer Deputy Health Minister Do Xuan Tuyen on March 30 emphasised the importance of grassroots healthcare in the early detection of COVID-19 infection cases in the community to curb the spread of the pandemic. Tuyen, who is standing deputy head of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control, said at an online conference with health departments of cities and provinces nationwide that Vietnam has entered the third phase of the COVID-19 fight with high risks of community spread. Therefore, the grassroots healthcare network must focus on solving two issues: detecting infection cases in the community early and minimising community spread, he stated. He also stressed that grassroots healthcare plays a crucial role, contributing to the success of the fight against the pandemic. As of 6.00am on March 30, Vietnam recorded 194 infection cases, with 52 having completely recovered. Tuyen said that 70 percent of the infection cases came from outside Vietnam, while there are two big infection sources inside the country at present, which are the Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi and Buddha Bar in Ho Chi Minh City. He noted that there is an especially high risk regarding Bach Mai Hospital, where there are several groups of potential infections such as patients receiving treatment, medical workers engaged in treatment, medical trainees at the hospital, caretakers of patients, and service staff at the hospital. Those people need to be detected and monitored closely to prevent the disease from spreading in the community, Tuyen added. President Buhari President Buhari today signed the COVID-19 Regulations, 2020 giving him the executive powers to declare COVID-19, a dangerous infectious disease. The COVID-19 regulation also gives the president the legal backing for all the measures his government has put in place to curtail the spread of the ravaging virus particularly the lockdown of some states. A statement issued by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, explained that this is in exercise of the powers conferred on the president by Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Quarantine Act (CAP Q2 LFN 2004). The statement in part reads: In exercise of the powers conferred on him by Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Quarantine Act (CAP Q2 LFN 2004), and all other powers enabling him in that behalf, President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, signed the Covid-19 Regulations, 2020, which declared Covid-19 a dangerous infectious disease. The Regulations, effective March 30, 2020, also gave legal backing to the various measures outlined in the Presidents National Broadcast on March 29, 2020, such as Restriction/Cessation of Movement in Lagos, FCT and Ogun State and others toward containing the spread of the pandemic in the country. In addition, to ensure that Nigerians can still perform on-line transactions and use ATMs whilst observing these restrictions, exemption is granted financial system and money markets to allow very skeletal operations in order to keep the system in light operations during the pendency of these regulations. On Sunday March 29th, the President addressed the Nation and announced the restriction of movement in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja as part of measures to curb the spread of the virus in Nigeria. Legal practitioners and Senator Dino Melaye kicked against the directive issued by the President. They argued he had no legal backing to issue such a directive. Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading. Dollar Tree Shares of the discount retailer fell 8% after Dollar Tree withdrew its guidance for the year due to uncertainty around the fast-spreading coronavirus. Amarin Shares of Amarin tanked 70.5% after the pharmaceutical company received an unfavorable ruling from a Nevada court in a patent case involving its fish oil drug Vascepa, used to treat patients with high triglyceride levels. The court ruled in favor of Hikma Pharmaceuticals and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, which want to make generic versions. Amarin said it would pursue all available legal remedies. Noble Energy Shares of the oil exploration and production company rose 13.8% on the back of a move higher in crude. Oil prices jumped on Tuesday one day after falling to 18-year lows following a phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in which declining oil prices were discussed. Other advancers in the oil patch included Devon Energy, which rose 8.6% and Diamondback Energy, which popped 11.1%. Domino's Pizza Shares of the pizza chain Domino's fell 6.3% after it said it is withdrawing its 2020 financial guidance. "Due to the current uncertainty surrounding the global economy and the Company's business operations considering COVID-19, the Company is withdrawing its fiscal 2020 guidance measures," the company said. Domino's has kept many U.S. locations open during the pandemic but many international stores remain closed. Conagra Brands Shares of the food company jumped 3.9% after Conagra said it expects to exceed its full year sales and profit guidance. The company's announcement comes amid many other businesses lowering or eliminating their 2020 guidance due to the coronavirus. Despite the optimistic outlook, Conagra missed on the top and bottom lines of its quarterly earnings. Dollar General Shares of Dollar General rose 2.9% after Wells Fargo upgraded the discount retailer to overweight from equal weight. Wells Fargo called Dollar General the "best stock in the consumer arsenal" if the coronavirus leads to more economic headwinds. RH The furniture company cratered 14.9% after it withdrew its full year guidance and said lower traffic hurt its quarterly revenue. RH reported revenue of $665 million, lower than the $709 million expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv. Cheesecake Factory Shares of the chain restaurant company rose 3.5% Tuesday after the stock was upgraded to buy from hold at Gordon Haskett. The firm said in a note that the company has already announced the bad news namely furloughs and issues paying rent that will soon hit many restaurant companies, which has led to an "exaggerated sell-off." Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line Shares of Carnival jumped 2.9% after the company announced that it was issuing two sets of bonds and a secondary stock offering to raise $6 billion in cash. The company also announced that it was suspending its dividend. Rival Norwegian saw its shares rise 2.6%, after extending its voluntary suspension of cruises through May 10. American Airlines Shares of American Airlines rose nearly 3% but closed down 0.5% after Reuters reported the airline plans to apply for up to $12 billion in government assistance. That would mean no involuntary layoffs or pay cuts over the next six months. Zoom Video High-flying, stay-at-home stock Zoom Video sunk 3.2% after the New York Times reported that Zoom's privacy practices are being investigated by the New York State Attorney General's office. With reporting from Jesse Pound, Yun Li and Pippa Stevens. Just as his counterpart in Idaho joined a growing list of governors ordering residents to stay home, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon said he was doing his best to avoid similar measures here as the total number of coronavirus patients in the Equality State rose by more than 70 percent in roughly 24 hours. We are trying to avoid that order, he told media during a press conference Wednesday. But we do have the tools to be able to issue that kind of order. But as I said, we are trying to avoid that order because of the complexities it involves. We do have means to enforce it, either through law enforcement or other means, he added. Even without the order, he urged Wyomingites to stay at home as much as possible. Health officials across the country have said that a sound way to slow this virus as any other is to maintain social distancing. Gordons press conference comes as Wyoming continues to experience its largest surge of new COVID-19 cases. As of late Thursday afternoon, there are now 49 confirmed cases in Wyoming, with 21 identified in roughly the past 24 hours. Nationally, there are more than 63,700 known cases, according to the New York Times. More than 900 people have died. Both of those numbers have jumped in the hours since this article was first updated. They will continue to grow. The numbers grow here, too. Before the the governor started speaking early Wednesday afternoon, there were 41 confirmed cases in Wyoming. Minutes after his press conference ended, the state announced the total number of COVID-19 patients had risen to 44, with a first case for Albany County and two new patients in Teton County. When dawn broke Tuesday, there were 29 known cases in total. Officials have said repeatedly that there are almost certainly more cases than have been identified because of limited testing capabilities. While the state lab has increased its ability to process samples by a factor of 10, there still remains a shortage of the swabs and tubes to take and transport the samples taken from patients. As a result, only a certain group of people are being tested. Elsewhere, people with mild symptoms are being told to go home and stay there for two weeks. Its thus unclear how extensive the virus presence is in Wyoming, which is why officials have repeatedly urged people to stay home as much as possible and avoid social contact with others. Asked if the state has modeled the potential extent of the virus, Health Department Director Mike Ceballos said the agencys epidemiologists were working on it. On Tuesday, Wyomings health officer, Dr. Alexia Harrist, said the state was in the process of creating some of the supplies needed. A Health Department spokeswoman said Wednesday afternoon that some 2,600 sample kits the materials needed to actually take a sample from a patient will be distributed statewide. While he was still reticent Wednesday to issue a shelter-in-place order, Gordon, along with Harrist, has ordered the temporary closure of schools, gyms, bars, hair salons and other businesses where people tend to congregate. Restaurants were permitted to remain open, but only to offer takeout and delivery. But Gordon indicated he wasnt for the time being planning to go beyond that step to a shelter-in-place order, as states such as Ohio and New York have done. We know this is a difficult situation, probably the hardest we will face in our lifetime, Gordon told reporters. Were not trying to shut down Wyoming, he added. The first of Gordons significant measures against the spread of the virus the recommendation 10 days ago that schools close is set to expire April 3. Gordon said he was working with the state Department of Education on how to proceed with an education system of nearly 94,000 students and thousands of educators and support staff. At a separate press conference in Casper, Natrona County School District spokeswoman Tanya Southerland said the district was undertaking proactive and precautionary planning to keep students learning, should schools remain shuttered. She said no decision has been made on whether virtual learning will be offered here. If schools are shuttered for the rest of the year or if theres a move to push coursework online, there are statutory obstacles to navigate. Though a federal waiver has cleared testing requirements, theres the matter of seniors who need to complete this semesters coursework to graduate a process and set of standards dictated in statute, as well as in every school districts own policies. Providers Gordon stressed the need to protect health care workers from the virus, another multi-faceted problem. First is the shortage of personal protective equipment masks, gloves and gowns that providers in Wyoming and just about everywhere else in America have been warning about. Lynn Budd, the states homeland security director, told reporters Wednesday that a shipment of the protective gear had been received from a national stockpile and that it had been distributed across the state. Its not enough, but were doing the best we can at this point, Budd said, adding that the state had placed orders with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The problem there, officials have said in the past, is that states, hospitals and clinics across the country are all queuing up. Asked how much equipment had been requested and distributed, Budd said she didnt have those figures available. The second issue affecting the safety of health care workers who are one of the groups thats a testing priority is their exposure to patients more generally. Officials in Natrona County and at the state level have urged anyone with symptoms not to go to their local emergency room unless theyre having significant breathing problems, and to not go to their primary care clinic without calling first, for fear of spreading the virus to unprepared staff. More importantly, if our first responders and our health care professionals are themselves infected, they take themselves off the line, further complicating issues, the governor said. In Wyoming, while hard numbers are difficult to confirm, several of the known cases are health care workers, including one in Casper and one in Park County. Similarly, Gordon stressed the need to not overload the states isolated hospital systems, warning that it would have a ripple effect. We want to make sure, if this crisis comes in greater detail and weve seen it increase over the last few days that we have adequate health care facilities, he said. If our hospitals are filled and somebody has a stroke or somebody breaks a leg, you wont be able to be taken to the hospital. Economic impact At his press conferences, which have occurred with increasing frequency as the virus spreads, Gordon has repeated that the virus will damage the state on two fronts: its public and economic health. Robin Cooley, the state Department of Workforce Services director, took the microphone on the economic impacts after Gordon finished speaking. She said the workforce claims center, which handles calls for unemployment insurance, has added 15 new employees and plans to install new phone lines as well. While the claim volume has increased, Cooley said there is not currently a backlog and claims are being processed within two days. The department is also working to push emergency rules that would expand the criteria for qualifying for the insurance. Currently to qualify, residents must be actively seeking work, for example. Thats something difficult to do when the state has mandated statewide business closures. Still, Cooley said there are employers in the state looking for workers. She directed those looking for work to wyomingatwork.com. As far as the departments ability to serve an increased need for unemployment insurance for an extended amount of time, Cooley said she isnt worried. She said Wyomings unemployment insurance trust fund was among the healthiest in the country before the pandemic. She said when comparing the current situation to the 2008 recession, she felt the fund was in a comfortable place. Cooley added the department is working on making emergency federal grant money available to employers to keep staff on the payroll amid a statewide public health order that has closed a slew of businesses. Asked about peoples rent and mortgages in a time where people are out of work or furloughed, Gordon said he had been in discussions with the Trump administration and Wyomings congressional delegation to seek relief on mortgage payments. Our ability to regulate is somewhat limited, he said. Nationally, Congress continues to deliberate on what is being described as the largest economic relief bill in history. It comes with a $2 trillion price tag and will include a $500 billion fund for large corporations, $367 billion for small businesses, and funding for more extended unemployment insurance and hospital relief. Some Republicans in the Senate demanded changes Wednesday to the unemployment benefits, while Sen. Bernie Sanders has said he will block the bill if the benefits are weakened. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. Seth Klamann Education and Health Reporter Seth Klamann joined the Star-Tribune in 2016 and covers education and health. A 2015 graduate of the University of Missouri and proud Kansas City native, Seth worked for newspapers in Milwaukee and Omaha before coming to Casper. Follow Seth Klamann Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. 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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 Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered extension of services of all retiring police personnel and home guards by two months to strengthen citizen outreach on the ground. Further, to ease pressure on the police force, around 1,300 cops have been judiciously withdrawn from VVIP duty, including a significant number from the CM's security, to join the battle in the COVID-19 lockdown on the ground, a state government release said here. As many as 44,546 cops have been deployed in the field as of now to enforce curfew restrictions and conduct relief operations, it said. Meanwhile, DGP Dinkar Gupta said 107 FIRs were registered for violation of curfew/home quarantine restrictions in the state on Tuesday and 132 people arrested. The chief minister had earlier authorized the DGP to pull out any number of police personnel from VVIP duty for deployment in the coronavirus crisis management. Expressing concerns over the welfare and the morale of thousands of policemen performing field duties without rest or relief over the past several days, Singh had directed mobilisation of maximum police force through withdrawal from security duties. The DGP said further withdrawals would be made based on evaluation of the threat scenario and through graded reduction. He said due care was being taken to deploy police personnel in their home districts as far as possible. To boost the morale of the frontline workers, Amarinder Singh reached out to doctors, police and administrative officials working in the field and spoke to many of them during the day. He assured them of the state government's full support in the war against this unprecedented crisis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 Amid the countrywide lockdown to contain coronavirus, more than one lakh Sangh volunteers are working on the ground and providing food, medicines and essentials at 10,000 places across the country, RSS's general secretary Suresh (Bhaiyya ji) Joshi is learnt to have informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The information was shared by Joshi, who is the Sarkaryavah (executive head) of the RSS, with the prime minister during his interaction with spiritual and social leaders on Monday, sources in the Sangh said. According to the sources, Joshi told the PM that more than one lakh Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteers are working on the ground across the country and the relief activities have already reached more than one million people. He also said Sangh workers are providing essentials, food and medicine at more than 10,000 places. He assured the prime minister that the RSS is fully geared up and responding to the crisis that the country is facing in wake of the lockdown imposed by the government to tackle coronavirus. RSS-affiliate Sewa Bharti which focuses on community work has been helping daily wagers and labourers in Delhi by providing them food and other essentials. Volunteers of Sewa Bharti are operating kitchens at various locations in the national capital to cook food and distributing it among the needy, a Sangh functionary said. Modi held a video-conference with social and spiritual leaders on Monday including Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Jaggi Vasudev, Baba Ramdev and spiritual leaders from the Sikh and Christian communities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Data from Earth-gazing satellites is key for scientists hoping to understand and track disease outbreaks including the unfolding coronavirus pandemic. Why it matters: A satellite's view can allow health researchers to understand the context of an outbreak in a way other tools cannot, and it has the potential to help scientists predict when and where the next infectious disease outbreak may occur. What's happening: Companies like Planet and Maxar are able to track empty parking lots, roads and businesses to understand the economic impacts of the pandemic. Satellites are also able to see the flow of people from one place to another, which could allow scientists to trace outbreaks of the disease in densely populated areas. Details: Scientists are in the midst of collecting data about possible ecological factors that may have led to the current pandemic. The data may also feed models that can help explain how the coronavirus transmits between people and spreads around the world. "We'll look at that data, and we'll really be able to map out, not just the spread of the disease from the migration patterns of people but the recovery process," public health researcher Timothy Ford of the University of Massachusetts told Axios. The big picture: Satellite data can also help scientists predict when and how new viruses may jump from animals into human populations. Photos from space reveal where people are encroaching on animal habitats. Satellite photos are also used to track vegetation, rainfall and other factors in the four-corners region of the U.S. that put the area at a high risk for hantavirus outbreaks. Previous studies have also shown how environmental factors that play into outbreaks of diseases like Ebola can be seen and predicted using data gathered from orbit. Yes, but: Robust models require multiple data points and it will likely take more than a dozen outbreaks of these types of coronaviruses to accurately predict when and where the next might occur. "I can definitely say to you that we don't have enough information about SARS-like coronaviruses yet, and hopefully we won't because it would take 15 or 20 more such emergence events," Townsend Peterson, a researcher at the University of Kansas who uses remote sensing data, told Axios. What's next: Scientists hope to eventually use machine learning and AI to help automate outbreak prediction by quickly analyzing the wealth of data beamed back from orbit. 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 Geolocation data will be used in Moscow to monitor whereabouts of novel coronavirus patients who are receiving treatment at home, Moscow Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova said. Earlier, a patient with confirmed novel coronavirus fled the Kommunarka hospital for coronavirus patients. She was tracked via a video surveillance system and returned back to the ward. "We are toughening the regime [for patients who stay in self-isolation at home]. At present, constantly providing geolocation data is a mandatory requirement for a person who receives treatment at home. This will help us to offer a more prompt response," TASS cited Rakova as saying. According to her, the majority of those who are being treated at home, observe all the necessary precautions and quarantine rules. By SA Commercial Prop News Edcon the parent company of Edgars, which had already been under a financial strain, said it may not reopen after lockdown. Edcon, which had already been under a financial strain, revealed that the coronavirus has had a negative impact on the company and it would lose close to a billion rand during the 21-day lockdown period. The bell may be tolling for Africa's biggest non-food retailer after Edcon CEO Grant Pattison told suppliers last week the company would not be able to honour its contracts. In an emotional conference all to suppliers, Pattison broke down, telling suppliers the company only had sufficient liquidity to pay salaries but was "unable to honour any other accounts payable during this period." Following the presidents first announcement on Sunday, 15 March, Edcons turnover has declined 45% in comparison to the same period last year. The company said by the time lockdown began, it expected to be around R400 million below forecasted sales and cash for the month, and expected to lose a further R800 million in turnover during the 21-day lockdown. Edcon management will this week begin focusing on a reopening strategy for the post-lockdown period, but Pattison is on record as saying that he was unsure if this would even be possible, given the groups long-standing woes and the general state of the economy. ALSO READ: Office Vacancies remain stubbornly High in SA Edcon owns popular retail outlets Edgars and Jet and books and stationery outlet CNA. Its peer clothing giant The Foschini Group (TFG) plans to stop rental payments as a result of the lockdown. Edcon alone has some 750 Edgars and Jet stores countrywide, covering around a million square metres in retail space. Better-performing TFG, which has around 29 retail brands including Foschini, American Swiss and Sportscene, has more than 2 500 stores in South Africa covering around 750 000 square metres of retail space. In 2019, Edcon received a lifeline received a lifeline of R2.7 billion from the Public Investment Corporation and lenders, and rent reduction from landlords in return for equity to aid in restructuring its business model to restore competitiveness. The landlords who participated in this transaction included the likes of Vukile Properties, Attacq Limited, Liberty Two Degrees, Growthpoint Properties, Hyprop Investments and Redefine Properties. Due to the square footage occupied by the group, they had some leverage to negotiate, it should be noted since the rental transaction closed, the likes of Massmart, and TFG have also announced they would be looking at some sort of rental reduction. ALSO READ: Big Property Developments expected to fire up Cape Town The group has faced a heavy debt burden amid an environment of weak consumer spending and slow economic growth. In 2016, Bain Capital Private Equity handed Edcon over to creditors after a 2007 buyout, in which Edcon was delisted from the JSE, turned sour. The Covid-19 lockdown is forcing more retailers into a position where they may not be able to pay their property rentals, which is set to add to the pressures being experienced by retail landlords and South Africas struggling listed property sector. Clothing groups, DIY stores and general merchandise retailers such as Edcon, TFG, Mr Price, Pepkor (including JD Group), Truworths, and Massmart chains such as Builders Warehouse are set to be hard-hit during this period, with Easter holiday trade being affected. ALSO READ: End of the road for Massmarts Dion Wired stores Although yet to recover from Edcons woes, landlords are set to face even more intense pressure as Walmart-owned Massmart announced recently the closure of 23 DionWired stores accross the country. Massmart, which also owns the South African chains Game Stores, Makro, Dion, Builders and Jumbo Cash and Carry, slumped to a loss in the first half of last year as shoppers stayed away amid an economic downturn. Coronavirus crisis in South Africa Minister of Health has announced that there are now 1,353 confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa, as of 31 March 2020 on day five of the nationwide lockdown. This follows president Cyril Ramaphosa announcing 1,326 confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa on 30 March meaning 27 new cases over the past 24 hours. Globally, coronavirus cases have reached 853,127, with 41,983 deaths recorded and 176,834 recoveries to date. ALSO READ: A look at Midrand's massive new R9bn beachfront apartment development South Africa is also facing additional headwinds after ratings firm Moodys downgraded the countrys credit rating to below investment grade, late Friday evening. Moodys downgraded South Africas long term foreign and local currency debt ratings to Ba1 from Baa3 with a negative outlook. 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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 Skye Wheatley has been in lockdown at her Gold Coast mansion amid the COVID-19 pandemic. And on Tuesday, Skye called on her 629,00 Instagram followers for more information about the global crisis. The 25-year-old influencer posted three pictures of herself in a green floral maxi dress that showed off her sensational figure. 'When will coronavirus be under control?' On Tuesday, Skye Wheatley (pictured) called on her fans for more information about the COVID-19 pandemic 'When do we think Corona Virus will be under control? Would love to know more or anything you guys know?' Skye captioned the post. 'Have been speaking to mum shes keeping me updated.' Skye has been spending a lot of time at home with her one-year-old son Forest amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She knows her angles! The 25-year-old influencer posted three pictures of herself in a green floral maxi dress that showed off her sensational figure Supportive: Later on Tuesday, she posted a mirror selfie with the caption: 'Hope we're all staying sane x.' Later on Tuesday, she posted a mirror selfie with the caption: 'Hope we're all staying sane x.' Although she has been stuck at home, Skye has no shortage of Instagram content for her avid followers. On Sunday, Skye sizzled in two mirror selfies that drew attention to her cleavage, toned tummy and lean legs in a lime green bikini. Last week, she used her toddler Forest as a substitute weight to perform lunges and pulse squats after all gyms closed due to COVID-19. One hot mama! On Sunday, Skye sizzled in two mirror selfies that drew attention to her cleavage, toned tummy and lean legs in a lime green bikini 'No weights, no problem,' Skye captioned her Instagram story at the time, as she balanced on one leg while holding her one-year-old son. Skye welcomed Forest in December 2018, with boyfriend Lachlan Waugh. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to escalate in Australia. As of Tuesday evening, there have been 4,559 confirmed cases, which have resulted in 19 deaths. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment For a brief period last June, Tulsi Gabbards presidential campaign was suspended from Google by Google. Because the Democratic Congresswoman upped her spending on Google ads, their algorithm flagged her for potential spam. Gabbards campaign was Google-absent for about six hours, or in todays time, for an eternity. So she sued, claiming the tech giant violated her right to free speech. A few weeks ago, a federal judge threw out her lawsuit. Why? Google is not government. A private company can neither giveth nor taketh away free speech rights. This conundrum raises more questions than we have answers. Sitting squarely, as we are, in the middle of the information age, the internet is now our public commons. Especially now, many of us live life during the coronavirus epidemic almost entirely over the internet. By some estimates Google handles about seven billion searches per day. To put that in perspective, there are about seven billion people on the planet. Nine out of ten people who use the internet on their mobile devices, use Google. In other words, its Googles world and were just living in it. Do we really want this amount of sheer power unregulated? On the other hand, of course we dont want the government coercing private companies into acting a certain way. That slope is so slippery, even our best intentions cannot save us from the consequences. Still, how can we have a free marketplace of ideas when just one or two publicly unaccountable companies own the marketplace? Of course, given the sheer convenience and access to knowledge we now have on demand, I dont anticipate Americans casting their Apple watches into the Boston Harbor any time soon. And though there are alternatives to Google, its hard to imagine any will ever be true competitors, at least for now. While we continue to wrestle with these reasonable questions about whether and how much companies like Google should be regulated, the more immediate conversation Christians must be having isnt how to rid this world of Google, but how to live in this world wisely? We must start by teaching our kids not what to think but how to think. In the information age, accumulated facts and information are confused with expertise or, even worse, wisdom. Nearly a century ago, T.S. Eliot reflected on what he perceived even then to be an overwhelming amount of information delivered at the time by technologies wed now consider to be primitive: Where is the Life we have lost in living? he wrote. Where is the wisdom weve lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge weve lost in information? Situations like Gabbards remind us not only of Googles power to shape what we know, but to shape our very idea of knowledge itself. We must teach our kids what Google can do for us but perhaps even more importantly, what it can never replace. In our world, cultivating discernment is a necessary antidote to deception. Too-often, we are oblivious to the cultural currents around us. As the old Chinese proverb goes, If you want to know what water is, dont ask the fish. The sooner our kids can identify what is in the water theyre swimming in, the better. The best place I know of to start is with the definition of words. In our world where, as one of my friends likes to say, we often use the same vocabulary but not the same dictionary, ideas are smuggled into our use of language all the time. Concepts like love, justice, truth, freedom, God, male, and female are loaded terms everywhere, but especially in the muddy waters of Google. But these concepts still have true definitions, and carving those into our hearts and minds, and enabling our students to recognize false definitions, will be an effective armor in the fight against disinformation. My colleague Brett Kunkle and I dive much deeper into life in the information age in our book, A Practical Guide to Culture. In it, we include dozens of practical steps parents can take with their kids to help them, as we say, think worldviewishly about what they see, hear and read, on Google and elsewhere. And now, A Students Guide to Culture, the student edition of the Practical Guide is also available. In John 17, Jesus prayed that God wouldnt necessarily take us out of the world but would protect us from the evil one. We probably cant avoid big tech, but with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and a biblical worldview we can avoid being taken captive by hollow and deceptive philosophy. Originally posted at breakpoint.org Americans were told Tuesday to brace for "very painful" weeks ahead in a worsening coronavirus pandemic projected to claim up to a quarter million US lives, as fatalities spiked in European hotspots Spain, France and Britain. With more than 42,100 already killed by the disease barrelling around the globe, the United States registered a record 865 deaths in 24 hours -- taking its death toll to 3,873. As field hospitals sprouted in the US outbreak's epicenter New York City, Trump said he was extending social distancing and stay-at-home orders for another 30 days. "This is going to be a very painful -- a very, very painful -- two weeks," the president said at the White House as he described the pandemic as "a plague." "I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead." In a matter of months, the virus has infected more than 857,000 people in a crisis hammering the global economy and transforming the daily existence of some 3.6 billion people told to stay home under lockdowns. Deaths shot up again across Europe. While there are hopeful signs that the spread of infections is slowing in hardest-hit Italy and Spain, more than 800 died overnight in both countries. France recorded a one-day record of 499 dead while Britain reported 381 coronavirus deaths. But members of Trump's coronavirus task force offered a grim forecast of between 100,000 and 240,000 US deaths in coming months, taking into account current mitigation efforts. "As sobering a number as that is, we should be prepared for it," Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said with Trump at his side when asked about the lower figure of 100,000. But Fauci said mitigation was "actually working" and that authorities are doing everything they can to get the death toll "significantly below that." With hospitals direly overstretched, lockdowns have been extended despite their crushing economic impact. In Belgium a 12-year-old girl died in another worrying case of a youth succumbing to the disease. France joined the US with a surge to 3,525 deaths, an official toll that includes only those who died in hospital and not those who perished at home or in seniors' homes. - 'We need help now' - The inundation of patients has sent health facilities worldwide into overdrive. Emergency hospitals are popping up in event spaces while distressed medical staff make grim decisions about how to distribute limited protective gear, beds and life-saving respirators. In scenes previously unimaginable in peacetime, around a dozen white tents were erected to serve as a field hospital in New York's Central Park. While many companies and schools around the globe have shifted to teleworking and teaching over video platforms, huge swaths of the world's workforce cannot perform their jobs online and are now lacking pay and face a deeply uncertain future. Food banks in New York City have seen a huge rise in newcomers struggling to feed their families. "It is my first time," Lina Alba, a cleaner at a Manhattan hotel that closed two weeks ago, said from a food distribution center. "We need the help now. This is crazy," said Alba, a 40-year-old single mother of five. Three quarters of Americans are now under some form of lockdown, while off the Florida coast a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship and its sister vessel are pleading for somewhere to dock after four passengers died on board. - Virus breeds divisions - The extraordinary economic and political upheaval spurred by the virus is opening new fronts for cooperation and conflict. In virtual talks Tuesday, finance ministers and central bankers from the world's 20 major economies pledged to address the debt burden of low-income countries and deliver aid to emerging markets. Last week G20 leaders said they were injecting $5 trillion into the global economy to head off a feared deep recession. In the European Union, however, battle lines have been drawn over the terms of a rescue plan. Worst-hit Italy and Spain are leading a push for a shared debt instrument -- dubbed "coronabonds." But talk of shared debt is a red line for Germany and other northern countries, threatening to divide the bloc. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen also warned against using emergency measures as a pretext for power grabs -- after a new law gave Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orban authority to rule by decree until his government deems the crisis over. - 'Nothing to eat' - The economic pain of lockdowns is especially acute in the developing world. In Tunisia several hundred protested a week-old lockdown that has disproportionately impacted the poor. "Nevermind coronavirus, we're going to die anyway! Let us work!" shouted one protester in the demonstration on the outskirts of the capital Tunis. Africa's biggest city Lagos entered its first full day of a two-week shutdown -- containment will be especially tough in the megacity's packed slums, where many rely on daily wages to survive. "There is no money for the citizens," engineer Ogun Nubi Victor, 60. "People are just sitting at home, with nothing to eat." While much of the world shuts down, the ground-zero Chinese city of Wuhan has begun reawakening in recent days, giving the bereaved the first chance in months to bury their dead. burs-mlm/ec/bgs/dw YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... Iraqi Shia political leader Muqtada al-Sadr Iraqi Shia political leader Muqtada al-Sadr has said that the legalization of same-sex marriage caused coronavirus pandemic, Al Arabiya has reported. One of the most appalling things that have caused this epidemic is the legalization of same-sex marriage, al-Sadr said in a post on his Twitter account on Saturday. Hence, I call on all governments to repeal this law immediately and without any hesitation, he added. Followers of al-Sadr were criticized after hundreds congregated inside a mosque and chanted coronavirus has terrified you, despite government measures imposed to stop the spread of the outbreak. Iraq imposed a nationwide lockdown last week that ends today as part of measures to fight the coronavirus. Read more: Coronavirus: Iraqi Shia ceremonial eulogists defying ban on public gatherings As of Saturday, 42 in Iraq have died from coronavirus, and there are 506 confirmed cases, according to the Iraqi health ministry. Thirty countries worldwide, most of them in Europe, have allowed for same-sex marriage, according to research from Pew Research Center. The FBI has failed to follow its own policies for ensuring the accuracy of applications it submits to conduct wiretaps in national security investigations, including in some cases by not having documentation to support arguments made to judges, according to a letter released Tuesday. The findings are on top of problems identified last year by the inspector general's office, which concluded that FBI agents had made significant errors and omissions in applications to eavesdrop on a former Trump campaign adviser during the early months of the Russia investigation. Those mistakes prompted internal changes within the FBI and spurred a congressional debate over whether the bureau's surveillance tools should be reined in. After the Russia report was submitted last December, Inspector General Michael Horowitz announced a broader review of the FBI's spy powers and its applications before the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Center of FISA scandal: Carter Page was subject of a series of eavesdropping warrants after being part of Donald Trump's campaign. A highly critical report last November found flaws in later iterations of the warrants issued to surveil him, leading to the latest inspector general investigation Warning: Michael Horowitz (left), the Justice Department Inspector General, wrote to FBI Director Christopher Wray (right) to warn of the findings of his audit of 29 FISA warrant applications As part of that review, the watchdog office examined how well the FBI was complying with internal rules that require agents to submit supporting documentation to back up every factual assertion they make in the application. Those rules, known as the Woods Procedures, were developed in 2001 after mistakes were identified in multiple applications, known by the acronym FISA, that were submitted in counterterrorism investigations. Horowitz said in a letter to FBI Director Chris Wray that in four of the 29 FISA applications his office selected for review, the FBI could not produce any supporting documents or records. In the 25 applications that were supplemented with supporting documentation, the office 'identified apparent errors or inadequately supported facts in all' of them. In some instances, facts stated in the applications were not supported by any documentation, and in others were either not corroborated by the documentation or even inconsistent with it. The watchdog office found an average of about 20 issues per application it reviewed. As a result, Horowitz wrote, 'we do not have confidence that the FBI has executed its Woods Procedures in compliance with FBI policy, or that the process is working as it was intended to help achieve the "scrupulously accurate" standard for FISA applications.' The inspector general's office did not make a judgment as to whether the mistakes that it identified were 'material' to the investigation or to the court's decision to authorize the wiretap. The office recommended that the FBI 'perform a physical inventory' to ensure that supporting documentation, known as Woods Files, exists for every application submitted to the court in all pending investigations. It also recommended that the FBI examine the results of 'past and future accuracy reviews' so that it can identify trends and patterns and develop better training for agents. In a response letter, FBI Associate Deputy Director Paul Abbate said the FBI was working to address the inspector general's concerns and agreed with the office's recommendations. He said the errors identified by the inspector general will be addressed by the more than 40 corrective actions that Wray ordered last year in the aftermath of the Russia investigation report. Claim: George Papadopoulos, the former Trump campaign adviser who triggered the Russia investigation, has claimed he is also a victim of FBI misconduct. He pleaded guilty in a plea deal with Robert Mueller's special counsel probe 'As Director Wray has stressed, FISA is an indispensable tool to guard against national security threats, but we must ensure that these authorities are carefully exercised and that FISA applications are scrupulously accurate,' Abbate wrote. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court was established in 1978 to receive applications from the FBI to eavesdrop on people it suspects of being agents of a foreign power, such as potential spies or terrorists. Critics have long complained about the opaque, one-sided nature of the application process, and longstanding calls to overhaul the system received a bipartisan push because of the errors identified during the FBI's investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. The congressional debate tripped up FBI efforts to renew three surveillance provisions that expired this month. Though the House passed Justice Department-backed legislation to address some of the civil liberties concerns identified by the inspector general, the Senate adjourned last week without approving the bill. While coverage of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continues to dominate headlines, the Trump administration has quietly weakened the country's fuel economy standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Rule. According to the new rule, the EPA will require automakers to increase the average fuel economy of their new vehicles by 1.5 percent between model years 2021 and 2026. Eventually, that standard will lead to cars that average about 40 miles per gallon. By contrast, the previous 2012 Obama-era standard pushed manufacturers to increase the average fuel economy of their cars and trucks by five percent annually. Had the EPA continued to enforce that standard, automakers would have had to build vehicles that averaged 54 miles per gallon eventually. The Trump administration estimates lowering the fuel economy standard will save most consumers about $1,000 on their next car purchase, thereby allowing a greater number of Americans to buy newer, safer and ultimately cleaner cars. It also argues the new standard will help make the US automotive industry more competitive by reducing regulatory costs by as much as $100 billion through model year 2029. However, most experts disagree on those points. According to a recent estimate by Consumer Reports, rolling back the fuel economy standard to 1.5 percent will increase the average net cost of a new vehicle by $2,100, eliminating any upfront savings. On the climate front, an estimate by the Environmental Defense Fund suggests the rollback will add 1.5 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions into the air by 2040. What's more, the agency estimates the new rule will lead to 18,500 more premature deaths, 250,000 more asthma attacks and 350,000 other respiratory issues by the middle of the century. All this at a time when a worldwide pandemic is inflicting thousands of Americans with a potentially lethal respiratory disease. The one silver lining in all this is that the rollback isn't as drastic as the EPA's original proposal. When the agency first proposed modifying the rule in 2018, it recommended freezing the standard at 2020 levels. Had the agency put that rule in place, the average fuel economy would have stayed at 37 miles per gallon. States like California are likely to legally challenge the rollback, particularly as the EPA attempts to use the rule to enforce a national fuel economy standard. Last year, the state and four automakers -- Ford, BMW, Volkswagen and Honda -- agreed to a voluntary pledge to make their engines more efficient by about 3.7 miles per gallon every year until 2026. 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 For many Democrats, its the election of a lifetime. Yet the question preoccupying the party for several days this month was whether their presumptive presidential nominee, Joe Biden, could get the webcast working in his rec room. It was a telling obsession, one that revealed the extent of the partys anxiety as it comes to a nail-biting conclusion: Despite all the arguments Democrats have crafted and all the evidence they have amassed against Donald Trump, his reelection is likely to rise or fall on his handling of the coronavirus crisis and its fallout alone. Its the most dramatic example I can think of in my lifetime about how you cannot control the agenda, said Les Francis, a Democratic strategist and former deputy White House chief of staff in the Carter administration. If life were fair, he said, Trump would already be paying a price for his chaotic handling of the pandemic. Instead, the presidents approval rating has not taken a hit, and the dominant images are of him at the podium in the White House, quote, in charge, Francis said. If those stick and theyre not countered effectively, he could get reelected." The effect of the coronavirus on Trumps popularity will not become clear for weeks or months. But the pandemics impact on the Democratic Party has already been severe. Primary elections are being postponed, allowing Bernie Sanders to linger in the race and delay until June the ability of Biden to mathematically clinch the nomination and fully turn his focus to Trump. The publics unbreakable focus on the virus is narrowing the range of issues on which Democrats can effectively draw contrasts with Trump temporarily sidelining a broader agenda involving once-pressing issues such as climate change and gun control. It was always going to be a referendum on Trump, said Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2004. But the referendum was going to be about things like climate change and how you want to reform health care and all these other things. Now its only going to be about this one thing whether Trump is competent and sane. Story continues Trump, he said, is a deeply disturbed narcissist who is incapable of being a leader, and thats what the referendum is going to be on. Most Democratic strategists believe, like Dean, that Trumps reelection prospects will be diminished by the pandemic, with its rising death toll and ruinous effect on the economy. But the general election is more than seven months away and Trumps public approval rating has ticked up as the coronavirus has spread though not nearly as high as the last Republican president, George W. Bush, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Scott Brennan, an Iowa Democratic National Committee member and a former state party chairman, said, If the economy pops back its hard to know what people are going to think. In an effort to influence those voters, Biden has resolved the technological difficulties that marred his earliest appearances from his home in Wilmington, Del. He is now making regular appearances, via webcast, to speak about the coronavirus pandemic, including town hall meetings and a rush of TV interviews. But the effectiveness of his counterprogramming is unclear, as Biden competes for attention not only with Trump, but with high-profile Democratic governors such as Californias Gavin Newsom, New Yorks Andrew Cuomo and Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer, who unlike Biden are sitting executives involved in the coronavirus response. Biden, said Darry Sragow, a longtime California Democratic strategist, has no control over this at all. To me, its like youre in a bar and a brawl breaks out, Sragow said. Youve got to park your immediate instinct. You have no control over the immediate outcome of the brawl. One problem for Democrats is that the nations battle with coronavirus and Trumps position at the center of it may go on for months. The partys marquee political event, the Democratic National Convention, scheduled for July, is the subject of contingency planning in case the coronavirus still precludes large crowds from gathering. DNC officials said last week that planning is moving forward for the Milwaukee event. But many Democrats are doubtful and fearful of a worst-case scenario in which the pandemic upends the Democratic convention, but not the Republican gathering the following month. It matters for this reason, said Bob Mulholland, a DNC member from California. That Thursday night speech by our nominee could be seen by 50 to 60 million Americans, most of them who havent paid a minute of attention to the primary. Thats the conversation that takes us to winning. He said, If we have to cancel and Trump has a convention with 40,000 people screaming and yelling thats an advantage to Trump, because nobody saw us except some text they got, and then they watched Trump. Jay Jacobs, chairman of the New York Democratic Party, suggested last week that Democrats should at least consider putting their convention off until late August. Even if the coronavirus pandemic has eased by late spring, he said, everybodys going to be absolutely exhausted. At a minimum, the pandemic is shortening the time frame with which Democrats will run their fall campaign. And it is changing expectations about the resonance of any issue other than the coronavirus. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to members of the press at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Advocates of Medicare for All have seized on the pandemic as a way to highlight their concerns about health care. Gun control activists have drawn connections to the crisis, raising alarms about domestic violence and unsafe gun storage with Americans spending far more hours at home. Climate change activists have advanced the Green New Deal as a tool for economic recovery, while also pointing to the worlds massive response to the coronavirus as a template for climate mobilization. Peter Ambler, executive director of the gun control group Giffords, said gun control which was once a major focus of the Democratic primary is baked into our politics and our culture in a way thats not going to evaporate. I do think its important at a time like this for people who care about climate to keep on fighting for climate change solutions, because that challenge isnt going to go away, the people who care about immigration reform to keep on having that conversation because clearly our immigration system is in need of reform, and likewise when it comes to gun violence, he said. Yet theres little evidence to date that the coronavirus crisis is altering those debates in a material way. As one strategist who has worked on climate change for several years said, None of that stuff is happening right now. It looks tone deaf to not be focused on the thing thats gripping and changing peoples lives in a once-in-a-lifetime way. Mathew Littman, a former Biden speechwriter and the executive director of a new pro-Biden super PAC, Win the West, said in 2016, Hillary [versus] Trump was, for lack of a better term, exciting. This year, he said, No one is looking at this point for the most exciting race to take place between Biden and Trump. Theyre just looking for a really competent leader. Its like being in a war. When that happens, if an asteroid hits the Earth, other issues go out the window. This is where we are as a country. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said that when Democrats coalesced around Biden in South Carolina, the message from the backbone of the Democratic Party was that before you move ahead, you have to stabilize that which we used to have, including government that is not only competent in a crisis, but doesnt default to racism and xenophobia. Concerns about other issues, she said, will persist within the Democratic Party. But people need to feel safe, first and foremost," she said, "before they feel bold. Exchange likely to kick-start talks between the group and Afghan government negotiators as envisaged in US-Taliban deal. A three-member Taliban team has arrived in Kabul to begin a prisoner exchange process, which is likely to kick-start talks between the group and negotiators named by the Afghan government to end the countrys 18-year war. The peace talks, known as the intra-Afghan dialogue, were envisaged in an agreement signed between the United States and the Taliban in Doha, which also stipulated an exchange of 6,000 prisoners held by the Afghan government and the group. Our three-member technical team will help the process of prisoners release by identification of the prisoners, (and) their transportation, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters News Agency on Tuesday. The prisoner release had been a sticking point in the starting of peace talks, with the Taliban and Afghan government differing over the process and timing of the exchange. However, after weeks of back and forth, the process is set to begin with the arrival of the Taliban team, which will set up camp at a luxury hotel in Kabul. In this regard, they will do a kind of deal with the opposite side (Afghan government), Mujahid said. Their practical work would start in coming days. The Taliban had previously refused to speak to the US-backed Afghan government directly. The Taliban team had planned to send a larger, 10-member delegation, Mujahid said, but the size was reduced due to the coronavirus fallout in Afghanistan. The talks also received a boost after a government-named negotiating team was endorsed by Abdullah Abdullah, Afghan President Ashraf Ghanis main political rival. The formation of an inclusive negotiation team is an important step towards facilitating intra-Afghan negotiations, Abdullah Abdullah said on Twitter. Good news Differences between Ghani and Abdullah over the result of the 2019 presidential elections threatened to derail the peace process with the Taliban a fear voiced by major capitals around the world, particularly Washington. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also termed Tuesdays developments good news, saying the team of negotiators announced by the government appeared inclusive. Pompeo last week flew to Kabul and the Qatari capital Doha, where the Taliban have an office, to urge all sides to move forward with the process, which at that point was deadlocked. Weve seen a [negotiating] team identified. Looks like its pretty inclusive, pretty broad. Were happy about that, Pompeo said at a news conference in Washington on Tuesday. Weve begun to see some work done on prisoner releases, as well, all elements that have to come together so we can get to the inter Afghan negotiations, which ultimately will prove to be the only mechanism that has any hope of delivering peace and reconciliation to the people, he added. While others slept, Tom Cotton was warning anyone who would listen that the coronavirus was coming for America. On January 22, one day before the Chinese government began a quarantine of Wuhan to contain the spread of the virus, the Arkansas senator sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar encouraging the Trump administration to consider banning travel between China and the United States and warning that the Communist regime could be covering up how dangerous the disease really was. That same day, he amplified his warnings on Twitter and in an appearance on the radio program of Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade. At the time, the Senate impeachment trial was dominating the news cycle. The trial, which lasted from January 16 to February 5, had even blotted out coverage of the Democratic presidential primary in the days leading up to the Iowa caucuses. When the first classified briefing on the virus was held in the Senate on January 24, only 14 senators reportedly showed up. Cottons public and private warnings became more urgent that last week of January. In a January 28 letter to the secretaries of state, health and human services, and homeland security, he noted that no amount of screening [at airports] will identify a contagious-but-asymptomatic person afflicted with the coronavirus and called for an immediate evacuation of Americans in China and a ban on all commercial flights between China and the United States. Cotton first spoke to President Trump about the virus the next day. The Arkansas Gazette reported that he missed nearly three hours of the impeachment trial while he was discussing the matter with Trump-administration officials. The outbreak was the biggest and the most important story in the world, he said in a Senate hearing that week. What tipped the senator off to the true nature of the threat? Why was he the first and the loudest voice in Congress to sound the alarm about the looming pandemic? Story continues In an interview with National Review, Cotton is quick to point out that he doesnt have a background in science or public health, but he does have two eyes. As a long-time China hawk, he found his interest piqued early on by reports primarily from East Asian news sources. Two things struck me about Chinas response, he says. First their deceit and their dishonesty going back to early December. And second, the extreme draconian measures they had taken. By the third week of January, they had more than 75 million people on lockdown. They were confined to their homes and apartments, otherwise they were arrested. In some cases, the front doors of those buildings were welded shut. All schools had shut down. Hong Kong had banned flights from the mainland. [These are] the kind of extreme, draconian measures that you would only take in a position of power in China if you were greatly worried about the spread of this virus. On January 31, the president announced a ban on entry to foreign travelers who had been in China in the previous two weeks, while allowing Americans and permanent residents to continue to travel back and forth between the two countries. The measure was not as stringent as Cottons call for a ban on all commercial flights, but Cotton points out that the president did not have many advisers encouraging him to shut down travel. Advisers who were supportive tended to be national-security aides, he adds, while most of his economic and public-health advisers were ambivalent at best about the travel ban. I commend the president greatly for ultimately making the right decision contrary to what the so-called experts were telling him, he says. Of course, while the travel restriction may have bought the United States time, that time was largely squandered by the catastrophic failure of the CDC and FDA to ramp up testing for the coronavirus in the United States. In phone calls and meetings in early February, Cotton says, he encouraged the administration to be very aggressive and very flexible when it came to testing and diagnostic protocols. One consistent thing I had seen in the literature from past outbreaks is that the FDA and especially the CDC is unfortunately somewhat slow to act in these circumstances. I did discuss that with the president. I discussed it with Jared Kushner. I discussed it a lot with Robert OBrien, the national-security adviser, and OBriens deputy, Matthew Pottinger. The CDC should not have acted like know-it-all bureaucrats who had the only medical and scientific expertise to develop tests. We have lots and lots of very capable labs all around the country, Cotton adds. The FDA should not put all of its eggs in the CDC basket. . . . They were slow to use their emergency-use authorization. In a January 26 appearance on Face the Nation, Cotton called on the FDA to expedite approval for testing to state and local governments. The bureaucracy just didnt move as fast as it could have, he says. Dr. Fauci said its not the presidents fault. It would have happened to any other president. But it was a lost opportunity, given the time the president bought everyone with the travel [restriction]. Does the president ultimately bear responsibility for the failures at the CDC and FDA? He is the president, and its always the presidents job to push the bureaucracy when theyre moving too slowly, Cotton says. But sometimes you have to push very, very hard. Where are we now and where do we go from here in the fight against the coronavirus? You cant have a virus rampaging through society and expect the economy to open up, but you cant have economic collapse and expect our health-care system to continue to work, Cotton says. You have to get the virus under control before you gradually start reopening things like white-collar work and manufacturing capacity and low-density retail and ultimately high-density retail. The things the country must focus on over the next few weeks, he says, are building up production capacity for rapid testing, respirator masks, [and] thermometer guns, getting personnel trained on contact tracing, and developing procedures and even laws at the local level for individual mandatory quarantines for those infected with the virus. Cotton notes that there is still a lot thats unclear about the virus: It could be far more infectious with a lower fatality rate than has been reported for instance. But then again, They dont turn the Javits Center into a field hospital for the flu. They dont bring in ice trucks to back up the morgue for the flu. Using your own two eyes to see whats happening in our hospitals, Cotton says, is the real acid-test for how serious this virus is. More from National Review Small businesses seeking loans through the government's $2trillion coronavirus relief package could receive money as soon as Friday, senior administration officials who spoke to reporters about the details of the loan program on the condition of anonymity have said. Companies will be able to submit applications on Friday and because the government is using an approval process that has been stripped down from the one used for traditional business loans, the money can be available to borrowers the same day, the officials said Tuesday. The loans are available to small businesses ranging from sole proprietors and freelancers to companies with up to 500 employees. The money is intended to help companies that have suffered massive revenue losses due to the outbreak, including restaurants across the country forced to shut down. But those who lost their jobs and will not be rehired will have to wait likely two weeks for a government handout. The loan money is intended to help companies that have suffered massive revenue losses due to the outbreak, including restaurants across the country forced to shut down. However it's to help companies pay staff they have retained. Pictured; Clade Karim works at Falafel House in downtown Grandin, Virginia on Monday night This month saw a record 3.2 million unemployment claims in the United States in one week and some people laid off will receive a direct payout of $1,200 from the government Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said last week: 'Our expectation is within three weeks we will have direct payments out'. Pictured, President Donald Trump (with Mnuchin left) signing the CARES act, a $2 trillion rescue package The loans are being guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. They provide for deferred payments and offer the prospect of forgiveness if the money is used to retain workers or hire back those who have been laid off. Individuals will see one-time payments of $1,200 per adult, $2,400 per couple, and $500 per child. Amounts begin phasing out at $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 per couple. 'Our expectation is within three weeks we will have direct payments out where we have depository information, and we're looking to get a lot more information and we have procedures to do that. I would say three weeks, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said last week. Companies can borrow up to $10 million at an annual rate of 0.5% based on their payroll costs as well as their expenses for rent, mortgage interest and utilities. They will need to provide documentation of those expenses, the officials said. More than 3,600 people have already died from the coronavirus in the U.S. All banks, credit unions and institutions in the farm credit system that are federally insured will be able to make the loans, not just the institutions that are current SBA lenders. The government will consider accepting non-bank lenders like online companies as program participants. It is expected that most borrowers will apply for the loans online. The loans, under what's being called the Paycheck Protection Program, are one facet of the government's relief program. The SBA has begun lending money under its Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and is also offering bridge loans that offer up to $25,000 in loan money with a quick turnaround. Details on all the coronavirus relief loans can be found on the SBA website. In addition, the Federal Reserve plans a program of direct loans to small businesses. Details of that program have not been released. 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. WASHINGTON--In older individuals, the location of a broken bone can have significant impacts on long-term health outcomes, according to research accepted for presentation at ENDO 2020, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting, and publication in a special supplemental section of the Journal of the Endocrine Society. The study found older people with broken bones closer to the center of the body, known as proximal fractures (such as upper arm, upper leg, pelvis and ribs) face a greater risk of being admitted to the hospital for major medical conditions and of dying prematurely following their fracture than similarly aged people without fractures. "It is well-known that a hip fracture can have devastating health implications for older individuals, but less is known about the effects of other fractures in the body," said lead study author Jacqueline R. Center, Ph.D., of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia. "Not only should people be treated for their bone health, but we now have information allowing us to understand why people do badly after a fracture and how we may intervene to improve outcomes." The researchers used the Danish National Database to study 300,000 patients 50 years or older with a low-trauma fracture (due to falls from a standing height). They examined differences in the reasons for subsequent hospital admission and death patterns between patients with proximal fractures compared with those fractures further away from the center of the body, known as distal bones (such as the wrist, ankle, hand or foot), where there is no increased risk of death. They matched people with fractures to people without fractures who had a similar age and other medical diagnoses. They found that people with broken bones at proximal sites had a 1.5- to 4-fold greater risk of death over the next two years than their non-fracture counterparts, whether they were admitted to the hospital after their fracture or not. They were also more likely to have an admission to the hospital for cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, pneumonia and lung disease. By contrast, those people who had a distal fracture had similar or lower risk of death, as well as similar hospital admission patterns as their counterparts with no fractures. "This research provides important insights as to why people who have a proximal fracture die prematurely," Center said. She said further studies are needed to find specific ways of preventing these premature deaths. ### The Endocrine Society canceled its annual meeting, ENDO 2020, amid concerns about COVID-19. Visit our online newsroom for more information on accepted abstracts, which will be published in a special supplemental section of the Journal of the Endocrine Society. Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions. The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at http://www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia. Nikki Bella has had quite the whirlwind romance with husband-to-be Artem Chigvintsev. And fans will get the chance to see their love story unfold in the upcoming fifth season of Total Bellas. She said she 'couldnt imagine bedtime without' Artem, as she took their relationship to the next level during a clip from the reality show's new season, which premieres Thursday, April 2 on E! Next level: Nikki Bella said she 'couldnt imagine bedtime without' Artem Chigvintsev, as she took their relationship to the next level during a clip from the new season of Total Bellas The 36-year-old asked her fiance to move in with her once construction has finished on her home in Arizona, as she doesnt want to spend another night without him by her side. In the sneak peek, Nikki says while recording The Bellas Podcast: 'Our plan is that when I move to Arizona, well, I was hoping that maybe once its done being built, Artem will be coming with me.' When Artem asks if thats his official invitation to move in, Nikki responds: 'Yes. Of course, Artem. I want you to move into my house. I couldnt imagine bedtime without you!' The Russian dancer then gets up to give his future wife a kiss, telling her: 'Yes, my answer is yes!' Moving in: The 36-year-old asked her fiance to move in with her once construction has finished on her home in Arizona Getting serious: She says in the clip: 'Our plan is that when I move to Arizona, well, I was hoping that maybe once its done being built, Artem will be coming with me' He said yes! The Russian dancer then gets up to give his future wife a kiss, telling her: 'Yes, my answer is yes!' Protective sister: Although Nikki and Artem, 37, are thrilled to be starting the next chapter of their lives together, her twin sister Brie, 36, has some reservations about the idea Although Nikki and Artem, 37, are thrilled to be starting the next chapter of their lives together, her twin sister Brie, 36, has some reservations about the idea. In a confessional, she says: 'I feel bad for Artem, but it's not like he's a lost puppy who needs rescuing. He's a grown man, and right now, this is my sister going from like zero to 100 in one week. 'Ive always wanted my sister to just have a place that she could call her own. Not that I dont want her to share it with Artem, but I want her to feel it for herself and feel like "this is mine."' The clip comes after Nikki took to Instagram over the weekend to express how excited she is for fans to see the special bond she has with Artem in the upcoming season. She wrote: 'This Thursday you all get to finally watch & see more behind the photos, the dancing, & the stories of this love, this roller coaster ride I have had with @theartemc on #totalbellas New season: The clip comes after Nikki took to Instagram over the weekend to express how excited she is for fans to see the special bond she has with Artem in the upcoming season Happy couple: Nikki and Artem began dating last January after being paired together on Dancing with the Stars, announcing their engagement a year later Moving fast: A few weeks after that, she announced their first pregnancy (seen in Aug, 2019) 'They say love conquers all...and it sure does. So many people in the beginning said it was just lust, my feelings weren't real, it was just the dance, the infatuation, the mystery of this person, but I knew & felt it was always more. 'I listened to my heart, my soul, my body, I knew deep down that this was God's gift, his answered prayer. You never know when He will answer it, when it will come, it's never the timing we desire, or at least we don't think it is.' Nikki and Artem began dating last January after being paired together on Dancing with the Stars, announcing their engagement a year later. A few weeks after that, she announced their first pregnancy, as Brie revealed her second pregnancy with husband Daniel Bryan, 38, having welcomed daughter Birdie, two, in 2017. They key to social distancing, experts say, is to keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed by the number of people who get severely sick from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus. "You can imagine if 100 people were going to get sick over 100 days, you would have a certain kind of pressure on the health care system, Anne Schuchat, M.D., principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), explained in an earlier interview with AARP. But if 100 people get sick all in the same day, it's a different kind of pressure. If society is able to slow the spread of the virus, health care workers can take better care of every individual person, she added. The extended White House guidelines push for all Americans including young and healthy people, who are less likely to get severely ill from the coronavirus if infected to work from home, if possible, and to avoid eating in bars and restaurants. Older adults: Stay home; stay away from others Older adults and those with underlying health conditions the populations at highest risk for severe illness from the coronavirus are encouraged to stay home as much as possible and to stay away from other people. Health experts also stress the importance of washing hands often and wiping down frequently touched surfaces, to avoid getting sick. Anthony Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, urged Americans on Sunday not to get complacent if their community seems relatively unaffected by the virus. "So we shouldn't take any solace when we see low levels in different states, different cities, different areas, because they're very vulnerable to an explosion, Fauci said. This can happen anywhere, and that's really one of the issues that we're concerned about and why we were so reluctant to pull back at a time when we need to put our foot on the gas, as opposed to on the brake. Americans are using humor to calm their nerves during the coronavirus crisis. Some have shared memes about not wearing day clothes anymore and gaining weight as they spend so much time at home. And late-night television (TV) shows are helping to cheer up Americans at a time of concerns over COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Medical experts say humor is central to surviving the health crisis. Jonathan Jaffe operates a humorous online newsletter in the state of New Jersey. He calls it The Jaffe Briefing. Were just trying to find the lighter side of the crisis with articles that tell readers that this is temporary, Lets just get through it together, he said. Jaffe has seen a 40 percent jump in the number of readers since the first coronavirus patient in the United States died on February 28. The newsletter jokes about such news as efforts of the American company Anheuser-Busch to make antibacterial products instead of its usual beer. Mental health experts say humor is great for calming nerves, not just by making people laugh but also by lowering the body's stress hormones. Scientific evidence shows high levels of stress can weaken the bodys ability to fight disease. Mental armor At a press conference on COVID-19 death and infection numbers, officials in Kentucky released pictures with light-hearted sayings written on them. And Kentuckys public health commissioner Doctor Steven Stack told reporters, Humor is healing. Comedy can serve as a kind of protection for the mind to ensure safe passage through tragic times, noted psychologist Sean Truman of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Its a really powerful way to manage the unmanageable. Just to make fun of it and to gain control of it, by laughing at it. Thats a really powerful psychological move we can make, Truman said. With New York at the center of the crisis, Governor Andrew Cuomo asked actor Danny DeVito to speak about the importance of self-quarantining: Stay home, DeVito, who is 75, said in a public service announcement played on many TV stations. We got this virus, this pandemic, and you know young people can get it, and they can transmit it to old people, and the next thing you know - Gghhhhkk, Im outta there! When DeVito said outta there, he means dead. After production of their late-night TV talk shows was stopped, many of the show stars began recording themselves from home for social media. They have been joking about their favorite subjects, such as politics, but adding new material, too. For example, millions watched as talk show host Jimmy Fallon sat just outside his home with his laptop computer. Each time he told a joke, he would create the sound of people laughing and cheering by pressing a button on the machine. Because of the virus, show host Stephen Colbert has changed the name of his opening segment. Colbert now calls it, "The Light Show with Stephen Colb-Air - We're All In This Together." One of his recent programs had a make-believe horse race. Each horse represented his thoughts and emotions, some hopeful and others less so. Each horse was given a humorous name, such as Does this cough mean anything? And, Trevor Noah has been doing video calls with reporters from his funny late-night news show. on a recent call from his home, he and reporter Ronny Chieng talked about Chieng being stuck in Australia. Noah told Chieng he felt sorry for him because he is stuck in a hotel away from everyone back home. But then Chieng joked, I love social distancing...I love this stuff. I get to watch TV all day, eat whatever I want, wake up whenever I want. I dont even have to wear pants...Its the best. Im Alice Bryant. Reuters News Agency reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story meme - an amusing or interesting picture or video that is spread widely through the Internet article n. a piece of writing about a particular subject that is included in a magazine or newspaper or on a website stress n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work manage v. to have control of something, such as a business or department tuarantine n. the situation of being kept away from others to prevent a disease from spreading pandemic n. a situation in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world transmit v. to cause a virus or disease to be given to others segment n. a part of a news or talk show that is dedicated to specific topics cough n. an act of forced air through your throat with a short, loud noise The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing Canada's court system to operate as it never has before to adapt to the demands of physical distancing. Paperwork is being replaced by electronic documents. Appearances are taking place over the phone or through video conferencing. Judges, lawyers and staff are trying to limit their time in the courthouse by working remotely from their offices or homes. Chief Justice David Jenkins of the Prince Edward Island Court of Appeal said it's a learning experience. "Nothing's really normal right now," Jenkins said. "Hopefully, the learning experience will produce longer term benefits and the ability to use technology in the courts." In most Canadian courtrooms, accused individuals typically appear in person and documents are filed on paper, not electronically. Many fear that the bottleneck being created by pandemic-driven postponements and cancellations will have a cascade effect on an already overburdened system, leaving lawyers and judges with an unworkable quagmire once courthouses themselves return to full service. There is one silver lining, however: a justice system that has resisted the adoption of new technologies is now being forced to modernize. The result could be more efficient and streamlined operations once the pandemic emergency passes. "Because of years of inaction and institutional reluctance to [modernize], the justice system is playing catch-up right now," said Michael Spratt, a criminal defence lawyer based out of Ottawa. "We're really all scrambling to try to accommodate the flow through the justice system using technology that is decades out of date." Only urgent and emergency matters being heard In a 2019 report, Ontario's auditor general found the province's court system was still heavily paper-based and had done little to modernize since the turn of the century. "There just really hasn't been political will to devote the resources to that," Spratt said. "There's been lots of institutional resistance." Story continues Marc-Andre Cossette/CBC Provinces and territories are responsible for the administration of justice and their own court systems. So far, Justice Canada has not received any requests from the provinces or territories for additional support to help the courts adapt to pandemic measures, said a department spokesperson. Courts across the country have reduced their services to hearings on urgent and emergency matters measures made necessary by physical distancing rules imposed by health authorities to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The definition of an "urgent" court matter is somewhat subjective, said Jenkins, adding it could range anywhere from a child welfare case or a bail hearing to a civil matter involving an injunction against a landlord looking to lock the doors of a small business. "The range of things that could happen are beyond the imagination," Jenkins said. Pandemic affecting judges' decisions The Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal have closed their doors to the public. Court hearings have been cancelled until April 17, with the exception of urgent hearings that will proceed via teleconference or video conference. The Federal Court is accepting filings by email and suspending the requirement to file paper copies, and is considering extending that suspension. The Supreme Court of Canada building is closed to the public. All hearings before the high court scheduled for March, April or May have been tentatively postponed to June. The Supreme Court of Canada will continue to issue judgments on applications for leave and on appeals for the time being. Court documents must be filed to the SCC via email. Media briefings on rulings are being conducted by teleconference until further notice. Submitted/Supreme Court of Canada Collection Judges are also taking the impact of the virus into account in the sentencing hearings, bail hearings and family court cases that are still taking place. An Ontario Superior Court justice granted bail to an accused on March 20, citing the "greatly elevated risk" posed by the novel coronavirus to those in pre-trial detention. Increased reliance on technology in the courtroom The sudden disruption has forced courts to rely more on technology but the transition hasn't been problem-free. Greater Toronto Area-based criminal defence lawyer Mitch Engel said he showed up to court in person last Monday instead of phoning in to make sure his client got bail. "If I had not attended, he probably wouldn't have gotten out," Engel said. Engel said coordinating video appearances between the jails and courts has proven to be difficult, but the process is starting to get a little smoother. "We're all kind of learning on the fly," Engel said. "There's no template to go from. There's no precedent to work from." Engel's brother Bruce, a criminal defence lawyer based in Ottawa, said the courts are trying to make the best of a "bad situation" ? but the accused are the ones hurting the most. "In the criminal justice system, the accused persons are feeling the stress," Bruce Engel said. "I'm telling people to bear with us." While criminal defence work is adjusting, civil work is getting bogged down. Civil work stalled Greater Toronto Area-based civil lawyer Michael Lesage said COVID-19 has aggravated an already dire situation. "It certainly had a big impact on lawyers like me, who specialize in litigation," he said. "Because not only can we not go into court to do any sort of motions or trials, but we also can't do discoveries and take testimony of people. "Once more, there are neither rules nor ... essentially any sort of established procedures, at least in Canada, for conducting virtual discoveries. That's a crucial step in most cases and it's just not currently possible." In the meantime, Lesage said, he's concentrating on written work that he normally would be doing several weeks or months from now. "Obviously, the longer this continues, the more hobbies I'm going to potentially need to take up," Lesage said. "I think we're really jumping from really unreasonable to really, really unreasonable in terms of how long it takes to resolve average people's legal matters." Canada lags far behind the U.S. and the U.K. and is closer to Pakistan's standard when it comes to the court time involved in enforcing a contract, said Lesage, citing World Bank data. Looming crunch Some lawyers say they worry that once the courts resume full service, there won't be enough resources available to deal with the backlog especially in criminal court. "We were already overburdened to begin with and stretched to the breaking point," Spratt said. "If we don't triage the system, if we don't take a look at the public interest in proceeding with minor cases, and if we can't streamline trials, we're looking at a backlog that could have a cascading effect for months or years to come." The Supreme Court's Jordan decision, which set hard limits on the time that can elapse between the issuing of charges and the start of trial, is not expected to be an aggravating factor as courts move to reschedule cases after the pandemic ends because the decision takes into account illness and extraordinary events, Spratt said. But if the courts don't take steps now to deal with a post-pandemic scheduling crunch, Spratt said, trial delays could violate the Jordan limits down the road. Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press "That's going to take a lot of triaging on the part of the judges and court managers to sort out the pent-up demand and which cases need to be dealt with first and more effectively," Jenkins said. One of the core principles of the Canadian court system is openness and public access but without video streaming, it's hard to keep court proceedings open to public view while physical distancing measures are in place. Jenkins said one of his biggest concerns right now is assuring the public that the courts system is still accessible and functioning. "We're never closed," he said. "People need to be assured that their matters of urgency or emergency can be heard." He acknowledges, however, that the public's faith in the justice system could be tested by the pandemic. "Nobody really knows how long public tolerance will be there, and good will. "To have your case put off for a few days is one thing. To have put it off for a few months is quite a different thing." The Supreme Court Tuesday asked the Centre to set up a portal within 24 hours for dissemination of real time information on the coronavirus pandemic to counter the panic being spread through fake The top court, which observed that panic will destroy more lives than the virus, asked the Centre to get trained counsellors and community leaders of all faiths to calm down the migrants, who are kept in shelter homes across the country. It also asked the Centre to ensure that migration is stopped and to take care of food, shelter, nourishment and medical needs of the people and also to follow up of cases of the virus, also called COVID-19. The Centre told the apex court that the suggestion to sprinkle water and chemicals on migrants to sanitise them does not work scientifically and is not the right way. The top court, which refused to restrain the High Courts from taking up the issue of migrants, said they may monitor the issue more closely. It however asked the Centre to tell the government lawyers to inform the high courts about the orders passed by the apex court. A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and L Nageswara Rao, which took up two PILs on the issue of migration through video conference, asked the Centre to look into the letter petitions filed by Kerala MP from Kasaragod constituency Rajmohan Unnithan and one filed by a MP from West Bengal on the issues related to Coronavirus. The bench asked the Centre to ensure that duties of managing the shelter homes, where migrants are being kept, are entrusted to volunteers and not to the police and there should not be any use of force or intimidation. It asked the government that there must be adequate provisions of drinking water, food, beds and medicines in these shelters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kate Middleton has something to say to the women of the United Kingdom. During her last public appearance before the coronavirus lockdown, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, sent a subtle message to women in the form of her fashion choice. While the entire country does its best to deal with the pandemic, here is a look at Kates subtle message, plus how the Cambridges are dealing with the lockdown. Kate Middleton | Paul Edwards WPA Pool / Getty Images Inside Kate Middleton and Prince Williams last public engagement Prior to the UK initiating a lockdown, Prince William and Kate appeared at an NHS center in London to support local workers. The Cambridges have done a lot of work with the NHS over the years and are huge advocates for mental health. During the visit, William rocked his usual suit while Kate wore a pink outfit that immediately caught the attention of royal experts. The trip to the NHS facility was the last public appearance by Prince William and Kate Middleton before the government lockdown. The UK is currently doing its best to combat the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected high ranking government officials as well as a senior member of the royal family. Most of the royals are in self-isolation, yet William and Kate have been working behind the scenes at Kensington Palace to boost morale and help people stay mentally fit during the lockdown. The Duchess of Cambridge sends a subtle message to women The visit to the NHS was nothing out of the ordinary, but royal expert Angela Mollard pointed out that Kates fashion choice sent a subtle message to working women in the UK. According to Express, Mollard explained how Kates suit was something many women wear to work on a weekly basis, which was her way of saying I am one of you. I love the fact that Kate was wearing a pink Marks and Spencer suit, Mollard stated. It was absolutely gorgeous, but I love the fact it wasnt designer. It just said I am one of you.' Kate Middleton Wears an Affordable Pink Suit From M&S https://t.co/KGXnpiSUoJ pic.twitter.com/udkExdLtQP Nukta 360 (@Nukta360) March 23, 2020 Although Kate Middleton and Prince William have been working out of Kensington Palace, they are currently staying at their country estate in Norfolk. They are expected to remain there until the coronavirus pandemic is under control. Mollard added that we probably will not see much of William and Kate in the coming weeks. But with the rest of the monarchy staying out of the spotlight, the Cambridges are clearly stepping up to the plate. Their most recent public interaction highlighted the importance of mental health during the ongoing crisis. The Cambridges offer a rare look inside their home Over the weekend, William and Kate sent out a message encouraging people to look after their physical and mental well being during the lockdown. In addition to the message, the couple released several photos of themselves in action, offering a rare glimpse inside their Kensington Palace home. One of the images shows William sitting next to a fireplace while talking to someone over the phone. The picture appears to have been taken inside a sitting room that may double as an office. The second photo features Kate Middleton sitting at a desk. The Duchess is also talking on the phone and a row of books is included in the shot. It is unclear which room the photo was taken, but it appears to be another office. Self-isolation and social distancing can pose huge challenges to our mental healthin recent weeks The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been in regular contact with organizations and patronages to understand the issues they are facing during this difficult time, the photos are captioned. Last week The Duke spoke to @mindcharity CEO Paul Farmer, and The Duchess spoke to Catherine Roche, CEO of @_place2be. William and Kate have done a lot of work in the field of mental health. This includes launching a foundation called Heads Together, which won an award in 2017. They also just announced a collaboration with a charity called Mind, which will provide over $5 million in support for mental health agencies. How are Kate Middletons children coping with the lockdown? While the Cambridges are working hard behind the scenes, their three children are enjoying their time under lockdown. According to Daily Mail, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are currently holed up at the familys home in the country, and an inside source claims they are having fun with their newfound freedom. Climbing frames, a climbing wall, and swings are a big part of the Cambridge outdoors activity scene, and Kate will do pond dipping and note-taking to log what they have spotted, the insider dished. Birdwatching with binoculars is another favorite of the kids. It is unclear how long William and Kate will remain at Anmer Hall, but it is good to hear that the couples children are making the most of the lockdown. Kate welcomed Louis in the spring of 2018. George is currently in his second year of school while Charlotte is in her first. Kate Middleton has not commented on the reports surrounding her choice of fashion during the NHS visit. Thats why when Gross heard through a WhatsApp chat linking Americans in another city near them that an embassy-arranged bus was going to be leaving there Saturday and the Americans on board were being connected with a flight back to the U.S., Gross did everything she could to make sure they had seats on that bus and the travel permit necessary to get to it. 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. The head of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) has encouraged Christians not to be afraid in the face of the coronavirus pandemic but instead look for opportunities to serve their communities and love their neighbours. Lynn Green, BUGB General Secretary, said the pandemic was an opportunity for the Church to "rise up" and "take action" where it can. In a live prayer broadcast via Skype last night, she drew inspiration from Haggai 2, in which God tells His people to be strong and know that He is with them as they set about the work of rebuilding the Temple. She said the Israelites' sense of discouragement and being overwhelmed were emotions that many people today could resonate with. But she called on churches to instead be "beacons of hope" wherever God has placed them. "Whilst that passage was written for a different people at a completely different time, this sense of the heavens and the earth and all nations being shaken I think certainly resonates with us today," she said. "It's like we've all been caught up in some dystopian dream as all the day to day fabric of our lives is being shaped in ways we could have hardly imagined a few weeks ago." It was easy, she continued, to be "paralysed by fear, like rabbits in the headlights", but she said that Christians "mustn't be surprised by what's happening" but instead live with "faith and hope in our living God" and look to see where He is already at work. "People are feeling afraid and anxious, and there are doubts about our ability to control this epidemic. And for those who become unwell, how are we going to care for them?" she said. "But we who follow Jesus live in times of shaking as people who have faith and hope in our living God, and I think this passage helps us to do that." She continued: "We mustn't be surprised by what's happening. We live in an imperfect, fallen world, and times of shaking are always present with us. And each different era has been shaken in different ways. "We know that we will be affected just like everyone else, but as people of faith, we look to see God at work in and through these things." Reflecting on Haggai 2, she said there was a sense from the passage "that it's time for the body of Christ to rise up". "This is a moment where we can rise up," she said. "And God is exorting us: be strong, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, keep our faith firm at this time, and just be strong - and work [because] we can do something, we can make a difference. "Now is the time to step up to the plate and to take action where we can, and to be the people of God at this time." Reposted with permission of Christian Today A doctor sets up medical equipment at a field hospital for treating Covid-19 patient in HCMC, February 10, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran A boy returning to Vietnam from Turkey has been confirmed infected with the novel coronavirus, raising the countrys Covid-19 total to 204. The 10-year-old lives in Cat Lai Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City. He traveled from Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, to Turkey on flight TK1770 of Turkish Airlines, seat 20B, on March 14. The next day, he flew from the Turkish capital of Istanbul to HCMC on Turkish Airlines flight TK162, seat 16K. This is the same flight that had carried "Patient 83," a 50-year-old American woman who lives in Saigon's Binh Thanh District. When entering Vietnam, the boy was asymptomatic and was sent to a quarantine camp in HCMCs District 12. He tested negative on March 18. However, a person who was quarantined in the same room with him said he had sneezed a few times. On March 27, the boys samples were tested again and he was found Covid-19 positive. The boy is now undergoing treatment at a field hospital in Can Gio District. He is among six active child patients of Covid-19 in Vietnam, besides a two girls - two and nine years old, and three boys - 10, 11 and 13 years old. The boy is Vietnams 204th Covid-19 infection. Fifty-five of the 204 have recovered and been discharged. HCMC alone has recorded 46 cases, of whom 10 have been discharged from hospital. Many of the currently active cases are Vietnamese nationals returning from Europe and the U.S., foreigners coming from the same regions and those whod come into contact with both groups of people. There have been at least 13 cases linked to the Buddha Bar in HCMC's expat precinct in District 2's Thao Dien Ward, and 33 cases linked to the Bach Mai Hospital and its partner Truong Sinh Company. The hospital, one of Vietnam's largest, has been locked down since Saturday. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Monday agreed with a Health Ministry proposal to declare the country's Covid-19 outbreak 'a national epidemic' and asked people nationwide to stay home, heavily restricting their outside movements for at least 15 days. The government had decided on Sunday to suspend all international passenger flights to Vietnam and limit flights between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other localities in the coming two weeks. Starting March 22, Vietnam has suspended entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected 200 countries and territories, killing more than 37,700 people. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Coronavirus self-isolation is fostering a growing dependency on Amazon.com Inc. But its also refocusing attention on the human cost of having the entire stock of the Everything Store merely a click and a day away from your front doorstep. Amazon workers at a fulfillment center in Staten Island, New York are on strike, saying the company has not been responsive to safety concerns and demanding that the facility be closed for two weeks and sanitized. In Italy, Amazon reached an agreement with workers last week to provide additional virus containment measures and end an 11-day strike. Elsewhere, Frances labor minister has demanded an improvement to the working environment for the firms employees, saying that protection conditions are insufficient. The comments came a week after Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos outlined many of the companys efforts to blunt the effects of coronavirus in an open letter posted on Instagram, including boosting worker pay in the U.S. Demand for Amazon delivery services has, meanwhile, given its stock better protection than its tech peers from the recent market pummeling. The shares are down 9.4% since Feb. 19, compared with the average 22% decline of Apple Inc., Google parent Alphabet Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Facebook Inc. The logical conclusion is that Amazon should be doing a lot more to protect its workers. It can afford to: Its sitting on $55 billion in cash and is expected to generate another $34 billion of free cash flow this year. But the stark reality is that Amazons e-commerce business isnt very profitable. Its cloud computing operations are the money-printing machine. That unit will enjoy a 28% operating margin on sales of some $46 billion this year, helped by the surge in internet usage caused by people logging on from home for longer, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jitendra Waral estimates. The companys other $288 billion of revenue will generate operating profit of as little as $3 billion. Story continues That razor-thin profitability hints at the strict cost control upon which Amazon relies to ensure goods are delivered cheaply and quickly. Unfortunately, cost control is often a euphemism for low wages, ungenerous benefits and a squeeze on suppliers. A 2018 analysis by the Economist found that after Amazon opens a storage depot, local wages for warehouse workers fall by an average of 3%. Nor does that inspire much confidence in Amazons latest moves: The recently announced $2 per hour pay bump will hold only until April, while the doubling of overtime pay will expire in May for now, at least. Whats more, workers negotiating power is likely to be eroded by the coronavirus crisis. The peak of U.S. labor exploitation came during the Great Depression, when everyone was scrambling for jobs, which in turn ultimately turbocharged labor organization. The number of jobseekers today is now at the highest in a half-century: A record 3.28 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the week of March 21, compared with 211,000 just two weeks earlier. Bezos explicitly targeted those newly unemployed in his Instagram letter, explaining that the company would hire 100,000 additional employees to cope with increased demand. So the fact that only 100 people from a workforce of 4,000 at the Staten Island site are striking is either indicative of minimal discontent or a fear of retributive job losses (the only unionized Amazon employees in the U.S. are in its film and TV productions). As if to underscore the point, Amazon fired the worker leading the strike on Monday, ostensibly for violating social distancing guidelines. According to Amazon, only 15 people ultimately demonstrated in the strike, of whom just nine were actual employees. The working conditions at Amazon are partly our fault as consumers. The company has groomed us to rely on next-day deliveries at no extra cost, at least if we have a subscription to its Prime service. We probably dont ask what it takes to make that work. For all of its Kiva warehousing robots and efforts with drone distribution, Amazon still depends on hundreds of thousands of human workers around the world. You know when you receive a massive box containing just a small parcel? Thats not because of some algorithmic misstep; its a person in a warehouse making a quick decision on how best to deliver your package. Amazon can for sure afford to lessen the load on its workers with better pay and working conditions, but only because of the massive success of its cloud business. It's harder for rivals to do so and still turn a profit. The dilemma is accentuated by, but not peculiar to, the current crisis. If thats to change, we as customers must also be prepared to pay higher prices and thats as true in good times as it is in bad. (Updates with Amazon details on size of strike.) This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Alex Webb is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Europe's technology, media and communications industries. He previously covered Apple and other technology companies for Bloomberg News in San Francisco. 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. As the coronavirus pandemic plunges Australia into an economic crisis, Roxy Jacenko has revealed her once-lucrative PR empire has taken a hit. The 39-year-old publicist has lost 85 per cent of her business in just three days, but she is determined to bounce back and says the one upside of the catastrophe is that she now understands what really matters in life. She told Daily Mail Australia: 'I have realised in my past 12 days of isolation, along with seeing my first agency [Sweaty Betty PR] near collapse, that my sanity and stability is more important to me than another Hermes Birkin bag or an Aston Martin.' Falling on hard times: As the coronavirus pandemic plunges Australia into an economic crisis, Roxy Jacenko has revealed her once-lucrative PR empire has taken a hit To make ends meet, Roxy is prepared to sell her collection of designer clothes and accessories, which are believed to be worth millions. She may even part ways with one of her luxury vehicles, if the price is right. 'If there is a buyer, I am a seller,' she said. Like many others, Roxy has been struggling to make sense of everything that has been happening around the world lately. 'I think it was pure shock watching something you started from nothing crumble in 72 hours,' she said of Sweaty Betty PR's dramatic downfall this week. Downsizing: The 39-year-old publicist has lost 85 per cent of her business in just three days, but she is determined to bounce back and says the one upside of the catastrophe is that she now understands what really matters in life A few of her favourites! To make ends meet, Roxy is prepared to sell her designer clothes and accessories, which are believed to be worth millions. Pictured: Roxy's Hermes Birkin bags Flashy: She may even part ways with one of her luxury vehicles, if the price is right. She is pictured here with her Bentley Bentayga 4WD, which is worth $550,000 She added: 'I did say to Oli [her husband, Oliver Curtis] that it's lucky I am on a cocktail of anti-anxiety pills to ensure I don't lose my marbles totally.' Roxy said she 'never' could have anticipated the effects coronavirus would have on the public relations industry and her flagship company, Sweaty Betty PR. 'For the past 15 years, I have focused on being extremely hands-on and working in my businesses to ensure they were always extremely stable and profitable,' she said. Putting things into perspective: 'My sanity and stability is more important to me than another Hermes Birkin bag or an Aston Martin,' Roxy told Daily Mail Australia on Monday The mother-of-two is now working 'with a very reduced number of clients' after letting four staff members go. 'We have had the horrible task of making four valuable staff redundant, which was heartbreaking, but with the downturn which happened so fast, we were left with no choice,' she said. Roxy's remaining team members are now working 'around the clock' to keep the business going until the economy starts to recover. Managing chaos: Like many others, Roxy has been struggling to make sense of everything that has been happening around the world lately 'We have a tight team, which we can manage, and all are working to keep things going,' she said. 'I am extremely proud of them and the fact they have taken the agency on as their own and really care.' Despite hitting a rough patch financially, Roxy is fortunately still in a position to keep her home and offices. Scaling back: The mother-of-two is now working 'with a very reduced number of clients' after letting four staff members go 'Property-wise, I own my office premises and home, so I don't have any plans to sell. It's about the only stable asset in this environment!' she said. Roxy urged other Australian businesses to hang in there and to use this difficult time productively. 'Keep going and don't give in, don't be absorbed by the hype,' she said. Comeback queen: As for her own businesses, Roxy is certain she will be able to bounce back, having faced significant personal and professional hurdles in the past 'Tweak your offering to suit and listen to what the customer needs and work with them. Use this time of "less noise" to focus on what's next, how you will do it, and prepare and lay the foundations so you are ready to push go!' As for her own businesses, Roxy is certain she will be able to bounce back, having faced significant personal and professional hurdles in the past. 'I always do [recover]. I have fallen hard many times personally and picked myself up. This is no different. I'll bounce back as quick as we fell!' she said. Australian government MP George Christensen has called for China to pay reparations for the global spread of coronavirus and has also urged investigations into reports that COVID-19 originated in a Wuhan laboratory. The National Party member for the seat of Dawson in north Queensland said on Tuesday that China should be held responsible for the coronavirus which has killed almost 38,000 people worldwide after spreading from the country's eastern Hubei province. Speaking to Sydney radio 2GB's Alan Jones on Tuesday, Mr Christensen said 'whether it was negligence or whether it was something deliberate, they've done the wrong thing.' Mr Chistensen repeated a theory that the South China University of Technology published a report in February saying the virus may have originated in a research facility less than 300 metres from the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan. Scroll down for audio Controversial Australian government MP George Christensen has insinuated China may have created coronavirus in a Wuhan laboratory less than 300 metres from the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market (pictured in January 2020) The Nationals member for Dawson, in north Queensland, has also suggested China, Australia's biggest trading partner, should pay reparations for the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured is George Christensen in London last month campaigning for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange 'I know this is contentious but the South China University of Technology printed a report that was quickly removed from the internet which actually said the killer coronavirus probably originated from a laboratory in Wuhan,' he said. 'That is what that report said. It was taken off the internet. The report actually had the support of China's natural science foundation but suddenly disappeared. 'Everybody is trying to poo poo that idea. There are a lot of questions about it. We need to get to the bottom of that.' In January, a United States Republican senator from Arkansas, Tom Cotton, suggested China deliberately created coronavirus. 'We still don't know where coronavirus originated,' he tweeted. 'Could have been a market, a farm, a food processing company. His explosive claim is based on a report the South China University of Technology published in February suggesting the virus may have originated in a research facility just 300 metres from the Wuhan seafood market 'I would note that Wuhan has China's only biosafety level-four super laboratory that works with the world's most deadly pathogens to include, yes, coronavirus.' Poll Do you agree with George Christensen? Yes No Undecided Do you agree with George Christensen? Yes 717 votes No 81 votes Undecided 51 votes Now share your opinion Mr Christensen also agreed when Jones put to him that China should pay compensation for the global spread of the disease, which has devastated the world economy and strained hospital emergency wards. 'Absolutely right, they should pay reparations,' he said. 'There's a lot of speculation out there: at the lower end, they didn't act quick enough. It's negligence.' Mr Christensen cited a University of Southampton report, published earlier this month, which said coronavirus cases could have been reduced by 95 per cent if Chinese authorities had gone public three weeks earlier. He also claimed the South China University of Technology report, by Botao Xiao and Lei Xiao, had been removed from the internet. In January, a United States Republican senator from Arkansas, Tom Cotton, suggested China deliberately created coronavirus Mr Christensen insinuated coronavirus may not have accidentally come from contaminated bat meat at the wet market. Pictured are residents of Wuhan wearing face masks on March 31 Media outlets, including MailOnline, reported their findings the Wuhan Centre for Disease Control had kept disease-ridden animals in laboratories, including 605 bats. A republished 1989 book by American author Dean Koontz, The Eyes of Darkness, had a plot where a germ was created in a lab in China, called Wuhan-400. 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 original 1981 edition instead featured a biological weapon called Gorki-400, designed by Russians. Jones told his listeners the World Health Organisation, run by former Ethiopian foreign minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, were 'lickspittles of China'. 'They were getting bundles of cash from China,' he said. 'So this mob, instead of administering the world health were apologists for China.' Australia imposed a China travel ban in February but Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not close the border off completely to non-citizens arriving by air until March 20. Professor Brendan Murphy, Australia's chief medical officer, pointed out the WHO had not supported travel bans in a bid to contain the coronavirus outbreak, before belatedly declaring it to be a pandemic. Mr Christensen (pictured with his Filipina wife April Asuncion) wanted China to be held accountable for the global spread of COVID-19 'The border measures thing is a very debated area. The World Health Organisation has never supported travel restrictions at all,' he told the ABC's Four Corners program, broadcast on Monday night. 'We took the view, and we have not done much in the past, we took the view that the risk of this was so high that we put in travel restrictions more extensive than just about any country in the world.' BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31 Trend: The genocide committed against Azerbaijanis by the Armenian troops in of March 1918 is one of the bloodiest pages in history, Huseyn Altinalan, spokesman for the Turkish Embassy in Azerbaijan, told Trend on March 31. The spokesman reminded that as a result of the genocide, thousands of Azerbaijanis were brutally killed, including old people, women and children, hundreds of villages were wiped out. These atrocities occurred not only in Baku, but also in Shamakhi, Guba, Karabakh, Nakhchivan, Altinalan added. Only the entry of the Islamic Army of the Caucasus, created on the initiative of Minister of War of the Ottoman Empire Enver Pasha, put an end to this bloodshed. This army suffered great losses in Azerbaijan." The January 20 tragedy of 1990, the Khojaly genocide and Genocide of Azerbaijanis committed on March 31 testify that gaining independence is not an easy task, the spokesman said. "No one must forget how the independence was gained and this truth must be conveyed to the future generations," Altinalan said. The spokesman stressed that 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories are still under Armenias occupation. "It is necessary to convey this to the international community," Altinalan added. In conclusion, the spokesman added that Turkey condemns the Armenian murderers for the genocide intentionally committed against Azerbaijanis in March 1918. By Douglas Busvine BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany hopes to launch a smartphone app within weeks to help trace coronavirus infections, after a broad political consensus emerged that adopting an approach pioneered by Singapore can be effective without invading people's privacy. Germans are deeply suspicious of digital surveillance, and the use of individual smartphone location data to track the spread of the pandemic would be illegal under national and European Union privacy laws. But a fast-moving debate has yielded agreement across party lines that it would be useful and acceptable to track close-proximity Bluetooth 'handshakes' between smartphones. That would resemble Singapore's TraceTogether app, which records the recent history of such contacts on a device. Should the smartphone's owner test positive for COVID-19, the respiratory illness the coronavirus can cause, that data could be downloaded so that contact-tracing teams can quickly get in touch with others at risk. "We are confident we can release the solution in the next few weeks," said the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecoms, Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI). The HHI, one of Germany's institutes for applied research, said it was working with others across Europe to develop an app that would enable the proximity and duration of contact between people to be saved for two weeks on cell phones anonymously and without the use of location data. "The prerequisite for such an application is full compliance with German data protection laws and usage on a voluntary basis," the HHI said in response to a Reuters inquiry. The Robert Koch Institute, which is coordinating Germany's national coronavirus health response, welcomed the development work being done by the HHI but declined further comment. PARADIGM SHIFT The head of the Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, has warned that Germany is still at the beginning of the pandemic and its hospitals could find their capacity to treat patients exhausted. It has reported 57,298 coronavirus cases, with 455 deaths. Story continues Health Minister Jens Spahn has called for an urgent debate on the use of smartphone technology to manage the coronavirus once containment efforts - which include school closures and bans on meeting in groups - have succeeded in 'flattening' the curve of new infections. He has won support from the Social Democrats, the junior partner in Merkel's coalition government, and the opposition Greens, traditionally strong advocates of data privacy. Germany's data protection commissioner, Ulrich Kelber, has supported the use of location and contact data shared on a voluntary basis, describing it as "incredibly useful". Privacy advocates see no inherent contradiction between smartphone tracking and data protection and say that, done the right way, such contact tracing can make a valuable contribution to containing the coronavirus. "Rapid contact tracing is a central precondition for it to be possible to loosen the current lockdown in the foreseeable future," academics Johannes Abeler and Matthias Baecker, and privacy campaigner Ulf Buermeyer, wrote for Netzpolitik.org https://netzpolitik.org/2020/corona-tracking-datenschutz-kein-notwendiger-widerspruch. (Editing by Timothy Heritage) A world-class, next-generation digital environment that provided a glimpse of the future was what African telecoms provider, Glo, was after when it commissioned strategic brand and communications agency HKLM to design the new Glo Experience Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos. HKLM conceptualised every aspect of the cutting-edge centre from the minute details in its high-impact interior design to the precise movement of visitors through the space to maximise its inherent experientiality at every touchpoint.Gary Harwood, HKLM founder, says the experience centre was the first of its scale to be completed in West Africa and was a massive undertaking.The building was designed by a leading Nigerian architectural firm, but we were tasked with conceptualising and designing the entire interior space, and the story it would tell visitors. That story was a combination of both the history and the future of Glo and telecommunications two contrasting ideas that needed to sit seamlessly side by side in the same space. We knew the history, but we needed to bed down what we thought the future of telecoms and IT would look like, and then decide how to manifest this in a physical space, Harwood explains.According to the brief, the Glo Experience Centre had to provide Glo customers with an engaging, exciting and informative experience of the companys current products and services and those of its partners. Simultaneously, it had to offer a window on the future of information and communications, demonstrating the transformative potential of digital technology.Added to this, the centre had to cater to a diverse target audience: existing and prospective customers, the general public, school groups, university students and blue-chip business clients and government representatives the latter which Glo wanted to engage through smart meeting rooms that tangibly showcased the latest meeting and conference technology. The centre would also have a state-of-the-art auditorium for immersive media events.HKLM met the brief on every element, providing a holistic visitor experience from the museum, auditorium, virtual reality and gaming areas through to the smart health, smart city, smart learning and smart home sections. The contemporary design makes use of Glos primary colour palette of white and green, complemented with natural light wood tones throughout. In the museum, the colour palette is green combined with darker tones for a more intimate experience.The agency also completed all the technical specifications for the different spaces, which were provided to Glos technical team for flawless execution of HKLMs visionary design.As Glo is a longstanding client of HKLM, the agency was well aware of the companys growth objectives and designed the space as a kit of parts so it could be easily rolled out to other venues in the future. In fact, the project was such a success that as soon as the centre formally opens its doors to the public in the next few months, Glo will introduce similar experience centres in three additional destinations in Nigeria. Boston, Mass. - As the numbers of patients with confirmed and suspected COVID-19 in the United States continue to rise exponentially, physician-researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, launched a collaborative and open-source effort to address the shortage of swabs that is hampering the nation's ability to test for and track the spread of the virus. The team's mission is to catalyze the development and clinical validation of novel designs for swabs for COVID-19 testing that can be manufactured quickly and in large numbers. "With the number of COVID-19 cases doubling every four days in the United States, there is a critical need for rapid testing if we hope to flatten the curve of this pandemic," said Ramy Arnaout, MD, DPhil, Associate Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratories at BIDMC, who has been coordinating the effort. "We now have swabs that we believe are workable from at least three manufacturers. I am cautiously optimistic that daily production of up to a million swabs will begin soon." To help prepare clinicians to meet the demands of this unprecedented pandemic, Arnaout and his fellow directors James Kirby, MD, PhD, and Stefan Riedel, MD, PhD, noted impending swab shortages in mid-March. An alumnus of MIT, Arnaout immediately reached out to fellow MIT alumni, coordinating and building a network that soon brought together a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, academic teams and industry partners. Just 10 days later, scientists at BIDMC had received and evaluated about 120 different materials and prototypes for swabs used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, the respiratory virus that causes COVID-19. Now, BIDMC physicians are beginning field trials to evaluate the most promising prototypes. If the trial results are positive, manufacturers could begin producing the swabs by the millions each day, alleviating at least one bottleneck preventing widespread COVID-19 testing in the United States and beyond. Dr. Arnaout's colleagues in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratories at BIDMC are also hard at work resolving the ongoing critical bottleneck on the preservative fluid needed for transporting the swabs to the sites of testing at the hospital. Within days of the mass mobilization that established the nationwide consortium, Arnaout developed a three-step protocol for evaluating swabs either repurposed from other medical uses or newly designed by 3D printing or similar methods. Dozens of factors need to be considered in developing a substitute for the standard nasopharyngeal swabs approved for use for detecting respiratory viral infections that had been largely produced by an Italian manufacturer, now incapacitated by that nation's widespread COVID-19 outbreak. More specialized than cotton swabs, the six-inch long nasopharyngeal swabs sweep the depths of the nasopharynx--where the nose meets the back of the throat, roughly halfway between the ears--collecting cells that may be infected by respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2. Upon extraction, the swab's tip is snapped off into a vial containing a preservative fluid known as viral transport medium (VTM) and sealed. Lab technicians then test the preservative fluid for the presence of a virus, using a genetic test called a polymerase chain reaction, or PCR. To make sure the substitute swabs were rigid enough to collect cells from the back of the throat, but flexible enough not to damage the soft tissues there, phase one of the BIDMC's clinical pathologist protocol calls for expert evaluation of potential swabs by experts on the frontline of patient care: infectious disease doctors, clinical pathologists and respiratory therapists. Next, swab prototypes were tested for their ability to collect an adequate sample of cells to test for viral infection. Scientists tested prototype swabs' ability to capture cells and microbes by performing a cheek swab test -- a relatively safe and non-invasive proxy for swabbing the nasopharynx. In phase three, potential swabs were evaluated for their compatibility with COVID-19 testing protocols and materials. Swabs must be able to withstand the rigors of sterilization or disinfection -- most often accomplished with high temperatures and pressures in a process known as autoclaving-- without becoming structurally weakened or chemically interfering with the PCR test that detects COVID-19. Using this protocol to evaluate more than 100 prototype swabs, the BIDMC-led collaboration may have landed on a solution to the swab shortage -- all in two weeks time. Critical supply chain challenges still remain with respect to COVID testing; chemical reagents to conduct the tests are in short supply, and many laboratories lack the capacity and personnel to keep pace with the demand for COVID-19 testing. The key to the group's remarkable speed has been the transparency of the process, says Arnaout, who maintains the open-source repository where he and his collaborators organize the deluge of data on results and best practices as they race to reverse engineer the increasingly scarce medical supply. Collaborators include colleagues at HP, EnvisionTec, Origin.io, University of Washington, Stanford University, University of South Florida, Formlabs, Carbon, and OPT Industries. "This clearinghouse of information has saved everyone immeasurable time, and Dr. Arnaout has kept everyone focused on their main goal of producing millions of these swabs as soon as possible," said Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, Chief Academic Officer for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Beth Israel Lahey Health. "This 3D printed swab project is one of many new initiatives of the new BIDMC COVID-19 Innovation Hub, a collaborative effort we have launched to address PPE and other shortages we face as we rise to meet the challenge of this global pandemic," Szabo added. "Dr. Arnaout and his colleagues at BIDMC faced an incredibly difficult problem to solve," said Peter J. Healy, President of BIDMC. "By working long days in the lab, on their own time, and during a public health crisis, they may have found an answer to this problem that millions of Americans will benefit from. It's a remarkable effort from a truly talented and dedicated group of clinicians and scientists." "Before we can declare victory, there has to be relief of this swab crisis -- individually packaged, autoclaved or sterilized swabs, ready to be produced by the millions," Arnaout said. "But the reason why we have been able to make so much progress so quickly is that we put our egos and personal gain aside to identify the problems, identify who can solve them and bring the right people to the table. You have to manage being in the trenches with an incredible team versus the 30,000-foot view, planning and communicating around the steps ahead. That's how we went from problem, to people, to prototypes, to disinfection and packaging, and hopefully to a solution to this crisis so quickly. None of it would have been possible without an unbelievably hard-working, talented, and selfless group from all over the country, including dozens of people at BIDMC. It's been quite a ride." ### Arnaout would like to thank collaborators and colleagues, including; Cody Callahan, Alex Green, Rose Lee, Kenneth P Smith, Kate Zulauf, Abigail Bakken, Alisa Chau, Annie Cheng, Monique Cole, Zachary Fitts, Jonathan Goldie, Lan Huynh, Christina Lexinger-Holahan, Lorinda Longhi, Restituto Miranda, Pavel Gorelik, Jenny Hu, Ofer Mazor, Goutam Reddy, Karen Robinson, James Kirby, Stefan Riedel, Summer Decker, Don Ingber, Pawan Jolly, Kit Parker, Adama Sesay, Craig Broady, John Burpo, Daniel Davis, Joe DeSimone, Annette Friskopp, Ric Fulop, Grant Michael Gonzalez, Markus Greiner, Marie Herring, Matthew Hurley, Hardik Kabaria, David Lakatos, Ben Linville-Engler, Oren Mechanic, Richard Novak, Jifei Ou, Michael Papish, Steve Pollack, Chris Prucha, Christian Reed, Isabel Sanz, Al Siblani, Lihua Zhao. About Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a patient care, teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School and consistently ranks as a national leader among independent hospitals in National Institutes of Health funding. For more information, visit http://www.bidmc.org. BIDMC is part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a new health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,000 physicians and 35,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 03:00:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian police arrested a man for illegal possession of 113 ancient relics and coins, Egyptian Ministry of Interior announced on Monday. According to police investigations, the suspect, from the antiquity-rich upper Egypt's Minya province, possessed the artifacts to illegally sell them, the ministry said in a statement. The relics date back to the pharaonic and Greek-Roman eras, the ministry said, adding that the suspect confessed that he found the pieces after illegally excavating under his house. Egypt has been working effortlessly to preserve its rich archaeological treasures and historical heritage, which also helps boost the once-flourishing tourism industry that has largely been affected by the political turmoil over the past five years. Enditem 31 Mar 2020, 12:29 PM India records biggest single-day spike as cases cross 1,300; 32 dead India reported the biggest single-day spike in new COVID-19 cases at 200 as the total tally of confirmed novel coronavirus cases crossed 1,300. Meanwhile, the death toll due to the deadly virus has jumped to 38. This was after six people from Telangana who attended a religious gathering at Nizamuddin in Delhi died due to COVID-19. Coronavirus: US reports 540 deaths in one day; highest so far The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus pandemic climbed past 3,000 on Monday, the deadliest day yet in the country's mounting crisis, while New York cheered the arrival of a gleaming 1,000-bed U.S. Navy hospital ship as a sign of hope in the city's desperate fight. In a grim new milestone marking the spread of the virus, total deaths across the United States hit 3,017, including at least 540 on Monday. No extension of financial year 2019-20 from March 31: FinMin The Ministry of Finance, contrary to earlier reports, has clarified there'll be no extension of the financial year 2019-20 till June. The ministry said the notification issued on March 30 pertained to date of applicability of stamp duty. Prince Charles out of coronavirus self-isolation, wife Camilla remains under quarantine Prince Charles has come out of self-isolation after seven days. The Prince of Wales tested positive for novel coronavirus last week and showed mild symptoms. His wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, had tested negative for COVID-19, but will remain in self-isolation till the end of this week. Read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: Around 1,000 people shifted from Nizamuddin; Delhi CM, L-G hold meeting Pune cops warn against coronavirus rumours on April Fool's Day Police on Monday asked people in Pune district of Maharashtra not to spread rumours or false information regarding coronavirus in the name of April Fool's Day jokes or pranks on social media. The Pune rural police have issued a notification in this regard. The notification warned of penal action under section 188 of the IPC if a person is found circulating misinformation and rumours related to the deadly disease on social media platforms. Amitabh Kant-led panel meets World Bank, UN, ADB to strategise India's response An empowered panel led by Niti Aayog Chief Executive Amitabh Kant met representatives of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNICEF, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Monday to strategise on India's response to the coronavirus spread. The panel met these organisations to look into ways they could best help India to contain the pandemic. International organisations such as the UN and the World Bank have been roped in to ensure support at a global scale. India might also look at financial aid from these institutions, as reported by the Economic Times. Prime Minister Narendra Modi established 11 committees, including the one led by Amitabh Kant, under the Disaster Management Act. 'Shut my companies but will still keep paying employees,' says Vijay Mallya Vijay Mallya has said that all his companies in India have ceased manufacturing amid the coronavirus crisis and have still not laid off any employees. He also said that it is important to stay safe and maintain social distancing which can only be achieved by staying at home. In a tweet, the liquor baron said, "Indian Government has done what was unthinkable in locking down the entire Country. We respect that. All my Companies have effectively ceased operations. All manufacturing is closed as well. Yet we are not sending employees home and paying the idle cost". Also Read:SEBI relaxes compliance requirements for FPIs Soldiers tower over youngsters in South Africa's Soweto township, forcing them to do push-ups and roll on the floor as punishment for not adhering to a lockdown meant to halt the spread of coronavirus. Caught on camera and circulated on social media, they added to a string of videos purporting to show violence by security forces deployed to enforce curfew and confinement across Africa. Rubber bullets, tear gas and whips have been used to maintain social distancing in shopping queues and to discipline citizens caught outside their homes without valid reason. "It seems to be the only way in which authorities know how to deal with the populace, through violence and humiliation," said Amnesty International's Shenilla Mohamed, executive director for South Africa, adding that abuse had also been reported from Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria. South African police are investigating the deaths of three citizens allegedly killed by patrols for defying the lockdown, which came into force last Friday. "That's almost the same amount of people that have died from coronavirus," noted Mohamed, referring to the nations latest death toll of five. One person was allegedly shot by police on his way home from a bar -- a direct breach of regulations prohibiting the sale of alcohol during the 21-day shutdown. Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has condemned the reported heavyhandedness and vowed to withdraw soldiers caught abusing their powers. - Intimidation tactics - To date coronavirus has infected more than 5,690 people in Africa and killed at least 195, according to an AFP tally. The pandemic has been slow to reach the continent, despite an acceleration in recent weeks, and numbers remain relatively low compared to other parts of the world. Dozens of African governments have made use of the extra time to roll out curfews and shutdowns earlier than their worse-hit counterparts in the West. But such measures are difficult to enact in countries where most people live in poverty and work informally, often in packed urban slums with little access to sanitation. "If we take measures which starve everybody, they will quickly end up being defied," said Benin's President Patrica Talon on Sunday, adding that his country lacked the means to enforce public confinement. As governments have struggled to keep citizens indoors, their security forces have been quick to fall back on intimidation tactics, raising widespread concern. "It is unacceptable to see such inhuman and degrading treatment against the population," tweeted Nicolas Simard, Canada's ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, in response to a video of masked policemen beating a young man to the ground in the capital Kinshasa, which went into lockdown last week. - 'Excessive' and 'detestable' - "This is uncalled for and inappropriate," tweeted Mombasa governor Hassan Joho after police charged hundreds of commuters waiting for a ferry in Kenyas port city. Clad in riot gear, they fired tear gas at the crowd before the start of a dusk-to-dawn curfew, forcing people to the ground and whipping them. The Mombasa Law Society denounced the police intervention as "excessive" and "detestable". Uganda's army meanwhile apologised for a "high-handed" response after security forces violently cleared the streets in the capital Kampala, causing an outcry. In a separate incident, two men were hospitalised after being shot by police for violating a restriction on public transport. Footage from Senegal surfaced last week showing policemen beating people found outside after a night curfew. In one video, officials force three young men to do squats after they were caught exercising at night. "No torture, no inhuman degrading treatment and no excessive use of force," pleaded Amnesty International's former West and Central Africa director Alioune Tine. Police eventually assured that all "excessive interventions" had been punished. - Innocent victims - Yet the risk of a beating has done little to stop citizens across the continent from pursuing their daily activities. The need to make a living trumps both fears of catching the deadly virus and encountering the police, prompting law enforcement officers to step up their show of force. More than 1,100 people have been arrested for lockdown violations in South Africa, while Ivory Coast has detained 450 for failing to respect curfew. Ivorian Human Rights Movement (MIDH) chief Doumbia Yacouba said many of the detainees had been beaten and mistreated. "It is unacceptable and it adds to the psychosis created by coronavirus," he said. Further cause for concern emerged when Kenyan police called for an inquiry into the death of a 13-year old boy felled by a bullet allegedly fired by police as they cleared a slum area last week. In South Africa, three young children were wounded when security officials allegedly opened fire against a man. Human Rights Watch has called for urgent investigations into all abuse allegations and "disproportionate" use of force. sch-burs/bp Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) Two policemen from Marikina City have been arrested after raping two female detainees, Metro Manila police chief Debold Sinas claimed on Tuesday. He said patrolman Arnold Geroy and patrolman Sonny Maruzzo, who were assigned in the Special Operation Unit in the Marikina Police Station, sexually assaulted two detainees after conducting their custodial debriefing on March 29. "Kinuha nila ang dalawang inmates na babae, tapos dinala nila sa opisina, from there, sa opisina nila minolestiya sila ng dalawang pulis," he said in a media briefing. Sinas said the two policemen were immediately arrested after the women told the guard on duty of what happened. He said Geroy and Maruzzo did not deny the allegations. The chief of Metro Manila police said rape charges were filed against the erring policemen, adding they are now detained in a jail facility in Marikina separate from the detention cell of the two women. Sinas said the Philippine National Police's efforts to weed out rogue cops from the organization continue. "This will prove may mga suwail pa rin kaming mga pulis, but we are willing to correct," he said. Delhi police have started a helpline number for people of its Outer North district who are under distress due to COVID-19, officials said on Tuesday. People can call at 011-21710115 between 8 am to 10 pm regarding their grievances, they said. The district police also arranged food for thousands of people hit by the lockdown. The Delhi police warned people against spreading rumours on social media on April Fools' Day. "We''re vigilant and everywhere! Strict legal action will be taken against any attempt to spread rumours on social media in the guise of #AprilFoolsDay," the police tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 21:15:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GUANGZHOU, March 31 (Xinhua) -- A total of around 50 billion yuan (about 7.04 billion U.S. dollars) will be invested in 5G construction this year in south China's economic powerhouse Guangdong Province, local authorities said Tuesday. The total investment of the top three telecom operators in the province -- Guangdong Telecom, Guangdong Mobile and Guangdong Unicom, will exceed 40 billion yuan, said Li Min with the Guangdong Communications Administration at a press conference. Guangdong plans to build 60,000 5G base stations in 2020, bringing the total in the province to 100,000 and covering more than 90 percent of the population. At present, the province is speeding up the resumption of work and production in the communication industry amid the COVID-19 epidemic to support 5G construction, said local authorities. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. The mounting death toll from the virus outbreak in the United States had it poised Tuesday to overtake China's grim toll of 3,300 deaths, with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo saying up to 1 million more healthcare workers were needed. "Please come help us," he urged. Hard-hit Italy and Spain have already overtaken China and now account for more than half of the nearly 38,000 COVID-19 deaths worldwide, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. But the World Health Organization warned Tuesday that while attention has shifted to epicenters in Western Europe and North America, the coronavirus pandemic was far from over in Asia. "This is going to be a long-term battle and we cannot let down our guard," said Dr Takeshi Kasai, the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. "We need every country to keep responding according to their local situation." In New York City, Cuomo and health officials warned Monday that the crisis unfolding there is just a preview of what other US communities could soon face. New York State's death toll climbed by more than 250 people in a day Monday to more than 1,200, most of them in the city. "We've lost over one thousand New Yorkers," Cuomo said. "To me, we're beyond staggering already." Even before the governor's appeal, close to 80,000 former nurses, doctors and other professionals were stepping up to volunteer, and a Navy hospital ship had arrived with 1,000 beds to relieve pressure on overwhelmed hospitals. also came of the first US service member to die from the disease. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said the death of the New Jersey Army National Guardsman strengthened their resolve to work more closely with partners to stop the spread of COVID-19. "This is a stinging loss for our military community," Esper said in a release. More than 235 million people - about two of every three Americans - live in the 33 states where governors have declared statewide orders or recommendations to stay home. In California, officials put out a similar call for medical volunteers as coronavirus hospitalizations doubled over the last four days and the number of patients in intensive care tripled. "Challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days, and this is a very vital 30 days," President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday. "The more we dedicate ourselves today, the more quickly we will emerge on the other side of the crisis." In contrast, the crisis is continuing to ease in China. On Tuesday, officials in the world's most populous nation reported just 48 new COVID-19 cases, all of them brought from overseas. In Wuhan, people were ready to jump, cry and "revenge shop" as the Chinese city once at the centre of the global virus outbreak reopened. "I'm so excited, I want to cry," said one woman at the Chuhe Hanjie pedestrian mall, where about 75per cent of the shops had reopened. Shopkeepers were limiting the number of people they were letting in, dispensing hand sanitiser and checking customers for signs of fever. More than three-quarters of a million people worldwide have become infected and over 37,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause severe symptoms like pneumonia. More than 160,000 people have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins. Italy and Spain saw their death tolls climb by more than 800 each on Monday, but the WHO's emergency chief said cases there were "potentially stabilising". At the same time, he warned against letting up on tough containment measures. "We have to now push the virus down, and that will not happen by itself," Dr Michael Ryan said. "We are saving lives by staying at home, by maintaining social distance, by travelling less and by closing schools," said Dr Luca Richeldi, a lung specialist. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Some health experts questioning advice against wider use of masks to slow spread of COVID-19 Science magazine had been trying for days to speak to the elusive George Gao, head of China's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. When the magazine asked him if he could point to any mistakes that might explain why Western countries were struggling to flatten the coronavirus curve, he didn't miss a beat. "The big mistake in the U.S. and Europe, in my opinion, is that people aren't wearing masks," he said. "You've got to wear a mask, because when you speak, there are always droplets coming out of your mouth. Many people have asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic infections. If they are wearing face masks, it can prevent droplets that carry the virus from escaping and infecting others." That advice is contradicted by the World Health Organization, the government of Canada and federal public health officials like Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam. On its webpage, the WHO says that "if you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected [COVID-19] infection." "Putting a mask on an asymptomatic person is not beneficial, obviously, if you're not infected," Tam said Monday. Watch: Dr. Tam on why Canadians don't need to wear masks Only medical masks such as those labelled N95 are designed and fitted to filter out particles that carry the COVID-19 virus. Other masks, such as surgical masks, are looser fitting and made of material that may reduce concentrations of some aerosol particles. A 2015 randomized clinical trial found that cloth masks, for example, did not block influenza and respiratory viruses and actually increased the rate of infections among health care workers, and even surgical masks blocked only slightly more than half of virus particles. Asymptomatic spreaders Dr. K.K. Cheng, director of the Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham in the U.K., said that Tam's advice makes a dangerous assumption that an asymptomatic person is not a spreader. Story continues "The important thing about this coronavirus is that some patients start to shed virus, and become infectious, even before they have symptoms," he said. "In public health, a principle is we try to limit the source of harmful exposures rather than do mitigation, if we can. Hand-washing is a form of mitigation. "I'm not suggesting in the least that people should stop washing hands. It's very important. But if you're out in public in a supermarket, or in a subway train or on the bus, I think it makes a lot of sense for everyone to wear a mask." While officials in the West caution that the explanations for Asian countries' greater success in controlling the pandemic are complex, officials from the countries themselves such as Gao and Cheng as well as some South Korean specialists often point to masks. Now some European governments are choosing to follow pro-mask policies. Ronald Zak/The Associated Press Austria on Monday banned members of the public from entering a supermarket without one. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said that is only the first step toward wider adoption of masks. Next door, the Czech Republic requires everyone to wear a mask in public. The country has experienced a lower-than-average spread of COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. is also reportedly considering whether it should revise its guidance on masks, according to the Washington Post. It, too, recommends that only those with symptoms and those caring for them wear masks. Masks or elbows Of course, the fact that many countries where mask use is widespread have been more successful at flattening the curve does not necessarily mean that the masks themselves account for the difference. Most experts would point to a mix of factors, including more aggressive testing and tracing of infections and tight controls on movement of the population. But Cheng said much of the opposition to masks arises because officials in Europe and North America "have never really grasped the point that wearing masks is not primarily to protect the wearer. The original motivation is to protect others." "In a severe pandemic, the main objective of any public health intervention is to limit the source of infection, things that are coming out of our respiratory tract," he told CBC News. For Cheng, the concern expressed by some public health officials that people will end up wearing masks that aren't up to the highest standards is a red herring. He said any mouth and nose covering is superior to telling people to cough into their elbows, as the government of Canada does now. "I just don't understand that. Really, it's a simple mechanical thing," Cheng said. "If people wear masks as a self-protective measure and want to protect themselves from others, then I think you really need a hi-spec mask, and no one has got an oversupply of those. "But we don't really need that if everyone practices this." The most sophisticated masks must be saved for the health care workers who face the greatest exposure. Dr. Elaine Shuo Feng is part of an Oxford University team that studied different countries' approaches to masks. She agrees that health workers must get priority. "But I don't think this is a good reason to tell the public that a face mask is not effective and to work on the supply issue," she told CBC News. "I think there are a lot of things that you need to do." False sense of confidence Canadian officials have cited the risk that people won't use masks properly and could expose themselves to greater danger as a result as one of the reasons not to recommend mask wearing for the general public. "What we worry about is actually the potential negative aspects of wearing masks where people are not protecting their eyes, or you know, other aspects of where a virus could enter your body," said Tam. "And that gives you a false sense of confidence, but also, it increases the touching of your face. If you think about it, if you've got a mask around your face, sometimes you can't help it, because you're just touching parts of your face." Cheng said masks, in fact, inhibit contact between the hand and the mouth, and people can be taught to wash their hands after touching them. "Very few people before this pandemic knew how to wash their hands properly," he said. "But you don't go about telling people there's no point in washing your hands. You show them a video showing them how to wash their hands. "It's not a logical argument, really. It's not beyond the realm of most people's IQ to learn how to wear a mask properly." The WHO's guidance on the use of medical masks makes clear that their use alone is insufficient to prevent the spread of COVID-19 without proper hand-washing and other measures to protect against human to human transmission. Not everyone can self-isolate Cheng agrees that people with symptoms should not be going out at all. But he said it's wrong to base advice on the assumption that everyone can self-isolate. "During this phase when we're locked down, unfortunately, there are still heroes of our society who've got to go to work to keep the country going. Health care workers, bus drivers, supermarket workers," he said. Vincent Thian/The Associated Press Cheng said he doesn't agree with arguments about creating a false sense of security. "People have raised the hypothesis that if you ask people to wear a mask, they'll feel invincible, and then they won't bother with handwashing, for example," he said. "There's absolutely no evidence that this is the case. I would argue it's the opposite that this would heighten one's sense of caution and hygiene, and it would stop people from touching the mouth." Shuo Feng stressed that she does not recommend using self-made masks, which do not block the virus. "I think people better stay at home if they could, stay as much as possible and do the best of social distancing," she said. "However, there could be situations that people cannot avoid the crowded areas, and in that case, if they cannot get a surgical mask, then having a self-made mask might be better than not wearing a face mask it might not be as effective as a surgical mask, but at least it provides some protection." Open to change? In her remarks Monday, Tam did seem to suggest that the government was open to reconsidering its advice. "We are continuing to evaluate. Of course, we can be flexible if we find any new evidence." The Centers for Disease Control in the U.S. denied this weekend that it was about to reverse its advice on masks. But cracks are appearing in the North American public health establishment. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said the Centers for Disease Control "should be putting out guidelines ... on how you can develop a mask on your own." The WHO has advised against the use of cotton or gauze masks in any circumstance. Even for medical masks, the WHO provides strict advice on the correct disposal of used masks and recommends against the re-use of single-use masks. But Cheng said the wider use of masks can be part of the eventual unlocking of society. "Maybe two months from now, if we're lucky, we may emerge from this, and we have to think about how we reopen the economy," he said. "We have to reduce social distancing. "I think everyone wearing a mask for a period of time to be determined would actually help us to get back to normality. People would still have to practise social distancing but without all the schools being closed and so on." Shuo Feng said there's no single approach that will beat the virus, but "now is the right time to talk about face masks and to reconsider the recommendation of face masks to the general population." Watch: The National: Clearing up the confusion around whether masks protect against COVID-19 By Shahid Hussain The first webinar aired at 10 a.m. Tuesday, with a second session scheduled for noon Tuesday, and a Polish-language version set for 2 p.m. Hosted by the citys Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, the sessions will cover loan terms, requirements and how to apply for funds. Registration for the webinars is at www.chicago.gov/businessworkshops. As the country grapples with increasing number of coronavirus cases, Bharti Airtel has contributed Rs 100 crore to the PM-CARES Fund and the procurement of other essential items including masks and personal protective equipment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the emergency relief fund on Saturday last week to invite contributions from the citizens as the country continues to battle COVID-19. The telecom giant is among scores of big contributors including Tata Sons, Reliance Industry, Paytm, Adani, L&T, JSW Group, among others who have pledged to help in India's fight against the deadly virus. "These are extremely challenging times as the world battles the biggest healthcare crisis of the modern era in the form of COVID-19 epidemic. As a nation, our immediate priority is to collectively support the efforts of the government to mitigate the impact of this crisis," Bharti Airtel said in a statement. Bharti Enterprises, along with its subsidiaries Bharti Airtel, Bharti Infratel and others, will make this contribution collectively. "A significant portion of the corpus will be immediately contributed to the PM-CARES Fund," the company said. It added the balance amount was being directed towards sourcing of masks, PPE and other key equipment for the doctors, healthcare workers and essential services personnel who are at the forefront of this massive battle. "Over a million N-95 masks are being procured and will be made available on an immediate basis," the company said. Also read: Reliance Industries donates Rs 500 crore to PM CARES Fund Bharti Airtel employees will also make personal voluntary contributions towards the cause through a platform set up by the company. "Bharti companies will match the amount contributed by their employees, and the same will be contributed towards the COVID-19 initiatives," the company added. The company said its network teams were working round the clock to ensure India's digital backbone continued to operate seamlessly and people stayed connected. Reliance Industries on Monday donated Rs 500 crore to PM's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation (PM CARES) Fund. The company has also scaled up its capacities to produce one lakh masks and thousands of protective gear for health workers daily. Last week, RIL started a 100-bed dedicated hospital in Mumbai as part of its initiatives against coronavirus. On March 28, Tata Sons had announced Rs 1,500 crore support towards the coronavirus fund, including Rs 500 crore by the Tata Trusts. India on Monday reported the biggest single-day spike in new COVID-19 cases. It reported 227 new cases taking the total tally to 1,385. Out of this, 101 have been cured and discharged from hospitals. The death tally stood at 32 till March 30, according to Health Ministry data. Edited by Manoj Sharma Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: Another doctor tests positive for COVID-19 in Delhi's Babarpur A ten-year-old Vietnamese boy has become the countrys 204th patient of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after traveling from foreign countries to Ho Chi Minh City earlier this month. The young patient resides in Cat Lai Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, the Ministry of Health confirmed on Tuesday morning. He previously traveled from Prague, the Czech Republic to Istanbul, Turkey via flight TK1770 of Turkish Airlines on March 14, before boarding flight TK162 from Istanbul to Ho Chi Minh City on the following day. The boy tested negative for the virus on March 18 but his second test returned positive on March 27. The patient is being quarantined and treated at one of the citys makeshift hospitals in the outlying district of Can Gio. The novel coronavirus, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 783,900 people and killed more than 37,700 globally as of Monday morning, according to Ministry of Health statistics. Vietnam has announced 204 COVID-19 patients so far, with 55 having been discharged from the hospital as of Monday. No fatality related to the disease has been reported in the country to date. Ho Chi Minh City has confirmed 47 patients so far, of whom ten have recovered from the disease. Five other cases have tested positive twice since receiving treatment in the southern metropolis. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Tuesday derided US president for 'America First' slogan, saying that Trump led the US to plight of the people, adding that trillions of dollars which have been spent for intervention in the Middle East would have been spent for the US public health infrastructure in a way not to see misery of medics wearing trash bag and COVID19 patients in despair, reports IRNA. "Over the last few years, the US Administration has acknowledged spending at least $9 trillion to interfere in the internal affairs of the Middle East countries and to create insecurity and instability. From spending for promoting terrorist groups like ISIS to the shameful Deal of the Century which was born dead, $2 trillion has been spent during Trumps term. Such unwise remarks cannot hide Trump Administrations failures in fighting coronavirus which ruined national economy, stocks market got bankrupt, so that pressure on Trump in run-up to the US presidential elections gained momentum. Despite US illegal, unilateral, and cruel sanctions, all pillars of the Islamic Republic of Iran are working in concert to fight coronavirus," Mousavi said. The testing was done at several stations in the capital city. One such station was in the Dong Da Secondary School on Luong Dinh Cua Street, where testing priority was given to those whod been in or taken care of patients at the hospital since March 12, or those who had hemodialysis there. The test stations are in Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung and Thanh Oai districts. Over 20 medical workers clad in protective suits were stationed at the Dong Da Secondary School test station. They took blood samples for the tests and announced results after around 20 minutes. A woman has her blood sample taken for Covid-19 testing. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy. "The number of people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Bach Mai has been rising quickly, so I'm worried. I hope that the city can do more widespread testing so that people are reassured," said Nguyen Dinh Thang, 67, who had been to Bach Mai a week earlier to take care of a family member. He has since quarantined himself at home. Holding out a piece of paper with her test results, Bui Thi Nhung, 48, took a picture of it with her phone and sent it to her family. She had visited a loved one in Bach Mai twice last week. Her test came back negative. "I did not have close contact with any Covid-19 patient, but I never felt safe. Even if I coughed just once or twice at night, I just couldn't sleep. But I'm more reassured now," she said. As of Tuesday morning, no one has tested Covid-19 positive at Dong Da Secondary School station. Anyone who tests positive will be transferred to a quarantine room near the center, have their samples taken a second time and sent to another laboratory. Two people write down their health status and medical history prior to Covid-19 testing. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy. This is the first time Hanoi is doing rapid Covid-19 testing for the community, said Khong Minh Tuan, deputy director of the Hanoi Center for Disease Control (CDC). "The kits, produced by South Korea, give quick results in 10 minutes with high accuracy," he said. Quick, widespread testing is vital to detect positive cases and determine outbreak areas quickly, said Tuan, adding that the Hanoi CDC has received 5,000 test kits, and the city is planning widespread testing in other highly-populated areas as well when it gets more kits. The capital city is currently using two testing methods, swab or blood samples, he said. Ten rapid Covid-19 test stations have been operational in areas around Bach Mai since Tuesday. Hanoi has the highest number of Covid-19 infections in the country, accounting for 87 in a total of 207. Bach Mai and its food and water provider, Truong Sinh Company, have been linked to 34 cases. Of the national total, 58 have been discharged from hospital so far. Many of the active cases are Vietnamese nationals returning from Europe and the U.S., foreigners coming from the same regions and those whod come in contact with both groups of people. The Covid-19 pandemic has so far killed more than 37,800 people after spreading to 200 countries and territories. Rampant illegal practice stains reputation of Corporate Korea The legal battle between two battery makers LG Chem and SK Innovation over the latter's alleged theft of trade secrets will likely end up with SK Innovation being defeated. According to a default judgment the U.S. International Trade Commission uploaded recently on its website, SK Innovation extracted information on a detailed list of anode and cathode materials used for making electric car batteries, from LG Chem employees. LG Chem has maintained that SK Innovation stole the battery manufacturing technology it had developed, by spending a lot of money over an extended period to recruit LG Chem employees. SK Innovation countered this by saying that the workers changed companies on their own, and SK had not stolen the technology. The latest ITC ruling, however, has undisputedly held SK Innovation responsible for theft. The battery file stolen by the former LG Chem employees who moved to SK Innovation reportedly contained core secrets on making batteries. During the litigation process, LG Chem said SK Innovation was found to have deleted about 34,000 files and emails, and the amount of stolen information was beyond measure. In the course of interviewing and hiring former LG Chem employees, SK Innovation made them reveal core manufacturing technology, according to LG Chem. The ITC judgment also pointed out that SK began to destroy evidence after LG Chem filed an injunction in December 2017 to ban the employment of its employees by other Korean firms. The U.S. agency's final ruling is likely to come by Oct. 5. If the two sides fail to reach an agreement and the ITC concludes SK Innovation violated the U.S. Customs Act and orders a sales ban on the Korean firm's U.S. offshoot, SK Innovation's plan to supply batteries to Volkswagen's U.S. plant will likely hit a snag. SK Innovation has been building a battery plant for electric cars in Georgia since March last year, investing $1.6 billion. The ITC ruling has dealt a blow to the rampant practice of some Korean companies "scouting" employees from competitors, to take advantage of their skills and knowledge. The end result may depend on how the two agree. Still, the fight between the Korean companies in the U.S. could hardly look uglier. Shocking CCTV footage has captured the moment a gang bundled a Shetland pony into the back of a Ford Fiesta before racing off in a late-night raid. Violet was taken by three men who conducted a late-night raid of John Lowe's stables in Ashingdon, Essex which had been holding 12 other horses. John is offering a big reward in the search for his 'favourite pony' to ensure that Violet is 'too hot to handle'. After inspecting the stables, he saw that the locks and chains on the stables had been cut through, with the 1600 pony nowhere to be seen. The footage of the incident on Friday night was captured by a neighbour living opposite the stables, who watched the gang break open the stables with a grinder before driving off with the 29-inch pony. Violet, who stands at just 29 inches, was stolen by thieves from her stables on Friday night CCTV footage captured by a neighbour shows a gang racing off with the pony in a Ford Fiesta A neighbour had watched thieves break into the stables using a grinder in the late night raid John, from Hockley, Essex, said: 'I am just so gutted, she was my favourite pony. It's such a terrible thing that's happened. 'My ponies are my pets - they're like family to me. She's not really worth anything to anyone stealing her, but for me she's irreplaceable. 'My whole family is missing her so much. I just want anyone who has any information to come forward and help find her.' John has owned two-year-old Violet for just seven months - and described her as a 'lovely and very friendly pony'. He said: 'I go down and see the ponies every day. I was there with them twice on Friday - at about 9am, and then in the evening at about 7pm. John Lowe, owner of the stables, said he lost his 'favourite pony' who was 'like family to me' 'It happened between 9pm and 10pm, and I found out the following morning when I went to the site. 'The gate and chains were cut and a neighbour heard them using a small grinder cutting tool to get into the field. I was devastated. I am so concerned for her welfare and how she's being treated, that's the main worry. 'I just hope she's not being mistreated. The whole thing would have been very distressing for her.' John's other ponies that he keeps at the stable were also left wandering free in the road after the gate was cut open - but were luckily returned to their enclosure by the neighbour. John hopes his cash reward will make Violet 'too hot to handle' and ensure her safe return John added: 'It's just awful that people feel they can do this when we are all feeling at our lowest and feeling stuck inside. 'The other ponies know she's gone and are missing her, and I am sure she's missing them as well.' Now, he is offering a 'big cash reward' for anyone with information - vowing to track down those responsible and get Violet returned home safely. He said: 'I have reported it to the police, but they've just given me a crime reference number and not really done much. There have not been any leads. 'I will find whoever took her, so the best thing to do is get in contact with me or someone who knows me, and it will end there.' Violet is a distinctively-marked, bay and white coloured Shetland pony, with a white tail. Anyone with any information should call Essex Police on 101. Sacramento, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2020) - Spotlight Growth has published new content on Sortis Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink: SOHI) ("SOHI" or the "Company"), a Portland, Oregon-based alternative investment firm with a primary focus on real estate. This includes managed funds, with positions in both debt and equity opportunities. The Company's diversified business model spans fund management, lending, development, advisory & more. The content provides an overview of Sortis Holdings, its latest news, funds overview, and further analysis. Sortis Income Fund Available On Most Major Investment Platforms Sortis Holdings currently maintains three active funds: the Sortis Income Fund, the Sortis Opportunity Zone Fund, and the Sortis Growth Fund. Furthermore, a new real estate fund is planned to be launched during the second quarter 2020, which will focus on acquisition and distressed debt opportunities. Sortis Income Fund (SIF) The company's flagship fund is the $100 million Sortis Income Fund (SIF), which has a strong track record of annual returns, which have averaged 11% net to investors. SIF is a real estate loan fund, which is focused on high-yield and fixed income returns through an un-leveraged model. "It is the ultimate defensive position in a volatile market as the underwriting is collateral focused on 65% average LTV in the portfolio." The SIF is available on most major investment platforms, which effectively puts Sortis on the map and shows legitimacy. Sortis Opportunity Zone Fund (SOZF) The Sortis Opportunity Zone Fund is focused on real estate development and investing opportunities within approved opportunity zones, as laid out in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The $100 million fund focuses on opportunity zone projects across the Western United States. The opportunity zone fund is structured as a diversified multi-asset fund, which provides quality opportunities across different assets and locations. "Sortis is both a developer through its affiliated developer and an allocator of capital to third-party developers," according to the company. This gives fund investors a chance to effectively play both roles on the best available projects. "We pride ourselves on providing wealth-building private investments through both lending and direct real estate investments," said Paul Brenneke, Sortis founder. "The Sortis Opportunity Zone Fund will allow accredited investors to take advantage of our unique investment strategies while postponing, reducing and eliminating expensive capital gains tax they would otherwise have to pay." Sortis Growth Fund (SGF) Sortis's newest fund, the Sortis Growth Fund, focuses on partnering with emerging consumer-based companies in and effort to accelerate growth & sales. Through an infusion of capital and a proprietary digital strategy, the $10 million SGF can capitalize on the massive growth in e-commerce and direct-to-consumer. "This is an unprecedented time in the market where a robust e-commerce strategy has gone from a want to a necessity to survive," said Butch Bannon SGF Manager and Principal. "We are seeing an unprecedented amount of deals because our captive digital team combined with capital makes us totally unique in the consumer private equity space." SOHI: Tight Share Structure, Produced Total Revenues of $1.5M in Q3 2019 Compared to Market Cap of $1.94M Another sign of good management is a tight share structure, which is widely-considered to be shareholder-friendly. Sortis Holdings maintains a tight share structure, which consists of 100 million authorized shares and 10.62 million shares outstanding, as of March 2020. With a tight share structure, Sortis could be compelling for investors and trades that search for "low float" opportunities. Another interesting fact is that Sortis Holdings almost generated as much revenue during the third quarter 2019 as its entire market cap valuation. On top of that, Sortis reported net income for the quarter. This shows undervaluation and a lack of fair pricing from the market. During Q3 2019, Sortis reported total revenue of about $1.5 million and net income of $557,000. This compares to the Company's current market of $1.94 million. Overall, Sortis Holdings has an impressive business, but its stock has yet to be discovered by investors. With real estate increasingly coming into focus with the recent stock market and bond yield declines, Sortis sits in a perfect position to offer a viable alternative for income investors. For more information on Sortis Holdings, Inc., please visit: https://sortis.com/ and https://spotlightgrowth.com/index.php/2020/03/23/sortis-holdings-inc-otc-pink-sohi-an-under-the-radar-alternate-investment-company-with-a-solid-foundation/ SpotlightGrowth.com is a digital hub for micro-caps, small-caps, venture capital, private equity, crowdfunding, cryptocurrency, and other emerging growth investors. SpotlightGrowth.com serves as our media subsidiary and provides insights on small cap companies. Follow us on social media: Twitter; Facebook; Instagram; Reddit; and YouTube. Disclaimer: Spotlight Growth is compensated, either directly or via a third party, to provide investor relations services for its clients. Spotlight Growth creates exposure for companies through a customized marketing strategy, including design of promotional material, the drafting and editing of press releases and media placement. All information on featured companies is provided by the companies profiled, or is available from public sources. Spotlight Growth and its employees are not a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker Dealer or a member of any association for other research providers in any jurisdiction whatsoever and we are not qualified to give financial advice. The information contained herein is based on external sources that Spotlight Growth believes to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Spotlight Growth may create reports and content that has been compensated by a company or third-parties, or for purposes of self-marketing. Spotlight Growth was compensated ten thousand dollars for the creation and dissemination of this content. This material does not represent an investment solicitation. Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company's plans and objectives, projections, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. The above communication, the attachments and external Internet links provided are intended for informational purposes only and are not to be interpreted by the recipient as a solicitation to participate in securities offerings. Investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors and may not be permissible in certain jurisdictions. Spotlight Growth and its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may have bought or sold or may buy or sell shares in the companies discussed herein, which may be acquired prior, during or after the publication of these marketing materials. Spotlight Growth, its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may sell the stock of said companies at any time and may profit in the event those shares rise in value. For more information on our disclosures, please visit: http://spotlightgrowth.com/index.php/disclosures/ Matt Rego 916-525-7147 mrego@spotlightgrowth.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53983 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 YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... The safety mask shortages are being made worse by anxious civilians hoarding medical supplies The highly contagious coronavirus infection extended its imprint to 200 cases in India on Friday. The rapidly increasing numbers have prompted the Centre to widen critical restrictions by banning travel from the European Union, UK and Turkey and restriction on export of Masks. With the rapidly growing number of positive infected coronavirus cases in India, one of the major challenges the country is needlessly facing are avoidable shortage of safety masks made worse by anxious civilians hoarding medical supplies though these are not prescribed for healthy individuals. Public is panicking and hoarding up masks and other equipment, leaving limited supplies for health care professionals who need the gear the most. We are creating an avoidable supply chain diversion from supplies to Healthcare workers who are at greater coronavirus risk. Who will protect those who protect us? Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMeD. Our Members are ramping up capacity utilization with assistance of Govt. to address raw material bottlenecks of alcohol, non-woven material and assure availability but appeal to consumers not to buy needlessly and hoard products. Added Mr. Nath. Mr. Rajiv Nath appreciated the measures taken by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to prevent the spread of Covid-19 by issuing immediate directives to State Govt /UT Administrations to quickly ensure availability of alcohol without quotas to enable them to rapidly enhance production of hand sanitizers and ensure its availability to the consumers. He said that the action taken to once again curb exports is understandable as some manufacturer were exporting more than 25% of their capacity. In the wake of such shortage the Govt has restricted exports of masks and health ministry also issued a fresh set of guidelines on wearing the masks, one of the most sought-after commodities at this time. According to the guideline, everyone need not wear a mask and proper hand washing is effective alternate to sanitizers. WHO advises rational use of medical masks to avoid unnecessary wastage of precious resources and misuse of masks. Healthy people don't need to wear masks. Use a mask only if you have a suspected Covid-19 infection with mild respiratory symptoms (coughing or sneezing) or you caring for someone with suspected Covid-19 infection. A suspected Covid-19 infection is linked to travel in areas where cases have been reported, or close contact with someone who has travelled in these areas and has become ill. Another critical issue is with demand rising more than 10 times due to non-prescribed use of masks by Public, the country is not only witnessing surge in prices of medical masks and hand sanitizer but the domestic market is now flooded with sub-standard and low-quality products as some retailers and unorganised mask manufacturers and unlicensed sanitizer manufacturers are cashing in on the virus terror. Concerned with the huge surge in prices over recent weeks, AiMeD (Association of Indian Medical Device Industry) & PWMAI (Preventive Wear Manufacturer Association of India) representing interest of over 700 medical device manufacturers had sought intervention of Govt., Drug Prices Regulator, NPPA, in capping prices, and ensuring quality, both with ramifications on consumers, health workers and industry. Dr. Sanjiiiv Relhan, Chairman, PWMAI said, The government has thankfully quickly taken some much needed drastic and bold steps to curb the unethical behavior in the market by bringing Gloves, Masks & Sanitizers under Essential Commodities Act and the Disaster Management Act, but lot needs to done by all of us Manufacturers, Traders & Consumers to address the challenge of avoiding shortage of masks for the healthcare professionals and of Sanitizer to the Consumers and ensure availability at reasonable prices and quality products to jointly fight Corona Virus. It has been noticed that many of the PPE & Medical Masks being sold in India are not manufactured under prescribed hygienic conditions and also do not comply with Basic Standards of PPE as recommended by WHO. This scenario may lead to number of Healthcare Workers possibly getting infected as they may attend the patients with a false sense of security that they are equipped with PPE and hence will be casual in taking precautions. 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. That policy also urges hosts to set aside their regular cancellation terms for bookings within that time frame and offer guests a full credit for a future stay within the next year. If thats not an option, hosts are strongly encouraged to refund at least 50% of what guests have paid. The more generous hosts are being with refunds and credits, the more VRBO promises to reward them with better visibility for their properties on the site. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- To have any idea whether our current social distancing efforts in the United States are helping slow the spread of coronavirus, and to gauge how long we should go on this way, scientists need to know how many people have mild or asymptomatic cases of Covid-19. There could be many such people. Since their symptoms are vague and possibly non-existent, the case numbers that climb by the day arent what they seem. The true numbers may be much higher or only a little higher. Understanding the mild cases can help researches get a handle on the spread of the disease how its spreading and how widespread its already become. As several experts have explained to me, its not enough to know the R0 number the average number of people each positive case infects. An R0 of two might mean that 20 people spread the disease to two people each, or that 19 people give the disease to nobody and one person gives it to 40 others. Jeffrey Shaman, a professor at Columbia University who studies how the environment affects infectious diseases, has gathered evidence that in China, the epidemic was driven by a lot of not-very-sick people. He estimates that about 86% of infections early in that outbreak were transmitted by people who never got sick enough to go to the doctor. The paper he co-authored, published in Science, was popularized as a warning against silent spreaders people who have no idea they are infected. Another study showed that in China, people within one family had symptoms that ranged from undetectable to severe. Random testing done in Iceland showed that 50% of people who tested positive had no symptoms. But more important than determining who has gotten the disease is determining who is giving it to others. Are people without symptoms transmitting the virus? Shamans study suggested that about 86% of documented infections were picked up from people with undocumented ones. Thats why this issue is worth a closer look, and why I called him. Story continues Youre getting stuck on this symptomatic/asymptomatic divide, he told me. Reality is not that clear cut. Symptoms are self-reported and subjective. The symptoms of mild coronavirus are pretty vague except for the fever, which people might not measure if they feel normal. New evidence suggests that those with very mild cases might experience a loss of the sense of smell. The prevalence of this symptom is not yet known people who can still smell should not assume they are uninfected, but those who suddenly lose that sense should consider themselves sick. Long before this new coronavirus emerged, Shaman learned a lot about the sorts of symptoms typical of Covid-19 by studying the connections between symptoms and infection with flu and colds. By finding 2,500 people healthy enough to be out and about in New York City, testing them for cold and flu viruses, and asking them about symptoms, he found lots of variability people with symptoms who had no infection, and people with infection who had no symptoms. In another study, he and colleagues tracked 200 people by cell phone and noted daily symptom reports, while testing them for cold and flu viruses weekly. What they found was that only one in four people with the flu seek medical care, and only one in 25 people with a cold will do so. And, if were honest, back in the pre-Covid-19 days, many of us had mild coughs, sore throats and other common-cold symptoms but went to work, shopped, ate in restaurants and even sometimes got on planes. Thats the reason, Shaman says, that these respiratory viruses circulate so successfully. The range of severity is making this pandemic hard to fight if it were severe in most people, as SARS was, it would be easier to stop the spread. If it were mild in most people, wed treat it like the flu. But instead its extremely severe and deadly in some people and extremely mild and possibly even silent in others. Even the line between severe and mild is blurry. In the United States, more younger people with the virus are landing in the hospital, while in China serious cases were concentrated among those over 60. Its unlikely that this difference can be attributed to a mutation in the virus scientists are tracking that. But there are differences in our underlying health conditions, and differences in awareness. The Chinese, early on, thought they were getting colds or flu. Its been established that after people become infected, they can walk around for an average of five days and up to around two weeks before they start to feel sick, and its not yet clear how many of those days their bodies shed enough of the virus to infect others. For their new research on Covid-19, Shaman and his colleagues tallied the reported symptoms of people who got the disease in China during the period between January 10 and January 23, right before the Chinese government started imposing travel restrictions. The conclusion was that people without documented symptoms were about half as contagious as those with them, and yet they constituted the majority of people who got and spread the disease during that period. Whether they had no symptoms, were pre-symptomatic or had mild symptoms isnt important. What is, he said, is the fact that many people with the virus felt pretty good, and were moving about society and creating new chains of transmission. Thats why telling people to stay home if they feel sick isnt enough not just because everyone defines sick differently, but because people are contagious before they feel sick, and some may not feel sick at all. Countries that have successfully avoided being overwhelmed by Covid-19 have used extensive testing and contact tracing, so that healthy-feeling people who had been in contact with someone who tested positive would stay home for two weeks just in case. The United States has so far failed on that front but thats the next vital step in curtailing this pandemic. In the meantime, everyone has to focus on keeping a safe distance from others in order to avoid getting or giving the virus. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Faye Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. She has written for the Economist, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Psychology Today, Science and other publications. She has a degree in geophysics from the California Institute of Technology. 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. i2c Inc., a leading provider of payment and open banking technology, today announced the appointment of banking veteran Tracy Seng as EVP, Head of Global Client Success at i2c, responsible for leading account management, program management and advisory services to help clients grow their business and deliver bottom-line revenue and profitability. Seng joins i2c from Wells Fargo, where she and her account management team won Stevie awards in 2018 and 2019, as well as the 2020 Peoples Choice Stevie Award for Customer Service Department of the Year. Seng reports to i2c President Jim McCarthy and is based at i2c headquarters in Silicon Valley. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005023/en/ i2c Inc. Appoints Tracy Seng EVP, Head of Global Client Success (Photo: Business Wire) A 20+ year payments and client services veteran with senior leadership roles in account management, industry relations and merchant acquiring, Seng served 15 years at Wells Fargo as SVP, Segment Business Leader Account Management and Industry Relations. Seng helped grow ecommerce payments volume, created differentiated customer solutions and consistently received best in class customer satisfaction scores. i2c identifies our success with that of our clients, said Jim McCarthy, President, i2c Inc. We are delighted to welcome such a recognized client advocate to i2c as we continue our global expansion. Tracy is that rare individual who becomes a trusted advisor to her clients by delivering value to help them grow their business while she drives revenue through top- performing account management strategies. Seng and her team will partner with clients to optimize portfolios, identify new revenue opportunities and, working with i2c management and operations, spearhead the development of creative solutions that meet and exceed expectations. The client success team will also ensure speed to market for their clients innovative programs and services. i2c is focused on partnering with clients to deliver innovative credit, debit, prepaid, lending and multicurrency programs that provide an individualized and superior customer experience, said Tracy Seng, EVP, Head of Global Client Success at i2c Inc. Im thrilled to be joining i2c and to be working in concert with all groups across the company to continue delivering innovation that aligns with and advances our clients goals. About i2c Inc. i2c is a global provider of highly-configurable payment and open banking solutions. Using i2cs proprietary building block technology, clients can easily create and manage a comprehensive set of solutions for credit, debit, prepaid, lending and more, quickly and cost-effectively. i2c delivers unparalleled flexibility, agility, security and reliability from a single global SaaS platform. Founded in 2001, and headquartered in Silicon Valley, i2cs next-generation technology supports millions of users in more than 200 countries/territories and across all time zones. For more information, visit www.i2cinc.com and follow us at @i2cinc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005023/en/ 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. Johnnie Walker has claimed ITV should have offered more support to Love Island presenter Caroline Flack. The veteran BBC Radio 2 DJ insists in an interview with the Radio Times that ITV didn't offer more help to Caroline, who took her own life in February, because 'it was down to the financial value of the individual.' Walker, 75, compared Caroline's treatment with that of fellow ITV star Ant McPartlin, who went to rehab following a drink driving offence in 2018, before returning to his prime time shows for the broadcaster. Speaking out: Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker has claimed ITV should have offered more support to Love Island presenter Caroline Flack, who took her own life in February (pictured at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in December 2019) Caroline, 40, took her own life at her London home in February after learning that the CPS would be pursuing a case against her for the alleged assault of her boyfriend Lewis Burton. Caroline agreed mutually with ITV that she would not host the winter series of her hit ITV2 show Love Island, which instead began in January with her friend Laura Whitmore at the helm. Speaking to the Radio Times, Walker said: 'I wish Caroline Flack had had more support from ITV. I really think they should have supported her in the same way that they did Ant from Ant and Dec. When asked if he thought Caroline's lack of support was down to the fact she was a woman, he replied: 'No, I think it was down to the financial value of the individual. That's the reality. Ant and Dec's programmes earn a huge amount.' Teroubled: Walker compared Caroline's treatment with that of fellow ITV star Ant McPartlin who went to rehab following his drink driving offence in 2018, before returning to his prime time shows (pictured with Declan Donnelly in February) Kevin Lygo, Director of Television at ITV said at the time of Caroline's death: 'Everyone at ITV is absolutely devastated and still trying to process this tragic news. Caroline was part of Love Island from the very beginning and her passion, dedication and boundless energy contributed to the show's success'. 'After Caroline stepped down from the show ITV made it clear that the door was left open for her to return and the Love Island production team remained in regular contact with her and continued to offer support over the last few months. A representative for ITV has been contacted for further comment. His say: Speaking to the Radio Times, Walker said: 'I wish Caroline Flack had had more support from ITV. I really think they should have supported her in the same way that they did Ant' Ant McPartlin, 44, was fined a record 86,000 and banned from the road for one year and eight months after pleading guilty to drink-driving in 2017. The star undertook intensive treatment after he admitted himself to a private clinic to battle his drink and painkiller addiction. He returned to TV screens a year later, after taking time away from his hit shows Britain's Got Talent and Saturday Night Takeaway, leaving his co-star Declan Donnelly to host without him for the first time in their 30 year TV partnership. He was also replaced for one series of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here by Holly Willoughby. Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia on Monday barred residents from leaving home unless it's absolutely necessary, joining a handful of other states that have issued such orders in hopes of controlling the fast-spreading novel coronavirus. While all three jurisdictions had already banned most gatherings, closed businesses and schools and urged people to stay home as much as possible, the orders made clear that compliance is no longer optional - and they added fines and potential jail time for some violations. "We are no longer asking or suggesting Marylanders to stay home," Republican Gov. Larry Hogan said during a news conference in Annapolis on Monday. "We are directing them." Nearly 3,000 residents of the greater Washington region have tested positive for covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and 53 people have died. Without new action, Hogan warned, the national capital region could soon resemble the New York metropolitan area, which reported 253 deaths on Monday and has become the global epicenter for the pandemic. "A major outbreak among our critical federal workforce could be catastrophic," Hogan said, noting that more than 440,000 people work for the federal government in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, which have been working on a coronavirus vaccine, are headquartered in Maryland. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, initially refrained from announcing an order like those issued by Hogan and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Monday. But she soon released guidance summing up earlier orders geared toward social distancing and outlining penalties for those who did not take heed. Together, the directives from Bowser, Hogan and Northam affect about 15.2 million people, according to census estimates. Officials said residents may still go outside for food, medication and essentials, and to exercise or walk pets, but should avoid shopping for other things and come into contact with people not from their households. The orders - which already exist in California, Illinois and several other states - came as the FDA gave emergency approval to a Trump administration plan to distribute to hospitals anti-malarial drugs whose effectiveness on covid-19 is unproved. The World Health Organization said it was cautiously optimistic about initial studies showing that drug cocktails may lessen covid-19 symptoms, but it stressed that large-scale research is needed and that there is no cure. Hard-hit Italy said an additional 812 people have died in the pandemic, bringing the country's total number of deaths linked to the outbreak to 11,591. The country said the number of people recovering from the virus was also increasing; a strict lockdown that has been in place since early March was extended at least through Easter, on April 12. The U.S. House of Representatives followed the Senate in announcing a recess until April 20. Macy's, one of the country's largest retail chains, said it will lay off 125,000 workers. The Marine Corps temporarily suspended sending recruits to boot camp training at Parris Island, South Carolina, after two recruits tested positive for the coronavirus last week. Both Hogan and Northam, a Democrat, chided area residents who continue to gather in groups, even as health officials predict that the peak period of infections in the region is weeks away. Maryland's stay-home order was set to go into effect at 8 p.m. Monday, with violators subject to one year in jail, a fine of as much as $5,000, or both. There was no end date given. Hogan said that, after repeatedly pleading for residents to stop gathering in groups at parks and other locations, "We're cracking down on enforcement." The governor said no Maryland resident should be traveling outside of the state unless it is "absolutely necessary" and asked Marylanders who have recently been outside the state to self-quarantine for 14 days. Those who commute from Maryland to D.C. or Virginia for essential work or to care for family members are exempt. Hogan emphasized that residents can still step outside if they maintain social distancing. "People are not locked in their homes," he said. But authorities announced the arrest of a Carroll County, Maryland, man accused of serving alcohol to a group of teens at a party, emphasizing the importance of stopping such gatherings to keep the virus from further spreading. Northam's stay-at-home order took effect Monday and will last through June 10. Under it, Virginians cannot go out except for food, supplies, work, medical care or to get fresh air or exercise, Northam said. The order closes beaches to any use but exercise or fishing, bans reservations of less than 14 nights at campgrounds and bans colleges and universities from holding in-person classes. Violations of any of those restrictions - or of the ban on gatherings of more than 10 people - can result in a fine of up to $2,500 and or jail time of up to a year. Northam did not put the same criminal penalties on his order to stay at home, saying he was not eager to have police making arrests. He had hesitated to take a harder line on social distancing measures, which are already hurting the state's economy. He said he was moved to act Monday after a warm weekend drew people to pack the state's beaches. The beachgoers "are completely ignoring what we're doing," Northam said, sounding uncharacteristically angry. "You are being very, very selfish because you're putting all of us - especially our health care providers - at risk. To date, this has been a suggestion to Virginians. Today it's an order." Bowser's order is effective Wednesday through April 24 and "reinforces the mayor's direction to residents to stay at home except to perform essential activities," her office said. Residents who willfully violate the ban face criminal penalties, including up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $5,000, Bowser's office said. Those more aggressive steps came as the number of cases in the region again dramatically spiked. Maryland reported 174 new infections, pushing the state's total to 1,414 confirmed cases, with 17 deaths. Health officials said 13,316 tests in the state have come back negative. The Pleasant View Nursing Home in Carroll County, which announced an outbreak of 66 coronavirus patients over the weekend, said it has 11 more known cases and a second fatality, a man in his 80s. The nursing home has a shortage of staff, and county officials have put out a call for skilled volunteers. Virginia announced 130 additional cases, bringing its total number of infections to 1,021, with 26 deaths as of Monday afternoon. Six people died in Virginia over the weekend. D.C. reported 94 new cases Monday evening, its highest single-day increase, which brought its total number of known infections to 499, with nine deaths. City officials on Monday urged residents who experience symptoms of covid-19 to seek medical care, saying some people appear not to be doing that. Bowser pointed out that three of the five D.C. residents who died over the weekend had not been hospitalized. Maryland opened three virus testing sites at vehicle emission testing locations, for people considered to be at high-risk from the virus. The state opened a fourth virus testing site in the parking lot of FedEx Field in Prince George's County. The sites are reserved for health-care workers, first responders, the elderly, residents in group homes and those who are deemed "medically unstable" by their doctor, said Fran Phillips, Maryland's deputy secretary of public health. "This is for at-risk people with symptoms of the disease who will not be tested in emergency rooms or crowded physicians' offices," Phillips said. Hogan said the lack of resources to fight the virus will be felt most acutely inside area hospitals, where doctors and nurses attending to a growing tide of new patients need more respirator masks and other protective gear. "They are in danger," Hogan said, calling the shortfall "the greatest tragedy of this crisis." "We're pushing to get supplies everywhere we can get them," he said. "There simply is not enough of all of these things." - - - The Washington Post's Rebecca Tan, Laura Vozzella, Fenit Nirappil, Darran Simon, Dana Hedgpeth and Peter Hermann contributed to this report. Iran is running out of excuses against accusations that they are supplying UAVs, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles to Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon for attacks on Israel, Yemen and anyone who opposes Iranian aggression. These weapons are built with Iranian components that are deliberately made with key components lacking any visible evidence that they were manufactured in Iran. A lot of effort is put into this. But Iran sometimes uses the same unmarked components in weapons that are clearly labeled as Iranian. Despite all those deception efforts UN and other investigators have been collecting components from debris of Iranian (labeled or unlabeled) UAVs and missiles that functioned properly and exploded as well as some that were captured or crashed near Iranian territory. The UN and Saudi Arabia have put many of these components on public display and the U.S. has also displayed captured Iranian arms shipments or missile components recovered from weapons that have crashed. One of the common items found in all these cases are unmarked (no indication of manufacturer or national origin) gyroscopes. These miniature devices are common in all manner of UAVs and missiles. Gyroscopes of the type Iran is supplying are available on the commercial market but only the model Iran denies producing is showing up in systems, used by Islamic terrorists as well as systems that are clearly marked as Iranian. This was the result of Iran trying to save some money by not manufacturing a similar gyroscope clearly marked as Iranian for systems that are officially Iranian. That was false economy there because dozens of these gyroscopes have been collected from crashed or exploded systems. There is always debris, even when a system explodes and many small components, like these gyroscopes, survive intact. Iran denounces this evidence as an American conspiracy but no one except Iran and their allies are accepting this. A growing number of these Iran-backed groups are recognized by the UN and other organizations as international terrorists. The gyroscopes have been collected in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Afghanistan. One of the earliest examples was found in 2016 when an Iranian UAV crashed in Afghanistan and U.S. forces seized it and photographed/scrutinized the components. In later years the gyroscope kept showing up in other countries. The gyroscope is a unique design not available from any Western, Chinese or Russian manufacturer. It is of no identifiable (by markings) country but all the evidence points to Iran, especially since the mystery gyroscope shows up in UAVs that Iran proudly claims are Iranian made from Iranian components. Some of these unidentified UAVs and missiles also contain other components that indicate Iranian origin even though the Iranians claim that they were produced locally by Iranian backed groups. That explanation falls apart when you look at pictures of the local product and the Iranian made model it is based on. Differences are often minimal. Some of these UAVs and missiles are built with some local materials like sheet metal but the design is clearly Iranian and key components, like the gyroscopes, are not from any commercial supplier but smuggled in by Iran. The unmarked gyroscopes have one thing in common, they are found in locally built systems of Iran-backed groups. The most telling evidence comes from Iranian arms shipments captured from the smugglers who are paid to get them into Yemen or Gaza. In addition to Iranian weapons clearly marked as Iranian made, there are often quantities of Iranian components, including the mystery gyroscopes. Iran dismisses all this as an American or Israeli plot to defame Iran. Yet in Iran, the Quds Force, a special section of the IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) is praised for the extensive support it provides for Iran-backed rebel and terrorist forces throughout the region. It is no secret in Iran that Quds provides technical as well as tactical and organizational help to these groups carry out attacks using rockets, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes against Quds Force operations in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Gaza to halt Iranian shipments of these guided weapons or components, from reaching Hezbollah stockpiles of unguided rockets in Lebanon. Iran has developed upgrade kits that make these rockets much more accurate. Those upgrade kit shipments contain more of the mystery gyroscopes. During these unprecedented times, were looking forward to being able to give back to an organization that continuously goes above and beyond to serve the community, said Kacie Radochonski, director of operations for Pops Italian Beef and Sausage. Our donation to the Greater Chicago Food Depository would not be possible without our loyal customers and were grateful for their generous contributions to an organization we all value. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 18:28:44|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close JUBA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan has welcomed China's timely assistance toward the strengthening of preventive measures against COVID-19 in the African country. Paul Mayom Akec, Minister of Interior said China was the first country to send medical and financial aid to help South Sudan tackle the coronavirus even though there has been no confirmed case in the country so far. Mayom made the remarks during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Hua Ning on Monday. The official also hailed China's support to South Sudan's peace process by providing financial and material aid for the training of the joint army and police force. On his part, Hua said efforts by the Chinese government and people have achieved significant progress in containing the COVID-19. "Now South Sudan is working hard to prevent the epidemic. We trust the Ministry of Interior will continue to take effective measures to maintain social stability and security, creating a favorable condition for social and economic development," the Chinese envoy said. China has provided 100,000 U.S. dollars to the World Health Organization office in South Sudan for COVID-19 response. Ramon Hernandez and wife Isabel Costales. The Madrid couple were married for 60 years. (Courtesy of Paula Panera) Isabel, open your eyes, Ramon Hernandez pleaded with his wife. Please, open your eyes. Rarely did she heed his requests because of her dementia. She sat quietly in her wheelchair, face blank and eyes closed, while her husband sat beside her, holding her hand. They stayed that way for hours, until staff at the nursing home in Spain politely asked Hernandez to leave before her lunchtime. He never missed a day. Every morning, even at age 88, he walked the 12 minutes from his apartment in west Madrid the apartment he and Isabel Costales, 86, had shared for half a century to the nursing home, Monte Hermoso. But in early March, Monte Hermoso closed its doors because of the coronavirus. Then an elder care watchdog association, Defensor del Paciente, filed a complaint to a Madrid court asking for an investigation of Monte Hermoso amid widespread reports of mistreatment and poor conditions at multiple facilities. The association also requested that the attorney general investigate all such facilities, and the countrys top prosecutor announced an investigation. Costales, who had tested positive for the coronavirus, died March 20. Officials from Monte Hermoso have declined to comment on the case or the facilitys treatment of residents. Hernandez learned from a granddaughter that his partner of nearly 60 years had died. He felt awful that he had not been with her. I am not alone, Hernandez said in a phone interview from his apartment. I am extraordinarily alone. The coronavirus had killed more than 8,200 people and total cases exceeded 94,000 in Spain as of Tuesday. The country has opened an ice rink to hold corpses, and waiting lists for burials are days long. Hernandez never saw his wifes body. Costales was cremated, but Hernandez had yet to receive her ashes. He cannot read a book without thinking of her. He cannot watch television without thinking of her. In everything, he sees her: Isabel, Isabel, Isabel. Ramon Hernandez, 88, with wife Isabel Costales, 86. Every morning, he would walk the 12 minutes from his apartment in west Madrid to visit her at the nursing home, Monte Hermoso. (Courtesy of Paula Panera) The neighbors drop off bread. A woman from the city's social services agency comes twice a week to prepare his meals. Once, Hernandez tried to fry eggs, but they turned out badly. Story continues He has resigned himself to sitting and spending whole days staring at her photos. Its hard to say, but I cry, he said. Costales had survived war, dictatorship and cancer. She was born in Madrid two years before the start of the Spanish Civil War, a conflict that would kill about 200,000 soldiers and result in a 40-year, right-wing dictatorship. Her husband-to-be was born in Barcelona a few years earlier. Hernandez and Costales met at a Madrid house party. She was 16 or 17; he was 18. They loved those parties. The hosts would spin records while the partygoers danced and drank wine mixed with soda. Something about Costales caught Hernandezs eye. She was easygoing with a big smile. They danced that first night and kept dancing. On Sundays, they went to Metropolitano and Las Palmeras. They did the double step, rumba, foxtrot. They married in December 1960. During the dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco, opportunities in Spain were hard to come by. The war had laid waste to the country and its economy. Thousands of Spaniards fled north to find work. Hernandez was one of them. He and a friend went to Frankfurt, Germany, in search of factory jobs. They slept in a train station until they found work making car and boat parts. Costales later joined him, sewing pants and welding cables for money. After their two daughters were born, the couple longed to return to Spain. When they did, in 1967, Costales dedicated herself to the family, keeping the apartment immaculate. Hernandez worked as a bus driver, then an ambulance driver. Their children had children, and those grandchildren would come over for lunch in the apartment. Costales loved to listen to music with them. In their retirement, the couple traveled the Iberian Peninsula together. Mallorca, Ibiza, Portugal. Trips Hernandez will never forget. Two years before COVID-19 would upend the world, Costales began acting out of character. Eventually, she was taken to a hospital and diagnosed with vascular dementia. In total, the family tried three nursing homes. The first two were 25 miles from Madrid. Every morning, Hernandez would take the metro and a bus an hours journey to see her. The visits were too short. He would return to their apartment and pass the afternoons alone. Last year, Hernandez moved her to Monte Hermoso, where she would be closer to him. He kept up the routine, walking to see her every morning until the morning when he could not. They were apart 11 days. He was worried sick. He had lived with the hope she may get better. He never saw his wifes body. Now, there is nothing he can do but sit with his sadness. This is extreme solitude, Hernandez said. The poor thing. She suffered lifes worse illnesses. The days are mostly the same. He speaks to his family on the phone. He waits for his neighbors to bring bread. He wishes desperately that he could give Costales one last kiss. Bernhard is a special correspondent. For the record: 6:12 AM, Apr. 01, 2020: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said relatives attended a Mass in memory of Isabel Costales. 6:12 AM, Apr. 01, 2020: Ice Cream 4U held at Slate Valley Center The Slate Valley Center nursing home in Granville had to get creative with its ice cream social, an event that draws residents together in the dining room of activity lounge for ice cream. Now, with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, the traditional ice cream social was changed from a social gathering to residents having their ice cream individually in an event now called Ice Cream 4U. The residents dont really mind having their ice cream solo these days, said Marijo Natale, recreation director at Slate Valley Center. The most important thing is, the bottom line they got their ice cream, and its so good. An Ice Cream 4U session took place on March 24 where the staff delivered ice cream with a mobile ice cream cart and the sounds of ice cream truck music played from the truck. Zonta donates to Guardian House GLENS FALLS The Zonta Club of Glens Falls presented the Guardian House of Ballston Spa with a significant donation organized by the Vera Bradley Outlet in Lake George and the club at a recent dinner meeting. The Guardian House is part of the Veterans & Community Housing Coalition serving numerous upstate counties including Warren, Washington and Saratoga. The Guardian House is a refuge for homeless female veterans who are struggling with reentry into society. It is the only such facility in upstate New York, and currently has a fundraising effort to build a house for women veterans with children. Vera Bradley, in conjunction with Zontas representative Lorraine Abess, ran a buy one/donate one promotion on blankets and presented a car full of Vera Bradley blankets and products to the Guardian House representatives at the dinner. WIC appt. still available by phone Washington County WIC is still taking appointments by phone during the coronavirus pandemic. The building is currently closed to the public. Women who already have scheduled appointments, the WIC office will call you prior to your scheduled appointment to conduct a phone appointment. If you dont hear from WIC, call 518-746-2460. Women who wish to apply for WIC, call Washington County WIC at 518-746-2460. WIC will schedule a time to determine WIC eligibility and if eligible, complete your entire appointment by phone. WIC serves pregnant and breastfeeding women, women who have delivered a baby in the past six months, and children younger than 5 years of age. WIC provides a monthly nutritious food package, free nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and referral services. Festival to offer quarantine music LAKE GEORGE The Lake George Music Festival Alumni Association will present Quarantine Concert Series, at 7 p.m. Thursday with Rosanna Moore playing the harp. The free concerts will be streamed live on Facebook. More concerts will be scheduled on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through April. Concerts can be found at www.facebook.com/lakegeorgemusicfestival/. Concerts will last about 30 minutes. The Lake George Music Festival, thus far, remains unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic, and it still scheduled to take place this summer. Freelance musicians, however, are experiencing immense hardship right now. It is the Alumni Associations goal to create opportunities for them while they wait for normal life to resume. Tax-deductible donations will be accepted. All proceeds generated from these concerts will be given back to the performing artists in this time of need. In addition, everyone who donates will be given a free single ticket to a concert this August and will be automatically entered into a drawing for a free 2020 Season Pass. Juried college art show is online SARATOGA SPRINGS Saratoga Arts, which was forced to close temporarily during the coronavirus pandemic, presents the 120 Intercollegiate Regional Exhibition in a digital format. The exhibition highlights artwork created by regional college students. The artwork featured in the exhibition was created by 68 artists who are currently enrolled in 16 different colleges and universities in New York, Vermont and Massachusetts. The 95 works were hand selected from a total 343 submissions by guest juror Daniel Buckingham, professor of sculpture at PrattMWP. View the artwork at Saratoga-arts.org. Some of the content may be inappropriate for children. Saratoga Arts has partnered with LARAC and the Arts Center of the Capital Region to present the 120 Intercollegiate Regional. Originally developed by LARAC in 2013 to support college students, the exhibition provides visibility for students artwork and an educational platform to introduce young artists to professional opportunities and local arts communities. The annual juried exhibition rotates among the three partner organizations each year, highlighting the best of artwork created by students who currently attend accredited colleges and universities located within 120 miles of Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls and Troy. Hometown is compiled by Gretta Hochsprung. If youd like to let her know about an upcoming event, email ghochsprung@poststar.com or call 518-742-3206. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. 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 On March 30, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin recommended all regions to declare a self-isolation of citizens Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the authorities of Moscow, St. Petersburg and 26 other regions of the country have announced a mode of citizens self-isolation. It was reported by RBC. Residents of Moscow and the Moscow region are prohibited from going outside, except in cases of emergency, the regional operations headquarters reported on Telegram. You can go home, go to the pharmacy or grocery store, have an emergency doctor visit, walk the dog, take out the trash or go to work. On March 30, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin recommended all regions to take similar measures. The governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Beglov, signed a resolution on the introduction of a complete self-isolation in the city. According to the latest data, 1 836 people are infected with coronavirus in Russia. As we reported earlier, Ukraines Foreign Minister stated that Ukraine would not relax or ease sanctions against Russia due to the spread of COVID-19. "The sanctions have been imposed in response to the Russian aggression against our country, and their softening or lifting should be tied to its progress in stopping the aggression and de-occupation of Crimea and certain regions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions," Kuleba said. A video of a Tibetan girl looking for a phone signal on a snow-capped mountain so that she could attend online classes has drawn a great deal of attention recently. The girl, named Silang Bazhen, lives in a remote village in the city of Qamdo, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. She is a student at the Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceutical Science College in east Chinas Jiangsu province, which has been offering online courses during the COVID-19 outbreak. Unable to find a stable phone signal at home, she spent 30 minutes climbing the mountain next to her home and took four hours of lessons at a time in sub-freezing weather. Many people were moved by the story and her thirst for knowledge after pictures of her on the mountain went online. A local branch of China Mobile, a major telecommunications operator, was so moved by the images that it immediately decided to lend her a helping hand. Technicians from the company travelled nearly six hours from the downtown of Qamdo to her home. After carrying out a field survey, they decided to build a new 4G base station on the mountain next to her home, which will provide high speed internet coverage to the area. (Photo/cctv.com) On Feb. 27, China Mobile officially launched a 4G base station, the first in the village. Now, Silang Bazhen can access online courses from her home. Its unusual to build a new base station for a remote village, as construction costs 200,000 to 300,000 yuan, not to mention the high cost of maintenance. Furthermore, the telecommunications revenue may not offset the electricity costs for the base station. After a video of some police personnel overturning vegetable and fruit-laden carts and forcing the vendors to flee with their possessions surfaced, Gujarat DGP Shivanand Jha slammed the insensitive behaviour of the police personnel. "This kind of behaviour is unacceptable whoever it maybe. You have to be a little sensitive especially with poor who are selling vegetables which is an essential need," said Jha. A few police personnel in Ahmedabad's Krishnanagar were caught on camera overturning carts laden with vegetables and fruits while forcing the vendors to flee with their possessions. In the video, one of the cops was seen hitting a cart with his stick and then overturning a cart fully stocked with bananas and watermelons. Later the same cop overturned a vegetable-laden cart. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Villagers in Bihar beat a man to death on suspicion that he informed the police about two people who returned home recently from Maharashtra, which has reported the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in the country, a senior official said on Tuesday. The police have asked people to report to them about those who have returned to their native places recently to ensure they remain in quarantine for a few days as a preventive measure to curb the spread of the virus. But the family members of the 36-year-old man said residents of Madhaul village in Sitamarhi district were angry that he informed police about two people who returned from Mumbai recently and beat him to death on Monday. The two returnees have been arrested and efforts were on to nab the remaining accused, said Sub Divisional Police Officer (Sadar) Kumar Veer Dhirendra. Dhirendra, however, added the police was skeptical about the complainant's claim. "We learnt about their return from Mumbai from a local journalist and they were, subsequently, subjected to medical tests and their results were negative. Nonetheless, the mobile phone of the deceased will be analysed to verify the claim that he had called the police to inform about the duo," he added. The number of COVID-19 cases has climbed to 21 in the state after five more people tested positive for the virus. Kerala has reported the highest 234 cases followed by Maharashtra at 216. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Even as teachers scrambled last week to move instruction online because of the coronavirus, juggling their fears and family responsibilities in the mix, hundreds set aside time to use their shuttered schools resources to help medical staffers on the front lines of the fight against the illness. In big cities and small towns across the country, teams of teachers rounded up hundreds of bottles of hand sanitizer and boxes of latex gloves, plastic goggles and Lysol wipes and donated them to local hospitals, clinics, and senior-care facilities. Suddenly, ordinary supplies from school janitors offices, cafeterias, and chemistry classes were being conscripted for service in an extraordinary battle: containing coronavirus. Engineering and design teachers sprang into action in their own way: They commandeered their schools laser cutters and 3-D printers to make medical face shields. They worked alone, in vast career-tech-ed centers usually buzzing with students welding, programming computers, or learning X-ray technology. Weve got nine 3-D printers running right now, Rich Chapman, an engineering teacher at the Kirksville Area Technical Center, in Kirksville, Mo., told Education Week on Friday. He and one of his studentsboth wearing masks and gloves and staying at least six feet apartrounded up the districts 11 laser printers from several campuses a couple of days earlier and brought them to the career and technical center. The 3-D printers make the headband that holds the vertical plastic shield in front of a medical workers face. Chapman uses a laser cutter to cut the plastic shields from huge sheets of plastic. The first shipment of masks went to a clinic run by the A.T. Still University of Health Sciences and to a nearby hospital. I totally appreciate them helping us with this, said Debra Loguda Summers, who coordinates public services at the universitys medical library. They just jumped to the call. Its a great community effort. In Hanover, Mass., Jerry Shaw was using the South Shore Vocational Technical High Schools 3-D printers to make face shields. After leaders of Massachusetts General Hospital issued a call for help from anyone with 3-D printers, Shaw, a former engineer, reached out to biomedical engineers he knows for design ideas. Many sets of plans for medical face shields are online, and hes refining as he goes. Now he was tending to his eight printers as they slowly chugged out their products. I dont have kids, so I can just stay here at school and work on curriculum and lesson plans and have the 3-D printing going, Shaw said. No One Is in the School Except Me In upstate New York, engineering technology teacher Zachary Carrico was making medical mask parts, too. Yeah, no one is in the school right now except me and a couple of maintenance people, said Carrico, a teacher at a regional career-tech-ed center that serves 15 districts in Hamilton, Fulton, and Montgomery counties, west of Albany. And they only let me in because Im doing this project. The last time Carrico saw his students was last Wednesday, when he drove around to their houses dropping off textbooks, computers, and WiFi units. In the rural area he serves, many students lack the tools necessary for distance learning, he said. In Michigan, teachers from the Ann Arbor schools banded together in a shield-making initiative. They formed a Facebook group, Operation Face Shield Ann Arbor, where they brainstormed the nerdy details of getting the manufacturing process up and running. But in this case, they turned their homes into little factories. The district rounded up 23 3-D printers from across its buildings and brought them to the homes of engineering and technology teachers. Were trying to pivot to online learning at the same time, so theres a lot going on! said Bill Van Loo, a STEAM technology and engineering teacher at A2STEAM, a themed K-8 school, and one of 10 Ann Arbor teachers printing medical masks at home. But were a well-resourced district, so were lucky to be able to do this. Van Loo has spent the last couple of weeks running professional development in Google Classroom, and providing daily learning opportunitiesthe districts name for assignments that arent mandatory for students. Hes still working to get devices to every student. Hes expected to move fully to online learning next week. As Van Loo spoke with Education Week, he was running two 3-D printers on his kitchen table, and two more in his home office. As of Monday afternoon, the initiative had produced 200 face shields and sent them to hospitals and senior-care facilities, he said. He started out using a design created by a company in the Czech Republic, modifying it to make it print more quickly, and adding a top visor piece for more protection. Bosch Global, which manufactures 3-D printers, supplied some of the plastic material for the headbands, and a teacher raised money through GoFundMe for more, Van Loo said. We Have to Do Something Other districts have rallied to the cause by gathering supplies they had on hand. The Los Angeles Unified School District sent 100,000 N-95 masks to 10 area hospitals. District officials said they routinely order supplies like that as part of their planning for emergencies such as fires. Teachers at KIPP schools in several cities coordinated projects to load trucks with medically useful supplies. Sean Tamarisk, who oversees science instruction in two KIPP elementary schools in Massachusetts, worked with staffers at five schools in Boston and Lynn, a half-hours drive north, to gather things from science classrooms150 pairs of goggles and four packages of latex glovesand deliver them to local health providers. I read in the Boston Globe that the Cambridge Health Alliance network needed [personal protective equipment] for their staff, and they mentioned goggles as one of those things. I thought, geez, we have a ton of those, Tamarisk said. He juggled the supplies project with his own work to get online learning up and running, and train teachers in Google Classroom. Most of his families are low-income, so hes been working to get them internet access and troubleshooting technology issues. Hes still trying to figure out whether paper packets are going to work best, or whether he and his teachers can use technology to reach all students. In New York City, Douglas Dukeman, a 7th grade science teacher at KIPP: Infinity Middle School, has been taking inventory of most of KIPPs 15 elementary and middle schools in the city. Hes sending 100-plus bottles of hand sanitizer, 90 packs of Lysol wipes, 30 boxes of latex gloves and 175-plus pairs of lab goggles to local hospitals. And hes getting his online teaching going, talking with parents and students. Dukeman is active in healthcare issues in his Harlem community, serving on several boards. He knew this crisis would require an all-hands-on-deck approach, no matter how busy he was as a teacher. This is happening. We have to do something, he said. If were not going to be in school, there are all these supplies that are needed that are just sitting there in an empty public school building. What better thing to do than to donate these to the public hospitals? The Natrona County School District is preparing to start schools back up next week in one fashion or another, as physical buildings remain closed in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Starting the week of Monday, April 6th, students will be engaged in required coursework and learning for continued academic success, district spokeswoman Tanya Southerland said at a Monday news conference. This may be in a variety of formats to support all students, including digital learning, mailed and printed packets, video chats, phone calls, and more. The district has been out of school since March 15, when Gov. Mark Gordon issued a recommendation that all districts close their doors through the first week of April. Gordon later ordered the closures, and last week, he extended the deadline further into April. There are far-reaching implications for those school closures and for not continuing coursework. Not least among them is the implications for graduation, the requirements for which are established in state law. The state received a federal waiver allowing it to cancel statewide testing for the spring, which is another significant obstacle Wyoming has vaulted. Setting aside thorny statutory issues, theres also the problem of more than 13,000 students in the Casper area alone missing an entire quarters worth of coursework. The district has been working on that, officials have said. Earlier this month, they sent out a survey to families to gauge access to technology, in preparation to move education online. The new adapted learning models are required by the state, officials have said, and districts must submit plans to state educators in the coming days. You may have already received information from your childs principal regarding the Virtual Adapted/Remote learning plan, the district wrote to parents earlier this week. However, if you have not you will receive information by the end of the day April 3rd. The closure order came as no surprise to the districts leaders. Last week, Natrona Countys health officer and infectious disease expert Dr. Mark Dowell told the school board that he cant see schools reopening anytime soon. He warned then that the spread of the coronavirus, which causes a respiratory illness known as COVID-19, would continue in Wyoming for the foreseeable future. Even when it appears to taper off, the state cant then begin reopening thats a recipe for a resurgence of disease, he said. As of Tuesday afternoon, there have been 120 cases statewide. Twenty-six patients have recovered, and more than 2,000 testing samples have been run between state and private labs. Elsewhere in school news, the district says its locked up its playgrounds after repeated instances of gatherings on school grounds. A state order prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people, and state and federal guidance has been issued to maintain social distancing as much as possible. Casper police have responded to a handful of calls to school facilities over the past week because of gatherings there. We know the playground facilities are a fun place for families and students to spend time outside, Southerland said in an email. However, at this time they will remain closed to keep the safety of our students, families, and community as the priority. 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. A Melbourne bar is now delivering 1.5 litre 'bagnums' of Negroni and Espresso Martini straight customers' doors after shutting up dine-in service due to coronavirus restrictions. The Mr West Bar and Bottle Shop quickly adapted to the new nationwide restrictions and created the cocktail delivery service for customers in quarantine. Each 'bagnum', the term combining bag and magnum, is priced at $99 and contains 12 serves of espresso martini equalling $8 per cocktail, while the negroni has 20 serves and equates to less than $5 per drink. Since hospitality businesses around Australia are now closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, one Melbourne bar is now delivering 1.5 litre 'bagnums' of Negroni and Espresso Martini straight to your door (pictured) 'Ever had our delicious Espresso Martini cocktail on tap? Now you can drink it at home. This [espresso martini] packs a punch and is the perfect afternoon pick me up,' the bar wrote on Instagram. Composing of Boston Black cold drip coffee, Mr Black Coffee Liqueur, stout and vodka, the Good Spirits espresso martini bagnum is flavoursome and also comes with a complimentary cocktail shaker. Whereas the Good Spirits negroni is made from Campari, Mr West's house-blended vermouth and Poor Toms dry gin for an excellent weekend quarantine cocktail. For $59 a juice and wine bagnum is also available to purchase, which consists of a smooth blend of 2019 Minim wine and Good Juice. The Good Spirits negroni is made from Campari, Mr West's house-blended vermouth and Poor Toms dry gin for an excellent weekend quarantine cocktail Not only does the popular bar and bottle shop offer delicious cocktails but they also stock wines, craft beers and local and international spirits Customers located in various surrounding Melbourne suburbs can expect to receive their order within the hour after purchasing between 12pm and 8pm daily and a flat rate of $7.50 applies. Those in Sydney and Brisbane can also enjoy Mr West's bagnums within three to ten business days after ordering and a base rate of $12 is charged, or $14.50 for cool shipping. Not only does the popular bar and bottle shop offer delicious cocktails but they also stock wines, craft beers and local and international spirits. The bar's monthly subscription service Good Booze Project is also available, offering boxes of three, six or 12 wines and beers to be delivered to your home. Both the espresso martini and negroni bagnums can be purchased through the Mr West website. An NYPD officer is pictured as the USNS Comfort pulled into a berth in Manhattan during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri Crowds of people gathered in New York City to watch the USNS Comfort arrive, despite a state order requiring social distancing. The ship will be used as additional hospital space for non-coronavirus patients as New York hospitals become overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's communications team asked the NYPD to help disperse the crowd after a journalist tweeted about it. The mayor on Sunday warned those found in violation of social distancing could face a fine of up to $500. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. People in New York flocked to watch the USNS Comfort dock on Monday morning as it arrived to help the state as existing hospitals become overwhelmed by the number of patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The ship, which houses 1,000 hospital beds, 12 operating rooms, 80 intensive care units, a pharmacy, and a medical laboratory, docked at Pier 90, a cruise terminal on Manhattan's west side. The USNS Comfort will not take on COVID-19 patients, but instead will serve as additional hospital space for people requiring medical attention not related to the novel coronavirus. The state of New York has been hardest hit by the novel coronavirus in the United States. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, more than 66,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the state. At least 790 have died due to the disease. Onlookers gathered along the pier to watch the ship come into the port. Photos show them pointing their phones and snapping photos and videos of the ship as it sailed into Manhattan. One person waived a US flag as the ship sailed past. The USNS Comfort, a U.S. Navy hospital ship, arrives at New York Harbor during the coronavirus pandemic on March 30, 2020 in New York City. Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images In one photo, more than two dozen people can be seen in close proximity to one another watching the US Navy ship arrive in New York City. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended the cancelation of all gatherings larger than 10 people. Spectators watch as the USNS Comfort, a U.S. Navy hospital ship, arrives at New York Harbor during the coronavirus pandemic on March 30, 2020 in New York City. Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Others could be seen in smaller groups, though they were also not following the CDC social distancing guidelines, which recommend people stay more than six feet apart. Story continues People watch as the USNS Comfort arrives in New York City on March 30, 2020 in New York City. Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images According to The New York Post, the crowds were eventually ordered to disperse by about a dozen NYPD officers after the communications team for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio directed them to after a journalist tweeted about the crowd. "The pictures made me realize it was happening and I reported it to detail who got involved," City Hall spokesperson Freddi Goldstein told The New York Post. "This is a new reality for all of us and we're all adjusting. The mayor and the police commissioner are in regular contact to make sure our officers understand this new ask of them, as well," she said. On Sunday, de Blasio said New York City residents found breaking social distancing requirements would be subject to a fine of up to $500, according to Politico. On Sunday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the continuation of his "PAUSE" order, which orders the state's non-essential workforce to work from home until at least April 15. While the order prohibits crowds of any size and requires six feet of distance between people, it does not prohibit New Yorkers from leaving their homes. Cuomo had last week said social distancing measures could last as much as nine months. President Trump over the weekend said he had been considering an "enforceable quarantine" for New York and neighboring New Jersey and Connecticut, though he eventually decided against the plan after speaking with state leaders. The CDC instead issued a travel warning for the three states. Read the original article on Insider Indonesian leader Joko Widodo declared a state of emergency on Tuesday as coronavirus deaths in the world's fourth most populous country jumped again, but he resisted calls for a nationwide lockdown. Widodo's administration has been heavily criticised for not imposing lockdowns in major cities, including the capital Jakarta, a vast megalopolis home to about 30 million people where most of the country's virus deaths have been reported. Indonesia's leader offered few details of the state of emergency beyond calling for stricter social distancing, but announced USD 1.5 billion in beefed-up social assistance and subsidies for low-income workers. Tens of millions eke out a living on poorly-paid jobs in Southeast Asia's biggest economy. "To overcome the impact of COVID-19, we've chosen the option of large-scale social distancing," Widodo told reporters. "We must learn from the experience in other countries, but we cannot copy them because every country has its own characteristics," he added. On Tuesday, authorities said 136 people had died after contracting the virus, with 1,528 confirmed cases of infection. But the latter figure is widely thought to be well below the real number in the archipelago of more than 260 million. The Indonesian Doctors' Association has warned that the coronavirus crisis is far worse than has been officially reported and that the government's response is "in tatters". Jakarta's governor has said nearly 300 suspected or confirmed victims of the virus have been wrapped in plastic and quickly buried in the city since the start of March. The capital's top politician has been pushing for a total lockdown of the city. Also Tuesday, Indonesia's corrections agency said it is set to offer early release to about 30,000 inmates to help stem the spread of the virus in over-crowded prisons. The number amounts to more than 10 percent of Indonesia's 272,000 inmate population. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 31 By Ilkin Seyfaddini Trend: Central Bank of Uzbekistan ordered a temporary suspension of cash and currency exchange offices located outside the buildings of commercial banks, Trend reports citing Uzbek media. The exceptions are organizations that provide urgent services to citizens (such as bank cash desks in public service centers), banking infrastructure in the customs border zone and mobile cash desks for distribution of pensions and benefits. Banks should stop providing all reports (by agreement with the relevant department of the Central Bank), except for reports on issues of banking system stability and implementation of urgent tasks. The order also provides for the transfer of all bank clients to remote service. Asaka bank, Turonbank, Trustbank, Alokabank, Khamkorbank and others informed about changes in their work. In particular, they also announced the suspension of international money transfers located outside their respective bank buildings. The currency exchange offices will continue to operate in the buildings of the banks themselves. Also, citizens can use mobile applications of banks or ATMs. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini There are adequate testing kits for coronavirus in Gautam Buddh Nagar and more resources are being pooled in to combat the pandemic, District Magistrate Suhas L Y said on Tuesday, asserting his priorityis tracing contacts of COVID-19 patients. Suhas, who took charge as the DM at 5 in the morning, has replaced Brijesh Narain Singh, who was shunted out within hours of a meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday who had come to review the situation in Gautam Buddh Nagar, the state's worst COVID-19 hit district with 38 cases so far. Assuming the charge of the COVID-19 hotspot, the 36-year-old IAS officer appealed to the people of Noida and Greater Noida to stay indoors and follow necessary precautions like social distancing against the virus, saying the restrictions are for the benefit of everyone. "We have a protocol decided for testing, there are primary contacts and symptomatic patients, etc and tests are done in accordance with protocols. As of today, we have adequate testing kits. But this disease grows exponentially and we have to ensure that the curve is flattened. We will procure more testing kits to ensure we achieve our objective," he told reporters. According to a Health Department data, samples of 626 people have been collected and sent for coronavirus test till Tuesday evening of which 38 resulted positive, 421 negative, while results of 170 were awaited. Suhas, who has earlier served as the DM in Allahabad, Maharajganj, Hathras, Sonbhadra, Jaunpur and Azamgarh, said the administration's priority is to trace the contacts of those infected, monitor them in quarantine and get them treated. "We have information from the central government and other sources on people who have travelled abroad and returned to this district. Besides, we are gathering similar information from other sources also. All data will be used and resources stepped up for contact tracing," Suhas said. The DM said at present there is an isolation facility for 40 patients in the district, but resources including manpower were being mobilised to prepare for the future. "We have our medical teams working and another isolation facility with 100 beds should be ready by tonight. We are also preparing for the future and have identified hospitals. We need infrastructure as well as manpower because there is also protocol for manpower. They will also need to stay in quarantine after working in this situation. All these aspects are being kept in mind as we chalk out strategy for the future," he added. He also appealed to the people to not spread any rumours on social media, and warned strictest action against anyone found doing that. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tanzania on Tuesday recorded its first death from coronavirus, a 49-year-old man who had underlying health issues, the health ministry said. The East African nation has reported cases since March 16, including foreign travellers and those with whom they have had contacts. One person has so far recovered. "I regret to announce the first death of coronavirus patient early this morning. The 49-year old man had other health complications," Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu said in a statement, without giving details. Tanzania has already shut all schools and universities in a bid to curb the disease, and from Tuesday parliament cut working hours and limited the number of MPs allowed in the debating chamber. However, while neighbouring countries have imposed lockdowns and urged people to stay home, President John Magufuli has played down the seriousness of the disease. "This is time to build our faith and continue praying to God and not depending on face masks. Don't stop going to churches and mosques for prayers. I'm sure this is just a change of wind and it will go like others have gone," Magufuli said at a church in Dodoma earlier this month. "There are too many threats being spread about corona but this is a small disease and we will beat it in the name of Jesus. I also ask Tanzanians to continue working hard," he added. His comment was criticised by other politicians who said Tanzania should actually consider closing churches and mosques to avoid spreading coronavirus. "Let's not argue with science," said opposition lawmaker Zitto Kabwe on Twitter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Melbourne restaurant bar fined almost $10,000 for breaching coronavirus restrictions was 'just unlucky' to be busted, an employee has claimed. China Bar in inner-city Fitzroy is the first premises in Victoria to be fined after two men were spotted drinking alcohol inside the bar on Saturday night, five days after tough new laws banning the service of alcohol at licensed premises were enforced. The restaurant owner was later fined $9,913. The two men who were drinking at the bar were friends of the owner, according to employee Krystal Khor. 'We were just unlucky to be in that situation,' she told Nine News. China Bar employee Krystal Khor (pictured) believes her boss shouldn't have been fined 'We didn't see that were sitting down because they were already drunk.' Ms Khor doesn't believe her boss should be fined and said he wasn't sorry. 'He said no because it was a coincidence - they were only there to fine the boss,' she said. The restaurant manager told the Herald Sun they had done nothing wrong. Ms Khor added China Bar would stay open as long for takeaways until further restrictions force them to close. 'My boss said it was unlucky we got involved like this and it is all a big mistake,' she told the publication. Police spotted two customers drinking inside China Bar in Fitzroy (pictured) on Saturday night Victoria Police made no apologies for the tough stance as they crack down on those who breach the restrictions now in force. They have warned officers will ramp up on infringements issued. 'A licensed bar, restaurant in Fitzroy had six staff there present, there were two people present there who were being served alcohol and it was being treated as open for business totally,' Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Patton told reporters on Tuesday. 'They refused to state how long they had been open or why they were open, in effect, giving a no comment response. 'Unless you're living under a rock, or unless you're an idiot, it's quite clear the restrictions are there, the restrictions are to be abided by.' A new 500-strong police taskforce was set up last week to ensure Victorians and businesses are complying with the string of tough restrictions implemented to combat the spread of coronavirus. Police issued China Bar's owner with a $9913 fine over breaching the restrictions Officers will enforce new social distancing rules and the shutdown of non-essential venues and businesses across the state and ensure Victorians who have recently returned from overseas are obeying the 14-day self-isolation rule. Victoria Police has conducted more than 7,000 checks on homes, businesses and non-essential services in the last week, including 1225 spot checks on Monday. Penalties include on-the-spot fines of $1652 for individuals and $9913 for businesses. Larger fines can also be issued through the courts. As of Tuesday, Victorians can only go out of their homes to buy essentials, exercise, or go to work or study if they can't do it from home under new stage three restrictions. And even when staying home, gatherings of more than two people who are not part of the household will be an offence. Premier Daniel Andrews warned Victorians they will be punished if they flout the latest restrictions on outdoor gatherings of more than two people. Two customers were drinking inside a bar in trendy Fitzroy (pictured) when police walked in The tightening of measures that forced many businesses to shut down is a new bid to flatten the deadly coronavirus curve. Victoria confirmed 96 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the tally to 917. Four people in the state have died from the virus. The cases continue to grow at around 10 per cent but down from a previous high of 25 per cent, Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said. 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. People who showed coronavirus symptoms being taken to various hospitals from Nizamuddin area in New Delhi. PTI photo Mumbai: In view of several people showing coronavirus symptoms after taking part in the Tabligh-e-Jamaat at Nizamuddin West in Delhi, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Tuesday instructed the authorities to trace the state citizens who visited the religious congregation in the national capital. Twenty-four people who took part in the congregation earlier this month have tested positive for the coronavirus, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Tuesday, adding that 1,033 people have been shifted to various places. When Tope was asked about it, he told PTI, "If anyone who has attended the congregation shows symptoms of coronavirus infection, we will quarantine the person and collect a swab sample for testing." All precautionary measures will be taken to avoid further spread of the disease, he added. State Minority Development Minister Nawab Malik said Tabligh-e-Jamaat is an Islamic sect having some followers in Maharashtra. "After learning that some 100 people from Maharashtra attended the congregation, I have asked my officials to find out how many people actually attended it and their current location," he said. "Once we zero-in on them, necessary steps will be taken with the support of the state health ministry. The priority now is to find out the exact number of people from Maharashtra who attended the congregation and their current status," he said. A senior state health official said it is a very serious matter because out of 25 COVID-19 patients found in New Delhi on Monday, 18 were at the seminary in Nizamuddin. "This means, the infection has spread significantly and we need to trace people from Maharashtra who attended it at the earliest," he added. 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. 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. Technavio has been monitoring the wide-bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor devices market and it is poised to grow by USD 2.19 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of almost 39% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Request latest free sample report of 2020-2024 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005591/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Wide-Bandgap (WBG) Power Semiconductor Devices Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Cree, Infineon Technologies, ROHM SEMICONDUCTOR, STMicroelectronics, and Transphorm are some of the major market participants. The demand for high-power density devices will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Demand for high-power density devices has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Wide-Bandgap (WBG) Power Semiconductor Devices Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Wide-Bandgap (WBG) Power Semiconductor Devices Market is segmented as below: Application UPS And PS Systems PV Inverters IMDs EVs/HEVs Others Geographic Landscape Americas APAC EMEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample report of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30306 Wide-Bandgap (WBG) Power Semiconductor Devices Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our wide-bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor devices market report covers the following areas: Wide-Bandgap (WBG) Power Semiconductor Devices Market Size Wide-Bandgap (WBG) Power Semiconductor Devices Market Trends Wide-Bandgap (WBG) Power Semiconductor Devices Market Industry Analysis This study identifies growing implementation of signal processing applications as one of the prime reasons driving the wide-bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor devices market growth during the next few years. Wide-Bandgap (WBG) Power Semiconductor Devices Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the Wide-Bandgap (WBG) Power Semiconductor Devices Market, including some of the vendors such as Cree, Infineon Technologies, ROHM SEMICONDUCTOR, STMicroelectronics, and Transphorm. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the Wide-Bandgap (WBG) Power Semiconductor Devices Market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Wide-Bandgap (WBG) Power Semiconductor Devices Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist wide-bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor devices market growth during the next five years Estimation of the wide-bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor devices market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the wide-bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor devices market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of wide-bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor devices market vendors Table Of Contents : PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Preface 2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY APPLICATION Market segmentation by application Comparison by application UPS and PS systems Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PV inverters Market size and forecast 2018-2023 IMDs Market size and forecast 2018-2023 EVs/HEVs Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Others Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by application PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023 EMEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Americas Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: TRENDS Growing implementation of signal processing applications Increasing number of foundry services for WBG power semiconductor devices Focus on moving toward larger wafers PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Cree Infineon Technologies ROHM SEMICONDUCTOR STMicroelectronics Transphorm PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200331005591/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Reliance Industries (RIL) advanced 2.25% to Rs 1,055.55 on plans to consider raising funds via non-convertible debentures (NCDs) on a private placement basis. RIL's board will meet on 2 April 2020 to consider raising funds by issuing listed, secured/unsecured, redeemable non-convertible debentures (NCDs) on private placement basis in one or more tranches/series. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 30 March 2020. Some recent media reports suggested that the social media giant, Facebook, was close to an initial agreement to pick up a 10% stake in Reliance Jio, but discussions could not advance due to the global disruption following the coronavirus outbreak. A deal was to have been announced by March end, reports added. Media houses suggested that a deal with Facebook will help Mukesh Ambani achieve his ambition of cutting parent company RIL's debt to zero by March 2021. 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. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hospital workers are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. While even those of us with no connection (yet) to the virus have been nonetheless affectedfinancially, mentally, emotionallythe physical threat to hospital workers is tangible. As we are all social distancing and Zooming for a semblance of normalcy, they are running towards imminent danger on a daily basis. And some coffee shops, even as the industry like so many others seems to be crumbling all around them, are trying to do their part to assist some of the most important people on earth right now, and they are doing it in a the way only they can: with coffee. Coffee companies across the globe, both large and small, are stepping up to get coffee into the hands of hospital workers to play whatever small role they can in the fight against COVID-19. Big names in all sectors of the coffee market are pitching in. Starbucks, perhaps the biggest name, is giving away free tall brewed coffee at participating US stores to all front-line responders, including doctors, nurses, other hospital staffers, police, firefighters, and paramedics. Through their Joy in Childhood Foundation, Dunkin has been making stops at hospitals around Massachusetts to serve coffee to workers. And regional convenience store/national treasure Wawa is offering free coffee to all first responders and health care workers who are keeping our communities safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Not to be outdone, a host of specialty cafes have created donation opportunities to get coffee delivered directly to hospitals. In New York City, Everyman Espresso has created a new program called Fueling Frontlines NYC to get coffee to essential workers in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, For as little as $25, Everyman will deliver 94 ounces of brewed coffee (all the way up to $1,000 to get coffee to 600 workers!) to essential workers who have applied to receive coffee, which can be done here. In a similarly monikered effort in North Carolina, Joe Van Goghs Fuel For The Frontlines allows individuals to order hot or cold coffee as well as coffee go-withs like muffins, banana bread, scones, and chocolate chip cookies and choose the destination for their purchase to be delivered. Currently they are serving UNC Hospitals Chapel Hill, Durham Police Department, Weaver Street Market in Chapel Hill, and Whole Foods Markets in Durham and Chapel Hill. Similar efforts are taking place across Europe. In Berlin, The Barn is doing more of a crowdsourcing to get coffee to hospitals. Through their website, folks can donate as little as 10 for 10 cups of coffee all the way up to 50 cups for 30. Then, at the beginning of the next week, The Barn will compile all the donations accrued and deliver them to one of two local Berlin hospitals: Charite (Mitte Campus) and Unfall-Krankenhaus (UKB). Londons Rosslyn Coffee, in collaboration with Origin Coffee Roasters, is matching every coffee purchase via their website with a donation to National Health Services. Similarly in Paris, Belleville Brulerie is matching all purchases of their Assemblage Petits Soins (Little Care Assembly) with a donation to a local Paris hospital. MadLab Coffee in Los Angeles is forgoing the customer donation element entirely and is footing the bill themselves. Using bike messengers to deliver, owner Andrew Sinclair is a socially-distancing appropriate one-person roasting operation that has been sending around 15 pounds of brewed coffee as well as five-pound bags each to hospitals and pop-up hospitals all around LA. Are we using up our supply of green coffee? Yep. Does it make business sense? Nope. Is it more important to serve our nurses and Doctors? Yep, Sinclair tells Sprudge. This is LA. We take care of our neighbors. Well keep doing this until we run out of coffee or until someone tells us to stop or until I get COVID-19 and have to be in the hospital. For other coffee companies looking to get coffee into the hands of front line workers, Sinclair has some advice. Call first and ask how they can receive it or if they can receive it. We kindve got educated by just doing it, but we ended up talking through with the hospitals how to make it work. Sinclair explains, I have to take every bike messengers temp before they receive the coffee for delivery, and I have to make sure were wearing face masks and gloves whenever were brewing, and also sanitizing our travelers with a food-safe sanitizer aerosol spray. Were taking the same precautions at the roastery whenever we roast and doing the same sanitizing with packages leaving the roastery. These are just a few of the many community-focused initiatives coffee companies are taking part in. Is one of your local roasters pitching in? Maybe it means getting coffee to front lines workers or maybe it is something more creative, like Dallas Full City Rooster, who has turned their now-shuttered cafe space as a collection point and storage facility for much-needed items like gloves and masks to be donated to health care workers. Whatever it is, we want to hear about it. Let us hear all the inventive ways coffee companies are chipping in. Note from our healthcare heroes: Coordinate donation programs with your local hospitals. Call ahead and avoid overburdened hospital entrances/intake areas. Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge. Top image via Adobe Stock . , 1:0 . , - , . . ... Jonesboro, Arkansas Melisa Laelan is used to challenges. Four years ago, a mumps outbreak affected the Marshallese community in northwest Arkansas. Laelan, the founder and executive director of the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, said they were able to move quickly, with help from the health department, to translate information so all those within the community could stay informed. The speed and lethality of the novel coronavirus has her a lot more worried. Why didnt we have all these resources before? Laelan said. There are certain communities that are going to be left out, simply because they have a language barrier. Im being bombarded with requests to translate. To fill the big gap in information, Laelan has been working overtime to ensure her community of approximately 12,000 are keeping up to date with everything. In our case, there are a few offices that the Marshallese communities trust. Were one of them, Laelan said. So, if Im confused, how do you think the community is going to respond? Volunteer Lori VanKirk fills a container with hand-sanitiser at the Foundry Distilling Co in West Des Moines, Iowa [Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo] Through the insistence of Lelans office, churches have closed, a move that initially received some pushback in the community. With those natural gathering places to share information no longer an option, the executive director has been leaning on the cheapest way to get information out: including leaning on social media to do livestreams and share videos and posts. They stress limiting gatherings, washing hands and taking other proactive measures that the general American population is also taking. Laelan said she is also reminding people they are at particular risk because the Marshallese communities in the US have high incidences of chronic diseases. And shes doing it while keeping up with other work and priorities and receiving profanity-laced emails from non-Marshallese communities telling her shes not doing enough. Theres small changes, but not in the big way that we are hoping, Laelan said. Mixed messages, misinformation The Marshallese are not the only ones struggling to keep up. In Des Moines, Iowa, a mid-sized city with a history of welcoming refugees for decades, more than 100 languages are spoken. According to Pablo Ortega, director of the English as a Second Language programme at the Des Moines Public Schools system, around 22 percent of those students qualify for ELL services. That percentage swells to more than half the student body, if parents that do not speak English as a second language are included. The sheer size can be hard to keep up with, especially for people who come from language backgrounds where there is no representative at one of the many non-profits and state agencies providing necessary services to refugees and other underserved populations in Iowa. Earlier this month, Governor Kim Reynolds announced that schools would be closed at least until April 13, a message that Ortega both applauded and said can be communicated pretty easily. But the other aspects of serving this community is one that I am thinking will start to be a higher priority, Ortega said, listing off worries like utilities, rent and food. We really dont have a handle on what those needs are just yet. He also pointed out that mixed messages at the federal level are slowing everything down. I wish there was a more unified federal response to this, as it would make it easier for the rest of us to say, this is the process or the approach. When the message is fractured, especially with a population that doesnt speak English as its first language, then youre exacerbating the problem that much more in terms of getting the messaging out there, said Ortega. A sign posted on the wall in Spanish and English informing seniors of the COVID-19 virus and how to stop the spread of germs at Little Havana Activities and Nutrition Centers of Dade County, Inc, in Miami [Brynn Anderson/AP Photo] Zack Balcha, a community navigator at the Des Moines-based Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center (EMBARC), said countering misinformation has also been a problem. He said the centre has expanded its resources to include the Congolese and Eritreans populations something that was already in the works, but was expedited with the outbreak of COVID-19. Some people say, Africans cant get the virus. Or Vitamin C can stop the virus. Yeah, it can help you to fight back, but its not going to stop the virus. So, there are things we have to elaborate, Balcha said, noting that many refugees do not read and write in any language, or do not have access to Wi-Fi or a computer at home, or possibly do not even know how to use a computer. For those who do have access to a computer, Balcha said there is the added worry that what people are consuming is false, including channels that purport to be updates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you go to the history of the Facebook or YouTube channel, you can see that the name was changed. For example, the one I saw was Alexandria Ocasio Cortez for President 2020. And then, it goes to another name and then finally to a COVID-19 update from CDC. What they are doing is selling their products or getting more followers, Balcha said. Like Laelan, EMBARC is also sharing their own videos on social media, which Balcha said is being viewed heavily by people outside of Iowa, an indication of how scarce the information is in many languages around the world, not just in Iowa. He said it is impossible to do a video for every news update, and instead tries to provide broad, useful information. People from South Dakota, Utah and Atlanta have called me and said this is good for their community, too, Balcha said. For Ortega, he said one silver lining is that Des Moines has benefitted from being a smaller, more insulated city something that has given him and his colleagues across the city a little more time to prepare. I better knock on wood, but our levels in terms of numbers and confirmed cases, compared to other places like Illinois, next door, or out East or out West, were not even the same ballpark, Ortega said. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed plunging oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic Monday, as Trump said Moscow is pressing for an end to US sanctions. The two "expressed serious concern regarding the scope of the spread of the coronavirus" and "discussed closer cooperation," according to a Kremlin statement on what it described as the "lengthy" phone call. The White House said in a separate statement Trump and Putin had "agreed to work closely together through the G20" against the virus and the economic shock resulting from travel bans and social distancing. Both statements reported that the oil market turmoil was discussed, with the White House version stating agreement on the "importance of stability in global energy markets." The Kremlin version said only that they "exchanged opinions" on oil. Earlier, Trump had said he was going to use the call to raise objections over a Russian-Saudi price war driving down world oil prices and "really hurting" the US energy industry. "This is a fight between Saudi Arabia and Russia... and they both went crazy," Trump told Fox News in an interview shortly before talking to Putin. "I never thought I'd be saying that maybe we have to have an oil (prices) increase, because we do," Trump said. - Sanctions - Trump also told Fox he expected Putin would use the call to push for a lifting of US sanctions on Russia. "He'll probably ask for that," Trump told Fox News. "He's been asking that for two years." Trump did not say what his response would be, noting that he had put sanctions on Russia but adding: "They don't like that. Frankly we should be able to get along." Neither the Kremlin nor White House statement mentioned sanctions. The bulk of US sanctions against Russia were imposed over Moscow's annexation of Crimea in Ukraine and what US investigators say was a concerted attempt to interfere in the 2016 presidential election won by Trump. Last Thursday, Putin told G20 leaders during a conference call that he wanted a moratorium on sanctions as a "matter of life and death" during the global coronavirus outbreak. In the comments Putin did not specify which countries he was talking about but Russia is being hit hard by the economic fallout from coronavirus and the parallel oil price drop. Another point of US-Russian contention is Venezuela, where Washington, supported by dozens of other countries, has been trying unsuccessfully to promote the toppling of leftist strongman Nicholas Maduro. Russia is one of the few countries propping up his government. The White House statement said "President Trump reiterated that the situation in Venezuela is dire, and we all have an interest in seeing a democratic transition to end the ongoing crisis." The Kremlin statement did not mention Venezuela. Russian state oil company Rosneft said Saturday it is pulling out of Venezuela and argued that US sanctions on a Rosneft subsidiary -- imposed as part of Washington's attempt to cripple the Maduro government's revenue sources -- should now be lifted. However, Russia remains a key partner to Caracas. - 'Every country does it' - Trump has often resisted punishing Moscow, which denies meddling in US politics, but his hand on imposing sanctions was forced by his own Republican party in Congress, which sees the Putin government as hostile. The warm relationship between Trump and Putin -- seen by many Western capitals as an increasingly authoritarian leader responsible for assassinations of opponents at home and abroad -- has been a constant source of controversy in the United States. In his Fox interview, Trump dismissed reports that Russia and China are seeking to exploit the coronavirus disruption by planting disinformation aimed at putting the United States in a bad light. "They do it and we do it," he said, calling The Washington Post newspaper, which recently reported on the issue, "fake." "Every country does it," he said. Trump then questioned why Russia was considered an enemy by many in the West. As he has often in the past, he again also cast doubt on what was for decades the rock solid transatlantic alliance between the United States and Germany. "I'm not saying they're babies, I'm not saying they're perfect. We might discuss that too, by the way. I'm not saying they're perfect," he said of the Russians. "But you know they also fought World War II, they lost 50 million people. They were our partner in World War II. "Germany was the enemy and Germany is like this wonderful thing. Well, Germany takes advantage of us on trade for years. They pay far too little in NATO... and now we don't talk to Russia, we talk to Germany." Photo credit: Samir Hussein - Getty Images From Town & Country The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed that they will pay for their own security costs following their recent move to Los Angeles. The couple relocated to California from Vancouver, where they had been living since announcing their intention to step back from their roles as senior Royals. Following their recent move to Los Angeles, the couple explained that they have not asked the US government for security resources after President Trump said the country would not support them. The president tweeted that despite him being a friend of the Queen and the UK, the Sussexes must pay for their security. I am a great friend and admirer of the Queen & the United Kingdom. It was reported that Harry and Meghan, who left the Kingdom, would reside permanently in Canada. Now they have left Canada for the U.S. however, the U.S. will not pay for their security protection. They must pay! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2020 I am a great friend and admirer of the Queen & the United Kingdom. It was reported that Harry and Meghan, who left the Kingdom, would reside permanently in Canada, Trump wrote. Now they have left Canada for the U.S. However, the U.S. will not pay for their security protection. They must pay! Prince Harry and Meghan have reportedly been isolating near Hollywood with their son Archie. A spokesperson for the couple confirmed: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have no plans to ask the US government for security resources. Privately funded security arrangements have been made. The couple will officially step down from the Royal Family and become financially independent tomorrow (31 March). Washington, Mar 31 (UNI) Chances for the novel coronavirus to get into the International Space Station (ISS) are next to zero due to the enhanced security measures undertaken by the space agencies, NASA nurse Raksana Batsmanova said. Batsmanova has been cooperating with NASA for almost 10 years and providing medical assistance to astronauts during space launches and landings. Currently, all the efforts of space agencies are aimed at preventing the entry of any virus onto the ISS, including the coronavirus, Batsmanova, who is also a senior nurse of the clinic 'European Medical Center' and a nurse at International SOS, told Russian news agency Sputnik in an interview. Taking into account the enhanced security measures, the chances for the coronavirus to get on the ISS are slim to none," she said. Batsmanova stressed that under normal conditions (not during a pandemic) astronauts and cosmonauts are in quarantine for some time before flying to the ISS, and all things sent to the ISS are disinfected. During a pandemic, these measures have been strengthened several times, quarantine measures for astronauts and cosmonauts have been extended, quarantine measures have been introduced for everyone who works with them, personal communication is limited, including with the media, and the number of teams working directly with astronauts has been reduced, the nurse pointed out. Under no circumstances should any virus get onto the ISS, because the station has a closed loop and its own atmosphere, and the crew is far from the ground. Today all the tough measures necessary for this are being followed, Batsmanova concluded. Globally, COVID-19 has infected more than 7,55,000 people and killed more than 36,000, according to Johns Hopkins Universitys real-time tracker. UNI XC-RHK0839 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. Akouos, Inc., a Boston, Mass.-based precision genetic medicine company developing potential gene therapies to restore, improve or preserve hearing, raised $105m in Series B financing. The round was led by Pivotal bioVenture Partners, with participation from new investors Cormorant Asset Management, Cowen Healthcare Investments, EcoR1 Capital, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Polaris Founders Fund, Pagsgroup, Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company), Wu Capital and other investors, and existing investors 5AM Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Novartis Venture Fund, Partners Innovation Fund, RA Capital Management and Sofinnova Investments. In conjunction with the funding, Vicki Sato, Ph.D., and Heather Preston, M.D. (Pivotal), joined Akouos board of directors. The company intends to use the funds to advance its lead program, AK-OTOF, to first-in-human clinical studies subject to IND filing and acceptance, establish in-house GMP manufacturing capabilities at its new offices in the Boston Seaport, accelerate the development of multiple pipeline programs that address other forms of sensorineural hearing loss with well-defined mechanisms and/or gene targets, and expand its team across research, clinical development and manufacturing. Led by Manny Simons, Ph.D., founder, president and CEO, Akouos is a genetic medicines company dedicated to developing gene therapies with the potential to restore, improve or preserve hearing. Leveraging its adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-based gene therapy platform, the company is focused on developing precision therapies for forms of sensorineural hearing loss. The companys first gene therapy development program, AK-OTOF, is for individuals with sensorineural hearing loss due to mutations in the otoferlin (OTOF) gene. Akouos has strategic partnerships with Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Lonza, Inc. FinSMEs 31/03/2020 Death rates from COVID-19 varies from 0.0016 to 7.8 per cent depending on people's age group, according to a new study which has made the first comprehensive estimate of the proportion of those with COVID-19 in China who required hospitalisation, and the fraction who died. The study, published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, noted that earlier estimates of overall deaths from COVID-19 were estimated to be 0.2 to 1.6 per cent, and for the oldest age group, over-80s, this was thought to be between 8 and 36 per cent. However, it said, these past estimates had not adjusted for the fact that only people with more severe symptoms are likely to be tested in most countries, or people in quarantine following repatriation to other parts of the world. The researchers, including those from Imperial College London in the UK, said these numbers do not reflect the true number of cases across populations. They said, until now, studies have also not estimated the proportion of infections that will require hospitalisation. According to the current study, which assessed more than 70,000 cases in mainland China, the overall death rate from COVID-19, including those from unconfirmed cases, could be at 0.66 per cent, with the deaths only from confirmed cases at 1.38 per cent. However as the pandemic unfolds, outcomes may improve, making it important to revise estimates in the current study, they said. "This study provides critical estimates on the proportion of people requiring hospitalisation which, when applied to the UK population, enabled us to get a handle on how many people might need to access NHS services," said Neil Ferguson, study co-author from Imperial College London. The researchers said the death rates from COVID-19 vary substantially with age, ranging from 0.0016 per cent in 0 to 9-year-olds to 7.8 per cent for people aged 80 and above. They added that 11.8 per cent of people in their 60s, 16.6 per cent of those in their 70s, and 18.4 per cent in their 80s and above may develop symptoms severe enough for hospitalisation. These rates compare with 0.04 per cent among 10 to 19-year-olds, and one per cent of those in their 20s, the study noted, adding that 3.4 per cent of people aged 30 to 39 may also need hospitalisation. The rates, according to the research, nearly doubled from 4.3 per cent in 40-49-year-olds to 8.2 per cent in 50-59-year olds. Based on their analysis, the scientists believe the death rate due to novel coronavirus infection is slightly lower than earlier estimates made for the virus. However, they said the value is much higher than for previous pandemics such as 2009 pandemic influenza H1N1, which was estimated to be fatal in around 0.02 per cent of the cases. The scientists warned that as much as 50 to 80 per cent of the global population could be infected with COVID-19, with the number of people needing hospitalisation likely to overwhelm even the most advanced healthcare systems worldwide. But they said these numbers may change with likely improvement in outcome, making it important to revise the estimates. "Our estimates can be applied to any country to inform decisions around the best containment policies for COVID-19," said Azra Ghani from Imperial College London. "There might be outlying cases that get a lot of media attention, but our analysis very clearly shows that at aged 50 and over, hospitalisation is much more likely than in those under 50, and a greater proportion of cases are likely to be fatal," Ghani added. In the study, the scientists assumed that people of all ages are equally likely to become infected. They found the greatest number of cases requiring hospitalisation were among people in their 50s, and once they adjusted for the fact that many milder cases go undiagnosed, the hospitalisation rate was estimated at 8.2 per cent. This number, the study noted, compares to an estimated 18.4 per cent in the most at risk group -- the over 80s. According to the researchers, 154 out of 743 people in their 40s had severe symptoms, whereas 133 out of 263 people in their 70s had such symptoms. They said hospitalisation rates were 4.3 per cent for 40 to 49-year-olds compared with 16.6 per cent for 70 to 79-year-olds, and 11.8 per cent for those in their 60s. This rate was lower for younger age groups with 3.4 per cent of people in their 30s likely to be hospitalised, whereas for people in their 20s the number could be one per cent, the researchers added. There was only one severe case out of 50 for those aged 10 to 19 and their hospitalisation rate, the scientists said, is 0.04 per cent. None of the cases analysed in the under-10s were severe, they added. On average, the researchers said, the time between the first recorded symptoms and death from COVID-19 could be 17.8 days. Recovering from the disease and getting discharged from hospitals takes an average of 22.6 days, the study reported, adding that without intervention, the number of people needing treatment is likely to overwhelm even the most advanced healthcare systems worldwide. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coronavirus pandemic continues to crush demand amid price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Top energy officials in the US and Russia will meet to tackle an historic collapse in global oil markets. The meeting comes after a dispute over output levels earlier this month sparked a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Prices have plunged even further due to the coronavirus pandemic and analysts say there is little prospect of a recovery any time soon. Al Jazeeras Osama bin Javaid reports. The government has missed the collection target for the current financial year from CPSE disinvestment set in the Revised Estimates of Budget by about Rs 14,700 crore. In the current financial year 2019-20, the actual disinvestment mop-up has come in at Rs 50,298.64 crore. In the Revised Estimates (RE), the government had estimated the disinvestment proceeds at Rs 65,000 crore, thus a shortfall of around Rs 14,700 crore. In the Budget 2019-20, disinvestment revenue was pegged at Rs 1.05 lakh crore. However, in the RE, the projection was lowered substantially to Rs 65,000 crore. In the current financial year, the government has raised Rs 11,500 crore by way of strategic disinvestment of THDC and NEEPCO to state-owned power utility NTPC. Also, Kamarajar Port was sold for Rs 2,383 crore to Chennai Port Trust. While two follow-on offers of CPSE ETF fetched Rs 26,500 crore, Bharat-22 ETF garnered Rs 4,368 crore. Two initial public offerings (IPOs) -- RVNL and IRCTC -- helped garner Rs 1,113 crore, while RITES offer-for-sale (OFS) fetched Rs 1,130 crore. Buyback of shares by MOIL, MDL and SPMCIL fetched Rs 821 crore to the exchequer, while Rs 600 crore came in by way of remittances from SUUTI. Further, Rs 1,881 crore was procured by way of selling enemy shares. In the financial year 2015-16, the government had realised Rs 23,996.80 crore from CPSE disinvestment, lower than the Budget target of Rs 69,500 crore and RE of Rs 25,312 crore. In the financial year 2016-17, the government had missed the budgeted disinvestment target. While the Budget had pegged target at Rs 56,500 crore, the government was able to mop up Rs 46,247 crore. This was, however, higher than the target set in RE at Rs 45,500 crore. In 2017-18, it bettered the target of Rs 1 lakh crore and raised a record Rs 1,00,056 crore. In 2018-19, the disinvestment mop-up stood at Rs 84,972 crore as against the Budget target of Rs 80,000 crore. In 2019-20, after a gap of 2 years, the government has missed the disinvestment target set in Budget. For 2020-21 fiscal beginning April 1, 2020, the Budget pegged the disinvestment proceeds at Rs 2.10 lakh crore. This includes Rs 1.20 lakh crore from CPSE share sale and Rs 90,000 crore from share sale in public sector banks and financial institutions, including listing of insurance behemoth LIC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Walmart stores will soon begin to check employees' temperatures and offer them masks and gloves in an effort to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. The CEOs of Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club revealed the new measures Tuesday. In a post on its website, Walmart said it is sending infrared thermometers to all of its locations, which may take up to three weeks. Gloves and masks are expected to arrive at stores within one to two weeks. H-E-B's lauded response: Arnold Schwarzenegger says H-E-B's coronavirus emergency readiness is a 'masterclass' in what to do Walmart stores and other facilities will begin checking employees' temperatures when they report to work. Anyone with a fever of 100 degrees or higher will be paid for coming in and sent home, according to the announcement. Employees will be able to return to work when they've been fever-free for at least three days. On HoustonChronicle.com: Millions of Texans finally get paid sick leave benefits to battle coronavirus but there's a catch When masks and gloves arrive, they will not be mandatory but available as an option for employees who'd like to wear them " while keeping in mind that it is still possible to spread germs while wearing them," according to the announcement. Walmart also asked employees to use a 6-20-100 framework as a reminder to stay 6 feet apart, wash hands for 20 seconds and stay at home if they have a fever of 100 degrees or higher. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) A five-year-old girl is now among the country's few cases of coronavirus infection among children. Dubbed as PH1333, the young patient is the third COVID-19 case in Nueva Vizcaya province. She is from the town of Alfonso Castaneda. The child is the 15th coronavirus case in Cagayan Valley region, according to the Facebook post of Cagayan province's information office on Tuesday. It added that the patient is confined at the Premiere General Hospital in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. Most of the country's 1,546 COVID-19 cases are adults. Earlier, a 1-year-old girl was announced by the local government of Oriental Mindoro as the province's first coronavirus patient, but this information is not yet included in the Department of Health's official tracker. A 13-year-old girl from Quezon City has also recovered from the viral disease. Worldwide, there are relatively few cases of COVID-19 infection reported among children, according to the World Health Organization, and experts are still studying how the virus affects youngsters. The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP on Tuesday appealed to the authorities to set up toll free numbers to help senior citizens living alone in the Union Territory during the ongoing lockdown imposed to combat coronavirus. BJP national vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna has appealed to the government of India and the Jammu and Kashmir administration to issue toll free numbers at sub-division level to provide required help to the senior citizens. Khanna said that in view of the outbreak of coronavirus, the governments at the Centre and in the UT are tirelessly making efforts for the safety and well-being of the people, and the senior citizens need to be taken care in case of any emergency. For this purpose, toll free numbers would prove to be helpful for them, he said. Khanna said adequate arrangements should be made to provide immediate help to the senior citizens seeking help on these numbers. Khanna also appealed to the people to strictly follow the preventive measures and cooperate with the administration in the fight against deadly virus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tao Thi Thanh Huong received and thanked the foundation for its gifts. Since early March, the Vietnamese Government has agreed with Temaseks proposal to hand over 10 ventilators to five Vietnamese hospitals, namely the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, the Military Hospital 103, the Duc Giang General Hospital, the Cho Ray Hospital and the Military Hospital 7A. Earlier, Temasek donated medical equipment and test kits to the Vietnamese Health Ministry, including VerePLEXTM Biosystem, VereCovTM Detection Kits and QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit. Huong lauded the move as an evidence for sentiment that the Singaporean government and people give to the Vietnamese people as well as the strategic partnership between the two nations. She pledged to continue working closely with Temasek to serve as a bridge promoting people-to-people exchange and cooperation in fields of Temaseks interest in the near future. Founded in 2007, the non-profit charity foundation Temasek focuses on funding and supporting capacity improvement programmes in Asia and the world, which aims to enhance the capacity in the fields of health care, education, public administration, urban management and disaster response. The foundation said it will continue supplying 10 oxygen generators to Hanoi and 10 others to Ho Chi Minh City in the near future. The setting up of a special fund -- PM CARES Fund - for providing relief to those affected by COVID-19 has invited controversy after people questioned the need for a new fund when the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) is already in existence. The PM CARES, or the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund, has been set up as a public charitable trust. The Prime Minister is the chairman of this trust and its members include Defence Minister, Home Minister And Finance Minister. The questions that people have raised primarily are on the utility and advantages of having a separate fund when the PMNRF is for exactly the same purpose, when it was registered, and under which act, etc. The statement issued by the government justifies the setting up of a fund by saying that distress situations, whether natural or otherwise, demand expeditious and collective action for alleviating the suffering of those affected, mitigation/control of damage to infrastructure and capacities etc. It also says that the Prime Minister's office has been receiving spontaneous and innumerable requests for making generous donations to support the government in the wake of this emergency. So why a separate fund when the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund is already there? The justification coming from the government sources is that while PMNRF is for all kinds of natural disasters, PM CARES fund is specially meant for COVID-19 similar pandemic situations. The government officials also say that any spending from the Consolidated Fund of India needs to be passed by the Parliament, therefore, creation of a donation-based fund means that legislature hurdle is taken care of. There are others who believe that a separate fund for COVID-19 relief would encourage more people to contribute in the fund because everyone is impacted by Coronavirus outbreak. "COVID-19 has impacted people across the country. Therefore, PM CARES attaches a cause to it. Everyone is feeling for this cause. An earthquake in Andaman or a storm in Orissa is not something for which people would have same level of concern as that of a pan-India disaster like COVID-19. Hence, a separate fund for COVID-19 relief makes perfect sense," says Mohit Chaudhary, a Supreme Court lawyer and managing partner of law firm Kings and Alliance. Virag Gupta, a Supreme Court lawyer, also dismisses the questions on setting up of a new fund as he feels the COVID-19 outbreak is one-off crisis, which needs special attention. As for the question on legalities of setting up a charitable public trust, Virag Gupta says that any kind of a trust has to be registered, and the PM CARES Fund must have been registered as per the relevant laws. However, Mohit Chaudhary of Kings and Alliance says these relief funds are different kinds of charitable funds and they are not governed by laws and regulations meant for ordinary charitable trusts. So, he feels that with PM as the chairman of the trust and defence minister, home minister and finance minister as its members, legal issues like registration of the trust, etc will hardly be an issue. The PM CARES Fund tries to differentiate itself from PMNRF by enabling micro-donations. The statement issued by the government specifically says that the fund will enable micro-donations as a result of which a large number of people will be able to contribute with smallest of denominations. One can donate as low as Rs 10 in the PM CARES Fund, while the minimum one can donate in PM National Relief Fund is Rs 100. The contribution towards PMNRF is used to offer immediate relief to families of those killed in natural calamities such as floods, cyclones and earthquakes, etc and to the victims of the major accidents and riots. The fund is also used to partially pay for expenses for medical treatment like heart surgeries, kidney transplantation, cancer treatment and acid attack etc. The fund consists entirely of public contributions and does not get any budgetary support. The PM National Relief Fund had a balance of Rs 3,800 crore as on 31 March 2019. The contribution towards PMNRF is 100 per ccent tax deductible under Section 80 G of the Income Tax Act. Though contribution towards PM CARES Fund will also get Section 80 G tax benefits, it is not clear if there 100 per cent deduction will be allowed. Not all donations under Section 80 G are eligible for 100 per cent tax deductions. Contributions towards PM CARES Fund will be an eligible expenditure under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations. Under CSR, companies have to spend 2% of their last year's profit towards social causes. Many corporate houses like Reliance Industries, JSW Steel, etc have contributed to PM-CARES Fund. You are here: A think tank webinar held Monday called for closer global cooperation on combating COVID-19, as the pandemic rages around the world, costing valuable human lives and posing unprecedented challenges to the international community. The "Contemporary China and World: International Think Tank Webinar on Combating COVID-19" brought together experts and researchers from six countries on four continents to discuss COVID-19, its implications, and joint international responses to the crisis. The two-hour video conference sponsored by the China International Publishing Group (CIPG) was centered around the theme "Pooling Wisdom and Sharing Experience: Joint Efforts to Fight COVID-19." Du Zhanyuan, president of the CIPG, delivered the opening remarks. He said the webinar shows the readiness and willingness of Chinese and foreign think tank experts to strengthen dialogue and cooperation as the epidemic spreads around the world. Noting that COVID-19 has become the most pressing challenge facing the international community, Du urged think tanks to call on all countries to put aside their differences, build consensus, strengthen cooperation and help one another. He said think tanks need to uphold the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, oppose the stigmatization and politicization of the disease, and refrain from using the virus as a weapon for political maneuvering. Du emphasized that solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons in defeating the virus. "In the face of a common challenge, what we need is wisdom, not political calculation; what we need is to help each other, not to take advantage of others' difficulties; and what we need is win-win cooperation, not lose-lose confrontation," he added. Gao Anming, vice president and editor-in-chief of the CIPG, presided over the webinar. He said major infectious diseases are the common enemy of mankind and know no national borders. "No one is an outsider. No country can stay out of it in a battle against the viral onslaught. Fighting against the virus takes joint efforts of people from across the world, regardless of their nationality, language, skin color, or religious belief," Gao said. The 10 guest speakers also stressed the importance of unity, solidarity and consensus in addressing the common challenge facing all countries. Augusto Soto, professor at ESADE of Ramon Llull University of Spain, said, "This crisis is the best example that we share common challenges and a common destiny." He also pointed out that "unity in action has not yet been reached." "After this crisis we can end up in a frightful economic-social crisis or in a mild economic shock leading, in any case, towards a new culture of global collaboration," Professor Soto explained. "If we do not end up understanding that we share a future which is common, as a species, we will not survive long on this planet." Mustafa Sayed, executive director of the Pakistan-China Institute, said, "When we talk about the coronavirus, we should talk about it as one human race." "This is the time when we should put political interests aside and come together. Only if we come together, will we be able to win this war against the coronavirus," he added. Wang Xiaohui, editor-in-chief of China Internet Information Center, shed light on the role of the media during global public crises such as COVID-19. "Media organizations should avoid pointing fingers at each other, which is both useless and meaningless," he said. Wang stressed that the media should take the high road and put the greater good of mankind first. "Under such circumstances, media organizations should pay more attention to distributing information, sharing experiences, promoting cooperation, and encouraging governments and people to render help to other countries," he said. Zhang Weiwei, director of the China Institute at Fudan University, analyzed some western media reports ridiculing China's response to COVID-19 and called for people to do away with their ideological bias and cognitive bias towards China. "The Chinese experience is the common assets for mankind. I think the western media has made mistakes which really have produced tremendous costs for western societies. I hope we can address these kinds of mistakes in the coming months," Zhang said. Wang Wen, executive dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, said the economic disruption caused by the pandemic may be more serious than that of the 2008 financial crisis, warning countries around the world to stand united in preventing not only the virus but also economic depression. The webinar also featured insights from Xu Shunqing, professor and vice dean of the School of Public Health at Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Joel Ruet, president of the Bridge Tank of France; Li Yong, deputy chair of the Expert Committee of China Association of International Trade; Evandro Carvalho, head of the Center for Brazil-China Studies at the Getulio Vargas Foundation School of Law in Brazil; and Hussein Ismail, researcher at the Egypt State Information Service. The event was jointly organized by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, China.org.cn, China Today and Bosheng International Cultural Communication Co., Ltd. Tiger King tells the story of an Oklahoma zookeeper named Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic," who was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison this year after being convicted in an unsuccessful murder-for-hire plot against Baskin. He was upset that Baskin, an outspoken critic of him and his zoo, won a million-dollar civil judgment against him. : The Telangana administration is estimating that over 1,000 people from the state might have attended a religious congregation in the national capital's Nizamuddin area earlier this month, a senior official said adding the search is on to identify people who came in contact with them. The State government intensified its efforts following the death of six people who attended the meeting. A government press release late Monday said the six persons who attended the congregation between March 13 and 15 died due to coronavirus. "We estimate over 1,000 persons might have attended the congregation in Delhi. Respective district collectors and police personnel were on the job to locate people who came in contact with them after their return. Family members of the deceased were quarantined depending on the symptoms they show," the official told 'PTI'. Two of the six died in Gandhi Hospital and one each in two different private hospitals here and one each in Nizamabad and Gadwal towns succumbed, the release had said without mentioning the time of deaths. Till Monday night, Telangana reported 77 coronavirus positive cases, out of which 14 have been discharged. Since those who participated in Markaz religious prayer meeting were inflicted with coronavirus, all those who participated in the prayers should inform the officials concerned, the government appealed. It also requested anyone who has information about them should alert the government, the Medical and Health Department of Telangana State had stated in a statement. When contacted, Nizamabad Collector Narayana Reddy said as of now more than 200 people who are either related to or came in contact with the 53 people who attended the religious prayer from the city have been quarantined. "One person is still in Delhi and with one death now all the 51 (who had been to Delhi) are under quarantine," Reddy said. A senior official of Gadwal district said the immediate contacts of the deceased are also being identified and quarantined. "His (deceased's) son and daughter-in-law and two grandchildren were shifted to Gandhi Hospital after they reported to district administration with fever. Theson and daughter-in-law havetested positiveand are under treatment," the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A team of medical researchers at Oxford University has published results today in Science that furthers our understanding of COVID-19 transmission; results are be used by international partners to develop mobile contact tracing apps to slow transmission Oxford, United Kingdom. A team of medical researchers and bioethicists at Oxford University has published results today in Science that furthers our understanding of coronavirus transmission. This evidence is enabling several international partners, including NHSX, a joint unit comprised of teams from NHS England and the UK's Department of Health & Social Care, and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI), to assess the feasibility of developing mobile apps for instant contact tracing in record time. If rapidly and widely developed, these mobile apps could help to significantly slow the rate of transmission, and support countries to emerge from lockdowns safely, as restrictions are gradually eased. Professor Christophe Fraser from Oxford University's Big Data Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, a lead author on the Science paper explains, "We need a mobile contact tracing app to urgently support health services to control coronavirus transmission, target interventions and keep people safe. Our analysis suggests that about half of transmissions occur in the early phase of the infection, before you show any symptoms of infection. Our mathematical models also highlight that traditional public health contact tracing approaches provide incomplete data and cannot keep up with the pace of this pandemic." The project is co-led by Dr David Bonsall, senior researcher at Oxford University's Nuffield Department of Medicine and clinician at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, who explains "The mobile app concept we've mathematically modelled is simple and doesn't need to track your location; it uses a low-energy version of Bluetooth to log a memory of all the app users with whom you have come into close proximity over the last few days. If you then become infected, these people are alerted instantly and anonymously, and advised to go home and self-isolate. If app users decide to share additional data, they could support health services to identify trends and target interventions to reach those most in need." The authors argue that a mobile app can reduce transmission at any stage of the epidemic, in countries or regions where the epidemic is just emerging, at the peak of the epidemic, or to support a safe transition out of restricted movement or lockdown. It could also help to reduce the serious social, psychological and economic impacts caused by widespread lockdowns. Critically, the researchers suggest a mobile app can help slow the spread of infection until vaccines and antiviral treatments become widely available. Prof Fraser explains, "A contact tracing app can foster good citizenship by alerting people at risk, it can also help ease us out of confinement If we know we've not been in contact with anyone infected we can leave home safely, whilst still protecting our loved ones and avoiding a broader resurgence of coronavirus in our community." Given the level of infection across much of Europe, the team believe ongoing development of a mobile app partnership across the union would massively reduce transmission and avoid a resurgence in the number of cases, providing an opportunity for all citizens using mobile contact tracing apps to contribute towards ending the epidemic. An app strategy could also be used by low and middle income countries, earlier in the epidemic, to rapidly control transmission and get ahead of the epidemic now. The Oxford team highlight that the mobile contact tracing app should still be combined with isolation of cases, tracing and quarantine of contacts, physical distancing, scaled-up diagnostic testing, decontamination and hygiene measures. As Dr Bonsall explains "If the mobile app is widely adopted in any country, and combined with other critical interventions such as physical distancing and widespread testing, our models suggest the epidemic could be brought under control. This app is a tool for each and every person affected to contribute towards protecting their health services, supporting vulnerable people and simultaneously gradually releasing communities out of extended quarantine." Today's Science study highlights the importance of rigorous ethical standards underpinning the successful and appropriate use of mobile phone technology in addressing the coronavirus pandemic; including a number of ethical requirements needed to foster well-founded public trust and confidence. Professor Michael Parker, Director of the Wellcome Centre for Ethics & Humanities and one of the paper's authors, highlights, "With transparent and inclusive ethical oversight to ensure genuine public trust, it is possible to both save lives and protect civil liberties. The app should be opt-in, provide secure data storage and privacy protection, and be informed by public and user engagement at every stage of implementation. With these guarantees and, if widely installed by users across a country or regional bloc, a mobile app could even help to end the epidemic." As mobile apps launch over the coming weeks and months, the Oxford research team urges people to support official apps, developed by trusted institutions, and their partners, such as the mobile contact tracing apps under advanced assessment in several European countries. Professor Fraser concludes, "Our hope is to support communities with life-saving information as the pandemic worsens, and help to release countries from large-scale isolation. The maths is clear: the more people that use a contract tracing app the better chance we have of getting ahead of this epidemic and eventually stopping it in its tracks. If a country reduces the epidemic growth rate to below zero, the epidemic will rapidly decline and eventually stop. Together we can make this possible." ### READ THE PAPER Quantifying SARS-CoV-2 transmission suggests epidemic control with digital contact tracing Discover the results of a mobile app focussed survey from a large representative sample of the UK population (1055 respondents) conducted 20-22 March 2020. Other country surveys are also available for Italy, Germany and France, currently in each language. Visit this link to download. Visit our website: http://www.coronavirus-fraser-group.org/for-media Explore the mathematical model of COVID-19 infectiousness in an interactive online tool. For interviews or quotes, contact Andrea Stewart, Communications Lead - UK time zone. WhatsApp +44 7528 132 489 and email: andrea.stewart@bdi.ox.ac.uk Oxford University, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Big Data Institute, Fraser Group. Available for interview Professor Christophe Fraser, Senior Group Leader in Pathogen Dynamics in the Nuffield Department of Medicine's Big Data Institute. Prof. Fraser worked on previous epidemics including SARS, Ebola, H1N1 flu and HIV. Prof Fraser is a mathematical modeller leading a multidisciplinary team that develops innovative approaches to epidemic control. Dr David Bonsall is a researcher at Oxford's Nuffield Department of Medicine, Medawar Building & Big Data Institute, and a clinician at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital. Prof Michael Parker, Director of the Wellcome Centre for Ethics & Humanities and Ethox Centre, in Oxford's Nuffield Department of Population Health Dr Luca Ferretti, senior researcher in Statistical Genetics and Pathogen Dynamics at the Big Data Institute at University of Oxford. A five-legged frog recovering from a delicate amputation is in limbo after being caught out by coronavirus travel restrictions. The Green Tree Frog was found in the Mackay area on the Queensland coast before being sent to Mission Beach to have her extra leg. Frog Safe founder Deborah Pergolotti says the amphibian is ready to return to the wild but that has proved easier said than done. A five-legged tree frog (pictured) has to wait at least two weeks to be returned to the wild due to coronavirus restrictions on the movement of people Under Queensland regulations, rescued wildlife must be returned to their point of origin once they have recovered. With people ordered to stay in their neighbourhoods and avoid non-essential travel, Ms Pergolotti was struggling to find a volunteer to take the frog home. One volunteer has since come forward offering to deliver the frog to Mackay, but the trip won't be for another two weeks and restrictions could change in that time. 'The only reason she has to go back to Mackay is because the Queensland government requires it,' Mrs Pergolotti told AAP on Tuesday. Ms Pergolotti says the amputee frog could make a new home in the animal sanctuary on her property south of Cairns if not for government rules. Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 there are a range of conditions including not releasing an animal into adverse weather conditions and the release must be in its normal time of activity. A suitable area for release also has to have appropriate habitat, shelter, water and food resources, be free of hazards and is not an area set for clearing. It was initially thought the frog had a fifth leg growing out of her chest, but surgery revealed two legs were growing out of the same front socket. A deformity Ms Pergolotti has seen many times before. 'It was not quite accurately formed, it had toes on it but the wrong number, and it had an elbow joint, so it was moveable but it was pointing the wrong direction.' She wants rigorous research into a dramatic spike in malformed frogs, which she says coincided with the rise of neonicotinoid pesticides and insecticides in the late 1990s. The European Union has banned outdoor use of neonicotinoids due to the serious danger they pose to bees. Frog Safe founder Deborah Pergolotti (pictured with another frog) oversaw the delicate amputation of the fifth leg but had to find a volunteer which was hard during lockdown The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority is currently reviewing their use amid concerns about bee health. Ms Pergolotti says deformed frogs began appearing in alarming numbers in the late 1990s. Then there was a huge spike in 2003 when far north Queensland got drought-breaking rain. She said reports of malformed frogs suddenly occurred en masse from different areas, including tadpoles with multiple limbs, high die off rates and eggs that didn't hatch. 'There's so little academic interest in what's going on with frogs. This research should be happening,' Mrs Pergolotti said. Saint Louis University Studies Possible Therapies for Coronavirus There are no treatments for the novel coronavirus, and SLU is testing what could be one of the first. Saint Louis University is studying an investigational treatment for COVID-19, the disease causing the current coronavirus outbreak. The trial, which is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), may be conducted in up to approximately 75 sites across the country and worldwide. Sarah George, M.D., is an associate professor of infectious diseases at Saint Louis University and the principal investigator of the trial in St. Louis. SLU file photo by Ellen Hutti. Currently patients with COVID-19 are treated for their symptoms, which can include fever, cough and breathing problems, but not for the virus itself. Those who are hospitalized and seriously ill also may receive advanced support for complications of the disease. We urgently need specific treatments for the novel coronavirus that is spreading in the U.S. and globally because there is no current medication for the disease, said Sarah George, M.D., associate professor of infectious diseases at Saint Louis University and the principal investigator of the trial in St. Louis. With 30 years of experience in researching infectious diseases, SLU is ready to join the search for new treatments for COVID-19. Those who are eligible for the study must be at least 18-years old; hospitalized at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital; and have laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. Please note, the study is not enrolling participants via inquiries from the general public. The study investigates the safety and effectiveness of remdesivir, an investigational intravenous anti-viral medication, in treating COVID-19. As new potential therapies emerge, they may be added to the study for testing based on new data. Study participants will receive the investigational therapies or a placebo when they are in the hospital. Their condition will be assessed daily by study nurses and investigators during hospitalization, as well as treated by hospital care providers. After their hospitalization, study volunteers will participate in two follow-up study visits at Saint Louis Universitys Center for Vaccine Development. The coronavirus landscape is rapidly changing as the number of diagnosed cases of the disease continues to rise in the U.S. and throughout the world. The need for this research becomes critical in St. Louis as the novel coronavirus has spread to the area, George added. Supported by grant 1 UM1 AI148685-01, Saint Louis University was selected to conduct the research as one of nine Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is part of the NIH. SLU has been a VTEU member since 1989. Additional information about the trial, Adaptive COVID-19 Trial, is available at clinicaltrials.gov. To learn more about vaccine research at Saint Louis University, visit vaccine.slu.edu. Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the distinction of awarding the first medical degree west of the Mississippi River. The school educates physicians and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides health care on a local, national and international level. Research at the school seeks new cures and treatments in five key areas: infectious disease, liver disease, cancer, heart/lung disease, and aging and brain disorders. US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks to the press after the House passed a $2 trillion stimulus bill, on March 27, 2020, at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that America needs to move toward a "vote by mail" system to give citizens a safe way to elect their lawmakers while the coronavirus makes it dangerous to congregate. "In terms of the elections, I think we'll probably be moving to vote by mail," Pelosi said in an interview on MSNBC. "That's why we wanted to have more resources in this third bill that just was signed by the president, to get those resources to the states to facilitate the reality of life: that we are going to have to have more vote by mail." Her position is in direct conflict with that of President Donald Trump who on Monday warned that voting by mail would hurt the Republican Party. Last Friday, Trump signed the third installment of the coronavirus relief package, a $2 trillion economic stimulus bill to help prop up the economy. The 880-page legislation offers relief to individuals, businesses and health facilities. It includes direct payments to individuals, stronger unemployment insurance, loans and grants to businesses, and more resources for hospitals, states and municipalities. While $400 million in election assistance for states was included in the package, it was far less than Democrats' original request. Pelosi is now angling to revisit election reform in a "phase 4" package that Congress is beginning to address. Pelosi suggested that a vote-by-mail system would not damage "the integrity of the election system." Already, more than a dozen states and U.S. territories have either postponed their primaries or moved to a vote-by-mail system amid the pandemic. But Trump in a television interview on Monday dismissed efforts to push for a vote-by-mail system and other reforms to make voting easier amid the pandemic. He said these types of reforms would damage the Republican Party. "The things they had in there were crazy. They had things, levels of voting that if you'd ever agreed to it, you'd never have a Republican elected in this country again," Trump said on Fox News. "They had things in there about election days and what you do and all sorts of clawbacks. They had things that were just totally crazy and had nothing to do with workers that lost their jobs and companies that we have to save." Heavy taxes force entrepreneurs to sell businesses By Park Jae-hyuk The number of private equity funds (PEFs) in Korea intending to intervene in the management of businesses reached a record-high of 721 as of the end of last year, 15 years after the country first allowed PEFs to be established, according to data compiled by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS). Market experts said behind the rapid growth were small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) founders, who put their businesses on the M&A market, instead of handing ownership over to their children. For those who are used to sibling feuds over the control of some chaebol groups, such as Hanjin and Lotte, first-generation SME owners selling their companies may seem unusual. However, most SMEs nowadays have shunned father-to-son ownership transfers. A survey by the Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy showed 82.9 percent of 1,400 mid-sized company owners had no family succession plans in 2019. The ministry considered excessive inheritance and gift taxes as the main reason for this. In a similar survey done a year earlier, 69.5 percent of firms without succession plans cited taxes as the biggest reason. The latest survey did not ask the reason they did not have any succession plans. McKinsey & Company said in a July 2018 report that first-generation owners suffering from heavy inheritance taxes fueled the rise of the private equity industry in Korea. "South Korea has one of the highest inheritance taxes in the world: an inheritance tax of 50 percent, and a progressive tax for the largest shareholders of 65 percent compared with an average of 26.3 percent for OECD countries," McKinsey managing partner Choi Won-sik wrote on the report. "As the family owners of these businesses contemplate their succession options, private equity has emerged as a more attractive and lucrative alternative." As an example, the global consulting firm mentioned Lock&Lock, a Korean plastic container maker that sold a 63 percent stake to Hong Kong-based Affinity Equity Partners for $561 million in 2017. Additional examples are Able C&C, a cosmetics maker that was sold to IMM Private Equity, and Haimarrow Food Service, the Mom's Touch franchiser which was sold to KL & Partners. Unidus' second-generation owner sold the condom maker to a fund set up by Widwin Holdings and CTL, after the founder's unexpected death. Unidus changed its name to Biogenetics. PEFs focusing on mid-cap buyouts Against this backdrop, a growing number of buyout firms are focusing on SMEs. Among 198 PEFs set up in 2019 for management intervention, committed capital to 154 funds was under 100 billion won ($80 million), according to FSS data. In the previous year, committed capital to 151 new PEFs among 197 was below 100 billion won. If committed capital to a PEF is under 100 billion won, the PEF is allowed to engage in the management of small businesses. Those looking at large-caps need at least 300 billion won in committed capital. Without drawing gigantic blind-pool funds, small buyout firms in Korea have begun to pay attention to smaller M&A deals, regarding the market for those as a blue ocean. VIG Partners, for example, has specialized in what it calls "mid-market buyouts," after its failed investment in LG Siltron, which was made when it was called Vogo Fund. It has recently bet money on promising SMEs, such as Bodyfriend, Hi Parking and Bonchon. Orchestra Private Equity has signed M&A deals only with owners of SMEs considered to be "hidden champions," which refers to companies that are relatively small but highly successful in their specific industry. The company established in 2014 expects more SMEs in Korea and Japan will be on the market in the next few decades in line with the retirement of baby boomer workers in both countries. "The recent demographic and social changes in both countries caused many SMEs to reconsider business strategies and of course, succession planning, because baby boomers have had generally fewer children than their parents and face succession and liquidity challenges later in life," Orchestra managing partner Jay Kim said in a previous interview with The Korea Times. "For these entrepreneurs, private equity groups such as ours can offer an alternative and meaningful exit as we look beyond just buying an asset. We offer a real succession for the company through professional mentorship and guidance to the company backed with our knowledge." Manitoba is putting further restrictions on non-critical businesses starting on Wednesday in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and 24 new cases of the virus in the province. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 31/3/2020 (653 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Manitoba is putting further restrictions on non-critical businesses starting on Wednesday in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and 24 new cases of the virus in the province. On Monday, the total number of cases rested at 96 nine of which are in the Prairie Mountain Health Region. All businesses that are deemed non-critical must close between April 1 and April 14 to help limit the spread of coronavirus, but can still operate remotely. Restaurants now must close their dining area and can only offer takeout or delivery, according to the provincial order. The businesses that stay open have to ensure social distancing measures are in place if they allow members of the public inside. Premier Brian Pallister said during Monday afternoons news conference that the decision wasnt an easy one to make, but it is about proactively protecting essential services and the health-care system. "The magnitude of the potential consequences of this (pandemic) are greater than anything weve seen, most of us in our lifetimes. Our timing is appropriate for Manitoba," Pallister said. The new order doesnt restrict the delivery of services by the federal, provincial or municipal governments. It also doesnt affect health care or homeless shelters. Public transit, taxis and private vehicles for hire can still operate, but have to ensure "reasonable separation of people in a vehicle," according to the order. The schedule of critical businesses includes a wide swath of exemptions, including the transportation of commercial goods, grocery stores, pharmacies, maintenance companies, news organizations, construction, food production and more. Pallister said the list of businesses that can stay open was created with the help of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. Dr. Brent Roussin, the provinces chief public health officer, said the April 14 date is in place for now, but the province will review the reopening date based on the situation on the ground. Cathy Snelgrove, president of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, said Manitoba businesses could see the non-essential shutdown on the horizon based on what Ontario and other provinces have done, but its still tough to deal with. "Its a little sad to see it come at this point, that weve progressed that far, but I think obviously its essential," she said. The impact will particularly hard felt in Brandon, where there are many small businesses operated out of homes or smaller setups. "We have a lot of people employed in that, so I think were going to continue to see the impacts into our economy," Snelgrove said. She added the Brandon Chamber of Commerce has information available to help business owners access federal government financial assistance and information to help weather the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of cases in Manitoba now stands at 96, according to Roussin. There is still only one death in the province due to the virus, but Roussin said four people have been hospitalized, including one in intensive care. As of Monday two people had recovered from the virus in Manitoba. As more people become infected with COVID-19 in Manitoba, Roussin said the province is expecting to begin to see more community transmission between people. He couldnt say when that would happen, but Manitoba Health is preparing for a surge in cases when it does. There were nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Prairie Mountain Health region as of Monday afternoon four more than on Sunday. The news comes after the province announced that passengers on two flights from Calgary to Brandon on March 14 and 15 tested positive for the virus. A spokesperson for Shared Health said the province would not be releasing more information on how many passengers on each flight tested positive. Public health investigations are ongoing into the two flights that arrived in Brandon, Roussin said. He couldnt say whether the nine cases in Prairie Mountain Health were all travel-related or if they were based on community transmission of the virus. The province is not releasing more information on where exactly the cases are within each health region unless there is a public health reason to do so, Roussin said. Social distancing remains critically important to slow down spread of the virus and could be in place for "many, many weeks," Roussin said. Even when outside, he advised people to turn around if they see a crowd of people congregating. According to numbers provided by Prairie Mountain Health, 272 people have been tested for COVID-19 at the Brandon testing site. dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ Chinese companies have reported a pick-up in economic activity this month as they start to recover from the coronavirus shutdown, a new survey shows. For the first time in months, some encouraging figures were released today, but analysts have cautioned that a full near-term recovery is unlikely given that foreign demand for China's goods and services will remain low as many countries remain in lockdown. China's coronavirus infections have slowed significantly from their peak in February, and many factories have resumed work. But the country, which is where the pandemic originated, still faces a lack of demand as the situation in Europe, the US and other countries is not showing signs of improvement yet. Back to work: China's coronavirus infections have slowed down from their peak, and many factories have resumed work, but analysts say a pick-up in activity may be short lived China's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 52 in March, where a reading above 50 indicates growth. It's a big jump from a plunge to a record low of 35.7 in February, and above analysts' expectations. China's services sector also bounced back, with the official non-manufacturing PMI rising to 52.3 from 29.6 in February, a separate survey has showed. But the report cautioned that the data 'does not mean that China's economic operation has returned to normal' - a view echoed by many analysts, who still expect a global recession. Iris Pang, ING's chief economist for China, said the improvement could be brief as the situation in China has not returned to where it was before the virus struck. 'Partial lockdowns are expected to continue in some areas, and even if there are fewer lockdowns, there will still be rules on social distancing, which will continue to dampen retail and catering businesses,' she said. 'Global demand is also likely to remain very soft, which will affect export orders for China. 'Factories in some economies, including China, need to follow social distancing, so production capacity is unlikely to be much better in April compared to March.' For manufacturing, the good news is that production and new orders rose above 50 in March. However, export orders and imports were still below 50, which reflects the fact that while domestic demand has recovered, demand from abroad not quite so as many countries around the world remain in lockdowns. 'The biggest problem facing China's economy in the second quarter is the slumping foreign demand,' said Nie Wen, an economist at Shanghai-based Hwabao Trust. However, stock markets in the UK and Europe have been lifted by the positive figures, with most major indexes in positive territory today. Stock markets in the UK and Europe have been lifted by the positive figures, with most major indexes in positive territory today Chris Beauchamp, a market Analyst at IG, said: 'The wave of optimism continues to wash over markets, after a surprisingly-strong Chinese PMI figure overnight.' But he added: 'Investors should be careful about drawing too many inferences from one PMI figure, since one swallow does not a summer make, but for now markets are continuing to look for the positives, while at the same time equities are still seeing inflows.' Economists are already forecasting a steep contraction in China's first quarter GDP, with some expecting a slump of 9 per cent or more - the first such contraction in thirty years. The coronavirus has wreaked havoc along global supply chains and severely hurt foreign demand amid tight lockdowns in Europe, the United States and a number of other key economies where daily life has ground to a halt. It seems that the NLEX Corporation and San Miguel Corporation has found another 'connecting route' in their expressways for the Filipinos during the Enhanced Community quarantine imposed by the Duterte administration. This as both bigwigs ensure that rransportation of frontliners and goods will go unhampered. NLEX Corporation's measures The NLEX and SCTEX have remained partially open to facilitate unhampered movement of essential goods and transit of medical workers amid the Luzon-wide lockdown. As a key public service company, we are called to ensure service continuity. The expressways are key components of Luzons supply chain and we have adjusted our daily operations following the guidelines of the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF), NLEX Corporation president and general manager J. Luigi L. Bautista said. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has recently emphasized that , movement of all food and non-food cargoes within, to, and from Luzon shall be unhampered. From Google Maps NLEX Corporation daily operations are coordinated with the Joint Task Force CV Shield led by the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Health, and other government agencies, including prioritizing cargo trucks delivering basic commodities and the Departmentoof Transportation's free bus rides service for health workers. Further, NLEX emergency response teams, patrol crews, and security teams are all in place and necessary safety measures such as the disinfection of workstations, strictly requiring personal protective equipment (PPE) and social distancing for their frontliners are observed. NLEX Corporation remains committed to supporting the program to contain the spread of COVID-19," Bautista added. SMC waives tolls to frontliners From Wikimedia Commons Meanwhile, SMC has waived the toll on all its expresswaysSTAR Tollway, South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Skyway, NAIAX, and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX)for medical front liners. This is the least we can do to show our appreciation and gratitude for our doctors and nurses who are working under extremely challenging circumstances to save lives. Considering the sacrifices they make on a daily basis, this is a small gesture. But nevertheless, we hope it helps make life a bit easier for them, and remind them that what they do for all us is deeply appreciated, said SMC President Ramon Ang. To avail of the toll-free privilege, medical personnel need to secure a special RFID sticker from SMC Tollways, or have their existing RFID sticker converted. These may be availed at temporary booths the company has set up, initially, at the Shell Magallanes gas station and the NAIAx toll gate, from 8am to 7pm. Medical practitioners only need to present their PRC license card. An SMC tollway personnel will install the toll-free RFID stickers on their vehicles or convert their existing stickers to toll-free stickers. The company said it will make the toll-free RFID stickers available at other major locations soon. We hope that with this program, our medical frontliners would have one less thing to worry about, Ang added. Earlier, SMC also announced that it opened priority lanes at the SLEX to help ensure the unimpeded flow of essential goods such as medical supplies and equipment as well as food and raw materials. The company is also undertaking a massive, nationwide effort to provide free rubbing alcohol to medical practitioners in hospitals as well as other vital agencies and institutions. Under Ang, the company is also distributing food donations to vulnerable communities affected by the quarantine, as well as hospitals all over Metro Manila. Story continues Also read: SLEx, STAR Toll Fees Waived for All Taal Relief Efforts After a month of silence, the Islamic Republic Minister of Roads and Transport, Mohammad Eslami, said on Sunday that the coronavirus outbreak in Iran had stopped the procedure of decoding the black boxes of the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) passenger plane downed on January 8 over Tehran. The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' (IRGC) missiles shot down the Boeing plane killing all 176 onboard. Victims of the crash included 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans, and three Britons. "We will resume reading the black boxes after the outbreak of the coronavirus and its related disease, Covid-19, is contained," Eslami told reporters. However, earlier on March 11, the Islamic Republic representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Farhad Paravaresh, had promised to hand over the black boxes to Kyiv within less than two weeks. Furthermore, Paravaresh also announced that, if more actions needed, Tehran would not oppose sending the black boxes to France. Immediately after the deadline set by Parvaresh was over, and his promise remained unfulfilled, the Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne explicitly accused the Islamic Republic of violating international law by refusing to hand over the flight recorders. Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Yehor Bozhok, met with Iranian Ambassador to Ukraine, Manouchehr Moradi, on March 23, to agree on further cooperation to establish the causes of the UIA aircraft crash and bring the perpetrators to justice. Earlier, referring to the detention of several people related to the downing of UIA's Boeing, the Iranian authorities had insisted that further digging into the case was mired with "political motivation." However, Ukraine has asserted that problems related to the novel coronavirus outbreak in Iran should not be used as an excuse for postponing further investigation into the tragic case. Exclusively speaking to Radio Farda's Anna Rajskaya, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister, Yegor Bozhok, insisted that Kyiv only expects Tehran to remain committed to its promises. Sadly, there has been no positive development concerning the case, Bozhok told Radio Farda, reiterating that Tehran should immediately hand over the black boxes to Kyiv or any other country Ukraine chooses. According to Bozhok, Iran has tabled several promises to Ukraine, the United Nations, and the whole world. Kyiv expects the Islamic Republic authorities to live up to its pledges to cooperate with the investigation. "Our priority is to achieve the truth about the tragedy, ensure that whoever responsible for it will be punished, and the relatives of the victims receive an appropriate sum as compensation," Bozhok asserted. In the meantime, Bozhok noted that Tehran's Ambassador to Kyiv maintained that he was unaware of the reasons behind Iran's reluctance in handing over the black boxes. "Ambassador Moradi told me that Iran had focused all its attempts on containing the novel coronavirus," Bozhok noted, adding, "I responded that while Ukraine understood Tehran's problems, it still believed that the whole world was struggling with the deadly virus, and that should not block further investigations into the downing of the UIA's flight 757." Moreover, Bozhik disclosed that the Islamic Republic has not yet decided about compensating the relatives of the victims of the crash. In the meantime, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister affirmed that Kyiv did not seek to pressure Tehran. Still, it expects the Islamic Republic to fulfill its international obligations, Bozhok said. The Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv took off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport at about 06:00 Tehran time, on January 8. Minutes later, two IRGC missiles were fired at the plane bringing it down near Tehran. It took Iranian authorities three days to finally admit that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps had fired two missiles at the passenger plane. Since January 11, IRGC and other authorities in the clergy-dominated Iran have insisted that the missiles were "accidentally" and "mistakenly" fired at the UIA's plane. 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. Kathmandu, March 31 The government of Nepal has finally called off the ambitious Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign formally citing the failure to meet the target due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, the secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, confirms that the Cabinet meeting held on March 22 took the decision. Earlier, the government had postponed the campaign till April with a hope that the crisis would be over by then. But now, instead of recovering from the crisis, the world seems much affected as the infection has already been declared a pandemic. Now, most of the countries have imposed travel restrictions on their citizens in order to protect them from the infection. Nepal itself has suspended all international flights from the past week. The government had announced the campaigned over a year ago with a target of bringing in at least 2 million tourists in the year 2020. However, the coronavirus crisis began to plague the world from late 2019, and the global economy suffered a blow. Secretary Adhikari says the VNY Secretariat formed in partnership with the private sector will also be dissolved in effect from April 13. The government had allocated Rs 650 million for the campaign for this fiscal year only (which ends mid-July). After the unexpected failure, the government is planning to launch a Visit Nepal Decade campaign. Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai has announced that the governments annual policy and programme for the next fiscal year will formally announce the campaign. Federal immigration authorities have discovered a drug smuggling tunnel leading from San Diego under the U.S.-Mexico border and seized nearly $30 million worth of drugs found inside. Federal agents on the San Diego Tunnel Task Force discovered the sophisticated tunnel on Thursday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a release Tuesday. The discovery resulted from a joint investigation by members of the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Attorneys Office. The tunnel extends more than 2,000 feet underground from a warehouse in Tijuana to a warehouse in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego. Authorities found an estimated $29.6 million in drugs in the tunnel, seizing 1,300 pounds of cocaine, 86 pounds of methamphetamine, 17 pounds of heroin, 3,000 pounds of marijuana and more than two pounds of fentanyl. Investigators estimated the passageway is several months old based on advanced construction in parts of the tunnel, including reinforced walls, ventilation, lighting and an underground rail system. U.S. investigators worked with the Fiscalia General de la Republica and Secretaria de la Defensa Naciona to find the tunnels entrance on the Mexico side. The discovery comes two months after authorities in January discovered the longest cross-border tunnel yet in the same area, a 4,309-foot passage running from Tijuana to San Diego. Despite the current COVID-19 pandemic, DEA employees continue to work tirelessly to serve and protect the community, DEA special agent in charge John W. Callery said in a statement. I hope this sends a clear message that despite the ongoing public health crisis, [Homeland Security Investigations] and our law enforcement partners will remain resilient and continue to pursue criminal organizations responsible for the cross-border smuggling of narcotics into the United States, Homeland Security Investigations San Diego acting special agent in charge Cardell T. Morant said. More from National Review Napa County Public Health reported Friday night Napa County's ninth cases of COVID-19 -- a St. Helena resident who is under isolation and quarantine orders. The patient has a direct relationship with a previously confirmed case. Isolation and quarantine orders have been served and Napa County Public Health is conducting its investigation. On Thursday night, the county announced an eighth confirmed case. This individual had close contact with a Southern California confirmed case, the county reported Thursday night. Napa County had been the last Bay Area county to report a confirmed coronavirus case until Sunday when the first two were reported. A third was disclosed on Tuesday, then three on Wednesday. On Thursday, the county reported a seventh case, a resident of Calistoga, then an eighth in the evening. This increase in confirmed cases coincides with the county ramping up testing. Of the nine cases, four are City of Napa residents, with three from St. Helena, and one each from American Canyon and Calistoga, officials said. Seven of the eight individuals were reported to be in isolation and not requiring hospitalization, while the American Canyon resident is hospitalized out of county. Health workers try to identify close contacts of each patient, the county said. As of Friday morning, California had more than 4,000 confirmed cases, the U.S. more than 86,000, agencies report. 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/. You can reach Howard Yune at 707-256-2214 or hyune@napanews.com 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. 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Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0483583170)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048353fd80)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0483583170)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048353fd80)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0483543f58)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048353fd80)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048353fd80)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482deb2a0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f04835649c0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f04835649c0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 A grateful 23-year-old woman on Tuesday said she had seen gods in the doctors who cured her of COVID-19 at a state-run hospital in Kolkata and kept on boosting her morale during her 12-day stay in the facility. The woman returned from Scotland where she was pursuing higher studies on March 19. From the airport here, She went straight to the Beliaghata ID hospital where she tested positive for coronavirus infection. She was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday. "I have heard that doctors are Gods. Now I have seen that myself here. Im grateful to them. Everyday, doctors and officials from the state health department motivated me and kept on telling me that there was nothing to panic about the disease as this is as normal as regular flu, cough and cold," she told reporters after reaching home at Habra in North 24 Parganas district. She urged people to follow the instructions of the state and the central governments to contain the coronavirus outbreak. "People should not panic. They must maintain hygiene and abide by the ongoing lockdown," she said. On her return from Scotland, the woman said, she was told at the Mumbai airport to go for home quarantine as she was feverish. However, she claimed that she was not stopped at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here. "I had taken paracetamol because I had a mild temperature. At the Mumbai airport, they told me to go for home isolation. But I was not held at the Kolkata airport. I myself went up to them and said I was having a fever. They told me to go and take a test on my own. I went to the Beliaghata ID because I have a brother at home and did not want him to get infected," she said. On why she decided to come back from Scotland, the woman said, "I decided to return on seeing my friends there started leaving for home. When I had contacted the authorities (in Scotland) they refused me a checkup and asked me to go for home quarantine. Then came back home thinking that Ill get some treatment in West Bengal." Health department officials said though the woman was released from hospital, she requires to be in home quarantine for another fortnight. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. Tens of thousands of high school students are busy at home, studying for their matriculation exam in civics scheduled for June. Education Minister Rafi Peretz has decided to take into consideration the limitations of online teaching during the lockdown imposed on most Israelis by the spread of COVID-19. In a March 20 tweet, Peretz, a representative of right-wing settlers, said he had instructed the professionals in his ministry to make this years matriculation exams easier for students in terms of the material to be covered and the topics from which they will be exempt. Two days later, the Education Ministry issued a list of the subjects covered by the exam. Anat Ohion, the ministrys supervisor of civics studies, informed teachers, Due to the emergency, only sections appearing on the focus list should be taught, adding, and only in this context. Education Ministry sources told Haaretz education affairs analyst Or Kashti that the focus was adapted from questions formulated prior to the novel coronavirus outbreak, calling it a political tool in the hands of the regime that signals to students and teachers what is important and what can be skipped. So here are some of the subjects that Israeli 12th graders and soon-to-be-armed soldiers apparently do not need to know, even though they will be eligible to vote in the next election and will determine the direction and future of their state. the authority or role of the Supreme Court and judicial independence; the conflict between Arabs and Jews, the principle of majority decisions and preservation of minority rights (in other words, the principle of majority tyranny), civil rights (the right to vote and be elected, the right of political association) or group and cultural rights (among them the right of an ethnic minority to its own language, culture and representation); the commitment to obey the law (including refusal to obey the law due to conscientious, ideological-political objections or to an unlawful order); the separation of religion and state and the right of a democracy to protect itself against threats to the nature of the regime and character of the state. The civics exam will, however, cover Israel's religious identity while skipping analysis of the various positions held by Arabs and Jews in regard to its national identity. The Education Ministers coronavirus considerations have not exempted students from learning by heart the chapter on the Jewish characteristics of the state, including a reference to the Nationality Law (2018) and to the status of Hebrew as the only official language as determined by this controversial statute. The characteristics of Israel's non-Jewish citizens, the 21% Arab minority, are known and familiar to every Israeli household. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government colleagues repeatedly label this community and its elected representatives a minority that supports a gang of terrorists. Removing such subjects as the authority of the Supreme Court, separation of powers and the rule of law from the matriculation exam in civics does not make them disappear from the public and media agendas. The teenagers stuck at home with their parents, closely following television and online reports about the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, have recently been exposed to unprecedented political drama. On March 23, they saw Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein thumb his nose at a unanimous ruling by five Supreme Court justices ordering him to convene the plenary for a vote on his replacement. Students learned from senior government ministers, among them Amir Ohana, the justice minister and Netanyahu yes-man, that the states top court is allegedly not authorized to overrule a decision by the speaker (not to convene the plenary) even when it runs counter to the demand of a majority of 61 lawmakers. Another lesson students learned is that there is nothing wrong with passing a law that allows a politician, in this case one named Benjamin Netanyahu, to remain part of the Cabinet while standing trial on serious criminal charges. Luckily for students, the civics exam will not include questions about the parties that ran in the March 2 elections for the 23rd Knesset, their candidates or their views. Take, for example, the following: What is the name of the political party of Knesset member Orly Levy-Abekasis, who ran on a joint Labor-Gesher-Meretz ticket? (The answer is Gesher.) What is the name of the new party formed by Knesset members Yoaz Hendel and Zvi Hauser after breaking from Telem, which had hooked up with Hosen Leyisrael (Israel Resilience) and then split from Yesh Atid? (The answer is Derech Eretz.) What did Hosen Leyisrael Chair Benny Gantz call interim Prime Minister Netanyahu a few weeks ago before he made him in recent days into a full-fledged prime minister? (The answer is Erdogan.) How did Labor Chair Amir Peretz, whose associations announced on March 30 that he will be joining the soon-to-be-formed Netanyahu-led government, convince voters prior to the March 2 elections that he meant it when he said he would never join a government with Netanyahu? (He shaved off his moustache, so voters could read his lips.) For a bonus question, on which ticket did Education Minister Peretz, the one controlling the curriculum of more than 2 million Israeli school children, intend to run before jumping ship at the last minute to join the ranks of the right-wing Yamina? (The answer is the racist Kahanist Otzma Yehudit.) Most civics teachers would presumably not know the answers to these questions either. It would be interesting to know how many of the next generation of voters trust the government and the Knesset of which the minister in charge of their education is a member. According to a survey last year by the Israel Democracy Institute among these youths parents and grandparents, for them it is no more than 30%. According to the Israel Democracy Index, the country's political parties are at the bottom of the list of trustworthy institutions, at 14%. Some 84% of left-wing voters believe Israeli democracy is under serious threat, but only 7% of Israeli Jews self-identify as left wing, and a similar percentage rate themselves on the left-right spectrum as center-left. These troubling findings were collated before Israels politicians, one after another, broke all records for hypocrisy, cynicism and opportunism in recent weeks. These same politicians appear to believe that someone should also cut them a break in their civics lessons, especially in the chapter that deals with credibility, ethics, integrity and serving as a personal example to younger generations. Advertisement New York state now has 75,795 cases of coronavirus - an increase of 9,298 since Monday - and 1,550 have died, Governor Andrew Cuomo revealed on Tuesday as he admitted 'no one knows' when the pandemic will end and said the entire country 'underestimated it'. Speaking at a wide-ranging press conference on Tuesday, Gov. Cuomo told of how he was unifying the state's private and public healthcare systems to operate as one before the pandemic 'apex' in the state hits. He admitted he does not know when it will come and that data projections he looks at suggest it could happen anytime between seven and 21 days from now. The death toll across the state of New York rose by 332 overnight and is not yet showing signs of slowing down. The new numbers for how many new cases and new deaths there are in New York City have not yet been given. The US has now surpassed China in the number of infections and deaths; there are now more than 181,000 cases in the US and 3,699 people have died. Gov. Cuomo told people to settle in for a longer period of crisis than they were anticipating and said 'we still have to come back down the other side of the mountain' even after the peak happens. He also spoke of his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, who has tested positive for the virus and is now self-quarantining in his basement. Gov. Cuomo confirmed the diagnosis at the same time as Chris tweeted it. Overnight, 18,000 people were tested in the state of New York. To date, there have been 200,000 tests. Cuomo said the data is uneven and 'bouncing' so where it appears the death rates may be slowing, they are not yet. 'It's an imperfect reporting mechanism but the basic line is still up. We're still going up,' he said, adding that he was speaking to every expert he could find to rely on their projections and not 'opine' over what may happen. He said he was 'tired' of being 'behind' the virus, adding: 'We've been behind this virus from day one. The virus was in China. Unless we assume some immune system variation with Asian people, it was coming here. You don't win playing catch up. We have to get ahead of it.' He also said it was foolish to 'underestimate your opponent', continuing: 'We underestimated this virus. It's more powerful and dangerous than we anticipated.' Scroll down for video New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday gave a wide-ranging press conference and said he still did not know when the coronavirus pandemic would peak Cuomo said the 'next battle' will be the apex of cases and deaths but he does not know when it will hit. 'We are still going up the mountain until we hit the apex of the curve, then we come down the other side of the mountain. We are planning now for the battle at the top of the mountain. 'We need a social acceptance of the time expectation. We're all anxious, fatigued - everybody wants to know one thing - when is it over? Nobody knows. 'You can have a hypothesis, you can have an opinion, but nobody knows. I can say this - it is not going to be soon. 'If our apex is 14-21 days, that's our apex. You then have to come down the other side of the mountain so calibrate yourself and your expectations so you're not disappointed every morning when you get up. 'When is the apex? That is the $65,000 question. We have literally 5 models that we look at. It's true to say almost no two are the same. The range on the apex is somewhere between seven to 21 days,' he said. Cuomo's strategy to tackle the virus includes; Centralizing the hospital system to force public and private hospitals to share resources including staff First, staff from upstate hospitals that are not hard hit will be sent to New York City New York City hospitals, both public and private, will redistribute patients to spread them evenly across the city until each hospital reaches its capacity (all have increased their capacities by at least 50 percent Then, patients will be distributed from New York City to quieter hospitals upstate or further afield in the state Field hospitals will be used to alleviate the strain on them Healthcare workers from out of state will also be used to provide relief for 'exhausted' and 'overwhelmed' doctors and nurses He has bought 17,000 ventilators from China for $25,000 each, a total of $425million Governor's brother CNN anchor Chris Cuomo tests positive for coronavirus Cuomo's brother Chris, a CNN anchor, has tested positive for the virus The CNN host revealed his diagnosis on Tuesday saying he had been exposed in recent days to people who had subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. Cuomo, who said he started suffering from a fever, chills and a shortness of breath, is now quarantining himself away from his wife and children in the basement of his home. He said he will be filming his nightly CNN show from his basement. 'I just found out that I am positive for coronavirus. I have been exposed to people in recent days who have subsequently tested positive and I had fever, chills and shortness of breath,' Cuomo tweeted on Tuesday. 'I just hope I didn't give it to the kids and Cristina. That would make me feel worse than this illness. 'I am quarantined in my basement (which actually makes the rest of the family seem pleased!) I will do my shows from here. 'We will all beat this by being smart and tough and united.' Gov. Cuomo said of it the diagnosis on Tuesday that it proved the virus was the 'great equalizer'. 'He is going to be fine, he's young and in good shape, strong, not as strong as he thinks, but he will be fine. 'But there's a lesson in this. He's an essential worker - a member of the press. He's been out there. You go out there, the chance you get effected is very high.' He said their mother had been in contact with Chris two weeks ago after she went to his home - and that he had advised his brother against having her stay there due to the risks for elderly and sick people. 'My mother was at his house and I said that is a mistake. My mother is... older and she's healthy but I said you can't have mom at the house,' Gov Cuomo said. 'He said 'no mom is lonely, she wants to be at the house. I feel bad she's cooped up at the apartment'. I said I do too but you bring her to the house you expose her to a lot of things. You could expose mom to the virus. 'We had a whole discussion. If he was exposed, chances are she may have been exposed. Then we'd be looking at a different situation than my brother sitting in his basement for two weeks. 'It's my family, your family - it's all of our families. 'This virus is that insidious. We have to keep that in mind... remember who is vulnerable here and protect them.' Gov Cuomo (left) went on to describe his brother (right) as his best friend and said he's different to the 'combative and argumentative' person people see on TV. He said his brother was a 'really sweet, beautiful guy'. They are both pictured with their father former Governor Mario Cuomo Advertisement Central to Cuomo's plan to centralize the hospital systems to do away with the notion of public and private healthcare and make everyone share everything. He said he had a tense meeting on Monday with the leaders of private hospitals which ordinarily profit from a surge in patients and that he nearly 'didn't make it out' of it because they were so angry at what he was instructing. 'I don't care which link breaks in the chain - the chain is still broken. It doesn't matter which hospital, which link - any link breaks, the chain breaks. 'The healthcare system is a chain. It breaks anywhere, it breaks everywhere. That has to be our mentality,' he said. He referred to the 'commercialization' of the topic as 'garbage' and said 'sometimes the emergency has to happen to enforce the change.' 'We're sending out a rule today that says, I want to know what your inventory is because we really need to share; everybody put everything in the middle of the table, in a pot and then we'll distribute it. 'The hospitals that were stressed can't take the stress. The personalities having trouble dealing with stress are having more trouble dealing with their stress. Elmhurst, we are at capacity, you have other public hospitals that have beds. 'We have to get better and faster at transferring patients. A perfect system is everyone's at 80 percent not some people at 40 percent and some are at 110 percent. That's not the way it's organized right now. 'You almost have to shock the system into saying OK we're really going to operate as one. 'No hospital is going to say I want to be over capacity. They didn't have the cooperation or the system to call someone up and say, I'm drowning. I need to have somebody else accept 150 patients. 'That's going to have to be managed into the system. Normally you have them fighting for patients because patients are revenue. 'Sometimes you need the emergency to enforce change. You are violating basic commercial rules here and business rules and practices; to override all that garbage,' he said. Since issuing a call to action for retired nurses and doctors to come back to work, 78,000 people have volunteered. 'We have now, a few days ago we put out to ask retirees, we have now 78,000 people who said they would help; God bless the state of NY and god bless humanity,' he said. He is urging other states to help him now so that he can help them later. 'It's unity. Let's help each other. New York needs help now. This is going to be a rolling wave across the country; New York then Detroit then New Orleans then California 'If we were smart as a nation - come help us in New York, get the experience and the training here, then let's all go help the next place then the next place then the next place. 'That would be a smart national way of doing this.' Cuomo also fumed over the 'bidding war' that has been created by the federal government for ventilators. He said that he had bought 17,000 ventilators from China for $25,000 each, a total of $425million, but that he was having to compete against every other state for them and the government. 'Look at the bizarre situation we wound up in; every state does its own purchasing, trying to buy the same commodity. 'The same exact item. So you have 50 states competing to buy the same item, bidding up each other, and competing against each other - it's like being on eBay with 50 other states, bidding on a ventilator,' he said. Despite being told to stay at home, there have been crowds of New Yorkers still using the city's subway systems and not maintaining 6ft distances from each other A crowded subway ca in Harlem on Tuesday despite the order to stay at home. Many non-essential workers have to still get to work Busy streets in Harlem where people continue to go out despite the city being under a stay-at-home order A hospital worker at the Brooklyn Hospital Center takes a break from working inside one of the many refrigerated makeshift morgues that have been set up across the city He also suggested FEMA did not know how to cope with the virus and urged its operators to prepare now for it being a long battle. 'Time is not our friend. It's about a social stamina. This is not one, two, three, four, five, or six weeks. 'This is not going to be an Easter surprise. Understand that and have the stamina to deal with it,' he said. President Trump last weekend told the country that the pandemic would be over by Easter. He has since walked that back. He also fumed over the number of people, particularly in New York City, who continue to go out despite being told to stay at home. 'Individual responsibility is discipline, selflessness and being informed. Stay at home. 'I know it's hard to stay at home and I know everyone thinks, "I can go out and be smart and I won't get infected because it's me, I'm a superhero, its not going to be me." 'That's not true. It's not just about you. It's not just about your health and your life that you're playing with here my friend - you can infect other people. 'I've been trying to communicate this many different ways; we see people coming out who don't need to be out,' he said. On Monday, crowds gathered to welcome the USNS Comfort as it docked in New York Harbor. There were also crowds of people in Harlem on Tuesday. We can only imagine how bad things are going to get when the virus spreads, she said. Even for folks who are not at higher risk, the anxiety and knowing that you are at risk of infection has put such a toll on our clients mental health. To those who knew him, Albert Johnson Trousdale was simply known as Johnson. The Elgin resident was one of the first casualties of the coronavirus pandemic in Alabama. He was 78. Trousdale died early March 26 at Huntsville Hospital, just five days after he was diagnosed with a confirmed case of COVID-19, his family announced on a Facebook page updating his battle with and effort to recover from the disease. Johnson went to join Nicky (his late son) in Heaven this morning, the family posted on the Facebook page Thursday. He will be missed by so many people. Please pray for Nancy, Julie, Matt and Nicole. A 21-year veteran of the United States Army and Alabama National Guard, Trousdale also spent 31 years working for Monsanto in Decatur before retiring. He also ran a home improvement business for several years and was an active member of Elgin Church of Christ. His son, Matthew, told WAAY 31 last week that Trousdale maintained a pretty healthy lifestyle and ran about 6 miles a day, though he experienced some heart problems in the past and underwent hip replacement surgery in January. According to his family, Trousdale began running a fever on March 9 and his leg began to swell, but he did not have a cough or exhibit other symptoms of the virus. He was admitted to Huntsville Hospital a week later, when doctors discovered blood clots in his ankle and groin area, with one of them moving to his lungs, resulting in the development of pneumonia. He was tested for coronavirus on March 19 and put in isolation. That night, he had trouble breathing and was intubated but was resting well the following morning. Two days later, the test results came back; Trousdale tested positive for coronavirus and was in critical but stable condition. His family chronicled Trousdales battle with the virus over the next several days via the Facebook page, all the while remaining in quarantine themselves. Its just hard with my daddy up there and we cant be with him, his daughter, Julie Trousdale, told the Times Daily. Thats the hardest part. Were all quarantined and separated. Were just praying and hoping that he makes it up there without anybodys support. Trousdale was placed on a ventilator and given an experimental drug, according to posts by his family, and he was also placed in a medically induced deep sleep to keep him from fighting the ventilator and trying to out-breathe it. On March 25, Trousdale took a turn for the worst, according to the family. In Trousdales final moments, a nurse FaceTimed with the family to allow them to say their goodbyes and see what was happening, according to WAAY 31, since they were unable to be by his side in the hospital due to regulations stemming from the contagiousness of the virus. "I ended up telling him, I said Nancy loves you, Matt loves you, Julie loves you, and I love you, and we're so sorry we can't be there because we wanted one last message," his daughter in-law, Nicole, told WAAY 31. Trousdale is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nancy Butler Trousdale; his daughter, Julie Ann Trousdale; son, Matthew Zane Trousdale; daughter in-law, Nicole Allen Trousdale; granddaughter, April Nicole Trousdale; sister, Rosa Lee Garcia; brother in-law, Albert Garcia, and too many nieces and nephews to name. Trousdales family is also urging everyone to abide by social distancing guidelines and do their part to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Please, everyone take it seriously and stay at home, Nicole told the Times Daily last week. A week after Teen Moom 2 star Jenelle Evans revealed she was back together with her estranged husband, David Eason paid tribute to his lady love on Instagram. Sharing a photo of the reunited couple sitting on a windswept beach, the 31-year-old Eason declared: 'You will always be the love of my life @j_evans1219. 'I'm so happy that we have become so close and bonded recently,' he added. 'Here's to a lifetime of our own kind of quarantine, boat rides, ATV trails, living off the land, etc. I don't think we are going to have a hard time staying secluded lol we already have been for awhile.' 'Love of my life': David Eason shared a photo to Instagram Tuesday showing him with bikini clad Jenelle Evans a week after the Teen Mom 2 star confirmed the couple were back together Jenelle, 28, is pictured wearing a tiny black bikini and sunglasses and perched on Eason's lap as he sits on a large driftwood tree on the sand. Eason is dressed in a blue sweatshirt and khaki shorts with a green bandana around his neck and reflective shades. The Tuesday PDA pic confirms that the pair, who wed in 2017, the year they welcomed their daughter Ensley, are giving their troubled relationship another go. The MTV reality star had filed for divorce last October after leaving North Carolina and moving to Tennessee. In November, she accused her ex of physical and emotional abuse and sought a restraining order. Reunited: Evans, 28, filed for divorce last October after leaving North Carolina and moving to Tennessee. On March 22, however, she told fans via YouTube she and Eason are together again However, on March 22, during a Q&A session on her YouTube page , she told fans she and Eason were together again. Jenelle, who also has two sons age 10 and five from previous relationships, told her fans she had moved back to North Caroline and that 'Me and him are deciding to work things out right now and we're taking it slowly.' She added: '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.' The MTV reality star shared this snap showing her with her two youngest kids hanging out at the pool - Ensley, three, whom she shares with Eason and Kaiser, five, from a previous romance 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.' Eason 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.'' A religious congregation of 2,000 people at a mosque in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, which has thrown up several corona positive cases maybe a ticking time bomb as six of the persons who returned to Telangana after attending the congregation have died from the virus and positive cases are emerging from at least five other regions including J&K, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Over 1,500 people have been quarantined in the Markaz itself. 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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 One month. That's how long Cumberland County residents, and residents of 25 other counties under Gov. Tom Wolf's stay-at-home order are expected to stay indoors and travel only when absolutely necessary. Cumberland and Dauphin counties, along with Schuylkill and Carbon counties, were the latest to join the stay-at-home order, and Wolf on Monday announced he is expanding that order to stay in effect until April 30, instead of through April 6. He said the extension is in line with federal guidelines that were also extended through the month of April. Wolf also said he is closing schools and non-life-sustaining businesses indefinitely instead of updating closure plans every two weeks. "Right now, it isn't safe," Wolf said during a news conference. The orders Monday come after a rise in COVID-19 cases, both in Cumberland County and across the state. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported that, as of midnight Monday, there were 693 new cases, bringing the state's total to 4,087 in 59 counties. The state is also up to 48 deaths caused by COVID-19, though no new deaths were reported in the Midstate. Cumberland County already has one reported death that occurred Friday, and Lancaster County has two deaths that were reported this past weekend. Though the majority of the cases in the state are in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh regions, with Philadelphia Monday reaching more than 1,000 cases in its county alone, the number of cases is rising in the Midstate. In addition to Cumberland County's two cases, Lancaster County saw a jump of 30 cases, bringing its total to 97, while York County reported 11 new cases, bringing its total to 54. Both Lancaster and York were already under Wolf's stay-at-home order. Dauphin County will be the only other county in the area added to the stay-at-home order, and it saw one new report to add to its total of 36 cases. Though Lebanon County is not included in the Monday order, it did have eight new cases in one day, pushing its total to 27. Franklin County saw a single case increase its number to 12, and Adams County and Perry County saw no new cases, remaining at eight cases and one case, respectively. Two women who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 died either late Sunday or early Monday at Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Beaver County, according to the nursing home's medical director, Dr. Dave Thimons. At least 19 residents at the facility have tested positive for the coronavirus in recent days. The women's deaths raised the state's toll to at least 50, up from 38 on Sunday. After Wolf added Cumberland County to the stay-at-home order, county commissioners urged all residents to comply. All residents need to abide by the order of the governor, for their safety and to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Commissioner Gary Eichelberger said. The Department of Public Safety will continue its 24/7 operations to protect our residents, and core staff will perform essential functions to sustain operations at a reduced capacity. We need everyone to do their part to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, Eichelberger said. Stay-at-home Wolf's order now includes 26 counties: Cumberland, Dauphin, Carbon, Schuylkill, Allegheny, Beaver, Bucks, Berks, Butler, Centre, Chester, Delaware, Erie, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland and York counties. Under the order, residents are only allowed to leave their homes for essential travel. Some allowable activities include: Tasks considered essential to maintain health and safety, which include picking up medication, visiting a health care professional or obtaining supplies needed to work from home Getting necessary services or supplies for the household, including grocery shopping, or volunteering to deliver supplies Outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running, while maintaining social distance Performing work providing essential services and products at a "life-sustaining" business To care for a family member or pet in another household Travel to and from educational institutions to get materials or meals. Wolf said those who are traveling for allowable activities do not need paperwork to prove the reason for their travel. Though there are guidelines for what happens to businesses that operate during the shutdown, the governor's office did not detail enforcement of residents in following the stay-at-home order. State Rep. Patty Kim, D-Harrisburg, said in a Facebook post that the order allows law enforcement to question residents about the purpose of their travels, but the governor's office did not respond to requests for information about residential enforcement. In his order, Wolf said some operations are exempt: life-sustaining businesses, health care providers, access to services for low-income residents, news media, law enforcement and first responders, the federal government and religious institutions. Those who are homeless are also not subject to the order, though the administration strongly urges such people to find shelter. Corrections quarantine As more residents prepare to stay at home across the state, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections is initiating a stricter quarantine at its facilities. Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel on Monday announced that he implemented late Sunday night a statewide inmate quarantine in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and after the department received notice about a positive case at one of its facilities. Under the quarantine, inmates will be fed in their cells and will only be afforded out-of-cell time for video visits, phone calls and access to the law library. Inmates will be provided with "in-cell programming," according to the department, and all inmate movement will be controlled to conform to social distancing recommendations. Quarantining the entire system is in the best interest of our employees and our inmates, Wetzel said. This is essentially forced social distancing. We must take this step to contain the virus to one facility and to keep it from spreading throughout the system. I dont want to wait until we have several cases in our system to act. Were taking this proactive measure now. The department on Sunday reported that its first COVID-19 case was confirmed at SCI Phoenix in Montgomery County. Wolf said during a news conference Monday the case was a staff member and not an inmate. The department on Saturday began using SCI Retreat as a reception facility for new court commitments and parole violators, where they will be quarantined for 14 days upon their arrival, instead of putting them into the larger inmate population. Posted earlier on Cumberlink: Gov. Tom Wolf said during a news conference Monday that Cumberland and Dauphin counties are among the new counties that will join others under the stay-at-home orders. With 26 counties now under the order, Wolf said he has extended the order to April 30. Previously, the order was supposed to be lifted after two weeks. Wolf also said that he has ordered the shutdown of businesses and schools for an indefinite period of time. Posted earlier on Cumberlink: Cumberland and Dauphin Counties are expected to be added to the state's stay-at-home order, state Rep. Patty Kim, D-Harrisburg, reported on Facebook. Kim said the order will be effective for the two counties at 8 p.m. Monday. Gov. Tom Wolf has yet to officially issue the new information to the public, but he and the Department of Health will have a news conference at 2 p.m. to talk about the latest COVID-19 cases and action. Kim said the order reiterates what Wolf wants residents to do - stay at home - though she notes that the order does allow law enforcement to question residents about the purpose of their travels. The order will last through April 30, according to Kim, and all residents in the counties must stay at home except for certain essential activities and work to provide life-sustaining business and government services. Here is a look at what is allowed under a stay-at-home order, according to the Wolf administration: Doing tasks essential to maintain health and safety or the health and safety of the family, such as obtaining medicine or medical supplies, visiting a health care professional or obtaining supplies needed to work from home Getting necessary services for the family or household to deliver services or supplies to others - such as getting food and supplies for essential operation of homes. This includes volunteer efforts to distribute meals and other life-sustaining services to those in need. Engaging in outdoor activity while maintaining social distance Performing work providing essential products and services Caring for a family member or pet in another household Traveling for any of the above-mentioned provisions Traveling to care for elder, minors, dependents or those with disabilities Traveling to and from educational institutions to receive materials for distance learning or meals Traveling to a place of residence from an outside jurisdiction Travel required by law enforcement or court order. The Wolf administration said those traveling to perform life-sustaining work does not need paperwork to prove the reason of travel. Check back to Cumberlink.com as more information becomes available. The warning comes amid further travel restrictions in Japan and another surge of infections in Singapore. The World Health Organization is calling on Asia-Pacific countries to stay vigilant in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The warning comes amid further travel restrictions in Japan, and another surge of infections in Singapore. Nearly 1,000 people in the city-state now have the virus. Al Jazeeras Floreance Looi reports. 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 A dozen migrant workers in the Kalahandi district have set up camp to self-quarantine outside their village even after testing negative for coronavirus, as a precautionary measure after returning from Kerala. In a commendable move, which shows that people around the country and even in the rural areas are aware of the severity and the threat posed by the COVID-19 infection, the workers decided to self-quarantine themselves to protect their family. Earlier, the testing of these migrant workers for coronavirus had been carried out after their return to the state and the result had come out as negative. Meanwhile, former MP from Kalahandi and Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das said that the contractors refusing to support the migrant workers during the lockdown phase was the reason why they were being forced to return to their native villages. "It is quite saddening that the contractors have let go of the workers, despite repeated requests by the government. I urge the contractors to provide for the cash, food and other needs of the workers who they take with them," Das told ANI here. Hundreds of migrants, a majority of whom are daily wage workers started rushing on foot to their native places from different states amid uncertainty over their livelihood following the announcement of a 21-day nationwide lockdown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week in order to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. India has so far recorded 1,117 active COVID-19 positive cases as on Monday night. So far, 32 people have died of COVID-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) by Shafique Khokhar The Saylani Welfare International Trust was founded in 1999 to support homeless people and seasonal workers. For Muslim, turning non-Muslims away goes beyond the limits. Hindu lawmaker donates her salary to emergency fund. Karachi (AsiaNews) A Karachi NGO has denied food aid to poor Hindus and Christians, who like Muslims are suffering from coronavirus. In Pakistan, the number of coronavirus cases now stands at 1,664 with 21 deaths. The conditions of the poor are cause for great concern. Due to government travel restrictions, many day labourers lost the only source of livelihood for their family. Various government and local organisations have tried to help them. The Saylani Welfare International Trust has been operating in the Korangi area since 1999, handing out aid and meals to homeless people and seasonal workers. Two days ago, the welfare organisation refused to give ration cards to non-Muslims, saying that only Muslims are entitled to them. The reason for this is that Zakat, Islamic alms giving (one of Islams five pillars), is reserved for Muslims. The Christian man said he begged for food to no avail. Farooq Masih, a 54-year-old Christian in Korangi, said that last Saturday, Abid Qadri, a member of Saylani Welfare, with other NGO members, handed out food cards in his area. But, when they got to Christian homes, they just moved on. Adan, a Muslim who lives in the same area, is outraged by the NGO's attitude. Why did they discriminate against Christians? Are they not citizens of Pakistan? They have gone beyond the limits. This act is not acceptable from an association that claims to serve humanity. We are all suffering from COVID-19. Mangla Sharma, a Hindu Member of the Sindh Provincial Assembly, donated her March salary to the coronavirus emergency fund created by the Chief Minister. For her, We must focus only on people, on the poor of our nation. Otherwise, only one religious community will benefit. We must all be united at this critical moment and help everyone regardless of faith, creed or language. We must act immediately as one nation and put differences aside. Ethiopia's election commission announced Tuesday that general elections due in August would be delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, in a setback for the country's fragile democratic transition. No new timeline was given for the vote, which Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed -- last year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate -- hopes will give him a mandate for sweeping political and economic reforms. "Because of issues related to the coronavirus, the board has decided it can't conduct the election as planned... so it has decided to void that calendar and suspend all activities," the poll body said in a statement It said a new date would be given "when the pandemic is over". Ethiopia has recorded 26 cases of COVID-19 and federal and regional officials have introduced a range of measures intended to curb its spread, including banning large gatherings and restricting travel. These measures would have prevented the timely completion of activities like voter registration and the recruitment and training of observers, the election board said. Abiy was appointed prime minister in 2018 after several years of anti-government protests. He rose through the ranks of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) ruling coalition, which dominated parliament and allowed only one competitive election after it took power in the early 1990s, which was in 2005. The EPRDF and its allies won all 547 seats in parliament in 2015. However the coalition no longer exists following Abiy's decision to transform it into a single political group, the Ethiopian Prosperity Party. Well before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, opposition parties and analysts had voiced concern that the election board's preparations were behind schedule. The scheduled date of August 29 had also been a point of contention because it falls at the height of the rainy season. Yet election officials had previously said they could not delay the vote because the constitutional mandates of lawmakers expire in October. It was not immediately clear how officials intended to address that problem should the coronavirus pandemic push elections into late 2020 or even 2021. Abiy's rule has been marred by widespread ethnic violence, and critics accuse him of cracking down on political opponents and other dissenters. Grim security conditions in parts of the country like Wollega, where the military is conducting counterinsurgency operations against a rebel group, have called into question how the government could possibly hold voting there. The delay could potentially give the government space to address major obstacles to a peaceful and credible vote, said William Davison, Ethiopia analyst for the International Crisis Group, a conflict-prevention organisation. "Although the circumstances are deeply worrying, the delay does offer an opportunity to reset Ethiopia's troubled transition," Davison said. "A start would be the ruling party discussing with opponents critical topics such as the conditions for a fair election, transitional justice and reconciliation, and the federation's major political faultlines." Jawar Mohammed, a leading opposition politician, told AFP he was not surprised by the delay but said the opposition would need to be consulted on next steps. "We knew it was coming," he told AFP. "But the new timetable cannot be done by the ruling party alone. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kim Brent / The Enterprise Hundreds of residents in Mid-County have something in addition to coronavirus weighing on their minds. Their homes were damaged by the Nov. 27 explosion of the TPC Group plant, and their lives have been on hold ever since because most of them have not yet been fully compensated for their losses. In our Sunday follow-up, residents told us they are being offered less than they believe they deserve, or they are worried their homes have as-yet undetermined levels of damage. Some are torn between taking what they are offered now, or suing the company and hoping for full payment, a process that would take much longer and might have an uncertain outcome. Its a tough dilemma, and they dont know how long this ordeal will drag out. At the very least, they deserve the support of public officials who have been elected to stand up for them when they need them most. TPC needs to know it is facing a united front of residents and elected officials who want these claims resolved as quickly and fairly as possible. TOKYO, Mar 31, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today announced the establishment of a new company, "Fujitsu Future Studies Center" (FFSC), a think tank bolstering the formulation and execution of the Fujitsu Group's medium and long-term strategies. Mr. Shotaro Yachi will be the new company's President. Mr. Yachi is Fujitsu's Executive Advisor, former National Security Advisor to the Cabinet, and former Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and is well versed in the fields of diplomacy and national security. FFSC will commence operations on June 1st.Guiding Decision-Making in an Uncertain Business EnvironmentCompanies today confront a business environment that is growing increasingly uncertain and complex, as international conditions continue to undergo rapid changes. Against this backdrop, it is critically important to formulate and steadily implement corporate medium to long-term strategies based on a comprehensive understanding of political, economic, and technological trends. The establishment of FFSC will enable the Fujitsu Group to sustain global growth while maintaining its ability to deliver customers with leading-edge technologies and excellent services.FFSC will support this mission by collaborating with leading researchers, industry experts, and business people in Japan and around the world to conduct multi-disciplinary surveys and analyses of international situations, including geopolitical perspectives and trends in advanced technologies, and providing the results to the Fujitsu Group.Company name: Fujitsu Future Studies Center Ltd.President: Shotaro YachiRepresentative Director: Isamu Yamamori (Corporate Executive Officer, Fujitsu Limited)Capital: 10 million yen (wholly-owned by Fujitsu Limited)Date of incorporation: April 1, 2020Business Start Date: June 1, 2020 (scheduled)Address: Minato-ku, TokyoAbout Fujitsu LtdFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 132,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (Code: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.0 trillion yen (US $36 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2020 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. It's not only the Prime Minister's family who regard jigsaws as "absolutely essential" to surviving home life over the next few months. Retailers say sales of jigsaws are at record highs. And families working and studying in close quarters are never more likely to lose it. A piece that is. Clare Gordon who is a shop assistant at Discount Toy Company is being rushed off her feet with orders for puzzles and games. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer The hottest toys and games item in the "movers and shakers category" on Amazon.com.au is a jigsaw puzzle roll up mat. Sales are up 14,493 per cent. Made out of felt, a reviewer said it did just what it promised: Made it easy to move and store puzzles - without losing a piece - of up to 1500 pieces. One of the country's leading women's health doctors has been suspended for repeatedly groping a female colleague at a medical conference. Dr Khalid Khan was a professor at London's Queen Mary University and an honorary consultant at Barts and the London School of Medicine when he fondled the breasts of top gynaecologist Dr Jen Gunter in a hotel bar in 2014. Dr Gunter waived her right to anonymity and blogged about the incident in 2017, which prompted the GMC investigation. She she'd been inspired to speak out by 'the brave women in Hollywood' who'd revealed the barrage of sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of media mogul Harvey Weinstein and others. Dr Jen Gunter waived her right to anonymity and blogged about incident in 2017 She wrote on her blog: 'Then he started that octopus body crawl that so many women know only too well. He was nuzzling my neck and his disgusting hot breath was in my ear. 'He was groping my breasts, running his hands up and down my back, and putting his arm around my waist pulling me against his body. Each time I moved one hand or arm another seemed to take his place. 'I told him to stop. I removed his hands more forcefully each time.' The Canadian medic told the disciplinary tribunal she had to 'peel' the then Editor in Chief at the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology off her following the 'sustained and deliberate' incident. The senior professor also remarked that a junior researcher had a 'nice bum' and tried to kiss another female colleague after asking her 'obscene' questions about her sex life, a hearing was told. He has now been suspended from practising as a doctor for a year after being found guilty of misconduct. Dr Khalid Khan (pictured) a British medical professor has been suspended for 12 months A hearing of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal was told that the incident involving Dr Gunter - a medical expert known as Dr Jen in the US - took place in October 2014. She and Dr Khan were attending the International Pelvic Pain Society Conference at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago where they were both speaking. She told the tribunal that she was introduced to the professor for the first time in the hotel lobby by a friend after dinner and the three of them went to the bar for a drink. Dr Gunter - who is in her early 50s - said she became separated from her friend and ended up talking to Dr Khan alone. She said: 'The conversation with Dr Khan was going on for literally a few minutes when he placed his hands over my shoulder like we were cuddling. 'I thought it was odd and weird when he did this but then thought Europeans and all that. Dr Khan then moved his hand down from my shoulder and touched my left breast. 'I think I was wearing a black short sleeved sweater and he touched my breast over my clothing. I then used my right hand and moved his hand down and pulled away from him. 'He acted like nothing happened. He didn't say anything. We carried on chatting, I don't remember what we chatted about. He kept putting his hands around my waist and he was then nuzzling my neck. 'I pushed him off and asked him to stop. I pushed him away from me. I recollect being groped about five to six times by Dr Khan. 'He was nuzzling my neck, his hand was then back on my breast again, at that point I was so focused on keeping his hands off me, I can't be specific about the body parts he touched, as I was peeling him off me. 'I don't remember the exact words I used but I told Dr Khan to get off me.' Dr Gunter - who is only referred to as Ms B in the tribunal judgement - said that she was 'p***ed off' and 'shocked' that Dr Khan had groped her and that she had told several colleagues of the incident that night. A hearing of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal was told that the incident involving Dr Gunter happened at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago, Illinois in October 2014 (pictured) But it was only three years later that she went public with the accusations in a December 2017 blog that she said was inspired by the MeToo movement. In her post, the San Francisco based doctor - who regularly appears on television - described his actions as like 'an octopus'. Dr Khan - who is in his mid 50s - denied the allegations but the tribunal found him guilty, describing his actions as 'sustained and deliberate' and 'obviously sexually motivated'. The tribunal was also told of an incident involving Dr Khan - Professor of Women's Health and Clinical Epidemiology at Queen Mary's since 2010 - and two junior female researchers named only as Miss D and Miss E in November 2015. The hearing was told that the two women were at a bar with Dr Khan and another male doctor when the two men started asking them 'obscene' questions about their sex lives. After Miss E and the other doctor left, Miss D was left alone with Dr Khan who told her that her friend had a 'nice bum' and then tried to kiss her. 'I recall that Dr Khan closed his eyes and his lips were pursed and he moved towards me in a slow, leaning way',' she said. She stopped him from kissing her by raising her hands and he then 'mumbled sorry to himself.' Dr Khan - who was born in Pakistan and trained at the Aga Khan University - insisted he had not been at the bar that evening and had not behaved inappropriately. However, the tribunal were shown text messages from the time between the two women discussing what they alleged had taken place. This led the panel to believe Dr Khan's victim. In its judgement it described his conduct as 'deplorable' and sentenced him to a 12 month suspension. 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 With the growing cases of cardiovascular disorders in India, doctors are looking at new tools to address the burgeoning burden Turning a corner in interventional cardiology, advanced tools have opened new frontiers in heart care. Even as India is home to the highest burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) with changing lifestyles leading to a dramatic shift in the CVD patient profiles, doctors are now looking at newer tools to address the burgeoning burden. Leading experts from the various fields of interventional cardiology came under one roof to discuss the most advanced percutaneous cardio vascular interventions at the 11 th India Live national conference in New Delhi from Feb 28 to March 1 with focus on &Interventional Cardiology: From Clinic to Cutting Edge. Emphasizing on the biggest challenges faced by cardiologists today, and the role played by latest imaging techniques, Dr. Nils P Johnson: Associate Professor of Cardiology, University of Texas, Houston. USA said, Lifestyles are changing and as doctors, we come across complex Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) manifestations every day. Hence, latest modalities become particularly important in dealing with these complexities to ensure better patient outcomes. For instance, we have technologies like Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) that help us decide in advance if the artery needs a stent or not. Such tools are provided by some of the leading names in healthcare. In India, we must ensure our patients have access to these technologies. Today, heart failure is the leading cause of mortality amongst all heart diseases in India. With 23 per cent patients succumbing within one year of their diagnosis, experts underline the need to look at technological interventions from around the globe to address this burden. One in four deaths in India are now because of CVDs with ischemic heart disease and stroke responsible for over 80% of this burden. Cutting-edge technologies provided by global leaders like Abbott are offering imaging techniques that are specifically designed to offer physicians the greatest practical advantages when performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Doctors rely on these tools to give them precise results. It is encouraging to see how technology is transforming the way we treat patients. We have tools like Optical Coherence Technology (OCT) that help us assess the extent, nature and exact location of the blockage. Apart from helping us choose the right stent, OCT also helps in the post-implantation process to ensure that the stent is placed properly and expanded well. We need such advanced tools for better patient outcomes, shared Dr. Krishna Sudhir, Divisional Vice President Medical Affairs at Abbott. Turning the focus to improved diagnosis with technologies such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Dr. Shirish (M.S.) Hiremath, Consultant Cardiologist & Director Cath Lab, Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune mentioned, Advanced tools like OCT are allowing us to visualize the minutest details inside the vessel and get the exact assessment of the blockage. Even today, most of the world uses angiography which gives us only a two- dimensional view of the coronary artery. We need new technology to help optimize the treatment, and that is what new technology is providing. We can get a 3D view of the blocked artery with OCT. It also helps us decide the kind of stent we should choose. Whether its the validation a doctor needs in choosing the stent or post-procedure risk assessment, advanced technologies like FFR and OCT are helping doctors make precise decisions, resulting patient outcomes. I treat a lot of complex heart disease patients using advanced technologies like Fractional Flow Reserve FFR and OCT. These latest tools are becoming important in achieving precision PCI and are now an inherent part of my routine clinical practice. FFR is a guiding tool used world over for assessing whether the artery needs to be stented or not. It gives a score which helps physicians decide the treatment strategy. It is the first line of assessment in highly developed countries like the USA and Japan having the highest level of evidence and its part of international guidelines ESC, concluded Dr Nils P Johnson: Associate Professor of Cardiology. University of Texas, Houston. USA. RACINE COUNTY Four more Wisconsin residents had died of COVID-19 as of about 2 p.m. Sunday, the state reported, while the reported number of COVID cases in Racine County stayed at 17. At about 2 p.m. Sunday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported 1,112 positive COVID-19 cases, compared with 989 on Saturday. DHS also reported 17 deaths statewide, an increase of four since Saturdays total of 13. There had been 16,550 negative tests as of Sunday afternoon, DHS reported. Meanwhile, late Sunday afternoon President Donald Trump announced that his administration is extending its closure guidelines for schools and nonessential businesses to April 30. Nothing would be worse than declaring victory before the victory is won, Trump said in a news briefing. Therefore we will be extending our guidelines to April 30. The agency reported 17 confirmed cases in Racine County, as county officials had reported Friday: seven in the city and 10 elsewhere in the county. No COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Racine County. Although 1,112 is the number of confirmed cases in the state, its hard to know how many actual cases there are because testing is limited. Dr. Ryan Westergaard, an infectious disease expert with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, estimated it is possible for there to be 10 positive cases for every single confirmed positive case right now. Elsewhere in the area, according to DHS, the totals so far are: 29 cases in Kenosha County, an increase of five since Saturday, with no deaths; six in Walworth County with no deaths; 83 in Waukesha County, an increase of 11, with no deaths; and 565 in Milwaukee County, an increase of 76 since Saturdays number, with five deaths. 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 hitting JetBlue Airways close to home. The New York-based carrier is cutting its roughly 200 daily flights in the metropolitan area by 80% to 40 a day, the company told employees in a memo that was reviewed by CNBC. The move comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday urged residents of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to refrain from nonessential domestic travel for 14 days. JetBlue did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Spirit Airlines on Monday said it would suspend operations at five airports in the three states, including New York's LaGuardia, Newark and Hartford, through at least May 4 because of the CDC warning. In addition to the cuts, JetBlue is "capping flight loads to ensure social distancing onboard," Ed Baklor, the airline's vice president of in-flight experience, wrote to employees over the weekend. The airline last week said it was reducing its network to just essential flights and has said it would reduce flights by about 40% in April and May, but it has been canceling service on a rolling basis as demand craters. Airlines have been cutting flights throughout their networks after demand plunged for air travel at a record rate. American Airlines will cut its April schedule by around 60% and plans to make even deeper reductions in May. The carrier's peak weekday departures from LaGuardia Airport, for example, last April totaled around 170 flights, but that number is set to drop to around 65 flights next month. Southwest Airlines on Tuesday announced it would cut its schedule from May 3 through June 5 by about 40% to around 2,000 daily flights. Many of the cancellations will include flights before 7 a.m. and after 8 p.m. "The overall demand for travel remains fluid during this ongoing pandemic and we continue to evaluate further reductions," Southwest said. NEW ORLEANS (AP) A major flood control structure on the Mississippi River may have to soon be opened up to ease pressure on New Orleans levees, federal authorities said Tuesday. The river is expected to crest above 17 feet (5.2 meters) at a key New Orleans gauge as early as Friday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said in a news release. That would likely lead to the opening of a structure that diverts water through the Bonnet Carre Spillway. It would be the first time the structure has been used three years in a row to keep the river from damaging New Orleans' levees. The spillway was created to limit the river's rush past New Orleans, keeping it below 1.25 million cubic feet (35,400 cubic meters) per second. But opening the spillway has environmental effects, sending river water and the pollutants it carries into brackish Lake Pontchartrain north of New Orleans and the Mississippi Sound, dropping their normal salinity levels. Two extended openings of the structure last year were blamed by Mississippi authorities for feeding toxic algae blooms and killing oysters, dolphins and other sea life. The U.S. Commerce Department declared an economic disaster in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama because of extreme flooding events in the Gulf of Mexico. A federal lawsuit filed in Mississippi in December by several cities, counties and groups accuses the corps and commission of violating federal law by opening the spillway more frequently. They say the defendants hurt wildlife and localities by opening it for prolonged periods of time without considering the consequences. Joe Spraggins, who heads the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, told The Sun Herald in Biloxi, Mississippi, that he hopes the Bonnet Carre will be opened for fewer days this year. He said damage would be less if the spillway could be closed by the end of April. He expects problems if the fresh water flow continues as the sound grows warmer. The Corps said Tuesday's announcement was the result of an unexpectedly high forecast for the river's crest. The statement stressed that the forecast could change. 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. 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. Indian doctors fight coronavirus with raincoats, helmets amid lack of equipment A doctor wearing a torn raincoat stands at the major coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment facility in Kolkata By Devjyot Ghoshal and Aditya Kalra NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Shortages of protective health gear in India are forcing some doctors to use raincoats and motorbike helmets while fighting the coronavirus, exposing the weak state of the public health system ahead of an anticipated surge in COVID-19 cases. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government said India was trying to get personal protective equipment in bulk domestically and from South Korea and China to meet the shortages. More than a dozen doctors battling the outbreak, which has so far infected 1,251 people and killed 32, told Reuters they were concerned that without this proper gear, they could become carriers of the disease. In Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, drivers of around 4,700 ambulances that mainly serve government hospitals went on strike on Tuesday, demanding proper safety gear and health insurance. "We won't risk our lives unless our demand is met," Hanuman Pandey, president of the Ambulance Workers Association, told Reuters. According to one projection, more than 100,000 people could be infected by mid-May, putting India's underfunded health system and scarce doctors under severe strain. In the eastern city of Kolkata, junior doctors at the major coronavirus treatment facility - Beliaghata Infectious Disease Hospital - were given plastic raincoats to examine patients last week, according to two doctors there and photographs reviewed by Reuters. "We won't work at the cost of our lives," said one of the doctors, who declined to be named because he feared retaliation from the authorities. The hospital's medical superintendent in-charge, Dr. Asis Manna, declined to comment. In northern Haryana state near New Delhi, Dr. Sandeep Garg of ESI Hospital said he had been using a motorbike helmet because he didn't have any N95 masks, which offer significant protection against virus particles. "I put on a helmet - it has a visor in front so it covers my face, adding another layer over the surgical mask," Garg said. Story continues India's health ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters queries. The plight of doctors in the pandemic has cast a light on a dilapidated and overburdened public health system that has for years been starved of funds and an overhaul. India spends about 1.3% of its GDP on public health, among the lowest in the world. "We are living on a prayer, it's not that we can save ourselves by relying on the health system," said a senior federal government official in New Delhi, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the situation. In a state-run hospital in the city of Rohtak in Haryana, several junior doctors have been declining to treat patients unless they have adequate safety equipment. They also established an informal COVID-19 fund, to which each doctor contributed 1,000 rupees ($13.27) to buy masks and other face coverings, one of the doctors said. "Everybody is scared," the doctor said. "Nobody wants to work without protection." (Additional reporting Saurabh Sharma in LUCKNOW. Editing by Gerry Doyle and Miral Fahmy) Unprecedented damage in NSW as Canberras urban forest is threatened by extreme heat and drought. March 31 marks the end of the 2019-20 bushfire season across southern and eastern Australia, bringing to an end the countrys most devastating season on record. Weatherzone, an Australian meteorological provider, said the destruction caused by the fires was unprecedented. Bush and grass fires scorched 5.5 million hectares of land in New South Wales (NSW) alone, blackening an area that accounts for more than six percent of the state. Within the southeastern state, fire destroyed a total of 2,448 homes and claimed 25 lives, including three NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers and three US firefighters. These numbers were unrivalled in the states history. Elsewhere, around the capital of Australia, Canberra, trees are dying in their thousands with more marked for removal by the day. Years of below-average rainfall and record heat have put the citys urban forest under stress. Fully mature, 50-plus-year-old trees, that are more dead than alive from lack of water, and just the really stressful environment, horticulturist Scott Burns was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. With recent rainfall coming too late for many, local officials have decided to splash out on a rescue package. Weve identified 6,000 mature street trees that we need to focus on with extra watering, but also mulching, City Services Minister Chris Steel said, according to the AP. That is on top of 22,000 trees already being hand-watered. But Burns, the horticulturist, said the moves came too late. I think its fantastic that theyve put this initiative in, bit disappointing that its happened way after the event, he said. According to new Australian National University research, there is also a need to rethink what species are planted as the climate changes. Around 28 percent of our current tree species are unsuitable for the conditions that we will be experiencing over the next few decades, Steel said. 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. 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. The Vietnamese government has asked rice exporters to temporarily suspend signing new export contracts in a bid to increase stockpiles and ensure the countrys food supply. Halting rice exports to stabilise food supplies On March 25, the Government Office issued Document No.2280/VPCP-NN on assessing the supply and situation in the rice export industry. Accordingly, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to lead and co-ordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to establish inspection teams to work with localities and exporters to monitor supply, reserves, and contract implementation. This move was implemented after continuous but contradictory proposals from the MoIT and the MoF regarding suspending rice exports, to ensure that there is sufficient rice for the domestic market in the event that the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread. Commenting on the governments new move, Huynh Thanh Ngan, founder of Hapi Agricultural Organic Trading and Production Co., Ltd. told VIR, Its ok to stop signing new contracts, but forcing us to immediately renege on existing deals gives us difficulties. According to Ngan, although a decision has been made on exporting rice, it has pushed companies, dealers, and farmers into difficulties. Right now, her company has eight contracts, under which 3,000 tonnes of organic rice must be exported as scheduled in March and April, and 2,000 tonnes in May and June. In addition to this, she has also signed offtake agreements with farmers for 10,000 hectares of rice from the summer-autumn crop with a deposit of VND5 million ($217.40), along with seed cost per hectare. Within a week, we can negotiate and lose 10 per cent of contract revenue. But in the long term, without being able to give exact answers, we will have to compensate cancelled contracts and handle inventory, which will negatively affect farmers, said Ngan. Our product is organic, high-quality, Japanese brown rice, and the quality will be reduced by 50 per cent if we cannot export it within a month. Ngan elaborated on the current difficulties of working directly with organic rice farmers. Unlike enterprises exporting non-organic rice, we cannot quit our contracts with farmers, because of issues of sustainable development and reputation. Meanwhile, Pham Thai Binh, general director of Trung An Hi-tech Farming JSC, said that the governments fresh move has reduced the price of rice by VND300 (1 US cent) per kilogramme. We have prepared for the expense of having packed goods returned and maintaining our inventory. If enterprises are forced to stop exporting rice, we will have to completely break our plans of sustainable export and production, to which we have been committed for many years, Binh told VIR. Regarding food security, Binh stated that it does not only mean having enough output to meet the needs of domestic consumers in all circumstances, the output also needs to be sold at an appropriate price in proportion to the farmers labour and the true value of rice. The last many years proved that Vietnam has never lacked food. Moreover, over the years, to find markets for the entirety of its output, Vietnam has to export 6.5 million tonnes a year, he said. Even the pandemic and climate change have not impacted rice fields, as areas of the Mekong Delta have successfully adjusted planting times so the output has been much higher than in 2019. According to the MoIT, preliminary statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed that in the first two months of 2020, rice exports reached nearly 930,000 tonnes, earning more than $430 million, a rise of 30.5 per cent in volume and 38 per cent in turnover, compared to the same period in 2019. In some markets, export volume increased sharply, ensuring that the domestic price of rice grew by around 20-25 per cent. Exports to China reached more than 66,000 tonnes in total, equivalent to $37 million. However, the largest market for Vietnam in the first two months of the year has not been China but the Philippines, which accounts for 36 per cent of the total turnover or 357,000 tonnes, equivalent to $155 million, up 13 per cent in volume and 23 per cent in turnover on-year. Next is Iraq, with exports of up to 90,000 tonnes, equivalent to $48 million. Ranking third is Malaysia, up 149 per cent in volume and 128 per cent in turnover, accounting for nearly 10 per cent of total volume and 9 per cent of the total export value of Vietnamese rice. Vietnam currently has 3.8 million hectares of rice production area with the output of 46-49 million tonnes and an export volume of seven million tonnes. As of now, the domestic rice production is balanced. Last year, Vietnam exported 6.37 million tonnes at a value of $2.8 billion. The Philippines was the largest buyer, importing 2.13 million tonnes, whereas China ranked third with 477 million tonnes. Up to March 24, rice exporters transported goods from Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta provinces to the northern port city of Haiphong for export. According to the announced data by the MoIT, by late March 26, around 180,000 tonnes of rice have been transported to ports for exporting. VIR Bao Ngoc Kien Giang, Long An provinces want rice export ban lifted The Mekong Delta provinces of Kien Giang and Long An have asked the Government to reconsider its temporary ban on rice exports, saying it would discourage farmers from growing the autumn-winter crop this year. Chinese authorities have declared their readiness to help in the fight against coronavirus, Deputy Foreign Minister Avet Adonts said on Thursday According to him, Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan received a very warm letter from his Chinese counterpart, in which he noted his readiness to help and exchange experience between the ministries of health. The deputy minister also commented on the issue of expected aid from other partners. According to Avet Adonts, the US announced its readiness to provide 1.1 million dollars. The EU announced its intention to allocate EUR 140 million. These funds are intended for six countries of the Eastern Partnership program. And 30 million through WHO will go to the purchase of equipment and medicines, he said adding that 100 million will go to help medium and small entrepreneurs. And 10 million NGOs for grant programs. But so far no decision has been made about how it will be distributed between the countries. He also reported on the discussion in the Eurasian Union of a joint action program. The issue is being actively discussed. The biggest challenge is ensuring communications, he added. Subsistence miners lose out as coronavirus crushes local gold prices FILE PHOTO: An informal gold miner carries a shovel as he climbs out from inside a gold mining pit at the site of Nsuaem-Top By Helen Reid and Jeff Lewis JOHANNESBURG/TORONTO (Reuters) - Informal gold miners from South America to Africa are selling gold at almost 40% discounts as measures to curb the coronavirus crimp supply routes and dry up funding. Border restrictions and flight cancellations have created gold gluts in local markets, depressing prices for small-scale miners even as global prices are pushed back towards 7-year highs by investors piling into bullion as a safe-haven asset. Artisanal miners - subsistence workers who typically use rudimentary techniques - number around 40 million worldwide, according to a 2019 estimate by Delve, an artisanal mining database. Those mining gold account for 20% of global gold supply, the World Bank estimated in 2013. With limited capital and few other options, miners who typically receive between 3% to 5% less than the global market price have been forced to accept steep discounts. "The prices have really gone down," said Blessing Hungwe, an artisanal gold mine owner near Zimbabwes capital Harare, who splits her revenues with 25 workers. "Because the borders have been closed, buyers can't be moving gold into South Africa and getting cash back." Black market gold buyers in Zimbabwe were quoting prices of $36-$39 a gram on Monday, according to WhatsApp messages seen by Reuters. Spot gold was at $1,610 an ounce, or about $56.80 per gram, on Tuesday. The pain is being felt across Africa and beyond, as buyers are unable to shift gold to their usual markets. Exporters in Ghana are stockpiling their gold in vaults at Accra's airport as they wait for flights to resume, said Henry Osei, chief executive of Guldrest Resources Co, which ships to Dubai, India, Turkey and Hong Kong. In Suriname, one gold buyer said he is now paying 36% less per gram, partly due to government currency controls. Gold fetched about $47 per gram in Choco, Colombia, on Monday but buying has almost ceased, according to field staff of the Artisanal Gold Council (AGC). Story continues In Papua New Guinea, prices ranged from $32 per gram in urban centres to $19 in remote areas. "The supply chain is collapsing," said Kevin Telmer, executive director of the Canada-based AGC. "Buyers have gone into isolation in some cases, so people are stuck with their gold." In Mali, approximately one million subsistence miners are facing a month-long shutdown of their activities. Mines Minister Lelenta Hawa Baba Ba on Tuesday ordered the suspension of artisanal mining across the vast country until the end of April. Mali's artisanal miners produce an estimated 15 tonnes of gold a year. A burden for cash-strapped miners, depressed local prices are creating an arbitrage opportunity for those who can buy cheaply in one market and sell at an elevated price elsewhere. The difficulty in moving metal from one place to the other has caused some bar and coin retailers in big gold-consuming markets to run out of stock. Last week, fears that there wasn't enough gold in New York pushed prices there sharply higher. "For gold dealers, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, but only if you can get it out of Africa and turn it into cash," said Alain Goetz, who set up Ugandas African Gold Refinery. A gold trader in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou, who asked not to be named, said: "Anyone who has cash can build up their stocks." Artisanal miners rarely have that luxury. "We are praying to God to end this disease so that we can continue with our business," said Tanzanian miner Selamani Juma Salum. (Additional Reporting by David Lewis in Nairobi, Nuzulack Dausen in Dar es Salaam, Tiemoko Diallo in Bamako, Ank Kuipers in Paramaribo and Peter Hobson in London; Editing by Amran Abocar and Jan Harvey) Kim Kardashian has revealed becoming a mother was the catalyst for her decision to train as a lawyer. The reality star, 39, who has North, six, Saint, four, Chicago, two, and Psalm, 10 months, with husband Kanye West - has been working on prison reform in recent years, playing a key role in the release of several wrongfully convicted prisoners. Speaking to Grazia, the beauty, who is one year into a four year law course, said: Becoming a mom has really opened up my heart, and its changed me. Motivation: Kim Kardashian has revealed becoming a mother was the catalyst for her decision to train as a lawyer Her reason: The reality star, 39, who has North, six, Saint, four, Chicago, two, and Psalm, 10 months, with husband Kanye West - has been working on prison reform in recent years, playing a key role in the release of several wrongfully convicted prisoners I dont know if this journey would have happened for me before I was a mom. I will do what I can to help keep on shouting the stories of these people Ive met. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star said said she was 'prideful' that she could set an example for her children through her work and that a 'big part' of life should be giving back. She said: 'Life becomes a little bit less about you than it used to be. So I love showing them that message: that they can really be in a business to help people, and that should be a big part of their lives. Though Kim is not attending law school, she is eligible to take the bar exam through an alternative path known as 'reading the law', which allows students to take the test by apprenticing through a practicing lawyer or judge. Study: Speaking to Grazia, the beauty, who is one year into a four year law course, said: Becoming a mom has really opened up my heart, and its changed me' In conjunction with her Vogue US cover in May 2019, she took to her social media to share a lengthy post about her new study venture. 'Last year I registered with the California State Bar to study law. For the next 4 years, a minimum of 18 hours a week is required, I will take written and multiple choice tests monthly,' she began. 'As my first year is almost coming to an end I am preparing for the baby bar, a mini version of the bar, which is required when studying law this way. Ive seen some comments from people who are saying its my privilege or my money that got me here, but thats not the case.' She continued: 'One person actually said I should stay in my lane. I want people to understand that there is nothing that should limit your pursuit of your dreams, and the accomplishment of new goals. You can create your own lanes, just as I am. The state bar doesnt care who you are. This option is available to anyone whos state allows it.' Family: I dont know if this journey would have happened for me before I was a mom. I will do what I can to help keep on shouting the stories of these people Ive met' Kim explained that while she didn't finish college, she did get 75 credits and you only need 60 to be able to take part in 'reading the law'. 'For anyone assuming this is the easy way out, its not. My weekends are spent away from my kids while I read and study. I work all day, put my kids to bed and spend my nights studying.' The KKW Beauty entrepreneur added that there are many times that she finds it tough and loses self-motivation, but reminds herself it's her dream and 'its never too late to follow your dreams.' Earlier this month, the trainee lawyer met with President Donald Trump to discuss criminal justice reform. Legally glam! Kim is gearing up to take the California bar exam (pictured in December) She was also joined by Alice Johnson - whose life sentence she helped commute in 2018 - as well as human rights attorney Jessica Jackson In February, Kim supported Trump's decision to cut short the sentences of drug conspiracy convicts Tynice Hall and Crystal Munoz and white collar criminal Judith Negron. Earlier this year, Kim teased an upcoming documentary on the cable channel Oxygen, titled Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project. Debuting on April 5, the two-hour film will show the TV star visiting prisons and working alongside legal experts on four cases of people they believe have been unfairly sentenced. 'There is a mass incarceration problem in the United States. People deserve a second chance, she says in the clip. Flash Japan plans to extend its ban on foreign entrants to cover those who have recently been to the United States, China and South Korea and most parts of Europe in bid to curb the import and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, state sources said on Monday. The entry ban will be applicable to foreigners who have stayed in the countries within two weeks of arriving in Japan, the sources said, adding that both Japanese and foreigners returning from areas not subjected to the ban will still be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. Japan's foreign ministry is also planning to raise its travel advisory for the United States to Level 3, which warns its citizens to "avoid all travel." The same advisory will be made for travel to China, South Korea and the majority of Europe, including Britain, the ministry said. While the United States has overtaken Italy and China to become the country worst-hit by the pandemic, Japan for the time being has been relatively sheltered, although recent surges in cases in urban areas have prompted the government to take preventative measures against importing cases. Japan reported 1,926 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 6:30 p.m. local time on Monday, with the death toll from the pneumonia-causing virus currently standing at a total of 67 people, including those from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama, close to Tokyo. The health ministry also said there are currently a total of 65 patients considered severely ill and are on ventilators to receive respiratory assistance or have been admitted to intensive care units for medical treatment. The ministry added that in total, 975 people have been discharged from hospitals after their symptoms improved, according to the latest statistics. Savannah Guthrie made a delighted return to the Today show studio on Tuesday morning, almost two weeks after she starting working from her basement, having come down with a 'mild sore throat' amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 48-year-old made a surprise appearance in NBC's Studio 1A, where she was reunited with her co-anchor Hoda Kotb, 55, having kept quiet about her plans to return on social media until just moments before the show began. Savannah took to Instagram and Twitter to share an in-studio selfie with Hoda, which she captioned simply: 'Reunited!' She's back! Savannah Guthrie was reunited with co-anchor Hoda Kotb on Tuesday morning when she returned to the Today studio after nearly two weeks of working from home Celebration: The 48-year-old kept quiet about her return to the studio until moments before the show went on the air Caution: Savannah and Hoda, 55, expressed their excitement at being reunited, after the former took the decision to work from home having developed a 'mild sore throat' Moments later, Savannah and Hoda appeared on-air together, with both kicking off the morning show by celebrating their reunion. 'This is Studio 1A, I haven't been here in a while!' Savannah said, while looking around the familiar space. 'I was going to say, so many things are not normal, and in this moment right now as I'm looking at you, something finally is,' Hoda added. 'It's good to see your face.' But while Savannah is happily back in the studio, the two anchors are still making sure to observe social distancing guidelines - sitting six feet apart from one another at their Today desk. 'It feels good to be in the same room, [but] I wish we were closer like we used to snuggle up,' Savannah told her co-anchor. 'We are practicing our social distancing... it's good to be back in the studio.' The pair then shared that they will be co-anchoring a special prime-time show about the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday night, with Savannah saying: 'We want to encourage folks to join us tonight, Hoda and I are hosting a special prime-time show about the pandemic. 'This is the first in a series that NBC News will be doing in the weeks ahead. We're going to examine the outbreak's toll, the country's potential new hotspots, and answer your questions.' The duo's happy reunion comes nearly two weeks after Savannah announced that she would be working from home out of 'an abundance of caution', having come down with a 'mild sore throat' and 'the sniffles' just as it was revealed that a staffer on the Third Hour of Today had been diagnosed with the coronavirus. Were very happy to have our @savannahguthrie back in Studio 1A this morning! pic.twitter.com/omj07fILGl TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 31, 2020 Feels like home: 'This is Studio 1A, I haven't been here in a while!' Savannah said, while looking around the familiar space Careful: The two anchors noted that, while they are reunited, they are still observing social distancing regulations by sitting far apart from one another at their desk Savannah made Today history on Wednesday, March 18 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. Comfy! Savannah shared regular updates about her working from home wardrobe while she remained away from the studio '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 at the beginning of March 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 March 17, both were also tuning into the show from home, with Al and Savannah both joining Hoda 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.' 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'. WFH: On Wednesday, March 18, 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 Solo: Her co-anchor Hoda remained in Studio 1A, despite a staffer on the Third Hour of Today testing positive for COVID-19 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'. '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. 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 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 '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. '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. In the days that she was working from home, Savannah posted a slew of images of her two children - Vale, five, and Charley, three - while jokingly noting in one caption that she is struggling slightly with all the 'family time'. Last 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'. 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 Struggling: Savannah appeared to have grown a bit exasperated with all of the 'family time' she's getting after starting to work from home Special moments: She 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 had been posting regular updates from her home, 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. Last 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. IAP President Hwang Cheol-kyu on the magazine cover By Kim Se-jeong Prosecutor Hwang Cheol-kyu, 55, who heads the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP), has been featured on the cover of the latest issue of the Russian magazine, "Prosecutor." IAP is a nongovernmental organization for prosecutors with members from 180 countries, and Hwang was sworn in September last year for a three-year term. Its headquarters is located in The Hague, the Netherlands and it has a regional office in St. Petersburg covering Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Hwang is working from Korea. The quarterly magazine quoted Hwang as saying: "the fundamental function of every national prosecution service is contributing towards the realization of criminal justice and the rule of law. The United Nations Developmental Goals also emphasizes the rule of law and equal justice for all. I believe that the IAP should do more to make this happen." Hwang also said, "More specifically, our association should provide a more direct and speedy system for international criminal cooperation and jointly address newly emerging crimes under the Fourth Industrial Revolution as well as crimes that have been traditionally approached." Hwang is the first IAP president from the Asia-Pacific region and supports opening more regional offices. "The establishment of regional offices is necessary for the IAP to expand globally and to effectively respond to regional issues," he said in an interview published in the magazine. As president, he supports a monthly online meeting on e-crimes during which "30 to 40 prosecutors discuss their investigation methods and other experiences as they learn from each other." Hwang previously served as chief prosecutor at the Busan and Daegu high prosecutors' offices, the Busan District Prosecutors' Office and Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office. Also, he is now the chief prosecutor for the International Center for Criminal Justice based in Korea. Farmers and landowners have been encouraged to check if they are eligible to claim from the Farming Recovery Fund to help cover the costs of damages. Many farms were impacted by flooding in November 2019, and the government has since opened the fund to help those whose land was damaged, rural firm Fisher German explained. One off grants of between 500 and 25,000 are available to put towards the costs of repairing any affected agricultural land, which could provide a significant amount of support to those impacted. The fund is only available to those in certain areas, and there are several rules and procedures which applicants must navigate, Fisher German added. Grants can be claimed for standard capital items such as fencing materials and gates, livestock troughs, stone wall restoration, cultivation operations including grass seed and cover crop seed, restoring field access and tracks. The fund will not cover insured losses or items that insurance should normally cover, including buildings and equipment, any items for which the applicant has already sought funding from another source, labour costs including the labour of people employed by the applicant, the cost of annual cash crop seeds or plants or livestock of any type. Fisher Germans Ian McKenzie said he would advise anyone looking to claim to gather as 'much photographic evidence as possible'. He said this will demonstrate the devastating impact of the flooding and help paint a clear picture of the loss suffered to their agricultural business. "There are standard rates that the fund will pay for a number of items, for instance fencing, however some repair items will require several quotes for the works that are being claimed for," Mr McKenzie said. "A sizeable amount of funding is available, so we would therefore advise farmers and landowners to gain expert advice to ensure they are getting the most from their claim. "The application process is complicated and this, combined with a lack of knowledge about the fund has meant we have seen fewer applications; which could ultimately result in many farmers missing out on the funding." Where are the eligible areas for the fund? South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire: The flooding of low-lying agricultural land by overtopping of rivers and the breaches on Barlings Eau, Dorrington and Timberland Delph watercourses on November 7 and 8 2019 within the Internal Drainage Board areas of Ancholme, Scunthorpe and Gainsborough, Witham Third, Upper Witham, Trent Valley and Danvm. Derbyshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire: The flooding of agricultural land by overtopping of flood defences on the Derbyshire Derwent and Dove, and the Avon in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, downstream from Evesham. 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. Ford is giving a look inside its Michigan factory where workers are producing 100,000 face shields per week to help protect healthcare workers on the frontline of the coronavirus outbreak. On Tuesday, employee Pat Tucker took the Today Show inside the auto giant's million-square foot facility in Dearborn where staff work 10 hours a day, seven days a week producing the shields. The grandmother, 55, sits spaced out from her co-workers as they construct the face shields - with one being assembled every 10 seconds. They are made from components produced in Ford's 3D printers. Ford says it will soon be able to ship 40,000 shields per day - a godsend for doctors and nurses who face a critical shortage of protective equipment that helps reduce their chances of contracting COVID-19. 'I'd rather save lives than sit at home,' Tucker told the NBC program, stressing that the factory has implemented proper health precautions. 'I'm happy to help, if they get another idea for us to make something, I'm going to be here,' she added. Meanwhile, Ford is repurposing a separate factory west of Detroit to start building simple ventilators to treat coronavirus patients. On Tuesday, Ford employee Pat Tucker took the Today Show inside the auto giant's million-square foot facility in Dearborn where she works 10 hours a day, seven days a week producing face shields for healthcare workers on the frontline of the coronavirus outbreak The grandmother, 55, sits spaced out from her co-workers as they construct the face shields - with one being assembled every 10 seconds The mammoth production effort is taking place inside Ford's giant factory in Dearborn, Michigan Hospitals have put out an urgent plea for medical supplies, and this morning, automakers and their employees are coming to the rescue.@CynthiaMcFadden has the story of one Detroit grandmother pitching in at Ford: Id rather save lives than sit at home. pic.twitter.com/awkRT7ZGnL TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 31, 2020 The automaker says that starting the week of April 20, it expects to produce 50,000 by Independence Day on July 4. Some 500 United Auto Workers union members will be working around the clock to complete the mammoth assignment at the facility. The ventilators are designed by Airon Corp, and Ford says they will work on air pressure, rather than electricity, and can handle the needs of most COVID-19 patients. Meanwhile, the auto giant is also working with GE Healthcare to quickly double production of a more sophisticated ventilator at a factory in Madison, Wisconsin. Fellow automarker General Motors is gearing up to produce ventilators at their factory in Kokomo, Indiana. Fellow automarker General Motors is gearing up to produce ventilators at their factory in Kokomo, Indiana (pictured) A thousand employees are working to produce 10,000 critical care ventilators per month in collaboration with, Ventec Life Systems, a small manufacturer of the machines. Although the collaboration began back on March 19, President Trump publicly lashed out at the auto giant Friday claiming that the company wasn't working fast enough. 'As usual with 'this' General Motors, things just never seem to work out. They said they were going to give us 40,000 much needed Ventilators, 'very quickly'. Now they are saying it will only be 6000, in late April, and they want top dollar,' he blasted. The Commander-in-chief invoked the Defense Production Act to push the car company to produce more ventilators. HOW FORD'S FACE SHIELDS ARE MADE Ford has partnered with 3M and GE Healthcare to assemble plastic face shields to distribute to emergency medical workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The shields are made with just three pieces: a transparent plastic face covering, a small strip of sponge to rest against the forehead, and a plastic band to fasten the shield around a person's head. Ford created an original design for a plastic face shield (pictured above) to protect medical workers after receiving a call for help from the Mayo Clinic The foam is fixed to the shield with adhesive tape, and the plastic head band is stapled to the shield in a process that takes less than 10 seconds per shield. Ford has two shifts of workers manually assembling the shields, one day crew and another night crew, to maintain maximum productivity. Advertisement Meanwhile on Tuesday, Ford revealed it was postponing its plan to restart production at its North America plants due to safety concerns for its workers amid the coronavirus pandemic. To generate cash, the No. 2 U.S. automaker had said last week it was poised to restart production at some plants in North America as early as April 6, bringing back such profitable vehicles as its top-selling F-150 full-sized pickup, the Transit commercial van and SUVs. But on Tuesday, Ford said that although it had been aiming to resume production at several key U.S. plants on April 14, it would now do so at dates to be announced later on. 'The health and safety of our workforce, dealers, customers, partners and communities remains our highest priority,' Kumar Galhotra, president of Ford's North American operations, said in a statement. As of Tuesday afternoon, the coronavirus crisis is worsening in the US, with more than 181,000 confirmed cases and upwards of 3000 deaths. 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. 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 The Seoul metropolitan government said Tuesday that it will provide a total of 100,000 filter replaceable face masks to foreign residents who are sidelined from the government-controlled mask supply system amid the coronavirus outbreak. According to the municipal government, 100,000 sets of a reusable cotton mask with five filters will be given at the Seoul Global Center, a comprehensive support center for foreigners in central Seoul, and 40 universities in the capital. South Korea started a mask rationing system on March 9 as a way to tackle a mask shortage stemming from the rapid spread of COVID-19. Under the scheme, South Korean nationals can buy up to two protective masks per week from pharmacies on designated days of the week. Foreign residents need to present their alien registration card and have a national health insurance policy to get the government-distributed face masks. But many short-term residents and foreign students are not entitled to sign up for the state health insurance as they have to stay at least six months in South Korea. Seoul city said the supply of face masks to short-term foreigners will not only help them stay healthy but also protect Seoul citizens from the infectious virus. South Korea has reported about 9,800 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus as of Tuesday. (Yonhap)